PanARMENIAN.Net
Kars Mayor Going to Work for Opening Armenian-Turkish Border
16.09.2006 14:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Conference of the Festival of Cultures of the
Caucasus, planned to be held in Kars, is postponed, Consul of
Azerbaijan in Kars Hasan Zeynalov reported. In his words, it is due to
a collision between a folklore group from Armenia and representatives
of Azerbaijan. As a result the folklore group from Armenia expressed
«protest to Kars municipality» and left Turkey. Noting that he met
with Kars municipality leader, Zeynalov reported that in the course of
the discussion the Mayor said that he will attain opening of borders
and then will try to solve the Nagorno Karabakh issue. The conference
was planned to start tomorrow. Some time ago Kars municipality made a
statement that it will continue activities on opening of the
Armenian-Turkish borders and will attain it without fail, reports APA.

Thursday, September 14, 2006
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The blunders of youth are the heaviest burden of old age.
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Those who speak of “social and political conditions beyond our control,” do so to justify their past failures and present inadequacies.
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After 600 years of life in the Ottoman Empire, subservience comes naturally to us, and subservience means loyalty to the master even if he happens to be an alien tyrant; and to be loyal to an alien master means to betray your own people. Hence Raffi’s dictum: “Treason and betrayal are in our blood.”
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You can hide your thoughts all you like, you can even say the opposite of what you feel, but you cannot hide your body language and style. In life, as in the boxing ring, you can run away but you can’t hide.
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I don’t trust people who make a comfortable living because they will do and say anything in defense of their comfort.
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Leaders are the curse of mankind. This is a rule with very few exceptions.
#
Friday, September 15, 2006
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THERE IS NO BUSINESS
LIKE SHOA BUSINESS
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There are Turkish charlatans as surely as there are Armenian charlatans, and they are the ones who have reduced the Tragedy of our genocide to a game of political football, each side blaming the other and adopting a morally superior stance. “When the rich fight,” Sartre says somewhere, “it is the poor who die.” Likewise, when political wheeler-dealers argue, truth is sacrificed on the altar of propaganda. As for the cries of the victims, past, present, and future: no matter how hard I try I cannot take seriously the crocodile tears of our self-assessed dime-a-dozen pundits who blabber endlessly and ad nauseam about genocide. I grew up among survivors and I don’t remember any one of them uttering the word “tseghasbanoutiun” (genocide) or wasting a single moment trying to prove that it happened.
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Capital, Marx said, dehumanizes not only the worker but also the capitalist, society as whole, and human relationships. Constant and endless talk of Turkish denials dehumanizes not only Turks and us, but also our relations with the rest of mankind, including our fellow Armenians. Anyone who does not share our view of Turks as bloodthirsty barbarians is labeled a denialist.
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A victim will see the world only in terms of victims and victimizers, or those who are committed to the Cause and denialists. Because I speak of tolerance, respect for fundamental human rights, and a more objective assessment of the past, I have been called a pro-Turkish denialist. Armenian dehumanization of Armenian has already become a routine occurrence with us. I see it every day in Armenian discussion forums on the Internet, which are less discussion forums and more arenas of mutual verbal abuse.
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There are decent Armenians as there are decent Turks, and they don’t need the arguments of propagandists to be convinced of what happened. Such arguments convince only dupes and children of all ages who have not yet acquired the ability to think for themselves.
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I remember the late Puzant Granian (himself a survivor) saying, “At the rate we are going, we will be known to the rest of the world only as a nation that has contributed a million and a half victims to Turkish massacres. Our millennial history and countless other achievements will be ignored, forgotten, and buried.” But endless talk of genocide buries not only our other achievements but also our present problems, some of which (assimilation in the Diaspora and exodus from the Homeland) are of genocidal dimensions. Our monomaniacal obsession with Turkish denialists has made of us denialists of two “white genocides” and all talk of “social and political conditions beyond our control” is as convincing to a decent observer as the arguments of Turkish denialist charlatans.
#
Saturday, September 16, 2006
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All slaughters begin with the slaughter of common sense and decency. Hence, the post-World War II slogan, “We are all assassins.”
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The ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA (Chicago, 1979) on Talaat Pasha (or, as the BRITANNICA spells it, Talat Pasa): “A man of swift and penetrating intelligence and integrity…an idealist, forceful but never fanatical or vengeful.”
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Genocides are perpetrated not by serial killers or criminals but by law-abiding, patriotic citizens with leadership qualities and superior intellects, whose sole aim in life is to defend and protect the nation and its interests against all enemies foreign and domestic.
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Nothing comes more easily to a mediocrity, a charlatan, and a moral moron than to convince himself he is a patriot with superior brains and leadership qualities.
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An Armenian pundit: Anyone who reads TIME or NEWSWEEK and one of our weeklies.
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AZG Armenian Daily #177, 16/09/2006
Diaspora
RAS-EL-AIN ON THE ROAD OF EXILE
Ras-el-Ain is a Syrian town located by the Turkish border on the slope
of Armenian Taurus Mountains. The town was founded nearby full-flowing
springs and received a name that means “spring”. This town has direct
relation with the fate of a part of the Armenian people. In late-May
hot days of 1915 a dense caravan of Armenians was displaced from
Tigranakert and Derik regions and was forced into flat Ras-el-Ain and
its surrounding villages. Tortured and tired of the long road, people
quenched their thirst in the Arabian springs and took some
rest. Leaving part of the displaced to the mercy of fate, Turkish
askyars (soldiers) forced others into deserts of Der-el-Zor…
The Armenian that stayed in Ras-el-Ain faced violence from the hands
of Turks, Kurds, Chechens and Turkmens inhabiting this area. Before
Der-el-Zor a big massacre of Armenians happened there. Every inch of
earth here is blood-soaked. People were being killed to snatch their
jewelry and gold or for pleasure as moving targets. Despite great
difficulties 200 Armenian families Ras-el-Ain managed to
survive. Getting rid of Turkish yoke Armenians together Syrian
breathed freely. Armenians earned their living working as craftsmen
and farmers. They peacefully co-existed with the Arab people enjoying
their respect.
French armenologist Dulorie wrote: “Wherever Armenians go, they first
of all found their school, church and newspaper.” It has been 70 years
that an Armenian school functions in Ras-el-Ain, an Apostolic church
was founded earlier. Though there are very few Armenians in Ras-el-Ain
today, they have a school with 16 pupils, a restored church and a
memorial to the victims of Armenian Genocide where remnants of the
perished are kept. Local Armenians have applied to the head of
Armenian diocese in Aleppo asking to grant Ras-el-Ain status of a
pilgrimage site as it is with Der-el-Zor. But the proposal remains
unanswered so far.
Native of Ras-el-Ain, Mr. Vrezh, told me once a sad story. His father
told him that in the caves near Ras-el-Ain’s springs many Armenians
were tortured to death. The caves were long ago filled with stones and
got buried. Mr. Vrezh is fearful that one day the authorities will
take this area to build something thus the graves will be profaned. He
has turned to Syria’s Armenian community and party leaders with a
suggestion to build a memorial on this site. This plea also remains
unanswered but he is still hopeful that his voice will be heard one
day.
The small Armenian community of Ras-el-Ain has many problems. The
church has no priest as this position is poorly paid. A priest arrives
here from Kamishli town 160 km away only for major religious
celebrations. People here perform patriotic songs very beautifully.
Headmistress of the school, Ani Sargsian, who is also a graduate of
the school, spares no effort to educate the children with Armenian
spirit. Parents and benefactors help the school. She dreams of
visiting Armenian and participating in retraining courses for
teachers. Perhaps the Ministry of Education of Armenia can help her
achieve her dream.
There are major problems hamper the survival of this small
community. There is less work for the Armenian craftsmen as the other
nationalities have learned their crafts and now they provide their
services to a vaster clientele. Armenian children leave for Aleppo,
Damask, Lebanon or other countries to continue their education or to
find a job. If it goes like this there will soon be no Armenian in
Ras-el-Ain. Only those will remain who are married with Christian
Arabs or Assyrians.
Currently, there are 50.000 Armenians in Syria. They live in
good-neighborly relations with the Syrian people but still cherish a
dream of returning to their ancestors’ land.
By Derenik Movsisian in Ras-el-Ain

AZG Armenian Daily #177, 16/09/2006
Karabakh issue
`FROZEN CONFLICTS’ NEVERTHELESS ON UN AGENDA
After the presentation of “Ways of Settling Nagorno Karabakh Conflict”
book at the National Assembly on September 14, foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian answered journalists’ questions.
First, he spoke about sending Armenian peacekeepers to Lebanon. In his
words, there is no decision at this moment as is not clear what tack
the participating forces will carry out. Before the last Israeli
hostilities in Lebanon, Beirut asked Armenia to send bomb-disposal
specialists as Armenia has experience in this sphere. Later, when
Israel will provide maps of mined territories and the situation will
be put under control, Armenia can help in this sphere.
To a remark that it’s the Armenian community’s request to see Armenian
peacekeepers in Lebanon, the FM said: “There are many other factors,
too. We consider the community’s call and we are in a dialogue with
community representatives. I’m sure that a right decision will be
taken at the end. Such issues are not an end in itself. Our going
there should serve a distinct purpose. As soon as this purpose is
specified, Armenian government will take its decision.”
Mr. Oskanian informed that different countries have officially applied
to Armenia to take part in peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. That issue
is currently being discussed.
When will the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers meet? The
co-chairs are seriously discussing the prospects of FM’s meeting but
again we insisted that these meetings should not be an end in
itself. We are ready to meet at any moment but we need the right and
favorable atmosphere in order to produce results. Azerbaijan is
constantly trying to divert the focus from the Minsk Group. This is a
fact. You know that the UN Chief Committee turned down GUAM’s “Frozen
Conflicts” proposal, but the General Assembly put it on the UN agenda
with one prevailing vote. Here we have a situation when the spotlight
shifts from the Minsk process, that’s why the meeting of FMs is under
question until there is clear understanding what direction the Minsk
processes will take. Azerbaijan makes every effort to deface the
content of Minsk Group documents most of which have been agreed on,
including the issue of self-determination. Azerbaijan probably wants
to step back, and diverting attention from Minsk process in favor of
the UN seems a way out for them. Therefore, we need to asses the new
situation and only after that decide what our next steps will be.
To daily Azg’s remark that Arkadi Ghukasian thinks that our diplomacy
should get more active as Azerbaijani diplomacy is attacking, Vartan
Oskanian said: “I don’t know who is attacking and who is
defending. Generally speaking, I don’t think our results are bad; I
don’t feel the need of changing our strategy.”
By Marietta Khachatrian

AZG Armenian Daily #177, 16/09/2006

Karabakh diary
NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVES UAR DELEGATION
A delegation of the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) headed by
vice-chairman Habet Tapaltian was in Nagorno Karabakh Republic. NKR
president Arkadi Ghukasian received the delegation. At the meeting UAR
representatives presented the process of implementation of the Union’s
projects directed to developing sport in the republic and supporting
education. They also discussed the issue of involving UAR’s charity
and investment programs in the regions of NKR.
Underscoring the work of UAR in fostering ties between Artsakh and
Russian Federation, Arkadi Ghukasian noted the efforts of Ara
Abrahamian in this direction. NKR minister of education, Kamo Atayan,
was also present at the meeting.
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily #177, 16/09/2006

Award
VLADIMIR PUTIN AWARDS ARMENIAN DESIGNER
By a decree of President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation Joseph
Hakobian, chief designer of “Agat” research institute of Moscow since
1986, was awarded with 3d class Order of Merit for the Country.
Hakobian was awarded for his contribution to raising country’s
military efficiency, elaborating a special military technology as well
as for his long conscientious work.

A1+
THE ANTI-CRIMINALISTS WILL TELL NAMES LATER
[07:23 pm] 15 September, 2006
About 18 oppositional and pro-governmental parties and organizations
which are included in the `Anti-criminal movement’ were gathered today
to create a document which would decide their future activity.
All the RA parties are involved in the movement except the Republican
party which wasn’t even invited as according Aram Karapetyan, the
leader of the New Times Party, they protect criminalists, `When we
announced that we are going to start an anti-criminal movement, the
Republicans revolted saying that we want to fight against them. After
that the only thing we can do is to let them know about our
activity’. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation was not present
today, but Aram Karapetyan claimed that next time they will be
present.
The next meeting will probably take place on September 25. At the
suggestion of the participants of the meeting next Wednesday the New
Times party will make a draft document. The draft will be distributed
to all the parties and will be voted during the September 25 meeting
after which it will be signed.
At the suggestion of the National Unity the document will mention
names of people in order to know whom they will fight against.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
TOROSYAN MET BOZHKO
[07:37 pm] 15 September, 2006
Today RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan received the Ukrainian Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.
The Ambassador passed on to the NA Speaker the congratulating message
of Alexander Moroz, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Supreme Rada, in
connection with the 15th anniversary of the RA independence.
Thanking for the message, the NA Speaker found the activization of the
cooperation between the two countries and especially between the
Parliaments, as it can be effective for both former Soviet countries.
The NA President also referred to several statements made by the
Ukrainian President in Baku about the ways of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. He mentioned that they do not contribute to the
settlement of the conflict and contradict the OSCE principles.
Mr. Bozhko promised to pass on to the authorities of his country the
concerns of the NA Speaker.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
WHICH ANTHEM WILL UNITE THE ARMENIANS?
[08:05 pm] 15 September, 2006
In order to find out the opinion of the people about the change of
the RA national anthem, the website of «A1+» organized a poll
giving the readers of the site a chance to listen to all the five
versions of the anthem and vote for the best of them.
586 readers participated in the poll. The survey showed that two of
the five anthems were mostly preferred by the readers. Here are the
final results of the poll:
1. Music – Tigran Mansuryan, words – Eghishe Charents (42%)
2. Music – Robert Amirkhanyan, words – Lyudvig Duryan (5%)
3. Music – Ervand Erznkyan, words – Ararat B (4%)
4. Music – Aram Khachatryan, words – Arsen Soghomonyan (44%)
5. Music – Edgar Hovhannisyan, words – Vahagn Davtyan (4%)

A1+
DISORDERS IN SARATOV
[07:48 pm] 15 September, 2006
The Russian Mass Media have spread information according to which
there is a conflict between Russians and Caucasians in the town of
Volsk, region of Saratov.
The conflicts started several days ago in `Galaxy’ club where about 10
youngsters were involved in a fight. Russian young people who had
their military service in Chechnya attacked Armenians. The incident
continued for the other few days too as the young people of the
Armenian community were persecuted all over Volsk. The beatings
continued yesterday too. When the law enforcers arrived at the site,
there were three injured young people there who were taken to
hospital. One of them, a Russian boy, died there from injuries.
The activities of the Russian Nazis harmed other `Caucasians’ too. The
law enforcers have decided to isolate the migrants not allowing them
to visit markets. There is no official explanation about the
incidents.