Armenian Foreign Minister Hails Syria’s Stances
SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Sept 7 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006 – 04:35 PM
YEREVAN, (SANA) – Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan hailed
Syria’s supporting stances and help to Armenia during the difficult
past years.
Receiving the Syrian Grand Mufti of the Republic Ahmad Bader Hassoun,
Mr. Oskanyan stressed his country continuous support to the Arab
issues, particularly the Palestinian Cause.
For his part, the Grand Mufti underlined the importance of cooperation
among all countries and peoples to work to achieve the peace in
the world, pointing out to the strong relation connecting the two
friendly countries.
Talks during the meeting also dealt with the cordial and hearty
relations between the two friendly countries.

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Sept 7 2006
First Armenian Church plans Rally Day
Thursday, September 7, 2006
The First Armenian Church welcomes returning families and new friends
for the opening of the 2006-2007 Sunday School year on Sunday, Sept.
10 at 10:30 a.m.
The worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. with family worship, with
children invited forward each Sunday for a fun and meaningful message
designed just for them. Afterwards the children, ages pre-K through
high school, go to their respective classes where the curriculum
is Bible-based Christian material designed to make learning about
God’s love and grace in Jesus personally accessible, challenging and
enjoyable for each student.
Each week the church provides nutritional refreshments for the
children and once a month a luncheon is available. On Rally Sunday,
there will be a brunch for all the children.
This year the church welcomes from California a new ministry intern,
Razmig Minassian and his wife, Jennifer, who will be teaching the
high school students. Mr. Minassian is a recent graduate of Talbot
School of Theology, and Jennifer, from Biola University.
Members of the community are welcome to attend.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2006
Azeri Ambassador to Russia made note to Russian Foreign Ministry
Source: Trend
Author: S.Agayeva
07.09.2006
Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu made a note to
the Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation, head of the information
and press department of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Tahir Tagizade
told Trend.
According to him, the note reflects concern and disagreement of
Azerbaijan side with the fact that on September 2, the 15th anniversary
of the independence of the unrecognized separatist regime in occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was broadcasted in “Vesti”
program of “Rossiya” TV channel.
It in stated in the note that its demonstration with the state
television is contrary to the signed bilateral agreements, doesn’t
correspond with the principles of neutrality of co-chairmanship of
Russia in OSCE Minsk Group and brings harms to the relations between
Azerbaijan and Russia. Taking into consideration the seriousness of
the problem, it was required to take relevant measures for preventing
such facts.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2006
Azerbaijani NGOs protest against initiatives on opening of
Turkish-Armenian border
Source: Trend Author: S.Ilhamgizi
07.09.2006
Non-governmental organizations of Azerbaijan (NGOs) voice their protest
to groups which initiate the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border,
the Forum of the NGOs told Trend.
A traditional festival with the participation of the representatives
from the South Caucasus will be held in Kars, Turkey, on 13-15
September 2006. The event with the participation of representatives
of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey participation, is held
every year at the initiative of pro-Armenian Kars Municipalities,
the Armenian-Turkish Union of Entrepreneurs.
As a sign of protest the Azerbaijani NGOs will organize conference
to protest the pro-Armenian forces and state its position on the issue.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2006
Azerbaijan sends note to Russia
[ 07 Sen. 2006 16:57 ]
Azerbaijani ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Russia
Polad Bulbuloglu presented a protest note to Russian Foreign Ministry.
The note protests against Russian RTR TV channel’s reporting about
the ceremony organized on the occasion of the “independence” of the
alleged “Nagorno Karabakh Republic” (NKR).
RTR’s Vesti (News) programme introduced the head of the separatist
regime functioning in the occupied Azerbaijani lands Arkadi Gukasyan
as the president of the NKR.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Taghizadeh told the APA
Azerbaijan’s position regarding this matter was expressed in the
protest note saying that such reports harm the relations between the
two countries.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry had ordered the Embassy in Moscow to
investigate the issue./APA/

Lincoln Journal, MA
Sept 7 2006
Preserving his story
By Cheryl Lecesse/ Staff Writer
Thursday, September 7, 2006 – Updated: 07:59 AM EST
For Henry Haroian, writing his memoirs was an emotional roller coaster.
“I would sit at the computer and stare at a blank screen,” he said, as
anger, sadness and happiness would pass as he tried to get his memories
on paper. “There was this urge within me to get the story out.”
The story Haroian refers to is not his own, however – it’s that of
his parents, Arakel and Dalitah, survivors of the Armenian Genocide
of 1915-1923.
“It’s been called a forgotten genocide,” he said, recalling that some
members of his writing class had never heard of it.
After two and a half years, Haroian, 85, has published “Remembrances,”
a book that tells the story of his parents’ struggles to survive in the
Middle East and in Europe, their eventual move to the United States
for a better live, his upbringing in Watertown – where he changed
his name from Hampartzoom to Henry as an elementary school student
because it was too difficult to write – a foray in World War II,
and life in Lincoln.
Today, Haroian and his wife of 60 years Jessica live in the same
house on Lincoln Road that he worked hard to build 50 years ago.
Residents can hear about Haroian’s experience Thursday, Sept. 21,
when he gives a talk and signs copies of his book at the Council on
Aging in Bemis Hall.
Haroian will donate all proceeds from his book’s sales to the Friends
of the Council on Aging and the Friends of the Lincoln Library. A
similar talk and book signing is planned at the library this fall.
It was a memoir-writing workshop at the Council on Aging that first
got Haroian writing about his family’s experiences.
“I wanted to write my memoirs and I didn’t know quite how to do
it,” he said, crediting Kathleen Lundgren, who ran the workshop,
for helping him work through it.
Haroian said the writing process was similar to his work on his
dissertation in graduate school: difficult to start and difficult
to finish.
“I finally had to listen to my editor [Jack MacLean] who said,
‘You have enough here,'” he said.
Pointing to a photograph in his book of his mother’s family, Haroian
began to tell his family’s story. His mother’s side, coming from
Erzerum, Turkey, would sustain many losses while on what became
a death march to a refugee camp in Mosul; five of the family’s 13
members would survive.
“My mother was a young girl when the gendarmes knocked on the door
and said, ‘You have 10 days to vacate,'” Haroian said.
His father had a harrowing escape after his family was wiped out in
Tadem, the village where he was born. When he was either 12 or 13
years old, Arakel was forced to march through the der zor, or fiery
deserts, by the Turkish gendarmes.
In a book titled, “Our Village, Tadem,” written in Armenian in 1958
by a group of genocide survivors, Haroian’s father writes, “More than
forty years have passed, yet nightmares and flashbacks of horrific
scenes of murders continue to haunt my sleep…we were whipped by
Turkish gendarmes and driven like animals – half naked, in bare feet –
falling, rising, stumbling and yet moving again through an endless,
hot and trackless desert – weary, starving men, women and children,
half crazed from thirst, falling down, some for the last time, dying
where they fell.”
But Arakel was saved; during the march, a band of nomadic Kurds on
horseback charged through the killing field, and one reached down
and grabbed Arakel by the collar.
“For two and a half to three years he was with the Kurds taking care
of horses, gathering firewood, and doing whatever chores needed to
be done,” Haroian said. “One day he escaped and found his way to
a mission.”
The mission, in Mosul, is where Haroian’s parents met. Because he
could speak Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish, he would help translate for
newcomers. The mission was trying to help reunite families; once Arakel
was called in to translate, and was reintroduced to his first cousin.
Haroian’s mother Dalitah, a 15-year-old teen, stumbled to the mission
with her shellshocked mother, who willed herself to survive to protect
her daughter. It was Arakel’s cousin who proposed the marriage,
and Dalitah’s mother agreed.
Although the first part of his book is not his own memories, Haroian
said his parents’ story was an important one to preserve not only for
his own family but for others to know the truth about what happened
in Mesopotamia during World War I.
Haroian said his father and mother were not generally open to him
about what they experienced; much of what he knows he gathered by
listening to his parents and their friends talk around their round
dining room table in Watertown as a young boy.
“I can still smell the coffee and the cigarette smoke swirling around
the light fixture,” he said.
And once his parents went to work, he would sit on the front porch
of his paternal grandmother and hear more.
“She would tell me endless stories about what happened,” he said.
Education was the constant talk at the house, Haroian said, remembering
how he learned to read and write Armenian from the wives of editors
of two Armenian newspapers in town in a rented storefront in Watertown.
And although at the time Haroian would rather have been somewhere else,
he never forgot what he learned – or where he came from.
“Remembrances” is available for purchase at the Council on Aging.

Ambassador’s Farewell Visit to the National Assembly
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Sept 7 2006
On September 6, Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, received Mr. John Evans, the US
Ambassador to Armenia in connection with completion of his diplomatic
mission in Armenia.
The RA NA President thanked Mr. Ambassador for effective work and noted
that relations between the two countries have seriously progressed
during the years of his activity, and as a result several projects
were implemented in the Parliament, especially the cooperation with the
USAID, which promoted the conformity of the Armenian legislation to the
international standards. Mr. Torosyan wished success to Mr. Ambassador
and expressed confidence that Mr.
Ambassador will always remain the friend of Armenia.
Mr. Evans also expressed satisfaction with the development of two
countries’ relations and noted that it was a result of teamwork, and
the team is ready to cooperate with the National Assembly in future,
by continuing the launched programs. He highlighted the experience and
knowledge of basic problems of the NA President, which is a basis for
success. Touching upon the issue of autumn session to start in few
days, Mr. Evans particularly emphasized the draft on Electoral Code
out of circulating drafts, the adoption of which will greatly promote
the holding of elections in 2007 in conformity with international
standards. Mr. Ambassador noted that there are all preconditions in
Armenia to become a democracy leader in the region.
During the 15 years of the third Republic of Armenia a lot of work has
been done, good laws have been adopted. Mr. Evans noted that several
programs are carried out to reinforce the democracy and to assist in
organization of election, particularly to support in the improvement of
electoral rolls’ accuracy and running mechanisms. He also highlighted
the observers’ participation in the elections. The US Ambassador to
Armenia Mr. Evans emphasized the necessity of anti-corruption fight,
where the Parliament has its big role, to reinforce the democracy, the
success of which will promote the increase of investments in Armenia.
Mr. Torosyan, the RA NA President, touching upon the issue of
elections, noted that they are not only important stage for democracy
progress, but also they have to symbolize the direction of future
process of Armenia in May 2007. Thus, they are of high importance
for Armenia. The adoption of the Electoral Code by OSCE, on the
basis of Venice Commission experts’ suggestions will be a serious
step toward that. The NA President highlighted the establishment of
favorable atmosphere among political forces and the accomplishment of
multi party system in the country, when ruling and opposition parties
will understand, that they are parts of one unity and not the forces
conflicting each other.
The issue of Nagorno Karabakh was touched upon. Mr. T. Torosyan,
the RA NA President, highlighted the fact that OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs have chosen a resolution that takes into consideration the
principle of people’s self-determination. Mr. also Evans highlighted
the third principle of Helsinki Final Act: non-use of military
force in conflict resolution. They highlighted the continuation of
negotiations and noted that the pre-election period or elections
should not be an obstacle for that. It was noted that the increase of
Azerbaijan’s military expenses should be in the focus of international
community. The peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
within the undertaken obligations of Azerbaijan, as the PACE member
country. The PACE resolution requires to be exempt from military
threats and hatred propaganda.
Other issues of mutual importance were also discussed during the
meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MUFTI OF SYRIA MEETS STUDENTS OF THEOLOGICAL FACULTY OF YSU
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 7 2006
YEREVAN, September 7. /ARKA/. Mufti of Syria met with students of
the theological faculty of the Yerevan State University.
The University Rector, Archimandrite Anushavan Zhamkochyan, lecturers
and students of the university met the high-ranked guest.
“The Syrian delegation is a consanguineous country and nation for us,
towards which each Armenian fills love and respect”, Zhamkochyan said,
expressing gratefulness to the people of Syria for their hospitality
towards Armenians.
In his turn Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-din Hassuni welcome students of the
university. “Armenia is rich in students and people loving life”,
he said, wishing Armenia prosperity.S.P.-0–

UN to hold hearing on arsons in occupied Azerbaijani lands
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2006
A hearing will be held at the United Nations General Assembly
headquarters at 01.00 by Baku time today related to the Armenian
arsons in occupied Azerbaijani lands. The Azerbaijani permanent
representative office at the UN told the APA.
All members of the General Assembly will participate in the hearing.
Azerbaijani special representative to UN, Ambassador Yashar Aliyev
and several other officials of the representative office are expected
to attend the discussions.
There will be no special delegation from Azerbaijan. The format of
the discussions has not been announced.
The discussions on the arsons committed by Armenians in Azerbaijani
lands were to be held yesterday but it was postponed due to different
reasons./APA/

Black Day For Freedom of Expression
Kurdish Info, Germany
Sept 7 2006
Bianet-Turkish courts are geared up to hear 45 press and freedom of
expression cases until the end of the year. First case starts with
the Kirandi trial on September 8 while eight journalists, writers and
publishers are to face judges on October 5.
With the judiciary recess ending on September 6, bianet has
established that Turkish courts are to hear 45 press and freedom of
expression cases until the end of the year.
While the first press freedom trial will be heard this week on
September 8, eyes are focused on October 5 when eight defendants
including journalist Ipek Calislar and publisher Ragip Zarakolu will
face judges in press and freedom of expression trials.
Calislar and Tatlican Face “Ataturk” case
On October 5 Thursday, journalist Ipek Calislar and “Hurriyet”
newspaper editor Necdet Tatlican will appear before a court on trial
for the book “Latife Hanim”, a biography of modern Turkey’s founder
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s partner Latife, published by Dogan Publishing
House.
Calislar, an experienced journalist of 36 years and author of the
best-seller “Latife Hanim”, is being charged for quoting a story from
Latife’s sister Vecihe where Ataturk allegedly avoids his opponents
by putting on a scarf and fleeing a house while pretending to be a
woman.
A reference to the anecdote in a June 4, 2006 interview with the
daily Hurriyet and the story she relayed in the book brings her and
Tatlican before a court on charges of insulting Atatuk under a 1951
dated “Law to Protect Ataturk”. Each face a prosecutor’s demand for
up to 4.5 years imprisonment.
Journalist Saymaz on trial for “torture” claim
The same day Calislar and Tatlican appear before a judge, “Radikal”
newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz will appear at the Bagcilar 2nd
Court of First Instance for violating the country’s Press Law by
printing claims that a child had been tortured.
The journalist is being charged with “influencing justice” through
his news report titled “Torture allegation concerning 11 year old
child”.
Zarakolu faces up to 13.5 years jail
The case against Belge Publshing House owner and journalist Ragip
Zarakolu for publishing two books relating to Ottomon history and
developments related to Armenians is also to be hear on October 5.
Zarakolu is on trial for the Turkish versions of Prof. Dr. Dora
Sakayan’s book “Garabed Hacheryan’s Izmir Journal: An Armenian
Doctor’s Experiences ” and George Jerjian’s “The Truth Will Set Us
Free: Armenians and Turks Reconciled”.
In the trial to be held at the Istanbul 2nd Court of First Instance,
a prosecutor demands up to 13.5 years imprisonment for the publisher.
Tempo’s interview at cort
October 5 will also be the day where “Tempo” magazine reporter Enis
Mazhar Tayman and editor-in-chief Neval Barlas will appear before a
court in relation to an interview conducted with Diyarbakir KURD-DER
spokesman and Rights and Freedoms Party (Hak-Par) former chairman
Ibrahim Guclu.
However, the Bagcilar 2nd Court of First Instance is not interview
Barlas in accordance with the opinion of prosecutor Omer Karacal who
concluded that the author of the interview was identified. Because of
this observers expect the case against Barlas to be dismissed and
that against Tayman to continue.
The two newsmen and Guclu are charged with “insulting Turkism and the
Republic” and “inciting people not to abide by law” through the
interview published in Tempo on December 2, 2005.
Publisher Ozkan’s case may be dismissed
Again the same day Evrensel Basim Yayin publishing house editor
Songul Ozkan and author Ahmet Kahraman will appear before a court for
Kahraman’s book titled “Kurdish Rebellions”.
The Beyoglu 2nd Court o First Instance had implied during the
previous hearing on May 25 that as the author of the book was clearly
identifiable he may not be held for the book. A decision may be taken
in this case to dismiss charges against Ozkan and put Kahraman on
trial individually.
New judiciary term starts with Kirandi case
The first freedom of press case to be heard in the new judiciary term
will be held on September 8 with defendants of the so-called “Kirandi
Case” appearing before a court.
On trial are Human Rights Association (IHD) Regional Representative
Mihdi Perincek, IHD Diyarbakir Representative Selahattin Demirtas,
Tunceli Mayoralty Provincial Council Ozgur Soylemez, artist Ferhat
Tunc, journalist-writer Umur Hozatli and Dicle News Agency (DIHA)
reporters Abdulkadir Ozbek and Rustu Demirkaya, Dogan News Agency
(DHA) reporter Ferit Demir ve Anatolian Agency (AA) reporter Haydar
Toprakci”.
The group is charged in relation to the August 4, 2005 release of a
kidnapped Turkish soldier by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) and accused of “conducting propaganda of the organization and
its aims” either by being there to receive Kirandi and escort him to
safety or for covering the release. Each defendant on trial in the
case faces up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty.
06.09.2006 / by Erol Onderoglu
name=News&file=article&sid=3819