ARAM’S CHOICE
Judith Constantinides
School Library Journal Reviews
September 1, 2006
THE BOOK REVIEW; Preschool to Grade 4; Pg. 197
SKRYPUCH, Marsha. Aram’s Choice illus. by Muriel Wood. 81p. map.
further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Fitzhenry & Whiteside
2006. Tr $14.95. ISBN 1-55041-352-X ; pap. $8.95. ISBN 1-55041-354-6
. LC C2005-907263-6.
Gr 2-4 -This easy chapter book tells the story of a group of Armenian
refugee boys who made the journey from Corfu, Greece, to Georgetown,
Canada, after the Armenian genocide in the early 1900s. The story,
based on the experiences of one of these boys, describes a trip of
sadness, anxiety, and hope from a child’s point of view. The actual
genocide is briefly and gently explained in a historical note at the
end. Realistic color illustrations on most pages, some of them spreads,
add authenticity to the narrative. Covering an incident little known
in the United States, this work would be of particular interest in
areas where Armenian immigrants live, but it could also underline
a general discussion of humanitarianism.-Judith Constantinides,
formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA.

SAHAKYAN’S BELIEF SAVED SERGE FROM “ADDITIONAL” TROUBLE
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
04 Sept 06
Yes, the great combinator had not got such a strong blow before. The
Council of the Republican Party unanimously decided not to support
Galust Sahakyan’s son in the election of the mayor of Ajapniak
community. It was not unexpected because it was said that Arman
Sahakyan’s resignation from the post of deputy mayor to run in the
local election made the Council of the Republican Party, namely its
“pro-Serge” part angry because Sahakyan had made the decision to become
head of the community on his own. However, it was not Sahakyan’s fault,
it was Serge Sargsyan’s fault, for after the extraordinary assembly of
the Republican Party he announced that they were starting a process,
which would produce fruits in three or four months. Let us count:
from July to August is one month, September is two, October is three,
November is four. The Sahakyan family did this simple calculation. They
combined it with the period of local election, October, the end of
the “third” month, they calculated that the roundup of the election
would be in early November, because the election day is October
29. And arrived at the period of the promised fruits. Whoever were
in Sahakyan’s place, they would also think that they would surely
“harvest” Ajapniak this year, for Serge Sargsyan had promised the
victory.
However, the minivan of the Sahakyans did not reach Ajapniak.
Although the belief complied with all the rules; not only did they see
first to believe but also touched “the side of the crucified”. At
the extraordinary assembly only Hovik Abrahamyan was closer to
Serge Sargsyan than Galust Sahakyan. And maybe Hovik was enough for
Sahakyan Sr. to mix the sides and touch something he should not have
touched. Meanwhile, he believed, and the society assured that the had
touched even the “nail”, and not only the Republican but also the other
political forces would defend Sahakyan Jr. Man is amazing, he never
insists on something as strongly as on what he hears from others. They
believed the minister of defense and remained with nothing: neither
the City Hall, nor the municipality, and the underground is open
until 11 o’clock. There remains only one place in the minivan. But
what can we do, sometimes you should doubt what you hear.
Well, let us suppose Arman Sahakyan was young and inexperienced, but
his father is not new on the Armenian political sphere, especially in
the government. Well, even if they were unable to calculate the steps
in advance, the fatherly instinct should have prompted that there is
no fruit in November, or what should the fruit of November, only six
months old, taste? For Sahakyan had experienced, seen and benefited
from all this. He and his friend Andranik Margaryan. He did not even
consult him, though they were friends. But most probably Andranik
Margaryan did not forgive Galust, who was sitting so close to Serge
Sargsyan. He did not forgive and signed the resignation of his son,
although he could have prompted for the sake of friendship that it was
not worthwhile to stake steps without consulting first. On the other
hand, in fact, the prime minister did not have the moral right to, for
Galust Sahakyan would ask why he wanted to have Galust’s son consult
if his son Taron had not consulted anyone before becoming head of the
local government. The prime minister did not have the answer to this
question, therefore he signed Arman Sahakyan’s resignation silently,
and afterwards voted in the Republican Council against supporting
him or in a “where should I know, what do you want” manner. Moreover,
Galust was not even going to ask the prime minister how his son became
head of the community. He was not going to ask because he knew how,
and he wanted to have his son become head of the community similarly,
therefore he was sitting next to Serge Sargsyan, and perhaps he had
been shy to ask if he could.
Not if he could sit, but if he could make his beloved son a mayor,
who was treated so unfairly in 2003.
It was a shame to ask. What is power for if they have to ask what
they can do and what they cannot do. They might as well die.
Moreover, to ask Serge Sargsyan. Why did he become a member of the
party then? He came to enable every Republican not to ask anymore
what they can do and what they cannot do. He came to make impossible
possible, and such a question might offend a man with “super”
possibilities. No questions, no more questions after July 22.
It appeared that there are always questions, and after July 22 they
do not disappear but become more, and acquire a more complicated
content. And not only the Sahakyan family but also the other “families”
of the Council of the Republican Party should realize this. We need
to understand that the problem is not the independent decision of
the Sahakyans, and the reason is not self-made decisions that the new
head of the Council of the Republican Party is reluctant to support
Sahakyan Arman. In fact, it was good luck for Serge Sargsyan that Arman
Sahakyan made a decision on his own, otherwise if he asked the defense
minister for permission, the latter would have to refuse. Moreover,
he would have to explain why he refused otherwise, the others would
doubt his almightiness. However, if there was an explanation, the
doubts would be inevitable.
It seems to the Sahakyans that they failed because of hastiness. Yes,
the reason was hastiness, not theirs but Serge Sargsyan’s, who
hurried to act as the “deity of victory” of the Republicans, Zeus the
almighty, whom everything was allowed, and there was nothing beyond
his power. They saw that there is, and in a matter which seemed not
to require too much power. Sahakyan would lose, and the words “Akela
missed” would fly around the party, and though he would assert that
the political party is not a pack of wolves, they would nevertheless
demand to change the chief.

TO FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
James Hakobyan
Lragir.am
04 Sept 06
The retreat of the Republican Party in Ajapniak appears to be a
tactical step, or a claim for a “great sailing”. In other words, “we
do not need communities, we’ll take the whole country.” Good voyage,
we would tell the Republican Party, but it is not by our word that
their voyage is going to be good or bad. The Republican Party, which
kick-started its assembly with the bishop’s blessing and repeating
the name of God twice in their program, should have known better that
the word of God was before our and generally any word. And since God
utters a word only once but for the rest of the life, it can be broken
or forgiven only once, and what is more, forgiven not for all the rest
of the life. And the Republican Party has already broken the word
of the lord once – it gave false testimony against Serge Sargsyan,
demanding his resignation in 2000, accusing him of hampering the
fair investigation into October 27. Six years ago the Republican
Party also did not do unto others as it would have others do unto
it. Andranik Margaryan would hardly like Tigran Torosyan considered
to be his friend to come to a separate arrangement with the president
and take his post of prime minister like Andranik Margaryan had done
unto Aram Zaven Sargsyan.
It is becoming apparent that the Republican Party broke the work
of God at least twice, therefore it is pointless to consider once
again what kind of voyage is awaiting the Republican Party. But
since they have already launched the ship, they cannot turn it
back to land because they are unable to conduct a ship, and have
always relied on a “legionary” captain since Ashot Navasardyan, the
“builder” of the ship died. First Vazgen Sargsyan blew the sails of
the Republican Party’s sail, then Serge Sargsyan. And since they rely
on the captain, the decision on moving the ship forward or backward
depends on him. However, they can demand not to endanger their life,
of course, and the ship will nevertheless land, since life is sweeter
than death, especially that capital punishment in Armenia has been
replaced by life imprisonment.
It appears, however, that there will be no need to make Serge Sargsyan
lead the ship to the land. He seems to have decided so. The defense
minister probably feels that the idea to seize the office of president
is not supported publicly. Perhaps he realized more that the idea of
office of the president is not supported publicly either.
And this was apparently the reason why several days ago the minister
was offended by people who had envied his “happiness” and wanted
to get to the “top” of power. Serge Sargsyan was even on the verge
of performing a public scene of self-criticism when he announced
that he gets sardonic smiles from those who want to become leaders,
then he remembered that he wants the same and announced that there
is nothing bad about it, and the problem is the methods.
In fact, the methods are highly important in politics, especially in
public politics. In this case, the question occurs what methods the
minister of defense may use to get to the “top” of power.
Unfortunately, the chess Olympiad ended soon, and the next will be
too late. Fortunately, the other types of sport are not in a good
state, otherwise Tsarukyan might become a serious opponent. However,
methods do not multiply from the lack of an opponent. Consequently,
the search for methods should go on.
The customs officer Vereschagin from the film “The White Sun of the
Desert” sang, “If you’re unlucky in battle, you will be lucky in
love”. They only need to carry on the search, for we already have the
“Sun of the Desert”. Tata Simonyan had charity concerts in Armenia
and Karabakh and thanked personally Serge Sargsyan for sponsoring
the concert, and in the end there was a thunder of applause in the
Republican Stadium, in front of thousands of audience and hundreds
of thousands of viewers who watched the live concert on TV. I do
not know whether it occurred to them that it was not a concert but
a musical method. If it did not occur to them, it means the method
failed. “And the bell sounded for the last time”.
The public did not get it. Because in public perception Serge Sargsyan
is a defense minister and the maximum he can do is to sponsor concerts
in military units on some holidays. If Serge Sargsyan has nothing to
do in the post of the defense minister, he may quit office and sponsor
arts. None of the six posts he occupies is related to concerts. And it
is interesting to know on what money the defense minister sponsors the
concert, which was, by the way, organized rather professionally. At any
rate, it is interesting to know how the defense minister sponsored the
concert, on the money or assets of the army, Yerevan State University,
the Federation of Chess, the Armenian-Russian Government Commission,
the Council of National Security or the Council of the Republican
Party. How? On what money was the method searched for, which, by the
way, was not found and will not be found? For as the poet said, the
person does not look for a method, the method finds the person. And
the later it is found, the more suitable it is.

PRO-TURKEY FORCES PRESSING EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO RETREAT FROM PRINCIPLED STAND ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 10:29
The European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs is scheduled on
September 4th to consider a draft report on Turkey prepared by Dutch
MEP Camiel Eurlings (EPP). Over the past two months, pro-Turkish forces
with European institutions have sought to ignore or marginalize more
than 340 amendments, mostly critical of Turkey, that have been offered
to the measure.
The draft prepared by Eurling deals with the Armenian Genocide in
a vaguely worded paragraph that calls upon the Parliament to “take
note of the proposal by Turkey to establish a bilateral committee
of experts in order to overcome the tragic experience of the past,
and the position of Armenia regarding that proposal” and “urge both
the Turkish government and the Armenian government to continue their
process of reconciliation leading to a mutually acceptable resolution.”
“This formulation, which is patterned after the outright denial
position of the Turkish government, represents a retreat from the
Parliament’s traditional posture of calling on Turkey to properly
acknowledge this crime against humanity. This proposed dramatic shift
in position prompted a broad range of MEPs to offer amendments to
this measure.
With regard to Turkey’s blockade of Armenia, the draft report “urges
Turkey to take the necessary steps, without any preconditions, to
establish diplomatic and good neighborly relations with Armenia and
to open the land border at an early date, in accordance with the
resolutions adopted by Parliament between 1987 and 2005.”
Rather than recognizing that the large number of amendments reflect
broad-based dissatisfaction with the draft’s pro-Turkey bias, the
Rapporteur and political party leaders chose to propose their own set
of proposed “compromise” changes. These proposals largely ignore the
vast majority of the amendments.
The managers of this process, in the place of allowing MEPs
to weight the merits of the amendments, have chosen instead to
reduce these concerns to a series of weak and basically ineffectual
measures. Collectively, the “compromise” proposals that have more in
common with Turkish government’s position than the standing policy
of the European Parliament.
“The draft and the changes being put forward by the Rapporteur don’t
represent a compromise, but rather a profound retreat from the European
Parliament’s principled position,” declared the Chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation, Hilda Tchoboian.
The European Armenian Federation encourages Members of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs to exercise their right to vote on the duly offered
amendments urging Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide as a
precondition for joining the European Union. The Federation also
calls upon MEPs to vote for amendments calling upon the Commission
to include in the Ankara Roadmap framework the necessity that Turkey
recognizes the Armenian Genocide and lifts its blockade of Armenia.
“On these vital issues, Members of the European Parliament understand
that the false compromises being put forward would both undermine the
EU’s values as well as its security interests. A retreat from principle
will not encourage progress by Turkey, but rather be interpreted as
a sign of weakness that will only embolden the Turkish leadership
in its implementation of ultra-nationalistic policies,” concluded
Hilda Tchoboian.

VARDAN OSKANIAN: IF NOT THE 1991 REFERENDUM, NKR WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 11:45
If not the referendum on independence, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
would not exist today, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said during
the Yerevan-Stepanakert spacebridge broadcast by the Public Television
of Armenia.
In the Minister’s words, the people of Nagorno Karabakh had no
alternative to the declaration of independence, without which
Armenians could not have mobilized their forces. The legality of
NKR independence reinforces the positions of the Armenian side in
the negotiation process, notwithstanding the fact that today the
international community considers the question exceptional from the
political perspective, not a legal one. Just In the political field
the Armenian side should apply every effort to reach the desirable
result in the negotiations, taking into consideration the legitimacy
of the decision the people of Karabakh took on September 2, 1991.

TURKEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, GERMAN PARLIAMENTARIAN CONSIDERS
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 13:58
“Turkey should recognize the crime committed against the Armenian
nation during Ottoman rule,” said members of the Social Democratic
Party of Germany, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary German-Caucasian
Friendship Group Yorg Taus.
The politician noted that Germany is interested in the stable
development of the South Caucasus, ArmInfo reports. “Germany is
interested in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan primarily from economic
and political perspectives. By the way, the interest is not restricted
to the existence of oil in Azerbaijan.
The region is attractive from perspective of strategic importance
and closeness to Iran,” he noted.
“Negotiations are under way between Armenia and Azerbaijan on
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as the
closed borders and the relations with Turkey. All the enlisted
aspects have negative impact on the development of relations,” the
German Parliamentarian noted, adding that Germany stands for the
balanced development in the region. Yorg Taus is optimistic about
the opportunity of settlement of the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.

NKR IS FIFTEEN
Yerkir.am
September 01, 2006
On September 2, 1991, the people of Nagorno Karabakh declared its
independence by adopting the Declaration of Establishing the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic on the territories of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous
Region and Shahumian District.
Today, the most powerful arguments for Karabakh to emerge from the
current processes are the people’s freedom-loving spirit and its will
to have the full control of its destiny.
We are congratulating all of us on the 15th anniversary of NKR
Independence and wish strong will and spirit.

NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRESENT NATIONAL ANTHEM
By Karine Mangassarian
Yerkir.am
September 01, 2006
“A necessity to change the national anthem can occur only when a new
situation emerges in a given country, when the country enters a new
period in its history. Today’s hurry around the national anthem is
artificial and offensive,” Vazgen Manukian states.
The constitutional amendments stated the necessity to have a law on the
national anthem. However, this constitutional provision is interpreted
by some people as a constitutional requirement to change the national
anthem. Manukian believes the reason for such a hurry is among other
things the wording of the respective constitutional provision. “I
think that if they want to change the anthem they should first of all
think – is there a better alternative? You need time for this. Today
is definitely not the right time for this,” Manukian stated.
Chairman of National Revival Party, National Assembly Deputy Albert
Bazeyan shares the opinion that the hurry of the inter-agency committee
is not justified since there is no public demand for changing the
anthem today.
National Assembly Deputy Shavarsh Kocharian believes the anthem
could be changed only if a better alternative is found. Chairman of
the Christian Democratic Party of Armenia Khosrov Harutyunian notes
changing the national anthem was included into his party’s platform
during the elections in 2003.
“The issue of changing the anthem should not be turned into a source
of political hassle. It should not be turned into an initiative of
individual poets or composers. They are trying to change the anthem
in an arbitrary manner.
This is not acceptable and we should do our best to stop this
initiative,” Harutyunian stated adding that more attention should
be paid to public opinion and people’s mood. Meanwhile, since in the
present pre-election period political disturbances are occurring the
issue can be easily manipulated for political purposes.
Chairman of the National Determination Party Paruyr Hayrikian believes
the intention to change the present anthem is not serious. “The
constitution stipulates the necessity for adopting a law on the anthem
and not the necessity to change the anthem. I have participated in the
process of constitutional amendments and I can assure that there is
no public demand for changing the anthem today. Several people want to
use this opportunity to please the Russians once again. Since Russian
President Vladimir Putin restored the anthem of the Soviet Union,
there people also want to do the same,” Hayrikian stated.
There might come the right time for changing the present anthem,
but today is not the right time for this. Our national anthem has
passed a long way; we have had our victories with this anthem; we
formed our First Republic with this anthem. Answering the question how
this initiative can be countered Hayrikian noted that serious public
discussions should be launched and further consistency should be
exerted during the hearings of the draft law in the National Assembly.
Today we can already see which political forces support the present
anthem and which forces want to change it. We do not know how this
issue will be settled. We will see this once the draft law on the
anthem enters the National Assembly’s agenda. No matter how this issue
will be settled, one thing is important – when we hear the national
anthem we should not only be impressed by its beautiful lyrics but we
should feel like looking back at our history and our victories. The
anthem should inspire us to live and work in our Homeland.

ARKADY GHUKASIAN: INDEPENDENCE IS THE ONLY CONDITION FOR THE KARABAKH PEOPLE TO PROSPER
Yerkir.am
September 01, 2006
In an interview with the Azat Artsakh newspaper, Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic President Arkady Ghukasian said that the independence is not
an end in itself but the only condition for the Karabakh people to
prosper on the land of its ancestors, Public Radio reported, citing
the news agency Mediamax.
“We knew that Karabakh’s international recognition would be a long
and bumpy road, which also depends on the geopolitical developments
in this region,” Ghukasian has said.
He has also added that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is a de facto
established state, and many accept that fact.
“We managed to not only defend our independence in a war initiated by
Azerbaijan but also to also overcome its consequences in a relatively
short historic period and build a state that in many aspects, including
democratization, is more advanced that Azerbaijan,” according to
Ghukassian.

ASHOT GHULIAN: ALL LEGAL ACTS OF DECLARING NKR WERE FAULTLESS
Yerkir.am
September 01, 2006
“The celebration of the 15th anniversary of the independence prove the
liveliness of our statehood and that the road we chose on September 2,
1991 was right,” Ashot Ghulian, the speaker of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic National Assembly, said in a live broadcast of the Karabakh
Public TV, news agency Regnum reported.
Declaring an independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic during the Soviet
rule was a brave move, Ghulian said.
He also said the process of declaring the NKR was faultless in terms
of legitimacy.
“All the steps made and all the legal acts to declare independence
were faultless, and we have never heard any criticism in this regard to
date,” Ghulian said. “We did everything in line with the international
law and laws of the Soviet Union.”
Speaking of the war and its consequences, Ghulian said that beginning
2000, a serious work has been done to overcome the war consequences
and develop the economy. He also pointed to the role of the army in
ensuring the country’s security.