European Armenian Federation
for Justice & Democracy

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN CIVIL SOCIETY

Signed by 261 associations throughout Europe

Please find attached the English, French, German and Italian version of the joint statement.

Dear Members of Parliament,

We, European citizens, follow up with a sustained attention the Union enlargement process and especially the developments relating to Turkey’s controversial candidature.

We took note of the report on `Turkey’s progress towards accession’ voted on Monday September 4 by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. We particularly noticed with delight that the European Parliament `reiterates its call on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide, as called for un the previous European Parliament resolutions of 15 December 2004 and 28 September 2005′ and `considers such acknowledgment to be a precondition for European Union accession’.

We were also informed about threatening pressures exerted on you by Turkey and the disinformation campaign in order to remove this mention. As citizens of the Union, we are absolutely indignant that a foreign power with radically anti-European values can thus alter the sovereign appreciation formulated by our European representation on this issue.

This is why we take the liberty of reminding you the following facts:

1. The call for the Armenian genocide acknowledgment as a precondition by the European Parliament does not constitute at all an additional requirement towards Turkey. This requirement was clearly formulated in almost the same wording, less than a year ago, in the resolution on `opening the negotiations with Turkey”:

`The European Parliament calls on Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union’ (P6_TA(2005)0350, 28/09/2005);
This formulation is in the political line of those written in the preceding resolutions of 18 June 1987 and 15 December 2004. To water down or to remove it would constitute an obvious sign given to Turkey that the European Parliament is on the point of denying its principles,

2. The fact that such a condition was not formally imposed to other Candidate States does not constitute an argument proving its non-admissibility. The application of other States even would not be taken into consideration. The acknowledgement of its crimes by the State who perpetrated it is an accession criteria,

3. the calls reiterated by the European Parliament concerning this issue allowed the beginning of timid debates in Turkey. Weakening these demands would constitute an objective support to nationalists who want to eliminate in Turkey some dissident voices on this matter and to keep Turkey away from our European standards,

4. Turkey, who claims to wish to debate on this question, still has not answered to the Armenian president proposal which consists in establishing an intergovernmental commission in order to examine how to solve all the problems between the two countries and to create diplomatic relations. On the other hand, Turkey continues to deploy its denialist strategy in terms of historians committees and opening of archives in order to extract the genocide question from the political context of its candidature for the Union,

5. The denial policy of Turkey is not only a permanent offence to our European values, it is also the mark of an ultranationalist and racial ideology which constitutes a concrete threat towards our societies and our children.

Communities throughout Europe which are watching with anxiety the negotiating process with Turkey will be terribly disappointed seeing the EP retreat from the very laudable position established by its Foreign Affairs Committee on such a fundamental principle. We urge you to come forward with a proud vote upholding the Parliament’s commitment in this matter.”

Consequently, we urge you to maintain in plenary session the clear and adequate formulation of the paragraph 49 adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

1. Mechitaristen Kongregation, AUSTRIA

2. Armenische Studentenvereinigung (ASV) und Östereich-Armenisches Sportkomitee (ÖASK) Ararat, AUSTRIA

3. Armenischer Allgemeiner Sport- und Pfadfinder Verein Wien (H.M.E.M) , AUSTRIA

4. Verein für die Betreuung von Migranten und Asylanten (HUYS-SPES) , AUSTRIA

5. Europäische Armenische Föderation für Justiz und Demokratie in Österreich, AUSTRIA

6. Armenisch-Apostolische Kirchengemeinde Österreichs St. Hripsime (Kirchengemeinde), AUSTRIA

7. Comité des Arméniens de Belgique, BELGIUM

8. FRA Tashnagtsoutioun, BELGIUM

9. Armenian youth cultural centre, BELGIUM

10. ASSOCIATION DES ARMENIENS DEMOCRATES DE BELGIQUE, BELGIUM

11. Assemblée des Représentants Arméniens de Belgique, BELGIUM

12. CCAF Centre-France, FRANCE

13. AACG Grenoble

14. ACA Vienne

15. ACA Lyon

16. ACS Villefranche

17. ADL

18. AMASC

19. ANA Grenoble

20. APECLE

21. Association Culturelle de Kharpert

22. Badanis Décines

23. C 24 Valence

24. CBAF Décines

25. CBAF Grenoble

26. CBAF Lyon-Villeuranne

27. CBAF St Maurice de Beynost

28. CBAF Vienne

29. Comité de Défense de la Cause Arménienne

30. CEDIA

31. Eglise catholique arménienne de Lyon

32. Eglise évangélique arménienne de Décines

33. Eglise évangélique arménienne de Lyon

34. FRA Décines

35. FRA Grenoble

36. FRA Lyon -Villeurbanne

37. FRA Vienne

38. France Karabagh

39. France Arménie

40. MCA Charvieu

41. MCA Chasse-sur-Rhône

42. MCA Décines, MCA Grenoble

43. MCA Vienne

44. MCA Villeurbanne

45. Nor Seround Décines

46. Nor Seround Lyon

47. Radio Arménie

48. Terre et Culture

49. UCFAF

50. Union Des Associations Arméniennes de St-Etienne et St-Chamond

51. UGAB Lyon

52. UGAB Vienne

53. UNEAA Lyon et environs

54. UNEA Pont de Chéruy

55. UMAF

56. CCAF Ile-de France, FRANCE

57. A.A. Ecole TEBROTZASSERE

58. AAAG (Ecole St Mesrop)

59. AAAS

60. ACEERF (Eglise Evangélique)

61. ADL Ramgavar

62. AFAJA

63. AFAV

64. Aide pour l’Arménie

65. ANACRA

66. ARMENIE Villages

67. ASK (Soutien Kharabagh)

68. ASPA

69. Ass Sainte Croix (Eglise Catholique)

70. Association Arménie/Kharabagh

71. AYP FM

72. CBAF

73. CDCA

74. CHENE

75. Collectif VAN

76. COPEA

77. Eglise Apostolique

78. FRA Dachnaktsoutioun

79. FRA Nor Seround

80. G2 IA

81. HAMASKAINE

82. HOMENETMEN

83. JAF

84. MAFP

85. Maison de la Culture de Paris

86. NAZARPEK

87. Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine

88. SD Hentchakian

89. SFA

90. UCAM (Arméniens de Montreuil)

91. UCFAF

92. UCIA

93. UGAB

94. UMAF

95. CCAF Sud France, FRANCE (25 associations signatrices)

96. Zentralrat der Armenier in Deutschland e.V., GERMANY

97. Armenische Gemeinde zu Berlin e.V. , GERMANY

98. Armenischer Kulturverein Hamburg e.V. , GERMANY

99. Armenische Kirche – München, GERMANY

100. Armenische Landsmannschaft zu Bayern e.V. , GERMANY

101. Armenisches Hilfswerk in Deutschland e.V. , GERMANY

102. Armenisch-Akademischer Verein 1860 e.V. , GERMANY

103. Norserunt-Deutschland, GERMANY

104. German-Armenian Studentsclub Haik, GERMANY

105. Institut für Armenische Fragen e.V. , GERMANY

106. Armenian National Committee of Greece, GREECE

107. Armenian Prelacy and National Committee of Orthodox in Greece, GREECE

108. Greek Armenian Forum, GREECE

109. Greek Armenian Friendship League, GREECE

110. Armenia Blue Cross of Greece, GREECE

111. Armenia Youth Federation, GREECE

112. Hamaskaïne Cultural Association, GREECE

113. Homenetmen, GREECE

114. Athletic Scout Organisation, GREECE

115. Armenian Charity Cross of Macedonia and Greece, GREECE

116. Azad Or : Armenian Daily Newspapers, GREECE

117. Djenazian Armenian High School, GREECE

118. Hagopian School, GREECE

119. Zavarian Armenian School, GREECE

120. Italian Civil Society Associations and Personalities, ITALY

121. AZAT

122. Redazione di ”La Voce Armena”

123. Communita Armenia

124. Consiglio per la comunità armena di roma

125. Redaction de

126. Redaction de “Akhtamar On Line”

127. Ettore Musco

128. Massimiliano De Sire

129. Gassia Manoukian

130. Tizzi Corrado

131. Mechitarian, Iganzia Maria Lucia

132. Patrizia Manduchi

133. Michelguglielmo Torri

134. Tosatti Marco

135. Aldo Baldini

136. Gloria Ruth Calfayan

137. Norberto Poggio

138. Gloria Calfayan [

139. Norberto Poggio

140. don Riccardo Pane

141. Tiziano Villa

142. rech

143. Flavia Randi

144. Deir Ghazarian

145. H.RIAN

146. flora khaciatrian

147. Rodolfo Caroselli

148. Anais Dilsizian

149. Raffi Kassapian

150. Hovsep Kassapian

151. Clara Kurkdjian

152. Angele Berberian

153. Yervant Berberian

154. Levon Balian

155. May Balian

156. Magda Balian

157. Nubar Kassapian

158. Araxi Kassapian

159. Anias Kassapian

160. Haig Kassapian

161. Yacoub Artine Hayatian

162. Barbara Faes

163. Vahan Shahbazians

164. Marilde Andreano

165. Daniela Chiappetti

166. Rodolfo Caroselli

167. Andrea Cramarossa

168. Canetta Nemo

169. Armen Gurekian

170. Tiziano Villa

171. Storia Libera

172. Pietro Salvatori

173. Dott. Matteo Compareti

174. Massimiliano De Sire

175. Michelguglielmo Torri

176. Avedis Naroyan

177. Enrico Potukian

178. GALEANDRO Angela

179. Marco Rossi

180. Anahid Zerunian

181. Wartanusch Zerunian

182. Paola Della Rosa

183. Sarkis Zerunian

184. Corrado Miceli

185. Marzia Chini

186. Simonetta Pandolfi

187. Luciano Desocio

188. Bruno, Marta
189.
190. Il Presidente Gen. Ennio Reggiani

191. Cristina Gervasi

192. Mary Avakian

193. Manuela Avakian

194. Francesco Castelli

195. Noemi Antranikian

196. Lia Avakian

197. Linda Avakian

198. Umberto Codeleoncini

199. Zekiyan Boghos

200. Nevart Cricorian

201. Arà Zarian

202. Andrea Malavolti
203. Maria Giovanna Stasolla

204. Tchakmichian Karina

205. morelli derberiaviano

206. Guido Grosso

207. Antranik Balian

208. Elisa Giunchi

209. Saro Lerner

210. Khodaveerdi Saro

211. Khodaveerdi Boranian Siranusch

212. Khodaveerdi Savadians Marò

213. Khodaveerdi Gayané

214. Boranian Gedik Alis

215. Beatrice Paccani

216. Paola Barbara Conti

217. Faticato Camillo

218. Mirco Medici

219. Giovannamr Rizzi

220. Lucia Menichelli

221. Gaetano Tursi

222. Emanuele Aliprandi

223. Aldo Ferrari

224. Roberta Aluffi

225. Edoardo De Giovanni

226. Beatrice Paccani

227. Federica Mancinelli

228. Arnaldo Peretta
229. Mildonian Paola

230. Francesca Giovannoni

231. Heratch Abdalian

232. Abdalian Armine

233. Nederlandse Armeense comité voor Rechtvaardigheid en Democratie(Haytad), NETHERLANDS

234. Armenian Cultural -Sport Union Almelo (Homentmen), NETHERLANDS

235. ANI Cultureel huis, NETHERLANDS

236. ARF Dashnaksoutyoun – Holland, NETHERLANDS
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANC PAC
104 N. Belmont St.
Suite 200B
Glendale, CA 91206
Press Release
ANC-PAC Praises Senator Boxer For Challenging Bush Administration’s
Recall of Armenian Ambassador Hoagland Questions Whether There Was Intent
to Destroy Armenian People in 1915
September 26, 2006
Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Political Action
Committee issued a statement this week praising U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
(D-CA) for challenging the Bush Administration’s decision to recall
Ambassador John Marshall Evans from his post in Yerevan, Armenia. Most
recently, Senator Boxer voted against the nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia as a result of unanswered questions about the recall of John
Evans.
Ambassador Evans was directed by the Department of State to return
prematurely to the United States as a result of remarks he made in February
of 2005 acknowledging the Armenian Genocide at a community forum in the San
Francisco-Bay area. President George W. Bush declared his intent to nominate
Richard Hoagland on May 25, 2006 to replace Ambassador Evans.
“Senator Boxer has been a major force in exposing the State Department’s
indefensible decision to fire Ambassador Evans for openly and honestly
discussing the Armenian Genocide. The Senator’s courage in challenging a
bankrupt policy of denying the Armenian Genocide is deeply appreciated by the
over 700,000 Armenian Americans who live and work in the State of
California,” remarked ANC-PAC Chairman Leonard Manoukian.
On June 28, 2006 Senator Boxer submitted a series of questions to
Ambassador Richard Hoagland, whose previous post was in Tajikistan.
Specifically, the Senator asked Hoagland why the Armenian Genocide does not
meet the definition of genocide. In reply to this question, the
Ambassador-designee cited the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and made the case that the Armenian
Genocide did not meet the “intent” clause of the convention. In the words of
Hoagland, the Turkish Ottoman authorities had no “specific intent to destroy,
in whole or in substantial part” the Armenian people in 1915.
In another affront to the Armenian American community, Hoagland dismissed
the need to refer accurately to the murder of 1.5 million Armenians as
genocide as a “legal debate over a technical definition.” The
Ambassador-designee’s reply was in response to a question posed by Senator
Boxer about the need to abide by the President’s National Security Strategy
which has, as an aim, the goal of preventing genocide.
“Our organization is deeply disturbed with the insensitive reply
Ambassador Hoagland provided to Senator Boxer’s question about why he
believes the Armenian Genocide does not meet the State Department’s own
definition of genocide,” explained Manoukian. “Mr. Hoagland is either ill
informed on the history of the Armenian Genocide or willfully provided an
inaccurate reply to Senator Boxer’s query. In either case, providing such an
argument, that the Armenian Genocide was not committed with intent to destroy
the Armenian people, ought to give pause to all people of good will about his
qualifications to be posted in Yerevan to represent the American government,”
he added.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action
committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress
who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at
the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American
community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a
century old tradition of Armenian Americans engagement on the public policy
issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the
White House.
If you receive this email as “Junk” or “Spam”, please make sure to add our
email as a “Safe” or “Trusted” contact.

PRESS RELEASE
Eurasia Foundation
4 Demirchyan Str., Yerevan 0019, Armenia
Contact: Alisa Alaverdyan
Tel/Fax: (374 10) 586059
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Eurasia Foundation Supports Resource Development In Rural Communities

Yerevan, Armenia – More than 190 NGOs and informal community groups in
Armenia’s regions will gain access to trainings and resources through a
program administered by Eurasia Foundation’s (EF) representative office in
Armenia, enabling them to play a more effective role in the development of
rural communities. A total of $130,000 was awarded to nine organizations to
build their ability to serve as hubs and resource centers for local NGOs and
citizens.
The grants will expand the services provided by these nine resources
centers, allowing them to provide trainings to local NGOs in skills such as
participatory needs assessments, program development and fundraising,
community mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation. The centers will also
provide basic support such as Internet access, translation, and copy and fax
services.
“By strengthening the capacities of local NGOs and citizen groups to tackle
issues of local importance, EF hopes to build local ownership of the
development process and engage community members in the decision-making
processes,” says Ara Nazinyan, EF’s Country Director in Armenia.
In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of each resource center, the
Foundation will also support capacity development activities for each
partner organization so that they can later provide trainings and other
services on a fee-for-service basis to other NGOs, donors, businesses and
community groups.
These organizations were identified by EF through an open grants competition
and selected due in large part to their strong potential for organizational
sustainability. They will be linked through network of Resource Centers for
Community Development to promote the exchange of information and experiences
between centers. The centers are: NGO Center for Civil Society Development
(Lori), Martuni Women’s Community Council (Gegharkunik), Kaghni Social
Ecological Governmental Organization (Tavush), Huysi Kamar Gyullibulagh NGO
(Shirak), Civil Initiative Center Vahagni XXI NGO (Lori), Goris Youth Union
Public Organization (Syunik), Nvatshum Youth NGO (Tavush), the A.D. Sakharov
Armenian Human Rights Protection Center (Shirak), and Sisian Development
Center Public Organization (Syunik).

Dink Accused of Insulting Turkish Identity
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
zaman.com
An indictment was prepared for Agos newspaper Editor-in-Chief Hrant
Dink and two administrators of the newspaper for `insulting the
Turkish identity.’ The Sisli Public Prosecutor’s indictment reads
that Hrant Dink quoted a statement that he made to a foreign news
agency on July 21, 2006 an issue of Agos Newspaper.
The indictment quotes Dink as purportedly saying `I define it as
genocide because the result itself defines the event and names it. We
can now see that a nation, which has been living on these lands for
4,000 years, is on the verge of disappearing following these
developments.’ The indictment asks for up to three years imprisonment
for Hrant Dink and administrators Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan
according to article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO REFLECTS APPROACHES TOWARDS PRINCIPLES OF AZERBAIJAN – AZERI MP
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2006
The attitude NATO Parliamentary Assembly towards the fireplaces
requires to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the member of the
Azerbaijani delegation in NATO Parliamentary Assembly, MP Zahid Oruj
told Trend.
The Deputy noted that the Azerbaijani delegation may establish its
activities on the level of associative membership. “The associative
membership doesn’t take any steps, but is involved in raising questions
and presenting problems, and cannot influence the made decisions,”
Oruj said. In addition, he emphasized that the attitude of NATO
Parliamentary Assembly towards this issue is very important.
The attitude NATO Parliamentary Assembly towards the fireplaces
requires to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “It is impossible to
await that NATO may apply any sanctions in relation with this issue,
and send its armed forces to the territory of South Caucasus,” Oruj
spelled out.
He added that earlier, NATO Parliamentary Assembly considered
this problem from the point of view of Armenia, but now views have
changed. “At present, NATO reflects approaches towards the principles
of Azerbaijan,” Orujov concluded.

TURKEY AND THE WESTERN QUESTION
Polina Slavcheva
Sofia Echo, Bulgaria
Sept 25 2006
The Director of Programmes of the Institute for Regional and
International Studies Marin Lessenski comments on Turkey’s cooling
toward the EU and the US:
UNEASY RELATIONS: EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, left, and Turkish
and Austrian foreign ministers Abdullah Gull and Ursula Plassnik in
Vienna. Turkey may be steadily moving away from the West and pursuing
alternative policies, specialists say.Turkey has been steadily moving
away from the West in recent years and pursuing its own policy that
some experts refer to as Eurasian, and the Transatlantic public opinion
survey of 12 European countries and the US showed that Turkish people
approve that. The downward trend in Turkey-US relations was there
since the Iraqi war, when Turkey denied American troops access to its
territory. Americans were then mad at Turkey, to say the least, and
further frictions followed when Turkey warmed to Syria and Iran. Turkey
has recently also developed a security co-operation with Iran. And
this year, the US named Iran security threat number one. Turkey also
managed to antagonise Israel and the powerful Israeli lobby in the US
after prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to Israel’s policy
as state terrorism. There is another thing that concerns Bulgaria
also. Turkey opposes US policy in the Black Sea region and south
Caucasus by not allowing the Nato navy to enter the Black Sea region at
a time when the US wants to expand the Nato anti-terrorist operation
from the eastern Mediterranean to the Black Sea. (There is another
dimension to Turkey-US relations): Whenever Turkey’s relations with
the US deteriorate its relations with its eastern neighbours improve. I
mean Iran and especially Russia. The Turkey-Russian partnership started
several years ago. Russia is the second trading partner of Turkey
after Germany and its energy resources are the primary vehicles of
Turkish economy. There are many cases when their interests coincide,
especially in the Black Sea region and the south Caucasus. They also
share many concerns about the EU. But the most important thing is
that they pursue independent Eurasian policies. For centuries, the
Russian and Turkish empires have been enemies, and now they are very
good friends. The US, of course, does not like this.
Will this friendship weigh down heavier than that with the EU?
It could become an alternative if Turkey at some point decides that
the West has offended it too much. If the EU and Turkey decide on a
strategic partnership now, it could benefit both sides. Their relations
now are very emotional. Turkey is offended by the EU because it put
its negotiations off for too long. Its candidate status was agreed to
in 1999 and negotiations started in 2005. For six years, the Turkish
had enough time to think they were offended.
And the EU sometimes pushes Turkey too much.
Wouldn’t having bad relations with the US make Turkey a better friend
of the EU?
These are separate things. Currently, the Turkish secular establishment
is angry both at the US for its policies, because they see US influence
in the Middle East as something bad for Turkey, and at the EU, because
they think that it supplies double standards; and that central and
eastern European states were tolerated because they were Christian.
Will the Pope’s statement give fuel to this idea?
Absolutely; along with the revival of the issue of Christianity in
the EU constitution, which German chancellor Angela Merkel recently
brought up. There is something very wrong in Turkey’s understanding of
accession. The acquis is not negotiable, and Turkey is negotiating it.
Is Turkey slipping from the hands of the EU? Turkish novelist Eli
Shafak, who wrote about the plight of Armenians, has said that court
cases like hers attempt to stop Turkey’s accession.
I don’t think Turkey will recognise the genocide soon. And since
this is a condition of EU membership, Turkey will probably halt
negotiations. Turkey would do that whenever they think negotiations
don’t fit their national interest. They will not enter the EU at any
price. EU Commissioner Olli Rehn is trying to avert a train wreck, as
he said, by moving the Cyprus issue for next year. He will probably put
the question before the European Court, and until they take a decision
there will be another year for negotiations. Of course, neither side
wants to stop the process completely. By accepting Turkey, the EU would
become a powerful geopolitical player, especially in the Middle East
(ME). But Turkey also has a colonial past in the region. So there
would be ME concerns that Turkey would want to re-establish their
empire, which is why Turkey did not send troops to Iraq, at least not
officially. They sent troops to Kurdistan in north Iraq because the
Iraqis didn’t want their former colonial master to claim lands like
Kirkuk, which is populated by Turkmen as well. It is the same with
Lebanon. The pros and cons should be estimated carefully.
What goes on in Turkish intellectual circles regarding the EU?
There is a rift. On the one hand, you have the secular establishment
of the bureaucracy and the military that we can conditionally call the
Ankara circle. They think some EU demands threaten Turkish national
security. And those demands include the rights of minorities because
Kurdish terrorism is on the surge in Turkey – there were several
blasts in summer resorts. So, this establishment is sceptic toward EU
accession, even if it was educated in Western universities and speaks
several Western languages. The other circle is more liberal. We can
conditionally call them the Istanbul circle. They are more ready
to accept demands for democratisation, claims to recognise Cyprus,
and discussions on sensitive issues. But we should not forget that
the Justice and Development Party now in power does not have good
relations with any of the two sides.

CHAIR OF PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON NK TO MEET WITH AZERI, ARMENIAN DELEGATES DURING AUTUMN SESSION OF PACE
Author: A.Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2006
The chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE), Lord Russell Johnson will meet with
the heads of the Azerbaijan and Armenian delegations, Agshin Mehdiyev
the permanently representative of Azerbaijan at the Council of Europe
informed Trend.
He noted that the meeting will be held during the autumn session of the
PACE to be held from 2 to 6 October. The head of the Ad Hoc Committee
will mull the visit of some members of the Committee to the region.

TELL ME A STORY
By Kathleen Cordeiro/ Family Fun
Parents & Kids, MA
Sept 25 2006
“Three apples fell from heaven:
One for the teller of the tale;
One for the listener;
And one for all the people of the world.”
-Traditional Armenian ending for stories
If the traditional Armenian ending for stories is true, the heavens
above Bedford will break open this month, when the Three Apples
Storytelling Festival brings together storytellers from around the
state and across the country in a weekend of masterful performances,
amateur story swaps and traveling tales.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival demonstrates that storytelling is
for children, octogenarians and everyone in between. And while Three
Apples (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) has adults-only events ranging from evening
performances to classes with the masters, the best memories may be
made in the family-friendly performances that take place throughout
the day on Saturday, or from the vantage point of a blanket at the
free events on the Town Common.
The storytellers have been selected for the breadth and balance they
will bring to the event, according to Susan Harris, treasurer of the
Three Apples Storytelling Festival. The three featured performers
are a case in point. Jay O’Callahan – one of the founding members
of Three Apples – has been a storyteller for 25 years. His stories
range from his growing up years in Boston, to the dramas of World
War II to species extinction. O’Callahan has discovered stories as
well as told them as he travels around the world to perform.
“The storyteller of old got on a horse,” he said. “I get on a plane,
parachute into a community and I’m part of its life for a while before
moving on to the next one.”
O’Callahan will host a family concert on Saturday afternoon and will
open the festival on Saturday morning with fellow featured performer
Elizabeth Ellis.
Ellis is a renowned teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories
of heroic American women. She grew up in the Appalachian Mountains
and learned to tell stories from her grandfather, a circuit-riding
minister. Although Ellis has been a featured performer at storytelling
festivals around the world, this will be her first appearance at the
Three Apples. In addition to opening the weekend, she will perform
for school-age children.
Rounding out the trio of featured performers is Antonio Rocha, who
has studied mime with masters Marcel Marceau and Tony Montanaro.
His tales take listeners on a journey to his native Brazil and around
the world, using mime, theater and sound effects. Rocha will host the
free Community Stage on Bedford Town Common and perform for school-age
children Saturday afternoon.
O’Callahan, Ellis and Rocha will be joined by 10 accomplished
storytellers from around New England, who have been selected based on
their body of work In addition, there will be selected tellers (all
members of the League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling)
who auditioned specifically for this year’s Three Apples Storytelling
Festival.
“Every year we find people we have never heard of before,” Harris
said. This year, Vics & Sticks are among those unknowns. They are
musical storytellers and will host a portion of the Story Swap on
Bedford Common.
This is the first year that Bedford has hosted the festival and Bedford
Center for the Arts has worked to ensure that festival-goers are warmly
welcomed, with indoor performance venues located close to the Common,
free parking – even for bicyclists who take advantage of the Minuteman
Bike Trail – and shuttle buses from selected parking lots.
At two sites, Town Common and the John Glenn Middle School, there
is a marketplace and food. Visitors can find published selections
from every featured teller. Homemade meals and apple treats will be
available for purchase, benefiting Bedford community groups.
The schedule
Performances on and around the Bedford Town Common begin on Saturday,
Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. with the Festival Opening featuring Ellis and
O’Callahan. Bring a blanket and enjoy the free Story Swapping Ground
from 10:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on the Common. Anyone from toddlers to
adults, amateurs to professional tellers, can share a story.
At 11:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Saturday are a selection of eight
performances for adult, elementary and preschool audiences at indoor
venues around the Common.
Gain insight into how storytellers work on their craft with Antonio
Rocha at the free Community Stage on the Town Common at 12:30
p.m. Rocha will work with volunteer audience members to improve their
storytelling right in front of your eyes.
Participate in Traveling Tales and see how stories evolve over time
as they are told and re-told. Look for people with story pouches
and ask them to tell you the story, then you get the pouch and pass
the story onto the next person who asks. Come to the Traveling Tales
Finale on the Town Common at 4:45 p.m. to see what happened to the
stories over the course of the day.
Special Events take place at the John Glenn Middle School including
the Family Concert with Jay O’Callahan at 2 p.m., an Adult Concert
with Jay O’Callahan at 7 p.m. and Down Home Humor featuring Elizabeth
Ellis, Kevin Brooks and Antonio Rocha at 8:30 p.m. Or if you dare,
join Terror in the Night Ghost Stories with Laura Packer, Tony Toledo
and Elizabeth Ellis at First Parish Bedford at 8:30 p.m.
Adults may sign up for separate Sunday master classes with Jay
O’Callahan and Elizabeth Ellis, or a master coaching class with
Antonio Rocha.
For more information or to register go to or
call 781-287-0069.

GEORGIA GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE
Dmitry Sidorov, Washington; Vladimir Solovyev
Kommersant, Russia
Sept 25 2006
NATO prepares to accept its first member from the CIS Speaking at
the United Nations last week, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili
accused Russia of “annexation” and “bandit occupation” of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia. His sharp tone was related to approval by the
top foreign officials of the NATO states of an “intensive dialog”
with Tbilisi, which is practically the same as an invitation to
membership. That promises nothing good for Russia.
Dreams Come True
Saakashvili made his eyebrow-raising appearance at the Friday session
of the UN General Assembly in New York. During his 20-minute expose of
Russia’s destructive role in the restoration of Georgian territorial
integrity, he demanded that Moscow withdraw its peacekeeping troops
from Abkhazia and South Ossetia immediately, since “their mission has
nothing to do with maintaining peace.” Then the Georgian president
criticized Kremlin policy toward Georgia.
“Those regions,” he said, referring again to Abkhazia and South
Ossetia, were annexed by our neighbor to the north, Russia, which
supports their inclusion as part of it, intentionally mass issuance of
Russian passports in violation of international law… The residents
of the disputed regions live under the bandit occupation of Russia. I
doubt that there is anyone in this auditorium who would tolerate that
type of interference on their territory.”
Saakashvili’s strong words were unprecedented. Russia had never been
accused of “annexation” before, much less from the floor of the UN.
Previously, Tbilisi had criticized Moscow through Georgian
Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili and the fact that such serious
accusations are now coming from the head of state is an indication
that Georgian-Russian relations have reached a new level of
hostility. According to information obtained by Kommersant, the U.S.
administration asked Saakashvili to tone down his statements.
Nonetheless, such phrases as “bandit occupation” and “accomplices of
the Russian peacekeepers” remained.
The Georgian president’s boldness is obviously a byproduct of Tbilisi’s
recent diplomatic victory. Before Saakashvili’s UN appearance the top
foreign officials of the 28 member states of NATO decided to integrate
Georgia more closely into their ranks and approved the transition to
a phase of “intensive dialog” with the country.
Former Czech president Vaclav Havel coined the term “intensive
dialog.” The phase implies closer integration into NATO and is
essentially the penultimate step toward membership in the alliance.
The Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary were the first country to
complete the intensive dialog phase successfully and the phase has been
a mandatory step for all entrants since 1997. Thus Georgia, which has
always made its desire for membership clearly known, has received the
signal that its wish may become reality. Georgia is the first, and so
far only, CIS country that can boast of this close relationship with
NATO. NATO’s step is exceptional also because one of the conditions for
accession to the organization is the lack of conflicts on the territory
of the candidate state. Georgia has two conflict zones, Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, and armed conflicts breaks out in them from time to
time. It seems Brussels has decided to close its eyes to that detail.
Georgian authorities are unabashedly happy and they are certain
that nothing will interfere with their speedy progress in NATO. “We
are close to NATO membership,” Saakashvili said yesterday as he
congratulated Georgian judoists on their victory over their Russian
opponents in a world championship finals match in Paris. “The Russian
judo team has created certain problems for the Georgian sportsmen,
just as Russia is creating problems for Georgia on its way to NATO.
But Georgia is already in the semifinal in that question, and nothing
will stop it from going to the final.”
Russia Resists
Georgia’s accusations did not go unnoticed by Russia, although Moscow
responded in a softer tone. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,
who was also at the session of the UN General Assembly in New York,
stated that the Georgian president had “twisted facts” and Georgia was
buying “a large quantity of offensive weapons.” Lavrov complained of
“numerous violations by Tbilisi of the agreement on the settlement
of the Abkhazian conflict.” “The problems can only be solved with
mutual respect and on the basis of fact,” Lavrov said. “I did not hear
either in Mikhail Saakashvili’s speech.” Russian President Vladimir
Putin was still more reserved. “Mikhail Nikolaevich [Saakashvili] is
a hot-blooded person,” he noted. “In the Caucasus, all politicians
are marked by particular emotionality. All the more so since he is
concerned about his country and the situation that is developing
in the government.” He added that, should a compromise solution be
found to the conflicts on the territory of Georgia, Moscow was ready
to act as guarantor of such agreements.
The prospect of Georgia’s joining NATO caused a bigger stir in
Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry reacted
differently to the possibility of the organization’s appearance within
Russia’s zone of interests in the Caucasus. Russian Defense Minister
and Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov did not ascribe particular
meaning to it, saying that Georgia’s accession to NATO will not damage
Russia’s military security. Ivanov noted that Russia has the means
to neutralize the negative effects of the move. “We are building two
modern mountain brigades in the Caucasus now,” he said.
“Their personnel will operate in the mountains at high elevations.
Both brigades will be stationed directly on the border with Georgia,
so Russia’s security will not suffer.”
The Foreign Ministry did not share Ivanov’s calm and optimism but
reacted nervously to the NATO decision. “Any expansion of the alliance
will bring changes in security, but the case with Georgia has a special
character because of its proximity to Russia and the obvious complexity
pf the Caucasus problem,” reads the official statement of the Foreign
Ministry. “The accession of Georgia to the current, untransformed NATO,
if that intention is realized, will seriously affect the political,
military and economic interests of Russia and be negatively reflected
in the fragile situation in the Caucasus.” The ministry openly stated
Moscow’s displeasure. “The beginning of an intensive dialog means
that Georgia has been given new a status in relation to NATO. Our
negative attitude toward that is known.”
The Circle Narrows
The euphoria of Georgian authorities over the beginning of that
intensive dialog is connected with hopes for a quick settlement of
the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts. Tbilisi
is convinced that Moscow will obstruct that process and is counting
on NATO’s help to make Russia change its position. “We are certain
that the support of the leading powers will help solve the problem of
our territorial integrity,” stated Givi Targamadze, chairman of the
Georgian parliamentary committee on security and defense. “We hope
that it will also put an end to the tension in relations with Russia.”
Georgia’s hope may be justified, although settling territorial
conflicts in favor of Georgia is hardly NATO’s main goal in the
region. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline opened this year in the
Turkish city of Ceyhan. The pipeline goes to Europe around Russia and
is so far pumping oil from Caspian deposits belonging to Azerbaijan.
In the near future, Kazakh oil is to flow through the line as well.
The West, which was the main sponsor of the construction, needs
a firm guarantee of the line’s security, all the more so since the
Baku-Ceyhan leg of the pipeline passes through unstable areas. NATO’s
entry into the area could guarantee that stability.
The membership of Georgia alone may be insufficient to sooth Western
nerves, however. Therefore, increasing NATO activity in Azerbaijan
and Armenia may be expected. They already participate in NATO programs.

FUNDS FOR TURK-AZERI RAILWAY BANNED
UmÝt EngÝnsoy
Turkish Daily News , Turkey
Sept 25 2006
US Armenians back measure banning loans
The Senate’s Banking Committee has blocked any funding by the U.S.
Export-Import Bank for a proposed railroad project that would connect
Turkey with Azerbaijan through Georgia and would bypass Armenian
territory.
Backing a campaign by U.S. Armenian groups, the committee unanimously
approved the measure introduced by Democratic Senator Robert Menendez
of New Jersey in a Thursday vote.
According to the measure, the Export-Import Bank “shall not guarantee,
insure or extend (or participate in the extension of) credit in
connection with the export of any good or service relating to the
development or promotion of any railway connection or railway-related
connection that does not traverse or connect with Armenia, and does
traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars,
Turkey.”
The provision is now part of the Senate Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization Bill, also adopted unanimously by the committee,
paving the way for full Senate consideration of the legislation. The
bill welcomed by the Armenian National Committee of America is expected
to be approved at the Senate floor.
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