Armenpress
FREE EYE OPERATIONS TO BE PERFORMED IN GYUMRI
GYUMRI, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS: On the initiative of
Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghukasian, socially unsecured
people of Gyumri who have eye problems will undergo
eye operations free of charge.
Hovhannes Simonian, an oculist of the Yerevan
Malayan medical center, will operate people who have
cataract. Mayor of Gyumri said that old people, those
who are included in the `Paros’ system, people who
have three and more teenage children, members of the
family of killed or handicapped freedom fighters will
undergo operations free of charge.
Around 120 residents of Gyumri have already applied
for having the operation, 25 of them will be operated
free of charge, for the rest the municipality of
Gyumri will pay the 60 percent of the cost of the
operation.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
August 11, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA URGES ADMINISTRATION TO OPPOSE DEPLOYMENT
OF TURKISH FORCES TO LEBANON-ISRAEL BORDER
— Argues that “the presence of Turkish troops would undermine
United States’ interests in a lasting and durable peace”
WASHINGTON, DC – In the interest of preventing further regional
unrest – and mindful of Turkey’s violent legacy in the Middle East
– the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) this week
expressed the Armenian American community’s opposition to the
prospect of Turkish armed forces being deployed between Lebanon and
Israel as part of a future peacekeeping operation.
In an August 9th letter to President George W. Bush, ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian called upon the Administration to oppose any proposal
to include Turkish troops in such a deployment, noting that,
“Turkey’s presence on Lebanese soil will only make the current
situation even worse.” He added that, “as Armenian Americans – the
sons and daughters of a people who endured genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Turkish government – we are especially mindful of
raising the legacy of Turkey’s brutal Ottoman rule over the Middle
East and unnecessarily introducing a nation with history of
destabilizing behavior into an already complex and highly sensitive
region.”
Stressing that, “Turkey’s record of persecution and genocide has
left deep scars in the collective memory of the Lebanese people,”
Hachikian explained that, “it would be immensely insensitive on the
part of the United States to promote Turkish participation in an
international peacekeeping force that will need every ounce of
credibility and goodwill that it can muster in order to succeed in
such a highly delicate and challenging mission.”
The opposition of the Greek American community on this matter was
communicated to the President last week in a letter from the
American Hellenic Institute.
The complete text of the ANCA’s letter to President Bush is
provided below.
#####
August 9, 2006
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to share with you the Armenian American community’s
opposition to any deployment by Turkey of its armed forces to serve
as part of peacekeeping force between Lebanon and Israel. We
learned of this possibility from news reports of Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice’s recent discussions in the region.
The presence of Turkish troops would undermine United States’
interests in a lasting and durable peace. As Armenian Americans –
the sons and daughters of a people who endured genocide at the
hands of the Ottoman Turkish government – we are especially mindful
of raising the legacy of Turkey’s brutal Ottoman rule over the
Middle East and unnecessarily introducing a nation with history of
destabilizing behavior into an already complex and highly sensitive
region.
Turkey’s record of persecution and genocide has left deep scars in
the collective memory of the Lebanese people. The famous Martyrs’
Monument in Central Beirut is a vivid reminder of the record of
mass brutality that Turkey has left behind in this tortured land.
It would be immensely insensitive on the part of the United States
to promote Turkish participation in an international peacekeeping
force that will need every ounce of credibility and goodwill that
it can muster in order to succeed in such a highly delicate and
challenging mission. Turkey’s presence on Lebanese soil will only
make the current situation even worse.
As Armenian Americans, we are, as you know, profoundly troubled
that, more than eight decades after the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire, the Republic of Turkey continues to deny this atrocity.
The Turkish government has compounded their ongoing attempts to
escape responsibility for this crime, effectively seeking to
complete the evil campaign launched in 1915, by, even today,
blockading and seeking to isolate Armenia. In addition, Turkey
maintains its military occupation of Cyprus, more than thirty years
after its illegal 1974 invasion. Within its own borders, Turkey is
regularly cited as among the worst abusers of human rights. In
only the past few days, the Turkish military has, against the
advice of U.S. officials, threatened to launch cross border attacks
into Iraq, a move that has the potential of severely destabilizing
U.S.-led coalition efforts to bring peace to this troubled nation.
As you know, Turkey has, in recent years, proven itself an
unreliable U.S. ally on a number of occasions. First and foremost
among these was its refusal, in March of 2003, to allow Coalition
forces to open a northern front in the Iraq War. Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld has said that the strength of the current
Iraqi insurgency is due, in large part, to Turkey’s rejection of
our request for cooperation in this crucial aspect of the war.
Mr. President, we respectfully call upon you to consider our
reservations, and those already expressed to you by our friends in
the Greek American community, on this matter of profound importance
to our nation’s interests in the Middle East.
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

Armenpress
ROBERT KOCHARIAN VISITS ARMENIAN PROVINCE OF LORI

SPITAK, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President
Robert Kocharian visited today the Armenian province
of Lori and got acquainted with the construction works
of individual houses in the village of Shirakamut
(former Nalband) which was the epicenter of the 1988
destructive earthquake. The funds for the construction
of the houses have been released from the Armenian
state budget.
The earthquake destroyed 701 houses in the village.
Until 1997 with different funds 356 houses were built,
in 2004 by the catholic health program 73 houses were
built, in 2005 the government released 26.1 million
drams from the state budget for the construction of 7
houses, this year 70.5 million drams have been
provided and 11 houses are being constructed. The
governor of the Lori province, who was accompanying
the president, said that 180 families are still living
in wagon-houses. He also said that gas, water and
electricity issues have been solved in the village.
The villagers, on their turn, complaint that only
one first-aid post is acting in the village and there
is a necessity to construct a hospital. President
Kocharian noted that gradually all the problems of the
village will be solved. The construction of the houses
will continue during the next years as well, a sport
gym of the village school will also be constructed.
He said the solution of the problems of the rural
areas is a priority for the Armenian authorities.

Panorama.am
13:49 10/08/06

FIVE SONGS SELECTED AS POSSIBLE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Armenia will soon have its new national anthem.
However, Gayane Durgaryan, press spokeswoman of the
ministry of culture and youth affairs, failed to
specify when. She neither refuted nor confirmed that
the anthem will be ready by September 21, Independence
Day. Five songs have been selected as the most
possible to become a national anthem, among them, one
on Aram Khachatryan’s music. They will soon be
presented to public judgment./Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
16:52 10/08/06

MIGRANTS FROM AZERBAIJAN GET FLATS FROM GOVERNMENT
Forced migrants from Azerbaijan, who have accepted
citizenship of Armenia, were donated flats in their
hostel in Yerevan. Some of the hostels are located
close to downtown Yerevan and are under the
jurisdiction of Department of Migration and Refugees.
Government press office told Panorama.am the
government reached this decision in its session today./Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
14:16 11/08/06

CONSUMER RIGHTS CENTER SAYS DANGEROUS TO BUY
WATERMELON
Abgar Yeghoyan, head of Consumer Rights Center (CRC),
referred to a government session, saying, `No goods
will be sold without an Armenian label starting from
July 1, next year.’ Yeghoyan said goods are in
unbearable hygienic conditions when sold outdoors
under such hot weather. He supported his words with
the findings of a food security monitoring, conducted
by CRC, and the inspections conducted by the state
epidemiological service. The epidemiological service
conducted an inspection of 57 juice sold in the
streets of Yerevan and discovered high proportion of
intestine bacillus in 35 percent of the juice. In some
cases, instant cups are used for the second time, he
claimed.
Yeghoyan said street trade is one of the unsolved
problems of Yerevan. He said local self-government
bodies are responsible to stop that. Yeghoyan warned
against buying watermelon and melon under such hot
weather, especially if they are sold on roads. He said
these fruits collect extra level of radiation in them
if left out under sun for a long time. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
18:11 11/08/06

ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT WORKS IN NORMAL REALM AFTER ATTEMPT
OF TERRORISM IN LONDON
Zvartnots Airport keeps on to its normal schedule and
so do the Armenian railways. The National Security
Service (NSS) of Armenia reported that NSS also works
in normal realm and security norms are respected at
all sites under NSS subordination.
Reminder: Special Service of Great Britain set an
alarm concerning a massive terrorism attempt at Hitrow
Airport in London. About 20 suspects are arrested.
British Security Services claim that this was just a
test operation to be followed by real attacks in the
coming few days. U.S. President George Bush has
reportedly said, `We are in a war with Muslim
fascism,’ RFE/RL reports. /Panorama.am/

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
August 11, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER “EXTREMELY CONCERNED”
OVER AMB.-DESIGNATE HOAGLAND’S RELUCTANCE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Sen. Coleman Vows to Vote Against Hoagland Nomination
WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), in a
letter to the Armenian National Committee of Nevada (ANC-NV),
reported that he is “extremely concerned” by the reluctance of
Richard Hoagland, the Administration’s nominee to serve as the next
ambassador to Armenia, to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Senator Reid’s public stand follows the August 2nd announcement by
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) that he will vote against the Hoagland
nomination because of the nominee’s refusal to properly recognize
the Armenian Genocide as a “genocide.” Sen. Coleman serves on the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“The opposition of Senator Norm Coleman and concerns raised by
Harry Reid – the Senate’s Democratic Leader – reflect the growing
bipartisan opposition to the approval of a U.S. envoy to Yerevan
who refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We continue to work in
communities around the nation to explain to Senators the damage to
U.S-Armenia relations – and, more broadly, to America’s standing on
genocide prevention efforts worldwide – that will be done by
approving a nominee that has actually denied the genocidal intent
of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.”
Responding to grassroots concerns raised by Nevada’s growing and
increasingly active Armenian American community, Senator Reid noted
that this refusal is “particularly troubling in light of the State
Department’s dismissal of the last Ambassador to Armenia, John M.
Evans following comments he made during a February 2005 tour of
Armenian-American communities in which he recognized the Armenian
Genocide. As you may know, the State Department has offered no
explanation for Evans’ dismissal.”
As reported by the Associated Press, Senator Coleman has explained,
“As someone of the Jewish faith, I bring a heightened sensitivity
to the reality of genocide and mass murder, and the importance of
recognizing it for what it is. I was brought up believing you
never forget the Holocaust, never forget what happened. And I could
not imagine how our ambassador to Israel could have any
effectiveness if he couldn’t recognize the Holocaust.”
On August 1st, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed
consideration of Ambassador Hoagland’s nomination, following a
request by the Committee’s Ranking Democrat Joseph Biden (D-DE) and
Senator John Kerry (D-MA). Also voicing support for the delay were
Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The
Committee is set to consider the matter during its regular business
meeting on September 7th.
To date, more than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
including Senators George Allen, Joseph Biden, Barbara Boxer,
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-
CT), Russell Feingold (D-WI), John Kerry and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD),
have contacted Secretary Rice or questioned Ambassador-designate
Hoagland directly regarding the Armenian Genocide. Senators Edward
Kennedy (D-MA) and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with over sixty members
of the U.S. House have also expressed serious concerns to the State
Department on this matter.
For a comprehensive overview of documents regarding the firing of
Ambassador Evans and the Hoagland controversy, visit:
p
#####

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Aug. 11, 2006
High court gunman’s father claims there are traitors in Turkey
The public enemy is not his son but “those who are enemies of Islam
and the nation’s moral values,” according to Idris Arslan, whose son
Alparslan is on trial for May’s Council of State shooting.
Answering the questions of reporters yesterday ahead of the first
hearing of May’s Council of State shooting case, Alparslan Arslan’s
father said people who don’t respect the values of the nation will be
punished.
“This nation will punish, one way or another, those who don’t respect
our values,” said Arslan, who works as an Education Ministry
inspector.
Also making a call on the media, Arslan told reporters, “Don’t be a
tool of imperialist forces. Serve your nation!”
He claimed that there are people in Turkey who are against Islam.
“There are enemies of Islam in this country. There are enemies of the
Koran. We’ve sacrificed 100,000 martyrs to this country. If
necessary, we will sacrifice more,” said Arslan.
“There are many Mehmets and Mustafas in this country who are indeed
Armenians or Greeks. They betray this country hiding behind
secularism,” claimed Arslan.
However he also stated that he never wanted such an attack to occur.
Asked to comment on his son’s desire to attend Friday prayers while
the hearing was in progress, Arslan said his son has been in prison
for a long time and that people should understand his request given
his son’s emotional state.

Zaman, Turkey
Aug. 11, 2006
What can be Done for Chechnya?
I had written two consecutive articles on the Chechen issue under the
headline, `A Chechnya Accounting,’ and tried to develop an approach
to the background of this dramatic problem. I promised I would write
on what could be done to end this tragic situation, which is rapidly
wearing down a nation.
Unfortunately, I was unable to keep my promise until now, because as
I was trying to draw attention to the forgotten Chechen issue, the
Palestine and Lebanon issues surfaced. The two problems drag on today
before the helpless eyes of the world community. Elected Palestinian
MPs are still in Israeli jails. As children are being killed in
Lebanon and its cities bombarded, western powers are engaged in
cease-fire debates that would even make crocodiles laugh.
I doubt I would be able to draw attention to the Chechen issue amid
new developments. Nonetheless, it is necessary to deal with this
almost-forgotten but challenging problem with common sense. A glance
at some statistics released by the pro-Russian government in Chechyna
will help understand the magnitude of the problem. Chechnya’s Deputy
Prime Minister Dukvaha Abdurrahmanov announced that 300,000 people
have been killed and over 200,000 others wounded since the war began
in 1994. These numbers represent nearly half the Chechen population.
One should add the four Chechen leaders killed while fighting for
independence, after the era of Dzhokhar Dudayev, to this death toll.
In my two previous articles I emphasized the necessity to evaluate
the problem. This is an evaluation of all those associated with the
Chechen cause, the Chechen people in particular and answers to the
following questions: What strategic and tactical errors have been
made during the course of the struggle? Why weren’t rogue armed
groups and ransom hackers in Chechnya controlled? Was the
international conjecture analyzed properly? Could the victory of the
Afghan mujahedeens over Soviet Union have been an example for
Chechnya? In this context, was independence the right choice?
Wouldn’t a broad-based coalition, like the one in Tataristan, have
been better for Chechnya? What should be done now?
Also in my previous article, I wrote how the Chechens are fervently
in favor of independence. However, However, whether this admirable
idealism was equally backed by realism was doubtful. This is because
it was almost mission impossible for Chechen leaders, under the most
difficult conditions, to learn about the world’s realities
immediately after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. I could
hardly find a sincere Chechen leader willing to deliver a
pro-democracy speech. A comparison could be made among Bosnian,
Albanian and Armenian leaders who were faced with similar problems
during those turbulent years.
I think the situation has not changed for the better. Chechens living
abroad have serious responsibilities. I wish a convention,
representing all Chechens, could be held to find answers to the
above-mentioned questions and to develop a vision for the future of
the Chechens.
There is a striking point included in reports by international human
rights organizations on Chechnya. These reports say most Russian
soldiers have returned to their barracks and that most of the raids
against the Chechen people are carried out by the pro-Russian
government troops. The current president of Chechnya is Ramazan
Kadirov, who is the son of former Chechen President Ahmed Kadirov who
was killed by Chechen insurgents. According to a Human Rights Watch
report, Kadirov is interim prime minister because he is under 30 and
is marking his authority everywhere with the help of a security
forces that include renegade insurgents.
Many Chechens, who wish to remain anonymous, believe this force is
more dangerous than the Russian force. Unfortunately, among Chechens,
the war of independence has the potential of turning to a blood shed.
Therefore, it is crucial for Chechens to unite and develop a common
vision that is compatible with the realities of our contemporary
world.
I will continue with `What can be done?’ in the next article.