DAVIT HARUTUNYAN SAYS HIS STATEMENTS MAY CHANGE
Panorama.am
18:02 13/07/06
Justice minister Davit Harutunyan told a briefing that his statement
on possible promotion of his candidacy during presidential elections
may change. “I do not exclude anything. Everything will depend on
specific circumstances,” he said.
The justice minister also said that he will determine which political
force to join only after they make their practical steps to reach their
objectives more clear. “Most probably that will take place during
hot political campaign by the end of this year or early next year,”
he said. According to the minister, the priorities of the political
parties are not well defined by now.
He also said, however, he is actively involved in politics and has
proposed a number of amendments to laws./Panorama.am/

EU rebukes Turkey because of journalist condemnation
By our correspondent
NRC Handelsblad (Dutch Daily Newspaper)
13 July 2006
Brussels, 13 July. The Turkish government must amend the Penal
Code to the point that judicial sentences, that restrict freedom
of speech will no longer be possible. This is the reaction of EU
Commissioner for Expansion Olli Rehn to the judgement of the Turkish
Court of Appeal. This week the Court confirmed the sentence of a
Turkish-Armenian journalist, who in an article would have insulted
the Turkish identity. Rehn said he is “disappointed”. In autumn the
EU Executive will present a interim report concerning the reforms
in Turkey. This report will then decide about the negotiations with
Turkey on the EU-membership.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
COURT DATE SET FOR LAWSUIT CONTESTING REMOVAL OF GENOCIDE DENIALIST
MATERIALS FROM CURRICULUM GUIDE
Hearing Set for September
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly announced today that a lawsuit
brought by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and
others challenging the removal of genocide denialist materials from
Massachusetts classrooms has been scheduled for a hearing in Federal
Court on Monday, September 18, 2006.
U.S. District Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf will hear argument to have the
case dismissed. The Assembly filed a motion to dismiss last year,
as the ATAA and its revisionist associates failed to state a claim
for which relief can be granted. The motion to dismiss stated that
“Turkey has long denied responsibility for the Armenian Genocide,
despite incontrovertible evidence not only that the Armenian Genocide
occurred but that the Ottoman Turkish government was responsible.” The
Attorney General of Massachusetts also filed a motion for a dismissal.
“The plantiffs are arguing a tired and discredited practice that the
‘other side’ of the story should be taught under the First Amendment,”
said Assembly Board of Trustees Counselor and Vice Chair Robert
A. Kaloosdian. “The fact of the Armenian Genocide is incontestable
and therfore, our expectation is that this court will determine that
the plantiffs lack standing to sue and grant the defendant’s motion
to dismiss.”
The ATAA suit, filed in October 2005, seeks to reinsert genocide denial
materials into the Massachusetts school curriculum. The Massachusetts
school curriculum ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust, Armenian
Genocide, Irish Famine and other crimes against humanity are not
forgotten and are thus taught in the classrooms.
In March, the Assembly filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court)
brief in support of the Attorney General’s position defending the
rights of the Massachusetts Department of Education to teach the
facts of the Armenian Genocide. The amicus brief was in lieu of
the previously filed Motion to Intervene as Judge Wolf ruled that
the Attorney General’s Office is already adequately defending the
interests of the state and its citizens. The Armenian Bar Association
and the International Association of Genocide Scholars have also
filed amicus briefs.
To see the pleadings filed in the case, and for additional background
information, visit the “Genocide Denial Case” on the Assembly’s home
page at
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-067

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/14//2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenian Public Support For Karabakh Compromise 'Pointless Now' 2) Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon 3) Glendale's Attarian At Y8 Youth Summit 4) Amenian Relief Society of Western USA Regional Executive's Message On the occassion of the 86th Regional Convention 1) Armenian Public Support For Karabakh Compromise 'Pointless Now' YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Armenian government will not to seek domestic popular support for a compromise solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favored by international mediators until it is accepted by Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian indicated on Friday. In their recent statements that disclosed the essence of the proposed peace deal, the French, Russian and U.S. co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group urged the presidents of Armenia to display the necessary "political will" and prepare their publics for mutual painful concessions on Karabakh. "We think the parties would be well-served at this point by allowing their publics to engage in a robust discussion of the many viewpoints on those issues," read their statement issued on June 22. "We are confident that neither society wants renewed conflict, and we urge the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to work with their publics and to work with each other to formulate an agreement on core principles that both find acceptable." But according to Oskanian, initiating a public debate in Armenia will be pointless unless Azerbaijan accepts the Minsk Group plan as a basis for further negotiations. "I am not making and will not make any attempts to convince anyone, and especially our people, that the provisions of that document must be accepted, because the Azerbaijani side has yet to accept it," he told reporters. Official Yerevan has said that it finds the framework peace accord, which calls for a referendum of self-determination in Karabakh, largely acceptable to the Armenian side. The Azerbaijani leadership appears to be less supportive of the proposed formula, with President Ilham Aliev repeatedly stating that Baku will never agree to Karabakh's independence or reunification with Armenia. 2) Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia joined Arab nations and the European Union in condemning Israel for its military action against Lebanon that continued for a third consecutive day on Friday, heightening tensions in the Middle East. While denouncing the abduction of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight others by the Hezbollah militia, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said Israel should stop its air strikes against civilian targets in Lebanon. "Armenia condemns any violence whether it be abduction or use of force," the ministry said in a statement. "We particularly denounce the use of such disproportionate force intended solely to collectively punish civilians and damage infrastructure. This kind of reaction by Israel is particularly difficult to understand given the fact that the Lebanese government has clearly distanced itself from the abduction incident." "We hope that there will be restraint in the region and also hope there will be an immediate ceasefire so that the issues can be addressed by peaceful means," added the statement. Israel launched a widespread bombing campaign in Lebanon and tightened an air, sea and land blockade of its northern neighbor in response to Hezbollah's deadly cross-border attack on its troops. More than 60 civilians in Lebanon and two in Israel have been killed in the worst bout of fighting since Israel ended its occupation of south Lebanon six years ago Israeli air raids on Beirut international airport have disrupted Lebanon's air communication with the rest of the world, leaving thousands of travelers to and from the country stranded in the region. Among them was Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, who was returning from a visit to Armenia and - like many - was forced to make his way home through Syria. Salloukh's official visit to Yerevan highlighted warm relations existing between Armenia and Lebanon and other Arab states that have large and affluent Armenian communities. Armenians have for decades been represented in the Lebanese government and parliament. The country's President Emile Lahoud is half Armenian. Israel's "disproportionate use of force" was criticized on Friday by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, which now holds the European Union's rotating presidency. French President Jacques Chirac likewise said the Israeli military campaign is "completely disproportionate," while blasting Hezbollah for its "irresponsible" stance. Israel's actions, however, were effectively justified by U.S. President George W. Bush who said the Jewish state "has the right to defend herself." 3) Glendale's Attarian At Y8 Youth Summit ST. PETERSBURG--Glendale resident and Glendale High School student Shant Attarian, 15, is part of a team of students reprenting the US at the "Y8" summit, which convened in the St. Petersburg suburb of Poushkin. Participants of the "Y8" summit represent 13 to 17-year old students from the Group of 8 countries, whose leaders will convene the G8 this weekend. 4) Amenian Relief Society of Western USA Regional Executive's Message On the occassion of the 86th Regional Convention It Was the Best of Times; It Was the Worst of Times As we look back on this year and think of all the events, personalities, civic officials, projects, meetings meetings and more meetings. It seems that this quote from Charles Dickens is very appropriate. The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Regional Executive Board, kept up the momentum created last year and grew exponentially in many directions. Delegates from our entire region are meeting in the Whittier Radisson Hotel for the 86th Regional Convention. They brought with them the resolutions and projects from their respective chapters and have listened to the prepared reports and a retrospective look at the year... The Region has been productive. Our website is filled with the events and personalities of our Region and we have now started including the history of ARS and our region. Check it out at HYPERLINK "; www.arswestu sa.org and enjoy it with us. Our ARS Voice program is a reality and as we look back on our first year of programming, we are filled with wonder that with volunteer hours we have been able to enlarge our website and begin a TV program; both vital tools for communicating in this age of technology. A few days ago, I was reminded that the biggest breakthrough in communication was Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1453; which took the manually written Bible from the hands of the educated elite few; to the people. Television in the Twentieth Century broadened communication; but the age of the Internet has opened a floodgate of information and communication to every corner of the world. It is a major credit to the ARS of Western USA that we are linked to the world and we are very proud of it. This was also a year of challenges, our Social Services battled with grant renewals and cutbacks in staff. The region grappled with ways to encourage membership so that all the generations who join our treasured organization feel welcome and important. Our desire to expand services to reach out to more of our communities' concerns was hampered by difficulties raising money for local projects. Just when our challenges would feel too difficult, we would be reminded that the challenges of today are miniscule compared to the challenges of our heroines in the deserts of Der Zor who continued to teach the Armenian letters in the sand while they felt hopeless and violated. Or those members in our 96- year history who awe us with their sacrifices and dedication; walking, not driving, cooking not hiring cooks, writing not using computers; but always focusing on the goals and values of our people, our Armenian Relief Society, as Khatchouhies or Homouhis and always Ungerouhis. Our challenges include changing attitudes and perceptions in our membership that new ways of doing things is not a reason to forget the traditional ways, but must be used as an avenue to bring in new ideas, new members and new traditions. As an organization, When we are faced with troubles we wonder why do we have to go through this? We are trying to do good, we are giving with a true heart, and we are appealing for a good cause. Why does God allow these difficulties? We are then reminded of Malachi 3:3 which says: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"... which speaks of the character of God through the process of refining silver. For those who know the process the silversmith places the silver over the fire and lets it heat up. He needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest to burn away all the impurities and strengthen the metal. He needs to keep close attention the whole time the silver is in the fire. If the silver is left a moment too long in the flames, it will be destroyed. When the silver shines so that the silversmith can see his image, the silver is ready. So, we can be reminded that when we feel the heat of the fire on ourselves or on our organization we need to remember that God has His eye on us and will keep watching us until He sees His image in us. We need to know He is watching over us so whatever we are going through we will be purified and strengthened by the challenges. And challenges we have... Our delegates are faced with getting ready for the following year. They will face the challenge of our social and counseling services, of the needs of our orphans and kindergartens, the needs of bright young Saturday School students, women and children who are abused, and graduates who need scholarships for higher learning. They strive as members, to work to spread our message of service, to encourage others to join hands with us, to donate to our projects, because they know that we still have projects here and in our homeland needing funding. This is an age of the insidious genocide of our people through apathy, intolerance and indifference to our culture and our brethren in need; busy lives filled with selfish concerns and worshiping of money and status. Our delegates are different. They introduce and mentor new members, to help and serve one another on a continuous basis, they work to strengthen this important sisterhood, they are generous and help fund our projects so that we may be free to serve our communities large and small, locally and in the homeland. And they are striving to do it all with the most professional and excellent means available. Members of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA know that they can make a difference; and they do. Join us in service and encourage the next generation by your giving importance to the work of the previous generation. Join us and be blessed with the uniqueness of the ARS bonds of sisterhood. Join the Armenian Relief Society and make a difference in your life and the lives of others. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Henry Cuny: July 14 Holiday Not Only for French but Also for Armenians
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.07.2006 14:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “July 14 is a holiday not only for French but
also for Armenians. The ideas of July 14 – freedom, equality and
human rights – are congenial for Armenian people. No single nation
has achieved all its goals but these goals are lodestars for us,”
said French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny on the occasion of the
French national holiday, the Bastille Day. The diplomat underlined
that he celebrates July 14 for the fifth time in Armenia. “I am very
glad to work in Armenia. I like its history, culture and talented
people. Let the warm sun of this day always shine above all Armenians,”
Henry Cuny said, reported the French Embassy’s press office.

Robert Kocharian Congratulated French Embassy Staff on Bastille Day
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.07.2006 13:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian and first lady
Bella Kocharian visited the French Embassy in Yerevan to congratulate
the diplomatic mission on the national holiday, the Bastille Day. The
RA President remarked that the Year of Armenia in France in 2006 and
the Year of France in Armenia to be held in 2007 prove the high level
of the Armenian-French cooperation. He also added that the Year of
Armenia in France will help the French people to get familiarized
with the centuries-old traditions and culture of Armenians, reported
the RA leader’s press service.

Baku Highlights Chirac’s Efforts for Karabakh Settlement
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.07.2006 13:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent an address
to his French counterpart Jacques Chirac over the Bastille Day. The
congratulatory address says, in part, “We appreciate highly France’s
activities as the OSCE Minsk Group and Your personal efforts targeted
at the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict… Today the
French-Azeri relations are developing dynamically. Our multisided
contacts and fruitful cooperation feature these relations. I
am convinced the my recent visit to your friendly country and the
exchange of views will convey an impulse to the expansion of ties at
all the levels, ” reported Day.az.

Day of French Films to be Held within Golden Apricot Festival
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.07.2006 13:51 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Day of French Films will be held at Golden
Apricot festival July 14, on the Bastille Day. The program includes
French films “Swindlers” by Frederik Baleghjian, “Crystal Man” by
Michel Isnasco and “Return” by Serge Avedikian. Presented in Fiction
Film nomination, “Return to Armenia” shot by French director Rober
Gedikian will be shown for the first time.
A concert of French song will also take place in the Charles Aznavour
Square on occasion of the French national holiday, reported the
festival’s communication unit.

Mad Crowd Extremist Gang Leader Arrested in Saint Petersburg
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.07.2006 14:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leader of Mad Crowd extremist grouping Ruslan Melnik,
who was wanted by the federal police since 2004, was arrested in
Saint Petersburg.
The press service of the city’s prosecution office informed that in
2005 five gag members were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment
for “stirring up national, racial and religious hatred” and assaults
on foreigners while their former leader Dmitry Borovikov was shot
during detention in May 2006.
The department of the Federal Security Service on Saint Petersburg and
the Leningrad oblast clarified that Melnik is accused of organization
of extremist community and stirring up of national, racial and
religious hatred. To note, one more criminal suspected in committing
crimes through national hatred was detained in Petersburg yesterday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turks charge UA professor over her novel
By Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.13.2006
An assistant professor in the University of Arizona’s department
of Near Eastern studies is facing criminal charges in Turkey for
“insulting Turkishness” in a novel she wrote.
The charges against Elif Shafak, filed under the Turkish Criminal
Code, stem from her recently released book “The Bastard of Istanbul,”
in which a character refers to the killing of Armenians in World War
I as genocide, according to The New Anatolian, an English-language
newspaper in Turkey.
Shafak, a well-known and celebrated author in Turkey, wrote “The
Bastard of Istanbul” while she was in Tucson. She’s taught at UA for
two years but is living in Turkey on a one-year leave.
“For any author to suffer through this is just terrible and she is
pregnant right now, so I am very concerned about her well-being,” said
Anne H. Betteridge, director of the UA’s Center for Middle Eastern
Studies. “It seems there is just a serious program of intimidation
under way by right-wing forces in Turkey.”
Shafak’s UA colleagues are looking at how they can support her defense,
Betteridge said.
The New Anatolian says the challenged sentences in Shafak’s book are:
“I am the grandchild of a family whose children were slaughtered by
the Turkish butchers,” and “I was brought up having to deny my roots
and say that genocide did not exist.”
The issue has been contentious in Turkey. Many people say up to 1.5
million Armenians living in Turkey perished between 1915 and 1923 in
what they call a “forgotten genocide.”
Turkey has denied its former leaders tried to wipe out the Armenians.
Leaders say only that many died of starvation, disease and exposure on
forced marches to Syria in retaliation against the Christian minority
for reportedly collaborating with Russia during World War I.
Shafak, 35, is a Turkish citizen whose mother was a Turkish diplomat.
Shafak grew up in France and Spain and now is a celebrated author
and somewhat of a media star in her country — the press there even
wrote about her marriage.
Now, she faces up to three years in prison. Her colleagues say the
prosecution is nerve-racking and expensive.
Andrew Wedel, an assistant professor of linguistics at the UA who has
been to Turkey, hopes the charges will be dropped, citing the recent
dismissal of charges against Orhan Pamuk, another famous Turkish
novelist. In 2005, lawyers for two Turkish professional associations
brought criminal charges against Pamuk after he made a statement
about Armenian genocide and the massacre of Kurds in Anatolia.
Wedel noted that Shafak’s prosecution also could be a blow to the
country’s bid for inclusion in the European Union, though he said
that’s precisely what nationalist forces in the country would like
to see.
“Of course it is ridiculous. Half of Turkey is deeply embarrassed,”
Wedel said. “Elif is trying very hard to open up Turkey to be more
modern in its ability to think about itself and move forward culturally
and historically. It’s sort of a cultural watershed moment in Turkey
right now.”
Wedel helped copy-edit “The Bastard of Istanbul,” which he says is
about a young Armenian girl living in the United States who discovers
that her real father is Turkish and half her family lives in Istanbul.
The girl then runs away to visit them.
According to the Writers in Prison Committee at International PEN,
a worldwide writers group, Shafak’s publisher, Semi Sökmen, of the
Metis Publishing House, and translator, Asli Bican, also face charges.
A news release from PEN says the public prosecutor in Istanbul
dismissed initial proceedings against Shafak after hearing her
and Sökmen’s argument that the book was a work of literature and
therefore not appropriate for prosecution. They added that the book
aimed to promote the culture of peace.
But in early July, Istanbul’s Seventh High Criminal Court overruled
the decision not to proceed, following a complaint filed by a member
of a group of right-wing lawyers known as the “Unity of Jurists,”
who have been active in the prosecutions of numerous writers and
journalists in recent months. The trial date has not been set.
Shafak holds a master’s degree in gender and women studies and earned
a doctorate from the department of political science at Middle East
Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.
She first came to the United States in 2002 as a fellow of the Five
Colleges Women’s Studies Research Center. Before joining the faculty
at the UA, she was a scholar at the University of Michigan, where
the courses she taught included “Women Writing on Women: East-West
Encounters” and “The Queer in the Middle East.”
–Boundary_(ID_0iO+xmCf2Qoml/2KNtLDHQ )–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress