From: [email protected]
Subject: Historic graveyard is victim of war
Historic graveyard is victim of war

The Times
April 21, 2006
By Jeremy Page in Moscow
Azerbaijan is being blamed for the destruction of a unique cemetery.

A MEDIEVAL cemetery regarded as one of the wonders of the Caucasus has
been erased from the Earth in an act of cultural vandalism likened to
the Taleban blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan in 2001.
The Jugha cemetery was a unique collection of several thousand carved
stone crosses on Azerbaijan’s southern border with Iran. But after 18
years of conflict between Azerbaijan and its western neighbour,
Armenia, it has been confirmed that the cemetery has vanished.

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based
non-governmental organisation that supports independent journalism,
said that one of its staff had recently been to the highly restricted
site.

Where once stood between 2,700 and 10,000 intricately carved
headstones ‘ khachkars ‘ dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries,
there was only a dry patch of earth, said the institute
(). It was the first independent confirmation of what
Armenia has long alleged ‘ that Azerbaijani authorities have razed the
cemetery since the two former Soviet republics began a bloody border
war in 1988.

The war ended in a ceasefire in 1994, with 30,000 dead and a million
displaced, but still simmers over the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is held by Armenia but internationally
recognised as Azerbaijan. Foreign organisations had been unable to
visit the cemetery because it is in Nakhichevan, a tiny enclave of
Azerbaijan cut off by Armenia and Iran and accessible only by air.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly dismissed Armenia’s allegations as
scaremongering and in turn accused Armenia of destroying hundreds of
Muslim sites. President Aliyev of Azerbaijan angrily dismissed reports
about the cemetery’s destruction as `a lie and a provocation’ last
week.

The institute’s revelation now threatens to embarrass him and further
cloud the prospects for a lasting peace with Armenia.

Vartan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, welcomed the
report. `The irony is that this destruction has taken place not during
a time of war but at a time of peace,’ he told The Times. There has
been clear intent by the Azerbaijanis to eliminate all evidence of
Armenian presence on those lands. To do that, unspeakable,
irreversible destruction has been wrought and 10,000 tombstones which
hold immense religious and artistic significance are simply gone.’

Tahir Tagizade, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, said
that there had never been an Armenian cemetery or any other Armenian
cultural relics in the area visited by the institute. `As a multi-
ethnic society, we are proud of our diverse cultural heritage,’ he
said. `I don’t see any reason for destroying Armenian property, even
though we are at war with the Armenians.’

The report comes as a European Parliament delegation is visiting both
countries to look into allegations of attacks on cultural sites. It
had hoped to visit the Jugha site, but has yet to be granted
permission.Unesco said that it was also ready to send a fact-finding
mission but needed permission from the Azeri and Armenian
governments. The institute said that there was now a village of about
500 people by the cemetery site. Some of those there said it had been
destroyed much earlier, while others disputed that it was Armenian.

The report quoted two witnesses as saying that the cemetery had been
deliberately destroyed between 1989 and 2002. Argam Aivazian, the
leading expert on Armenian monuments in Nakhichevan, said that Jugha
had been the largest Armenian cemetery in existence, and a unique
example of medieval art. `On the entire territory of Nakhichevan there
existed 27,000 monasteries, churches, khachkars, tombstones and other
Armenian monuments,’ he said.

They were mostly intact when he visited in 1987. `Today they have all
been destroyed.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

enocide_docs_ataturk.htm
Kemal Ataturk Admits Reality
of the Armenian Genocide
in a 1926 Interview
In June 1926 a group of disgruntled Turks, headed by a certain Ziya
Hurshid, planned to assassinate the “father of the Turkish Republic,”
Mustapha Kemal. In mid_June, Kemal was scheduled to visit Izmir after
an extended tour of the country. The plotters secretly assembled in
that city and finalized their plan to the minutest detail. The plot
was given away by one of the conspirators, and almost all of them were
arrested, tried and punished. Kemal arrived in Izmir and personally
took charge of the arrests. He himself interrogated a few of the
prisoners, who were his former friends. The infamous Independence
Tribunal was summoned from Ankara, and at the conclusion of the mock
trial, fifteen conspirators were sentenced to death. Those who
belonged to the former Union and Progress (Ittihad ve Terakki) Party
of the Young Turks, were later tried in Ankara, found guilty and
executed.
In July of the same year, a Swiss journalist, Emile Hilderbrand,
interviewed Kemal, who openly blamed the Young Turks for the massacre
of “millions of our Christian subjects.” The interview originally
appeared in the August 1, 1926 issue of the Los Angeles Examiner. This
newspaper interview is an important document, since, in the ninth
paragraph, Kemal Ataturk admits the reality of the Armenian Genocide.
The text below is corrected and reprinted from the Armenian
Mirror-Spectator, March 16, 1985.
Kemal Promises More Hangings of Political Antagonists in Turkey
I shall not stop until every guilty person, no matter how high his
rank, has been hung from the gallows as a grim warning to all
incipient plotters against the security of the Turkish Republic. Since
the very hour of its reincarnation in the rejuvenated body of the
Republic, our nation has endured travails no other nation has ever
experienced.
When we were fighting external enemies, or enemies whom we were
certain were sympathetic with foreign intriguers, nearly all of the
rank and file of our population were enthusiastically, even
fanatically, united to deliver the nation from the multiple foreign
yokes. But no sooner had the nation proved its worth to its foreign
detractors than certain elements, bred in the old school of political
intrigue, began to show their claws. We were face to face with a
menace to the life of the republic from two elements.
One was the group who combined religious fanaticism and ignorance with
political imbecility and who, in the past, under different Sultans had
come to believe that the state was an organism to be exploited through
debauchery, corruption and brazen bribery for personal ends. I put the
ax in the dual root of this sinister and reprehensible theory of
government by destroying the Khalif and the Sultan. I sent into exile
the persons in whom this theory was personified. Large numbers,
adherents of this school of politics, attempted to interpret any act
as atheistic, and, under the aegis of religion, began to intrigue
against the life of the republic.
Sixty Leaders Hang at Dawn
In several instances in the past when, in Kurdistan and other interior
regions of Anatolia, they showed a disposition to challenge the will
of the republic, I crushed them with an iron hand, and for example,
had over sixty of their leaders hanged at dawn.
That element had its lesson and will not again attempt to measure
swords with ‘me.
The second element, I am now about to deal with ruthlessly, is the
group of men who in the pre_republic days were known in the world as
the Committee of the Union of the Young Turks. The ranks of this
element were recruited from a questionable assortment of political
adventurers, half_educated progressives and men of dissolute habits.
In the days when we were battling against foes from within and
without, this element joined us and fought in our ranks. Yet from the
early days I had misgivings as to their motives. But I wished, hoped
and then prayed that once our country was redeemed from the foreign
yoke, this element would mend its methods and become infused with the
seal of patriotism. I soon began to realize that my hopes were doomed
to be disillusioned and my prayers were [not] to be answered. I
patiently waited, keeping a sharp eye on their movements.
Seditious Movements Cloaked
They formed themselves into a political opposition. I do not pretend
to be a dictator, bent to suppress sincere and honest political
opposition, because a republic is a misnomer when it ceases to brook
criticism. But when a group of dissolute, corrupt and unscrupulous
political adventurers begin to organize seditious movements under the
cloak of political opposition, it becomes the sacred duty of those who
are in charge of the machinery of the government to suppress it and
suppress it with an exemplary ruthlessness that will prevent the
eventual shedding of rivers of blood.
I am about to show these plotters that the Republic of Turkey cannot
be overthrown by murderers or through their murderous designs…
These left_overs from the former Young Turk Party, who should have
been made to account for the lives of millions of our Christian
subjects who were ruthlessly driven en masse, from their homes and
massacred, have been restive under the republican rule. They have
hitherto lived on plunder, robbery and bribery and become inimical to
any idea, or suggestion to enlist in useful labor and earn their
living by the honest sweat of their brow.
Under the cloak of the opposition party, this element, who forced our
country into the Great
War against the will of the people, who caused the shedding of rivers
of blood of the Turkish
youth to satisfy the criminal ambition of Enver Pasha, has, in a
cowardly fashion, intrigued against my life, as well as the lives of
the members of my cabinet.
I would have more respect for them had they planned an armed
revolution, taking the field in a manly fashion, to overthrow my
government. But being conscious of the fact that they could
not muster out even one regiment to give battle to the zealous
adherents to, and upholders of, the glorious republic, they have
resorted to beastial methods of assassination. They have hired
murderers and even debauched women to commit their murderous acts.
In the middle of June last I had planned to make a tour of the
country. My itinerary was published. A group of these assassins,
placed on the route of procession, were to “rain” hand grenades at the
automobiles which were to carry me and my staff.
They went even further and seduced a woman who had been for years
identified with my cause and who had been my loyal political friend
and on occasion, even adviser. They induced this woman to accept the
reprehensible assignment to present me with a bouquet which concealed
a bomb that would, on my receiving it, explode and obliterate everyone
in sight. This ill_advised woman deserves pity, for she was made to
believe that she would thus sacrifice her own life for the good of the
fatherland. I was the enemy of the nation. She will be forgiven for
her part in the plot, for she conscience_stricken, confessed to the
proper authorities in time for me to cancel my intended tour.

From: [email protected]
Subject: The Sooner Victor Makes Up His Mind The Better
THE SOONER VICTOR MAKES UP HIS MIND THE BETTER

Lragir.am
22 April 06

Victor Dallakyan, Secretary of the Ardarutiun Alliance (Justice), one
of the key figures of the opposition, might close the door of the
alliance behind him, for he is likely to open the door of the
Bargavach Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia). Victor Dallakyan is not
in a hurry to officially refute this information, which is touched
upon increasinly often, and in personal talks he even confirms his
decision to change `justice’ with `prosperity.’ Instead of Dallakyan
his boss in the alliance Stepan Demirchyan refutes this information,
who elucidated Dallakyan’s plans for news reporters on April 22. `If
someone has to make up their mind, the sooner they do the better,’
stated Stepan Demirchyan, the leader of Ardarutiun, on April 22 in
response to news reporters.
`There can be different talks, however no one has announced
about leaving the alliance yet. But I have to repeat again, of course,
that if there are people or political forces which have a problem of
orientation, the sooner they decide the better.’ The leader
of Ardarutiun said there is not a mechanism of removing a member of
parliament from the faction, and Victor Dallakyan fulfills his
functions, the job of the secretary of the alliance.
Nevertheless, it is surprising that Stepan Demirchyan did not want to
enquire directly from Victor Dallakyan about the reason or occasion
that gave rise to such intensive rumors.
From: Baghdasarian

–Boundary_(ID_WtD3VEQC7T/W1g6qHhhbyw)
Content-typ e: message/rfc822
From: [email protected]
Subject: One Already Refused Dashnaktsutiun
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-transfer-encoding: 8BIT
ONE ALREADY REFUSED DASHNAKTSUTIUN

Lragir.am
22 April 06
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun) calls the
political forces for solidarity guarantee a fair election in
2007. Several leaders of the ARF have already voiced it. They are
already receiving responses from other leaders. On April 22 at the
Azdak Club, in answer to the question of the reporter of Lragir.am,
the leader of the People’e Party of Armenia Stepan
Demirchyan responded to the initiative of the ARF. “We hear
the same thing every time. If this election is not fair, it will have
a ruining effect for the country. Every time. Aren’t you
tired of this demagogy? You know, one may cooperate with those forces
which give a real assessment of what happens. In other words, the
forces which think that the conduct of the election in 2003 passed
normally, should we control the election together with them? The
standards are different if they think the referendum was compliant
with standards, there was no fraud, or there was very little fraud. If
they punished two or three people instead of so much talking, the
results would be more significant,” stated Stepan
Demirchyan. He says signing memorandums or changing the Electoral Code
is not enough for a fair and free election. It is necessary to have
political will, thinks the leader of the People’s Party of
Armenia and the Ardarutiun Alliance, believing that the present
leadership is not capable of conducting a fair election.
–Boundary_(ID_WtD3VEQC7T/W1g6qHhhbyw)- –

From: [email protected]
Subject: The NK Conflict Won’t Be Settled in 2006
THE NK CONFLICT WON’T BE SETTLED IN 2006
Aravot.am
21 April 06
This is one of the affirmations in which the guests of `Mirror’ club,
the former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian and the current NA
deputy chairman Tigran Torosian were sure.
Has there been something before 1998 or the history of Armenian people
starts from that time when the defeaters with their `stage by stage’
version left and the fighters succeeded them who were promising to
settle the NK conflict by a quick package. Not only the conflict has
been settled during 8 years but according to Al. Arzumanian they
discuss the same `stage by stage’ version though Vahan Hovhannisian
calls it `package type consists of small packages’. The dispute round
Armenian history started between the guests when T. Torosian suggested
not sharing achievements `respecting the people who are in the focus
of the RA foundation. The achievements belong to all of us, mentioning
the terms.’ Accepting the suggestion A. Arzumanian noticed that there
was an impression after’98 that nothing happened in the Armenian
history except the adoption of Christianity, Genocide and changeover
of political powers in ’98.
As regards the final settlement of the NK conflict though T. Torosian
noticed that `the international community declares in last 1-2 years
that not only the right of territorial integrity must be principal but
the right of nations’ self-determination, too. But he wasn’t sure that
the positive intention will remain `till the moment when the
settlement is found’.
They also spoke about the most painful problem of the region, US-Iran
counteraction, which threatens to become a serious military
confrontation. o the question of `Lragir.am’ whether it is possible
that the NK conflict is settled together with the Iranian problem
Al. Arzumanian answered; `Such problems are often solved together with
others, because we and Azerbaijan are nothing in the global policy. If
the unsettled NK conflict prevents the settlement of important
geopolitical problems then it will be settled’. The former Foreign
Minister excludes military actions of Turkey towards the RA because
they don’t have any motivation in contrast with Azerbaijanis; `the
conflict isn’t settled for many years, it’s logical that they want to
take revenge’. `If it is possible to keep that status-quo another 50
years I’ll be for ,- A. Arzumanian declared,- but this situation don’t
give an opportunity to the RA to be developed and even has serious
influence on internal developments because a dictatorship is
established under pretence of stability’. Delaying the problem isn’t
profitable for Azerbaijan because a part of those territories aren’t
controlled by it but Azerbaijan develops more today, throwing us out
from regional projects. But we fight against other regional projects;
`Our Ministers declare, we won’t allow the Azerbaijan and Turkey to
open a railway. It is a terrorist declaration; let’s fight with the
object which is built in the territory of others.’ T. Torosian was
agreed that Turkey didn’t have any motivation for military actions
against the RA and he was also thinking that the war with Azerbaijan
was less possible. `Irrespective of the circumstance that this
situation isn’t profitable for Azerbaijan , I think that the
Azerbaijanis, especially the leadership have got used with the thought
that Karabakg won’t be the part of Azerbaijan . They’ll want to delay
for avoiding unpleasant settlement during their authority’. But he
didn’t agree that a dictatorship exists in Armenia . `Yes, there isn’t
complete democracy in Armenia , it’s obvious, there are a lot of
omissions which give a ground of such formulation but there is no
dictatorship.’

Melanya Barseghian

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Ottawa, ON
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2006 Contact: Aris Babikian
(613) 235-2622
The Government of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Ottawa – On the eve of 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, The
Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, on
behalf of the Government of Canada, issued a statement recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. The statement brought the policy of our executive
branch of government on the Armenian Genocide in line with the House
of Commons and the Senate of Canada resolutions.
This is the first time that the head of the Federal Government in
Canada has issued such a policy statement on the Armenian Genocide. By
issuing the statement the Prime Minister and the government
steadfastly upheld their previous stand during the House of Commons
debate and vote on Motion M-380. Furthermore, the Government
statement honoured not only the memories of the victims of the
Armenian Genocide but also the wishes of the overwhelming majority of
Canadians. In addition to the Canadian Senate and the House of
Commons, the three largest provinces (Ontario, Quebec, and British
Columbia) also recognize the Armenian Genocide. In his statement,
issued to the Armenian National Committee of Canada, the Prime
Minister stated:
`I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all of those marking
this sombre anniversary of the Medz Yeghern.
Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible
suffering and loss of life. In recent years the Senate of Canada
adopted a motion acknowledging this period as `the first genocide of
the twentieth century,’ while the House of Commons adopted a motion
that `acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act
as a crime against humanity.’ My party and I supported those
resolutions, and continue to recognize them today.
We must never forget the lessons of history, nor should we allow the
enmities of history to divide us. The freedom, democracy, and human
rights enjoyed by all Canadians are rooted in our mutual respect for
one another.
I join with you today in remembering the past I encourage you to
continue honouring your forefathers by building a bright future for
all in Canadians.’
Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC), said: `The Prime Minister’s and his government
colleague’s moral fortitude demonstrates once again that truth and
justice will prevail over short term economic gains or political
expediency. The Prime Minister’s statement is a clear massage to the
despots of the world that Canada and the free world will not tolerate
genocide and ethnic cleansing.’
For over 30 years the ANCC and its regional chapters have worked
diligently to keep the Armenian Genocide issue on the agenda of the
Canadian government and make it an important part of the public and
political discourse in our country.
-30-
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
Regional Chapters
Montréal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa – Hamilton – Cambridge
St. Catharines – Windsor
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Denial of crimes witnessed
April 22, 2006
By SALIM MANSUR
Toronto Sun, Canada
In the spring of 1915 with Europe at war, the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman
Empire ordered the deportation and killing of the Armenian population within
their territory.
Between April 1915 and the end of the war in November 1918, the organized
destruction of a people identified by ethnicity and religion was conducted
by a government that ruled an empire in the name of Islam.
The nationalist Turks who succeeded the defeated power-holders in Istanbul
continued the massacres of Armenians in eastern Anatolia and into the
Caucasus. Some 1.5 million Armenians perished during this period between
1915 and 1923.
This destruction of the Armenian people was the first genocide of the 20th
century, a prelude to what would come later under Hitler’s Third Reich as
the “final solution” for the Jews.
It took nearly 90 years for the Canadian parliament — by a vote of 153
(yeas) to 68 (nays) on April 21, 2004 — to pass a resolution acknowledging
the Armenian genocide and condemning it as a crime against humanity.
Neither the passage of time required for such an acknowledgment nor the
number of parliamentarians voting on record against it came as a surprise,
since the mass murderers of our age well understand that the human capacity
to deny evil is far greater than our inclination to oppose it.
A mere 24 countries around the world have acknowledged the facts of the
Armenian genocide, and with the exception of Lebanon — possessing a sizable
Christian population — there is a wall of silence on this subject from the
Muslim-majority member states of the United Nations.
On April 24 every year, Armenians remember their dead. It was on this night
in 1915 the Turkish government ordered arrests of Armenian community leaders
in Istanbul, marking the start of the genocide.
Turkey continues to dispute what occurred. It is a sensitive issue, and
Turks willing to critically examine the events relating to the Armenian
genocide face persecution from authorities for “insulting Turkishness.”
Orhan Pamuk, the widely translated and respected Turkish writer, was charged
last year with the crime of insulting Turks when he told a Swiss newspaper
that “30,000 Kurds and one million Armenians were killed in these lands, and
nobody but me dares talk about it.” The case was dropped in January this
year under heavy pressure from the European Union.
That the world is a cynical place is not news, however, nor is the fact that
human nature is flawed.
Even as I write this column, the systematic depredation of the wretchedly
poor in Darfur remains unabated — while the United Nations and its
grandees, led by Kofi Annan, quibble over the meaning of “genocide.”
Historians and philosophers struggle to find lessons from the tales of human
wickedness, and teach future generations to do better.
It is in vain, for the collective ears of humanity remain stuffed with wax.
Prophets have admonished, as Amos of the Old Testament did: “They drink wine
in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils; but they are not
grieved over the ruin of Joseph.”
The lesson of history is that, to paraphrase Santayana, there is no lesson.
Each generation gets tested by the evil of its time and, in learning nothing
from the past, fashions its denial of crimes witnessed.
The present generation, not to be outdone in ingenuity, incessantly speaks
of being history’s victim and denies bearing any responsibility or
accountability for the ruin of Joseph.

From: “Katia M. Peltekian”
Subject: Armenian man stabbed to death in youth fight on Moscow metro
ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 22 2006
Armenian man stabbed to death in youth fight on Moscow metro

MOSCOW, April 22 (Itar-Tass) — A young Amernian-born man was killed
by a group of youngsters in a fight at Moscow’s central Pushkinskaya
metro station on Saturday, police said.
Seven young people, including the Armenian, started fighting each
other on the station’s platform. `During the tussle one of its
participants drew up a knife and hit a 17-year-old young man from
Armenia with it once,’ a police officer told Itar-Tass.
All other young people involved in the fight escaped. No one was
detained.
Police have so far refrained from comments on the possible motives of
the incident. But they did not rule out ethnic motives.

Virtue Online, PA
April 22 2006
As Eye See It : Palestinian Christians: persecuted, betrayed, forced
out of their homes
Posted by David Virtue on 2006/4/22 11:50:00 (61 reads)
Palestinian Christians: persecuted, betrayed, forced out of their
homes and sacrificed
The Palestinian Christian is an endangered species. When the modern
state of Israel was established there were about 400,000 of us. Two
years ago the number was down to 80,000. Now it’s down to 60,000. At
that rate, in a few years there will be none of us left. When this
happens non Christian groups will move into our churches and claim
them for ever. Palestinian Christians within Israel fare little
better. On the face of it, their number has grown by 20,000 since
1991. But this is misleading, for the census classification
“Christian” includes some 20,000 recent non-Arab migrants from the
former Soviet Union.
So why are Palestinian Christians abandoning their homeland?
We have lost hope, that’s why. We are treated as non-people. Few
outside the Middle East even know we exist, and those who do,
conveniently forget.
I refer, of course, to the American Religious Right. They see modern
Israel as a harbinger of the Second Coming, at which time Christians
will go to paradise, and all others (presumably including Jews) to
hell. To this end they lend military and moral support to Israel.
Even by the double-dealing standards of international diplomacy this
is a breathtakingly cynical bargain. It is hard to know who is using
whom more: the Christian Right for offering secular power in the
expectation that the Jewish state will be destroyed by a greater
spiritual one; or the Israeli Right for accepting their offer. What
we do know is that both sides are abusing the Palestinians.
Apparently we don’t enter into anyone’s calculations.
The views of the Israeli Right are well known: they want us gone.
Less well known are the views of the American Religious Right.
Strangely, they find the liberation of Iraqis from a vile dictator
just, but do not find it unjust for us to be under military
occupation for 38 long years.
Said Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma): “God Appeared to Abraham and
said: ‘I am giving you this land’, the West Bank. This is not a
political battle at all. It is a contest over whether or not the word
of God is true.”
Inhofe must have got it wrong. Promises are being made to earthly
Jerusalem that God did not make. The Holy Land was promised to
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants, as stated in the Bible.
These are the Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews, who have
been living in the land for thousands of years. The Bible never
mentioned that God promised it solely to Jews. Anyone can be a Jew,
but not anyone can be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
their descendants. James Inhofe and followers are unable to tell the
difference between Jew, Israelite, and Israel.
House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) was even more forthright:
“I’m content to have Israel grab the entire West Bank … I happen to
believe that the Palestinians should leave.”
There is a phrase for this. Ethnic cleansing.
Silencing us, from seeking your support and enlightening you about
our suffering, goes counter to what Jesus has mandated us to do. We
all know that Muslims and Jews get ceaseless support (political,
spiritual and financial) from Saudi Arabia and America respectively,
while Palestinian Christians get nothing from Australian and other
western “Christian” governments. (The Pope has been an exception.)
Prior to the 1967 war, the Christian youth at the Lutheran, Baptist,
Methodist and other churches in Bethlehem used to pray and rejoice
and have a good chat with hundreds of American Christian pilgrims. In
particular Texas and California were two places from where many came
from to visit the Holy Land. Today only fading memories prevail.
Bethlehem has been vacated by Christian families. The remaining
Christians are paying the price by experiencing curfews which last
for weeks. They remain sandwiched between Muslims and Jews without
drawing the slightest concern from the many so-called Western
Christians.
So why do American Christians stand by while their leaders advocate
the expulsion of fellow Christians? Could it be that they do not know
that the Holy Land has been a home to Christians since, well …
since Christ?
Do not think I am asking for special treatment for Christians. Ethnic
cleansing is evil whoever does it and to whomever it is done.
Palestinian Christians – Anglican, Maronite Catholics, Orthodox,
Lutherans, Armenians, Baptists, Copts and Assyrians – have been
rubbing shoulders with each other and with other religions – Muslims,
Jews, Druze and (most recently) Baha’is – for centuries. And we want
to do so for centuries more. But we can’t if we are driven out by
despair.
We are equally frightened by those who commit suicide bombings. None
of us Christians have condoned it or even contemplated the idea. Our
commitment to Jesus’ teachings will never shake our resolve in this
matter.
American journalist Anders Strindberg makes a clearer conclusion. He
says Palestinians are equated with Islamists, Islamists with
terrorists. And presumably because all organised Christian activity
among Palestinians is non-political and non-violent, the community
hardly ever hits western headlines. Suicide bombers sell more copy
than people who congregate for Bible study.
What we seek is support: material, moral, political and spiritual. As
Palestinians we grieve for what we have lost, and few people have
lost more than us (the Ashkenazi Jews are one). But grief can be
assuaged by the fellowship of friends.
–Professor Abe W. Ata is a 9th generation Christian Palestinian
academic born in Bethlehem.
ules/news/article.php?storyid=3921

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 22 2006
Armenia and Azerbaijan should reach joint agreement on
Nagorno-Karabakh – Peter Semnebi

Source: Trend
Author: R. Abdullayev

22.04.2006

There is some animation felt in the Nagorno-Karabakh resolution
problem after the talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
in Rambui (France). Both sides have to reach a joint agreement and
only after that Brussels will be ready to help, the EU special envoy
to South Caucasus, Peter Semnebi told at the press-conference in Baku
on April 22,Trend reports.
EU will take the significant part in the conflict resolution issues,
he assured.
`EU has necessary levers to render assistance,’ Semnebi said, adding
that EU potential of developing closer ties with the South Caucasian
states is not fully used exactly due to such conflicts.
He reminded that in comparison to his predecessor, Heikki Talvitie,
his mandate has been expanded in order to sustain the peaceful
resolution of the conflict. `This again proves how interested EU is
in peaceful resolution,’ he concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress