Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2006
Genocide Movie with Turkish Money
By Foreign News Desk, Istanbul
Published: Saturday, March 11, 2006
zaman.com
The Council of Europe decided to give financial support to the
Italian movie “The farm of the skylarks” which is about the so-called
Armenian genocide.
The Council of Europe foundation Eurimages decided to allocate
600,000 euros to Italian Antony and Paolo Taviani Brothers’ new film
titled “The farm of the skylarks,” which was adapted from Armenian
originated Antoni Aslan’s novel after its last meeting in Strasbourg.
Euroimages’, to which Turkey contributes a million euros yearly, drew
reaction from Ankara. Turkish Representative to Eurimages, Ihsan
Kabil, told Zaman that the movie insults the Turkish army and calls
an army officer a “donkey.”
The meeting in Strasbourg was reported to host many discussions about
this issue. All members, except Turkey, approved the financial aid
for the film, which had previously been approved by a 23-member jury
early this week.
Kabil said Ankara could not prevent the decision despite its
diplomatic efforts. He further noted Eurimages’s French Chairman
Jacques Toubon was quite influential in the decision. “Touban
delivered a 15 minute speech during the meeting and explicitly
supported the so-called Armenian Genocide. He said Turkey committed
the genocide, acting as if he was talking about a historical fact
rather than an unproven claim.” Kabil and Ahmet Boyacioglu, Turkey’s
representatives in Eurimages, gave speeches to criticize Toubon’s
speech and the film. Toubon, also a European Parliament (EP) Deputy,
is known to be a supporter of the so-called Armenian Genocide.
Kabil also remarked about the scenario of the movie and said one of
the Turkish army officers in the film was called a “donkey,” the
movie was not sufficient in artistic value. “There are many
cartoon-like scenes in the film which insult Turks and all of the
Turkish soldiers in the movie were portrayed as cruel people.”

>From The ANCA Desk
Th ursday March 19, 2006
“The Armenian Genocide’ on PBS
Andrew Goldberg’s documentary, `The Armenian Genocide,’ will be one of
the most important works for informing the American public about the
Ottoman Empire’s attempt to exterminate its Armenian minority
population. The movie includes affirmation from Turkish and other
non-Armenian scholars at Harvard, Princeton and other major
universities, thoroughly provides photographic documentation of the
genocide, uses the voice of a very well known television celebrity, and
crafts a visual narrative that is moving and inviting.
While there are parts of the film that Turkish denialists will distort
to subvert the entire movie, `The Armenian Genocide’ soundly exposes
Turkey’s nefarious campaign of denial and beautifully recounts America’s
response to the plight of Armenians at the time. The documentary tells
the story of the Hamidian massacres, the special organizations marshaled
by the Ottoman government as mobile killing squads, and other elements
essential to the intentional nature of the Young Turk genocidal
program.
The movie includes a television interview with Rafael Lemkin, who was
one of the driving forces behind the United Nation’s adoption of the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
During the interview, Lemkin explained that he coined the word genocide
based on the cases of the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. On April
17, PBS will make `The Armenian Genocide’ available to its local
stations across the country. We must all stay tuned for it and encourage
anyone we know to view this invaluable program, which will teach the
American public about the horrible crime the Ottoman Empire perpetrated
against our ancestors.
####
2006-03-09
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Civil Georgia, Georgia
March 11 2006
Ombudsman Rules Out Ethnic Motives Behind Tsalka Clash
Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari said on Saturday that a clash
in Tsalka, Kvemo Kartli region, on March 9 which resulted into death
of Gevork Gevorkian, 24, and injury of four other young men, was a
result of `an ordinary hooliganism’ which has nothing to do with
ethnic confrontation as claimed by the local population in Tsalka and
some minority advocacy groups.
At a joint news conference ethnic minority advocacy group
Multinational Georgia and union of ethnic Armenians in Georgia `Nor
Serund’ condemned the incident and demanded from the authorities an
immediate and unbiased investigation of the case.
Maria Mikoian of the `Nor Serund’ said that clash erupted after a
group of Georgian young men irritated by the Armenian music in a
restaurant in Tsalka attacked ethnic Armenian young men.
`Unfortunately ethnic confrontation more and more often becomes a
reason behind criminal acts in Tsalka,’ Agit Mirzoev, executive
director of the Multinational Georgia, said.
But Public Defender dismissed this reason as groundless. `Our
representatives traveled there and probed into the case. We can say
that this dispute has nothing to do with ethnic confrontation… Law
enforcers should immediately investigate the case and persecute those
who are guilty,’ Sozar Subari said on March 11.
Police said on March 10 that five suspects were arrested.
Meanwhile a group of about 200 local residents rallied in the town of
Akhalkalaki in Samtskhe-Javakheti region which is predominantly
populated by ethnic Armenians, on March 11, the Georgian media
sources reported. Protesters demanded a fair investigation of the
Tsalka incident.
Clashes between the locals erupt sporadically in recent years in
Tsalka district with population of 20 000. Ethnic Armenians comprise
57% of population, according to the Georgian department of
statistics. 4,500 ethnic Greeks, 2,500 ethnic Georgians and up to
2,000 Azerbaijanis also live there.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 11 2006
US State Dept’s Fried to Visit Turkey Next Week
WASHINGTON – Reportedly, US State Dept. assistant secretary for
Europe Daniel Fried will visit Turkey next week.
The Department of State announced after visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia,
and Armenia next week, Fried will come to Turkey on Thursday, March
16.
Fried will discuss democracy, the Mountainous Karabagh region, and
the other matters in Azerbaijan where he will make contacts on
Monday, and Tuesday; on the same day he will visit Georgia, and head
to Armenia on Wednesday.
Reportedly, Fried will visit Turkey on Thursday, and conclude his
contacts on Friday.
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 11 2006
Armenian Population Of Akhalkalaki Raided Buildings Of Local
Administration, Court And University
Tbilisi. March 11 (Prime-News) – Armenian population of Akhalkalaki
raided buildings of local administration, Court and branch of Tbilisi
State University on Saturday.
Participants of the action gathered regarding the murder, which
happened on March 09, and named a murder of Gevork Gevorkyan, 24, an
ethnic opposition.
Later they demanded to allow using Armenian language in office work
in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, most part of which is Armenian
population.
They also stated that education process in Akhalkalaki branch of
TbilisiStateUniversity should be held on Armenian language.
Participants of the action also tried to enter the building of
Akhalkalaki Patriarchy of Georgia, as according to them there was
ammunition in large amount.
Representatives of the Patriarchy met several participants of the
action who ascertained that there was no ammunition.
Representatives of the Samtskhe-Javakheti regional Police stated that
the situation is under control.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
March 12 2006
Darchinyan has conquered world . . . now for Australia
By James Macsmith
March 12, 2006
Out of the shadows: Vic Darchinyan craves recognition in his new homeland.
Photo: Fiona-Lee Quimby
In 10 years, Vic Darchinyan will probably be seen as Australia’s best
boxer.
But while the power-punching flyweight has a 25-0 (20 by knockout)
record and is mobbed by fans when he walks down the street in his
birthplace of Armenia, in Australia he remains a virtual unknown –
despite being our only boxing world champion.
Darchinyan counts Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis among his biggest fans,
but the average Aussie would probably struggle to say who he is or
what he does.
Darchinyan craves recognition in this country for his feats in one of
the only truly world sports. In many other parts of the globe, he
would already have it.
His manager, Robert Joske, says Darchinyan should follow what he
calls the Kostya Tszyu model – keep turning it on in the ring and
sooner rather than later, he’ll find himself a place in Australia’s
heart.
Most people who have seen the man they call the “Raging Bull” fight
have become instant fans.
His eighth-round knockout of Diosdado Gabi last week resulted in a
broken jaw and the first stoppage of a 27-fight career for the
Filipino.
Darchinyan’s stand-and-deliver attitude and sledgehammer left hand
bring beauty to what some consider an ugly art.
He said: “I want to be the undisputed champion in not just one weight
division but two or three.
“In Australia, I know about Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu – they are
great fighters and I want to be looked upon like they are.
“There is still not too much recognition of me but I hope that will
change the more people see of me and the more fights I have. I want
to show them what I can do.”
After a quarter-final appearance at the Sydney Olympics, Darchinyan
decided he wanted to call Australia home. In February 2001, he
settled here permanently.
He has already acquired a laid-back Australian attitude and has a
good sense of humour.
Once inside the ropes, however, he is a vastly different proposition.
“I have a hunger that comes from training with many other fighters,”
Darchinyan said.
“For the world title, only 20 fighters can fight out of 1000, so you
have to be the best.”
But to make it in Australia, sometimes you have to make it overseas
first, and Darchinyan intends to continue fighting in the United
States to try to raise his profile.
“I hope that more people in Australia get to watch me and like the
way I fight,” he said.
“This country has made me happy and I hope I can make it happy too.”
-has-conquered-world—-now-for-australia/2006/03/ 11/1141701734580.html

Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2006
First Turkish School Opens in Argentina
By Cihan News Agency, Buenos Aires
Published: Saturday, March 11, 2006
zaman.com
“Hercules Private School,” the first Turkish school in Argentina,
opened at the capital Buenos Aires on 6 March 2006.
The majority of the pupils are Argentinean, while many Bolivian,
Brazilian, Armenian, and Turkish origin children also attend the
Private school.
The school will serve as a kindergarten and primary school this year,
but officials are considering opening a high school in the upcoming
years.
Courses on computer, math, English, Spanish are given at the full-day
school.

Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2006
UK: No Armenian Genocide Took Place
By Foreign News Desk, Istanbul
Published: Saturday, March 11, 2006
zaman.com
Apparently, the British government does not regard the 1915-16
incidents during the Ottoman era as “Armenian genocide.”
In a letter sent by the British Foreign Ministry upon the initiatives
of a UK-based Turkish institution, it is stated the incidents do not
fit the category of genocide. British diplomats speaking to Zaman
also confirmed this. London refutes the claims in the Blue Book (Mavi
Kitap) that caused a crisis between Turkey and UK. The book, said to
be “the biggest support” for the so-called Armenian genocide, claimed
more than 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered during the
incidents.
The Committee for the Protection of Turkish Rights (CPTR) fighting
against the claims of Armenian genocide with the participation of
various non-governmental organizations has reached a new point in
their works. The committee has been trying to annul the unilateral
“so-called genocide” decisions of the municipalities of Gwynedd and
Edinburgh and has obtained a letter from the Foreign Ministry about
the result of a meeting it held with top level ministry officials.
According to the letter, the evidences on the incidents “are clearly
far from convincing the British government.” Therefore, “the 1915-16
incidents do not fit the definition of genocide in the UN Convention
on Genocide in 1948.” The letter also points out “it is very hard to
fully understand the incidents that took place more than 90 years ago
and developed under the circumstances of the First World War,” and
reasserts that the official view on this issue is quite “clear”.
British diplomats Zaman met in London said the 1915-16 incidents are
a massacre and tragedy, but confirmed they do not have sufficient
evidence to describe the incidents as genocide, according to the UN
Convention on Genocide in 1948.
British sources added both the present and former governments
followed the same line for the 1915-16 incidents. The fact that the
British Foreign Ministry clarified its attitude about the Armenian
incidents has been appreciated by the Turks.

Today, Azerbaijan
March 11 2006
Vardan Oskanian “Military solution of Karabakh conflict ruled out”

11 March 2006 [17:18] – Today.Az

Armenia’s Foreign Minister ruled out Saturday a military solution for
Nagorno Karabakh.

“Azerbaijan must realize that the problem cannot be resolved other
than by peaceful means. The military option is ruled out. Azerbaijan
will not be able to intimidate the Armenian side or force it to
change its position,” Vardan Oskanyan said in an interview with the
Armenian TV company Shant.
He said Azerbaijan was not ready for war.
“If the Azerbaijani side is not ready or will not risk resolving the
problem through simple compromise, it will never risk using force,”
the minister said.
Earlier, Oskanyan reiterated Armenia’s position that Nagorno
Karabakh’s right to self-determination was crucial for a peace
settlement, RIA Novosti reports.

URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 11 2006
Population Of Akhalkalaki Held Protest Action Outside Building Of
Local Administration
Tbilisi. March 11 (Prime-News) – Population of Armenian nationality
held a protest action outside the building of Akhalkalaki
administration on Saturday regarding the incident that occurred in
Tsalka settlement.
During the incident Gevorg Gevorkyan, 24, was killed.
According to participants of the action resident of Tsalka settlement
was killed owing to his Armenian nationality.
Participants of the action appealed Georgian president with the
demand to allow using Armenian language in office work in
Samtskhe-Javakheti region, most part of which is Armenian population.
Mass scuffle occurred in Tsalka settlement on March 09.
As a result of scuffle Gevorg Gevorkyan, 24, was killed and died on
the spot, two other people were injured.
People who participated in the quarrel and suspected in murder are
detained.