FEAR OF MONOPOLY HINDERS DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM
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| 16:42:30 | 27-09-2005 | Social |
September 27 has been celebrated as the International Day of Tourism
since 1890. The companies serving on the UN system have chosen the
day because it’s the end of season in the northern hemisphere and
the beginning of the season in the southern one.
This year the topic of the Day of Tourism will be “Transport and
traveling: from the fantasies of Jules Verne to the realities of the
21st century.”
To the surprise of private tourist agencies, being a members of
the World Tourism Association the RA government never celebrated
the holiday.
Presently 14 tourist agents are registered in Armenia. Two years ago
they united forming the Union of Armenian Tour Operators. According to
executive director Araik Vardanyan the statistics of the world tourist
organization showed the following picture: if in 1950 the number of
travelers made 20 million, last year it increased to 760 million. In
2020 the number of tourists will reach 1.5 billion annually.
“At the world tourist market Armenia occupies a minor position”, say
the representatives of the companies engaged in the field. According
to the official date, 30 thousand tourists visited Armenia this year,
30% came from the CIS states, 28.5% form the EU states and 19.5%
from the United States.
The Armenian tour operators state that Armenia is capable to receive
about 500 thousand tourists. However a number of obstacles hinders
Armenia from using its high potential.
“Proper state program, professional personnel and information centers
are essential for the development of tourism in Armenia”, Director
ofo First Travel company Ruben Grigoryan says.
The operators do not turn to oligarchs for help fearing of a monopoly.

ARE WE CONFRONTING THE PAST?
by Herkul Millas
Zaman, Turkey
Sept 28 2005
[COMMENTARY]
Recently we have been experiencing two examples of events, expressed
rhetorically as, “confronting the past” or “reconciling with our
history.” Exhibitions, panels, and several articles were prepared
for the 50 th anniversary of the September 6-7 riots.
This week we will be witnessing a conference titled “Ottoman Armenians
during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility
and Democracy” at Bogazici University. In my opinion, such events
are indexed more towards today than the past and reactions derive
because they are based on current events.
Confrontation or reconciliation (or any other word to describe
“confronting the past”) is not in the past; it is in our present day.
The goal is to confront people alive today and to create a kind of
common ground between them. Past events were either kept alive in
a national compartmentalization within the framework of a “national
history” or left to be forgotten for several decades. However, such
interpretations were not validated outside the national framework.
The plan at the domestic level did not match the plan of the outside
world. As a result, Turkey has undergone an alienation process despite
her extended environment and has remained far from her friends. These
historical interpretations that do not match with Turkey’s environment
have turned into a daily problem for some citizens.
But this problem did not become everyone’s problem. Those, who did
not feel the paradox deep inside, did not move their pens, organize
any panels or exhibitions, nor watch any such events. In fact, some
did not remain objective and expressed their reactions gradually in
line with their problem free minds. Finally, some conveyed these
“confrontation” events were untimely, while others made harsher
provocations. When the spectrum of all these reactions is analyzed,
a better understanding is portrayed about whether the situation is
more related to anxiety or tranquility of adjusting to a larger milieu.
If we make an inventory analysis of the conflicting sides throughout
history, today we can see that they have formed two groups; those
perceiving the European Union (EU) with confidence and those
with no confidence. This is weird. Those, who are enthusiastic
about “reconciling with history” and those who appeared recently
as enthusiastic and confident in the EU, are the same people. The
people, who remain objective regarding confrontation with the past
and who specifically react against the conferences, panels or other
activities on this issue, are either pessimistic about the EU process
or close to the groups that absolutely reject the EU, or they are in
fact members of that group.
I do not argue that discussions on history are political. Rather, I
argue there is an identity problem and an identity problem directly
affects political preferences. I try to show that our willing or
unwillingness, as well as, our confidence or lack of confidence to be
“in accordance” on history is related to the definition of “us.” Some
search for their identity in a huge area and try to find the one
“close to us,” and others do the same in a rather limited national
framework. Thus, while some try to reconcile different perspectives,
“adjust” to the world and provide general recognition, they do not
highlight what the “other” says, they give credit only to his/her
own interpretation of history, and do not allow any criticisms for
a “perfect and superior” past. They never want their history (or we
might say a perfect story), upon which they have built their identity,
to be questioned, shaken, and above all to be denied.
I think I agree with those who say the first group, who seeks a
common ground with the world, has in fact more doubts and complexes
and is ashamed of its identity; therefore, it is makes concessions
to “foreigners”. Perhaps, such people also exist in this camp. But,
one can look at these two groups from a different perspective as well.
Those, who do not seek accordance with the broader environment and
do not believe it is required, do not feel this way because of their
self-confidence. On the contrary, this behavior might stem from
their lack of confidence in their neighbor or the “other”. Perhaps,
there are such people as well in the second group. I do not give the
final word on this but, I myself favor accordance with the larger
environment. A narrow and local consensus reminds me of a xenophobic
confidence of an introvert society: Something like a belief, which
is easily provided inside but not much valid outside our borders.
Relationship between reconciliation and nationalization
I will also touch upon the importance of a consensus. Disputes
during nationalization processes were encountered in every
society. But “reconciliation” is not a preference; it is the equal
of nationalization. It is one of the basic outlooks and process
mechanisms of being a nation. Nations were provided by societies,
who actually express willingness to co-exist. Those, who did not or
could not apply this to practice, are the societies that are still
in search. That is to say, the ironical side of the event is that
the attacks and intolerances deriving from the anxiety of those,
who insist on nationalization, are in fact opposite to the concept
of a nation and its function. Those, who see enemies and traitors
everywhere, are the ones making nationalization more difficult. From
this point of view, I believe that those favoring “accordance” and
analysis of the covered past within the framework of dialogue, are
in fact more close to a nation model and a more contemporary society.
The search for this accordance within a boarder framework, on the
other side, is another expression of this contemporaneousness.
It is generally forgotten that identity searches are not limited
to Turkey and similar situations occur in all countries across the
world. Searches for a broader consensus outside a narrow environment
extend to ancient times. But people tend to blame those, who do not
think in the same way, with disloyalty and ignorance. However, I
suppose the majority of those, who bring these issues to the agenda,
in other words, those wiling or unwilling to confront history and
those anticipating a conspiracy in this mechanism, are sincere in
their intentions. They are not malevolent in their demands. Both sides
pursue an attitude favoring the side called “us”. While one side tries
to pursue such an attitude by not allowing any criticisms against its
past within its narrow environment, the other side carefully acts to
carry out this manner in accordance “with the world” thanks to their
“self-critical” discourse and through achieving a satisfactory share
from the overall society.
May be in the future we will understand that this conflict over
“history” is unnecessary jut like other old fraternal fights and if
patience is kept and dialogue is not prevented, both parties will
benefit in terms of their national projects.

SPEAKERS, SUPPORTERS OF ARMENIAN CONFERENCE TO BE SUED
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman, Turkey
Sept 28 2005
zaman.com
The Turkish Judicial Officials Union have filed a complaint against
17 people for organizing last week’s controversial conference on the
Ottoman Armenians, and for making statements about the legal process
regarding the suspension of conference.
The Chairman of the Judicial Union, Kemal Kerincsiz and accompanying
lawyers submitted their files to Beyoglu Public Prosecution Office
on Tuesday.
The Judicial Union had blocked the organization of the conference
at Bogazici University. The conference was later switched to Bilgi
University.

SCHOOLS DIRECTED TO EXPAND HISTORY COURSES
Michael Gormley
Associated Press
Sept 28 2005
ALBANY, N.Y. – State legislators across the country are increasingly
directing their schools to teach students more about the struggles
and triumphs of different races and ethnic groups – a move critics
say amounts to politically correct meddling.
In the latest such example, a new commission in New York will examine
whether the “physical and psychological terrorism” against Africans in
the slave trade is being adequately taught in schools. The commission
is named for the slave ship Amistad, which was commandeered by slaves
who eventually won their freedom in the U.S.
Supreme Court.
The recommendations could mean rewriting textbooks, which may influence
educators in other states, according to the National Council for the
Social Studies.
A number of other states have enacted similar measures in the last
five years, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Illinois also created an Amistad commission this year and added lessons
on the Holocaust, while New Mexico’s legislature required Indian
education lessons be bolstered in kindergarten through sixth grade.
In 2001, New Jersey created an Amistad commission and the Commission
on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Culture and Education
to advise policy makers.
California created Cesar Chavez Day in 2000 and directed schools
to include lessons about the farm labor activist. That same year,
Rhode Island directed schools to teach about genocide and human
rights violations including the slave trade, the Irish potato famine,
the Armenian genocide of the early 1900s, the Holocaust and Italian
dictator Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime.
Virginia also directed schools that year to teach about the
accomplishments of people from different ethnic backgrounds and races,
women and disabled people.
But while most legislatures enact curriculum changes recommended by
education departments, teachers and researchers, New York’s Amistad
Commission is a case of the Legislature trying to circumvent the
state’s policy-setting Board of Regents, according to the law’s
co-sponsor.
“We feel there is, indeed, a void in our education curriculum
in New York state when it comes to the issue of slavery and the
dehumanization of Africans,” said Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr.,
a Brooklyn Democrat. He said the Board of Regents hasn’t acted and
needs to be prodded by the Legislature.
Critics say the goal of the commission is laudable but that teachers
already have limited time to teach American history. They also say
educators are needed on the panel to make sure its recommendations
are feasible.
The commission will include 19 unpaid members. Eight will be appointed
by the governor, and the rest will be picked by the state secretary
of state, the state education commissioner and the majority leaders
of the Legislature. Panelists need not be academics.
“It’s like taking a group of teachers and telling doctors how to
practice,” said Peggy Altoff, president-elect of the National Council
for the Social Studies. “And yet it seems to me that it’s fairly
standard practice that everyone seems to be able to tell teachers
what to teach.”
New York already requires children to learn about the Irish famine,
the Holocaust, the Underground Railroad and “a great deal” about
slavery, said state Education Department spokesman Jonathan Burman.
“There’s no question that it’s dabbling,” said Carl Hayden, the former
New York state schools chancellor who led the Board of Regents in
developing higher academic standards. “The single most difficult
standard that the regents dealt with was the history standard,
because it is so potentially controversial.”
Candace de Russy, a State University of New York trustee and national
lecturer and writer on academic issues, said she believes the
state’s commission opens the door to endless group advocacy-oriented
legislation.
“Inherent in it, Jews will decide how to teach the Holocaust, the
Irish the Great Famine, Armenians the Turkish genocide, Indians the
French and Indian War, and so on,” she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANOTHER HEARING ON AZERI OFFICER’S CASE
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2005
Another hearing on the case of Azerbaijani officer charged with
murdering an Armenian serviceman was held in Budapest on Tuesday.
Employees of the Azeri embassy and prosecutor’s office came to court,
along with witnesses who testified at the hearing.
Ramil Safarov is charged with killing Armenian officer Gurgen Markarian
after the latter insulted his dignity and Azerbaijan’s national flag.
The court considered coming to a compromise over the results of
the forensic expertise, which was conducted twice. According to the
second expertise, the Azerbaijani officer committed the crime in a
state of affect.
The trial will continue on December 15 due to the differences in the
testimonies of witnesses.
Hungarian lawyers earlier termed the expertise held to determine
Safarov’s psychological condition as unacceptable and demanded
to conduct another one. The second expertise was held with the
permission of the Hungarian Supreme Court and involved representatives
of Azerbaijan.
According to a reliable source, the first expertise determined that
the Azeri officer was in psychologically healthy condition. The
second one, however, indicated that he was relatively unstable, i.e.
under serious stress, when he committed the murder.

CYPRUS BLOCKS BAKU PARTICIPATION IN EU WIDER EUROPE: NEW NEIGHBORS PROGRAM
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 06:10
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Republic of Cyprus has vetoed Azerbaijan’s
candidacy and blocked participation of Baku in EUWider Europe: New
Neighbors program.
Thus, the Azerbaijan-EU talks are delayed for an indefinite period
of time.
As reported by Day.az Azeri agency, the suspension of the program is
due to the Cyprus attitude towards Azerbaijan over direct air flights
between Baku and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Greek Cyprus
has officially posed the question of suspension of EU assistance to
Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, as reported the Zerkalo Baku newspaper, head
of the Department of Information of the Azeri MFA Tahir Tagizade
stated the delays in question are due to technical causes. The
Azeri party has provided documents to Brussels and is waiting for
the EU response. In particular, the date of arrival of a special EU
delegation to Azerbaijan is to be determined. “There are no other
motives,” T. Tagizade stated. In his words, there is no ground for
attribution to the Cyprus issue, as “the policy of Azeri authorities
lies in lifting the international humanitarian isolation of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus. The latter is welcomed by international
organizations, specifically the UN and EU.” The flights to the Turkish
Cyprus are organized by private Azeri companies and are not part of
Azeri Government’s official policy, T. Tagizade stated.

ARMENIA AND GREECE UNANIMOUS ON TURKEY ISSUE
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| 20:43:14 | 27-09-2005 | Official |
Today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received Greek
Ambassador to Armenia Antonionis Vlavianos, who is completing his
diplomatic mission in the republic.
Giving a high estimate to the level of the Armenian-Greek relations the
parties noted that Robert Kocharian’s formal visit to Greece scheduled
for this November will convey an impulse to the lasting political
dialogue between the two states and activation of economic relations.
Ambassador Vlavianos and the RA Premier expressed satisfaction
with the participation of Greece in the programs implemented in
the spheres of education, public health, agriculture, water supply,
sports and culture.
Military cooperation was also noted.
The interlocutors noted the necessity of expanding the bilateral
relations and judged the blockade imposed by Turkey on Armenia as
inadmissible.

RUSHAYLO ARRIVED IN ARMENIA
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| 21:08:06 | 27-09-2005 | Official |
Today Robert Kocharian received CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir
Rushaylo.
The interlocutors discussed the process of fulfilling the resolutions
adopted during the Kazan summit. They also touched upon a number of
issues referring the CIS reformation and exchanged opinions on the
activities of the CIS Executive Committee.
To note, Vladimir Rushaylo arrived in Armenia to take part in the
sitting of the CIS Ministers of Interior planned for September 29.
During a short conversation with journalists in the airport V. Rushaylo
informed that he going to meet with a number of Armenian officials.

ANATOLIAN TOLERANCE EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD
By Abdullah Ozyurt, Osman Balci
Zaman, Turkey
Sept 27 2005
zaman.com
Calls of brotherhood marked the First Hatay Meeting of Civilizations
where the leading representatives from different religions
participated.
Ecclesiastics who spoke at the meeting emphasized that Anatolia has
hosted several civilizations and tolerance calls spreading from these
lands can embrace the whole world.
On the first day of the meeting organized by the Society for the
Protection of Universal Values in Hatay and opened by Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan the other evening, the dignitaries of
Islam, Christianity and Judaism expressed that dialogue and tolerance
was the only alternative in order to live in peace.
Professor Ali Bardakoglu, head of Religious Affairs Directorate,
said ways of living together in peace should be found.
Bardakoglu, during his speech, in which he pointed out that religions
are based on basic ethic virtues, said the following:
“The first man and Prophet Adam and the light of prophet hood that
started with him have always called the humanity to peace, friendship
and brotherhood. This call has always been refreshed. Therefore,
the meeting of civilizations means the human beings’ are returning
to their essence and recognizing themselves. What we have here is
not the meeting of the religions on a certain basis but it is people
of different religions, cultures and beliefs coming together on the
basis of peace. ”
Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew reminded that a different
tension is currently being experienced in the world, starting from
the last 10 years of the last century.
Bartholomew stressed a healthy dialogue cannot be built on distrust
and hearsay.
“Religions cannot be behind terrorist attacks. We tried to inform
in the correct manner on all platforms the public opinion that has
acted against Muslims at times. We never suspect the rightness of
things we do and continue our efforts in this field.”
Hatay has served as a model to the world
The Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, Mesrob II expressed the pleasure
he had for the Meeting of Civilizations being held in Hatay.
“The stones of Hatay are the silent witnesses of this history. Hatay
is implementing the model of peace and tolerance the world and humanity
strongly needs, thus serving a model to the world.”
Rabbi Izak Haleva, the chief rabbi of Jews in Turkey, said every
individual has the right of freedom.
“It is a fact that those who escaped from oppression to certain
regions cannot be forced to return to their former homes and that
they cannot be sent back there is determined by divine commands.”
In the session entitled “Contributions of Religions in Civilizations”
held in the frame of the first Hatay Meeting of Civilizations
activities, citizens belonging to all religions should be able to
live in peace and have well-intentioned manners, it was emphasized.
Pope Benedict XVI who sent a congratulatory message to the meeting
said important missions await the men of religion to find a solution
to the problems caused by globalization and for peace of all mankind.
The pontiff, who in his message underlined the organization of such
a meeting is important for the history of Christianity, said, people
of different religions have lived in Antakya together in peace for
centuries and that this situation should serve a model to the world.
Meanwhile, the tight security measures that were taken around the
hall where the meeting took place attracted much attention.

NO-SHOW ARMENIAN GROUP IRKS FLORIDA FARM OFFICIALS
By Susan Salisbury
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Palm Beach Post, FL
Sept 28 2005
Where in the world are the Armenians who were to spend 10 days touring
the farms of Florida?
University of Florida officials – who spent three months planning an
itinerary, reserving motel rooms, booking vans and making arrangements
for the 10-person group – want to know. They’ve contacted the federal
Department of Homeland Security after the group failed to show up
Sunday night at the Gainesville airport.
Gene McAvoy, a UF agricultural extension director, waited for several
hours at the airport for the Armenians, finally giving up close
to midnight. It was only Tuesday morning that he heard from them
via e-mail.
“What it said is they went to L.A. The tickets cost so much, they
could not afford to come to Florida,” McAvoy said.
The Armenians apologized, he said, but “it seems like a pretty lame
excuse.”
“This is America. There are cellphones,” said McAvoy, who spent the
morning Tuesday canceling the remaining hotel and other reservations
for the group.
Their stay, scheduled for Sept. 25 through Oct. 5, was to include
a statewide tour of farms and farmers’ markets, including stops in
West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce and Florida City.
Leah Yoon, a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
said Tuesday she did not know whether an investigation is under way,
but said the details of the Armenians’ non-arrival in Florida sounded
“highly unusual.”
McAvoy said immigration officials at Los Angeles International Airport
would not tell him anything, and they didn’t return calls seeking
comment Tuesday.
McAvoy said he had someone call Armenia to talk to the Agro
Association, the sponsor of the group, which included Andreas Melikyan,
eight farmers and a translator.
“They said they didn’t know anything, but said they knew them and
wanted us to let them know if we found out where they were,” he said.
Melikyan, who could not be reached by phone and did not reply to an
e-mail message, visited Florida in 2001 on a similar agricultural tour.
Lisette Staal, assistant director at UF’s International Programs
office in Gainesville, did not want to discuss the episode in depth.
She did say she had heard from the group, however.
“They told me they had a flight problem, and they have canceled their
program here,” she said. “We are as puzzled as the next person.”
Southern California is home to an estimated 350,000 Armenians, the
largest Armenian community outside the Republic of Armenia itself,
according to the University of Southern California.
Varoujan Der Simonian, executive director of the Armenian Technology
Group Inc. in Fresno, Calif., which works to help Armenian farmers,
was not familiar with the Agro Association.
However, he said, travelers from Armenia to the United States must
state their destination and it must match their airline tickets.
“Something is wrong, either with the airline or the connection. Ten
people can’t just change planes,” Der Simonian said. “You can’t just
change your mind and decide to go to L.A. instead of Florida.”
Ken Gioeli, a St. Lucie County-based natural resources agent for UF,
also waited in vain at the Gainesville airport with McAvoy.
“They either ran out of money, or something happened,” Gioeli said.