DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
THE OSCE MISSION BOMBARDED FROM THE AZERI PARTY – THE NKR MFA
REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS
Stepanakert rejects Baku’s affirmations concerning the fact that in
the course of the OSCE mission monitoring on September 20 cease fire
was allegedly violated by the Karabakh party.
The official representative of the NKR MFA Leonid Martirosyan told De
Facto the shot had been fixed by the OSCE representatives.
Having noted the importance of the OSCE mission’s activity in
observation of the cease fire in the conflict zone L. Martirosyan
stressed the constraining role of the regularly conducted monitoring.
Nevertheless, the NKR MFA representative noted during the intervals
between the monitoring the Azeri party had afforded cease fire
violations. Snipers fire on Karabakh forces, which results in
people’s wounds. Sometimes Armenian party undertakes answer-back
actions.
However, the tension on the contact line is not limited to it. For 2
– 3 years the Azeri divisions have been trying to advance their
positions closer to the Armenian frontier guards. They have managed
to do it in some sectors. According to the Karabakh servicemen,
Azeris have managed to come nearer to them on distance even up to 80
meters. Karabakh party has shown restraint so far. However, there are
no guarantees that it can last for a long time. Karabakh expects for
the OSCE observers to interfere with the problem, otherwise new
incidents may take place.
Stepanakert does not exclude the possibility that the tension may
increase with approach of the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.
In case of revolutionary shocks in the neighbor Republic such
probability will increase even more. According to Freedom Radio
Station, the NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan thinks if revolution
takes place in Azerbaijan the complicated political situation in the
country may be fraught with complications for the Karabakh borders.
`However, to tell the truth, I do not see prerequisites for such
changes in Azerbaijan’, stated the NKR Foreign Minister.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 23 2005
Dr. Berktay: The Participants In The Conference Do Not Have Biased
View
ISTANBUL – A member of the organizing team for the conference titled
”Ottoman Armenians During the Fall of the Empire,” Dr. Halil
Berktay of Sabanci University has indicated today that the
participants in the conference do not have a biased view. ”They
describe themselves as out of the official ideology,” told Dr.
Berktay.
According to Berktay, the Armenian conference has been organized by
Dr. Selim Deringil, Dr. Edhem Eldem, Dr. Caglar Keyder and Dr. Nukhet
Sirman of Bogazici University, Dr. Murat Belge of Bilgi University
and Dr. Cemil Kocak and Dr. Aksin Somel of Sabanci University. The
organization committee has 15 members.
Dr. Berktay referred to a statement made by Turkish Foreign Minister
and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that ”no one hurts us more
than we do” and remarked that the suspension of the conference has
received protests from many political leaders in Turkey.
Asked if the participants in the conference only support one view,
Dr. Berktay noted that ”such an allegation is inaccurate. The
participants in the conference have termed themselves as representing
notions out of the official ideology. Representation of only one side
of the matter is not the actual case,” commented Dr. Berktay.
Dr. Berktay added that the thesis that the Turks committed a genocide
in 1915 is only mentioned twice in 60 presentations or speeches.
Conferences may of course represent different views and opinions,
stated Dr. Berktay.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Higher Board of Education (YOK) released a
statement today that said ”the Istanbul court’s decision to suspend
the Armenian conference is an intervention in universities’ rights to
possess scientific autonomy. Yesterday’s court decision is one that
threatens Turkey’s national values.”
According to Bogazici and Sabanci Universities’ rectors, lawyers
representing the universities have filed an official objection today
to Istanbul Administrative Court no. 4’s decision that suspended the
conference yesterday.
-CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT BILGI UNIVERSITY ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY”-
The Armenian conference will take place at Bilgi University in
Istanbul on Saturday and Sunday. ”Bilgi University will hold the
Armenian conference at its campus for the sake of freedom of thought,
research and expression,” said Rector Dr. Aydin Ugur.

Zaman, Turkey
Sept 24 2005
Sabotage to EU Process
By ABDULHAMIT BILICI
Published: Friday, September 23, 2005
zaman.com
After the court decision relayed to the evening services of the news
agencies Thursday about the conference titled `Armenians at the Last
Period of the Ottoman Empire,’ getting upset with the Greeks, who
want to dynamite Turkey’s EU bid, would be unfair.
This is because, we are doing more harm to ourselves than what they
do to us. There are even less than two weeks to October 3, on which
the negotiations will start, and the foreign affairs continue
struggle with its all fronts in Europe and the entire world is
watching the Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk case carefully.
This situation will certainly be an excellent trump in the hands of
opponents of Turkey’s EU membership. For instance, Representative of
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) of
Brussels Bahadir Kaleagasi noted Armenians who were in the meeting
about the so-called genocide did not hide their pleasure when they
heard about the cancellation.
Even if there was not such a critical EU process, how could
diplomats, students, businessmen, and all Turkish citizens
representing Turkey abroad explain how the Judiciary, which is
supposed to be guarantor of freedom of speech, can cancel a meeting
which is only declaration of thoughts which is legal according to our
laws?
No one could ever have thought of a better public relations study for
European Union public opinion, which is under the negative propaganda
of Turkey opponents, against Turkey.
Is it so difficult for the ones, who defend this attitude in the name
of nationalism and national benefits, to see the fact that this
decision has empowered the arguments of supporters of Armenian
Genocide even more?
The reactions caused the conference to be cancelled on May 25, and
the current decision unfortunately reflects a picture of Turkey to
the world which does not touch the realities. This kind of a
conference, in which the ideas that in conflict with the ideas of the
majority of the society, about the Armenian Issue may be organized
for the first time; however, the arguments to be voiced there have
been represented in the newspapers and TV channels almost every other
day. And there were not any problems with them.
For citizens to be respectful to the courts decisions is a condition
of state of law. However, is this a one-sided relationship? Should
not the judiciary also be respectful to priorities, wills and demands
of citizens? Why should the judicial system become the nightmare of
citizens in so many topics from democratization to privatization?
A couple of days ago, I asked our News Editor whether the Turkish
Institute of History (TTK) President Professor Yusuf Halacoglu is
among the participants or not and whether Professor Hikmet Ozdemir
was invited to the conference and I got angry with the organization
committee when I heard that they weren’t and that demands of some
retired army officers to participate in the conference had been
rejected. If it wasn’t for the last court decision the newspaper
headlines would probably be that, ‘They talked to themselves, they
listened to themselves’. However, the decision not only changed these
headlines, it also raised those involved from the level of defenders
of the genocide to the level of victims of a lack of democracy.

Zaman, Turkey
Sept 24 2005
Gul: Turkish Own Goal
Published: Friday, September 23, 2005
zaman.com
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, reacting to the decision of
the court to cancel an Armenian Conference to the last minute, said:
`You can rarely find a country which does itself so much harm.’
Those who want to prevent Turkey’s membership of the European Union
(EU) from inside or outside are making their last attempts, Gul
claimed, adding it would not be a surprise for him if there are more
similar events.
Statements of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Gul criticized
the cancellation decision but the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP) called on the organizers of the conferences to obey the
decision of the court.
The AKP parliamentary group deputy chairman Salih Kapusuz emphasized
the values of Turkish people, underlining there has never been an
Armenian Genocide in any period of Turkish History.
`The court has taken a decision on this issue. As the decision is
taken in the name of Turkish people the implementation of it should
be considering the values of Turkish people. We will all see the
applications for the advantage of Turkish people in time.’
AKP Vice President Akif Gulle focused on the organizers of the
Armenian Conference: `We should all be respectful to the decisions of
the courts. Insisting on this issue is not appropriate anymore.’

ArmInfo, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
HOTEL BUSINESS SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPING IN KARABAKH

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 22. ARMINFO. During the recent years the hotel
business has been successfully developing in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic.
According to the report of ARMINFO correspondent in Stepanakert,
major investments in this sphere of economy have been made by the
Armenian diaspora of the USA, Great Britain, Australia and
Switzerland. Particularly, the Sirkap Armenia Swiss company has spent
about $1,500,000 on several modern hotels in the regions of Karabakh.
The hotel owners in Karabakh are satisfied with the country’s tax
policy. For example the manager of the “Nairi” hotel, one of the
biggest hotels in Stepanakert, Mr. Akob Bulakian, a citizen of
Australia, says that his hotel has been exempted from taxes for 3
years, and that the taxes he is paying now are half of what he pays
in Australia. The number of hotel visitors has increased by 30%
during 4 years.
To the opinion of experts, the hotel business in NKR can increase
even more after the airway, connecting Stepanakert to Yerevan, is
opened.-A-

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 23 2005
European Commission On Suspension Of Armenian Conference
BRUSSELS – The suspension of a conference entitled ”Ottoman
Armenians during the Empire’s Fall” will be reflected in the
European Commission’s regular progress report on Turkey (to be
released on November 9th), said Commission spokeswoman Krisztina
Nagy.
During her regular press briefing, Nagy said that the Commission
strongly deplored this attempt, and noted that the suspension
illustrated the difficulties of Turkey, and in particular of the
judiciary.
Stressing that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s and
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s statements on this development were
noted down, Nagy said the timing of this decision the day before the
opening of the conference seemed like yet another ”provocation”.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 23 2005
Bogazici And Sabanci Universities To Object Decision Of Court
ISTANBUL – Istanbul’s Bogazici and Sabanci Universities will object
to decision of a court to suspend an academic conference on
”Armenians in the Late Ottoman Empire: Scientific Responsibility and
Democracy Problems”, it was announced.
Releasing a statement, the Bogazici University indicated that they
would object to the decision later in the day. But some of the guests
who arrived in Turkey from the United States, France and the
Netherlands to assist the conference, have already departed from
Turkey.
Meanwhile, members of the Union of Turkish NGOs held a demonstration
in front of the Bogazici University campus, to protest the
conference. Speaking on behalf of the group, Ramazan Bakkal,
secretary-general of the Union, said, ”we call on organizers of the
conference to hire a hall in Yerevan and hold the conference there.”
A court in Istanbul ordered the suspension of the academic conference
overnight.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New York Times
Sept 23 2005
Photo Show on a Pogrom 50 Years Ago Is Itself Attacked by a Mob
ISTANBUL – Tucked away for more than 40 years, the 120
black-and-white photographs hanging in a gallery here have the stark
appearance and potential emotional impact of evidence presented in a
legal proceeding.

Karsi Gallery
One of the photographs from the Karsi Gallery collection, from 1955.
This article is exclusive to the Web. And that, it turns out, is what
they are.
One image shows a mob outside a row of storefronts, with some people
watching passively and others cheering as a shop is ransacked. A
young man stands with his half-clenched fist raised in the air, as if
he is egging on the vandals; his other hand rests passively on his
hip, suggesting nonchalance. A boy stares up numbly, as if looking in
vain for answers. Above him, a man in the shell of the shop’s wrecked
building heaves a baby carriage to the street below.
Fifty years ago this month, erroneous reports spread that Greeks had
set fire to the childhood home of Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey’s
founder, in Salonika, Greece. The rumors prompted an angry mob to
converge on Taksim Square in Istanbul for an anti-foreigner pogrom
that left thousands of houses and many hundreds of shops destroyed.
Gallery officials said about a dozen people were killed, but the
death toll has never been confirmed because of official secrecy.
Cemeteries were desecrated, dozens of churches were burned, and many
schools were plundered.
Fahri Coker, a former assistant military prosecutor, served as a
legal adviser to the military investigation of the events of Sept.
6-7, 1955, an inquiry that historians describe as a whitewash. Coker
had 250 photographs taken by foreign news photographers and
government employees, and even a few by Ara Guler, one of Turkey’s
few internationally known photographers. Judge Coker held on to the
pictures and left word that they could be displayed only after his
death, which occurred in 2001.
To mark the 50-year anniversary of the long night of violence, Karsi,
a gallery in the Beyoglu neighborhood, where the pogrom occurred,
organized an exhibition of the photos to open on Sept. 6. Although
curators were no doubt aware that the pictures would arouse strong
feelings, given the emotion surrounding historical discussions in
Turkey, they have been surprised by the passions unleashed by the
show.
The Sept. 6 opening was disrupted by a group of nationalists who
entered the gallery, carrying a Turkish flag. Chanting slogans like
“Turkey, love it or leave it!,” they vandalized some of the
photographs and tossed others out the window. They also threw eggs at
the pictures, leaving a vivid testimonial to how controversial free
expression remains in Turkey.
“We left it that way, but unfortunately, after a few days it started
to smell,” Ozkan Taner, one of the gallery’s directors, said of the
exhibition, which the gallery then cleaned and restored. It remains
on view through Sept. 26.
News of the attacks spread quickly to the front pages of the Turkish
papers and to television and radio news broadcasts, turning the show
into a national topic of conversation.
Attendance has been heavy, easily exceeding expectations. On a recent
day, dozens of people crowded into the gallery to study the images.
The pictures, as might be expected, show faces riven by anger and
fear, but the photos are also packed with small surprises.
One centers on the familiar monument at the center of Taksim Square,
so crowded with young protesters that some are falling off as others
rise to take their places. At the top of the image, a small group is
working to hoist the Turkish flag, while a young man in a crisp,
clean suit holds unsteadily over his head a small portrait of
Ataturk. But away from the monument, the people in the crowd turning
to face the photographer have blank, uncertain expressions, as if
they are as unnerved by the outpouring as many of the gallery’s
visitors have been.
In the beginning, the photo exhibition was hailed as a major step
forward for a country trying to show a more democratic face in
preparation for possible membership in the European Union.
“For the first time in the history of Turkey, a shameful happening
has been brought out into the open,” said Ishak Alaton, chairman of
the Alarko Holding company and a leader of Turkey’s tiny population
of Jews. “September 6, 1955, was our Kristallnacht.”
Ozcan Yurdalan, a freelance photographer here who took part in a
recent news conference denouncing the attacks on the exhibition, said
the straightforward documentary style of the photos made them more
disturbing.
“They show directly what they saw in life,” he said. “If you take
straight photographs, they show the reality – the faces of the
people, some fearful, some thinking, Yeah, we are doing something
well against our enemy.”
“The pictures showed me this is not the past,” he said. “We are still
living in the same condition today. I am ashamed of that, and also
very fearful.”
Greek-Turkish tensions over the future of Cyprus were running high in
1955, and the future of that island remains unresolved, threatening
to hold up Turkey’s bid to begin negotiations to join the European
Union. More broadly, Western ideas of the rightful role of dissent
have made limited inroads in Turkey. The acclaimed author Orhan Pamuk
has been charged with “public denigrating of Turkish identity” for
telling a newspaper: “Thirty-thousand Kurds were killed here, one
million Armenians as well. And almost no one talks about it.”
Mehmet Guleryuz, an Abstract Expressionist-style painter who helped
organize a protest against the attack on the exhibition, said: “We’re
going through sensitive times. We have to have the ability to open up
hidden parts of our history and deal with it. We have to have the
ability to argue.”

Blabbermouth.net, NY
Sept 23 2005
SYSTEM OF A DOWN To Rally In Front of House Speaker DENNIS HASTERT’s
Office – Sep. 24, 2005

SYSTEM OF A DOWN, one of rock’s most daring and innovative bands,
have just announced that they – along with their fans, the Armenian
National Committee of America, Axis of Justice and the Armenian Youth
Federation – will visit the Batavia office of Rep. Dennis Hastert on
Tuesday, September 27 at noon to ask Speaker Hastert to “do the right
thing” and keep his commitment to hold a vote on the pending Armenian
genocide legislation. If passed, the legislation will officially
recognize Turkey’s destruction of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915
and 1923. The band have invited their fans to join with them in this
effort by attending the rally and have set up a system by which fans
can directly email Speaker Hastert on the issue.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s four band members – Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian,
Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan – are of Armenian descent and have
made awareness of the genocide, and genocide around the world, a
central message of the band. All have lost family members to the
Armenian genocide.
On September 15, the House International Relations Committee
overwhelmingly approved legislation recognizing the Armenian
genocide, despite objections from both Turkey and the Bush
administration. Despite his previous public support for the measure
in 2000, Speaker Hastert has twice prevented the Armenian Genocide
legislation from coming to a full vote in the House. Today the fate
of this human rights issue rests in the Speaker’s hands. He has two
choices: either allow a vote on the Armenian genocide resolution,
giving the 435 members of the U.S. House a chance to cast their
ballots on this human rights measure or, delay, defer, and ultimately
defeat the Armenian genocide resolution by refusing to bring the
measure to a vote of the full U.S. House. The rally is in support of
a fair and full vote in the House of Representatives, ending U.S.
denial of this crime and opening the doors to justice – to the
restoration, reparation, and restitution owed to the victims of
genocide.
“Dennis, do the right thing,” stated Serj Tankian. `I just visited my
97-year-old grandfather, my only link to the far past, and promised
him that I would go and try to talk to Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
House, and make sure that he takes this opportunity to bring up the
Armenian genocide resolution to the floor of the House of
Representatives. This is a personal issue to me and SYSTEM.”
The SYSTEM OF A DOWN/ANCA rally will take place at the offices of
Rep. Dennis Hastert – 27 North River Street, Batavia, Illinois (about
an hour from downtown Chicago). The rally is scheduled for 12
noon-2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27. The Armenian community,
activists, and the band’s fans from across the greater Chicago area
are expected to attend the rally.

IranMania.com , Iran
Sept 23 2005
Iran’s ?Nightingale Papers? published in Armenia
Friday, September 23, 2005 – ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, September 23 (IranMania) – The book ?Nightingale Papers?
written by Iranian poet Zia-eddin in the fourteenth century was
published in Armenian language by a translator from Armenia.
According to ISNA, Herans Antonyan completed the translation
following 13 years of intense work. ?I came across the
Russian-language translation of the book for the first time. I read
the book and was impressed. I felt sorry that the Armenian people did
not have such a masterpiece at its disposal.?
In a meeting with Iranian cultural attache in Yerevan, Antonyan said
that he funded the translation and printing of the book without
financial considerations.
?My aim in translating and printing the book was to introduce such a
high quality book to Armenia?s culture and literature.?
Iranian cultural attache Otoufi said that translation of the book was
a great stride towards strengthening cultural ties between Iran and
Armenia.
He described it as a great event for cultural relations between the
two countries.