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08/25/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Plot Thickens in Fate of Turkey's Armenian Genocide Conference 2) Election Tensions in Azerbaijan Trouble Europe 3) ARF Bureau Seminar 4) Abkhazia Unwilling to Trade Freedom for Monetary Assurances 1) Plot Thickens in Fate of Turkey's Armenian Genocide Conference ISTANBUL (Marmara/AFP)--Recent reports in the Turkish press point to Turkish government efforts to influence the recently rescheduled conference on the Armenian genocide, slated for September 23-25 at Istanbul's Bogazici University. Featuring academics and intellectuals who dispute Ankara's version of the 1915-1917 genocide of Armenians, the conference was postponed in May after Justice Minister Cemil Cicek condemned the initiative as "treason" and a "stab in the back of the Turkish nation." He also said organizers deserved to be prosecuted. The outburst raised eyebrows in European diplomatic circles about Ankara's commitment to democratic reforms, a requirement for October 3 negotiations over its adhesion to the European Union (EU). But diplomats said the incident could also prove to be a watershed if the Turkish government acted to correct Cicek's remarks. Milliyet published an article on August 25 saying Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan requested that organizers reschedule the conference prior to October 3, noting negative effects of its prior cancellation on European public opinion. In the meantime, there are conflicting reports on whether Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would open the conference, titled "Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy." Although it was reported yesterday that Gul accepted the invitation from the rector of Bogazici University, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Namik Tan announced later on Wednesday that Gul would be in New York during the conference opening, and would participate during its closingif his schedule allowed. Asked about recent change in plans, Gul explained that he agreed to participate in principle, but only if his schedule allowed, and elaborated on the importance of the academic gathering. "We consider such meetings an opportunity to explain our opinion both in Turkey and abroad," Gul said. "We have no problems about the issue [Armenian genocide], and it is useless to shun it as if the guilty party." Pointing to opinions that oppose his, he suggested that certain circles twist historical facts to oppose Turkey. His comments seem to have implied that the nature of the original conference is now questionable. "I am happy to partake if I see that there is broad representation," he said, in an apparent reference to participation of academics who deny the genocide of Armenians ever took place. "We must carry out, both internally and externally, a clear campaign to contradict this. We must be proactive both as a government and a [foreign] ministry. We will not allow hostile circles to affect new generations with unfounded allegations." 2) Election Tensions in Azerbaijan Trouble Europe Embassies of European Union member states in Baku have called for free and fair parliamentary elections in November, and urge political parties in Azerbaijan to hold peaceful pre-election campaigns for the sake of Azerbaijan's democratic development. (azernews/noticias)--"Concerned about the deteriorating pre-election environment in Azerbaijan, the EU mission there has called on all parties to exert considerable effort in ensuring free and fair elections, according to British charge d'affaires in Baku Colin Wells. On behalf of the embassies of EU states in Baku, I call on all parties to ensure that their campaigns are peaceful. Violence and threats are not in line with democratic election campaigns. The embassies praise the authorities' steps on the implementation of the May 11 presidential decree on improving election practices and are ready to assist Azerbaijan in making certain the elections meet international standards," Wells said in a statement released by the British embassy there. The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rene van der Linden also expressed concern after visiting the region August 18-23. Der Linden stressed in Strasbourg on Thursday that the November elections would be a test case for the country and an important opportunity for the international community to see that the government was doing its utmost to ensure free and fair elections. Noting the importance of election monitoring, he reminded authorities that in January 2006 PACE would consider the report of its own 40-strong election observation mission. Der Linden stressed that authorities must reinforce and guarantee media independence and pluralism, including the reopening of the capital's Public TV station. He urged all political parties to approach the elections in a positive and constructive spirit of democracy, and called on the authorities to take all the necessary action to ensure that neither the opposition nor the media would continue to feel at risk as a result of their lawful and democratic activities. 3) ARF Bureau Seminar YEREVAN (YERKIR)--A three-day seminar on political developments in Armenia and the region begins on August 26 in Yerevan, with Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) members from around 20 countries participating in the discussions organized by the ARF Bureau. "We will review the positions of various countries and forces that affect the region, as well as issues tied to Mountainous Karabagh and Javakhk, and Armenia-Turkey relations." indicated Giro Manoyan, who heads the Bureau's Hai Tahd and Political Affairs office. The meeting is a part of a series of Bureau-organized seminars to deliberate on matters with party members representing the ARF's many regions, Manoyan said. 4) Abkhazia Unwilling to Trade Freedom for Monetary Assurances TBILISI (Civil Georgia)--Abkhaz prime minister Aleksander Ankvab told Regnum news agency that the independence of Abkhazia would not be traded for economic opportunities and international assistance. In an interview, Ankvab, who criticized western diplomats, said Abkhazia instead finds "far better understanding" of its claims in Russia. "Representatives of Western diplomatic circles--sorry for the rough language--always rub it in our face [that Abkhazia is not internationally recognized], but they can not take away our natural right to being independent and free. We are not asking to enter anything and do not beg. If they want to speak in a dignified manner, we are ready to respond, but to try--with economic promises--to place us somewhere else [i.e. Georgia]--they must consider the will of the people that will never change," Ankvab said. He also stressed that there is no link between Abkhazia's political aims and opportunities for foreign loans. Ankvab has lead the Abkhaz political movement "Aitaira" since 2000, and was a high-ranking Communist Party official in Soviet Georgia from 1981 to 1983. He later served as the deputy Interior Minister for political issues of the Soviet Georgian from until 1990. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

A surprising “yes” to a surprising invitation
Hurriyet
Last updated 23:14
24.08.2005
A conference dealing with the question of the Armenian genocide will take
place at Bosphorus University in late September. The conference, entitled
“Ottoman Armenians During the Collapse of the Empire,” will be held
September 23-25, and will feature opening remarks by Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul. The FM has reportedly been invited to open the conference by
Bosphorus University Rector Ayse Soysal.
The “Ottoman Armenians” conference had been originally scheduled for May
2005, but was cancelled due to an overwhelmingly negative reaction in the
Turkish press and among significant political figures. Its postponement led
to much controversy among pundits and in public opinion.
The decision by Gul to speak at the conference had apparently been held
secret by the university as well as conference participants.
Gul himself spoke to Hurriyet, saying “The Rector did call and ask me to
speak. I said that I would, and that there was nothing for us to be afraid
of on this subject…At the time when the first conference was delayed, I
had said that it wasn’t a good thing. There was no need to postpone it. We
could have comfortably discussed this all as a society.”
Erdogan spoke out against the postponement
In a speech proceeding the postponement of the “Ottoman Armenians”
conference in May, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek spoke in Parliament, saying
of the conference “This is stabbing the Turkish people in the back. I wish
that, in becoming Justice Minister, I had not forfeited my right to open a
court case against them.” PM Erdogan later said criticized the postponement
of the conference, saying “It makes no sense that the conference would be
postponed due to the words of the Justice Minister.”
,,sid~381@nvid~621710,00.asp

PRESS RELEASE
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616 N. Glendale Avenue
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Contact: Sofi Kambourian Boyle
Tel: 818-548-9345
Fax: 818-548-9342
E-mail: [email protected]
A NEW RESEARCH STUDY CONDUCTED BY DR. GARBIS DER YEGHIAYAN
A demographically representative 200-page opinion survey of Armenian
Americans was recently released on CD by Mashdots College in Glendale,
California. The study, conducted by Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan,
president of the college, reveals an array of attitudes, beliefs,
values, views, perceptions and experiences about a broad range of
subjects. Among the topics covered in the survey are: Armenian
identity; family structure and interests; moral, ethical and spiritual
issues; social concerns; Armenia-related issues; volunteerism;
interest and involvement in the life of the community; inter-ethnic
issues; political participation; community support and contributions;
the role of the media; economic and fiscal status and priorities;
attitudes towards education and religion; assimilation challenges; the
affects of September 11; individual and community concerns and
priorities.

In order to adequately capture the research needs of the study, a
unique questionnaire was devised based on the writer’s vast experience
within the Armenian and non-Armenian communities, combined with
invaluable input from three research scientists and numerous community
leaders and members. The questionnaire was mailed to 8,624 Armenian
Americans residing in 22 states from California to New York. The names
were randomly selected from a demographically representative mailing
list of 75,000 addresses compiled from numerous sources. Responses
totaled 3,014 or 35%. The study was conducted between May and
December, 2004. The completed questionnaires from across the country
were scored, coded, tabulated and statistically analyzed. The study is
presented in color graphs. The margin of error for the sample as a
whole is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The study is a serious attempt to define the status, role and
prospects of the Armenian American community. It is the writer’s
earnest hope that it may stimulate further interest and action among
the religious, educational, political, professional and civic leaders
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Please contact Mashdots College at (818) 548-9345 (telephone) or
[email protected] (e-mail) to request a copy of the CD free of charge.
Donations to Mashdots College are always welcome and appreciated.

SIX CORRESPONDENCES OF SOCIAL CARDS TO APOCALYPSE FROM ARMENIAN ARYANS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24. ARMINFO.
“Armenia’s government did no keep its words on re-examine of laws
“On social cards” and “On personal data” having antinational nature”,
stated chairman of Armenian-Aryan order Armen Avetissyan and his
assistant Artur Hovhannissyan at today’s press-conference.
The only indulgence, in Hovhannissyan’s words, was the issue of new
social cards without bar-codes to protesters. He tried to assure
that 666 – “the animal number” is under the bar-code. Thus, Aryans
thinks that “The Union against social cards” removed one of six
correspondences to Apocalypse by John Theologian. “Centralization
of all the personal data by use of social cards opens a way for the
appearance of the most awful, the seventh correspondence – general
obligatory use of backdrops, which are nothing but the stamp of the
apocalyptical Animal and Antichrist”, speakers stated.
Avetissyan tried to assure that laws “On social cards” and “On personal
data” adopted by Armenia’s parliament break Armenia’s Constitution
in 9 points and are written by the order of some Masonic lodge. He
promised to organize protest actions and mass-meetings against the
centralization of personal data. At the same time both Avetissyan
and his assistant recognized that personal information on Armenia’s
citizens had removed from Armenia long before the appearance of social
cards: sect of Mormons had microfilmed considerable size of personal
information in the Central Archive and get out it to the USA.
To note, the main Aryan in his previous press-conference on Jul 16,
2005 stated with honor about his commonness with Armenian pagans. “I
was ordained in Armenian religion in the temple of Garni (the only
preserved pagan temple in the USSR – edit.) by supreme pagan priest
Slak Karkossyan”, confessed Avetissyan with honor. Known for his
anti-christian statements in mass-media Karkossyan did not present
at the press-conference and did not hear evangelical citations of
Aryans. And, if Aryans have read “Afflatus”, one cannot exclude that
supreme pagan priest have read “Karamazov brothers” by F. Dostoevsky
and could find “correspondence” with Dmitriy Karamazov. “Man is
wide, I would like to narrow him”, exclaimed an ineradicable hero
of Dostoevsky.

ARMENIAN CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL CANCELLED IN MAY FIXED FOR SEPTEMBER 23
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO.
The “Armenian Conference” in Turkey cancelled in May 2005 will be
held on September 23, at Bosfor University of Istanbul with the same
agenda and n the same staff, CNNTurk reports.
It should be noted that on May 25-27 in Istanbul a scientific forum
on the topic “Armenians in the period of collapse of the Ottoman
Empire” was planned. However, the forum was postponed because of
hot counteraction by Turkish nationalists. The forum participants
and its organizers – Bosfor University, several pro-governmental and
opposition figures were announced “betrayers” and on may 24 the forum
was postponed for indefinite period of time. The well-known statement
by Justice Minister of Turkey Cemil Cicer played a leading role
in the forum’s failing. He stated that the “forum of oppositionist
intellectuals is a stab in the back of the Turkish people.” At the
same time, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated in this
connection: “Let them speak, we’ll see what they will say.”

HEAD OF UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCESS OF RELEASE OF RUSSIAN SAILORS ARRESTED IN NIGERIA
MOSCOW, AUGUST 24. ARMINFO.
Head of the Union of Armenians of Russia, UN Good Will Ambassador
Ara Abrahamyan will participate in the process of release of Russian
sailors arrested in Nigeria. According to Gazeta.ru, today Ara
Abrahamyan leaves for Nigeria on a special mission.
According to the source, it is expected that his personal ties and
the previous experience of dealing with African governments will help
achieving release of 11 Russian sailors from custody. The sailors
of African Pride vessel have been kept at an African prison for two
years already charged with contraband. On August 5 the Nigerian court
made a decision that the Russians can be released under pledge and
warranty of the Russian Embassy. The source does not rule out that
the tactics used when releasing the Armenian pilots from the prison
in Equatorial Guinea will be used.
The Armenian pilots working in that country on AH12 plane registered
in Armenia were imprisoned charged with attempted state coup and
espionage. Malabo Court sentenced the crew commander to 24 and
the pilots to 14 years of imprisonment. They were kept in the
prison one year and then were granted amnesty by the president of
that country. Before release of the pilots Ara Abrahamyan visited
Equatorial Guinea. According to some data, he was empowered by
the Armenian Government to undertake some social and economic and
financial commitments to that country. After the commitments were
fulfilled, the Armenian pilots were released. What was the cost of
their released remained unknown, Gazeta.ru writes.

PACE CHAIRMAN SATISFIED WITH PROCESS OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO.
PACE Chairman Rene van der Linden expressed satisfaction with the steps
taken in direction of peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict. He made
this statement during his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, APA reports referring to the press-service of Azerbaijani
President.
According to the source, PACE Chairman pointed out that resolution
of the conflict is the most important issue for Azerbaijan. He stated
that while in Yerevan he discussed the given issue with the leadership
of Armenia. PACE Chairman expressed hope for the conflict resolution
within the nearest future. – M-

ARMENIA’S GYMNASTICS FEDERATION REFUTES INFORMATION ON REMOVAL OF ARMENIA FROM IGF
August 23, 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The International Gymnastics Federation
(IGF) did not decided to punish Armenia and deprive of its membership
in the IGF because of non-payment of membership fees, stated Albert
Azaryan, Head of Armenia’s GF, famous gymnast, twice champion of the
World and Olympic Games, champion of Europe.
Commenting on information of some Azeri mass-media with refer to the
press-service of the GF of Azerbaijan on that the IGF supposedly
punished Armenia, Azaryan noted that they have already paid $550
membership fees for the participation of Armenian sportsmen in the
European Championship. As regards $800 fees for participation in the
World Championship, the Armenian side has already informed the IGF
leadership that the fees will be paid on the spot in November 2005.

DUTCH STUDENTS INTEND TO PRESENT REAL SITUATION IN NAGORNY KARABAKH TO EUROPE UNDER PROJECT “STORIES FROM ABROAD”
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO.
Under a project “Stories from Abroad” and under the aegis of the Dutch
Peacemaking Movement supported by the World Interchurch Council,
a student of Oriental-European Department of Amsterdam University
G.Tolbo is in Nagorny Karabakh. In his interview to the Karabakh public
newspaper Demo, the student stated that the project is implemented
to arise interest of the Dutch in the problems of the South Caucasus,
including political, cultural and other aspects. G.Tolbo will stay in
the region for 3 months. Several weeks after, he will visit Yerevan
and then Baku.
The student admits that he has got a pleasant and some unexpected
impression of Karabakh. He thinks the atmosphere very good. He admits
that before arriving in Karabakh he had some prejudices, but he
thinks open meetings and talks with politicians, religious leaders,
public workers, the youth and ordinary citizens will bring light to
the situation and he will be able to present the real situation to
the Dutch public.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN OFFICIAL CALLS AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA FOR PEACEFUL KARABAKH SOLUTION
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
23 Aug 05
[Presenter] The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe [PACE], Rene van der Linden, has ended his visit
to Azerbaijan. At a news conference he gave on the results of his
meetings, the PACE president said that Baku and Yerevan should resolve
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem peacefully if they wanted to continue
the course of integration into Europe.
[Linden at news conference, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over]
As newly-elected president of PACE, I visited countries which have
recently become members of the body [as heard]. I discussed the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict
might be solved only in a peaceful manner. If Azerbaijan wants to
join the European Union, then it must solve the conflict, but only
peacefully. I am convinced that this is important to the region’s
future. Only in this way the region will become a stable part of Europe
in the future. I am very pleased at the fact the presidents of the two
countries base their positions on this principle alone. Moreover,
a peaceful solution to the conflict is important to Armenia as
well. Because it is currently in isolation in the region. It should
have economic cooperation with neighbouring countries.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Linden] There are difficult times ahead for the two countries. A
referendum and a parliamentary election will be held in Armenia and
Azerbaijan respectively. I think that the two countries have to carry
out these events as transparently as possible which will give a then
a good chance of showing the development of democracy.