American Congressman Highly Estimates Adherence Of Artsakh Principles Of Democracy
NEW YORK, November 17 (Noyan Tapan). The meetings of NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassian with the influential representatives of the
Armenian Diaspora of the US are continuing. The meetings are dated
for the telethon on fundraising in support to Nagorno Karabakh.
According to observers, it is expected that this telethon, as against
the previous telethons, will become record on donations for Artsakh
made by the citizens of Armenian origin living in the US. According
to the press release of the Head Information Department attached to
the NKR President, the results of Arkady Ghoukassian’s talks with
representatives of the various circles of the Armenian Diaspora are
also the evidence of this fact.
So, during the November 15 meeting of the NKR President with
famous philanthropist Luis Simon Manukian, the latter expressed
willingness to contribute (the same way as in the previous years)
to the socio-economic development of Artsakh and, first of all, to
the construction of the North-South highway being of great strategic
importance to Nagorno Karabakh. It is notable that Mrs. Manukian is
also the sponsor of the construction of a school in the NKR capital
Stepanakert.
The same day, the NKR President visited the Head Office of the
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), where he talked to
Endrew Torigian, the head of this organization. The President thanked
AMAA for the implementation of a number of humanitarian programs in
Artsakh, in particular, for rendering material support to orphans
and the maintainance of a nunber of pre-school establishments. He
called on members of the missionary organization to take an active
part in the telethon. E. Torigian spoke out for the further widening
of cooperation between AMAA and Nagorno Karabakh.
A reception and dinner in honor of NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian
were organized upon the initiative of the Armenian General Benevolent
Union and the “Hayastan” (“Armenia”) Pan-Armenian Fund in New York the
day before. Perch Sedrakian, the President of the AGBU, who spoke at
the reception stressed the necessity of more active participation of
the Armenian Diaspora in the development of Artsakh. In this connection
the NKR President drew the participants’ attention to the fact that
Artsakh needs the assistance of the Diaspora in the issues of the
implementation of programs on the construction of highways, as well
as hospitals, schools, other entities of social importance. Readiness
of participants to take an active part in the upcoming telethon was
expressed at the meeting held with the participation of Resident
Representative of Armenia to the UN Armen Martirosian.
Arkady Ghoukassian’s meeting with Frank Pallown, the Co-Chairman of
the Group on Armenian Issues of the US Congress, was held the same
day. Issues regarding the ways of the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem were touched upon during the conversation. The
American congressmen, in particular, gave high assessment to the NKR’s
adherence to the principles of democracy, expressing satisfaction
with the successes of the republic in the socio-economic and cultural
development. At the same time, he expressed serious concern on the
occasion of the bistructural position of Azerbaijan on the settlement
of the Karabakh problem, especially in connection with the military
statements made in this country quite often. Pallown confirmed his
readiness to support the right of the NKR people to freedom and
independence.
Arkady Ghoukassian expressed gratitude to the American congressman
for support to Artsakh. He also thanked the American people for
humanitarian aid rendered to the NKR population that suffered from
the military aggression od Azerbaijan.
The NKR President’s visit to the United States continues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Primates Of Artsakh and Rumania and Bulgaria Visit Western Diocese Of Armenian Church In North America
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, November 17 (Noyan Tapan). The Western Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America hosts this week the
Primate of Artsakh His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, and His
Eminence Archbishop Dirair Mardigian, Primate of Rumania and Bulgaria.
Both Primates paid an official visit to the Western Diocesan
Headquarters on November 15, to meet with His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese.
According to the Press Office of the Diocese, on Sunday, November 21,
His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian will celebrate Divine
Liturgy at St. John Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church in Hollywood,
and His Eminence Archbishop Dirair Mardigian will celebrate Divine
Liturgy at the Armenian Church of La Canada.

Armenians of America Are Going To Take Active Part In Telethon To Be Held On November 25
NEW YORK, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian Diaspora of the US
is going to take an active part in the regular telethon on fundraising
in favor of Nagorno Karabakh to be held on November 25. According
to the Head Information Department attached to the NKR President,
it is expected that the sum of donations, which is foreseen for the
completion of the construction of the North-South highway being of
great important for Nagorno Karabakh, will exceed greatly the indices
of the previous telethons, which became traditional. In the opinion
of representatives of the various circles of the Armenian Diaspora
of the US (NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian, who is in the US on the
occasion of the telethon, meets with them now), the activities of
the Armenian Diaspora is mainly explained by the growing level of
its confidence to the NKR authorities and its President.
Famous philanthropist Hrair Hovnanian, the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), said during his
meeting with the NKR President that the vote of confidence of the
Armenians of the US in the leadership of Nagorno Karabakh increased
owing to the democratization of all the spheres of Nagorno Karabakh’s
life, which contributes to more effective use of material resources
for the forward movement of the republic’s economy, as well as the
social, cultural, and spiritual spheres. H. Hovnanian assured the
NKR President that he will take part not only in the telethon but he
will also contribute to the implementation of different programs on
Artrsakh development.
Arkady Ghoukassian’s meeting with Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian,
the Spiritual Head of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America, was held in the atmosphere of complete mutual
understanding. The Archbishop was interested not only in the issues
of the spiritual revival of Artsakh but also in the situation with
the reformation of the NKR economy, in particular, the results of
the liberalization of the tax policy, the democratic reforms carrying
out in the republic. The participants of the meeting also discussed
the issues regarding the implementation of a number of humanitarian
programs in the NKR with the immediate support of the Fund for Armenian
Relief at the Diocese.
In their telephone conversation with the NKR President influential
philanthropists Gevorg Hovnanian and Sargis Hakobian expressed their
willingness to contribute to the completion of the construction of
the North-South highway during the upcoming telethon.
The prospects of the NKR economic development were discussed during
the meeting of Arkady Ghukasian with businessman Raffi Megherian, who
supports to the development of the carpet weaving business in Artsakh,
and Vahagn and Hasmik Hovhannisian couple. The interlocutors of the
meeting were of the same opinion on the necessity of more boosting
participation of the Armenian Diaspora of the US in the strengthening
of Karabakh’s economy.
During all the meetings Arkady Ghoukassian thanked his compatriots
for everyday concern for Artsakh and its people. He emphasized once
again that the Armenian people can achieve its national objects only
owing to the joint efforts of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.

TURKISH DENIALISM OF ARMENIANS CONTINUES EVEN WITH EXHIBITION ORGANIZED IN
BRUSSELS
BRUSSELS, November 18 (Noyan Tapan). The Palace of Fine Arts of
Brussels (Belgium) hosts the exhibition on Turkey entitled “Mothers,
Goddesses and Sultans”, which will last from October 06 2004 to
January 16 2005. According to the Assembly of Armenians of Europe, the
exhibition accounts pieces from the collection of the Topkapi Palace
(Turkey), Louvre, Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the museums of
Berlin and the most important museums in Turkey. This exhibition is
organized with the mutual agreement of the prime ministers of Belgium
and Turkey in order to introduce the Belgian and European society
with the cultural values and the history of Turkey and intends to
emphasize the European vocation of Turkey.
The leaflet on the exhibition distributed to the visitors at the
entrance of the Palace of Fine Arts says: “We encounter the peoples,
who have left their traces in Anatolia in the course of 9000 years. The
journey takes us through such renowned cultures as the Hitties, Greek
and Roman antiquity, Byzantium and the Ottomans.” From the first
sight one may find the absence of the Armenians and Armenian culture
in Anatolia very strange, since for centuries the Eastern Anatolia
was the cradle of Armenians and it is also called the Armenian
Plateau[i]. Even during the Ottoman Empire Armenians represented a
sizeable and dynamic part of the ottoman population, particularly in
Istanbul and other urban centre, and their omission in this exhibition
is quite deliberate on the part of the Turkish organizers. But the
most interesting piece of the exhibition is the map of the Ottoman
Empire from 1299 to 1923, without any mention of the Armenians or
Armenian Republic (the first Armenian Republic, 1918 – 1920) and
Greece (independence of Greece recognized by the Ottoman Empire in
1832). No expert or historian would dare to make a single map to
represent such a complex region over for such a long period of time
(1299 – 1923), since the movement of borders has been radical over
the period considered, and at times extremely rapid.
It is very strange to see the name of “Azerbaijan” on the map, while
the names of Armenia and Greece are absent. As reported by Radio
Free Europe, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman called for
Azerbaijan’s (the closest ally of the Republic of Turkey) takeover
of the entire territory of Armenia and removal of the entire Armenian
population from the Caucasus. He went so far as to say, and we quote,
“Within the next 25 years there will exist no state of Armenia in
the South Caucasus.” This inevitably reminds of the intentions of the
perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. In this context the negationism
of the Armenians is not a simple mistake or lack of professionalism
by the organizers of the exhibition, but has its roots go back into
the beginning of the 20th century – the Armenian Genocide committed by
the Ottoman Empire in 1915. The Armenian Genocide is still denied by
the Republic of Turkey, which also imposes a blockade on the Republic
of Armenia for more than 10 years. Therefore, the radical exclusion
of Armenians from ottoman history is consistent with the genocide
carried out in 1915-1916 and it has been the practice in Turkey since
the establishment of the republic in 1923. The negationism and the
denial of the Armenian Genocide are also reflected in the premeditated
annihilation of Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of the
actual Republic of Turkey.
The Assembly of Armenians of Europe considers such negationist and
revisionist attitude of the Republic of Turkey, aspiring to the EU full
membership unacceptable. We believe that such behaviour destabilizes
the whole region of South Caucasus and impedes the normalization of
Armeno-Turkish relations. Moreover, the extension of this denialist
approach to an exhibition carried out in Belgium, in partnership with
Belgian institutions, is a worrying sign at a moment when Turkey is
pressing to join the European community of values. The Assembly of
Armenians of Europe is sure that this is an attempt of the Turkish
authorities to force their own denialist approach on an unsuspecting
European public.

“70 THOUSAND ASSYRIANS” BOOK BY WILLIAM SAROYAN PUBLISHED IN TURKISH
ISTANBUL, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). On the occasion of the book
fair of Istanbul the “70 Thousand Assyrians” book by William Saroyan
was among the 3 books published by the “Aras” publishing-house in
2004. The book was translated into Turkish by Hovhannes Gljdagh and
Aziz Geokdemir.
According to the “Marmara” newspaper of Istanbul, besides
translation, Geokdemir also gave a number of commentaries in the
preface in connection with Saroyan’s literature and Turkish-Armenian
relations. Geokdemir touches upon 1915 Genocide of Armenians and the
arguments regarding 1915 events. He reminds that Saroyan also often
wrote about these materials pointing to the last work included into the
book where Saroyan writes: “Come and exterminate this people if you
can.” Geokdemir, however, added that Saroyan was one of the writers
who considers not the peoples but individuals to be responsible for
the lawless actions of the world. “Saroyan became Saroyan owing to
the very broad-mindedness,” he emphasized.
The book consisting of about 200 pages is summed up in the “You are
Armenian, Armenian” Saroyan’s work where Saroyan expresses his faith
in the steadfastness of Armenian people.

SECOND 2004 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORT ON TURKEY EVOKES DISCUSSION ON
ARMENIAN ISSUES AND 483 AMENDMENTS
STRASBOURG, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). On November 15, the Foreign
Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament examined the second
2004 parliamentarian report “on Turkey’s progress towards accession”
presented by the young Dutch representative Camiel Eurlings (EPP).
According to the European Armenian Federation for Justice and
Democracy, before commencing debate, parliamentarians had a chance
to review the 483 amendments tabled on the brief seven-page report,
which attest that Turkey’s accession remains a sensitive issue. The
most prominent general criticism about the Eurlings report was the
fact that it expresses no clear position on the possibility of starting
accession negotiations with this country.
Regarding Armenian issues, the provisional version of the Eurlings
report states that, “whereas the border between Turkey and Armenia
has still not been reopened by the Turkish authorities, who have
thereby missed an opportunity to promote good neighbourly relations
with Armenia”, and mentions that the European Parliament “calls
on the Governments of Turkey and Armenia to start a process of
reconciliation [.] in order to overcome the tragic experience of the
past and requests the Turkish government to reopen the borders with
Armenia as soon as possible”.
The amendments to the report as well as the debates focused largely
on Armenian issues, including recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
the blockade of Armenia, as well as article 305 of the Turkish Penal
Code that penalizes the affirmation of the Genocide or dissident
opinions on the Cyprus issue.
Amendments demanding explicitly the recognition of the Genocide and
the lifting of the blockade were submitted by members of Parliament
from Communist, Socialist, Christian-Democrat (EPP), Liberal and
Sovereignist groups, all major parliamentary groups except the Greens,
who unconditionally support Turkey’s accession to Europe.
Amendments resulting from Turkish denial efforts were also submitted
by members of Parliament from certain parties, except the Communists
and Sovereignists. Particularly, Mr Rocard (France) and Mrs De Keyser
(Belgium), respectively shadow rapporteur and AFET coordinator for
the Socialist party presented their own amendments, representing
marginal positions in the European Socialist Party as being those of
the whole party. Many Socialist members of Parliament have expressed
concern about these methods. Mr Rocard’s amendment 131 praising “the
reopening to pilgrims of the Armenian National Mausoleum in northern
Anatolia, the lifting of the ban on the use of minority languages,
including Kurdish and Armenian, and the remarkable work carried out
by Turkish historians on the genocide and the re-establishment of
state relations with the Republic of Armenia” is of particular concern.
“We have pointed out to Mr Rocard and to his associates that their
affirmations are not only blatant lies, but that by spreading them,
they actively open invite the denial of Genocide crimes in Europe”,
declared Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation.
The European Armenian Federation has been actively working with
the European Parliament and the European Commission to enforce the
resolution of 18 June 1987, which calls on Turkey to recognize the
Armenian Genocide as a pre-condition to European candidacy. Despite
Turkish pressures, those efforts have been crowned with success: since
2004, several European Parliament reports have explicitly asked Turkey
to recognise the Genocide and to lift the blockade. In its October 2004
report, the European Commission itself evoked for the first time the
Genocide issue, though using vague and somewhat watered-down language.
“Today, Europe cannot afford to ignore any longer the Genocide and the
blockade in its relationships with Turkey,” concluded the Chairperson
of the European Armenian Federation.
The vote on the Eurlings report in Foreign Affairs Committee will be
held on November 22, 2005 in Brussels.

Government Of Buenos Aires Jointly With Hay Dat Committee Publish Brochure Devoted To Armenian Genocide
BUENOS AIRES, November 18 (Noyan Tapan). A brochure devoted to the
Armenian Genocide and prepared by the Committee jointly with the
Human Rights Department of the Buenos Aires Mayor’s Office has been
published owing to the consistent work of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Hay
Dat Committee. Its presentation was held on November 8. The brochure
was distributed among the libraries and teachers of 600 secondary
schools of Argentina’s capital. The book with the circulation of 5000
copies consists of brief historical data, evidence of the famous
international and local figures concerning the Armenian Genocide,
the articles of that period, as well as illustrations and maps.
According to the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Hay Dat Bureau, Ambassador of
Armenia to Argentina Ara Aivazian, students and teachers of all
the Armenian schools of the city, `the leaders of the Armenian
organizations and those who were specially invited were present at
the presentation of the brochure.

FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN CULTURE HOLIDAY COMPLETES IN TEHRAN
YEREVAN, November 17 (Noyan Tapan). The final arrangement dedicated
to the Armenian Culture Holiday was held at the “Hovhannes Tumanian”
hall of the Armenian “Chharmahal” Union of Tehran on November 11. The
festival was organized by the Cultural Committee revived by the
Education Council of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran.
The previous arrangements of the cultural festival were held on
October 22 and 29. Competitions on recital and dance were organized
on November 11, and competitions on songs and musical instruments
were held on November 12.
According to the “Alik” (“Wave”) daily newspaper of Tehran, about 250
students showed their abilities at the arrangements. The performance
of over 40-people choir of the “Mariamian” male school distinguished
itself among the performances.

ARAM I: “REVIVAL OF THE MOTHERLAND MEANS THE REVIVAL OF OUR NATION,
STRENGTHENING OF THE MOTHERLAND MEANS THE STRENGTHENING OF THE DIASPORA”
ANTELIAS, November 18 (Noyan Tapan). In connection with the telethon
of the Pan-Armenian “Hayastan” (“Armenia”) Fund to be held on November
25 Catholicos of the Great Cilician House Aram I made a statement in
which he greeted the action directed at the support of the construction
of the North-South highway in Artsakh.
“This arrangement is a basis for the construction and repairs and it is
of economic, cultural and political importance. The North-South highway
is the most important branch connecting Artsakh with Armenia. Hence,
its quick reconstruction is of vital importance not only for Armenia
but also for all the Armenians of the world,” Catholicos Aram I said.
The Catholicosate of the Great Cilician House called on all the
Dioceses to continue their work directed at the sacred cause of the
construction of the Motherland.

11000 TEXT-BOOKS AND LITERATURE TO BE GIVEN TO SCHOOL OF NKR VAZGENASHEN
VILLAGE UPON INITIATIVE OF A NUMBER OF ARMENIAN HIHGER SCHOOLS
YEREVAN, November 17 (Noyan Tapan). 11000 school text-books and fiction
will be given to the school library of the village of Vazgenashen
of NKR Martuni region and a number of other schools of Shushi upon
the initiative of student councils of Yerevan State Conservatoire,
State Engineering University of Armenia, Yerevan State Linguistic
University after V.Brusov, Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) and Yerevan
State Universities.
Hayk Akarmazian, Chairman of student council of Yerevan Engineering
University, mentioned that Vazgenashen is a newly-resettled
village and the newly-opened village school lacks the necessary
text-books. According to him, the educational system is one of the most
important components of strategical development of economy. “Education
enables prosperity of the country. We will do our best to support
Artsakh schools, in order that their educational system should also
enter a new stage of development,” H.Akarmazian said.