FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES REPORTS ABOUT TOUGHER VISA REGIME FOR
ARMENIANS VISITING TURKEY
ArmenPress
June 16 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign ministry denied today
media reports that Turkey has imposed stricter visa regulations for
Armenian citizens, wishing to visit Turkey, with which Armenia has no
diplomatic relations. A Yerevan-based daily Haykakan Zhamanak claimed
today, citing a statement by Turkish foreign affairs ministry that
from now on Armenians wishing to travel to Turkey will have to get
permissions from Turkish consulates in third countries. Until now
Armenians could get visas at Istanbul airport or at checkpoints at
Georgian-Turkish border.
The Armenian ministry said, citing the Turkish embassy in Russia
that no changes were made in visa regulations concerning Armenian
citizens visiting Turkey. The Armenian ministry said that under
the international practice countries are notified beforehand if
visa regimes are changed. The foreign ministry said it received no
notification from Turkish authorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISSUES ON PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL
VALUES DISCUSSED IN GYUMRI
ArmenPress
June 16 2004
GYUMRI, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: “Protection of Gyumri-Kars Historical and
Cultural Values and Tourism Development” symposium held in Gyumri on
the initiative of Academy for Education Development (AED) discussed
today issues concerning the governance of cultural and historical
objects and development of tourism industry.
According to the head of tourism department of Armenian ministry for
trade and economic development Arthur Zakarian, in order to make the
process of monuments’ governance more effective it is necessary to
transfer them to the private sector of governance, determining the
issues of preservation and development, providing strict supervision
of the process of commitments’ fulfillment. He said that the sphere
of tourism is completely in the hands of the private sector and
develops dynamically.
Nina Hovnanian-Alexanian, the executive director of Armenian Agency
for Tourism Development, stated in her report that there many ways
of development of tourism in Armenia. The main constituent of this
strategy, in her words, is the creation of tourism development centers.
The chairman of the session, deputy director of “Arm project”
institute Sashur Kalashian, stressing that he is against transferring
the objects’ governance to the private sector, said that in order
to develop the intellectual tourism it is necessary to develop the
quality of tour-operators’ services, prepare skilful guides and engage
the local population in this process.
It must be also stated that the aim of the program, which is financed
by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is to
research the current condition of the historical and cultural values,
discuss the issues concerning the further protection and preservation
of these values and the prospects of development of regional tourism.

O.I.C. – Istanbul Declaration Issued
Anadolu Agency
6/16/2004
ISTANBUL – Islam countries have decided to assist each other in
their progress and reforms and announced that they would take steps
in putting an end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
Istanbul Declaration was issued at the end of the 31st Session of
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
The declaration said, “we, as the OIC members, will assist each other
in our progress and reform, which should come from within.”
Stating that OIC members were sovereign nations who worked for
political, economic, social and cultural progress, the declaration
noted that they valued their freedom and the equality of their
citizens. “We all aim to strengthen the representative character and
the democratic practices of our governments,” it stated.
“The OIC, as an institution, will also develop ways and means for
supporting progress in a collective framework. In this context, we
welcome the concept of Enlightened Moderation,” Istanbul Declaration
said.
It stressed that Islam countries were all determined to provide
contemporary education to our new generation.
-CYPRUS-
The declaration noted, “we commend the Turkish Cypriot people for
overwhelmingly endorsing the United Nations Settlement Plan, on the
unification of the island, based on a new bi-zonal partnership of
the two politically equal constituent states. We welcome and support
the report of the United Nations Secretary General, of May 28, 2004,
as well as the conclusions and recommendations contained therein. We
also support the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary
General.”
“In view of the fundamentally changed circumstances in Cyprus following
the April 24, 2004 referenda, we decided to take steps in putting an
end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. In the same vein,
we look forward to similar action by the international community and
bodies,” it stated.
Meanwhile, it has been decided that the Second Meeting of the OIC-EU
Joint Forum would convene in Istanbul between October 4 and 5, 2004.
-ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT-
It stressed that OIC members were resolved to pursue the peaceful
settlement of all international issues and spend efforts to persuade
all parties concerned to act accordingly and noted, “we can on
all concerned to address the question of Palestine and the wider
Arab-Israeli conflict as a matter of urgent priority. The objective
is to achieve full statehood for Palestine living side by side with
Israel within secure and recognized boundaries.”
OIC members said that the settlement could only be the outcome of
direct negotiations between the two parties and noted that equally,
the Syrian and Lebanese tracks must be brought to their successful
conclusion on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
“We have thus decided to support and closely monitor efforts towards
comprehensive peace and to declare that the successful outcome of these
efforts will be fully embraced by the OIC,” the declaration noted.
-IRAQ-
OIC members said that they supported the steps towards ending the
occupation in Iraq and they equally supported the process in which
the Iraqis would assume their sovereignty and stated, “we state
that this assumption of authority must be full. Also the political
transition towards the formation of an elected government must be
totally inclusive and transparent.”
“We welcome in this respect the unanimous adoption of resolution 1546
by the United Nations Security Council which sets the framework for
this transition,” it stated.
OIC members condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to redouble
their efforts in fighting this international scourge.
“We will continue to support Afghanistan’s re-building process,”
it noted and said that the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir
should be fully respected and their will honored in accordance with
international legitimacy.
The declaration stated that OIC members likewise supported the
resolution of the Azeri-Armenian conflict within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL OPENS IN ST. PETERSBURG
RIA Novosti, Russia
June 16 2004
ST. PETERSBURG, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – The St. Petersburg’s Palaces
12th international music festival opens in Russia’s northern capital.
Music will be played in the famous palaces of St. Petersburg and its
suburbs, which formerly belonged to the royal family and notable
aristocrats, the Hermitage Theater, Menshikov Palace, Sheremetev
Palace, Smolny Cathedral, Mikhailovsky, Catherine and Peterhof Palaces
and the Lutheran Church of Sts. Peter and Paul.
All in all, 15 concerts will be held during this month. Soloists
and bands from 10 countries, including France, the U.S., Lithuania,
Estonia, Germany and Italy. Among them are the Russian State Academic
Chamber Orchestra conducted by Konstantin Orbelyan, the Five Style
ensemble of Russian folk instruments, Armenian duduka-player Dzhivan
Gasparyan, French pianist Jean-Bernard Pommier, saxophonist Federico
Mondelci, violinist Hillary Hahn, singers Vasily Gerello and Oleg
Bezinskikh.
The concert in the grand hall of the Menshikov Palace, the residence
of the first governor-general of St. Petersburg, on July 15 is the
highlight of the festival’s program. The organizers intend to turn back
to the atmosphere of the 18th century’s gatherings. Germany’s Consul
General Reinhart Kraus, a remarkable viola-player, will participate
in this concert.
The festival will close with a baroque music concert performed by the
Estonian Baroque Soloists and Internationales Ensemble der Akademie
fur Alte Musik on July 19.
The St. Petersburg Palaces festival was founded in 1990 by pianist,
chief conductor and artistic director of the Russian State Academic
Chamber Orchestra Konstantin Orbelyan. The festival’s message is to
remind that St. Petersburg has always been a world music center.

Armenian president welcomes Russian purchase of ailing plant
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 15, 2004 Tuesday
YEREVAN, June 16 — Armenian President Robert Kocharyan welcomed the
purchase by a Russian company of a controlling stake in the domestic
synthetic rubber plant that faces a financial plight.
Board chairman of the Volgaburmash machine-building enterprise Andrei
Ischuk told Kocharyan Tuesday his company is completing a deal to buy
a controlling interest in the Yerevan-based Nairit chemical enterprise
that produces synthetic rubber.
Kocharyan expressed hope Volgaburmash will be a stable and reliable
partner for Armenia.
Founded in 1936 Nairit faced financial problems and had to periodically
stop production in the past 10-12 years, according to plant director
Sergei Muradyan.
Ischuk said Nairit has all the grounds for profitable production. An
investment program worth several dozen million dollars and a
rehabilitation business plan have already been designed.

World Armenian Congress head calls for Caucasian dialog
By Dmitry Nezdorovin
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 15, 2004 Tuesday
SOCHI, June 15 — Dialog must become a token of peace and accord in
the Caucasus, president of the World Armenian Congress Ara Abramyan
said at the 9th Russian press festival in Sochi on Tuesday.
“The interest of the World Armenian Congress in the Krasnodar territory
is not accidental. The territory has the largest Armenian community,
all in all about 500,000 people,” Abramyan said.
“The World Armenian Congress plans to hold an Armenian-Azerbaijani
youth forum in Sochi in October-November with the support of UNESCO.
The young people will discuss what prevents them from being good
neighbors,” he added.

Armenians take on world
By Malcolm Pein
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)
June 16, 2004, Wednesday
THE Armenian team scored their first victory over the Rest of the
World at the fifth attempt as world title challenger Peter Leko
defeated Vishy Anand after converting an advantageous rook and pawn
endgame on the 68th move. Leko’s win combined with Smbat Lputian’s
somewhat fortuitous victory over Francisco Vallejo Pons, also in a
long endgame, resulted in a 4-2 win and the score is 16-14 to the
Rest of the World with a game to play.
The contest is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the late
Armenian world champion Tigran Petrosian, whose birthday is today.
Each member of the two teams plays all six of his opposite numbers.
SVIDLER gives up the two bishops to play against Kasparov’s weakened
queenside pawns and care is required. After 17.Qb4 Qxb4 18.axb4 a6
White might try and play f4, e5 and Nf3 when the d4 pawn could become
exposed although 19.f4 0-0-0 20.Nf3 Rd7 seems OK if a little passive
but the bishops could be strong later. Kasparov’s solution creates a
very weak pawn on c5 and Svidler’s pawn to e5 and the sacrifice 23.e6
are designed to free the squares e4 and e5 for White knights from
where they dominate the bishops and pressure the pawns. Kasparov
responds by exchanging one knight and then liberating his king and
white squared bishop with the counter sacrifice 28 c4! Svidler’s c4
and c2 pawns are then so vulnerable and Kasparov’s king so active
only Black has winning chances from that point on. 39.Nf5 Bf7 40.Nxh6
Bxc4 41.Kf2 Kb5 heading for the a3 pawn is good for Black. Svidler
holds the balance by keeping his knight in the centre and 48.f4!
creates counterplay just in time. If 48 gxf4 49.Kf3 Kxc2 50.Kxf4 d3
51.Nxd3 followed by g4, h4 h5 and g5 exchanging the last pawn.
P Svidler – G Kasparov
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 g6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d3 Bg7 6 h3 Nf6 7 Nc3 Nd7 8
Be3 e5 9 0-0 Qe7 10 Qd2 h6 11 Nh2 Nf8 12 Ne2 Ne6 13 a3 Nd4 14 b4 Be6
15 bxc5 Qxc5 16 Bxd4 exd4 17 Qb4 b6!? 18 Nf3 0-0-0 19 Qxc5 bxc5 20
Nf4 Bd7 21 e5 Rhe8 22 Rfe1 g5 23 e6! fxe6 24 Nh5 Bh8 25 Ne5 Kc7 26
Ng3 Bxe5 27 Rxe5 Kd6 28 Re2 c4! 29 dxc4 e5 30 Rae1 Re7 31 f3 c5 32
Rb1 Kc6 33 Rb5 a6 34 Rb3 Ree8 35 Re1 Rb8 36 Rxb8 Rxb8 37 Rxe5 Re8 38
Rxe8 Bxe8 39 Ne4 Bf7 40 Nd2 Bg6 41 Ne4 Bf7 42 Nd2 Kb6 43 Kf2 Ka5 44
Nb3+ Ka4 45 Nxc5+ Kxa3 46 Nxa6 Bxc4 47 Nc5 Kb2 48 f4! Kxc2 49 fxg5
hxg5 50 Kf3 Kc3 51 Ne4+ Kc2 52 Nc5 Bd5+ 53 Kg4 Kc3 54 Kxg5 Bc6 55 Kf4
Kc4 56 Ne6 d3 57 Ke3 Kc3 58 Nf4 d2 draw
Kasparov
p p p p p p p p p – p p p p p p p p p l p p e d p b p o p b p p p p p
Svidler
Final position after 58…d2 now 59.Ne2+ Kc2 60.Nd4+ Kc3 61.Ne2+
forces a draw.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee Reviews Nomination of
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
Washington, DC -The Armenian Assembly welcomed the Senate Subcommittee on
European Affairs’ consideration Wednesday of John Marshall Evans’ nomination
as the next United States Ambassador to Armenia. Evans is set to replace
Ambassador John Ordway, who has completed his tour of duty. Ordway’s next
assignment will be Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
“We congratulate John Evans on completing the first phase of his nomination
process and look forward to working closely with him in strengthening
relations between our two countries,” said Assembly Board of Directors
Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “It is our strong hope that the incoming
Ambassador will continue community consultations initiated by America’s
first Ambassador Harry Gilmore, and expanded by outgoing Ambassador Ordway.”
Evans’ nomination will next be considered by the full Senate.
During the hearing, subcommittee Chairman Sen. George Allen (R-Va) indicated
that the United States should remain engaged in the South Caucasus and,
should retain “strict parity” with respect to military assistance to Armenia
and Azerbaijan. He also indicated that the US government should do more to
end the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockade of Armenia. Evans, in his prepared
remarks, said he would work to help Armenia continue to build up its
democracy and economy.
In that framework, Evans said, the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
presents a unique opportunity for Armenia.
Chairman Allen also asked Evans to comment on the effects of the Turkish and
Azerbaijani blockades of Armenia. Evans responded by saying that opening the
border between Armenia and Turkey would increase Armenia’s trade by an
estimated 50 percent, and also help reduce Armenia’s energy costs.
He said he planned to have frequent discussions with Turkey to encourage
Ankara to open its borders with Armenia.
Chairman Allen also reiterated his wholehearted support of efforts aimed at
opening the Turkish border with Armenia without preconditions.
Since 2002, Evans has served as Russian Affairs Director in the Bureau of
European and Eurasian Affairs. Prior to that post, Evans handled Russian
and Eurasian affairs for four years in the State Department’s Bureau of
Intelligence and Research. From 1997 through 1999, he was head of the OSCE
Mission to Moldova and in the mid-1990s, Evans was principal officer in the
U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Evans joined the U.S. Foreign Service as a political officer in 1971. He
served in diplomatic missions in Iran, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, at
NATO headquarters and the Czech Republic.
Born in 1948 in Newport News, Virginia, Evans earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Yale College and attended Columbia University Graduate
Facilities. He is fluent in Russian, Czech, French and Farsi. He is married
to Donna Chamberlain who is executive director of the World Affairs Council
of Washington.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-056

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 16, 2004
___________________
SEMINARY’S FUTURE FOCUS OF CELEBRATION
By Jake Goshert
They arrived at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary from Philadelphia and New
Hampshire, and everywhere in between. Some special guests flew in from
London, California, and Canada. The crowd of more than 150 included
senior leaders of the Armenian community and energetic toddlers. They
came to the seminary to honor the past by building for the future.
On Saturday, June 12, 2004, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of the
Board of St. Nersess Seminary, presided over a service blessing the
ground and cornerstones of the seminary’s future His Holiness Karekin I
Theological Center and St. Hagop Chapel.
“This is truly an extraordinary day in the life of the Armenian Church.
It is a day of new beginnings. A day of dreams reaching their
fulfillment. A day for setting our sights high, to a beautiful,
promising vision of the future,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.
“Clearly, it is a day of transforming significance for St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary. It is also a day — I deeply feel — which will have
great and fruitful consequences for the Armenian Church as a whole.
Without a doubt, this monumental new center is our doorway to a bright,
glorious future”
MIND AND SPIRIT
The new Catholicos Karekin I Theological Center, skillfully designed by
architech Armand P. Avakian, will feature a two-story complex which will
include a library that will house the Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan Library
collection of books,a high-tech lecture hall, seminar facilities, and
offices.
The St. Hagop Chapel, to be built adjacent to the new academic center,
will serve as a proper place of worship for the seminarians at St.
Nersess.
“I am convinced the Armenian Church has two pillars upon which our
identity rests, and our future rests,” said Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean
of St. Nersess Seminary. “Our future rests upon our faith, which is
experienced in prayer. Secondly, it rests upon learning and studying
the glorious faith and traditions of our parents, grandparents, and
ancestors. The only road ahead for the Armenian Church in America, is a
road to a church that has in its midst a spiritual and an academic
center.”
The new space is needed at the seminary, which this September will have
12 students, including eight studying full-time as they prepare to enter
the priesthood.
“We are reaching a new level in the vision of Catholicos Karekin I, of
blessed memory. His vision, though, remains our challenge: To raise
knowledgeable, able, and faithful clergy to lead our church,” Fr.
Findikyan said. “We have already begun to produce a generation of
clergy in whom we can be proud, a generation which will inspire people
throughout the world with their faith.”
HONORING A FRIEND
Haig and Elza Didizian, whose ties with His Holiness Karekin I, of
blessed memory, the late Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, go back more than 40 years, personally tended to the
Catholicos during the illness that would ultimately claim his life. It
was during that time that Haig Didizian promised to fulfill Vehapar’s
wish for a theological center of higher education that would benefit all
Armenian clergy.
The Karekin I Theological Center is being funded by Haig and Elza
Didizian, who donated $1.6 million in honor of their late friend the
Vehapar.
“The Armenian Church has always been the strongest force in bringing and
keeping the Armenian community together,” said Mr. Didizian during the
ground blessing ceremony. “This center is a necessity, not a luxury,
for coming generations. Ensuring that Vehapar’s wish would become a
reality is an honor and an act of love.
“We are confident Vehapar’s legacy will prove to be immortal,” Mr.
Didizian added. “Our children and grandchildren will be able to know
him through his writings and recordings and, ultimately, through the
institution we are dedicating today.”
Furthermore, Haig and Elza Didizian, their children Marly, Hagop and
Donna, Chris and Caroline, and Haig’s late brother Setrak Didizian’s
fund, will be joined by Haig’s siblings Mr. and Mrs. Albert and
Dikranouhi Margossian, Mr. and Mrs. John and Mary Aslanian, Dr. and Mrs.
Ara Ankine Dakessian, and Dr. and Mrs. Noubar and Elizabeth Didizian, in
donating $800,000 to build the St. Hagop Chapel in memory of their
father and grandfather, Mr. Hagop Didizian, founder of the family
company, established in 1923, and their mother and grandmother, Mrs.
Khengaper Didizian.
The completion of the St. Hagop Chapel and the His Holiness Karekin I
Thelogical Center is scheduled for the later part of 2005.
Haig and Elza are also the sponsors of the publication of the complete
works of the late Catholicos Karekin I. Three of those volumes have
already been published.
About 100 community leaders attended a dinner hosted by Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian at the Diocesan Center in New York City on Friday, June
11, 2004 — organized by Vicki Hovanessian and emceed by her husband,
Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, a member of the St. Nersess Board who served as
master of ceremonies during the ground blessing service — to pay
tribute to the Didizians. During the dinner, several friends spoke of
the love and generosity of the Haig and Elza Didizian.
“Haig proved he was really a friend of Vehapar, because he has been
doing everything humanly possible to make sure people don’t forget him,”
Mr. Kevork Hovnanian said. “We both believe the church has been our
anchor for 1,700 years, and it is important to have a strong church.
And to have a strong church, you have to have able clergy, which was
Vehapar’s dream. I hope that dream will be accomplished when we see
graduates from St. Nersess who have studied at this library and prayed
at this chapel.”
“When Haig and Elza love somebody their love is limitless,” said Dr.
Haroutune Mekhjian. “Their love to Vehapar was legendary. During his
illness, they moved their home and business from London to New York City
to be with him. Every detail was taken care of. I remember how
tenderly Haig took the glasses of the Vehapar in his hands and gently
cleaned them. It is not surprising Haig and Elza decided to immortalize
our dear Vehapar by being benefactors of this theological center.”
The friends praising the Didizians’ generosity and love towards the
Vehapar, also detailed the immense need for the seminary’s expansion.
“The preparation of Armenian clergy with American backgrounds is
essential for the future of the Armenian Church,” said Mr. Hagop
Kouyoumdjian. “This princely donation is a way to achieve that. I hope
it will become an example for other benefactors.”
During the dinner held in honor of the Didizians, the Primate presented
the pair with the St. Vartan Award for their ongoing generosity and
devotion to the Armenian Church.
“This gift is truly an extraordinary example of the love and respect of
the Didizians,” Archbishop Barsamian said during a special dinner
honoring the Didizians at the Diocesan Center on Friday, June 11, 2004.
“They are true models of the virtues and blessings of the Armenian
Christian way of life. Their love for each other and their family, as
well as for the Armenian Church is beautiful to behold.”
— 6/16/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Haig and Elza Didizian — flanked by Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and Archbishop Yeghishe
Gizirian, former Pontifical Legate and Primate of the Armenian Church of
Great Britain — break ground on Saturday, June 12, 2004, at what will
soon be the Catholicos Karekin I Theological Center and St. Hagop Chapel
at St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Hagop and Christopher Didizian join their parents as
the Primate blesses one of the cornerstones (donated by the Armenian
Mission Parish of Charlotte, NC) for the new center and chapel for St.
Nersess Seminary.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Priests, seminarians, and deacons sing during the
ground blessing service for the new academic center and chapel complex
at St. Nersess Seminary on Saturday, June 12, 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): A computer-generated view of what the completed
Catholicos Karekin I Theological Center and adjoining St. Hagop Chapel,
designed by architect Armand P. Avakian, will look like when completed.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): More than 150 people join in prayer during the
ground blessing ceremony for the new complex to be built at the St.
Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.
PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Barsamian presents Haig and Elza Didizian
with the St. Vartan Award during a dinner at the Diocesan Center in New
York City honoring the couple on Friday, June 11, 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (7): Guests look at the architectural drawings of the new
St. Nersess academic center and chapel complex during a dinner at the
Diocesan Center in New York City honoring the benefactors who are
underwriting the construction project, Haig and Elza Didizian.
PHOTO CAPTION (8): Armenian media interview the team from Armand P.
Avakian and Associates, the architects of the Catholicos Karekin I
Theological Center and St. Hagop Chapel to be built at St. Nersess
Seminary, during a special dinner on June 12, 2004, honoring the
benefactors of the project, Haig and Elza Didizian.
PHOTO CAPTION (9): Mr. Hagop Didizian, in whose memory, and that of
Mrs. Khengaper Didizian, the Didizian family is building the St. Hagop
Chapel at the St. Nersess Seminary.
PHOTO CAPTION (10): Mr. and Mrs. Haig and Elza Didizian.
# # #

Talking Turkey about Turkey
By Gerald A. Honigman
KurdishMedia.com
27 May 2004* *
The Turks are upset with Israel these days.
The same folks who have declared over one fifth of their own non-Turk
Kurdish population (over ten million people) to be “non-existent” in
the past (they’re really just “Mountain Turks, don’t you know?) and
have taken steps to outlaw Kurdish language and culture (Arabic is
one of Israel’s two official languages), are allegedly mad at Israel
for going after the Arab terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. These are
the same folks who have killed tens of thousands of Kurds over the
years in the name of their own security, have invaded neighboring
Iraq for similar reasons, etc., etc., and so forth.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I like the Turks, for the most part at least.
But Turkey’s relationship with Israel must not be an unbalanced
affair…something to use when relations are on the downswing with
Syrian Arabs, for example. Now that they’re again on the upswing,
Ankara needs its excuse to back off from the Jews. Gaza schmaza.
Talk about guts…Ankara complains about Israel not wanting Arabs
turning Gaza into a terrorist base and threatens to withdraw its
ambassador–while Israel has agreed in theory to an Arab state being
set up there–but totally nixed the idea of an independent Kurdish
state being set up in adjacent northern Iraq for its own security
reasons. Think about that for a minute. We’ll return with vengeance
to this point a bit later.
So, it’s time to really “talk turkey,” if you know what I mean. Israel
has neglected a brave people who have helped many Jews in the
past. Just ask the hundreds of thousands in Israel who originated in
Iraq. Israeli leaders have done this largely to not anger the Turks
over this painful issue. So the Turks’ policies towards the Kurds
were treated in a hands off manner.
If the Turks, however, insist on joining the rest of the world in
applying hypocritical double standards towards the Jewish State, the
time has come for certain truths to at long last come out in the open.
So let’s begin…
The ink had barely dried on the exchanged letters between President
Bush and Prime Minister Sharon back in April 2004 over the Gaza
disengagement plan when the State Department masters of foggy
doublespeak began to whittle away at any real progress that may have
been made.
While I welcomed President Bush’s apparently fleeting April2004 remarks
about Israel not having to return to those 1949 U.N.-imposed armistice
lines (and, for the first time, in public, I heard him call them just
that, not “borders”) or not having to consent to national suicide by
allowing millions of real or fudged descendants of Arab refugees a
“right of return” (half of Israel’s Jews originated in “Arab”/Muslim
lands), it could be argued that all of this was very late in the
coming. An earlier dose of these facts of life could have eliminated
the Arab hope of Israel being offered up on a silver platter by its
“friends”–a la Czechoslovakia1938 –and perhaps led them to negotiate
more seriously. I also wish that Mr. Bush would have explained all
of this to much of the world that was watching him on television in
different terms, not simply as “new facts on the ground.”
The territorial adjustments which Israel deserves has to do with
justice…not simply the imposition of power.
The disputed lands in question that Israel came to “occupy” as
a result of renewed Arab hostilities in 1967 (being blockaded–a
casus belli–etc.) were not Arab lands but unapportioned areas of
the original 1920 Palestinian Mandate that all peoples were allowed
to settle in. Top legal scholars such as Eugene Rostow and others
have written extensively about this. Indeed, the League Of Nations
Permanent Mandates Commission and other sources recorded Arabs pouring
into the Mandate from all over the Middle East and North Africa because
of the economic development going on due to the Jews. Any22 nd or23
rd Arab state that might be created — and second, not first, Arab
one within the original 1920 borders of “Palestine” (Jordan emerging
out of the lion’s share in1922 )– must not emerge at the expense of
the security of the sole, miniscule state of the Jews.
So, with all that’s happening with the Iraq mess right now, and in
light of recent developments regarding the Turks, it’s time to put
things into a broader perspective.
Consider, for example, the world wide obsession to create an additional
Arab state (supposedly in the name of “justice”), while Kurds are
still not yet deemed worthy of one. When America finally withdraws
from Iraq, the Arabs will likely take vengeance upon these people
for their friendship and cooperation with Washington.
Now think about this…
Over thirty million Kurds remain stateless today, often at someone
else’s mercy. At a time when much of the world insists that justice
demands that there be yet another Arab state, there is a nauseating
silence–in most of the media, in academia, at the United Nations,
etc.– over the plight of this people.
Spread out over a region which encompasses parts of southeastern
Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and other adjoining areas as well, these
modern day descendants of ancient Medes and Hurrians continue to find
themselves in very precarious circumstances.
Kurdish culture and language have periodically been “outlawed”
in attempts to Arabize or Turkify them, and in an age when other
dormant nations/national groups were able to seize the moment with
the collapse of empires, the Kurds were repeatedly denied this chance
by an assortment of so-called “friends” and foes alike.
Having been promised independence after World War I, the Kurds saw
their hopes dashed after the British received a favorable decision from
the League of Nations on the Mosul Question in1925 . Predominantly
Kurdish Mosul and Kirkuk were where much of the oil was located,
and the main arm of British imperial power – the navy – had recently
switched from coal to oil.
The Brits decided that their long term interests involved not angering
the region’s Arabs, who–by their own writings–declared that the
rise of an independent Kurdistan would be seen as the equivalent
of the birth of another Israel. Regardless of scores of millions
of non-Arabs living in the region (including one half of Israel’s
Jews who were from “Arab”/Muslim lands), Arabs declared a political
monopoly over what they regarded as “purely Arab patrimony.” We are
living with the consequences of this mindset today.
Much has been written about America’s abuse of the Kurds, although the
mainstream press, media, academia, and other supposedly “enlightened”
folks have – with some notable exceptions – too often ignored this.
Having stood by our side and aided America continuously over the
decades, the State Department has too often pulled the rug out
from under the Kurds after their immediate “use” was deemed over,
with deadly consequences to this people. And yet, they have remained
strangely loyal to Washington.
While I won’t rehash the disgraceful behavior of much earlier periods,
recent and current policies are sufficient to make the point. And while
I am focusing on America, the rest of the world – for the most part –
has been as bad or worse.
Because America has the power to greatly influence the course of
geopolitics all around the world, my focus is mostly on my own country.
But others–especially Israel, whose people were called to be the
original “light unto the nations”–should pay more attention to this
as well. Regarding the latter, any “help” that Israel might want to
provide might actually, in some ways at least, actually hurt. So this
must be thought out very carefully.
America should always strive to be a shining light. I say this not
out of naivete. America has the power and ability to do this as no
other nation has. All it lacks is the will. And this is largely due
to the clique that runs the Department of State. On the Kurdish issue,
it has assumed Britain’s posture in the post-World War I era vis-a-vis
the Kurds.
Foggy Bottom insists – after hundreds of thousands of Kurds have
been maimed, gassed, and slaughtered in other ways by Arabs just in
Iraq alone over the last several decades (Syrian Arabs have recently
renewed their previous slaughter of Kurds as well) – that Kurds will
never gain independence. The heartland of Kurdistan had been in the
region around oil-rich Kirkuk.
State insists that the Kurds remain part of a united Iraq, regardless
of the bloody consequences this will probably have for them in the
future yet again. And while I hope I’m wrong, I doubt it.
America’s federal dream, while looking good on paper, has largely
been rejected by the Arabs themselves, be they Shi’a or Sunni. The
majority Shi’a, long suppressed by Saddam, now have other plans.
The Shi’a refuse to grant Kurds any control over their own fate,
regardless of any alleged partial federal agreement achieved so
far with America’s continuous prodding. And Arabs, of any stripe,
are still not about to grant Kurds any real equality. A visit to the
Kurdish Media’s website would be very useful to any and all needing
“enlightenment” in these regards. An article posted by Dr. Hussein
Tahiri’s “The Iraqi Shi’ites: When An Oppressed Becomes Oppressor,”
posted March8 , 2004 in is revealing; and the
site has many other informative essays.
While the formula for a summer 2004 handoff of American power to an
Iraqi government looks reasonable– again, on paper–the reality
is likely to be something far different. I hope I’m wrong, but my
opinions have something to do with tigers changing their stripes or
leopards changing their spots. And those tigers and leopards are very
old and entrenched ones, indeed.
The same State Department – which fought President Truman over
America’s recognition of a reborn Israel in 1948 – insists that there
be no partition of Mesopotamia/Iraq. Britain had earlier received
the Mandate for Mesopotamia at the same time it received the Mandate
for Palestine in the post-World War I era. But, unlike Palestine,
which would undergo a number of partitions in attempts to arrive at
a compromise solution between Arab and Jew, a much larger Mesopotamia
was somehow declared to be incapable of doing this for its Kurds.
After World War I, the British were given control of previous Ottoman
territory. Of this vast area, a small piece – they called it Palestine
– was intended for the Jews. In1922 , Colonial Secretary Churchill
chopped off roughly80 % of Palestine, and handed it over to its
Hashemite Arab allies. Purely Arab Transjordan – today’s Jordan – was
thus born. Arabs rejected another partition in 1947 which would have
given them roughly half of the20 % of the land that was left. President
Bush and State today insist that Arabs will get another state, their
second one in “Palestine.”
The main reason put forth for why Mesopotamia/Iraq is incapable
of this sort of partition is the potential for instability it will
cause in the region. Not only will the Arabs be miffed at someone
else gaining national rights in “their” region, but the Turks, in
particular, will supposedly have a fit due to their own large and
suppressed Kurdish minority.
While a strong Turco-American alliance is worthy of support, the
Turks are wrong on this matter, and too many have allowed them to
get away with this for too long. While it is understandable that
they’re nervous about the potential problems, this does not give
them the right to have a veto power over the plight of some thirty
million long-oppressed and abused Kurds. Again, think of the irony
here regarding Ankara’s “concerns” over rejectionist Arabs, who could
have had their additional state decades ago had they just not continued
to work towards the destruction of the sole Jewish one.
An independent Kurdistan set up in northern Iraq – under the right
conditions – might actually be a blessing for the Turks. Those Kurds
– like those Jews, Greeks, Armenians, etc. – wishing to live in an
independent state could migrate to it. An arrangement could also be
made whereby the oil wealth of the area could be shared with the Turks
as well, since they feel they got robbed via the earlier decision by
the League of Nations on the Mosul Question.
Putting things into the broader perspective, consider the following
facts:
The CIA’s Fact Book on the Internet shows Israel to have a population
of roughly 6 million people, of whom about20 % are Arab. Among the
latter are some very hostile elements. Israel’s territory is about20 ,
770sq Km.
Turkey has a population of about 68 million people, of whom about 20%
are Kurds. Turkey’s territory is about780 , 580sq Km. About38 Israels
would fit into Turkey.
Despite Israel’s small size, Foggy Bottom has no problem demanding that
Israel allow the creation of another Arab terrorist state, dedicated
to its destruction, right in its backyard. State continues to ignore
proclamations by even so-called Arab “moderates” that Oslo and all
other such “peace initiatives” are but “Trojan Horses,” steps along the
way in the Arabs’ post-‘ 67destruction in phases strategy for Israel.
Now, how will the fifth of miniscule Israel’s population that is
Arab react to this adjacent potential development? And how will the
majority of Hashemite Jordan, which is also mostly Palestinian Arab
(however you define that, in that many, if not most, “Palestinians”
entered Mandated Palestine from elsewhere in the region during the
Mandatory Period), react to this? Arafat’s boys had already tried
a takeover of Jordan in1970 . They were crushed in King Hussein’s
“Black September.” And Israel’s mobilization in the north sent a
message to the PLO’s Syrian allies at the time as well. Yet the Foggy
Folks seem not to be worried about any destablizing effects here.
The same hypocrites who declare that Israel must grossly endanger
itself so that yet another Arab state might be born insist that Kurds
must remain forever stateless because of some problems their freedom
might cause to a Turkey nearly forty times Israel’s size in territory
and over eleven times its size in population, and with the same80 %
to 20% mix of potential “headaches.”
There’s no defense for this. An ex-State Department career person
contacted me after one of my earlier articles. In our subsequent
correspondence, he told me to just accept the fact that the Kurds
will never be allowed their state, while attacking me, of course,
for my reservations over what State has in store for Israel. He even
brought up the subject of “dual loyalty.” I asked him if he would
say that to some 60 million or so – if not more – Christians who are
saying the same thing that I am. No answer – pathetic.
Regardless of America’s good intentions (and we were correct in ridding
the land of Adolf, I mean Saddam), it’s likely that Iraq will become
even more of a mess – rather like Yugoslavia with the death of Tito,
though I really don’t like mentioning him and Saddam in the same breath
– and more costly over time. Entrenched Arab attitudes – centuries
old – are not likely to change regarding their relationships with
their conquered, non-Arab populations. Any of the latter that have
not agreed to the forced Arabization process – be they Kurd, Jew,
Berber, Black African, Copt, Lebanese, etc. have had major problems
to contend with, often deadly ones.
Asking Kurds to forsake the creation of their one, sole state for the
pipedream of an egalitarian Iraq is a travesty of justice if ever
there was one. Regardless of their religious coloration, the vast
majority of Arabs are in no sharing mood when it comes to questions
about what they see as “purely Arab patrimony.” They’re the rulers,
the rest are the ruled. Period…
Again, when America leaves Iraq, as it will sooner or later, the
backlash will once again fall on the people who supported us the
most–the Kurds. We have left them holding the bag too many times
already.
Think about how the course of history may have been changed if an
Israel existed prior to the Holocaust. You read about the problems with
the Shi’a above. Saddam’s regime was largely Sunni-supported. Abu Musab
Zarqawi, of al-Qaida fame, wrote a letter that was recently intercepted
by U.S. forces in Iraq. He’s the guy who is believed responsible for
the recent slaughter of Shi’a in Baghdad and Karbala. In the letter
he listed four enemies. America, of course, was No.1 . No. 2 is the
Kurds. Here’s what he says about them: They are “…a lump in the
throat and a thorn whose time to be clipped has yet to come.”
Now, while Foggy Bottom demands some two dozen states for Arabs
and actually encourages the good cop/bad cop team of Arafat and
Hamas/Islamic Jihad by at least some of its actions, double standards,
and doublespeak, we all need to think harder about the direction we
want the greatest country on Earth – The United States of America –
to follow regarding the fate of our strangely loyal friends, the Kurds.
The roadmap for Kurdistan is long overdue. And if the Turks can join
the Arab chorus in favor of terrorists bent on Israel’s destruction,
then it’s time for Israel to reconsider its silence regarding the
Kurds as well.