Author: Antonian Lara

EurasiaNet, NY
May 27 2008

THE KURDISH ISSUE AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Stephen Blank 5/27/08
A EurasiaNet Commentary

The Kurdish issue, specifically the matter of establishing a homeland
for Kurds, has complicated efforts to stabilize Iraq. Now, there is
growing concern among international experts that the Kurdish question
could become a source of tension, and possibly conflict in the South
Caucasus.

Media outlets in Turkey and Azerbaijan have reported that militant
Kurds, in particular fighters affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers
Party, have been settling in Nagorno-Karabakh and in portions of
Armenian-occupied Azerbaijan, with the tacit support of the Armenian
government in Yerevan. Many of the Kurds are reputed to have resettled
in the strategically important Lachin Corridor, a strip of territory
now occupied by Armenia that was formerly part of Azerbaijan
proper. Control of Lachin is one of the main obstacles in the search
for a Karabakh settlement. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

Before the outbreak of the Karabakh conflict, Lachin had a high number
of Kurdish residents, and during the 1920s, it was part of a Kurdish
Autonomous Area within the Soviet Union. Much of the Kurdish
population fled the region during the Karabakh war. But the fact
remains that there is a historical precedent for a Kurdish presence in
Lachin. Even so, their resettlement today — especially if reports
about PKK militants being among the migrants are accurate — is
fraught with peril for regional security.

Some recent Turkish and Azerbaijani reports have seemed downright
hyperbolic in sounding the alarm about the Kurdish threat, as well as
about Armenia’s supposed role in promoting resettlement. The reports
alleged that Kurdish militants have established training camps in and
around Karabakh, and that Armenian authorities have given Kurds access
to state broadcasting facilities. They likewise claimed that political
organizations in Armenia, such as the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnakstoutiun), are actively assisting the Kurds, seeing
them as a means to strengthen Armenians’ hold on Karabakh. In
addition, Turkish and Azerbaijani media have stressed that both Ankara
and Baku consider the PKK a terrorist organization.

On May 14, a commentary in the Istanbul newspaper Yeni Safak, a
staunch supporter of Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party,
claimed that the PKK’s leadership, perhaps feeling insecure in
northern Iraq, was mulling a move to Nagorno-Karabakh. The report
could not be independently confirmed.

Armenia officials have vigorously denied a PKK presence in either
Armenia proper or in Karabakh. "The unsubstantiated rumors about the
intentions on the side of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to move
to Nagorno-Karabakh and controlled territories cannot be called
anything less than another provocation," stated Foreign Ministry press
spokesman Vladimir Karapetian.

It might be tempting to downplay the news reports as Turkish and
Azerbaijani propaganda aimed at their longtime enemy — Armenia. But
dismissing Turkish and Azerbaijani assertions and concerns could prove
dangerous. They require further investigation.

There is a danger that Turkey and Azerbaijan could take matters into
their own hands, using the reported Kurdish threat as a pretext for
military operations in Karabakh. In a February commentary published by
the Ekho newspaper in Baku, political analyst Mubariz Ahmadoglu stated
that that the country’s political leadership might feel compelled to
use force in an attempt to address the Kurdish issue. "If Armenia
continues moving in this direction, resistance on the part Azerbaijan
will be increasing. And not only at a diplomatic level," the newspaper
quoted Ahmadoglu as saying. "I cannot rule out that Azerbaijan can
start real actions of a military character. I know officials who made
remarks lately and I formed such an impression." For example,
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has stated publicly
that Baku would consider military operations to root out Kurdish
militants.

In addition, Turkish military leaders — who in recent months have
ordered military operations in northern Iraq designed to smash PKK
strongholds — have hinted that they would consider attacking Kurdish
militants wherever they were found. This has fueled speculation that
Turkey too might consider a raid against Karabakh, or even Armenia
proper.

The mere fact that Turkish and Azerbaijani media outlets are
complaining about a Kurdish militant presence in Karabakh should spur
the international community to action, in particular the co-chairs of
the Minsk Group — the United States, Russia and France. There is a
clear need for redoubled efforts to get Karabakh negotiations back on
track, so as to eliminate, or at least greatly diminish the chances of
developments taking a calamitous turn.

Editor’s Note: Stephen Blank is a professor at the US Army War
College. The views expressed this article do not in any way represent
the views of the US Army, Defense Department or the US Government.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Russia-Turkey relations represent no danger for
Armenia
27.05.2008 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Alan Kasayev, the head of RIA
Novosti division for Baltic States and the CIS is
confident that Armenia is really Russia’s strategic
ally. -It’s quite obvious that with Armenia’s help,
Russia keeps control over the entire region. This is
strategic partnership. However, being less attractive
for investors, Armenia’s doesn’t have enough weight in
the region,- he said in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net.

According to Kasayev, the Russian leadership builds up
relations with Armenia’s neighbors on the principle of
mutually beneficial cooperation. -As to Azerbaijan,
both Russia and Azerbaijan are both sources of raw
materials and business rivals. From this standpoint,
relations with Azerbaijan are very important. It’s one
the reasons why Moscow doesn’t press on Baku in the
Karabakh issue. Russia has to assist Armenia in
normalizing relations with neighbors. It tries to
perform this mission without pressing either on
Yerevan, the ally, or on reliable partners in Baku and
Ankara,- he said.

-Russia-Turkey relations represent no danger for
Armenia. They do not develop to the prejudice of
thirds states, specifically Armenia. I can even say
that current Russia-Turkey relations are better than
relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The euphoria
is over. Istanbul doesn’t eye Baku as a `younger
brother’ any longer. As to transport projects
bypassing Armenia, being mere political projects, they
lack an economic constituent,- Kasayev said.

EGOYAN RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS
Michael D. Reid, [email protected]

Times Colonist
May 23 2008
Canada

Victoria-raised director had qualms about debuting new film at Cannes

You couldn’t blame Atom Egoyan if he felt a little apprehensive when
he arrived in Cannes this week.

It was in the Riviera resort, after all, that Where the Truth Lies,
his sexually explicit $30-million showbiz mystery, got its world
premiere in 2005 and a thumbs-up in The Hollywood Reporter, only to
be later vilified by critics and ignored at the box office.

Egoyan, 48, returned to Cannes for yesterday’s world premiere of
Adoration, his 12th feature.

His $6-million drama centres on the turmoil that ensues when a
tech-savvy teenager, Simon, uses the Internet to reinvent himself as
the child of two historical figures.

The film, which stars Scott Speedman and Rachel Blanchard, focuses
on the impact of a translation exercise assigned by Simon’s French
and drama teacher (Arsinee Khanjian).

The text that prompts the student to reimagine it as his own life story
was based on a real news story about a terrorist who put his pregnant
Irish girlfriend on an El Al flight with a bomb in her handbag.

"This is a film that should be at Cannes. It’s the perfect way to show
it," says Egoyan, who was last on the Croisette a year ago. He was
one of 30 filmmakers invited to create a short film for a compilation
honouring its 60th anniversary.

"I’ve never had as much fun as I did last year because I didn’t have
the usual pressures."

Adoration, which he wrote, produced and directed, is a return to
Egoyan’s more intimate, lower-budget films like The Sweet Hereafter
and an opportunity to put a fresh spin on his signature exploration
of the role technology plays in our lives.

He admits he was nervous until he learned his feature was selected
as one of the 20 vying for the Palme d’ Or.

"I didn’t know if the experience of my last feature was going to
colour the path this one would take, but they loved it," says the
Victoria-raised filmmaker, former Cannes juror and frequent guest
since Speaking Parts premiered there in 1989.

Sony Pictures Classics has already snapped up distribution rights
for the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

By comparison, Where the Truth Lies, his slick, erotic meditation on
celebrity culture through the eyes of a writer probing the breakup
of a decadent 1950s-era showbiz duo (Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon)
wasn’t a good fit for Cannes, Egoyan says.

"I never wanted to show the film in Cannes, but they insisted on seeing
it, and I sent them a VHS, which I’d never done," the Oscar-nominated
director said. "I did everything I could to discourage them but they
went nuts over it. It was a miscalculation."

He theorizes the glowing Hollywood Reporter review triggered a backlash
that intrigues him to this day.

"It’s not a work of art and wasn’t meant to be.

"You can’t compare a film like that to The Sweet Hereafter. It was
me having fun with a genre because I’ve always loved noir and murder
mysteries. I thought it was a great exercise in style."

He says the relationship between Simon and his drama teacher in
Adoration was "very clearly drawn" from his experiences as a high
school student and Victoria Drama Festival winner here.

"I had a huge revelation in junior and high school in Victoria about
the power of people who can inspire students to create drama," says
the former Mount Douglas and Glenlyon student.

He still holds dear an award honouring him for The End of Solomon
Grundy, a play he wrote and staged in Grade 12.

Decades later, Egoyan’s passion for drama is intact. He recently
directed Michael Gambon in an acclaimed mixed-media production of Eh
Joe, Samuel Beckett’s contemplative half-hour teleplay that Egoyan
staged first at Dublin’s Gate Theatre and then for London’s West
End. He’s remounting it with Liam Neeson as part of a Lincoln Center
Festival event in New York in July.

Meanwhile, his fascination with how we can use the Internet to redefine
ourselves continues unabated.

"When you’re dealing with YouTube and Facebook and there’s such a
plethora of responses there’s this pressure to be as entertaining
as possible," he says. "There’s pressure to engage people through
shock or in this case creating an alternate personality which is more
exciting than he would consider himself to be."

For an auteur so fixated with technology, it’s surprising to hear
Egoyan insist he’s not a "technophile." It wasn’t until two months ago
he even became aware of The Internet Movie Database’s user-comments
section, he says.

"I literally wasn’t aware there were whole dialogues around my movies
in these communities of people who don’t know each other," says Egoyan,
whose new film is rife with text messaging and the Internet telephone
service Skype as forms of communication.

And he hadn’t heard of text messaging until he used it as the central
motif in his Cannes short, he says.

"I’m beginning to become a little resentful of it," he adds. "I
don’t like the way it can puncture your life at any moment, yet
it’s a wonderful way to embroider your day with ongoing conversation
communicated by rudimentary concepts."

GEORGETOWN BOYS PERFORMANCE STAGED IN CANADA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

OTTAWA, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Director Sam Hancock
staged The Georgetown Boys performance at the John Elliott Theatre on
May 14 on the basis of author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch’s "Aram’s Chioce"
book. The story is about 110 Armenian orphan boys, who were brought
to Canada in 1923 after surviving a genocide to live in Georgetown.

CYPRIOT ARMENIANS’ TRUST IN TURKISH COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON ITS ATTITUDE ABOUT ARMENIAN AND GREEK GENOCIDES

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.05.2008 16:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The contacts between the Armenian and Turkish
communities of Cyprus have become more active, head of the Hai Dat
Cyprus Office said.

"Both Armenian and Turkish communities were invited by presidential
candidates for discussion of a scope of issues on the threshold of
the election. During the meeting, the representatives of the Armenian
community noted that the degree of trust in the Turkish community
depends on its attitude about the Armenian and Greek genocides,"
Hakob Manoogian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

As to unification of the Greek and Turkish parts of the island,
the UN plan is unreal, according to him.

"The population of Cyprus understands that Kofi Annan’s plan can’t
be implemented unless Turkish troops are withdrawn," Mr Manoogian said.

PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARKISIAN DISCUSSES ARMENIAN-LATVIAN RELATIONS WITH OUTGOING AMBASSADOR

ARMENPRESS
May 20, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian received
today Latvia’s outgoing ambassador to Armenia Aivars Vovers.

The government press office told Armenpress that the prime minister
thanked the ambassador for his work and effective cooperation in
Armenia expressing also confidence that Mr. Vovers will promote
strengthening of Latvian-Armenian ties in future as well.

Tigran Sarkisian stressed that being Latvia’s first ambassador to
Armenia, Mr. Vovers has created solid grounds for development of
bilateral diplomatic relations, which allows to give a new push to
cooperation in other areas. According to the prime minister, Latvia’s
experience in European integration is of cognitive importance for
Armenia. He said Armenia is interested in Latvian reforms.

In Aivars Vovers’s opinion, both Armenia and Latvia have seen tangible
changes in the last years. Latvia has become EU and NATO member, while
Armenia has joined the Council of Europe and has achieved also tangible
economic progress and has advanced on the road of European integration.

According to him, Latvia is closely watching these processes which,
he said, are a good basis for both countries for future cooperation.

Reminding that Armenia joined the Council of Europe during Latvia’s
chairmanship in the Council of Europe and that Latvia assisted
Armenia in it, ambassador Vovers assured that his country will
continue to assist Armenia in its efforts to seek closer ties with
European organizations.

He expressed satisfaction that he managed to promote strengthening
of Armenian-Latvian relationships. He said Armenia and Latvia
exchanged high level visits and grounds were created for prompting
inter-parliamentary relations as well, also among foreign and defense
ministries.

He said the sides will have to work, however, to step up their economic
contacts. At the end of the meeting Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian
wished success to the outgoing ambassador.

ARZUMANIAN’S DETENTION PROLONGED FOR TWO MONTHS

A1+
[03:28 pm] 19 May, 2008

Today women gathered in front of the RoA Appellate Court chanted
"Free Alik," "Free and Independent Armenia" for two hours. Meanwhile,
the Appellate Court rejected Advocate Hovhannes Arsenian’s claim
and decided to prolong Arzumanian’s term of detention for another
two months.

Advocate Hovhannes Arsenian had requested the Court to change the
restraint for a pawn as there are such precedents in the court
practice. The Court considered the Advocate’s claim during a closed
sitting.

"Alexandre Arzumanian was chased in 2007 as well. But he wasn’t
detained then," the said indignant advocate.

"They know quite well that Arzumanian has committed no crime. Courts
are fully defamed in Armenia. People no longer trust them. The
authorities show by their steps that they control courts." H

Hovhannes Arsenian is going to appeal to the European Court of
Human Rights.

On learning the Court decision the women gathered in the yard began
shouting "Shame on you!"

"Everything is clear. Our courts execute the orders of their
Excellencies Serzh Sarkissian and Robert Kocharian. Real criminals
are in freedom while innocent people are imprisoned," said a woman.

Arzumanian’s wife Melissa Brown wasn’t taken aback by the decision. "I
am confident that all political prisoners will be set free by
a political decision as they are detained for their political
dissent. Today’s court sitting was a farce, a circus show. Everybody
knows who the real lawbreakers are. The political prisoners are simply
punished for loving their country.

The participants of the Armenian women movement directed to the court
of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities to
hear the verdicts of the other political prisoners.

May 16, 2008
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

HIS HOLINESS APPROVES THE ELECTION OF THE PRELATE AND RELIGIOUS AND
EXECUTIVE COUNCILS

Following the conclusion of the 36th Representatives Assembly on
Saturday, May 10th, the results of the proceedings were immediately sent to
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, who approved
the election of the Prelate, and the Religious and Executive Councils.
Throughout the past week, leaders of community organizations and
individuals sent congratulatory letters and visited with H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian personally to congratulate him on his re-election for
a fourth term. A letter from the Honorable Consul General of Armenia Armen
Liloyan congratulating the Prelate were among those received.

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY
AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH

On Sunday, May 18, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will preside over Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale and
deliver the sermon.
On Sunday, May 11, the Prelate presided over Divine Liturgy at Holy
Martyrs Church in Encino and delivered the sermon on the feast of Pentecost.
H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian was also present.
During the Liturgy, Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian congratulated the
Prelate who just two days earlier was re-elected for a fourth term. At the
conclusion of church services, a reception took place at the adjacent
"Yeghia Sarafian" Hall. Parishioners had the opportunity to congratulate the
Prelate. Members of the Executive Council, parish Board of Trustees, and
sister organizations were also in attendance.
The Prelate thanked the faithful for their well wishes and the
conclusion came to a close with the singing of "Giligia".

ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE BURBANK ANC

The third annual banquet of the Armenian National Committee of
Burbank will take place on the evening of Sunday, May 18th, at Arbat Banquet
Hall in Burbank, with the participation of elected officials, community
leaders, and ANC supporters.
The honorary chairman of the banquet is Assembly member Paul
Krekorian and the keynote speaker is Congressman Adam Schiff.
Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian will attend and convey the Prelate’s
blessings and remarks.

PRELATE TO DELIVER THE INVOCATION AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE USC INSTITUTE
OF ARMENIAN STUDIES

On the evening of Sunday, May 18th, the third anniversary gala
banquet of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies will take place at the
Universal Hilton. During the banquet individuals and organizations who have
contributed to the progress of the Armenian community will be honored.
The Prelate will be in attendance and will deliver the invocation.

WORLD PREMIERE OF "RED DOG HOWLS"

The world premiere of "Red Dog Howls" by Alexander Dinelaris will
take place on the evening of Monday, May 19th, at the El Portal Theatre in
North Hollywood. The play, which is directed by Michael Peretzian and
features original music by Ara Dabanjian, tells the tale of a young man
dealing with the aftermath of the Genocide.
Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian will represent the Prelate at the premiere.

ARMENIAN SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN CEASE-FIRE BREACH

Armenian Second TV Channel
May 15 2008
Armenia

Armenian servicemen Andranik Tovmasi Hayrapetyan, 19, today died
of wounds received at one of the military posts as a result of the
enemy [Azerbaijani troops] fire. The Armenian Defence Ministry
press service said that the incident took place at about 1145
[0645 gmt]. Hayrapetyan received a deadly abdominal wound from the
enemy and was immediately taken to hospital where he died at 1230
[0730 gmt]. Andranik Hayrapetyan was drafted into the army from
Charentsavan town in the autumn of 2007. The Defence Ministry said
that an investigation had been launched into the case.

AZERIS FIRE UPON NKR DEFENSE ARMY POSITIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.05.2008 16:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 14, positions of the NKR defense army were
fired upon by the Azeri armed forces at the Aghdam-Fizuli segment of
the contact line.

The Armenian side did not fire in return, head of the propaganda and
information division at the NKR Defense Ministry, lieutenant colonel
Senor Hasratyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"We commence reprisal fire only in case of dire necessity, when lives
of our soldiers are in jeopardy.

Nobody was injured in yesterday’s firing," he said.

"Skirmishes often occur at the contact line. It’s quite natural that
ceasefire is violated from time to time. A peaceful agreement is the
only measure to put an end to firings."