Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

REPRIMANDING TURKEY WOULD CHOKE U.S. POLICY
By Zachary Hubbard

The Tribune-Democrat, PA
story_297125339.html
Oct 25 2007

American Revolutionary War folklore suggests that while Gen. Charles
Cornwallis’ delegation marched onto a field in Yorktown, Va., to offer
the British surrender to American Gen. George Washington, the British
military band played a song titled "The World Turned Upside Down." If
the author were alive today, he could pen a new stanza about recent
politics on Capitol Hill.

American politics recently were turned upside down. The Bush
administration sat quietly by as Libya assumed a rotating seat on
the U.N. Security Council. Simultaneously, House Democrats tried to
pass a resolution condemning America’s ally Turkey for the genocide
of up to 1.5 million Armenian Christians during 1915-17.

Long regarded by the U.S. government as a pariah, Libya in 2003
accepted responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
over Lockerbie, Scotland. The U.S. also blames Libya for the bombing
of a Berlin disco in 1986 that killed two American soldiers.

As for Turkey, I neither deny nor condone the atrocities committed
against the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire. However, it was
during the Ottoman Empire, which ceased to exist after the defeat
of the Central Powers in World War I. Condemning modern Turkey for
the actions of the Ottoman Empire is like condemning modern Virginia
for slavery.

Turkey should apologize for the Armenian genocide, but the Turks must
come to this decision on their own schedule, not ours. A number of
seasoned American politicians, Democrat and Republican, agree. On
Sept. 25, seven former Cabinet-level secretaries sent a letter to
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging her to prevent the resolution
condemning Turkey from reaching the House floor. Pelosi subsequently
withdrew her support.

Pelosi and her cohorts are living proof that Americans, especially
American politicians, rarely learn from history. CNN reported in
October 2000 that then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a Republican,
had shelved a genocide bill against Turkey at President Clinton’s
request. Clinton had warned of "possible far-reaching consequences
against the United States."

The consequences of the Democrats’ recent push against Turkey
materialized quickly. During the week of Oct. 7, Turkish lawmakers
passed legislation authorizing military intervention against the
Kurds in northern Iraq.

The Turks fear the Kurds, their historical adversaries, will form
a Kurdish state. The Kurdish region is part of an important supply
line supporting U.S. forces in Iraq.

As a member of NATO, Turkey has long been an important ally of the U.S.

Maintaining good relations with Turkey is more important than ever.

Turkey is a moderate Muslim nation, something in short supply today.

It has already proven its worth in the global war on terror as a
staging base for U.S. aircraft and supplies.

Turkey’s military has led two iterations of NATO’s International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Turkey has long historical ties to Afghanistan. Turkish troops
stationed there are helping the Afghan government implement a
sustainable development program.

Turkey’s ability to work with Afghanistan and other Muslim nations
is critical to U.S. foreign policy.

While there is little doubt the political fighting between Democrats
and Republicans will continue, each side should choose its battles
carefully.

Perhaps things would be better if they focused their hostilities on
our enemies rather than our allies.

Zachary Hubbard is a retired Army officer and freelance writer residing
in Upper Yoder Township. He is a member of The Tribune-Democrat Reader
Advisory Committee.

BACKERS SEE RISK IN VOTE ON GENOCIDE BILL
By Lisa Friedman, Staff Writer

Daily Breeze, CA
les/10760161.html
Oct 24 2007

Supporters worry it won’t pass but remain committed to measure that
would recognize deaths of 1.5 million Armenians.

WASHINGTON – Supporters of legislation declaring the massacre of
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey a genocide acknowledged Tuesday that they
are not confident the bill will pass if it is allowed to go to the
House floor.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, and Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks,
met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and said she remains steadfast
in her support for the bill.

But the criteria for bringing the resolution to the floor now comes
down to numbers: A vote will come, both said, if and when supporters
can be sure of victory.

"The speaker is personally committed to this," Schiff said. But,
he added, "We don’t want to ask her to bring this to the floor until
we’re confident it will be successful."

Added Sherman: "We cannot afford a risk of losing." And, he noted,
if the bill came to the floor today, "I couldn’t bet my house on what
would happen."

The resolution asserts that America should formally recognize that
1.5million Armenians were killed and displaced from what is now
modern-day Turkey from 1915 to 1923 in a systematic genocide.

Turkish officials acknowledge that Armenians were killed, but put
the number at 300,000 and bristle at the word "genocide."

They argue that Armenians joined forces with French and Russians in
the bloody aftermath of the war and also slaughtered Turks.

Turkey has threatened to cut off U.S. supply routes to Iraq if the
bill passes, and the Bush administration has been lobbying furiously
to prevent it from coming to the House floor.

Sherman on Tuesday said he believes Armenians have won even if the
bill stalls.

"What was the goal? The goal was to teach the world about the forgotten
genocide," he said.

"The method may not come to fruition," he said. But with newspapers
as far away as India reporting on the issue, he said, "By God, we
have achieved (the goal) beyond our wildest dreams."

Bryan Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America,
agreed that the raised awareness has helped. But he said the Armenian
community still expects passage.

"I think we will have a vote," Ardouny said. "At the end of the day,
this is about the American record, the American response to the first
genocide of the 20th century."

TURKISH SECURITY COUNCIL ADVISES ECONOMIC MEASURES AGAINST TERRORISM SUPPORTERS

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Oct 24 2007

Ankara, 24 October: National Security Council (MGK) decided to make
recommendation to the Council of Ministers about economic measures
which should be taken against the groups directly or indirectly
supporting terrorist organization in the region.

MGK, which convened under the chairmanship of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul at Cankaya presidential palace, released a statement
after the meeting.

The statement said that security condition across the country, as
well as recent domestic and foreign developments were discussed in
the meeting.

MGK members also discussed the Armenian draft on 1915 incidents which
was adopted at US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee.

"The draft -which is the latest product of the campaign that has been
pursued for years against Turkey by Armenian diaspora and Armenia –
can never be justified and accepted," stated MGK.

MGK members also took up political and military measures which may
be taken within the scope of the motion adopted at parliament on 17
October 2007.

THE U.S.-TURKISH DIVIDE

The Globe and Mail (Canada)
October 20, 2007 Saturday

The United States’ military adventure in Iraq has harmed the
strategically vital military partnership between the U.S. and Turkey.

The strain was apparent from 2003, but just how seriously the U.S. has
mismanaged its relations with a country that has been a close ally
since the 1950s became fully obvious only this week.

Where in 2003 Turkish legislators voted against allowing American
troops to use their country as a base to launch a northern front
against Saddam Hussein’s army, they have now voted to let the Turkish
military make incursions into U.S.-occupied Iraq, thereby jeopardizing
the only relatively stable region in the country. But more damning
evidence of the sorry state of U.S.-Turkish strategic relations can
be found than the votes of some mildly Islamist legislators. Turkey’s
most senior general told a newspaper this week that the United States
had "shot itself in the foot" in its dealings with Turkey.

Gen. Yashar Buyukanit was referring in part to a resolution before the
U.S. House of Representatives declaring the mass deaths of Armenians
at the hands of the former Ottoman Empire a century ago to have
been genocide. Setting aside the legitimacy of the declaration –
it is just – the timing seemed almost designed to undermine the U.S.

war effort, since Turkey has let its airspace be used and has been
a crucial staging area for the United States. (Most of the air cargo
destined for Iraq transits through Turkey.)

But the general was also referring to the killings of 20 Turkish
soldiers in the past two weeks alone by Kurdish separatists, and
the failure of the U.S. – for fear of upsetting its Iraqi Kurdish
friends – to deal with the clear threat to its NATO ally posed by
Turkish Kurdish guerrillas operating out of the largely autonomous
Kurdish region in northern Iraq.

It may yet get worse. The possibility now exists that Turkish soldiers
will confront U.S.-backed Iraqi forces in pursuit of Turkish Kurds
in Iraq.

Los Angeles Times
Oct 19 2007

WORLD MUSIC REVIEW
Armenian orchestra crosses genres

The massive Kohar Symphony Orchestra and Choir spells enjoyment to
Gibson Amphitheatre audience.

By Don Heckman, Special to The Times

It was apparent, even before a single member of the Kohar Symphony
Orchestra and Choir arrived onstage Thursday at the Gibson
Amphitheatre, that a special event was about to take place. The front
edge of the stage was covered with a colorful garland of flowers, two
pillars spelled out the word "Kohar" and the stage was set for a full
orchestra and a large choir.

Despite the setting, the first performer — Hamlet Tchobanian — was
neither a musician nor a singer, but a mime. His arrival announced by
a loud cymbal crash, he lurked across the stage in classic,
white-faced, Marcel Marceau fashion. Opening a pair of illusory
gates, he majestically introduced the 130-plus members of the
Armenian Kohar Symphony and Choir.

Led by artistic director Sebouh Abkarian, his long white hair waving
dramatically with each thrust of his baton, the Kohar players offered
a buoyant waltz to begin a long, stirring evening of Armenian-tinged
music. Here, as in many of the pieces to follow, Kohar’s sound and
style often had the lightweight but entertaining quality of a summer
pops orchestra.

But Kohar crossed genres far more freely than the average pops
ensemble. Gagik Malkasian’s virtuosic duduk playing and the busy
fingers of kanoun artist Anahid Valesian added Armenian authenticity.
Classically oriented pieces were delivered in well-crafted fashion,
and Kohar went so far as to open the second half with a surprisingly
swinging number titled "Tetmajazz."

As the mime-introduced opening implied, however, a Kohar performance
is more spectacle than concert. Most of the music was vocal, sung by
soloists whose styles ranged from big-voiced operatic to
international lounge. In most cases, the singers’ numbers were
enhanced by the engaging presence of eight female dancers led by the
gorgeously lithe Sousana Mikayelian. Letters from the Armenian
alphabet were spotlighted across the ceilings and walls, and the
program climaxed with a burst of golden streamers flying out into the
audience.

Much of the second half of the concert, in fact, was strongly
oriented toward the predominantly Armenian crowd. Spirited patriotic
songs, pop tunes and familiar traditional numbers drew an escalating
response — hand-clapping, sing-alongs and enthusiastic shouts.

Kohar was founded in 1997 by Harout Khatchadourian and his brothers,
who entirely sustain the ensemble and its concerts. Named in honor of
their mother, Kohar, the founders’ goal with the ensemble is the "aim
of reviving and promulgating the Armenian alphabet and culture."
Kohar did that and more Thursday, positioning the capacity of
Armenian music to reach out stylistically while still retaining its
rich creative identity.

t-koharweb20oct20,0,1977758.story

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIA TO HAVE TWO MORE WIND POWER PLANTS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: An Italian and an
US-based companies are set to launch construction of
two wind power plants in Armenia in 2008, deputy
energy minister Areg Galstian said yesterday.
The deputy minister was speaking at an
international conference in Yerevan on geo-thermal
power potential of Armenia.
He said one of the plants with a capacity of 90
megawatt will be constructed in Karakhach and the
second with a capacity of 25 megawatt in Sotk.
Armenia has one wind power plant built by the
Iranian Sanir company. It comprises 4 units each
offering 660 kW of electricity. The plant is located
in north eastern Armenia. The government of Iran
donated $3.5 million to build it.
Galstian also said the nuclear power plant in
Metzamor will be shut down in 2016, but he added that
the government plans to build a modern nuclear power
plant instead with a capacity of 1,000 megawatt.

STARTING FROM 2008 FAO TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS OF 8-10 MILLION DOLLARS FOR DEVELOPING ARMENIA’S AGRICULTURE

Noyan Tapan
Oct 17 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Over the last 4 years, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has implemented 27
programs in Armenia with the aim developing the country’s agriculture
and rural communities. FAO Resident Representative to Europe, the
Middle East and CIS Maria Kadlenchikova said at the October 17 press
conference that FAO is currently implementing in Armenia programs aimed
at increasing food safety, food security, prevention and detection
of bird flu, as well as programs of fight against animal diseases,
particularly, brucellosis.

She stated that FAO will assist the Armenian government with developing
the legal field on preservation of genetic resources of plants,
paying special attention to protection and use of wild relatives of
cultured plants.

Besides, it is envisaged implementing a program on development of
organically pure foodstuffs and biotechnologies.

According to M. Kadlenchikova, starting from 2008, FAO will implement
several other programs on development of Armenia’s agriculture,
whose total cost will make 8-10 million dollars.

8TH SITTING OF THE ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION COUNCIL HELD IN LUXEMBURG

armradio.am
16.10.2007 17:55

October 16 the recurrent 8th sitting of the Armenia-EU Cooperation
Council was held in Luxemburg. The Armenian interagency delegation
comprising representatives of the Ministries of Trade and Economic
Development, Finance and Energy, was headed by RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian. From the European side the Council’s sitting was
chaired by Portugal’s State Secretary for European Affairs Manual
Lobo Antunes.

At the beginning of the meeting the parties stated Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan’s visit to Belgium last week marked the continuation
of the political dialogue between Armenia and the European Union.

Issues concerning the process of implementation of the Armenia-EU
Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy, questions of
political, economic and energy cooperation were discussed. Special
attention was paid to the settlement of conflicts, the process of
reforms underway in Armenia, presidential elections and human rights
issues. Minister Oskanian presented the political and economic reforms,
noting that Armenia is decisive to continue the painful but necessary
reforms to bring the political standards closer to the level of
European ones. He noted that the Action Plan is a guiding line for
the economic reforms in Armenia.

The European side noted that progress and results are visible. The rise
of macroeconomic indices and the reforms in the judicial sphere were
greatly appreciated. Noting that Armenia is gradually and steadily
approaching Europe with regard to democratic development, State
Secretary Antunes reconfirmed EU’s willingness to the comprehensive
support to Armenia. He underlined that the European Union anticipates
more courageous steps, particularly pointing to the role of mass
media in the election period.

Reference was made to the poverty reduction program implemented in
Armenia, cooperation in the fields of energy and economy.

The sitting of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Council was followed by
a joint press conference, featuring the heads of Armenian, Georgian
and Azerbaijani delegations and the EU presidency.

MULTI-MEDIA WEBSITE DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SEES RECORD TRAFFIC

Earthtimes, UK
Oct 15 2007

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — With national news
coverage of the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) reaching a fever pitch
this week on the eve of a U.S. House vote recognizing this crime
against humanity, the number of viewers that have visited the website,
to learn more about the 20th Century’s
first genocide has reached the 2 million visitor mark this week.

Translated into six different languages, the 6-year old site provides
provocative eye-witness and survivor stories, dramatic photographs
and a timeline that details the systematic deportations and massacres
of the Armenian people in the 20th century’s first documented genocide.

With archival footage taken by Armin Wegner, a German army medic who
was stationed in Turkey in April of 1915, and Peter Jenning’s historic
coverage of the Genocide in a special report in 2000 for ABC News,
serves as a definitive resource on this
tragic event.

Launched in 2001, theForgotten was a collaborative effort between
the Armenian National Committee of America and filmmaker Araz Artinian.

The website has been used as a resource in classrooms around the world
from Rome to the Philippines. Araz Artinian went on to launch another
site called 20 Voices, , which focuses on
the lives of survivors in the wake of the genocide.

For more information contact the ANCA at:

Armenian National Committee of America 1711 N Street, NW (202)
775-1918 [email protected]

Armenian National Committee of America

BOOK FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN

Panorama.am
17:36 13/10/2007

‘Our nation loves books but we have to educate love for reading in
the society under today’s conditions," Grigor Hovanisyan, chairman
of the organizational committee of the book festival and the deputy
director of "De Facto" journal, told the reporter of Panorama.am. In
his words, the festival will serve its aim, that is, to raise the
role of books. "This festival will become a tradition. It will be
continuous," he added.

On October 13-14, Book Festival-2007 will be held at the Republic of
Freedom. The boutiques that will be put along the square will be free
of charge for the participants. Publishing houses, printing houses,
book shops and authors will take part in the festival. Each of the
participants should submit books published before October 1, 2007.

"The Ararat Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church that is a
co-organizer of the festival will present spiritual literature. We aim
to disseminate spiritual literature among people," Eliza Manukyan,
press service responsible person of the diocese, said. In her
words, they are going to present 16 books which are both popular
and scientific.

The festival is held at the initiative of the Republican Party and "De
Facto" public and political journal. The revenues from the festival
will be used to open a bookshop-library in Stepanakert. The day of
the festival is not accidental. Today the Armenian Apostolic Church
celebrates the Day of Translators.