Author: Chaltikian Arsine

Jewish Advocate , MA
Dec 6 2007

Tarsy resignation draws mixed emotions from area colleagues

By Rachel L. Axelbank – Thursday December 6 2007

ADL regional director’s motives for stepping down unclear

Following Andrew Tarsy’s announcement this week of his resignation as
New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, local
leaders are saddened by his decision but ready to go forward without
him.

`I decided that it’s time for me to move on,’ Tarsy told the
Advocate on Tuesday, shortly after his letter of resignation – signed
`with love and prayers’ – went out via e-mail to members of the ADL
New England community and scores of his other colleagues and friends.
Other parties, including ADL New England staff and board members,
were notified as early as Sunday, according to an ADL spokesman.
Tarsy said that the timeline of his departure from the ADL has yet to
be determined. And as for what comes next, he can’t yet say.
`I’m looking into that, but I really haven’t been able to spend any
time thinking about it,’ said Tarsy, an attorney-turned-civil rights
activist.
Tarsy’s counterparts at other agencies were surprised and chagrined
to learn of his impending departure.
`We’re all curious about what’s behind this,’ said Larry Lowenthal,
executive director of the Boston Chapter of the American Jewish
Committee. `Without a doubt, many people are going to have suspicions
that he’s leaving against his will.’
Tarsy’s resignation is the latest development in a prolonged period
of professional limbo, during which he was fired and then rehired by
the ADL’s national office after publicly dissenting from ADL
national’s initial stance on the 20th century Armenian massacres,
which did not recognize the killings as genocide. He declined to
comment on to what extent this summer’s controversy inspired his
resignation.
`I think it’s very clear what happened,’ said Nancy Kaufman,
executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of
Greater Boston.
`He is a courageous Jewish professional who spoke out based on his
own personal beliefs and wasn’t able to … influence his national
system, so he’s taking the moral high road and saying `I can’t do
this.’ You fight the good fight and then you know when to leave. I
think the regional office will be weaker for it.’
On Tuesday, the national chapter issued a statement that read in its
entirety: `Andy Tarsy has tendered his resignation and we have
accepted it.’
ADL New England Board Member Jason Chudnofsky said that Tarsy’s
departure will not affect the overall operation of the regional
organization.
`It’s all about the brands, and less about the people – you never put
your entire future on any one person at any one time,’ Chudnofsky
said. `I support the ADL brand and what the brand stands for.
`I think Andy made a professional decision to say, `because of all
the things that happened, I think it’s time to move on and give the
reins to someone else.’ It’s all about the team, and ADL still has a
wonderful team of people.’
Tarsy was inclined to agree.
`I’ll miss working with wonderful people who are committed and
passionate and who have given me far more than I’ve given them,’ he
said, naming the ADL New England board, staff and volunteers as well
as other members of the community.
Likewise, Lowenthal expressed his admiration for Tarsy’s stance on
the Armenian issue as well as his handling of the past year’s
controversy between the local Jewish community and the Islamic
Society of Boston. Kaufman commended Tarsy’s work to push the new
state government on issues concerning hate crimes and his efforts to
counter the Somerville Divestment Project.
`He’s a terrific young Jewish leader,’ she said. `The question is now
about who comes in next.’
According to James Rudolph, ADL New England board chairman, it will
be important for the branch’s next director to maintain strong
working relationships with local organizations and to also
acknowledge the bigger picture.
`Anybody who is hired has to recognize that we’re part of a national
organization,’ said Rudolph, who added that a search committee is
currently being formed to find Tarsy’s replacement. `I really enjoyed
working with Andy and I’m sorry to see him go. He really brought new
energy and enthusiasm to the office.’
Still, the question of what he’d like to be remembered for gave Tarsy
pause. `I’ve been so busy, I’m not capable of reflecting that
deeply,’ he said, chuckling. `I would say that I’ve tried to bring
the ADL’s mission to life for the best interests of our community.’
And as for his general outlook?
`I feel very good.’ he said. `I’m excited for Chanukah, and I’m
excited for our leadership celebration [Wednesday] night.’ Tarsy
declined to comment on what he hopes to receive for Chanukah.

eeks_issue/news/?content_id=4108

Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web:

Minister Oskanian at OSCE 15th Ministerial
November 22, 2007

Minister Vartan Oskanian participated in the 15th Ministerial
Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE). Foreign ministers and high officials of all 56 member states
participated in the meeting, held in Madrid, November 29-30.

The Minister addressed the conference and spoke about issues
facing the organization this year, including reforms, election
monitoring and the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty. He also spoke
about Armenia’s upcoming presidential elections. The Minister’s
statement concluded with a explanation of Armenia’s position on the
current status of the document being negotiated with the mediation of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

During the course of the annual meeting, Minister Oskanian
participated in three meetings devoted to the Nagorno Karabakh
resolution process. On the eve of the Ministerial Council, on
Wednesday November 28, the Minsk Group co-chairs met with the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. They prepared for the meeting
which took place the following morning, November 29, in which the top
diplomats of the co-chair countries France, Russia and the US –
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and
US Deputy Secretary of State Nicolas Burns – joined co-Chairs
Ambassadors Bernard Fassier (France), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and
Matt Bryza (US) to present the parties with a modified Document on
Basic Principles. The co-chair leaders explained that the document
represented their best effort to reconcile the outstanding differences
on the basic principles which the sides have been negotiating for
nearly three years. They expressed hope that by formally presenting
these ideas, they would ensure that the negotiations continue to move
forward from this point, rather than starting from scratch during the
upcoming electoral year in both countries.

At the conclusion of the Ministerial Council, on Friday,
November 30, the Chairman in Office of the OSCE, Foreign Minister
Miguel Angel Moratinos of Spain received the co-chairs and Minister
Oskanian of Armenia and Minister Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan. He
reaffirmed the OSCE’s continuing commitment to work with the sides to
reach a lasting settlement.

During the Ministerial Council, Minister Oskanian held several
bilateral meetings. He met with Swiss President Calmy-Rey, US Deputy
Secretary of State Nicolas Burns, Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Marat
Tazhin, Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu, Iceland’s Foreign
Minister Ingibjorg Solrum Gilsadottir, NATO Special Representative
Robert Simmons, ODIHR Director Christian Strohal, OSCE Secretary
General Marc de Brichambaud and UNHCR Europe Director Udo Janz. He
also participated in a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization.

The Miniserial Council adopted a Ministerial Statement on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Statement reads:
"We note with satisfaction that Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to
continue the ongoing negotiations on the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict during the forthcoming election year.
"We support the mediation efforts of the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group and their development with the parties of a set of basic
principles for the peaceful settlement of the conflict. We are
strongly encouraging both sides to overcome the last remaining
differences and thereby to endorse the overall concept of the
settlement and to proceed on this basis with dafting a comprehensive
Peace Agreement."

BAKU HOPES RUSSIA WILL EXERT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA

armradio.am
28.11.2007 17:59

Official Baku expects that Moscow will exert pressure on Armenia
"to withdraw from Azerbaijani territories," Azeri Prime Minister
Arthur Rasizade declared during today’s emeeting with Russian Defense
Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

"We would like the Russian side to use its influence on Armenia and
make it withdraw from Azerbaijani territories," Rasizade said.

1000 RABBIS URGE ANNAPOLIS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS: NUMBER ONE PRIORITY — THE SANCTITY OF JERUSALEM
By Jews for Morality

Christian Newswire
November 28, 2007 Wednesday 8:30 AM GMT

MEDIA ADVISORY, Nov. 27 /Christian Newswire/ — Rabbi Yehuda Levin,
spokesman for 1000 Orthodox Rabbis, issued the following appeal
to the leaders of the 40 countries participating in the Annapolis
peace conference, as well as world leaders of Christian and Muslim
denominations:

As a special emissary to the Holy Land representing the Rabbinical
Alliance of America, and the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the U.S. and
Canada, I had the merit to be a key organizer and participant in the
historic conference of religious leaders pertaining to the sanctity
of the Holy City of Jerusalem. The media coverage of this conference
occurred on March 30th to the 31st, 2005, and included a front
page story in the New York Times. A document was issued which was
signed by the Israeli Chief Rabbis, the various Christian Patriarchs,
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, currently the Vatican Apostolic Ambassador to
Washington, myself, representing the American Rabbinate, and various
Muslim leaders.

The heretofore, unparalleled scope of participants in Annapolis and the
previous statements of various religious leaders, such as a statement
issued by the Vatican on November 8th, 2006, which addressed preserving
the sanctity of Jerusalem which is venerated by so many faithful,
provides a unique opportunity for building goodwill between all the
religious faith communities.

Surely the City of Jerusalem deserves the sanctity and respect
accorded to Vatican City, Mecca, Karbalah, and other cities which
faithful venerate. Thus, there should be no immoral parades, public
displays, homosexual or heterosexual, no pornography, no titillating
advertisements, no establishments which promote licentiousness,
and no municipal funding of movies, plays, or cultural events that
are immodest or offend the sensibilities, not only of the various
faith communities which populate Jerusalem, but the millions, if not
billions, worldwide, who venerate Jerusalem, and all her Holy sites.

We call upon the various religious personalities who have historically
had connections with Christian Holy sites, such as Pope Benedict,
the Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox
Church, the Armenian Church, etc…as well as the King of Morocco,
who is traditionally charged with protecting Muslim Holy sites,
and other leaders who are not mentioned here, to promptly join
together and issue statements and exercise influence to see that a
binding agreement is signed by the appropriate authorities forever
guaranteeing the sanctity of the entire Jerusalem, the Old City, East
Jerusalem, which is largely populated by Arabs, and West Jerusalem,
which is populated by Jews. If it is called Jerusalem by any party,
it should be totally devoid of anything, which would offend any of
the religious sensibilities of the major faiths.

All who care for the sanctity of Jerusalem should insist that the
section of Israeli Basic Law which pertains to Jerusalem’s’ sanctity be
updated and made crystal clear, there should be zero tolerance for any
type of public immorality, immodesty, or so-called "cultural activity"
which wouldn’t be acceptable in the other aforementioned cities!

Safeguarding the sanctity of Jerusalem should be the first step in
this new era of international and interreligious cooperation.

As Orthodox Jews, we call upon the Knesset to act expeditiously and
legislate in a manner which ensures the success of this movement to
preserve Jerusalem’s sanctity. We call on the Mayor and City Council
of Jerusalem to defund all immoral events that offend traditional
religious sensibilities.

This common denominator of concern for the sanctity of Jerusalem
will create international goodwill and empower those who sincerely
seek peace.

Follow this link to view Rabbi Levin’s Youtube Video regarding the
"Annapolis Meeting":

ARMENIAN FREE-STYLE WRESTLERS TO PARTAKE IN AN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

armradio.am
29.11.2007 12:27

Seven Armenian free-style wrestlers will participate in an
international tournament to be held in the Russian city of Krasnodar
on December 4th, Armenpress was informed from the Wrestling Federation
of Armenia.

The head coach of the Armenian team is Hrant Yenokyan.

PORTUGAL’S FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO GET FULLY INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS

armradio.am
29.11.2007 16:09

Speaking at the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Madrid, Portugal’s Foreign
Minister, President of the EU Council Luís Amado called on Armenia
and Azerbaijan "to get fully involved" in the negotiations.

"The OSCE Minsk Group and the three Co-Chairs have been working
hard on the fair and balanced principles of the Karabakh conflict
resolution. The European Union supports the continuation of the
active dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan and wished to use
this opportunity to urge the parties to get fully involved in the
negotiations," the President of EU Council declared.

–Boundary_(ID_GsAz0dQpAJet3/fN4MaTpg)- –

RUSSIA, AZERBAIJAN AGREE TO INTENSIFY MILITARY COOPERATION

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Nov 29 2007

BAKU, November 29 (Itar-Tass) – Russia and Azerbaijan have agreed to
intensify military-technological cooperation, including arms purchases.

"Such an agreement was reached in Baku on Wednesday in the course of
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov’s official visit and talks
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Safar Abiyev," Russian Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Vasily Istratov told a news conference on Thursday.

According to Istratov, at the talks the two ministers achieved the
fundamental understanding of the importance of annual mutual visits.

"Serdyukov and Abiyev discussed practically all issues of mutual
interest, including the training of Azerbaijani specialists at
Russian military academies. Serdyukov said the Defense Ministry’s
training establishments were ready to meet any of Azerbaijan’s
requests for instruction of both cadets and commissioned officers,"
the ambassador said.

About the possibility Russia and the United States might jointly
use the Gabala radar as an alternative to the deployment of the US
missile defense systems in Eastern Europe to counter threats that
might emerge in the south, he said it depended on a number of factors.

According to Istratov, it is too early to consider the radar’s
future uses after 2012, when the term of the lease contract with
Russia expires.

"The Gabala radar belongs to Azerbaijan and only that country, as its
owner, has the right to decide what is to be done to the facility,"
he said. "The radar successfully fulfills its mission and both defense
ministers were able to see that for themselves during their visit."

Istratov refuted media allegations about a deployment of Russian
armaments in Nagorno-Karabakh. He said, "the ministers discussed
this issue and Russia said it was not deploying any military hardware
in Nagorno-Karabakh."

The diplomat also shed lilght on media reports about alleged plans for
a second Russian military base in Armenia. Istratov said his country
"has no such plans at all."

STATEMENT OF H. E. MR. VARTAN OSKANIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily #221
30/11/2007

OSCE 15th Ministerial Council, November 29, 2007, Madrid, Spain

Mr. Chairman, Dear Colleagues,

It’s already the end of the day, let me briefly address a few
topics. One related to OSCE reforms.

Second, CFE; Third, a little bit about Armenia’s elections and
finally about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. But before all that,
let me commend the Spanish chairmanship for the very good work they’ve
done during the year.

Although the organization has been evolving ever since its inception,
we have really changed in this last half decade. Some of those
changes, intended to enhance the effectiveness of the organization,
appear sometimes to burden its structures, and sometimes even disturb
the delicate balance among the various components of what we still
believe is a correct premise – that security is indivisible.

The OSCE’s three dimensions have provided each of us with something
to hang on to. Today the equilibrium among our three pillars begins
to wobble because of the centrifugal effect of so much criss-crossing
of priorities and interests. There’s an uncomfortable shift in balance.

This is why Armenia does not think reform should be taboo nor do we
consider the reform process a wasteful exercise. The Herald Tribune
even raised these points this morning. No large, complex organization,
private or public, can maintain its relevance and improve its
performance simply by assuming that all is well. At the OSCE, our
greatest challenge is to alter the experience of some delegations
who find that the playing field is uneven. An organization based on
consensus presumably believes in a level playing field. It is not a
matter of being and feeling equal, rather of having an equal right
to defend our interests.

Because this unevenness becomes more apparent and more problematic
at the level of institutions and missions, believing in enhancing
ODIHR’s autonomy and effectiveness, we have attempted to seek in
ODIHR greater evenhandedness, transparency, non-selectivity, and
region-blindness particularly in its election-related activities.

As for OSCE missions, Armenia has already raised the issue, secure
in the very satisfactory, beneficial and cooperative performance
of the office in Yerevan. But we believe that as their numbers,
mandates and operations evolve, the whole missions system needs an
adjustment to reduce the perception of favorite tracks and sometimes
quasi-permanent dependency. The ultimate benefit of any mission will
be evident when that mission, having completed its work, makes itself
redundant. That is why we emphasize capacity building as the next
priority for the Yerevan office.

Mr. Chairman, as I reflect on the priorities of the organization as
a whole, I must address the CFE, a foundational issue and one that
plays an important role in the edifice of military strategic security
for the area. Presently it is in trouble. We are a state party and
the effective functioning of a Treaty in full implementation is
essential to our national security. Frankly, we are deeply concerned
by our neighbor Azerbaijan blatantly and unapologetically exceeding
by substantial numbers its holdings of TLEs.

It is in this sense that the reinvigoration of the CFE and its adapted
successor is vital for all state parties.

Mr. Chairman,

It seems our whole region is getting ready for an electoral year. In
Armenia, we concluded parliamentary elections in May and scored quite
a satisfactory rating in the eyes of the international community. My
government has every intention to maintain the momentum in the
Presidential elections coming in February. These, at a time when
Armenia is socially, economically a new country and we are seeing
the return of hope and optimism.

Mr. Chairman,

Finally, something on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

On the one hand, through successive meetings of Presidents and Foreign
Ministers, we have arrived at a working document that can serve as
the basis for a preliminary agreement. Today, we met with the top
diplomats of the co-chair countries whose concern is that we preserve
what we have achieved and go further.

We understand and appreciate their special attention and their
recognition of the progress made in this process.

That document addresses the core issue – the security of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, through self-determination – as well as the
issues of refugees and territories that came about as a result of
that self-determination struggle.

Unfortunately, outside of the negotiation process, there is another,
contradictory and disheartening reality. First, there are militaristic
calls ringing from the highest levels of Azerbaijan’s leadership;
second, Baku’s systematic, organized hate propaganda has reached
frightening levels within Azerbaijan.

Third, Azerbaijan’s willful obstruction of international envoys
entrusted with monitoring the conflict and the region is threatening to
upset the fine balance that we have sustained, and fourth, their active
and aggressive search for alternative international forums in which
to present their case, rebuffs their responsibility to compromise.

As hopeful as we are that a negotiated settlement is possible, this
hostile atmosphere concerns us.

Armenians believe there will be no new wars in our region. I know this
because we won’t start it, and they know they can’t win it. There is
no military solution for this conflict. The only solution is one based
on compromise, and in that sense, this document denies each side their
maximalist desires and focuses instead on a sensible, respectable,
acceptable solution that can be explained to ordinary people.

And will make it possible for ordinary people to reconnect over time
and across political boundaries in a space split by war and hatred. For
this to happen, the extraordinary people, those endowed with the
power to lead must demonstrate vision and instill trust, re-create a
Caucasus space and contibute to the region’s stability and prosperity.

In this context and as members of this broad and inclusive European
organization, we look enviously at the countries of Europe, all of
whom, even those who were shaken to the core by the transformation of
the world order, have found ways to place problems onto an agenda,
without allowing those problems to abort the agenda. Perhaps we in
the Caucasus will be next in adopting such European approaches to
regional problems.

Mr. Chairman, as we prepare to welcome Finland, and hopefully soon
after that Kazakhstan, perhaps I can even say the unmentionable:
it’s never been more true than today that this organization’s annual
meetings have never been just formal get-togethers. It is at times
like this, when there are 6 or 7 daily headlines about the real
tensions in the OSCE space, that we can be thankful that we do have
this forum and we can commit to continuing to work to adapt it to
our ever-increasing demands.

Thank you.

THE PROBLEM ABOUT NAGORNYY KARABAKH STATUS AS SUCH IS NOT DISCUSSED, ELMAR MAMMADYAROV SAYS

arminfo
2007-11-29 17:40:00

ArmInfo. The problem about Nagornyy Karabakh status as such is
not discussed, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said
in Madrid today, where the 15th session of the Foreign Ministers’
Council of the OSCE member-states is taking place.

As ArmInfo correspondent reports from Madrid, when commenting on the
document about compromises submitted by the OSCE MG co-chairs today,
Elmar Mannadyarov said that the point is that ‘we should first of all
resolve a problem of cleaning the negotiating table from problems, and
this will make us closer to making a decision on the status. First, it
is occupation, the inner-displaced people, breaking of communications
and security problems.

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan together with the OSCE MG
co-chairs set up the principles which we have been discussing over
the last three years, which is called the talks within the frames
of the Prague process. We discussed the ideas which had been agreed
on. But there are several principle problems which we have to seek
settlement. If we find settlement at least of one principle problem,
the process may get under way’, – Azerbaijani foreign minister said.

He also added that the position of the Azerbaijani party on the
Karabakh settlement remains unchanged – Nagornyy Karabakh and its
citizens are a part of Azerbaijan. According to him, Azerbaijanis which
lived in Nagornyy Karabakh till 1988 should come back. this is their
legal right stemming from international conventions. Defining of the
status from the legal point of view is impossible as it is impossible
to define what a status Nagornyy Karabakh will have without the joint
residence of the people which lived there, Mammadyarov is sure.

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Nov 30 2007

SETS NO TASK TO MERGE

As we know `Armenian Democratic Party’ and `Armenian Democratic
Block’ came to a decision to come out with a united candidate, in the
forthcoming presidential elections, in the person of the leader of
`Armenian Democratic Union’ Vazgen Manukyan. Do the before mentioned
parties branched from the `National Democratic Union’ intend to
follow the example of `Armenian Liberal Democratic Party’, `Dashink’
and `National Renaissance’ and merge in the original party.
Leader of `National Democratic Party’ Shavarsh Kocharyan and
leader of `National Democratic Block’ Arshak Sadoyan respond to the
question of the correspondent of `Hayots Ashkharh’ daily.
Shavarsh Kocharyan – In that case the conversation is about the
re-unification of the parties, but in this particular case the issue
is quite different. Of course from the point of view of the
accomplishment of the political system the extension of the parties
is very useful and even indispensable. We have always considered it
to be the right way, the more expended the parties become, the
better. Which means not only the re-unification of the National
Democratic Union but also, the unification of the parties bearing the
same ideology and mode of action.
Here we speak about the desirable but in this case there is a
concrete goal. That is – we are inclined to supporting leader of
`National Democratic Union’ Vazgen Manukyan in the forthcoming
presidential elections.
Arshak Sadoyan – Only the generality of the names – `Armenian
Democratic Party’, `Armenian Democratic Block’, and `National
Democratic Union’ means that we support the supremacy of democratic
values. It is natural that these parties are close to one another and
they don’t have any problem with working together, of course in case
no technical or other problems appear. We can unite and we don’t see
any problem in it. On the other hand this step would seem a bit
demonstrative on the threshold of the presidential elections.
As for the unification of the parties with different approaches I
don’t consider it positively, because after all unification must be
on the ideological bases. I don’t think it is right to unite only for
extension purposes.

L.P.