Author: Chilingarian Babken

KurdishInfo, Germany
Oct 1 2005
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‘Main problems in EU route: Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems’

ANKARA (DIHA) – Turkey gained the right to register in university and
that does not mean the university is finished. I do not suppose that
Turkey will face with technical problems. The main problems will be
Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems which are political ones.”

…says Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Baðcý from METU International Relationships
Department. He said Turkey does not have the right to say ‘No’ to EU
as that will cause an enmity to last for years.

In the process covered so far, the EU should not do wrong to Turkey
as she fulfilled the political conditions event though there are
gaps, said Mr. Baðcý.

The Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems

Stating that the regulations were not put into practice, Prof. Dr.
Baðcý said: “The important thing is the way that Turkey will follow
during the process which will not be an easy one. There will be
political problems such as the Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems
rather than the technical problems.”

He also added that the EU’ politics on Cyprus problem is wrong thus
accelerate the movements against EU.

“The poor does not want to separate from the rich in the world
history but in Turkey, it is the rich that tells the poor not to
separate from them. This problem should be resolved with democratic
ways not in awkward and unskillful terms. Let the Kurds go to
Kurdistan if they long for that, then the problems like
purse-snatching and robbery will lessen, says some. It is easy to say
‘go’ but they have properties here. That will create a new serious
immigration wave.” said he.

The role of the Kurdish politicians

Stating that the EU process has contributed to the Kurdish problems
by causing it to be discussed, Mr. Baðcý said: “The resolution is
related to the Kurdish politicians’ remaining in a democratic
structuring in Turkey. There is a Kurdish movement causing rebellions
since 1920s. With the rebellions, the Kurds say there is a problem.
The politicians admitted the Kurdish reality. That is not enough as
there is not a resolution yet. There is not a political structuring
in Turkey that can maintain a resolution. If Turkey can fulfill her
duties, she can be proposed as a candidate for the European
Parliament elections in 2019. The duties of Turkey in the process
will be determined under 31 titles in Negotiation Framework. These
duties go from the environmental security to hospitals, education,
law and many other fields to raise the standards in Turkey. If the
country can continue the negotiations without cease, 10 years later a
very different Turkey will come out. The time passes in favor of
Turkey. The EU after 10 years will need Turkey more than today.
Despite the all tensions, the relationships develop in favor of
Turkey.

‘There is a problem of starting a dialog process’

Another academic Prof. Dr. Duygu Sezer from Bilkent University
International Relationships Department said the regulations will take
time to be put into practice. He also said the democratic criterions
have not been implemented yet and the both sides should allocate time
to each other. Pointing out that the Kurdish problem is a bit
complex, he said: “First of all, freedom of speech and opinion should
be maintained. Meeting right and recognizing the cultural rights are
among the primary rights. There should not be relaxation unless these
rights are allocated. But the problem is to start a dialog process
between the Turkish and Kurdish politicians which can only be with
great sacrifices. There is nationalist circle, a middle one and a
resistant one among the Turks and the same applies to the Kurds.
There can not be a resolution if the extremes are not left. The
Kurdish politicians claim one flag and one land but not one language
which is a good development. Both sides have political bases. They
have to satisfy these bases so the resolution will take time.

A ten-year-long process

Mentioning to the Additional Protocol of European Parliament, Sezer
said:” These kinds of outflows damages the peace atmosphere tried to
be created in Turkey. We consider the EU process as a peace
atmosphere that closes us to each other. When powerful cracked voices
are raised in European Parliament, our searches are being influenced
adversely. The accession talks will start on Oct. 3 and the
membership will take at least a ten-year-long process.

Turn for Turkey

The chairman of Turkey-EU Association Prof. Dr. Haluk Günoður claimed
that the decisions of EP are advises rather than political decisions.
He said: “The Europe told what it would say; now it is turn for
Turkey. If they insist on recognizing the South Cyprus, then Turkey
had already explained that she will not be in such a deal. The
negotiations will start but if the conditions are as strict as those
decided by EP, the negotiation process can not be completed.”

“In the Cyprus problem Turkey did what can be done but in Kurdish
problem the situation is different. They are considered as minorities
by EU but Turkey does not think so. This problem will stay on the
agenda for long. Especially the army and nationalist circles do not
believe the problem will be resolved with discussion. The problem is
not an easy one.” added Mr. Günoður.

Xinhua, China
The People’s Daily, China
Oct 1 2005

Turkey expects EU to fulfill duties: FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Turkey had fulfilled its
responsibilities on the road to the European Union membership,
expecting the EU to do the same and conclude Turkey’s entry process
positively.

Gul made the statements as Britain, which currently holds the
six-month rotating EU presidency, has called an emergency meeting of
EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Sunday in a bid to end the
bickering over the guiding principles of Turkey’s accession talks.

“I cannot say anything definite about whether negotiations will be
opened in a few days. They may or may not be launched,” Gul told
reporters late Friday.

Turkey’s entry talks are scheduled to start on Oct. 3. EU foreign
ministers must agree on a negotiating mandate for Turkey to begin
talks at the Sunday emergency meeting, less than 24 hours away from
the scheduled negotiation date.

EU member state Austria insists that the ministerial talks aim for a
“privileged partnership” with Turkey instead of full membership.

Ankara rejects any second-class treatment. Gul warned that the
Turkish government did not think Turkey should join the EU in this
case.

“A partnership between the EU and Turkey would not be established if
the EU did not keep its promises, if leaders of the EU member states
forgot they had signed several documents or neglected their
signatures due to some reasons, and if they brought forward new
conditions which could never be accepted by Turkey,” said Gul.

“We want to start negotiations, and we are working for this but
within the framework of the realities,” Gul added.

The foreign minister also said Turkey had held meetings with leaders
of several EU member states, including Britain.

“I hope that this honest attitude of Turkey will be responded in the
similar way. And the entry process will go in the right track in the
end,” he concluded.

EU leaders agreed last December that Turkey had carried out necessary
reforms on human rights, society and economy, which qualify Ankara
for official EU membership talks.

But strains flared anew after Ankara reaffirmed in July its refusal
to recognize the Greek Cypriot government, which joined the EU on
behalf of the whole island. Ankara recognized the breakaway Turkish
Cypriot in the north.

Turkey has also come under pressure to recognize what Armenians call
a genocide against their people by the Ottoman Empire during and at
the end of World War I — an event that remains highly sensitive for
Turks.

Associated Press Worldstream
September 29, 2005 Thursday

Turkey, facing EU hurdles, may not attend accession talks

by SUZAN FRASER; Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey

Turkey will not send its delegation to Luxembourg to open EU
accession talks before officials see the document detailing the
bloc’s negotiating positions, the foreign minister said Thursday.

“No one expects us to go to Luxembourg before seeing the negotiation
framework document,” said Abdullah Gul, who is scheduled to head the
delegation.

“Of course there is a possibility that negotiations will not start,”
Gul said, but he added that “there are intense efforts” to bridge
differences.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, returning from an official visit
to the United Arab Emirates late Thursday, also downplayed tensions,
saying “I don’t think it’s a very serious problem.”

He added that if the document were given on the morning of Oct. 3,
the day negotiations are set to begin, “then on the morning of Oct.
3, we’ll continue.”

Erdogan also said, however, that the EU and Turkey had previous
agreements with respect to membership negotiations, and “it is not
possible for us to accept anything outside of these.”

Predominantly Muslim Turkey’s plans to begin negotiations for
membership in the EU, set to start on Monday, have been thrown into
disarray by the inability of European governments to come to an
agreement on how to proceed.

Austria has been pushing for a privileged partnership for Turkey
rather than full membership, saying its people and others across
Europe do not support bringing Turkey in.

Several countries have also been pushing Turkey to recognize EU
member Cyprus, and the European Parliament called on Turkey this week
to recognize the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks at the
beginning of the 20th century as genocide.

“We are facing serious difficulties for the start of negotiations,”
Gul said. “Everyone is working hard to overcome these serious
difficulties… We are engaged in intense diplomacy.”

“Everyone knows Turkey’s goals and where Turkey wants to go with
these negotiations,” he said in a reference to Turkish position that
it will not accept anything short of full membership and expects to
start negotiations without new conditions.

While taking a tough position, Gul, speaking at a hastily called
press conference, also appeared keen not to raise tensions with the
EU and told reporters that other countries that recently joined the
25-member bloc also confronted difficulties.

“Of course it is even more difficult for Turkey, because Turkey is
different,” Gul said.

“There’s a heavy agenda in front of us,” Gul said. But he added that
“we still have time to solve these problems.”

NO DESTABILIZATION IN THE COUNTRY

A1+
| 15:40:30 | 28-09-2005 | Politics |

“The Constitutional referendum cannot be reason for destabilization
in the country”, claimed the NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan during
the briefing with the journalists.

He announced that all the political powers must preach the new
constitution, “It is not the monopoly of the coalition”. The NA
President promised to do everything within his authorizations,
especial when a large part of the society is not aware of the
amendments offered.

As for the postponing of the referendum, Arthur Baghdasaryan does
not see any need of it. According to him, the referendum will be
organized during the last decade of November.

Arthur Baghdasaryan also mentioned that he had made several conclusions
after the Elections of local governing bodies, particularly, that the
electoral rolls are really in a sad state. According to him, this
fact must be in the center of the attention of the corresponding
bodies. The NA President promised to take care of it himself and
added that there have been other errors too which must be corrected.

NO-SHOW ARMENIAN GROUP IRKS FLORIDA FARM OFFICIALS
By Susan Salisbury
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Palm Beach Post, FL
Sept 28 2005

Where in the world are the Armenians who were to spend 10 days touring
the farms of Florida?

University of Florida officials – who spent three months planning an
itinerary, reserving motel rooms, booking vans and making arrangements
for the 10-person group – want to know. They’ve contacted the federal
Department of Homeland Security after the group failed to show up
Sunday night at the Gainesville airport.

Gene McAvoy, a UF agricultural extension director, waited for several
hours at the airport for the Armenians, finally giving up close
to midnight. It was only Tuesday morning that he heard from them
via e-mail.

“What it said is they went to L.A. The tickets cost so much, they
could not afford to come to Florida,” McAvoy said.

The Armenians apologized, he said, but “it seems like a pretty lame
excuse.”

“This is America. There are cellphones,” said McAvoy, who spent the
morning Tuesday canceling the remaining hotel and other reservations
for the group.

Their stay, scheduled for Sept. 25 through Oct. 5, was to include
a statewide tour of farms and farmers’ markets, including stops in
West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce and Florida City.

Leah Yoon, a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
said Tuesday she did not know whether an investigation is under way,
but said the details of the Armenians’ non-arrival in Florida sounded
“highly unusual.”

McAvoy said immigration officials at Los Angeles International Airport
would not tell him anything, and they didn’t return calls seeking
comment Tuesday.

McAvoy said he had someone call Armenia to talk to the Agro
Association, the sponsor of the group, which included Andreas Melikyan,
eight farmers and a translator.

“They said they didn’t know anything, but said they knew them and
wanted us to let them know if we found out where they were,” he said.

Melikyan, who could not be reached by phone and did not reply to an
e-mail message, visited Florida in 2001 on a similar agricultural tour.

Lisette Staal, assistant director at UF’s International Programs
office in Gainesville, did not want to discuss the episode in depth.

She did say she had heard from the group, however.

“They told me they had a flight problem, and they have canceled their
program here,” she said. “We are as puzzled as the next person.”

Southern California is home to an estimated 350,000 Armenians, the
largest Armenian community outside the Republic of Armenia itself,
according to the University of Southern California.

Varoujan Der Simonian, executive director of the Armenian Technology
Group Inc. in Fresno, Calif., which works to help Armenian farmers,
was not familiar with the Agro Association.

However, he said, travelers from Armenia to the United States must
state their destination and it must match their airline tickets.

“Something is wrong, either with the airline or the connection. Ten
people can’t just change planes,” Der Simonian said. “You can’t just
change your mind and decide to go to L.A. instead of Florida.”

Ken Gioeli, a St. Lucie County-based natural resources agent for UF,
also waited in vain at the Gainesville airport with McAvoy.

“They either ran out of money, or something happened,” Gioeli said.

‘NO’ TO ISLAMIST TURKEY
By Frank J. Gaffney Jr.

Washington Times
Sept 27 2005

On Oct. 3, representatives of the European Union and the Turkish
government of Islamist Recep Erdogan will meet to determine if
Muslim Turkey will be allowed to seek full membership in the EU. It
will be best for Turkey, to say nothing of Europe and the West more
generally, if the EU answer under present circumstances is: “Thanks,
but no thanks.”

The reason Europe should politely, but firmly, reject Turkey’s bid
should be clear: Prime Minister Erdogan is systematically turning his
country from a Muslim secular democracy into an Islamofascist state
governed by an ideology anathema to European values and freedoms.

Evidence of such an ominous transformation is not hard to find.

~U Turkey is awash with billions of dollars in what is known as
“green money,” apparently emanating from funds Saudi Arabia and other
Persian Gulf states withdrew from the United States after September
11, 2001. U.S. policymakers are concerned this unaccountable cash
is laundered in Turkey, then used to finance businesses and generate
new revenue streams for Islamofascist terrorism. At the very least,
everything else on Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist agenda is lubricated by
these resources.

~U Turkey’s traditionally secular educational system is being
steadily supplanted by madrassa-style “imam hatip” schools and
other institutions where students are taught only the Koran and its
interpretation according to the Islamofascists. The prime minister
is himself an imam hatip school graduate and has championed lowering
the age at which children can be subjected to their form of radical
religious indoctrination from 12 years old to 4. And in 2005, experts
expect 1,215,000 Turkish students to graduate from such schools.

~U Products of such an education are ill-equipped to do much besides
carrying out the Islamist program of Mr. Erdogan’s AKP Party.

Tens of thousands are being given government jobs: Experienced, secular
bureaucrats are replaced with ideologically reliable theo-apparatchiks;
4,000 others pack secular courts, transforming them into instruments
of Shari’a religious law.

~U As elsewhere, religious intolerance is a hallmark of Mr.

Erdogan’s creeping Islamofascist putsch in Turkey. Roughly a third of
the Turkish population is a minority known as Alevis. They observe
a strain of Islam that retains some of the traditions of Turkey’s
ancient religions. Islamist Sunnis like Mr. Erdogan and his Saudi
Wahhabi sponsors regard the Alevis as “apostates” and “hypocrites”
and subject them to increasing discrimination and intimidation. Other
minorities, notably Turkey’s Jews, know they are likely next in line
for such treatment — a far cry from the tolerance of the Ottoman era.

~U In the name of internationally mandated “reform” of Turkey’s
banking system, the government is seizing assets and operations of
banks run by businessmen associated with the political opposition. It
has gone so far as to defy successive rulings by Turkey’s supreme court
disallowing one such expropriation. The AKP-dominated parliament has
enacted legislation that allows even distant relatives of the owners
to be prosecuted for alleged wrongdoing. Among the beneficiaries of
such shakedowns have been so-called “Islamic banks” tied to Saudi
Arabia, some of whose senior officers now hold top jobs in the
Erdogan government.

~U Grabbing assets — or threatening to do so — has allowed the
government effectively to take control of the Turkish media, as well.

Consolidation of the industry in hands friendly to (or at least cowed
by) the Islamists and self-censorship of reporters, lest they depart
from the party line, have essentially denied prominent outlets to any
contrary views. The risks of deviating is clear from the recently
announced prosecution of Turkey’s most acclaimed novelist, Orhan
Parmuk, for “denigrating Turks and Turkey” by affirming in a Swiss
publication allegations of past Turkish genocidal attacks on Kurds
and Armenians.

~U Among the consequences of Mr. Erdogan’s domination of the press
has been an inflaming of Turkish public opinion against President
Bush in particular and the United States more generally. Today,
a novel describing a war between America and Turkey leading to the
nuclear destruction of Washington is a runaway best-seller, even in
the Turkish military.

~U This data point perhaps indicates the Islamists’ progress toward
also transforming the traditional guarantors of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk’s legacy of a secular, pro-Western Muslim state: Turkey’s
armed forces. Matters have been worsened by Mr. Erdogan’s skillful
manipulation of popular interest in the European bid to keep the
military from serving as a control rod in Turkish politics.

At the very least, over time, the cumulative effect of having the
conscript-based Turkish army obliged to fill its ranks with products
of an increasingly Islamist-dominated educational system cannot be
positive for either the Europeans or the Free World beyond.

Especially as Mr. Erdogan seeks to put into effect what has been
dubbed a “zero-problem” policy toward neighboring Iran and Syria,
the military’s historical check on the gravitational pull toward
Islamofascism is likely to recede.

Consequently, the EU’s representatives should not only put on ice
any invitation to Turkey to join the European Union next week. They
should make it clear the reason is Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist takeover:
The prime minister is making Turkey ineligible for membership on the
grounds that the AKP program will inevitably ruin his nation’s economy,
radicalize its society and eliminate Ankara’s ability to play Turkey’s
past, constructive role in the geographic “cockpit of history.”

It is to be hoped this meeting will serve one other purpose, as well:
It should compel the Europeans to begin to address their own burgeoning
problem with Islamofascism. Both Europe, Turkey and, for that matter,
the rest of the world, need to find ways to empower moderate Muslims
who oppose Islamists like Turkey’s Erdogan. Oct. 3 would be a good
time to start.

Frank J. Gaffney Jr. is president of the Center for Security Policy
and a columnist for The Washington Times.

Associated Press Worldstream
September 25, 2005 Sunday

Police arrest dozens of Azerbaijani opposition parties amid attempted
unauthorized protest

AIDA SULTANOVA; Associated Press Writer

BAKU, Azerbaijan

Opposition activists clashed with riot police Sunday as Azerbaijan’s
largest opposition alliance defied authorities’ refusal to allow a
protest rally – fueling fears of growing unrest in the Caspian Sea
nation just weeks before parliamentary elections.

Opposition leaders said dozens were beaten and arrested in the
confrontations, which were abruptly suspended after authorities
called for surprise negotiations to try and calm spiraling tensions
in the oil-rich former Soviet republic that borders Iran.

“Our goal is free, democratic elections,” party leader Ibraghim
Veliyev said, adding that he was hit by police truncheons during
Sunday’s rally. “In spite of everything, we will continue our
struggle. Authorities must understand that the country needs
changes.”

Rising tensions before the Nov. 6 vote have led some observers to
predict that Azerbaijan could see a mass uprising similar to those
that brought opposition leaders to power in Georgia, Ukraine and
Kyrgyzstan. The mostly Muslim nation of 8.3 million is the starting
point for a pipeline that will ship oil and gas from Azerbaijan’s
huge offshore reserves to a Turkish Mediterranean port.

Though the opposition has held nearly weekly demonstrations, Sunday’s
was the first mass protest to be held without official permission
since the October 2003 presidential election, which the opposition
said was rigged and which sparked rioting.

President Ilham Aliev, who succeeded his late, strongman father in
that election, has pledged repeatedly that the November elections
would will be free. Opposition leaders said, however, they strongly
doubted the vote would be fair.

Hundreds of activists on one Baku street chanted “Resign!” and “Free
Elections!” and carried red carnations as they confronted a row of
riot police. As they tried to break through the cordon, officers
using truncheons beat them back and forced them to flee.

Isak Avazogli, a spokesman for the People’s Front of Azerbaijan, one
of three parties making up the Azadlig opposition alliance, said more
than 100 people were detained. City police officials said 15 officers
were injured in the clashes and 42 activists were detained.

“This is an unsanctioned action, and police were performing their
duties,” deputy city police chief Yasar Aliyev said.

Appealing for calm, opposition leaders held 30 minutes of closed door
negotiations with authorities – an unprecedented decision by a
government that has kept the opposition at arm’s length.

“It’s clear that authorities, on the eve of parliamentary elections,
fear they will find themselves in an unpleasant situation before the
world community,” political analyst Rasim Musabekov said. “There is
not the slightest doubt that the elections will be falsified; the
question is will it be completely falsified.”

One opposition party spokesman said Laura Scheibe, a political
officer with the U.S. Embassy in Baku, had participated in the talks.
Scheibe could not be located for comment, and no one answered phones
at the embassy Sunday.

Party leader Ali Kerimli said the law stipulates that the opposition
must only notify authorities before staging rallies. Government
officials disagreed, but said they would hold further discussions
Monday about the legality of future rallies, he said.

“We are not the same opposition as before; we are more united in our
strength,” he said.

More than 2,000 candidates are running for 125 seats in parliament.
Even before the formal beginning of the election campaign earlier
this month, allegations that authorities were trying to discredit the
opposition had arisen.

Two activists with an opposition youth organization were arrested
last month, accused of receiving money from Armenian agents in
exchange for organizing an uprising in Azerbaijan. The two deny the
charges and say Azerbaijan’s secret service was responsible.

Authorities have also vowed to arrest former parliament speaker Rasul
Guliyev, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States
since 1996, should he return to Azerbaijan. Guliyev is running for
parliament, as is another opposition figure, Ayaz Mutalibov, a former
president who also lives in self-imposed exile in Moscow.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, September 22, 2005

Contact: Talin Gregorian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

2005 ANCA-WR ANNUAL BANQUET DRAWS OVER 600 FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) played host to a maximum capacity number of guests at
its annual banquet held on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at the
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Over 600 supporters of the ANCA-WR
attended the annual banquet, including dozens of federal, state, and
local legislators, and community leaders. The event raised over
$200,000 to help the ANCA-WR advance issues of concern to the Armenian
American community. Banquet benefactors Khachik and Elo Mouradian were
joined by Frank and Houri Melkonian, Ashken Pilavjian, John and
Asdghik Bedrosian, and Sarkis and Noune Sepetjian in cosponsoring the
event.

The ANCA-WR presented California State Senator Jackie
Kanchelian-Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) with the 2005 ANCA-WR
Woman of the Year Award and the ANCA’s own Elizabeth Chouldjian with
the 2005 ANCA-WR Vahan Cardashian Award for her dedication and
tenacity in advancing the Armenian Cause. Congressman George
Radanovich (R-CA), by video, joined Congressman Adam Schiff (D-29) in
praising the ANCA-WR’s efforts in helping the Armenian Genocide
resolutions pass through the House International Relations Committee
last week. Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave
special remarks during the evening’s program where he expressed his
appreciation for the support that the ANCA-WR and the Armenian
American community have given him during his tenure as a
legislator. The Mayor also used the opportunity to announce
appointments of Armenian Americans to his administration.

In her acceptance speech, Senator Speier told the attendees about her
Armenian roots, reaffirmed her commitment to the Armenian American
community, and praised the ANCA for its activism within the American
political sphere. `The Armenian National Committee of America has gone
beyond the call of duty in pushing Congress to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, and I applaud them,’ said Senator Speier.

The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet is the largest event of its kind and helps
raise funds to operate the nation’s largest and most influential
Armenian American grassroots and political advocacy
organization. Through these funds, the ANCA-WR is able to educate the
general public about the Armenian Genocide, the Republic of Armenia,
Nagorno-Karabagh, and other vital issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.

`I’m inspired by your generosity, by your continued commitment to
support this organization to support this community’s voice in public
affairs and to continue to demand that we get the Armenian voice heard
by public officials, by policy makers, and law makers,’ said ANCA-WR
Board Chairman Steve Dadaian in his remarks that closed the evening’s
program.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a
broad range of issues.

Editor’s Note: Photos attached. Photo 1 caption: From left to right –
Marina Manoukian with her husband and ANCA-WR board member Leonard
Manoukian speaking with Senator Jackie Kanchelian-Speier, who received
the 2005 ANCA-WR Woman of the Year Award. Photo 2 caption: From left
to right- 2005 ANCA-WR Annual Banquet Committee members Patrick
Azadian, Elizabeth Boyajian, Vicky Marashlian, Steven Dadaian (ANCA-WR
Board Chair), Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Ara Bedrosian, Aida Dimejian
(Banquet Committee Chair), Alex Sardar (Banquet Master of Ceremonies),
Raffe Deirmenjian, and Sara Armaghanian. Arsho Beylerian, Jack
Hadjinian, and Vahe Melkonian, who were instrumental members of the
Banquet Committee, were not available for the photo.

16 ARMENIAN SCHOOLS IN TURKEY OPENS FIRST SEMESTER

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 23 2005

ISTANBUL – The new education period has been started. The minority
schools also opened the education session. There are 16 Armenian
schools with 3219 students and 412 teachers. Many more Armenian
students attend the ‘normal’ schools.

This year about 454 children were registered to the Armenian
kindergartens. 2107 students were registered to the primary and
secondary schools. 658 Armenian students were registered to the
Armenian high schools.

Apart from the normal courses, the Turkish Armenian schools also give
Armenian language and Armenian religion courses to their students.

Patriarch Mesrop II, religious leader of Turkish Armenians, said that
the Armenian language courses and Armenian culture courses in these
schools are crucial to maintain the existence of Armenian minority
in Turkey. The main problem of the Armenian population in Turkey is
voluntary ‘assimilation’. Many Armenians do not attend the Armenian
Church and Armenian schools. Another problem is the mixed marriages.

There are about 100.000 Armenians in Istanbul and they have all
the rights to take education in their own schools. Apart from the
Armenian schools there are Armenian health institutions, sport clubs
and cultural-social organizations. Moreover 3 Armenian newspaper are
published in Istanbul.

Apart from the Turkish Armenians, more than 50. 000 Armenians come
to ýstanbul to work from Armenia.

Armenian Schools in Istanbul and Student Numbers:

Aramyan: 142 students.

Bezciya: 161 students.

Bomonti Mihtaryan: 40 students.

Kalfayan: 101 students.

Dadyan: 411 students.

Esayan: 313 students.

Getronagan: 211 students.

Karagozyan: 175 students.

Levon Vartuhyan: 123 students.

Ferikoy: 237 students.

Pangalti Mihtaryan: 362 students.

Sahakyan: 400 students.

Samatya Anarat Higutyun: 74 students.

Ortakoy Tarkmancats: 143 students.

Tibrevank: 78 students.

Yesilkoy: 248 students.

JTW, with Agos and Bolsohays.

–Boundary_(ID_OxXxRgao7L1brUT4/NSM1w)–

ARMENIA TO SIGN AGREEMENTS ON MUTUAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS WITH LITHUANIA AND KOREA

Pan Armenian News
22.09.2005 06:39

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the course of its recurrent session the
Government of Armenia has approved of the signing of Agreements between
Governments of Armenia and Lithuania, Armenia and Korea on Encouraging
and Mutual Protection of Investments. By another decision the proposal
on signing of an Agreement between Governments of Armenia and China
on Technical and Economic Cooperation is approved, reported IA Regnum.