Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

ARMENIA GETS FREE ACCESS TO IRANIAN PORTS: DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

ARKA News Agency
Oct 16 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. Armenian carriers of cargo have got a
free access to the ports in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea,
said RA Deputy Minister of Transport Hrant Beglarian.

According to him, signed on October 10, the Armenian-Iranian memorandum
on transit traffic cooperation opens a cheaper and shorter way to
Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Russian markets.

Armenian carriers of cargo will have an opportunity to convey as
transit goods though the territory of Iran to the Bandarabas ports
(Persian Gulf) and Enzeli (the Caspian Sea) and from there either
to Arab countries or to Aktau (Kazakhstan and Astakhan), the Deputy
Minister said.

He pointed out that only Iranian carriers of cargo had formerly used
this route. According to Beglarian, the new route will help to shorten
twice the track of freight traffic and reduce expenses by 60%.

This will influence the statistics of freight traffic, Armenian experts
say. The share of Iranian ports in Armenia’s turnover is about 3%.

TRUE TO ANCESTORS’ SOUL
Norayr Hovsepian

Azat Artsakh Tert
Oct 16 2007
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

The 2nd convention taken place on October 9th in Officers’ House was
a distinctive statement of one and half year activity of "Defender
of Fatherland" youth organization of the Union of killed azatamartiks.

With the members of the organization, the NKR President B.Sahakian, the
Speaker of NA A.Ghoulian, representatives of legislative and executive
powers, high-ranking officer stuff presented at the convention. After
the opening ceremony, the chairman of "Defender of Fatherland"
organization Gegham Stepanian performed. The organization had close
relations with military units. Here taken steps were directed towards
the strengthening of army-youth relations. Then the leaders of the
organization’s branches performed with brief reports, representing
the works realized in their regions or sttlements. The rest part of
the arrangement was carried out according to the agenda.

After establishing the changes suggested by the administration in
the regulations, new broadened stuff of administration was elected,
by whom Gegham Stepanian was appointed in the post of the chairman
of the organization and Ara Hayrapetian – in the post of vice-chairman.

Planners of Armenian Genocide Museum in Washington fight court battles
with major donor

By STEPHEN MANNING

Associated Press Writer

863 words (add material)

13 October 2007

01:57

Associated Press Newswires <javascript:void(0)>

English

(c) 2007. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

WASHINGTON (AP) – As diplomatic tensions flare over a House committee’s
approval of a resolution labeling the World War I-era killings of
Armenians in Turkey as genocide, another dispute has roiled plans to
build a museum and memorial to the victims.

In a series of lawsuits, the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial and
its backers are wrestling with a major donor over control and finances
of the long-planned project honoring the hundreds of thousands of
Armenians who died between 1915 and 1917. The memorial would be the
first permanent exhibit dedicated to the subject outside of Armenia.

Museum organizers say the litigation will not affect the redevelopment
of a former bank just a few blocks from the White House. First conceived
in the 1990s, the museum recently signed contracts for design and
planning of the 35,000-square foot (3,250-square-meter) facility.

But a major funder, retired Armenian-American publisher Gerard
Cafesjian, has filed several lawsuits that seek to reclaim much of the
$15 million (euro10.6 million) in money and property he donated.
Cafesjian claims the museum has forced him out of the project and
significantly scaled it down.

"Mr. Cafesjian is the museum," said his attorney, Tim Thornton. "Gerry
Cafesjian is 90 percent responsible for everything the museum has."

The museum has countersued, claiming Cafesjian is meddling with real
estate titles for the bank and other property to be used for the museum.
The museum argues Cafesjian has tried to use the nonprofit venture for
personal gain, and is trying to get his contributions back to cash in on
a big increase in the property’s value.

"He has done everything he can to scuttle the building of the genocide
museum," said Arnold Rosenfeld, an attorney for the nonprofit group
behind the project.

The museum is intended to memorialize and study the killings of
Armenians in the Turkish Ottoman Empire during World War I. Armenians
claim it was a systematic genocide that killed 1.5 million people;
Turkey says the death totals are inflated and that the killings were
largely the result of internal civil strife, not organized mass murder.

Earlier this week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a
resolution labeling the killings as genocide despite opposition from
President George W. Bush and Turkish-American groups. Turkish officials
condemned the vote and Turkey’s ambassador to the United States returned
to Ankara this week for consultations.

The Bush administration, worried about alienating a strategically
important U.S. ally, is trying to patch up diplomatic relations with
Turkey and has warned against passage of the resolution by the full
House.

Plans for the museum came out of the Armenian Assembly of America, a
Washington-based advocacy group that helped push for the congressional
resolution. According to court papers, assembly leaders in the 1990s
approached Cafesjian, who agreed to use his foundation to help buy the
bank for $7.25 million (euro5.1 million). Plans initially called for the
museum to open by 2002 at a cost of $40 million (euro28 million).

Cafesjian, born to Armenian parents in the United States, came from a
family that lost numerous relatives during the killings, according to
Thornton. He was a top executive for Minnesota-based legal publisher
West Publishing, retiring after it was sold to Thompson Corp. in 1996.
Now living in Florida, he is building an art museum named after himself
in Armenia.

In court filings, the genocide museum claims Cafesjian tried to dominate
planning of the Washington museum, proposing a $100 million (euro70
million) project on a much grander scale. He purchased several buildings
surrounding the bank that were eventually transferred to the museum for
his expanded plans.

By 2006, Cafesjian’s ties to the museum’s board had soured as he and
other directors sparred over governing issues, control of the project
and its scope. In April 2007, he filed suit in Minnesota, seeking a
return of his contributions. He has filed similar lawsuits in
Washington.

Cafesjian was not available for comment, Thornton said. The lawyer said
Cafesjian does not object to construction of a museum, but does not want
a "paltry" scaled down version.

"We have been completely cut out of the process," Thornton said.

The museum alleges in court filings that Cafesjian tried to use the
nonprofit for his own gain, tapping contacts of the Armenian Assembly of
America to build media, real estate and other business ventures in
Armenia. And they claim he is stalling the museum to use a clause that
allows donor property to be returned if the project is not completed by
2010.

Van Krikorian, chairman of the museum’s committee, would not comment on
the lawsuit. But he said Cafesjian’s claims to the museum buildings and
other contributions won’t threaten development of the project. Other
contributors have been found, and the museum plans a major fundraising
push now that planning work has finally begun.

"Plans are being implemented for a museum that the entire Armenian
community can be proud of well within the reach of 2010," he said.

TALAT HEADS TO NEW YORK FOR TALKS WITH BAN

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 15 2007

Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat departed on Sunday
from Ýstanbul for New York, where he will have talks with UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday and urge the secretary-general
to be more active on the Cyprus issue.

Speaking to reporters upon his departure, Talat touched upon the
controversy over the US House’s adoption of a resolution labeling the
mass killings of Anatolian Armenians during World War I as genocide.

"This resolution is both strange and a little funny; because it is
unbelievable that an assembly of another country is making a decision
concerning incidents — after around 100 years passed — over which
history should make a decision," Talat told reporters, noting that
he did not have any meetings scheduled with US officials when asked
whether he would bring up the issue during his meetings in New York.

"I hope that this [resolution] doesn’t move further by being approved
by the floor of the House of Representatives. Even if it is passed [by
the floor], nobody has the right to judge history; that is a decision
for history to make. What has been experienced by the Turkish nation in
history is not hidden — it is before everybody’s eyes," Talat added.

The leader declined to elaborate on content of his talks with Ban,
saying that he would rather make the position of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) clear rather than introducing a new means
for resolution of the Cyprus issue.

–Boundary_(ID_VGb/t2LutyokUlqz+MCCOg)–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2007

Prosecutor’s office of Armenia to carry out no more preliminary
investigation starting December 1

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. The Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia will
carry out no more preliminary investigation starting December 1 to
promote more efficient implementation of the constitutional
competence of the prosecutor’s office and supervision over legality
of preliminary investigation and inquest, Prosecutor General of
Armenia Aghvan Hovsepian said at his meeting with the CE Commissioner
for Human Rights Thomas Hammerberg.

Currently Armenia is at the second stage of reforms in the
prosecution system to increase the level of independence of
prosecutor’s office, the Press Secretary of Prosecutor’s Office of
Armenia Sona Truzian told ARKA news agency.

Hovsepian pointed out the particular importance of transferring the
right to appoint Prosecutor general to the law-making body of the
country, which sets guarantees for independence of Prosecutor’s
Office.

Hammerberg pointed out the importance of the reforms and particularly
the new procedure for appointing Prosecutor General. He also
addressed the use of non-proper methods in the investigation process.
Hovsepian said that legal proceedings are instituted to investigate
these cases in detail.

The sides also addressed the issues of penal policies on criminal
cases and extradition.

Hammerberg reported his intention to submit a package of proposals to
the Government of Armenia and communicate his observations to the
Office of Prosecutor General. -0–

Agence France Presse — English
October 11, 2007 Thursday 8:26 PM GMT

US hopes Turkey quickly returns ambassador to Washington

The White House said Thursday it hoped Turkey would quickly return
its ambassador to Washington who was recalled after a US Congress
panel voted to label the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks an
act of genocide.

"We look forward to his quick return and will continue to work to
maintain strong US-Turkish relations," said Gordon Johndroe, a White
House national security council spokesman.

"We remain opposed to House Resolution 106 because of the grave harm
it could bring to the national security of the United States."

Kurdish Aspect, CO
Oct 12 2007

Justice for Humanity

Uncalculated thoughts – by Goran Sadjadi

This week, the United States House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs approved a resolution declaring the mass killings of
up to 1.5 million Armenians during World War I as genocide. The event
was celebrated by Armenian communities and advocates of human rights
and reconciliation alike. The bill was passed by 25 votes to 21 in
the committee and will be debated and voted on in the House of
Representative as the next step. Despite outcries by those who deny a
genocide that occurred more than 90 years ago, the approval of the
bill marks a victory for truth and a small step towards justice.

In Washington, politicians are taking both sides in a debate on
whether the timing of such a bill is appropriate. Advocates of human
rights and justice may be surprised to learn that the congressional
resolution on genocide has caused controversy over U.S. foreign
policy with Turkey. The Bush Administration has expressed its
opposition to the bill saying that it will harm relations with the
NATO ally. However, these statements are highly contradictory to the
very claims that the administration has made all along: to spread
freedom and democracy in the Middle East and around the world. One
may ask how democracy is expected to spread to other nations
(especially through the hostile acts of war) when some of the U.S.’
own allies are far from democracies, and far from free as well.

In Turkey, referring to the events of over 90 years ago as genocide
can lead to imprisonment. Under several laws including controversial
Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, people are arrested and
sentenced by the courts. However, there is more to this code of law
than simply forbidding the use of the word genocide. The article
forbids public denigration of `Turkishness’, an idea far from the
realms of freedom and democracy and more closely related to
oppression and fascism. Unfortunately for seekers of peace and
freedom, consecutive U.S. administrations have fervently defended
this strategic ally and blatantly ignored these lacks of freedom and
democracy in their (NATO) ally that the organizational body called
NATO is supposed to protect.

And now, with a promising step taken by the U.S. House of
Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Government
has made its own public outcries, continuing to actively deny the
genocide took place. Turkish President Abdullah Gül has declared the
decision as having `no validity for Turkey’. Despite this lack of
`validity’, the Turkish Government has recalled their ambassador to
the U.S. for what they claim are simply `consultations’. The more
likely reason is a symbolic protest by Turkey for the approval of the
US resolution.

Another important point to highlight here is that the Turkish
president that reacted in such ways to the U.S. resolution is most
inappropriately labeled as a reformist for Turkey belonging to a
political party (AKP – Justice and Development Party) that is claimed
to be taking Turkey in the right direction. However, his words and
actions prove otherwise. One may rightfully assume that this false
image painted by Westerners of these select politicians in Turkey is
simply a result of their strong desire to wrongly paint Turkey as a
democracy so that they can maintain their strong relationship without
the threats of protest by rational beings. However, this action in
itself is just as worse as the acts of genocide because they provide
and strengthen the means necessary for the guilty to pursue its
injustices, thereby committing even more killings and more crimes.

Representatives in Washington such as Dan Burton assert that the U.S.
is in war and that the passing of the Armenian Genocide bill would be
`kicking the one U.S. ally [Turkey] in the face’. However, the
humanist may argue that the idea of such a debate even existing is a
kick in the face of humanity. And the fact that instigators of a
debate (that terribly exists) condemn the resolution for fear that it
will harm Turkish-U.S. relations shows their very nature as opponents
of democracy. Perhaps today, more resolutions alongside the bill for
the Armenian Genocide should be passed. The U.S. House should be
considering their relations with the Turkish Government and the
conflicting U.S. idea of democracy, and should be passing resolutions
to condemn the killings in present-day Turkey committed at ill will
by the Turkish military. For while the instigators of this seemingly
everlasting debate over the Armenian Genocide continue to bark
wildly, the Turkish State continues to engage itself in another
discriminating battle against the will of their Kurdish minority.

Perhaps the above is too much wishful thinking. However, proponents
of peace can only hope this resolution is one step to the hundred
that may need to follow. Without the recognition of past injustices
such as the Armenian genocide, there will be no recognition of
present injustices by the Turkish State. For part of demanding the
Turkish State to come to terms with its past faults, is to eventually
come to terms with its present faults, condemn atrocities, and
correct its system. Only then, can democracy and peace truly exist in
Turkey.

GS.html

ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, TO ATTEND THE 2ND CONVENTION OF EUROPEAN ARMENIANS

AZG Armenian Daily #185
11/10/2007

Diaspora

Peter Semneby and Bernard Fassier, officials on South Caucasus issues,
also expected to participate

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, will take part in the Second Convention
of European Armenians, announced the European Armenian Federation. He
will join a slate of other dignitaries, experts and local and national
political leaders, including Mr. Vartan Oskanian , Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia who will be heading an important
diplomatic delegation.

"With the participation of the top leaders from across the key Armenian
political and religious institutions, the Second Convention of European
Armenians will be a genuine summit where will be decided the political
guidelines of our Nation in Europe for the coming years" declared
Hilda Tchoboian, chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

Moreover, Mr. Peter Semneby, the EU Special Envoy in the South
Caucasus as well as Mr. Bernard Fassier, the French co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk group in charge of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
are also expected to take part in the Convention.

"These key attendees are a testament that – beyond the Armenian world
– our concerns, our expectations and our active European citizenship
are an important force on major international political issues. With
this Convention, we are going to make the voice of European Armenians
heard by key policy-makers," added Tchoboian.

October 9, 2007

Turkey’s President Warns Bush Over Armenian Vote

By REUTERS

Filed at 8:52 a.m. ET

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s president has written to U.S. President
George W. Bush warning of the damage to bilateral ties if Congress
backs a bill recognizing the 1915 massacres of Armenians as genocide,
his office said on Tuesday.

Congress’s Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to back a bill on the
genocide issue on Wednesday and speaker Nancy Pelosi, a known
supporter of the Armenian cause, could then decide to bring it to the
House floor for a vote.

The Bush administration is opposed to the bill, but Congress is now
dominated by its Democratic opponents.

"In his letter our president thanked President Bush for his efforts
(to stop the bill) and drew attention to the problems it would create
in bilateral relations if it is accepted," President Abdullah Gul’s
office said in a statement. It did not provide further information.

A senior lawmaker of Turkey’s ruling AK Party, Egemen Bagis, was
quoted this week as saying Ankara might cut logistic support to U.S.
troops in Iraq if Congress backs the bill. The bulk of supplies for
troops in Iraq pass via Turkey’s Incirlik airbase.

Turkish media have said U.S. firms could also be blocked from winning
defense and other contracts if the bill passes.

Turkey, a NATO ally of Washington, strongly rejects the Armenian
position, backed by many Western historians and a growing number of
foreign parliaments, that up to 1.5 million Armenians suffered
genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War One.

Ankara says many Muslim Turks as well as Christian Armenians died in
inter-ethnic conflict as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

The bill comes at a delicate time for Turkey-U.S. relations. Turkish
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was on Tuesday considering whether to
allow a cross-border incursion into northern Iraq to strike Kurdish
rebels there after 15 Turkish soldiers were killed in attacks in
recent days.

Washington has urged Turkey not to send troops into mainly Kurdish
northern Iraq for fear of destabilizing the country’s most peaceful
region.

Source: -turkey-usa-armenians.html?pagewanted=print

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION TO PASS BEFORE THANKSGIVING DAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2007 14:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "This has nothing to do with the current government
or the Turkish public. This is for the tragic effort of Armenians,
who we believe have experienced genocide. If we do not want to
experience or witness such events again, we need to remember the
dates of these events and we need to have them condemned worldwide,"
he said, Sabah reports.

Turkey has numerously warned the U.S. that passage of the H.Res.106
will cause a split in the Turkish-American relations.

The U.S. House Foreign Relations Committee will hold a vote on the
Armenian Genocide Resolution October 10.

The House version of the Resolution, H.Res.106, was introduced January
30 by lead author Rep. Adam Schiff.

It has 227 co-sponsors.