Author: Jilavian Emma

Armenian Speaker, OSCE envoy discuss Karabakh

Arminfo
23 Sep 04

YEREVAN

Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Artur Bagdasaryan and the
special envoy of the OSCE chairman-in-office on the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue, Filip Dimitrov, today discussed the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.

As the press service of the Armenian National Assembly told Arminfo
news agency, during the meeting Filip Dimitrov noted that the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict is perceived by the OSCE as a complicated problem
that is hard to solve. But it hopes that the sides will achieve
success in the negotiations. Artur Bagdasaryan informed Filip Dimitrov
of his point of view, adding that Armenia has always backed a peaceful
settlement to the conflict via political dialogue and that it
understands the need for mutual concessions.

The speaker of the Armenian parliament noted the importance of the
public opinion in the conflicting countries and the necessity of
establishing contacts between various social layers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict.

Bagdasaryan and Dimitrov noted the importance of regular meetings
between the two countries’ presidents and stressed the need to develop
parliamentary relations, taking into consideration the role and
meaning of parliaments in the settlement of conflicts.

Artur Bagdasaryan also touched upon regional problems, noting the
importance of Turkey’s neutral position in the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and also the Azerbaijan side’s
non-constructive position on regional cooperation. He cited the
refusal to allow Armenian servicemen entry to Baku to take part in
NATO’s Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises as a specific example.

Bagdasaryan and Dimitrov also noted that the OSCE Minsk Group carried
out an important and consistent work to settle the conflict and
possessed adequate information about details of the process. Great
hopes are pinned particularly on the OSCE Minsk Group in the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. In addition, the sides
noted the need to develop parliamentary relations in the region. Other
issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

The Armenian Genocide was a Jihad

Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out

by _Ibn Warraq_ (;field-author=3DIbn%25 20Warraq/103-9556480-7979849)

ISIS: the Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society
_Recent Additions to the ISIS Site_ ()

9-15-04
By Andrew G. Bostom

The Greater Boston Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee, issued a
press release, April 7, 2003, noting that April 24, 2003 marked the
88th “anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. On April 24, 1915, the
Turkish Interior Ministry issued an order authorizing the arrest of
all Armenian political and community leaders suspected of anti-Ittihad
(`Young Turk’ government), or Armenian nationalist sentiments. In
Istanbul alone, 2345 such leaders were seized and incarcerated, and
most of them were subsequently executed. The majority were neither
nationalists, nor were they involved in politics. None were charged
with sabotage, espionage, or any other crime, and appropriately
tried.1 As the Turkish author Taner Akcam recently acknowledged,
`Under the pretext of searching for arms, of collecting war levies, or
tracking down deserters, there had already been established a practice
of systematically carried-out plunders, raids, and murders [against
the Armenians] which had become daily occurrences’2 Within a month,
the final, definitive stage of the process which reduced the Armenian
population to utter helplessness, i.e., mass deportation, would
begin.3

A True Genocide

Was the horrific fate of the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian minority, at
the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, in particular, during
World War I, due to “civil war”, or genocide ? A seminal analysis by
Professor Vahakn Dadrian published last year validates the conclusion
that the Ottoman Turks committed a centrally organized mass murder,
i.e., a genocide, against their Armenian population.4 Relying upon a
vast array of quintessential, primary source documents from the World
War I allies of the Ottoman Empire, Germany and Austria- Hungary,
Dadrian obviated the intractable disputes surrounding the reliability
and authenticity of both Ottoman Turkish, and Armenian documents. He
elucidated the truly unique nature of this documentary German and
Austro-Hungarian evidence:

“During the war, Germany and Austria-Hungary disposed over a
vastnetwork of ambassadorial, consular, military, and commercial
representatives throughout the Ottoman Empire. Not only did they have
access to high-ranking Ottoman officials and power-wielding
decision-makers who were in a position to report to their superiors as
locus in quo observers on many aspects of the wartime treatment of
Ottoman Armenians. They supplemented their reports with as much detail
as they could garner from trusted informers and paid agents, many of
whom were Muslims, both civilians and military”5

Moreover, the documents analyzed possessed another critical attribute:
they included confidential correspondence prepared and sent to Berlin
and Vienna, which were meant for wartime use only.6 This
confidentiality, Dadrian notes, enabled German or Austro-Hungarian
officials to openly question the contentions of their wartime Ottoman
allies, when ascertaining and conveying facts truthfully to their
superiors in Europe. Dadrian cites the compelling example of the
November 16, 1915 report to the German chancellor, by Aleppo Consul
Rossler. Rossler states, “I do not intend to frame my reports in such
a way that I may be favoring one or the other party. Rather, I
consider it my duty to present to you the description of things which
have occurred in my district and which I consider to be the truth” 7
Rossler was reacting specifically to the official Ottoman allegation
that the Armenians had begun to massacre the Turkish population in the
Turkish sections of Urfa, a city within his district, after reportedly
capturing them. He dismissed the charge, unequivocally, with a single
word: “invented”. 8 Amassed painstakingly by Dadrian, the primary
source evidence from these German and Austro-Hungarian officials-
reluctant witnesses- leads to this inescapable conclusion: the
anti-Armenian measures, despite a multitude ofattempts at cover-up and
outright denial, were meticulously planned by the Ottoman authorities,
and were designed to destroy wholesale, the victim population.

Dadrian further validates this assessment with remarkable testimony
before the Mazhar Inquiry Commission, which conducted a preliminary
investigation in the post-war period to determine the criminal
liability of the wartime Ottoman authorities regarding the Armenian
deportations and massacres. The December15, 1918 deposition by General
Mehmed Vehip, commander-in-chief of the Ottoman Third Army, and ardent
CUP (Committee of Union and Progress, i.e., the “Ittihadists”, or
“Young Turks”) member, included this summary statement:

“The murder and annihilation of the Armenians and the plunder and
expropriation of their possessions were the result of the decisions
made by the CUP These atrocities occurred under a program that was
determined upon and involved a definite case of willfulness. They
occurred because they were ordered, approved, and pursued first by the
CUP’s [provincial] delegates and central boards, and second by
governmental chiefs who hadpushed aside their conscience, and had
become the tools of the wishes and desires of the Ittihadist society
“9

Dadrian’s own compelling assessment of this primary source evidence is
summarized as follows:

“Through the episodic interventions of the European Powers, the
historically evolving and intensifying Turko-Armenian conflict had
become a source of anger and frustration for the Ottoman rulers and
elites driven by a xenophobic nationalism. A monolithic political
party that had managed to eliminate all opposition and had gained
control of the Ottoman state apparatus efficiently took advantage of
the opportunities provided by World War I. It purged by violent and
lethal means the bulk of the Armenian population from the territories
of the empire. By any standard definition, this was an act of
genocide”10

Jihad: A Major Determinant of the Armenian genocide

The wartime reports from German and Austro-Hungarian officials also
confirm independent evidence that the origins and evolution of the
genocide had little to do with World War I “Armenian
provocations”. Emphasis is placed, instead, on the larger pre-war
context dating from the failure of the mid-19th century Ottoman
Tanzimat reform efforts.11 These reforms, initiated by the declining
Ottoman Empire (i.e., in 1839 and 1856) under intense pressure from
the European powers, were designed to abrogate the repressive laws of
dhimmitude, to which non-Muslim (primarily Christian) minorities,
including the Armenians, had been subjected for centuries, following
the Turkish jihad conquests of their indigenous homelands. 12

Led by their patriarch, the Armenians felt encouraged by the Tanzimat
reform scheme, and began to deluge the Porte (Ottoman seat of
government) with pleas and requests, primarily seeking governmental
protection against a host of mistreatments, particularly in the remote
provinces. Between 1850 and 1870, alone, 537 notes were sent to the
Porte by the Armenian patriarch characterizing numerous occurrences of
theft, abduction, murder, confiscatory taxes, and fraud by government
officials.13 These entreaties were largely ignored, and ominously,
were even considered as signs of rebelliousness. For example, British
Consul (to Erzurum) Clifford Lloyd reported in 1890, “Discontent, or
any description of protest is regarded by the local Turkish Local
Government as seditious”14

He went on to note that this Turkish reaction occurred irrespective of
the fact that “..the idea of revolution..” was not being entertained
by the Armenian peasants involved in these protests.15

The renowned Ottomanist, Roderick Davison, has observed that under the
Shari’a (Islamic Holy Law) the “..infidel gavours [“dhimmis”,
“rayas”]” were permanently relegated to a status of “inferiority” and
subjected to a “contemptuous half-toleration”. Davison further
maintained that this contempt emanated from “an innate attitude of
superiority”, and was driven by an “innate Muslim feeling”, prone to
paroxysms of “open fanaticism”. 16 Sustained, vehement reactions to
the 1839 and 1856 Tanzimat reform acts by large segments of the Muslim
population, led by Muslim spiritual leaders and the military,
illustrate Davison’s point.17 Perhaps the most candid and telling
assessment of the doomed Tanzimat reforms, in particular the 1856 Act,
was provided by Mustafa Resid, Ottoman Grand Vizier at six different
times between 1846-58. In his denunciation of the reforms, Resid
argued the proposed “complete emancipation” of the non-Muslim
subjects, appropriately destined to be subjugated and ruled, was
“entirely contradictory” to “the 600 year traditions of the Ottoman
Empire”. He openly proclaimed the “complete emancipation” segment of
the initiative as disingenuous, enacted deliberately to mislead the
Europeans, who had insisted upon this provision. Sadly prescient,
Resid then made the ominous prediction of a “great massacre” if
equality was in fact granted to non-Muslims. 18

Despite their “revolutionary” advent, and accompanying comparisons to
the ideals of the French Revolution, the CUP’s “Young Turk” regime
eventually adopted a discriminatory, anti-reform attitude toward
non-Muslims within the Ottoman Empire. During an August 6, 1910 speech
in Saloniki, Mehmed Talat, pre-eminent leader of the Young Turks
disdainfully rejected the notion of equality with “gavours” , arguing
that it “is an unrecognizable ideal since it is inimical with Sheriat
[Shari’a] and the sentiments of hundreds of thousands of Muslims”.19
Roderick Davison notes that in fact “..no genuine equality was ever
attained..”, re-enacting the failure of the prior Tanzimat reform
period. As a consequence, he observes, the CUP leadership “soon
turned from equality to Turkification”20

During the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid, the Ottoman Turks massacred
over 200,000 Armenians between 1894-96. This was followed, under the
Young Turk regime, by the Adana massacres of 25,000 Armenians in 1909,
and the first formal genocide of the 20th century, when in 1915 alone,
an additional 600,000 to 800,000 Armenians were slaughtered.21 The
massacres of the 1890s had an “organic” connection to the Adana
massacres of 1909, and more importantly,the events of 1915. As Vahakn
Dadrian argues, they facilitated the genocidal acts of 1915 by
providing the Young Turks with “a predictable impunity.” The absence
of adverse consequences for the Abdul Hamid massacres in the 1890s
allowed the Young Turks to move forward without constraint.22

Contemporary accounts from European diplomats make clear that these
brutal massacres were perpetrated in the context of a formal jihad
against the Armenians who had attempted to throw off the yoke of
dhimmitude by seekingequal rights and autonomy. For example, the Chief
Dragoman (Turkish-speaking interpreter) of the British embassy
reported regarding the 1894-96 massacres:

[The perpetrators] are guided in their general action by the
prescriptions of the Sheri [Sharia] Law. That law prescribes that if
the “rayah” [dhimmi] Christian attempts, by having recourse to foreign
powers, to overstep the limits of privileges allowed them by their
Mussulman [Muslim] masters, andfree themselves from their bondage,
their lives and property are to be forfeited, and are at the mercy of
the Mussulmans. To the Turkish mind the Armenians had tried to
overstep those limits by appealing to foreign powers, especially
England. They therefore considered it their religious duty and a
righteousthing to destroy and seize the lives and properties of the
Armenians”23

The scholar Bat Ye’or confirms this reasoning, noting that the
Armenian quest for reforms invalidated their “legal status,” which
involved a “contract” (i.e., with their Muslim Turkish rulers). This
breachrestored to the umma [the Muslim community] its initial right to
kill the subjugated minority [the dhimmis], [and] seize their
property24 An intrepid Protestant historian and missionary Johannes
Lepsius, who earlier had undertaken a two-month trip to examine the
sites of the Abul Hamid era massacres, traveled again to Turkey during
World War I. Regarding the period between 1914-1918, he wrote :

” Are we then simply forbidden to speak of the Armenians as persecuted
on account of their religious belief’? If so, there have never been
any religious persecutions in the worldWe have lists before us of 559
villages whose surviving inhabitants were converted to Islam with fire
and sword; of 568 churches thoroughly pillaged, destroyed and razed to
the ground; of 282 Christian churches transformed into mosques; of 21
Protestant preachers and 170 Gregorian (Armenian) priests who were,
after enduring unspeakable tortures, murdered on their refusal to
accept Islam. We repeat, however, that those figures express only the
extent of our information, and do not by a long way reachto the extent
of the reality. Is this a religious persecution or is it not?…”25

Finally, Bat Ye’or places the continuum of massacres from the 1890s
through World War I in an overall theological and juridical context,
as follows:

“The genocide of the Armenians was the natural outcome of a policy
inherent in the politico-religious structure of dhimmitude. This
process of physically eliminating a rebel nation had already been used
against the rebel Slav and Greek Christians, rescued from collective
extermination by European intervention, although sometimes
reluctantly.

The genocide of the Armenians was a jihad. No rayas took part in
it. Despite the disapproval of many Muslim Turks and Arabs, and their
refusal to collaborate in the crime, these masssacres were perpetrated
solely by Muslims and they alone profited from the booty: the victims’
property, houses, and lands granted to the muhajirun, and the
allocation to them of women and child slaves. The elimination of male
children over the age of twelve was in accordance with the
commandments of the jihad and conformed to the age fixed for the
payment of the jizya. The four stages of the liquidation- deportation,
enslavement, forced conversion, and massacre- reproduced the historic
conditions of the jihad carried out in the dar-al-harb from the
seventh century on. Chronicles from a variety of sources, by Muslim
authors in particular, give detailed descriptions of the organized
massacres or deportation of captives, whose sufferings in forced
marches behind the armies paralleled the Armenian experience in the
twentieth century”26

Conclusions

The Ottoman Turkish destruction of the Armenian people, beginning in
the late 19th and intensifying in the early 20th century, was a
genocide, and jihad ideology contributed significantly to this decades
long human liquidation process. These facts are now beyond dispute.
Milan Kundera, the Czech author, has written that man’s struggle
against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.27 In his
thoughtful analysis of the Armenian genocide,`The Banality of
Indifference’, Professor Yair Auron reminds us of the importance of
this struggle:

`Recognition of the Armenian genocide on the part of the entire
international community, including Turkey (or perhaps first and
foremost Turkey), is therefore a demand of the first
order. Understanding and remembering the tragic past is an essential
condition, even if not sufficient in and of itself, to preventing the
repetition of such acts in the future.’28

Notes

1. Uras E., The Armenians and the Armenian Question in History, 2nd
ed., (Istanbul, 1976), p.612

2. Akcam T., Turkish National Identity and the Armenian Question,
(Istanbul, 1992), p. 109.

3. Hovanissian R., Armenia on the Road to Independence, (Berkeley, CA,
1967), p. 51.

4. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of the
Armenians as Documented by the Officials of the Ottoman Empire’s World
War IAllies: Germany and Austria-Hungary’, International Journal of
Middle Eastern Studies, (2002), Vol. 32, Pp. 59-85.

5. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of the
Armenians’ , p.60.

6. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of the
Armenians’ , p.76

7. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of the
Armenians’ , p.76, with specific primary source documentation, p.84
n.109.

8. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of the
Armenians’ , p.76, with specific primary source documentation, p.84
n.109.

9. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of the
Armenians’ , p.77, with specific primary source documentation,
Pp.84-85 n.111.

10. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of
theArmenians’ , p.77.

11. Davison R., “Turkish Attitudes Concerning Christian-Muslim
Equality in the Nineteenth Century”, The American Historical Review
(1954), Vol. 54, Pp. 844-864.

12. Bat Ye’or, The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam,
(Cranbury, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996) 522 Pp.

13. Dadrian V., Warrant for Genocide: Key Elements of Turko-Armenian
Conflict, (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 1999), p. 39.

14. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of
theArmenians’ , p.61, with specific primary source documentation p.79,
n.11

15. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of
theArmenians’ , p.61, with specific primary source documentation p.79,
n.11

16. Davison R., “Turkish Attitudes Concerning Christian-Muslim
Equality in the Nineteenth Century”, p.855.

17. Bat Ye’or, The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam,
Reports by British Diplomats [1850-1876], Pp. 395-433.

18. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of
theArmenians’ , Pp.61-62, with specific primary source documentation,
p.79 n.14.

19. Dadrian V., `The Armenian Question and the Wartime Fate of
theArmenians’ , Pp.61-62, with specific primary source documentation,
p.79 n.15.

20. Davison R, “The Armenian Crisis, 1912-1914”, The American
Historical Review, (1948) Vol. 53, Pp. 482-483.

21. Dadrian V., The History of the Armenian Genocide, (Providence, RI:
Bergahn Books, 1997), Pp. 155, 182, 225, 233 n.44; Auron Y., The
Banality of Indifference, (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers,
2000), p. 44.

22. Dadrian V., The History of the Armenian Genocide, Pp. 113-184.

23. Dadrian V., The History of the Armenian Genocide, p. 147, with
primary source documentation p. 168 n.199.

24. Bat Ye’or, The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians Under Islam, (Cranbury,
NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1985) Pp. 48,67, 101.

25. Gabrielan M.C., Armenia: A Martyr Nation, (New York, Chicago:
Fleming H. Revell, Co., 1918), p. 269.

26. Bat Ye’or, The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam,
p. 197.

27. Kundera M., The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, (New York, NY:
Harper Collins, 1999)

28. Auron Y., The Banality of Indifference, p. 56.

Andrew G. Bostom, MD, MS is an Associate Professor of Medicine at
Brown University, and freelance writer on the history of jihad and
dhimmitude.

ArmenPress
Sept 21 2004

ARMENPRESS HOSTS EXHIBITION OF BRAZILIAN ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenpress photo-hall was
flocked yesterday by photography-lovers who made a unique journey
around Brazil and San Paolo that has a strong Armenian community.
First time in motherland, a talented photographer Norayr Shahinian
has brought more than four dozens of colored photographs. Yet unknown
to the local public he is undoubtedly one of the talented
photographers of Diaspora. His talent was praised by photo-reporting
service head Felix Arustamian, painter Vahan Kochar and others.
Norayr Shahinian and his father, Hrair Shahinian, who has also
arrived in Yerevan to participate in his son’s exhibition, thanked
the present.
Shahinian has been in Armenia for a month now visiting many cities
and villages and metting with many people. He will go back after
completing his work in several months to unveil Armenia for
Brazilians.
Twenty-five years old, Shahinian is an architecture by profession.
“However I have been fond of photography since my childhood because
both my father and grandfather were masters in it,” he said. “I have
had several exhibitions in Brazil and Argentina but an exhibition in
motherland is a touching event for me,” he added.
Two of his works, “City View” and “The Lonely Tree” have won San
Paulo and Pan Brazilian photography awards.

CEREMONY DEDICATED TO COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEM IN VILLAGE OF MOVSES, TAVUSH REGION, ARMENIA

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20. ARMINFO. A ceremony dedicated to completion of
construction of water supply system was held in the village of Movses,
Tavush region, Armenia.

The water pipeline was constructed with support of Greek organizations
Developmental Cooperation and Solidarity and International Center of
Development. Due to the system, the bordering village is supplied
with water it was deprived of before. Director of the International
Center of Development George Anastopoulos said that the first stage of
the program is completed. It provided for construction of 8 new pools,
7 of them were constructed, as well as for laying of a 18 km water
pipeline. He said that under the program a 11 km road was built, which
will contribute to developing agriculture in the village. George
Anastopoulos added that all the necessary measures are taken for
completion of the second stage of the program, which provides for
supply of drinking water to the village’s residents. $600,000 were
allocated for completion of the first stage of the program. The given
sum includes in it the contribution to the regional administration of
Tavush and to the village, as well as the sum provided by the Greek
party.

The contribution of the Greek party was 60% of the total sum,
$400,000. The Armenian party provided $200,000 for the program’s
implementation. He said that there is a program providing for usage of
the water pipeline by the residents of the nearing villages, however,
it is the project of the Armenian Government and will be implemented
by the regional administration of Tavush. Greek Ambassador to Armenian
Antonios Vlavianos said that development of villages in Armenia will
prevent the local residents from leaving their villages and moving to
Yerevan. As regards other programs aiming development of the country’s
regions, Ambassador said that a new sanatorium is planned to be
constructed in the resort town of Dilijan, however, the Greek diplomat
expressed hope that this program’s implementation will be started next
year. Besides, the Greek party implement other contribution programs
in Armenia, including a program aimed at bringing the Armenian
Parliament in conformity with European standards. For this purpose,
various seminars are organized in Greece. Ambassador Vlavianos pointed
out the cooperation between Armenia and Greece. Due to it, many
Armenian officers are educated in Greece. He added that the programs
implemented in Armenia are aimed at establishment of peace and
security in the South Caucasus. Greece, as part of the EU, considers
these three states as single and wants development of the region and
establishment of cooperation between the states. He pointed out that
Armenia exerts efforts to establish this cooperation, unfortunately,
it receives no response from other states of the region. Antonios
Vlavianos added that this fact must not make Armenia
dissapointed. Official Yerevan must further make steps in this
direction, as investments in the region are possible only in case of
peace in the South Caucasus.

California Courier Online, September 23, 2004

1 – Commentary
Nine Armenians Killed by Chechen
Terrorists; No One Seems to Care

By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – AMAA Essay Contest Open
To H.S. and College Students
3 – Canadian Armenians Join
Cosmic Ray Division Family
4 – Armenian-Americans Join ‘Sudan:
Day of Conscience’ in San Francisco
5 – Musa Dagh Descendants in Fresno
Celebrate Epic Battle Against Turks
6 – Telethon 2004
Scheduled for
Thanksgiving Day
7 – Bay Area Debut
Of Gor Mkhitarian
Set for Oct. 16
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Nine Armenians Killed by Chechen
Terrorists; No One Seems to Care

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Earlier this month, when Chechen terrorists took over a school in Beslan,
North Ossetia (Russia), there were at least 33 Armenians among the 1,200
hostages. During the rescue attempt, more than 300 children, parents and
teachers were killed, including nine Armenians (five schoolchildren and
four adults). Several other Armenians are still missing.
Armenia’s leaders joined the rest of the world in sending humanitarian aid
and messages of condolence to the Russian government. Sadly, neither
Armenian officials nor Armenian organizations bothered to express any
sympathy for the nine Armenian victims. There was no outrage expressed by
anyone regarding the cold-blooded murder of these innocent Armenians.
While the Russian government offered a $10 million reward for the killing
or capture of the leaders of the Chechen rebels and reserved the right to
make pre-emptive strikes against terrorists in other countries, Armenian
officials did not even express their condolences to the families of the
Armenian victims. They showed no interest whatsoever in the fate of those
killed and injured, even though some of them were citizens of Armenia.
While it is true that Armenia has a limited ability to pursue those who
organized this terrorist act, Armenian officials could have at least
expressed their sympathy to the victims’ families, set up a special fund to
help them, and offered their willingness to assist the Russian authorities
in tracking down the leaders of these terrorists.
Armenian officials often talk about Armenians worldwide being members of
“one nation,” regardless of where they live. In order to have some
credibility, these officials must show with their actions that they really
care about their fellow Armenians overseas. Simply organizing annual song
and dance festivals is not enough!

Azerbaijan Behaves Like a Banana Republic

NATO officials finally got fed up with all the lies and childish games
played by the novice Azeri President, Ilham Aliyev, and canceled the
military exercises that were scheduled to take place on Sept. 14-27 in
Azerbaijan.
Since the beginning of the year, Azerbaijan’s leaders had repeatedly
assured NATO officials that they would not impede Armenia’s participation
in these exercises. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program.
Earlier this year, three Armenian military officers tried to attend a
planning conference in Baku. After getting a run-around for several days,
they were eventually refused entry into Azerbaijan.
In June, when two other Armenian officers finally managed to attend a
second planning conference in Baku, several Azeri thugs broke into the
hotel where the conference was being held, threatening to harm the Armenian
participants. When some of these hooligans were arrested and sent to jail,
Pres. Aliyev complained that the courts were being too harsh on them.
Earlier this month, as an Armenian delegation was preparing to travel to
Baku, high ranking Azeri officials, contrary to the commitments they had
made to NATO, started saying that the Armenians were not welcome in
Azerbaijan. Finally, the government of Azerbaijan refused to grant an entry
visa to the Armenian officers.
As NATO rules do not allow affiliated member countries to exclude one
another from exercises being held on their territory, Azerbaijan had
violated the principle of inclusiveness. Therefore, NATO had no choice but
to cancel the planned exercises in Azerbaijan.
Azeri thugs and government officials immediately began celebrating the fact
that they had succeeded in keeping the Armenians out of their country. But,
one wonders, at what price?
Azeri officials for a number of years had nurtured the pipe dream that
Azerbaijan would shortly join NATO. They were hoping that NATO would then
take their side in the Karabagh conflict. After all the games played by
Azeri officials leading to the undermining of an important NATO activity,
it does not look very likely that Azerbaijan would be admitted to NATO
membership anytime soon!
In addition to the violation of NATO rules of inclusiveness, the Azeri
officials have shown to the whole world that Azerbaijan is not a reliable
partner, and that the word of its leaders means nothing. Basically, they
proved that Azerbaijan is a banana republic.
Finally, Pres. Aliyev made a big mistake by allowing this small group of
street thugs, who were opposed to the participation of Armenians in the
NATO exercises, to take the lead in this emotionally-charged issue. Their
“successful” and “heroic” efforts would enable them to attract fresh
recruits to their fanatical cause. Thus emboldened, they will be making
more and more radical demands on the government, eventually leading to the
destabilization and may be even the toppling of the Aliyev regime.
**************************************************************************
2 – AMAA Essay Contest Open
To H.S. and College Students
BROOKLINE, MA – The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) has
announced it will once again sponsor the James G. Jameson Essay Contest.
Topics should touch upon some aspect of Armenian heritage such as religion,
literature, language, history, culture, geography, economy or history.
Awards will be made in two categories: High School contestants and
College/University contestants. The deadline for entries is October 15,
2004.
All Armenian or part-Armenian students are eligible. Only unpublished
entries will be accepted. The winner in each category will be awarded
$250.00, provided from the income of a special fund established by Mr. &
Mrs. James G. Jameson of Brookline, MA.
The essays should be written in English and have a length of 1,000 to 2,000
words. A contestant is allowed no more than one entry per year, and no more
than one member of a family may receive an award in a five-year period. If
no submitted essay is considered sufficiently meritorious, no award will be
granted that year.
Entries and/or inquiries should be directed to: AMAA – James G. Jameson
Essay Contest – 31 West Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652.
**************************************************************************
3 – Canadian Armenians Join
Cosmic Ray Division Family
LIVERMORE, CA – On Sept. 3, an enthusiastic group of Canadian-Armenians
gathered at the home of Virginia and Haig Misakyan to listen to a
presentation about the Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) of the Yerevan Physics
Institute in Armenia by Anahid Yeremian. The chairperson of the Support
Committee for Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division (SCACRD), with chapters in
California, Michigan, and New England, explained the vision of CRD head
Prof. Chilingarian.
“Prof. Chilingarian feels that Armenia has the ability to be an
international leader in certain aspects of science and cosmic ray physics
and space weather forecasting is one of those areas”, she emphasized to a
fascinated audience.
“Indeed every time I have the opportunity to talk about the CRD, I am
myself awed at the accelerated progress this group of outstanding and
dedicated scientists, technicians, students and support personnel makes
under the leadership of Prof. Chilingarian”, says Yeremian.
“During the five-year partnership of the Diaspora (through SCACRD) with the
CRD we have witnessed unbounded accomplishments by them. Today because of
the CRD, Armenia leads the world in the ground based research aspect of
Space Weather forecasting, winning international recognition at the United
Nations’ World Summit for Information Society in December of 2003.”
Articles in the US’s New Scientist and Science Magazine featured reports on
the impressive work being done by the CRD in Armenia, Yeremian noted.
The cosmic ray station at 10,500 ft elevation on Mt. Aragats in Armenia was
founded in 1943 by the visionary physicists, Artem and Abaraham Alikhanian.
Later a second station at 6500 ft was constructed.
The stations have an extensive infrastructure and are manned year round.
The Aragats Space Environmental Center (ASEC), also headed by Prof.
Chilingarian, was established at these cosmic ray stations in 2001. The
ASEC is a valuable partner in the world-wide network of space weather
research organizations such as the European Space Agency, the U. S.
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency, the international network of
neutron monitors and solar neutron telescopes.
CRD’s strategic geographic location (latitude and altitude) maximizes the
chance for the detection of those few very high energy, early arriving
particles which warn of the onset of severe space weather. This information
is a very important piece of the space weather puzzle.
“It is exciting for us, Armenians, that the CRD leads the world in the
ground-based aspect of the research and development in this field, ”
Yeremian said. “It is doubly exciting for the SCACRD and the Diaspora
friends who have and continue their unwavering support of the CRD,
financial and otherwise.
“We welcome the SCACRD – Canada chapter and the Canadian Diaspora to our
fold. We also thank the US SCACRD chapters in California, Michigan, and New
England for their continued activity. We thank the AESA chapters in
Glendale and Michigan, and the Bay Area Friends of Armenia for accepting
contributions specially designated for the CRD.
“We also thank other Diaspora organizations who continue to support the CRD
in various ways: AAA, ANC, all AESA chapters, ARS, ATG, FAR, KoV, UAF,
various churches and schools, and the Hairenik Bookstore in Watertown,”
Yeremian emphasized, adding her thanks to the “individual Diaspora members
who have caught the vision of Prof. Chilingarian and continue to stay with
us on this exciting ride. Most of all we thank the 80 dedicated scientists,
technicians and students of the CRD who stay in Armenia and contribute to
our motherland’s accelerated development with their talents.”
For more information about the CRD, their research, and how to help, visit

**************************************************************************
4 – Armenian-Americans Join ‘Sudan:
Day of Conscience’ in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO – Armenian-American community members joined hands with
others at San Francisco’s Civic Center to raise public awareness on Aug. 25
about continuing massacres in Sudan. The event, called “Sudan: Day of
Conscience” was organized by the Save Darfur Coalition in tandem with
several other organizations, including the Bay Area Armenian National
Committee, the Interfaith Council, Human Rights Watch, the Jewish Community
Relations, and the United Muslims of America. Local Armenian priests from
the St. Gregory and St. John churches also participated it the rally.
In light of the escalating violence and the looming threat of genocide in
Sudan, representatives spoke about the desperate need for united action on
all levels-regionally, statewide, nationwide, and globally.
Referring to the recent past, they illustrated the destructiveness of
international blindness to gross violations of human rights. Over fifty
thousand have died and over a million have been driven from their homes.
Only in the past few weeks have humanitarian agencies had limited access to
a portion of the affected region.
Representing the Armenian National Committee, Haig Baghdassarian spoke to
the several hundred people gathered about the Armenian Genocide and traced
the bloody history of the 20th century, pointing to the genocides which
followed and condemning international reluctance to take action. “When
will we learn that we cannot tolerate this to happen time and time again?
Perhaps not until, we, as Americans, can tell our Turkish allies, that
although we may be friends, we will not allow them to deny history and
escape with impunity for the murder of a nation. And perhaps, not until,
we as Americans can come to terms with our own bloody past – and the
destruction of the indigenous peoples of America.”
Rev. Fr. Avedis Torossian, pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church,
and Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, pastor of St. John Armenian Apostolic Church
were also present to express their solidarity with the “Sudan: Day of
Conscience.”
The peaceful collaboration of the representatives of the Armenian community
with those of the Jewish, Cambodian, and Rwandan communities demonstrated
how the one common aspect of these groups’ histories can unite them in
trying to prevent genocide from becoming a dark chapter in the lives and
history of another people.
**************************************************************************
5- Musa Dagh Descendants in Fresno
Celebrate Epic Battle Against Turks
FRESNO – During the Labor Day weekend, Sept 4 & 5, over 400 Musa Daghtsi
Armenians and Friends congregated at the Fresno Fairgrounds to commemorate
the Forty Days of Musa Dagh. The event was organized by the Regional
Committee of Musa Dagh Patriotic Union.
The preparation of the traditional Musa Dagh meal of “Herissa” was held
Saturday, followed by dinner and Armenian Dances, with live music, to which
almost every one, old and young danced.
During the Sunday morning Mass in the hall of the Fresno Fairgrounds, the
traditional blessing of the Herissa took place. All present were invited to
partake in this traditional meal, followed by more Armenian dances and
festivities.
The keynote English speaker of the day was Dr. Jason H. Keledjian, who
spoke eloquently about “Why We Can’t Forget ‘The Forty Days of Musa Dagh’.”
[…What’s the significance of this?” Keledjian asked rhetorically. “After
the genocide, Armenians from their historic towns and villages in Turkey
congregated together in various parts of Syria and Lebanon. These Arab
cities became a melting pot for the new Armenian culture, much like America
is a melting pot of cultures from around the world. The Armenians started
to share their music, their food, and other traditions with each other.
And from that, they lost some of the things that made them unique within
the Armenian culture, and they lost some of the things that were passed
down from generation to generation. However, there are a few exceptions.
Musa Ler was one of the few villages that remained intact, thus preserving
our own unique cultural practices and traditions. As a result, what we are
celebrating here this weekend includes our food, our dances, our music, our
language, and other traditions that we Musa Lertsis have done for hundreds
of years.
“Do not let the events that took place in Jebel Mousa 89 years ago, go to
waste. If we forget to remember, if we forget to celebrate, and most
importantly, if we fail to teach our children and grandchildren the
importance and the significance of what happened, then the events that took
place will be permanently forgotten. My friends, my family, it all starts
with us. The responsibility is in our hands,” the US-born Dr. Keledjian
said.
Guests and musicians celebrated the remembrance of Musa Dagh, after the
blessing of the Herissa by Rev. Fr. Nareg Shrikian, and Rev. Fr. Papken der
Manuelian.
**************************************************************************
6 – Telethon 2004
Scheduled for
Thanksgiving Day
GLENDALE – The Board of Armenia Fund, Inc. (AFI) began its kick-off
activities for Telethon 2004 on Sept. 16 with the unveiling of the official
logo for the “Telethon 2004 -Make it Happen,” at the Glendale Studios. The
logo/theme was designed by Los Angeles artist Vahe Fattal.
The Telethon 2004 is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25 from 8 a.m. to
8 p.m. (PST). The live broadcast will air throughout the United States,
Europe, South America, the CIS and the Middle East.
The goal of the program is to raise $12.5 million to complete the remaining
56 miles of the North-South “Backbone” Highway in Karabagh. Upon
completion, the $25 million, 105-mile highway will link 150 towns and
villages and provide crucial economic, trade and development opportunities
for Karabagh. Telethon 2004 will also provide continued assistance in
health care, education and infrastructure development in Armenia and
Karabagh.
The broadcast will feature live entertainment by various Armenian
performers, interviews with numerous celebrities and political leaders,
development and construction footage from Armenia and Karabagh, stories of
individuals impacted by AFI projects, as well as phone back with 50
operators and volunteers.
Over the past decade, the Diaspora has played a vital and integral role in
building a bright future for Armenia and Karabagh,” said AFI Chairperson
Maria Mehranian. “This year we are commited to producing an innovative,
quality program that symbolizes the collaborative efforts, dedication and
spirit of our communities.”
Telethon 2004 will be also available in full-motion webcast on
Internet users will able to view and make secure
contributions online.
For more information on Armenia Fund, Telethon 2004, contact Sarkis
Kotanjian at (818) 243-6222.
**************************************************************************
7 – Bay Area Debut
Of Gor Mkhitarian
Set for Oct. 16
SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area debut of award-winning world music star, Gor
Mkhitarian, will take place Oct. 16 at the Condor Club, 300 Columbus Ave.,
San Francisco, announced Mosaix magazine publisher Tamar Kevonian.
Mkhitarian is a trailblazer in the emerging post-Soviet music scene.
“Yeraz,” his first solo CD released in 2002, fused ancient Armenian folk
music with modern rock sounds. The innovative combination quickly garnered
global attention, winning him acclaim from all over the world as well as
accolades such as “best alternative rock singer” and “best world music
album.”
“We can’t wait to introduce Gor’s music to San Francisco,” says Kevonian.
“The magazine likes to support artists and musicians, who reflect our core
beliefs that we have a vibrant, colorful culture, emerging through the art
of a new generation of Armenians, and re-defining what we think of as
Armenian culture in a modern context.”
Advance tickets and group rates are available for Gor Mkhitarian’s debut
concert and CD release party in San Francisco. The musician will perform
selections from his highly-anticipated new album, “Episodes.” Copies of his
previous albums combining ethnic folk songs from the East with the sounds
of western rock are available through Virgin Records, Amazon.com
********************************************************
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Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted
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authorship.

South Caucasus countries not ready to become EU members, official says

Mediamax news agency
19 Sep 04

Yerevan, 19 September: European Commission President Romano Prodi
considers it “impossible” to speak today about prospects and possible
terms of the three South Caucasus countries’ membership of the
European Union [EU], Romano Prodi told a joint news conference with
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in Yerevan today.

The president of the European Commission said that he had seen that
the South Caucasus countries “strongly wish to be close to Europe, to
be part of the European family”. However, Prodi continued, “great
historical disagreements” are very strong in the region.

He stressed that it was necessary to iron out these disagreements for
the full-fledged integration into Europe.

Prodi said that despite the large financial and technical aid which
the EU has been rendering to the countries of the region since they
gained their independence, today the South Caucasus is still facing
serious challenges. “You have a long and hard way to go,” Romano Prodi
said.

Romano Prodi noted that after including Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan into the EU’s New Neighbourhood policy, the European
Commission started to work on a report on each of the three
countries. An individual action plan has been prepared on the basis of
the report. In this connection, Prodi noted, representatives of the
European Commission and national governments will work jointly on this
document “so that each of these countries can include their priorities
into the Individual Action plan”.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that Romano Prodi’s
visit was “a very serious signal” of the EU’s readiness to deepen and
expand cooperation with the South Caucasus countries.

Azeri soldier wounded in Armenian truce violation

ANS TV, Baku
16 Sep 04

[Presenter] Armenia continues its aggression against Azerbaijan. The
Armenian armed forces fired on the village of Orta Qislaq in Agdam
District from the Armenian-occupied village of Sixlar in the same
district at about 1815 [1215 gmt] today. As a result of the fire from
large-calibre guns, soldier Ismayil Nabiyev who was called to military
service from Bilasuvar District in 2003 was wounded. According to
a report from the Karabakh bureau of ANS, he received two gunshot
wounds to his legs. The soldier is now at the Saricali hospital. The
Defence Ministry press service has not yet confirmed the report.

[Passage omitted: reported details]

Let us go over to the front-line now. Sahin Rzayev, an ANS
correspondent in Karabakh, is on the line. Good evening, Sahin. Where
exactly are you? What is the situation like there?

[Correspondent, by phone] Good evening, Aytan. We are now in the
village of Qapanli in Tartar District. According to local residents,
Armenians have stepped up activities over the past three days. This
village borders on the occupied village of Seyidsuvanli in Agdara
District. The distance between the villages is about 200 to 300
metres. According to the residents, Armenians have been subjecting
the village to intensive fire over the past three days. The Armenians
fired on the village for about 15 minutes at about 2200 [1800 gmt]
yesterday [15 September]. The case was repeated today. The enemy
again fired on the village from large-calibre guns for 10-15 minutes
at about 1915 [1515 gmt]. The Armenian positions are located higher
than the positions in Qapanli. For this reason, they can clearly see
the village. The village is fenced in order to protect it from the
enemy fire.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

[Presenter] Thanks Sahin.

Voice of America News
September 13, 2004

RADIO SCRIPTS – BACKGROUND REPORT 5-55828

IMMIGRANT STORIES

by MIKE O’SULLIVAN

TEXT: LOS ANGELES

Immigrant Autobiographies Recount Turbulent Lives

INMTR: The United States is a nation of immigrants and each one has a
story. Many of their stories are compelling. Mike O’Sullivan spoke to
two immigrants who have published their autobiographies to share
their personal tales of hardship and triumph.

Susanne Reyto (RAY-toh) was born in Nazi-occupied Hungary near the
end of the Second World War. Her Jewish family survived the Holocaust
with the help of two diplomats, Raoul Wallenberg of Sweden and Carl
Lutz of Switzerland, who issued diplomatic papers to save tens of
thousands of Jews from the Nazi death camps. But no sooner were the
Nazis gone when a Soviet-backed regime was installed to replace it.

Her father was a successful businessman who suffered persecution
again under the communists, losing his home and business. The family
would spend 29 months in a prison camp, then witness the failed 1956
Hungarian revolution against the Soviet Union. In 1957, the family
escaped Hungary and made its way to Australia, and later came to the
United States, settling in Los Angeles.

Ms. Reyto says her grandson, who was studying the Second World War,
asked her to talk about her experiences with his school class. She
did, and later repeated the talk.

[REYTO ACT]

“I spoke to all of the eighth-grade classes at that time, and I
realized how much of a transformation the children experienced,
especially a few days later when I received their “thank you” notes.
And one of the little girls said, Mrs. Reyto, I think you should
write a book so everybody else can listen to your stories, not only
us.”

[END ACT]

That suggestion and a later visit to Hungary cemented her decision to
put her story in writing.

[OPT] On a trip to Budapest, she visited a museum called the House of
Terror. Located in a former prison and secret police headquarters, it
documented the events of Ms. Reyto’s childhood: the persecution under
the Nazis, the confiscation of her home by the communist government,
and the prison camps.

With the help of those documents, and recollections of her mother,
[END OPT] she published her story this year in a book called “Pursuit
of Freedom.”

Eighty-four year-old Yervand Markarian has a very different story,
with a similar happy ending. Mr. Markarian was born to an Armenian
family in the Chinese city of Harbin. Located near the border of the
newly formed Soviet Union, in 1920 the Chinese city was home to
expatriate White Russians who were fleeing the Bolsheviks, and
Armenians who had fled persecution in Turkey.

As a young man, he would join the French army to fight against the
Nazis. To his surprise, he ended up in French Indochina, modern-day
Vietnam, fighting communist insurgents for the French Foreign Legion.

After the war, he worked as a policeman in the French concession of
Shanghai, then joined his father-in-law running two Russian
restaurants.

[OPT]

After the war, the restaurants thrived, but survived only briefly
after the communists took power in 1949. Mr. Markarian recounts, it
was soon apparent the new regime would not be good for business.
Officials visited to ensure that none of the married customers was
having romantic liaisons.

[MARKARIAN ACT]

“Or they would come up to a couple that would say, yes, we are
married. (The officials would ask) do you come often to such a
restaurant? Well, two or three times a week. How much do you spend?
So much. How much do you make a week? So much. Well, we think you can
afford another 10 percent of your salary to the state.”

[END ACT]

[OPT]

Branded as capitalists, some of Mr. Markarian’s business
acquaintances committed suicide. Others like him eked out a living
until they were able to leave. In 1951, he settled with five family
members in Brazil.

Unable to speak Portuguese, he faced new hardships, but he finally
found work in the Ford Motor Company’s Brazilian operation.
Eventually he took his family to the United States, were he also
worked for Ford.

Mr. Markarian would build a successful business on Hollywood’s Sunset
Boulevard, where he recreated his Shanghai restaurant called Kavkaz.
It soon became popular with film stars and directors.

[MARKARIAN ACT]

“Roman Polanski, Dan Duryea, Simone Signore, Peter Ustinov.”

[END ACT]

[OPT] Celebrity patrons also included the actor Omar Sharif, oil
magnate Armand Hammer, and singer Barbra Streissand. [END OPT]

Mr. Markarian recounts his tale in a self-published book called
“Kavkaz,” named after his popular restaurants.

The two immigrants say that despite their early hardships, they have
kept their optimism. They are both effusive about the opportunities
and freedom they have found in their new country. Mrs. Reyto adds
that she is sharing a message.

[REYTO ACT]

“My message or theme is inspiration, the power of positive thinking,
and hope and dream for a better tomorrow. And without that, we just
can’t survive. And in the worst of times, there are always decent
people in the world.”

[END ACT]

There is always, she says, light at the end of the tunnel.

The author says she has learned to take control of difficult
situations because it is always possible to change them. (Signed)

Armenian officers not given visas to attend NATO drills in Azerbaijan

ANS TV, Baku
13 Sep 04

[Presenter] NATO exercises start in Baku today. However, it is
still unclear whether Armenian officers will attend the exercises or
not. Aleksey Manvelyan, a BBC correspondent in Yerevan, quoted the head
of the Armenian Defence Ministry press service, Seyran Shakhsuvaryan,
as saying that the Armenians will not come to Azerbaijan.

[Manvelyan, by phone, in Azeri] According to the latest reports,
the Armenian officers will not attend the NATO military exercises due
in Azerbaijan today. Five officers of the Armenian armed forces have
been waiting for a decision from the Azerbaijani embassy in Tbilisi
since last week in order to visit Azerbaijan. According to a report
we received today, the Armenian officers have not been allowed to
visit Baku. The press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry,
Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, said that US representatives in NATO had been
tackling the issue of visas for the Armenian officers.

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is to meet NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels on 13 September to
discuss the Azerbaijani decision not to allow the Armenian officers
to attend the exercises, Armenian news agency Mediamax reported on
the 13th (Yerevan, in Russian 0520 gmt).]

AZERBAIJANI EMBASSY IN GEORGIA REFUSES TO GRANT VISA FOR ARMENIAN OFFICERS

ANS
2004-09-09 18:36

Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia has not replied positively to Armenian
officers â^À^Ù request regarding visa to attend NATO training
in Baku. We donâ^À^Ùt recognize that state and are not going
to grant them visas says Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia Ramiz
Hasanov. Armenian officers may also get visas from Azerbaijani
embassies in Turkey, Russia and Iran. Ambassador to Russia Ramiz
Rzayev said they have not received any application concerning visa
adding that it was up to foreign ministry to determine whether
to give or not. Form embassy in Turkey we were also recommended
to get in touch with foreign ministry. In his turn chief of press
service of interior ministry Matin Mirza said he had no information
regarding visa granting to Armenian officers. Foreign minister Elmar
Mammadyarov had stated earlier that official had put demands before
NATO not to invite more than three Armenians to the training. We
shall not allow Armenian side to be presented in the training as a
troop or a unit. Mr. Mammadyarov didnâ^À^Ù t exclude Armenians
not to participate in the training either.