Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES BILL "ON FOREIGNERS"

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 5 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. The Armenian Parliament approved in the
first reading the bill "On foreigners". RA Deputy Foreign Minister
Gegham Gharibjanyan said that the bill regulates issues of foreigners’
ingress and egress, stay in and transit through Armenia.

The bill also stipulates the order of employment of foreign citizens.

"The bill is rather flexible and will allow Armenia to promptly and
properly respond to international processes, as well as regulate its
immigration policy," Gharibjanyan said.

He pointed out that the law ensures protection of human rights, and
reflects the judicial practice of the European Court of Human Rights.

"This is of special importance after the European Convention o Human
Rights took effect in Armenia," Gharibjanyan said.

He pointed out that the RA Law "On the legal status of foreign
citizens" adopted in 1994 contains a number of provisions running
counter to the RA Constitution and other laws, as well as to a number
of international agreements.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 4, 2006
___________________

BELLEVILLE PARISH MARKS 50 YEARS

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), traveled to Belleville, IL, on November 12, 2006, to
join the parishioners of the Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Church in
celebrating the 50th anniversary of the parish.

The original parish began in 1956 in East St. Louis, IL, and the community
built its new sanctuary in Belleville in 1978.

"This is an intent and focused community," said the Primate. "They have
created a solid foundation for their community, building a beautiful
sanctuary that is reflected in the spirituality present in their homes."

The Primate celebrated a joyful Divine Liturgy on November 12, which was
followed by a banquet. The night before, he led the blessing of a new
khatchkar from Armenia and memorial garden designed to commemorate the
anniversary.

With the memorial garden, the parish hoped to sell 100 bricks, instead they
sold 227 and raised $67,000, including a generous donation of $20,000 from
Dr. Raffi and Lydia Krikorian.

"That $67,000 is a lot for a small community," said one of the anniversary
celebration organizers, Zabelle Vartanian. "But our parish is very strong
in faith. We’re small in number, but strong in resolve."

One of the exciting aspects of the weekend, Vartanian said, was the make-up
of the committee organizing the events.

"The committee was composed of many of our younger people, the ones that
need to step up to the plate now and take over," she said. "They worked
very hard and we had many younger people in the audience, who were moved.
So now we have to work to make sure that spirit remains and continues."

Joining the Primate at the banquet in Belleville were several clergymen with
ties to the community. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, pastor of the St. Mesrob Church
of Racine, WI, began his ministry as deacon-in-charge of the church in
Belleville. Also attending was Fr. Diran Papazian, who once served as the
visiting pastor of the parish, a duty now performed twice a month by Fr.
Abraham Ohanesian. When he’s not there, the parish’s deacon, George
Marifian, performs services.

The parish has changed and evolved over time as well, moving from its
initial home in East St. Louis and welcoming new waves of immigrants as the
face of the Armenian community in America changed.

Today, the parish is home to a diverse yet small community of about 70
families who regularly attend services.

There is a lot of work and coordination for the small community, but it is
all worth it, Vartanian said. As the parish marked its anniversary,
Vartanian said, the hard work and effort to keep the Armenian Christian
faith alive was worth it even more.

"We’re a very small community and basically a handful of people are there
every week doing most of the work to keep our parish going. So it is a
major accomplishment that the parish has survived," she said. "Our
anniversary is a testimony to the people here who help make sure the church
is maintained."

"In my opinion, and the way I have been nurtured, the church is our home,"
she added. "It is our cultural lifeline. It is not only the religious
home, but it is also the cultural home. People know that to keep our
Armenian culture alive we need the church."

Speaking for the next generation was Nicole Vartanian, who was a guest
speaker of the program and spoke about the importance of maintaining the
Armenian Christian faith and heritage.

— 12/04/06

# # #

RUSSIAN MIL EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTED FROM GEORGIA ACROSS AZERBAIJAN
Tengiz Pachkoria

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 1, 2006 Friday

A train carrying equipment from the Tbilisi-based Russian garrison
left Vaziani, Tbilisi’ suburbs, at 08:00 Moscow time on Friday for
Russia. It took the way across Azerbaijan, a source at the headquarters
of Russian troops in the Trans-Caucasian region said.

It is the second and last train to carry equipment of the garrison
to Russia. The first left on November 23.

Under the agreement, Georgia, together with Russia, ensures equipment
withdrawal safety.

On November 16, a train of the garrison left for Armenia, for the
Russian base in Gyumri.

The garrison property withdrawal from Georgia will be completed on
December 14 when one more train will leave for Gyumri.

The withdrawal is carried out ahead of schedule in accordance with
the Russian Defence Ministry’s decision. A total of 100 units of
machinery, 350 tonnes of equipment and ammunition and 387 servicemen
will be withdrawn. The garrison personnel will be carried by vehicles
from Georgia in the second half of December.

A small group of officers will remain in Georgia to continue their
service at the Russian base in Batumi to complete the withdrawal
of the bases from Akhalkalaki and Batumi. Under the agreements, the
first of them will be closed by October 1, 2007, and the second by
October 1, 2008.

DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO RA ELECTORAL CODE NOT INCLUDED IN AGENDA OF NA AUTUMN SESSION LAST FOUR-DAY SITTINGS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Last four-day sittings of RA
National Assembly autumn session started on December 1. More than 5
bills and legislative packages, as well as 12 international agreements
are on the agenda. Among the latters are RA President’s proposals on
prolonging the term of joining memorandum of mutual understanding On
Management of Multi-national Division Making Part of Iraqi Stabilizing
Forces for one more year and on expediency of stopping the operation
of agreement on CIS Economic Court’s Status for RA. The last proposal
has been once voted down by NA. The draft amendments to the Electoral
Code in second reading is not among issues on the agenda. The draft
was submitted by representatives of all groups and factions, with the
exception of the Ardarutiun (Justice) and National Unity factions. As
Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by main reporter on the draft,
RPA faction member Samvel Nikoyan, the draft was not placed on the
agenda, as the Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues did
not manage to make the respective decision by the beginning of the
four-day session. To all probability, the draft will be discussed
before the special sitting to be convened by the end of the year.

Bill "On RA National Anthem" submitted in second reading by RA
government will be also discussed at the special sitting, as it had not
been submitted to the MPs in the term established by NA Regulations.

A1+

THE ISSUE OF MISSING PERSONS «HAS BECOME A TRADE»
[04:13 pm] 01 December, 2006

The country does nothing in order to clarify the
fates of the missing persons. Moreover, when their
families spare no effort in order to find their
relatives, the country hinders their work. This
statement was made Arthur Sakunts, the head of the
Helsinki Citizens Assembly of Vanadzor, during the
press conference titled `Issue of missing persons in
South Caucasus’.

`The families are given a piece of paper saying that
their son is missing in action. When they try to find
information, they fail. Finally they are forced to
turn to court in order to declare the person dead and
settle social problems’, the lawyer says.

According to the RA Defense Ministry, 213 soldiers are
missing in action after military operations. 130 of
them have already been declared dead by the court. «In
order to find the missing people we need to find out
where they were lost and how. Both Armenia and
Azerbaijan claim their missing soldiers are in the
other country», Arthur Sakunts noted. He thinks that
the two countries are «in a trade», as they assure
they will find the missing soldiers of the other as
soon as the other does the same.

In Georgia the number missing persons is 500, and in
Azerbaijan – 4998. «The Azeris were frank enough to
tell us that the number includes people who have not
participated in military operations but have died of
freezing, etc», Arthur Sakunts said.

On November 24-25 a regional conference has been held
in Vanadzor titled «Issues of missing persons in South
Caucasus». Representatives of Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Armenia and NKR participated in it. The participants
have worked out a joint statement to the heads of the
three countries and international organizations: the
UN, the EU, the OSCE, etc.

ITALY’S BONINO HAILS POPE’S VISIT, SAYS EU "PREVARICATING" OVER TURKEY

Corriere della Sera website, Milan, Italy
Nov 30 2006

Interview with Italian European Affairs Minister Emma Bonino in Rome;

"’Pope? He is Farther-Sighted than Many European Politicians’",
from Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera website on 30 November:

Rome – "Benedict XVI’s visit to Turkey will be historic." Minister
Emma Bonino is convinced of it. The Radical leader, like her party,
has not indulged the pope, but now acknowledges that Ratzinger "is
better able to interpret the world than many European politicians".

[Corriere della Sera] Are you surprised by the pope’s new line?

[Bonino] I am not surprised that Pope Benedict XVI expresses himself
differently from Cardinal Ratzinger: having the responsibilities
of a head of state is different from being a very authoritative
theologian. I welcome the change on his part and think it should
prompt a more visionary outlook on the part of all Europe’s capitals.

[Corriere della Sera] Do you mean that?

[Bonino] Of course, I regret the fact that this message of dialogue is
being imparted by religious authorities and not politicians. I consider
it significant that it is the Vatican itself that realizes that Europe
cannot remain a Catholic fortress, that it is counterproductive to
erect another iron curtain against an entire world, the Muslim world,
because it would ultimately create a non-inclusive and intolerant
society, restricting the scope of democracy, the rule of law, and
human rights observance.

[Corriere della Sera] So is the pope behaving like a politician?

[Bonino] The Vatican has understood the need to clarify the "Regensburg
misunderstanding," partly by means of a clear message to Europe’s
governments: there is no Catholic pretext for what are entirely
political decisions. In this respect it seems to me that the message
conveyed to [Turkish Prime Minister] Erdogan was addressed chiefly to
certain European governments. This, because I see in this detachment
a great deal of cynicism, many electoral calculations, a great deal
of political short-sightedness… The very same that I see when,
out of pure national selfishness, a country blocks a directive on
the certification of Parmesan cheese or fishing quotas, but applied
here to an epoch-making decision, perhaps the most important decision
that Europe has ever made and will ever make. I am astonished by the
pettiness of the arguments and pretexts used, the fears cynically
brought into the debate…

[Corriere della Sera] Indeed the Vatican’s change of course occurs just
as mutual incomprehension is occurring between Europe and Turkey. The
Commission’s decision on the negotiations is no surprise.

[Bonino] Recent history shows a unilateral rapprochement on Turkey’s
part – NATO, the customs union, the launch of EU membership
negotiations. Unfortunately this approach has always been too
problematical. The Commission is proposing a suspension of membership
negotiations on some of the economic chapters. Of course this would
constitute a lull on the political plane. But not a break in the
process. Having said that, I am disappointed and frustrated. It is
47 years since Turkey’s first request to join, and we are still here
prevaricating, after setting criteria, the so-called Copenhagen
criteria, interpreted by Turkey alone, successively introducing
further obstacles such as "absorption capacity" or recognition of
the Armenian massacre…

[Corriere della Sera] So much for Europe’s mistakes. What about Turkey?

[Bonino] Turkey is unfortunately often the worst enemy of its own
national cause, with a tradition of diplomatic inflexibility verging on
the paradoxical. If there are three possible solutions, they generally
choose the one most problematical for the other side. I must say that
things are no better with regard to Cyprus, on the Greek-Cypriot side.

[Corriere della Sera] What role could the Italian Government perform?

[Bonino] That which befalls a major EU government, a friend of
Turkey’s. But we do not make these decisions on our own.

ONE MAN’S BOOK, ANOTHER MAN’S PROMISE
by Khatchig Mouradian

ZNet, MA
Nov 30 2006

It is almost 3 a.m. A minute or so has passed since I turned the
last page of a book that now rests on my table, while I embark on a
journey down memory lane to late 1980s Bourj Hammoud-a Beirut suburb.

I walk up the stairs and knock on the door.

***

While we wait for her to open the door, I want to tell my readers
that back then, she is in her early 90s. I am in my early teens.

A smile greets me and invites me in. Aghavni mayrig is a distant
relative but a close friend of our family. I visit her every now and
then because she is one of the ever-dwindling numbers of old Armenian
women who have a horrible story to tell.

And her story is also mine.

Aghavni mayrig is a survivor of the Yeghern-the Armenian Genocide-the
forced deportations and mass killings executed by the Ottoman
government. A million-and-a-half Armenians fell victim to that massive
campaign of slaughter and grand theft of property in 1915.

The few thousand Armenians who survived found themselves in Syria, and
started to rebuild their lives and that of their nation from scratch.

Today, it is I who has a story for Aghavni mayrig. There is a new
campaign in some countries in Europe and South America to recognize
the Armenian Genocide and call Turkey to face its past. I break the
news to her with such anticipation of her joy-after all, she had lost
almost all members of her extended family and had been waiting for
justice for more than 75 years.

But Aghavni mayrig is not impressed. "Nayir, dghas (Look, my son),"
she says, "Even if the entire world one day unanimously adopts a
resolution recognizing our suffering, it will do little to relieve
my pain. It was the Turks who drove us from our lands, confiscated
all our property, and massacred us like sheep. It is they who must
recognize the horror they committed and compensate."

I promise her that the day Turkey recognizes the Genocide, I will
personally bring her the good news.

She smiles.

***

Aghavni mayrig passed away in 1995.

To this day, the Turkish state invests billions of dollars in
campaigns aimed at vehemently denying that what happened in 1915 was
genocide-the intent to destroy an ethnic group. And, adding insult to
injury, Turkey has begun to accuse the Armenians of killing millions
of muslims. Outside Turkey, very few people believe this ‘official’
thesis. But for the handful of survivors of the genocide, and their
descendents, the wound remains open.

Ever since that day at Aghavni mayrig’s house, I have made the journey
countless times in my mind telling her that Turkey finally recognized
the Genocide. I imagined going to Bourj Hammoud, climbing up the
stairs to her small apartment, knocking on the door and-the moment
she opens the door-telling her "the good news."

The book I was reading was Taner Akcam’s A Shameful Act: The Armenian
Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility (Metropolitan
Books, 2006). Akcam is regarded as the first Turkish-born scholar to
publicly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. His thoroughly researched
book on the history of the Genocide is a must-read-particularly for
every Turkish citizen.

In the last few years, attempts to shatter the taboo of the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey witnessed some success, as more Turkish journalists,
activists and scholars speak our about the massacres of the Armenians,
often risking being jailed and despite threats to their careers and
even their lives. And I have made that journey to Aghavni mayrig’s
apartment more and more often. I make that journey for every Turk
who is courageous enough to recognize his country’s dark past-whether
he lives outside of Turkey, or perhaps in the very house in Anatolia
where Aghavni mayrig was born.

Khatchig Mouradian is a Lebanese-Armenian writer, translator, and
journalist. He is an editor of the daily newspaper Aztag, published
in Beirut. He can be contacted at [email protected] .

VALERI CHECHELASHVILI: TBILISI’S POSITION ON KARABAKH’S REFERENDUM NOT TO DIFFER FROM SOUTH OSSETIA’S

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2006

Georgia is determining its position on the referendum to be held
on December 10 in the so-called Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Valeri
Chechelashvili Georgian Foreign minister told the APA Georgian bureau.

The official said that their position on this referendum will not
differ from South Ossetia’s. The future status of Nagorno Karabakh
is being determined in the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. I
do not think these referendums will produce any results," he said.

UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF DONATIONS FROM ARMENIA

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 28 2006

After the telethon Armenia Foundation continues getting a great number
of donations from companies, organizations and individuals.

The sum of the Armenian donations has reached 2 million dollars. The
executive board of the foundation reports that Armenia has not had such
a high rate in terms of both the sum and the number of participants. In
Armenia, large donations were made by the Copper and Molybdenum Factory
100 million drams, the Ministry of Transport 48 million 125 thousand
drams, Karabakh Telecom 40 million, ASHIB 15 million drams, ACBA Credit
Agricole Bank 25 thousand dollars, Armenian Railroad 11 million drams,
the Central Bank of Armenia 10 million 175 thousand drams, the ministry
of defense and Minister Serge Sargsyan 10 million 500 thousand drams,
Molybden Production 15 thousand dollars, as well as Yerevan Foundation,
Flash Ltd., Anelik Bank, Converse Bank, Unibank 5 million drams
each. Armenia Foundation got 3 million 486 thousand drams from the
regional administration of Lori, 3 million drams from the Republican
Party, Armpost, the National Security Service, Yerevan State Medical
University each, as well as donations from different organizations.

DELEGATION LED BY ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVED IN MINSK

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 28 2006

A delegation led by Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has arrived
in Minsk.

ArmInfo’s special correspondent reports from the capital of Belarus
that in the afternoon local time the meeting of CIS President will
get underway. Then an enlarged meeting will take place. Armenia will
be represented at the enlarged meeting by Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan and Ambassador
of Armenia to Belarus Oleg Yesayan.

Approximately at 4pm local time (6pm Yerevan time), Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev are to
meet at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Minsk.

The foreign ministers of the two states, Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar
Mammedyarov, Foreign Minister of RF Sergey Lavrov, OSCE CIO, Belgian
Foreign Minister Carel de Gucht, as well as OSCE CIO PR for Nagorny
Karabakh, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, will attend the presidential
meeting. Then, Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev will meet vis-a-
vis. The Armenian delegation headed by President Kocharyan will return
to Armenia after the negotiations.