Author: Karagyozian Lena

FASSIER: KARABAKH PEOPLE ENGAGED IN TALKS IN A WAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2008 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs are perfectly aware
of the position of Nagorno Karabakh authorities, French intermediary
Bernard Fassier told a news conference in Yerevan today.

"We are frequent visitors to Stepanakert and it would be incorrect to
say that NK is completely excluded from the negotiation process. The
people of Karabakh are engaged in talks in a way," he said.

"Representatives of Nagorno Karabakh will be at bargaining table
sooner or later, I repeat," Ambassador Fassier stated.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF IRAN

The Ambassador of Iran to Lebanon, H.E. Mohammad-Reza Sheibani, visited His
Holiness Aram I in Antelias on November 15. Upon the Pontiff’s return from
an official trip to Iran, the Ambassador came to hail the great impression
he left on the religious and government circles in Iran particularly through
his constructive participation in the third Christian-Muslim dialogue
conference.

The Ambassador and His Holiness discussed the themes examined by the
conference, the challenges shared by Christianity and Islam and issues
related to the Armenian community of Iran.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

IF TURKEY IS HONEST

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
14 Nov 08
Armenia

Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus
Marios Garoyani says: "Turkey behaves in such a way as if the Genocide
of the 1.5 million Armenians of 1915 hasn’t occurred. How can we
consider Turkey a peace-loving state, which can guarantee peace in
the South Caucasian region?

If Turkey is honest it must firstly open its borders with Armenia
unconditionally, establish diplomatic relations and recognize the
crime of the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey must change its policy and try to comply with all the principles
and values of the European standards. But Turkey doesn’t comply with
any pre-condition. Sometimes there is an impression that it is the
European Union that wants to become Turkey member country.

EU, RUSSIA TO DISCUSS SITUATION IN CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2008 14:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union’s relations with Russia will be
under the spotlight in the south of France today as efforts are made
to rekindle the relationship between Moscow and Brussels.

"I applaud the efforts that the French president is making to set
up a full-scale, productive, long-term, profitable dialogue between
Russia and the EU. We want exactly this kind of relationship with the
Union and we think this is exactly what both Russia and Europe need,"
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

Although the summer war in Georgia opened up a schism between Russia
and the West, talks are now resuming in Nice on a strategic treaty.

EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said:
"Russia is a very important geopolitical actor, so we want to,
of course, have a dialogue with Russia. But, at the same time,
this does not mean that we change our position on, for instance,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It was disproportionate, the way Russia
has answered in Georgia."

Lithuania is opposed to the resumption of talks. But the EU knows
it is hostage to crucial Russian energy supplies. Brussels is now
planning a new electricity network and new European-run gas pipelines,
Euronews reports.

IT IS NAGORNY KARABAKH’S TURN TO COMMENT ON DECLARATION SIGNED IN MOSCOW: RUSSIAN EXPERT

ArmInfo
2008-11-13 15:28:00

ArmInfo. ‘Declaration on Karabakh’ that was signed by Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents in Moscow has become one of the key subjects
of regional political discussions. After Azerbaijan and Armenian
politicians and experts and the ‘interested’ parties in the USA, Russia
and EU, have commended on the issue, Nagorny Karabakh should comment
on the topic, Sergey Markedonov , Ph.D. (Hist.), head, department of
ethnic relationships, Institute of Political and Military Analysis,
told ArmInfo.

‘One can perceive this de-facto formation in the South Caucasus in
different ways. It is the only fully unrecognized republic since
Russia has recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia. One can recognize
its existence as reality like OSCE MG mediators do or US congressmen
who allocate not big funds for implementation of social projects
inside Nagorny Karabakh Republic. One can deny NKR people’s right to
existence like Azerbaijan and Turkey (less willingly) do considering it
just occupation of ‘Azerbaijani original lands’ by Armenia’, he said.

However, he said, in case of any other approach to the phenomenon of
Nagorny Karabakh, it is evident that the settlement of the protracted
confrontation is impossible without the stance of Stepanakert, this
‘shady’ participant in the conflict and the peace process.

‘By the way, a number of experts in Azerbaijan come out for a dialogue
of Baku and their citizens, Armenians by origin, since in compliance
with Azerbaijani legislation, Nagorny Karabakh is party of Azerbaijan
and the people residing there must be theoretically considered as
part of the state’, Markedonov said.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

A LECTURE ON ARMENIAN HYMNS IN THE SEMINARY

It has become a habit to hold cultural evening in the Seminary of Fridays.
The first such event for this academic year was held on the evening of
November 7 in the "Prapion Doumanian" hall of the Seminary. The Grand
Sacristan of Cathedral in Antelias, Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, delieved a
lecture on "the Hymns of the Armenian Church".

Speaking about Armenian hymns in his opening remarks, Deacon Serj Tinkdjian
said: "Hymns are generally well integrated into our Church’s services and
rites. They are bridges that lead us to various spiritual heights by
creating an atmosphere of prayer." Tinkdjian briefly presented the
Archbishop and invited him to deliver his lecture.

Archbishop Ohanian spoke in detail about the style of writing of hymns,
their content, their musical uniqueness throughout different periods. The
Archbishop focused on the theological depth of the hymns, the principles of
the Armenian Church, which have been incorporated in the hymns in a poetic
style.

The Archbishop also emphasized the importance of performance, both in terms
of music and spirit, advising Seminary students to perform the hymns to full
precision in order to inspire the faithful.

The closing remarks were delivered by the Deacon, Bishop Shahe Panossian,
who thanked Archbishop Ohanian on behalf of the Seminary students and its
management. "Hymns teach us language, literature, The Holy Gospel, a taste
in singing, music; we can talk to God through them," he said.

##
View photo here:
tos/Photos327.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Theological
Seminary of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

BRANTFORD BOYS, DEAD AND WOUNDED; YOUNGEST CASUALTY PASSED UP A CHANCE TO GO HOME
By Vincent Ball

Brantford Expositor
November 8, 2008 Saturday
Ontario

Private Sam Chickegian was the youngest Brantford man to die fighting
for Canada in the First World War.

He was the 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Chickegian, an Armenian
couple who had come to Canada from their homeland in 1907. They moved
to Alfred Street, Brantford from St. Catharines and Sam ran away from
home to enlist with the Canadian Expeditionary Force overseas.

He was in France when it was learned that he was just 15 and he was
given the opportunity to return home.

In a letter to his parents Sam told them he was in the best of health.

"The officer called me up and asked me about the letter you wrote
him. He asked me if I wanted to go back, but I said ‘No.’ I know you
must be worried mother, but there is no use trying to get me to quit
when I’ve come so far. I am going to do my share."

His war experience is just one of many fascinating stories of the
First World War that either originated in Brantford or was somehow
connected to the city.

The story of the "the Crucified Canadian’ also has a Brantford
connection, however slight.

DISAGREEMENT

The alleged incident, which remains a subject of disagreement today,
was said to have occurred during the second battle of Ypres when a
Canadian soldier, thought to be about 24 years of age, was pinned to
a barn door by bayonets.

One was through his left shoulder and another through his right
shoulder. Two other bayonets were alleged to have been thrust through
his legs and directly through the lower parts of his body.

A Canadian soldier who allegedly pulled him down suggested the
crucified soldier appeared to be a sergeant from the medical service
and was possibly from Brantford. At some point, the victim was
identified as Sgt. Thomas Elliott, of Brantford.

Elliott himself put an end to that story with a letter he wrote to
the Rev. J. W. Gordon, pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
in Brantford.

The letter, dated Oct. 16, 1915, says, "I have no doubt your would
read of my supposed death in the Courier some time ago. Well really,
Mr. Gordon, I read it myself and I was surprised to know that I had
been so much in the limelight.

"I quite understand that similar atrocities have been committed
by those who are against us, but if I can do anything to avoid it,
they are not going to nail me up to a door. I mean to avoid such an
uncomfortable experience if I can….."

The Germans, at the time, protested that the alleged incident never
happened. Nonetheless it was used as propaganda by the Allies afterward
to boost support for the Allied effort.

Private Kenneth Lawrence was an American by birth but when the First
World War broke out he was living at 71 Gilkison St. in Brantford.

He was fighting in France and was one of the last Canadian soldiers
to be wounded during the First World War. He was wounded at about
10:45 a. m. on Nov. 11, 1918 – 15 minutes before the Armistice,
which had been signed at 5 a. m. that same day, came into effect.

Lawrence recovered from his wounds and survived the war. He returned
to Brantford and married Eva Frey in the fall of 1921. Lawrence was a
watchmaker and the couple moved with a child named Earnest to Buffalo,
New York, in 1924.

IPS-Inter Press Service.
ABKHAZIA: Why This Is the Breakaway Republic
By Apostolis Fotiadis

SOKHUMI, Abkhazia, Nov 10 (IPS) – The Russian city of Adler, at the southern
edge of the country on the Black sea coast, is the only gateway that has
kept Abkhazia connected to the rest of the world during 16 years of
isolation since the Abkhazian-Georgian war of 1992.

Security is tight at the Psou checkpoint just outside Adler. Border police
often question travellers at length, and vehicles are searched. Abkhazians
cross in and out of Russia through this point using their old Soviet or
Russian passports given to them after the war.

Troubled Abkhazia lies on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, with Russia to
the north and Georgia to the east. The 8,432 square kilometre territory
looks like a small islet next to its giant rival, Georgia, which spans
69,700 square kilometres. That official figure includes Abkhazia. The
official Georgian population figure of 4.5 million also includes Abkhazians.

Back in 1992 Abkhazia demanded independence from the Georgian republic,
which was implementing a harsh ethnic policy. Then Georgian president and
former Soviet minister for foreign affairs Eduard Shevardnadze responded
with a military crackdown. Abkhazians resisted with the support of Russian
paramilitaries and fighters of other Caucasian ethnic origin, mostly
Ossetians and Chechens.

The majority in the Caucasus region backed Abkhazia’s struggle for
independence because it reflected similar hopes of their own. And Russia
defended Abkhazia against what were seen as enemy political interests in its
traditional sphere of influence.

Gross violations of human rights were reported on both sides during the
conflict. Georgian forces withdrew in September 1993, followed by a mass
exodus of more than 200,000 Georgians.

Abkhazia became a breakaway region but never received international
recognition. Post-war poverty and lawlessness caused by isolation and the
absence of state structures reduced living standards further. Many left.

The last Soviet census of 1989 estimated Abkhazia’s population at 560,000. A
2003 census put the number at 215,972. Capital Sokhumi had about 125,000
inhabitants before the war; today it has about 60,000 officially, but locals
say there are no more than 40,000.

The deeper you travel into Abkhazia, the more the scars of isolation become
visible everywhere.

Along the 90 kilometres of recently renovated road from the checkpoint to
Sokhumi between the Black Sea coast and the Caucasus cliffs, what were once
extravagant resorts and glamorous dachas stand deserted, in the midst of
amazing natural diversity and beauty. These are remnants of Abkhazia’s past
as a leisure destination of the Tsars, 19th century nobles, and then of
senior party members during the communist era. With such visitors came
prosperity and a cosmopolitan plurality of ethnic Russians, Armenians and
Greeks-Pontiacs.

"What you are looking at will not help you understand what the place looked
like before. Stalin himself maintained 36 dachas around the region," says
Giorgi Hachev, one of the few ethnic Greeks left in Abkhazia, driving on the
road to Sokhumi.

Hachev believes that the summer war in South Ossetia has brought a new era.
Georgia has now lost all influence after its military withdrew completely
from the region. Only a small minority of Georgians are left.

The European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE, a pan-European security organisation) and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) recognise Abkhazia as only an integral part of the
territory of Georgia. But Russia’s recognition on Aug. 26 of the
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions from
Georgia proper, followed by Nicaragua, has altered the status of the region.

Maxim Gundjia, Abkhazia’s deputy foreign minister, says this has not just
encouraged the domestic population, but has invited new interest from
foreign business interests.

"Developing economic relationships with other partners when you are an
unrecognised country is very problematic, but soon we anticipate recognition
from more South Asian and Latin American countries, and I am positive that
things will gradually improve," he told IPS. "We are also in close contact
with Singapore, which is interested in undertaking a huge property
development project here."

Gundjia does not downplay the challenges ahead. "We estimate the number of
unemployed to be around 40,000 but many of them are involved in the informal
market. Tax claim remains low, but it is important that 49 percent of the
population lives in rural areas, and to a great extent uses its land and
cattle to cover subsistence needs."

One problem that has arisen is restoration of property to returning
Russians, Armenians and Greeks who have found their houses taken by
Abkhazians. This is emerging as a significant challenge to the frail
judicial system, besides causing distress to the minorities.

Gundjia says many believe that Georgia is preparing for another war. But
this seems unlikely as long as Russian forces remain deployed in Abkhazia.

That is not necessarily reassuring to all Abkhazians. "Russians did not
protect us because they are in love with Abkhazia and Ossetia," Leon
Adzhindzhel, member of the local Foundation for Independent Expertise, and
an expert on regional issues told IPS. "Their rapid and massive involvement
in Southern Caucasus has been very costly; 74 billion dollars of capital
flew from Russia during the war last summer, but it was necessary in order
to avoid an explosion in the Northern Caucasus."

Northern Caucasus, where many autonomous republics of the Russian Federation
such as Northern Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria and
Dagestan are situated, remains a highly volatile region. Paused conflicts
and quasi-civil wars between pro-Russian elites and separatists loom in many
of them.

Adzhindzhel believes Georgia launched the aggression in order to provoke the
dormant ethnic conflicts in the Northern Caucasus. "If fighting had carried
on too long, the Caucasus would explode. Imagine that the day after
Georgia’s attack, Ossetian newspapers went out saying that Russia betrayed
Ossetia."

For now Russia has responded and has tamed its geopolitical opponents. But
the challenge of breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment
without selling off the beauty of the region and the fortune of locals to
big business interests is going to be a difficult one.

WHAT OBAMA’S WIN MEANS TO TURKS AND THE WORLD
Asli Aydintasbas

Forbes
Nov 7 2008
NY

Istanbul, Turkey – Fatma, our cleaning lady, walked in yesterday–all
smiles and with a newspaper in hand. "He won. That dark guy made it!"

Fatma is from a remote village in the Black Sea region of Turkey and
moved to the big city here only a few years ago for her children’s
education. "My son–9-years-old–was saying [Barack Obama] is just
like us. They showed pictures from his village, and his family has
just one cow and are really poor."

For Fatma, the new U.S. president is also from poor village stock and
came to the big city and made it against all odds. When her two sons
watched the American election results, there was an understanding
that they, too, could grow up to become presidents here in Turkey–a
message that somehow was never communicated so openly to a Turkish kid.

Of course, Barack Obama hardly has anything in common with Fatma, or
with thousands of Turks cheering his election victory on Tuesday. He
also doesn’t have that much in common with the millions of Middle
Easterners, Europeans, Chinese or South Asians who are jubilant about
his election. But somehow, a black American with a Muslim middle name
and a unique family history elected to the highest office in United
States, against all odds, has come to personify the individual dreams
of people around the world.

A good friend tells me he came home to find his mother sobbing with
joy at Obama’s victory. Another friend said she put her 4-year-old
daughter to bed explaining about the new president-elect and how the
world will be a better place from now on.

"Wow," I think when I hear these stories. It has been so long
since people talked about anything American in loving terms. Here
in Turkey–a longtime U.S. ally–anti-Americanism skyrocketed with
the Iraq war and the subsequent upsurge in Kurdish terrorism, and it
seemed there was almost nothing the Bush administration could do to
reverse that trend. Global anti-Americanism was not solely due to an
unpopular George Bush at the White House, but also due to annoyance
at the American public for twice electing him. From global warming to
inflation, it seemed that Turks, Europeans and Muslims were willing
to blame America for all their ills.

But is it possible that this trend has changed overnight? Why are
people sobbing about Obama’s victory if they hated the United States
a minute ago? One wonders if there is something Freudian about the
need to disown a parent so that you can love him again. The world
has been angry at the U.S. for so long that it suddenly feels like
hugging a sibling that you, unwillingly and out of hurt feelings,
had stopped talking to.

At the more official level, Turkey hoped for a Republican win for fears
that an Obama administration would fulfill a campaign pledge to pass
a law recognizing the 1915 massacres of Armenians in the eastern part
of the Ottoman Empire as "genocide." "Obama will be tough for us,"
a senior member of the government told me last week. "But," he added
ardently, "it would be great for the world."

Despite Ankara’s stance that a McCain win would make Turkish-American
relations smoother, I knew of only one Turk who wasn’t rooting for
Obama–a Turkish-American who said that he too was torn but that
an Obama administration could result in a tumultuous period for
Turkish-U.S. relations.

In the run-up to the elections, I was often interviewed by Turkish
television as a journalist who covered the United States for
years. Most commentators would ask me something that many friends
also asked: "Ah, but even if he is ahead in the polls, would Obama
be ‘allowed’ to win?"–revealing Turkey’s own fears about a darker
invisible hand meddling in the democratic process, as occasionally
happens here.

Right before the polls opened on Election Day, a popular talk show host
looked at me on the air in disbelief "So you think Obama could win, and
you don’t think that there is a deep state in America that decides on
these major national issues?" I looked naive, and almost incredulous,
trying to explain for the umpteenth time that day that if Barack Obama
were elected, it would be largely thanks to the power of the people
who want genuine change in America and in American foreign policy.

Instead, I should have said something more conspiracy-minded, like "If
Obama is elected, it means the American deep state has decided it can
better achieve global domination through him." Maybe that sounds more
convincing than just people-power–in places where people lack power.

Asli Aydintasbas is an Istanbul-based journalist and former Ankara
bureau chief of the newspaper Sabah.

EUROPE BOXING TOURNAMENT STARTED

Panorama.am
19:47 07/11/2008

Europe boxing tournament 2008 started in Liverpool, England. 9
Armenian boxers present our country in the tournament. Hovhannes
Danielyan passed ¼ semi finals in the group of 48kg as he did not
have a rival. Earlier Danielyan was awarded a bronze medal in 48kg
group. Currently Hovhannes Danielyan is to compete with Darran Langley
presenting England to pass to the next round.

Armenia has boxers in 51, 54, and 57 kg groups. Arthur Grigoryan (54kg)
has also been defeated. Another Armenian boxer Edward Hambarcumyan
(64kg) won Ukrainian Danis Lazarev.

–Boundary_(ID_uKZWaii4z7lkAu64KFX6FA)–