Author: Maghakian Mike

Advertiser Adelaide, Australia
April 16 2005

Turks’ tribute trip angers ethnic groups
By ANDREA STYLIANOU

MEMBERS of five South Australian ethnic communities are angry over a
planned taxpayer-funded Anzac Day visit to Adelaide by Turkish war
veterans.

They are unhappy with Turkey’s “aggressive foreign policy and past
invasions” of their countries.

The groups have demanded to know if any of the visitors were veterans
of those conflicts.

President of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Theo Maras said there
had been no consultation by the RSL, which has supported the
initiative.

“The Greek and Greek-Cypriot communities in SA are appalled that
there will be representatives of the Turkish Government who may be
veterans of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of
Cyprus,” he said.

Others angered by the visit are the Cypriot, Kurdish, Armenian and
Pontian communities.

President of the Turkish Association of SA Dr Kemal Turker said: “All
of us come from different countries and we should not bring our old
animosities to this country.”

The veterans’ visit is an initiative of the Spirit of Gallipoli
Committee. That received funding of $33,000 from the State Government
for a range of events.

The visitors were selected by the Turkish War Veterans Association.

President of the Cyprus Community of SA Marios Panatsos said the
community supported the Gallipoli spirit. “But many of SA’s
Greek-Cypriot community are still experiencing human rights
violations by Turkey,” he said.

Refugee and community radio presenter Khaled Azizi said the Kurdish
community in SA would not welcome the visitors.

President of the Armenian Cultural Association of SA Alec Balayance
said of the visitors: “Anyone less than 70 years old could have
served in the invasion of Cyprus.”

Pontian refugee and president of the Pontian Brotherhood of SA, Peter
Demourtzidis, said consideration should be given to SA’s diverse
community. “There are about 10,000 Pontian Greeks in SA who are angry
over the RSL’s invitation of these Turkish veterans,” he said.

RSL president Jock Statton rejected the criticism. “We are all
Australians,” he said.

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
April 15 2005

City will pay $250,000 to move society

By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

GLENDALE — The city redevelopment agency has set aside $250,000 to
help the Armenian Society of Los Angeles pay for temporary space
while the organization relocates.
The group’s temporary headquarters will be a 6,300-square-foot office
at 320 W. Wilson Ave.

In 2003, the redevelopment agency approved a $5 million agreement
with the Armenian Society, exchanging a city-owned property at 117 S.
Louise St. for the ASLA’s 11,000-square-foot space at 221 S. Brand
Blvd., which is part of the Americana at Brand project. The agency
also agreed to help the ASLA with relocation costs.

“When we purchased that property, part of the all-inclusive deal was
we were going to provide them with a (temporary) location for 20
months, so that’s what we’re trying to do,” said City Councilman Bob
Yousefian.

The City Council, acting as the redevelopment agency, voted
unanimously Tuesday to approve the relocation expenditures.

Vrej Agajanian, chairman of the ASLA’s board of trustees, said the
organization hopes to start construction on its permanent site soon.

“My understanding is it will take a maximum of six months. I hope it
will stay that way because otherwise it’s too long,” Agajanian said.

Armenian Society officials hope to be able to move out of the
temporary location in less than 20 months — or soon after — so the
organization does not lose money paying rent.

The 49-year-old, volunteer-run organization has 600 active members.
In addition to running a Saturday school, it has an 80-member choir,
helps orphans in Armenia and does volunteer work in the community.

The organization has started submitting designs for its new location.
It could be 12 to 18 months before construction starts, officials
said.

“Apparently their design needs a lot of work. And so when they get
their design to a point that is passable, they need to bring it
forward so we can start moving this project forward,” Yousefian said.
“Their organization needs to get moving on this.”

The $250,000 approved this week includes $189,000 to set up the ASLA
at its new location for 20 months, several thousand dollars in
contingency costs, and the cost of letting the ASLA’s Saturday school
be held at the old Edison School site on Pacific Avenue.

The city is working to find a more permanent location for the school.

Officials said the city remains on track to stay within its $62.5
million budget for acquiring the 15.5 acres of the Americana at Brand
site.

The ASLA, which is expected to move within a month, is one of four
tenants remaining on the property; the other three have new locations
to move into. There were originally 38 tenants.

“We worked with each of the tenants to find a comparable location to
move to,” said Emil Gatevosian, a senior project manager, adding that
95 percent of the site’s former tenants have stayed in Glendale.

The ASLA was the only community organization that had to move, and
officials said it needed more help than commercial tenants.

“It’s atypical, in a sense,” said Alex Hamilton, a senior project
manager. “It’s not a standard retail-type business.”

AMBASSADOR YEGHISHE SARGSIAN REPRESENTS LECTURE AT DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY
OF FOREIGN MINISTRY OF ROMANIA

BUCHAREST, APRIL 14, NOAYAN TAPAN. Yeghishe Sargsian, the Ambassador
of Armenia to Romania, represented a lecture on the theme “South
Caucasus and Armenia: Developments and Expectations” at the Diplomatic
Academy of the Foreign Ministry of Romania on April 11, covering the
main problems of internal and foreign policy of Armenia, acheivements
of the social-economic sphere, and prospects. As Noyan Tapan was
informed from the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, representing mutual relations of the Republic of Armenia
with the countries of the region, other states, as well as
international organizations, particularly with the UN, the European
Union, OSCE, NATO, the Ambassador also touched upon in details the
problems of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

COURT EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS DISPUTING RESULTS OF LAWYERS CHAMBER
ELECTIONS TO CONTINUE ON APRIL 14

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The examination of the applications
that dispute the results of the elections of the Chamber of Lawyers
and its bodies will continue on April 14. Prior to this, the court
will require from 2 unions of lawyers that they present the
voting-papers and the record of the elections, as well as the personal
files of the 12 persons who, according to the claimants, did not
receive any certificates from the highest qalification commission and
therefore cannot be considered lawyers and had no right to participate
in the elections. Granting the claimant Hayk Alumian’s petition, the
court made a decision to require that the unions of lawyers also
present the licence applications made by 93 persons as well as their
replies received. The lawyer Sos Grigorian withdrew his application to
the court on April 11, explaining this by the fact that his claim is
contained in the other applications as well.

Armenpress

8 PARTIES TO RUN FOR KARABAGH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: Voters in Nagorno Karabagh will go to
the polls on June 19 to elect their fourth parliament since their secession
from Azerbaijan. Under the revised election law contenders for parliament
seats will be fighting under proportional (by party slates) and majoritarian
(single-mandate constituencies) system, which the authorities say is
evidence of the ongoing democratic reform of the country’s political system.
The local central election commission has reduced the number of
constituencies from 33 to 22, eight of which are in the capital Stepanakert.
Eleven of the overall 33 parliament members will be elected under the
proportional system and the rest from majoritarian constituencies. Eight
parties have confirmed already their desire to run for parliament , six of
them said they would run by their separate slates.
The local chapter of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun
and a recently founded Movement-88 will form an alliance. Another party,
Armenakan, decided against running by party list and will nominate
candidates only for majoritarian election.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice & Democracy
Avenue dela Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel :+32 2 732 70 26
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 26
Email : [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Contact :Talline Tachdjian
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 27

CONFERENCE ON ARMENIANS IN TURKEY HELD AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

— Green Party Touts Turkish Denialist Propaganda Line

Strasburg, France — A conference focusing on the plight of the Armenian
community in Turkey was held in the European Parliament on Tuesday April
12. The meeting was organized by European Parliament member Cem Özdemir
(Green, Germany).

The three speakers at the conference included Mr. Taner Akcam, historian
and former Turkish dissident; Mr. Etyen Mahçupyan, Turkish-Armenian
journalist for Zaman Daily; and, Mr. Hrant Dink, Editor of Agos, an
Armenian weekly in Turkey. They addressed the close to fifty attendees
participating in the conference organized by the Green Party, through the
assistance of the Turkish diplomatic corps.

The European Armenian Federation had cautioned EuroParliament members about
the likely Turkish government manipulation of the Armenian speakers on the
panel, pressuring the speakers to claim that all Armenian minority problems
would be solved simply by Turkey joining the EU and to refrain from
discussing
`taboo’ topics including the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Özdemir confirmed these
fears
in his opening remarks, clearly avoiding the use of the term `genocide.’
The invitation for the gathering itself stipulated that conference was
designed simply for `historical interpretation’ purposes.

Mr. Akcam during his presentation clearly demonstrated documented facts of
the Armenian Genocide as well as the tremendous denial machine created at
the Turkish Archives. He rejected all claims that discrepancies exist
between Turkish and Western archival sources, detailing how the Turkish
archives had been purged and are, for the most part, fabrications. He
concluded by reminding the attendees that those who were courageous enough
to try study the Turkish Archives have fallen victim to intimidation by
Turkish authorities.

Mr. Mahçupyan claimed that the term `genocide’, due to its legal
ramifications, hinders all dialogue. He stressed that the concepts of duty
and submission still define the relationship between the Turkish State and
its citizenry. He depicted a clear ideological connection between the
perpetrators of the Genocide and Kemalist state that replaced it. He went
on to blame both Turks and Armenians for the tragedy, arguing that today,
the `defense of identity has become identity’ of many Armenians. He touted
the Turkish propaganda line, stating that there are two versions – Armenian
and Turkish – to the events of the time.

Mr. Dink claimed that it was `too much to ask a state to define and qualify
what took place 90 years ago’ and it would be better to ask whether `the
State denies what it knows to be true’. He continued by praising recent
calls for the establishment of a commission of historians to examine facts
of the genocide, arguing that it is an opportunity for open discussion on
the topic. He stressed, however, that Armenia-Turkish relations should not
be limited to historical issues. Today’s political reality must take
precedence over history. Absolving the Turkish State of responsibility for
the Genocide, Dink urged the European nations and institutions to help
rebuild and strengthen Armenia-Turkey relations.

`The presentations of both the Armenian minority representatives from
Turkey were full of ambiguity and incoherence. It was clear that these
individuals, muted by fear, self-censored themselves bother in terms of
terminology used and on the ideological level,’ said Laurent Leylekian,
Executive Director of the European Armenian Federation. `Their speeches
dealt
with everything except the genocide,’ he added. `In reality, the purpose of
the conference was not to discuss recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
Ankara nor was it to alleviate the plight of Armenians living in Turkey.
Rather, its purpose was more, as described in the invitation, to avoid or
smooth over obstacles to Turkeys admission into the EU.’

`This conference is fit perfectly into Turkey’s strategy to exclude this
question from the international arena, reducing it to a mere spat over
details between the Turkish and Armenian societies,’ claimed
Leylekian. `The new approach lies in pitting the so-called `bad’ Armenians
from the Diaspora against the `good’ Armenians from Turkey, by making the
latter an instrument in its denialist policy. Nevertheless, the forced
self-censorship and the limits imposed on the hostages fool no one. The
Europeans should not fall into this trap as they had with the attempts at
reconciliation without prior genocide recognition. The situation is clear:
Turkey committed a crime that does not have a statute of limitations – the
Armenian Genocide – and it must assume responsibility, through full
recognition, in order to uphold European values. Genocide denial, today,
like the act of genocide 90 years ago, demonstrates a lack of understanding
of European values,’ continued Leylekian.

Leylekian concluded by stating that `Once again, this attempt by the
Greens, who have for many years now been fighting against the European
Parliament’s attempts to urge Turkey to recognize this genocide, appears
clearly inspired by diversion tactics initiated by the Turkish State.’

#####

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
12. April 2005

HASMIK PAPIAN; Volkskünstlerin

Porträt Feuilleton

Gerade wurde sie vom armenischen Staatspräsidenten zur
“Volkskünstlerin” ernannt, und wenn diese pathetische Bezeichnung aus
Sowjetzeiten je eine Auszeichnung war, dann in diesem Fall. Denn die
Armenierin Hasmik Papian ist nicht nur eine begnadete Sopranistin,
sondern auch eine musikalische Botschafterin ihres Landes. Sie hat
kürzlich an der Niederländischen Oper in Amsterdam einen umjubelten
Auftritt in ihrer Paraderolle der “Norma” von Vincenzo Bellini unter
der Regie von Guy Joosten und der musikalischen Leitung von Julian
Reynolds gegeben, als sie für Nelly Miricioiu einsprang.

“Norma” ist jene Oper, die für Schopenhauer das “Beispiel eines
höchst vollkommenen Trauerspiels” war. Daß Hasmik Papian gerade die
Partie der Norma so sehr liegt, ist wohl kein Zufall. In Eriwan
geboren und an der dortigen Musikakademie erst zur Geigerin, dann zur
Sängerin ausgebildet, ist sie zwar auf den Bühnen von Berlin, Wien,
New York und Tokio zu Hause; wer sie aber einmal in der Staatsoper in
Eriwan erlebt hat, wo sie jedes Jahr mindestens einmal auf einer
Benefizgala singt, der gewinnt einen unmittelbaren Eindruck auch von
der inneren Zerissenheit des armenischen Volkes. Denn der heutige
Staat Armenien ist bei weitem nicht für alle Armenier der großen
Diaspora in Amerika und Europa die eigentliche Heimat. Ja, viele von
ihnen waren noch niemals in Eriwan, denn ihre Heimat liegt in der
Türkei, aus der sich ihre Vorfahren vor dem türkischen Genozid retten
konnten. Und die Armenier, die in Armenien leben, stehen mehr als
einmal vor der Frage, ob sie bleiben oder auswandern sollen.

Das kleine Land mit etwas über drei Millionen Einwohnern, ehemals
eine Sowjetrepublik, kann natürlich nicht die Chancen bieten, die
sich anderswo eröffnen. Russische Soldaten sichern die Grenzen und
übernehmen heute noch die Paßkontrolle auf dem Flughafen von Eriwan.
So lieben viele Armenier eine Heimat, der sie entweder bald den
Rücken zukehren werden oder die sie noch nie gesehen haben, an der
sie aber deshalb nicht weniger hängen. Zur Benefizgala in der
Staatsoper strömt jedenfalls ganz Eriwan zusammen – und dann, in
einem solchen Moment, in dem man voller Stolz die Leistungen und das
Ansehen der Landeskinder genießt und die eigene Klasse anerkannt
fühlt, entsteht Armenien tatsächlich als Heimat aller Armenier.

Hasmik Papian selbst ging 1994 an die Oper Bonn und an die Deutsche
Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf, wo sie fest engagiert war; sie gastierte an
den großen Opernhäusern als Tosca (Debüt 1997 an der Deutschen Oper
Berlin und an der Wiener Staatsoper), Aida, Donna Anna, Mimì
(Staatsoper Stuttgart). 1999 debütierte sie an der Metropolitan Opera
New York als Aida. Die Sängerin hat freilich immer den Weg nach
Armenien zurückgefunden und wird dabei nun begleitet vom deutschen
Schauspieldramaturgen Konrad Kuhn, den sie bei einem Gastspiel in
Heilbronn kennenlernte. Kuhn gab, als ihre gemeinsame Tochter
Siranusch vor vier Jahren geboren wurde, seine alte Karriere vorerst
auf und arbeitet nun als Manager von Familie und Sängerin. In
Deutschland ist Hasmik Papian wieder am 7. Mai in einer konzertanten
Aufführung der “Norma” im Staatstheater Mannheim zu hören.

MICHAEL JEISMANN

Foto Lore Bermbach

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 12 2005

Turkish PM Erdogan: EU is not a Christian Club
THE WEST SHOULD BE FAIR

OSLO – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said ”we regret
to see negative attitudes against Turkish and Muslim people in some
European countries recently. It is impossible to understand such
attitudes against Turks and Muslims in a period when the world
focuses on dialogue among different civilizations and cultures.”
Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently paying a state visit to
Norway, met Turkish citizens at the Oslo Military Museum Meeting
Hall. Turkish PM said the West abused the Kurdish issue in Turkey for
the years and the West did not make distinction between terrorism and
ethnic and democratic demands.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ”we saw
similar attitudes before December 17th. However, we overcame them.
The EU is not a Christian club. It is the outcome of compromise among
civilizations. The EU is a whole of political values.”
`The PKK and the Kurdish people are the different things. Kurds are
my citizens. PKK is a terrorist organization. But the West abuse the
problems. We are against any nationalism based solely on regional,
racist or religious discrimination. We will not allow those who want
to separate our country’ added PM Erdogan.

CYPRUS NEEDS A FAIR SOLUTION
Replying to a question about the Cyprus question, Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan said, ”the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
has been exposed to international isolation for years. Any country,
except for Turkey, does not recognize the TRNC. Our government has
been expending great efforts to find a fair and lasting solution to
the Cyprus issue. 65 percent of Turkish Cypriot people supported the
plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in the referendum
on April 24th, 2004. They displayed their will for a solution.”
While the Turkish Cypriots supported the UN Peace Plan, the Greek
side rejected. The US and the EU promised to end isolation of the
Turkish Cypriots if the Turks approved the UN Plan. However both have
done very little to end the isolation.
ARMENIAN ISSUE AND NEED FOR A `FAIR WEST’
Upon a question about the allegations of so-called Armenian genocide,
Prime Minister Erdogan said, ”our parliament will hold a special
session on April 13th to debate the Armenian issue. A statement will
be signed by 550 MPs at the end of the session. It will be sent to
parliaments of several countries including Britain… ‘We have been
advocating since the very beginning that a peaceful world cannot be
established on hatred and enmity. We have opened our air corridor
with Armenia. Unfortunately, our western allies take some decisions
about Turkey on ground of baseless comments of marginal groups. It is
seriously unfair. For instance, students held demonstrations in
France and in the other European countries. Police used force to
disperse demonstrators and beat some of them. None of these events in
Europe are mentioned and criticized. However, they criticize any
similar event in Turkey. In fact, we never allow any attempt in
support of terrorist organizations. Also, we never admit such support
as human rights since we have suffered much from terrorism. Our first
priority is the safety of our people.”
Armenia does not recognize Turkey’s territorial integrity and
Tashnaks who are influential over the Armenian Government claims that
many Turkish provinces are historical Armenia. Even some Armenian
party leaders declare that Armenians will fight to get the eastern
part of Turkey. Armenian forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan and
the Armenian irredentist movements are increasing against Georgia.
Turkish Prime Minister and Parliament called the Armenian side to
discuss all the issues, including the 1915 Resettlement Campaign.
However the Armenian Foreign Minister Hovanisyan rejected the call,
saying `there is nothing to be discussed’.
Erdogan said in Oslo `We open all archives and we expect the same
thing from the Armenian side. All should come and see the reality’.

Source: Turkish newspapers and news agencies

Azeri official urges Armenia to gradually vacate territories outside Karabakh

Turan news agency
7 Apr 05

Baku, 7 April: There are key aspects in the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict, the solution to which is an integral part of the negotiating
process, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has told
journalists.

These “key aspects” are always on the agenda, Azimov said. They
(“key aspects”) have to do with eliminating the consequences of the
conflict. In other words, they involve the liberation of occupied
territories, restoration of the infrastructure, return of refugees
to their homes, re-establishment of normal relations and solution to
political problems.

He said that work on these aspects was part of the “Prague process
[talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers]”. Azimov
rejected the “speculations on a stage-by-stage or package solution
alternatives”.

“As long as agreement on all issues has not been reached, there can
be no talk of a settlement,” Azimov said.

At the same time, Azimov said that Azerbaijan’s position on the
liberation of seven occupied districts outside Nagornyy Karabakh
remains unchanged. However, he added that considering the difficulties
arising from the simultaneous liberation of the said districts,
a stage-by-stage approach to this issue was not ruled out.

If Armenia is genuinely interested in maintaining durable links with
Karabakh’s Armenian community, which would envisage the presence of
a transport infrastructure, it has to give an appropriate response
to Baku’s suggestions which cover the “issues of using roads and
ensuring security”, Azimov said.

FRENCH EXPERTS ARRIVE IN ARMENIA TO SELECT ARTIFACTS FOR ARMENIAN EXHIBITION IN PARIS

   YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian culture minister Hovik
Areyan met today in Yerevan with Nelly Tardivier, an advisor to
French president on cultural affairs and Gianny Douran, a curator of
the world famous Louvre Museum in Paris, to discuss some details of a
display of Armenian art at the Museum as part of an extensive range
of events in France in 2006-2007, declared as Armenia’s Year in
France.
   Areyan said the display will show pre-Christian, medieval and
modern Armenian art.
   Nelly Tardivier spoke about the centuries-old French-Armenian
friendship, the Armenian community of France, about the interest of
French students towards Armenian people and their history, saying
this will b definitely reflected in 2006 and 2007.
   Nelly Tardivier and Gianny Douron will spend five days in Armenia
to visit local museums and select artifacts which they would like to
be exhibited in France.

–Boundary_(ID_BKIzBiq+kaeYFm2lNdmR3g)–