Author: Navasardian Karapet

WILL FRANCE MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO DENY TURKEY’S ARMENIAN GENOCIDE?

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Oct 18 2006

History, some historians point out, is written by the victors. Are
there times, though, when history is written by legislators?

Last Thursday, deputies in the lower house of France’s National
Assembly approved a bill that would make it a crime to deny that
mass killings by the Ottoman Empire (modern Turkey’s predecessor)
of Armenians between 1915 and 1917 constituted what can be called
genocide; Armenians claim the mass killings and deportations of
ethnic Armenians during that period, which Turkey has long refuted,
was genocide that led to more than 1.5 million deaths.(Le Monde)

Bulent Kilic/AFP

Protesters in Istanbul last weekend expressed their anger at the news
of the proposed French law If the French Senate approves the proposal,
and it becomes a national law, then anyone in France who denies "the
Armenian genocide" could be punished with a year in prison and up to
45,000 euros ($56,000) in fines. In 2001, France’s National Assembly
already officially recognized the Ottoman Turks’ massacres of the
Armenians nearly a century ago as genocide.

France’s action has sparked furor across the political spectrum in
Turkey. French President Jacques Chirac called Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to say he regretted it. (Still, just a little
more than two weeks ago, in Armenia, Chirac publicly stated that it
would be an "inspired" gesture for Turkey to finally recognize the
Ottoman Turks’ genocide against the Armenians – that is, if Turkey
has any hope of ever joining the European Union.) (Le Monde)

Erdogan later said: "Chirac called me to say he was disappointed…."

The Turkish leader called the proposed French law a "great shame and
a black stain for freedom of expression." Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul warned that the bill that is moving through France’s
legislature could "deeply damage French-Turkish relations."

Hurriyet

Bulent Arinc, the speaker of Turkey’s parliament Turkey’s Hurriyet
reports that Bulent Arinc, the speaker of the Turkish parliament, "said
that he does not think…Chirac’s apologetic phone call to…Erdogan in
the wake of the French parliament’s acceptance of the ‘genocide-denial’
bill was ‘genuine.’"

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country currently
holds the E.U.’s rotating presidency, called the French deputies’
action "stupid." Qualifying his remark, he stated: "My calling this
French decision ‘stupid,’ and my hope that the bill is immediately
withdrawn ha[ve] nothing to do with [what] actually happened to the
Armenians in Turkey. Personally, I do think that ‘genocide’ is the
correct term to describe what happened to Armenians in the past,
and I wish that Turkey would be ready to accept this." (Hurriyet)

Fatih Saribas/Reuters

The protest in Istanbul brought out supporters of parties across the
political spectrum, all furious about France’s action Commentator Ayse
Ozgun, in the Turkish Daily News, writes: "[T]he Armenian subjects of
the Ottoman Empire were first coaxed by the Russians…to rise up and
fight [their rulers]…allowing them to build their own country….In
the end, however, the Ottomans won, and Armenian independence was
never realized….I can imagine how such a loss could plant extreme
anger in the French towards the Ottomans and, later, the Turks….But
then I ask the French…: How come you did not support the Armenians
with French troops?…The test of time for friendship is not when
the days are sunny and balmy but when they are bloody and tragic."

An editorial in the Paris-based International Herald Tribune (the
New York Times’ sister publication) states: "We have argued many
times that Turkey must come to grips with the crimes of its past
and stop prosecuting writers who mention the Armenian genocide of
the early 20th century. But we found it as absurd and as cynical
when the French National Assembly voted overwhelmingly last week to
make it illegal…to deny that there was an Armenian genocide." The
IHT advises: "France’s Senate still has a chance to throw out this
outrageous bill, and we hope it does. We hope, too, that the Turks do
not retaliate with something similarly nutty, like making it a crime
to deny French colonial atrocities in Algeria….[T]he sooner Turks
confront their past, the better. They are beginning to, in large part
because of the lure of membership in the European Union. That does not
excuse the way French politicians are trying to exploit anti-Turkish
feelings while playing up to the large Armenian-French constituency."

PASADENA POLICE CHIEF GETS HONOR FROM ARMENIANS

Pasadena Star-News, CA
Oct 17 2006

PASADENA – The Pasadena Police Department’s efforts to raise funds
for equipment for the Yerevan Police Department has earned the police
chief an Armenian National Service Medal, officials said Monday.

Pasadena Chief Bernard Melekian is the second person outside of
Armenia to receive the medal.

The award was presented to Melekian during a Pasadena Armenian Peoples’
Advisory Committee fundraising gala earlier this month.

Yerevan police Chief Nerses Nazaryan, acting on behalf of the commander
of the Armenian National Police, presented the award.

"The award was truly a surprise and an honor," Melekian said, crediting
the Pasadena Armenian group with building bridges between the Pasadena
Police Department and the Armenian community.

"My grandparents and my father, who were survivors of the genocide,
always felt they owed a great deal to this country and to Pasadena.

It was an honor to be involved with a project that helped give
something of value to Armenia," he said.

PAPAC raised nearly $80,000 for the Yerevan Police Department.

"Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia. I had the pleasure to visit
that city in 2000 and was appalled at the deficiency of equipment
that a modern department needs to do its job," Melekian said.

Hürriyet, Turkey
Oct 13 2006

Ankara readies itself for response to French decision

Sources in Ankara are reporting that the Turkish response to the
French Parliament’s approval of the controversial "Armenian genocide
denial" bill will be swift and strong.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has announced that the Turkish
Parliament will hold a special session on France on Tuesday, and that
on the agenda will be a number of possibilities, including a freezing
of all bilateral relations with France, putting all French firms
wishing to bid on contracts in Turkey on a "red list," and even
freezing for the time being relations between the Turkish Armed
Forces and their French counterparts.

Terse statement from Prime Ministerial offices

The Prime Ministerial buildings in Ankara yesterday issued the
following stern statement in the wake of news from Paris: "There are
some narrow minded politicians in France who have caused their
country to live with this shame, and who should think about what will
come following this decision."

In Ankara, French Ambassador Paul Poudade said he thought
French-Turkish relations would suffer for a few weeks, and then get
back on track. In a statement to NTV news last night, Ambassador
Poudade said he thought the comments issued from the Turkish Foreign
Ministry were "a little painful, a little sad, but all in all,
measured."

NIZAMI BAHMANOV: "I DO NOT BELIEVE OSCE EXPERTS’ MONITORING RESULTS"

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 12 2006

"I do not believe that the OSCE experts’ monitoring of the arsons in
occupied Azerbaijan territories will have any result.

"All events concerning Nagorno Karabakh happened under observation of
OSCE since 1992. I have not seen their decisive position yet," Nizami
Bahmanov, the chief of Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh told
journalists, APA reports.

He said OSCE will not give any explanation even if the reports on
the arson results will be prepared and send to UNO.

"It will be ineffective. Azerbaijan has video materials about
happenings in occupied regions. Material concerning arson has
been presented to Minsk group. I do not think separatist Nagorno
Karabakh Republic will let OSCE experts enter those areas, because
the territories are under their control. There are terrorists’ bases
in occupied Azerbaijan territories," he said.

URL:

ALIYEV SAYS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT POSSIBLE ONLY ON LEGAL BASIS
by Sevindzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

The resolution of the Karabakh conflict "can only be possible on a
legal basis", Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference after top-level talks with Romania,
Aliyev said the conflict was "the biggest source of threat to regional
stability and security."

"Azerbaijan recognises the territorial integrity of all states of the
world and demands that its territorial integrity be recognised too,"
the president said.

He stressed that his country had become a U.N. member with
Nagorno-Karabakh as its part.

In his words, "different measures may be taken" to ensure the
security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, including
"the provision of a high status of autonomy" to this region.

"But separating Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, creating a second
Armenian state in its territory or incorporating it into Armenia
cannot be a subject of talks," Aliyev said.

He thanked the Romanian leadership for the support of this position
stated in a joint declaration signed by the presidents of the two
countries in Baku.

Aliyev believes that all conflicts should be resolved on the basis
of unified approaches. "If a settlement is based not on international
law but on some other principles, this will have negative consequences
for the whole region," he warned.

The president of Romania called for cooperation with Azerbaijan in
resolving "frozen conflicts", including the Nagorno-Karabakh one.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

October 12, 2006

CALLING ALL YOUTH.
YOUR CHURCH. YOUR FUTURE. ENGAGE:
A GATHERING WITH ARAM VEHAPAR
Young adults, ages 18 to 30, are encouraged to make plans to be in
Michigan on the first weekend of December to participated in a gathering
with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
If you want to learn more about your religious heritage, this weekend is
the perfect time to learn, ask questions, and receive answers. The dates of
the weekend gathering are Saturday, and Sunday December 2 and 3, with
Hrashapar services on Friday evening, December 1. The Midwest was selected
as the site of the event because of its central location accessible to both
the East and West coasts of the United States and Canada.
The theme of the event is "Your Church. Your Future. Engage." The
committee organizing this event is composed of young adults and they have
put together a challenging agenda for the two-day event. The gathering with
Vehapar is being sponsored by the three Prelacies of North America. For more
information click

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN HEADED TO MIDWEST
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to the Midwest this weekend where he will
visit the parish of St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan. The Prelate
will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, and preside over the church’s
44th anniversary celebration.

VICAR WILL ATTEND 160TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
OF ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Bishop Anoushavan will represent the Eastern Prelacy at a gala celebration
in honor of the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian
Evangelical Church, tomorrow evening, Friday, October 13, in New Jersey. The
Vicar is one of the main speakers at the event.

VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO OHIO
Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Ohio this weekend where he will
officiate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at Holy Cross Armenian Church which
serves the Armenian community in the Cleveland area.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I ELECTED PRESIDENT
OF "RELIGIONS FOR PEACE"
At its meeting in Kyoto, Japan in August, Religions for Peace, the
global inter-religious organization, elected His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of Cilicia, as one of the organization’s honorary presidents. Founded in
1970 as an international, non-sectarian organization, Religions for Peace is
now the largest coalition of the world’s religious communities.

BIBLE STUDY AT PRELACY
The second session of the eight-session course on the "Letter to the
Hebrews" will take place this Monday, October 16, at the Prelacy from 7:15
pm to 8:45 pm, and will continue on the first and third Mondays of the
month. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the
course is conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC.
For information about Bible studies or other Christian education
programs, please contact Dn. Shant by telephone at 212-689-7810 or by e-mail
at [email protected].

CHILDREN’S CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 18
WILL CELEBRATE "FALL COLORS"
Tickets for the children’s concert "Fall Colors" are being sold rapidly,
so don’t hesitate. Reserve your tickets now. Remember that the last children’s
concert was sold out weeks before the event. For details click

M IDWEST DATEV PROGRAM NOVEMBER 10-12
The popular summer Datev program goes on the road again with a weekend
program scheduled in the Midwest, November 10 to 12, at the Colombiere
Retreat and Conference Center, Clarkston, Michigan.
The program will include interactive presentations and instructions on
faith-related topics, discussions of religious and current issues, Bible
studies, short worship services, fellowship and recreational activities.
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian and Deacon Shant Kazanjian will be the
instructors and facilitators.
For information and registration click
.

OCTOBER IS CULTURAL MONTH
October is a special month for Armenians; the entire month has become a
celebration of Armenian culture. This Saturday, October 14, the Armenian
Church commemorates the sacred legacy of the Holy Translators. In the
traditional sense the term "Holy Translators" refers to St. Mesrob, St.
Sahag and their disciples of the fifth century who translated the Holy
Scriptures from Greek into Armenian. But it has taken on a wider scope and
refers to all Church Fathers, including preachers, teachers, theologians,
philosophers, poets, who made significant contributions to the growth of
Armenian culture by bringing God’s Word to the people.
Specifically remembered this Saturday, along with Saint Mesrob are:
Yeghishe, a renowned student of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob, who served as
secretary to Vartan Mamigonian and wrote the great history of the Vartanantz
wars; Moses of Khoren, also a student of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob, is revered
as the father of Armenian history; David the Invincible was a student of
Movses, He received most of his education in Athens, where he was given the
title "invincible" because of his brilliance in philosophy; Gregory of Narek
is considered the greatest poet of the Armenian nation and its first and
greatest mystic; Nerses Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian, and
ecumenist.

ORHAN PAMUK RECEIVES NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE
It was announced today in Stockholm, Sweden, that the Turkish writer
Orhan Pamuk is the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. Pamuk
was charged and brought to trial last year for "insulting Turkishness" by
telling a Swiss newspaper that Turkey was unwilling to deal with two of the
most painful episodes in recent Turkish history: the massacre of Armenians
during World War I and the guerrilla fighting in Turkey’s Kurdish southeast.
"Thirty thousand Kurds and one million Armenians were killed in these lands,
and nobody but me dares to talk about it," he said in an interview in
February 2005. The charges were dropped following an international outcry in
his defense. The 54-year-old Nobel Laureate is currently a visiting
professor at Columbia University in New York City.

ALSO TODAY.FRENCH PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW
By a vote of 106 to 19, the lower house of the French Parliament today
adopted a law similar to the statute already in effect criminalizing
Holocaust denial, that imposes fines and a potential jail term on those
denying the Armenian Genocide.

"That you may know wisdom and instruction, and understand words of insight."
(Proverbs 1:2-The first words of Scripture to be translated into Armenian).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October 15-Tribute to Aivazovsky, Lecture and Art Exhibit of reproductions
by Karnig Alajajian, 1 pm to 4 pm. Wine and cheese reception. Organized by
Cultural Committee of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, NY. For details
718-224-2275.

October 16-Second session of eight-session Bible study on the "Letter to the
Hebrews" at the Prelacy, 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm, first and third Mondays of the
month, sponsored by AREC. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian. For information:
212-689-7810.

October 19-22-Annual bazaar, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland.

October 22-Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.

October 22-"The Way We Were," a humorous and enlightening look at the past
through song and dance, 1 pm at Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral,
New York City.

October 29-72nd anniversary of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts.

November 3-4-51st Annual Bazaar of St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, with special program for children on Saturday afternoon. For
information 617-924-7562.

November 3-4- Ladies Guild Food Festival, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

November 3, 4, 5-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.

November 5-Annual bazaar, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.

November 5-36th Anniversary Luncheon and program, St. Gregory Armenian
Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts.

November 10-12-Mini Datev program for teens, ages 13 to 18. At Colombiere
Retreat Conference Center in Clarkston, Michigan.

November 11-42nd Anniversary of Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, in
the church hall.

November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual "Armenian Fest" at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.

November 17 & 18-Annual Bazaar, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts.

November 18-Children’s Concert, "FALL COLORS", sponsored by the Eastern
Prelacy at Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise, New York City, featuring
TALINE AND FRIENDS.

November 26-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
First Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.

December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 1-3-Gathering of the Youth with Catholicos Aram I, Hyatt Regency,
Dearborn, Michigan.

December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Visit our website at

SERGE SARGSIAN: MUTUAL CONCESSION AT GIVEN MOMENT MEANS RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF KARABAKH PEOPLE
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
12/10/2006

"We are not afraid of war but we do not want it either," Serge
Sargsian, Armenian defense minister, stated in an interview with
Regnum agency and El Pais Spanish newspaper. In minister’s words,
the Azerbaijani economy shows tendencies of activation though Armenia
was ahead of its neighbor by economic growth indices in 2005.

Serge Sargsian believes that a battle-worthy army cannot be built
only on money, and he suggested not to rely on petrodollars and to
reconsider the lessons of an unsuccessful war against the people
of Nagorno Karabakh. The minister firmly believes that a peaceful
regulation can still be achieved. "Every peace agreement presupposes
accord of the sides. It’s like wedlock: if one side agrees and the
other does not then the alliance will fail. Therefore, if we strive
for a regulation of the dispute and Azerbaijan does not then what can
we do? We find the issue can be settled solely peacefully and based
on mutual concessions."

The minister explains that as soon as stable peace will be achieved the
Azeri refuges can return to Nagorno Karabakh. Though there were many
clashes and wars during history, relations with Azerbaijan continued,
and the Armenians and Azeris lived side by side. But at present,
when the wounds are still fresh, Serge Sargsian thinks that the
return of refugees is impossible. And saying mutual concession one
should understand recognition of the right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to self-determination by Azerbaijan.

There are other elements of mutual concession too, but the minister
did not go into them.

The minister once again confirmed Armenia’s stance on taking the
Karabakh issue out of the OSCE Minsk Group format. Serge Sargsian also
thinks that Karabakh’s participation in the talks process is useful
at any stage; until now Azerbaijan refuses Karabakh’s participation
threatening to leave the talks if the later joins the negations.

Serge Sargsian assures that Armenia is ready for military actions if
they burst out even tomorrow. Yet, he thinks that there will be no
war in foreseeable future for several reasons: firstly, Azerbaijani
army is unable to start hostilities of that scale, secondly, the
world community will express its position on these actions. Reopening
of hostilities in Karabakh will mean renewing old conflicts in many
places. The defense minister finds that absence of military actions
is a positive thing in itself, and that is also the result of the
Minsk Group’s work.

As to the impact of sanctions against Iran, tension in Abkhazian and
South Ossetian issues on Armenia, Mr. Sargsian thinks the impact can
be only negative as they pose a threat to Armenia’s stability. As
stability is a key factor in the region, Serge Sargsian thinks
integration with Azerbaijan and Georgia possible. Yet, it will be
possible to discuss with Azerbaijan this issue after regulation of
Nagorno Karabakh issue.

207 ADVOCATES PASS QUALIFICATION EXAMS

Panorama.am
15:47 11/10/06

As a result of qualification exams at the Palace of Advocates 207
advocates have been successfully qualified among 346 applicants. Ruben
Sahakyan, the chairman of Palace of Advocates, refuted the rumors
that the committee has been bribed up to $2000-3000.

Speaking about the conflict between the committee and Sahakyan,
the chairman said, "It is natural," saying the arguments were about
grading of some eight applicants. Sahakyan hoped next year the exams
will be more successful.

The chairman hoped the status of advocates will rise in the public
over time. He said at the moment they do not have high public demand.

The exams are the initiative of American Bar Association aimed to
foster independence of advocates.

ARMENIAN FM PROMISES TO BE POLITICALLY ACTIVE DURING FORHTCOMING ELECTIONS

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan promises to be politically
active during the forthcoming elections.

Asked by Hayastani Hanrapetoutyun daily if he may become an active
politician, Oskanyan says that he is Armenian citizen, he and his
family live here and he wants to see Armenia stable, developed
and democratic. "I think that an election, especially presidential
election, is a historic occasion to do something. It is a new chance
for us and if we miss it, we will lose the next 10 years. That’s why
I am going to be politically active for resolving our national tasks,"
says Oskanyan.

To note, during a press-conference Oct 10 the vice speaker of the
Armenian parliament, member of the ARF Dashnaktsoutyun party Vahan
Hovhannissyan said that ARFD may nominate Oskanyan for presidency
in 2008.

PRESENT PHASE OF ARMENIA – NATO PARTNERSHIP TO BE DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2006

October 11- 13 NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for
the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons will be in Yerevan
within the frames of a regional visit.

According to the information DE FACTO got at the RA MFA, Robert Simmons
will meet with RA President Robert Kocharyan, DM Serge Sargsyan and
FM Vardan Oskanyan. In the course of the meetings the interlocutors
will consider the issues referring to the present phase of Armenia –
NATO partnership, in part, Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action
Plan implementation.

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative will visit NATO’s new
information centre in Yerevan, participate in the measure arranged
for the start of the information center’s activity and meet with NATO
member-countries’ Ambassadors accredited in RA.