Author: Tashjian Arbi

SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL EXPRESSES PERPLEXITY IN CONNECTION WITH
DECISION OF GEORGIAN CHURCH TO OPEN DIOCESE IN NORTH OF ARMENIA

ECHMIADZIN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A meeting of the
Supreme Spiritual Council was held at the Mother See of Holy
Echmiadzin on March 7, during which Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian
presented the pastoral and spiritual-propaganda activities of the
Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He said that
anti-Armenian publications and statements continue to appear in the
Georgian media, which is conducive to an atmosphere of intolerance and
tension. In response to an inquiry of the Supreme Spiritual Council,
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian confirmed that in accordance with the
decision of the Georgian Apostolic Church Synod of February 6, 2006,
“with the aim of restoring its historical diocese”, the opening of a
new Tashir-Agarak Diocese was declared under the spiritial authority
of the bishop of the Dmanissi Diocese of Georgia. According to the
press service of the Mother See, the Supreme Spiritual Council
expressed its perplexity that, first, the Georgian Apostolic Church
did not inform the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin about its intention,
taking into account that the matter concern the territory of Armenia,
and secondly, the Synod intends to open a new diocese in the area
where the Georgian Church has no parishioners, whereas Georgia
disregards the right of hundreds of thousands of Armenian believers to
grant a legal status to the Armenian diocese and return the Armenian
churches.

ARMENIA HAS ALREADY MADE ITS PART OF COMPROMISE. NOW IT’S AZERBAIJAN’S TURN:
ARMENIAN FM

YEREVAN, MARCH 11. ARMINFO. Armenia has already made its part of
compromise and now it’s Azerbaijan’s turn, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan says n an interview to Shant TV channel.

He says that the Rambouillet meeting has not changed the Karabakh
peace process “for either better or worse.” The only problem with
Rambouillet was that it was given special attention. Earlier such
meetings were held within international events and with all their
achievements and set backs were not given so much attention.

This attention was logical as 2005 saw definite progress. The sides
agreed on most of the key principles leaving 1-2 principles for the
presidents. The co-chairs thought that the process was moving in the
right direction and expected the presidents to readily resolve the
remaining problems – which unfortunately did not happen. But Oskanyan
does not think that the process has failed. Simply the problems were
very hard.

It would be wrong to put aside what has already been achieved – for
there will hardly be a similar chance in the coming years. Somewhere
at heart Azerbaijan too knows this. And it has now to decide if it
will further stick to its maximalist position or will try to make a
compromise. If it chooses the former the problem will not be resolved.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 11 2006

PACE Political Affairs Committee to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh issue on
14 Mar

Source: Trend
Author: R.Abdullayev

11.03.2006

The meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE)
Political Affairs Committee will discuss the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Paris on 14 March.

The issue comes 10th in the preliminary agenda of the meeting, Trend
reports. Lord Russel-Johnson, the head of the PACE Subcommittee on
Nagorno-Karabakh, will deliver a statement at the meeting.

It should be mentioned that the meeting of the Political Affairs
Committee will be staged during the spring session of PACE, which
will be held in Strasburg from 10 to 13 April.

It should be mentioned that Samad Seyidov and MP Ali Husseynov are
the Azerbaijani delegates to PACE, while MP Gultakin Hajiyeva is the
alternative of Seyidov.

Justice needed for Armenian genocide
By Mona Karaguozian

Opinion

Daily Sundial
October 17, 2005

According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, the term genocide is
defined as the “deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial,
political or cultural group.”

In April 1915, during World War I, the Ottoman Empire began
systematically annihilating Armenians, by first ridding the
intellectuals, men, elderly, women and then children in the Eastern
Anatolia and Western Armenia region, in what should be known as the
first genocide of the 20th century.

The Turkish government has continuously refused to accept
responsibility for the atrocities that have taken place, and it also
refuses to acknowledge the existence of this “alleged” genocide.

The Turkish government makes claims now that the Armenians who were
killed during that period died as wartime casualties and that many
Turks were killed as well. This is false because only the Armenians
that were living in that region in Turkey were being “relocated”
for safety. Why weren’t the other residents of that region being
relocated? It was a deliberate destruction of a specific group
of people.

Who alleges the massacres of 1.5 million people? How could the
destruction of a substantially large number of people be alleged? The
evidence is in the death toll. There are also photographs, hundreds
of chronicles from American newspapers and documentation depicting
the massacres as they were taking place not to mention countless
horror stories passed down generations.

The issue of the Armenian genocide is less than ten years shy of
being a century- long struggle for recognition. Ninety years might
seem like ages ago, but I, as an American born Armenian, still feel
the effects of the massacres. My grandfather was a survivor of the
genocide. I hold knowledge of eyewitness accounts and experiences of
the genocide that were passed down through him. It pains me to be
a third generation Armenian after the genocide and to see that the
struggle for recognition continues to this day.

There are numerous advocacy groups, such as the Armenian National
Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly that are seeking
justice on behalf of the Armenian people. These activists dedicate
their time and effort to spread awareness of the genocide and to gain
recognition for its occurrence.

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Oct. 5, ANCA
Chairman Ken Hachikian voiced the profound moral outrage of Armenians
over the Bush administration’s ongoing complicity in Turkey’s campaign
of genocide denial.

Turkey has also been trying to gain admission into the European Union,
yet they continue running into complications. European Union foreign
ministers have attempted to agree on terms for Turkish membership,
but many countries, like Austria, have refused to agree on full
membership. They are only willing to offer Turkey a “privileged
partnership” with the EU until such claims as the Armenian genocide
have been resolved. If the EU is unable to agree on terms with the
Turkish government, there must be a reason. For being just an “alleged”
claim, the Armenian genocide is a substantial cause for concern among
many European countries.

This is not the first attempt by Armenian-Americans to gain a political
voice regarding this issue. Many bills have been presented to Congress,
each of which would have been instrumental toward the fight for
justice, but none have been passed yet.

Instead, all these bills have been shot down. Armenian activists
have also organized many public events, such as marches, protests,
vigils and pickets at the Turkish embassy in Los Angeles as well as
all over the world.

Throughout the years, these activities have gained some local
media exposure. None, however, have had a national effect on
legislation. Many of the local media outlets are familiar with the
commemoration of April 24 due to the heavily concentrated Armenian
community Los Angeles, but the voice is barely heard.

As the years pass the story gets old and people begin to forget. This
is the goal of the denial.

This situation may change with another attempt to pass legislation. On
Sept. 15, after nearly three hours of debate, the House International
Relations Committee, voted overwhelmingly in favor of two measures
calling for proper U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.316
and H.Con.Res.195) and urging Turkey to end its decades-long denial
of this crime against humanity.

The Senate should finish the work started by the House and call
for recognition of the Armenian genocide. Only with the support of
the United Sates will the movement to have the Turkish government
recognize the past crimes of the Ottoman Empire succeed.

Justice needs to be served and not withheld because of politics.

Mona Karaguozian can be reached at [email protected].

ws/display.v/ART/2005/10/17/4353cb4fb78e4

ARMENIA IS RATHER ATTRACTIVE COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENTS, ARLEX INTERNATIONAL’S DIRECTOR AFFIRMS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The cooperation of South Caucasian
businessmen and trade among the countries to some extent can contribute
to the solution of conflicts existing in the region. US Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to RA John Evans declared this at
the “Common Future” regional forum organized by the American Chamber
of Commerce in Armenia. J.Evans also noted that the governments
should also assist the development of business contacts in the
region. According to the US ambassador, first of all it’s necessary to
have “fair” courts for attracting foreign investments and development
of business in Armenia and the reforms carried out in the judicical
sphere of Armenia can promote development of business.

In the affirmation of RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian, Armenia
still needs to attract foreign investments and the state must form an
atmosphere of mutual confidence in the sphere of economy. According to
him, the legislative field of Armenian economy is almost completely
formed and favorable conditions are created for free economic
relations. A.Baghdasarian also noted that a continual struggle against
corruption must be carried out for development of business.

In the opinion of Tomas Samuelian, Director of the Arlex International
legal-consultative organization, a simple legal field must be created
for development of business and attraction of foreign investments in
Armenia. Besides, according to him, Armenia’s complicated tax system,
in particular, superfluous bureaucratism, still hampers attraction
of foreign investments. According to T.Samuelian, it’s easy enough
to implement activity in Armenia if we exclude some bureaucratic
difficulties and in difference to a number of countries, no patronage
of the authorities is necessary here.

Armenia is rather an attractive country for investments and, in
particular, the Armenian culture, as well as international recognition
by means of the Spyurk contribute to it.

A1+

| 17:19:49 | 14-10-2005 | Politics |

HACHIN ALDERMEN APPLIED TO COURT

Today 10 candidates for the posts of aldermen of Nor Hachin went to the
Local Electoral Committee head Gnel Galoumyan demanding the results recorded
in the 5 electoral areas. The LEC head refused to give them any results
except the general protocol of the Committee.

When the candidates some of whom have been elected already insisted on their
demand, Gnel Galoumyan called the police who arrived within a few minutes.
The Alderman explained the situation, and the police left the building.

According to our information, Gnel Galoumyan tried to leave the building too
in order to avoid carrying out their demand, but they did not allow him to
do it. Then Galoumyan cried, `They stole the keys to my safe’. After that
the 10 candidates applied to court and demanded to give them the results
recorded in the 5 electoral areas.

World Vision Armenia
14 Oct 2005
World Vision rehabilitates damaged houses in earthquake-affected Gegharkunik
region

World Vision Armenia has completed the rehabilitation of more than 160
houses spread across nine villages in north-east Gegharkunik region near the
Armenian-Azeri border, after an earthquake hit the region in March 2005.
The 5.5 Richter scale quake damaged some 500 houses, most of which were made
of stone and mud.
While most buildings remained intact, their weakened walls and ceilings made
them dangerous for habitation, especially in cold, wet conditions.
For many of the refugees from Azerbaijan living in the area, these houses
were their only assets and most did not have the means to undertake the
necessary repairs.
World Vision’s Gegharkunik Area Development Program (ADP) responded
immediately by distributing Gift-In-Kind winter clothing and coordinating
the emergency repair work to afford basic shelter and protection for
families during the harsh winter.
A World Vision assessment estimated repair costs at US$500-US$1,000 per
house, depending on the extent of damage.
World Vision provided construction materials to households that received
light damage to carry out repair work independently, as well as conducted
safety building training for the villagers. More seriously damaged houses
were rehabilitated with the help of professional builders.
Mutakhyan Anahit, mother of five from Jaghacadzor village, lamented that the
earthquake ruined the roof of their house.
“Each time it rained, it poured immediately inside the house. All day long
we were busy dredging the water out,” she said, pointing to the damp walls
in her house.
“If it was not for World Vision’s help, we would be compelled to sell our
house and move to another to survive the winter. The temperature here drops
to minus 25 degrees Celsius,” added Anahit.
Forty-three-year-old Manushakyan Hovaness lives in the village of Sotk where
the earthquake razed the carrying wall of his house to the ground.
“I was afraid our home could collapse any minute,” he said. World Vision
provided Hovaness with building material and helped to rebuild it within
five days.
The rehabilitation project was funded by World Vision offices in Hong Kong,
Switzerland, United States and United Kingdom.

‘INNER TENSION IN JAVAKHK IS THE RESULT OF UNCERTAINTY’
By Tatoul Hakobian

AZG Armenian Daily #185
14/10/2005

Diaspora

Davit Rstakian: If it goes on like this people might even demand
independence

On October 12, a group of unknowns distributed leaflets in Javakhk
signed the Liberation Brigade of Akhaltskha – an organization that
nobody heard of before. The Russian-language leaflets that featured
Turkish symbols – star and crescent – ordered the Armenians of Javakhk
to leave the region immediately for Armenia, Russia, America or any
other country. Otherwise Armenians will be massacred as it happened
in 1915.

In their statement on this occasion the Council of NGOs of
Samtskhe-Javakhk voiced an opinion that no matter who the author
of this action is “he plays with fire”. “This is another attempt to
derail the population of the region.

Aggravation of the situation will be beneficial neither for the
Georgians, nor for the Armenians.”

Davit Rstakian, head of Virq organization of Akhalkalak, thinks that
the leaflet action was organized by Georgia’s special services. He
reminded that Georgian state secretary Georgi Khaindrava sets off for
Azerbaijan, Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries where Meskhet Turks
exiled from Samtskhe live since 1944. President Mikheil Saakashvili
ordered him to negotiate the Turks return to Georgi on the spot.

“Georgia is not ready to accept them. The Georgians will try to
bring the issue to a deadlock blaming Armenians as though they oppose
the Turks’ return. Those leaflets aim at raising anti-Turkish moods
among the Armenians,” Rstakian said. The overall impression from the
conversation with Davit Rstakian is that the situation is outwardly
calm “but there is inner tension that comes from uncertainty.”

Rstakian said that the Georgian authorities make attempts to
“break” the Armenians of Javakhk but they fail. On October 5,
the police put down the rally of hundreds of Armenians who were
protesting the sanctions of tax officers who closed ten Armenian
stores in Akhalkalak. Armenian policemen used bludgeons and warning
shots to calm protesters down. “The people did not lost heart, and
they understood that it’s difficult to crush the spirit of Javakhk
Armenians,” Rstakian said.

The Georgian President justified the police’s violence reminding that
Javakhk rested in post-independence permissiveness and “now we are
bringing in control which means that clashes are possible at some
point.” Others link the violence in Akhalkalak with the demand of
several organizations of Javakhk to grant the region autonomy.

“It is the policy of Georgian authorities that makes us push for
autonomy. I always say that the status is only a means to settle the
problems of Javakhk Armenians. If it goes on like this people might
even demand independence.

The major problems of Javakhk Armenians are not of socio-economic
character as the authorities claim. We have deficiency of rights,”
Rstakian said.

PAMUK OBSERVES IMPROVEMENT IN TURKEY IN RECENT YEARS

Turkish Daily News
Oct 13 2005

Diplomacy Newsline
ANK – Turkish Daily News

There is more freedom of speech, as well as certain economic
improvements, encouraged by optimism stemming from the country’s
European Union membership process when compared to the environment
of the country when he was writing his novel “Kar” (Snow), published
in 2002, renowned Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk has said.

In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa, Pamuk, however, admitted
that certain problems still remain.

“A horrible discrepancy between the poor and the rich persists.

While Istanbul has been experiencing a kind of explosion, there is
still poverty in eastern parts of Turkey,” Pamuk was quoted as saying
by the Anatolia news agency.

A court case against Pamuk for his February remarks published
in a Swiss newspaper sparked harsh reaction from EU officials and
politicians. When asked about it during the interview, Pamuk declined
to comment on the legal proceedings against him for his remarks on
Armenian and Kurdish deaths some 90 years ago.

“Let’s talk about my books,” he said in the interview titled “Optimist
Defendant Pamuk.”

EU-KOMMISSAR TRIFFT TURKISCHEN AUTOR PAMUK

Neue Zurcher Zeitung
10. Oktober 2005

Istanbul, 9. Okt. (ap) Der EU-Erweiterungs-Kommissar Olli Rehn
hat am Samstag in Istanbul den turkischen Schriftsteller Orhan
Pamuk getroffen. Pamuk muss sich im Dezember wegen Beleidigung der
turkischen Identitat vor Gericht verantworten. Die Europaische
Union hat angekundigt, den Prozess genau zu verfolgen. Der Fall
gilt als Beispiel fur das schwierige Verhaltnis der Turkei zu ihren
Minderheiten.

Pamuk habe Rehn in seinem Haus in Istanbul empfangen, berichtete der
turkische Fernsehsender NTV. In dem eineinhalbstundigen Gesprach
sei es nicht um den Prozess, sondern um die Menschenrechte in der
Turkei im Allgemeinen gegangen, erklarte Pamuk nach einem Bericht der
Nachrichtenagentur Anadolu. Rehn kundigte weitere Treffen mit Pamuk
an, um mit ihm uber Geschichte und Gesellschaft zu diskutieren.

Gegen den Schriftsteller wurde Anklage erhoben, nachdem er einer
Schweizer Zeitung im Februar gesagt hatte: “30”000 Kurden und eine
Million Armenier wurden in diesem Land getotet, und niemand ausser
mir wagt es, daruber zu sprechen.” Wegen eines ahnlichen Vergehens
war am Freitag der armenisch-turkische Journalist Hrant Dink zu einer
sechsmonatigen Bewahrungsstrafe verurteilt worden.