Author: Toganian Liana

KHACHQARS AND CHURCHES OF QARVATCHAR

beginning in previous issue

Azg/arm
14 Jan 05

Yeghish Markosian knows all ins and outs of Qarvatchar and the place
of every ruined church and of centuries-old khachqars (cross-stone).

“This was an Armenian land, not a Turkish. Turks do not have churches
and khachqars. Let me take you to tens of villages and show you each
church and khachqar. Some 150 years ago it was the land of Armenians
and will stay as such”, uncle Yeghish tells in hoarse voice.

A khachqar at the town’s historic museum dating back to 916 AD withan
inscription in middle Armenian used to be presented to the visitors of
the museum before 1993, when Karabakh forces took control over
Qarvatchar, as an “Albanian khachqar”.

There are dozens of churches and monasteries in Qarvatchar (lying in
ruins or semi-ruined) one of which, Dadivanq, is a pearl of medieval
Armenian architecture. This church of 13 century is being
reconstructed today.

Qarvatchar in the structure of Red Kurdistan

The nomadic Kurds and the Caucasian Tatars settled down in the region
of Qarvatchar in 19th century. It was the time when they adjusted the
name of Qarvatchar to their language, calling it Qyarvajar then
Qelbajar or Qyalbajar.

Anania Shirakatsi, Armenian scholar of 7th century, in his “Geography
Guide” mentions of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) as the 10th province of
Great Hayq that had 12 regions and the 2d region was Vaykuniq with
Tsar as center. Movses Kakhankatvatsi also mentions Vaykuniq. Later on
this stony region was renamed into Tsar, Upper Khachen and eventually
Qarvatchar or Qaravatchar (stone seller).

In 1920, when the two-years-old state of Azerbaijan became Soviet,
Qarvatchar was forcibly conjoined with Azerbaijan. The Red Kurdistan
was formed in 1923 and the region of Qarvatchar with thousands of
Kurds and Azeris united with the newly formed administrative unit. The
Red Kurdistan dissolved in 1930, and Qarvatchar (Qyalbajar) with 1936
square kilometers became one of 60 Azeri regions. The Kurds of
Qyalbajar numbering few thousands assimilated with the Azeris.

Azeri historiography considers the khachqars and churches of
Qarvatchar and Nagorno Karabakh to be Albanian.

By Tatoul Hakobian in Qarvatchar

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Jan 11 2005

Vatican artists to help renovate Isfahan’s Saint Mary Church

TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (MNA) — A number of Vatican artists will join an
Iranian team renovating Isfahan’s Saint Mary Church to restore the
murals and plasterwork of the monument, an official of the Isfahan
Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department announced on Tuesday.

`The artists have visited the church several times and discussed the
issue with the Iranians working on the project. They are to restore
the murals and plasterwork of the historic church,’ Ali Khajavi
added.

Located in the Armenian district of Jolfa, the Saint Mary Church was
constructed in 1613 and is known for the beauty of its dado
tile-work, completed several years after the original building
between 1651 and 1676, which reveals a high degree of naturalism and
depicts a landscape of evergreens and peacocks.

The construction was financed by an Iranian Christian merchant, Avdik
Babakian. Inside there are four significant Venetian paintings, one
of which shows the beheading of John the Baptist and includes a
portrait of the donor, Grak Agha, praying in the lower left-hand
corner. These paintings are interesting because they show the close
links that existed between the Safavids and Venetian merchants,
principally based upon the trade in silk and spices.

Armenians were settled in Isfahan by Safavid king Shah Abbas I who
wanted to take advantage of their trading skills.

Khajavi did not announce when the Vatican artists would be arriving.

The Bethlehem (1628) and Vank churches are also located in the Jolfa
district of Isfahan.

Armenian president congratulates Ukraine’s Yushchenko on election victory

Arminfo
11 Jan 05

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today congratulated Viktor
Yushchenko on his election as president of Ukraine.

Kocharyan in particular expressed confidence that relations between
the Armenian and Ukrainian peoples, which were established centuries
ago, will successfully develop and strengthen in the future to ensure
the two countries’ prosperity, the Armenian presidential press service
has told Arminfo news agency.

Azeri President to visit Iran in February

IRNA web site, Tehran
29 Dec 04

Baku, 30 December: Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar
Mammamdyarov said here Wednesday [29 December] that President Ilham
Aliyev’s upcoming sensitive state visit of Iran is aimed at deepening
bilateral ties.

Mammamdyarov made the comment in a meeting with Islamic Republic of
Iran’s Ambassador to Baku Afshar Soleymani.

Referring to the process of preparing the documents to be signed
during President Aliyev’s February state visit of Iran by the two
countries’ officials, the Azeri foreign minister appreciated the
efforts made by Iran’s Embassy in that respect.

Elmar Mammamdyarov meanwhile thanked his Iranian counterpart for
sending a congratulation message on the occasion of the Christian New
Year, asking the Iranian ambassador to convey his congratulation on
the occasion to Dr Kharrazi.

The two officials during the meeting also evaluated the outcome of the
Iranian health and defence ministers’ recent trips to Baku as “quite
positive and important in expansion of bilateral ties.”

The Iranian envoy, too, said during the meeting, “During the Health,
Treatment and Medical Education Minister Masud Pezeshkiyan’s trip to
Azerbaijan the draft for the two countries’ health and medical
memorandum of understanding to be signed by the two countries’
presidents was prepared, and approved by the two countries’
officials.”

He added, “The two countries also reached agreement on construction of
a hospital, manufacturing medicine, and kidney transplant surgeries in
Azerbaijan by the Iranian side.

Soleymani announced, “Kidney transplant surgeries would be done at one
of Baku’s hospitals by Iranian physicians.”

The Iranian envoy expressed certainty that President Aliyev’s
three-day state visit, in response to President Khatami’s state visit
of Baku in 2004, would open a new chapter in two countries’ relations.

Some of the other issues addressed during the meeting included other
aspects of bilateral ties, regional developments, and reciprocal
support of the two countries for each other at international scenes.

Kathimerini, Greece
Dec 27 2004

Halkidiki coffee shop owner killed trying to break up customer row

A 20-year-old Armenian national was arrested yesterday in connection
with the shooting of a 50-year-old coffee shop owner in the village
of Doubia in Halkidiki, police said. The incident occurred in the
early hours of the morning when the suspect, who has not been named,
is thought to have had an argument with another man at the local
cafe. The Armenian, who is a Thessaloniki resident but was spending
Christmas in Doubia, is said to have gone to his mother’s nearby
home, picked up a single-barreled shotgun and returned to the coffee
shop. He allegedly then began arguing with the father of the man with
whom he had the earlier row, at which point the cafe owner stepped in
to separate them and the 20-year-old shot him, officers said.

NEWS FROM ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGION OF GEORGIA

ArmenPress
Dec 23 2004

AKHALKALAK, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Georgian Development Fund has
marked out $40,000 for the repair of the therapy department of a
clinic in Akhalkalak, the administrative center of a region in the
southern Georgia, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. According to
the clinic’s director, Alexan Torosian, the repair will start next
January.
The clinic is located in a building that once served as a garrison
for the Russian military base. The first and second floors of the
clinic were repaired two years ago on funds released by Georgian
health ministry. The therapy department is located on the third
floor.
Georgia’s Development Fund is the second biggest non-governmental
organization, after the Armenian Relief Union that has been sending
assistance to the clinic. The Armenian Relief Union bought $600,000
worth equipment for it.
The A-Info news agency working in the region, reported that the
2005 draft budget of Georgia has earmarked money for repair of a road
that connects the region with Tbilisi.
In a related news A-Info said Georgia’s state television started
on December 22 regular 30-minute broadcast of news n Armenian.

France to ‘grill’ Turkey on all issues for EU bid

Expatica
Dec 20 2004

PARIS, Dec 20 (AFP) – France will put all issues to Turkey during
negotiations over it joining the European Union, “including that of the
Armenian genocide,” French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Monday.

“What has to be done now is start membership negotiations which are
going to be very long, very difficult, during which we will put all
issues on the table, including that of the Armenian genocide, with
the hope of obtaining a response from Turkey before membership,”
he told French radio station RTL.

The 1915-1917 massacre of Armenians during the end of the Ottoman
Empire has been a sensitive subject for Turkey, which has railed
against other countries accepting the Armenians’ account of the
bloodshed as a “genocide”.

Although the French parliament passed a 2001 law applying the word
“genocide” to the killings, the French government avoided using
the term until December 14 – just three days before Turkey and the
European Union agreed to start membership talks. Barnier talked of the
“Armenian genocide” in parliament.

French President Jacques Chirac supports Turkey joining the European
Union, but he faces deep opposition from his own ruling party and
the majority of voters.

To add the Armenian issue to a list of others – most notably Ankara’s
recognition of the Greek Cypriot government – is seen as a bargaining
chip in the membership negotiations that are to begin in October next
year, and a way of showing the French public that Turkey is being
made to heed Paris’s voice.

Barnier said that Chirac, in supporting Turkey, “is expressing a
vision, expressing where the interest of our country, our continent,
lies for him.”

The French president has promised that the final decision on whether
Turkey gets to join the European Union or not, as far as French
voters are concerned, will come in a referendum at the end of the
negotiations.

Let’s celebrate politically correctly in every way.

The Free Lance-Star, VA
Dec 18 2004

Goodwill to men, women, kids, humanoids

THE PIOUS FOLK who exhorted their countrymen to “put the Christ back
in Christmas” have lost. How badly? Not only is the “Christ-” not
there, neither is the “-mas.” The very phrase “Merry Christmas!”
seems to be disappearing from general usage. People now attend
“holiday parties,” post “season’s greetings,” and exchange wishes of
“Happy holidays.” This is a good start toward peaceful coexistence in
our beloved multicultural nation, Bosnia. We mean, America.

After all, many of us do not celebrate Christmas. This minority
includes Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, some Unitarians, atheists, and
agnostics. Even among Christian sects, one finds non-celebrants, such
as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and churches that observe the feast on a
different day than Dec. 25, such as the Armenian Orthodox, whose
Christmas arrives on Jan. 6. So, clearly, “Christmas” is a term of
exclusion that should be retired in our outreaching society. That, as
we say, is a good start–but only a start.

When deconstructed, the adjective “Merry” is also (if we may make a
“value judgment”) mean-spirited. Not everyone is merry. It’s easy for
high extroverts on the Myers-Briggs personality grid to exude
“merriness.” They could do that even if staked out on an anthill. But
what about high introverts? Why should we bully them to be something
they’re not? Don’t they have a right to be reserved and to celebrate
the holidays without a lot of demonstrative hoopla? And when we say
“Merry Christmas,” aren’t we being insensitive to the individual who
has suffered a personal tragedy, such as the news that his spouse is
in possession of photographs taken by a private detective outside the
window of a Hotel 8? “Merry” indeed.

But banishing the entire phrase “Merry Christmas” still leaves the
holidays potentially hurtful as long as the callous shout, “Happy New
Year!” “Happy,” of course, is vulnerable to the same criticisms that
DQ “Merry,” but “New Year” is no innocent. It’s laden with “cultural
imperialism,” a phrase we learned long ago in college from a
professor who should be getting out of the pen any day now for
burning down the ROTC building.

Pagan-Americans, for example, typically mark their new year in the
spring. Does anyone care about them? The Jewish new year of Rosh
Hashana falls in the, well, fall, while Muslims use a different
calendar than the Gregorian version–named after a pope, no less,
which can’t sit well with Lynchburg, Va.–and, because it’s lunar,
ring in the new year on many different dates. And don’t go trying to
swap “New Year” for “2005,” Mr. Bigot. To traditional Chinese, it’s
the 22nd Year in the 78th Cycle.

Now, we’re not telling you all this to rob the season of spontaneity
or good feeling (though one’s feelings are certainly a private
affair), but only to instill in you a proper respect for your fellow
(pardon the sexist term) American. On the contrary, we shout to one
and all:

Unemotional Holiday and Disaffective Solstice!

And the Cosmic Force bless us, every one.

“NO OTHER DOCUMENT ON KARABAKH IS SO PRO-AZERI AS ATKINSON’S REPORT”

Azg/arm
18 Dec 04

Kazimirov’s Letter to PACE Reads

Vladimir Kazimirov, former personal representative of the Russian
president on Karabakh issue in 1992-1996, sent a letter to PACE
reporter on Nagorno Karabakh, David Atkinson, expressing his discontent
with the emphasized pro-Azeri nature of the latter’s report.

Kazimirov particularly points out Atkinson’s statement that
the ceasefire was reached due to OSCE Minsk group in May 12 of
1994, whereas it was due to Russia’s efforts, and the Minsk group
co-chairmanship was organized in December of 1994 and the personal
representative was appointed after the truce.

“The most important international documents on Nagorno Karabakh
always maintained the balance in order to make it easy for the sides
to compromise. None of them has ever been so single-mindedly pro-Azeri
as yours”, Kazimirov wrote.

The former Russian broker being a well-informed specialist in the
Karabakh issue and someone who visited the region for 47 times
reminds Atkinson that his and Davis’ reports pay little attention
to the history of the confrontation, to the war of 1992-1994 and the
process of regulation.

“Many issues in the conflict were the result of both sides’ actions,
yet your projects pin the whole blame on the Armenian side. I am
not trying to justify the Armenians, I only say that we need to be
impartial in assessing the actions of both sides. Moreover, the very
Azerbaijan was standing for settling the Karabakh issue by means of
force, who was rejecting all the steps to ease the tension”, he wrote.

Kazimirov underlines that Nagorno Karabakh in the UN formulas and
OSCE documents was directly or indirectly recognized as a side in
the conflict: “Only your formulae overlooks this issue and recognize
Armenia and Azerbaijan as sides, thus playing into Bakuâ~@~Ys
hands”. He also reminds that the OSCE Budapest summit mentioned of
the three sides of the conflict.

“Azerbaijan is the side in conflict and not the Azeri population in
Nagorno Karabakh. There is no difference in Azerbaijan’s and Karabakh’s
Azeri population’s standpoints”, he said and went on condemning
Atkinson for emphasizing the importance of Karabakh’s Azeri community:
“Is it appropriate to use terms like “London’s British community”,
or “Baku’s Azeri community”, or “Moscow’s Russian community”?”.

Kazimirov is amazed that the Davis-Atkinson report refers to the UN
Security Council’s 4 formulae but only accents the demand to withdraw
Armenian armed forces. “Before the May of 1994, that is more than
1 year, (after UN Security Council adopted first formula- ed.) the
Azeri authorities, which were obstinately neglecting the key demand
of the 4 formulae and were continuing to bet on settling the issue
through force, broke the ceasefire several times. Azerbaijan agreed
on ceasefire under the threat of all-out defeat and loss of power
and not for accomplishing the UN Security Council’s formulae. The
Armenians also had many problems but they turned to be more flexible
and constructive”, Kazimirov reminded and added: “The territorial
take-over, increase of the refugees is on Azerbaijan’s conscience as
well, and not only Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh”.

The Russian diplomat accepts that the Armenians do not withdraw their
forces from the occupied territories and claim the package settlement
of the conflict. But “in fact, the Azeri authorities have not realized
any demand within the 4 UN formulae”. “Today they carry out nothing
either. Moreover, they demand that Turkey keep on maintaining the
blockade of Armenia, threatens with resuming the war time after time,
encourages anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan but there is no word
about this (in Atkinson’s report – ed)”.

Kazimirov reminds at the end that Armenian has full control only over
5 regions and partial over two 2 and not 8 as Atkinson claims. The
Russian diplomat notes that Azerbaijan also has occupied Armenian
territories such as Artsvashen. Kazimirov rounds off the letter with
hope that such an authoritative organization as the PACE will be able
to demonstrate a balanced approach in the Karabakh conflict.

By Tatoul Hakobian

–Boundary_(ID_ZM/PdTySqd1eTXPmiwna5Q)–

Chicago Tribune
Dec 17 2004

EU Set to Negotiate Letting Turkey Join

VAN, Turkey — European Union leaders decided Thursday to open
negotiations with Turkey next year on EU membership, but the road to
acceptance will be bumpy.

“Tonight the European Union has opened its door to Turkey … making
a balanced offer,” Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European
Commission, said in Brussels. “I genuinely believe this is an offer
that Turkey should be glad to accept.”

The 25 EU leaders at the Brussels meeting will propose Oct. 3 as the
start date for the talks, The Associated Press reported.

Turkish membership has been controversial, and EU leaders are likely
to try to calm their wary citizens by attaching conditions ensuring
that Turkey’s full membership will be 10 to 20 years away.

Chirac’s comment

French President Jacques Chirac told his nation this week: “My answer
is, `Yes, if.’ Yes, if Turkey totally meets the conditions we
impose.”

The “ifs” are expected to require continuing progress on human-rights
reforms and expansion of the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish population.

Other potential conditions could be far tougher for Turkey to
swallow, such as recognizing the mass killings of Armenians between
1915 and 1923 as “genocide” and recognizing the Greek Cypriot
government of Cyprus.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said he thought the major hurdle
was the Cyprus issue. Ankara recognizes the breakaway Turkish Cypriot
state in the north but not the internationally recognized Greek
Cypriot one in the south.

Turkey signaled its readiness to agree to open-ended negotiations,
but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that he would not
accept conditions that go beyond the criteria applied to other
countries.

“If they try to impose any unacceptable conditions, it is not
possible for us to accept this,” he said in Brussels after lobbying
EU leaders. “We’ll definitely put this issue on ice and continue on
our way.”

Erdogan hitched his future to Turkey’s EU bid when his party swept to
power in November 2002. Substantial reforms were pushed through
parliament, including curbing the influence of the military and
improving human-rights protections.

A Western diplomat cautioned that a rejection of Turkey by the EU
could reverse the reform process and possibly weaken Erdogan to the
point where the military could stage a coup.

Most Turkish political analysts reject the possibility of a military
coup, but the consensus is that Erdogan needs to start EU talks on a
positive note to solidify his political power and keep the country
aligned with Europe and the U.S.

The main objections to Turkey’s membership have been that it is too
big, too poor and too Muslim. Politicians in France, Austria and
Netherlands have been particularly skeptical, warning of a flood of
migrant workers that would send Europe’s Muslim population soaring.

Turkey objects to permanent restrictions that would permit EU members
to restrict the flow of Turkish workers. Ankara argues that it should
receive the same treatment as other new entrants who have faced
restrictions for a limited time.

Turkey, which is a NATO member, has strong allies in Britain,
Germany, Spain and Italy. Leaders in those countries argue that
embracing a secular democracy that borders Syria, Iran and Iraq would
help build a bulwark against extremism and send an encouraging signal
for democracy in the Middle East.

“If we succeed in integrating an Islamic country, this would
tremendously increase our security,” Schroeder said.

Earliest entry is 2015

Turkey could not join the EU until 2015 at the earliest. The
negotiations will require an even greater transformation of its
economy and society.

Kurdish activists angered Erdogan earlier this week with a large
advertisement in European newspapers demanding greater rights.

“Until Turkey recognizes all its own citizens as full members of this
country, it is not ready for membership in a larger union of
democratic nations,” said a businessman, who would not give his name,
in Van, a predominantly Kurdish city in eastern Turkey.

Most diplomats and human-rights advocates argue that the best way to
continue the reform process in Turkey is to pursue EU membership.

“The EU accession process has already helped bring about significant
human-rights improvements in Turkey,” Jonathan Sugden, who monitors
Turkey for Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “A `yes’ . . .
would maintain that momentum.”

By Catherine Collins