Author: Topchian Jane

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Aug 22 2005

Turkey eyes Azerbaijani-Armenian top meetings for opening to Armenia

ANKARA – The Turkish government is awaiting the results of upcoming
high-level Azerbaijani-Armenian talks for its plans for a diplomatic
opening to Armenia.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian will meet next week, during a summit of the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS). As a prelude to the meeting Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian will hold talks in Moscow on Tuesday.

Diplomatic sources said that the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders are
expected to break the deadlock on Nagorno-Karabakh and progress on a
plan that foresees Armenian withdrawal from at least five of its
seven occupied regions, and recognition of Karabakh’s future status
through a referandum within 15 years.

Turkish officials say that they’re considering reopening the border
with Armenia, if and when Yerevan commits to such a pullout from
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mammadyarov stated that if Yerevan and Baku come to agreement at the
foreign ministerial level on Tuesday then “the presidents will be
able to give instructions on beginning the work based on the received
information.”

Oskanian also said, “I can’t say anything concrete; the negotiations
will show everything. Whether we’ll be able to conduct negotiations
on this basis or not will be seen during the meetings,” reported the
Armenian media.

Hopes for a solution on Karabakh have risen especially after the
Minsk Group of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) had talks with those involved in July. “We’ve never been
closer to an agreement,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov was quoted as saying after the talks.

Armenia’s occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region has been one of
the greatest obstacles for normalization of relations between Turkey
and Armenia. Though the Armenian government has recently signaled
they’re ready to drop the so-called “genocide” allegations from
official foreign policy, special relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan have prevented the Turkish government from opening the
border before a solution is found on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Almost 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories have been Armenian
occupation. yerevan does not recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s
national borders.

Watertown TAB & Press, MA
Aug 19 2005

Project Save and MIT take teens back to the future
Friday, August 19, 2005

Project Save Armenian Photograph Archives Inc. and the MIT Media Lab
recently collaborated to develop a new online multimedia storytelling
software that brings history into the future. In July, eight Armenian
students attended a two-week workshop during which they created
their own unique family histories using the new software at MIT,
and borrowing vintage photographs and oral histories from Project
Save Archives.

Project Save Archives, celebrating its 30th anniversary this fall,
was originally contacted by MIT Media Lab Program Manager Jacqueline
Karaaslanian, who recognized a connection between the new software,
called Confectionery, and the treasure trove of storytelling
ingredients that is Project Save Archives. The software’s creator,
Aisling Kelliher, a PhD candidate at MIT, was intrigued by this
wonderful source and the opportunity to further test and improve
her creation. With this product, ordinary people will be able to tell
their life and family stories on the Web using multiple forms of media,
including photographs, voice recordings, music, video and text.

Eight students from neighboring towns were selected to participate
in the collaboration: Araz Havan, Clarke Middle School, Lexington;
Lillit Der Kevorkian, Diamond Middle School, Lexington; Tariq Atiyat,
Watertown High School, Watertown; Shushan Martirosyan, Watertown Middle
School, Watertown; Shavarsh Martirosyan, Watertown Middle School,
Watertown; Grigor Martirosyan, Watertown Middle School, Watertown;
Mkrtich Martirosyan, Watertown Middle School, Watertown; and Garin
Parseghian, Belmont Middle School, Belmont.

Each of these students created his or her unique story using various
media, such as photographs, movies, text and music. The students
especially enjoyed creating with Confectionery because the photos and
the histories were of their own families. Each story was less than
a minute in length, which presented a challenge in terms of editing
and adjusting in such a small time frame. At the showing on the last
day of the workshop, however, the students’ success was evident.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, Project Save Archives will be showing some of
these heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, stories at their
30th Anniversary Celebration at the Newton Marriott Hotel. This
event is open to the public, and will feature live Armenian music
and dancing, a grand photo exhibit, a silent auction and, of course,
lots of great food.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED UN COORDINATOR IN ARMENIA

Armenpress

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Robert Kocharian
received today the newly appointed UN coordinator in Armenia, UNDP
permanent representative Mrs. Consuelo Vidal on the occasion of
handing over her credentials.

Armenian presidential press service said Kocharian wished success
in her high mission and said that the programs implemented by UN
in Armenia are notable by their efficiency. He expressed hope that
the dynamic bilateral cooperation between UN and Armenia will be
maintained un future.

Border violence could jeopardize trade and immigration reform

The Associated Press
08/17/05 01:53 EDT

DENVER (AP) – U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza Jr. warned that
progress on immigration reform, trade and other issues facing both
nations could be compromised if Mexico is unable to control the drug
wars along its border.

“The longer that violence continues, the tougher it becomes for many
Americans to talk about Mexicans as trusted partners with mutual
interests,” he said in a Tuesday speech at the University of Denver’s
Graduate School of International Studies. “An aggressive response to
border violence is one way to help avoid talk of building walls when
we are all better served by building bridges.”

Garza also described Mexico as a leading democracy and an economic
powerhouse in Latin America, but he said he ordered the temporary
closure of the American consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to ensure
the safety of American there after drug feuds have led to several
killings in recent months.

“Some have said that I ordered the shutdown (in Nuevo Laredo) to
punish the Mexican government for its failure to control violence
in the region,” Garza said. “And in a sense that’s true … and I’ve
been clear, my primary responsibility as ambassador is the safety of
United States’ citizens, and I shouldn’t and I won’t hesitate to take
action when they are at risk.”

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HEAD OF UNDP ARMENIA OFFICE

ARKA News Agency
Aug 17 2005

YEREVAN, August 17. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has held a
meeting with Head of the UNDP Armenia office Consuella Vidal Bruce.
The RA presidential press office reports that C.V. Bruce presented to
the Ra President credentials of the UN Secretary General. The President
pointed out with satisfaction that the UN programs in Armenia are
distinguished by their scale and effectiveness. He expressed hope
that the bilateral cooperation will be continued at the same high
level. In her turn, C. V. Bruce made a high appraisal of the programs
being implemented in Armenia and stressed the Armenian authorities’
active assistance. P.T. -0–

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933

Press Release
For Immediate Release ~ August 15, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
[email protected]

Illinois State Senator Meets with Chicago AYF Member, Discusses
Genocide
Education Resolution

HIGHWOOD, Ill. – Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Chicago chapter
member Karine Birazian recently met with Illinois State Senator Susan
Garrett to thank her for cosponsoring HB0312, a resolution recently
signed by Governor Blagojevich that will incorporate teaching of the
Armenian genocide in the Illinois curriculum.

The meeting with Garrett focused on current issues regarding the law
and efforts to raise genocide awareness within the Illinois school
system. During the meeting, Birazian also discussed other issues
concerning the Armenian community and ways to strengthen ties with
the state senate.

“Overall, I felt that this meeting was a great opportunity to get to
know Senator Garrett. The meeting was very positive and has opened
the doors to a great relationship between that state senator and the
Armenian community. We are honored and proud that Senator Garrett
understands the importance of our cause and is aware of our issues,”
said Birazian.

Senator Garrett, who has been a state senator since 2003, serves
on a variety of committees including the education committee. “As
a member of the Education Committee in the State Senate, I am very
committed to ensuring that our local schools provide the facts of how
the unthinkable atrocities, as a result of genocide, have devastated
civilizations throughout the world,” said Garrett.

Darchinyan wants flyweight world domination

SecondsOut
Aug 16 2005

“Raging Bull” Vic Darchinyan

By Paul Upham: IBF/IBO flyweight world champion Vic Darchinyan
defends his titles against Colombian Jair Jimenez on August 24 at the
Sydney Entertainment Centre in Australia. It is another step towards
what the “Raging Bull” truly believes will be his crowning one day,
as undisputed world champion.

“I am starting a collection. I want all the world titles at
flyweight,” Darchinyan 23-0 (18) told SecondsOut.

Against Jimenez, the 29 year-old will be making the second defence of
his IBF title that he won by stopping long-reigning former world
champion Irene Pacheco last December in the USA. In his next fight,
Darchinyan added the IBO title around his waist with an 8th round TKO
stoppage of South African Mzukisi Sikali on March 27. “I was not
happy because I made some mistakes, but he was a smart boxer,”
Darchinyan said of his 18th career knockout.

The southpaw takes awesome power and a fierce determination into the
ring with him. He came to Australia for the first time in 2000 to
represent his home nation of Armenia at the Sydney Olympic Games.
While he did not win a medal, he impressed trainer Jeff Fenech to the
point where he arranged for him to stay full time and join his Team
Fenech stable. The three-time world champion and Hall of Famer was
very impressed with what he saw. A dynamic power puncher in the
lighter weight classes who possessed a steely resolve to totally
dominate his opponents from the opening bell.

Upon turning professional, Darchinyan set himself a goal of winning a
world title within four years. Only a hurricane in Florida, which
postponed his fight with Pacheco, saw him miss the target by only six
weeks.

Next Wednesday night Darchinyan faces 26 year-old Jimenez 22-4-1
(16). “He is a strong fighter and a good puncher. I will win,” says
Darchinyan. “He is a tough guy, but I have been training hard and I
will knock him out. This will be a good fight for the fans to see. I
am getting focused for each fight. I will be ready.”

Darchinyan believes he can beat anyone in the world at flyweight or
junior bantamweight, but it is not a cocky over-confidence. The other
members of Team Fenech marvel as Darchinyan talks about future
opponents and nonchalantly says, “Yes, I fight him. I beat him,” with
not a hint of arrogance. With the power he possesses in either hand,
he believes that if he catches you just once, you will fall.

For those who are not familiar with Darchinyan’s lethal power in the
ring, there is a body pad hanging on the side of the Team Fenech
gymnasium in Marrickville, Sydney with the hand written inscription –
“Everyone must wear a body protector when sparring Vic.”

“Vic just goes into the ring on a mission to destroy his opponent
whether it is in sparring or a fight,” says Team Fenech co-trainer
Billy Hussein.

To become undisputed flyweight world champion, Darchinyan has WBA
champion Lorenzo Parra, WBC champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and WBO
champion Omar Narvaez in his sights.

“I want the fight with Parra soon,” he says. “I have seen him fight
and he is a very good and smart fighter. He moves very well. But I
know I can beat him.”

Darchinyan was ringside when fellow Team Fenech member Hussein
Hussein lost a tough twelve round decision to Wonjongkam in Bangkok
in November 2003.

“Yes, I have seen him up close,” he said. “I will beat him.”

Because of the politics and monetary demands in boxing, it is not
always possible to arrange unification bouts between world
title-holders. Darchinyan is not concerned though and believes that
he will just keep calling out for the fights to be made.

“If I can get the fight with Parra next and win the WBA title, I will
fight in the USA with three world title belts,” he explained. “I will
put the pressure on Wonjongkam and Narvaez. If there is enough money
on the table for them, I think they will come to fight me. I just
have to keep pushing for the fights. We have not had an undisputed
champion at flyweight for a long time. I want to be the first with
all the belts.”

Having flyweights the quality of Darchinyan and 29 year-old Hussein
working together in the same gym has no doubt helped both of their
careers. Hussein rematches WBC No.1 Jorge Arce on the Diego
Corrales-Jose Castillo card on October 8 in Las Vegas. A win by
Hussein will see him get a rematch with Wonjongkam. If he were to
become WBC champion, what would Darchinyan do then? Could he fight
his team mate and friend?

“Maybe he will win the WBC title and I will be happy for him to win,”
smiled Darchinyan. “We will see what happens. I told Hussy that he
can beat Arce. He will fight smarter this time and he will win. If I
can, I want to be there in Las Vegas for that fight.”

Now an Australian citizen, Darchinyan calls himself an “Armenian
Aussie” and is gathering quite a following in his adopted country.
“Each day I am becoming more popular,” he said. “Everywhere I go
people are recognising me and telling me how much they enjoy my
fights.”

But while he loves living in Australia, there is no place like
Darchinyan’s native home. After the fight with Jimenez, he will
travel back to Armenia for the first time as world champion for a
three-week holiday. “It is going to be beautiful going to Armenia,”
he said. “The fans there have been waiting for me to celebrate.”

Paul Upham
Contributing Editor

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Aug 16 2005

The Armenian Who Saved Ataturk’s Life
Tufan TURENC, Hurriyet

There were many Armenians who were loyal to the Turkish nation. Here
is the story of one remarkable example, who came through when his
nation needed him the most.

The Story of Berch Keresteciyan

Istanbul 1919 … a city of suffering under the pain of Allied
occupation … Berch Keresteciyan Efendi, in those days, is the
Director of the Ottoman Bank.

Mustafa Kemal knows him from Selanik, as the president of the bank’s
Selanik branch.

Berch Keresteciyan Efendi also happens to be the Vice President of
Hilal-i Ahmer (Kizilay), the “Turkish Red-Crescent”.

In the Istanbul of those days, a city teeming with spies on every
corner, Berch Keresteciyan meets with Mustafa Kemal’s attorney Sadettin
Ferit Bey and divulges the following information:

“You are, I believe, both the attorney and a close friend of the
Esteemed Pasha. The ship that the Esteemed will be taking to Samsun
will be sunk by a British torpedo boat outside the Bosphorus. Please
convey this warning to the Esteemed Pasha.”

Sadettin Ferit showed up at Mustafa Kemal’s house in Sisli with the
bad news, although it happened to be a rather late hour of the night.

As soon as he boarded Bandirma, the ship that would take him to Samsun
on the first leg of what would develop into the Turkish National War
of Liberation, Mustafa Kemal asked Captain Ismail Hakki Bey “is it
possible to cruise as close to the shore as possible?”

The captain hesitatingly admitted to the Pasha that this was his first
voyage in the Black Sea, and he didn’t quite know where the rocks or
shallow banks were at.

Mustafa Kemal responded: “Then we’ll sail with compass.” When the
captain replied embarrassingly that the ship’s compass did not work
either, Pasha smiled gently and said: “No problem. Great is Allah.
You still try to hug the coastal line to the extent possible.”
Bandirma, by cruising as close as possible to the shore, reached
Samsun without any major mishaps.” Berch Keresteciyan

The bank director warned of an attack planned for Ataturk’s ship

After Mustafa Kemal launched the liberation campaign in Anatolia, Berch
Keresteciyan Efendi, as the Vice President of Hilal-i Ahmer Society,
personally oversaw the shipment of crates of medicine from Istanbul
to Anatolia on cargo barges. Through the same crates and barges,
Teskilat-i Mahsusa (the National Intelligence Organization of its
days) was also smuggling weapons to Anatolia as well. Mustafa Kemal
and his friends were carrying on the war under great privation and
difficulties, and were trying their best to stop the Greek occupation
forces marching towards Ankara. The enemy was stopped at Inonu. Both
armies were getting prepared for one final showdown.

The 2420th Rotary Regional Governorship has presented an honorary
certificate posthumously to a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent,
Berc Keresteciyan Turker, who saved Ataturk’s Iife in 1919. The then
General Director of the Osmanli Bank, Berc Keresteciyan Turker,
informed officials that the ship on which Ataturk was to board
on May 19, 1919, would be attacked, and thus, saved Ataturk’s
Iife. The honorary certificate was received on behalf of the Iate
Berc Keresteciyan who died 50 years ago by Deputy Patriarch of the
Turkish-Armenians, Krikor Damadyan, during a ceremony held at the
Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall on May 30.

Keresteciyan was elected as a member of the Turkish parliament

At that point, however, the Turkish side discovered to their great
dismay that the firing mechanisms of the artillery pieces were in such
bad shape that they were unusable. The war could not be won if the
artillery could not fire. The firing mechanisms were sold in Istanbul’s
black market. However 15,000 liras were needed; a great fortune in
the early 1920s. Nobody was able to produce the required amount.

At the end, Mustafa Kemal wrote a letter to Berch Keresteciyan Efendi,
asking for the procurement of the direly needed funds.

Berch Keresteciyan’s reply to the Pasha’s envoys was clear and simple:
“Come back at midnight and I’ll have it ready for you.” Keresteciyan
withdrew everything he had in his personal bank account and delivered
it to Mustafa Kemal’s envoys. The missing firing mechanisms were
purchased and sent immediately to Anatolia.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

After the victory, Berch Keresteciyan Efendi retired from the Ottoman
Bank and was employed as a technical consultant at the state-owned
Ziraat Bank. After the surname Law passed the Turkish Parliament,
Mustafa Kemal gave the last name “Turker” to Berch Keresteciyan,
a man whose services the Pasha could never forget.

In 1934, Ataturk made sure that Keresteciyan was elected as a member
of the Turkish parliament from Afyon the same city from where the last
and decisive Pitched Battle of the Commander in Chief was launched
in August 1922. Thus Keresteciyan became the first Armenian member
of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Berch Keresteciyan Turker
served in the Turkish parliament until 1942. He passed away in 1949.

So goes the story of Berch Keresteciyan Turker … We have learned
about his story during a presentation by the American historian
Prof. Justin McCarthy, at a lecture he gave at the Rotary Club
in Istanbul. The Rotary Club, in a touching gesture of homage to
Berch Keresteciyan’s exemplary memory, has presented a Certificate
of Honor prepared in his name. This very meaningful document was
delivered to the custodianship of Archbishop Mesrob II of the Turkish
Armenian Patriarchate.

Tufan Turenc (Hurriyet)

Translated by The Turkish Times

Ukrainian admiral criticizes “biased” media coverage of international drill

UNIAN news agency, Kiev
12 Aug 05

Sevastopol, 12 August: The commander of the Peace Shield-2005 naval
exercise, Read-Adm Illya Chalyy, has criticized the biased coverage of
the peacekeeping exercise by some media outlets. The press service of
the exercise quoted Chalyy as saying that one of the objectives of the
exercises is to improve cooperation and deepen trust between
servicemen from different states, who learn to work together in
peacekeeping operations. “We are keen to help the public learn as much
as possible about international cooperation on the part of the
Ukrainian armed forces,” Chalyy said. “For this reason, we have
created appropriate conditions for journalists who report about Peace
Shield-2005,” Chalyy said.

“We are very sorry to see media reports that distort the peacekeeping
nature of the exercise. Reports about the landing of US special
operation troops on the Russian training ground in Crimea or about the
setting up of a NATO training ground misinform the public and foster a
negative public opinion,” Chalyy said.

He said that almost all servicemen of the US marine company that takes
part in the exercise are reservists who have nothing to do with
special operation forces. Chalyy added that the naval training ground
near the Opuk mount is rented by the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It was
agreed with Russia that the exercise would use this training ground,
he said. The stage of the exercise involving the Opuk training ground
will be monitored by Azeri, Armenian, Georgian, Kyrgyz and Russian
observers.

Asked to specify which media outlets ran biased reports about Peace
Shield-2005, the head of the press service said that it was the
[Crimean pro-Communist] Krymskaya Pravda newspaper, the [Ukrainian
opposition] Inter TV channel and some Russian media outlets. The press
service of the Russian Black Sea Fleet said that their own monitoring
of the media had revealed nothing of this sort.

[Passage omitted: profile of the Peace Shield-2005]

Remnants of the monastery in which the relics of St. Matthews may
reside discovered in Kirghizia

Bishkek, August 9, Interfax – Kirghiz archeologists have
discoveredruins of the Armenian monastery in which St. Matthews may
have been buried, at eastern side of Lake Issyk-Kul in the north of
the country.

Local mass media have reported Tuesday, citing the leader of the
archeological expedition Vladimir Ploskikh, that the ruins of the
monasteryhave been discovered near the village of Tiuf, on the land
surrounded by water from three sides, though they had searched for
them underwater. The ruins are concealed inside a large loam hill.

The search for the Armenian monastery in which, according to
tradition, St. Matthews was buried began in 2000, prompted by
information received from various sources, including the notes of
Russian traveler Petr Semenov Tian-Shansky.

There is a legend that St. Matthews at the end of his life went to
India but died on his way there somewhere in Kirghizia, having had
time though to found several Christian communities.

Kirghiz archeologists together with explorers from Russia and Germany
intend to continue their search for the burial place of St. Matthews
at the spot where the ruins of the Armenian monastery have been
discovered.