Author: Virabian Jhanna

ZARAQOLU: 1915 HAS DEEP ROOTS THAT STIPULATE TURKISH DENIALISM
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005

Turkey

The hubbub in Turkish society over the decision of the Bosphorus
University of Istanbul to hold “The Ottoman Armenians at the
Decline of the Empire” workshop postponed because of the state
authorities’ opposition is as great as it was while postponing the
workshop. Interestingly, the initiative of holding the workshop came
from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who personal asked
Prof. Ayse Soysal of Bosphorus University about it.

Though the uproar poses the organizers to attacks and stirs
anti-Armenian moods, it still contributes to unearthing the issue of
the Armenian Genocide in Turkish reality and to revealing all bareness
of Turkish denialism. This is happening thanks to tenacious Turkish
scientists. One of such is Ragep Zaraqolu. Akos Armenian newspaper
of Istanbul published in its July 8 issue the article of Zaraqolu
titled “1915 has its deep roots” that was previously published in
Zaraqolu’s Uzun Yuruyus magazine in spring. To prove the historicity
of the Armenian Genocide, the author bares the hidden reasons why
the Turkish Republic takes a firm hold of denialism.

Here is what Zaraqolu writes: “There is an impression that the
tragedy will not look that horrifying, everybody will come down and
the elimination of a whole people will be seen as something natural
once the term ‘genocide’ is eschewed.

“If it is not so, what’s the point of sticking to disgusting
denialism? The point is, of course, distortion of the issue and
prevention of discussions over the essence of the things, over the
scale events and over the historic continuance. But there is one
more point to be mentioned, it is the tendency of keeping the truths
concerning the foundation of Turkish Republic under wraps.

“The state does not want the names of those who occupied high positions
in the mechanism that organized mass killings of the Armenians
come into light. It is attempting to keep this sphere sealed
off. Everything is being done to erase the period from 1915 till
the republic from memory. Those doing the opposite are immediately
accused of dishonoring the republic created by “heroic efforts” and
“honest” purposes. Yet, without examining the official ideology it
is impossible to create a democratic state.

“If you take a look at the group photo shot on occasion of opening the
session of the Turkish National Assembly in 1936, you will notice two
officials right behind the president (Ataturk) who occupied important
posts in 1915. One of them, Mustafa Helik Renda, was the chairman
of the National Assembly in 1936. The second figure was Mustafa
Abdulhalik who was the governor of Bitlis in 1915. I played major
role in uprooting Armenians from Bitlis and Mush. Then he tracked
down those who miraculously escaped to Syrian deserts and killed
them. Abdulhalik was meanwhile one of the chief advisers of Taleat.

“It was greatly thanks to his efforts that Ismet pasha was elected
president after Ataturk’s death. The first thing Ismet pasha did
was granting pardon to members of Ittihat Party and making part of
the authority. In 1943, he signed an agreement with Nazi Germany to
convey remains of Taleat pasha to Turkey.

“Suqru Qajan, interior minister, is another political figure form
the 1936 photo. He was the chief coordinator of the Armenians’
deportation, i.e. annihilation. Qajan, secretary general of People’s
Republican Party in 1927-38, rebuilt the party a la Italian fascistic
organization.

“Prof. Tevfik Salim, rector of Istanbul University in 1943-46, was a
military doctor in 1915. According to a letter published in Alemdar
newspaper on 1919, he carried out medical experiments on Armenian
soldiers injecting them a virus of typhoid. A clinic at the Istanbul
University bearing his name still functions today.

“One of the regions of Van province is named after Qyazm Ozalp,
chairman of the National Assembly in 1924-35. He was elected deputy
from the province of Van. Yet, he also was a member of Ittihat ve
Terakki Party and the commander of the 36th platoon that cleared Mush
off Armenian soldiers. Nurin, brother Enver pasha who quenched the
Commune of Baku in 1918 slaughtering local Armenians, used to trade in
drugs with Germany during the WW II. In 1945, he disappeared together
with his factory of weapons.

“As you can see, events go as deep as the year of 1915. Perhaps that’s
the reason why discussion of such issues is cut immediately.”

CROSSFIRE WAR: AZERBAIJAN/ARMENIA – BAKU ACCUSES YEREVAN OF VIOLATING CEASEFIRE
By Willard Payne

NewsBlaze, CA
Sept 2 2005

Night Watch: BAKU – The government of Azerbaijan has made another
accusation against Armenia for subjecting Azerbaijan border units to
machine gun fire.

This is why the Caucasus is more of a flashpoint than even the
Balkans. Capitals in the area, along with Moscow, in an attempt
to restore its sphere of influence, will use the conflict to their
advantage. Tehran signed substantial defense agreements with Azerbaijan
earlier this year, as this site reported, while Ankara operates in
tandem with Tehran.

To counter this the Berlin-Moscow concern could increase their
cooperation with Yerevan, if not already, and direct Washington’s
attention in this area. The Allies may view Armenia as a position of
resistance to the Islamic world’s effort to control the economy of
the Caucasus region.

SERGEY MARKEDONOV: KARABAKH IS A REAL SIDE OF CONFLICT

ARKA News Agency
Sept 1 2005

MOSCOW, September1. /ARKA/. Karabakh is a real side of the conflict
regardless of whether Azerbaijan admits this or not, ARKA News
Agency’s correspondent reports from Moscow quoting Sergey Markedonov,
Chief of Political and Military Analysis Institute’s Department for
International Relations, as saying at his meeting with journalists.

“This fact admission absolutely doesn’t mean that Baku must recognize
Karabakh as a subject of international law or automatically give
up Karabakh”, Markedonov said. In his opinion, the key problem in
Karabakh conflict settlement is to restore the sides’ trust toward
each other, and neither Russia nor Turkey and OSCE Minsk Group can
do it. Markedonov thinks some contacts are needed between the two
conflicting sides as well as discussion of some new models, because
today package and stage-by-stage scheme of the conflict settlement
collided “as two sheep on a bridge” and no move is seen. The Russian
expert is bilateral activity should be more intensive the sides
should stop waiting a miracle from the Minsk Group. The Group can
work out any plans, but if these plans are not accepted they will
produce little effect, Markedonov said. In his opinion, both sides
should make some move to give the start to this conflict settlement.

“Maybe third, fifth, twenty fifth way should be found, as present
schemes are uncompromising”, the political analyst said. In his words,
compromise means mutual concessions but not “the demand to accept my
truth”. “This is dictatorship, not compromise”, he said.

Speaking about possibility of some new initiatives, Markedonov said
clear Caucasian strategy is needed for that, but it is still missing.

“There is no acknowledgement of the idea that either Armenia or
Azerbaijan needs Russia”, Markedonov said. In his words, Armenia is
traditional ally to Russia and in Azerbaijan, pro-Russian sentiments
are strong and the country has common borders with Russia and Russia
interested in normal relations wit Azerbaijan. Taking into account the
fact that there are powerful Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in
Russia, the country can establish contacts between the two communities’
representatives. This experience can be applied also to Armenian-Azeri
relations in South Caucasus. He sees the problem in “the very narrow
corridor of the U.S. Russia and OSCE Minsk Group proposals. “We
understand that neither package nor stage-by-stage package is perfect
and it is very difficult to propose something new. But the problem is
need attention”, Markedonnov said. “I’d like to put special emphasis on
Diaspora. This is a very rich resource regarding all aspects. Taking
into consideration Armenian and Azerbaijani offshore communities’
political and financial influence on these countries, this can be used
as resource for not formal reconciliation”, Markedonov said. M.V. -0–

Novelist charged

Kansas City Star, KO
Sept 1 2005

LAST CHAPTER

ISTANBUL – Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk has been charged with the
“public denigrating of Turkish identity” and faces a possible prison
sentence of three years, his publisher said Wednesday.

The charge stems from an interview that Pamuk gave to a Swiss
newspaper in February in which he said that certain topics were
regarded as off-limits in Turkey. As examples, he listed the massacre
of Armenians in 1915 and the ongoing war between Turkish security
forces and Kurdish guerrillas.

KARABAKH TALKS ON RIGHT TRACK – ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 30, 2005 Tuesday

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said it “gives a positive valuation to the
meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Kazan.”
“The talks on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement are on the right track.
There is no breakthrough, but the evaluation is positive, by and
large,” Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan told a news conference
on Tuesday.

The meeting in Kazan gives an opportunity to the foreign ministers
to continue the work.

The ministers, at the presidents’ instruction, were ordered to continue
meetings, based on the accords reached in Warsaw and Kazan.

The latest round of talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers took place in Moscow on August 24.

The Armenian diplomat did not rule out a new meeting between the
foreign ministers of the two countries and the arrival in the region
of the co-chairs of the OSCE’s Minsk group on Nagorno Karabakh.

“A new field for work is opening,” Oskanyan said.

GEORGIAN CITIZEN DETAINED AT AZERBAIJANI BORDER

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 30 2005

The Shamkir group of the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan
detained a Georgian citizen Kurami Georgievitsch Ahvediani.

Amount of 9,000 Armenian drams and a piece of paper with the telephone
numbers of Ruslan Bashirli, Osman Alimuradov and Seid Nuriyev, as
well as the Internet site and e-mail addresses of the “Yeni Fikir”
youth organization were found on Ahvediani.

According to news reports, after meeting with Bashirli and Alimuradov
on July 28-29, 2005 in Tbilisi he headed to Armenia on commercial
purposes. Upon returning to Tbilisi he found out that, he is wanted
by the Georgian prosecutor’s office and the special services. For
making the things clear he decided to go to Azerbaijan for meeting
with Bashirli. To this end he crossed the state border of Azerbaijan
illegally.

On the fact of the illegal border crossing on August 27, 2005 the
criminal case according to the Article 318.1 was brought against Merabi
Vahtangovitch Djibutia. By the decision of the Sabayil district court
he was taken into custody. The investigation is going on.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia)
August 26, 2005 Friday

Victorious Vic in Skinny’s corner

by GRANTLEE KIEZA

VIC Darchinyan will go from Raging Bull to raging fan tonight when he
takes his place in the corner of his great mate, world-rated
super-bantamweight Nedal “Skinny” Hussein.

Darchinyan, who retained his IBF and IBO world titles with a stunning
fifth-round stoppage of rugged Colombian Jair Jimenez at the
Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night, will be cheering Hussein in
his bout with Queensland’s tough Mick Shaw at the Auburn RSL.

Hussein, who dropped a 12-round decision to WBC super-bantamweight
champ Oscar Larios in Las Vegas last year, now hopes to jag a world
featherweight title fight and will have Darchinyan’s whole-hearted
support.

Hussein has 38 wins in 40 fights, his only defeats coming against the
highly decorated Larios and multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao,
who had to climb off the canvas to beat the big-punching Australian
on a controversial cut-eye decision five years ago.

Shaw, from Toowoomba, has 21 wins in 28 fights but has yet to face
anyone of Hussein’s standing on the world scene.

Yesterday Darchinyan said he was delighted with his performance
against Jimenez, who had enormous heart but no answer to the
Armenian-born Aussie’s power and aggression.

The IBF’s Australian representative Ray Wheatley said the victory
proved that Darchinyan is the best flyweight in the world and that
the southpaw strongman deserved to start favourite in proposed
unification bouts with WBC champ Pongsaklek Wongjongkam of Thailand
and Lorenzo Parra of Venezuela.

And Darchinyan’s manager Robert Joske, who guides the careers of such
sporting luminaries as Steve Waugh and Justin Langer said: “Vic is
such a wonderful young man and it is really gratifying to see him
building a great sporting career in Sydney.

“We have a tremendous world champion on our hands and slowly but
surely he will build a big following in this country.

Kostya Tszyu, the former unified world junior-welterweight champ,
said he was amazed by the determination and strength of the 2000
Olympian against a very gifted opponent.

“Vic’s confidence and his hunger are unbelievable, said Tszyu, who
was ringside on Wednesday night.

“I am certain Vic will go on to unify the flyweight titles as I did
in my weight division.”

EYE CLINIC OF YEREVAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO GIVE ASSISTANCE
OF EGYPTIAN ARMENIANS

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. One of the oldest Armenia’s clinics – the
Eye clinic of the Yerevan state medical university after Mari Nubar
again opened its doors for patients. Armenia’s ambassador to Egypt
Ruben Karapetyan and the wife of Armenia’s foreign minister Nani
Oskanyan participated today at the solemn opening ceremony of clinic’s
surgical department.

The clinic’s director, chief child’s ophthalmologist of Armenia,
professor Armen Shakaryan informed that the clinic has not stopped
functioning from the day of its establishment (1928) and now annually
about 7.000 patients have their treatment there. “The clinic was
opened by a Egyptian of Armenian origin and both deputy Prime Minister
of Egypt (that time) Poghos Nubar-Pasha and the present Armenian
community of Egypt have provided financial assistance to it”,
Shakaryan informed. He also noted that 5 free operations jointly with
Egyptian doctors will be done in the clinic shortly.

To note, unique operations and treatments on stoppage of myopia
growth, atrophy of optic nerve, glaucoma, cataract and other eye
diseases.

PACE PRESIDENT: ELECTION ‘REAL OPPORTUNITY’ TO PROVE ADHERENCE TO DEMOCRACY

AzerNews, Azerbaijan Aug 25 2005

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) Rene van Der Linden has cited the importance of Azerbaijan’s
observing its commitments to ensure democratic situation on the
eve of the November parliament poll. “The upcoming elections
are a real opportunity for Azerbaijan to show its adherence to
democratic principles”, he told a news conference on the results
of his visit to Baku on Tuesday. Linden, who has met with Azeri
officials, representatives of political parties and non-governmental
organizations, said the election was in focus at his meetings. He
said that to ensure the transparency of elections, all NGOs should be
allowed to observe their conduct. Azerbaijan’s laws ban NGOs with
over 30% foreign capital from monitoring the vote. “I sensed that
the government agrees with allowing all NGOs ensuring transparency
of their funding to monitor the poll. The Council of Europe is ready
to provide its assistance in this area”, Linden said.

Linden said that one of the key objectives is to punish those
who gave way to violations of law during the 2003 presidential
elections in Azerbaijan. “The issue should be solved prior to the
elections to raise public trust on the poll.” He emphasized that
the independence of media should be ensured and favorable conditions
provided for opposition’s access to television. The PACE president
said the Azerbaijani government may not accept the CE proposals
on democratization of the pre-election climate. “In every country,
the way elections are held and their rules are determined not by the
CE, but the government, political parties and NGOs. The Council of
Europe, on its end, assesses the extent of their compliance with its
principles… In any case, we will voice our harsh position if the
elections fall short of international standards.” Touching upon the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh, the PACE president
said that it should be resolved peacefully. “Peace is the only
option. If Azerbaijan wants to enter the European family, it must
resolve the conflict peacefully.” Linden said that he discussed
issues relating to the conflict settlement both in Azerbaijan and
Armenia during his visit to the region. He said that during talks
with Armenian officials, he stated that ‘living in isolation’
from Azerbaijan and Turkey, the two powerful regional countries,
is unacceptable. Linden said that if either Azerbaijan or Armenia
consider resorting to ways other than peace talks to settle the
conflict, the international community will come out strongly against
the decision, as both countries assumed commitment to a peaceful
resolution upon their admission to the Council of Europe. The PACE
president said that the international community should intensify
pressures on both sides to resolve the conflict. He voiced a hope that
the ongoing negotiations will complete successfully. Upon arrival
in Baku, Linden told journalists that favorable conditions have been
created to settle the Garabagh conflict. “We should take advantage
of this and find a way to resolve the conflict.”

REFERENDUM OR ‘COLORFUL REVOLUTION’

AZG Armenian Daily #151, 26/08/2005

Home

Arshak Sadoyan’s Forecasts

These days, Arshak Sadoyan, chairman of National Democratic Federation,
and his party members wander in the streets of Yerevan, informing
people about the rally envisaged in the yard of Matenadaran. This time
Sadoyan invited to the rally not only common citizens but also all the
political forces and the representatives of foreign and international
organizations in Armenia. Achieving no success in the discussions
unfolded by the coalition and the ruling parties, Mr. Sadoyan decided
to get the answers to unsolved issues during public discussions. He
is also sure that the authorities are engaged in fakery and people
can get no true information from the speeches of the authorities’
representatives on TV. Mr. Sadoyan hopes to inform the people by
means of the rally.

In the course of the press conference, Mr. Sadoyan touched upon the
main issues he is concerned about and is going to inquire from the
political figures. He is going to ask Mr. Pryakhin, OSCE ambassador,
whether it is true that the human rights and the freedom fixed in
the constitution can be extinguished.

As for the referendum, Mr. Sadoyan advises to vote against it,
promising to inform about the details during the rally. Mr. Sadoyan
also forecasted that the referendum will provoke “a colorful
revolution” in Armenia.