Azad-Hye, Dubai, 18 January 2006: The "National Georgraphic" magazine's
article on genocide ("Genocide and the Science of Proof", by Lewis Simons,
January 2006) mentions the Armenian Genocide by one line only,
without providing any information about the historical setting and the
mechanism in which it was carried on.
 
We believe that it is important for the reader to have a clear view about
the intents of the leading "Young Turk" politicians such as Talaat Pasha and
Enver Pasha, who masterminded the Genocide against the Armenians during WWI.
Any in-depth article about the subject of the genocide should contain far
more information about the Armenian experience than what National Geographic
had offered.
 
Below is a letter by Alfred de Zayas, J.D., Ph.D, a Geneva based professor
of international law, in which he mentions some of the most inhuman acts in
recent history, asking the Editors of the "National Geographic" to consider
them as part of any genocide related studies or reports.
 
-----
 
National Geographic Magazine
PO Box 98199
Washington DC 20090-8199
 
Dear Editors,
 
As a professor of international law (I hold a J.D. from Harvard and
currently teach at the Geneva School of Diplomacy) and history (I hold a
Ph.D. in history from the University of Göttingen and currently teach the
history of genocide at the American College of Switzerland), I find the
article by Lewis Simons disappointing and well below the standard of what
National Geographic readers may expect.
 
Forensic medicine is a tool in determining certain aspects of war crimes,
but the crucial test of genocide is the “intent” to destroy in whole or in
part a national, ethnic or religious group.   
 
When it comes to “intent” to destroy a group, you find strong examples of
genocidal animus in the policies of the Ottoman Minister of the Interior
Talaat Pasha and Minister of War Enver Pasha with regard to the
extermination of the non-Islamic population of the Ottoman Empire, the
Armenians, the Assyrian Christians and the Greek orthodox 1915-1922. 
 
A particularly grotesque example of “ethnic cleansing” in the 20th century,
which Mr. Simons completely ignores, was the destruction of the 700-year old
German settlements in Central Europe through the brutal expulsion of 15
million men women and children from their homelands in East Prussia,
Pomerania, East Brandenburg, Silesia, the Bohemian Sudetenland, the German
villages and towns of Moravia, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Romania.  More than
two million Germans perished in this largest demographic catastrophe in the
20th century.
 
As abundantly shown in the available archival documents, in the public
statements of President Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia, President Boleslaw
Bierut of Poland and Marshal Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, and in the
execution of the expulsion policy – including the internment of tens of
thousands of Germans and the deportation to the Soviet Union as forced
labour of over one million of them as “reparations in kind”, there was clear
intent to kill many Germans civilians.  Without a doubt, many more Germans
were killed during this ethnic cleansing than during Milosevic’s wars
against the Bosnians and the Kosovars, many more than were killed in
Saddam’s campaigns against the Kurds.
 
Genocide, of course, is but a new word for an old phenomenon.  Noone should
suggest that it is an invention of the 20th century.  Surely one of the
worst examples of genocide is the Spanish, British and French colonization
of North and South America.  Indeed, the entire indigenous population of the
Antilles – Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and Santo Domingo), Jamaica, Puerto Rico
-- was wiped out.  The decimation of the Aztecs and Incas also qualify as
genocide.  In North America the indigenous were more thoroughly exterminated
than in South America, and we recognize their traces in names like
Massachusetts, Narraganset, Cherokee, Chicago, Dakota.  It is surely not a
page of glory when we reflect on  the politics of “manifest destiny” and
realize that it too amounted to genocide, and that the intent to eliminate,
extirpate, displace the native Americans (whom we called “Indians”) was
quite brazenly articulated by many Americans from Cotton Mather to George
Washington, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt and Oliver Wendell Holmes.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Alfred de Zayas, J.D., Ph.D

http://www.crda-france.org/0en/6tarboston/1971_vinci03.htm

and also from London (Ararat 1919) :
http://www.crda-france.org/0en/6history/a_d/16_vinci394.htm

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6_iranafghinde/a234persia.htm

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6_iranafghinde/a436india.htm

Armenians from Los Angeles and Orange County will be gathering in
Downtown Los Angeles, for a press conference led by the law firms of
Geragos & Geragos, Kabatack Brown Kellner, and Yeghiayan & Associates,
the attorneys who settled the lawsuits against New York Life and AXA
during the past year for $37.5 million dollars.

The firms now represent the heirs of Armenians who perished in the
Armenian Genocide, in a lawsuit which will be filed on January 13,
2006 against Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank. The lawsuit alleges
that the German banks have systematically thwarted the recovery of
millions of dollars in assets deposited by Armenians prior to the
1915 Genocide. In addition, the lawsuit seeks damages for looted
Armenian assets forcibly taken by the Turkish government during the
Genocide. Deutsche Bank funded the Turkish government's mass genocide
of Armenians in return for these looted Armenian assets.

On Friday, January 13, 2006 at 12 noon, a press conference and protest
will be held at the Los Angeles office of Deutsche Bank regarding its
failure to return money and assets belonging to heirs of Armenians who
perished in the Armenian Genocide. Your presence at this protest is
need to garner the attention of Deutsche and Dresdner bank executives
who have ignored their banks' wrongdoings. Guest speakers will include
attorneys Mark J. Geragos, Brian Kabatack, and Vartkes Yeghiayan. Lunch
will be donated by Zankou Chicken.

Source: AZG Armenian Daily, 12/01/2006

The California Courier (13 January 2006)

By Harut Sassounian


Turkish American Prof. Fatma Muge Gocek received abusive and possibly
libelous e-mails from Turks last week after criticizing the denialist
policies of the Turkish government on the Armenian Genocide in an interview
conducted by Aris Babikian which was published in Horizon Weekly, a
Canadian-Armenian newspaper, and posted on several internet sites.

A Turk, calling himself "Ilyas Botas" (who also uses various aliases on
different occasions) sent an e-mail full of insults to Dr. Gocek with copies
to scores of others, including the Turkish Embassy. Referring to Prof. Gocek
as "a useful idiot," the so-called "Botas" wrote: "This bimbo not only has
an immense ego problem, but she is odiously (sic) arrogant.. The chutzpah of
this airhead of a woman is as big as her considerable heft."

In a blatant attempt to libel Dr. Gocek, "Botas" wrote: "How obviously and
how crudely her words are geared to please her Dashnak benefactors. If this
woman is not a pathetic, sycophantic, toady of the Dashnak hate lobby, then
my name is not Keenan Pars," thus shamelessly disclosing another one of his
aliases.

"Botas" then went on to attack Elif Shafak, a prominent Turkish scholar who
had no role in the interview, but who had previously made sympathetic
comments about Armenians. "Botas" described Shafak as "the other bimbo."

Another Turk by the name of Ferruh Demirmen, who supposedly is a petroleum
consultant in Houston, Texas, also sent a libelous hate e-mail to these two
Turkish scholars, stating that "they are self delusional, they thrive in
vanity, surpass in inanity, and their mark is stupidity. Arrogance is in
their blood, deceit is their trade, and the Pavlovian instinct is in their
psyche. As long as there are those like Gocek and her ilk, that are ready to
serve their Dashnak masters, Turks don't need enemies."

In a separate e-mail posted on the Turkish Forum, "Botas" referred to Gocek
and Shafak as "opportunistic parasites.who sell their souls for personal
gain." "Botas" is listed as a Board Member of the Turkish Forum.

Prof. Gocek sent an e-mail to both Demirmen and "Botas," advising them that
attorneys for the University of Michigan, where she is a tenured professor,
are "looking into the legal implications of internet hate mail on the
senders, their e-mail service providers, as well as the websites and the
service providers of the websites at which these hate mails then get
posted."

In an e-mail Dr. Gocek posted on the Armenian Workshop site, she said: "I am
not the only one to receive such hate mail. I know Taner Akcam, Halil
Berktay and Elif Shafak had received such mail in large volumes and it
became clear at the Istanbul Conference in September 2005 that many of the
participants there and specially the journalists who happened to write on
the Armenian issue have received it in droves as well."

Dr. Gocek described her predicament as follows: "You have scholars on the
one side and some vicious individuals - who of course are not scholars -
backed by certain institutions sent out to attack them with all their might,
on the other. That is not fair. For the peaceful resolution of the Armenian
issue, such tacit institutional/organizational support behind such
maliciously behaving individuals needs to stop. And even though such tacit
support may work in Turkey, where the legal system, unfortunately, does not
work as well as it ought to, it should not work in the United States."

In response to Dr. Gocek's e-mail to the senders of the these hate mails,
"Ilyas Botas" responded with even more insulting and obnoxious words, by
writing: "The fat lady threatens legal action. And I am shaking in my boots,
or more correctly, in my wing-tip shoes. Are the chickens coming home to
roost, Ms. Gocek? How do you like them apples? Weren't you and a bunch of
other Dashnak lackeys the ones who were decrying the lack of freedom of
_expression in Turkey before you held your 'Armenian Conference' in
Istanbul? How now, Gocek Efendi? The moccasin is on the other foot and you
don't seem to like it. That's too bad. .How am I doing so far, fat lady? Am
I providing you with even more grounds for 'legal action'? Good. Send in
your lawyers. Take your best shot. .I'll provide you with even more grounds.
Or by 'legal action' do you mean to send the hoodlum punks from the Armenian
Youth Federation or some such thing? .Fat lady Gocek, I am ready for all
eventualities, including having the perimeter of my house decorated with
surveillance cameras. You say you are a professor 'with tenure.' Where did
you get your degree? Like Dennis Papazian, at the Guguk Gagikyan Lahmajun
Bakery? .I will distribute the same piece to every institution, public or
non (sic), as well as to individuals, that I can. I think every Tom, Dick
and Harry in the world should know what you're up to. Hey, what the hell
more can you ask for? I'm making you famous. I expect you will send me my 10
percent commission via Fedex. Oh, if you want a good attorney, I recommend
the Armenian lawyer, Mark Geragos the Gorgeous. Oh, I know he lost his last
two big cases for the shoplifter actress Winona Rider [he means Ryder] and
for the murderer Scott Peterson, but I think he still has the knack. I bet
he'll even do pro bono work for people who are inclined to be toadies for
the slick Dashnak lobby. Wishing for your eventual cessation of prostituting
for the Dashnak hate peddlers, Ilyas."

These vicious words remind one of the Armenian saying: "hayhoyanke pasdi
sove e." Cusswords or name-calling means the absence of proof.

If Dr. Gocek does carry out her intent to sue these unsavory characters, she
would not only safeguard her own reputation, but she would blow the cover of
such impostors who carry out a vicious campaign of insults and threats,
hiding behind fake names and phony e-mail addresses!

Azad-Hye, Dubai 13 January 2006: Kuwaiti “Al Qabas” Arabic daily published
in its 7th January 2006 issue an interview with Giragos (Garo) Kouyoumdjian
on the occasion of the celebration of Christmas by the Armenians in Kuwait.
The interview was part of a wider coverage of the Armenian Community
prepared by journalist Layla Al Saraf:

“I wish health and wellbeing to all”. With this phrase Armenian businessman
Giragos Kouyoumdjian and his brother Hagop started the conversation on the
occasion of the New Year and Christmas celebrations by the Armenians. “It is
an opportunity for the individual to evaluate the outcome of a complete
year, revising the possible mistakes that have been committed and regretting
the casualties that have been suffered. In the meantime it is a time for
sensing deep pride and contentment for various accomplished achievements”.


The beginning of the year is an occasion for expressing increased wishes and
expectations on all levels: individual, family, relatives, friends,
compatriots and homeland, said Kouyoumdjian, stressing that “It is quite
common for individuals to forget what the Arab famous poet once said: Not
everything that a person aspires can be accessed”.

Kouyoumdjian carried on his thoughts expressing thanks and gratitude to the
State of Kuwait and its people for the care and hospitality they provide to
the Armenian Community. Dignified life, respect towards all beliefs,
constant easiness of conducting private and business affairs are the
characteristics of this country. He underlined that the freedom of belief
and the observance of religious rituals are maintained in the Kuwaiti
Constitution.

Elaborating on the wishes that could be materialized during the coming year
Kouyoumdjian said: “I wish that the difficulties my beloved country and
birthplace Syria is facing now to be resolved and the black clouds that are
dominating on the horizon to be dispersed very soon. I wish the crisis of my
motherland Armenia with neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey to be resolved too
and the dreadful embargo imposed on Armenia for more than ten years to be
lifted, thus easing the sufferings of the Armenians and paving the way for
the settlement of the disputes”.

Kouyoumdjian called on the “Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development” to
provide aid to nations in need, expressing the hope that Armenia would be
placed on the top of the list of the countries that would be granted
financial or economic assistance by Kuwait in the coming year, so that the
Armenians will economically rise and participate in the global development
and prosperity process.

Concluding the interview Kouyoumdjian expressed the wish that Kuwaiti
authorities provide a piece of land to the Armenian Community in a suitable
location in Kuwait City to construct a school and a church together with
adjacent facilities that will host athletic, cultural and social activities,
making it possible for the Armenians of Kuwait to meet in a place
appropriate to the nature of the civilization to which they belong and by
means of  which they would be able to express their full and sincere
gratitude to the all. 
 
Arabic text (including meetings with other Community members):
http://www.alqabas.com.kw/news_details.php?id=140173

URL at Azad-Hye:
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=734fk67

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10. ARMINFO. The largest poultry companies in
Armenia are seriously concerned over the situation with bird flu
in Turkey. They fear for losing millions of dollars of industrial
investments. The heads of the three large poultry producers in Armenia,
Lusakert, Araks and Arzni, made this statement at a discussion,
Tuesday, on 10 January.

The owner of Lusakert poultry, MAX Group concern president,
parliamentarian Khachik Manukyan told ARMINFO that native producers
do not plan reduction of prices for poultry products and eggs despite
the panic and risk of the virus's entry to Armenia. He said in the
summer of 2005, when cases of bird flu were recorded in Russia,
Romania and Turkey, poultry products sales volumes in Armenia fell
by 15%. He supposed that a similar situation will be observed in
the country this year. Kh. Manukyan said if the population displays
a careful approach to purchase of bird flu within 2-3 months, during
the 4th month the demand will rise again. The businessman is sure that
the virus will bypass Armenia. In particular, he said that Lusakert
poultry factory has already started a closed regime of work.

He said 8-9,000 tons of poultry products and some 250 million of
eggs are produced in Armenia annually, with half of them being sold
in Yerevan. In total, about 18,000 tons of poultry products are sold
in the country.

Independent experts say the annual turnover of poultry production and
eggs in Armenia is about $90 million, including 70% is the share of
large and medium- scale native producers.

Scanned Armenian Pages  :

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6_arabes/a425syria.htm

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6_arabes/b13syrialebanon.htm

The author of this article in Armenian is very learned Father Nerces
Akinian from Vienna, born in Artvin (1883-1965) :

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/5arabes/akinian1943beyrouth2a.htm

Nil Agopoff
http://www.crda-france.org/index.htm

Youssouf Bey Hekekyan (1807-1875)
http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6egypt/19hekekyan1.htm

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6_arabes/a126misr.htm

http://www.crda-france.org/0hh/6_arabes/b54misr.htm

By Simon Maghakyan

Today, I was jokingly called a traitor. My betrayal was attending two
Armenian Christmas services at the same time. I know this does not make
sense, but be patient and read. Armenians, who are generally labeled as
family and church oriented, have two churches: both of them Apostolic
(eastern Orthodox) indeed.

The first church is the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church (based in
Echmaidzin, Armenia). The next one is the Cilicia Armenian Apostolic Church
(now based in Antilias, Lebanon). The Catholicos (Patriarch) of All
Armenians is the head of the Echmiadzin church: the Catholicos of Cilicia is
the head of Antilias (after the Genocide, the See of Cilicia moved to
Lebanon from Armenian Cilicia in Turkey). Both of them are the same, and
they all started with Echmiadzin becoming the Holy See in 301AD. But due to
political reasons (Armenia being destroyed by invaders and the See moving to
different places), we happened to have two heads of our church. I don't know
the exact history (and both sides have different arguments), but the
division was deepened after Soviet Union was established, and an Armenian
nationalist party in the Diaspora, called Dashnaktsutiun, wanted to have
more control in the Diaspora, and the See of Cilicia established prellacies
in the United States (though there was already the Diocese- belonging to
Echmiadzin). This is very confusing; so if you don't get it, don't feel bad.
In short, Armenian Church is divided.

So I live now in this American state in the Midwest, which has about 2000
Armenians. Less than 5%, indeed, attends the Church services (the priests
come over from California, because we do not have our own). As every other
traditional Armenian diasporan community, we have two services in our state
(we rent out churches for the service). I always go to every service we
have, despite the church it holds. This does not happen every other week.
Sometimes it is only once in two or more months. I guess the competition
makes both of the churches to hold services; so I guess division has a
positive side too.

So today we had Christmas service; in two different churches at the same
time. We went to the one we got the first invitation from (first come, first
serve). The next one only let us know about the service yesterday, and when
I angrily asked why could not they have scheduled another day since there
was already an Armenian church service, I was told that the airline tickets
for the priest (coming from California) had been bought 3 weeks before.

After we received communion in the first church, my Mom and I left for the
next church (we really wanted to see our friends at the "other church" as
well). Of course, some of the organizers in the first church were not happy,
neither the ones in the next one. But who cares. If they want to have two
different services at the same time, I guess I have to go to both of them.

We really had nice time at the second one (when we went, the service was
over). We joked a lot, and we "married" a couple. I was the tamada (the
toast master). Oh, in the first one, during the service, the fire alarm
turned on, so it was quite noisy for a while.

OK. If you think this story was interesting, leave here a comment, so that I
know whether I should post things like this.

P.S. Since 301AD, Armenians have been celebrating the Christmas on 6
January. It is said that the rest of the world did the same, until in the
late 4th century the Greeks switched the date to a Pagan celebration, on 25
December, to gain more popularity.

Simon Maghakyan
8th January 2006
E-mail: sammagh@...
Website: www.blogian.cjb.net

The URL of the article at Azad-Hye:
http://www.azad-hye.net/article/article_view.asp?re=734ag67

PRESS RELEASE

The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 264-4203
info@...
www.GenocideEducation.org
www.TeachGenocide.org


Contact: Raffi Momjian - raffim@...


EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR COMBATING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND HOLOCAUST DENIAL
http://www.genocideeducation.org/pr/2006/01_05_2006.htm

SAN FRANCISCO - The Holocaust Center of Northern California and The Genocide
Education Project hosted lecturer Dr. Paul Bartrop, a prominent Holocaust and
Genocide Studies Fellow at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday,
December 18 at the Holocaust Center in San Francisco. Dr. Bartrop addressed
members of the Armenian community and Holocaust Center community about the role
and importance of education to thwart genocide denial.

In his lecture, Dr. Bartrop pointed out some recent examples of denial, noting
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust, writer Orhan
Pamuk's trial in Turkey for insulting the country with mention of the Armenian
Genocide, and the lawsuit against the Massachusetts Board of Education for
removing denial literature on the Armenian Genocide. Bartrop contended that if
we study genocide, we must study attempts to deny it as well, since denial is
the final phase of genocide and its use completes the process of annihilation.

Bartrop discussed some of the challenges of dealing with denial in the classroom
– to what extent should students be exposed to deniers, how teachers can help
students understand and question the motives of genocide deniers, and how to
combat denial. At a minimum, he asserted, students should know that deniers
exists, recognize their motives and be prepared to answer questions of
opposition. These are lessons in social responsibility.

Bartrop went on to discuss the various forms and processes of denial, including
either rationalizing or trivializing genocide, how deniers falsify research
findings, misquote or dismiss the veracity of the evidence to the contrary.
"Teaching about genocide is a matter of self-interest if we wish to live in a
civilized society which elevates humanity and denigrates barbarism of the kind
the perpetrators of genocide have practiced," concluded Dr. Bartrop.

Raffi Momjian, Executive Director of The Genocide Education Project stated,
"Both our communities are being dehumanized to this day, the Jewish community
continues to face anti-Semitic forces, while the Armenians must deal with denial
of their genocide." He concluded, "We are convinced that the most effective way
to combat anti-Semitism and denial is through education."

Morgan Blum, Head Educator of the Holocaust Center of Northern California,
commented, "We were very pleased to have an opportunity to host an event of
common interest for both the Armenian and Holocaust Center community. We can
gain great perspective by studying the unique aspects of the Holocaust and
Armenian Genocide, as well as understanding the common elements which adds to
the richness of Comparative Genocide Studies."

####

The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization
that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly
the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials,
providing access to teaching resources and organizing educational workshops. For
more information, call (415) 264-4203 or visit www.GenocideEducation.org or
www.TeachGenocide.org.

Founded in 1977, the Holocaust Center of Northern California is the region's
most important resource for Holocaust education, research and remembrance. The
Center strives to educate people of all ages about the consequences of racism,
hatred and indifference. For more information, call (415) 777-9060, or visit the
website at www.hcnc.org.

By SELCAN HACAOGLU


Seeking to end an unpopular case, the justice minister urged Turkey's
best-known novelist Friday to apologize for remarks that led to charges of
insulting the country.

Orhan Pamuk went on trial Dec. 16 for saying "30,000 Kurds and 1 million
Armenians were killed in these lands," but the proceeding was immediately
stopped to await a ruling by the Justice Ministry on whether to proceed.

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, who has the final say on halting the trial,
said Friday he would rule before the next court date of Feb. 7 on whether to
go ahead with the proceeding, which has divided the nation and brought
Turkey international censure.

The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time in the overwhelmingly
Muslim country's push to join the European Union, which severely criticized
the trial, questioning the commitment to freedom of expression in a country
that opened membership negotiations with the bloc in October.

In urging Pamuk to apologize, the minister appeared to be looking for a way
to end the case. Dozens of other people are facing similar charges.

"I wish he would" apologize, Cicek said on private NTV television, adding
that he would like the writer to say: "I am sorry."

However, the decision to drop the case is likely to anger the government's
conservative and nationalist grass roots, who were angered by Pamuk's
remarks.

Pamuk was charged under a law that makes insulting Turkey a crime after a
Swiss newspaper in February quoted him as saying: "30,000 Kurds and 1
million Armenians were killed in these lands, and nobody but me dares to
talk about it."

Pamuk's remarks referred to two of the most painful episodes in recent
Turkish history: the mass killings of Armenians during World War I, which
Turkey insists was not a planned genocide, and recent guerrilla fighting in
Turkey's overwhelmingly Kurdish southeast.

To many nationalists, Pamuk's remarks were especially upsetting because they
were made to a foreign newspaper. Pamuk, the critically acclaimed author of
"My Name is Red," "Snow" and "Istanbul," faces up to three years in prison
if convicted.

Cicek criticized Pamuk for not making timely conciliatory remarks and not
trying to clarify his comments, hinting that such a move would have
prevented his trial.

"Why didn't he come out and say: 'I never said such a thing,'" Cicek asked.
"He should have said: 'I apologize to my nation.'"

European officials have demanded that Turkey drop the case against Pamuk and
do more to protect freedom of expression.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul acknowledged the case had tarnished the
country's image abroad and said laws limiting freedom of expression may be
changed.

In Pamuk's Dec. 16 trial appearance, EU legislators stood outside the
courthouse and questioned the government's commitment to free speech.

But nationalists pelted Pamuk's car with eggs, shouting "Traitor!" and "Love
it or leave it!" in reference to Turkey.

Source: Associated Press
6th Janauary 2006

Source: www.genocide.com
7 January 2006

The administration of www.genocide.com was shocked with the comments of
Azerbaijani academician Dr. Vali Bakhshaliyev, who, while commenting on the
recent destruction of the headstones of Julfa’s ancient graveyard, shamelessly
denied the existence of that medieval Christian cemetery. Mr. Bakhshaliyev,
indeed, went far ahead in his fabrications than the Permanent Mission of the
Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN. The latter “simply” stated that the evidence
about the destruction of Old Julfa (Hin Jugha) is “totally unfounded.”

The website of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan -
www.azerbaijan-un-geneva.az- published “Press-guidance” on 4 January 2006,
denying the destruction of the ancient Armenian monuments of Old Julfa. The
“guidance” informs in a common Soviet style, “the Republic of Azerbaijan has
been always keen on preserving, in its entirety and regardless of its roots and
origin, its cultural and historical heritage.”

The Christian cemetery of Julfa, as stated in a letter of the American
congressmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone, Jr. to the Azerbaijani
Ambassador, “is known to specialists to have housed as many as 10,000 of these
intricately carved khachkar headstones, up to 2,000 of which were still intact
after an earlier outbreak of vandalism on the same site in 2002.” Steven Sim
from Scotland, who visited the ruins of the Armenian holy places in Nakichevan,
affirmed in 2005: “a special state policy of destruction is being implemented in
Azerbaijan.”

Photographs from the mid-December (2005) destruction of Old Julfa are available
at http://www.armenica.org/history/old-jougha/index.html and
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures109.htm . The video, taped by the
Armenian Prelacy of Iran at the Iranian-Azerbaijani border and made available by
www.Blogian.cjb.net , can be downloaded from www.azerivandalism.cjb.net ; the
same video (clearer view, but larger file) is also available at
www.julfa.cjb.net .

Despite rolling protests from around the world, UNESCO has not yet addressed the
recent destruction of the Armenian khachkars (headstones) of Old Julfa.
Shameless denial continues with UNESCO’s shameless silence.

See article and photo at:
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=621fj41

Azad-Hye, Dubai 6 January 2006: With the advent of the New Year 2006 a new
book was published by Syrian-Armenian writer Avo Katerjian (resident of
Aleppo). The book, which is one of rare publications dedicated to
Nakhichevan (historical Armenian area now under Azerbaijani control,
situated between Armenia and Iran), examines the history of Nakhichevan, its
villages, churches and well-known people.
 
The book sheds light on the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in
that area by the Azeris, referring also to the recent vandalism committed
against historical stone-crosses, an act that has received some
international attention due to the circulation of a short film showing Azeri
soldiers busy in the demolition mission.
 
Avo Katerjian believes firmly that Nakhichevan cannot be forgotten or wiped
out from the Armenian history.
 
The main chapters of the book:
 
-The destruction caused by Communism and the arbitrary policy of Stalin.
 
-Nakhichevan: victim of false agreements.
 
-Main locations (Charour, Chugha, Kokhten, Ordubad, etc.)
 
-Famous people from Nakhichevan.
 
-The falsification of geographical locations: Numerous locations (including
the name of the area itself, many villages, mountains, rivers, etc.) used to
have Armenian names but later the Azeris, following the example of their
kinsmen in Turkey, changed those names into Turkish ones.
 
-The Annihilation of the Armenian cultural heritage.
-Basic guidelines for Armenian official policy towards the area.
 
At the end of the book, Avo Katerjian points out that the Azeris are trying
to create new facts on the ground. This danger should be faced by the whole
Armenian nation, he concludes.
 
Avo Katerjian has published many articles in the Armenian press dealing with
other aspects of Nakhichevan.
 
The book is enriched with old and recent photos (such as the famous stone
crosses) and a detailed bibliography. It ends with a poem written by the
author in 1996 dedicated to Nakhichevan and performed by “Mesrob Mahsdots”
Armenian Children’s Choir in Aleppo, Syria. The same song is included in the
accompanying CD. 
 
Author Avo Katerjian could be reached at: avokat@...
 
For purchasing a copy please contact: hrach@...


http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=371fh93

Abu Dhabi Philosophical Society presents a symposium on "Mysticism"

Introduction by eminent academic & Ambassador of Greece

Dr. Panayotis Theodoracopoulos

Followed by a presentation by PhD researcher in philosophy and open
discussion

Date: 27th of January 2006 at 7:30 pm

Location: Kalispera Greek Café, Defense Rd., Abu Dhabi, UAE

(Behind Golden Motors Mobile store)

Please book by calling Rita at the Greek embassy on 02 4492550

For further enquiries call 050 33 59 695

We received the following message from the organizers of the 7th Pan Armenian
Games in Europe (14 -16 April, 2006), Duisburg, Germany



Dear Friends,



We are very happy and proud to organize and host the 7th Pan Armenian Games of
Europe, which will take place on the 14-16 of April, 2006. We would like to
welcome you all, athletes, guests and participants, in the Wedau-Sport complex
in the city of Duisburg, Germany.



We would like to ask you to give us a definitive answer till the 15th of
January, 2006. Please inform us till then if you are going to participate in the
upcoming games. We are offering Basketball (M,W), Football (M), Table tennis,
Volleyball (mix) and Chess.



Please give us till the 15th of February, in detail how many teams, the number
of players, and which sorts of sports you would like to participate in.

Please give us the names, telephone numbers and emails of two persons who can be
our contacts till and throughout the games.

Late registrations will lead to additional fees.





Price for Athletes 200 € includes:

3 Nights: Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Breakfast, lunch and dinner).

It also includes the Saturday evening Party and the Sunday’s Gala Dinner.





Price for Spectators 300 € includes:

3 Nights: Friday, Saturday and Sunday with breakfast.



It also includes the Saturday evening Party and the Sunday’s Gala Dinner



We hope you will experience a great spirit of competition and enjoy the time
with our fellow Armenians who will join us from all over Europe.



To get additional information please do not hesitate to contact us,



ZAD-Sport Organization Team

Minas Awakian

Tel.: 00491773500710

Fax.: 0049 203 93188765

E-mail:  <mailto:awakian@...> awakian@... or visit our
website  <http://www.page2006.com/> www.page2006.com



READ MORE AT WWW.AZAD-HYE.COM

The Washington Times

Embassy Row
By James Morrison
January 3, 2006

Pressure on Turkey

Sixty members of Congress are urging Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to pressure Turkey into withdrawing troops from
Cyprus, ending its blockade of Armenia and recognizing the
Armenian "genocide" of 1915.
They also urged her to oppose further congressional visits to
the Turkish-Cypriot side of the island, which is diplomatically
recognized only by Turkey. Three members of the House visited the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus last year, after Turkish-
Cypriots supported a reunification plan proposed by the United
Nations. Greek-Cypriots rejected the plan.
The House members who signed a letter to Miss Rice last week
also questioned her meeting in October with Turkish-Cypriot
President Mehmet Ali Talat.
The letter, written by Rep. Jim Costa, California Democrat, said
the European Union already is demanding that Turkey end its blockade
of Armenia and withdraw troops from northern Cyprus. The European
Union admitted Cyprus as a member under the Greek-Cypriot
government.
Mr. Costa, whose Central Valley district includes 60,000
Armenian-Americans, said Turkey is undermining its own self-
interests with its blockade of Armenia, claiming Turkey's foreign
policy is "held hostage by the interests of Azerbaijan." Turkey
imposed the blockade after Armenia supported an armed uprising by
ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan.
He also urged Turkey to recognize the conflict between Armenians
and the Ottoman Turkish Empire during World War I as genocide.
Armenians say the genocide took more than 1.5 million lives, but
Turkey argues that the lives were lost during a conflict between
Turkish and Armenian forces.
Turkey denies a genocide occurred.
On Cyprus, Mr. Costa noted, "Not only has Turkey failed to
recognize Cyprus, but it continues to occupy illegally over 37
percent of the island with a standing force of 43,000 Turkish troops
after invading the country in 1974 and expelling over 180,000 Greek-
Cypriots."
Turkey moved forces onto Cyprus to protect Turkish-Cypriots
after a coup engineered by Greek military officers who wanted to
annex the island with Greece.
Mr. Costa recognized the strategic and geographic importance of
Turkey.
"Turkey is at the crossroads of Europe, the Caucasus, Central
Asia and the Middle East," he said. "It has the opportunity to play
an important role in the ongoing developments in the region."

yahoogroups
--

These important historical informations now on the web :
http://www.crda-france.org/0ab/9_iraqinewspapers1919.htm

Best regards to all.

Nil Agopoff (Paris)
http://www.crda-france.org/0ab/0_0home.htm