LOUSSAPATZ - The Dawn 999 2013-9-14‏

32-ՐԴ ԹԻՒ 999 ՇԱԲԱԹ, 14 ՍԵՊՏԵՄԲԵՐ 2013

Notice

Derenik Demirchian Born: February 6, 1877, Akhalkalaki, Georgia Died: December 6, 1956, Yerevan, Armenia Was an Armenian writer, novelist, poet, and translator as well as playwright.

117

18

COVER PAGE Demirchian was born on February 6, 1877, in Akhalkalaki in what is now Javakhk, southern Georgia.

After completing his schooling in Tiflis, he became a member of the Armenian literary group Vernatun, so named because its members met in the 5th floor residence of poet Hovhannes Tumanian. Demirchian published his first book of poetry in 1899. He attended the University of Geneva from 1905 to 1909, and then after some years in Tiflis, settled in Yerevan in 1925. During the 1920s several of his plays were produced, most notably Nazar the Brave, a rags-to-riches comedy about a folkloric figure which is based on a collation of over 60 sources by the poet Tumanian. Described by Demirchian as a play for “childlike adults and adultlike children,” Nazar the Brave was first performed in 1924. It was subsequently given professional productions in Yerevan, Tiflis and Baku, made into an opera and later a film (1940). From the mid-1920s, in addition to writing plays, Demirchian began writing and publishing in other prose gen- res, including short stories, novels, and children’s stories. And his most notable work is “Vardanank" (parts 1 and 2, 1943–46, 2nd ed., 1951), a monumental patriotic novel, dedicated to the 5th century Ar- menian liberation war. He was also known as a translator from the Russian; his translation of Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls is especially esteemed Demirchian continued to work and publish up until his death in 1956, December 6. In 1980, the Derenik Demirchian State literary prize for prose was established in Soviet Armenia. Derenik Demirchian House-Museum has operated since 1977 in Yerevan, in the house where the writer lived from 1929 to 1956.

He was recognized as a supporter of people's rights. He is the author of "Hayreni yerkir" (1939), "Mesrop Mashtots" (1956) and other books. He was elected to the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR in 1953.

ARMENIAN CHURCH ON AKDAMAR ISLAND HOSTS FIRST BAPTISM

IN 98 YEARS VAN – ANADOLU AGENCY

Armenians from Turkey and around the world have descended on Akdamar (Akhtamar in Armenian) Island on Lake Van for an annual Divine Liturgy on the island’s 10th-century church, which was reopened to occasional

prayer in 2010 after a hiatus of close to 100 years. Turkish authorities restored the church between 2005 and 2007 before opening it as a museum. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated there for the first time in 95 years in 2010. This year, a baptism took place during the service in the historical

church. The Divine Liturgy began at 11 a.m. at the historic Surp

Haç (Holy Cross) Church. The ceremony was conducted by the acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey, Aram Ateşyan.

“During our religious service, we will pray for our coun- try’s peace, unity and solidarity. There was no empty seats at the service four years ago, but as time passed, the number of

attendees decreased. Nearly a thousand people have participated this year, unlike previous years’ thousands. For the first time in 100 years, we will have a baptism inside the church. I would like to take this occasion to thank our governor, the security forces and the mayor,” Ateşyan said.

Worshippers prayed for peace in the Middle East and in the world during the service.

Some 800 security forces stood on guard during the ceremony. Police took tight security measures on and around the island, while conducting a bomb search with sniffer dogs and police divers.

Today the Armenian community in Turkey, which numbers around 70,000, is concentrated in Istanbul.

Neighbors Turkey and Armenia do not have diplomatic relations and a move toward reconciliation launched in 2009 has not borne fruit.

19

TURKISH INTELLIGENCE ORDERED HRANT DINK’S MURDER, SAYS LAWYER

YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Fethiye Çetin, the lawyer of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink who was murdered by Turkish nationalists, has exposed new details regarding this case in her new book titled I Am Ashamed: Trials on Hrant Dink’s Murder Trial. As Armenpress reports, citing Turkish Haberler.com, Fethiye Çetin states in her book that the National Intelligence Service of Turkey gave the order of Hrant Dink’s assassination via a secret code in Cyrillic alphabet.

Among other things, Fethiye Çetin emphasized that a man called Ramazan, who introduced himself as a work- er of the Chief Department of the National Security Service of the Eastern Anatolia region, called Çetin in March 2010 and said that he had important documents regarding Hrant Dink’s murder.

She got in touch with Ramazan via Skype, who showed her secret documents with the emblem of the National Intelligence Service on it. The unknown person told her that secret cryptograms are used in all the documents. Dink’s lawyer explains how they managed to read Dink’s name via Cyrillic alphabet in the aforesaid documents.

TURKISH ARMY BUILDS NEW BASE OPPOSITE SYRIA’S LATAKIA

HATAY -- Military equipment was carried by trucks for two days from the Yayladağı district of the southern Hatay province. AA Photo

The Turkish armed forces have begun to establish a new base on the top of Kel Mountain, adjacent to the Syri- an coastal city of Latakia.

Military equipment, which was carried by trucks for two days from the Yayladağı district of the southern Hatay province, is being assembled on the top of the mountain. The base is close to where a Turkish plane was shot down by regime forces in 2012.

The army has beefed up its military presence along its southern border with Syria in recent days, in anticipa- tion of strikes on the regime in Damascus.

Coastguard boats have been dispatched to the coast of Samandağ, a town from where bombs were previously transferred to Reyhanlı, where 53 people were killed in a bombing in May.

Trucks, carrying armored vehicles and tanks, have also been dispatched to the southeastern city of Şanlıurfa’s Mürşitpınar border post.

ISRAELI CRUISE MISSILES FIRED AT SYRIA DESTROYED BY US NAVY

TEHRAN (FNA) -- An urgent action report prepared by the Rus- sian Defense Ministry for President Putin said that the two Israeli ballis- tic cruise missiles which were fired by an Israeli Dolphin-class subma- rine in the Eastern Mediterranean, near the Syrian waters, on September 3 were destroyed by the US Navy, adding that Tel Aviv was about to start the war on Syria on that day.

A new urgent action report prepared by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) for President Putin stated that specialized forces operat- ing the highly advanced Vityaz air defense system in the Southern Mili- tary District detected the launching of two Popeye Turbo SLCM ballis- tic cruise missiles from an Israeli Dolphin-class submarine patrolling in the Eastern Mediterranean whereupon they were “nearly immediately” destroyed by a US Navy Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer operating in the same region.The Vityaz air defense system guarantees the detection of

20

enemy ballistic and long-range cruise missiles at blastoff and is currently being deployed along the entire Russian border; while the Popeye ballistic cruise missile is the type used by Israel during its Dolphin submarine 5 July at- tack on an arms depot in the Syrian port city of Latakia that targeted a contingent of 50 Russian-made Yakhont P- 800 anti-ship missiles; and the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers are the US Navy's first class of de- stroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar making them some of the most feared warships in the world.

According to this MoD report, these ballistic cruise missile launches took place at 10:16 am Moscow time (0616 GMT) with the Israelis first denying any knowledge, but subsequently stating that they were conducting mis- sile tests in the Mediterranean, Whatdoesitmean said.

As to the exact method the US Navy utilized in destroying these two ballistic cruise missiles this MoD report does not speculate upon, but a review of an Australian Air Force technical report [Technical Report APA-TR-2007- 0402] clearly shows it can be done, but only at great expense and using First-World technical skills and 21st Centu- ry technology.

With Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad warning that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war and spread “chaos and extremism,” this MoD report says, the Israeli motivation for launching these ballistic cruise missiles earlier today (September 3) remains “highly suspect,” a situation made even more dangerous as all International treaties require advanced notification prior to conducting any tests of this type.

The MoD report further states that the launching of these ballistic cruise missiles could have been a test of Russian military capability to detect these types of launches and Kremlin resolve to notify the entire world immedi- ately upon their detection.

In the former the Russian military proved its ability to immediately detect these types of launches, and in the latter the Kremlin, indeed, showed it would not hide from the world any knowledge the West was attacking Syria.

Though not explicitly stated in this MoD report, but speculated upon, Russian defense intelligence experts contributing to it note that Israel may have been attempting to start this war by an unprovoked attack upon Syria that would be blamed on the Americans and whose effect would be the starting of at least a wide-ranging regional war, or at its worst, World War III.

As to why Israel would want to start a major war lies in its “demographic time bomb” of a population that is pitting Israel's main factions (Zionist-Haredi-Arab) against each other with mounting fears of civil war growing by the day.

With the Haredi religious movement in Israel bound by three oaths, (1) not to settle in Israel by using force or violence, (2) not to make war with other nations and (3) not to act as if the other nations of the world would perse- cute Israel; and their booming population numbers, these strictest of Jewish sects have aligned themselves with Is- raeli Arabs and who both now control over 30% of the population.

To the reason(s) as to why Syria is now the main target of this war lies mainly in the machinations of Saudi Arabia, especially their current intelligence chief Prince Bandar who last month the Libyan Defense Ministry warned delivered Israeli chemical weapons to Syrian terrorists.

Confirmation of chemical weapons being delivered to Syrian rebels by the Saudis were confirmed by Turkey this past May when seven terrorists from the al-Qaeda-linked Al Nusrah Front were captured in antiterrorist opera- tions in Adana, Turkey, and two kilos (4,5 pounds) of sarin gas were found in their apartments.

Further confirmation of Syrian rebels using chemical weapons were detailed by the United Nations whose in- vestigators proved their use against the Syrian army at least 5 times by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists this past year.

Even the latest chemical weapons attack against Syrian civilians has been put squarely at the door of Saudi Arabia. Syrian rebels in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta admitted to Associated Press journalist Dale Gavlak that they were responsible for the 21 August chemical weapons incident which Western powers have blamed on Bashar Al-Assad’s forces, revealing that the casualties were the result of an accident caused by rebels mishandling chemi- cal weapons provided to them by Saudi Arabia.

“From numerous interviews with doctors, Ghouta residents, rebel fighters and their families....many believe that certain rebels received chemical weapons via the Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, and were responsible for carrying out the (deadly) gas attack,” writes Gavlak.

Even though all of the major US mainstream propaganda media organs are still refusing to tell the American people the truth about what happened in Ghouta, the same cannot be said of the respected Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) organization who when analyzing the Obama administration's evidence for war against Syria against the Associated Press report written by Gavlak, found the latter to be more credible.

21

REPORT: TURKISH SECURITY, MILITARY DELEGATION IN TEL AVIV TO DISCUSS SYRIA PLANS

TEHRAN (FNA) -- A senior Turkish security-military delegation is currently in Israel to discuss a possible US military strike against Syr- ia with Israeli officials, media reports said.

“This security-military team discussed ways Israel-Turkey cooper- ation, specially their collaborative role in the possible US-led strike on Syria, and the duties and missions delegated to Ankara in this regard,” the Palestine-based Arabic-language weekly Al-Manar quoted informed sources as saying.

The weekly underlined that the Turkish delegation, comprising four ranking officers, is still in Israel.

Turkey and Israel have on numerous occasions helped the armed rebels fighting against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the beginning of crisis in Syria in May 2011.

Earlier today, Turkey's former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, who is a close friend of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, criticized the Turkish government for providing heavy weapons to the terrorist groups and organizations in Syria, including the notorious al-Nusra Front, warning that the policy would entail dangerous consequences.

“The Erdogan government has sent a large volume of heavy weapons to the terrorist group, the al-Nusra Front, affiliated to the al-Qaeda in Syria and this is while even the US has listed the al-Nusra as a terrorist group," Sener told FNA in Ankara on Sunday.

"This move is highly dangerous," he warned.

Sener described Turkey's meddling in its neighbor's internal affairs as a mistake, and said, "Turning the region into a region for trading smuggled arms and supporting this trade is a wrong policy of Erdogan's government."

Earlier reports said that Ankara has sent 400 tons of arms supplied by some Persian Gulf states to militants in Syria to bolster their fight against the government of President Assad.

"Twenty trailers crossed from Turkey and are being distributed to arms depots for several brigades across the North," said Mohammad Salam, a rebel operative who witnessed the crossing from an undisclosed location in Hatay.

The delivery is being called the single biggest weapons cache to reach the rebels since the unrest began over two years ago.

The shipment follows the recent gas attack in the suburbs of Damascus that killed anywhere from dozens to over 1,000 civilians. Syrian officials, who said they discovered chemical weapons in a rebel hideout outside the capital, blamed the rebels for the attack.

The consignment - mostly ammunition for shoulder-fired weapons and anti-aircraft machine guns - came into northern Syria via the Turkish province of Hatay, and was already being handed out, sources said.

Turkey has been openly calling for regime change and military action in Syria since the country was hit by un- rest in 2011 but Turkish political opposition parties have strongly rejected any military strikes on Syria.

TROOP EXERCISES:

TURKEY PREPARES FOR RETALIATORY SYRIAN GAS ATTACKS By Hasnain Kazim -- AFP

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: "How do you get to talk about democracy, global values human rights?"

What would happen if NATO intervenes in Syria? Turkey, for one, fears that it could be attacked with chemi- cal weapons in retaliation. The country has criticised the United Nations for being too hesitant and is willing to take action itself against Assad -- without a UN mandate if necessary.

Since the nerve gas attack in Syria last Wednesday, in which hundreds of people were reportely killed near the capital Damascus, politicians and generals in Turkey have been asking a frightening question: If the situation esca- lates, for example if the US carries out a military strike, would Syria fight back? And would Syrian President Ba-

22

shar Assad dare to attack Turkey, and therefore NATO, using chemical weapons? Such a course of action is seen to be "unlikely but definitely possible", according to an official at the Turkish

Defense Ministry in Ankara. In recent days, the government has strengthened precautions against a nerve gas attack in the country's southern re- gions along the border with Syria. "Our armed forces are aware," he says. Turkish media have reported that troops have been conducting exer- cises in preparation for the worst.

From a Turkish perspective, the international community is not doing enough in the Syrian con- flict. After news of the nerve gas attack emerged, President Abdullah Gül urged the international community to take concrete steps to stem the bloodshed in Syria, while Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the UN of inactivity.

By all accounts, Turkey is not calling for military action against Damascus for the time being, but instead is endorsing international sanctions. Clearly, it could do without a war right on its doorstep. But the government has not commented on specific steps which could be taken against the Assad regime. Ankara has long been one of As- sad's fiercest critics. When a Turkish fighter plane was shot down off the coast of Syria in June last year, the rela- tionship deteriorated dramatically even further. Erdogan promised then that he would support the Syrian people to free them from the "dictator Assad".

Since the conflict in Syria began two and a half years ago, Turkey has taken in more than half a million refu- gees from its neighbor. Syrian opposition activists organize their resistance from there; Turkey serves as a safe ha- ven. They report how supplies of arms are funnelled through Turkey to them. Recently, one activist told the Reuters news agency that rebels had received "400 tons of weapons," funded by "Gulf states", from Turkey, one of the most important deliveries to help their fight against government forces. As always, Turkey denied this.

Diplomatic Restraint Abandoned

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday, however, that Turkey would join an international coali- tion against Syria, even if no UN mandate existed. If no decision came from the Security Council, there would be alternatives on the table. Currently, "36 or 37 states" would discuss these alternatives, he said. He also criticized the stance taken by Russia and China, both of which refuse to act against Assad.

"From the beginning Turkey has argued that the international community cannot simply stand by idly in the face of the Assad's regime massacres," said Davutoglu according to Turkish newspaper Milliyet. The credibility of the international community would be damaged if its failure to act continued. Those such as Assad who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity must "definitely be punished", the Foreign Minister demanded. Turkey, a NATO member, has been put in an awkward position by the events in Syria and Egypt. It is not powerful enough to enforce its own course in these conflicts by itself, but it is also too important to be ignored. Erdogan has given up all diplomatic restraint in recent days and has sharply criticized the West.

Erdogan Alienates Gulf States

In the case of Egypt, he even levelled accusations of complicity. Those who said nothing about the military coup and the dismissal and arrest of elected President Mohammed Morsi are "just as guilty" as those who actually perpetrated the coup. "You stayed silent on Gaza, on Syria and now on Egypt. How do you get to talk about democ- racy, global values human rights?", he thundered. However, he has also alienated several Gulf states which support the army in Egypt but which are also important trading partners for Turkey. If Erdogan continues in this vein, the political stability of Turkey would be threatened, warned political scientist Hüseyin Bagci from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara in the Today's Zaman newspaper.

But Erdogan refuses to be swayed by criticism - and has now also started hitting out at Islamic countries that have aided the military in Egypt. "God will shame those in the Islamic world who betrayed their brothers and sisters in Egypt," he said. He did not mention any countries by name. Saudi Arabia and Qatar can be counted among the supporters of the Egyptian armed forces, however - the same two countries on whom Turkey and NATO are de- pendent in the Syrian conflict because they are seen as being opponents of Assad. The Turkish military wants to hold discussions in Jordan this week on a way forward, together with generals from other NATO countries and rep- resentatives of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

23

GENOCIDE DENIER NAMED STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN

WASHINGTON — Doug Frantz, the notorious Genocide denier and former Los Angeles Times managing editor who lost his job when he blocked the publication of an article about the Armenian Genocide penned by journalist Mark Arax has been appointed the new spokesperson of the US State De- partment, a White House memo reported.

Frantz’s stint as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the State Department will not be his first with Secretary of State John Kerry. He worked as an investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Com- mittee when Kerry was chairman.

The Armenian-American community came to know Frantz when in April 2007, as LA Times man- aging editor, he killed the publication of a front-page story penned by Armenian-American journalist Mark Arax about the Armenian Genocide resolution pending in Congress at the time. In a memo to Arax, Frantz said the au-

thor’s ethnicity posed a conflict of interest. This sparked a controversy and prompted the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region and

other community leaders to launch a grassroots campaign against Frantz and the LA Times demanding an explana- tion and his resignation from his top post at the newspaper.

After an overwhelming response from the Armenian community and numerous meetings by Armenian leaders with LA Times top brass at the time, Frantz resigned in June 2007 and went to Istanbul.

Frantz has had long-standing ties to Turkey.

He was stationed in Istanbul for several years, first as bureau chief for The New York Times and then as inves- tigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He had developed close contacts with various Turkish officials, includ- ing the Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles who boasted in a taped interview with Arax at the time about his special relationship with Frantz who in May 2007 went to Istanbul to moderate a panel that included a notorious genocide denier.

U.S. OFFERS TO EVACUATE CITIZENS FROM ADANA

The United States tightened security at diplomatic missions in Lebanon and Turkey on Friday because of potential threats, ordering some personnel out of Lebanon and offering to evacuate those in Adana in southeastern Turkey.

The U.S. State Department warned American citizens against traveling in Lebanon and southeastern Turkey and urged Americans in the rest of Turkey "to be alert to the potential for violence." Officials did not offer specifics about the possible threats, which were revealed less than a week before the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks amid an intensifying debate over President Barack Obama's plans to strike Syria.

"These are potential threats," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters after the warnings were issued. "Obviously, the tension ... in the region, including in Syria, plays a role in this." Harf said she was not aware of any specific threats.

"Non-emergency personnel and family members" were ordered to leave Beirut and given permission to leave Adana, near Turkey's border with Syria, but the U.S. missions were not closed and still offered consular services, she said.

"Given the current tensions the region, as well as potential threats to U.S. government facilities and personnel, we are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution to protect our employees and their families, and local em- ployees and visitors to our facilities," Harf said in an earlier statement.

In Turkey, U.S. officials offered voluntary evacuation to reduce its diplomatic presence at the consulate in Adana, "because of threats against U.S. government facilities and personnel."

said.

Americans who remain in Lebanon or southeastern Turkey should make their own emergency plans, officials

24

ARMENIA’S NEGATIVE BALANCE OF TRADE WITH CIS COUNTRIES IS MORE THAN DOUBLE WITH THAT OF EUROPE

YEREVAN -- NEWS.am -- The volume of Armenia’s trade with CIS and EU countries was virtually the same last year, with the differ- ence being a mere $13 million

But the import and export volumes differed quite substantially.

Armenia’s negative balance of foreign trade with EU countries made up $564,700,000, whereas that with CIS countries comprised $1,001,200,000.

To note, natural gas being supplied to Armenia accounts for more than half of the volume of goods that are imported from Russia. And the latter is the leading from among the countries of the CIS, as the trading partner of Armenia.

The prices likewise impact the liveliness of the volume of foreign trade. If we take December 2007 as basis, the prices changes in December of last year were as follows:

The prices went up in CIS countries by 19.2 percent and 9.5 percent in imports and exports, respectively. In the case of EU countries, the average import prices rose by 21.9 percent, whereas export prices reduced by 19.2 percent.

ARMENIAN INVESTIGATION SERVICE STOPS CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SON OF EX-GOVERNOR

YEREVAN. – Armenian Defense Ministry’s investigation service decided to stop the criminal proceedings against the son and bodyguard ex-governor of Syunik region Suren Khachatryan.

The investigation service decided to lift the restraining order and stop criminal proceedings on the basis of col- lected materials and the available evidence, Defense Ministry infirmed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The decision may be appealed within seven days.

As informed earlier, shots were fired nearby Suren Khachatryan’s home in Goris city, on June 2 at around 12:10am, as a result of which one person was killed and two others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to Goris hospital. The person who died was Avo Budaghyan, the former Goris mayoral candidate. The wounded are Budaghyan’s brother Artak, and Nikolay Abrahamyan, a relative and bodyguard of Khachatryan. Subsequently, the wounded were transferred to capital city Yerevan.

A criminal case is launched on charges of murder and illegal carrying, possession, and use of arms and ammu- nition, and the Military Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the investigation.

Two people are arrested in connection with this incident. One of them is the Syunik regional governor’s son, Tigran Khachatryan, 19, and the other is the governor’s bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan.

Pursuant to his petition, Suren Khachatryan was relieved of his duties as Governor of Syunik Region.

ZAUR NASIRLI: HAZING RULES AZERBAIJANI ARMY; MORALE AND TRAINING CONDITION OF SOLDIERS IS ON THE ROCKS

Panorama.am -- "At first, I'd like to dispel the myth that having a military budget of $3.7 billion, we will sure- ly crush Armenia, the military budget of which is only $412 million," writes journalist Zaur Nasirli in the article titled "Myths and Realities of the Azerbaijani Army," published in Azerbaijani portal "Factheber."

The author notes that the military expenditures of Azerbaijan are 7 times larger than the military budget of Armenia, "but, unfortunately, it means nothing." As an example, the author brings Turkey the military budget of which is about 11.2 billion dollars, and Saudi Arabia, the military expenditures of which is $ 60 billion. "Neverthe- less, the armies of these countries are not comparable. Turkey several times excels Saudi army in all respects – in professionalism, weapons, military trainings, etc." Nasirli says.

The article also says that the U.S. military budget is 633 billion dollars, which is more than the entire state

25

budget of Russia and is 7 times greater than its military budget. However, the Russian army is not inferior to the U.S. Army. At the same time Russia is one of the world's leading weapon exporters.

"Thus how reasonable it is to speak with such certainty about the inevitable victory over Armenia? The pledge of strong army is not money, but the professionalism, fighting efficiency, high quality trainings of the soldiers and their fighting spirit. One would not say the same about our army, where still hazing reigns, and the morale of sol- diers and their level of military training is almost on the rocks. Everyone tries to avoid passing military service by all means because of the horrific conditions existing in the army," says the article.

The author notes that the Azerbaijani soldiers swear after giving their service that the concept of "fight for their country," is not worth a damn for them.

"With such a spirit of soldiers, it is very difficult to talk about any specific victories. Unfortunately, the gov- ernment does not give much importance to the army. It practically does not fight tyranny and commanding volunta- rism. The government is just trying to present everything in pink colors, showing off its 3-billion-dollar budget, most of which is spent for other purposes. To solve such a big problem the authorities need to fully replace the commanding staff of the army, because solving the problems with the current army commanders is the same as gathering alcoholics and fighting the alcoholism by their help," Nasirli sums up.

IRAN TO SET UP EXCLUSIVE TRADE FAIR IN ARMENIA

TEHRAN - Iran will hold an exclusive trade fair in Armenia from October 19-22, IRIB reported. The exhibition will be held in Armenia’s capital Yerevan. Iranian manufacturers, traders, exporters, and merchants will put their latest products and services in different

fields on display. In July, Iran and Armenia signed an agreement to expand bilateral trade ties. Armenian-Iranian trade turnover valued at $317.7 million in 2012, according to the National Statistical Ser-

vice of Armenia. Armenian export hit $97.8 million. Armenia mainly exports to Iran ore fuel, oil products, bitumen, wax, plastics and plastic products, and alumi-

num products. Iran mainly exports to Armenia ore fuel, oil and oil products, bitumen, wax, plastics and plastic products, fer-

tilizers, salt, limestone and cement.

GENEVA EXHIBITION RAISES AWARENESS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Armradio.am -- The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Armenian Apostolic Church are host- ing a one-month exhibition on the Armenian genocide, ekklesia.co.uk reports.

It will display information on the history of genocidal events in the Ottoman Empire which killed more than a million Christian Armenians between 1915 and 1923.

Open to the public until 30 September 2013, the exhibition is being held at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, addressing the theme “Because I live, you too shall live” (St John 14.19, New Testament).

The exhibition is organized by the Armenia Inter-Church Round Table Foundation.

At the opening of the exhibition, Fr Mesrop Parsamyan, vicar general of the South from the Armenian Diocese of France, declared starkly: “People need to know what happened.”

“Knowing the history of the Armenian genocide is one way to make sure that such atrocities never happen again. There is still a need for churches, communities and governments to recognize the Armenian genocide, and condemn these events in order to pave the way for reconciliation and healing of the scars from the past,” said Fr Parsamyan.

Fr Parsamyan went on to say that the “exhibition on Armenian genocide is timely” given the theme of the WCC 10th Assembly, ‘God of life, lead us to justice and peace’. The WCC assembly is set to take place from 30 October to 8 November in Busan, Republic of Korea.

“The God of life has let Armenians carry on their journeys for justice and peace,” he said. The WCC assembly theme is important for the Armenians who are demanding condemnation of the Armenian genocide from the inter- national community, added Parsamyan.

26

Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri, the WCC’s associate general secretary for Public Witness and Diakonia, voiced appre- ciation for the exhibition project and affirmed the WCC’s support of the initiative.

“We acknowledge and recognize the injustice faced by Armenian Christians during the genocide,” said Phiri. “It is a pity that after so many years the Armenian genocide is still not acknowledged. This is why initiatives like this exhibition are important,” she added.

Phiri also mentioned the WCC’s efforts in the past toward recognition and condemnation of the Armenian genocide.

The WCC 6th Assembly at Vancouver, Canada in 1983 issued a report focusing on the historic realities of the Armenian massacre and its aftermath, while the WCC member churches have commemorated an annual remem- brance day of the Armenian genocide for several years.

The exhibition displays banners in English and French, attracting the local and international community in Ge- neva, and will travel to other countries.

Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, which has been helping to raise awareness of the Armenian genocide since 2007, has welcomed the initiative.

“Facing up to crimes of the history with honesty and addressing the pain of the past with hope is essential to negotiating a better future for us all in a still-divided world,” he said.

“This ecumenically supported exhibition will help in the task of recovering a proper memory of what the Ar- menian people endured during the first genocide of the twentieth century, in addition to developing an understand- ing of how and why it has resonated down the ensuing decades. It will also assist with the healing of memories and the encouragement of a common quest for justice.”

Ekklesia associate Dr Harry Hagopian, an ecumenical, legal and political consultant and commentator on Mid- dle East and interfaith issues, is also an adviser to the Primate of the Armenian Church in UK & Ireland, and author of The Armenian Church in the Holy Land. He has worked closely with the Campaign for Recognition of the Ar- menian Genocide (UK).

ANCIENT PASSAGEWAY IN AMSTERDAM NAMED “THE ARMENIAN BRIDGE”

An ancient Amsterdam bridge , which was a frequent passageway for Armenian merchants in the 17th century, has been named “Armenian Bridge”, thanks to the efforts of one man–60-year- old Nikolai Romashuk, keghart.com reports.

Jerusalem-born Romashuk, whose mother was Armenian, emigrated to Holland in 1976 and settled in the northern city of Assen. Since then he has been an active member of the Dutch-Armenian communi- ty.

He said that he spent years researching the histo- ry of the Julfa Armenian merchants at the Dutch National Archives at the University of Amsterdam. And after that several more years to convince the Amsterdam municipality that naming the old bridge after the Armenian mer-

chants was a worthwhile idea. To help get the green light from city hall, Romashuk also pointed out that he had discovered the graves of a

number of Armenian priests and merchants in the Old Church in the heart of Amsterdam. One such grave bears the number 444. To further buttress his case of the long-time and Armenian-Dutch relations, he added that Soviet Ar- menian soldiers, veterans of the Second World War, are buried in the Dutch city of Leusden.

This is not the first time Romashuk has raised the Armenian profile in his adopted country. Some years ago, Romashuk–founder and chairman of the Armenian Social and Cultural Foundation–helped bring to Assen a huge khachkar from Armenia. Now every year, on April 24, Assen Armenians commemorate, in front of the khachkar, the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey in 1915. There are 300 to 400 Armenians in the city, mostly from Arme- nia, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.

Romashuk has also helped establish an Armenian cemetery in his town–the only one in Holland. It’s named af-

27

ter Hrant Dink. Time and funds permitting, he also publishes “Parev Tsez”, the only Armenian journal in Holland. Married to a Dutch woman, Romashuk has three children and two grandchildren.

ARMENIA 128TH IN UN WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT

Tert.am -- Armenia ranks the 128th in United Nations’ 2013 World Happiness Report covering a survey analysis of 150 world countries.

A leading country in this year’s index is Denmark. Norway, Switzer- land, the Netherlands and Canada are the next.

Armenia’s neighbors, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia, are the 77th, 115th, 116th and 134th, respectively. Russia is in the 68th position.

The report has been published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), under the auspices of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN: RUSSIAN AND GEORGIAN OFFICIALS HAVE POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS REOPENING OF ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS -- Secretary of National Security Council of Armenia Ar- thur Baghdasaryan during press conference several days ago did not reverberate to Georgian-Abkhazian negotia- tions on reopening of Abkhazian railway.

“Armenpress’ was informed about this from Arthur Baghdasaryan commenting on the statement issued by him during press conference according to which Geor- gian and Russian sides agreed to reopen Abkhazian railway. “I have announced that both Russian and Geor- gian high-rank officials spoke publicly about their posi- tive attitude on reopening of the railway,” said Baghdasaryan.

He mentioned that he did not speak about Georgian-Abkhazian negotiations on that topic. In his words it was just recorded that main interested parties have positive attitude on possible reopening of the railway. “Reopening of the railway, of course, will have great importance for all involved parts for securing cheaper and more comfortable way both in part of freight and passenger traffic,” said Secretary of National Security Council.

Secretary of National Security Council of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan during press conference several days ago announced that Georgian and Russian agreed to open Abkhazian railway highlighting that reopening of the railway is rather long process and time is necessary to realize that program also taking into consideration the exist- ence of conflict.

28

SENIOR MEMBER OF REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA SAYS RUSSIA MAY CUT NATURAL GAS PRICE AFTER ARMENIA JOINS CUSTOMS UNION

YEREVAN, September 9. / ARKA / -- A senior member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia said today Russia may cut the price of natural gas it ships to Armenia after Yerevan’s formal accession to the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

On September 3, after talks with Russian president Putin Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said his country will join the Customs Union and subsequently participate in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Earli- er it was planned that Yerevan would sign an association agreement and a deep and comprehensive free trade area agreement with EU.

Speaking to a news conference, Galust Sahakian, head of the ruling party’s parliamentary faction, said there was no agreement to that end yet.

"A lot will change when Armenia joins formally the Customs Union, and gas price is likely to change too,’ he

said.

Earlier, Yevgeny Vinokurov from the Eurasian Development Bank told ARKA that after Armenia's accession to the Customs Union Russia may cut the price of gas for Armenia by 30%. The current price Armenia pays for gas shipments is $270 per one thousand cubic meters.

According to Vinokourov, Moscow may cut the price by about 30 % to $180. He also expects a decline in prices for a number of sensitive products, particularly rough diamonds.

The Russian gas is brought to Armenia and distributed by Russian-Armenian ArmRosGazprom (ARG) opera- tor, in which 80 percent is held by Russian Gazprom and the rest by Armenian government.

MILLIONS WATCH POPULAR EGYPTIAN TALK SHOW

ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

Ever since Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi was removed from office, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep

Tayyip Erdogan has been harshly critical of the new government, strongly advocating his fellow Islamist Morsi’s

return to power.

Given Erdogan’s unwelcome meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs, millions of Egyptians have expressed anger

and resentment against Turkey and its prime minister. Egyptian newspapers have been replete with anti-Turkish

reports and commentaries. Dozens of articles have been published condemning Turkish denials of the Armenian

Genocide and urging Egypt’s new leaders to recognize it. There have also been calls for erecting a monument for

the Armenian Genocide in Cairo and demands that Turkey pay restitution for the Armenian victims. In an unprece-

dented move, attorney Muhammad Saad Khairallah, head of the Institute of the Popular Front in Egypt, filed a law-

suit accusing Turkey of committing genocide against Armenians.

On Sept. 4, Khairallah and Dr. Ayman Salama, Professor of International Law at Cairo University, appeared

on Lilian Daoud’s highly popular talk show, Al-Soura al-Kamila (The Complete Picture) on ONtv, watched by mil-

lions in Egypt and throughout the Arab world. Participating in the show by phone were Resul Tosun, former Turk-

ish Parliament member from Erdogan’s Islamist AK Party, and Harut Sassounian, Publisher of The California Cou-

rier. The 36-minute TV program was conducted in Arabic, a language I have rarely used since childhood.

Prof. Salama informed the audience that the Turkish Military Tribunal in 1919 indicted the criminals respon-

sible for the Armenian Genocide. Seventeen Turkish officials were found guilty, and three were hanged. Dr.

Salama indicated that France, Great Britain and Russia had issued a joint Declaration in 1915, warning that they

would hold Turkish leaders responsible for massacring Armenians and committing “crimes against humanity and

civilization.”

Attorney Khairallah insisted that raising the Armenian Genocide issue in Egypt is long overdue and does not

have any political undertones. He hoped that his lawsuit will force Egypt, “the largest Sunni country in the Middle

East,” to serve as an example for other Arab countries to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Khairallah an-

29

nounced that his lawsuit will be considered by the Egyptian Court on November 5. He hoped that the Court would

make a historic decision regarding this critical “human rights issue.”

When the hostess of the TV show asked for my opinion on the Egyptian lawsuit, I expressed my great satis-

faction, hoping for a positive verdict on the eve of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, and looking forward

to its recognition by the Egyptian government.

I also commented that Erdogan had anointed himself as the new Sultan of the Middle East, and sole defender

of all Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians. However, Erdogan’s misrepresentation was finally exposed when the Arab

world realized that he was simply trying to dominate the region, pursuing Turkey’s self-interest rather than that of

Arabs and Muslims.

Former Turkish parliament member Resul Tosun, joining the show by phone, quickly antagonized the viewers

by claiming that “the current Egyptian government that came to power after the military coup is not legitimate,

therefore, the filed lawsuit cannot be considered legitimate.” Tosun then went on to parrot his Turkish bosses’ base-

less denials of the Armenian Genocide.

Prof. Salama, incensed by Tosun’s remarks, called Erdogan “the successor of the Ottoman butchers who

committed the Armenian Genocide.”

The TV hostess then asked for my reaction to Tosun’s perverted views on the Armenian Genocide. I reminded

the viewers that Kemal Ataturk, in an interview published in the ‘Los Angeles Examiner’ on August 1, 1926, had

demanded that the Young Turks be “made to account for the lives of millions of our Christian subjects who were

ruthlessly driven en masse and massacred.” I also recalled that the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, leader of the globally

preeminent center of Islamic studies in Cairo, had issued a Fatwa (religious decree) in 1909 chastising Turkish offi-

cials for massacring 30,000 Armenians in Adana, Cilicia.

At the end of the show, attorney Khairallah announced that public rallies will be held shortly to demonstrate

that his group’s lawsuit emanates from a popular demand -- Egyptians asking their government “to recognize that

Armenians were massacred at the hands of Turkish criminals.”

So far, Lebanon is the only Arab country to have recognized the Armenian Genocide. If Egypt follows suit,

can Syria and the rest of the Arab world be far behind?

Here is the link to the talk show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teAKr6Psyl0&sns=em

USAID LAUNCHES PENSION REFORM IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

YEREVAN – News.am -- USAID officially launched the Pension Reform Implementation Program (PRIP) at a ceremony held on Sep- tember 11, 2013 in Yerevan.

The goal of the four-year program is to assist the Armenian Gov- ernment to build its human and institutional capacity to ensure the suc- cessful roll-out of the new pension system. The program will support the broader goal of providing old-age income security in an environment that is fiscally sound and sustainable. The program will also support Armenia’s strategic plan to reduce poverty, strengthen the social ser- vices institutions, and empower Armenian citizens to exercise their so- cial protection rights and responsibilities.

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, Artem Asatryan, USAID/Armenia Mission Director Karen Hilliard, and Senior Vice President of Chemonics International (PRIP implementing partner) Terri Kristalsky delivered opening remarks at the event, which was attended by representa- tives of partner organizations, including the World Bank, UNICEF, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Armenia, financial institutions, and social services agencies. The event informed key stakeholders about the pro- gram’s objectives, as well as the challenges and benefits of Armenia’s new multi-pillar pension system that will come into force in January 2014.

Over the coming years, PRIP will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and

30

relevant institutions to ensure that the pension system – as a component of Armenia’s integrated social services sys- tem – is managed according to international standards and best practices. The project will also help increase civic engagement to ensure that users and beneficiaries of the social services system receive needed care and services in a timely and efficient manner.

PRIP builds on the accomplishments of the USAID Pension and Labor Market (PALM) project (2009-2012), which provided critical support to the Government of Armenia to build the foundation for the multi-pillar pension system, including drafting regulations, creating information systems, and initiating public awareness campaigns.

The new pension system will provide each citizen of Armenia with the possibility to improve his/her financial security in old age by diversifying his/her sources of income, including retirement savings in a private pension fund – a concept that is new to Armenia.

ITALIANS TO SEW VERSACE OUTFITS IN KARABAKH

STEPANAKERT – Italian company plans to sew outfits for Versace in Karabakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic PM Arthur Aghabekyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. According to the prime minister, the representatives of Italian enterprise will arrive in Stepanakert for consultation on Wednesday.

“We are ready to provide them with the facilities of 3.5 thou- sand sq. meters in the premises of former Karabakh silk industrial plant, where four enterprises of light industry are already operat- ing,” Aghabekyan said.

He reminded that Karabakh government plans to create a light industry cluster on the basis of the former industrial plant. Currently in the large premises of former industrial plant already operate companies producing wool yarn and clothes, as well as

hand-made rugs and carpets. Premier stressed that Karabakh Government is ready to provide facilities to all com- panies of the textile industry, including those working on cotton processing and dyeing.

“We plan to create so-called cluster of light industry under the same roof, where the enterprises could cooper- ate with each other,” PM added.

He noted that the Italian enterprise do not stress the issues of transportation, as they value first of all “normal conditions, which we [Karabakh Government] are ready to secure.”

CHINA’S DALIAN CAN DEVELOP COOPERATION PROGRAMS WITH ARMENIA’S GYUMRI – PM SARGSY AN

YEREVAN – News.am -- Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s visit to China will promote the development of Armeni- an-Chinese relations and open new prospects for cooperation.

Mayor Li Wancai of the City of Dalian noted the aforesaid Wednesday during his talk with Sargsyan, who is in Dalian on a working visit.

In turn Armenia’s PM thanked the mayor of this Chinese city for the warm reception, informs the Armenian Government press service.

“The relations of our countries are at a high level, and we do not have any problems. But we still have things to do in economic relations. There are great opportunities and a potential for imple-

menting joint projects,” Sargsyan noted. In addition, the PM invited the mayor of Dalian to Armenia, and he expressed a hope that this Chinese city can

develop cooperation programs with Armenia’s City of Gyumri, where the Information Technology sector records a considerable success.

31

PUTIN NOT TO VISIT ARMENIA? – NEWSPAPER

YEREVAN – News.am -- Russian Federation (RF) President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia was expected in the latter half of September, Azg daily reports.

“A source close to the Kremlin, however, informs that this visit will not take place.

“According to an assumption, the reason might be that Putin has received what he wanted from Armenia and what he earlier expected to receive during his visit to Armenia.

“For reasons known only to him, Putin accelerated the processes and received what was to be received during [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to RF. So, there is no need for Putin’s visit to Armenia.

“According to another assumption, Putin is very sensitive toward discontent against him and he does not want to witness the expressions of the current anti-Russian sentiments in Armenia, which [i.e., the expressions] could especially be manifested during the days of his visit,” Azg writes.

To note, as a result of the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, it was announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.

HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE CONVERSION UNDER FIRE DAILY NEWS -- ISTANBUL

The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle Ar- chons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate released a statement criticizing the possible reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul into a mosque.

The statement said that there was a possi- bility of the “church-turned-mosque-turned- museum” in Istanbul being reconverted into a mosque, as two previous cases of Hagia Sophia churches that were recently in İznik and Trab- zon.

“There are now indications that certain factions are endeavoring to cultivate in popular opinion the notion that Haghia Sophia of Istan- bul, the symbol of Christian faith, should be

turned into a mosque,” said the statement re- leased by the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle that was written by Nikolaos Manginas.

The statement recalled that a Turkish citizen had submitted an application a few months ago to the National Assembly for the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate also criticized an article published in the official magazine of Turkish Airlines, Skylife, in August 2013, which was titled, “Hagia Sophia: The Sultans’ Mosque,” and which mentioned the return of the museum into its former “spiritual aura,” referring to its days of serving as a mosque.

The statement further said said that the article presented the history from a one-sided point of view and that it was not acceptable.

“The selective presentation of the Church’s true history, a history that transformed nations and cultures, is un- acceptable,” the Ecumenical Patriarchate added.

The file photo shows Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and visitors waiting in line. DHA Photo

32

CHURCH TO MOSQUE -- IS THE CONVERSION

WORTH THE FUSS? LISA REPPELL*, TRABZON -- TODAY ZAMAN

Examining the signs in the yard of the Trabzon Hagia Sophia, you might be confused for a moment whether you are visiting a church, a mosque or a museum.

The disagreement among the signs testifies to the building's complex history. Like many historic religious buildings in Turkey, over its 700-year history the Trabzon Hagia Sophia has served as a sacred space for both Christians and Muslims. After almost 50 years as a museum, the 13th-century structure is once again a mosque. The conversion has left many Trabzon residents with firm opinions about how, and why, this change occurred.On the sunny day in early August that I climbed the rickety wrought iron staircase into the garden surrounding the former Byzantine church, it had been open for prayer for less than a month. The museum ticket office sat shuttered and dark. Walking towards the Hagia Sophia itself, an exterior frieze depicting the story of Adam and Eve is juxtaposed against a perimeter of Islamic tombstones -- a mingling of Christian and Islamic art familiar from its more famous İstanbul namesake.

After inexpertly draping a scarf over my hair and pulling off my stubborn shoes, I stepped inside. A plush red carpet now completely covers the extensive, multi-colored floor mosaics that I had seen pictured on tourist bro- chures. Looking up, the outlines of the 12 windows of the famed dome are just visible through the temporary can- vas screens that conceal the frescos depicting Christ and his apostles.

The young muezzin, balancing a ladder for a man high above adjusting the heavy screens, was happy to an- swer the gentle questions I posed in my intelligible -- if grammatically inventive -- Turkish. After a few minutes he asked, “Are you Muslim? Christian?” At my more-or-less affirmation of the second, he offered a smiling “Gel, gel!” indicating I'd be welcome to consider conversion; his style of cheerful, undemanding proselytism making me smile in return.

For Mohammad, or “M” as he tells me he is sometimes called, the Trabzon Hagia Sophia is his first post as muezzin. He eagerly assures me that the current canvas screens are only temporary, and that a new inner roof will be built soon. As planned, it will be retractable, allowing the frescos to be fully visible to visitors during non-prayer times.

Being critical of the change

He is aware that some people are unhappy with the conversion, but he doesn't seem surprised or upset about it, just intent on doing his job.

Wandering outside, I asked to join a table of long- time residents sitting in the shady tea garden, the Black Sea stretching out behind us. After they called to Leyla, the waitress, to bring a fresh round of tea, I quickly learn that these Hagia Sophia tea garden regulars are some of the residents critical of the conversion.

“Why do you think the building was changed?” I ask. “Politics,” they unhesi-

tatingly chorus. For Ahmet and his

friends this is the only explanation. Why else, in a city with no shortage of mosques, would one of Trabzon's big- gest tourist draws be turned into another one?

“I want it to stay a museum,” said the 51-year-old Ahmet, the conversation pausing as the call to prayer ech- oed out in M's voice from the bell tower turned minaret a few meters away.

After almost 50 years as a museum, the Trabzon Hagia Sophia -- a 13th-century structure -- is once again a mosque. (Photo: Hasan Demir, Cihan)

33

It is easy to see why this group of residents sees the conversion as politically motivated. A 2012 court case brought by the General Directorate of Foundations (VGM) ruled that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism had been “illegally occupying” the space for 50 years. In press accounts, the conversion has been widely attributed to the will of the ruling Jus- tice and Development Party (AK Party).

Of course others feel differently, as evi- denced by the steady trickle of men and women coming to pray in the newly opened mosque.

Falling into conversation with one such middle-aged visitor, I had my question po- litely turned back on me; what did I think about the conversion, he asked. As I attempt- ed to describe the hopeful, spine-tingling sensation I get seeing Christian and Islamic symbols side-by-side in the İstanbul Hagia Sophia, I could see his ini- tial defensiveness relax. As I spoke, he nodded his agreement and gestured in a way that I took to mean “Finally! Someone is talking sense!”

For him, the distinction is minimal whether those contrasting religious symbols are housed in a building that is officially designated a museum or a mosque.

"Why convert this space? Do you have strong feelings about the Trabzon Hagia Sophia in particular?" I asked. The space is kutsal, sacred, and has been a sacred space throughout its varied history, he replied. Opening the build- ing to prayer allows it to serve its intended purpose. As a museum, he implied, that purpose is squandered. For him, the current arrangement is a testament to the interfaith coexistence I had told him I find inspiring.

I had trouble communicating to him that what I find hopeful and spine-tingling is something slightly different. That it is seeing the symbols given equal honor and respect, united in a neutral space that gives me hope that such respect is also possible in the corporeal world.

Why all this fuss?

As an isolated event, one wonders if it is worth making a fuss over the conversion. The answer for many seems to be no; the online petition to protest the change garnered barely 4,000 signatures. The frescos and floor mosaics are not as readily visible, but neither are they being desecrated. At the individual level, everyone I spoke with was sincere in their opinion, warm and hospitable. No one was a bad guy. No one came across as intolerant or unrea- sonable.

But the conversion of the Trabzon Hagia Sophia is not an isolated event. And even if it were, it would still be troublesome. Taken as part of a larger trend, the conversion tells a story that is worrisome for minority rights, not to mention historical antiquities in Turkey.

The Trabzon Hagia Sophia is only the latest in a list of historic museums with mixed-religious heritages that have been reconverted into mosques with little input from experts or opportunities to object. Some wonder if the ever-strengthening precedent will one day be used to convert the İstanbul Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque. Archeological experts express concern that altering historical buildings to make them suitable for prayer inevitably damages them.

At the ceremony in which the Trabzon Hagia Sophia was opened for prayers on the first Friday of Ramadan, Adnan Ertem, the General Director of Foundations is on record saying: “The population of this city consists of Muslims. If the majority are Muslims, the places of worship need to be mosques. Suppose that the majority of this city was Christians or Jews, would they keep this place as a museum?”

This majoritarian understanding of religious freedom should be challenged. The conviction that because the majority wills something, it must be right needs to be questioned. Minority opinions are not threats to be guarded against, but essential parts of productive societal debate.

In the Trabzon Hagia Sophia Museum, symbols of different faiths shared space side-by-side in equal promi- nence. In the Trabzon Hagia Sophia Mosque, one set of symbols is shuttered in deference to the majority. All are tolerated, though ultimately, divided.

*Lisa Reppell is a student of politics and religion. She is currently doing graduate work at Sabancı University in İstanbul. Follow her @ellereppell.

34

Kiva.org is a non-profit online lending organization. It helps to alleviate poverty in developing world. It allows individuals like YOU to make $25 or more loans directly to low income entrepreneur/farmers, through relia- ble micro- financing institutions. It has a repayment rate of 98.87%. It op- erates in more than 60 countries (including Armenia)

For more information, please visit Kiva.org, do your due diligence, and

make $25 or more Loan (s) and join many other Armenians (and many more non- Armenians) to help reduce poverty in Armenia, and help keep Armenians in Armenia.

YOU CAN

For further information you can contact: Seta Ghougassian seta_gu@yahoo.ca (416)694-6142

Èàôê2 ́2ò Þ2 ́2Â2Âoð - LOUSSAPATZ - THE DAWN

Ðð2î2ð2ÎàôÂÆôÜ Üàð êoðàôÜ ̧ ØÞ2ÎàôÂ2ÚÆÜ ØÆàôÂo2Ü - ÂàðàÜÂú

333 DENISON ST. UNIT # 3 MARKHAM, ON CANADA L3R 2Z4 TEL: 905 – 752 – 1206

E-MAIL : loussapatz@gmail.com

Èàôê2 ́2ò Þ2 ́2Â2ÂoðÂÆ ì2ðâ2Î2Ü Î21⁄4Ø

îÜúð3⁄4Ü äoîðàê ØàôÞo2Ü MANAGING EDITOR BEDROS MOUCHIAN îÜîoê2Î2Ü Úàìê3⁄4ö ¶2ܶàôðo2Ü FINANCE HOVSEP KANKOURIAN

335