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KURDS AND TURKS CLASH IN BOLIS

(Reuters) - Clashes erupted in Istanbul's busy Beyoglu district Sunday as around 200 Kurds protesting at the closure of a leading Kurdish party clashed with Turkish nationalists and police, Turkish media reported. Protesters hurled stones and petrol bombs at shops, cars and businesses in the heart of the shopping and entertainment district of Turkey's biggest city, before a group of knife-wielding Turkish nationalists gathered and tried to attack them, state-run Anatolian news agency said. Riot police separated the groups and dispersed protesters, in what was a third day of violent street protest since Turkey's highest court ruled to dissolve the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), dealing a blow to government efforts to end decades of conflict in the EU candidate country. Late Sunday police had closed the street leading to the main DTP office in Istanbul and a police armoured vehicle stood guard. Turkey's constitutional court Friday banned the DTP after it found it guilty of cooperating with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatist guerrillas. In the southeast of Turkey, the focus of most violent protest since the ruling, demonstrators hurled fire bombs and rocks at riot police in the town of Yuksekova. Police shot into the air to disperse the crowds, television footage showed. Several protesters were arrested. The verdict, which has plunged the mainly Muslim country into political uncertainty, threatens to undermine Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party's drive to reconcile minority Kurds with the state and end decades of conflict. It is also likely to hit sentiment in Turkish financial markets when they reopen Monday. The PKK has fought for 25 years for a Kurdish homeland in southeastern Turkey. The Kurds, who make up around 20 percent of the population but were for decades forbidden to use the Kurdish language, have long complained of discrimination. Analysts say the ban could strengthen the PKK's hand by undermining confidence in the democratic process.

ARMENIAN CHILDREN FORCED TO READ IN THE DARK IN TURKEY

Vercihan Ziflioglu, Hurriyet Daily News - Children from Armenia are attending classes and reading smuggled textbooks at an illegal school in the basement of a building in Istanbul. Forbidden to attend Armenian minority schools under the Lausanne Treaty and the Special Education Law, these children could not go to school even if the Turkish-Armenian border is opened, unless the law is changed. Tzsonivar is 8 years old and she misses her father and siblings who live in another country. Six-year-old Serge hopes to be president of that country some day. But for now, they are stuck in a legal twilight zone, unable to attend Turkish schools, studying in illegal elementary classes with smuggled textbooks and volunteer teachers. Serge and Tzsonivar are Armenians. Unlike Turkish Armenians who can attend community schools established under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, these children are citizens of Armenia. Unlike expatriates, who often send their children to private foreign schools, Serge and Tzsonivar are poor. The tuition for a non-state school would be more than their undocumented parents can afford. Most parents would prefer their children to be educated in the Armenian language, even if they could afford to send them to private foreign schools in Turkey. Even if all the problems between Turkey and Armenia are resolved, Armenian-born children currently studying in an Istanbul basement would still not be able to attend the country’s Armenian minority schools. A change in Special Education Law would be required for those children to reclaim their right to an education. Only children with Turkish citizenship who are from the country’s Greek or Armenian minority are allowed to attend the minority schools in Istanbul, under the terms of the Lausanne Treaty. Every knock on the door is cause for worry The Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review visited an illegal school several times over two weeks with the promise of keeping the students’ names and the neighbourhood a secret. There were almost 20 children ranging in age from 5 to 14 at the school. Their greatest fear is that their location will be exposed and every knock on the door makes them afraid that the authorities are raiding the school. There are other illegal schools like this in Istanbul. The children here are not only deprived of their right to an education, but they miss their families, too. Lusine, a teacher at the school said: “Our aim is to teach the children at least how to read and write and provide a social environment. For many, their family is in Armenia or other countries. They do not have the chance to see their mothers during the daytime either, which affects the children negatively.” read more here

WE ARE WATCHING YOU Editorial by Simon Aynedjian

The old guard running our community for decades, made a last desperate and unsuccessful attempt to have its way, through vindictive and medieval practices by interfering in the decision-making process of the Nareg School Hokapartsoutiun and collected the firm answer of the community. In an unprecedented "mob-like" intervention, the old guard wanted to have their say on a recommended Hokapartsoutiun list, given to the Cyprus government by Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian - the elected Representative of the Armenian community. As time passed, and the list was not being verified, it became evident that an effort was being orchestrated by the old guard to simply have their say and to use the sacred forum of the last remaining school of our community as a spring-board for their political ambitions and an arena for settlement of old scores. There is plenty of literature on Armenian-language monthly www.artsakank.com.cy regarding the matter, a press release by the Armenian MP and a rich commentary by columnists. The discussion continuous on Gibrahayer Facebook. As an e-magazine which has voiced its concerns over Nareg-related educational issues, we commented on the "fall from grace" of Nareg school as early as 2005. Four years later, after Nareg took a number of blows and took several steps back, very few of the ISSUES we touched and commented on, have been addressed - let alone solved - despite the numerous attempts by members of the minority Hokapartsoutiun, the Parents' Association and the Armenian MP. The newly appointed Hokapartsoutiun members need to first stop the decrease in the number of pupils attending the school and at the same time to bring quality back to the school. The Armenian community of Cyprus cannot afford another blow to the only remaining educational fortress. To that end - Gibrahayer e-magazine - will be watching you. Hachoghoutiun to the new Hokapartsoutiun. Simon Aynedjian - Gibrahayer e-magazine

Click here for the announcement by the Armenian Representative Vartkes Mahdessian and the list of the newly appointed Hokapartsoutiun members.

The Armenian Volunteer Corps invites individuals from all over the world who are at least 21 years of age and who are committed to service in Armenia to volunteer in Armenia for service terms as short as 1 month or as long as 1 year. There is no application deadline. Applications are accepted all year round for flexible terms. Mid career volunteers and retired professionals as well as new college graduates are welcome! Unlike other programs, AVC is not (simply) a trip to Armenia, but rather an opportunity to live and work with the people of Armenia. While the commitment required of an AVC volunteer is great, so too are the results of short- and long-term development work. The AVC first learns of potential volunteer qualifications through the comprehensive volunteer application process which includes a phone interview, and then suggests appropriate volunteer job placements here in Armenia to successful applicants. AVC matches the skills, experiences and interests of our volunteers to the needs of the community. AVC has volunteer placements both in and outside of Yerevan. AVC does not charge for participation in the program or for any of its services (volunteer placement and follow-up, trainings, support services, etc.), however volunteers must pay for their own living and travel expenses. Volunteers may also be eligible to have the expense of living with a host family covered by AVC. In addition, volunteers might also be eligible to receive full airfare reimbursement via a Travel Fellowship from Birthright Armenia if service is a minimum of 8-weeks and the volunteer is between the ages of 20 and 32. Between June 1 and August 31, however, travel reimbursements are only available to volunteers who perform eight weeks of service outside of Yerevan. Regardless of whether or not an individual is eligible for a Travel Fellowship, s/he may apply to Birthright Armenia to take advantage of their free program services such as: visa extensions, assistance with arranging housing with a host family, free Eastern Armenian language classes twice a week, lectures and forums on pressing issues in Armenia today, and weekend excursions all over the country. You can view the AVC website on www.armenianvolunteer.org

ARMENIAN ECONOMY ONE-LINERS by Samvel Sahakyan, PhD-Head of Research ARMENBROK

EBRD forecasts 1.5% economic growth in Armenia in 2010. Construction of Iran-Armenia oil products pipeline with annual capacity of 1.5 million tons to be launched in 2010. Serzh Sargsyan: "Armenia managed to avoid the negative developments in social sphere even in case of global financial crisis." European Bank for Reconstruction and Development interested in creation of Pension and Insurance Funds in Armenia. Armenian Prime Minister: The anti-crisis events of the Armenian government are directed at creation of the basis for further development of the country and formation of a new quality economy. In 2009 EBRD's investments in Armenia will grow to USD 150mln. Armenian Economy Ministry, British Council and Armenian Civil Service Council sign cooperation memorandum to raise qualification of state officers. Electric Network of Armenia CJSC suffers 10% fall of electric power sales in 2009. Electric Networks of Armenia: The whole complex, related to electric substations of Armenia, to be renewed by late 2010. Asian Development Bank to offer Municipality of Yerevan a strategy for development of the city's road infrastructure. European Commission provides EUR 600,000 to Armenia and Georgia for detailed assessment about the perspectives of refurbishing Yerevan-Tbilisi railway line.

TURKEY/EU: A DEAD-END PROCESS Ankara Continues to Resist EU Accession Conditions

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION For Justice & Democracy press release - On December 7-8, the European Union Council of Foreign Ministers tackled the controversial issue of Turkey’s application for membership. Despite the widespread exasperation expressed by EU member States, the Council chose to give Turkey a last chance to fulfil its numerous unfulfilled commitments, including its lack of recognition of Cyprus. Indeed, part of the European territory in Cyprus is still occupied by the Turkish army. Regarding the refusal by Turkey to ratify the Ankara protocol, which would imply Cyprus recognition, the Council notes “with deep regret that Turkey, despite repeated calls, continues refusing to fulfil its obligation of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement” and “Turkey has not made progress towards normalisation of its relations with the Republic of Cyprus”. The Council conclusions state that “in the absence of progress on this issue the Council will maintain its measures from 2006”, alluding to the freezing of the start of eight chapters of negotiation and to the halt to concluding others. As expected, the Council welcomes “the significant diplomatic efforts made to normalise relations with Armenia, […]”. It looks forward “to the ratification and implementation of the protocols as soon as possible”. The European Armenian Federation regrets that the Council’s fell silent on Turkey’s deception: At the very same time of the protocols’ signature, Ankara introduced major obstacles to their ratification by raising additional and irrelevant conditions, thus failing to sign the agreement to withdraw the blockade of Armenia and to normalise its relations with this country. “It is obvious that by signing these protocols with pomp and circumstance, Turkey just aimed at neutralising the EU criticisms regarding its denial of the Armenian Genocide and its blockade of neighbouring Armenia. Therefore, we are pessimistic about Turkey’s sincerity” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy. The Council’s conclusions also refer to the Intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco gas pipeline, bypassing Russia, alleging that “Turkey is an important regional player, inter alia for the security in the Middle East and the Southern Caucasus and plays a key role in energy supply and the promotion of dialogue between civilisations”. “The bland wordings of the Council hardly hide the threat to Europe by the neo-ottoman, imperial and Islamic shift of this country. Such a hard-lined Turkey, fiercely resisting the EU’s legitimate demands, can be neither a factor of stability nor a reliable partner for Europe’s energy supply,” concluded Tchoboian.

From 7or.am -

NEW SERVICE - With Cyprus Tickets, you can purchase your ticket online. It’s simple - choose the event you wish. Click on the relevant theatre. Click on your chosen seats. You will then register – this is a one time procedure. Pay & print your ticket. www.cyprus-tickets.com

WE WELCOME VISITOR NUMBER 125,555 TO OUR WEBSITE WWW.GIBRAHAYER.COM

WITH THE NARROWEST OF MARGINS HOVIG PROGRESSES TO WEEK EIGHT. WATCH AND VOTE FOR HOVIG ON X-FACTOR EVERY FRIDAY LIVE ON ANTENNA AT 9.00pm watch Hovig in week 7 here

News in Brief by Sevag Devletian

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephoned President Serzh Sargsyan late last Thursday just hours after he threatened to annul Armenia's fence-mending agreements with Turkey if Ankara fails to unconditionally implement them. During the phone conversation, Secretary of State Clinton once again emphasised that the United States will continue with its consistent support for a speedy normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated a call for Armenia to open its archives to historians to prove claims that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians in 1915, the Bloomberg agency reported. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev is again threatening war on Armenia in case of failure to settle Karabakh conflict peacefully. “Military solution is always realistic. All depends on the results of talks,” Abiyev said. U.S. ambassador to Cyprus Franc Urbancic answered the questions in Woodrow Wilson Center about the present stage of the Cyprus conflict. Urbancic said there is a link between the influence of the Cyprus peace negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh. "Every single one of these conflicts if it is resolved it is a confident building measure of its own. Let start with Cyprus. Let start with Cyprus and Nagorno-Karabakh can be put as a next step". The Cypriot police are investigating two major versions about the theft of the corpse of the former Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos which was stolen last Friday. The crime either aims a bribe from Papadopoulos’s family or has a political tinge. Police investigations until today have led nowhere. Over 30 leading Turkish construction companies have confirmed their participation in 'The Caucasus: Construction and Repair' exhibition, slated for April 2-4, 2010 in Yerevan.

WE HAVE BEEN THINKING VERY HARD TO FIND A BETTER CAUSE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ...we simply couldn't... GIBRAHAYER E-MAGAZINE staying connected to everything that really matters

Make your contribution to: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd, Strovolos Industrial Area sub-Branch Stavrou Avenue 96-I, 2034 Nicosia - Cyprus, A/C Name: Aynedjian Simon, Account No: 101 1100 3421 Swift Code: LIKI CY 2N, IBAN: CY13 0030 0101 0000 0101 1100 3421

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Does Kim Kardashian have an opinion about the signing of the Protocols? Kevork Mamigonian - California - USA

make your Christmas contribution BY CALLING 909-35037 ASSIST GIBRAHAYER EMAGAZINE EXPAND ITS ONLINE ACTIVITIES

Get you own copy of Cyprus Gourmet from local kiosks and visit website here

CYPRUS GOURMET MAGAZINE - WINTER ISSUE Available now at your local kiosk! NEWS, AWARDS, HAPPENINGS "Ladies of Passion for Wine" The winemaker and the wine writer meet and talk "7 Days - 7 Dishes" A Week's Lunch or dinner recipes from the Amathus Hotels Quality and Value wines. Top wine stores offer their suggestions Lebanese Festive Fare from caterers Bassam and Elena "My Year in Wine" by George Kassianos Reviews: Ambelikos Agrohotel and Little Luxuries, Pissouri. "Capital!" Cyprus Gourmet's Nicosia round-up PLUS: The Cyprus Gourmet LISTINGS Special Section - The French Connection" Our writers spotlight French people involved in restaurants, wine and catering, as well as French food and wines available in the market. Reviews: Millefeuille Patisserie, Yeroskipou; Library Hotel, Kalavassos; Cipriani, Nicosia. The Recipes Editor's Last Word SUBSCRIBE TO CGM or visit our website www.cyprus-gourmet.com

See you all at The Ball ...

GIBRAHAYER CALENDAR

Still on - An exhibition by Armenian Cypriot artist Sossée Eskidjian-Nikolaides entitled Nea-ToPia (New-Land-Scapes) - at the Opus 39 Gallery (21, Kimonos street, 2006 Strovolos, Nicosia). The exhibition will be open until 9 January 2010 as follows: Mondays (17:00-20:00), Tuesdays-Fridays (10:00-12:30 & 17:00-20:00), Saturdays (10:30-12:30). Wednesday 16 December at 5:00 pm - Sourp Dzenounti Naregi Hantes in Nicosia at the newly-built Hall for classes Kindergarten A + B and Nareg Classes 1,2 and 3. Followed by a Cake Bazaar organised by The Parents Association of Nareg Nicosia. Friday 18 December at 5:00 pm - Sourp Dzenounti Naregi Hantes in Nareg School Larnaca. Monday 21 December at 4:00 pm - Sourp Dzenounti Naregi Hantes in Nareg School Limassol. Tuesday 22 December at 6:00 pm - Sourp Dzenounti Naregi Hantes in Nicosia at the newly-built Hall for classes 4,5,6,7 and Gymnasium. Followed by a Cake Bazaar organised by The Parents Association of Nareg Nicosia. Friday 25 December from 8:30 pm - Nune Yesayan will be performing at the Annual AYMA-HMEM Ball at The Cyprus Hilton. Entrance 50 euros and 40 euros for students. Reservations with Krikor Mahdessian on 99650897. Book early ! Wednesday 6 January, 2010 at 5:00 pm: Christmas Message from the Armenian program of CyBC. Speaker: Hrayr Jebejian.

every week in our community

Every Friday 5.30 - 6.30 pm at The Utudjian Hall - Armenian Dance lessons for children 6-10. Every Friday and Saturday evening - Marie-Louise Kouyoumdjian sings at ENALLAX with the resident Band. Every Saturday at 10:00-11:30 am - at the Armenian Prelature in Nicosia - Giragnoria Varjaran (Sunday School) for 7-16 year olds. For more information contact Der Momig Habeshian on tel_99307966. Every Saturday at 5:00 pm - at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia - Giragamoudki Jamerkoutioun (Vespers). Every Saturday, from 7 pm to 8 pm at AYMA: Gibrosi Badanegan Mioutiun (ages 10-15 included) weekly meetings (games, educationals, songs, trips and lots of fun...). Every Saturday, from 8 pm to 9 pm at AYMA: Gibrosi Yeridasartagan Mioutiun (age 16 - 23) weekly meetings (lectures, discussions, parties and outings for all Gibrahay youth). Every Sunday at 8:45 am at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia - Jamerkoutioun (Matins). Every Sunday at 9:30 am Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia - Sourp Badarak (Divine Liturgy).

CHRISTMAS CARDS OF AREV BENEVOLENT FOUNDATION

Creative pupils of Nareg Primary Schools in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca prepared Christmas cards with unique designs and bright colours. The cards are available for sale at 5 euros for a set of 6 cards and 6 envelopes at the following locations: A & A Optical Centre (Iphiyenia Street), Bidi (Galaxias Centre), Moufflon Bookshop (Sophoulis Street), Nareg Primary Schools (all towns) and Zartarco Service Centre (47 Prodromou Avenue).

Sports News from Sevag Devletian

Vic Darchinyan needed only two rounds to knockout challenger Tomas Rojas in successful defence of his flyweight titles at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. The fight gave Darchinyan his 27th knockout in 36 fights. David Nalbandian won the Copa San Juan Minero tennis tournament in his home town of San Juan in Argentina, defeating in the final, Roland Garros 2004 champion Gaston Gaudio. Nalbandian is currently participating in Copa Argentina which ends on Sunday. After his absence from the world tour due to a hip injury, Nalbandian returns to the ATP tour in January. Armenian judo wrestler Hovhannes Davtyan was defeated by a Korean wrestler after 2 victories and took the 5th place in the Grand Slam tournament. Brazilian-Armenian chess master Grikor-Sevak Mekhitarian gained 7.5 points at the Brazilian championship and shared the 3-4th positions with Rafael Leitao. Thanks to this result, Mekhitarian was awarded grandmaster status. Vologda-Chevakata prevailed over Hatis Yerevan 91:82 in a Group F Women's EuroCup 2009/10 qualifier on December 10. Despite the defeat, the Armenian basketball club hopes not to drop out of the competition. Hatis Yerevan play against Turkish Besiktas Cola Turka in Yerevan on December 17. German-Armenian IBF middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham won Germany's 2009 Best Sportsman title award.

Cyprus Football and Futsal by Sevag Devletian

AGBU Ararat FC drew 3-3 against arch rivals Parnassos in the Cyprus Futsal Premier Division Championship. Ararat FC's next match is against Pafiakos. Highlights from the game can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp64LaVpOog. With a spectacular performance from goalkeeper Raffi Anmahouni, AYMA/HMEM pulled a remarkable comeback from 0-2 down, by beating league leaders Tmima Dason 3-2 in the 2nd Division of the Cyprus Amateur Football League. Homenmen FC went back to their winning ways as they crushed Morfotikos 10-5 in the Cyprus Futsal 3rd Division Championship. Highlights from the game can be seen at

Watch: Erdogan & Rose face off on Armenian Genocide‏

Dear Reader

You've got to watch this!

It's a quick 30-second clip from the Charlie Rose show of Turkey's Prime Minister saying the Armenian Genocide's "completely a lie."

You'll see Erdogan on national TV making it clear that Turkey's talks with Armenia have nothing to do with peace, or truth, or justice.

The Protocols are, very simply, Erdogan's license to lie.

A farce allowing him to deny and dodge, with a smirk and the arrogance of having manipulated yet another White House into silence on the Genocide.

I know you'll want to watch this video, and hope that, after hearing Erdogan's own words, you'll want to fight back with a secure on-line donation.

Your donation today of $35, $75, $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 will help us prevent Erdogan's shameless use of the Protocols to drag out U.S. complicity in Ankara's denials from one April 24th to the next.

So please make a secure on-line Christmas donation to support all of the ANCA's 2010 advocacy work or a secure on-line year-end tax-deductible gift for the ANCA Endowment's educational mission.

With warmest regards,

Ken Hachikian

Chairman

P.S. Please make your secure on-line donation right now to fight back against Erdogan's lies and strengthen the Armenian Cause throughout 2010.

Secret State Department Attacks on Genocide Resolution Revealed‏

December 15, 2009 Foreign Aid 2010: Congress Agrees on $41 Million for Armenia; $8 Million for Karabagh; Maintain Military Aid Parity Genocide Resolution Momentum: Senators Boxer, Lieberman, Rep. Sanchez Add their Support VIDEO: Musurlian Confronts Genocide Deniers Steve Cohen & Jean Schmidt | Watch NOW | State Dept. Exposed: Former Diplomat Reveals Secret Attacks on 1980's Armenian Genocide Resolutions Krekorian Victorious: Assemblyman Paul Krekorian wins LA City Council Seat Read the Asbarez new coverage Erdogan in DC: Leveraging Turkey-Armenia Protocols, Erdogan Presses Advantage During DC Visit HOUSE AND SENATE AGREE ON FY10 $41 MILLION FOR ARMENIA, $8 MILLION FOR KARABAGH, PARITY IN FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING -- Pallone Outreach to Colleagues and White House Played Vital Role in Restored Assistance and Military Aid Parity WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House and Senate agreed upon a far-reaching Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) spending measure that includes a $41 economic aid package for Armenia, $8 million for "programs and activities" in Nagorno Karabagh, and parity in Foreign Military Financing for Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). These figures were determined by a conference committee, comprised of House and Senate appropriators tasked with reconciling the two versions of the FY10 foreign aid bill. The House measure, overseen by the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY), included a $48 million allocation for Armenia, $10 for Nagorno Karabagh, and across-the-board parity in military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Senate version, presided over by the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), set aside just $30 million for Armenia, the figure proposed in President Obama's budget, and did not include any figures for either aid to Nagorno Karabagh or military aid to Yerevan and Baku. The President's low aid request for Armenia - which represented a dramatic 39% cut from the previous year, stood in stark contrast to his campaign pledge to maintain aid levels and to foster the growth and development of Armenia. Congress also rolled back President Obama's request to reverse the long-established policy of maintaining military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of Foreign Military Financing. No figures were included in the Conference Report regarding International Military Education and Training. "We want to thank all our friends, among them Chairwoman Lowey, Frank Pallone, Adam Schiff, Mark Kirk, Steve Rothman, Jesse Jackson, Steve Israel, and Frank Lobiondo, for restoring $11 million of the $18 million reduction in aid to Armenia proposed by the Obama-Biden Administration, and also for setting, for the first time, unrestricted aid to Nagorno Karabagh at $8 million," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "While we remain troubled by the overall decrease in support for Armenia, which is now down to nearly half of what was appropriated just three years ago, we are pleased that military parity in Foreign Military Financing to Armenia and Azerbaijan has been maintained, and that the Committee's traditional description of aid to Nagorno Karabagh as 'humanitarian' has been removed, reflecting a growing appreciation among legislators of the need to implement development programs with these funds." Read more. . . LEVERAGING TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS, ERDOGAN PRESSES ADVANTAGE DURING DC VISIT Escalates Genocide Denial, Pushes Preconditions, Reinforces Pressure on Nagorno Karabagh WASHINGTON, DC - Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having secured at least temporarily, the silence of yet another Administration on the Armenian Genocide, has used his U.S. visit to further press Turkey's advantage - dramatically escalating his genocide denial rhetoric, reinforcing Turkey's "Protocols" preconditions for lifting its blockade of Armenia, and attempting to use Ankara's new found leverage in the Nagorno Karabagh peace process to deliver a pro-Azerbaijani settlement of this conflict, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). "Today, more than seven months into the silence of yet another U.S. Administration on the Armenian Genocide, it's painfully clear that Erdogan has not, as President Obama had hoped, moved toward a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts - but rather sprinted in exactly the opposite direction, dramatically ramping up his denial rhetoric and pressing more aggressively against U.S. recognition of this crime," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "As we've said from day one, for Erdogan and his government, the Protocols are not about peace. They represent simply another tactic by Turkey to extend U.S. complicity in Turkey's denials from one April 24th to the next," added Hamparian. In addition to escalating his Armenian Genocide denial demands, Erdogan also made clear that his government would not respect either of the two U.S. priorities for Turkey-Armenia normalization: no preconditions and a reasonable timeframe. He continued to press for both the two Turkish preconditions hardwired into the Protocols, namely a historical "commission" and the confirmation of borders, as well as a third unwritten precondition that the Nagorno Karabagh issue be settled to Azerbaijan's satisfaction. At the same time, he firmly established that Turkey does not feel any obligation to move forward in a timely manner. Read more. . . SENATORS BOXER, LIEBERMAN; REP. SANCHEZ ADD NEW SUPPORT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) became, this week, the most recent additions to the growing bipartisan group of legislators supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316 and H.Res.252), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The new support for this human rights legislation comes in the wake of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Washington, DC, last week, during which he repeatedly denied the Armenian Genocide. Responding to a question from journalist Charlie Rose, during an hour-long televised PBS interview on December 8th, Erdogan stated, "I can say very clearly that we do not accept genocide. This is completely a lie. I invite people to prove it. Something like this is really not possible, and there is no truth to it." "We want to thank Senators Boxer and Lieberman and Representative Sanchez for, once again standing up for principle, and against Turkey's denials," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We look forward, in the weeks ahead, to working with these friends and our many others in both houses of Congress, to see this genocide-prevention legislation adopted at the very first opportunity." Read more. . . FORMER DIPLOMAT REVEALS SECRET STATE DEPT. ATTACKS ON 1980s ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTIONS WASHINGTON, DC - A retired Foreign Service officer, U.S. Ambassador Arma Jane Karaer, has revealed a series of shocking revelations about the State Department's behind-the-scenes efforts on behalf of Turkey during the 1980s to kill Congressional initiatives commemorating the Armenian Genocide, according to now public documents circulated today by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The revelations are part of an oral history interview with Karaer, a foreign service officer who served, among other postings during her long diplomatic career, as a commercial officer in Ankara and as the State Department's senior Turkish Desk Officer. Excerpts from her lengthy interview concerning Armenian issues, including Armenian Genocide legislation before the U.S. Congress, are provided below. "We're circulating Ambassador Karaer's interview - a truly stunning example of undisguised cynicism in the face of genocide and denial - as a public service," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "As painful as her callous remarks are to read, they do - in their candor - provide powerful insights into the depths to which U.S. officials have sunk in enforcing Turkey's genocide denial dictates. Sadly, it would seem, the pervasive attitude of expediency over morality characterized by her words remains, even today, much more the rule rather than the exception among the senior ranks of our nation's Foreign Service." Read more. . . Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money from Yahoo advertisers will go to the ANCA without you spending a dime. A penny per search! Use www.goodshop.com for online purchases from hundreds of popular sites and a percentage comes back to the ANCA. When you GoodSearch & GoodShop - Choose the ANCA ! Published by the Armenian National Committee of America 1711 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 775-1918, Fax: (202) 775-5648, E-mail: anca@anca.org, Web: www.anca.org

Sourp Garabed Yegeghetsi‏

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN

AMMAN, JORDAN

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ՄԵՐ ԹՂԹԱԿԻՑԷՆ

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FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - St Barack

Rant Number 376 15 December 2009

The Nobel Peace Prize to War President Obama reminds me of what St Paul says of the Peace of God: ‘it passes all understanding’. Still, never mind. Obama is a man of surprises. The priest is genuinely chuffed. St Barack the Theologian, no less. I mean, in his acceptance speech he has published his metaphysical beliefs. And, stone me, they are right up my street. They really are. Well, in principle....

Three things bowled me over in the President’s peroration. First, evil. ‘Evil exists in the world’, St Barack stated. Indeed, it does. He did not mean physical or natural evil, like tsunamis and avalanches. Because he went on to instance a human agent, Hitler. Clearly, by ‘evil’ the Theologian intended moral evil or sin. The evil deliberately caused by human beings. Evil – ‘the dirt to be washed out of the world’, as Josiah Royce said. Jolly good. Another famous American, Mrs Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of ‘Christian Science’, maintained that ‘evil is the illusion of mortal minds’. Silly lady! Al hamdulillah, St Barack believes evil is real.

‘Negotiations cannot convince Al Qaeda leaders to lay down their arms’. Not clear whether he has tried but...no matter. You get his drift. War is just, or justified, to combat evil – a bellicose Islamist movement. He even quotes the hoary doctrine of a just war. (The subject of the priest’s unfinished doctoral dissertation – groan... fault of Aristotle’s akrasia, what else?) Excellent. Rooted in the teachings of Christian luminaries like St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Victoria and Suarez. He even seemed to allude to the evil of war going back to Cain and Abel. On that fateful primeval conflict, look up, pray, Rubens’ painting in London’s Courtauld Gallery. Fab! Splendid! Three cheers for the Theologian.

Second, ‘the imperfection of man’. Better and better. The saintly President could not bring himself to say it but...what the hell is that if not original sin? An essential Christian category. Regarded with contempt, fear and loathing by our stupid age - even preachers dread mentioning it - and yet essential to understanding humanity comme il faut. Unlike God, man is imperfect. Flawed. Gauche. Like a new-born baby, man cannot stand on his own two feet. He needs his Creator to walk. To become adult. To grow into what God destined him to be. God’s laws and ordinances and sacraments are needed to obviate and palliate the outworking of our mythical ancestors’ aboriginal fault. That means war is sometimes necessary – to check evil. ‘It is lawful for Christian men...to bear weapons and serve in the wars’, says Article XXXVII of the Prayer Book. Solid, unsentimental, classical Anglican rule. Illustrates and complements the tough Article IX, on ‘Original or Birth-Sin’.

Third, ‘the limits of reason’. This is stupendous. Because, together with the rest, it implies that Obama at heart is in opposition to the Enlightenment. Yes, the President of America, allegedly a child of le siècle des Lumieres, here reveals his anti-rationalistic creed. Key to the Enlightenment thinkers was their fanatical belief in human reason. In the power of man’s unaided, natural faculties to lift himself up by its own bootstraps, to grasp reality in a rational manner, to climb to the summit, whilst at the same time denigrating God’s revelation and God’s grace – indeed, suppressing God’s Church. But St Barack speaks not of reason’s triumphs but of reason’s limits. Superb. To speak thus is not to despise reason – a self-defeating, self-refuting task - but to acknowledge reason’s limitations. As the policeman Valentin says in Chesterton’s The Blue Cross, ‘exactly because Valentin understood reason, he also understood the limits of reason.’ The best theology. Indeed, in Christianity high doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation are beyond reason, though not against it. Hard? Yes but, you see, God knows something which you do not and cannot know...

Thus far all is kosher. (Or halal.) St Barack’s theology is right. The problems come, as always, in its concrete application.

Al Qaeda and the Taleban are evil, the President says. But they, Qur’an in hand, disagree. America is evil, they say, quoting chapter and verse. What are the infidels doing, invading our land, a Muslim land? Supporting a corrupt, puppet ruler? A few hundred millions Muslims worldwide would go along with that, I suspect. Who decides who is right?

Israel is also...ahem, yes, evil, some believe. Because it occupies Palestine. And it oppresses Arabs. But America and its allies, such as Germany, disagree. They stand by the Jewish state. It is just the evil of anti-Semitism – the mad Fuhrer all over again. Israel is sacred. The Arabs really seek another holocaust. Huh! Where does truth lie?

Dare I mention that Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez compared Bush to Satan? Iran...you get my drift. And North Korea’s Kim Jong ain’t no fun of America, either. Russia’s top military general Baluyevski is of the same opinion. Putin once accused US foreign policy to ape the Third Reich. All bad, very bad guys, St Barack swears, but...he would say that, wouldn’t he? To make your enemies evil by definition is just a little too pat.

America’s finance: is that satanic too? In Matt Taibbi’s immortal phrase, Goldman Sachs, the world’s most powerful investment bank, ‘is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity’. This evil vampire, this blood-sucker engineered all catastrophic market manipulations, all bubbles, from the Internet and Housing busts, from pension scams to oil futures debacles...you name them. The current economic and financial crisis goes back to banks like Goldman Sachs, in other words. The same was a leading private donor to St Barack’s presidential campaign. Goldmanites now have the President’s ear. Of course, virtuous Goldman Sachs swears they are innocent. As pure as the driven snow. Committed to being ‘a force for good’. Taibbi’s stories are just ‘conspiracy theories’. Evil nonsense. With a whiff of anti-Semitism, to boot. Once again, who is right?

Leibniz, a supreme philosopher, once wrote of ‘the labyrinths of evil and grace’. Quite. Recognising that evil exists, that man is imperfect, that human reason is limited is meritorious, right and proper. Identifying where evil lies is a trickier thing. Saints, of course, real saints, are empowered by God’s grace to discern the Devil’s paw. This War President, I am afraid, however saintly, falls a bit short of that.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

Beware of Turkish Diplomats Bearing Gifts‏

Content:

• Beware of Turkish Diplomats Bearing Gifts Editorial http://www.keghart.com/Beware_Diplomats
• How Sick Must You Be to Earn a Better Diet? By Catherine Porter http://www.keghart.com/Wong_Diet
• Investigative Journalist Edik Baghdasaryan Honored http://www.keghart.com/Edik_Award
• The Human Cost of War By Diana Francis http://www.keghart.com/Francis_Human_Cost
• Արթնցէ'ք, հայեր, արթնցէ'ք Գրիգոր Գրաճեան http://www.keghart.com/Krajian_Artentsek
• Of Minarets and Massacres By Carlin Romano http://www.keghart.com/Romano_Minarets
• 100 By Vicken Gulvartian http://www.keghart.com/Gulvartian_100
• Զրոյց՝ Առաջին Միջազգային Հայկական Համագումարի Կազմակերպիչներէն Մկրտիչ Պուլտուքեանի Հետ Համօ Մոսկովեան http://www.keghart.com/Bouldoukian
• John Humphrey and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights By Alan Whitehorn http://www.keghart.com/Whitehorn_Humphrey
• Kurdish MP Selahattin Demitras' Speech in Turkish Parliament http://www.keghart.com/Selahattin_Demitras

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