Mayhem at Mediterranean high seas‏

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TURKISH - ISRAELI MAYHEM AT MEDITERRANEAN HIGH SEAS click here Bilateral relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv will never be the same again, as well as the situation in the Middle East, after the Israeli navy's bloody interception of an aid convoy heading to Gaza to break an Israeli-imposed siege on the territory, according to experts. click for the Turkish Zaman article here

TURKS ACCUSE ISRAEL OF STATE TERRORISM AND GENOCIDE

... Είπεν ο γάδαρος του πετεινού κεφάλα ...

Nagging Doubts Persist - Keghart Team Editorial - 30 May 2010

They tell us Turkey is changing for the better. They tell us Turkey is becoming a vibrant secular democracy. They tell us the bad old days of the fascist generals are gone. They tell us 200,000 Turks turned up at Hrant Dink’s funeral in early 2008. Turkish publishers are putting Genocide books on the market. This year Genocide commemorations received the widest Turkish media coverage ever. There was a groundbreaking two-day symposium on the Genocide in Ankara this year. None of the speakers was a Genocide denialist. The speakers talked even about confiscated Armenian property, reparations, and how to confront the past. In mid-April, at the International Poetry Festival in Istanbul, a poet from Armenia, won a prize for his poem about the Genocide. We are not deaf or blind. We want to see Turkey change. We have an interest in seeing a progressive Turkey. For one, an enlightened Turkey is more likely to face the country’s Armenian Question: the Genocide, reparations and restitution. An enlightened Turkey would also liberate Turks from centuries of obscurantist, corrupt and despotic regimes which have bred racism, violence and religious fundamentalism. But we have nagging doubts. While Turkey seems to be changing, it’s still true that: - Turkish Penal Code Article 301 re "insulting Turkishness" remains in force - Ankara not only denies the Genocide, it has intensified its anti-Armenian propaganda campaign - Ankara continues its chock hold on Armenia by blockading that tiny, landlocked country, and demanding that we hand over Armenian Artsakh to usurper Azeris. - Ankara is arming and training Azeris against Armenia and Artsakh - Ankara continues the Turkification of Armenian toponyms and the destruction of Armenian monuments - Ankara’s oppression of Kurds, Alevis, Armenians, Greeks and other minorities continues unabated, while the Turkish Army illegally occupies a large part of Cyprus. Armenians also wonder about the much-ballyhooed Turkish democracy. Despite its seeming independence, we suspect the Prime Minister Recep Erdogan’s government remains in power because the cunning generals have allowed him slack: the covert strategy is to allow Erdogan make brave statements and thus persuade Europeans that Turkey is democratic and thus deserving of membership in the European club. Last year’s Protocol Tango with Armenia had the same goal: to qualify for EU membership, Turkey has to have open borders with all its neighbours. In light of the openness in the coverage of the Genocide in Turkey in the past year, Armenians are naturally asking themselves: “Are the righteous, democratic, humanist Turks being used by Ankara to improve its creds, to impress Barak Obama and the Western world? Armenians also wonder how representative and influential are the enlightened Turks who raised their voices and shouted “We are all Hrant Dink” at the funeral of the Armenian journalist. Ragip Zarakolu, Orhan Pamuk, Taner Akcam, Sait Cetinoglu, Mehmut Konuk, Fikret Baskaya, Baskin Oran, Mahir Sayin, and Asli Comu are people we are eager to know and to befriend. However, this handful of intellectuals, writers and scholars is not representative of 12-million-inhabitant Istanbul, just as the biggest city of Turkey is not representative of Turkey. It’s said there are four, if not, five Turkeys. There is Erdogan and his fundamentalist Moslem followers; there is the military and the far-right terrorist Ergenokon; there are the impoverished and largely illiterate Anatolian masses; there are the minorities which make a third of the country’s population; and then there is the outwardly-Europeanised Istanbul metropolis. This Turkish bifurcation makes genuine Armenian-Turkish negotiations a tough challenge. Who matters? Who should we talk to? more at www.keghart.com/Editorial_Nagging_Doubts

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY BLAMES "HOSTILE INTERFERENCE" FROM ARMENIAN PRESSURE GROUPS IN ARGENTINA FOR ERDOGAN'S TRIP CANCELLATION

BBC Sunday, 30 May 2010 16:06 UK - Mr Erdogan had been due to meet President Cristina Kirchner on Monday. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cancelled the Argentina leg of his tour of Latin America. It comes after city officials in Buenos Aires called off an event inaugurating a monument to the revered founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The Turkish Foreign Ministry blamed "hostile" interference from Armenian pressure groups in Argentina. Turkey and Armenia remain in a long-running row over the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. Armenian groups want Turkey to recognise the killings as genocide -Argentina is one of several countries to have done so. President Cristina Kirchner is reported to have telephoned Mr Erdogan to express her understanding of his position, but to explain that the central government could not reverse the city government's decision. Mr Erdogan had been due to meet Ms Kirchner on Monday but will now travel directly to Chile for the next leg of the tour.

Statement from the Armenian National Committee of Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - On May 31, the The Armenian National Committee of South America - a body of the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun, issued a statement welcoming Buenos Aires officials’ decision to block the unveiling of Ataturk’s bust in the capital. The statement came on the heels of the cancellation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s trip to Buenos Aires, after Argentina’s Armenian community protested the planned unveiling of Ataturk’s bust. The statement highlighted the continuities between the genocidal Young Turk government of 1915 and the Turkish Republic established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, noting that the policy of Armenian Genocide denial “was born with Ataturk and is continued today by Prime Minister Erdogan’s government.” The unveiling of Ataturk’s bust in Buenos Aires is an insult not only to the Armenian community in Argentina, but to all Argentineans, the ANC of Argentina noted. “The responsibility for the cancellation of the Turkish delegation’s visit falls squarely on Prime Minister Erdogan’s shoulders,” underlined the ANC of South America. According to reports from Argentina’s “Armenia” newspaper, Turkish diplomats in Argentina had stepped up genocide denial efforts following the successful passage of a 2007 law that condemned the Armenian Genocide. Using the so-called “historical commission” envisioned in the Turkey-Armenia Protocols, the Turkish Ambassador to Argentina Hayri Hayet Yalav had launched an extensive public relations campaign, coinciding with the 95th anniversary of this crime, inviting Argentinean public officials on trips to Turkey and promoting closer Turkish-Argentinean cultural relations. The Turkish embassy had quietly approached Buenos Aires officials to sidestep local laws requiring public notice and hearings regarding the installation of statues on public property, securing an agreement to replace an existing statue of an Egyptian human rights activist with that of Ataturk. The plan was uncovered by the ANC of South America just one week prior to the official installation of Ataturk’s bust. Within days, a joint Argentina-Armenian Community effort was launched—including letters to the editor and a public statement in major local newspapers—resulting in a May 28th meeting with Buenos Aires city Minister of Parks Diego Santili. The latter rescinded the decision. An angry Prime Minister Erdogan pressured Argentina President Kirchner to overturn the Buenos Aires decision to no avail. Erdogan cancelled his trip to Argentina along with his trip to Chile the following day. An interesting side note: The “Armenia” newspaper reports that Turkish Embassy officials had extended invitations to the Ataturk statue unveiling to Argentina Armenians with Turkish passports, threatening them to attend the ceremony or face difficulty in renewing their travel documents.

ARMENIAN CATHOLIC PATRIARCH NERSES BEDROS TARMOUNI XIX TO JOIN POPE BENEDICT XVI TO CYPRUS TRIP

Gibrahayer - Nicosia - Wednesday 2 June 2010 - The Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmouni XIX will be joining Pope Benedict XVI's entourage to his first official visit to Cyprus this weekend. The Armenian Catholics of Cyprus will be organising a cocktail reception at The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus on Sunday 6 June at 6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmouni XIX will also honour with his presence, the Gala Dinner on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) of Cyprus which will be held at the STOA Restaurant on Friday evening.

Afrand Dashdamirov, professor at the Russian Academy of Public Administration and a member of Azerbaijan’s Academy of Science talks to RIA Novosti in an interview about...

THE SUCCESSES OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY THROUGHOUT THE LAST TWO CENTURIES ON PURSUING TERRITORIAL CLAIMS

28 MAY 1918 INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS IN NICOSIA

Gibrahayer e-magazine - Nicosia - The Armenian community of Cyprus celebrated Armenian Independence Day with school plays and songs, while the central community commemoration of the 92nd anniversary of Armenian statehood was organised on Friday May 28, at PASYDY Hall in Nicosia. Speaker of the day was Vicken Avakian Principal of Levon and Sofia Hagopian secondary school and was organised by the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Cyprus Gomideh, AYMA/HMEM, ARS (HOM) Cyprus "Sosse" Chapter and Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus "Oshagan" Chapter. An independence feast at AYMA-HMEM followed, which was attended by 150 community members, including members of the European Friends of Armenia Group - in Cyprus for a meeting last weekend - as well as high officials from Karabakh and the Armenian military, who too were in Cyprus for bilateral meetings with the Cyprus National Guard. For images of the independence feast click here: www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2055827&id=1543460178&l=d836a449ca

OMAR HARFOUCH ACCUSES AZERBAIJAN OF FALSIFYING RESULTS OF 2010 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

May 30, 2010 - PanARMENIAN.Net - French businessman of Syrian descent Omar Harfouch has accused Azerbaijan of falsifying the voting results of 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, French journalist Jean Eckian told to PanARMENIAN.NET. Omar Harfouch said in an exclusive interview to jeanmarcmorandini.com that Azerbaijan exerted pressure on jurors of several countries, paying bribes through Azerbaijani embassies in these countries. According to Omar Harfouch, the bribes total sum amounted to $20mln. On May 29, Oslo hosted the 55th Eurovision Song Contest, which brought together representatives of 39 countries. Germany's Lena Mayer-Landrut won the contest with 246 points, while Armenia's Eva Rivas was seventh with 141 points and Azerbaijan's Safura Alizadeh fifth with 145 points.

HAY AGOUMP IN 1939 We need your help to tag our community members

We begin our feeble attempt as follows: 4th row from the bottom up: Second from left - Haroutiun Dedeyian, fourth from left Shant Medadzoumian 3rd row from the bottom: - Fourth from the left Karnig and Nazig Kouyoumdjian, Far right Moushegh Bedelian

Input from our readers regarding the 1939 Hay Agoump historic picture

Dear Simon, Not the two people sitting on the floor, the next row from right to left the second person is Dr. Melkon Krishdjian (my Godfather) and the row before the last, from right to left the sixth person is Mr. Garabed Papazian (my father). Best regards, Marie Papazian I am quite sure that the second gentleman from the left, standing behind the ladies sitting on the armchair, with a handkerchief in his breast pocket, is my father's brother uncle NAZARET MOSDITCHIAN of Nicosia now deceased. Sincerely, Maxy (Daisy) Kazandjian-Mosditchian.

Thank you for your input Nora Haroutunian. Floor seated right Mr. Yervant Nigoghossian 1st row seated L to R 3rd Mrs. Annig Bedelian, 4th Mrs. Sourpig Bodikian, 2nd row L to R above Sourpig Bodikian is Mr.Yetvart Bodikian, next Mrs.Sirvart Meherian(my mother) next Mrs. Berjouhi Costanian,behind her Mr. Haroutune Costanian, next to Berjouhi is Mrs. Aznive Nigoghossian, next Mrs. Alice Klendjian, next Miss Beatrice Nahikian. 3rd row L to R 4th Mrs. Nevart Sarian, 5th Mrs. Alice Bodikian, 6th Mr. Tateos Bodikian, 8th Mr. Kevork Meherian (my father), 9th Mr.A.Gessarentz. 4th row R to L 3rd Dr. Hovsep Sarian. 5th Top row L to R 6th Mr. Hagop Klendjian. Thank you Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra for your input - top row far right - Berj Tilbian

Letters from students learning Armenian

With the end of the Armenian language courses organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Ministry's department organising these lessons, for the opportunity given to me and others who wished to learn the Armenian language. Also I'd like to thank the Armenian Representative in the House of Parliament Mr Vartkes Mahdessian and our teacher Mrs Tonia Arajian, without their help we wouldn't have these lessons. My mother is of Armenian descent and I always wanted to learn my mother's language and get acquainted with Armenian culture to which I partly belong. Thank you very much, Marlen Shahinian Evstathiou - Nicosia Sireli Simon, Having completed the first class of Armenian language lessons at the Adult Education Centre of Ayios Demetrios, ge papakim shnorhavorel arjanabadiv Bedagan Nergayiatsoutsitche, Diar Vartkes Mahdessiane, mer ousoutsitche, Digin Tonia Aradjiane, yev Gertoutian & Mshagouyti Nakhararoutiune ays tasseroun hamar. These classes (the first of many, I hope!) have provided me with a solid foundation to continue and pursue the expansion of my Armenian vocabulary and knowledge of grammar, so as to eventually be able to read and speak more fluent Armenian. Armenian is not only a beautiful and ancient-old language, but is also a "logical" and a very expressive language as well. Our teacher has given us her best to get a grasp of the language, and hopefully the second year of classes will enable us to become more Hayakhos than we are today. At the same time, I have personally tried to promote knowledge of the Gibrahay kaghout amongst my tassengerner, because the language cannot be without the community, as the community should not be without the language. And perhaps the most moving part for me was the vgayagan (diploma) we received in the last lesson! Polorin pari amar! Cherm parevnerov - Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra

GIBRAHAYER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Friday 4 June 2010 - The Armenian Relief Society of Cyprus (HOM) is organising a Gala Dinner on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Relief Society at the STOA Restaurant. Welcome drinks at 8:30 pm. Dinner at 9:00pm. Sunday 6 June at 6:00 pm - Cocktail reception in honour of The Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmouni XIX, organised by the Armenian Catholics residing in Cyprus, at the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus. Everyone is welcome. Wednesday 16 June - Nareg Graduation ceremony -details to follow. Wednesday 30 June 2010 5:30-6:30 pm at Utudjian Hall - 6-12 year old members of the Armenian Representative Office's Art School Dance Group are having their end of year performance. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend. July 16 to August 1 - Khalkidiki Camp of the Armenian Relief Society of Greece (Gabouyd Khach) - From July 16 to August 1 - For participants of the age group 10-17 years old. For more details please contact Louise Aynedjian on 99533684. Friday September 17 - Concert by Haroutune Bedelian (violin) and Lorna Griffitt (piano) at The Presidential Palace in Nicosia, organised by The Armenian Relief Society of Cyprus (HOM) on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Relief Society (HOM). More details to follow. Saturday 2 October - Main political event in Cyprus for the 120th anniversary of The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsoutiun at PALLAS Theatre in Nicosia. More details of the celebrations to follow. May - October 2010: Tatiana Ferahian is among 17 international artists participating in the "Out of Space" environmental art project, which takes place in the Nature Reserve De Rottige Meentein in Netherlands. Saturday 20 November 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre - Composer Ara Gevorgian and his entourage in Cyprus, performing in co-operation with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and participation of our SIPAN Dance Group. This unique event is organised by the Office of the Armenian Representative on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. Sunday 21 November 2010 at 6:00 pm at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre - Composer Ara Gevorgian and his entourage in Cyprus, performing in co-operation with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and participation of our SIPAN Dance Group. This unique event is organised by the Office of the Armenian Representative on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus.

News in Brief - by Sevag Devletian

Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan's brother, Yuri Beglaryan, is accused of kidnapping and beating up people. Lragir.am reported that on Tuesday at around 11:00am, Yura Beglaryan, arrived at Astech office (engaged in security systems) situated in Mashtots Street 16 with his bodyguard and kidnapped the director of the office Ashot Sargsyan and a staff member Michael Saryan. Armenia's Ambassador to Switzerland, French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour unveiled a stone cross (khachkar) in Versailles, France last Sunday. The cross was unveiled on the anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles, and honors Armenian veterans of WWII who fought for France, as well as victims of the Armenian Genocide. The director of Armenia's National Cinema Centre, Gevorg Gevorgyan, said that Indian independent production firm, Prokash Sharma, showed interest towards creation of a feature film on the Armenian Genocide by 2015. The Armenian Government's official web-site www.gov.am became available Monday with new updated version of content. Welcoming remarks by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan are posted on the first page of the site. Also found on the new site are sections such as photos, breaking news and video. Eurovision analysis: Cyprus jury and televote awarded higher marks to Azerbaijan than Armenia, which raises many questions. If it was Turkish Cypriots voting for Azerbaijan, then why did they not vote for Turkey who received 0 points from Cyprus? By what criteria did the Cypriot vote go to Azerbaijan? Why? Did the Cypriot voters and jury, who religiously vote for Greece, realise that "their vote" to Azerbaijan, harmed both the Armenian and Greek final standings? The Military Doctrine of Azerbaijan describes Armenia as an aggressor, a member of the Defense and Security Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Zahid Oruj told APA. He said the doctrine project would be discussed at the parliament on June 3 and added. “The doctrine contains 75 paragraphs and 7 basic provisions considering defense issues of national security military threats, armament, Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, realities caused by this aggression, tasks and duties of Azerbaijani armed forces, as well as future strategy of the defense building, international defense cooperation as well as bilateral military agreements signed by Azerbaijan. A delegation representing the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun attended the third convention of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, which kicked off Tuesday in the Suleimanieh area of Iraqi Kurdistan. Dashnaktsoutiun was represented by Bureau member Dr. Megerdich Megerdichian and ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Political Director Giro Manoyan. An Armenian church sued the Getty Museum in Los Angeles Superior Court, demanding the return of seven pages of an illuminated Bible created by "the master Illuminator T'oros Roslin" in 1256. The Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America claims the 7 pages of the "Zeyt'un Gospel" were "lost or stolen during the Armenian Genocide" of 1915-1918.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Gibrahayer subscribers, On behalf of Rozana Baghdassarian's family, I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have called, asked about her well-being and assisted her in any way possible. We are currently waiting for good news from her, after she was urgently ambulanced to Israel, due to serious complications of her condition. We are all praying for you Rozana. Louise Aynedjian - aynedjian.louise@gmail.com It is laughable to hear the Government of Turkey describe Monday’s raid by Israeli commandos on the so-called ‘Freedom Flotilla’ in which nine ‘peace activists’, including four Turks, were killed as a “bloody massacre”. If the death of four Turks who set upon the Israeli commandos with knives and clubs, and shot at them after seizing their pistols, is a “bloody massacre”, then the chilling atrocities committed on Armenians by Turks surely amount to the genocide which they are described as but persistently denied by Turkey. Kanchan Gupta Sireli Simon, Again you are my (this time I should say our) hope. I know you must be very busy, but I know you will do your best to help us a bunch of old Melkoniantziner. We are looking desperately for our classmates of 1956 graduates. We are planning to have a reunion before most of us are gone. The boys and girls of other classes who remember us, the graduates of 1956, are expected to be at the reunion on the Armenian Heritage Cruise from 21-28 January, 2011. Gankhahayd shenorhagaloutiounnerov, Hratch Arzoumanian - hratch.arzoumanian at agsystems.com ''There is no need to mince words in the face of this atrocity: Israel has committed piracy, barbarism and state terrorism. It has proven that it is a rogue state.'' - look who's talking! Turkey conveniently forgets it's own crimes. This whole fiasco is for Turkey to make itself look good, it's all premeditated in order to destabilise the region, i wouldn't believe a word coming out of Turkish media or politician on this or any other matter. They have a history of deception, cunning and bullying... not to mention crimes against humanity which they still deny! And if Turkey is so self-righteous about the Israel blockade, why don't they criticise themselves for their own blockade of Armenia. Hypocrites ! Alidz Sarkissian - Nicosia

Armenian Sports by Sevag Devletian

ATHLETICS: The Armenian team won 1 gold and 2 bronze medals at international athletics tournament in Istanbul. Gold medallist Satenik Hovhannesyan recorded 5,43 meters in the long jump, Narek Khachatryan and Eric Porsughyan came third in 100 meter sprint. ARCHERY: Armenia’s Vasil Shahnazaryan finished 2nd at 2010 European Archery Tournament, thus securing his participation in the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore from August 14 to 26. FOOTBALL: Armenia won a 3:1 victory in an international friendly against Uzbekistan on May 25. The goals were scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Edgar Manucharyan. WRESTLING: Levon Julfalakyan Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship, which brought together 40 wrestlers from Armenia, Russia and Georgia, ended in Yerevan on May 30. The winners are: Gor Nersesyan (55kg), Davit Khachatryan (60kg), Gevorg Sahakyan (66kg), Ruben Gharibyan (74kg), Arthur Aleksanyan (84kg), Tornike Makharadze (50kg) and Vrezh Harutyunyan (120kg). FENCING: Kutaisi, Georgia hosted the international fencing championship with Armenian, Georgian, Turkish and Azeri sportsmen participating. Armenian fencers performed successfully at the championship, gaining 7 medals. ICE HOCKEY: At the recent International Ice Hockey Federation meeting, Armenia was suspended indefinitely due to eligibility issues with their men’s national team that participated in the 2010 IIHF World Championship Division III Group B in Yerevan, Armenia. The Armenians used several ineligible players and are suspected of having submitted wrong information about players of American-Armenian dual citizenship. FOOTBALL: March 2010 FIFA World Rankings were announced on May 26, showing Armenia to have dropped 1 point, moving to 100th place with 311 points. World champions Brazil top the table, followed by current European champions Spain and Portugal, with 1611, 1565 and 1249 points respectively.

Gibrahay Sports by Sevag Devletian

Former Nareg school student, 15-year old Elena Kaprielian won Gold in the high jump at the Secondary School Games which took place in Paphos, clearing 1.49.

Armenian Premier League - Week 9 Results and standings

FC Impuls 0 - FC Banants 1 FC Mika 0 - FC Pyunik 2 FC Shirak 4 - FC Kilikia 1 FC Ulysses 1 - FC Gandzasar 0

1st - Pyunik 23 points, 2nd - Banants 20 points, 3rd - Ulysses 20 points, 4th - Mika 16 points, 5th - Impuls 10 points, 6th - Gandzasar 6 points, 7th - Kilikia 6 points, 8th - Shirak 3

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