Armenian Political News
RFE/RL Report
Azerbaijan Withdraws Draft Karabakh Resolution From UN
10.09.2010
Armen Koloyan, Nikola Krastev
In a last-minute U-turn, Azerbaijan withdrew late on Thursday a draft
resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, strongly opposed by
Armenia, from the United Nations General Assembly. (UPDATED)
Azerbaijani officials attributed the move to an upcoming international
fact-finding mission to Armenian-controlled territories in Azerbaijan
proper surrounding Karabakh. It was swiftly welcomed U.S., Russian and
French diplomats co-chairing the Minsk Group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe.
In joint statement issued on Friday after their latest round of regional
shuttle diplomacy, the co-chairs also stressed that the Minsk Group
`remains the sole framework for a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.'
The proposed resolution, which was expected to be approved by the
General Assembly on Thursday, upholds the right of Azerbaijanis
`expelled' from those territories and the disputed enclave itself to
return to their homes. It also urges the OSCE to investigate the
conflicting parties' compliance with `international humanitarian law' on
the ground.
Armenia has warned that the document would cause `serious damage' to
international efforts to end the Karabakh dispute. It insists that no
international bodies except the Minsk Group should get involved in the
conflict's resolution.
Addressing the General Assembly, Azerbaijan's permanent representative
to the UN, Agshin Mehdiyev, asked the issue to be rescheduled for the
assembly's next year-long session which begins in mid-September.
Mehdiyev told RFE/RL that the reason for the postponement is a `field
assessment mission' to the occupied Azerbaijani lands planned by the
Minsk Group co-chairs. He said that he hopes the mission outcome will
support Azerbaijan's position on the Karabakh conflict.
`As far as I know the Armenian side continues to bring people from
abroad and to settle them in the occupied territories to change the
demographic situation, to destroy the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in
the occupied territories,' Mehdiyev claimed.
In their latest statement, the mediators reaffirmed their intention to
conduct the mission by mid-October. They said they discussed its details
with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders and `will finalize their
preparations for the mission in the nearest future.' The also urged both
sides to adopt `a more constructive approach' in the ongoing peace
talks.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry insisted on Friday that the fact-finding
visit is `in no way connected' to the Azerbaijani resolution. It pointed
to the mediators' September 6 statement which said the mission had been
agreed with all conflicting parties, in principle, weeks before the
draft resolution was submitted to the General Assembly.
In a written statement, the ministry claimed that Baku withdrew it under
pressure from the three mediating powers. `We are thankful to all those
UN member states and in particular to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries, which through their stance prevented Azerbaijan from
deviating and damaging the negotiation process of the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem,' read the statement.
The U.S., Russia and France had opposed a similar resolution which Baku
managed to push through the UN assembly in March 2008. It was backed by
39 mostly Islamic countries.
`We are grateful to all of our brothers for this support,' Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev told the Baku-based ambassadors of Muslim states
earlier this month, in a meeting apparently linked to the General
Assembly's September 9 session. `Muslim countries must always
demonstrate solidarity both in bilateral ties and within the framework
of international organizations,' he said.
10.09.2010
Armen Koloyan, Nikola Krastev
In a last-minute U-turn, Azerbaijan withdrew late on Thursday a draft
resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, strongly opposed by
Armenia, from the United Nations General Assembly. (UPDATED)
Azerbaijani officials attributed the move to an upcoming international
fact-finding mission to Armenian-controlled territories in Azerbaijan
proper surrounding Karabakh. It was swiftly welcomed U.S., Russian and
French diplomats co-chairing the Minsk Group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe.
In joint statement issued on Friday after their latest round of regional
shuttle diplomacy, the co-chairs also stressed that the Minsk Group
`remains the sole framework for a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.'
The proposed resolution, which was expected to be approved by the
General Assembly on Thursday, upholds the right of Azerbaijanis
`expelled' from those territories and the disputed enclave itself to
return to their homes. It also urges the OSCE to investigate the
conflicting parties' compliance with `international humanitarian law' on
the ground.
Armenia has warned that the document would cause `serious damage' to
international efforts to end the Karabakh dispute. It insists that no
international bodies except the Minsk Group should get involved in the
conflict's resolution.
Addressing the General Assembly, Azerbaijan's permanent representative
to the UN, Agshin Mehdiyev, asked the issue to be rescheduled for the
assembly's next year-long session which begins in mid-September.
Mehdiyev told RFE/RL that the reason for the postponement is a `field
assessment mission' to the occupied Azerbaijani lands planned by the
Minsk Group co-chairs. He said that he hopes the mission outcome will
support Azerbaijan's position on the Karabakh conflict.
`As far as I know the Armenian side continues to bring people from
abroad and to settle them in the occupied territories to change the
demographic situation, to destroy the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in
the occupied territories,' Mehdiyev claimed.
In their latest statement, the mediators reaffirmed their intention to
conduct the mission by mid-October. They said they discussed its details
with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders and `will finalize their
preparations for the mission in the nearest future.' The also urged both
sides to adopt `a more constructive approach' in the ongoing peace
talks.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry insisted on Friday that the fact-finding
visit is `in no way connected' to the Azerbaijani resolution. It pointed
to the mediators' September 6 statement which said the mission had been
agreed with all conflicting parties, in principle, weeks before the
draft resolution was submitted to the General Assembly.
In a written statement, the ministry claimed that Baku withdrew it under
pressure from the three mediating powers. `We are thankful to all those
UN member states and in particular to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries, which through their stance prevented Azerbaijan from
deviating and damaging the negotiation process of the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem,' read the statement.
The U.S., Russia and France had opposed a similar resolution which Baku
managed to push through the UN assembly in March 2008. It was backed by
39 mostly Islamic countries.
`We are grateful to all of our brothers for this support,' Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev told the Baku-based ambassadors of Muslim states
earlier this month, in a meeting apparently linked to the General
Assembly's September 9 session. `Muslim countries must always
demonstrate solidarity both in bilateral ties and within the framework
of international organizations,' he said.
AZERBAIJANI MFA NAMES REASON BEHIND WITHDRAWING A/64/L.57
FROM UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 10, 2010 - 11:49 AMT 06:49 GMT
After of a series of intense talks, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
announced that they will visit the region accompanied by a fact-finding
mission to study the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh in
late September or early October.
"Given this circumstance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
has decided to postpone discussion of the resolution "On the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan" till the next 65th session of the General
Assembly," Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement read out
by permanent representative to the UN Akshin Mehtiyev.
The international mission will include experts and consultants,
Azeri-Press Agency reported.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 10, 2010 - 11:49 AMT 06:49 GMT
After of a series of intense talks, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
announced that they will visit the region accompanied by a fact-finding
mission to study the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh in
late September or early October.
"Given this circumstance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
has decided to postpone discussion of the resolution "On the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan" till the next 65th session of the General
Assembly," Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement read out
by permanent representative to the UN Akshin Mehtiyev.
The international mission will include experts and consultants,
Azeri-Press Agency reported.
ARMENIAN COMMENTS ON THE DECISION TO WITHDRAW THE
RESOLUTION A/64/L.57
Times.am
Sept 10 2010
Armenia
On September 9 Azerbaijan withdrew its proposed draft resolution
A/64/L.57 from consideration and voting at the UN General Assembly,
requesting to move the relevant agenda item to the agenda of the 65th
Session of the GA.
Many comments there were on this decision in Armenia.
"We are thankful to all those UN member states and in particular to
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, which through their stance
prevented Azerbaijan from deviating and damaging the negotiation
process of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and not allowing
the adoption of an unconstructive draft resolution presented by
Azerbaijan in the UNGA",- says the Statement of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
"Azerbaijani diplomacy has come to grief. The co-chairing countries,
which used to refrain from publicly condemning Azerbaijan, now
clearly indicated that they are fed up with Baku's ultimatums," said
the Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary
group Eduard Sharmazanov.
David Babayan, head of the central information department at the
office of the Artsakh President, said that Azerbaijan has withdrawn
its resolution from the UN General Assembly due to the 'request'
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.
"The recent incidents at the line of contact between the NKR and
Azerbaijani armed forces should be viewed in a global context. The UN
General Assembly has already adopted a resolution on Kosovo, taking
into account the ruling of the International Tribunal. It means
that the Serbia-Kosovo reconciliation process has started. Another
important factor of Hillary Clinton's statement on South Sudan.
Finally, the latest report of the International Crisis Group points
out to the drawbacks of the Aliyev regime. The Armenian side should
take advantage of the new geopolitical situation," Babayan told a
Panarmenian.net reporter.
"It is clear that Armenia had taken concrete steps to prevent the
inclusion of the resolution initiated by Azerbaijan on the United
Nations General Assembly agenda", Edgar Hovhannisyan, a historian,
said at a press conference today.
Times.am
Sept 10 2010
Armenia
On September 9 Azerbaijan withdrew its proposed draft resolution
A/64/L.57 from consideration and voting at the UN General Assembly,
requesting to move the relevant agenda item to the agenda of the 65th
Session of the GA.
Many comments there were on this decision in Armenia.
"We are thankful to all those UN member states and in particular to
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, which through their stance
prevented Azerbaijan from deviating and damaging the negotiation
process of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and not allowing
the adoption of an unconstructive draft resolution presented by
Azerbaijan in the UNGA",- says the Statement of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
"Azerbaijani diplomacy has come to grief. The co-chairing countries,
which used to refrain from publicly condemning Azerbaijan, now
clearly indicated that they are fed up with Baku's ultimatums," said
the Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary
group Eduard Sharmazanov.
David Babayan, head of the central information department at the
office of the Artsakh President, said that Azerbaijan has withdrawn
its resolution from the UN General Assembly due to the 'request'
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.
"The recent incidents at the line of contact between the NKR and
Azerbaijani armed forces should be viewed in a global context. The UN
General Assembly has already adopted a resolution on Kosovo, taking
into account the ruling of the International Tribunal. It means
that the Serbia-Kosovo reconciliation process has started. Another
important factor of Hillary Clinton's statement on South Sudan.
Finally, the latest report of the International Crisis Group points
out to the drawbacks of the Aliyev regime. The Armenian side should
take advantage of the new geopolitical situation," Babayan told a
Panarmenian.net reporter.
"It is clear that Armenia had taken concrete steps to prevent the
inclusion of the resolution initiated by Azerbaijan on the United
Nations General Assembly agenda", Edgar Hovhannisyan, a historian,
said at a press conference today.
UN LEGITIMIZES KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE OPENING DOOR FOR
NAGORNO KARABAKH
by Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
Sept 10 2010
SC
The General Assembly of the United Nations today unanimously adopted
a resolution calling for a dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. This
resolution joins the earlier court ruling by ICJ on Kosovo's
independence opening up a door for the international recognition of
the independence of Nagorno Karabakh, settling the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Today's UN resolution opens the way for Kosovo and Serbia to start
the first ever direct talks after the European Union and the United
States recognized Kosovo as a sovereign independent state. Serbia
responded saying it will never recognize the independence of Kosovo.
However, when Serbia's Foreign MInister Vuk Jeremic finished his
speech at the UN he said that his country is "looking to the future".
In the meanwhile, BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Belgrade that "the
adoption of the UN resolution means Serbia has in effect given up
its diplomatic fight for Kosovo."
West sees Kosovo as an exception while Armenia as a precedence for
Nagorno Karabakh.
Observers in Armenia see these two rulings as a fair and legitimate
precedence for the international recognition of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic's independence. The West says Kosovo's case is usually unique
as Albanians were subject to ethnic cleansing by Serbia.
Diplomats and historians in Armenia agree by pointing to the
Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan within Azerbaijan, which gained
the Autonomous status because of its Armenian population and has no
single Armenian living in the region thanks to the ethnic cleansing
policies of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan, of course, does not want to lose Nagorno Karabakh and looks
at the issue as of territorial one. Armenia points to the right to
self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. International
mediators also take this line calling for a referendum in Nagorno
Karabakh do decide its final status.
During the cold war the International law has not supported secessions,
but is not against it either. The promises of Soviet ideology for
the nations were never materialized and movements began for freedom
and independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union and the
Warsaw Block.
De fact states like Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, say
these decisions by ICJ and UN stress the right to self-determination
above territorial sovereignty. If Kosovo has the right to be
independent, what is it that prevents exercising the same right
for the people of Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the
proponents ask. Principles of the international law and order call
for consistency in order to be fair and convincing. If Kosovo has
the right to self-determination and freedom, so do Nagorno Karabakh,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
by Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
Sept 10 2010
SC
The General Assembly of the United Nations today unanimously adopted
a resolution calling for a dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. This
resolution joins the earlier court ruling by ICJ on Kosovo's
independence opening up a door for the international recognition of
the independence of Nagorno Karabakh, settling the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Today's UN resolution opens the way for Kosovo and Serbia to start
the first ever direct talks after the European Union and the United
States recognized Kosovo as a sovereign independent state. Serbia
responded saying it will never recognize the independence of Kosovo.
However, when Serbia's Foreign MInister Vuk Jeremic finished his
speech at the UN he said that his country is "looking to the future".
In the meanwhile, BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Belgrade that "the
adoption of the UN resolution means Serbia has in effect given up
its diplomatic fight for Kosovo."
West sees Kosovo as an exception while Armenia as a precedence for
Nagorno Karabakh.
Observers in Armenia see these two rulings as a fair and legitimate
precedence for the international recognition of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic's independence. The West says Kosovo's case is usually unique
as Albanians were subject to ethnic cleansing by Serbia.
Diplomats and historians in Armenia agree by pointing to the
Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan within Azerbaijan, which gained
the Autonomous status because of its Armenian population and has no
single Armenian living in the region thanks to the ethnic cleansing
policies of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan, of course, does not want to lose Nagorno Karabakh and looks
at the issue as of territorial one. Armenia points to the right to
self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. International
mediators also take this line calling for a referendum in Nagorno
Karabakh do decide its final status.
During the cold war the International law has not supported secessions,
but is not against it either. The promises of Soviet ideology for
the nations were never materialized and movements began for freedom
and independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union and the
Warsaw Block.
De fact states like Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, say
these decisions by ICJ and UN stress the right to self-determination
above territorial sovereignty. If Kosovo has the right to be
independent, what is it that prevents exercising the same right
for the people of Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the
proponents ask. Principles of the international law and order call
for consistency in order to be fair and convincing. If Kosovo has
the right to self-determination and freedom, so do Nagorno Karabakh,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
RFE/RL Report
Armenian Travel Firms Threaten To Join Turkey Mass Boycott
10.09.2010
Hasmik Smbatian
Travel agencies in Yerevan said on Friday that they will cancel plans to
take hundreds of Armenian pilgrims to the upcoming landmark liturgy at a
medieval Armenian cathedral in southeastern Turkey unless Turkish
authorities restore a cross on its dome.
They linked their decision with a boycott of the September 19 ceremony
announced by the Armenia-based leadership of the Armenian Apostolic
Church at the weekend.
The 10th century church of Surp Khach (Holy Cross) will see its first
mass in nearly a century three years after undergoing a $1.5 million
renovation funded by the Turkish government, its current owner.
The government has allowed Turkey's surviving Armenian Christian
community to hold religious services at the church perched on the
legendary Akhtamar island in Lake Van once a year. It has promoted the
decision as proof of its commitment to tolerance and a gesture of
goodwill towards Armenians.
In a September 4 statement, the Mother See of the Armenian Church based
in the town of Echmiadzin accused Ankara of breaking a pledge to allow
the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul to place a cross on the temple
before the ceremony. It said it has therefore reconsidered an earlier
decision to send two high-level Echmiadzin clerics to the Akhtamar
mass.
Hundreds of ordinary Armenians were also expected to be in attendance,
having booked tour packages to eastern Turkey through Yerevan-based tour
operators specializing in the area which had a significant Armenian
population until the 1915 genocide. The largest of those agencies,
Narekavank Tour, alone planned to bus 250 pilgrims from Armenia to
Akhtamar. Its director, Ashot Soghomonian, said the Turkish authorities'
apparent reluctance to restore the cross is `humiliating and
disrespectful' towards the Armenian people.
`We could have earned a lump sum in just one day from 250 people,'
Soghomonian told RFE/RL's Armenian service. `We can't take that many
people to Western Armenia (eastern Turkey) even within three months. But
for them and us, participating in that liturgy without the cross is not
acceptable.'
Vladimir Arushanian, whose Ani Tour agency had attracted about 100 other
pilgrims, agreed with Soghomonian. `Organizing a pilgrimage on that day
would not be right as the Turks have failed to keep their word,' he
said.
`People's desire to take part in that ceremony was mainly related to the
restoration of the cross,' Arushanian told RFE/RL. `But now that the
cross will not be restored, people automatically wonder what they would
be going there for.'
Arushanian added that Ani Tour clients will be offered to travel to Lake
Van and other parts of eastern Turkey, still carrying traces of the
ancient Armenian civilization, later in September.
Not all travel agents organizing trips to the area agreed with the
boycott.' `The Mother See has its policy and goals,' said Ruben
Markosian of Arpi Tour. `I am a good Armenian Christian, but I see no
need to cancel the trip just because the Mother See has decided so. We
just want to go there and see the ceremony. What's wrong with that?'
Markosian also argued that Armenia's government has not officially
called for a boycott, even if it will not be sending any officials to
the liturgy.
President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican Party did speak out against any
Armenian participation in the `imitational show' last month. Like other
major Armenian political forces, it regards the event as a Turkish
publicity stunt designed to mislead the international community.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Markosian said he still does not know how many Arpi
Tour clients will actually sign up for the pilgrimage. `People are
bewildered,' he said. `Everyone has said they will call and tell us
about their final decision in the coming days.'
Both Soghomonian and Arushanian said their agencies may still revert to
their original plans if the cross is placed on the Akhtamar church dome
by September 19. `If they say tomorrow or the day after that the cross
will be placed, we will definitely go there on that day,' said
Arushanian.
That the Turkish government had promised to restore the cross was
confirmed by Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the spiritual leader of the
Turkish-Armenian community, earlier this week. `If that does not happen
in time for the service, it will definitely be placed just after it,'
Ateshian told `Hurriyet Daily News.'
10.09.2010
Hasmik Smbatian
Travel agencies in Yerevan said on Friday that they will cancel plans to
take hundreds of Armenian pilgrims to the upcoming landmark liturgy at a
medieval Armenian cathedral in southeastern Turkey unless Turkish
authorities restore a cross on its dome.
They linked their decision with a boycott of the September 19 ceremony
announced by the Armenia-based leadership of the Armenian Apostolic
Church at the weekend.
The 10th century church of Surp Khach (Holy Cross) will see its first
mass in nearly a century three years after undergoing a $1.5 million
renovation funded by the Turkish government, its current owner.
The government has allowed Turkey's surviving Armenian Christian
community to hold religious services at the church perched on the
legendary Akhtamar island in Lake Van once a year. It has promoted the
decision as proof of its commitment to tolerance and a gesture of
goodwill towards Armenians.
In a September 4 statement, the Mother See of the Armenian Church based
in the town of Echmiadzin accused Ankara of breaking a pledge to allow
the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul to place a cross on the temple
before the ceremony. It said it has therefore reconsidered an earlier
decision to send two high-level Echmiadzin clerics to the Akhtamar
mass.
Hundreds of ordinary Armenians were also expected to be in attendance,
having booked tour packages to eastern Turkey through Yerevan-based tour
operators specializing in the area which had a significant Armenian
population until the 1915 genocide. The largest of those agencies,
Narekavank Tour, alone planned to bus 250 pilgrims from Armenia to
Akhtamar. Its director, Ashot Soghomonian, said the Turkish authorities'
apparent reluctance to restore the cross is `humiliating and
disrespectful' towards the Armenian people.
`We could have earned a lump sum in just one day from 250 people,'
Soghomonian told RFE/RL's Armenian service. `We can't take that many
people to Western Armenia (eastern Turkey) even within three months. But
for them and us, participating in that liturgy without the cross is not
acceptable.'
Vladimir Arushanian, whose Ani Tour agency had attracted about 100 other
pilgrims, agreed with Soghomonian. `Organizing a pilgrimage on that day
would not be right as the Turks have failed to keep their word,' he
said.
`People's desire to take part in that ceremony was mainly related to the
restoration of the cross,' Arushanian told RFE/RL. `But now that the
cross will not be restored, people automatically wonder what they would
be going there for.'
Arushanian added that Ani Tour clients will be offered to travel to Lake
Van and other parts of eastern Turkey, still carrying traces of the
ancient Armenian civilization, later in September.
Not all travel agents organizing trips to the area agreed with the
boycott.' `The Mother See has its policy and goals,' said Ruben
Markosian of Arpi Tour. `I am a good Armenian Christian, but I see no
need to cancel the trip just because the Mother See has decided so. We
just want to go there and see the ceremony. What's wrong with that?'
Markosian also argued that Armenia's government has not officially
called for a boycott, even if it will not be sending any officials to
the liturgy.
President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican Party did speak out against any
Armenian participation in the `imitational show' last month. Like other
major Armenian political forces, it regards the event as a Turkish
publicity stunt designed to mislead the international community.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Markosian said he still does not know how many Arpi
Tour clients will actually sign up for the pilgrimage. `People are
bewildered,' he said. `Everyone has said they will call and tell us
about their final decision in the coming days.'
Both Soghomonian and Arushanian said their agencies may still revert to
their original plans if the cross is placed on the Akhtamar church dome
by September 19. `If they say tomorrow or the day after that the cross
will be placed, we will definitely go there on that day,' said
Arushanian.
That the Turkish government had promised to restore the cross was
confirmed by Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the spiritual leader of the
Turkish-Armenian community, earlier this week. `If that does not happen
in time for the service, it will definitely be placed just after it,'
Ateshian told `Hurriyet Daily News.'
A TALE OF TWO MONASTERIES
The National Interest Online
Sept 10 2010
On August 15 this year, a remarkable event took place at Sumela
monastery in northeastern Turkey in the beautiful wooded valleys that
the Greeks call the Pontus. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
celebrated the first service in the ruined monastery since 1923,
the year when the Pontic Greeks were deported from their homeland.
It took many years of quiet diplomacy by church officials,
non-governmental activists, mayors and-an important group in this
rapprochement-musicians, for Greeks and Turks to bridge their
differences sufficiently to let the Sumela service take place. An
American photographer of Pontic Greek origin, Eleftherios ("Ted")
Kostans was in the church and wrote me his impressions:
There were a couple of stand-out moments I thoroughly enjoyed. One
being the Patriarch's speeches in Greek and Turkish. He was both
eloquent and considerate of all peoples, in a way that made reminded
us, we are all human first. The second wonderful moment was quite
thrilling for me as Greek and as a Pontian. When the Patriarch walked
through the crowed inside the Sumela walls carrying his staff I was
just a few steps away and could see him gazing the walls. The smell
of frescoes and priests singing suddenly came together for me. Silence
hit the room for a moment and suddenly the crowed yelled, "Axios!
Axios! Axios!" [the Greek word for 'Worthy']......It came from all
directions as the crowed closed in around the Patriarch....Wow! For me,
that was the climactic moment. Not just for the day. But symbolically,
it represented the return to Pontus and announced officially that
yes we are Pontians and this is our homeland.
Only a year before I was with Eleftherios outside the monastery walls
on August 15, the Feast of the Virgin Day, when it all went badly
wrong and a Turkish museum curator broke up what she declared to be
an unauthorized service.
This year's breakthrough was clearly authorized at the top, another
move in the tentative "Christian opening" made by the governing AK
Party, as it challenges some of the desiccated doctrines of the
Turkish state. Plenty of powerful nationalist forces vehemently
opposed the service as an invitation to "Christian fifth columnists"
to infiltrate a Turkish state musuem. But now a precedent has been set,
hopefully the Sumela liturgy will become an annual event.
None of this can be said a parallel service planned for September 19:
the first liturgy for more than 90 years in the 10th century Armenian
church of Akhtamar on Lake Van. The Armenian patriarch of Istanbul is
due to officiate in what would again be a historic event-Armenians'
return to a place that from which they were bloodily driven out in
1915. Thousands of Armenians are due to visit, with many of them
staying in ordinary Turkish homes.
Unfortunately, unlike Sumela, the Akhtamar service is threatening to
turn into a disaster. Armenian officials and clergy are saying they
will not come because the Turkish government has not carried through on
its promise to reinstall a cross on the monastery dome. The government,
currently locked in a fight over the September 12 constitutional
referendum, is doing nothing to correct this.
I understand the concerns of some Armenians who won't go to Akhatmar.
They want to see rapprochement with Turkey, but they believe that the
church service is a distraction from the political business that the
Turkish government flunked when it failed to press ahead with ratifying
the Protocols on normalizing relations, signed last year in Zurich.
But some Armenians are going much further, denouncing the whole
event and calling for a boycott. One commentator called the liturgy a
"scandalous show" and Armenians who are going there "tools of Turkish
propaganda." These people, who oppose any incremental changes with
Turkey and demand nothing less than a full Turkish government apology
for committing Genocide in 1915 are in a curious way the allies
of the Turkish nationalists who oppose rapprochement for opposite
reasons. If the Akhtamar service is a failure, it will be a blow
against those liberal Turks, such as the governor of Van province
and in the presidential administration, who are still pushing for
normalization with Armenia.
I am certain of two things: There will eventually be a breakthrough
in Armenian-Turkish relations. And when it happens, both Armenians
and Turks will say things about the other and about the past that
they are not saying now. The issue is all in the timing and how to
build enough mutual trust to stiffen the resolve of the leaders who
will do the final deal.
The National Interest Online
Sept 10 2010
On August 15 this year, a remarkable event took place at Sumela
monastery in northeastern Turkey in the beautiful wooded valleys that
the Greeks call the Pontus. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
celebrated the first service in the ruined monastery since 1923,
the year when the Pontic Greeks were deported from their homeland.
It took many years of quiet diplomacy by church officials,
non-governmental activists, mayors and-an important group in this
rapprochement-musicians, for Greeks and Turks to bridge their
differences sufficiently to let the Sumela service take place. An
American photographer of Pontic Greek origin, Eleftherios ("Ted")
Kostans was in the church and wrote me his impressions:
There were a couple of stand-out moments I thoroughly enjoyed. One
being the Patriarch's speeches in Greek and Turkish. He was both
eloquent and considerate of all peoples, in a way that made reminded
us, we are all human first. The second wonderful moment was quite
thrilling for me as Greek and as a Pontian. When the Patriarch walked
through the crowed inside the Sumela walls carrying his staff I was
just a few steps away and could see him gazing the walls. The smell
of frescoes and priests singing suddenly came together for me. Silence
hit the room for a moment and suddenly the crowed yelled, "Axios!
Axios! Axios!" [the Greek word for 'Worthy']......It came from all
directions as the crowed closed in around the Patriarch....Wow! For me,
that was the climactic moment. Not just for the day. But symbolically,
it represented the return to Pontus and announced officially that
yes we are Pontians and this is our homeland.
Only a year before I was with Eleftherios outside the monastery walls
on August 15, the Feast of the Virgin Day, when it all went badly
wrong and a Turkish museum curator broke up what she declared to be
an unauthorized service.
This year's breakthrough was clearly authorized at the top, another
move in the tentative "Christian opening" made by the governing AK
Party, as it challenges some of the desiccated doctrines of the
Turkish state. Plenty of powerful nationalist forces vehemently
opposed the service as an invitation to "Christian fifth columnists"
to infiltrate a Turkish state musuem. But now a precedent has been set,
hopefully the Sumela liturgy will become an annual event.
None of this can be said a parallel service planned for September 19:
the first liturgy for more than 90 years in the 10th century Armenian
church of Akhtamar on Lake Van. The Armenian patriarch of Istanbul is
due to officiate in what would again be a historic event-Armenians'
return to a place that from which they were bloodily driven out in
1915. Thousands of Armenians are due to visit, with many of them
staying in ordinary Turkish homes.
Unfortunately, unlike Sumela, the Akhtamar service is threatening to
turn into a disaster. Armenian officials and clergy are saying they
will not come because the Turkish government has not carried through on
its promise to reinstall a cross on the monastery dome. The government,
currently locked in a fight over the September 12 constitutional
referendum, is doing nothing to correct this.
I understand the concerns of some Armenians who won't go to Akhatmar.
They want to see rapprochement with Turkey, but they believe that the
church service is a distraction from the political business that the
Turkish government flunked when it failed to press ahead with ratifying
the Protocols on normalizing relations, signed last year in Zurich.
But some Armenians are going much further, denouncing the whole
event and calling for a boycott. One commentator called the liturgy a
"scandalous show" and Armenians who are going there "tools of Turkish
propaganda." These people, who oppose any incremental changes with
Turkey and demand nothing less than a full Turkish government apology
for committing Genocide in 1915 are in a curious way the allies
of the Turkish nationalists who oppose rapprochement for opposite
reasons. If the Akhtamar service is a failure, it will be a blow
against those liberal Turks, such as the governor of Van province
and in the presidential administration, who are still pushing for
normalization with Armenia.
I am certain of two things: There will eventually be a breakthrough
in Armenian-Turkish relations. And when it happens, both Armenians
and Turks will say things about the other and about the past that
they are not saying now. The issue is all in the timing and how to
build enough mutual trust to stiffen the resolve of the leaders who
will do the final deal.
OF ARMENIAN DECENT TO RETURN TO TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 10, 2010 - 16:43 AMT 11:43 GMT
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu requested a world-leading
economist of Armenian decent, Daron Acemoglu to return to Turkey,
offering him a responsible position in economy sector. Acemoglu did
not deny the possibility of returning, Ermenihaber stated.
Daron Acemolu (born September 3, 1967 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a
Turkish economist of Armenian descent. He is currently the Charles P.
Kindleberger Professor of Applied Economics at Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and winner of the 2005 John Bates Clark Medal. Acemoglu
has authored the famous Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy
book.
Daron Acemolu is among the 20 most cited economists in the world
according to IDEAS/RePEc.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 10, 2010 - 16:43 AMT 11:43 GMT
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu requested a world-leading
economist of Armenian decent, Daron Acemoglu to return to Turkey,
offering him a responsible position in economy sector. Acemoglu did
not deny the possibility of returning, Ermenihaber stated.
Daron Acemolu (born September 3, 1967 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a
Turkish economist of Armenian descent. He is currently the Charles P.
Kindleberger Professor of Applied Economics at Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and winner of the 2005 John Bates Clark Medal. Acemoglu
has authored the famous Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy
book.
Daron Acemolu is among the 20 most cited economists in the world
according to IDEAS/RePEc.
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