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COMPILED BY HAGOP MARDIROSSIAN (LOS ANGELES, USA)

FROM AN ARTICLE BY PAT BUCHANAN

Karekin II presides over chrism blessing

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KAREKIN II PRESIDES OVER BLESSING OF HOLY CHRISM IN ETCHMIADZIN

Monday, September 29, 2008 - Etchmiadzin (Combined Sources) - Thousands flocked to the Etchmiadzin Mother See for the ceremonious blessing of the Holy Chrism presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and delegations from Dioceses worldwide. Catholicos Karekin II led the procession out to the St. Drtad open air altar, surrounded by representatives of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople, as well as 12 Primates from the various Dioceses and in the presence of the political leaders and the public began the traditional process, which takes place every seven years. Also present at the ceremony was Ecumenical Patriarch His Holiness Bartholomew I and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, representing Pope Benedict XVI from the Vatican. The new Chrism is mixed in an ornate cauldron with the old chrism, symbolising the passage of the holy water from generation to generation. A batch of the Chrism blessed in Antelias this June at the Great House of Cilicia was also added to the mixture. On Monday, President Sargsyan met with the visiting religious delegation, which included Catholicos Karekin II, Patriarch Bartholomew I, Cardinal Sandri. Greeting the guests, the President said: “The Chrism is of special symbolic importance for us. Every Armenian believes that after spreading it all over the world, the Chrism returns to Holy Etchmiadzin, our religious center and it's the spiritual magnetism of our people.” Sargsyan stressed the importance of religion in maintaining peace and moral values, fighting against despair, immorality and temptations, since there are many temptations in the contemporary world. Following the meeting the religious leaders visited the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Memorial Monument and laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the Genocide.

LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARCHIVES TO OBTAIN GENOCIDE DOCUMENTATION

Los Angeles, California - A civil action against the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States was filed yesterday seeking documents as they relate to the Armenian Genocide (1914 to 1925). (Vartkes Yeghiayan v. National Archives and Records Administration of the United States of America, Case No. CV08-16248, U.S. District Court, Central District of Calif., Sept. 23, 2008). "Repeated efforts have been made to procure these documents, but the National Archives has been non-responsive," says Mark MacCarley, partner with Glendale, Calif.-based MacCarley & Rosen who is representing plaintiff Vartkes Yeghiayan. "Its actions are in violation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)." The initial request by Yeghiayan occurred in April 2006. "The National Archives acknowledged receipt of the request, but has not provided the information despite repeated inquiries from my client," says MacCarley. "The National Archives, without explanation, has exceeded the generally applicable 20-day deadline for processing FOIA requests. We simply want the requested documentation." Yeghiayan is an attorney who has successfully litigated lawsuits in State and Federal courts against U.S. and foreign businesses for Armenian Genocide asset restitution. More than 1.5 million Armenians were killed during the genocide with millions more deported from the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey). Yeghiayan filed the FOIA request because he believes documents are being held by the U.S. government that would identify countries having either direct complicity in the Armenian Genocide or profited by the Ottoman Turks actions against Armenians. "This lawsuit is on behalf of Armenian-Americans who are seeking documentation and information that could shed light on what happened to their loved ones during the Armenian Genocide,” says Yeghiayan.

GUL AIMS TO CREATE A POSITIVE CLIMATE BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

armradio.am - September 29 - Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Thursday his aim was to create a positive climate between Turkey and Armenia. "I am very hopeful about this," he said in a meeting organised by the American-Turkish Society in New York. He said Turkey and Armenia did not have diplomatic relations, and their borders were closed, although Turkey was one of the first countries recognizing Armenia's independence. "However, the two countries have had humanitarian activities," Gul said, reminding of Turkey's wheat assistance to Armenia in 1990s. Gul said thousands of Armenian citizens are working in Turkey due to economic reasons and flights and cultural activities are organised between the two countries. "My recent visit to Armenia was for a soccer game, but I did not only watch the game with Mr. Sargsyan. We had the opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, the Caucasus and Azerbaijan," he was quoted by Anatolian Agency as saying. Gul said it is necessary to solve regional problems through dialogue, and added he hoped that everything would normalise in the end. Gul also said one of the indicators that relations would normalise was the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia will be held in New York today. "What leaders should do is to eliminate the problems, not to feed enmities," Gul also said. Gul said that many projects could be carried out between Turkey and Armenia, like establishing industrial zones at the border, after the problems were solved, daily Hurriyet reported.

OPENING OF THE BORDER, PREGNANT WITH SERIOUS DANGERS SAYS LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN

armradio.am September 26 - The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is pregnant with serious dangers, including those of economic nature: in particular, it will cause great harm to light industry, political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan told a press conference today. However, according to him, the greatest danger is that Turkey will start accusing Armenia of providing camps to the Kurdish Workers' Party. According to Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, Turkey is currently competing with Russia, Iran and the United States to enlarge its influence in the region. Turning to Turkey's willingness to act as mediator in the Karabakh conflict settlement, the political scientist noted that Armenia does not need such a mediator. In his words, the mediator that considers its people and the people of Azerbaijan different parts of the same nation cannot be unbiased. Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan is assured that the problem of Armenian-Turkish relations will not be solved either now or in the time of coming generations. "Civilisation lays in the basis of the controversies of those relations, and we need to live many centuries in the same civilisation to overcome it," he said. BANNED IN TURKEY By Thomas Grove - Saudi Gazette September 25 - A Turkish court decision to ban the website of a renowned British atheist academic has stirred fresh doubts about the European Union candidate's commitment to freedom of speech. Approximately 850 Internet websites, including Youtube, have been blocked this year in Turkey, the number swollen by recent laws making it possible to block sites without a court order. "When you look at Internet regulation Turkey looks to be in the same league as Tunisia or North Korea, and that doesn't bode well for EU requirements," said Cengiz Aktar, professor at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University. "The Internet is one of the most instrumental means of spreading information, it is an unprecedented instrument, and forbidding the Internet is forbidding freedom of speech," he said. The website of Oxford professor and evolutionist Richard Dawkins was banned in Turkey earlier this month after the Muslim country's leading creationist advocate, Adnan Oktar, said he had found slanders of himself there. The website currently carries in its masthead a picture of the Turkish flag and the heading "Banned in Turkey". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menendez Hammers Turkey's "Historical Commission" Proposal

September 30, 2008 Menendez Hammers Turkey's “Historical Commission” Proposal WATCH VIDEO Amb. James Jeffrey Sen. Bob Menendez Sen. John Kerry -- Senators Menendez and Kerry Grill Ambassador Designate to Ankara during Confirmation Hearing -- Responding to Biden, Turkish Ambassador Nominee Affirms Genocide-Era Diplomatic Record From the Campaign Trail: New McCain Outreach Fails to Outline Armenian American Policy Positions Youth in Politics: ANCA Capital Gateway Program Opens Public Policy Doors for Fall '08 Participants Fighting Genocide Denial: Watertown Town Council Calls on Blue Cross Blue Shield to Disassociate with Controversial ADL Program Darfur: Gov. Schwarzenegger Bans California Contracts with Sudan Menendez Hammers Turkey's “Historical Commission” Proposal WASHINGTON, DC - New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez pressed U.S. Ambassador to Turkey nominee James Jeffrey to explain the Administration’s apparent renewed backing for Turkey’s widely discredited push for a “historical commission” on the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The move comes despite the State Department’s pledge, made during the nomination process for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, to oppose efforts that would open to debate the fact that Ottoman Turkey used mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and forced deportations to destroy over one and half million Armenians. “We want to share our special thanks with Senator Menendez for, once again, shining a powerful international spotlight on the Administration’s policy of complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We are especially grateful for his incisive line of questioning regarding the State Department’s flawed and inconsistent position on Turkey’s self-serving proposal for a historical commission. A clear illustration of the bankruptcy of the Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide was the nominee’s convoluted response to the simple question, posed by Senator Menendez: “If Turkey would be willing to recognize the Armenian Genocide, would the United States be willing to do so?’” Read more. . . Responding to Biden, Turkish Ambassador Nominee Affirms Genocide-Era Diplomatic Record Additional Docs. Amb. Jeffrey's Responses to Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Amb. Jeffrey's Responses to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Amb. Jeffrey's Responses to Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) WASHINGTON, DC - Ambassador to Turkey designate James Jeffrey, in response to questions from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden (D-DE), affirmed that official U.S. diplomatic reports by Ambassadors Morgenthau and Elkus and other Armenian Genocide-era U.S. diplomats in the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, describe the attempted extermination of the Armenian population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Additional questions were asked by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), among other Senators. “Although falling far short of a clear and proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Jeffrey, in his response to Senator Biden’s questioning, moved U.S. policy in the right direction by publicly agreeing - after long years of official disregard, disrespect, and dismissal of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s proud legacy - that our nation’s diplomatic representatives to the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, document the Ottoman government’s clear intent and systematic campaign to destroy its Armenian population,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We want to thank Chairman Biden for his thoughtful inquiries that led to this reaffirmation of the American record, and to, once again, express our appreciation to Senators Menendez and Kerry for their incisive lines of questioning during the Foreign Relations Committee’s confirmation hearing earlier this week.” Read more. . . New McCain Outreach Fails to Outline Armenian American Policy Positions WASHINGTON, DC - Senator John McCain today issued an open letter to Armenian American voters, seeking their support for his presidential campaign, but failing to outline his stands on core Armenian American issues, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Today’s letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the same themes as Senator McCain’s correspondence this February to the ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator praised the Armenian American contribution to American society, and Armenia’s contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabagh, the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic language typically employed by the Administration, mention the “terrible tragedy” suffered by the Armenians, although, notably, without using the proper term genocide. “We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator McCain’s outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved beyond the respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter he sent to us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our community’s core issues,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Armenian Americans are issue voters, and look to the candidates seeking their support to be clear about their views and values - particularly on issues related to the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabagh, the strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of U.S.-Armenia relations.” Read more. . . ANCA Capital Gateway Program Opens Public Policy Doors for Fall '08 Participants WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Capital Gateway Program welcomed five new participants to the nation’s capital this month, each eager to embark on careers in politics and public policy. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Gateway Program helps applicants attain exciting internships and challenging full-time public policy jobs in the nation’s capital. To date, over forty fellows have gone through the program and secured positions in dozens of Congressional offices, as well as esteemed media and political institutions such as Congressional Quarterly, the US Chamber of Commerce, Export-Import Bank (EXIM), SRCP Media and the World Bank. The five Fall, 2008 participants hit the ground running in Washington, landing Congressional internships within weeks of their arrival. “Being in DC for only a week and having already secured internships on the Hill is very exciting for both me and my colleagues,” said Meri Telelyan, a recent University of California, Santa Barbara graduate currently interning for Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). “Of course, our ultimate goal is to find permanent positions working in Congress.” Read more. . . Watertown Town Council Calls on Blue Cross / Blue Shield to Disassociate with Controversial ADL Program WATERTOWN, MA - The Watertown Town Council unanimously voted last night in support of a resolution calling on Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Massachusetts to ends its endorsement of the Anti Defamation League's (ADL) controversial No Place for Hate (NPFH) program, citing the ADL's opposition to Armenian Genocide affirmation efforts, reported the Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts (ANCM). The resolution, introduced by Councilors Marilyn Petitto Devaney, Stephen Corbett, and Mark Sideris, was taken up during a regular Town Council session, which was moved in advance to the Watertown Middle School to accommodate the growing interest in this scandal. The vote on the resolution was prefaced by the reading of a brief statement by Jay Curley, BCBS’s Senior Vice President for Public, Government and Regulatory Affairs, who was present at the Council’s request. Following Mr. Curley’s statement, all nine Town Council members asked detailed questions regarding the BCBS position. Read more. . . Gov. Schwarzenegger Bans California Contracts with Sudan Los Angeles, CA - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed bill AB 498 on September 24, 2008 which bans California contracts with companies that do business with Khartoum due to the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. While the bill was introduced earlier last year, support for the bill gained momentum due to a broad based, anti-genocide grassroots advocacy effort which surged across the state in the past several months. “The Armenian American community is pleased to see California resolutely state that it will not economically support a government that engages in genocide, that there are consequences to committing genocide, and that California will not shirk its responsibility in confronting genocide,” stated ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian. “The ANC applauds the hard work of the Save Darfur Coalition in working with the California community and anti-genocide organizations throughout the state in making this day possible - and will continue to work closely with our friends in the coalition to help end the disastrous cycle of genocide that continues today,” he added. During an ANC organized advocacy day in Sacramento this past April, activists reminded state legislators about the importance of California being at the forefront of human rights by maintaining its commitment to confronting genocide, taking measures to prevent and punishing those who engage in that crime against humanity. Read More. . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menendez Hammers Turkey's "Historical Commission" Proposal

September 30, 2008 Menendez Hammers Turkey's “Historical Commission” Proposal WATCH VIDEO Amb. James Jeffrey Sen. Bob Menendez Sen. John Kerry -- Senators Menendez and Kerry Grill Ambassador Designate to Ankara during Confirmation Hearing -- Responding to Biden, Turkish Ambassador Nominee Affirms Genocide-Era Diplomatic Record From the Campaign Trail: New McCain Outreach Fails to Outline Armenian American Policy Positions Youth in Politics: ANCA Capital Gateway Program Opens Public Policy Doors for Fall '08 Participants Fighting Genocide Denial: Watertown Town Council Calls on Blue Cross Blue Shield to Disassociate with Controversial ADL Program Darfur: Gov. Schwarzenegger Bans California Contracts with Sudan Menendez Hammers Turkey's “Historical Commission” Proposal WASHINGTON, DC - New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez pressed U.S. Ambassador to Turkey nominee James Jeffrey to explain the Administration’s apparent renewed backing for Turkey’s widely discredited push for a “historical commission” on the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The move comes despite the State Department’s pledge, made during the nomination process for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, to oppose efforts that would open to debate the fact that Ottoman Turkey used mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and forced deportations to destroy over one and half million Armenians. “We want to share our special thanks with Senator Menendez for, once again, shining a powerful international spotlight on the Administration’s policy of complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We are especially grateful for his incisive line of questioning regarding the State Department’s flawed and inconsistent position on Turkey’s self-serving proposal for a historical commission. A clear illustration of the bankruptcy of the Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide was the nominee’s convoluted response to the simple question, posed by Senator Menendez: “If Turkey would be willing to recognize the Armenian Genocide, would the United States be willing to do so?’” Read more. . . Responding to Biden, Turkish Ambassador Nominee Affirms Genocide-Era Diplomatic Record Additional Docs. Amb. Jeffrey's Responses to Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Amb. Jeffrey's Responses to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Amb. Jeffrey's Responses to Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) WASHINGTON, DC - Ambassador to Turkey designate James Jeffrey, in response to questions from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden (D-DE), affirmed that official U.S. diplomatic reports by Ambassadors Morgenthau and Elkus and other Armenian Genocide-era U.S. diplomats in the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, describe the attempted extermination of the Armenian population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Additional questions were asked by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), among other Senators. “Although falling far short of a clear and proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Jeffrey, in his response to Senator Biden’s questioning, moved U.S. policy in the right direction by publicly agreeing - after long years of official disregard, disrespect, and dismissal of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s proud legacy - that our nation’s diplomatic representatives to the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, document the Ottoman government’s clear intent and systematic campaign to destroy its Armenian population,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We want to thank Chairman Biden for his thoughtful inquiries that led to this reaffirmation of the American record, and to, once again, express our appreciation to Senators Menendez and Kerry for their incisive lines of questioning during the Foreign Relations Committee’s confirmation hearing earlier this week.” Read more. . . New McCain Outreach Fails to Outline Armenian American Policy Positions WASHINGTON, DC - Senator John McCain today issued an open letter to Armenian American voters, seeking their support for his presidential campaign, but failing to outline his stands on core Armenian American issues, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Today’s letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the same themes as Senator McCain’s correspondence this February to the ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator praised the Armenian American contribution to American society, and Armenia’s contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabagh, the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic language typically employed by the Administration, mention the “terrible tragedy” suffered by the Armenians, although, notably, without using the proper term genocide. “We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator McCain’s outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved beyond the respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter he sent to us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our community’s core issues,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Armenian Americans are issue voters, and look to the candidates seeking their support to be clear about their views and values - particularly on issues related to the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabagh, the strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of U.S.-Armenia relations.” Read more. . . ANCA Capital Gateway Program Opens Public Policy Doors for Fall '08 Participants WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Capital Gateway Program welcomed five new participants to the nation’s capital this month, each eager to embark on careers in politics and public policy. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Gateway Program helps applicants attain exciting internships and challenging full-time public policy jobs in the nation’s capital. To date, over forty fellows have gone through the program and secured positions in dozens of Congressional offices, as well as esteemed media and political institutions such as Congressional Quarterly, the US Chamber of Commerce, Export-Import Bank (EXIM), SRCP Media and the World Bank. The five Fall, 2008 participants hit the ground running in Washington, landing Congressional internships within weeks of their arrival. “Being in DC for only a week and having already secured internships on the Hill is very exciting for both me and my colleagues,” said Meri Telelyan, a recent University of California, Santa Barbara graduate currently interning for Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). “Of course, our ultimate goal is to find permanent positions working in Congress.” Read more. . . Watertown Town Council Calls on Blue Cross / Blue Shield to Disassociate with Controversial ADL Program WATERTOWN, MA - The Watertown Town Council unanimously voted last night in support of a resolution calling on Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Massachusetts to ends its endorsement of the Anti Defamation League's (ADL) controversial No Place for Hate (NPFH) program, citing the ADL's opposition to Armenian Genocide affirmation efforts, reported the Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts (ANCM). The resolution, introduced by Councilors Marilyn Petitto Devaney, Stephen Corbett, and Mark Sideris, was taken up during a regular Town Council session, which was moved in advance to the Watertown Middle School to accommodate the growing interest in this scandal. The vote on the resolution was prefaced by the reading of a brief statement by Jay Curley, BCBS’s Senior Vice President for Public, Government and Regulatory Affairs, who was present at the Council’s request. Following Mr. Curley’s statement, all nine Town Council members asked detailed questions regarding the BCBS position. Read more. . . Gov. Schwarzenegger Bans California Contracts with Sudan Los Angeles, CA - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed bill AB 498 on September 24, 2008 which bans California contracts with companies that do business with Khartoum due to the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. While the bill was introduced earlier last year, support for the bill gained momentum due to a broad based, anti-genocide grassroots advocacy effort which surged across the state in the past several months. “The Armenian American community is pleased to see California resolutely state that it will not economically support a government that engages in genocide, that there are consequences to committing genocide, and that California will not shirk its responsibility in confronting genocide,” stated ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian. “The ANC applauds the hard work of the Save Darfur Coalition in working with the California community and anti-genocide organizations throughout the state in making this day possible - and will continue to work closely with our friends in the coalition to help end the disastrous cycle of genocide that continues today,” he added. During an ANC organized advocacy day in Sacramento this past April, activists reminded state legislators about the importance of California being at the forefront of human rights by maintaining its commitment to confronting genocide, taking measures to prevent and punishing those who engage in that crime against humanity. Read More. . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~