Well, it is not news that the idiotic president of Iran denied the Holocaust calling it a "myth." Then, other officials tried to explain that the president's "remarks" were "misunderstood."
Misunderstood or not, Iran's president is a genocide denier and I am sorry for the proud people of Iran to have such a "leader."

Oh, yes. A last "remark" to Iran's president in his "favorite" language: Kish Mekh Entokhes ya Zain!!!!!!!!!

Ice Age Arrives:

Yerevan's new outdoor skating rink made its debut this week, with an exhibition by Armenia's very own ice hockey team. After months of work, "Swan Lake" (next to the Opera House) is now iced over and ready for slippery entertainment.

This is where "Karapi Lich" used to be. A nice idea! At least, the rabiz guys cannot have razbirat on the ice, correct?

from ArmeniaNow.com
16 December 2005

Happy Birthday, Այբ, Բեն, Գիմ!

The New York Times reports on 13 December 2005, "It's Not Every Day You Are Invited to a 1,600th Birthday Party, Let Alone One For an Alphabet."

But last week, that's exactly what brought more than 200 people to a parking lot in New Milford, N.J., across the street from a CVS and a karate studio, where they huddled together in a shivering herd, clapping their mittens and whispering prayers in frosty breath to the Armenian alphabet, created in the fifth century."


The reporter goes on to say, "And so, as sheet cake was sliced and plastic glasses of Martini & Rossi raised, the partygoers sang, 'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ayp Pen Keem' — the Armenian A B C's — 'happy birthday to you.'"

—-
In this picture you see a work, which is at the museum of St. Echmiadzin, made a few decades ago. It shows the Armenian letters, all made of pure gold. My grandfather, Sarkis Maghakian, carved some of the letters, though his name is not credited. Instead, the name of Jirair, I believe, or a name that starts with J (Zh) is credited, who was my grandfather's friend and asked him to help. – Nemesis

"…What am I to make of a country [Turkey] that insists that the Turks, unlike their Western neighbors, are a compassionate people, incapable of genocide, while nationalist political groups are pelting me with death threats?"

– Orhan Pamuk, the most famous contemporary Turkish novelist
The New Yorker, page 34
19 December 2005

Best-selling Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk makes a speech during his short appearance at a meeting of the writers, who gathered to show their support a day before his trial in Istanbul December 15, 2005. The trial of Pamuk, which opens on Friday, is a critical test of Turkey's commitment to freedom of expression, which risks straining its ties with the European Union. Pamuk faces up to three years in jail if convicted of insulting 'Turkishness' with his comments that a million Armenians died in World War One massacres and that 30,000 Kurds were killed in more recent decades. Ankara has always denied charges of genocide against Armenians. REUTERS/Stringer

p.s. Orhan Pamuk's trial for "insulting Turkishness" (read admitting the Armenian genocide) will take place this Friday. BBC published an article on it today.

Radio Interview on the Genocide

Massachusetts National Public Radio Interview on the Armenian Genocide. "Was it Genocide?" Story aired: Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
—
When the plaintiff Bill Schechter, teacher of American history at Lincoln-Sudbury High School in Massachusetts, is asked in the interview whether he would include "another point of view" on the Holocaust, he says "No." Well Mr. Schechter is a Jew and, of course, Holocaust denial is unacceptable for him and does not fall under the "freedom of speech." But when it comes to the Armenian genocide, well, Mr. Schechter does not care a lot….

Mr. Schechter, joined by a student and by the Turkish organizations of America, is arguing that the "Turkish perspective" on the Armenian genocide should be included in American textbooks.

This is something that breaks my heart and soul, yet it is the reality that we must ardently battle. Armenian girls are returning to the homeland after the Genocide…. now as prostitutes. What a disgrace, what a shame, what a blasphemy….

Armenian Prostitutes in Turkey
[December 5, 2005]

A few months ago, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated in a speech that Turkey hosts around 40,000 Armenian citizens. What are so many Armenians doing in different locations within Turkey? They are mainly in trade, working in the service industry, or, painful as it is to admit it, involved in the sex business. Armenians are going to a country with whom Armenia does not even have diplomatic relations, which means that Armenian citizens can expect no support from their country, in the event that their rights are violated in Turkey, or if, for instance, they are involved in an accident of some sort. Although Armenians do not have diplomatic relations, traveling to Turkey is easy and inexpensive. There are a number of travel agencies in the center of Yerevan where you can get an entry visa and a bus ticket to different destinations in Turkey from various Armenian cities. A large percentage of travelers to Turkey choose to go by bus.

The Armenian authorities do not have any clear numbers regarding Armenian prostitutes in Turkey. Our preliminary investigation suggests that there are more Armenian prostitutes in Turkey than there are in the United Arab Emirates. Clearly, most women are driven to prostitution by necessity. It is women in socially vulnerable groups – those who cannot feed their children or their parents- that are usually the ones who end up choosing the path of prostitution.

(read the whole article at HETQ, unless you are in Dubai, where the website is blocked by the government)

Another Armenian champion this year
Now in Boxing

Associated Press reported on Sat Dec 10, 6:29 PM ET, Arthur Abraham, an Armenian of Germany, became a box champion today.

Coach Ulli Wegner, left, and promoter Wilfried Sauerland, right, celebrate with their new champion, Armenian Arthur Abraham living in Germany after the IBF Middleweight world champion boxing match against Nigeria born Canadian Kingsley Ikeke in Leipzig, eastern Germany, Saturday night, Dec. 10, 2005. Abraham won by knock out during the 5th round. (AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz)

This year Armenians are going crazy in the world. Tennis player David Nalbandian, who plays for Argentina, became an unbelievable star. System of a Down, the Armenian rock band in the U.S., is on the first place SECOND TIME this year by selling albums (no band in America has had first place twice in one year). Armenia got bronze medal in figure skating (this is outrageous! because Armenians don't have that sport in Armenia), let alone Armenians got the bronze medal in chess in Israel this year (which is understandable, because Armenians are usually good at chess and have done better before).

What makes me sad is that only the last two truly represent Armenia, while the others have to represent other countries to get more money for their medals or were simply born in those countries due to the Armenian genocide.

Well, maybe this is Armenians' "revenge" to the world on the 90th anniversary of the Genocide.

Hopefully, the Armenian talent will also benefit Armenia and not only Germany, Argentina, USA, etc…

UPDATE: Some newspapers, including USA TODAY, Boston Globe and others, write of Abraham, as "Armenia's Abraham." Does this mean he represents Armenia, or are the journalists confused again? (today a Kuwaiti newspaper called Armenia "Romania"…)

Armenian Arthur Abraham living in Germany celebrates uplifted by his brother Alex after he won IBF Middleweight world champion boxing match against Nigeria born Canadian Kingsley Ikeke in Leipzig, eastern Germany, Saturday night, Dec. 10, 2005. Abraham won by knock out during the 5th round. (AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz) from Boston Globe .

UPDATE: I was told Arthur put Armenia's flag on his shoulders right after he became champion.

Azg reports on 16 December 2005, Arthur Abraham said after he became champion, "My victory belongs to Armenians."

Can Armenians and Azeris still be friends?

There is a great article at the website of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting published on 10 December 2005.

It tells how the Armenians of a village in Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijanis of a village in Armenia exchanged their villages during the conflict and they still take care of each others' graves.

"When they exchanged their land, Kerkenj and Kzylshafak signed an agreement promising to look after the graves they were forced to leave behind.

Though 16 years have now passed, that promise has been kept by both sides, and in Dyunashogh, the Muslim cemetery is as well cared for as the nearby Armenian Christian burial ground."

Անպատասխան աղոթք

Դու չկաս: Ոչ հոգեպես` ինչպես որոշ մարդիկ իմ կյանքում:
Դու չկաս: Դու չկաս ֆիզիկապես, դու էլ չես ապրում:
Դու մահացար երկու շաբաթ առաջ, դու էլ չես ապրում:
Դու էլ չկաս, էլ ինձ չես սպասում…

Քո մահից հետո Աստված ինձ համար մեռավ:
Քո մահով սպանեցիր Աստծուն իմ հոգում:
Այսինքն` Աստված սպանեց քեզ ֆիզիկապես,
Իսկ դու իրեն` հոգեպես:
Բայց այս աշխարհում Աստված չէր կարող պատճառ գտնել քեզ սպանելու, ուրեմն
Աստված չկա, ուրեմն նա մեռած է:

Բայց աստծուն թաղելով` հոգիս էլ թաղեցի:
Միգուցե մեռնելուց հետո մենք չենք ապրում,
Միգուցե չկա հոգի:
Եթե չկա, ուրեմն քեզ կյանքում ետմահու չեմ տեսնի,
Եթե չկա, ուրեմն դու չկաս հոգեպես:

Ուրեմն քեզ կորցնելով` հոգիս կորցրեցի:
Այսինքն ես մեռա, ես մեռա քեզ հետ…

Ի յիշատակ Վիկա Գեւորքյանի

6 դեկտեմբեր 2005

Armenia has invisible tanks

Armenia is the only country in the South Caucasus to have invisible blankets for tanks.

As Regnum reports on 5 December 2005, a spokesperson for the Russian research institute that discovered the invisible blanket said, “Armenia is the only country in South Caucasus that bought such products.” “The cover is capable to reflect radio-waves, so it makes the object (tank) invisible. Thus, it makes impossible for the enemy’s sensors to detect its whereabouts until they come close directly to the object.”

Regnum goes on to report, “American military institutions are also interested in the Russian know-how, but considering the national interests, the Russian party refused to accept an offer from the overseas customers.”