Dikran

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends, The following Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs was transmitted and an acknowledgement from PMO was received on August 10, 2006. A copy was sent to the majority of the MPs. The signatories of the letter solicit your endorsement and would like to know whether you would add your signature to the list. Please indicate your name, city, town and Academic titles (BA, MD, LLB etc) if you so wish. Address your approval via email to the person from whom you received this message and a copy to [email protected] if you so desire. August 10, 2006 The Right Honourable Stephen HARPER, Prime Minister of Canada, Honourable Peter G. MACKAY, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, The human tragedy in Lebanon and Israel is reminiscent of Guernica. Most sacred assets of humankind, people, are being sacrificed because of gross miscalculations on both sides of the conflict. Irrespective of what euphemistic terms are used, war crimes are being committed. As Canadians of Armenian descent, we are acutely aware of the implications of being under the threat of terror and perceived annihilation of a nation, a country or territories since we share similar genocidal experiences. However, when the right to defend one’s country transforms into indiscriminate killing then it is abhorrent. Without eventual implementation of all United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the Middle East Crisis, it is highly unlikely that peace will prevail in the area. It is beyond comprehension not ending the present slaughter in a just manner, and which has all the potentials of solidifying resistance primarily against western interests in the region. It will render all the more difficult to accept mediation efforts in future. Soon the United Nations Security Council will pass new resolutions. One of the elements will include deployment of an international military force. In addition to others, incorporating Turkish soldiers has been suggested. This is an extremely ill-advised proposal. It will be looked upon as a provocation which in itself may cause further destabilization. The Martyrs’ square in the heart of Beirut is dedicated to the Lebanese victims, Christians and Muslims alike that suffered in the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Turkey may be an ally of USA or Israel, but the vast majority of the Lebanese will be unfriendly towards the presence of any Turkish units. Signatories of this open letter do not represent any particular political party and they are not motivated by any political agenda. They have no illusions that power brokers will take this letter seriously, but they feel compelled to voice their conscience against war crimes in general and against atrocities committed thus far. They are strongly committed to Canada and Canadian values, and they are convinced that Canada can and will play a constructive role for brokering peace and eventual peacekeeping in the region. Respectfully, Ani Boghossian, Business Owner, Toronto Artin Arzoumanian MD, Montreal Artin Boghossian PhD, North York Berge Minassian MD CM FRCP©, Toronto Dikran Abrahamian BA, MD, Penetanguishene Haig Misakyan P. Eng, North York Harry Dikranian LLB, BCL, MA, Montreal Jack Sevakian, Management Consultant, Thornhill Katia Peltekian MA, Toronto Marie Injeyan BSc, Kingston Vahe Balabanian MS Eng, Ottawa Vako Nicolian BE BSc, Scarborough Viken L. Attarian P. Eng., MSc, MBA, Mount Royal ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Chibli Mallat Should Run For the Presidency Of Turkey, Not Lebanon August 18, 2006 By APPO K. JABARIAN Executive Publisher & Managing Editor USA Armenian Life Magazine In an August 10 commentary in The Daily Star of Lebanon and the Turkish daily Sabah titled "Turkey can help Lebanon into a new 'long peace,'" Mr. Chibli Mallat, a Lebanese presidential candidate wrote: "The United Nations Security Council draft resolution on Lebanon currently being negotiated in New York mentions the deployment of an international force, to be included in a follow-up resolution. . We Lebanese must have a say in the shaping of this force.. A strong Turkish contingent is also envisaged. Lebanon should strongly support Turkish participation." Mr. Mallat concluded: "Successful Turkish participation in a Lebanon force, alongside France, would also help remove European obstacles to accelerating Turkish membership in the EU. . So, from Lebanon at war, this is an appeal for a robust Turkish contingent to contribute to bringing about a new long peace that we all can benefit from." After a televised appearance on CNN Larry King Live, Mr. Mallat was strongly criticized in an August 5 article titled "Out to Lunch" by Remi Kanazi of "OneThousandReasons.org." Mr. Kanazi wrote: ". Chibli Mallat-one of the leaders of the Cedar Revolution, deep critic of Hezbollah and candidate for President-as the voice of the 'Lebanese people' said: '. He [Nassrallah] initiated the conflict, and all this talk about a great plot between Israel and America is out of place. The conflict was initiated.by [Hezbollah's] reckless action through the Blue Line that separates Lebanon from Israel. That was a grave violation of international law and I think also a grave violation of Lebanese law.'" In a July 2003 opinion article in The Daily Star of Lebanon, titled "George Weidenfeld's bright idea" non other than Mr. Mallat eagerly acted as a cheerleader for Mr. Geroge Weidenfeld who is known as "the Neo Con of the Neo Cons." Mr. Mallat wrote: "the publisher and tycoon George Weidenfeld, a member of the British House of Lords, a grand old man of Churchillian grandeur, offered a new idea: Why not work on joint entrance of Israel and Lebanon into the EU?" If Mr. Mallat's dream comes true, Mr. Weidenfeld would serve as the "godfather" of the Israeli-Lebanese marriage into the European Union, with Turkey serving as an usher (next in line for candidacy for EU membership), and Mr. Mallat as the "ring boy." All this would occur without first solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the core problem of the Middle East. And at the expense of the Arab people who make up the overwhelming majority of the population of the Middle East. In an August 3 column, titled "Turkish Troops Shouldn't Take Part In Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon," Sassounian, the Publisher of The California Courier, brought to the Lebanese, Armenian and international public attention the emerging specter of a tragedy within a tragedy, unless it is averted. Sassounian wrote: "The disastrous situation in the Middle East is about to get even worse, thanks to officials in Washington who have other agendas than bringing peace to the region." Sassounian concluded: "It is simply unacceptable that in the pursuit of their political agendas, the neo-cons in Washington encourage sending Turkish troops to Lebanon. The international community should not allow such irresponsible action that would perpetuate the conflict in the Middle East rather than bring peace and stability to the region." What Mr. Sassounian is referring to is that Mr. Mallat is a groomed candidate for the Lebanese presidency to serve the interests of the Neo Cons in Washington DC, Turkey and Israel in Lebanon. If elected president of Lebanon, one can imagine the type of repressive Ottoman Turkish-style regime Mr. Mallat's presidency can impose on the Lebanese people. Mr. Mallat may even contemplate a new Turkish-executed "mutasarrifiey" (the infamous Ottoman Turkish occupation and ruthless rule of Lebanon from 1865-1917). Now it becomes clear why Mr. Mallat and the Daily Star of Lebanon are the cheerleaders for strongly pro-Israel Turkey's inclusion in the UN international peacekeeping force on the border of Israel and Lebanon. Apparently, Mr. Mallat has forgotten the tens of thousands of Lebanese martyrs that were killed. And over half a million additional Lebanese that were subjected to premeditated famine by Ottoman Turks during their occupation of Lebanon until the late 1910's. Turkish atrocities were committed against all Lebanese, including the Maronites, Sunnis, Druze, Shias, Armenians, and others. May be Mr. Chibli Mallat should run for the presidency of Turkey, not Lebanon. He is in the wrong country to be a candidate for the Presidency. I am sure Ankara would be more than willing to grant him Turkish citizenship. posted by [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends, The following Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs was transmitted and an acknowledgement from PMO was received on August 10, 2006. A copy was sent to the majority of the MPs. The signatories of the letter solicit your endorsement and would like to know whether you would add your signature to the list. Please indicate your name, city, town and Academic titles (BA, MD, LLB etc) if you so wish. Address your approval via email to the person from whom you received this message and a copy to [email protected] if you so desire. August 10, 2006 The Right Honourable Stephen HARPER, Prime Minister of Canada, Honourable Peter G. MACKAY, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, The human tragedy in Lebanon and Israel is reminiscent of Guernica. Most sacred assets of humankind, people, are being sacrificed because of gross miscalculations on both sides of the conflict. Irrespective of what euphemistic terms are used, war crimes are being committed. As Canadians of Armenian descent, we are acutely aware of the implications of being under the threat of terror and perceived annihilation of a nation, a country or territories since we share similar genocidal experiences. However, when the right to defend one’s country transforms into indiscriminate killing then it is abhorrent. Without eventual implementation of all United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the Middle East Crisis, it is highly unlikely that peace will prevail in the area. It is beyond comprehension not ending the present slaughter in a just manner, and which has all the potentials of solidifying resistance primarily against western interests in the region. It will render all the more difficult to accept mediation efforts in future. Soon the United Nations Security Council will pass new resolutions. One of the elements will include deployment of an international military force. In addition to others, incorporating Turkish soldiers has been suggested. This is an extremely ill-advised proposal. It will be looked upon as a provocation which in itself may cause further destabilization. The Martyrs’ square in the heart of Beirut is dedicated to the Lebanese victims, Christians and Muslims alike that suffered in the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Turkey may be an ally of USA or Israel, but the vast majority of the Lebanese will be unfriendly towards the presence of any Turkish units. Signatories of this open letter do not represent any particular political party and they are not motivated by any political agenda. They have no illusions that power brokers will take this letter seriously, but they feel compelled to voice their conscience against war crimes in general and against atrocities committed thus far. They are strongly committed to Canada and Canadian values, and they are convinced that Canada can and will play a constructive role for brokering peace and eventual peacekeeping in the region. Respectfully, Ani Boghossian, Business Owner, Toronto Artin Arzoumanian MD, Montreal Artin Boghossian PhD, North York Berge Minassian MD CM FRCP©, Toronto Dikran Abrahamian BA, MD, Penetanguishene Haig Misakyan P. Eng, North York Harry Dikranian LLB, BCL, MA, Montreal Jack Sevakian, Management Consultant, Thornhill Katia Peltekian MA, Toronto Marie Injeyan BSc, Kingston Vahe Balabanian MS Eng, Ottawa Vako Nicolian BE BSc, Scarborough Viken L. Attarian P. Eng., MSc, MBA, Mount Royal