Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario

History can be manipulated, but truth cannot be denied:

The response by Dr. Zareh Ouzounian to the article "Karabakh separatists treat teeth using canadian money", published in Azeri online magazine Echo on May 5, 2006

Press Release
July 19, 2006
Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario
75 Don Way West, Room 907
Toronto, Ontario, M3C 2E9
Phone: (416) 299-9997
Email: info@acmao.ca
Web site: http://www.acmao.ca

Note: This press release was submitted to Groong.

By the initiative of the Armenian Medical Associations and Unions of Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Paris, Lyon and Beirut, and with participation of the Hand-in-Hand non-governmental organization, a new dental clinic was opened in Mardakert, a town in the north of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This clinic was the last of a series of six dental clinics and one women's health clinic in Nagorno-Karabakh providing free care to underprivileged communities. All construction costs, equipment, supplies and salaries of the caregivers are provided by the Diaspora.

On May 5, 2006, Echo, the Russian-language online version of the socio-political review of Azerbaijan (http://www.echo-az.info), published a critical article on the opening of the dental clinic (http://www.echo-az.info/archive/2006_05/1320/obshestvo04.shtml). The article, as vast majority of the material published in Echo, is aimed at Armenia, Karabakh or the Armenian Diaspora.

Below we bring you the response of Dr. Zareh Ouzounian, a member of the Dental Division of the Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario (ACMAO) and a member of the Executive Board of the Armenian Medical International Union (AMIC), who took most involved participation in the establishments of the dental clinics in Karabakh. For your information, we also bring the translation of the original article published in Echo on May 5, 2006.

HISTORY CAN BE MANIPULATED, BUT TRUTH CANNOT BE DENIED:
A response by Dr. Zareh Ouzounian to the article "Karabakh separatists treat teeth using canadian money", published in Echo on May 5, 2006.

Following the recent opening of a dental clinic in Mardakert (one of six free dental clinics and one women's health clinic in different regions of Karabagh), the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan expressed its indignation regarding the Armenian Diaspora's assistance to the "Armenian separatist regime" and the "Armenian aggressors".

Firstly, I would like to repel the notion that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh are "separatists". And this will be an easy task. All one has to do is review the historians' chronicles, Armenian and Non-Armenian alike: Schlitberger, Babikhanov, Mirza Jamal Javanshir, to name only a few. All these sources, in their original chronicles, and NOT in the versions altered by the so-called Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, confirm without any doubt the Armenian character of the Karabagh region throughout History.

Secondly, how dare they call the Armenians "agressors"!!! How can anyone forget the recent atrocities of Kirovabad, Sumgait and Baku, where scores of innocent civilian Armenians have been deported, massacred, raped, and subjected to all sorts of unjustified violent repression!

Thirdly, the people of Karabagh have repeatedly expressed their desire of independence from Azerbaijan in a most democratic and civil manner through their regional parliament according to the law of the land under the USSR. As a matter of fact, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh have time and time again, during their parliamentary and municipal elections repeatedly proven to be a perfect example of a democratic and civil society. The fact that the international community has not yet recognized the independent Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh is solely due to reasons associated with "Realpolitic" rather than with justice, history, and democratic free expression.

And finally, let it be known that the Armenians, wherever they are in the world, constitute a Nation with its National character, culture, history and aspirations. It is only normal that the Diaspora Armenians, including their Professional Associations will continue to assist the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh anyway they can in the complex and difficult task of Nation-Building. Yes, we will continue building clinics, hospitals, schools and factories. Yes, we will continue building highways and power plants and all sorts of infrastructure. Yes, we will continue organizing scientific conferences and expanding professional development. Yes, we will engage in any activity aimed at poverty-reduction in our Homeland.

In other words, we will respond to repression and violence by our sustained, unified, peaceful and continued efforts towards the strengthening of the civil society of the "separatist" Armenian population.

And make no mistake: not only we shall continue our Nation-Building projects, but our children and future generations will undoubtedly carry on this National duty. We have no other choice.

KARABAKH SEPARATISTS TREAT TEETH USING CANADIAN MONEY

ATTENTION: Below, all square brackets are of the translator; all parenthesis () and quotes "" are from the original text; proper names are translated as they appear in the original text.

********************ORIGINAL TEXT********************

By the initiative of the Armenian-Canadian Medical Union of Toronto, an opening of a dental clinic took place in the occupied Agder [Mardakert]. The Ministry of Health of AR [Azerbaijan Republic] expressed strong indignation.

R. Manafly

The Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan Republic treats negatively the cooperation of international organizations with the separatist regime of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This was told in an interview with "Echo" by Samaya Mamedova, the chief of the Media Service [PR] of the MoH, commenting about information on the opening of a dental clinic on the occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

As IA [information agency] "Regnum" reports, by the initiative of the Armenian-Canadian Medical Union of Toronto [translated as presented in the Russian text] and "Karabakh non-governmental organization" "Hand in Hand", a new dental clinic was opened in the town of Agder (the Armenian separatists call it Mardakert) of Nagorno-Karabakh.

As it turned out, the Armenian-Canadian Medical Union of Toronto carries out charitable programs in "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" for the ninth year. The organization has already opened dental clinics in Lachin, Shushi and other towns of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as a women's clinic in Khankendi [Stepanakert]. During the opening ceremony of the dental clinic in Agder, the "Minister of Health" of "NKR" Zoya Lazaryan emphasized the importance of "Artsakh" - Armenia - Diaspora cooperation. In turn, the chairman of the OOO [unsure of the abbreviation, possible NGO] "Hand in Hand" Zareh Ouzounian noted that helping "Artsakh" is the greatest responsibility of Armenians around the world.

As Samaya Mamedova told "Echo", considering that the international community recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and condemns the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, such events cannot call for anything except regret. "The position of the Ministry of Health about this is unequivocal. The world community recognizes that Nagorno-Karabakh is an undisputable part of Azerbaijan Republic, and the actions of Armenian aggressors do not adhere with international norms. The Ministry of Health absolutely condemns such actions and expresses indignation", emphasized Samaya Mamedova.

At this she also noted that if Canadian organizations indeed took part in the opening of a dental clinic on the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Health will take corresponding measures.

By the "play on the public" of Armenian separatists is angered Aydyn Mirzazade, a member of Milli Mejlis [Azerbaijan parliament or one of its branches], vice chair of the permanent parliamentary commission on defense and security, member of the politsovet [ruling political top of the party] of the governing party "Eni Azerbaijan" and a member of Azerbaijani delegation with PACE [Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly]. According to the words of the people's representative, "where have the self-proclaimed authorities of "NKR" reached, if they advertise all over the world the opening of a dental clinic in Agder, casting it as an important economic event?!" There are dozens of such clinics in every regional centre of Azerbaijan, not speaking about Baku, but Azerbaijani authorities don't present it as an important step in the development of our economy", Aydyn Mirzazade told "Echo". He added that it is impossible to exclude that the opened clinic may be the only dental clinic in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.

In addition, as the parliamentarian says, it often happens that the information of Armenian and pro-Armenian mass media is often a dirty lie, with which the Armenian separatists try to create an atmosphere of well-being and goodwill in Nagorno-Karabakh.

However, as notes Aydyn Mirzazade, in case that this information turns out to be true, Azerbaijani authorities will quickly react on the next attack of the Armenian lobby. "As a rule, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Azerbaijani structures [authorities] quickly react to such facts, present notes of protest, give orders to our representations abroad, make it known to the governments of guilty countries about inadmissibility of such cooperation, etc. Our structures [authorities] will react in this manner this time also", confirmed the member of Milli Mejlis [parliament].

He also added that private international organizations may act according to their discretion. Despite the authorities of many countries warn private entrepreneurs about the existence of acceptable norms, according to which any country and its citizens must respect the territorial integrity of another country [run-on sentence, translated as presented in Russian]. In this regard, an example is the USA government, which continuously works on warning private organizations, companies and citizens about adhering to the principles of respecting territorial integrity of other countries, and moreover, calls them to adherence to international norms in this regard.

Yesterday, "Echo" could not contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, however it is known that as a rule, it quickly reacts on the attacks of Armenian separatists.

********************END OF ORIGINAL TEXT********************

ACMAO (updated August 9, 2006)

© 2004-2008. Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario