PETRO DOLLARS FUNDING AZERI WAR MACHINE
BAKU, June 25 (AFP) – Azerbaijan is using revenue from record-high
oil prices to fund a massive increase in military spending, President
Ilham Aliyev said Saturday, warning that the army would be prepared
to reconquer the ethnic-Armenian separatist region of Nagorno
Karabakh.
   Azerbaijan will spend 300 million dollars (248 million euros) on
its armed forces in 2005, a 70 percent increase over last year, the
Azeri leader said at a ceremony in a military academy.
   “The adversary must know that the Azerbaijani army can mobilise
at any moment and liberate the occupied territories,” Aliyev said.
“Spending on the country’s defence force will grow continuously.”
   In May, Azerbaijan inaugurated a US-backed pipeline, which will
deliver oil from Caspian Sea oil fields to the Mediterranean and is
expected to generate as much as 160 billion dollars for the country
over the next 30 years.
   Analysts say Baku may try to use the money to finance an attempt
to restore control over Nagorno Karabakh.
   Armenian forces took control of the mountainous area and seven
other regions in a bitter war in the early 1990s, but Azerbaijan has
refused to give up its claim to the territory.
ATOMIC TRUTH
   At the 40th international film festival in Czech healthresort
of Karlovi Vari Armenian-American film director Atom Egoyan
represented his “Where the Truth Lies” new film. In his speech that
followed featuring, Egoyan said that his film has been already shown
at the Cannes Festival but only to journalists. In fact, this was the
first public featuring. “I was deeply touched to see through the
window of Termal Hotel young men running into the hall”, Egoyan said
to a press conference the next day.
   The scenario of the film is based on the novel by Nero Wolf,
which received best American novel prize in 2004. The film is the
story of Lanny Morris (Kevin Bacon) and Vincent Collins (Colin
Firth), the hottest showbiz duo of America in 1950s. It is built on
the contrast of private and public lives and discloses wicked sides
of show business, explores the dark, beguiling, and inevitably
destructive side of fame and fortune. The film was shown on the
sidelines of Horizons program separately from the festival agenda. It
received the spectators’ wild applause, and the daily newspaper of
the festival dubbed it and “atomic truth”.
AGBU REP. IN CONTEMPT OF COURT
() AGBU Representative Gordon Anderson appeared
in Nicosia District Court before Judge D. Michaelides on Friday, July
8, 2005, as part of the contempt of court procedures that were
initiated against him for violating the earlier Injunction preventing
the AGBU from realising its decision to close the Melkonian Education
Institute.
   The Injunction was secured by lawyers Alecos Markides, Christina
Sarris and Costas Velaris, representing the Patriarch of Istanbul,
Mesrob Mutafyan. The joint clients are the Melkonian Alumni
Association of Cyprus and the Melkonian Alumni and Friends of
California.
Anderson, represented by Chris Triantafyllides, agreed not to violate
the interim court order and reappear in 15 days to defend his actions
that were in contempt of the order.
1st Hearing
The first hearing of the injunction order will be on Wednesday, July
27, 2005, again before Judge D. Michaelides.
Challenge of Garabed Melkonian’s will
The first hearing of the Patriarch’s case against the AGBU,
challenging the validity of the 1926 will by which the New York
Central Board announced on March 16, 2004 to close the Melkonian in
June 2005, will take place in front of another judge of the Nicosia
District Court on August 25, 2005.
MASS SUICIDE OF 1,500 SHEEP IN TURKEY
AP 8 July 05 ISTANBUL, Turkey – First one sheep jumped to its death.
Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while
they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each
leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported.
   In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a
billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later
were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam
reported.
   “There’s nothing we can do. They’re all wasted,” a member of one
of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was
quoted as saying by Aksam.
   The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in
Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount
of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700.
   “Every family had an average of 20 sheep,” Aksam quotedanother
villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. “But now only a few families have
sheep left. It’s going to be hard for us.”
TATIANA’S CORNER
This corner is reserved for local artist Tatiana Ferahian’s comic
strips which are amalgamations of Armenian-Cypriot social
commentaries, painted with her usual wry and ironic humour, to
stimulate and encourage awareness and interest toward our community’s
everyday happenings.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
After limited recognition by Azerbaijan to Turkish occupied northern
Cyprus, should we demand from the Government of Cyprus, outright
recognition of The Artsakh Republic?
Your comments to gibrahayer@cyprusnewsletter.com
DEFINITELY, golden opportunity to take advantage of Aliyev’s
stupidity. Apart from Cyprus we should also push the Greek
Government, you never know your luck.
I am sure Azerbaijan would’ve tried had the situation been reversed.
Regards – Alfred Baghoumian – Sydney Australia
——————————————————————————
Dear editor,
   I don’t think that the Artsakh issue parallels with theCyprus
issue, even though a lot of people might think of it that way.
Granted Armenians from all over the world, including Armenia proper,
helped the ethnic Armenians in Artsakh gain the upper hand in the
running of the region and their own fate, however in effect the
Republic of Armenia never invaded Azerbaijan per se, nor does it have
troops stationed illegally in Azerbaijan territory, nor has the
Armenian population there got involved with ethnic cleansing in the
occupied Azerbaijani areas of any massively organised nature. All
these things were done in Cyprus at the expense of its people.
   Having said that, it is vital to understand that self
determination of Artsakh should not be promoted as a ‘reprisal’ or
‘response’ to other international scenarios, such as the one with
Cyprus. Artsakh, and the ethnic Armenians living there have a right
to be there, in their ancestral homeland, whereas the segregation of
the Turkish Cypriot minority in the occupied areas of Cyprus,
reinforced with settlers with mainland Turkey is an outright breach
of international law and human rights.
   If we, as the Armenian community of Cyprus, pursue sucha course
of action, it would appear that the Artsakh issue is a direct
parallel with the Cyprus issue, which would push the Armenian case to
appear under the same light as the propaganda distributed by Turkey
regarding Cyprus and condemned by the official international opinion.
Is this what we really want? For the peoples of the world to think
that Armenia is an invading force that has annexed a part of
Azerbaijan? I’m sure the Azeris are quite able and willing to promote
that idea, they need no support from us.
   The recognition of the Artsakh state is not as important as the
recognition for the need for self determination of the ethnic
Armenians living there, unlike in Cyprus, where Turkey is whole
heartedly pushing for a division of the island into two parts. I
think that almost anyone would agree that the Azeri regime acted in a
provocative and wrong manner, should we encourage the Cypriot
government to do so as well? I think not.
my 2 cents – Diran Kassabian
——————————————————————————
It is only Turkish character to do such acts against international
decisions, such as Azerbaijan’s recognition of the divided Turkish
region. Asking the Cypriot government to recognise Karabagh
government is not practical , because in my opinion, it will justify
Azerbaijan’s action internationally. On the other hand, this act if
allowed internationally and no other nation or community protests,
than it opens the door to countries who were willing but not daring
to recognise Karabagh to have a strong argument.
Good luck,
Berj Kalamkarian.
——————————————————————————
I thought you might be interested in this–please circulate to others
who may want to order a copy of this DVD from the
web site..
Mihran Keheyan – London
——————————————————————————
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES
ositastoriche.htm
ARTSAGANG JUNE 2005 You can now read the Armenian community’s 20-
page monthly Armenian publication (June 2005 issue number 123) in
front of your computer in pdf format at:
â=80¢Armenia’s second mobile communications operator began working in the
south Caucasian under the Vivacell trademark owned by a Lebanon-based
holding, whose major shareholder, Pierre Fatouche, also owns
Karabakh-Telecom, a mobile operator in Artsakh. According to the
company’s director Ralf Erekyan, Vivacell invested over 75 million
dollars to set up a network capable of servicing 300,000 clients.
â=80¢World-famous Armenian composer Aram Khachatrian’s statue will be
erected in central Moscow.
â=80¢”Armenia, a Country under Blockade,” a powerful documentary film on
the impact of Turkey’s blockade of Armenia was featured at the
recently concluded Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, and has
officially been selected for the upcoming “Golden Apricots,”
Yerevan’s International film festival, which will take place between
July 12-17. Narrated by System of a Down lead vocalist, Serj Tankian
and directed by Diran Noubar, the 52-minute documentary film
describes, in compelling images and through first-hand accounts, the
human impact of Turkey’s decade-long, illegal blockade of Armenia.
â=80¢The Lincy Foundation announced that it would allocate $60 million
for three new infrastructure projects selected by the Government of
Armenia.
â=80¢Armenia’s Levon Aronian came in third at the sixth European
Individual Chess Championship, behind Romanian Grandmaster Liviu
Diter Nisipeanu, who clinched first place with 10 points, and Teimur
Radjabov of Azerbaijan who finished second.
â=80¢ website says that the population of Azerbaijan is
8,388,000. The population of Azerbaijan has grown by 41 thousand in
six months. According to unofficial data, the population of
Azerbaijan amounts to about 5 million. Since 1990, over 2 million
Azeris left Azerbaijan and settled down in Russia.
â=80¢Armenia’s Emergency Department has announced that 26 people have
drowned since April, ten of them children. Two drowned last week in a
fish farming dam.
â=80¢The Armenian “Cilicia” sailing ship, named and modelled after the
13th century vessels used in and around the Armenian kingdom of
Cilicia, dropped its anchor in the French port city of Marseilles on
July 3. The crew was greeted by the warm welcomes of Armenian
ambassador to France Edward Nalbandian, Marseilles mayor Jean-Claude
Gaudin, local senate and parliament members, and the community’s
Armenians.
â=80¢Kurdish rebels used remote-controlled bombs derailing two trains,
killing six railway security guards and injuring 20 people, Turkish
military officials said last week.
â=80¢The Greek and Turkish prime ministers met on a bridge across the
river that divides their countries to launch a joint construction
project to connect rich natural gas fields in the Caspian and Central
Asia to energy-hungry markets in Europe.
â=80¢Two sisters of a slain Kurdish guerrilla urged authorities to
conduct tests on two mass graves containing headless bodies
discovered in southeastern Turkey to determine whether their
brother’s body is among the remains.Human rights groups are also
demanding an investigation into the possibility that the remains
belong to guerrillas who may have been caught alive and later shot in
the head and beheaded to hide evidence of executions.
POLL
A poll by Yerkir poses the following question:
What is your source for political news?
The results may not surprise our 5,000 subscribers but the
findings are interesting. TELEVISION 13%
RADIO 3%
PRINT PRESS 7%
INTERNET 75%
OTHER 2%Â
SPORTS NEWS AND CALENDAR
â=80¢DAVIS Cup at Fitzwilliam Tennis Club, Dublin, Ireland. In a Group
littered with political undertones, Armenia, Cyprus and Turkey and
five other countries – including host country Ireland – are battling
it out in tennis on a national level from July 11-17 2005 where the
two highest-placed nations will be promoted to Group II in 2006.
There is no Davis Cup history between Armenia and Cyprus but Marcos
Baghdatis and Sargis Sargsian – both ranked in the top 100 – are
expected to meet in their first ever confrontation.
Turkey and Cyprus have met in a Davis Cup tie three years ago, with
Cyprus winning 3-0.
â=80¢Champions League First Qualifying Round: (First leg July 12-13;
second leg July 19-20) FC Haka (Finland) vs. Pyunik (Armenia),
Neftchi (Azerbaijan) vs. FH Hafnarfjordur (Iceland), Dinamo Minsk
(Belarus) vs. Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus)
Second Qualifying Round: (First leg July 26-27; second leg Aug. 2-3)
Valerenga (Norway) vs. FC Haka-Pyunik winner, Dinamo Minsk-
Anorthosis Famagusta winner vs. Trabzonspor (Turkey)
UEFA Cup: Thursday July 15. LIVE from ALPHA. Omonia (Cyprus) vs.
Hibernians (Scotland) 8:00 pm, Birkirkara (Malta) Vs APOEL (Cyprus)
â=80¢Marcos Baghdatis is injured. After winning The Open Diputacion
Ciudad de Pozoblanco 85.000 Euro in Cordoba – Spain he pulled out of
the semi-finals of the a grass court tournament in Nottingham –
England, a few days prior to his participation in Davis Cup
competition for Cyprus.
â=80¢() With the new rankings of the seniors tour
released on July 8, 2005 Simon Aynedjian is ranked 128 in the world
in the seniors category, ahead of Greek champion George Anagnostakis
ranked 471 and Turkish champion Oguz Azkara ranked 422. Darko Strizak
of Serbia – that Aynedjian defeated in the finals of the last ITF
tournament – is ranked 73 in the world.
All the rankings at
BOOKS BY TURKISH WRITERS â=80¢The Flea Palace
â=80¢The Saint of Incipient Insanities
by Elif Shafak  AVAILABLE FROM JULY 18 IN CYPRUS
>From MOUFFLON Bookshops
bookshop@moufflon.com.cy
Tel: +357 22665155
WHO IS ELIF SHAFAK?
   Elif Shafak was born in Strasbourg, France in 1971. Shespent
her teenage years in Spain before returning to Turkey. She has
published five novels, most recently, THE SAINT OF INCIPIENT
INSANITIES, which is her first novel in English and which was
published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the fall of 2004.
   Shafak is also a social scientist, graduated from International
Relations at Middle East Technical University. She holds a Master of
Science degree in Gender and Women Studies, and earned her PhD from
the Department of Political Science. Her major in Contemporary
Western Political Thought and her minor in Middle Eastern Studies,
Shafak’s academic background has been nurtured by a critical,
interdisciplinary, and gender-conscious rereading of the literature
on the Middle East & West, Islam, and modernity.
   Currently, Shafak is an Assistant Professor in the NearEastern
Studies Department at The University of Arizona. Her courses include
`Literature and Exile,’ `Politics of Memory,â=80=9D and `Sexualities and
Gender in the Muslim World.’
   An outspoken intellectual and activist, Elif Shafak continues to
write for various daily and monthly publications in Turkey.
 g i b r a h a y  c a l e n d a r
â=80¢Annual General Meeting of AYMA /HMEM on Tuesday July 12, 2005 at
8:00 pm at AYMA
â=80¢Commemoration of Khanasor Arshavank on Sunday July 24, 2005 in
Troodos. Venue and details to be announced shortly. Organised by
AYMA, Dashnaktsoutiun Cyprus Gomideh, Hamazkayin, ARS (HOM) and The
Armenian Youth Federation of Cyprus.
â=80¢The Yerevan State Youth Theatre is participating in the
International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama 2005 performing Clouds
by Aristophanes on Thursday 28 July 2005 at Makarios III
Amphitheatre, Nicosia and Saturday 30 July, 2005 at the Ancient
Paphos Odeon. Both performances begin at 9:00 pm and tickets are CYP
10.00. Following the performance in Nicosia The Hamazkayin Cultural
and Educational Association Oshagan Cyprus Chapter is organising a
Welcoming Dinner to our performing compatriots at AYMA. You can
participate only by reservation. Call Louise Aynedjian on 99533684.
â=80¢7th Homenetmen Panarmenian Games – Athens – Greece 24 – 31st July.
with the participation of 300 Armenian athletes from 15 different
countries competing in Basketball, Volleyball and Swimming. 200 will
dance and sing in a unique opening and closing ceremony. We look
forward to welcoming you to the home of the Olympic Games. For more
information visitÂ
â=80¢STUDENTS CULTURAL FORUM July 21 – August 3 in Yerevan, Armenia.
Interested in taking part in a culturally, intellectually, and
socially stimulating program especially tailored for Armenian
university students? If so, come and discover the various facets of
our rich Armenian culture and heritage offered by The HAMAZKAYIN
STUDENTS CULTURAL FORUM
For more information and application forms please contact:
USA East Coast: Sevag Shirzoyan sms275@yahoo.com , USA West Coast:
Shoushig Arslanian Shoarslan@aol.com CANADA Lalai Manjikian,
Lalaim@hotmail.com , EUROPE Sella Tenjoukian (London) stenjouk@
aol.com Hourig Baghdassarian (Paris) navasti@wanadoo.fr , MIDDLE EAST
Arin Kalousdian (Lebanon) hamazcen@cyberia.net.lb ARMENIA Tamar
Shahbazian (Yerevan Office) hamazg@netsys.am , Arto Tavitian (Cyprus)
artavi@cytanet.com.cy
â=80¢AKTI: Coasts Without Frontiers, Age group:18-25. Dates/Duration:
August 20-27. Location: Polis Chrysochous camp site. Conta ct:
Kyriaki Demetriou; Tel: 22 45848548454; Email: akti@akti.org.cy  A
multicultural environmental youth camp will bring together 30 Cypriot
t youth between 18 and 25 years old, from Greek-Cypriot,
Turkish-Cypriot, Maronite and Armenian communities of Cyprus. The
project will focus on coastal areas of Cyprus, both at the north and
the south, aiming at the protection and preservation of the Cyprus
coastal ecosystem by promoting knowledge-based society. The camp
will take place for a week in August and will feature environmental
workshops, facilitated discussions, field visits to the coast,
clean-up activities and a final poster production.
â=80¢Three months left until the 72nd Annual AYF Olympics, expected to
draw thousands of Armenians from all over the world to Washington ,
DC September 1-5, 2005. In the three-day get-together a rich cultural
programme is scheduled as well. Nune Yesayan kicks off the weekend
with a barahantes. Also featuring Nersik Ispirian, the Michael
Gostanian Ensemble, the Aravod Ensemble. The All Stars will close the
weekend with John Berberian on the oud, Onnik Dinkjian’s Vocals,
Hachig Kazarian on clarinet, Roger Krikorian on the dumbeg and
vocals, and Ara Dinkjian on Keyboards. Rooms are filling up fast, so
make sure you book your room online. You can even buy your HyePass
and purchase your Ad Book ad .
â=80¢AYMA/HMEM Chicco Football practices take place every Friday from
7:00 – 8:30 pm for children starting from the age of 7. Contact
Krikor Mahdessian on 99650897.
â=80¢Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation via real
audio on  . Broadcast 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus time
(14:00-15:00 GMT). Armenian news every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and
Tuesday.
â=80¢The Armenian Prelature announces that the next permit for the
Armenian Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is
on Sunday 24 July, 2005
â=80¢Every Wednesday from 7-8 pm (Cyprus time + 2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito,
Puzant Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blues”. Internet
edition on
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress