Armenian chess players show bad game at world championship
05.09.2009 17:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian women`s chess team suffered a loss from
China 3,5:0,5 in the 4th tour the world championship. So, our chess
players are on the last but one position with 2 points.
In the 5th tour, Armenian team will play vs. Georgia.
PETITION FOR TWO-MONTH IMPRISONMENT
/3/khachatur-sukiasyan
08:10 pm | September 03, 2009 | Politics
Head of the investigative group involved in the March 1 case at
the Special Investigative Service will petition the court to apply
imprisonment as a precautionary measure for Khachatur Sukiasyan,
head of the investigative group at the Special Investigative Service
Vahagn Harutynyan told "A1+".
The SIS will enter the court with a petition for a two-month
imprisonment according to the fixed deadlines.
PROTOCOLS ON THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS ARE THE SUCCESS OF US, RUSSIAN AND TURKISH DIPLOMACY
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2009 GMT+04:00
In order to see and understand what awaits us in case of opening the
Armenian-Turkish border, we only need to go to those six vilayets a
couple of times.
The overwhelming majority of the Armenian population does not
in reality picture Turkey, which has recently been the topic of
discussion of nearly everyone. Unfortunately, the neighboring country
is perceived only in two colors, black and white, despite the fact
that many Armenians have been nowhere in this country except the
summer resorts. Istanbul and even Ankara, of course, do not count;
they are not the Turkey with which they want to reconcile us.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Present Turkey is the east and the south-east of the
country, habitually called Western Armenia. Unfortunately, traces of
Armenians living in the territories of the six eastern vilayets have
hardly remained, and the remaining ones are speedily declared monuments
of the Ottoman, Byzantine or just medieval culture. In this respect,
Ani can serve as an example. The same is true about Van, founded by
Urartian king Sarduri I. In schools children are taught the latest
reduction of the history of Minor Asia, according to which the most
ancient ancestors of the Ottoman tribes were Urartians. We can offer
plenty of proof, claiming that the fortress Tushpa-Van is in no way
related to the Ottoman tribes and that Ani, being the capital of the
Bagratids, was excavated by academician Nikolay Marr. We, Armenians,
have thought up a country that does not exist today. We form an idea
of that country through books that have a hundred years’ history,
and find comfort in cherishing the pipe dream of our "homeland". But
the new generation of Turks does not acknowledge all this and views
the Armenians as an unfriendly nation (if not an enemy) that can be
treated with flattery and smiles. It is just for a while, then… What
will happen then, Armenians know far too well.
In order to see and understand what awaits us in case of opening the
Armenian-Turkish border, we only need to go to those six vilayets
a couple of times. We may have plenty of talk about the European
way of development for Turkey, but there, in almost every corner
reigns Islam. Streets die during the evening prayer, rituals are held
strictly, and the "unfaithful" get the same treatment as a century
ago. The Turkish government, as already stated, has accurately
"layered" the Armenian-Turkish border: in the first zone are the
Kurdish villages, in the second are the Azerbaijani – Igdir, Erzurum,
and finally in the third is the native Turkish population. Under such
circumstances, even in case of a little conflict at domestic level,
everything will get under way and we are reluctant to even predict what
will be going on in the Armenian border area. Let us also add to this
the tense situation on the Turkish-Iranian border and the absence
of a checkpoint at the border between Turkey and Nakhijevan. All
this cannot but put us on our guard: it is quite likely that with
the opening of the border not only the so-called tourists will start
visiting Armenia, but also the Kurdish fighters. Thus, Ankara will
get an excellent opportunity to set the army in motion in the "fight
against PKK", as she did in Northern Iraq.
On the other hand Armenia is in a risky situation on the diplomatic
level as well. Turkish diplomacy is a true product of the East
with its treachery and sneakiness, while the Armenian diplomacy is
merely the remnants of the USSR bureaucratic machine, grown into
a foreign ministry that is, unfortunately, incapable of effective
steps to protect the interests of its own state. And when they say
that the protocols are the success of the Armenian diplomacy it is
not even funny. They are the victory of the US, Russian and even
Turkish diplomacy. We’ll have to put up with the fact that the
border will, after all, be opened. Winner out of this situation
is only Turkey. There is only one consolation: not only Armenia,
but also the entire South Caucasus is among the losers. However,
frankly speaking, it’s a miserable consolation.
And lastly, in a former Armenian village near Van, inhabited with
Kurds, arrived an Armenian. His father, before his death had entrusted
his son with coming here when an opportunity offered. When he came,
Kurds seemed to welcome him, and though he did not understand them, for
some reason he thought they were happy to have him in the village. So,
he began to talk about General Andranik, who used to stay in this
village. A Kurd standing beside him cursed the old man, but thank God,
he did not understand…
PRESS RELEASE BY THE SWISS FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 3 2009
Press release by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs,
the Ministry of Foreign of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to
start their internal political consultations on the two protocols –
the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations" and the
"Protocol on the development of bilateral relations" – which have
been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.
The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of
their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political
consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which
the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective
Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make
their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in
line with their constitutional and legal procedures.
The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the
regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the
assistance of Switzerland.
SELF-PROCLAIMED NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC MARKS 18TH ANNIVERSARY
Interfax
Sept 2 2009
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has arrived in Stepanakert to attend
events marking the 18th anniversary since the establishment of the
self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno- Karabakh.
Senior Armenian officials are accompanying Sargsyan during the visit.
Anniversary ceremonies and concerts will take place across the
self-proclaimed republic today.
Armenia’s Heritage opposition party has called on the country’s
political and public circles and the Armenian community to launch
a campaign aimed at securing international recognition of Nagorno-
Karabakh’s independence.
"In 2007-2008, Armenia’s ruling coalition ruined an initiative put
forth by Heritage party leader Raffi Ovannisyan to recognize Nagorno-
Karabakh as a step that would have preceded international recognition
of Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the Armenian opposition party
said in a statement.
"Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence is our undisputable historical
reality. The statehood of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic meets all
international standards," it said.
The establishment of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic within the borders
of the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region and the Shaumyan district
was announced at a joint session of the legislatures of the autonomous
region and the Shaumyan district on September 2, 1991.
ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS REFLECT TURKISH SIDE’S PRECONDITIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2009 15:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ " ‘Heritage’ party always attaches great importance
to Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, but disagrees with certain points
enshrined in recently signed Armenian-Turkish protocols," ‘Heritage’
faction MP Armen Martirosyan told today a news conference.
According to him, the party is concerned that authorities decided
to promulgate the protocols after facing international community’s
demand to disclose their contents to public. "Such method of work
first of all harms the reliability of the process," MP stated.
Speaking about the protocols, the speaker found them unacceptable,
since they reflect Turkish side’s claims imposed on Armenia
since 1991. By signing the protocols, Armenia will ratify Turkish
bolsheviks’ agreements, thus striking irrevocable blow to Armenian
people’s interests and putting up with Turkey’s unilateral position
on Armenian Genocide, Martirosyan said.
The MP also stressed that ratification of such protocols may
irrevocably impact Karabakh process as well, as Turkey will thus
obtain the right to "voice its opinion on occupation of Azerbaijani
lands within the scope of territorial integrity principle". Besides,
such ratification may deprive Armenia of the right to its historical,
Turkish-occupied lands, the speaker stressed.
YEREVAN TO HOST "YES EM" V INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2009 20:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Yes em" (It’s me) V International Film Festival
begins in Yerevan on September 26. Out of the 224 applications
submitted this year, contest jury selected 135 candidates, Chair of
Armenian Cinematographers’ Union Ruben Gevorgyants told today a press
conference in Yerevan.
Expressing concerns over the low quality of young cinematographers’
films, Gevorgyants said that, "It mostly results from youth’s poor
knowledge of literature, as dramaturgy and film production require
rich background in literature."
Yes em" V International Film Festival will last from September25
till 30. Films will be screened in Moscow cinema house, as Armenian
National Cinema centre is currently under repairs.
WASHINGTON BRIEFING : FORMER EDITOR DOUG FRANTZ PROBING NUCLEAR SMUGGLING FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
by Emil Sanamyan
d=81AC9600-93C7-11DE-8CE10003FF3452C2
Friday August 28, 2009
Washington – The former Los Angeles Times editor who stirred up
controversy in the Armenian community is now working for the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee led by Senator John Kerry
(D.-Mass.) According to the committee website, Douglas Frantz was
hired by the committee early this year as chief investigator to probe
financing of nuclear smuggling and other illegal activities.
Mr. Frantz caused controversy in April 2007 after he reassigned a major
story on the Armenian Genocide resolution, initially assigned to Times
journalist Mark Arax, to another writer. In an e-mail that was later
made public, Mr. Frantz alleged that Mr. Arax had a "position on this
issue" that caused a "conflict of interests." (Mr. Frantz’s new boss,
Senator Kerry, is a strong supporter of Armenian Genocide affirmation.)
Mr. Arax had in turn alleged that Mr. Frantz himself may have had
a bias on the issue, having spent years working as a reporter in
Turkey and that he was "heavily involved and invested in defending
the policies of Turkey."
In subsequent months, a number of Armenian-Americans, including
the Armenian Reporter’s editorial page, called on the Times to take
"decisive action" in the case. Mr. Frantz resigned in June 2007.
Mr. Frantz was initially expected to become the Istanbul-based Middle
East bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal. But he instead joined
the then newly launched (and since closed) Conde Nast Portfolio
magazine as senior writer and authored a book on the black market in
nuclear technology.
For his part, Mr. Arax also left the Times in June 2007. Last April
he published his third book, this one about life in California.
YERABLUR TO HOST CEREMONY DEDICATED TO NKR INDEPENDENCE DAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 16:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tomorrow, on September 1, Yerablur pantheon in
Yerevan will host a ceremony dedicated to NKR independence day,
reported Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan, Press Secretary of RA Defense
Ministry.
The event will be attended by RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, YSU
Rector Aram Simonyan, students from higher educational institutions
and members of families of dead freedom fighters.
BALAYAN: ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER NOT SPECIFIED
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 31 2009
Armenia
"There is no news about Armenian-Georgian border
clarification. Delimitation Commission has not completed its work yet,"
RA Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Tigran Balayan told NEWS.am.
Georgian border guards pushed 3 km and 408 meters to Armenian land on
Armenian-Georgian border (Shirak region sector). Though the locals
have title deeds and plots, Georgian frontier guards ignore these
documents. The situation is extremely tensed in Bavra village. Georgian
side claimed of the allegedly existing treaty dated 1947, under which
the mentioned territories belong to Georgia.
August 27, the issue was discussed at RA Government by Vice Prime
Minister Armen Gevorgyan. Koryun Sumbulyan, Bavra village community
head participated.