Author: Kafian Jirair

PRESENT, PAST, FUTURE INTERESTS

hos15277.html
18:04:55 – 22/09/2009

Interests that must shape our Present and a Past that shapes our
Future.

On 6th May 2008, i had to pick-up the writer-journalist-publisher
Ragip Zarakoglu from Heathrow Airport London and take him to the
House of Commons (British Parliament) where he had to speak at the
Conference entitled "The Armenian Genocide . Truth and Politics"
organised by the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Seldom have i ever been so disturbed by the feelings which were
overwhelming me at the prospect of that meeting : feelings of repulsion
, anger and hatred . For my guest was a Turk and it was the first
time in my life that i had to shake the hand of a Turk.

Yet i was aware and had to appreciate that having been – repeatedly –
subjected to persecution , imprisonment and torture by the Turkish
authorities for advocating in Turkey the Recognition of the Armenian
Genocide , our guest – endangering his own life – had travelled
courageously hundreds of miles in order to participate in our
Conference and support our Cause.

He was what I would call " a good Turk" . He is a good friend now.

Recently it has been reported that the Armenian President Serge
Sarkissian has been shaking the hands of many Turks – none of them a
"good Turk "- has smiled at them, has hosted dinners , receptions and
football games , has been sitting around the same tables with them and
has held discussions and negotiations , for creating the much needed
diplomatic relations with our neighbour , for opening a window of
opportunities for each one of us , in Armenia and the Diaspora , and
for protecting the interests of Armenia in order to shape its Present.

Engaging in this bold , historic and temerous move , incurring
possibly the violent opposition of some individuals and organisations
and facing the uncertainty of future ratification of the Protocols
either by Armenia or Turkey have not been a deterrent for President
Sarkissian who has stood by his convictions . I presume that during
his encounters with the Turks , he too must have had moments of
"overwhelming feelings of repulsion , anger and hatred " ( as every
Armenian like myself must experience at the contact of a Turk ) but
these have been overcome with diplomacy , restrain and courtesy and
at the cost of immense sacrifices : all for the good of Armenia. One
must admire his courage and congratulate him on his hindsight and
his dedication.

Undoubtedly President Sarkissian deserves the Nobel Prize .

The time has come when we , Armenians , must unite and stand behind our
Leader , must use this given opportunity to express our own opinion ,
engage in positive dialogue , maybe advocate for amendments to the
Protocoles but ONLY with thoroughly researched documents and aiming
ONLY at the good for Armenia and not for petty personal ambitions
. That time is NOW.

These Protocols are currently under professional scrutiny by various
organisations and Scholars in Armenia and the Diaspora who are studying
and analysing each of the legal , political , financial , logistical,
diplomatic and cultural inclusions in their wording .

Some organisations have already presented their amendments and one
must agree with most of them : they will create the powerful impact
that will Shape our Future, based on our Past . But a very important
issue has been overlooked which can alienate dramatically the
countries , the parliaments , the governmental and non-governmental
organisations , the scholars and the individuals who, painstakingly
lobbied by various Armenian Organisations and Institutions , have
recognised our Genocide , have challenged Turkey`s anger and have
issued Declarations and Statements affirming that recognition : the
issue of setting-up a joint-committee to study the documents relating
to the events of 1915-1923. Such step will destroy the good faith
of these organisations in our integrity and will make them feel –
very rightly – mislead and deceived .

For the past 94 years we have told the truth about our Genocide,
we have produced proofs , images , recordings and documents , we
have interviewed survivors , we have created commissions and have
commissioned scholars , we have lobbied governments , parliaments ,
councils , scholars and individuals , we have erected memorials to our
dead , journalists have been killed for the truth , many of us have
been threatened , our borders have been closed , our churches have
been set on fire … At last , our efforts of lobbying have produced
results : millions of inhabitants of the four Continents and almost
half the population of Europe have recognised our Genocide based on
the genuine veracity and legality of the documents presented .

How can we – NOW – tell these peoples and these organisations that
the documents which we have presented in the past to convince them
to recognise our Genocide , have to be reviewed by a joint-committee
? How can we allow ourselves to create in their minds the slightest
doubt on the accuracy of these documents and ask them to ignore the
former documentation and adopt a new revision? How can we afford to
loose their faith in us? How can we even convince ourselves that we
need a new joint-committee to tell us if really a million and half
of our people were butchered and if our land was taken from us ?

As much as one must admire the good-will created by this rapproachement
and contained in the wording of the Protocols , as much as one must
think of all the materiel interests that will contribute to shape our
Present , but i believe that we cannot take part and must not be part
of that joint-committee.

Let Turkey set-up their own committee to study their huge bulk of
documents : this will give them the best opportunity to diminish the
crime and falsify the texts as that page of their history is still
left blank . And they need desperately to fill it with the narrative
of good and glorious deeds by their predecessors.

Our own page of history has been written by the genocidal actions of
Turkey . Not a word can be changed . And it is the most poignant page
of our history, written with the blood of our people .

Odette Bazil Buckinghamshire UK [email protected]

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER KARINE GHAZINYAN MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian deputy foreign minister
Karine Ghazinyan received September 15 delegation of the European
Commission consisting of Rutgard Vissels, head of the European
Neighborhood Policy Coordination Directorate, Henrik Holole, head
of staff of European Commissioner of the administrative issues,
audit and fighting against falsification and Jon Kyaer, head of the
foreign relations directorate of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and South
Caucasus department. The delegation was accompanied by the head of the
delegation of European Commission to Armenia Raul de Luzenberger. The
goal of the visit is to elaborate discussions over the prospects of
EU Eastern Partnership Initiative.

Armenian Foreign Ministry Media and Information Department told
Armenpress that during the meeting the delegation presented the coming
programs intended within the framework of the Eastern Partnership
Initiative, expressing delight with the Armenia’s involvement in
the initiative.

Deputy minister reiterated Armenia’s readiness in boosting relations
with EU, expressing hope that the Eastern Partnership will give new
impetus to Armenia-EU as well as to multi-sided cooperation between
the countries of the region. Ghazinyan particularly underscored the
issue of facilitating the process of getting EU entrance visas for
Armenian citizens, noting that Armenian authorities are ready to
establish necessary legal-agreement field with EU with that aim.

FRENCH SENATOR BACKS TURKEY’S KURD, ARMENIAN INITIATIVES

Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 16 2009
Turkey

Gerard Larcher, the head of the French Senate, expressed on Wednesday
his full support for Turkey’s recently launched Kurdish move and
Armenia reconciliation process, saluting the country’s improvements
in the field of democratization.

"The normalization of relations between Turkey and France is important
for us. We want to establish the future. The dialogue between the two
people should be revived. The task of examining history should be left
to historians," Larcher told reporters at a joint press conference
with Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin.

Ties between France and Turkey were strained when France recognized
the 1915 events between Turks and Armenians as genocide in 2000. The
French Parliament went further by trying to impose a law that prohibits
the denial of the "genocide" in 2005 but the Senate blocked the
process. Larcher became the first French Senate chairman to visit
Turkey since 1958.

Larcher and Å~^ahin signed a protocol to improve cooperation between
the two parliaments.

Emphasizing the reforms Turkey has made in the last seven years,
Larcher said: "Important steps have been taken for the EU. We are in a
position to help you on this issue. We are aware of how sensitive you
are about your citizens of Kurdish origin and religious freedoms. We
do sincerely salute your efforts."

When asked about the disagreements between him and French President
Nicolas Sarkozy about Turkey, the French senator pointed out that he
was representing the legislature.

"The legislative and executive branches are separate in our country,"
he said. "We may not be of the same opinion as the president all the
time. The executive is responsible for today, but we try to shape
the future. We don’t rule out the difficulties."

Å~^ahin said he informed his counterpart about the recently launched
initiatives. "The decision about Turkey’s EU membership will be made
by the relevant institutions after lengthy negotiations," he said. "I
have conveyed to him that efforts to obstruct the process at this
moment were wrong."

The French delegation will also held meetings in Istanbul on Thursday
and will meet with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos as well as
representatives of the cultural and academic worlds.

AT LEAST 3,000 PEOPLE TO USE INTERNET BANKING SERVICES OF HSBC BANK ARMENIA BY END OF YEAR

/ARKA/
September 15, 2009
YEREVAN

Minimum 3,000 clients will be using Internet banking services of
HSBC Bank Armenia by the end of the year, CEO of HSBC Bank Armenia
Tim Slater said. Under favorable conditions the number of users is
to reach 5,000 people, he said.

Today 900 people take the advantage of the bank’s Internet
banking services. 6 million people use the service every day in 42
countries. Number of registered users reaches 14 million people.

The Internet banking service was introduced by the bank in the country
on July 1.

In July 2009, HSBC bank’s Internet banking services were recognized by
Global Finance magazine as the best ones in 42 countries, Slater said.

The new service gives clients an opportunity to use their accounts,
make transfers, open new time deposits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
Slater said.

The bank ensures the security of the service at several levels,
including through a security device that prevents a transaction unless
the code is entered.

The Internet-banking system gives clients an opportunity to operate
their accounts with no need for visiting the bank.

Another advantage of the new service in Armenia is that 9 million
Armenians living abroad can manage their accounts in Armenia by phone
and through Internet, Slater said.

It is $2 million investmen ts, which is equal to the amount required
for creating four new bank branches, Slater said. This demonstrates
that HSBC Bank Armenia is consistent in its efforts to improve the
quality of the banking services, he added.

The bank’s retail business regional manager for Armenia and Georgia
Artem Grigoryan said that no additional software is required for using
the new service. All services not connected with cash transactions
(opening, performing transactions in Armenia and abroad and from one
account to another, sending notifications to the bank about changing
the data, and etc.) are available through Internet banking, he said.

For getting connected to Internet banking system clients have to pay
10,000 drams ($26.5) for free use of the service till the end of the
year, Grigoryan said.

HSBC Bank Armenia closed joint stock company, daughter bank of HSBC
Banl plc, was registered on September 25 1995. HSBC Bank plc holds 70%
of the shares of HSBC Bank Armenia with the remaining 30% belonging
to foreign Armenian investors. The bank became member of NASDAQ OMX
Armenia at the end of January 2009.

RAFFI HOVHANNESYAN AND KHACHATUR SUKIASYAN APPLIED FOR MANDATE RESIGNATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.09.2009 13:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA NA MP Stepan Safaryan put forward a proposal
on creation of parliamentary committee on A1+ TV channel -related
677 PACE resolution fulfillment. The offer was voted down (17 votes
"for" and 53 "against").

Later, Parliamentary Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan stated that MPs,
Raffi Hovhannesyan and Khachatur Sukiasyan applied for mandate
resignation. "According to RA NA regulation, MPs who applied for
mandate resignation are given 15 days to reconsider," Abrahamyan noted.

RA NA Autumn Session launched today, September 15. 105 out 121 MPs
were present.

CONCERT OF WORLD FAMOUS MICHEL LEGRAND IN THE ARAM KHACHATURYAN BIG CONCERT HALL

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 15
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Concert of world famous composer
Michel Legrand will take place today in the Aram Khachaturyan big
concert hall. It is organized by "City Lights Productions", "Malkhas
Jazz Club" with the sponsorship of Armenian Culture Ministry and
Embassy of Armenia to Russia.

Maestro will perform not only songs and music plays which are famous
in the whole world but also will perform as a conductor. The concert
will take place with the Armenian State Youth Orchestra; M. Legrand’s
spouse, renowned harp-player Catherine Michel and the composer’s sister
– soprano Christian Legrand who is the soloist of "The Swingle Singers"
group will also take part in the concert.

Head of the "Malkhas Jazz Club" Levon Malkhasian yesterday told
journalists that this is M. Legrand’s first concert in Yerevan,
before that he visited Yerevan but performed only in the collective
concert. According to L. Malkhasian, besides the soundtracks of
famous films the maestro will also play concert areas together with
the vocalist. The concert will last 90 minutes without any breaks as
the maestro himself wished.

M. Legrand noted that very successful repetitions are conducted with
the Armenian state youth orchestra and he has great expectations from
the concert.

Maestro wrote music for more than 200 films, a number of musicales,
recorded more than 100 albums. He won "Oscar" three times and got
"Gremmy" prize five times. His first "I love Paris" album has become
a bestseller. M. Legrand worked with Edit Piaf, Charles Aznavour,
Laisa Minelli, Katrin Denyov and other world famous artists.

M. Legrand is going to shoot a new film in India called "Blind Love".

The world famous composer is the son of an Armenian pianist Haykuhi
Marsel Ter-Mikaelian. His grandfather – Sargis Ter-Mikaelian came to
France in 1917.

"He was a true Armenian very emotional and lavish. I lived with my
mother 6 years in his house. When my sister and I vis d stayed in
Yerevan for a week we found our relatives. It was very surprising to
touch our roots," M. Legrand said.

MICHEL LEGRAND AWARDED WITH A MEDAL OF HONOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

armradio.am
15.09.2009 15:36

President Serzh Sargsyan today received world-known composer and
pianist Michel Legrand, who is going to perform in Yerevan tonight.

Greeting the renowned composer, President Sargsyan said: "It’s a
great honor for me to meet you, one of the respectable sons of our
people, who has made a great contribution to world music. It’s due
to bright individuals like you that our nation becomes more known to
the world. Our people love and are proud of you."

Mr. Legrand told President Sargsyan about his impressions from the
visit to Armenia. "Every time I have a chance to visit Armenia,
I return to my roots. The Armenian music is dear to me, it flows in
my blood."

President Sargsyan and Michel Legrand exchanged views on issues of
pan–Armenian importance. President Sargsyan awarded Mr. Legrand with
a Medal of Honor of the Republic of Armenia.

ARMENIA TO DEEPEN TIES WITH CHINA, SAYS NALBANDIAN

Asbarez
/14/armenia-to-deepen-ties-with-china-says-nalband ian/
Sep 14, 2009

BEIJING (Xinhua)-Armenia is seeking a "comprehensive development" of
its friendly relationship with China in all possible fields, Armenian
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said Monday in an interview with
the state run Xinhua news service.

"During the negotiations in Beijing, I had a chance to discuss ways
to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in a bilateral format
and multilateral frameworks," said Nalbandian, who was in China for
a five-day official visit.

During his visit, Nalbandian met with Chinese Vice President XiJinping
and had "substantial" and "very productive" discussions with his
Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

He also conveyed the congratulatory message of Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian to the Chinese people on the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Armenia is proud of its "enduring and time-tested friendship" with
China, Nalbandian said, noting the historic ties between the two
countries and peoples.

"The first records about an Armenian presence in China date to the
second century," Nalbandyan said, " In the times of the Great Silk
Road, which passed through Armenia, Armenian merchants were playing
an active role in bridging East and West."

Armenia became independent in 1991 and China was among the first
countries that recognized Armenia’s independence and among the first
ones to open an embassy in Armenia.

He said Armenia and China have maintained a high-level political
dialogue at the highest levels of leadership. The two countries had
similar or close positions on the international scene.

"Cooperation between the parliaments is also on the rise," he said,
adding there was a solid legal base for bilateral relations.

The two countries have implemented many joint economic projects
together, Nalbandian said, noting how Chinese companies have
participated in the modernization and reconstruction of Armenia’s
energy and mining sectors, particularly in copper-molybdenum
extraction.

In north China’s Shanxi Province, he added, Armenia and China have
cooperated in building a chloroprene rubber production plant-the
construction of which is to finish this autumn.

Apart from economic cooperation, the two countries also work together
on a wide range of other sectors from education and science to IT,
healthcare and sport, Armenia’s chief diplomat said.

"Cultural exchanges between us are intensifying," as well, Nalbandian
said, adding that in in November Armenia will host Chinese cultural
days, and "we are planning to organize Armenian cultural days in
China."

Despite the current level of cooperation that exists, Nalbandian said,
the absence of direct flights between Armenia and China have "certain
negative impacts" on economic relations between the two countries. He
added that he was glad that Armenia’s national air carrier Armavia
intends on establishing direct flights to China.

FEAST OF EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Aysor
Sept 14 2009
Armenia

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the five
major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most important
feast among the feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross, as it is dedicated
to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from imprisonment,
its elevation and glorification. In the Armenian Apostolic Church the
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on Sunday
during the period between September 11-17. This year that date is
September 17, and the Monday following the Feast is a Memorial Day.

In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov with a large army attacks the
Byzantine Empire. Enthusiastic about the initial victory, in 614
A. D. the Persian army enters Jerusalem. Many people are killed and
many are imprisoned. Pontiff Zakaria, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is
imprisoned, too. However, the Persians are not satisfied and enter
the Church of Holy Sepulcher and take the Holy Cross kept in the
Church. The Holy Cross had been found and installed in the Church
for the Christians to worship by Heghineh, the mother of the King
Costandianos, in the beginning of the 4th century.

In 628 A. D., the Byzantine army led by the King Herakles fight against
the Persians to return the Holy Cross. The Armenian army regiment,
led by Mzhezh Gnounie, supported the Persian army. With the Lord’s
help the Byzantine army wins the battle.

For Christians the Cross is God’s power and strength and pride of
all prides, on which Christ’s innocent blood was shed. By means of
the Cross Jesus proved His love towards mankind, and the Cross became
for us the symbol of hope, love and saving.

In many places the Holy Cross is accepted as a symbol of the fall
time. The following day of Holy Cross is a Memorial Day; the relatives
visit the graves of the dead.

DAVID PETROSYAN DIED AGED 43

armradio.am
14.09.2009 15:26

David Petrosyan, head of the Yerevan’s largest administrative unit
Nor-Nork, died at the age of 43 on Monday night from a heart attack.

David Petrosyan was a member of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia and the son of Rafik Petrosyan, MP and a member of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia.