Author: Nahapetian Lilit

KARABAKH FOOTBALLERS ANGER BAKU

Institute for War and Peace Reporting
July 17 2009
UK

Region goes ahead with its own league despite Azerbaijan’s objections.

Football officials in Nagorny-Karabakh, a self-declared state in the
South Caucasus, have organised their own tournament despite strong
protests from the government in Azerbaijan.

Karabakh, which won de facto independence from Baku in a conflict that
ended with a ceasefire 15 years ago, is ruled by ethnic Armenians and
its football players have previously appeared in Armenia’s league. But
this year, for the first time since the war, it has organised it
own tournament.

"The federation is now doing all it can to restore the previous
strength of football in Karabakh," said Artur Apresian, vice-president
of Karabakh’s self-proclaimed football federation.

The league features nine teams and, after three rounds of matches,
was being led by the team from the capital Stepanakert.

But state and football authorities in Azerbaijan, whose sovereignty
over Karabakh is internationally recognised, were furious about the
tournament, saying it had no backing from UEFA or FIFA (the European
and world governing bodies for the sport).

"First of all you have to remember that there is no recognised
republic named Nagorny Karabakh," said Elkhan Polukhov, spokesman
for the foreign ministry in Baku.

"Therefore international sports organisations cannot recognise some
tournament held there. Presumably, some individual has just decided to
organise this. By doing so, they are breaking the laws of Azerbaijan
and the international football federation."

The Azerbaijan football federation said it would complain to the
international football authorities, even though it doubted they would
even pay attention to the new league.

"They are doing a completely pointless thing. National championships
have to be held under the badge of FIFA or UEFA. I do not believe
that the international football organisations will recognise the
results of this championship, but all the same we will send a protest
in connection to this," said Ramin Musayev, president of the PML,
Azerbaijan’s professional football league.

There is a history of football being a cause of confrontation between
ethnic Armenians and Azeris in Azerbaijan. As early as 1987, when
the Soviet Union still existed and Armenians were just starting their
agitation to break Karabakh away from Baku’s control, the club side
from Kirovabad came to play in Stepanakert.

After Kirovabad lost 3-1, there were mass fights between Armenian and
Azeri fans, and the Soviet government in Moscow forced the Stepanakert
side to play its home games elsewhere in Azerbaijan.

"They say sport is far from politics, but of course it is not like
that. As soon as you go into the international arena, then politics
starts to interfere with sport," Razmik Hovsepian, head of the Karabakh
sports committee, told IWPR.

He said sportsmen from Karabakh were already hostages of politics,
since they are forced to represent Armenia if they want to compete
in international competitions. Last year, athletes from Karabakh won
134 medals for Armenia in various contests around the world.

Karabakh’s new football federation is trying to rectify the situation,
and to find a way of legally joining the international sport body.

"We have now set the goal of becoming associate members of UEFA and
playing openly at championships. Apart from this, we know there is a
sub-committee of FIFA which conducts the development of the game in
unrecognised countries. Next year, there will be a championship between
unrecognised countries, and that is around 30 teams," said Apresian.

A representative team of Karabakh already saw success when it became
the all-Armenian champion between 2001 and 2007, but it could not
play its home games in Stepanakert because of UEFA’s rules. With time
passing, therefore, a whole generation of Karabakh footballers has
lost the chance to play before their own fans.

"The world must understand that sport exists in Karabakh, independent
of it having a recognised or unrecognised status, and talented
sportsmen as well, and they have the right to fight for the title
of best sportsman in the world, even though they live in a territory
that is currently unrecognised," said Rasmik Hovsepian, head of the
sports committee of Karabakh.

"A sportsman’s career is too short, and no one has the moral right to
take away his chance to exhibit himself in the international arena,
even if Azerbaijan does not like the colours of our state flag."

Karine Ohanyan is a freelance journalist from Nagorny Karabakh. Joshqun
Eldaroglu is a freelance journalist in Baku.

SYDNEY COMMUNITY IN SHOCK AT LOSS OF ‘VIBRANT’ SIBLINGS
Arjun Ramachandran

Sydney Morning Herald
n-shock-at-loss-of-vibrant-siblings-20090721-dral. html
July 21 2009
Australia

Eight years ago the Apcarian family left Iran for Sydney, fearing
for their lives and convinced – as Christians of Armenian heritage –
they had a better chance of achieving success in Australia than in
the Islamic republic.

The move was paying off. As young adults, the family’s two youngest
children, Arin and Ani, were fulfilling their family’s dreams.

But their lives were cut short last week in a cruel twist of fate.

The siblings were among 168 people killed last Wednesday when Caspian
Airlines Flight 7908 crashed in north-west Iran, soon after take-off
and bound for Armenia.

Arin and Ani – both in their 20s – had planned to take a bus, only
to change their plans at the last minute on advice from a doctor,
a friend said.

Arin had just undergone laser eye surgery in Iran, and his surgeon
advised him against a dusty bus trip because of the infection risk.

The pair, born and raised in Tehran but of Armenian heritage, were
travelling to Armenia to "enjoy the motherland" for the first time,
a family friend and Armenian community leader, who did not wish to
be named, said.

Their parents were in "very deep mourning" over the deaths of the
youngest two of their three children, he said.

Arin, the older of the two, was a well-respected medical researcher
and PhD student at Sydney University.

His research leader at the Westmead Millennium Institute, Dr Russell
Diefenbach, said Arin was instrumental in the group’s research into
molecular viral transport.

"Our research involves looking at how viruses move around in cells
… to come up with better treatments," he said.

"Arin was an exceptional student, very conscientious, hard working
and always willing to learn."

Arin’s work – focusing on herpes simplex virus – had the potential to
help large numbers of people, particularly in Third World countries
where people with herpes simplex virus were at greater risk of
contracting HIV, he said.

"We’re all shocked and devastated, and were in a state of denial for
a number of days.

"For someone so young and in the prime of life …. it’s just so hard
to comprehend."

Arin was also heavily involved in the social side of post-graduate
life, and was president of a student researchers society.

A society colleague said: "[Arin was] one of the most selfless people,
just a real gentleman. He was the first one to volunteer for things."

A close friend who met Arin at school six months after he arrived
in Australia said Arin’s intelligence was apparent in the speed with
which his English skills improved.

But he was always humble about his academic achievements, he said.

"Sometimes I wished he was louder so more people would have got to
know him," he said.

In addition to his full-time studies, he worked on weekends at a
service station and occasionally played indoor soccer, he said.

His younger sister, Ani, was just one term short of completing her
university studies, and had been achieving good marks, a family
friend said.

She was studying child care, community website armenia.com.au said.

She was also a volunteer teacher at the Toumanian Armenian School in
Ryde, teaching Armenian to children, another community leader said.

"She was adored by her students and respected by parents and staff,"
he said.

"She was also actively involved in other aspects of community work
including assisting with [the monthly community newsletter].

"Their passing will certainly will felt by the strong Sydney Armenian
community of over 40,000."

Stephen Abolakian, community relations officer of the Armenian
National Committee of Australia said the Armenian community had
"lost two vibrant members" of the community.

Another community spokesman said there were four other Armenian
families in Sydney who had also lost relatives in the crash.

The Apcarian family – from Sydney’s Hills district – left Tehran
eight years ago, concerned at how minorities were treated in the
Islamic Republic of Iran, a family friend said.

They were still struggling for closure as Iranian authorities worked
to identify bodies from the crash and return them to the families,
he said.

The Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection at Chatswood has
arranged a memorial for tomorrow night to remember Arin and Ani.

BODY REMAINS OF CRASH VICTIMS TO BE MOVED TO YEREVAN TOMORROW

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.07.2009 19:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gvernment commission dealing with the recentair
crash has today held its regular session under the leadership of
Territorial Administration Minister Armen Gevorgyan. As informed by
Head Civil Aviation General Department and RA MFA representative, the
plane carrying body remains of crash victims will arrive in Yerevan
on July 18, 12:00 local time. The same plane will also bring relatives.

Arriving in airport, relatives will be met by government committee
members – Head of Civil Aviation General Department, Governor of
Armavir province, Yerevan Vice Mayor, as well as clergymen. Airport
will host a funeral ceremony. On July 18, 11:00 a.m., Catholicos of
All Armenians Karekin II will serve funeral ceremony in the Holy See
of St. Echmiadzin to commemorate victims, Government commission says
in a release.

According to earlier reports, the plane was to arrive in Yerevan on
Saturday, July 19

ARMENIAN CENTRE LANDS FUNDING FROM OTTAWA AND QUEEN’S PARK

St. Catharines Standard
July 16 2009
Canada

The Armenian Community Centre is a unifying force for the community
and a well-used gathering place.

But it hasn’t always been geared to young people, who have few
amenities there.

"A gym is badly needed," said Sevag Belian, 15, who attends the centre.

"Our community’s growing, there’s more youth coming and I think a
new gym will meet our needs," Sevag said.

A funding commitment is set to make that happen.

The St. Catharines centre is receiving $458,333 each from the federal
and provincial governments through the Recreational Infrastructure
Canada program in Ontario and Recreation Ontario.

In the joint federal and provincial announcement Thursday at the
centre’s Martindale Road site, organizers said the money will go to
a new gym, play area and other major upgrades.

The centre is paying the balance of the $1.375-million project through
sources such as fundraising and a mortgage.

If all goes well, the work could be complete by late 2010 or 2011.

"It is an exciting day for us here," project co-ordinator Gary
Kavazanjian said at the announcement. "The board of directors has
been working on a plan for renovations and creating an addition to
the existing building for quite some time."

The centre, which has about 200 members, has deep roots in the area’s
Armenian community.

LITTLE ARMENIA FREEWAY TABLEAU PLACED ON THE 101TH HIGHWAY OF HOLLYWOOD

Noyan Tapan
July 16, 2009

LOS ANGELES, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. July 9 was
a memorable day for Armenians living in Los Angeles as it was the
day of official unveiling ceremony of tableau of the Freeway to the
Little Armenia located on the 101th highway of Hollywood. The Asbarez
reports that representatives of the community and member of California
parliament Kevin de Leoni were present at the unveiling ceremony of
the tableau.

Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of Hollywood, of
American Armenian Trade Office’s Little Armenia branch, Deputy Consul
of Armenia in Los Angeles Mesrop Shaboyan and Sunday Sargsian-Hakobyan,
the representative of President of California parliament Charon Pas,
were also present at the gathering which took place at the crossing
point of Sunset Avenue and 101th highway.

Kevin de Leoni greeted the influence of Armenians and Armenian culture
on the region, reminding at the same time that the cooperation of
different nations is one of the main powers of the city. "Thanks
to the tableu of Little Armenia, from now on the drivers will have
an opportunity to find one of the hidden treasures of our city,"
he said. In his speech he noted about his representative Paytsar
Tomasian’s contribution to the affirmation of the Little Armenia
district and placing the tableu.

Tomasian, telling about the work which was done, added that the head
of California Highway’s Construction Structure which assisted the
construction of the 101th highway is an Armenian, Hayk Aianian, which
proves ones more that the Armenian community had its contribution to
the development of the district. Entertainment was organized after
the ceremony at the Karapetian hall of S. Karapet church.

THERE IS SOME AMBIGUITY TO MADRID PRINCIPLES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 17:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Main idea of Madrid principles was to cause NKR
to cede security zones to Azerbaijan in exchange to independence
status," Political Research Center Director Ruben Hakobyan told a
news conference today.

According to the politologist, there is some ambiguity to Madrid
principles, arousing apprehensions as to inadequacy of Armenia’s
concessions as compared to expectations it has.

Hakobyan emphasized that the ambiguity lies in the principle of NKR
stats determination through expression of free will.

THERE WERE 19 ARMENIAN PASSENGERS IN THE CRASHED AIRPLANE

ARMENPRESS
JULY 15, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS: There were 19 Armenian passengers in
the plane which crashed near the Iranian town of Qazvin 200km to the
northwest from capital Tehran.

An official from Iranian Caspian Airlines told Armenpress that the
majority of the remaining passengers were Iranians.

Press service of the Armenian Civil Aviation told Armenpress that
there were 168 people in the plane. There is no cause in circulation
for the crash of the airplane; studies are held in the place of
the accident. Armenian civil aviation has established ties with the
Iranian partners and a special head quarter has been created.

The airplane crashed at 12:00 after 16 minutes of flight. All the
passengers have been killed.

OSCE TO MONITOR CONTACT LINE OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN TROOPS

APA
July 13 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Under the mandate of the Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the contact line of troops near Afatli village
of Azerbaijan’s Aghdam region will be monitored on July 15. Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry’s press service told APA that field assistants of the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Jiri Aberleh
and Peter Key will conduct the monitoring in Azerbaijani side.

Field assistants of Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Imre Palatinus, Jaslan Nurtazin and Vladimir Chountulov will conduct
the monitoring in the opposite side of the line of contact recognized
as territory of Azerbaijan on the international level.

73 SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM ARMENIA, ARTSAKH AND JAVAKHK HAD A HOLIDAY AT ARTUTIK SUMMER CAMP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.07.2009 13:10 GMT+04:00

73 schoolchildren from Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk had a holiday
at Artutik summer camp this year. The camp established under the
patronage of the Armenian Ministry of Culture brought together 19
painters, 12 pianists, 10 violin players, 5 flutist and 1 cellist,
who won various Olympiads. 4 bands were formed under the supervision
of Armenian People’s Artist Georgy Minasov. An exhibition dedicated
to the memory of Henrikh Igityan was also held.

Interfax, Russia
July 10 2009

OSCE recognizes decline in fatalities in Karabakh conflict zone

BAKU July 10

The number of casualties on the separation line in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict zone has declined significantly in recent times,
personal envoy of the OSCE chairman-in- office Andrzej Kasprzyk said
at a Thursday briefing in Baku.

This means that talks are at a stage where no one wants to undermine
the emerging peace process, he said.

Meanwhile, Russian cochairman of the OSCE Minsk group Yury Merzlyakov
spoke of the importance of withdrawing snipers from the separation
line by both sides of the conflict.

"The cochairmen are interested in the full observance of the ceasefire
agreement while the biggest losses today are caused by snipers. We
believe that their withdrawal would be an important
confidence-building measure between the sides," he said.

The ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia was introduced in May
1994. The OSCE regularly monitors the separation line.

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