Author: nina hovnanian

EXTREMISTS INCITE ANTI-ARMENIAN SENTIMENT IN GEORGIA – NGO

Tert.am
24.08.11

A Georgia-based Armenian non-governmental organization has expressed
concerns over what it calls “an anti-Armenian hysteria” felt in
Georgia recently.

In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the Union of Javakheti
Armenians said that extremist forces, including high-ranking secular
and religious figures are inciting enmity that is indecent of the
Armenian-Georgian relations, by disseminating false news.

“Discrediting reports by the mass media that affect uninformed
representatives of Georgian youth also greatly contribute to the
anti-Armenian sentiment,” read the statement.

Further, the NGO recalled the recent act of vandalism committed by
two Georgian youth in an Armenian church in Tbilisi, saying that it
is subject to condemnation and is capable of inciting inter-nation
tensions.

“We support the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and
call on the Georgian authorities to use strict methods in curbing those
officials engaged in anti-Armenian propaganda and define a deserved
punishment to those villains who encroached on our national dignity
so that to further prevent any similar actions,” read the statement.

HAWK KHATCHERIAN’S ‘YERKIR’ RECAPTURES LOST LAND

YEREVAN-(Combined Sources)-Hrair “Hawk” Khatcherian’s photographs of
Western Armenia-captured in an album called “Yerkir,” was presented
on May 11 at the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan.

“Armenian architects have been denied the opportunity to study
the historical and cultural monuments of Western Armenia,” said
architect Dr. Mourad Hasratian during the ceremony-explaining that
Hawk’s photos not only serve to fill that gap-but also document the
fact that Armenia’s once lived and thrived in Western Armenia.

“Symbolically named Yerkir -this album of photographs serves as
legitimate proof of that-and is a tool for future generations to
raise the issue of territorial rights.”

Yerkir  features 460 photographs of the Western Armenian cities of
Ani-Erzeroum-Gars-Moush-Sis-Van-and Zeitun-taken between 1992 and 2004.

“This album is a document; it’s our weapon. There is vast territory
that we had not seen until now,” said Parajanov Museum director Zaven
Sarkissian-stressing the album must be used as textbook in every
Armenian home. “Growing up with this album-our next generation will
be able to speak with force-in a tone different than ours.”

“Yerkir” also documents the condition of monumen’s in Western Armenia
by juxtaposing current photos with those taken at the turn of the
20th century.

Khatcherian says that little has preserved; monuments in Western
Armenia-specifically churches-have either been destroyed or converted
into stables or mosques.

The album also contains unique photos of the “Naregatsi stones.” The
Armenian poet Krikor Naregatsi (951-1003) wrote his mystical poem
“Book of Lamentations” on the stones.

Hrair Khatcherian has dedicated the album “Yerkir ” to his “venerable
teacher” Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian-who passed away on December 2-2003.

Khatcherian’s first album-published in 1997-Artsakh: A photographic
Journey-captures the vitality of the people of Mountainous Karabagh
Republic-and their courage in the struggle to be free.

Born in Lebanon-Khatcherian currently lives in Canada with his wife
Lena and their two children Lori and Palig.

For more information-contact Khatcherian at [email protected];

ARMENIA PREPARES FOR RIO+20 SUMMIT

ARMENPRESS
August 24, 2011
YEREVAN

The first meeting of the National Coordination Commission for the
preparatory activity ensuring the RA participation in the Conference
on Environment and Sustainable Development, Rio+20, was held today
at the RA Foreign Affairs Ministry.

An official from the press, information and PR department of the RA
Foreign Ministry told Armenpress that the commission co-chairs – RA
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Minister of Nature Protection
Aram Harutyunyan – chaired the meeting.

Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Aram Harutyunyan made speeches touching
upon the developments within the framework of the Rio+20 process and
in this context the issues Armenia faces, the preparatory activities
and steps for ensuring the RA participation in the upcoming summit.

The draft national plan for the RA participation in the Rio+20 summit,
expected to be held 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, and the proposal for the
creation of ad hoc preparatory working groups were presented as well.

ARMED GANG MAY INVOLVE EMPLOYEES OF SECURITY FORCES – ARMENIA’S POLICE CHIEF

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Chief of Armenia’s police Alik Sargsyan does not exclude
that an armed gang committing theft in Yerevan may involve former or
current employees of the security forces.

They are trying to avoid all the mistakes that make criminals at the
scene, he told journalists on Thursday.

Sargsyan also labeled thefts as racketeering, the assessment previously
given by prosecutor’s office.

He said that an investigative group involving the best employees of
the system was set up.

“I just want to assure you that we will solve the case shortly because
it is fraught with far more complicated and dangerous consequences. We
have some data that should be studied seriously,” he added.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan ordered on Wednesday
to consolidate cases on five robberies committed in the capital and
carry out a joint preliminary inquiry.

He instructed central investigation department of the Armenian police
to carry out an investigation. Hovsepyan stressed an armed gang is
carrying out attacks in Yerevan.

During the Tuesday meeting chaired by Hovsepyan thefts committed in
several districts of Yerevan were discussed. All the attacks were
carried out early in the morning, around 4:30-6:00 a.m. The number
of offenders was 4-5, they were all dressed in black, wearing black
masks and gloves, and were armed.

The criminals have recently attacked several houses, including those
of renowned people, among them former MP Napoleon Azizyan. Criminals
beat up members of his family, stole money, jewelry and precious
paintings threatening with a gun.

Earlier in June five people carried out an armed assault on a mansion
belonging to former director of one of the programs of the Lincy
foundation Karen Bezoyan.

Three people wearing masks attacked the house belonging to former
head of one of Yerevan districts Aghvan Grigoryan in July.

WIKILEAKS: U.S. DOESN’T SUPPORT TURKEY’S POLICY OF PRECONDITIONS TOWARDS ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 25, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – WikiLeaks has published a classified cable sent in
2010 by then-ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey.

The cable says that “the signing of the Protocols to reestablish
Turkish-Armenian relations and open the common border in Zurich on
October 10 was a landmark for the region.”

However, the cable says “neither Turkey nor Armenia have taken steps
toward ratification.” “The government of Turkey argues that progress
toward withdrawal of Armenian forces from the provinces surrounding
Nagorno Karabakh is a pre-condition,” it says.

“This was not/not part of the agreement, and not a position the U.S.

supports,” Jeffrey notes.

He notes that future relations will nevertheless still be heavily
linked to the 1915 Armenian Genocide issue.

“Any U.S. determination of the events of 1915 as “genocide” would set
off a political firestorm in Turkey, and the effect on our bilateral
relationship – including political, military, and commercial aspects –
would be devastating,” the cable says.

WikiLeaks: U.S. doesn’t support Turkey’s policy of preconditions
towards Armenia

TURKEY FUNDING LIBYAN REBELS

ARMENPRESS
August 25, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenpress reports, citing CNN that the cash-starved Libyan rebel
government received emergency money in the final weeks before
their advance into Tripoli — a $100 million cash donation from the
government of Turkey.

During a hastily-arranged trip to the Libyan rebel capital of
Benghazi this week, Turkey’s foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the
Transitional National Council chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil revealed
that starting in July, the Turks began rushing a total of $300 million
to the rebels.

“The first 100 million is a cash donation,” said Turkish foreign
ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal. “The second 100 million is credit
donation. … The third 100 million is a credit loan.”

“The cash they are using (is) for salaries and buying food,” Unal
added.

On Thursday, diplomats will converge in Istanbul for a meeting of
the Libya Contact Group, a coalition of Arab and European governments.

Representatives from the United States and Turkey will also attend.

Many of these governments threw their weight behind the Libyan rebels
by freezing the assets of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s government
and pledging military and financial support to the council in Benghazi.

“The group will discuss the next steps to be taken at the political
level,” said Unal. “It will be no surprise if they also discuss the
financial aspect of the crisis.”

ANC MEMBERS’ LAWYER TO REPORT ‘CRIME’ TO ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE

Tert.am
25.08.11

Talking to Tert.am, Stepan Voskanyan, the lawyer of the ANC members
involved in the Aug. 9 incident, said he is going to present a report
entitled “On the crime” to Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office.

The reason is the policemen’s attitude toward him and his fellow
worker, Vahe Hovsepyan, after the incident. “The reason why I am
going to present the report is that the policemen violated our freedom
rights, seized our mobiles and impeded our activities,” Voskanyan said.

Seven active members of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) involved
in the incident were taken to the police department on Aug. 9. Six of
them were later released, and only Tigran Arakelyan remains in custody.

SEVAG’S MURDERER RELEASED WHILE TRIAL CONTINUES

Armenian Weekly

DIYARBEKIR, Turkey (A.W.)-On Oct. 7, a Diyarbekir court will hear the
testimony of Melani Kumruyan, the fiance of 25-year-old Sevag Sahin
Balikci, the Turkish Armenian soldier shot dead on April 24, 2011,
on the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Melani and Sevag

Although the case is ongoing, on July 29, the judge released suspect
Kivanc Agaoglu, stating he believed the suspect would not flee. During
the 13-hour-long session, a high-ranking military officer testified
in court and revealed that following the incident, one eyewitness had
come forward and stated he had overheard the suspect tell the victim,
“I will kill you, fatty!” (“Seni vururum tombulum,” in Turkish). That
witness, however, gave a different account to the court. Two other
witnesses also changed their stories.

Agaoglu claims the shooting was an accident, that he, along with
eight other soldiers, including Balikci, were fixing a barbed wire
when it happened. According to Agaoglu, he had loaded his gun for
“my and my friends’ security”-Balikci’s lawyer, Cem Halavurt, has
pointed that in the absence of a higher ranking official, loading
a gun violates military rules-and when he lowered his gun to put it
down, the gun fired and shot Balikci, who was standing on the other
side of the barbed fence, one to two meters away from Agaoglu.

Another soldier, Halil Eksi, presented a different account. He said
the men were working in a cheerful environment, when Agaoglu suddenly
lifted his gun and aimed it at Balikci. The gun fired, and the bullet
entered Balikci’s abdomen on the right and exited on the left side.

The prosecution is demanding a nine-year prison term for the
“accidental” murder of Balikci. The victim’s family, however, insists
the murder was deliberate.

Sevag Sahin Balikci, a graduate from Istanbul Technical University’s
Faculty of Fine Arts, was 23 days away from being discharged from
the army.

ARFD LEADERSHIP IS IN PANIC

Lragir.am

24/08/2011

“I think Dashnaksutyun of the U.S. drew the right conclusion, while
Dashnaksutyun of Armenia didn’t,” says Tigran Karapetyan, the leader
of the People’s Party, on recent controversy between the Armenian and
West American committees of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, in an interview
on August 24.

Karapetyan notes that the ARFD’s Armenia-based leadership is bound
to the authorities with their businesses. “It is not right to turn
everything into money,” he says, adding that the Armenian ARFD leaders
are now in panic.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS ‘ON HOLD’, EXPERT SAYS

Tert.am
24.08.11

The removal of the Armenian-Turkish protocols from the agenda of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey proved to be a legal fact, Ruben
Melkonyan, Deputy Dean, Department of Oriental Studies, Yerevan State
University, told a press conference Aug. 24.

However, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s signature to
the document has not been invalidated, he added. “So we can consider
them to be ‘on hold’. The protocols continue to exist, but have now
dropped out of Turkish Legislature’s sight. They may come into sight
at any moment,” Melkonyan said.

According to him, the Kurdish problem and developments in the
Middle East have relegated the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation to
the background. So no changes should be expected in the bilateral
relations in the near future, the expert said. Turkey’s “small
brother”, Azerbaijan, may be inspired by the current situation as
well. But this “inspiration” will not persist, Melkonyan said.

In the context of enhancement of Turkey’s role, the expert does not
attach high importance to mediators’ pressure.

“The past two years have shown Turkey has been able to resist the
mediators’ transparently obvious pressure,” the expert said.

As regards the impact the suspension of the Armenian-Turkish protocols
might have on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Mekonyan said that
the two are separate processes. “The protocols can by no means have
any impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh process,” he concluded.