Author: Zakarian Garnik

CHESS: ARMENIA MAINTAINS LEADING POSITIONS IN FIDE RANKINGS
Suren Musayelyan

ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
03.05.10

Aronyan maintains his 5th rank among the world’s best male chess
players.

Armenia’s top grandmaster Levon Aronyan has maintained his fifth
rank among the world’s best male chess players in the latest rating
released by the game’s international governing body FIDE.

The May 1 FIDE rating for the world’s top 100 players (released every
second month) shows no change in the top seven positions, with the
top trio including Norway’s 20-year-old Magnus Carlsen (rating 2813),
Veselin Topalov (2812) from Bulgaria and Vladimir Kramnik (2790) from
Russia. India’s Viswanathan Anand, who is now defending his FIDE world
crown against challenger Topalov, is in the fourth position with a
rating of 2789, six rating points ahead of the 27-year-old Armenian
chess ace. Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov follows Aronyan in the
sixth place with a rating of 2763.

The FIDE () top 100 male players list also includes
two other Armenian grandmasters, namely Vladimir Hakobyan (43) and
Gabriel Sargsyan (55). Sergey Movsesian representing Slovakia is 25th
on the list.

The FIDE top 100 female players list includes three Armenian
grandmasters. The highest rank among them is held by Lilit Lazarian
(26th; rating 2477), followed by Elina Danielyan (29) and Lilit Galoyan
(66). Hungary’s Judit Polgar tops the rankings with a rating of 2682.

In the list of 139 chess nations ranked by the average rating of their
top 10 players Armenia is 10th (average rank 2631; has 20 grandmasters
and 30 international masters; ‘total titled’ – 73).

The FIDE nations rating list is topped by Russia (2731), followed by
Ukraine (2688) and China (2648). Full rankings are available here:

Meanwh ile, Armenia’s top chessman Aronyan has indicated that he
will not take part in World Chess Championship qualifying matches if
Azerbaijan’s capital Baku is picked as their venue.

In a statement issued late last week, Aronyan reacted to comments
made by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who said in an interview
with the Russian Sport-Express newspaper (April 28, 2010) that he
did not rule out the participation of the Armenian player in the
Candidates tournament in the Azerbaijani capital.

Aronyan stressed that he has "never agreed and will never agree"
to play candidates’ matches in Baku. The Armenian Chess Federation
also announced that it had sent an official letter to Ilyumzhinov,
FIDE Presidential Board members, the Sport-Express newspaper and
other chess periodicals over the matter.

The 2011 World Championship challenger is to be decided in a Candidates
Tournament that will bring together eight participants (including
Aronyan as Winner of the FIDE Grand Prix 2008-2009).

It was reportedly decided at the FIDE Congress last year that the
tournament scheduled for 2010/11 would be split into two parts to
allow the Armenian player to avoid playing in Azerbaijan.

Aysor, Armenia
May 1 2010

Armenia’s City of the World presented at Shanghai Expo 2010

After eight years preparing, Shanghai opened Friday the largest in its
history Expo so far with a lavish show of lights and fireworks. A
total of 189 countries and 57 international organisations are taking
part in the World Shanghai Expo 2010, including Armenia.

Armenia’s President, who is on a visit to China at the invitation of
the Paramount Leader of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hu Jintao,
along with Armenian delegation to China, including county’s Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsian,
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisian, Assistant to
Prime Minister Ruben Shatvorian and other officials and numerous
guests participated in the opening ceremony of the Armenian Pavilion.

The theme of the Armenian Pavilion, which is located within Zone C of
the Expo Site, is `City of the World’; it aims to invite people of the
world to construct the City (Geopolis) at the foot of Mount Ararat.
Submitted models by famous architects across the world are exhibited
on the booth in the middle of the pavilion to listen to opinions from
all sides. The motto of the Geopolis is `Time is not power over it.’
City’s crystalline model is presenting the Tree of Life ` one of the
key symbols of the Armenian Pavilion. Another one is the `Round Table
of Nations,’ wreathing the City’s model.

Armenian group has also equipped the exhibition with projectors to
present a 3D Interaction Show of the Geopolis at the Experiencing
Pavilion. According to Shanghai World Expo 2010’s sponsors, the
Interactive Shows are first-ever being so widespread represented; and
Armenia is one of those rare nations who successfully are presenting a
3D shows.

It’s worth mentioning another interesting feature of the Armenian
Pavilion: door-stones, similar to Armenian Cross-Stones, are put in
the circle, screening images of various Armenian ancient and modern
architectures.

There is a commercial zone at the Armenian Pavilion, where visitors
can buy Armenian goods and test Armenian food.

Armenian Pavilion will host various events. In particular, it will
hold the Apricot Garden event, at which visitors can embrace the
blossoming apricot trees, taste the unique apricots of Armenia and
enjoy the magical sounds of Armenian Duduk flute made of wood from the
apricot tree.

During the Gold & Silk event, visitors can discover many interesting
facts about ancient trade relations between Armenia and China, enjoy
the unique mastery of Armenian jewelers.

On September 21, the Armenian National Day, some festivals are
expected to take place within the expo with participation of the
Armenian delegation.

SUPERPOWERS ARE HELPING TURKEY?

"A1+"
29/04/10

"How can Turkey be an intermediary and try to match the positions
when it is clearly pressuring one side and trying to solve the issue
in the interests of the other?" secretary of "Bargavach Hayastan"
(Prosperous Armenia) party Aram Safaryan told "A1+" today. Let us
remind that the Turkish president of the PACE has expressed the desire
to head the PACE commission on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to Safaryan, in order to be an intermediary, Turkey must
view both sides from equal positions and not declare that Azerbaijan
is its small brother, that they are two states for one nation and
"at least pretend that it understands Armenia’s position, but it is
not even going through the trouble to pretend."

Aram Safaryan also sees a serious challenge. "The international
community is giving an inadequate response to Turkey’s growing
interest toward the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenia must make
more efforts."

"This is the effect of Turkey’s advocacy and diplomacy and there
is no other evaluation of Chavushogli’s activities than Turkey’s
ruling party’s attempts to enter the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
through the political elite’s most amazing and unexpected ways,"
said the deputy.

Safaryan suggests holding consultations, round-table discussions and
decide what to do.

"What if the pressures and influence gets stronger? What will be our
specific ways of counter-influence, if Turkey has received support
from superpowers for pressure and active working style? I can’t answer
that question."

"We must have a position that is honest and comprehensible for the
international community. We must be able to explain our national
interest in a normal language and that’s how we will reach
comprehension," the chairman of the party continued.

Deputy of "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosyan took note of PACE
President David Harutyunyan’s flaw in the possible creation of a
commission in the PACE.

"Armenia didn’t feel that trap in the beginning and was positive
toward the creation of that commission. Our delegation and David
Harutyunyan are currently trying to fight against the creation of
such a commission. If the decision is taken to create the commission,
I think we should do everything possible to make sure it is not headed
by Chavushoglu, but somebody neutral. Turkey already got the right
to play an active role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution
through the Turkey-Armenia Protocols and by the consent of Armenia’s
authorities," Martirosyan told "A1+".

REP. COSTA STATEMENT REGARDING 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Targeted News Service
April 27, 2010 Tuesday 1:41 PM EST

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif. (20th CD), issued the following news release:

Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) today made the following statement
on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding the 95th
anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide.

Video of Costa’s remarks can be seen here
( /tYIgu14mqyc). Excerpts
from Costa’s statement (as prepared) are below:

"This past Saturday marked the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Last Saturday, I joined with Fresno’s Armenian community to
commemorate this horrific tragedy. Today, I once again call upon this
body to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution to officially recognize
this genocide in our nation.

"In my remarks before the Foreign Affairs Committee markup of H. Res.

252, The Armenian Genocide Resolution, I indicated how historians had
clearly documented this event. I said, ‘My Armenian friends believe
this systematic approach to eliminate the Armenian communities from
their homes and farms was among the first genocides of the 20th
century, and so do I.’

"Theodore Roosevelt once wrote, ‘…the Armenian massacre was the
greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to
condone it … the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror
means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is
mischievous nonsense.’

"There is never a ‘right time,’ to recognize genocide and we
cannot wait around for a convenient moment to recognize this truly
catastrophic event."

ALIEV HAS TAKEN OFFENCE AND RUN INTO THE HYSTERIA
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper: [NKR]
April 23, 2010
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

Last week the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, acting at the
expanded session of the government, has brought down criticism
squall to Armenia. Thus the Azerbaijan president did not hesitate in
expressions and resorted to the lexicon, not beseeming to the head
of the state, having accused Armenia in "the artful, hypocritical
and false policy". At acquaintance to Aliev’s speech did not leave
sensation, that he was captured by hysterics and was not capable to
control himself. What could become the reason of so nervous reaction
of the president of Azerbaijan? It is impossible to exclude, that
in a certain measure the similar behaviour of Baku was the result
of non invitation of Ilhama Aliev on nuclear safety summit which
was carried out in Washington on April 12-13. While the president
of Armenia went to the summit, that is already the Azerbaijan party
considers as infringement of parity and abasement of his dignity.

Moreover, a number of experts expressed opinion, that Aliev had not
been invited to Washington not to stir to Armenian-Turkish dialogue.

Differently, the American side, true to the position declared before,
that would like to leave the process of the Karabakh settlement
behind brackets of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations,
not coordinating them, against what Baku acts furiously.

Quite probably, that only this fact is already enough to the Azerbaijan
president to suspect "plot" against Azerbaijan behind the back of which
as it seems to him, intrigues trudge, and to give vent to the emotions.
Indirectly it is also proved by Aliev’s statement sounded on the same
session of the government: "How much is true today, having laid aside
the Nagorno-Karabakh, to solve other questions of the region? It is
absolutely wrong, it is a position contradicting national interests
of Azerbaijan". Then passing from back about well-known to us
"state-invader" upon which pressure should be put in negotiations
concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh, about "the greatest constructability"
of Azerbaijan to the passage consisted of azeri theses. And in the end
and at all a desperately-hysterical cry: "Why just the Turkish-Armenian
border should be opened that Armenia as if receives breath? We see
attempts to deduce Armenia from this difficult situation". But,
apparently, Azerbaijan has appeared itself in a difficult situation.
Recently Baku even more often began to speak about the mistrust to the
USA as to the objective intermediary in the course of the Karabakh
settlement. Probably, it is explained also by the circumstance
that just Washington, trying to rescue Armenian-Turkish reports,
intensifies consultations of Yerevan and Ankara, disregarding "national
interests" of Azerbaijan. So, the head of public-political department
of administration of Azerbaijan president Ali Hassanov has directly
declared to journalists in Baku: "If the USA continuous henceforth
to be not objective further in the Karabakh question, Azerbaijan can
reconsider relations of strategic partnership with America". He has
accused Washington of frank support of Armenia, that, in his opinion,
does not correspond to the mission of the United States as co-chairman
of the Minsk group of OSCE, and has expressed… against presence
of the USA in this group. Azerbaijan has started again its favourite
methods of blackmail, having declared that it reconsiders the power
projects which were provided to be realised together with the USA
for what it already undertakes alternative measures. As Hassanov
has told, Azerbaijan has suspended steps directed to the maintenance
of power interests of the USA. For greater persuasiveness Baku has
threatened to suspend also negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh if they
do not give any result, and to search for alternative ways of the
resolution of the conflict. What result is waited from negotiations
by the fan of alternatives- Baku, it’s not difficult to guess. Baku
still continues to create illusions that Nagorno-Karabakh as it has
already occurred once in the beginning of the last century, will be
given to it. For a substantiation of the illegal claims it still
perverts an essence both the Karabakh conflict, and international
law, confirming about unacceptability for itself any mechanisms,
"capable ever to separate Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan". Attempts
of Azerbaijan to subject to audit international law and to make use of
own interests are doomed to a failure. As there is no such principle
of international law which would cause realization of the right of
the people on self-determination by desire or unwillingness of this or
that state and would limit the granted right to territorial frameworks
of this state. Azerbaijan, certainly, knows it, from here and that
hysterics which has captured even its president. From here and those
sweeping charges to Armenia, the Minsk group of OSCE, the USA, and
all international community in unwillingness to settle the conflict
according to scenario pleasant to Azerbaijan, that is to indulge the
valid aggressor in its unreasonable ambitions and appetites. And if
Baku so likes to talk profusely about alternatives, it is necessary
to remind it once again – there is no the alternative of independence
of the NKR. And people of the Nagorno-Karabakh realized the right
most advantageously.

LE GENOCIDE A NOUVEAU A L’ORDRE DU JOUR DU PARLEMENT ISRAËLIEN
par Marion

armenews
jeudi29 avril 2010

Genocide

Le Parlement israelien va a nouveau etudier un projet de resolution
reconnaissant le genocide armenien.

La Knesset a decide par 12 voix contre 8 et une abstention, que
l’une de ses commissions permanentes debattra de la resolution et
determinera si elle doit etre soumise a un vote du Parlement.

Le president du Parlement, Reuven Rivlin, fait partie de ceux qui
ont soutenu le projet de loi redige par Haim Oron, le leader du parti
d’opposition de gauche, Meretz.

La plupart des legislateurs opposes a son inscription a l’ordre du jour
du Parlement sont membres du parti Israel Beitenou, qui represente
principalement les immigrants juifs de republiques sovietiques et
d’Azerbaïdjan et fait partie de la coalition gouvernementale de
Benyamin Netanyahou.

L’un de ses membres, Yosef Shagal, a declare qu’Israël ne devrait
pas porter de jugement sur ce qu’il a decrit comme un differend
turco-armenien.

La commission qui debattra de la mesure n’est pas encore determinee.

Oron souhaite qu’elle soit discutee par la commission de l’education,
ayant echoue a faire passer projets de loi similaires par le biais
de la commission des Affaires etrangères et de la Defense en 2009 et
2008. Mais Rivlin et le representant de Netanyahou ont declare que
ces dernières devraient a nouveau etudier la question.

En depit de l’autorisation de la Knesset, la commission de la Defense
n’a meme pas vote la resolution du genocide armenien par le passe.

Elle a ainsi mis en evidence la reticence des gouvernements israeliens
successifs de se mettre a dos la Turquie, un des rares partenaires
musulmans de l’Etat juif.

Les commentateurs pourraient relier cet apparent revirement de
la position israelienne sur cette question très sensible a une
deterioration des relations turco-israeliennes.

ON THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO FREEZE THE CURRENT ARMENIA-TURKEY PROCESS
Vartan Oskanian

The Civilitas Foundation
Monday, 26 April 2010 13:47

It was clear from the beginning that a prolonged presentation of the
desirable as real is not sustainable, and that the government would
have to finally acknowledge reality.

I am astonished by two things, however. First, the government is
openly acknowledging that for one whole year they watched as Turkey
placed preconditions before them, Turkey exploited the process for
its own benefit, and they not only tolerated this, but continuously
insisted that this is not happening and that this whole process is
a big success and an unprecedented diplomatic victory.

Second, if there were half a dozen possible exit strategies from
this situation – from doing nothing to revoking Armenia’s signature –
the government has chosen the option least beneficial to us. Turkey
no longer has an obligation to open the border before the Karabakh
conflict is resolved which is what Turkey had wanted all along. The
Armenian side did that which is most desirable for Turkey: neither
ratified the protocols nor revoked them thus giving Turkey the
opportunity to continue to remain actively engaged in the Karabakh
process.

For a whole year, the authorities rejected the problems in the
Armenia-Turkey process and responded to all criticism by insisting
that all is well. Today, in fact, we see that they did understand
that things were not proceeding as desired, yet they prolonged the
process for more than a year, hoping that it would be possible to
avoid accepting the truthfulness of the criticism.

Today, I want to invite attention to the fact that the same problems
are inherent in the Karabakh process. In response to my criticism,
they continue to insist that all is well, and there are no dangerous
developments.

But this is no time to gloat. Nor is this about stubbornly insisting
on the absolute truthfulness of one’s own position. The facts cannot
be ignored. The negotiations are proceeding unfavorably. The situation
must be corrected, even if that requires making clear policy changes.

The government must boldly assess the situation, and acknowledge its
seriousness so that we will not find ourselves in the same situation
regarding Karabakh.

But for that, there first must be acknowledgement and acceptance that
there are in fact problems, there must be an attempt to identify their
root causes, and no longer resort to the tradition of negating reality.

I am also worried about another trend. For two years, various
government representatives applauded the Armenia-Turkey process and
ignored all the problems. They raised public expectations about a
speedy normalization of relations and opening of the border. And
when none of that happened for reasons that were obvious from the
beginning, there is an opposite and equally extreme reaction. The
same public relations machine is subsumed by anti-Turkish propaganda.

Various government representatives have adopted extremist stereotypical
positions. Incautious policies all-around have brought us to a
dead-end in Armenia-Turkey relations and this new tendency can further
deteriorate an already-delicate situation, and render impossible
necessary future positive developments.

ARMENIAN SPIRITUAL LEADER MEETS AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT, VISITS CHURCH

news.az
April 27 2010
Azerbaijan

Aliyev receives Garegin II Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev yesterday
received the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Garegin II.

They discussed the importance of the Baku summit which has brought
together world religious leaders.

Ilham Aliyev and Garegin II said that the event would contribute
to strengthening inter-faith dialogue and expanding contacts among
religious leaders.

Garegin II visited the Armenian church in central Baku yesterday,
accompanied by Russian Patriarch Kirill and the head of the Caucasus
Muslims Department, Sheikh ul-Islam Haji Allashukur Pashazade.

A police cordon around the church prevented journalists from
approaching the visitors, ANS TV reported.

The Armenian church leader later shared his impressions of the visit
with ANS TV. He believed that the Armenian church in Baku would one
day reopen: ‘We visited the Armenian church. We have been unable to
hold services in this church for a short time in 70 years. Fire has
badly damaged the frescoes. We also saw that there was no grave for
one of our church servants. The church has been turned into a library.

This is the way it has been preserved. We hope and pray that the time
will come when the church will function fully. Our faithful will be
able to pray and make pilgrimages there.’

Yesterday the Catholicos, Russian Patriarch Kirill and Sheikh
Allashukur Pashazade signed a declaration calling for dialogue among
religious leaders and a peaceful settlement to the Karabakh conflict.

RECONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN TURKEY – PERFORMANCE FOR EUROPE

Panorama.am
16:58 27/04/2010

Society

Is there a threat that the reconstruction works of the Armenian
monuments and churches will be halted following the freezing of the
Armenian-Turkish normalization process? Referring to the issue at a
press conference today, monument specialist Samvel Karapetyan answered:
no. He particularly noted that the reconstruction of the world-famous
monuments will continue since this is more of a performance for Europe.

"The reconstruction of Tigran Honetsi Church joint project is underway
with Georgians, other churches will be reconstructed as well: this is
a performance and the parts of it will continue," S. Karapetyan said.

PATRIARCH KIRILL POINTS TO PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

The Voice of Russia
April 26 2010

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill believes that there is
progress in a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said as
much when meeting the spiritual leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in
Baku earlier today. The Russian Patriarch described as very useful the
tripartite meeting at the ongoing Baku religious summit. The Head of
the Caucasus Muslim Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade said
that he was grateful to Patriarch Kirill for the latter’s mediatory
efforts in a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The top
Caucasus Muslim leader feels that the Russian Orthodox Church has
always seen the essence of the conflict correctly, without ever
regarding it as an interreligious one.