Month: August 2008

ARMENIAN CHURCH FIRED UPON IN ISTANBUL

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.08.2008 16:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 4 morning, unknown persons commenced fire
in the territory of Surb Karapet Armenian Church in Istanbul.

According to sources in Istanbul, the unknown targeted at the
father superior’s house situated in the church yard. Fortunately,
there was nobody home at that moment, otherwise the assault could
have unpredictable consequences, reports Yerkramas, the newspaper of
Armenians of Russia.

The police launched investigation into the act of violence.

SEDAT LACINER: TURKEY READY TO COOPERATE ON EVERY ISSUE WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.08.2008 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It was a wish for the Turkish statesmen that at least
a small portion of the line pass through Armenia because Armenia has
so many advantages about both energy and transportation projects,
Sedat Laciner, Director of USAK (International Strategic Research
Organization), writes in his "Railroads and Pipelines Integrate the
Caucasus" article published in Turkish Weekly.

The article says in part,

"However, obstinacy of the country caused her to be by-passed from the
project. Yerevan tried to block the projects that she is not included
but failed. Armenia and Armenian Diaspora spent a great deal of effort
in order to create difficulties for the railroad project…

Russia made Armenia economically dependent to her with loans until
now. Russia for example has the monopoly of energy supplies in
Armenia. In other words, Armenia pays high costs for not cooperating
with Turkey but only Russia…

Yerevan does not recognize national borders of Turkey and tries to
harm Turkey’s interests around the world. As a consequence of these
problems, Armenia’s border with Turkey is closed and of course the
one with Azerbaijan.

However, if only Armenia could withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani
territory, recognize Turkish borders and stop using genocide claims as
a weapon against Turkey and Turkish people, there would be no reason
to exclude Armenia from the regional integration.

There is not a solid hatred among Turkish people against
Armenia. Turkey is ready to speak any issue. Turkey is ready to
cooperate on every issue with Armenia. However, if one wants to
cooperate with his/her neighbor, he/she should show respect to the
neighbor’s home."

AZERBAIJAN TRANSFERS BODY OF KILLED SERVICEMAN GOR MANASYAN TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.08.2008 17:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan has transferred the body of killed
serviceman Gor Manasyan to Armenia, RA Defense Minister’s spokesman,
col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The transfer took place that the Armenian-Azeri border today.

"Manasyan lost his way and was killed after crossing the Azeri border
accidentally. He was not a member of "subversive group that penetrated
into the Azeri territory," col. Shahsuvaryan said earlier. "Manasyan
was without helmet, bullet-proof vest or some special devices.

On July 19, Azeri media with a reference to the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry reported that "Armenian subversives tried to cross the
Armenian-Azeri border. One of them was killed in a skirmish. His body
and weapon were left on the Azerbaijani territory."

BEIJING: ARMENIAN STATE FLAG HOISTED IN BEIJING

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.08.2008 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 4, Armenian state flag was hoisted
in the Olympic Village in Beijing, the RA MFA press office told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

Mayor of the Olympic Village Chen Zhili, Armenia’s Charge d’Affaires
in China, head of the Armenian

Olympic mission, officials of the RA Foreign Ministry and Armenian
Embassy in China as well as members of the Armenian Olympic team took
part in the solemn opening ceremony.

BLAST AT BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 13:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An explosion on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
on Tuesday night in eastern Turkey prompted authorities to halt the
flow of oil along the pipeline.

The fire, which broke out after the explosion continues to burn the
oil remaining in the pipes, officials said. "Cooling efforts are
under way. The fire may continue until the oil inside the pump runs
out. However, the region is totally under control."

The cause of the explosion is not immediately known, however, it
would become clear after a technical examination by experts.

However, the subgovernor of Refahiye town of the eastern province of
Erzincan, where the blast occurred, said the blast was caused by a
system failure not due to sabotage.

The authorities took all the necessary security measures in the region,
Mehmet Makas was quoted as saying.

The flow of natural gas along a nearby pipeline, which had been
suspended due to the fire at the crude oil pipeline, has resumed,
officials also said, Reuters reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA OFFERS TO FORM WESTERN-EUROPEAN CLONE OF EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia offers to form an EU analog which will unite
the RF, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova and some other
states, said Sergei Markov, Russian State Duma member.

"We offer to create a united economic area like the European Union
with a purpose of further expansion towards the EU," he said.

Implementing ‘divide and rule’ principle in the post soviet area,
the U.S. strikes Kosovo and Ukraine, which are Europe’s weak points,
according to him.

"Their task is not an independent Ukraine but anti-Russian Ukraine. The
U.S. wants relations between the two nations like those between Serbs
and Croats," Markov said, Noviy Region reports.

ALIYEV: AZERBAIJAN WILL NEVER GRANT KARABAKH A STATUS "BEYOND ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be resolved within
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said
during a government meeting.

"The essence of the talks is restoration of the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. We do not discuss any options outside this framework,"
he said.

Touching upon Karabakh’s future status, Aliyev said. "Determination
of status is impossible without consent of the Azerbaijani state."

"Azerbaijan will never grant Karabakh with any status beyond its
territorial integrity. Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group know this
very well," he said, ITAR-TASS reports.

SOME AZERI FORCES OFFER TO ANNOUNCE BRYZA PERSONA NON GRATA

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 13:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri Muasir Musavat party has decided to hold a
protest action at the U.S. Embassy in Baku on August 8.

"We urge to announce OSCE MG U.S. Ch-chair Matthew Bryza persona non
grata and to prevent his visit to Azerbaijan, for he questioned the
territorial integrity of our country," said Hafiz Hajiyev, leader of
Muasir Musavat.

The party has already sent a warning to the U.S. Embassy in Baku. It
also requested the city administration to authorize the picket,
Day.az reports.

On July 1, Bryza said in Moscow that the people on Nagorno Karabakh
will themselves decide whether to return under Azeri control or to be
independent. "The residents of Karabakh will make decision through a
referendum," Bryza said after the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministers.

ANCA: OBAMA ACCUSES MCCAIN OF COMPROMISING TIES TO BIG OIL COMPANIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 14:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a new campaign unveiled today, Democratic
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama underscores his presumptive
Republican challenger’s compromising ties to big oil companies, a
point driven home by the revelation that Sen. John McCain has already
received more than $1.1 million in contributions from oil companies
and their executives.

In a major policy speech Monday, Obama discussed America’s "addiction
to oil" and delineated an energy plan, which among other elements
proposed a windfall profits tax on big oil corporations that would
be used to provide a $1,000 rebate to people struggling with high
energy costs, the ANC-WR told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The new ad campaign also drew a linkage between the environmentally
destructive and economically unsustainable policies supported by
Senator McCain as a member of Congress for the past 26 years and
the large-scale generosity of the energy industry in supporting his
campaign for the presidency.

The policies pursued by Senator McCain would ensure that the
U.S. remains a hostage to nations, such as Azerbaijan, which have
large oil and gas reserves but are major human rights violators and
remain sources of regional instability.

"It would be more of the same with a McCain Administration in the White
House. The Arizona Senator would – as he has for the better part of
the last three decades – continue supporting big oil companies that
profit from high gas prices and are pouring billions of dollars into
countries like Azerbaijan, which lack the basic principles of human
rights," said Areen Ibranossian Chairperson of Armenians for Obama.

In his major policy speech on energy Monday, Obama urged Americans
to look inward to resolve the energy crisis and proposed concrete
steps to wean the US from foreign oil dependence in 10 years.

"The Armenian-American community appreciates the innovative approach
to this very critical global issue and believes that progressive
approaches such as the ones presented today by Sen. Obama would ensure
a safer more prosperous future for all Americans, while discouraging
big corporations from investing in undemocratic regimes such as
Azerbaijan," added Ibranossian.

Armenians for Obama is a nationwide voter registration, education, and
mobilization effort dedicated to electing Barack Obama President. Based
in Los Angeles, and with chapters and affiliates in all 50 States,
Armenians for Obama will harness the energy and enthusiasm for Barack
Obama’s candidacy to ensure record high Armenian American turnout in
critical battleground states.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TENDS TO FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH ARAB STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 15:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met today with
an UAE delegation led by Saud bin Sakr Al-Kasimi, crown prince and
deputy ruler of Ras Al-Khaima, to discuss development of bilateral
relations, the RA leader’s press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Armenia tends to friendly relations with Arab states. The commodity
turnover between our republic and the UAE doubled during the past
six months, what proves the huge potential of bilateral relations,"
the President said.

For his part, Saud bin Sakr Al-Kasimi thanked Armenia for support to
UAE companies and expressed hope for further cooperation. "We work
to achieve stability and favorable atmosphere for economic growth,"
he said.

The top officials also discussed programs implemented in tourism and
mining industry.

The Armenian President confirmed that the government will promote
all investment programs launched in the republic.