Month: December 2008

"TURKEY SHOULD COMPREHEND ITS PAST"

AZG Armenian Daily
17/12/2008

Armenian Genocide

"It’s an issue that should be solved inside Turkey", "Washington Post"
well-known correspondent David Ignatius, whose ancestors are Armenian
migrants from Kharberd, mentioned about the Armenian Genocide.

"It’s an issue that should be solved inside Turkey. Recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by the US Congress means nothing if Turkey does
not recognize it", David Ignatius told "Milliet" on the occasion
of presentation of the film "Body of Lies" in Turkey based on his
scenario.

"Turkey will eventually comprehend its past", he added.

The film "Body of Lies" based on David Ignatius’ novel is about the
CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio). The events took place
in Jordan and Ankara.

NATO SUPPORTS PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

AZG Armenian Daily
17/12/2008

Karabakh Conflict

NATO supports peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
the Alliance’s Deputy Secretary General said in Baku. "Resolution of
the conflict will do good to the entire region. The OSCE Minsk Group
handles its job well and NATO will endorse its efforts," Claudio
Bisogniero said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS TO BE DISCUSSED IN BAKU

AZG Armenian Daily
17/12/2008

Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan

A conference under heading "Armenian-Turkish relations; possible
prospects" will be held in Baku in January 2009, Deputy of the
Azerbaijani Melli Mejlis Fazayil Aghamali announced.

"Leaders of the Azerbaijani five political parties discussed the
Armenian-Turkish relations and according to the results of those
discussions made a decision to hold a conference in Baku to discuss
the issue", the Azerbaijani MP told the journalists.

"Turkish parliament members are also invited to participate in the
conference", he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHILDREN DO LESSONS BY CANDLELIGHT

A1+
[01:13 pm] 17 December, 2008

It is too difficult too depict the state of the Asoyans family in
words. The destituted family lives in abject poverty in a dilapidated
building in Vanadzor. To understand their grave state one should have
a look at their hygienic and domestic conditions.

The family’s cherished dream is to have a cozy dwelling place. They
get 26000-dram family benefit which is the family’s only source of
income. The father of three underage children, 49-year-old Levon
Asoyan, has serious health problems. He doesn’t have a permanent
job. Levon Asoyan does manual work and supports his family with his
daily meagre earnings. The Asoyans don’t even prepare for the upcoming
New Year celebration as they hardly earn their early bread. Two of the
children- Karen, 13, and Gurgen, 11, go to school. The boys have to do
their lessons by candlelight as the building is denergised. Asoyans’
neighbours help them to the best of their abilities.

HIS HOLINESS RECEIVED OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL

A1+
[12:01 pm] 17 December, 2008

On December 16 His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, hosted OSCE Secretary General Marc
Perrin de Brichambaut accompanied by the Head of the OSCE Armenia
Office Sergey Kapinos at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Welcoming the visit of the OSCE Secretary General to Holy Etchmiadzin,
His Holiness expressed confidence that similar visits will enhance
cooperation and promote the peaceful resolution of the conflicts
existing in the region. Karekin II expressed gratitude to the OSCE
Secretary General for the efforts and programmes implemented by
the OSCE.

For his part, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut thanked His Holiness for
good wishes and presented the OSCE activity, as well as the aims and
results of his visit.

The parties also referred to the process of peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FISH PRICE HAS GONE UP

A1+
[02:53 pm] 17 December, 2008

Armenian fishmongers complain that fish market prices have abruptly
gone up in Armenia.

"Last year we sold at least 50 kg fish a day but this year we sell
up to 20 kg fish," said Armen who sells fish at the so-called GUM
market. Armen has been doing the same business for ten years but
never has he had such a "no-go" trade. The reason for that is the
recent increase in fish prices.

"If a few weeks ago we sold fish at 1500-1600 drams today a kilo costs
1800-2000 drams as fishery managers have advanced the prices. We can
no longer sell fish at the same price as we have to pay for the booth
and our employees," complained fishmongers.

Fishmonger Erik stated that fish prices have gone up by 20-25 %. For
example, last year they sold sturgeon at 1800-2000 drams a kilo. This
year the price mounts to 2500-3000 drams.

We used to eat fish once or twice a week. But today we cannot afford
such a luxury and buy fish only on holidays," Yerevan citizen Anahit
said to A1+.

Fishmongers complained that food prices generally go gown in the
world on the eve of New Year whereas in Armenia they shoot up at a
terrific speed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY’S PARTICIPATION IN KARABAKH TALKS UNPROMISING

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s participation in Karabakh talks is
unpromising, a Turkish expert said.

"First, Armenia won’t allow Turkey into the process. Second, the
OSCE MG co-chair powers will hardly renounce monopoly," said Mitat
Celikpala, associate professor of international relations at Turkey’s
TOBB University.

Supporting Azerbaijan in the issue, Turkey can be useful if acts in
concordance with Moscow, according to him.

"Ankara is advocating Azerbaijan’s interests and sets withdrawal
of Armenian troops as a precondition for opening of the border. I
think Turkey will never betray interests of fraternal Azerbaijan,"
prof. Celikpala said, 1news.az reports.

TURKISH RETIRED AMBASSADORS SLAM INTELLECTUALS’ APOLOGY CAMPAIGN

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A group of Turkish diplomats slammed academics,
writers and journalists for their internet campaign of public apology
to Armenians for the Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Some 60 retired diplomats and ambassadors issued Monday a response
saying the campaign is "unfair, wrong and unfavorable for the national
interests."

"Such incorrect and one-sided attempt would mean disrespecting our
history and betraying our people who lost their lives in the violent
attacks of the terror organizations in the final days of the Ottoman
Empire, as well as after, during the formation of the Republic,"
the statement says, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

WB TO ASSIST INITIATIVES OF RA MINISTRY OF DIASPORA AFFAIRS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Minister of Diaspora Affairs Hranush
Hakobian met Tuesday with Aristomene Varoudakis, the head of WB
Office in Yerevan to discuss programs that can be launched jointly,
specifically in the education sector.

Mr. Varoudakis informed of numerous projects to be launched within
next 4 years to improve preschool and school systems.

The officials also referred to organization of TV space bridges and
conferences, reported the press office of the Ministry of Diaspora
Affairs.

TURKISH SOCIETY MORE INDEPENDENT THAN ARMENIAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 16:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The online campaign of apology for the Armenian
Genocide proves that the Turkish society is more independent than
Armenian, according to an expert.

"This petition, which has been already signed by over 5000 people,
showed that Turks go ahead of the formal political line," Alexander
Iskandaryan, director of Caucasus Institute, told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

"Such statements were inconceivable several years ago. Presently,
internal processes in Turkey called forth this move," he said.