LAVROV FINDS RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN KARABAKH AND KOSOVO
AZG DAILY
18-11-2009
Nagorno Karabakh
"Conflicts addressed by the OSCE such as Nagorno-Karabakh,
Transdniester and Kosovo should be resolved in the previously adopted
format", Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a press
conference after meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Kanat Saudabaev.
"Kazakhstan as the organization’s chairman in 2010 will take a
responsible approach to this problem", he underlined.
ADANA: 1909: HISTORY, MEMORY, AND IDENTITY FROM A HUNDRED YEAR PERSPECTIVE
AZG DAILY
18-11-2009
Armenian Genocide
>From Nov. 6-7, Sabanci University (Istanbul) just hosted an
international workshop entitled "Adana: 1909: History, Memory,
and Identity from a Hundred Year Perspective." The workshop included
scholars from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy,
and Turkey. The event was sponsored by Gomidas Institute (London),
Sabanci University, Istanbul Bilgi University History Department, the
International Hrant Dink Foundation, and Bogazici University History
Department. A capacity audience filled the lecture theatre and included
professors, students, journalists, and members of the public. There
was simultaneous translation between English and Turkish. The papers
that were presented will be published in English and Turkish editions.
In their opening remarks, Cengiz Aktar and Ara Sarafian welcomed
the participants and pointed to new opportunities for holding such
meetings in Turkey today. They explained that the Adana 1909 workshop
was organized to mark the centennial of the Adana massacres. It began
with a call for papers in Turkish, Armenian, and English, and the
presentations at the workshop reflected the different interests of
the participants.
The first paper was an unusual one, as it was a discussion of Turks
who saved Armenians in 1909. The fact that Armenians were massacred
was a given, and the speaker presented a sensitive examination of
righteous Turkish officials who saved potential victims. The speaker
used Ottoman records to show how Ottoman Armenians petitioned the
state to recognize one such Turkish official for his role in saving
an entire community. This first paper took some of the sting out of
the workshop, where the audience could sympathize with the Armenian
victims of 1909 without vilifying "Muslims" or "Turks" as single
categories. Subsequent papers followed with the same sensitivity.
Ara Sarafian (Gomidas Institute) and Zakarya Mildanoglu (independent
researcher) discussed Armenian records related to the events of 1909.
Sarafian introduced Hagop Terzian, who published a powerful report
in 1912, on the 1909 events. Terzian included his own testimony
in Adana city, as well as the testimonies of others in smaller
communities. Sarafian argued that Terzian’s text had a certain popular
force-of-argument that challenged official accounts that tried to play
down the incidents. Sarafian quoted Terzian to stress the devastating
role of the newspaper "Itidal" in agitating and fermenting violence
against Armenians. Zakarya Mildanoglu presented the Adana massacres
through the Armenian periodical press with many illustrations from
different journals. His accounts included satire as a powerful tool to
convey what had happened to Armenians. (Mildanoglu was also responsible
for a separate exhibition of photographs depicting the Adana
massacres. These images and texts were displayed at the workshop.)
The role of American missionaries as witnesses was discussed by Lou
Ann Matossian (Cafesjian Family Foundation) and Barbara Merguerian
(Armenian International Women’s Association), with powerful papers
related to events in the cities of Adana and Tarsus. Tarsus was
also the focus of Oral Calislar, a well-known Turkish journalist who
presented the testimony of Helen Davenport Gibbons in her book Red
Rugs of Tarsus. Calislar, who has published the Turkish translation
of this work, gave a personal reflection regarding his native Tarsus.
(The Gomidas Institute has just published a critical English edition
of the Red Rugs of Tarsus.)
The reality of Armenian losses was stressed by Osman Koker, who
gave a fascinating paper on Armenian communities in Adana province,
illustrated by photographs and postcards. He included images from
Antioch, Alexandretta, Marash, Beylan, Sis, Adana, Tarsus, and
Koz Olouk.
Sait Cetinoglu (Belge Uluslararasi Yayincilik) gave a forceful
presentation on the organization and plunder of Armenian properties in
1909, while Asli Comu (Cambridge University) gave a solid paper based
on land records from the Adana region in the 1920’s. These records gave
new insights into how Armenian properties were broken up and par celled
out to Muslim refugees. The actual number of Armenian casualties during
the massacres was discussed by Fuat Dundar, who raised some questions
about the demographics of the Adana massacres based on his work on
the massacres of Abdul Hamid II and the Armenian Genocide. The fate of
Armenian orphans following the Adana massacres became a major concern
for Armenian community leaders. Nazan Maksudyan gave a moving paper
on the fate of such orphans, especially in "foreign" orphanages. One
key concern was assimilation in government-run orphanages where the
language of instruction was Turkish and not Armenian.
Each session was chaired by a senior scholar and was followed by a
discussion. The workshop thus benefited from the presence of additional
senior scholars, such as Selim Deringil, Caglar Keyder, Mete Tucay,
and Hulya Adak.
The organizers considered the workshop a success, Armenian Weekly
reported.
ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER- MEMBER OF THE ARMENIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY
AZG DAILY
18-11-2009
Local
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has become member of the
Armenian Republican Party.
Spokesman of the party Edward Sharmazanov told Armenpress that the
prime minister applied to pass to the rows of the party and the
administration body of the party gave positive response to it.
Sharmazanov also informed that November 28 the 12th assembly of
the Armenian Republican Party will be called which will elect new
executive body of the political force.
The party is headed by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. It
has 65 mandates in the parliament. National Assembly Speaker Hovik
Abrahamyan is also member of the party, Armenpress reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
VIVACELL-MTS WILL HAVE ITS OWN FIBER-OPTICAL NETWORK IN ARMENIA
AZG DAILY
18-11-2009
Local
VivaCell-MTS and GNC-Alfa CJSC signed an agreement that will allow
VivaCell-MTS building of an own high-speed, fiber-optic backbone
network. Under this contract, VivaCell-MTS will acquire the optical
dark fibers in GNC-Alfa’s Fiber Optic Cable system laid between
Yerevan and Armenian-Iranian border.
The GNC-Alfa’s Fiber Optic Network Cable is interconnected to Iran’s
long-distance fiber-optic network and is providing further access to
the worldwide telecommunications networks. Thanks to the agreement
VivaCell-MTS will have an independent and reliable nationwide network
having international access for voice and high speed data and Internet
services. GNC-Alfa will provide operation and maintenance of the
acquired fibers.
The high-speed, fiber-optic network will provide Armenia with high
digital communications online speeds. Higher education and R&D
institutions may use the system for educational and research purposes.
It has a big potential for increasing international collaboration
and sharing resources, the company’s website reports.
AGBU EUROPE CAMPAIGN FOR KARABAKH
AZG DAILY
18-11-2009
Nagorno Karabakh
The AGBU Europe issued the following statement recently:
"It is time for the EU to support the development in Nagorno –
Karabagh and contacts between Karabagh and Azerbaijan.
AGBU Europe’s new is campaigning to press the European Union to
provide humanitarian and development assistance to Nagorno Karabakh, to
establish confidence building measures between Karabakh and Azerbaijan
and to send observers to help monitor the cease-fire.
Nagorno Karabagh has been effectively independent since it won the
war against Azerbaijan in 1994 but there is a real risk that the
war will resume. Isolated from the world by geography and politics,
the small Republic can count on no one’s help except Armenia’s.
Karabakh is reserved special treatment by the international community.
There are other non-recognized states in the region: Transdniestria,
Abkhazia or South Ossetia. These all benefit from some form of
international peacekeeping; they are involved in some form of
internationally funded projects; and their residents enjoy contacts
with the other countries. Not so Karabakh.
The European Union is not involved in policing the cease-fire, they
fund almost no development or humanitarian project there, and have
not sponsored contacts between the inhabitants of Karabakh and of
Azerbaijan. Far from frowning on Azerbaijan’s policy of boycott of
Armenia and Karabakh, the European Union has largely followed Baku’s
wishes. In fact, Karabakh is the only part of the region, which the
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby,
has not visited.
Most people in the EU would agree that this policy is wrong. But
they are unlikely to act unless we, European citizens, tell them to
change course."
ARMENIAN STATE OFFICIALS TO TAKE SPECIAL COURSES WITHIN SKILLS FOR EU PROJECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan, RA Civil
Service Council Chairman Manvel Badalyan and British Council Armenia
Director Arevik Saribekyan signed Tuesday a memorandum of collaboration
within Skills for EU project frameworks.
Launched in 2009, the three-year project is implemented by British
Council and financed by the UK Government, with RA Government’s
assistance. The project encompasses the ministries, administration,
headquarters and other institutions at the state level that are
involved in the coordination and correspondence with the International
Community, and especially in the context of European integration. The
program focuses on developing communication skills within the
European Union.
Professional consultations, expert courses for state and civil
officials are scheduled.
Two work meetings focusing on Azerbaijan, Georgia and Azerbaijan-
related regional issues will be organized within program frameworks.
Ukraine and Moldavia are expected to participate. Project participants
will twice visit Brussels for further familiarization with structures’
activities.
Upon signing ceremony’s completion RA Economy Minister Nerses
Yeritsyan, RA Civil Service Council Chairman Manvel Badalyan, British
Council Armenia Director Arevik Saribekyan and British Ambassador
to RA Charles Lonsdale delivered speeches, giving high assessment to
project and expressing hope for its effective implementation.
ARMENIA RANKS 125TH OUT OF 180 COUNTRIES BY THE PERCEPTION OF CORRUPTION
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:06 GMT+04:00
Anti-Corruption Center "Transparency International" conducted studies
of corruption perception in 180 countries based on perceptions of
experts and entrepreneurs. Countries were judged through a 10-point
scale, provided that 3 independent organizations in each country made
estimations, Amalia Kostanyan, head of "Transparency International"
office in Armenia told November 17 press conference.
According to her, Armenia ranks 125th among 180 countries, while last
year Armenia ranked 114th.
As executive director of "Transparency International" office in
Armenian Varuzhan Oktanyan said, indicators of Armenia decreased by
0.2 points up 2,7 points in 2009.
The same trend was registered in Azerbaijan and Georgia, but the most
dramatic decrease was registered in Iran. The best indicator – 9.4 was
registered in New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Singapore.
According to Amalia Kostanyan, although in Central Asia in general
rates of perception of corruption have not have grown over the past
few years, Kazakhstan after introducing the Singapore model was able
to pull ahead. He also said, that among Baltic states, Estonia has
the best situation, having 6,6 points.
RESTORATION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH IN LVOV NOT COMPLETED YET
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2009, reconstruction activities in Lvov were
mostly directed at restoring facilities having vital importance for
the town, as we didn’t have enough means because of crisis, said
Lilya Onishchenko, Head of Lvov Municipality’s Historical Monument
Preservation Department.
One of the most important facilities restored this year was the
Armenian church which now has a tower, chime and aisle. Mural painting
on church’s southern part continue, "Komsomolskaya Pravda" in Ukraine
reports. According to Onishchenko, repairs in Armenian church are
over; only certain nuances are left. "But that doesn’t mean the
entire complex is completed. Churchyard and cathedral restoration is
scheduled for next year. Restoration of Golgotha sculptural complex
is a separate issue in the plan. That’s a wooden composition situated
in the churchyard. In May next year, restorers will dismantle the
construction to build a new one. Sculptural composition will be
taken to one of the town’s repairs shops. We didn’t want to move it
from Armenian church as the repair shops of Armenian national museum
are situated there. But they didn’t have enough room to house the
construction," Lilia Onishchenko said.
Restoration is funded by Polish Ministry of Culture.
Church complex lies in historical Lvov, territory formerly settled by
Armenians. The cathedral is the architectural centre of the complex
surrounded by other constructions, with three close yards lying between
them. Cathedral construction began in 1363. One of the most ancient
monuments of Lvov, it was built by architect Doring (Dore, Dorko)
due the donations of Armenian merchants Jacob from Kafa (Theodosia)
and Panos from Haytsarats. Many researchers believe construction was
carried out by Armenian masters since monument shares a lot of common
features with the cathedral of Ani.
As the Soviet rule banned activities of Armenian Catholic Patriarchate,
Armenian cathedral was closed. It first served as a depository of Lvov
Picture Gallery. Later – in 1953 – the depository of Lvov Museum after
V. I. Lenin was housed there. In January 2000, monastery passed under
the control of Armenian Apostolic church, as there were practically
no Catholics in the town at that time. The first liturgy was served
on January 6, 2001, after a long interval.
ARMENTEL ANNOUNCED HI-LINE UNLIMITED
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ArmenTel CJSC has announced introduction of new
Hi-Line Unlimited campaign.
"Connection will be free of charge while modem prices will be more
affordable, depending on the tariff plan," the company’s director
general Igor Klimko told reporters on Tuesday.
"With connection of Hi-Line Unlimited 1024, a modem will be installed
free of charge. With connection of Hi-Line Unlimited 512, modem will
cost AMD 4800. With connection of Hi-Line Unlimited 256, modem will
cost AMD 7200. Our subscribers will experience no inconvenience,"
he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
RA MFA CONDUCTS ARMENIAN LANGUAGE LESSON FOR FOREIGNERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The first Armenian language lesson was conducted
Tuesday in the RA Foreign Ministry for foreigners and ambassadors
accredited to Armenia and their families. In all, 20 persons attended
the lesson.
The course is initiated by Welcome to Armenia association headed by
RA Foreign Minister’s spouse Natalya Nalbandian.