Month: September 2013

ARAS OZBILIZ: TRIPS OVER CORNER FLAG IN WORST CORNER KICK EVER

Mirror, UK
Sept 11 2013

11 Sep 2013 09:16

Has Armenian Aras Ozbiliz taken the worst corner kick of all time? Our
vote is yes, absolutely yes

Aras Ozbiliz, whose sporting idol is Lionel Messi, has managed to take
what could be the worst corner kick of all time, while representing
his national side Armenia.

The Spartak Moscow winger stepped forward to take a corner against
Denmark in a World Cup qualifying match, only to trip over the
corner flag.

Araz Ozbiliz rushes forward, trips over the flag, kicks the ball and
falls to the ground, not before committing handball.

He then looks up, slightly bemused at what just happened, and the
linesman flags for foul play.

Armenia lost the game 1-0, after Daniel Agger scored a penalty for
Denmark in the 73rd minute.

HEAD OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE VISITS HOMETOWN SILVAN IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Sept 11 2013

DÄ°YARBAKIR – Anadolu Agency

The acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey Aram AteÅ~_yan
has visited his hometown Silvan in the southeastern Diyarbakır
province on Sept. 11, a first since he was delegated the office
following the withdrawal of Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan from his duties
in 2008 due to illness.

AteÅ~_yan expressed his joy at being able to make an official visit
to his homeland, but deplored the destruction of Armenian cultural
legacy in the area.

“I have returned happily to Silvan that I had left with sadness when
I was five years old,” AteÅ~_yan said, adding that he frequently
visited the district where his sister is still living.

“Once upon a time, Turks and Armenians lived together in this land.

Steps are being taken now to ensure that we can live all together
once again. We have come to consolidate love and brotherhood,”
AteÅ~_yan said.

AteÅ~_yan stressed the richness of the historic cultural heritage in
the region.

“There were eight Armenian churches in the Silvan region alone, but
most have now been destroyed. The historical monuments should be taken
under protection and the consciousness of protecting history should
be developed. The historical buildings and monuments in Silvan should
be promoted to the whole world,” he said.

Mass at Surp Giragos Church

AteÅ~_yan also paid a visit to the Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır,
where he conducted a mass attended by Mayor Osman Baydemir and the
famous writer of Armenian origin, Mıgırdıc Margosyan.

The church was restored on Baydemir’s initiative and reopened in 2011.

AteÅ~_yan thanked the city officials and the Armenian community from
Diyarbakır for showing interest in reviving the Armenian traditions.

On Sept. 8, AteÅ~_yan had performed the first baptism in 98 years at
Akdamar Church (Akhtamar in Armenian) on Lake Van.

Turkish authorities restored the church between 2005 and 2007 before
opening it as a museum. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated there for
the first time in 95 years in 2010.

Eastern and southeastern Turkey was inhabited by a large Armenian
community before the mass massacres and deportations in 1915.

September/11/2013

RELIGIOUS CEREMONY HELD AT ARMENIAN CHURCH IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY

Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey
September 10, 2013 Tuesday

A “Church Name” ceremony was held at the Surp Giragos Armenian Church
in Turkey’s southeast Diyarbakir province DIYARBAKIR (AA) – A religious
ceremony was held on Tuesday at the historical Surp Giragos Armenian
Church in Turkey’s southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The religious
ceremony, which is annually held in the name of all Armenian churches,
was held under the title of “Church Name” at the Surp Giragos Armenian
Church which was constructed in 1377. The church was renovated through
the joint efforts of the Foundation for the Surp Giragos Armenian
Church and Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality.

Along with Armenian residents of Turkey, high-level officials from the
Turkish Armenian Patriarchate, Diyarbakir Metropolitan Mayor Osman
Baydemir, US Consul General in Adana James Michael Saxton Ruiz also
attended the ceremony led by Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate official
on inter-religions affairs Sahak Mashalyan. Officials attending the
ceremony prayed and extended wishes of hope and peace for the entire
region and its ethnic and religious diversity.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY INVESTIGATES POSSIBLE ACTIVITY OF ITALIAN COMPANY IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 11 /Trend S. Aghayeva/

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has instructed the country’s embassy
in Italy to investigate the possible activity of a Italian company in
the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, Foreign Ministry’s
spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend on Wednesday.

The Italian company plans to create a cluster of light industrial units
in Nagorno-Karabakh. On September 11 the company’s representatives
will arrive in the city of Khankendi in order to become familiar with
the work conditions, Armenian media outlets reported.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

BAKU SCRUTINIZES REPORTS ON DANISH MPS’ VISIT TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2013

11 September 2013, 14:44 (GMT+05:00)

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry is scrutinizing the reports about
the visit by Danish parliament members and journalists to the
Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan, spokesman Elman Abdullayev
has said.

The delegation was received by Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandyan, Armenian media reported.

The delegation was reportedly headed by Chairwoman of the Committee
on European Affairs of the Danish Parliament, Eva Kjer Hansen.

Earlier, the Armenian media circulated reports saying that the “foreign
minister” of the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Karen Mirzoyan
had hosted a delegation of Danish MPs and journalists.

Abdullayev said that the Azerbaijani embassy in the UK was issued
the necessary instructions, and a relevant decision will be made upon
completion of the scrutiny.

The ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK is also accredited to Denmark.

As soon as the list of persons who have paid the illegal visit is
defined, Baku will state its clear position on the issue, Abdullayev
said.

He said “the list of persona non grata” may be reconsidered in case
any of them admits his or her mistake by making a relevant request
to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Recently, Abdullayev said persons who visit the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan without having agreed upon this with relevant authorities
of the country will be considered persona non grata in the country.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats
over visits to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia,
saying this contradicts international law. The Foreign Ministry
has stated that such visits, paid without prior notification of the
relevant authorities of Azerbaijan, are illegal and damaging to the
settlement process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry released a list of those declared persona
non grata over illegal visits to the Armenian-occupied territories,
which included 335 people.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early
1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed
forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions. The UN Security Council’s four resolutions on Armenian
withdrawal have not been enforced to this day.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE
Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed
by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The
negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

VOLUME OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS ATTRACTED TO AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED TERRITORIES BY ARMENIA MADE PUBLIC – TABLE

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2013

[ 11 September 2013 14:14 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. The Armenian government is benefiting
from the activities of foreign companies to accelerate the settlement
in Nagorno-Karabakh, Public Union on Protection of Historical and
Cultural Monuments in the Occupied Territories told APA.

According to the investigations of the organization, the Armenian
government has involved a number of foreign companies to invest in
Karabakh since 1999. Though, the activities of many of these companies
haven’t been officially registered, interesting results have been
recorded in the activities of officially registered organizations. 24
companies officially operating in Karabakh, including Armenia invest $
35 096 500 in their production facilities in Karabakh every year. At
the expense of it 1325 permanent jobs have been created in Karabakh.

The leaders of foreign companies operating in Karabakh have established
their 6 subsidiaries that are local enterprises there.

They were able to create 400 more permanent jobs by investing $ 2 745
300 in these subsidiaries every year. As a result of this illegal
activity $ 37 841 800 is invested in Karabakh by foreign companies
every years. Foreign companies operating in the occupied territories
are mainly engaged in telecommunications, floor tile production,
construction materials and agricultural products, wood processing
and other types of activities.

Volume of investments in Nagorno-Karabakh and number of jobs created
by the leading companies of foreign countries (1999-2012): See tables
at

AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT: “THE LONGER SARGSYAN REMAINS IN POWER, THE SOONER OUR TERRITORIES WILL BE LIBERATED”

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2013

[ 11 September 2013 11:52 ]

Ilham Aliyev: “The fact that Aghdam has been razed to the ground is
an unprecedented atrocity, this atrocity will not remain unanswered”

Baku – APA. “We will rebuild Aghdam town after it is liberated,
because wild and nasty enemies have completely destroyed this town.

There are photos and footage of present Aghdam. The fact that the
town has been razed to the ground is an unprecedented atrocity. Our
historical monuments, mosques and historical places have been destroyed
and plundered. Who has committed it? Armenians – barbarians have
committed it,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during the
inspection of the new residential area for IPDs in Barda, APA reports.

The Head of State said that this atrocity will not remain unanswered:
“We will restore our territorial integrity, because there are various
factors. First, Azerbaijan is developing while Armenia is going into
recession. It is a reality. Azerbaijan is gradually strengthening,
while Armenia is gradually weakening. Azerbaijan’s economy and military
potential are increasing. Armenia has already admitted that it is not
capable of ensuring its security and the recent events prove it. The
world media also notes that Armenia is taking various steps, as it
fails to ensure its security. But we are living at our own expenses
and ensuring our development and security.

Then come demographic issues. I have underlined this issue repeatedly.

How much has our population increased since the war?! Azerbaijan’s
population is 9.4 million. Armenian population has reduced. Currently,
it is fewer than 2 million. The longer Armenian authorities and their
leader Sargsyan remain in power, the sooner our territories will be
liberated. This person and his entourage have led Armenia to collapse.

The economy has collapsed, people are leaving the country. According
to their official statistics, every year 80 000 Armenians leave the
country once and for all. If it continues so, there will be fewer than
one million people after 5-6 years. Our positions are protected on
the line of contact, soldiers have been deployed there, no forces are
protecting the line of contact from the Armenian side. There are gaps.

This process will gradually accelerate more. Because our power is
increasing, at the same time we are keeping Armenia in isolation
to some extent. This is not full isolation, because their borders
are open with other neighbors. But as the borders of Azerbaijan and
Turkey are closed, this is in some sort a serious economic blow for
them. The situation will and must remain so unless the occupied lands
are liberated.”

FRENCH ARMENIANS PROTEST AGAINST “TURKISH AIRLINES” SPONSORSHIP OF “MARSEILLE” FC

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, September 11 /Trend, A. Taghiyeva/

The Armenian diaspora in the French city of Marseille took protest
against Turkish Airline’s sponsoring of “Olympic Marseille” football
club, Dogan agency reported on Wednesday.

The Coordinating Council of Armenian Association issued a statement
where it criticized the sponsoring of “Olympic Marseille” FC by
“Turkish Airlines”.

The report said that Marseille is the capital of the Armenian diaspora
and sponsoring of its football club by Turkish or Azerbaijani companies
is unacceptable.

HAJI ALLAHSHUKUR PASHAZADEH FEARS NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM MAY TURN INTO INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFLICT

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2013

[ 11 September 2013 19:24 ]

Sheikh: “We are making serious efforts to restore and preserve
completely destroyed or damaged religious places in the occupied
territories”

Baku. Mubariz Aslanov – APA. “We are making strenuous efforts
to prevent Karabakh problem from turning into the inter-religious
conflict,” Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Board (CMB) Sheikh-ul-Islam
Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh said at the meeting with residents of
Gazakh region, Caucasian Muslims Board told APA.

Pashazadeh noted that remaining committed to the spirit of
inter-religious dialogue they are making serious efforts to restore
and preserve completely destroyed or damaged religious places
in the occupied territories: “As Armenia hasoccupied 20 percent
of Azerbaijan’s territories, we fear that this may turn into the
inter-religious conflict and are making efforts to prevent it.”

Sheikh also said that the number of mosques rose from 17 to 2 000
in Azerbaijan within 20 years, Baku Islamic University, madrasas was
opened and believers gained opportunities to visit the holy places of
Islam: “Today, as an example of tolerance, Azerbaijan is in the focus
of attention of not only the region, but also of the entire world,
Baku hosts the most prestigious religious events, symposiums and
conferences. Thanks to the care and aid of the Head of the State Ilham
Aliyev, historical religious temples, sanctuaries are opened after
major overhaul and restoration, tens of new mosques are built. This
attitude is shown not only towards Islam and Muslims, but also towards
other monotheistic religions, irrespective of nationality and religion,
everyone living in our country feels as an equal-right citizen.”

SAFAR ABIYEV CALLS ON THE MINSK GROUP TO RESOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
September 10, 2013 Tuesday

On September 9, Defense Minister Safar Abiyev received James Warlick,
the new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk. According to a press release
from the Defense Ministry, Abiyev noted during the meeting that
the Minsk Group has not made effective initiatives to resolve the
Karabakh conflict.

According to the Minister, “decisive and effective actions” must
be taken to settle the conflict peacefully, and their absence may
complicate the situation in the region.

The U.S. Co-Chair, James Warlick said that he will do his best to
resolve the Karabakh conflict. He intends to work more intensely with
Azerbaijan to solve this issue.

The U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Richard Morningstar, also attended
the meeting. -16D04-