Month: September 2013

AL QAEDA-LINKED GUNMEN REPORTEDLY CAPTURE TOWN NEAR TURKISH BORDER

September 19, 2013 – 11:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A Syrian activist group says al Qaeda-linked gunmen
have captured a town near the Turkish border after heavy fighting
with a rebel group.

According to the Associated Press, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights says members of the Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant stormed the town of Azaz, forcing members of the Northern
Storm Brigade to withdraw.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Observatory, said Thursday, Sept
18, that the clashes broke out when ISIL fighters tried to detain a
European doctor they accused of taking pictures of their positions
in the area. The German doctor escaped and is in a safe location,
Abdul-Rahman said.

Abdul-Rahman said three rebels and two jihadis were killed in the
fighting that broke out Wednesday and continued until after midnight.

A surge of clashes in Syria’s oil-producing northeast has killed
dozens of rebels and Kurdish fighters last week.

Syrian Kurdish militants, particularly the armed wing of the Democratic
Union Party (PYD), have repeatedly clashed with opposition fighters led
by al Qaeda-linked units in the region as government forces retreated
over the past year.

The Kurdish PYD’s military wing blamed al Qaeda-linked groups for the
latest violence, saying fighters from the Nusra Front and Islamic
State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attacked a string of Kurdish
villages in Hasaka province.

Heavy artillery and tanks were used, it said.

Estimates of the numbers killed varied. The Britain-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said at least 35 rebels and 13 Kurdish
fighters had died over the last two days.

Rebels accuse their Kurdish opponents of collaborating with Assad’s
forces to secure autonomy – although activists said disputes over
resources and territory were a bigger factor in recent clashes.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS DISCUSSED AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

September 19, 2013 | 15:18

YEREVAN. – Armenian-Turkish relations and the opening of the
border between the two countries is still discussed at the European
Parliament, four years after the signing of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.

This time the European MPs had come to listen to the presentations
by Turkish journalist Cengiz Aktar and Armenian political analyst
Richard Giragosian, RFE/RL Armenian service reports.

Aktar noted that the Azerbaijani factor continues to play a huge role
in Turkey.

“The Azerbaijanis’ position on this matter is clear: Turkey
shall not normalize relations with Armenia unless Armenia gives
Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Turkish journalist stated.

Selim Yenel, Turkey’s Ambassador to the European Union, told RFE/RL
that Armenia needs to take concrete steps in the Karabakh issue.

To the query as to why he is confident that Armenia will stand to
gain from the normalization of relations, Yenel responded: “We all
gain from this. We need positive changes, and we can start from this.”

And to the question as to whether he agrees with the claims that
the Azerbaijani authorities have a great impact on Armenian-Turkish
relations, the Turkish diplomat responded: “We [i.e., Turkey and
Azerbaijan] may be two different countries, but we are one nation. We
cannot disregard Azerbaijan. We see that they were treated unfairly,
and we await Armenia’s steps to correct it.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY MARKED IN ITALY

September 19, 2013 | 11:33

YEREVAN. – On Wednesday evening, the Armenian Embassy in Italy
organized a reception devoted to the 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s
independence.

The event brought together state, political and public figures of
Italy, ambassadors accredited in Rome, and representatives of the
Italian-Armenian community.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, who is on an
official visit to Italy, addressed those present at the reception,
informs the Armenian MFA press service.

“The restoration of Armenian statehood was the age-old dream of
our people. The Armenian nation’s will to have a free and democratic
country, the imperative of ensuring the security of Armenia and Artsakh
[i.e., Nagorno-Karabakh], [and] the achievements in state-building
serve as a source of inspiration for millions of Armenians in the
world.

“The Armenian-Italian relations bear a seal that has two thousand
years of history, whereas diplomatic relations between Armenia and
Italy solely have a 21-year history.

“Over the course of the past two decades, we were able to give
a new quality to bilateral cooperation. There is a solid legal
and contractual framework; thirty agreements are signed. The
Italian-Armenian community contributes to the strengthening of
bilateral friendship.

“What has been done in the last twenty years is our joint
accomplishment, and we are determined to continue the joint efforts
to further strengthen our partnership,” Nalbandian specifically stated.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH’S AIRPLANES WILL BE MECHANICALLY READY FOR FLIGHTS IN 15 DAYS – NEWSPAPER

September 19, 2013 | 07:44

YEREVAN. – “The airplanes, which the NKR [i.e., the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic] has acquired, will be mechanically ready to conduct flights
from [NKR capital city] Stepanakert’s airport in fifteen days.”

NKR General Department of Civil Aviation Head Dmitri Adbashyan told
the aforesaid to Haykakan Zhamanak daily, the latter reports.

“He added that the airport likewise is ready to accept and see
off airplanes for a long time. He noted that, now, the aircraft is
undergoing mechanical maintenance inspection, which is conducted by
the enterprise that manufactured the plane.

“To our reporter’s query as to whether the long-awaited flight can
be conducted in fifteen days, the Civil Aviation head said he is
responsible [solely] for the technical matters,” Haykakan Zhamanak
writes.

From: A. Papazian

DIALOGUE WITH THE EU: CHANCES AND PERSPECTIVES

18:25 19.09.2013

Armine Gevorgyan
Public Radio of Armenia

It’s impossible for Armenia to become a full member of the Customs
Union, David Shahnazaryan, President of the “Concord” Center for
Political and Legal Studies, said at a discussion on “Dialogue with
the EU: Chances and Perspectives.” According to him, in today’s hard
situation we should do our best to continue the cooperation with
the EU.

President of the Union of Political Scientists of Armenia Hmayak
Hovhannisyan considers that Armenia had a brilliant chance to build
individual partnership with the European Union.

Meanwhile, Republican MP Artak Zakaryan says Armenia had no
competitive goods to offer to Europe. “Why do you think there have
been pressures? We would be pressured by the people if we chose a
way that would lead to higher gas prices,” he said.

According to David Shahnazaryan, Armenia will not sign the Agreement on
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area; instead it will sign a document
that will not contradict Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union.

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

17:49 19.09.2013

On 19 September President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan had a meeting with the delegation headed by California
State Assembly speaker John Pèrez. Tehe meeting took place at the NKR
permanent representation in Yerevan, Central Information Department
of the Office of the NKR President reported.

Issues related to expanding and deepening relations between the Artsakh
Republic and the State of California were discussed during the meeting.

The sides noted the obvious positive dynamics of the Artsakh-California
relations, adding that it creates a reliable basis to bring bilateral
cooperation to a qualitatively new level in the future.

NKR foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan, the Republic of Armenia’s consul
general in Los Angeles Sergey Sarkisov, NKR permanent representative to
the USA Robert Avetisyan, County of Los Angeles field deputy sheriff
Tevan Arustamyan, former consular general of the Republic of Armenia
in Los Angeles Grigor Hovhannisyan and other officials partook in
the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEEP PURPLE’S IAN GILLAN IN ARMENIA

18:15 ~U 19.09.13

Deep Purple soloist Ian Gillan is in Armenia to attend the opening
of a renovated musical school in the second largest city of Gyumri.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the musician admitted that his
involvement in the project was very personalized and symbolic.

He said that the band came up with the idea after visiting the town
of Spitak in 1989, (a year after the devastating earthquake which
claimed thousands of lives, leaving lots of people homeless) and
realizing that life would be very difficult without music.

The soloist said it was very exciting for him to see the one-time
forlorn construction having changed new image. He said his central
role in both the band and the Rock Aid Armenia project had made the
renovation project possible. But he also admitted that the Armenians’
too, had their contribution.

Asked what made him choose especially Armenia among the many
disaster-stricken countries around the world, the musician said it
was a personalized initiative that made him spiritually bound to
the country.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT MURADYAN GAINED THE FIRST PLACE IN NONA GAPRINDASHVILI CUP

18:21, 19 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian chess player Robert
Muradyan gained the first place in the tournament Nona Gaprindashvili
Cup which was held in Tbilisi.

“Armenpress” was informed from Armenian chess federation that Armenian
young chess player scored 9 points out of 9 and solely took the 1st
prize at the U8 tournament.

From: A. Papazian

ANOTHER CHURCH IN TURKEY IS EXPOSED TO DANGER

18:11, 19 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The church Kara (in Turkish black)
in Hakkari region of Turkey is in dilapidated state.

“Armenpress” reports about this making a reference on Turkish Ihlas
news agency.

The church which is the biggest one in the region is destroyed day by
day. A local villager Omer Chelik informed that during cold winters
the church is greatly damaged. “As far as we know there were six
churches belonging to Christians in the region. All of them were
connected with this one and were governed by Kara church.

Some people who were looking for treasures greatly damaged the church.

At this moment we want authorities to implement steps for
reconstructing the church in our village,” said Chelik.

Kara church was built during Byzantine era. Although the church is
still standing but it can be totally destroyed in any moment. Yet
Turkish authorities do not implement any step to safe the church
from destruction.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSSED WITH UN REPRESENTATIVE ISSUES RELATING TO HAKOB INJIGHULYAN

18:50, 19 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: On September 19, Mr. Davit Tonoyan,
First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia had a
meeting with Mr. Christoph Bierwirth, UNHCR Representative in Armenia
and discussed prospects of general cooperation in relevant spheres of
mutual interest. “Armenpress” was informed from press service of the
ministry that during the meeting Mr.Tonoyan inter alia touched upon
the situation concerning the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan held in
Azerbaijani captivity.

He referred to a recent press release on an Azerbaijani media outlet
quoting Mr.Shahin Sailov, Secretary of State Commission of Azerbaijan
on POW, Detainees and Missing in Action who said that the Armenian
POW Hakob Injighulyan reportedly made a request to be sent to a 3rd
country. If this information is not yet another propaganda trick
on part of the Azerbaijani authorities, the logical follow-up would
suggest engagement of the UNHCR office in Baku according to its mandate
to proceed with determination of a refugee status for H. Injighulyan.

He also informed that the Armenian side has reiterated its pledge for
several times that Injighulyan will not be subject to any criminal
prosecution thus eliminating any possibility of “well-founded fear of
being persecuted”, especially when no other grounds exist to confirm
this fear based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion, etc.

Emphasizing the above-mentioned facts he called upon UNHCR and
other stake holders to consider these facts in their approach when
addressing such cases. The First Deputy Minister noted that granting
Injighulyan a “refugee status” could be understood as a chance for
him to escape inevitable physical abuse, torture or other tragic
consequences as experienced before in similar cases such as Manvel
Saribekyan’s- a shepherd who was brutally killed while being captive
under Azerbaijani protection.

However, it was emphasized that negative precedents should be avoided
thus the course of action should be considered extremely carefully
given the complex pattern. Mr. Bierwirth took note of the position
expressed by the First Deputy Minister and promised to share it with
his headquarters in Geneva. He emphasized, however, the independence
of UNHCR in conducting mandate status determination procedures and
the purely humanitarian, non-political mandate of UNHCR.

In addition it was stated that Armenia is ready to discuss such cases
on a bilateral level with Azerbaijan without mediation efforts in
existing international or any other frameworks and formats.

Serviceman of NKR Defense Army Hakob Injighulyan at about 03:00 at
night of August 7-8 during his service did not manage to orient in the
territory and crossed the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border and appeared on
the territory protected by the rival’s troops.On the next day he was
taken to Baku. Representatives of Baku office of the International
Committee of the Red Cross managed to hold two meetings with him.

From: Baghdasarian