ARMENIA-ARGENTINA FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEE SET UP IN PARLIAMENT OF ARGENTINA
news.am, Armenia
Oct 11 2011
YEREVAN. – Armenia-Argentina Friendship Committee of 9 MPs was set
up in Argentinean Parliament on October 6.
The aim of the committee is cooperation between the Parliaments of the
two nations in fostering economic, cultural, scientific and technical
ties, exchange of legal documents, Armenian MFA press service informs
Armenian News-NEWS.am.
From: A. Papazian
MATTHEW BRYZA CONDEMNS AZERBAIJAN FOR HOLDING OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS JAILED
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 10 2011
USA has already expressed its position and has called on the
Azerbaijani authorities to respect the constitutional right of its
people on freedom of expression and organization of rallies, ~STuran~T
news agency quotes US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza as saying.
The US Ambassador has said that those rights are defined by
Azerbaijan~Rs commitment before the international organizations.
The US diplomat has stressed that Azerbaijan was urged to find
impartial solutions for the claims of those who were jailed on April
2 rally.
From: A. Papazian
IRISH PRESS PRAISES ARMENIAN CHIEF FOOTBALL COACH
Tert.am
20:40 ~U 11.10.11
Irish press has showered the chief coach of Armenian national football
team Vardan Minasyan with praise, ahead of the Armenia-Ireland match,
comparing him to Ireland’s chief coach Giovanni Trapattoni.
“This young coach, nice and sympathetic in all senses, is earning
only 50,000 euros per year,” writes The Irish Independent, calling
on the readers to compare his salary to that of Trapattoni.
Another Irish newspaper, The Irish Examiner, wrote that Armenia’s
win over Slovakia if first of all the victory of the chief coach.
“Minasyan stands out with the extremely much attention he pays to
details for which only Josef Guardiola and Jose Mourinio can boast
about.
The Irish media has instead been a little doubtful about Trapattoni.
“The confidence with which Trapattoni has been standing out, seems
to have disappeared,” wrote The Irish Independent. “Now he reminds
of a person whose destiny hangs on a hair. That is the reality.”
From: A. Papazian
EGYPT MINISTER HAZEM EL-BEBLAWI QUITS OVER COPTIC RALLY
Tert.am
19:25 ~U 11.10.11
Egypt’s Finance Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, who was appointed by the
ruling military council after popular protests earlier this year,
has resigned, officials and media say.
According to the BBC News, Beblawi, who was also deputy PM, quit over
the government’s handling of a Christian Coptic protest on Sunday,
they said.
It ended in clashes between the army and protesters in which 25 were
killed.The ruling military council has ordered a swift inquiry into
the violence.
“Despite the fact that there might not be direct responsibility on
the government’s part, responsibility lies, ultimately, with the
government,” state news agency Mena quoted Beblawi as saying.
“The current circumstances are very difficult and require a new and
different way of thinking and working,” he said.
His resignation came as members of the Coptic Christian community
began a three-day fast to mourn those killed.
The ruling military council, which was handed the power to govern by
President Hosni Mubarak before he was ousted in the popular revolt,
is in temporary charge of the country while elections are organised.
The Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s 85 million population,
have a number of grievances against the interim administration.
They say the authorities have been slow to punish radical Islamists
who have attacked their churches.
Sunday’s protest was sparked by the burning down of a church in the
southern Aswan province last month.
About 2,000 people gathered in Cairo for an initially peaceful rally
to protest against its destruction. But fighting soon broke out,
involving protesters, residents and troops.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIA TO PERFORM 4TH AT JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Sona Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
11.10.2011 18:25
This year Armenia will perform 4th at the Junior Eurovision Song
Contest. The show will be opened by the Russian participant, and the
show’s last performance will be from Belgium.
According to the head of the Armenian delegation Gohar Gasparyan,
the show will be organized in cooperation with the heads of delegation
represented at Junior Eurovision 2011.
The tickets will be sold starting from October 15. The price will
start from 1 000 AMD. The contest will be held at the Sport and
Concert Complex after Karen Demirchyan December 2-3.
General organizer of the Eurovision Sietsse Bakker says Armenia is
ready to host the event in accordance with European standards.
The winner will again be chosen by 50/50 vote by the professional
jury and the tele-voters. The voting will start after all participants
perform.
Dalila will represent Armenia with the song “Welcome to Armenia.”
From: A. Papazian
ERDOGAN ACCUSES SARKOZY OF MAKING “ELECTION INVESTMENT”
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 11, 2011 – 17:07 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s Prime Minister on Tuesday, October 11,
urged “honesty” in politics and slammed French President Nicolas
Sarkozy’s call for Ankara to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Today’s Zaman reports that speaking in Turkish parliament, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Sarkozy for “using different
languages when he spoke in Turkey, France and Armenia.”
“This is not political leadership. Politics, first of all, requires
honesty,” said Erdogan.
When in Yerevan last week, Sarkozy urged Ankara to recognize, within a
“very brief” period, the 1915 Armenian Genocide at the hands of the
Ottoman Empire. “From 1915 to 2011, it seems to be enough (time)
for reflection,” Sarkozy said.
Erdogan accused the French leader of making “election investment,”
linked to French presidential elections next year. “There are 600,000
Armenians in your country but also 500,000 Turks. You have relations
with Turkey,” he threatened.
“Bearing the title of statesman requires thinking about next
generations, not next elections,” Erdogan said.
From: A. Papazian
GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TO INCREASE TAX COLLECTION IN 2012 BY 101 BILLION DRAMS NOT TO BECOME BURDEN FOR BUSINESSES
ARKA
Oct 11, 2011
YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. The government’s plans to increase tax
collection in 2012 by 101 billion drams will not become so heavy
burden for businesses, given that a set of conditions is met, Arsen
Ghazaryan, chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
(Employers) of Armenia, said Monday at a news conference.
The 2012 draft budget calls for increase of tax revenues by 101
billion drams.
“We don’t find AMD 101 billion too heavy burden, if taxation is
apportioned among areas evenly, if shadow dealing is lessened and
if the number of entrepreneurs enjoying tax preferences contracts,”
Ghazaryan said.
He finds it very important to carry out transition to tough tax
administration measures gradually to give time to the market, including
taxpayers, for adapting to them.
Ghazaryan also warned the State Revenue Committee officers against
harming small and mid-scale businesses while working in the new tax
collection regime.
Asked how much enterprises and businessmen are involved in shadow
dealing, he said that shadow economy is quite large in some sectors,
but refrained from indicating them.
Ghazaryan said that those players dominating the market are in
advantageous competitive positions here in a clear breach of the
rules of equal competition.
“I can’t say their number is large, but I agree that there is still
plenty to do and that it is necessary to root out oligopolies,”
he said.
The union chairman said that in recent three years the State Revenue
Committee has managed to enlarge tax collection a great deal, and new
economic entities have appeared in the list of the largest taxpayers.
“Profit tax inflow is increasingly intensifying,” he said.
Ghazaryan said that it is a serious task to enlarge tax collection
to AMD 101 billion, but business community and the government should
reach this goal by joint efforts.
“The country should improve the ratio of taxes to GDP to show the
international community that supports us what results our reforms
produce to give it grounds for further support,” he said.
According to ARKA News Agency’s data based on the official statistical
report stating that GDP totaled AMD 1.4 trillion in Jan-June 2011
and the government budget tax revenue amounted to AMD 305 billion,
taxes made up 21.1% of GDP at the mentioned period of time.
On September 29, the government approved the 2012 draft budget,
in which revenue is projected at AMD 910 billion, spending at AMD
1042.5 billion and deficit at 132.5 billion.
In the 2012 draft budget, revenue is planned to be enlarged by 6.8%
from the AMD 852.4 billion projected for 2011. Budget spending was
enlarged by AMD 41.5 billion, compared with the 2011 government
budget. ($1 = AMD 375.1).
From: A. Papazian
ONNO SIMONS: THE ISSUE ON THE OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER WILL GET A SOLUTION BY 2015
ARMENPRESS
12:19, 11 October, 2011
The issue on the opening of Armenian-Turkish border will get a solution
by 2015, First Counsellor of the EU Delegation in Armenia Onno Simons
said today at the “Through a Big Border: Prospects of Regional
Development Outside of Closed Borders” round table-discussion. He
said the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is of regional
significance and it will find solution till the 100th anniversary of
Armenian Genocide.
At the same time the representative of the EU Delegation stressed the
parliamentary and presidential elections that will take place in the
two states by 2015.
“We understand that the process of ratification of Armenian-Turkish
protocols is frozen but I believe that the both parties – Armenia
and Turkey understand what tremendous changes may bring the efforts
directed toward their ratification and what huge significance it may
have for the future”, Simons said.
From: A. Papazian
FRANCE/TURQUIE : COOPéRATION CONTRE LES KURDES
Collectif VAN
11-10-2011
Tandis que Nicolas Sarkozy courtisait les Arméniens lors de sa visite
d’Etat a Erevan, il dépêchait dans le même temps son ministre de
l’Intérieur, Claude Guéant, a Ankara, pour assurer le gouvernement
turc de son soutien dans sa lutte contre les Kurdes. Ainsi, ”
la Turquie et la France vont mettre en place des mécanismes pour
combattre ensemble le terrorisme, le crime organisé et le trafic
de drogue dans le cadre d’un accord bilatéral important qui est
le premier du genre pour la Turquie ”. ” Nous allons identifier
les menaces communes a nos deux pays. Et nous agirons ensemble
contre elles. Cela nécessitera sÔrement des opérations conjointes
également ”, a déclaré Claude Guéant. Dans la ligne de mire, les
membres du PKK (Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan) : les subtilités
de la politique internationale font que les Libyens qui luttent contre
l’oppression sont qualifiés de ” résistants ”, ” combattants ”,
” insurgés ”, mais que les Kurdes, opprimés violemment en Turquie,
sont qualifiés de ” terroristes ”.
Rappelons que depuis le début de l’année environ 42 Kurdes ont
été arrêtés en France. En Turquie, plus de 2500 Kurdes, dont
cinq parlementaires, sont actuellement emprisonnés, accusés de ”
liens ” avec la rébellion. Qui se soucie d’eux ? Le Collectif VAN
vous livre la traduction d’un article en anglais paru le 6 octobre
2011 sur le site du quotidien turc Hurriyet.
Légende photo : Le ministre francais de l’Intérieur, Guéant (a
droite), serre la main du ministre de l’Union européenne, BagıÅ~_,
a Ankara. Photo DAILY NEWS, Selahattin SONMEZ
La Turquie et la France lutteront ensemble contre le terrorisme
Jeudi 6 octobre 2011 Serkan DemirtaÅ~_ ANKARA – Hurriyet Daily News
La Turquie et la France vont mettre en place des mécanismes pour
combattre ensemble la terreur, le crime organisé et le trafic de
drogue dans le cadre d’un accord bilatéral important qui sera signé
aujourd’hui et qui est le premier du genre pour la Turquie.
“Cet accord a deux dimensions tant opérationnelle que technique” a
déclaré hier a Ankara, le ministre francais de l’Intérieur Claude
Guéant, qui est venu en Turquie pour des discussions officielles.
“Nous allons identifier les menaces communes a nos deux pays. Et
nous agirons ensemble contre elles. Cela nécessitera sÔrement des
opérations conjointes également.”
Guéant a rencontré le ministre de l’Union européenne Egemen
BagıÅ~_ et l’adjoint du Premier ministre BeÅ~_ir Atalay et il
discutera avec le ministre turc de l’Intérieur Ä°dris Naim Å~^ahin
aujourd’hui lorsque l’accord sera signé. Guéant sera aussi recu
par le président Abdullah Gul vendredi (7 octobre).
Les responsables gouvernementaux turcs critiquent depuis longtemps
leurs alliés européens qui ignorent toute coopération avec la
Turquie contre le terrorisme, et ils ont même ciblé certains pays
affirmant qu’ils soutenaient financièrement et politiquement le
Parti illégal des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).
L’accord avec la France se concentrera sur un approfondissement de la
coopération dans la lutte contre le terrorisme, le crime organisé,
le trafic de drogue et d’êtres humains et l’immigration illégale
entre les deux pays. Il sera aussi substantiel que possible et
comprendra également l’instauration de mécanismes, ont indiqué
les responsables.
Le PKK a une forte présence en France, où il collecte de l’argent
pour financer les actions terroristes de l’organisation. Paris a mené
plusieurs opérations pour réprimer la présence du PKK dans le pays
et a arrêté des membres importants du PKK, mais n’a pas réussi a
les extrader en Turquie pour des raisons juridiques.
Guéant a dit que malgré un renforcement de la coopération avec la
Turquie sur ces questions, l’extradition des membres du PKK relevaient
des tribunaux francais. “Nous, en tant que membres de l’exécutif,
ne pouvons interférer dans les processus judiciaires” a-t-il dit.
Guéant a été le bras droit du président francais Nicolas Sarkozy
quand il était a l’Elysée (secrétaire général du président de
la République francaise), a dit BagıÅ~_, ajoutant que le ministre
de l’Intérieur était bien conscient de la susceptibilité de la
Turquie sur ces sujets.
©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 11 octobre
2011 – 07:00 –
Retour a la rubrique
Source/Lien : Hurriyet Daily News
From: A. Papazian
SAN DIEGO ARMENIANS RAISE $200,000 AT MEMORABLE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE GALA
ArmeniaDiaspora.com
Oct 10 2011
SAN DIEGO, CA – Elegance, glamour and excitement filled The Grand Del
Mar Resort in San Diego at the Bridge to the Future Gala on Saturday,
October 1, 2011. Over 300 guests attended this unforgettable event that
raised an impressive $200,000 for a new church campus in San Diego.
The gala was chaired by Kathy Kassardjian and organized by the Trust
Fund Committee of St. John Garabed Armenian Church, led by Rev. Fr.
Datev A.K. Tatoulian.
The event featured His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate
of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America,
as the Guest of Honor, and Mark Geragos, Esq. as the Guest Speaker.
Distinguished dignitaries and officials were His Eminence Archbishop
Vatche Hovsepian, former Primate of the Western Diocese; The Honorable
Hranush Hacobyan, Minister of the Diaspora for the Republic of Armenia;
The Honorable Grigor Hovhannissian, Consul General of the Republic
of Armenia in Los Angeles; The Honorable Brian Bilbray, U.S.
House of Representatives (California’s 50th District) and his daughter,
Brianna; Mel Millstein, representative for City Councilwoman Sherri
Lightner; The Honorable Joe Kellejian, Deputy Mayor of the City of
Solana Beach; and Fr. Nerses Hayrapetyan.
The evening began with guests treated to complimentary champagne,
delicious appetizers donated by Ani’s Best Gourmet Delights, and
beautiful silent auction offerings. While enjoying the reception,
guests took in a warm San Diego evening on the lovely patio. Inside
the elegantly appointed ballroom, Steven Kradjian opened the evening
by welcoming guests and dignitaries: “We are here – each of us – to
do our part as God may use us, to embrace our children in love and
enthusiasm for an Armenian Church and community center unlike any our
region has seen, for the future of all Armenian families in San Diego.”
The event’s program included the singing of the American and Armenian
national anthems by acclaimed soloist Anahit Nersesian, accompanied
by Alex Mirolyan; opening remarks and prayer by Archpriest Datev
Tatoulian; an official welcome by Gala Chair Kathy Kassardjian;
the presentation of a Congressional proclamation by Rep. Bilbray;
a boisterous live auction; and an impassioned message by Minister
Hacobyan.
Kassardjian shared, “On behalf of tonight’s organizing committee,
I would like to welcome you to the Bridge to the Future’s Gala Dinner
and Dance celebration. Tonight’s event would not be possible without
the dedication of my co-chair, Ani Lanuza, and a very hard-working
committee. We have a God-centered vision. It’s a vision to bring us
all together and build a new church campus. God is the foundation of
our project but you, my dear guests, are the cornerstone.”
Guest Speaker Mark Geragos stated, “I am flabbergasted that there
are this many Armenians in San Diego and impressed by the magnitude
of this event. We are here to raise money for a new church campus,
and I am happy to do what I can to help you reach that goal.” After
his speech, Geragos circulated the room encouraging guests to donate
generously and sign pledge cards.
The Guest of Honor, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, greeted the packed
room of supporters with a heartfelt message:
“Tonight, we are celebrating the living mission of the Armenian
Apostolic Church. We are launching a new milestone in the life of the
Armenian community of San Diego with the implementation of a larger
church complex to better serve the community. You have embarked on a
challenging journey. Throughout this journey, your Christian faith
will be your source of spiritual energy and inspiration in guiding
you to complete this glorious task. You will secure the sanctity and
be enlightened by the mighty and glorious presence of our Church,”
said Archbishop Derderian.
The funds raised at the gala support the First Phase of the Bridge
to the Future campaign, whose goal is to raise a total of $2 million
for consulting, planning and permit expenses as well as final land
acquisition. Since the purchase of 14 acres of land by the Trust Fund
in 2008, more than $600,000 (including the proceeds from the October
1 event) has been raised in donations and pledges for the First Phase.
The property is located at 13860 El Camino Real in San Diego.
To make an online donation, please go to
To make a cash donation, establish a bequest, donate a vehicle,
contribute securities or real estate, transfer ownership of an
insurance policy, or create an endowment, please contact Gary
Takessian, Trust Committee Fundraising Chair, [email protected]
e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript
enabled to view it or (858) 569-6527.
All contributions are tax-deductible. For information about the Trust
Fund Committee, new church campus, fundraising events, and giving
opportunities, please write [email protected] e-mail address
is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view
it or visit
Contact: Beth Broussalian, [email protected] e-mail address
is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view
it , ph (858) 792-4656 or Lisa Kirazian, [email protected] e-mail
address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled
to view it , ph (858) 344-3357
From: A. Papazian