Author: Andres-Papazian

‘TURKISH-RUSSIA RAPPROCHEMENT TO CONTRIBUTE TO KARABAKH PROCESS’

news.az
Gun.Az
Aug 18, 2011
Azerbaijan

Resolution of the Karabakh conflict can help to eradicate terrorism
in North Caucasus and encourage investments in the region.

The remarks came from Mahmut Kocak, head of the Center for Political
Alternatives Research of Turkey and former MP, while commenting on
news that Turkish President Abdullah Gul will discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in Russia.

The Abdullah Gul is to visit Russia to participate in Global Political
Forum to be held in Yaroslavl on 7-8 September.

“Turkey makes efforts to settle the Karabakh issue and Ankara seeks
to make it clear for the world community that the conflict resolution
will inevitably cause positive changes in the region. Well-known
political experts also admit that Turkey and Russia hold the key to
the conflict resolution,” the analyst added.

“Russian politicians must admit that non-resolution of the conflict
creates tension in the region and encourages the spread of terrorism
ideas and hinders development in the region. This factor endangers
national interests of Russia. Development of Turkey-Russia ties may
have a positive influence on resolution of the Karabakh conflict,”
Kocak noted.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH SCHOOLGIRL REFUSES TO ACCEPT AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES’ INVITATION DUE TO THREATS FROM AZERBAIJAN

news.am
Aug 18, 2011
Armenia

STEPANAKERT. – After Karabakh schoolgirl Adeline Avakimyan received
an answer from Baku to the letter she addressed to the President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, journalists of independent newspaper Nor
Edge decided to find out how much the answer satisfied her.

“You cannot call that an answer because an employee of Azernaijani
presidential administration named Aslanov did not give an outright
answer to any of my questions, although his letter was twenty times
longer than mine,” said Adeline.

“I wrote that President Aliyev always speaks about Karabakh and war
as if he has nothing else to think of and no other problems or goals
actually trouble him. I asked, why he always thinks of invading our
country. Why do they need Karabakh, which is not theirs? Isn’t he
satisfied with his own lands? I also wrote that if he starts a new
war the whole Armenian nation will rise to defend our land but he,
his children, relatives and friends will hardly go fighting – they
will send ordinary Azerbaijani youth.

I asked the President why he always buys guns when he could have used
that money to build an easy and happy life for your people. Isn’t it
better than sending people to war? If I knew I will get this kind
of reply I would never write that letter. Instead of answering my
questions, they turned to telling fairy tales. They think I don’t
know the history of my country and try to fool me. What I badly
dislike is that they referred to me as Azerbaijani citizen and called
Stepanakert Xankandi. As if they, the strangers, are to deice how to
call my hometown,” she said.

Asked about the invitation to visit Azerbaijan, Adeline said she
cannot accept the invitation.

“How can they invite me to Azerbaijan when in response to my letter
Azerbaijani filled Internet with threats to destroy all the Armenians,
began to call me and my compatriots with all sorts of dirty words.

They think that I don’t know how they killed and expelled thousands
of Armenians living in Azerbaijan. I got convinced how aloof they are
to me. I don’t believe them. Instead I would offer them to come and
see that there are Armenian alphabet letters carved on the stones of
Gandzasar, Amaras and other ancient temples of Artsakh,” said Adeline.

On August 8, a schoolgirl from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic
Adenile Avakimyan sent a letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev.

“Mr. President,

Every time I watch TV, I read or listen to the stories of elders I
get surprised: all the time you speak about Karabakh and war as if
you have nothing else to think of. It seems you do not have any other
problems or goals and no other issue actually troubles you.

I never saw an Azerbaijani. I do not think about you, about your
country and neither do my parents. I do not really understand what you
want from our country. I know that you have never been to Artsakh,
you have never seen our Gandzasar, Dadivank, Amaras but you always
think about capturing our country. Why can’t you be satisfied with
your own lands? Why do you want Karabakh? Grandpa told me that before
the war, even 50 or 100 years ago, when Azerbaijanis still lived here,
they did not bury their deceased here, they took them to Azerbaijan,
because people knew that this is not their motherland. That is why
we have so few Azerbaijani cemeteries,” reads her letter.

From: A. Papazian

TURKS SUDDENLY RECALLED HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT FORGET ABOUT RIGHTS OF ARMENIANS – RUSSIAN MP

news.am
Aug 18, 2011
Armenia

Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), vice-speaker
of the State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky is confident that situation
in Syria and Turkey’s bellicose attitude can provoke a new conflict.

Escalation of situation in Syria, Turkey’s attention and active role
suggest further provoking of the third world war, he said.

“Turkey says it does not want to interfere in Syria’s affairs but at
the same time ‘does not accept Syrian government’s operation against
peaceful population’,” Zhirinovsky stressed.

Russian MP believes Turkey is trying to force Syrians to change
foreign and domestic policy, Rosbalt agency reported.

“Turks suddenly recalled human rights but, for some reason, are
forgetting about rights of the Armenians who they slaughtered in
1915 or the Kurds suppressed for almost 50 years. It is awful,”
he emphasized.

He called on the Russian authorities to protect borders of the
country. Russia should prevent future aggression, potential threat
coming from Turkey in the Middle East, in particular against Syria.

“Iran may also interfere siding with Syria. The war will be close to
Caucasian borders, that is Russia’s borders. Russian army should be
ready for a negative scenario in the Caucasian front,” he concluded.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
3111 Los Feliz Avenue, #206,
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Contact person: Dr. Frieda Jordan
Tel: 323-663-3609
Email: [email protected]

At ABMDR Gala, Armenian community celebrates life-saving mission

Annual event underscores health outreach to Armenians worldwide

Los Angeles, August 18, 2011 – The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor
Registry (ABMDR) held its annual banquet, Match for Life 2011, on the

evening of Sunday, July 31. The jubilant community event, which was
attended by more than 400 supporters, took place at the Glendale
Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Glendale, California.

Match for Life 2011 was an occasion for celebrating ABMDR’s many
achievements during the past year and reaffirming worldwide support
of its life-saving mission.

As the registry continues to expand its work by recruiting potential
bone marrow stem cell donors, facilitating bone marrow transplants,
and conducting immunogenetics research, it receives vital support
from community benefactors as well as local healthcare organizations.

Among these organizations are Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center, a lifetime supporter of ABMDR; and Glendale Adventist Medical

Center, the main corporate sponsor of this year’s Gala.

In her opening remarks, Salpi Mankerian of ABMDR graciously
acknowledged the presence of dignitaries, community leaders, and
artists. They included Armenian Consul General Grigor Hovhannisyan,
Glendale Mayor Laura Friedman, Glendale City councilmember Ara
Najarian, former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian of the Prelacy, Diocesan representative Archpriest
Hovsep Hagopian, Rev. Joseph Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, Father Krikor Chahinian of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, and popular singer Armenchik.

The evening’s program kicked off with a video message from U.S.
Representative Adam Schiff, a longtime supporter. After commending
the registry for its continued accomplishments, Schiff addressed the
Board and volunteers of the organization and said, `Your unwavering

dedication is a testament to the abiding mission of ABMDR.’

Following the invocation by Archbishop Mardirossian, welcoming
remarks were delivered by Master of Ceremonies and ABMDR Board Chair
Mark Geragos. After thanking the attendees for their continued
support, Geragos acknowledged the sponsors of the event, including
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and
Health Center, Dr. Boris Baghdasarian, and Dr. Nubar Boghossian of
the Los Angeles Cancer Network, among others.

Geragos next introduced a short video announcement featuring Serj
Tankian, lead singer and songwriter of the acclaimed rock band System

of a Down. The video, which met with waves of applause, showed
Tankian appealing to Armenians to join the registry as potential stem

cell donors. Commenting on the effect of the video, Dr. Frieda
Jordan, president of ABMDR, later commented, `Serj Tankian’s
impassioned appeal is certain to rally our youth around the
registry’s cause. It will help strengthen the growing involvement of

the new generation in our activities.’ The 30-second announcement
can be accessed through the ABMDR website (abmdr.am) and will soon be

posted on YouTube and elsewhere.

Equally heartening were the remarks of cancer survivors Alique
Topalian and Aleen Mankerian. Topalian, who was diagnosed with
leukemia when she was 4 and inspired the establishment of ABMDR,
reiterated her faith in the registry as an organization that brings
hope to thousands struck by life-threatening blood-related diseases.

On her part, Aleen Mankerian said, `ABMDR is one of the most
important aspects of my life.’ As significantly, she added, `The
registry gives me a chance to connect with my Armenian heritage.’

Afterward guests were treated to the extraordinary artistry of the
evening’s musical performers: Victor Espinola, Armen Movsessian, and

Alexander Zhiroff of the renowned world-music ensemble The Forbidden
Saints. Their energetic performances, featuring renditions of
Armenian and world-music classics, punctuated the remainder of the
Gala’s program.

A highly anticipated highlight of the event came when Dr. Frieda
Jordan took the podium.

After conveying her profound gratitude to Board members, volunteers
such as Fimi Mekhitarian and Naz Atikian, sponsors, the evening’s
honorees, and the registry’s Yerevan staff for continuing to make
ABMDR a worldwide success, Dr. Jordan thanked the organization’s
lifetime supporters, including Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center, Ralph Yirikian and VivaCell, the Foundation Laboratory, Dr.
Carolann and George Najarian, and Sidon Travel, among others.

As she spoke of ABMDR’s achievements in the past year, Dr. Jordan
emphasized outreach and educational programs which were facilitated
by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
Dr. Jordan thanked both archbishops for their exemplary leadership,
and added that ABMDR’s most recent Walkathon has made such a positive

impact that the Armenian community of Fresno has invited the registry

to hold its first-ever walk event in Fresno, on October 15, 2011, a
week prior to the Los Angeles Walkathon.

Subsequently Dr. Jordan invited this year’s honorees to the stage.
The Woman of the Year Award was bestowed on longtime Board member and

Outreach Officer Vergine Madelian, PhD; George Titizian, a major
supporter and a member of the registry’s Board of Directors, received

the Man of the Year Award; the Volunteer of the Year awards were
conferred on Ani Azar, Dr. Evelyn Baghdasraian, and Sophik Zargarian;

and the Business of the Year Award was given to 4over, Inc.

Before each individual was invited to the stage and accepted his or
her award, the guests were shown a video message by the respective
honoree. `Our task might be daunting sometimes, but it’s the most

rewarding cause I’ve ever been involved in,’ Dr. Madelian said in
her
message. `It’s an honor to serve this organization.’

On his turn, George Titizian said that since losing his wife to a
bone marrow disorder in 2008, it has been a privilege to keep her
spirit alive by supporting the work of ABMDR.

The bestowment of awards was followed by the announcement of lottery-
prize winners. As in previous years, the ABMDR lottery as well as the

silent auction, which was held throughout the evening in the foyer of

the ballroom, will benefit the registry’s ongoing activities and
projects.

About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date
the registry has recruited over 20,000 donors in 13 countries across
three continents, identified 2,023 patients, found 1,700 potential
matches, and facilitated 13 bone marrow transplants.

From: A. Papazian

ANY KARABAKH TALKS ‘BETTER THAN NONE’

news.az
Aug 17, 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Andrei Areshev, an expert at Russia’s Strategic
Culture Foundation.

How do you assess the prospects for a resolution of the Karabakh
conflict after Russia’s recent mediation efforts seemed to yield no
significant results?

After the relatively unsuccessful summit in Kazan, Russia has continued
its diplomatic activity. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
visited Yerevan and Baku, while the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia visited Moscow. Given the absence of reports about the results
of these first post-Kazan talks at the level of foreign ministers,
no progress was achieved and the presidents needed to be involved to
discuss the resolution of the conflict at the highest level, but in
the format of individual bilateral meetings with the Russian president.

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia met recently, mainly to
discuss Karabakh. How do you assess the results of this meeting,
considering the information in the media?

The presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan did meet and clearly managed to
clarify some points from the Kazan meeting and about the Azerbaijani
position on a settlement. It was said officially that the dialogue
was constructive and lasted quite a long time.

Some observers started to say right after the Kazan meeting that
Russia would not give up its mediation efforts and would organize
one more trilateral meeting to achieve a breakthrough.

But this optimism does not seem too well grounded to me. However,
the fact that negotiations and consultations are continuing is already
positive, because in the Nagorno-Karabakh situation, any talks, even
endless ones, are better than none. The Russian president made it
clear in his recent interview before 8 August, the third anniversary
of the tragic August events [Russo-Georgian war], the consequences
of which are well-known.

Parallels are often drawn between the events in Georgia and the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. What are the main differences
between these situations?

In my opinion, parallels, of course, can be drawn, but only to
a certain extent. Of course, every situation – in South Ossetia,
Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh – has its own specifics. I think the
similarity of these situations is that the events of 08/08/08 began
to develop according to a scenario that was obviously not the one
intended by those who started this reckless scheme or pushed it in
one way or another.

There is more and more evidence that it was Georgia and Georgian
politicians who held high office at that time who initiated this. We
are free to read all their statements on various news websites.

It seems to me that in the event of renewed hostilities in Karabakh,
events may evolve in an equally unexpected fashion and not in
accordance with any planned scenario. It seems this is the main lesson
to be learned from these events.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN’S DEFENCE MINISTRY TALKS TOUGH ON KARABAKH

news.az
Aug 17, 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has dismissed claims from breakaway Karabakh that it would
lose if hostilities were to be resumed over the territory.

“They make similar statements now and again, while they understand that
the situation is totally different. They are seeking to calm internal
anxiety with such senseless and absurd statements,” Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu told an APA correspondent.

Serious shortcomings in Armenia itself and the military units in
the occupied lands have caused great public anxiety and the Armenian
government and military leadership are also concerned, Sabiroglu said.

“If you look at news sources in Armenia, you can see the proof of
my words there. They are very anxious. They fear the development
of the Azerbaijani army and the new weapons it has obtained. They
have lost their peace of mind at the annual growth in Azerbaijan’s
military expenditure, ordered by Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham
Aliyev. This is the reason behind their senseless statements. Not only
we, but also other states and influential international organizations
acknowledge this.”

His remarks come after unrecognized Karabakh’s defence minister, Movses
Hakobyan, told a press conference on 12 August that the Azerbaijani
army would suffer another defeat if it attempted to end the conflict
by force.

“In my view, if Azerbaijan thinks that it can solve the Artsakh
[Karabakh] problem by military means, the resumption of hostilities
will be possible,” Radio Liberty’s Armenian Service reported Hakobyan
as saying.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry spokesman countered that a recent
report by a UK think-tank showed that the Azerbaijani army was ahead
of the Armenian armed forces in all parameters. “Given the battle
capability of the personnel, in the event of a new war Azerbaijan’s
victory over Armenia in a short period of time is inevitable,”
Sabiroglu said.

Movses Hakobyan said last week that the Karabakh army’s potential
had increased 20% since the introduction of a reform program in 2010.

“The program will be continuous and we will not allow the Azerbaijani
army to leave us behind in the issue of arms,” Hakobyan said, according
to International Public Radio of Armenia.

He said that the Karabakh armed forces had acquired significant amounts
of new weapons this year and would continue the military buildup in
the months to come.

“During this period, the qualitative and quantitative state of our
weapons and military hardware changed quite a lot,” Hakobyan told
the news conference. “Quite serious reforms were carried out with
the restructuring of two army brigades.

“We re-armed one artillery regiment with new systems. The anti-tank
and air-defence means of a dozen battalions were enhanced. And this
year we will receive more tanks – two more divisions – and some of
the weaponry of the army’s air-defence system will be replaced.”

Hakobyan, who commanded some Karabakh Armenian units during the
1991-1994 war with Azerbaijan, gave no other details of the buildup,
Radio Liberty’s Armenian Service commented.

Armenia, whose armed forces are closely connected with the Karabakh
military, is likely to be the main source of the arms acquisitions
reported by him.

Claims and counter-claims of a victory in a renewed war for Karabakh
are made by both sides from time to time.

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenia made
claims on the Azerbaijani territory. Armenian armed forces later
occupied a swathe of Azerbaijani territory in a bitter war, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Despite
a ceasefire in 1994, no long-term peace agreement has been reached.

The nub of the conflict remains unresolved – the competing claims of
territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
see for the Armenians of Karabakh.

From: A. Papazian

NUMBER OF TOURISTS WHO VISITED ARMENIA IN JUNE-JULY GREW BY 15%

Mediamax
Aug 17, 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The flow of tourists who visited Armenia in
June-July of 2011, grew by 15 % against the same period of 2010,
having made about 266 000.

Mekhak Apresyan, Head of Tourism and Territorial Economic Development
Department of Armenian Ministry of Economy, said this today, Mediamax
reports.

He added that according to the preliminary forecast, the growth of
tourist flow in 2011 against 2010 will make 20%.

According to the Head of Department, Armenia is more attractive for
tourists from Russia, Georgia, U.S., Iran and European countries.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIA SACKS THEATRE LEGEND FOR ‘XENOPHOBIA’

Agence France Presse
Aug 17, 2011

TBILISI – Georgia’s culture minister controversially sacked its best
known theatre director Robert Sturua as head of the national theatre
for “xenophobic” comments he made earlier this year, officials said
Wednesday.

Culture Minister Nika Rurua ordered that “Robert Sturua be relieved
from his post as artistic director of the Shota Rustaveli National
Theatre” according to a ministerial decree that Sturua posted on his
Facebook page.

Sturua is known as an outspoken critic of Georgia’s pro-Western
President Mikheil Saakashvili and his dismissal prompted many to claim
that the director was being punished for his anti-government views.

But Rurua said he was forced to fire the director after he made
“xenophobic” statements.

“We are not going to finance xenophobia. Georgia is a multicultural
country,” Rurua said in a televised comment.

Provoking public outrage, Sturua said in a May 20 interview with local
Sakinformi news agency that “Saakashvili doesn’t know what Georgian
people need because he is Armenian.”

“I do not want Georgia to be governed by a representative of a
different ethnicity,” he said.

Both Saakashvili’s parents are Georgians.

Strura was not available for further comment on Wednesday to explain
the circumstances of his departure.

“I am having a feast, sleeping, eating fruits. I am freed, I am
free,” Sturua wrote on his Facebook wall, as fans and friends posted
expressions of sympathy.

Sturua, 73, won international acclaim for his original interpretation
of plays by Brecht, Shakespeare and Chekhov, as well as Georgian
classics.

He is one of the best known of all theatre directors from the
ex-Soviet Union in the West, where his stunningly visual productions
have astonished audiences.

His 1992 version of “Hamlet” at London’s Riverside Studios starring
Alan Rickman has long been part of theatrical legend.

The construction of the Rustaveli Theatre’s Baroque and Renaissance
building was funded by Armenian philanthropist Alexander Mantashev
in 1901. It is the largest and most famous stage in the country with
rich theatrical traditions.

From: A. Papazian

REGIONAL FORCES MUST SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT THEMSELVES – RUSSIAN EXPERT

news.am
Aug 17 2011
Armenia

BAKU. – Problem of Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the most complicated
issues in the South Caucasus as positions of the conflicting parties
are not getting closer on the official level. Peace process has
reached deadlock, Russian political expert Viktor Chernous told day.az.

Asked whether Moscow can solve the problem alone, the expert said
Russia like other regional powers such as Iran and Turkey is not
interested in the military conflict which can grow into a large scale
war in any moment. Russia can be a guarantor of agreement, provide
resources but not to impose a solution. U.S. and the EU can assist
the process. Viktor Chernous considers the conflict must be solved
by regional countries, without U.S. interference.

From: A. Papazian

CHURCH WITH ARMENIAN INSCRIPTIONS DISCOVERED IN TURKEY (VIDEO)

news.am
Aug 17, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Armenian expedition discovered a church with Armenian
inscriptions in Turkey during research in the territory of Western
Armenia (present day Turkey).

“We, jointly with expert in Turkish studies Anush Hovhanisyan, studied
territory of Hamshen, Dersim, traditional musical instruments, songs,
dances, folklore, fairy tales, proverbs,” ethnography expert Hranush
Kharatyan told journalists on Wednesday.

The Armenian musicians also gave there concerts within the framework of
festivals organized in Dersim province of Turkey. The local residents
said “their culture have disappeared since Armenians left these lands”.

The expedition was funded by authorities of France’s Rhone-Alpes
region and was supported by Turkish “Anadolu Kultur” organization.

From: A. Papazian