Author: Andres-Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 4 2011

Azerbaijan keeps on protracting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement-President

May 04, 2011 | 17:34

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan goes on following a track of protracting
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement to seize an opportunity for
resumption of military hostilities, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
told reporters following his meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia
Grybauskaite on Wednesday.

`Azerbaijan goes on aggravating the situation in the Karabakh conflict
zone with its provocations,’ he said.

Speaking of cooperation, the Armenian President cited cooperation
between the Baltic states as an example of regional partnership.
However, the president noted that that such cooperation in the South
Caucasus is almost impossible due to Azerbaijan’s non-constructive
stance, which brings new dividing lines in the region by its conduct.

Serzh Sargsyan made a high appraisal of official Vilnius’s stance on
Karabakh conflict resolution. Meanwhile, the Armenian leader stressed
the dominant role of the OSCE Minsk Group in the Karabakh peace
process. Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the aspiration of the OSCE Minsk
Group and the Russian Federation to contribute to the settlement of
the conflict, adding Azerbaijan’s will is also needed to achieve
success.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
May 4 2011

New remarks over Hrant Dink’s assassination trial

Turkish `CnnTurk’ writes that Ankara’s prosecutor’s office applied to
the Turkish Government in 2010 with a request to interrogate the
officials of Turkish national intelligence service (MÄ°T) having any
connection to Hrant Dink’s assassination. The first application
submitted was declined, but later on January 21, 2011 Turkish Prime
Minister empowered the interrogation. On the command of president Gul,
State House of Control has been engaged into the process. On April 25
the chairman of the House of Control and its officials met with Dink’s
family members.

Dink stated in his `Why have I been targeted?’ story, written just a
week before his assassination, that on February 4, 2004 he was called
to Istanbul Province administration and in the presence of the
Assistant Governor he was warned by two, the one of which was a woman.
The warnings came after Dink’s story, which said Sabiha Gokcen was an
Armenian orphan, whose Armenian name was Hatun Sebiljiyan. Later, it
was turned out those were MÄ°T officials, one of them ` Ozel Yilmaz was
a suspect of `Ergenekon’.

Sabiha Gokcen was Kemal Ataturk’s nurse child. She was the first
Turkish pilot and world female military pilot. She was among world 20
pilots and the first female pilot to be granted a title.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 4 2011

Mother of killed Armenian soldier fainted seeing murderer

May 04, 2011 | 12:19

Family of killed Armenian soldier Sevak Sahin Balrkci was taken to the
military unit where the tragic incident occurred.

Sevak’s mother met with Kvanc Agaoglu, the man who killed her son. She
only asked why he had done it, fainted and was taken out of the room.
`What can I say?’ Kvanc said.

Kvanc was first released but was later arrested by military court. In
his testimony Kvanc said he was on good terms with Sevak. `On that day
we were joking all the time. Barrel was directed to the sky. When I
bent over there was a shot. First I did not notice that Sevak was
affected I thought he is joking,’ he said.

One of witnesses Fazla Keskin told that hearing the shot Sevak said:
`What have you done? Kvanc, help me.’

25-year-old Sevak graduated from Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul
Technical University. He served in the military unit of the
gendarmerie in Kozluk district of Batman province. He would have
discharged from the army in 23 days. Gendarmerie stated he was killed
from gunshot wounds, while playing with a gun with his friend on April
24 However, Sevak’s parents do not believe in it and demand a thorough
investigation of his death.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 4 2011

Armenia is full-fledged member of European family-Armenian Speaker

May 04, 2011 | 11:55

Armenia has always proved its commitment to universal, democratic
values ??and cooperation with European agencies, Speaker of the
Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan stated at the inaugural meeting
of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels.

Abrahamyan stressed that Armenia has always been a supporter of
improving relations with its neighbors and establishing close regional
cooperation. He noted that it will strengthen the development of
democracy in the region, improve living standards, stability and
security.

According to the Armenian speaker, religious, historical, cultural and
linguistic identity of Armenia enables to consider it as a full
fledged member of the European family. In this regard, Abrahamyan
considered it important relaxation of the visa regime for Armenian
citizens to the EU. He also stressed that Armenia has made significant
progress in implementing the conditions of association membership in
the EU.

Abrahamyan also stated that Euronest is a new arena for improvement of
regional cooperation and enhancement of relations between the EU and
member states. The Armenian speaker also stressed the need for
integration of Belarus into the organization.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 4 2011

Armenian MP elected deputy chairman of Euronest

May 04, 2011 | 12:44

YEREVAN. – Head of the Armenian delegation, leader of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Vahan Hovhannisyan is elected deputy chairman of
Euronest.

MP from Ukraine Boris Tarasyuk from Eastern Partnership project and
Kristian Vigenin from European Parliament were elected Co-Chairmen of
the organization.

The Euronest is the parliamentary component of the Eastern Partnership
project. It consists of 60 members of the European Parliament and 10
MPs from Eastern Partnership member states – Ukraine, Armenia,
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova.

From: A. Papazian

Metro Canada (Vancouver)
May 4 2011

Turkey to conserve Armenian cathedral, church Share .Email.more

Published: May 04, 2011 7:27 a.m.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey has launched a project to conserve an
ancient Armenian cathedral and a church in what is seen as a gesture
of reconciliation toward neighbouring Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia have been locked in a bitter dispute for decades
over the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in the last years of the
Ottoman Empire, and efforts to normalize relations have been dealt a
setback by the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan is a close Muslim ally of
Turkey’s government in Ankara.

Turkey, however, says it is committed to improving ties with Armenia,
and has already restored the 10th century Akdamar church, perched on a
rocky island in Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It has also allowed
once-yearly worship at the site as a gesture to Armenia and its own
ethnic Armenian minority.

Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay said Tuesday the new project was being
launched in partnership with the World Monuments Fund to conserve the
remains of the cathedral and the Church of the Holy Savior in Ani, 25
miles (40 kilometres) from the eastern city of Kars.

Ani was one of the world’s great cities in the 10th century, according
to the New-York based fund. Today it stands abandoned, and the
remnants of its celebrated buildings are in a precarious state. The
site, in an earthquake-prone area, has been listed on the World
Monuments Watch, beginning in 1996.

“Ani, which is of global significance, presents particularly
complicated challenges,” Gunay said. “We hope that giving new life to
the remains of once-splendid buildings, such as the Ani Cathedral and
church, will bring new economic opportunities to the region.”

Gunay did not say whether Turkey would also allow prayers at Ani once
the restoration is complete.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks
around the time of World War I, which they call the first genocide of
the 20th century. Turkey disputes this, saying the death toll has been
inflated and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 4 2011

Armenian Speaker invites Iraqi counterpart to Yerevan

May 04, 2011 | 15:02

YEREVAN. Armenia’s Ambassador to Iraq Murad Muradyan met with Speaker
of Iraqi parliament Osama al-Nujaifi. The sides discussed development
of inter-parliamentary ties at the meeting. The Armenian diplomat
conveyed the Iraqi Speaker Armenian Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s
invitation to visit Yerevan. He stressed that an inter-parliamentary
friendship group was set up at the Armenian parliament and expressed
hope Iraq’s parliament will follow the example.

The Armenian Ambassador also met with Iraqi Education Minister Ali
Al-Adeeb. The officials discussed bilateral cooperation issues in the
sphere of education. Muradyan stressed that Iraqi students may receive
high education in Armenia, the press service of Armenian Foreign
Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Later Muradyan met with representatives of the Armenian community in
Baghdad. He touched upon issues on Armenia’s foreign policy,
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, Karabakh conflict settlement and
Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
May 4 2011

G. Melikyan: Turkey should refrain from anti-Armenian diplomacy

`I’m sure that in the forthcoming years many countries, refraining
from various biased factors, will recognize the Armenian Genocide
saying `no’ to that monstrous crime. The time will come and Turkey
under the pressure of its society will recognize Armenian Genocide.
Turkey should refrain from its anti-Armenian diplomacy and make its
`potential’ contribute to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations,’ Armenian MP Gagik Melikyan told Panorama.am.

Armenian MP says the behavior of the states, which giving preferences
to some geopolitical and military-economic factors don’t express their
official disposition over the Armenian Genocide is not reasonable.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 4 2011

Armenia, Japan intend to strengthen cooperation

May 04, 2011 | 14:19

YEREVAN. Relations between Armenia and Japan have been developing
dynamically within the recent years, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian stated at the meeting with Japanese Vice-Minister of
Foreign Affairs Hisashi Tokunaga in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Nalbandian expressed condolences to thousands of deaths following a
devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the press service of
Armenian Foreign Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. In his turn,
Hisashi Tokunaga thanked Armenia for sympathy and assistance to the
earthquake-hit country.

`The Japanese authorities make a high appraisal of friendly relations
with Armenia and seek for further cooperation,’ the official stressed.

The Armenian FM expressed content with implementation of agreements
reached during his visit to Japan two years ago.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
May 4 2011

Lepsius House – Armenian Genocide Memorial in Germany

In the German city of Potsdam Johannes Lepsius house-museum has been
opened on May 2. Johannes Lepsius was a publicist and a great friend
of Armenia.

According to Turkish `Hurriyet’ German State Minister on cultural
affairs said during the opening ceremony of the museum: `In 1916
Lepsius, under the conditions of threat and censorship, prepared a
report in this house about how hard Armenians of Turkey were living.
He told the international community that under the veil of the First
World War, Armenians were massacred in the Ottoman Turkey.’ The German
official expressed hope that the symbol of the House would contribute
to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties.

From: A. Papazian