Author: Andres-Papazian

Der Spiegel, Germany
May 5 2011

Controversial Kars Monument Could Come to Berlin

urkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently called the “Statue
of Humanity,” a monument to Turkish-Armenian relations in Kars, a
“monstrosity.” It has now been dismantled. But Berlin restaurant owner
Adnan Oral wants to bring it to the German capital and re-erect it. He
told SPIEGEL why.

What to do with a sculpture that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan thinks is a “monstrosity?” The statue in question is the
35-meter (115-foot) tall “Statue of Humanity” which, until recently,
loomed over the southeastern Turkish city of Kars. Artist Mehmet Aksoy
created the work as a monument to peace between Turks and Armenians.

But on a visit to Kars in January, Erdogan criticized the monument and
lamented its location not far from the tomb of an Islamic scholar. The
local municipality, led by Erdogan’s party, took him at his word and
began dismantling the statue in late April. The statue stood as a
reminder to the World War I mass murder of Armenians at the hands of
the Ottoman Empire, Turkey’s predecessor.

Artist Aksoy, comparing the destruction of his artwork to the 2001
destruction of two giant Buddha statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan,
vowed to re-construct the statue. But where? Adnan Oral, a restaurant
owner in Berlin, thinks he has a solution. Why not rebuild the statue
in the heart of Berlin? SPIEGEL spoke with Oral about his plan.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Oral, you want to bring the “Statue of Humanity,” a
monument to Turkish-Armenian friendship by Turkish artist Mehmet
Aksoy, to Berlin. Why?

Oral: The work is being dismantled because Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan does not like it. I find it intolerable that a work of art is
being torn down at the whim of a head of government and without any
legitimate basis. That has not happened in recent years in Europe.

SPIEGEL: How do you imagine transporting the statue? It is 35 meters
tall and weighs 300 tons.

Oral: Ach, when you compare this problem to the fate of the Armenian
people, it is not so difficult.

SPIEGEL: Have you already found a location for the memorial?

Oral: At first I will store it privately, and then I will ask those
responsible if they can offer me a worthy location. After all, the
Germans were also partially responsible for the 1915 genocide of the
Armenians at the hands of the Turks.

SPIEGEL: How so?

Oral: At that time, German officers were advisers to the sultan in
Constantinople, and the German Reich had a great stake in Turkey’s
stability. Berlin did not do anything to prevent the murder of the
Armenians.

SPIEGEL: How will you finance your memorial project?

Oral: Privately and through official sources. I will somehow manage it.

SPIEGEL: Many find the work downright hideous. Have you already seen it?

Oral: No, not in person. Art need not appeal to everyone. It must be
provocative.

Interview conducted by Joachim Kronsbein

,1518,760384,00.html

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Table Tennis Players to Partake in World Championship

21:37, 5 May, 2011

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS: Table tennis players of Armenia have
finished their preparation for the World Table Tennis Championship,
which will be held May 8-15 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

An official from the RA Table Tennis Federation told Armenpress that 3
Armenian sportsmen – Murad Asatryan, Mesrop Ghukasyan and Harutyun
Harutyunyan – will partake in the Men’s Tournament.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
May 5 2011

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President arrives in Armenia on May 9

On May 9-11 Armenia will host the President of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA)
Petros Efthymiou, National Assembly press service informs.

The OSCE PA President will have meetings with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, parliamentary factions, NA
delegation to OSCE PA, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Mr.
Efthymiou will be also accompanied to Armenian Genocide Memorial of
Tsitsernakaberd.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
May 5 2011

Yerevan and Gyumri host film by Film by Luc Besson

Armenian cities of Yerevan and Gyumri will host three exclusive shows
by Luc Besson’s `The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec’
film. French Embassy to Armenia told Panorama.am that Jacky
Nercessian, starring actor in the film, will be present in the shows.

The movie will be available in Cinema `Moscow’, Yerevan, on May 6 at
3p.m. and 5p.m. – French version for the French speaking public.
Cinema `October’ in Gyumri will host the film on May 7 at 3p.m.’
The entrance is free of charge.

From: A. Papazian

19 Individuals Awarded `For Courage’ Medal in Artsakh

18:53, 5 May, 2011

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS: In connection with the Victory Day, the
Day of the NKR Defense Army and the 19th anniversary of the Liberation
of Shushi, President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed May
5 several decrees.

An official from the central information department of the office of
Artsakh Republic president told Armenpress that 19 individuals, 5 of
them posthumously, were awarded with the Medal “For Courage” for
personal bravery shown during the defense of the homeland.

For successful performance of combat missions, raising combat
readiness of the forces as well as courage shown while defending state
borders, 460 individuals, 26 of them posthumously, were awarded with
the Medal “For Service in Battle”.

For personal bravery shown during the battles for the liberation of
Shushi 26 individuals, one of them posthumously, were awarded with the
Medal “For Liberation of Shushi”.

On the same day the president signed decrees on handing over valuable gifts.

From: A. Papazian

VestnikKavkaza.net
May 5 2011

Armenian seismology registers 8 earthquakes in one week

Armenian seismologists registered 8 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3
or more points between April 28 and May 4, News Armenia reports.

A 4-point earthquake was registered 36 km south-west of Khoi in Iran
on April 28, followed by a 3-4-point earthquake 30 km west of Khoi the
next day.

A 3-point earthquake happened 12 km south-west of Bulanik in Turkey on
April 30. Another earthquake equivalent to 3-4 points was registered
there on May 4.

An earthquake equivalent to 5-6 points occurred 53 km south-east of
Bitlis in Turkey on April 30.

An earthquake equivalent to 3-4 points was registered 33 km north-west
of the Iranian city of Merend the next day, another one 22 km north of
Dmanisi in Georgia on May 4.

An earthquake was registered 7 km north-east of Ashotsk on the
Armenian-Georgian border on May 3. It was equivalent to 3 points.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
May 5 2011

S. Hasratyan: It’s surprising that Azerbaijani snipers are busy with propaganda

`The subdivisions of NKR Defense Army are professional and we’re not
intended to substitute them or to add new ones. I think the
Azerbaijani could feel on their own how professional our snipers are,’
NKR DA spokesman Senor Hasratyan told Panorama.am referring to
Azerbaijani rumors that Karabakh extends the number of its snipers.

To the remark that an Azerbaijani `professional’ sniper has posted
open letter on a website warning the Armenian side not to fire against
the peaceful civilians, S. Hasratyan said: `To speak honestly, it’s
quite surprising that except Sabiroglu, Azerbaijani snipers deal with
the issue. Everybody is busy with propaganda in Azerbaijan.’

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 5 2011

Genocide survivors to get additional aid from Armenian government

May 05, 2011 | 14:23

YEREVAN. – The Armenian government decided on Thursday to pay a
monthly assistance to survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

According to the decision, the Armenians who were born before 1915 in
Western Armenia, or elsewhere in the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian
Genocide survivors, will receive a monthly assistance of 25,000 AMD
(less than $ 70).
Assistance will be paid together with a pension as a supplement.

From: A. Papazian

Hurriyet, Turkey
May 5 2011

Armenia’s Metzsamor nuke plant awaits IAEA inspection

Thursday, May 5, 2011
YEREVAN – EurasiaNet

This file photo shows the Haygagan Atomagayan nuclear plant in
Metzsamor, Armenia. Hürriyet photo.

Officials in Armenia have long downplayed the potential threats posed
by the aging Metzsamor nuclear power plant, not far from the capital
city of Yerevan. At the same time, the facility has been repeatedly
ranked as one of the world’s most dangerous nuclear power stations.

To reassure a jittery international community in the wake of Japan’s
nuclear troubles, the Armenian government has invited International
Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to subject the Metzsamor plant to a
`stress test,’ EurasiaNet.org reported.

The 12-person IAEA team is due to be in Armenia from May 15 to June 1.
The 35-year-old Metzsamor plant, which supplies about 40 percent of
the country’s energy needs, has long been a target for criticism. The
plant is supposed to be shut down after the construction of a new
facility in 2016, but, with five years still to go to decommissioning,
there is mounting pressure to ensure that no mishaps occur during this
twilight phase of operations.

The IAEA tests will attempt to determine how the nuclear plant would
respond to an earthquake or a tornado, said State Nuclear Safety
Regulatory Committee Chairman Ashot Martirosian. Eager to downplay
possible doomsday scenarios, Martirosian underlined that the visit is
`standard practice.’

`Independent experts are being invited to give their expert opinion,’
he said. `After this, we will draw conclusions and introduce changes,
if necessary.’

Other international experts will review procedures – ranging from
accident management to possible power failure. Metzsamor management
will submit the findings to the State Nuclear Safety Regulatory
Committee by late September, Martirosian said.

In 1988, Metzsamor was shut down in the wake of the 6.9-magnitude
earthquake at Spitak. Even so, many Armenian nuclear-safety
specialists argue that the station is safer than Japan’s stricken
Fukushima facility. Martirosian said that, unlike Fukushima,
Metzsamor’s `two-loop steam cycle’ could enable generators to release
steam into the air under high temperatures without also releasing
radioactive materials.

Some environmentalists, however, think such confidence is misplaced.

`The attitude toward nuclear power stations has changed across the
world,’ said Karine Danielian, a former minister of environmental
protection who now heads the nongovernmental organization For
Sustainable Human Development. `Even if Japan, one of the most
progressive countries, is at risk, how can one consider our own
nuclear power station to be `safe’?’

Some of Armenia’s neighbors have asked the same question, though the
identity of the country asking the question appears to follow
diplomatic fault lines. Strategic allies Turkey and Azerbaijan,
neither of which have diplomatic ties with Armenia, have called for
Metzsamor to be shut down. The plant is located 16 kilometers from
Armenia’s border with Turkey. Georgia and Iran, however, have not yet
issued such a statement.

Responding to international criticism, Armenian Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Armen Movsisian told Panorama.am that `We must not
take all these statements seriously.’

`We are open; anybody can come and see our nuclear power station. If
any problem occurred, the international agency [IAEA] would be the
first to ban its operation,’ Movsisian said.

One environmental activist believes the concern about Metzsamor’s
continuing operations are justified.

`How can we talk about security if the nuclear plant is constructed in
a seismic zone, and is located in a densely populated settlement,
instead of being 200 kilometers away [the distance between Fukushima
and Tokyo] from residential areas?’ asked Hakob Sanasarian, chairman
of the Greens Union of Armenia. `It is constructed near an
agricultural complex, a huge artesian reservoir, near highways and the
airport.’

State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee Chair Martirosian dismissed
Sanasarian’s objections as groundless and `for show.’

`These declarations are not based on studies,’ he said.

Citing studies dating back to the Soviet era, Danielian, a former
environmental protection minister, also expressed misgivings.

`As an environmentalist, I understand the existing hazards, and as a
citizen, I realize we have no alternative option to the nuclear
plant,’ Danielian said. `[W]e just have to hope that the international
review will give us an opportunity to exploit the nuclear power
station safely.’

From: A. Papazian

NBC Philadelphia
May 5 2011

Missing Radnor Woman Found: Police

Armenian woman left behind her passport, handbag and two small
children, police say.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 | Updated 3:57 PM EDT
By Teresa Masterson

advertisement A Radnor Township woman who was reported missing by her
husband early Wednesday morning is home safe and sounds, police say.

David Davtyan, of the 200 block of Ivan Avenue in Radnor, called
police at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday telling them that he had a fight with
his 31-year-old wife, Tamara Stepanyan, seven hours earlier and she
was missing.

Stepanyan left behind her Armenian passport, her handbag and the
couple’s two small children, police say.

Where Stepanyan was and how she got home is yet unknown.

From: A. Papazian