Author: Andres-Papazian

TURKS WOULD DISMANTLE THE MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN-TURKISH FRIENDSHIP EVEN IF IT WAS MICHELANGELO’S SCULPTURE
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
02.05.2011 18:20

“The hand of friendship withdrawn as Turkey and Armenia squabble,”
the British “Independent” writes in an article dedicated to the
dismantling to the monument to Armenian Turkish friendship in Kars.

“A monument built to celebrate friendship between Turkey and Armenia
is being dismantled, in a gesture that shows how much an attempted
rapprochement between the two nations has stalled,” the British
paper writes.

According to architect Levon Tokmajyan, the monument was of no
cultural value, but Turks would have behaved the same way even if
it was Michelangelo’s sculpture, since it is the requirement of
contemporary Turkish politics.

The statue, in the eastern Turkish city of Kars, depicts two figures
emerging from a single mass, signifying common ground between nations
with a bitter and difficult history, and was commissioned in 2006 to
commemorate cautiously improving ties between them.

From: A. Papazian

DUBIEN: RUSSIA TO DOMINATE FRANCE, U.S. IN KARABAKH PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 15:52 AMT

The Director of the Institute of International and Strategic Relations
(IRIS), Editor-in-Chief of Eurasia Intelligence Report, expert for
Russia and post-Soviet countries Arnaud Dubien said that Russia
will have greater influence than France and the U.S. in the Karabakh
conflict settlement.

“Russia tries to carry out a parallel process. There is the OSCE
Minsk Group’s format and there are separate negotiations led by
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with his Armenian and Azerbaijani
counterparts Sargsyan and Aliyev. Anyway, it does not mean that Russia
can solve all the matters itself and, in my opinion, Russia conceives
it,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

DUBIEN: RUMORS ABOUT FRANCE’S SUBSTITUTION IN OSCE MG ARE SPECULATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 16:00 AMT

The Director of the Institute of International and Strategic Relations
(IRIS), Editor-in-Chief of Eurasia Intelligence Report, expert for
Russia and post-Soviet countries Arnaud Dubien said that many people
in Europe are concerned over arms race in South Caucasus, but leverages
are limited.

Answering a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question, Dubien said:
“Everyone witnesses increase in military budgets of the three
countries of the region. But, on the other hand, what can one do –
declare an embargo? It is not an easy matter. We can persuade that
the arms race leads to a deadlock, that the money could be used for
the countries development in other fields. And when we bring these
arguments, in reply we hear statements that the conflicts are not
solved and it is necessary to be ready for any developments. Many
people are concerned over the situation, but leverages are limited,
since these are sovereign states.”

Commenting on statements about replacement of France as an OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chair country, Dubien noted that similar rumors are
circulated from time to time. “In my opinion, it is unlikely. Nobody
in France would agree to give its place. The rumors about France’s
substitution in the OSCE Minsk Group are speculations,” he concluded.

From: A. Papazian

MESKHETIAN TURKS EXPECT TO RETURN TO GEORGIA FROM 2012

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 16:17 AMT

One of leaders of Samshoblo (Motherland) society of Meskhetian Turks
Shamsaddin Sarvarov said that the process of repatriation of Meskhetian
Turks to Georgia may start early in 2012.

According to Sarvarov, the term for fulfillment of the commitment
undertaken by Tbilisi before the Council of Europe concerning the
repatriation of Meskhetian Turks to Georgia will expire this year, but
it will be prolonged. “A special commission continues working on the
matter. Another meeting will be held soon. Hopefully, we will return
to our historical lands,” Georgian media quoted Sarvarov as saying.

Meskhetian Turks want to return to Samtskhe-Javakheti, from where
they were allegedly deported during the World War II. The Georgian
government, which promised not to inhabit the Armenian-populated region
by Meskhetians, in reality, provides privileges to the immigrants.

A PanARMENIAN.Net reporter found out that Javakheti Armenians will
protest against the return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakheti, while
Kvemo Kartli region, which is basically populated by Azerbaijanis,
will be “recommended” to them as a place of permanent residence.

From: A. Papazian

ISRAEL COMMEMORATES HOLOCAUST VICTIMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 16:29 AMT

Israelis across the nation paused in memory of the six million Jews
killed during the Holocaust, as a siren sounded throughout Israel on
Monday, May 2.

The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Fragments of Memory: The
Faces Behind the Documents, Artifacts and Photographs.” The central
ceremony commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day is to take place at
the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Israel’s observance
of Holocaust Remembrance Day lasts until Monday sundown.

Ahead of this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yad Vashem announced
it was launching a nationwide effort to collect documents, diaries,
photographs, artwork and other items from the time of the Holocaust
in the possession of individuals, so that they can be documented and
preserved for future generations.

The Holocaust authority is also launching a virtual memorial wall on
Facebook, which will allow visitors to post the names of those who
perished in the Holocaust, haaretz.com reported.

From: A. Papazian

BRYAN FALL: DISASTER THAT WOULD FOLLOW FROM NEW WAR IN KARABAKH OBVIOUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 16:33 AMT

UK is concerned over the increases number of victims on contact line
as a result of escalation of tensions, according to UK’s Special
Representative for the South Caucasus.

As Sir Bryan Fall noted in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter, “The disaster that would follow from the new fighting is so
obvious. Efforts should be doubled on both sides to find a solution.”

From: A. Papazian

BRYAN FALL GIVES HIGH ASSESSMENT TO ARMENIA-EU ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 17:11 AMT

EU’s relations with each of three countries in South Caucasus will
be individual; there will be no ~Suniform- one size fits all~T. The
Eastern Partnership is not there to please foreigners; it should
be really be good for Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, according to
UK~Rs Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Sir Bryan Fall gave
high assessment to Armenia-EU Association Agreement talks. However, he
noted, Armenia has to face similarly important stages of negotiations
in future.

From: A. Papazian

TIGRAN GHARAMIAN WINS GOLD AT LILLE-HOSTED CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 17:36 AMT

Armenian grandmaster Tigran Gharamian won gold at Lille-hosted open
chess championship. The grandmaster gained 7 points out of 9 possible.

Grandmasters Oleg Korneev (Russia), Nikita Maiorov (Belarus) and an
international master Yannick Gozzoli (France) scored equal number
of points, yet fell behind Gharamian in cumulative tie-break points,
armchess.am reported.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR, ILIA II DISCUSS AAC LEGAL STATUS IN GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 18:34 AMT

On April 29, Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan met
with the Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

The Primate of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan and advisor to Georgian President on
minority issues Van Baiburt also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, the parties discussed relations between the Armenian
Apostolic (AAC) and Georgian Orthodox churches, as well as AAC legal
status in Georgia, Armenian Foreign Ministry press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

DNA TEST CONFIRMS BIN LADEN’S DEATH

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 19:28 AMT

Osama bin Laden, the world’s most-wanted man and the elusive
mastermind behind the devastating Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks,
was slain in his luxury hideout in Pakistan in a firefight with U.S.
forces, President Barack Obama said Sunday.

DNA evidence has proven that Osama bin Laden is dead, with 99.9 per
cent confidence, according to U.S. Administration officials.

Bin Laden’s death at a compound in Pakistan ended a manhunt that
spanned a frustrating decade, and jubilant crowds gathered outside
the White House and at ground zero in New York, where the twin towers
were brought down by bin Laden’s hijackers 10 years ago.

From: A. Papazian