Author: Andres-Papazian

MONUMENT SPECIALISTS WITNESSED ANNIHILATION OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN TURKEY

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: The other day in the neighborhood of
Aghtamar Island, Van, an expedition group of monument specialists
witnessed several scenes of puling down and ruining Armenian
cross-stones and temples, head of the expedition group Samvel
Karapetyan said today at a meeting with journalists. “After several
years there will not be even remain from Armenian monuments. The
horrible scenes we witnessed were its evidence,” Mr. Karapetyan said.

According to him, the expedition group (16 members) visited Saint
Tovma, Shakhura temples, walked around in Divabuyn and Inkyoy villages
and other regions, which used to be Armenian settlements. What the
expedition group saw in Shakhura and temple of Divabuyn, according to
Mr. Karapetyan, deeply shocked them. “A group of half Kurd-half Turk
people who were in dusty clothes and equipped with spades presented
themselves as guards. There were small bits of cross-stones everywhere,
and an enormous gulf was dug in the temple,” the monument specialist
said, adding that there were tents of gourds in the neighborhood,
ensured with food and warm clothes, which proved about non-interrupted
work at night hours.

“Seeing us they got confused. Understanding that we do not have
translator of the Kurdish language, they started speaking exclusively
Kurdish” Mr. Karapetyan noted. In his opinion, these activities could
hardly be used with disagreement of the community head, which means
that there is state sponsorship.

“The cross-stones with Armenian protocols were turned into small bits;
they even expected to find “Armenian gold” in them. Returning Mr.

Karapetyan immediately formed a report and presented to the Armenian
Culture Ministry, as the group had succeeded to implement certain
screenings. “I think the government will make use of those screenings
and photos as evidence when need be,” Mr. Karapetyan said.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY REINSTATES YOUTUBE BAN ADVERTISEMENT
By Ece Toksabay

MSNBC

Nov 3 2010
ISTANBUL

A Turkish court has reinstated a 30-month ban on the popular
video-sharing YouTube website just days after it was removed, deepening
a dispute over online free expression in the European Union candidate
country.

Access to YouTube, a unit of Google Inc, has been blocked by the
Turkish government since May 2008 after users posted videos Turkey
says are insulting to the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

A court in Ankara on Saturday lifted the ban, which had drawn
widespread criticism of Ankara’s restrictive Internet laws, after a
German-based firm at the request of Turkish authorities removed the
videos by using an automated copyright system designed by Google to
protect copyrighted material.

YouTube later said it had reinstated the videos, arguing such videos
did not violate users’ copyright.

But a separate court in Ankara ruled that the ban should be reinstated,
this time over a secretly taped video purportedly showing the former
chairman of the opposition, Deniz Baykal, in a bedroom with a female
aide, state news Anatolian said on Tuesday.

Guleser Aykara, a spokeswoman for the Telecommunications Board, said
it was notified of the new ban on Tuesday and would make a decision
by Thursday on whether to implement the ban.

“We will first check if the undesirable content still remains on the
website,” Aykara told Reuters.

“YouTube could restrict access to prevent Turkish users from watching
the videos, but may keep it accessible to other users. YouTube may
not reply or may decline our demand, in which case access will be
banned once again.”

Google representatives said they were checking the reports and had
no immediate comment.

MORE THAN 5,000 SITES BANNED IN TURKEY

Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) urged the government on Wednesday to
guarantee online free expression in European Union candidate Turkey,
where more than 5,000 sites are banned.

“The YouTube controversy should not eclipse the extent of online
blocking and censorship in Turkey, or the arrests and prosecutions
of bloggers and netizens,” RSF said in a statement.

“Thousands of websites are blocked, in most cases for criticizing
Ataturk or the army, for perceived attacks on the nation’s ‘dignity’
or for referring to Turkey’s Kurdish and Armenian minorities, taboo
subjects in Turkey.”

Human rights groups and media watchdog associations have long urged
Turkey to reform its harsh Internet laws. Turkey cites offences
including child pornography, insulting Ataturk and encouraging suicide
as justification for blocking websites.

Analysts have criticized the ease with which citizens and politicians
can apply under Turkish law to have an site banned.

Lawyers for Baykal, who resigned in the wake of the so-called “sex
videotape,” had asked a judge to ban YouTube citing a violation of
personal privacy.

Turkish visitors to the YouTube site have been able to circumvent
the ban by using proxy websites.

The YouTube ban has attracted particular criticism, and even
President Abdullah Gul has used his Twitter page to condemn it,
urging authorities to find a solution.

Google Inc’s legal chief has called for pressure on governments
that censor the Internet, citing China and Turkey, arguing that their
blocking access to websites not only violates human rights but unfairly
restrains U.S. trade.

From: A. Papazian

UAE INTERESTED IN COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

news.am
Nov 3 2010
Armenia

The UAE is interested in cooperation with Armenia in nuclear energy,
Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna al Qasimi said in Yerevan.

This decision appeared to be unexpected for the Armenian side. Head
of the Armenian Development Agency Robert Harutunyan said that he is
not aware of the details but supposes that the point is scientific
and technical cooperation in nuclear energy. The Arabic side also
showed interest in cooperation with Armenia in renewable energy.

Construction of a new energy unit of the Armenian NPP with a capacity
of 1060 MW is planned to be launched in 2012. Construction works will
be carried out by the Russian Atomstroyexport company.

From: A. Papazian

UAE INTENDS TO INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY

news.am
Nov 3 2010
Armenia

Businessmen from the United Arabic Emirates take interest in purchasing
real estate in Armenia, investments in industry and hotels, Gagik
Makaryan, Executive Director of Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen,
told NEWS.am.

He noted that in the course of the Armenian-UAE business forum held
in Yerevan 5-6 businessmen will work with each Arabic entrepreneur.

According to him, Armenia has already presented 15-20 business
projects. Makaryan stressed that the sides plan to sign cooperation
agreements on construction and light industry. He also added that
Armenia is of great interest to foreign businessmen as it is a CIS
member and obtains certain trade and tax concessions. Working with
Armenia, foreign businessmen can enter markets of other CIS states
on easy terms.

From: A. Papazian

THE STATE DANCING ENSEMBLE OF ARTSAKH TO PERFORM IN RUSSIA

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 2010
STEPANAKERT

The state dancing ensemble of Artsakh will leave this week for tour
performances to the Russian towns of Orenburg, Ufa and Kazan. The
first concert is planned for November 14. The art director of the
ensemble, people~Rs artist of Artsakh Ashot Babayan said the tours
will last 10 days during which 3-5 concerts will be held. Twenty out
of 32 members of the dancing group will leave for tour performances.

~SThe tour performances give us an opportunity to show our compatriots
living abroad that there is culture in Artsakh and it is developing.

Besides its being of familiarizing nature, we also play a role of
special ambassador in the countries we are performing,~T Mr Babayan
said.

The state dancing ensemble operates for 11 years.

From: A. Papazian

HRANT DINK’S MURDERER MAY GO UNPUNISHED

news.am
Nov 3 2010
Armenia

Ogun Samast, a Turkish ultra-nationalist who killed Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007, may be released due to
the recent reforms in the Turkish judicial system.

The new amendments to the relevant laws limit terms of custody.

Specifically, persons charged with grave crimes can be in custody for
up to three years, and ones charged with minor crimes, up to one year.

The amendments were approved on March 23, 2005, and are to be in
effect until Dec. 31, 2010.

Due to the amendments Ogun Samast, as well as Dogu Perincek and Veli
Kucuk, may be released.

At the request of Ogun Samast’s lawyer his case was referred to the
Istanbul juvenile court, as Ogun Samast was considered a juvenile
delinquent when he murdered Hrant Dink.

From: A. Papazian

ANC CALLS ON HERITAGE NOT TO VOTE ON KARABAKH BILL

news.am
Nov 3 2010
Armenia

Introducing of bill on Karabakh’s recognition in the Armenian
Parliament is a miscalculated step, David Shahnazaryan, member of
the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC), said at today’s
press conference.

“Armenia’s recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence will be
of no benefit for Armenia, moreover it will be even harmful. It will
strike a heavy blow on the Minsk process which is Azerbaijan’s goal.

The bill should not be voted in the Parliament. It will be a powerful
political and moral blow,” he said.

The ANC is headed by first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

From: A. Papazian

320 TRAFFIC SIGNS WITH SECONDS-COUNTER PLACED IN YEREVAN IN 2010

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Eighteen points of traffic signs have
been reequipped this year on the whole by “Lusanshan” state non-trade
organization subordinated to Yerevan municipality, the 20 have been
restored and 320 traffic signs with seconds-counters have been placed.

Chief architect of “Lusanshan” state non-trade organization Hakob
Altunyan told Armenpress that there are 165 points of traffic signs
on the whole in Yerevan. Lining works of streets of 2 million 800
thousand linear meters have been implemented this year.

According to the data of the beginning of the year there were nearly
6000 traffic signs on the whole, and 2 128 have been placed during
the year. “Lusanshan” state non-trade organization is not only
engaged in implementation of traffic signs and street lines, but
also follows their uninterrupted work and updating. Suchlike works
are being implemented not only by “Lusanshan”, but by the Armenian
Traffic Police as well, which are free in all cases.

The types of chargeable service provided by units of the Armenian
traffic police and the tariffs are defined by RA law on ensuring
traffic security and by a relevant decision of the Armenian
government. For example, according to the decision adopted by the
government November 8, 2007, except regulation cases of traffic in
case of interrupted work of traffic signs, the other services are
provided to state and local self-governing bodies free of charge.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN WALNUTS, STEEPED IN SYRUP
By FLORENCE FABRICANT

New York Times

Nov 3 2010

They look like black olives, but they are whole walnuts, picked green
in the Ararat Valley of Armenia, and steeped in sugar syrup until
they turn lush, sweet, tender and irresistible, a little like marrons
glaces, only moister. They are made by Harvest Song, a company that
specializes in excellent Armenian preserves. The walnuts are a perfect
foil for pungent cheeses, pâte or roast duck or game. You can also
nibble them after dinner or slice them to decorate pumpkin pie. And
that manhattan? Drop a preserved walnut in the glass instead of a
maraschino cherry.

From: A. Papazian

PROJECT OF HISTORIC-CULTURAL GROUNDING OF SHUSHI TO BE PREPARED

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 2010
STEPANAKERT

The NKR Government-affiliated tourism department ordered
architect-renovator Hovhannes Sanamyan to prepare a project of
historic-cultural grounding of Shushi. Speaking with Armenpress
Sanamyan said that the project will involve the development phases of
the settlement and will point out the prospects, make analyses of the
historic valuable sectors, create system of preservation zones. The
future project will also fix the functional importance of the buildings
to preserve the historic urban environment of Shushi.

~SIf the structure is a historic monument, the bad physical condition
is not a reason to destroy it, but clear marks must be mentioned for
their restoration,~T Sanamyan said.

According to the architect, the project will be ready by June of the
coming year, after which the chief plan of the town will be formed.

From: A. Papazian