Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN WOMEN SUFFER DEFEAT BY U.S. AT WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 28, 2010 – 19:27 AMT 14:27 GMT

On September 28, the Armenian women team was defeated by the U.S. in
the seventh round of the World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Armenia~Rs Elina Danielyan, Lilit Galoyan and Nelly Aghinyan tied
their games with Irina Krush, Tatev Abrahamyan and Kamile Baginskaite
respectively.

Lilit Lazarian suffered a defeat by Anna Zatonskih. The game ended
in 1.5:2.5 victory of the U.S. team.

From: A. Papazian

NEW BOOK: ‘VATICAN DIPLOMACY AND THE ARMENIAN QUESTION’

Armenian Weekly
Tue, Sep 28 2010

The Vatican state was well aware of the Armenian Genocide in 1915,
as Armenian Catholic communities were destroyed alongside other
Armenians. The Vatican’s Apostolic Delegate to Constantinople Mgr.

Dolci reported such developments to Pope Benedict XV, who personally
appealed to the Ottoman government to stop the persecutions. Following
the end of WWI, the Vatican tried to help surviving Armenians by
appealing to the Catholic world for support. Armenian Catholics played
an important role in making these efforts fruitful.

To date, little is known of the Vatican’s involvement with Armenians
during World War I and its aftermath. This is because Vatican archives
have been inaccessible to English speaking scholars. However, the
recent translation of Mario Carolla’s excellent book, “Vatican
Diplomacy and the Armenian Question: The Holy See’s Response to
the Republic of Armenia, 1918-1922”, presents, for the first time,
a detailed account of the Vatican’s involvement with Armenians.

Carolla’s work rests on original documents from Vatican Archives,
most of which have never been subject to scholarly scrutiny. These
documents have been reproduced alongside his analysis, and the majority
of his Italian documents have been translated into English.

Mario Carolla, “Vatican Diplomacy and the Armenian Question: The Holy
See’s Response to the Republic of Armenia, 1918-1922”, translated
from Italian by Cynthia Quilici, London: Gomidas Institute, vi +
368 pp., 2010, GB£24.00 / US$35.00. To order, please contact from
[email protected]

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH NATIONALISTS TO PRAY IN ANCIENT ARMENIAN CHURCH

Asbarez
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
ANKARA (RFE/RL)

Members of Turkey’s main nationalist opposition party are reportedly
planning to gather in an 11th century Armenian cathedral Friday for
a politically motivated Islamic prayer that is bound to infuriate
Armenians, RFE/RL reported.

Turkish newspapers reported on Tuesday that authorities in the
northeastern Kars region have received a formal permission application
from the local branch of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

They said its chairman informed dozens of local MHP activists and
supporters that the prayer service will take place at the Holy Virgin
Cathedral in Ani, the ruined capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom
located near the city of Kars, on the existing Turkish-Armenian border.

Built in 1001 A.D. by one of the most celebrated architects of medieval
Armenia, Trdat, the church was the largest building in the walled
and once prosperous city. It is one of the few surviving examples of
the ancient Armenian civilization that existed in what is now eastern
Turkey until the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

According to some historians, it was converted into a mosque after
Armenia was invaded by the Seljuk Turks in the late 11th century.

Official Turkish sources still refer to it as Fethiye Mosque.

Some Turkish newspapers suggested that the MHP’s intention to use it
as a Muslim worship site is a response to the September 19 mass in the
10th century Holy Cross Armenian church in Van. However, party leaders
attributed the politically explosive move to domestic politics and,
in particular, their tense relations with the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the words of Ara Gocunyan, editor of the Turkish-Armenian “Zhamanak”
daily, the AKP’s victory in Turkey’s recent constitutional referendum
was a serious blow to the MHP. “Apparently, the party is thus trying
to revive its fortunes,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenia service.

Citing the Turkish press, Gocunyan said Turkey’s Culture Minister
Ertugrul Gunay has warned that the Friday prayer at the Ani church
will be deemed illegal if it turns into a “collective demonstration.”

Turks can pray there only as “individual citizens,” Gocunyan quoted
Gunay as saying.

Newspaper reports also said that the MHP’s top leader, Devlet Bahceli,
will also attend the prayer. However, the party has not yet confirmed
those reporters, according to Aris Nalci, a journalist with another
Istanbul-based Armenian paper, “Agos.”

From: A. Papazian

ALL ARMENIAN BANK TO TAKE CHARGE OF EXPORT DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 28, 2010 – 21:34 AMT 16:34 GMT

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan spoke about the formation of
All Armenian Bank in a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“All Armenian Bank development programs will be aimed at increase of
export in Armenia, with specific development directions to be selected
by Armenian authorities,” the Prime Minister said, explaining the
absence of Export Development Bank in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

ARTAK SHAKARYAN SAYS TURKEY TO PLACE CROSS ON SURB KHACH AT THE THRESHOLD OF APRIL 24

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Turkey will place the cross of Surb
Khach (Holy Cross) Church, Aghtamar, at the threshold of April 24 to
show the world that there is development in Armenian-Turkish relations,
turkologist Artak Shakaryan forecasted today at a press conference,
adding that we must respond to such steps of Turkey not in the context
of going or not gong, but by being more active and initiative.

According to him, we should understand the Armenians of Istanbul and
not blame for the attitude. “We have said a lot of times that they
are hostage in Turkey, if they rebel, a school or a church will be
closed the next day,” Mr. Shakaryan said, adding that the Istanbul
Armenians think we must have participated in the liturgy, and not by
applauding Turkey, but by being active, clearly showing that truth
exists and we have not forgotten that.

From: A. Papazian

ASHOT MELKONYAN: “ARMENIA MANAGES TO KEEP BALANCE IN FOREIGN POLICY”

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenia manages to keep balance
in its foreign policy, according to Ashot Melkonyan, director of the
History Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. He
said today in an interview with Armenpress that 90 years ago,
when the Turkish invasion in Transcaucasia and Armenia started,
the geopolitical reality of the region was changed seriously. ‘In
that period Kemalist Turkey began allying with Bolshevist Russia,
and Azerbaijan’s hostility was obvious.

Armenia had to stand the danger of Turkey’s invasion alone, Ashot
Melkonyan said. He says in that period the newly-established Armenian
state did not have the inner potential to fight against the Turkish
danger. ‘The main reason of collapse of the first Republic of Armenia
was connected with foreign relations.

Armenia’s allies did not help Armenia,’ the historian said. Ashot
Melkonyan says Armenia has learnt lessons from those historical events
and tends to keep balance in the relations with various geopolitical
forces. ‘Armenia has allied and friendly relations with Russia;
the cooperation with NATO is being deepened. We should follow the
processes of our neighbors – Iran and Turkey – in order to go on
leading a balanced policy,’ he noted.

From: A. Papazian

HAYK BABUKHANYAN: “WE MUST DEMAND OF TURKEY TO MEET THE COMMITMENTS INTENDED BY TREATY OF SEVRES”

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: We must demand of Turkey to
meet the commitments intended by Treaty of Sevres and to return
the occupied territories to Armenia, Hayk Babukhanyan, chairman of
“Constitutional Right” union said today at a press conference, adding
that Turkey attacked at Armenia this day 90 years ago, by violating
the terms of Sever Treaty, as a result of which Armenia lost Erzurum,
Trabzon, Van, Bitlis, Kars and Surmalu.

“Over these years Turkey was neither punished for the crime it
committed, nor compensated the rights of Armenians, and went on
methodically annihilating the historical-cultural heritage of Armenian
people,” Mr. Babukhanyan said. According to him, we must demand of
Turkey and international states which signed under the Sever Treaty
to fulfill the terms fixed in the treaty.

“We state that Armenian people have not reconciled themselves to the
90-year-old occupation and demand to return the property of Armenian
people,” he said. Head of the Social-Democratic Hunchakyan Party
Lyudmila Sargsyan also attached importance to this day, noting that
we must take lessons from it. Hayk Babukhanyan added that Turkey goes
on with its anti-Armenian policy today as well.

From: A. Papazian

ARKADI TER-TADEVOSYAN: “THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF ARMENIA’S ARMY GOES ON REMAINING HIGH”

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: The fighting spirit of Armenia’s
army goes on remaining high, Major-General Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan
said at today’s meeting with journalists. He says much work is
being undertaken by corresponding institutions in the direction
of strengthening Armenia’s army. “Our army has many shortcomings,
but this does not mean one may sully it. No doubt, one should not
conceal the existing issues; it is necessary to speak about them,
but not in a negative way,’ Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan said.

He noted that other states have problems with their armed forces
as well. Reforms of our army are being effected normally, and the
defense ministry endeavored to establish serious discipline. ‘The
military readiness of our soldiers is high; the war taught us to
defend ourselves properly. In contrast to our neighbor state, we do
not teach our soldiers to go and occupy territories. The international
community should understand this,’ Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan said.

From: A. Papazian

OMBUDSMAN ASKED TO PUT FORTH REPRESENTATIVES TO INVOLVE IN WORKING TEAM

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan
asked Artak Davtyan, chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Science,
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs, Minister of Transport
and Communication Manuk Vardanyan, Chairman of National Commission
on Public Television and Radio Grigor Amalyan, Director of Public
Television Gagik Buniatyan and Chairman of the Public Council Vazgen
Manukyan to put forth their representative for involving in the
working team set up for finishing the legislative regulation works
of the digitalization process of television broadcasting.

Press service of the Ombudsman told Armenpress that the ombudsman has
made a proposal attaching importance to participation of experts of
the sphere in the working team.

From: A. Papazian

NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION OF EURASIAN CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: The next annual general meeting of
the Association of Eurasian Central Securities Depositories, as well
as the 8th international conference of the association are planned
to be held in Yerevan September 2011. Rouzanna Sarkissian, head of
marketing and communications department of ‘NASDAQ OMX Armenia’, told
Armenpress that at the annual general meeting of the Association of
Eurasian Central Securities Depositories (AECSD) Vahan Stepanyan,
CEO of the Central Depository of Armenia, was elected chairman of
the association.

In his capacity of the chairman Mr. Stepanyan will manage the
association, coordinate the joint activities of the working groups
and AECSD members. In addition to that, he will represent the AECSD,
expand and manage its relations with international professional
associations. The Association of Eurasian Central Securities Depository
was established December 12, 2004 as a union of central depositories
of the CIS countries and currently comprises of 11 member depository
institutions.

The Association’s mission is to develop and enhance depository
operations, create a common depository environment, and integrate
central securities depositories of the CIS countries into the global
securities settlement system. “Armenian Stock Exchange” OJSC was
officially renamed as “NASDAQ OMX Armenia” OJSC January 27, 2009.

“NASDAQ OMX Armenia” OJSC became the owner of 100% of the shares of
the “Central Depository of Armenia” OJSC June 5, 2009.

From: A. Papazian