Author: Andres-Papazian

Edward Sharmazanov: `Turkey has proved in recent years that it is not
ready for real reforms’

(Holy Cross) Church – and the foreign issues – the Armenian-Turkish
relations, Cyprian and Kurdish issues. Edward Sharmazanov says Turkey
proved that the difference between current Turkey and that of early
20th century is little.

As to the issue of regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations,
Sharmazanov quoted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who noted
during her visit to Yerevan that `the ball is in the field of Turkey’.
`By this Mrs. Hillary Clinton stated that Official Washington supports
and accepts President Serzh Sarsgyan’s policy and agrees with him,’
the NA deputy said. As to the liturgy, expected to be chanted
September 19 at Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church on Akhtamar Island,
Edward Sharmazanov said he does not think that Armenian high officials
should go and partake in `the Turkish show’.

According to Edward Sharmazanov, there was an opportunity for Armenian
clergymen to leave for Akhtamar and present to whole world the fact
that the Church was built by Manuel Architect under the auspices of
King Gagik Artsruni and that there was a powerful Armenian kingdom in
the Middle Ages on Akhtamar Island; however Turkey excluded the
possibility by not putting cross on the Church.

From: A. Papazian

Shavarsh Kocharyan: `If the process of postponing of the resolution at
the UN does not become a lesson for Azerbaijan, we will give adequate
response’

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: ‘If the process of postponing of
the resolution at the UN does not become a lesson for Azerbaijan, it
is natural that we will give adequate response for preventing
Azerbaijan’s further such steps, directed to failure of the process of
negotiations,’ RA Foreign deputy Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated.

The Deputy Foreign Minister says there is an evident process of
consolidation, during which more and more states begin realizing that
the issue should not be presented in a distorted way and brought out
from the framework, which is able to bring to the result, in which all
the sides are interested.

According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, the real constructivism of Azerbaijan
is not in the postponing of the consideration of the resolution; it
will be shown in case Azerbaijan refuses to move the issues, which are
being discussed within the framework of the Minsk group, to various
international establishments in a distorted way.

`When Azerbaijan forgoes its warlike statements and threats of usage
of force, which, by the way, do not frighten the Armenian part, but
prevent the development of the process, when it stops its diversions
in the Line of Contact, when it realizes that it is impossible to
advance efficiently without the participation of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic as a full and equal negotiating side, we can register that
Azerbaijan is becoming constructive,’ RA Foreign deputy Minister
Shavarsh Kocharyan stressed.

He says the future is a dialogue, and not clash of civilizations and
various religions; Azerbaijan tends to speculate on that contrast.
‘This attempt involves a serious danger,’ Shavarsh Kocharyan added.

From: A. Papazian

Levon Shirinyan Says Azerbaijan Provoking Clash of Civilizations

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan is provoking clash of
civilizations, according to Levon Shirinyan, political scientist. He
said today in an interview with Armenpress that the clash may be very
dangerous for the South Caucasus, Middle East and the whole world.

The political scientist says while the UN is propagandizing the idea
of dialogue of civilizations, Azerbaijan is presenting to the UN
General Assembly a draft resolution, which is a real danger for that
idea; that is why serious pressure was exerted on Azerbaijan so that
to make the country withdraw the draft resolution. `No doubt, we can
consider the withdrawal of the draft resolution Armenia’s success and
achievement; the Foreign Ministry has a serious investment in it,’
Levon Shirinyan.

He says Azerbaijan, Shiite Muslim country, and Turkey, Sunnite
country, tend to lean upon the reserve of the states of `Islamic
Conference’; they strengthen the relations with the states of Islamic
civilizations. He added that by this the two states endeavor to
confront the Christian civilization, the main representative of which
in the Middle East is Armenia.

`In the past Samuel Huntington, professor of Harvard University,
always warned the world about the danger of clash of civilizations,
noting that if such a process started, the consequences would be
irreparable,’ Levon Shirinyan stated. He added that it is quite
dangerous for Russia that the 30% of the population are Muslims.

From: A. Papazian

Levon Shirinyan, `Conduction of liturgy in Surb Khach is not an
attempt of looking democratic, but a pure business program’

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: The Turkish authorities have
allowed the September 19 liturgy in Surb Khach Church not taking into
consideration `holy goals’ but for implementation of business.
Political analyst Levon Shirinyan told today Armenpress, adding that
Turkey is a country which implements genocide once in a decade without
thinking what the others will say about that. Hence, according to him,
conduction of liturgy in Surb Khach is not an attempt of looking
democratic, but a pure business program.

`Currently the Kurdish element has been quite activated in West
Armenia, for suppressing of which Turkey is undertaking the activation
of the Turkish element in the same territory,’ the political analyst
said, adding that if many Armenians travel to participate in the
liturgy and activate the Turkish business in that territory, they will
only support in realization of Turkish goals in that way. `In my
opinion, we must not participate in that event, even if a cross was
placed on the dome of the church, but I am sure that the cross will
never be placed, as Turkey is a country living with Kemali secular
laws,’ Mr. Shirinyan said, adding that it is high time of
`all-national boycott’.

Referring to the position of the patriarchate of Constantinople in
these events, the political analyst said that we must remember that
Constantinople-Armenians are held captive in the hand of Turkey; that
is why it manages to speculate their factor. `We must understand them,
too, and not allow exceedingly critical expressions in their address,’
the political analyst stressed.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN COMMENTS ON THE DECISION TO WITHDRAW THE RESOLUTION A/64/L.57

Times.am
Sept 10 2010
Armenia

On September 9 Azerbaijan withdrew its proposed draft resolution
A/64/L.57 from consideration and voting at the UN General Assembly,
requesting to move the relevant agenda item to the agenda of the 65th
Session of the GA.

Many comments there were on this decision in Armenia.

“We are thankful to all those UN member states and in particular to
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, which through their stance
prevented Azerbaijan from deviating and damaging the negotiation
process of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and not allowing
the adoption of an unconstructive draft resolution presented by
Azerbaijan in the UNGA”,- says the Statement of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

“Azerbaijani diplomacy has come to grief. The co-chairing countries,
which used to refrain from publicly condemning Azerbaijan, now
clearly indicated that they are fed up with Baku’s ultimatums,” said
the Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary
group Eduard Sharmazanov.

David Babayan, head of the central information department at the
office of the Artsakh President, said that Azerbaijan has withdrawn
its resolution from the UN General Assembly due to the ‘request’
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

“The recent incidents at the line of contact between the NKR and
Azerbaijani armed forces should be viewed in a global context. The UN
General Assembly has already adopted a resolution on Kosovo, taking
into account the ruling of the International Tribunal. It means
that the Serbia-Kosovo reconciliation process has started. Another
important factor of Hillary Clinton’s statement on South Sudan.

Finally, the latest report of the International Crisis Group points
out to the drawbacks of the Aliyev regime. The Armenian side should
take advantage of the new geopolitical situation,” Babayan told a
Panarmenian.net reporter.

“It is clear that Armenia had taken concrete steps to prevent the
inclusion of the resolution initiated by Azerbaijan on the United
Nations General Assembly agenda”, Edgar Hovhannisyan, a historian,
said at a press conference today.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS ON SEPT.12

Times.am
Sept 10 2010
Armenia

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated in
Armenia on September 12 this year.

“A fraction of the Beam will be demonstrated to the faithful in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on Sunday evening. The deceased will
be commemorated the day following the feast,” Reverend Father Babken
Hayrapetyan said.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the
five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is dedicated
to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from imprisonment,
its elevation and glorification.

In the Armenian Apostolic Church the Feast of the Exaltation of
the Holy Cross is celebrated on Sunday during the period between
September 11-17.

From: A. Papazian

BERNARD FASSIER: NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN ARE DIVIDED BY CONTACT LINE, NOT BORDER

Today

Sept 10 2010
Azerbaijan

A contact line rather than border divides Nagorno-Karabakh and
Azerbaijan, OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Bernard Fassier told a briefing
in Khankendi, thus, reaffirming Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory
of Azerbaijan.

Asked about monitoring on the “border” of Nagorno-Karabakh, the French
diplomat underlined the group crossed the contract line, not border
to come to Khankendi. The Armenian journalists accused the OSCE Minsk
Group of duplicity. The co-chairs left the occupied Azerbaijani town
of Khankendi for Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

GLENDALE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE ARMENIAN SCHOOL FOR CODE VIOLATIONS
By C.J. Lin, Staff Writer

Contra Costa Times
Sept 10 2010
CA

A private Armenian school that was supposed to be bustling with
students fresh from summer vacation remained shuttered in Glendale this
week after a judge ordered it closed for failing to meet safety codes.

The temporary restraining order was issued against Scholars Academic
Foundation because the school did not have proper permits or emergency
equipment, said Scott Howard, city attorney.

“It’s a potential hazard in the making,” Howard said. “So there’s
concern when you take over this building to use as a school that it’s
a real potential safety hazard for the children.”

Calls to the school went unanswered and a phone listing could not be
found for owner Anahit Grigoryan. Her attorney, Vipan Bhola, did not
return several calls for comment.

“They just don’t have any permits for the school,” Howard said. “Those
permits are routine. Everybody needs one. Supermarkets, liquor stores,
laundromats – you need it. And that includes a private school.”

The K-12 school was supposed to have opened on Tuesday . Located in
a former strip mall at 3800 Foothill Blvd. that once housed a public
continuation school, Scholars leases two buildings built over a gated
underground parking lot.

Included in the list of violations is that the lot was being used for
storage as well as a playground for students despite having inadequate
ingress and egress routes, Howard said.

The facility needs to get a conditional use permit – which will require
a public hearing to address issues such as traffic and parking –
because zoning does not allow a private school at the site. The
building’s current office and retail permit will also need to be
changed to a school permit, according to the complaint.

The school currently lacks safety equipment such as panic bars for
doors, Howard said.

The restraining order prevents the school from conducting teaching
classes, tutoring, counseling, running a day care or nursery and
holding assemblies.

Meanwhile, local public schools had made arrangements to accept
students that had been displaced by Scholars’ closure.

The code compliance issues date back to February, when the school
moved to its current location without obtaining any permits, Howard
said. The school was previously the Scholars Armenian School and Arts
Center at 1021 Grandview Ave.

A check for a permit application bounced before school officials paid
in full. But fees for an environmental review then went unpaid, leading
city officials to reject the application because it was incomplete,
Howard said.

The school’s owners sued to stay at the location while addressing
compliance issues and were successful, but the problems remained,
Howard said.

A hearing is set for Sept. 17 at Los Angeles County Superior Court
in Glendale to determine whether a permanent injunction will be issued.

While Howard believes the school’s operators can clear up the code
violations, he’s not sure that they’ll be able to in time for the
hearing because a public hearing will still need to be called for
neighbor input.

“It’s kind of the 11th hour now,” Howard said. “Because frankly,
they should have perfected their applications months and months ago.”

From: A. Papazian

FAR-FLUNG SKI DESTINATIONS: THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
Robert Harneis, Associate Editor

OnTheSnow.com

Sept 10 2010

There is a vast choice of ski resorts scattered across the Northern
Hemisphere outside Europe and North America, from just across the
Mediterranean to the tip of far eastern Russia; half the countries
in the world have skiable mountains.

Despite widening interest in snow sports, facilities vary from
state-of-the-art lifts and well-groomed slopes to no infrastructure
at all. There are modern resorts, which are quite easy to visit for
those who want to travel and vary their skiing experience. Others
destinations are best left to intrepid and determined ski adventurers.

There are plenty of places where reliable, up to date, first hand
information is hard to come by, so do not hesitate to let us know
about your experiences around the world.

Countries in the Northern Hemisphere include Japan, Korea, far eastern
Russia, India, Nepal, China, Caucasus Mountains, Kazakhstan, Siberia,
Middle East, and North Africa.

Japan

Japan is a top skiing nation with many resorts but it has problems.

Numbers of skiers have fallen from 18.6 million in 1993 to 6.9 million
in 2008. Despite this, Japan has twice hosted the Winter Olympics,
at Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998, and they won 10 medals at the
Vancouver Olympics.

Resorts will have to generate an overseas clientele to survive. It
is only in recent years they have felt it necessary to translate
signs in English and more recently still, Chinese. Japan’s ski scene
is regularly visited by Australians, but still relatively unknown
by Europeans.

Hakuba is the most popular ski region in Honshu with several resorts
dotted along 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) of mountains. The Olympic
Downhill and Super Giant were held here in 1998. A day’s lift pass
costs approximately U.S. $58.

Another popular ski area, Niseko is renowned for its excellent snow
conditions with 16 metres (630 inches) per season. A day’s skiing
costs U.S. $74 and includes four interlinked resorts.

Korea

Unlike Japan, skiing is on the rise in this beautiful mountain country,
with 12 resorts already and more on the way. This success is underlined
by Pyeongchang, with the nearby resort Yong Pyong, getting as far as
the final selection for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The World Biathlon
Championships were held there in 2009.

A disadvantage for the experienced skier is the scarcity of off-piste
skiing. Muju resort has six slopes divided into separate degrees of
difficulty; the Silk Road Slope is Korea’s longest course. Ch’onmasan
is a small resort only 20 miles from Seoul and you can get there by
bus or taxi.

Far Eastern Russia

The UNESCO world heritage Kamchatka peninsula welcomes a handful of
ski tourists every year who take to the snow to track down rare Amur
tigers. There is no Western-style purpose-built ski resort, so no
ski lifts, just fantastic heli-skiing amidst smoking volcanoes and
blazing blue skies. Sadly perhaps, it cannot be long before cash-rich
Russia opens a “proper resort’ here.” (Can you say that?) The fact
that during WWII the Soviet army trained 340,000 ski soldiers in 50
ski centers here gives some idea of the potential of the area.

India And Nepal

India has a population of one billion, a booming economy, and minimal
resorts in the mighty Himalayan Mountains. Cheap heli-touring is the
sub continent’s biggest skiing asset at the moment.

The little resort at Auli has been adjudged by visiting experts as
a ski area potentially on a par with the best sites in the European
Alps and it is only a matter of time before it is developed as a major
resort. The 168-mile road up from the railway station at Haridwar
can be hard going.

The gondola at Gulmarg (2766m, almost 2 miles) in Kashmir, built by
French engineers, is the highest ski lift in the world. It offers
breathtaking views over the Himalayas and takes you up to 3980 metres
(about 2.5 miles) for less than $4 per trip. From there you can go on
foot to the summit of Mount Apharwat 4100m (2.5 miles) with a view
of K2, given the right weather. Gulmarg was first skied by British
officers and their families in the 1920s. The 30-mile road trip up
from Srinagar is part of the attraction.

Visitors to the resort recommend mid-January to mid-February for the
best snow. A recent firsthand account indicates that the experience
is amazing but still a bit wild west. The resort has, until recently,
suffered from its proximity to the troubles in Kashmir.

Nepal is a spectacular place to go for heli-skiing and there is plenty
of room with eight of the highest mountains in the world.

China

The middle class is growing and not surprisingly there is strong
growth in winter sports facilities. So far Chinese investors are
cautious about the huge costs involved in state-of-the-art resorts.

China’s 2 million skiers have to make do with fairly humdrum
facilities. Only 10 percent of them buy purpose-made ski clothes.

Visits to resorts went up from 300,000 in 2000 to 3 million by 2005.

To meet demand the Chinese government is planning 300 new resorts. The
biggest destination is Beidahu in Jilin Province, which has installed
the full range of ski and snowboard facilities. It hosted the Asian
Winter Games in 2007.

Yabuli in Heilongjiang Province is China’s first multiple ski resort
region and a training base for the national winter sports team. An
day’s skiing here tacked onto a tour of China typically costs £98
including accommodation, breakfast, and all skiing costs. Wanlang
is a developing resort four hours drive from Beijing. Nanshan is 37
miles from Beijing and has gone into partnership with Austrian Mellow
Construction. There is now a terrain park with rails and an 80-metre
(262 feet) halfpipe.

A step in the direction of modern facilities is the construction
of the world’s highest cable car built for the Dagu glacier in the
Sichuan Dagu Natural Reserve, by Doppelmayr of Austria. It operates
300 days a year and provides unique access and views of 8000-metre
(5 mile) peaks; there are oxygen masks available in the cable cars.

Caucasus Mountains

The destinations around the Caucasus Mountains, between the Black Sea
and the Caspian, have superb snow and a great altitude, but limited
resources and plenty of political problems too.

Tsaghkadsor in Armenia is perhaps the most realistic destination in
the region for foreign skiers. It was once the Olympic training centre
under the old Soviet Union. Modern ski lifts have been installed and a
great deal of development is underway. A one-day ski pass cost around
U.S. $3.

Gudauri is the best resort in Georgia with lifts and snow from December
to April at 3000m; a day’s ski pass is U.S. $23.

There are three resorts on the Russian side of these towering
mountains. Mount Elbrus (5633m, 3.5 miles), higher than Mont Blanc,
has year round snow and is the best known with growing numbers of
visitors wanting to climb it. Mount Tcheget is perhaps the better
resort. At the moment much of the appeal of the area is for ski
mountaineering or heli-skiing. Gotorussia.co.uk has been dealing with
the area since Soviet Times and says ski lifts are cheap, around U.S.

$8 a day.

Kazakhstan and Siberia

Kazakhstan is a pretty stable country and has got a fair resort at
Chimbulak, only 30 minutes from Almaty city centre, and a day’s ski
pass costs U.S. $39. In Russian Siberia there is Dombaj on the Kazak
border and Bobroviy Log in the Sayan Mountains.

Middle East and North Africa

Those who’ve been, recommend Iran with its very high altitude ski
runs. Dizin is only an hour’s drive from Teheran; a day’s ski pass
is approximately U.S. $16. There are hotels and ski hire facilities.

Nearby, Mount Damavand is 5671 metres (about 3.5 miles). The après-ski
is a quiet affair owing to Sharia law.

Turkey has several resorts but much lower and therefore the snow isn’t
as reliable. Kartalkaya is the biggest with 18 lifts. Elmadag is only
minutes from Ankara. A weekend ski pass at Kartalkaya costs U.S. $58.

Mount Hermon, in Israel or occupied Syria, is where you will find
the elite Israeli Alpine Regiment in training – when there is any snow.

Lebanon has six resorts of which Mzar is the best for foreign visitors,
with international standards and a top altitude of 2456 metres (1.5
miles); a day’s ski pass is U.S. $58. Ski touring in Syria is also
possible. The snow can be uncertain in both countries.

Thanks to the altitude, skiing on real snow at Chrea (2500m, 1.5
miles), 43 miles from Algiers, is a unique experience where foreigners
are rare but welcome. Oukaimeden in Morocco has the distinction of
being a ski resort where you can go up the mountain on a donkey,
although there are ski lifts; a day’s ski pass is U.S. $7.

From: A. Papazian

MARTIN ENDS SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO ARMENIA (3 PHOTOS)
By SooToday.com Staff

SooToday.com
Sept 10 2010

Martin, Canadian Parliamentarians end successful visit in Armenia

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – A Canadian parliamentary delegation led by MP Harold
Albrecht, Conservative and chairman of Canada – Armenia Friendship
Group, Rob Oliphant, Liberal, and Tony Martin, New Democratic Party,
paid an official visit to the Republic of Armenia from September 6
to 10, 2010.

Immediately upon arrival, the Canadian MPs met with their colleagues
in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

The members were greeted by the Chairman of the Armenia Canada
Parliamentary Group, MP Hovhannes Sahagian, discussing potential
venues for developing bilateral relations between the two parliaments.

Following this meeting with Armenian Parliamentarians, the RA National
Assembly President, His Excellency Hovik Abrahamyan received the
Canadian delegation.

The RA National Assembly speaker expressed his high appraisal for
Armenian – Canadian relations.

He noted that the visit of Canadian parliamentarians will certainly
stimulate and further promote the established friendship between
the two countries and continue to strengthen the existing
inter-parliamentary relationships.

RA National Assembly president emphasized the role of the parliaments
and parliamentary diplomacy in the rapidly changing world.

The speaker of the house noted that opening of a Canadian Embassy in
Yerevan would greatly benefit the development and strengthening of
bilateral relations between Armenia and Canada.

At the meeting the two sides also touched upon the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict and the Armenian-Turkish relations.

That day, the delegation visited Armenian Genocide Memorial
Dzidzernagapert and the adjacent center to pay homage to more than
1.5 million Armenians who perished under the Ottoman Empire.

Memorial wreaths were laid to honor their memories and a short requiem
prayer service was led by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.

In the afternoon His Excellency Edward Nalbandian, minister of foreign
affairs received the Parliamentary delegation for a very productive
discussion.

On Wednesday morning, the parliamentary delegation headed to the
spiritual birthplace of Armenian Christianity, the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, where they were greeted by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian, primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.

Canadian politicians toured the complex of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin
and visited the Mother Cathedral.

The same day, RA President His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan received
the Canadian delegation.

President Sargsyan welcomed the group to Armenia and noted that
Armenia and Canada are cooperating efficiently in bilateral and
multilateral formats.

The president highlighted the importance of developing more active
inter-parliamentarian relations.

“Canada is an important state, with a powerful economic and democratic
system.”

President Serzh Sargsyan said he appreciates the 2006 decision for
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“We are grateful to the Parliament and Government of Canada for their
position on the recognition of the Armenian genocide.”

MP Harold Albrecht, head of Canada Armenia parliamentary friendship
group, stated that the presence of the Armenian community in Canada
has been an important factor in the development of the great friendship
between the two countries.

He added that Armenians have made great contributions to the
development of Canada’s economy, political life, culture and other
spheres.

During the meeting the representatives underscored the necessity of
making the Armenian-Canadian cooperation in all spheres more active
by promoting Canadian investment in the economy of Armenia.

They noted the importance of Canada’s experience in the areas of
agriculture and mining, as well as the potential for cooperation in
the areas of culture and education.

Following the meeting with the president, Canadian MPs visited the
government building of the Republic of Armenia and met with RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan who greeted the guests.

The Right Honorable Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan emphasized the
importance of establishing economic and trade cooperation between
the two countries.

The prime minister presented the prospects for the development of
bilateral cooperation in the field of business and economy, especially,
in the sectors of mining, industry, IT, tourism, healthcare and energy.

The two sides also touched upon the need for establishing Canada’s
Embassy to Armenia noting that it would encourage and strengthen
development of political, economic and cultural relations.

The permanent representative of Karabagh in Armenia Mr. Karlen
Avetisyan shared information on the peace process of the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict.

During the stay of Canadian parliamentarians in Armenia they visited
key historical-cultural sites and also had a meeting with the mayor
of Yerevan.

On behalf of the Canadian Armenian community Hagop Arslanian and Hrag
Darakdjian accompanied the parliamentary delegation in Yerevan.

***************************** Pictured: Tony Martin and delegates
visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial Dzidzernagapert.

Photo gallery at

From: A. Papazian