Author: Andres-Papazian

TURKEY’S ARMENIANS SUPRISED BY ETCHMIADZIN AKDAMAR NO-SHOW

Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 6 2010
Turkey

The Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul is surprised that the spiritual
center of the Armenian Apostolic Church has rejected an invitation
to attend a historic service on Van’s Akdamar Island on Sept. 19,
Istanbul’s deputy patriarch said Monday.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the headquarters of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, changed its decision after learning that no cross
had been affixed to the top of the Surp Hac (Holy Cross) Church in
the eastern province ahead of the service.

“I still believe that they will participate,” said Istanbul Deputy
Patriarch and Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan, adding that he had not yet
received any official information from Etchmiadzin.

“But if they retreat [from their earlier decision to attend], there
is nothing I can do but respect their decision. In this service I
would like to mark our church’s unity,” he said.

“We had decided to send two spiritual leaders to the service because
we were told that the cross would be put over the top of the church’s
dome for the ceremony. But Turkey did not honor its word and we learned
that the cross would not be placed,” Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, primate
of the Church’s Diocese of Gougark, told the Hurriyet Daily News &
Economic Review on Monday.

“It is claimed that the cross will not be placed on the dome. However,
a promise has been made to the Patriarchate. If it does not happen for
the service, it would absolutely be placed just after it,” AteÅ~_yan
said, criticizing debates in Armenia and the diaspora over the lack
of a cross.

Turkish Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay told the Daily News last
Sunday that despite the possibility of delays due to work on the
country’s constitutional referendum on Sept. 12, the cross would be
placed on the dome.

Journalist Levon Barseghyan, the head of the Journalist Club Asbarez
in Gyumri, Armenia, criticized the decision of the Etchmiadzin,
saying he found the move extremely political.

“Unfortunately the Etchmiadzin deals more with political matters than
fulfilling its spiritual duty. Etchmiadzin has long been a place for
politics rather than being a religious center,” he said.

People have not given credit to calls in Armenia to boycott the
service, said Barseghyan. “If I weren’t in another country for work,
I would attend the service, no doubt.”

Political scientist and author Manvel Sargsyan also criticized
Etchmiadzin for dealing with politics, criticizing the calls for
people to avoid the service.

“They should leave people to their own will. Etchmiadzin should take
care of its own business and remain away from politics,” he said.

The Surp Hac Church in the eastern province of Van has been a subject
of debate in Armenia and the Armenian diaspora because it was opened
as a museum and no cross was placed on its dome. Turkish and Armenian
experts restored the church in 2007 at the initiative of Atilla Koc,
the culture minister at that time. The church then opened as a museum.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA’S ROLE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE AMPLIFIED, VICE SPEAKER

news.az
Sept 6 2010
Azerbaijan

Ziyafat Asgerov The vice-speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan has
commented on the visit of the Russian president to Azerbaijan.

I want to believe that Russia as the successor to the Soviet Union and
the OSCE Minsk Group will intensify efforts to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh
problem.

The statement came from the first vice-speaker of Milli Majlis of
Azerbaijan Ziyafat Asgerov.

‘The intermediary role of Russia in this process should be
amplified at least because Russia is a successor of the USSR, and the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains a legacy of the Soviet regime. This
problem has created by the Soviet state and therefore Russia has a
great responsibility. Hopefully, Dmitriy Medvedev’s actions will not
disagree with his words.

The indicator of the efforts taken by the Russian president in this
direction is the six meetings he held with Presidents Ilham Aliyev
and Serzh Sargsyan,’ he said.

The vice-speaker praised the outcome of the official visit of the
Russian president to Azerbaijan.

‘It’s no secret that there have been certain difficulties related to
the unsolved portions of the Azerbaijani-Russian border recently.

However, the expert work and efforts of the presidents of the two
countries put the final point in this matter.

The parties came to agreement on sharing waters of the Samur river
and in general on defining the border between the two states. This
agreement alone can characterize Medvedev’s visit to Baku as very
significant’, he said.

From: A. Papazian

FIRE EXCHANGE WITH ARMENIA LASTS A NIGHT

news.az
Sept 6 2010
Azerbaijan

The situation in the frontline remained tense.

Units of the Armenian armed forces fired on the positions of
Azerbaijani Army from the posts in uplands of Azerbaijan’s Khojavand
region at 11.15-11.35 on September 5, near Chilaburt, Goyarkh, Seysulan
and Gizil Oba villages and in uplands of Azerbaijan’s Terter region at
07.25-08.15, 19.00-19.25, 20.45-21.25 on September 5, at 00.45-00.55,
01.00-01.20, 03.45-04.15 and 04.10-04.30 on September 6, in uplands
of Azerbaijan’s Dashkesan region at 13.00-13.15 on September 5, at
02.35-02.55 on September 6, near Javahirli village of Azerbaijan’s
Aghdam region at 22.50-23.05 on September 5, in uplands and near
Tapgaragoyunlu village of Azerbaijan’s Goranboy region at 14.30-15.00
on September 5 and at 03.30-04.00 on September 6, press service of
the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan said.

The enemy was silenced with reprisal fire and no casualties were
reported.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY WANT ARMENIA TO WITHDRAW FROM AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES IT HAS OCCUPIED

news.az
Sept 6 2010
Azerbaijan

‘EU needed Turkey as much as Turkey needed the EU.’ Mevlut Cavusoglu,
a Turkish lawmaker and president of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE), said on Saturday that European Union
(EU) needed Turkey as much as Turkey needed the EU.

Cavusoglu addressed a conference “Role of Turkey in the European Union”
in Gothenbourg, where he came after concluding his talks in Stockholm.

Commenting on the constitutional package that would be put to vote
on September 12 in Turkey, Cavusoglu said, “Turkey should get rid of
the shames and rule of law should prevail in the country. In case
the constitutional package gets necessary vote on September 12,
Turkey will approach the EU standards and proceed on its way. We
attach importance to this constitutional package.”

Cavusoglu said, “Turkey has good relations with Europe in the West and
with its own neighbors in the East. It also has good relations with
the Islamic world. Turkey is eager to boost relations with surrounding
countries. We want Armenia to withdraw from Azerbaijani territories
it has occupied. Our relations with Armenia will get normalized in
case this condition is met.”

He said, “Turkey will continue to pursue a balanced foreign policy,
indicating that it was Turkey’s assignment to assist Turkish
Republics.”

Cavusoglu also rejected “a shift of axis” in Turkey’s foreign policy
direction, noting, “Turkey pursues a multidimensional foreign policy
as a requirement of its historical and cultural responsibilities.

Turkey’s bid to become an EU member has not changed. It still
constitutes the most important strategic target of Turkey’s policy.”

Cavusoglu said Turkey assumed important missions in international
organizations like the PACE, United Nations, OSCE and NATO, “this
is an evidence that there is not a shift of axis in Turkish foreign
policy,” he added.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA STILL THINKS IN TERMS OF 1988, MP

news.az
Sept 6 2010
Azerbaijan

Aydin Mirzazade Member of parliament of Azerbaijan Aydin Mirzazade
believes that the political leadership of Armenia still thinks in
terms of late 80’s.

‘The current leaders of Armenia who have seized powers on the wave of
Karabakh today do not see any way of development and cannot properly
assess the current reality’, said deputy of Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan
Aydin Mirzazade, commenting on the statement of the Armenian President
that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict can have
only one solution and that solution is the international recognition
of its independence.

According to the deputy, the leadership of Armenia still thinks in
terms of 1988, although it is well aware that the problem of Nagorno
Karabakh will not resolved on the basis of their statements.

‘Today it is Azerbaijan’s turn to propose an initiative, a factor
that can solve this problem is the power and position of Azerbaijan.

Against this background, Armenians want to show that they also
supposedly have strength.

In fact, Azerbaijan is not interested in Armenia’s position. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved on the basis of the
territorial integrity of our country, and Azerbaijan is doing
everything possible for the purpose’, he said.

Asked about Turkey’s position in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the deputy stressed the changelessness
of Turkey’s position in supporting Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI-BRITISH INTERPARLIAMENTARY WORKING GROUP NEGOTIATE IN LONDON

Azerbaijan Business Center
Sept 6 2010

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The delegation of the Azerbaijani parliament,
consisting of members of the Azerbaijan-British working group on
inter-parliamentary communications Chingiz Asadullayev, Aydin Abbasov
and Fuad Muradov and head of the parliament’s apparatus Safa Mirzoyev,
is on a visit to London.

The Azerbaijani parliament informs, the visit will last till
September 7. Meetings will be held with members of the working group
on cooperation with Azerbaijan of the British parliament, secretariat
and members of the parliament within the framework of the visit. A
subject of negotiations will be interparliamentary connections,
prospects for cooperation, situation with the Armenian-Azerbaijan
conflict, Azerbaijanu election system and so on.

From: A. Papazian

PM ATTENDED “TOUMANIAN FAIRY DAY” OPENING IN DSEGH

Panorama
Sept 6 2010
Armenia

Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan attended on Sunday “Toumanian
fairy tale day” in Dsegh, Government’s press service reported.

After the official opening ceremony, the PM walked in the community,
visited the village and the school.

After visiting Toumanian Museum-house Togran Sargsyan answered to
the reporters’ questions stating: “We want to have public attention
on this event, and it would be better if all the parents took their
children to this international festival.”

PM Tigran Sargsyan attended the festival with his spouse and sons.

From: A. Papazian

EU CONCERNED OVER SITUATION ON FRONT

news.az
Sept 6 2010
Azerbaijan

Peter Semneby The EU is concerned over the recent incidents on
the front.

The statement came from EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby visiting Azerbaijan. The European diplomat also
refused to comment on the question of finding body of the deceased
Azerbaijani soldier in the Armenian side:

‘We are concerned over the incidents on the front lines. A good
referral is needed to draw attention to peace talks. As for the body
of the Azerbaijani ensign, I would not want to comment on the details.

This is the OSCE’s business, there are other humanitarian organizations
engaged in this issue. I will not comment on this issue, unless this
issue finds solution’.

The EU official said that these matters are the competence of the
OSCE and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

‘The OSCE carries out the observation mission and negotiations. ICRC is
also working on the issue. The EU, of course, adheres to international
rights and human rights. But I would like to repeat again that I do
not want to comment unless some details in this issue are settled.

Certainly, I would like to discuss the Karabakh issue. We hope that
the OSCE co-chairs will assist us in the investigation of this issue
and will give impetus to promote peacekeeping activities’, said the
EU Special Representative for South Caucasus.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN WAS PRESENT AT THE PARADE DEDICATED TO THE RESCUER’S DAY

President.am
Sept 6 2010
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan was present at the parade dedicated
to the Rescuer’s Day and the inauguration of the new building of the
Ministry for Emergency Situations.

The parade was attended by all the rescue and fire-fighters units of
the Ministry’s central office and regional branches.

On the occasion of the holiday, the President of Armenia awarded the
rank of Major General to the long-time servicemen of the Ministry –
Head of the Rescue Services of the RA, Colonel of Rescue Services
Sergei Azarian and Head of the Department of the Services, Colonel
of Rescue Services Vachagan Nikoghosian.

After the festivities, the President of Armenia toured the new building
of the Ministry for Emergency Situations and observed facilities for
firefighters training.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE WORLD-FAMOUS FRENCH ACTOR GERARD DEPARDIEU

President.am
Sept 6 2010
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the world-famous French
actor Gerard Depardieu who has arrived to Armenia in the framework
of the Second International Karot festival.

Welcoming the renowned guest, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude
to all those who promote the Armenian culture. According to Serzh
Sargsyan, the very participation of Gerard Depardieu in this festival
is great support for the Armenian culture.

“We, Armenians are in general very emotional people. We view ourselves
as a culture-loving nation and believe that culture is the core of our
national identity. We constantly receive impulses and signals from that
core, from our the roots and these signals sustain our resilience,”
the President of Armenia said, stressing that there is hardly anyone
in Armenia who wouldn’t know Gerard Depardieu.

At the meeting with the President of Armenia, the famous actor noted
that he knows very well all those Armenians living in France who
survived the Genocide and their descendents. “I am too very proud and
thankful to be here, in Armenia. Here I feel like an Armenian. With
time I came to know many Armenians living in France, who after the
Genocide of 1915 were able to go on living and rebuilt their lives
thanks to their culture and resilience. I know all the members
of the Armenian community and their children. They are directors
and film makers like Anri Vernoy, artists like Jansem, singer and
composers like Charles Aznavour. That’s why I responded with pleasure
to the invitation of the Armenian Fund for Cultural Development,
especially after seeing pictures of your country. When a country has
such long-established traditions and amazing geography it means that
the Armenians have a very tolerant, generous and rich nature.”

From: A. Papazian