IN SOURP STEPANOS CHURCH OF LARNACA WILL BE CELEBRATED "DIARNENTARACH"
Noyan Tapan
Feb 12, 2010
CYPRUS, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. On 13 February
in Sourp Stepanos church of Larnaca on the eve of the feast of
"Diarnentarach" will be a small celebration. All young couples are
encouraged to attend the traditional fire ceremony and they will jump
over the fire. About this we know from
HERITAGE PARTY CALLS FOR "PROTOCOLS PROTEST" OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT
/
2010/02/12
Important Politics
Protests to begin the day Protocols are sent to Parliament for
ratification
The Heritage Party publicly declared today that it would be organizing
demonstrations outside the National Assembly the day the Armenia-Turkey
Protocols are introduced for ratification. The party, in its statement,
calls on all those who oppose these "traitorous and destructive"
documents to join with them in voicing their disapproval.
Heritage says that on that infamous day of reckoning, the entire
nation and those political forces that truly represent the national
interests of the people must once and for all prove to the authorities
in power that their determination to struggle for honour and dignity
is unwavering.
CHINESE CORNER OPENED IN YSU LIBRARY
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.02.2010 18:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On February 11, opening of Chinese corner was held in
Yerevan State University library, attended by the advisor of Chinese
Embassy in Armenia.
The event was organized by YSU library, Chinese Center of Culture
and Science and YSU Culture Center.
Chinese Center of Culture and Science was the author of the initiative.
ARMENIA TO SEND PROTOCOLS WITH TURKEY TO PARLIAMENT
Today’s Zaman
Feb 11 2010
Turkey
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan on Wednesday said he will submit
protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia for the normalization of
bilateral relations between the two estranged neighbors to the Armenian
parliament for ratification. He said, however, that he expected Turkey
to ratify and start implementing the protocols before Armenia.
Speaking during a working visit to London, Sarksyan also dismissed
Ankara’s negative reaction to a ruling of the Armenian constitutional
court last month on the two protocols.
"After this meeting at Chatham House, I intend to instruct my personnel
to send these documents to Armenia’s National Assembly to start the
ratification process," he said in a speech at the Royal Institute
of International Affairs, a London-based think tank also known as
Chatham House.
"I reaffirm that as the political leader of the [Armenian]
parliamentary majority, I exclude [the possibility of] a failure by
Armenia’s parliament to ratify the protocols in the event of their
ratification by Turkey without preconditions in accordance with our
understandings," he said.
DRUG FROM TURKEY TO ARMENIA
Lragir.am
10/02/10
Is the Armenian Police able to control the criminogenic situation
after the opening of the Armenian and Turkish border? On February 10,
reporters asked the Chief of the Police Alik Sargsyan who had stated
before that a case of drug import by foreign citizens to Armenia was
revealed. He said that alongside with the increase of the number
of foreigners in Armenia, the number of crimes committed by them
increased to, but he considers this normal saying that 2010 is also
going to be such a year and the Police has already get accustomed to
this situation.
As to the possibility of drug import in case of the opening of the
Armenian and Turkish border, Alik Sargsyan says if people think that
the border is now closed, they are mistaken. Today too, big scale of
drug is imported to Armenia from Turkey. He stated that the Police
have enough potential to control the situation.
RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY THE U.S. IS INEVITABLE, GAGIK HARUTYUNIAN SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Feb 9, 2010
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The levers of influencing
the Karabakh conflict settlement are not growing through the
Armenian-Turkish normalization process, nor is Azerbaijan prompted to
resume hostilities. Director of Noravank scientific and educational
foundation Gagik Harutyunian told this to reporters on February 8.
He said that the possibility of war should never be excluded. However,
from the viewpoint of an expert, this possibility is not strong not
only because the main foreign players are not interested in that, but
also because of high fighting efficiency of the Armenian army. In the
strategic sense, the possibility of Turkey’s intervenion will grow – in
terms of its involvement in political processes in the South Caucasus,
but at the same time the Armenian side in this way also stipulates
Turkey’s neutral position on the Karabakh problem. He explained that
Turkey was a de facto combatant during the Nagorno Karbakh conflict:
it provided Azerbaijan with mercenaries and strategic advice. "We
will neutralize somewhat this position of Turkey," he noted.
Commenting on Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu’s statement
about formation of a Eurasian Union similar to the European Union,
G. Harutyunian said: "At one time osmanism led to the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire and this happened during World War I, and I think that
in the context of neo-osmanism, Turkey’s giddiness from its success
may lead to a failure, it is adventurism."
G. Harutyunian expressed an opinion that even if the U.S. does not
recognize the Armenian Genocide this year, one day this problem will be
seriously raised at the Senate and Congress and it will get a positive
solution. "The recognition of the Genocide is inevitable from the
viewpoint of an improvement in international relations in general,"
G. Harutyunian underlined. In his words, the process launched in the
U.S, the Genocide’s discussion held once again is another impulse
for Turkey to act more actively in Armenian-Turkish relations.
SECRET WITNESS OF DINK MURDER STILL NOT HEARD
BIA Net
Feb 8 2010
Turkey
The secret witness of the murder of Hrant Dink did not appear at court
because of a ‘misunderstanding of the referring directive’. Lawyer
Belen drew attention to that fact that important evidence is kept
confidential because it is accounted for as a "state secret".
Erol ONDEROLU [email protected] Istanbul – BIA News Center08 February
2010, Monday RELATED NEWS CLAIM FOR JUSTICE: Families of Murdered
Intellectuals Follow up Dink Murder Case The 12th hearing of the murder
case of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights defender Hrant
Dink was held on Monday (8 February) at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal
Court. 15 out of a total of 20 defendants attended the morning session,
among them five detained defendants. Five un-detained defendants did
not appear at court.
The secret witness who was present at the scene of crime at the
time of the murder was not heard by the court once again. The judge
informed the audience that he had given a written directive to the
police to bring the secret witness in for the hearing. However, it
was said that the police expected additional verbal instructions and
another directive by the prosecution. So, the statement of the secret
witness was postponed once more to the following hearing.
Three defendants altered their previous statements Witnesses Turan
Meral, Orhan OzbaÅ~_ and Kaan Gercek had stated in previous police
statements that murderer suspect Ogun Samast had shown them his weapon
when they were together with him in a car after Samast had arrived in
Istanbul. All three witnesses recalled that Samast had told them that
he was going to shoot somebody. Nevertheless, in yesterday’s hearing
Meral, OzbaÅ~_ and Gercek all claimed that they did not remember
and that they did not know anything. Joint attorney Bahri Bayram
Belen requested to take all three of them into detention because of
false testimony.
"A proof cannot be a ‘state secret’" President Judge Erkan Canak
read a document issued by security institutions upon request in the
morning session. The writing was concerned with the registered phone
numbers of Ramazan Akyurek’s intelligence staff to be presented to the
court. Saying that such information would endanger the intelligence
employees’ lives it was considered as a state secret and thus a
response could not be given to the court. Lawyer Belen said that the
document was unacceptable.
"A proof related to a crime cannot be kept confidential. It cannot
be considered as a state secret. This response should not be taken
into account".
Propaganda for Great Union Party After police informant Erhan Tuncel,
standing trial as the alleged instigator of the murder, requested to
speak, he addressed un-detained defendants YaÅ~_ar Cihan, former
Great Union Party (BBP) Provincial Chairman of Trabzon, and BBP
member Halis Egemen with the question, "Do you approve of this
murder?". President Judge Canak did not intervene against Tuncel’s
directing of the hearing.
Defendant Cihan answered, "It is impossible to approve of this murder.
We suffered a lot in the past". Defendant Egemen, whom Tuncel called
by the address of a close friend, replied with phrases from BBP
propaganda: "As BBP we are against actions aimed at human life. Human
life should be cherished so that the state can prosper. We like the
creation because of its creator".
Among the audience of the hearing were writer Adalet Agaoglu, the
children of murdered journalists Ugur Mumcu and Abdi Ä°pekci Ozgur
Mumcu and Nukhet Ä°pekci, the mother of killed journalist Metin
Göktepe Meryem Göktepe, Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) Chairman
Alper TaÅ~_, lawyers Turgut Kazan, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Taylan Tanay,
Prof. Dr.
Ä°brahim Kaboglu, MP Ufuk Uras, Elsa Vidal from the European Desk of
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Paris Bar Association Board Member
Vincen Nioré, Paris Bar Association Armenian Lawyers and Jurists
Association (AFAJA) Vice President Alexandre Aslanian, Paris Bar
Association Youth Confederation member Kee-Yoon Kim, Brussels Bar
Association representative Melinee Nazarian, the family of journalist
Cihan Hayırsevener who was killed in Bandırma on 18 December 2009,
Sema Kılıcer from the Turkey Representation of the European Union
(EU) Commission, EU Commission’s Vice President of the Turkey Desk
Christos Makridis and Ali Yurttagul from the Greens Group of the
European Parliament. (TK/VK)
GAS PRICE INCREASE TO CAUSE DRAM OFFER SLUMP AT FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.02.2010 16:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian MP, ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group
member Artsvik Minasyan urged citizens of Armenia to be more active in
defending their rights, promising social democratic parties’ support.
"Popular initiatives, backed up by political forces, can turn into
a major motive power," he emphasized.
"While discussing state budget for 2010, Dashnaktsutyun offered to
raise pensions, allowances and salaries in case of inflation, although
the government insists there is no immediate threat of inflation.
Nonetheless, oncoming gas price increase will definitely lead to new
inflation-caused pressure," Minasyan noted. "This, in turn, will spur
dram offer slump at foreign exchange market, subsequently impacting
product turnover in Armenia."
ArmRosGazprom CJSC addressed PSRC with a request to review current
tariff for consumers utilizing up to 10 000 cubic meters of gas, as
well as operator tariffs for supply, distribution and transportation
of natural gas.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is an Armenian
political party founded in Tiflis (Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia)
in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian
The ARF has the largest number of members from the political parties
present in the Armenian Diaspora, having established affiliates in
more than 200 countries.
The ARF Dashnaktsutyun led the effort toward the establishment of
the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for
the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia
in 1920, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its
leadership exiled.
In the Diaspora, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun fought Soviet rule over
Armenia and championed the cause of Armenian rights and independence;
it played a leading role in organizing a social and cultural framework
aimed at preserving the Armenian identity.
The ARF Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia during the
dissolution of the USSR, in 1990.
On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun were
"temporarily suspended" by the Armenian authorities. In view of
the political nature of the anti-ARF interdictions by the Armenian
authorities, the ARF continued to operate in Armenia. On February 9,
1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then president
Ter-Petrossian, the Justice Ministry lifted the ban on the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun.
Iran unveils two new anti-armor missiles
MOSCOW, February 7 (RIA Novosti)
Iran has started production of two domestically-developed missiles
with enhanced armor-penetration capability, the Iranian media has
reported.
The Iranian state TV footage showed on Saturday the Qaem ground-to-air
missile and the Toufan-5 anti-tank missile being test-fired at a
shooting range during the inauguration of two production lines for
these weapons.
"Once these advanced weapons are mass produced and delivered to the
Armed Forces, Iran’s defense power in ground and air combats will be
reinvigorated," the Iranian Fars news agency quoted Iranian Defense
Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying.
According to Vahidi, who attended the inauguration ceremony, the
Toufan 5 missile has two warheads and is capable of destroying armored
vehicles, tanks and personnel carriers due to its high
armor-penetration power.
The Qaem laser-guided surface-to-air missile is capable of destroying
aerial targets traveling at low speed and low altitude, especially
attack helicopters.
Iranian military officials earlier said Tehran had achieved
self-sufficiency in manufacturing combat missiles of various
modifications and developed an effective weapon to shoot down U.S.
Apache attack helicopters.
Iran launched a domestic arms development program after a U.S. weapons
embargo was imposed during its 1980-88 war with Iraq. Since 1992, the
Islamic Republic has reportedly produced its own Saeqeh and Azarakhsh
jet fighters, stealth-capable Ghadir submarine, missile boats,
torpedoes, tanks and armored carrier vehicles.
Iran frequently holds military drills and shows off modern weaponry in
an effort to demonstrate its readiness to thwart any attack on its
territory.
HERITAGE CAN RECONSIDER COLLABORATION WITH ARFD
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2010 18:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Collaboration between Heritage and ARF Dashnaktsutyun
was based on unacceptance of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement Protocols,
according to Heritage parliamentary group leader Stepan Safaryan.
As he told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Heritage is ready to cooperate
with all political forces of Armenia on the issue. "Yet, the statement
of ARF Dashnaksutyun Bureau member Vahan Hovhannesyan can make us
reconsider our position," he pointed out.
"Heritage does not support Protocols ratification in any form, with
or without reservations," Safaryan emphasized.
The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.
On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law