Author: Babajanian Karo

The Star Online > North
Friday November 18, 2011

Sarkies brothers ran a chain of prestigious hotels in Penang
By CHRISTINA CHIN and JEREMY TAN
[email protected]
Photos by ZAINUDDIN AHAD

THE Kardashian sisters may be the most famous Armenian family globally
but
in South East Asia, the Sarkies brothers are historical heroes
especially among hoteliers.
The Sarkies brothers, Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak, were best
known for founding and managing a chain of luxury hotels throughout
South East Asia including E&O Hotel, and Crag Hotel on Penang Hill.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) secretary Clement Liang said the Armenian
community in Penang had made great contributions to the region
especially in Singapore and Penang.
`The Armenian community were a minority but their contributions were
significant especially in establishing and running a chain of
prestigious hotels in Penang.
`In George Town, you have Armenian Street and Aratoon Road.
`The latter was named after Arathoon Anthony who brought his family to
Penang in 1819. He was a trader and planter.
Distinguished man: Arshak Sarkies, one of the brothers who founded
the E&O Hotel
`The Armenian community in Penang used to worship at St Gregory’s
Church which was located between Penang Street and King Street.
`Unfortunately, the Armenian community no longer live here. Most
migrated to the US, Australia and Singapore in the 1930s,’ he said,
adding that there were some 40 Armenians buried in the state.
Descendants of the Sarkies brothers, Jessie Ripsie and Loretta Regina,
recalled how their late grandfather Arathoon Martin Sarkies (a cousin
of the brothers), died a broken man.
`He was known as `Tuan Besar’ in the Riau Islands of Indonesia because
he was very wealthy and successful.
`Unfortunately, he lost our family inheritance because he trusted the
wrong man.
Elegant lady: Regina Sarkies, the grandma of sisters Loretta and
Jessie
`He had one son and three daughters but my father was too young to
take over the business.
`At the age of 71, he asked a boatman to take him out to sea and when
the boat stopped, he removed his gold Rolex and valuables, handed it
to the man and jumped into the sea.
`He was almost a bankrupt then,’ Jessie told a press conference at the
E&O Hotel in George Town yesterday.
In rememberance: Loretta laying flowers at the grave of Arshak
Sarkies, while (from left) Jessie and husband Patrick Royston, and E&O
Hotel communications and PR manager Mazeta Hassan look on
She said their father, James Arathoon Martin Sarkies, died in 1977,
disappointed at how the family’s legacy had been lost.
`I always used to tell him that at least we had a roof over our heads
although we did not have an inheritance,’ she said.
Recalling happier times, the sisters spoke of their father’s love for
cars.
`He would take us around, and point out different makes and models. We
had to learn it and know it!’ Jessie said.
Talking about their childhood, Jessie recalled an incident during the
Japanese Occupation during World War II, when soldiers chased her
mother, Madelline May Didier, around, intent on hurting her and a
young Loretta who was in her arms.
`Those were terrible times. The trauma and sounds of bombs raining
from above, and the explosions that followed, stays with you,’ Loretta
said.

© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

TRIAL PERIOD OVER, TURKEY’S CONTROVERSIAL INTERNET FILTER GOES INTO EFFECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 18, 2011 – 13:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A controversial decision by Turkey’s Information
and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to begin filtering
the Internet will go into effect on Nov. 22, following the end of a
three month trial period that began on Aug. 22.

“Users who have not issued any requests will continue to use their
current Internet. There are two profiles available on the Secure
Internet Service, namely the child and family profiles,” said Tayfun
Acarer, the head of the BTK.

Following the end of the testing period on Nov. 22, Internet users
will be able to take advantage of the service on a voluntary basis
and for free, according to reports.

The infrastructure for the Secure Internet Service was set up by
access providers, Acarer said, adding that members who demand the
service would issue their request to Internet service providers.

“Members will be able to switch between profiles any moment they
desire with the password and username obtained from Internet service
providers, or discontinue the Secure Internet Service if they are
dissatisfied with it, or no longer need it,” Acarer said.

The service was arranged in response to demands and complaints issued
to the BTK by Internet users, he added.

The introduction of the Secure Internet Service is based on an article
in the consumer rights regulation that has been effective since July
28, 2010.

Of the nearly 11.5 million active Internet users in Turkey, 22,000
are utilizing the secure Internet profile.

The decision to unveil the filters has prompted anger from Internet
users who have expressed concerns that the government will use the
measures to censor online information, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION LEAVES FOR GEORGIA ON TWO-DAY VISIT

/ARKA/
November 18, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 18./ARKA/. An Armenian government delegation led
by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan is leaving today for Georgia on
a two-day working visit to attend the 9th session of the bilateral
commission on economic cooperation.

The session is hosted by the city of Batumi, the capital of Adjaria
autonomous republic. In Batumi Tigran Sargsyan will have a tete-a-tete
meeting with his Georgian counterpart Nik Gilauri. The session will
be followed by a joint news conference of two prime ministers.

Tigran Sargsyan will meet there also with members of the local Armenian
community. The Armenian delegation comprises ministers of economy,
transport and communications, deputy minister energy and natural
resources, first deputy territorial administration ministers as well
as deputy foreign and agriculture ministers and some other senior
government officials.

“WILL A NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EU REFUSE THE DARK PRACTICE OF HIS PREDECESSOR?” – MEMBER OF KARABAKH PARLIAMENT ASKS

arminfo
Thursday, November 17, 18:21

During her trip to Baku High Representative of European Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that EU is
ready to assist settlement of the Karabakh conflict and added that
appointment of EU special representative on Nagornyy Karabakh has
demonstrated the wish of this structure to take an active part in
resolving of the conflict.

She also added settlement of the conflict and reaching peace is the key
value for the EU. “All this is praiseworthy. But will a new special
representative of the EU Philippe Lefort refuse the dark practice of
his predecessor Peter Semneby, which during the years of staying at
such a position of responsibility has never visited the key party to
the conflict – Nagornyy Karabakh?” – member of Karabakh parliament
Garik Grigoryan asked when commenting on Catherine Ashton’s statement.

He also said that “European officials understand very well that
settlement of the conflict and reaching stable peace in the South
Caucasus is impossible without contacts with civil societies of all
the parties to the conflict and without the real steps on improvement
of the situation in the region.” “For this reason, the new special
representative of the EU has to refuse the dark to ignore
the people of the NKR. He should establish direct contacts with the
authorities and civil societies of the true parties to the conflict.

Only in that case, one can reach specific results which meet principles
of the international law. The true desire to help resolving of
the conflict must surpass the European oil and gas interests”, –
he concluded.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN: BRITISH PETROLEUM HOLDS GREAT BRITAIN FROM WAGING BALANCED POLICY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

arminfo
Thursday, November 17, 19:07

British Petroleum Company with its huge investments in Azerbaijan’s
economy is indirectly hindering effective development of relations of
Armenia and Britain. Naira Zohrabyan, Head of the Armenian Parliament
Commission for European Integration, made such statement during
her meeting with Joseph Gold, British Envoy for the South Caucasus,
Thursday. Naira Zohrabyan said that she hopes for future balanced
policy of the UK in the South Caucasus despite the fact that Britain’s
share in total investments in Azerbaijan makes up 50%.

Zohrabyan said that British Delegate to PACE Mike Hancock is directly
funded by Azerbaijan and is actively lobbying for Baku’s interests.

Hence, cooperation of Armenia and UK at international structures
cannot be regarded as effective, unfortunately, she said. However,
she hopes that the British Parliament and political forces will be
consistent in revelation of their bribed parliamentarians.

IRAN, ARMENIA CALL FOR EXPANDING TIES

asbarez
Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Sarksian and Ahmadinejad in March

YEREVAN, TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)-The presidents of Armenia and
Iran Thursday had a phone conversation, during which they reiterated
the importance of expanding and maximizing relations between the
two countries.

During the phone call, the Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad
told President Serzh Sarkisian that there is abundant ground for the
further development of ties and cooperation between Tehran and Yerevan.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes maximum expansion of relations
between the two countries, in various cultural, economic and political
realms and welcomes any move which facilitate that objective,”
said Ahmadinejad.

He also emphasized the two nations’ age-old historical and cultural
relations, and said the Iranian and Armenian people have genuine
feelings for each other “and this has provided an appropriate capacity
and potential for the reinvigoration of relations between the two
countries”.

“Armenia is seeking to further bolster the relations between the two
countries in the different fields, specially in economy, and believes
that close ties with Tehran would serve the interests of both nations
as well as the other nations in the region,” said Sarkisian.

The Iranian president plans to visit Yerevan by the end of this year.

According to Armenia’s presidential press service details for
Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iran were also discussed.

Earlier this month, the Director-General of the Iranian Presidential
Office for International Affairs had told FNA that President
Ahmadinejad would pay a visit to Armenia in the near future.

The Iranian president was last in Armenia in October 2007. During
his two day visit to the Central Asian state, Ahmadinejad met with
university students and professors and Iranian expatriates in Armenia,
and signed four agreements and a joint statement.

Also during the same visit, the University of Yerevan granted an
honorary PhD degree to the Iranian president.

Sargsian was in Tehran in March to attend the Iranian New Year
festivities.

EREVAN EXCLUT TOUT ROLE DE L’ONU DANS LE CONFLIT DU KARABAKH
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 17 novembre 2011

Les Nations unies ne joueront aucun rôle dans les efforts
internationaux en vue de mettre fin au conflit du Nagorno-Karabakh meme
après que l’Azerbaïdjan soit devenu membre de son Conseil de securite
a annonce le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères Edouard Nalbandian.

Edouard Nalbandian a soutenu que les Etats-Unis, la Russie et la France
continuent a partager l’avis de l’Armenie que le Groupe de Minsk de
l’OSCE co-preside par ces pays doit rester l’instance internationale
clef obtenant par mediation les pourparlers de paix armeno-azeri.

” Les trois pays co-presidents et les membres permanents du Conseil
de securite – les Etats-Unies, la France et la Russie – ont declare
a plusieurs reprises que le conflit du Nagorno-Karabakh doit etre
resolu dans le cadre du Groupe de Minsk et pas deplace vers d’autres
structurese a-t-il dit aux deputes armeniens.

” Donc je pense il n’y a aucun besoin d’etre surpris en raison
des declarations venant de l’Azerbaïdjan ” a-t-il dit pendant les
discussions parlementaires sur le budget de l’etat pour 2012.

Edouard Nalbandian a mentionne les plans annonces par les leaders
azeris d’employer leur adhesion de deux ans au Conseil de securite
pour trouver une solution au conflit du Karabakh desirable par Bakou.

Les politiciens de l’opposition et quelques analystes a Erevan ont
exprime leur inquietude face a cette situation. Ils ont aussi critique
le gouvernement armenien pour avoir echouer a empecher l’election de
l’Azerbaïdjan au Conseil de securite la semaine dernière.

Edoaurd Nalbandian a ecarte cette reaction comme ” trop “emotionnel “.

Il a dit qu’Erevan n’est pas derange par la place de l’Azerbaidjan
au conseil et continuera avec sa politique sur le Karabakh sans ”
convulsions nerveuses “.

Armen Rustamian, le president de la commission des affaires etrangères
du Parlement et un dfes leaders de la Federation Revolutionnaire
Armenienne, a rejete les arguments du ministre.

” Je ne partage absolument pas le point de vue que nous ne devons
pas reagir avec emotion au devenir de l’Azerbaïdjan comme membre
non-permanent du Conseil de securite ” a-t-il dit aux journalistes. ”
Ce n’est pas une reponse adequate a la situation “.

Armen Rustamian n’a cependant pas defie Edouard Nalbandian quand ce
dernier s’est adresse aux membres de sa commission de l’Assemblee
nationale

En capitalisant un appui fort de beaucoup d’autres nations Islamiques,
l’Azerbaïdjan a deja fait passer devant l’Assemblee Generale de l’ONU
en 2008 une resolution non contraignante qui exigeait ” un retrait
immediat, complet et inconditionnel des forces armeniennes des terres
azeries occupees “.

DEPUTY SPEAKER: OSCE MINSK GROUP MEMBER COUNTRIES WANT TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN RESOLVING KARABAKH PROBLEM

Trend
Nov 16 2011
Azerbaijan

Over 10 OSCE Minsk Group member countries want to be actively involved
in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Deputy Parliamentary
Speaker Bahar Muradova told journalists on Wednesday.

“Azerbaijan supports the involvement of these countries in the
settlement process,” Muradova said.

Expressing her attitude about statements regarding the necessity to
remove France’s co-chairmanship in the Minsk Group, Muradova said she
believes that it is going to happen in the near future. Any change in
co-chairmanship format will delay resolution of the Karabakh conflict,
Muradova underlined.

“If there are European Union and other international organizations
able to influence the negotiation process, they can do it with
the participation of France. Its replacement is not important,”
Muradova said.

She said three co-chair countries gained necessary experience over
the past period. “Replacement of one of the co-chairs by the other,
which is not familiar with the situation, may cause a problem,”
Muradova added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

TAL MEMORIAL CANNOT BE COMPARED TO OTHER CHESS TOURNAMENTS – ARMENIAN GM

news.am
Nov 16 2011
Armenia

Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian said Mikhail Tal tournament cannot
be compared to others.

“There are no random players there. Even if one of the participants
has a lower rating, as it is with China’s Wang Hao or Russia’s Ian
Nepomniachtchi, they nevertheless have formidable power. There is
certain discrepancy between the rating and the quality of their
skills,” said Aronian to R-sport agency.

Aronian is the third-ranking favorite of Tal Memorial – after
Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and Indian Viswanathan Anand. Israeli Boris
Gelfand, Vladimir Kramnik, Russians Sergey Karjakin, Peter Svidler,
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk and American Hikaru
Nakamura are listed among the participants.

Moscow-based tournament will end on November 25. It has the highest
average rating of participants (2776) in the world.

ARMENIA MAKES CHESS COMPULSORY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

The Telegraph

Nov 16 2011
UK

Armenia, one of the world players in chess, has made it mandatory in
school for ages seven to nine.

Chess is a national obsession in the country of three million.

The passion was fostered in modern times by the exploits of chess
champion Tigran Petrosian, who won the world championship in 1963
and then successfully defended his title three years later.

In July, a six-person national squad came first at the World Team
Chess Championship in Ningbo, China. The returning players and
their coach were greeted as heroes and collectively awarded $20,000
(£12,600). That group included up-and-coming player Levon Aronian, 28,
who is currently rated third in the World Chess Federation’s rankings.

Armenian authorities say teaching chess in school is about building
character, not breeding chess champs.

The education minister says taking the pastime into classrooms
will help nurture a sense of responsibility and organization among
schoolchildren, as well as serving as an example to the rest of
the world.