Author: Babajanian Karo

WE MUST ENCOURAGE ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TOWARD A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION – SWEDISH FM

news.am
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

BAKU. – Sweden supports the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt stated in
an interview with Azerbaijani APA news agency.

In his words, the Karabakh conflict brings forth a serious concern
not only for the two countries involved in the conflict, but also
for the entire region and the international community.

“We must encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan in finding a peaceful
resolution. The two parties need to refrain from aggressive rhetoric
and, instead, create a basis for establishing peace between their
populations,” Bildt stated, adding that, “the European Union must
support this process and show the region’s population that many
benefits can be attained by way of peace.”

SWEDEN SUPPORTS OSCE MINSK GROUP EFFORTS

Panorama
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

The conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh is a serious alarm not only for
Azerbaijan and Armenia, but the entire region and the international
community, Swedish FM Carl Bildt told Azerbaijani “APA” news agency.

“We must encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to find ways for the
resolution of the conflict. In this respect Sweden supports the
efforts put forth by the OSCE Minsk Group,” he said.

WIKILEAKS ON HRANT DINK’S CONVERSATIONS WITH US OFFICIALS

news.am
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

WikiLeaks website published a cable presenting excerpts from
conversations of chief editor of Armenian Agos newspaper Hrant Dink
with U.S. officials. In particular, the cable classified by U.S.

Consul General in Istanbul Deborah Jones discloses the details of
Dink’s meeting with the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom in Istanbul.

Speaking of ethnic minorities and religious affairs in Turkey Hrant
Dink said on the surface there is religious freedom churches, schools
and ability to worship are unrestricted; but this type of freedom
is misleading.

“It is like a bird which in theory is free to fly, except that it
has broken wings,” he added.

He also commented on Turkey’s joining the European Union stressing
that “the EU accession process is based on fear, not willingness,
which explains why it is going so slowly.”

“I can honestly say that as a Christian living in the Muslim world I
am very lucky in comparison. Historically, negative moments are not
based on religion but rather nationalism,” Dink said. Hrant Dink,
chief editor of the bilingual Armenian-Turkish Agos newspaper, was
killed near his office in Istanbul on January 19, 2007 by Turkish
ultranationalist Ogun Samast.

Al-Arabiya , UAE
Sept 11 2011

3,000 Armenians attend mass in renovated Church in Turkey

Sunday, 11 September 2011

Thousands of Armenians from Turkey but also from the diaspora gathered
for a mass in a 10th century church in the eastern part of the
country, press reports said Sunday.

It was the second mass held in the Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar
Island on lake Van since it was renovated in 2005-2007 and turned into
a museum. A first mass was held there last year.

Turkish television reports said boat shuttles ferried the pilgrims,
most of them from Turkey but some from Armenia and Europe, to Akdamar.

A new lakeside pier was built this year to accommodate the faithful,
local authorities said.

Nearly 30,000 tourists flocked to the church, which hosts one
religious service annually, last year, the Turkish tourism ministry
said.

Monsignor Aram Atessian, who the interim head of the Armenian
patriarchate who chaired the ceremony this year, told the Anatolia
news agency that around 3,000 people arrived on the island, and only
6O percent of them were able to enter the church. The others heard the
mass outside through loudspeakers.

The Church of the Holy Cross is one of the rare vestiges of what was
once a large Armenian community in Turkey under the Ottoman rule.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin fell victim to genocide
during World War I under the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey counters that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many
Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their
Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian forces.

In 2009, Ankara and Yerevan signed landmark accords to end decades of
animosity, establish diplomatic relations and reopen the border, but
the effort faltered and Armenia froze the ratification process of the
accords.

news.am, Armenia
Sept 11 2011

Armenia supports organizations operating in Diaspora – president

September 10, 2011 | 17:28

YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met the delegation of
Armenian General Athletic Union (AGAU) on Saturday in Tsakhkadzor.
AGAU held its supreme delegation general meeting. A total of 110
delegates from 100 branches operating in 20 states participated in the
meeting.

The president and the participants touched upon the activity and the
upcoming plans of the Union, and Sargsyan responded to their
questions, president’s press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Serzh Sargsyan stated that he supports the organizations operating in
the Diaspora and will do anything necessary to strengthen the ties
between homeland and the Diaspora. He works gradually on holding all
the events in Armenia and making them more massive.

The more Armenia succeeds, the stronger the Diaspora will be. Head of
Armenia paid special importance to the activity of Armenian-centered
Diaspora.

Sargsyan wished success to AGAU, stressing its role in strengthening
Armenia-Diaspora relations, supporting the preservation of Armenians
abroad

Kosovo may revise Ottoman history

09/09/2011

As students in Kosovo head back to class this month, they may be
seeing some changes in their history classes.

By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina — 09/09/11

Some textbooks in Kosovo might get a makeover. [Reuters]

During a recent visit to Pristina, Turkish Minister of Education Omer
Dinçer requested that the government remove part of the history texts
regarding the Ottoman rule in Kosovo.

The response from Pristina was fast. After the meeting last month,
Education Minister Rame Buja confirmed that a special commission has
been appointed to make certain changes in the books. The commission
has visited Turkey, and is verifying historical facts, he said.

“The new history books in Kosovo will be available in the next school
year,” Buja said.

However, not everyone is on board for the changes.

Analyst Ndue Ukaj says that history cannot be changed because facts
cannot be altered, even if the Turkish and Kosovo ministries want
that.

“Turkey must show greater tolerance towards Albanians, to accept the
historical facts and repent for the destruction of numerous invasions
they have done to the Albanians. The period of Ottoman history is what
it is,” Ukaj says.

He warns that such a move might harm inter-faith relations among the
Albanians. “Christians will not accept any form of alienation in
history.”

Turkish Ambassador to Kosovo Songul Ozan told RTK that the project
does not aim to change history.

“With this agreement, it is intended that future generations learn
[history] … cleared of bias,” said Ozan.

Balkan Policy Institute Executive Director Seb Bytyci said that the
review of history should happen for the sake of science.

“[It] is productive if it’s done for the sake of academic rigors. But
if it’s done for political purposes, it will create new conflict and
would complicate the Albanian-Turkish relations,” Bytyci said.

Olsi Jazexhi, a PhD candidate who studies Albanian nationalism,
pointed out that many countries in the region have changed their
historical narrative.

“After the fall of Communism, the books where the West was seen as
hostile were changed. [Textbooks were also reviewed] after the break
up of Yugoslavia, when the international community asked [countries]
to remove hate stories that spurred the conflicts in the Balkans,” he
explains.

Jazexhi says that a review of history in Kosovo and Albania is
necessary to clear the books of communist ideology.

“The history of the Ottomans shown in a more positive and
non-confrontational way will make the Albanians feel closer to the
Turks as a result of the common religion they have,” he argues.

Kosovo political commentator Fatlum Sadiku says that while a review of
history regarding the Ottoman period is needed, historians in Kosovo
are scared to do it.

He says Kosovo needs its own history, not the history written in
Tirana or Belgrade.

“Kosovo should have its specific history, [free of] myths … and free
of notions offensive to certain periods, and against certain nations.”

165th Birth Anniversary of Sir Paul Chater in Hong Kong

hetq
13:19, September 11, 2011

On 8th September 2011, on the occasion of the 165th Birth Anniversary
of Sir Catchik Paul Chater (Khatchik Poghos Astvatsaturian), with the
blessings of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of
Armenians in India and Manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic
Academy and the Armenian Church Committee of India visited Hong Kong
to pay homage to the benevolent Armenian at his graveside. The
pilgrims censed at the sepulchre of Sir Catchick Paul Chater for his
eternal peace whilst Father Khoren conducted “Repose of Souls” Service
for the great Armenian. The visitors paid respect, tribute and bowed
before the memorial of Paul Chater.

Sir Chater was born in Calcutta, India on 8th September, 1846 and was
baptised at the Armenian Church of Holy Nazareth. At the age of 18,
Paul Chater settled in Hong Kong where by virtue of his tireless
industry, gained immense wealth and became the most significant person
of Honk Kong. From 1876 to 1926, Chater was the Consul of the Senior
Justice of Peace in Hong Kong and for over 40 years has served as the
adviser to the Governor-General of Hong Kong, and was also a member of
the Legislative and Executive Council of Hong Kong.

In 1902, Chater was knighted by the King of the United Kingdom, Edward
VII. The doors of Buckingham Palace have since remained open for Sir
Catchick Paul Chater.

Catchick Paul Chater is the most significant benefactor of the
Armenian Community of India. He has contributed immensely to the
Armenian Churches of India and built the Armenian Old Age Home of
Kolkata. In addition, Paul Chater has made a generous contribution for
the survivors of the Armenian Genocide in Great Britain through his
“Armenian Immigrants Benevolent Fund”.

Sir Paul Chater left for his heavenly abode in 1926. The impact of his
death had been so great that for months it had affected the global
stock market.

Today, Paul Chater’s name in Hong Kong is still held in affection and
as a mark of respect to his departed soul, there are memorials in Honk
Kong like “Chater Park”, “Chater Road”, “Chater Street” etc.

AZERBAIDJAN
Black-out sur la mort d’un détenu dans une province azerbaïdjanaise :
« Le Nakhitchevan est une zone de non-droit »

« Après avoir éliminé la quasi-totalité des sources d’information, les
services de sécurité du Nakhitchevan se livrent en toute impunité à
des exactions intolérables, a déclaré Reporters sans frontières. Les
quelques journalistes indépendants subsistant sur place se trouvent
sous forte pression. La mort en détention d’un citoyen arrêté la
veille et la disparition de quatre autres personnes, constituent un
test pour les autorités centrales azerbaïdjanaises, signataire de la
Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme et parties au Conseil de
l’Europe et à l’OSCE. Si Bakou veut montrer qu’il est souverain sur
cette partie du pays et respectueux de ses engagements internationaux,
il doit immédiatement permettre à la presse de travailler et remettre
au pas des autorités provinciales qui s’enfoncent dans une dérive
autoritaire toujours plus violente ».

Journalistes pris à partie, convocations par les services de sécurité,
mur du silence… Les autorités du Nakhitchevan tentent de mettre en
place un blocus de l’information concernant le décès en détention d’un
habitant du village d’Arazin (district de Julfa), Turac Zeynalov.

Alors qu’ils interviewaient les membres de la famille Zeynalov, des
journalistes ont été pris à partie par des officiers du MNS (Ministère
de la sécurité nationale), qui ont tenté de saisir leurs caméras et
microphones. La correspondante de l’agence de presse indépendante
Turan, Malahat Nasibova, s’est fait insulter par un agent qui l’a
accusé de collaborer avec les « ennemis de la nation ». La journaliste
a ensuite été convoquée au MNS, mais elle a refusé de s’y rendre.
Reporters sans frontières se déclare inquiète quant à sa sécurité.

Le 24 août 2011, Turac Zeynalov a été convoqué par le MNS. Sans
nouvelles de lui, ses proches se sont rendus le lendemain dans les
locaux du ministère où ils n’ont trouvé que son corps, portant des
traces de tortures d’une grande violence, notamment au visage. Les
officiers auraient reconnu l’avoir « giflé une ou deux fois, pour lui
apprendre », mais dans son communiqué officiel, le MNS affirme que
Turac Zeynalov est décédé « des suites d’un cancer ». La famille n’a
pour l’heure reçu aucun document médical attestant des causes de son
décès, et toutes ses demandes d’explication se sont heurtées au
silence des autorités.

D’après le MNS, Turac Zeynalov se serait rendu coupable d’espionnage
au profit de l’Iran, un crime de « haute trahison ». Aucune preuve n’a
été produite et les autorités locales se refusent à tout autre
commentaire, mettant même en garde contre les « rumeurs ». De son
côté, le ministère de l’Intérieur azerbaïdjanais à Bakou a répondu aux
journalistes que « Bakou ne pouvait interférer dans les affaires du
Nakhitchevan ». D’après l’agence Turan, on serait sans nouvelles de
quatre autres jeunes hommes récemment convoqués au MNS.

Le regain de tension entre l’Azerbaïdjan et son voisin iranien n’est
que le dernier prétexte en date pour justifier la répression dans la
république autonome du Nakhitchevan, où la pression sur les
journalistes s’est récemment accrue. Tortures, envoi en hôpital
psychiatrique et détention arbitraire sont choses fréquentes dans ce
territoire azerbaïdjanais, séparé du reste du pays par l’Arménie.

dimanche 11 septembre 2011,
Sté[email protected]

HAUT KARABAGH
230 violations du cessez le feu au Haut Karabagh la semaine écoulée

Malgré le cessez le feu signé en 1994 les positions arméniennes du
Haut Karabagh continuent d’être les cibles de tirs azéris. Dans la
semaine du 4 au 10 septembre, les Azéris ont violé à 230 reprises le
régime du cessez le feu en tirant plus de 1 200 projectiles de divers
calibres sur les positions arméniennes des forces armées de la
République du Haut Karabagh. Fort heureusement aucune victime n’est à
déplorer. Les Arméniens n’ont pas réplique, selon le ministère de la
Défense de la République du Haut Karabagh.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 11 septembre 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 10 2011

Azerbaijani FM: Uruguay supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity

[10.09.2011 12:45]
Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.10 / Trend, S.Agayeva /

Uruguay respects international law principles and supports
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s
official representative Elman Abdullayev told Trend.

The Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro stood for recognition of
the separatist region in Nagorno Karabakh while commenting on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict at a meeting on the Armenian-Uruguayan
relations initiated by the Armenian National Committee of America in
South America and Uruguay-Armenia parliamentary group on Friday,
Armenian media outlets reported.

“The Azerbaijani Embassy in Buenos Aires is clarifying the situation
and has already contacted the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry. While
speaking to our ambassador in Buenos Aires Mammad Ahmadzade, Uruguayan
Deputy Foreign Minister R. Carreras confirmed that Uruguay respects
the principles of international law, supports Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, as well as mediatory activity of the OSCE Minsk Group,”
Abdullayev told Trend.
Obviously, the information was disseminated by the Armenian news
sites, historically, we have witnessed distortion of information by
the Armenian media outlets, who always try to pass the desirable for
reality, he added.

Abdullayev once again said that the Azerbaijani Embassy in Argentina
continues to be closely engaged in clarifying the situation.

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.