Author: Babajanian Karo

AZERBAIJAN EXPRESSES OFFICIAL PROTEST AGAINST ARMENIA’S ENTRANCE INTO CUSTOMS UNION

Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 27 2013

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Elchin Mehdiyev – Trend:

Azerbaijan expresses an official protest against Armenia’s entrance
into the Customs Union as long as this country does not withdraw its
armed forces from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and as long as
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is not restored, head of Department
of Public and Political Issues of Presidential Administration of
Azerbaijan, Ali Hasanov told Trend on Dec. 27.

Hasanov said since Armenia has occupied Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh
region and seven surrounding districts, its entrance into any union
or association is contrary to the principles of international law.

“It is well known that the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani
territories by Armenia is noted in corresponding resolutions and
decisions of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations, and
the demand for liberating the territories occupied by this aggressor
country has been put forward,” Hasanov said. “Therefore, Armenia’s
entrance into the Customs Union or other similar structure is only
possible after liberation of Azerbaijan’s occupied lands.”

Hasanov went on to add that when Armenia joins a particular union, the
country’s territory and borders contradict international jurisdiction,
due to violation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

“This state should either officially declare its claims for occupied
territories, and the structures that Armenia wants to enter should
accept that, or it should return these lands and become member of
new unions with UN-approved territories,” the official underscored.

ASYLUM COURT ABOUT TURN OVER ARMENIAN FAMILY.

Austrian Independent, Austria
dec 27 2013

An Armenian family who had appealed against deportation back to
their home where the head of the family faced execution have had
their Christmas wish granted and they were now able to spend their
first holiday season without fear.

The five members of the Simonyan family fled their home country in
2008 because of political reasons and despite acceptance of their
story their request for asylum was rejected here in Austria.

They were supposed to have been deported last May and were even taken
into custody in preparation for being sent back home but there was a
massive protest in Burgenland in Oberwart where the family had made
their home and in the end it has now been announced that they can stay.

Karen Simonyan said: “It is the best news we could hope for. It also
means that we can all now look for work and really concentrate on
building our home here.”

All three children are regarded as well integrated with all of them
speaking perfect German and the oldest daughter studying to be a
care assistant. Her sister is still in school and her brother is at
the local HTL, as well as being a keen judo enthusiast who has won
championships in Burgenland and in Salzburg.

The local Franciscan community in Pinkafeld have offered the family
a flat but they are keen not to be a charity case and all are keen
to have work although at the moment it is only sporadic.

Their immediate goal is to be financially independent and to afford
their own flat as soon as possible.

AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS ARMENIA JOINING CUSTOMS UNION

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 27 2013

27 December 2013 – 2:56pm

Ali Gasanov, head of the socio-political section of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, protested against Armenia’s joining the
Customs Union because Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 districts in the area
remained occupied by Armenian soldiers.

He reminded that resolutions and decisions of the UN, OSCE and other
international organizations recognized the territory as occupied
by an aggressor. Thus, membership in the Customs Union or any other
similar organization will only be possible after withdrawal from the
occupied territories.

Becoming a member of the Customs Union would cause a dispute about
territories and borders of Armenia.

GRIGOR BARSEGHYAN: MICROSOFT TO BOLSTER RELATIONSHIP WITH ARMENIA

ExecutiveGov
dec 27 2013

Nicole Fray · Dec 27th, 2013 · 0 Comment

Grigor Barseghyan, director of Microsoft’s Armenia office, has
announced the information technology company’s plans to build its
partnership with the Armenian government in the coming year, ARKA
reported Wednesday.

Barseghyan told reporters at a demonstration seminar that Microsoft
aims to help Armenia resolve the country’s brain drain and other
issues in the IT industry.

According to the director, the company has in the past introduced an
IT Academy and Microsoft Innovation Center in an effort to boost the
nation’s IT segment.

Barseghyan said the center and academy trained more than 3,000
specialists and students over the past few years, the publication
reports.

Aside from establishing the IT centers, Microsoft and Armenia entered
into a cooperation deal in 2007 meant to have the company deploy and
implement educational and investment initiatives, ARKA reports.

– See more at:

$6.2 BILLION ILLEGALLY FLOWS OUT OF ARMENIA IN 10 YEARS

Friday, December 27th, 2013 | Posted by Contributor

The new report reveals massive financial outflows from Armenia

WASHINGTON-A recent report published by the Global Financial Integrity
suggests that during the period between 2002 to 2011 some $6.2 billion
have been illegally taken out of Armenia as a result of government
corruption, tax evasion and other illicit financial dealings.

The Washington-based watchdog group revealed the figures in its report
“Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2002-2011,”
published this month. The figure is almost double Armenia’s foreign
debt.

The report concludes that developing nations have lost some $6 trillion
in illegal financial outflows, with Armenia registering a growth in
that number beginning in 2007, when the outflows began eclipsing the
$1 billion mark.

Armenia has been ranked 71th, while Azerbaijan in 44th with an
estimated $17 billion in illegal outflows. Topping the list are China
and Russia respectively. Armenia’s neighbor to the north, Georgia,
was ranked 78th with $4.5 billion in such funds.

“The US is the second easiest country to open a money laundering firm
in. And despite tax reforms, the government is perilously behind in
the movement for corporate transparency,” reported the London-based
The Guardian newspaper in its coverage of the GFI report last week.

“The US Department of Justice acknowledged last year that anonymous
shell companies are the number one tool used by criminals to launder
their illicit funds,” added The Guardian.

TURKISH COLONEL’S RETRIAL ON DINK MURDER RESUMES

World Bulletin, Turkey
Dec 26 2013

The retrial against Colonel Oz, accused of neglect of duty in failing
to foil the murder plot against Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink, resumes.

The retrial against Colonel Ali Oz, accused of neglect of duty
in failing to prevent the Hrant Dink murder, resumed on Thursday
in Trabzon, but the court immediately adjourned the hearing for
technical reasons.

Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered in January 2007
by Ogun Samast, who claimed that Dink insulted Turkishness. Dink,
who was the editor in chief of Agos Newspaper in Turkey, was a strong
critic of Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. He was considered
as one of Turkey’s most prominent Armenian voices.

Dink’s killer, Samast, was jailed for 22 years in 2011. However,
police investigations following his capture revealed a possible link
to an ultra-nationalist organization.

The lawsuit against Gendarmerie Commander of Turkey’s Trabzon province,
Colonel Ali Oz, started after the revelation of intelligence indicating
that preparations for the murder had started almost a year before
the murder. Oz is accused for not informing authorities regarding the
received intelligence about the murder, and for forging documents to
make it seem like the intelligence had been obtained after the murder.

Seven other soldiers under Oz’s command are also facing prison
sentences.

Oz was charged a second time by a different court, but the second
case was rejected since there cannot be two different cases for the
same crime.

As a result of the first case, Colonel Oz and 5 other soldiers under
his command were sentenced to jail for 4 to 6 months. This decision
was sent to the High Court for examination, and the appeal remains
unfinished. Thursday’s hearing was postponed until the High Court’s
examination concludes.

CAN YOU WRITE A UNIVERSITY THESIS ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE?

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 26 2013

ORHAN KEMAL CENGÄ°Z
[email protected]

We will probably be talking about the ongoing corruption investigation
for the next several months. And while we are talking about it, we will
probably lose sight of many other things happening in this country.

For example, the Armenian-Turkish Agos weekly has recently revealed
that academicians working on the Armenian genocide are being profiled
by the state and during this intense period for Turkey, it just
went unnoticed.

According to Agos, the Turkish Historical Society (TTK) has asked the
Higher Education Board (YOK) for the details of academics studying the
Armenian question and the YOK chairman, in turn, has asked universities
to provide that information. A document Agos published indicates that
the YOK chairman asked universities to supply “the names of master’s
and doctoral degree students working on the Armenian problem, the
title of their research and contact information, in order to make
it available to the Turkish Historical Society as part of the work
it conducts.”

When Agos asked the TTK why they needed that information, a TTK
official stated that scholarships might be offered to academics working
in this realm. Agos then asked whether the TTK would give a scholarship
to someone whose thesis qualifies the 1915 events as genocide. The
official responded that, since the TTK does not officially recognize
the Armenian genocide, providing a scholarship to such a study might
not be possible.

Agos argues that the TTK’s real motive is to control academia and
keep records of those working on the Armenian question.

A subsequent report in the Taraf daily backed up Agos’s argument that
those studying the Armenian genocide are being secretly profiled. Two
former presidents of Ä°stanbul’s Bogazici University interviewed by
Taraf shed light on how the censorship mechanism works in academia.

Ustun Erguder confirmed that he had received letters from YOK with
requests for information. “During my term as university president, YOK
would send such letters, but we would dismiss them as they had nothing
to do with our understanding of academic freedom. That’s something
that has been done for years. We had even received letters suggesting
that we make sure that theses ‘supporting Turkish unity’ were written.

… It is out of the question for me to approve of YOK requests
seeking out the names and details of those writing theses on the
Armenian problem,” Erguder said.

Another former Bogazici University president, AyÅ~_e Soysal, made the
following comments: “I used to receive similar letters from YOK while
I was university president. It was routine. One letter that would
come from YOK would be in the form of suggestions that we support
studies backing the state’s official view on subject X or subject Y.”

The insight the two former presidents provide on how the system
functions explains why only a few theses have been written on the
Armenian genocide from within Turkish academia and why they all happen
to be in line with Turkey’s official view.

It is true that the Armenian taboo has been broken in Turkish civil
society and intellectual life. There are so many articles and books
now being written and circulated on the subject in Turkey. However,
this taboo continues to exist in this or that form in the “official”
realm. Thanks to the exposure of practices such as the TTK request
for information about academics studying the Armenian question, we
are getting clues as to how Turkey’s official theses are produced
and sustained.

No doubt, the exposed practices represent only part of the whole
picture. To understand fully why, how and in what atmosphere Turkey’s
official theses remain intact, the known pieces need to be brought
together with the pieces that remain beyond our knowledge. Only then
will we be able to know how Turkey’s official history theses are able
to survive unchanged.

INTERVIEW WITH GARO BECHIRIAN FROM ‘MEN OF THE STRIP’ SPECIAL

Digital Journal
December 24, 2013 Tuesday 9:06 PM EST

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell once said: “A dream
doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination
and hard work.” Digital Journal Report by Markos Papadatos

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell once said: “A dream
doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination
and hard work.” An individual who is worthy of this quotation is
Garo Bechirian, the emcee of the “Men of The Strip” show at Gramercy
Theatre in New York. On performing in New York City, he stated,
“It was fantastic. I had a great time. The turnout was awesome
and we had a lot of people. We put on a hell of a show. Everybody
was happy. There were smiles from ear to ear.” “I was the emcee,
heartbreaker and the Boston bad boy,” he said with a laugh. At this
show, Bechirian was joined by such fellow performers as Keith Webb,
Kyle Efthemes, Chris Boudreaux, Nate Estimada and Joel Sajiun.
For this male revue, he collaborated with esteemed choreographer
Glenn Packard, who also served as its creative director. “That dude is
one hell of a choreographer and producer. He can teach modern moves
to a person with two left feet. He’s been around. He has worked with
Michael Jackson and he was nominated for an Emmy. He is not all talk.
He is all action,” Bechirian said. He holds “Men of the Strip”
host Jeff Timmons from the Grammy-nominated group 98 Degrees in
the highest regards as well. “Jeff has been in the business for a
long time, so he has a lot of knowledge. I pick his brain as much
as I can. He doesn’t hold anything back. He gives good advice and
he is really talented,” he said. Bechirian’s hometown is Cambridge,
Massachusetts, however, his ethnic background is Armenian and he was
born in Lebanon. “I went to Lebanon in 2008 and it was very nice,”
he said, and subsequently noted that he would love to someday visit
Greece due to its natural beauty. As indicated in his biography of
the official “Men of The Strip,” he would love to do some more deep
sea diving. ” I just enjoy getting away from my own element. I like
serenity and being surrounded by really beautiful creatures all
around you. I went to the Bahamas and did it one time and I just
fell in love with it,” he said. A loving father to two children,
Bechirian revealed that both of his kids are his entire world.”I
have a daughter and a son, so I have the best of both worlds,” he
said. “My daughter is doing really well. My son is just a stud. He
is awesome. He reminds me of myself when I was a kid. They are both
great and I try to be there for them no matter what.” Bechirian is
an extremely driven individual who aims for the stars. “I am just a
go-getter, a trait that I got from my dad. If you want something,
you need to go and get it,” he underscored. Regarding the secret
of staying in such top-notch physical shape, Bechirian shared that
a part of it is genetics. “I wake up every morning and I thank my
mom and dad for some great genetics,” he said with a laugh. “I watch
what I eat and I work out in the gym. 85 percent is eating right and
15 percent is training hard.”

Read more:

AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL SAYS BILATERAL TIES WITH TURKEY UNSHAKABLE

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 25 2013

Elnur Aslanov
25 December 2013 /LAMÄ°YA ADÄ°LGIZI, Ä°STANBUL

Azerbaijan and Turkey are not just strategic partners but also
a growing force in the region that no third power can undermine,
a high ranking official from Azerbaijan says.

“No other power would be able to damage relations between Azerbaijan
and Turkey. We are one nation — though two states — with values
of a common history, culture, language and religion. This creates
huge potential and opportunity for the future of both nations,”
Elnur Aslanov, chief of the Presidential Administration’s Political
Analysis and Information Support Department, said at a book launch
in Ä°stanbul late Tuesday.

Addressing the attendees of the book launch for “Ilham: Portrait of
A President” by Graeme H. Wilson, which took place in Ä°stanbul’s
Cıragan Palace, Aslanov said that the success of Turkey also means
the success of Azerbaijan.

“A developing Turkey means the rise of Azerbaijan and, vice versa,
a stronger Azerbaijan means a powerful Turkey,” Aslanov said. He added
that the two states are strong together and that joint efforts of both
states should be related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, which has been deadlocked for 20 years.

Turkey and Azerbaijan are considered “brotherly countries” due to
their ethnic kinship, a fact that led Ankara to close its border with
Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Baku after Armenian armed forces
occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent territories.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains at a stalemate due to a lack of
progress in negotiations. Although the Armenian government has always
held that Turkey should have no say in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Turkey has always backed Azerbaijan in the dispute, declaring itself
to be on Azerbaijan’s side.

“Turkey has constantly stood by Azerbaijan in the settlement process of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and it continues to support the country
and its position on each regional and international platform,” Aslanov
said. He added: “Unfortunately, Armenia continues its unconstructive
position in the settlement of the conflict, and it is only Azerbaijan
and Turkey that are punishing Armenia in the region.

We hope that other countries and international organization will also
join this unity.”

Turkey and Azerbaijan have so far maintained a policy of isolation
toward Armenia — a move that Ankara and Baku believe will push Armenia
toward a long-awaited, peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN GAS AGREEMENTS ‘TIME BOMB’- POLITICAL ENGINEER

20:51 ~U 25.12.13

The parliamentary debate on the Armenian-Russian gas agreements is
a time bomb, political engineer Armen Badalyan told Tert.am.

“It means that under favorable circumstances, the voting results can
be revised. I do not know how it will take place, but I know power may
change under such circumstances, and Armenia may change its foreign
policy,” he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am