Author: Babajanian Karo

Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency , Greece
Sept 26 2013

National Defense General Staff Chief Visits Armenia

National Defense General Staff chief General Michael Kostarakos paid
an official visit to the Republic of Armenia on Wednesday, September
25, at the invitation of the country’s Armed Forces chief General Yuri
Khatchaturov.

Kostarakos was received during his visit by the President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan, he laid a wreath at the Armenians’ Genocide Memorial
and visited the Museum bearing the same name. He also toured the
premises of the Armenian Patriarchate and visited the Carthedral in
the region of Echmiadzin.

The Military Cooperation Program for the year 2014 was signed between
the two countries in the framework of the meetings and talks.

Speaking after the meeting between the two chiefs, the Greek National
Defense General Staff chief said that “the frequency of the high-level
contacts between the two sides, that includes my presence here today
as well, constitutes proof of the excellent bilateral relations and
underlines the strategic character of these relations which are based
on the very deep historic bonds of our peoples”.

“In addition, I would like to underline that the Armed Forces of
Greece are distinguished by extroversion, meaning they are not limited
only to their national place, but participate in the efforts of the
international community to maintain peace in various regions around
the world where, unfortunately, problems of peaceful cohabitation
still exist,” he added.

Armenian Activist Intends to Defend His Suspected Attacker

09.25.2013 20:32 epress.am

Civil society activist Mihran Margaryan [pictured], who was attacked
on Aug. 25 along with fellow activist Babken Ter-Grigoryan, did not
recognize the two suspects, S. Babayan and S. Purtoyan, who previously
confessed to police. Speaking to Epress.am, Margaryan said the two
boys, for unknown reasons, gave a false testimony, saying they beat
the activists.

According to the suspects, Mihran and Babken tried to persuade them to
“go to the venue of the rally,” near city hall where activists were
staging a sit-in; they tried to resist for a long time, but the
activists cursed them, after which the two suspects assaulted them.

“I don’t recognize those boys. They’re not the ones who beat us. If
they bring them to court, I’ll probably defend them. They don’t even
have an attorney,” he said.

According to him, the two suspects were released on bail, but the
charges were not withdrawn and the investigation continues.

Recall, activists earlier had told police that at around 1:30 am on
Aug. 25, seven people beat them near Ararat Hotel. First, a group
approached Mihran and Babken and asked if they were participating in
the demonstrations outside city hall. Having received a negative
response, the group left. Later, however, another group approached and
asked the same question; not believing the answer, the thugs attacked
the activists. They were joined by the first group of people. Suspects
Babayan and Purtoyan pleaded guilty twenty days later, on Sept. 14.

Baroness Cox: Azerbaijan broke faith

September 28, 2013 | 15:10

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan broke faith and behaved in an appalling way by
making a hero of Ramil Safarov, Baroness Caroline Cox said.

`We must never forget that the Armenian army officer was murdered in
his sleep,’ she said during the opening ceremony of a monument to
slain officer Gurgen Margaryan.

Baroness Cox said she was deeply shocked when Azerbaijan celebrated
the murderer as a hero.

`I am very worried by the massage that it gives to a younger
generation in Azerbaijan, if they are taught to treat a murderer as a
hero.’

Caroline Cox recalled that Ramil Safarov got a life sentence in
Hungary.

`I do not know why he was sent back to Azerbaijan, but I think
Azerbaijan promised he would continue his sentence in prison.’

As reported earlier, Ramil Safarov, a then-lieutenant in the
Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31, 2012 from Hungary,
where he was serving a life sentence – and with no expression of
either regret or remorse – for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004. Safarov had planned on
killing the other Armenian military serviceman, who likewise was
attending the aforesaid program, but he was unable to carry out this
plan.

Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was his act of murder,
by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s government and much of
Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani president immediately granted
him a pardon, he was declared a national hero, promoted to a higher
military rank, and was allocated housing and pension.

And Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31, 2012
that Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary. Also,
Sargsyan instructed the Ministry of Justice to take all measures to
petition to the international judicial tribunals, and with respect to
the Safarov case.

Ramil Safarov’s pardoning was condemned by virtually all international
organizations.

The Armenian party had applied to ECtHR in February, in connection
with the Ramil Safarov case. The complaint is with respect to Articles
2 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Armenian and
foreign specialists are included in the working group that is
preparing the complaint.

Tigran Karapetyan appointed as Armenian prime minister’s assistant

YEREVAN, September 28. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
has appointed Tigran Karapetyan as his assistant, the government’s
press office reported today.

Karapetyan was born in 1996. In 1996 he graduated from the economy and
trade department, Ca Foscari University in Venice, and in 2006 from
the international sciences and European organizations department, the
Milan State University.

He has worked as representative of Delta-Armenia airline in Yerevan,
as representative of AC Castelletti in Armenia, as responsible person
at San Lazzaro Library, Italy, and as person responsible for culture
events at Murad Rafaelyan Armenian college in Venice.

In 2012, Karapetyan was the representative of Armenian Development
Agency in Italy.
He is a member of the Republican Party of Armenia. Married.

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– See more at:

Zardusht Alizadeh. `I would compare South Caucasus with circus.’

September 28 2013

On September 27, after the public hearings held in Georgian Tekali
village of Marneuli region, the famous Azerbaijani political scientist
Zardusht Alizadeh, in an interview with us, referring to the situation
in the South Caucasus, said, `I would compare the situation in the
South Caucasus with circus. There is a Russian circus director and
Azerbaijani trainers, Armenian and Georgian leaders, who have methods
of training. Should they have trained, we would not have felt bad.
Their methods are of training and not educating. The educate humanity,
patience, tolerance, hard work, honesty in people, and we instill
hatred, intolerance, negligence. I think that our trainers under the
distinct supervision of the with circus director turn our wonderful,
wonderful region into vulgarity, and circus. And we wish our people to
live normal, with normal feelings. Of course, Russia still rules the
events taking place in South Caucasus, but Russia should seriously
think about the change of its role because such role, the role of
incendiary, supervisor, and activator led to the collapse of the
Soviet Union. Now, we see that these dangerous developments in
Russia’s territory, in North Caucasus, the bandit underground, terror,
global turmoil, massive corruption.’

Voskan SARGSYAN
Read more at:

C. Cox: I hope international community to demand justice from Azerbaijan

Saturday, September 28, 2013

I don’t know all details pertaining to Armenian POW Hakob Injughulian
held captive in Azerbaijan, but it is already a serious fact that he
is in Azerbaijan, member of the British House of Lords Baroness
Caroline Cox said during a briefing with reporters today.

In the words of Baroness Cox, she hopes that the international
community will demand justice and release of Armenian prisoner of war
from Azerbaijan.

Armenian serviceman Hakob Injighulian crossed into Azerbaijan on the
night of August 8, 2013. According to preliminary information, he lost
his way.

TODAY, 16:21
Aysor.am

MG Co-Chairs prepare summit of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents

Saturday,
September 28, 2013

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group -Ambassadors Igor Popov of the
Russian Federation, Jacques Faure of France, and James Warlick of the
United States of America – and the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian in New York on September 27, according to
the press service of Armenian Foreign Ministry.

The Co-Chairs and the Ministers continued discussions on the substance
of the peace process. The Co-Chairs stressed the commitment of their
three countries to support the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the non-use of force or the threat
of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and
self-determination of peoples. They also referred to the statement of
their three Presidents on June 18, 2013, with special attention to the
appeal to the sides to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that could
raise tension in the region and lead to escalation of the conflict.

The Ministers reiterated their determination to continue working with
the Co-Chairs to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The
Co-Chairs expect to visit the region in November to discuss with the
Presidents their planned summit meeting later this year.

TODAY, 13:12
Aysor.am

Landmine-Free Artsakh Campaign to Host Event

HALO Trust deminers clear cluster munitions around Gandzasar
Monastery, in Artsakh

GLENDALE – More than 20 years after they were first planted in Artsakh,
landmines still remain and continue to maim, mutilate and kill the
people of the land. In an effort to bring awareness to the problem and
solicit help to clear the landmines, the Western Diocese is hosting a
special `Landmine Free Artsakh’ evening on October 13, at the Zorayan
Museum Hall, 3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504.

This evening is organized under the auspices of Western Primate
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, and will feature attorney Mark
Geragos and musical entertainer Gor Mkhitarian who bring their talents
to benefit the cause.

The featured speaker is Galina Danilova from the HALO Trust, the
world’s oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance
organization. Danilova heads the HALO Trust in Artsakh and for the
past 11 years has been working in landmine clearing.

`Every year Armenians get hurt,’ says Danilova, `some with significant
injuries. Although war ended 19 years ago, the land still carries the
seeds of war. Farmers cannot grow crops to feed their families.
Prairie fertile land is surrounded with `danger’ signs.’

During the evening, Danilova will show pictures and explain exactly
how people can put an end to the suffering by participating in the
landmine clean-up efforts.

`Our mission is to generate awareness about landmine problems in
Artsakh and to help fundraise to completely de-mine all villages!
These villages are in the Latchin, Hadrut and Martuni regions, where
no international grants and funds can be secured. Without private
funding, these minefields will never be cleared.’

The public is cordially invited to attend this free informational
event on October 13 at 5 p.m. Refreshments and wine will be served.
For more information visit LandmineFreeArtsakh.com or call
818-523-2878.

Monica Avanesyan to carry Armenian flag at Junior Eurovision 2013

13:40 28.09.2013

Armenia has picked up its participants for this year’s Junior
Eurovision Song Contest. Twelve competed, but it was Monica Avanesyan
who won the hearts of the nation.

All twelve young stars took the stage in a live show, broadcast on
Armenian Public TV.

After the viewers had given their opinion through a televote and the
jury had added theirs, it was Monica Avanesyan with the song Choco
Fabric who won their ticket to Kiev, Ukraine.

David Vardanyan (11) & Erna Mirzoyan (15) with Lusavorakan came second
and the third place went to Happy Day with the song `Happy Day!’

Armenia has won the contest once, back in 2010 when Vladimir
Arzumanyan’s Mama took the trophy home from Minsk, Belarus. The
country hosted the contest in 2011 in Yerevan.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013 will take place Kiev on November 30.

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR DISPUTES ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA’S RIGHTS TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS

13:09 27.09.2013

For the second time this year, the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) was invited to submit testimony to Congress on issues of
concern to the Armenian-American community. This move drew the ire
of Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov,
who expressed his “surprise” at the Armenian Assembly testimony and
attempted to dispute Armenian-Americans’ right to set the record
straight on Azerbaijan’s aggressive posture toward Armenians at a
Congressional briefing held earlier this year entitled “Troubled
Partner: Growing Authoritarianism in Azerbaijan.”

A new video released by the Assembly today showcases Ambassador
Suleymanov’s reaction and highlights segments of the Assembly’s
testimony, specifically Azerbaijan’s state-sponsored policy of
cultural genocide as seen in the destruction of an ancient Armenian
cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan; Azerbaijan’s plummeting human rights
record and deteriorating press freedoms; and the repatriation, pardon
and glorification of Azerbaijan soldier Ramil Safarov who brutally
murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while the
latter was sleeping at a NATO Partnership for Peace training course
in Hungary in 2004.

“The government of Azerbaijan can shower American officials with
lavish junkets to their country and launch fancy public relations
gimmicks to try to turn American attention away from their petro-fueled
authoritarian oligarchy,” stated Assembly Communications Director
Taniel Koushakjian. “Fortunately, Americans, especially our elected
officials in Congress, are much better informed,” he said.