Author: Babajanian Karo

KARABAKH WAR HEROES SAY SELF-PURIFICATION IMPORTANT FOR COMBATING INTERNAL ENEMY

11:48 30.07.13

Armenian choreographer Garik Ginosyan, who participated in the
Nagorno-Karabakh liberation struggle in the 1990s, says he ready
to assist in the war heroes’ current efforts towards clearing the
country of the internal enemy.

“The process of purifying the country begins from individual
self-purification,” he told Tert.am, expressing willingness to join
the veteran heroes’ honest struggle.

Ginosyan said he considers the question actual enough to be raised
at any moment, without waiting till the situation becomes critical
enough to necessitate such measures. “Any nation in any period does
need a self-purification, so we do not have to wait till the things
reach a critical stage,” he said.

The war veteran noted with regret that Armenia faced the opposite
processes after the war, instead of choosing self-purification. “It
is characteristic of all nations to by all means undergo a
self-purification process after wars, but Armenia didn’t,” he said,
calling for rapid efforts to think of necessary measures.

Singer and composer David Amalyan, who has also taken part in the
Karabakh war, said despite his love and respect for the veteran heroes,
he doesn’t find himself the right person to back their current struggle
for social rights.

“I am ready to stand by them on any matter, but I haven’t seen
and do not see myself in a social-political struggle,” he told our
correspondent.

The musician said he doesn’t quite understand the war heroes’ claims
that their current struggle is not a political one. “I have no doubt
as to their blamelessness and honesty – not in the least – but no
struggle is likely to reach its target at the moment,” he said.

But Amalyan agreed to Ginosyan’s remarks that it is important to
clear the country of the internal enemy. “Our number one enemy is
of course the internal one; I attach more importance to the internal
enemy factor, but such a struggle would now playing into the internal
and external enemies’ hands,” he noted.

The singer said it is very sad to see public and political figures
divided between good and bad people in Armenia and added that the
protection of state interests should be a primary objective for all,
regardless of individual actors.

“For me, there are as many sects as there are political parties,”
he said, adding that he never distinguishes friends and allies on
grounds of party affiliation.

THE VOROTNAVANK MONASTERY ARMENIA IS A REMARKABLE PLACE TO VISIT

Travel Video News
July 29 2013

by DispatchNewsDesk: The Vorotnavank monastery is a monastic complex
located along a ridge overlooking the Vorotangorge, between the
villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan in the Syunik Province of Armenia.

The complex is surrounded by a high stone wall for defense against
foreign invasions and once housed workshops, stores, a seminary,
resort, cemetery and an alms-house. A pillar stood in the yard of the
monastery symbolizing that there were monks entering into religious
service and kings inaugurated at this location.

Hovhan Vorotnetsi (1315-1398), an Armenian medieval philosopher and
theologian as well as the founder of Tatev Vardapetaran University
lived and worked at the monastery.

S. Stepanos Church

The main church of Surb Stepanos was built in 1000 AD by Queen
Shahandukht, ruler of the lands of Syunik and grandmother to Katranide
(consort to King Ashot I Bagratuni). Prior to the construction of
the church stood a shrine to Saint Grigor Lusavorich. Four sacristies
were placed at the southeastern end of S. Stepanos.

S. Karapet Church

The adjoining church of Surb Karapet was constructed in 1006-1007 by
Queen Shahandukht’s son Sevada. The structure has a triple-arched
portico at the front facade. A circular drum and a recently
reconstructed dome rest above the cruciform plan of the church.

Destruction

Vorotnavank was destroyed multiple times by foreign invasions as well
as an earthquake in 1931 during which S. Karapet’s dome collapsed. In
1104 Seljuk-Turks attacked the monastery and the nearby fortress
of Vorotnaberd (3 km southeast). Ivane Zakaryan liberated them and
gave control of Vorotnavank and Vorotnaberd to Liparit Orbelian of
the Orbelyan family. The monastery was repaired and made functional
during this time. Other foreign invasions included the Mongol-Tatars
(1236) and later Amir Timur in 1386. An underground passageway was
connected to the fortress of Vorotnaberd, and was used during sieges
by invading armies. Reconstruction efforts have been underway since
1980 and are nearly complete.

Uou can marvel at the funeral VII building in the village Aghitu. Over
two deep crypts arranged area with a stepped entrance from the rear.

Above it, the three pillars of the tower – two pylons and a column
between them, connected by arches, over which was cornice. The whole
structure is crowned by three arcs in the curly-poster does not come
down to us.

There is folklore about this monument: It is said that the Persian
ruler summoned the three princes of Syunik to capture them. Guessed
his intention, the princes did not go to him. Then with a large Persian
army marched on the village Aguda. In a fight with him Armenians won,
but three brave princes died on the battlefield. To keep the memory
of them, the residents built a tomb Agudo, which placed the remains
of the dead princes, and on the tomb erected this monument.

TURQUIE
La Patriarche d’Istanbul exhorte à se focaliser sur la crise
humanitaire en Syrie

Le Patriarche arménien d’Istanbul par intérim l’archevêque Aram
Ateshyan a exhorté les politiciens du monde à oublier les intérêts de
leur pays et à aider l’humanité détruite en Syrie.

Le président du Parlement turc , Cemil Cicek, a rencontré les chefs
religieux de la Turquie lors de la 22ème Assemblée parlementaire de
l’Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) qui
s’est tenu à Istanbul le 30 Juin, profitant de l’occasion pour
exprimer ses espoirs pour un monde plus tolérant et respectueux.

Aram Ateshyan a évoqué la crise humanitaire en cours en Syrie, dans
son allocution. « Nous invitons les politiciens du monde à la
miséricorde, à oublier les intérêts de leur pays et d’aider l’humanité
qui se détruit en Syrie` a-t-il dit.

dimanche 28 juillet 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARCHBISHOP HANNA: THOSE WHO BEAR ARMS AGAINST SYRIA SERVE ISRAEL

Jul 27, 2013

Occupied Jerusalem, (SANA) – Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia,
Archbishop Atallah Hanna, affirmed that those who bear arms against
the Syrian people and the Syrian Army – regardless of their names
and affiliations – are mere pawns that serve Israel and its project
to divide and control the Arab region.

In an interview broadcast on al-Mayadin TV on Friday, Archbishop
Hanna said that the people who abduct, murder and slaughter in Syria
are the enemies of the Arab nation, just like Israel with which they
share goals and criminal nature.

He stressed that the violence and murder against the people and state
in Syria has nothing to do with any just demands; rather it merely
seeks to destroy the Syrian state.

Archbishop Hanna warned any attack on Syria is an attack on the Arab
nation, and that the true national opposition is the one that commits
to its country’s principles and flies its flag, not the flag of the
French mandate, and that doesn’t receive orders from abroad.

He warned that some western countries’ granting of visas to displaced
Syrian Christians in Lebanon under humanitarian pretexts is part of
an Israeli plan to drive Christians out of the Arab region, calling
on Arab Christians – whether in Syria or in other Arab countries –
to remain in their countries and defend them alongside their Muslim
brethren.

H. Sabbagh

HISTORICAL ARMENIAN CHURCH FACES THREAT OF COLLAPSE IN TURKEY

12:40 27.07.13

The St. Thomas monastery of Turkey’s historical Armenian province
Vostan has appeared on the verge of collapse as a result treasure
hunters’ greediness, who have dug holes in different parts of the
building, Hye Tert reported,

An art professor of the Yuzuncu Yil university, Mesut Gul, has called
for giving a proper attention to the Armenian monument.

The place of worship, which in the 8th century belonged to the noble
house of Rshtunis and was later transferred to the Artsruni family,
is now reported to be in a forlorn state.

The construction, built in the 10th-11th centuries by the Armenian
historian Thomas Artsruni, has never been registered as a special
protection sight, reports the Turkish website.

AN ISLAMIC STATE, AL-QAEDA AND THE TALIBAN’S COMMON DREAM IN SYRIA

11:40 27/07/2013 ” IN THE WORLD

An interview of Irdiplomacy.ir with Hossein Rooyvaran, an expert on
Middle Eastern affairs

– A senior Taliban member has talked about establishing a base
in Syria. Is there any precedence for the presence of the Taliban
in Syria?

– The Taliban, as an organization, has, hitherto, not had any presence
or activity in Syria, but its special relations with al-Qaeda are
clearly defined and they both follow the same ideology. Considering
the presence of al-Qaeda in Syria, through the al-Nusra Front and
Ahrar ash-Sham, there is the possibility that they would pursue such a
matter within the framework of the al-Qaeda organizations. That is why
I assume that, by nature, the Taliban has no basis for its presence
in Syria, but such a measure can be taken through al-Qaeda. It is on
the basis of these religious and ethnic approaches that the Taliban
has been attracted towards Syria.

– The commander of the Free Syrian Army has been killed by the al-Nusra
Front. Serious rifts have been created among Bashar Assad’s opponents
with the prolongation of the crisis in Syria. What are the differences
between the opponents of the central government in Syria?

– Clashes and tension between the Free Syrian Army and the al-Nusra
Front are inevitable because the Free Syrian Army pursues change
in the political structure in Syria and has defined its objectives
completely within the national framework. On the other hand, the
al-Nusra Front seeks the establishment of an Islamic state in Syria.

Therefore, the main difference between the objectives of these two
groups is summarized in Syria. The Free Army considers Syria as a
platform to reach power, but al-Qaeda’s power-seeking is based on
the establishment of an Islamic state based on an al-Qaeda model. The
contrast in their viewpoints has led to this confrontation.

This is not the first clash between them; they have clashed several
times in Ras al-Ayn, Sheikhun, and Aleppo. Their recent clashes
showed that some claims stating that the al-Nusra Front does not
have a strong base and that it is the Syrian government and Syria’s
supporters that exaggerate the extent of this front were incorrect.

The reason is that the al-Nusra Front, at the present time, by
assassinating Riad al-Asaad, the commander of the Free Syrian Army,
showed that it has more power than the army and the success of this
front in assassinating an individual who has certainly had bodyguards
shows that the threat of al-Nusra in Syria is serious. There is the
possibility that the Free Syrian Army and the opposition front which
are mainly secular and reside in the West, and are of course organized
by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are not accepted by the al-Nusra Front
and they would be assassinated in case any of them return to Syria.

– Under conditions when the US has put the al-Nusra Front on its black
list due to its terrorist activities, this group is equipped with
the heaviest military equipments. Is al-Nusra the secret receiving
hand in Syria?

– Up until now, no country has announced having provided weapons to
al-Nusra. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have claimed to support the
Free Syrian Army. Nevertheless, we witness that al-Nusra has better
weaponry in the field. This by itself shows that the transfer of
weapons from the Free Army to al-Nusra is automatically done. In
other words, there is no control over the Free Army’s weapons and
infiltrators have transferred these weapons to al-Nusra. On the
ground, this is a fact that cannot be denied. Despite the fact that no
supporter of the opposition admits having provide weapons to al-Nusra,
in practice they fight in different fronts with better military
readiness than the Free Syrian Army. Such a trend raises the question
as to who provides weapons to them. In Syria, no group except the
government and the Free Syrian Army possesses weapons. Therefore, there
is a possibility that al-Nusra supporters infiltrate the Free Army.

– Do you consider a role for the Western countries in equipping
al-Nusra and supporting its activities?

– The fact of the matter is that the West has led al-Nusra to
be slaughtered in the fight against the Syrian Army. A military
confrontation between these two is ultimately in the interest of the US
and Israel. Al-Nusra has not yet received weapons directly from the US
and the US has not officially admitted the transfer of weapons to them.

This is true in the case of Saudi Arabia. The only country in the
Arab world supporting al-Nusra was Qatar which had worked with Takfiri
Salafists. Nevertheless, the level of financial support had been more
than military support. At the beginning, al-Nusra paid lots of money
for Western weapons coming from Iraq and transferred them to Syria.

This shows that the West has not tried to directly interact with
al-Nusra and al-Qaeda. The West, rather, has tried to provide financial
support to them through Qatar so that they could somehow obtain
weapons. However, some of al-Nusra’s weapons have been obtained from
the Syrian Army after the fall of some garrisons and/or most of these
weapons have been attained indirectly through the Free Syrian Army.

Source: Panorama.am

FLYGEORGIA TO FLY TO YEREVAN FROM SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST

YEREVAN, July 26./ARKA/. Tbilisi-based FlyGeorgia company intends
flying to Yerevan and Aktau (Kazakhstan) starting from the next
month, routes-news.com portal reported referring to Shiin Thomas,
the commercial director of the air carrier.

The passengers will fly to Yerevan six times a week. Thomas also
informed that the company intends to exploit CRJ200 plane with
50 seats.

Currently, FlyGeorgia exploits A319 and A320.

FlyGeorgia is a private company based in Tbilisi, Georgia. The first
flight was made on 3 August 2012. -0-

– See more at:

THREE ARMENIAN WOMEN TRAVELING TO YEREVAN HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO TURKEY

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

11:50, 27 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: Three women from the bus which traveled
from Aleppo to Yerevan have been taken to Turkey.

They are in a tavern in Kilis state. “Armenpress” was informed
about this from employee of Aleppo “Gandzasar” newspaper Zarmik
Poghikyan. The other passengers of the bus – four Armenian men
were kidnapped. Their names are known – Garegin Hachagorcyan, Garo
Baboghlyan, Narek Varjapetyan and Sako Asaturyan.

The fith kidnapped man is the driver of the bus who is not
Armenian. The incident happened near Turkish border. By the UN data,
during the two-year bloodshed in Syria more than 100 thousands of
people have fallen victims. Currently 4,5 million refugees live in
Syria and 1,5 million – in the neighboring countries.

Several tens of Armenians have been killed in the result of the
collisions. Many Armenain have been kidnapped: sometimes for them
ransom has been paid. In this case there is not yet any information
about ransom.

ARMENIAN MISTAKENLY BROUGHT TO BAKU AS A RESULT OF DEPORTATION SENT BACK TO KIEV

APA, Azerbaijan
July 26 2013

[ 26 July 2013 16:12 ]

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. The Armenian citizen Asatur Khachataryan
deported from Ukraine and mistakenly brought to Baku has already been
sent back to Kiev, APA reports quoting official sources.

22-year old Asatur Khachataryan deported from Ukraine was put in a
plane flying to Azerbaijan by mistake and arrived in Baku.

Media contact person for the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) Delegation to Azerbaijan Ilaha Huseynova told APA that they are
aware of it: “The relevant bodies are working on this issue currently.”

LYDIAN INTERNATIONAL SEEKS CLARITY FROM ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT OVER CATCHMENT BASIN

Proactive Investors Australia
July 26 2013

Thursday, July 25, 2013 by Giles Gwinnett

Lydian International (TSE:LYD) is seeking clarity from the Armenian
government over how a resolution to alter the boundaries of a
geographical area affects its mine plan for the Amulsar gold project.

On July 18, the government passed a resolution, which has yet to
come into force, which would modify the so called “catchment basin”
of Lake Sevan – Armenia’s largest freshwater resource.

Lydian believes the area, where, under the resolution, mineral
processing would not be allowed, includes its planned site for a heap
leach facility.

In response to Lydian’s enquiries, the firm said it has been invited
to participate in a joint working group with the government.

This will almost certainly result in a delay in the delivery and
publication of the firm’s revised feasibility study -a document aimed
at facilitating financing of Amulsar.

“The working group is expected to begin working within a week, with
a view to reaching a conclusion in an expeditious manner,” the firm
said in a statement.

“Pending further clarity on the impact of the resolution and the
conclusions of the working group, Lydian is continuing to advance
all of its exploration and development activities in Armenia.

“The company has completed 30% of its planned 20,000 meter drilling
program at Amulsar this year and continues to achieve important
community support milestones.”

The feasibility study was targeted to be delivered in the third
quarter of 2013 and Lydian said the report was now 95% complete.