Author: Babajanian Karo

CHARITY CONCERT, DEDICATED TO THE ST. VARDANANTS DAY

15:32, February 4, 2013

On 9 February 2013 at 5 pm the ~SHayartun~T Cultural Center of the
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia
invites you to the charity concert, dedicated to the St. Vardanants
Day. In-parallel a charity exhibition and sale will be organized. All
profit will be donated to the “Syrian Armenian Relief Fund”. Song
and dance ensembles, well known artists and singers will take part
in the concert.

The concert will take place at “TBILISI ART HALL’. (Address: Tsotne
Dadiani Str. 26)

The tickets for the concert are available at ~SHayartun~T Cultural
Center and Holy Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi (Address: Armazi Str.18)

Ticket prices 5,6,7 GEL.

For more information call 2546411 or send a message on email
[email protected]

Charity events in the Armenian community of Georgia will continue.

The St. Vardanants Day- celebrated in memory of Armenian Commander
Vardan Mamikonyan and his 1036 martyrs

The Armenian Church was involved in the defense of the Motherland since
the adoption of Christianity in Armenia. The Battle of Avarayr is a
striking example of it. On May 26, 451 the Armenian Church, headed by
the Catholicos Joseph, with Armenian warriors took part in the Battle
of Avarayr. In order to preserve the country, the Armenian Church and
Christianity, Vardan Mamikonian (Father of Saint Shushanik) and his
1036 martyrs – the great saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church –
died the death of heroes. The clergy not only inspired the soldiers
before the battle, but also baptized them and strengthened their faith
and spirit. According to Yeghishe a prominent Armenian historian on
the eve of the battle the clergy had built an altar and commited the
Holy Mystery, and if some of the soldiers were not baptized, baptized
them all night, and the next morning they received Holy Communion. The
Battle of Avarayr was the evidence that truly nothing will turn away
the Armenians from the idea of Christian Motherland.

The St. Vardanants Day will be solemnly celebrated at the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin and at all Armenian churches a Divine Liturgy
will be served on 7 February..

Press service of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia

HEFFERN: US TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO ‘STRONGER ARMENIA’ UNDER NEW SECRETARY OF STATE

News | 04.02.13 | 11:51

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern

The United States believes that full normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia is important not only for the future of both
countries, but for long-term stability and security in the Caucasus,
said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern in an interview with
the state-run news agency, Armenpress.

“Normalization between Turkey and Armenia remains a prominent feature
of our dialogue with both countries,” stressed the ambassador,
answering the question about the position of the new Secretary
of State, John Kerry, regarding several issues, including the
Turkish-Armenian relations.

In relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Heffern referred to
Kerry’s statements during his confirmation hearings with the U.S.

Senate in which he said that “the United States believes that
the parties to this dispute must resolve this dangerous situation
diplomatically; the Administration has firmly opposed any steps by
any party that increase tensions in the region or threaten to damage
the peace process in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict… if confirmed
as Secretary of State, I will continue working to support the peace
process and to oppose actions that could increase tensions in the
region or damage the peace process.”

In the interview Ambassador Heffern also said: “Armenia is a valued
friend and partner to the United States. Our relationship spans
a period of over twenty years and we enjoy a broad range of shared
interests including preserving peace and regional security, promoting
trade and investment to benefit both our economies, and advancing
democratization and the rule of law.

“We are also committed to Armenia’s long-term economic development.

The U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Task Force explores practical measures
to bolster the competitiveness of the Armenian economy and enhance
U.S.-Armenian commercial ties.

“The relationship with Armenia is strong and important to the United
States. We are committed to only a stronger and more prosperous
Armenia.”

AL JAZEERA. TURKISH PM SLAMS ISRAEL OVER SYRIA ATTACK

2013-02-04 15:32:40

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of
waging “state terrorism” as he condemned the air strike on Syria as an
unacceptable violation of international law. “Those who have been
treating Israel like a spoilt child should expect anything from them,
at any time,” said Erdogan on Sunday.

“As I say time and again, Israel has a mentality of waging state
terrorism. Right now, there is no telling what it might do and where
it might do it,” he told reporters.

Erdogan, a harsh critic of the Jewish state, was speaking after
Israel’s outgoing Defence Minister Ehud Barak implicitly confirmed
that it had staged Wednesday’s bombing raid which Damascus said
targeted a military complex near the capital.

Following Barak’s comments, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused
Israel of trying to destabilise Syria and said Damascus was able to
confront “current threats …and aggression” against it.

Syria’s state news agency SANA said Assad made the remarks in a
meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran’s national security council secretary,
at meeting in Damascus. It was Assad’s first reported response to the
attack.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict, Israeli leaders have
repeatedly expressed fears that if Syria were to disintegrate, Assad
could lose control of his chemical weapons and other arms.

Purported images of the targeted site, aired by Syrian state
television on Saturday, show destroyed cars, trucks and military
vehicles. A building has broken widows and damaged interiors, but no
major structural damage.

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition leaders and rebels on Friday slammed
Assad for not responding to the air strike, calling it proof of his
weakness and acquiescence to Israel.

On Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is
in the process of forming a new ruling coalition, said his new
government would have to deal with weapons “being stockpiled near us
and threatening our cities and civilians” – an apparent reference to
the deteriorating situation in Syria.

MARXISTS CLAIM BOMBING OF U.S. EMBASSY IN TURKEY

By TIM ARANGO and SEBNEM ARSU

Published: February 2, 2013

ISTANBUL – A Marxist group with a history of political violence in
Turkey claimed responsibility on Saturday for a suicide bombing at the
American Embassy in Ankara the day before, releasing a statement
calling the United States “the murderer of the peoples of the world.”

Associated Press

Mourners attended the funeral of Mustafa Akarsu, an embassy security
guard killed when a suicide bomber struck the U.S. Embassy in Ankara
on Friday.

The statement, which also denounced American foreign policy, was
released by the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, and a
translation was distributed by the SITE Intelligence Group, which
monitors the communications of extremist groups. The message, which
was posted on a Web site that has previously carried statements from
the group, condemned Turkey for its cooperation with the United States
and for its policy of supporting Syrian rebels fighting the government
of President Bashar al-Assad.

After conducting DNA tests, the Turkish authorities on Saturday
identified the man who detonated himself at the embassy, killing
himself and a Turkish guard, as Ecevit Sanli, 40, also known as Alisan
Sanli. Mr. Sanli was a convicted terrorist who had twice attacked
government facilities in Istanbul but was released from prison under
an amnesty program. Earlier Saturday, officials in the Black Sea town
of Ordu said he lived there.

The Ankara police said they had detained three people thought to have
helped Mr. Sanli and had found a handgun linked to the militant group.

They also released security footage from the embassy in which Mr.

Sanli was shown pretending to be a courier.

The statement by the group included two photographs of Mr. Sanli. In
one, he is holding an assault rifle, and a banner bearing the
hammer-and-sickle symbol of communism is behind him.

The attack, coming in the wake of the attack on an American diplomatic
mission in Benghazi, Libya, by Islamic extremists in September,
initially raised fears that it was the work of jihadists. That the
bomber has ties to a relatively minor Marxist group is likely to
challenge assumptions about the nature of international terrorism and
the risks to American interests abroad. American officials, however,
have not confirmed the identity of the attacker or a motive, and the
United States plans to investigate.

In a statement on Saturday, Ordu officials said Mr. Sanli spent four
years in prison after being arrested in 1997 for attacking a military
hostel and police station in Istanbul. He was released in 2001 under
an amnesty program for inmates with medical conditions, Muammer Guler,
the interior minister, said. Mr. Sanli reportedly had
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain disorder caused by malnutrition
that he suffered during a jailhouse hunger strike.

The authorities said Mr. Sanli lobbed a hand grenade during Friday’s
attack just before detonating his explosives-packed vest, suggesting
that there were actually two explosions.

The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that Mr. Sanli had fled to
Germany after being released from prison, and according to the
semiofficial Anatolian News Agency, returned to Turkey illegally only
a few days before the attack by taking a boat from a Greek island
across the Aegean.

The group has struck American and other Western targets in Turkey
before, including during the gulf war, and in its statement, the group
condemned NATO’s recent deployment of Patriot missile batteries in
southern Turkey to protect against cross-border strikes from Syria.

In a report published several days before the bombing, Soner Cagaptay,
director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute
for Near East Policy, warned that the country’s support of Syrian
rebels was rallying Turkey’s extreme left.

“The country’s political landscape still bears vestiges of violent
leftist movements from the 1970s, as well as deeply anti-American
ultranationalism,” he wrote.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: February 2, 2013

An earlier version of this article misstated, based on information
supplied by the authorities, the year when Ecevit Sanli was released
from prison. It was 2001, not 2002.

DAMASCUS, LATAKIA, YEREVAN REGULAR FLIGHT DUE FEBRUARY 5

10:02, 5 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS: Damascus, Latakia, Yerevan regular
flight is scheduled for February 5. “Syrian Airlines” Yerevan office
manager Svetlana Hovhannisyan told Armenpress, 75 passengers are going
to arrive Homeland , meanwhile 13 are heading to Syria by the flight.

According to Hovhannisyan there is no news refer to Aleppo flights. 23
passengers left for Syria by Latakia flight planned for January 22,
55 people arrived by the same flight. Damascus, Latakia, Yerevan
flight kicked off on January 29. Most Armenian populated second city
Aleppo is in a kind of trap: land roads are dangerous to leave the
city, the airport remains closed. Regular clashes are being launched
between Government loyal forces and opposition.

According to UN data 60 thousand people were killed during 22 months
ongoing clashes in Syria, including four dozen Armenians.

TURQUIE: LES ACCUSATIONS PROFEREES A L’ENCONTRE DE RSF

Publie le : 05-02-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire ce Communique de Presse de Reporters Sans Frontières
publie sur son site le 1er fevrier 2013.

Reporters Sans Frontières

Turquie

RSF repond a une campagne calomnieuse lancee par deux quotidiens turcs

Publie le vendredi 1er fevrier 2013.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) condamne fermement les accusations
aberrantes portees a son encontre par deux quotidiens conservateurs
turcs, Yeni Akit et Star.

Dans son edition du 28 janvier 2013, le journal Star a accuse
Reporters sans frontières ainsi que le Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ), organisation basee a New York, d’agir sous
influence du groupe arme marxiste-leniniste MLKP, et de soutenir
financièrement un certain nombre de ses membres presumes. Les deux
articles publies, signes Zafer Kutuk, etaient intitules ” Ils ne
connaissent vraiment aucune frontière ” et ” Le guide des ‘sans
frontières’ en Turquie, un condamne pour terrorisme “. Le meme jour,
Yeni Akit a publie un article similaire, ” Soutien financier de la
part de l’association RSF au MLKP “, sous la plume de Yener Donmez.

” Les accusations proferees a l’encontre de RSF par Star et Yeni Akit
sont non seulement depourvues de tout fondement, elles sont graves,
indignes et aberrantes, a declare Christophe Deloire, directeur
general de Reporters sans frontières. Insinuer que l’organisation est
liee a des entreprises terroristes est une infraction aux plus
elementaires verite et honnetete. Ces methodes calomnieuses relèvent
d’une propagande bete et mechante. Elles ressemblent a une menace
voilee pour nos collaborateurs locaux qui rappelle tristement une
epoque que l’on esperait revolue. Les precedents nous incitent a
prendre cet incident au serieux. Nous serons extremement attentifs aux
suites donnees a cette affaire. ”

” Nous sommes fiers de figurer dans le ‘tableau de chasse’ de Yeni
Akit aux côtes d’intellectuels connus pour leur engagement en faveur
d’une resolution pacifique de la question kurde et de la
reconciliation avec la communaute armenienne. Nous sommes fiers de
l’action menee en 2002 a la Gare Saint-Lazare a Paris, que ce journal
nous reproche. Nous sommes fiers d’avoir mene campagne pour la
liberation d’Ahmet Sik, Nedim Sener et des journalistes d’OdaTV, dont
un reste en detention a ce jour. ”

Reporters sans frontières presente ici un dementi point par point de
ces allegations.

” Le lobbying des organisations terroristes illegales est a la base
des vives critiques du CPJ et de RSF a l’encontre de la Turquie ” :
FAUX

Les conclusions et recommandations de Reporters sans frontières
s’appuient sur le travail de veille et d’analyse mene de facon
constante par l’organisation depuis sa fondation en 1985. Toutes les
positions sont elaborees de facon independante au Secretariat
international de l’organisation a Paris.

Reporters sans frontières n’a aucun ” agenda cache ” ni aucune
affiliation politique, religieuse ou partisane. L’organisation a
defendu la liberte de l’information en Turquie de manière constante
quel que soit le pouvoir en place, depuis le regime militaire jusqu’a
l’arrivee au pouvoir du Parti de la justice et du developpement (AKP).

RSF est transparente sur ses sources de financement et ses methodes de
travail.

Ces dernières annees, l’organisation a mene des recherches de fond sur
la grave degradation de la situation de la liberte de l’information en
Turquie. Le travail quotidien du representant de l’organisation en
Turquie, ainsi que des visites regulières sur place de representants
du Secretariat international, ont permis de documenter cette situation
par des entretiens avec des journalistes et experts de tous bords
ainsi que des representants des autorites, l’examen de textes
legislatifs et de documents judiciaires. Ces recherches ont abouti
notamment a la publication en juin 2011 du rapport d’enquete ” Un
livre n’est pas une bombe “, et a la mise a jour en decembre 2012 du ”
baromètre de la liberte de la presse ” etabli par l’organisation.

C’est au terme d’investigations approfondies et sur la base de
critères très precis (rappeles ici) que Reporters sans frontières a
conclu que la Turquie etait a ce jour ” la plus grande prison du monde
pour les journalistes “.

” Le representant de RSF en Turquie est un condamne du MLKP ” : FAUX

L’unique representant de RSF en Turquie est l’ancien directeur de
publication du portail d’information sur les droits de l’homme Bianet,
Erol Onderoglu. Il s’agit d’un journaliste de renommee internationale
dont le travail est reconnu aussi bien en Turquie qu’a l’etranger pour
sa qualite et son impartialite. Il n’a jamais fait l’objet d’une
quelconque condamnation pour appartenance au MLKP. RSF lui temoigne de
son soutien sans faille.

” Necati Abay est membre de RSF, qui lui verse un salaire mensuel ” : FAUX

Necati Abay est presente a tort comme ” le representant de RSF en
Turquie ” et ” le guide des organisations internationales ” dans le
pays. L’ancien journaliste d’Atilim n’a strictement aucun rôle au sein
de l’organisation. En tant que porte-parole de la Plate-forme de
solidarite avec les journalistes arretes, une association turque qui
n’a aucun lien avec RSF, il a d’ailleurs critique l’organisation a
plusieurs reprises.

Comme toute structure associative, Reporters sans frontières dispose
d’adherents qui s’acquittent d’une cotisation annuelle et sont
informes des activites de l’organisation. Comme plus de 3 500
personnes a travers le monde, dont un nombre croissant de citoyens
turcs, Necati Abay a choisi d’adherer en octobre 2012. Cette
initiative de sa part ne lui confère aucune forme de responsabilite au
sein de l’organisation.

D’où vient l’information que RSF ” verse un salaire mensuel a Necati
Abay et soutient financièrement ” d’autres journalistes accuses
d’appartenance au MLKP, tels que Nadiye Gurbuz, Sedat Senoglu et Arzu
Demir ? Cette affirmation n’a absolument aucun fondement. RSF n’a
jamais verse un centime a ces journalistes, qui ont par ailleurs droit
a la presomption d’innocence. Assimiler les voix critiques a des ”
terroristes ” est malheureusement l’un des travers majeurs de la
justice turque.

RSF exprime son soutien a ses collègues du CPJ et demande a Star et
Yeni Akit de publier ce dementi au titre du droit de reponse.

Lire la reponse du CPJ aux allegations de Star et Yeni Akit.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Reporters Sans Frontières

LA COMPAGNIE DES CHEMINS DE FER DU SUD CAUCASE N’A PAS L’INTENTION D’AUGMENTER LE COUT DES BILLETS A L’INTERNATIONAL

La compagnie des chemins de fer du Sud Caucase (RCS), societe russe en
charge de l’exploitation des chemins de fer d’Armenie, a annonce
qu’elle n’avait pas l’intention d’augmenter le coût des billets
internationaux.

S’adressant a des journalistes, Gagik Minasian, chef de la Direction
du transport des voyageurs, a declare que debut fevrier, les
representants de chemins de fer armeniens et georgiens se reuniront
pour discuter des prix, mais pas de la revision des prix des billets
pour voyager entre l’Armenie et la Georgie.

Il a ajoute, cependant, que le coût des billets pour le trafic
international de passagers depend generalement du taux de change du
franc suisse – le coût des billets dans tous les pays sont calcules
selon les taux du franc suisse. Il a egalement dit que depuis le 1er
janvier le coût des billets dans la semaine en Armenie est inferieur
de 15 a 20% aux prix du week-end.

mardi 5 fevrier 2013,
Stephane ©armenews.com

UN CANDIDAT AUX ELECTIONS PRESIDENTIELLES POURSUIT SA GRAVE DE LA FAIM

L’un des huit candidats dans la course presidentielle en Armenie a
continue sa grève de la faim pour une neuvième jour consecutive en
insistant sur ses demandes de demission du President Serge Sarkissian.

Andreas Ghukasian, un commentateur politique travaillant dans une
station de radio privee a Erevan, campe en dehors du bâtiment de
l’Academie Nationale des Sciences dans le centre-ville depuis le debut
officiel de la campagne pour l’election presidentielle du 18 fevrier.

Le service armenien de RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am) lui a permis de
repondre aux questions envoyees par les Armeniens a travers Facebook
dans une emission en direct sur Internet sans precedent organisee sur
place. L’emission d’une heure s’est deroulee en depit de la neige et
du gresil. Elle a ete rendue possible par les dernières technologies
video en streaming direct utilisees par la station de radio.

Andreas Ghukasian, qui n’a jamais ete considere comme un concurrent
majeur, a declare qu’il est determine a poursuivre la protestation
solitaire et exige toujours que le president Sarkissian se voir
interdire de solliciter sa reelection. Il veut aussi que les
organisations internationales ne surveillent pas les prochaines
elections. ” Il est imperatif de mettre fin a ce système oligarchique
et criminel ” a-t-il dit.

Le candidat de 42 ans a affirme que Serge Sarkissian doit etre
disqualifie de la course parce qu’il dirige une force politique avec
une longue histoire de fraude electorale. ” Dans un Etat democratique
une force politique qui n’a fait que violer la constitution ne peut
pas participer aux elections ” a-t-il dit.

Andreas Ghukasian a egalement dit aux utilisateurs de Facebook qu’il
espère que sa grève de la faim aidera a mettre fin a ce qu’il a
appele l’apathie du public envers la politique et les elections a
venir en particulier.

mardi 5 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

STEPANAKERT AIRPORT MAY RESUME OPERATION AFTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN: ANALYST

YEREVAN, February 4. / ARKA /. An Armenian political analyst said
Saturday that the airport in Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert
which has undergone a major repair, may resume operations only after
next presidential elections in Azerbaijan, slated for 2013 October.

Speaking to reporters Gevorg Melkonyan said the danger that the
authorities of Azerbaijan may use the resumption of the airport as
a pretext to aggravate dramatically the situation is quite large.

According to him, Azerbaijan is seeing what he called ‘increasing
revolutionary processes’, and the Aliyev clan may try to solve
political problems by capitalizing on “external exacerbations.”

The renovated airport, equipped with modern technology and able
to handle 100 passengers an hour is fully ready to operate flights
between Stepanakert and Yerevan. According to Karabakh authorities,
later it will operate also international flights.

Azerbaijan has threatened to down Karabakh planes. Azerbaijan’s
military rhetoric has not subsided despite warning by the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen.

In comments on Baku’s threats to shoot Armenian passenger aircrafts
Nikolay Bordyuzha, the secretary general of the Russia-led Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said January 29 in Yerevan that
Azerbaijan is a civilized state, adhering to international laws. He
expressed doubt that “in our time, leadership of a country can order
to destroy civilian aircrafts. ”

But this statement provoked a sharp reaction from official Baku. A
spokesman for its defense ministry accused Bordyuzha of behaving
as a representative of the Armenians. He added “f Armenia wants
to normalize the situation and resolve the conflict peacefully, it
must demonstrate an independent and fair position, and not act under
anyone’s dictate.” -0-

PARUYR HAYRIKYAN MOVED TO PATIENT’S ROOM FROM REANIMATION DEPARTMENT

ARMINFO
Monday, February 4, 12:45

Paruyr Hayrikyan, candidate for president of Armenia, Leader of
the Union for National Self-Determination Party, has been moved to
a patient’s room from the reanimation department, health Ministry
Spokesperson Anahit Aytayan told ArmInfo. She said the politician
feels good and doctors say he has high chances for sooner recovery.

The assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan, candidate
for president of Armenia, Leader of the Union for National
Self-Determination Party, was made in the Tpagrichnery Street in
Yerevan overnight. Hayrikyan was hospitalized with a gunshot wound in
shoulder. He underwent surgery of Feb 1. President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan called the assassination attempt against Hayrikyan a vicious
crime aimed against statehood and promised that the law-enforcement
will do everything to expose it.

Talking to media Hayrikyan said that those who dislike the idea of
Armenia’s self-determination are behind this crime. “I am afraid
the assassination attempt against me will have a negative effect
on the international image of Armenia”, he said. He also said
that arrangements are being reached at all levels to postpone the
presidential election for 15 days.