Author: Babajanian Karo

TURKISH AUTHORITIES WANT TO TURN THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN THE TURKISH PART OF CYPRUS INTO A CENTRE OF TURKOLOGY

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Restoration of the Armenian church
in the Turkish part of Cyprus initiated due to a contribution of
USD 5 million in frames of the “Project Cooperation for Development
of Nations”. Notwithstanding it became known that the authorities of
the Turkish part of Cyprus have made a decision to grant the church to
the Institute of Near East to turn it into a centre of Turkology. This
decision caused tensions between the United States and the authorities
of the Turkish part of Cyprus.

As reports “Armenpress” citing Turkish Miliyet newspaper the Embassy
of the USA to the Republic of Cyprus issued warning regarding the
violation of the preliminary agreement of exploitation of the Armenian
church for “intercultural purposes”. The American side declared
that they are against the turning Armenian church into the centre
of Turkology and said that if that happens a decree of moratorium of
the contribution to the Turkish side of the island will be issued.

The Armenian Diaspora of Cyprus also is engaged in this question
and made it the main topic of the visit of the “president” of Cyprus
DerviÅ~_ Eroglu to New York. The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Cyprus
John M. Koenig announced that they are attentively watching the
developments and that there is a necessity to develop new program for
the exploitation of the Armenian church. After returning to Cyprus
DerviÅ~_ Eroglu ordered the department of Cypriot-Turkish foundation
“to solve the question”.

ARMENIAN CHURCH MAY CONTINUE RELYING ON STATE’S SUPPORT: PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, November 5. / ARKA /. Addressing the 4th Diocesan
Representative Assembly of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church President
Serzh Sargsyan said the meeting and the activities of the Armenian
Apostolic Holy Church ‘is not a matter of religious organization alone:
it also has the All-Armenian scope and significance.’ “Moreover,
for us it has also a cultural, political, and nation safeguarding
significance. This is a reality which has been shaped historically,’
he said.

The president said that the Church can further rely, even on a greater
scale, on the multifaceted support of the Armenian state. ”

On the situation with Armenians in Syria the president said it is a
historic challenge which must be defeated together. “The position
of the Republic of Armenia on this issue is clear-cut: we are not
urging our brothers to leave Syria. The Armenian community in Syria
was historically formed, being one of the most viable and strong
communities, and we are hopeful that peace will come for all people
of Syria and its Armenian citizens. The entire Armenian nation,
including the Armenian state, must help those who remain in Syria to
preserve the Armenian hearth. ”

The president said also the country has entered an important stage
of changes. ‘Leaving behind the repercussions of the catastrophic
economic crisis, we have embarked on the task of giving a new
impetus to our country’s development. Today, we are relatively free
to move steadfastly forward on the road of reformation. We are aware
of the causes of each problem and can achieve considerable results
in overcoming them. We are determined to establish law and order in
every segment of the state structure, and we will do it. Forgery,
abuse of office, inhumane deeds – all of them without exception will
be punished, and will be punished publicly to serve a lesson and to
be rejected by our society once and for all.”

The head of the Armenian Church, Catholiocs Karekin II, thanked the
president and the government for their support for the Holy Church. He
commended the government also for supporting the Church’s Diaspora
dioceses. -0-

OMBUDSMAN: TRAGIC INCIDENTS IN ARMENIAN JAILS MUST BE BANISHED

ARMINFO
Monday, November 5, 15:26

Tragic incidents at Armenian penitentiaries are not a usual state
of affairs like the justice minister says, Human Right Defender of
Armenia Karen Andreasyan told ArmInfo.

“We have repeatedly declared that such incidents are dangerous for the
human, legal and especially state points of view. All the competent
structures, and the Justice Ministry first of all, must work to banish
such phenomena,” he said.

The ombudsman said he has not discussed the issue with the minister,
because the Human Rights Defender deals with the mechanisms
stipulated by the law. “Not personal meetings but a systematic work
is required, I think,” Andreasyan said. Last week, Justice Minister
Hrayr Tovmasyan stated in a briefing that for a prisoner sewing his
eyes and mouth is the same as wearing earrings for a girl. Afterwards,
the Armenian activists held a protest action in front of the building
of the Armenian Justice Ministry under the slogan “Sewing courses
for Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan” on Friday.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN: “GOVERNMENT SYSTEM WILL CHANGE IN ARMENIA, IF I AM ELECTED PRESIDENT”

ARMINFO
Monday, November 5, 15:23

“Government system will change in Armenia, if I am elected president,”
Leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian told media, Monday.

“I will run for president for the last time, because after my victory
Armenia will inevitably change over from the presidential to the
parliamentary system of government, which will, in turn, result in
Constitutional changes and liquidation of monopolies,” Hovannisian
said. He spotlighted the heavy social and economic situation in the
country, the growing poverty and population drain. Hovannisian said
that he is an independent candidate and is not engaged in business
activity unlike others.

“The authorities are well aware that it is difficult to oust a
candidate that is not connected with business-threads with them
and cannot be turned into a marionette. So, they are concerned over
possible victory of such candidate,” he said.

In this light, Heritage leader said that Hertiage Party faction in
the Parliament has always had financial problems because it has no
businessmen parliamentarians. He said that the fee for participation
in the election will be donated.

“The expenses of a presidential campaign must not exceed 100 million
drams. I am not going to spend more either. Those who will spend
more must be brought responsible for violation of the law,” the
politician said.

The presidential election in Armenia is scheduled for Feb 18 2013.

Mass Media have named the probable candidates: ex-foreign minister
Vartan Oskanian, first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Leader of
Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian, who waived his deputy mandate, and
Leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan. A poll that has
been conducted in Armenia lately revealed that 43.4% of the population
wants to Gagik Tsarukyan on the president’s post. Robert Kocharyan
received 20.2% votes, than goes Raffi Hovannisian with 14.2%, Levon
Ter-Petrosyan with 5.8% and Vahan Hovhannisyan (ARFD) – 5.7%.

JAPAN AND ARMENIA ARE RELIABLE PARTNERS WITH COMMON VALUES: THE AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Japan are interested
in the development of steadfast relations in all the spheres. The
development of fraternal relations was noted in the highest level. The
Presidents of the both states are sure about the development of the
cooperation. In a conversation with “Armenpress” the Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Armenia (resident in
Moscow) Chikahito Harada talked about the practical steps towards
the strengthening of reciprocal relations.

– Dear Mr. Ambassador, let’s start with reciprocal relations. This
year the President of the Republic of Armenia visited Japan. How do
you appreciate the results of that visit? What ways of development
do you consider as the most perspective?

– It seems to me that the visit of the President of the Republic
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Japan on June stimulated the future
development of the relations and cooperation between the two
countries. In frames of the visit a document regarding the development
of the relationship and cooperation between our countries was signed
by the leaders of our countries. Particularly, among other things
“the cooperation in the sphere of aversion of the natural disasters”
was signified as one of the primary spheres of the cooperation. Also
cooperation in the fields of intergovernmental relations, economic
ties and scientific and technological exchange, alongside with the
exchange in the cultural sphere have been discussed.

– The both countries Japan and Armenia suffered from natural disasters
and from earthquake in particular. Do You consider the exchange
of experience in the sphere of aversion of natural disasters and
reduction of their consequences to the minimum?

– After the heavy earthquake in the East of Japan ceremonies in memory
of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami have been convened on
March, 2011 and the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edvard
Nalbandyan partook in the ceremony. Beside aforementioned, in June
of 2012 in frames of his visit to Japan the President of the Republic
of Armenia first of all visited the disaster area and encouraged the
people by his warm speech and his assistance.

Let me express our gratification once more for this.

– What is the position of the Government of Japan regarding the
NKR conflict?

– The final regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh impact is of a certain
importance for the security and peace in this Caucasian region. As
it has been mentioned Japan highly appreciates the efforts of the
OSCE Minsk Group and is confident that the final relegation must be
achieved by means of the principals of international law and norms,
the UNO constitution, Helsinki Final Acts regarding equal rights of
the nations and their right for self-determination and the principal
of the territorial integrity.

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 3 2012

Svetlana Orlova: `Nagorno Karabakh conflict can be solved through negotiations’

[ 03 Nov 2012 12:55 ]

Baku. Ramil Mammadli – APA. `Russia considers that Nagorno Karabakh
conflict can be solved through negotiations and discussions’, Deputy
speaker of Russia’s Federation Council of Federal Assembly and
co-chair of Azerbaijan-Russia Interparliamentary Commission Svetlana
Orlova told journalists, APA reports.

She said that her country supported the settlement of the conflict
within the OSCE Minsk Group. According to her, Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Russia, Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin are taking
serious measures on this issue: `Our position is to solve this problem
through negotiations.’

Svetlana Orlova didn’t respond the question on the construction and
opening of the airport in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by
Armenia. Orlova said that she has no information about it.

CQ Transcriptions, USA
Nov 2 2012

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON VICTORIA NULAND HOLDS STATE DEPARTMENT
REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING, AS RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT

[parts omitted]

Scott, back to —

QUESTION: Azerbaijan is threatening military action against any
commercial flights into Nagorno-Karabakh, specifically into the
apparently newly renovated airport at Stepanakert. I know that the
Secretary spoke about that when we were there sometime this year in
both countries. Is that – the United States involved in this latest
trouble – potential trouble?

MS. NULAND: Well, we – as we always do with these kinds of issues, the
United States urges the parties to find a diplomatic solution to
issues relating to the operation of the airport, in keeping with the
relevant international agreements, customary international law, and
the current practice between Armenia and Azerbaijan with respect to
civilian air travel. The OSCE-Minsk group issued a statement on this.
There was one on April 14th, 2011. There was another one just this
past July 2012, which represented the views of the United States,
France, and Russia in calling for a diplomatic solution. So I would
urge you to take a look at that.

We also, in those statements, reiterated that the operation of this
airport should not be used to support any claim of change in the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Department of US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Nov 3 2012

Washington: U.S. Response at OSCE to Armenian Envoy Hovakimian

We welcome our former colleague, Deputy Foreign Minister Hovakimian,
back to the Permanent Council.

The United States and Armenia share a strong partnership based on
shared interests. We want to help Armenia in its quest to become a
prosperous democratic nation.

Regarding regional and global security, the United States appreciates
Armenia’s contributions to our shared mission in Afghanistan and to
peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.

Concerning economic reform, private sector investors look for an open
business climate with predictable rules; an independent judiciary; and
transparent regulations, taxes, and customs. We recognize the progress
Armenia has made in this direction, and note that in the World Bank’s
recent `Ease of Doing Business Report,’ Armenia moved up from 50th to
32nd place in the global ranking. The United States looks forward to
continued cooperation with Armenia to improve its business climate
further.

We remain concerned about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. As a
co-chair of the Minsk Group, the United States is committed to working
with all the parties to find a way forward to enable people of the
region to live together in peace and dignity. We appreciate Foreign
Minister Nalbandian’s recent travel to Paris to participate in talks
with his Azerbaijani counterpart and the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and we
look forward to further productive meetings in the region later this
month.

Over twenty years of independence, Armenia has taken some positive
steps in its transition to democracy. We know from experience that
democracy must be built over time; it is an ongoing project. We are
pleased to work with Armenia on strengthening its democratic
institutions to promote transparency, advancing the right of free
speech, including as exercised by the media, rooting out corruption,
and respecting universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, and we
are committed to working with Armenia to continue these efforts. We
urge the Government of Armenia to live up to its commitments to the
systematic, fair, and transparent implementation of the rule of law.

We note that OSCE observers said of the May 6, 2012, parliamentary
elections that while there were improvements `characterized by a
competitive, vibrant and largely peaceful campaign,’ there was `an
unequal playing field due to violations of campaign provisions and
cases of pressure on voters, as well as deficiencies in the complaints
and appeals process….’ The OSCE further remarked that `the general
lack of confidence among political parties and the general public in
the integrity of the electoral process is an issue of great concern,
despite all stakeholders underscoring their commitment to hold
elections in accordance with international standards.’

We hope that Armenia will work with civil society, the OSCE, and other
international partners to ensure that the conduct of the presidential
elections in February 2013 will address these concerns. To this end,
we welcome the Government of Armenia’s formation of an Election
Working Group, as well as the briefing given by the Working Group to
OSCE participating States’ ambassadors in Yerevan on October 26. We
are pleased that the Working Group is striving to implement eighteen
of ODIHR’s twenty-six recommendations after observing the May
parliamentary elections. We encourage the Working Group to work
closely with ODIHR on the remaining eight recommendations in the
run-up to the February 2013 presidential elections, and to pay special
attention to those recommendations related to the voter registration
list.

For more information please visit:

Turkey views Armenia’s Genocide’s 100th anniversary as football match

tert.am
17:08 – 03.11.12

On the threshold of 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Turkey
is analyzing Armenia’s steps to know what to do.

It views the 100th anniversary as a football match, Tiran
Lokmagyozian, former employee of Istanbul-based Agos paper, told at a
news conference Saturday.

`Turkey thinks Armenians all over the world are getting prepared for
2015. They are viewing it as a football game to see who the winner
will be,’ he said.

Referring to the possibility of friendship between Armenia and Turkey
he noted that each party imagines friendship on his own way.

`Turkey thinks friendship may be established by obliging the wishes,
pre-conditions, demanding forget the Genocide, hand Karabakh to
Azerbaijan. Of course, if Armenia does it all very good relations will
be established, but it will not be beneficial for Armenia,’ he said.

Asked whether he is pleased with Armenia’s foreign policy he said he
sees a number of flaws which he said have their reasons.

`Armenia’s foreign policy is to see what the others are doing and
think what to do. The policy conducted with Turkey is very bad.
Armenia does not have its own policy,’ he said.

We are ready to put in order all the spheres of activity of the state:
The President of the Republic of Armenia

15:29, 3 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan participated in the Diocesan Representative
Assembly, under the leadership of His Holiness Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, which is aimed to the
discussion of the modern ecclesiastical and national issues and the
clarification of the steps to be undertaken to overcome nowadays
challenges. As the Press Service of the President of the Republic of
Armenia informed “Armenpress” the President of the Republic of Armenia
addressed to the participants of the Diocesan Representative Assembly
and answered their questions. In his address the Head of the Country
stated:

“Your Holiness,

Holy Fathers,

Dear participants,

I am glad to welcome You. It’s beyond doubt that the present council
and all the activity of the Armenian Apostolic Church in general is
not a question of a sole religious organization, but it is of
nation-wide importance and significance. Furthermore, it is of a
certain importance from the cultural, national preservation and
political viewpoints as well. And this factor is not accidental.

Hence, now too you can expect the holistic support from the Armenian
state. Saying “you” I mean both the Armenian Apostolic Church with all
its dioceses and its servants, and all those civil people who stand
beside our church by their spirit, heart, organizational efforts,
financial support and a kind word.

Dear participants,

Of coarse I am aware of the agenda of the council. These are really
actual issues. We all wish to be closer to our people, its cares and
pains, to answer its questions, because the people really expect much
from our Mother Church. This is the result of the age-old authority
and now you represent its embodiment.

Today a part of our people – the Syrian-Armenians, is in a drastic
situation. This is a historical trial and we must unite to face it.
Everybody has his work to do in the present situation – and the
Church, and the state, and of coarse our communities of Diaspora.

Presently our country is in a stage of important changes. After
getting rid of the destructive consequences of the economic crisis we
initiated the new stage of the development of our country. Today we
are relatively free to move forward in the way of changes. We know the
root of all problems and we can achieve serious results to overcome
them. We are ready to put in order all the spheres of activity of the
state.

We must guarantee stabile country, secure motherland and safe family.

Thank you for attention.”