Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA PRESIDENT READY TO GIVE OPPOSITION 28 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS: NEWSPAPER SOURCE

epress.am
01.18.2012

Ruling coalition forces [Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), the
Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Rule of Law party (OEK)] have discussed
and decided the future make-up of the National Assembly, reports
local opposition daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times’), citing
a reliable, but unnamed source.

The parties decided that in majority system and party lists, HHK
should get 67 seats. The paper notes that RA President Serzh Sargsyan
is preparing to give BHK 30 mandates and OEK, 6, while the president
is prepared to give the opposition 28 seats.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

TOP STORY January 19,
2012

Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian
Fr. Nareg Berberian was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1992.

_Boca Raton to Celebrate Pastor’s 20 Years of Service_

On Saturday, January 21, the St. David Church of Boca Raton, FL, will honor
its longtime pastor, the Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, on the 20th
anniversary of his ordination to the holy priesthood.

Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian will preside over the
celebratory banquet to be held in the church’s Mardigian Hall. Fr. Berberian
was the very first priest to receive ordination by the hand of the Primate,
in 1992.

Also attending the event will be Diocesan Ecumenical Director Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, along with clergy from the Diocese and the surrounding
community in Boca Raton.

On Sunday, January 22, Archbishop Barsamian will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy at the St. David Church, during which he will ordain Gregory Merjian
to the order of sub-diaconate and Arlen Avedyan to the order of diaconate.

Scripture of the Week

Is 58:13-59:7
1 Tim 4:12-5:10
Jn 3:13-21

Prayer of the Week

Lord, receive our supplications through the intercession of the holy Mother
of God, the immaculate bearer of your only-begotten Son, and by the
supplications of all your saints. Hear us, Lord, and have mercy on us;
forgive, expiate and remit our sins; make us worthy to give you thanks and
to glorify you together with the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always.
Amen.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

_22 January:_ St. Gregory the Theologian

_29 January:_ Barekendan of the Fast of Catechumens

_3 February:_ Remembrance of the Prophet Jonah

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Sanahin monastery in Armenia
The stoa of Grigor Magistros, part of the school building at Sanahin
Monastery.

_Restoration Efforts to Begin at Sanahin Monastery _

According to reports, the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Culture has
announced that it will proceed with plans to begin restoration work at the
historic Sanahin Monastery in the country’s northern Lori region later this
year.

In collaboration with experts from Italy and Germany, the Ministry of
Culture has already completed studies of the monastery’s structure and its
many _khatchkars_ and other monuments. Officials have said they expect to
begin restoration efforts in the coming months.

At the center of Sanahin Monastery are the Holy Redeemer Church and the
Church of the Mother-of-God, both dating to the 10th century. The complex
also includes a chapel, bell tower, library, school, and cemetery.

Built over the remains of a 4th- or 5th-century church, the monastery was
one of Armenia’s most influential centers between the 10th and 13th
centuries. Its school was renowned for teaching medicine, painting, and the
art of illumination. Today the monastery appears on the UNESCO World
Heritage List.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Oriental Orthodox meeting in New York City
(left to right) Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem
Karim, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian at this week’s meeting of the
Standing Conference of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

_Oriental Orthodox Clergy Meet in Teaneck, NJ _

On Tuesday, January 17, members of the Standing Conference of the Oriental
Orthodox Churches met at St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox Cathedral in Teaneck,
NJ. Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Church hosted
the meeting, which was chaired by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church.

The meeting began with a prayer and welcoming remarks by Metropolitan Karim.
Discussion topics included plans being made for a youth retreat to be hosted
by the Syrian Orthodox Church and possible daylong regional meetings of
Oriental Orthodox clergy.

Participants also spoke about their respective Christian education programs
and reviewed the Oriental Orthodox Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy held
last November at the Coptic Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael and St.
Mena in Staten Island, NY. Next year’s concelebration will be hosted by St.
Leon Armenian Church of Fair Lawn, NJ.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Eastern Diocese’s Ecumenical Director, and
Metropolitan Karim spoke about the participation of Oriental Orthodox
churches in the Christian Churches Together organization and presented
updates on the ongoing dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. Turning to
developments overseas, participants discussed the situation of Copts in
Egypt and Christians in Syria.

The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan gave a presentation on the new website of
the Standing Conference of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. [4]Click here to
visit the website for news and information about the organization.
Links:
4.

In addition to Archbishop Barsamian, Archbishop Aykazian, and Fr. Findikyan,
representing the Armenian Church at Tuesday’s meeting were: the Rev. Fr.
Diran Bohajian, Dn. Ryan Tellalian, and Dn. Benjamin Rith-Najarian. Clergy
representing the Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian, and Malankara churches were in
attendance.

Ecumenical meeting
`An Ecumenical Celebration of Evening Prayer’ was held at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral in New York City on January 18.

_Ecumenical Prayer Service Held in New York City _

On Wednesday, January 18, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, and
the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, attended `An Ecumenical
Celebration of Evening Prayer’ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

The prayer service was held on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for
Christian unity, and led by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Orthodox, Catholic, and
Protestant clergy participated in the procession and prayers.

During the service, Archbishop Barsamian invited the clergy and congregation
to recite the Lord’s Prayer. The guest homilist was the Rev. Dr. A.R.
Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY. Hymns were sung by
the Christian Cultural Center Choir and Orchestra and the St. Patrick’s
Cathedral Choir.

Primate visits Armenian Schools and Old Age Homes
Archbishop Barsamian speaks with a resident at the New York Armenian Home,
as Aghavni Ellian, the home’s executive director, looks on.

_Primate Visits Schools, Old Age Homes in NY and NJ_

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, made his annual visits to
local Armenian schools and homes for the elderly this week, including the
Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School in Bayside, NY, and the New York Armenian
Home in Flushing, NY, on Wednesday, January 18, and the Hovnanian School in
New Milford, NJ, and the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in
Emerson, NJ, on Thursday, January 19.

As part of each visit, the Primate officiated over the Home Blessing
service, which is traditionally performed at the start of the New Year. At
the Holy Martyrs and Hovnanian schools, students sang Armenian songs and
recited poems. They also had the opportunity to learn more about the Home
Blessing service and to ask Archbishop Barsamian questions about the
Armenian Church.

At the New York Armenian Home and the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center, residents received communion and shared in conversation with the
Primate.

Accompanying Archbishop Barsamian to the Hovnanian School and the Armenian
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center were the Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian and Dn.
Hacik Sariminasyan. Dn. Sebuh Oscherician also accompanied the Primate on
both days.

Click to view photos from the visits to [5]Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School,
the [6]Hovnanian School, and the [7]Armenian centers.
Links:
5.
6.
7.

GTech
Students listen to a lecture at GTech in Gyumri, Armenia.

_FAR’s GTech Dedicates New Lab to Mobile Platforms_

FAR’s Gyumri Information Technology Center (GTech), in collaboration with
Armenia’s Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF), has opened a new lab
focusing on mobile platform development. Called the “M-Lab,” the new program
will make available courses on mobile platform technology to students of
GTech and to Gyumri’s IT professionals.

With a curriculum that focuses on operating systems and applications
involving the Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile platforms, the
`M-Lab’ aims to build up a mobile development faculty within GTech and to
promote mobile application development in Gyumri. Students will be trained
in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, and receive an introduction to mobile web
design.

GTech was established in 2005 by FAR, in partnership with U.S. and Armenian
technology companies, and with strong support from FAR’s Young Professional
alumni community. The goal of the center is to strengthen the information
technology skills of young Armenians and to expand employment and business
opportunities in the region for young professionals. GTech also helps to
bolster development by providing an incubator space for new start-up IT
businesses.
[8]
Click here to visit FAR’s blog and to read more.
Links:
8.

Diocesan Center News

_Diocese Seeking Development Director_

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is currently seeking
candidates for the position of Director of Development.

The Development Director will report to the Diocese’s Executive Director. He
or she will be responsible for planning and implementing all fundraising
strategies for the Eastern Diocese. Responsibilities include the areas of
donor research, cultivation, and solicitation; leadership identification and
planning; reporting to donors and the public; among other areas.

Qualified applicants should have a bachelor’s degree (advanced degree
preferred) and at least 10 years of successful fundraising experience in the
non-profit sector. Please consult the job description and list of
qualifications posted on the [9]Eastern Diocese’s website.
Links:
9.

Send résumé and cover letter via e-mail to
[10][email protected]. Only those applicants meeting the
requirements for the Development Director position will be interviewed. The
review of applications will begin immediately.
Links:
10. mailto:[email protected]

PARISH NEWS

Ordination at Holy Cross Church, Union City, NJ
Archbishop Barsamian ordained acolytes last Sunday at Holy Cross Church of
Union City, NJ.

_Acolytes Ordained in Union City, NJ_

On Sunday, January 15, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate,
visited Holy Cross Church of Union City, NJ, where he celebrated the Divine
Liturgy and ordained three parishioners to the rank of acolyte. The three
are: Matthew Bagdat, Tadevos Grigoryan, and Garnik Hovannesian.

The Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan, parish pastor, performed a requiem service
for Dirahayr Ohannes Barsamian on the second anniversary of his passing.

Services were followed by a fellowship hour in the church hall. [11]Click
here to view photos.
Links:
11.

St. Gregory of Nareg, Cleveland, OH
ACYOA Juniors of St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, sing
Christmas carols during home visits to parishioners last month.

_ACYOA Juniors in Cleveland, OH, Reach Out to Elderly _

The ACYOA Juniors of St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, have been
reaching out to community members who are unable to leave their homes due to
advanced age or illness.

As part of this initiative, members of the ACYOA Juniors and their advisors
joined the Rev. Fr. Hratch Sargsyan, parish pastor, and Dn. Serop Demirjian
on home visitations on Saturday, December 17.

In the spirit of the Christmas season, ACYOA members brought poinsettias and
cookies, and sang Christmas carols and shared in fellowship. They also
assisted Fr. Sargsyan and Dn. Demirjian in performing the Home Blessing
service at each of the parishioner’s homes.

To arrange a visitation, contact Fr. Sargsyan at (216) 381-6590 (church) or
(440) 264-3541 (cell), or Louise Demirjian at (440) 915-9520, or via e-mail
at [12][email protected].
Links:
12.

Armenian mission parish in Southwest Florida
(left to right) Dn. Zaven Hartutian, Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Dn. Allan
Tossoonian, and Vartkes Karaian during the Blessing of Water Ceremony in
Southwest Florida.

_Southwest Florida Community Welcomes Vicar _

On Sunday, January 15, the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar,
visited the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida Mission Parish, where he
celebrated the Divine Liturgy and performed the Blessing of Water Ceremony.

Vartkes Karaian served as godfather for the _churorhnek_, or Blessing of
Water Ceremony, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus by the hand of John
the Baptist. More than 100 parishioners gathered for the service.

Later in the afternoon, a luleh kebab dinner was held, providing
parishioners with an opportunity for fellowship.

The next Divine Liturgy is scheduled for Sunday, February 26, at 1 p.m.
Services are held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs, FL. For
more information, or to join the parish mailing list, contact Parish Council
chair Carole Meghreblian at (239) 348-3804, or via e-mail at
[13][email protected].
Links:
13. mailto:[email protected]

Holy Trinity parishioner volunteers in Armenia
Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.

_Cheltenham Parish Hosts Talk on Working in Armenia __ _

On Sunday, January 8, the ACYOA Seniors of Holy Trinity Church of
Cheltenham, PA, hosted a presentation by parishioner Greg Bilazarian, a
young man who has been living and working in Armenia.

Bilazarian, 27, took part in Birthright Armenia last summer, and decided to
extend his stay upon the completion of the program. He is now working at the
Civilitas Foundation in Yerevan, where he helped launch a new
website-[14] uses online tools to gauge public opinion
in Armenia.
Links:
14.

During his presentation at Holy Trinity Church, Bilazarian spoke about his
experiences in Armenia, and highlighted the need to come up with solutions
to the country’s ongoing population drain. One approach, he said, might be
the continued development of the technology and tourism industries, which
provide economic opportunities for the local population.

_Upcoming Parish Events _

_St. Gregory the Illuminator Church | Chicago, IL_
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, IL, will host its 3rd annual
Armenian Winter Fest and Dance on Saturday, January 21, from 4 to 11 p.m.

The evening will feature a special performance by the Armenian Dance Company
of Chicago. Enjoy shish kebob, chicken kebob, and homemade pastries.
Admission is free. For information, [15]click here.
Links:
15.

_Holy Trinity Church | Cambridge, MA_
On Sunday, January 22, Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, will celebrate
the 10th anniversary of the Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian’s ministry at the
parish. The celebration will take place in the Charles and Nevart Talanian
Cultural Hall following church services.

_St. Gregory the Enlightener Church | White Plains, NY_
The ACYOA of St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY, will
host its annual_ holiday party on Saturday, January 21_, beginning at 8 p.m.

The evening will feature music by Robert Chilingirian, the Khnjooyk Band,
and DJ Glo. Tickets are $20. [16]Click here to view a flyer for details, or
e-mail [17][email protected] to make a reservation.
Links:
16.
17. mailto:[email protected]

St. Gregory the Enlightener Church will also host the _Tumanyan Puppet State
Theater of Yerevan on Friday, January 27_, at 7 p.m. in the church’s Tutak
Hall. For more information, [18]click here.
Links:
18.

EVENTS

Armenian Bible published in 1666 in Amsterdam
The first printed Armenian Bible, published in Amsterdam, 1666.

_Commemorating 500 Years of Armenian Printing_

The Diocesan Center in New York will be the venue for a special presentation
honoring the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing, on the evening of
Tuesday, January 24.

Zakarya Mildanoglu, a columnist for the _Agos _weekly of Istanbul, will be
the keynote speaker, delivering his remarks in Armenian. Hagop Vartivarian
will be the master of ceremonies.

The event, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in Guild Hall of the Diocesan Center,
will take place under the auspices of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), in collaboration with several organizations.

Admission is free and open to the public. To view a flyer, [19]click here.
Links:
19.

YOUTH NEWS

ACYOA Alternative Spring Break

_Register for ACYOA Alternative Spring Break _

The ACYOA Central Council is partnering with Habitat for Humanity and their
annual Collegiate Challenge to give college students from around the country
the opportunity to build affordable housing for a needy family in Buffalo,
New York.

This `Alternative Spring Break’ program will take place from March 17-24. In
addition to helping build houses, participants will have the opportunity for
worship and will visit the local Armenian community in Niagara Falls, NY.
The group will be led by the Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian.

[20]Click here to view a flyer for more information, or contact ACYOA
Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian at (212) 293-1248, or via e-mail at
[21][email protected].
Links:
20.
21. mailto:[email protected]

ACYOA chapter workshop in Florida
ACYOA Chapter Workshop participants make sandwiches for a South Florida
homeless shelter.

_ACYOA Chapter Workshop Held in Boca Raton, FL _

Thirty-five ACYOA members from parishes across the Eastern Diocese gathered
in Boca Raton, FL, last weekend for the ACYOA’s 4th annual Chapter Workshop,
hosted by St. David Church. The workshop was designed and facilitated by the
seven-member ACYOA Central Council with the Diocesan Vicar, the Very Rev.
Fr. Simeon Odabashian, serving as the workshop chaplain.

Under the theme “We’re All In This Together,” the January 13-15 workshop
aimed to provide an interactive atmosphere for participants to share
successes, struggles, and advice on how to nurture and build their
respective ACYOA parish chapters while also providing opportunities for
service, worship, and Christian fellowship.

Participants examined the ACYOA’s mission and the resources the organization
has to make it succeed. They learned that a clear mission, balanced team,
and healthy organization are important aspects of a successful ACYOA
chapter. The weekend also included a service component during which young
people prepared more than 100 sandwiches for a local homeless shelter.
[22]
Click here to read more.
Links:
22.

ARMENIA URGED FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION ON IRAN ISSUE

Moj News Agency
January 16, 2012 Monday
Iran

“Armenia always stressed necessity of peaceful solution to the problems
over Iran’s nuclear program which should be settled based on dialogue
and talks,” Nalbandian said.

According to him, position of the official Yerevan was presented to
Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his recent visit to Armenia.

Presently, the Armenian side simply confirms its position, he added.

GEORGIA WARNS AGAINST ‘OFFENSIVE’ RUSSIAN EXERCISE

Democracy & Freedom Watch

Jan 17 2012

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia’s South Strategic Command is planning the
exercise ‘Caucasus 2012’ in September.

Foreign military attaches were briefed about the exercise at a meeting
in Moscow last December with the head of the Russian military’s chief
of staff. It will involve not only army but also border guards, air
force, interior ministry, security and emergency services, as well
as what is called the Air Defense Force Management System.

This air defense system controls not only Russian skies but also covers
the South Caucasus, justified by the need to protect the Russian base
in Armenia, Nezavisimaia Gazeta reports.

According to Russian defense sources, unlike in previous exercised,
this year it will also take place inside Georgia’s breakaway regions,
Abkhazia and the South Ossetia, as well as in Armenia.

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry warned Tuesday that the exercise is
offensive in nature and a provocation meant to stoke ‘permanent
tension’ in Georgia and the Black Sea region.

“The international community should pay attention to the fact that
the Russian foreign policy is not changed. It continues aggressive
actions, including demonstrating military forces and provocations.

Russia is the source of destabilization and negative events on the
international arena,” the statement says.

But Nezavisimaia Gazeta reports that the background for the exercise is
increased tension in the Persian Gulf and the danger of a U.S.-Israeli
attack on Iran and that this would necessitate steps to protect the
Russian troops stationed around the Caucasus region.

ARMENIAN CONVICTS TO ORGANIZE STRIKE IN BID FOR AMNESTY

Vestnik Kavkaza
Jan 17 2012
Russia

20 convicts of the Nubarashen prison sentenced for life plan to
start a strike tomorrow unless their demands will be considered,
News Armenia reports.

The convicts prepared three letters to the president, offices of the
EU and Red Cross. They demand their cases to be reconsidered with
account of amendments to the Armenian Criminal Code, making their
imprisonment last 15-20 years.

They said that 20 more prisoners would join their strike unless their
demands are considered.

TATA STEEL: ARONIAN, CARLSEN LEADS TOURNAMENT

Panorama.am
18/01/2012

In the 4th round of tournament “A” Tata Steel Festival Armenian GM
Levon Aronian defeated Gata Kamsky. Currently Aronian scored 3 points
and leads the tournament with Magnus Carlsen. The latter shared his
points with Karuana in the reporting round.

Today the chess players rest and on Thursday Levon Aronian will
compete with Van Wely.

Armenian chess federation informs that Elina Danielian, who plays in
tournament “C” lost to Ootes.

Tournament A

Aronian, L. – Kamsky, G. 1 – 0 Caruana, C. – Carlsen, M. 1 / 2 Gelfand,
B. – Radjabov, T. 1 / 2 Giri, G. – Nakamura, H. 1 / 2 Ivanchuk, V. –
Van Wely, L. 1 / 2 Navara, D. – Karjakin, S. 0 – 1 Topalov, V. –
Gashimov, V. 1 / 2

Standing

1. Aronian, L. 3 2. Carlsen, M. 3 3. Caruana, F. 2½ 4. Radjabov, T. 2½
5. Giri, A. 2 6. Ivanchuk, V. 2 7. Karjakin, S. 2 8. Topalov, V. 2
9. Van Wely, L. 2 10. Gashimov, V. 1½ 11. Gelfand, B. 1½ 12. Kamsky,
G. 1½ 13. Nakamura, H. 1½ 14. Navara, D. 1

TURQUIE/ASSASSINAT DINK : UN SUSPECT CONDAMNE A VIE, PAS DE COMPLOT
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 18 janvier 2012

Un tribunal d’Istanbul a condamne mardi un suspect a la prison a vie
pour son rôle d’instigateur dans l’assassinat en 2007 du journaliste
turc d’origine armenienne Hrant Dink mais a juge que cet assassinat
ne relevait pas d’un complot, provoquant la colère des avocats de la
famille Dink.

Yasin Hayal, 31 ans, a ecope d’une peine maximale, la reclusion
criminelle a perpetuite, pour avoir “incite avec premeditation”
a tuer le journaliste tandis que d’autres suspects ont ete acquittes.

La justice turque a deja condamne en juillet 2011 a près de 23 ans
de prison Ogun Samast, l’assassin du journaliste, un acte qui avait
bouleverse la Turquie.

Samast, un chômeur de 17 ans au moment des faits, avait reconnu son
crime. Ce sont ses 19 complices supposes qui etaient juges mardi.

Un autre suspect important, Erhan Tuncel, un informateur de la police,
a ete condamne, mais sans lien direct avec l’affaire Dink : il a ecope
de 10 ans et six mois de prison pour sa participation au plasticage en
2004 d’un restaurant McDonald’s a Trabzon (nord-est), sur la mer Noire.

Le tribunal n’a pas retenu l’accusation d’appartenance a une
organisation terroriste, une decision denoncee par les avocats de
la victime qui ont toujours reclame une enquete plus approfondie,
jugeant que le meurtre relevait d’un crime organise impliquant certains
fonctionnaires de la sûrete.

“Il s’avère que Hrant Dink n’a pas ete victime d’un crime planifie
(…) mais a ete tue par une poignee de gens”, a ironise après
l’annonce du verdict Me Fehriye Cetin, l’avocat de la famille de
Hrank Dink, denoncant une “plaisanterie” des juges.

AFP

Après l’audience, CNN Turk lors d’un reportage realise devant les
locaux d’Agos, une celèbre danseuse turque du nom de Zeynep Tanbay
s’est emportee devant la camera en hurlant que “Hrant Dink a ete tue
parce qu’il etait Armenien ! Et ca aussi c’est un genocide ! L’Etat
est derrière tout cela !” s’est-elle ecriee. Ajoutant.” Pour moi aussi
il y a bien eu un genocide en 1915 !”. Le presentateur de CNN lui
a alors recommande de bien choisir ses mots. Plus tard on annoncait
que de nombreux texto SMS de menaces avaient ete adresses a la chaîne.

NO INCIDENT DURING OSCE MONITORING ON ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONTACT LINE

Trend
Jan 17 2012
Azerbaijan

The OSCE has monitored contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani
armed forces.

The monitoring held on the contact line between Armenian and
Azerbaijani armed forces in the north-west of Kurapatkino village in
the Khojavand region on Jan.17 ended without incident, the Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry told Trend on Tuesday.

The monitoring was held on the Azerbaijani side by the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk’s field
assistants Imre Palatinus, Christo Christov and William Pryor.

The monitoring was held on the opposite side, which the
international community recognizes as Azerbaijani territory, by
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk,
his field assistants Antal Herdich and Marius Puodziunas.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

SUSPECT GETS LIFE IN DINK MURDER CASE, COURT SEES NO ‘DEEP STATE’ ROLE

Today’s Zaman

Jan 17 2012
Turkey

A Turkish court has handed down life imprisonment for Yasin Hayal,
a major suspect in the killing of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink, of instigating a murder while another suspect Erhan Tuncel was
acquitted of murder charges.

The Ä°stanbul 14th High Criminal Court issued its ruling in the
25th hearing of the case, ending a five-year trial. The two, and all
other suspects, were cleared of charges of membership in a terrorist
organization. Tuncel was given 10 years and six months for an unrelated
McDonalds bombing in 2004.

The late editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, Dink
was shot dead on Jan. 19, 2007 by an ultranationalist teenager outside
the offices of his newspaper in Ä°stanbul in broad daylight. Evidence
discovered since then has led to claims that the murder was linked to
the “deep state,” a term used in reference to a shady group of military
and civilian bureaucrats believed to have links with criminal elements.

Tuncel, one of the key suspects in the murder who was previously a
police informant, had his final defense statement at the hearing.

Tuncel, who was accused of being an instigator of the murder, said
that the murder was an action of Ergenekon, a clandestine organization
whose alleged members are currently standing trial in court cases on
charges of plotting against the government.

In 1999, lawyers in the trial over the murder of Dink had demanded that
the court request documents seized during the Ergenekon probe relating
to the organization’s Cage Action Plan against minorities in Turkey.

The lawyers had stated at the time that Dink’s killing, along with
the 2006 killing of an Italian priest and the 2007 killing of three
Christians in Malatya, was part of an operation in the works being
carried out by Ergenekon. They also said that when Dink was facing
charges under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301, which then
criminalized “insulting Turkishness,” some of the people who are in
jail now as alleged Ergenekon members brought crowds of protestors
and even attacked Dink and his supporters as they entered and left
the courtroom.

In September last year, prosecutor Hikmet Usta announced his opinion
as to who masterminded the assassination and as to the accusations
directed at suspects during the 20th hearing of the Dink trial. The
prosecutor said the murder was the work of Ergenekon’s Trabzon cell
and demanded life imprisonment for seven suspects, including key
suspects Hayal and Tuncel, on charges of attempting to destroy the
constitutional order.

Following the announcement of the court ruling, a group of people
supporting Dink’s family and demanding justice for Hrant Dink showed
outrage with the ruling.

Dink family’s lawyer, Fethiye Cetin, slammed the ruling, saying it
meant that a “state tradition of political murders” was deliberately
left intact because it did not deal with accusations of state
involvement in the 2007 murder.

“They made fun of us throughout the five-year trial process. We did not
know they saved the biggest joke to the very end,” she told reporters
soon after the verdict was read out. “This ruling means a tradition
was left untouched. The state tradition of political murders. The
tradition of state discriminating against some of its citizens and
turning them into enemies,” she said.

Cetin also vowed to pursue all available legal remedies against the
ruling, asserting that the verdict marked the end of only an initial
phase of the case, which consisted of the trial of hitmen in the
murder. The prosecutor in the case also plans to appeal the verdict.

In Brussels, Peter Stano, spokesperson for enlargement commissioner
Stefan Fule, said the EU recalls the ECtHR (European Court of Human
Rights) judgement in 2010, which found that Turkey had failed to
conduct effective investigations into the murder of Dink, thus not
guaranteeing his right to life.

In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkish
authorities to pay 100,000 euros to Dink’s family in compensation,
saying authorities had failed to protect Dink even though they knew
ultra-nationalists were plotting to kill him.

He said all involved need to be held accountable before the law and
further judicial investigations into the implication of high ranking
officials need to be conducted. He added that the EU underlines the
importance for Turkey to address the systemic shortcomings in its
justice system as made evident in this ECtHR judgement and urged the
full execution of the ECtHR judgement which he said is crucial for
Turkey in order to fight impunity.

Court grants preliminary injunction against erasing of phone records
The court granted a preliminary injunction against the erasing of
mobile phone records for calls made in the area of the assassination.

According to the ruling, all calls made between the dates of Aug. 19,
2006 and Feb. 19, 2007 will be kept by the Telecommunications
Directorate (TÄ°B) as the prosecutor’s office may ask for these
records at any time.

After the finalization of the case by the Ä°stanbul 14th High
Criminal Court, the Dink case is supposed to go to the Supreme Court
of Appeals, Cetin had told Today’s Zaman, because the court demanded
the prosecution examine the TÄ°B records more thoroughly.

“If there is new evidence, the case could be reopened with an
additional indictment,” Cetin said.

During the 24th hearing of the trial that took place on Jan. 9,
Cetin said the TÄ°B had provided the court with incorrect records of
phone calls made on the day of the murder, Jan. 19, 2007. TÄ°B told
the court that 6,235 phone conversations took place in the vicinity
at the time of the murder and that 9,300 people were carrying cell
phones in the area. It also said that its records showed no link to
any of the cell phones.

However, Cetin said at least five cell phone numbers belonging to
people who were present at the crime scene on the day of the murder
were directly connected to Mustafa Ozturk and Sahil Hacısalihoglu,
two suspects in the investigation.

She went on to claim that one of the numbers assigned to a cell phone
present in the area at the time of the murder had made 19 calls to
suspect Ozturk between the dates Oct. 22, 2005 — about two years
prior to the murder — and Jan. 27, 2007.

This was not the first time the Dink family lawyers have discovered
information that appears to have been secretly held from the
prosecution and the court. Footage from active security cameras at
shops and banks located close to the crime scene was also mysteriously
lost. These recordings would have been invaluable in identifying
those associated with the murderer on the day of the assassination.

The lawyers have been expressing their frustration that there may have
been attempts to protect the suspects. A lengthy list of suspicious
irregularities in the Dink murder investigation, including deleted
records and hidden files, suggestive of a police cover-up attempt,
has marred the judicial process.

Much of the evidence has indicated that the murder could have been
prevented. Since the day of the murder, mounting evidence has indicated
that the police were tipped off about the assassination plot some
months before the actual attack. Ä°stanbul’s police chief has also
acknowledged that there was a tip-off about a possible attack on Dink,
but said its priority level was too low for his department to take
it seriously.

More dishearteningly, links between the police and suspects have been
revealed. For example, Erhan Tuncel, a key suspect in the murder,
was previously a police informant. Although Tuncel is suspected of
having incited Dink’s murderer, he is also said to be the one who
tipped off Ä°stanbul police. Important evidence, including Tuncel’s
police records, was hidden from the court. In fact, Tuncel’s file
with the police was destroyed, since it constitutes a “state secret,”
according to officials.

The investigation has yielded more evidence linking the masterminds
of the murder plot to the police force in Ä°stanbul and Trabzon, the
hometown of most of the suspects and the place where the assassination
was planned, and in Ankara, where the police were in possession of
intelligence about the murder.

In July last year, Ogun Samast, the hitman in the murder of Dink,
was sentenced to nearly 23 years in jail. Samast, tried in juvenile
court because he was a minor at the time of the crime, was sentenced
by the court to 21 years, six months for “premeditated murder” and
one year, four months for carrying an unlicensed gun.

In his final testimony to the court, Samast called for his acquittal
and blamed certain newspapers and columnists, saying what he had read
in those papers had incited him to commit the crime. “How else would
I have known about Hrant Dink or Agos if they had not written about
them,” he told the court.

Hrant’s Friends vow to fight for justice to be served “Hrant’s
Friends,” who hold demonstrations before each trial demanding justice,
met at the BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ and Dolmabahce Squares on Tuesday before the
hearing of the case started. Carrying a placard that read, “For Hrant,
for Justice,” the group walked to the courthouse.

The group included Dink’s widow, Rakel Dink, main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) Ä°stanbul Chairman Oguz Kaan Salıcı, Voice of
the People Party (HAS Party) Ä°stanbul Chairman Mehmet Bekaroglu, Peace
and Democracy Party İstanbul deputy Sırrı Sureyya Onder and several
artists. They also chanted slogans such as, “This case won’t end like
that,” “Murderer state will be accountable,” “You are my brother,
Hrant against fascism” and “We are all Hrant, we are all Armenians.”

Garo Paylan, who read a statement on behalf of the group said in
regards to the expected ruling:

“The ruling is the state’s decision. The ones who decided to take
Hrant from us five years ago — the security forces, gendarmerie,
intelligence, judiciary, media, government, opposition — will once
again make a decision in the courthouse. They will say that the murder
is the job of two or three hitmen. They will try to hide in their dark
world. But we know them. They don’t know a thing: This case will not
end before we say that it did.”

Paylan also reminded that it will be the fifth year of the Dink’s
murder on Thursday. “We will shout out the words we have been shouting
at them for five years: You are murderers.”

He also reminded that Hrant’s Friends will gather in Taksim Square
on Jan. 19 and walk to the spot where Dink was killed. Similar
demonstrations are planned outside of Turkey as well. “We will be
out on the streets until we find you one by one. For Hrant,” he added.

25 ARMENIAN INMATES TO DECLARE HUNGER STRIKE – NEWSPAPER

NEWS.am
January 17, 2012 | 09:18

YEREVAN. – Around twenty-five inmates, who are serving life sentences
in Armenia’s Nubarashen Prison, will declare a hunger strike on
Tuesday, Hraparak daily writes.

“They have prepared three letters-[addressed] to Armenia’s President,
the Council of Europe, and the Red Cross offices-in which they inform
about their intention, and demand that the President’s representative
visit them and listen to their demand. And they demand a review
of their cases, pursuant to the law, and to make their sentences
correspond with the changes in Armenia’s Criminal Code, that is, they
be sentenced to 15-20 years in prison. In recent months they sent
letters to corresponding agencies, on numerous occasions, but they
were not responded to. And this became the reason for this extreme
measure. They note that if their demand is not met this time as well,
[twenty-five] more will join the first twenty-five hunger strikers in
several days, and this will continue until their voices are heard,”
Hraparak writes.