Author: Badalian Vardan

RADOSLAV SIKORSKI: OSCE MINSK GROUP REMAINS THE MAIN FORMAT OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCESS

ARMENPRESS
20:30, 28 September, 2011

European Union is interested in peaceful regulation of all conflicts
in the South Caucasus, including the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In
an exclusive interview given to Armenpress Polish Foreign Minister
Radoslav Sikorski said that though the OSCE Minsk Group remains the
main format of international mediation in regulation process of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict., the European Union, too, can make a
contribution to peaceful regulation of the conflict conveying powerful
signals to the negotiations.

“The mandate of Philippe Lefort, EU Special Representative for the
South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, also includes the issue on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The EU policy on expanding the territory
of prosperity and democracy in a long-term period may positively
influence the settlement of the dragged conflicts,” the Polish Foreign
Minister said.

WINE FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE IN THE ARMENIAN VILLAGE ARENI ON OCTOBER 8, TOURISTS WILL BE WAITING FOR A LOT OF SURPRISES

ARKA
Sep 28, 2011

YEREVAN. September 28. /ARKA/. Wine festival will take place in the
Armenian village Areni of Vayots Dzor region (south of Armenia) on
October 8. The tourists will be waiting a lot of surprises, said the
head of Areni community Zhirayr Yeghyan on Wednesday.

“The festival is conducted already the third year and attracts more
and more tourists year-by-year. If last year 2.5-3 thousand tourists
visited the festival, this year their number is expected over 5
thousand”, said Yeghyan in the International Center “Novosti”.

This year a number of events are envisaged in Areni, including national
games, presentation of dishes, marc and wine making in accordance with
historical traditions. The guests will be suggested Armenian baking,
lavash and gata (national Armenian dish with sweet stuffing), wine
and cheese tasting.

All the envisaged events will be organized in the whole village for the
convenience of the tourists with state financial support in the amount
of 3 million drams (about $8.1 thousand) and participation of sponsors.

“For participation in the festival not only tourist groups from
France, Spain, Russia, tour operators from Estonia, but also domestic
manufacturers, of which eight wine-makers are from the village Areni
and another eight- from Nagorno-Karabakh republic and regions of
Armenia”, said Yeghyan.

About 80 farms will provide the visitors their houses for rest.

Chairman of the Union of legal entities “Association of communities of
Armenia” Emin Yeritsyan said that for participation in the festival as
experts and members of jury are invited wine-making specialists from
France who will select the winners and award them prizes in nomination
“The best wine”.

Competitions among the tourists on the development of the design for
wine labels will be conducted. The winner will have opportunity to
visit the festival again. 100 bottles of wine will be produced by these
labels. Visitors of the festival will select the best home-made wine.

This year the festival participants will use the services of special
buses costing 2.5 thousand drams (about $6.8) which will take them
to the village Areni and return back to Yerevan in the evening.

The village Areni is in Vayots Dzor region which was established in
the 3rd century before Christ. The most famous architectural building
in the village is the church of St. Mother of God built in 1321 by
famous architect Momik.

There are 543 farms in the village. The population is over 2 thousand.

Wild grape in Areni was grown from earlier Bronze Age. Now more than
20 types of grape is grown in the village. Annually, 300 tons of wine
“Areni” is produced in the village which is sold in Armenia and abroad.

It is planned that the wine festival in Armenia in 2011 will take
place in the context of archeological finding of wine-making in the
village Areni.

During the study of the cave “Areni-1”, international group of
archeologists discovered the earliest evidence of wine-making in the
south-east of Armenia which turned more than six thousand years.

The first time traces of possible wine-making were detected in the cave
Areni-1 in 2008. Now the chemical analysis of traces of substances
found in several ceramic shards in the cave Areni allowed to prove
that its inhabitants were engaged in winemaking about 4000 years
before Christ. Among the findings of archeologists are remnants of
press, jars for storing wine and “waste products” – seeds of grapes,
remnants of squeezed berries, stems.

ABOUT TWENTY THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT NAGORNO-KARABAKH A YEAR

ARKA
Sep 28, 2011

YEREVAN, September 28. / ARKA /. Citing independent experts estimates,
Nagorno-Karabakh president Bako Sahakian said today that some 20,000
foreign tourists visit the republic a year. Speaking at a special
meeting of the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University held to mark
the 20-th anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Mr. Sahakian
described the figure as quite high.

He said there are other estimates which say that the republic has
about 8000 tourists annually, but added that this is an approximate
figure, because the republic does not have a mechanism to register
all visitors.

“We did not yet install a system that Armenia did to register all
foreign visitors, and when we want to apply a strict registration
procedure that creates inconveniences for foreigners,’ he said. He
said despite Azerbaijan’s efforts to create obstacles for foreigners
wishing to visit Nagorno-Karabakh (Baku declares them personas
non-grata) the global interest towards it is rising. He said the
number of tourists who visited it in the first six months this year
grew by 45% from the same time span in 2010. According to Sahakian,
Armenian philanthropists from Lebanon and Russia have built new hotels
in Stepanakert and Shushi raising the number of beds to 645.

According to data of Nagorno-Karabakh foreign ministry, more than
3,000 tourists visited the republic in the first half of 2011, which
is 49% higher than in the same period of 2010. Nagorno-Karabakh is
visited by tourists from U.S., France, Iran, Great Britain, Holland,
Switzerland, Canada, Italy, Poland, Russia and other CIS countries.

More tourists are coming from faraway countries like Japan, China,
Singapore, Brazil, Venezuela, Israel, New Zealand, India, who are
attracted not only by its oldest historical monuments, magnificent
nature, picturesque canyons, healthy environment, mineral and hot
springs, but also by the friendliness and hospitality of its people and
its distinctive cuisine. Guests are shown Gandzasar monastery complex
(XIII century), Amaras (IV century), Dadivank (IV century), the ancient
city of Tigranakert, Azokh caves, as well as many ancient Armenian
fortresses. The expected reopening of the airport in Stepanakert is
supposed to give a great boost to tourism development.

REVUE DE PRESSE N1 – 28/09/11 – COLLECTIF VAN

Collectif VAN

28-09-2011

Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance Armenienne contre le Negationnisme]
vous propose une revue de presse des informations parues dans
la presse francophone, sur les thèmes concernant la Turquie, le
genocide armenien, la Shoah, le genocide des Tutsi, le Darfour,
le negationnisme, l’Union europeenne, Chypre, etc… Nous vous
suggerons egalement de prendre le temps de lire ou de relire les
informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre rubrique

Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc,
ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous generons
chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Media : c’est
gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre
boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Allemagne : une emission sur le genocide armenien Info Collectif VAN
– – La chaîne de television ALEX TV presente
une emission sur le genocide armenien qui est aussi diffusee
sur Internet. Dans le cadre de son programme ” Les jeunes pour la
tolerance “, la chaîne propose de traiter divers problèmes de societe,
notamment l’integration, l’immigration… Le sujet, le tournage
et la partie technique de l’emission intitulee WeTV (notre tele)
sont pris en charge par de jeunes adolescents berlinois de diverses
origines. Pour ce quatrième talkshow de l’annee, le thème du genocide
armenien et des problèmes de la minorite kurde en Turquie est aborde
avec plusieurs participants dont Steffen Reiche, qui a fait inscrire
le genocide armenien dans les livres scolaires du Land de Berlin. Le
Collectif VAN vous invite a vous connecter sur le site d’ALEX TV pour
visionner l’emission qui a ete diffusee mardi 27 septembre et sera
rediffusee vendredi et samedi.

Aparna Kolar – Recits personnels d’appartenance Info Collectif VAN –
– Le Collectif VAN vous invite a lire cette
information traduite par Georges Festa et publiee sur le site
‘Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies’ le 25 septembre 2011. “Je suis
frappee de voir que la plupart des conversations que j’ai eues
recemment lors de rencontres semblent avoir pour racines ces quatre
questions centrales d’identite : ” Qui suis-je ? Où suis-je ? De qui
suis-je ? D’où suis-je ? ” Ces conversations ne sont pas revelatrices
en soi, mais elles expriment un sentiment croissant d’insecurite,
lequel decoule d’une incapacite a repondre a ces questions de manière
precise et denuee de contradictions”.

Le Soudan affirme etre pret a continuer les processus de paix en cours
Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cette information publiee sur le site de l’ONU le 27 septembre
2011. “Dans un discours prononce a l’Assemblee generale des Nations
Unies, le Ministre des affaires etrangères du Soudan, Ali Ahmed Karty,
a souligne mardi que son gouvernement avait montre son attachement a
la paix tout au long du processus de negociations menant a la creation
de l’Etat du Soudan du Sud et dans le processus de paix au Darfour”.

L’info vue par la TRT (2) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publie sur la TRT (Television & Radio de Turquie). Les articles de
ce site ne sont pas commentes de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos negationnistes envers le genocide armenien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute reserve. “La motion prolongeant
d’un an le pouvoir attribue au gouvernement pour une operation
transfrontalière, a ete presentee a la presidence de la Grande
assemblee nationale de Turquie.”

Air Liquide : Acceleration majeure du developpement en Turquie La
Turquie est une economie dynamique avec un taux de croissance de 9%
en 2010. Son industrie se developpe et se diversifie, et la petrochimie
y est un secteur dynamique et prometteur.

Depeche de l’APA [ 28 sept 2011 11:40 ] – Agence de Presse
d’Azerbaïdjan Le Collectif VAN vous propose un article de l’APA
(Agence de presse azerie) date du 24 septembre 2011. Les articles de
ce site (ecrits generalement dans un francais rudimentaire) ne sont pas
commentes de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir des propos negationnistes
envers le genocide armenien ou d’autres informations a prendre sous
toute reserve. “L’ONU a affirme une fois de plus, que le Haut-Karabagh
fait partie integrante de l’Azerbaïdjan et etait occupe par l’Armenie.”

Ankara plante son drapeau a Mogadiscio Le premier ministre Recep
Tayyip Erdogan peaufine son image de champion de la solidarite
musulmane. La Turquie, pays emergent, veut jouer un rôle de premier
plan en Afrique. À l’entree du camp de Rajo, le drapeau turc flotte au
vent, bien en vue au sommet de son mât. Une vingtaine de mètres plus
loin, les tentes blanches alignees au cordeau abritent les familles
des refugies de la faim qui ont fui la secheresse pour chercher des
secours a Mogadiscio.

L’info vue par la TRT (1) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publie sur la TRT (Television & Radio de Turquie). Les articles de
ce site ne sont pas commentes de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos negationnistes envers le genocide armenien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute reserve. “La Turquie a demarre les
explorations gazières et petrolières en Mediterranee orientale. Le
navire “Piri Reis” a amorce les recherches sismiques au nord de l’île,
sous la protection rapprochee de l’armee turque.”

Assistance medicale au Darfour Le contingent nigerian de la MINUAD
apporte son assistance medicale au Darfour – Les casques bleus
nigerians de la Mission conjointe de l’ONU et de l’Union africaine
au Darfour (MINUAD) ont offert dimanche des soins medicaux gratuits
a environ 120 habitants du village de Kurti, dans l’Ouest du Darfour,
annonce un communique publie lundi a New York.

Charles Aznavour & friends en concert pour l’Armenie a l’Olympia
Actuellement a l’affiche de L’Olympia a Paris, Charles Aznavour
organise ce mercredi 28 septembre 2011 un recital exceptionnel dans
la mythique salle parisienne au profit de son association “Aznavour
pour l’Armenie”. De nombreux artistes devraient y participer, Julien
Clerc, Benabar ou la soprano Hasmik Papian en tete.

Après les tags nazis, le maire ne veut pas ” attiser la ranc~ur ” ”
Halte aux sombres coups bas. ” C’est la reaction de Jean-Yves Burnaud
et de la majorite municipale, dans un communique, au vandalisme dont
deux elus ont ete victimes recemment. Depuis debut août, la maison
du maire a ete taguee a plusieurs reprises de symboles nazis. Meme
chose, au cours du week-end des 17 et 18 septembre, au domicile
d’Annick Billon, adjointe a l’urbanisme, ainsi que chez un particulier
(Ouest-France de vendredi 23 septembre).

Retour a la rubrique

CHARLES AZNAVOUR & FRIENDS EN CONCERT POUR L’ARMENIE A L’OLYMPIA

Concertlive.fr
27 Sept 2011
France

Depuis le 7 septembre dernier, “Monsieur” Charles Aznavour est a
l’affiche de L’Olympia a Paris pour une serie de concerts qui le
mèneront jusqu’au 6 octobre prochain, avant une grande tournee a
travers la France. Cinquante-cinq ans après ses debuts (et son premier
Olympia !), ce monument de la chanson francaise n’en a donc pas fini
de chanter, encore moins lorsqu’il s’agit de rendre hommage a son
“autre” pays, l’Armenie.

Ainsi, Charles Aznavour et son manager Levon Sayan ont decide
d’organiser, ce mercredi 28 septembre 2011, un grand concert a
L’Olympia, en compagnie d’invites et au profit de l’association
“Aznavour pour l’Armenie”, rapporte l’AFP.

En presence des Presidents des republiques francaise et armenienne,
cette soiree d’exception viendra celebrer les 20 ans de la creation
de l’Armenie independante.

A cette occasion, de nombreux artistes ont repondus presents et se
produiront aux côtes de Charles Aznavour, a commencer par Julien Clerc,
Benabar, Helène Segara, Andre Manoukian, Patrick Fiori, Liane Foly,
Amel Bent, la soprano armenienne Hasmik Papian, son compatriote
pianiste Vardan Mamikonian ou encore les humoristes Michel Leeb et
Laurent Gerra.

Les benefices de cette soiree seront reverses a l’association
“Aznavour pour l’Armenie”, fondee en 1988 par l’artiste après le
terrible tremblement de terre qui avait devaste le pays, faisant plus
de 50 000 morts et des milliers de blesses.

ARMENIANS OF AMERICA TO PUT KHACHKAR AT GRAVE OF CIVIL WAR ARMENIAN SOLIDER

news.am
Sept 27 2011
Armenia

This week, members throughout the Philadelphia area Armenian-American
community will gather at the grave of Khachadour Paul Garabedian, the
U.S. Civil War’s only Armenian combat soldier, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).

The Philadelphia Armenian-American Veterans’ Association will host
a special dedication ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Armenian
khachkar properly marking Garabedian’s grave site.

“Garabedian met his adopted country’s challenges and received its
blessings, and in return he was moved to answer its call and serve
the Union in the Civil War.

He is a reminder of what an important role Armenian-Americans have
played in our nation’s history, and as a veteran he is particularly
deserving of our respect. I am glad that he could finally be properly
honored with this memorial and that his story will continue to inspire
all Americans in the future,” said Paul Sookiasian, the Assembly’s
Armenian-American Action Committee (ARAMAC) Philadelphia Chair.

SYDNEY SEMINARY STUDENTS VISITED ARMENIA AND MET ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS

news.am
Sept 27 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian Catholicos Karekin II on Tuesday met students of
Hamazkaine Arshak and Sophie Galstaun School from Sydney, Australia,
and blessed them, Holy Sea press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“I believe that the visit will stay long in your memories being proud
of your identity. You will return even more encouraged to continue
your studies, become valuable people and participate in the progress
of Armenian life,” the Catholicos stated and asked to keep the love
for the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian identity.

The Catholicos responded to the students’ questions regarding current
life of the Armenian Church and its mission assumed for the Armenian
nation.

Total of 35 students of the Hamazgaine visited Armenia on the occasion
of the 25th anniversary of the seminary.

IS TURKEY’S FOREIGN POLICY BECOMING HAWKISH?

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government introduced
a foreign policy of “zero problems with neighbors.”

This policy has been pursued in Turkey’s relations with Syria, Greece
and even with Armenia. Except in the case of Armenia, Turkey has
achieved great progress in its relations with other countries. The
“zero problem” policy is one that increases security and welfare
using peaceful and constructive language; however, Turkey’s attitude
toward Israel, Greek Cyprus and Syria has recently begun to create
the impression that the country is adopting a hawkish stance in its
foreign policy. Is this really the case? I had the chance to discuss
this issue with the figures who set the language of Turkey’s foreign
policy. They said their goal is not to adopt a hawkish style but
acknowledged that some developments have led to such a perception.

LIEBERMAN HITS BACK AT ERDOGAN, SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS TERROR

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

In strong remarks against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
recent criticism of Israel during an interview with CNN International,
Israeli Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman accused Erdogan’s government
of “supporting and nurturing terror.”

“Anyone who saw CNN yesterday saw Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan once
again verbally attack the state of Israel,” said Lieberman. “We have
no problems with Turkey who, for years was a friendly country, we were
partners and cooperated in a number of fields including defense and
economy,” he was quoted as saying by Israel’s Ynet website on Tuesday.

“We certainly respect the Turkish nation and Turkey as a state, our
problem is first and foremost with the current Turkish leadership
— the radical and extremist Islamist leadership that supports and
nurtures terror,” he added.

Lieberman also argued that Erdogan’s appearance on CNN Sunday was
“excellent” for Israel. “If you ask what we can do PR wise, I’d buy
each and every media outlet and let Erdogan speak all day and all
night. Every time he speaks on TV he brings more support for the
state of Israel,” he said.

During the CNN interview, Erdogan said Turkey’s relations with Israel
will not normalize unless the current atmosphere changes considerably.

“Turkish-Israeli relations are broken due to tension Israel itself
escalated, which began with the Israeli raid on a flotilla carrying
humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish prime minister, known to be highly critical of Israel’s
policies regarding Palestine, said Israel has killed hundreds and
thousands of Palestinians, while Palestinian rockets and bombs have
killed only a few Israelis. He also accused Israel of using the
Holocaust to perpetuate the idea that “they are the victims all
the time.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was highly critical of
Erdogan’s CNN remarks, saying his claims are “outrageous and false.”

“These are outrageous charges against Israel that have nothing to do
with the facts,” Netanyahu told the Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu argued that “Israel has lost thousands of its citizens
to Palestinian terrorism, and certainly has not taken the lives of
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.” “I regret that we hear these
statements from the leader of Turkey,” he added.

Regarding Erdogan’s comments about the Holocaust, Netanyahu said,
“We don’t use the Holocaust; the Holocaust was the worst crime in
history perpetuated against our people.” “To hear this allegation
at the beginning of the 21st century, just 60 years after Holocaust,
is outrageous,” he added.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, two close US allies in the region,
have soured since Israeli forces boarded the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara
aid ship in May 2010. Ankara downgraded ties and vowed to boost naval
patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean in the escalating row. Turkey
has demanded compensation and an apology from Israel regarding the
deadly flotilla attack, but Israel refuses to do so.

TURKEY INTRODUCES FIRST SELF-PRODUCED WARSHIP AMIDST EAST MED TENSION

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

Turkey on Tuesday announced that its first domestically produced
warship, the Heybeliada, is operational in a ceremony held at the
Ä°stanbul Naval Shipyard Command amidst ongoing tension over a Greek
Cypriot drive to explore gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
proudly said Turkey has taken its place among 10 countries that can
design and construct warships, as he introduced the warship. Recalling
that the Heybeliada, a patrol and anti-submarine warship produced by
the Ä°stanbul Naval Shipyard Command, was constructed in three years
as part of the National Ship (MÄ°LGEM) project, Erdogan said he is
pleased to see that the government did indeed take a correct step
with the MÄ°LGEM project.

The delivery of the Heybeliada to the Turkish navy comes amidst
the country’s efforts to protect its own interests in the Eastern
Mediterranean in the face of a gas row with the Greek Cypriot
government. Turkey has decided to begin its own gas exploration project
in the Eastern Mediterranean and to boost its military presence in the
region after the Greek Cypriot government vowed to go ahead with its
plans to drill for gas south of Cyprus. Last week, Turkey marked its
marine borders with Turkish Cyprus for offshore oil and gas drilling
and a Turkish seismic research ship began exploring for gas on Tuesday
near Cyprus.

Turkey said Turkish naval ships could escort Turkish energy exploration
ships in the Mediterranean, raising the possibility of a naval
confrontation. “We will try all channels of peace but we will also
protect our country’s interests until the end,” Erdogan said during
the ceremony commenting on the gas row.

Turkey also earlier vowed to take measures to ensure freedom of
navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of Israel’s
refusal to apologize to Turkey over a deadly raid in 2010 on an aid
ship trying to break the blockade of Gaza, which resulted in the
deaths of eight Turks and a Turkish-American. Erdogan said earlier
that Turkish frigates and assault boats might be sent to the Eastern
Mediterranean at any time to ensure freedom of navigation, raising
the possibility of a naval confrontation with Israel.

Tuesday’s ceremony also marked the sending of the MÄ°LGEM project’s
second ship, Buyukada, to sea for trial. The MÄ°LGEM project stands
as a turning point for Turkey, as it marks the first corvette-class
warship designed by Turkish naval engineers.

Both the software and hardware of the corvette’s war management systems
were also developed domestically and much of the equipment was designed
by domestic companies. Around 38 Turkish private sector companies
were involved in the production of the Heybeliada’s sub-systems. The
prototype cost close to $260 million to build.

The construction of the Heybeliada began on Jan. 22, 2007 and it has
undergone comprehensive sea trials since 2008. Harpoon missiles as
well as RAM PDMS air-guided missile defense systems are among the
warship’s features. The systems and sub-systems developed for the
ship include 3-D detection and tracking radars, degaussing systems,
fire-control radars, hull-mounted sonar, naval guns, navigation radars
and torpedo countermeasure systems.