Sports: Deputy Prime Minister Meets With Armenian Sportsmen In Shenz

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN IN SHENZHEN

Panorama
Aug 23, 2011
Armenia

Deputy Prime Minister, Territorial Administration Minister Armen
Gevorgyan is paying a working visit to China. Today he has met with
Armenian sports delegation which participated in the 26th Summer
Universiade in the city of Shenzhen, China.

In Shenzhen Universiade, Armenian sportsmen competed in chess,
weightlifting, taekwondo, judo, and tennis. Weightlifter Aghasi
Aghasyan won gold. This was Armenia’s first gold medal in the
Universiade.

The Deputy Prime Minister wished the Armenian sportsmen continued
sporting success and expressed the hope that in the next games our
sportsmen will win gold in other kinds of sports, too.

This was Armenia’s 10th participation in the Universiade. Armenian
sportsmen have won 14 medals in Summer Universiade, 3 of them silver
and 11 bronze.

ANKARA: Will Minority Newspapers Survive?

WILL MINORITY NEWSPAPERS SURVIVE?
ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ

Today’s Zaman
Aug 23, 2011
Turkey

According to London-based Minority Rights Group’s estimates,* there are
around 23,000 Jews, 3,000 Greeks, 60,000 Armenians and 15,000 Assyrians
living in Turkey today. In total their number is around 100,000.

How we have reached this point when once 25 percent of the total
population was non-Muslim in Turkey is of course a very long story.

Some perished in massacres. Some were deported in population
exchanges. Some left the country voluntarily. But the end result is
very dramatic. Their number is less than 1 percent now. The last
wave of migration happened after Hrant Dink was murdered in 2007;
many young members of minority groups left Turkey hoping to have
better lives in other countries.

As I tried to explain a couple of times in this column before, the
Turkish Republic applied a rigorous fait accompli strategy against non
Muslims in which it pushed these vulnerable groups to the corner from
every possible angel. Non-Muslims were subjected to pogroms and heavy
taxes, their properties were taken from them, and their institutions
were denied legal personality and protection; all with the aim of
getting rid of those remaining from these groups in this country.

When the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002,
this fait accompli strategy ended, “but the rights period” started.

The government provided non-Muslims some rights, but all these
rights have some limitations. For example, the government allowed
non-Muslims to use their historic churches in different parts of the
country; however, this permission was only given for one single day
a year. The government has restored some churches, but it did not
return them to their historic owners; instead it recognized them
“as museums” or something else. The government changed the law of
foundations to allow non-Muslim communities to gain new properties,
but it could not solve their problem of returning the old properties
that had been taken from them before. Halki Theological School is
still closed. The government still interferes with the election of
religious leaders of non-Muslims groups; the latest example happened
in the Armenian patriarchate election process.

In short, this government has improved the situation of non-Muslims
but did not give them some rights that would change these vulnerable
groups’ situations irreversibly and dramatically. For example, opening
the Halki School would be a step like that, which would give a kiss
of life to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is on the verge of
total extinction.

However, this Tuesday the government took a small but meaningful step
that filled me with hope for the future of non-Muslims in Turkey. The
Press Advertising Association (PAA), a governmental agency, has
decided to allocate TL 250,000 (approximately 120,000 pounds) to six
minority newspapers belonging to a handful of Armenian, Jewish and
Greek communities in Turkey.

The financial difficulties of minority newspapers had been on the
agenda of the PAA since news had spread that the Greek newspaper
Apoyevmatini (86 years old) was going to shut down. The PAA has decided
to give this financial aid to these minority newspapers every year,
and the money will be provided from the Fund for Various Tasks of
this agency.

Along with the Greek Apoyevmatini, another Greek newspaper Iho,
Armenian newspapers Jamanak, Marmara and Agos and Jewish newspaper
Salom will benefit from this annual government financial aid.

This is a small but quite meaningful development because there has been
no such example in our history in which state institutions supported
non-Muslims directly. It is quite significant because it aims to
support the foundation of these non-Muslim groups by supporting their
cultural life. I hope that this aid will help to ease the financial
difficulties of these newspapers, whose buyers have been in a steady
decline as the number of non-Muslims has been ever shrinking. I also
hope that this symbolic step will be followed by some other steps
that will make life easier for our handful of minorities. Let’s see
what the future will bring for non-Muslims in Turkey.

*”A Quest for Equality: Minorities in Turkey”

ANKARA: Minority Newspapers Struggle

MINORITY NEWSPAPERS STRUGGLE

BIAnet.org
Aug 23, 2011
Turkey

The Press Advertising Association finished its work to address
the problems of minority newspapers. A total of TL 250,000 will be
allocated to six minority papers. However, in order to give formal
advertising, regulations have to be changed.

Istanbul – BİA News Center23 August 2011, Tuesday The Press
Advertising Association took minority newspapers on its agenda after
the news had spread that the Greek newspaper Apoyevmatini was going
to shut down. Apoyevmatini has been published in Istanbul for 86 years.

Now the results of the association’s meetings on aid for minority
newspapers were announced.

The Press Advertising Association was established as a tool for
the publication of formal advertising of public institutions and
organizations.

The proposal for support by the association for newspapers published
by the Armenian, Greek and Jewish societies in Turkey was accepted. It
was indicated that the most effective support for minority newspapers
was the publication of formal advertising. However, the association
emphasized that there were legal obstacles before this. First of all,
Decision No.67 of the General Assembly related to formal advertising
would have to undergo necessary changes, the association concluded.

The Press Advertising Association decided for financial help for the
minority newspapers “until Decision No.67 of the General Assembly
will be changed fundamentally”. Hence, the newspapers will receive
financial support of TL 250,000 (â~B¬ 120,000) from the “Fund for
Various Tasks”. The money will be paid to the minority newspapers in
line with certain criteria to be defined by the administrative board
of the association.

“We appreciate the decision but it is insufficient” Mihail Vasiliadis,
owner of the Apoyevmatini newspaper, appreciated the financial support
but noted that this sum was not enough to provide continuity. “It
helps but is not sufficient to provide employment. The amount merely
serves as a base so the newspaper does not have to be closed. Further
efforts are needed to find the rest [of the money]”.

Vasiliadis evaluated the financial aid he is going to receive and
explained that he spent TL 20,000 (â~B¬ 9,000) from his own money on
top of the newspaper’s budget since the beginning of the year. He noted
that he was going to make a loss of â~B¬ 150 on every day the paper
would be printed until the end of the year. According to Vasiliadis,
the anticipated financial support will be used to pay this new debt.

Vasiliadis underlined “continuity” as one of the crucial points. “This
newspaper has to provide a minimum income to the person who is going
to take it over in the future. Otherwise, why should my son take over
when he will not be able to sustain his family?”

“Our problems might not be solved but this is a good support for us”,
Vasiliadis said and indicated his appreciation for the decision. He
also reminded that legal amendments were necessary in order to be
able to publish formal advertisements.

Legal obstacles Legal regulations are the basic reason for not being
able to publish formal advertisement in Apoyevmatini and other minority
newspapers. The papers must comply with the related regulations so that
the Press Advertising Association can publish announcements. According
to these regulations, the newspapers must be published on a daily
basis, comprise a minimum of eight pages and a circulation of 5,000
copies at least besides employing at least seven people.

The Press Advertising Association is worried about possible abuse once
the regulations will have been changed. The President of the Press
Advertising Association Istanbul Branch, Mehmet KöÅ~_ker, said in an
interview with bianet last month, “Let’s say we changed the regulations
in order to support the newspapers in this difficult situation. What
are we going to do if 50 people with a one-page ‘newspaper’ come
up then? Therefore, we have to include certain criteria such as the
duration the newspaper has been published already”.

Along with the Greek Apoyevmatini newspaper, another five newspapers
will benefit from the financial support, i.e. the Greek newspaper İho,
the pre-dominantly Armenian newspapers Jamanak, Marmara and Agos and
the Å~^alom newspaper published by Turkish Jews.

Two Brothers Wounded In Moscow Are Armenian Citizens – Embassy

TWO BROTHERS WOUNDED IN MOSCOW ARE ARMENIAN CITIZENS – EMBASSY

news.am
Aug 23, 2011
Armenia

MOSCOW. – Two Armenian brothers, wounded on the evening of August 21
in Moscow Northern Butovo district are citizens of Armenia but their
names are not disclosed, spokesman for the Armenian Embassy in Russia
Edward Dzhambazyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According Dzhambazyan, younger brother underwent a surgery and remains
in hospital. His health condition is satisfactory. The elder brother
was discharged from the hospital.

“Brothers do not remember who stabbed them, as the attacker came
from behind. One of the brothers lost consciousness at once and
second only remembers that they were attacked,” said Dzhambazyan,
adding that the brothers are in Russia on earnings.

Opposition Does Not Justify Snap Elections – Armenian Authorities

OPPOSITION DOES NOT JUSTIFY SNAP ELECTIONS – ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

news.am
Aug 23, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The document presented by the opposition has not provided
convincing justification for snap elections in Armenia, said the head
of ruling coalition’s delegation, MP Davit Harutunyan.

Following a regular round of talks between the Armenian coalition
and opposition held on Tuesday, head of opposition’s delegation Levon
Zurabyan said coalition’s document is much better, as it substantiates
the idea of snap elections better.

David Harutyunyan, called this assessment “nothing but mere rhetoric”.

As reported earlier, the ruling coalition responded to the opposition
Armenian National Congress (ANC) in a 130-page document, bringing
arguments against ANC’s views to the current situation in Armenia.

Armenian State Revenue Committee Neither Confirms Nor Denies Khachat

ARMENIAN STATE REVENUE COMMITTEE NEITHER CONFIRMS NOR DENIES KHACHATRYAN’S RESIGNATION

news.am
Aug 23, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian State Revenue Committee neither confirmed nor
denied the information on Chairman Gagik Khachatryan’s resignation.

“The information will be available in several hours. At the moment we
cannot provide information,” the committee press service told Armenian
News-NEWS.am, declining to comment on the rumors that Khacahtryan
purchased a plant abroad.

As Haykakan Zhamanak reported earlier, Chairman of Armenian State
Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan handed in resignation to Armenian
President on Monday. Sources close to the presidential administration
consider the resignation will be approved. Deputies to Chairman of
Armenian State Revenue Committee Ruben Kocharyan and Armen Alaverdyan
also confirmed the information.

Early in August the newspaper wrote Gagik Khachatryan went on
vacation and he would resign after he returns. Spokesperson for
Armenian President Armen Arzumanyan did not refute the information on
Khacahtrayn’s resignation. Referring to the question whether President
Sargsyan signed the decree on his resignation, Arzumanyan replied:
“The president’s decrees are published in due course.”

Euro-Caucasian Congress Of Cardiology

EURO-CAUCASIAN CONGRESS OF CARDIOLOGY

AZG DAILY
24-08-2011

Armenia-Diaspora; Health care Update: 2011-08-24 00:27:11 (GMT +04:00)

On 29-30 October 2011, the RA Ministry of Diaspora and Action Health
Armenia-France will organize the 3rd Euro-Caucasian Congress of
Cardiology in Yerevan.

The congress was organized with the RA Ministry of Diaspora for
the first time in October 2009 with the participation of nearly 100
Diaspora Armenians and over 200 cardiologists from Armenia and Artsakh,
the Ministry’s press service reports.

The purpose of the congress is to identify and consolidate the
potential of all Armenian cardiologists for the development
of cardiology in Armenia; contribute to the cooperation between
cardiologists in Armenia and the Diaspora; raise and improve qualities
of professionals; exchange innovative skills, as well as convey new
quality to further cooperation between cardiologists.

The congress will be followed by a meeting with delegations of the
Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology and the NKR authorities on
November 2.

To participate in the congress, Armenian cardiologists should
contact the RA Ministry of Diaspora (26/1 Vazgen Sargsyan St., 5th
floor, Yerevan, Tel.: 58-56-01 (1-12), e-mail: [email protected],
[email protected]) by October 15, 2011.

Armenian Rock Opera To Be Screened At Kinoshok Film Festival

ARMENIAN ROCK OPERA TO BE SCREENED AT KINOSHOK FILM FESTIVAL

Tert.am
23.08.11

Wandering, a rock opera by Armenian director Arshaluys Harutyunyan,
is going to be screened during the 2011 CIS and Baltic Film Festival
Kinoshok.

This year’s program includes 14 feature films.

According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the jury is composed
of prominent cultural figures from Russia and other former Soviet
counties. A special contest for the best film project will be held
for the second year running.

Under the supervision of Victor Merezhko, the president of the
festival, the jury is studying and selecting the best film projects.

Producers, directors and actors from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine,
Belarus, Estonia and other countries will leave for Anapa, Russia to
attend the event.

Creative evenings, round tables and exhibitions on Anapa’s open
squares are scheduled in the festival frameworks.

Wandering went on screen in Yerevan on June 3.

31-Year-Old Armenian Soldier Injured In Karabakh, Underwent Surgery

31-YEAR-OLD ARMENIAN SOLDIER INJURED IN KARABAKH, UNDERWENT SURGERY

epress.am
08.22.2011

At around 7:45 pm on Aug. 21, Armenian soldier Nver Garik Sargsyan, 31,
serving in the de facto Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, received gunshot
wounds as a result of a violation of the ceasefire regime from shots
fired from the fighting positions of Azerbaijan’s army, according to
a statement issued by the RA Ministry of Defense press service.

The Armenian defence ministry notes that the injuries are not serious,
and after undergoing surgery, Sargsyan’s health is considered to be
in stable condition. An investigation is underway.

13 Armeniens Vivent Comme Des Prisonniers Dans Un Hotel De Moscou

13 ARMENIENS VIVENT COMME DES PRISONNIERS DANS UN HOTEL DE MOSCOU
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 23 aout 2011

Valida Avanesyan est prisonnière dans l’Hôtel Yuzhny situe dans la
rue Leninsky Prospekt de Moscou depuis plus de six mois.

Elle reste dans la pièce pour ami. Quand elle a faim, elle demande
a des amis de faire des courses pour elle et de lui apporter sa
nourriture. Sa seule connexion avec le monde exterieur est le balcon.

Elle ne peut pas partir parce que les gardes a l’entree ne laisseront
pas rentrer.

” Je continuerai a me battre contre un lieu pour vivre pour moi et
les autres gens ici jusqu’a la fin ” a-t-elle dit.

Valida Avanesyan, 59 ans, est l’uen des 13 refugies armeniens
qui vivent dans l’hôtel depuis plus de deux decennies et qui sont
desormais mis dehors. Les residants figurent parmi les centaines de
milliers d’armeniens qui se sont enfuis d’Azerbaïdjan en 1990 pour
echapper aux massacres.

L’hôtel Yuzhny est devenu un abri provisoire pour plus de 100 armeniens
avant pour la majorite de trouver un logement ailleurs.

Cependant, quelques-uns sont restes rejettant des offres considerees
comme indignes.

Depuis lors, les residants sont dans un bourbier legal qui donnerait
a Franz Kafka une migraine.

Les mesures de repression ont commence le 3 juin, quand les policiers
ont essaye de mettre Galina Mesropyan et Raisa Gasparova a la rue. Un
porte-parole d’une ONG et un representant des residants ont reussi
a parler aux policiers et suspendre l’expulsion.

Les ennuis ont commence en 1994, quand l’hôtel Yuzhny a ete privatise.

Il a depuis change de mains plusieurs fois avant de terminer dans
celles des actionnaires actuelles mene par le Groupe Guta, qui dispose
de 65 pour cent des parts du local.

Les proprietaires n’ont pas annonce ce qu’ils projettent de faire
avec le bâtiment mais Yana Kuzina, consultant immobilier pour Richard
Ellis CB, a declare qu’ils demoliront très probablement l’hôtel et
le remplaceront par un bâtiment residentiel.

Un deux pièces dans le voisinage vaut environ 5,8 millions de roubles
(208 000 $), selon le site web de l’agence immobilière Stolichniye
Metry.

Les proprietaires ont offert de faire demenager les 13 anciens
refugies dans la ville de Furmanov dans la region d’Ivanovo a environ
320 kilomètres de Moscou. Ils ont aussi offert une compensation
supplementaire de 1 million de roubles par residant. Mais avec un
coût moyen du mètre carre a Moscou a 197500 roubles (7000 $), la
compensation ne serait pas suffisante pour une chambre individuelle
dans un appartement partage. Les residants ont refuse, declenchant
une bataille devant la justice qu’ils ont perdue cette annee où la
Cour a autorise les proprietaires de l’hôtel Yuzhny a deplacer les
11 armeniens vers des appartements dans Furmanov, malgre leur refus
de se deplacer.

” Je suppose que les affaires ont plus de valeur que les gens ”
a dit Galina Mesropyan.

Les residants, qui ont obtenu la citoyennete russe au debut des
annees 2000, ont dit qu’ils ne veulent pas se deplacer parce qu’ils
sont devenus des Moscovites après 20 ans.

” Pourquoi me deplacerais-je quelque part plus loin ? ” a dit Grigory
Khachaturyan, 62 ans, qui travaille comme ouvrier a Moscou. ” Mon
Grand-Père et la mère sont enterres ici. J’ai mon fils, ma fille et un
petit-fils, que j’ai leve, ici. Je ne veux pas de deuxième deplacement
“.

En fait, les armeniens ne sont pas meme des refugies legalement ,
parce que quand ils se sont enfuis de Bakou cela faisait partie de
l’Union sovietique – donc personne n’a franchi de frontières. À cause
de cela, les residants ne peuvent pas se tourner vers le Service de
Migration Federal pour trouver un logement.