Author: Badalian Vardan

USA urges to find diplomatic solution to operation of Nagorno Karabakh
airport – Victoria Nuland

tert.am
10:26 – 03.11.12

The United States urges the parties to find a diplomatic solution to
issues relating to the operation of the airport in Nagorno Karabakh,
Victoria Nuland, US Department of State spokesperson said at a press
briefing.

She said the parties should keep 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,’ she said.

`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,’ she concluded.

Parnagian Family Legacy Lives on in San Joaquin Valley

Friday, November 2nd, 2012 | Posted by Contributor

Mr. Parnagian with visiting former Armenian Agriculture Minister Davit
Lokian (center) and community leader and activist Manas Boujikian (far
right) survey the crop

BY TAMAR KARKAZIAN
Special to Asbarez

In the early 1900’s the Armenian-American diaspora began to really
grow as Armenians left the villages of their ancestors in search of a
better life. Many made their way to California because of the richness
of the land and the similarities to home. The Parnagian family,
founders of Fowler Packing, were among those families who settled in
the San Joaquin Valley.

`This Valley was, and still remains, a paradise for those who want
that life of working the land. Armenians seem to have an innate love
for the soil and the food it can produce,’ stated Fowler Packing
President Dennis Parnagian.

The late Sam Parnagian started Fowler Packing because of this love for
the soil, establishing one of the top fresh fruit packinghouses in
California. Today Sam’s four sons Dennis, Randy, Ken, and Philip
strive to ensure that they continue their father’s legacy by `doing
the `right thing’ for growers, employees, customers, and the
community.’

As active members in the Armenian community, they have `done the right
thing’ on numerous occasions, helping the Armenian community in a
variety of philanthropic activities. `As long as we keep our Church
and our faith, there will always be an Armenian community that has
meaning and keeps the flame of our heritage alive,’ said Dennis
Parnagian.

That is why the Parnagian family, along with various other members of
the Fresno Armenian community have worked extremely hard to bring
influential religious figures such as Catholicos Aram I and his
predecessor Karekin II to the San Joaquin Valley.

On the farm

`When religious leaders visit the Valley it is always exciting and
inspiring. We know there are `flocks’ of Armenians scattered
throughout the world but we remain very connected with one another
because of our religion and our spiritual leaders, ‘ explained Mr.
Parnagian. `When they personally visit, it reinvigorates us and
strengthens the feelings we have as Armenians. ‘ He then added, `We
are fortunate to have religious leaders and seminaries to keep the
traditions or our faith strong and sustainable.’

`The Parnagian family has been a beloved presence in the San Joaquin
Valley and faithful members of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church
and the Armenian-American community for decades. They are a
hard-working and altruistic family who have utilized the resources
they have earned through the sweat of their brow, through their hard
and righteous labor, to make a difference in the lives of their fellow
man and community. The Parnagian brothers, Dennis, Randy, Ken, and
Philip, and now the new generation of the Parnagian family, are
continuing in the faithful footsteps of their late father and
grandfather Sam, and carrying on his legacy by contributing to the
advancement of their local community and the greater Armenian-American
community through their generosity and support. Their boundless love
and devotion to our faith and nation, and their unwavering allegiance
to the Holy See of Cilicia and our Prelacy has played a significant
role in the realization of our endeavors and mission. We are
privileged to have them as our dearest friends,’ stated Western
Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

The Parnagians have also helped bring political figures to the San
Joaquin Valley, such as Armenia’s Secretary of Agriculture, Armenia’s
Consul General for the United States and Raffi Hovanissian (member of
the Parliament of Armenia and a Fresno native). Parnagian
emphasized the importance of these visits saying, `The interaction and
exchange of information is helpful to us and to them as we work
together to find ways for improving and developing opportunities in
Armenia. Simply getting to know one another and building relationships
is often the most important step for ongoing and lasting relationships
that benefit Armenians here and in Armenia.’

It is this sense of pride and dedication, that families like the
Parnagians have, which has seen the Armenians in the San Joaquin
Valley succeed.

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 4 2012

Kremlin to Address Holy Sepulchre Church Row

[ 04 Nov 2012 06:34 ]

Baku-APA. The Russian presidential administration will thoroughly
study a request for help from Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
Theophilos III over problems the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in
Jerusalem is facing, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry
Peskov said, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.
Peskov told the Moscow-based Ekho Moskvy radio on Saturday that Moscow
will not remain indifferent to the request in Theophilos’s letter he
sent to the Russian leader.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has threatened to close its doors to
pilgrims and tourists as its bank account has been frozen over an
accumulated debt for water supplies.
The church, which has been for centuries one of the most important
pilgrimage destinations for millions of Christians as the purported
site of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is now
unable to pay salaries to its extensive staff of priests, monks and
teachers.

`If nothing changes we intend to announce within a few days, for the
first time in centuries, that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is
closed,’ Theophilos III said on Friday.
Theophilos III wrote letters to the leaders of Russia, Israel, the
United States, Greece, Cyprus and Jordan with an appeal to intervene
with the standoff and put a stop `to this flagrant act against the
church.’
The church was exempt from water charges in a tacit agreement with
Jerusalem authorities for decades but the Hagihon company, which took
over water supply to Jerusalem in the late 1990s, has recently
demanded payment of a 9-million-shekel ($2.3 million) bill dating back
15 years, including interest.
The company insists that the Israeli laws do not exempt any party from
water charges and other religious institutions in Jerusalem pay their
bills on a regular basis.
Hagihon first sent a bill to the church for 3.7 million shekels (about
$950,000 at current rates) in 2004. Church officials then thought the
bill was sent by mistake, and the company did not make further steps
pressing for payment.
Now Hagihon has demanded payment of the bill, which has risen to 9
million shekels including interest.
The church says it is willing to pay for future utilities but has
asked Hagihon to write off the accumulated debt as it was the result
of an original misunderstanding.
Theophilos III also wrote letters to the leaders of Israel, the United
States, Greece, Cyprus and Jordan with an appeal to intervene with the
standoff and put a stop `to this flagrant act against the church.’
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem shares control of the
church with the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate and the Roman Catholic
Franciscan Order through complicated arrangements essentially
unchanged for centuries.
The site, located within the Christian Quarter of the walled Old City
of Jerusalem, attracts more than 1 million pilgrims annually.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 4 2012

Ã-zal and the Kurdish issue

MARKAR ESAYAN

There have always been controversies about how late President Turgut
Ã-zal died in 1993. A significant portion of the public, including his
family members, believes that he was assassinated. In addition to the
unbelievable incidents that occurred when he had a heart attack in the
Çankaya presidential palace, such as the state of unpreparedness, the
inability to find a physician to respond to the situation and the
strange developments in the hospital he was taken to, the main thing
that gave rise to suspicions was the manner of Ã-zal’s statesmanship.

Ã-zal’s party had come to power, thanks to high electoral appeal, as
the only civilian alternative to the two pro-tutelary parties backed
by the junta in the first parliamentary elections held in the wake of
the military coup of 1980. In general, our juntas stage coups in the
following manner: They overthrow the government, and in order not to
lose the West’s backing, they are forced to say: `We had to stage a
coup as the country was on the brink of a disaster. We are loyal to
democracy. As you see, we leave the administration to civilians at the
earliest opportunity.’ And, at the same time, in order to pay lip
service to the act of transferring the administration to civilians,
they appoint `civilian’ politicians who would be tied to their apron
strings.

But this didn’t happen in 1983. Actually, this had not happened also
in the coups of 1960 and 1970. The public took the advantage of using
the only opportunity allowed by this authoritarian secularist
republic, i.e., the parliamentary elections held every five (now four)
years, and in every election, they opted to elect civilians. One of
these civilians was Ã-zal’s Motherland Party (ANAVATAN).

But Ã-zal was not a figure that emerged out of the blue. He was the
architect of the Jan. 24, 1980 decisions that dealt the fatal blow to
the single party administration’s favorite closed economy. In other
words, the country had transitioned to liberal free market conditions
through the infrastructure established by Ã-zal.

But Ã-zal did not stop there in 1983. He started to change the
economic/political state-oriented rules that served to isolate Turkey
from the external world. He established and maintained a powerful
administration. He could even remove the chief of General Staff and
Land Forces commander from office when they refused to obey him.

Ã-zal was pursuing an aggressive policy of opening Turkey to the
external world. He had a heterodox approach to the country’s long
entrenched problems such as the Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus issues.
In a sense, Ã-zal was the antithesis of the Kemalist state, at least in
his early years. When he died a suspicious death, everyone believed
that Ã-zal had been assassinated by the deep state.

For long, these suspicions were not investigated. However, when the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lent its support to
bold prosecutors who probed into the dirty affairs of the deep state
in the investigations into Ergenekon — a clandestine organization
nested within the state trying to overthrow or manipulate the
democratically elected government — and the Balyoz (Sledgehammer)
coup plan, these suspicions came to be voiced in a more pronounced
manner. No autopsy had been performed on Ã-zal’s dead body. His family
believed that he had been assassinated. There were talks between
President Abdullah Gül and Ã-zal’s relatives. Mr. Gül put the State
Audit Institution (DDK) to the task. As part of an investigation
launched by the prosecutor’s office, Ã-zal’s body was exhumed and sent
to the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK) for examination. Last week,
in breaking news, we heard that the ATK found traces of poisonous
substances in the body.

The final report will soon be sent to the prosecutor’s office. The
truth will hopefully come out. Ã-zal’s son Ahmet Ã-zal’s following words
were very remarkable. Ahmet Ã-zal said that during his father’s final
visit, his father had a special meeting with him and told him:
“Turkey’s biggest problem is the Kurdish issue. Upon returning from my
visit, I will take a great risk and return to active politics in order
to solve this problem.” Former Labor Minister Ä°mren Aykut confirms
Ahmet Ã-zal’s disclosure. Aykut says: “At the time, the Kurdish issue
was not a hot topic. It was not a problem that was challenging the
state. And I was surprised to see him attach such great importance to
this issue.”

Obviously, Ã-zal was very far-sighted, and he had realized that the
Kurdish issue had the potential to snowball into a major problem for
the country. If Ã-zal was assassinated, I think, the main reason was
because of his determination to solve this problem.

Irish Examiner
November 3, 2012 Saturday

Woman faces jail over forged cheques

Elmira Hovsepayn was told by a judge she could face jail for her
crimes, which were detailed to Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

She set up a dry-cleaning firm in the Model Farm Rd area of Cork city
with her partner of the time, Mihails Volkovs. However, Mr Volkovs did
not know they had been sent a company cheque book for their joint
business account by AIB.

Hovsepayn, 34, started writing cheques to herself, even though there
was not enough money in the account to honour them. As she had a
long-standing account with Bank of Ireland, there was no “stop” put on
the cheques to await them clearing when she lodged them in BoI
branches.

She would then withdraw the money from her account straight away via an ATM.

“She would lodge it into the account, then use the ATM of the same
branch to withdraw 600 or 700,” said Det Sgt Tim Murphy.

The offences happened in a nine-day period in Feb 2010 and Hovsepayn,
of Melbourn Court, Model Farm Rd admitted everything when questioned
by gardaí in May 2011.

Two months later, Permanent TSB reported to Det Sgt Murphy that
cheques from the same account, appearing to be signed by Mr Volkovs
and made payable to Hovsepayn, had been lodged. She had withdrawn cash
and the bank was at a loss of 1,888.38.

Last February, she pleaded guilty to 39 charges, including theft,
forging cheques from her business, and using those cheques.

The court heard yesterday cheques with a value of 47,828 were lodged
and she withdrew 15,020.

Her barrister, Sinead Behan, told Judge Patrick Moran the only way the
case could be properly understood was in the context of gambling.

The judge heard the Armenian mother-of-three, who has lived here for
15 years and is now an Irish citizen, put up 1,600 towards
compensating the banks. But deferring sentencing until Feb 27, Judge
Moran said her offer was only about 10% of what was owed.

“If she wants to stay out of Limerick Prison, she will have to make a
greater effort,” he said.

Anxiety Arising From Suspicion

Saturday, 03 November 2012 12:14

A month has passed, everything should have taken its swing, the
kindergartens have begun operating, the poisoned children are in good
health but, you see, the video material of the Artsakh public
television referring to the reoperation of the `Artsakhkat’ CJSC
shocked me and, I think, many other parents as well. The initial
assumption according to which Artsakhkat was not the reason for
infection was officially confirmed.

As I heard about the poisoning in the kindergarten my first objective
was to get interested in the case and find out what it was caused by,
in the same evening I learned that the frozen meat became the reason.
In all probability it was true as the day before some cases of
poisoning were recorded in the RA. Later the version of meat was
denied when that of Artsakhkat was intrioduced. We intentionally
concentrated on the Artsakhkat dairy produce and tried to convince
ourselves that everything was under control and the deficiencies were
being eliminated. And until the self-persuasion process had been
completed, as a bolt from the blue the public television broadcast the
video material about the reoperation of the Artsakhkat CJSC. The news
item was too official, the healthcare minister was at the dairy plant
who underlined in her speech that the deficiencies had been
eliminated, their produce was merchantable and she called for making
use of its dairy products. Thus, the tale seemed to come to its end
when director of the plant Armo Tsaturyan appeared on the screen whose
speech came to deny the month’s rumours and the minister’s
announcement.

Dumbfounded I was looking at the screen and recovered from my surprise
only by my child’s voice. And so far a question has troubled me: how
can we admit such a frivolous attitude towards our native land and our
inhabitants, especially when this time these inhabitants are the small
children? If the real reason was the Artsakhkat produce, the director
of the plant should have been persuaded with convincing arguments so
as he did not announce all over Artsakh that their produce could not
have become the reason for the infection or if another greater problem
was to be concealed by this, it must have been done more carefully. We
live in a small country where rumours spread quickly. In this
tragicomedy Armo Tsaturyan, however, acted his role of the guilty
party not so well.

In short, today I also take my children to the kindergarten /by the
way, no similar case was recorded in our kindergarten and I would like
to thank the kindergarten administration for that/, but every day I
fear that one day it will be repeated again. My fear was doubled when
I heard that cases of Siberian plague were recorded in Vardenis. Who
can guarantee that the meat with such bacterium will not appear in the
kindergartens. After all, not only children are meant; who is in
general responsible for food security in our country?
In the end, a question arises: where is the guarantee for our security
and why has the private business become so much more important than
the human life?

Mother of an attendee of one of Stepanakert kindergartens

Armenian `Ashtarak Kat’ to export dairy products to Georgia

October 31, 2012 | 11:28

Director of Ashtarak Kat Company Stepan Aslanyan is the interlocutor
of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`Ashtarak Kat’ CJSC is a company well-known by the Armenian consumers
for a long time. Are you satisfied with the position that the company
holds in the local dairy market?

`Ashtarak-Kat’ Company constantly strives to develop and maintain high
quality of its products. We follow the developments in the sphere and
try first to present innovations by enhancing production in respect of
both technology and skilled labor. This and a number of other
consecutive steps ensure the strong position of the company in the
local market and of course, create preconditions for export of our
products.

Each company’s primary objectives are continuous development and
attracting stronger position in the market, however, Armenian market
is quite limited. You should probably pay attention to the markets of
neighboring states. Has any work been done in this direction?

All developed companies have aspiration and goals for the export
realization. Being established as a leading company in local market
also supposes export prospects, which in our case is already
implemented for a long time. Currently we export several products –
jams, canned food and milk powder – to Russian Federation and
ice-cream and waffle cones to Georgia. As for the dairy products, I
can say that it has been several months that preparatory work has been
carried out to export diary to Georgia. Now I can say that `Ashtarak
Kat’ Company will export dairy products to Georgia very soon.

Why are you taking steps in this direction now? Were there any
problems before or the company was just focused on the Armenian
market?

We always pay special attention to the export issue. Continuous
research and studies were conducted in this direction. As I said,
certain types of products are currently exported. Regarding dairy
products, we also have experience in their export in relatively small
quantity. The foreseen export volume will be substantially larger and
will be extended over time.

What is the reason of choosing the Georgian market? Is it the
immediate neighborhood of Georgia to Armenia or there are other
circumstances?

Several factors contributed to such a decision. First of all, as you
already mentioned, Georgia is our immediate neighbor. Besides, we also
conducted researches to make sure there is a positive attitude towards
the brand in Georgia. For several years, `Ashtarak Kat’ and its dairy
products participated in the exhibitions held in Georgia and as a
result our dairy products enjoy great interest and demand among
Georgian people and local Armenian population.

Is it possible to establish production in Georgia as well? We know
that you are actively working with farmers in Armenia; do you have any
programs of cooperation with the farmers in Javakhk?

There are always goals to expand, develop and find new directions for
collaboration. At this moment I cannot say anything specific but in
near future we see a possibility to start new production as well as
partnership with new farmsteads.

By the way, what kind of variety is offered in the Armenian market at
the moment? And which types of dairy products do you intend to export
to Georgian market?

`Ashtarak Kat’ Company offers to the Armenian consumers the widest
assortment of dairy products: in the range from classical dairy
products up to the ice-cream, cheese, yoghurts and, of course, `Kovik’
brand, which is the first low-fat dairy product series in Armenia.

As for the Georgian export, large part of our variety – `Classic’ and
`Kovik’ dairy (sour cream, curd, matsoun), glazed curds, processed and
Lori cheese, drinkable and classic yoghurts, especially children’s
favorite Yogu-Mogu and Mojo – will be available for Georgian
consumers. By its design the latest has really been popular among
Georgians and the current activity in Mojo Facebook page is the proof
of it.

When do you plan to start export to Georgian market?

As I said, over the past few months, we have carried out preparatory
work and I think already in November the Georgian consumers will also
have the opportunity to enjoy Armenian high-quality dairy products.

In what quantity do you plan to export dairy to Georgia?

Initially the export will be realized in experimental batches, but
with a time course the volumes will be extended, of course, along with
the growing demand and in accordance with the results of research and
analysis.

Ashtarak Kat Company was founded in 1995. Presently the company has
about 500 employees, produces 45 kinds of ice cream, with its
flavoring subspecies, milk powder, jams and preserves, 60 types of
dairy products with its subspecies, including `Kovik’ dairy products
which are the first low-fat dairy product series in Armenia.

Currently, Ashtarak Kat Company cooperates with over 6000 farmsteads,
the number of which is increasing year by year.

ARMENIE
Le Canada félicite l’Arménie, nouveau membre de la Francophonie

Le ministre associé de la Défense nationale et ministre d’État (Agence
de promotion économique du Canada atlantique) (Francophonie),
l’honorable Bernard Valcourt, a fait aujourd’hui la déclaration
suivante :

« Le Canada tient à féliciter la République d’Arménie de son adhésion
à l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, adhésion confirmée
à l’occasion du dernier Sommet de la Francophonie qui s’est tenu à
Kinshasa, en République démocratique du Congo, du 12 au 14 octobre.

« Le Canada avait appuyé sans réserve la candidature de l’Arménie à
titre de membre associé de l’Organisation internationale de la
Francophonie, au Sommet de la Francophonie de 2008 à Québec. Nous
sommes maintenant heureux d’accueillir ce pays comme membre à part
entière.

« L’Arménie a démontré sa fidélité aux valeurs et objectifs de
l’Organisation, tant sur les plans éducatif et scientifique
qu’artistique, médiatique et culturel. »

dimanche 4 novembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.co

ARMENIE-TOURISME
11 agences de voyage d’Arménie participent au « World Travel Market » de Londres

11 sociétés d’Arménie spécialisés dans le tourisme seront représentées
grce au Fonds national arménien de développement, au salon du
tourisme « World Travel Market » qui se déroule à Londres du 5 au 8
novembre. La République du Haut Karabagh est également représentée
dans le même stand. Plus de 5000 agences de voyage ou société
spécialisées dans le tourisme venues de 189 pays seront présents à
Londres pour le « World Travel Market » qui est l’un des rendez-vous
majeurs du monde du tourisme dans le monde.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 4 novembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

COMMUNAUTE-VALENCE (DRÔME)
Manifestations pour le 20ème anniversaire de la Consécration de
l’Eglise Saint Sahag de Valence

Du 19 au 23 novembre, l’Eglise arménienne Saint Sahag de Valence
fêtera le 20ème anniversaire de sa Consécration. Un comité
d’organisation est mis en place pour cet évènement, comité dont Henri
Siranyan le Président du Conseil paroissial et le Père Antranik
Maldjian y prennent une part active.

La semaine de rendez-vous culturels et artistiques débutera par un
exposé sur l’Eglise Arménienne par Henri Siranyan, le lundi 19
novembre (19h) et des chants religieux interprétés (20h) par la
Chorale de l’église. Mardi 20 novembre (20h30) dans la salle de
l’église Saint Sahag, rendez-vous sera donné pour une conférence-débat
par Edmond Khayadjian sur « Le Père Charmetant, Frédéric Mistral et
l’Arménie ». A l’entracte musical se produira l’ensemble Sheram.
Mercredi 21 novembre (20h30) l’Association des Jeunes de l’Eglise
Saint Sahag présentera une biographie, chants et film sur Sayat Nova.
Jeudi 22 novembre (20h30) une soirée musicale proposera un programme
riche avec Isabelle Poulet (Professeur des Ecoles de musique), Claude
Garcia (accordéoniste, concertiste), la chorale de l’Eglise Saint
Sahag et Harout Harboyan, élève du Conservatoire de Valence.

Vendredi 23 novembre (20h30) Mgr Didier Léon Marchand, Evèque émérite
de Valence présentera une conférence sur « Le Concile de Vatican II »,
dans la salle de l’Eglise Saint Sahag. Samedi 24 novembre, après le
dépôt de gerbe à la stèle du génocide arménien de Valence (16h), au
Train Thétre de Portes-lès-Valence se produira la troupe de danse
Araxe Sassoun. Enfin, pour clôturer la semaine, dimanche 25 novembre
après la messe (10h) célébrée par S.E. Monseigneur Daron Geregian, un
repas suivra la cérémonie à la salle La Valentine de Bourg-Lès-Valence
(13h, informations, réservations au secrétariat de l’Eglise Saint
Sahag, tél : 04 75 41 42 57).

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 4 novembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com