Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

I KNOW NO OTHER PROBLEMATIC REGION LIKE CAUCASUS – ROSS WILSON

news.az
Sept 29 2011
Azerbaijan

Former US ambassador to Azerbaijan Ross Wilson has assessed the
situation in Caucasus countries.

Wilson said he does not want to be seemed pessimistic about prospects
of Caucasus, Hurriyet reports.

“Even though Georgia has achieved progress in democracy, it faces a
serious problem like violation of its territorial integrity.

Azerbaijan has taken an important stance in energy sphere. In the
meantime, Azerbaijan also experiences certain problems. I don’t see
Armenia’s future bright either.”

The envoy said he did not want to seem pessimistic and that the
situation in the region could change for the better.

From: Baghdasarian

BANKS RESPOND TO US ARMENIANS’ LAWSUIT

Hurriyet
Sept 29 2011
Turkey

Incirlik Air Base, which is now used by the U.S. in the eastern
Mediterranean province of Adana is also among the Armenian claimed
properties. Hurriyet photo

Two Turkish banks have issued their defense in a U.S. lawsuit
filed by three Armenian-Americans claiming damages for the alleged
appropriation of their properties by Turkey during the events of
1915 in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish Central
Bank and state-owned Ziraat Bank issued their pleas on Sept. 19,
while the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which was also sued, refused to
state its defense in the suit.

“Restitution of the property is the plaintiffs’ rightful remedy
in international law for the unlawful expropriation of property,”
Vartkes Yeghiyan, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, told the Hurriyet Daily
News via e-mail.

The banks have claimed in their pleas that the Turkish Republic
founded in 1923 cannot be held responsible for incidents that took
place during the Ottoman period. The prosecution, on the other hand,
is asking for $64 million in compensation.

“In lieu of restitution, plaintiffs are entitled to recovery of
the current fair market replacement value of the properties, plus
the accrued reasonable rental value,” Yeghiyan said. “This case is
also important the international community. “Rita Mahtesyan, Anais
Harutyunyan and Alex Bakalyan filed the suit to reclaim property they
alleged had been expropriated by Turkey during the events of 1915
and whose income they say was transferred to the two banks in question.

The property they wish to claim also includes the Incirlik Air
Base used by the U.S. in the eastern Mediterranean province of
Adana. “The government of the Republic of Turkey is benefiting from
the exploitation of the properties,” Yeghiyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

A LETTER FROM AN ARMENIAN-AMERICAN LAWYER
Orhan Kemal Cengiz

Today’s Zaman
Sept 29 2011
Turkey

Whether the property cases in the US against Turkey owing to the land
expropriated from Ottoman Armenians in 1915 will produce any concrete
legal consequences is not yet clear.

In this column I have been trying to inform you about the developments
in the Alex Bakalian case, which is being heard in California against
the Turkish Republic and two Turkish banks.

In my recent column I tried to summarize the defense arguments of
the Turkish banks that were submitted to the California court. There
were, as expected, a few core arguments in the pleadings regarding
time limitations and whether or not an American court could try a
sovereign country.

At the end of my article I also invited the legal representatives of
Bakalian to share with me their arguments in this case. Yesterday,
Vartkes Yeghiayan, lawyer for Bakalian, sent me a letter, explaining
their perspective on some of the key issues raised by the Turkish bank
in this case, particularly regarding whether or not Turkey could be
put on trial in the US. I would like to share Mr. Yeghiayan’s letter
with you below:

Dear Mr. Orhan Kemal Cengiz,

We have not yet filed our response to defendants Motion to Dismiss. In
the meantime, we thought that the following might be of some help to
understand some of the complex issues you raise.

The Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings were
both filed on Sept. 19, 2011, by defendants Central Bank of the
Republic of Turkey and T.C. Ziraat Bankasi. The Republic of Turkey
has failed to appear in the case, and the court entered Turkey’s
default on Sept. 1, 2011.

The banks don’t argue that the Republic of Turkey is not responsible
for the Ottoman Empire’s actions; they simply state that the Republic
allegedly succeeded parts of the Ottoman Empire starting in 1923.

Turkey was validly haled into a United States federal court pursuant
to long-established US law which comports with the prevailing
international law.

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act contains a comprehensive set of
legal standards governing claims of immunity in every civil action
against a foreign state or its political subdivisions, agencies,
or instrumentalities.

For the most part, the Act codifies the restrictive theory of sovereign
immunity that has prevailed in international law since at least the
end of World War II. Under the Act, a foreign state is normally immune
from the jurisdiction of US federal and state courts, subject to a set
of specified exceptions. When one of the specified exceptions applies,
the foreign state is liable in the same manner and to the same extent
as a private individual under like circumstances.

Following passage of the Act in 1976, the US Department of State
informed all foreign embassies in Washington of its enactment.

Turkey’s actions against Plaintiffs in this case fall within two of
the specified exceptions — actions in which rights in property taken
in violation of international law are in issue, as well as actions
based upon commercial activities of the foreign sovereign country
carried on in the US or causing a direct effect in the US.

Thus, Turkey is not entitled to immunity from suit in US courts.

However, Turkey has chosen not to appear to defend its interests,
and thus Plaintiffs do not know Turkey’s position regarding its legal
obligation to appear.

Restitution of the property is Plaintiffs’ rightful remedy in
international law for the unlawful expropriation of their property. In
lieu of restitution, Plaintiffs are entitled to recovery of the
current fair market replacement value of the properties, plus the
accrued reasonable rental value.

The hearing on the banks’ motions is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2011.

In view of recent statements by Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan
regarding the return of property to minority foundations, we look
forward to the Republic of Turkey living up to its moral and legal
obligation to the Armenian Plaintiffs in this case.

Sincerely,

Vartkes Yeghiayan

I would like to thank Yeghiayan for his explanation, which I guess he
will further develop in his response to the Turkish banks before the
California court. I am also waiting for their detailed legal opinion,
which they will submit before December.

Let’s keep an eye on this interesting case.

From: Baghdasarian

BERRI HEADS TO IRAN AND ARMENIA ON FRIDAY

NaharNet
Sept 29 2011
Lebanon

Speaker Nabih Berri is scheduled to travel to Iran on Friday and later
visit Armenia where he will discuss bilateral ties, media reports said.

On Thursday, Berri urged officials to launch efforts to drill for
oil and gas in Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone, including the
870-square-kilometer area that Israel says is part of its waters.

Lebanon warned the United Nations earlier this month that Israel’s
proposed sea border threatens peace and security.

It said the Israeli claim infringes on Lebanon’s EEZ, a sea zone that
gives a state the right to explore its maritime resources.

The Israeli cabinet in July approved a map and submitted it to the
United Nations. The Israeli map conflicts with Lebanon’s proposed
borders, which give the Jewish state less territorial waters and was
submitted to the U.N. last year.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SPOKE WELL BUT HE MERELY SPOKE – ARFD

news.am
Sept 29 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Speech of the President of Armenia at the 66th UN General
Assembly session was good but it was a mere speech, the leader of
ARFD parliamentary faction Vahan Hovhannisyan told a press conference
on Thursday.

“Two immediate needs stem out of this speech. First – Armenian
authorities must have a substantial backing within the country in
order to pursue such a strong national policy. This can be achieved by
means of major reforms and rejection of monopolistic economic system.

Obviously living standards continue to deteriorate, irrespective
of the published official figures. Do we believe that the
authorities can build an honest and fair country? No, we no longer
believe!” Hovhannisyan emphasized.

The MP argued that the second need is concurrency of foreign policy
with the provisions pointed out in Presidents’ speech. According
to him, Sargsyan should have withdrawn the signature from the
Armenian-Turkish protocols.

“Do we believe this can be done? No, because we do nothing but watch
what is going on in Turkey. In Armenia the situation is paralyzed,
there is no movement,” said Hovhannisyan.

From: Baghdasarian

CONGRESSMAN SHERMAN CELEBRATES ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE WITH ARMENIAN AMERICANS & PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN

Targeted News Service
September 28, 2011 Wednesday 3:10 AM EST

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif. (27th CD), issued the following news
release:

On Sunday, September 25, 2011, Congressman Brad Sherman celebrated
Armenian Independence Day with President Serzh Sargsyan and
Armenian-Americans from all across Southern California. Upon meeting
President Sagsyan, Congressman Sherman presented Sargsyan with a flag
flown over the US Capitol.

Sherman has helped lead the effort to strengthen ties between the
United States and Armenia, and continues the fight to bring the
Armenian Genocide Resolution to a successful vote on the House floor.

“I am honored to celebrate Armenia’s independence alongside President
Sargsyan and so many great Armenian Americans here in California,” said
Sherman. “As a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
I have focused on recognizing the Armenian Genocide, recognizing
the massacre of Armenian civilians in Sumgait, increasing funding to
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and increasing military training aid
for Armenia despite attempts by the administration to increase aid
only to Azerbaijan.” said Sherman.

From: Baghdasarian

SERZH SARGSYAN MEETS WITH MAYOR OF PARIS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF FRANCE

ARMENPRESS
21:22, 29 September, 2011

Wrapping up the official visit to France, President Serzh Sargsyan
left today for Poland to participate in the summit of the Eastern
Partnership.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that in France President
Sargsyan met with Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe, after which Serzh
Sargsyan and the Mayor met with representatives of the Armenian
community.

In his address during the meeting with Mayor of Paris and
representatives of the Armenian community, Serzh Sargsyan expressed
gratitude to the Mayor for invitation and warm reception.

“The friendship of our peoples has a history of centuries, and
that friendship has been reformulated to a close and trustful
cooperation between the two countries. The past two decades were
marked by development of Armenian-French ties at all levels and in
all spheres,” the President said. “We are looking forward to French
President’s visit to Armenia in several days, which is an important
event in Armenian-French relations. I am encouraged by our yesterday’s
meeting with the French President, where one more time I expressed
gratitude for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, for distinct
position toward Armenia-Turkey relations, Turkey’s affiliation with
EU, and peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict.

Concluding his address Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for warm
reception and expressed confidence that the relations of Yerevan and
Paris sister-cities will develop with high tempo.

From: Baghdasarian

OVER 300 CHILDREN BORN IN ARMENIA AS A RESULT OF IN VITRO FERTILIZATION

arminfo
Thursday, September 29, 18:36

Over 300 children have been born in Armenia in the last seven years
as a result of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm
injection, Director of the Research Institute for Mother and Child
Health Care Georgy Okoyev said during a press-conference on Thursday.

He said that almost 18% of the Armenian population suffer from
infertility, and in vitro fertilization and intercytoplasmiic sperm
injection are the only way for many families to have a child. “We
guarantee 40% success. Infertility is a problem that needs commitment
of both spouses. Mutual support is half the way for them in case of
artificial fertilization,” Okoyev said.

He said that the minimum cost of such an operation is 1,000,000 AMD
and depends on the age of a woman (the older she is the more expensive
the fertilization).

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA CALLED FRENCH BUSINESSMEN TO ACTIVATE COOPERATION WITH ARMENIAN PARTNERS

ARKA
Sep 29, 2011

YEREVAN, September 29. /ARKA/. President of Armenia called French
businessmen to activate cooperation with Armenian partners,
press-service of the President’s Office informed “ARKA” on Thursday.

“Of course, business should be in the first place and by this step
you will make a key contribution to the balanced development of our
region, and thus – in ensuring security and creating a peaceful and
stable area in the neighborhood with European Union”, said Sargsyan
during the lunch with Armenian and French entrepreneurs.

The President mentioned that French entrepreneurs can have their
final word in the sustainable development of Armenian-French friendly
relations, “since it is well known that if there are no economic
fundamentals in the relations, then sooner or later they will start
to limp”. And we want our relations to develop long-term.

From: Baghdasarian

PARTICIPANTS OF SECOND FESTIVAL OF ITALIAN CUISINE IN YEREVAN AWARDED PRIZES

ARKA
Sep 29, 2011

YEREVAN, September 29. /ARKA/. Ceremony of awarding honored prizes
to the best restaurant-participants of the second festival “Week of
Italian cuisine” in Yerevan took place in the Embassy of Italy in
Armenia on Thursday.

The festival started on September 26 and will last to October 2. It
was organized by the initiative of the Embassy of Italy in Armenia and
the company “Horizon 95”. Twenty restaurants of Yerevan participate
in the festival.

Ambassador of Italy in Armenia Bruno Scapini said that the restaurant
taken the first place in the festival will represent Embassy of Italy
in the World Day of Cook which will the first time be celebrated on
October 20 in Yerevan.

Second and third prizewinners received certificates for obtaining
special Italian products of the company “Andako” and “Products
of Cicily” imported to Armenia in the amount of 200 and 100 euro
respectively.

Other participants of the festival were awarded certificates of
participation on behalf of the embassy.

Scapini said that while selecting the winners, the jury of the
festival has considered three main criteria – appearance of food,
taste and technical part, i.e. how the cooks used the receipts when
cooking Italian delicacies.

Jury members are: professor of culinary institute Chipriani near
Adria (Venice, North Italy), chef cook Luigi Mandrutsatto, Director
of the Fund “Slow Food” on maintenance of biodiversity and support
of endangered types of products Ruslan Poghosyan and representative
of Italian Embassy in Armenia Pasquale Matseo.

Scapini said that the level of Italian restaurants in Yerevan has
significantly increased, compared to the first festival organized
in 2007.

Professor Mandrutsatto highly appreciated the culinary level of all
the contestants, emphasizing their love towards their work and respect
to Italian culinary.

He said that during the master-classes for the Armenian cooks
(September 22-23) his audience demonstrated not only their love to
the cuisine but also wonderful professional skills.

During the festival gourmets could enjoy dishes typical for such
Italian regions as Veneto, Sicily, Tuscany, Calabria, Sardinia, Lazio,
Campania, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Puglia, Piedmont.

The first time the festival of Italian cuisine took place on March 24,
2007. The visitors and the guests of the event tasted different types
of Italian ice-cream, confectionery , cheese, as well as Italian wine.

From: Baghdasarian