Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

EXPLOSION DANS LE CENTRE-VILLE D’ANKARA : 2 MORTS, DES BLESSES (TELEVISION)
[email protected]

armenews.com
samedi 24 septembre 2011

TURQUIE

Une forte explosion d’origine encore inconnue s’est produite mardi
dans le centre-ville d’Ankara, faisant deux morts et plusieurs blesses,
a rapporte la chaîne d’information NTV.

La deflagration, dans le quartier commercant de Kizilay, a endommage
six vehicules et brise les vitres de nombreux bâtiments aux alentours,
a dit un correspondant de NTV sur les lieux, faisant etat de trois
blesses graves et une dizaine de blesses legers.

Elle a egalement provoque un incendie qui a rapidement ete maîtrise
et la police a etabli un perimètre de securite autour du lieu de
l’explosion dans la crainte d’une seconde deflagration, selon NTV.

L’explosion a eu lieu devant un bâtiment officiel, la sous-prefecture
de la circonscription de Cankaya, a indique l’agence de presse
Anatolie.

From: Baghdasarian

LE PREMIER BASE JUMP A CHOUCHI AU HAUT KARABAGH
Krikor [email protected]

armenews.com
samedi 24 septembre 2011

SPORTS

C’est une première au Haut Karabagh avec le premier saut de base jump
sur les hauteurs de Chouchi. Un parachutiste Russe, Pavel Olchanski a
saute depuis les rochers de Chouchi a une hauteur de 200 mètres des
rives de la rivière Karkar qui coule en contrebas des rochers. Le
base jump est un saut de l’extreme, une discipline très dangereuse
pratiquee par une poignee de specialistes.

From: Baghdasarian

TOROS INAUGURE UNE SCULPTURE FACE A LA MEDIATHEQUE DE BOURG-LES-VALENCE
Krikor [email protected]

armenews.com
samedi 24 septembre 2011

COMMUNAUTE-BOURG-LES-VALENCE

Le sculpteur romanais Toros, l’auteur de très nombreuses sculptures
-dont celles liees au genocide armenien et a la memoire armenienne-
vient de voir l’une de ses dernières creations inauguree sur le parvis
de la mediathèque La Passerelle de Bourg-Lès-Valence (Drôme).

L’inauguration a laquelle assistaient un grand nombre de personnalites
et un large public s’est deroulee mercredi 21 septembre en presence
du Senateur-maire Bernard Piras. De nombreux membres de la communaute
armenienne assistaient a la manifestation. En presence de Toros,
Marianne Ory, l’Adjointe a la culture de la ville de Bourg-Lès-Valence
a presente l’artiste, la personnalite et l’~uvre. ” chacun d’entre
nous cherche ce que ce jeune etre recèle dans son bagage, son cartable,
son ordinateur, sa boîte a reves, selon sa convenance afin de donner
sens a cette creation artistique contemporaine (…) le crayon est la,
pour ecrire la suite en reference a ce propos du journaliste Pierre
Vallier. La main de Toros a le sens et les accents d’une chanson de
geste faite pour continuer l’histoire ? Face a la passerelle, avec le
livre comme un clin d’~il en socle de la sculpture laissons le temps
a l’art d’avoir lieu pour que l’~uvre puisse exprimer ce pourquoi
elle a ete cree mais sachons puisez une reponse a travers la pensee
d’Andre Malraux “la culture c’est ce qui repond a l’homme quand il
se demande ce qu’il fait sur terre “. Bernard Piras s’est felicite de
voir l’une des dernières creations de Toros a quelques pas de la Mairie
de Bourg-Lès-Valence. La sculpture epuree represente un enfant d’une
douzaine d’annees tenant sans sa main un cartable evide avec un crayon.

From: Baghdasarian

ZULAL AT THE GETTY SEPT. 24

Mickie’s Zoo
September 21, 2011 Wednesday 7:00 PM EST

The J. Paul Getty Museum presents Zulal, the latest in its series
of Gordon Getty Concerts on September 24. The Armenian word zulal
means “clear water.” Fittingly, this concept has been adopted by an
enchanting a capella trio dedicated to creating music reflective of
its namesake: fluid, clean, and unconfined. The group weaves intricate
arrangements that pay tribute to the rural roots of the music while
introducing a sophisticated lyricism and energy.

To complement the exhibition “In the Beginning Was the Word”: Medieval
Gospel Illumination, Teni Apelian, Yeraz Markarian, and Anaïs Tekerian
present a sublime evening of music drawn from Armenia’s expansive
reservoir of folk, traditional, and church music. The trio has
performed in such esteemed venues as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital
Hall, New York’s Symphony Space, the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts, the Museum of the City of New York, the Alex Theatre,
and the Longy School of Music along with performances for Cirque du
Soleil, the Near East Foundation and the Silk Road Project.

Zulal performs Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harold
M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center.

From: Baghdasarian

FFA PRESIDENT DOESN’T WANT TO DEVELOP WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IN ARMENIA

ArmeniaDiaspora
Sept 23 2011

Epress.am — Those football players who don’t want to play in
the Armenian national team have no place there, said Football
Federation of Armenia (FFA) President, MP Ruben Hayrapetyan, speaking
to journalists in Yerevan today and referring to FC Ural Sverdlovsk
Oblast (Yekaterinburg) defender Denis Tumasyan, who was invited to
play for the Armenian team ahead of the last two matches (with Andorra
and Slovakia), but refused.

“The person who doesn’t want to play on the national team, through
pleading, bribing, persuading – we don’t need him. Why didn’t
Tumasyan come? Ask him. I don’t know such a man and I don’t want to
[know him]…

and he’s not even Armenian. Only his surname is Armenian; I found this
out recently. He’s not even Armenian – neither his father nor his
mother is Armenian. As long as I’m the president of the federation,
he won’t set foot in Armenia’s national team,” promised Hayrapetyan.

As for Aras Ozbiliz, Hayrapetyan said the defender for Amsterdam’s
Ajax was again invited to join the Armenian team, but his participation
is currently in doubt.

“Aras Ozbiliz wants to play on our team. They sent the invitation to
him again; it just pains me that two days ago, Ozbiliz again received
injuries,” said Hayrapetyan.

The FFA President didn’t wish to respond to questions on women’s
football at all, wrapping up this subject with simply one sentence:
“Women’s football in Armenia hasn’t developed, won’t develop and I
don’t even have a desire to develop it.”

Photo: FFA official website

Article source:

From: Baghdasarian

WHY THE HRANT DINK CASE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE
Orhan Kemal Cengiz

Today’s Zaman
Sept 23 2011
Turkey

Last Monday the prosecutor read out his final opinion in the Hrant
Dink case, meaning the case has approached its final stages.

Basically, the prosecutor said that the Trabzon cell of the Ergenekon
terrorist organization carried out this murder. But he also said
that he is unable to establish concrete links between Ergenekon and
Dink’s murderers.

We can interpret his remarks as a confession of a failure to identify
the real perpetrators of this murder. However, in spite of this
failure, he explained his final opinion in the case and requested
the court to proceed to deliver its judgment.

In my view, there are two main factors that render the courts unable
to solve the murders of Christians, which started in 2006 with the
murder of father Santoro in Trabzon, followed by the murder of Hrant
Dink in January 2007 and the Malatya massacre in April that same year,
in which three missionaries were killed.

The first reason is the simple fact that the whole system is involved
in these murders. The gendarmerie’s illegal JÄ°TEM unit prepared the
groundwork for these murders. Police intelligence had been following
their every step, but they just turned a blind eye. During this period
there persisted a very intense anti-Christian hysteria throughout
Turkey and I think the police was also influenced by it. The Malatya
massacre, however, became a turning point. After that, the police
caught potential murderers in Samsun, Diyarbakır, Mersin and İzmir
before they could even attempt to kill Christians.

In these cities murderers of exactly the same profile (very young
ultranationalists with connections to youth groups of ultranationalist
parties) as the murderers of Santoro, Dink and the missionaries were
preparing for the assassination of selected Christian targets. But
the police, who somehow could not manage to stop the Malatya and Dink
murders, were this time successful in acting on the intelligence they
had gathered.

If you ask me, they had similar intelligence for the Santoro, Dink
and Malatya murders but somehow decided against acting upon it. This
is a serious obstacle for us to shed light on these murders because
we are unable to get any useful information from the police, whose
hands are dirty as well.

Another reason why we cannot solve these murders is this: The courts
hearing the Malatya and Dink cases do not have the “big picture”
(extensive knowledge about Ergenekon network) whereas the courts and
prosecutors involved in the Ergenekon case — too obsessed with the
alleged coup attempts — have not paid any attention to Ergenekon’s
anti-Christian activities that may potentially shed light on the
Malatya massacre and the Dink murder case.

Look at Dink’s murder from this perspective: Dink himself knew very
well who was after him. He knew the deep state was lobbying in the
high court behind closed doors to make sure he would be convicted for
“insulting Turkishness,” which made him a target for ultranationalist
groups in Turkey. He knew that lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, who brought
this case against him, had very strong connections with the deep
state. Kerincsiz is now behind bars in the Ergenekon case. Dink was
very concerned when he saw retired Gen. Veli Kucuk, one of the main
figures in the Ergenekon network, visit the courtroom where he was
being tried for insulting Turkishness.

Kucuk, Kerincsiz and the many others who carried out campaigns
against Dink and Christians across the country had their meetings
in the Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, which is very famous for
its long-standing battle with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
Turkey. Not only Kerincsiz and Kucuk, but also the founders of many
ultranationalist associations that had waged war against Christians in
Turkey had their meetings at the Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate. Sevgi
Erenol, an Ergenekon spokesperson, was also arrested as part of the
Ergenekon probe. None of these activities and connections have been
properly investigated by Ergenekon prosecutors.

I think the Dink murder case and the Malatya massacre case are not
going anywhere because we are looking for answers in the wrong place.

We need to make connections between the real perpetrators and these
murder cases in order to serve justice in the real sense of the word.

We do not need to hear abstract connections between Ergenekon and
the murder cases, like the Dink prosecutor presented.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJANI PEOPLE MADE WISE CHOICE IN 1993 – ILHAM ALIYEV

news.az
Sept 23 2011
Azerbaijan

A deplorable situation dominated in the country in first years of
our independence.

The statement came from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at a
two-day international event dedicated to 20th anniversary of country’s
independence organized by the Association for Civil Society Development
in Azerbaijan in Gulustan Palace.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan could overcome those challenges and
the Azerbaijani people made a wise choice by inviting national leader
Heydar Aliyev to the country’s leadership in 1993.

Only thanks to policies pursued by the national leader, Azerbaijan
began to develop, reforms were launched and a ceasefire agreement was
signed. Contract of the Century in the field of oil industry, a major
factor for development of our country, was signed in 1994. Cooperation
with leading companies across the world and benefiting from their
experience boosted our economy. Azerbaijan has initiated a number of
economic projects so far, the President added.

Noting that Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a major
problem facing Azerbaijan, the President said that this problem poses
a danger not only for Azerbaijan, but the whole region.

Providing detailed information about the conflict to the event
participants, President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijanis were subject
to ethnic cleansing resulting in around 1 million refugees and IDPs
in the country.

“Unfortunately, the situations still remains unchanged,” the President
said recalling resolutions adopted by the UN and other international
organizations which have not been implemented to this day.

The Head of the State called on event participants to widely focus
on this issue.

The President emphasized that Azerbaijan is a tolerant state where
various nations and faiths live in conditions of peace and stability
and that the country was proud of this fact.

The Azerbaijani leader noted that successful examples of autonomy in
Europe can well be applied in case of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Talking about the current situation in Azerbaijan, the President
said the economy of the country continues to develop. Azerbaijan has
achieved high indicators in development of the Gross Domestic Product.

The unemployment problem has been settled and poverty rate has reduced
five times over the last seven years. The pensions increased 40%
this year.

Azerbaijani economy accounts for 70% of economy in South Caucasus.

Liberal economic situation, political reforms and solution of social
issues have created a favorable atmosphere in the society, President
Aliyev said adding that rule of law and freedom of speech have been
secured in the country.

Reforms are still underway. Our goal is to create a modern state,
he noted.

Talking about European Union-Azerbaijan ties, the President stressed
that the country cooperates with the European Union in many other
areas along with energy sphere.

“Our ties will strengthen even further. European Union-Azerbaijan
relations are built on mutual respect and confidence.”

From: Baghdasarian

POTENTIAL OF ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJAN WHO HAVE FRIENDLY TIES MUST BE USED

news.az
Sept 23 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az reprints from Gun.Az an interview with Chairman of the
Humanitarian Research Society Avaz Hasanov.

What are your comments on hostile attitudes of Azerbaijani and Armenian
societies towards each other?

We face two big issues in terms of resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. The first is to liberate the occupied lands and then to
build normal ties with Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Of course, there are people who have committed crimes against
Azerbaijanis among Armenian politicians and military men. Similarly,
there are people in Azerbaijan who have committed some sort of crime
against Armenians in the course of the hostilities. If Azerbaijan
and Armenia sign a truce some time in future, these crimes will be
investigated to determine whether they are crimes against humanity
or not.

I think seeing the entire Armenian society and Karabakh Armenians as
an enemy because of these people we play into the hands of Armenians.

Karabakh Armenians claim that “we try to come closer to Azerbaijan,
but it sees us as an enemy. We cannot live together with Azerbaijanis
in this case.”

So, we must make efforts so that Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh
will have willingness to live with Azerbaijanis in future. We must
change our rhetoric, way of thinking in relation to them and try to
build normal ties with them.

What is people’s diplomacy in the conflict resolution?

People’s diplomacy was more widely used in previous years. But it
has weakened over the last five years despite serious advances in
negotiating process on an official level. I believe people’s diplomacy
can benefit Azerbaijan in the conflict resolution. People dealing
with people’s diplomacy do not put forward an official stance.

The countries involved with the OSCE Minsk Group call on Azerbaijani
and Armenian leadership to work closely with their civil societies
to explain them what they will win and what they will lost after the
war ends.

Today it seems unrealistic for any state official to go to Khankandi
and introduce himself as a minister in this area and some other senior
official. But it would no harm to a country if a leader of some NGO
meets simple people, media representatives and even officials there.

This is because this person speaks on his own, but not on behalf of
the state. If a country takes advantage of this and sends a message
to people living in Nagorno-Karabakh, it can help to normalize ties.

Therefore, the authorities should not limit people’s diplomacy. On
the contrary, the state should render every support to people who
are involved in people’s diplomacy.

Have you tripped to Armenia as a representative of people’s diplomacy?

I visited last Armenia in October last year. I have visited
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia numerous times before. Unfortunately,
it is almost impossible to trip to Nagorno-Karabakh today.

This is because Nagorno-Karabakh has toughened its stance due to
protracted talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Frequent visits of
Azerbaijanis to Nagorno-Karabakh can dispel the myth about hostile
attitude of Azerbaijanis against Armenians and soften stance of
Karabakh Armenians towards Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately, there are certain negative myths about Azerbaijan in
Armenian society. Armenian authorities try to assure the public that
Azerbaijanis have allegedly forgotten Nagorno-Karabakh, they think
about nothing, but war and all Azerbaijanis hate Armenians. Therefore,
there is a great need to dispel these myths and arrange trips to
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in order to raise awareness of simple
Armenians about realities.

Have the Armenian society changed its attitude towards Azerbaijan to
a certain degree compared to previous years?

Both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have the same attitude to
Azerbaijan. Simply, there is more fear towards Azerbaijan among
Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians. Therefore, security is a primary concern
for Nagorno-Karabakh. They seem not to be satisfied with any guarantee
promised by Azerbaijan.

Armenia is more concerned over how it will determine the destiny of
Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijan. Armenians firmly believed that
it was easy to tear Nagorno-Karabakh away from Azerbaijan 5 to 10
years ago. But they have eased their claims at present. They think
what it needs to be discussed with Azerbaijan to gain independence
for Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenians believe that Azerbaijan will agree to a higher status for
Nagorno-Karabakh some time in future. Therefore, Azerbaijan should
let Armenian society to know that one-sided resolution of the Karabakh
conflict will never bring stability to the region. We also must dispel
negative myths and views about Azerbaijanis in Armenian public.

Will resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict enable to resume
peace and stability in the region?

I think it will be possible to achieve peace in the region in
20-25 years. It is impossible for the region to be independent at
the moment as Russia hinders this. Armenian hoped that hydrocarbon
reserves of Azerbaijan will reduce and its standing in the region
will weaken. But the quite opposite of it happened. Discovery of new
deposits in Azerbaijan and country’s stronger position as a transit
country shattered hopes of Armenians.

At current stage, both Azerbaijani and Armenian societies should work
to normalize ties and come to a common denominator in resolution
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The potential of Azerbaijanis and
Armenians who have friendly and acquaintance relations must be used
in normalization of relations.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH TURKISH PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

APA
Sept 23 2011
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is
in New York to attend the common discussions of the 66th session
of the UN General Assembly, held a number of bilateral meetings,
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press service told APA.

Elmar Mammadyarov met with President of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus Dervis Eroglu, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, Prime Minister of Tuvalu Willy Telavi, UK Foreign Office
Minister Lord Howell, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov,
European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Philippe
Lefort and the Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al Araby.

The present state of the bilateral relations, Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, economic and energy issues, prospects of cooperation in
several spheres of mutual interest were discussed during the meetings.

Elmar Mammadyarov also attended the meeting of the foreign ministers
of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN SHOULD RENOUNCE CHANGES PROPOSED IN KAZAN, ARMENIAN FM TOLD THE MEDIATORS

Mediamax
Sept 23 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Progress at Karabakh peace talks will be possible
only in case Azerbaijan renounces 10 changes brought forward at the
meeting in Kazan.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said this in New York
at the meeting with OSCE Minsk Group Russian and U.S. Co-chairs,
Igor Popov and Robert Bradtke, and Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The meeting also focused on issues of realization of agreements on the
mechanism of investigation of incidents on the contact line reached at
the trilateral meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian presidents
in Astrakhan in October 2010.

From: Baghdasarian