Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

DINK’S MURDER SUSPECT TO RECEIVE PSYCHIATRIC TEST

Hurriyet
July 29, 2011
Turkey

In the 19th hearing of the trial on the murder of Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink, the court asks for a mental health checkup
report on arrested suspect Yasin Hayal. German Green Party co-leader
Claudia Roth attended a march held before Friday’s court hearing

Claudia Roth (L) and other demonstrators carry a banner that calls
for a deeper investigation into the murder of Hrant Dink. DAILY NEWS
photos, Emrah GUREL

Yasin Hayal, an arrested suspect in the Hrant Dink murder case, will
be sent to a psychiatric hospital for a mental health checkup to be
used as evidence in the ongoing court case, the 14th Serious Crimes
Court ordered Friday.

Arrested suspects Hayal and Erhan Tuncel were taken to Istanbul’s
Beþiktaþ Court on Friday for the 19th hearing in the Armenian-Turkish
journalist’s murder case. Dink’s family and their lawyers and a group
of 150 people, including Claudia Roth from the German Green Party
and Sýrrý Sureyya Onder, a deputy from the Peace and Democracy Party,
or BDP, were present at the court. None of the other 17 suspects or
their lawyers attended the trial.

Eda Salman, Hayal’s lawyer, asked the court to send him to Bakýrkoy
Psychiatric Hospital to check whether Hayal’s mental health was damaged
or not. Salman based her argument on Hayal’s previous statements,
in which he said he received threats from his visitors at Tekirdað
prison; penitentiary officials, however, said Hayal had not been
visited in six months. Although Hayal claimed to be sane, the court
approved the lawyer’s demand.

The tension between Tuncel’s lawyer, Erdoðan Soruklu, and Hayal
dominated the trial. Hayal yelled at the lawyer during the trial after
Soruklu claimed none of the evidence that could change the direction
of the trial was brought to the court.

“I did not say anything fake in my plea,” Hayal told Soruklu.

Camera recordings

Following Hayal’s hearing, Dink family lawyer Fethiye Cetin presented
video footage from the date of the murder, Jan 19, 2007, which showed
four other suspects at the scene of crime.

Cetin requested the court reanalyze the video footages of a private
bank’s hidden security camera, in front of which the murder occurred.

The Turkish Scientific and Research Institution, or TUBÝTAK, previously
said the hard disc belonging to the private bank’s camera, where the
journalist was killed, was empty.

“How could a hard disc of a bank’s security camera have no recording,”
said Cetin, adding that it would raise suspicion as to whether the
hard disc examined by the TUBÝTAK was the correct one or not.

The court made a decision to investigate the bank’s purchase recordings
in order to check whether the hard disc was the original.

Recalling the Telecommunication Transmission Directorate, or TÝB’s,
objection to share the detail of calls made near the scene of the
crime, defense lawyer Bahri Belen said the court should deny the
decision of a objection as the request was not against personal
privacy.

The court ruled that TÝB’s objection would be considered in a higher
court.

Republican People Party, or CHP’s, Istanbul deputy Mahmut Talan
attended the trial and told the Hurriyet Daily News that it was
impossible to understand how a decision had not been reached in such
an important case given that Turkey claims to be a “post-democracy”
governed by the rule of law.

“The investigation has been delayed and the evidence could have been
hidden,” said Talan.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF CULTURE TO BE OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN – KOMMERSANT

news.am
July 29, 2011
Armenia

MOSCOW. – Sergey Mndoyants will be Russian new deputy Minister of
Culture. He is deputy executive director of AFC “System,” Russian
Kommersant newspaper reports quoting sources in Ministry of Culture
and AFC “System.”

The Ministry currently has four deputies and nine departments.

According to the new decision of the government, the Minister of
Culture Alexander Avdeev will have five deputies and the number of
departments will reach 11.

Mndoyants will be in charge of Russian Federal Service of Cultural
Heritage Preservation. He will also be in charge of international
sphere, which the Minister himself was in charge of previously.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN CANNOT AGREE ON BASIC PRINCIPLES OF KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION – PENTAGON

news.am
July 29, 2011
Armenia

WASHINGTON, DC. – Negotiations on Karabakh issue registered “one step
backward” from the point of view of OSCE peaceful efforts, Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Alexander
Vershbow stated on Thursday.

Vershbow believes that Kazan meeting did not secure “progress” in
negotiations of Karabakh issue. Besides, “the intensity increases
in the contact line of both sides.” Armenia and Azerbaijan “cannot
conclude agreement on Basic Principles for Karabakh issue as before
and we face unconstructive and dangerous deadlock situation,”
ITAR-TASS reports.

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip
Gordon also stated that Obama’s administration approves that OSCE
has direct contact in “frozen” conflict regulation processes in the
territories of post Soviet Union.

“OSCE should continue its direct contact in prolonged conflict
regulation processes for Georgia, Moldova and Nagorno-Karabakh.,”
Gordon stated. “Those conflicts have destructive potential, which can
destabilize security in the territory of OSCE. Overcoming the conflicts
should be high priority for OSCE and its member states,” he added.

From: Baghdasarian

PUBLIC TELEVISION OF ARMENIA NOT TO COVER OPPOSITION’S ACTIVITIES UNTIL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

news.am
July 29, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Public Television of Armenia rejected the proposal by the
oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) on broadcasting video
on ANC rallies in Yerevan.

Broadcasting political commercials on Public Television of Armenia is
not allowed by the law “On commercials”, Executive Director of Public
Television of Armenia Gagik Buniatyan stated in a written letter.

The letters says broadcasting political commercials is provided by
the Electoral Code, which is allowed only during the election campaign.

Buniatyan promised Public Television of Armenia will continue to
cover all significant public activities of Armenia’s opposition,
according to the law on Armenian Television and Radio.

From: Baghdasarian

DINK MURDERER’S FATHER CLAIMS HIS SON WAS USED

news.am
July 29, 2011
Armenia

“Ahmet Samast, father of Ogun Samast, who was sentenced to 21 years
and six months in jail this week for assassinating Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink, has said his son was used in the murder plot
and that the real perpetrators of the crime need to be punished,”
Today’s Zaman reports.

“They tricked and used Ogun, who was punished. The murder should be
fully investigated. If there are other people behind it, they should
be tried and punished too,” he said.

“Ahmet Samast emphasized that the Samast family has never been involved
in a crime and that it was obvious that his son was manipulated. Samast
said that his son had only been in touch with only Yasin Hayal,
who is suspected of inciting Ogun Samast to the murder.

Ahmet Samast also said that he does not know anything about Hayal’s
connections,” the newspaper reads.

“If the ruling is going to be just in this case, those who directed
my son toward the murder should be punished,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

DEPFM AYALON SPEAKS WITH ARMENIAN COUNTERPART

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

July 25, 2011
Israel

DFM Ayalon emphasized the importance Israel attaches to the continuous
development of diplomatic relations and practical cooperation with
Armenia.

(Communicated by the Deputy Foreign Minister’s Bureau)

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon initiated a phone conversation
today (25 July 2011) with his counterpart, Armenian Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Arman Kirakossian. DFM Ayalon thanked Kirakossian
for the friendly relationship, and mentioned the historical ties and
cultural similarities between the two nations. DFM Ayalon emphasized
the importance Israel attaches to the continuous development of
diplomatic relations and practical cooperation with Armenia. He
further stated that it would be his pleasure to visit Yerevan, and
invited DFM Kirakossian to visit Israel. DFM Ayalon reiterated the
special sensitivity we, as Jews, feel regarding the Armenian tragedy.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon also noted that Israel supports the
efforts of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe) Minsk Group to reach a negotiated resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Subject: DepFM Ayalon Speaks With Armenian Counterpart

DEPFM AYALON SPEAKS WITH ARMENIAN COUNTERPART

Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 25, 2011 Israel

DFM Ayalon emphasized the importance Israel attaches to the continuous
development of diplomatic relations and practical cooperation with
Armenia.

(Communicated by the Deputy Foreign Minister’s Bureau)

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon initiated a phone conversation
today (25 July 2011) with his counterpart, Armenian Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Arman Kirakossian. DFM Ayalon thanked Kirakossian
for the friendly relationship, and mentioned the historical ties and
cultural similarities between the two nations. DFM Ayalon emphasized
the importance Israel attaches to the continuous development of
diplomatic relations and practical cooperation with Armenia. He
further stated that it would be his pleasure to visit Yerevan, and
invited DFM Kirakossian to visit Israel. DFM Ayalon reiterated the
special sensitivity we, as Jews, feel regarding the Armenian tragedy.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon also noted that Israel supports the
efforts of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe) Minsk Group to reach a negotiated resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

From: Baghdasarian

HEAD OF BROKERAGE COMPANY: ARMENIAN ECONOMY LACKS AGGRESSIVE PROTECTIONISM

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 29, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – The government program for economy development lacks
aggressive protectionism, according to Aram Kayfajyan , Director of
Armenbrok investment company.

“I would like to see the higher economy growth, especially in the field
of industry,” Kayfajyan told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “In particular,
state structures should inform the businesses of the required demand
for goods beforehand,” said the company Director adding that the
companies, in turn, being confident that they will be able to sell
production would start to produce more or set new production.

“State should have direct involvement in all possible fields and
realize state purchases from local producers even at high prices. That
will return to the budget in taxes, besides new job opportunities
will be created,” Kayfajyan said.

A 2,3% growth in economic activity index in Armenia in June 2011 was
reported as compared to the same period in 2010. According to the
National Statistical Service, the economic activity growth was 9,6%
higher in June compared to May 2011. Inflation amounted to 8,5%
in June 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Consumer prices
reduced by 1,4% in June as compared with May 2011.

The national budget envisages 4,6% GDP growth and 4% (±1,5%) inflation
for 2011.

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan questions ethnic identity of Bryza’s wife

16:36 * 26.07.11

The heated anti-Turkish tensions in Azerbaijan have caused the country
to call into question the Turkish origins of Mathew Bryza’s wife, a
former police chief has said in Á recent article.

“The matter has gone so far that the identity of US Ambassador Mathew
Bryza’s wife has come under spotlight. They even ask him whether he is
a Kurd. That’s just a big shame,” Akif Selimov said in his article
devoted to the anti-Kurdish assimiilation policy in Azerbaijan.

The author expresses concerns over the discrimination between Turks
and non-Turks, a policy which he says has become predominant in the
country.

He further recalls that Azeris co-existed peacefully with Kurds up
until 1992. But as the radical forces in Azerbaijan pushed forward the
idea of ‘Turrkishness’, the ethnic minorities faced discrimination, he
says.

Bryza’s wife Zeyno Baran is an ethnic Turk born to a family of
journalists. Her father, Uran Baran, was a representative of the the
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet in Moscow and later – in Athens.

Baran is now the director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Eurasian Policy.

Recent media reports claimed that Azerbaijan is exerting pressure
against its Kurdish minority.

An owner of the Diplomata Kurdi newspaper, Tahir Suleyman, had said
earlier that the Kurdish population of Azerbaijan faces the threat of
assimilation, a process which, if continued, would lead to their final
extinction.

On behalf of the Kurds residing in Azerbaijan, Suleyman called on the
country’s president, Ilham Aliyev, to lift all forms of restrictions
on the Kurdish minority’s cultural life and education.

Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Russia wants to upgrade Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan

19:45 – 25.07.11

Russia intends to modernize the Gabala radar station it leases in
Azerbaijan, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said during a
visit to Baku.

“Over the next few days Russia will set up a working group to visit
Baku for two weeks to work out all technical issues,” he was quoted by
the Azerbaijani news agency Abc.az as saying.

“Already after 15 August we can discuss with my Azerbaijani
counterpart in detail each of the points of an agreement to extend the
lease on Gabala radar station,” he added.

Within his visit Serdyukov was received by Azerbaijan’s President
Ilham Aliyev and his Azerbaijani counterpart Safar Abiyev.

“Our countries have quite good relationships in the military and
military-technical cooperation. Almost everything we planned for 2010
has been done and we are on schedule in plans for 2011. We proposed
Azerbaijan to increase quotas for training of the armed forces of
Azerbaijan. Now the application will be considered,” Serdyukov said.

Based on an agreement ratified by Azerbaijan’s parliaments and Russia
in 2002 the radar station was leased to Moscow for ten years.

The Gabala radar station is an essential element of Russia’s missile
defense system and provides early warning of possible missile strikes
from the south.

The lease term expires in December 2012. Rental price is $14 million a year.

Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Libération, France
Jeudi 28 Juillet 2011

Tigran Hamasyan, clavier maître

Piano. Le jeune prodige d’origine arménienne sera à l’affiche de
nombreux festivals jazz et classique.

par Dominique Queillé

On ne troque que rarement sans sacrifier à une certaine prestance un
fauteuil contre un tabouret. Pour Tigran Hamasyan, l’échange tient du
conte de fées. Le jeune pianiste originaire d’Arménie, qui n’était
entré dans le thétre du Chtelet à Paris qu’une seule fois pour aller
y écouter Herbie Hancock, son prestigieux aîné américain, s’est vu
décrocher cette place d’honneur en mars, à seulement 23 ans, un mois
après la sortie de son premier album solo dense et subtil, A Fable
(Verve/Universal), dont il a composé la majeure partie.

«Emotion». Rencontré quelques jours avant ce concert, le natif de la
petite ville de Gyumri avait avoué son intimidation malgré une
certaine expérience de la scène, alimentée par trois antécédents
discographiques parus (en groupe) sur le label Plus Loin Music : «Je
n’avais pas ressenti une telle émotion depuis un concert donné à 11
ans devant l’orchestre philharmonique d’Erevan. Je suis tout aussi
impressionné.» Rapport ou non, c’est aussi à cette époque que le
virtuose change son look en raccourcissant son épaisse tignasse
frisée. Mais, sous ses airs réservés de gendre idéal, Hamasyan – dont
le seul prénom figure sur ce disque solo coproduit avec Nate Wood,
batteur attitré de son groupe, Arrata Rebirth – cache un tempérament
musical bien trempé aux influences multiples. Sa culture arménienne,
bien sûr, dont tous ses opus se font l’écho avec des thèmes revisités
issus du répertoire populaire, mais aussi le rock, le metal, le
classique et le jazz. Entre fougue et sérénité, son toucher nuancé,
très relevé sur le plan technique, n’empêche pas l’inventivité mise au
service de l’improvisation – malgré une écriture au cordeau. Ce qui
confère au musicien, que d’aucuns comparent déjà à Keith Jarrett (bien
que lui s’en défende), une maturité sidérante.

C’est en autodidacte que Tigran Hamasyan fait ses premières armes au
piano… à l’ge de 2 ans. Né dans une famille férue de musique, avec
un père fan de rock et un oncle fan de jazz, le garçon se montre assez
vite sensible à Led Zeppelin comme à Thelonious Monk. Sa formation se
poursuit auprès de divers professeurs qui lui font aborder différents
styles, du classique au jazz. Tôt inscrit à de nombreux concours en
Arménie, il est repéré par le pianiste français d’origine arménienne
Stéphane Kochoyan – actuel directeur des festivals Orléans Jazz et les
Enfants du Jazz à Barcelonnette -, qui lui ouvre la porte de concerts
et festivals en France et en Europe. Quand, déjà primé, Tigran
Hamasyan atteint l’ge de 16 ans, ses parents décident de s’installer
en Californie, à Los Angeles, pour pouvoir offrir à leurs enfants (sa
soeur et lui) des perspectives d’avenir plus favorables.

«Energie». En 2006, alors qu’il fête ses 19 ans, il remporte le
premier prix du Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Les membres du jury
ne sont autres que Herbie Hancock et Wayne Shorter. Il avait, quelques
années auparavant, raflé le 3e prix du Concours de piano international
Martial-Solal. Depuis deux ans, le prodige du clavier vit à New York.
«C’est ici que se dégage la plus grande énergie pour le jazz, et où
toutes les expériences sont possibles», confie celui qui clame son
désir de multiplier les rencontres. «J’ai découvert plein de musiciens
dans cette ville, surtout dans le milieu underground – comme par
exemple le chanteur Theo Bleckmann – avec lesquels je souhaiterais
développer de nouveaux projets.» De quoi surprendre encore.

From: Baghdasarian