Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LES EGLISES DE TERRE SAINTE PROTESTENT CONTRE LE NOUVEAU CHANGEMENT DE TAXES ISRAELIENNES PAR ARTHUR HAGOPIAN
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 16 juin 2011

Les chefs des Eglises chretiennes de Jerusalem ont exprime leur
profonde preoccupation sur les changements renouveles portant sur la
taxation des biens immobiliers de leur Eglise.

Alors que les precedentes modifications avaient toutes finalement
echoue, les Israeliens n’avaient pas cache leur intention d’imposer
une amona (taxe sur les biens immobiliers) sur la propriete des
differentes eglises, celles qui sont restees vacantes pendant un
certain temps etant egalement considerees comme taxables.

Dans une declaration faite ici-meme d’aujourd’hui, “les Chefs
des Eglises de la Ville Sainte de Jerusalem”, regroupant de facon
informelle Eglises Chretiennes reconnues officiellement par l’etat
d’Israël, a averti des profondes consequences qui pourraient en
resulter, si Israël mettait son projet en application.

” Par rapport a la pratique de tous les Etats qui ont gouverne en
Terre Sainte, y compris l’Empire Ottoman, le Mandat Britannique, le
Royaume Achemite et l’Etat d’Israël lui-meme, une telle imposition
equivaudrait a une profonde rupture” ont dit les chefs des Eglises.

“Ce serait une importante degradation de la situation des Eglises de
la Terre Sainte. En outre, ce serait une remise en cause directe du
mandat de l’Organisation des Nations Unies decrit dans la Resolution
181 du 29 novembre 1947 de l’Assemblee Generale, qui s’applique non
seulement a Jerusalem mais egalement aux deux Etats qu’elle autorise
a s’etablir sur la Terre Sainte”, ont-ils averti.

Les Eglises soutiennent que le changement prevu par Israël
contreviendrait aux accords designes sous le nom de ‘statu quo’
convenus au 19ème siècle, qui regissent les relations entre les Eglises
et les gouvernements successifs depuis les temps de l’empire ottoman.

Selon les termes du statu quo, les Ottomans s’engageaient a exonerer de
taxes les biens immobiliers des Eglises, reconnaissaient leurs droits
et leur accordaient des privilèges speciaux, dans des actes appeles
“firmans’.

Un souverain turc, le sultan Chakmak, alla jusqu’a blâmer ” un
suppôt de Satan ou fils de Satan” qui avait ose contester les droits
et privilèges de l’Eglise armenienne, dans un edit grave sur une
plaque de marbre fixee a l’entree du Couvent de Saint James, siège
du Patriarche Armenien de Jerusalem.

Les autorites sur la Terre Sainte qui ont suivi, dont celles de
Jordanie, ont exprime leur soutien vis-a-vis du statu quo et souscrit
a ses dogmes.

Les Eglises ont averti que ‘toute erosion des dispositions de l’accord
de statu quo entre l’Etat d’Israël et les Eglises chretiennes menace
le bien-etre des Eglises chretiennes et leur aptitude a poursuivre
les differents ministères de leur mission pastorale d’assistance,
educative, sociale et sanitaire qu’elles procurent”.

Elles se sont egalement plaintes qu’une “amona” sur les biens des
Eglises “contredirait les promesses faites aux Eglises par les
gouvernements successifs israeliens, plus particulièrement confirme
au lendemain de la guerre de juin 1967″ qui avait vu Israël s’emparer
de Jerusalem et de la majeure partie de la Bande Ouest.

Dans leur declaration, les Eglises n’ont pas mâche leurs mots
qualifiant le changement propose par Israël d'”agressif”, exprimant
leur surprise sur le moment choisi, en faisant allusion aux troubles
politiques imprevisibles qui se propagent dans la region.

“Les chefs des Eglises ne peuvent pas comprendre comment une telle
action agressive vis-a-vis des Eglises pourrait etre engagee dans
l’interet de l’etat, en particulier en ce moment” peut-on y lire.

Ils pressent les representants officiels de rester sur une base
correcte et amicale, confiants qu'”il en sera sans doute ainsi du
choix definitif du gouvernement d’Israël.”

“Les chefs des Eglises pensent que ce respect est essentiel pour
la sante future des relations entre les trois fois d’Abraham qui
coexistent en Israël comme pour les relations de chacune d’entre
elles avec le gouvernement d’Israël” lit-on dans la declaration.

Les Eglises se disent particulièrement inquiètes, “l’abrupte imposition
d’une taxation sans precedent sur les Eglises chretiennes ne pouvant se
produire qu’au detriment de leur aptitude a maintenir une presence sur
la Terre Sainte et a continuer le ministère de leur mission pastorale
d’assistance, educative, sociale et sanitaire.”

Les Chefs des Eglises a Jerusalem sont le Patriarche Grec Orthodoxe,
le Patriarche Latin, le Patriarche Armenien, le Custode de la Terre
Sainte et les Archeveques et Eveques Armenien Catholique, Orthodoxe
Copte, Orthodoxe Ethiopien, Catholique Grec, Maronite, Orthodoxe
Syrien, Catholique Syrien, Anglican et Lutherien.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN CITIZEN IN TERRITORY OF YEMEN – MFA

news.am
June 15 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – There is an Armenian citizen is presently in the territory
of Yemen where the situation remains unstable.

The woman has not expressed willingness to leave Yemen so far,
spokesperson for Armenian Foreign Ministry Tigran Balayan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am referring to information provided by UAE embassy.

Tigran Balayan said foreign office keeps in touch with the woman and
is ready to evacuate her if needed.

Evacuation of citizens of CIS member countries is held with assistance
of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry.

A wave of mass demonstration has swept away in Yemen since February.

The demonstrators are protesting against President Ali Abdullah Saleh,
who has been in power for 32 years.

Clashes between the governmental forces and rebels continue. Yemeni
President Saleh was injured in a shooting of a mosque located near
the presidential palace in Sanaa.

From: Baghdasarian

EU READY TO ASSIST IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – MIROSLAV LAJCAK

Trend
June 15 2011
Azerbaijan

The EU is ready to enter into the negotiation process on
Nagorno-Karabakh, said Miroslav Lajcak, head of the European Service
of Foreign Affairs of the EU in Russia, Eastern Partnership and the
Western Balkans.

“Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the conflict where the EU is not involved
directly, but at the same time, we understand that at this stage to
make it is difficult , so we will support the OSCE Minsk Group in their
work” – Lajcak said at a hearing Wednesday in the European Parliament .

According to him, the EU has very extensive experience in conflict
resolution, and therefore support the organization of OSCE Minsk
Group will be weighty. In particular, according to Lajcak this role
of EU can do new EU representative in the region, waiting for his
appointment this year.

“The conflict must be resolved through peaceful means, the EU, in turn,
will have their assistance in the rehabilitation of post conflict
areas and in building and maintaining confidence between the parties”
– said Lajcak.

Unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict affects the EU and also problem
of the EU – Lajcak added .

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON IN JAVAHKHI

news.am
June 15 2011
Armenia

Armenian Catholicos has no idea what is going on in Javahkh, Virk
party leader Davit Rstakyan informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, people accompanying the Catholicos does not inform
on the real situation.

“I was present at the events on the occasion of the Catholicos visit
to Akhalkalak on Tuesday. He is surrounded by the bodyguards and does
not contact Javahkh people. Instead people escorting him praise the
Georgian authorities,” told Rstakyan.

No one said that the Armenians in Javahkh are dissatisfied with
Georgian authorities. People who have nothing to lose by saying the
reality are deprived of approaching the Catholicos. Rstakyan believes
that the Armenian Catholicos was not informed properly.

From: Baghdasarian

“ARMENIA EXPO 2011” EXHIBITION EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 15, 2011
YEREVAN

“Armenia EXPO 2011” 11th regional trade-industrial exhibition
will be conducted September 16-18 at the Yerevan Karen Demirtchyan
sport-concert hall. Armine Hakobyan, responsible for press service
of the “LOGOS EXPO Center” company, the organizer of the event,
told Armenpress that the exhibition forum this year is dedicated to
the celebrations of 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and
reflects the economic achievements of Armenia.

“Each exhibition is considered the mirror of economy of the mentioned
country. “Armenia EXPO” is the most important and biggest exhibition
forum and reflects the economic growth of the state and achievements”,
she said.

Armine Hakobyan said every year this exhibition gives wide opportunity
for the participant companies to present their new technology, systems,
as well as new solutions in different branched of industry.

More than 180 local and foreign organizations from 14 states as well as
companies and unions will take part in the exhibition. The participant
countries are Russia, Belarus, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Germany,
Georgia, Turkey, China, Poland, Italy.

The exhibition forum involves 9 exhibitions that will be organized in
parallel – “Industrial Armenia EXPO 2011”, “Construction EXPO 2011”,
“Food and Drinks EXPO 2011”, etc.

From: Baghdasarian

RA PRIME MINISTER MEETS ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN IN LONDON

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 15, 2011
LONDON

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, accompanied by Mayor of Yerevan
Karen Karapetyan, arrived today in London on a working visit.

Armenpress reports from London that the RA prime minister met today
some Armenian businessmen, who arrived in London from various states
of the world. During the meeting the prime minister said he is sure
the contacts among the Armenian businessmen from all over the world
will allow one to have some idea of the Armenian nation’s capacity
to meet challenges.

“We know that today we face quite serious challenges. This refers
not only to the Republic of Armenia, but also the whole Armenian
nation. I am sure together we can think what kind of joint projects
we can implement,” Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said.

After the meeting with the businessmen Tigran Sargsyan will visit the
BBC headquarter and will give an interview to the BBC Russian Service.

Afterwards Tigran Sargsyan will attend the Buckingham Palace reception
and concert, dedicated to two benevolent projects – “Yerevan! My Love”,
which intends reconstruction of 4 buildings of historical-architectural
significance in Yerevan, and the project of preservation of Dumfries
Palace in southwest of Scotland.

UK’s Prince Charles and RA Ex-Prime Minister Armen Sargsyan took the
joint initiative to support the “Yerevan! My Love” project and the
preservation of Dumfries Palace. Continuing last year’s efficient
fundraising at Windsor Castle, this year such an event will be held
at the Buckingham Palace.

Ex-Prime Minister Armen Sargsyan said today at a news conference before
the meeting with the Armenian businessmen that their objective is not
only the promotion to the preservation and reconstruction of historical
buildings, but also “having establishments of social meaning in those
buildings”. Those establishments will support parentless and children
families that face financial issues.

“It is painful for me when without understanding we raise our hands
against any national value. If such an attitude existed here in
England, many beautiful buildings, such as the Houses of Parliament,
would not exist and some skyscrapers would be available instead.

Yerevan is a city of three thousand years, but how many buildings of
three hundred years we have?” he said.

Within the framework of “Yerevan! My Love” program the construction of
three buildings in the territory of Surb Hovhannes Church of Yerevan
has already started. One of the buildings is a center for mother and
child care, the next one is a clinic for deaf children, and the third
one is a kindergarten for socially unprovided families’ children.

Armen Sargsyan said he will visit Yerevan late June and will discuss
with the mayor of Yerevan the list of the buildings to be constructed
within the framework of the program.

Mayor Karen Karapetyan said the Municipality of Yerevan will do its
best to support the program. “This is a very good idea, and some
serious philosophy can be promoted within its framework,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

1915 THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FILM ADDED TO AMAZON.COM RANGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 15, 2011 – 17:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 1915 The Armenian Genocide film was added to
Amazon.com e-store’s range.

The 60-minute film highlights the anatomy of the first genocide,
as told by survivors of the atrocities.

Beside the book listed, Amazon.com range contains several books on
Armenian Genocide.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH MUST CONSENT TO BASIC PRINCIPLES, SAYS NALBANDIAN

asbarez
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Nalbandian during his meeting with Bildt Tuesday

YEREVAN-“It will be impossible to move to the second stage of the
negotiations without Karabakh consent on the basic principles,”
said Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during a joint
press conference Tuesday with his Swedish counterpart Kart Bildt.

Nalbandian was speaking days after a meeting he held with Azeri
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Moscow mediated by their Russian
counterpart Igor Popov ahead of presidential summit on Karabakh
scheduled for later this month in Kazan, Russia.

“I agree with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian that it
will be impossible to move to the second stage of negotiations without
Karabkh’s consent on the basis principles. The peace treaty is going
to be worked out in the second stage, and Karabakh’s participation
in this stage is a must,” said Nalbandian who was responding to a
reporter’s question regarding Sahakian telling the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen that a final resolution cannot be achieved without the
participation of the Karabakh

“The cornerstone of settlement is right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to be the master of its destiny,” the Minister added.

Minister Nalbandian reminded that the Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Azerbaijan issued statements following the meeting in Moscow that
the parties managed to bring positions closer on a number of pivotal
issues. “If the momentum is maintained in Kazan, we’ll be able to
register progress,” Minister Nalbandian declared.

As for Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s statement
regarding the deployment of peacekeepers, Edward Nalbandian said:
“The statements of Presidents Obama, Sarkozy and Medvedev issued
in L’Aquilla and Muskoka provide for the deployment of peacekeepers
around Nagorno Karabakh. However, the details of the issue have not
been discussed over the past three years. Therefore, no agreement
could have been reached.”

Meanwhile, authorities in Karabakh expressed confidence that it is
still early to speak about a final agreement on the principles. They
said said the current stage of the negotiation process will take
another two to three years, since Azerbaijan benefits from maintaining
of the status quo.

“They understand that the issue cannot be settled without the
participation of the Karabakhi side. The current stage is not the
final one. This is a small step of a long process,” explained Karabakh
presidential spokeperson David Babayan.

“The most that can happen in Kazan is a show of good will on some
principles,” added Babayan.

“2012 is a unique year for all – the parties, the mediating countries
and the region. Elections are expected in Russia, the United States,
France, Artsakh and Armenia. Therefore, the parties will not be ready
to take any abrupt steps in that period. Even if the parties reach
some agreement in Kazan, it will simply help maintain the status quo
for another two to three years,” added Babayan.

“I can’t predict what will happen but I do not expect any
breakthrough,” said Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgi
Petrosian.

From: Baghdasarian

NEW VICTORY AND IDEA OF NEO-OTTOMANISM: TURKISH PM ERDOGAN’S PARTY STRENGTHENING POSITIONS IN ISLAMIC WORLD
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow
15.06.11 | 10:17

Photo:

Grand National Assembly of Turkey

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a predictable
victory in the country’s parliamentary elections last weekend,
receiving 49.9 percent of the vote. The Republican People’s Party
that was founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the father of all Turks)
gained 25.9 percent of the vote.

Enlarge Photo Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Thus, for the third consecutive time a force espousing “neo-Ottomanism”
as a state ideology has registered a landslide victory in Turkish
parliamentary elections.

AKP’s first success came in June 2002 when in parliamentary elections
it managed to win 363 seats in the 550-member Grand National Assembly
of Turkey. The party was founded in August 2001 by former members of
the moderate conservative wing of the banned Turkish Islamic Virtue
Party. Its leaders are current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and President Abdullah Gul.

For the next eight years the new Turkish authorities would make
strenuous efforts to strengthen the country’s positions not only in
the Turkic, but also the broader Muslim community. In recent years,
Ankara has unambiguously positioned itself as the main advocate of
the interests of the Muslim world, with some observers acknowledging
it has left Tehran far behind in this endeavor.

In what form is the “Turkish interest” demonstrated?

There is the following well-known statement by Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu: “There is a legacy of the Ottoman Empire. We are
called ‘neo-Ottomans’. Yes, we are ‘new Ottomans’ and have to deal
with neighboring countries. And we are going to Africa. Great powers
are watching it in confusion. First of all, France is trying to
figure out why we are working in Africa. I have already given out an
instruction: to whatever African country [French President Nicolas]
Sarkozy goes, it is necessary that every time he raises his eyes he
sees the building of the Turkish embassy and our flag. I have ordered
renting buildings for embassies in the best places.”

In February 2010, Prime Minister Erdogan announced his intention to
revise the basic provisions of the National Security Strategy – a
document which is called the “Red Book” in Turkey. In October, Erdogan
made public the “first changes” in the Red Book, outlining a new range
of foreign policy priorities (in particular, for the first in more than
half a century Israel was included in the blacklist of the Red Book).

Based on new trends, opinions are being put forward today about the
Turkish political leadership’s gradual departure from the Pan-Turkic
ideology towards the pan-Islamic or ‘Neo-Ottoman’ ideology.

Turkey’s desire to strengthen its positions within the boundaries
of the former Ottoman Empire (which, according to Turkish analysts,
amounts to 70 modern states) cannot but “attract attention”.

In September 2010, in Istanbul, Turkey and its ethnic cousin in the
South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, signed an agreement on the establishment of
a Council of Strategic Cooperation. At the signing ceremony, Erdogan
stated: “We are getting to the desired goal or even to the top of
Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation, which the late Azerbaijani President
Heydar Aliyev defined as ‘One Nation, Two States’, and Ataturk would
stress – ‘the joy of Azerbaijan is our joy, its sorrow is our sorrow.'”

At present, Erdogan is focused on having a new Constitution adopted in
Turkey and in this view he feels the need of his political opponents’
votes. That is why in his victory speech, the Turkish prime minister
declared: “In reality it is the whole of Turkey, entire Europe,
justice, democracy and the whole Turkish world that have won at
these elections.”

From: Baghdasarian

ASA HOSTS ‘MEET THE AUTHOR’ SESSION WITH SUSAN PATTI

By:Armenian Weekly
Wed, Jun 15 2011

LEXINGTON, Mass.-On May 31, the Armenian Sisters’ Academy (ASA)
in Lexington continued its spring 2011 Visiting Speaker Series
by hosting a “Meet the Author” session with Dr. Susan Pattie, who
introduced her recent children’s book, Who are the Armenians? Pattie
is an anthropologist and educator who currently holds the position
of senior research fellow at the University College London, and is
the director of the Armenian Institute in London.

Susan Pattie at ASA “I wanted to write a book that teaches children
of all heritages and backgrounds about being Armenian,” she said. “In
this one book I try to introduce elementary age readers to many of
the aspects of Armenian life, such as history, culture, language,
the diaspora, the Republic of Armenia, and our traditions.”

While presenting Who are the Armenians, Pattie engaged ASA students
in a lively discussion. Together they explored the history of the
Armenian language, how we use it today, and the connections and
traditions that bind Armenians together. An especially interesting
point to the discussion focused on how varied and different the
“Armenian experience” can be across the world. Students discussed
how many of them speak several languages, have family living in
different countries, and grandparents who speak different versions
of the Armenian language.

“There are many ways to be Armenian,” she offered. “We follow different
paths that all belong to the Armenian experience. As Armenians we
have done a very good job of adapting to the countries we live in
while also retaining a connection to our own heritage.”

During the discussion, Pattie revealed that her visit to the Sisters’
Academy was her visit to a school to present to a group of students.

In fact, she highlighted that two of the children featured in her
book are currently enrolled at the ASA.

Who are the Armenians is written for and is about elementary-age
children. Filled with photographs, illustrations, and maps, the book
provides a broad introduction in a 50-page format. Topics such as
music, art, dance, history, language, religion, games and sports, and
legends and stories are covered using actual interviews and examples.

Pattie added, “The book includes interviews with children from
around the world sharing their experiences of being Armenian.” A CD
illustrating the music, poetry, and languages described in the book
is also provided.

Those interested in copies of Who are the Armenians can contact
the National Association of Armenian Research and Studies (NAASR)
in Belmont, Mass. at (617) 489-1610.

Dr. Pattie’s visit is part of the ASA’s spring 2011 Visiting Speaker
Series. The series includes speakers such as chemistry instructors
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), musician
Mari Bertlizian and her introduction to students of the classical
Armenian string instrument “kanon,” meteorologist Chris Lambert from
station WHDH as part of the science curriculum’s weather unit, and
presentations on colonial America by Diane Douglas of the Billerica
Historical Society as part of the social studies curriculum.

The Armenian Sisters’ Academy is located at 20 Pelham Rd. in Lexington.

From: Baghdasarian