Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Report: ‘Misha,’ said to have steered elder Boston bombing suspect to
stricter Islam, lives in RI

Breaking News

Providence Journal (Providence, Rhode Island)
April 29, 2013 12:44 am

By Maria Caporizzo

A figure family members say steered the elder Boston bombing suspect
toward a stricter version of Islam has been identified by The New York
Review of Books as a man living in Rhode Island.

The Associated Press reports family members have said Tamerlan
Tsarnaev was religiously apathetic until 2008 or 2009, when he met a
conservative Muslim convert known to the family only as “Misha.”

In a post on its website Sunday night, The New York Review of Books’
Christian Caryl writes, “Today I was able to meet ‘Misha,’ whose real
name is Mikhail Allakhverdov. Having been referred by a family in
Boston that was close to the Tsarnaevs, I found Allakverdov at his
home in Rhode Island, in a lower middle class neighborhood, where he
lives in [a] modest, tidy apartment with his elderly parents.”

Caryl writes that Allakhverdov confirmed that he had known Tamerlan
but denied any role in the marathon bombings.

“I wasn’t his teacher. If I had been his teacher, I would have made
sure he never did anything like this,” Caryl quotes Allakhverdov as
saying.

The AP reports two U.S. officials say investigators have not found a
connection between Misha and the Boston attack or terrorism in
general.

From: Baghdasarian

Encyclopedia of Iranian Armenians presented at 26th Tehran
International Book Fair

15:37 04.05.2013

The 26th Tehran International Book Fair held a session during which
the Encyclopedia of Iranian Armenians was unveiled.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by University professor
Hojatoleslam Bahman Akbari, the book’s writer Janet. D. Lazarian as
well as a group of Armenians and researchers, the news headquarters of
the 26th Tehran International Book Fair reported.

Talking about the book’s author, Hojatoleslam Bahman Akbari said:
`Janet. D. Lazarian is an Iranian Armenian scholar who cooperated in
compiling different works. The Encyclopedia of Iranian Armenians was
unveiled in Armenia before and Iran is now holding the ceremony as a
positive step towards cementing the ties of Iranians, Iranian
Armenians and Armenians themselves.’

Janet. D. Lazarian also said that several years have passed since the
book’s publication but the work was converted into Persian this year.
Unfortunately no other books have been published on Iranian Armenians
and their services to Iran since 1600 so far.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, no information exists about
Iranian Armenians, she said and added: `Unfortunately only noted
scholars and dignitaries are known in Armenia and the Armenians have
no further information on other Iranian Armenians scholars and
hopefully the translation will be a beginning for linking both the
nations.’

Lazarian also thanked Hojatoleslam Bahman Akbari for the efforts he
made for the book’s publication. She finally said that Iran’s cultural
attaché office in Armenia hadn’t prepared enough books for Iranians
and the book was released in 400 copies in Armenia. Hopefully the book
will soon be reprinted for all.

From: Baghdasarian

Prime Minister of NKR predicts investment increase in Artsakh in the
coming years

12:31, 4 May, 2013

STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Increase in investments at the range
of 35-37 % of GDP is expected in Artsakh in the coming years. Ara
Harutyunyan – the Prime Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
announced this in a meeting with students mentioning that particular
increase in investments and improvement of economic performance are
expected in mining, but for the country economy not to depend on a
single branch of industry, it is planned to implement measures in
other branches as well.

To Harutyunyan’s mind agriculture is the sphere which – parallel to
mining – will play a primary role in the development of the economy of
Artsakh. ”The developments of economy will affect the change of
another indicator – the increase in export in the external trade
circulation. Part of the products which are imported are meant to
substitute for local products,” the Prime Minister of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic said.

Ara Harutyunyan – touching upon the performance of previous five years
– mentioned that they managed to ensure at average 10 % of economic
growth per year and it is predicted to maintain that performance for
the coming 5 years and to ensure economic growth of 9-11 % per year at
an average rate.

From: Baghdasarian

Give up on Japan’s Olympics bid for Istanbul: Erdogan jokingly asks counterpart

13:49 ¢ 04.05.13

While Turkey and Japan took their economic partnership up a gear with
a nuclear deal worth $22 billion dollars, the heated race between
Istanbul and Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympics was also on the front
burner May 3, when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an hosted
his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Ankara, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.

During the press conference, Erdogan joked with the Japanese prime
minister saying that he had personally asked him to drop out of the
contest emphasizing the fact that Istanbul had never organized the
Summer Games whereas Tokyo had.

`Tokyo is our rival for the Olympics. But I told the prime minister
`You already organized the Olympics once. Drop from the race, let us
do this one, that would be convenient.’ I believe that they will be
understanding and give the due instructions to Tokyo’s mayor,’ ErdoÄ?an
said amid generalized laughter. ErdoÄ?an added that Turkey was ready to
work with Japan for the Olympic Games. `Expo 2020 is also very
important to us and we asked for their support,’ he said.

Abe responded to ErdoÄ?an that Japan would be the first country to
congratulate Turkey if Istanbul was to host the 2020 Summer Games. `We
also want our people to experience the excitement of the Olympics. If
Turkey wins, I want to be the first to congratulate it. If Tokyo is
selected, we wish that [ErdoÄ?an] will be the first to congratulate
us,’ he said.

Abe also emphasized that both countries were complementary, using a
metaphor from the flags. `Japan is the sun, Turkey is the crescent and
the star. If you think about a day: If either the moon, the star or
the sun is lacking, we could not complete a day. I believe that both
countries need each other in the same way and that their partnership
will help realize big accomplishments.’

Spain’s capital Madrid is also competing for the event along with
Tokyo and Istanbul. The International Olympic Committee will
officially decide the host of the 2020 Games in Buenos Aires in
September.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Ministry spokesman: Torture practices are peculiar to Azerbaijani military

Saturday,May 04

“Sabiroghlu’s statement does not correspond to reality. No such thing
happened or could have happened. Such behavior is peculiar to
Azerbaijani military, and not to Armenian servicemen,’ spokesman for
Armenia’s Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisian told Aysor.am.

We would remind you that about a month ago Azerbaijan’s mass media
reported that an Azerbaijani citizen was blown up by a mine in the
neutral territory. The spokesman for Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said
at a press conference yesterday that the citizen was only injured, but
Armenian servicemen tortured and killed him.
TODAY, 13:01

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

CAPITALLY RENOVATED BUILDING OF SECONDARY SCHOOL IS OPENED IN STEPANAKERT

03/05/2013 12:49:00
Oratert News

On 2 May Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan partook in a solemn
ceremony of opening a capitally renovated building of the Stepanakert
secondary school N3 with the Russian language bias. Central Information
Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic President informs
about this.

President Sahakyan considered important having such an educational
hearth corresponding to international standards, considering it
among the most significant preconditions for cultures’ dialogue and
interpenetration.

The Head of the State thanked Russian philanthropists of Armenian
origin Sergey and Nikolai Sarkisovs and Ruben Vardanyan for support
shown to the educational sphere of Artsakh and implementing such
initiatives.

On the same day the President together with the philanthropists visited
Stepanakert center of child and teen-age creativity, got acquainted
with working conditions and watched the festive presentation made by
the pupils.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, National Assembly speaker Ashot
Ghoulyan, premier Ara Haroutyunyan, Armenian foreign minister Edward
Nalbandyan, other officials, guests from the Republic of Armenia and
abroad partook at the events.

From: Baghdasarian

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION SERVICE TO STUDY SWINDLE AND BRIBERY CASE AGAINST TARON MARGARYAN

ARMINFO
Thursday, May 2, 12:44

Armenian National Congress Party has filed a fraud and bribery case
against Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan to the Prosecutor General’s
Office of Armenia.

Considering high public response to the case, the Prosecutor General’s
Office submitted it to the Special Investigation Service on May 2.

To recall, the Armenian National Congress and Barev Yerevan bloc filed
a lawsuit against Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan a few days ago. They
accuse the mayor of fraud and bribery basing on income declarations
presented by Margaryan in 2005, 2007 and 2013. The opposition’s charge
followed Margaryan’s property declaration saying that he has a capital
of $6mln though his monthly salary is just 130,000 AMD. Taking into
consideration the fact that Margaryan had no extra revenues, the
opposition arrived at a conclusion that the given funds were got by
means of swindle.

From: Baghdasarian

FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT: ARMENIA NOT CONSIDERED AN “ELECTORAL DEMOCRACY”

14:09, May 2, 2013

According to the recently published Freedom House report “Freedom
in the World 2013: Democratic Breakthroughs in the Balance”, Armenia
remained classified as a “Partly Free” country.

In addition, Armenia is not regarded as an “electoral democracy”
by the organization.

The new report covers the period January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

Freedom House gives Armenia a mark of 5 in terms of political rights
and a 4 in terms of civil rights. (1 represents the most free and 7
the least free rating).

This represents an improvement in Armenia’s “political rights ranking
over last year.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s overall Freedom Status rose from “Not Free” to
“Partly Free”.

Classified as a “Disputed Territory” by Freedom House, Nagorno-Karabakh
scored a 5 in terms of political rights and civil rights.

Nagorno-Karabakh is not regarded as an “electoral democracy” as well.

From: Baghdasarian

LETTRE DE SOUTIEN DE SA SAINTETE KARAKINE II A SA SAINETE IGNACE ZAKKA I, PATRIARCHE DE L’EGLISE ORTHODOXE SYRIAQUE

Le 26 Avril, sa Saintete Karekine II, Patriarche supreme et Catholicos
de tous les Armeniens, a ecrit a sa Saintete Ignace Zakka 1er,
Patriarche de l’Eglise Syriaque Orthodoxe, pour exprimer son inquietude
a l’occasion de l’enlèvement des deux metropolites orthodoxes leurs
eminences Yohanna (Jean) Ibrahim et Boulos (Paul) Yaziji alors qu’ils
accomplissaient une mission humanitaire dans la region d’Alep.

Le Catholicos declare dans sa lettre ” nous condamnons avec la
plus grande severite l’enlèvement des deux prelats. L’exacerbation
des tensions inter religieuses et la diffusion de l’intolerance
religieuse ne contribuent pas a une stabilisation de la situation dans
la region … Nous sommes convaincus que les deux ecclesiastiques
seront prochainement liberes sans aucun dommage et connaîtront a
nouveau la securite “.

Dans sa lettre le Catholicos exprime son soutien au patriarche
Ignace Zakka 1er ainsi que l’espoir que les antagonismes et les
combats cesseront prochainement en Syrie, pays où le dialogue des
civilisations et des religions est ancien.

Avec ses multiples juridictions, l’Eglise orthodoxe Syriaque est l’une
des Eglises de la famille des Eglises Orthodoxes Orientales. Dans cette
branche de l’Orthodoxie, dite ” non chalcedonienne “, on retrouve
les Eglises Armenienne, Copte, d’Erythree et Syriaque soit près de
cinquante millions de fidèles presents dans leurs pays et regions
d’origine, principalement au Proche et Moyen Orient, ainsi que dans
d’importantes diasporas a travers le monde.

Centre d’information du diocèse de France de l’Eglise armenienne.

jeudi 2 mai 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

LA CILICIE MEDIEVALE, ETAT PUISSANT DE L’ORIENT CHRETIEN

Claude Mutafian est considere comme celui qui a le plus ~uvre pour
la diffusion de l’histoire armenienne en France.

Ouvrage : L’histoire de l’Armenie ne se resume pas a ” des larmes
et des massacres “. Ni ne se reduit a sa terre historique enclavee
entre d’immenses empires. Elle est marquee par les pages ” glorieuses
et riches ” de la Cilicie, un royaume situe ” au centre du monde
eurasiatique ” entoure par les Francs, les Grecs, les Syriaques,
les Arabes, les Turcs. Et au milieu du XIIIe siècle, du fait de
son alliance avec les Mongols, c’etait l’Etat ” le plus puissant de
l’Orient chretien “.

De passage au Liban pour donner deux conferences a l’Institut francais
du Proche-Orient (IFPO) et le Centre international des sciences de
l’homme, a Jbeil, l’historien Claude Mutafian a presente a L’Orient-Le
Jour son dernier opus, L’Armenie du Levant, XIe-XIVe siècle, paru aux
editions Les belles lettres. Richement illustre de documents anciens,
de gravures, de manuscrits, de monnaies, de sceaux, de tableaux
genealogiques et de cartes geographiques, l’ouvrage en deux volumes,
dedie a l’Armenie medievale, reconstitue la ” periode faste ” de la
Cilicie, dont l’habile ” jeu d’alliances politiques et matrimoniales
” lui a permis de devenir ” une pièce essentielle sur l’echiquier
levantin “.

Beneficiant d’un reservoir important de recits de voyageurs, d’ouvrages
ecclesiastiques et des traductions de sources arabes, syriaques,
persanes ou extreme-orientales, de chroniques et des documents francs,
ainsi que de recueils d’inscriptions et de colophons jusqu’ici
inedits, Mutafian reecrit cette Armenie medievale qui, selon lui,
a ete etudiee ” par bribes, rarement dans son ensemble “. Or, dit-il,
” j’ai vite realise que malgre l’absence de continuite territoriale,
les trajectoires de la Grande Armenie et du royaume de Cilicie sont
restees fortement liees, au-dela des affinites culturelles comme
la langue et la religion. Le catholicos etait reconnu comme chef
spirituel dans l’ensemble du monde armenien. Quant au roi, meme
si son autorite etait limitee a la Cilicie, il etait reconnu comme
souverain aussi bien dans les colonies lointaines que dans la Grande
Armenie où des princes armeniens ont fonde des principautes autonomes
sous la suzerainete du royaume de Georgie. Les colophons donnent une
preuve eloquente de la solidarite politique permanente. D’autre part,
les manuscrits circulaient de l’une a l’autre, les intellectuels
faisaient la navette et les idees se propageaient avec une etonnante
rapidite. ” Pourquoi alors avoir conserve le titre de l’ouvrage malgre
cette extension geographique ?

Sa reponse est simple : ” C’est au Levant qu’etaient concentres les
pouvoirs armeniens independants, l’Etat et le catholicosat. ”

Une migration inedite

” La periode allant du XIe au XIVe siècle etait la plus riche de
l’histoire de l’Armenie “, affirme Claude Mutafian. Il y avait
deux Armenie : l’Armenie historique et la Cilicie où les familles
nobiliaires fuyant le joug turc en 1064 sont allees se refugier et se
joindre a une importante population armenienne deplacee en 1045 par
l’Empire byzantin, pour proteger sa frontière avec le califat arabe.

Lire la suite, voir lien plus bas

jeudi 2 mai 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian