Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

“SOUTH CAUCASIAN RAILWAY” BEGINS TRANSPORTING COAL TO YEREVAN TPP

hetq
17:09, October 8, 2012

CJSC “South Caucasian Railway” started transporting coal from Vardenis
station to Yerevan TPP. On October 6 from Vardenis station the first
26 wagons of coal were sent weighing 1.6 tons. Until the end of 2012
according to an agreement signed in February with “HASA”, 700 tons
of coal will be transported, and the annual volume of coal shipments
are planned to be 1.5 million tons.

The delivery of coal from Vardenis station to Yerevan TPP will take
8 hours with all the technical stops. Currently train weight is about
2.2 tons, which will be further increased to 2.5 tons.

For this project CJSC “SCR” spent 120 million drams, which were sent to
repair Vardenis station, to build driveways, construction of platforms
for loading and unloading of coal. The passenger station building of
Vardenis was also repaired, favorable conditions were created for
the operation of the service officers. Currently the construction
of wagon scales is in the process to more accurately determine the
weight of loaded material.

The project includes the creation of new jobs: the number of the main
conductors, checking officers, cash tellers and car officers is going
to grow.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKU: AZERBAIJAN CRITICIZES NEIGHBORING IRAN FOR “GIVING LIFE” TO ARMENIA

arminfo
Monday, October 8, 18:36

Azerbaijan criticized neighboring Iran for “giving life” to Armenia
by supplying natural gas and oil to its rival while defending its own
growing relationship with Israel for security and technological needs,
in an already-tense Caucasus, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“Iran has more than 30 agreements with Armenia, where it has an
embassy as well. It supplies [Armenia] with energy, with natural
gas and oil. It builds new roads for transportation. If Armenia is
so tough in negotiations [over Nagorno-Karabakh] it’s because the
support it receives from Iran as well as from Russia. Iran gives
life to Armenia,” Araz Azimov, deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan,
told the Hurriyet Daily News in an interview in Baku on Oct. 5.

Ties between Iran and its northern neighbor Azerbaijan have been
strained recently after Tehran accused Baku of overlooking the
activities of Israel within its territory, from where Israeli
intelligence conducted the assassination of some of its nuclear
experts last year. It also described Israeli-Azeri rapprochement
as against Iran. “Our relationship with Israel is a bilateral one,
Iran should not feel disturbed by it,” Azimov said, adding that his
country has not allowed and will not allow any third party to use
its soil to attack Iran.

Defying criticisms coming from Iran over its growing relationship with
Israel, Azimov said, “Why wouldn’t we establish ties with Israel? We
have similar security interests with Israel. Did not Turkey have such
cooperation with Israel in the past?” Azerbaijan signed a $1.6 billion
deal with Israel in a bid to provide hi-tech defense equipment. Iran
sought an explanation from Azerbaijan after the deal.

Re-emphasizing growing Iranian ties with Armenia, Azimov said “Iran
should think about this as well. It should not cooperate with Armenia
until the occupation ends, like Turkey.” Though showing the importance
his country puts on its ties with Israel, the Azerbaijani diplomat
refused to call it a “strategic relationship.” “Strategic cooperation
shows a very unique relationship. Parties enjoying strategic ties
take every step through consultations. Like Turkey and Azerbaijan. We
are improving our relations with Israel, making deals on defense and
technology, but this does not mean that we are strategic partners,”
he said.

Azimov said Azerbaijan was a Muslim country and its policy was based
on the establishment of a sovereign state of Palestine. “We are at
the same time against Israel’s settlement policies,” he said, adding
that his country’s policy was based on principles Azeri public opinion
supported. On Azerbaijan’s most important issue, the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem, the Azeri diplomat painted a rather pessimistic picture given
the fact that the cease-fire between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops
has almost broken 20 years after the occupation of Azeri lands.

“If this cease-fire is broken, the lives of so many people will be at
risk, especially Azerbaijani civilians living in the region, as well
as troops. Azerbaijan will be more affected by this as no civilians
live in the Armenian part of the occupied Azeri lands,” he said.

Armenia is trying to oblige Azerbaijani to give a stronger response
and totally suspend negotiations in a move to gain more time to freeze
the Nagorno- Karabakh problem, according to the diplomat.

Azerbaijan is making fresh proposals to break the stalemate in talks,
he said. The first is to let all Minsk Group countries participate
in the negotiation process, as the talks under the auspices of three
co-chair countries; France, the United States and Russia; are not
going anywhere. Secondly, Azerbaijan is demanding the establishment
of a concrete road map outlining the steps that will be taken in a
timeline, the source says.

From: Baghdasarian

HUNGARY OMBUDSMAN RENEWS REQUEST TO JUSTICE MINISTRY FOR DOCUMENTS ON REPATRIATION OF RAMIR SAFAROV

ARMENPRESS
8 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS: The office of Fundamental Rights
Ombudsman Mate Szabo announced that the Justice Ministry had not
responded within 15 days to a request for information regarding
Safarov’s repatriation on Tuesday. As Armenpress reports citing
Budapesttimes Justice Minister Tibor Navracsics responded to Szabo’s
letter of 19 September,asking the ombudsman to submit an official
request for access to classified documents.

Szabo had noted in his letter that Hungarian law prevents the
repatriation of a convicted criminal in the absence of assurances
that he will serve out the remainder of his sentence. The documents
released by the government as the scandal broke in the days following
Safarov’s release contained no assurances from the Azeri side that
the murderer would not be pardoned, referring only to a clause in
the relevant treaty that prevents the alteration of the sentence.

Azerbaijani Ramil Safarov axe murdering Armenian serviceman Gurgen
Margaryan in Budapest on February 19, 2004 while participating in NATO
English training courses was extradited to Azerbaijan on August 31,
2012 by Hungarian authorities despite the fact Hungarian court had
sentenced Ramil Safarov to a life imprisonment with no right to be
pardoned in 30 years time . Yet the assassin was not mainly released
in Homeland but, was presented with a flat, passport and granted to
a mayor title. Armenia suspended relations with Hungary.

From: Baghdasarian

EX-ENVOY SLAMS AZNAVOUR’S REMARK ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 8, 2012 – 17:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Former envoy to Lebanon Arman Navasardyan commented
on a hotly debated interview with a famous chansonnier, Armenian
Ambassador to Switzerland Charles Aznavour, who disagreed with
Armenia’s Turkey-related foreign policy.

According to Navasardyan, the Armenian authorities were mistaken in
appointing Aznavour as an ambassador. “The leadership did a disservice
to Aznavour, giving him an appointment he was badly fitted for,”
he said.

Navasardyan further slammed the Deputy Foreign Minister who earlier
said that Charles Aznavour is allowed to voice his personal views.

“Aznavour, as an ambassador, is supposed to back up his country’s
policy line, rather than speak out his mind,” Navasardyan said.

At the same time, he expressed his agreement with Aznavour’s remark,
urging to normalize ties with Turkey. “As a pacifist, I always support
improvement of relations with our neighbors,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

THERE ARE NO “INHERENT CHARACTERISTICS”

October 6, 2012 12:42

The judgments of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the opposition
that won the election in Georgia, that Georgians are connected with
their land and Armenians are not, because they prefer to live in
Georgia and not in Armenia just don’t hold water (the subsequent
denials basically don’t change the essence of that claim). Firstly,
for the majority of Armenians living in the neighboring republic,
Georgia is their fatherland – a few generations of those people have
lived in Georgia, by the way, playing an important role in Georgia’s
economic and cultural life. Secondly, the numbers of emigrants from
Georgia and Armenia in the past 20 years are comparable and judging
from those huge numbers, one can draw a conclusion that both of our
peoples equally grasp at their homeland. A person having a certain
educational and mental qualification would understand that and would
think a bit before “comparing nations.” Let us assert that neither
Ivanishvili, nor Saakashvili is Spinoza, but regardless of who will be
the head of Georgia in the upcoming years, that country has achieved
considerable progress in certain areas with the active support of
the West, especially the US, and individuals are not so important here.

However, this banal mentality, according to which there are some
characteristics, which are inherent in the given nation, is spread not
only in Armenia and Georgia, but also in many other countries, which
haven’t reached a certain level of civilization. For example, when we
say about ourselves that Armenians are not diligent, are fraudulent,
it is ridiculous. In a certain social environment, under certain
social circumstances, our compatriots show quite opposite traits.

Certainly, it is also wrong to attribute a certain positive
characteristic to the whole nation, for example, “cultural nation” or
“hard-working nation.” Once we look at the “partying” garbage piled
around our historical monuments, we will give up on this self-praise.

However, I am convinced that in Germany or in Sweden, the majority of
Armenians don’t show such an attitude. The same applies to the other
nations – what is usually said in everyday life say about Turks is
nothing more than an empty stereotype restraining one’s thinking.

Nations, as well as individuals, act differently depending on what
cultural environment they are in.

Mikhail Glinka, the founder of the Russian classical music, spent the
most of his adult life in Europe. The vices of the Russian Empire,
which we are aware of, were unbearable for the artist. When the
composer left Russia for the last time in 1856, he angrily spat toward
the fatherland on the border (he died in Berlin a year after). I will
not venture to say that Glinka was not connected with Russian soil.

ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

From: Baghdasarian

GERMAN EMBASSY IN BAKU RESPONDED TO AZERBAIJANI COMPLAINING NOTE

ARMENPRESS
8 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. German Embassy in Baku responded to
complaining note sent to Berlin by Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign
Affairs regarding declaration by extraordinary and plenipotentiary
ambassador of Germany in Armenia Rainer Moler. “Armenpress” reports,
that this was announced in Azerbaijani 1news.az.

“We’ll express viewpoint of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany on
this subject after Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs us informs us
about the official viewpoint”. This was mentioned by German diplomatic
representation in Baku, who said that they are still waiting official
Berlin to reply.

Press Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elman
Abdullayev said: “If the information in Armenian mess media is
approved, then such declarations from German side are unacceptable
for Azerbaijan and they will be qualified as a step backwards in a
position taken by Germany for regulation of Karabakh impact.”

Azerbaijan was displeased with Moler’s declaration made in Yerevan,
when he said that during regulations of Nagorno Karabakh impact
principle of self-determination of nations must be followed. As
well as he underlined, that the release of Azerbaijani axe-killer
Ramil Safarov, who murdered Armenian officer Gourgen Margaryan had
a negative influence on international reputation of Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

NEW GEORGIA: IVANISHVILI’S COMING TO POWER TO INFLUENCE MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING ARMENIAN DIASPORA
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
08.10.12 | 12:55

Photo: From Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Facebook page

Georgian-Armenian relations have passed a difficult test following
the October 1 parliamentary elections in Georgia that ended in the
victory of the opposition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.

In an interview with the Russian Novoye Vremya (New Time) online
newspaper soon after the elections Ivanishvili said he was surprised
“why Armenians live in Georgia, if their home is next door.” As the
politician later explained, his words were taken out of context:
in fact, he said that he admired the Armenians and Jews, who can
create Diasporas anywhere in the world, while Georgians (like himself)
yearn for their homeland. “I would like to note that all citizens of
Georgia are equal in their rights despite their ethnic origin. This
is guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, and at the same time
this is my credo,” Ivanishvili said on his Facebook account.

Before this clarification came, there was already a flurry of comments
in Armenia expressing dissatisfaction and resentment with the words
of Ivanishvili. However, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that,
regardless of who will lead Georgia, Armenia will do everything for
bilateral Armenian-Georgian relations to be at an excellent level.

And Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said: “Armenia and Georgia
share centuries-old ties of friendship. Georgia is home to thousands
of Georgian Armenians who are an important factor strengthening our
friendship. We have managed to build a mutually beneficial inter-state
relationship with Georgia based on mutual respect and we hope that
we will continue our joint efforts to further strengthen our friendly
cooperation.”

Further developments of the Armenian-Georgian relations, however,
will largely depend on several factors. And Georgia’s choice of the
geopolitical path to follow is a key component in it.

Immediately after the election Ivanishvili said that he sees joining
NATO as one of the major tasks for his nation, at the same time noting
that he would try to restore trade relations with Russia.

This circumstance cannot but be viewed as positive by Georgian
Armenians. At the same time, there is another important factor, which
is the problem of Javakhk, an Armenian populated region of Georgia on
the border with Armenia. Javakhk’s Armenians demand respect towards
their ethnic rights. Head of the Multiethnic Georgia organization
Arnold Stepanyan said that about 80 percent of the population of
Javakhk voted for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National
Movement party, and only 12-13 percent for Ivanishvili’s Georgian
Dream bloc. Apparently, Armenians attributed to Saakashvili certain
progress in Javakhk – road construction and respect for the rights
of ethnic Armenians.

“In Georgia, 6.5 percent of the population is ethnic Azeris,
6 percent is ethnic Armenians, and there is a real threat from
people like Ivanishvili in Georgia or Berlusconi in Italy. For
such people money is God. There is a risk when everything depends
on one eccentric person. It also shows that, in contrast to Armenia,
Georgia is unpredictable,” said Director of the Regional Studies Center
Richard Giragosian. “In no country is it appropriate that a tycoon be
in power. Business in politics leads to more losses than achievements.

This also applies to Armenian political figures, who have turned the
country’s parliament into a business club.” The expert said, however,
that changes will be taking place in Georgia.

The Javakhk factor is being heavily used by foreign forces, in
particular by Russia against Georgia. Many associate the “misprint”
in the Novoye Vremya paper as a desire of certain forces to spoil
Georgian-Armenian relations.

Javakhk is considered a potential threat to the integrity of Georgia,
though neither Armenia nor major Armenian organizations have expressed
any separatist sentiments, they only have demanded protection of
their rights.

These rights can be protected only in a stable Georgia going along
the path of democratic reform and economic liberalization. Javakhk
Armenians acknowledge that now in Georgia it is easier to start a
business, that state officials do not take bribes or discriminate.

Perhaps that’s why they had decided to vote for Saakashvili.

It is remarkable that of the prominent political figures of Armenia
only former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan has so far congratulated
Ivanishvili on his victory.

From: Baghdasarian

CSTO DRILLS START IN KAZAKHSTAN

armradio.am
12:35 08.10.2012

The joint military drills of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) ‘Unbreakable Brotherhood-2012’ start in Kazakhstan
on Monday. The drills are to last till October 17, the Voice of
Russia informs.

The exercises will be conducted in two rounds, including organizational
measures to form a unified command and elaborating practical issues
on settling peacekeeping tasks.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan.

From: Baghdasarian

ELEVEN RENOWNED SCHOLARS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACADEMIC CONFERENCE TO MARK THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SDHP

The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party is the longest serving Armenian
political party. Founded in Geneva in 1887, the SDHP has played an
important role at every stage of our nation’s history.

An academic conference scheduled for October 27th at the Fletcher
Jones Foundation Auditorium of Woodbury University in Burbank will
mark the 125th Anniversary of the SDHP. The conference is organized
by the Armenian Educational Benevolent Union (A.E.B.U.) and Nor
Serount Cultural Association (N.S.C.A.); and co-sponsored by the
Richard Hovannisian Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA,
the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn;
Woodbury University and the National Association for Armenian Studies
and Research (NAASR). A host of renowned historians, academics and
scholars will conduct a day-long review of the political, intellectual
and social history of the Armenian people, as analyzed through the
history of the Hunchakian Party and many of its prominent members
who shaped it.

The following is the list of the scholars who will participate in
the Conference, and the titles of the papers they will be presenting:

Rev. Dr. Abel Manoukian “The Founders: Formative Period as University
Students”

Prof. Kevork Bardakjian (University of Michigan , Ann Arbor) “Ideology
and Literature: The Mother Party and Some of Her Literary Children”

Prof. Gerard Libaridian (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, retired)
“At the Origins of the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party: Problems
and Paradoxes”

Prof. Vahram Shemmassian (California State University, Northridge)
“Absolute Monarchy: The Hunchakian Revolutionary Episode in Armenian
Musa Dagh During the 1890s”

Dr. Garabet Moumdjian (Independent Historian) “1895 to 1914: The
Relations of Armenian Political/Revolutionary Organizations with the
Young Turks”

Prof. Hratch Tchilingirian (Oxford University) “From End of Empires
to the Global Age: Issues and Questions in Armenian Political Ideology
and Strategy”

Prof. Richard Hovannisian (University of California, Los Angeles)
“The Hunchakian Party and the First Republic of Armenia”

Mr. Aram Arkun (Independent Historian) “The Role of the Hunchakian
Party in Post WWI Cilicia”

Prof. Ara Dostourian (Prof. of History Emeritus, University of West
Georgia) “The Labor & Political Work of the SDHP of the Eastern
U.S.A. in the Context of the Worldwide Hunchakian Movement (1890-2000)”

Dr. Vartan Matiossian (Armenian National Education Committee) “The
Hunchakian Party in the Armenian Communities of South America: An
Outline of its Early History”

Prof. Ara Sanjian (University of Michigan, Dearborn) “Khrushchev,
Karabagh and the Hunchakians: A Documented Journey in the World of
Oral History In-Progress”

Seating to the Conference is limited. The organizers encourage all
who wish to attend to pre-register at [email protected].

Admission is free, however a $100 donation will offer the donors:
Confirmed registration to the Conference (lunch included), an
invitation to a special gathering “Dinner with the Scholars” due
to be held on the night of the Conference at Phoenicia Restaurant
in Glendale, and preferred seating to the SDHP 125th Anniversary
Celebration scheduled for Nov. 18th at the Glendale High School
Auditorium.

The conference will be broadcasted live on and For
more information visit:

Social Democrat Hunchakian Party

SDHP 1060 N. Allen Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91104

Tel: (626) 398-0506 Facebook Twitter

From: Baghdasarian

“CILICIAN” SCHOOL TO BE OPENED IN YEREVAN FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS

ARMENPRESS
8 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Cilician school operating with Syrian
educational program (Arabic language) will be opened in Yerevan number
14 school after Nar Dos on October 9. It was initiated by “Cilicia”
charitable organization aimed at supporting Syrian Armenian families
currently residing in Armenia in order their educational process
would not be interrupted and reportedly our compatriots would not
encounter difficulties when back to Syria.

For that aim labor- educational committee was established by the
initiative of Ministry of Diaspora and the efforts of the relevant
employees , comprising Syrian Armenian organizations representatives,
educational professionals and pedagogues. Armenian Ministry of
Diaspora has coordinated Syrian curriculum running school establishing
procedure jointly with Ministry of Education and Science, Department
of General Education of Yerevan City Hall, Ministry of Diaspora
informed Armenpress.

Numerous working consultations took place at Ministers’ of Education
and Science and Diaspora on 1-9 grades curriculum relevant books,
their acquisition and copying,choice of school, issues related to
equipping of classes with furniture .

From: Baghdasarian