Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN MP ADDRESSES LETTER TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

tert.am
13.09.12

Head of Azerbaijani delegation to EURONEST Elkhan Suleymanov addressed
letters to European Council members urging them to vote against a
resolution on Azerbaijan.

On Thursday, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations,
Parliament of Armenia, Head of the Armenian delegation to EURONEST
Artak Zakaryan sent a letter to all the 752 members of the European
Parliament.

In his letter, the Armenian MP explains a number of facts.

The pardoning and public glorification of Ramil Safarov, a brutal
murderer who admitted to xenophobic motives and was convicted by a
court of an EU member-state (Hungary), proved to be a problem for all
the European values.

The government-promoted xenophobia and hatred for Armenians in
Azerbaijan is increasing tension over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan’s claims that, by approving the resolution, the European
Parliament would become responsible for increasing tension is nothing
but perverting the facts and showing cowardice.

Azerbaijan’s claims about Armenia’s “bellicose statements” are also a
distortion of facts, as Armenia has never made a single statement nor
is it interested in war. On the other hand, the list of Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev’s threats is rather long and his numerous
statements are available on the Internet.

The draft resolution under discussion is in full harmony with the
international condemnation of the human rights case in question. The
draft resolution proves that the European Parliament defends European
values and this is what Armenia and other countries involved the
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) are seeking in Europe. To claim
that Azerbaijan is “committed to democracy, human right and the rule
of law” will not convince anyone, after the Eurovision and the Safarov
case revealed the real situation to the public, the Armenian MP writes
in his letter.

Artak Zakaryan expressed hope that the European Parliament members
would not be deceived by Azerbaijan’s present strong efforts to oppose
the approval of the resolution. Azerbaijan is not going to develop in
a positive way, on the contrary.

If Europe does not defend European values in this case, it would prove
to be a signal to Azerbaijan and suchlike states, the Armenian MP’s
letter says.

From: Baghdasarian

IRAQ STOPS REGISTERING TURKISH FIRMS OVER REFUSAL TO SEND BACK FUGITIVE VP

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 13, 2012 – 20:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iraq’s Trade Ministry has stopped registering Turkish
companies, it said on Thursday, September 13 as the neighbors sparred
over Ankara’s refusal to send back a fugitive Iraqi vice president
who was sentenced to death in absentia, Reuters said.

The ministry insisted the move was made for “regulatory and statistics”
purposes, but Turkish businesses in Baghdad were worried the decision
was taken because of the dispute between the two capitals and a
government source told Reuters it was political.

Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi can remain in Turkey as long as he
needs to, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. An Iraqi court
sentenced Hashemi to death by hanging on Sunday after being convicted
of running death squads, a charge he says was politically motivated.

Iraq is Turkey’s second biggest export market after Germany, with
trade volume reaching nearly $12 billion in 2011, Turkey’s economy
minister said during a visit to northern Iraq early this year.

But Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Turkey’s Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan have publicly traded insults several times this year
as relations have soured.

Kadhim Mohammed, an advisor in the ministry of trade, said the
decision to stop registering companies – which will prevent any new
Turkish firms opening in Iraq, but should not affect existing ones –
had “nothing to do with politics”.

“There are some administrative and regularity problems,” Mohammed
told Reuters. “It is a mere business thing

He said the measure was ordered by the trade minister on Wednesday
and did not know how long it would last.

A government official who works on trade issues, however, told Reuters
the move was motivated by politics.

“The decision was taken for political reasons since Hashemi is there
and also due to the last visit of the Turkish foreign minister to
Kirkuk,” he said.

Last month, Iraq said Turkey had violated its constitution by sending
its foreign minister without permission to visit Kirkuk, a city at
the heart of a dispute between Baghdad and the country’s autonomous
Kurdistan region.

The Turkish embassy in Baghdad told Reuters it had been informed that a
temporary freeze would be applied to all foreign licensing eventually,
but that those from Turkey were being covered first because Turkey
is Iraq’s biggest trading partner.

According to the trade ministry, 1,529 foreign companies are registered
in Iraq, up from 109 before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERI BARBARITY ONCE AGAIN FUELED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT. EUROPEAN VOICE

18:52, 13 September, 2012

If you were president of a country aspiring to build closer ties
with the EU, would you lobby the court of an EU country to lighten
the sentence on one of your citizens for a savage murder? And, having
secured his repatriation after eight years, would you break a promise
to an increasingly important customer by pardoning the murderer? As
Armenpress reports this is how Andrew Gardner , the editor of European
Voice, has started his article on the extradition of Safarov which
brought to the tension of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement issue.

Gardener writes ,, For Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev, the answer
ti the above mentioned questions is ‘Yes’. On 31 August, Hungary
returned Ramil Safarov, an army lieutenant, to Azerbaijan, on the
understanding that he would serve at least 25 years for murdering
an Armenian soldier with an axe at a NATO-sponsored Partnership for
Peace event in Budapest in 2004. Instead, he was not just pardoned,
but given eight years’ back-pay, promotion and a free flat – all
this despite imminent visits by a European commissioner and NATO’s
secretary-general.” Gardener highlights that Safarov affair has brought
more attention to the supposedly ‘frozen’ conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan – over Nagorno-Karabakh – than it has received in years. The
three members of the Minsk Group created by the Organization and
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), charged since 1994 with
resolving the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, expressed “deep concern”
and condemned “any attempts to glorify the crime”. The US publicly
stated that it was asking Hungary for an “explanation”.

Russia went further, saying: “These actions of the Azeri as well as
Hungarian authorities contradict internationally brokered efforts.

Editor also notes that Hungary denies any suggestion that it traded
Safarov for financial support. But, if truly enraged by Aliev’s
conduct, Hungary could choose to raise the issue’s profile within the
EU. So far, there is no hint that it is doing so. Both countries are
increasing defence spending, Azerbaijan in particular. It doubled its
purchases last year, the fastest increase in the world. Azerbaijan
has the fancy weaponry, but may not know how to use it, says Freizer.

Armenia may calculate that if war is inevitable, better to fight sooner
rather than later. the EU has left Nagorno-Karabakh off the agenda
of its Eastern Partnership, and that it now needs to be brought in.

From: Baghdasarian

TENOR FROM ARMENIA – THE WINNER OF “WORLD FOLK-2012”

arminfo
Thursday, September 13, 18:12

A tenor from Armenia, Karen Zohrabyan, has become the winner of “World
Folk-2012” championship held in Bulgaria from 23 August to 2 September.

As Karen Zohrabyan said at today’s press-conference in Yerevan, the
works of Armenian composers caused great interest of many participants
in the championship. So, representatives of Malaysia wished to perform
together with him. Zohrabyan also added he wishes again to participate
in the World Folk. “I would like duduk sound at the scene and Armenian
dances be performed next time”, – he said.

From: Baghdasarian

SMALL HYDRO POWER PLANT CAUSES COLLISION OF INTERESTS OF AN MP RELATIVE AND RURAL PEOPLE

arminfo
Thursday, September 13, 17:50

The construction of a small hydro power plant near Getahovit village
of Tavush region has caused protest of local residents. The main
reason is activation of the landslide processes, erosion of land and
the irrigation water problems.

As Getahovit village resident Artur Avakyan said at today’s
press-conference, that because of functioning of the “Khachakhpyur”
power plant since 2007, the nearby territories have found themselves
in the landslide. Despite obvious ecological risks and the protest of
local residents, the power plant “Khachaghpyur-2” power plant
construction has kicked off. Avakyan said that this sector was
involved in the special nature protection area, which consists of 3
waterfalls.

To protect their interests, local residents are ready to apply to the
government and the president with a demand to draw attention to the
created situation.

As Hetq.am reported earlier, Ararat Kokobelyan, brother of the leader
of the Free Democrats party, Khachatur Kokobelyan, is behind the hydro
power plant “Khachakhbyur-2”.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED ADDITIONAL SUM FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN CHILDREN REST

ARMENPRESS
13 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The Executive Body of Armenia has
allocated 7, 4 million AMD from reserve fund for launching the rest of
Syrian Armenian children. As Armenpress reports, PM Sargsyan thanked
all the agencies for the reception of Syrian Armenian children and
for organizing their rest. The children also had the opportunity to
launch tour over the Homeland, to partake at the concerts.”Thank you
all for the cooperation. There were some who provided financial aid
concerning the issue” the head of the Government noted.

Armenian Government has allocated 19, 6 million AMD for organizing
400 Syrian Armenian children rest on August 2 . Yet 426 children
arrived instead of the scheduled number, besides many of them took
20 -day-rest instead planned 14 day rest. The children were having
their rest in “Lusabats” and “Hasmik” camps . During the last period
representatives of Armenian community of Syria also began to leave
the country. The applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots
are being envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

From: Baghdasarian

US CITIZENS IN ARMENIA CALLED TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVEL OF VIGILANCE

news.am
September 13, 2012 | 13:31

YEREVAN.- In light of the recent attacks on U.S. missions in Egypt
and Libya, the U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens in Armenia of the
continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S.
citizens and interests throughout the world, the embassy said in
a statement.

“U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance
and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Armenia are strongly encouraged
to stay alert and remain aware of their surroundings, monitor news
reports and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.

Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, all
U.S. citizens in Armenia are cautioned to maintain good situational
awareness and should stay current with media coverage of local events.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan has no specific information to indicate
that these events will affect security in Yerevan; however, all U.S.

citizens should remain particularly vigilant in the near term to
their personal safety, and report any suspicious circumstances to
the local authorities.”

From: Baghdasarian

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF SMYRNA

hetq
14:55, September 13, 2012

On September 14, 2012, at 12: 00 p.m., a temporary exhibition dedicated
to the 90th anniversary of Smyrna disaster will be opened in the
Armenian Genocide Museum.

Documents, photos, postcards concerning the life of the Armenians
of Smyrna as well as unique photos, papers from the AGMI collection
which present the fire of Smyrna, one of the major sea ports of Asia
Minor and Kemalist massacres of tens of thousands of Armenians and
Greeks in September, 1922, are included in this exhibition.

After the opening of the exhibition, an academic session dedicated to
this event will take place in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute’s
Komitas hall. The director of the Armenian Genocide Museum and
Institute Hayk Demoyan, Verjine Svazlyan, researchers of AGMI Tehmine
Martoyan and Gevorg Vardanyan will present their papers.

From: Baghdasarian

AMB. GHALATCHIAN: HUNGARY HAS A LOT TO DO TO MAKE UP FOR THE RELEASE OF CONVICTED MURDERER

armradio.am
13.09.2012 13:39

Hungary has a lot to do to make up for the release of convicted
murderer Ramil Safarov, the Armenian Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus,
Gagik Ghalatchian, has said.

“Hungary should apologize to the international community and Armenia
and should undertake such measures that are equivalent to the slap
received from Azerbaijan,” Ghalatchian said, the CyprusMail reports.

“Otherwise, we will continue considering this unfriendly gesture
towards Armenia was a deliberate and motivated action,” he said.

“We believe that with this act Azerbaijan once again, and this time
ultimately, lost any prospect of its being a reliable partner in the
eyes of the international community. We hope, and we are working
towards that direction, that the international community finally
stops the policy of false parity,” Ghalatchian said.

He said that the international community, “the United Nations, OSCE,
EU, Council of Europe, CSTO, NATO, the US., Russia, France and dozens
of other countries and organizations responded to this incident and
expressed their support to the Republic of Armenia.”

But this is just the beginning of a process, he said. Armenia is
also going to raise the issue legally in the “competent institutions”
in relation to Azerbaijan and Hungary’s actions, Ghalatchian said.

From: Baghdasarian

ANAHID ASSOCIATION ON SAFAROV’S EXTRADITION AND PARDON

Panorama.am
13/09/2012

As the Azerbaijani criminal Lt.Ramil Sahib Safarov who had hacked to
death a fellow Armenian officer, Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep on
26th September 2004 in Budapest Hungary while both officers were on an
English teaching course organised by the NATO Partnership for Peace
Programme, was sentenced to life imprisonment, then was extradited
to his homeland Azerbaijan on Friday 31st August 2012 to serve the
remaining of his sentence of 25 years, but upon arrival in Baku he
was set free and was declared a Hero of the Azerbaijani nation by the
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, we The Anahid Association wish to make
the following statement:

We hold the Hungarian government accountable for its unlawful actions
in extraditing a criminal to his homeland where all indications were
that this was a murder committed because of the ethnicity of the victim
and in view of the hatred of the Azerbaijanis for the Armenians the
murderer would be set free. We believe that the Hungarian government
MUST apologize to the Armenian Nation and insist on having the criminal
return to Hungary and serve the rest of his sentence in jail.

We deplore and condemn the actions of the Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev for setting free a convicted criminal and declaring him a
national hero.

We as Armenian Women, most of us Mothers of youngsters whom we
strive to educate and bring up with high moral ethics, decency and
responsibility for their actions and knowledge of Right and Wrong,
CALL on Azeri Women and Mothers to urge their government to send
back the criminal who hacked to death a man, while he was asleep, but
despite his horrific crime, has been declared a national hero, making
the world believe that murder and killing is the norm in Azerbaijan,
that all Azeri youngsters are criminals and that all Azeri Mothers
have failed in their duty and their mission.

We believe that no Mother should suffer what Gurgen Margaryan’s mother
is suffering from the loss of her child.

We believe that no Mother should suffer what Ramil Sahib Safarov’s
mother is suffering, knowing that her son is a killer.

From: Baghdasarian