Author: Frangulian Shushan

YOUNG TURKS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM GERMANY
Hovik Afyan

Azg Daily
May 4 2010
Armenia

Similar statement was made by well-known Kurdish figure, historian
Recep Marashln at a conference on the Armenian Genocide organized on
May 2 in Belgium by the Union of Democrat Armenians.

The historian’s speech lasted 4 hours, in which he mainly noted, "The
Young Turks committed the Armenian Genocide in 1915. At that time,
Germany was in close cooperation with the Young Turks, and Germany
supported the Young Turks in committing the Genocide". According to
the historian, Germany couldn’t be ignorant about the planned genocide.

Marashln is the author of the book "Armenian National Democratic
Movement and the Armenian Genocide of 1915".

"What was committed by the Turkish state against the Armenians is
Genocide. The Turkish state is guilty of it. It is the truth and
is not a subject of discussion" – these sentence is cited from the
mentioned book.

TRADE FINANCING ACADEMY TO OPEN IN ARMENIA IN JUNE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 4, 2010 – 15:38 AMT 10:38 GMT

HSBC Bank Armenia CEO Astrid Clifford and Director of the National
Center for Small and Medium Business Development Ishkhan Karapetyan
said Tuesday that Trade Financing Academy will be established in
Armenia.

The Academy is expected to start its activity in mid-June, with
lectures on trade financing and international trade transactions.

According to Stuart Nivison, Head of HSBC Trade and Supply Chain
Europe, in contrast to many Asian countries, in which the international
trade is active and technologies are developed, in Armenia, as a former
soviet republic, mechanisms in the field are complete yet. "Armenian
businessmen lack relevant knowledge and experience in international
trade transactions. Given 140 years of activity, HSBC Bank can be
useful in providing financial education to Armenian exporters and
importers," he stressed.

Lectures at the Academy will be given by experts of the HSBC Bank
Armenia trade financing department.

LOANS GRANTED BY ARMENIAN BANKS AMOUNTED TO AMD 790.9 BILLION IN MARCH 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 4, 2010 – 17:17 AMT 12:17 GMT

As of March 31, 2010, loans granted by Armenian banks totaled AMD 790.9
billion that is 4.8% or 35.9 billion higher as compared with February.

The RA National Statistical Service reported that the credit
investments by the Armenian banking system amounted to 751.8 billion
in March that is 4.1% higher as compared with February. Meanwhile,
the amount of prolonged loans totaled 34.5 billion by the end of
March 2010 that is 6.6 billion higher as compared with February. At
the same time, overdue loans amounted to 4.6 billion that is 9%
higher as compared with February 2010.

THE EXHIBITION OF PHOTOS OF R. BAGHDISHYAN OPENED IN THE YSU

Aysor
May 3 2010
Armenia

Tomorrow on May 4 in the Cultural Center (6th floor) of Yerevan State
University will kick off Ruben Baghdishyan’s photo exhibition titled
"What is left from our ancestors".

There will be presented the best photos of the authors where are
depicted the sights and the historical and cultural places of Armenia,
informed Ashot Poghosyan who is a member of the initiation group.

Ruben Baghdishyan is born in 1987. He has taken up photographing from
early age; he has managed to partake in series of international photo
competitions like World Press Photo, International Image Circuit. And
in 2009 he has taken the first place in a photo competition in Ukraine
titled "УкÑ~@а ина гÐ"аз&# xD0;°Ð¼Ð¸ иноÑ~AÑ ~BÑ~@анÑ~FÐ&# xB5;в"
"Ukraine by the eyes of the foreigners".

"I AM NEITHER A SPY NOR A BETRAYER"

A1Plus.am
May 03, 2010

Ernest Vardanyan, a journalist of Armenian origin, arrested in the
Republic of Transdniestria, has appealed for help on May 2, for his
wife and two under-age children, saying Transdniestria National
Security Service employees threaten to "settle a physical score"
with them, and he is being tortured.

"In the name of all saints, please, save my wife and my children. They
make me confess that I have spied and betrayed the homeland
(Transdniestria) in favor of Moldova. They beat me periodically and
threat that they would apply to more ‘inventive’ tortures, which leave
no traces. They threaten to settle a physical score with my wife and
my children," the journalist said in a statement circulated through
security guards.

I am not a spy and I have betrayed no one. I simply said the truth
to improve the life of ordinary people. During the examination they
ascribed the charges of betrayal and espionage to me. "You are to
blame yourself. We had warned you not to give further details and
now it is too late to return," they said.

Vardanyan asks "not to believe in falsely staged interrogation videos
and trumped-up charges. They can ascribe charged to everyone here. I
am forced to give evidence against people criticizing the authorities.

Please, help me to find a good advocate and believe my innocence even
if I publically plead guilty in videos and legal proceeding.

For the sake of his family’s security, I am ready to "plead guilty
and be imprisoned as much as the special bodies and authorities need."

Vardanyan, 33, was arrested on April 7 on charges of espionage for
Moldova and may face 12-20 years in prison.

The Armenian journalist freelanced for the Russian Internet news
agency Novy Region (in the unrecognized Republic of Transdniestria).

In 2009, he started to work also for the Chisinau-based newspaper Puls,
which caused irritation among Transdniestria authorities.

UN ANCIEN OFFICIER DES SERVICES DE RENSEIGNEMENTS ADMET DES NEGLIGENCES DE LA POLICE LORS DU MEURTRE DE HRANT DINK
Stephane

armenews
3 mai 2010
TURQUIE

L’ancien Chef du Departement du renseignement Sabri Uzun a fait sa
declaration le 15 avril lors du procès du journaliste Nedim Sener.

Risquant jusqua 32 annees et demi de prison Sener est poursuivi devant
la justice dans trois affaires differentes lancees contre son livre
"le Meurtre de Dink et le mensonge des renseignements".

Dans le livre, il ecrit les negligences et les essais pour dissimuler
les negligences de la gendarmerie, de la police et des services
secrets turc avant le meurtre du Journaliste Hrant Dink en 2007.

Dans l’audition qui s’est tenue devant la 2ème Cour Criminelle de
Première instance, Uzun a declare qu’il n’avait eu aucune information
quant au projet de meurtre contre Hrant Dink puisque il n’avait pas
d’accès aux rapports rassembles par les agents avant qu’ils n’aient
ete archives. Sans mentionner son nom directement, Uzun a revendique
qu’un Directeur local Ali Fuat Yilmazer l’a tenu eloigne des rapports
intentionnellement.

Sabri Uzun a dit que " si l’etat est responsable du meurtre de Hrant
Dink, c’est ma responsabilite et c’est vrai. Il y avait la notification
d’un rapport ecrit notifiant qu’une action cruciale allait avoir lieu
qui a mentionne le projet de meurtre de Dink. Si ce rapport m’avait
ete donne avant qu’il n’ait ete archive, ce ne serait pas arrive".

Sener risque 28 ans de prison pour l’accusation d’avoir "identifier
des fonctionnaires en charge de missions anti-terroristes comme des
cibles". La plainte criminelle contre le journaliste a ete deposee
par Ramazan Akyurek, alors Chef de la Police dans Trabzon, Ali Fuat
Yilmazer, Directeur local du renseignement de la Police, du policier
Muhittin Zenit et du Directeur local du renseignement de Trabzon
Faruk Sari.

Les avocats du plaignant Zenit ont demande a Uzun s’il etait
attribue une protection après chaque nouveau rapport. Uzun a repondu,
"Nous ne demandons pas de protection avec chaque rapport mais nous
parlons ici d’un meurtre. C’est serieux. Les rapports lies aux projets
d’assassinats sont d’un par an ou meme plus rarement. Un tel rapoort
poeut avoir lieu une fois en dix ans. S’il arrive, la police et les
renseignements sont obliges de se rencontrer pour discuter de la
question et prendre une decision".

Nedim Sener a critique la question des avocats, avancant que le
meurtre de Dink etait "un projet mis au point par la police". "Dink
etait engage dans un procès a l’epoque il etait dans l’oeil du public
tout le temps" a dit Sener.

Uzun a continue : "j’ai appele l’inspecteur Mustafa Uckuyu quant au
Bulletin d’informations (F4) dd. Le 17 fevrier 2006 qui a mentionne
Hrant Dink et ait demande s’il y avait une nouvelle information.

Uckuyu a repondu que le rapport avait une note disant ‘ le transfert
de l’assignation au bureau C2 ‘. J’ai fait une declaration ecrite de
cela le 4 novembre 2009 et ai ecrit que le service du renseignement
de la police a execute son devoir. Le plein rapoort m’est arrive
seulement plus tard".

"Les inspecteurs m’avaient dit que le rapport a inclus l’information
qu’une action ahurissante a ete projetee liee a Hrant Dink. J’ai ete
stupefie quand j’ai lu l’ensemble du rapport parce qu’il n’a pas fait
seulement mention d’une action ahurissante, mais des informations sur
le meurtre de Dink et sur les armes et l’argent qui avait ete prevu.

J’ai ecrit une declaration supplementaire le 4 decembre 2009. J’ai
ecrit que ‘ je n’avais pas vu le rapport du 17 fevrier 2006 quand
j’etais Chef du Departement. J’en avais ete empeche par le Directeur
local ‘".

Nedim Sener a declare a posteriori "Sabri Uzun a fait une declaration
qui a confirme ce que j’ai ecrit dans mon livre et est meme alle
plus loin. C’est pourquoi je considère sa declaration comme très
importante. Dans mon livre j’ai ecrit que le Chef du Departement du
renseignement Ramazan Akyurek et le Directeur local Ali Fuat Yilmazer
ont neglige leurs devoirs. Uzun a parle comme un ancien chef du
departement au temps où le meurtre de Dink a ete projete. Il a dit,
" oui, le departement a neglige ses devoirs, parce que ces rapoorts
ne m’ont pas ete transmis". J’espère que cette information apportera
la lumière dans le cas du meurtre de Hrant Dink".

BOOK OF ARMENIAN HISTORY BY ARAKEL OF TABRIZ BACK IN PRINT

42422E0-569A-11DF-BACB0003FF3452C2
Published: Monday May 03, 2010

Arakel of Tabriz cover.

Costa Mesa – Mazda Publishers has announced the release of the
one-volume hardcover edition of Book of History by Arakel of Tabriz
in a newly revised annotated translated by George Bournoutian, with
a new introduction.

The book first appeared in two paperback volumes several years ago
and was soon out of print. It received good reviews and was cited by
numerous scholars.

Arakel’s Book of History is one of the main primary sources for the
history of Armenia, Iran, Georgia and Ottoman Turkey in the seventeenth
century. Arakel’s unique account of the Turco-Persian wars and their
terrible consequences for the Armenian people, which resulted in the
deportation of some 200,000 Armenians to Iran and the establishment
of the Armenian community in New Julfa, is the sole non-Persian source
on the subject.

In addition, Arakel’s describes the Iranian invasions of Georgia, as
well as the Jelali revolts and its effect on Armenia. Moreover Arakel,
a vardapet at Etchmiadzin, explains the decline and the corruption
of the Holy See, during the long period when it had more than one
catholicos at the same time (coadjutors) and its revival after 1629;
the establishment of important monastic schools in eastern Armenia; the
problems faced by the Armenians in Poland; the hardships experienced
by the Jews in Iran; natural disasters, such as earthquakes and fires;
and the amazing messianic movement of Sabbatai Sevi, which took place
in Izmir and spread among the Jews living in Ottoman Turkey.

One of the most important and lengthiest chapters is the chronology
of significant events, which occurred in Armenia, Iran, and Ottoman
Turkey from 651 to 1668, which Arakel compiled from various small
chronicles located in the library at Etchmiadzin.

The new edition of Arakel’s Book of History (number 16 in the Armenian
Studies Series, $65, xiii+637 pp.) will be available in all Armenian
bookstores, as well as Amazon and Barnes and Nobles in mid-May. It
can also be obtained directly from Mazdapub.com

PASHAZADE SAYS HE HAS BEEN MISINFORMED

Lragir.am
03/05/10

Caucasus Muslims Clerical Office issued a statement which runs that one
of the workers of the office gave false information the Office head
to Pashazade in connection with the visit of the Armenian Catholicos
Garegin II to the Martyr’s Alley. The statement runs that the worker
was punished and it was found out that the Armenian Catholicos did
not visit the Alley.

Recall according to an interview of Pashazade, Garegin II, while in
Baku, visited the Martyr’s Alley. The press service of Holy Echmiadzin
refuted the information and turned to the Caucasus Muslims Clerical
Office to refute it either.

news.az, Azerbaijan
May 1 2010

‘We need to bring human element into settlement process’
Sat 01 May 2010 | 08:58 GMT Text size:

Irina Ghaplanyan News.Az Irina Ghaplanyan, University of Cambridge,
Graduate Student, Politics and International Studies.

Do you expect progress in the Karabagh settlement during this year?

Unfortunately, I do not foresee any progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement this year mainly due to the upcoming parliamentary
elections in November in Azerbaijan. Mutual concessions is what it
takes for the settlement to move forward, but none of the political
parties participating in the elections would propose any concessions
as they would lose political dividends in the eyes of their
constituents.

There is an opinion that representatives of culture and youth can do
even more in the Karabagh settlement than politicians. Do you think
that intensification of such visit’s exchanges can create more
positive atmosphere between Azerbaijanis and Armenians?

Undoubtedly. The NK process is politically `overdosed’ and largely
exhausted. We constantly hear military rhetoric from Azeri
politicians, but I doubt that they will send their sons to risk their
lives for the war that they are advocating. Moreover, this rhetoric
deepens the distrust that Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
have towards Azerbaijan’s leaders. We need to bring the human element
into the settlement process, and this is exactly why members of youth
and culture organizations must get involved. Through interaction with
each other the youth of both nations will realize that the enemy that
the political discourse in each respective country paints, is actually
a fellow human being with largely the same social and economic
problems. The injection of human element in this process is crucial,
as it will not only offer more avenues for communication, but also
ensure that military rhetoric would gradually become unpopular and
through this process you create an environment for the empowerment of
civil society.

Catholicos Garegin II participated at an inter-religious summit in
Baku on April 26th, it was his first visit to Azerbaijan. Do you share
hopes that this visit and dialog can bring the two nations together?

Yes, I hope that this dialog will not be a one time but a recurring
event. All religions share some basic humane principles, of which
crucial in the case of NK settlement are the value of human life and
the significance of compromise. So I do believe that religious
leaders, carrying the respective authorities in their countries and
advocating peaceful resolution of the NK conflict, indeed could
positively influence the peace process.

Garegin II and leader of Azeri Muslims A.Pashazadeh supported a dialog
between religious leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both sides say
that the Karabakh conflict has no religious base. Anyway what kind of
role can play religious leaders in the settlement?

Indeed, the NK conflict is largely of ethnic base. Now, we can
exacerbate the conflict by accentuating the religions differences, but
it is really encouraging to witness the exact opposite process,
whereby the religious leaders engage in a discourse of commonality,
which advocates that, indeed, any religion preaches peace. And this is
exactly the role that, hopefully, the religious leaders will adopt and
preach what they are called to preach ` that is, peace.

W.W.
News.Az

Trend, Azerbaijan
May 1 2010

Center for Eurasian Security and Strategic Studies director sends
letter to Turkish journalist
01.05.2010 16:34
Azerbaijan, Baku, May 1 / Trend R. Hafizoglu /

The Center for Eurasian Security and Strategic Studies director Khatam
Jabbarli sent an open letter to Turkish journalist of "Hurriyyet"
newspaper Mehmet Ali Birand.

In his letter Jabbarli indicated mistakes made in pro-Armenian
journalist Mehmet Ali Birand’s articles concerning Azerbaijan.

Strengthening of the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, strong rebuff of
the two countries towards pressure from certain centers of power, the
basic position of the fraternal countries cause serious concern of
Turkey’s and Azerbaijani opponents.

Turkish journalist Birand conducts anti-Azerbaijani propaganda for a
long period. Azerbaijani press responded by sound arguments on the
author’s claim of an article published April 15 in the newspaper
"Hurriyyet". The following article dated April 28 shows that Birand
was instructed to conduct "revision" of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations,
make a possible blow on fraternal relations.

"There are many mistakes in Birand’s article. There were so many
mistakes that I am tired to find and correct them. If Birand wants, I
can give him lessons of history and grammar of the Turkish language,
at least to prevent distortion of our beautiful Turkic language and
not to allow leading the society in the wrong direction. Birand made
serious mistakes. He is not even able to copy. He must be more
attentive. There are no such people as Azeri. There are Azeri Turks.
Turkish journalist made a serious mistake. He wrote that the
Azerbaijani parliament abolished the autonomous status of Nagorno
Karabakh in 1989", the letter says.

You can familiarize with a text of the letter via
9a-acik-mektup/