75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WRITER ARAM SEPETCHYAN WILL BE MARKED IN US
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2010 20:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 75th anniversary of Lebanese writer of Armenian
decent, Aram Sepetchyan was marked at Glendale Public Library. The
event, organized by Tekeyan Cultural Union subsidiary in US, featured
the presentation of writer’s book published in Lebanon.
During the event, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II awarded Aram
Sepetchyan with St. Sahak and St. Mashtots Order.
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RELEASES HEAD OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION PROTECTION COMMISSION FROM HIS DUTIES
ARKA
Feb 26, 2010
YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed a decree on Friday releasing David Harutyunyan, the head of
Armenian State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition,
from his duties, the presidential press office reports.
On Thursday, Hatutyunyan submitted his resignation to the president
because of transfer to another job.
Harutyunyan was appointed the chairman of the commission on October
23, 2009 for a five-year term.
Before that, he worked as prime minister’s assistant.
SERZH SARGSYAN: TURKEY MUST BE THE FIRST TO MAKE STEPS
news.am
Feb 25 2010
Armenia
RA President Serzh Sargsyan did not have a meeting with Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Kiev, the RA presidential press
service told NEWS.am, commenting on Turkish media reports.
Both the Armenian President and the Turkish FM attended the
inauguration ceremony of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich in
Kiev. During a reception, the Ahmet Davutoglu approached the Armenian
President and exchanged views with him.
Serzh Sargsyan stressed that progress requires political will, and
Armenia believes that the present process has to be brought to its
logical end within the shortest period of time. Otherwise, Armenia will
have to withdraw its signature from the Armenian-Turkish protocols. The
Armenian President stated once again that Turkey can by no means be
involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as it is rendering
unilateral military assistance to one of the conflicting parties,
Azerbaijan, making regular biased statements on the settlement process.
"A country dreaming of a region without borders must be the first to
make steps and lift the blockade of Armenia, which will enable the
reopening of the region’s communication infrastructures. Azerbaijan’s
pressure may prevent the Turkish Parliament from ratifying the
protocols, but nothing prevents the Turkish Executive — even before
the protocols have been ratified — from reopening the mutual border,
which it closed before," the Armenian leader said.
NAGORNYY KARABAKH REPUBLIC WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME SEPARATELY PRESENTED AT BIT TOURIST EXHIBITION IN MILAN
ArmInfo
2010-02-22 17:34:00
ArmInfo. Nagornyy Karabakh Republic was for the first time separately
presented at BIT tourist exhibition in Milan, press-service of Armenian
Foreign Ministry reported.
The historical and cultural heritage of Karabakh was exhibited in
the pavilion neighbouring with the Russian and Turkish ones. The
delegation of the NKR was headed by the head of tourism department
under the NKR government Sergey Shakhverdyan
CRITICISM AGAINST ISRAEL IS ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF STRATEGY ON TURNING TURKEY INTO A REGIONAL SUPERPOWER
ArmInfo
2010-02-22 17:50:00
Interview of Director of Russian Centre for Post-Soviet Territory
Research, Editor-in-Chief of "Herald of the Caucasus" portal, Deputy
Dean of the History Faculty of the Moscow State University, Aleksey
Vlasov, with ArmInfo news agency
Mr.Vlasov, at present a number of political experts consider possible
military operation of the United States or Israel against Iranian
nuclear objects as a probable scenario. What role does Israel play
in this process?
If one supposes that the USA has finally decided to hold a military
operation against the Iranian nuclear objects, Israel will most likely
play a part of the key ally of Washington, and possibly the function
of an equal partner in implementation of the key task as well, i.e.
destroying the nuclear potential of Iran, removing the direct
and obvious threat against existence of Israel as a state. There
is fundamentally nothing new in this state of affairs. Over the
second half of XX century the Washington-Tel-Aviv axis was a factor
restraining the ambitions of the Arab countries and neutralizing their
military potential, even by force. The fact that over the past few
years the relations between Israel and the USA have grown cool by no
means concerns the problem of possessing nuclear weapon by Iran. In
this respect, Israel and the United States possibly have no other
way out but supporting each other with all their might, including
coordination of actions at the level of diplomacy, and probably
participation in the military operation, which is still virtual.
Turkish President Gul told Israeli President Peres in Ankara that he
would not go to Israel until the siege of Gaza was stopped. Against
this background Israel stopped the joint exercises of Air Forces with
the USA. Can one speak of the final rupture of relations between Tel
Aviv and Ankara under these conditions?
I think it is early to speak of the final rupture of relations between
Tel Aviv and Ankara, however, one can state that the relations have
approached a dangerous line. The rather harsh statements of President
Gul constantly receive a harsh response from the high-ranking officials
of Israel. I think it is needless to recall the widely-known incident
with the Turkish ambassador to Israel. This is like an indicator of
limiting subjectivism and even comicality of the methods used by both
parties to wound each other. Probably, this is the danger of excessive
use of the accusative rhetoric which is believed in if used too often.
Nevertheless, I think that the current aggravation of bilateral
relations will most likely fail to lead to the final rupture between
Ankara and Tel Aviv, and the Turkish foreign minister himself spoke
about that several days ago. By the way, a year ago similar variants
were discussed in international mass media when the Israeli defence
army was holding operations in the Gaza Sector at the territory of
the Palestinian autonomy. Now, a year later, we see that everything
resumes its normal course. But this recurrence may have another
important regularity – when the conflict runs to the boiling point,
both parties find a reasonable compromise. Though it is certainly
clear that the compromise is situational, and the fundamental reason
leading to such kind of mutual aggression is the difference between
Israeli and Turkish approaches to the regional policy problems. No
steps have been taken yet to make these positions closer anyhow.
Cem Oguz, a member of the Turkish Security Council, has recently said
that Turkey turned its back on Israel, and no matter who is in power
they would have to respond to the Israeli policy adequately. Do you
agree with this, and if yes, then why?
I have read Oguz’s statements attentively and, actually, I agree with
them. Ankara will continue its confrontational rhetoric against Israel
in any domestic political state of affairs. As I have already pointed
out, the reason is that for Ankara the current conflict with Israel
is an additional resource from the viewpoint of acquisition of more
reliable allies at the regional level. This meets the new foreign
policy strategy of Turkey as a state offering its partners in the
Islamic and Christian world its own view of geopolitical realities.
Actually, this meets the interests of both the ruling party and the
opposition. Therefore the criticism against Israeli actions is used
for acquisition of bigger authority by Ankara, first and foremost, in
the Arab world. Probably, this is one of the aspects of the strategy
on turning Turkey into a regional superpower. Moreover, it is already
difficult for the USA to play its former role of significant force in
the Near East, and it is quite possible that Ankara wants to receive
part of this "inheritance". In this respect, it will be curious to
observe the change in Washington’s stance to the conflict between
Israel and Turkey. This will be like a test for the new administration
from the viewpoint of a way out of extremely knotty and controversial
scenarios which hardly have a possible positive end.
Over his visit to Baku Foreign Minister of Israel Avigdor Liberman
said that the Karabakh conflict is a very sensitive problem which
should not be discussed in the society and mass media. Moreover,
he thinks the activity of international organizations for Karabakh
conflict settlement is not satisfactory. What can Yerevan and Baku
expect from Tel Aviv in this context?
At present Israel is really conducting an active intermediary
activity at the post-Soviet territory on settlement of the local
conflicts, and first of all, the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. But I
think it is just a regular intermediary, but not the force which may
significantly change the situation around Nagornyy Karabakh. Actually,
I have got an impression that in 2010 all the influential regional
and international players have decided to deal with Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict settlement. By the way, not only Israel is concerned about
the destiny of Karabakh, but Kazakhstan too as the OSCE co-chair
state. But at present no special result is noticed from the sum of the
efforts. But taking into account development of the Azerbaijani-Israeli
relations, one can say that the position of Israel is more or less
well-willed towards Baku. At the same time, I would not sex up the
role of Tel Aviv from the point of view of serious changes around
the conflict.
Interviewed by David Stepanyan, 19 February 2010, ArmInfo
15:21 19/02/2010 » Region
Sabah: Most dangerous ideas for Turkey
Turkish Sabah issued an inquiry for readers: To you, what are most
dangerous ideas?
Actually, it goes about the political, economic, social and moral
environments in Turkey. The move aims at receiving suggestions from
Turkish citizens to change current Turkey.
The inquiry received quite active response not only from Turkey, but
the Turkish community worldwide.
Herewith you can find some of the suggestions the Turks consider too dangerous.
– To grant national minority status to Kurdish citizens of Turkey, in
accordance with the EU standards.
– Teach Armenian and Greek histories at schools, instead of the
Turkish one. The former tell about the Turkish more.
– Transition to a 200.000 professional army, the expenses made in the
defense sphere be directed to education and healthcare.
– The Constitution shouldn’t include `an article banning amendments
and supplements.’ It’s not a Bible.
– Annul Ataturk’s (Mustafa Kemal) law on defense.
P.S. `The majority of the abovementioned ideas can, in fact change
Turkey, can’t they?’ the initiator of the inquiry Emre Akoz says.
Source: Panorama.am
DAVID FAHRADYAN PRESENTED WITH GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS CERTIFICATE
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.02.2010 17:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan State Linguistic University hosted a meeting
with President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia Gagik
Tsarukyan Tuesday, February 16.
The meeting was organized to celebrate Guinness World Record of
YSLU gymnastics instructor David Fahradyan, who performed the most
consecutive gymnastic high bar giants (350) in 10 minutes.
David Fahradyan was presented with Guinness World Records certificate,
along with Olympic Champion Hrant Shahinyan’s medal.
"We are proud of the results Armenian sportsman achieved. It’s not
only David’s victory -it belongs to the whole Armenia," Gagik Tsarukyan
said after grating the awards.
AZERBAIJAN ATTACKS KARABAKH DEFENSE ARMY POSITIONS
ArmInfo
2010-02-16 18:12:00
ArmInfo. The NKR Defense Ministry press-service reported that February
15 night and on Feb 16 a number of cases of cease-fire violation by
the Azerbaijani party were registered in a number of sections of the
NKR and Azeri armed forces contact line.
In particular, the NKR Defense Army positions in directions of
populated areas Jraberd, Seysulan, Horadiz, Talish, etc. were attacked
from micro-caliber arms and sniper rifles. After the relevant measures
taken by NKR Defense Army servicemen on alert combat duty the rival
stopped the fire.
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 13 2010
Hackers post Dink killer’s photo on Agos Web site
The Web site of bilingual Armenian weekly Agos, whose former
editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was shot dead by a teenager in 2007, has
been hacked by an ultranationalist group that posted Dink’s suspected
hit man’s photo on the page.
Visitors to agos.com.tr yesterday were greeted with a photo of Ogün
Samast, showing him with a Turkish flag in the background. The photo
was taken after Samast was caught in Samsun, two days after killing
Dink on Jan. 19, 2007, and drew the ire of many as it showed members
of the security forces posing for pictures with Samast.
The hackers also left a note on the screen threatening the daily with
more deaths if they do not change their editorial policy to what the
group wants. `You either love [this country] or leave it or you die as
[the] traitor Dink did. If you don’t correct your discourse and
articles to the direction we want, new Ogün Samasts and Hrant Dinks
will appear,’ the note read.
Speaking to the private NTV/MSNBC news station, Sarkis Güreh, an Agos
reporter, said they would take legal action on the issue. Calling the
attack upsetting, Güreh said, however, that they are not afraid.
An investigation of the Dink assassination revealed that a group of
ultranationalists was behind the murder, and police arrested the
suspected gunman, Samast, and an associate, Yasin Hayal, a few days
after Dink’s murder. Strong evidence suggested that some members of
the group had ties with the police department in Trabzon, the hometown
of the plotters. Some gendarmes later confirmed that they had been
tipped off about the plot to kill Dink before the murder was
committed. Dink family lawyers have frequently alleged that the police
attempted to obscure evidence.
Lawyers representing the co-plaintiffs in the Dink trial have long
claimed that the murder was the doing of Ergenekon, a clandestine
group charged with plotting to overthrow the government. In the latest
hearing they also petitioned the 14th High Criminal Court to contact
the prosecutors investigating Ergenekon to request a copy of documents
that describe the organization’s plots against religious minorities in
Turkey.
13 February 2010, Saturday
TODAY’S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
EIGHT-YEAR OLD GEVORG BECAME FLANDERS VICE-CHAMPION
16797.html
10:51:40 – 12/02/2010
The Chess Tournament of Flanders took place in Belgium. The
eight-year old Gevorg Minasyan represented Nuard Union. There were 21
participants. Gevorg registered five victories and scored the sixth
play. In the seventh game, Gevorg lost taking the second place and
becoming the vice-champion of Franders.