Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Sarkozy’s visit to South Caucasus signals Europe’s interest in region – Kasparov
15:48 – 06.10.11

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to the South Caucasus signals
the importance of the region for Europe, world-famous chess player
Garry Kasparov has said.

“Sarkozy managed to stop the war in the Caucasus in good time, but
because of western politicians’ inconsistence, the world community
failed to enforce the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement between the
[conflicting] parties,” Aspny.ge website quoted the grandpamster as
saying.

Kasparov, who is a well-known opposition figure in Russia, said the
west is working towards the implementation of the agreement
notwithstanding Russia’s policies.

“That could imply that Sarkozy’s visit is important for the region as
there would be a possibility to know about new initiatives,” Kasparov
said.

The Georgian authorities have announced numerously that Russia fails
to comply with the clauses of the agreement siged after the short war
in 2008.

The ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia was signed with the
mediation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Tert.am

CONCERNS OVER URMIA LAKE BOOSTS NATIONALISM AMONG AZERBAIJANIS IN IRAN

By Emil Souleimanov (10/05/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Mass demonstrations of ethnic Azerbaijanis protesting the drying up of
Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, the Middle East’s largest water
reservoir and the third largest salt-water lake in the world, recently
struck the cities of Iranian Azerbaijan. Although information from the
region is scarce, numerous reports state that hundreds of protesters
have been beaten, arrested and mistreated by Iranian police and
security forces. Additionally, new clashes have taken place between
supporters of the Tehran-based Esteqlal and the Tabriz-based Tractor
Sazi football club (TSFC) with the latter raising Urmiye-related
claims alongside their longtime demands for establishing school
education in Azerbaijani Turkish.

BACKGROUND: Environmental protests have been on the rise since August
following the Iranian parliament’s refusal to accept an emergency
rescue plan for reviving Urmia, a lake that has the status of a UNESCO
biosphere reserve. Indeed, this extremely salty lake with its unique
flora and fauna could be facing a large-scale environmental
catastrophe resembling the fate of Central Asia’s Aral Sea. This is a
result of Tehran’s recent policies of building numerous dams on more
than 20 tributaries feeding into the lake, which has in turn reduced
the depth of the lake by around two thirds to less than 2 meters. The
government’s plan to build a bridge connecting the cities of Tabriz
and Oroumiye across the lake has further worsened its ecological
situation.

During football matches that took place shortly after the parliament’s
decision, dozens of TSFC fans were arrested for protesting the Iranian
government’s failure to take measures to save the lake. In spite of
the routine detainments of environmental activists and ordinary
protesters, several thousands of ethnic Azerbaijanis took to the
streets of Tabriz, Oroumiye, and other cities of Iranian Azerbaijan on
August 27 and September 3; and more demonstrations are expected. These
peaceful protests were crushed by large contingents of Iranian police
and security forces using repressive means such as tear gas and firing
metal bullets. According to local sources, the number of detainees has
reached a thousand people with many dozens of protesters injured and
at least one killed.

In the meantime, violence occurred during a football game between TSFC
and Esteqlal in Tehran on September 9, in which the TSFC’s victory
placed it among the leaders of the Iranian playoff. Intriguingly,
before the game started, the authorities took measures to prevent
thousands of TSFC supporters from entering the stadium. The
authorities had received reports about the intention of TSFC
supporters to articulate politically flavored demands during the
match, related to the apparent unwillingness of the regime to save the
lake. Those who managed to attend the game still used the opportunity
to chant slogans related to Urmia and condemning the authorities,
which brought about the clashes with security forces.

IMPLICATIONS: The increasingly vocal demands of Azerbaijanis, Iran’s
by far largest ethnic community making up around a quarter of the
country’s multiethnic population, have recently attracted the
attention of observers of the region (see the 10/27/2010 issue of the
CACI Analyst). It has been argued that the younger generation of
Iranian Azerbaijanis has increasingly come to identify along the lines
of secular ethnic nationalism, thereby embracing the notion of their
Turkic identity and reducing the commitment to Iranian statehood,
which is anchored heavily in religion.

Importantly, this development has taken place alongside increasing
numbers of violent incidents with Azerbaijanis on one side and Iranian
police and security forces on the other being reported across the
country. For instance, concerned over the dramatically growing scope
of Azerbaijani nationalism aired during TSFC games, the authorities
have started to limit the numbers of predominantly Azerbaijani TSFC
supporters attending its games. During the frequently occurring racial
and nationalistic clashes between Azerbaijani fans of TSFC and the
predominantly Persian fans of Esteqlal and Persepolis, another
Tehran-based football club, police and security forces usually do not
hesitate to take the side of the ethnic Persians. The above-mentioned
victory of TSFC over its traditional rival, Esteqlal, brought about
mass celebrations in Tabriz, which were accompanied by political
demands. The initiative was crushed by police and security forces and
ignited a new wave of detentions of Azerbaijani activists which has
been ongoing for several weeks. In turn, this has been viewed by an
increasing share of Iran’s Azerbaijani community as additional
evidence of ethnic discrimination, anti-Azerbaijani bias and Persian
nationalism.

Accordingly, established ethno-nationalistic pro-Azerbaijan,
pro-Turkey, and increasingly anti-Persian and anti-regime slogans
chanted by several thousand TSFC fans as well as ordinary Azerbaijanis
have recently been accompanied by slogans focusing on Urmia such as
`Lake Urmia is dying, Iran is ordering its execution,’ or `Urmia is
thirsty, Azerbaijan must rise up, otherwise it will lose.’
Symbolically, these and similar chants were first articulated at a
recent meeting of Azerbaijanis at the Tabriz-based tomb of Sattar
Khan, an ethnic Azerbaijani national hero of Iran and a key figure in
the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1911.

Even more importantly, confronted with Tehran’s apparent unwillingness
to put an effective end to the dehydration of the Urmia Lake,
increasing numbers of Azerbaijanis regard this as a result of an
alleged sophisticated plan by the government to turn Iran’s
Azerbaijani provinces into a salty desert as the remaining salt would
be dispersed by winds throughout the whole region destroying soil and
crops. Since the Urmia Lake plays a crucial role in Iranian Azerbaijan
and supports around 15 million local inhabitants, the argument
continues, the upcoming ecologic disaster would gradually force local
Azerbaijanis to migrate into other areas of the country effectively
reducing the prospects of Azerbaijani secessionism and fostering their
assimilation into the Persian mainstream.

CONCLUSIONS: So far, the existence of the TSFC, whose significant
sport successes and wide popularity across Northwestern Iran’s
predominantly Azerbaijani provinces has contributed greatly to
awakening the masses of once politically apathetic Iranian
Azerbaijanis. The commitment to save the Urmia Lake, regarded as the
pearl of Iranian Azerbaijan, has further united many ordinary
Azerbaijanis. This is regardless of their politically motivated
sympathies – or antipathies – toward the idea of Iranian statehood or
Azerbaijani Turkic nationalism, as well as efforts aimed at
ethno-linguistic and cultural emancipation advocated by a portion of
the Iranian Azerbaijani population. The indiscriminate use of force by
the regime even over this seemingly apolitical issue has further
deepened the ethnically defined gap between Iranian Azerbaijanis and
the Iranian state, paving the ground for considerable conflict in the
future.

AUTHOR’S BIO: Dr. Emil Souleimanov is assistant professor at the
Department of Russian and East European Studies, Charles University in
Prague, Czech Republic. He is the author of `An Endless War: The
Russian-Chechen Conflict in Perspective` (Peter Lang, 2007).

Artsakh hosts conference on mineral resources

October 9, 2011 – 15:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On October 8, President of the Artsakh Republic
attended the `NKR Geology and Mineral Resources’ scientific conference
in Stepanakert.

Welcoming the participants, Bako Sahakyan noted that exploration of
Artsakh’s mineral resources is important for the socio-economic
development of the country.

The head of state also highlighted involvement of scientific potential
of Armenia and Diaspora as a new impetus both to studying the
republic’s geology and its mineral resources and practical use of the
knowledge.

Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan, National Assembly and government
members, as well as representatives of scientific-educational field
and industrial companies participated in the conference, reported the
Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President.

CHAMPIONNAT DU MONDE AMATEURS
L’Arménien Micha Aloyan (52 kg) champion du monde à Bakou
sous les couleurs de la Russie

Si l’Arménie est revenue sans médaille des championnats du monde
amateurs de boxe qui se sont déroulés à Bakou, l’Arménien Micha Aloyan
(52 kg) est champion du monde. Une médaille d’or pour la Russie qui
n’a eu qu’un seul titre de champion du monde. Micha Aloyan a battu en
finale, le Gallois Andrew Selby (13-12). C’est le premier titre
mondial pour Micha Aloyan qui avait un titre de champion d’Europe et
une médaille mondiale de bronze en 2009. Micha Aloyan (23 ans) qui
obtient par la même occasion un visa olympique pour Londres (2012) est
né au village de Pambagachad en Arménie. Sa famille quittait l’Arménie
en 1997 pour s’installer en Russie.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 9 octobre 2011,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

ARMEE ARMENIENNE
L’Arménie disposerait des batteries de missiles « Tempête » très redoutables
l’armée arménienne n’a pas montré tout son arsenal militaire lors de
défilé du 21 septembre

Le défilé militaire du 21 septembre à Erévan qui avait impressionné
tant l’Azerbaïdjan que les experts militaires n’incluait pas toute la
capacité de la force de frappe et de la Défense de l’Arménie. Car
l’armée arménienne n’a pas exhibé lors de ce défilé du 20e
anniversaire de l’Indépendance, les batteries de missiles « Tempête ».
La presse moldave affirme que l’Arménie a reçu une dizaine de ces
batteries de missiles ultra performants et de destruction ciblée «
Tempête ». Selon Sergueï Minassian, directeur de l’Institut
stratégique caucasien qui n’a pas démenti l’information des médias
moldaves, l’Arménie n’a pas exhibé toute sa capacité militaire afin de
ne pas diffuser toutes les données sur sa capacité de frappe et
cultiver le doute auprès de l’ennemi. Sergueï Minassian a également
affirmé que les batteries de missiles « Tempête » donnent à l’Arménie
un avantage important car l’armée arménienne dispose d’importantes
réserves de ces missiles qui feront la différence en cas de reprise du
conflit.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 9 octobre 2011,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

Corriere della Sera , Italia
06 ottobre 2011

Delibere pro armeni in Veneto: La Turchia «avvisa» i Comuni

La scrittrice Arslan: «Intimidazioni mafiose». Lettere
dell’ambasciatore ai sindaci di Padova, Limena e San Giorgio in Bosco
che hanno approvato iniziative di riconoscimento del genocidio

Francesca Visentin

PADOVA – «Respingete al mittente quelle lettere, sono pericolose».
S’indigna la scrittrice padovana Antonia Arslan, di origine armena,
per la «pesante interferenza» dell’ambasciata di Turchia, che ha
inviato nei giorni scorsi ai Comuni di Padova, Limena e San Giorgio in
Bosco un’identica missiva firmata dall’ambasciatore Hakki Akil, in cui
esprime «delusione » per l’approvazione delle delibere comunali che
riconoscono il genocidio armeno e prospetta «ripercussioni negative
nei rapporti tra Italia e Turchia». «Sono lettere mafiosette e
intimidatorie – denuncia l’Arslan – . Un ambasciatore se ha qualche
rimostranza, dovrebbe rivolgersi alla Farnesina, non certo scrivere in
tono minaccioso ai sindaci di piccoli paesi come San Giorgio in Bosco
o Limena». E la scrittrice (di cui è appena uscito il nuovo libro Il
cortile dei girasoli parlanti, Piemme editore) incalza: «Il genocidio
armeno del 1915 è ormai riconosciuto universalmente dalla comunità
degli storici. Anche l’opinione pubblica in Turchia è molto più avanti
delle posizioni ufficiali del governo e discute ormai apertamente
della tragedia armena e di tutti i danni che l’eliminazione delle
minoranze portò anche alla maggioranza turca».

L’Arslan ha narrato con passione e intensità il genocidio nel libro La
masseria delle allodole (Rizzoli editore), in cui il dramma armeno
rivive nella drammatica storia della sua famiglia: il fratello del
nonno Yerwant e tutti i numerosi parenti furono sterminati in
quell’orgia di sangue con cui si è aperta la storia della Turchia
«moderna». Padova con il sindaco Flavio Zanonato, ormai diversi anni
fa, è stato il primo Comune del Veneto a riconoscere il genocidio
armeno e a realizzare un bassolirievo commemorativo a Palazzo Moroni.
Eppure, anche a Padova, la lettera «minatoria» dell’ambasciatore turco
è arrivata solo da poche settimane. «Evidentemente il governo turco è
in allarme – spiega Antonia Arslan -, tra 4 anni sarà il centenario
del genocidio e quindi sta già preparando una controffensiva per
evitare che se ne parli, mettendo in atto svariate forme di pressione,
tra cui queste missive ai Comuni solidali con gli armeni. E’ successo
nel Veneto, ma anche in altre regioni, ho visto le stesse lettere
inviate a Cerchiara di Calabria e a Bolano, in provincia di La
Spezia». Domenica a Padova Fethiye Cetin, avvocato turco che ha
scritto un libro in cui parla del genocidio, è stata nominata «Giusto
per gli armeni».

Gli eventi di solidarietà al popolo armeno si susseguono in Veneto, ma
evidentemente la Turchia non gradisce. «E’ un atteggiamento che
provoca allarme e sconcerto, questo dell’ambasciatore turco –
sottolinea l’avvocato Vartan Giacomelli, padovano di origine armena,
presidente dell’associazione Italia- Armenia – . Queste lettere
intimidatorie fanno rabbrividire, sono goffe minacce alla libera
espressione, non possono avere conseguenze pratiche. E’ l’ossessione
maniacale di un governo nel negare ciò che non è più negabile. Ma le
istituzioni non si possono intimidire e qualsiasi delibera che
riconosce il genocidio armeno parte dal presupposto che si tratta
ormai di una verità storica acquisita». Secondo l’avvocato Giacomelli,
«arrivare a modalità di questo tipo ha dell’incredibile. Fa
rabbrividire. Sono riflessi del negazionismo di stato, che va contro i
fermenti della società turca. Ma le lettere non vanno sottovalutate,
creano allarme, soprattutto nei piccoli comuni, mettono sotto
pressione, intimidiscono le iniziative etico-culturali. La speranza è
che non abbiano effetto: il genocidio è una verità storica non
discutibile ». La scrittrice Antonia Arslan invita i Comuni veneti «a
una risposta ferma e decisa». E suggerisce alle amministrazioni di
chiarire all’ambasciatore turco che «non compete a un diplomatico
straniero interferire nei dibattiti dei consigli comunali».

Le Post, France
8 oct 2011

Nicolas Sarkozy et la mémoire (sélective) : La Turquie, l’Arménie
et… l’Algérie s’invitent dans la campagne électorale de 2012
08/10/2011 à 22h12 – mis à jour le 09/10/2011 à 03h41

Les initiatives et incursions toujours intéressées, jamais neutres et
surtout rarement sincères de Nicolas Sarkozy du coté de la mémoire
prêtent toujours à sourire. On peut citer l’exemple de la manipulation
de l’exécution du communiste Guy Môquet par les nazis durant la
seconde Guerre Mondiale. Mais dans le cas présent, c’est plutôt le
sentiment de dégoût profond et la nausée qui prévalent.

La ficelle est encore une fois trop grosse: Vendredi, Nicolas Sarkozy
pour des raisons électoralistes évidentes ciblant l’importante
communauté arménienne de France et les opposants à l’entrée de la
Turquie dans l’Union Européenne, a osé s’en prendre à la Turquie en
lui intimant l’ordre de reconnaître le génocide arménien de 1915 en la
menaçant de punir légalement son négationnisme officiel supposé. Rien
que ça.

Le génocide arménien a causé la mort de 1,5 millions de civils innocents

Et si la Turquie reconnaissait le génocide algérien ? Bien sûr, le
génocide arménien a bel et bien eu lieu et la Turquie d’Erdogan
s’honorerait à franchir ce difficile seuil psychologique qu’est la
reconnaissance de la responsabilité de l’ancien empire ottoman dans
ces horribles massacres. Cette éventuelle reconnaissance ne pourra que
grandement contribuer à rétablir les relations avec le peuple arménien
sur de nouvelles bases et la Turquie n’en sortira que grandie. Le
problème n’est bien sûr pas là.

Le problème est que Nicolas Sarkozy, ce donneur de leçon invétéré et
redresseur de torts autoproclamé, en campagne permanente pour se faire
réélire en 2012, se permet d’occulter en même temps les demandes
d’excuses formulées depuis des années par l’Algérie pour les très
nombreux massacres, injustices de toutes sortes et l’Apartheid
officiel de la période coloniale. D’ailleurs la Turquie n’a pas hésité
à lui répliquer en lui conseillant d’affronter son passé colonial en
Algérie et ailleurs avant de s’arroger le droit de donner des leçons
aux autres. Pourquoi la France s’estime-t-elle exonérée de ce qu’elle
exige des autres ? Et si la Turquie reconnaissait le génocide algérien
?

Sarkozy a tourné la page de la colonisation seul, sans les Algériens:
En visite à Ankara, Claude Guéant vient d’affirmer: «Le président de
la République française est allé en Algérie, il a eu des propos
extrêmement forts sur ce moment douloureux de notre passé entre
l’Algérie et la France. Il a tourné la page». Il a tourné la page…
Tout seul…

Ça laisse songeur.

Monsieur Sarkozy, votre beau discours de Constantine du 5 décembre
2007 ne vous affranchit pas du devoir de reconnaître la responsabilité
de la France dans le massacre de ces millions de civils algériens pour
la plupart innocents et désarmés. À l’image de tous les autres, Il
n’aura été finalement qu’un discours hypocrite de plus, car il n’a
jamais été suivi du geste symbolique fort nécessaire que les Algériens
attendent encore.

Monsieur Sarkozy, vous méritez apparemment quelques rappels
historiques succincts concernant le cas de l’Algérie et des deux
millions de morts après 132 ans de colonisation que vous faites mine
d’ignorer.

____________________________________________________________________

D’abord, une photo “souvenir”: C’est à contre-coeur que je poste la
photo qui suit. Celle-ci me hante depuis des décennies. Montrer la
nudité de cette victime de la barbarie me fait mal. Mais les Français
doivent savoir ce qui a été fait en leur nom en Algérie et ailleurs.
Que lui est-il arrivé après cette photo “souvenir” immonde ? A-t-elle
survécu à ce qu’elle a eu à subir?

D’après certains partisans de Sarkozy, la France coloniale a fait
oeuvre de civilisation en Algérie…

Nicolas Sarkozy devrait commencer par balayer devant sa porte et
laisser tomber ses lectures à l’eau de rose, pour se consacrer à se
faire une idée de ce qu’ont vécu des millions d’Algériennes et
d’Algériens sous le joug de la France coloniale.

____________________________________________________________________

Les massacres de populations civiles du milieu du XIXème siècle:
Quelques décennies seulement avant le génocide des Arméniens par les
armées ottomanes, la France coloniale avait déjà inauguré en Algérie
la longue litanie des massacres des populations civiles commis au nom
des Lumières (voir ici: Alexis de Tocqueville à propos des massacres)
dans les nouvelles colonies. Voici comment défendait alors en 1843,
L-F. de Montagnac (qui participa aux atrocités, voir ici) l’action
“civilisatrice” de la France: « Qui veut la fin veut les moyens. Selon
moi, toutes les populations [ d’Algérie ] qui n’acceptent pas nos
conditions doivent être rasées, tout doit être pris, saccagé, sans
distinction d’ge ni de sexe ; l’herbe ne doit plus pousser où l’armée
française a mis le pied. » Au moins c’est clair.

Par ailleurs, Sarkozy a-t-il tout lu sur Tocqueville, ce grand
admirateur de la démocratie américaine? Sait-il tout du support
apporté par ce dernier aux massacres alors en cours? Son grand ami et
“philosophe” BHL a pourtant largement écrit à son sujet (voir American
Vertigo, Voyage dans les pas de Tocqueville). Il pourrait peut-être
prendre le temps de vraiment l’instruire… (voir ici)

Prise de la Smala de l’Emir Abd-el-Kader, le 16 mai 1843 par Horace Vernet

On estime aujourd’hui que les massacres et les enfumades du général
Bugeaud et de ses paires causèrent la mort de dizaines sinon de
centaines de milliers d’hommes, de femmes et d’enfants (voir les
enfumades de Bugeaud). Alphonse de Lamartine eut le courage de
dénoncer les nombreux massacres de population, les incendies
d’habitations, les destructions de moissons, d’arbres fruitiers et la
politique de la terre brûlée: “On me dit la guerre est la guerre, mais
la guerre des peuples civilisés et la guerre des sauvages, des
barbares, sont deux guerres différentes…je dis qu’il n’y aurait dans
ce temps ni dans l’avenir aucune excuse qui pût effacer un pareil
système de guerre, dans l’état de force, de discipline, de grandeur et
de générosité que nous commande notre situation civilisée ! Je
pourrais vous parler d’autres actes qui y ont fait frémir d’horreur et
de pitié la France entière les grottes de Dahra où une tribu entière a
été lentement étouffée. J’ai les mains pleines d’horreur, je ne les
ouvre qu’à moitié !”

Monsieur Sarkozy, on estime qu’au moins un million de civils algériens
(dont une majorité de femmes et d’enfants) ont été victimes des crimes
atroces commis par les armées coloniales françaises pendant le XIXème
siècle. Il existe aussi d’autres estimations beaucoup plus hautes.

Question simple: Ces personnes massacrées par la France coloniale
seulement quelques décennies avant le massacre des Arméniens ne
méritent-elles pas elles aussi des excuses et la reconnaissance de sa
responsabilité par la France, sachant encore une fois que ces
exactions eurent lieu quelques décennies avant le génocide des
Arméniens ?

____________________________________________________________________

Les 45 000 morts des massacres de Sétif du 8 mai 1945: Comble de
l’ironie, ces massacres débutèrent le jour-même où le reste du monde
célébrait la victoire sur le nazisme. L’Apartheid officiel que
subissaient alors les Algériens poussa ces derniers à sortir
manifester et à demander l’égalité des droits civiques pour tous. La
réponse du régime colonial fut atroce. et sans pitié. Des dizaines de
milliers de civils furent cernés, massacrés et brûlés dans des fours à
chaux. La France n’a jamais formulé la moindre excuse pour ces actes
barbares.

Le massacre de 700 000 à 1,5 million d’Algériens pendant la Guerre
d’Indépendance: La guerre d’Algérie sous prétexte de pacification, a
été l’occasion d’une débauche d’horreurs sans nom : Exécutions
sommaires, massacres de populations civiles innocentes dans le Djebel,
bombardements de mechtas au napalm, viols systématiques, tortures et
aussi abandon des harkis. Le nombre de victimes de cette guerre
oscille entre 700 000 et 1,5 million de morts.

Bilan de 132 années d’action “civilisationnelle”: Au final, on estime
que les actions “civilisatrices” de la France ont causé la mort d’au
moins de deux millions d’Algériens entre 1830 et 1962. De plus, en
quittant l’Algérie, la France a laissé 98% d’analphabètes.

____________________________________________________________________

Bref, sentant le vent du boulet, Nicolas Sarkozy décide sans scrupule
de ratisser large du coté du vote conservateur antiturc et de la
communauté arménienne meurtrie (qui, je l’espère ne tombera pas dans
ce piège imbécile évident). En agissant de la sorte, Nicolas Sarkozy
crache sur les blessures de la communauté maghrébine de France. Cette
communauté (forte de plusieurs millions d’électeurs potentiels) doit
prendre ses responsabilités et demander des comptes à cet opportuniste
et le sanctionner en votant contre sa reconduction en 2012.

Monsieur Sarkozy, votre crédibilité est déjà réduite à néant dans bien
des domaines. Pour ce qui est de la Mémoire et de l’Histoire, ayez au
moins la décence de vous tenir coït jusqu’à la fin de votre mandat!
Votre deux poids et deux mesures mémoriel est insultant à l’égard de
millions de Français d’origine algérienne ou maghrébine

Il ne vous honore pas.

Surtout, il n’honore pas la France d’aujourd’hui.

Irish Times
Oct 8 2011

Keane a major doubt for finale

Soccer: Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane is a major doubt for
Tuesday’s Group B decider against Armenia at the Aviva Stadium after
undergoing a scan on an abductor muscle injury on Saturday.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni had sounded upbeat before the open
training session at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday afternoon, one in
which he rested his starting XI from the 2-0 win over Andorra on
Friday night.

The FAI later released a medical update on the player, with Trapattoni
confirming the player was a `strong doubt’ for Tuesday’s clash.

Keane, 31, complained of soreness in his abductor muscle after
returning from Andorra during the early hours of this morning, a
journey that involved a three-hour bus trip back to Barcelona to
connect with a flight.

He played the full 90 minutes against the minnows and missed a number
of chances to add to his record international goal tally for his
country.

If the LA Galaxy striker is ruled out, Shane Long will come into the
picture to partner his former Reading team-mate Kevin Doyle, after
replacing him for the final 15 minutes on Friday night.

Trapattoni was boosted today by the arrival of Stoke frontman Jonathan
Walters, who withdrew from the squad for the game in Andorra with an
ankle problem.

Trapattoni’s only new concern is finding a replacement for left back
Stephen Ward, who picked up his second yellow card last night and will
be suspended on Tuesday evening.

However, with Richard Dunne available after serving his own ban, the
manager has options with John O’Shea’s renowned versatility one
possible solution.

Ward was booked by Czech referee Libor Kovarik for diving as he went
into a challenge in the Andorran penalty area.

Ward said: `I thought it was very harsh, to be honest. He clipped me
as I went down, so I don’t think I intentionally had a dive. I don’t
think it was a yellow card.

`It’s just one of those things, it’s disappointing. He clipped me, so
what else can I do? It should have been a penalty. All the lads have
seen it and they think it was as well.’

Ahead of the training session, Trapattoni insisted he has not been
surprised by Armenia’s barnstorming finish to the Euro 2012 qualifying
campaign.

The Armenians, who lost 1-0 at home to Ireland in the first round of
qualifiers in September last year, have won each of their last three
games, against Andorra, Slovakia and Macedonia, and scored 11 goals in
the process.

But asked if he had been surprised by their late surge, Trapattoni
said: `No. Maybe if you know the players who play for Armenia, it is
not a surprise.

`The Armenian players play in strong leagues, and some of our players
play in the Championship. If you think about it, it is no surprise.

`We must play with 100 per cent mentality and 100 per cent attitude
and 100 per cent concentration, and be careful of silly mistakes.

`We are in this position because of one or two silly mistakes against
Russia, for example.

`Armenia is a very, very strong team. They have scored more goals than
us and we must pay very, very much attention.’

The 72-year-old Italian will send his team into their final group game
with his own future still undecided amid speculation that he will be
offered an extended contract should he guide them to the play-offs.

However, as his second qualifying campaign draws to a close – the
first ended in a controversial aggregate defeat by France which denied
him a trip to the World Cup in South Africa – Trapattoni is confident
significant progress has been made.

He said: `At this stage, I hope I have succeeded in instilling a
mentality in our players.

`Unfortunately, I am quite demanding because in the past, I have built
this mentality with teams I have previously managed. I am very pleased
with our way, but we can improve again.

`Yesterday evening, I said we want to look at Manchester United.
Obviously, we do not have the players of Manchester United, but with
their mentality, with attitude, with balance, I think we can achieve.’

Ireland’s Rugby World Cup exit was unfolding as Trapattoni and his
players touched down in Dublin during the early hours of this morning
following a gruelling trip back from Andorra.

Trapattoni said: `I am sorry that Ireland lost in rugby against Wales
because Brian O’Driscoll and his team are our friends and we wished
them to do well. But sport is sport and it teaches us that when we
have the right mentality, we can achieve every result.’

GreenScene
Oct 8 2011

Robbie Keane could miss Armenia game

Republic of Ireland captain and record goalscorer Robbie Keane is a
major doubt for Tuesday’s final Group B match with Armenia.

The FAI this evening confirmed that Keane was to undergo a scan on an
abductor muscle strain, stating `Robbie Keane is a strong doubt for
the Armenia match with a muscle strain.’ Stoke City forward Jon
Walters joined up with the squad today after being given the all clear
from his club’s doctors, but if Keane is not fit for Tuesday, Shane
Long is expected to start up front alongside Kevin Doyle.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni oversaw training this afternoon,
and afterwards admitted he was not surprised by Armenia’s recent
international form. `No, maybe if you know the players who play for
Armenia, it is not a surprise,’ Trapattoni declared. `The Armenian
players play in strong leagues, and some of our players play in the
Championship. If you think about it, it is no surprise. We must play
with 100 per cent mentality and 100 per cent attitude and 100 per cent
concentration, and be careful of silly mistakes. We are in this
position because of one or two silly mistakes against Russia, for
example. Armenia is a very, very strong team. They have scored more
goals than us and we must pay very, very much attention.

`At this stage, I hope I have succeeded in instilling a mentality in
our players. Unfortunately, I am quite demanding because in the past,
I have built this mentality with teams I have previously managed. I am
very pleased with our way, but we can improve again. Yesterday
evening, I said we want to look at Manchester United. Obviously, we do
not have the players of Manchester United, but with their mentality,
with attitude, with balance, I think we can achieve.’

Trapattoni also expressed his disappointment at the result of the
Irish rugby team this morning. `I am sorry that Ireland lost in rugby
against Wales because Brian O’Driscoll and his team are our friends
and we wished them to do well. But sport is sport and it teaches us
that when we have the right mentality, we can achieve every result.’

Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 8 2011

`Guest student’ status does not respond to needs of Armenian migrants’ children

09 October 2011, Sunday / YONCA POYRAZ DOÄ?AN, Ä°STANBUL

It has been a few weeks since the new school year started but there is
still construction going on in this extraordinary school, where
students are excited about their new desks and chairs even though the
pupils are even more crammed than before because of the size of their
new seats and desks, which are far too big for their small classrooms.

The place is the GedikpaÅ?a Armenian Protestant Church, which opened
its doors this school year to 84 students whose parents are
undocumented immigrants in Turkey from Armenia. The classes are held
in the basement of the church, and some of the makeshift classrooms
have no doors. The classrooms used to be divided by curtains before
board separators were recently installed.

`Thanks to donors from the Armenian community in Ä°stanbul, we have
some more appropriate materials for the children,’ Rev. Kirkor
AÄ?abaloÄ?lu of the GedikpaÅ?a Church said.

He said they started out in 2003 with four children, taught by teacher
Heriknaz Avagyan.

`Back then, no school would accept those children,’ he said.

This is what happens to children of `illegal Armenian workers’ if they
are born in Turkey. Their parents cannot apply for Turkish citizenship
for their child. They cannot go back to Armenia either because then
they will not be able to come back to Turkey; therefore, the child
can’t get an Armenian passport. According to laws in Turkey, only
Turkish citizens of Armenian descent are allowed at `Armenian minority
schools’ in the country.

`Churches do not just provide religious services. So we took
responsibility and took those children in.’

Since 2003 the number of students has gradually increased even though
the Turkish government has allowed for those children to be accepted
in local Armenian schools as `guest students’ this school year.

Only 48 students have been accepted with that status in more than 10
Armenian schools in Ä°stanbul. For example, Bezciyan accepted 11
students and Feriköy Merametçiyan accepted eight, according to figures
from the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.

Avagyan said she is glad that children who do not have easy access to
schooling at the church can now go to schools in other areas of
Ä°stanbul that are close to where they reside, but she also said that
this is not an ideal situation for those children’s education because
there is a likelihood that they will go back to Armenia one day and
they need certificates to prove their educational status.

`What does it mean to be a `guest student’? This is a new program and
there are uncertainties. The Turkish government needs to consider that
those children’s parents are not here legally and that when they go
back to Armenia, their children will need proof of their education,’
she said.

At the GedikpaÅ?a Church’s school, Armenian teachers, who are also
undocumented immigrants from Armenia, follow the educational calendar
of Armenia, use the books which are used in Armenia and adhere to the
educational system of Armenia in their teaching. They say this is the
only way these children will succeed in their educational life when
they go back to Armenia.

`Parents say it is very important to them that their children learn
the Armenian language,’ a teacher from the church-school said.

According to Avagyan, who is married to a Turkish citizen and sends
her child to an Armenian school in Ä°stanbul, the Armenian language is
not much emphasized in the local schools. On top of that, the Armenian
language that they use is different than their version of the language
— Ä°stanbul’s Armenians speak and learn Western Armenian, whereas
Armenians in Armenia speak and learn Eastern Armenian.

`I am now a legal resident of Turkey and my child is a Turkish
citizen. It is fine that my child goes to a local Armenian school. But
for the immigrants, it’s a different story. If their children are
educated in local Armenian schools, their further education will be in
jeopardy in Armenia,’ she said.

A 2009 study — the first and only study conducted on the status of
the Armenian migrants in Turkey — by researcher Alin Ã-zinian found
that the main reasons behind immigration from Armenia to Turkey are
the instability in Armenia that arose after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, tough economic conditions
exacerbated by the closure of the Turkey-Armenia border as well as the
Karabakh dispute. With economic conditions remaining unchanged in
Armenia, the immigrants are likely to stay here as long as they can,
and so will their children.

Avagyan said the best solution for the immigrants’ children would be
to continue their education at the church-school.

`But that is only until the fifth grade, since there are no
appropriate conditions for more classes,’ she said, and appealed to
the Turkish government to be more considerate.

`Those children need schooling and a diploma until they reach the age
at which they will go to a university,’ she added. `Otherwise, most of
those uneducated children will spend their time by playing on the
street unattended. Even though they are smart kids, they will work in
low level and low pay jobs like their parents.’

About 96 percent of the Armenian immigrants in Turkey — whose numbers
are estimated to be around 15,000 — are women, and a majority of them
work as house cleaners, nurses or babysitters, according to Alinian’s
research. Their monthly income varies between $500 and $1,000, and
they generally reside in Ä°stanbul’s Kumkapı district.

`They love Ä°stanbul, and they like Turks,’ Rev. AÄ?abaloÄ?lu said. `In
the last 10 years, they have been coming as families, not
individually.’

Therefore, there is even more need to think about those migrants’
children’s education, he points out.

`If the government is sincere in its initiatives in that regard, it
should find ways to either integrate those children in the Turkish
education system or make possible a special status for their education
according to the system in Armenia.’