Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN POLICEMEN ENJOYED LEISURE WITH PROSTITUTES – NEWSPAPER

news.am
July 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian media reported on police agents in Yerevan from
Shengavit police department who decided to spend time with prostitutes
that were brought to police. According to Hraparak newspaper, the party
took place in one of the objects of Yerevan. The head of Shengavit
police was informed of the incident and wrote a report to the Chief
of Police Service Alik Sargsyan.

An investigation was launched against one of the employees of the
Shengavit police department, police press service informs.

“However, it is unclear why investigation is carried out against one
employee, while there were several agents,” Hraparak wrote.

ARMENIAN DIASPORA TO HOLD CONGRESS IN SEVRES

Hurriyet
July 22 2011
Turkey

Leading diaspora Armenians will meet in the historical French city
of Sevres in December for the Congress of Western Armenians to draft
a series of demands from Turkey in relation to the events of 1915.

“Western Armenians have demands from Turkey. A people and a country
were annihilated at the beginning of the 20th century,” Jean-Varoujan
Gureghian, a French citizen of Armenian descent and a member of the
congress, recently told the Hurriyet Daily News by e-mail.

Some 200 prominent individuals from the Armenian diaspora are expected
to attend the congress, which was first held 90 years ago.

Armenians from all corners of the world will be attending the congress,
Gureghian said, adding that their demands were going to be presented
through lawyers first to Turkey, as well as to the rest of the world,
in accordance with international law.

“The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of ‘Mezs Yeghern’ [the name
Armenians give to the mass killing of their Ottoman kinsmen in 1915]
will undoubtedly be as ostentatious as the commemoration of its 50th
anniversary held in 1965,” Gureghian said.

The 100th anniversary of Mezs Yeghern in 2015 will also be on the
congress’s agenda, he added.

The city of Sevres is best known in Turkey for the treaty that bears
its name. The Sevres Treaty, which would have left Turkey mainly
as a rump state, was signed between the ailing Ottoman government
and the Allied powers shortly after World War I in 1920 but never
went into effect. Instead, it was later replaced in 1923 by the much
more generous Treaty of Lausanne, which roughly determined Turkey’s
present-day borders.

“Turkish and Armenian peoples lived in peace during the Ottoman era
until the time of the genocide. In fact, many Turks saved thousands
of people by putting their own lives on the line during the bitter
events. [Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant] Dink was like a symbol of
that friendship. The enemies of friendship killed him,” Gureghian said.

Dink, the chief editor of the weekly Agos, a newspaper in both Armenian
and Turkish, had been working to re-establish ties between Turks and
Armenians until he was shot in the back and killed on Jan.

19, 2007. His assassination provoked widespread sympathy in the
country and brought together people from different backgrounds to
demand that all those involved in the murder be brought to justice.

Differentiating the diaspora issue and Turkish-Armenian rapprochement,
Gureghian said: “Armenia is an independent republic. As such, it must
consider the future of its own people and establish good relations
with its neighbors, including Turkey.”

BAKU REACTS TO REPORTS ON DIRECT YEREVAN-VAN FLIGHTS LAUNCH

news.az
July 22 2011
Azerbaijan

According to Armenian mass media, the first direct air flight from
Yerevan to Van may take place on 11 September.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has commented on the information in
Armenian mass media about possible launch of the first direct air
flight from Yerevan to Van and back.

The statement came from chief of the board of Commercial and industrial
chamber of Van Abdullah Tunjdemir, speaking in Yerevan.

Gun.az reports that Azerbaijan is watching the developments.

“The relations between Turkey and Armenia are the matter of these two
countries. We do not interfere with the internal affairs of the third
countries, but in the case the national interests of Azerbaijan are
affected, we hold the right to respond”, the sources said.

According to Armenian mass media, the first direct air flight from
Yerevan to Van may take place on 11 September.

According to sources in the Turkish embassy, the issue is being
investigated and as soon as the circumstances are studied, the embassy
will make a statement.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ARMENIANS GONE?
Giorgi Lomsadze

EurasiaNet
July 22 2011
NY

Gone to the West, everyone with brains; gone to Russia, everyone with
brawn, believes one prominent Armenian intellectual. (Apologies to
Peter, Paul and Mary.)

But many others are not going anywhere at all, rejoined President Serzh
Sargsyan at a July 20 cabinet meeting. While expressing concern about
migration rates, Sargsyan also called for a cautious interpretation
of the data. Predictions of a mass exodus only provide grit for the
enemy’s (read, Azerbaijan’s) mill, he said.

“[S]ome say 45,000 people have left Armenia [this year], but had
someone taken the trouble to look at this rate on a monthly or
quarterly basis, he would clearly see that in October-November
period of this year… 40,000 of those who left will come back,”
the president said.

Where international data is concerned, though, the numbers don’t look
pretty. The Central Intelligence Agency’s 2011 migration ranking puts
Armenia in 186th place out of 202 countries with a net migration rate
of – 3.76 per 1,000 people. That’s far worse than Azerbaijan (-1.14),
but a tad better than Georgia (-4.06).

The United Nations gives a similarly stark long-term view; an estimated
700,000 to 1.3 million people emigrated from Armenia between 1991
and 2009, it says.

For a country with a population of just 3.2 million, those numbers
spell trouble. To keep the population in place, some critics advise
that the government put reforms in place for a stronger rule of law
and a healthier economy.

The president himself, though, advises keeping an eye on the effect
such debates about migration will have on Azerbaijan. “[The Azerbaijani
authorities] keep saying publicly that they will wait for Armenia’s
depopulation and then they will solve their problems [dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave] with us,” said Sargsyan. He called the notion
“interesting” and “a little funny.”

For her part, Diaspora Minister Granush Akopian offered this simple
hope — that one day, Armenia’s migrants to Russia, the bulk of the
outflow, “absolutely” will come home again.

RUSSIA AND OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

The Messenger
July 22 2011
Georgia

Azeri political analyst Vafa Guluzade thinks that the west does
not realize that even if Azerbaijan agrees to the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Moscow will not. The west is ignoring the
possibility that if this border is opened, Russia will lose its
influence over the south Caucasus, so of course privately it is
against this process and it can easily influence decisions of Armenia.

Meanwhile despite immense pressure from the west on Turkey it is
doubtful that Ankara would make any concessions before opening the
Turkish – Armenian border without settling fairly the conflict in
Karabakh. So if the west wants to really solve the situation it
should put pressure on Moscow rather than on Ankara or Baku. The key
to the Karabakh conflict solution is in the Kremlin. Russia takes many
benefits from Armenia’s blockade and the state of war between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, thus Moscow maintains its influence over the region.

It should be realized by the west, thinks Guluzade, that Armenia’s
problems are not emanating from Turkey and Azerbaijan but mainly
from Moscow.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 20, 2011
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE APPROVES BERMAN-CICILLLINE AMENDMENT
URGING TURKEY TO SAFEGUARD ITS CHRISTIAN HERITAGE

Washington, DC – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved
the Berman-Cicilline Amendment to H. R. 2583, the State
Department-Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012,
urging Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The measure was adopted by a
vote of 43-1, with Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) as the lone vote against this
overwhelming bipartisan amendment.

“This is a vote of justice against injustice,” stated Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church
who was present during today’s vote. “I hope that this will be the
first of many steps towards preserving Armenian Christian heritage in
Turkey,” said Archbishop Aykazian.

Based on H.Res. 306, which was introduced by Congressmen Ed Royce
(R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA), the Berman-Cicilline Amendment
specifically urges “the government of Turkey to honor its obligations
under international treaties and human rights law to –

1) “end all forms of religious discrimination;

2) “allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties, without hindrance or restriction, to organize and
administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training,
appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social
services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm, and
other religious activities;

3) “return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts; and

4) “allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of
Christian church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to
preserve, reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian
churches and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals,
monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within
Turkey.”

Speaking to and in support of the Berman-Cicilline Amendment during
today’s mark-up were Reps. Berman (D-CA), Bilirakis (R-FL), Sherman
(D-CA), Burton (R-IN), Connolly (D-VA), Royce (R-CA), Cicilline
(D-RI), Duncan (R-SC), Engel (D-NY), Rohrabacher (R-CA), Meeks (D-NY),
Ackerman (D-NY), Smith (R-NJ), Carnahan (R-MO) and Poe (R-TX).

In a letter sent to all Committee Members, the Assembly along with the
Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Church underscored the
plight facing the Christian community in Turkey and the urgent need
for Congress to act.

“We commend Ranking Member Berman as well as Congressman Royce for
today’s resounding vote in support of religious freedom in Turkey,”
stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “We also appreciate the
efforts of Congressman Cicilline in spearheading the amendment with
Congressman Berman,” added Ardouny.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#: 2011-039

Editor’s Notes:

To read the Assembly-Diocese Letter to the House Foreign Affairs
Committee please visit

To read Van Krikorian’s testimony on the situation of Christian
Armenians in Turkey before the Commission on Security and Cooperation
in Europe (CSCE) in 2005 please visit

ARMENIA BEATS EGYPT AND TOPS TEAM STANDINGS IN WORLD TEAM CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

news.am
July 20 2011
Armenia

NINGBO. – The Armenian team beat the Egyptian team (3,5:0,5) in the
4th round of the World Team Chess Championship 2011 in Ningbo, China.

The Armenian team tops the standings with 6 points.

Russian chess players lost to the Azerbaijani team (1:3). Russia,
China, Azerbaijan and Hungary share 5 points.

The Chinese team defeated U.S. chess players, while Hungary gained
a victory over the Ukrainian team.

YOUTH ISSUES PRIORITIZED BY UNDP AND ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

Office of the Prime Minister
July 15 2011
Armenia

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a delegation led by Director of
UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS, UNDP Assistant Administrator
Kori Udovièki.

Welcoming the guests, the head of government emphasized the importance
of bilateral cooperation referring to the programs implemented in the
social-economic area, as well as in the fields of human rights and
efficacious governance. “Our meetings help us define the cooperation
schemes, and I am confident that your visit will further boost
cooperation between Armenia and the UNDP,” he said.

Pleased with the fact that her organization’s efforts are appreciated
in Armenia, describing Armenia as an important partner of the UNDP,
Kori Udovièki thanked Tigran Sargsyan for reception and said that our
country was at the forefront of joint action. Hailing the Government’s
anti-crisis efforts, the UNDP Assistant Administrator went on to
present the strategy and the target areas for a couple of years ahead.

The interlocutors also touched upon the reform process, including the
problems faced in developing local small and medium-size businesses
and implementing the pension reform.

At the end of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed
between the National Youth Policy Council by the Prime Minister and
the UNDP Armenia Office. Signed by Armenian Deputy Minister of Sport
and Youth Affairs Arsen Karamyan and UNDP Resident Coordinator Dafina
Gercheva, the memorandum reaffirms that the UNDP and the Government
of the Republic of Armenia will continue endeavoring toward the
establishment of a nationwide youth platform to enable the pursuit of
joint activities in the spheres of demography, employment, education,
improved housing and public outreach.

As part of joint action, the UNDP will back the National Youth Policy
Council by the Prime Minister in drafting the new national youth
report of Armenia.

FREE OPPOSITION ARMENIA’S ACHIEVEMENT – PRESIDENT

news.am
July 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The opposition that expresses its approaches and concerns
over the country’s problems and delivers a sharp criticism freely
is the achievement of our country and democracy, which is not given
to everyone, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan stated at a working
session on Wednesday.

“The Azerbaijanis have come to the conclusion within the recent
months that I am strengthening the army because of a dispute with
domestic opposition to divert attention from it. Though I do not
like talking about fantastic events, I must stress that if Azerbaijan
ever allows existence of normal opposition or at least gives people
an opportunity to express their opinion freely, still I do not think
we would design our strategy based on the thesis of the Azerbaijani
opposition. Only the power that has experience working with the
opposition will understand this,” Sargsyan emphasized.

NKR MFA: MONITORING IN THE LINE OF CONTACT PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHEDULE

Panorama
July 20 2011
Armenia

On July 20, the OSCE mission held regular monitoring according to the
agreement with the authorities of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh
in the contact line of NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces, near the
town of Terter.

NKR MFA Press Service informs from the positions of the NKR Defense
Army, the monitoring was held by Field Assistants of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Antal Herdich (Hungary)
and Marius Puodziunas (Lithuania).

On the opposite side, the monitoring group comprised Field Assistants
of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Christo
Christov (Bulgaria) and William Prior (Great Britain).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No
violation of the cease-fire regime was fixed.

On the Karabakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.