Author: Kajoyan Gevork

“RUSSIA IS A SUSPICIOUS PARTNER, BUT IT IS LESSER OF TWO EVILS”: POLITICIAN (VIDEO)

12:48 | October 7,2014 | Politics

“If during the coming days there is no force majeure situation by
Minsk or Astana, Armenia will join the EEU on October 10,”- is sure
politician Sergey Minasyan.

“Both Belarus and Kazakhstan understand that in case of Armenia’s
membership, Russia’s leverages will increase in the union, but at
the same time those countries don’t have anti-Armenian position,
which makes the membership of Armenia possible,”- he says.

Politician thinks that the membership of Armenia to the EEU will
have great influence on inner and foreign policy of Armenia, and the
decision made on September 3 of the last year was lesser of two evils:
“The decision of Armenia’s membership was mainly connected with Artsakh
issue and not with economic aspect. We all know that Azerbaijan is
considered the major buyer of Russian arms in the region, and there
was no guarantee that if Armenia wasn’t a member, military operations
wouldn’t start in Artsakh front. It is better to have a suspicious
partner like Russia than to remain alone.”

TIMES: 180 JIHADISTS TRADED BY TURKEY FOR HOSTAGES

19:18, 06 Oct 2014

Two British jihadists are believed to have been among more than a
hundred prisoners freed back into the arms of Isis by Turkey, in order
to secure the freedom of diplomats held hostage by the militant group,
it was claimed in reports published today.

Two men named as Shabazz Suleman, 18, and Hisham Folkard, 26, are
being investigated by British counter-terrorism officers, The Times
reported. The newspaper said it had seen their names on a leaked list,
which it alleged had in turn been confirmed by Isis sources.

The deal reportedly involved a trade-off of 180 Isis fighters in return
for Turkish diplomats, including 46 Turkish citizens and three local
Iraqis, who had been seized in the city of Mosul five months ago.

Ten EU citizens were said to be among those released by Turkey in
the deal, which has reportedly been verified in the local media by
Syrian rebels and Turkish security sources.

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia NGO
Contact: Rouzanne Sakanyan, Resource Development Manager
96 Sarmen St., Yerevan 0019, RA
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Honoring the Memories of the Armenian Genocide Martyrs
by Building Homes for Homeless Families!

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide by Building
Homes for 100 Families

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has started a
project, called `Honoring 100 Years by Saving 100 Families,’ to
remember the Armenian Genocide in a respectful way. The project will
build and renovate 100 homes for 100 at-risk families. Since the start
of the project almost a year ago, 68 families have already been
assisted. There are still 32 families needing assistance by the end of
2015.

`We express our gratitude to all our supporters for joining us and
helping honor the memories of the martyrs and survivors of the
Armenian Genocide by building homes for families that have no
permanent shelter or live in unbearable conditions. We hope to reach
our goal of supporting 100 families by the end of 2015,” said Ashot
Yeghiazaryan, the president of the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia.

FCHA is reaching out to Armenians all over the world to support this
project. A donation of $10,500 will sponsor a single, completed
home. The beneficiary family will receive a personalized,
commemorative plaque inscribed with the donor’s choice of message or
dedication. When construction is done, all house-donors will receive a
certificate from FCHA and photos of the new house. FCHA has already
received home sponsorships from generous supporters, including Arlene
Hajinlian of New York, the Candan and Minakian families of New York,
Sandra Shahinian Leitner of New Jersey, the Armenian community of
Racine, WI, and others.

When a donation is less than a single home sponsorship, FCHA will
combine the contributions it receives with other gifts and assign a
beneficiary family when $10,500 has been collected. Any amount donated
will make difference in the life of one more family.

`My family faced a lot of difficulties,’ shares Lilit Karapetyan from
the town of Berdzor in Artsakh. `My father’s family lost their home
during the Artsakh War. Later when he met my mother, they had to move
from one place to another to find shelter. In 2010, they managed to
buy a dilapidated house with only walls and a roof. They renovated the
roof with the support of the local municipality. Since then we have
been trying to finish the construction but couldn’t. My parents are
hardworking people who do whatever is possible to earn a living for
our family, but that’s only enough to live on.’

Lilit continues, `When my mom told me that there is an organization
that will help us finish the construction of our house, it was
overwhelming. I couldn’t believe it! I’ve dreamed of having a home
since childhood. I’m 18 years old now. Words can’t describe the
gratitude that I want to express to the sponsors and the Fuller Center
for Housing Armenia for the greatest gift of my life. By the end of
the year, we will live in our completed home – in the home of my
dreams. Thank you!” Lilit’s house is being built thanks to the
generous donations of Candan and Minakian families.

Your help can be life changing! Please help FCHA commemorate the
Armenian Genocide by building homes for families who today are living
in poverty housing.

To Honor 100 Years by Saving 100 Families, please send a donation to
the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, Inc., PO Box 523, Americus,
Georgia 31709, USA. Please write `’Armenia-100” in the memo line of
your check. To donate online, please visit:

If a donor or group of donors wishes to sponsor a single, completed
home at $10,500, please email FCHA at
[email protected] to provide your message or
dedication for the plaque for the beneficiary family. For more
information, please visit:

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental,
charitable organization that supports community development in the
Republic of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and
renovating simple, decent and affordable homes, as well as advocating
the right to decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA
provides long-term, interest and inflation free loans to low-income
families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is
used to help more families make the transition out of poverty
housing. This system provides a financial structure for sustainable
community development.

###

Independent European Daily Express
Oct 4 2014

Azerbaijan Pursues Drones, New Security Options

Saturday, October 4, 2014 – 08:03Inter Press Service

BAKU, Oct 04 (IPS) – Heightened tensions with longtime foe Armenia
over breakaway Nagorno Karabakh and mediator Russia EURO ™s Ukrainian
adventure appear to be pushing Caspian-Sea energy power Azerbaijan
ever more strongly toward a military strategy of self-reliance.

The strategy comes via two approaches: first, a build-up in
Azerbaijani-made military equipment, including drones co-produced with
Israel; and, second, a new defense troika with longtime strategic
partners Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation,
and neighbouring Georgia, a NATO-member-hopeful.

Nor is this a strategy just left to paper. On Sep. 11, Azerbaijani
Defense Minister Yaver Jamalov announced to reporters that Azerbaijan
plans to export 100 drones, co-produced at a local Azerbaijani-Israeli
plant, to EURO oeone of the NATO countries. EURO The remarks headlined the
country EURO ™s first international defense-industry show, ADEX-2014, held
on Sep. 11-13 in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.

Jamalov did not specify the country or the terms of the sale, but the
prospect of the deal reinforces the fact, long clear in foreign
policy, that Baku sees itself as a regional military force that need
no longer pay heed to the likes or dislikes of Russia.

While Azerbaijan has spent EURO oeseveral billion dollars EURO over the last
decade importing a range of Russian-made military equipment, politics
now have become an issue, commented military expert Azad Isazade, a
former Azerbaijani defense-ministry official.

As it looks on the plans for a trade union with Azerbaijani enemy
Armenia, Baku increasingly feels that Moscow EURO ™s interests in
resolving the 26-year-long Karabakh conflict are more closely aligned
with those of Armenia, where Russia already has troops stationed.

By focusing its attention on its own military-production capabilities
or on military partnerships with other countries, EURO oethe Azerbaijani
government wanted to balance the pro-Armenian position of Moscow, EURO
Isazade said.

Elhan Shahinoglu, head of the non-profit Atlas Research Center in
Baku, agreed. EURO oeI think that after the last meeting of the
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents in Sochi [in August],
[Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev has lost any hope that Moscow is
going to play a positive role in the Karabakh conflict EURO ™s
resolution, EURO he commented.

The Kremlin EURO ™s support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine
and intervention in the conflict there does little to reassure Baku on
this point.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has not specifically addressed such
misgivings, but, in his opening remarks at ADEX-2014, commented that
EURO oein the current world, countries have to keep facing new security
challenges, which make cooperation and the exchange of modern military
technologies more important. EURO

Azerbaijan is due to receive 100 Russian-made T-90C tanks in early
2015, but the shipment is based on a 2010 contract, Trend news agency
reported, citing an adviser to Russia EURO ™s state-owned weapons-export
company, Rosobornexport. Azerbaijan has not announced any more such
contracts.

Defense Minister Jamalov claims that Azerbaijan expects by the end of
2015 to be able to meet almost all of its own needs for ammunition and
tank and artillery shells, formerly mostly supplied by Russia, Belarus
and Ukraine.

Israel, which imports most of its natural gas from Azerbaijan, appears
to play a leading role in Azerbaijan EURO ™s makeover into a
materiel-manufacturer. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon visited
Azerbaijan for the first time this month to meet President Aliyev and
attend ADEX-2014.

At the exhibition, Azerbaijan presented models of two drones produced
in conjunction with an unnamed Israeli company EURO ” one for
reconnaissance ( EURO oeAerostar EURO ) and one for combat-missions (
EURO oeOrbiter 2M EURO ).

Overall, 200 companies from 34 countries, including the United States
and Russia, took part in the event, which featured products ranging
from armored troop carriers to sniper guns.

Only one contract with an Azerbaijani company was signed during the
show, however, an Azerbaijani defense-industry representative
commented to EurasiaNet.org.

South Africa EURO ™s Paramount Group, a privately owned defense company
which claims to be the largest in Africa, plans to create a joint
venture with Azerbaijan EURO ™s private AirTechService to work on upgrades
to military helicopters and some jets.

The defense industry representative, who asked not to be named, noted,
however, that other countries expected to take an interest in
Azerbaijani materiel include Arab Persian-Gulf states, and, in Central
Asia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

NATO member states Estonia, Bulgaria, Lativa, Lithuania, Poland and
Romania, all of which have indicated they will increase defense
spending in response to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, also feature
among the sales-targets, the representative said.

But weapons manufacturing alone does not provide Azerbaijan with a
sense of security.

Like other former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan, with one eye on the
Karabakh flare-up and another on the Ukrainian civil war, is trying to
find new ways to protect itself from Russian pressure, noted
Shahinoglu.

On Aug. 19, Defense Minister Hasanov met with Georgian Defense
Minister Irakli Alasania and Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz in
the exclave of Nakhchivan, President Aliyev EURO ™s ancestral home, to
address the EURO oemilitary-political situation in the region, EURO as the
government-friendly AzerNews put it.

After the meeting, Georgian Defense Minister Alasania, the most
publicly talkative of the three, said the trio plans to defend
collectively regional pipelines and railroads EURO ” strategic projects
in which all three already cooperate EURO ” in case of military
aggression in any of the three countries.

Joint military exercises also will be held, although the 30,000-troop
exercises currently underway in Azerbaijan only include Azerbaijani
forces.

While one Russian security analyst has questioned the pact EURO ™s
significance since Turkey and Azerbaijan already are military allies,
defense expert Isazade countered that Turkey EURO ™s presence will
constrain Moscow in its treatment of Georgia and Azerbaijan, and
reassure the international community that energy resources will be
protected.

EURO oeIf there would be just an alliance of Baku and Tbilisi, Moscow
would not care, EURO he elaborated. EURO oeBut Turkey, which is a NATO
member and also has wide links and cooperation with Russia, is an
important factor of stability for the region. EURO

So far, no official response has come from Moscow.

ARMENIA
Nearly 3,300 deaths in Armenia in traffic accidents during the past 10 years

According to official figures published in Yerevan, in the last 10
years (2004-2013) in Armenia, 3252 people died in traffic accidents.
During the same period 27,100 people were also injured in road
accidents. Over the past 10 years, Armenia has imported 297,000
vehicles and at the same time the traffic accidents increased by 2.4
times. The poor condition of roads and dilapidated or absence of
certain signs are among the factors that increase the traffic
accidents.

Krikor Amirzayan

Sunday, October 5, 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan © armenews.com

BOXE
35e victoire pour Vanes Martirosyan

L’arméno-américain Vanes Martirosyan (28 ans, né à Vanatsor en
Arménie), ex-challenger du titre de champion du monde WBO des poids
mi-moyens était hier soir à Mashantucket (Connecticut) opposé à
l’Américain Willie Nelson. Le combat qui s’est déroulé en 10 rounds
fut remporté par Vanes Martirosyan aux points. Blessé à l’arcade au 4e
round, l’arméno-américain a repris l’avantage et remporta fort
logiquement le combat à l’unanimité des juges. C’est la 35 victoire
combat professionnel pour Vanes Martirosyan (dont 28 avant la limite).
L’arméno-américain ne compte qu’une seule défaite.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 5 octobre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

FRANCE-HAUT KARABAGH
La ville de Bourg-Lès-Valence a signé une Charte d’Amitié avec Chouchi
au Haut Karabagh

Une délégation de la ville de Bourg-lès-Valence (Drôme), conduite par
Madame le Maire Marlène Mourier s’est rendue le 4 octobre dans la
ville de Chouchi au Haut Karabagh pour y signer la Charte d’Amitié
entre Bourg-Lès-Valence et Chouchi. Ainsi Bourg-Lès-Valence est
devenue la troisième ville française à signer une Charte d’Amitié avec
une ville du Haut Karabagh. A Stepanakert, Marlène Mourier a été reçue
par le ministère des Affaires étrangères de la République du Haut
Karabagh, Karen Mirzoyan. Ce dernier a félicité l’élue française pour
son initiative et son désir d’établir des liens direct entre la ville
française et le Haut Karabagh. Marlène Mourier a affirmé son souhait
de voir d’autres communes de France, signer une telle Charte d’Amitié
avec des villes du Haut Karabagh. Un développement de la coopération
entre Bourg-Lès-Valence et Chouchi fut mis en place. Hovhannès
Guevorguian, le représentant de la République du Haut Karabagh en
France était également présent à la réunion.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 5 octobre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

‘THE WEEK OF MADNESS’

Arshak Sarkissian gently challenges the viewer to make up their own
mind about what they are seeing when looking at his highly detailed
and often very colourful new artworks.

The Armenian artist’s fourth exhibition at Nicosia’s Opus 39 Gallery,
entitled ‘The week of madness’ is on until October 11.

The show is made up of beautifully executed ink drawings, exquisitely
colourful paintings and a sculpture you expect to climb down off its
pedestal and walk around the gallery any second.

Speaking to The Cyprus Weekly, Sarkissian revealed one of the
reasons he often omits titling his work is because he does not want
to influence the viewer in deciding how each painting, drawing or
sculpture makes them feel.

“Someone may look at this collection and say, ‘Oh, it’s a carnival,’
but it isn’t although it may make that person think of a carnival,”
instead, the artist said, each work is about the emotions and feelings
the characters it depicts emote.

The exhibition’s title was inspired by the care people in past decades
took in preparing for an outing or special event, even at their own
home, the artist said: “It was not about dressing up to show off but
about feeling comfortable with how they were dressed.”

Sarkissian added: “My work is about the idea of someone, their
personality, the atmosphere they create. It is not about what they
are doing but what they make you feel.”

He gave the example of seeing a couple walking hand in hand: “When
you look at them, you don’t think about what their names are. You
conceive the concept of two people holding hands.”

Sarkissian notes the images he creates are from modern life but
“from another reality, from my reality”.

The artist also pays the same amount of attention to every pen or
brush stroke in his works, believing every element is of equal value.

“In historical paintings you may see very different levels of
importance were given to the face of a king, for example, and to his
dog,” Sarkissian said, noting: ‘I am more of a documental artist.

Beautiful and ugly are the same to me. Every image–man, woman, child,
pair of shoes, gets the same attention.”

The artist also finds it natural to switch between elements: “If you
are swimming your body gives you what you need to do that particular
thing. It is the same with the mediums I work in. You have a particular
idea in mind and the medium guides you.”

His sculptures more often than not begin as characters in his paintings
and drawings–sometimes making several appearances.

“I can draw or paint a character for years and then it comes to a
point when I think, yes, it is time to sculpt this guy.”

While travelling constraints mean the larger scale pieces than
those currently on show at Opus 39 could not be brought to Cyprus,
Sarkissian is nonetheless confident they are a more than adequate
representation of his work.

The sole sculpture is particularly representative of his current
endeavours, he said, adding an exhibition in his native Armenia,
where his studio is also located, would be different.

The artist enjoys coming to Cyprus both because his first solo
exhibition was here, at Opus 39, over 10 years ago, and because of the
atmosphere which, he said, stays the same in spite of other changes.

Sarkissian also did his post graduate studies at Cyprus College of Art
with Stass Paraskos and was saddened by his death earlier this year.

“I was in Armenia when it happened. I knew from his son that Stass
was not feeling well and I was aware of his age but, although this
is life, I was sad.”

Sarkissian added, however that Paraskos, like all artists would live
on in his legacy.

“He was a great painter and many people met him over the many years
he was at Lemba. He was a remarkable man.

“His life, his painting, his personality, his voice, the way he spoke,”
Sarkissian said of Paraskos, adding: “Artists are lucky because they
never die, they live on through their work.”

Sarkissian’s future plans include exhibiting in both New York and
Armenia in the coming year. Coming to Cyprus after an exhibition in
Andorra, he noted how different shows in different countries can be.

“It is always very interesting to see how people connect with your
work. I have always found that bit fascinating and always will.”

Sarkissian was born in Gyumri, Armenia in 1981. After completing
his education at the National Aesthetic Centre of Art in Armenia,
he came to Cyprus working with Paraskos.

Sarkissian has had solo shows at the Albemarle Gallery in London,
Gavriel Gallery in Bremen, in Paris and New York. Among his works
is the interior design of passenger terminals in Zvartnots Armenia
International Airport.

He has participated in numerous art projects such as the Art Omi
International Artist residency, in New York and “Stand Up For Your
Rights” Design and Illustration Team Residence program in Buntingford,
UK and the Andirran National Commission for UNESCO international art
camp 2014. He works and lives in Yerevan, Armenia.

Visit for more on the artist and his work.

A catalogue featuring Sarkissian’s new work is also available to
purchase from Moufflon Bookshop in Nicosia (22665155).

Opus 39 Gallery is situated at 21, Kimonos St., Nicosia, opposite
the Education Ministry.

It is open Mondays from 5-8pm, Tuesday-Friday from 10.30am-12.30pm
and 5-8pm and on Saturdays from 10.30am-12.30pm.

Call 22424983 or visit the gallery’s official Facebook page.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: HEAD OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE MAY BE REPLACED

11:50 04/10/2014 ” DAILY PRESS

Following the recent negative developments at the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Armenian authorities
are considering the possibility of replacing head of the Armenian
delegation Hermine Naghdalyan, according to Haykakan Zhamanak.

Members of Republican Party of Armenia Koryun Nahapetyan, Samvel
Farmanyan and Arpine Hovhannisyan are considered the main candidates
for this position.

Rumors say the position may be offered to ex-Foreign Minister of
Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan, the newspaper writes.

Source: Panorama.am

AEF SUPPORTERS RAISE $140,000 FOR NEW SCHOOL IN ARMENIA

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

Armen & Silva Golnazarians (left) with Melody Petrossian, 2014
Fundraising Chair, and Al Cabraloff, AEF President

GLENDALE–The Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) held its Donor
Appreciation Dinner on September 7 at the home of Armen and Silva
Golnazarians. This year, the funds raised will be used to construct
a new school in Arevadasht Village in the Armavir Region of Armenia.

Arevadasht is near the Turkish border and is located a few kilometers
from Sardarabad.

AEF President, Al Cabraloff, opened the evening by thanking the
Golnazarians and those present for their generosity and support.

Cabraloff gave a brief update report on AEF. Some of the highlights
included the completion of over 200 school renovation projects, most
recently village schools in Darbas, (Lori Region), Nngi,( Artsakh) and
Issakyan (Shirag Region). Cabraloff also recognized Neshan Peroomian,
Armenia Projects Chair, for his hard work and effort in successfully
leading AEF’s school renovation projects for the last 15 years.

Peter Baghdassarian, AEF Board member, presented a short overview
of the Arevadasht School and its current deplorable and unhealthy
condition. An emotional video, produced by Christina Shakarian,
showed the heart wrenching conditions the students of Arevadasht
School currently attend classes in, and how important the new school
will be for the students and staff.

In addition, George Jorjorian was honored for his steadfast support
of AEF and the education of students in Armenia, Artsakh, and Anjar,
and for establishing a $250,000 endowment fund to provide full tuition
scholarships to 24 students graduating from high schools in Gumri,
Alaverdi, Spitak, Etchmiadsin, Dilijan, and Stepanakert.

In closing, Melody Petrossian thanked the Golnazarians for opening
their home for this event. She also thanked the fundraising committee
for their hard work and all the donors for their part in the success
of the evening.

For more information or to make a donation, please contact the AEF
office at (818) 242-4154 or email [email protected].