Author: Kajoyan Gevork

TIMES ARE CHANGING, AND THE TURKS REMAIN THE SAME: MILITARY EXPERT

20:05 | 2012-09-14 | Opinions | Armenia Opinions |

Angela Elibekova, at political discussions club meeting, spoke on
the topic of the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and the new political
realities that have emerged at the result of extradition of the
criminal Ramil Safarov.

“Within Azerbaijani society Ramil Safarov is not so much a hero,
and it can become an important target for us. Azerbaijani preaching
is implemented on the low level, they are working for the benefit
of us ” Military expert David Jamalyan noted that the incident was
unprecedented, but expected, typical to the Turkish constitution.

“We have once again created an illusion that the Turk has changed,
but the times are changing, and the Turks remain the same, we should
be objective.”

The opinion expert Vahram Mirakyan finds that Western countries
change their policy according their interests. “The great majority
of their society accepts Safarov as a national hero. We, Armenians,
want Safarov to be judged in accordance with international laws.”

POPE BENEDICT XVI TO CONSECRATE ARMENIAN MONUMENT IN LEBANON

news.am
September 13, 2012 | 21:35

BEIRUT. – The Pope Benedict XVI will visit Lebanon on Sept. 14 to 16
and will attend the Memorial in Zmmar, which belongs to the Armenian
Catholic Patriarchate of Lebanon.

One of the key goals of the Pope’s visit is to call the world to peace
and settlement on the Middle East, editor-in-chief of the Armenian
Aztag newspaper published in Lebanon Shahan Kandaharyan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

The Pope also will sign a Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation for the
Middle East. Besides, Benedict XVI will visit the Memorial in Zmmar,
where he will consecrate the monument of Hagop Meghapart, set up in
connection with the 500th anniversary of the Armenian typography. The
Pope will meet with the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram
I within the visit.

ATTACK ON IRAN MAY BRING FORTH ECONOMIC TROUBLES FOR WEST – ANALYSES

news.am
September 13, 2012 | 23:34

Armenian News-NEWS.am presents an article by an American professor
Robert Bruce Ware, which was posted on Antiwar.com website with
some extractions.

Kavkaz-2012 strategic military training exercise of Russia later this
month in the North Caucasus region may bring forth economic problems
for the West. This is because the exercise is strategically linked
to Russian expectations that Iran will be destabilized by the end of
this year. If Iran is destabilized, Russia will uphold its obligations
to Armenia under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Russia could cut a military corridor via the center of Georgia, and
take control of all oil and gas pipes leading to west from the rich
fields of the Caspian Sea. If this is combined with fighting in the
Persian Gulf, energy prices may sharply go up.

Russian officials claim that Kavkaz-2012 is a routine exercise,
and has no connection with events in other countries. They emphasize
that the exercise will occur exclusively on Russian territory and that
they deliberately excluded units from Russian military bases in South
Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Armenia. Armenia is a member of the CSTO and
will host from Sept. 3 to 8 the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force
exercise “Interaction-2012.”

At the same time, Russian officials expect that Iran’s nuclear program
will be attacked by Israel or the U.S. till the end of this year. A
sustained Israeli or American attack will lead to serious instability
in the southern border of Armenia. Armenian supplies likely will be
cut, and Armenia may face a flow of refugees.

An attack on Iran probably will be followed by provocations in areas
disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan [Nagorno-Karabakh and territories
around it].

In case of instability in Iran, a Russian support to Armenia could
be motivated partially by CSTO obligations, along with humanitarian
concerns.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR THREATENED WEST WITH NEW RAMIL SAFAROV

ARMENPRESS
14 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: The Ambassador of Turkey to
Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic, who holds meetings in Baku in the connection
with expiration of his diplomatic mission, threatened the West with
new Ramils Safarov.

As was reported by Armenpress, citing the Azerbaijani haqqin.az news
website, opposing to the critics and condemnation of the international
community, the heads of the leading countries of the world and the
European Council concerning the extradition of Ramil Safarov from
Hungary to Azerbaijan and his further release, the Turkish Ambassador
stated at the press conference with Azerbaijani journalists: “If the
West does not want to see the repeatition of Safarov’s action, it
should rapidly settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issue”. Hulusi
Kilic announced that Turkey had always supported the Azerbaijan’s
“rightful struggle”. The Turkish Ambassador also promised “not to
save any efforts in his further activities in supporting Azerbaijan
in the Karabakh issue”.

On February 19 2004 in Budapest Azerbaijani assassin Ramil Safarov,
who axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while sleeping
with 16 stabs, when they were participating in NATO English Language
Courses in the capital of Hungary, was sentenced to life imprisonment
without right to be pardoned for 30 years. On August 31 2012 Safarov
was extradited from Hungary to Azerbaijan in order to continue his
sentence in the Azerbaijani prison but was pardoned and released by
the President Ilham Aliyev.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA SEES NO GUARANTEE FOR COMPULSORY ACCUMULATED PENSION PLAN

NEWS.AM
September 14, 2012 | 13:40

YEREVAN.- The compulsory accumulated pension system must be introduced
only when a country registers economic growth for several years,
MP from Prosperous Armenia told reporters on Friday.

In the coming days the National Assembly will vote on “Compulsory
accumulated pension system”.

Mikael Melkumyan said the program may be implemented only if guarantees
exist. At the moment Prosperous Armenia sees no guarantees that the
pension plan will work. Melkumyan noted the party had not discussed
the future vote.

ARMENIAN WOMEN BOXERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EUROPEAN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

ARMENPRESS
14 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: From November 2 to 10 the Armenian
women boxers will take part in the European Women’s Youth and Junior
Boxing Championship in Poland. This was reported to Armenpress by
the chief trainer of the Armenian Boxing Team, Honored Trainer of
the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the Republic of
Armenia Rafael Mehrabyan.

According to him, 7-8 women boxers will participate in the European
Women’s Adult Boxing Championship in 2013.

Currently in Armenia there are about 25 women boxers, but this number,
according to the trainer, gradually increases.

L. FABIUS CONFIRME LES INTENTIONS PRESIDENTIELLES SUR LE NEGATIONNISME
Ara

armenews.com
vendredi 14 septembre 2012

Repondant a une question ecrite du senateur Herve Marseille lui
demandant au debut du mois de juillet de preciser la position de
l’Etat Francais sur l’entree de la Turquie dans l’Union Europeenne
et ses intentions sur la repression du negationnisme du genocide
armenien, Laurent Fabius s’est livre aux clarifications suivantes,
qui ont ete publiees dans le journal officiel du Senat :

Laurent Fabius : Bien qu’elles aient ete ouvertes le meme jour que pour
la Croatie, les negociations d’adhesion avec la Turquie sont paralysees
depuis le premier semestre 2010, seuls 13 chapitres de negociations
(sur un total de 35) ayant ete ouverts, dont un provisoirement
clôture. Les causes de ce blocage sont multiples et le Gouvernement
est actuellement en train de definir sa position sur le processus de
negociation. Certaines avancees peuvent d’ores et deja etre constatees,
avec notamment l’ouverture prochaine d’un dialogue sur les visas
entre l’Union europeenne (UE) et la Turquie, mais il paraît important
de definir une strategie d’ensemble pour permettre de retablir des
relations fortes et durables avec ce partenaire strategique qu’est
Ankara. Par ailleurs, l’ouverture du semestre de presidence chypriote
de l’Union europeenne au 1er juillet dernier a marque le debut d’une
nouvelle periode qui s’annonce difficile pour les relations entre l’UE
et la Turquie, mais il est indispensable de ne pas rompre le fil du
dialogue. Aussi les six prochains mois devront-ils etre employes a
la reflexion ainsi qu’a la concertation avec Ankara afin de replacer
le processus euro-turc dans une dynamique positive. Mais quelle que
soit la position de fond que prendra la France, la Turquie devra
imperativement faire les efforts necessaires et adopter les reformes
qui, seules, pourront determiner le rythme d’avancee des negociations
S’agissant de la penalisation de la negation du genocide armenien, le
president de la Republique a indique que les engagements pris seraient
tenus. Au-dela, il est essentiel de rappeler le devoir de memoire a
l’egard du peuple armenien, victime du genocide de 1915. C’est d’abord
a la Turquie d’y repondre. En ce qui concerne la France, elle peut y
contribuer aussi en incitant au developpement du debat historique en
Turquie. Son devoir est d’~uvrer en faveur de la reconciliation entre
l’Armenie et la Turquie et d’aider ces deux partenaires a surmonter
les blessures du passe pour mieux se tourner vers l’avenir.

LES FONDATIONS DES MINORITES EXIGENT DU TEMPS SUPPLEMENTAIRE POUR LE RETOUR DES PROPRIETES
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 14 septembre 2012

La periode d’un an donnee aux Fondations des minorites pour demander
le retour de leur propriete a expire, mais des plaintes sont toujours
en cours. Les membres du conseil des Fondations des minorites ont
souligne que le processus est bien parti pendant une annee, mais que
la periode d’un an n’a pas ete suffisante pour qu’ils puissent faire la
demande de leur propriete et qu’un temps supplementaire est necessaire.

S’exprimant dans le journal Hurriyet, Harutyun Sanli, membre du
comite de coordination de la Plate-forme de Solidarite des Fondations
Armenienne, ou VADIP, a dit qu’ils avaient rencontre le Directeur
general des Fondations Adnan Ertem au debut du mois d’août.

” Adnan Ertem a dit que nous avions 600 proprietes, mais ne
travaillions pas assez dur pour les recuperer. Les chefs des
fondations sont tous des amateurs. On exige qu’un examen serieux
revèle les proprietes. Quelques-uns de nos terrains sont occupes,
quelques-uns ont fait construire des routes sur eux. De tels cas
doivent etre detectes ” a dit M.Sanli. ” Cependant, des procedures
bureaucratiques et l’indifference de quelques chefs de fondation
les rendent difficile. Nous n’avons ni les donnees suffisantes,
ni la declaration de 1936 “.

” On doit donner du temps supplementaire et les elections [des chefs
des fondations] doivent etre ouvertes a tous a Istanbul. La nouvelle
legislation doit etre presentee pour empecher l’usage impropre de
l’autorite, pour que les chefs des fondations n’agissent pas juste
comme ils le souhaitent ” a dit M.Sanli.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS RESOLUTION DEPLORING AZERI MURDERER

NEWS.AM
September 13, 2012 | 18:51

European Parliament adopted on Thursday resolution titled “Azerbaijan:
the case of Ramil Safarov”.

The motion for the resolution was submitted by five political groups.

The document deplores the decision by the President of Azerbaijan to
pardon Ramil Safarov.

During the debates majority of speakers stressed that pardoning Safarov
is against the spirit of the European convention. They also deplored
making a hero of murderer Ramil Safarov. For instance, MP Jaroslaw
Paska called the decision “a shock for civilized world”

Speaking during the debate, MP Ulrike Lunacek said Hungary’s government
has its share of responsibility and Premier Orban ignored the warnings
of his government. She stressed Premier made an economic deal to help
his country come out of the crisis.

Jaroslaw Paska also stressed that Safarov killed Armenian officer
not in battlefield but during NATO-sponsored seminar.

However, several MPs said they would vote against as the resolution
might escalate situation in the region and will damage the Karabakh
peace process.

Parliament deplored the pardon granted by President Aliyev of
Azerbaijan to Ramil Safarov. MEPs fear this could further inflame
tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia and jeopardise “all peaceful
reconciliation processes.”

They said the “legitimate frustration in Azerbaijan and Armenia” at the
lack of substantial progress in the peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh
“does not justify either acts of revenge or futile provocations.” They
called on the EU to play a stronger role in the settlement of the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Parliament also said the association
agreement under negotiation between the EU and Azerbaijan should
include human rights and rule-of-law clauses and benchmarks.

BEDFORD PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES ARMENIAN LIFESTYLES
by Tom Vartabedian

September 13, 2012

WINCHESTER, Mass.-The hidden treasures of everyday life are carefully
recorded by Bedford photographer Astrid Reischwitz, who finds a
special kinship to Armenians.

Photographer Astrid Reischwitz Reischwitz recently spent hours with
Stephen Dulgarian, whose Chelmsford home reverberates with Armenian
books and artifacts.

Dulgarian opened his collection to the photographer, who found it
replete with abstract art.

Much of it will be part of an exhibit Sept. 6-23 at Griffin Museum
of Photography, located at 67 Shore Rd., titled “Photography Atelier
16.” Also on exhibit will be the work of artist Bob Avakian.

“Being of German ancestry, I can relate very much to the turmoil
experienced by Armenians during their 1915 genocide through my own
grandparents and ancestors who were in concentration camps,” said
Reischwitz. “Armenians have a story to tell through their personal
belongings and there is much which can be revealed to the naked eye.”

Objects like books, telephones, old records, and picture frames were
carefully exposed through her insight.

“They remind us that all things simultaneously are present in this
world yet are at risk of vanishing if we don’t preserve them,” said
Reischwitz. “It amazes me that after a genocide, people like Stephen
Dulgarian still cling to their past with reverence.”

Reischwitz is close friends with photographer Sona Gevorkian, who
helped promote her exhibit on Armenian photography at the Bedford
Library last year. Gevorkian happens to be Dulgarian’s daughter,
and thus, a connection was made to photograph his archives for this
exhibit.

Prominently displayed in the collage are an array of genocide books
and a poignant glimpse of a skull by a Bible and cross, symbolizing
the Armenian struggle to preserve Christianity.

For this exhibit, Reischwitz will exhibit two tableaus each containing
12 scenes.

“I believe we hold onto our objects to preserve a memory and to prove
that we exist here and now,” she said. “Perhaps I was drawn to this
project out of a wish for permanence in a world of loss and decay.”

Born in Germany, Reischwitz graduated from the Technical University
Braunschweig with a chemistry degree. Soon after moving to the United
States, she followed her passion for photography with courses at the
International Center of Photography in New York, focusing on a black
and white format.

Her series “Layers of Urban Life/Street Art” incorporates her
fascination with street photography and her love for the visual arts.

Gallery hours at the museum are Tuesdays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 5
p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, noon to
4 p.m. For further details, visit