Author: Kajoyan Gevork

TURKISH EDUCATION MINISTRY TO HEAR MINORITIES’ APPEAL

Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 6 2012
Russia

The Armenian community is preparing to present a report to the Turkish
education minister, requesting certain modifications to the regulations
at minority schools.

In a report to Education Minister Omer Dincer, the Armenian community
will demand the abolition of the practice of appointing Turkish deputy
principals to minority schools.

Yedikule Surp Pırgic Armenian Hospital Foundation head Bedros
Å~^irinoglu is set to meet Dincer in the upcoming days. According to
the report, the community will demand the abolition of Turkish deputy
principals being appointed to minority schools, which started being
implemented during the 1970s. The report will also demand that the
terms of offices of Turkish language and Turkish history teachers be
determined by the schools themselves.

Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News, Å~^irinoglu said he had some
concerns about the subject of the deputy principals, but that he
was planning to prioritize the issue of teacher appointments at the
presentation of the report.

“Of course, the state should give citizens their rights, but this
should be carried out with a proper attitude. I am planning to give
priority to the issue of the teachers’ terms of office, and I believe
we will get positive results [from the meeting],” he said.

ARMENIANS PROTEST HUNGARY’S EXTRADITION OF AXE MURDERER SEPTEMBER 07, 2012 01:18 AM

The Daily Star
Sept 7 2012
Lebanon

The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Youth members of Armenian political parties rallied Thursday
at the Hungarian Embassy in Beirut to protest against the extradition
from Budapest to Baku and subsequent pardoning of an Azerbaijani
soldier who axed an Armenian to death.

Youths from the Tashnag, Hunchag and Ramgavar parties participated in
the protest at the embassy in Sanayeh, while their parties’ officials
met with the Hungarian ambassador and handed him a memo protesting
against his government’s decision.

“The brutal murderer has been treated like a national hero since
returning to Azerbaijian. This is a blatant violation of international
justice and the rule of law in a clear case of homicide,” the memo
read.

Protesters held aloft banners denouncing Hungary’s decision, which
they said encourages Azerbaijani hatred of Armenians and violates
international law.

On Feb. 19, 2004, Azerbaijani army Lt. Ramil Safarov used an axe to
bludgeon to death Gurgen Margaryan, an officer in the Armenian army
who was asleep at the Budapest military academy where both men were
attending English-language courses organized by NATO.

Safarov was arrested and tried in a Hungarian court. In 2006, he was
sentenced to life in prison.

Safarov served eight years of his life sentence.

On Aug. 31, 2012, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan, where he
was greeted as a hero. He was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev,
promoted to the rank of major and given a new apartment and money by
the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

In 1988, in the waning days of the Soviet Union, fighting broke out
between Armenians and Azeris over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The fighting developed into a full-fledged war following the
independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1990 and 1991, respectively,
and lasted until 1994. The two countries still do not have diplomatic
relations with each other.

KERRY STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF RAMIL SAFAROV

Congressional Documents and Publications
September 5, 2012

Senate Foreign Relations Committee News Release

The following information was released by the Chairman of the U.S.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations:

Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee,
today responded to the transfer and release of Ramil Safarov, an
Azeri soldier who hacked an Armenian soldier to death in his sleep
at a Partnership for Peace exercise in 2004. The Hungarians released
Safarov to Azerbaijan where he was set free and treated like a hero.

Hungary recently transferred Ramil Safarov, who had been serving
a life sentence for the axe murder of an Armenian soldier at an
international exercise in 2004, to Azerbaijan, with the apparent
understanding that his prison term would continue. I am shocked and
appalled that Azerbaijan not only welcomed Safarov home, but pardoned,
promoted, and treated him as a hero. This needlessly provocative act
endangers the fragile peace between these countries and damages the
government of Azerbaijans credibility.

Read this original document at:

CHESS OLYMPIAD: ARMENIA REDISCOVERS WINNING WAYS WITH VICTORY OVER UZBEKISTAN

Chess | 06.09.12 | 11:27

Photo: istanbul2012.tsf.org.tr

In Round 8 of the ongoing World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey,
Armenia beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to pull itself up to third place in
current standings.

The two victories in the match games were registered on boards #3 and
#4 (Vladimir Akopian and Gabriel Sargissian). The success followed
a draw with Russia and a defeat from China that stopped Armenia’s
otherwise perfect run in the tournament.

With three rounds to go, Armenia is trailing leaders Russia by two
points, but is level on points with second-placed China.

In Round 9 of the competition tonight Armenia’s opponent is Germany.

Russia and China, meanwhile, play the United States and the
Philippines, respectively.

The games in Istanbul begin at 4 pm local time (6 pm Yerevan time) and
can be followed live on Armchess.am. More information is also available
on the tournament’s official website: istanbul2012.tsf.org.tr.

SAFAROV’S HISTORY TO BE DISCUSSED AT PACE AUTUMN SESSION: ARMENIAN SIDE SUCCEEDED IN IT

18:15 . 06/09

Most probably, the issue of Ramil Safarov’s release will be discussed
as an ongoing issue on October 1-5 at PACE autumn session to be held
in Strasburg.

The representative of the Armenian delegation Armen Rustamyan informed
Yerkirn Aysor [The Country Today] TV programme during a phone talk
from Paris, where the session of the Committee on Human Rights and
Legal Issues was held today. Armen Rustamyan suggested that the
committee should address Safarov’s ill-famed history in a plenary
session of the Assembly. The suggestion was passed with 20 votes for
and 7 votes against.

The chairman of the PACE Committee on Nagorno Karabakh Xucla I Costa
voted against together with the Turkish and Azerbaijani delegates. The
Hungarian delegate didn’t participate in the session.

“A very hot discussion was held. I said as many high level bodies have
already issued statements on what has happened, our Assembly also has
to express its attitude. I proposed to initiate a discussion bringing
all the arguments connected with the issue. I said this is a challenge
not only to Armenia, but also to PACE and all the civilized humanity.

This is a situation, which has no precedent, and we have to treat
this issue seriously.

Azerbaijani and Turkish delegates did everything to divert the
committee from the issue, but the initiative enjoyed support. There
were also other suggestions. For example, a group of MPs suggested
addressing the issue in the legal plane, too. Particularly, it was
suggested that Gurgen Margaryan’s legal successors, i.e. his parents
should apply to the European Court demanding exercise of justice.

After hot discussions, the initiative was put to vote and passed
with 20 votes for and 7 votes against,” the member of the Armenian
delegation to PACE Armen Rustamyan said.

“NEUTRAL STATEMENTS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SERVE A BASIS FOR BAKU’S SUCH A NOISY POSTURE”

16:36 . 06/09

Today, RA President Serzh Sargsyan received NATO Secretary General
Anders Fogh Rasmusen. Armenia is ready and determined to maintain and
develop the current level of cooperation with NATO, Serzh Sargsyan
said.

Afterwards, the president reminded the Secretary General of the bloody
incident during the NATO Partnership for Peace Program’s English
classes. The Armenian officer who was participating in NATO programme
was killed by a representative of a NATO member country. But, even
this will not cast a shadow over the warm relations between Armenia
and NATO.

“It is an unacceptable, appalling and intolerable phenomenon which
has dealt a huge blow to the objectives of the Partnership for Peace
program, and poses a serious threat to the regional security in the
South Caucasus. In this situation, nobody has a moral right to remain
silent, to overlook what has happened,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

In this respect the president urged the international community to
refrain from the so-called political correctness in official documents
and public statements. The neutral statements on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict become a base for Azerbaijan’s raucous posture and actions.

“When I meet the Azerbaijani president tomorrow, I will convey a clear
message. I am deeply concerned over Azerbaijan’s decision to pardon
the officer of Azerbaijani army Safarov, as it undermines the trust.

That tragic and terrible incident, which happened 8 years ago was a
crime, which cannot be glorified, but just the opposite,” Rasmusen
said.

Rasmusen highlighted Armenia’s participation in Kosovo and Afghanistan
mission. And his visit to Armenia, according to the Secretary General,
shows that NATO is and will remain committed to strengthening the
South Caucasus region’s security and stability.

“Armenia is a valuable partner for NATO and NATO is a valuable partner
for Armenia. Now we have the opportunity to build an even stronger
partnership for the future. It is an opportunity we must seize because
we all have to gain and so does the region as a whole. NATO is ready
to continue its support,” Rasmusen said.

The Hungarian-Azerbaijani conspiracy perhaps diverted the attention
of the public and diplomatic circles from one more important fact
connected with the NATO Secretary General’s regional visit. The days
of the NATO head’s visit coincide with the days of military exercises
scheduled to take place in Armenia of the member countries of another,
rival organization- the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

President Sargsyan assures there is no rivalry.

“I frankly don’t think CSTO and NATO are rivals. Especially, I don’t
think that the member countries must not cooperate. On the contrary, we
must reach stability with that cooperation,” Serzh Sargsyan has said.

Beyond the diplomatic words, however, it is impossible not to notice
the fight in CSTO-NATO front, in which not one superpower is involved.

HUNGARY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN UNAWARE HOW AZERBAIJAN WOULD HAVE BEHAVED WITH SAFAROV – ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT

news.am
September 06, 2012 | 14:13

YEREVAN. – The Hungarian authorities could not have been unaware that
the murderer was to be made a hero in Azerbaijan, Armenia’s President
Serzh Sargsyan said Thursday during his joint briefing with NATO
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The President recalled that the Armenian side had cautioned its
partners, on numerous occasions, that making statements that are
biased, and which do not express the true meaning of the conflict,
are perilous, and, first and foremost, they strengthen Azerbaijan’s
deconstructive position.

“I’m confident that the ‘political decency’ became the basis for
Azerbaijan’s such actions and position,” Sargsyan noted.

In his words, this murder should not cast a shadow upon relations
between Armenia and NATO.

“We witnessed how the criminal was immediately pardoned by Azerbaijan’s
president. Here I use the word ‘pardon’ with some reservations because
the real objective of this decision was to justify Safarov; this is
the problem,” the President remarked.

As per Sargsyan, Azerbaijan made itself become a backer of criminals.

“This is unacceptable and deserves criticism; this is a blow to the
Partnership for Peace program [of NATO] and it undermines the security
of South Caucasus,” he said.

Also, the President considered Hungary’s decision to extradite Safarov
to be impermissible.

“The Hungarian authorities confirmed this suspicion. [But] Today I
express gratitude to all those Hungarians who supported the Armenian
people in these difficult times,” Armenia’s President stated.

NATO SEES NO OBSTACLE BEFORE ARMENIA’S COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA – ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN

news.am
September 06, 2012 | 14:39

YEREVAN. – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) sees no
obstacle before Armenia’s cooperation with the Treaty and Russia
alike, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated Thursday,
while addressing the students and faculty at YerevanStateUniversity.

“We likewise are cooperating with Russia, and this enables to better
secure the continent’s stability,” Rasmussen assured.

In NATO Secretary General’s view, Armenia and the region must
ultimately use their great potential.

“And we know what obstructs all this: Closed borders, mined fields,
closed air spaces, and the unstable situation in the region,” he noted.

Rasmussen also stated that the countries in this region have the most
obstacles with their neighbors than any other region in the world.

“We need to build new relations with the countries in the region. And
with respect to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, NATO has two points:
First, the conflict shall not be resolved through military means.

Second, the conflict shall solely be resolved through dialogue,”
NATO Secretary General maintained.

‘EREBOUNI’ ADDS TO ARMENIAN CULTURAL LIFE IN BOSTON

Armenian Weekly
September 5, 2012

WATERTOWN, Mass.-The second season of Hamazkayin-Boston’s Erebouni
Dance School and Ensemble is about to start. The school went from
0 to 60 students in 7 months, and a great performance at the end of
the inaugural season left every parent bragging about their child’s
participation. Luckily, there is more to come, as promised by Arman
Mnatsakanyan, the artistic director of the school.

Members of the dance school In October 2011, Hamazkayin-Boston,
under Mnatsakanyan’s leadership, formed the school in response to the
community’s demands for such an institution. The mission of the school
is to provide an educational environment for children where they can
learn the fundamentals of the art of dance in a structured manner.

“We help children develop correct posture, body alignment, strength,
flexibility, and coordination before instructing them in any specific
dance discipline,” said Mnatsakanyan, adding that “this is a holistic
approach in dance art education that is utilized in most professional
schools.”

In June 2012, seven months after opening its doors, Erebouni Dance
School and Ensemble students took the stage at Watertown High School’s
Shaw Auditorium, where they presented traditional Armenian dances
through fresh and exciting expression-and with confidence and poise.

In the presence of more than 500 guests, the students performed
14 pieces ranging from regional numbers such as “Taroni Par” (Taron
Dance) to “Martakan Lorke,” and finished with a rousing performance of
“Hayer Miatsek” (Armenians Unite).

In November, the children will perform on stage with Inga and Anoush
Arshakyan at the duo’s Boston debut. From Eurovision to the Americas
and beyond, Inga and Anoush have entertained and delighted audiences
all over the world. And now Erebouni students will experience the
dazzle of fame and the beauty of our pop culture first-hand. Inga and
Anoush will perform in New Jersey on Nov. 10, and in Watertown on Nov.

11. Tickets for both shows may be purchased online at

Members of Hamazkayin-Boston believe that a live orchestra to
accompany the dancers’ performance enhances the learning process
and brings greater enjoyment to the audience. To that end, Martin
Haroutunian led a group of professional musicians to provide live
music at Erebouni’s inaugural performance. Haroutunian, the artistic
director of the Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble and a favorite of the New
England Armenian community, believes that “our primary goal is to
teach Armenian traditional folk dances to our children. We believe
this to be one way of keeping our traditions alive in the hearts of
our younger generations.”

The school opens its second season this September. If you are looking
for a nurturing environment for your child to connect with his or
her roots, to make new friendships while exercising and building
healthy lifestyle habits, look no further. Visit us online at
or call (617) 331-0426 for more
information or to register.

About the artistic director

Arman Mnatsakanyan began his dancing career at the Pioneer Palace
Youth Group in Yerevan, Armenia. He was later accepted into the
Armenian State School of Dance. In 1995, he joined the “Friendship”
State Dance Ensemble, where he became one of the premier soloists,
performing in many countries. He also studied in the State Pedagogical
University’s dance department. Mnatsakanyan founded the “Golden Age”
Dance Ensemble and became its artistic director, winning numerous
awards and medals. He was the coach of the winning team of Armenia’s
“Dancing with the Stars” equivalent during its second season (Shant
TV’s Folk Dances 2 program).

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION CONDEMNS SAFAROV PARDONING

Armenian Weekly
September 5, 2012

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy this
week condemned Azerbaijan’s pardoning of Ramil Safarov after his
extradition from Hungary, where he was serving a life sentence-with
no expression of either regret or remorse-for the murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan.

A Hungarian demonstrator in front of the Parliament in Budapest on
Sept. 4.

As very few doubted, Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was his
act of murder, by Ilham Aliyev’s government and regime. The Azerbaijani
government reportedly had agreed to let Safarov serve his prison term
in Azerbaijan. Yet, he was promptly promoted to the rank of major,
received a free apartment, eight years of back pay, and a hero’s
welcome for the cold-blooded murder of a sleeping Armenian.

“At least now, after the murderer is declared a national hero in
Azerbaijan, the society in Hungary and other European countries must
fully realize the reason why the Armenians in Mountainous Karabagh will
never agree to be under Azerbaijani rule,” said Vahan Hovhannisyan, the
vice-president of Euronest and a member of the Euronest Parliamentary
Assembly Bureau.

A lack of a forceful European response to this injustice would,
in addition to compromising the Union’s values of human rights,
rule of law, and democracy, undermine prospects for peace, regional
cooperation, and rule of law. It would also embolden an increasingly
heavily armed Azerbaijani government to continue to incite its
own citizens toward violence, and continue its threats and acts of
aggression against Armenia and Armenians worldwide.

Hungary’s extradition of Safarov should continue to be publicly
criticized; Baku must explain Safarov’s release to the international
community; and Safarov must immediately be returned to prison to
serve out the remainder of his life sentence.

“The European Parliament has repeatedly condemned Azerbaijan’s human
rights violations with resolutions and urgent resolutions,” said
Kaspar Karampetian, the president of the European Armenian Federation.

“Clearly this is a country whose government has no intentions of
abiding by the rules of international law. We urge the European Union
to consider values and laws before oil and gas deals, and to stop on
the occasion of every single provocation of Azerbaijan making calls
to both parties to exercise restraint. At last, there must be clear
condemnation of Azerbaijan and its adventurous policies,” he said.