Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SITUATION CALM IN ARMENIAN DISTRICTS IN ALEPPO, SYRIA -COMMUNITY SOURCE

news.am
August 06, 2012 | 22:01

ALEPPO. – The situation is calm in general in the Armenian districts in
Aleppo, an Armenian community representative in Aleppo told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

According to him, the situation in general is relatively calm, while
fights are mainly held in Muslim districts in Aleppo. At the same time,
the situation in Damascus varies from Aleppo, as Armenians live in
various districts of the city.

“It is most important that no Armenians were suffered as they are in
homes,” he said adding the Armenian districts have not been bombed.

As a matter of fact, over 50,000 Armenians live in Syria.

THE ARMENIAN WOMAN CHESS PLAYER WON IN ATHENS

ARMENPRESS
6 August, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, August 6, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian woman chess player
Shushanna Sargsyan won the Greek athlete Teodora Kutsoioannuyn with
black figures in the 4th round of women tournament of the world
chess championship up to 20 year old held in Athens. “Armenpress”
was informed by the Armenian Chess Federation.

Sargsyan scored 2 points out of 4 possible and is now in the 36th
place.

Nastasya Zyazulkina from Belarus is the tournament leader who has
3.5 points.

66 chess players participate in this tournament.

CHIEF OF STAFF OF IRANIAN ARMED FORCES: TURKEY, QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA RESPONSIBLE FOR SYRIAN BLOODSHED

Panorama.am
06/08/2012

Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are responsible for the Syrian
bloodshed, said Major General Seyed Hassan Firuzabadi, the Chief of
Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, according to Fars News Agency.

Firuzabadi said that those countries which assist Syrian armed groups
in their fight against al-Assad regime should know that Turkey and
the rest of the countries could come after Syria.

Read also: Iranian MP: Ankara should answer for activities of Turkish
general arrested in Syria

SAMVEL TER-SAHAKYAN 5TH AT WORLD JUNIOR U20 CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 6, 2012 – 20:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian grandmaster Samvel Ter-Sahakyan scored 3,5
points out of 4 to come 5th at World Junior U20 Chess Championships
round four.

Meanwhile, Karen Grigoryan comes 14th with 3 points, with Vahe
Baghdasaryan having scored 2 points.

In the fifth round, Ter-Sahakyan and Grigoryan will face off
against China’s Yi Wei and Hungary’s Oliver Mihok respectively,
with Baghdasaryan to rival Ukraine’s Anton Podolsky.

Shushanna Sargsyan scored 2 points to face Lisa Schut (Netherlands)
in Girls U20 next round.

ARFD: WAR IN SYRIA WILL LED TO ESTABLISHMENT OF KURDISH AUTONOMY IN TERRITORY OF THAT COUNTRY

arminfo
Monday, August 6, 16:18

The conflict in Syria is multi-layer and has gone beyond the domestic
political interests of that country, says Kiro Manoyan, Head of ARFD
Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office.

He told media, Monday that external forces pursue their own interests
in the Middle East. He believes that influence of external forces on
the Syrian political crisis was and will be veiled. Manoyan forecasts
that the Syrian conflict will result in establishment of Kurdish
autonomy in the territory of that country, which is the key issue
official Ankara is concerned about. These issues will be on agenda
of U.S. Secretary of State Clinton’s upcoming visit to Turkey.

As for the probability of military actions against Iran, Manoyan
said that the West has realized long ago that Iran is neither Libya
nor Afghanistan.

HERITAGE YOUTH UNION ISSUES STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF JAILED ANC ACTIVISTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 6, 2012 – 17:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Heritage party’s “Hayk” student union issued a
statement on jail sentences of young Armenian National Congress (ANC)
opposition bloc activists

“The prison sentences of Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan and
Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimijyan run counter to the Republic
of Armenia. Each RA citizen must acknowledge the importance of
the problem, as any one in Armenia may get a jail term for own
standpoints,” the statement reads.

The statement further stressed the need for the young to contribute
to the fair trial of ANC activists to avert the recurrence of such
cases in the future.

According to Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc, on
August 9, 2011 police officers used violence against ANC activists
Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site,
activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis
Gevorgyan and David Kirimijyan tried to settle the dispute but were
beaten as well, the ANC said. All above-mentioned were taken to a
police station and accused of attacking the police officers.

On August 26, the Congress announced suspending political dialogue
with Armenian authorities, with Arakelyan named a political prisoner.

On July 20, 2012 Tigran Arakelyan was sentenced to 6 years in prison;
Artak Karapetyan given a jail term of about 3,5 years; David Kirimijyan
and Sargis Gevorgyan were sentenced to 2 years each.

A separate case was initiated for Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan and
Vahagn Gevorgyan to be taken up by Special Investigation Service.

According to Saturday, August 4 report, Special Investigation
Service announced decision to halt prosecution of Areg Gevorgyan,
Sahak Muradyan and Vahagn Gevorgyan for lack of evidence proving the
latters’ involvement in the crime.

GERMANY TO HOST KOMITAS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION-FESTIVAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 6, 2012 – 16:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – From September 7-9, Germany will host a Komitas
international competition-festival. The event will feature works
by legendary Armenian composer Komitas Vardapet, as well as music
by contemporary Armenian and German composers. The participation
of young gifted performers will grant an opportunity to present to
classical music lovers new interpretations of Armenian and European
composers’ works.

The competition-festival will further include seminars and lectures,
children’s art exhibition, concerts with special guest musicians,
master classes, exhibition of paintings and sculptures, as well as
a photo gallery.

Gala-concert, performed by the winners of the competition, will
complete the event, accompanied by the State Youth Orchestra of
Armenia, according to the festival’s official website.

THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY WON’T DISAPPEAR

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:18:05 – 06/08/2012

There will be no mass departure of Armenian Syrians. The Armenian
community of Syria won’t share the destiny of the Armenian community
of Iraq, said the head of the ARF Bureau Office of Political Affairs
Kiro Manoyan. According to him, the Armenian community of Syria is
larger than the community of Iraq, so emigration from Syria will not
cause disappearance of the community. He reminded that the Armenian
community of Syria is very old. There is even a 700-800-year-old
Armenian church in Aleppo.

Kiro Manoyan noted that they do not have information that the Armenians
are ready to leave Syria. Such statements, according to him, cause
even more harm because they cause a panic.

According to him, the government of Armenia and the society need to do
some work to provide necessary conditions for those Armenian Syrians
who want to come to Armenia. Manoyan says the Ministry of Diaspora
told them Armenian businessmen said ready to employ 500 people,
while all those who return to Armenia find none.

Kiro Manoyan said military intervention is almost unlikely in Syria.

In answer to the question whether Assad will leave or not, Manoyan
says no one can say how this issue will be resolved.

According to Manoyan, there are three possible scenarios. The regime
will stay, it will be changed, or a different government will be
formed after some period of anarchy. But he says no one can say which
of these scenarios is more realistic.

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE SUPPORTS ARTSAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

ARMENPRESS
6 August, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: On August 6, 2012 the House of
Representatives of the State of Massachusetts adopted a resolution
submitted by State Representative Jonathan Hecht urging “the
President and Congress of the USA to support the self-determination
and democratic independence of Nagorno-Karabakh”.

Armenpress reports that the resolution condemns the killings
of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku and acts of violent
repression by Azerbaijan against the peaceful demonstrations for
self-determination in Nagorno-Karabakh. The document notes that today
also the “Nagorno-Karabakh’s security continues to be threatened by
Azerbaijan’s hostile acts”. It praises, that despite these continuous
acts of violence, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in a popular
referendum on December 10, 1991 voted in support of independence,
freedom and democracy.

The resolution also congratulates “Nagorno-Karabakh on the success of
its ongoing efforts to develop democracy” and commends the July 19,
2012 presidential elections as “another major step” in this regard.

“We thank the Massachusetts State House for passing the resolution
in support of Artsakh’s freedom. By adopting this document, the
Massachusetts legislators havepromoted the universal values of the
human rights and liberties”, said NKR representative Robert Avetisyan.

“We are grateful to Representative Hecht for his crucial leadership
in this issue. We also praise our compatriots and longtime supporters
James Kalustianand Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian for
their great dedication and continued efforts in promoting Artsakh’s
interests in the United States”, Avetisyan added.

THE EVENTS IN SYRIA MADE ARMENIAN STUDENT LEAVE STUDIES INCOMPLETE

ARMENPRESS
7 August, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS: Due to the political crisis in Syria a
large number of citizens are quitting the country. Armenian nationality
Anna Ghrzoyan (first from the left in the photo), taking her studies
in Syria for four years was forced to quit the country because of
furious developments. In the course of her study years in Syria,
our compatriot was living in the dormitory stipulated for foreign
students. There were no obstacles hindering the life and the study
of the students during those years . Everything changed when Syria
became the arena of clashes, since then foreign students were not
welcomed to leave for Syria.

In the words of the interlocutor many Armenian students were willing to
continue their studies in Syria, yet the majority refused as a result
our group composed of three students headed for Syrian in 2011 academic
year.” Arriving there we found out our foreign course mates did not
arrive, the situation was already complicated there” Anna dwelled
on. Our students encountered many difficulties in connection with
the studies, particularly there were obstacles connected to adoption
of the documents .Eventually they managed it: yet the University was
almost empty, local students were also not attending the classes.

“I was habiting in capital Damascus. Frankly speaking for months I
did not became witness either of shelling or clashes. The situation
changed from January, we were waking up by explosions, the surrounding
was foggy” Anna stated.

When the situation became worse intermingled with opposition protests
Armenian student had to quit Damascus and jet for Jordan. The dormitory
was then habited by local students who were for Assad Government,
one day it could also serve a place for bombardment.

” I left my studies unfinished for an indefinite period of time. The
agreement signed with the University is in force for three years,
if possible I shall continue my studies” she told.

Armenian citizens have always been in the attention of Syrian Embassy
of Armenia.

In accordance with Syrian Human Rights Defense Organization the ongoing
clashes have resulted in the death of over 17 thousand 192 people. By
the info of Arab mass media 11 thousand 897 were peaceful civilians,
while 4348 were security officers. Among the victims there were 7
Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because of
lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.