Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARF parliament member warns against consequences of new wave of global crisis

YEREVAN, September 17. / ARKA /. An Armenian parliament member from
the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) has warned
today that a new wave of global financial crisis may hit Armenia’s
economy severely.

Speaking at a news conference Artsvik Minasian said a shock at global
markets may translate into a disastrous earthquake for Armenia.
Minasian said fluctuations in commodity prices can not be avoided and
since Armenia is heavily dependent on international processes,
including money transfers from labor migrants and commodity prices,
any change in Russia or Europe will affect its economy.

“The problem is that our economy will again appear unprepared for
this, because the government does not pay due attention to making our
economy immune against external impacts, focusing instead of finding
situational solutions”, he said.

Artsvik Minasian claimed that the current structure of Armenia’s
economy does not allow to counteract a possible impact of fluctuations
in prices of oil, gas and metals. He said in order to avoid the
devastating impact of a possible crisis on Armenia’s economy the
government must revise the ideology of its ongoing programs, “because
in all projects the government does not bear responsibility for its
citizens.’
“The first thing the top authority must do is to disband this
government. That will be the best solution because for some time it
will not be able to intervene in economy, because any intervention
yields negative consequences,’ he said.

The second important thing, according to Minasian is to change the
legislation to ensure that economic entities have the opportunity to
create more value-added products. Minasian said economic developments
in Armenia have significantly increased its dependence on external
intervention.

“Armenia owes 40% of its foreign debt to World Bank, 22% to IMF and
14.5% to Russia. These centers will be trying to
guide us all the time, and we never will be able to find our own way,”
he said. -0-

Scientific conference at YSU dedicated to the 20th anniversary of independence
17.09.2011 16:26

Alisa Gevorgyan
`Radiolur’

A scientific conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of
independence was held at the Yerevan State University today. Reports
were made by lecturers of the Yerevan State University and scholars of
the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences.

Social and political figures, who contributed to the strengthening of
Armenia’s independence, were present at the conference. In his speech
YSU Rector Aram Simonyan dwelt on the hard and heroic 20-year-long
path of independence.

`Not only the independence, but also the existence of the Armenian
nation is something like a miracle, if we take into consideration the
terrible way we have passed throughout our history,’ Aram Simonyan
said, adding that `our most important task is still ahead.’

Prelate Participates in Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops Meeting

asbarez
Thursday, September 15th, 2011

The participants of the meeting

LA CRESCENTA – The Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops held its
quarterly meeting on Tuesday at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino, hosted
by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

The day began with a prayer service inside the church led by the
Prelate, Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, and Bishop Serapion, and
with the participation of clergy members from the three Churches.

Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, and Rev.
Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian participated in the service and meeting.

Among the items discussed during the meeting were the upcoming
Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, next year’s joint
Divine Liturgy which will be held on April 26 at Holy Martyrs Church,
and youth and Sunday School joint activities.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 14 2011

Turkey, US sign agreement on NATO radar deployment

14 September 2011, Wednesday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

Ambassador Francis Ricciardone signed the agreement on behalf of the
US. (Photo: AA)

Turkey and US officials have signed a memorandum on the deployment of
US radar as part of a NATO-backed missile defense system designed to
protect European members of the alliance from missile threats.

According to the memorandum, the X-band radar system will be deployed
at a military base in the eastern province of Malatya, private NTV
television reported on Wednesday. It also said the agreement was
signed by Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun SinirlioÄ?lu
and US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone at the Turkish Foreign
Ministry on Wednesday morning.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that the radar system would be
deployed in Kürecik, Malatya. `The site surveys and relevant legal
arrangements have been finalized, and accordingly a military
installation in Kürecik has been designated as the radar site,’ a
statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

NATO members agreed to an anti-missile system over Europe to protect
against Iranian ballistic missiles at a summit in Lisbon last year. A
compromise was reached with Turkey, which has cultivated close ties
with its neighbor Iran and had threatened to block the deal if Iran
was explicitly named as a threat.

At the NATO summit of heads of state and government in Lisbon last
year, Turkey formally backed NATO plans to build a missile defense
system, saying it will also contribute to national defense against the
growing threat of ballistic missile proliferation.

The summit came after months of discussions between Turkey and the US,
in particular over some aspects of the proposed shield, most notably
whether countries such as Turkey’s neighbors Iran and Syria should be
named as potential threats. Ankara insisted that the proposed system
should provide protection for all territories of member states and
that reference to any country would undermine the defensive nature of
the shield by antagonizing countries singled out as a threat. Turkish
insistence paid off in the end as the NATO summit endorsed the missile
defense system plans without naming any country as a potential threat.

Ankara on Sept. 2 announced its decision to host the early-warning
radar system as a contribution to NATO’s missile defense system.
Turkey’s decision annoyed Iran, which said Tehran would not tolerate
any aggression against its national interests. `The West claims the
radar system [in Turkey] is to confront Iranian missiles, but they
should be aware that we will not tolerate any aggression against our
national interests,’ Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi was quoted
as saying by Iranian state TV.

The Turkish and US governments say the radar system will help spot
missile threats coming from outside Europe, including potentially from
Iran. The system, provided by the United States, is to become
operational later this year.

Mehr News Agency (MNA), Iran
September 17, 2011 Saturday

‘Iran concerned over Turkey’s decision to host NATO radar system’

TEHRAN, Sept. 17 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi
said on Saturday that Turkey’s decision to host an early warning radar
as part of NATO’s missile defense system has caused concern for the
Islamic Republic and many of its neighbors.

Turkey’s decision to host the system “has caused worry for the Islamic
Republic and many of its neighboring countries. We do not see any
necessity for the installation of such a system at this juncture that
the region is witnessing various developments,” Salehi said in a joint
press conference with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian in
Tehran.

The system is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile
threat from Iran.

“We hope that Turkey will be able to provide the necessary
justification in this regard,” Salehi stated, adding, “We should not
allow more misunderstanding to occur in the region.”

“We have always made efforts to resolve the existing problems in
cooperation with our neighbors and to help improve peace, stability,
and security in the region. We hope that we will prevent others from
paving the way for misunderstanding to occur,” he stated.

He also said that regional countries should be vigilant about efforts
meant to create dissension among them.

Nalbandian commented on Turkey’s decision and said, “We are pursuing
the issue seriously and will announce our stance after studying (the
matter).”

Judiciary reportedly plans to commute sentences of 2 U.S. citizens

Salehi also replied to a question about the two U.S. citizens, who
were arrested in Iran in 2009.

U.S. citizens Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal were
arrested by border guards on July 31, 2009 after illegally entering
Iran’s territory from Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The three were charged
with illegal entry and espionage.

Shourd was released from prison on bail of $500,000 on September 14,
2010 and never returned to Iran. Her case is still open.

On August 22, Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to three years in prison
for illegal entry into Iran. They were also sentenced to five years in
prison on charges of espionage for a U.S. intelligence agency.

Salehi said, “Making decisions about the two U.S. citizens imprisoned
in Iran on charge of espionage, falls within the ambit of the
Judiciary, and this branch has the final say.”
He added, “According to the reports received from the Judiciary, this
branch plans to commute the sentences of these two people and is
determined to handle the issue in such a way that justice would be
served.”

He also said that leaders of certain regional countries have mediated
in the issue, adding, “We hope the Judiciary will express its view in
this regard in the near future.”

He went on to say that the executive branch is not involved in
judicial issues and the consultations held between the Judiciary and
the administration are merely meant to convey the news of mediation
efforts that the leaders of certain regional countries have made.

Salehi expects U.S. to show good will on Iranian prisoners

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, “We expect the U.S. government to
take this fact into consideration that the Iranians imprisoned (in the
U.S.) are innocent and have been incarcerated based on unfounded
allegations and… we expect them (U.S. officials) to use this
opportunity and show their good will.”

The Iranian foreign minister also expressed hope that the case would
be closed in such a way that would bring good news for the families of
the two U.S. citizens and the families of Iranians imprisoned in the
United States.

Iran, Armenia have historical relations

On the relations between Tehran and Yerevan, Salehi stated that the
two countries have historical relations and emphasized the importance
of holding regular talks between officials of the two countries on
various issues, particularly regional developments.

Armenia hails Iran’s stance on Nagorno-Karabakh issue

The Armenian foreign minister also said that his country is keen to
increase cooperation with Iran in all areas and expressed satisfaction
with the process of the implementation of the joint transportation
projects.

Nalbandian also thanked Iran for its stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue, which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian forces took control
of the region during a war in the early 1990s.

EP/PA
END
MNA

news.am, Armenia
Sept 18 2011

Azerbaijani society not ready for new war

September 17, 2011 | 18:20

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan is not ready for resuming military actions in
the zone of Karabakh conflict, Major-General Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan
(Commandos) said at a press conference on Saturday and added in case
war starts, he would join it.

According to Ter-Tadevosyan, to start a war three factors are needed.
Firstly, society should get prepare for such a scenario.

`Azerbaijani society is not ready for new war. Many ethnicities, who
live in the state, do not want war. They will never fight for
enriching the Aliyev clan,’ Commandos stated.

Azerbaijani army, which is also a part of society, has the same
intentions. Besides, Armenian side has a certain privilege. Azerbaijan
arms quickly. However, weapons do not play major role in war. More
important is moral spirit. Armenians have the spirit of winners,
knowing that they struggle for their lands. Azerbaijan sent 3000
mercenaries, while Armenians had only 280 volunteers from abroad.

The third necessary factor to start a war is the government, its
ability to elaborate tactic and strategic tasks. In respond to the
report by the journalists how he evaluates the Armenian government,
Commandos responded that it is better either to tell the truth or keep
silent, and he better keeps silent.

news.am, Armenia
Sept 18 2011

Uruguay Foreign Minister Statement on Karabakh

September 18, 2011 | 02:04

Armenian News-NEWS.am offers the part of Uruguay FM Luis Almagro’s
speech to a conference held in the Parliament of Uruguay where he
speaks about Nagorno-Karabakh. The conference was organized on the
initiative of Hay Dat American committee and Uruguay-Armenia
parliamentary group. Concerning Karabakh, Almagro said:

`Our sympathy to the Armenian people stems from their pain and
struggle, many years of efforts to assert themselves, even in adverse
conditions. The Armenian factor on the international arena gets
sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker, because international relations
are usually based on interests rather than principles. It happens that
principles yield to interests but the truth is Uruguay will continue
to support ties with Armenia. Our relationship with Armenia is based
on principles and that was the reason of my confrontation with the
Turkish ambassador in early days of my service as FM, when Minister
Ehrlich had delivered his public speech on April day of commemoration.

We, like Armenia, will always seek the best relations with all nations
but we would not like someone to dictate to us on our relations with
Armenia.

We are seriously considering the Karabakh conflict and will continue
to seek public stance on its settlement, based on the consent of all
parties. Personally, my perception is that Karabakh is Armenia. It is
closely connected with Armenia by its Armenian population. The best
solution would be either the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh or its
future union with Armenia.

This is a very strong formula that can shake many, same way as our
prior decisions and statements did, but have trust in our convictions
and our friendship that is based on principles.’

September 9 2011.

Armenia selects participant for Junior Eurovision 2011
10:35 – 18.09.11

Young singer Dalita will represent Armenia in the Junior Eurovision
2011 Song Contest in Yerevan.

With her song `Welcome to Armenia’, Dalita became the finalist of
yesterday’s qualifying round, winning 50% of votes from the
professional jury and another 50% from spectators.

All the other participants were awarded diplomas.

The Junior Eurovision 2011 is due in Yerevan on December 3. It comes
after last year’s Armenian participant – Vladimir Arzumanyan – won the
first place in last year’s contest with his song Mama.

Dalita’s song can be watched here.

Tert.am

ARMENIAN COURT REJECTS HUNANYAN BROTHERS’ BID TO REVIEW THEIR SENTENCES

Tert.am
16.09.11

An Armenian court has denied a request by lifers Nairi and Karen
Hunanyan brothers to review their sentences, according to the Armenian
website Hra.am.

The Hunanyans pointed to the amendments introduced in the Criminal
Code on 23 May 2011.

The defender of Hunanyan brothers said that the law allows changing
their life term for 20 years imprison. But the court dismissed the
request, saying that they committed a deed that is that poses threat
to the society and have therefore been given a worthy punishment.

Nairi and Karen Hunanyans were sentenced for the organization and
implementation of a terror attack on Armenia’s parliament on 27
October 1999, killing the then Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan,
Chairman of the National Assembly Karen Demirchyan and several MPs.

Edik Grigoryan, also sentenced to life imprisonment over the same case,
in turn, sent a letter to the court, demanding to review his sentence.

Grigoryan’s defender, Karapet Aghajanyan, told Hra.am that his
defendant also asked that the court to allow him and Aghajanyan to
attend the court hearing.

Aghajanyan, however, added that Grigoryan has so far not been informed
of the date of the court hearing.

TURKEY RETURNS PROPERTY OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES, FEARING TO LOSE NUMEROUS LAWSUITS
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2011

In fact, Ankara, with a delay of 80 years, is simply performing
regulations of the Lausanne Peace Treaty under which national
minorities should be repaid the property they were deprived of in
the years of the World War I.

Erdogan’s government is gradually drawing Turkey closer to the position
of a regional leader. The recent proof of it is the cabinet decision
on returning to Christian churches hundreds of pieces of property
confiscated by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1936. With specific regard
to the Armenian property, the assets to be returned make up only 1%
of the property confiscated during the World War I.

PanARMENIAN.Net – On August 28 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
signed a decree on the return of Christian and Jewish religious
property confiscated after the 1930s. The properties involved include
hospitals, orphanage and school buildings, burial grounds.

The Government also intends to pay compensation for the property sold
away. The property subject to return includes the former hospital,
orphanage, school buildings, cemeteries, shops, ground area, as well
as all assets of the Fund “Surb Harutiun” (Holly Resurrection).

Erdogan’s decision, most likely, is dictated by the conduct of
Iran, where the Armenian community enjoys the right of religious
minority and has representatives in parliament. So, there is nothing
extraordinary in this decision. Presumably, in this way Turkey decided
to sugar its refusal of ratification of the Protocols. An important
role was played here also by the European Court of Human Rights,
where lots of complaints from the rightful inheritors of the lands
and buildings had piled up. At the same time, the Court implicitly
admitted that property of the Christians was seized illegally. Ankara
made an accurate calculation: it is much cheaper and easier to return
the properties than to pay the claims, in view of inflation. It costs
billions of dollars at current prices. Even a country with an advanced
economy cannot withstand it, let alone Turkey, whose economic boom
may soon give way to depression.

Christian property was confiscated in Turkey, of course, illegally:
in 1936, the remaining Armenians, residing mostly in Istanbul, were
ordered to submit the list of their property, which was immediately
transferred to the possession of the State. In 1974 the property of
the Greek Orthodox Church was seized. In fact, thousands of buildings,
schools, summer camps were transferred to the possession of the State,
which directly put them on sale.

Erdogan’s decision was announced a few weeks after the Foreign Affairs
Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed
the amendment on the “Return of Christian Churches” with a vote of 43
to 1 (H.Res.306). In March of the current year a similar resolution
was adopted under the pressure of the Greek lobby (H.Res.180).

In 2008 the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) introduced
a bill “On estates”, which received force of law and provided an
opportunity to national minorities to regain ownership over their
properties seized in 1936 and 1975. According to the decision, the
property owned by 162 minority foundations was to be returned in the
period of 12 months. The State is to pay the community foundations
a sum equivalent to the property sold to third parties. Only in
Istanbul 30 structures owned by the fund of Armenian churches
are to be returned. In fact, Ankara, with a delay of 80 years,
is performing regulations of the Lausanne Peace Treaty under which
national minorities should be repaid the property they were deprived
of in the years of the World War I.