Armenian women’s team finishes 7th at European Chess Championship
November 12, 2011 – 10:48 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Tying the last round with Poland, Armenian women’s
team finished 7th at the European Chess Championship in Porto Carras,
Greece.
Russia won the tournament, followed by Poland and Georgia.
Armenian men’s team finished fourth, after defeat by Germany, which
won gold. Azerbaijan was second; Hungary came third.
Armenia beats Georgia 33:22 at Armenian PM’s Handball Cup
November 12, 2011 – 17:08 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian PM’s Handball Cup kicked off November 12 in
Yerevan, with Armenian, Russian, Georgian and Uzbek teams
participating.
On the 1st tournament day, Armenia, with Armenia, France, Germany and
Russia-based handballers as part of squad, faced off against Georgia,
to score a crushing 33:22 win.
Russia will face Uzbekistan in the second November 12 game. Armenia
vs. Russia, Georgia vs. Uzbekistan matches are due November 13.
LES CITOYENS ARMENIENS POURRAIENT CIRCULER PLUS LIBREMENT DANS L’UE
Laetitia
armenews.com
vendredi 11 novembre 2011
Le ministre des Affaires etrangères, Edouard Nalbandian, a declare
mercredi que l’Armenie espère conclure avant juillet prochain un
accord avec l’Union europeenne qui assouplira les exigences de visa
pour ses citoyens voyageant vers les pays de l’UE.
” Nous allons signer un accord avec l’Union europeenne, les pays
de la zone Schengen – qui, j’espère, sera signe au premier semestre
de l’annee prochaine – sur la facilitation du regime des visas “, a
declare Nalbandian lors de sa rencontre avec son homologue norvegien
en visite, Jonas Gahr Store.
L’Armenie souhaite cet accord conformement a sa participation au
programme de l’UE Partenariat oriental qui concernet six anciennes
republiques sovietiques. Ce programme permettrait a certaines
categories de la population du pays, comme les etudiants d’universite,
des universitaires et des representants de l’Etat de recevoir des visas
de l’espace Schengen avec moins de documents et a un coût inferieur.
En retour, Erevan devra s’engager a aider les autorites d’immigration
de l’UE d’accelerer le rapatriement des immigres clandestins armeniens.
L’executif du Bloc de la Commission europeenne a annonce en septembre
avoir demande aux gouvernements membres de l’UE de donner le feu vert
pour le debut des negociations officielles avec des visas d’Erevan.
Dans un developpement connexe, l’Armenie et les dix membres de l’UE,
dont la France, l’Allemagne et l’Italie, ont lance le mois dernier
” un partenariat pour la mobilite non contraignant ” qui vise a
intensifier leur cooperation sur les questions migratoires. Une
declaration correspondante signee a Luxembourg par Nalbandian et les
hauts representants de l’UE atteste que l’UE va aider les autorites
armeniennes face a la migration irregulière de manière plus efficace.
” Le lancement de ce partenariat avec l’Armenie est une etape
très importante envers les citoyens europeens et armeniens ” a
declare Cecilia Malmstrom, la commissaire de l’UE pour les affaires
interieures.
HENRI KARAYAN, UN ENGAGEMENT POUR LA LIBERTé ET L’UNIVERSALISME
l’HumanitÃ
8 nov 2011
France
Disparition. Les obsèques d’Henri Karayan, l’un des derniers témoins
du groupe Manouchian, ont lieu aujourd’hui. Né a Istanbul dans une
famille victime du génocide arménien, il avait a peine vingt ans
lorsqu’il s’est engagé dans la Résistance.
”Je n’ai jamais tué d’Allemands, je n’ai tué que des nazis.â~@¯Â”
Voila ce qu’avait coutume de répondre Henri Karayan lorsqu’on
l’interrogeait sur ses actions armées durant la Résistance. Henri
Karayan est décédé mardi 2â~@¯novembre. Il avait été l’un des
compagnons de Missak Manouchian et était l’un des derniers témoins
du groupe des FTP-MOI, de ces hommes et ces femmes, ”â~@¯Francais de
préférenceâ~@¯Â”, dont l’Affiche rouge perpétue le souvenir. Né
en 1921 a Istanbul, dans une famille arménienne victime du génocide
de 1915, il arrive en France avec ses parents a l’âge d’un an et
demi. Avant la déclaration de guerre, la famille est installée a
Décines, près de Lyon. Son père avait été responsable du Comité
de secours pour l’Arménie (HOC), créé en 1921, afin de venir en
aide a l’Arménie soviétique isolée par le blocus des armées
alliées. En 1938, alors que ce comité venait d’être dissous,
Missak Manouchian, intellectuel engagé qui avait adhéré au Parti
communiste en 1934 et qui participait avec Henri Barbusse et Romain
Rolland au mouvement Amsterdam-Pleyel contre la guerre, travaillait a
mettre sur pied une nouvelle structure du nom de l’Union populaire
franco-arménienne. C’est dans ce cadre que la famille Karayan
recoit sa visite. Le jeune Henri a alors dix-sept ans. Il participe
activement, a travers une troupe de théâtre, une équipe de foot,
une chorale, a la vie des organisations culturelles arméniennes très
présentes dans la région. De cette première rencontre avec Missak
Manouchian, Henri Karayan a toujours gardé un souvenir très fort. Il
en témoignait, bien des années plus tard, en se confiant, pour un
article dans l’Humanité, a Jean Morawskiâ~@~I: ”â~@¯Manouchian me
parla d’Aragon et d’Eluard, qu’il connaissait. Il se tenait informé
de la vie des gens de Décines. Je lui avais parlé des ouvriers
de Rhodiaceta, qui travaillaient “a la soie”, et de ceux de chez
Gilet, tous pris dans le même cercle vicieuxâ~@~I: a la merci de
leurs patrons, que ce soit pour le logement ou les salaires. Quant
aux conditions de travail, ils tenaient rarement plus de cinq ans et
finissaient vitriolés de l’intérieur par les vapeurs d’acide… Et
pourtant, ils restaient. Encore heureux s’ils n’étaient pas expulsés
pour avoir envoyé un colis en Arménie.â~@¯Â” Entre le jeune homme
et l’intellectuel, le courant passe. ”â~@¯Quand nous évoquions
l’actualité, témoigne encore Henri Karayan, nous étions si bien
en résonance que j’aurais presque pu terminer ses phrases.â~@¯Â”
En maiâ~@¯1940, Henri Karayan est incarcéré a la prison Saint-Paul
de Lyon comme ”â~@¯individu douteuxâ~@¯Â” et de la envoyé au camp
de Loriol, dans la Drôme, puis a celui du Vernet, dans l’Ariège,
avant d’être livré aux Allemands pour travailler dans la Ruhr. Il
y retrouve un jeune communiste allemand, Léo Kneler, interné avec
lui au Vernet après avoir participé aux Brigades internationales.
Celui-ci était de retour en Allemagne, a la demande du Parti
communiste allemand, pour y organiser un réseau de résistance. Henri
Karayan l’aide jusqu’a ce que les deux jeunes gens, repérés par la
Gestapo, réussissent a s’enfuir pour la France. Ã~@ Paris, il reprend
contact avec Manouchian auquel il présente son ami Léo Kneler. Il
participe aux distributions clandestines de l’Humanité ou de tracts.
Et il se fait embaucher a l’usine de Satory puis comme coiffeur a
l’hôpital de la Pitié. ”â~@¯Un jour, raconta-t-il encore a Jean
Morawski, dans le quartier carcéral, je dus couper les cheveux d’un
jeune homme, un enfant… Malgré les cris et les insultes de son
garde, il s’adressa a moiâ~@~I: “Demain, je serai fusilléâ~@~I; je
suis d’Argenteuil. Va dire a mes parents que je n’ai pas peurâ~@~I;
je meurs en Francais, en communiste”.â~@¯Â” En avrilâ~@¯1943, Henri
Karayan s’engage dans la lutte armée. Il est incorporé aux côtés de
Marcel Rayman et de Tamas Elek, au groupe de jeunes FTP-MOI, sous le
commandement de Missak Manouchian. Il participe alors a de nombreuses
opérations contre l’occupant dans toute la région parisienne. Jusqu’a
il y a quelques mois, il n’a cessé de témoigner, d’expliquer les
valeurs et les motivations qui l’ont habité, la fraternité qui
le liait a ses camarades de combat, leur lutte pour la liberté
et l’universalisme. En aoÔtâ~@¯2010, il écrivait a Christophe
Betenfeld, enseignant d’histoire au collège Lurcat de Ris-Orangis,
dans l’Essonneâ~@~I: ”â~@¯La Résistance fut aussi une école. C’est
elle qui m’a fait grandir en confortant mes choix.â~@¯Â”
Les obsèques d’Henri Karayan auront lieu aujourd’hui, mardi 8
novembre, a Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine). Une messe arménienne
sera célébrée a 10â~@~Ihâ~@~I30, et, â~@¨a 11â~@~Ihâ~@~I15,
un hommage national sera rendu, au nom du PCF par Henri Malberg,
â~@¨au cimetière d’Issy-les-Moulineaux où aura lieu l’inhumation. Le
secrétariat national â~@¨du PCF sera représenté par Ã~Iric Corbeaux.
ADIL GARIBOV: ARMENIA WILL NEVER CLOSE METSAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, SINCE IT DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE ITS IMAGE AS A NUCLEAR COUNTRY
APA
Nov 10 2011
Azerbaijan
“In 10-15 years with the support of Russia Armenia can have nuclear
weapons”
Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. “Even if Azerbaijan gives twice as much
oil to Armenia than it consumes, Yerevan will never close Metsamor
Nuclear Power Plant, because this plant is a strategic facility for
Armenia, it means a special image. Armenia is a nuclear country,
it was the first nuclear country in the South Caucasus with the help
of Russia,” director of Radiation Problems Institute of Azerbaijan
Academy of Sciences Adil Garibov told APA.
According to him, if alternative energy sources are found in Armenia,
the statements that Metsamor nuclear power plant will be closed are
nothing but a political game.
“Armenia will never do it. Armenia does not want to lose its image as a
nuclear country. I am afraid in 10-15 years with the support of Russia
Armenia will be among the countries having nuclear weapons,” he said.
Garibov said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carried out
examination concerning the observation of safety rules in Metsamor
nuclear power plant. Now the nuclear power plant is not functioning,
prophylactic repair is being done there.
“The countries of the region appealed to the International Atomic
Energy Agency saying the plant is old, it was opened in the 80s of the
past century. The zone is seismic, the Fukusima disaster can happen
there, too. Armenia has no economic potential to use the technologies
used by Japan. The neighboring states are afraid of this. We have
warned the International Atomic Energy Agency about it. More than
40 percent of the reactors in the world are in this condition. The
accident in Fukusima happened in the first and third reactors built in
the 70s. Our concern is grounded. No state has the right to interfere
with the other sovereign state’s right to use atomic energy. But in
critical situation this reactor raises doubts. The countries of the
region are concerned about it,” he said.
AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY OF NAGORNO KARABAKH APPEALS TO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
Trend
Nov 10 2011
Azerbaijan
The chairman of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh Bayram
Safarov called on the Azerbaijani citizens namely Armenians living in
Nagorno-Karabakh to respect his country’s constitution and to share
with the Azerbaijani people’s prosperous life.
Armenians living in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh can also benefit
from the developed economy and prosperous life of Azerbaijan, Mr.
Safarov told journalists.
“However, for this they should respect the Azerbaijani constitution
and in this case they can use the wealth of Azerbaijan as we do. If
not, they can go and live on the other side of the Hakari river,
in Armenia,” Mr. Safarov said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF NAGORNO KARABAKH TO MEET IN BERLIN
Trend
Nov 10 2011
Azerbaijan
Representatives of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Communities of Nagorno
Karabakh will meet in Berlin on Nov.28, Azerbaijani community’s member,
MP Rovshan Rzayev said today.
“We have always stood for the holding of such meetings, but certain
forces attempt to prevent this,” Mr. Rzayev said at a conference on
“The Constitution Day”.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
ATATURK’S FAVORITE HOTEL STILL DOOMED
Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 9 2011
Turkey
Once home to the most elegants ball of the times, Ataturk’s favorite
Hotel, Tokatlýyan, is now facing an unknown future. Considered as
a great piece of architecture, the hotel has been waiting for a
restoration for the last 30 years.
The 117-year old Tokatlýyan Hotel stands in the middle of Istanbul’s
most crowded Istiklal Street, in Beyoðlu district. DAILY NEWS photo,
Hasan ALTINIÞIK
Once a favorite haunt of modern Turkey’s founder, Istanbul’s legendary
Tokatlýyan-Pera Hotel continues to face an uncertain future due to
a lack of plans to renovate the severely dilapidated building.
“[Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk not only organized balls but also hosted
his guests at a rich table during tea hours. It is so unfortunate
that the hotel is now in a ruined state,” Professor Afife Batur, a
scholar on architectural history at Istanbul Technical University,
recently told the Hurriyet Daily News. “The hotel was a pioneer as
a building in many ways. The first known hotel posters in Turkey
belonged to the Tokatlýyan-Pera.”
Considered by scholars to be a significant architectural achievement,
the Tokatlýyan-Pera is one of the best examples of fin-de-siècle
architecture in Turkey.
The hotel belongs to the Uc Horan Armenian Church Foundation, one of
the richest foundations of Turkey’s Armenian community.
The foundation’s administration, which has remained unchanged for
30 years, has chosen not to adopt any of the numerous renovation
proposals that have been submitted over the years.
The hotel was built by Mýgýrdic Tokatlýyan, an Ottoman citizen of
Armenian origin who migrated from the northern province of Tokat
and adopted the last name Tokatlýyan. The hotel was opened in 1897
with 160 rooms and hosted a number of celebrities, later becoming a
favorite of Ataturk.
Emphasizing the significance of the Tokatlýyan-Pera in regard to
architecture, Batur said: “It was such a popular building that the
Orient Express would transport all of Europe’s high society and the
elite to this hotel and elegant balls were held there. These balls
would generate several stories for the world tabloid press as well
as the Turkish press.”
Another branch of the Tokatlýyan-Pera called the Tokatlýyan-Therabia
was situated on the Bosphorus at the exact location of the present-day
Tarabya Hotel, Batur said.
Architectural history specialist Dr. Fatma Sedes said the
Tokatlýyan-Pera was the apple of the eye of Istanbul and European
elites, as well as other political figures. “It was a unique building
that left its mark on Istanbul’s architecture,” she added.
APPLE CO-FOUNDER VISITS ARMENIA
Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenialiberty.org
Nov 10 2011
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of the Apple corporation, advised Armenia
to invest in education and nurture creativity among young people on
Thursday at the start of a two-day visit to Yerevan initiated by the
Armenian government and information technology (IT) industry.
Wozniak was scheduled to meet with senior government officials, IT
company executives and university students before receiving a state
award from President Serzh Sarkisian on Friday evening.
The annual Global Award established last year will honor his
“outstanding contribution to humanity.” It was handed to Craig Barrett,
a former chairman and chief executive of Intel Corporation, in June
last year.
The Armenian government has declared development of the domestic IT
sector a top economic priority. The sector employing more than 5,000
people is dominated by Armenian subsidiaries of California-based
software development companies. According to government data, IT
products accounted for 8.5 percent of Armenian exports last year,
up from 3.6 percent in 2009.
In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am), Wozniak
stressed the importance of good education for steady growth of the
hi-tech industry. “Even the Silicon Valley always attributed a lot of
its success to good schools that had created a lot of good engineers,”
he said.
Armenia – Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc., rides a segway
in dowontown Yerevan, 10Nov2011.â~@~Kâ~@~KWozniak, who co-founded
Apple with the late Steve Jobs in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976,
emphasized at the same time that this should go hand in hand with
“inspiring creativity” in children and young people.
“In the age of the Internet it’s very easy for anyone anywhere in the
world to come up with ideas that could catch on massively, instantly,”
he said. “It’s rare but it’s usually from young people because they
aren’t so set in knowing how to do things already.”
“Don’t restrict smart young people, whether they have a college degree
or not,” continued Wozniak. “It’s not that great when companies
require all sorts of degrees or certification. You have to be able
to spot young people who will think for themselves and come up with
good new ideas — the real innovators.”
The sector’s growth in recent years has been facilitated by a rapid
spread of Internet access in Armenia. Tightening competition among
local Internet providers has been improving the quality and lowering
the cost of the service.
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian, who will also meet with the Apple
co-founder on Friday, said in July that the IT industry will grow
strongly in the years to come. “We will do everything to increase
the share of this sector [in the economy,]” he said.
Wozniak, 61, who remains an Apple shareholder, suggested that the
traditional popularity of chess in Armenia is also giving the country
a competitive edge on the global IT scene.
“I would say that … chess is the sort of thinking that is so involved
in a lot of the working out the logistics of hardware and software
engineering, being able to hold a lot of patterns, independent ways
and results in your head,” he said.
“But you have to encourage people to want to do the best in the world
and to be the best in the world,” added Wozniak.
AZERBAIJANI SCIENTIST: ARMENIA – A NUCLEAR COUNTRY
Panorama
Nov 10 2011
Armenia
“Armenia is a nuclear country. Due to Russia, Armenia has become the
first nuclear country in the Caucasus,” Azerbaijani APA news agency
quotes Adil Garibov, the director of Azerbaijani institute on radiation
issue, as stating.
According to Garibov, even if Azerbaijan supplies Armenia with energy,
which will twice surpass the production of Armenia’s power plant,
official Yerevan will never block the plant, since it’s a strategic
object for Armenia. Azeri expert added Armenia cannot lose its rating
of a nuclear country.