Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CALLS FOR AUTHORITIES TO RECOGNIZE NEW LIBYAN LEADERSHIP

news.am
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) on Thursday
issued a statement welcoming the landmark victory of the Libyan people
and demanding official recognition of new Libyan government by Armenia.

“According to laws and logic of history, particularly, the history
of modern times, another dictatorship of this world was toppled down,
this time in Libya.

Libyan people won their freedom in a bitter and bloody struggle,
despite the institutionalized dictatorship that used the country’s
resources for strengthening and perpetuating its own power and
consequently got deprived of political perception and ability to
speak the political language.

After Tunisia and Egypt, Libya was next in line to acquire legitimate
authority, to introduce democracy, rule of law and become a free
society for the benefit of every citizen. It is the inalienable
right of all people of the world, regardless of the method of its
implementation,” reads the statement by ANC.

ARMENIAN EXPERT INDICATES FOUR DIRECTIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE WORK

news.am
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – There are four mainstream directions that Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) should comprehensively work on, said
the chairman of European Integration NGO Karen Bekaryan at a press
conference on Thursday.

The first of the four directions Bekaryan mentioned is that 80 percent
of information about Nagorno-Karabakh is written mostly in the context
of conflict resolution

Bekaryan argues that this is a serious problem and media carries a
huge part of responsibility for it.

Then the building of NKR statehood comes, which cannot be subordinated
to other processes.

Next is the creation of an international background.

And the fourth direction is Armenia – Nagorno-Karabakh cooperation.

Asked about the possibility of a long confrontation between Yerevan
and Baku, Bekaryan said this opinion has emerged basically after the
most recent meeting of presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan
in Kazan.

“This is a consequence of a disappointment. We expected a breakthrough,
it did not happen and now there are attempts to analyze the situation,”
said Bekaryan.

ERDOGAN HANDS BACK CONFISCATED PROPERTY
By Sami Kohen

Jewish Chronicle

Sept 1 2011

The Turkish government has decided to return all confiscated property
belonging to the country’s non-Muslim communities, including Jews.

Over the past seven decades, the Turkish state has sequestered
churches, shuls, cemeteries, hospitals, orphanages and other real
estate owned by the Christian and Jewish communities following a
ruling in 1936. According to the government, these properties will
be restituted within a year.

The Greek and Armenian communities will benefit greatly as they
have many assets to claim back, including houses, shops and business
buildings.

The Jewish community in Istanbul, which numbers about 20,000, already
owns most of its community buildings and all of its synagogues. Some
real estate that is in the hands of the state will now be claimed back.

But the 1800-strong Jewish community in Izmir faces a potential tussle
over its assets. Its seven synagogues come under the jurisdiction
of the state even though they are run by the community, and it is
unclear whether it will be able to reclaim full ownership.

of question. In most towns, the old shuls have been turned into
other premises. In Edirne, which used to have a large community, the
state-owned central synagogue has been earmarked as a cultural centre.

Announcing his decision on restitution, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan reassured the Christian and Jewish communities that the
discrimination of the past is over.

LA PRESSE DU JOUR REPRODUIT L’ENTRETIEN DE L’EX-PRESIDENT ROBERT KOTCHARIAN
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 2 septembre 2011

La presse du jour reproduit l’entretien de l’ex-President Robert
Kotcharian a la chaîne publique du HK, a l’occasion du 20ème
anniversaire de la proclamation de ” l’independance ” du HK.

L’ex-President dit ne pas partager l’avis selon lequel aujourd’hui le
HK ne prend pas part aux negociations : ” Certes, le HK ne participe
pas a l’etape presente du processus de negociations, a savoir aux
rencontres des Presidents d’Armenie et d’Azerbaïdjan, mais le cadre
de negociations est une notion plus large. Le HK negocie avec les
copresidents du Groupe de Minsk et constitue l’une des parties au
processus. Aux negociations entre les Presidents, les interets du HK
sont presentes par le President d’Armenie “. M. Kotcharian relève qu’en
son temps, il discutait très minutieusement de toutes les questions
avec son ” collègue ” du HK, Arcady Ghoukassian. ” Ceci dit, il faut
~uvrer a ce que le HK soit partie prenante aux negociations “.

L’ex-president dit ne pas avoir de doute qu’un jour le HK prendra
part aux reunions des presidents. Concernant les perspectives de
règlement du conflit, Robert Kotcharian estime que dans l’histoire
contemporaine, les conflits similaires ont ete resolus au profit
de l’autodetermination des peuples. L’ex-President cite l’exemple
de l’Abkhazie, de l’Ossetie du sud, du Kosovo, du Timor Est, de
l’Erythree, du sud Soudan, tout en disant convaincu qu’un jour le
Darfour et la Palestine auront des Etats independants. De ce fait,
l’ex-president estime que ” le temps travaille a notre profit “. ”
Il n’y a aucun doute qu’un jour le HK sera un Etat independant. Mais
tout depend des modalites de negociations et des solutions envisagees.

L’independance n’est jamais offerte, elle est conquise “, conclut-il.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

HAUSSE DU TOURISME AU KARABAKH
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 2 septembre 2011

Le nombre des touristes etrangers visitant le Nagorno-Karabakh a
grimpe de presque 50 pour cent sur la première moitie de cette annee
après une nette hausse enregistree en 2010.

” Plus de 3000 etrangers ont visite le Nagorno-Karabakh dans la
première moitie de 2011 soit une augmentation de 49 par rapport a 2010
” a annonce le Ministère des Affaires Etrangères de la Republique du
Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) dans une declaration.

” Compare a la meme periode de l’annee precedente [2009,] la première
moitie de 2010 a ete aussi marquee par une augmentation significative
de 45 pour cent du nombre des touristes ” a-t-il ajoute.

Les chiffres officielles n’incluent pas les residants d’Armenie,
qui semble aussi voyager au Karabakh en plus grand nombre.

Selon la declaration, les etrangers qui ont visite le territoire
sont des citoyens de plus de deux douzaines de pays, notablement des
Etats-Unis, de France, de Russie et d’Iran. Ces derniers comprenent
d’importantes communautes armeniennes.

La declaration a aussi parle d’un afflux grandissant de touristes
venant de pays comme le Japon, la Chine et la Nouvelle-Zelande.

Le ministère du NKR a note avec satisfaction que les etrangers montrent
” une hausse d’interet ” au Karabakh malgre ” des obstacles crees
par les autorites d’Azerbaïdjan “.

Les autorites azeries considèrent les voyages au Karabakh non autorises
par eux comme une infraction a la souverainete internationalement
reconnue de Bakou. Des douzaines de dignitaires etrangers ont ete
declarees personae non grata en Azerbaïdjan pour avoir ignores ces
avertissements.

La declaration du Karabagh a exprime sa confiance que la prochaine
ouverture du nouvel aeroport du Karabakh ” facilitera ” le nouveau
developpement de l’industrie du tourisme.

Un haut fonctionnaire du Karabakh a declare au service armenien de
RFE/RL que sa reconstruction sera achevee vers la fin de septembre.

L’aeroport est situe a 8 kilomètres a l’est de Stepanakert et a ete
ferme vers la fin de 1991, au debut de guerre armeno-Azerie.

Les communications du Karabakh avec le monde exterieur s’effectue
depuis par la voie terreste via l’Armenie.

Pastor VAHIK ABRAHAMIAN RELEASED
by Joseph DeCaro

Worthy News

Sept 1 2011

TEHRAN, IRAN (Worthy News)- According to an unconfirmed report from
the Farsi News Network, after almost one year in prison, Pastor Vahik
Abrahamian was released Aug. 29 and has rejoined his family.

Abrahamian, an Armenian Christian, his wife, Sonia Keshish Avanessian,
and two friends were arrested by Iranian security agents last September
in their home in Hamedan; they were all held for 44 days in solitary
confinement in the ministry of information’s detention center where
they were placed under intense interrogation far from any contact
with their families and friends.

After eight months of torture, they were found not guilty in a court
hearing and all but Pastor Vahik were released.

The Christian community worldwide, especailly the Iranian Christian
community, faithfully held Vahik in prayer, which comforted and
encouraged for his immediate family.

BAKO SAHAKYAN PARTOOK AT A SOLEMN CEREMONY OF OPENING “SHOUSHI GRAND HOTEL”

Noyan Tapan
01.09.2011 | 14:27

Politics

On 1 September President of Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan partook
at a solemn ceremony of opening “Shoushi Grand Hotel”.

The Head of State considered important putting into operation a
new hotel in Shoushi, corresponding to international standards in
developing the town and turning it into a tourism centre.

Bako Sahakyan expressed his gratitude to the philanthropists from
Lebanon and the USA who financed the construction of the hotel,
underlining the nation-wide significance of consolidating the world
spread Armenians efforts for the development of Shoushi.

Head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop
Pargev Martirosyan, speaker of the National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan,
prime-minister Ara Haroutyunyan, other officials, guests from Armenia
and abroad were present at the ceremony.

CENTRAL INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC
PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TOLD ABOUT THE PACE OF CONNECTING RURAL HOUSEHOLD TO NATURAL GAS NETWORK

ARKA
Sep 1, 2011

TAVUSH PROVINCE, September 1. / ARKA /. During a visit today to
northwestern province of Tavush Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan
was told about the pace of connecting rural households to the natural
gas network. Serzh Sargsyan was accompanied by deputy prime minister
Armen Gevorgyan and agricultural minister Sergo Karapetyan.

The program is financed by a loan provided by the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Several communities in the region
– Achadzhur, Artsvaberd, Verin Karmir Aghbyur, Chinaris- have been
connected to the network since 2007. The cost of the project amounted
to 230 million drams.

Voskevan, Voskepar, Paganis and Kochi communities will be connected to
the network later this year. The cost of building a 32.3 km pipeline is
estimated at 535 million drams. Barekamavan and Dzhudzhevan communities
will have natural gas in 2012.

NEW ARRESTS IN ARMENIAN SOLDIER DEATH CASE

epress.am
09.01.2011 14:42

In the investigation into the death of Aghasi Abrahamyan, an
18-year-old conscript serving in an army unit near Nagorno-Karabakh
who died shortly after being hospitalized with serious injuries late
on Friday, apart from the arrest of one officer and one soldier,
which has been officially confirmed, there have been other arrests,
writes local daily 168 Zham (“168 Hours”).

According to the paper’s sources, Dr. Nver Mirzabekyan, 25, was also
arrested for stating the cause of death incorrectly. Note, Abrahamyan’s
relatives were initially told the deceased lost consciousness, fell
out of bed and died as a result of an intense blow to the head. Also
arrested are officers Suren Tadevosyan and Arsen Afyan. According to
the paper, until yesterday evening, it was expected that there would
be 7 other arrests.

WOMEN’S NGO TO ORGANIZE OPEN-AIR DANCE PERFORMANCE IN YEREVAN

Tert.am
15:05 01.09.11

Women’s Rights Center, NGO is organizing an open-air dance performance
on Friday.

The event is scheduled on Yerevan’s Charles Aznavour at 07:00 in
the evening.

The initiative is aimed at combating domestic violence against women
in Armenia and raising public awareness on the issue.

Professionals from “Mihr theatre” will perform dance against violence.

The mission of the theatre is to reveal the philosophical depth of
every movement by unifying painting, psychology, dance, philosophy
and drama arts.