Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HAILS STRENGTHENING ARMENIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS

ARKA
Sep 27, 2011

YEREVAN, September 27. / ARKA /. Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan,
speaking yesterday at a reception held in his honor by the mayor
of Los Angeles, USA. California, Antonio Villaraigosa, hailed the
strengthening Armenian-American relations, Sargsyan~Rs press office
reported.

He said he was in the city with a very strong Armenian community and
expressed gratitude to the authorities of Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa, all friends of the Armenian people for their warm and
friendly attitude towards the Armenians.

“Hundreds of thousands of my country fellows were able to freely live,
develop, and ensure their welfare here and, of course, contribute to
the success of both the city and the U.S.. We are grateful to the U.S.
for such an approach. Our friendship is eternal, and I am very happy
that the Armenian-American relations in recent years have strengthened
enough,” he said.

According to him, there is something strange that Armenia has a history
of thousands of years, while Armenia marks the 20th anniversary of
its independence.

“We are a country of young democracy, but we have been guided by
this idea for 1,700 years. And today the assistance of our friends
and our potential help us achieve progress in our country,” he said.

After completing his visit to the United States, the president
travelled to France on a two-day official visit.

TURKISH EXPERT: ERDOGAN “WAS WRONG” TO LEAVE THE HALL DURING SARGSYAN’S SPEECH

ARMINFO
Tuesday, September 27, 15:17

Burcu Gultekin Punsmann, PhD. Senior Foreign Policy Analyst, the
Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), said talking to
ArmInfo that Prime Minister Erdogan’s leaving the UN General Assembly
session hall during Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech was
“a wrong step”.

Few people in Turkey have noticed that fact, she said, the public in
Turkey was more interested in the meeting of the country’s leadership
with Obama and discussion of the Turkish-Armenian relations alongside
with other issues on the agenda. “We are not as sensitive to that as
Armenians. But I think that it was a wrong step,” Punsmann said.

She highlighted the fact that the Turkish president congratulated the
Armenian people on the 20th Independence Anniversary on September 21.

Even if there are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey,
she said, the relations must be somehow observed. “You know, our
prime minister is not a very good diplomat. He displayed diplomatic
isrespect when he left the hall not listening to the speech of the
neighbor country’s president,” Punsmann said.

HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN: TURKEY MUST FOLLOW GERMANY’S SUIT

Noyan Tapan
27.09.2011 | 11:41
Politics

The delegation led by the National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamian
and composed of Head of Armenia-Germany Friendship Group Artak Davtian,
Head of the NA Staff Gegham Gharibjanian, and Armenia’s Ambassador
to Germany Armen Martirosian is on a working visit to Germany. On
September 26 the delegation visited House Museum of Johannes Lepsius
in Potsdam where they met with the staff of the House Museum. The
life and activities of J. Lepsius were presented in detail to the
delegation members.

It should be noted that Johannes Lepsius was a German public figure,
Orientalist and Protestant missionary with a special interest in trying
to prevent the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. He condemned
the Turkish authorities’ actions aimed at annihilating Armenians and
he demanded that the German government should make efforts to stop the
Armenian massacres. Lepsius participated in protests against Armenian
massacres, underlining in his speeches that this crime was committed
by the Turkish government led by the sultan.

In the House Museum, Hovik Abrahamian was presented with J. Lepsius’
work “Report on the Situation of the Armenian People in Turkey”.

According to the press service of the RA National Assembly,
H. Abrahamian told those present that the role of J. Lepsius in
initiating the process of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide is invaluable. In his words, the Armenian people remembers
Lepsius with appreciation as he was the first person to raise his voice
in his works and articles against mass killings of the Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire. Hovik Abrahamian expressed hope that the first genocide
committed at the beginning of the 20th century will be recognized
and condemned universally. “The recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide is the problem of not only the Armenian people,
but also the international community – for the reason that not being
recognized and condemned at the time, it paved the way for other
genocides and ethnic cleansing in various parts of the world in the
20th century. So we consider the recognition and condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide by the international community and especially
by Turkey, the legal successor to the Ottoman Empire, as the best
guarantee of prevention of such crimes”. He said that recognition of
the Armenian Genocide is also important for improving the atmosphere
of mutual trust between the two neighboring countries and in the
region. “Turkey must follow Germany’s suit that recognized Holocaust
as a historic fact. Turkey must recognize the Armenian Genocide,” H.

Abrahamian stated. He said that on the initiative of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan, an attempt was made to improve relations
between Armenia and Turkey, without preconditions. The protocols on
opening the borders and establishment of diplomatic relations were
signed in Zurich. “Unfortunately, Turkey was not prepared and it is
not prepared now to carry this process to its logical completion:
after the signing of the protocols, it put forward some preconditions
unacceptable to the Armenian side. At the same time I consider it
necessary to note that in its efforts to improve relations with Turkey,
Armenia has never called into question the Armenian Genocide.

The international community knows that Armenia has always taken
constructive initiatives,” Hovik Arahamian said.

At the end of the meeting the NA speaker made notes in the book of
honorary guests.

NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian will meet with President of the Bundestag
Norbert Lammert on September 27. On the evening of the same day the
Armenian delegation will attend a concert and an official reception
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The
events will be held in the Big Concert Hall in Berlin.

DAYS OF ARMENIAN CULTURE IN STUTTGART

Tert.am
12:50 27.09.11

Stuttgart, the capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in southern
Germany, hosted Days of Armenian Culture, Sept. 16 to 22.

Referring to the Armenian community in Germany, the Yerkramas
newspaper, published by the Union of Armenians of Russia, reports
that the cultural event proved a “complete success and inaugurated a
new era for Armenians in Baden-Wurttemberg.” On the occasion of the
20th anniversary of independence of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
the organizers – the Armenian community in Baden-Wurttemberg and the
Armenian Cultural Association in Stuttgart – implemented a large-scale
cultural program at the highest level.

Armenian sacred, classical and folk music was performed. Among the
invitees from Armenia were the Shohaken company, the choir of the
Geghard monastery and maestro Robert Amirkhanyan with singer Seda
Amir-Karayan. Also Germany-based Armenian performers participated
in the cultural event ~V Karine Babajanyan, Hrachuhi Basents, Anna
Manasyants, Barig Nalbandyan and others. The Neuer Kammerchor (New
Choir) from Heidenheim, conducted by Thomas Kammel, was a special
guest at the cultural event.

Lectures and religious services took place in Stuttgart, Well-known
public and political figures ~V Armenian Ambassador to Germany Armen
Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Harutyun Grgoryan and others – delivered congratulatory speeches. The
participants got acquainted with the history and culture of Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as with the Armenian community in
Baden-Wurttemberg.

The organizers thanked Germany for its hospitality and support to
Armenia over the past 20 years. Moreover, preparations for Days of
Armenian Culture in 2012 are under way.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR CALLS ON BAKU FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAEL

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 26, 2011 – 12:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan called on Baku
to stand beside Ankara in its diplomatic struggle against Israel and
“reconsider” its relations with the Jewish State, a Persian-language
U.S.-based website reported on Sunday, September 25.

According to the report, Ambassador Hulusi Kilic said that Israel
should take into account “possible problems” with the oil pipeline
that crosses from Azerbaijan to Turkey, and also supplies oil to
Israel. He did not go into further details.

Responding to the Turkish ambassador’s comments, the website quoted
Israel’s Ambassador to Baku Michael Lavon Lotem as saying that
third-party interests should not be allowed to affect the strategic
relations between Jerusalem and Baku.

Azerbaijan has become an important strategic asset for Israel’s
security and foreign affairs. In 2010, the trade between the two
countries totaled more than $2 billion – double than the trade between
Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Israel also supplies Azerbaijan advanced military equipment and helps
train its army. As part of the cooperation between the two states,
Israeli defense systems manufacturer Elbit Systems recently opened
an office in the former soviet republic, and is planning to build a
plant for the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Baku has yet to issue a response to the Turkish ambassador’s remarks,
but the head of the Azeri Press Office told the local radio station
that Azerbaijan hopes the “crisis between Israel and Turkey ends soon,”
Ynetnews reported.

FESTIVE DINNER ON OCCASION OF 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZED IN LOS ANGELES

Panorama
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence a
festive dinner has been organized in Los Angeles. The dinner hosted
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, members of the delegation headed by
him, Armenian clergymen of US western archdiocese, the representatives
of the local community, guests, including Los Angeles City mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa.

Armenian philanthropists and leaders of the local community Charles
Ghailian, Sinan Sinanyan, Vahe Yaghubian, and LA mayor Mr.

Villaraigosa delivered speeches. President Serzh Sargsyan also released
a comprehensive speech.

Before the festive dinner, President Sargsyan had a meeting with
renowned opera singer Placido Domingo.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH PLACIDO DOMINGO

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a work
visit to US, on September 24 headed from New York to Los Angeles. On
the first day of his visit, Sargsyan visited the Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Montebello, laid a wreath in memory of the Genocide
victims, and planted a tree at the memorial park, Presidential Press
Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

On September 25, Serzh Sargsyan attended opening of an economic
forum organized by the Central Bank of Armenia and Bank Association
of Armenia. This event brought together representatives from the
business community of Armenia and US state of California.

In his address to forum participants, the President underscored
the need to make full use of Armenian Diaspora’s potential, for
the benefit of Armenia’s economic growth and strengthening of the
Republic of Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan noted that, in the past 20 years,
the Armenian citizens’ potential likewise was not used to the fullest
in terms of economic growth. In the President’s words, there have been
both achievements and shortcomings ever since Armenia’s independence.

And speaking solely about the shortcomings, in the President’s view,
means dropping responsibility from one’s own shoulders onto someone
else’s.

“We are the masters of our shortcomings and achievements alike,”
Serzh Sargsyan noted.

According to the President, if that potential were to be used to the
utmost, we could have had more achievements. Sargsyan also thanked
the Diaspora-Armenian businessmen for their past-20-year activities
toward strengthening the motherland.

“I am hopeful that, with combined efforts and in a foreseeable future,
we would have a country of which we all would be proud,” he said.

President Serzh Sargsyan also attended a Holy Mass, at the newly
built Saint Ghevont Diocesan Headquarters Cathedral in Los Angeles.

Subsequently, a reception was held at the Diocesan Headquarters
during which Armenia’s President met with representatives of the
parish council and Armenian benefactors living in western coast of
the United States.

On the same day, President Sargsyan also attended opening of the
representation of the Ameria Group. In Los Angeles, the President
also took part in opening of the new building of Armenia’s General
Consulate. Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that all our compatriots
who live in this coast of US would definitely get the chance to visit
our Consulate, at least once.

“I call upon those who like our authorities and those who dislike our
authorities, because many things are temporary. The difficulties are
temporary, even war is temporary, liked and disliked authorities are
temporary; but the motherland is eternal, and this very building is
the connecting link with the motherland. Taking advantage of this
opportunity, I would like to express thanks to the US that, during
the most difficult times for our people, it allowed our compatriots
the opportunity to enter the United States, to live in dignity,
to develop, to integrate with the society of this powerful country,
and to make their historical homeland known. We are proud of you,
and we will do everything so you could be proud of us,” Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan stated, also thanking the local authorities.

On the evening of September 25, Sargsyan attended in Los Angeles
the festive reception celebrating 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. Prior to that, however, Armenia’s President met with
world renowned opera singer, Placido Domingo.

ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN SEMINAR ON NEGATIVE EFFECT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

Armenia is participating in a five-day international seminar on
negative effect of radioactive materials on environment which opens
in Dushanbe on Monday.

The event’s objective is to study experience of introduction of
IAEA norms to prevent negative effect of radioactive materials on
environment and population, CA-NEWS reported.

Experts from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Croatia, Belarus, Armenia,
Kazakhstan and other countries will participate in the seminar which
will last till September 30.

KARABAKH’S SYMBOL IS CLEANED

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

Nagorno-Karabakh’s (Artsakh) symbol, the “We are Our Mountains”
monument, is cleaned. On September 13, the “We Will Not Keep Silent”
youth initiative had released a video on the shameful condition of this
monument, which was built in 1967 nearby Artsakh capital Stepanakert
and which is deservedly considered Artsakh’s symbol.

After the video’s release, a group of young Facebook users began
an online recruiting of volunteers to visit Artsakh and clean
the monument. Arriving in Stepanakert on September 24, however,
they discovered that the monument was already cleaned. After the
aforesaid youth initiative’s uproar raised around this matter,
Artsakh’s authorities took immediate action and cleaned the monument.

But the youth’s visit was not in vain, as they cleaned with great
care the ruins of Sar (Mountain) Monastery.

watch video at

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas makes UN statehood bid

21:55 – 23.09.11

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his bid to the UN for
recognition of a Palestinian state, the BBC News reported.

He presented a letter requesting full membership of the UN. He is
addressing the General Assembly to argue the case, after a rapturous
welcome.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is to speak soon afterwards. His
spokesman said Israel regretted the step.

Israel and the US oppose it, saying a Palestinian state can only be
achieved through talks with Israel.

US President Barack Obama told Abbas on Thursday that the US will use
its UN Security Council veto to block the move, but Abbas vowed to
press ahead with the bid.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians are holding mass rallies to
coincide with the submission of the bid.

Giant TV screens have been set up in several cities so that people can
watch Abbas’s General Assembly speech, expected at 16:30 GMT.

“I am going to listen to Abbas’s speech because it will tell us our
future and our destiny, and we are expecting so much from him, to
declare our state,” Khalil Jaberi, a 21-year-old university student in
the city of Hebron, told the Associated Press news agency.

Abbas has called for peaceful marches in support of his initiative,
but some clashes were reported.

The process began with Abbas presenting a written request for UN
recognition of the Palestinian territories as a state to
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Palestinian sources say the request is concise and short, and
envisages a state based on pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as its
capital.

Tert.am