Author: Kalantarian Kevo

UN CHRETIEN SYRIAQUE ELU AU PARLEMENT TURC, UNE PREMIERE DEPUIS 50 ANS
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 17 juin 2011

Un chretien syriaque, Erol Dora (47 ans), a ete elu depute aux
legislatives de dimanche en Turquie, pays a ecrasante majorite
musulmane, où un tel evenement electoral n’avait pas ete enregistre
depuis une cinquantaine d’annees, ont rapporte lundi les medias.

Cet avocat membre de l’Eglise syriaque orthodoxe est membre de la
petite communaute, appeles aussi Assyriens, dont Mardin (sud-est)
en est le foyer.

L’elu qui s’est presente en tant qu’independant, a neanmoins obtenu
le soutien du Parti pour la Paix et la Democratie (BDP), principale
force pro-kurde.

Le nouveau et seul depute chretien du Parlement qui sera une
nouvelle fois dominee par le parti au pouvoir de la Justice et du
developpement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste), s’est engage a
etre le porte-parole des chretiens de Turquie.

Lundi, après ete elu, il a appele l’Union europeenne a faire entrer
la Turquie dans l’UE. Il a aussi montre, selon l’agence Cihan, qu’il
ne representait pas “un club chretien”.

Outre la commuanute syriaque, la Turquie compte aussi des minorites
chretiennes Armenienne et Orthodoxe grecque.

Ces dernières annees ont ete marquees par plusieurs attaques violentes
et pour certaines meurtrières a l’encontre de la communaute chretienne
en Turquie.

PLACE OF ORIGIN OF KHACHKARS NOT INDICATED DUE TO TURKISH-AZERBAIJANI PRESSURES

Tert.am
17.06.11

At its Paris-hosted exhibition dedicated to the art of Armenian
Khachkars (cross stones), UNESCO had to remove the notes indicating
their place of origin under Turkish-Azerbaijani pressures, the minister
of culture has said.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Hasmik
Poghosyan said the Turkish and Azerbaijani participants attending the
exhibition had talked UNESCO into removing some photos of Khachkars
situated beyond the borders of Armenia. After negotiations, UNESCO
called for removing the explanatory notes indicating the place of
origin. At the last moment, it had also removed the map.

The minister said they had managed to publish only a catalogue
containing the Armenian samples, and distribute it among the
participanst.

“There’s nothing extraordinary about that. We encounter such incidents
at all international events. The Armenians have just to be ready to
voice their stance and opinions,” she said.

SERZH SARGSYAN: FRANCE HAS UNIQUE PLACE IN ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 17, 2011
YEREVAN

President Serzh Sargsyan received today Henri de Raincourt, French
Minister of Cooperation, President’s Press Office reported.

Greeting the guest, the President stated: “France has a unique place
in Armenia’s foreign policy agenda. Therefore, we are constantly
interested in the reinforcement and deepening of our relations. This is
connected with both centuries-old historic ties, the sympathy existing
between our peoples and the fact of France’s being a weighty player in
international politics, and finally the existence of a large Armenian
community in France.

Henri de Raincourt expressed gratitude for the warm reception and
noted: “Armenia is always in our hearts, since every day we communicate
with Armenians living in France, who are carriers of both cultures
and who remind us of the sufferings of Armenians and their capacity
to rise again.”

The interlocutors praised the relations between the two countries,
emphasizing the importance of the regular high-level political
dialogue, the close and effective inter-parliamentary cooperation,
the cultural exchanges, the presence of French companies in the
Armenian market, the successfully developing decentralized cooperation.

Participants of the meeting agreed that the development of
trade-economic ties, the growth of commodity turnover and the
intensification of reciprocal visits was among the priorities of
bilateral relations.

The parties discussed a broad range of issues related to Armenia-EU
cooperation.

THIS COULD ALSO HAPPEN IN KAZAN
JAMES HAKOBYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:43:32 – 17/06/2011

Prior to the three-party meeting in Kazan, many people say there may
be some progress, some agreement. The Co-Chairs, experts, even the
conflict sides say it though there are also doubts.

Anyway, the content of the events is still veiled from the society, and
all the opinions are based on presumptions, analyses or predictions.

In this sense, a situation, opposite or parallel to the main
observations, could also be considered. I mean there can be some
progress in Kazan, and progress would be rejection of the Basic
Principles of Madrid and approval of the current status quo rather
than approval of the Principles of Madrid.

In other words, in Kazan, Azerbaijan may acknowledge that its efforts
to change the status quo are doomed, even if Armenia expresses a
thousand times more willingness to return the territories in returned
for an uncertain referendum. All the same, there are geopolitical
interests, configuration, projects and ideas that suppose a balance
among the countries of the region ~V Armenia, Georgia, Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Iran. Change of status quo would break the balance,
creating new correlation between the countries, actually eliminating
Armenia from the map of the South Caucasus.

No doubt, few great powers would be satisfied with this scenario which
would bring about a new bugbear. So, in Kazan, the leaders may reach
agreement to refrain from bugbears.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, FRENCH MINISTER PRAISE THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL DIALOGUE

armradio.am
17.06.2011 15:26

President Serzh Sargsyan received Henri de Raincourt, French Minister
in charge of Cooperation, President’s Press Office reported.

Greeting the guest, the President stated: “France has a unique place
in Armenia’s foreign policy agenda. Therefore, we are constantly
interested in the reinforcement and deepening of our relations. This is
connected with both centuries-old historic ties, the sympathy existing
between our peoples and the fact of France’s being a weighty player in
international politics, and finally the existence of a large Armenian
community in France.

Henri de Raincourt expressed gratitude for the warm reception and
noted: “Armenia is always in our hearts, since every day we communicate
with Armenians living in France, who are carriers of both cultures
and who remind us of the sufferings of Armenians and their capacity
to rise again.”

The interlocutors praised the relations between the two countries,
emphasizing the importance of the regular high-level political
dialogue, the close and effective inter-parliamentary cooperation,
the cultural exchanges, the presence of French companies in the
Armenian market, the successfully developing decentralized cooperation.

Participants of the meeting agreed that the development of
trade-economic ties, the growth of commodity turnover and the
intensification of reciprocal visits was among the priorities of
bilateral relations.

The parties discussed a broad range of issues related to Armenia-EU
cooperation.

“IS THE TENSION TO BE REDUCED, EVEN IF DOCUMENT IS SIGNED?”

Aysor.am
Friday,June 17

“The situation on the eve of the Kazan meeting is rather hard to
assess. However, one thing is clear, it is, to put it mildly, highly
controversial,” Russian famous political scientist, expert of Strategic
Culture Foundation Andrey Areshev told Aysor.am.

According to him the role of the USA on the eve of the Armenian,
Azerbaijani and RF Presidents meeting to be held in Kazan on 25 June
is visible even by a naked eye; Just after Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian’s visit to Washington the Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister left for the US too, and had number of meetings with the
experts engaged in issues concerning the Caucasus.

“However, at the same time, the atmosphere developed around the Kazan
meeting together with the analysis and publications openly speak of
the role of Russian President,” the political scientist noticed.

Deauville statement included its changes in the negotiation process.

And the fact that the main actors of Deauville do not rule out that
any document of agreement can be signed in Kazan more questions arise
the answers of which have not yet been drafted.

ONLY 5% OUT OF 44% OF TURKEY’S POPULATION OPPOSING ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA EXPLAIN IT WITH SOLIDARITY WITH AZERBAIJAN

arminfo
Thursday, June 16, 12:46

Only 5% out of 44% of Turkey’s population opposing establishment of
diplomatic relations with Armenia explain it with solidarity with
Azerbaijan, says the public opinion poll conducted by TESEV (Turkish
Economic and Social Studies Foundation).

The remaining reasons that make Turks oppose establishment of relations
with Armenia vary. 13% of the respondents have no desire to deal with
Armenia for Armenians do not feel friendly towards Turks.

Another 11% for some unknown reasons blame Armenia for betrayal and 9%
of making genocide claims.

Only 10% of the respondents called Azerbaijan the friend-country
number one, whereas most of the polled called Iran the friend number
of one. As regards enemies, Israel traditionally ranks the first,
as nearly 40% of Turks hate that country. Top five countries feeling
enmity towards Turkey are considered the USA, Greece, France and Iraq.

Only 4% of Turks called Armenia an enemy.

Only 39% of Turkey’s population supports establishment of diplomatic
ties with Armenia and opening of the border with Armenia. 40% of the
polled say activation of business ties with Armenia will contribute
to development of Turkey’s economy. In the western regions nearly
the 2/3 of the polled supported establishment of direct economic ties
with Armenia.

Commenting on the poll results, Director of the Center of Regional
Studies Richard Giragosian said that the Turkish public more and
more supports the idea of normalization with Armenia. He thinks that
the results of the given poll showed that Turkish public support the
normalization with Armenia more that the parliament.

AYMAN AL-ZAWAHRI BECOMES NEW AL QAEDA LEADER

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 16, 2011 – 12:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Osama bin Laden’s long-time lieutenant, Ayman
al-Zawahri, is now the leader of al Qaeda, Al Arabiya television said
on Thursday, June 16.

The Egyptian-born Zawahri vowed earlier this month to press ahead
with al Qaeda’s campaign against the United States and its allies,
in what appeared to be his first public response to bin Laden’s death
in a U.S. commando raid in Pakistan in May.

The news channel gave no further details, Reuters reported.

Zawahri, whose whereabouts are unknown, had been seen as bin Laden’s
most likely successor.

ANTI-ARMENIAN ACTION AT PARIS PHOTO EXHIBITION OR HOW TO DECEIVE WORLD

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 16, 2011 – 13:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 15, a photo exhibition titled Khachkar
Craftsmanship opened in Paris in the framework of scientific
conferences organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“On the opening day of the exhibition hosting the Armenian Deputy
Minister of Culture and Armenian Ambassador in France Vigen
Tchitetchian, the guests faced an unpleasant surprise,” said Jean
Eckian, freelance French journalist.

The attendees were embarrassed to see that the quotations indicating
the place of origin of each Khachkhar (cross-stone), had been removed
without any clarification on the part of organizers of the event. Only
dates were indicated under the photos, according to Eckian.

He said that the Armenian organizations of France and Switzerland
vigorously protested against attempts to deny the cultural heritage
of Armenia.

On Nov 17, 2010, UNESCO decided to inscribe Armenian Cross-Stones
Art, symbolism and Craftsmanship of Khachkars on the Representative
List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Taking into
consideration the fact that Khachkar is the acting tradition for
all Armenians, its inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage provides grounds for maintenance
and transition of knowledge, rituals, traditions and craftsmanship
connected with Khachkars to next generations.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan attempted to protest the decision and claimed
that Kachkars “are not Armenian.”

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: ARMENIA READY TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS

armradio.am
16.06.2011 12:28

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said his country was ready
to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions.

In an interview with BBC Russian Service broadcast on Wednesday
evening, Sargsyan described as “nonsense” closed borders in the
21st century.

“We hope that Turkey will be consistent in normalizing the
Armenian-Turkish relations. I mean in particular the signed protocols,
which boil down to that the two neighboring countries intend to
establish normal relations without preconditions.

“The position of Armenia has not changed over the past 20 years. We
are ready to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without
preconditions. And the agreements that were reached with the Turkish
side were based on this fundamental understanding of the situation,”
the Prime Minister said.

“We will be happy if our Turkish colleagues come to this conclusion,
that having close borders in the 21st century is nonsense,” he added.