Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN CUSTOMS OFFICIALS GOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE CORE PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF MANAGEMENT OF CORRUPTION RISKS AT THE TRAINING CLASSES IN TSAKHKADZOR

ARMENPRESS
Oct 19, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian customs officials got
acquainted with the core principles and methods of management of
corruption risks at the training classes held October 16-17 in
Tsakhkadzor.

An official from the Customs Service told Armenpress that recently
certain positive steps have been undertaken for the implementation of
effective anti-corruption events, and taking it into consideration EU
consulting group expressed readiness to support the Armenian State
Revenue Committee to continue the launched reforms and organize
two-day workshop giving them an opportunity to get acquainted with
the best international experience of revealing frauds in the system
and managing corruption risks.

"The State Revenue Committee highlights today the implementation
of anti-corruption events and we are planning to organize such like
workshops in near future too. The peculiarity of this workshop is that
the experts of the EU consulting group not only train specialists but
prepare them as lecturers so that they share with their experience
and knowledge with their employees," deputy chairman of the State
Revenue Committee Artak Shaboyan said.

EU consulting group representatives noted that with the organization
of these classes they are aimed at promoting the already launched
reforms. They at the same time assured that during the last few months
the customs service has notably progressed.

A. Shaboyan said from last year’s August till now as a result of
service examination 46 employees have been subjected to responsibility
for power abuse. Nine of them have been dismissed, 10 got strict
warning and 25 warning.

Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Armenia Raul de
Luzenberger said the goal of the workshop is to exchange experience
in management of a number of risks in the customs sphere.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES LEBANESE POLITICAL PERSONALITIES IN HIS OFFICE

On 15 October 2009. The former Ambassador of Lebanon to Washington Simon
Karam visited the Pontiff. The former Ambassador had come to discuss with
His Holiness the issues of Christian presence in Lebanon and a document
setting the framework for cooperation among Christian communities.

On the same day Mr. Habib Afram, the President of the Assyrian League in
Lebanon also visited the Catholicos. He had come to discuss with His
Holiness Aram I his project on strengthening inter-confessional and
inter-Christian cooperation in Lebanon.

At the end of each visit His Holiness told his guests that their projects
should respond to the current political, economic, confessional and social
problems in the country.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS WON RIGHT OF FLAG WAVING

News.am
14:33 / 10/15/2009

October 14, Armenian journalists waved Armenian flag next to hundreds
of Turkish flags at Ataturk stadium in Bursa, that sparked off a
serious incident.

NEWS.am correspondent Andranik Ispiryan was present at the stadium
and told of the "hospitable" reception Armenian journalists met.

"As there were no Armenian flags at the stadium, the journalists
waved flag at the press box. One of the officials approached us and
stated that Armenian flag cannot be waved. I explained that as there
is no Armenian flags so far, as Armenians we have to stream the flag
being fans of teams," the reporter says, adding that the official
threatened he would have problems with police.

According to NEWS.am reporter, one of the Armenian football federation
members persuaded the journalists to hide the flag, however journalist
pressured the official.

NEWS.am correspondent also negotiated with Turkish federation
press secretary. Asked whether "they had obstacles when they were
in Armenia", Turkish official replied, "We were heartily met in
Armenia." Turkish press secretary held negotiations with his bosses
and allowed Armenian journalists to wave the flag.

October 14, Armenia-Turkey football match took place in Bursa. Armenian
and Turkish Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul were among
the spectators.

AZERBAIJANI FLAGS ARE HUNG IN BURSA

a
08:14 pm | October 14, 2009

Bursa’s Ataturk Stadium became overcrowded three hours ahead the
Turkey-Armenia qualifying match. One can see numerous policemen and
football fans in the area.

They are complaining to the UEFA administration of unequal footing.

Remind that no tickets for the match were put on sale.

It is worth mentioning that the flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan are
already hanging in different parts of Bursa.

Azerbaijani flags are also seen near the stadium.

ERDOGAN SAYS DECISION TO BAR ISRAEL WAS PEOPLE’S WILL

Today’s Zaman
15 October 2009, Thursday

The government was listening to the public when it decided to exclude
Israel from an international military exercise, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying yesterday, days after the Foreign
Ministry denied the decision was politically motivated

Erdogan told al-Arabiya television that his government acted as a
"spokesman for the conscience of the people" and that the Turkish
people did not want Israel to participate in the exercise, the Anatolia
news agency reported.

Israel has extensive defense ties with Turkey, a NATO member and one of
the few Muslim nations to have built an alliance with the Jewish state.

Yet tension prevails in the ties between Israel and Turkey,
particularly since Ankara’s harsh criticism of Israel’s
three-week offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December and
January. Erdogan reiterated in the al-Arabiya interview that Israel
killed 1,500 people, mostly women and children, in Gaza and destroyed
schools and hospitals.

Turkey and Israel both denied on Monday that the cancellation of air
force exercises scheduled for this week posed any threat to their
long-standing bilateral ties and strategic interests. The Turkish
Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Monday, ruled out comments made
by certain Israeli officials who suggested that political motives were
behind changing the exercise, urging Israel to display "common sense"
in their statements.

Meanwhile, Syria, a regional rival of Israel, has said it will hold
military exercises with Turkey. "We held our first joint land military
exercise [with Turkey] last spring. And today we have agreed to do a
more comprehensive, bigger one," Syrian Defense Minister Ali Habib,
speaking at a news conference held in the border city of Gaziantep
on Tuesday evening at which Syrian and Turkish ministers responded
to questions following the first ministerial-level meeting of the
High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, recentl Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu (R) and his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem, shake
hands after signing an agreement at the border of the two countries
on Tuesday.

In the Syrian border city of Aleppo, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid
al-Moallem commended Ankara for canceling of the exercises, speaking
at the same meeting as Habib.

"We warmly welcome the decision. This decision is based on Turkey’s
approach towards Israel and reflects the way Turkey regards the Israeli
attack on Gaza," Moallem told reporters in Aleppo, where the first
part of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting was held.

In Washington, the US State Department gently criticized Turkey on
Tuesday over the exercise controversy, with Assistant Secretary of
State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley telling reporters that "as
to the question of whether there was a government that was invited
to participate and then removed at the last minute, we think it’s
inappropriate for any nation to be removed from an exercise like this
at the last minute."

He was asked whether that was what happened and if Israel was the
spurned country. He confirmed that it was correct. Also on Tuesday,
in Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom urged Turkey "to come
to its senses" in comments over the issue. "Turkey is an important
Muslim state sharing strategic ties with Israel. I hope the Turks
come to their senses and realize that the relationship between the
two states is in their interest no less than ours. The deterioration
of ties with Turkey in recent days is regrettable," he said.

Davutoglu defies pressure by Israeli lobby

In Gaziantep, Davutoglu was asked by a Syrian reporter whether he
is worried about any probable counter-attacks by Israeli lobbies in
the international arena following the recent uneasiness between the
two countries.

"Turkey’s foreign policy has always been based on principles. When
there have been bad policies, as in the Gaza incidents, we have shown
our position. Turkey has never interfered in any other count utoglu
said first of all, underlining that Turkey has consistently favored
regional cooperation and stability.

"I’m telling this to you as the foreign minister of the Turkish
Republic. There is nothing over which the Turkish Republic should feel
worried. We are ready for dialogue with everybody on every issue,"
he said.

The Syrian reporter’s question was an apparent reference to remarks
by Israeli defense officials cited by the Israeli daily The Jerusalem
Post. In regards to the exercises dispute, those officials told the
daily they would end Israeli support for Turkey in its efforts to
stop the US Congress voting to declare the killings of Anatolian
Armenians by the Ottoman Turks genocide.

ILLUSTRATED BOOK ENTITLED ‘ARMENIAN SPORT AND GYMNASTICS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE’ PRESENTED

ArmInfo
2009-10-13 11:33:00

ArmInfo. On October 13th of 2009, at 14:00, the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute will host the congratulatory event dedicated to the
presentation of the illustrated book of the AGMI director Mr. Hayk
Demoyan, entitled "Armenian Sport and Gymnastics in the Ottoman Empire"
(in Armenian, 220 pages). The history of sport and physical training
among Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire is represented in it
with photos.

The book refers to the activities of Armenian sport clubs established
in Armenian populated cities of the Ottoman Empire, to the organization
of Pan-Armenian Olympic Games, to the history of intensively developing
athletic movement in Western Armenia and Cilicia, as well as refers
to the sport unions of Armenian women, to sport competition and
nationalism, to the establishment of Armenian scout movement. A
separate chapter is dedicated to the Armenian sportsmen who fell
victims to the Armenian Genocide.

The history of the development of Armenian sport and gymnastics in
the Ottoman Empire takes its beginning from the end of 19th century,
when the first athletic clubs and societies were established. Under
the rule of the Sultan, being engaged in sports or athletics was
strictly forbidden and those who broke this law were punished.

After the coup d’etat of Young Turks in 1908, the first Armenian
athletic clubs and football teams were formed in Constantinople and
Smyrna. During this period the first professional Armenian sportsmen –
Shavarsh Chrisian, Mkrtich Mkrian, Grigor Hakobian and others played
significant role in propagating athletics among the Ottoman Armenians.

A unique phenomenon in the history of sport of the Ottoman Empire was
the participation of two Armenian sportsmen in the 5th International
Olympic Games in Stockholm. Armenian athlets Vahram Papazian and
Mkrtich Mkrian became the first sportsmen who represented the Ottoman
Empire in the International Olympic Games.

The publication of the first sport magazine in the Ottoman Empire
by Shavarsh Chrisian, called "Marmnamarz" ("Athletics") (1911-1914),
offered an additional incentive for extending the interest towards the
sport among the Ottoman Armenians. "Marmnamarz", the "body of national
physical training", became the major instrument for the development of
sport and athletic life among the Armenian population. This magazine
published information about various sport games and their results,
as well as published photos of Armenian and foreign athletes and
Armenian football teams.

On the eve of World War I there were about 40 Armenian athletic clubs
in Constantinople alone. Armenian football teams took part in team
and international tournaments of several leagues in the capital. The
most famous football teams were "Balta Liman", "Araks" and "Torq". The
most famous team of Smyrna was "Hay Vorsordats Club" ("The Armenian
Hunters’ club"). Armenian sport clubs were established also in Smyrna,
Nikomedia, Karin, Marzvan, Samson, Adana, Van, Caesarea, Dortyol,
Trapizon, Konya etc.

In 1911-1914 the Pan-Armenian Olympic Games were organized with
the participation of tens of Armenian sport and athletic clubs and
societies.

During the Games records were held and the winners were awarded with
silver medals. In 1914 were also held the first "Cilician Olympic
Games".

Many Armenian sportsmen fell victims to the Armenian Genocide. Among
them was Shavarsh Chrisian, the editor of "Marmnamarz", and after it
the publication of the magazine was stopped.

Hurdles to Turkey-Armenia Pact

The Wall Street Journal
OCTOBER 12, 2009

Territorial Dispute Is One Problem on Path to Ratification by Both
Parliaments

By SAMANTHA SHIELDS in Yerevan, Armenia, NICHOLAS BIRCH in Bursa, Turkey,
and MARC CHAMPION in Brussels

Just a day after Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord aimed at
opening their borders and normalizing relations soured for generations by a
dispute over genocide, Turkey made clear that significant hurdles remain to
getting the deal implemented.

Saturday’s long-awaited signing in Switzerland almost didn’t happen due to
disagreements over what each side would say at the ceremony. U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton and Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
intervened with dramatic last-minute mediation. The signing in Zurich went
ahead three hours late. Diplomats said the compromise to get the accord
approved was that neither side made any statement.

But suspicions in Armenia were strong Sunday that Turkey had wanted to make
clear a linkage between implementing the accord and movement from Armenia to
resolve a territorial conflict with its neighbor, Turkic-speaking
Azerbaijan.

On Sunday, Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, confirmed the
linkage, though he remained vague on what Armenia would have to do. "We want
all the borders to be opened … but as long as Armenia has not withdrawn
from Azerbaijani territory that it is occupying, Turkey cannot have a
positive attitude on this subject," Mr. Erdogan told members of his ruling
Justice and Development party, according to news-agency reports.

Mr. Erdogan underlined that the agreement still needs to be ratified by the
parliaments of Armenia and Turkey to take effect. He said Turkish
ratification is more likely if it becomes clear that Armenia and Azerbaijan
have begun "to look for a resolution to their problems."

Armenia has controlled Azeri territory in and around Azerbaijan’s mainly
ethnic-Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh since a war in the early 1990s.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993, in protest at what it viewed
as an Armenian occupation of Azeri territory.

Mr. Erdogan faces significant pressure from Azerbaijan and at home over the
deal. "This issue is very sensitive for Armenian society, but on the Turkish
side you have opposition not just in society but inside the state
apparatus," said Alexander Iskandaryan, a Yerevan-based political analyst.

"Surrender to the Armenians," read the headline in Turkey’s nationalist Yeni
Cag newspaper, though pro-government dailies were more supportive. The
foreign ministry of Azerbaijan said in a statement that the deal "casts a
shadow over the spirit of brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and
Turkey."

David Babayan, adviser to Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto president, said people
in the enclave worry Turkey will link the accord to a deal on Karabakh that
could weaken the position of Armenians there. "Officially there is no
mention of Karabakh in the protocols, but some people think a covert deal
has been done," he said by phone from Stepanakert, the Nagorno-Karabakh
capital.

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian reiterated in a televised address to the
nation before the protocols were signed Saturday his position that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unrelated to the Turkey accord.

Both sides stand to gain if the border opens. For Armenia, it could reduce
the landlocked nation’s economic isolation, and bring new trade and trade
routes. For Turkey, it could remove an irritant in relations with the U.S.
and in its accession talks with the European Union.

But Saturday’s accord is highly sensitive in Armenia and among the large
Armenian diaspora because it would establish a joint history commission to
look into the issue of up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians massacred around
1915 in what was then the Ottoman Empire. Most Western historians agree with
Armenia that the killings amounted to genocide. But Turkey strongly refutes
the label, and some Armenians worry Turkey will use the history commission
to push its case that both sides committed atrocities in what amounted to
civil war.

The accord also would affirm the current border Turkey-Armenia border, set
in a 1921 treaty between Turkey and Russia.

Write to Marc Champion at [email protected]

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A6

TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN: TURKEY WILL ALWAYS CONSIDER AZERBAIJAN’S INTERESTS

AZG DAILY
2009-10-14 00:21:37 (GMT +04:00)
Turkey-Azerbaijan

Turkey will always consider Azerbaijan’s interests, Turkish Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic said.

"The Azerbaijan-Turkey relations are based on the brotherly
ties. Turkey and Azerbaijan are brother countries and we will always
take into consideration Azerbaijan’s interests," Kilic said, according
to Azerbaijani media.

According to the source, the Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed
since 1993 due to Armenia’s claims to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and Armenia’s "occupation" of Azerbaijani lands.

The ambassador stated that Azerbaijan’s grief is Turkey’s grief also.

"We expect Azerbaijan to rely on Turkey," Kilic added.

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, RUSSIA MET IN MOSCOW

armradio.am
13.10.2009 11:09

The President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, had a
meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow.

The two Presidents discussed trade and economic cooperation
development, strengthening cooperation between regions, military and
technical cooperation, and also the prospects for carrying out big
joint projects in the energy sector.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation’s work was also on
the agenda, including the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force in
connection with military exercises, Cooperation 2009, underway in
Kazakhstan.

Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Sargsyan examined the results of the CIS summit
in Chisinau on October 9, in the context of mechanisms for fighting
the impact of global crises and facilitating innovative development,
and also exchanged views on dialogue within the Eurasian Economic
Community (EurAsEC).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL MEETING AT THE DIOCESAN HEADQUARTERS

hern-california-regional-meeting-at-the-diocesan-h eadquarters/
Oct 02 2009

On September 26, under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate, Parish Priests, Parish Councilmembers and
Diocesan Delegates of Southern California assembled in the Hampar Room
of the Diocesan Headquarters for the periodical Southern California
Regional Meeting. Several Parish Priests, Parish Councilmembers,
Diocesan Delegates from Southern California and the Diocesan Staff
members attended the meeting.

Following the opening prayer, the Primate introduced Diocesan Council
Member Mr. Robert Barsam and briefly spoke about Dn. Martin Zakaryan’s
ordination and consecration to the priesthood on October 12th and 13th
at the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert in Rancho Mirage. His
Eminence also noted that the 83rd Diocesan Assembly will convene on
April 30, 2010 at the Diocesan Headquarters. The Primate also informed
that St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in Fowler will celebrate
its 100th anniversary in 2010. In 2011, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic
Church will do the same.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian also introduced Vahe Sargsyan the new
director of the Diocesan Sunday School and Diocesan television
programs. Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian then reflected on the progress of
the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA). The Diocesan Youth
Director noted that under his direction, the participants of the CYMA
program will soon complete the renovation project of a needy family’s
house in Gyumri, Armenia.

The Primate addressed the success of this year’s Diocesan Summer Camp
which had over 400 participants over the course of four weeks. He
thanked the Diocesan clergy for their efforts in directing the
religious activities of the camp as well as making it a pleasurable
environment for the youth. Next year’s Hye Camp will take place from
July 18 through August 14.

Hayk Madoyan, Director of Arakel and Shake Aga-Sarkisian Library of
the Western Diocese, spoke of a newly initiated book program in which
the Diocese will concentrate on obtaining more books with religious
content. He also spoke about the ways books could be donated to
the Diocese. Currently, the library has around 3000 books available
to readers.

Jobanian, Director of the Christian Educational Department of the
Diocese on vacation, the Primate informed of the Department’s progress
and its upcoming Bible Study sessions. The Executive Director of the
Western Diocese, Harout Markarian discussed Western Diocese website
and the daily administrative tasks facing the Diocese staff.

Diocesan Council Member Mr. Robert Barsam in his remarks noted that
the Diocesan Assembly has approved changes to the Parish Dues. These
changes will take into effect starting in 2010. Mr. Barsam also
mentioned that he and Mr. Nazar Ashjian will hold special meetings
with the Parish Council Treasurers.

The chairman of Pasadena’s St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church,
Vahe Skenderian made a special acknowledgement of the dedicated work
of the Executive Director of the Western Diocese, Harout Markarian.

the Primate gladly informed the participants of the meeting that His
Holiness Karekin II will be arriving in Los Angeles on September 10,
2010. His Holiness will be presiding over the consecration rite of
the Cathedral on September 11, 2010. On Sunday, September 12, the
Supreme Patriarch will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. The day will
close with a formal banquet. The Catholicos, Karekin II will return
to Holy Echmiadzin on September 13, 2010.

His Eminence acknowledged and praised the dedicated efforts of all
individuals in their respective churches. Additionally, the Primate
informed about the newly formed Regional Advisory Bodies in the
Northern, Central and Southern California areas of the Diocese. The
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian will be holding special meetings with
each body throughout the year. The meeting was adjourned with the
distribution of the Primate’s remaining 2009 schedule as well as the
entire 2010 calendar year schedule.