Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 13 2013

Non-Muslim communities want deeds, not words from gov’t

The Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary on Heybeliada was the only school
where Turkey’s Greek minority used to educate its clergymen. It was
closed in 1971 during a period of tension with Greece. (Photo:
Reuters, Osman Orsal)

13 October 2013 /BÃ`Å?RA Ã-ZERLÄ°, ANKARA

Representatives of non-Muslim minorities are cautiously optimistic
about the possible benefits that a recently unveiled democratization
package could have for the proselytizing of religious beliefs but
stress the importance of implementation.

`The implementation of the regulations mentioned in the
democratization package is the most significant point that would help
to decide whether they will ease our grievances regarding the
communication of our beliefs,’ Soner Tufan, the spokesman of the
Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey, told Sunday’s Zaman. He
added that the mere inclusion of such issues in the package is a
promising step for non-Muslim groups in Turkey.

While explaining the details of the package on Sept. 30, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an said it included amendments that will
make it easier for groups and individuals to freely practice their
religion. He said the new measures will protect religious freedom.

Though they praised the reforms in the package, representatives of
non-Muslim groups say they would have liked to see more and deeper
changes regarding non-minority rights. Mardin Metropolitan Saliba
Ã-zmen told Sunday’s Zaman that he considered the package a significant
contribution and a first step for more reforms, especially when the
Mor Gabriel Monastery issue is taken into account.

The text of the package states that all legal obstacles in the way of
the Syriac community taking possession of the Mor Gabriel Monastery `
a Syriac monastery in Midyat, Mardin province, whose ownership has
been disputed since 2005 — will be removed.

Ã-zmen added, however, that the community needs more support to keep
its churches alive. `We need clergyman raised and educated in Turkey
to continue our efforts in the church,’ he said.

Under current law, non-Muslim religious communities are barred from
educating clergy on Turkish soil. The democratization package makes no
mention of the Greek Orthodox Halki seminary on the island of
Heybeliada, which the government has been considering reopening.

The Greek Patriarchate, which is under the protection of international
law as guaranteed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, has been complaining
about the status of the Halki seminary and other property issues in
Turkey for a long time. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I has
repeatedly said that the reopening of the seminary is of vital
importance to the survival of the Greek Orthodox clergy. Established
in 1844 on the island of Heybeliada off Ä°stanbul, the Halki seminary
was closed in 1971 under a law that put religious and military
education under state control.

The package also includes provisions that introduce harsh punishments
for crimes committed purposefully against members of an ethnic or
religious minority. If the package passes in Parliament, a council
tasked with fighting discrimination will also be established.

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a human rights lawyer, told Sunday’s Zaman that
though he doesn’t want to be pessimistic about the efforts of the
government, he is concerned about the implementation of the package.
`We need to wait and see whether non-Muslim citizens, as the victims
of discrimination, will be members of the council,’ he said.

The democratization package also aims to reduce hate crimes by setting
harsher punishments. ErdoÄ?an said prison sentences for crimes
involving racist, hate or discriminatory speech or attacks will be
lengthened. He noted that someone convicted of a hate crime could face
between one to three years of jail time, depending on the type of the
crime.

Cengiz said the reforms, if properly implemented, could prevent crimes
against non-Muslim groups like the murders of three missionaries
employed at the Zirve Publishing House in Malatya in 2007 and the
assassination of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of the
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.

Dink was shot dead on Jan. 19, 2007, by ultranationalist teenager Ogün
Samast outside the newspaper’s offices in Ä°stanbul in broad daylight.
Samast, tried in a juvenile court because he was a minor at the time
of the crime, was sentenced to nearly 23 years in prison. On Jan. 17,
2012, the Ä°stanbul 14th High Criminal Court handed Yasin Hayal, a
prime suspect in the Dink case, a life sentence for inciting Samast to
commit murder.

On April 18, 2007, Christians Necati Aydın, UÄ?ur Yüksel and German
national Tilmann Ekkehart Geske were tied to chairs, stabbed and
tortured before they were killed at the Zirve Publishing House in the
southeastern Anatolian city of Malatya. The publishing house they
worked for printed Bibles and Christian literature. Suspects Abuzer
Yıldırım, Cuma Ã-zdemir, Salih Gürler and Hamit Çeker were apprehended
at the scene and taken into custody, while another suspect, Emre
Günaydın, jumped from a third-story window in an attempt to escape
from police and was taken into custody after being treated for
injuries he sustained in the fall.

Evaluating the reforms and their effects on non-Muslim minorities,
Sait Susin, the head of the Syriac Church of the Virgin Mary
Foundation, claimed that introducing new laws won’t help. `Without
adequate measure to address prejudices, laws may not solve the
problems that we face. It would be more effective to educate and raise
awareness in society,’ he said.

Pakrat Estukyan, the current editor of Agos, said that the reforms
introduced in the package have no social basis since propagating one’s
religious beliefs, which could be called a missionary activity, is
still perceived as an attack against Islam although it is really just
communicating a belief that one has adopted.

SEUA Board Chairman admits financial problems

14:36 – 13.10.13

Samvel Nikoyan, Board Chairman of the State Engineering University of
Armenia (SEUA) and Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary
group member, considers exaggerated the talks about the SEUA’s
financial collapse.

On the other hand, in an interview with Tert.am he admitted that the
university has financial problems.

`The problems are the result of a smaller number of students this
year. It is tuition fees that form the funds. The lecturers complain
about different problems – some of them complain about reduced
salaries, others about ineffective methods and still others about
personal problems. As Board Chairman I believe that we must present a
reduction of salaries,’ he said.

Nikoyan admits the necessity for procuring funds and reform the higher
school’s budget.

SEUA Rector Ara Avetisyan is forming a team to examine the problem.

`We are going to discuss the problem tomorrow, on Monday. We have to
discuss the financial issues and inform our staff of it,’ Nikoyan
said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

168 ZHAM: ARMENIA NEVER PLANNED TO SIGN ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT, SAYS BRUSSELS ANALYST

12:25 ~U 12.10.13

A policy analyst from Brussels has told the paper that despite the
recent developments reflecting Armenia’s political U-turn towards the
Eurasian Customs Union, the country never before had any intention
to sign an association agreement with the EU.

Speaking to the paper, Amanda Paul noted that Armenia’s efforts
have been so far directed only to the initialing, not the signing of
the agreement.

According to the paper, the European analyst said that the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement is intermingled with
the Association deal, which means more time will be needed now for
the preparation of a new document.

The paper quotes Paul as saying that the Association Agreement is aimed
at deepening the political association with the EU and assisting the
establishment of European values in Armenia.

The paper notes that an association agreement without the DCFTA
component is restricted only to two chapters: general foreign policy
and security, and justice and home affairs. A third chapter, which
implies sectoral cooperation, becomes considerably weakened without
the DCFTA agreement, adds the paper.

The European official has further said that if Armenia expects
financial assistance and visa facilitation from the EU, it has to
implement the required reform. She noted in the meantime, that EU,
which still remains interested in Armenia, will do everything possible
to develop further its relations with the country.

Armenian News – Tert.am

BEHIND ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN CURTAIN

Obviously, Tigran Sargsyan’s visit to Moscow had not been planned and
had apparently been initiated by the Armenian side. Evidence is that
the Armenian prime minister met with the deputy prime ministers. Prime
Minister Medvedev did not change his schedule for Armenia’s needs.

What was the urgent need to leave for Moscow that Tigran Sargsyan
overlooked the fact of being received by the deputy ministers only? It
is not likely that the Russian side invited him urgently but did not
deign to organize a meeting at the appropriate level. Although, it
is not ruled out that Russia follows a random, rather than political
logic in dealing with Armenia.

Nevertheless, the Armenian side has a concern, and most probably
Yerevan rushed to achieve certainty. It rashes because millions of
dollars, maybe dozens or maybe even hundreds of millions are concerned.

The point is that the Armenian government has announced to cover 30%
of the gas price for ARG. The Public Services Regulatory Commission
has discussed ARG’s bid and determined the level to which gas will
rise according to this pledge, not according to ARG’s bid of 270 USD
per 1000 cu m.

It has been several months since the gas price rose. The government
covers 30%, either by cash or accrues its debt to ARG. The longer the
Armenian-Russian uncertainty over this issue, the more the Armenian
government’s debt to ARG.

It certainly favors Russia because ARG is a Russian company, Russia
holds control interest. In addition, Armenia’s last 20% of shares is
said to be transferred to Russia soon. Armenia is trying to accelerate
the decision on subsidy. In fact, Russia will exempt Armenia from
customs duty and the gas price will be reduced by 30%. It is about 90
USD. In other words, now the Armenian government’s debt is accruing
by 90 USD per 1000 cu m of gas. If this number is multiplied by the
amount of gas imported to and consumed in Armenia, it will be clear
what a huge sum is concerned.

Official Yerevan wants to resolve this issue. In addition, most
probably, there are two essential things. There is one important
circumstance besides the tax exception, whether it is applied,
when Russia and Armenia will achieve agreement, whether it demands
anything else besides the Customs Capitulation (it could be the last
20% of shares of ARG). In case Russia agrees to the subsidy-exemption,
will it be applied retrospectively, covering the several months that
have passed since the price rose? If yes, the government will thus
avoid a debt to ARG? If not, the government will have to pay to ARG
the debt of the past months. The Russian side does not care about
protraction because the “taximeter” is running.

This is a typical behavior of partners. Such should relations with
allies be. The gas issue is litmus paper of the Armenian-Russian
relations. Russia’s gas relations with even the so-called non-friendly
states are clear and simple. Either the issue is resolved quickly or it
is clear what and why is not resolved. In the case of Armenia the gas
issue is a matter of shaded or backstage agreements every time which is
never fully uncovered or is uncovered step by step over a span of time.

It is commonly accepted that the best manifestation of the
Armenian-Russian partnership is in the military-technical and security
spheres. In reality, this is the guise of the Armenian-Russian
relations, the curtain behind which the real relations are taking
place, and sometimes these relations let the gas out.

Hakob Badalyan 11:59 12/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

OPEN TO ALL INSTANCES OF THE DIOCESE OF FRANCE LETTER FROM THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH

STE MARIE PARISH COUNCIL OF NICE

Translated from French

Nobody can close our eyes, our church is going through a very serious
crisis in entirely new character.

The truth applies to everyone and demonstration was made. This crisis
will not be solved only by the top of the church hierarchy, but also
the awakening of consciousness of the people and their representatives.

Our country, France, has unfortunately been a major theater of
the drift of the governance of our Church with two paroxysms that
is the situation in our parish and the awakening of consciousness
recent Norvan Bishop Zakarian is clear proof of the authenticity of
everything we denounce the past five years.

On October 19, 2013 will be held the diocesan assembly. The first
after the announcement of his resignation by Bishop Norvan Zakarian
and his revelations about the pressures and unacceptable humiliation
as incomprehensible that endured by the Catholicos whose primary
mission is to spread love and brotherhood of man.

To mark this important milestone, we appeal to the conscience and
reason.

Here in France, the terrible and destructive crisis began in Nice.

Today, there is no other way than the truth out of this crisis and
put an end to its destructive effects not only in the Church but also
beyond, in the fight that we all lead to the memory of our martyrs.

The path of truth should resume where it was lost sight of, that is
to say, Nice.

Repair the injustice and serious moral wounds in our parish is the
first step in a return to a peaceful situation, because nothing can
be built on lies.

How many times since 2009 and appeared to light the true face of the
Father Vatche which we alerted the diocese, we called for help without
ever being heard? Too many times! And each of its calls without return
was further injury which increased our despair and our suffering.

Worse with the permanent reversal of good and evil we endure, since
it is we who are designated as harmful to our church while we are
defending the most sacred values that make it special, such as the
vital role of the lay that ensures our Church character of the Church
of the people, without which it can not survive.

you realize the historical fault, failure to the memory of our martyrs
is the desecration of the first Armenian Apostolic Church built in
France after genocide survivors of it? This sacrilege, it was advanced
by undergoing our beloved St. Mary’s Church at the top of Boulevard
de la Madeleine in Nice and on the edge of the small Armenian town
built by the first refugees in 1923.

Memory therefore violated but also violated law and statutes of the
diocese violated because they did not allow our “exclusion”.

We also experienced physical violence with our General Assembly March
21, 2010 brutally prevented and served once again in breach of the
diocesan statutes, as a pretext to disqualify our two delegates and
gagged by the lack of representativeness our parish at meetings of
the diocese.

The list goes on and as we could still decline other painful reminders.

Because we are all citizens imbued with the values of our beautiful
French Republic, which have no doubt is the best model of inspiration
for the young Republic of Armenia and all legal entities, we can not
remain silent. And when we say “we”, it means all of us.

Everyone finds his role as it was before this unfortunate crisis.

Including the diocese must reregister within its mission to serve
the sole influence of our Church.

No one loses in the right way …

Saturday, October 12, 2013, Ara © armenews.com

JOURNEE DES MONTAGNES ARMENIENNES

ARMENIE

La Journee des montagnes armeniennes et des alpinistes a ete observee
le 9 Octobre selon la federation armenienne de l’alpinisme et du
tourisme en montagne.

La Federation Euro-Armenienne de l’alpinisme et du tourisme en montagne
qui comprend des alpinistes Armeniens des Etats-Unis, du Liban, de
France, de Russie et d’autres pays a decide desormais de celebrer la
Journee des montagnes armeniennes et des alpinistes le 9 octobre de
chaque annee.

La selection du jour est dû au fait que le 9 octobre 1829 l’ecrivain
Khachatur Abovyan, en collaboration avec l’expedition dirigee par le
professeur de l’Universite Derpt Parrot a ete le premier a gravir le
mont Ararat.

samedi 12 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

CCTS OBSERVATION MISSION: “IT WAS THE MOST PERFECT ELECTIONS DUE TO ITS TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES”

Azeri-Press news agency (APA)
October 10, 2013 Thursday

Rashad Suleymanov ; The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States
has held a press conference on the outcomes of the presidential
elections in Azerbaijan, APA reports.

Delivering a speech at the event, CCTS Secretary General Khalil
Akinci said that some of them observed the elections in the occupied
Aghdam region.

Akinci said that the mission included 11 persons from Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Turkey: “The CCTS mission was the only international
observation mission in the Karabakh region. Exit-polls were conducted
in some polling stations, but it didn’t cover all of them. Medical
services were provided in some polling stations. Generally, I can
say that it was the most perfect elections due to its technical
capabilities. We congratulate the President on winning elections.”

The CCTS representatives said at the press conference that 45-50%
of voters cast ballots early yesterday. The observation mission met
with the members of the constituency and precinct election commissions
and voters, learned their opinions. No problem was detected in the
elections.

YEREVAN CELEBRATES ITS 2,975TH BIRTHDAY

EurasiaNet.org
Oct 11 2013

October 11, 2013 – 8:25am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

The Armenian capital is throwing a birthday party today. Yerevan
has turned 2,975 years-old, but, like any millenarian, would have
you believe that “the old girl,” as one news outlet put it, is still
looking good.

The city, which is believed to have more gray hair than Rome and is
regarded Babylon’s peer, is not hiding her age. She is celebrating
it with a song and dance. And a spot of windsurfing.

She’s been through it all, after all: a difficult childhood marked by
complicated relations with abusive neighbors; riotous teen years spent
mingling with Persians, Turks and other so-called shady characters;
a mid-life crisis under Tsarist and, then, Soviet rule, and, finally,
a late bloom in her 2,900s, but not without some criticism of her
face-lifts.

“Numerous cafes and restaurants have been built instead of trees and
bushes, often clashing with the surrounding planned environment,”
complained one United Nations Economic Commission for Europe report.

“The most important concept of the city’s plan – viewpoints of the
natural environment – has been lost,” and the “environmental situation
has drastically declined.”

It was all much simpler when Yerevan was a baby, back in the days
before urban development. The city’s birth certificate was carved in
stone by Urartian King Argishti I, who is believed to have midwifed
the city into existence by founding a fortress called Erebuni in
that area in the 780s BC. The name Yerevan is believed to be derived
from Erebuni.

Urban legend has it, though, that when the Bible’s Noah and his
floating zoo landed on nearby Mount Ararat amidst a flood of the world,
he screamed “Yerevats!” or “Land, ho!”

Whichever the case, few of Yerevan’s ancient structures have survived
the ravages of time, wars and architects. The city reinvented itself
several times, until it became the capital of Soviet Armenia and grew
exponentially. The master plan of Soviet architect Alexander Tamanian
transformed Yerevan into a monument of neoclassical or Stalinist
architecture, marked with nods to traditional Armenian ornamentation
and the local, salmon-tinted tuffa stone.

With a population of roughly 1.12 million, Yerevan now remains the
smallest, albeit the oldest, capital in the South Caucasus. Yet,
based on a recent visit, this blogger can attest that she does not
look a century over 2,000.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ACHADJIAN TO RECEIVE ANCA-WR LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Friday, October 11th, 2013

Assemblymemeber Katcho Achadjian (center) at the State Capitol

GLENDALE-The ANCA-WR will be honoring California State Assembly member
Katcho Achadjian with one of its highest honors, the prestigious
ANCA-WR “Legislator of the Year Award”. Assemblymember Achadjian will
receive the award at the annual banquet to take place on Saturday,
November 30 in Hollywood, California.

“Through Assemblymember Achadjian’s dedication and commitment to Hye
Tad, the ANCA-WR has been able to significantly advance issues of
concern to Armenian Americans in the halls of the State Capitol.

Achadjian’s ability to use the power of the pen to educate his
colleagues in the California State Assembly and Senate, introduce key
pieces of legislation of concern to our community, and to assist
organizing a contingency of California legislatures to travel
to Armenia and Artaskh (Karabakh), speaks volumes to Achadjian’s
commitment to fundamental principles of truth, fairness and justice
to pursue our cause,” said Raffi Kassabian, ANCA-WR Board Member.

Katcho Achadjian was sworn in for his second term on December 3, 2012
to represent the 35th Assembly District in the California Legislature,
which includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Pismo Beach and its
surrounding areas.

Achadjian attended Cuesta Community College and graduated from Cal Poly
San Luis Obispo with a degree in Business Administration. He founded
a successful local small business in 1978, and has built it up to
employ some 30 workers at three locations. Prior to his election to
the Legislature, Katcho served for three terms as an elected member
of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. He served as
Board Chairman in 2001 and again in 2006. He was also appointed by
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve as a member of the California
Coastal Commission, charged with protecting the beauty of California’s
coastline. He served as a member of the commission until his election
to the Assembly in 2010.

Since taking office, he has worked tirelessly for government reform
and accountability as well as making California more competitive for
job creation. He is a prominent member of the Assembly Committees
on Accountability and Administrative Review, Banking and Finance,
Transportation, and Joint Legislative Audit.

One priority that remains constant is his commitment to Armenian
American issues. Achadjian introduced the Return of Churches Bill in
the California Assembly in 2012. The Assembly Joint Resolution called
on the Republic of Turkey to respect religious freedom and return
church properties to its minority communities. Achadjian took a firm
stance to end religious discrimination and sent a clear message to
the Republic of Turkey that we must continue to fight against the
final stage of genocide which is its denial.

Achadjian was also instrumental in protesting the Azerbaijani
Parliamentary and State Oil Company (SOCAR) delegation visit to
the California State Capitol. ” I am proud to have stood shoulder
to shoulder with Assemblymembers Nazarian, Wilk, and Patterson and
Armenian Americans from throughout the State to protest the Azeri
government’s aggression and efforts to use its oil wealth to purchase
international legitimacy,” said Achadjian. “I would like to thank
the ANCA-WR and the AYF for helping organize the event.”

And the list goes on. From hosting the Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament
Speaker in the State Capitol to his most recent trip to Armenia with
Speaker Perez, Achadjian has truly served his community and represented
the Armenian American issues in the State of California.

The ANCA-WR banquet will take place on November 30 at The Ray Dolby
Ballroom, the site of the Oscar’s Governors’ Ball. Legendary chef
Wolfgang Puck will be catering a special menu for the ANCA-WR Banquet.

Individuals interested in attending the banquet and Grassroots
Conference are encouraged to contact the ANCA-WR office at (818)
500-1918 or purchase tickets online at ItsMySeat.com/ANCAWR.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

ARAVOT: EU FORCED ARMENIA TO CHOOSE CUSTOMS UNION, SAYS RUSSIAN OFFICIAL

11:00 ~U 11.10.13

An advisor to the Russian president has said in an interview with the
paper that Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union was
a step forced by the EU, as a matter of fact.

Sergey Glazev said particularly that the EU might have been interested
in such a scenario to deprive Armenia from its sovereignty.

Below is an excerpt from the interview.

Mr. Glazev, what changes did the Armenian-Russian relations, or
probably, the geopolitical processes see over the course of one year
that Russia forced Armenia to make a hasty decision?

Russia never forces anything; Russia cooperates with Armenia. In the
course of the newest history, there have been practically no fears
or concerns. The problem is about the wording of the relations. We
haven’t publicly talked to Armenia over membership in the Eurasian
Customs Union; the given country has to be a full member of the common
Eurasian economic community. This is how our documents are formed.

Armenia has been an observer member of EurAsEs and has an active
involvement in different projects, including the Anti-Crisis Fund
Technology Center etc

And in this context – given that Armenia does not have a common
customs border – the question as to how much Armenia’s accession to
the common customs area will be effective has been discussed many
times. The general expert opinions center on the idea that Armenia can
form part of the common customs area. We have free trade, as it is,
without customs duties, so the elimination of customs procedures could
in that sense play a big role if there were a common customs border.

But because there isn’t – as is the case with the Kaliningrad region –
there will be customs procedures.

The formation of the Eurasian Economic Union has been in progress
recently, as you are aware, so agreements concerning the common
economic area will be effective within the Union. And Armenia has
great interests here. A common economic area offers an opportunity
of purchasing natural gas at prices effective on the Customs Union’s
domestic market. That’s to say, Armenia is offered guarantees of
permanent and cheap supplies of gas resources. Export duties will not
be functional on the Eurasian common economic area; hence Armenia
will receive oil and oil supplies for free. The same goes for the
electric power and transport services market.

… Another factor was the EU pressures against Armenia with the
purpose of integration. Armenia was practically offered to become a
wagon for the EU on discriminatory conditions – as was the case with
Ukraine – with Brussels being given all the rights and later requiring
that [Armenia] fulfill its instruction, as opposed to the functions
which we have given to the Customs Union. So, we haven’t pushed
Armenian to decide on acceding to the Customs Union; it was the EU,
which sought persistently to deprive Armenia of its sovereignty. To
maintain independence and the balanced relations with the Russian
Federation the Armenian president had to make a corresponding political
decision under such a pressure.