Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Heydar Aliyev preferred Armenian cognac

13:52, 13 May, 2013

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: After the Russian President presented the
Prime Minister of Great Britain with an Armenian cognac in Sochi, a
video appeared in the Internet proving that the former Azerbaijani
president Heydar Aliyev preferred Armenian cognac.

The British The Telegraph Newspaper published that during the meeting
in Sochi the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
presented an Armenian cognac of 42 years to the Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom David Cameron and stated that such cognac was presented
by Iosif Stalin to Winston Churchill at the Yalta Summit in 1945.

One of the bloggers remembered the spicy comment of Victor
Shenderovich, how the editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow radio station
Alexander Venediktov nearly presented an Armenian cognac to the
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev.

As reported by Armenpress, the Azerbaijani haqqin.az news website
published a video in YouTube, in which Victor Shenderovich tells about
that funny story. After the interview with Heydar Aliyev the staff of
the publishing house prepared a hospitality table, putting there an
Armenian cognac. The editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow radio station
Alexander Venediktov got angry with them, demanding to change the
Armenian cognac with an Azerbaijani one. Noting that on the table was
only a poor quality Azerbaijani cognac, Heydar Aliyev instructed the
Azerbaijanis, accompanying him, to leave and asked Venediktov: `Don’t
you have an Armenian cognac?’

France’s investments in Turkish NPP will have effect on its position on
`Armenian genocide’ issue
2013-05-13 13:11:16

French investments in the construction of the second nuclear power plant in
Turkey could have an effect on France’s position on the issue of the
“Armenian genocide”, the Sabah newspaper quotes Turkish Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Taner Yildiz as saying on Monday.

“After these investments, France will be more attentive to its statements
on the “Armenian genocide” issue. I believe that the Sinop NPP will have an
effect on France’s position on the “Armenian genocide” issue, Yildiz said.
In early May, Turkey and Japan signed an intergovernmental agreement on the
construction of the second nuclear power plant in Turkey.

Japan will build the nuclear power plant together with France. It is
reported that the construction of the second nuclear power plant in Sinop
will cost $20-$22 billion. The nuclear power plant in Sinop will be built
by Japanese company Mitsubishi in a consortium with the French GDF Suez,
but the operator of the project will be the Japanese company, Trend reports.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey’s predecessor, the Ottoman
Empire committed genocide in 1915 against Armenians living in Anadolu.
Their efforts have achieved the recognition of the ‘Armenian Genocide’ by
the parliaments of several countries.

Ministry of Agriculture to assess hail damage in Armavir and render assistance
ECONOMY | 13.05.13 | 12:59

Special headquarters led by first Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Grisha Baghiyan have been set up to assess the damage from the heavy
hail that hit the Armavir province of Armenia last weekend.

Farmers in the province staged protests on Sunday calling on the
government to offset the damages sustained by their households as a
result of the weather event.

The Ministry of Agriculture held an emergency meeting on Monday to
discuss ways of helping the farmers to keep their losses to the
minimum.

Minister Sergo Karapetyan said he got preliminary information about
the situation in Armavir while visiting, together with some of his
subordinates, some of the hardest hit communities.

The headquarters set up by the Ministry will also provide professional
advice to farmers and will help them organizer urgent work to remove
or alleviate the consequences of the hail.

The Ministry also plans to provide farmers with seeds and young plants
to replace the destroyed crops.

The Armenian hero whom Turkey would prefer to forget

10:39 13.05.2013

Sarkis Torossian, an Armenian-Turkish officer, was awarded medals for
his courage by Mustafa Kemal

`Confronted by the chilling 100th anniversary of the genocide of 1.5
million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915, Turkey’s
government is planning to swamp memories of the massacres with
ceremonies commemorating the Turkish victory over the Allies at the
battle of Gallipoli in the same year. Already, loyalist academics have
done their best to ignore the presence of thousands of Arab troops
among the Turkish armies at Gallipoli – and are even branding an
Armenian Turkish artillery officer who was decorated for his bravery
at Gallipoli as a liar who fabricated his own biography,’ Robert Fisk
writes in an article published by The Independent.

In fact, Captain Sarkis Torossian was personally awarded medals for
his courage by Mustafa Kemal, one of the Turkish heroes of Gallipoli
who later, as Ataturk, founded the modern Turkish state. But in view
of the desire of some of Turkey’s most prominent historians to brand
Torossian a fraud, the word `modern’ should perhaps be used in
inverted commas.

Now these academics are even claiming that the Armenian army captain
invented his two medals from the future Ataturk. Yet one of the most
the outspoken Turkish historians to have fully acknowledged the 1915
genocide, Taner Akcam, has tracked down Torossian’s family in America
and inspected the two Ottoman medal records; one of them bears
Ataturk’s original signature.

`Turkey, as we all know, wants to join the EU. I also, by chance,
happen to think it should. How can we Europeans claim that the Muslim
world wishes to stay `apart’ from our `values’ when an entire Muslim
country wants to share our European society? We are hypocrites indeed.
Yet how can Turkey still hope to join when it still refuses to
acknowledge the truth of the Armenian genocide – and symbolises this
denial by a scandalous attack on a long-dead Ottoman officer?’ the
author rites.

Captain Torossian’s memoirs, From Dardanelles to Palestine, were first
published in Boston in 1947. Ayhan Aktar, professor of social sciences
at Istanbul Bilgi University, first came across a copy of the book 20
years ago and was amazed to learn that there were officers of Armenian
descent fighting for the Ottomans.

The eight-month battle for Gallipoli – an Allied landing dreamt up by
Churchill in the hope of capturing Constantinople and breaking the
deadlock on the Western Front – was a disaster for the British and
French, and the mass of Australian and New Zealand troops fighting
with them. They abandoned the beach-heads in January of 1916.

In his book, Torossian recounts the fighting at Gallipoli and other
battles in which he participated – until, towards the end of the Great
War, he found his sister among the Armenian refugees on the death
convoys to Syria and Palestine. He then turned himself over to the
Allies, meeting (but not liking) T E Lawrence and re-entering Turkey
with French forces. He eventually travelled to the US where he died.

The gutsy Professor Aktar, however – noticing his colleagues’
unwillingness to acknowledge that Arabs and Armenians fought in the
Ottoman Army – decided to publish Torossian’s book in the Turkish
language. Initial reviews were favourable until two historians from
Sabanci University took exception. Dr Halil Berktay, for example,
wrote 13 newspaper columns in Taraf calling the entire book a fiction
and Torossian a liar.

Taner Akcam, the Turkish historian who discovered Torossian’s family,
was stunned by the reaction to the Turkish edition of the book; one
critic, he says, even claimed Torossian did not exist. The Turkish
Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, spoke at Gallipoli two years ago
and gave a perfectly frank account of how Turkey planned to define the
Armenian genocide on its hundredth anniversary. `We are going to make
the year of 1915 known the whole world over,’ he said, `not as an
anniversary of a genocide as some people claimed and slandered (sic),
but we shall make it known as a glorious resistance of a nation – in
other wour defence of Gallipoli.’

`So Turkish nationalism is supposed to win out over history.
Descendants of those who died with the Anzac troops at Gallipoli,
however, might ask their Turkish hosts in 2015 why they do not honour
those brave Arabs and Armenians – including Captain Torossian – who
fought alongside the Ottoman Empire’ Robert Fisk concludes.

Arménie
L’accord entre l’Arménie et l’UE signé en novembre

L’Union européenne devrait conclure un accord avec l’Arménie lors d’un
sommet en novembre dans le cadre d’un programme de Partenariat
oriental de l’UE qui regroupe six anciens Etats soviétiques.

Stefan Füle, commissaire européen à l’Élargissement et à la Politique
européenne de voisinage, a clairement annoncé que des résultats
concrets sont attendus au sommet qui se tiendra dans les capitale de
Lituanie, à Vilnius.

« Nous appelons cet accord, zone de libre-échange approfondie et
complète (ALE approfondi et complet), ce qui est très compliqué, mais
il porte sur l’harmonisation de la législation arménienne avec celle
de l’Union européenne », a-t-il dit.

Les fonctionnaires arméniens et la Commission européenne ont annoncé,
après un nouveau cycle de négociations à Erevan à la fin du mois de
mars qu’ils avaient travaillé sur les principaux termes de l’accord et
qu’il serait, en principe, finalisé d’ici novembre. « Si tout se passe
comme prévu … il sera signé l’année prochaine », a délcaré Gunnar
Wiegand, le négociateur en chef de l’UE.

L’Arménie et l’UE ont franchi une nouvelle étape le mois dernier
lorsqu’ ils ont signé à Bruxelles un accord sur la « réadmission des
immigrés clandestins ». Le document est lié à un accord pour faciliter
l’obtention des visas.

lundi 13 mai 2013,
Laetitia ©armenews.com

ESC Today (EuroVision Song Contest)
May 12 2013

Malmö live: Interview with Dorians

Esctoday.com editor, Edward Montebello got the chance to catch up and
have a conversation with Dorians, the Armenian representatives at the
2013 Eurovision Song Contest. Watch their interview below:

Dorians will represent Armenia at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in
Malmö. They will perform their song Lonely planet in the second semi
final of Eurovision 2013, on 14th of May.

Agence France Presse
May 11, 2013 Saturday 10:55 AM GMT

Turkey boosts security for Orthodox patriarch after ‘attack plot’

ISTANBUL, May 11 2013

Turkish police have boosted security around Patriarch Bartholomew I
after an alleged plot to assassinate the Orthodox Christian leader,
his office said Saturday.

A spokesman at the patriarchate in Istanbul said they had been
informed that one person had been arrested and that others were being
sought.

Turkish media said the arrested suspect, identified as Serdar A.,
allegedly planned to assassinate Bartholomew I on May 29, the 560th
anniversary of the Turkish capture of Constantinople, present day
Istanbul.

“Police have strengthened security at the patriarchate,” said
spokesman Father Dositheos Agnathostomatous. “It is doing everything
to ensure the security of the patriarchate and the patriarch.”

Agnathostomatous said however that Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of
Constantinople, did not take the plot very seriously.
“His holiness does not believe that it is something serious,” he said.

The development comes as several incidents have sown concerns among
Turkey’s Christian minority, which numbers 100,000 people.

On May 5, a man fired blanks outside an Armenian church in Istanbul,
sowing panic among worshippers celebrating Easter, and a young
Armenian was beaten outside another church.

On April 28, a Greek Orthodox church was vandalised by a dozen
teenagers. The day before, between 30 to 40 stone-throwing people
smashed windows at an evangelical church.

In recent years, there have been other attacks against Christians in
this overwhelmingly Muslim but secular country.
In April 2007, three Protestants had their throats slit in the eastern
city of Malatya. Five Turkish suspects face life sentences for the
crime.

An Italian Catholic priest was shot dead in a church in Trabzon,
northern Turkey in 2006. In July 2006, a Catholic French cleric was
stabbed in Samsun, also in the north.

Italian bishop Luigi Padovese, 63, was killed in June 2010, allegedly
by his driver, who reportedly suffered from psychological problems.

Targeted News Service
May 10, 2013 Friday 12:26 AM EST

Gov. Malloy & Lt. Gov. Wyman on Passing of Former Secretary of the
State Julia Tashjian

HARTFORD, Conn.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, D-Conn., issued the following news release:

Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman released the
following statements on the passing Thursday of Julia H. Tashjian of
Windsor, who served two terms as Connecticut Secretary of the State
from 1983 to 1991.

“For over 20 years, Julia committed her time, talent and energy to
serving the people and State of Connecticut,” Governor Malloy said.
“As Secretary of the State, Julia made great strides to modernize the
office and encourage greater participation in our democracy. I will
remember Julia for her years of public service, cheerful demeanor and
pride in her Armenian American heritage. Julia will be missed by all
who knew her and I offer my thoughts and prayers to her family during
this difficult time.”

Lt. Governor Wyman said, “Julia always had a smile and a laugh for
everyone. But behind that easygoing personality she was a very
hardworking public servant who was dedicated to her state, her family
and her beloved Armenian community.”

Contact: Peter Yazbak, 860/985-5528, [email protected]

IT IS NOW OUR TIME TO MAKE INVITATION – ARMENIAN ACTIVIST

12:17 ~U 12.05.13

The Pre-parliament group is planning to meet in Yerevan’s Liberty
Square on May 17 for a demonstration to discuss new state building
measures. Before the meeting in the capital, the party rallied in the
second largest city of Gyumri but the public gathering attracted a
small crowd of people. The fact is thought to have pushed the group to
the idea of holding an awareness campaign in Yerevan’s central streets
on Saturday. Zhirayr Sefilyan, an active member of the group and a
commander of a special battalion in Shushi, has talked to Tert.am,
to elaborate on Preparliament’s future plans.

“Mr. Sefilyan, are there any responses to your call for launching a
new liberation movement and recruiting vanguards?”

“That isn’t a result that waited for us just several days; that’s
an everyday process, and I am sure our ranks will be replenished day
by day.”

“Pre-parliament rallied a scanty crowd of people in Gyumri despite
the great expectations. Why did you decide to choose the rally style,
and are the results of the Gyumri rally noticeable?”

“Our rally-style activities had several reasons behind, the
chief cause being the people’s disappointment after the April 9
[presidential inauguration] and the dim political arena which
exists simultaneously. That gives rise only to disillusionment. We
decided that it is necessary to speed up the program and make public
appearances to inform our people that there is such a group. This step
of ours will enable us to give people hope that not everything is lost
yet. The meeting in Gyumri was fruitful. Realizing that this is the
beginning of a very big initiative, we will not be discouraged by the
difficulties in the initial period. We will persistently move forward.

“You are planning the next rally in Yerevan on May 17. So, are there
any plans for meetings in the regions?”

“[There will be meetings] across Armenia, as well as Artsakh
(Nagorno-Karabakh) and the Diaspora. Our problem is an organizational
one, and that organization is aimed at the birth of an Armenian state.”

“Doesn’t that look like [Heritage party leader] Raffi Hovhannisyan’s
regional visits’ scenario? Haven’t you learned lessons from his
regional tours?”

“I think if you closely follow the program we have unveiled, and
keep track of our steps, you will see that it has nothing to do
with Raffi’s steps. Our whole objective is to conduct the struggle
and do that beyond the ruling regime. That’s what we have talked of
continuously for two years, and because our calls haven’t reached the
political forces, it is now our time to do that, because our people
– with the unprecedented activeness and boldness in the February 18
[presidential election] – have given a signal that we have no more
time. That’s one of the reasons we’re taking to the streets today.”

“You are simultaneously proposing an alternative government thesis.

So, how are you planning to exercise the alternative power in
practice?”

“We will have a new system along with the governing hierarchy, because
we are not going to stay under rubble, because staying under rubble
would imply the loss of the statehood.”

“But the authorities do not seem to be showing signs of collapse. They
are working in an organized manner, and are stronger with their
leverages and financial resources.”

“No, they are very weak. They are facing a self-collapse but the
problem for us is not to banish them, but to create something new. Our
problem is what to replace with what.”

“Do you support the horizontal government model that sees a group not
an individual making a decision? To make this model work, you have
to be confident that those surrounding you are trustworthy people. Do
you have that trust? ”

“Nothing of the kind is possible, naturally, but the nucleus that
has to be keep playing the role of an axis has to be dominated by
honesty and pureness throughout this period.”

“Are there any real steps, invitations for debates around a table?”

“We do not, of course, going to repel or criticize anyone, as you
see periodically see on the political arena. What we are going to
do is try to find common grounds for collaborating with sober-minded
individuals. ”

“You are probably aware that Raffi Hovhannisian is inviting political
forces to Ani [Plaza] Hotel for debates …”

“It is now our time for making invitations.”

“And are you making them?”

“Yes, we are inviting all to get together over a clearly defined plan,
every day and every hour.”

“Is it possible for Pre-parliament to reorganize itself into a
political party sometime in future?”

“This [political] force will be reorganized to become the future
state.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

“Evidence” For Ministry of Culture

Member of Parliament Samvel Alexanyan has resumed reconstruction of
the Covered Market on Mashtots Avenue. One of the few historical
buildings of Yerevan had already been half-destroyed by the
businessman when he stopped construction following protests of
citizens. However, on the next day of the mayoral election he resumed
works.

The minister of culture Hasmik Poghosyan does not know anything about
the ongoing construction on the roof of the covered market. In an
interview with lragir.am the minister said it is a zero level
construction project. When we told her about ongoing works on the roof
of the building, photos of which were published in Lragir.am, Hasmik
Poghosyan said those are old pictures.

I took those pictures two days ago, Ms. Poghosyan.

Ongoing works, on the roof, the roof of the main building. No, those
must have been taken in December.

I say two days ago I went to the Market, took pictures of ongoing works.

Please send me those pictures.

We have published the pictures and the article, we’ll publish again.
And you, don’t you want to send a specialist to study the site.

Yes, you are right, my staff has reported me that zero-mark works are
carried out. I suggest that you contact the staff member of our
agency, please provide us with latest photos if available.

About 20 workers are working there on the roof of the building.

Let’s wait until the holidays pass, send me those photos, I will ask
our staff to explain, I will draw the attention of our staff to it.

How about you, do you want to go to the site to see what is happening
there because your staff members apparently did not provide correct
information to you.

You think so? I hope not but I will take your advice.

P.S. Photos were made on May 7.

10:25 10/05/2013
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