Author: Kalantarian Kevo

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
by Gabor Czene

Nepszabadsag
Sept 5 2012
Hungary

Hungary’s Armenian minority demands probe into extradition of
Azerbaijani killer

The international convention that was alluded to by Hungary
when it returned Safarov to Azerbaijan had not been created to
facilitate the escape of criminals – Sevan Sarkisyan, chairman
of the National Armenian Self-Government pointed out. Armenians
in Hungary have expressed their regret and astonishment over the
events and the severing of diplomatic relations. At the same time,
they demand an inquiry to establish the political – or even criminal
– responsibility. In the Armenians’ view, in obeying Azerbaijan,
the Hungarian justice authorities disregarded the most important,
namely moral considerations.

This is the first time Sarkisyan has come before the public since the
scandal erupted. As he said, he wanted to wait until the positions
became crystallized before giving a news conference. Sarkisyan does
not want to assume that the Hungarian government acted in bad faith.

Rather, the government’s attitude was “naive, and at the same time
unprofessional,” he presumed. The Ministry of Public Administration
and Justice should have represented professionalism but, regrettably,
the ministry “was not on top of things.”

The Armenians – he continued – consider Hungary as a “European
Christian country.” Therefore, the murdered Armenian soldier had come
to a country where he could feel safe. However – Sarkisyan recalled –
“he did not get the protection he had believed he would.”

According to his statement, Armenia was given guarantees by NATO
and the EU member states that Hungary would act with circumspection
in the issue. No problems arose in connection with the trial and the
sentence itself. However, the extradition of Safarov to Azerbaijan is
completely unacceptable. Sarkisyan mentioned that a similar procedure
would be unthinkable in connection with an Israeli-Arab conflict.

The National Armenian Self-Government tries to perform a mediating
role, but Sarkisyan did not rule out the possibility that tempers
would lead to violent acts.

To Nepszabadsag’s suggestion whether economic considerations may have
played a role in Safarov’s extradition, Sarkisyan gave an evasive
answer. In his opinion, Azerbaijan perceived Hungary’s economic
interest and “tried to hunt down the Hungarians” using this situation.

Now everyone is “hauling Fidesz [-Hungarian Civic Alliance] over the
coals” but – he added – Hungary has a party that has been “continually
spreading lies about Azerbaijan in Hungary.” This party is Jobbik
[Movement for a Better Hungary]. He has no concrete evidence but he
concluded this on the basis of the far-right party’s statements.

To Nepszabadsag’s question as to who should conduct the inquiry urged
by the national self-government, Sarkisyan said that it should be
Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Even if he is apparently showing no
willingness at the moment.

Alex Avanesyan, deputy chairman of the national self-government,
indicated that the nearly 9-million-strong diaspora provides the
Armenians’ true strength. Armenians have a strong lobby in the United
States and in a number of West-European countries. Demonstrations are
being held throughout these days in several cities of the American
continent and Europe. Avanesyan called the flag burning in Yerevan an
isolated and extreme event and stressed that the protest demonstrations
were not directed against the Hungarian people.

Gabriella Gaspar nee Soos, who was appointed by the Armenian military
ministry to represent the victim in the Safarov case, was also present
at the news conference. In her opinion, the position taken by the
defence, namely that the murderer had been in a restricted mental
state, is baseless. Expert opinions differ on certain points but
no debate was conducted on a racist motivation. Safarov killed his
Armenian victim with no fewer than 26 axe strikes and, while a fellow
Azeri tried to make him change his mind, he would have killed another
Armenian soldier, too, if the man had not locked himself in his room.

During the trial Safarov never said that he regretted his act – she
noted. Gaspar said that, according to international law, in cases like
this, the countries whose airspace is to be used during the transport
of the extradited person must be notified. Among other issues, she
asks the Hungarian government whether this has been complied with in
Safarov’s case.

[Translated from Hungarian]

VANADZOR MAYOR: ROADS PARTIALLY RECONSTRUCTED WHILE 3,600 FAMILIES CONTINUE LIVING IN EARTHQUAKE-DAMAGED HOMES
Adrine Torosyan

hetq
13:52, September 7, 2012

Participating in incumbent Vanadzor mayor Samvel Darbinyan’s rally
yesterday were representatives of state and community institutions
– employees from city hall and the regional council; healthcare
professionals; actors from the state theatre; state institute,
public school and kindergarten staff with their students and even
the children from the kindergarten; Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)
members; and war veterans.

The current regional governor of Lori province first thanked Vanadzor
residents for “the HHK’s shining victory” in the parliamentary
election, then addressing them, said, once again they’re faced with
a similar issue and that the upcoming local election is no less
important than the parliamentary election. “It’s no coincidence
that the square is so crowded today,” said the regional governor,
Artur Nalbandyan. Then he invited to the platform Samvel Darbinyan,
as the HHK candidate, who is backed by “an entire political force,
a coalition of political forces” – the HHK council and executive body
led by the Armenian president.

Addressing the election campaign, Nalbandyan said that the other
candidates are making promises that Darbinyan already resolved
long ago.

“There are political parties and individuals, who never having been in
politics, are making promises – making such promises that it seems to
me that after the election, Vanadzor will have no problems or issues
whatsoever. Such promises that the HHK, led by its candidate Samvel
Darbinyan, has known of long ago and the issues have been resolved.

Very serious work has been done over the years,” assured Lori’s
regional governor.

Darbinyan didn’t provide any specifics when describing the work he’s
done as mayor: “13 years ago you supported me with your vote, and I,
with you, took up our native city that’s damaged, has survived an
earthquake and war and experienced a blockade – a city which was
destroyed and had many problems. We, with our Vanadzor residents,
together began to build our public schools, kindergartens, music and
sports schools and cultural centers. We began to develop the political
and cultural life of our city, and to restore our entire community’s
economy. We had achievements during these years.”

The mayor pointed to one “achievement” and several issues, which
during the 13 years that he’s been in office haven’t been resolved.

“We also were able to partially reconstruct our roads, to get lighting
for them, and now, when we have significant achievements, we’re moving
to a new stage of development; a stage in which we have to rebuild,
restore all the buildings that need to be reinforced as a result
of the earthquake and return them to the 3,600 families that till
today are living in those damaged apartments. We are faced with the
task of restoring the roofs and entrances of residential buildings,
covering their yards with asphalt and building new playgrounds for the
children and playrooms for the adults. We are faced with the task of
developing tourism and small and medium businesses in our green city.”

RICHARD HOVANNISIAN TO SPEAK ABOUT SMYRNA CATASTROPHE ON 90TH ANNIVERSARY

Arts | September 7, 2012 10:53 am

BELMONT, Mass. – The First Armenian Church of Belmont, the Charles K.
and Elisabeth M. Kenosian Chair in Modern Armenian History and
Literature at Boston University and the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will sponsor the illustrated
lecture, “The Smyrna Catastrophe, 1922-2012,” by Prof. Richard G.
Hovannisian, on Friday, September 28, at 8 p.m. at the Nahigian
Fellowship Hall at First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave.

Prof. Simon Payaslian, who holds the Kenosian Chair at Boston
University, will provide an introduction.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Smyrna Catastrophe
when much of the city, the second largest in the Ottoman Empire,
was destroyed by fire during the final phase of the Greco-Turkish
War. The calamity marked the end of a strong Christian presence in
the historic Aegean coastal regions and turned hundreds of thousands
of Greeks and Armenians into refugees.

In this illustrated lecture, Hovannisian will discuss the important
role of Smyrna (Izmir) in modern Armenian history and the inferno
that engulfed the city in September 1922. Hovannisian is the editor
of the recently published Armenian Smyrna/Izmir, the 11th volume of
proceedings from the UCLA conference series, “Historic Armenian Cities
and Provinces.” He also traveled to Izmir and environs in June as the
historian-guide for a NAASR Armenian Heritage Tour led by Armen Aroyan.

A book signing of Armenian Smyrna/Izmir will immediately follow the
lecture. There will be a reception and refreshments at the NAASR
center, across the street from First Armenian Church. The lecture
and reception are free and open to the public.

Hovannisian is the author of Armenia on the Road to Independence,
the four-volume history The Republic of Armenia, and has edited and
contributed to more than 25 books including: The Armenian Genocide
in Perspective; The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times;
Remembrance and Denial; Looking Backward, Moving Forward and The
Armenian Genocide: Cultural and Ethical Legacies. Hovannisian is
professor of Armenian and Near Eastern history at UCLA and is the
chancellor fellow in the Department of History and the Rodgers Center
for Holocaust Education at Chapman University for fall 2012.

Armavia to take Syrian-Armenian children back home

tert.am
07.09.12

The Armenian children from Syria who are on holiday in Armenia will go
back in a plane of Armavia airline.

Spokesperson Nana Avetisova informed Tert.am that Armavia will resume
Yerevan-Aleppo flights on September 10.

Armenia~Rs national air carrier, Armavia, suspended flights to Syria
after Syrian insurgents threatened to down planes using Damascus and
Aleppo airports from September 3.

HUNGARY’S SOCIALISTS DEMAND ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED SAFAROV DOCS

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 7, 2012 – 19:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Hungary’s opposition Socialist Party has asked
the justice minister to grant access to documents connected with
the Hungarian decision to extradite the Azeri assassin Ramil Safarov
convicted for killing an Armenian officer in Budapest, Politics.hu
reported.

Socialist lawmaker Gergely Barandy told a press conference that a
review of the documents made in preparation of that decision could help
clarify who and to what extent was responsible for Safarov’s transfer.

Safarov was repatriated last week, and was pardoned and released by
the Azeri authorities on arrival in his home country, unleashing a
diplomatic storm, with Armenia suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.

“There seems a strong chance that the prime minister of Hungary let
loose a criminal serving a life sentence for murder in the hope of
material gain,” the Socialist politician said, referring to reports
that the decision was tied to economic interests between the two
countries.

Barandy said “the public needs more than assumptions”, calling for
non-classified documents to be made public; he urged to grant lawmakers
access to the related classified information.

ONE BIG CHINESE WEDDING WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR US TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ARMENIAN BRANDY EXPORT TO CHINA: YBC MANAGING DIRECTOR

arminfo
Friday, September 7, 18:11

One big Chinese wedding will be enough for us to solve the problem of
Armenian brandy export to China, Managing Director of Yerevan Brandy
Company Ara Grigoryan joked during a press-conference on Friday.

He said that the Chinese market is a mystery for YBC. “In China it
will take you 20-25 years of hard work to explain to at least 1%
of the Chinese what Armenia, Armenian brandy and ARARAT

ARMENIA’S FM MEETS IRAQ’S DEPUTY PM

news.am
September 07, 2012 | 13:05

YEREVAN. – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Friday
received a delegation led by Iraqi Deputy PM Rowsch Nuri Shaways.

Nalbandian expressed confidence that the Iraqi delegation’s visit to
Armenia will stimulate economic collaboration, and stressed that the
visit also has an important political impetus. The Minister expressed
a hope that the arrangements reached during the visit will open a
new chapter in bilateral ties and further strengthen Armenian-Iraqi
friendship, MFA press service informs.

In his turn, Iraq’s Deputy PM noted that he is impressed by the
results of the visit, which he considered to be historic. In Rowsch
Nuri Shaways’ words, the objective of the Iraqi delegation’s visit to
Armenia is to achieve concrete arrangements on developing cooperation
and raising the relations to a new level. He stressed that the meetings
in Yerevan were very productive.

The Iraqi Deputy PM also reconfirmed his government’s decision to
open an Iraqi embassy in Armenia.

In addition, the interlocutors discussed cooperation and the avenues
for expanding the legal framework, and underscored the Iraqi-Armenian
community’s role in deepening ties between the two countries and
peoples.

Edward Nalbandian and Rowsch Nuri Shaways also exchanged views on
the developments unfolding in the Middle East.

BAKO SAHAKYAN TO BE OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED AS ARTSAKH PRESIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 7, 2012 – 15:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On Friday, September 7, Stepanakert’s Palace of
Youth and Culture will host a special sitting of Nagorno Karabakh
parliament, dedicated to inauguration of the Republic’s president
Bako Sahakyan.The inauguration ceremony at NKR capital’s central
square will be followed by Artsakh armed forces parade.

To celebrate the event, a concert of Forbidden Saints world famous
band will be held in the evening, Karabakh-open.info said.

Bako Sahakyan won July 19 presidential race, having garnered 47095
votes.

L’AZERBAIDJAN ACCUEILLE UN MEURTRIER EN HEROS

vendredi 7 septembre 2012

Cet article a ete ecrit lundi mais a ete publie aujourd’hui seulement
par le Hufftington Post. En raison de ce delai, l’article n’est pas
a jour en ce qui concerne l’avalanche des declarations. En revanche,
l’analyse globale reste valable.

Le 31 août, Budapest a extrade Ramil Safarov, un meurtrier
azerbaïdjanais purgeant sa peine en Hongrie, vers son pays
d’origine provoquant ainsi une grave crise avec l’Armenie. Celle-ci,
habituellement peu encline aux mesures radicales, n’a cette fois-ci
pas hesite a rompre immediatement ses relations diplomatiques avec
la Grande Plaine.

En 2006, la justice hongroise avait juge et condamne le lieutenant
Safarov a 30 ans incompressibles de prison – la perpetuite – pour
le meurtre en Hongrie du lieutenant armenien Gourguen Markarian. Les
deux hommes avaient ete fortuitement reunis dans ce pays en fevrier
2004 a l’occasion du “partenariat pour la paix” – un programme de
formation de l’Otan destine a ameliorer les relations de l’Alliance
atlantique avec les pays de l’ancien bloc de l’Est.

A cette occasion, Safarov avait froidement decapite Markarian a la
hache alors que celui-ci dormait.

ARMENIA BOYCOTTS CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS’ COUNCIL SESSIONS BEING HELD UNDER AZERBAIJAN’S CHAIRMANSHIP

news.am
September 07, 2012 | 12:25

YEREVAN. – In connection with Ramil Safarov’s extradition to
Azerbaijan, where he was granted pardon, Armenia is not attending
the CIS Internal Affairs Ministers’ Council sessions, which kicked
off Friday in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.

Considering the fact that the Council’s chairmanship is being
transferred to Azerbaijani Minister of Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov,
the Armenian party will boycott the Council’s sessions, Armenia’s
Police informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant
in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary,
where he was serving a life sentence-and with no expression of
either regret or remorse-for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004.

As expected, Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was
his act of murder, by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s
government and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani
president immediately granted him a pardon.

And Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31 that
Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.