Author: Kalantarian Kevo

`Fuhrer’ Said: Don’t Speak That Way

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:10:58 – 30/08/2012

Today, parents of soldiers who died during their military service
protest against the inaction of the authorities regarding non-combat
deaths in front of the house of government demanding fair
investigation. The mothers went up to the vice-minister of sport, head
of Armenian Eagles NGO Khachik Asryan and asked why he does nothing
for the eagles who died in the army since he is speaking about the
Armenian eagles every day.

Khachik Asryan answered them angrily: `Don’t talk to me like that. Do
you know who I am to talk to me like that?’

The protesting mothers said that even the president did not talk to
them that way, while Asryan `who is just a mat under the feet of the
authorities, talks to us in such a rude manner.’

Hungary’s opposition demands to dismiss Deputy PM

2012-09-02 13:27:20

Hungary’s oppositional `Democratic coalition’ (Demokratikus Koalíció)
party demands to dismiss Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister, Public
Administration and Justice minister Tibor Navrachich. As the
oppositional, left-sided party stated in response to Armenpress,
Hungary’s Government didn’t display appropriate neutrality in
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
`By extraditing Ramil Safarov, Viktor Orban’s Government shows that a
man’s life isn’t estimated in Hungary, if the axing criminal can be
set free,’ the party said.
`This step of Orban’s Government rose abhorrence of international
community and criticism of civilized humanity,’ stresses `Democratic
coalition’. The party demands to convene an extraordinary Parliament
session.
`Democratic coalition’ is a center-left political force, which is lead
by former PM Ferenc Gyurcsány. It was founded in 2010 as a part of
Hungary’s Socialistic party, then in 2011 separated from that party
and formed as a separate party and a Parliamentary faction.
`Democratic party’ has 10 MPs in the Parliament out of 300.
On February 19, 2004 Azeri felon officer Ramil Safarov axed Armenia’s
MD officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest while sleeping. The officers
were participating in English language lessons within the framework of
NATO. The Hungary’s court sentenced Ramil Safarov to life in prison
without the right of being pardoned at the first 30 years. On August
31, 2012 Hungary’s state agencies made a decision to extradite Safarov
to Azerbaijan.

Brussels should prompt Hungary to apologize to Armenia – Russian expert

news.am
September 01, 2012 | 23:56

MOSCOW. – In relation to the extradition of the Armenian lieutenant’s
murderer Ramil Safarov by Hungary to Azerbaijan, Armenia is better to
appeal not to Budapest but Brussels as Hungary is a member state of
the EU, Russian expert Alexander Skakov told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In the given case the expert believes that Brussels should initiate
some actions for Hungary to ask apology from Armenia for what it has
done. Asked how the incident will impact on the Karabakh peace
process, Skakov said that at the moment the conflict is in such a
deadlock that even such an incident can have no serious influence on
it.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a
lieutenant of the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on Friday from
Hungary, where he was serving a life sentence 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.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced Friday that Armenia is
suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary. Armenia is holding
various protest actions for the second day organized by different
organizations. In addition, the Hungarian flag was burnt in front of
the Hungarian Consulate in Armenia as a protest action.

Actualitté.com, France
vendredi 31 août 2012

France : Les manuels scolaires et la question du génocide arménien

L’annonce du nouveau programme des 3e en France a enclenché une levée
de barricades des officiels Turcs, contre l’enseignement du génocide
arménien (1915) Ã l’école. Un geste de l’ancien gouvernement qui
pourrait une nouvelle fois bouleverser les relations avec la Turquie,
qui avait bon espoir de reconstruire des relations alors tendues avec
Paris après l’élection du nouveau président.

à trois ans du centenaire, voilà une question qui porte sur les
arrières grands-parents des actuels enfants scolarisés. Pourtant, elle
ne cesse d’attiser les foudres du parlement turc.

François Hollande a dû s’expliquer, arguant que les programmes
scolaires sont décidés par une commission, ayant été réunie bien avant
l’élection du nouveau président. Les nouveaux programmes d’histoire
sont donc le fruit de la réforme lancée par Xavier Darcos et Luc
Chatel.

Cependant, comme à l’habitude la nouvelle a irrité l’ambassadeur turc,
Tahsin BurcuoÄ?lu, mais aussi Egemen BaÄ?ıÅ? qui a profondément critiqué
la démarche, invitant étrangement les Français à réexaminer leur
conception en s’inspirant un peu plus de leur devise « Égalité,
Liberté, Fraternité ».

« J’espère qu’ils réaliseront rapidement leur erreur et qu’ils la
corrigeront », déclare Egemen BaÄ?ıÅ? lors d’un discours organisé par la
TIKA. Et d’ajouter : « La Turquie n’a jamais connu de génocide ».

Mais la rentrée scolaire ne fait que soulever une énième polémique
entre la Turquie et l’Arménie. D’autant plus que le génocide de 1915,
décidé par l’Empire ottoman, était déjà enseigné en 3e et en terminale
depuis quelques années, mais de façon plus succincte. Car aujourd’hui,
ce sont deux pages complètes d’explications et de photos qui viennent
appuyer l’événement.

L’an dernier déjÃ, une polémique avait encore secoué les relations
France / Turquie après que le Parlement français a voté en faveur du
projet de loi censurant le négationnisme du génocide arménien. La
Turquie avait annulé toutes les réunions économiques, politiques et
militaires avec la France en décembre. Rapidement, le Conseil
constitutionnel avait censuré, l’hiver dernier, cette même loi.
Actuellement, François Hollande voudrait qu’un nouveau texte sur la
pénalisation du négationnisme soit proposé Ã l’automne.

ABS CBN News, Philippines
Sept 1 2012

Gritty Pinoys lose to Armenia in Olympiad

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – The gritty Philippine men’s team suffered its
first loss in the ongoing 40th FIDE World Chess Olympiad after bowing
to higher-ranked Armenians at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul,
Turkey.

Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So (ELO 2652) halved the point with World No.
2 GM Levon Aronian (2816) after 51 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening using
the advantageous white pieces in their top board encounter.

GM Oliver Barbosa (2554) split the point with GM Sergie Movsesian
(2698) after 37 moves of English Opening on Board 2.

GM Mark Paragua (2508) also settled for a truce with GM Vladimir
Akopian (2687) after 45 moves of Slav defense on Board 3.

Meanwhile, GM candidate and International Master (IM) Oliver
Dimakiling (2428) yielded to GM Gabriel Sargissian (2693) after 25
moves of Irregular Opening on Board 4.

Despite the team’s loss, National Chess Federation of the Philippines
(NCFP) Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. lauded the Filipino
woodpushers for their gallant stand against the Armenians.

“We lost against Armenia, a power house in the chess world, but today
we have shown to the whole world that the Philippine Chess is a future
world power,’ said Pichay, who watched the game live through the
internet.

`No less than Aronian sang praises for So in an interview in Istanbul.
Because he salvaged a draw against a better position of Wesley So. I
thought mananalo pa si Wesley,” he added.

Pichay also commended the other players.

“Oliver and Mark are both playing at their best, in fact I think they
(Barbosa and Paragua ) are playing like grandmasters with an Elo
rating of 2700,” added Pichay.

Once again, So had preserved his no-loss record against GMs with 2700+ rating.

This was the second time that So had played a 2800+ rated player. The
first was against Bulgaria’s GM Veselin Topalov rated 2803 then,
FIDE’s 2005 World Chess Champion.

Their game ended in a draw in the 2010 Chess Olympiad in Khanty
Mansiysk, Russia.

The 35th seed Filipinos into a tie for 16th to 36th placers.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, who is making a record 21st appearance
in the Olympiad, will be playing in the next round said Pichay.

The long-time Filipino champion is still mourning the death of his
mother, whose interment is scheduled Saturday.

The Philippines women’s team, meantime, toppled the Mexicans, 3-1, to
jump to a share of 13th to 31st placers with 18 others at six points.

Woman International Maser (WIM) Catherine Perena, Woman National
Master (WNM) Janelle Mae Frayna and WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda won their
respective matches to negate Woman FIDE master (WFM) Rulp Ylem Jose’s
loss on board 2. – By Marlon Bernardino

Voice of America
Aug 31 2012

Armenia Cuts Ties With Hungary in Soldier Dispute

Stefan Bos
August 31, 2012

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Armenia says it is cutting all ties with Hungary
for allowing an Azerbaijani soldier who killed an Armenian officer to
return home. On Friday, Hungary sent the soldier back to Azerbaijan,
where he was immediately pardoned and freed by his country’s
president.

Azerbaijani Lieutenant Ramil Safarov was warmly welcomed in the
capital, Baku, after arriving from Hungary, where he was imprisoned
for murder.

Safarov was given a life sentence in 2006 by the Budapest City Court
after he confessed to hacking to death Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian of
Armenia in his sleep.

The incident happened while both were in Hungary for a 2004 language
course of the NATO military alliance.

Yet, as soon as Safarov arrived at the Baku airport, he received an
official pardon from Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

In a short statement, the president said he decreed Friday that
Safarov `should be freed from the term of his punishment.’

Safarov told reporters that he regards his freedom as a “restoration
of justice.” He explained that he is “very happy” and that “it is
difficult to find words” to express his feelings. Safarov said he
wants to “express gratitude to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
[President] Ilham Aliyev and everyone who supports him.”

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan said in published remarks that
“Hungarian authorities should understand that they have made a grave
mistake.” He added that as of Friday, his nation would “cease all
diplomatic relations and all ties with Hungary.”

The State Department issued a statement saying the United States is
“extremely troubled” by the news of the soldier’s pardon and that it
is expressing its “deep concern” to Azerbaijan regarding the action.
The State Department also said it is seeking further details from
Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan.

The press chief of Hungary’s Foreign Ministry, Gabor Kaleta, said that
it was too early to comment on his country’s future relationship with
Armenia or Azerbaijan.

And at Hungary’s Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, press
officer Veronika Szucs made clear that this was not the time to ask
the hard questions.

“We don’t have anyone who can give you an interview, or read the
statement,” said Szucs. “Just a written statement exists. The title is
‘Ramil Sahib Safarov’s sentence will continue to be’ [enforced by
Azerbaijan].”

In the statement, seen by VOA, the ministry said Safarov was
extradited under the ‘1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of
Sentenced Persons,’ which Hungary and Azerbaijan have signed.

Hungary, however, said Azerbaijan promised that it would respect
Budapest’s judgment, meaning that “Persons sentenced to life
imprisonment may, at the earliest, be conditionally released after
serving a period of 25 years.”

The killing has underscored tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The territory lies within Azerbaijan, but has remained under the
control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since the end of
a six-year separatist war in 1994, which killed 30,000 people and left
about 1 million homeless.

During his trial in Budapest, Safarov claimed that the conflict was at
the root of his actions after the victim allegedly provoked him.

The decision to extradite Safarov comes shortly after Hungarian media
reported that oil-rich Azerbaijan may lend Hungary up to $3.8 billion
by buying special bonds to help it pay off its debt. Hungarian
officials later played down the reports, saying they first want to
conclude talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European
Union.

Hungarian radio reported Friday that Azerbaijan’s president has
canceled an upcoming visit to Hungary, following the controversy over
the released soldier.

New York Times
Aug 31 2012

Armenia: Dispute Darkens Relations With Hungary

By REUTERS

Published: August 31, 2012

Armenia said it was suspending diplomatic relations with Hungary on
Friday because Hungary had allowed a soldier from Azerbaijan who
killed an Armenian officer in 2004 to return home, where he was
immediately pardoned and freed. The dispute erupted after Azerbaijan’s
president, Ilham Aliyev, pardoned the soldier, Ramil Safarov, who had
been sentenced to life in prison for the 2004 killing of an Armenian
officer during NATO training in Hungary. Hungary agreed to return Mr.
Safarov to Azerbaijan after it had received assurances that he would
serve out his sentence. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at odds since
a war between ethnic Azeris and Armenians erupted in 1991 over the
mainly Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Hungary has been developing
economic ties with energy-rich Azerbaijan.

Armenian Observer
August15, 2012

Armenians in Syria Need Everyone’s Help

By Prof. Osheen Keshishian

The Syrian political upheaval and unrest, the killings,
kidnappings, plundering have been going on for over a year. And it
seems that there is no immediate abating or an end to the sad
situation. International observers, statesmen and experts (sometimes
starting themselves the situation), do not see a ray of hope for the
betterment of the situation for the time being. A tense and
unpredictable situation exists, which has claimed the lives of more
than 18,000 people, according to the Human Rights Defense
Organization.

Without delving into the reasons, circumstances, and the
political ramifications, it is only proper to save the lives of the
rest of the population.

Following the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman
Turkish government, the Armenian people had thousands and thousands of
orphans and refugees who were scattered all over the Middle East.
Syria was one of the countries that extended a helping hand to
thousands of refugees, including my parents and grandparents, who were
saved from the Genocide and for a while lived in Aleppo, Syria, in a
most hospitable atmosphere and which became a safe haven for most of
the Armenians.

The Armenian community had reached close to 150,000 and it
thrived in many ways during the past 100 years heritage-wise as many
Armenian schools and orphanages were opened, artistic, athletic and
cultural associations were established, theater groups present
Armenian and non-Armenian plays, churches were consecrated, Armenian
medical dispensaries served thousands of people, books were published
and most of all Armenian daily newspapers thrived in Aleppo. Armenians
also slowly helped the business world in Syria.

Once the active hub of Armenian life of the Diaspora, the
condition in Syria has dramatically changed and the Armenians as well
as the general population need assistance immediately.

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) gallantly
earmarked $1 million for the Armenians in Syria, the Armenian Relief
Society and other organizations have come forward to assist the
community.

Some Armenians wanted to go to Armenia, a short flight
from Syria, to either live there permanently or for a short time. And
many did, after all they had to save their lives. After some
hesitation, Armenia finally decided to help. Armenia instituted a
simplified procedure for granting Armenian citizenship to thousands of
Armenians from Syria, Aleppo and Damascus. Actually, they should be
able to receive their visas at Yerevan Airport, like U.S. and European
Union nationals. Although the laws are changing every week, it is not
clear as yet as to how people will get their visas. Thousands of
Syrian-Armenians have already moved to the Motherland, however, there
is no exact figure or a close count, since every week the number is
augmenting.

There is an emergency situation in Syria and the whole
world knows about it. The once active Armenian community is on the
verge of collapse and disintegration. Armenians all over the world
cannot remain indifferent and idle. They should rise to the occasion
and without wasting time or mincing words, extend a helping hand to
their brothers and sisters in these times of distress in an urgent
fashion.

Time is flying and they need our serious assistance if we
expect to survive as a people.

Voice of America
Sept 1 2012

Armenians Protest Hungary’s Decision to Repatriate Soldier

Posted September 1st, 2012 at 2:50 pm (UTC-4)

More than 100 Armenians gathered Saturday to protest Hungary’s
decision to repatriate an Azerbaijani soldier who killed an Armenian
military officer in 2004.

Demonstrators burned the Hungarian flag Saturday in the Armenian
capital, Yerevan.

On Friday, Hungary sent Ramil Safarov back to his native Azerbaijan,
where he was immediately pardoned and freed by Azerbaijan’s president,
Ilham Aliyev.

Armenia responded by saying it is cutting ties with Hungary.

Safarov received a hero’s welcome upon arriving Friday in Azerbaijan’s
capital, Baku.

A Hungarian court gave Safarov a life sentence in 2006 after he
confessed to murdering Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian in his
sleep.

The United States said Friday it is deeply concerned about Hungary’s
decision to pardon Safarov.

Interfax, Russia
Aug 31 2012

Yerevan outraged by extradition of Armenian soldier murder convict to Baku

YEREVAN. Aug 31

Yerevan has expressed its bewilderment over the decision by Hungarian
authorities to extradite Azeri soldier Ramil Safarov, who is serving a
life sentence in Budapest for killing an Armenian Army officer, Gurgen
Markarian.

“The decision by the Hungarian authorities to extradite criminal
Safarov to Azerbaijan causes indignation and bewilderment, to say the
least, because it was clear what the murderer is facing in
Azerbaijan,” Armenia’s ruling Republican Party spokesman and
Parliamentary Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said.

Senior lieutenant Safarov killed Markarian for desecrating an Azeri
flag in Hungary in 2004.

On April 13, 2006, Safarov was sentenced to a life in prison without a
right for parole in the first 30 years. Both officers were in Budapest
to do an English language course organized under NATO’s Partnership
for Peace Program.

Yerevan is also outraged by the fact that Safarov was pardoned by
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.

“I believe that the decision to pardon the murderer should be not left
without a response and deserves a condemnation on the part of
international community,” the Armenian deputy speaker said.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian called an emergency meeting of the
National Security Council, the Armenian president’s spokesperson told
Interfax on Friday.

The president also invited to the meeting UN diplomats and local heads
of international organizations accredited in Armenia.