Author: Kanayan Tamar

Public figures of Diaspora, Armenia granted presidential awards

September 17, 2011 – 15:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarded 200
representatives of Diaspora, culture, art, healthcare, economy,
Foreign Ministry, army with orders, medals and honorary titles.`I’m
honoured to grant well-deserved awards to outstanding representatives
of our society and country,’ President Sargsyan said in his statement.

Among hose awarded were: VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian,
Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Arman Kirakossian, Yerevan Brandy
Company CEO Ara Grigoryan, etc. Van Bayburt, Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili’s adviser on minority affairs was granted a
special award for his contribution to preservation of national
identity.

Medal Like a `Black Mark’

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:27:55 – 17/09/2011

In societies where there is no equal access to the distribution of
national wealth and political decision-making, the division into `us
and them’ is becomes a necessity.

In the Armenian society, various methods of division into `us and
them’ are used, one of them is the award of medals, invitations to
celebrations and other regalia.

It becomes especially evident on holidays. For instance, looking at
dense rows of men in expensive suits on the Day of Independence of
Karabakh, people would not find those who began the Karabakh movement,
such as Igor Muradyan, Manvel Sargsyan, Ashot Manucharyan, and many
others. Certainly, these people will not be invited to the celebration
of 20th anniversary of independence of Armenia, though their
contribution to the independence of NKR and Armenia is invaluable. But
they appeared among `them’ and they have no place near the festive
tables. Similarly, Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan knows as Commandos has not
been invited to the military parade.

Maybe because these people put their heart and soul in the work which
they began, and they do not like that everything goes the wrong way.
Because they are not afraid of calling things by their proper names,
are not afraid talking about the mistakes and they do not hide
themselves behind insincere speeches.

Medals are given out like sunflower seeds, awards for contribution to
statehood are given to people who have absolutely no relation to
statehood but who have committed themselves to serving the government.
And if they want to give medals to certain people, but they don’t know
for what, they give undefined medals called after Anania Shirakatsi,
Movses Khorenatsi, medieval Armenian scholars.

Medals are used to tag their `own’ people. As soon as you are given a
medal, you are counted among `us’ and you will never be accepted in
the camp of `them’. Some of the people who receive state medals really
deserve them but the function of `tagging’ has depreciated the idea of
medals so that many people are ashamed of their medals.

But the authorities are not ashamed of giving the medals away. The
most important thing to keep in mind is who could tomorrow be in the
`enemy camp’, and `forget’ those who did not want to go into the camp
of `us’.

Armenian FM praises Iran’s balanced stance on Karabakh

armradio.am
17.09.2011 16:30

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian praised the Islamic
Republic of Iran for its balanced stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. Nalbandian made the remarks during a press conference after a
meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran.

The Armenian top diplomat appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran for
presenting proper and balanced views on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,
and expressed the hope that Tehran would maintain the same stance and
continue presenting such positive views in future, Fars news agency
reports.

He further perceived positive and bright prospects for Tehran-Yerevan
relations, and stressed that the two countries’ ties and cooperation
would promote in future.

Nalbandian stated that during his meeting with Salehi, he invited his
Iranian counterpart to pay a visit to Armenia.

The Economist
Sept 10 2011

An unlikely refuge for Muammar Qaddafi

Come and be an Israeli!

The colonel has sympathisers in an unexpected place
Sep 10th 2011 | NETANYA | from the print edition

IF HE needs a refuge, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi might consider the
Israeli town of Netanya. An Israeli family of Libyan origin has
recently surfaced saying they are the colonel’s relatives and that he
should think of making aliyah (the Jewish voyage of return) and claim
Israeli citizenship as any Jew may do under Israeli law. Gita Boaron
told Israeli television she shares a great-grandmother with the
colonel. `She fled her Jewish husband for a Muslim sheikh,’ she says.
`Her daughter was the colonel’s mother, making him Jewish under
rabbinic law.’

Some jokers suggest that Mrs Boaron’s family want a share of the gold
the colonel is said to be carrying. But others say there may be a more
solid claim. `Jews from Tripoli remember he attended a Jewish wedding
in the 1960s, long before he became leader,’ says Pedazur Benattia,
founder of Or Shalom, a centre that promotes Libyan-Jewish culture in
Israel.

In Netanya, a resort north of Tel Aviv, where many of the 100,000-odd
Israeli Jews of Libyan origin have settled, a square has been called
Qaddafi Plaza in anticipation of his arrival. `Whatever he’s done,
Israel’s his home,’ says Rachel, a widow sipping her macchiato,
Libya’s beverage of choice, and nibbling abambara, a Libyan-Jewish
pastry in one of the square’s Libyan-owned cafés. `After all, he’s a
Jew.’ With his curls, she says, he would fit into many a Libyan
synagogue.

The colonel’s popularity is odd since he chased non-Muslims, Italian
Catholics and Jews alike out of Libya and took their property. But
Israel’s Libyan Jews say he has sought to atone for his youthful Arab
radicalism. In the New York Times in 2009 the Great Leader noted that
`Jews and Muslims are cousins descended from Abraham. The Jewish
people,’ he added understandingly, `want and deserve their homeland.’

Other family members are said to have kept up the tradition. Israeli
tabloids make much of reports that Saif al-Islam, the colonel’s son
and oft-presumed heir, used to date Orly Weinermann, a sometime
scantily clad Israeli soap-opera actress. Quite a few of the colonel’s
Libyan foes believe such gossip. Graffiti with Stars of David
superimposed on swastikas have spattered the walls of Benghazi, the
rebels’ eastern base. `Qaddafi Mossad agent,’ reads one of the
banners.

Russia slams EU plans to support Caspian pipeline

23:33 – 13.09.11

Russia lashed out Tuesday at an offer by the European Union to broker
talks between energy-rich Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan aimed at
creating a natural gas pipeline that would carry Turkmen fuel to the
West.

According to the Associated Press, Moscow’s testy outburst over EU
lobbying for construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline highlights
Russian sensitivities over prospects that its grip on the supply of
gas to Europe could be loosened.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that only the
five countries bordering on the Caspian had the right to settle issues
regarding use of the inland body of water.

Europe is eager to diversify its gas purchases away from Russia, whose
recurrent disputes with transit nation Ukraine have led to periodic
cutoffs.

Western Europe relies on Russia for a quarter of its gas needs. Some
80 percent of the gas bound for Western Europe is carried through
Ukrainian pipeline.

A pricing dispute between Ukraine and Russia in 2009 left Europe
without a key source of gas and the union is keen to diversify its
supply.

Under a mandate approved Monday, the EU will propose a union-wide
treaty supporting the completion of the trans-Caspian pipeline.
Gas carried through that route would then be fed into EU-backed
Nabucco pipeline that bypasses Russia.

“Europe is now speaking with one voice. The trans-Caspian pipeline is
a major project in the Southern Corridor to bring new sources of gas
to Europe. We have the intention of achieving this as soon as
possible,” EU Energy Commissioner Oettinger said in a statement.

The planned Nabucco pipeline is slated to transport 31 billion cubic
meters of natural gas from the Caspian region to Austria via southern
Europe.

The viability of the project has been called into question over doubts
that enough suppliers can be found to fill the pipeline.

Tert.am

Iranian Students News Agency
Sept 18 2011

Iran, Armenia discuss further cooperation

ISNA – Tehran
Service: Foreign Policy

TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Armenian
Foreign Minister discussed boosting bilateral relations to expand
security and peace in the region.

Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian said, `There is no limitation from Iranian side to expand
mutual ties in different fields of politics, economy and culture. We
can quickly mature relations as much as three times.’

`We are willing all countries in the world enjoy a friendly and just
coexistence and resolve disputes through talks if there are any,’
Ahmadinejad said referring to joint programs between Iran and Armenia.

As to available potentials between the two countries, he added,
`Trading with neighbors is the best one which help creating and
expanding security, peace and friendship in the region and will be in
favor of regional countries as well.’

Nalbandian on his part said, `The volume of the exchanges between Iran
and Armenia rose more than 38 percent and has reached $270m in current
year.’

He noted, “Iran-Armenia joint economic commission is in line with
putting the agreements into practice.’

He continued, `Different projects including the connection of Iran’s
railway to Armenia, transferring the power line from Iran to Armenia,
constructing the joint Aras hydro-power plant and also transferring
the oil products pipeline to Armenia are all big projects and their
implementation will be for the favor of the two nations and the
nations of the whole region.’

End Item

REVUE DE PRESSE
Des enfants émigrés dorment dans la rue

Depuis plusieurs jours, des familles étrangères avec des enfants, dont
certains n’ont que 4 ans, dorment sur le trottoir au port de commerce.
L’histoire

En 2011, en France, des enfants de 4 ans peuvent dormir dans la rue !
La scène se passe au port de commerce, rue de Madagascar. Depuis
environ deux semaines pour certaines, des familles installent un
campement pour la nuit : une bche pour isoler du sol et des
couvertures. Elles sont installées sur le trottoir, devant le foyer
d’hébergement Aftam.

Il y a désormais cinq familles : trois d’Albanie, soit douze personnes
dont six enfants ; une couple d’Arméniens avec une fillette de 4 ans
et un garçon de 7 ans ; une mère seule avec trois enfants, dont une
fillette de 4 ou 5 ans, venue de la Corne de l’Afrique. Somalie,
Éthiopie, Djibouti ? Difficile à dire : seuls les enfants parlent le
français, laissant penser qu’ils sont effectivement passés par
Djibouti.

« Déni de droit »

Gevorg et son épouse Gohar ont fui l’Arménie, mais ne veulent pas dire
pourquoi. Ils craignent beaucoup d’être pris en photo. Par
l’intermédiaire d’un bénévole russe, ils acceptent d’expliquer leur
parcours. Ils disent être arrivés en France le 30 août en provenance
de Moscou, « après trois jours en autobus ». Pourquoi ont-ils poussé
jusqu’à Brest ? Impossible de le savoir. Ils disent être arrivés « par
l’autobus ». Depuis deux semaines, le couple affirme n’avoir bénéficié
que de « trois nuits à l’hôtel ». Ils ont l’intention de faire une
demande d’asile.

« C’est un déni de droit, dénonce Olivier Cuzon de Cass’Papiers,
collectif de soutien aux sans-papiers. Le préfet a l’obligation
d’assurer l’hébergement d’urgence des demandeurs d’asile. Et surtout,
laisser des enfants dormir dans la rue ! C’est contraire à la
convention internationale des droits de l’enfant. »

Hier après-midi, deux militants ont demandé une entrevue à la
sous-préfecture. La grille ne s’ouvrant pas, ils ont profité de la
sortie du personnel pour se glisser dans l’enceinte de la
sous-préfecture. Ils ont été finalement reçus par le secrétaire
général. « Ils suivent la situation de près et ont promis une réponse
le plus rapidement possible », indiquait Olivier Cuzon, à l’issue de
l’entrevue.

« Forte tension »

Hier soir, le sous-préfet de Brest souhaitait replacer cette affaire
dans « un contexte de forte tension sur l’hébergement des demandeurs
d’asile. Depuis le début de l’année, les demandes ont augmenté de 30 %
au niveau national. Ça se répercute aussi dans le Finistère. » Selon
Jean-Pierre Condemine, le Finistère dispose de 421 places
d’hébergement d’urgence. « Nous sommes saturés. »

Ne contestant pas l’urgence pour les enfants, le sous-préfet assure
que « les décisions les plus adaptées seront prises pour les familles
les plus en détresse ». Mais il prévient : « Nous ne pourrons pas
héberger tout le monde. »

Hier soir, les familles africaine et arménienne ont été hébergées à
Keraudren. Les familles albanaises sont restées sur le trottoir.

dimanche 18 septembre 2011,
Sté[email protected]

ARARAT-ARAKATZ
L’Ararat se trouvait en Arménie dans l’esprit des alpinistes Iraniens

Drôle d’histoire ! Des alpinistes Iraniens étaient venus en Arménie
pour faire l’ascension du mont Ararat (5 156 m). Mais sur place en
Arménie ils déchantèrent. Ils apprirent que la montagne symbole des
Arméniens se trouvait de l’autre côté de la frontière…en Turquie.
Ils décidèrent alors de gravir le mont Arakadz (4 090 m). Ce groupe
d’une douzaine d’alpinistes Iraniens pas très experts en cartographie
était pourtant emmené par Madjid Mola le maire de la ville iranienne
d’Alvand dans la province de Ghazvin. L’équipe d’alpinistes s’exerce
depuis 13 ans déjà sur les plus hauts sommets d’Iran. Elle a gravi
près de 80 % des plus hauts sommets du pays dont le Demovant (5 671
m). Pour justifier son erreur Madjid Mola dit aux journalistes
Arméniens « en Iran le nom Ararat est lié aux Arméniens. Il y a un
club « Ararat » des équipes sportives qui portent également le nom
d’Ararat, si bien que pour nous en Iran, le nom d’Ararat est lié aux
Arméniens. Et nous étions convaincus que le mont Ararat se trouvait en
Arménie ». Mais l’équipe iranienne qui a préparé un film documentaire
sur l’Arménie n’a pas été déçue de l’Arménie où « la nature est très
belle ». « Des 4 sommets de l’Arakadz la vue d’Erévan est très belle.
Il y a pour l’ascension de l’Arakadz quelques difficultés techniques,
la terre n’était pas stable sous nos pieds. Mais ce fut pour nous un
souvenir merveilleux. Je voudrais vous dire aussi que vous avez des
alpinistes Arméniens exceptionnels » dit Madgid Mola.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 18 septembre 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

EDITOR OF TURKISH DAILY GETS HRANT DINK AWARD

news.am
Sept 16 2011
Armenia

International Hrant Dink Foundation awarded chief editor of Turkish
Taraf newspaper Ahmet Altan and Mexican journalist, human rights
defender Lydia Caco.

Receiving the award, Altan said he would give it to a person who will
find murderers of Hrant Dink.

An annual award is granted to activists and journalists who are
struggling for human rights and freedom of speech.

Hrant Dink, chief editor of the bilingual Armenian-Turkish Agos
newspaper, was killed near his office in Istanbul on January 19,
2007 by Turkish ultranationalist Ogun Samast.

TURKS KILLED 15,000 ARMENIANS IN BITLIS, IN 1 DAY – OTTOMAN ARMY GENERAL

news.am
Sept 16 2011
Armenia

The Kurdish Firat News Agency reflected on the memoirs, about the
Armenian Genocide, of the Venezuelan general Rafael de Nogales Mendez,
who was voluntarily serving in the Ottoman Empire. In his book,
entitled 4 Years in the Ottoman Army, the general attests that the
Armenian massacres had occurred under the Ottoman state’s knowledge
and guidance.

“Even though they were firing at the Armenians on the street, I
approached the mayor, who was heading the massacre. The mayor noted
that he was doing nothing but carrying out the governor’s order. At
that time, I instructed the gendarmerie to withdraw, and I waited
until the end. After the 1.5-hour massacre, 7 Armenians remained in
the Adilcevaz region of Bitlis. On that day, Commander Cevdet Bey,
together with Kagikyan Efendi, took 5,000 gold liras from 200 prominent
Armenians of Bitlis and then hung them all.

They shared that amount with Halil Bey. Not being satisfied with that,
they were taking the Armenian men to the mountains, in 50-member
groups, where the Armenians were digging their own graves with their
own hands and, once killed, they were being thrown there. On that day,
15 thousand Armenians were killed in Bitlis and nearby villages,”
Firat quotes as the Venezuelan general saying.