Author: Kanayan Tamar

WARNING: THEY ARE ARME-D
By David Field

The Sun (England)
September 8, 2011 Thursday

ARMENIA are gunning for second place in Group B after hammering
Slovakia 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Ireland fans saluted them at the time for their fantastic result,
which threw the group wide open.

But the sides could go to war for a play-off position at the Aviva
Stadium on October 11.

And Armenia midfielder Levon Hayrapetyan says they have ‘a real chance’
of taking runner-up spot.

He said: “We believed from the first minute that we could win the
match.

“We never thought before the game that we’d win 4-0 but we always
believed we could win, and after the third goal it became clear
we would.

“There is a real chance now and we have to be focused for our next
game. The main reason for this victory was our great team spirit.”

Armenia visit Macedonia on October 7 before heading to Dublin for
the final qualifier four days later.

Blow A goal from sub Keith Fahey one year ago saw Ireland win the
reverse fixture 1-0 in Yerevan. But on Tuesday night Vardan Minasyan’s
men racked up four unanswered goals in the second half to shock
Slovakia in Zilina.

Yura Movsisyan hit Armenia’s opening goal on 57 minutes before Henrik
Mkhitaryan, Gevorg Ghazaryan and Artur Sarkisov made the game safe.

The hosts’ dejected coach Vladimir Weiss said: “This is a big blow
for us and we didn’t expect a result like it.

“I feel fully responsible for this defeat. The first half was good
from us, but the second half went totally wrong and Armenia punished
us. Congratulations to them.”

Weiss’ men take on group leaders Russia on October 7, the same day
Ireland visit Andorra.

THANKS ARMENIA; GROUP B ROUND-UP

The Mirror, UK
September 7, 2011 Wednesday

Slovakia 0 Armenia 4 ThE Republic of Ireland will be guaranteed
a play-off to earn a place at Euro 2012 if they win next month’s
qualifiers against Andorra and Armenia.

Armenia’s shock 4-0 win over Slovakia on Tuesday was a further boost
for the Republic after Giovanni Trapattoni’s side had earned a 0-0
draw in Moscow.

The Republic face minnows Andorra away on October 7 before facing
Armenia in Dublin four days later.

however, Armenia have now also moved into the frame for qualification.

Russia lead the Group on 17 points – two ahead of the Republic with
Armenia and Slovakia a further point off the pace.

The next round of games on October 7 sees Armenia hosting Macedonia,
Slovakia at home to Russia with the Republic playing in Andorra.

Four days later, the group concludes with the Republic’s home game
against Armenia, Russia hosting Andorra and Slovakia travelling
to Macedonia.

Two remaining Republic wins would be enough to win the group if Russia
lose in Slovakia.

Armenia scored all their goals in the second-half in Tuesday’s win
in Zilina.

Yura Movsisyan put Armenia ahead in the 57th minute with henrik
Mkhitaryan (70), Gevorg Ghazaryan (80) and Artur Sarkisov (90) adding
the further goals.

Meanwhile, Mirko Ivanovski’s goal gave Macedonia a 1-0 win over
Andorra in their Euro 2012 Group B qualifier on Tuesday, securing a
first victory for new coach John Toshack, above.

Ivanovski struck just before the hour after the hosts had wasted a
succession of chances.

Former Wales and Real Madrid manager Toshack was named coach last
month, taking over from Mirsad Jonuz who was sacked.

PMO: NO DECISION OVER ACTION AGAINST TURKEY

Ynetnews
Sept 9 2011
Israel

Following Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman’s reported plan to
“punish” Turkey by cooperating with the Armenians and aiding Kurdish
Rebels, The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying “our
policy is and will remain to prevent the deterioration of relations
with Turkey and to pacify the tensions between the two countries.

In the statement, it was noted that Netanyahu and other Cabinet
ministers discussed different options in case of further escalation,
but have yet to make any decisions. “Israel will continue to act
responsibly and hopes that Turkey will do the same,” the statement
said. (Attila Somfalvi)

ARMENIA’S POSITIONS ARE INVULNERABLE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER STATES

Mediamax, Armenia
Sept 8 2011

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated
today that “Armenia’s positions in terms of Nagorno Karabakh settlement
are invulnerable from the viewpoint of international law”.

Addressing the press conference devoted to the 20th anniversary of
the NKR’s independence today, Shavarsh Kocharyan quoted a number
of international documents to prove his words, in particular, UN
Charter, Helsinki Final Act signed and UN Resolution 1974 containing
“Definition of Aggression”, Mediamax reports.

According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, Azerbaijan deliberately
distorts the content of these and other documents regarding Nagorno
Karabakh settlement.

CRITICS DOUBT TURKEY’S PLEDGE TO RETURN CHURCH PROPERTIES

BosNewsLife
Sept 8 2011

ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)– Turkey’s government has pledged
to return hundreds of properties confiscated from the country’s
Christian and Jewish minorities, but critics say the decree does not
go far enough.

Properties to be returned to Armenian, Greek, and Jewish trusts include
a former hospital, orphanage or school buildings and cemeteries.

Additionally, authorities plan to pay compensation for any confiscated
property that has been sold in the last 75 years.

Yet, in comments monitored by BosNewsLife Thursday, September 8, rights
activists warned that many Armenian Christians will not receive back
anything as the measure only applies to properties taken after 1936.

SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY

“A significant proportion of property belonging to Armenian Christian
groups were lost before this time and so are not covered by the
decree,” said advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC).

The group also cautioned that the “wording of the decree excludes
payment of compensation in cases where the State did not benefit”
financially.

“It’s a very trifle step,” added expert of Turkish studies Anush
Hovhannisyan in comments published by Armenian radio.

At least hundreds of thousands of Armenians, and some say up to 1.5
million, were reportedly massacred during that time. Additionally
1.5 million Greeks were deported in a population exchange.

“IMMENSE LOSS”

Hovhannisyan said the “loss of Armenians was immense, taking into
consideration that the process of confiscation of Armenians’ property
was continuous, especially during the genocide and the years that
followed.”

Turkey has refused to recognized the deaths as “genocide” saying most
Armenians died because of hardships related to the war.

However Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I reportedly saw some
positive aspects, saying he hopes that the theological school of Halki,
which was closed in 1971, would be returned and reopened.

“Not being allowed to operate a seminary within the country has caused
a number of serious challenges,” MEC told BosNewsLife in a statement.

DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS

There are now some 100,000 Christians of different denominations,
including 60,000 Armenians, and about 25,000 Jews among Turkey’s
overwhelmingly Muslim population of 74 million, according to church
and other estimates.

Turkey has been pressured by the European Union to improve religious
rights of minorities at a time when it seeks membership of the
27-nation club.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS CONTINUE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE CEASEFIRE AND REACH ENDORSEMENT OF BASIC PRINCIPLES ON KARABAKH

news.am, Armenia
Sept 8 2011

VIENNA. – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Karabakh conflict
resolution, Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of
the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, released
a statement on Thursday, informs OSCE official website.

“The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk
(Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) met on
September 7 in Vienna to discuss and coordinate their program of
activities, leading up to the Vilnius Ministerial Council of the OSCE
in December.

The Co-Chairs also briefed the OSCE Minsk Group on the continued
high-level engagement with the sides by all three Co-Chair governments,
as well as on concrete efforts to strengthen the ceasefire and to reach
endorsement of the Basic Principles as a framework for a comprehensive
peace agreement. On September 8, the Co-Chairs met with OSCE Secretary
General Lamberto Zannier to further discuss these and other aspects
of the peace process,” reads the statement.

L’EGLISE ARMENIENNE REPOND A LA DECISION TURQUE DE RESTITUTION DES BIENS SPOLIES

08.09.2011

Aram I,Catholicos armenien de Cilicie, a envoye une lettre au Premier
Ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan suite a la decision du gouvernement
d’Ankara de restituer une partie des biens des minorites religieuses
spoliees après 1936. Voici la traduction francaise de ce courrier.

Monsieur le Premier Ministre,

Par voie de presse, nous avons ete informes de la decision de votre
gouvernement de restituer les proprietes confisquees après 1936 aux
minorites religieuses de Turquie. Cette decision constitue sans aucun
doute une mesure visant se premunir contre les recentes evolutions
de la Cour Europeenne des Droits de l’Homme, ainsi que contre les
enquetes et les procedures du Congrès americain sur l’oppression par
la Turquie de ses minorites non musulmanes.

En tant que representant spirituel et legal du Catholicossat armenien
de Cilicie, qui fut deracine de son siège seculaire, et en tant
que representant des enfants de l’Eglise armenienne similairement
deracines, qui furent exiles de Turquie et disperses a travers le
monde, nous considerons la decision prise par votre gouvernement le
27 août 2011 comme incomplète et injuste. Le Saint-Siège de Cilicie
reste le proprietaire legal de nombreux eglises, hôpitaux, maisons de
soins, orphelinats, cimetière et autres proprietes qui appartiennent
et la nation et a l’eglise et qui furent saisis par l’Etat turc durant
ces jours du Genocide armenien de 1915. Le peuple armenien continue
d’etre le proprietaire legal des maisons, commerces et biens fonciers –
herites de leurs ancetres – et fut victime du genocide qui fut planifie
et execute par le gouvernement turc ottoman.

La decision de votre gouvernement peut satisfaire les requetes de
l’Union europeenne. Cependant, elles ne peuvent en aucun cas etre
considerees comme des decisions basees sur les principes de Justice.

Monsieur le Premier Ministre, bien que prise au nom de la Justice,
votre decision est partiale et selective et de plus, elle nie
sans aucun doute l’Histoire et rejette les principes et les valeurs
democratiques. Les institutions internationales – par exemple la Cour
Europeenne des Droits de l’Homme, le Parlement et les institutions
parlementaires – protègent et mettent en ~uvre les principes et les
valeurs democratiques. Leur conscience est le peuple.

En tant que representant de la Ligue des Nations et Prix Nobel
de la Paix, Fridtjof Nansen observa dans son livre bien connu de
1928, L’Armenie et le Proche-Orient, que le peuple armenien n’avait
jamais perdu espoir, en travaillant bravement et en attendant. ” Ils
continuent a attendre ” ecrivait-il. Et nous souhaiterions ajouter que
le peuple armenien ne cessera jamais de demander Justice a la Turquie
pour le Genocide des Armeniens. Le peuple armenien ne cessera jamais
de demander la restauration de ses droits humains.

Monsieur le Premier Ministre, votre declaration selon laquelle votre
gouvernement respecte la Justice et les Droits de l’Homme ne sera
valide que lorsque vous reconnaîtrez le Genocide des Armeniens.

Catholicos Aram I Saint Siège de Cilicie

31 Août 2011 Antelias Liban

Cette lettre a ete envoyee a l’ambassade de Turquie au Liban

POLITICAL ANALYST DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE RESUMING OF DIALOGUE

ARMENPRESS
15:47, 8 September, 2011

“It must not be excluded that the dialogue between the ruling
coalition and Armenian National Congress will resume”, political
analyst Alexander Margarov told a news conference today.

According to him, half a year ago many could not even believe that
the coalition and the ANC may sit over a round table. “But when
the process launched it became obvious that it is positive and may
be considered a new element in the political culture of Armenia”,
Margarov said. The process is beneficial for the two parties as the
authorities showed that they are ready to go to dialogue even with
the radical political forces and the ANC got an opportunity to enter
constructive political field.

Making forecasts about the political fall, Margarov described it as
a pre-electoral. According to him, the political parties will try to
clarify their positions before the coming parliamentary elections.

ALEXANDER MARGAROV: THERE WILL HARDLY BE A PROGRESS IN NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT TILL THE END OF THE YEAR

ARMENPRESS
16:11, 8 September, 2011

There will hardly be a progress in NK conflict settlement till the end
of the year, political specialist Alexander Margarov said today at a
meeting with journalists. He conditioned his forecasting by the thing
that the Kazan meeting showed that the parties still have a lot of
things to agree, “There was no opportunity of reaching an agreement
over already presented issues because of the Azerbaijani position,
so now it will take some time to develop a new negotiation material,”
Alexander Margarov noted.

In his opinion, the OSCE Minsk Group will use this period for working
out new proposals. “The only variant would be if a light fell on Ilham
Aliyev and he displayed a constructive approach,” Mr. Margarov said.

MANUEL HASSASSIAN TO VISIT ARMENIA IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS

ARMENPRESS
19:09, 8 September, 2011

Palestine has a goal to elevate the level of relations with Armenia,
Hakob Sevan, head of the Armenian Cause Jerusalem Office, told
Armenpress.

He cited Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Armenian Manuel Hassassian,
who has stated the other day during a meeting with Arabic community of
Jerusalem, that Palestine will express a wish to have an embassy in
Armenia. Mr. Hassassian also noted that he is going to visit Armenia
in the upcoming months to have discussions particularly over the
mentioned issue.