Author: Kanayan Tamar

MEDVEDEV-ERDOGAN TALKS TO FOCUS ON GAS, OIL, NUCLEAR PROJECTS

RIA Novosti
January 12, 2010
Moscow

Gas pipelines and a project to build the first nuclear power plant
in Turkey, will dominate talks between the Russian president and the
visiting Turkish premier on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.

"Major projects like the South Stream and Blue Stream [natural gas]
pipelines and the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant
are on the agenda of the talks" between Dmitry Medvedev and Tayyip
Erdogan, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

Turkey, which seeks to strengthen its position as a transit hub for oil
and gas, issued its approval last August for Russia’s Gazprom to use
its sector of the Black Sea for the $11 billion South Stream pipeline
to pump Russian and Central Asian gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine.

In July, it signed a deal on the EU-backed rival pipeline Nabucco.

Russia and Turkey also plan to build the second leg of the Blue
Stream pipeline, linking the two countries via the Black Sea, to
export Russian gas to Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus via Turkey.

Turkish media said earlier the talks in Moscow will also focus on
the $1.5 billion Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline to bring Caspian oil to the
Mediterranean via Turkey. Three Russian oil producers joined the
Turkish-Italian project in October.

Turkey’s plans in the nuclear power sector will also be discussed,
after its Electricity Trade Corp canceled a tender for the construction
of its first nuclear power plant late last year. Turkey plans to
announce a new tender for three nuclear power plants later this year.

Russia’s Atomstroyexport, power producer Inter RAO UES, and Turkey’s
Park Teknik had sought to build four nuclear reactors with a capacity
of 1,200 MW each.

The Kremlin said Turkey is one of Russia’s key trade partners, with
bilateral trade hitting an all-time high of $33.8 billion in 2008.

It added that Medvedev and Erdogan will also discuss a "wide range
of international issues," including a new European security system
and the situation in the former Soviet states in the South Caucasus.

Turkey has upset its close ally Azerbaijan by agreeing to open
diplomatic relations with Armenia. The two bitter rivals have been
locked in a dispute over Nagorny Karabakh since before the breakup of
the Soviet Union. Russia has been driving efforts to reach a settlement
in the conflict over the ethnic-Armenian region in Azerbaijan, which
has been de facto independent since the 1990s.

ARFD HOLDS PROCESSION AGAINST RATIFICATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

ArmInfo
2010-01-11 18:46:00

ArmInfo. Today ARF Dashnaktsutiun is holding a procession against
the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

Several thousands of people are taking part in the action. They
are moving towards the Constitutional Court of Armenia, which is to
discuss the protocols tomorrow, singing patriotic songs and carrying
torches and banners.

To remind, the protocols for establishing diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich Oct 10 and are to
be ratified by the Armenian and Turkish parliaments. ARFD believes
that the protocols, the way they are now, infringe on the national
interests of Armenia.

Keghart Exclusive Interview with Activist Just Released from Jail in Armenia
By Dikran Abrahamian,

an
9 January 2010

Avedis Kalayjian, an anti-Serzh Sargsyan activist, has temporarily
settled in Paris, following his release from Armenian jail. Born 45
years ago in Syria, he lived in France for a while before migrating to
Armenia in 2002. A year later he was granted citizenship. He describes
himself as a devout Christian and a patriot–Tseghagron. On Jan. 2
Keghart.com interviewed him by telephone from Canada.

When asked about his political experience, he stresses his membership
in the Socialist Party of France. `I had 10 years of practical
experience in politics’, he says. Kalayjian is also the author of
Turco-Turanic Expansionism and 70 Martyred Nations ("Ô¹Õ¸Ö?ÖÖ ?-Õ©Õ¸Ö?ÖÕ&#xA1 ;Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡& #xD5;¶
Õ®Õ¡Õ¾&# xD5;¡Õ¬Õ¡Õº&#xD 5;¡Õ·Õ¿Õ¸Ö ?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ ¶Õ¨ Ö? 70 Õ¶Õ¡Õ°Õ¡&# xD5;¿Õ¡Õ¯ Õ¡Õ¦Õ£Õ¥&# xD6;").

In 2004 he joined the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. `I was
active for five years, but resigned in January 2009 because I could
not tolerate the fraudulent practices, especially during the
Presidential election,’ he says.
`I was planning to go public on April 13, and expose Serzh Sargsyan.
He led the country to the brink of abyss with his anti-national,
anti-Christian and anti-democratic stance. They [the authorities] knew
that I had intimate knowledge of incriminating details about many
officials and ultimately Sargsyan,’ Kalayjian says.

When asked whether he went ahead with his plan, Kalayjian says, `No.
On March 15 some people I know warned me that they [the authorities]
were concocting criminal charges against me. They advised me to
temporarily leave the country.’

He didn’t leave. `I was firm in my beliefs and in what I knew. I
wanted to share my knowledge with the people,’ he says.

`On April 6 I was taken into custody. Frivolous charges were laid
against me. I was accused of planning to assassinate the President on
his way to the Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, and organizing a revolt. For
a few days I was with other political prisoners, but then they moved
me to a jail for common criminals in Nubarashen.’

Kalayjian says, `I was in jail for eight months. The trial started in
June 2009, but the authorities were not able to prove their
accusations. I went on hunger strike on Oct. 22. In a few days my
health deteriorated, necessitating medical intervention. But all along
I remained steadfast. I did not give in, and I kept praying to our
Lord. I was let go on Dec. 4.’ He credits pressure from Diaspora in
contributing to his release.

What does he think his real `crime’ was? `The Republican Party had
deviated from its ideology. I was an opposition from within,
especially after the tragedy of March 1. Authorities acted against the
Armenian people by throwing patriots, freedom fighters, and political
personalities into jail. Their sole `crime’ was being in opposition. I
spoke out and that was my crime.’

What does Kalayjian plan now? `I shall continue the struggle. I shall
continue fighting the Turks and Serzh. They [the rulers in Armenia]
are anti-national, anti-people and anti-democratic. They have no
experience in democracy and they cannot become democrats. Their regime
is Stalinist. I plan to hold a press conference soon and tell people
who they are and how they have ruined Armenia.’

St. James Armenian Men’s Club
Contact : Bob Semonian
465 Mt.Auburn Street
Watertown , Ma. 02472
Tel: 617-9230727

St. James Armenian Church Men’s Club Meeting , Monday 2/1/2010

Vahan (Hovhannissian) Hovy , an author and songwriter, will be speaking at
the St. James Men’s Club dinner meeting on Monday, February 1, 2010. The
topic will be The Hand of God – His experiences in the 2nd World War.

Mr. Hovy came from Armenia to this country at the age of three with his
parents in 1928. At the age of five , he performed his first concert.
After his high school graduation, Vahan volunteered for the army in 1942 ,
serving in Europe. He was shot in combat , taken prisoner by the Germans and
was a POW / MIA till the war’s end in 1945. His experiences during these
years shaped his faith and guided his life.

Following his graduation from Cornell University , he opened an office in
the heart of the music industry known as Tin Pan Alley , where he wrote and
published and recorded many songs , and was associated with the likes of
Benny Goodman Family , Connie Francis , the Andrew Sisters and Roy Rogers .
He also collaborated with Mitch Miller in song writing, including a number
recorded by Rosemary Clooney.

Vahan continues to write music and speak about his experiences during the
war , of which he has written about in his book titled " The Hand of God ".

The dinner meeting is held at the St.James Armenian Church Cultural Center
465 Mt. Auburn St. Watertown , Massachusetts.

The social hour starts at 6:15 P.M. followed by a complete Losh Kebab
and Kheyma dinner at 7 P.M. . All are welcome to attend, there are no
entry fees.

Pasadena AYF Members and ANC Supporters Attend Program Highlighting
Armenian Legion Heroes
Asbarez
Jan 7th, 2010

Pasadena AYF "Nigol Touman" chapter members with representatives of
the Armenian Library and Museum of America, former Pasadena Mayor Bill
Paparian and Pasadena ANC activist Raffi Hamparian.

PASADENA, CA – A broad and diverse standing room only crowd of
Armenian Americans recently attended a program highlighting an exhibit
commissioned by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA)
regarding the heroic service of the Armenian Legion in World War I.
The program, entitled `Forgotten Heroes – The Armenian Legion and the
Great War,’ was held at the Pasadena Central Library on Sunday,
January 3, 2010. The program was sponsored by ALMA, the Armenian
Rights Council of America and the Pasadena Armenian National Committee
and supported by the Pasadena Armenian Youth Federation `Nigol Touman’
Chapter.

Former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian served as the master of ceremonies
for the program honoring those Armenians, many from America, who
served in the Armenian Legion early in the twentieth century. Former
Pasadena Deputy City Manager Ed Aghjayan, whose father served as an
Armenian Legion member, served as the program’s keynote speaker.
Speaking on behalf of the Armenian Rights Council of America was Dr.
Raffi Balian. On behalf of the Armenian National Committee, Pasadena
Chapter, Chairmen Raffi Hamparian delivered his remarks to the present
guest and presented awards to both the Pasadena Central Library and
ALMA for their central role in bringing the `Forgotten Heroes – The
Armenian Legion and the Great War’ exhibit to the City of Pasadena.

`Our AYF chapter was proud to learn more about the heroic Armenian
Americans who served in the Armenian Legion,’ remarked Pasadena AYF
`Nigol Touman’ Executive member Berj Parseghian after the program.
`The shared history of sacrifice Armenian Legion members displayed
made a strong impact on the 20 AYF members who came to today’s
program. We are proud to have been part of this program and glad that
many of our AYF members were able to make the exhibit a teachable
moment.’ Parseghian added.

`The Pasadena ANC is proud to have supported ALMA’s exhibit
highlighting the Armenian Legion,’ stated Ishkhan Boghossian, the
Executive Director of the Pasadena Armenian National Committee. `We
salute all the community groups and members who joined with Bill
Paparian, Ed Aghjayan and the Pasadena Central Library in hosting a
truly wonderful event that drew a standing room only crowd to the
library’s Wright Auditorium,’ Boghossian added.

The Armenian Legion was created during World War I to support Allied
forces in their war against Turkey, Austria and Germany. Many Armenian
Americans, including individuals from southern California, proudly
served in the Armenian Legion. According to the ALMA exhibit, Armenian
Legion recruits from the United States were shipped from New York to
Marseille, France and then to a training ground in Monarka, Cyprus.
>From there the Armenian Legion fought in a number of decisive battles
in World War I under the command of British General Edmund Allenby.
Despite their bravery, Allied forces ultimately betrayed the Armenian
Legion by accommodating the demands of Turkish nationalists at the end
of World War I.

The ALMA exhibit on the Armenian Legion was originally produced in
2001. Due to overwhelming demand, a traveling version of the exhibit
was created and has been shown at various venues throughout the United
States. The exhibit was made possible through a generous grant from
the K. George and Carolann S. Najarian Foundation, with additional
support by the Armenian American Veterans of Milford, Massachusetts.

The Pasadena ANC advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the
grassroots and public policy levels.

###
Photo Caption: Pasadena AYF `Nigol Touman’ chapter members with
representatives of the Armenian Library and Museum of America, former
Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian and Pasadena ANC activist Raffi
Hamparian.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2010

Karabakh on agenda of Erdogan’s visit to Moscow
Wed 06 January 2010 | 08:49 GMT Text size:

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Karabakh on agenda of Erdogan’s visit to Moscow.

As is known, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit
Moscow on 12 January at the invitation of his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin.

The Karabakh conflict is among important issues on the agenda.

Turkey sets the Karabakh issue as a provision in normalization of its
relations with Armenia. The Turkish side is taking diplomatic steps to
intensify the Karabakh conflict settlement.

Earlier, the Turkish Premier raised this problem while meeting US
President Barack Obama. This time Erdogan intends to discuss the issue
with Vladimir Putin.

Turkishny

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 30 2009

Red Cross Baku Office asks counterparts in Yerevan about missing Azerbaijani
30.12.2009 12:35
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 30 / Trend News K.Zarbaliyeva /

The Baku Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
asked its counterparts in Yerevan about an Azerbaijani citizen who
went missing in the Tovuz region.

Resident of the Alibayli village in the Tovuz region Tagiyev Eldar
Heydar oglu (born in 1964) went missing Dec. 28. According to
unofficial information, he was captured by the Armenian side. Other
sources report that Tagiyev was shot on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
contact line.

The Azerbaijani State Commission on Hostages, POWs and Missing People
is likely to ask the ICRC to investigate his possible kidnapping, the
commission’s Secretary Shahin Sayilov told journalists today.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has not confirmed this information yet.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO CREATE A JOINT BRAND

news.az
Dec 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan will create a joint "Caucasian bouquet"
brand name.

New wines under this name will appear in stores as early as next year.

Artoush Lazarian, executive director of the Gumri Development Fund,
head of Armenian office of the Caucasian business and development
network, said in his interview to Business Express that the project
under financial assistance of British International Alert and the US
Embassy in Armenia is being implemented within the framework of the
Business and conflict program. The direct executors of the project
in Armenia are the Gumri Development Fund and the Armenian office of
the Caucasus Business and Development Network.

According to him, the purpose of the project is to show that the South
Caucasus is not simply a geographical area and not just a territory
of conflict, but it is also a single economic space, where successful
cooperation is quite possible. The project involved six wineries and
companies from Armenia and Georgia and five from Azerbaijan. Armenia
is represented by the Yerevan factory of sparkling wines, Voskevaz,
Ijevan and Oshakansky wineries, Van 777 and Mara. Each of these
companies has presented tens of brands of their products, and wines
were selected for the "Caucasian bouquet" among them. 17 items of
different brands of white and red wines represented by Armenia, 13
brands of Georgian winemakers and 9 brand from Azerbaijan have been
selected in the result.

"Specialists from Italy, Britain, Turkey and other countries were
invited as experts. Although the Turkish wines are not included in the
"Caucasian bouquet", Turks are full participants in the project. The
Turkish side is ready to assist in the further promotion of a new
brand in overseas markets and I admit that this step is valuable. The
expert and tasting phases of the project has completed and the wines
are selected. Now designers are busy developing labels and packaging,
creating posters and promotional leaflets. At the beginning of the
next year there is a plan to launch a series of events to be held
in the capitals of all three participating countries, as well as in
Turkey. Presentations and promotions are planned in some European
countries", said Lazarian.

However, there are still some problems. "I think there will be no
problems with the sale of Azerbaijani wines in Yerevan. But I wonder
whether Azerbaijanis would want to invite our winemakers to their
country. The fact is that, as far as I know, this country has a law
under which they are prohibited advertising and selling Armenian
goods. But the idea of Caucasian bouquet becomes senseless without
participation of the production and representatives of one of the
parties involved into the project. Therefore, we have prepared a letter
to the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan for permission for participation
of Armenian wines and winemakers in presentation events in Baku. I hope
that the Azerbaijani authorities will treat this with understanding.

Meetings of scientists, technologists and professionals of the three
countries, organized mainly in Tbilisi, were held in an atmosphere
of ease and open communication. It turned out that many scientists
and winemakers from Armenia and Azerbaijan have known each other
for a long time, since the joint study in Moscow. They were happy
to communicate with each other, they were wondering what is going
on in the field of winemaking in Armenia and Azerbaijan, what are
the problems facing Georgia’s winemakers. In short, such contacts
are always fruitful and consistent with the goals of the project:
to resume the previous working relationships, to create conditions
for a dialogue between experts of different countries", said Lazarian.

Les derniers instants du groupe Manouchian

Le Figaro
11/12/2009

Bastien Hugues

Trois clichés authentiques, pris clandestinement par un sous-officier
allemand, ont été rendus publics cette semaine. Des images uniques
prises au Mont Valérien, le 21 février 1944.

Ils sont là. Cloarec, Alfonso, Ramjan, Salvadori et les autres. Mains
attachées aux poteaux, yeux bandés, au pied d’une falaise boisée, face
à leurs bourreaux. Ils viennent d’être exécutés ou vont l’être d’un
instant à l’autre.
Clemens Rüther, lui, est un sous-officier de la Wehrmacht. Ce jour-là,
le 21 février 1944, il les a convoyés ici, au Mont Valérien, devant le
peloton d’exécution. Puis s’est reculé en surplomb de la
clairière. Pour veiller à la sécurité du site, ou pour se
cacher. Seule l’histoire le sait. Une chose est sûre :
clandestinement, il a décidé de fixer son objectif vers les
condamnés. Des patriotes – la plupart étrangers – du célèbre réseau de
Missak Manouchian, l’une des composantes des Francs-tireurs et
partisans de la Main-d’oeuvre immigrée (FTP-MOI), d’obédience
communiste.

Ses photographies, Rüther les garde pour lui et pour lui seul jusqu’en
1985, avant de les transmettre au comité allemand Franz Stock, du nom
de l’aumônier militaire présent au côté des condamnés. En 2003, les
images sont transmises à l’Etablissement photographiques des archives
de la défense (Ecpad), où personne ne semble réaliser immédiatement la
valeur de ces documents. Mais il y a quelques mois, Serge Klarsfeld,
fondateur de l’association des fils et filles des déportés juifs de
France, apprend leur existence, dans le cadre de ses recherches sur
l’identification des quelque 1.000 fusillés du Mont Valérien entre
1941 et 1944.

Des photographies rendues publiques cette semaine par Serge Klarsfeld,
avant la célébration dimanche du 68e anniversaire de la première
exécution massive au Mont-Valérien, le 15 décembre 1941, au cours de
laquelle furent fusillés 70 résistants ou opposants à l’occupant
allemand, dont 52 juifs.

es-derniers-instants-du-groupe-manouchian-.php

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS THE CREW OF "ARMENIA" SAILING VESSEL

armradio.am
28.12.2009 15:32

On 27 December President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
met head of the "Mesrop Mashtots" expedition Zori Balayana and the
crew of "Armenia" sailing vessel and congratulated them on successful
completion of the first phase of the voyage.

The President noted that the undertaking has special importance for
the entire Armenian people and is another illustration of faith,
bravery, will and unity of Armenians.