Author: Kanayan Tamar

CANDLE PROJECT WILL MAKE SERIOUS PROGRESS IN 2015

by Karina Manukyan

Wednesday, January 14, 14:55

Samvel Haroutiunyan, Head of the State Science Committee of Armenia,
forecasts a serious progress in implementation of the CANDLE (Center
for the Advancement of Natural Discoveries using Light Emission)
project in 2015. Talking to reporters, on Wednesday, he said the most
significant event for the Center will be import of a state-of-the-art
equipment for the project with the support of European partners.

Haroutiounyan recalled that the first stage of the CANDLE project is
over. The AREAL (Advanced Research Electron Accelerator Laboratory)
was officially opened on July 22, and Bio-medical and Nanotechnology
stations of DELTA (Dedicated Experimental Lines for Time- resolved
Analyses) were launched in October.

AREAL (Advanced Research Electron Accelerator Laboratory) is the laser
driven RF gun based on 20 MeV electron linear accelerator project
aiming to produce small emittance ultra-short electron beam pulses
for advanced experimental study in the fields of novel accelerator
concepts, new coherent radiation sources and dynamics of atomic and
molecular processes.

AREAL project is considered as the first phase of CANDLE synchrotron
light source creation in Armenia.

CANDLE – Center for the Advancement of Natural Discoveries using
Light Emission – is a project of 3 gigaelectronvolts energy, third
generation synchrotron light source for fundamental, industrial and
applied research in biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, material
and environmental sciences.

The design report of the new facility has been completed in 2002.

JURISDICTION MATTERS: QUESTIONS ASKED OVER STATUS OF RUSSIAN SOLDIER HELD OVER GYUMRI FAMILY MASSACRE

Human rights | 14.01.15 | 14:15

Lawyer Norayr Norikyan

Alina Nikoghosyan
ArmeniaNow intern

The current legal status of a Russian serviceman, who is suspected of
murdering an Armenian family in Gyumri, is a violation of both the
Constitution of Armenia and the Constitution of Russia, a lawyer in
Yerevan insisted today.

Valeri Permyakov, an 18-year-old native of the Russian city of Chita,
yesterday confessed to slaughtering six members of the Avetisyan
family in a Monday rampage the reasons of which still remain unclear.

Before that the conscript who served at Russia’s 102nd military base
was detained by Russian border guards near the border with Turkey. He
is now held in custody at the base.

According to lawyer Norayr Norikyan, from the legal point of view the
criminal investigation should be carried out by Armenian authorities
and the suspect should stand trial by Armenian laws.

“The decision has been made outside Armenia and further investigation
of the case will be carried out not by the authorities of Armenia.

Unfortunately, our state is unable to bypass this decision, which means
that Article 1 of Armenia’s Constitution that defines the country’s
sovereignty is imperiled,” Norikyan argued during a press conference
on Wednesday.

Commenting on the reactions of Armenia’s officials, the lawyer noted
some contradictions with what the Russian side states. For example,
chief of Armenia’s Armed Forces General Staff Yuri Khachaturov has
stated that the suspect will stand trial in Armenia.

Some media reports on Tuesday presented extractions from Permyakov’s
preliminary testimony. In particular, the suspected murderer said he
went to the house of the Avetisyans in order to ask for water. It
remains unclear, however, how that could lead to such a violent
outcome and result in the murder of six people, including one child,
and wounding of a six-month-old baby.

Many, including Norikyan, challenge the version that Permyakov gunned
down the whole family as he was afraid that they would report his
crime (being absent without leave from the base), especially that
some reports say that all dead were found in their beds.

Referring to the agreement signed by Armenia and Russia in 1995-97,
under which the Russian military base was deployed in the country, the
Armenian lawyer said that violations of the Constitution take place.

“Under Article 4 of the Agreement the crimes committed by persons
involved in the Russian military base in the territory of Armenia
are subject to investigation by competent authorities of Armenia in
a manner prescribed by the legislation,” he said.

The Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office, meanwhile, said on Tuesday
that the issue of the Russian serviceman’s handover to Armenian
law-enforcement bodies was not even considered.

“Valeri Permyakov, who is suspected of committing the murders, is
a citizen of the Russian Federation and is under the control of the
law-enforcement bodies of the Russian Federation, which is the same
as being within the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. Hence,
the issue of Permyakov’s handover to Armenian law-enforcement bodies
is not considered taking into account point 1 of article 61 of the
Russian Constitution, under which a citizen of the Russian Federation
cannot be handed over to another state,” it said.

L’HOMMAGE DE MARSEILLE A MICHAEL ASSATRYAN

Marseille, mardi 13 janvier, 19h30, eglise apostolique du Prado

Beaucoup de monde, des centaines de personnes pour rendre hommage
a Michaël, 16 ans et demi, lâchement et sauvagement massacre le 12
janvier, a la sortie de son lycee, par une meute de barbares.

La cathedrale devenue soudain trop exiguë, n’a pu contenir tous
les anonymes ayant repondu a cet hommage, parmi lesquels certains
enseignants du jeune homme et leurs collègues, une representante
de parents d’elèves ainsi que ses camarades de classe et ses amis
très nombreux.

Michaël etait très apprecie dans son etablissement et en classe en
raison de ses grandes qualites humaines, de son sens de l’amitie,
de son serieux : il faisait partie des meilleurs elèves de sa classe
aux dires de ses professeurs effondres par sa brutale et cruelle
disparition.

Personnalites politiques et des representants des associations
armeniennes au premier rang.

Beaucoup de visages en pleurs dans l’assemblee. La foule compacte
etait encore plus nombreuse a l’exterieur, se tassant sur le parvis
et sur les trottoirs.

Les pretres, nombreux aussi, ont officie dans un silence
particulièrement emouvant.

Un hommage final a ete dit en francais et en armenien par un scout –
Micha faisait partie des scouts de l’Eglise apostolique- rappelant les
recentes tragedies francaises, la marche republicaine de dimanche avec
les valeurs qui s’y rattachent et l’importance de la lutte contre tout
racisme y compris celui touchant notre communaute ces derniers temps.

>, emouvant slogan qui a acheve cet hommage pour un jeune homme ne en
France et qui attendait impatiemment l’obtention de la nationalite
francaise en 2015. Il n’aura pas eu le temps de connaître cette
joie …

Toute la communaute est triste et en colère. Repose en paix Michaël.

Plus jamais ca !

Une marche blanche est organisee samedi 17 janvier a 14h30 aux Mobiles
reformes, Canebière. Se munir d’une echarpe blanche et d’une affichette
>.

Cliquer sur l’image pour agrandir

mercredi 14 janvier 2015, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
THE ARMENIAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP
1300 E. Shaw Ave, Suite 149
P.O.Box 5969
Fresno, CA 93755-5969
Tel: 559-224-1000
Fax: 559-224-1002
Email: [email protected]

A.T.G. Mourns the Loss of a Devoted Board Member and
a Dear Friend Nubar Tashjian, J.D.
————————————————————
With deep sorrow, we report the passing of one of the founding members
of the Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG), Board Member Nubar
Tashjian, JD, who passed away on Friday, January 9, 2015 in Oakland,
California.

Since the establishment of ATG in 1989, Mr. Tashjian worked side by
side with his close friend, Dr. Arthur O. Hazarabedian, D.V.M. In
1992, together with a devoted contingent of professionally specialized
colleagues, the founders incorporated the organization as a 501(c)3
charitable corporation, focused on assisting the agricultural sector
of the newly independent Armenia.

Mr. Tashjian volunteered and served the ATG Board in numerous
capacities. He offered his vital legal counsel, but also served as
President of the organization for several years. Nubar was an active
ATG board member up to the day of his passing. For the past 25 years
he devoted his time, knowledge and resources to the mission of the
ATG, in helping the people of Armenia toward sustainable economic
development.

On several occasions Mr. Tashjian traveled to Armenia and Artsakh to
interact with the people as well as to observe and evaluate the
organization’s activities in the fields.

His travels took him to Washington, DC, where he presented the ATG’s
mission and objectives to US Congressional Representatives. His
meetings also included representatives of Federal agencies active in
Armenia, such as US Department of Agriculture and US Agency for
International Development, to help us secure federal grants.

During his time the ATG has delivered over $65 million of humanitarian
and economic development projects to the people of Armenia and
Artsakh, which include US Government grants, private contributions and
in-kind donations.

Mr. Tashjian served on numerous philanthropic boards and charitable
organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and elsewhere.

A lawyer by profession, he graduated from the University of Michigan
Law School in Ann Arbor, MI, and was admitted to the State Bar of
California in 1953. He was a veteran of WW II and served in Far East
as a B-29 pilot. He spoke several languages, including Japanese.

It was pleasure working and socializing with him. His gentle
personality reflected in his relations with others. Simple gifts of
kindness meant so much more to him than any extravagant
presentations. He was devoted to his responsibilities. He gave the
comfort to call and ask for his advice whenever there was an issue
that he could have assisted.

Even in his advanced age, Nubar had a sharp mind, and was ready and
willing to assist when needed. He guided with intellect and sound
advice that never failed! With his leadership, we kept the integrity
of our organization at its highest standard.

Through it all, Mr. Tashjian was able to add charm and humor to our
work, lifting our spirits even in most difficult and challenging
times.

A compassionate and thoughtful person, his commitment in helping the
people of Armenia was deeply rooted in his heart. He may not have
expressed it, but sure indeed, it was always in his mind, and always
with him.

Always forward looking, he followed the current events in and around
Armenia regularly; he was concerned of the future of Armenia and the
well-being of its people.

Nubar was a proud American – and a great Armenian! He contributed
quietly: his time, efforts, knowledge and resources where he could. He
will be in our minds; we will miss him. The Funeral will take place
on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 10:30 am at St. Vartan Church located
at in 650 Spruce Street Oakland, CA 94610.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, January 15, 2015 from 12noon –
8 pm at Santos Robinson Mortuary 160 Estudillo Ave. San Leandro, CA
94577.

The Triple X fraternity service will take place at 7 pm at the
Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to the
Armenian Technology Group, Inc. 550 E. Shaw Ave. P. O. Box 5969
Fresno, CA 93755 (
()
). Tel:(559) 224-1000.

Nubar at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA (July, 2014)
Visiting one of the ATG’s wheat fields.
Enjoying the ATG grape nursery in Khramort, Artsakh.
Interacting with the villagers.
Inspecting the vines with Vladimir Zakian of ATG in Kharabagh.
With Congressman Devin Nunes.

With the speaker of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Kharabagh)
parliament Ashot Gulyan (middle), and Varoujan Der Simonian of ATG
(right).

Nubar Tashjian with Roger Culver of ATG (Left), David Lokian, Minister
of Agriculture in Armenia, Varoujan Der Simonian of ATG, and Samvel
Avetisyan, Depute Minister of Agriculture

With fellow board members Hagop Tookoian, M.D. and Rose Kachadoorian,
Ph.D. during one of the ATG Board of Directors’ meeting.

Nubar: A Proud American and a Great Armenian.

===========================================================
Copyright © 2015 Armenian Technology Group, Inc., All rights reserved.

Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western USA
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 205
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.646.166
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2015
Contact: Tereza Yerimyan
Tel: 818. 500.3333
Email: [email protected]

100 Day Countdown to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide Begins

*What:* The Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of the Western United
States (AGCC-WUSA) is launching a 100 days count leading to the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide and is cordially inviting you to attend the press
conference and *attend a free lunch* hosted by the committee on Wednesday,
January 14, 2015 starting 12:00 noon.

When: Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 12:00PM

Where: Phoenicia Restaurant
343 Central Ave. Glendale, CA 91203

Who: The AGCC-WUSA was established to steer and coordinate the
multifaceted commemorative activities in the Western United States and is
composed of nineteen (19) Armenian organizations, including religious
institutions.

Background: The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide signifies a
global demand for justice by Armenians worldwide and all people of good
will. The Centennial marks one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes
against humanity. In 1915, the Turkish Government began a premeditated and
systematic campaign to uproot the Armenian population from its ancestral
homeland and slaughter 1.5 million defenseless men, women and children.
Turkey must finally acknowledge its responsibility for the Genocide and
make appropriate moral, financial and territorial restitution, as mandated
by the fundamental norms of international law and civilized society.

The AGCC-WUSA will be organizing a series of events leading up to and
following the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide to commemorate the loss
of those who perished and honor the lives of the survivors and those who
helped rescue Armenians. All events will be announced at the press
conference.

###

Tereza Yerimyan | Government Affairs Director
Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
818.500.1918
[email protected]

Azerbaijan: Land of Fire? It Is for Some
By Naomi Westland
Jan. 13, 2015

[Naomi Westland is Press officer at Amnesty International UK covering
Europe, Latin America, sport and human rights and women’s rights.]

Six months from now, Baku, the capital of gas-and-oil rich Azerbaijan,
will host the first ever European Games. There will be the usual
cycling, running and swimming, and the less usual sambo, a martial
arts-wrestling hybrid originally developed by the Soviet Army in the
1920s. There will be unabated joy and crushing disappointment. There
will be blood, there will be sweat, there will be tears. But perhaps
not in the way you might think.

The European Games (kind of an Olympics only for European countries)
is just one of a number of sporting endeavours Azerbaijan has pursued
in recent years. The capital will also be a host city for the European
Football Championships in 2020, Bernie Ecclestone is taking Formula 1
to the country in 2016 and, of course, the government sponsors Spanish
top-flight football team Atlético Madrid, with the slogan ‘Azerbaijan:
Land of Fire’ emblazoned across the players’ shirts (and across TV
screens around the world).

The TV cameras that will follow the European Games, Euro 2020 and F1
to Azerbaijan will give the country a chance to show off to the world.
The government will be hoping to convince politicians, investors and
tourists that it can be a player on the global stage, a nation with
world class architecture (a cultural centre in central Baku designed
by British architect Zaha Hadid controversially won the London Design
Museum’s Design of the Year Award 2014) and the sophistication,
organisation and money to pull off major sports events.

But don’t be fooled. All of this merely serves to mask something more
sinister going on behind the scenes. In fact, you could take it as a
template lesson in how to launder a country’s image through sport.

In the wake of the horrific events in Paris last week it has been
pointed out that governments pose at least as much of a threat to free
speech as terrorists. Well, Azerbaijan can count itself member of that
club, having launched an extensive clampdown on freedom of expression,
silencing those who challenge the authorities with violence, threats
and jail. The country comes 156th out of 179 in Reporters Without
Borders’ World Press Freedom Index.

It is a crackdown that has coincided with the Arab Spring, national
presidential elections in 2013 and the ongoing conflict between Russia
and Ukraine. Over the last few years the authorities have
systematically targeted campaigners, activists and journalists, banned
and violently dispersed peaceful protests, censored media and imposed
onerous restrictions on NGO activities. So far, so (un)sporting.

In one of the country’s most recent and blatant attempts at silencing
critical voices, Khadija Ismayilova – investigative journalist,
campaigner, translator of Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novel The Kite
Runner, and recipient of many international awards – was arrested last
month on the absurd charge of driving a former colleague to attempt
suicide. Ismayilova reports on corruption and is no stranger to
persecution by the authorities. She is facing separate charges of
libel. She has been threatened, blackmailed, and found herself the
victim of a smear campaign – all with the aim of stopping her from
carrying out her journalistic work.

In July, Leyla Yunus, the director of an NGO called the Institute for
Peace and Democracy, was arrested and detained shortly after calling
for an international boycott of the European Games because of the
country’s dire human rights record. She has been charged with treason
(allegedly spying for Armenia), tax evasion, forgery and fraud. Her
husband, Arif, has also been arrested on similar charges.

In August and September, Amnesty received repeated and credible
allegations of further violent attacks on – and arbitrary arrests and
unfair trials of – journalists, campaigners and others who attempt to
hold the authorities to account. The country now has at least 20
prisoners of conscience, including Ismayilova and Leyla and Arif Yunus
– all behind bars as criminal suspects in connection with their
attempts to peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression,
assembly and association.

Until November Azerbaijan was, somewhat unbelievably, chair of the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The committee has an
important role in ensuring that all member states respect, promote and
protect the freedoms and rights enshrined in the European Convention
on Human Rights. Jailing people for challenging and criticising the
authorities, allowing savage attacks on journalists and making threats
of violence are – it goes without saying – a direct violation of the
very convention Azerbaijan was tasked with promoting.

So why has the international community been so quiet on Azerbaijan’s
dismal record? Well, this is where global politics, the desperate race
for more secure sources of oil and gas and business interests collide.
And sport provides the perfect cover.

Since the crisis began in Ukraine, it appears that European
governments have been less keen to criticise human rights abuses in
Azerbaijan. Amid deteriorating relations between the West and Russia –
which provides much of Europe’s oil and gas – EU countries want to
identify alternative sources of energy. Not only does Azerbaijan have
these in abundance, but a new pipeline, the Trans Adriatic – in which,
as an aside, BP is a major investor – is being built that will carry
gas from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean, eventually offering EU
countries secure access to the gas they need.

The reluctance of foreign leaders to compromise their energy interests
by speaking out on the crackdown in Azerbaijan provides the armour
Baku needs to protect itself from criticism over how it treats its
citizens. In the meantime, those who challenge the authorities
continue to be beaten up and locked up, hidden and silenced, all
before the TV cameras start rolling. Azerbaijan – Land of Fire? It is
for some.

PRESS RELEASE
January 15, 2015

American University of Armenia
Contact: Gaiane Khachatryan
E-mail: [email protected]

AUA and UCLA Announce Joint Summer Program

Los Angeles, CA: In a ceremony held at UCLA on January 15, the
American University of Armenia (AUA) and the University of California
at Los Angeles (UCLA) announced an AUA-UCLA Summer Intensive Program
in Armenian Studies. Offered for the first time in summer 2015 at the
AUA campus in Yerevan, the program will comprise language courses in
Eastern Armenian at the introductory and intermediate levels, a survey
course on Armenia in the context of history of civilizations, and an
undergraduate research seminar-workshop. The program will start on
June 15 and last for 5 weeks. Visits to historical sites,
participation in cultural events, and interaction with prominent
artists and scholars in and around Yerevan during the week and guided
weekend excursions to other regions of the republic will add a further
dimension to the summer school’s immersion experience. Each course
will carry 3 to 5 quarter units (equivalent to 2 to 3 semester units)
of credit. The courses are designed jointly by AUA and UCLA faculty
and the units are transferrable since both universities are accredited
by the same agency[1]. Dr. Anahid Keshishian Aramouni, Lecturer in
Eastern Armenian, and Prof. Gregory Areshian of UCLA, a Foreign Member
of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia,
together with AUA faculty will provide the instruction. The courses
are open to students from any UC campus, other US universities, and
institutions of higher learning worldwide. For further information
about this program, visit admissions.aua.am, email [email protected]
or contact fb.com/AUAadmissions.

The summer school initiative with UCLA has been developed in the
context of a wider range of collaborative projects proposed by Peter
Cowe, Narekatsi Professor of Armenian Studies, which is planned to be
incorporated within a Memorandum of Understanding between the two
universities. An affiliate of the University of California (UC) since
its founding in 1991, AUA is also developing relations with other UC
campuses. An agreement of collaboration with the University of
California at Irvine (UCI) was signed at the ceremony on January
15. It is hoped that these collaborations will lead to a rich and
diverse interchange between the students and faculty of these
universities.

Present at the meeting were President Armen Der Kiureghian as well as
President Emeriti Mihran S. Agbabian and Haroutune Armenian of AUA,
Dean Georges Van Den Abbeele of UCI, Professors Peter Cowe, Gregory
Areshian, Ann Karagozian and Dr. Anahid Keshishian Aramouni of UCLA,
as well as other faculty, staff and students from the three
universities.

————————————–

[1] AUA and UCLA are both accredited by the WASC Senior College and
University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501.

Gaiane Khachatrian
Associate Director of Development
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 7th Floor, Room 701
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: (510) 987-9453
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Email: [email protected]

_____

[1] AUA and UCLA are both accredited by the WASC Senior College and
University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEY

Cihan News Agency, Turkey
Jan 13 2015

ISTANBUL – 13.01.2015 20:37:04

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to pay an official
visit to Turkey upon the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Office of the President announced on Tuesday that Aliyev is
visiting Turkey on Jan. 15 to attend and co-chair with Erdogan
the fourth meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic
Cooperation Council (YDSK), which aims to boost bilateral relations.

“The talks and joint works during the visit [of Aliyev] and the
fourth YDSK will facilitate discussion on and furthering of bilateral
relations between two friendly and brotherly countries. Furthermore,
the two countries will exchange views on regional and international
developments that concern them,” said the statement from the Office
of the President.

The two leaders co-chaired the last YDSK meeting in November 2013,
during which Aliyev noted Turkey’s unconditional support for Azerbaijan
and described bilateral relations as “excellent.”

Erdogan had said that the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan
and Armenia was also Turkey’s problem and reiterated Ankara’s
commitment to settling the issue.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed enclave between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory in the early
1990s, including Nagorno-Karabakh, which is primarily populated by
Armenians, and seven adjacent provinces.

Subsequently, Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in 1993 in
solidarity with Azerbaijan. The conflict remains unresolved and has
the potential to destabilize the region.

ARMENIA WANTS TO WIN SOME 450 CHURCHES OF GEORGIA IN COURT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 13 2015

13 January 2015 – 11:19am

By Giorgi Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the spiritual leader of Armenians in Georgia,
the head of the eparchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, demands the
return of hundreds of Georgian Orthodox churches to Armenian control.

Vaagn Chakhalyan, a leader of activists striving for the autonomy of
Javakheti (a region in the southern part of Georgia, populated mainly
by Armenians), was arrested for extremism during the presidency of
Mikheil Saakashvili, only to be pardoned after the Georgian Dream
coalition’s victory at the parliamentary polls in 2012.

After release from prison on amnesty, Chakhalyan was immediately
invited by the head of the Armenian eparchy to the main Armenian
church in Tbilisi, where he was welcomed as a hero and “fighter against
Georgian imperialism.” Saakashvili could not hide his disappointment,
reminding about the deeds done for the well-being of the population of
Javakheti: a new highway, hospitals, schools and, most importantly, the
status of a legal body granted to the Armenian church in Georgia. Only
the Georgian Orthodox Church had had such status before that. Mikheil
Saakashvili arduously “pushed” his decision through the parliament,
despite the position of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Many warned back
then that the status of a legal body would be used as an instrument in
endless international-level disputes around the ownership of churches.

The story of Chakhalyan remains an important symptom of sentiment in
the Armenian eparchy. Hence, reports about demands of the Armenian
eparchy for Georgia to return hundreds of Georgian churches were
unsurprising. Controversies have been ongoing for decades, since Soviet
times, when special departments for “protection of monuments” had
existed in Georgia and Armenia. Georgian and Armenian historians have
been arguing about the “true ownership” of monuments at conferences
and seminars.

An unofficial principle was imposed after gaining independence and
returning “monuments” to their true owners, i.e. Georgian and Armenian
churches. The principle resembles the principles of “territorial
integrity.” Both sides have been trying to resolve all disputes
without having to make them a public problem for many years.

Georgian historian Paata Bukhrashvili believes that disputes and
disagreements over the origin of churches are normal, considering the
historical processes: “There is nothing unusual about the presence
of Armenian churches in Georgia and Georgian churches in Armenia.

Armenians have been integrated into the Georgian state, the titulary
of Georgian kings mentioned Armenia too. The Armenian and Georgian
communities were closely interlaced. There have been many cases
in which Georgian foundations were discovered at excavations at
Armenian churches in Tbilisi. Armenia has many Georgian churches,
such as Akhtala. Before the schism of dyophysites and monophysites,
Armenians and Georgians had been a single religious community. That
is why many churches of the age (5-6th centuries) have Georgian and
Armenian inscriptions,” says the scientist. In Bukhrashvili’s opinion,
“some powers are trying to politicize the problem and incite tensions
around the issue.”

It seems that the efforts to “politicize” the dispute were what
provoked Vazgen Mirzakhaanyan’s demand for the return to his eparchy of
450 churches in Georgia, most of which are active. The churches conduct
divine services for Orthodox Christians. According to Vestnik Kavkaza,
the demand was only the first step towards an open interstate dispute
about the ownership of the churches. Armenia plans to make it a subject
of “cultural heritage” and address UNESCO, knowing that the chances
of solving the problem in international clerical institutions are low.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry told a Vestnik Kavkaza reporter that
nothing was known about any such plans. But considering that the
Georgian diplomatic system often learns about essential processes
late, the lack of information among Georgian diplomats does not mean
a lack of plans on the side of their potential opponents. Apparently,
the letter to UNESCO is only the first step to “fix” the problem
at an international level. Claims filed with international judicial
institutions, the Council of Europe, its specialized structures and so
on will follow it. The Georgian patriarchy told Vestnik Kavkaza that
it was unaware of the claims. “We have a list of Georgian churches
in Armenia too,” said a hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church in
an interview with me.

Thus, if the Armenian side does give the dispute an international tone,
it may become a subject of many years of legal battles, counterclaims
and even greater politicization, inevitably undermining interstate
relations.

WHAT THE HECK IS A STATUE OF AZERBAIJAN’S FORMER DICTATOR DOING IN MEXICO CITY?

Fusion.net, Florida
Jan 13 2015

By Rafa Fernandez De Castro

You know when a distant relative gives you some particularly awful
piece of art that you can’t exactly throw away but you don’t want to
display too prominently where someone might actually notice it and
quietly question your mental health?

Mexico has that problem, thanks to an imperious-looking statue of
Azerbaijan’s former Soviet-era leader Heydar Aliyev, which gazes
wistfully towards the horizon, pondering the contributions of the
lumpenproletariat, or something like that.

The statue of the old communist leader, first given to the Mexican
government in 2012, has become somewhat of a headache for Mexican
officials, who have quietly tried to shuffle it around the capital
in hopes of finding a place to put it where no one will notice.

The statue was originally placed in a park overseeing the city’s busy
Reforma Avenue, but quickly removed after some residents complained
the monument glorified the legacy of a dictator.

Mexico City residents and members of the Armenian expat community
blame the former Azerbaijani leader, who died in 2003, of committing
human-rights abuses, censoring the media and promoting his cult of
personality with an iron fist during his tenure.

Bowing to pressure, Mexico City then-Mayor Marcelo Ebrad removed the
statue and stuck it in a warehouse until he could think of a Plan B.

He couldn’t. But getting rid of it permanently has proven difficult;
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Mexico threatened to suspend his nation’s
$4 billion worth of investments and cut diplomatic ties if the state
removed the statue from display.

Now, the new mayor of Mexico City thinks he’s come up with a solution.

Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera announced last week that his administration
will give the Azerbaijani government a piece of prime real estate in
the opulent Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood where the statue can
be displayed in all its glory on private property.

But Mayor Mancera may have spoken too fast, since he doesn’t have
the authority to give land to a foreign government without permission
from the Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, activists who were instrumental in the removal of the
statue in the first place are still fighting to remove a marble
map from the base of the disfigured monument that awards Azerbaijan
territory that’s under dispute with Armenia.