Author: Kanayan Tamar

BRITISH TELEVISION SHOWS ARREST OF AZERBAIJANI TERRORIST IN LONDON

October 16, 2013 | 16:49

The British television showed video of the arrest of a terrorist in
one of the crowded streets in the center of London.

The 28-year-old native of Azerbaijan is suspected of preparing a huge
terrorist attack.

According to the police, they conducted a search of six addresses
and arrested four men in London as part of anti-terror operation. The
detainees are citizens of Britain, the natives of Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Algeria and Pakistan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

AZERBAIJANI EXPERT: PACE AND OSCE PA MEMBERS THAT WERE MONITORING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN HAVE NON-TRANSPARENT RELATIONS WITH AUTHORITIES WITHIN THE FRAMES OF THE “CAVIAR” DIPLOMACY

by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, October 16, 16:39

Unfortunately, members of various groups, representatives of PACE
and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly came forward from the pro-government
position and made non-professional statements about the results of
the presidential election in Azerbaijan, the head of the Centre for
Election Monitoring and Democracy Teaching, Anar Mamedli, said in an
on-line interview.

“They did not estimate the quality of the electoral process. It
is clear that they are also members of different political groups
and parties in their own countries, and they were acting within the
frames of this logic. Nevertheless, I should say that the people which
have shadow relations with the present government of Azerbaijan are
involved in these missions. We can gain more information about these
relations through the “caviar” diplomacy”, – the expert said.

At the same time, Mamedli said that the fact that Department of State
and Helsinki Commission of US Congress confessed that the presidential
election in Azerbaijan were not in line with international standards,
have already negatively affected the American-Azerbaijani relations.

He thinks that all these fair estimates will undoubtedly have a
negative effect upon the reputation of Azerbaijani government and
Aliyev personally. Perhaps, the third term of presidency will be the
key factor for understanding of the democratic transition and the
situation in human rights in Azerbaijan, he said.

“Naturally, the results of the presidential election were not in
line with the laws of Azerbaijan and international standards. Serious
fraud, such as ballot stuffing, voting at the ballot stations where
voters were not registered, etc. give a full ground not to consider
the election legal”, – Mamedli said.

Santa Monica Mirror
Oct 15 2013

SANTA MONICA PLASTIC SURGEON VOLUNTEERS TIME FOR SURGICAL MISSION

Posted Oct. 15, 2013, 9:30 am
Mirror Staff

Santa Monica plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian recently returned
from a surgical humanitarian mission to the Central Republic Hospital
in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The medical mission marked a cornerstone in establishing state of
the art surgical facilities in a region that was devastated by war
in the post-Soviet period.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic shares a common border with Armenia and is
populated by ethnic Armenians.

The purpose of the surgical mission was to assess current standards for
surgical care at the Central Republic Hospital and to share standards
of surgical expertise in the field of plastic and reconstructive
surgery.

The two surgeons were received by the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
Minister of Health Dr. Sergei Movsesyan and Deputy Minister of Health
Dr. Karen Ghukasyan and actively participated in a transfer of surgical
expertise with NKR surgeons.

The trip marks the second surgical mission for the surgeon, who holds
active privileges at St. John’s Hospital.

“We often take the level of medical and surgical care that we have
readily available for granted,” said Dr. Karamanoukian. “In recent
years, St. John’s Hospital has helped me personally donate much needed
equipment and supplies to Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Haiti.”

Dr. Karamanoukian was welcomed by the entire surgical and medical
community at the Central Republic Hospital and participated in numerous
surgical forums.

Medical directors, including those in the fields of vascular surgery,
plastic surgery, urology, and anesthesiology proactively interacted
with the surgeons during their visit.

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian and wife Silvia donated specialized
microsurgical and plastic surgery instruments in order to help
establish a microsurgery reconstructive program at the Central
Republic Hospital.

The microsurgery instruments were received by Chief of Plastic Surgery
Dr. Igor Zakharyan in association with the Deputy Minister of Health,
Dr. Karen Ghukasyan.

An established microsurgery center will allow for patients with
complex injuries resulting from trauma or cancer to be treated with
their own tissue, lending to a more functional recovery.

One of the highlights of the trip, according to Dr. Karamanoukian,
was to exchange surgical knowledge in the management of a volunteer
who had sustained trauma while defusing a landmine.

“The expert had identified the landmine and was about to diffuse the
unit when he tripped and lost his balance,” he said.

“The Central Republican has faced enormous challenges over the
last two decades as a result of limited infrastructure and supply
capabilities. The sharing of surgical expertise across continents
allowed for a productive exchange of information and collaboration.”

Two decades ago, the hospital was bombarded during the war and suffered
irreparable damage.

The surgeons of the hospital were forced to treat the wounded in the
basement operating rooms.

“It is not only refreshing, but life changing to see and participate
in the progress being made in the medical arena in Stepanakert,” Dr.

Karamanoukian said.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: ITALY VS. ARMENIA 2-2

October 16, 2013

NAPLES. – Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored Armenia’s second goal in the
World Cup qualifying match against Italy.

Armenia’s Yura Movsisyan opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Later
Italy’s Alessandro Florenzi scored an equalizer.

Mario Balotelli scored Italy’s second goal in the 84th minute making
the score 2-2.

In Group B, Italy have already booked their spot at Brazil 2014, with
22 points, Denmark has 16 points, Czech Republic – 15, Bulgaria –
13, Armenia – 13 and Malta – 3.

NEWS.am Sport

DROPPING DEMAND, HEAVY TAXES AFFECT SMALL & MEDIUM BUSINESSES: STUDY

October 15, 2013 – 15:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The small and medium businesses sector will play a
key role in Armenia’s development, a Development Director and Partner
with Ameria Group Tigran Jrbashyan said.

Ameria consulting company conducted a research on Armenia’s small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study includes the country’s
macroeconomic description, SMEs’ characteristics, relations with
banking systems, necessity of consulting and other professional
services, regulation of the sector as well as comparative analysis
with other countries.

According to Jrbashyan, the study reveals problems in the SME sector,
solutions to be suggested, region-specific issues. The study shows
a dramatic decrease in demand caused by demographic problems as well
as heavy taxes.

On the positive side, Jrbashyan noted, the issues are not caused by
poor financing or technologies. “Southern regions of Armenia are more
affected by the dropping demand, with no serious investment projects
initiated there as a result,” he stressed.

The study covers 1003 SMEs, with 655 operating in Yerevan, 144 – in
Gyumri, 152 – in Vanadzor, 52 – in Dilijan. 74,4% companies operate
micro businesses, 20,2% – small businesses, 5,1% – medium businesses.

According to the study, 47,6% SMEs are engaged in trade, 34,4% in
services sector, 15,5% – manufacturing, 2,2% – construction, with
trade prevailing among micro businesses – 55,2%.

According to Jrbashyan, SMEs cooperation with banks is mostly
restricted to credits and transfers.

NATO SAYS CHINA-MADE DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN TURKEY ‘VIRUS’ FOR ALLIANCE

October 15, 2013 – 10:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Defense officials from NATO member states have
described any potential Turkish effort to integrate China-made
long-range air and anti-missile defense system into NATO’s overall
air defense architecture as a “virus” within the allied system and a
“possibly most futile effort,” Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“NATO’s own command and control system that ‘mashes’ input from allied
networks is far more important than a Chinese air defense system in
Turkey,” said one defense attaché from a leading NATO member state.

“There is no place for China within this critical system. We would
not wish to see a virus in a complex system.”

A NATO ambassador in Ankara said Turkey was disillusioned with the idea
of making the Chinese-built air defense architecture NATO-operable. “I
have no idea why the Turks do not see the simple fact that the
alliance’s security threat perception in the next 20 years is based
on China. Air and missile defense will be the top defense issue in
the foreseeable future, with China being under the magnifier.”

According to Western defense officials and analysts, the central
problem will be the difficulty to connect the proposed Chinese air
defense assets to NATO’s critical Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) system
that operates on “Mode 5,” a code that enables allied radar systems
and aircraft to recognize whether an unknown aircraft is friendly or
an enemy.

“Turkey has its own efforts to build the transponder part of the
entire IFF system, but a fully functioning system would require the
interrogator part too. To make the Chinese system NATO-operable, the
Turks would require Mode 5 codes and I see no reason why the [U.S.]
National Security Agency should give a nod to this crazy idea,”
said one U.S. defense official.

Top Turkish officials said the controversial air and missile defense
system Turkey intends to buy from a Chinese manufacturer would be
automatically integrated with NATO assets stationed in Turkey.

When asked about possible NATO objection to the idea of any such
integration, Turkish Defense Minister Ä°smet Yilmaz said “he sees no
problem with this.”

Murad Bayar, head of the Undersecretariat for Defense Procurement,
said full integration with NATO assets was an explicit condition in
the contract for the planned air defense system.

“As part of this program, a Turkish defense company will be tasked
with integrating the air defense system into a network operated by
the Turkish Air Force. That integration will mean integration with
NATO assets, too, since the Turkish system is fully integrated with
the NATO system,” Bayar said, according to the HDN.

The much-debated Chinese bid from China Precision Machinery
Export-Import Corp. (CPMIEC), which won the tender Sept 26, came in at
$3.44 billion; the initial contract price was estimated at $4 billion.

The Chinese contender defeated a U.S. partnership of Raytheon and
Lockheed Martin, offering thePatriot air defense system; Russia’s
Rosoboronexport, marketing the S-300; and the Italian-French consortium
Eurosam, maker of the SAMP/T Aster 30.

Under the program, dubbed T-LORAMIDS, Turkey will start contract
negotiations with CPMIEC, the front-runner of the competition. If
these talked fail, contract negotiations with the Eurosam consortium,
the second best offer according to a grading of bids, will begin,
according to Bayar. The U.S. Patriot system was ranked third. Bayar
said the Russian option had been eliminated entirely.

DETAINEES IN ‘GANG CASE’ SAY THEY ARE BEING TORTURED IN PRISON

10.15.2013 19:27 epress.am

The defendants in the “gang case” and their attorneys continue to
report violations in the case. After the court hearing on Monday,
three defense attorneys – Stepan Voskanyan, Samvel Hovhannisyan, and
Karen Hakobyan – spoke to eTV about instances of torture applied to
their clients, noting that evidence obtained in this way should not be
considered in court and should not become the basis for incriminatory
charges. In this case, 5 suspects are being accused of burglary and
stealing from residential apartments in Sept. 2011. One of the accused,
Armen Dallakyan, died in prison on Sept. 7 this year; consequently,
his case was quashed by the court.

In one of the previous court sessions, defendant David Galstyan talked
about the torture he experienced while in custody.

“I wrote an appeal, that they kept me for 10 days in [the pretrial
detention facility], which is already a violation of human rights;
they said, they don’t have petrol to move me [to another facility],
but the real reason was they had beat us so much that we couldn’t stand
on our feet. They took us to the KGB [i.e. National Security Service of
Armenia], but they didn’t accept us; they said, these guys are [living
corpses]; take them away; keep them for a few days; if they don’t die,
bring them back,” said Galstyan, in particular. The defendant also
claims that there have been irregularities in the investigation.

The other prisoners also insist that there have been incidents of
torture and violations of the law in this case.

eTV is a joint project of the Helsinki Association for Human Rights
and the Independent Journalists’ Network.

PRESS RELEASE
Joint Committee of Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston and
Amaras Art Alliance
Contact: Tatoul Badalian
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 617-331-0426

New England Armenians Celebrate 300th Birth Anniversary of troubadour Sayat Nova

On Sunday, October 6, 2013, the New England Armenian Community
celebrated the 300th Birth Anniversary of our beloved bard Sayat Nova.
The free event was held in the Armenian Cultural and Educational
Center in Watertown, MA. A dynamic cast of performers presented some
of the most authentic, beautiful and lyrical Armenian songs and poems
of the troubadour, both in traditional form and with modern
interpretations and expressions. The audience was ecstatic and showed
its appreciation at the conclusion of the concert with a standing
ovation – singing and applauding long after the performance had ended.

The renowned troubadour was born in 1713 in an ethnically diverse and
linguistically plural part of the world- South Caucuses. He became
fluent in most languages of the region, writing, composing and
performing in Armenian, Georgian, Persian, and Azerbaijani,
contributing enormously to the poetry and music of his time. His
influence on Armenian Culture continues to affect our lives today in
Armenia and the Diaspora.

Mistress of Ceremonies was the very gifted radio personality Lousineh
Ayanian who offered excerpts from Sayat Nova’s verses, while Ani
Arakelians-Avakian and Berj Chekijian recited beautifully entire poems
written by the bard himself or from the works of other poets paying
homage to the beloved gousan (troubadour). An appearance by folk
singer Aleksan Harutunyan with his deep understanding of traditional
Armenian music was instrumental in transforming the mood of the
audience back to Armenia and back 300 years. Enhancing this
transformation was the delicate sound of master Kamancha player David
Ayriyan who offered a magical window into the world Sayat Nova lived
in.

Three performing groups also participated in this tribute, each
bringing a unique quality to add to the program. Award winning
conductor Maestro Artur Veranian led his newly formed Armenian Chamber
Chorus of Boston, presenting three of his own arrangements of Sayat
Nova’s songs; while composer and classical pianist Ara Sarkissian
leading his Musaner Armenian Folk Jazz Ensemble offered his vision,
with a delightful new flavor of the music we so dearly love. And
members of the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston, under the direction
of choreographer Apo Ashjian, took to the stage three times performing
graceful dances to the music of Sayat Nova, with new and unique
interpretations. Among them, Garen Avetissyan, Kamancha in hand,
depicted Sayat Nova.

The Sayat Nova 300th Anniversary Celebration was a collaborative
effort between two organizations with deep roots within the New
England community – The Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston (SNDC) and
Amaras Art Alliance.

Formed in January 1986 under the direction of Apo Ashjian, SNDC is
named after the beloved troubadour whose beautiful music and poetry
captures the essence of the Armenian soul and spirit. SNDC has been a
source of inspiration to generations of young Armenians who continue
to promote and safeguard their culture through the art of dance. To
learn more about the dance company, how to join the group and view
their schedule of upcoming performances please visit
Amaras Art Alliance is committed to working with
professional artists and musicians, to stage and present high quality
cultural programs in New England and Armenia. Founded in 1990, Amaras
also supports young aspiring performers to achieve their full creative
potentials. Visit AmarasOnline.com for more information on the type
of projects Amaras produces, learn how to become involved by bringing
your own ideas to the group and preview past programs.

The Sayat Nova 300 Joint Committee wishes to publicly thank all the
performers for donating their time and talent for this
performance. The Committee also extends a heartfelt thank-you to those
who responded generously to our appeal for financial contributions and
to those who made in-kind donations that greatly contributed to the
success of this event- in particular we wish to say thank-you to the
New England Armenian community and our public who, for years, have
supported us with their presence at our events. A heartfelt gratitude
to you all…

Joint Committee

[Photos by Viken Karaguesian]

NKR President lays wreath at Genocide Victims Monument in Lyons

Sunday, October 13, 2013

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian today laid a
wreath at Monument to the Victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in
Lyons, the press service of the NKR president said.

The NKR president attached importance to the existence of such
monuments in the Diaspora in terms of preserving the historical memory
of the Armenian people and presenting the truth to the international
community.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the NKR Arthur
Aghabekian, Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, Armenian Ambassador to
France Vigen Chitechian, Armenian Consul General in Lyons Nikolai
Sarkisov, Permanent Representative of the NKR in France Hovhannes
Gevorgian, and other officials.

11.10.2013, 20:38
Aysor.am

EU-Armenia visa facilitation agreement not merely pro forma document

11:48 – 13.10.13

The EU-Armenia visa facilitation agreement and the readmission
agreement backed by the European Parliament cannot be merely pro forma
document, Karen Bekaryan, Chairman of the European Integration NGO,
told Tert.am in response to a question as to whether the documents
will remain ineffective as approved in the context of the EU-Armenian
Association Agreement, which, in turn, will not be initialed.

`In the context of the EU political culture, we should not mix
political culture with that of many of our partners. But the document
cannot be a merely pro forma one,’ Bekaryan said.

Summing up, he said that any uncertainties about the EU Association
Agreement at the moment do not imply any risk to the entire visa
facilitation process.

At their meeting in Brussels, on October 8, Armenian FM Edward
Nalbandian and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine
Ashton addressed the preparatory work for the Eastern Partnership
Summit to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, this November.

As to what the `preparatory work’ means and what documents may be
signed at, as well as after, the Summit, Bekaryan reverted to the
side’s positions before that moment.

`It had repeatedly been stated that, if the Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Area Agreement was in question, the Armenian and Russian
presidents’ join statements were followed by certain problems. Armenia
had repeatedly stated that, without having any problems with the other
aspects of the Association Agreement, it was willing to initial it.
The EU’s position remains uncertain.

European officials have repeatedly stated that the two are inseparable
aspects. On the other hand, they are well aware of the fact that the
way passed over the years cannot be ignored. So there is a need to
find common ground,’ Bekaryan said.

The expert is sure the process will be continued and a new format will
be found. The question is whether it will be possible before the
Vilnius Summit.

Elaborating on the Armenia-related format, Bekaryan said that Armenia
must be present irrespective of whether any documents will or will not
be signed or initialed.

`That is, the EU member-states are consulting one another and Armenia.
This process is progressing now and we have to wait to see our
starting point at the Vilnius Summit.’

In his turn, ex-chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Bagrat
Asatryan is pessimistic about Armenia’s participation in the Vilnius
Summit. `They offer you a program, which you have rejected.’

He believes that Armenia is sure to establish `cooperation of some
type’ with Europe.

Armenian News – Tert.am