Author: Kanayan Tamar

EBRD PRESIDENT SIR SUMA CHAKRABARTI TO VISIT ARMENIA

YEREVAN, July 17. / ARKA /. The President of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sir Suma Chakrabarti will
arrive on his first official visit to Armenia on 18 July, during his
tour of the South Caucasus countries.

During the 2-day visit Mr. Suma is to meet with Armenia’s government
officials, including President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan, Minister of Economy and Armenia’s governor to EBRD,
Vahram Avanesyan, the Minister of Finance, Davit Sargsyan; the Mayor
of Yerevan, Taron Markaryan; the Chairman of Central Bank, Artur
Javadyan as well as the representatives of the local partner banks
and businesses.

Sir Suma Chakrabarti’s visit to Armenia coincides with the 20th
anniversary since EBRD commenced its activities in Armenia which the
Bank marks this year, with a press conference on Friday, 19th July
at 17:30 at the Elite Plaza Building to be followed by a reception.

Suma Chakrabarti was elected EBRD president in 2012 and assumed his
position on 3 July becoming the sixth President of the Bank. Earlier,
Sir Suma held the post of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of
Justice of the United Kingdom and before that he was holding the
same post in the Ministry of International Development. He is a
graduate of Oxford and Sussex universities and has worked in the
British government from 1984 and was awarded the title of Knight of
the Order of the British Empire.

The EBRD has been active in Armenia since 1993 and to date has
invested over ~@656 million into 120 projects. Based on the current
EBRD country strategy for Armenia approved in May 2012, the Bank’s
key priorities are to develop the financial sector and improve access
to finance especially for MSMEs, to improve municipal and transport
infrastructure, to develop agribusiness and high value-added industrial
companies and support sustainable energy and mining projects with
high standards of environmental and social protection.

In 2012, the EBRD signed 15 projects worth a total of ~@94 million
in Armenia.-0-

– See more at:

ARF SLAMS PROSHIAN ELECTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

Entrance to Proshian Village

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation denounced on
Tuesday the conduct of a weekend local election that put an end to
its almost decade-long control of a major rural community near Yerevan.

The mayoral election in Proshian village took place three months after
the killing of its mayor, Hrach Muradian, who was affiliated with
the ARF. Official vote results gave a narrow victory to a candidate
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia who was at loggerheads
with Muradian.

In a statement, the ARF’s governing body in Armenia said the election
outcome was decided by the use of administrative resources, vote buying
and “coercion.” “As a result, the Republican candidate who was the
slain community head’s rival in the previous elections was declared
the winner,” it said. “Such a display of political cynicism undermined
the electoral process and deepened existing tensions in the community.”

The opposition party at the same time urged its supporters in Proshian
not to “succumb to possible attempts to create further tension.” It
also assured them that the ARF leadership will save no effort to have
Muradian’s murder solved.

The election results were also rejected as fraudulent by Vova Sahakian,
the main opposition candidate backed by the slain mayor’s family.

The ARF statement came shortly after ballot recounts conducted in
two Proshian precincts. They did not change the official vote tally.

The local Republican Party of Armenia campaign denies the vote
rigging allegations, saying that the Sahakian campaign itself resorted
to fraud.

Meanwhile, Muradian’s brother Zohrab said on Tuesday that the election
outcome reinforced the family’s belief that the former Proshian mayor
was assassinated for political reasons. He stressed the fact that
Hrach had a tense rapport with the provincial and central governments
during his tenure.

“They have achieved their goal. They were interested in liquidating
him and taking his place. It was a political murder because he didn’t
obey them,” Zohrab Muradian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service, pointing
the finger at the authorities.

UNE AUTRE CRISE AU CANADA
EGLISE

Depuis plusieurs semaines, le diocèse de l’Eglise armenienne du Canada
vit une grave crise liee a l’election du Primat.

Le 25 mai dernier, reunis dans la cathedrale saint Gregoire
l’Illuminateur de Montreal, les delegues du diocèse du Canada avaient
elu d’une courte voix la père le père Aren Djebedjian Primat du diocèse
du Canada face a l’eveque Bagrad Galstian, son predecesseur elu en
2003. Le troisième candidat de la liste etait le père Dadjad Yardemian
sans que celui n’ait jamais eu de veritable chance d’etre elu.

Dans les semaines qui ont suivi, s’appuyant sur une petition lancee
sur internet et où des propos d’une grande violence ont ete parfois
tenus, en particulier a l’egard de quatre pretres juges ” felons
” par les partisans de l’eveque Kalesdian, le Catholicos Karekine
II a demande au père Djebedjian de renoncer a cette election. Au
nom de la ” discipline de l’Eglise “, ce dernier a presente sa
demission de Primat. Le 20 Juin, le Catholicos a nomme l’archeveque
Nathan Hovhanissian, responsable des editions d’Etchmiadzine, comme
locum-tenens du diocèse du Canada pour une periode de transition de
un an durant laquelle il aura pour mission d’organiser une nouvelle
election. Il est a noter que le père Aren Djebedjian est ne en diaspora
(Etats-Unis).

Rentre en Armenie, l’eveque Bagrad Galsdian vient d’etre nomme
responsable du ” service du protocole de l’Eglise armenienne “,
a Etchmiadzine. Poste qui vient juste d’etre cree, sans doute pour
le consoler de la perte de son siège episcopal et en attendant des
jours meilleurs.

mercredi 17 juillet 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

HARUTYUNIAN’S BROTHER: THEY TREAT HRACHIA WORSE THAN A TERRORIST

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Wednesday,July 17

“Hrachia Harutyunian lost his son, he could not have wanted anyone
to suffer or die because of him,” Seda Harutyunian told reporters
during the protest outside the Russian embassy in Yerevan today. She
is the sister of Hrachia Harutyunian, the alleged perpetrator of the
car crash, in which 18 people were killed in new Moscow.

“He didn’t do it intentionally, nor did he take to flight. He was
not drunk. I regret that such a tragedy happened, but they take him
for a hardened criminal. A former participant of the Karabakh war
was brought to court in a housecoat,” Seda Harutyunian noted.

According to her, Hrachia got into debts after the surgeries and
death of his son who had a brain tumor. “Hrachia went to Russia
to earn money for his son’s gravestone. Hrachia himself suffered a
concussion. If he is imprisoned, he will have a mental disorder when
he comes out. But he has children,” she said. Seda Harutyunian called
on the authorities to intervene in the matter.

Hrachia’s brother, Hayk Harutyunian, was also among those protesting
outside the Russian embassy in Yerevan. He said the organization
that employed his brother is owned by an Armenian. In his words,
they learn the latest information mostly from the Internet.

In his words, their relatives in Russia have no opportunity to
see Hrachia Harutyunian. “Hrachia is being treated worse than a
terrorist. They humiliate him and don’t allow him to meet with
relatives,” Hayk Harutyunian said.

We would remind you that Hrachia Harutyuinian is charged in the
car crash that left 18 people dead. He was sentenced to two month
preliminary arrest today. Gross violations of human rights were
committed when H. Harutyunian was brought to the courtroom.

ARMENIA’S ARMED FORCES ENTER NEW STRATEGIC DEFENSE REVIEW STAGE

11:36 17.07.13

In an exclusive interview with Tert.am, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of
Defense David Tonoyan spoke of the new Strategic Defense Review of
Armenia and of the relevant preparatory work. He also spoke of the
specific features of Armenia’s Armed Forces.

Speaking of the new stage of Strategic Defense Review, Mr Tonoyan said
that the Strategic Defense Review is an important component of mid-
and long-term defense planning. Each stage of long-term planning begins
with this process. So the next stage is a transition from Planning
(2011-2015) to Implementation (2016-2020).

Strategic Defense Review is a risk and threat assessment process. On
the basis of priorities, army development plans are developed,
including midterm expenditure programs. The Strategic Defense Review
results will determine the need for structural reforms in the armed
forces.

The Strategic Defense Review results are applied to all the components,
including military equipment and defense systems. The major aim is
planning, namely, the armed forces personnel and means needed to
meet challenges.

Armenia’s armed forces are based not only on the USSR army’s
experience, but also the experience gained during the war in
Nagorno-Karabakh. The military art and defense criteria are constantly
developing because of the rapidly changing global security environment
and threats, mechanisms of opposing them. The task is to develop
Armenia’s armed forces in conformity with the processes for them to
be capable of meeting the challenges. So the army development process
implies the application of all modern criteria – national and western.

Armenian News – Tert.am

SCENARIOS FOR RUSSIAN POLICY ON REGIONAL CAUCASUS

After two decades of deep delusions Moscow thinks that it has finally
achieved the formulation of the main political approaches that should
be applied to the South Caucasus. The main principle selected is the
“American” principle of parity in regional policies.

In the second half of the 2000s the backstage understanding occurred
in the Russian government that in essence Russia will hardly succeed
conducting a policy of parities, and it would be good to implement
the principle of “priorities” as soon as possible. It did not take
place though due to active interference of remarkable and renowned
politicians of soviet retro-politics.

Sometimes it is accepted to say that these politicians have no
significant influence on modern Russian politics. However, the
paradox of the failure “empire” is that one need not have significant
influence to form political approaches if there are no alternative
ideas and people.

Currently, the North Caucasus is devastated, and half of the population
of this region has appeared in different regions of Russia.

Aggressive Islamism has lost its value in terms of ideology, as well
as its social potential.

The Muscovite elite has successfully instilled in the population of
the country that the current state of security in the South Caucasus
is normal, and they will have to take the region as it is. It had
a considerable role in starting up the Russian policy on the South
Caucasus. Georgia’s situation is perfectly in line with Russia’s
interest. It is in a state of steady dynamics. It is trying to form
a situation that is highly convenient for Russia.

The current state of Georgia is also convenient for the West which
views the lack of confrontation in Russian-Georgian relations as most
acceptable for its interests.

Moscow is trying to establish its control over the region on
Azerbaijani money, introducing a new scheme of correlation of forces,
reinforcing (in Russian’s opinion) the influence on Armenia and
Azerbaijan. For the time being, Russia is interested in fostering
the arms race and tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

No doubt Russia that hopes for lack of threat of deployment of NATO
troops in the South Caucasus is still hoping to deploy its troops in
the area of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. In this case, Russia will
behave in line with “international law” which means, like in the early
90s, legitimacy of the Azerbaijani constitution in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia hopes to thereby keep both sides under control. It is a simple
and tried-out scheme, and the West understands it.

The United States has shifted problems in the South Caucasus on the
European Union, preferring to resolve issues in other regions with
Russia. The West again hopes for a clash between Russia and its big
southern neighbors but apparently it will not happen in the nearest
future.

The United States and the European Union have never viewed the South
Caucasus as part of the non-European space, nor the Near East and
Eurasia. The Europeans, more than the Americans, are interested in a
more active integration of the South Caucasus in the change of format
of relations with the countries of this region – establishment of
transit region focusing on an integrated bastion in the “diagonal”,
that is southeast direction.

The South Caucasus is becoming an important part of the European
system of security. Moscow understands that the regional situation is
changing, slowly but still, and these quasi-dynamics will sooner or
later lead to cardinal changes in the South Caucasus. It is necessary
to hurry, and there is hope for a new large-scale conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In this situation Russia could have promised Azerbaijan to withhold
support to Armenia in case of war, as well as certain actions of
the Russian military base in Gyumri against Armenia. If it has not
happened yet, it is very likely to happen.

So, it is therefore necessary to develop the response of the Armenian
armed forces in case of participation of the Russian military base
of Gyumri in actions against Armenia.

Of course, that would be a trouble for military intervention of Turkey
in the expected war but Russia could agree with Turkey on observing
the interests of Azerbaijan with Turkey in any outcome of military
actions. Now a lot links the interests of Russia and Turkey in the
direction of both NATO and the European Union.

The problem of Syria was a serious factor of controversies between
them but Syria is only one direction of such big states.

The situation in Armenia is not simple, and even the car crash in
Podolsk is perceived as an act of retribution of the Armenian driver
for Russian supply of weapons to Azerbaijan. Some “diversity” may be
introduced into the political life of Armenia, such as murder of some
pro-Russian political scientists or “politicians”.

Igor Muradyan 12:34 17/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

Publie le : 17-07-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cet article publie sur le site Actukurde le 15 juillet 2013.

Actukurde

2013-07-15 10:31:47

Choquee par la fermeture de trois chaines de televisions kurdes,
la communaute kurde de Strasbourg demande aux autorites danoises de
” remedier a cette injustice en annulant l’arret du tribunal de
Copenhague “.

Dans une lettre adressee au ministre des Affaires Etrangères
de Danemark et aux autorites competentes, la communaute kurde de
Strasbourg se dit ” choquee” et ” consternee ” par l’arret rendu le
3 juillet par le tribunal de Copenhague a l’egard des televisions
kurdes : NUCE TV, MMC TV, ROJ TV, estimant qu’elles avaient soutenu
les activites du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).

Rappelant que tout le fondement de cet arret est base sur le fait que
le PKK est sur la liste des organisations ” terroristes ” de l’union
europeenne (EU), la communaute kurde attire l’attention sur le moment
choisi pour fermer les chaines de televisions kurdes qui sont la voix,
les yeux et les oreilles du peuple kurde.

” -Selon la jurisprudence de la cour de justice europeenne (a
Luxembourg) cette liste de l’Union Europeenne a pleins de defauts
sur le plan juridique puisque lors de la constitution de cette liste
ni les organisations ni les personnes se trouvant sur cette liste
n’avaient aucun moyen de contester ce fait et de plus il n’existe
pas de mecanisme juridique pour en sortir.

-Nous vous rappelons que cette liste etait preparee par le gouvernement
W Bush au moment où l’Amerique etait sous le choc de l’attaque du 11
Septembre 2001. Pour preparer l’attaque contre l’Irak, l’Afghanistan
le pentagone avait besoin des soutiens de l’Espagne de Aznar qui
presidait l’UE et le gouvernement turc, l’important allie de l’OTAN.

Le gouvernement Aznar a glisse l’ETA sur la liste et le gouvernement
d’Ankara a quant a lui glisse le PKK sur cette meme liste dans l’esprit
de donnant donnant.

Voila comment le PKK qui a retire ses guerilleros entre 2000 et 2005
s’est retrouve sur cette fameuse liste.

-Et maintenant au moment où il y a des negociations entre les
representants du PKK et l’etat turc et le gouvernement pour trouver
une solution pacifique et politique a la question kurde qui perdure
depuis la creation de la Republique turque en 1923 le tribunal de
Copenhague frappe avec sa decision les medias kurdes. Ce processus
de negociations etait salue par l’UE, les Etats-Unis et notamment
l’APCE qui a adopte le 24 Avril2013 une très large resolution sur le
sujet qui considère les guerilleros du PKK pas comme ” terroristes ”
mais comme ” activistes “et qui ne considère pas Mr Abdullah Ocalan
comme le responsable d’une organisation terroriste mais comme ”
lieder du PKK ” et comme interlocuteur a considerer comme tel.

-Sachant que la resolution de l’APCE etait approuvee par la grande
majorite des parlementaires y compris la totalite de la delegation
danoise pour encourager ces negociations entre le lieder du PKK et
Ankara, ainsi l’APCE ne stigmatisait pas les parties en conflit.

-Dans une periode si sensible pour trouver une solution a la
question kurde qui peut contribuer a la paix et la stabilite au Moyen
Orient l’attitude des autorites danoises doit etre constructive et
encourageante pour les parties en conflit sans infliger une etiquette
terroriste, sans infliger des amendes considerables et sans retirer les
licences d’emettre contre les televisions kurdes : NUCE TV, MMC TV,
ROJ TV qui sont de simples messagers de la situation au Kurdistan et
en Turquie et de la region au Moyen Orient.

-Nous vous rappelons que la haute autorite de L’audiovisuel danois
malgre les pressions qu’elle a subies, n’a jamais considere les
televisions kurdes hors normes par rapport au respect des medias.

Nous demandons aux autorites competentes de remedier a cette injustice
en annulant l’arret du tribunal de Copenhague. ”

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Actukurde

LE 14 JUILLET A L’AMBASSADE

ARMENIE

A l’occasion de la Fete nationale, le President de la republique
armenienne, M. Serge Sarkissian, a ete le premier a venir presenter
ses felicitations a l’Ambassadeur de France, M. Henri Reynaud, lors
d’un entretien a l’Ambassade. Le President Sarkissian a adresse une
lettre de felicitations au President de la Republique francaise, M.

Francois Hollande, dans laquelle il exprime sa confiance dans ”
le renforcement de l’amitie franco-armenienne “.

L’Ambassadeur a offert en fin de matinee une reception aux autorites
armeniennes, au corps diplomatique et aux acteurs de la cooperation
franco-armenienne. M. Edward Nalbandian, qui representait le
gouvernement armenien, et l’Ambassadeur, ont adresse un message
a l’assistance.

L’après-midi, c’etait au tour de la communaute francaise et
franco-armenienne d’etre accueillie dans les jardins de l’Ambassade,
pour une reception offerte grâce au soutien des entreprises
francaises. Les invites ont pu echanger dans une ambiance chaleureuse
et conviviale, jusque tard dans la soiree.

Les celebrations du 14 juillet ont ete l’occasion de rappeler les
liens etroits qui unissent la France et l’Armenie.

A la veille du 14 juillet, l’Ambassadeur a ete l’hôte du club de la
presse d’Erevan, pour un interview, au cours duquel ont ete evoquees
les perspectives de la relation franco-armenienne dans les domaines
politique, culturel et economique.

texte et photo du service de presse de l’ambassade de France en Armenie

mercredi 17 juillet 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

UN VILLAGE DANS LA TOURMENTE : LES TENSIONS POLITIQUES CONTINUENT A PROSHYAN APRES L’ASSASSINAT DU MAIRE

ARMENIE

Les tensions dans le village de Proshyan qui ont commence après
l’assassinat de son maire en avril se poursuivent dans la perspective
de l’election du nouveau chef de la communaute prevue pour le mois
prochain. Armenuhi Melikian, une infirmière qui a agi brièvement
comme maire du village, a ete contrainte de demissionner. Elle affirme
avoir ete menacee.

La necessite d’un nouveau maire en Proshyan, un village avec une
population de 4600 habitants dans la province de Kotayk situe
a seulement six kilomètres de la capitale Erevan, a surgi après
l’assassinat de son chef de 50 ans Hrach Muradyan, membre du parti
d’opposition la Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne (FRA). Il
a ete abattu d’une balle dans la tete dans la cour du bâtiment de
l’administration du village. Arayik Petrossian, un resident de 31 ans
de Proshyan, a ete arrete et mis en accusation mais il n’admet pas
avoir commis le crime. La famille et les proches du maire assassine
ont declare a plusieurs reprises qu’ils ne pensent pas Petrosyan soit
celui qui a assassine Muradyan.

Par decision de Kovalenko Shahgaldyan, gouverneur du Kotayk, Armenouhi
Melikian, qui est un ancien membre du Conseil des Aines de Proshyan et
n’est affilie a aucun parti politique le 7 juin, a ete nommee maire
suppleant jusqu’au 14 Juillet jour des elections partielles qui se
tiendront dans le village . Mais les membres de l’administration
du village n’ont pas permis a la femme meme d’entrer dans son
bureau. Ils affirment qu’Armenouhi Melikian est une ” intrigante
et fauteuse de troubles ” et ne merite pas d’etre dans le bureau,
meme pour quelques heures.

Armenouhi Melikian pense cependant que les responsables du village
sont opposes a la decision de sa nomination temporaire, car elle
n’est pas membre de la FRA et que les nouvelles elections municipales
pourraient entraver les plans en cours de l’adjoint au maire Vova
Sahakian, qui a decide de courir pour la place de maire du village et
beneficie du soutien de la famille du fonctionnaire tue. Compte tenu
de la situation dans le village dans lequel elle pretendait souffrir
l’attitude intolerable d’un groupe de residents et par craintes
pour sa securite, le maire par interim a demande au gouverneur de
la soulager de ses tâches. Dans un communique, Armenouhi Melikian a
egalement declare : ” Dans le meme temps, je condamne l’inaction du
bureau du gouverneur et de la police qui ont echoue a defendre la
loi et remplir leur mission “.

Les candidatures dans le village de Proshyan debuteront le 19 Juin
et durera cinq jours. Seul aujourd’hui l’adjoint au maire, Sahakian,
a exprime son desir de participer a l’election. Il a nie avoir fait
des menaces a l’encontre de Melikian.

” C’est un mensonge absolu, une option pour elle de sortir de cette
situation “, a dit Sahakian dans une interview accordee au service
armenien de RFE / RL. Il a dit que le problème principal etait le
caractère de Melikyan plutôt que n’importe quel contexte ou des actions
contre le gouverneur de Kotayk, qui est membre du Parti republicain
au pouvoir.

Pendant ce temps, le gouverneur Shahgeldyan a deja nomme un nouveau
maire suppleant pour Proshyan. C’est son assistant Vrezh Mnatsakanyan.

Mnatsakanyan n’est pas membre d’un parti et n’est pas un natif ou
resident de Proshyan.

Les elections sont egalement prevues pour avoir lieu dans le village
de Surenavan dans la province d’Ararat (23 Juin) et dans la communaute
d’Hovit de la province du Shirak (14 Juillet). Le maire de Surenavan
est mort dans un accident de voiture et le maire de Hovit est mort
subitement de causes naturelles.

By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow

mercredi 17 juillet 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

17 PROPERTIES RETURNED TO ARMENIAN FOUNDATION IN DIYARBAKıR

, Turkey
July 16 2013

During a restoration project for the historic Surp Giragos Armenian
Church in 2009, the Diyarbakır Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation
discovered a document listing the properties owned by Armenians before
they left Diyarbakır between 1910 and 1921.

World Bulletin/News Desk

The Diyarbakır Regional Directorate of Foundations has decided to
return 17 properties in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır to
the Armenian community as a result of an initiative launched over the
past year by the Diyarbakır Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation.

The Sabah daily reported on Monday that during a restoration project
for the historic Surp Giragos Armenian Church in 2009, the Diyarbakır
Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation discovered a document listing
the properties owned by Armenians before they left Diyarbakır between
1910 and 1921. The document reportedly lists 190 properties. After
the discovery of the document, the foundation filed a petition with
the Diyarbakır Regional Directorate of Foundations demanding the
return of these properties after it found the current real estate
listings of the properties.

According to the Sabah report, the Diyarbakır Regional Directorate
of Foundations recently decided to return 17 properties, with a total
area of 15,000 square meters, within the borders of Diyarbakır’s
Sur district. The Diyarbakır Regional Directorate of Foundations
reportedly refused to return the other 173 properties listed in the
document on the grounds that the certificates of ownership provided
to the directorate are too old, belonging to the Ottoman era or to the
period prior to 1910. The directorate reportedly told the Diyarbakır
Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation that its records are too old
and insufficient for the return of the 173 properties, asking it to
find newer records.

Vartkes Ergun Ayık, the head of the Diyarbakır Surp Giragos Armenian
Church Foundation, told the Sabah daily that they are happy with the
Diyarbakır Regional Directorate of Foundations’ initial decision
but will continue their efforts until the remaining 173 properties
are returned to the foundation.

Regarding the 17 properties that were returned, Ayık said: “Some of
the properties that were returned are currently occupied by unlicensed
buildings, some by even public buildings,” adding: “The Ottoman-era
records of the 173 properties have caused difficulties as the locations
of the properties are defined using some vague expressions such as
‘the house next to Kirkor’s house’ or ‘the house behind the field of
Sarkisyan and opposite the house of Ahmet.’ The Diyarbakır Regional
Directorate of Foundations has asked us to find more reliable and
contemporary records for the properties. We have applied to the General
Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre to help us find contemporary
records. If we fail to obtain a favorable result, we will go to court.”

The Surp Giragos Armenian Church was seized by the German army during
World War I and in 1918 was converted into a textiles warehouse for
Sumerbank. The Armenian population in the area applied for its return
in 1952 and the church was subsequently returned to the community.

However, due to the lack of a congregation, it remained neglected since
1980. Renovation started at the end of 2009 after the Diyarbakır
Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation undertook the restoration
project of the 400-year-old church. The church was reopened on Oct.

23, 2011, for a religious ceremony.