Author: Kanayan Tamar

US TO CONSISTENTLY SEEK EXPLANATIONS FROM AZERBAIJAN, HUNGARY – JOHN HEFFERN

tert.am
10.09.12

As OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, the United States is against any
steps that may affect the unstable peace process, US Ambassador to
Armenia John Heffern stated at a briefing held jointly with Armenia’s
Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan.

The US made a statement on the extradition of Ramil Safarov to
Azerbaijan and pardon granted to him by President Ilham Aliyev.

Ambassador John Heffern recalled that the statement conveyed the US
administration’s extreme concern over the fact.

The US will consistently seek explanations from Azerbaijan and Hungary,
the US ambassador said. A relevant dialogue is in progress, he added.

In his turn, Armenia’s prosecutor general noted that Ramil Safarov
was actually acquitted rather than granted a pardon as it is only in
the former case that a person receives compensation for a prison term.

“I feel sorry that there is a nation heroizing a person that killed
a sleeping man with an ax,” Hovsepyan said. President Ilham Aliyev
violated Azerbaijan’s laws by granting a pardon to Ramil Safarov,
as no president can acquit a person convicted in a foreign country.

Azerbaijan deliberately dishonored the verdict returned by the
Hungarian court. That is, Azerbaijan committed a crime.

Aghvan Hovsepyan reminded Ambassador John Heffern of Azerbaijan’s
efforts to get the murderer acquitted by means of false forensic
psychiatry reports.

Aghvan Hovsepyan stressed that Azerbaijan’s step acquitting a person
that committed a heinous crime on ethnic grounds is not aimed at the
Armenian people alone. It was a violation of international justice.

REPUBLICAN PARTY DEPUTY HEAD REFUSES TO COMMENT ON RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN’S INTERVIEW UNTIL TALKING TO HIM

tert.am
10.09.12

Head of Republican party’s parliamentary faction Galust Sahakyan said
he is not sure that Republican party’s Political Board member Ruben
Hayrapetyan has given the interview to French-Armenian Nouvelles
D’Armenie magazine.

Speaking to Tert.am, he said he has not read the interview. “Something
must be wrong. Everything takes to sensations. I cannot say anything
until I meet with Ruben Hayrapetyan,” he said.

One of the main parts of the sensational interview of the chairman of
the Armenian Football Federation referred to Robert Kocharyan-Serzh
Sargsyan-Prosperous Armenia party relations.

Asked whether he doubts the whole interview or certain parts of it,
Sahakyan said he does not think the relations between them were so
bad that he could have said such things about Tsarukyan and Kocharyan.

Galust Sahakyan said interviews are always being exaggerated.

WORLD KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED IN 1915, ACTRESS ARSINE KHANJYAN TELLS TURKISH RADIKAL

tert.am
10.09.12

Turkish Radikal has interviewed Canadian Armenian actress Arsine
Khanjyan, who is well known for wider circles of society from Ararat
movie directed by her husband Atom Egoyan and dedicated to the 1915
Armenian Genocide.

In an interview entitled The World Knows what Happened in 1915 Arsine
says it is her first trip to Turkey and clarifies that she arrived
as an Armenian who has arrived to his/her ancient homeland.

The actress claims that for already 100 years the 80-million Turkish
population knows its own history wrong, and it is a disaster.

Speaking about personal disaster, Khanjyan says from the early age she
“tolerated loss”. She said her mother was from Erzurum, father from
Diyarbakir. Her grandma escaped from Turks after losing all her family.

The actress also speaks about Lebanese Armenian community. Arsine
was born in Beirut and moved to Canada during civil war in Lebanon.

Arsine also tells in details about the Armenian roots of her husband,
film director Atom Egoyan. She also speaks about their joint work
Ararat.

In the interview the actress claimed that Turkey’s policy of denial
does not change anything as everyone knows what has happened. “Even
Turks and you,” she said addressing the reporter taking the interview.

Arsine also said she can’t imagine how a state can reject its own
history and live without past as it is impossible to build future
without it or based on false history.

LA SELECCION FEMENINA DE RUSIA VENCE EN LA OLIMPIADA DE AJEDREZ DE TURQUIA
Alexandr Vilf

RIA Novosti
10/09/2012

La seleccion femenina de Rusia renovo el título de campeona de la
Olimpiada Mundial de Ajedrez que concluyo el pasado domingo en la
ciudad turca de Estambul.

En la 11ª ronda del torneo, Tatiana y Nadezhda Kosintsevi, Valentina
Gunina y Alexandra Kosteniuk derrotaron por 4 a 0 a la seleccion
de Kazajstan.

En el otro partido de la misma ronda, Ucrania se impuso ante China,
un resultado que dio ventaja a las rusas ante sus rivales chinas. Como
consecuencia, el conjunto chino termino en el segundo puesto, seguido
de las ajedrecistas ucranianas.

De esta forma, el equipo femenino ruso repitio el triunfo logrado
en la anterior Olimpiada celebrada en 2010 en la ciudad siberiana
de Janti-Mansiysk.

A su vez, los hombres rusos se llevaron la plata, al quedar por detras
de la seleccion de Armenia, mientras que el bronce fue para Ucrania,
al igual que en el torneo femenino.

JOHN HEFERN: USA EXPECTS EXPLANATIONS FROM BUDAPEST AND BAKU

ARMENPRESS
10 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: After the extradition from Hungary
to Azerbaijan the Azerbaijani perpetrator Ramil Safarov was not excused
but justified. According to Armenpress, it was stated by the General
Prosecutor of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan on September 10 after signing
an agreement with the US Ambassador to Armenia John Hefern. “I am
trying to evaluate the situation as a general prosecutor. This was a
justification, as only in this case everything, that the convict lost,
is restored”, – said the Armenian General Prosecutor.

Aghvan Hovsepyan reminded that Safarov was restored to his position and
received his salary for the previous 8 years and got a compensation
for material damages. “Safarov has not only restored all his losses,
but has also been given a “national hero” by Azerbaijan.

No president of a country has the right to forgive a person with
his decree, who was condemned by another country’s resolution”, –
said the General Prosecutor.

The Ambassador John Hefern mentioned that Washington expects
explanations on Ramil Safarov’s extradition and pardoning issue from
Baku and Budapest and in this context he will be quite consistent. He
re-stated the USA’s stand: the United States, as the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair country, is against any occurrencies, which may impact the
negotiations processes.

On February 19 2004 in Budapest Azerbaijani assassin Ramil Safarov,
who axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while sleeping,
when they were participating in NATO English Language Courses in the
capital of Hungary, was sentenced to life imprisonment without right
to be pardoned for 30 years. On August 31 2012 Safarov was extradited
from Hungary to Azerbaijan and was pardoned by the President Ilham
Aliyev. The murderer was advanced to mayor, provided with an apartment
and given “national hero”.

ARTHUR ABRAHAM CONGRATULATES ARMENIA’S NATIONAL CHESS TEAM

news.am
September 10

WBO Super Middleweight Champion-and former IBF Middleweight
Champion-Armenian boxer Arthur Abraham extended his congratulatory
message to Armenia’s men’s national chess team and to all Armenians.

“Our heroes proved to the world yet again that us, Armenians, excel
in our logic, deep thinking, flexible thinking, quick reaction, and
measured actions. This is yet another opportunity for us to be proud
to be Armenian, and to also praise that our motherland, Armenia,
is a chess superpower. I wish new triumphs to Armenia’s [national]
chess team,” Arthur Abraham’s message reads in particular.

As NEWS.am Sport informed earlier, Armenia’s men’s national team
triumphed at the 40th World Chess Olympiad, which was held between
August 28 and Sunday, in Istanbul, Turkey, and it was crowned world
champion for a third time.

Also, the Armenian national anthem was played and the national flag was
raised in Istanbul during the official closing ceremony of the event.

In addition, GMs Levon Aronian and Vladimir Akopian received medals
for best individual achievements. Aronian won another gold medal for
best results – seven points out of ten possible – on the first board.

Vladimir Akopian won silver medal for best results – 7.5 points out
of ten possible – on the third board.

In the final and decisive round, the Armenian team defeated Hungary
by a score of 2.5-1.5. Sergei Movsesian defeated Zoltan Almasi while
Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian and Levon Aronian ended their
games in a draw against Judit Polgar, Ferenc Berkes and Peter Leko
respectively.

To note, the Armenian men’s national chess team became Olympiad
champion for the first time in Turin in 2006, and it was crowned
champion for a second time in 2008 at the Chess Olympiad in Dresden.

And newly-crowned WBO Super Middleweight Champion-and former IBF
Middleweight Champion-Armenian boxer Arthur Abraham won this belt in
his championship belt bout, against the now former champion Robert
Stieglitz, which took place on August 25 in Berlin. Abraham was
declared the winner on unanimous decision, with the judges scoring
the bout 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113, all in Abraham’s favor.

NEW PUBLIC MOVEMENT CREATED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ARMINFO
Monday, September 10, 14:16

A new public movement has been created in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The movement has been founded by MP Vitaly Balasanyan (the key rival
of NKR President Bako Sahakyan during the last presidential election),
Chairman of the NKR Public Council for Foreign Policy and Security
Masis Mailyan and President of the Stepanakert Press Club Gegham
Balasanyan and has been named “Constitutional Artsakh.”

The founders of the movement said on Monday that Nagorno-Karabakh
has lots of unsolved problems requiring general public effort and
responsibility.

“The current authorities are breaking the constitution and are
debarring the people from governing their state. They are building an
anti-constitutional corrupt system, where national funds are spent for
their personal purposes. As a result, more and more people are leaving
the republic,” the founders said, adding that their goal is to solve
Nagorno-Karabakh’s problems and to restore the republic’s international
image with a view to attain its international recognition.

LEAKED DOC SUGGESTS AZERBAIJAN CHEATED HUNGARY – REPORT

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 10, 2012 – 14:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A restricted document issued by the Hungarian
Institute of International Affairs (MKI), leaked by news website
nol.hu last week, indicates that Hungarian authorities were misled
by Azerbaijan in connection with the handover of the Azeri officer
who killed an Armenian officer in Hungary eight years ago, according
to politics.hu.

The MKI’s head Botond Zakonyi said the leaking of the document,
which analyzed the diplomatic situation, had been “unfortunate”. The
Institute, a government agency for foreign affairs, regularly issues
such reports on key affairs of Hungarian diplomacy, he added.

The document, according to nol.hu, stated that Prime Minister Viktor
Orban had met Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to discuss the repatriation
of the prisoner. Aliyev promised him that the life-sentenced Ramil
Safarov would be kept behind bars, the doc said.

The MKI report concluded that Hungary had been misled by the Azeri
president, nol.hu reported, citing a copy of the document. It added
that Hungary was surprised by Safarov’s release and needed 24 hours to
formulate an official government position on the matter. The report
added that Azerbaijan tried to give the false impression there had
been an agreement with Hungary on Safarov’s release.

“Azerbaijan is much more important to Hungary at the moment than vice
versa,” the report said, adding that for this reason Budapest would
not openly say that the Azeri president had misled Orban.

The MKI suggested that Hungary should pursue a communications strategy
which made it plain that the release had been made without Hungary’s
consent. “We must speak of a misunderstanding,” the report said.

The report said it was clear that relations between Hungary and
Armenia would be icy for a period of time but it added that “in the
medium-term relations could be revived through hard work.”

Safarov was convicted in Hungary in 2006 for murdering the Armenian
officer Gurgen Margaryan two years earlier, when the two men attended
a NATO English-language course together.

ALEPPO CLASHES RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF ARMENIAN YOUNG MAN

ARMENPRESS
10 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: The situation in Aleppo got a
bit calmer on September 9, 10 as compared with the previous days,
yet the sounds of shelling are heard. In the words of Aleppo National
Primacy press secretary Jirayr Reisyan the clashes orchestrated in
the surroundings of Nor Gyugh resulted in the death of Armenian
nationality Vardan Byurklyan. The “Syrian Armenian emergency”
commission immediately got the incident site to show the necessary
assistance to the young man, yet they failed to save the life of
the sufferer. Nor Gyugh located stores belonging to our Armenian
compatriots suffered from September 9 shelling: many of them were
completely destroyed, Armenpress reports.

In the words of press secretary fortunately not an Armenian became
the victim in the explosion occurred on the same day in stadium nearby
territory. Reisyan also noted that a reservoir was damaged as result
of the clashes held between Government and rebel forces, reportedly
electricity and water supply has been suspended in some districts.

Relevant State Bodies immediately took measures to restore the
electricity and water supply. Yet the ongoing clashes hinder the quick
restoration works. Reisyan denied the rumors on the poisoning of the
water. Essential food prices keep escalating in Aleppo.

Over 20 thousand people died in the course of 18 months lasting
clashes in Syria. They resulted in the death of dozen of Armenians too.

AZERBAIJAN SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM UN SECURITY COUNCIL – UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA

news.am
September 07, 2012 | 20:42

MOSCOW. – Head of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan met
with the Hungarian Ambassador to Russia on Friday following a protest
action in front of the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow. Abrahamyan gave
the Ambassador a petition representing the protest action participants.

During the meeting, Abrahamyan presented the Union’s approach to the
reaction in Armenia following the extradition of Azerbaijani murderer
Safarov from Hungary to Azerbaijan and his immediate release there.

Abrahamyan also added that the Ambassador should write a letter to
the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in which he should assess the
extradition of the murderer, who was convicted for murder motivated
by ethnic hatred.

The Hungarian Ambassador promised to inform about the protest and
the demand of its participants the Hungarian authorities, as well
as he assured that the Hungarian people, as before, are kind to the
Armenian people.