Author: Kanayan Tamar

Nagorno-Karabakh celebrates Independence Day

tert.am
10:18 – 02.09.12

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan addressed a message on the
occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Independence Day.

The message runs:

`Dear Artsakhians,
I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of Independence Day.

It’s been more than two decades that you have been healing the wounds
inflicted by the war unleashed by the short-sighted authorities of
Azerbaijan; you are restoring to life your villages and towns
devastated by the deadly bombs and missiles, your homes and schools;
you are building and beautifying the land of your ancestors. Today, we
state with confidence that the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is an
accomplished state – democratic and developing. It is obvious for the
entire world, even for those who hate to admit it.

In 1991, when the people of Artsakh were making their historic
decision, we told Azerbaijan that the Armenians must not be
underestimated. Our words fell on deaf ears. We said that we didn’t
want war but we were ready and would fight. And again our words fell
on deaf ears. We said that we were not afraid of maniacs, sadists and
murderers, that we had already seen that. Once again our words fell on
deaf ears. And they unleashed war which had one clear-cut goal -to
wipe the Armenians out from the territory of Artsakh, or at least to
expel them. The program of ethnic cleansing failed, as will fail every
new one.

Today, we state the same: the Armenians must not be underestimated; we
don’t want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win; we are not
afraid of murderers even of those enjoy the highest patronage. And
again our words fall on deaf ears. Well, they have been warned.

Recently, we have witnessed a morbid episode. The one who killed with
an axe a sleeping Armenian officer was set free. We expect the
response of the international structures as well as of the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs on this. However regardless of the response, on behalf of
the people of Artsakh and the entire Armenian nation, I would like to
pose a question – after what has happened, is there a living soul on
this planet who will advise the people of Artsakh to become part of
Azerbaijan, a country where illicit orders set free and publicly
glorify every bastard which kills people only because they are
Armenians?

A greater disgrace for the European justice is hardly to be imagined,
particularly for Armenia and Artsakh, because it was looked upon for
guidelines, but now we have seen another face of it.

Dear compatriots, unfortunately the history of Artsakh has never been
short of the invaders and brigands. We know that, we also know how to
send them right where they belong – to the cesspit of history. We have
been doing it regularly, and if needed, will do it again.

Almost daily, and particularly in recent days, we are witnessing new
proofs on how justified the choice made by the people of Artsakh 21
years ago was. We continue to receive new striking evidence what was
in store for the people of Artsakh. Today is a great day, and nothing
can spoil our glorious holiday. I wish your families peace and
prosperity.
Long live free Artsakh – embodiment of Armenian dignity!’

MUSIQUE
« Les Nouveaux Noms » en Concert

L’association Solidarité Protestante France- Arménie, présente Les
Nouveaux Noms, formation musicale composée de jeunes instrumentistes
gés de 10 à 25 ans.

Créée en 1989 sous la direction Silva Mekinian, ancienne directrice de
l’Opéra National d’Arménie et ex vice-ministre de la Culture, les
Nouveaux Noms se produiront en France en région et à Paris, du 30
septembre au 9 octobre 2012.

Ces jeunes talents sont tous lauréats de concours et de festivals
nationaux et internationaux. Ils se sont produits à la Banque Mondiale
(Washington), au Parlement du Canada (Ottawa), au Bureau central de la
Radio « Liberté » (Prague), à l’école de musique de Y. Ménuhin
(Londres), à l’ONU, ainsi qu’à Boston et New York. En Grèce, Iran,
Russie, Autriche, Monaco, Erevan et Venise.

En 2006, deux tournées de concerts, labellisés par « l’Année de
l’Arménie », avaient été donnés dans plusieurs villes de France.

Le but essentiel de cette création a été de découvrir et de soutenir
de jeunes virtuoses, représentant aujourd’hui la culture de l’avenir.

Les 30 jeunes musiciens inclus dans les projets, sont élèves de
différents établissements de musique, entraînés par les soins de
professeurs du conservatoire Komitas, Une branche du projet a été
créée à Gumri, en 2007, afin d’encourager les jeunes talents de cette
ville, mais aussi en 2008, à Vanadzor.

Le programme propose un large éventail musical, allant de la musique
classique, en passant par le jazz et la musique folklorique
arménienne.

Participation : adultes :10 Euros, plus de 12 ans : 8 Euros et moins
de 12 ans : gratuit

Renseignements : 06.11.98.37.12

L’oeuvre de la SPFA étend son action humanitaire jusqu’en Artsakh.
Elle subventionne une colonie de vacances (Khatchen), un internat
(Vardachen), parraine des familles arméniennes, un restaurant du coeur
à Gumri, fournit divers matériaux dédiés à la rénovation
d’habitations, etc.

voir diaporama ICI

Lien de l’association plus bas

dimanche 2 septembre 2012,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2012

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: Safarov’s return not contrary to international law

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 1 / Trend M.Aliyev /

Return of Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan is a matter of relations between
Azerbaijan and Hungary, which was resolved in the framework of the law
and is not contrary to norms and principles of the international law,
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said at a
press briefing on Saturday.

“As for the Armenian side, Sargsyan’s hysterical statements, who is
one of the leaders of the group that committed the Khojaly genocide
with cruelty, are nothing like show and populism” -, Abdullayev said.

He reiterated that Ramil Safarov is an officer of the Azerbaijani army
and his return to Azerbaijan is not in contrary with any laws.

“We do not encourage the terrorists as Armenian leaders and don’t
looking for excuses for them,” – Abdullayev said.

Chess Base, Germany
Sept 2 2012

2012 Chess Olympiad Istanbul: Round five

02.09.2012- Today saw a number of match-ups of powerhouse teams in the
Open section. On the first match table, two-time Olympiad Champion
Armenia defeated defending champions Ukraine 2,5-1,5, with Aronian
scoring against Ivanchuk. GM Alejandro Ramirez wrote “Beautiful game
by Lev, dude’s a monster” – and sent us his analysis of the game Levon
Aronian vs Vassily Ivanchuk. GM analysis.

The 40th Chess Olympiad is scheduled to take place in the Turkish
metropole of Istanbul, from August 27 to September 10th, 2012. A
record of 158 national chess federations have brought teams to
Istanbul to participate in this prestigious event, which is being
staged in the WOW Hotel and Convention Center, just minutes away from
the airport.

Round five

Armenian Super GM and World #2 Levon Aronian (above middle, with
team-mate Sergei Movsesian and Armenian trainer Arshak Petrosian)
played the only decisive game in the match against Vassily Ivanchuk.
Aronian went up an exchange and sealed the fate of Ivanchuk and the
Ukrainian team a few moves later. Armenia scored a 2,5-1,5 victory.

The Russian and Hungarian teams engaged on the second match table,
pitting the long-time friends and competitors Kramnik and Leko (above)
against each other. The spectators were happy to see something that
wasn’t a Petroff between these two players. 32 moves later a quiet
draw was taken. But on the board next to them Grischuk slashed and
hacked at Almasi’s defenses until all that was left was yet another
simple tactical sequence to finish him off. The Russians had stuck the
proverbial fork into their Hungarian competitors and finished them off
2,5-1,5.

The Azeri’s and Chinese teams demolished their Canadian and Iranian
counterparts with a 3,5-0,5 score in each case, while France suffered
their first loss against the Croatian team with score of 2,5-1,5. On
the fifth match table we saw the USA held to yet another draw by the
Czech team. The US team has their work cut out for them, still having
to face the chess giants of Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, China, and
Azerbaijan.

In the Women Section Russia quickly secured the decisive advantage
against France, with the two victories on the lower boards. Sophie
Milliet could only reduce the losing margin after the European
Champion Valentina Gunina ran into a checkmate. Russia won 2,5-1,5 to
assume sole lead as the only team with a perfect score.

Serbia once again excelled as they defeated their Bulgarian neighbors
by a score of 2,5-1,5. Ana Benderac, returning to the playing arena
after being a captain for several years, won against Elitsa Raeva. The
experienced Margarita Voiska turned the tables against Andjelija
Stojanovic to even the score, but Maria Manakova continued to play in
fantastic shape to score her 5th consecutive victory and bring two
match points for Serbia.

Poland achieved a narrow victory against Greece, thanks to Jolanta
Zawadzka, while Slovakia won with the same result against Latvia,
where Veronika Machalova won the crucial game on the fourth board.

Harika Dronavalli made a good start for India in the match with China
as she held the World Champion Hou Yifan to a draw with the black
pieces. Yifan admitted that she couldn’t find any advantage against
the ultra-solid defence. Indian IM Karavade carelessly maneuvered a
knight into enemy territory with no where to escape. On the bottom
three boards the Chinese team scored three victories to obliterate the
Indian team with a 3,5-0,5 score.

Georgia and Ukraine, as well as Slovenia and Israel, tied their
matches with draws on all four boards. The US suffered a devastating
3-1 loss against Vietnam, who gave up an average of 158 rating points
to the Americans. Perhaps the US players were bored to death with the
lifeless London System showing up on boards 1 and 3 and dropped their
defences, losing those games. Interestingly enough boards 2 and 4 both
saw Caro-type formations for the Vietnamese ladies, where they split
the games.

For results, go to

Inquirer.net, Philippines
Sept 1 2012

Armenians stop PH run

By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Round 4 Standings

Open

8 points – Ukraine Hungary, Armenia, Russia: 7 points – Germany, France,
Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Argentina, United States, India, Canada,
England, Croatia, Montenegro; 6 points – China, Spain, Bulgaria, Israel,
Philippines, Poland, Brazil, Georgia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina,
FYROM, Serbia, Vietnam, Italy, Ireland, Kyrgyztan, Paraguay, Qatar,
Iceland, Peru, Iran

Women

8 points – Russia, France; 7 points – Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland,
Georgia, Ukraine, Latvia, Slovakia, China, India; 6 points – Moldova,
Hungary, Vietnam, United States, Slovenia, Israel, Ecuador, Czech
Republic, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Spain, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, South
Africa, Philippines, Montenegro, Switzerland, Estonia, Costa Rica,
Argentina

ISTANBUL, Turkey – Grandmaster Wesley So forged a draw with world No. 2
GM Levon Aronian in their board 1 tussle, but the Philippines fell
short of holding mighty Armenia to a standoff and lost, 1.5-2.5,
Friday in Round 4 of the 40th Chess Olympiad.

Pitted against the highest rated player here with an Elo of 2816, So
(2652) showed his talent, splitting the point with the white pieces
after 51 moves of a Ruy Lopez-Rio Gambit Accepted.

GMs Oliver Barbosa (2554) and Mark Paragua (2508) likewise drew with
touted opponents Sergei Movsesian (2698) and Vladimir Akopian (2687),
respectively, on boards 2 and 3, at the Istanbul Expo Center.

But International Master Oliver Dimakiling, treading an unfamiliar
line with black, saw his three-game winning run in board 4 broken in
just 25 moves of a Blumenfeld Variation by GM Gabriel Sargissian
(2693).

Despite their first loss in the 11-round tournament, however, the
Filipinos remained track for a top 20 finish in the Open division that
lured a record 158 countries to this historic metropolis.

The Filipinos, sharing 16th to 36th spots with 6.0 match points, will
try to bounce back when they tackle the Icelanders in Round 5 starting
at 3 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) Saturday.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre (Elo 2649), whose mother was buried in
Manila Saturday morning, will finally suit up, facing GM Throstur
Thorhallsson (2426) as he takes over board 3 from Paragua.

So will tangle with GM Hannes Stefansson (Elo 2515), Barbosa will
tackle GM Henrik Danielsen (2506), while Paragua will battle IM Dagur
Arngrimsson (2375) when he slides to board 4.

The Filipino women, with streaking Janelle Mae Frayna (1991) at the
helm, notched their second straight 3-1 victory at the expense of the
Mexicans and also wheeled back into contention in the Women’s division
with 6.0 points.

Frayna, a Far Eastern University BS Psychology freshman, who posted
the Philippines’ highest finish of 22nd in the girls’ World Juniors in
India last year, bids for win No. 5 when she faces WIM Cecile Van der
Merve in board 2.

WIM Catherine Perena meets WGM Melissa Greeff on board 1; Jedara
Docena clashes with WIM Denise Frick on board 3 while De La Salle
mainstay Jan Jodilyn Fronda eyes her third consecutive triumph against
Woman Fide Master Tshepang Tlale on board 4.

Against Mexico, the 16-year-old Frayna won over WIM Lorena Alejandra
Mendoza Velasquez; Perena beat WFM Carime Real Pereyra, and Fronda
bested Janet Sarai Vasquez Flores.

So, who stretched his unblemished record against 2700+ opponents to 34
matches, merited praise from Aronian, one of only six players ever to
breach the 2800 barrier, in an interview after the fifth round.

Tempo, Philippines
Sept 1 2012

Chessers fall prey to Armenia

Posted by Online on Sep 2nd, 2012

International Master Oliver Dimakiling’s three-game winning streak
ended Friday as the Philippines dropped a 2.5-1.5 decision over
third-ranked Armenia in the fourth round of the 2012 World Chess
Olympiad in Turkey, Istanbul.

Grandmasters Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa, and Mark Paragua held their
own against higher-ranked opponents, but Dimakiling found GM Gabriel
Sargissian too tough to handle at board four.

Ranged against an opponent with an ELO rating of 2693, Dimakiling (ELO
2428) mishandled the Nimzo Indian with black, fell into deep time
trouble and resigned after 25 moves.

National Master Sammy Estimo, who served as team captain in many
Olympic campaigns, said Dimakiling fell prey to Sargissian’s opening
preparations.

`Oliver is a strong black player, but Sargissian came up with a
novelty. Oliver had to give up a pawn to free his position, but
eventually folded up,` said Estimo who followed the game on Internet.

Sargissian still had 45 minutes and 10 seconds in his clock when
Dimakiling, down to 1:39, resigned.

So and Barbosa continued their solid play in the top two boards.
Playing white, So (2652) faced the top-ranked player in the field, GM
Levon Aronian (2816), and engaged him in an entertaining 51-move draw
of the Ruy Lopez Opening.

So had a rook and a king against Aronian’s knight and two unconnected
pawns in the final position.

Barbosa (2554), on the other hand, did not give GM Sergei Movsesian
(2698) an inch in their English battle that ended in 37 moves with
both players having identical two rooks, one knight and five pawns.

In contrast, Paragua (2508) was lucky to escape with a draw against GM
Vladimir Akopian (2687) in 45 moves of a Slav defense.

Estimo said Paragua had been shaky in these early stages of the tournament.

`Macky (Paragua) was losing against Kazakhstan, but somehow managed to
win. Akopian could have avoided the repetition of moves and pressed
for a win, but time was not on his side,` Estimo said.

Akopian had two rooks and three pawns, two connected as against
Paragua’s rook, two knights and one pawn. But the Armenian had only
four minutes and 30 seconds left as against Paragua’s comfortable 25
minutes.

The loss after three straight wins dropped the Philippines into a tie
for 16th place with 20 other nations, including regional rivals China
and Vietnam with 6 points apiece under the match play style of
scoring. A win is worth 2 points while a draw is worth 1 point.

China bowed to Russia, 1-3, while Vietnam smashed Indonesia, 3.5-0.5.

Former Olympic champions Armenia and Russia share the lead with
perfect 8 points with Ukraine and Hungary.

Ukraine, drawing the full point from its top three players, clobbered
Poland, 3-1, while Hungary whipped Slovakia, 3-1.

The Filipinos hope to bounce back against Iceland in the fifth round Saturday.

The Philippines is hoping to improve on its 50th place finish in
Russia two years ago, its worst since joining the biennial event in
1956.

In women’s play, the Philippines toppled Mexico, 3-1, with WIM
Catherine Perena, Janelle Mae Frayna and Jan Jodilyn Fronda providing
the wins.

Perena defeated Diane Carime Real Pereya, Frayna humbled WIM Lorena
Alejan Mendoza Velasquez and Fronda disposed of Janet Sarai Vazquez
Flores.

WFM Ruly Ylem Jose lost to Ivette Ale Garcia Morales in board two.

With the win, the Filipinas leaped to a tie for 13th spot with 6
points with 18 nations, including Vietnam.

Russia and France pace the women’s event with 8 points.

The top nations in the Open division:

8 points – Ukraine, Hungary, Armenia, Russia

7 – Germany, France, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Argentina, United
States, India, Canada, England, Croatia, Montenegro

6 – China, Spain, Bulgaria, Israel, the Philippines, Poland, Brazil,
Georgia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, FYROM, Serbia, Vietnam,
Italy, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Qatar, Iceland, Peru, Iran

US Department of State
Sept 1 2012

Pardon of Azerbaijani Soldier

Press Statement
Patrick Ventrell
Acting Deputy Spokesperson, Office of Press Relations

Washington, DC
August 31, 2012

The United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President
of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who
returned to Baku today following his transfer from Hungary. Mr.
Safarov had been serving a life sentence in a Hungarian jail for
murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan during a 2004 NATO
training event in Budapest.

We are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action
and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details from
Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to Azerbaijan.

We condemn any action that fuels regional tensions.

PRN: 2012/1369

Deutsche Welle, Germany
Sept 1 2012

Tension escalates between Armenia and Hungary

Hundreds of protesters burnt flags outside the Hungarian consulate in
the Armenian capital, Yerevan. The extradition of a prisoner to
Azerbaijan has fueled tension in the Caucasus.

The AFP news agency reported that several hundred angry demonstrators
burned a flag and threw eggs and tomatoes outside the Hungarian
consulate on Saturday.

They were upset with Hungarian authorities for sending a prisoner who
had murdered an Armenian national back to his native Azerbaijan, where
he was pardoned.

Azerbaijani Lieutenant Ramil Safarov had been serving a prison
sentence in Hungary, where he had killed an Armenian officer while
both were attending a training course at a military academy in the
capital, Budapest, in 2004.

The Armenian solder confessed that he had hacked the victim to death
in revenge for his comments allegedly insulting Azerbaijan. The
murderer was then sentenced to life in prison by a Hungarian court and
extradited now, after having served eight years of his sentence.

Instead of having him serve out his sentence, Azerbaijan pardoned the
murderer upon his return, reinstated him to the army and promoted him
to the rank of major.

This prompted Armenia to cut diplomatic ties with Hungary, accusing it
of having struck a deal to secure energy deliveries from oil-rich
Azerbaijan, with which it has been developing close economic ties.

The latest flare-up highlights tensions in the volatile Caucasus
region. Relations between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan, two
former Soviet republics, are tense.

They fought a war over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh in the
1990s, when Armenian-backed separatists had seized the region from
Azerbaijan. The fighting left some 30,000 people dead.

Despite a cease-fire in 1994, there has not been a final peace deal,
and firefights still erupt frequently along the Karabakh frontline
despite international mediation efforts by Russia, France and the
United States under the auspices of the OSCE.

US President Barack Obama has reacted to the latest developments and
said he was “deeply concerned” about Azerbaijan’s actions.

This criticism was rejected by Azerbaijan, which has insisted the
pardon of the soldier was in line with a European legal convention on
extradition.

,,16214354,00.html

Safarov’s extradition casted Hungary into a political scandal

18:36, 1 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The opposition fractions of the
Hungarian parliament demand the government to present the reasons for
the extradition of Ramil Safarov. Some of them have also demanded the
Minister of Justice of hungary to step down. Armenpress was informed
about the positions of three leading opposition parties on this
matter.

The chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Socialist Party,
former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary László Kovács also
demanded the Hungarian parliament to have an extraordinary session to
discuss the decision of the Hungarian government to extradite Ramil
Safarov to Azerbaijan. About this Armenpress was informed by the
Socialist Party.

`The members of Orban government bear responsibility for the pressure
that is being applied on Hungary by the international community’,
Kovács mentioned stating that the extradition of an Azerbaijani
national who killed Armenian officer had triggered huge international
pressure. He also demands Hungarian government to present the reasons
for the extradition of Safarov. László Kovács, who served as the
European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, considers that
one of the reasons for the extradition may have been the purchase of
Hungarian state bonds by Azerbaijan, that’s to say big money played
their role.

Hunagrian Socialist Party is the biggest party in the country’s
parliament with 48 members in a parliament with 300 members.

Hungarian opposition `Democratic coalition’ party demanded the
resignation of Hungarian Minister of Justice and also to set the
extraordinary session of the parliament. This left-centrist party is
headed by former prime-minister Ferenc Gyrcsány. It was established in
2010 as a part of the Hungarian Socialist Party, but later in 2011,
these two parties separated creating distinct parties and fractions in
the parliament. This part has 10 members in the Hungarian parliament.

Besides, Hungarian LMP opposition party blamed the government for
getting into financial deals with Azerbaijan.

On February 19 of 2004 in Budapest Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov
slayed with an ax Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan when the latter
was sleeping. The two officers were taking part in English language
courses in framework of NATO program in Budapest. Hungarian court
sentenced Ramil Safarov to life imprisonment, without a right to be
pardoned during the first 30 years in jail. On August 31 of 2012
Hungarian authorites made a decision to extradite Safarov to
Azerbaijan.

Karabakh most accomplished unrecognized state in FSU region – expert

TERT.AM
17:53 – 01.09.12

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is the most accomplished country among
the unrecognized or semi-recognized states on the post-Soviet area, an
Armenian analyst has said.

`Karabakh won in the war and is in control of the territory,’
Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Caucasus Institute, told
reporters on Saturday. `The people in Karabakh have managed to create
political mechanisms which, despite having problems like in many other
states, do really work.’

The expert noted that the country, which has a constitution and an
elected government, also has an opposition which, though not developed
enough, demonstrates trends of pluralism.

`The main conclusion to be drawn from the past history is that
Karabakh has to be accepted as an accomplished state,’ he said.

Addressing the problems and challenges the country faced, Iskandaryan
pointed out to demographic issues and the development of Karabakh’s
political system, as well as the military-political balance between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.