Author: Kanayan Tamar

It is Turkey and not Lebanon to follow Syria- Shahan Kandaharian

news.am
August 21, 2012 | 23:24

YEREVAN.-Despite interreligious clashes in Tripoli, a city in northern
Lebanon, the situation will not aggravate and grow into a process
similar to Syrian developments, editor-in-chief of the Lebanon-based
Armenian newspaper Aztag Shahan Kandaharian said in an interview with
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

At present the situation in the north of the country is far from being
calm. Although clashes between Sunnis and Alawis are of permanent
character, it is possible to pacify the conflicting parties.

Asked whether there is a possibility to see the Syrian story taking
place in Lebanon in case of foreign intervention, Kandaharyan said
superpowers are hardly worried about Lebanon. Due to geopolitical
factor, the superpowers are more concerned about Syria, the editor
said.

To the question whether the superpowers will get engaged in settling
the Lebanese issue after resolving Syrian problem, Kandakharyan
responded that it won’t happen so quick since geopolitical actors
support not only opposition side but the Syrian authorities as well.

According to Kandaharian the next target might be Turkey, which
currently has problems with Kurdish rebels. Ankara’s call to UN to
establish protected buffer zone in northern Syria to accommodate
refugees is explained by the fact the Turkey cannot accept more than
one hundred thousand Syrian refugees.

This is conditioned by Turkey’s wish to protect itself `from the
Kurdish factor.’ There are about 70 thousand Kurd refugees from Syria
on the border who can join the rebels of Turkey and Iraqi Kurds
causing serious problems for the Turkish government.

If this happens the situation in Turkey may deteriorate and even lead
to country’s partition. Therefore, according to Kandaharyan, it is
Turkey, not Lebanon to follow Syria.

In the interreligious clashes in Tripoli seven military servicemen,
including an officer have been wounded, New TV reported. Clashes with
the use of guns and grenade launchers broke out between residents of
the two neighboring blocks – Alawite Jebel Mohsin and Sunni Bab el
Tabbane – on the night of August 21, shortly after midnight.

In the morning the Lebanese army managed to establish an uneasy truce.
In the shootings one person died and more than 15 got wounded.
Afterwards the reports about resumption of clashes in Tripoli were
spread.

Armenian central bank dismisses Iran’s financial operations through
Armenia to bypass sanctions

news.am
August 21, 2012 | 16:54

YEREVAN.- Iran’s possible financial operations through Armenia, in
order to bypass sanctions imposed by the West, would have influenced
Armenia’s financial market, said a representative of the Central Bank
of Armenia.

Head of financial monitoring department at the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) Daniel Azatyan commented for Armenian News-NEWS.am on the recent
publication by Reuters agency.

Azatyan said CBA would present the details in a statement which will
be issued in the near future.

In an article `Iran looks to Armenia to skirt sanctions’ Reuters cited
the report by U.N. panel of experts that monitors compliance with the
sanctions against Tehran. The report said Iran is seeking ways to
bypass sanctions.

`One state bordering Iran informed the Panel of requests from Iran to
open new financial institutions,’ the agency cited the report. The
article said several diplomats familiar with the report confirmed the
state is Armenia.

Among the possible partner banks the author mentions Mellat bank’s
Armenian branch and ACBA Credit Agricole. Nevertheless, ACBA executive
director Stepan Ghishyan dismissed the reports. As to Mellat, CBA said
the bank was disconnected from the international SWIFT system and
cannot accept international money transfers.

Indemnatory conclusion on Yerevan restaurant tragedy is forwarded to
prosecutor’s office

news.am
August 21, 2012 | 14:04

YEREVAN. – The indemnatory conclusion, with respect to the six people
who stand accused in the June 17 assault at Armenian capital city
Yerevan’s Harsnaqar Restaurant, is sent to the General Prosecutor’s
Office.

Once the prosecutor’s office approves the indemnatory conclusion, the
case will be forwarded to the court, Pastinfo News Agency informs.

The investigation team has rejected some of the petitions submitted by
the legal successor of the victim Vahe Avetyan and by representatives
of other injured parties. And the other petitions will be considered
while examination of the separated part of the case, the Police Public
Relations and Information Department informs.

To note, the investigation is still underway with respect to the
case’s part that is separated to find other possible participants in
this incident.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an incident had occurred at
Harsnaqar Restaurant on June 17, where several military doctors
including Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan, Garik Soghomonyan, Artak
Bayadyan and Vahe Avetyan were brutally beaten by security personnel.
And Vahe Avetyan died in hospital on June 29. A criminal case is
launched and the Police have detained six people.

The Restaurant’s owner is senior ruling party MP, Football Federation
of Armenia President, and businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan, who on July 3
formally submitted his resignation from his parliamentary seat.

Letter from Nowhere: off the map

The leafy boulevards of Stepanakert, capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, are
beginning to attract visitors, but to most of the international community
the republic doesn’t exist

– Dan Peleschuk
– Guardian Weekly, Tuesday 21 August 2012 13.59 BST

Breakaway … a boy joins in as Stepanakert residents celebrate after a
2006 referendum overwhelmingly approved a constitution declaring
Nagorno-Karabakh an independent state. Photograph: Karen Minasyan/AFP/Getty

In many ways, Stepanakert resembles a small American town on the
rise. Its main boulevards have been repaved, locals stroll through the
renovated central square past its elegant fountain, and hotels have
sprouted on every other block to hold the new influx of visitors.

There’s just one thing: it doesn’t really exist, and neither does the
ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, of which Stepanakert is the
capital. According to the rest of the world, the region belongs to
Azerbaijan, and no one – not even Armenia, Karabakh’s patron state –
recognises it.

But that doesn’t stop the self-proclaimed country from celebrating its 20
years of de facto independence this year. Patriotic banners flutter above
Stepanakert’s streets, and posters of the soldiers who during a bloody war
in the early 1990s helped wrest the land away from Azerbaijan line the
sidewalks.

Not long ago much of the city was in ruins and the economy virtually
non-existent. Today locals meander along leafy streets lined with new
banks, stores and government buildings. A tourism industry is slowly taking
root, as travellers from across the world descend on the tiny republic,
population about 141,000, in increasing numbers.

But under the surface are scars of a war that left more than 30,000
dead and many displaced. War is the only reason the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic exists. War – the memories of it, the fears of its return-is
what makes it tick. Perhaps the best reminder of this is Aghdam, the
ghostly shell of a former Azeri settlement levelled by Armenian forces
in 1993. Just a short drive from Stepanakert, the one-time city of
around 30,000 was reduced to grassy craters and jagged stone remnants
of former apartments, schools and community centres. Visible from the
only road that leads north to Karabakh’s famed ancient monasteries, it
is easy to notice.

Yet ordinary Karabakh Armenians are trying to capitalise on the
relative post-war stability. Even as border tensions have escalated in
recent months, which have seen deadly skirmishes between Armenian and
Azeri forces, small-time businessman Ashot Simonyan says foreign
visitors have continued to stream through his spare rental apartments.

“Everyone who comes here really loves it,” he says with a salesman’s grin.
“We have everything a tourist needs – it’s completely normal here.”

Every week Guardian Weekly publishes a Letter from one of its readers
from around the world. We welcome submissions – they should focus on
giving a clear sense of a place and its people. Send them to *
[email protected]

Arthur Abraham is ready to return the world champion title

11:52, 21 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian boxer Arthur Abraham is ready
both mentally and physically to return the title of world champion.
Armenpress was informed from the boxer who lives in Germany that he is
fully ready for the coming fight and his trainer Uli Vegner is
satisfied by his condition. “Everything is wonderful for me. It is a
long time that I am preparing for the coming fight. I am sure I will
win” said Arthur. `King’ Arthur is mentally ready for the fight and
such readiness is one of the guarantees of the success. `Only coach
can prepare the athlete mentally. The athlete will be ready mentally
only in case the coach assures him. Coach-athlete link must be similar
to father-son ties. I have overcome that obstacle’ said Arthur
Abraham. World famous boxer assures that he will struggle for victory.
The last training of Arthur Abraham which will be open for media and
fans is planned today in Berlin. About future planes Abraham will
speak after the fight.

The fight between Arthur Abraham and World champion Robert Stiglic
will take place on August 25 in Berlin. This year Arthur Abraham has
already gained two victories: on January 14 he defeated Argentinean
Pablo Oscar Farias and later defeated Polish boxer Piotr Vilshevsky.

Armenian Ambassador presented invulnerable legal grounds of NKR
independence recognition in Geopolitica

11:10, 21 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: The article entitled “Inevitability of
Nagorno Karabakh Republic independence international recognition”
authored by Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Italy Ruben Karapetyan was published in Geopolitica magazine issued by
Italian Institute for the Research and Related Sciences. As Armenpress
reports, there is a brief 20th century historical overview on
realization mechanisms of people’s self-determination right and on
political, legal, cultural and other factors and general directions of
historical dynamics in the basis of “emergence of new state units in
world political map”. Ruben Karapetyan presented consistent national
discrimination policy pursued by Azerbaijani authorities during Soviet
period aimed at threatening the physical existence of Armenian nation
making majority in Artsakh. The author dwelled on the existence of
invulnerable legal basis of international Recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s Independence. Armenian Ambassador
considered unpromising the rejection of independence acquired 20 years
before as a result of Artsakh people struggle simultaneously
underscoring “balanced approach adopted by international community
enable official Baku avoid NKR comprehensive and lasting conflict
resolution by peaceful way”. Ambassador Karapetyan notes NK
independence recognition is inevitable, as it is ridiculous to defend
human rights in one hand and stand for NK attaching to Azerbaijan. In
the words of Karapetyan it is impossible to “preach democracy on one
hand and to place upon an equal scale the rights of “small yet
democratic NKR people and the interests of energy-rich but dictatorial
Azerbaijan.

Anti-governmental forces did not capture any Armenian building in Aleppo

11:15, 21 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: The rumors that the armed opposition
forces of Syria captured Cilcia school of Aleppo do not correspond to
reality. During the conversation with Armenpress press secretary of
National Primacy of Aleppo Jirayr Reisyan also denied the information
that agedly the opposition forces wanted to capture the school and
faced the resistance of Armenians. However, Reisyan informed that on
August 19 and 20 clashes had taken place in the square of Jdiyde
district which is close to historical Armenian Church, Cilicia school,
National primacy. `Up to now the struggle between opposition and
governmental forces goes on reaching the central districts of the
city. In Suleimania where live great number of Armenians also took
place cashes. I can say for sure that any Armenian building has not
damaged, any Armenian has not died’ informed Reisyan. He also denied
the rumors that restaurant-pub Tar-Zamaria has been captured.

`It has not been captured as it is introduced in the media. The pub
where opposition forces can easily enter and come out was in the
epicenter of events’ mentioned Reisyan. In his words at present
residents do not have electricity and internet communication and
telephone service operates from time to time. Estimating the political
situation Reisyan assured that the opportunities and potential of
governmental forces are much higher. The security and safety of people
is national issue for them.

Syrian governmental forces continue to pursue the armed forces in
various districts of Aleppo, in region of Der Zor, Daraa, Latakia,
Hama having the aim to clear those territories from riots and
establish security there. During the clashes in above-mentioned
territories the opposition forces had losses, many of them have been
arrested and it turned out that among them are citizens of other
countries. Syrian SANA agency mentioned that the people play great
role by cooperating with governmental forces and giving them
information about location of opposition forces. Clashes took place in
several districts of Aleppo. The opposition sources inform that during
the last two days more than 150 people died in Daraa, Aleppo, Idleb
and villages of Damascus and among them 15 children and 4 women.

INTERNATIONAL
Soudan : Décès d’un arménien dans la chute d’un avion .

La compagnie aérienne soudanaise Alfa Airlines a annoncé lundi
l’ouverture d’une enquête pour déterminer les causes de la chute d’un
avion Antonov ayant tué la veille les 26 passagers à son bord, dont un
ministre soudanais, et six membres d’équipage `expérimentés`. Parti de
Khartoum, l’appareil An-26 transportait une délégation officielle
soudanaise vers la ville de Talodi au Kordofan-Sud, un Etat soudanais
en proie à une rébellion armée, où il s’est écasé. Le ministre
soudanais des Affaires religieuses, Ghazi al-Saddiq, se trouvait à
bord afin de célébrer l’Aïd el Fitr, la fin du jeûne du ramadan, dans
cet Etat soudanais.

Le responsable administratif d’Alfa, Mohammed Al-Hassan Taha, a
affirmé à l’AFP qu’une équipe de l’Autorité de l’aviation civile
soudanaise devait lancer lundi des investigations qui pourraient durer
au moins deux mois.

Peu après la chute de l’appareil, survenue au moment où il se
préparait à atterrir, certains officiels avaient mis en cause le
mauvais temps, d’autres une explosion d’origine indéterminée.

Le capitaine de l’appareil, un Russe, `volait avec cette compagnie
depuis cinq ans`, a affirmé à l’AFP un responsable d’Alfa Airlines,
Tilal Mohammed, au siège de la compagnie, en soulignant que les
membres d’équipage `n’étaient pas des débutants`.

Le navigateur, originaire du Tadjikistan, était employé par Alfa
depuis neuf ans et l’ingénieur de vol, un Arménien, avait trois ans
d’expérience, a précisé M. Mohammed. Le co-pilote était Soudanais.

Les compagnies soudanaises ont souvent recours à des équipages issus
des pays de l’ex-Union soviétique.

L’avion An-26, en service depuis 35 ans, avait passé les examens de
maintenance nécessaire, selon la compagnie.

Les accidents d’avion sont assez fréquents au Soudan, où la flotte est
vieillissante et dont la compagnie aérienne figure sur la liste des
transporteurs aériens interdits dans l’Union européenne car ils ne
respectent pas les normes de sécurité.

mardi 21 août 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Une tentative de suicide d’une adolescente empêchée en Arménie

Une tentative de suicide d’une jeune fille de 14 ans a été prévenue en
Arménie dans la ville de Kapan.

Le service de police de Kapan a reçu un appel anonyme à 13h00 qu’une
jeune fille était sur le point de sauter par-dessus le pont au
centre-ville. La police et les services sociaux de Kapan ont négocié
avec la jeune fille pendant environ 40 minutes afin qu’elle ait
franchi le pas.

La jeune fille a ensuite été remise à ses parents sous un contrôle des
services sociaux.

mardi 21 août 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Turquie : un député CHP interpellé par des combattants du PKK

Publié le : 20-08-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cet article publié sur le site des Amitiés kurdes de Bretagne
le 19 août 2012.

dimanche 19 août 2012
par Amitiés kurdes de Bretagne

Une unité combattante du PKK contrôlant la région de Tunceli (en kurde
Dersim) avait des questions à poser à Hüseyin Aygün, Kurde alévi,
député de Tunceli élu sur la liste du parti nationaliste CHP [1]. En
l’arrêtant le 12 août dernier, elle voulait aussi faire savoir que le
PKK était en train de changer de stratégie, passant du harcèlement de
guérilla à la guerre de moyenne intensité avec occupation du terrain,
à l’exception des centres urbains, et contrôle des axes de
communications.

L’adhésion d’Hüseyin Aygün, défenseur des droits de l’homme et du
zazaki, la langue des Kurdes de Dersim, à un parti comme le CHP,
interroge et agace. N’a-t-il pas fait aussi des déclarations
fracassantes au sujet des massacres de Dersim [2] ? Hüseyin Aygün a
donc été interpellé à un check-point et contraint de suivre ces
combattants, jeunes pour la plupart.

“Le groupe qui nous a barré la route me connaissait. Je n’ai subi
aucune violence. On ne m’a pas visé avec une arme. Nous avons marché
pendant six à sept heures” et d’ajouter, non sans humour :

“les montagnes de Dersim m’avaient manqué, mais… Personne ne doit
aller dans les montagnes” (c’est-à-dire rejoindre la guérilla).

Hüseyin Aygün dédramatise l’incident

Hüseyin Aygün a tenu, dès sa remise en liberté, à dédramatiser
l’incident en insistant sur sa dimension politique. Visiblement il
connaissant les jeunes qui ont pris les armes :

“les jeunes amis auteurs de cette action sont des enfants de ce pays.
Ils ont dit qu’à travers cette action, ils voulaient transmettre un
message de paix et un appel pour un cessez-le feu”.

Pour autant, on devine que les échanges verbaux furent rudes et sans
concessions :

“je leur ai dit que le fait d’enlever une personne sans défense qui se
promène dans les montagnes et les vallées de Dersim est contraire à la
volonté de la population de Dersim. J’ai indiqué que j’étais fier
d’être député du nouveau CHP à Dersim. Je n’ai pas été menacé. Ils ont
dit qu’ils attendaient du CHP et des autres partis politiques qu’ils
fassent plus d’efforts pour arrêter l’effusion du sang. Ils m’ont
demandé d’agir davantage au sein du parlement pour négocier un
cessez-le feu”.

Cette interpellation, parfaitement maitrisée mais réprouvée par tous,
comportait des risques de dérapages et de “coups tordus” que d’aucuns
avaient déjà anticipés : “ce rapt montre quel genre d’organisation est
le PKK”, a commenté le Premier ministre en annonçant “la traque des
terroristes”.

“N’oublie pas tes amis qui sont ici” m’ont-ils dit en m’embrassant.

H. Aygün n’a pas manqué de remercier tous ceux qui s’étaient
manifestés pour hter sa libération :

“je pense que les nombreuses réactions des organisations alévies, du
CHP et de la population de Dersim ont contribué à abréger ma
détention. Cette action avait pour but de transmettre à Ankara un
message pour une paix négociée. Lorsque nous nous sommes réveillés le
matin, Dr Bahoz Erdal [commandant en chef des HPG, branche armée du
PKK] a appelé pour se faire confirmer l’information. Il a expressément
demandé que ma sécurité soit assurée et ordonné ma libération [3].”

“Ils m’ont dit au revoir en indiquant que leur action avait atteint
son objectif. « N’oublie pas tes amis qui sont ici » m’ont-ils dit en
m’embrassant. A mon tour, je leur ai promis de travailler pour la
paix”.

Hüseyin Aygün a, une fois encore, surpris et agacé : il est convoqué
par le CHP.

André Métayer

Photo : DIHA

[1] Cumhurriyet Halk Partisi – Parti Républicain du Peuple – Parti
fondé par Atatürk censé être de gauche mais finalement conservateur,
chauvin et très nationaliste.

[2] Les massacres de Dersim ont fait, en 1937 et 1938, plusieurs
dizaines de milliers de victimes (40 à 80 000 selon les sources) et
noyé dans le sang ce foyer de résistance kurde. Hüseyin Aygün a
déclaré qu’Atatürk en personne et le CHP, son propre parti, en
portaient la responsabilité.

[3] Le BDP avait également envoyé sur place des représentants

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Source/Lien : Amitiés kurdes de Bretagne