Author: Kanayan Tamar

Saudi Arabian Prince brainwashed by Baku

June 15, 2012 – 19:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The international community should pressure Armenia
into abandoning its occupation policy, Saudi Arabian Prince Ben Khaled
Saud Ben Khaled said.

According to the prince, Saudi Arabia has always supported Azerbaijan
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Ben Khaled further stressed diplomacy as the Saudi Arabia the most
acceptable way to settle the conflict, Trend reported.

Increased instances of Azeri ceasefire violation have been reported recently.

Sources say that up to 25 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in Azeri
attacks in recent days in Tavush- Ghazakh zone of Armenian-Azerbaijani
border.

Azerbaijani authorities try hard to concoct reasons behind the deaths
and injuries on its side. In fact, these are saboteurs, killed or
wounded by Armenian armed forces who were trying to hinder Azeri
attacks. Thus, according to Azerbaijani authorities, Azeri soldiers
commit mass suicide, get blown up by mine, and die in accidents.

Civilitas Foundation thanks Norwegian Government for US$1.5 million
financial assistance

arminfo
Friday, June 15, 17:34

The Civilitas Foundation is proud to acknowledge the recent donation
of Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian in the amount of US$150,000 in support of
Civilitas activities. In addition, Civilitas wishes to acknowledge the
continued (and renewed support) of the Government of Norway in the
amount of US$1.5 million.

Civilitas continues to enjoy the support of the Black Sea Trust, the
US Embassy and Counterpart International / USAID for current programs.

Civilitas expresses thanks to all current donors as well as those with
whom we have partnered in the past. They are: the Government of
Germany, Government of Norway, Government of Poland, Government of
Switzerland (SDC), Government of the Netherlands, Government of the UK
(DFID), Government of the USA (USAID), OSCE, Eurasia Partnership
Foundation, The German Marshall Fund of the US / Black Sea Trust.
Special thanks go to Mr Jon Huntsman.

The criminal case against the Civilitas Foundation concerns the $2mln
transaction for the sale of Huntsman Building Products, an
Armenia-based company owned by US-based Polymer Materials and Huntsman
International, says the National Security Service of Armenia.

“As a result of some inaccuracies in the contract, the transaction was
not submitted to the tax authorities and therefore left untaxed. Of
the charity funds left in Armenia according to the wish of the
American side, as much as $1,135,000 was not spent for charity but was
transferred to accounts opened by the founder and president of the
Civilitas Foundation Vartan Oskanian and the Foundation’s trustee
Tigran Karapetyan, with part of the money used for personal needs. In
its turn, contrary to its own charter, the Civilitas Foundation failed
to report on the taxation of the $2mln provided to Polymer Materials
and Huntsman International for charity,” says the NSS, adding that the
case stipulates tax inspections, trade analyses, interrogations.

Assembly of Armenian Refugees from Azerbaijan concerned with the
silence of the international community
15.06.2012 18:00

Anna Nazaryan
`Radiolur’

Members of the Board of the Assembly of Armenian Refugees from the
Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan are concerned with
the reaction of the international community to the recent subversive
acts of Azerbaijan at the line of contact.

Member of the board Mariam Avagyan is annoyed at the approach of the
International Crisis Group, which speaks about the Azerbaijani
refugees, neglecting the issue of Armenian refugees.

The violations of the ceasefire regime at the line of contact were
terrorist, not subversive acts, member of the board Edward Poladian
said, in turn. He is concerned about the silence of the international
community, particularly the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Members of the Board of the Assembly of Armenian Refugees from the
Azerbaijan are confident that a city for refugees must be built in the
liberated territories, which must turn into a town of dialogue between
the peoples of the region. They are already working towards
implementation of the program.

`Stable but critical’ condition continues in Armenia’s real estate
market – newspaper

NEWS.AM
June 15, 2012 | 08:05

YEREVAN. – According to Akcern Real Estate Company President Hakob
Baghdasaryan, the stable but critical condition continues in Armenia’s
real estate market, Hayatsk daily writes.

`According to him, `we have a decline in demand in the real estate
market, but this has not caused a reduction in the prices. This is
conditioned [on the fact] that the volume of construction has not
increased, the construction material costs have not reduced – on the
contrary, there is a certain increase – , and we do not have a reduction
in the other domains, too.’

Commenting on the state of affairs in the region, Baghdasaryan notes
that there still is not such influx of people either from Iran, or
Syria, which will impact the demand for real estate [in Armenia],’
Hayatsk writes.

International community equalizes `aggressor’ and `victim’ – public figure

June 15, 2012 – 16:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A board member of the Assembly of Armenian Refugees
from Azerbaijan slammed the international community’s stance on recent
Azeri attacks at the line of contact.

`The international community tries to equalize the aggressor and the
victim,’ Susanna Melikyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

According to her, Azerbaijan through its attacks tries to use foreign
forces to pressure Armenia into making concessions. She noted that
even the visits of such high-level officials as U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton prove unable to suppress Azerbaijan.

Another Assembly board member Edward Poladov urged to draw a parallel
between Azeri attacks at present and 20 years ago during the fall of
Shahumyan.

`Twenty years ago, U.S. Secretary of State visited Baku and a few days
later Azerbaijan through Russian army’s support managed to seize
Shahumyan and the large part of Martakert province,’ he said.

Mr. Poladov noted that international community headed by the U.S.
continues to turn a blind eye to Azeri actions.

Armenian historian on national values

TERT.AM
14:29 – 15.06.12

Historian Alik Gharibyan calls for promoting a national upbringing in
the Armenian society, considering the measure very important in terms
of establishing state values.

`As [Armenian national hero and statesman] Garegin Nzheh would say, it
is necessary to think about a state upbringing. National holidays have
to be sanctified through generations; otherwise, we will have serious
problems ,’ he told today a news conference devoted to the Day of
National Symbols.

The expert proposed declaring June 15 a real holiday like the First
and Second Republic Days which are celebrated annually on May 28 and
September 21.

He stressed the importance of introducing a special flag ceremony in
secondary schools to breed patriotism in the younger generation.

`A pupil entering the classroom has to see the flag hoisted every day.
Even though s/he may be doing bad at school, that will be very
effective in terms of developing patriotism,’ he said, referring to
other countries’ practices.

Gharibyan noted that the Armenian state symbols, coat of arms and flag
have a history and are closely associated with the nation’s fate.

I am Well Aware of the Inefficiency and Inability of the Governing System
from the Inside of the System Itself

Friday, 15 June 2012 08:56

Karabakh-open.info’s interview with NKR National Assembly deputy, candidate
for the NKR President’s post, hero of Artsakh Vitali Balasanyan.

*- A Facebook user asked you a question concerning the 2005 parliamentary
elections. You lost those elections in the plurality system to your
opponent then. The electoral district comprised the defensive area of
Askeran region where you were a commander. How are you going to
winin the whole
country having lost the parliamentary elections in a region
where you are held in high esteem by the inhabitants?*

– I was first elected a deputy from Askeran region in 1991; I was a deputy
of the first convocation parliament. My defeat in the 2005 plurality system
elections was stipulated by the application of the enormous management
reserves and the atmosphere of fear and intimidation created by the
authorities. Opposition candidate Eduard Aghabekyan’s victory in the 2004
elections for Stepanakert’s mayor’s post served a reason for President
Arkadi Ghoukasyan to exert all the efforts for the defeat of all the
opposition candidates nominated in the plurality electoral system. I was
then a member of the opposition `ARF-Dashnaktsutsyun/Movement-88′ coalition
and was elected a deputy from their proportional electoral system list.

*- What served a reason for your nomination in the upcoming presidential
elections?*

– I am not an occasional figure in this country, I have certain programmes
and I am ready to implement them all. In order not to carry out pre-term
election talk I would rather touch upon the reasons for my nomination
during my election campaign.

*- What caused you to support Bako Sahakyan’s candidacy in 2007?*

– My decision was mainly stipulated by the social character of Bako
Sahakyan’s electoral
programmewhich I
accepted and was sure that he would manage to implement it. Five
years ago many of us elected today’s government with confidence in the
pre-election promises and with hope for real changes. Yet the years past
showed that our authorities had little to do with the principles and
programmes they had declared.

*- In 2007 you were a member of the opposition
`ARF-Dashnaktsutsyun/Movement-88′ parliamentary faction yet both
Dashnaktsutsyun and `Movement-88′ supported Bako Sahakyan in the
presidential elections. Why did these parties determine to change the
political stage?*

– I think you had better address the question to these parties. If they
supported Bako Sahakyan they are to bear responsibility for the
consequences of the policy and the activities carried out by the President.
I consider time showed that the parties had adopted a wrong decision which
resulted first of all in the default of the democratic political system of
Artsakh.

*- Within the period of 2007-2010 you were the aide to NKR President Bako
Sahakyan. Why did you resign?*

– Having worked as the aide to the NKR President I am well aware of the
inefficiency of the governing system and the authorities’ inability to
accept any advice or suggestions.
Today’s situation endangers the Karabakh conflict settlement in favour of
the Armenian nation, the development of our country, the prosperous life of
our citizens. The social injustice in the society causes disappointment and
pessimism which makes many of our compatriots leave the country the defense
of which cost the lives of thousands of Armenians.
This situation is unacceptable and requires changes. The years past have
shown that the authorities are unable to introduce any changes and if the
affairs remain as they
are the situation in the country will become tighter. The disagreement over
the policy carried out by the President led to my resignation.

*- In 2010 no opposition party had its participation in the parliamentary
elections because of which the democratic image of Artsakh greatly
suffered. There are certain opinions that the political forces predicted
the results of those elections. You were elected an NA deputy from the ARF
proportional election list. Was it a deal and what was your role in it?*

– I am generally against deals in politics. I do not exclude the fact that
some official circles could have arranged deals. Yet the political
experience of Armenia showed the failure of the parties and political
figures making deals. Being a non-party deputy I had no influence on the
ARF decisions. My standpoints of opposition and dissidence are quite
distinct: the different branches of the state authority and the state
system in general should function so that to secure the efficient activity
of the political opposition, to give way to dissidence, freedom of speech,
development of an independent media institution, the establishment of the
fourth estate. The one-pole system created during the latest years serves a
great obstacle for the development of Artsakh.

*- Another Facebook user believes that you became a deputy due to the
authority of the ARF-Dashnaktsutsyun. Do you agree with this statement?*

– Definitely no. As I have already mentioned I became a deputy still during
the first convocation parliament, in the elections of 2005 and 2010 I was
candidate number two in the proportional electoral list. I had quite
successful cooperation with the Dashnaktsutsyun party, during the campaign
we supplemented each other and gained a greater public confidence. Our
cooperation was not developed entirely due to the authority of either of
us. I am sure of the further development of my collaboration with the
high-principled members of the party.

*- Certain circles of the society are suspicious about the differences in
the governing methods of General of the National Security Service Bako
Sahakyan and General of the Defense Army Vitali Balasanyan. How are you
going to argue against the matter?*

– I have already touched upon the problem when speaking about the role of
the opposition. I assure the differences will be obvious still during the
campaign when I will present my election programme which was worked out
after consultations with experts; my team involves specialists who know for
sure the ways of realizing the programme. Concerning my being a military
man I will say that during the latest 13 years I held different political
posts, most of them elected ones. Participating in a number of election
campaigns I am conscious of the needs and expectations of our people and
also I have much to do with the views of the youth and freethinking people.

*- Before becoming a deputy you had held the post of the NKR Deputy Defense
Minister. Your resignation has been a mystery for the society so far. What
was the problem?*

– I was given no reasons upon demobilization but obviously the act was
performed through the violation of the law. You had better ask the question
those having adopted this decision then, they might tell you the reasons.

*- Your nomination supposes that you do not agree with the policy carried
out by the authorities. What do you especially disagree with?*

– During our conversation I have already mentioned some of the reasons. The
main problem is the day by day worsening social situation in the country,
the actual growth of poverty, the decay of the living standards of village
inhabitants.
The greatest problem for me is the Karabakh conflict settlement in favour
of the Armenian nation; no progress has been recorded in the process yet.
The NKR foreign policy is at a total standstill, having no Foreign Minister
for about a year is a testimony of the statement. We should aim to achieve
the international recognition of Artsakh and, therefore, gain the
opportunity to consolidate the security of our country by means different
political methods.

President Sargsyan visits the British Embassy on the Birthday of Her
Majesty Queen Elisabeth II

armradio.am
15.06.2012 12:05

President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Embassy of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Armenia on the occasion of the
National day of the UK – the Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth
II.

The President congratulated Ambassador Jonathan James and the staff of
the Embassy on the National Day.

Serzh Sargsyan underlined that with her activity the Queen has earned
the respect and love of not only her nationals, but also many peoples
of the world.

President Sargsyan and Ambassador Jonathan James discussed issues
related to the development of Armenian-British relations and the
expansion of cooperation.

Line of contact: Baku again rejects snipers withdrawal

Karabakh | 15.06.12 | 12:02

Azerbaijan effectively rejected the renewed international calls for
the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to unconditionally
withdraw snipers from `the line of contact’ and agree to joint
investigations of growing truce violations there, RFE/RL Armenian
service reports.

Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, the chairman-in-office of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, voiced such calls
when visiting Yerevan and Baku this week. He reportedly insisted on
the need for a concrete mechanism for such investigations after talks
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on Thursday.

News reports quoted Mammadyarov as saying that Baku agrees with the
idea, advanced by international mediators, in principle. `But that
mechanism could work only when Armenian troops start withdrawing from
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories,’ he said, according to the APA news
agency. `Only in that case can the mechanism be put into action.’

`If we start applying that mechanism now, that will only mean
reinforcing the status quo, which is unacceptable,’ Mammadyarov told a
joint news conference with Gilmore.

`If Armenia does not want its soldiers to die, then it must liberate
Azerbaijan’s lands. If this happens, there will be no need for
snipers,’ added the Azerbaijani foreign minister.

The Armenian side has voiced support for both sniper withdrawal and
joint investigations. Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed
this stance after his meeting with Gilmore on Tuesday.

U.S. professor calls for better study of iconography in Armenia

June 15, 2012 – 12:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Prof. Thomas F. Mathews, emeritus professor at New
York University’s Institute of Fine Arts, recently gave a talk on the
role of Armenian architecture in the international arena, at Columbia
University, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator reports.

The event was sponsored by the Armenian Center at Columbia University
and co-sponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies and
Research (NAASR) and Columbia’s Art History Department.

Mathews, along with Dr. Helen Evans of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
had been the curator of the 1994 exhibition, `Treasures in Heaven:
Armenian Illuminated Manuscripts,’ featuring Armenian illuminated
manuscripts at the Morgan Library and Museum, with curatorial
assistant Dr. Sylvie Merian.

In Armenian literature, there are voluminous sources of Armenia’s
conversion to Christianity. However, the most neglected treatise is
the Treatise on Images by Vertanes of Kertogh, which has been
translated by Dr. Sirarpie Der Nersessian. An article on this treatise
was published a few years ago by Mathews in the Revue des Etudes
Armenienne, Vol 31, 2008-2009. `Vertanes is the Pliny of Armenia,’
stated Mathews. His seventh-century Intellectual Dialogue on the
Christian Use of Icons, written in Dvin, is the earliest defense of
icons, and Vertanes mentions the wood materials and even the pigments
used with Persian names. These include icons of Christ, Peter and
Paul, the Mother of God and Saints Gregory and Hripsime.

Mathews said that the next important intellectual in this field was
John of Damascus who was secretary to the patriarch of Jerusalem in
the early eighth century. `The Byzantine rulers forbade the use of
icons because the people were worshipping the icons almost as idols
and not as symbols of Christianity or the Christian saints,’ he
explained. `This was the cause of a huge conflict between the Greeks
and Armenians, both doctrinally and ecclesiastically,’ he said. `The
icon phenomenon is larger than Byzantium.’

There is no evidence of icons in Armenia before the Arabs sacked Dvin
in 640 AD, because Armenian icons were painted on wood panels, which
are perishable, he said. In Egypt, the wood panels in St. Catherine’s
Monastery in Sinai survived because of the dry climate and because the
monks protected them.

There were stone icons in Armenia, which due to their weight did not
travel and their iconography was inspired by the wood icons
transported to Armenia. The stone relief in the Odzun church, which is
made of different stone than the rest of the church, dates before the
eighth century, the scholar said. `This relief was widely used in the
Byzantine world.’ There is a carved relief on a four-sided stone stele
at Harichavank where Mother Mary is wearing a necklace, and which has
been compared with the necklace on the Maria Regina icon in Rome,
561-579. There is also archeological evidence of stone reliefs at
Louvre, France, which were copies of Christian icons, and inspired by
the wood icons in Armenia. `Obviously all this iconography circulated
because they were painted on wooden panels.’

The Dvin Crucifixion, which is three feet high with a double-armed
cross, reveals the body of Christ gone, but His face enshrined in a
halo of glory. There are also horsemen on the side. This cross with
the human face `is the most complete venerating image,’ Mathews said,
adding that the crucifixion `is the first and most formidable problem
of theology. And this `Christ in Glory’ iconography is found from
Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Anatolia, Armenia and Constantinople to
Rome.’

Armenia is part of this larger world, which centers on this concept of
Christ on the cross. Mathews believes that the iconography for the
Dvin relief was based on a second-century wooden triptych from Egypt.
This would explain how the iconography of the horses got to Dvin: on a
wooden icon, the crucifix icon is on a cross with a pair of horsemen.

For Armenia, `there aren’t ancient treatises. There is art and
sculpture. However, iconography in Armenia still has to be
investigated,’ he said in conclusion.