Author: nina hovnanian

ALGERIAN BUSINESSMAN THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET AGAINST FRANCE BREAKING

Sabah
Jan 13 2012
Turkey

Rachid Nekkaz, a French businessman of Algerian heritage has set up a
fund in order to help pay for the costs of being fined for denying
Armenian allegations, should the bill be passed by the French senate.

Nekkaz says, “I have set up a one million euro fund (two million, 350
thousand liras) in order to pay for potential fines that could occur.

Turkey is no longer the ‘sick man of Europe’. And in order to show
this, Turkey must display their stance against France in the harshest
of manners. Because, this is the language France understands.”

Nekkaz showed the check for the fund he has established in order to
help pay for potential fines. The French businessman’s name had
previously surfaced to the limelight in connection to another fund he
had established in order to pay for potential fines associated with
France’s burqa regulations. In Turkey, Nekkaz held a press meeting at
the Fatih office of the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for
Oppressed People, or MAZLUM-DER.

Commenting on the ‘denial bill’ which was passed by the French
Parliament, Nekkaz stated that Sarkozy’s statements which followed the
passing of the bill by the Assembly, was equivalent to staging a war
against the Turkish government and public. Nekkaz also drew attention
to Sarkozy’s conducting policies in favor of Armenians being directly
representative of his intentions to win over the 500,000 votes of
Armenian residents in France and stated that in light of the games
being played, he considers the Turkish public’s reaction to be
appropriate.

A HANDCUFFED MEETING

Emphasizing that the initiative amounts to an attack on Muslim
nations, Nekkaz states, “Turkey is no longer the ‘sick man’ France
thinks it is. Turkey should convey its reaction on every platform and
in the harshest manner.” Nekkaz also announced that should the law
proposal be passed by the French Senate, they plan to protest the
ruling on January 23rd with a press meeting which they will hold with
their hands in handcuffs. Nekkaz states that he hopes to use the fund
to pay his own fine that he will be given for his criticisms and
expressed that he also wants to be the first person subjected to a
political arrest on the matter.

Nekkaz also relayed the following suggestions to the Turkish
government: “If the bill is passed by the senate, then Turkey should
not remain silent. Turkey’s Grand National Assembly should meet
immediately in order to bring the Algerian genocide to the agenda and
reach a ruling. I feel like I am a Turk.” The businessman also
referred to one question by stating that despite the Algerian Prime
Minister’s intentions to appear close to France, the views of the
Algerian public differ.

SENATE TO MEET ON JANUARY 18TH

The French Senate will be deliberating the law proposal which would
deem denying Armenian allegations regarding incidents that transpired
in 1915 as a crime on January 18th. The Socialist Party senators,
which make up a majority of the senate, are currently divided on the
law proposal.

CHINGIZ ASGAROV: “ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OF OUR WORK CAN BE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT’S RECOGNITION OF THE FACT OF THE OCCUPATION OF ONE FIFTH PART OF AZERBAIJANI LANDS BY ARMENIA”

APA
Jan 12 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Interview with Chingiz Asgarov, Azerbaijan’s authorized
representative at the European Court of Human Rights

– On January 9, 2012, the European Court of Human Rights declared
admissible the application of the Azerbaijani internally displaced
persons v. Armenia, and also the application of the Armenian refugee
v. Azerbaijan. Could you give detailed information about these
applications?

-In April, 2005, Elkhan Chiragov and five other internally displaced
persons from Azerbaijan’s Lachin region filed an application against
Armenia to the European Court. The Azerbaijani government used the
right to attend the hearing as the third party. This was one of the
thousand applications filed by Azerbaijani citizens against Armenia.

Approximately, a year and a half later a citizen of Armenia filed
an application against Azerbaijan. The applicant claimed that he had
lived in Gulustan village of Azerbaijan’s Goranboy region by 1992 and
was obliged to leave for Yerevan as a result of the military conflict.

The date and text of the application shows that this is the reaction
of the Armenian side to Azerbaijan’s activity at the European Court.

Though this claim “was a little late”, the European Court started
considering the applications simultaneously. On September 15, 2010,
open hearings were held in Strasbourg.

Members of the British human rights organization represent the IDPs
from Lachin on their initiative.

Under the instructions of the Head of State, the Azerbaijani government
did much to gather evidence, outstanding international experts on
human rights were also involved in the process. As the lawyers of the
applicants did not have opportunities to gather necessary materials,
all the main documents were gathered and submitted to the European
Court by the Azerbaijani government.

– What issues do the European Court’s decisions touch?

– The decisions made by the European Court on January 9, 2012 have an
interim character. The court considers only the admissibility of the
suits in this phase. The essence of the issue and the backgrounds,
which are significant for identification of the violation of Human
Rights Convention, will be considered in the next phase.

The comments on the facts, the theory, are very important in both
decisions along with the legal conclusions. The decisions say that
as a result of military actions, Armenians occupied not only the
territory of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region, but also seven
nearby regions, territories of which are two times larger than Nagorno
Karabakh. About 800 000 Azerbaijanis and other non-Armenian nations
were forced to leave their permanent residence and became internally
displaced persons.

The court noted that no one Azerbaijani lives in the occupied
territories today.

I repeat again that the legal issues, including the issue of violation
of the rights of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons by the
Republic of Armenia, will be considered in the next phase.

Azerbaijan, in the words of the European Court, submitted direct and
indirect evidences, which prove that the territory named as “Nagorno
Karabakh Republic” is a “new administration subordinated to Yerevan”.

I consider that these evidences are significant for bringing Armenia
to responsibility for violation of the rights of Azerbaijani internally
displaced persons.

The decision about the admissibility of the Sargsyan’s claims against
Azerbaijan is also interesting.

The issues raised by Chiragov and others against Armenia were touched
upon in the complaint. It also contains claims about the destruction
of an Armenian cemetery in the territory of Azerbaijan. But this part
of the complaint has had no perspective since very beginning and it
is not surprising that the European Court rejected this claim and
noted that the complainant had no right to introduce himself as a
“victim” of violation of the Convention.

In substance, while considering the claim of Armenian side, the
court must first of all settle the jurisdiction issue, in other
words, must pass decision on Azerbaijan’s responsibility because
of infringement of principles of the European Convention on Human
Rights. The Azerbaijani government announced in the European Court
that Gulustan village is situated in the contact line of Azerbaijani
and Armenian troops, the Armenian side repeatedly violates ceasefire
here and therefore Azerbaijan has no opportunity to implement
the application of Convention’s principles in this territory, and
consequently Azerbaijan is not responsible for it.

Evidently the Armenian side understood the weight of this argument
and that’s why we can observe that there has been no information on
the violation of ceasefire regime in the abovementioned part of the
contact line.

In any case we have a big task on gathering the legal evidences
confirming Armenia’s military aggression and occupation of Azerbaijani
lands.

We must prove our rightness in the court and contribute to the work
on protection of the rights of the IDPs to return to their homes.

Besides, one of the significant results of this work can be the
international court’s recognition of the fact of the occupation of
one fifth part of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.

VIOLINIST HENRIK KARAPETYAN

TribLocal

Jan 12 2012
IL

Timbers of Shorewood Retirement Community, 1100 N. River Rd.,
Shorewood, IL Tel: 815-609-0669

Henrik Karapetyan will entertain residents and the public at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 26, at The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community,
1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood.

Born in Yerevan, Armenia in 1981, Karapetyan started playing the
violin at the age of six, enrolling in music classes at Spendiarian
Special Music School.

In 2002, Karapetyan came to the United States to pursue his graduate
degree at Wayne State University’s Music Department. He led the
orchestra as its concertmaster and was featured as a soloist on many
occasions, including as the winner of the 2004 Wayne State Concerto
Competition.

Karapetyan received full scholarship and teaching appointment to
attend doctoral studies at the University of Michigan School of Music,
Theatre and Dance. He was among the few musicians representing the
University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance in the
annual Conservatory Project at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

He has performed in Carnegie Hall, NY; Kennedy Center, Washington DC;
Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor; and Armenian State Philharmonic Hall,
Yerevan, Armenia.

He is currently the violinist of the Amethyst Piano Trio, based in
Ann Arbor, and plays with a local folk-gypsy band “Orpheum Bell.”

The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which
provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full
schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also
available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The public is invited, and admission is free. For more
information call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669 or visit

GRANDMA’S TATTOOS

Aljazeera.com

Jan 12 2012
Qatar

A family story that reveals the fate of the Armenian women driven
out of Ottoman Turkey during the First World War.

Filmmaker: Suzanne Khardalian

During the First World War, millions of Armenians were forced out
of their homes in the then Ottoman empire, into the deserts of Syria
and Iraq.

More than a million people died in what Armenians describe as a
genocide, although Turkey rejects this accusation.

Filmmaker Suzanne Khardalian makes a journey into her own family to
investigate the terrible truth behind her late grandma’s odd tattoos.

Her grandma was always a bit strange, never liking physical contact
and covered with unusual marks.

Everybody in the family seemed to know the story, but no-one ever
spoke about it.

So when grandma’s mystery is slowly unveiled, family taboos are broken
down and Suzanne exposes the bigger story – the fate of the Armenian
women driven out of Ottoman Turkey during the First World War.

The painful journey behind Suzanne’s grandma’s tattoos unfolds through
Armenia, Lebanon, Sweden and Syria, finally bringing out the truth.

Grandma’s Tattoos airs from Wednesday, January 11, at the following
times GMT: Wednesday: 2000; Thursday: 1200; Friday: 0100; Saturday:
0600; Sunday: 2000; Monday: 1200; Tuesday: 0100.

5TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN JOURNALIST HRANT DINK MURDERED IN ISTANBUL

AP Planner
January 12, 2012 Thursday

5th anniversary of ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, 53, gunned
down outside his newspaper’s offices in Istanbul. He was well-known
for writing articles about the 1915 Armenian ‘genocide’ in which
as many as 1.5 million Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire were
allegedly killed, though Turkey officially denies the event.

Prosecutors say unemployed teenager Ogun Samast, 17, confessed to the
shooting after he was arrested the day after when his father saw CCTV
footage of his son on TV and informed the police.

Thousands expected to gather in front of the Agos Newspaper offices
in Istanbul to commemorate the anniversary

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

January 12, 2012

HOME BLESSING AND CHRISTMAS RECEPTION

The Prelates annual Christmas reception took place on the evening of
January 6 filling the Prelacys reception hall with many well-wishers
who were greeted by the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan and the Vicar
Bishop Anoushavan.

The traditional Home Blessing was conducted by Rev. Fr. Mesrob
Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminators Cathedral, with the
participation of area clergy, Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian,
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey.

The Armenian tradition of Home Blessing is considered essential during
the Christmas and Easter holy days. During this ceremony, the priest
blesses bread, water, and salt, considered to be essential to life. It
is customary to burn incense, echoing the words of the psalmist, Let
my prayer be counted as incense before you. (Psalm 141)

O Christ our God, guardian and hope of all your faithful, protect and
keep in peace your people under the protection of your holy and
venerable cross; and especially this family, their home, the bread,
the salt, and the water. Save them O Lord from visible and invisible
enemies and make them worthy to glorify you with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amen. (Benediction from
the Armenian Blessings of Homes service)

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian conducts the Home Blessing service at the
Prelacy.

Archbishop Oshagan acknowledges Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Carmen
Gulbenkian for their steadfast support of the renovations and
beautification of St. Illuminators Cathedral.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL OVERSEAS
FOR JOINT THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE

Archbishop Oshagan will travel overseas to participate in the Joint
Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic and
Oriental Orthodox churches. This ninth plenary meeting of the
Commission will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from January 16
to 23. Archbishop Oshagan and Archbishop Nareg Alemezian are
representing the Armenian Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia). The
Oriental Orthodox family of churches includes the Armenian, Coptic,
Syrian Orthodox, Ethiopian, and Eritrean churches.

CATHOLICOS ARAM NAMES 2012 YEAR OF ARMENIAN BOOK

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
named 2012 as the Year of the Armenian Book.

His Holiness designation coincides with the 500th anniversary of the
printing of the first book in Armenian utilizing newly-developed
technology, and the recent selection of Yerevan by UNESCO as the Book
Capital of 2012.

His Holiness said: The book is a rich source of knowledge; and
knowledge generates faith and faithfulness, responsibility and
commitment; it enhances self-understanding and promotes mutual respect
and understanding. It is our wish that through these efforts and other
ways that you may think of, we shall re-establish the centrality and
vital importance of the book in the life of the Armenian church and
nation. We also hope that through our commitment to the Armenian
published works, we shall strengthen our national identity and deepen
and broaden the dialogue with our neighbors in different environments
in which we live.

To read His Holiness message in English click here (

). For Armenian click here (

).

RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS TO MEET

The Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy will
convene their monthly meeting tomorrow and Saturday, January 13 and
14, at the Prelacy offices in New York.

PARISHES CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON JANUARY 6

Prelacy parishes celebrated the Nativity and Theophany on January 6
with enthusiastic attendance by parishioners of all ages. In all
parishes children were an important part of the celebration.

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
delivered the sermon on Christmas at St. Illuminators Cathedral,
followed by the Blessing of the Water service. On Christmas Eve he
presided over services at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. On
the evening of Christmas Day, His Eminence hosted the traditional
Christmas reception at the Prelacy.

On Christmas Day, Bishop Anoushavan celebrated the Divine Liturgy,
delivered the sermon and officiated over the Blessing of Water service
at St. Sarkis Church. Following the services His Grace went to the Old
Age Home in Flushing, New York, where he announced the Good News to
the residents and staff.

Bishop Anoushavan during the Blessing of Water service at St. Sarkis
Church with Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian and Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der
Kaloustian, altar servers, and Godfather of the Water Blessing.

Bishop Anoushavan at the Old Age Home in Flushing, New York.

SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS IN WAUKEGAN

In continuing the tradition of Avedoum, announcing the Good News of
the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian and
Yn. Tamar joined with some parishioners of St. Paul Church in
Waukegan, Illinois, and went to the homes of parishioners to spread
the Good News. Der Hrant serves as pastor of St. Paul Church in
Waukegan and St. Hagop Church in Racine.

CHRISTMAS IN RACINE

Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian at St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, and
deacons and altar servers during the Blessing of the Water ceremony on
Christmas.

Sunday school students at St. Hagop Church present a Christmas
program.

ST. ILLUMINATORS CATHEDRAL PRESENTS HUYSER MUSIC ENSEMBLE

St. Illuminators Cathedral is presenting a performance of Heartbeat of
Our Land by the Cathedrals Huyser Music Ensemble this Saturday,
January 14, 7:30 pm, at Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th Street,
(between Madison and Park Avenues), New York City. There will be a
special performance by the AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble. For
information contact the Cathedral office at 212-689-5880. Tickets are
also available at (

) and at the box office.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, January 15, First Sunday after Nativity,
are: Isaiah 54:1-13; 1 Timothy 1:1-11; John 2:1-11.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the
mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been
invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus
said to him, They have no wine. And Jesus said to her, Woman, what
concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come. His mother
said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you. Now standing there
were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each
holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, Fill the jars
with water. And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, Now
draw some out, and take it to the chief steward. So they took it. When
the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know
where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew),
the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, Everyone serves the
good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have
become drunk. But y!
ou have kept the good wine until now. Jesus did this, the first of his
signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples
believed in him. (John 2:1-11)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).

FEAST OF THE NAMING OF OUR LORD

Tomorrow, January 13, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the
Naming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Hebrew
tradition. The commemoration of this event (Matthew 1:20-23; Luke
1:30-32; Luke 2:21) comes seven days after the Feast of Nativity,
which is the eighth day of the octave of Nativity. This event of the
naming and circumcision of our Lord resulted in the tradition for
newborn children of Christians to be baptized eight days after birtha
tradition that is rarely followed in modern times.

BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER

This Saturday, January 14, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast
of the Birth of St. John the Forerunner (also known as St. John the
Baptist). John is an important figure in the New Testament and is
mentioned prominently in all four Gospels, which indicates that he had
an effective ministry baptizing those who repented their sins. He
announced the coming of one greater than himself who is to come
baptizing not with water but with the Spirit. (Matthew 3:11-12; Mark
1:7-8; Luke 3:16-17; John 1:26-27). According to the account in the
Gospel of Luke, John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Elizabeth
was a cousin of Mary. John is considered to be the last of the Old
Testament prophets and the precursor of the Messiah. John is one of
the two prime intercessors to Jesus Christ, the other being Mary, the
mother of the Lord.

THE HERMITS: ANTHONY, TRYPHON, BARSAUMA, and ONOUPHRIUS

This Tuesday, January 17, the Armenian Church remembers four early
Christians, the Hermits Anthony, Tryphon, Barsauma, and Onouphrius.

Of the four hermit saints, Anthony is the best known. He lived at the
time of our Lord and he heard the words spoken by Jesus to a wealthy
young man advising, If you will be perfect, go and sell all that you
have and give it to the poor and come follow me. Anthony did exactly
that, lived as a hermit, preached the words of Jesus and encouraged
others to follow his example. The place he had selected to live
became the site of the first monastery and that is why he is
recognized as the father of monasticism. Subsequently many more
brotherhoods were established throughout the world.

Blessed among the fathers, Saint Anthony, who surpassed human nature,
intercede before Christ for our souls. You spent many days without
food, enduring voluntarily all the needs of the flesh; intercede
before Christ for our souls. By your constant remembrance of us before
Christ, be the helper of those who celebrate your memory that we also
may receive praise.
(Canon to Saint Anthony, from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian
Church)

2012 LITURGICAL CALENDAR POSTER

A new item is available at the Prelacya colorful 2012 Liturgical
Calendar Poster of the Armenian Apostolic Church, 27 x 27 inches, for
$5.00 plus shipping and handling. At a glance, one can see the cycle
of feasts and fasts and seasons of the Armenian Church year, which
begins on January 6, 2012, and ends on January 5, 2013. It belongs in
every classroom as well as on Church bulletin boards.

To order, please contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

This Monday, January 16, is a federal holiday in remembrance of Martin
Luther King, Jr., the civil rights leader who utilized Christian
principles and Gandhi-style non-violence methods to advance the cause
of justice and equality. He was born on January 15, 1929. Dr. King was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated in Memphis,
Tennessee on April 4, 1968. He was 44 years old.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 14Huyser Musical Ensemble of St. Illuminators Cathedral, New
York, presents Heartbeat of our Land, under auspices of
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan, 7:30 pm at Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th
Street (between Madison and Park Avenues), New York City. Special
appearance by AGBU Antranig Armenian Dance Ensemble. For
information/tickets contact the Cathedrals office,
212-689-5880. Tickets also available on line at (

).

February 2Inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters Series,
Searching for Tehlirian, by Eric Bogosian, discussing his writing and
acting career and his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street, New York City, 7
to 9 pm. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) and for tickets:
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric.

February 2Grammy composer Hayg Boyadjian will discuss his music during
a noontime Avak luncheon at St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North
Andover, Massachusetts. Public is invited.

February 13-16Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, Eastern and Canadian
Prelacies, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 17Mid-West Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am to
3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

March 24New England Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

March 25Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielians ordination to the priesthood. Save the date.

May 9-12, 2012National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy,
hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. Clergy
conference on May 9; full delegation May 10 to 12. Accommodations at
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick, Rhode Island. Details will be forthcoming
to parishes and delegates.

May 11-12National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 30th
anniversary celebration and annual conference in conjunction with the
National Representative Assembly, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Rhode
Island. For information: Mary Derderian 781-762-4253.

July 14Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and ARS Ani Chapter,
Providence, Rhode Island, A Hye Summer Night VI dance, featuring
Hachig Kazarian, Richard Hagopian, Kenneth Kalajian, Jason Naroian, 8
pm to 1 am; $35 adults; $15 children 16 and under. At the Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church, 175 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston, Rhode
Island. Mezza will be served. Limited seating. For tickets and
information: 401-434-4467 (Joyce Bagdasarian); 401-354-8770 (Joyce
Yeremian).

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

ENERGY INTERESTS AMONG CASPIAN SUPERPOWERS COULD LEAD TO WAR IN NAGORNO KARABAKH – EXPERT

NEWS.am
January 12, 2012 | 05:29

Conflicts in the Caspian regions based on collision of energy interests
are quite possible, director of the Russian/Eurasia Program, German
Council on Foreign Relations Alexander Rahr told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him the possibility of negative developments should not
be excluded although ~Qin this region not all are banana states~R.

~SHere the interests of countries with powerful diplomacies who are
able to come to agreements collide. However the persistent attempts
of the West to construct a pipeline under the Caspian Sea meets the
sharp rejection of Russia and Iran. The reaction is so sharp that
if Turkmenistan were to lay out the pipeline a conflict might break
out,~T Rahr mentioned.

According to the expert the tensed situation might also lead to war
in Nagorno Karabakh. Rahr pointed out that there were many possible
scenarios of future developments.

EXPERT: “CLASHES IN THE REGION MAY HAVE UNPREDICTABLE RESULTS”

Orientalist Mher Baghdasaryan met journalists and spoke about the
last developments aroundIran.

According to the speaker the West does not want to see a strong country
in the region suchIranis. In this case the role of the West will
be reduced. “Iranand West are like to try their forces now. But the
clashes of the great countries can have really tragic and unpredictable
results”, M. Baghdasaryan said and added: “Oil prices will increase
for twice and besides this not the Europe orChinaandRussiado want
military clash.”

“Of course, the region is unpredictable and it is impossible to except
any military actions in the region. But I think that no war will take
place. Even is there are any military actions may be they will take
place on the next side ofPersian Gulf”, Baghdasaryan noted.

Speaking about the military actions’ possible impression onArmeniathe
expert noted that the West realizes thatArmeniawill never close its
border withIran. It will damage the development ofArmenia. “The
possible refuges of the war also will be a great trouble for
us”, the speaker noted. At the same time Baghdasryan noted that
friendly relations withIrangive opportunity toArmeniato overcome
Turkish-Azerbaijani blockade. Referring to Iranian-Azerbaijani
relations the speaker underlined thatAzerbaijanis a great danger
forIranandIranhas announced that if military actions started
and any Western forces appear in Azerbaijani territoryIranwill
attackAzerbaijanwithout any doubt.

“Disagreements betweenIranandAzerbaijanstarted afterAzerbaijangot
independence from theUSSRand anti-Iranian moods started to lead
inAzerbaijan”, said Baghdasaryan and added that these moods are active
now as well.

A. LARIJANI: “IRAN IS READY TO ASSIST NK ISSUE SETTLEMENT”

“Turkey and Iran are Muslim friendly countries and they must be
coordinated during the settlement of the regional issues”. Ali
Larijani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Iran announced about
this during his visit to Turkey, IRNA writes.

Speaking about the NK issue Larijani reminded that OSCE MG is involved
in its settlement. At the same time he announced: “As I know Azerbaijan
wants to settle the issue in frame of this format.”

At the same time it is noticeable that Azerbaijani side tries to
change the format of the negotiations and tries to transfer the
settlement in another format. Many Azerbaijani officials named OSCE
MG as a non-effective organization.

Larijani also noted that it is better the conflicts are settled by the
countries themselves. “NK issue has become an international issue,
but Iran is ready to assist the NK issue to be settled”, “Anadolu”
agency informs Larijani as saying.

Larijani underlined that Turkish and Iranian attitudes on the issue
are the same “up to the some certain point”.

Note that Turkish-Iranian relations are not as fluent as it may be
seen. Iran has been offended by Turkish permission to settle NATO
radar systems in its territory and called on Turkish side many times
to remove them. Turkey is unable agree with this claim.

ARMENIA’S POLICE CHIEF GETTING RID OF “TOURISTS OF THE SYSTEM”

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 12, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: The recent resignations in the police
system are agreed with the goal to effectively organize the work in
the system, Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan told the reporters today.

“There are people in the system who have already exhausted themselves
and have status of a tourist. The staff changes will result in more
organized and effective implementation of work in the police system,”
Police Chief said.

Speaking about the resignation of head of the Passport and Visa
Department of the Police Norayr Muradkhanyan, Gasparyan said he has
been sent to the staff reserve. “This man has not gone for vacation
for 17 years. After resting for a few months, Mr Muradkhanyan will
be appointed to a new position,” he said.

Armenia’s former Police Chief Alik Sargsyan stated he is for the
change of the restraint measure of Armenia’s former Road Police
Chief Margar Ohanyan and the latter’s release. In connection with it,
Vladimir Gasparyan noted that it is the opinion of Alik Sargsyan and
his [Vladimir Gasparyan’s] opinion corresponds to the law.

Margar Ohanyan is charged with abuse of position and large-scale
embezzlement of property.