Author: nina hovnanian

Ukrainian club demands 40 million for Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Tuttomercato

AMT, April 20, 2013

Ukraine’s FC Shakhtar Donetsk is asking for 40 million euros for the
transfer of Armenian national football team and Shakhtar midfielder
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Tuttomercato reports, and comments that, with such
move, the Ukrainian club is getting in the way of the Armenian
international’s transfer to a leading European club.

Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Juventus are interested in
Mkhitaryan’s services, but it is highly unlikely that these clubs
would pay that much to the present top scorer in the current season of
the Ukrainian Premier League.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s contract with Shakhtar is in force until June 2015.

To note, the Armenian international had transferred to FC Shakhtar
Donetsk from Ukraine’s FC Metalurh Donetsk in August 2010, and for 7.5
million dollars.

NEWS.am Sport

Syrian Armenians settling in Karabakh

April 20, 2013 | 13:48

The primary task in Kashatagh Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) is the improvement of the housing conditions, Deputy Chief
Artush Mkhitaryan of the Kashatagh Regional Administration said during
a press conference on Saturday.

In his words, the resettlement of Kashatagh Region had begun in 1994,
but everything was easy at that time.

`[But] today, the new settlers make greater demands. [But] we are
ready, [and] we use all of our opportunities to meet their needs. Our
advantages are the natural and climatic conditions,’ Mkhitaryan said.

He also informed that thirty Armenian families from Syria have settled
in NKR’s Kashatagh Region.

`They were provided with temporary accommodation. Three apartments are
under construction in Berdzor, [city] where the Syrian Armenians will
move in the coming days. A residential house, with twelve apartments,
will be ready in several months in Kovsakan [city], [and] another
house, with nine apartments, [will be ready] in another village,’
Artush Mkhitaryan noted.

Defense Ministry hosts meeting with military law enforcers

12:34 – 20.04.13

Representatives of military law enforcement bodies met on Friday at
the Ministry of Defense for a working meeting chaired by Deputy
Minister Ara Nazarayn.

The discussion, held upon the instruction of Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
was devoted to the cooperation potentials between the Armed Forces and
the military law enforcement agencies.

The meeting was attended by the chief of the Defense Ministry’s Staff,
Garnik Hayrapetyan, Head of the Investigative Department, Majo-General
Armen Harutyunyan, Chief of Military Police Samvel Ghukasyan, as well
as officers and heads from corresponding subdivisions.

In his speech, the deputy minister stressed the importance of
reporting the existing violations in the military within the
appropriate timeframes and procedures, noting that it would
essentially assist in the efforts to resolve crimes and prevent future
infringements.

According to the Ministry’s press service, Nazaryan also called for
measures for increasing the activeness of the military law enforcement
bases and the process of exchanging information about violations,
their causes and circumstances. He also highlighted the need of
providing active assistance to the military units’ commands to rule
out emergencies and casualties and raising conscripts’ legal
awareness.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Identity of Boston bombers shifts US attitudes to Chechnya

10:27 – 20.04.13

The revelation that the two brothers suspected to be behind the Boston
Marathon attack are ethnic Chechens has led the US establishment to
perform a rapid volte-face towards the previously
sympathetically-viewed region and cause, Russia Today reported.

Through the two separatist wars fought by Chechen militants in the
1990s, the standard US portrayal of the restive region focused on the
David and Goliath scale of the adversaries, the `denial’ to Chechens
of their right to self-determination, and the abuse of human rights.

In the wake of Monday’s attack, a new sinister international image of
Chechnya has emerged.

`Chechnya region is cauldron of Islamic militancy’ proclaimed the
headline in the New York Daily News. For LA Times, it was

`Festering Chechen militancy’, while the Washington Times went
with`Chechnya is a hotbed of Islamic extremism’.
USA Today, Fox News and the Washington Post all simply picked
`Chechnya is a breeding ground for terrorism’, as their header.

The international experts now offered a different narrative of the
conflict that has bedeviled Russia since the collapse of the Soviet
Union, and cost thousands of lives as well as draining billions of
dollars from the budget.

“The [second Chechen conflict in 1999] war initially began as a
nationalist war but very, very quickly metastasized into something
that looks much more like the radical Salafi-Jihadi movements we’ve
seen in other regions around the world,” Christopher Swift, a
professor of National Security at Georgetown University, told ABC
News.

“The movement that’s emerged from the 15 years of war is very radical,
it’s very virulent, it’s very nasty’.

Terrorist Salman Raduyev [center], one of the leaders of armed Chechen
groups, with his followers at an election rally in Grozny in January
1997. (RIA Novosti)

“The Chechen jihadi network is very extensive,” Middle East analyst
Walid Phares told Fox News. “They have a huge network inside Russia
and Chechnya.”

`United States shut its eyes to Chechen terrorism,’ said former New
York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

No longer were the Tsarnaev brothers victims of oppression, simply
looking for a better life in America as refugees.

“They could well be supported by a significant international network,”
John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Fox
News.

Evan Kohlmann, chairman of Flashpoint Global Partners, a New
York-based international security consulting firm said, `these groups
[the two men may have belonged to] can be just as radical as anything
Al Qaeda puts out.”

Many newspapers also recalled the hostage-taking incidents that ended
in tragedy at the musical Nord Ost in Moscow in 2002, and a school in
Beslan in 2004.

Armenian News – Tert.am

State Dept. Criticized Armenia For Lack Of Human Rights

Corruption and lack of transparency in government remain the most
significant human rights problems in Armenia, says the 2012 Report on
Human Rights Practices issued by State Department.

`The most significant human rights problems in Armenia are during the
year were limitations on the right of citizens to change their
government, corruption and lack of transparency in government, and the
limited independence of the judiciary,’ the report says.

One of the sections of the report is dedicated to the May
parliamentary elections in Armenia.

`Flaws in the conduct of May 6 legislative elections included the
misuse of government resources to support the ruling party, credible
allegations of vote buying, deficiencies in the complaints and appeals
process, and continued shortcomings in the electoral code despite
improvements. Allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of
government undermined the rule of law, although the government took
limited steps to punish low- to mid-level official corruption. Courts
remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch,
which resulted in some politically motivated prosecutions and
sentencing,’ the report says.

Other abuses reported during the year included suspicious deaths in
the military under noncombat conditions, continued hazing and other
mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers, and a lack
of accountability for such actions.

`Police allegedly continued to employ torture to obtain confessions
and reportedly beat citizens during arrest and interrogation. Many
prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services
for inmates. Authorities continued to arrest and detain criminal
suspects without reasonable suspicion and to detain individuals
arbitrarily. Trials were often prolonged, and courts failed to enforce
laws providing for fair trials. Laws against government intrusion on
the right to privacy and unlawful searches were inadequately enforced.
The pre-election period was marked by diverse media coverage; however,
the media continued to lack diversity of political opinion and
objective reporting outside the campaign period. Members of religious
minorities suffered from societal discrimination. Domestic violence
remained a problem but largely went unreported to authorities. Human
trafficking was a problem, which authorities made efforts to combat.
Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all
areas of life. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons
were subjected to societal abuse and discrimination by military and
prison authorities. Workers’ rights were limited and labor laws weakly
enforced.

Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of
the security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with
impunity while under the direction of civilian leadership. The
government issued a report in December 2011 on its investigation into
the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers following the
2008 presidential election but, as of year’s end, had not held anyone
accountable.’

news.am
13:18 20/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Armenian Genocide victims commemorated in LA

13:21, 20 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: To mark the 98th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Council of America (ACA) participated
in the City of Los Angeles’ annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration
ceremony held at the Los Angeles City Council Chamber on April 19.

The commemoration was led by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and former
City Council President Eric Garcetti, recognizing Rose Garjian, a 104
year old Genocide survivor, honoring Ararat Home for its immeasurable
contributions to the Armenian-American elderly community, as well as
honoring the AGBU Generation Next program for transforming the lives
of Armenian-American youth.

Councilmember Krekorian expressed the difficulty in grasping the
magnitude of Genocide – a Genocide in a tiny nation to have lost one
and a half million Armenian men, women and children. To put it into
perspective, he asked everyone to remember what they felt on September
11th when thousands of victims were lost to a horrible act of terror,
and to imagine if that terror was experienced every day for an entire
year. `It is very important for all of us to recognize and condemn
man’s inhumanity towards man,’ Krekorian said.

`As the Councilmember representing Little Armenia, who has traveled to
Yerevan to make us sister cities, I’m deeply aware of the lasting
impact of the Genocide,’ Councilmember Eric Garcetti said. `It’s
important that the Genocide is never forgotten-that is the best way to
ensure that tragic chapter in history is never repeated.’

In previous years the City Council has honored Emmy nominated
filmmaker Dr. J. Michael Hagopian, and world-renowned scholar,
Professor Richard G. Hovannisian.

The Armenian Council of America is dedicated to educating the
Armenian-American community in local political affairs, as well as
actively pursuing Armenian-American participation in their respective
local governments, to support political candidates who share the
values of the Armenian American community.

ARMENIENS DE TURQUIE
Les derniers Arméniens de la région de Mardin s’inquiètent du sort de
la dernière église arménienne Sourp Kévork

La dernière famille arménienne qui vit encore dans la région de Derik
près de Mardin au sud-est de la Turquie est inquiète. Qui protègera la
dernière église arménienne de la région, l’église Sourp Kévork (Saint
Georges) après leur disparition ? Selon l’agence de presse turque «
Doghan » cette dernière famille arménienne ne quittera pas sa région
mais elle s’inquiète du sort de l’église Sourp Kévork. Naïf Demirdji
est forgeron il explique que la seule église arménienne de la région,
Sourp Kévork date de 1650 et elle recevait ses fidèles jusqu’en 1915.
« Depuis cette date jusqu’en 1957 cette église servait d’entrepôt
fermier. Mais les représentants de la communauté arménienne ont
ramassé une certaine somme d’argent puis repris l’église qui
recommença à recevoir ses fidèles » dit Démirdji en précisant que lui
et son épouse vont chaque dimanche à l’église arménienne pour y
effectuer leur prière. Il dit aussi que chaque année, des Arméniens
viennent d’Istanbul par autobus pour y assister à une messe.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 20 avril 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

IRANIAN ENVOY SAYS ANNEXATION BILL RESPONSE TO CONFERENCE IN AZERBAIJAN

APA, Azerbaijan
April 16 2013

Tehran’s ambassador in Baku, Mohsen Pak-a’in, has said that the bill
on annexing Azerbaijan tabled in Iran’s parliament was a response to a
recent Baku-hosted controversial conference regarding ethnic issues in
northwestern Iran. In an interview with APA news agency, he said
events like this would adversely impact bilateral relations. The
ambassador denied that Iran’s relations with Armenia were directed
against Azerbaijan and reiterated that his country was ready to
mediate the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Yerevan and Baku. The
following is the text of the interview by private Azerbaijani news
agency APA on 16 April

[Correspondent] Dear ambassador, some Iranian MPs have proposed
preparing a draft law to review the [1828] Treaty of Turkmenchay
[between Iran and Russia] and join Azerbaijan to Iran. We would like
to learn your point of view on this.

[Pak-a’in] Iran and Azerbaijan have very robust relations. We support
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, confirm the inviolability of the
borders recognized on the international level and we are completely
loyal to the commitments that exist between the two countries. The
proposal voiced in the Iranian Majlis [parliament] was put forward in
response to the anti-Iranian event held in Baku on 30 March (refers to
conference called “Future of Modern Southern Azerbaijan” held by the
National Liberation Front of Southern Azerbaijan [north-western Iran]
– editor). You know that some party chairmen, MPs and intellectuals
attended this event. Prior to that one Azerbaijani MP said that he
wants southern Azerbaijan to be separated from Iran, become
independent and he wants to become the speaker of its parliament.

Naturally, ideas like this do not reflect the official state position
of Azerbaijan. However, they caused a reaction in Iran. The issue of
territorial integrity is a red line for Iran. We could never agree to
somebody carrying out measures against Iran and working against Iran’s
territorial integrity. Ideas voiced by some Iranian MPs were made as a
response to this gathering. I repeat once again that the officials on
both sides want bilateral relations to develop and support territorial
integrity of the two countries.

[Correspondent] How were bilateral relations affected by Iran sending
a note [of protest] to Azerbaijan over this event and by Azerbaijan’s
response to this note?

[Pak-a’in] Naturally, holding such an event has and already had a
negative influence on bilateral relations. Although we have been
implementing for many months various programmes to develop bilateral
friendly relations, such gatherings have a negative impact on
relations. I hope that officials in both countries will consider the
importance and sensitivity of relations and will take measures in
advance to prevent such moves.

The objective of this meeting held against Iran was to worsen relations.

Sometimes they say that there should be freedom of speech and assembly
and that anybody can hold an event and express their views. However,
this event has nothing to do with freedom of speech. About 30 took
part in this event and voiced their ideas unilaterally. That is,
people with opposing views were not allowed to speak out or even to
attend. They invited journalists selected in advance and thus created
a biased atmosphere and used very bad and insulting expressions about
Iran.

Therefore, we cannot say that this event was held for freedom of
speech, although we are proponents of the right of free assembly. If
there is a wish or proposal of any party or political group, then we
will send our representatives from Iran, hold a meeting and call
journalists so that participants can freely express their thoughts.

Should suspicion arise regarding any issue, the matter will be
discussed. This is what democracy means, for representatives of both
sides to participate and express their views. Otherwise, gathering
representatives from one side behind closed doors and with the
participation of select journalists hurling insulting expressions at a
friendly country is not democracy and these steps leave their negative
trace in bilateral relations.

Lake Orumiyeh

[Correspondent] What is the latest situation with regard to the Lake Orumiyeh?

[Pak-a’in] Natural processes continue in the Lake Orumiyeh. As you
know, as a result of negative natural factors the level of water in
this lake decreases. By pumping water into the lake and using other
scientific methods we are preventing the drying up of the lake.

According to information presented by West Azarbayjan Province
officials, the volume of water in the lake has increased by 10 per
cent and this positive trend continues. This gives us grounds to say
that the Lake Orumiyeh has passed the critical point and the situation
has changed for the better.

No earthquake damage in Bushehr

[Correspondent] Recently an earthquake occurred in the vicinity of the
Bushehr nuclear power station. Is there a possibility of the station
being destroyed in the event of a strong earthquake? In general, can
this nuclear facility be regarded as a danger to the region?

[Pak-a’in] Many Iranian cities are located in seismic zones and
earthquakes occur there. However, the place where this earthquake
occurred was far from the Bushehr nuclear power station. The
earthquake mainly damaged villages and some old buildings. Engineers
built the nuclear power station and the buildings constructed there
with the power of earthquakes in mind and there is no threat to the
power station.

[Correspondent] Has Azerbaijan offered assistance to overcome the
effects of the earthquake and has any foreign country offered aid to
Iran? What is the current situation of the people in East Azarbayjan
who suffered from an earthquake in 2012?

[Pak-a’in] Azerbaijan and several other foreign countries announced
that they were ready to help and we offered them our gratitude.

However, we managed to deal with the aftermath with our domestic
resources and there was no need for foreign assistance.

People who suffered from the earthquake in East Azarbayjan were given
help with unprecedented speed and there were no problems there. All
minor problems and issues are being tackled.

International relations

[Correspondent] The next meeting of the Azerbaijani, Iranian and
Turkish foreign ministers is set to take place in the Turkish city of
Erzurum. Has the timing of this meeting been agreed?

[Pak-a’in] Consultations are being held for the meeting of the three
ministers and no precise date has been announced yet. God willing, we
expect the sides to reach agreement on the date for the meeting very
soon.

[Correspondent] Has development been observed in bilateral economic
relations after the Araz free economic zone was opened?

[Pak-a’in] I can say with certainty that Azerbaijan’s activities in
this free economic zone help strengthen bilateral ties. This is a fact
that if there is a country that uses to the full and benefits from the
trade zone it is Azerbaijan because the biggest joint border this zone
has is with Azerbaijan. We believe that a more active participation by
Azerbaijan in this zone may speed up development of border districts.

Bilateral relations

[Correspondent] What is the state of affairs with cooperation in
tourism? Generally, how many people went from Azerbaijan to Iran and
vice versa as tourists in 2012?

[Pak-a’in] I personally visited the Bilasuvar [Bilehsavar] checkpoint
and I can say that over 15 days during the Novruz holiday 23,000
travelled to Iran from there. Similar figures were recorded at the
checkpoints in Culfa [Jolfa] and Astara. Overall, some 300,000
travelled from Azerbaijan to Iran, while approximately 100,000 came
from Iran to Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan cancels visa requirements for
Iranian citizens – as Iran has done [for Azerbaijanis] – then the
number of Iranian tourists who come to Azerbaijan will greatly
increase.

[Correspondent] Recently relations between Iran and Armenia developed
rapidly with mutual visits and signing of official documents. This
caused concern in Azerbaijan. What can you say about this?

[Pak-a’in] Relations between Iran and Armenia are normal as with a
neighbouring country. Just as we are interested in developing
relations with Azerbaijan, similarly we wish to develop our ties with
Armenia. However, our good cooperation with Armenia will never
influence our existing good cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Nagornyy Karabakh conflict mediation

[Correspondent] Some time ago Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Ramin Mehmanparast stated that Iran may act as a mediator in the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict [between Armenia and Azerbaijan]. In your
view, what role can Iran play in settling this conflict?

[Pak-a’in] We wish that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict be resolved as
soon as possible. Prolonging this conflict damages establishing
security and peace in the region. I believe that members of the OSCE
Minsk Group [which mediates a peaceful solution to the conflict] who
are not from this region are not interested in resolving this
conflict. By prolonging the conflict they wish to advance their
economic and political goals. For this reason, Iran, both as the
chairman of the Non-Alignment Movement and as a country with power to
influence, never tires of offering its assistance to resolve the
conflict. We think that looking for regional ways would be more
effective to resolve the conflict. Considering that we have ties with
Azerbaijan and Armenia, should the opportunity present itself we will
put forward our proposals on resolving the conflict.

[In an interview with 1news.az published on 18 April, the ambassador
commented on priorities in cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan. He
said: “Our main priority is to develop economic cooperation.

Cooperation between the two sides in the Araz [Aras] economic zone is
an important step towards the implementation of this goal.”]

[Translated from Azeri]

RARE PHOTOS CAPTURE PRE-STATE ISRAEL

San Jose Mercury News, CA
April 19 2013

By Bonny Zanardi

Unique images of pre-state Israel by the late Armenian photographer
Elia Kahvedjian are presented at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center
through June 30.

Kahvedjian, who died in 1999, took the photos dating back to 1924.

Although some scenes were planned, most of the images were chance
opportunities.

The show is called “Elia Kahvedjian: The Invisible Photographer,”
based on the artist’s nickname which alludes to his ability to
overcome his own shyness as well as cultural barriers and
restrictions.

Kahvedjian, who was born in 1910 in an area formerly Armenian, faced
countless horrors in his youth. Eventually, at age 14, he was sent to
an orphanage in Nazareth where a teacher inspired his passion for
photography.

A special event is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 9 when Laura
Dirtadian, granddaughter of Elia Kahvedjian, and other family members
will share the artist’s personal history and highlights of his career.

The reception event is free, but reservations are encouraged. Call
650-378-2702.

The exhibition may be seen from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through
Fridays and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The PJCC is at 800
Foster City Blvd., Foster City. Call 650-212-7522 or visit

ARMENIA, EU IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER USE OF WORD “COGNAC”

Xinhua General News Service, China
April 18, 2013 Thursday 9:10 AM EST

Garegin Melkonyan, the deputy economy minister, said that Armenia
and the European Union are discussing its use of the word “cognac”
for some beverages it produces.

Melkonyan told reporters Thursday that during negotiations with the
EU over the establishment of a free trade zone, Armenia’s use of the
word “cognac” was being discussed.

The Agreement on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone assumes
mutual recognition and protection of registered geographical names.

The word “cognac” is protected by European legislation and is
registered as a geographical name. Armenia has been telling its
European partners that “cognac” is domestically perceived merely as
a type of production.

In Soviet Armenia, cognac was the name of an alcoholic beverage that
was also well-known in other parts of the former Soviet Union.

However, since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union,
France challenged Armenia’s use of the name. Cognac is a city in
France where the alcoholic beverage was first made. This led to the
widespread use of the term “brandy.”

In 1998, after the famous French company Pernod Ricard purchased the
Ararat Brandy Factory in Yerevan, its production once again bore the
right to use the word “cognac” on its bottles.