Author: nina hovnanian

Archbishop Choloyan: Syrian-Armenian Community in Danger, Help Required

September 19, 2012

In a recent interview with the Hairenik Weekly, Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Eastern U.S.,
urged Armenians worldwide to help the Syrian-Armenian community
increasingly threatened by the turmoil in Syria.

Prelate Oshagan Choloyan
Choloyan stressed the important and exemplary role the Syrian-Armenian
community has played throughout the years. `The Armenians of Aleppo
inherited the unique Armenian spirit that it directly acquired from
the soil and water of the homeland, the spirit which was resurrected
after the genocide, especially in Aleppo,’ he said. `Hence, Aleppo
remained true to our roots, in terms of traditions and heritage.’

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I has also called upon all Armenians, and
especially to the parishes under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia, to come to the assistance of the
Syrian-Armenian community, said Choloyan. His Holiness wants to ensure
that the community protects its properties, schools, churches, and
centers, while also providing humanitarian aid to community members.

Choloyan commended the Syrian-Armenian youth for the role they have
played thus far. `I want to note, with gratitude and pride, the
sacrifice of the…youth, who willingly organized and – even under the
threat of death – are providing aid to families in need,’ he said.
`Together and in one spirit, all of us must engage in this sacred
endeavor, taking as example the unified sprit of the Armenian
community leaders in Syria…’

Choloyan said Catholicos Aram I canceled his trip to the U.S. after it
became clear the Syrian-Armenian community was in danger, and that his
presence was needed in the Middle East.

Heeding the Catholicos’ call, the central committee for the `Syrian
Armenian Relief Fund’ was established. Unfortunately, it was not
possible to organize under one banner the various organizations in the
Eastern U.S., something that was done in the Western U.S. and in
Canada. During their first meeting, the committee decided to dedicate
September – and the following months – to raising funds, until the
Syrian-Armenian community reestablishes itself, and unitl its members
are able to return to a normal and productive life.

The committee has undertaken four measures for a successful campaign:
First, they will appeal to those families and individuals on their
mailing list. Second, they will collect donations through their
churches. Third, they will donate all proceeds from the dinner
reception in honor of the Catholicos’s visit to aid the
Syrian-Armenian community. (The dinner reception, slated to take place
on Oct. 7 in New York, has not been canceled despite the Catholicos’s
decision to stay in the Middle East; the dinner is being held in
appreciation to those individuals and organizations that aided the
Armenian people following the genocide, including the Near East
Relief, ANCHA, and Fridtjof Nansen.) Fourth, they will appeal to
Syrian-Armenians who are prepared to contribute large funds to the
relief initiative. Currently, the committee is working on producing a
brochure outlining the current conditions.

`We greatly appreciate the campaign already initiated by the Armenian
Relief Society,’ Choloyan said in the interview. `We also appreciate
the kindness of all those who, before our campaign even started, have
made their generous contributions. This is the best expression of the
conscientiousness of Armenians.’

According to Choloyan, the committee decided to send all donations to
the Prelacy, and from there to the Cilician Catholicosate. Bank
transactions are not currently possible in Syria due to sanctions
imposed by the U.S. that make such transactions illegal, noted the
archbishop. Catholicos Aram I has maintained contact with Armenian
community leaders in Syria, with whom he occasionally meets, and the
transfer of funds will be made through this route.

`No one should be satisfied by saying, `I gave what I could, now it’s
up to others.’ In matters of national concern, that other is also us.
Only through our togetherness, can our united strength be manifested.
It is our heartfelt prayer that the bombing ceases, that enmities
subside, so that as loyal Syrian citizens, the Syrian-Armenians commit
themselves to the establishment of peace and reconstruction,’ Choloyan
said.

`If our education has given us the sense of belonging to one nation
and one fate, now is the moment to prove it. As the Apostle has said,
if one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts…’ he continued,
adding, `Being Armenian is a duty; being Armenian is sacrifice. Let us
not forget that being Armenian is also dignity and pride. And to stay
true to our heritage, we are going to help our compatriots who are in
a difficult situation. It is not forgivable to find excuses in face of
daily turmoil in Syria.’

To contribute to the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, make your checks
payable to the `Armenian Apostolic Church of America,’ noting in the
memo, `Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief.’ Send your checks to the
Armenian Prelacy, 138 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Washing Away Hate Crimes with Oil Is not the Only Path to Partnership

by Simon Maghakyan

September 19, 2012

An unremorseful murderer was predictably pardoned and promoted last
month after the Azerbaijani government secured military officer Ramil
Safarov’s extradition from Hungary. Safarov had been serving a life
sentence in that country for axing to death his sleeping Armenian
colleague Gurgen Margaryan at a 2004 NATO Partnership for Peace
course.

While swift to imprison domestic dissidents, the authoritarian regime
of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev spared no effort to release
Safarov-a hero for many fellow Azeris-by reportedly offering Hungary a
loan as large as $3.8 billion, enabled by the Caspian’s energy riches.
Unrepentantly proud of his success, Aliyev set Safarov’s picture as
his Facebook cover photo. Capitalizing on anti-Armenian sentiment,
fueled by the 1990’s bloody war over Nagorno-Karabagh, is likely
Aliyev’s sole opportunity to connect with a large number of
Azerbaijani citizens, whose subtlest criticism of the regime can
otherwise land them behind bars.

Aliyev’s policy of securing short-term populist support, however, is
clearly poised-if not somewhat intended-to exacerbate the already
heavily tense relations with Yerevan.
Aliyev’s policy of securing short-term populist support, however, is
clearly poised-if not somewhat intended-to exacerbate the already
heavily tense relations with Yerevan, which charges that anti-Armenian
hatred is Baku’s official state policy. Armenia’s response that it is
ready to fight, if attacked, has further demonstrated the serious
repercussions of the situation, prompting strong reaction against
Safarov’s release from the mediators of the Karabagh conflict, France,
Russia, and the United States.

To demonstrate his deep concern, President Obama has `request[ed] an
explanation’ from Hungary, implying that his administration was
surprised by the extradition. A leaked U.S. diplomatic dispatch
summarizing reactions to Safarov’s April 2006 conviction, however,
reports that the Azerbaijani `Prosecutor General’s office has already
announced its intention to seek extradition,’ attesting to
Washington’s knowledge of the extradition effort from day one.
Furthermore, a Reuters report published a week before Safarov’s
release noted the possible Azerbaijani loan to Budapest, which should
have also raised a flag.

Instead of readily reacting to this potential development with a press
statement, Washington and its partners should and could have
proactively prevented the extradition by sending Budapest, whose
growing cooperation with Baku hasn’t been secret, a strong message
that an extradition would further complicate Nagorno-Karabagh
negotiations. This willful negligence resonates with Washington’s and
other mediators’ failure to halt another anti-Armenian action when, on
Dec. 15, 2005, they were alerted to the Azerbaijani military’s
destruction of the world’s largest medieval Armenian cemetery in
Djulfa. Instead of demanding that Azerbaijan stop their ongoing
irreversible destruction of the world’s largest complex of medieval
Armenian material heritage, the State Department kept silent until
after the cemetery was reduced to dust. In the meantime, it expressed
internal displeasure, according to a leaked cable, not with the
heavy-duty destruction, but with Armenia’s written protest of it.

A State Department officer once summarized for me Washington’s
interests in Azerbaijan: `Energy, security, and human rights.’ The
first two-which include oil pipelines and possible attack grounds
against Iran-have undoubtedly overshadowed the latter, especially in
the context of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, which has already killed
tens of thousands and displaced many more, the majority of whom are
Azerbaijanis.

As a mediator of the conflict, Washington is expected to be neutral.
But tacitly or negligently allowing state-sponsored hate crimes does
not qualify as evenhandedness; it merely reinforces the prime cause of
the Karabagh conflict: the Armenian perception that Azerbaijan has
been systematically intolerant of everything Armenian without any
international repercussion.

Budapest’s ill-advised decision to extradite Safarov and subsequent
hesitancy to strongly criticize the release, as well as Washington’s
inability to proactively prevent the transfer, are seemingly
byproducts of self-interests. But a government needn’t always
sacrifice its principles to forge a partnership, even with
authoritarian regimes. When the Armenian inscriptions on a church used
by minority Udis and nearby tombstones in Nij, Azerbaijan, were
polished out during a 2005 renovation supported by a Norwegian
non-profit, Oslo’s Ambassador Steinar Gil strongly expressed his
outrage regarding the vandalism. Moreover, he actively publicized it,
demanded accountability, and convinced all fellow ambassadors to join
him in boycotting the reopening of the church. Azerbaijan, whose top
Muslim cleric called the renovation and reopening `triumph of
tolerance,’ was expectedly unhappy.

`It is a question of principle,’ Gil told me. Yet despite Gil’s
persistent principled position on many human rights issues, Norway has
continued to be one of the largest investors in Azerbaijan’s energy
sector.

Washing away hate crimes with oil is not the only path to partnership with Baku.

Expert: Turkish-speaking Iranians mistaken for Azeri population in Iran

September 19, 2012 – 17:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – An Azeri studies expert commented on recent
statement of U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) who introduced a
House Concurrent Resolution urging the U.S. and Iranian leadership to
organize a referendum to annex Azeri-populated Iranian territories to
Azerbaijan.

At a September 19 news conference, Sargis Asatryan characterized the
Congressman’s initiative as a part of U.S.-led policy aiming to weaken
and destabilize Iran.

`The proposition is initially faulty considering there’s no Azeri
population in Iran, but rather Turkish-speaking Iranians,’ an Iranian
studies expert Vardan Voskanyan added.

India launches Agni-IV nuclear-capable strategic missile

September 19, 2012 – 19:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – India has successfully test fired a nuclear-capable
strategic missile with a range of about 4,000km (2485 miles), BBC News
said.

The Agni-IV is India’s second longest-range missile. The launch comes
two days after Pakistan tested a missile.

It was launched from a site off India’s east coast and was guided to
its target by a high performance computer.

In April, India unveiled its Agni-V long-range missile, which put it
in an elite nuclear club with the U.S., UK, Russia, China and France.

Analysts say the Agni (meaning “fire” in Hindi and Sanskrit) missile
family is to be the cornerstone of India’s missile-based nuclear
deterrent.

The missiles are among the country’s most sophisticated weapons.

Russia, Armenia hail current level of military cooperation

September 19, 2012 – 18:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On September 19, President Serzh Sargsyan met with
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov currently in Armenia to
monitor Interaction-2012 CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force drills.

At the meeting, the parties focused on bilateral cooperation in
military and technical sectors, as well as regional security,
international situation and military drills.

The parties further expressed satisfaction over current level of
Armenia-Russia military cooperation. As President Sargsyan noted, the
Russian official’s visit is another proof of consistent strengthening
of strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Azeri and Turkish Vandalism in Paris

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:27:19 – 19/09/2012

On September 18-21, the National Competitiveness Fund of Armenia and
the representatives of Artsakh Republic are going to jointly represent
Armenia and Artsakh in a tourism fair in Paris. But Azeris completely
destroyed the Armenian pavilion tonight.

Head of the National Competitiveness Fund Vahan Dilanyan confirmed the
incident saying he will inform about the news. He informed that the
pavilion has already been rebuilt.

Safarov’s glorification distorts nation’s set of values – expert

TERT.AM
15:12 – 19.09.12

Azerbaijan’s Talish population, which is more than 1 million, is
worried over Ramil Safarov’s glorification, according to an Armenian
expert.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vardan Voskanyan, a specialist in
Iranian studies, said the Azerbaijani authorities’ move distorts an
entire nation’s set of values.

`The indigenous people in Azerbaijan are really worried over Safarov’s
hero welcome. That distorts an entire nation’s set of values,’ he
said. `It’s quite a different matter that Turkey opened a consulate in
Lenkaran, but that’s the center of Talishstan and there are no
Turkish-speaking people there. It is possible to say, from that point
of view, that Turkey seeks to invade a territory which is under
Iranian domination.’

The expert noted that Iran is interested in maintaining the border
with Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that the country will never make the
fact public for different political considerations.

As for the possible attacks against the country, Voskanyan said it
will not be easy given that Iran has an ancient history.

`Iran has a big territory. It is more than Afghanistan and Iraq put
together. And to attack such a big country, huge financial resources
are needed. Periodically they say the United States will do that in a
year or a year and six months. We all see it isn’t done,’ he added.

National Security Service: Information on penetration of Taliban
rebels to Armenia is fake

16:08, 19 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The National Security Service of
the Republic of Armenia commented on the information published in `The
Armenian Times’ Newspaper, according to which terrorist rebels
penetrated into Armenia. As Armenpress was informed by the Head of the
Press Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of
Armenia Artsvin Baghramyan, the news published in `The Armenian Times’
is completely false and does not correspond to the reality.

`The newspaper must not distort the words of the press pursuing
inexplicable targets. The stability of the country is more expensive
than publishing of obviously false information, which is directed to
the sale of the newspaper’.

`The National Security Service is always centralized on all the
actions directed to the issues on struggle against terrorism. So,
there is not any reason to worry’, – told the Head of the Press
Department of the National Security Service Artsvin Baghramyan to the
Newspaper’s correspondent.

EXPERTS ON CAUCASUS-2012 DRILLS: RUSSIA WARNS AZERBAIJAN AGAINST NEW WAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 18, 2012 – 21:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azeri experts commented on Russia-hosted
Caucasus-2012 large scale military drills.

According to Azeri military expert Uzeir Jafarov, Russia has never
seen military exercises of this scale. ~SPresident Putin~Rs attendance
leads us to think that the drills are crucial to Russia, with Moscow
developing scenarios to repel possible threats. Moscow means to show
that events at South Caucasus are not an unsolvable issue to Russia,~T
he said.

Foreign policy expert Farhad Mehdiyev believes the drills might be a
hint to Azerbaijan. ~SExtradition and release of Azeri officer Ramil
Safarov, stalemate in Karabakh issue settlement trigger ideas of a
military settlement of the conflict. Joint CSTO drills in Armenia
followed by Caucasus 2012-military exercises speak volumes.~T

~SRussia is sending a warning to Georgia and Azerbaijan against any
thoughts of a war,~T the expert said.

Azeri diplomat, political scientist Vafa Guluzade, believes Russia is
getting ready for a new Caucasus war, while ~Sconcealing the actual
situation in Dagestan, which strongly opposes Russian pressure.~T

~SThe situation in North Caucasus is highly strained; people
are striving towards Islam, with Russia having lost its economic,
political and military power,~T Vesti.az. quoted the expert as saying.

MINISTRY OF DIASPORA AND MEKHITARIAN CONGREGATION OF VIENNA TO HAVE A JOINT PROJECT

ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN

The Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan hosted the supervisor of
Mkhitarist Congregation’s school in Yerevan Father Archimandrite
Serovbe Chaburlyan on September 18. As Armenpress was informed from
the Ministry of Diaspora, the joint project of Ministry of Diaspora
and Mekhitarian Congregation dedicated to the 500th anniversary of
Armenian typography was discussed during the meeting. It is planned to
have a concert and an exhibition on the history of Armenian typography.

With the literary activity, the Mekhitarist Fathers surrounded the
important Armenian colonies with scholastic net, being persuaded
that education and mind enlightenment are necessary for the new
generations. They with their schools, had played an important role
in the past and continue to play today with the deep consciousness
of protecting the nation. Many national figures, writers, poets,
artists and politicians graduated from the Mekhitarist schools.

Today the Mekhitarists have schools in Paris, Constantinople, Aleppo,
Beirut, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles.