Author: nina hovnanian

Armenian boxer wins EBU champion’s belt

armradio.am
24.08.2012 15:22

European Boxing Union’s (EBU) Armenian featherweight king Alexander
Miskirtchian (21-2-1, 7KOs), who represents Belgium, will defend his
title.
At the title bout, which is slated for October 28 in Belgium,
Miskirtchian will defend his belt against the challenger, Oleg
Yefimovych (22-2, 11KOs) of Ukraine, BoxingScene reports.
To note, the Ukrainian boxer is the former holder of the EBU
featherweight title, which he lost in 2008 and on scores to French
fighter Sofiane Takoucht. And the latter lost this belt to Alexander
Miskirtchian in the year past.

Diaspora Ministry registers Syrian-Armenian children

news.am
August 24, 2012 | 13:40

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Diaspora Ministry is conducting a registration of
Armenian children from Syria.

In this connection, the Ministry has called upon the Syrian Armenians
with a statement.

`Dear Syrian Armenians, if you have decided to temporarily or
permanently reside in Armenia and your children have to go to school,
we ask you to please go to Yerevan Municipality’s Department of
Education, [located] at 1 Argishti [Street].

We ask you to please register, irrespective of whether or not you
already have enrolled your children in any school,’ the Diaspora
Ministry’s statement reads.

Smelling Criminal Case?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:03:47 – 24/08/2012

Lawyer of Teghut Defense Group Hayk Alumyan says ACP Company presented
false documents to cover up environmental suspicions in order to
receive the license to exploit the mine.

There are two forests called Teghut in Armenia. The first is in the
region of Lori and is famous with its endemic plants, as well as
animals listed in the Red Book. The second is situated near Dilijan
and is less rich than the first one.

Using the advantage of similar names of these two forests, ACP
presented documents relating to Teghut in Dilijan, while intending to
exploit a mine in the other one.

According to Hayk Alumyan, if it is the habitat of animals listed in
the Red Book, no activity that can harm them can be allowed there,
particularly building an industrial company.

Turks destroyed Maratuk Saint Astvatsatsin church

10:53, 24 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Saint Astvatsatsin Church located in
Western Armenian Sasun district, High Mountain Maratuk, is being
destroyed by the Turks.

In accordance with the info provided by the local residents eight
criminals undertook destroying the church territory by spades.

The perpetrators fled the scene after causing serious damages,Istanbul
based Agos magazine told Armenpress.

Earlier a group of Armenian pilgrims when climbed up the mountain to
light a candle and pray during state calendar Vardavar Holiday,
already found Armenian spiritual temple in destroyed state. Current
year the group of pilgrims comprised of Armenians too:Maratuk national
folk song and dance ensemble inclusive.

The name of the church located in the highest peak of 2973 meter high
mount, in the course of the time was identified with the mount name.
In “Sasuntsi Davit “epic the church is called Saint Astvatsatsin. The
sacrifice days of the churches titled Saint Astvatsatsin coincide with
Saint Mariam Astvatsatsin churches holidays. Yet the sacrifice day of
Maratuk located church is celebrated during Vardavar holiday.

Religious, Political, and Charitable Organizations Join to Aid
Community in Syria

by Armenian Weekly
August 23, 2012

NEW YORK – In a joint announcement made on Aug. 23, the Eastern Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, the Armenian Catholic
Exarchate, the Armenian Missionary Association of America, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and the Armenian Relief Society
announced the formation of the `Fund for Syrian-Armenian Relief,’ that
will offer urgently needed assistance to the historic Armenian
communities of Syria.

During the past week the heavily Armenian populated areas of Aleppo,
Kessab, Damascus, and Kamishli have been under siege by both state and
opposing forces and the physical safety of the people, as well as
their economic livelihood, are in great jeopardy.

The joining of the Armenian Orthodox, Evangelical, and Catholic
churches with the political and charitable organizations in the United
States, follows the pattern set in Aleppo where the three churches,
the three political parties, and all social and charitable
organizations have joined together to face the growing crisis.

Efforts are underway to reach out to other organizations to join the
joint committee. Fundraising efforts will be undertaken by this newly
formed joint U.S committee, together with their affiliates, to raise
funds to help the immediate needs of the Armenian community in Syria,
as well as for long-range efforts to maintain and restore the
community.

At present, assistance will come mainly through fundraising for
schools and other community institutions, which face severe shortfalls
as the crisis restricts their own financial capabilities. A portion of
the funds will also assist needy individuals directly affected by the
unrest.

The formation of a coordinating committee, with representation from
each of the participating organizations, will be announced imminently.

APA, Azerbaijan
Aug 23 2012

Ahmet Davutoglu: `Liberation of the Azerbaijani occupied territories
remains main direction of our foreign policy’

[ 23 Aug 2012 11:11 ]
Baku – APA. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a speech at
the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers within the Summit of
Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, which will be held on
August 23 in Bishkek and strongly criticized non-constructive position
of Armenia in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

APA reports quoting AzerTAc news agency that Davutoglu said that
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict is an obstacle standing
in the way of stability in the South Caucasus: `Liberation of Nagorno
Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan remains main
direction of our foreign policy and after this we will work in this
direction. We strongly protest the occupation of Azerbaijan’s 20%
territories and forcibly exiling of our Azerbaijani brothers from
their lands. We are seriously concerned about unsuccessful
negotiations, which have been continuing for 20 years. It will be
difficult to achieve peace, stability and tranquility in the South
Caucasus and Middle East unless the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be
settled peacefully within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.’

Davutoglu noted that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be settled
within norms and principles of international law, as well as the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Turkey will continue its
attempts in this direction.

U.S., Turkish officials meet to hasten Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow

August 23, 2012 – 21:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkish and US officials have begun their first
“operational planning” meeting aimed at bringing about the demise of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s embattled regime, as heavy fighting
continued in Damascus and Aleppo, The Telegraph reported.

The meeting is expected to coordinate military, intelligence and
political responses to the crisis in Syria where a deadly crackdown on
peaceful protests that began in March 2011 has according to activists
claimed more than 23,000 lives.

The officials are also due to discuss contingency plans in the case of
potential threats including a chemical attack by the regime in
Damascus which Washington has called a “red line”.

Turkish foreign ministry deputy under-secretary Halit Cevik and US
ambassador Elisabeth Jones are leading the delegations made up of
intelligence agents, military officials and diplomats at the meeting
in Ankara, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkey’s foreign minister
Ahmet Davutoglu announced their plans for such a mechanism to hasten
the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on August 11.

Turkish official tries thwart erection of Armenian Genocide Monument in USA

tert.am
18:04 – 23.08.12

An official from the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles met with a
Pasadena City official in an effort to thwart plans by city to erect
an Armenian Genocide monument, reports.

The Armenian National Committee of America Pasadena chapter issued a
statement Wednesday denouncing Turkey’s brazen attempts to interfere
in city government business. Below is the text of the announcement:

During the month of August, the Republic of Turkey initiated a meeting
with the City of Pasadena to probe for information about the newly
formed and independent Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee
(PAGMC). The meeting took place at Pasadena City Hall between the Vice
Consul of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles and the City’s
management directors. Vice Consul Arif Celik’s consultation was
politically driven stating that the government he represents held a
`difference of opinion’ about the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Pasadena cannot let such
statements go unchecked: the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact
and will not be allowed to be subjected to `differences of opinions’
or debate. The nation of Turkey should acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide and not interfere with American politics, in American cities
and proposed projects by American citizens and residents. Under the
American Constitution, the citizens of states, cities, and towns
acting through their elected officials, are empowered to conduct their
civic affairs without the interference of foreign governments. The
Turkish government, which is among the world’s worst violators of
freedom of expression, consistently seeks, and has frequently
succeeded at the federal level, in imposing a gag rule on American
calls for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. The
initiation of a meeting by a foreign nation’s officials with a local
U.S. municipality is politically driven and, therefore, is deemed as
an attempt to intervene in the affairs of our local American
communities. Preserving heritage and memorializing ancestors who were
killed by way of genocide is not subject to the political positions of
foreign nations.

Pasadena has been home to Armenian-Americans for several decades, many
of whom are descendants of the Armenian Genocide. In the past, the
City of Pasadena has conducted an official census count of its
Armenian-American residents and has amended its Affirmative Action
ordinance to uphold Armenian-Americans as a Protected Class. In 1991,
the City of Pasadena established the city of Vanadzor, Armenia as its
sister-city and raised the Armenian Tri-color flag over Pasadena City
Hall on May 28 to commemorate Armenia’s Day of Independence. For more
than 30 years, the City of Pasadena has adopted resolutions and issued
official proclamations to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

It is intrusive for the Republic of Turkey to hold a political
Interest over how local communities stand against various crimes
against humanity such as the 1915 Armenian genocide. The vested
Interest of a foreign national government in local u.s. community
Issues is invasive, unacceptable, and is viewed as an encroachment on
American rights and values.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

Bako Sahakyan receives Kasprzyk

18:37, 23 August, 2012

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: President of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan met personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk on August 22, Cental
Information Department of the Office og the Artsakh President told
Armenpress. Issues related to the current situation along the line of
contact between NKR and Azerbaijan armed forces were discussed during
the meeting.

Turkey halts Syria’s internet access service – report

August 23, 2012 – 13:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey has halted Internet access service to Syria,
possibly due to the tensions between the two countries, according to
the Internet intelligence firm Renesys.

As the Hurriyet Daily News reported citing Milliyet, the internet
service, which had been provided to the embattled country by Türk
Telekom, was cut off earlier this month.

Syria’s Internet connection has reportedly slowed and occasionally
stopped working. However, Türk Telekom said the disconnection was
caused by the malfunctions in Syria itself and that the firm could not
fix the breakdowns.

The only company that is still providing Internet service to Syria is
a Chinese company, PCCW, according to reports.