Author: nina hovnanian

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 18 2012

Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan trains transport 30,575 passengers in two months

Ever since running its `Armenia’ brand trains, the `South Caucasus
Railway’ Company transported 30,575 passengers on the
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan route this summer. And this figure is 18.9
percent higher than in 2011, when 25,705 passengers were transported
from June 15 to August 16, News.am reports.

A total of 39,005 `Armenia’ brand train tickets were sold between June
1 and August 16, which is 27.3 percent above last year’s figure of
30,646 tickets.

Also, 14,487 passengers were transported from August 1 to 16 alone,
which is up by 35.9 percent as compared with the same period last
year, and 10,893 tickets were sold, which is up by 57.7 percent.

On the average, close to 1,000 passengers are transported daily in the
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan destination since August.

Romania Libera , Romania
Aug 16 2012

How We Have Become Anti-Americans: Orthodoxy and Flee to East

by Sabina Fati

[Caretaker Romanian President] Crin Antonescu has already divided the
Romanians into two camps: the allegedly 900,000 pro-US ones who
support [suspended Romanian President] Traian Basescu alongside the
Washington ambassador on the one side, and the 7.5 million who have
allegedly aligned behind the interim president on the other.

Antonescu’s arithmetic is risky because it is ambivalent and because
the 7.5 million who voted for Traian Basescu’s dismissal may not have
been convinced by the Liberal leader’s ideas. Moreover, the attempt to
demonize the Americans by associating the US envoy with Basescu is
equally risky mainly because this analogy might be detrimental to the
caretaker president for the majority of the Romanians. Antonescu has
taken a major risk of offending the Washington officials because,
after receiving Barack Obama’s envoy, he rushed to Antena 3 [TV
station indirectly controlled by Conservative leader Dan Voiculescu]
to declare that the US official is “biased” and has joined the side of
Traian Basescu, the man who “is keeping the rule of law under siege”
in Romania.

In fact, immediately after having received Hillary Clinton’s deputy,
the caretaker president met Moscow’s envoy Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch of All Armenians. The Presidency’s website carries more
pictures with the religious leader than with Philip Gordon. Karekin II
is, after Moscow Patriarch Kirill, the most influential cleric in the
ex-Soviet space, used by Moscow more than once in its foreign policy,
including in the conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave. Karekin II, received with more attention than Gordon by Prime
Minister Ponta and President Antonescu, spent his youth in Austria and
Germany, before the Soviet Union’s dismantlement. He has had special
relations with Moscow’s authorities since the seventies. He has the
same age as Vladimir Putin, with whom he has come to have rather close
relations as Putin awarded him the Friendship Order for “developing
and strengthening the Russian-Armenian relations” in 2006. Russia is
trying to attract on its side all the church leaders with whom it
prepares to set up an orthodox axis. The pro-Moscow lobby in this
direction has turned increasingly obvious in the Balkans, as opposed
to the pro-West orientations.

Victor Ponta and Crin Antonescu ignoring all the recent signals and
warnings from Romania’s allies in NATO and the EU suggests that the
two leaders are interested in their own agenda alone and that they are
prone to anything in order to oust Traian Basescu. Colonel Mircea
Dogaru, leader of the reserve military retirees, has already urged
civil insubordination if the Constitutional Court fails to dismiss
Traian Basescu. Moreover, Dan Sova, the young minister accused of
anti-Semitism, has anticipated a new attempt to suspend the president
after his return. Before the chaos to be allegedly unleashed by their
colonel friend, Ponta and Antonescu are getting ready to replace
General Prosecutor Codruta Kovesi before Traian Basescu returns to
Cotroceni [presidential palace]. After all these experiments have been
carried out, the country will naturally get out of the allied axis
because the Western officials will decide to isolate Romania. At the
same time, the specialists trained to discretely, but
enthusiastically, rebuild the relations with the East will come out of
hibernation.

Romania’s strategic options are changing while Crin Antonescu and
Victor Ponta are turning more comfortable in their chairs of great
leaders. Their initial nationalism has progressively turned into
anti-West attitudes and their stances have become similar to those
adopted by Ion Iliescu at the beginning of the nineties, when he
defended the country from the West’s expansionist sympathy with the
help of the miners and Ceausescu’s Securitate employees.

[Translated from Romanian]

Two brothers fought but severely injured sister in Armenia’s Armavir

news.am
August 17, 2012 | 10:45

ARMAVIR. – Two brothers beat each other during a dispute in Armenia’s
Armavir, while one of them decided to hit the other with a chair.
However, their 21-year-old sister received the attack, Armenian
News-NEWS.am source reports. She was hospitalized with injuries and
brain concussion.

Police confirmed information for the agency. The sister informed that
she has allegedly got the injuries while felling down from the stairs.
However, police managed to find out that 30-year-old Sargis S. has
cuffed his brother, 32-year-old Edgar S., while the latter tried to
attack him with a chair. The sister got the attack by chance. Brothers
are released on signature, forensic-medical examination is appointed
and an investigation is underway.

Armenian-Iranian environmental group to hold session in Yerevan

news.am
August 17, 2012 | 21:16

YEREVAN. – Regular session of the working group involving Armenian and
Iranian experts dealing with the study of pollution and analyzing the
water quality of the river Araks is scheduled for Sept. 10 to 14 in
Yerevan, Armenia.

The Armenian Ministry of Natural Resources has elaborated the PM’s
draft decision, which will secure holding all the events linked to the
meeting, Pastinfo reports.

To note, the working group on studying pollution and analyzing the
water quality of the river Araks was established in 2005. The 15th
session between the Armenian and Iranian sides was held in August,
2011 in Tabriz, Iran.

Aznavour’s Detractors: When All You Can Do Is Look for Scapegoats
Armen Arakelyan

hetq
18:10, August 17, 2012

So Charles Aznavour, our much beloved chansonnier and Armenian
goodwill ambassador to the world, participated at the opening
ceremonies of the newly restored Rabat fortress complex in Akhaltska
on August 16.

Many Armenians advised him not to take part, but the singer went and
gave a concert anyway. After all, his father was born in Akhaltska and
he received a personal invitation from Saakashvili.

Those Armenian circles who advised him to gracefully bow out point to
the fact that even though the mosque, synagogue and orthodox Christian
church at the site were renovated, the Georgian authorities overlooked
the Armenian Catholic Church that stands in ruin.

And because Turkey also donated a portion of the renovation funds,
certain Armenians declared that Aznavour shouldn’t participate in the
opening of a cultural complex that openly rejects a regional Armenian
presence.

No one can deny that the Armenian Catholic Church can fall as the next
victim of Georgian state policy of assimilation and seizure of the
cultural inheritance of minorities, especially the Armenians. This
isn’t the first case or the last.

But Aznavour isn’t to blame.

Renovations to Rabat began back in 2007. Alarms were being raised as
early as 2010 that demolition work was being carried out in the
immediate vicinity of the Armenian Catholic Church that has
inscriptions dating to then12th century.

To verify these reports, the RA Ministry of Culture even dispatched
the Director of the Scientific Research Center for Cultural
Inheritance. He went and confirmed that the church was in real danger.

Afterwards, the lid was shut on this issue. The matter wasn’t even
brought up for discussion when Catholicos Garegin II paid a six day
pontifical visit to Georgia, even though renovation work was going on
at the time. The Armenian side basically displayed inaction regarding
the fate of the church.

For Aznavour to have refused to participate, given this attitude of
the Armenian government and Church, wouldn’t have been the wisest of
choices. How could he have justified his bowing out under such
circumstances? Aznavour couldn’t have shouldered the burden personally
when Armenia’s government shed itself of such responsibility.

Despite the methods employed by Georgia to renovate that
historical-cultural site, it perfectly symbolizes tolerance and mutual
understanding as evidenced by the fact that the spiritual values of
the three religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – coexist side
by side.

Had Aznavour refused to participate in the opening of a memorial site
with such meaning, it couldn’t have been viewed as a manifestation of
narrow nationalism; something which Aznavour has always been distanced
himself from. On the contrary, even if we view his action from the
same nationalist prism, by his presence and concert, Aznavour was
simply confirming that the region, with its ethnic structure and its
historical architectural profile, has historically been Armenian. In
reality, this isn’t the issue.

Rabat is a truly wonderful business venture; both from the perspective
of preserving and serving up Georgian cultural values and developing
the tourist trade on top. Even if the project contains aggressive
cultural elements, Georgia is carrying it out with a finely crafted
technology and very delicately; by aligning the beneficial with the
pleasant and the necessary. This is something that Armenia has never
been able to do.

Aznavour can’t be blamed that in Armenia there isn’t the desire or the
ability to carry out such extensive projects. The singer is not guilty
because we can’t even preserve that which we have, and are only adept
at building places to fill our stomachs. The little we have worthy of
preserving has been swallowed up with a network of infrastructure that
is crass and laughable. We are so provincial at times that we make
`Evro’ renovations to our cultural sites, and have turned them into
garbage dumps, both inside and out.

Aznavour isn’t to blame that Rabat is located in neigh boring Georgia,
where his father’s roots are from. Rabat painfully reminds us that
noting on such a scale has been done in Armenia during that past
twenty years. And we constantly point out that tourism is a leading
sector of the Armenian economy. Who are we kidding?

The only achievement we can look to with some sense of pride is the
aerial cable car at Tatev; but it only operates six months out of the
year.

Those who criticize Aznavour have nothing to say about all this. They
are trying to turn him into a scapegoat for all the inadequacies and
faults of the nation at large. These people want to conveniently rid
themselves of accountability and find blame with others; not
themselves.

But the, it’s always been easier to find fault in others and not within oneself.

Military exercises in Artsakh: Staff is well prepared

19:24 16/08/2012 » Politics

On August 14-16 several subdivisions headed by the NKR MoD commander
Movses Hakobyan have held presentations of military exercises.

According to MoD press service holding such military exercises is
aimed at developing the strategic skills of the participants.

According to MoD the military exercises have shown that the staff has
got good strategic skills and is ready to complete any military task.

Source: Panorama.am

Homenetmen Flag Flies Atop Mt. Ararat

asbarez
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

Homenetmen scouts on top of Mt. Ararat

Homenetmen members Garine Sisserian and Sipan Koroghlian of France
reached the peak of Ararat Mountain on August 10, 2012 wearing their
scout uniforms and bringing with them the Homenetmen flag where they
sang the Homenetmen anthem `Haratch Nahadag’ and renewed their
scouting vows while enjoying the new rays of the sun on the 92nd
anniversary of the Sevres treaty.

Inviting Aznavour to Samtskhe-Javakheti Georgia admits that the region
belongs to Armenia: Keti Dolidze

19:45, 16 August, 2012

Yerevan, August 16, ARMENPRESS: Georgian director Keti Dolidze stated
that inviting the world-famous Armenian singer Charles Aznavour to
Samtskhe-Javakheti and organizing the latter’s concert admits that
this region belongs to Armenia. As `Armenpress’ reports citing the
Georgian media, Dolidze wrote about this in her Facebook social
network. `The invitation of Aznavour and opening the castle with his
concert means the following: Both Aznavour and that region belong to
Armenia’, the director wrote.

The world-famous French Armenian singer will participate in the
opening of the rehabilitated `Rabat’ castle in Akhaltsikhe. This is
the third visit of Aznavour to Georgia, but the singer will have a
concert in that country for the first time. Young jazz performer Beka
Gochaishvili will open the concert program at 20:00 by Georgian time,
45 minutes after which Aznavour’s concert will start.

The concert of Aznavour in Akhaltsikhe is not accidental, since, as it
is known, the siger’s father was born there. His parents later
migrated to France and intended to leave for the USA, but had to stay
in France as they did not get visa.

Let Us Extend a Hand As a Nation to the Syrian Armenians

Opinion | August 16, 2012 10:34 am

By Panos Titizian

The revolutionary winds of the `Arab Spring’ which began in Tunisia
and continued in Algeria, Yemen, Libya and Egypt for 17 months have
now turned Syria’s capital, Damascus, and its large cities of Aleppo
and Kamishli, into scenes of bloody battles. Over 80 percent of the
Syrian Armenians live in these three cities.

Bloody and destructive struggles in any Arab country due to political,
religious or ethnic reasons can only cause sorrow for the Armenian
people. The Armenian people is not only forever grateful to the Arab
countries for opening widely their doors and hearts on the morrow of
the Genocide to the children of the exiled Armenian people, accepting
them and providing them with the possibility of earning their
livelihood through work – and especially the humane and noble behavior
of the hospitable people of Syria. It is also profoundly in
commiseration with them as a result of the terrible crisis which they
are now experiencing.

Our hope and desire is that a positive solution is found as soon as
possible to this crisis, which is of a destructive nature for all
parties, and the guns and bombs fall silent. By carrying out an
acceptable solution for all sides, peace and calm will reign once more
throughout Syria’s territory.

At the same time, we are aware that hopes and desires without real,
practical steps remain solely wishes and dreams, especially in our
case, if we Armenians do not help by all possible means and do not
take tangible initial steps to extend financial, physical, spiritual
and moral aid to our Syrian-Armenian brothers and sisters.

In this vein, the communiqué of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) several days ago in the Armenian press is very encouraging and
comforting. Among other things, it said:

In preparation for the imminent need for humanitarian assistance that
is emerging as a result of the unfolding political crisis in Syria,
the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is committed to taking
action to help the Armenian community in distress, this time in Syria.

The Central Board of Directors moved to set aside an AGBU Emergency
Fund for Humanitarian Assistance to the Armenian Community in Syria,
in the amount of $1 million.

A special task force, in cooperation with the District Committee of
Syria, is in the process of assessing the emerging needs, to create
the appropriate logistics in compliance with federal and international
guidelines, to help and support the Armenian community there.
Necessary arrangements are also underway in AGBU’s centers locally in
Aleppo, Damascus and Kamishli, to make them operational hubs for
coordinating the relief efforts, extending help to families in other
locations as well, wherever the need arises. They will also be
prepared to accommodate those who may have to be temporarily moved out
of their homes. The possibility of making AGBU facilities in Cyprus
available as temporary shelter for families, who may need to move out
of the country, is under consideration.

AGBU is in close communication with officials in Armenia to be
appraised of the diplomatic efforts and social and organizational
initiatives being taken to address the situation.

As we see, this great Union, born from the sorrows of the Armenian
people, brought to life by Boghos Nubar Pasha and his friends in Cairo
106 years ago with the noble patriotic and humanitarian ideas of
taking care of the needs of the Armenian people, which without
discrimination has come to the aid of all the children of our people
uprooted from its historic lands and wandering the five continents of
the world – the orphan and the widow, the sick and needy, the victim
of earthquake, the seeker of education, and those who need basic
sustenance and shelter in order to live – again carries out its
historical and honorable role.

It is not amazing that the AGBU, which enlisted in the holy mission of
patriotism, philanthropy and dedication in the life of our people, had
successive presidents imbued with clear-sightedness and patriotism,
Mihran Karagheuzian, Calouste Gulbenkian, Alex Manoogian and his
daughter, Louise Manoogian Simone, and the present energetic, idealist
president Berge Setrakian, Esq., who, taking the torch passed on from
Boghos Nubar Pasha, served with the same resolve of will, spirit and
dedication, and continue to serve today. The proof is the reassuring
press release which we have mentioned above.

Consequently, it is necessary not to leave the AGBU alone in its
service to the nation. The pain of the Syrian Armenians, the demand to
become its remedy, must become an imperative for all Armenians, both
in Armenia and the diaspora, including all our political, religious,
philanthropic, social and youth organizations and institutions.
Without a doubt when the challenge is of a pan-Armenian nature, the
assistance, the response, must also be of a pan-Armenian resonance and
magnitude.

In this sense, we are sure that all the children of our people,
whatever ideal, creed or conviction they may have, spurred on by the
historical imperative of the moment, hand in hand with the Central
Executive of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and its energetic
president, encouraging one another, will provide the necessary
assistance to one of the most vital, steadfast citadels of our
diaspora, worthy of gratitude – the glorious Syrian Armenians.

(Panos Titizian is an ADL leader. This article was translated into
English from the original Armenian.)

Armenia’s opposition forces missed their chance – expert

tert.am
17:05 – 16.08.12

Armenia’s political opposition forces failed to take advantage of the
local elections and missed the chance to unite round a joint candidate
on the threshold of presidential election in Armenia, Aharon
Adibekyan, Head of the Sociometer center, told journalists on Thurday.

`If the opposition forces had united before the presidential election
and agreed on a joint candidate, the local elections were a good
occasion, but they missed the chance,’ Adibekyan said.

They would have been represented in at least 250 of 750 election
districts and polled voiced, which might have proved useful in
presidential election. The possibility of a joint presidential
candidate being nominated `is vanishing,’ the expert said.

In contrast to the opposition, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) is well aware local elections are important. The RPA is
represented in 70 to 75 of Armenia’s communities, Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) and Rule of Law party in 20 to 25 percent and small
parties in five percent of the communities.

The evasive approach to local elections by the radical opposition
force, Armenian National Congress (ANC) bloc, as well as by `ones
involved in other wings,’ is reminiscent of Aesop’s fox that cannot
reach the cluster of grapes and says, `they are sour.’ `So the
opposition fails to prove up to the mark at local elections and says
`it is sour,’ Adibekyan said.

Armenia’s opposition forces are seeking the shortest way. `They think
there is a lift to bring them up to the presidential residence. They
forget they have to go upstairs, and local elections are one of the
points on this way,’ the expert said.