TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT GREECE
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.06.2009 17:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will
visit the Greek capital of Athens on June 20 and 21, his office said
in a statement. Erdogan will participate in the opening ceremony of
the New Acropolis Museum, and be the guest of Greek Prime Minister
Costas Karamanlis during his stay.
Yerevan honored the memory of Artsakh liberator soldiers
06.06.2009 17:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The memory of volunteer soldiers who died in Artsakh
liberation was honored in Yerevan. RA Defense Ministry’s high ranking
officials and Shengavit Municipality Social Organizations’
representatives participated in commemorative events.
Event participants visited Erablur, the pantheon of Armenian warriors
to lay wreaths at the graves of dead soldiers, and commemorated
liberator soldiers at Shengavit memorial.
During the combat at one of Artsakh villages, on the night of April
21, 1994, 14 soldiers of Shengavit Detachment died heroic deaths,
repulsing the enemies’ attack in unequal fight. They were resigned to
the earth in the beginning of June 1994, when after lengthy
negotiations they bodies were returned to their native land.
Moj News Agency, Iran
June 6 2009
Iran to Finance Oil Pipeline to Armenia
The oil pipeline form Iran to Armenia is valued at $250 million and
Iran has decided to fully finance the project, Armenian Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsesian said. However the project
is being funded on condition that eventually Armenia will reimburse
its share of the costs, Movsesian added. Iran’s decision reflects its
understanding that currently Armenia faces serious financial
difficulties and cannot pay for the project. In the near future
Iranian experts will travel to Yerevan to make a final estimation and
conclude a financial and technical agreement. The Minister expressed
his hope that the project will start in 2009. He also highlighted the
project’s importance as a means of securing the country’s energy
safety. Iran supplies Armenia with natural gas; and in return Armenia
gives Iran electricity. 2009/06/06
FERGHANA VALLEY: TAJIK-KYRGYZ BORDER A POTENTIAL "KARABAKH"
David Trilling
Eurasianet
June 5, 2009
Kuldash is unsure which country he lives in. An ethnic Kyrgyz, he
has a Kyrgyz passport, but his son possesses a Tajik one. "My son
lives in the next house, in Kyrgyzstan. My house is supposed to be
in Tajikistan," he says with a wry grin.
"During Soviet times we grazed our cows wherever we wanted and there
were no borders," adds Kuldash. Now, gesturing to his right and left,
to two countries born out of the wreckage of the Soviet Union’s fall,
he emphasizes how difficult determining the border has been. "A lot
of times the argument depends on which map you use, if you take the
map that was drawn in 1936, or the map that was drawn in 1960, or
the map that was drawn in the 1970s, because they all show different
border demarcations. You can make an argument for anything."
The Fergana Valley’s overlapping borders are notoriously porous,
portals for narcotics smugglers and — regional governments claim —
Islamic insurgents. In many areas, such as around the Tajik town of
Charku, the boundary is unmarked and runs through villages that are
checkerboards of nationalities, with adjacent houses in different
countries. Grazing rights and access to water stoke ethnic tensions,
yet locals complain their respective governments are unwilling to
arbitrate disputes. There are no checkpoints: setting up a barrier
would be an implied acknowledgement of delimitation.
The potential for conflict appears high. Indeed, EurasiaNet recently
witnessed one heated fight between Tajik and Kyrgyz men over the
perceived slight of a toddler. Both blame the other side, maintaining
they have lived in the area longer. The claims are eerily reminiscent
of similar intractable disputes in the Caucasus, a comparison the
villagers themselves are quick to bring up.
"They feel they are the majority and have all the rights. If
things continue the way they are, it is possible there could be open
conflict or a war … in five months, or five years. It could be like
[Nagorno]-Karabakh," says Aberosat, a Kyrgyz schoolteacher in the
village of Koktash, which the Tajiks call Somonion.
Claims and counterclaims generally start with after-school fights
and wildly different population figures. For starters, many locals
describe their community as oppressed by a much larger population of
others, whether Tajik or Kyrgyz.
Aberosat faults the Tajiks for the frequent arguments. "In our
national mentality, we feel we must maintain good relations with our
neighbors and not have conflicts with them. But in Tajik culture,
it is completely the opposite," Aberosat said.
In identical terms, a schoolteacher at a Tajik school a few hundred
meters away blamed the Kyrgyz with stirring up tension. "If we adults
see two groups of children fighting, we separate them and tell them
they shouldn’t fight," says Israel. "But on the Kyrgyz side, it is the
opposite. If they see Kyrgyz children beating up Tajik children, they
encourage them." He blames the Kyrgyz for seeking dominance. "There
is some sort of struggle for power and the Kyrgyz want their villages
to be only Kyrgyz. We’ve lived here together for centuries and we
should continue to do so in a friendly way."
Kusan, a self-described Kyrgyz patriot and native of Koktash, blames
the Tajiks for frequent fights between children. "They’re dishonest,"
he claims. As his group of male friends sits menacingly across from
a Tajik house, a woman comes out and quickly runs back inside. They
laugh and point. Kusan says he is on the frontline defending the
Kyrgyz nation. "Other Kyrgyz don’t live on the border and therefore
don’t understand patriotism. We live here to protect the border. Every
week we have a conflict."
>From his muddy rice plot alongside a spring-swollen river, Nematullah
gestures up and down the valley attempting to define the border. He
is not worried for his particular plot, as the land has been in his
Tajik family for generations. But the cultural divide is sometimes
too obvious to him. "Tajiks are offended that the Kyrgyz are drunk
all the time. When they’re sober, they’re very good people, but if
they drink a little bit," he stops, shaking his head.
Nematullah insists he has good relations with his Kyrgyz neighbors,
but complains that Kyrgyz authorities have an unfair double
standard. "Kyrgyz cars can come into Tajikistan and go to [the regional
capital] Istaravshan and no one will touch them even though they have
Kyrgyz license plates. But we can’t go to [the Kyrgyz regional capital
of] Batken in our cars with Tajik license plates," he says. "We can’t
go there peacefully. The police stop, detain us and threaten us."
The border is a touchy issue, acknowledges Toktokuchuk Mamytov,
chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Border Service. "There are always problems
in everyday life: neighbors can’t share water, or somebody’s cattle
got into a neighbor’s garden, and so on. It is the same everywhere
around the world." But there is no possibility of serious conflict,
he stresses.
In the past four years, the Tajik-Kyrgyz border delimitation commission
has "had very productive results and we have achieved a lot. There
are 971 kilometers of border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and we
have cleared about 50 percent of them," Mamytov said. "At the moment
we have three or four arguable areas, which are still undecided, [but]
the issues that exist are not a threat to Tajik-Kyrgyz relations."
Yet Zeinura Isabekova, project manager at The Foundation for Tolerance
International, an NGO in Kyrgyzstan’s regional capital of Batken,
says conflict could break out while Bishkek and Dushanbe dally. "It
is complicated because governments still keep a very strong position
on their version of which land belongs to whom," she says. "Conflicts
might take place, not only because of the demarcation, but also due to
other social problems as well. They have big problems with water, land,
migration and other factors which add up to demarcation problems."
The potential for conflict appears to have grown lately with the new
construction of a road and bridge through contested land. In March,
Bishkek announced it would rent a contested piece of territory from
Tajikistan to build a road across Batken Region. Kyrgyz villagers
are furious, recognizing the agreement as a tacit acknowledgement
the disputed land belongs to Tajikistan.
For now, some prosper off the uncertainty, creating unofficial free
trade zones in the ungoverned "neutral" areas. On a recent visit,
Tajik and Kyrgyz businessmen were in the process of selling a teal
Lada sedan near Charku. Nurek, a Kyrgyz car trader who delivers a
vehicle every week from Osh, is clearly happy to do business with
Bohir, a Tajik. Though neither is certain to which country the spot
really belongs, they laugh at their merchandise: a car without number
plates. "We have an agreement," they say with a smile.
Editor’s Note: David Trilling is the Central Asia Coordinator for
EurasiaNet.
DAMASCUS BACKS BAKU IN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
Assa-Irada
June 3 2009
Azerbaijan
Damascus supports Azerbaijans fair stance in the settlement of its
conflict with Armenia over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, Syrian Foreign
Minister Walid al-Mualem said after meeting with his counterpart Elmar
Mammadyarov in Baku on Wednesday. Al-Mualem told a joint news briefing
after the talks that Syria backs a negotiated solution complying
with international law to all conflicts flaring in the world. Syria
approaches the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries
with respect and esteem. The Garabagh conflict is hurting not only the
conflicting sides but also adjacent countries. I have said this during
a visit to Armenia as well. It is therefore important to expedite
settlement to the conflict. Al-Mualem arrived in Azerbaijan from
Armenia on Tuesday. During discussions in Yerevan, the Syrian minister
stressed the importance of honoring the interests of all parties
involved in the resolution of the long-standing dispute. Azerbaijan
and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a
cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy part of Azerbaijani
territory in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace
talks have not yet resulted in a solution of the conflict.
June 5, 2009
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
PRELATE PRESIDES OVER THANKSGIVING PRAYERS FOR THE REPUBLIC AND BLESSING OF
THE ARMENIAN FLAG
AT ST. GARABED CHURCH
In celebration of the 91st anniversary of the first Armenian
Republic, by the ordinance of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, on Sunday, May 31st, thanksgiving prayers for the republic were
offered during Divine Liturgy in all Prelacy Churches.
The Prelate presided over Divine Liturgy at St. Garabed Church in
Hollywood, delivered the sermon, presided over the thanksgiving prayer, and
conducted the blessing of the Armenian flag.
Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian,
and the flag ceremony was conducted by scouts from the Hollywood chapter of
Homenetmen.
In his sermon the Prelate spoke of the Feast of Pentecost, and also
reflected on the 91st anniversary of the first republic which calling on the
faithful to contribute to the ANC Telethon which took place later that day.
The Prelate’s call to participate in the Telethon was published in
local newspapers earlier in the week and was read in all Prelacy Churches on
Sunday.
PRELATE’S BLESSINGS AND MESSAGE CONVEYED TO PASADENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
GRADUATES
For the 20th year, on Wednesday, June 3rd, an appreciation night
took place for Armenian graduates from the Pasadena Unified School District,
under the auspices of the Prelate and organized by the Pastor and Board of
Trustees of St. Sarkis School.
In attendance were representatives from the local ARF "Lernavayr"
Gomideh and sister organizations, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogard, Haig
Kartounian representing Congressman Adam Schiff, members of the Pasadena
School District, principals, educators, and parents.
Close to fifty students were honored in the ceremony.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian delivered the invocation and conveyed
the Prelate’s message to the students. The blessing of the tables was
conducted by Pastor of St. Sarkis Church Rev. Fr. Khoren Babochian.
The students were presented with certificates of commendation and
mementos.
DAVIDIAN & MARIAMIAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
As the 2008-2009 school year comes to a close, commencement
ceremonies of Prelacy Schools and Sunday Schools have already begun, with
more to follow in the coming weeks. The commencement ceremonies of Davidian
and Mariamian Educational Foundation are also taking place.
By the ordinance of the Prelate, clergy members attend the
ceremonies of the Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation and convey
the Prelate’s blessings and congratulations to the students.
On Tuesday, June 2nd, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Torossian attended the Miller
Elementary School graduation and conveyed the Prelate’s blessings and
message.
On Thursday, June 4th, Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian represented
the Prelate and the El-Oro Way Elementary School graduation ceremony.
HOLY MARTYRS A.R.S. ASHKHEN PILAVJIAN PRE-SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY
On Saturday, May 30th, the graduation ceremony of Holy Martyrs A.R.S
Ashkhen Pilavjian Pre-School took place at "Avedissian" Hall of Ferrahian
High School. Pastor of Holy Martyrs Church Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian
was in attendance, along with Executive Council member Mr. Khatchig
Yeretzian, teachers, and parents.
The invocation was delivered by Rev. Fr. Khatchadourian, followed by
opening remarks by assistant director of the pre-school Mrs. Peggy
Ishkhanian. The keynote address was given by director Mrs. Vehik
Kaprielian.
Students participated in the artistic program with recitations and
dance.
CHAKHALYAN’S FATE IS THE PROBLEM OF THE REGION’S ENTIRE ARMENIAN POPULATION
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.06.2009 18:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The fate of Vahagn Chakhalyan, leader of "United
Javahk Democratic Alliance" movement, is the problem of the entire
Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti, French lawyer and member of
Paris Bar Patrik Arapyan said. "The problem of the region’s Armenian
population has very deep causes. Since the time of President Zviad
Gamsakhurdia’s rule, the country was governed by the slogan ‘Georgia
for Georgians’. As a result of such policy, the region’s Armenian
population decreased from 0.5 million to 280 thousand. Armenian
activist Chakhalyan’s case should be viewed in the light of such
developments," the lawyer stressed.
On May 29, Tbilisi administrative court held the second hearing to
consider Georgian Justice Ministry’s refusal to register Patrick
Arapyan as Chakhalyan’s defender. After the respondent, i.e. Georgian
Justice Ministry, submitted documents on the court case, the judge
postponed the hearing till June 15, accounting for such decision by
the necessity to review the documents. On February 16, 2009 Georgian
Justice Ministry refused to register lawyer Arapyan as Chakhalyan’s
defender, without giving any justification for such decision. In a
letter addressed to Justice Minister Adeishvili, Georgian Ombudsman
Sozar Subari proposed that Chakhalyan’s right be reinstated by allowing
the French lawyer to act as his defender, but the Georgian authorities
ignored the recommendation.
During the protest held in Paris on April 14 and 28, Georgia’s
Ambassador in France Mamuka Kudava promised that Georgian authorities
would approve the request for Patrick Arapyan’s registration.
On April 6, the court sentenced Vahagn Chakhalyan to 10 years’
in prison, and imposed a fine in the amount of 18.000 laris
($10.650). Chakhalyan’s intend to appeal to higher courts and reach
the European Court of Human Rights.
CSTO TO HOLD LARGE-SCALE JOINT MILITARY DRILLS IN AUG.-SEPT.
RIA Novosti
17:4203/06/2009
MOSCOW, June 3 (RIA Novosti) – The Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) will conduct joint military exercises in
August-September in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, the Belarusian
defense minister said on Wednesday.
The defense ministers of the post-Soviet security bloc comprising
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan held a regular meeting in Moscow on June 3.
"The joint drills will be held in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
to practice the deployment of CSTO’s joint rapid-reaction force,"
Leonid Maltsev told reporters after the meeting.
He said the exercises in Belarus will also involve the Russia-Belarus
joint military grouping created within the framework of the CSTO.
According to media reports, Russia is planning to build a strong
military contingent in Central Asia within the CSTO comparable to
NATO forces in Europe.
The new force will comprise large military units from five countries –
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia
in as part of CSTO cooperation.
STATE COMMISSION MAKES OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON PASSING OF TWO ARMENIAN SOLDIERS TO AZERBAIJANI SIDE
APA
June 1 2009
Azerbaijan
Baku -APA. The State Commission for Captives, Hostages and Missing
People made an official statement on the passing of two Armenian
soldiers to the Azerbaijani side, APA reports.
Soldiers of Armenian army – Harutunian Ohan Vadinagievich, 18 and
Tomosian Gevork Serjikovich, 18 – crossed the line of contact between
Armenian and Azerbaijani troops in Goranboy Region of Azerbaijan at
about 13.00 on May 31, the State Commission said.
The soldiers are under the control of the Defense Ministry of
Azerbaijan and necessary investigation is held about them.
ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES NORMALIZATION DEEMED AS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 19:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recent announcement on normalizing
Turkish-Armenian relations is a potentially historic
breakthrough. However, the lack of progress in implementing the
"framework agreement" raises questions about Turkey’s intentions and
resolve, Columbia University expert David Philips says in an article
published in Boston Globe. "During the conflict in Karabakh, Turkey
closed border with Armenia in support of Azerbaijan. In the meantime,
Armenian-Turkish conflict has lasted many years because of Turkey’s
negation of Armenian Genocide during World War I," Philips writes.
After meeting with Turkish officials on April 7 in Istanbul,
Obama concluded that resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh was not
a formal precondition for normalization and recognition. But
as a practical matter it is a deal-breaker, the expert further
notes. "Armenian and Azerbaijani negotiators agree on ‘basic ideas’
for resolving Nagorno-Karabakh’s status. But Turkey responded that
Ankara’s interests cannot be held hostage by Azerbaijan forever. As
regards Obama administration, it is committed to good relations
with Turkey and Armenia. Both are US allies and help counter global
extremism. Therefore, US mediation is indispensable to the agreement
on normalization and recognition," Philips stresses.