Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Turkish-Armenian writer shot dead

m
January 19, 2007

The Turkish-Armenian writer and journalist Hrant Dink has been shot
dead, Turkish media report.

Dink, the high-profile editor of newspaper Agos, was shot three times
outside its offices in Istanbul, the paper said.

Dink was one of the writers who had been prosecuted under Turkey’s
strict laws against "insulting Turkishness".

He was given a six-month suspended sentence in October 2005 after
writing about the Armenian "genocide" of 1915.

Turkey’s NTV television said police were searching for a teenager
wearing a white hat and a denim jacket in connection with the murder.

The channel showed pictures of a white sheet covering the journalist’s
body in front of the newspaper building’s entrance.

Dink, 53, had received threats from nationalists who viewed him as a
traitor, the Associated Press news agency reported.

He was a public figure in Turkey – one of its most prominent Armenian
voices.

He once gave an interview with the Associated Press in which he cried
while describing the hatred some Turks had for him, saying he could
not stay in a country where he was unwanted.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died in 1915, in what many
Armenians say was a systematic massacre at the hands of the Ottoman
Turks.

Turkey denies any genocide, saying the deaths were a part of World War
I.

Turkey and neighbouring Armenia still have no official relations.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION DAY TO BE EXACTED EARLY FEBRUARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.01.2007 14:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Early February Armenian President will fix the day
for the parliamentary election, RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian said
Tuesday during a meeting with Christian Strohal, the President of the
OSCE Office of Democratic Institutes and Human Rights. In Torosian’s
words, upon determination of the date, international organizations will
be addressed invitations to take part in the election as observers.

To raise the efficiency of joint activities the Armenian Speaker
suggested formation of a working group that could quickly react
to shortcomings fixed by the experts. Mr Strohal welcomed Tigran
Torosian’s proposal and stressed the importance of holding the
parliamentary election in accord with international standards. He
said the OSCE is ready to actively cooperate with the political forces
participating in the election.

EU HOPES FOR RESULTS FROM AZERI, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING – AMBASSADOR

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 16, 2007 Tuesday 5:30 PM MSK

The European Union hopes that the upcoming talks between the Azeri and
Armenian foreign ministers on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue will result in progress, German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Per
Stankina said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"We expect positive results from the Moscow meeting," Stankina said.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a serious problem for Azerbaijan and has been
included in both the Action Plan as part of the European Neighborhood
Policy and the Memorandum on mutual understanding on strategic energy
cooperation, he said.

"However, the EU cannot settle this conflict. Only the sides themselves
can do this," he said.

PER STANCHINA: KARS-AKHALKALAKI-BAKU RAILWAY TO BECOME "NEW CORRIDOR TO EUROPE"

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.01.2007 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad
will become a new corridor for Asia to Europe, stated German
Ambassador to Baku Per Christopher Stanchina. He said this project
is important for all participants and TRASECA will never object to
it. The ambassador explained European Union’s refusal to finance the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku project by saying that such projects
are expensive and the organization just could not provide means for
it. P. Stanchina also stressed how much the project is profitable
will show the future. He also did not exclude the possibility to
finance the railway project by international organizations in future,
‘Trend’ reports.

NUMBER OF ARMENIAN ILLEGAL MIGRANTS IN TURKEY MUCH EXAGGERATED

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.01.2007 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The number of Armenian illegal migrants in Turkey
makes 10-15 thousand. They are mostly engaged in the social field
looking after children and keeping a household. Some of them have small
business. As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter came to know from a reliable
source, the Turkish government replicates the number of 70 thousand
Armenian illegal migrants for propagandistic purpose. The source also
noted that Armenians are not involved in prostitution, as it’s often
said. "This field is firmly occupied by Russian and Ukrainian women and
Armenians have nothing to do there. Competition is too high," he said.

The Straits Times (Singapore)
January 12, 2007 Friday

Vandalism and theft at Armenian Church in Singapore

RECENTLY, on three separate occasions, the oldest Christian church in
Singapore, St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, was
vandalised. At first, graffiti was sprayed on the outside wall. Then
money was stolen twice from the donation box. The latest incident
occurred during the holiday season.

As a volunteer of the church, I am truly ashamed for the person who
defaced this religious site and walked away with the money. This is
not only vandalism of a national heritage site but also disrespectful
of the sanctity of the Church.

This historic monument, which is open to the public, must at all
times remain a safe haven for prayers and reflection. Violators,
please leave your paint cans at home and keep your sticky fingers
away.

Pyunik stars bolster Armenia
Wednesday, 10 January 2007

FIFA.com (,printer. htmx)

Four newcomers will replace some established stars as Ian Porterfield’s
Armenia prepare for a friendly game against Panama in Fresno, California on14
January.
Absent stars
With established stars Edgar Manucharyan, Romik Khachatryan, Karen Dokhoyan,
Artavazd Karamyan and Hamlet Mkhitaryan all being permitted to stay with
their clubs, goalkeeper Edgar Gasparyan, defender Hayk Chilingaryan and forwards
Henrik Mkhitaryan and Tigran Karabagtsyan – all of whom play for domestic
champions FC Pyunik – have been given an opportunity to shine. The 22-man squad
will take on Panama before playing an exhibition game against a yet-to-be
confirmed Major League Soccer team.
Armenia squad
Goalkeepers: Gevorg Kasparov (FC Pyunik), Edgar Gasparyan (FC Pyunik).
Defenders: Hayk Chilingaryan (FC Pyunik), Robert Arzumanyan (FC Pyunik),
Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Valeri Aleksanyan (FC Pyunik), Aleksandr
Tadevosyan (FC Pyunik), Egishe Melikyan (FC Stal Alchevsk), Agvan Lazarian (FC
Pyunik), Armen Tigranyan (FC Pyunik).
Midfielders: Karen Aleksanyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau), Agvan Lazarian (FC
Pyunik), Arman Karamyan (FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt), Levon Pachajyan (FC Pyunik),
Rafael Nazaryan (FC Pyunik), Artur Minasyan (FC Ararat), Henrik Mkhitaryan
(FC Pyunik).
Forwards: Armen Shahgeldyan (FC Mika), Aram Hakobyan (FC Banants), Ara
Hakobyan (FC Stal Alchevsk), Galust Petrosyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau), Tigran
Karabagtsyan (FC Pyunik).

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

OFFICERS OF ICRC VISIT CAPTURED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER ELDENIZ NURIYEV

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 10 2006

The officers of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) visited
Azerbaijani soldier Eldeniz Nuriyev for the fourth time that was
captured by Armenians on December 31 and at present being kept
in occupied Azerbaijani territory, ICRC Azerbaijani Office Public
Relations Department officer Gulnaz Gilyeva told APA.

The officer took soldier’s letter written to his family. His letter
should be delivered to his family today. The officers delivered
Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammdov’s letter to his family yesterday,
Mammadov was captured on December 24. The officers of ICRC monitored
the detention conditions and physical and physiological situation.

It should be noted that, Samir Mammadov was drafted from Barda
Military Registration Department a year ago and captured in neutral
zone- Gazakh-Ijevan territory on December 24. Eldeniz Nuriyev, born
in 1976, was drafted from Aghsu Military Registration Department in
2005 and was captured in the territory of Fuzuli region on December
31. Azerbaijani Defense Ministry declared that the soldiers got lost.

IranMania News, Iran
Jan 3 2007

Iranian Armenians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 – ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, January 3 (IranMania) – Head of Isfahan Armenian Council has
said that unlike Christians in most European and American countries,
Iranian Armenians celebrate Christmas concurrent with Armenia~Rs
Orthodox Church on January 6.

Verje Bermard Diorisian told ISNA that the people of Armenia have
celebrated Christmas on January 6 ever since they converted to
Christianity.

~SArmenian churches used to celebrate January 6 as festivity. However,
Catholic churches changed this same date to December 24 later since
it coincided with Mithra Festival,~S he added.

Diorisian noted that in Iran a religious ritual is held in all
churches on the afternoon of January 5 and special baptizing
ceremonies known as ~RBadarak~R are held on January 6 early morning.

~SPeople go to their homes on Christmas eve after holding religious
ceremonies with candles lit. Special Christmas dinner for the
Armenians includes fish and rice. This is while the Europeans and
Americans have either geese or turkey,~S he further added.

The Armenians held a short ceremony soon after the ringing in the New
Year 2007 at midnight of December 31 in Isfahan~Rs Vank Cathedral, he
said adding that the archbishop presents gifts to children on New
Year morning.

–Boundary_(ID_GUCrGUCQYXOmZQ7I5PKrBA)–

VARTAN OSKANIAN: "THE AUTHORITIES MUST NOT STOP NKR SETTLEMENT PROCESS
ARISING OF ONLY POLITICAL INTERESTS"

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAOAN. "In general, we are not displeased
with the work done by us," RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
estimated in this way the work done by the department headed by him,
during the December 28 "Herankar" (Perspective) program of the "Shant"
TV company. In the Minister’s words, that is "an inner estimate,"
which was formed late this year, as a result of separate discussions
with the Foreing Ministry’s departments. "Of course, one may always
want to see more, but what we have today, in general, I estimate as
positive," V.Oskanian said. At the same time the Minister noticed that
"of course, our society must give the final estimate." The Minister
did not agree with the opinion that the results existing in the NKR
conflict settlement process must be in the pivot of estimation of the
Foreign Ministry’s activity. "If we just centrlize on the NKR issue,
we, factually, will pay a tribute to our opponent, will pay a tribute
to Azerbaijan and Turkey. … Of course, it is desireable to solve the
NKR problem but it must not be considered the only issue on which
solution of all the other issues depends," V.Oskanian said. In his
words, he also shares RA President Robert Kocharian’s opinion
concerning inadmissibility of possible speculations of the NKR issue
in the pre-electoral period. But V.Oskanian finds that there is yet no
reason for such speculations as, in his words, "the document which is
on the negotiations table, we did not present to the society’s court,
as we ourselves yet do not know what the final result of those
negotiations will be." At the same time the Minister expressed an
opinion that if the authorities expect that the opposition or other
political forces must not speculate the NKR issue arising of their
innerpolitical interests, the authorities must undertake the same
obligations and, just arising of the political interests, do not stop
the settlement process or refuse solution of the issue. "So, if a
moment comes that we ourselves are sure that this arises of our
national interests and the Azerbaijani side is ready to solve the
problem, how difficult it is, how hard it is, if it is, in political
sense, even fraught with overfalls, I think that the authorities must
have and display enough political will to take the way of solving the
issue as it is a national problem, this is a universal problem, it
arises of interests of all of us," V.Oskanian stated.