| TURKISH ARMY CHIEF IN CYPRUS |
| Gibrahayer - March 25, Nicosia - Turkish Army Chief General Buyukanit returns back to the scene of the crime at Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, for a three day visit to have talks and visit military units before departing from the island on March 29th.
Buyukanit, commenting today on the latest steps taken by Ankara on Cyprus, noting that the administration had not consulted him before making its moves, and that he had learned the news from television. Said Buyukanit "I am saying this openly, not 'off the record': Our views were not asked."
Cyprus government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou - in an interview on Plus TV- condemned the visit of the Turkish General both for it taking place, and for its timing.
Cyprus newsletter Omphalos tis Gis reports.
There's been a hitch in the opening of Ledra Street. Reports talk of "technical problems" that have prevented the UN from entering the area. The Cyprus Mail says the setback was confirmed by Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou after his meeting with Ozdil Nami, aide to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. According to CyBC when Nami was asked during the meeting to set up the technical committees, the Turkish Cypriot aide, said he was not in a position to give an answer about what was going on and would report back on Wednesday. Other sources told the Cyprus Mail it was because someone along the way felt they had not been adequately informed. But it was still something that could be overcome, the sources said. Asked if the Turkish side had changed its mind, Iacovou said he could not comment on that. He said all he could say was “they were not yet ready”. Phileleftheros says the Turkish army is not allowing UNFICYP to enter the buffer zone and begin the de-mining process because they are questioning whether it is no-man's land or land under their control.
Earlier yesterday the two mayors from both sides of Nicosia were still waiting for the green light from UNFICYP to enter the buffer zone to carry out the work needed to open the Ledra Street crossing. They met for lunch at a restaurant in the Green Line near the Ledra Palace crossing. Both mayors have said that once the UN allows them in, they could be ready to open the crossing within five days.
As regards the meeting itself, Mr Iacovou said there had been great progress in the work of setting up the committees and that the meetings would continue tomorrow. “We discussed the issues the committees will deal with. We have made great progress towards the right direction and I believe that at our next meeting on Wednesday we will reach an agreed basis,” he said.
Newsletter Omphalos Tis Gis has a separate section on Gibrahayer.com, under Our Online Family. You can either view the round up of Cyprus developments there, or sign up to receive their newsletter direct. |
| NEW COALITION IN ARMENIA |
| Republican Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir Party, Prosperous Armenia Party, and ARF Dashnaktsoutiun have signed an agreement on political coalition. Prime minister of Armenia, president-elect Serzh Sargsyan has called this “an unprecedented event, for, if before we spoke of merely creating a coalition government, now we can speak of a full-fledged political coalition.” Sargsyan promised to perform substantial reforms in the country's public and political life, warning that for many they will be painful. |
| ARMENIA THREATENS TO RECOGNISE ARTSAKH |
| Thu Mar 20, YEREVAN (Reuters) - Armenia should recognise Azerbaijan's separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state if Azerbaijan does not change its approach to peace talks, Armenia's president said on Thursday.
"If Azerbaijan continues in this same spirit, then our step should be to recognise the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and sign agreements with it. In any event that is what I would do," President Robert Kocharyan, who steps down next month, told a news conference.
Armenia reacted angrily after the United Nations General Assembly this month adopted an Azeri-drafted resolution demanding that Armenian forces withdraw from Azerbaijan's territory.
Azerbaijan says Armenia has illegally occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, and a number of Azeri districts surrounding the region. It says it is committed to stalled peace talks but has refused to rule out using force to restore its control.
Azerbaijan and Armenia are observing a fragile ceasefire but they are still officially at war and their troops frequently fight skirmishes along a heavily mined front line. Up to 16 troops were killed in a clash earlier this month.
Kocharyan is to step down next month when his long-time ally Serzh Sarksyan takes over as president. Kocharyan - who like Sarksyan is a native of Nagorno Karabakh - is expected to retain influence over policy. |
| EMERGENCY LIFTED BUT PROTESTS CONTINUE |
YEREVAN, Reuters - A state of emergency introduced in Armenia following post-election clashes that left eight people dead was lifted on Friday.
Troops left the streets of the capital Yerevan that they had occupied since the March 1 clampdown, but they were replaced by a heavy police presence that blocked around 1,500 protesters assembling in the city centre.
Carrying candles and pictures of those who died, the protesters instead walked through the city's main streets in a vigil they said was to remember the victims of the violent clashes, a Reuters eyewitness reported.
Addressing the crowd, a police officer urged the protesters to disperse: "We are all Armenians, please go home."
The country's outgoing president, Robert Kocharyan, declared the 20-day state of emergency on March 1 after the street battles in Yerevan between police and opposition protesters, who were demanding the annulment of a presidential election.
Kocharyan is to step down next month when his long-time ally and prime
minister, Serzh Sarksyan, takes over as president.
The country moved towards a political resolution on Friday when four political parties signed an agreement establishing a coalition, which included one of the parties that had previously participated in opposition protests. |
| ON WWW.GIBRAHAYER.COM |
| ...there is always something new on Gibrahayer.com - Interview of the week by Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
- Cyprus This Week - Let The Talks Begin
- Armenia tops Eurovision 2008 betting community
- Online Petitions - The voting continues on MSN
- Read Omphalos tis Gis in the Online Family section of our website
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| THIS FRIDAY NIGHT |
| POLITICAL GATHERING
Dedicated to the martyrs of Sumgait Massacres and the
20th anniversary of the liberation struggle of Artsakh
organised by the Cyprus political parties of
Ramgavar, Henchagian and Dashnaktsoutiun
Friday 28 March at 8:30 pm
at Utudjian Hall of The Armenian Prelature
The Military Attaché of The Armenian Embassy will
answer to questions put forward by members of a panel
Avedis Koushian will also present photographs from Artsakh |
| TICKETS ON SALE FOR SIPAN'S SHOW ALSO FEATURING YIORGOS IOANNIDES & HRATCH GAYDZAGIAN |
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| Letters to the Editor |
| Please accept my best wishes for a Happy Easter.
Siralir magtankner Bolisen tebi gibrahay hamaynkin,
bacignerov,
Hermine Sayan
We'd like thank everyone from Armenia, Artsakh and the diaspora who have sent Easter Greetings to Gibrahayer e-magazine. We are publishing just one from Bolis.
Gibrahayer e-magazine - Nicosia |
| Recruiting |
GAP Vassilopoulos E-Media Ltd (www dot emedia dot com dot cy) are recruiting young professionals for their upcoming E-projects on a full time or a part-time basis. Please contact us direct.
Tel: 22710151 - email: simon dot aynedjian at gapgroup dot com |
| BEDELIAN AND GRIFFITT IN CONCERT |
|
WEDNESDAY APRIL 16 at 8:30pm
PASYDY Auditorium-organised by The Pharos Trust
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| News in Brief by Sevag Devletian |
- The United States slapped sanctions on British and Armenian firms for
unauthorised re-exports of aircraft to Iran. The US Commerce Department suspended export privileges of British-based Balli Group PLC and related companies, Armenian-based Blue Airways, and Iran-based Mahan Airways for 180 days. - Turkish nationalist party leader, Dogu Perincek, veteran journalist, Ilhan Selcuk, and academic, Kemal Alemdaroglu, have been arrested over an alleged plan to kill author Orhan Pamuk, the country's first Nobel laureate.
- Two Turkish soldiers from the northeastern city of Trabzon told a court Thursday, March 20, that they warned of a plot to kill ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink months before the murder happened, but that their superiors refused to prevent the assassination.
- Sofia will become the fourth Bulgarian city to officially recognise the 1915-22 Armenian Genocide. These were the words of Sofia Municipal Council's Committee for European Affairs and Public Relations Irina Yordanova. The capital is expected to follow in the footsteps of Plovdiv, Burgas, and Stara Zagora.
- House President Marios Garoyian said that at the moment there is no cause for "either excessive optimism or pessimism", and that we must remain calm and steady in order to implement our policies. He said that Diko insists on the implementation of the 8 July agreement because it considers it the only procedure that would prepare the ground properly. "Our aim is that through the negotiations and progress that will be achieved, direct talks between the two leaders can start.
- Armenian singer Sirusho, chosen to represent Armenia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia, will perform 14th in the first semifinal scheduled for May 20. Check gibrahayer.com for the latest odds.
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| Sports by Sevag Devletian |
- Tonight at 8pm FIFA international friendly match-Armenia vs Kazakhstan
- Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronian won over World champion Viswanathan Anand 1.5:0.5 in the 8th round of the Amber International Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament in Nice, France. After the 8th round Aronian is still in sole lead with 10.5 points.
- Nareg School Athletics Team participates in the Nicosia Regional Games that take place in GSP Stadium on Saturday 29 March at 11:00 am.
- Karo Parisyan (18-4) is booked to meet Thiago Alves (13-3) at UFC Fight Night 13 at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado on April 2.
- At The Pacific Life Open ATP Tennis Championships at Indian Wells, Armenian Argentine David Nalbandian lost to Mardy Fish in the quarter finals.
- World number 17 Marcos Baghdatis will lead The Cyprus Davis Cup Team against Slovenia between 11-13 April at The Cyprus National Tennis Center.
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| gibrahay calendar |
Friday 28 March at 8:30 pm - Political Gathering at Utudjian Hall, organised by the Cyprus bodies of Ramgavar, Henchagian and Dashnaktsagan political parties, dedicated to the martyrs of Sumgait Massacres and the 20th anniversary of the liberation struggle of Artsakh. Saturday 29 March at 11:00 am - Nareg School Athletics Team participates in the Nicosia Regional Games that take place in GSP Stadium. Sunday 30 March - AYF Badanegan is organising an excursion for 7-16 year old at The Limassol Zoo. Parents are welcome to join their kids. To sign up call unger Kevork Keoshkerian on 99817806. Participation fee 10 euro. POSTPONED FOR NEXT WEEK AT 10:30 am Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Armenian Evangelical Church service at 7:30pm, in St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Limassol. All are welcome. Saturday, 5 April, 7:30 pm - SIPAN Dance Ensemble of The Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association "Oshagan" Cyprus Chapter. Annual Performance at Strovolos Municipal Hall under the auspices of The President of The Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias. Followed by a Dinner Dance, Kef, at Cleopatra Hotel. Entrance fee-Adults 10 euro-Students up to 13 years old 6 euro.
Dinner Dance ticket at EURO 30.00 - Book with Garine Gostanian 99353450 Sunday 6 April at 10:30 am - AYF Badanegan is organising an excursion for 7-16 year old at The Limassol Zoo. Parents are welcome to join their kids. To sign up call unger Kevork Keoshkerian on 99817806. Participation fee 10 euro. Wednesday April 16 at 8:30 pm - Concert by Haroutune Bedelian (Violin) and Lorna Griffitt (Piano) at PASYDY. Organised by The Pharos Trust. Details on gibrahayer.com Sunday 4 May - TIMAG Theatre Company of The Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association "Oshagan" Cyprus Chapter. Annual Performance. PASIDY Hall - Nicosia. Remaining details to follow. Sunday, May 4, at 05:00pm - Armenian Evangelical Church Service Bashdamounk - Hantisoutioun, to Commemorate the victims of the Armenian
Genocide, in the Greek Evangelical Church, 20 Gladstonos Street, Nicosia.
Guest speaker: Rev. Dr. Manuel Jinbashain. All are welcome. Wednesday 24 April - Commemoration of The Armenian Genocide. Monday May 5, at 8:00 pm - Public lecture entitled. "The Bible: Historical reflection on the Armenian translation and its role in developing Armenian National Identity", organised by The Armenian Evangelical Church. Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Manuel Jinbashian from Canada. |
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