LOUSSAPATZ - The Dawn - 1011-2013-12-07‏

32-ՐԴ ՏԱՐԻ, ԹԻՒ 1011 ՇԱԲԱԹ, 7 ԴԵԿՏԵՄԲԵՐ 2013

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ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN HIGH-LEVEL TALKS IN YEREVAN PUTIN VOWS STRONGER RUSSIAN ROLE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

YEREVAN -- President Vladimir Putin on Monday pledged to strengthen Russia’s ge- opolitical presence in the South Caucasus and insisted that Armenia decided to join a Rus- sian-led union of ex-Soviet states on its own.

Making his first official visit to Armenia since regaining the Russian presidency last year, he also said Moscow will help the Arme- nian government complete its accession talks with the Customs Union “as soon as possible.”

Putin praised his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian’s pro-Russian strategic choice as he began his one-day trip in Gyumri, the country’s second largest city hosting a Russian military base.

Addressing a Russian-Armenian forum held there, he said, “I spoke with the Armenian president on our way from the airport and it turned out that Armenian experts have properly calculated the benefits and preferences that Armenia will receive in case of joining the Customs Union. It means that this is the sovereign

choice of the Armenian people and Armenia’s leadership.” Putin thus clearly sought to deny a widely held belief that Sarkisian unexpectedly decided to make his country

part of the union under strong Russian pressure. The Armenian leader announced his foreign policy U-turn during a September 3 visit to Moscow. Many observers believe that the Kremlin exploited, among other things, Yerevan’s heavy dependence on Russian military assistance resulting from the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Addressing hundreds of governments officials representing various Russian and Armenian regions, Putin in- sisted that membership in the Russian-led trade bloc will boost Armenia’s “economic potential.” He said its current member states -- Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan -- are already reaping “tangible benefits” in the form of increased mutual trade and investments.

Sarkisian, for his part, spoke of “colossal work” done by his administration towards Customs Union member- ship since September 3. Putin acknowledged these efforts at a joint news conference held by the two men in Yere- van later in the day.

“The Armenian side is acting very energetically and demonstrating a high level of professionalism, which is frankly putting us in a somewhat difficult situation. We are struggling to keep up with our Armenian partners,” the Russian president said, making Sarkisian grin.

Asked just when Yerevan will complete the accession talks, Putin said, “I don’t want to speak of concrete time frames because that depends not only on Russia but also our partners, Kazakhstan and Belarus. But Russia will do everything in its power to ensure that Armenia’s accession to the customs union occurs as soon as possible.”

Underlining the crucial security component of the Russian-Armenian relationship, Putin also visited the Gyumri headquarters of the Russian military base. Over the past year, Moscow has reinforced it with new weapon- ry, reportedly including tactical ballistic missiles. It is also due to deploy 18 combat helicopters in Armenia in the coming weeks or months.

“As regards Transcaucasus, Russia has never had an intention to withdraw from here,” Putin declared in Gyumri. “On the contrary, we are planning to reinforce our positions in Transcaucasus, based on all the good things that we inherited from our ancestors. Based on good relations with all regional states, including Armenia.”

The two presidents meeting agenda in Yereavan included continued development of the two countries’ strate- gic partnership, trade and economic relations and humanitarian cooperation, the outlook for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and Common Economic Space.

A number of documents were signed between the parties. In particular, Russia and Armenia signed an inter- governmental agreement to cancel export duties for supplies of natural gas, oil products and diamonds.

An intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in nuclear safety, a plan of action for economic collaboration

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and other deals were also signed following talks between the two presidents. The results of the talks were summed up at a joint press conference.

The two Presidents hailed the positive changes in the attitude of the EU and the United States towards Iran’s nuclear programs. Armenian president Sarkisian noted that thousands of Iranian tourists visit our country annually and added that “we’ll only benefit from the normalization of relations.

Vladimir Putin said, in turn, that Russia welcomes the nuclear deal on Iran. “This complex issue should be solved on the basis of international law and norms with Iran being granted the right to develop peaceful nuclear energy, of course, on condition that the security of all countries of the region will be guaranteed.”

PUTIN: WE WOULD LIKE TO SOLVE REGIONAL PROBLEMS THROUGH DIPLOMACY, NOT WEAPONS

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Russia and Armenia have special relationship, Vladimir Putin said during his meet- ing with Serzh Sargsyan.

He noted it is more than strategic partnership, taking into account historic roots of the cooperation.

“Now you recalled the military base in Gyumri. I would really like (we have much talked about this during to- day’s meeting in Gyumri and during our conversation in the car, on the plane), all of us would like regional prob- lems not to be solved with weapons, but through diplomacy, through arrangements acceptable to all countries,” Putin said.

Putin added “we have a lot of problems inherited from the past”, but in any event “we must be guided by the interests of people” and only in this case the solution will be found.

Vladimir Putin started his Armenia trip with a visit to the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri. Gyumri also hosted the third Armenian-Russian interregional forum.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN: ROSNEFT WILL WORK IN ARMENIA

GYUMRI/NEWS.am -- President Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia had reached agreement with Russia’s state oil giant Rosneft.

Speaking during the third Armenian-Russian inter- regional forum, Sargsyan recalled that such companies as Gazprom, Inter RAO UES and VTB had been suc- cessfully operating in Armenia and would be joined by Rosneft.

The press service of Rosneft told the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent that representatives of the company are included in the Russian delegation, but only blitz visits are on the agenda.

Head of Rosneft Igor Sechin visited Armenia in April 2013 to meet with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. As a result of the visit, Oil Techno and Rosneft companies signed cooperation agreement to create a joint venture on marketing and supplies of oil products.

ARMENIA WILL BUY GAS AT $189 PER THOUSAND CUBIC METERS

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Russian president Vladimir Putin said gas will cost $189 for 1,000 cubic meters for Armenia.

“The formula for gas price envisaged by the agreements gives us an opportunity to sell natural gas at $189 per thousand cubic meters. In Europe it is sold at almost 500,” Putin said.

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Agreements reached during the visit to Armenia imply unilateral lifting of export duty of 30% for oil and pe- troleum products, Putin said, adding that it would create favorable conditions for Armenia, “for a smooth, but fast enough accession to the Customs Union.”

The Russian president noted that the Armenian side is acting very aggressively and shows a very high level of professionalism.

“Russia will do everything to complete Armenia’s joining the Customs Union as soon as possible. Now I am afraid to name a specific time frame.”

News from Armenia - NEWS.am

ARMENIA CAN PURCHASE RUSSIAN WEAPONS AT DOMESTIC PRICES - PUTIN

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- As a member of the CSTO, Armenia will purchase Russian weapons at domestic prices, said Russian Presi- dent Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Yerevan on Monday, Armenian News-NEWS.am reports.

President Putinstressed that prices for weapons is not merely a security issue but also economic issue, as it is related to the state budget.

“In Gyumri we have also met with soldiers of the 102nd Russian military base. We are sure that the presence of Russian troops on the Armenian land serves to strengthening stability and security in the South Caucasus and increases the level of practical cooperation be- tween Russia and Armenia as a CSTO member states in the military

and military-technical spheres,” Russian president said, commenting on his visit to Gyumri city.

ANTI-PUTIN PROTESTERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN -- Hundreds of people, among them civil activists and members of opposition parties, marched through the capital of Armenia on Monday to denounce visiting Russian Presi- dent Vladimir Putin and protest against plans to join a Moscow-led customs union.

The mostly young protesters waving A- rmenian national flags and holding posters de- nouncing Putin and President Serzh Sarkisian marched through the city center to demand that Armenia stay away from the union. They ignored police warnings that the rally was not sanctioned by the municipal authorities.

The crowd chanted “Free, independent Ar- menia,” “Putin, go home,” “Serzhik, go away” as it made its way to the Prime Minister’s Office in Yerevan’s Republic Square. Scores of riot police blocked the pro- testers’ way moments later, after the latter tried to march towards the presidential palace located more than a kilo- meter away.

At least 110 people were detained after clashes with riot police.

Security forces made first arrests after some of the activists apparently tried to break through a police cordon set up on a major street in downtown Yerevan. The demonstrators, among them several leading members of the

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opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, then turned back and rushed to another street only to be again blocked by rows of lightly equipped riot police. More of them were detained on the spot.

The detentions reportedly continued in the following hours. Organizers of the protest spoke of dozens of their comrades being taken to police stations. Among them were Levon Barseghian, a veteran civic activist, Davit Sanasarian, a senior Zharangutyun figure, as well as two journalists.

A police statement issued later in the day put the total number of detainees at 110. It accused them of defying “police orders defined by the law.” It was not immediately clear if any of the activists risked criminal charges.

The police statement defended the overall use of force, saying that the protesters disrupted traffic and engaged in other “manifestations of illegal conduct.”

Leaders of the protest denied any wrongdoing and demanded the immediate release of all detainees. “The au- thorities continue to resort to abuses against their citizens,” charged Artur Sakunts, a prominent human rights cam- paigner.

ARMENIA AND EUROPEAN UNION ISSUE JOINT DECLARATION AFTER VILNIUS SUMMIT

VILNIUS -- The European Union and the Republic of Armenia have adopted a joint statement as a result of the EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in which they said that they have completed negotiations on an Association Agreement, includ- ing a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, but will not proceed with its initialing due to “Armenia’s new international commitments.” Y erevan and Brussels have also agreed on the need “to update the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan.”

“The EU and Armenia enjoy close links and reconfirm their commitment to further develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest within the Eastern Part-

nership framework,” the statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reads. “Based on common values, both sides are committed to further cooperation aimed at the continuous improve- ment of democratic institutions and judiciary, the promotion of human rights and rule of law, good governance, the fight against corruption, the strengthening the civil society, the further improvement of the framework for enhanced trade and investments, the continued implementation of the mobility partnership and increased sectoral cooperation. “Based on their common endeavour to build upon the existing framework of cooperation, the EU and Armenia

stress the importance of revisiting the basis for their relations.” Armenia views the EU summit as an important stage in the development of its relations with the 28-nation

bloc “on a more streamlined and realistic foundations”, President Serzh Sarkisian said addressing the delegates to the high-level event on Friday.

In his speech the Armenian leader said it is in this context that Armenia reads the final document of the sum- mit and the Armenia-EU Union Joint Statement adopted in the Lithuanian capital.

Armenia had been on course to initial an Association Agreement with the EU at the current summit but in Sep- tember it decided not to go ahead, preferring to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Despite the apparent U-turn the Armenian government has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing political cooperation with the EU to the extent that does not hamper its membership in the Russian-led trade bloc.

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IRAQ AND ARMENIA DEVELOPING BILATERAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN -- Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has arrived in Armenia at the invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries held talks in Yerevan on Tuesday and summed up the results of the meeting at a joint press conference.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said the bilateral relations have been actively developing over the past years. He specially emphasized the opening of the Embassies in Baghdad and Yerevan, the two sittings of the Inter-Governmental Commission, as well as the frequent reciprocal visits.

An agreement was signed today between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries on the conduct of consul- tations, which will allow the two countries to coordinate the approaches of the two countries within the framework of different international organizations, Minister Nalbandian said, adding that “our approaches on regional and in- ternational issues are very similar.”

During the meeting Ministers Nalbandian and Zebari exchanged views on a number of issues of bilateral inter- est, particularly Iraq’s efforts to establish stability and reinforce security in the country, the efforts of Armenia and the international community toward the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The parties also touched upon the intensification of cultural ties, cooperation in the fields of education and science.

Speaking about the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Vienna, Edward Nalbandian said it was “constructive.” The Minister informed that he will meet his Azerbaijani counterpart on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial in Kiev.

“We’ll try to enhance the negotiation process,” the Minister said, adding that the political will of the parties is very important here.

“Armenia has stated on many occasions that it supports the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of the proposals made in the statements of the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries. It will be possible to move the negotiations forward and get closer to the resolution of the issue if Azerbaijan demon- strates the same approach,” the Minister said.

DAVUTOĞLU TO VISIT ARMENIA NEXT WEEK

ANKARA (Hurriyet) — Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced on Dec. 5 that he would be visit- ing Armenia next week, marking a first diplomatic push since the protocols between the two countries signed in 2009 which foresaw the development of relations, including a decision on opening the borders, was shelved.

Davutoğlu said he accepted Armenia’s invitation to at- tend a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Yerevan on Dec. 12.

“Turkey is one of the founding members of the organiza- tion. Its headquarters are located in Istanbul, where Armenia, which is a member of the organization, also has a representa- tive. I received the invitation and decided to accept it after consulting the president,” Davutoğlu told reporters during a press conference in Ankara.

Davutoğlu met with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian earlier on Dec. 5 during a council of minis- ters gathering of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. He also held meetings with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Memmadyarov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss talks on the thorny Nagorno-Karabakh issue which Ankara considers as key for a thaw in its rela- tions with Yerevan.

Davtuoğlu also said that he would visit Athens on Dec. 13 and Turkish Cyprus the following day. 25

IRAN READY TO FUND ITS SECTION OF RAILWAY - ARMENIAN MINISTER

YEREVAN. – The Iranian side is ready to fund their section of railway heading to Armenia, Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said.

“Iran has already allocated $1.5 million to conduct technical and eco- nomic feasibility study. The study is over and will be made public soon. As a result of negotiations, we agreed that Iranian side will construct their section of 160 kilometers at their expense. If we find investments to construct our part, they will start theirs,” Movsisyan noted.

Earlier representative of Transport Ministry Ashot Shahnazaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the construction will cost around $3.5 bil- lion. The construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2015 and will last six years.

ARMENIA EDGES UP IN GLOBAL CORRUPTION RANKINGS

Government corruption in Armenia has slightly decreased over the past year but remains widespread, according to an annual global survey released by Transparency International on Tuesday.

Armenia ranked 94th of 177 countries and territories covered in the Berlin- based watchdog’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), up from 105th place it occupied in last year’s survey. It lags far behind neighboring Turkey (53rd) and Georgia (55th) but is ahead of its two other neighbors, Azerbaijan (127th) and Iran (144th), in the rankings.

The nations surveyed were rated on a 100 point scale measuring the extent of good governance. Armenia received a CPI score of 36, compared with 34 assigned to it in the 2012 survey.

The Transparency International branch in Armenia has long been highly skeptical about repeated government pledges to combat bribery, nepotism and other corrupt practices. Its leaders say that President Serzh Sarkisian and his administration are not prepared for a genuine fight against corruption because it would endanger their hold on pow- er.

According to the Global Corruption Barometer, another Transparency International survey that was released in July, 43 percent of Armenians think that the scale of government corruption in their country has actually increased in the last two years. Only 19 percent feel that the situation has improved, with the remaining 38 percent seeing no major changes.

The judicial system, police, healthcare and civil service were rated as the country’s most corrupt institutions, with at least two-thirds of respondents saying they are seriously affected by graft.

ARMENIA AND US LAUNCH TALKS TO RELAX VISA REQUIREMENTS

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Armenia and the U.S. have launched talks on relaxation of visa requirements, Fi- nance Minister Davit Sargsyan said on Wednesday.

“It is supposed that Armenian citizens applying to the embassy will be provided ten-year multiple entry visas without additional charges, while the Armenian side will lift visa regime for the American travelers,” he said.

The Minister noted that it is the start of very important negotiation process, since many Armenians live in U.S.

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BULGARIA AND ARMENIA TOP LIST OF “SUFFERING” STATES - SURVEY

NEWS.am -- Bulgaria and Armenia top the list of “suffering” states formed as a result of opinion poll conducted by Gallup.

The survey showed that 39% of Bulgarians rate their lives poorly enough to be considered “suffering.” However, this time, Bulgaria is not alone at the top. Thirty-seven percent of Armenians were suffering in 2012, and Cambodians, Haitians, Hungarians, Malagasy, Macedonians, and Irani- ans followed closely behind.

Gallup classifies respondents as “thriving,” “struggling,” or “suffering” according to how they rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale

with steps numbered from zero to 10 based. Among the happiest states are Iceland, Qatar, Sweden, Norway, UAE and Switzerland.

NEW NAVIGATION MAP OF ARMENIA RELEASED

NAVITEL announced the release of the navigation map of Armenia, which includes 985 cities, towns and settlements and shows contours and locations of build- ings. For Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, the map en- sures full coverage of road network and contains a com- plete database of 25,200 addresses available for address search, ciol.com reports.

The map represents 22,878 km of road graph, and a wide variety of 4,266 POIs will be at hand for search of objects, which might be necessary while moving along the route. The data is represented in Armenian, English and Russian.

The map additionally includes a 3D-model of the Na- tional Gallery of Armenia, which is the central Museum of Fine Arts of the country and one of the largest museums within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The map of Armenia includes residential and industrial objects and sites of cities, towns and settlements, high- ly detailed road network, including streets and roads and taking into account traffic directions, interchanges and other important information.

ARMENIA: HUNDREDS OF BORDERLINE HOUSEHOLDS IN TAVOUSH TO RESTORE LAND CULTIVATION

Yerevan (ICRC) – Today, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Armenia completed the distribution of agricultural products in Tavoush region. Under the programme, five rural communities located along the international border in Tavoush were provided with high quality winter wheat seeds and potato seeds as well as with persimmon saplings, herbicides and fertilisers. Around 1,150 families residing in the villages of Chinari, Dovegh, Berkaber, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and Barekamavan were recipients of the programme, some of them al- ready for the second year.

"The ICRC works closely with these communities in an effort to address their social needs", says Dragana Rankovic, Economic Security Programme Manager of the ICRC Delegation in Armenia, "In addition to socioeco- nomic hardships, these communities are located very close to insecure areas along the international border. Our

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economic security activities are designed to contribute to the well-being of the households of these communities". Crop farming was quite popular in most of these communities in past years. Still of good quality, however, lands were not cultivated for a long time because of the lack of machinery and means to purchase quality seeds and fertilisers. Now, thanks to the cooperation with the ICRC, the situation in these villages will improve. Furthermore,

in Berkaber and Barekamavan, this season villagers will also plant persimmon trees. "Our residents feel inspirited and involved, especially now that they have seen positive results of the ICRC

support", says Arthur Madatyan, Mayor of Berkaber, "Most people here are hard-working, and I believe that three- four years later we shall collect a rich harvest of persimmons well enough to be sold and consumed locally".

TURKISH JOURNALIST NEDIM SENER DEDICATES HIS PRESS FREEDOM AWARD TO THE MEMORY OF HRANT DINK

NEW YORK -- Nedim Sener, an investigative journalist with Turkey’s Posta newspaper, was honored with Press Freedom Award, a recognition for his work in the Turkish press against a myriad of odds and challenges that mar the profession in the country, Today’s Zaman reports.

The Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2013 International Press Freedom Awards were presented to Ecuador’s Janet Hinostroza, Egypt’s Bassem Youssef, Turkey’s Nedim Sener and Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Hai in a cere- mony at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel on Tuesday evening.

Sener, who is among the four foreign journalists that were honored with Press Freedom Awards for their work in the face of severe reprisals, includ- ing physical threats and imprisonment, dedicated his award to the memory of Hrant Dink, a journalist whose killing he blames on the Turkish intelligence service.

“Hrant Dink was threatened by state officials because he had exercised his freedom of expression. He was murdered because state officials turned a blind eye to threats against him and failed to protect his life,” said Sener in the ceremony in New York.

Sener spent a year in jail awaiting trial on terrorism charges following allegations his reporting had contributed to an anti-government plot. He is currently free on conditional release but faces up to 15 years in prison if convict- ed.

“Turkey is a record-breaker. Sixty journalists are jailed there on the accusation of being terrorists — that’s more than anywhere else in the world,” Sener said. “Most recently, several colleagues received life terms after a trial that shocked the Turkish press corps. I feel compelled to speak for them now. Don’t be indifferent to their fate! Demand their release!”

He said there is a disagreement between journalists and politicians over the meaning of democracy as the latter view democray only through the prism of ballot box and elections.

“For politicians, democracy means allowing people to vote every four years. For journalists, democracy is an everyday experience. And the essence of that experience is the people’s right to be informed. It is no coincidence that the first act of an authoritarian government is to silence the press,” Sener said, addressing the increasing gov- ernment pressure on the press.

He also lamented on wide use of self-censorship by media outlets in the face of government pressure. He said majority of the media outlets remained indifferent to Gezi Park protests in June, exercising self-censorship to avoid a crisis with the government.

“The events of Gezi Park over the summer revealed the scope of the press freedom crisis in my country. Thirty journalists were hurt, many were detained, and dozens were fired from their jobs because of their Gezi coverage. But perhaps the gravest problem was that many media outlets did not cover Gezi. Even though dramatic clashes were taking place right outside their windows, many newsrooms chose to self-censor for fear of official repercus- sions.”

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80TH ANNIVERSARY OF FARNZ WERFEL’S “THE FORTY DAYS OF MUSA DAGH” FIRST PUBLISHING CELEBRATED IN VIENNA

VIENNA — On the occasion of 80th anniversary of the first publish- ing of the famous novel by the Austrian writer Franz Werfel “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh”, a cultural ceremony was organized in Vienna, by the joint efforts of the Armenian embassy in Austria, the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute, and the community of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Austria, the Austrian radio, the Austrian Literature Society and “Franz Wer- fel” committee also participated in the organization.

The event was attended by representatives of the Armenian community in Austria, and Austrian intellectuals.Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- potentiary of Armenia in Austria Mr. Arman Kirakosyan made a welcome speech.

During the event director of the AGMI, Dr. Hayk Demoyan presented the photographs of the exhibits from Armenian Genocide Museum collec-

tion, related to the heroic Resistance of Musa Dagh. The event was followed by a concert. Specially for the occasion the original manuscript of Franz Werfel’s fa-

mous novel “The Forty days of Musa Dagh”, was brought from the Austrian National Library, and was presented to the audience.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA TO DISPLAY THE "ARMENIAN ORPHAN SISTER RUG" IN BOSTON

Washington, D.C. - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) will dis- play the "Armenian Orphan Sister Rug" at the Assembly's annual holiday reception and briefing in Boston, Massachusetts later this week. Dr. H. Martin Deranian, au- thor of "President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug" will be the spe- cial guest, where he will talk about the Ghazir rug, also known as the Armenian Or- phan Rug, the Sister Rug and the unique history surrounding their fate. In addition, the Assembly is delighted to feature remarks by Shant Mardirossian, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Near East Foundation.

A part of Dr. Martin Deranian's private collection, the Armenian Orphan Sister Rug was woven by the same orphans at the Ghazir orphanage. According to Dr. Deranian, the carpet dates from the 1920s and is 3' 5" x 5' 8". At one end, the carpet is woven with beautiful lettering that reads "To Mrs. D.W. Williams, an expression of appreciation Near East Orphanage Ghazir, Syria."

"The Ghazir Rug was presented to President Coolidge and to the American people as an expression of love and goodwill for America's compassionate and self- less role in preserving the lives of tens of thousands or orphans of the Armenian Genocide through the support of Near East Relief," Dr. Deranian told the Assembly. "The rug is also a memorial to the orphan-weavers who wove into its warp and weft a permanent remembrance of Armenia's darkest years, 1915- 1923. It is my hope that the rug will be placed on public view," stated Deranian.

As the Assembly previously reported, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. was planning a De- cember exhibition of this historic treasure symbolizing the proud chapter in America's history. The White House issued a statement saying that, "The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Ar- menia and the United States. We regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this time."

In 1925, Dr. John H. Finley, editor-in-chief of the New York Times and vice-chairman of the congressionally chartered Near East Relief organization (today called the Near East Foundation) presented a rug made by orphans of the Armenian Genocide to then President Calvin Coolidge. The rug was made in appreciation of America's gen- erosity in aiding the survivors of the first genocide of the 20th Century.

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ARMENIAN MONASTERY FINDS UNLIKELY SAVIOUR IN ARAB SHEIKH

Standing next to a newly refurbished bell tower, priest Aristakes Aivazyan says it needed divine intervention to save Armenia's medieval Haghartsin monastery.

But it also took a lot of money from a very unlikely benefactor -- the Muslim ruler of the resource-rich Arab emirate of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qasimi.

"I cannot recall anything similar to this happening in our history that some Arab sheikh, a Muslim, helped to restore and res- cue an Armenian Christian church," Aivaz- yan told Agence France Presse.

"Without doubt it was God who brought the sheikh to Haghartsin," the priest, dressed in long black robes, said.

Perched spectacularly amid thickly for- ested mountains about 100 kilometres northeast of Yerevan, Haghartsin monastery is a masterpiece of medieval Armenian ecclesiastical architecture.

Founded in the tenth century, the monastery -- which includes three churches and once housed some 250 monks -- survived attacks from Arab and Ottoman invaders and anti-religious campaigns under Soviet rule during its turbulent history.

But after weathering those storms, decades of neglect in recent years meant the complex looked headed for collapse as plants twisted through walls and cracks threatened to send buildings tumbling.

'In need of serious reconstruction'

"The monastery was in need of serious reconstruction but the repairs were always delayed by the lack of fi- nances," father Aivazyan said.

That was until a fortuitous visit from al-Qasimi, who had been invited to Armenia by former president Robert Kocharian on a trip set up by the Armenian business community in the emirate.

"In 2005 his royal highness visited Armenia and generously offered to renovate the complex during a tour of various Armenian regions," says Varouj Nerguizian, a Sharjah-based Armenian businessman who has advised the sheikh.

Nerguizian refused to say how much the sheikh had given for the refurbishment but local media reported that it could be around $1.7 million.

Now, after years of building work including a new road up to the monastery to help boost visitor numbers, the refurbished structure was finally opened last month.

"It falls within the natural context of his royal highness' philanthropy as well respect for other religions," Nerguizian.

Perched on the Persian Gulf, after Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sharjah is the third largest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.

Al-Qasimi, 74, -- who came to power in 1972 after his brother, then king, was killed in a failed coup -- has sought to boost the emirate as a tourist and cultural hub in the region.

Despite a thriving community of Armenian businessmen that now boasts its own church in the emirate of some 900,000 inhabitants t -- there have been few links between Yerevan and Sharjah.

'The word of God was heard here'

For those working at the monastery, the surprise of seeing an Arab leader visiting the holy Christian site re- mains a vivid memory.

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"He came with his entourage of about 10 people and looked around for quite a while at all the churches and stone crosses before asking to go into the main Church of Our Lady," recalled Artak Sahakyan, who sells candles to visiting worshippers.

"When he came out he said that he believed that the word of God was really heard here," Sahakyan said.

Armenia is considered to be the oldest Christian country in the world and its Apostolic Church belongs to the ancient Oriental Orthodox branch.

The church is hugely influential in Armenia and two monasteries and its main cathedral are already listed on UNESCO's list of world heritage site.

After a history of conflict between Armenia and its Muslim neighbors of Turkey and Azerbaijan, those work- ing at the Harghartsin monastery say they hope the support they have received from a Muslim ruler shows that the two faiths can get along.

"The sheikh is a deeply religious man so seeing a monastery in such a bad state it is not surprising that he felt touched," says father Aivazyan.

"It is as if with this generous gesture the sheikh is saying that we need to be tolerant of other religions as in the end we all serve one God," Aivazyan said.

Source: Agence France Presse

NEARLY A CENTURY AFTER THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING SLAUGHTERED IN SYRIA

By Robert Fisk -- THE INDEPENDENT

Just over 30 years ago, I dug the bones and skulls of Armenian genocide victims out of a hillside above the Khabur River in Syria. They were young people – the teeth were not decayed – and they were just a few of the million-and-a-half Armenian Christians slaughtered in the first Holocaust of the 20th century, the deliberate, planned mass destruction of a people by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

It was difficult to find these bones because the Khabur River – north of the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zour – had changed. So many were the bodies heaped in its flow that the waters moved to the east. The very river had al- tered its course. But Armenian friends who were with me took the remains and placed them in the crypt of the great Armenian church at Deir ez-Zour, which is dedicated to the memory of those Armenians who were killed – and shame upon the “modern” Turkish state which still de- nies this Holocaust – in that industrial mass murder.

And now, almost unmentioned in the media, these ghastly killing fields have become the killing fields of a new war. Upon the bones of the dead Armenians, the Syrian conflict is being fought. And the descendants of the Armenian Christian survivors who found sanctuary in the old Syrian lands have been forced to flee again – to Leb- anon, to Europe, to America. The very church in which the bones of the murdered Armenians found their supposed- ly final resting place has been damaged in the new war, although no one knows the culprits.

Yesterday, I called Bishop Armash Nalbandian of Damascus, who told me that while the church at Deir ez- Zour was indeed damaged, the shrine remained untouched. The church itself, he said, was less important than the memory of the Armenian genocide – and it is this memory which might be destroyed. He is right. But the church – not a very beautiful building, I have to say – is nonetheless a witness, a memorial to the Holocaust of Armenians every bit as sacred as the Yad Vashem memorial to the victims of the Jewish Holocaust in Israel. And although the Israeli state, with a shame equal to the Turks, claims that the Armenian genocide was not a genocide, Israelis them- selves use the word Shoah – Holocaust – for the Armenian killings.

St. Kevork church

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In Aleppo, an Armenian church has been vandalised by the Free Syrian Army, the “good” rebels fighting Ba- shar al-Assad’s regime, funded and armed by the Americans as well as the Gulf Sunni Arabs. But in Raqqa, the only regional capital to be totally captured by the opposition in Syria, Salafist fighters trashed the Armenian Catho- lic Church of the Martyrs and set fire to its furnishings. And – God spare us the thought – many hundreds of Turk- ish fighters, descendants of the same Turks who tried to destroy the Armenian race in 1915, have now joined the al- Qa’ida-affiliated fighters who attacked the Armenian church. The cross on top of the clock tower was destroyed, to be replaced by the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Nor is that all. On 11 November, when the world honoured the dead of the Great War, which did not give the Armenians the state they deserved, a mortar shell fell outside the Holy Translators Armenian National School in Damascus and two other shells fell on school buses. Hovhannes Atokanian and Vanessa Bedros, both Armenian schoolchildren, died. A day later, a bus load of Armenians travelling from Beirut to Aleppo were robbed at gun- point. Two days later, Kevork Bogasian was killed by a mortar shell in Aleppo. The Armenian death toll in Syria is a mere 65; but I suppose we might make that 1,500,065. More than a hundred Armenians have been kidnapped. The Armenians, of course, like many other Christians in Syria, do not support the revolution against the Assad regime – although they could hardly be called Assad supporters.

Two years from now, they will commemorate the 100th anniversary of their Holocaust. I have met many sur- vivors, all now dead. But the Turkish state, supporting the present revolution in Syria, will be memorialising its vic- tory at Gallipoli that same year, a heroic battle in which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk saved his country from Allied oc- cupation. Armenians also fought in that battle – in the uniform of the Turkish army, of course – but I will wager as many dollars as you want that they will not be remembered in 2015 by the Turkish state which was so soon to de- stroy their families.

ARMENIAN ELECTION WOES IN INDIA: MILLIONS IN ASSETS AT STAKE

By Anonymous*

Hetq.am -- On November 10, 2013, Armenian community of Kolkata (Calcutta) assembled to elect a new committee tasked with managing community assets running into the millions of dollars. Elections are held every four years. Allegations of vote rigging and thug tactics voiced by some in the community have marred this recent election. What follows are the views of one community member.

The local Armenians of Kolkata are today facing their big- gest nightmare and challenge in the history of Armenians in In- dia.

Simply stated – it is to protect and preserve their Indian Armenian identity and their fundamental right to bequeath their legacy to future generations.

Election fraud in the Armenian community isn’t new. It be- gan due to a few unworthy scrupulous and greedy so-called Ar- menians who have elected themselves to positions of power by using unjust and inappropriate means.

All this stems from their overwhelming desire to stay in power for ever and to make money by fraudulent means.

What the self-elected Committee has done in order to win the recent election has included getting four clergy- men and four Armenians from Armenia to cast a vote in their favor. In return, the foreigners would receive in due course of time a handsome kickback.

One may rightly ask - what was the reason for inviting these clerics six months prior to the November 10 elec- tion date?

Why have four clergymen voted for the first time in the history of the AGM (Annual General Meeting)?

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Does this indicate that these clerics are paving way for the next 4 yearly elections, where they will bring 7 more clerics, and vote to oust even members of the present committee?

nity.

This is the very same committee that manages the multi-million dollar assets of the Indian-Armenian commu-

It would be a dark day indeed and a 500 year Indian-Armenian old legacy would be vanquished forever! One might ask what four clerics are doing in India, where only 200 Armenians remain. Why aren’t they in places where there are 40,000 Armenians and no priests – Syria, Ethiopia and elsewhere -

where there is a need for holy men to save wandering souls? These clerics are archimandrites and bishops. Such a situation leads one to speculate as to their hidden agenda. There is also the question as to what these four clerics and four so-called teachers from Armenia know about

the affairs of the Indian Armenians. I am sure they don’t know the Indian culture or even how to hail a cab or read and write in English. Do they

have college degrees in management? Why are they casting their votes in an Indian-Armenian community election? They should not be involved in

any way whatsoever! They are in India as clergymen and teachers. They are not here as Committee members or wardens or chairman of a committee that deals with Indian government regarding the management of Indian- Armenian community trusts, properties and assets.

There are petitions being made by some Indian Armenians in the courts, accusing the present Committee of unfair elections and heavy-handedness. The accusations range from fraud to obstruction of justice, from autocracy to bank account discrepancies.

It is fair to ask why only defrocked clerics are sent to India. Is it because they are on the road to repentance or do they have a hidden agenda?

The existential problem lies with the present Committee which is paying huge amounts of money as salaries and gifts to gain their support.

What exactly are the clerics doing in return for such luxurious salaries? While a cleric in Armenia on average receives, say, $100 a month, in India they receive $2000 to $3000, including benefits. All the while, many Indian- Armenians are deprived of the basic necessities.

The Girls School has been closed for 5 years now, and all the thirty girls are staying at the boys’ hostel. Does the school administrator intend to sell the girls school, which is a trust property? What about the safety of the young girls surrounded by celibate clerics and young teenage boys?

The destiny of the future of the Indian-Armenians lies in the hands of a few who will have to keep on fighting till justice is served.

Indian -Armenians are trying to reach out to fellow Armenians all over the globe for support in this grave situ- ation.

Hopefully, the situation in India will not end like the closing of Melkonian Institute in Cyprus or selling off the assets of the Armenian community in Addis Ababa.

According to a few Armenians, who wish to remain anonymous, describe the situation – “We are powerless to raise our voices. We are afraid that our pension and allowances will be cut if we speak out against the community wardens.”

One other elderly community member asks: “Who will defend us if we speak out? The wardens will stop my children’s education scholarship payments if we say anything or support the people who are trying to fight for the right cause. All we can ask is that all Armenians are listening and will act to rectify the mistakes.”

This would be an opportune time for Catholicos Karekin II to explain the reason for sending four clerics to In-

dia.

We have no choice but to amend the present election scheme and return it to its original form, so that the assets and properties don’t leave the country.

One should keep in mind that the present self-elected Committee is elected for their allegiance and not their virtues.

The self-elected Committee members are: Mickael Dutta, Suzane Ruben, Sunil Sobtee, Robert Wilkins, Peter Hyrapet, Vatche Tadvosyan and Sevil Manukyan.

* The author’s name has been changed. The author writes: “I am recipient of charity and speaking out against the cur- rent committee could jeopardize my financial assistance and put my well being in danger.”

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THANKSGIVING DAY TELETHON RAISES MORE THAN $22.6M FOR VARDENIS-MARTAKERT HIGHWAY

LOS ANGELES -- The annual Thanksgiv- ing Day Armenia Fund telethon broadcast from Los Angeles on Thjrsday has secured more than $22.6 million in donations and pledges for the construction of a strategically important road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund will spend the money raised for the construction of a 116-km Vardenis-Martakert highway, which is of great social and economic importance for the two Armenian republics.

According to the official website of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, more than half of the sum, $12.35 million, has been pledged by Russian Armenians, the second biggest amount of donations has come from the United States – a total of $3 million. About 1.5 million Euros (almost $2 million) were pledged by Armenians around Europe in a preceding Phoneathon held on 21-24 November. The rest of the pledges have been made by donors from Armenian communities in the Middle East and Latin America.

Armenians from Armenia have pledged to donate more than $1.6 million, while Karabakh Armenians will contribute $1 million for the construction of t he highway, which is planned as an alternative to today’s operating road via the Lachin corridor.

Similar fundraisers in 2012 secured over $21 million in donations to finance rural infrastructure projects in Nagorno-Karabakh and help Syria’s ethnic Armenian community. The bulk of the donations then also came from wealthy Armenians in Russia.

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