Set the record straight
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Saturday, 28 February 2009
Armenian News
Today's Zaman
Feb 23 2009
Turkey
An influential Armenian-American group has stepped up its campaign
for recognition of claims that 1.5 million Armenians were subjected
to genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th
century, telling US congressmen that Turkey is part of an emerging
"axis of genocide" with Sudan.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) said in a statement
that it had alerted members of Congress last week that "Ankara
is playing an increasingly dangerous role in blocking decisive
international action to end the genocide in Darfur," claiming that
Ankara has been selling lethal weaponry to Sudan, providing diplomatic
support for the Sudanese government in the face of international
criticism over its Darfur policy and using its UN Security Council
membership "to block anti-genocide efforts."
Human rights groups criticize Turkey for its close ties with Sudan,
whose leader, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted at the International
Criminal Court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity
in Darfur. Turkish leaders have avoided accusing Sudan of genocide,
calling instead for an end to Darfur's "humanitarian tragedy."
The American-Armenian lobby groups, of which ANCA is one of the
strongest, have been pressuring the US Congress to pass a resolution
recognizing their claims that World War I-era events in Anatolia
constituted genocide. The pressure on the US administration is also
high, as April 24, when Armenians say the genocide campaign started
in 1915, is approaching.
American presidents issue messages on this day every year, but no
president has ever used the word genocide in his message. Turks
cheered election of Barack Obama as US president, but Ankara is wary
that relations could receive a serious blow if he goes ahead with
his election campaign promises and supports claims that up to 1.5
million Armenians were victims of a systematic genocide campaign in
the Ottoman Empire.
The "genocide axis" claims spread by ANCA are likely to upset Ankara,
but the Turkish government may find a recent speech by a pro-Armenian
congressman even more appalling. Republican Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.,
co-chairman of the Armenian Caucus, said in a Feb. 13 speech on the
House floor that Turkey was guilty of "hypocrisy" as it levels human
rights charges against Israel for its Gaza operation in January while
it continues to deny the "Armenian genocide." Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)
sharply criticized Turkey's hypocrisy in leveling human rights charges
against Israel even as it continues to deny the Armenian genocide
and strengthen its ties to the genocidal Sudanese regime, ANCA
reported. "For a nation that for 94 years has practiced wide-spread
genocide denial of the killing of one-and-a-half million Armenians,
hypocrisy runs deep today in Ankara," Pallone said, according to
a statement from ANCA. "The Turkish people need to step back and
question their skewed understanding of genocide. Look in the mirror,
look at your own history, come to terms with the fact that 1.5 million
Armenians died and when contemporary genocides, like Darfur, take
place it must be denounced."
By Astghik Bedevian
Press freedom in Armenia slumped in 2008 to the lowest level observed
since the country's independence, a Yerevan-based media watchdog said in
a annual report released on Tuesday.
`Whenever the political situation in the country escalates, as a rule,
attacks on mass media become more frequent,' read the report by the
Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech said. `But 2008 was unprecedented
not only in terms of the number of violations of the rights of
journalists and media outlets but also the imposition of censorship on
mass media.'
The report referred to an effective government ban on independent
reporting that was part of a three-week state of emergency imposed in
Yerevan following the March 1, 2008 deadly clashes between opposition
protesters and security forces. Most Armenian newspapers chose to
suspend publication, refusing to agree to a government censorship of
their content.
The report denounced the censorship as illegal and unprecedented. `Never
before had there been such strict censorship in this country,' said
Mesrop Harutiunian, a Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech expert. He
cited this as a key reason why he considers 2008 the `worst year' for
the local media.
The Committee also reported a sharp rise in violent attacks on Armenian
journalists. It registered 18 such incidents in 2008.
ARMENIANS "GREET" ALIYEV IN ATHENS
Azad Or
Feb 24, 2009
Athens (Azad Or) - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and his delegation
were met with angry Armenian protesters when they arrived at the
Greek Chamber of Commerce for a meeting of Azeri and Greek business
leaders, in the presence of Greek President Carolos Papoulias and
Prime Minister Karamanlis.
The Armenian community of Greece heeded the call from the ARF
Dashnaktsoutiun Youth Organization and, gathered at the venue an hour
before the scheduled meeting by the Azeri president.
With Armenian tri-colours and the Karabakh flags waving, a large
banner that read "Aliyev, Stop the Aggression. Nagorno-Karabakh
is Already Independent," the crowd chanted "Karabakh is Armenian"
catching the Aliyev off guard as he exited his vehicle.
The Armenian community of Greece - especially the youth - had gathered
to raise their voices against the visit of the Azeri president
to Greece.
Aliyev's Azeri security team was very aggressive toward the protesters
and pushed the Azad Or editor and Armenian photographers back and
stopped them, as representatives of the press, from entering the
building.
The Greek police also held back protesters, who refused to move from
their positions.
Soon thereafter, President Papoulias arrived and was greeted by
cheers from the protesters, who stayed put until the conclu sion
of the conference and Aliyev's quick exit from the venue, where the
protesters continued their protest slogans.
During the meeting, Aliyev reiterated his anti-Armenian rhetoric,
saying that "Armenia has invaded and is occupying Azeri lands."
You can view the demonstration and the way the Armenians of Greece
greeted the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev by clicking here
Armenia braces for protests commemorating violent break-up of
By Karine Asatrian in Yerevan
Opposition activists will defy the authorities on March 1 to mark the
Both sides of the political divide hope there will be no repeat of last
Last year's protests were the result of opposition anger over the results
The then president imposed a state of emergency after the demonstration,
"The political crisis in Armenia has still not been overcome," said
Indeed, opposition anger has been heightened by the police investigation
The most high-profile detainees, seven opposition leaders, remain
"The Armenian authorities' response to the March 1 events has been
"While they have investigated, prosecuted, and convicted dozens of
The opposition says its supporters were engaged in lawful protests
The authorities, however, say they were forced to act after receiving
The trouble began early on the morning, when police moved in on several
The government has promised a full probe into the events, and prosecutors
"I am not accusing anyone. I just want to know who killed my son. I want
His words were echoed by the bereaved parents of those on the other
"Leaving political convictions aside, Armenians were killed by their
Under pressure from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
"Dialogue required actions, and not just promises. If the authorities were
"There are already experts who could be deployed quickly to uncover
City hall refused to give opposition parties permission to protest on the
He said that the opposition activists would gather at 3 pm in central
Eduard Sharmazanov, a member of parliament from the ruling
"I am far from the opinion that we must have an exclusive ruling class.
Karine Asatrian is a journalist from A1+ television, and a member of
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Armenian Economic News
By Ruben Meloyan
The Armenian economy will likely stop growing and could even contract
this year because of the deepening impact of the global recession, a
senior official from the World Bank said on Wednesday.
`I think at best one could expect flat growth,' said Aristomene
Varoudakis, head of the World Bank office in Yerevan. He pointed to
official statistics that showed Armenia's Gross Domestic Product
shrinking in the fourth quarter of last year.
The fourth-quarter drop explains why full-year economic growth in
Armenia slowed to 6.8 percent in 2008 after six consecutive years of
double-digit expansion. The economy is being hit increasingly hard by
recent months' fall in international prices for non-ferrous metals
and large-scale cash remittances from Armenians working abroad.
Varoudakis did not exclude that the worsened economic outlook may
force the Armenian government to revise its spending and targets for
2008 downwards. `It is very important for the budget to reflect the
economic situation so that the government, the National Assembly and
the public know what the necessary measures are,' he told journalists.
Meanwhile, the World Bank disbursed late Tuesday $85 million in loans
designed to help mitigate the global economic downturn's impact on
Armenia. The largest of these loans, worth $50 million, will be
provided to several Armenian commercial banks that will in turn lend
the funds to local small and medium-sized businesses in need of
credit. Another $25 million will be spent on the construction of
rural roads and other infrastructure, which is due to start this spring.
`These projects will support urgent local works that can be
implemented largely over this year to provide immediate employment
opportunities,' Asad Alam, a World Bank regional director, said in a
statement. `They will also help strengthen infrastructure
connectivity particularly in rural areas, meet business needs, and
upgrade social infrastructure that will foster medium-term growth and
improvement in living standards.'
The disbursed loans are part of at least $525 million in total
assistance which the World Bank has pledged to provide to Armenia in
the next four years. Officials have said that the bank's commercial
lending arms could raise the total to $800 million.
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2009 GMT+04:00
According to analysts' assessments, demand for specialists in PR,
marketing and graphic design will decrease dramatically.
The impact of the world financial crisis on the Armenian economy and
social state of people has already become perceptible, especially in
the population employment sector. The alarm has already sounded for
a number of employment agencies: employers' offers are decreasing in
ratio with the increasing labor supply.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the data provided by leading employment
agencies, the number of applications increased 3 times as compared to
the previous year. This is accounted for multiple stuff reductions
as well as the inflow of guest workers who decided to return to
their native country and wait till the crisis is over. Expressed
numerically, if the monthly employment ratio in the beginning 2008
equaled 10-15 potential employees, the figure dropped to 5 by the end
of the year. The demand is high for such specialists as: accountants,
marketing and PR specialists, web- and graphical designers. Yet,
according to recent assessments, the demand for marketing and PR
specialists and graphical designers will register a drop. According
to experts, if the first stage of crisis is characterized by the
employers' trying to cut down expenses via stuff reductions, the next
economizing attempt will affect the advertising sphere.
According to official data, the job market situation has been changing
since the end of 2008. Yet, if the first quarter of 2008 registered
a decrease in the unemployment rate (6.3% in 2008 as compared to 7%
in 2007), in the 3rd quarter of 2008 the number of unemployed totaled
74 900 in December and increased by 2.5% (73 000) as compared to
the beginning of the year, whereas in 2008 the economically active
population size totaled 1194 600. In the absolute expression, average
monthly nominal wage equaled AMD 91331 in 2008.
Viewed by different characteristics, the Armenian job market shows
an obvious disbalance. Women constitute 70% of total number of
unemployed. This is accounted for by a major emigration of able-bodied
population (basically, men) from Armenia. According to experts'
forecasts, the return of labor immigrants will also influence the
disbalance.
The ratio of unemployed to employed people is highest among those aged
40-50. The unemployment ratio among the youth constitutes 21%. Yet
according to PanARMENIAN.Net-conducted researches, the ratio will
keep dropping: a new tendency is observed among employees: while
previously they used to train their own personnel, the situation
is dramatically changed - they're now economizing on such projects,
giving preference to specialists with 15-20 years' working experience.
ARKA
Feb 24, 2009
YEREVAN, February 24. /ARKA/. Armenia is to get 40% of its electricity
produced by the nuclear power sector by 2025, Armenian Deputy Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources Areg Galstyan said at a round-table
discussion with a Russian delegation from Sverdlovsk.
By the same time, renewable energy sector will be providing 30%
of energy produced in Armenia with the remaining share provided by
thermal radiation power sector, he said.
Galstyan reported that for this a number of strategic documents
were adopted based on four principles - nuclear power development,
maximal use of own renewable resources, diversification of routes of
energy resource supplies and maximal integration in regional energy
markets. He added that Armenia has also the obligation to close down
its current nuclear power plant (NPP).
Galstyan reported that a tender was announced for management of the
NPP closing-down process and a feasibility study was conducted.
The country is also taking measures to attract foreign investors in
its renewable energy sector, he said.
Midget power plants are expected to provide 5% of the overall volume
of energy produced in Armenia. Achievements in wind power sector are
less tangible, yet several licenses were issued for this activity,
Galstyan said.
The Deputy Minister said that Armenia is making attempts to move
forward also in=2 0development of geothermal power plants. In
particular, territory is assigned for construction of such a plant
and the issue is to be settled by the end of the year.
Armenian is underdeveloped in terms of biogas production, waste
recycling and wastewater treatment.
Energy savings field is also in its initial stage despite the
respective strategy developed by the government. Yet, use of energy
saving technologies will help Armenia save up to 15% of primary energy
resources, Galstyan said.
The Deputy Minister also reminded that Armenia had the most developed
export-orientated energy system in the South region and that it was
exporting 30% of its energy production. This structure is maintained
in Armenian energy sector despite the hard period.
"Our energy sector is one of the most developed ones both in
institutional and export terms on the post-Soviet area," Galstyan said.
Energy production totaled 6,114.3mln kilowatt-hours in Armenia in 2008,
which is a 3.7% increase against the level of 2007. Energy yield of
Armenian NPP was 2,461.6mln kilowatt-hours in January-December 2008,
which constituted 40.3% of the overall volume of energy production
over the period under period.
Heat stations produced 1,831.9mln kilowatt-hours or 30% of overall
production. Midget power plants generated 1,818.9mln kilowatt-hours
of electricity or 29.8% of the overall yield in the country.
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2009 22:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has
approved a $86.5 million loan to Armenia to alleviate impact of the
global economic crisis.
The loan maturity is 20 years with 10 years of grace period.
The loan targets implementation of 4 projects: social investments fund
($8 million), small agricultural and rural business ($2 million),
rural roads repair ($25 million) and Access to Finance for Small and
Medium Enterprises Project.
The Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises Project
for Armenia totaling $50 million with a 26.5 year maturity and a 5
year grace aims to improve Armenian small and medium enterprises'
access to medium-term finance in an increasingly unstable global
financial environment, by improving the ability of farmers and rural
entrepreneurs to access markets and by stimulating market-oriented
private and public investments in rural areas. The major focus will
be to support the continued development of commercial activities
in the rural areas by improving market linkages, product quality,
competitiveness and capacity of Armenian rural entrepreneurs and
producers, the WB press office reports.
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REMINDER: Armenia - Land of Culture. Exhibition of photographs: 2-6 March 2009: Royal Geographical Society
Armenia – Land of Culture. Exhibition of photographs, free & open to public
Monday 2 to Friday 6 March, 10am to 5pm daily
Armenia was one of the countries of the famous Silk Road, which accommodated trade and cultural exchange long ago
and became the first nation to adopt Christianity, in 301 AD, as a state religion.
This exhibition presents a country with a millennia-long history and traditions, an excellent destination for cultural, religious,
historical and adventure tourism.
[the following week there is an exhibition entitled Türkiye from 1000 feet:
their website includes three pictures of Van, two of which show the devastation of the previous Armenian part]
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: R.A.G OPPOSITION (r.a.g.lebanon@gmail.com)
Ռ.Ա.Կ-ի շրջանակներուն լուրջ ուշադրութեան
Ռ.Ա.Կ. Լիբանանի Շրջանային Վարչութեան անունով, Աւետիս Տագէսեանի Ամերիկա այցելութիւնը , մեզի կը պարտաւորեցնէ ձեր լուրջ ուշադրութեան յանձնել հետեւեալ կէտերը:
1. Իր գլխաւորած վարչութիւնը ԱՊՕՐԷՆ է, պարզապէս անոր համար որ, ասկէ շուրջ երկու տարի առաջ ՆՇԱՆԱԿՈՒԱԾ է, հետեւաբար, օրինական ու կանոնագրային առումներով այլեւս ուժի մէջ չէ:
2. Ռ.Ա.Կ. կեդրոնական վարչութիւնը պաշտօնական նամակով մը պահանջած է նոր ղեկավարութիւն մը առաջացնել, ԸՆՏՐՈՎԻ, սակայն ներկայ ապօրէն վարչութիւնը անհիմն եւ անհամոզիչ պատճառաբանութիւններով մերժած է, անորոշութեան մէջ ձգելով զայն:
3. Այս անօրէնութեանց դիմաց, Յակոբ Գասարճեանի մը առաջադրութիւնը Լիբանանեան խորհրդարանի անդամակցութեան, կը մնայ գերազանցապէս ՄԵՐԺԵԼԻ , քանի անդամակցութեան ջախջախիչ մեծամասնութիւնը դէմ է անոր թեկնածութեան, մնաց որ անիկա կուսակցութիւնը քանդեց, զինք քննադատողները հեռացուց ,կուսակցութեան անունը շահագործեց,ոչինչ տալով անոր:
4. Յակոբ Գասարճեանին շուրջ գտնուողները,որոնք մատի վրայ կը հաշուըուին, մեծ մասը դրամական ուժով կը մնայ հոն, իսկ Աւետիս Տագէսեանին Ամերիկա այցելութիւնը նոյն ծիրէն ներս կ'իյնայ: Ի միջի այլոց,նոյն Տագէսեանն է որ Ռ.Ա.Կ.-էն վտարուած է, նոյն Յակոբ Գասարճեանի կարգադրութեամբ, նիւթական իւրացումներու ամբաստանութեամբ:
5. Ռ.Ա.Կ.-ը իր ամբողջ փայլուն պատմութեան ընթացքին,չէր վարկաբեկուած ու սնանկացած ,որքան Յակոբ Գասարճեանի մը եւ անոր մանկլաւիկներու շրջանին,որուն մէկ ներկայացուցիչը եղաւ ''վտարեալ'' Տագէսեանը , փոխանակ բարեկարգում մը կատարելու, անարժաններով զսպելու ու կուսակցութեան վարկը բարձր պահելու:
Թերեւս ասոնց համար նիւթականը աւելի ծանրակշիռ է , քան Ռ.Ա.Կ.-ի երդումն ու ուխտադրումը:
6. Տագէսեանը, որ Արտաւազդ թագաւորին նման Գասարճեանին ցանած Ռ.Ա.Կ.-ի աւերակներուն վրայ կը դեգերի, ինք շատ լաւ գիտէ այս քանդիչին ու դաւադիրին ստորնութիւնները, բայց, յանուն իր փառամոլութեան ու կարճատեսութեան, կը յաւակնի Ամերիկա հասնիլ: Մարդկային,ազգային, ու կուսակցական արժանապատուութենէ զուրկ մէկու մը ծառայելու :
7. Օտար բայց ծանօթ աղբիւրէ մը ձրի օդանաւային տոմս ապահովող այս ''սուրհանդակ''ը , որ մարդ համոզելու բնաւ ատակ չէ, պիտի կազմակերպէ քուէարկողներու Լիբանան այցելութեան միջոց, անոնց եւս տրամադրելով ձրի տոմսեր, նոյն աղբիւրէն, Ռ.Ա.Կ.-ի արդի պատմութեան մէջ աւելցնելով սեւ էջերու թիւը:
Եթէ այս բոլորը չէք գիտեր, գիտցէք: Հոս բոլորը գիտեն ու ժամանակը ցոյց պիտի տայ այս ապօրէններուն անկումին պատկերը եւ վախճանը:
Ռ.Ա.Կ. Լիբանանի Շրջանակի Անդամակցութիւն
Պէյրութ
26 Փետրուար 2009
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Hay Yeridasartats Mioutian Noruendir Varchoutioun-ue
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FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Magna Carta Myth
Rant Number 341 25 February 2009 Aristocratic, anti-Semitic, popish, clericalist, misogynist, elitist and reactionary. Not exactly terms of commendation in our enlightened age. Who, what do they designate? Jean Marie Le Pen’s National Front? Holocaust-denying Bishop Williamson? Islamophobic Dutch MP Geert Wilders? Mein Kampf? False. They properly describe that milestone of Western human rights, Magna Carta – what else? ‘900-year struggle for Britain’s freedoms and rights’, the bombast of the Taking Liberties exhibition (logo: a clenched fist) at the British Library announces. Most famous amongst its ‘key icons of liberty and progress’ is indeed Magna Carta. Sealed by King John at Runnymede in 1215. A seminal document of English constitutional practice, my Oxford English Dictionary says. And a smart Italian lady with whom I chatted the exhibition enthused: ‘You wonderful British…you showed all Europeans the way out of medieval darkness.’ Pretty flattering. But it is all rubbish. From beginning to end. Some people are like parrots. They simply echo any stuff and nonsense. Had they read the Great Charter, it’d make them sit up. The august document consists of 63 clauses. ‘The English Church shall be free’, the first runs. ‘It shall have its rights undiminished and its liberties unimpaired’. Just in case you don’t get it: ‘free’ means free from royal interference, not from papal authority. A freedom the monstrous syphilitic tyrant, Henry VIII, later usurped. Today the Church of England is so utterly unfree that its bishops are appointed by the monarch – in fact, by the Prime Minister! Thus Pope Benedict turns out to have excellent legal entitlement to the English Church – he only has to appeal to Magna Carta! Anti-Semitic. I kid you not. Clauses 10 and 11 take a swipe at Jewish money-lenders. ‘If a man dies owing money to Jews, his wife will have her dower and pay nothing towards the debt from it.’ Whatever the reason back then, that wouldn’t do today. And King John’s grandson, Edward II, may have had those articles in mind when he expelled the poor Hebrews from England in 1290. Not quite kosher, nah! ‘Heirs may not be given in marriage to persons of lower social rank.’ Clause 6. Probably a popular sentiment with all parents in all ages. Would I wish my lovely boy, Linus, to marry anyone called Tracy or Sharon? A shop-girl or a waitress? If I said ‘yes’, I’d be a bloody liar. Stone me to death, I won’t pretend. My hypocrisy has limits, unlike my snobbery. But, groan… hardly a progressive position, I concede it. Clause 54 is a pearl. ‘Nobody will be arrested or jailed on the appeal of a woman for the death of any person, except her husband.’ I don’t figure the suffragettes Taking Liberties makes so much of would have rejoiced at this. Casts a bit of an aspersion on women’s testimony, to put it mildly. Misogyny rampant. And in a text hailed as a beacon of modern rights. What a hoot! Clause 57 mentions de passage ‘taking up the Cross’. Meaning crusaders. That would do wonders for religious dialogue, no doubt. Equality. A fundamental value of our time. Yet Magna Carta flatly denies it. ‘Earls and barons shall be fined only by their equals’, the 21st article states. Indeed, until the 19th century British aristocrats were tried by their peers, in the House of Lords. Similarly, secular courts could not investigate priests or nuns. A nice privilege not abolished until 1827, under George IV. I wish it hadn’t. Priestly perks appeal to a priest. Although, on second thoughts…would I really fancy being tried by the Establishment-fawning Anglican clergy I know? La samaha Allah! All things being equal, I’d rather opt for a sharia court. Fairer, I bet you. All right. Time to take the bull by the horns. The aforesaid isn’t what turns Magna Carta’s modern fans on. Clauses 39 and 40 do. ‘No free man shall be seized or imprisoned…except by the lawful judgment of his equals, or by the law of the land…to no one will we deny right or justice’. The origins of habeas corpus, no less. But what does ‘free man’ mean? As Ms Claire Breay, author of an eye-opening booklet on the Carta, ably points out, ‘the peasantry who constituted the mass of the population were firmly outside its remit.’ Even less were serfs and slaves. Hence revered doctrines and dogmas like democracy and human rights find no support in that much mythologised document. Moreover, habeas corpus was never sacrosanct or absolute. In Britain it has often been suspended, notably during the French Revolution, in wartime and more recently in Northern Ireland. It seems raison d’etat can trump even the Latin of Magna Carta, when force majeure dictates… If Magna Carta was so central to the English historical consciousness of freedom and rights, you’d expect that majestic English genius, Will Shakespeare, to celebrate it. Or, at the very least, to mention it. Not so. The Bard’s Life and Death of King John says not a word about it. The monarch does battle against the evil cleric Pandulph, the papal legate, but that’s hardly surprising, as John’s quarrel with Pope Innocent III got him an excommunication in return. Of course, Shakespeare was intent on glorifying the absolutism of the ghastly Tudor dynasty - the Welsh’s greatest revenge on their English overlords. It would not have done to portray an English king as subject to lesser forces in his own realm. Come to think of it, the great Will had a few points in common with Dr Goebbels. Poetry apart, some of his plays ooze the most outrageous political propaganda. Nothing new there. Great artists, from Virgil to Chaucer and Goethe, have often sucked up to the powers that be. Even geniuses have to eat. Magna Carta should be more aptly called ‘Parva Carta’, small charter, as its actual significance was minor. Later ages have built it into a myth. Fine, providing you know the actual truth. Myths are what human beings need. King Arthur is a myth for romantics and medievalists. Democracy, equality and the rights of man are myths for the multitudes. Unicuique Suum. To each his own. Revd Frank Julian Gelli ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Open Letter to his Excellency Serzh Sargsyan
In a couple of days the Open Letter to his Excellency Serzh Sargsyan will be made public. Please indicate whether you would endorse the letter. Provide Name and Surname, Title/Occupation, City/Country.
It would be much appreciated if you could include the Armenian version of your name too as the original of the letter will be in Armenian.
Thankfully,
Dikran Abrahamian
Dikran Abrahamian (dikran@keghart.com)-------
To Honourable Serzh Sargsyan, President of Republic of Armenia :
Your Excellency:
One year has gone by since the tragic events that unfolded in the streets of Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008, following the presidential elections. Armenia’s security forces opened fire at civilians who were protesting an election process marred by irregularities and fraud. The violent show of force resulted in 10 deaths and numerous injuries, thus inflicting a deep wound to a people’s psyche.
You heard the voices of outrage coming immediately from the Armenian communities of the Diaspora as well as the world community at large, and you pledged to act swiftly to restore your people’s confidence in the fairness and integrity of your administration. Specifically, you promised to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into this tragedy, to bring to justice those responsible for the violence, and to release the arrested protesters.
We are alarmed to note that your administration has made little or no progress on this front: none of the deaths has been accounted for and most of the arrested protesters remain in prison.
President Sargsyan, we recognize that Armenia is facing major economic difficulties and grave security issues. We are also aware that your administration is engaged in intense diplomatic activities on multiple fronts. While it is understandable that your government might be preoccupied with these challenges, it is crucial to remember that Armenia can not solve its domestic problems or improve its international stature if Armenian governments fail to honor the basic human rights of its citizens, including the rights to freedom of expression and a fair judiciary.
We
call on you to act urgently on your promises to restore justice, fairness, and accountability to the victims of the post-election violence and their families.We eagerly await your public response.
Respectfully,
Concerned Individuals
CC: Honourable Minister of Diaspora Affairs
Endorsed by: Davit Zargarian, Haig Misakyan, Dikran Abrahamian, Avo Bedrossian
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Armenians
">Gibrahayer e-magazine www.gibrahayer.c
The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine on the Internet
Circulates every Wednesday - Established in 1999
ARMENIANS "GREET" ALIYEV IN ATHENS
Athens (Azad Or) - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and his delegation were met with angry Armenian protesters when they arrived at the Greek Chamber of Commerce for a meeting of Azeri and Greek business leaders, in the presence of Greek President Carolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Karamanlis.
The Armenian community of Greece heeded the call from the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Youth Organization and, gathered at the venue an hour before the scheduled meeting by the Azeri president.
With Armenian tri-colours and the Karabakh flags waving, a large banner that read “Aliyev, Stop the Aggression. Nagorno-Karabakh is Already Independent,” the crowd chanted “Karabakh is Armenian” catching the Aliyev off guard as he exited his vehicle.
The Armenian community of Greece - especially the youth - had gathered to raise their voices against the visit of the Azeri president to Greece.
Aliyev's Azeri security team was very aggressive toward the protesters and pushed the Azad Or editor and Armenian photographers back and stopped them, as representatives of the press, from entering the building. The Greek police also held back protesters, who refused to move from their positions.
Soon thereafter, President Papoulias arrived and was greeted by cheers from the protesters, who stayed put until the conclusion of the conference and Aliyev's quick exit from the venue, where the protesters continued their protest slogans.
During the meeting, Aliyev reiterated his anti-Armenian rhetoric, saying that “Armenia has invaded and is occupying Azeri year=20year=2009&month=02 You can view the demonstration and the way the Armenians of Greece
greeted the President of Azerbaijan >TURKISH COLONEL TO STAND TRIAL ON HRANT DINK MURDERPanARMENIAN.Net 18.02.2009 - A Turkish court ordered a colonel and five soldiers, to stand trial in connection with the murder of Hrant Dink, editor of Agos Turkish-Armenian weekly, who was assassinated by a gunman outside his office on January 19, 2007.
Colonel Ali Oz was indicted last year for failing to provide protection to Dink, who had received death threats before he was murdered.
A lower court dismissed the case against Oz, but last week a court in the city of Trabzon, said Oz should stand trial.
Two low-ranking soldiers are already on trial accused of neglect of duty in the Hrant Dink murder, Reuters reports.
TERROR ACTS PLOTTED BY TURKISH GENERAL STAFF AGAINST ARMENIAN APOLOGY CAMPAIGN INITIATORS
PanARMENIAN.Net 18.02.2009 - The Turkish General Staff plotted terror acts against initiators of the Armenian apology campaign, Bolis-based Normarmara newspaper reports."If I hadn't been arrested on January 7, Armenian activists in Turkey would have been assaulted," said Ibrahim Shahin, former deputy chief of the Turkish special forces.
According to him, the grouping should have included 150-300 Turkish soldiers charged with the task to carry out ethnic cleansings throughout the country.
The black list included the initiators of the Armenian apology campaign, 850 members of pro-Kurdish party, as well as Assyrians and Jews residing in Turkey.
HATRED FOR ARMENIANS PROPAGATED IN TURKISH SCHOOLS
On a parallel note Bolis Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church summoned a conference to discuss the recent decision of the Turkish Ministry of Education decreed to screen Sari Galin documentary on 'murders of Turks by Armenians' for Turkish schoolchildren.
The documentary is a Turkish view on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. With lots of violence shots, it aims to propagate hatred for Armenians.
43 representatives of the Armenian community of Bolis have already sent a note to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Normarmara reports
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Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Yeridasartin Kordz Gue Vuesdahvi?
Monday, 23 February 2009
Armenian News
Monday, February, the first day of Lent
Each year the liturgical calendar lists many occasions for observing Paregentan (good living). One such occasion is Poun Paregentan (Main or Prime Good Living). The name rings for all people with a joyful sound. It is the signal for the start of the abstinence. It serves as a joyous celebration as a counter-balance to the burdensome weeks of abstinence (lent). It is a toast for long life, health and success. It is a heartfelt expression of an attitude toward loved ones, disclosed in gatherings and around bountiful tables.
This year paregentan is marked on 22 February 2009
The Peace Service (Khaghaghagan), the Rest Service (Hanksdyan), and the Sunrise Service (Arevakal) are performed more often during Lent than at other times of the year. In popular terms Peace and Rest services are combined and called Hsgoum.
Peace Service, performed in the late evening, contains prayers for peace at the end of the day. Rest Service, which comes just before retiring for the night, asks God's continuing care through the night. Sunrise Service, performed first thing in the morning, reminds us that God is the giver of the light of the morning and the light of salvation.
The Great Lent (Medz Bahq) is 48 days from the day that followes Poun Paregentan until the morning before the Easter (this year it starts from 23 February 2009 until the morning of 12 April 2009). The main part of the Lent is between Poun Paregentan and Palm Sunday "Dzaghgazart" (6 weeks), followed by the Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Holy Easter (total 7 weeks).
What is the purpose of Medz Bahq?
A time designated by Christian churches as a unique period for self examination, a search for spiritual values and for spiritual renewal. By voluntarily depriving ourselves from material pleasures, we make a conscious effort to dwell on our spiritual values.
What are the customary dietary rules when observing Medz Bahq?
Most people who observe Medz Bahq, give up eating all animal products (meats from all sources, butter, milk, eggs, cheese, etc.) Some people choose to observe Medz Bahq throughout the 40 days; others do it only on Wednesdays and Fridays; others may give up specific things like desserts or drinks; or others may choose whatever they feel is a material pleasure for them.
Note that observing the dietary restrictions without accompanying kind deeds, renders the observation of Medz Bahq useless.
The Meaning of Lent:"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry." (Matthew 4:12.)
This is the Biblical basis of the period called Lent, given to us to prepare for the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection. Just as we need time to prepare for any great event in life, we need time to make ourselves ready to participate in the blessed and wondrous event commemorated by Easter.
Lent gives us the opportunity to:
Renew our commitment to God
Reflect on our lives and let them be directed by God
Respond to Jesus' call for love and mercy toward all of God's children
Michink or median day of Lent is the 24th day of Lent and it occurs on the Wednesday of the fourth week. Although it does not have any specific religious significance, this mid-point day has been traditionally marked as a special day, an occasion for celebration. It is often marked with fellowship and friendship while sharing a table of Lenten foods.
This year the median day of Lent (Michink) will be on 18 March 2009.
Armenians around the world celebrate the Easter Sunday. They exchange the Easter greeting: Krisdos haryav ee merelotz and Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee. They share with relative, friends and community members a joyous Easter feast, often including lamb and colored eggs (symbols of new life).
On the Monday after Easter, Armenian families in many parts of the world visit the graves of their loved ones.
Easter Sunday is followed by a period of 40 days, during which time there are no saints' days or fasting days. This period is dedicated to the 40 days Christ spent on earth after His Resurrection. The end of this period is called Ascension Day, commemorating Christ's entry into heaven.
Fifty days after Easter is Pentecost, on which day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and gave them the power to preach in various languages. This usually is marked as the birthday of the Church.
Renaissance…, so far Administrative: Karabakh authorities decide to “revitalize” Shushi
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow Karabakh reporter
Published: 20 February, 2009
Starting from autumn 2008, two buildings not far from “Kanach Zham” church have been reconstructed, and it is into these buildings that the Supreme and Appeals Courts will move, according to preliminary data. The facilities for the state cadastre committee, the ombudsman’s office and the Ministry of Culture are still in the mapping-out process. About 40 people work at these institutions.
The government’s decision is conditioned by the fact that this is the only way to breathe a new life into the town that had up to 45,000 residents at the beginning of the 20th century, more than half of the population being Armenians. At the end of 19th – the beginning of 20th century 22 newspapers were published in Shushi, there were 7 churches, and a theater. As a result of the massacres of Armenians at the hands of Turkish-Tatar forces in March 1920, the greatest part of the cultural heritage of Shushi vanished (20,000 Armenians were killed and about 700 buildings were destroyed).
As a result of the Armenian-Azeri war in 1991-1994 the town was almost completely destroyed. Now the greatest part of the town consists of half-destroyed houses of the 18th-19th centuries that are tumbling down because of the wind, rains, and the human factor. Not more than 3,000 people live in Shushi now.
Karabakh authorities linked the rebirth of the city with the potential of the Diaspora, considering that the state budget of Karabakh cannot afford it, although the total sum necessary for revitalizing the town was not even calculated. Every year small amounts were allocated to “maintain” the town; the largest sum – about 400 million drams ($1.3 million) – was allocated in 2008. Within the 15 post-war years the road to the Cathedral of St. Savior (Kazanchetsots) was renovated, gas was supplied and the road and the entrance to the town were renovated.
In the autumn of 2008 Levon Hayrapetyan, a patron famous in Karabakh, announced about his “patronage” in the course of Shushi’s rebirth. He promised that in a few years 50,000 people would live in the town. But, perhaps because of the world economic crisis, the projects have not started yet. Authorities say that a master plan of the town is being designed, and the reconstruction will be carried out according to it.
Particular hopes were connected with “The Shushi Revival” Fund that was established by the Mayor of Yerevan Ervand Zakharyan in 2006. The Fund had announced magnificent projects, however, little has been done so far. In January 2008 the Fund organized a teleton “Yerevan-Shushi-Bethlehem,” during which an announcement was made about donating $5.7 million for the town’s rebirth. A decision was made to use the money for the restoration of the water supply pipe, but the project has not started until now. The representative of the Fund in Karabakh Artur Hambardzumyan informed that the projects that were supposed to be implemented in 2008 were postponed “for a number of reasons.” The construction of the water supply pipe will start in the spring of this year, and the project is ready, he said.
During one of the sessions of Karabakh government Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan expressed his dissatisfaction in relation to the work of the fund. “The ‘Shushi Rebirth’ Fund had taken up the reconstruction of a number of buildings, where the state institutions were to be moved. However, nothing has been done so far, and we will have to allocate the means from the state budget,” Harutyunyan said.
At the beginning of February Zakharyan visited Shushi, he also met with the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan. As it turned out, the implementation of a number of projects, the reconstruction of Adamyan Street in particular, had been postponed until the master plan of the city would be designed. The Fund has also designed a project of a cable-car road, which may facilitate the development of tourism.
The money was used to renovate the roofs of the houses on Proshyan Street, an apartment was bought for the family of a soldier who died in the war, the reconstruction of Shushi picture gallery was continued, roads were repaired, and the water supply was partly reconstructed.
Meanwhile, apparently in expectation of a miracle, real estate prices in Shushi doubled in 2008. The price for a square meter went up to $200 (and $817 in Stepanakert); a decade ago the price in Shushi was about $8.
“I have been living in Shushi for 8 years now. My husband was able to get a job here and an apartment. We have three children, and in Stepanakert we used to live with my husband’s parents in a small apartment,” 38-year-old Zoya Arakelyan says, “We moved to Shushi. We literally started from scratch, because the apartment was half-ruined, we had to lay the sewage and water pipes ourselves. But at that time this was the only way out. Then my husband had to quit the job, and now he works in Stepanakert. I was never able to find a job. There are no enterprises and organizations here – only state institutions.”
Now residential buildings in Shushi are being renovated as well. 60 apartments were provided for the officers of the Defense Army in 2008. The housing issue in Shushi is critical despite its small population. The thing is that after 1995, when the privatization of the housing fund was announced, the apartments in Shushi were bought or simply privatized by the people who do not reside in Shushi.
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The political tussle ahead of 24 April, dying languages in Turkey & Azeri aero-military advantage over Armenia
Feb 21 2009
Turkey-US relations to improve if no wrong steps on Armenian issue
Turkey hopes the new Washington administration will understand the
importance of the country before it takes a step to recognize the
Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incident, the Turkish ambassador to
the U.S. said.
"The Turkish nation is ready to struggle altogether (against the
efforts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the U.S.). Therefore
I hope that the officials in the new U.S. administration will
understand the importance of Turkey, the meaning of this issue to the
Turkish people and the harm it will bring to the Turkish-American
relations," Ambassador Nabi Sensoy told reporters in New York late on
Friday.
U.S. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton had pledged to recognize the Armenian claims
during the election campaign.
So far the Washington administration had stepped in to block the
legislations in the Congress that would recognize the Armenian claims
due to the strategic partnership between Turkey and the U.S.
Sensoy recalled in 2007 he was called back to Ankara to protest the
attempts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the Congress.
"That happened for the first time in our history. This was a protest
of the American policy. Everybody understood the seriousness of the
issue and retreated from taking such wrong step. Now we face the same
danger," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian Agency.
The issue of the 1915 incidents is highly sensitive for Turkey as well
as Armenia. Around 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks, died
in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by
Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.
However Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5
million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in
1915. The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in
accepting Turkey's proposal of forming a commission to investigate the
claims.
TURKEY-ARMENIA CLOSE TO NORMALIZATION
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his hopes for the
normalization of the relations with Armenia as well as both sides to
open up archives and the Yerevan administration is expected to adopt a
similar approach, Sensoy added.
"I am glad to declare that the two countries are close to normalizing
relations... I had gone through what happened in 2007 and I don't want
to see this period repeated," the ambassador said, adding "We have to
focus on the positive sides of the bilateral relations."
He also warned that there is a good chance for Turkey and Armenia to
discuss directly the issues unless there is a legislation or statement
recognizing the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents.
In a response to a question Sensoy said Obama was invited to the
Alliance of Civilizations meeting which will be held in Turkey in
April.
Feb 22, 2009 13:22 | Updated Feb 22, 2009 13:23
Turks appear to set conditions for relations with US
The Turkish ambassador to the US, Nabi Sensoy, told a group of
American reporters on Friday that he hoped the new US administration
would recognize the importance of the so-called Armenian issue to
Turkey and the negative effects that a recognition of Armenian claims
might have for Turkish-US relations, the Turkish daily Hurriyet
reported.
Slideshow: Pictures of the week In 1915, the Ottoman Empire, on whose
ruins modern Turkey is built, launched a campaign against the
country's Armenian minority which lived in the eastern part of the
country, that left an estimated one and a half million Armenians dead
and even more fleeing the country.
So far Turkey has refused to recognize the claim of responsibility
sought by Armenians.
In the Turkish media, the events are described as an armed struggle
between the Ottoman Empire and Armenian nationals backed by Russia
which left 300,000 dead on each side.
The coverage of the issue is the subject of one of the most
controversial laws of Turkish media, article 301, under which it is
illegal to insult Turkey, the Turkish nation and Turkish government
institutions.
The law has been severely criticized by media freedom organizations,
as well as the European Union, which Ankara wants to join.
US President Barack Obama, as well as Vice President Joe Biden and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all pledged during last year's US
election campaign that they would recognize the Armenian claim.
In 2007, Sensoy was recalled to Ankara to protest the attempts to have
the Armenian claim recognized by Congress.
TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
Feb 23, 2009
ANCA places Turkey in `genocide axis' with Sudan
An influential Armenian-American group has stepped up its campaign for
recognition of claims that 1.5 million Armenians were subjected to
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century,
telling US congressmen that Turkey is part of an emerging "axis of
genocide" with Sudan.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) said in a statement
that it had alerted members of Congress last week that "Ankara is
playing an increasingly dangerous role in blocking decisive
international action to end the genocide in Darfur," claiming that
Ankara has been selling lethal weaponry to Sudan, providing diplomatic
support for the Sudanese government in the face of international
criticism over its Darfur policy and using its UN Security Council
membership "to block anti-genocide efforts."
Human rights groups criticize Turkey for its close ties with Sudan,
whose leader, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted at the International
Criminal Court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in
Darfur. Turkish leaders have avoided accusing Sudan of genocide,
calling instead for an end to Darfur's "humanitarian tragedy."
The American-Armenian lobby groups, of which ANCA is one of the
strongest, have been pressuring the US Congress to pass a resolution
recognizing their claims that World War I-era events in Anatolia
constituted genocide. The pressure on the US administration is also
high, as April 24, when Armenians say the genocide campaign started in
1915, is approaching.
American presidents issue messages on this day every year, but no
president has ever used the word genocide in his message. Turks
cheered election of Barack Obama as US president, but Ankara is wary
that relations could receive a serious blow if he goes ahead with his
election campaign promises and supports claims that up to 1.5 million
Armenians were victims of a systematic genocide campaign in the
Ottoman Empire.
The "genocide axis" claims spread by ANCA are likely to upset Ankara,
but the Turkish government may find a recent speech by a pro-Armenian
congressman even more appalling. Republican Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.,
co-chairman of the Armenian Caucus, said in a Feb. 13 speech on the
House floor that Turkey was guilty of "hypocrisy" as it levels human
rights charges against Israel for its Gaza operation in January while
it continues to deny the "Armenian genocide." Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)
sharply criticized Turkey's hypocrisy in leveling human rights charges
against Israel even as it continues to deny the Armenian genocide and
strengthen its ties to the genocidal Sudanese regime, ANCA
reported. "For a nation that for 94 years has practiced wide-spread
genocide denial of the killing of one-and-a-half million Armenians,
hypocrisy runs deep today in Ankara," Pallone said, according to a
statement from ANCA. "The Turkish people need to step back and
question their skewed understanding of genocide. Look in the mirror,
look at your own history, come to terms with the fact that 1.5 million
Armenians died and when contemporary genocides, like Darfur, take
place it must be denounced."
Feb 22 2009
UNESCO: 15 Languages Endangered in Turkey
According to the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger published by
UNESCO prior to 21 February, International Mother Language Day, 15
languages are endangered in Turkey, and Turkey is doing nothing to
save them.
Bıa news centre - Paris 22-02-2009
Tolga KORKUT - tolgakorkut@bianet.org
21 February, International Mother Language Day, has been marked with
the publication of a new edition of the "Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger". The United Nations' Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has published an interactive digital
Atlas based on information collected by over 30 linguists.
The degree of danger that languages face has been expressed in five
different categories:
-unsafe
-definitely endangered
-severely endangered
-critically endangered
-extinct
-Many languages affected
A staggering total of 2,500 languages is affected, a large percentage
of the 6,700 languages spoken today. Of these 2,500, around 230 have
been extinct since the 1950s. As for Turkey, the atlas says that 15
languages are endangered, and three more are extinct.
Fifteen endangered, three extinct in Turkey
Four languages in Turkey were categorised as unsafe: Zazaki, Abkhaz,
Adyge, and Kabard-Cherkes.
Definitely endangered are: Abaza, Homshetsma, Laz, Pontus Greek,
Romani, Suret (a language similar to Assyrian) and Western Armenian.
Three languages are severely endangered: Gagavuz, a language spoken
mostly in Moldova and by a diaspora in Turkey, Assyrian and Ladino,
the language spoken by the Sephardic Jewish community in Turkey.
One more language is critically endangered: Hértevin, a
language that used to be spoken in the province of Siirt in the
southeast of Turkey. In 1999, there were 1,000 speakers left.
The UNESCO Atlas says that three languages have become extinct in
Turkey. Cappadocian Greek is extinct in Turkey and critically
endangered worldwide. A language called Mlahso, which was spoken in
the Lice district of Diyarbakır became extinct when its last
speaker died in 1995. A language called Ubykh was lost with the death
of its last registered speaker in 1992.
Factors affecting language vitality
In order to measure the danger a language is in, UNESCOuses nine criteria:
-Absolute number of speakers
-Intergenerational language transmission
-Community members' attitude towards their own language
-Shifts in domains of language use
-Governmental and institutional language attitudes and policies,
including official status and use
-Type and quality of documentation
-Response to new domains and media
-Availability of materials for language education and literacy
-Proportion of speakers within the total population
UNESCO runs safeguarding projects for languages in different
countries, working towards strengthening the use of languages in
culture, education, communication and science. However, no such
language protection programmes are run in Turkey.
How can a language be prevented from disappearing?
As UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura stressed, `The
death of a language leads to the disappearance of many forms of
intangible cultural heritage, especially the invaluable heritage of
traditions and oral expressions of the community that spoke it ` from
poems and legends to proverbs and jokes. The loss of languages is also
detrimental to humanity's grasp of biodiversity, as they transmit much
knowledge about the nature and the universe.'
Thus it is important to protect languages. According to UNESCO's
website,
"The most important thing that can be done to keep a language from
disappearing is to create favourable conditions for its speakers to
speak the language and teach it to their children. This often requires
national policies that recognize and protect minority languages,
education systems that promote mother-tongue instruction, and creative
collaboration between community members and linguists to develop a
writing system and introduce formal instruction in the language."
"Since the most crucial factor is the attitude of the speaker
community toward its own language, it is essential to create a social
and political environment that encourages multilingualism and respect
for minority languages so that speaking such a language is an asset
rather than a liability. Some languages now have so few speakers that
they cannot be maintained, but linguists can, if the community so
wishes, record as much of the language as possible so that it does not
disappear without a trace."
Readers interested in some of the many languages spoken in Turkey are
referred to the links on mother languages in Turkey to the right of
this article. (TK/AG).
Feb 14 2009
Azerbaijan's Air Defence Force "most powerful" in South Caucasus - agency
Azerbaijan has "the most powerful" Air Defence Force in the South
Caucasus, the Baku-based APA news agency has reported. It also
published information on the number and type of military planes,
helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles that Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia have. The report also provided information on projects to
modernize Azerbaijan's Air Defence Force. The following is an excerpt
from report by private Azerbaijani news agency APA published on 14
February; subheadings inserted editorially:
Baku, 14 February: The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force marks the
anniversary of its establishment on 14 February. The Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force is currently regarded as the most powerful in the South
Caucasus because of the number of its aircraft, state-of-the-art
military equipment and the highest skills of pilots.
Azerbaijan has gained superiority in the air defence sphere in the
South Caucasus region over the past nine years by modernizing its Air
Defence Force and increasing the number of aircraft. Azerbaijan will
continue to increase the capacity of its military aviation in the next
five years as well. It was recently noted that 50 per cent of the
aircraft fleet of the Air Defence Force will be modernized owing to
state-of-the-art warplanes in 2008-10. The Azerbaijani Air Defence
Force will also be supplied with JF-17 Thunder, Su-27 and Su-30
aircraft by 2015. Purchase of modern MiG aircraft is also expected.
The development trends for the Azerbaijani Air Defence Force are
these: purchasing modern aircraft and helicopters; modernizing
aviation equipment; modernizing control centres and command posts;
improving the professional skills of and training aviation personnel;
and increasing the number of aircraft owing to domestic production.
The state of war [with Armenia] and a favourable landscape, as well as
the main air bases of the former Soviet army in the South Caucasus
deployed in Azerbaijan created an opportunity for Azerbaijan to
develop its armed forces after it gained independence.
It must be noted that according to the Treaty on Conventional Armed
Forces in Europe Azerbaijan retains the right to keep 100 warplanes
and 50 helicopters.
Azeri Air Defence Force fleet
The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force is mainly equipped with Soviet-made
MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft, as well as
"fourth-generation" MiG-29 aircraft purchased from Ukraine in
2006. The Soviet-made Il-79 and An military transportation planes and
the long-range Tu-16 twin-engine jet bombers which have remained from
the Soviet period are also part of the arsenal of the Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force. Negotiations with Pakistan on the purchase of JF-17
Thunder aircraft are under way.
Moreover, Czech- and Ukrainian-made L-29 and L-39 training jet
aircraft, as well as Yak planes which are for carrying airborne
troops, that belong to the State Border Service and the Voluntary
Military Patriotism and Technical Sports Society can also be [regarded
as] part of the arsenal of the Air Defence Force.
The helicopter fleet is mainly equipped with Soviet-made helicopters,
including Russian-made Mi-27, Mi-8 and Mi-6 helicopters. An agreement
on the purchase of Mi-171 helicopters was signed with Russia last
year. The State Border Service, the Interior Troops and the Ministry
of Emergency Situations also have helicopter squadrons, like the Air
Defence Force does.
The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force has six Orbiter and Aerostar
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) manufactured by the Israeli Aeronautics
company. These UAVs were demonstrated at a military parade held in
Baku last year. According to the Israeli media, Azerbaijan is
currently holding negotiations on the purchase of Hermes and Heron-TP
unmanned aerial vehicles.
Air fleet in South Caucasus countries
Aircraft in the air fleet of the South Caucasus countries (year 2008)
[info is given in the form of a table:]
Azerbaijan: MiG-21 - 21 [pieces], MiG-25 - 31, MiG-29 - 49, Su-17 -
4/26 [as given], L-29 - 8, L-39 - 12, Il-76 - 3, Yak-52 - 12, An-12 -
1, An-24 - 1, Tu-134 - 1, Mi-24 - 49, Mi-8 - 13.
Georgia: Su-25 - 24, L-29 - 2, L-39 - 18, An-24 - 1, An-32 - 1, Tu-134
- 2.
Armenia: MiG-25 - 1, Su-25 - 15, L-29 - 4, Yak-52 - 16.
Helicopters in the air fleet of the South Caucasus countries (year
2008) [info is given in the form of a table:]
Azerbaijan: Mi-2 - ? [question mark as given, presumably meaning that
the number of helicopters is not available], Mi-6 - 4, Mi-8 - 13, Mi-9
- ?, Mi-24 - 49, Mi-17 - 4, Mi-171 - 6, Bell UN - none;
Georgia: Mi-2 - 7, Mi-8 - 18, Mi-24 - 12, Bell UN-1H - 8; Armenia:
Mi-2 - 9, Mi-8 - 16, Mi-9 - 2, Mi-24 - 16, Mi-17 - 3.
Unmanned aerial vehicles in the South Caucasus countries: Azerbaijan -
6, Georgia - 24, Armenia - none.
Foreign support to Azeri Air Defence Force
Azerbaijani pilots are trained at Azerbaijan's High Military Aviation
College. Training flights are held at military bases. Exchange of
experience is held with Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, as well as some NATO
member countries. Azerbaijani pilots are also trained at a Turkish
aviation college and attend training courses in Ukraine. Azerbaijani
military pilots are regarded as ones who fly most of all in the CIS.
The USA plays an important role in modernizing the Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force. The military aerodromes of the Air Defence Force in
Qala and Haci Zeynalabdin Tagiyev settlements have been modernized
with the support of the USA within the framework of the Individual
Partnership Action Plan signed between Azerbaijan and NATO. There is
special equipment installed at the military aerodromes to ensure
safety of flights. The main command post, engineering control
facilities and a building for aeronautical engineering staff have
already been commissioned there. Discussions on modernization of other
aerodromes (Kurdamir air base) are under way. Both aerodromes [in Qala
and Haci Zeynalabdin Tagiyev settlements] are used by NATO aircraft
flying to Afghanistan. In 2008 the USA allocated 4.2m dollars in aid
to Azerbaijan to install an air traffic control system in line with
NATO standards.
The most up-to-date air traffic control system has been installed at
the Dallar aerodrome with the support of the USA.
It must be noted that Turkey has been participating in the
implementation of a project to modernize the central command post of
the Air Defence Force since September 2008. Under an agreement, the
central command control post will be constructed in line with NATO
standards with the support of Turkey. A number of joint projects to
manufacture Attack military helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles
with Turkey will be implemented in the near future.
Azerbaijan's main aircraft supplier is Ukraine. Under an agreement to
the tune of 125,000 dollars, Ukraine supplied Azerbaijan with
fourth-generation MiG-29 aircraft in 2005.
The Czech Aero Trade company is also holding negotiations with
Azerbaijan on the sale of L-39 aircraft. According to the
director-general of the [Czech] company, Zdenek Prokop, the company
has already sent several L-39 aircraft to Azerbaijan. Some of these
were demonstrated in a military parade held in Baku on 26 June 2008.
[translated from Azeri]
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