tensions rise after Kurdish attack‏

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ETHNIC TENSIONS RISE AFTER KURDISH ATTACK IN TURKEY

ANKARA, Tuesday July 27, 2010 (AFP) - Turkish officials on Tuesday blamed separatist Kurdish rebels for an attack that killed four policemen as ethnic tensions boiled over for a second day, the Anatolia news agency reported. Turkish police fired tear gas to break up scuffles between Turkish and Kurdish protesters in the town of Dortyol in the southern province of Hatay, a day after four policemen were shot dead, the agency said. The Hatay governor's office said in a written statement that the attack was the work of the "terrorist organisation", a euphemism used by officials to describe the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a 26-year campaign for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. In a separate incident Tuesday, four soldiers were wounded in a remote-controlled bomb explosion targeting a military vehicle in the neighbouring province of Osmaniye, Anatolia said. In Monday's assault, gunmen peppered a police vehicle in Dortyol with bullets before escaping in a pick-up truck with a forged licence plate. The attack sparked riots in the town late Monday during which protesters threw stones at the local offices of Turkey's main Kurdish party, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), and started a fire there which was put out by firefighters, Anatolia said. The protesters also attacked shops owned by Kurds, breaking windows and furniture. Upon reports that police were questioning three people, dozens of Turkish protesters gathered in front of the police headquarters in Dortyol, demanding that the men be handed over to them, the NTV news channel reported. Order was restored overnight after paramilitary troops were called in, but new tensions erupted on Tuesday. Turkish protesters tried to attack a Kurdish group as they marched through the town shouting pro-PKK slogans, forcing police to fire tear gas and use water cannon to break the groups up, Anatolia said. Interior Minister Besir Atalay vowed to purge rebels from the Amanos mountains -- an area near Hatay with a strong PKK presence. "The regional governors, commanders and police are here... I say clear the Amanos. Do what you have to do," Anatolia quoted the minister as saying at a ceremony for six soldiers slain by a PKK rocket attack in May. There has been a notable increase in PKK attacks after its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan said in May that he was abandoning efforts for peace with Turkey and the rebels called off a unilateral truce last month. Blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and much of the international community, the PKK picked up arms in 1984 for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast in a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CYPRUS AND GREECE MEET WITH PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MARIOS GAROYIAN

KASBAR GARABEDIAN ALSO MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CYPRUS MEDIA AND ADDRESSES A COMMUNITY GATHERING IN NICOSIA

photo source: The Press and Information Office - Republic of Cyprus

ANC.com.cy - On Thursday, 22nd July, upon the invitation of the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, the Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Greece and member of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, Kasbar Garabedian arrived in Cyprus. On the following day, July 23rd, at 11am, Kasbar Garabedian, accompanied by Puzant Nadjarian, the Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, and Arto Tavitian paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Cyprus House of Representatives Marios Garoyian, with whom they had a 45-minute meeting, during which there was an exchange of opinions on regional developments. After the meeting, at 12 noon, a press conference was held at the HMEM-AYMA hall, organised by the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, which was attended by the biggest 3 TV channels of the island, as well as a number of press reporters. After the opening remarks of the Committee’s Chairman, Kasbar Garabedian gave an extensive briefing on the current state of Armeno-Greco-Turkish relations and answered to questions. At 2.00pm, Kasbar Garabedian was a guest on the Cybc TV programme "Apo Mera Se Mera", which is one of the programmes with the largest TV audiences in Cyprus, where he answered TV presenter Paris Potamitis’ questions and again referred extensively to the above-mentioned issues. On the evening of July 23rd, again in the HMEM-AYMA hall, a gathering took place, this time, with the members of the Armenian community. After the opening speech of Arto Tavitian, Kasbar Garabedian informed the audience about the ARF stances regarding the current situation of Armeno-Turkish relations and the negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh. Present at the gathering were Archbishop Varoujan, Prelate of the Diocese of Nor Jugha Bishop Papken, members of ARF Dashnaktsoutiun and affiliated organisations.

In all his briefings, Kasbar Garabedian concentrated on the dangers of the signed protocols relating to Armeno-Turkish relations (although they have currently been "frozen" by Armenia), the so-called "Madrid" principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations and the importance of the cooperation of the Armenian and Greek nations, who have similar fates. He stressed and explained to everyone and everywhere, that the instances of "Northern-Cyprus" and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic are compared to each other and are often identified, which is completely wrong. In both cases, we have the offender, which in the case of Cyprus, is Turkey, whereas in the case of Karabakh, it is Azerbaijan. Due to treason, Turkey was victorious in Cyprus and currently it boasts and creates all sorts of difficulties in the peaceful negotiation process of the issue. In the case of Karabakh, however, Azerbaijan was defeated and was displaced from the ancestral lands of Artsakh and today, it presents itself as the victim and as the party which has been unfairly treated, trying to convince, that Armenia has attacked and captured one-fifth of the land of Azerbaijan. Presenting these facts, Garabedian greatly contributed in the important task of informing the Greek-Cypriot public.

Images of Kasbar Garabedian's stay in Cyprus, click here: www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2063962&id=1543460178&l=b67da9b401

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UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS TO BEGIN ARMENIAN LANGUAGE COURSES

Gibrahayer 27 July, 2010 - With the initiative of the Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian, the University of Cyprus will commence part-time Armenian Language Courses as of September 2010. The details of the Course are as follows:- • The Course will run for two academic years from September to June • It will be offered once a week 2hrs/session, 75hrs each year • The Course will take place at the premises of the University of Cyprus • The cost will be €2 per hour, €150 per year for each student • Students completing the course will receive a certificate from the University of Cyprus Language Centre. For enrolment and more information kindly contact the Office of the Armenian Representative on Tel. No: 22-454540

INTERNATIONAL LAW NOT UP FOR AUCTION

It was absolutely within the law for the highest tribunal of the United Nations – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – to conclude on the 22nd of July, 2010, that “the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo does not violate international law”. It was within the law first of all because the right to direct one’s own political affairs, through the establishment of self-determination, is included in the UN Charter [Article 1(2)] as one of the main goals of the organisation. It is also within the law as there is no limitation set on declaring independence in international law. That is to say, international law does not consist of any criterion by which the right to independence is reserved for, say, Serbs, Georgians or Caucasian Tatars, but that very right is denied to Albanians, Megrelians or the Talysh. Naturally, declarations of independence are always unilateral. When, for example, the United States and the Russian Federation declared their independence from the British Empire and the USSR respectively, they did so without, as it were, approval by “the central authorities”. It is another matter whether “the central authorities” calmly come to terms with the fact, without unnecessary military frustrations, or whether they try to drown the will of others in blood. This decision by the International Court of Justice of the UN is encouraging in terms of the developments of democratisation of international law. The decision demonstrated that the segregation of peoples as accepted and rejected is inconsistent with the thinking of the twenty first century. The decision is encouraging when it comes to a democratic solution to the Artsakh conflict as well (the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh). That is, just as no one has the right to make decisions in place of an individual in a democratic society, similarly in current international relations, no one has the right to make decisions in place of the organised public of such individuals. International law is not up for auction in the twenty first century. International law is not for sale as an oil derrick. Ara Papian - Head, “Modus Vivendi” Centre - 23 July 2010

from the pages of the Cyprus Mail

I would like to find out what became of the following ladies. Although I left Famagusta in 1953, I had many friends there. Among them were three Armenian sisters who I knew very well. They came to London for the Queen’s Coronation and that was the last contact I had with them. I won’t go into further details in case it creates problems, but if they can be traced it would be nice. I think they lived on 28th October Street. Since that date I have travelled the world in both directions and around both Capes and worked in several middle eastern countries. Tony Fletcher, Sidmouth, Devon, England

GIBRAHAYER CALENDAR

Tuesday 10 August to Wednesday 18 August - AYF Youth Camp in Troodos. 33 years after the first time ARF Dashnaktsoutiun's youth organised its first panagoum in Cyprus, AYF Cyprus is organising its annual camp in Troodos. Details to follow: Contact Sevag Gurunlian on 99202923 and Kevork Keoshgerian on 99817806. Friday September 17 - Concert by Haroutune Bedelian (violin) and Lorna Griffitt (piano) at The Presidential Palace in Nicosia, organised by The Armenian Relief Society of Cyprus (HOM) on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Relief Society (HOM). More details to follow.

Saturday 2 October - Main political event in Cyprus for the 120th anniversary of The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsoutiun at PALLAS Theatre in Nicosia. More details of the celebrations to follow. May - October 2010: Tatiana Ferahian is among 17 international artists participating in the "Out of Space" environmental art project, which takes place in the Nature Reserve De Rottige Meentein in Holland. Saturday 20 November 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre - Composer Ara Gevorgian and his entourage in Cyprus, performing in co-operation with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and participation of our SIPAN Dance Group. This unique event is organised by the Office of the Armenian Representative on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. Sunday 21 November 2010 at 6:00 pm at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre - Composer Ara Gevorgian and his entourage in Cyprus, performing in co-operation with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and participation of our SIPAN Dance Group. This unique event is organised by the Office of the Armenian Representative on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus.

News in Brief - by Sevag Devletian

David Cameron has promised to "fight" for Turkey's membership of the European Union, saying he is "angry" at the slow pace of negotiations. On his first visit as Prime Minister, he said the country could become a "great European power", helping build links with the Middle East. He compared hostility to the membership bid in some parts of the EU with the way the UK's entry was once regarded. Spiritual leader of the Armenian Armed Forces Archbishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan departed for Afghanistan with the delegation of the Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan. The Archbishop will bless an Armenian chapel built in Kunduz with the efforts of the Armenian peacekeeping contingent located there. The Archbishop will also convey the Armenian contingent the blessings of the Armenian Catholicos and will provide church things necessary for complete functioning of the chapel. Armenia's banks forecast AMD devaluation against USD, according to a report published by the Central Bank of Armenia. In September 2010 Armenia's national currency may de-valuate, resulting in the dram-to-dollar exchange rate of 373 to 1. Turkish Milliyet reports, Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis visited Bolis Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church where he met with newly-elected Patriarchal Locum Tenens Aram Ateshyan and congratulated him on the election. According to the Turkish paper, the meetings of Bagis in the Patriarchate were held behind close doors and lasted for two hours. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Jovanovich and Armenia's Attorney General Agvan Hovsepian signed a protocol bringing in force changes to the 2001 agreement that enshrines a dealing to cooperate in sphere of controlling trafficking in narcotic drugs and in policing. According to the agreement, the U.S. administration will provide Armenia with additional $2,875 284 for campaigns supporting the changes. His Holiness Karekin II - Catholicos of All Armenians - became the latest potential stem cell donor to join the ranks of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. His membership in the registry was formalised on July 22, following a simple, non-intrusive medical test that took place at in Etchmiadzin. The brief standard test, which ABMDR volunteers administer to all potential stem cell donors before they can join the registry, confirmed that His Holiness is in excellent health and hence qualified to donate bone marrow stem cells, should he be identified as a match for a patient needing bone marrow transplantation.

BOGHOSSIAN IN CYPRUS

Gibrahayer e-magazine, Nicosia 28 July, 2010 - On 27 July 2010, Red Bull Salzburg faced AC Omonia in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in Nicosia. The full time score was 1-1. The second leg will be played next week in Austria. Amongst the Red Bull Salzburg team was their new recruit, Joaquin Boghossian one of Uruguay’s best striking talents, however he was not picked by his coach who came to Cyprus with a defensive line-up. Gibrahayer emagazine's Sevag Devledian and Artsakank's Nareg Tavitian, along with a few Armenian-Cypriot football enthusiasts had the opportunity to meet and chat with Boghossian.

Click on the link to watch the exclusive interview with Boghossian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUF4uoDI9Jo

Armenian Sports by Sevag Devletian

CHESS: Grandmaster Levon Aronian will participate in Mainz quick chess championship due August 7-8. The Armenian chess player is the reigning champion at Mainz Rapid tournament. CHESS: At the Miguel Naidorf Memorial in Warsaw, Hrayr Simonyan of Armenia took 25th place among 92 participants, having gained 5 points out of 9 possible. Julian Radulski won tournament gold with 7 points. BOXING: Unbeaten Karo Murat (22-0, 13 KOs) faces the biggest test in his career on September 18 when he travels to Birmingham for a special night of boxing at the LG Arena. Murat takes on Nathan Cleverly (19-0, 9 KOs) in a WBO light heavyweight title eliminator. CHESS: Gabriel Sargsyan won the 2nd place at International Chess Tournament in Rethymno of Greece. The chess player gained 7 points out of 9 possible. WRESTLING: On July 21, Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestler Arthur Alexanyan (84kg) won the champion’s title at Junior World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Meanwhile, Armenia’s Alexan Mikaelyan (60kg) won bronze.

Gargoud deghats Khanasora Tashdoum

Images of the commemoration of Khanasor in Cyprus here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2064114&id=15434601