LOUSSAPATZ 906

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Angakhoutyoun + Abaka = Inch? By Barouyr Aghbashian, Beirut, Lebanon

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FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Three Interesting Untruths

Rant Number 461 20 October 2011

A feeble joke the Tea Party (actually, it comes from Popbitch) might have invented: ‘A Communist, a Muslim and an illegal immigrant walk into a bar in Washington D.C. The bartender looks at them and says, “What can I get you, Mr President?”’

Sigh...Low, unworthy stuff. Trading for its effect on a spurious plausibility. Not devoid of interest, though. For three reasons.

Take Barack Obama, the Muslim. His second name is Hussein. Aha! The smoking gun? But, imagine the priest’s second name was Ahmad (maybe it is...): would that make him into Muslim? Nah! Nor does the religion of the President’s father make him so. Not even that the boy Obama went to school in Indonesia. Barack Hussein is an avowed, baptised, professing Christian and that’s that.

Yes, in a famous 2009 Cairo speech, Obama began by assalamualaiking his audience. Then he referred or quoted the Qur’an four times. He swore that America and Islam ‘are not exclusive’ – indeed that Islam ‘is part of America’ - that his country was not ‘and never will be’ at war with Islam, upheld Muslim women’s right to wear the hijab – even to punish those who sought to prevent them from doing it - (a dig at France’s mini-Sarkozy...), gave hope to Palestinians, declared himself against Israeli settlements, hinted at the Gaza siege, and so fulsomely on.

Wallahi! Verily, it was like a manifestation of Imam al-Mahdi. At least many Muslims felt that way. But clear-eyed folks like the priest never bought that pie in the sky, New Jerusalem scenario. In a speech to a meeting in the House of Lords chaired by a real Muslim, Lord Ahmed, I ruthlessly punctured the starry-eyed ‘Obama the Saviour’ myth. I compared Barack not the Mahdi – that would have been disrespectful - but to Samuel Becket’s Godot. An elusive, eagerly-awaited pseudo-Messiah. The two wretched protagonists long for Godot’s coming. When the Saviour does, all their problems will be solved. Enigmatic impostors, messengers, hints reach them on stage but not Godot. The play ends with the forlorn characters still waiting, in bleak, hopeless hope. Moral: people who expect Obama-Godot to solve the Middle East conundrum are deluded. Fellow speakers Kamal el-Helbawi and Anas al-Tikriti disagreed with me. I wonder what they think now.

Actually, Obama badly misjudged Muslims. They are not that dumb. You can quote the Qur’an in every sentence (‘why doesn’t he become a Muslim then?’ some Muslims may well wonder, and they would be right...), it will not displease them but they will then expect you to deliver a bit more than that. Godot’s priceless asset of course is that he never arrives so he does not have to do a bean. But that smart way-out President Obama cannot take. He is definitely here. What has he done for Muslims?

Nothing. This Islam-loving President has not closed Guantanamo, keeps troops fighting in Afghanistan, had his marines kill Osama Bin Laden in cold blood, has ignominiously cow-towed to Netanyahu over the settlements, and now sabre-rattles towards another Islamic country, Iran. Could a third attack on a Muslim nation be in the offing?

To be fair, Obama-Godot has a home problem. It is called the pro-Israel lobby. No Us President is master of his own house on that score. Some have long considered the state of Israel an American outpost in the Arab world. Cynics may rather opine that it is America that is Israel’s outpost in the Northern hemisphere. Why that should be so is a bit of mystery. Anti-Semites rave about occult powers and bogus protocols but the priest, a friend and admirer of the Jews, a God-bearing race, will not be part of cette galere. Be that as it may, the President’s hands are tied over Palestine. Godot might rescue the poor Palestinians when and if he comes – Obama cannot and he never will.

Second, Obama the illegal immigrant. A variation on the previous theme. A canard insinuating that Barack was born outside the US and hence ineligible for the Presidency. Consider, pray: given the amount of hostility Obama generates amongst Americans, if there was any real substance to the charge, would it not have been produced, double-quick? But none ever has and that settles that one.
Third, Obama the Communist. No so surreal a claim across the pond. As my friend Leo reiterated to me, Americans are individualists. The vast geography of that nation may have something to do with it. I myself would take a Weberian line and invoke the Protestant work ethic. ‘Lift yourself up by your bootstraps, work hard, be self-reliant, God helps those who help themselves’ kind of mindset. Socialism has never thrived in the US. Just as well the Russian revolution started in time to prevent Lenin from migrating to America or he would have ended his life in obscurity in a New York slum. Anyway, many Americans resent the intrusion of the federal government into state rights and other individual affairs. Liberty matters more than anything else to them. I sympathise.

However, blow me, the priest will stick up for Obama here. That he strove to give many, poorer Americans a decent healthcare plan strikes me as meritorious. To accuse him of Communism because he tried to help the poor is wrong and loopy. You might as well, mutatis mutandis, call Jesus Christ a Communist. (My dad thought JC was a socialist but then my beloved dad, bless his soul, was no philosopher). And I cannot quite see the President leading the workers to storm Wall Street, like Lenin had the Red Guards storm the Winter Palace.

Barack, poor Barack! Not a brilliant show, on the whole, eh? Will you get a second term? Probably, because your Republican opponents are such a divided bunch. A cynic might say in the end the two parties are like Tweedledum and Tweedledee, two pretty identical characters, so does it matter which one has his man in the White House? Yes, I say, but not very much.

Honestly, my best bet is on Godot.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

BACK TO VICTORIA STREET

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BACK TO VICTORIA STREET

a walk organised by the Armenian, Turkish and Greek Cypriot residents of Victoria street, in memory of ung.Puzant Nadjarian

Saturday 22 October at 10:30am

The walk begins in front of Home for Cooperation (old Mangoian House) at 10:30 am opposite the Ledra Palace Hotel and ends with lunch at Boghjalian Restaurant Victoria Street at 13:30pm

To sign up for lunch at Boghjalian Restaurant, call Simon Aynedjian on 99437073

News in Brief by Sevag Devletian

President Demetris Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu are close to an agreement on the shape that Parliament would take in a federal system, said Christofias after his latest face-to-face meeting with Eroglu. The leaders are in a final phase of negotiations ahead of a meeting with UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon at the end of the month. During the meeting, it is expected that they will present their reunification plan to the UN. Senior Iranian Foreign Ministry officials renewed their readiness to help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "If Armenia and Azerbaijan approve the initiative, Iran is ready to offer solution for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said in a press conference in Kazan, Tatarstan. Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in a piece posted on the leading Israeli newspaper Haaretz Web site last Friday, says that Turkey should acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. `Turkey continues to practise state-sanctioned genocide denial and prosecutes those who dare challenge it. Isn't it time, 90-something years after the Ottoman Empire eliminated as many as 1.5 million Armenians that Mr. Erdogan's "mildly Islamist" party, as The Economist leniently defines it, acknowledges Turkey's dark past and apologizes on behalf of its country's crimes?' asked Ottolenghi. `Not to belabor the point, but the list of things Turkey should apologize for is long. It continues to illegally occupy Northern Cyprus, the territory of a European Union member, after having conquered the land through an act of aggression that ended in ethnic cleansing and illegal settlements,' he wrote. The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) has announced that world-renowned performing artist Serj Tankian will serve as a panelist in “Lights, Camera, Activate,” which will cover the ways in which film, music and the arts can be used to promote grassroots activism. The presentation is part of the ANC Grassroots weekend that will take place from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tankian will discuss the use of music, poetry and the arts to promote grassroots activism.

40 RUSSIAN, AMERICAN, FRENCH, NORWEGIAN, DUTCH, CHINESE & BRITISH COMPANIES, SEEKING DRILLING RIGHTS FROM CYPRUS

Gibrahayer e-magazine 18 October - The largest Russian, American, French, Norwegian, Dutch, Chinese and British companies have already turned their attention to the licensing process for the Cypriot blocks 1 to 11 and 13, a process expected to commence in early 2012. In total, it is estimated that 40 mammoth companies will give battle to obtain the licence for the hydrocarbon exploration in these “blocks”. The interested companies have paid between 1 to 2 million to buy the data of the seismographic explorations. The interest is now too big after the discovery of “Tamar” and “Leviathan”, two of the three largest deposits uncovered in the world during the past decade, while now the interested companies hold much more data than in 2007, during the first round of licensing, as the data was completed by new seismographic explorations that took place between 2008 and 2010. Also, the exceptionally positive indications for “Block 12”, which may produce much larger deposits than the original estimations, are yet another factor of attraction.

NEO-SULTAN ERDOGAN SAYS CYPRUS MUST EITHER SHARE GAS OR SUFFER RETALIATION

Gibrahayer e-magazine - 18 October - According to “Zaman” newspaper, Erdoğan said that the explorations for natural gas conducted by Cyprus blow up any attempts for a solution and he reiterated that the natural gas and anything else found must be shared! “Otherwise, if they continue to operate unilaterally, they will face retaliation from Turkey”. This is yet another arrogance crisis by Erdoğan, who is clearly trying to maintain his high popularity rates he receives thanks to the crescendo of threats and the “oriental bullying”.

ERDOGAN THREATENS TO FREEZE NEGOTIATIONS WITH EUROPE IF CYPRUS TAKES OVER EU PRESIDENCY

Gibrahayer e-magazine - 18 October - Turkey will not sit on the same table with Cyprus, if she does not bridge the gap between the island’s nations, Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan provocatively stressed once more. Erdoğan has already threatened to freeze negotiations with the European Union if Cyprus takes over its presidency in July 2012, calling Cyprus an “alleged country”, unrecognised by Turkey. The statements were made in a recorded speech to his party in the town of Kızılcahamam near Ankara, in the context of which he threatened Cyprus with retaliation.

SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON POLICE AND MILITARY BY KURDS, KILL 26 IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

Al-Jazeera - 20 October, 2011 - At least 26 soldiers have been killed in simultaneous attacks on police and military installations in southeastern Turkey, according to local reports, prompting a Turkish military response that has involved incursions into northern Iraq. A security source said the attacks were carried out by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in several locations in Cukurca and Yuksekova in Hakkari province near the Iraqi border, during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. The Turkish army responded with an air-supported operation against the fighters in Iraq's northern Qandil mountains, with both airstrikes and soldiers on the ground employed. The fighting is still in full swing. The Firat news agency, known for its close affiliation with the PKK, reported that Turkish ground troops were involved in the incursion as well. The chief of Turkey's military was reported to have rushed to the area after the attack, while the country's Prime Minister, Interior and Defence Ministers, intelligence undersecretary and military commanders held an urgent meeting at the PM's office. Abdullah Gul, the Turkish President, took a firm stance on Turkey's right to respond. "No one should forget that those who make us suffer this pain will be made to suffer even stronger,'' he told reporters on Wednesday. "They will see that the vengeance for these attacks will be immense." Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, canceled a scheduled visit to Kazakhstan in the wake of the crisis, with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Foreign Minister, also scrapping plans to visit Bosnia. The recent killings come a day after a landmine explosion, also in the southeast, killed eight people in an attack which security sources also blamed on Kurdish fighters. Al Jazeera's McNaught said the latest attacks appear to be a response to the Turkish military's announcement on September 30 of the re-establishing of 'temporary security zones' in 15 separate locations across the southeast, which restrict civilian access. "It's the scale of the attacks that's significant ... this is the most serious string of fatalities, the most co-ordinated and deadly attack launched by the PKK in some considerable length of time," she reported. Both the central government in Baghdad and regional Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq, have condemned the Turkish raids as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and much of the international community, took up arms for an autonomous state in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed about 45,000 lives.

Tickets for sale for Junior Eurovision song contest to be held in Yerevan in December

Junior Eurovision 2011 tickets will be on sale from Thursday 20 October 2011. The contest will be held on December 2-3 in Yerevan, Armenia. Representatives from 14 states aged 10-15 will participate in the contest. Dalita will represent Armenia with the song “Welcome to Armenia”. Watch the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YxNU63UjhY&feature=player_embedded

Community calendar at a glance:

Friday 21 October at 5:00 pm - Researcher Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra talks on CyBC Radio 1, on the Maronite programme about the Armenian-Cypriot community. Saturday 22 October at 10:30am - Back to Victoria street (a walk organised by the Armenian, Turkish and Greek Cypriot residents of Victoria street, in memory of unger Puzant Nadjarian. The walk begins in front of Home for Cooperation (old Mangoian House) at 10:30 am opposite the Ledra Palace Hotel and ends with lunch at Boghjalian Restaurant on Victoria Street at 13:30pm. Sunday 23 October 1:00 pm - Autumn Fund-Raising Luncheon organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Sosse Cyprus Chapter at Homenetmen - AYMA. Adults € 15.00, children 5-12 € 5.00. For reservations call: Nora Sarian, 99889910, Louise Der Parthogh 99438349. Friday 28 October at 5:00 pm - Researcher Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra talks on CyBC Radio 1(the second in series) comparing/contrasting the two communities of Armenians and Maronites of Cyprus. Saturday, October 29, at 6:00 pm - Armenian Evangelical Church service in Greek Evangelical Church, 20 Gladstonos street, Nicosia. Speaker: Vahe Jebejian. Title: “ Mission reflections in Armenia- June 2011” . Saturday 19 November at 7:00 pm - Preparation of Madagh. Sunday 20th November at 10:00 am - Feast of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia. Divine Liturgy & Blessing of the Madagh. Sunday 27 November at 4:00 pm - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus "Sosse" Chapter’s Christmas Fund Raiser at Cleopatra Hotel for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus. Sunday 4 December - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus Sosse Chapter’s Stassikratous street Bazaar for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus. Sunday 25 December at 9:00 pm – Homenetmen - AYMA Christmas Ball. Sunday 1 January 2012 – Santa will be visiting Homenetmen -AYMA. Details to follow. Saturday 21 January 2012 - as Kravadz Or. Details to follow.

ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY (HOM) 70th INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ELECTS NEW CENTRAL EXECUTIVE

Vicky Marashlian (USA), Rosy Bedrossian (USA), Nayiri Shahinian (Canada), Gracelia Kevorkian (Argentina), Zepyur Reyisian (Syria), Liza Avakian (Greece), Alesya Pechanyan (Armenia), Ani Keshishian (USA), Pauline Getsoyian (USA), Caroline Shmavonian (USA), Sona Akelian (USA)

click here for Yerkir Media's video report

Letters to the Editor:

Dear Gibrahayer, Benon Sevan should be congratulated for his positive and realistic approach to the political atmosphere and socioeconomic conditions in Armenia. The depopulation of Armenia, a crisis that should have been addressed by the leadership in both Armenia and Diaspora long ago, is due to harsh economic conditions, but also due to the negativity of the population at large which was inherited from the Soviet era and continue to be so for reasons clearly elaborated in the article. Kind regards, Haig Thomasian

Response to Benon Sevan’s Call to Shut Up

By Ara K. Manoogian www.thetruthmustbetold.com October 12th, 2011. Benon Sevan, former Head of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program, has provided well intended recommendations for Armenia’s development, with a side effect of prolonging and strengthening the tenure of the incumbent corrupt Armenian government. His good intentions are laid out in an article, “Excessive Negativism and Constant Attacks Jeopardize Armenia’s Development.”

Regardless of our impatience and desire to witness a truly democratic state of Armenia, we have no alternative to being patient, because it takes time to develop democracy, economic and social development, and civil society, as well as true democratic reforms. I wonder if it was thanks to such patience that today Georgia, Armenia’s post-Soviet neighbor, can boast about the biggest leap towards democracy in the same “rather dangerous neighborhood”, Sevan’s moniker for the South Caucasus. Sevan complains about the abundance of “negative reports” in media. He urges all concerned citizens to stop criticizing the government for corruption and cheer for its little successes: Of all the hundreds of negative reports, is not there at least a single positive development to report on? […] We should all unite and spare no effort in supporting and encouraging them to speed up the development of democratic institutions, as well as strengthening the economy and raising the living standards. Cheering may work for a soccer team, but not for a corrupt government that has no will to commit to democratic reforms. Such approach is also reminiscent of the mode of civil behavior the totalitarian Soviet leaders preached for their subjects. In many ways, a totalitarian regime is democracy minus public criticism of itself. However, Sevan has his own reasons why all the critical voices should be silenced: One gets tired of reading what is being said by all these so-called pundits, rabble-rousers, including self-serving former government officials pursuing their own personal agenda to bring about a regime change not through the ballot box but through encouraging a mob culture. Benon Sevan is tired. Actually, he is so tired that he forgets all bread is not baked in one oven. He muddles Levon Ter-Petrosyan with journalists and human rights activists who voice their concerns about the problems in the country. I personally believe that all the three presidents of independent Armenia need to be prosecuted for their crimes against Armenia’s statehood and citizens. For a better understanding of the economic crimes of the Armenian governments past and present, I recommend that one read, “To Donate or Not to Donate”, a white paper on “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund atwww.TheTruthMustBeTold.com.

Benon Sevan’s call for wielding a positive, “cheerleader” stance toward Armenia’s corrupt authorities is not alien to his nature. He has showcased such leniency toward a despotic regime before. Back in 1996-2003, as UN Oil-for-Food chief, Benon was accused of accepting bribes from the government of Saddam Hussein, while the latter was terrorizing and murdering his own people en masse. Sevan avoided prosecution and conviction by fleeing to Cyprus in 2005. Patience is another word for indifference. For too long, Armenians in the Diaspora have remained patient toward unrestrained abuses of the monopolies, suffocation of small and medium private entrepreneurship, as well as alarming frequency of forced suicides and murders in the army, widespread poverty in Armenia’s provincial regions, and continuous mass emigration. I voice my concerns over injustice in Armenia and fight for improvement, because I believe that Armenia can do better, and will, as long as concerned citizens keep pushing.

Ara K. Manoogian is a human rights activist representing the Shahan Natalie Family Foundation in Artsakh and Armenia; a Fellow of the Washington-based Policy Forum Armenia (PFA); creator ofwww.thetruthmustbetold.com and author of the white paper “To Donate Or Not To Donation”, an in depth study on the activities of the “Hayastan” All-Armenia Fund.

"JOURNALISTS HAVE THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO WRITE ABOUT THE EXISTING SITUATION IN ARMENIA" SAYS AZAD KHOSK CHIEF EDITOR YERAN KOUYOUMDJIAN

Dear friends, I firmly believe that public criticism of the current state of affairs in Armenia stems from real patriotism, and it's essential if we are to expect any real change in the corrupt system of government that exists in Armenia. I totally agree with Mr. Ara Manoogian, that the patience or the wait- and -see approach proposed by Mr. Benon Sevan, is another word for indifference or even apathy. Whereas the need for change in Armenia is so urgent, that voicing our concerns about the social, political and economic problems is MOST NEEDED to push things forward towards democratic reforms in the country. In fact, we as journalists have the MORAL OBLIGATION to write about the real, existing situation in Armenia, however harsh that may be, with the SOLE INTENTION to incite change towards real progress. We are not propagandists or slogan chanters. I believe that our wake-up call will work for the good of our dear Motherland. Yeran Kouyoumdjian - Chief Editor - Azad Khosk -www.azadkhosk.com

JOIN SIPAN DANCE ENSEMBLE

Practice sessions of SIPAN Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association under Director / Choreographer Felix Haroutunian continue until the end of 2011 on Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's. A new schedule with practices during the week will be announced in 2012.Interested to join SIPAN's Dance Ensemble? Call Shoushig Bakalian on 99667828.

PAINTING AND DRAWING LESSONS

with Sevan Malikyan MA at the Cornaro Institute, 23 Mehmet Ali Street - Larnaca MOBILE : 99162520 www.artwanted.com/SevanFineArt .

You can now also order online on www.armenaki.com

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Development project overlooking Larnaca Salt Lake, by three young Armenian professionals of our community. Click here .

Direct to Yerevan

Armenian Sports by Sevag Devletian

FOOTBALL: Armenia have filed an official protest to Uefa regarding the performance of the referee in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Republic of Ireland. The Armenian FA (FFA) have confirmed that they will be taking their complaint to European football's governing body. Armenia needed to beat Ireland in their final qualification fixture on Tuesday to book a play-off spot. They eventually lost the game 2-1, but only after being controversially reduced to 10 men. It also appeared as though Ireland striker Simon Cox handled in the build-up to the sending-off, but his actions went unpunished. Armenia do not expect any action to be taken against the match officials, but they have called for Berezovsky's red card to be rescinded. SAMBO: Armenia's Tigran Kirakosyan (52 kg) won all his fights to get to the finals of the World Sambo Junior and Youth Championships but, unfortunately, lost his final fight to grab silver. Prior to that, Grigor Mkhitaryan became junior world champion while Maxim Manukyan (48 kg), Karen Tonoyan (62 kg), Mher Karapetyan (82 kg) and Rosa Khachatryan (52 kg) won bronze medals in the youth tournament. 337 sportsmen from 24 countries participate in the World Sambo Championships under way in Riga, Latvia. WOMENS BOXING: On October 16, Rotterdam, Netherlands will host the European Women Boxing Championships (EWBC). At the Championships, Armenia will be represented by Haykuhi Nahapetyan (51 kg), Karine Gevorgyan (57 kg), Armine Sinapyan (60 kg) and Ashkhen Simonyan (75 kg). CHESS: The Chess Master’s Final 2011 finished in Bilbao, Spain. Having tied the 10th round game with Vasili Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian gained 12 points to be placed 4th. BOXING: Armenian boxer Misha Aloyan (52 kg) representing Russia at Baku-hosted AIBA World Championships scored a 13:12 victory vs. Andrew Selby of Wales to win championship gold. David Hayrapetyan (49 kg), also representing Russia, gained the bronze medal. Aloyan, Hayrapetyan as well as Armenia’s Andranik Hakobyan won entries to 2012 London Olympics. OLYMPICS 2012: BBC Newsnight has uncovered evidence of secret payments of millions of dollars from Azerbaijan to international boxing organization World Series Boxing (WSB). According to the report, whistleblowers say that WSB's chief claimed the money was in return for a guarantee that Azerbaijani fighters would win two boxing gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

Gibrahay Sports by Sevag Devletian

AGBU Ararat continue to thump their opponents with 3 consecutive wins this season, 5-2 win against SPE Strovolou, 8-1 win against Atlas Aglandjia and 4-1 against AEK Larnaca in the Cyprus Futsal 1st Division. HMEM/AYMA's start to the season was disappointing with 2 consecutive losses, 8-0 loss against Bank of Cyprus and a 5-0 loss against the Forestry Department in the Cyprus Amatuer Football League. Homenmen too started their season in disaster with 3 consecutive losses, 10-1 loss against MEAP Pera Chorio, 8-4 loss against To Lefkoniko, and 11-4 loss to AOE Dimos Lakatamias in the Cyprus Futsal 3rd Division. HMEM/AYMA's newly formed Bowling team won its second game in the Cyprus Bowling Federation 3rd Division. With 2 consecutive wins AYMA top the table.

30% on Dinner Menu at Erebuni Restaurant in Nicosia For reservations please call on 22730088

To view images of Erebuni restaurant please click here

www.erebuni.eu

CYPRUS STRIKES GOLD

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CYPRUS STRIKES GOLD

UNDERSEA GAS RESERVOIR MUCH LARGER THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED

Gibrahayer and Phileleftheros - US-based Noble Energy has discovered gas in Block 12 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the reserve is thought to be 30-40% larger than estimated, Phileleftheros newspaper reported today. The paper says that President Demetris Christofias is set to visit Noble’s offshore drilling rig next week, to inspect it and attend an inauguration ceremony for the new well. Microscopic bubbles of gas are already coming to the surface and everything is ready for the final stage of drilling, says the report. Minister of Commerce and Industry Praxoulla Antoniadou said that since drilling is being carried out, it means that hydrocarbon deposits are likely to be identified. But she cautioned that they are only half-way to drilling targets. "We are now about 2200 meters below the seabed and the goal is to reach 4000 metres. This is where we expect to locate hydrocarbon deposits,” she said in a written statement. Noble Energy has an exploratory license for Block 12 and started drilling on September 19th, in an area that experts say could contain 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Earlier this year, a Noble Energy official said that natural gas could be delivered from Block 12 by 2014. Block 12 neighbors Israel’s natural gas field Leviathan, which is considered to be one of the Mediterranean’s largest undersea gas reserves. The first well drilled on Leviathan alone contained 16 trillion cubic feet of gas.

CYPRUS READY TO COUNTERACT TURKISH THREATS SAYS DEFENCE MINISTER

Minister of Defence Demetris Eliades has stated that all measures are being taken on a diplomatic, political and military level to deal with developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and counteract Turkish threats against Cyprus, following the start of natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone. Speaking to reporters after a visit to military camps in Larnaca district, the Defence Minister said “it is our obligation, especially these days, in conjunction with the leadership of the National Guard, to stand by the officers and National Guard men”. He noted the excellent training and capability of the National Guard units that allows it to perform its duties to the maximum, if circumstances call for such action. “At the same time, we are fully informed about developments in order to handle as best as possible any problems that may arise”, he said. The National Guard, the Minister pointed out, “needs the support, recognition and trust of the people and society as a fundamental prerequisite to fulfill its duties. I think it deserves it”, he added.

AIRCRAFT CARRIER ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV HEADING FOR CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER

Gibrahayer e-magazine and combined sources - Moscow has just announced that the Battle Group of the "Admiral Kuznetsov" aircraft carrier, from the North Sea (Barents Sea), will sail towards the Eastern Mediterranean, near “Venus” or Plot 12 in Cyprus EEZ. The aircraft carrier will depart on November 13 in order to take part in sea exercises in the Barents Sea and remain there for one week. Then on November 19 it will begin its journey to the Eastern Mediterranean. The duration of the mission will be three months. Admiral Kuznetsov and the ships accompanying this grand aircraft carrier are expected to cross the Strait of Gibraltar in late November when the data from Cyprus’ drilling is published. The naval force consists of six destroyers, frigates as well as support ships! A conventional Russian submarine is already conducting routine patrols in the area, but it was decided that there be more "persuasive" power projection to “surface” vessels. No one expected that Moscow would send the "Admiral Kuznetsov". Set to accompany this renowned Russian aircraft carrier is the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, (Udaloy II type). Russia has already sought permission from Cyprus to perform surveys in two of its "plots" which are now being eyed by the Turkish Fleet. Moscow’s move to send this fleet to the area is an obvious answer to Ankara’s bullying in these specific plots. The Russian aircraft carrier is equipped with 19 Su-33 aircraft, 4 Su-25 (impact) and 17 Ka-27 helicopters and will transport a large number of nuclear warheads for use on missiles P-700 Granit.

AFTER THE WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN SARKOZY AND ERDOGAN ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, FRANCE SENDS WAR SHIP IN DEFENCE OF CYPRUS

Gibrahayer e-mgazine and defencenet, 11 October Nicosia - Following the little “rift” in words between French President Nicola Sarkozy and Turkish Prime Minister T. Erdogan, over France’s official recognition of the Genocide of Armenia and the call to Ankara to stop denying a premeditated government effort to wipe out Ottoman Turkey’s Armenian population, the government in Paris decided to take the next step and send a war ship to the area as well in order to protect the drilling that is currently taking place off the coast of Cyprus. Specifically a report on defencenet said that France is sending a F792 Premier -Maître L'Her corvette type D'Estienne d'Orves so that it can send the message to Ankara that any type of move that does not comply with international law will not be tolerated. It is the first time since the 1970's that the French Fleet is once again taking its place against Turkey. The last time it did this was in 1976. Of course France is also protecting its interests in the area since it has already contracted two plots for drilling from the Cyprus government. For now, the French ship will enforce the message that the West and Russia have been sending Ankara all along, which is that it should stay away from the drilling area. It is the right message and goes to the appropriate recipient.

CHRISTOFIAS MESSAGE TO ERDOGAN AND DAVUDOGLOU “Cyprus will hold EU presidency, whether you like it or not”

12 October Nicosia - Gibrahayer and combined local sources - Cyprus will assume the six monthly rotating EU presidency in July 2012 whether some wish it or not, President Christofias yesterday. Referring to the Turkish reactions regarding the Cyprus EU Presidency he sent a message to Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglou that whether they like or not Cyprus will assume the EU Presidency. “I want to say to Mr. Erdogan and to Mr. Davutoglou and to all the rest that Cyprus will assume the EU Presidency whether they want it or not”, the President said. Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his country’s relations with the European Union “will be completely frozen” if Cyprus assumes the bloc’s presidency before a deal reunifying the island is reached. The threat is part of what is seen as a tough new approach to both the EU and Cyprus by the Prime Minister. Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, will assume the EU presidency for the first time in its history.

Community calendar at a glance:

Wednesday 19 October at 6:30 pm at Nareg New Hall - Nareg Parents Association Nicosia have invited the School Hokapartsioutiun, Dnorenoutiun & Staff for a first meeting and acquaintance with parents. Cocktail will follow. Saturday 22 October at 10:30am - Back to Victoria street (a walk organised by the Armenian, Turkish and Greek Cypriot residents of Victoria street, in memory of unger Puzant Nadjarian. The walk begins in front of Home for Cooperation (old Mangoian Shop) at 10:30 am opposite the Ledra Palace Hotel and ends with lunch at Boghjalian Restaurant, Victoria Street at 13:30pm. Sunday 23 October 1:00 pm - Autumn Fund-Raising Luncheon organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Sosse Cyprus Chapter at Homenetmen - AYMA. Adults € 15.00, children 5-12 € 5.00. For reservations call: Nora Sarian, 99889910, Louise Der Parthogh 99438349. Saturday 19 November at 7:00 pm - Preparation of Madagh. Sunday 20th November at 10:00 am - Feast of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia. Divine Liturgy & Blessing of the Madagh. Sunday 27 November at 4:00 pm - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus "Sosse" Chapter’s Christmas Fund Raiser at Cleopatra Hotel for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus. Sunday 4 December - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus Sosse Chapter’s Stassikratous street Bazaar for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus. Sunday 25 December at 9:00 pm – Homenetmen - AYMA Christmas Ball. Sunday 1 January 2012 – Santa will be visiting Homenetmen -AYMA. Details to follow. Saturday 21 January 2012 - as Kravadz Or. Details to follow.

ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY (HOM) 70th INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CONTINUES IN ATHENS - GREECE

click here for Yerkir Media's video report on the opening

OPINION:

EXCESSIVE NEGATIVISM AND CONSTANT ATTACKS JEOPARDIZE ARMENIA'S DEVELOPMENTS

by Benon Sevan Former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations

It is truly disheartening to read the ongoing negative reports and columns in some news outlets in the Diaspora and Armenia regarding the current political, economic and social conditions in the Republic of Armenia, as well as the constant efforts by certain personalities and political parties to denigrate the Government of Armenia and its record. Of all the hundreds of negative reports, is not there at least a single positive development to report on? Contrary to the ongoing politically motivated negativism, there are indeed many successes and improvements achieved in Armenia which deserve to be congratulated and encouraged. One gets tired of reading what is being said by all these so-called pundits, rabble-rousers, including self-serving former government officials pursuing their own personal agenda to bring about a regime change not through the ballot box but through encouraging a mob culture. Unfortunately, what we have been witnessing is indeed tragic with the potential of dire consequences to the stability of the young Republic that recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary. No country has become democratic right away. It is categorically wrong and naïve to measure democracy in Armenia, which gained its independence only twenty years ago, with the same measuring stick used for democracies in other countries, such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States, which took centuries to reach their current stage of democracy. I ask all those who have adopted a negative attitude to read history. It was not the Armenians who invented the guillotine; it was not the Armenians who hanged their opponents from the Tower of London; and it was not the Armenians who practiced slavery and/or segregation based on color or race. How long did it take for some of Europe’s democracies to give their women the right to vote? In as much as one can understand the impatience and frustration expressed with regard to the current situation in Armenia, we have no alternative but to be patient. One cannot simply bring about democracy through legislation alone; nor can it be imported or imposed through the barrel of the gun or by rousing the mob. We must fully bear in mind our history: over 70 years of communist rule, preceded by about two years of a most fragile independence, and by over five centuries of Ottoman rule. We simply cannot divorce ourselves from the burden and dire consequences of having lived under occupation for so many centuries. Regardless of our impatience and desire to witness a truly democratic state of Armenia, we have no alternative to being patient, because it takes time to develop democracy, economic and social development, and civil society, as well as true democratic reforms. We need to develop, among other things, political maturity, change of mentality and outlook, which take time and cannot be achieved through legislation alone. Nor can they be achieved through the mob. Undoubtedly, the Republic of Armenia, similar to many other countries, has its own share of serious difficulties, compounded by the current political and economic crisis and uncertainties worldwide, and its geographical location in a rather dangerous neighborhood, blockaded by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and with an ambiguous relationship with Georgia. Undoubtedly, there is much to be desired with regard to the prevalent political, economic and social conditions in Armenia. There are, among others, corrupt practices, inconsistencies in the application of the justice system, as well as poverty and unemployment that forces many Armenians to emigrate. Are these conditions unique only to Armenia? How about the current high unemployment figures and the deteriorating social conditions in some of the strongest democratic states as well as their financial difficulties requiring massive bailouts, and facing possible defaults? It is long overdue for Mr. Levon Ter-Petrossian, the first President of the Republic of Armenia, to stop his corrosive activities pursuing his personal agenda through endless rallies to bring about a regime change. He should look into the mirror and remember what went on during his own administration and should review his own record and legacy before throwing stones at others. Some of the current practices, which he has been so critical of, started during his own administration. Mr. Ter-Petrossian, if you want to become the next President of the Republic of Armenia, organize yourself peacefully and put your candidacy during the next election. Let the people decide who should be the President through their ballots. Stop your divisive and destructive actions, calling constantly for demonstrations which might get out of hand with very serious consequences. Irrespective of the negativism prevailing among certain circles, both within Armenia and the Diaspora, Armenia has indeed a considerable number of talented and fully committed professionals, both within the Government, the Ministries and the private sector, as well as in different segments of the society. We should recognize and give credit where it is due for all the progress being made. We should all unite and spare no effort in supporting and encouraging them to speed up the development of democratic institutions, as well as strengthening the economy and raising the living standards. In conclusion, I appeal to all political leaders, political pundits, and the media, both in Armenia and the Diaspora, to refrain from any action that may incite violence. I should also like to appeal to all my compatriots to concentrate their efforts and energies towards the strengthening of the young Republic. All Armenians should unite because we complement each other; our survival as Armenians is truly inter-dependent. The strengthening and the security as well as good governance, economic and social development of the Republic of Armenia should be the primary objective of all of us, above all other interests.

JOIN SIPAN DANCE ENSEMBLE

Practice sessions of SIPAN Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association under Director / Choreographer Felix Haroutunian begin on Saturday 8 October, 2011 at Homenetmen - AYMA and will continue until the end of 2011 on Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's. A new schedule with practices during the week, will be announced in 2012. Interested to join SIPAN's Dance Ensemble? Call Shoushig Bakalian on 99667828.

PAINTING AND DRAWING LESSONS

with Sevan Malikyan MA at the Cornaro Institute, 23 Mehmet Ali Street - Larnaca MOBILE : 99162520 www.artwanted.com/SevanFineArt .

You can now also order online on www.armenaki.com

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Development project overlooking Larnaca Salt Lake, by three young Armenian professionals of our community. Click here .

Direct to Yerevan

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Erebuni Restaurant in Nicosia: For reservations please call on 22730088

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