Published on Mar 9, 2014
Will people of Crimea have a right to self-determination? What is Europe’s attitude to Ukrainian radicals? And, will Ukraine ever solve its economic problems? CrossTalking with Ben Aris, Mark Sleboda and Patrick Henningsen.
Armenian church in eastern Turkey becomes hayloft after serving as school
VAN – Cihan News Agency
A historical structure in the eastern province of Van, which once was an Armenian church, has been converted into a hayloft after serving as a school for some time.
Villagers fill the former church in the Korlu village of the Çatak district, 30 kilometers from Van, with hay, grass, cowpat and wood, but they have personally appealed to authorities to renovate it.
Considering the villagers’ request, Van Culture and Tourism Provincial Director Muzaffer Aktuğ said the renovation could be started soon.
The historical church had served as a primary school for five years when there was no school in the area 30 years ago. Thirty-five students were taught at the school, before it was abandoned and converted into a hayloft by villagers.
Villagers have attached a wooden door to the church, some parts of which are about to collapse, and tried to restore to prevent it from collapsing.
Tourists had come to the village to look at the church, but it was mostly neglected.
“For us, the church has a particular value because we graduated from here when we did not have a school. Now it is used as a hayloft. We want officials to restore the church and use it for tourism,” said villager Selim Gurban.
Aktuğ said he would give instructions to the Van Museum Directorate to learn about the church’s situation and whether it was suitable for restoration.
“Work will start according to the report after it is made by museum officials. We will discuss the report with the Van Monuments Directorate and we will renovate it if that is ultimately decided [by the directorate],” Aktuğ said.
March/10/2014
‘Frunzik Mkrtchyan: 20 Years Later’ – Armenian actor to be commemorated in Georgia
Georgia’s National Library is organizing on Tuesday a commemoration evening dedicated to Frunzik Mkrtchayn, a talented Armenian actor of the Soviet period.
It is going to screen a film, entitled “Frunzik Mkrtchyan: 20 Years Later”, Georgia Online reported.
The event organizers are the Armenian Embassy to Georgia, the cultural cooperation center Caucasian House, and the Georgian National Library.
The film was screened ahead of the 20th anniversary of the great actor’s death to honor his talent, and his contribution to building bridges of culture, humor and friendship between the Armenian and Georgian nations.
The commemoration event program also includes a display of graphic art paintings (the first ever in Georgia) and a unique photo exhibition.
Charity foundation offers $100,000 in aid to Stepanakert cathedral project
The charity foundation Tashir will donate 100,000 US Dollars for the construction of the cathedral in Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital, Stepanakert.
The decision was made at a board of trustees meeting on Monday, according to a press release by the foundation.
The foundation, owned by the Russian-Armenian businessmen brothers Samvel Karapetyan and Karen Karapetyan, has always attached a major role to the preservation and development of spiritual values, reads the press release,
The $100,000 donation aims to promote the consstruction of the major place of warship in Karabakh.
Research carried out by Manchester University: There is high risk of revolution in Azerbaijan
According to the study carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester, there is a high risk of political upheaval in Azerbaijan, states the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) article.
Online activism can be an accurate indicator of where revolutions might take place next, according to University of Manchester research. Thus they came to a conclusion that Argentina, Georgia, the Philippines and Brazil are claimed to be most at risk of upheaval, according to this measure.
The Revolution 2.0 Index was developed last year and identified Ukraine as the most likely to see political upheaval. This index sees revolution being forecast by computer experts rather than political analysts.
The index was designed as a teaching tool by Prof Richard Heeks, from Manchester University’s Centre for Development Informatics, which looks at how data and information technology interact with society. It provides a different view of how regimes are put at risk by protest movements, looking at online factors rather than street demonstrations. Ukraine headed the list in 2013.
At the lowest end of this 39-country index are countries such as Iran, Cuba and China.
High on the list are countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and Azerbaijan, the BBC reports.
According to the Prof Heeks the index does show the differences in how political protests are able to develop and organize online. According to him this also raises the prospect of regimes under pressure wanting to take more restrictive control over online activity.
Head of Azerbaijani TV channel ‘‘KhazarTV’’ is accused of having ties with Nur movement (Gulen)
One more document related to activities of Fethullah Gülen is circulated in Azerbaijan. As it is reported by Azerbaijani news portal AzPolitika.info their editorial office has got a letter of the head of KhazarTV Huseyn Dinlemez directed to Faruk Mercan, close person to Gülen. In the letter the activities of Nur movement on TV are described.
As it is stated in the article, the letter provides information about the situation of Nur Movement in the country. It is noted in the document that they have managed to promote their people into most Azerbaijani channels and that two of them occupy important positions in National Television and Radio Council of Azerbaijan.
The author of the letter as well notes that the heads of “ANS TV” Vahid Naxış and Mirshakhin Agaev are members of pro-Iranian movement and that the Channel got $7 million assistance from Iran.
Huseyn Dinlemez as well writes that the advertisement revenues have declined and ANS TV asked for $2 million from the headquarters of their media at Turkey.
As it is stated in Azerbaijani news portal Haqqin.az, famous journalist Khadija Ismailova has disseminated information that it is Gülen and his people who stand behind the Azerbaijani TV channel “KhazarTV”, and the proof of it is their email conversation. The local followers of Nur movement didn’t like that, unsubscribed from Ismailoava and expressed their indignation.
“The followers of Gülen got mobilized, I‘ve put into circulation only one article but they are insulting all my family tree. I believed that in their schools they are taught how to behave while in reality they are a bubble,” the journalist said.
However, as it is noted in the portal, the statement became the reason for massive attack in the social network conducted by followers of Gülen .Within few hours, a massive campaign was launched and more than 200 letters demanding an apology were published.
A few days ago Azerbaijani newspaper “Yeni Musavat”, with a reference to a source in social networks spread information that official circles in Turkey have provided the Azerbaijani government a list of high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan in the administration of President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani government, which include or are related with such religious direction, as Nursizm.
The list of officials recruited by the sect of Fethullah Gülen include, the head of Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Elnur Aslanov, SOCAR vice president Khalig Mammadov, chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Elshad Isgandarov, his deputy Gunduz Ismailov, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Intigam Babayev, MP Jeyhun Osmanli, CSR Director under the Presidential Administration Farhad Mammadov, Chairman of the Youth Foundation Farhad Hajiyev.
Nur sect leader is Turkish billionaire Fethullah Gülen. He also owns large industrial and financial companies and holdings worldwide. Gülen owns a large network of schools and educational institutions. In 1998, Gülen was accused of attempting to overthrow the existing regime in secular Turkey. At the same time avoiding the punishment, he immigrated to the United States. When the AKP came to power all charges against him were dropped. Turkish Prime Minister R. T. Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party are accused of having ties to Gülen. According to various estimates, about five million people in Turkey and abroad (particularly in Azerbaijan and Central Asia) are involved in the Gülen movement.
In some countries, particularly in Russia, the Gülen sect “Nurdzhurlar” (or “Nur”) is prohibited, and its followers are held accountable for spreading extremism. The Russian FSS believes that members of the sect are collecting intelligence in favor of Turkey and have ties with terrorists in the North Caucasus.
Source: Panorama.am
Foreign Minister talks Ukraine crisis, OSCE MG meeting
PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia supports peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, Foreign Minster said.
At the March 10 news conference, Edward Nalbandian expressed hope for the problem to be resolved legally. The official, however, refused to comment on Armenia’s stance in case CSTO becomes involved in the crisis. As he noted, the issue hasn’t yet been discussed at the CSTO, so Armenia will express its position when it’s actually included in the agenda.
Ukraine saw a change of power, complete with signs of a coup on February 22. Rada stripped President Viktor Yanukovych of powers, altered constitution, putting parliament speaker Alexander Turchinov in charge of presidential duties with the elections scheduled for May 25. Yanukovych stated that he left Ukraine under duress and remains the legally elected leader of the state.
A number of regions in the eastern and southern Ukraine didn’t recognize the legitimacy of Rada’s decisions, declaring Yanukovych’s ouster illegal, and announcing a March 16 referendum to determine their fate.
As Nalbandian further noted, a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov, Jacques Faure and James Warlick has been scheduled for March 11 with the Group’s mediation activities ongoing. As he noted, his meeting with the Azeri Foreign Minister will take place as soon as suitable conditions are created.
According to foreign ministry press service, Nalbandian will be leaving for Paris this week, with a March 13 meeting with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius planned.
In an earlier interview with APA, Russian Co-chair Igor Popov pointed out positive aspects in the conflict settlement talks. However, he said, approximation of positions remains a hard task. “After a long break, another meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in Vienna on November 19, 2013. They discussed a range of issues on the settlement of Karabakh problem. The two sides decided to accelerate the process of negotiations. The main directions that require special attention were determined.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs were given relevant instructions, consultations were carried out on the basis of the instructions. Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian met twice. The most contentious issues were discussed in details at these meetings. The negotiations show that there are positive aspects. However, it is not so easy to bring closer the positions of the parties. Difficulties in the negotiation process correspond to the complexity of the conflict. The parties intend to move forward. We are currently conducting consultations with our French and American colleagues, ministers separately.
We met with Nalbandian on February 22. We plan to meet Mammadyarov in the near future. If we achieve options that will satisfy the parties, joint meetings will be accessible, first at the ministerial level, and then the issue of summit will be considered, as agreed by the presidents in Vienna. We will continue our consultations in the region,” Popov said.
Armenia to host Serbia president
March 10, 2014 | 11:20
YEREVAN. – The Armenians and the Serbs are longtime friends, and Serbia’s foreign policy must express these sentiments.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, who is paying an official visit to Armenia, stated the aforesaid during Monday’s joint news conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian.
He also noted that Serbia President Tomislav Nikolić will visit Armenia in a foreseeable future.
In turn, Nalbandian informed that bilateral relations as well as regional and international matters were discussed at the two FMs’ meeting that preceded the news conference.
The Armenian minister noted that, at present, two agreements are signed between Armenia and Serbia, and one of them—which is relating to the prohibiting of double taxation—was signed on Monday.
As per Nalbandian, tourism, industry, and banking are among the domains of potential cooperation between the two countries.
“[But] we need a legal and contractual framework to develop cooperation,” Ivan Mrkić added, for his part.
Armenian Nor Kiugh neighborhood in Aleppo (Syria) bombed yesterday afternoon
Saturday, March 8, the Kiugh Nor (New Village) Armenian Quarter of Aleppo (Syria) was subjected to bombing according to information issued by the Archbishop of the Armenian Church Aleppo. The central street of Kiugh Nor was the target of the bombing as well as the vicinity of the Armenian cemetery. Several soldiers of the regular forces of the Syrian army were wounded. But fortunately there was no report of casualties or injuries among the civilian population of the Armenian Quarter. In early February, the district Nor Kiugh was also subjected to fire that caused damage on the sports complex “Sahakian” school and the building of the “Guiliguia ‘association. Since the outbreak of violence in Syria there nearly two years, from 60 to 70 Armenians were killed, half of Aleppo, the city that concentrates the largest Armenian community in Syria. Other Armenians died in Latakia, Homs, Kamishli, Hassaké, Yacoubia, Rakka, Kessab and Damascus.
Sunday, March 9, 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan © armenews.com
Baghdad blocks Kurdish wages amid oil row (Video)
PressTV Iraq’s Kurdistan has accused the central government in Baghdad of blocking wages for Kurdish employees over the region’s oil exports via Turkey, Press TV reports.
Baghdad is withholding wages for hundreds of thousands of Kurdish employees in an attempt to apparently punish the semi-autonomous Kurdish region over its controversial oil exports.
“There is this mindset and now a continuation of this mindset whereby the central government does not believe in the existence of Kurdistan region. If we look back their opposition was contained to the parliament and the government but now we see that their opposition is directly towards the income of the people, which is the wages,” said Kurdish MP Umed Khoshnaw from the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
Last week, Iraq’s Kurdish Deputy Prime Minister Roj Nuri Shawais called on Kurdish ministers in the Iraqi cabinet to resign if Baghdad refused to solve the problem.
“If the Kurdish ministers would not withdraw from Baghdad while the salaries are not sent to Kurdistan employees, then what’s the job of Kurdish employees in Baghdad and what should they do?” Shawais asked.
The regional government says it has had to cut costs and even salaries of senior officials to help pay for monthly wages worth of more than $700 million.
Iraqi MPs in Baghdad said the money was being withheld due to Kurdistan’s independent oil exports through Turkey, adding, Kurdistan did not contribute enough oil to Iraq’s supply.
“The government has no alternative but to apply the law and cut that amount of money from the region’s 17-percent share of the budget. But if the regional government starts sending enough oil… then I believe that the central government will pay all of the money straight away,” said Iraqi lawmaker Haitham Ramadan from the State of Law Coalition.
There are reports that Kurdistan could retaliate by cutting off the water supply to southern Iraq.
Iraqi officials, however, say Kurdish workers should pressure the regional government to export oil with agreement from the central government.