German and Armenian military intensify their bilateral defense cooperation

September 11, 2014 By administrator

German and Armenian military officials reportedly agreed yesterday to intensify their bilateral defense cooperation as an important component to intensify relations of Armenia with NATO.

The Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and other senior Armenian officials and a delegation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence would have considered this cooperation during two days of talks in Yerevan.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, they have developed a joint plan of German-Armenian activities for next year. “They have reached an agreement to maintain the momentum of development of cooperation in order to improve the level of interoperability,” the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the military relations between the two countries through the support of Germany for defense reforms being implemented by Yerevan, the Armenian military training personnel and the participation of Armenia led mission NATO in Afghanistan.

Armenian soldiers serving under German command in Afghanistan in 2010, many of them have also undergone short courses in Germany prior to deployment.

“I want to emphasize the productive cooperation of Armenia with Germany, which is an excellent example of the interaction between the members and partners of NATO states,” said President Serzh Sarkisian in a speech during a NATO summit in Wales last week. Sargsyan said that Armenian troops had gained “invaluable experience” in Afghanistan.

Thursday, September 11, 2014,
Claire © armenews.com

Aram I Urges Armenians to Unite, Demand Justice from Turkey

September 9, 2014 By administrator

WASHINGTON—On Sunday, Sept. 7, his Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy and addressed the faithful at the Church of the Holy Cross in Washington, DC. Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Orthodox Church of America, celebrated the Liturgy after welcoming His Holiness and explaining the purpose of his presence in Washington to the congregation.

The Catholicos thanked the Archbishop, greeted the faithful and expressed his joy at being with the community after so many years. In his message, he told the faithful that “Christian faith is the foundation of Christian life and is central to the teachings and miracles of Jesus.” He added that Jesus transformed the meaning and purpose of faith. He went on to point out that according to the Bible, Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and Life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:16). “To follow Jesus,” said His Holiness, “means discipleship, giving up everything and following him. Faith in Christ is the source of life; whoever lives a Christian life will be courageous before the challenges of the world.”

Referring to Armenians, the Catholicos said, “With this assurance our people lived their faith. Armenians were not only the first to accept Christianity as their national religion, they also shed their blood for their faith; as an ancient historian wrote, faith for Armenians is like ‘their skin.’” His Holiness then added that for this reason, in the 5th century, when the enemy wanted us to give up our faith, our people said, “No power in this world can take us away from our faith.” “This commitment to the faith,” he added, “has sustained our people throughout history.” The Catholicos then urged the people to remain faithful to their faith and their Church.

In the end His Holiness spoke of 2015, the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Genocide and asked all Armenians to unite and demand justice from Turkey for the one-and-a-half-million victims and the restoration of the rights of the survivors with one voice.

The Ambassador of Armenia, the representative of Karabakh and a member of the Church Council were among the people who attended the Sunday Liturgy.

After the Liturgy his holiness Aram I held meetings with Archbishop Oshagan, the Church Council members and members of the Armenian Genocide Committee.

Serzh Sargsyan: Armenian-Arab relations date back to depths of centuries

September 9, 2014 By administrator

YEREVAN. – On Tuesday, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s new Ambassador to Armenia, Mohammad Nour Othman Yousef Balkar, presented his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

The President congratulated the ambassador for commencing his diplomatic mission in Armenia, wished him success, and expressed the hope that Ambassador Balkar will use his experience and knowledge to strengthen bilateral relations.

Stressing that Armenian-Arab relations date back to the depths of centuries, Sargsyan noted that it is on this foundation that Armenia develops its relations with the Arab countries, including Jordan.

The Armenian President and the Jordanian diplomat shared the view that there is great potential for the strengthening of interstate relations and the development of cooperation in several domains. In this connection, they underscored the need to expand the legal and the contractual framework between the two countries.

The interlocutors also spoke with delight about the two countries’ cooperation within international organizations.

The new Jordanian ambassador, for his part, assured that he will spare no effort to achieve closer ties between Armenia and Jordan.

400-year old Armenian homes still standing in Turkey’s Van (VIDEO)

August 31, 2014 By administrator

The houses, which Armenians had built 400 years ago in Van, Turkey, astonish Turkish scholars.

The neighborhood is located 40 kilometers away from the county Işıkpın, stone houses and attention. Approximately 400 years ago by Armenians and stone houses still standing until today is used by the residents.

Some with the team going to the neighborhood to make observations Işıkpın Van Centenary University (YY) Faculty of Arts and Art History Department Asst. Assoc. Dr. Mehmet Ball, made by Armenians nearly 400 years ago, the house is still standing and toured the stones used by the public. Asst. Assoc. Dr. Mehmet Ball, an examination of the village homes as they investigated a typology occur immediately when the two houses, adding that “this house is currently being used by Muslim residents of the village. But the interesting thing about all such types of houses when examined emerges a common typology. This is used as a common living area with kitchen, “he said.

Mehmet Ball, “the Armenian dating from the mentioned made of baked clay of the store until today it still stands. This is completely made of baked clay. On the Armenian articles and a number of pilot and shapes there. Quite important. Indeed, this village, I here both the traditional architecture of working with those who particularly want to draw attention. herein can be studied undiscovered had the texture. region on Armenians churches, monasteries and tombs are known, but the Armenian homes is unknown. Armenians, their stone walls of the houses were used in the mortar land now touching mortar surpassing sturdy and up to the present have come, “he spoke.

Source: iha.com.tr

Asbarez, Aztag Editors Discuss Challenges for Middle East Armenians

August 25, 2014 By administrator

BY LENA BADEYAN

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—Recent events in the Middle East suggest that motives and geopolitical goals have changed. The situation will inevitably affect the large Armenian communities formed in the Middle East in the last one hundred years since the Armenian Genocide. But all is not against Armenians, editor-in-chief of the Beirut-based Aztag daily newspaper Shahan Kandaharian and editor of Los Angeles-based Asbarez daily Apo Boghigian told reporters in Yerevan.

The ongoing instability and new developments in Middle East countries with large Armenian communities are of strategic importance for Armenians both in Armenia and the diaspora, they said.

According to Shahan Kandaharian, the trend of events has considerably changed and has grown into a struggle for resources.

“The Arab Spring has now changed its face, and the radical expressions of Islamism constitute the major threat today both for the region and the world,” he said.

Kandaharian said the situation in Lebanon is relatively calm compared to its neighboring countries. He believes Lebanon will not engage in what he called a regional war. He considers, however, that difficult days are awaiting the Armenians of the Middle East. The question refers to the migration of Armenians, who are leaving mostly in two directions – Lebanon or Armenia. Whether they move permanently or temporarily is a different question, he added.

Speaking about the American Armenian Diaspora, Asbarez editor Apo Boghigian said: “We should create a situation where we can turn the loss into some gain. The US is an environment where there is an issue of survival. The problems of assimilation and maintenance of the Armenian organizations can no longer remain unsolved. We need to search for new ways, new methods.”

Thus, the new situation is a challenge to Armenia, and particularly the Ministry of Diaspora. Major problems are the preservation of language and the availability of authentic information to avoid unnecessary panic. Apo Boghigian pointed to the Kessab events as an example of unsuccessful media coverage of an event.

Baku Slams US, France over Condemnation of Villager’s Death

August 23, 2014 By administrator

BAKU—The Azerbaijani government in a statement on Friday criticized Washington and Paris for their condemnation of the Azerbaijani authorities’ killing of Karen Petrosian, an Armenian border villager who had wandered into Azerbaijan. Report asbarez.com

Baku’s authorities maintained that the man, killed in captivity on Aug. 8, was an “Armenian saboteur” insisting that he had crossed the border as part of a “commando group.” Eye witness testimonies from Azeri villagers who found Petrosian first, however, contradicted Baku’s assertions. Video footage shot by the residents of Azerbaijan’s Agbulaq village showed Petrosian unarmed and talking with the villagers.

On Aug. 18, the U.S. State Department issued a statement condemning the death of Petrosian in captivity and calling on Baku to conduct a full investigation.

“The United States is deeply concerned by reports on the death of Karen Petrosyan while in Azerbaijan’s custody and by allegations that his death was not due to natural causes,” the statement read. “The United States offers its sincere condolences to Mr. Petrosyan’s family. We call on the Government of Azerbaijan to conduct a full and transparent investigation into this incident and to make its findings public.”

News reports showed Azerbaijani defense ministry officials dragging, questioning and publicly humiliating Petrosyan on national television. On Friday, Aug. 8, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that Petrosian had died of “acute heart failure.”

Armenian authorities insist that the 31-year-old Petrosian did not die from natural causes, but was tortured or beaten to death.

Petrosian’s death rekindled memories of Manvel Saribekian, a 20-year-old resident of another Armenian border village who was captured by Azerbaijani soldiers in September 2010. A visibly injured Saribekian was paraded on Azerbaijani television, saying that he is a member of an Armenian commando squad that planned to carry out terrorist attacks in Azerbaijan.

Saribekian was found hanged in an Azerbaijani detention center shortly afterwards. The Azerbaijani authorities claimed that he committed suicide. The Armenian government said, however, that Saribekian was tortured to death or driven to suicide. Both the government and Saribekian’s family insisted that the young man was a civilian who accidentally crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border while grazing cattle.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, in its statement on Friday, urged the U.S. and France to a “principled stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement, and to be unbiased in expressing condolences and concerns.”

August 23 marks 24th anniv. of Armenia’s Declaration of Independence (video)

August 23, 2014 By administrator

PanARMENIAN.Net – August 23, 2014 marks the 24th anniversary of Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

24 years ago, the Supreme Council adopted a declaration of Armenian independence, renaming Armenian Socialist Republic as the Republic of Armenia.

On September 21, 1991, Armenia held a referendum, with 94,99% of the population voting for independence.

The Declaration says in part that “with the purpose of guaranteeing the security of the Republic of Armenia and the inviolability of its borders, the Republic of Armenia creates its own armed forces, internal troops, bodies of state and public security under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council.”

It also says that “the Republic of Armenia determines the principles and regulation of its economic system, creates its own money, national bank, finance-loan system, tax and custom services, based on the system of multiple forms of property ownership.”

The document also mentions that “the Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.”

Russia calls for thorough investigation into Karen Petrosyan’s death

August 23, 2014 By administrator

YEREVAN. – Russian Foreign Ministry deeply regrets the deaths caused by unsettled Karabakh conflict, spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich said.

His comment came in response to inquiry on Karen Petrosytan’s death in Azerbaijani captivity.

“We deeply regret that the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is accompanied by human losses, death of people, and not only during the clashes. We express deep condolences to the families and friends of K.Petrosyan and to other families of Armenians and Azerbaijanis who have lost their lives. We consider it necessary to conduct thorough investigations into such incidents,” he said.

The Russian Ministry has urged the parties for practical use of the provisions of the Joint Statement of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation as of 27 October 2010 on the return of bodies with the assistance of the OSCE Minsk Group and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Karen Petrosyan, a resident of Chinari village, was taken captive on August 7, and on the next day Azerbaijani side reported about his death of “a heart failure”. Armenian investigation committee has launched a criminal case.

source: news.am

France: Demonstration in support of the Kurdish resistance against the horror

August 18, 2014 By administrator

“Ara Toranian “Yes we support you in your fight! “

Speech from the co-chair of the CFC, Ara Toranian in support of the call of the Federation of Associations of France Kurds

Saturday, August 16, at the call of the Federation of Associations of France Kurds (FEYKA), supported by several Yezidi-Kurdish organizations, the French Communist Party, Kurdistan-France, MRAP, NPA, CCAF etc., nearly 1,200 protesters this gathered in Paris, facing the St. Lawrence Church, near the railway station of the East. A procession then headed Place du Chatelet chanting “We are all Yezidi! , “” Genocide alert “,” Free Ocalan! “. Several speakers took their turn, calling the attention of the international community on the crimes committed in Iraq by jihadists LEILL against civilians.

Berivan Akyol, Kurdish activist, close to three PKK militants, killed Jan. 9, 2013, called on the international community to adopt sanctions against state sponsors LEIIL. It also calls, “the West and the United States to act quickly,” adding “As Amnesty International has said, it really is inadequate compared to the drama that is taking place there.” Moreover, Berivan Akyol expects the international community, the PKK, which is currently struggling against the Islamic state, be removed from the list of terrorist organizations and the release of its leader Abdullah Ocalan. Organization, she said, which is now a bulwark against Islamic invasion; whose legitimacy. Expressing close to all minorities, activist says that no one can remove, neither Christians nor Muslims, Armenians, Kurds, Yazidis, Assyrian-Chaldeans from their land, “living there for millennia. “

In solidarity with the Yezidi cause, Ara Toranian, co-chair of Armenian Organizations of France, expressed the “sense of dread and indignation of the Armenian community before these mass crimes entrenched in the area for the Empire Ottoman “. He praised the strength of the Kurdish people “that provides a de facto protector to all people who live on their land arms” without being in the same religion.

In his speech, Ara Toranian exclaimed: “Is it acceptable that 100 years after the Armenian genocide, it is the opportunity to see this sad spectacle of refugees fleeing their own land to escape the destructive effects of an ideology as violent as retrograde. “

He also recalled the fate of the Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldeans, Pontic Greeks, Yezidis, Alevis and Kurds persecuted on different fronts and different countries. And “all other things being equal, numerous Turks who also had their share of suffering.”

“When you kill a Christian or a Muslim for what he is or what he believes, it is all the bleeding area,” said he hammered; adding “it is all of humanity back. “

Co-Chair of the CFC concluded his speech justifying the support of the Armenian community to the call of the Federation of Kurdish Associations France by “convergence based on values, not on mere reflexes caste.” “Yes we support you in your fight! “Has he said finally,” because you are yourselves in danger, but also because we continue to defend a vision of the interests of the region to which we are attached. A vision that requires respect for all peoples who live there and also those who, temporarily perhaps, are living longer. “

Source: http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=102485

Armenian MFA: We are deeply concerned by violence faced by Iraqi Yazidis

August 16, 2014 By administrator

YEREVAN. – Armenian Foreign Ministry is deeply concerned by the violence faced by Iraqi Yazidis, spokesperson Tigran Balayan wrote on Twitter.

“We share the concerns of Yazidis living in Armenia. Armenian missions abroad have instructions to closely cooperate with stakeholders on Iraqi Yazidis issue,” he tweeted.

Hundreds of Yazidis marched in Yerevan on Thursday and handed over letters to Russian and French ambassadors as well as to UN office and earlier to the ambassador of U.S.

According to various sources, more than 5,000 people are killed in the town so far, and thousands of others have been displaced.