06 02 21 - GIBRAHAYER E-MAGAZINE

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(BBC/RFE/RL)- Two days of talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a draft of the Karabagh conflict settlement have ended without agreement, US mediator Steven Mann said.
France hosted the high-profile talks between Armenia's Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev.
The talks at Rambouillet chateau followed mediation by France, the United States, and Russia.
French President Jacques Chirac held separate talks with the Armenian and Azeri leaders before they met face-to-face on Friday.
Mann said he and the other two co-chairs--Bernard Fassier of France and Yury Merzlyakov of Russia--will travel to Brussels on Monday to brief the OSCE's current chairman-in-office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht, on the failed discussions. They will then meet in Washington in early March to decide "in which direction we should move," added Mann.
According to RFE/RL, the two parties could not reach an agreement over two key points relating to Karabagh's future status and a time-frame for Armenian withdrawal from Kelbajar, a mountainous district sandwiched between Karabagh and Armenia proper.
Azeri Prime Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said, however, that agreement was reached on seven other unspecified points of the framework accord.
A key issue between the two sides is the holding of a referendum by the territory's population, as a matter of self-determination. Karabagh's administration has said it will not accept any deal reached without its direct participation.
The idea of holding such a referendum in Karabagh was at the heart of the peace formula discussed by the conflicting parties over the past year, and the Azeri side reportedly accepted it in principle.
But the scope for compromise is severely limited by public opinion in both countries, which firmly opposes any concessions.
Nevertheless, a senior US State Department official said on Thursday that the Rambouillet talks amounted to "the most important meeting in at least five years regarding this conflict."
Kocharian's spokesman, Victor Soghomonian said: "There is an agreement to continue negotiations, which is positive in itself."
The next few weeks should clarify whether the mediators can salvage the formula currently under discussion or if they will have to restart the peace process from the beginning.
(Picture sent by Sebouh Kassparian of Salonika - Traffic in the snow - February in Yerevan 2006)

ARTSAKH ISSUE SOLVED, SAYS DASHNAKTSOUTIUN PARLIAMENT HEAD
“The Armenian people have solved the Karabakh problem. Nagorno Karabakh was liberated and its security was guaranteed,” said head of ARF Dashnaktsoutiun’s parliament fraction Levon Mkrtchian. “At this stage, Armenia is trying for its de jure recognition,” he remarked stressing that for Armenia the variant of solving the problem by Nagorno Karabakh rejoining Azerbaijan is inadmissible.

TURKS TO RETURN MAGARAVANK IN CYPRUS TO ARMENIANS ?
By Hakob Chakrian AZG - 14/02/2006 - Istanbul-base Armenian weekly Agos informs that the Turks are going to return Magaravank monastery in occupied northern Cyprus to Armenians. The monastery founded in 5th century was leased for 49 years by Turkish businessman Dervish Ulus Syonmezler in 1997.
Agos weekly had a phone conversation with the Turkish businessman to check out the information. "The Department of Historic Monuments and Museums of Northern Cyprus has annulled the agreement. I think Magaravank was included in the list of mansions awaiting return to southern Cyprus. For that reason the authorities of the Turkish sector annulled the agreement signed for 49 years. I certainly will sue them. But even if I win, I doubt they will hand the mansion over to me. Apparently the Turkish authorities of Northern Cyprus have decided to return the mansion to its true owners - the Cypriot Armenians."
YOUTH ALERT !
The Slovakian youth union is organizing a youth gathering in Stara Tura, north Slovakia, from the 5th till 11th March. Countries that will particiapte include Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary and Slovakia. A 6 member delegation is also invited from Cyprus. The programme includes skiing, touring, visiting historical places with optional trips to Poland or Chech republic. 70% of the travel and lodging costs will be refunded. The age limit for participants is 28. Cypriot citizens who are interested in participating should contact Hagop Manougian 99442886 or send an email to hagop@hotmail.com
tatiana's corner by Tatiana Ferahian

GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

news in brief
The European Parliament on February 16 overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government's destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, a unique archaeological treasure located in Nakhichevan republic administered by Azerbaijan. As reported by the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun press service the issue, brought to the Parliament’s attention by the European Armenian Federation’s efforts, resulted in a resolution approved by a vote of 85 to 5. Cyprus Euro MP Ioannis Kassoulides was one of the MPs that initiated and actively lobbied for the resolution.
The Lincy Foundation has allocated $400,000 to the Western Prelacy for spiritual and educational projects of the Holy See of Cilicia and also to aid needy Armenian families in Lebanon. This donation was made in response to a request from His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The first instalment of $100,000 has already been received.
In an interview to the Turkish daily Radical, Hrant Dink, the chief editor of Istanbul-based bilingual
(Turkish and Armenian) weekly Agos said now was time for Turkey to start examining its past in order to learn the truth about what had happened to Armenians in 1915 and several years later.
While visiting Armenia, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki compared US policy to attacking American football team on Tuesday, saying that Iran preferred the "tranquil reflection" characteristic of chess. "The Americans love American football, in which the main principle is attack. During the game they beat each other or the referee. But we prefer chess. We love to play and take decisions through tranquil
reflection," Mottaki said.
Representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations, analysts and Javakhk Armenians took part in a conference titled “Challenges of Javakhk in the 21st Century” held in Yerevan on Tuesday and organized by Nikol Aghbalian Student Union of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsoutiun. Ishkhan Saghatelian of the Union said the Armenian youth should not stay indifferent in the face of the Georgian authorities’ policy to empty Javakhk of Armenians.
A panel-discussion about the Armenian genocide to be aired on US television has prompted protests among Armenian Americans outraged by the presence of two genocide deniers on the program. The panel discussion is to be aired by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on April 17 following a one-hour documentary -- "The Armenian Genocide" by Andrew Goldberg -- which describes the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by the Turks in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. The four panelists invited to discuss the issue include Justin McCarthy, a University of Louisville professor, and Omer Turan, a Turkish historian. Both men question whether the 1915 mass killings could be classified as genocide. PBS said it had invited the two scholars in a bid to offer an alternative viewpoint and encourage discussion.
The National Democratic Party of Azerbaijan has declared Azeri officer Ramil Safarov the man if the Year. To remind, February 19, 2004 Armenian Armed Forces lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, who while was taking an English course within the NATO Partnership for Peace program was brutally hacked to death by Azeri officer Ramil Safarov.

www.inhomage.com

your emails click here for all emails
What Island Are You From? CYPRUS? Regretfully, once again you “sliped-up’. For a fact this letter to the editor most likely will not make it into your newsletter; nevertheless if only you and your staff read it, it would be a personal contentment.

I thought I had missed an issue. Went to the archives no so fate.

ON February the 3rd, a rather significant DAY; compared to any trivial tennis news and most importantly for ALL Armenians worldwide and particularly for CYPRUS: MELKONIAN SCHOOL WINS A COURT INJUNCTION and you open your newsletter with headline of the SYSTEM OF A DOWN WINS GRAMMY?????

Sorry to mention but your Gibrahayer-e-magazin’s journalistic escapades/SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY DOWN…

This is not journalism it is merely your personal JOURNEY of glorification and self- preservation more worthy of a soapbox platform rather than the Internet.

Please remove my address from your subscription list; I can get my tennis news from other sources.

Thanks for the opportunity.
Vasken Saghbazarian, Los Angeles, Ca.

Dear Vasken,
As I recall you had threatened to unsubscribe once before, but I am glad you are still reading Gibrahayer e-magazine and I hope you continue doing so.
What drives you (and so many other readers in the past) into thinking that I will not post your emails... I will never know...
Your comments about Melkonian are unfair, to use a mild term. I have had a permanent section on Melkonian in EVERY issue of Gibrahayer and the last issue was probably the only one that I replaced it with a section on Zaruhi Harutyunyan and her successes in Asia.
Gibrahayer received The Melkonian Alumni press release on Thursday (five days ago)16 February, 2006.
Massis Der Partogh gave an interview about the injunction on Sigma TV and Astra radio station, after last week's Gibrahayer issue while Cyprus Mail ( www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=24424&cat_id=1 posted in this week's Gibrahayer's Melkonian section further down) and the Cyprus Weekly printed the news this weekend.
Here is a copy of the email from Alumni representative Massis Der Partogh.
Simon Aynedjian

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Masis Der Parthogh [mailto:masis@financialmirror.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 11:44 AM
Subject: RE: Melkonian - dikastiki apophasi

yo, yeghpayr,
attached is the version Cy Weekly is using tomorrow (as promised by Georges) and the Cy Mail (Jean), marked CW and CM. Perhaps you can wait until they are published tomorrow morning and I can confirm them.
Also, I have attached press release sent to all Greek newspapers. Phileleftheros already used parts of it (paper is available online PDF, if you can grab it from there). I spoke to Radio Astra this morning, and CyBC English programme Monday night. so much for now
Masis



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sports
For the Euro 2008 Football Championships the national teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan will compete first in Baku on September 8, 2007, and then in Yerevan, four days later. The teams of Armenia, Portugal, Poland, Serbia-Montenegro, Belgium, Finland, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are placed in Group 1 and the first game of the Armenian side is against the national side of Belgium in Yerevan on September 9, 2006.
Armenia also took part in the 20th Winter Olympic Games of Turin. Skiers Hovhannes Sargsian and Edmond Khachatrian participated in the team speed race competitions and came last while Armenian ice dancers Anastasiya Grebyonkina and Vazgen Azroyan came 22nd from 24 participants.
Cypriot Futsal champions AGBU Ararat's five year winning streak was halted by arch rivals Parnassos who won the 2005-06 Cyprus championship.

at melkonian this week
NICOSIA COURT INJUNCTION FREEZES MELKONIAN SALE
The Cyprus Mail - Saturday 18, 2006 The campaign to save the historical Melkonian school got a timely boost from the Nicosia District Court that has ruled in favour of a permanent injunction order on the property.
The outcome of the proceedings in the Cyprus Courts is independent of another action filed in the California Federal Courts seeking to force the US-based AGBU, administrators of the Melkonian Educational Institute, to overturn its decision to close the high school in Nicosia.
The injunction application filed on August 23, 2005, sought an order “prohibiting the defendants (AGBU) from selling, charging, alienating, or changing in any way the use of the immovable property, and/or any part of it, or from using the immovable property for any purpose other the premises of the Melkonian School.”
According to a statement issued by lawyers Christina Sarris, Alecos Markides and Costas Velaris representing the Patriarch of Istanbul, Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, who claims sole inheritance as original trustee of the 1926 document establishing the school, “the injunction was issued and served immediately on the defendants.”
more at : http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=24424&cat_id=1

GIBRAHAYER e-magazineTHE POINT OF VIEW OF THE AGBU
A representative of the AGBU talked to Gibrahayer and stated that the court decision is not an important one as it only delays procedures pending the decision of the main court action regarding the outcome of the ownership of Melkonian. He cautioned the community that circles behind the injunction crusade were giving false hopes to the community and although the decision of the AGBU was regretful and painful, it is a decision that will change very little.

latest on tennis champion Zaruhi Harutyunyan
ZARUHI PREPARING FOR TOURNAMENTS IN TUNISIA AND ENGLAND
With the 12 qualification and five main draw victories behind her, Zaruhi Harutyunyan is looking ahead to climb ever higher in the ITF tennis rankings by participating in the Junior tournaments in Tunisia and England. With her current ranking at 575 she will be aiming for a year end position in the top 100 to enable her to participate in Grand Slam tournaments.
Let us all participate in this effort at its infancy, so that we can all enjoy the joy of victory and national pride when it comes.
http://groong.usc.edu/world/am/msg04177.html

gibrahayer calendar
GIBRAHAYER e-magazineFriday 24 February, 2006 at 8:00 pm Classical song recital at Kasteliotissa Hall - Paphos Gate in Nicosia by Maral Vorsganian, (soprano), accompanied on the piano by Lelia Khatchatourian organised by the Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Oshagan Cyprus Chapter. Entrance 5.00 cyp.
2nd - 30th March 2006 - Painting Exhibition by Vartan Tashdjian at Rotunda Gallery Bangkok with the opening reception being held on Thursday 2nd March from 7:00 pm onwards. The cocktail reception will be opened by Linda Der Kevorkian, wife of the late Armenian Honorary Consul to Thailand, Bob Der Kevorkian. There will be a meet-the-artist event on Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th March from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19 March 2006 The Knar Dance Ensemble of the Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association of Beirut will be arriving in Cyprus and will give two performances in Larnaca. Details to follow.
Saturday 18 March 2006 After the performance of the Knar Dance Ensemble a dinner dance has been organised in Larnaca. For details please contact Adour Karageulian on 99880226.

VIRUS ALERT BY PANDA SOFTWARE CYPRUS - Panda Platinum 2006 Internet Security has been awarded a “Finalist” in the Small Business Technology Magazine 2005 Product of the Year Awards. “This hot new product from Panda Software wraps your business systems with a bullet proof vest,” declares Small Business Technology Magazine. Panda Platinum 2006 has “everything you need to protect PCs, even your entire network, from vicious spyware, viruses and other threats.” More information about the Panda Platinum 2006 Internet Security can be found at: http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/platinum_is2006_part.htm

V.V