BORDERS

[Arpa]

As the latest buzz is about “cross” or no “cross”, let’s take another look at the following, a compilation of our “crucified” ancestors. As indicated below the (partial) list is from a book by H. K Babesian - ՄԵՐ ԽԱՉԸ/OUR CROSS

 

http://www.icmetal.com/church-supply/holly-cross/armenian-cross-grapes.jpg

 

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=11693&pid=144415&st=0entry144415

[Arpa]

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!?

 

By now we all know that I am a little slow, but even then it seems I am not as slow as some of our pundits.

Just as in the case of that ridiculous “proCTOcols”, it took a whole year and more to finally see that those clowns in ankaka were speaking out of their “PROCTO”.s, until finally when almost we felt it in our “procto”'s we realized what was going on.

 

Below some of the many such news;

----

http://news.am/eng/news/29659.html

Another Turkish disgrace: Surb Khach Church to open without cross

 

September 03, 2010 | 10:07

Turkish authorities made dishonorable step, announcing they will not manage to put the cross on the dome of Surb Khach Church on Akhtamar Island, because of technical problems and will place it after the September 19 liturgy.

 

Deputy Patriarch of Constantinople Archbishop Aram Ateshyan arrived in Van to familiarize himself with the activities for the opening ceremony of Surb Khach. According to Ateshyan, Van Governor had said setting a 200 kg cross requires a special tower and they would not manage to place it till the opening ceremony, as it is a difficult process, Turkish Heberturk reports. The Governor had said the cross will be shown to everybody on September 19 and set on the dome after the liturgy.

The governor’s words were an unpleasant surprise to the Chairman of the Van’s Trade and Industry Chamber Zahir Kandasoglu as well. The latter stressed they are entrepreneurs and consider many issues will be solved if trade and economic relations improve.

Later, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan and representatives of the Armenian patriarchate met with Mayor of Van, who promised to do everything possible to organize the event properly and honor the guests.

-----

http://hetq.am/en/society/38983/

 

Etchmiadzin Pulls Out of September 19 Akhtamar Ceremony

[ 2010/09/06 | 16:30 ] society

Turkey Breaks Promise on “Cross” Issue, Etchmiadzin Charges

The Mother See at Etchmiadzin, in an about-face, has decided against sending an official delegation to Holy Cross Church on the island of Akhtamar, Lake Van, for religious services scheduled for September 19.

It appears that the recent statement by Turkey that a cross would not be placed atop the church as promised, due to technical reasons, caused Etchmiadzin to rethink its prior decision to send a two clergy delegation to Akhtamar at the request of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul.

In its statement, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin notes that: “Taking into account the breach of the assurances provided regarding the placement of the cross, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – which was prepared to satisfy the request of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople to send two representatives to participate in the Divine Liturgy – is suspending the participation of her representatives in the celebration of the liturgy at the Church of the Holy Cross at Aghtamar on September 19.”

See also:

------

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/09/06/s-karapetyan/

Sourb Khach of Akhtamar not anointed, no holy liturgy can be served in non-anointed church

Sourb Khach (St. Cross) church has not been anointed and no holy liturgy can be served in a non-anointed church, specialist for monuments Samvel Karapetyan told reporters today.

 

According to him, people needn't go to Akhtamar, Van that day. ''I think, everyone should go to see Akhtamar and all the other monuments, but not necessarily that day. If Turks are planning to organize a theatre performance, it's not right to participate in it,'' he said.

 

In this context he approved the decision of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin not to participate in the liturgy.

 

Note that Turkish authorities had pledged to place a cross atop the church by September 19, the day when the liturgy is due to be served, however, they announced lately that the cross weighs 200kg and cannot be placed due to the technical problems.

16:17 06/09/2010 » Քաղաքական

Սուրբ Խաչն օծված չէ, չօծված եկեղեցում պատարագ չեն մատուցում. հուշարձանագետ

Վանի Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցին օծված չէ և չօծված եկեղեցում պատարագ չի մատուցվում: Այսօր ասուլիսում հայտարարեց հուշարձանագետ Սամվել Կարապետյանը` նկատելով, որ պատարագ մատուցելու համար պետք է անպայմանորեն եկեղեցու օծում լինի:

 

Ըստ Կարապետյանի, Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցու խորանը սալահատակ է և վեմ քար տեղադրված չէ: «Հայտնի է, որ մինչև վերականգնելը վեմ քարը չկար, իսկ խորանը տակնուվրա վիճակում էր: Վեմ քարը հուշարձանի առանցքային դրվագն է համարվում։ Եկեղեցին ենթակա է վերաօծման, անգամ եթե վեմ քարը մի փոքր թեքվել է», -բացատրեց հուշարձանագետը:

 

Բանախոսն ասաց, որ անպայման չէ այդ օրը գնալ Աղթամար, Վան: «Ես կողմ եմ, որ մեզանից յուրաքանչյուրը այցելի և տեսնի Աղթամարը և մնացած հուշարձանները, բայց անպայման չէ հենց այդ օրը։ Եվ եթե թուրքերն ուղղակի ուզում են զուռնա-դհոլ կազմակերպել, ապա այդ թատրոնին մասնակցելը ճիշտ չէ», – նկատեց նա։

 

Այդ համատեքստում նա կարծիք հայտնեց, որ Մայր Աթոռ Սուրբ Էջմիածինը արժանապատիվ որոշում է կայացրել` առկախելով մասնակցությունը պատարագի արարողությանը:

 

Նշենք, որ թուրքական իշխանությունները խոստացել էին մինչև սեպտեմբերի 19-ը` պատարագի մատուցման օրը, Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցու գմբեթին տեղադրել խաչ, սակայն օրերս Վանի իշխանությունները հայտարարել էին, թե խաչը ծանր է` 200 կգ և տեխնիկական դժվարությունների պատճառով այն չի կարող տեղադրվել եկեղեցու գմբեթին:

---

 

Arts and Culture | 06.09.10 | 13:56

Political move or religious tolerance?: Authorized liturgy at Surb Khach in Turkey draws reproach amid modest welcome

http://www.armenianow.com/arts_and_culture/24611/armenian_church_surb_khach_opening_september_19

 

The Holy Cross Church at Akhtamar is until now denied the right to have a cross placed atop its dome.

By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow correspondent

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has refused to participate in the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van on September 19, after learning “with regret and disappointment” that the placing of the cross on top of the church dome “is being postponed by the Turkish authorities without cause.”

“The Mother See had been assured that the consecrated cross would be permanently placed on the dome of the church one week prior to the celebration of Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Cross,” the Mother See press office said in a statement.

“Taking into account the breach of the assurances provided regarding the placement of the cross, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – which was prepared to satisfy the request of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople to send two representatives to participate in the Divine Liturgy – is suspending the participation of her representatives in the celebration of the liturgy at the Church of the Holy Cross at Akhtamar on September 19.” The Armenian Surb Khach was built during the heyday of the Kingdom of Vaspurakan in the 10th century by architect Manuel, during the reign of King Gagik Artsruni. It was restored by the Turkish authorities and opened in 2007 as a museum. In the spring of 2010, the Turkish government gave Armenians the right to conduct a liturgy in the church once a year. It was earlier reported that Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan and Archimandrite Komitas Hovnanyan would attend the upcoming liturgy on behalf of Holy Etchmiadzin. At the end of August, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia also said it refused to take part in the liturgy. In the statement the Catholicosate underlined its “position against Turkey’s consistent denialist policy and attempts to appear before the international community as a defender of human rights.” There is an ongoing debate in Armenia about whether or not Armenians should attend the September 19 liturgy on the Lake Van island. The prevailing opinion appears to be against attending the event. But Artak Shakaryan, a leading specialist in Turkish studies in Armenia, believes that this occasion should be used as a precedent for the restoration of other Armenian churches in the territory of modern-day Turkey and for conducting liturgies in them. Online publication Lragir writes. “Obviously, the Turks ‘allow’ a liturgy in the Armenian church to show who is in the position of ‘allowing’. Going to Akhtamar with Turkey’s permission means only to recognize its right.” Genocide Institute-Museum Director Hayk Demoyan says Armenia’s participation should be of a reserved nature. “Armenia should appear there not at a high level, we should show that we understand that this is just a publicity stunt,” said Demoyan. Lawmaker from the governing Republican Party of Armenia Artak Zakaryan believes that the resumption of the activities of the church on the island of Akhtamar is another show staged by Turkey for domestic and foreign audiences. According to him, this show is aimed at improving the external and internal images of the Turkish authorities on the eve of the upcoming elections. In August, eight youth organizations of Armenia made an appeal for refusing to participate in the Surb Khach Church liturgy in Turkey. “According to our data, about 6,000 people have purchased tickets and on that day are going to take part in a show that the Turks organize in our occupied homeland. We demand that [Armenians] should refuse to attend this pro-Turkish event that derides Armenians. Every Armenian who wants to participate in this event should ask himself: where are the descendants and followers of the creators of this beautiful monument?” the organizations said. Meanwhile, New York-based pianist and composer of Armenian origin Shahan Artsruni said that on September 18, the eve of the liturgy at the Surb Khach Church, he will give a concert in Van. The musician says he is a descendant of King Gagik Artsruni who built the church.

 

http://www.armenianow.com/arts_and_culture/24611/armenian_church_surb_khach_opening_september_19

 

Copyright © 2002-2009 ArmeniaNow.com All rights reserved.

Edited September 7, 2010 by Arpa

[Arpa]

The circus is still on.

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=DJJa78ylz-w&feature=related

It seems we hit them where it hurts most, the touristic pocket.

First this

 

http://news.am/eng/news/30761.html

September 14, 2010 | 10:20

 

Recently, the Turkish media has spread information that businessmen in Van plan to solve the problem of cross installation on Surb Khach themselves. According to the information, the businessmen intended to bring special device to the island and install the cross on the dome of Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island. In this regard, the NEWS.am correspondent held a conversation with Abdullah Tuncdemir, a representative of Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB).

As to the installation of the cross till September 19, Tuncdemir said: “The main thing is there is a permission to install the cross. We may not manage to place it before the liturgy, but it will be installed by all means. Please, do not make it a big problem. We hold meetings and discussions on the matter and do our best to install the cross before the liturgy. However, the Van Governor is to make a final decision.”

He stressed the church on Akhtamar was restored and opened for religious services and asked the reporters to write only good things. “If it is possible, the cross will be installed. We wish to do it in a friendly atmosphere,” he noted.

Then, 5 hours later this.

 

http://news.am/eng/news/30825.html

September 14, 2010 | 15:24

 

On September 14, the cross of Surb Khach Church was brought to Akhtamar Island from the Van Museum. Van Deputy Governor Aray Uslu himself participated in the transportation of the cross, Turkish Hurriyet daily reports

According to a local official, the Armenian clergymen in Istanbul will arrive in Van in two days and place the cross wherever they want. “Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism allowed the cross to be installed on the church. However, it is impossible to install the cross on the dome for technical reasons,” he said.

The 2.5 meters high and 1.3 meters wide 100-kg cross will be guarded by security officers.

Interestingly, Van businessmen promised to have the cross installed on the dome of the church before the September 19 liturgy.

---

Speaking of hitting them in the pocket, here is how those SSOs are feeling the pain.

 

 

 

‘Cross crisis’ between Turkey and Armenia escalates

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU

ISTANBUL - HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tours are being canceled one after another due to the ‘cross’ crisis between Turkey and Armenia. A cross has yet to be remounted atop the Surp Haç Church in Turkey’s eastern province of Van, but officials say they have launched work to place a cross on the church’s dome

Tour trips to the province of Van organized by the Armenian diaspora and Armenia for this week are being canceled one after another due to a delay in placing a cross atop the Surp Haç Church ahead of Sunday’s long-anticipated liturgy.

Work to place a cross on the dome, however, started early Tuesday, officials said. Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay said in a statement to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review two weeks ago that during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday the cross would be on the dome. Günay said the placing of the cross was delayed so the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, would not be the target of criticism ahead of the Sept. 12 referendum on a constitutional amendments package.

The crisis comes after disappointing governmental initiatives including the Kurdish initiative, which has stalled after initially high hopes, and the Turkish-Armenian dialogue that was launched with football diplomacy in 2008, which came to a halt after the AKP found itself in a difficult political position.

Lack of cross reason for cancellations

Earlier this year tour operators in Armenia started accepting reservations for the service to be held in the church and the number of reservations increased into the thousands in the spring. Itineraries included bus tours starting Sept. 13 from Armenia to Turkey via Georgia. Armenian tourists were to visit Armenian cultural heritage sites in Turkey’s eastern provinces during a weeklong tour.

The Armenian Apostolic Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced, however, it would not send two members of the priesthood as representatives to the Divine Liturgy as planned. Another key center of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Jerusalem Patriarchate, has protested the event from the beginning.

“Turkey is being political about the cross. If it is to be mounted, why did they wait so long? This is disrespect to us and our religion,” said Narekavank Tour Manager Ashot Soghomonian from Yerevan in a phone interview.

“Etchmiadzin is boycotting the mass, so how could we forget everything and attend the ceremony?” said Ani Tour owner Volodya Anushian. “We decided to cancel our reservations because we have self-respect. No one has pressured us to cancel them. “Why have they waited for so long?

“This could’ve been a chance to resume Turkish-Armenian dialogue, but we have lost it,” Arushanyan said. “Not only Armenians in Armenia and in the diaspora, but also Armenians in Istanbul should boycott this.”

Over 50,000 tourists were expected from around the world, with some 500 coming via Narekavank and Ani tour operators. The price of Narekavank’s weeklong tour was $450-$500. Ani Tour offered a five-day package at $395. Both operators are preparing to reimburse their customers.

The Surp Haç Church is one of the best examples of Armenian cultural heritage in Anatolia. The church was restored by the Turkish state in 2007 and turned into a museum. Armenian experts restored the structure in accordance with the original. Although construction work has been completed, the cross has not been mounted yet.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Arpa

[Arpa]

And...

THE CROSS

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4990029532_af8d18dcd9.jpg

 

Note here that that crescent and star rag and the ugly face of that butcher are not seen.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4990029454_7fe2178dbb.jpg

 

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4990029626_c3c5ff7099.jpg

 

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4989422177_3a26de8237.jpg

 

And here are the "crusaders".

 

http://news.am/pic/news/30825.jpg

[Arpa]

Above we read …

Earlier this year tour operators in Armenia started accepting reservations for the service to be held in the church and the number of reservations increased into the thousands in the spring. Itineraries included bus tours starting Sept. 13 from Armenia to Turkey via Georgia. Armenian tourists were to visit Armenian cultural heritage sites in Turkey’s eastern provinces during a weeklong tour.

The Armenian Apostolic Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced, however, it would not send two members of the priesthood as representatives to the Divine Liturgy as planned. Another key center of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Jerusalem Patriarchate, has protested the event from the beginning.

“Turkey is being political about the cross. If it is to be mounted, why did they wait so long? This is disrespect to us and our religion,” said Narekavank Tour Manager Ashot Soghomonian from Yerevan in a phone interview.

“Etchmiadzin is boycotting the mass, so how could we forget everything and attend the ceremony?” said Ani Tour owner Volodya Anushian. “We decided to cancel our reservations because we have self-respect. No one has pressured us to cancel them. “Why have they waited for so long?

“This could’ve been a chance to resume Turkish-Armenian dialogue, but we have lost it,” Arushanyan said. “Not only Armenians in Armenia and in the diaspora, but also

Armenians in Istanbul should boycott this.

Yeah, yeah!! Right!!!

included bus tours starting Sept. 13 from Armenia to Turkey via Georgia.Armenian tourists were to visit Armenian cultural heritage

.

Via Georgia?**** Why don’t we make it “via Kamchatka and Timbuktu“? (Do we know where those places are?)***

Not only residents of Yerevan should boycott this event but boycott any entry to that hell and spare their hard earned drams and dollars , rather than enriching those SSOs. Including naive American Armenians, Syrian Armenians, Greek Armenians and Armenians of Zululand.**

-----

Do we know the origin and meaning of the word “boycott”?

 

A boycott is a form of consumer activism involving the act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons

---

The word boycott entered the English language during the Irish "Land War" and is derived from the name of Captain Charles Boycott, the estate agent of an absentee landlord, Lord Erne, who lived in Lough Mask House, in County Mayo, Ireland, who was subject to social ostracism organized by the Irish Land League in 1880.

 

** I should not be so cynically cruel. I can understand the claustrophobic frustrations of the Yerevanites who are condemned to live in a landlocked/blockaded country that one can walk the width and the length in one day . I know how it feels. I have lived in Syria and Lebanon where we were stopped by the border patrol every other mile of the way.

*** Kamchatka

http://www.kamchatkatravel.net/imgs/maps/w_map.jpg

Timbuktu

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/schools/magicmali/images/map3.jpg

****

Why via Georgia, not Via Florida or Ala- bamia?

http://www.statetravelmaps.com/Georgia/main-georgia-map.gif

Edited September 14, 2010 by Arpa

[Arpa]

Here is another SAD story about BORDERS.

Even if we have spoken about it under many topics, like trafficking/prostitution etc.

I have seen fit to post it here as many of us are hoping for “open borders”.

It is doubly SAD the characters have such (fictitious?) beautiful Armenian names like Gohar and Hasmik.

----

http://hetq.am/en/court/traf-5/

14 September, 2010,

Trafficking or Prostitution? Armenian Women in Turkey

[ 2010/09/13 | 15:30 ] Feature Stories court trafficking

Ararat Davtyan

Court Case Continues Amidst Claims and Counterclaims

“Hasmik paid me up till April and Gohar always paid Anna,” said Yelena, adding that Hasmik had sent her to Turkey to wash dishes. It turns out that Hasmik was forced to “turn tricks” in the sex trade at the Ani Hotel for 7 long months.

Yelena is from Karvatchar, in liberated Artsakh. In August, 2008, she came to Yerevan to look for work. Not finding any, Yelena made her way to Artashat, to the home of the friend of her former neighbor. There, she made the acquaintance of Hasmik Qaramyan, a friend of the home owner. Hasmik related that she had made good money a while back working as a waitress and told Hasmik that she could set her up doing the same work in Turkey at the café owned by Gohar Kirakosyan.

“She said I could make between $1,000-1,200 a month and that Gohar would deposit the money in a bank deposit in my name. She said I could withdraw the money once I returned to Armenia,” Yelena told the police investigator. “She said that Gohar would take care of the travel expenses and would give me lodgings and meals at her hotel. I would have to compensate her for the travel costs from my wages later on.”

Women claim they were forced into sex trade

On the same day, Yelena also met with Anna, another friend of the Artashat home owner. Yelena told Anna about the proposal Hasmik had offered her. Anna also was attracted by the business proposal and the two of them spoke to Gohar by phone. They checked the validity of the offer and, once convinced, expressed a willingness to work at Gohar’s cafe. In September, 2008, Hasmik first sent Anna and later Yelena for Turkey by bus. The two women were directed by Hasmik to fool their relatives as to their actual destination. They told their relatives they were leaving for Leningrad (St. Petersburg).

The investigator took notes on all of this – on how Gohar Kirakosyan, once housing the two girls at the Ani Hotel, took possession of their passports; of how they were beat and forced to engage in sex with clients; how Gohar took all their earnings.

Women never told their story to Armenian police

What’s interesting is that Yelena and Anna were deported back to Armenia by the Turkish authorities in May, 2009. They never told their story to law enforcement once back in Armenia. It was only months later, when the police came upon their names as victims of “trafficking”, that the women broke down and recounted their story, testifying against Hasmik Qaramyan.

The case, revolving around the figure of pimp mistress Gohar Kirakosyan, is now being examined at the Kentron Court. For years now, many girls from Armenia have been “taken under the wing” by Gohar, sent to Turkey and exploited sexually. Surprisingly, Gohar hasn’t been charged with anything in the case. An all points bulletin, seeking her arrest, was issued back in 2003, but to date, she hasn’t been found. Hasmik Qaramyan has been charged with entering into a prior arrangement with Gohar Kirakosyan to recruit and send Yelena and Anna to Turkey for purposes of exploitation.

Defense attorney claims no trafficking involved

Anzhela Hobosyan, Hasmik’s attorney, doesn’t agree with the pre-trial examiner’s evaluation that the women were subjected to “trafficking”. She questions how it is that the women were sending home money and parcels from Turkey and how, on several occasions, they made their way to the Bagratashen border crossing to extend their visas. Why, she asks, didn’t the women ever attempt to return to Armenia and instead returned to Turkey. “In one case, Anna visited Georgia for several days, but didn’t return to Armenia,” states the lawyer.

At the previous trial session, Hasmik was questioned by the court. She argued that no one could be forced into the sex trade in Turkey, given that “there are cops all over the place and any girl could seek their assistance.” Hasmik added that her accusers knew full well where they were going and why.

“I have nothing to do with it. I merely telephoned Gohar. They spoke with Gohar and she explicitly said they had to work as prostitutes. They had found out that I had gone to Turkey and directly requested that I hook them up. It’s not like anyone forced them. The girls were complaining that they had no work; so I helped out. It was at their request that I put them on the bus and sent them off. I had no contact with them afterwards,” says Hasmik, adding that Yelena telephoned her twice, telling her to send more girls since there was loads of work in Turkey.

“I told her that there aren’t any girls and to stop pestering me. Later, when she continued calling I was forced to change my telephone number,” recounts Hasmik Qaramyan.

Yelena was present in court for Hasmik’s questioning.

Declaring that it was all a pack of lies, Yelena explained that Hasmik switched the number for other reasons. She claims that in December, 2008, Gohar Kirakosyan sent $500 to Hasmik. Half was to go to Yelena’s relatives and the other half to Anna’s. “My sister later called Hasmik to arrange for payment, but she had turned off the phone,” explains Yelena.

The money trail – who to believe?

Hasmik countered this allegation by saying, “No, her sister called saying that Yelena had sent me $500. I told her she was wrong, that nothing had been sent and why would she send me anything. The sister told me she had a boyfriend in the police, threatening me that she would have me arrested. Later, they returned. Seven months had passed. The sister first testified against me and then the others.”

Hasmik’s attorney, Anzhela Hobosyan, requested that the court verify whether $500 was transferred to her client’s bank account during 2008.

Hasmik declared in open court that she had no personal gain in sending Yelena and Anna to Turkey. However, during the pre-trial examination, Hasmik accepted the charges against her and testified that during the period 2003-2006, while in Trabzon, Gohar Kirakosyan had taken her passport and had forced her to have sex with numerous clients. Gohar then proceeded to seize the $15,000 Hasmik earned in the sex trade and purchased some $5,000 of jewellery and $2,000 of clothes. Returning to Armenia in 2006, Hasmik telephoned Gohar several times, demanding that she return what was hers. At first, Gohar refused, but in 2008 she agreed to return the cash and goods on condition that Hasmik return to Turkey.

“I told her I was now married and couldn’t engage in prostitution anymore,” Hasmik wrote in her testimony, noting that later on Gohar suggested that Hasmik send her two girls, convincing them that they wouldn’t be swindled if they went to Turkey. If Hasmik made good, then Gohar promised to return the goods. Hasmik took Gohar at her word and sent Yelena and Anna to Trabzon, but she never got back her cash and property. Nevertheless, Hasmik claims that she never deceived the girls and that they knew full well that they were going to Turkey to work as prostitutes.

Prosecuting Attorney Hounan Babayan has asked the court for time to cross-examine Hasmik Qaramyan regarding the contradictions in her pre-trial and court testimony. The court has scheduled the trial to continue on September 17.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Arpa

[Arpa]

CNN Aghtamar;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0FjOApGB0A

[Arpa]

Is the CIRCUS over?

http://www.clown-ministry.com/images/GlenLittle-chof91.jpg

Now that farcical fantasy, cat and mouse cartoon comedy is over. Shall we wait another 6 months for April 24, and another year for another mickey mouse show at Aghtamar?

Cat and mouse game? Did mehmet compose these cartoons? Which is Tom, which is Jerry?

Doses anyone here know personally anyone who attended or intended to attend that circus?

Please show us those 50,000, 5,000, 500 or even 300 are.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=64100

 

Watch the video before it is taken off.

http://webtv.hurriyet.com.tr/1/9794/0/1/yuzlerce-ermeni-akdamar-a-geldi.aspx

http://news.am/eng/news/31473.html

Liturgy in Surb Khach church over (video)

September 19, 2010 | 15:19

A liturgy in Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island, Van, Turkey, is over (Photos).

In conclusion, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan delivered a speech, calling for fraternity and peace between Armenians and Turks, the NEWS.am correspondent reports from Turkey. He expressed his gratitude to the Turkish authorities for their permission for annual religious services at the church. Archbishop Ateshyan expressed his regret that Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan was unable to take part in the liturgy. He was the first to raise the issue of renovation of Surb Khach church before the Turkish authorities.

A group of Armenian believers raised wooden crosses, protesting against the fact the a cross was not placed atop the church before the liturgy.

The liturgy passed without any incidents.

Only the Constantinople Patriarchate participated in the liturgy. The three other patriarchates of the Armenian Apostolic Church refused to take part in the liturgy, as the Turkish authorities refused to install a cross on atop the church. Armenian public representatives also refused to take part in the liturgy for the same reason, though they received invitations from the Turkish Premier. The public figures stated that Surb Khach church cannot be considered restored until a cross has been installed on its dome

---

Let me ask this again. How many of us know anyone in person that intended, did attend that “circus”. Please name names.

First it was reported that 50,000 were expected that hotels were reserved to capacity and the rest would lodge in local houses. Shortly, the figure was reduced, a 0 was removed to 5,000.

And now we see this. Ah!! That numbers game again. How many Armenians were murdered between 1894 and 1923? 2,000,000 or 200,000? And how many furks did the Armenians murder? 3,000,000-30,000,000? You wish!!!

I doubt even the number 350-400. Don’t they mean 3 to 4, i.e that loyal hostage at-esh-ian** and a couple of his sidekick clergy who pray to “Our allah who art in heaven /Ալլահ մեր որ յերկինքն ես“?

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/09/19/hurriyet/

Hurriyet. Hardly 350-400 will attend the ceremony

Armenian pilgrims who arrived in Van to attend the liturgy of Holy Cross Church are taken in boats to Akhtamar Island. According to Turkish “Hurriyet” a great number of pilgrims are gathered near the church. It’s reported Armenians from the USA, France and Armenia arrived in the city.

The majority of the liturgy participants are Armenians of Polis. According to the sou9rce 750 Armenians from Istanbul have also arrived in Akhtamar. Thousands of Armenians are left disappointed since “Hurriyet” writes the cross isn’t put on the top of the church.

Due to this unfaithful policy the number of Armenians to attend the liturgy has significantly cut. “It’s supposed that 350-400 people will hardly attend the ceremony,” Turkish media writes.

**Does anyone remember the last time he visited Ejmiatsin?

PS. Will someone tell us what Mutafian’s sickness is? All we hear is that he has “dementia” (definition?). Is his illness medical or political, be internal (rivalry) or external? He seemed hale and robust in 2007 opening of Aghtamar , and next we heard he was ill????

Have any independent neurologist/psychiatrists examined him? Reminiscent of Komitas when he was declared insane when he may have only had a temporary nervous breakdown/exhaustion.

Edited September 20, 2010 by Arpa

[Arpa]

WOODEN BORDERS

WOODEN NICKELS

ՓԱՅՏԷ ԴՐԱՄ

An old American adage- Don-t Take a Wooden Nickel;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_nickel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_nickel#mediaviewer/File:United_States_penny,_obverse,_2002.png

ՇՈՒՆԸ ՅԻՇԷ, ՓԱՅՏԸ ՔԱՇԷ

SEE THE DOG, REACH FOR THE STICK

As always- Every Cloud has a Silver lining.

http://static.squarespace.com/static/53469160e4b0a8c991791fc2/53488323e4b0a05a0b233d31/5349155ee4b0fffc0dccd259/?format=1000w

For every piece of wood we import, at least one tree is spared .in the Ararat Plain

How about we turn the tables around, so to speak. We sell them rickety TOPAL tabla/lame/ ԿԱՂ tables with one leg shorter than the other. ***

http://hetq.am/static/news/b/2014/10/56962.jpg

http://hetq.am/static/news/b/2014/10/56962.jpg

There was once an Iron Curtain, the a Bamboo Curtain , and now a a porous Balsa Wood Curtain.http://www.airfieldmodels.com/gallery_of_models/miscellaneous/graupner_mini/images/18177.jpg

http://www.airfieldmodels.com/gallery_of_models/miscellaneous/graupner_mini/images/18177.jpg

http://hetq.am/eng/news/56962/closed-border-armenia-imports-most-of-its-wood-from-turkey.html|

ROTTEN WOOD ՓՏՏԱԾ ՓԱՅՏ**

Closed Borders?

=====

Armenia Imports Most of Its Wood from Turkey

 

Readers might be surprised to learn that despite closed borders, for the past four years Armenia has been importing the bulk of its wood and wood by-products from Turkey. Such imports, according to Armenias National Statistical Service, reached a peak in 2011 at a value of US$20 million. Following Turkey, Armenia gets most of its wood and wood by-products from Ukraine, China and Georgia.

Armenias Imports: Wood/Wood Byproducts (in USD millions) Surprisingly, Armenia also exports wood. In the past two years, the largest recipients have been Moldova and Canada. Armenias wood exports are dwarfed by the amounts imported. Exports reached a peak in 2010 at a value of US$ 282,000.

Armenias Exports: Wood/Wood Byproducts (in USD millions

=====

http://hetq.am/arm/news/56962/amenashat-paytanyuty-hayastany-nermutsum-e-turqiayic.html

Ամենաշատ փայտանյութը Հայաստանը ներմուծում է Թուրքիայից

Չնայած Հայաստանը և Թուրքիան չունեն դիվանագիտական հարաբերություններ, և սահմանները փակ են, այդուհանդերձ, փայտ, փայտից իրեր, փայտածուխ Հայաստան վերջին 4 տարիներին անընդմեջ ներմուծվել է ամենաշատը Թուրքիայից:.:

===

Trade Balance.

Imports. I am not sure if they are talking about raw wood or finished products.;

Imports. I am not sure if they are talking about raw wood or finished products.;

Turkey -8,308.5 Russia -7,633.3 Ukraine -7,088 China -6,975.1 Georgia -1,777.6 Belarus -1,500.9 Romania -1,084.8 Italy -892.1 Bulgaria -881 Poland -589 Germany 386.8 Austria -270.8 Belgium -238.5 Czech Republic -167.9 Indonesia -149 USA -146.2 France -145 Canada -127.1 United Arab Emirates -126 Spain -61 Finland -60.4 Denmark -35 United Kingdom -28.6 Gabon -6.1 Iran -4.2

Portugal -0.7 Lithuania -0.4 Latvia -0.4 Slovakia -0

=====

Exports See chart and figures below.

Iran -213.4 Russia -50.2 Spain -49.5 Georgia -21.6 France -14.6 Italy -2.4 United Kingdom -0.4 USA 0.1 Canada -0

Ukraine 0 Germany -0 Austria 0 Czech Republic -0 Poland -0 Moldova -0

====

[Arpa]

For your amusement.

GW had wooden dentures.

http://www.mountvernon.org/research-collections/digital-encyclopedia/article/false-teeth/

An old American adage- Don-t Take a Wooden Nickel;

===

Why do we still have so called ARMENIAN surnames like TOPAL-ian and CHOLAKH-ian?

A prominent family in our neighborhood, of Greek origin are known as Cholakis. I doubt if they know it means withered arm, Cerebral Palsey

**ROTTEN WOOD ՓՏՏԱԾ ՓԱՅՏ

***In their non-language there is an expression-Topal; eshek lame donkey Կաղ Իշուկ defective merchandise****

Lame horse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lameness_(equine)

Lameness in horses and other equidae is a term used to refer to any number of conditions where the animal fails to travel in a regular and sound manner on all four feet. There are many causes of lameness,

**ROTTEN WOOD ՓՏՏԱԾ ՓԱՅՏ. Just like those pieces of rotten wood masquerading as from the noah-s dingy.

***In their non-language there is an expression-Topal; eshek lame donkey Կաղ Իշուկ defective merchandise****

 

**** Many anecdotes about Kesaratsis, who, beside being the basturma masters are also, at times called Armenian jews.

Lame horse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lameness_(equine)

Lameness in horses and other equidae is a term used to refer to any number of conditions where the animal fails to travel in a regular and sound manner on all four feet. There are many causes of lameness,

**** There is not much to go about. Many sites will refer to anecdotes of how a jew was selling a lame donkey.Much reminiscent of the Armenian Anecdote of a Kesaratsi repainting the donkey and selling it to the original owner.

===

BEWARE OF FURKS(Greeks) BEARING GIFTS

WOODEN HORSE ՓԱՅՏՐ ՁԻ TROJAN HORSE ՏՐՈՅԱԿԱՆ ՁԻ.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Trojan_horse_Çanakkale.jpg

The Trojan Horse is a tale from the Trojan War about the subterfuge that the Greeks used to enter the city of Troy and win the war. In the canonical version, after a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse, and hid a select force of men inside. The Greeks pretended to sail away, and the Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night the Greek force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the Greek army, which had sailed back under cover of night. The Greeks entered and destroyed the city of Troy, decisively ending the war

the horse is called the "Wooden Horse/ՓԱՅՏԷ ՁԻ"

ՏՐՈՅԱԿԱՆ ՁԻ,

ըստ հին հուն, առաս- պելաբանության՝ Տրոյայի պատերազմի 10-րդ տարում Ոդիսևսի խորհրդով կա ռուցված փայտե հսկա ձի: Տրոյան պա- շարած հույներն իբր դրա մեջ թաքցրել են մի քանի ընտիր ռազմաջոկատ, այն թո ղել քաղաքի արտաքին պարսպի մոտ և հեռացել՝ ձևացնելով, որ վերացնում են պաշարումը:tՏրոյացիներն,tանտեսելով Լաոկոոն քրմապետի նախազգուշացում ները և հավատալով հույն լրտեսի կեղծ խոսքերին, թե փայտե ձիուն տիրող քա- ղաքը դառնալու է անառիկ, այն տեղափո- խել են պարիսպներից ներս և զետեղել Աթենաս դիցուհու տաճարի մոտ: Գիշերը դրա միջից դուրս եկած զինվորները բա ցել են բերդապարսպի դարպասները և ներս թողել հուն, զորքերին, որոնք գրա վել ու կործանել են Տրոյան: ՏՁ

ար տահայտությունն այլաբանորեն նշանա կում է նվեր թշնամուն՝ նրան խաբելու, ծուղակը գցելու և կործանելու նպատա կով:

http://www.wpclipart.com/toys/assorted/rocking_horse_wooden.png

http://www.wpclipart.com/toys/assorted/rocking_horse_wooden.png

Ձի-ձի, փայտէ ձի,

Մեր դռանը կապեցի,

Կարմիր գույնով ներկեցի,

Ով որ ունի այսպես ձի,

Թող գա ինձ հետ նա մրցի