Turkish hospitality: Armenian reporters taken hostage in Istanbul airport

12:36 | Region The Independent: Behind the preposterous glitz of Eurovision stands the oppressive Azerbaijani regime

“Amnesty International records at least 12 prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijani jails and Azerbaijan comes near the bottom of the press-freedom index.”
Source: The Independent
12:34 | Armenia Armenian Heritage Park unveiled in Boston

A gift from Massachusetts’ Armenian-American community, the park celebrates local immigrants and their contributions to the community.
Source: MFA
12:30 | Armenia Orinats Yerkir also to hold banquet

By the advice of Heghine Bisharyan NSC Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan plans to hold a banquet at Geghama restaurant complex owned by businessman Khachik Khachatryan.
Source: Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun
12:28 | Armenia Fire chases RPA

“The 21st century is age of fire. Unlike water, the world will now go through the ordeal by fire,” Hraparak writes.
Source: Hraparak
12:25 | Armenia Helsinki Association website hacked

“I don’t know who is behind this attack,” organization’s Chairman Mikayel Danielyan told Aravot.
Source: Aravot
12:24 | Armenia Viktor Dallakyan to be Chairman of Civil Service Council

Current Chairman of Civil Service Council Manvel Badalyan submitted a withdrawal application.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
12:22 | Armenia Sergo Karapetyan’s tenure as Minister of Agriculture hangs by thread

Orinats Yerkir Party will have two ministerial portfolios in the new cabinet keeping the positions of Agriculture and Emergency Situations Ministers.
Source: Yerkir
08:58 | In the world Body of missing Harvard student found

Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck confirmed Tuesday that a body pulled from Portland Harbor in the city's Old Port area is that of 31-year-old Nathan Bihlmaier.
Source: CNN
08:45 | In the world Interpol targets 55 suspects using social network sites for child sex abuse images

The 55 suspects allegedly created groups that posted images of children under age 13 being abused.
Source: CNN
08:44 | In the world Egypt gears up for landmark presidential vote

Egyptians are preparing to head to the polls in their first free presidential election, 15 months after ousting Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring uprising.
Source: BBC
08:37 | In the world Argentina bomb found ahead of Alvaro Uribe talk

Officials in Argentina say they have found explosives at a theatre in the capital, Buenos Aires, where former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was due to make a speech on Wednesday.
Source: BBC
18:14 | In the world Chelsea tell Fernando Torres he is going nowhere despite complaints

Didier Drogba has confirmed he will leave Chelsea this summer but Fernando Torres will not be following his fellow striker out of the club.
Source: Guardian
17:59 | Armenia Syunik region suffers damage from hail

Hail caused damage to gardens and sown areas in the villages of Lehvaz, Shvanidzor, Vardanidzor, Shrvenants, Norashenik, Nerkin Khotanan and the town of Kapan, Syunik region.
Source: Emergency Channel
16:46 | In the world Putin appoints former ministers as aides

A day after disclosing the new Cabinet, Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed several former ministers as presidential advisers.
Source: Gazeta.ru
15:49 | Armenia Melik-Shahnazaryan: Threat to Armenia is also threat to CSTO

"Bordyuzha’s statement is a signal to Azerbaijan that Armenia is in the focus of attention of CSTO states which are determined to protect the interests of their ally," said the expert.
Source: Panorama.am
15:00 | Armenia Arthur Kirajyan wins in Minsk

A large international boxing tournament took place in Minsk, with five Armenian boxers participating, alongside with sportsmen from 11 countries.
Source: ARMNOC
13:56 | Armenia Armenian under-19 football team heads to Italy

They will participate in UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite round on May 23.
Source: Panorama.am
12:44 | Armenia David Tonoyan dreams of being Defense Minister

Those familiar with his activities assert that fulfillment of his dream will be the end of our army.
Source: Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun
12:42 | Armenia New ministries may be established soon

Source: 168 Zham
12:41 | Armenia Oskanian & Co give up parliamentary mandates

By interesting coincidence, almost all of them objected to formation of a coalition with RPA, and as it happens PAP leader exactly “gets rid” of them.
Source: Irates de Facto
12:38 | Armenia Vigen Sargsyan may become Parliament Speaker

Besides discussions over Prime Minister’s candidacy, the political circles also consider the issue of future Parliament Speaker these days.
Source: Irates de Facto
12:37 | Armenia All Ministers to stay in their jobs except Minister of Sport

It is rumored that spokesman for Prosperous Armenia Party Khachik Galstyan may be appointed as Minister of Sport.
Source: Hraparak
12:34 | Armenia Orinats Yerkir communicating good news

Behind-the-scenes talks in power circles on forming a coalition fail to yield any results, and Orinats Yerkir Party is happy about the situation.
Source: Zhoghovurd
12:31 | Armenia Robert Kocharyan leaves for Moscow following Tsarukyan-Sargsyan meeting

PAP is confident that Kocharyan’s trip is connected with the issue of whether or not PAP will join the coalition.
Source: Hraparak
12:29 | Armenia Constitutional referendum for PAP Deputy Prime Minister

President Serzh Sargsyan has promised Gagik Tsarukyan that he will give Deputy Prime Minister’s mandate to Prosperous Armenia Party after the presidential elections.
Source: 168 Zham
09:22 | In the world Suicide blast kills more than 100 troops in Yemen

A suicide bomber dressed in a military uniform set off a blast that killed more than 100 soldiers in Yemen Monday.
Source: CNN
09:21 | In the world 13 dead, 30 injured after train crash in India

The Hampi Express was traveling from Hubli to Bangalore and crashed into a stationary goods train in Penukonda, in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Source: CNN
09:03 | In the world China fake parts 'used in US military equipment'

Vast numbers of counterfeit Chinese electronic parts are being used in US military equipment, a key Senate committee has reported.
Source: BBC
09:02 | In the world Three climbers die on Mt Everest descent

The three are reported to be a South Korean, a German and a Nepali-born Canadian woman.
Source: BBC
18:49 | In the world Del Piero 'regret' at final defeat

Alessandro Del Piero admits there are regrets at ending his Juventus career with a defeat, “but these have been fantastic years and I am proud of everything I’ve done.”
Source: Football Italia
18:27 | In the world Mazzarri: It seemed unthinkable to beat Juventus this season

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has said that his side beat the odds to see off Juventus 2-0 in the the Coppa Italia final.
Source: Goal.com
17:53 | Armenia Raffi Hovannisian receives US Ambassador

They exchanged views on post-election Armenia, American-Armenian relations, and regional developments.
Source: Heritage
17:45 | Armenia Lori region suffers damage from hail

It was reported today that hail had caused damage to agricultural areas of about 220 hectares in the village of Mikhaylovka, Lori region of Armenia.
Source: Emergency Channel
17:35 | Armenia Bordyuzha: CSTO states will unequivocally support Armenia

“Armenia is a full-fledged member of CSTO,” organization’s Secretary General said during the Yerevan-Moscow-Kiev-Astana-Kishinev space bridge.
Source: Panorama.am
16:34 | In the world Putin unveiled new Cabinet

Source: Reuters
16:15 | In the world Aztag marks 85th anniversary

Source: Panorama.am
16:14 | Armenia No sexual revolution in Armenia: It was evolution

Armenia was the first state in Soviet Union to found Clinic of Sexopathology in 1985.
Source: Panorama.am
16:12 | Armenia Edward Nalbandian meets with Armenian community in Chicago

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian arrived in Chicago to take part in the meeting of the heads of the countries of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to be held in the frames of the NATO Summit.
Source: MFA
13:52 | Region Gul meets with Merkel and Hollande

Turkey will suspend relations with EU presidency, but will keep relations with EU commissions and other structures.
Source: CnnTurk
13:51 | In the world Merkel urges Hollande not to rush to leave Afghanistan

France’s new president, Francois Hollande, said on May 18 that he will keep to his campaign pledge to withdraw French combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year.
Source: Business Week
13:49 | Region Obama hopeful Iran’s nuclear issue to be solved in peaceful fashion that respects Iran's sovereignty

Source: Iranian asriran.com
13:47 | In the world Book ‘His Holiness’ violates Pope’s right to privacy

The Vatican on Saturday denounced as "criminal" a new book of leaked internal documents that shed light on power struggles inside the Holy See and the thinking of its embattled top banker, and warned that it would take legal action against those responsible.
Source: News 24
13:45 | Armenia Yerevan hosts BSEC 39th plenary session

Statement dedicated to the 20th anniversary of BSEC will be issued.
Source: National Assembly
13:40 | In the world Opposition candidate wins Serbian presidential elections

Tadic congratulated his opponent and urged him to keep Serbia on the path towards European Union membership.
Source: Voice of America
13:39 | Armenia Head of Nor Nork district submits resignation

Yerevan Mayor relieved Armen Ulikhanyan of his duties as head of the Health Department at Mayor’s Office to appoint him head of Nor Nork district.
Source: Mayor’s Office
13:38 | In the world Pakistan restores Twitter

Details on the allegedly offensive tweets were unavailable, but they apparently urged participation in "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day"
Source: The Washington Post
13:37 | Armenia Varuzhan Akobian finishes 4th in U.S. Chess Championship

Hikaru Nakamura won the Championship with 8.5 points.
Source: armchess.am
13:36 | In the world Two die in first Beirut clashes over Syria conflict

The clashes, between Sunni pro- and anti-Syrian groups, followed the shooting dead on Sunday of two anti-Syrian sheikhs.
Source: BBC
12:04 | In the world Russian director beaten up at Cannes

Artyom Semakin has fallen victim to an unknown assailant, who beat up the filmmaker on his way to the hotel from the Palais des Festivals.
Source: RT
11:49 | In the world ‘Election silence’ in Egypt ahead of landmark poll

Egypt started a ban on all activities of presidential campaigning dubbed “election silence” on Monday that will last for two days before the landmark voting kicks off on May 23-24.
Source: Al Arabiya
11:12 | Armenia CIS observers highly assess election process in Armenia

Armenian parliamentary delegation attended 37th plenary session of CIS IPA in Saint Petersburg on May 15-18.
Source: National Assembly
10:14 | Armenia 2.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Ashotsk

The quake’s hypocenter was located at a depth of 5 km; the tremors were measured at 3-4 in the epicenter.
Source: National Seismic Protection Service
09:47 | In the world Former Israeli president leaves prison to attend son’s wedding

Moshe Katsav went on his first vacation from jail on Sunday since he began serving time for his rape conviction in December.
Source: Haaretz
09:21 | In the world Police, protesters clash outside NATO summit

Police hit protesters with batons as they pushed against a line of officers, video from CNN affiliate WLS showed.
Source: CNN
09:13 | In the world Deadly quake rocks northern Italy

Thousands of survivors huddled in tents or in their cars under rainy skies early Monday following a weekend earthquake that killed seven people across northern Italy.
Source: CNN

11:22 13/09/2010 » Politics

Early in the morning of September 13, at 5.00 Turkish time (7.00 Yerevan time) three Armenian journalists of Panorama.am, ‘Aravot’ and Yerevan press club landed in Istanbul airport and were soon taken hostage.

In the check control point of the airport Armenian journalists were taken hostage with some other Armenians as well, who arrived in Turkey having other mission. Most of them were salesmen.

After getting their entrance visas, Turkish officer took the passports of the Armenians without making any comments and gave it to the police officers. Those called our compatriots’ names cynically and checked if they had a ticket back with them and rummaged in the wallets to find money with them.

The situation didn’t change even when they were told Armenian reporters were taken hostage. Even more our reporters were soon separated and kept for about an hour since the Turks weren’t sure what to do with them – to let free or to keep.

An hour later, when representatives of “Hrant Dink” foundation and Boris Navasardyan the President of Yerevan Press Club interfered the incident, our reporters were set free.

The salesmen told later they were surprised since they’ve been visiting Turkey for 10 years and have never appeared in such a situation.

Source: Panorama.am