Month: September 2013

IT IS NECESSARY TO AVOID DESTABILIZING ARMS PURCHASES – AMBASSADOR HEFFERN

September 18, 2013 | 12:58

YEREVAN. – The parties to Karabakh conflict must avoid destabilizing
arms purchases, U.S. Ambassador John Heffern said in an interview
with RFE/RL Armenian service.

His comments came in response to a question about media reports
alleging Russia is selling weapons to Azerbaijan.

The U.S. is one of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to
find the negotiated peaceful settlement to the Karabakh conflict,
he said, adding that his country is a key part of this process.

Ambassador Heffern recalled that during his recent visit to the region
newly appointed U.S. co-chair James Warlick repeated the message
that the three Minsk Group leaders issued many times in public: avoid
destabilizing by arms purchases, refrain from belligerent rhetoric and
look for mutually beneficial means to resolve the conflict peacefully.

“There is no military solution to the conflict,” he emphasized.

Asked whether the arms sale was discussed with Russia, Ambassador
Heffern noted: “We talk to them [other co-chairing states Russia
and France] all the time, including about issues on Armenia and
Azerbaijan.”

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT SHOULD PUT CUSTOMS UNION ACCESSION ISSUE TO REFERENDUM – FORMER PM

September 18, 2013 | 12:44

YEREVAN. – President Serzh Sargsyan should gather courage and say
we need to put the matter of Armenia joining the Customs Union to
a referendum.

Opposition Freedom Party Chairman, ex-presidential candidate, former
PM, MP and economist Hrant Bagratyan stated the aforesaid during a
press conference on Wednesday.

“If the referendum said ‘yes’ to the Customs Union, steps should be
taken so that the Customs Union would be better for us. No matter what
the referendum result will be, this will legitimize the decision,”
he noted.

Bagratyan said if Armenia is going toward the Customs Union, a serious
respective commission should be set up.

“Being in a union where there are energy importers, [and] exporters,
the adverse effect of the energy bearers need to be neutralized. Under
these conditions, this will mean shutting down the republic’s economy.

We will be in a situation when tariffs will have to be increased
fourfold,” the opposition MP stated.

The Freedom Party leader also argued that the Russian ruble zone will
await Armenia should it enter the Customs Union.

“The Customs Union is impossible to imagine without the ruble zone,”
he added.

And as for the positive side to joining the Customs Union, Hrant
Bagratyan pointed to the potential flourishing of wine and brandy
production, and the Russian investments.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

NAPOLI VS. BORUSSIA DORTMUND: EXPECTED STARTING LINEUPS

September 18, 2013

NAPLES. – On Wednesday, S.S.C. Napoli of Italy will play host to
Germany’s Borussia Dortmund in a group match in the Champions League.

Tuttonapoli.net of Naples presented the expected starting eleven for
both clubs. According to the website, Armenian national football squad
and Borussia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan should be in the starting
lineup of his club. To note, the Napoli-Borussia Dortmund clash will
kick off at 10O~I45pm, Armenia time.

NEWS.am Sport

From: Baghdasarian

US TO INCREASE FUNDING TO ARMENIA – NEWSPAPER

September 18, 2013 | 08:41

YEREVAN. – The United Stateswill increase financial assistance to
Armenia, and this assistance will be carried out by way of a variety
of programs, Zhamanak daily reports.

“We have learned that the US is determined to reinstate the Millennium
Challenge program this year. According to some information, the US
plans to start the second phase of the program by the year’s end.

“It was previously planned to fund up to $400-450 million in the case
of a second phase of the program. But, now, it has become apparent
that the US plans to make it reach up to half a billion dollars,”
Zhamanak writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES DENY ALLEGED CHOLERA OUTBREAK

HEALTH | 18.09.13 | 13:13

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

Armenia’s Ministry of Health has issued an official statement refuting
the report disseminated by one of the local media claiming a cholera
outbreak in one of the country’s provinces.

Earlier, ilur.am published a report suggesting the disease outbreak
in the villages of Oshakan, Voskevaz and Voskehat of the Aragatsotn
region.

“Not a single case of cholera has been registered in Armenia since
1998,” the Ministry said in the statement published on its official
website.

It added that as many as 54 cases of intestinal infection were
registered in the mentioned community on August 28 and 29. All people
with such symptoms were hospitalized and treated and local health
specialists in Aragatsotn visited the households in the communities
for inspection purposes and for conducting explanatory work among
local residents about prevention of intestinal infections, it added.

Data received as a result of epidemiological examination shows
that the contagion was spread because of a one-time contamination
of drinking water, said the Ministry, adding that on August 28 and
during subsequent days laboratory analyses of drinking water from
the communities did not reveal any pathogen germs.

RUSSIA WILL SUPPLY ANOTHER BATCH OF ARMS TO AZERBAIJAN

Kurgan Machine Construction Plant has launched production of 2C31 Vena
self-propelled artillery units for Azerbaijan, arm-expo.ru informs.

Vena System was introduced in 1997 but no clients were found then.

Azerbaijan is the first client of 18 2C31 Vena self-propelled
artillery units.

Vena is intended for infantry, artillery and mortar units, missile
systems, armored targets, fire units and control centers over a
distance of 13km. It is equipped with a tracker intended for both day
and night time, carry out super-precision fire in any weather and at
time of the day or night over long distances.

16:44 16/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

11TH HAYFEST INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL TO OPEN ON OCT 1

Festival Coordinator Shohakat Galstyan told Tert.am that the best
plays have been selected. 1927’s Edinburgh Showcase production will
inaugurate the festival.

The organizers showed an even stricter approach in electing foreign
companies.

“We are trying to encourage them because our companies are like
hibernating bears, waiting for the world to come to them,” Galstyan
said.

“I can say that rather serious work is done throughout the year. The
art director and program executives visit all the prestigious festivals
and sign contracts. For example the contract for Miranda was signed
four years ago,” Galstyan said.

This year the Hayfest festival has changed its audience
policy. Festival organizers have decided in favor of free admission
to all the plays, which will allow more viewers to see the plays. On
the opening day invitation cards will be distributed, but admission
will be free the following day.

“Next year we want to present a program of best Armenian plays. This
year we are presenting a program of best foreign plays. For many years
we have implemented a program of best Iranian plays,” Galstyan said.

More than 1,500 companies from 50 countries have performed plays in
Armenia during the Hayfest festival for the past ten years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURQUIE : L’ASSASSINAT DU JOURNALISTE HRANT DINK REJUGE MARDI

Turquie-procès-minorites-Armenie-medias

Le nouveau procès de l’assassinat du journaliste turc d’origine
armenienne Hrant Dink debutera mardi devant un tribunal stambouliote,
après l’annulation partielle d’un precedent verdict par la Cour de
cassation, selon une source proche du dossier.

L’audience aura lieu devant la 14e chambre criminelle d’Istanbul,
a indique lundi a l’AFP Garo Paylan, membre de l’association des
Amis de Hrant Dink, soulignant qu’une forte affluence etait attendue
devant le tribunal pour honorer la memoire du journaliste defunt et
reclamer justice.

Hrant Dink a ete abattu de deux balles dans la tete le 19 janvier
2007 a Istanbul devant les locaux d’Agos, l’hebdomadaire bilingue
turc-armenien qu’il dirigeait, par un jeune nationaliste âge de 17 ans,
un crime qui a bouleverse la Turquie.

L’auteur de l’assassinat, Ogun Samast, mineur au moment des faits et
juge pour cette raison separement, a ete condamne en juillet 2011 a
23 ans de prison.

En janvier 2012, un second jugement a condamne l’instigateur du crime,
Yasin Hayal, a la reclusion a perpetuite, mais a aussi considere
qu’il n’y avait pas eu complot et acquitte 18 autres prevenus.

La Cour de cassation a partiellement invalide le 15 mai ce dernier
verdict.

Elle a maintenu la condamnation prononcee contre Hayal mais a estime
que les juges du fond auraient du retenir la qualification de “crime
en bande criminelle organisee” et leur a renvoye le dossier.

Ce sont ainsi Yasin Hayal et les 18 prevenus acquittes qui doivent
etre rejuges mardi.

Les avocats de la partie civile, qui reclament depuis le debut du
procès une enquete plus approfondie sur les ramifications du crime
au sein des rouages de l’Etat, n’etaient cependant guère optimistes
sur l’issue de cette nouvelle procedure judiciaire.

Ils redoutaient en effet que les juges de la 14e chambre criminelle
s’en tiennent a la qualification de crime en bande organisee
preconisee par la Cour de cassation, sans envisager les enjeux
politiques de l’affaire et une requalification en crime par une
organisation terroriste.

Dink oeuvrait a la reconciliation entre les Turcs et les Armeniens au
regard de leur passe sanglant, mais les nationalistes lui en voulaient
d’avoir employe pour le massacre des Armeniens sous l’Empire ottoman
le terme de genocide, qu’Ankara rejette farouchement.

Son assassinat avait provoque un sursaut dans la societe turque. A
Istanbul, plus de 100 000 personnes avaient defile, le jour des
obsèques, aux cris de “Nous sommes tous Hrant Dink, nous sommes
tous armeniens”.

AFP

mardi 17 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

JAMEL DEBBOUZE BRANDIT L’EFFIGIE D’ABDULLAH OCALAN

Fete de l’Huma

Dimanche 15 septembre, devant une foule considerable, estimee a 80 000
personnes, Jamel Debbouze, qui a offert au public près de deux heures
de ses meilleurs sketches sur la grande scène de la Fete de l’Humanite,
a soudain brandit un drapeau a l’effigie d’Abdullah Ocalan – leader du
mouvement kurde PKK-, sous les ovations d’une assistance proche des
mouvements de gauche en Turquie. Il est probable que l’intervention
inopinee de l’humoriste a dû faire grincer les dents de certains.

mardi 17 septembre 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

L’UE N’ABANDONNERA PAS L’ARMENIE

DIPLOMATIE

L’Union europeenne est toujours desireuse d’approfondir ses liens
avec l’Armenie, meme si Erevan va de l’avant dans son intention de
rejoindre l’Union douanière dirigee par la Russie, selon le commissaire
europeen a l’elargissement Stefan Fule .

Dans une interview au service armenien de RFE / s ‘ RL ( Azatutyun.am
), Fule a precise que, bien que l’accord d’association qui a ete prevu
par les deux parties ” n’est plus sur la table “, Bruxelles voudrait
continuer a soutenir les reformes politiques et economiques dans le
pays du Caucase du Sud .

” Nous n’avons certainement pas renonce a l’Armenie et au peuple
armenien. Cela n’arrivera pas ” , a declare Fule vendredi soir,
après avoir parle avec le President Serge Sarkissian et le ministre
des Affaires Etrangères Edouard Nalbandian .

” Ces reunions etaient plus rassurantes les unes que les autres,
malgre cette decision inattendue [ de rejoindre l’union douanière ].

Il y a encore de la place pour poursuivre et renforcer la cooperation
dans certains domaines “, a-t-il estime. ” L’UE est toujours prete a
aider plus les efforts declares du gouvernement armenien pour ameliorer
la gouvernance, renforcer la primaute du droit et la lutte contre la
corruption “, a-t-il ajoute .

Fule a egalement promis que l’UE va continuer d’apporter son soutien
aux groupes de citoyens armeniens qui militent pour la democratisation
et l’integration europeenne. ” Nous serons fortement presents en
Armenie et nous soutiendrons la societe civile”, a-t-il dit .

Cette visite de Fule a Erevan est intervenue dix jours après que
Sarkissian a annonce sa decision inattendue de demander l’adhesion
du pays au bloc dirigee par la Russie après une rencontre avec
le president russe Vladimir Poutine. Les fonctionnaires armeniens
pretendent que cette volte-face ne resulte pas d’une forte pression
russe. Les politiciens et les observateurs de l’opposition rejettent
ces affirmations.

Interroge pour savoir si la decision de Sarkissian n’avait pas surprise
l’UE, Fule a declare : ” Nous avons ete dans la meme situation que
le peuple armenien . ”

Fule a confirme que l’UE n’a pas accepte la proposition du gouvernement
armenien de parapher une version beaucoup plus courte et edulcoree
de l’accord d’association lors du sommet de l’UE a Vilnius prevue
pour novembre. Il a indique que Bruxelles est seulement dispose a
discuter d’un ” nouveau cadre juridique pour notre relation “.

Mais le representant de l’UE a exclu la signature d’un document
alternatif a Vilnius, indiquant que lors de ce sommet l’UE et l’Armenie
ne pourraient que ” definir ce que nous voulons reellement atteindre ”
dans les annees a venir. Dans ce contexte, il a souligne l’ importance
de la confiance de l’UE dans la direction armenienne.

” J’ai dit [ au cours des pourparlers a Erevan ] que s’il y a de la
confiance, on peut construire beaucoup de choses “, a-t-il precise. ”
Mais s’il n’y a pas de confiance, il n’y aura pas de creativite et
il sera difficile de faire revenir la bonne volonte. ”

mardi 17 septembre 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian