Month: September 2013

PROTEST NEAR YEREVAN COVERED MARKET AMID CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION (VIDEO)

19:16 13.09.13

The civic group protesting against the reconstruction of Yerevan’s
Covered Market rallied Friday afternoon simultaneously with the crowd
of citizens who want the re-opening of the trading area.

The first group arrived at the protest site holding up posters and
chanting slogans.

Those backing Samvel Alexanyan, the businessman MP who has initiated
the construction work, protested on the sidewalk. The activists
were on the opposite side. The police were maintaining public order
throughout the protest.

No clashes occurred during the rally except for an incident that saw
one of those demanding the market’s re-opening cross to the other
sidewalk to disperse the activists.

In the meantime, the development activities continued, with the
market’s facade gradually changing its image in front of the crowd’s
eyes.

RUSSIA WANTS ARMENIA TO JOIN BY 2015

The minister of trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey
Slepnev has announced that Armenia may complete all the stages of
joining the Customs Union by 2015, as well as participate in the
process of forming the Eurasian Economic Commission, Itar Tass reports.

According to Slepnev, Armenia’s membership to the Customs Union will
help reconstruct the economy of Armenia which is not doing well now.

According to him, about 30 countries of the world are interested in
establishing a free trade area with the Customs Union.

17:23 13/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ERASMUS+ WILL BOOST EU’S EASTERN PARTNERSHIP, EDUCATION MINISTERS MEET IN YEREVAN

17:19 13.09.2013

The Ministers of Education of the Eastern Partnership countries met
in Yerevan today.

Androulla Vassiliou, Member of the European Commission responsible
for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, thanked Armenian
Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan and his colleagues
for organizing the event.

“Education, and in particular higher education, has a growing
international dimension. The type of dialogue we are having today
has become a necessity, since we all share common challenges in a
rapidly changing world,” she said

According to her, the EU is determined to do more and is set to
launch its new programme for education, training and youth, Erasmus+
next year.

Erasmus+ will replace the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programmes,
and deliver something bigger and better. “Erasmus+ will create more
opportunities for our institutions to work together and develop closer
contacts between people. We will, for example, for the first time open
the intra-EU Erasmus programme and offer exactly the same cooperation
mechanisms to universities in your region,” Androulla Vassiliou said.

Erasmus+, the new programme for education and training, youth and
sport, will merge seven existing programmes into one.

It will bring about simplification, making the programme’s actions more
visible and easier to understand. This will also bring more efficiency
and more coherence between the different actions within the EU and
in our increasingly important work with the other regions of the world.

Erasmus+ will build on the success of Tempus and Erasmus Mundus, and
continue the EU’s support to Eastern Partnership countries provided
before 2013. We want in particular to boost mobility between our
regions, and support partnerships between higher education institutions
which will help to strengthen their capacity.

Erasmus+ will have a strong international component, aiming to attract
the brightest global talent to Europe. It will provide funding for
more outgoing mobility, international partnerships and joint research
projects, as well as for capacity building and staff development in
partner countries throughout the world.

More higher education institutions will be able to take part in the
programme, since participation will not be restricted to a small
number of organizations participating in a call for tender.

Institutions will enjoy more flexibility when it comes to finding
partners, provided they have signed an inter-institutional agreement.

Erasmus+ will mean that neighbouring countries continue to benefit
from degree mobility through the award of high-level scholarships to
participate in joint Master programmes.

“The EU’s negotiations on the budget for the international component of
Erasmus+ have not yet finished. But I am confident that my proposals
to further invest in education and research and boost support to our
neighbouring countries will prevail. My message has been clear from
the very beginning: investment in education is an investment in our
future prosperity,” Androulla Vassiliou concluded.

EU DELEGATION TO ARMENIA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST CIVIL ACTIVISTS

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. In a statement issued today the EU
Delegation to Armenia expressed concern over violent attacks against
civil activists in Armenia.

On September Haykak Arshamian, a program coordinator at the Yerevan
Press Club, and Suren Saghatelian from Transparency International
Armenia branch were beaten up by several unidentified men and
hospitalized shortly after attending an anti-government gathering.

“The delegation of the European Union expresses its deep concern
about the recent attacks on civil activists in Armenia, as well as
in connection with cases of terror against human rights defenders,’
the statement said.

The EU Delegation called on Armenian authorities to take prompt and
decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.

The EU Delegation recalled that respect for democratic principles,
human rights and fundamental freedoms remain essential elements in
the European Union’s bilateral agenda with Armenia.

The attacks were condemned also by the OSCE Office in Yerevan
and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. They urged the Armenian
authorities to take swift action to punish the responsible
and ensure the rights of citizens. -0- – See more at:

SAAKASHVILI GRANTS GEORGIAN CITIZENSHIP TO TURKISH NATIONALS

18:56 13.09.13

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has issued a citizenship
order for 936 Turkish nationals, Georgia Online reported, citing the
country’s Ministry of Justice.

The decision was reportedly made in violation of the State Service
Development Agency’s rules.

A source at the ministry’s press service has told the website that
they leanred of the decision only after receiving an official statement
from the presidential office on Thursday.

Armenian News – Tert.am

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT: ARMENIA TO COLLABORATE WITH EU WITHOUT SIGNING ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

19:56 13.09.13

The EU Eastern Partnership countries’ two day non-official summit
in Yerevan was held in a tense atmosphere, with Armenia’s foreign
minister and the European commissioner for enlargement reiterating an
earlier position on the incompatibility of the Association Agreement
with the Eurasian Customs Union integration plans.

Meanwhile, two of the member states – Georgia and Moldova – declared
their intention to sign the Association Agreement at the next EP summit
set to take place in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius in November. The
Ukrainian representative said his country will have a success at the
meeting given that the plan has attracted joint efforts by both the
opposition and the government.

Speaking at the summit, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed the
country’s willingness to continue the cooperation with the EU.

Å tefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood
Policy, promised in turn the Union’s best efforts to maintain the
partnership relations with Armenia.

He said that the partner states’ policies reflect their real
ambitions and commitments to the values and principles underpinning
the collaboration.

A key message in his speech was a call on the EU to respect the
partner country’s (Armenia’s) decision to integrate into the Eurasian
Union. Fule said that the Union will stand by the parner states
facing what he called undue pressures by Russia in terms of joining
the Russian-led Union.

Armenian News – Tert.am

JOURNALIST FROM “DER TAGESSPIEGEL” NEWSPAPER CLAIMS AZERBAIJAN JOURNALISTS DISTORT HER WORDS

17:29 13/09/2013 ” IN THE WORLD

On the eve Azerbaijani media reported that authorities do not
provide entry to German journalists, who criticize the government of
Azerbaijan, into the country. They have referred to the journalist
of “Der Tagesspiegel” newspaper Claudia von Salzen. Today she has
denied this information on Twitter by claiming that her words were
entirely mistranslated.

“I did not say I cannot receive an Azerbaijani visa, and I did not
apply for it during the past year. I met with the colleagues from
Baku and touched upon the “blacklist” published by the Azerbaijani
government. There are German journalists in that list, too. I
noted that they are included in the list because of visiting
Nagorno-Karabakh. However, some of them were allowed to visit the
country last year. It is interesting that the list appeared on the
eve of elections,” writes the journalist.

Von Salzen added that she will ask the journalists not to quote her
next time, if it will end up with a similar outcome.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has published a list of
individuals, which became personae non gratae for Azerbaijan because
of visiting Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and are denied access to the
country. There are 335 people on the list at the moment of publishing.

Specifically, the given list includes the member of the parliament of
the Southern Wales state of Australia Gledice Berezhiklyan, Russian
State Duma deputy Oleg Pokholkov, an employee at the Ukrainian
magazine “Profil” Varvara Zhlutenko, reporter of “The Washington
Post” in Moscow Will Englund, Austrian conductor Ernest Hoetzl,
Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballe, and others.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATE AND LOCAL CALIF. OFFICIALS AND ANCA-WR TO TRAVEL TO ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH

Friday, September 13th, 2013

>From left: Assembly member Adrin Nazarian, Assembly Speaker John
Pèrez and Assembly member Katcho Achadjian

GLENDALE-After more than five months of planning, a bipartisan
delegation of prominent California elected officials and
representatives from the Armenian National Committee of America
-Western Region (ANCA-WR) will travel to Armenia and Artsakh this
week to meet with influential figures across Armenia’s and the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s political spectrum and obtain first-hand
understanding of the rich and dynamic cultures. The visit is scheduled
to take place from September 15, 2013 to September 24, 2013.

“The California State legislative delegation to Armenia is a long
overdue and groundbreaking development. We are very pleased that
Speaker Perez and a bipartisan group of legislators will be arriving
in our country at the invitation of the Governments of Armenia and
Artsakh. We are hopeful that this first in kind mission would leave
a lasting impact and contribute to strengthening political contacts
between the Republic of Armenia and the great State of California
– home to hundreds of thousands of compatriots,” stated former
Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Grigor Hovhannissian. “The
legislative trip to Armenia is an important project I am involved in as
Armenia’s Consul General and I would like to seize this opportunity to
thank all our partners and friends, including the ANCA Western Region
who helped us in making this project possible,” added Hovhannissian.

In an effort to be better acquainted with one another prior to the
trip and to provide the state delegation with an opportunity to obtain
logistical answers about the trip, Consul General Hovhannissian and
ANCA-WR representatives traveled to Sacramento on Monday, September
9, for a pre-trip orientation. The meeting, filled with enthusiasm
and excitement, also gave way for participants to review the more
than 120 page packet that outlined a hefty itinerary for the visit
filled with meetings with officials and historic site visits as well
as background information on Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian
Genocide, and current issues within the region.

“The gathering of representatives from both the State of California
and the City of Los Angeles governments is an important step in
strengthening the ties with the Republic of Armenia. I am pleased
to have the largest Armenian American political organization in the
United States, the Armenian National Committee of America, as part of
this traveling delegation to the Republic of Armenia. I look forward
to continue working with the ANCA in building a greater relationship
between the Republic of Armenia, the California State Assembly and
the Armenian American Diaspora. Promoting further awareness of issues
pertinent to Armenia is an integral part of my responsibility as both
a State Assemblyman and as an Armenian-American,” noted Assemblymember
Adrin Nazarian.

“We are pleased to have actively participated in the planning
and facilitation of this historic trip and are grateful for the
hospitality and initiative of the Armenian Government as well as CA
Assembly Members Adrin Nazarian and Katcho Achadjian who worked hand
in hand to make this possible,” stated ANCA Western Region Chair Nora
Hovsepian. “We are proud to serve as a bridge between government
representatives and the people of California and Armenia and are
looking forward to what promises to be a very memorable trip that
will set the foundation for similar visits with other officials in
the future,” added Hovsepian.

Delegation Participants include: Speaker John A. Pèrez, Speaker of
the California State Assembly Katcho Achadjian, California State
Assembly Cheryl R. Brown, California State Assembly Adrin Nazarian,
California State Assembly Scott Wilk, California State Assembly Bob
Blumenfield, Los Angeles City Council Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles
City Council Nora Hovsepian, Chair, Armenian National Committee of
America -Western Region Elen Asatryan, Executive Director, Armenian
National Committee of America – Western Region Dan Savage, Chief
of Staff, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian Areen Ibranossian, Chief of
Staff, Councilmember Paul Krekorian Jeremy Oberstein, Communications
Director, Councilmember Paul Krekorian Karo Torossian, Director of
Planning and Land Usage, Councilmember Paul Krekorian

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

GERMAN COMPANIES ARE INTERESTED IN ARMENIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPHERE

21:26, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Minister of transport and
communications of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Beglaryan on September
13 held a meeting with ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of
Germany in Armenia Rainer Morel and representatives of German company
“Alptelco”.

“Armenpress” was informed from the ministry that during the meeting the
ambassador mentioned that it is the time to think about cooperation
with German companies in Armenia’s telecommunication sphere. He also
informed that several German companies particularly “Alptelco” are
interested in country’s telecommunication sphere.

Representative of the company informed that their company provides
architectural service in telecommunication sphere.

Gagik Beglaryan mentioned he is glad that possibilities of cooperation
with German companies exist in the sphere.

“We are ready to cooperate not only in communication but also other
fields related with the ministry,” highlighted the minister.

Rainer Morel was interested in details relating to Armenia’s satellite
program. The minister mentioned that “Armcosmos” company has been
founded and at this moment negotiations are held connected with
the program.

The ambassador expressed hope that German companies will also show
interest in the satellite program.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STUPIDITY, SILLINESS, & SERIOUSNESS IN SYRIA

Friday, September 13th, 2013

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

What a complex mess confronts the world in Syria! And, the worst of
it is, it didn’t have to be this way. It is a result of the U.S. and
Turkey, and their twisted, hegemonic or expansionist, respectively,
logic. Had they not started encouraging and arming the Syrian regime’s
more extreme opponents, a civil war would not have claimed over 100,000
lives. Who knows, some accommodation might have been achieved that
would have loosened Syria’s dictatorship another notch or two.

But now, we have Obama, not noted for keeping his word (think Genocide
recognition) putting himself in a position where he feels compelled
to… keep his word. I refer to his “red line” comments regarding the
use of chemical weapons. Now, if he doesn’t act, his and the U.S.’s
credibility will be seriously damaged.

But, it’s not even 100% clear the Syrian government launched the
chemical weapons that have triggered the latest phase of this mess.

There are reports that Saudi Arabia has
funneled chemical weapons to the Syrian rebels
().

The Syrian regime may be calculating, cold, and cruel, but not crazy.

Why would it intentionally engage in a provocative act that would
trigger action by the big guys on the world scene? Conversely, the
rebels have every reason to use chemical weapons in a way that makes
it look like the regime launched them, so the international community
would provide more support to their side.

Then we have the hypocrisy of U.S. policy. When Iraq, then on the U.S.

“acceptable” list, gassed the Kurds… crickets. But now, using
chemical weapons constitutes an affront to humanity. What about the
cluster munitions, depleted uranium bullets, and drone strikes used
by the U.S.? Are these not similar affronts?

What’s really discomfiting, undoubtedly, to many in the White House
and State Department is that the Russians, and specifically Putin
in his op-ed piece in The New York Times, are the ones who seem to
be seizing the rational (if not moral) high ground. His argument is
basically one that endorses the lesser of two evils. Bashar Assad is
no angel, but the alternative is far worse.

Our community in Syria, along with Christian and other minorities,
know who’s best for them in power. They have seen, all too clearly,
what happened in Iraq after American intervention when the lunacy and
bloodlust of religious fanatics was left unchecked by the firm hand
of a regime that at least prevented what might be called “sectarian
hate crimes” in American jargon.

Another aspect of Putin’s argument is that Syria, like Afghanistan,
Iraq, and even Pakistan, is serving as a training ground for fighters
who will then spread out all over the world (think Chechnia, Xinjiang
[China], and World Trade Center). If the current regime falls, this
will become even more pronounced. It’s in everyone’s interest that the
nut-jobs running from country to country in the name of religion (in
this case fanatical Sunni Islam) be stopped dead in their tracks. Do
you remember when the target of these same crazies was Artzakh as
they fought against us beside Azerbaijan’s pathetic troops?

Initially, I had trouble concluding which side of this conflict I
was least uncomfortable with. The choices were all bad. But now, in
every scenario, it is extremely clear to me that the side which is
best -from a human, American, or Armenian perspective- is the current
Syrian regime of Bashar Assad.