Month: February 2015

UNEXPECTED RISK FOR ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Society – 12 February 2015, 15:10

The State Migration Service informed that its head Gagik Yeganyan is
on a business trip to Moscow to try to facilitate the entry of 50-60
thousand citizens of Armenia to Russia.

According to the message, this many citizens cannot visit Russia due
to tougher migration legislation.

The Armenian government has to face the fact. They were trying their
hardest for months on to persuade that membership to the EEU would
unify the labor market, and the citizens of Armenia would leave to
work in Russia more easily. Thereby an attempt was made to legitimize
the act against sovereignty.

After the act it was clear that the public had been deceived, or at
least the part of the public who trusted and expected that labor
migration to Russia would thus be facilitated. It turned out that
50-60 thousand people were left “out”, i.e. left in Armenia.

In fact, this is the most serious and to some extent also the tragic
aspect of the issue when the citizens demand that the government help
them leave the country instead of employment and dignity in their
own country.

What will be after the problem is resolved? It is not hard to
forecast. Once the problem of entry of 50-60 thousand citizens of
Armenia to Russia is resolved, they will not only work to earn money
but will also work to get Russian citizenship to avoid trouble and
deception.

It goes without saying the resolving the problem of entry is in the
government’s interest. The so-called revolution resource is leaving
and eating mouths get fewer. “To stay here to do a revolution?” the
ex-prime minister said.

IIGHRS’ PRESIDENT SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ON TURKEY’S TREATMENT OF JEWS

By MassisPost
Updated: February 11, 2015

TORONTO — On January 27, 2015 a Holocaust commemoration was organized
in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, a country that officially
recognizes the Armenian Genocide. There, the Turkish Ambassador was
one of the keynote speakers.

However, the invitation of the Turkish ambassador to speak drew sharp
criticism from some, including several of the politicians and members
of the public in attendance because of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel
views expressed by some Turkish leaders in recent years. Earlier,
at a meeting of the speakers of 30 European parliaments held in
Prague, Czech Republic, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day,
Turkey was the only European country that did not sign a declaration
against contemporary manifestations – including Holocaust denial –
of anti-Semitism.

“I share those concerns,” said Ottawa event co-organizer Floralove
Katz. “However, during the Holocaust, the Turkish government was the
only government in Europe that instructed its diplomats to save as
many Jews as possible.”

Wishing to set the historical record straight, Mr. K.M. Greg
Sarkissian, President of the International Institute for Genocide
and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) sent
the following communication to the comment section of the Ottawa
Jewish Bulletin.

K.M. Greg Sarkissian’s remarks are as follows:

The invitation of the Turkish Ambassador to speak at the International
Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration in Ottawa on January 27 drew
sharp criticism from several of the politicians and the members of
diplomatic core attending the event, and many Canadians complained.

The organizers showed great insensitivity by inviting the official
representative of Turkey, a country that aggressively denies its role
in the Armenian Genocide, to an event commemorating another genocide,
the Holocaust, both of which are officially recognized by the Canadian
Government.

This distress is all the more painful, since the Turkish Ambassador’s
presence was justified by false information, in response to the
criticism raised, causing insult over injury. Event co-organizer
Floralove Katz claimed that “during the Holocaust, the Turkish
government was the only government in Europe that instructed its
diplomats to save as many Jews as possible.” In fact, only Jews
of Turkish background were aided by Turkish embassies in Europe,
and then only clandestinely. Yad Vashem has recognized only one
Turkish diplomat for rescuing Jews, Selahattin Ulkumen, the Turkish
Consul-General in Rhodes. Necdet Kent, the Turkish Consul-General
in Marseilles also assisted many Jews to flee France for Turkey,
but it grossly overstates the case to say that “Turkey instructed
its diplomats to save as many Jews as possible.” Despite the Turkish
propaganda, current research shows that Turkey was far from welcoming
toward Jews during the Holocaust era.

In commemorating the Holocaust, it is important to remember its
interconnectedness with the Armenian Genocide. Many German soldiers
and diplomats who were active in Turkey during the Armenian Genocide
went on to become influential Nazis. The success of the Armenian
Genocide and the failure to punish those responsible encouraged and
emboldened Nazi leaders in their racist and genocidal plans. On the eve
of WWII, Hitler boasted of his ability to exterminate entire civilian
populations and get away with it, saying, “Who today remembers the
annihilation of the Armenians?”

There are numerous parallels and links between the Holocaust and the
Armenian Genocide, too many to go into here. When commemorating the
Holocaust, it behooves us not only to remember this history, but its
many lessons. As Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the word “genocide”
referring to many mass atrocities including the Armenian Genocide,
and devoted his life to establishing an international law for its
prevention and punishment wrote, “…the function of memory is not
only to register past events, but to stimulate human conscience.”

THE STATE DOES NOT PROTECT CITIZENS DEPRIVED OF THEIR HOMES FOR THE SAKE OF EMINENT DOMAIN

February 12 2015

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued about 10
judgments, which recognize the violations of the property owners’
rights for the territory in the center of Yerevan recognized as an
“eminent domain”, but it has not yet caused systemic changes. This
is proved by the group of civil society organizations. Studying our
country’s social, economic and cultural rights, the group prepared
a report. Despite the ECHR’s decisions, in one case, the government
has not compensated the amount provided for destroy of a citizen’s
property. In other cases, the government, in violation of the decision
on reconciliation agreement, has offered the plaintiffs some apartments
in newly built private residential buildings, which, however, were
actually sold to other people. The authors of the report mention that
in compliance to the RA Law on “Alienation of Property for Public and
State Needs”, the state does not guarantee the protection for the
rights of its citizens whose property is alienated “for public and
state needs.” “Though the decision-maker is the government, anyway,
the agreements on alienation of the property are signed between the
former and the new owners, and the government refuses to take any
responsibility. Currently, there are hundreds of homeless victims
suffered from “public use” who were deceived by companies that have
promised to give them new apartments instead of their property, which,
however, were not built in time, or were sold to more than one owner,
or were simply declared default for no-execution of other contractual
obligations,” says the report, which was submitted to the UN Human
Rights Council by the group of civil society organizations. Note
that the Open Society Foundations – Armenia organization supported
the preparation works of this report.

According to the study of the group, currently, 365 owners have become
homeless, because one of the companies was recognized bankrupt.

Several companies did not provide building of a new property instead
of the confiscated one. Others have sold the ready-made apartments to
a few owners. The authors of the document mentioned that in 2005, 34
families in Syunik have lost their private lands without a notice and
agreement because of a road construction. “The promises of compensation
still remain hanging in the air, to the point, the residents still
pay the property tax for their lost lands.” The members of the group,
studying the alienation practice in our country, also record that
the public property is managed and sold by failing to ensure public
participation in the decision-making process, though such practice is
prohibited by a number of legal acts. “The decisions of administrative
bodies are not disputed in the courts, as it’s difficult for the
citizens to prove how their rights are violated.

Moreover, NGOs do not receive a proper plaintiff status for the cases
related to public interest and resources. In September 2010, the
Constitutional Court’s decision ratified that in some defined spheres,
the justice should be available to NGOs, if the protection of rights in
these spheres is provided by the NGO Charters, as well as the cases,
by which the lower courts instances have been ineffective.” To avoid
all of this, the member of the group offer making amendments in
the RA Law on “Alienation of Property for Public and State Needs”,
by clarifying the grounds for recognition of “eminent domain”.

Lusine BUDAGHYAN

Read more at:

ARMENIA AND EU ARE DISCUSSING NEW LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS: KAREN NAZARYAN

16:59, 12 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 12 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The European Union has been
and continues to be Armenia’s most important partner, and the
cooperation encompasses several sectors. This is how Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Karen Nazaryan evaluates
the relations. According to “Armenpress”, during the February 12
conference on “Priorities of the Latvian Chairmanship and the Sectors
for Cooperation with Armenia”, Nazaryan said Armenia-EU relations are
developing through regular political consultations and in several
sectors. The diplomat especially underscored the EU programs aimed
at promoting mobility. In his speech, Nazaryan attached importance
to the fact that the parties agreed on the need for the creation of
a new legal framework for relations following the Vilnius Summit.

“During the recent session of the Armenia-EU Supreme Body in Brussels,
the Armenian delegation reaffirmed once again the two parties’
commitments to foster cooperation in different sectors. Among the
essential points for the Armenia-EU cooperation are the discussions
on human rights that are held in Yerevan and Brussels on an annual
basis. In this sense, Armenia’s successes are clear to see.

Discussions on the new legal framework for Armenia-EU relations are
underway, including a discussion on cooperation for the formation of
the trade and economic component. The promotion of relations between
people is an important part of our agenda for cooperation,” Nazaryan
said, adding that there are good preconditions for the establishment
of partnerships in different sectors.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT EARMARKS AMD 150 MILLION FOR INDUSTRIAL PARKS IN GYUMRI AND VANADZOR

YEREVAN, February 12. /ARKA/. Armenia’s government decided Thursday
to allocate AMD 150 million in 2015 to support industrial parks in
Gyumri and Vanadzor.

Economy Minister Karen Chshmaritayn, presenting the draft decision
to the Cabinet ministers, said that no less than 300 specialists
are planned to be trained and retrained in the technology center in
Gyumri, no less than three companies attracted to cooperation and no
less than 20 companies provided with business consulting.

he said.

($1 – AMD 479.47). —0—–

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT EARMARKS AMD 601.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT EXPORTERS

YEREVAN, February 12. /ARKA/. Armenia’s government decided Thursday
to allocate AMD 601.5 million in 2015 to support exporters. Economy
Minister Karen Chshmarityan, presenting the draft decision to the
Cabinet ministers, said that the support includes at least four
conferences focused on industry and trade.

The government will assist Armenian companies in participation in
foreign exhibitions by paying 50% of the amount they have to pay for
leasing pavilions.

LIBRARY TO BE NAMED AFTER WILLIAM SAROYAN IN TURKEY

17:24, 12 February, 2015

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. A library in Bitlis will be named
after the prominent Armenian-American author William Saroyan.

Journalist and writer Ahmet Tuglar is the author of the project. As
reports “Armenpress”, the Istanbul-based Armenian periodical Agos
stated about this.

Among other things, Tuglar noted that the idea of opening a library
first came to his mind, when a decision was made in December of
the previous year to name one of the streets in Bitlis after the
Armenian-American author.

William Saroyan was an American – Armenian author. The setting of many
of his stories and plays was Fresno, California (sometimes under a
fictional name), the center of Armenian-American life in California
and where he grew up.

Saroyan was born in Fresno, California to Armenian immigrants from
Bitlis, Turkey. At the age of three, after his father’s death, Saroyan
was placed in the orphanage in Oakland, California, together with his
brother and sister, an experience he later described in his writing.

Five years later, the family reunited in Fresno, where his mother,
Takoohi, secured work at a cannery. He continued his education on
his own, supporting himself by taking odd jobs, such as working as
an office manager for the San Francisco Telegraph Company.

Saroyan decided to become a writer after his mother showed him some
of his father’s writings. A few of his early short articles were
published in Overland Monthly. His first stories appeared in the
1930s. Among these was “The Broken Wheel”, written under the name
Sirak Goryan and published in the Armenian journal Hairenik in 1933.

Many of Saroyan’s stories were based on his childhood experiences
among the Armenian-American fruit growers of the San Joaquin Valley,
or dealt with the rootlessness of the immigrant. The short story
collection My Name is Aram (1940), an international bestseller, was
about a young boy and the colorful characters of his immigrant family.

It has been translated into many languages.

ARTSAKH STATE UNIVERSITY – A NEW PROSPECT FOR COOPERATION

Wednesday, 11 February 2015 15:32

Tomsk_2.jpgA new initiative is launched, which will allow to present
real Artsakh at the academic level. It will be implemented through
the cooperation between the Russia-Armenian Cooperation organization,
the Yerevan and Tomsk State Universities.

The initiative authors have recently arrived in Stepanakert to suggest
the Artsakh State University also to participate in this program.

Till the end of the year, an Armenian Political Researches Center
will be opened at the Tomsk State University. The one-week Winter
School organized by the Russian-Armenian Cooperation organization,
the Yerevan and Tomsk State Universities comprise a five-member group
of young scientists and researchers, which should become the core of
the Center. The young scientists have recently visited the Artsakh
State University.

Prorector Valery Avanesian emphasized the main goal of the meeting:
“I believe one of the most important and interesting parts of this
initiative should be the establishment of direct cooperation between
the Artsakh and Tomsk State Universities”. In turn, Chairman of
the Russian-Armenian Cooperation organization Yuri Navoyan said,
“This should become yet another opportunity to present the reality
about Artsakh to Russia and other foreign states”.

The representatives of the Tomsk University are aware of Artsakh, but
this is their first visit to the country. They have witnessed it is a
state. “Nagorno Karabakh has all the attributes of a state. According
to the Montevideo Convention, they are the territory, the population,
the authorities governing the territory and the population, and the
foreign relations. All this is available here. There is one thing
left to achieve – de jure recognition”, said a graduate student and
lecturer of the Tomsk State University, Van Harutyunian. The guests
also see development prospects here. They are sure that the results
of the economic policy assumed by the authorities of Artsakh will be
obvious soon. “Even compared with a number of states, in particular,
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, market liberalization in
Armenia and Artsakh is on a much higher level, and more benefits are
provided, thus attracting new investments. I think this process will
be continued, giving its results”, expressed her confidence graduate
student of the Tomsk State University Yulya Zhuchkova.

This is appreciated not only by individuals and not only on the
academic level. The fact that the people of Artsakh could build a
state in the conditions of a continuing war, remaining adherent to the
international norms of democracy, is admitted also by Western reputable
organizations, noted graduate student of the Tomsk State University
Areg Galstyan.

“INSTEAD OF FIGHTING AGAINST HUNGER, THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE HUNGRY” (VIDEO)

18:07 | February 12,2015 | Politics

There is anarchy in the RA, thinks Armenian National Congress Party
(HAK) secretary. As there is still a lot of time before the NA session,
the acts of violence happening out of the NA were discussed during
the HAK regular session.

Aram Manukyan was angry about the actions of policemen against the
cookie thief and the parents of the soldiers, who died in peacetime,
“Instead of fighting against hunger, these people are fighting against
the hungry, instead of fighting for reducing the murders, they are
fighting against the parents of the killed soldiers. It is a disgrace.

Instead of fighting against terrorists, criminals, they are fighting
against the people who are the victims of that crime. It is madness,
nothing like this has ever happened.”

Whether HAK will also join its partner of troika- Prosperous
Armenia Party (BHK), which is discussing the issue of boycotting
the NA sessions until the sinners of beating Artak Khachatryan,
the member of the Political Council of BHK Party, will be punished,
“We haven’t decided yet. We will discuss it. I think it must be a
little general, as it doesn’t apply to only this incident, what I am
saying is a system.”

Aram Manukyan thinks that the system is in a deep crisis. He thinks
that today the extraordinary discussion on the Management crisis
presented by their party has become urgent.

GAGIK TSARUKYAN PROMISES 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR VALUABLE INFORMATION: 7OR.AM

18:37 | February 12,2015 | Politics

Today Gagik Tsarukyan has visited the RA Police. He has met with
Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan. Gagik Tsarukyan has inquired about
the process of investigation of the crime against “Kasetsum” movement
activist, member of Political Council of Prosperous Armenia Party
Artak Khachatryan.

BHK President Gagik Tsarukyan promises 100 thousand US dollars to a
person or people, who will give valuable information and will help to
reveal the criminals and organizers of the crime against “Kasetsum”
movement activist, member of Political Council of Prosperous Armenia
Party Artak Khachatryan.

More here