Month: February 2015

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: THE BALL IS AGAIN IN TURKEY’S FIELD

February 18, 2015 13:25

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh
Kocharyan said that as a result of the behavior of the Turkish
authorities, the six years of Armenian-Turkish “football diplomacy”
appeared to be harmful to the normalization of relations.

In an interview with the Armenian Public TV, Shavarsh Kocharyan said
that Armenian President’s decision to recall the Armenian-Turkish
protocols from the National Assembly was a clear message showing that
the wave of Turkish denial is unacceptable for the Armenia ahead of
the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

“It’s unacceptable when there is a closed border in the 21st century,
when there are no diplomatic ties and when there is no any prospect
of regulating it step by step. We have given a sign that we will not
let all those distortions, denial and attempts be linked to the NK
conflict settlement”, said Shavarsh Kocharyan.

At the same time, he noted that Armenia has an opportunity to take
various steps in this situation.

“We can cancel the signatures once and for all, or we can ratify them.

Thus, everything depends on further developments. What developments
will we have? What behavior will Turkey demonstrate – will it change,
and if it changes, then in which direction? But what matters is that
again considering the football terminology the ball is in their field
in this case and obviously, the states concerned and the international
community will be looking forward to Turkey’s steps”, said Shavarsh
Kocharyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DASHNAKTSUTYUN INITIATES PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS

14:26 | February 18,2015 | Politics

The Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaktsutyun has initiated public discussions with
representatives of different social groups to discuss the current
political, social and economic situation in the country.

Dashnaktsutyun wants to hear people’s opinion on the issue and involve
them in the solution of the existing problems.

On Tuesday evening, members of the ARF-D representatives Armen
Rustamyan, Spartan Seyranyan, Aghvan Vardanyan and Lilit Galstyan
met with aboyt 20 intellectuals at the Simon Vratsyan centre. The
parties welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that the meetings
will continue in the future, says the party’s press service.

HISTORIAN: WE SHOULD RECALL ARMENIA’S SIGNATURE AND SPEAK FROM EQUAL POSITIONS (VIDEO)

09:47 | February 18,2015 | Interview

A1+ Company has interviewed historian Artur Yeghiazaryan.

While the historian welcomes Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to withdraw the
Armenian-Turkish protocols from the parliament agenda, he says it is
not enough and calls for recalling Armenia’s signature from the accord.

“We were not ready for the establishment of any relations with Turkey.

Our legislature did not allow us to normalize relations and we were not
to have signed the documents. Now we should recall Armenia’s signature
from the protocols and take the relations to the point from where we
can speak from equal positions,” he said.

TURKISH ENSEMBLE PERFORMS ARMENIAN FOLK SONG IN MEMORIAM OF APRIL 24

11:50, 18 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

An Armenian folk song (Aravodun Temin: At the Break of Dawn,
compiled by Arusyak Sahakian), has been arranged by AyÃ…~_e Tutuncu
and performed by 42 musicians. The song is dedicated to the memory
of April 24 victims.

“I was very moved to see an Armenian folk song, Aravodun Temin,
arranged and performed by a wonderful Turkish ensemble, arranged by
AyÃ…~_e Tutuncu, in memoriam of April 24,” lead singer of the System
of A Down Serj Tankian said in a Facebook post.

“Music transcends all boundaries in the name of truth,” Tankian said.

SPANISH LA 2 CHANNEL HOSTS DEBATE ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

16:22, 18 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Earlier this month Spain’s Second Television Channel (La 2) hosted a
debate on the Armenian Genocide. The guests of the talk show were
President of Ararat Armenian Association Ararat Ghukasyan and author
of the new book “The Memory of Ararat” (“La memoria del Ararat”),
writer, journalist, correspondent for the “El periodico” Daily Xavier
Moret.

The discussions focused on the Armenian Genocide, the reasons for, the
process and the consequences of that crime against humanity, its
recognition and Turkey’s state policy of denial.

The program began with the screening of a cognitive documentary film
about the Armenian Genocide.

“The 10 million Armenians living in Armenia and abroad definitely feel
the trace of the Genocide that will remain an unhealed wound as long
as there is no adequate response and as long as Turkey continues to
deny the Armenian Genocide,” Ararat Ghukasyan said.

When asked whether time can play a role or not, Ghukasyan said: “Even
if 100 years go by, forgetting it will be a sin not only for us –
Armenians, but also for the international community, at large.”

Writer Xavier Moret noted that he visited Tsitsernakaberd Armenian
Genocide Memorial Complex on 24 April 2013 and added: “You definitely
have to go there to understand what it is. Armenia is a marvelous
country, and the Armenian people are marvelous. You definitely have to
visit Armenia to understand their hospitality, their love, their
sorrow and all this. I am in love with Armenia.”

The hostess of the show Marta Caseres said she had invited Turkey’s
Ambassador and representatives of the Turkish Embassy, but they didn’t
even respond to the invitation.

Writer Xavier Moret said it’s very important for countries like Spain
and Israel to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide so that such
crimes are never repeated.

At the end, Ararat Ghukasyan cited William Saroyan’s famous words
about the Armeninas: “For when two of them meet anywhere in the world,
see if they will not create a New Armenia.”

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND CONSTRUCTING A COMMUNITY CENTER IN MUSHKAPAT, ARTSAKH

14:11, 18 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is building a community center in
Mushkapat, a village in Artsakh’s Martuni Region. The project is
co-sponsored by the fund’s French affiliate and the government
of Artsakh.

“In 2010, our old community center, which housed the mayor’s office,
a health clinic, and a club, was destroyed in a fire,” said Mushkapat
mayor Hrazdan Asribabayan. “Today, thanks to our French-Armenian
friends, a new and beautiful building is being constructed on the
same site, and within months it will enable us to address several
needs of our community.”

The three-story structure, consisting of the mayor’s office, a health
clinic, a library, an events hall, and a computer room, will serve
the 380 residents of the village. Currently crews are installing
doors and windows as well as decorating the facility’s interior spaces.

“Multifunctional community centers such as the one being built in
Mushkapat help bring wonderful improvements to the life of rural
communities in Artsakh,” said Ara Vardanyan, executive director of
the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

Today the fund is building nine community centers throughout Artsakh,
with one more such project planned to be launched soon.

From: Baghdasarian

MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR THREE PRESIDENTS

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 18 February 2015, 15:20

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has sent an open letter to Serzh Sargsyan relating
to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. Levon Ter-Petrosyan thinks
that this issue should be above all domestic skirmishes. He suggests
them to meet for the interests of the cause, set up a commission which
will define the stance of Armenia on the Genocide. Ter-Petrosyan is
ready to personally participate in the activities of this commission.

24 April 2015 is gradually becoming the core of political developments
not only in the region and the world but also Armenia. So far, as if
by some decree, this issue was pushed to the background, and domestic
scramble and other secondary issues were in the focus.

When Serzh Sargsyan recalled the Armenian-Turkish protocols from
the parliament, it became obvious that the process is moving along
another path, and Armenia is ready to put forth serious claims to
Turkey together with several international forces. So far this process
has been torpedoed but at some point the Armenian leadership realized
that little depends on it, and they cannot miss the train.

In this situation, in order to remain adequate, every politician in
Armenia must participate in the process of Armenian claims to Turkey.

The Armenian presidents need to stand side by side on April 24. The
one who will prefer to be in another place will be perceived in a
different light.

It is not accidental that after Serzh Sargsyan had recalled the
protocols Ter-Petrosyan wrote a letter to him. The day before Robert
Kocharyan held a peaceful interview on persecution against Tsarukyan,
without blaming Serzh Sargsyan and destroying bridges.

Now Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan need to restore the
bridges with Serzh Sargsyan right away. They did not attend the
pan-Armenian meeting where the Pan-Armenian Resolution was adopted,
and it only highlighted that the ex-presidents are not actual. Perhaps
they have also realized this and decided to run after the train headed
for April 24.

It is obvious that Armenia can get not only international recognition
of the genocide but also Karabakh and by the Western countries. Even
the Founding Parliament refrained from speaking about April 24 in
its recent statement announcing about the crucial need to leave the
Eurasian Economic Union and systemic reforms.

From: Baghdasarian

DISSOLVED COMPANY’S WORKERS DON’T WANT TO SHARE THE FATE OF THE NAIRIT WORKERS

02.18.2015 15:55 epress.am

Today, the former employees of Kentron Makrutyun(Central Cleaning),
a company that dissolved late last year, gathered in a protest in
front of the Presidential Palace demanding their unpaid salaries.

“For three months we’ve been going back and forth from city hall
to the district municipality. We’ve lost all home in the district
municipality, that’s why we’ve come to ask for our money from the
President. If not, then we don’t have a president, we’ll petition to
the presidents of Russia or USA,” said one of the company’s former
employees, who did not wish to be named.

Protest participants said the company had not allowed them to take
their vacations for years, claiming that they did not have money for
vacation pays. “Among us, there are people who have worked for 10
years straight and have large sums of money to receive. For example,
I have 689,000 AMD ($1,440),” noted a protest participant.

A Presidential office staff member told demonstrators that a commission
has been created in the district municipality to deal with the
Kentron Makrutyun company employee issue. The staffer advised them
to go to the district municipality instead of protesting in front of
the Presidential Palace.

“They tell us to write a petition about how much debt we’re owed. As
if they don’t know? Will they give us 2 million, if we write the sum?

They going to look at it and count it, aren’t they? Basically, its
another way for them to trick us,” said a protester.

The former employees of Kentron Makrutyun fear that they will be
treated like the Nairit factory workers, that the company will respond
to them saying that it is impossible for them to pay the workers’
until the company’s property is sold.

Note, that Kentron Makrutyun company was dissolved on December 1,
2014, while the company’s 315 workers were informed about the news
on December 20.

UAE SEEKS TO ADOPT ARMENIA’S CHESS TEACHING METHODS

17:35 18/02/2015 >> SPORT

The UAE is interested in Armenia’s chess teaching curriculum, Saeed
Al Meqbali, President of the UAE Chess Federation, said during a
meeting with Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan.

Saeed Al Meqbali is paying a working visit to Armenia.

The guests said they consider Armenia’s experience successful, and
therefore they want to introduce Chess in School program in the UAE,
the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science
reported.

They added that they expect the Armenian side’s assistance in this
matter.

Armen Ashotyan said for his part that Armenia’s Ministry of Education
and Science is ready to pass the country’s experience in chess teaching
to any country and is open to cooperation.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN COMMENTS ON LACK OF HISTORY KNOWLEDGE OF HIS AZERBAIJANI COUNTERPART

17:59 18/02/2015 ” SOCIETY

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev in an interview
with the Azerbaijani websites Haqqin.az stated that the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic has never participated in any of the rounds of
talks on the development of the basic principles of Karabakh conflict
settlement.

Commenting on his Azerbaijani counterpart the spokesman of the NKR
Foreign Ministry Ani Sargsyan in an interview with Panorama.am noted,
“Mr. Hajiyev never misses an opportunity to demonstrate his stunning
ignorance of history and realia of the negotiation process.”

Note that in the final document of the Budapest summit of the CSCE in
1994 three parties of conflict are mentioned – Armenia, Azerbaijan
and the Nagorno Karabakh. This position was confirmed in Prague
summary of the OSCE Chairman on March 31, 1995. From January 1995 to
1997, the negotiations within the Minsk Group in accordance with the
Budapest summit decision were held between three parties – Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

Source: Panorama.am