Month: February 2015

WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS LONG-EXPECTED BUT BELATED STEP – STYOPA SAFARYAN

16:31 * 18.02.15

The withdrawal of the Armenian-Turkish protocols from Armenia’s
Parliament was a long-expected, but belated, step, Styopa Safaryan,
Head of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs
(AIISA), told reporters on Wednesday.

“Armenia’s president spoke of that much earlier, and the international
community did not raise any objections. Armenia’s authorities
calculated the international response well. If the step had been
made earlier, an international process would have got under way and
cooperation with world leaders over their participation in the events
marking April 24 would have started.”

SARGSYAN-TSARUKYAN RECONCILIATION MEETING TOOK PLACE UNDER MEDIATION OF “DASHNAKTIUTYUN”

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Tuesday, February 17, 18:53

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the leader of the Prosperous
Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan met in the president’s residence under
the mediation of the ARF “Dashnaktiutyun”, a representative of the
ARFD Supreme Body, Aghvan Vardanyan, told Arminfo correspondent.

He said that they simply needed such a meeting after the confrontation
of the RPA and PAP in order to prevent further worsening of the
domestic political situation in Armenia.

According to Arminfo’s sources, in a certain sense the meeting was
fruitful and the parties have come to a compromise. However, the
sources could not answer how the position of the PAP will change
after the meeting, and if the authorities will go on implementing
the punishing actions regarding the leader of the PAP.

To note, the owner of the “Tashir-group” Samvel Karapetyan arrived
in Yerevan yesterday and met Tsarukyan. His purpose was to reconcile
Gagik Tsarukyan and Serzh Sargsyan.

From: A. Papazian

CLOWNERY IS OVER: CUBICLES FOR THE SMART AND THE IGNORANT

Haikazn Ghahriyan, Editor-in-Chief
Comments – 17 February 2015, 19:55

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has written a letter to Serzh Sargsyan proposing
to meet and discuss the genocide issue. The letter is dated February
12, Ter-Petrosyan refers to the “bewailing of blood friends”.

Apparently, this is a way of insuring himself in case he is accused of
“betraying” Tsarukyan.

And Tsarukyan has already been betrayed, beginning from his “blood”
friends and in-law to defectors from PAP. However, this is the
so-called second stage of “betrayal”.

This happened after one of the spokesmen for the Kremlin announced
that those who hope for coming to government with Moscow’s help are
clowns And Hovik Abrahamyan returned from Moscow empty-handed.

Over the past few years the non-governmental parties have been busy
with clownery, trying to wrap it up in some political “ideas” and
people’s problems, outrunning the government to hand the country’s
sovereignty to Moscow. They hoped that Moscow would help them come
to government in Armenia. They did not even hide it.

And the culmination was the tragedy in Gyumri which unmasked these
parties. They left the people of Gyumri alone with their grief and
righteous claims.

Continuing the topic of clowns, Serzh Sargsyan noted in his speech they
will not allow anyone to turn our country to a circus, suggesting the
division between the smart and the ignorant. His spokesman disseminated
this thesis, noting that it is a civilization struggle, not a political
struggle, and everyone must stick to the pigeonhole box.

Hence, the choice is clear between the cubicles for the smart and
the ignorant as defined by Serzh Sargsyan. This was the logical end
of the clownery. And it ended with Ter-Petrosyan’s smart letter.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT MADE WELL-TIMED STEP – EXPERTS

21:30 * 17.02.15

Since gaining independence Armenia has been committed to its foreign
policy in terms of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, with the exception
that the Armenian side has been gradually adopting a harder line on
its demands, Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental
Studies, Academy of Sciences of Armenia, told Tert.am.

“Armenia has always favored improvement of its relations with Turkey,
without any preconditions. Armenia is committed to its policy. This
principle remains in force, but new approaches have been shown, and
we are now discussing not only the problem of recognition, but that
of demands as well,” Mr Safrastyan said.

He considers logical that Armenia has been pursuing a harder line
since 1999-2000. According to him, if Turkey had changed its policy,
Armenia would not have had to take such steps.

Most experts welcomed Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s step.

However, they called it a belated step because the Armenian-Turkish
protocols have done their “dirty business” by raising Turkey’s role.

Mr Safaryan disagrees with experts. According to him, Armenia’s
president made a well-timed step.

“We have seen Turkey continues disregarding Armenia’s ‘no
preconditions’ policy. On the other hand, Turkey has lately made
overtly impudent steps on the threshold of the Armenian Genocide
centennial. I mean their cheap trick involving the Battle of
Gallipoli. Under the circumstances such a step was to be expected
before April 24, but it was made even earlier, and I welcome it,”
Mr Safrastyan said.

The international community understands everything and has seen
Turkey has not changed its policy toward Armenia for years. So Turkish
propaganda may make use of this step to slander Armenia once again,
but it will not succeed.

Expert in Turkic studies Andranik Ispiryan told Tert.am that the
Armenians expected President Serzh Sargsyan to make that step.

“It was expected prior to April 24 because Turkey has not so far taken
any steps to Armenia-Turkey rapprochement. On the contrary, as the
Armenian Genocide centennial is nearing, Turkey has been following
a harder line in denying the Armenian Genocide, which has logically
led to the present situation,” he said.

The withdrawal of the Armenian-Turkish protocols has not essentially
changed anything because the protocols had no legal force. However,
in terms of propaganda it created a situation for Turkey. It claims it
is extending its hand to Armenia, protocols were signed, but Armenia
does not respond.

“And Armenia’s president is thus putting an end to this all,” Mr
Ispiryan said.

As regards Turkey’s response, he said that, regrettably, Turkish
society and mass media do not properly present Turkey’s responsibility
for Armenia-Turkey rapprochement.

“What is the meaning of the headline ‘Sargsyan has buried
Armenian-Turkey rapprochement process’ by one of the Turkish media
outlets? That is, they are once again trying to accuse the Armenian
side, turning a blind eye to the fact that it was Turkey that, after
signing the protocols, placed them on the furthest back burner.”

From: Baghdasarian

SDHP COMMENDS WITHDRAWAL OF PROTOCOLS

By MassisPost
Updated: February 16, 2015

The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) has positively assessed
President Serzh Sargsyan’s initiative to withdraw the Turkish Armenia
Protocols from the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

“We certainly welcome President Serzh Sargsyan finally withdrawing
the Protocols from National Assembly, it is well overdue.” stated
Armenia’s Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Chairman Narek Galstyan.

“The SDHP has always been in favor of the direct withdrawal, as much
as against the Protocol singing in the first place.”

Mr. Galstyan emphasized that what’s especially important is the fact
that this is happening on the threshold of the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.

“The SDHP has criticized the Turkish Armenia Protocols numerous times
over the years. We believe the initial signing of the Protocols in
Zurich was a step in the wrong direction. Over the past six years,
we have on many occasions, called on withdrawing the Turkish Armenia
Protocols from the National Assembly. Ankara has showed that it is not
ready and does not want to melt the ice in Armenian-Turkish relations
in any way. Ankara continues to deny the Genocide, helps and arms
Azerbaijan, and continues to unilaterally close its border with
Armenia, showing itself as an aggressor.” continued Mr. Galstyan,
“In fact, Turkey has also suspended the Protocol process. With the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide before National Assembly,
nobody could justify the maintenance of the protocols.”

“The Hunchakian Party looks forward to Armenia withdrawing its
signature from the protocols all together.” concluded Mr. Galstyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CATHOLICOS ARAM I SENDS LETTERS TO EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT AND SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE GHPTI CHURCH

21:34, 17 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
has sent condolence messages and letters of support to President of
Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and leader of the Ghpti Church Patriarch
Tavatros II on the death of 21 Ghpti Egyptians who were killed by
Islamist extremists in Libya, as “Armenpress” reports, according to the
official website of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

After expressing condolences, the Supreme Patriarch reminded the
people of Egypt about the dangerous consequences of extremism that
is disturbing the peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims.

In his letter addressed to Patriarch Tavatros II, Catholicos Aram I
expressed his condolences on the death of 21 innocent followers of the
Ghpti Church, referring to them as martyrs of the 21st century.”Those
who die for the Christian Church have a special place. The 21 Ghptis
who shed their blood, need to give us strength to stay true to our
faith,” as stated in the letter.

At the end of the letters, His Holiness expresses support to the people
of Egypt and the Sister Ghpti Church on behalf of the Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia.

ARTASHES TUMANYAN APPOINTED ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO IRAN

21:16, 17 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Grigor Arakelyan has been relieved of the
post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic
of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran. As the Department of
Public Relations and Mass Media of the Structure to the Office of
the President of the Republic of Armenia reports to “Armenpress”,
by another presidential decree, Artashes Tumanyan has been appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran (residence in Tehran).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO UNION OF ARMENIANS OF ROMANIA

20:50, 17 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Union of Armenians of Romania
will benefit from funding from the Romanian government’s state budget.

As “Armenpress” reports, the release of books of the Union of Armenians
of Romania, as well as volumes of books published under the patronage
of Ararat Publishing House will be funded by the Romanian government.

The Union’s weekly Armenian schools are also included in the list of
official schools, and Armenian language teachers will be remunerated
by the Ministry of Education, which will also ensure publication of
Armenian language textbooks.

ANKARA MUNICIPALITY HAS STARTED HANDING OUT BOOKS ABOUT THE ARMENIAN CAUSE

19:52, 17 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Ankara Municipality has started
handing out books about the Armenian Cause to educational and
scientific institutions ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, as the Turkish Haber3 news website reports, according to
“Armenpress”.

It is mentioned that Ankara Municipality has bought from “New Turkey”
publishing house the 5-volume “Collection on the Armenian Cause”,
the 12-volume “Ottoman Project” and 20 other booklets on the Armenian
Cause to hand out to schools, libraries, research centers, as well
as associations and foundations.

Currently, more than 20 countries and numerous international
organizations have recognized the Armenian Genocide. However, as in the
past, Turkey continues to deny the mass killings of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire during WWI (there were nearly 2 million Armenians living
in the Ottoman Empire prior to WWI, nearly 1.5 million Armenians were
killed between the years of 1915 and 1923, the remaining 500,000 became
dispersed across the globe). The Parliaments of Greece, Switzerland,
Slovakia and Italy have passed draft laws criminalizing denial of
the Armenian Genocide.

ANKARA LINKS WEAPON PURCHASES TO APRIL 24TH

17:50, 17 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Turkey is artificially extending
the announcement of results of the weapon purchase tender, saying
it’s due to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Thus, Ankara
is blackmailing the U.S., trying to engage the West in its dirty game.

The Turkish authorities have declared that, taking into consideration
the attitude of the U.S. and European countries to the events
dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, only
after April 24th will the official Ankara make a decision on the
several billion-dollar transaction by which Turkey will obtain
zenith-missile complexes for its anti-aircraft defense system, as
the Turkish Hurriyet reports, according to “Armenpress”.

A high-ranking Turkish diplomat has also assured that the Turkish
government also wants to see the U.S. and French position on the
Armenian Genocide and that only after that will Turkey seal deals.

Turkey announced a tender for the construction of anti-zenith systems
in 2009. The Chinese CPMIEC won the tender in 2013, after which the
Turkish government started being pressured by its Western allies.

Afterwards, Turkey started negotiating with Western organizations. It
is mentioned that the American Raytheon & Lockheed Martin Consortium
and the European Eurosam Concern are the contenders.

From: A. Papazian