Author: Andres-Papazian

What a citizen of independent Armenia dreams about

15:22 | September 20,2014 | Social

It would be good, if Armenia was really independent. This is the dream
of citizens, who took part in our survey.

“We say that we are independent, but now we want to join the Customs
Union. I am sure that it will be the same Soviet Union and again
Russia will make decisions,”- said Vardan Petrosyan.

Some citizens are sorry that monopoly dominates in the country and
inflation is everywhere. “90 percent of citizens just survives, and 10
percent collects its millions. Even their grandchildren can live on
that money until the end of their life,”- said pensioner Amalya
Aghabekyan.

Most of the citizens preferred not to speak on that topic.

Whereas Anahit Hakobyan is going to celebrate September 21 and invite
all her relatives, “We have an independent state- the Republic of
Armenia, and we must keep it. We have a powerful army, which can
protect our homeland. We must be proud of it.”

We remind that Armenia’s Declaration of Independence was adopted on
August 23, 1990 at the first sitting of Armenian Supreme Council. With
the decision of the Parliament, on September 21, 1991 a referendum on
leaving the USSR and becoming an independent state was held.

94,99 percent of the citizens of Armenia said “yes” to Independence.
Two days later, on September 23, the Supreme Council announced Armenia
an independent and sovereign state.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. Takes To Rear Of Artsakh Status Quo

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 20 September 2014, 13:06

The nominee for the next U.S. ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills
announced at the Senate Committee hearing that “efforts toward
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation are especially important at this time,
as the United States and the world will stand in solidarity with the
Armenian people next year to mark the centenary of one of the 20th
century’s worst atrocities,” he stated.

It is not clear what “standing in solidarity with the Armenian people”
means. This statement seems to have a moral meaning rather because,
mildly speaking, there is little probability that the centenary will
accelerate the process of international recognition of the Armenian
genocide. The world did not begin with the Armenian genocide and will
not end with its centenary, and a jubilee is not an important enough
factor for a recognition with a paramount geopolitical importance.

Standing in solidarity with the Armenian people will have a political
importance, however, because not only recognition will ensure such
importance.

In this respect, it is interesting that the nominee for the next U.S.
ambassador to Turkey John Bass spoke about efforts towards
Armenian-Turkish normalization. The statements of the next ambassadors
(one of them is still formally a candidate) demonstrate that the
Armenian-Turkish topic will be primary for the United States. The
100th anniversary may have a big importance but the core issue is
other than that. The United States sees the necessity to control the
process of the Armenian-Turkish normalization. And it is logical
because control over the process is important at least for the
strength of positions in the process of settlement of the Artsakh
conflict.

The United States is obviously vibrant in the process relating to
Artsakh and is speaking about the change of level of the format of
talks. There are no details yet but it is beyond doubt that the United
States is trying to prevent Russia’s single-handed control over the
process.

To resolve this problem it is necessary to keep the Armenian-Turkish
aspect under control, especially with the recent nature of the
Russian-Turkish relations. Although there is a huge difference between
the strategic interests of Russia and Turkey, currently they have a
lot in common in terms of tactics and a close cooperation based on
that. And the Armenian-Turkish relations are the rear of the Artsakh
process, consequently the rear must be secured to secure the positions
in the process.

Having set out to prevent a shift of status quo upon the
Russian-Turkish-Azerbaijani agreement the United States did think
about the rear of the process, control over the Armenian-Turkish
process, having the experience of the football democracy and the new
invitation of the Armenian government to Erdogan.

The Armenian-Turkish football diplomacy started in Russia, in the same
period the Russian foreign minister Lavrov announced that compromise
over the Artsakh issue would enable progress towards opening the
Armenian-Turkish border. For his part, Serzh Sargsyan suggests that
Turkey “assist” in the settlement of the Artsakh issue. This dangerous
process was prevented through the interference of the West which
enabled reducing the football democracy to the level of protocols on
the shelf covered with dust.

And now, as G7 boycott the inauguration of Erdogan, the Armenian
foreign minister attends it and hands to him an invitation to visit
Armenia on April 24. In other words, a new risk of football diplomacy
occurs that may cause problems for Artsakh, as well as regional
stability. After all, the first Armenian-Turkish football diplomacy
followed the Russian-Georgian five-day war.

Being mindful of this and in order to keep the Caucasus from
destabilization on the eve of the new Armenian-Turkish initiative the
United States will try to take preventive steps in the
Armenian-Turkish dimension.

There is an opinion that the Armenian-Turkish normalization is one of
the keys to regional security and development. In fact, the
Armenian-Turkish normalization without preconditions is possible with
new international guarantees of regional stability and development,
shifting the region to a new comprehensive level of involvement in the
global security system.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian President: Armenian-Turkish protocols may shortly be removed
from the Armenian Parliament’s agenda

by Tatevik Shahunyan
Saturday, September 20, 16:22

The Armenian-Turkish protocols may shortly be removed from the
Armenian Parliament’s agenda, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said
at the 5th Armenia-Diaspora Forum on Saturday.

“We are removing them not because they have not benefited the Armenian
people and not because they have caused damage to Armenia’s interests
but just because they have fulfilled and continue to fulfill their
purpose,” the Armenian President said.

To remind, the Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers signed the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols in Zurich on October 10, 2009. The
protocols were to be ratified by the two countries’ parliaments.
However, on 7 Dec 2009 Turkey laid down a number of preconditions,
connecting the Armenian-Turkish normalization process with the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. On 22 April 2010, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan suspended the ratification process but did not remove
the protocols from the Armenian Parliament’s agenda. A number of
high-ranking international officials have blamed Turkey for having
wrecked the rapprochement process.

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From: A. Papazian

Bako Sahakyan congratulates South Ossetia leader on Independence Day

09:51 * 20.09.14

President of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic Bako Sahakyan has
congratulated the South Ossetia government and people on their
independence anniversary.

His address, sent to the country’s president, Leonid Tibilov, is
presented below:

“Respected Mr Tibilov,

“On behalf of the authorities, people of the Artsakh Republic and
myself, I personally scordially congratulate you and the entire South
Ossetian nation on the Day of the Republic.

“The fraternal South Ossetian people have passed a difficult way to
independence defending in arms their honor and freedom. Patriotism and
self-devotion of South Ossetia’s glorious sons and daughters deserve
the highest estimation.

“South Ossetia has now entered qualitatively a new stage of history
peacefully and through creative work, developing and strengthening its
independent statehood and raising the prosperity of its citizens.

“People in Artsakh value high friendship with South Ossetia and are
confident that the ties between us will continue to develop on a
steady basis.

“Accept my cordial congratulations on the national holiday once again.
Peace and prosperity, new successes and achievements to the fraternal
South Ossetia”.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Profanation du buste de Missak Manouchian à Marseille
Le Grand rabbin Haïm Korsia et Antoine Bagdikian (ANACRA) interpellent
les autorités

Le 8 septembre 2014, dans un message vidéo, le > a revendiqué la profanation de la stèle des
résistants fusillés figurant sur l’Affiche Rouge dans le Square
Manouchian situé à Marseille.

Dans cet enregistrement, les membres masqués du mouvement nationaliste
et raciste s’enorgueillissent de cette action et proposent une lecture
révisionniste et insultante d’une des pages les plus glorieuse de la
Résistance en France.

Au nom du travail de mémoire mené communément, l’Aumônerie Israélite
des Armées et l’Association Nationale des Anciens Combattants et
Résistants Arméniens condamnent avec la plus grande fermeté cet acte
odieux.

cliquer sur la photo pour agrandir

Depuis 2009, l’AIA et l’ANACRA organisent chaque 21 février une
cérémonie conjointe commémorative en l’honneur de ce groupe de
résistants français et étrangers organisés autour de Missak
Manouchian, arménien, et Joseph Epstein, juif polonais. Le Groupe de
l’Affiche rouge fut exécuté le 21 février 1944 au Mont Valérien par la
gestapo.

Le Grand rabbin Haïm Korsia et Antoine Bagdikian, représentants
respectifs de l’AIA et de l’ANACRA, interpellent les autorités pour
une réaction urgente et la poursuite en justice des auteurs de cet
acte.

Parallèlement, ils en appellent à l’éveil des consciences citoyennes
garantes des valeurs de la République.

voir le document

samedi 20 septembre 2014,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE-ENVIRONNEMENT
Le gouvernement arménien annonce la chasse de 200 loups en Arménie

Quelle est la population des loups en Arménie ? Les estimations sont
de quelques centaines. Mais les loups sont suffisamment nombreux pour
faire des ravages au sein des troupeaux et le nombre de moutons
égorgés ou dévorés se comptent par centaine chaque année. Afin de
combattre ce fléau qui ruine nombre d’éleveurs, le gouvernement
arménien vient d’allouer 20 millions de drams pour l’élimination de
200 loups. Une prime de 100 000 drams (près de 200 dollars) sera
offerte pour tout loup abattu. Le seuil de 200 loups abattus devrait
permettre un équilibre et d’éviter les attaques de troupeaux de
moutons. Mais les écologistes d’Arménie sont en colère contre cette
chasse au loup. Ils viennent de créer le groupe >
et un site sur Facebook afin de plaider contre leur élimination qui
déséquilibrerait d’après eux le cycle naturel de la population animale
et la chaine alimentaire.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 20 septembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Marseille
Marie-Arlette Carlotti appelle à la dissolution du groupuscule
extrémiste >

Dans une lettre adressée au Ministre de l’Intérieur Bernard Cazeneuve,
la député des Bouches-du-Rhône Marie-Arlette Carlotti demande que le
groupuscule extrémiste Mouvement Populaire Nouvelle Aurore soit
dissous.

Dans la journée du 6 septembre 2014, la stèle érigée à Marseille en
mémoire du groupe Manouchian a été profanée.

Dans une vidéo, un groupuscule extrémiste dénommé “Mouvement Populaire
Nouvelle Aurore” a revendiqué cette profanation. Fondé à Marseille en
mars 2014, ce mouvement fasciste entraine ses membres au combat et
s’apparente à une véritable milice privée. Très actif sur les réseaux
sociaux, il multiplie les provocations, glorifie la mémoire de
collaborationnistes et incite à la haine raciale.

Au-delà des faits de dégradation de bien public en réunion, ces
exactions sont une atteinte à l’histoire de notre pays, aux fondements
de notre nation, aux valeurs de la République. En s’attaquant à la
mémoire de Missak Manouchian et au groupe FTP-MOI, c’est l’oeuvre
entière de la Résistance que ces gens ont cherché à salir. Je ne peux
trouver les mots pour dire mon dégout devant de tels actes. Je sais
pouvoir compter sur le travail des services de police pour faire toute
la lumière sur ces actes, et sur la justice de notre pays pour les
punir avec la plus grande sévérité.

A la lumière de ces éléments, j’ai demandé aujourd’hui à Bernard
Cazeneuve, Ministre de l’Intérieur, d’étudier la dissolution
administrative de ce groupuscule en Conseil des Ministres.

Marseille, le vendredi 19 septembre 2014

samedi 20 septembre 2014,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street NE
Washington DC 20017
Tel: 202-541-3000

Audience with the president of Armenia: special attention to Christian
communities and other religious minorities, and to refugees in
conflict zones

Vatican City, 19 September 2014 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father
Francis received in Audience the President of the Republic of Armenia,
His Excellency Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, who subsequently met with His
Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by
His Excellency Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations
with States.

During the cordial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for the
development and strengthening of bilateral relations, highlighting the
special role of Christianity in the history and life of Armenian
society.

With regard to the regional political situation, it is hoped that
complex and hitherto unresolved issues may be overcome through
dialogue between all the interested parties. Furthermore, mention was
made of the theme of conflict in the Middle East, and trust was
expressed in the common efforts of interested nations and religious
communities to achieve a peaceful co-existence of peoples throughout
the entire region. Special attention was paid to the situation faced
by Christian communities and other religious minorities in the area,
and to the humanitarian crisis regarding refugees from the affected
zones.

From: A. Papazian

IAN GILLAN AND TONY IOMMI ADDRESS TO GYUMRI MUSIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

Friday 19 September 2014 13:03
Photo: Mediamax

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and Lead singer of Deep Purple
Ian Gillan

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Rock stars Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Tony
Iommi (Black Sabbath) addressed to Gyumri N6 Music School students
and teachers.

September 20 will mark the first anniversary of the opening of the
school built within the joint project of the Fund for Armenian Relief
(FAR), Mediamax Media Company and Do Something Australian Organization.

“To all the staff and students, please know that I am thinking
of you on this day; one year from the opening. I hope you are
enjoying the school and – most important – that you are enjoying the
music. Music is a friend for life and souls – having touched – are
forever entwined. Peace, love and respect to you all”, Ian Gillan’s
letter reads.

“Dear Headmaster, Teachers and Pupils! I’m afraid my work schedule has
prevented me from coming to see you, nevertheless I’d like to send
you my congratulations on your first year anniversary. It’s amazing
that what started as a conversation with lan Gillan has now become a
building and successful school. People all over the world know about
you and have contributed to the rebuilding. I hope the day goes well
and look forward to visiting you at some point in the future”, Tony
Iommi’s letter reads.

The opening ceremony of the music school took place on September 20,
2013. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese
of the Armenian Church of North America, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan, Do Something Chairman Jon Dee and
Mardigian Family representatives attended the opening.

***

After devastating Spitak earthquake in 1988 N6 music school in Gyumri
has been made up of “domiks” (metal sheet dwellings).

A few months after the devastating Spitak earthquake that killed 25
thousand Armenians and left hundreds of thousands homeless, 24 year
old Jon Dee organized the Rock Aid Armenia project in London. British
rock stars recorded a top 40 cover version of Deep Purple’s Smoke on
the Water and helped to release the special “Earthquake Album”.

Revenue from the single and album sales was contributed as aid
to Armenia.

In 2009, Armenian Mediamax media company decided to honor the
participants of Rock Aid Armenia and contacted Jon Dee who lives in
Australia and heads the Do Something organization that he set up with
tennis star and former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.

As Jon was planning to re-release Rock Aid Armenia’s Smoke on
the Water to raise additional funds for Armenia, Mediamax and Do
Something joined forces to implement the Armenia Grateful 2 Rock /
Rock Aid Armenia project.

In October 2009, Mediamax invited Ian Gillan from Deep Purple, Tony
Iommi from Black Sabbath, Geoff Downes from Yes/Asia and Jon Dee to
Armenia. Under the Armenian President’s decree, they were awarded
an Order of Honor. It was later that Brian May from Queen and David
Gilmour from Pink Floyd were given their Orders of Honors by the
Armenian Embassy in London.

Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes and Jon Dee visited the Octet
Music School in Gyumri during their trip to Armenia. If there has
ever existed a painful blend of poverty and talent, then it was
vividly exposed at the Gyumri Octet School of Music. Many of the
students come from underprivileged families in Gyumri. Their music
school has been made up of “domiks” that were left over from the 1988
earthquake. The promise to rebuild these temporary premises with a
proper building has not happened. Despite their dilapidated premises,
the Octet Music School has kept producing talent year after year.

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has been sponsoring the
underprivileged students of the School for many years. A hint of hope
came to the school about 5 years ago when a very special couple from
the United States, Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Janet Mardigian visited
the students, accompanied by the FAR Board of Directors. “I would
never forget those children, tears were coming to my eyes every time
I recalled their beautiful musical performance” – said Mrs. Janet
Mardigian. They have never stopped thinking about the ways that they
could help the children.

The children’s performance also struck the rock heroes Ian Gillan,
Tony Iommi and Geoff Downes. Together with Jon Dee, they announced that
they would help to rebuild the school. By the end of 2009, FAR,Mediamax
and Do Something signed a trilateral agreement to achieve this outcome.

In March 2010, Mediamax and Do Something organized two charitable
concerts by Ian Gillan with the Armenian Symphonic Orchestra in
Yerevan. General sponsorship of the concerts by leading Armenian
mobile operator VivaCell-MTS allowed to raise 45.000 USD. Over the
past 2 years, a total of USD 110.000 has been raised for rebuilding
the school – the Armenian Government, Geoff Downes, EMI Records and
Orange Armenia also made contributions.

In 2010, Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi set up the WhoCares ad-hoc
super-group to raise funds for the Octet school. In May 2011, Edel
Music released the single by WhoCares with 2 brand new songs – Out of
My Mind and Holy Water. In July 2012, Edel Music released the WhoCares
album that comprises the 2 songs from the single and unreleased and
rare material from Gillan and Iommi’s back catalogue.

In summer 2012 the FAR Board recently briefed the Mardigian Family
Foundation about these extensive fundraising efforts. The following
day, their Foundation informed FAR that it will almost triple the
funds raised so far and allocate around USD 350.000. This generous
donation was extremely important and it allowed FAR,Mediamax and Do
Something to launch the construction of the school.

The construction was carried out by “Kanaka” company, which had won
the tender, organized by the FAR.

In January 2011, the owner of music store Millbank Music in Canada Tim
Irving contacted Ian Gillan’s manager Phil Banfield and said that he
would like to provide music instruments to the Gyumri school. Tim
noted that he had been the fan of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath
since childhood and he would be honored to take part in WhoCares
project implemented by Ian Gillan and Toni Iommi. Over two years,
Tim Irving collected an impressive number of music instruments
for N6 music school in Gyumri – 24 violins, 12 acoustic guitars,
12 ukeleles, 4 alto Saxophones, 4 trumpets, 2 mandolins, 2 flutes,
3 hand drums, 1 conga kit with stand, 3 Yamaha portable keyboards,
1 Yamaha 88 note digital piano etc.

From: A. Papazian

LA POLICE ARMENIENNE MET EN GARDE L’OPPOSITION

ARMENIE

Le chef de la police armenienne a mis en garde les groupes de
l’opposition contre la destabilisation de la situation politique
dans le pays avec des actions > tandis que ses
forces s’entraînaient a utiliser la force contre des manifestants
anti-gouvernementaux durant le week-end.

Des centaines de troupes de l’interieur et d’autres membres de la
police ont simule une > lors d’exercices de formation qui
ont dure six jours dans un aerodrome situe a 15 kilomètres au nord
d’Erevan. Ils portaient des tenues anti-emeute et ont utilise des
canons a eau et des gaz lacrymogènes.

Un communique de la police a declare que les exercices ont eu lieu
en vertu d’un scenario dans lequel une manifestation autorisee par
les autorites >.

Quatre principaux partis de l’opposition en Armenie envisagent
d’organiser une manifestation conjointe sans precedent au debut du
mois prochain pour discuter de la reponse du gouvernement a une liste
de revendications politiques et socio-economiques emises par eux en
juin. Pratiquement aucune de ces demandes n’a ete satisfaite jusqu’a
present, ce qui a conduit certains partis de l’opposition, notamment le
Congrès national armenien (HAK), de menacer d’une campagne soutenue de
manifestations de rue anti-gouvernementales. Certaines personnalites
de l’opposition ont parle d’un > qui
attend l’Armenie.

> a ajoute Gasparian.

vendredi 19 septembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian