Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIE
Pour une éducation sexuelle chez les adolescents en Arménie

Le taux d’avortement chez les adolescents (la tranche d’ge des 15-19
ans) en Arménie continue de croître selon des professionnels de santé
citant le changement de comportement sexuel et le manque d’éducation
sexuelle comme les principales raisons. Selon les données officielles,
sur les 12000 avortements en 2011, 600 concernaient des adolescents,
ce qui fait un ratio de cinq pour cent de la population adolescente
(pour un ratio de 1000 femmes), alors qu’en 2009 il était de 4,6 pour
cent.

Les médecins affirment que les adolescents en Arménie commencent à
avoir des rapports sexuels à l’ge de 14 et 15 ans, ce qui signifie
que la vie sexuelle commence trois ans plus tôt que par le passé, au
milieu d’un manque d’éducation et avec aucune mesure de
sensibilisation.

“En cette ère de liberté d’information les risques liés à l’absence
d’éducation sexuelle adéquate sont beaucoup plus élevés, car ils
conduisent à une perception insuffisante. Notre expérience montre une
tendance croissante des grossesses non désirées chez les adolescentes
>> a déclaré Donara Alagyozyan gynécologue-obstétricien à ArmeniaNow.

Non seulement l’Arménie, mais toute la région est traversée par cette
question. Les pays post-soviétiques ont du mal à surmonter l’idéologie
soviétique de > et l’habitude de garder le silence à ce
sujet.

Malgré le fait qu’après une longue résistance et une lutte en 2008, le
thème de l’éducation sexuelle est entré dans le cursus supérieur de
l’école publique dans la catégorie >, les
informations sur les relations sexuelles, les maladies sexuellement
transmissibles sont >.

Le taux de maternité chez les adolescentes en Arménie est de 28,3 pour
cent, ce qui signifie que chaque année, plus de 1000 adolescentes
donnent naissance.

Garik Hayrapetyan affirme >.

La nécessité d’une éducation sexuelle était l’un des quatre principaux
sujets abordés à Genève au cours d’une conférence > impliquant son introduction
comme programme scolaire obligatoire et globale “, a-t-elle dit à
ArmeniaNow, ajoutant que ce qui est enseignée dans les écoles
d’aujourd’hui est loin d’être suffisant.

>, explique Anna Nikoghosyan.

L’Arménie, néanmoins, fait mieux que ses voisins en termes de taux de
grossesse chez les adolescentes.

En Géorgie, à cause des minorités ethniques musulmanes, où les
mariages précoces sont assez communs, 39 pour cent des adolescents
tombent enceintes, en Azerbaïdjan, cet indice est de 40 pour cent. La
Turquie a fait des progrès tangibles en ce qui concerne la réduction
du nombre jusqu’à 29 pour cent contre 49 pour cent en 2001.

“Le progrès de la Turquie est louable, cependant plus de 90000 jeunes
filles se marient chaque année et deviennent mères, perdent leur droit
à l’éducation et n’ont aucun droit de contrôler leur propre vie
reproductive, et c’est très inquiétant” a déclaré Pinar Ilkkaracan,
conduisant une ONG de défense des droits de la femme à ArmeniaNow.

Garik Hayrapetyan est convaincu que de nombreuses questions, y compris
les taux dangereux de 12 pour cent de stérilité secondaire, serait
résolvables par une éducation sexuelle appropriée.

L’UNFP envisage d’aider à l’introduction d’un discours de l’éducation
sexuelle à l’Institut pédagogique d’Etat ou l’Institut national de
l’éducation physique, ce qui signifie que les futurs enseignants se
verront enseignés des compétences pour parler ouvertement de ce sujet
alors qu’ils sont encore au lycée / université, plutôt que d’être
formés plus tard, comme c’est le cas maintenant.

“Cela contribuerait grandement à la formation d’enseignants qui
enseignent le sujet avec une grande compétence, parce qu’en ce moment,
nous avons ce sujet dans nos programmes, et la question n’est toujours
pas résolue >> a conclut Garik Hayrapetyan.

Par Gayane Abrahamian

ArmeniaNow

samedi 6 septembre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Civil initiative for protection of Teghut to hold a honey festival in
Shnogh village

Friday, September 5, 19:15

On September 7, the civil initiative for protection of Teghut will
hold a honey festival in Shnogh village of Lori region.

Activist Anna Shahnazaryan said at today’s press conference that the
festival aims to contribute to development of ecologically friendly
agriculture of Shnogh and Teghut villages adjacent to the Teghut
deposit. This is the second honey festival, the first one was held in
2013 and following the festival the beekeepers of rural communities
were able to sell about 650 kg of honey. About 750 kg more was sold in
Yerevan as a result of the sales organized by the activists.

This year the guests of the festival will receive an opportunity to
buy fruit, jams, cheese and dried fruit. In addition, guesthouses will
be opened in the village where the guests can taste home cuisine.
Within the frames of the festival, Narekatsi band and Mher Manukyan,
member of Lav Eli band, will give a performance.

By its reserves, the Teghut deposit is the second largest deposit in
the republic after the Kajaran deposit of copper and molybdenum in
Syunik. Vallex Group says that the Teghut deposit will be developed by
means of advanced technologies, which allow minimizing the negative
impact on the environment.

Vallex Group invested $320 mln in exploration and development of the
Teghut copper-molybdenum deposit. The total budget of the project is
$350 mln.

From: A. Papazian

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2014

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through war or peace

5 September 2014, 10:01 (GMT+05:00)
By Claude Salhani

Armenia and Azerbaijan, who are in a state of war despite a
cease-fire, have three options on how to approach the stalemated
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a dispute that lasted more than two
decades.

Each option comes with a sour pill, as there is no magic solution. But
such is the reality of trying to find a peaceful resolution to a
bloody conflict.

The two sides can agree to disagree and continue with the status quo.
They can continue to exchange gunfire and mortar rounds on a daily and
nightly basis and to lob rhetoric and insults at each other. There are
both advantages and setbacks with this option. The advantage goes to
Armenia – at least in the initial stage- – as it gets to keep all the
occupied lands – 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory – that it
grabbed. This, however, is a very shortsighted option, as it lays down
the groundwork for a potential military escalation down the road. At
some point in time, Baku might feel it has no other option.

Unwanted as it may be, a military confrontation might seem as the only
solution. Two new factors that Yerevan may want to consider: the
election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the post of Turkish president, and
the nomination of Ahmet Davutoglu to the post of prime minister. The
two men are staunch supporters of Azerbaijan and have vowed to support
Baku in its efforts to reclaim the occupied territories.

Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in solidarity with Azerbaijan.

Armenia, in spite of its many domestic headaches and internal
economic, political and social ills may feel somewhat untouchable
while under Russian protection, as it currently is. But that can
change at a moment’s notice if Moscow becomes too pre-occupied in
another conflict, such as in Ukraine. This would leave Armenia
vulnerable and out in the cold.

The second option is a military one and while Azerbaijan would
undoubtedly have military superiority, there are great risks involved
in embarking on a military campaign as the final outcome is always
unpredictable and could lead to a regional conflagration.

That leaves the third and only real viable option: dialogue and a
peaceful resolution. While this be the smartest solution to follow, it
will also be the most difficult, as it would involve having to talk to
one’s enemies.

A conflict by its very nature is usually not a pleasant experience.

And a conflict such as the one in Nagorno-Karabakh, that carries with
it heavy baggage in the form of hatred of the other, given the history
of violence and bloodshed that has tainted this land.

But in order for any dialogue to take place there needs to be a
starting point where the two sides can begin to meet and to exchange
their views. That is difficult to happen when the antagonists continue
to exchange fire along the line of separation and in strong worded
communiqués.

“The rhetoric that we have been hearing on both sides has not been
encouraging, as it only exacerbates and polarizes different
positions,” Irfan Siddiq, Britain’s ambassador to Baku told AzerNews
on Thursday.

“It increases hatred of the other and what we need in this time is
understanding of the other. I know this is a difficult thing to ask
for in this heated environment when people say why should we
understand people who kill our neighbors and take our land, but for
there to be any resolution that is what will be required, and its what
we have seen through history,” the ambassador said.

From: A. Papazian

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 5 2014

Joshua Noonan: “The non-binding resolution on Karabakh will have no
implications”

5 September 2014 – 9:08am

At the end of August, the California State Senate passed a resolution
on recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh. Many experts said the document did
not follow the approach of U.S. authorities in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and was passed under great pressure from
lobbyists in the state. Joshua Noonan, an Azerbaijan and Caucasus
analyst, research assistant at the Woodrow Wilson International
Center for Scholars, has expressed his opinion about the developments
in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

– Are you surprised that such (Californian AJR-32) resolution on
Karabakh has been adopted?

– The passage of AJR-32 is not surprising due to its non-binding and
local nature. It is representative of some constituents in California
while posing no obligation to the state government. The lobby
representing the certain constituents is strong and organized.
Moreover, the government of Azerbaijan and local opposed groups do not
show any serious interest in properly mounting an opposition.

– Can this vote have any serious political implications?

– There are no real implications for the vote. It is simply a public
relations victory which demonstrates the organized nature of a certain
portion of the constituents in California.

– What was its goal?

– Historically, interest groups seek to demonstrate their value to
their patrons by passing non-binding resolutions. This is simply
another example of such an action.

– Can it affect the relations of Azerbaijan with the United States?

– As this is a non-binding resolution at a state level, there are no
real implications for Azerbaijan-US relations.

– Can it affect somehow the process of resolving of the Karabakh crisis?

– No. The resolution of the conflict is the mainly the responsibility
of the two involved parties, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

– What or who prevents the resolution of the Karabakh crisis today?

– Unwillingness of the parties’ leadership to compromise.

From: A. Papazian

Road Rage: Drivers still unhappy with fines and cameras

SOCIETY | 05.09.14 | 16:04

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Despite lowered fines, drivers in Armenia remain outraged at the
system imposed for traffic and parking violations.

Over the past couple years, a system of traffic speed cameras and paid
parking space was established against which some continue to rebel,
saying that the cameras are unreliable and the fines too high. A
social initiative “Out of Our Pockets” was formed to fight what it
sees as an injustice.

As a result of complaints in June the Parliament accepted a bill about
making changes to the code of Administrative offences, according to
which the set amount paid for breaking traffic rules, was greatly
lowered.

With the initiation of Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, Yerevan City
Council accepted the bill allowing drivers to use the paid parking
lots for 15 miutes free-of-charge, instead of five, and drivers with
disabilities or car owners transporting them are freed from any fines
and penalties paid for parking in Yerevan.

However, Out of our Pockets campaign member Arsen Petrosyan on Friday
told reporters that such compromise is not satisfying and the fight
goes on.

“The most important of our demands remains the amnesty of fines and
penalties, we demand that before the July 26th new regulation gains
force the fines and penalties should get amnesty,” Petrosyan said.

Out of our Pockets campain member Vardan Hakobyan said that the police
try to show that the mechanisms they run are for the good of safe
traffic, however, as a result of applying them compared to last year
accidents increased by 221 cases, 346 more people were injured and
only the number of fatalities decreased by 20.

“If the number of injured increased and the dead – decreased, it is
not about the cameras, rather due to mandatorily fastening seatbelts,
which is a result of police patroling. These numbers show that a
policeman patroling, as a containment mechanism, has a more important
role than speed devices, which are mere mechanisms of stealing money
from our pockets,” Hakobyan said adding that their next rally will
take place on September 7, Sunday when they move from Avan to Sevan.

From: A. Papazian

HOMMAGE
Bruno Le Roux du PS à Erevan pour l’exposition consacrée à Jaurès

Une délégation de parlementaires conduite par Bruno Le Roux, président
du groupe socialiste à l’Assemblée nationale, a visité ce matin
l’exposition que le Musée du génocide arménien à Erevan a consacré à
Jean Jaurès. Le tribun socialiste, qui est mort avant le déclenchement
du génocide, avait été l’une des plus grandes voix à dénoncer les
massacres de 1894-1895, qui avaient fait près de 300 000 morts. >, avait-il alors déclaré, dans un discours mémorable
dénonçant les atrocités commises par le sultan Abdul Hamid.

Vincent Duclert, professeur agrégé d’histoire qui a consacré deux
biographies à Jean Jaurès et commissaire de l’exposition Jaurès
contemporain au Panthéon (juin-nov. 2014) faisait également partie de
cette visite de 4 jours organisée par la la FRA Dachnaktsoutioun et le
Comité de Défense de la Cause Arménienne.

Des députés Erwann Binet (Isère), Françoise Dumas (Gard), Nathalie
Nieson (Drome), Pascal Popelin (Seine Saint Denis), René Rouquet (Val
de Marne), du sénateur Luc Carvounas (Val de Marne) font partie de
cette délégation, ainsi qu’Alexis Govciyan, président de la mission
2015 du CCAF.

vendredi 5 septembre 2014,
Ara (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

CONFERENCE ARMENIE-DIASPORA
La conférence Arménie-Diaspora se réunira à Erévan du 19 au 20
septembre en présence de 700 invités venus de 60 pays

Du 19 au 20 septembre se déroulera à Erévan la 5e conférence
Arménie-Diaspora. Hier lors d’une conférence de presse, Hranouche
Hagopian la ministre de la Diaspora a présenté à la presse quelques
détails sur cette rencontre qui réunira près de 700 invités venus de
60 pays. La majeure partie de ces invités sont des responsables
associatifs, culturels et éducatifs de la diaspora. Des personnalités
politiques d’Arménie et du Haut Karabagh seront également présentes.
La conférence Arménie-Diaspora abordera de nombreux dossiers comme le
renforcement des liens entre l’Arménie et la Diaspora. Les cérémonies
marquant le 100ième anniversaire du génocide arménien seront également
au centre des discussions et débats de cette conférence
Arménie-Diaspora.

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 5 septembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Pernod Ricard steps up Russia exports

By Scheherazade Daneshkhu, Consumer Industries Editor
Financial Times
Sept 3 2014

Pernod Ricard, producer of Absolut vodka and Chivas Regal whisky, is
ramping up exports of its brands to Russia in anticipation of possible
retaliation by Moscow against Western sanctions.

Pierre Pringuet, chief executive of the French distiller – the world’s
largest after Diageo of the UK – said: “We are importing as much as we
can for our [Russian] inventories because an embargo or retaliatory
action could happen any time.”

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The group is shipping extra supplies of its Jameson Irish whiskey,
Ballantine’s scotch, Absolut vodka and wines.

The disclosure underscores the uncertainty faced by businesses
operating in Russia as Europe prepares to impose tougher sanctions
against Moscow over its attitude to the territorial independence of
Ukraine, despite signs of moves towards a ceasefire on Wednesday.

Pernod Ricard, which last week reported a 13 per cent fall in annual
profits, mainly because of a drop in sales of its upmarket cognac and
whiskies in China following the government crackdown on lavish
entertaining, said the situation in Russia was its biggest concern.

“Russia is a serious worry,” Mr Pringuet said. The group’s action is
aimed at defending its position in the country where sales increased 5
per cent in the year to June 30, despite the escalating political
tension.

Mr Pringuet said the group’s Ararat brandy produced in Armenia would
be unlikely to be affected by a potential backlash against Western
imports, but the brand accounted for just one-third of its total
Russian sales.

Mr Pringuet was more optimistic about China, where the company has
suffered a 23 per cent drop in full-year sales but recorded an
improvement in its final quarter.

“We think there is a gradual improvement,” he said, adding that there
appeared to be fewer government swoops on banqueting outlets. The
company had shifted its focus from the top end of the market by
introducing lower-priced premium drinks to target the middle class.

Mr Pringuet, who will hand over to Alexandre Ricard, nephew of the
company’s founder, when he turns 65 in January, acknowledged that the
US performance of its Absolut brand – bought for EURO 5.3bn in 2008 – had
been a disappointment.

Though the group had accelerated the brand’s development outside the
US – its single biggest market – it has lost market share within the
country.

“We are not pleased with the performance,” he said, which he
attributed in large part to a proliferation of “fancy-flavoured”
vodkas and start-ups with “questionable” craft claims, given their
sometimes industrial-scale alcohol production.

“Though 99 per cent or more of these new entrants won’t survive, they
do take market share,” he said.

Mr Pringuet said that despite the group’s relatively high debt, it
still had headroom to make acquisitions running into billions of
euros. “Maybe not EURO 10bn but a few billion,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

World Bulletin, Turkey
Sept 3 2014

Erdogan announces South Caucasus Pipeline start date

Construction of the South Caucasus Pipeline, part of the Southern Gas
Corridor, is to begin Sept. 20, Turkey’s President Erdogan said during
a trip to Azerbaijan.

World Bulletin / News Desk

A groundbreaking ceremony for the South Caucasus Pipeline, the first
phase of the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline, will be held Sept. 20,
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

“Turkey’s energy relations with Azerbaijan and, accordingly, the Trans
Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline project hold utmost importance,” Erdogan
told the press after meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham
Aliyev, in Baku.

The South Caucasus Pipeline is the first phase of the Southern Gas
Corridor, which will carry gas from the Azerbaijan sector of the
Caspian Sea to Turkey. Then the pipeline is to be connected to the
Trans Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline and reach Europe.

The Trans Anatolia project, also part of the Southern Gas Corridor, is
intended to transport natural gas, to be produced in the Shah Sea 2
field and others in Azerbaijan and possibly other neighboring
countries, through Turkey to Europe.

Erdogan also said Turkey and Azerbaijan were ready to strengthen their
ties. Aliyev expressed satisfaction that one of Erdogan’s first
foreign visits as president was to Azerbaijan.

“This shows our bilateral relations are of fraternity and friendship,
that they are on a great level,” said Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani president also criticized Armenia’s position on 1915 incidents.

“There is no historical basis of Armenian allegations,” he said. “We
will reveal Armenian lies together.”

Erdogan pressures Armenia to make peace with Azerbaijan

Armenia must make peace with Azerbaijan before it can fix its
relations with Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Wednesday.

In a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham
Aliyev, Erdogan said the disputes in the region could only be solved
through solidarity. The press conference was held in Baku, the capital
of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Armenia, two former Soviet republics, fought a war over
the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh from 1988 until 1994. The two
signed a ceasefire in 1994, but never agreed on a peace settlement.
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in essence independent, remains
unrecognized internationally as a separate state.

Turkey maintains that any resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
should take into account Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

“The solution of all disputes is related to the same core, both
regarding a solution between Turkey and Armenia and between Azerbaijan
and Armenia,” Erdogan said.

“In case of a solution between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the problems
between Turkey and Armenia will also be solved, but otherwise, the
problems between Turkey and Armenia will continue to stay as they
are,” he said. “We will continue our solidarity in the coming period
with the same decisiveness.”

Relations between Turkey and Armenia have been poor due to bitter
disagreements over incidents in 1915 which the Armenian diaspora and
government describe as “genocide,” fueling demands for compensation.
Turkey says that, although Armenians died during incidents in 1915,
many Turks also died in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in
Anatolia.

From: A. Papazian

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 3 2014

Talin mayor’s relatives responsible for beating doctor escape punishment

3 September 2014 – 11:56am

Relatives of the mayor of Talin (Armenia) allegedly responsible for
beating up medic Bogos Agoyan have been saved by the governor of
Aragotsn Province, Sargis Saakyan. The governor had a conversation
with Agoyan, after which the doctor nullified his police complaint,
Armenianreport.com reports.

41-year-old cardiologist Bogos Agoyan was beaten by relatives of the
mayor in the yard of the hospital on August 20 over a quarrel on the
parking lot.

From: A. Papazian