Public Hearings On Armanis Mine Expansion And Open Pit Mining

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ARMANIS MINE EXPANSION AND OPEN PIT MINING

14:58 March 31, 2015

Stepanavan Aarhus Center Coordinator Manya Meliqjanyan, Aarhus.am

On 24 March public hearings were held in Armanis: the expansion of
Armanis gold-polymetallic mine by 70 ha and open pit mining were on
the agenda.

Stepanavan Municipality Staff Head Rostom Qocharyan mentioned that the
mine has been developed for around 10 years, nevertheless, Stepanavan
hasn’t received any dram as environmental free. Armanis mine not only
harms development of tourism in Stepanavan, but also development of
husbandry and agriculture.

Stepanavan Aarhus Center Coordinator added that the company developing
Armanis gold-polymetallic mine regularly pollutes Dzoraget, dumps
toxic wastes in improper places, even in the yard of the school,
where children play on these wastes. The villagers complained that
each time they face the horror of the quake, when they feel the
shaking. They insisted they need land for cultivation and keeping
animals, thus they are not ready to provide any land areas for mining.

Karine Movsisyan and Vram Tevosyan from “Environmental Impact
Monitoring Center” SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry tried to calm
down the villagers and urged that the distance of the mine from
the village doesn’t exceed sanitary standards. In reply to numerous
questions, the experts assured that at this stage there is no need
for EIA document.

From: A. Papazian

http://ecolur.org/en/news/mining/public-hearings-on-armanis-mine-expansion-and-open-pit-mining/7176/

Water To Be Let Out From Lake Sevan Through Arpa-Sevan Tunnel From A

WATER TO BE LET OUT FROM LAKE SEVAN THROUGH ARPA-SEVAN TUNNEL FROM APRIL 5

14:22 April 01, 2015

EcoLur

On 31 March Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan visited “Arpa-Sevan
Tunnel”, where he was introduced the progress of rehabilitation works,
as the Information and Public Relations Department of Agriculture
Ministry informs.

Rehabilitation works are carried out in daily shifts – 7 months a
year (from 1 September to 1 April), while works are stopped during
spring floods, from 1 April to 1 September, to allow water to flow
into Lake Sevan.

“The current rehabilitation works planned for this year have been
accomplished, so we can start letting out water of Lake Sevan starting
from 5 April,” Sergo Karapetyan said.

Under the official source, 545.5 million cum water was transferred
to Lake Sevan through “Arpa-Sevan” tunnel in 2010-2014.

From: A. Papazian

http://ecolur.org/en/news/officials/water-to-be-let-out-from-lake-sevan-through-arpasevan-tunnel-from-april-5/7178/

La Commemoration Du Centenaire Du Genocide Armenien Pose Probleme En

LA COMMEMORATION DU CENTENAIRE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN POSE PROBLEME EN ALLEMAGNE

ALLEMAGNE

Alors que s’approche le 100e anniversaire du genocide des Armeniens
un differend est apparu au Bundestag sur la commemoration qui est
envisagee. Alors que les Verts et la gauche veulent parler du genocide
en tant que tel, le gouvernement federal et les conseils des partis
de la coalition ont emis des reserves a ce sujet.

Selon le journal Der tagesspiegel “apparemment, on craint un conflit
avec la Turquie , qui rejette la classification de ce massacre comme
un genocide aujourd’hui”.

Le 24 Avril, un debat d’une heure au Bundestag devrait avoir lieu a
l’occasion de cet anniversaire.

Au Bundestag ces derniers mois, un groupe de travail informel de
politiciens de tous les quatre groupes a discute de la facon de traiter
cet anniversaire. Pour les deputes Cem Ozdemir du parti des Verts et
Petra Pau du parti die Link, il etait clair qu’ils veulent utiliser
le mot genocide avec leur fractions. De leur côte les rapporteurs
competents de la CDU et du SPD, Christoph Bergner et Dietmar Nietan
voulaient avancer face la position adoptee il y a plus de dix ans
sans mention du mot genocide.

Dans le texte commun qu’ils avaient formule en fin de semaine dernière,
le mot genocide etait dans le titre. Mais après la finalisation par
les chefs de factions et le ministère allemand des affaires etrangères,
le terme controverse a disparu a nouveau.

Selon le journal Der tagesspiegel “apparemment, il est craint un
affront a la Turquie a un moment inopportun. En Juin, il y aura des
elections. La Turquie est egalement un partenaire dans la lutte contre
la milice terroriste “Etat islamique” (IS) qui est necessaire”.

Les deputes voteront lors de leur prochaine reunion de groupe le 21
Avril sur la resolution. Mais il est probable que le terme de genocide
ne sera utilise a nouveau que dans le preambule.

“Personnellement, je suis decu qu’il semble manquer un point critique
de courage, meme de dire ce qui est arrive,” a dit le depute Dietmar
Nietan du SPD. Il ne pense pas utile de ceder aux pressions de la
Turquie et que le mot genocide ne soit pas prononce. Au cours des dix
dernières annees le debat a egalement change la-bas a dit Nietan. “Si
le Parlement allemand nomme le genocide ouvertement, nous pourrons
aussi renforcer ceux de la societe civile en Turquie qui travaillent
pour un renouvellement.”

Son collègue du CDU Christoph Bergner trouve “que nous devrions essayer
de clarifier la dimension qu’avaient les evenements il y a 100 ans,
de les identifier clairement”.

Au Ministère allemand des affaires etrangères, on dit au contraire,
qu’une culture du souvenir ne peut pas etre prescrite “de dehors et
d’en haut” comme l’a dit le ministre d’Etat pour l’Europe, Michael
Roth. Elle a besoin d’espace et de temps pour grandir au sein de
la societe.

“Nous saluons le fait que la souffrance infini, l’expulsion et
l’assassinat des Armeniens en Turquie depuis plusieurs annees ne soient
plus un tabou et publiquement egalement soit critique et discute”
a dit le politicien du SPD.

“Il est important de contribuer a la comprehension et la reconciliation
entre Armeniens et Turcs, c’est pourquoi nous continuons a promouvoir
des projets de dialogue et d’echanges >>, a declare Roth.

Toutefois, le president du parti des Verts Cem Ozdemir estime que cela
n’est pas suffisant. Il a critique le gouvernement federal qui n’ etait
pas pret 100 ans après le genocide, de nommer le genocide par son nom .

“La Republique federale est le successeur legal de l’Empire allemand et
donc le plus proche allie de l’Empire ottoman dans la responsabilite,”
a-t-il dit.

Le debat ne fait que commencer en Allemagne.

jeudi 2 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=109734

La Suisse Sera Representee Au Centenaire Du Genocide Qu’au Niveau De

LA SUISSE SERA REPRESENTEE AU CENTENAIRE DU GENOCIDE QU’AU NIVEAU DE SON AMBASSADEUR

SUISSE

Berne, 01.04.2015 – L’ambassadeur de Suisse en Armenie representera
la Suisse au > a
Erevan le 24 avril. Le Conseil federal s’en est ainsi tenu a sa
pratique traditionnelle qui consiste a participer avec retenue aux
commemorations d’evenements historiques internationaux. Le Conseil
federal a exprime a plusieurs reprises sa condamnation des evenements
tragiques de 1915 ayant conduit a la mort d’un très grand nombre
d’Armeniens (entre plusieurs centaines de milliers et 1,5 million de
personnes, selon les sources).

La Suisse continuera par ailleurs a s’engager pour une normalisation
des relations entre la Turquie et l’Armenie. Ainsi, les Protocoles de
Zurich signes entre les deux pays en 2009 envisagent, entre autres,
la creation d’une commission mixte d’historiens independants chargee
de faire la lecture de ces evenements tragiques.

Adresse pour l’envoi de questions : Information DFAE Tel. 058 462 31
53 [email protected]

jeudi 2 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=109733

La Legislatura De Chubut Apoya Las Actividades Por El Centenario Del

LA LEGISLATURA DE CHUBUT APOYA LAS ACTIVIDADES POR EL CENTENARIO DEL GENOCIDIO ARMENIO

1.4.15

Según una resolucion aprobada el 19 de marzo, la Legislatura de Chubut
anuncio su adhesion “a los actos de Memoria y Reclamo que la comunidad
Armenia realizara durante el presente año en el que se cumplen cien
años del genocidio armenio y promover acciones de conmemoracion en
el ambito provincial”.

Según la resolucion 045/2015, el apoyo se da “en el marco de la Ley
Nacional N° 26.199 y de la Ley Provincial N° 5.611, que declara el día
24 de abril de todos los años como ‘Día de Accion por la Tolerancia y
el Respeto entre los Pueblos’, en conmemoracion del genocidio de que
fuera víctima el pueblo armenio”. Mediante la Ley Provincial N° 5.611,
Chubut se había adherido a la Ley Nacional 26.199 en 2007.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.prensaarmenia.com.ar/2015/04/la-legislatura-de-chubut-apoya-las.html

Eventually It Became Clear Why Trees In Yerevan Are Exposed To Deep

EVENTUALLY IT BECAME CLEAR WHY TREES IN YEREVAN ARE EXPOSED TO DEEP PRUNING

13:07 March 31, 2015

EcoLur

Official explanations on the deep pruning in Yerevan: as the Facebook
post of Arabkir Administrative Area says, “Due to the spring pruning
carried out in Arabkir, visibility increased in Komitas and Qochar
streets, joint branches not only promote external lighting, but also
make the architectural features of the buildings visible.”

In reply to the remark of Tert.am that drivers assure such ‘sanitary
pruning’ aim not to disturb the operation of road cameras, Yerevan
Municipality Public Relations Department Head Arthur Gevorgyan said,
“Such approach is not serious.” At the same time, at the meeting on 30
March Yerevan Mayor assigned to carry out pruning in those sections
of the capital, where the branches of trees disturb the visibility
of road signs and traffic lights.

The pruning of trees in Yerevan will continue up to April 15.

From: A. Papazian

http://ecolur.org/en/news/officials/eventually-it-became-clear-why-trees-in-yerevan-are-exposed-to-deep-pruning/7173/

Defne Gursoy : A Paris, L’Histoire Repond A Erdogan

DEFNE GURSOY : A PARIS, L’HISTOIRE REPOND A ERDOGAN

Médiapart

” Le Colloque sur le Génocide des Arméniens dans l’Empire ottoman
: cents ans de recherche ” s’est déroulé a Paris du 25 au 28
mars 2015.

Il restera dans les mémoires comme l’événement phare des nombreuses
manifestations en France pour le centenaire du génocide, souvent
intitulé ” le premier génocide contemporain ”. Les historiens
et autres chercheurs auront ainsi donné une réponse scientifique a
l’acharnement du Président turc contre la diaspora arménienne, ainsi
qu’a sa déformation volontaire de l’histoire de son pays (voir notre
article intitulé ” Paranoïa turque pour surmonter l’année 2015 ”).

Lire la suite, voir lien plus bas

mercredi 1er avril 2015, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

D´autres informations disponibles : Sur Blog Mediapart.fr

From: A. Papazian

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=109724

Newspaper: Naryshkin ‘Demanded’ Sargsyan To Bring Tsarukyan Back Pol

NEWSPAPER: NARYSHKIN ‘DEMANDED’ SARGSYAN TO BRING TSARUKYAN BACK POLITICAL FIELD

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Wednesday, April 1, 13:19

Late in the evening on March 31, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
met with his minions from the Republican Party behind the closed doors,
a local newspaper Zhoghvorud writes.

According to the paper, Sargsyan informed the high-ranking officials
that Sergey Naryshkin, the State Duma Chairman who is in Armenia
these days, ‘demanded’ him to bring Gagik Tsarukyan back to the
post of the Prosperous Armenia Party leader and ‘back to the status
Tsarukyan had before February 12.’ According to the paper, Sargsyan
has not given any specific answer to the Russian high-ranking guest,
unless he discusses the issue at the RPA Executive Board that is due
to convene tonight, according to the paper’s sources.

It is noteworthy that Leonid Slutsky, the head of the State Duma
Committee for Eurasian Integration and Compatriots, told reporters
in Yerevan a few days ago that Tsarukyan adopted the only right
decision within the interests of the Armenian people – to left the
political field.

The recent domestic policy developments in Armenia made Gagik
Tsarukyan, Leader of Prosperous Armenian Party – the second biggest
political party in Armenia – leave his party and the political field
following an open confrontation with president Serzh Sargsyan.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=245CC3C0-D850-11E4-BB3F0EB7C0D21663

ECtHR Rules: Armenia Violated NGO’s Right To Assembly

ECTHR RULES: ARMENIA VIOLATED NGO’S RIGHT TO ASSEMBLY

04.01.2015 18:55 epress.am

The Republic of Armenia has violated Article 11 (freedom of assembly
and association) and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) of the
European Convention on Human Rights, placing a ban on the Helsinki
Committee of Armenia NGO holding a peaceful march and a candlelight
vigil in memory of Levon Gulyan, a witness in a murder investigation
who died in May 2007, while in police custody, ruled the European
Court of Human Rights on Sunday, March 31, in the case of “Helsinki
Committee of Armenia v. Armenia.”

Recall, that according to the official version, Gulyan died in an
attempt to escape by jumping out of a second-floor window of the
police station. However, Armenian human rights groups claim that the
man was subjected to torture and ill-treatment by police.

On 6 May 2008 the Helsinki Committee of Armenia NGO notified the
Mayor of Yerevan of its intention to hold a commemoration march
on the first anniversary of Gulyan’s death. The march was to take
place on 12 May from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. It was to start at Republic
Square and continue through Nalbandyan Street in the direction of
the police station.

The Mayor banned the march for national security and public order
reasons following mass post-election rallies and protests and an
intense standoff between the authorities and the supporters of the
opposition, resulting in clashes and at least ten persons being
killed. The Mayor cited the Sections 9 § 4 (3) and 13 § 1 (3) of the
Assemblies, Rallies, Marches and Demonstrations Act, finding:

“According to the official opinion of the Police … of 8 May 2008
…, the mass public event held on 1 March 2008 turned into mass
disorder resulting in human casualties and not all the circumstances
of the crime and offenders have been disclosed, and not all weapons
and ammunition used [at that event], whose circulation may pose danger
to the lives and health of citizens, have been found in the course of
the investigation into the criminal case instituted in connection with
that fact by the Special Investigative Service of Armenia[. H]ence,
it will be impossible to prevent new crimes, if the mass public event
[in question] is held.”

The NGO, which had not received the letter informing them of the
Mayor’s decision, tried to hold the march on 12 May 2008 as planned
but was prevented from doing so by the police. The Committee received
the letter informing them of the ban on 13 May 2008.

Relying on Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the
Convention, the NGO complained about the ban on them holding their
mourning march. Further relying on Article 13 (right to an effective
remedy), the NGO also complained that any appeal against the decision
banning their march, received after the date of the planned event,
had not only been ineffective but meaningless.

Note that the European Court of Human Rights is also investigating
the circumstances of Gulyan’s death. The RA Special Investigation
Service suspended the criminal investigation into the death, despite
the verdict of the Court of Cassation, binding to resume it.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.epress.am/en/2015/04/01/ecthr-rules-armenia-violated-ngos-right-to-assembly.html

President Sargsyan Congratulates The Assyrian Community On Hab-Nisan

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES THE ASSYRIAN COMMUNITY ON HAB-NISAN

15:41, 01 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

President Serzh Sargsyan has congratulated the Assyrian community on
Hab-Nisan – the New Year.

“I cordially congratulate Assyrians in Armenia on the occasion of
New Year – Hab-Nisan.

The friendship and cooperation between the Armenian and Assyrian
peoples date back centuries. Our peoples’ historical fates also have
many similarities.

Hab-Nisan is a holiday of love, delight and fertility which also
symbolizes the revival of nature.

May every new year bring happiness and prosperity to Assyrians in
Armenia and all over the world.”

From: A. Papazian

http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/01/president-sargsyan-congratulates-the-assyrian-community-on-hab-nisan/