Author: Andres-Papazian

BAKU SAYS MG CO-CHAIRS TO TAKE PROPOSALS TO YEREVAN

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 4 2014

4 February 2014, 16:09 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said when analyzing the processes at the
contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, one can see that
the situation has remained tense.

“Azerbaijan supports the continuation of the current negotiations on
specific issues,” Elmar Mammadyarov said in a briefing on February 4.

He noted that these issues have been discussed with the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs who will leave for Yerevan with a number of proposals.

“If we see the Armenian side showing a constructive reaction, the
negotiations may continue,” he added.

Commenting on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visit to the region
Mammadyarov noted that concrete issues were discussed during the
recent meetings, including the Paris meeting.

The co-chairs started their visit to the region on February 3 from
Azerbaijan.

“Later, the co-chairs will leave for Yerevan. If any results are
achieved on these issues in Yerevan, a new meeting can be held at
the level of ministers or presidents,” Mammadyarov said.

He also said Azerbaijan intends to continue negotiations to achieve
progress in resolving the Karabakh conflict.

“The sooner the work on a comprehensive peace agreement is started,
the more favorable it will be for the region,” he said.

The situation on the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani
troops has remained tense since mid-January. Armenian armed forces
have recently violated the ceasefire over 2,000 times, killing two
Azerbaijani army officers and wounding one civilian.

Most ceasefire violations are being observed in the Fizuli, Agdam,
Terter, Goranboy, Khojavand, and Jabrail regions, Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry spokesman Vagif Dargahli said earlier.

International organizations and some foreign countries have voiced
concern over the armistice breaches on the frontline.

Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk said in his interview with Trend Agency that the casualties
and ceasefire violations on the line of contact and the border are
cause for concern.

Kasprzyk said every casualty is a tragedy that can be avoided if the
ceasefire is fully respected.

“I and my team have experienced this recent growth in tensions
first-hand during our recent monitoring exercises, when shots were
fired in spite of the fact that local commanders on both sides, using
OSCE radio equipment, provided security guarantees to our teams with
a clear undertaking that troops under their command would honor the
ceasefire for the duration of the monitoring exercise,” Kasprzyk said.

Earlier, Armenian armed forces fired on the Azerbaijani divisions and
the OSCE monitoring group members, who arrived in the contact line
on January 23 to monitor the ceasefire violations under the mandate
of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative.

Kasprzyk said the responsibility of respecting the ceasefire rests
with the sides.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early
1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed
forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions.

The UN Security Council’s four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal
have not been enforced to this day.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE
Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed
by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The
negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

From: A. Papazian

AZERI EXPERT SAYS THREAT OF WAR WITH ARMENIA REAL

Yeni Musavat (in Azeri), Azerbaijan
30 Jan 2014

An Azerbaijani expert has described the threat of war with Armenia
as real.

In an interview with the Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 30
January, expert Azad Isazada described the current situation on
the frontline between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces
as critical.

“Undoubtedly, the war may start at any moment and any ceasefire
violation can led to resumption of military operations. However, I
believe that the situation will be brought under control this time
as well because neither Azerbaijan, nor Armenia are interested in
resumption of war. The West is busy with developments in Ukraine and
it is clear that in this situation Russia is the only power capable
of staging provocations,” he told the newspaper.

According to the expert, Russia’s influence in Ukraine and Syria is
decreasing and this may be Moscow’s warning for the West that it can
start another conflict.

Isazada urged supplying frontline districts with spare materials,
providing the local population with extra military training and
building reserve hospitals.

Member of the parliamentary committee for security and defence issues,
Aqil Abbas, told Yeni Musavat that a conflict in Nagornyy Karabakh
should not be called a war. “A war is waged between two countries. If
the territory of one country is occupied and a separatist regime
is installed there, then a fight against terrorism must begin,”
the MP said.

Yeni Musavat pointed out that in terms of military hardware and
manpower Azerbaijan has the upper hand. “As opposed to Azerbaijan,
the Armenian army lacks drone fighters. What is more, in terms of
the local production of weapons and hardware the Armenian military
industry is underdeveloped,” the report said.

[Translated from Azeri]

From: A. Papazian

“MICROSOFT” COMPANY RECORDS HIGH RATES OF DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA: PRIME MINISTER

19:22, 4 February, 2014

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: “Microsoft” company records high
rates of development in Armenia. For the development of IT sector
Armenia needs not only financial but also institutional injections. The
legislative field envisages mitigation for beginner companies of IT
sector. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan
stated this within the framework of the official presentation of the
first Armenian tablet speaking about 2013 developments in IT. “I am
also pleased to note that “Microsoft” which launched cooperation with
Armenia earlier, records development of high speeds too. Good news
for us is that “Microsoft” ” Innovation Center was recognized as
one of the best 4 centers in the world, which means that our young
people have this tool as well to get new knowledge , new skills,”
Tigran Sargsyan said as reported by “Armenpress”.

The Prime Minister reacted on the next stage of IT sector development.

According to him, new injections are needed for progress which are
not only financial, but also institutional and are related to the
improvement of the environment.”We must think about incentives to
give an opportunity to the emerging companies to find their place in
this rather high competitive field,” Tigran Sargsyan stated. He noted
that a package will be introduced to the National Assembly to provide
milder tax field for the beginner companies of the package sector.

From: A. Papazian

SOCHI: THE RUSSIAN CITY WHERE I GREW UP

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

4 February 2014 Last updated at 02:52

By Rafael Saakov BBC Russian Fishing on the beach at Sochi Fishing
on the beach in Sochi as a Russian naval boat patrols in the Black Sea

The Sochi I remember was a summer resort where people came to swim and
relax on the beaches. But in winter it was dormant, with locals waiting
for the next peak season so they could rent out their apartments to
earn some money.

The city has gone through many changes during preparations to host
the Olympics.

In addition to the brand new sports venues, it now has a modern
airport, a new railway station and luxurious hotels. Many of the
street signs are now in English.

However, it is a different picture if you drive about 10 miles (16 km)
from the city centre, to the district in which I used to live.

The road, for example, is mainly a single lane.

Locals, who are used to huge traffic jams, hoped the road would be
widened before the Olympics, but this did not happen.

Soviet past

The Greater Sochi area sprawls for 90 miles along the shores of the
Black Sea and it claims to be the longest city in Europe.

Sochi mascots

The Sochi mascots wave to visitors

It is a place of great diversity, comprising multiple ethnic groups.

The Armenian community is the largest among them – almost 20% of the
local population.

For me, as an Armenian, the village of Altmets has the greatest
sentimental value. Its Armenian name, Nor Luys, translates as New
World and is often referred to as a small corner of Armenia in Sochi.

“START QUOTE

EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BUILT HERE, WE HAVE BUILT ON OUR OWN. WE DID
NOT ASK ANYONE FOR HELP”

End Quote Artavazd Avdzhyan Local museum curator

Nor Luys has its own Holy Narek chapel, its own spring which provides
locals with clean mountain water, and a statue of Mesrop Mashtots,
the creator of the Armenian alphabet.

Most Armenians moved to the Sochi area from Trabzon, in what is now
Turkey, during the 19th Century. Many preserve their Armenian cultural
traditions, writing poems and playing hand-made musical instruments.

“Everything that we have built here, we have built on our own. We did
not ask anyone for help, we did not appeal to the city administration,”
says Artavazd Avdzhyan, the local museum’s curator.

“We have nothing to do with the Olympic Games and we have nothing to
do with anyone from outside. We are living our own life. If anyone
does help, we say ‘thank you’. At least nobody creates any obstacles
for us.”

Historically, Sochi was famous for its mansions and estates which in
Imperial Russia belonged to famous merchants and aristocrats.

In the time of the Soviet Union, they were given to government
officials and party leaders.

Former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had his own summer residence built
personally for him. My school took children on excursions there when
I was a pupil.

Some of the sombre rooms and corridors have been kept as a museum
and remain unchanged.

You can still find the original oak, walnut and chestnut interior and
some of Stalin’s personal items, including his bed and a horsehair
sofa. His desk remains too, with a telephone and a marine-themed
writing set made of black marble and crystal, Mao Zedong’s personal
gift.

Lasting influence? Sochi at night

Sochi is now known for its night life as much as its beaches

While Sochi was once seen mostly as a city for summer holidays,
now many people come here for skiing or just for clubbing.

You can find many out-of-towners visiting Sochi’s bars and clubs,
whose prices are now comparable to those of Moscow.

Five years ago, it was impossible to imagine it, but Sochi is becoming
trendy.

It even has its own local celebrities.

A childhood friend, David, is a champion in making candyfloss, while
simultaneously moon-walking to the music of his idol Michael Jackson.

Thousands of viewers watch David’s videos online and each of his
performances in the city attracts an impressive crowd of spectators.

“Now people with a high status are coming to Sochi, and the city and
architecture here are also becoming high-profile,” he says.

“It is important to live up to this image. I have always done my best,
because I love my city.

“We must learn to treat people with greater sincerity and understand
that if they come here with money in their pockets, we should guarantee
they will have fun here to make them enjoy their stay,” he adds.

One of Sochi’s main post-Olympic objectives is to maintain its new
role, without losing its old identity.

As a Sochi citizen, I would hope the Winter Olympics does not bring
about just a short-lived claim to fame.

HTTP://

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S CU ACCESSION WILL CAUSE INFLATION AND EMIGRATION – OPPOSITION PARTY

February 04, 2014 | 12:44

YEREVAN. – Armenia is heading toward the Customs Union (CU) and the
Eurasian Union at a crazy speed, and this is not in the interests of
our people.

Opposition Heritage Party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan said the
abovementioned at a press conference on Tuesday.

“We will have inflation, increased emigration as a result of exporting
a few garden vegetables, which will go into the pockets of some, or
the mining industry, which likewise will go into the pockets of some.

We don’t need such a union under these conditions,” Martirosyan stated.

He noted, however, that Heritage is not against multilateral relations
with Russia.

“But we are against [such unions] because we are losing our
independence by becoming a member in these unions,” Heritage’s
official said.

In addition, Armen Martirosyan argued that Armenia’s joining the
Russian-led Customs Union will put the country’s security at risk.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

ZURICH: ARONIAN DEFEATS ANAND

February 4, 2014

The rapid chess tournament at 2014 Zurich Chess Challenge kicked off
Tuesday in the Swiss city.

In Round 1, Armenian Grandmaster (GM) Levon Aronian–who plays first
board for the three-time World Chess Olympiad champions and the
previous World Team Chess champions, Armenia, and is second in the
World Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings–defeated former World Chess
Champion, GM Viswanathan Anand (India).

In the second round, Aronian will play against FIDE No. 1 and reining
World Chess Champion, GM Magnus Carlsen (Norway).

To note, the Armenian GM took second place behind Carlsen in the
blitz and the classic chess tournaments at the event.

NEWS.am Sport

From: A. Papazian

UNE FIGURE DE L’OPPOSITION EMPRISONNEE EN AZERBAIDJAN

AZERBAIDJAN

Un tribunal azeri a condamne un membre eminent du parti Musavat
d’opposition a six ans de prison pour voies de fait.

Yadigar Sadiqov, condamne le 13 Janvier, a ete arrete a son domicile
dans la ville meridionale de Lenkoran en juin dernier et a ete
accuse d’avoir frapper un homme avec un telephone mobile deux jours
auparavant. La victime Rashid Karimov, a declare a la police que
Sadiqov a crie des insultes et l’a attaque dans un cafe de Lenkoran.

Universitaire de profession, Sadiqov a perdu son poste d’enseignant
d’histoire a l’universite de Lenkoran. Les tentatives precedentes pour
le limoger avaient echoue quand ses elèves ont monte des campagnes en
sa faveur. Sadiqov a conseille le chef de file du parti Musavat Isa
Gambar, et a ecrit des articles pour et le site
d’opposition . Il a egalement ete administrateur de la
page IS TE FA (“demissionner”) qui avait 200 000 membres jusqu’a ce
que Facebook l’eteigne pour des raisons inexpliquees.

>, a declare Gambar peu de temps après l’arrestation de son
assistant. >.

D’autres politiciens de l’opposition et des militants des droits de
l’homme s’accordent a dire que les activites de Sadiqov etaient un
peu irritant pour les autorites locales, qui ont fabrique une affaire
criminelle de le retirer de la scène.

Son avocat Khalid Bagirov a souligne a de grands trous dans l’affaire.

a declare le porte-parole du ministère Orkhan
Mansurzade a l’IWPR. >.

Siyavouch Novruzov, un depute du parti Yeni Azerbaïdjan Parti du
President Ilham Aliyev, a pris une ligne similaire.

>.

Sadiqov n’est pas la seule figure de l’opposition arretes au cours
de la dernière annee.

Le Militant du parti Musavat Azer Ismail a dit que ce genre de
cas s’est produit assez frequemment, et il avait ete ciblee par la
police l’annee dernière, un jour avant une manifestation de soutien au
candidat de l’opposition Jamil Hasanli, qui s’est oppose au president
sortant, Ilham Aliev .

> a-t-il declare a l’IWPR.

Aytan Farhadova est un reporter du journal Bizim Yol en Azerbaïdjan.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

mardi 4 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

His Holiness Aram I receives the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon and
other dignitaries

Antelias – On 26 January 2014, Ashot Kotcharian, the Ambassador of Armenia
to Lebanon, met with His Holiness Aram I. The focus of their conversation
was the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and how to
further strengthen Armenia-Diaspora relations. The Catholicos also explained
the purpose of the meeting the week before on Christian presence in the
Middle East on the eve of Geneva II on Syria, in which he had played a major
part, and discussed his other activities related to the Syrian situation.

Antelias – On 30 January 2016, His Holiness held several meetings in in
his Office.

The Director of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Berj Hadjian met with
Catholicos Aram I and briefed him on the activities of the Ministry to
protect the environment. He then proposed to the Catholicos to plant trees
around all Armenian institutions in the country as part of their “greening
the city” policy.

His Holiness also met with the representatives of the International
Maronite Foundation. The General Secretary of the Foundation, Mrs. Hiam
Boustani, and Board Member Mrs. Rose Shweiri discussed the diminishing
number of Christians on the official registries of Lebanon. They asked the
Catholicos to urge all Lebanese Armenians currently living abroad to
register at the Lebanese embassies in their respective countries.

The General Director for the Middle East of the Pontifical
Commission -CARITAS, Michel Constantine visited His Holiness to inform him
of their humanitarian activities in the region.

The Commission on the Classification of Saints of the Bishops Conference
meets in Antelias

Antelias – 27 -29 January 2013. The members of the Commission first met
with His Holiness Aram I who gave them his blessings and thanked them for
their work. The membership includes representatives appointed by His
Holiness Karekin II of Holy Etchmiadzin and His Holiness Aram I of the Holy
See of Cilicia.

The Commission began its work with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a
memorial service for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The
co-moderators, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Cilicia) and Bishop Arshak
Khatchadurian (Etchmiadzin), opened the meeting. The members of the
Commission discussed the classification process and rites for the victims of
the Genocide: the canons, hymns, ordering of Saints according to dates,
preparation of relics and Holy Pictures (icons of the Armenian Church) and
the timetable for 2015 commemorations.
The next meeting of the Commission will be held 25-30 April in Saint
Etchmiadzin.
The Commission on the Baptismal Rite of the Bishops Conference meets

Antelias – 29-30 January 2014. The members of the Commission jointly
appointed by Holinesses Karekin II and Aram I met to study the
recommendations and comments of the last Bishops Conference and finalize the
draft on the Canon of Baptismal Rite. Under the leadership of the
Co-moderators, Archbishop Komitas Mehanian (Cilicia) and Bishop Arshak
Khatchadurian, (Etchmiadzin), the commission discussed language policy
regarding the text of the Baptismal Rite and guidelines for teaching the
Canon.

The Canon and all other documents will be finalized during the next
meeting 19-23 May in Holy Etchmiadzin.

The Armenian Orthodox Church Participates in the Eleventh Meeting of the
International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman
Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches in India.

Antelias – 2 February 2014. The Joint international commission met in
Pampakuda Kerala, India upon the invitation of H.H. Basilius Mar Paulose II,
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The Armenian Orthodox Church was
represented by Bp. Hovaguim Manoukian and Rev. Shahé Ananian (Holy See
Etchmiadzin) and Archbishop Nareg Alemezian (Holy See Cilicia).

Archbishop Nareg Alemezian and Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the
Pontifical Commission for Christian Unity (PCPCU) co-moderated the
conference, the theme of which was on the theme: the nature and concept of
communion as it existed in the undivided Church of the fifth century prior
to the Chalcedonian schism.

The delegates of the Oriental Orthodox Churches met prior to the joint
meeting to discuss the agenda and report on the ecumenical situation in
their countries. At the end of the meeting the two co-moderators, Archbishop
Nareg Alemezian and Cardinal Kurt Koch, met with H.H: Basilius Mar Paulose
II to thank him for the invitation. Archbishop Nareg transmitted the
greetings of His Holiness Aram I.

At a private meeting between Archbishop Nareg and Cardinal Koch, they
discussed the situation in Syria, the recent meeting of Christians in Geneva
and the key role of Catholicos Aram I as well as the 100th Anniversary
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The Archbishop also transmitted the
greetings of Catholicos Aram I to Pope Francis.

The next meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological
Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox
Churches will be held 24-31 January 2015 at the Vatican in Italy.
##

From: A. Papazian

SERIOUS POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AHEAD – OPPOSITION MP

21:40 * 03.02.14

In an interview with Tert.am, Heritage parliamentary group member
Ruben Hakobyan, who has been elected head of the Heritage group,
said that serious political developments should be expected soon,
with the parliamentary platform to be in the spotlight.

“I think serious political developments are ahead, and the platform
of the National Assembly will be in the spotlight. So it is natural
that the group should have an acting head. The issue has for a long
period been discussed and, considering the situation, I agreed to
head the group.”

With respect to the problems he had with Heritage group member Zaruhi
Postanjyan, Hakobyan said:

“At that time I repeatedly noted that I had decided to leave the post
of head of the group earlier than Zaruhi Postanjyan made her statement
in Brussels. But I say again that important processes are ahead. On
the other hand, I bear responsibility for the group’s activities.”

Asked about the four non-coalition forces’ joint actions – applying
to the Constitutional Court and so on – Hakobyan said:

“I have repeatedly stated in parliament that, in the current situation,
the four groups’ cooperation is a political and public necessity. The
Heritage group was one of the initiators of this cooperation. And
the group will do its utmost for the non-coalition forces not only
to continue their cooperation, but also expand the political agenda.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: WE HOPE GEORGIA WILL MANAGE TO COMBINE ASPIRATION FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP AND RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

Monday 3 February 2014 16:36
Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

Armenian President: We hope Georgia will manage to combine aspiration
for NATO membership and relations with neighboring countries

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressed
his hope that “Georgia will manage to combine aspiration for NATO
membership and relations with neighboring countries”.

The Armenian President stated it in an interview to “Lidove Noviny”
(“People’s News”) Czech newspaper, Mediamax reports.

“It’s Georgia’s sovereign right, just like any other country’s,
to choose the security system which would best ensure its national
interests. I would like to hope Georgia will manage to combine
aspiration for NATO membership and relations with neighboring
countries, including those states that play a major role in our
regional security”, Serzh Sargsyan said.

He stated that out of the neighboring countries only Turkey is NATO
member state and although Armenia strengthens partner relations with
NATO quite effectively, “we have never noted other NATO member states
to point at Turkey within the treaty format for causing a major harm
to NATO partner state with its actions”.

“Our involvement in the security system of the North-Atlantic Alliance
is paradoxical when our security is directly disturbed by the policy
of a NATO member state”, the President said.

From: A. Papazian