Author: Andres-Papazian

SHARMAZANOV: TER-PETROSYAN APPEALS FOR BURYING ARMENIAN CAUSE

NEWS | 25.03.15 | 10:27

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

RELATED NEWS

A Voice in the Wilderness: Ter-Petrosyan reiterates criticism over
Genocide Centennial Declaration

The latest article by Armenia’s first president that criticizes the
Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide
and contains a personal message to the international community has
been dismissed by Deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov as
“an appeal burying the Armenian Cause”.

In his previous two articles and an open letter to President Serzh
Sargsyan in February and March Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who currently
leads the opposition Armenian National Congress, warned that legal
claims set out as a policy in the recently adopted Declaration will
affect the process of Armenian-Turkish normalization.

On Tuesday, he published in the Chorrord Ishkhanutyun newspaper his
own draft of an appeal to the international community on the Genocide
Centennial.

Ter-Petrosyan said that he was ready to listen to and take into account
suggestions, comments and additions from all parties concerned, but
at the same time expressed confidence that the spirit of an appeal
like the one drafted by him would be “more useful” for Armenia.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Eduard
Sharmazanov commented on Ter-Petrosyan’s article, reiterating that
the international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh and of the Armenian
Genocide are two major cornerstones of Armenia’s foreign policy and
that the number of countries and institutions that condemn the Armenian
Genocide is increasing in the world ahead of the commemoration of
the Genocide Centennial.

“But there are politicians who once occupied high office… and today
come up with appeals that even in the case of great desire cannot
be described as those serving the interests of the Armenian state,”
said Sharmazanov, a senior member of President Sargsyan’s ruling
Republican Party of Armenia. “I would describe Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
appeal as an appeal burying the Armenian Cause.”

In his appeal Ter-Petrosyan, in particular, says that Armenia should
not demand that Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide and should not
hinder Turkey’s accession to the European Union by raising the issue
of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by it as a precondition.

But Sharmazanov said that efforts to achieve international affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide are crucial today and it is due to these
efforts that many countries today not only condemn the Armenian
Genocide but also pass laws criminalizing denial of the Armenian
Genocide.

Sharmazanov also slammed Ter-Petrosyan for linking Armenian-Turkish
normalization with settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“For five years we have been saying that there is no linking the
Karabakh settlement process with the process of normalization with
Turkey and that Turkey has nothing to do with the Karabakh settlement
process,” Sharmazanov emphasized.

From: A. Papazian

RSF – DANS LA TETE DE ILHAM ALIEV, PRESIDENT D’AZERBAIDJAN

Publie le : 25-03-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – “Nos coffres debordent
tellement de petrodollars que nous n’avons plus du tout besoin de
donner le change sur la democratie. Comme les louanges, le silence
s’achète. Nos largesses ont raison de bon nombre de critiques autrefois
feroces, a l’interieur du pays comme a l’etranger.

L’Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe a tente, en janvier
dernier, de faire voter une resolution “sur la situation des droits
de l’homme en Azerbaïdjan”. Nous y avons mis les moyens, mais nous
sommes parvenus a nos fins : rejetee, la resolution ! Qu’est-ce qu’ils
croyaient ? Les affaires sont trop importantes, les sommes en jeu trop
enormes.” Pour demontrer les intentions profondes des Predateurs des
Droits de l’Homme, Reporters sans frontières se met dans leur tete et
presente leurs pensees au style direct, a la première personne. La
transcription est librement etablie par l’organisation, mais les
faits invoques conformes a la realite. Le Collectif VAN publie ici
le texte de RSF a propos d’Ilham Aliev, president de la Republique
d’Azerbaïdjan.

Photo : Vestnik Kavkaza

Reporters sans frontières

24.03.2015

Dans la tete de* Ilham Aliev, president de la Republique, Azerbaïdjan

*Pour demontrer les intentions profondes des Predateurs, Reporters sans
frontières se met dans leur tete et presente leurs pensees au style
direct, a la première personne. La transcription est librement etablie
par l’organisation, mais les faits invoques conformes a la realite.

“Sous pretexte que Papa m’a laisse l’Azerbaïdjan en heritage, on m’a
longtemps pris pour un homme affable et inoffensif. Quelle naïvete !

J’ai la situation en main. Qu’un journaliste essaie de parler de moi,
de ma femme ou de mes proches en des termes peu elogieux, je saurai lui
faire regretter ses erreurs. Menaces de mort, enlèvements, mes sbires
ne reculent devant aucune methode musclee. Cela ne nous empeche pas
d’avoir du tact parfois. Enregistrement de scènes sexuelles, sextapes
comme on dit chez vous, rumeurs et campagnes de calomnie : atteindre
nos opposants dans leur dignite suffit souvent a ramener le calme.

Directement ou indirectement, je contrôle toutes les chaînes de
television de mon pays. Nous avons banni la BBC, Radio Free Europe
et Voice of America de la FM azerbaïdjanaise depuis 2009. Ils me
cherchaient trop de poux dans la tete. Mes hommes harcèlent tant
la presse d’opposition qu’elle a ete reduite a la portion congrue,
juste ce qu’il faut pour prouver a l’exterieur que l’Azerbaïdjan est
un Etat democratique. Encore que la facade democratique, j’en ai a
peu près autant a faire que de ma première chemise. Les democrates,
vous leur tendez la main, ils prennent le bras ! Galvanisee par les
“printemps arabes”, la rue a commence a me faire peur, au printemps
2011. J’ai fait arreter les principaux blogueurs d’opposition, mais le
bruit de fond continue. Dommage, car je prepare la prochaine election
presidentielle en octobre. Et on voudrait que je laisse faire ? Cela
ne serait pas digne d’un Aliev.

L’heure n’est plus a la mollesse, que l’on me pretait lorsque j’ai
succede a Papa, vous vous souvenez ? Le journal d’opposition Azadlig,
qui s’entete depuis des annees malgre arrestations, enlèvements,
passages a tabac et menaces, est au bord de l’asphyxie. Enfin ! Je
pousse des lois toujours plus repressives ; c’est facile, en ce moment,
il n’y a qu’a copier celles adoptees en Russie. Et si je tolère encore
Internet, j’ai demande aux services de securite d’etre sur les dents
: a la moindre alerte, on bloque ce qu’il faut et on coffre tout
le monde.

Nos coffres debordent tellement de petrodollars que nous n’avons
plus du tout besoin de donner le change sur la democratie. Comme
les louanges, le silence s’achète. Nos largesses ont raison de bon
nombre de critiques autrefois feroces, a l’interieur du pays comme
a l’etranger.

L’Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe a tente, en janvier
dernier, de faire voter une resolution “sur la situation des droits
de l’homme en Azerbaïdjan”. Nous y avons mis les moyens, mais nous
sommes parvenus a nos fins : rejetee, la resolution ! Qu’est-ce
qu’ils croyaient ? Les affaires sont trop importantes, les sommes en
jeu trop enormes. Heureusement que papa m’a appris comment clouer le
bec aux voix dissidentes.”

Lire aussi :

Dossier du Collectif VAN : L’Azerbaïdjan, une dictature nationaliste
et negationniste

Source/Lien : Reporters sans frontières

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH POLITICIANS HEAD TO WASHINGTON OVER WORRIES ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

14:48, 25 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Worried about a draft resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives
that recognizes the 1915 killings of Ottoman Armenians as genocide,
a group of Turkish politicians have set out for Washington to ensure
that the resolution does not pass, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek arrived in Washington and is expected
to meet his counterpart at the House of Representatives on March 25.

Foreign Minister Mevlut CavuÃ…~_oglu will also visit Washington
before April 24, the traditional international commemoration day
of the tragedy. Ankara and Washington have agreed on the visit,
but are still working on a suitable date in April, Foreign Ministry
Spokesperson Tanju Bilgic said.

The draft resolution is backed by congressmen such as Illinois
Republican representative Robert Dold, California Democratic
representatives David Paladao and Adam Schiff, and New Jersey
Democratic representative Frank Pallone.

The draft resolution, which calls on the U.S. president to recognize
the 1915 killings as a genocide, will initially be discussed and
voted on at the Foreign Relations Committee, and can be brought to
the House on the initiative of Speaker John Boehner.

Forty-six members of congress currently support the draft resolution.

From: A. Papazian

ACTIVISTS IN AZERBAIJAN BEING DEPRIVED OF LAST PLATFORM: HELSINKI CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY OFFICE ON VERGE OF CLOSING DOWN

12:19 25/03/2015 >> SOCIETY

Civil society activists in Azerbaijan may be deprived of the last
platform to hold their discussions. Azerbaijani National Committee
of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly is under threat of losing its office
where the meetings of the Committee for Civil Society Protection (CCSP)
have recently been held, Azerbaijani information agency Turan reports
citing the appeal of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners
(CMPP) to the Western governments and international organizations.

According to the article, as a result of freezing the projects of
civil society institutes Helsinki Assembly is not able to pay the
office rent which may lead to the expulsion of the organization.

The appeal states that liquidation and expulsion of democratic
institutions from Azerbaijan has set on since 2013. Free Thought
University closed down ahead of presidential elections in Azerbaijan.

“Soon the crackdowns on civil society activists began. Well-known
human rights defenders Leyla Yunus and her husband conflictologist
Arif Yunus, lawyer Intigam Aliyev, Rasul Jafarov, Anar Mammadli
have been arrested, American organization IREX has closed down, the
bank accounts of more than 30 CCSP member NGOs have been frozen and
criminal cases have been initiated against them. This has paralyzed
the civil society activities,” the appeal reads. It also stresses that
Helsinki Assembly’s closing down in Azerbaijan will bring about grave
consequences, and “the population will lose its trust for EU and US”
once and for all.

Azerbaijani National Committee of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and its
leader Arzu Abdullayeva have carried out a huge work in Azerbaijan
in the sphere of human rights, including the release of political
prisoners, monitoring elections. Today this organization is on the
verge of closing down.

The agency reminds that the Committee was founded in 2009 when the
first wave of reactionary amendments in the legislation about NGOs
commenced in Azerbaijan. Then it comprised around 100 independent NGOs,
including organizations whose leaders are currently arrested.

Today around 20 activists are actively engaged in the works of the
Committee conditioned by the criminal persecution of many NGOs and
the arrests of the leaders of some of them.

Related:

US Department of State, OSCE and CoE condemn Azerbaijani authorities
for pressure on Baku office of Radio Liberty

Azerbaijani independent newspaper “Zerkalo” closes after Rauf
Mirkadirov’s arrest

From: A. Papazian

ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN URGES CITIZENS NOT TO PAY LOANS

18:17 | March 25,2015 | Politics

Karabakh war veteran Zhirayr Sefilyan calls on Armenians not to repay
the loans taken from banks and credit institutions and not to enrich
the regime and its criminal oligarchs who have a share from the money.

“Together with our citizens, the movement “The 100th anniversary
without the regime” is starting to overthrow the acting regime from
April 24. After the authorities are toppled down fundamental changes
will be introduced in the banking system: the terms of the loans [taken
by residents and business owners], as well as loan repayment terms
and interest rates will be reviewed,” he said adding that citizens
will have to pay only the principal amount of the loan with revised
and significantly reduced interest rates without any fine.

From: A. Papazian

“HISTORIC ARMENIA AFTER 100 YEARS: ANI, KARS AND THE SIX PROVINCES OF WESTERN ARMENIA” BY MATTHEW KARANIAN

15:01, 25 March, 2015

GLENDALE, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS: Writer, photographer Matthew Karanian
will present his newly published book Historic Armenia after 100
Years: Ani, Kars and the Six Provinces of Western Armenia on April 16,
at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium. Admission will be free.

As reports Armenpress referring to Masis Post, the presentation will
be in English. Library visitors receive 3 hours free parking across
the street at The Market Place parking structure with validation
at the Loan Desk. The program is sponsored by the Library, Arts &
Culture Department.

Historic Armenia after 100 Years: Ani, Kars and the Six Provinces of
Western Armenia, is illustrated with 125 color maps and photographs,
and includes antique photos from 100 years ago that are juxtaposed
with images of the same locales as they appear today. One hundred
years after the Armenian Genocide, the homeland of the Armenians
remains unknown to much of the world. Most of the cultural monuments
of the Armenian nation in the lands of historic Armenia have been
eliminated or repurposed for other uses. But there is much that still
remains. This book will guide you to the history and culture of the
ancient Armenian homeland, whether you intend to travel there in
person, or only through the pages of this book.

Matthew Karanian, is a second generation Armenian American who
practices law in Pasadena, California. He has lived and worked in
Armenia for several years as Associate Dean of the law program at the
American University of Armenia, and as the Director of the University’s
Legal Research Center. Karanian has published six travel books used
widely as travel guides to Artsakh and Eastern & Western Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

ASALA MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ESTABLISHMENT

March 25, 2015 12:31

Photo: Photolure

Yerevan /Mediamax/. In 2015, ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia) will mark its 40th anniversary of establishment.

ASALA veteran, leader of Operation Van Vazgen Sislyan said to
journalists today that ASALA was aimed at not the recognition of
the Genocide but liberation of Armenia – the one which was under
Turkish rule.

He noted that owing to their 400 operations, “the international
community started talking about Armenians and Hay Dat and opening
the archives”.

Speaking about Operation Van, Vazgen Sislyan said: “After the
operation, it was us who sat on the conventional chair of the convict,
but in reality, it was not ours but Turkey’s trial”.

He added that it was after Operation Van that Italy began the process
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide “asking not to carry out
operations in their territory”.

“You should always strike, be strong so as to be counted for”, said
Vazgen Sislyan.

According to ASALA member Gevorg Yazichian, Armenians chose to
fight against injustice with rude force as the world didn’t leave
an alternative to them. He stressed that ASALA was not a terrorist
organization but one which was aimed at liberating the motherland
through an armed fight.

From: A. Papazian

SARGSYAN’S STATEMENT ON RUSSIAN ARM DELIVERIES TO AZERBAIJAN CLEAR MESSAGE TO KREMLIN, SAYS ANALYST

POLITICS | 25.03.15 | 16:09

Alina Nikoghosyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s latest statement about Russia
selling weapons to Azerbaijan was clearly a message addressed to the
Kremlin, head of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional
Cooperation, political analyst Stepan Grigoryan thinks.

“I believe Serzh Sargsyan’s statement was proper, because we also said
on numerous occasions that it is very strange that our military ally
sells a huge amount of weapons [to Armenia’s military arch-foe]. As a
matter of fact, that message was not addressed to Azerbaijan or to the
Armenian society, it was first of all addressed to the Kremlin, so that
they know that we are concerned,” Grigoryan told reporters Wednesday.

Last week at the media forum called “At the Foot of Mount Ararat”
the president specifically said that Armenia is concerned over the
fact that Russia is selling weapons to Azerbaijan.

“And here, the matter is not about the quality of arms, the matter
is that the soldier on our border realizes that they [Azeris] try to
kill him by Russian weapons,” Sargsyan said.

According to the political analyst, this very statement of the
president caused the recent acceleration of tension and sabotage on
the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border. Other analysts, however, said they
did not see any direct correlation between the statements of Armenian
officials and border tensions.

Relations with Russia created problems in Armenia-EU ties, according
to Grigoryan. Armenia’s membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) disturbed the balance, because of which now Armenia is
again trying to establish relations with the EU, he said.

“We became an EEU member, and threats do not come true, it is clear
that Armenia has to restore the balance. It turned out that the
Elder Brother does not even intend to support us, it does support
Azerbaijan, and most importantly, Russia is preoccupied with solving
other problems,” the political analyst said and added that Russia
does not have time to be concerned with Armenian problems.

From: A. Papazian

LARGE-SCALE PROVOCATIONS EXPECTED THIS YEAR – ARKADY TER-TADEVOSYAN

13:52 24/03/2015 >> SOCIETY

There will be large-scale provocations this year as we mark the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Hero, Major General
Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan told reporters on Tuesday, commenting on the
tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border and Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line
of Contact.

According to him, the tension increased at the beginning of this year,
and will continue to increase. There will not be war, but there will
be big provocations. “They try to find our weak spots and strike our
state borders. I think they will stop these actions in late April,”
Ter-Tadevosyan said.

If the war resumes, he added, Azerbaijan will no longer exist as
a state.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA ASSESSES OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH REFORM

World Health Organization
March 23 2015

23-03-2015

WHO

WHO is supporting the Armenian government in assessing the strengths
and weaknesses of its essential public health operations, with the goal
of identifying areas for reform and developing a new public health
law. Recognizing the broad scope of public health, the Ministry of
health is leading the assessment by holding a number of multisectoral
workshops.

Participants of the first workshop included experts from the prime
minister’s office and eight other ministries. The health ministry
plans to invite a wide spectrum of stakeholders to participate in
future workshops, including experts from different governmental
agencies, academics, and members of civil society. Reflecting on
the process, deputy health minister Dr Sergey Khachatryan said,
“Health is the highest expression of progress for Armenian society,
and strengthening public health is one of the top priorities of
the Armenian government. With the help of WHO, we want to use this
assessment process to bring the Armenian public health community
together and develop a common vision on actions and priorities”.

Both the WHO Country Office in Armenia and the WHO/Europe public
health services programme will be supporting and facilitating the
operation. Dr Elke Jakubowski, head of the WHO/Europe public health
services programme, said, “We know that ultimately, people are
healthier if they lead a healthy lifestyle in a healthy environment.

We think that everybody has a right to health, and we are therefore
excited to be able to support the Armenian government in creating a
healthier environment for the Armenian people”.

Dr Tatul Hakobyan, head of the WHO Country Office in Armenia, also
expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “We are happy for
this opportunity to help strengthen the public health capacities in
Armenia and improve the health of Armenians”. The process is expected
to conclude in June 2015, when the recommendations from the assessment
will be available.

From: A. Papazian