Author: Andres-Papazian

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER’S SUGGESTION CONTRADICTS RA LEGISLATION, SAYS LAWYER

03.24.2015 17:08 epress.am

Republican Party member Galust Sahakyan’s suggestion to delay the
discussion of the demand to transfer suspected murderer of the
Avetisyan family, Russian soldier Valery Permyakov to Armenia for
one year does not abide to the RA Criminal code, said lawyer Harutyun
Baghdasaryan (pictured) today to Epress.am.

The Speaker of the National Assembly made the suggestion yesterday
during the voting of the draft called “About transferring Valery
Permyakov to the Republic of Armenia” into the parliamentary agenda.

The draft, presented by Heritage Party faction MP Zaruhi Postanjyan,
was rejected with 42 MPs voting for, 0 against, and 1 abstention. The
parliamentary majority, Republican faction, did not participate in
the vote.

According to Baghdasaryan, the RA Criminal Procedure Code states that
the issue of the extradition of the defendant can only be made in the
preliminary investigation stage, and the preliminary investigation
can not last more than one year. In other words, one year later the
preliminary investigation would be finished.

“Permyakov has already been under custody for 3 months. Assume, if the
Russian side finished their preliminary investigation in September
and it entered the judicial stage, then we wouldn’t be able demand
Permyakov,” said Baghdasaryan.

Note, that Republican Party faction Secretary Vahram Baghdasaryan
justified the party’s stance against the draft due to the latter’s
objective of political manipulation, while “the Republicans want no
part in such manipulations.”

From: A. Papazian

CHAIR OF BRITISH-ARMENIAN ALL-PARTY GROUP TO REPRESENT UK AT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION

16:50, 24 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

John Whittingdale, Chairman of the British-Armenian all-party group,
will represent the United Kingdom at the Armenian Genocide centennial
commemoration in Yerevan on April 24, UK Minister for Europe David
Lidington said at the adjournment debate on the Armenian Genocide
centennial held at the House of Commons on March 23.

“It was on 24 April 1915 that about 250 leading members of the Armenian
community in Istanbul were arrested. This marked the beginning of a
campaign of forced deportations directed against the Ottoman Armenian
community. From 1915 to 1916 during the course of the deportations to
the Syrian desert, it is estimated that well over 1 million Ottoman
Armenians lost their lives as a result of massacres by soldiers or
irregulars, forced marches, starvation and disease. A number of other
minorities, such as the Assyrians, also suffered,” Mr.

Lidington said.

“The British Government of that time robustly condemned the forced
deportations, massacres and other crimes. We continue to endorse
that view. British charities, as we look back, played a major part
then in humanitarian relief operations. The deaths of more than 1
million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was an appalling civilian
loss of life against the backdrop of the First World War, a conflict
which itself broke new ground in developing international warfare on
an industrial scale,” the Minister added.

“Today, the centenary of those terrible events has huge significance
for the people of Armenia and for the worldwide Armenian diaspora. As
an inseparable part of the tragedy of First World War, it is
entirely appropriate that we in this country include this tragedy
in our remembrance of the First World War to honor the dead, and to
draw lessons from history and hope for a better future. The British
Government’s commemorations this year have focused on how the First
World War shaped society and touched lives and communities. The
deportation and massacres of the Ottoman Armenians, and the role
played by the UK and other allies in reporting the atrocities and
helping the survivors, are an indivisible part of that story. The
events and commemorative activities, which the Armenian community in
the UK will organize on24 April and over the course of this year,
will help to illuminate further that period of history for British
people, some of whom may be hearing about it for the first time,”
David Lidington stated.

“The appalling nature of the events of 1915-16 were brought home
vividly to me when I visited the Tsitsernakaberd memorial museum in
Yerevan during my first ministerial visit to Armenia in 2012. When I
went back to Armenia last year, I laid a wreath at the memorial to pay
my respects to those who had died and those who had suffered. In this
centenary year my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon, John Whittingdale
as chair of the British-Armenian all-party group, and our ambassador to
Yerevan will be present at the Armenian Government’s commemorations on
24 April in the Armenian capital,” the UK Minister for Europe informed.

He added that on 24 April, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will
attend a ceremony in Gallipoli to honour the memory of all those who
died during the campaign, including soldiers from Britain, Ireland,
France, Australia, New Zealand, the Indian subcontinent, Canada
and Sri Lanka, as well as the Ottoman soldiers who died defending
the peninsula.

“Those sombre commemorations in both Gallipoli and Yerevan should
be used to honour the memory of those who lost their lives, whether
soldiers or civilians, and to reflect carefully on the painful
lessons we have learnt from history and how to prevent such events
from happening again,” Lidington noted.

Speaking about the UK Government’s policy on the recognition of the
1915 events as genocide,” the Minister said: “The Government’s policy,
indeed the policy of successive Governments, has not changed since
1988 when this matter was reviewed. We take the view that genocide is
not simply an expression of a political judgment. It is now a crime,
and the British Government recognize as genocide only those events
found to be so by international courts–for example, the holocaust and
the massacres in Srebrenica and Rwanda. We do not exercise a political
judgment in ascribing the term “genocide” to a set of events, whether
in Armenia, the Holodomor in Ukraine or the massacres of the Kurds
by Saddam Hussein in 1998.”

“In honoring and reflecting upon the past, it is vital that we look
to the future. The peoples and Governments of Turkey and Armenia need
to find a way to face their joint history together and forge a new,
more constructive relationship, and part of the role the UK seeks for
itself is to support them in finding this path forward. I will not
pretend that we from London can provide instant answers, but we are
doing what we can practically to foster people-to-people exchanges
and links between the two countries to break down stereotypes and
barriers. For example, we have just completed a successful exchange
of Turkish and Armenian Chevening alumni who visited each other’s
countries for the first time,” he noted.

According to David Lidington, “the Governments of Armenia and Turkey
must take the lead in forging and delivering that new relationship.”

“For that reason, the UK Government strongly supported the imaginative
diplomacy that led to the Turkish-Armenia protocols in 2009. The
protocols envisaged opening the border and initiating diplomatic
relations without any preconditions, and it is a matter of great
regret that the ratification process for those protocols has not moved
forward. I hope that both sides will continue to consider creative
ways to re-set their relations and open up new channels for dialogue
and co-operation.”

“This year, we will reflect with sadness on the nature and horrific
scale of the deportations, massacres and other crimes in 1915-16
and on the importance of this centenary for Armenia and Armenians
worldwide, but we will also renew our commitment this year to promote
reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. A genuine step forward along
that path to reconciliation would take us towards a more peaceful and
secure future for everyone living in the region. I continue to hope
that both Turkey and Armenia can find a way to look together towards
a brighter future.”

From: A. Papazian

ARCHITECT DISPLEASED WITH PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS

14:30 | March 23,2015 | Social

Our cultural monuments need constant attention and care, Chairman of
the Armenian Union of Architects Mkrtich Minasyan said on March 23.

He says the relevant authorities do not pay enough attention to
historical and cultural monuments and expresses his displeasure over
their preservation. At the same time, Mr Minasyan advises citizens to
understand the value of our cultural monuments and avoid destroying
and distorting them.

Speaking about the placement of surveillance cameras in the vicinity of
cultural monuments, Mr Minasyan said the issue is under consideration
but people should understand that monuments are of great value and
should not dump garbage there, write on the monument or damage it.

“Cameras can be installed in different places a city but not in open
spaces. We have many beautiful places and we ought to take care of
them,” he stressed.

Speaking about the Old Yerevan project, Mkrtich Minasyan said Alexander
Tamanian’s master plan for Yerevan should be fully maintained. The ‘Old
Yerevan’ project includes 30 historical-cultural buildings on Yerevan’s
main avenues and Abovyan, Pavstos Byuzand, Eznik Koghbatsi and Arami
Street sections and is expected to be introduced to public in 2015.

From: A. Papazian

CONFERENCE : LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS ET LEUR INTEGRATION REUSSIE A UZES – PICTURES

UZES

Le salon Racine de l’Hôtel de Ville d’Uzes etait bonde 150 personnes
ont assiste a la conference animee par Veronique BRUNA presidente de
l’association Franco-Armenienne d’Avignon et sa Region !

En effet l’association des amis du Musee d’Uzès ont invite les uzetiens
a connaitre le genocide des armeniens et le negationnisme, ce fut une
reussite quand on voit sur les photos ,un public attentif, nombreux,
dont certains ne connaissaient pas vraiment la mecanique genocidaire.

En deuxième partie de la conference Veronique BRUNA-MARDOYAN a retrace
le parcours de ces familles armeniennes et nombreux orphelins rescapes,
refugies venus pour certains avec un contrat de travail a Uzès,
grâce a l’implantation d’une branche de l’entreprise marseillaise
de tapis noues FRANCE-ORIENT( 50 metiers a tisser a Uzès)) ,ils ont
pu s’installer, s’integrer a la population et prendre racine pour
certains dont les familles SAKOYAN,BOYADJIAN,….

On apercoit sur une photo Vartine REGIMBAUD-SAKOYAN, Jean-Berge
PARATIAN presenter a l’assistance la conferencière et le sujet de
la conference.

Au fond de la salle beaucoup de livres d’histoire ,de romans relatifs
au sujet armenien, etaient exposes par la librairie uzetienne
Parefeuille pour permettre a celles et ceux de connaitre davantage
l’histoire de ces etrangers venus a Uzès qui sont devenus leurs
voisins,leurs amis qui ont beaucoup apprecie le buffet armenien ,
regorgeant de specialites cuisinees avec amour par Vartine et Alice !!!

Ce fut un beau moment de partage et de convivialite dont on parlera
encore a Uzès !!

lundi 23 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

CSTO JOINT STAFF CONDUCTS EXERCISES COUNTERING ISIS

13:47, 23 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Joint Staff
conducted exercises simulating counteraction to the Islamic State
militant group, the CSTO said in a statement Monday, Sputnik reports.

The CSTO is a military alliance comprising Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The exercise included the simulation of ISIS militant activities in
non-existent CSTO member states.

In particular, participants focused on providing military, financial
and technical help to countries in which militant groups, such as
Islamic State, show rapid advancement. The participating military
also proposed measures to ensure border security in member states in
case of radical group advancement.

From: A. Papazian

L’ARMENIE VEND PLUS D’EUROBONDS

Economie

Le gouvernement armenien a emis son deuxième emprunt obligataire de
500 millions de dollars a un rendement de 7,5 %.

Les obligations en dollars sur 10 ans ont ete vendus sur les marches
financiers internationaux par la Deutsche Bank, HSBC et JP Morgan
jeudi soir.

Ni le bureau du Premier ministre, Hovik Abrahamian, ni celui du
ministère des Finances n’a emis de declarations vendredi. Mais ils
ont promis de faire un commentaire aujourd’hui.

Pour le vice-Premier ministre Vache Gabrielian, il est “extremement
important de veiller a l’afflux de monnaie forte” dans le pays.

Le budget armenien pour l’annee prevoit un deficit d’environ 250
millions de dollars. “On ne sait pas a quoi sera consacre le reste
des produit de la dernière vente d’euro-obligations de janvier”,
a dit Ara Galoyan, analyste economique independant.

D’autres analystes ont suggere que l’argent pourrait egalement etre
utilise pour etayer la monnaie nationale, le dram, et compenser un
eventuel deficit de recettes fiscales resultant du ralentissement de
la croissance economique en Armenie.

Dans son budget 2015, le gouvernement prevoit un taux d’un peu plus
de 4 % de croissance. Le Fonds monetaire international et la Banque
mondiale considèrent cette projection trop optimiste compte tenu de
la dependance economique de l’Armenie a la Russie.

lundi 23 mars 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN STATE DUMA SPEAKER TO VISIT ARMENIA IN LATE MARCH

YEREVAN, March 23. / ARKA /. Russian State Duma (lower house of
parliament) speaker Sergei Naryshkin will arrive in Armenia in
late March to take part in an international conference on the 70th
anniversary of Victory in World War II.

The gathering will be held on March 30 at the Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) University in Yerevan, head of the Russian-Armenian Youth
Unity Gohar Gumashyan told ARKA.

She said the conference is a joint effort of the Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) University and the Russian Historical Society.

According to her, the Russian-Armenian University will host March
30 also an exhibition devoted to the participation of the Armenian
people in the World War II.-0-

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER AND CSTO CHIEFS DISCUSS PREPARATIONS FOR PEACEKEEPING EXERCISES IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 23. / ARKA /. Armenian defense minister Seyran Ohanyan
had a meeting today in Yerevan with secretary general of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha and CSTO chief
of joint staff Alexander Studenikin to discuss preparations for
CSTO peacekeeping exercises dubbed as ‘Unbreakable Brotherhood-2015″
to be held in Armenia later this year.

Armenian defense ministry said the three men discussed also the status
of a string of decisions taken at the latest CSTO summit in December
2014, designed for further enhancement of the military component of
the CSTO. They discussed also some issues related to international
and regional security,” the defense ministry said.

It said a particular attention was paid to the organization and conduct
of CSTO activities planned for this year. Bordyuzha and Studenikin
are in Armenia on a working visit on March 22-24. -0-

From: A. Papazian

INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITIES TO READ TESTIMONIES OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EYEWITNESSES FOR 100 SECONDS

15:28, 23 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 23 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The dissemination of individual stories
about the Armenian Genocide is of special significance in the context
of commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Those
stories show how every Armenian village, family and community was
subject to the crime.

This is what Secretary of the State Commission on Coordination of
the events for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic
of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan said during an event marking the launch of
the project called “100 Seconds”, which is carried out by MediaMax
and VivaCell-MTS.

The presentation of the project based on eyewitness accounts of the
Armenian Genocide released by the National Archives of Armenia was
held at Komitas Museum-Institute on March 23. Various renowned people
from different countries, including actors, writers, musicians and
others have been offered to read excerpts from those testimonies for
100 seconds. There are 24 video clips, which will be shown every day
until April 23rd.

Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia Vigen
Sargsyan mentioned that the commemoration of the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide is hinged on four pillars, including remembrance,
gratitude, international struggle and renaissance.

“The main goal of the project is to draw the attention of mankind to
the horrible sufferings that the Armenians underwent a century ago.

It’s not easy to read and listen to those testimonies, but the more
people are shocked by what they hear, the greater the likelihood
that they will do everything they can to prevent future genocides,”
Director of MediaMax Ara Tadevosyan said.

General sponsor of the “100 Seconds” project, General Director of
VivaCell-MTS Ralph Yirikian says the project is a message to the
civilized world to remember and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

From: A. Papazian

Government to provide unprecedented $600,000 loan for seed purchases
to farmers in Armenia

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s government will give an
unprecedented loan, $600,000, to farmers for potato seed purchases,
head of the Agrarian-Peasant Union of Armenia Hrach Berberyan said.

The seeds are from the Netherlands, and the loan is extended to
promote potato experts, Berberyan told a press conference on Monday.

The respective agreement will be signed in a couple of days, Berberyan
said. Half of the loan will be paid while purchasing the seeds and the
remaining party is to be repaid after the crops is sold, he added.

According to the head of the union, the loan project will help
increase crops by 7,000 tons this year, and half of the crops will be
used as seeds and the remaining part will be exported.

Armenia’s National Statistical Service reports potato crops were about
730,000 tons in 2014 (11% growth against 2013).

The aim of the project is to help farmers experiencing loan repayment
problems. Farmer eligibility criteria are the condition of the village
and professional qualities of farmers, Berberyan said. If interested
farmers have to file an application with the union within a week. Most
successful farmers will be sent to Holland for a training course in
autumn.

The head of the union also said that the official statistics suggests
a total of 650,000 tons of potatoes were produced in Armenia in 2013,
as compared to a potential of 800-900,000 tons. Of it 44,000 were
exported, he said.

The EEU market provides a new advantage in terms of potato exports,
Berberyan said.

According to Berberyan, if works are arranged in a proper way,
Armenia’s potato exports may reach 70-80,000 tons within three years.

Increased exports will not lead to rise in potato prices, according to
Berberyan. He said potatoes are exported at a price of $400 per ton.
Average yield is 45-48 tons per hectare in Armenia.

The head of the Agrarian-Peasant Union said potato production is
promising in Armenia due to frost-resistance and stability of yield if
improved varieties are used. -0–

From: A. Papazian