Author: Andres-Papazian

KARABAKH’S AIRPLANES WILL BE MECHANICALLY READY FOR FLIGHTS IN 15 DAYS – NEWSPAPER

September 19, 2013 | 07:44

YEREVAN. – “The airplanes, which the NKR [i.e., the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic] has acquired, will be mechanically ready to conduct flights
from [NKR capital city] Stepanakert’s airport in fifteen days.”

NKR General Department of Civil Aviation Head Dmitri Adbashyan told
the aforesaid to Haykakan Zhamanak daily, the latter reports.

“He added that the airport likewise is ready to accept and see
off airplanes for a long time. He noted that, now, the aircraft is
undergoing mechanical maintenance inspection, which is conducted by
the enterprise that manufactured the plane.

“To our reporter’s query as to whether the long-awaited flight can
be conducted in fifteen days, the Civil Aviation head said he is
responsible [solely] for the technical matters,” Haykakan Zhamanak
writes.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS DISCUSSED AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

September 19, 2013 | 15:18

YEREVAN. – Armenian-Turkish relations and the opening of the
border between the two countries is still discussed at the European
Parliament, four years after the signing of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.

This time the European MPs had come to listen to the presentations
by Turkish journalist Cengiz Aktar and Armenian political analyst
Richard Giragosian, RFE/RL Armenian service reports.

Aktar noted that the Azerbaijani factor continues to play a huge role
in Turkey.

“The Azerbaijanis’ position on this matter is clear: Turkey
shall not normalize relations with Armenia unless Armenia gives
Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Turkish journalist stated.

Selim Yenel, Turkey’s Ambassador to the European Union, told RFE/RL
that Armenia needs to take concrete steps in the Karabakh issue.

To the query as to why he is confident that Armenia will stand to
gain from the normalization of relations, Yenel responded: “We all
gain from this. We need positive changes, and we can start from this.”

And to the question as to whether he agrees with the claims that
the Azerbaijani authorities have a great impact on Armenian-Turkish
relations, the Turkish diplomat responded: “We [i.e., Turkey and
Azerbaijan] may be two different countries, but we are one nation. We
cannot disregard Azerbaijan. We see that they were treated unfairly,
and we await Armenia’s steps to correct it.”

From: A. Papazian

TRUCK HIT ACTIVISTS’ CAR NEAR CITY HALL

Country – Thursday, 19 September 2013, 13:44

In the night of September 18 a car accident happened in front of
the City Hall of Yerevan. A ZIL truck hit the car of the citizens on
sit-in in front of the City Hall in the middle of the night when the
street is not busy. The activists parked their car in front of the City
Hall to sometimes protect them from rain or sun because the City Hall
and the Police did not authorize them to put up a tent. Earlier the
citizens demanding the resignation of head of transport department
Henrik Navasardyan and head of Yerevan Trans who runs a bus line
Misak Hambardzumyan were attacked by street gangs, Navasardyan’s
sons who tried to provoke fights, swore and spat in the direction of
the citizens. In one of these cases Navasardyan’s son was arrested
together with his girlfriend, both were drunk. Later activists were
attacked in the streets, behind the corners. Now trucks are used
against citizens. Apparently someone is smiling with satisfaction
while watching the video and winking to their mates, being proud of
their idea. There is a camera in this part of the street. It would
be interesting to see how the truck came and hit the car parked at
the pavement with such little traffic.

From: A. Papazian

ALL STATES JOINING CUSTOMS UNION TO SOME EXTENT LOSE THEIR SOVEREIGN RIGHTS – DEPUTY FM

September 19, 2013 | 13:05

YEREVAN. – By joining the Customs Union, any state is transferring a
part of its sovereignty to the executive body of that union, Armenian
Deputy FM said.

This refers both to Armenia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus or any EU
member state. However, sovereignty is transferred only “in terms of
customs policy”, Shavarsh Kocharyan said during media conference on
Thursday. In other respects, the state preserves its sovereign rights,
he added.

“In general, customs unions are formed for more effective development
of the economy,” he added.

From: A. Papazian

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: AGHVAN HOVSEPYAN MAY BE APPOINTED ACADEMY OF JUSTICE RECTOR

0:18 19/09/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

According to Haykakan Zhamanak, rumors in governmental circles and
in the Aparan clan say former Armenian Prosecutor General Aghvan
Hovsepyan may be appointed rector of the newly established Academy of
Justice. The Academy will be located in Yerevan’s Davitashen district.

There has been a long struggle between the Prosecutor General’s Office
and Justice Ministry for taking control of it. Finally, it was decided
that they will have equal control of the Academy.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

U.S. REP. BRAD SCHNEIDER SUPPORTS GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

September 19, 2013 – 12:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Illinois
took issues of importance to Armenians in the 10th Congressional
district of Illinois to Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) on Monday,
September 16, 2013.

The group included ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and ANC of Illinois
chairman Claude Ohanesian.

“Rep. Schneider was very receptive to our concerns and we thank
him for a terrific meeting. We hope to continue to cultivate our
relationship with him as he learns more about Armenian American
issues,” said Ohanesian.

Discussion centered on House Resolution 227, the Armenian Genocide
Truth and Justice Resolution, and the situation in Syria. ANC of
Illinois expressed its concern about Armenians in the region and the
safety of all Syrians.

Besides Syria, Rep. Schneider, who is on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, heard concerns of the local ANC on issues such as the
return of Christian properties, foreign aid to Armenia and Illinois’
10th district Armenian community.

ANC of Illinois also talked to the Congressman about the
self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh and the 25th anniversary of
Artsakh’s independence, as well as Azeri aggression in the Caucuses.

The meeting follows a busy month in August for the ANCA Eastern
Region that saw many local ANCs meeting with representatives in their
districts while Congress was in recess.

From: A. Papazian

HRAPARAK: ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENT’S SON TO PURCHASE ARAKS POULTRY FACTORY?

09:55 19.09.13

The Araks poultry factory staff is discussing the expected sale of
the business.

The prospective owner is Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharyan’s son.

One of the employees told the newspaper that the prospective owner
had a meeting with the staff. “When he knew our daily wages, 2,000
drams (less than $5), he told us he would raise our wages,” the
employee said.

According to the employee, the current owner would never sell his
business on his own will. “People say he has been forced to. This
may be the reason for reduced output.”

Armenian News – Tert.a

From: A. Papazian

LE DEPUTE JEAN-FRANCOIS MANCEL INVITE PAR ALIEV !

France-Azerbaïdjan

Twitter est devenu un fond de ressources essentiel pour les
journalistes, comme le prouve un tweet poste par le blogueur Thomas
Fremond le 18 septembre, dans lequel il indique que le Depute (UMP)
de la 2ème circonscription de l’Oise, Jean-Francois Mancel, membre
du groupe d’amitie France-Azerbaïdjan, a accepte une invitation de
l’Azerbaïdjan. Un tweet bientôt suivi d’une reponse de ” JeunesPop
Beauvais”, protestant contre le ” donneur de lecon “, et taclant
Fremond, pour lui rappeler la rencontre Hollande-Aliev du 18 septembre
2012 (tiens un anniversaire !). Une rencontre qualifiee de très
discrète par Le Figaro.

Ce voyage n’est pas le premier du depute Mancel, s’agissant la
d’un prete pour un rendu. En effet, le 14 Juin dernier la ville de
Beauvais avait organise, en grande pompe, une exposition dediee
a l’Azerbaïdjan, dans le cadre des “Journees de l’Azerbaïdjan”
en France, comme celles organisees dans 13 autres cites. A cette
occasion, Jean-Francois Mancel avait note que ” l’Azerbaïdjan,
est un pont entre l’Occident et l’Orient, et differentes nations et
religions y coexistent pacifiquement. “- sauf avec les Armeniens,
pourrait-on ajouter. Et de fait, Monsieur Mancel, qui par ailleurs n’a
pas sa langue dans sa poche, doit effectivement s’inscrire dans cet
etat d’esprit, lui qui compte parmi les 51 deputes UMP ayant signe
le recours au Conseil constitutionnel a propos de la loi Boyer (23
janvier 2012) criminalisant la negation du genocide des Armeniens ;
mais dont l’une des dernières questions ecrites, du 16 juillet 2013,
met en exergue la “lutte contre le racisme et l’antisemitisme”.

Cherchez l’erreur quand on sait qu’une certaine frange de la population
d’origine Turque et Azerie, et ou toujours ressortissante de Turquie et
d’Azerbaïdjan vivant sur le sol francais, excitee par des officines
ultranationalistes et ses relais, voue une haine viscerale aux
francais d’origine armenienne, sans pour autant eveiller l’emoi de
certains elus.

Monsieur le depute, vous n’etes, a priori, pas homme a nier le
genocide des Armeniens, reconnu par la France en 2001. Mais alors,
de quelle facon pouvez-vous justifier de votre opposition a une loi
condamnant cet etat de fait, alors qu’il y a seulement quelques jours,
s’ajoutant a d’autres incidents, des lyceens d’origine turque, s’en
prennent a leur professeur d’Histoire-geographie, allant jusqu’aux
insultes sur les reseaux sociaux, niant en bloc l’extermination
programmee de la population armenienne dans l’Empire ottoman de 1915 ?

Il est vrai que d’un autre côte (litteralement) on nous invoque
a tout crin la sacro-sainte liberte d’expression. Est-ce liberte
d’expression que de nier impunement l’indeniable tout en se masquant
derrière des euphemismes d’autant plus choquants pour les descendants
des survivants ?

Jean Eckian

jeudi 19 septembre 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

LES GROUPES CIVIQUES ARMENIENS SCANDALISES PAR ” L’HUMILIATION NATIONALE ”

Armenie

Une coalition d’organisations civiques armeniennes qui promeut
l’integration europeenne a condamne la decision de Serge Sarkissian
de rejoindre l’Union douanière. Elle a explique avoir vecu l’annonce
comme une ” humiliation nationale ” et a promis de se battre pour
empecher cette adhesion.

” L’annonce surprise de Serge Sarkissian a inflige des dommages
irrecuperables sur la reputation internationale et la credibilite de
l’Armenie “, a declare le Forum de la societe civile (SCF) dans une
longue declaration.

Le CSAH, rassemblant plusieurs dizaines d’ONG, a declare que l’adhesion
a l’union douanière ne rapportera pas d’enormes avantages sur le
plan economique a l’Armenie et ne fera que contrecarrer les reformes
radicales qu’Erevan s’etait engage a effectuer conformement a l’accord
d’association prevu avec l’Union europeenne.

” De nombreux programmes visant a la mise en ~uvre de reformes et
le renforcement de ses liens avec l’UE (…) sont en grand danger. ”

Le CSAH, parraine par l’UE, a rejete les arguments selon lesquels
le gouvernement n’avait pas eu d’autre choix que de succomber a la
pression russe en raison de la forte dependance de l’Armenie sur le
plan militaire. Selon lui, l’Armenie va au contraire devenir plus ”
vulnerable ” sur le long terme.

Le CSAH a egalement fait valoir qu’Erevan n’aurait pas du engager
des pourparlers pendant quatre ans avec l’UE s’il estimait que cela
impliquerait des risques pour sa securite. L’entree armenienne dans
l’union douanière aurait ete alors plus ” digne et acceptable “.

Jusqu’a ce mois-ci, le gouvernement armenien semblait determine a
conclure un accord avec l’UE. Ce n’est qu’après trois entretiens en
septembre avec Poutine que Sarkissian a annonce un changement radical
de politique. Le leader armenien ne s’est pas exprime publiquement
depuis.

Le CSAH a declare dans un communique que ce changement inattendu ”
ne peut etre consideree comme irreversible “, exigeant une session
d’urgence du Parlement armenien. ” La situation peut etre rectifiee
par l’activisme civique et la consolidation des forces saines de la
societe “.

Le communique ajoute que les groupes de citoyens pro-europeens se
reuniront aujourd’hui. Il a incite les responsables gouvernementaux
a les rejoindre afin d’expliquer cette volte-face.

jeudi 19 septembre 2013, Claire ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

JAMIL HASANLI: THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS NOT EQUAL FOR ALL

Turan Information Agency
September 17, 2013 Tuesday

Baku/16.09.13/Turan : Contrary to the desire of the authorities
to remove the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) from the
political arena, this structure, as a model unifying model opposition,
confirmed its viability said at the press conference the presidential
candidate of the NCDF Jamil Hasanli .

“The National Council was established as a model unifying the
opposition, and in its center is a prominent representative of
public opinion in Azerbaijan, Rustam Ibrahimbayov. The other day,
a delegation of the National Council visited the United Kingdom and
had meetings with representatives of the political establishment,
experts and human rights activists. Rustam Ibrahimbayov, for some
reason, could not come to London, but the day before we met him in
Tbilisi, and discussed election strategy.

Rustam Ibrahimbayov said that he will continue to lead the election
strategy,” said Hasanli.

According to him, Ibrahimbayov called a provocation reports by some
media that he wants to resign from his post of the head of the NCDF.

Referring to the election campaign which started on September 16,
Hasanli said there are unequal opportunities . “For us, today begins
the election campaign, and for Ilham

Aliyev, it started with the announcement of this date. Every day,
television stations dedicate him a few hours. This is motivated by
the fact that he is the current president.

But in fact he is a candidate for the presidency. To give the coverage
of the current activity of the head of state it is sufficient to show
news stories for 30-40 seconds, instead of showing him for hours.

We are not against the increase of salaries of the population , but
if it is done on the eve of the election, it means that one of the
contenders uses public resources in his favor,” said Hasanli.

Answering the question how Hasanli sees the future of Azerbaijan
in case if he wins elections, , he said that first of all it is a
country with a just society, the rights to a decent life , integrated
into the Euro-Atlantic space. Hasanli condemned the foreign policy
of the current government because of Azerbaijan’s accession to the
Non-Aligned Movement .

“The country, 20 % of territories of which are occupied, should
not be involved in the Non-Aligned Movement,” said Hasanli , noting
that Azerbaijan should have good neighborly relations and mutually
beneficial cooperation with neighboring countries.

Referring to the Karabakh conflict, he expressed the opinion that
this issue has become for the ruling elites of the two countries
a tool for maintaining power. For 20 years Aliyev’s regime has not
released even 20 meters of occupied lands, he said.

As for the electoral tactics , the co-chairman of the electoral
headquarters of Hasanli , head of the Supreme Majlis of PPFA,
Hasan Karimov said that the NCDF has no representatives in election
commissions. It was therefore decided to delegate one member of an
advisory capacity, as well as observers to all 5,000 polling precincts,
and 125 district election commissions.

He also called a serious violation of the electoral law the
distribution on first day of the school year, a book for students and
teachers “Baku: 2003-2013” which praises Ilham Aliyev. The publisher
of the book is the Ministry of Economic Development. Karimov believes
that the participation of the Ministry in the election campaign is
a serious violation of the law. This book could be published only at
the expense of the election Fund by Aliyev.

The other co-chairman of the electoral headquarters of Hasanli, deputy
chairman of “Musavat”, Gulaga Aslanly, told about unfavorable sites
designated for rallies. “In reality, these places have been allocated
by the Baku executive power, not by the CEC. We will officially ask
that the CEC establish places for the election agitation.-06D–

From: A. Papazian