Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN UNIVERSITIES MUST TRAIN 1000 IT PROFESSIONALS A YEAR: PRIME MINISTER SAYS

YEREVAN, June 21. / ARKA /. Armenian universities must train at
least one thousand specialists for the IT industry every year, Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan said on Friday at the opening of the Sixth
Digitech Annual Business Forum. He said this task was set by the
business community.

“Because this sector sees annually a 15-20% growth, the first task,
set by the private sector is to train at least one thousand IT
professionals a year,” he said.

“We see the competition in this area growing and, above all, in terms
of winning over highly qualified personnel”, he added.

In 2000, the Armenian government announced the IT sector as an economic
priority. Today the sector has about 350 enterprises, which employ
about 10 thousand people. According to the Union of Information
Technology Enterprises (UITE), in 2012 the sector expanded by 25%
with a total turnover of $250 million. -0-

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ANCA DESK: LEO SARKISIAN INTERNSHIP MOLDS OUR FUTURE LEADERS
By Michelle Hagopian

June 20, 2013

On June 17, a handful of talented interns will arrive in Washington,
D.C. for the summer of a lifetime. As they embark on the 2013 ANCA
Leo Sarkisian Internship (LSI) program at the ANCA headquarters,
they’ll see the capital’s sights and meet and learn from a variety
of influential people.

Two of them-Taleen Lachinian and Tamar Purut-are representing the
ANCA Eastern Region from June 17 to Aug. 9. We couldn’t be happier
to send two excited and ambitious young women to experience a mini
boot camp in Hai Tahd.

>From phone banking for important Congressional issues, to discussions
with grassroots leaders in our region and across the country, this
internship is essentially a crash course in everything the ANCA does.

They will visit Capitol Hill, meet elected officials, and learn how
to convey the values and issues that represent Armenian Americans. In
short: The LSI program molds our future leaders.

Why am I telling you about this? Because the beginning of the LSI
program every year marks the beginning of summer, which means we’re
halfway through another calendar year. A lot can happen in one year
or even in six months. As we get into mid-June, it’s important for
the ANCA to reflect on what we’ve accomplished so far this year, but
to also keep our eyes forward as we set out to accomplish much more.

I’m excited for our LSI interns this year, just like I am every year.

What a great deal it is to be living in the heart of this country,
where so much around them will help shape the type of people they
become in their careers. We don’t realize that at the time, but it
almost always turns out to be true later down the line.

The ANCA owes a lot to the man the internship is named after, Leo
Sarkisian. He was a leader for Hai Tahd for decades, constantly paving
the way for new ideas and plans of action. Although he died in 1992,
Sarkisian is part of the reason the ANCA has accomplished so much
thus far. He was a scholar, author, and above all, a champion for
the Armenian cause.

With each passing year, I remember why the ANCA pushes on in its
noble cause. With each passing summer and every new LSI intern, I
give a little thanks for Leo Sarkisian and the work he did in guiding
us. The same is true for all of our Hai Tahd leaders who have passed
on and those who are still fighting for justice among us today.

The LSI program is top notch and competitive for a reason: Students
want to be the next generation leading the Armenian cause. This
internship allows them to start that journey, and for that reason,
we need to encourage them and find ways to support that goal.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: So much of what we do
depends on the contributions and training of our young people. We see
how easy it is to get spread thin in all areas of our lives, so why
not mentor and train the younger crowd to pick up where we’re lacking?

Heck, why not mentor and train anyone willing to help?

The ANCA Eastern Region is working on identifying and strengthening
our core leaders in each community we have, but we need your help.

Even if you live in the most far-flung, remote town, your voice
matters.

Reach out to us today at [email protected] to pitch in. If you want to
volunteer your time, your skills or your knowledge, you’re an asset
to the ANCA. Become the next champion of the Armenian cause.

Follow in Leo Sarkisian’s footsteps and those of the interns who try
every year to start living up to that name.

From: A. Papazian

Modernization of border crossing points on Armenia-Georgia border enters crucial phase

June 20, 2013 | 19:24

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s capital hosted a regular session of board members
of the program for modernization of Bavra, Bagratashen and Gogavan
border-crossing points.

The meeting was chaired by Gagik Khachatryan, head of the Armenian
State Revenue Committee. The head of EU delegation to Armenia Trian
Hristea, UN Resident Coordinator Bradley Busetto participated in
the meeting.

Opening the meeting, Gagik Khachatryan underscored importance of
the program in terms of economic development of Armenia, maintaining
security and deepening of regional cooperation in the field of integral
border control.

The modernization program of the mentioned checkpoints is entering
the final stage, head of the Committee said, adding that the start
and progress of the construction work is being determined.

Representatives of the international agencies noted that UNDP and EU
are ready to continue providing assistance to Armenia.

In his speech, Trian Hristea said that the program aimed at
modernization of Armenia-Georgia border has registered certain
progress.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS RECEIVED BUCERIUS PRIZE FOR PRESENTING CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY

19:39 20/06/2013 ” SOCIETY

Ceremony of awarding prestigious Gerd Bucerius Prize “Free Press of
Eastern Europe” over 2012 year took place in Oslo on Thursday. Among
the winners of the prize is a group of journalists from the countries
of the former Soviet Union, including two representatives of
Azerbaijan – the Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
Mehman Huseynov and employee of the Azerbaijani service of “Radio
Liberty”, Takhmina Tagizadeh, the Azerbaijani news agency Turan
reports.

As the jury noted, they won the award for the selfless coverage of
serious problems as corruption and human rights violations in
Azerbaijan.

Huseynov could not attend the ceremony due to the ban of the
authorities to leave the country because of the criminal case against
him, which, according to human rights activists, was fabricated, and
is politically motivated. Instead Huseynov, the prize was awarded to
his mother, Firangiz Huseynova.

Norway’s State Secretary Gry Larsen welcomed the journalist’s mother,
criticized the Azerbaijani authorities for not permitting Huseynov to
take part in the award ceremony.

Gerd Bucerius Prize was established by the German Foundation “ZEIT”
and the Norwegian Foundation for “Fritt Ord”; it is annually awarded
to journalists and the media for independent reporting, freedom of
expression and the media.

On June 17 on its way to receive the award in Oslo Huseinov was
detained in Baku airport and was taken to the police.

Azerbaijani security forces justified their actions by saying that
criminal proceedings had begun against the journalist.

Huseynov was accused of insulting and using force against the soldier
of Special Forces of Azerbaijani Interior Ministry during the shooting
of the video footage on protest on May 21, in 2012 at Fountain Square
in Baku. The journalist expressed his outrage about the fact that the
police officer broke his video camera when he was filming scenes of
violence against women protesters.

In this regard, “The Committee to Protect Journalists,” condemned the
Azerbaijani authorities for using a travel ban on journalist M.

Huseynov, and noted that by this step the Azerbaijani authorities have
only confirmed the validity of reports of human rights abuses and
repression in their country.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

AZERI MILITARY PARADE MAY FALL THROUGH OVER ENGINEERING BLUNDER

June 20, 2013 – 17:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A military parade scheduled for June 26 in Baku
to mark “95th anniversary of Azeri armed forces” may fall through,
Voskanapat.info said.

According to the report, last year, an underground parking garage
was opened under Azadliq Square, current venue for the parade.

At present, urgent reconstruction works are in progress to cover
up land subsidence and cracks which appeared as a result of grave
engineering mistakes.

However, experts say, the cover-up will only hide the cracks rather
than deal with the reason that caused them. As they note, the parade
involving heavy military equipment may prove fatal, with the square
likely to collapse under the weight.

From: A. Papazian

Second phase of Yerevan metro upgrading launched

YEREVAN, 20. / ARKA /. The Armenian government has launched today the
start of the second phase of a project designed to upgrade the
Yerevan subway. The work will be financed by a 5 million euro loan
provided by the European Investment Bank. The loan is provided with a
maturity period of 15 years, of which four years with a six-month
EURIBOR +0.75% interest rate.

The funds will be used to renovate the rolling stock, restore the
worn-out railway lines and power supply components. The phase II
related drainage tunnel extension component is expected to generate
significant savings of electricity due to reduced water pumping costs,
estimated to be cut by 50 per cent. Part of the money will be used to
buy 7-8 new cars. The loan is part of an investment package worth 15
million euros.

The project is to l enable the Yerevan Metro Company to improve the
quality and efficiency of its services as well as strengthen its
operational performance and passenger safety conditions. Operated by
the state-owned Yerevan Metro Company, the underground transport
system was built in 1981 and currently represents the backbone of
public transport in Yerevan.

The first phase worth 5 million euro was completed in late 2012. The
second phase is scheduled to be completed in 2015 December. -0-
– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S PREMIER URGES MINISTERS TO RESPOND TO ACCUSATIONS

13:05 ~U 20.06.13

At the cabinet meeting on Thursday, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan spoke of the Control Chamber’s report delivered by Head of
the Chamber Ishkhan Zakaryan.

The report caused heated debates in Armenia’s Parliament.

Armenia’s premier said that Ishkhan Zakaryan has no right to make
political assessments.

“I am keenly interested in all the materials being immediately sent
to law-enforcers for them to answer all the questions,” he said.

The premier shares Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s
statement that all the people that squandered budgetary funds must
be severely punished.

“Political assessments are a task for MPs and government officials,”
the premier said.

He ordered the ministers to respond to any accusations addressed
against them.

“You must respond to the accusations or prepare materials and present
them to the prosecutor’s office. Or you must admit the accusations
and bear responsibility,” Tigran Sargsyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

UNESCO WARNS SYRIAN HERITAGE SITES ENDANGERED

12:58, 20 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS: UNESCO added six ancient sites in
Syria including a fortress of Saladin and a Crusader castle to the
endangered World Heritage list, warning that more than two years
of civil war had inflicted heavy damage. As reported by Armenpress,
this was published by Agence France-Presse on June 20.

“Due to the armed conflict situation in Syria, the conditions are
no longer present to ensure the conservation and protection of the
Outstanding Universal Value of the six World Heritage properties,”
UNESCO said.

Syria has six World Heritage Sites: the ancient cities of Damascus,
Bosra and Aleppo, the oasis of Palmyra, the castles of Crac des
Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din – which counts as one site – and
the ancient villages of northern Syria. All six were placed on the
list of World Heritage in Danger by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization committee at its annual meeting
in Phnom Penh.

Experts say fierce fighting and deteriorating security have left the
country’s extraordinary archaeological heritage susceptible to damage
and looting.

UNESCO said its information on the scale of the destruction was
“partial” and came from unverified sources including social media and
a report from Syrian authorities which it said “does not necessarily
reflect the actual situation”.

Aleppo’s old city, in particular, has “witnessed some of the conflict’s
most brutal destruction,” it said, adding that the old citadel had been
“caught in the line of fire”.

In April, the minaret of Aleppo’s ancient Umayyad mosque – originally
built in the 8th century and then rebuilt in the 13th century –
was totally destroyed.

“The immediate, near-term and long-term effect of the crises on the
cultural heritage of Aleppo cannot be overstated,” UNESCO said.

There are also fears for two castles considered architectural treasures
of the period of the Crusades in the 11th-13th centuries.

Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Fortress of Saladin)
have “been exposed to clashing and gunfire,” according to a report by
Syrian authorities given to UNESCO. Saladin was the Kurdish military
leader who recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in the 12th century
and is lionised across the Middle East.

Referring to Crac des Chevaliers, the report said: “We think that
the ancient mosque (the chapel) in the centre of the citadel, which
still retained traces of original paintwork, has been damaged.”

Clandestine excavations, including looting of ancient tombs and grave
sites, have also been reported at several of the sites, it added.

In February, at least 18 ancient mosaics depicting scenes from Homer’s
“The Odyssey” were stolen during illegal excavations on archaeological
sites in the war-torn country’s northeast, the country’s culture
minister said at the time.

UNESCO launched an appeal to Syria’s neighbours and the international
community to fight illicit trafficking of cultural property coming
from Syria

From: A. Papazian

VIOLENCE EN TURQUIE : UN TEMOIGNAGE DE DEFNE GURSOY

Publie le : 19-06-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire le temoignage de Defne Gursoy sur les manifestations
a Istanbul publie le 16 juin 2013.

Tout a bascule a Taksim hier soir.

Hier soir la guerre a ete declenchee par la police, je suis un temoin
direct puisque j’etais sur place.

La violence demesuree de la police a fait des centaines de blesses, le
parc a ete evacue de force avec gaz, jet d’eau contenant des produits
chimiques causant des brulures sur la peau, les balles en plastiques
ont blesses des dizaines de personnes, dont une femme enceinte. Par
ailleurs, des grenades cataplexiantes (incapacitantes) ont seme la
terreur dans tous le quartier.

L’intervention a eu lieu alors qu’il n’y avait aucune manifestation,
aucun rassemblement ni dans le parc Gezi, ni sur la place. C’etait
un samedi ordinaire et les habitants etaient venu avec leurs enfants
pour prendre l’air dans ce parc.

Cette intervention a ete faite hier a partir de 19h40 alors que la
Plateforme de Taksim avait annonce a 11h00 le retrait pacifique des
occupants du parc dès lundi.

Les affrontements ont dure jusqu’au petit matin, j’etais coince entre
les barricades et la police. Je me suis refugiee dans un passage
commercant, la police a meme lance le gaz a l’interieur de tous ces
passages où les gens s’etaient refugies. J’ai ete gazee, et j’ai vu
des gens tomber comme des mouches sur la rue Istiklal.

Des milliers ont afflue de tous les quartiers d’Istanbul pour venir en
soutien a Gezi Park et les manifestants. La municipalite a annule tous
les transports en commun dès 11h00 pour empecher cela mais les gens
sont passe de la rive asiatique en marchant sur les ponts du Bosphore.

La police a gaze ces gens a pied sur le pont meme, sans leur laisser
une issue de sortie, sauf peut-etre de se jeter par le pont.

Les hotels qui ont accueilli les gens blesses ont ete gazes de
l’interieur. Les touristes ont accueilli les blesses dans leur
chambre d’hôtel mais ont subi egalement les violences car les lobby
et receptions, transformes en centre de soins medicaux, de ces hôtels
ont ete attaques par la police. Ceci est un crime contre l’humanite,
du jamais vu meme dans les pays avec des regimes les plus repressifs.

Toute cette violence n’a pas arreter le peuple qui s’est regroupe
dans chaque quartier. Nous ne connaissons pas exactement le nombre
de blesses, mais nous savons qu’il y a plusieurs blesses dans un etat
grave, nous en sauront plus dans quelques heures.

Des centaines de gens blesses n’ont pas pu recevoir de soins medicaux
car les forces de l’ordre ont interdit l’accès des ambulances a Taksim.

Aujourd’hui, Erdogan tient un meeting a Istanbul avec ses supporters,
qu’il n’hesitera sans doute pas a lacher contre les resistants.

Les habitants des 70 villes du pays sont dans la rue aujourd’hui
pour protester.

Des dizaines de milliers sont en train de marcher vers la place
Taksim. La violence du pouvoir actuel contre ses citoyens doit etre
arreter au plus vite.

Je vous demande de divulguer le message partout où vous pouvez. C’est
vraiment très grave et cela va sans doute continuer.

La desinformation du pouvoir ne doit pas etre relayee par les medias
europeens mais la verite doit etre entendue partout dans le monde.

Merci a tous de faire en sorte que l’information circule le plus vite
et largement possible.

Ce dimanche 16 juin, nous nous attendons malheureusement a la suite
des violences.

Defne Gursoy Istanbul, 16 juin 2013, 11h00 (heure locale)

Retour a la rubrique

TELECHARGER : Le temoignage de Defne Gursoy

From: A. Papazian

TURQUIE : LA POLITIQUE NEGATIONNISTE SE POURSUIT

Publie le : 20-06-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – ” D’aucuns s’attendaient
peut-etre a ce que suite aux manifestations et aux troubles recents
en Turquie, les dirigeants s’occuperaient de leurs problèmes internes
et se detourneraient d’autres developpements importants tels que
les questions concernant le genocide armenien. Malheureusement, ce
n’est pas le cas. Alors que des dizaines de milliers de manifestants
en colère protestent dans toute la Turquie et expriment leur
mecontentement vis-a-vis de la gouvernance dictatoriale d’Erdogan,
les responsables du ministère des Affaires etrangères continuent
d’effectuer leurs tâches negationnistes habituelles, contrant tous
les efforts des autres Etats visant a reaffirmer la realite du
genocide armenien. ” Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de
l’editorial du journaliste armeno-americain Harut Sassounian, paru
dans The California Courier le 20 juin 2013.

Malgre les troubles internes, la Turquie poursuit sa campagne de
negation du genocide

De : Harut Sassounian Editeur de : The California Courier Editorial
de Sassounian du 20 juin 2013

D’aucuns s’attendaient peut-etre a ce que suite aux manifestations
et aux troubles recents en Turquie, les dirigeants s’occuperaient de
leurs problèmes internes et se detourneraient d’autres developpements
importants tels que les questions concernant le genocide armenien.

Malheureusement, ce n’est pas le cas.

Alors que des dizaines de milliers de manifestants en colère protestent
dans toute la Turquie et expriment leur mecontentement vis-a-vis de la
gouvernance dictatoriale d’Erdogan, les responsables du ministère des
Affaires etrangères continuent d’effectuer leurs tâches negationnistes
habituelles, contrant tous les efforts des autres Etats visant a
reaffirmer la realite du genocide armenien.

Voici trois exemples de reactions de la Turquie, qui ont eu lieu ces
dernières semaines :

1) Le gouvernement turc a reagi violemment lorsque le pape Francois
a reconnu le genocide armenien, le qualifiant de ” premier genocide
du 20e siècle. ” Le Souverain Pontife s’est exprime le 3 juin, lors
de la visite d’une delegation de dignitaires catholiques armeniens
au Vatican. Bien que le pape Francois ait deja fait des remarques
similaires quand il etait cardinal en Argentine, c’est la première fois
qu’il evoque le genocide armenien depuis sa recente election papale.

Le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères a rapidement reagi en
protestant officiellement auprès du Vatican, exprimant sa ” deception
” suite a la declaration du pape. L’ambassadeur du Vatican a Ankara
a ete promptement convoque au ministère des Affaires etrangères et
il lui a ete dit que les declarations du Souverain Pontife etaient ”
absolument inacceptables ” et qu’elles pourraient nuire aux relations
bilaterales. Un officiel turc non cite a meme suggere que la visite
prevue du pape en Turquie pourrait etre mise en danger suite a ses
remarques sur le genocide armenien !

Mais au lieu de ceder, le Vatican a enfonce le clou pour la Turquie
en annoncant que le pape Francois prevoyait de se rendre en Armenie
le 24 avril 2015, pour y celebrer une messe de requiem a l’occasion
de la commemoration du centenaire du genocide armenien.

Etant donne la mentalite negationniste des responsables turcs, il est
comprehensible qu’ils soient mecontents de la declaration factuelle
franche et moralement reconfortante du pape. Après tout, le Pontife est
non seulement le chef spirituel de l’Eglise catholique, mais egalement
un chef d’Etat. Toutefois, le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères
n’avait nullement besoin de s’enerver autant, car le Vatican a reconnu
le genocide armenien par deux fois en 2000 et 2001.

Les responsables turcs ne semblent pas realiser qu’en reagissant de
manière excessive aux actes de reconnaissance du genocide armenien,
ils promeuvent involontairement la cause meme qu’ils tentent de saper
! De fait, la condamnation turque de la declaration du pape Francois
sur le genocide armenien a ete commentee dans les medias du monde
entier, ce qui a aide a mieux faire connaître les faits du genocide
armenien. La reelle intention d’Ankara, quand elle s’attaque a toute
personne dans le monde osant s’exprimer sur le genocide armenien, est
de dissuader toutes les autres de faire des declarations similaires,
en particulier au vu du centenaire en 2015.

2) le Parlement grec a egalement fâche les autorites turques en
debut de mois, lorsque le parti au pouvoir, Nouvelle democratie,
a l’instar d’une clause de la loi francaise, a propose un projet de
loi sanctionnant la xenophobie, et la negation ou la deformation des
genocides reconnus par la Grèce, tels que le genocide armenien et le
genocide juif. Les personnes violant la loi proposee pourraient faire
face a jusqu’a 3 ans d’emprisonnement et a une amende de 5000 a 20°000
euros. Le Parlement grec a reconnu le genocide armenien en 1996. Bien
que les autorites turques n’aient pas fait de declaration publique
contre le projet de loi nouvellement presente, il est pratiquement
certain que des pressions sont exercees via l’ambassadeur de Turquie
a Athènes et d’autres voies diplomatiques.

3) Les membres du Parlement ukrainien Arsen Avakov, du parti
d’opposition Batkivshchina l’Union panukrainienne ‘Patrie’, ainsi
que Vilen Shatvoryan et Nver Mkhitaryan du parti au pouvoir, le
Parti des regions, ont introduit une resolution le 6 juin pour
la reconnaissance du genocide armenien. Azernews a rapporte que
les Azerbaidjanais vivant en Ukraine ont proteste contre cette
resolution a l’exterieur du Parlement. En outre, une lettre signee
par plusieurs organisations azerbaidjanaises en Ukraine a ete envoyee
au president Victor Yanukovych, affirmant que la resolution est ” un
problème serieux pour les personnes de langue turcique en Ukraine,
en particulier les Azerbaïdjanais… et un serieux coup porte a
l’Azerbaïdjan et a la Turquie. ” Selon des sources bien informees en
Ukraine, le gouvernement turc est derrière les protestations azeries,
y compris derrière la forte reaction de Mustafa Dzhemilev, president
du Congrès du peuple Tatar de Crimee (Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars)
et membre du Parlement ukrainien.

En depit de la persistance de l’instabilite en Turquie, les
responsables turcs continuent a faire passer leur politique
negationniste dans le monde, en interferant dans les affaires
internationales d’autres Etats. On ne peut qu’esperer que la communaute
internationale rejettera l’attitude pompeuse et arrogante du regime
d’Erdogan, comme elle est rejetee en Turquie par une grande partie
de la population turque.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 20 juin
2013 – 07:00 –

Retour a la rubrique

From: A. Papazian