Author: Andres-Papazian

POLITICAL TRIANGLE: YEREVAN BELIEVES IN HOLLANDE’S STRATEGIC MATURITY TO KEEP FRANCE-ARMENIA-TURKEY BALANCE
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
15.05.12

Photo:

Political analysts in Armenia are not too concerned about the newly
elected French president Francois Hollande’s intentions to improve
the relations between France and Turkey, hoping that the new president
will lead a balanced policy in the Armenia-Turkey issue.

Prior to the May 6 elections, socialist leader Hollande had promised
to recover the good relations between France and Turkey that had
deteriorated because of the bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian genocide (the Senate passed the draft law which was later
declared anti-constitutional; Turkey temporarily called back its
ambassador from France, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan stated that Turkey was terminating cooperation with France
in a number of spheres.)

At the same time Hollande assured the large Armenian community of
France that he would support the bill and has assumed the obligation
to submit the respective governmental bill in the beginning of his
tenure in order to make its ratification possible. Moreover, as Giro
Manoyan, leading the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s Bureau for Political Affairs
and the Armenian Cause, says yet a decade ago it was through the
socialists that the Armenian Cause office in France was able to start
the process of having France adopt a bill criminalizing the Armenian
genocide denial. It is this circumstance that inspires optimism to
Manoyan and belief that Hollande will have the bill ratified during
his tenure. Manoyan told ArmeniaNow that the difference between
Hollande and Sarkozy is about the way they build relations with
Turkey rather than about “the Armenian bill”: as opposed to Sarkozy,
Hollande doesn’t seem to mind Turkey’s potential EU membership.

Erdogan in a phone conversation with president-elect Hollande said
he hoped “a new era” would start in the bilateral relations between
their countries void of any “artificial issues” affecting them.

Expert in Turkish studies Artak Shakaryan, however, believes that
Hollande will not bring about tangible changes in the French foreign
affairs agenda.

“Although France is a country with strong presidential apparatus,
a change of one person will not introduce any essential change in
the foreign policy. Turkey’s EU membership is strategically not
in France’s interests. Regardless of the fact that Hollande will
definitely lead a more reasonable policy with Turkey, he is someone who
has always supported Armenian initiatives, has visited the Armenian
Genocide memorial, is in close relations with the ARF Armenian Cause
office in France, has promised not to suspend the genocide denial
criminalization bill. Rumor has it he has even agreed to allocate
state means for arranging large-scale events in 2015, commemorating
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Hollande is known
for his more moderate approach to Turkey’s potential EU membership,
however he said he didn’t believe it would happen during his term in
the office,” Shakaryan told ArmeniaNow, adding that “since the next
presidential elections in France are not expected until five years
from now, he will not adopt a pro-Armenian policy since he won’t need
their votes for the time being. We’ll see to what extend the Armenian
issue matches France’s strategic interests.”

Expert in Turkish studies Ruben Safrastyan believes that Hollande
will not break his vow and will act upon the promise to back the
“Armenian bill”, but “that won’t happen right away.”

“There is information that they are planning to reformulate the bill
so that it doesn’t contradict the Constitution. I think the amended
text will have some kind of formulations that would cushion Turkey’s
reaction,” says Safrastyan.

From: A. Papazian

LA FONDATION ORANGE ARMENIE FETE UN AN D’ACTIVITES
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 15 mai 2012

Pour marquer le premier anniversaire de la Fondation d’entreprise
Orange en Armenie, une soiree a ete organisee par Orange a la Mairie
d’Erevan, la capitale de la Republique d’Armenie en presence de
nombreuses personnalites dont Henri Raynaud, l’ambassadeur de France en
Armenie, Christine Albanel, directrice executive de la Communication
et du Mecenat du Groupe France Telecom-Orange et Mireille Le Van,
Secretaire generale de la Fondation Orange du Groupe.

Bruno Duthoit, directeur general d’Orange Armenie a accueilli tous les
invites avec Nazareth Seferian, le responsable de la jeune fondation.

Les equipes des associations partenaires de la fondation, les salaries
Orange parrains de projets de mecenat, les managers et les salaries
benevoles d’Orange qui contribuent aux activites et beaucoup d’amis
de la fondation etaient au rendez-vous. Un ch~ur de personnes
avec deficience visuelle ont chante plusieurs ~uvres de Komitas,
grand compositeur armenien, et les convives ont ensuite visite une
exposition photos des actions de la Fondation.

Cette jeune fondation soutient des projets dans trois domaines :
la sante/handicap, le developpement rural et l’education pour les
personnes les plus vulnerables avec une attention particulière pour
les enfants.

Parmi les actions les plus marquantes :

le projet ” Aidons les enfants avec autisme en Armenie ” du Centre de
Sante ArBes et la fondation Arabkir qui vise a ameliorer la sante,
le developpement, l’education et les comportements sociaux des
enfants avec autisme et d’autres handicaps de la communication afin
de faciliter leur integration dans la societe. Ce projet comprend des
activites dans des centres de Yerevan, Lori, Arnavir, Gegharkunik,
Tavush, Shirak et Ararat.

le projet ” Eye Care ” du Armenian Eye Care Project qui propose
a la population des zones rurales d’Armenie une bonne qualite
de soins ophtalmologiques afin de prevenir les risques de cecite
grâce au “Mobile Eye Hospital”, un camion entièrement equipe par des
professionnels de sante qui se deplace dans les regions pour effectuer
des verifications ophtalmologiques de plusieurs milliers de personnes,
identifier des maladies visuelles et faire des recommandations de
traitement de plusieurs centaines de personnes. La chirurgie des yeux
et interventions laser sont effectuees directement dans le camion.

les projets de developpement rural de l’association Shen comme
par exemple la fourniture de l’equipement du gymnase du Centre
communautaire du village de Malishka dans la region de Vayots Dzor et
la rehabilitation d’une ecole maternelle et installation du système
de chauffage dans le village Teghut dans la region de Lori.

Les projets de mecenat proposes par des salaries Orange dans le cadre
du 1er appel a projets solidaires de la fondation qui s’est deroule en
2011 ont egalement ete a l’honneur. Pour le conseil d’administration
de la fondation en Armenie, le choix n’etait pas facile. Au total 13
projets de qualite ont ete proposes et 4 retenus :

” Un Hiver au Chaud pour les Enfants ” : l’installation du système de
chauffage pour l’ecole maternelle de Gyumri Ardzakang afin d’ameliorer
les conditions d’apprentissage de 228 enfants.

” Soutien aux familles des enfants avec autisme ” : la formation
d’environ 70 parents sur la methode PECS pour aider les enfants a
mieux communiquer

” Soutien aux familles des personnes avec Handicap ” : un programme
de formation professionnelle pour des personnes avec handicap

” Bonjour le Monde ” : des ateliers d’orientation professionnelle
pour des jeunes lyceens par des jeunes volontaires internationaux

L’annee 2012 sera bien chargee avec très prochainement le lancement
du deuxième appel a projets interne. Suivront ensuite le projet de
formation des jeunes femmes entrepreneuses et la mise en place d’une
cooperative agricole pour herbes medicinales au nord du pays.

Rendez-vous est pris le deuxième anniversaire.

?post/2012/04/20/La-Fondation-Orange-Arm%C3%A9nie-f%C3%AAte-un-an-d%E2%80%99activit%C3%A9s

mardi 15 mai 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

——————————————————————————–
Vladimir Ohanyan, parrain du projet formation professionnelle
pour personnes avec handicap, Nazareth Seferian, responsable de la
Fondation, Artush Martirosyan, parrain du projet ecole maternelle, Mary
Lisa Durban, Fondation Orange du Groupe, Arthur Pokrikyan et Yelena
Mardoyan, les parrains du projet Hello World, projet de sessions
d’orientation professionnelle pour des jeunes et Anna Sedrakyan,
marraine du projet de formation a l’outil PECS pour des familles
d’enfants autistes.

——————————————————————————–

From: A. Papazian

POLITICIAN: REPUBLICANS ARE UNABLE TO RULE ARMENIA

arminfo
Monday, May 14, 19:00

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia is unable to rule the country.

This is the main reason of hard social and economic situation in the
country, representative of the Free Democrats party, Anush Sedrakyan,
said at today’s press-conference.

“The RPA has managed to get majority through fraud and bribery. For
this reason, the Republicans are unable to rule the country and will
lead it to an extremely hard situation, if there may be the situation
worse than the present one”, – she said. Sedrakyan also added that
if the opposition and Prosperous Armenia Party unite, which is hardly
possible, the Republicans will be forced to surrender their monopolist
positions. Sedrakyan assessed the past parliamentary election like
a step forward, as no ballot stuffing or ballot-box stealing was fixed.

From: A. Papazian

IF AN UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS PROPOSED, RESIDENTS OF KARABAKH WILL HAVE THEIR SAY ON IT

arminfo
Monday, May 14, 22:10

It is necessary to confess that the situation on the contact line
does not only fail to become steady, but is also getting more and
more dangerous with every passing year. Azerbaijan says that if the
problem is not resolved the way it wants, it will give a military
solution to the problem. However, one should not underestimate the NKR
Defense Army. The recent military parade in Stepanakert demonstrated
the opportunities of the Defense Army, Vahram Atanesyan, Chairman of
the NKR Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, said on
the Public Television of the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic.

ArmInfo’s own correspondent in Stepanakert reports that Atanesyan
thinks the ceasefire agreement is an international agreement, under
which the parties have equal rights and commitments. “Resumption of
war should not be considered as Baku’s monopoly. If an unacceptable
solution to the problem is proposed to official Stepanakert, the
residents of Karabakh will have their say on it”, said Atanesyan.

As regards the investigation of the incidents on the line of contact of
the NKR and Azeri armed forces, Atanesyan said that it is impossible
to conduct any investigation in the current atmosphere of distrust
between the conflicting parties.

According to the NKR Defense Army’s data, from May 2011 to 12 May
2012 Azerbaijan breached the ceasefire for 13,700 times by firing
nearly 68,000 shots at the positions of Karabakh.

From: A. Papazian

MATERIALS BEING PREPARED ON THE PLACEMENT OF CAMERA IN BALLOT BOOTH

HETQ
19:48, May 14, 2012

On 11 May, the 34/20 precinct commission chairman A. Hovhannisyan
reported that on 6 May, at 08:00 a.m., the representative of Kentron
TV H. Sargsyan had entered 34/20 precinct and tried to place a camera
near the ballot booth and to violate the secrecy of voting.

Prosecutor General’s Office of RoA reports that the Prosecutor of
Shirak region tasked Gyumri Investigation Division of the Police to
prepare materials.

From: A. Papazian

KUWAIT INTENDS TO REALIZE CHARITABLE PROJECTS IN ARMENIA – SHEIKHA AL-SABAH

news.am
May 14, 2012 | 18:56

YEREVAN. – Armenian Deputy PM, head of Armenian – Kuwait
Inter-parliamentary commission Armen Gevorgyan received on Monday H.
H. Sheikha Fariha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait
Association for The Ideal Family.

Armen Gevorgyan told the guest that Armenia attaches great importance
to deepening of relations with Kuwait, Ministry of Territorial
Administration informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Sheikha shared the impressions she received in Armenia. She also
touched upon the intention of realizing volunteer work in Armenia.

‘Ideal mother’ is implementing charity projects not only in Kuwait but
also in foreign countries. The organization supports women, children,
elderly people and disabled people in need.

From: A. Papazian

S. FLORIDA COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES GENOCIDE

Armenian Weekly
May 14, 2012

BOCA RATON, Fla.-On April 24, to 300 members of the local
community gathered at the Armenian Community Centre of Boca Raton
in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The event was
organized by St. Mary and St. David Armenian Apostolic Churches,
the Armenian National Committee of Florida, the Armenian Assembly of
America, and the Knights of Vartan Hayasdan Lodge.

Genocide commemoration in S. Florida The crowd sang the American and
the Armenian anthems, respectively.

Very Rev. Dr. Nareg Berberian and Father Vartan Joulfayan officiated
a requiem service in memory of the 1.5 million Armenian victims who
fell during the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks.

The master of ceremonies, Shant Norsigian, the grandson of a genocide
survivor himself, welcomed the attendees to the 97th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, and together observed a moment of silence in
memory of the victims.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Antranig Kasbarian, began his speech with
a short introduction of the genocide and focused on Turkish-Armenian
relations, Turkey’s political strategy vis-a-vis the genocide, and its
impact on Armenians in Armenia, Turkey, and the diaspora. Kasbarian
conveyed the importance of unity among Armenians in the process
of genocide recognition and the urgency of demand for reparations
from Turkey.

The keynote speech was followed by the screening of the documentary
film “Orphans of the Genocide” by Bared Maronian. The film is an
Emmy-nominated documentary telling the story of the hundreds of
thousands of orphans forgotten in the pages of history.

Four students from St. Davis Armenian Church School-Kaliana Maronian,
David Sarkisyan, Rita Vartanian, and Joy Mikael-recited poems in
Armenian dedicated to the genocide. Natalie Mazmanian from Seminole
Ridge High School of West Palm Beach delivered a message to the youth
about their undivided commitment to Armenian heritage. Alik Mazmanian
of Boca Raton performed the traditional Armenian song “Sareri Hovin
Mernem.” The Arevig Dance group of the local Armenian Relief Society
chapter dedicated a special dance in memory of the genocide victims.

Sage McBride from St. Mary’s Armenian Church of Florida performed
“Groung” (Crane) by Gomidas on violin.

From: A. Papazian

INTERESTING FACTS OF ARMENIAN MILITARY PARADE IN KHANKENDI

APA
May 14 2012
Azerbaijan

Armenian newspapers and other sources bring the reports on Armenian
military parade held in Khankendi on May 9 to light disclosing the
parade show.

According to those sources, the separatist regime faced with personnel
problems while organizing the so-called parade and involved the
demobilized civilians paying first $450 and then $380 to them. But
some people were not paid and when they protested it the regime
promised to solve the problem soon.

The photos showed that young civilians participated in the parade
instead of the servicemen. The shirts worn under the uniforms and
shoes unmasked them.

According to the last statistics given by the Armenians, more than
one million people left Armenia in the past 4-5 years creating human
resources problem for the army. Armenian leadership can not complete
ordinary military unit and another serious problem for them is related
to Nagorno Karabakh. There are no more civilians in Nagorno Karabakh
and just military servicemen could be seen everywhere. The separatist
regime claimed that military equipments and armaments demonstrated in
the parade belonged to them. But outside authors and other Armenian
sources said this report was wrong. UAZ, S-125 missile, KRUG missiles,
Mercedes ML, Nissan Patrol, KamAZ, D-30, antiaircraft missile system,
Mi 8 helicopters were brought from Armenia and then used in the parade.

The military equipments, vehicles and arms demonstrated in Yerevan
parade on September 21, 2011 then were brought to Nagorno Karabakh
and used in Khankendi parade on May 9, 2012. They made same cosmetic
changes on vehicles and then demonstrated it.

13 helicopters were brought from Armenia, but 10 of them were
demonstrated in the parade. Three others were out of order probably.

The white car carried the “general” in Khankendi parade was used by
Armenian defense minister Seyran Ohanyan on September 21, 2011 when
he reviewed troops in Yerevan.

Former militant Jirayr Safliyan, who takes opposite position against
Sargsyan and leaders of separatist regime now, refused to participate
in this parade because of above-mentioned issues. He said all Armenian
army is protecting the current regime, but not the country and people.

According to him, the Armenian defense ministry has no exact program
and in case of attack, Armenian army can rely only on Russia and it
is an intellectual servitude. Safliyan said it was delusion to speak
about the combat readiness of the army.

The Armenia’s measures to find a way out give boomerang effect and
work against itself.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AFTER ELECTIONS
By Susanna Petrosyan

Vestnik Kavkaza
May 14 2012
Russia

The recent elections to the Armenian Parliament resulted in
radical changes within the parliament’s structure. First of all,
now the radical opposition, the Armenian National Congress (ANC),
is present there. Among the MPs from other parties, including the
ruling Republican Party and the ‘Prosperous Armenia’ coalition the
number of professional political experts increased considerably.

According to the speaker of the former parliament, Samvel Nikoyan,
the new parliament’s composition gives an opportunity for creating
a powerful opposition coalition. Political experts say that the new
parliament will be less inert, however, there are still some questions
to be answered.

The ruling party got 69 of 131 mandates, and the coalition party ‘Land
of law’ got 6. Experts predict that despite the big number of mandates
the Republican Party got it will still create a new coalition with
its most devoted ally – the ‘Land of law’. Experts also say that the
latter will get 2 or 3 minister’s portfolios and that its head, Arthur
Bagdasaryan will retain his position as the Secretary of Defense.

One could also foresee active cooperation between the two opposition
parties – the ANC and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).

The ANC got 7,1% of the votes thus obtaining 7 mandates. Some say that
those who are disappointed in such an outcome have already started
to leave the opposition coalition. For example, Aram Sarksyan ,
the head of the ‘Res publica’ party, which is the third in the ANC
proportional list, has already given up his mandated and promulgated
his disagreement with the ANC position on a number of issues. Moreover,
the head of the ANC, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, also gave up
his mandate as he didn’t want to head such a small political fraction.

However, he stressed that it does not mean that he gives up his
political strife.

Officially the ANC was defeated on these elections, but in fact the
very fact of entering the parliament for a Congress that used to be a
‘street opposition’ is an achievement.

The most interesting post-election intrigue, however, was that of the
‘Prosperous Armenia’ party that got 36 parliamentary seats. Would
it enter the ruling coalition? The only scenario in which the ruling
party would offer such a coalition to the ‘Prosperous Armenia’ is if
the leader of the latter, Gagik Tsukeryan, supports Serge Sarksyan
as the presidential candidate in 2013. If the ‘Prosperous Armenia’
won’t become a part of the ruling coalitions its members-ministers
might loose their positions in the government.

However, according the ‘Prosperous Armenia’ chairperson Vague
Ovannisyan his party does not need such a coalition and, moreover, it
would come in conflict with political ethics. The ruling party itself
hasn’t yet made the final decision on this issue. If the ‘Prosperous
Armenia’ which got some 450,000 votes, enters the coalition, it would
get new offices in the central and regional government, thus gaining
access to administrative resources. On the other hand, a lot of people
voted for the party seeing in it the only viable alternative to the
ruling party, and it is obvious that the party’s electorate doesn’t
see the two parties (the PPA and the RPA) getting together again. So
the coalition might ruin the PPA’s electoral support.

If the ‘Prosperous Armenia’ does not join the ruling coalition it
de facto becomes an opposition party, so it will have to cooperate
with the ANC and the ARF. However, the major part of the ‘Prosperous
Armenia’ MPs have never been in the opposition before and it is yet
unclear whether they are ready for that. The opinions of compitent
experts on whether the PPA would join the ruling coalition or the
opposition differ.

The PPA’s position is the key issue for the future of the Armenian
politics. And it is most likely that the final decision will be taken
personally by the party’s leader.

From: A. Papazian

Tribune de Genève, Suisse
12 mai 2012

Charles Aznavour quitte Genève pour Saint-Sulpice

Par Jérôme Ducret. Mis à jour le 11.05.2012 17

Le chanteur a racheté une parcelle de terrain avec une villa à
quelques centaines de mètres du bord du lac.

Charles Aznavour devrait venir s’installer à St-Sulpice, indique ce
matin le quotidien 24 heures sur son site internet. Le chanteur
français a racheté une villa proche du lac ainsi qu’une parcelle de
terrain. Les travaux de rénovation sont en cours.

La construction d’une piscine et d’une deuxième villa sont aussi au
menu des travaux pour le mois de juin.

Un de ses proches amis, contacté par la Tribune de Genève, confirme
l’information. Selon cette source, c’est l’épouse de l’artiste qui
fait aménager la maison.

On ignore pour l’heure quand le chanteur arrivera dans le canton de
Vaud. L’un de ses fils, qui travaille actuellement à l’EPFL, habite
déjà la commune de St-Sulpice.

Ambassadeur d’Arménie installé dans le canton de Genève, Charles
Aznavour était le mois dernier en tournée américaine. Il fêtera dans
quelques jours ses 88 ans.

From: A. Papazian