Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIA-EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT TALKS TO LAUNCH EARLY 2012

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 27, 2011 – 13:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – In the early 2012, Armenia will launch comprehensive
free trade agreement negotiations with the EU, the Economy Minister
stated.As Tigran Davtyan told Dec 27 news conference in Yerevan, the
agreement will provide Armenian entrepreneurs with free entrance to
EU markets.

At news conference, the minister characterized the year 2011 as
important in terms of expansion of international cooperation.

“In 2011, Armenia and EU agreed on 20 provisions of the Association
Agreement, with active preparations for the launch of free trade
agreement talks in progress,” the Minister concluded.

KUWAIT”S FIRST ENVOY TO ARMENIA PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT

Kuwait News Agency

Dec 28 2011

Sargsyan YEREVAN, Dec 27 (KUNA ) — The newly appointed Kuwaiti
Ambassador to Armenia Basam Muhammed al-Qabandi Tuesday presented
his credentials to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Sargsyan congratulated the Kuwaiti diplomat on his appointment
and praised Armenian-Kuwaiti ties, according to a Kuwaiti embassay
statement here.

Al-Qabandi conveyed to the Armenian President the greetings of His
Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,
His Highness the Crown Prince and His Higness the Prime Minister
wishing him good health and happiness and for the Armenian people
further progress and prosperity.

In his turn, the Armenian President conveyed his greetings to His
Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness
the Prime Minister and the Kuwaiti people wishing the friendly State
of Kuwait further progress under the wise leadership.

Al-Qabandi praised Armenia’s firm position towards the issues of the
State of Kuwait and stressed the depth of bilateral relations between
the two countries.

The Armenian leader emphasized that Armenia has attached high
importance to developing relations with the Araian Gulf nations. The
opening of Armenia’s Embassy in Kuwait and Kuwait’s Embassy in
Armenia is evidence of the nations’ mutual desire for comprehensive
development of bilateral relations. Attending the credentials
presentation ceremony were a number of senior officials of the
Armenian government in addition to members of the Embassy of the
State of Kuwait to the Republic of Armenia including Third Secretary
Khaled Walid Al Zeer, diplomatic attaches Abdul Rahman Saleh Radi
and Abdullah Fawzi Al-Ghanim.

Ambassador al-Qabandi met Monday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, to whom he handed a
copy of the credentials.

Al-Qabandi was the Counsellor in Kuwait’s embassy in Brussels before
his appointment as ambassador to Armenia. (end) nk.mt KUNA 272316
Dec 11NNNN

CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS HONORED BY CITY OF YEREVAN

Published: Tuesday December 27, 2011 in Cafesjian Center for the Arts

Cafesjian Center for the Arts. Deutsche Welle

Yerevan – The Cafesjian Center for the Arts was among three Yerevan
museums to be honored with a Certificate of Gratitude on December 26.

During a ceremony hosted by Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan, CCA was
recognized for “efficient operations and creative success.” CCA’s
acting director Vahagn Marabyan received the honor on behalf of the
Center. The History Museum and the Sylva Kaputikyan House-Museum were
similarly recognized.

Situated at Yerevan’s Cascade CCA opened its doors in November 2009
through the efforts of Armenian American philanthropist and art
collector Gerard L. Cafesjian (who is also the publisher of The
Armenian Reporter).

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is one of Yerevan’s principal
attractions, serving as a leading venue for art exhibits, as well as
official events featuring visiting heads of state and senior officials
and public programs.

Comprising interior exhibit and events space along with outdoor
sculpture garden, the center enjoyed about a million visits in its
first year of operation.

For more information on the Cafesjian Center visit

FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY`S BILL CAUSES DISCONTENT IN THIS COUNTRY

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
December 26, 2011 Monday

A bill on criminalizing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide
adopted by the Lower Chamber of the French Senate caused a discontent
in this country.

Former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin said France
has no right to give a lesson to anybody. He stressed the law must
be based on the historical facts rather than the memory. The former
minister of justice Robert Badinter said the decision of the National
Assembly contradicts French Constitution adding the law has been
passed in the light of 2012 Presidential elections.

The Parliament has no right to express opinion on the history of any
country, especially the territory of which is far from France. This
bill undermines prestige of France, which passed a law on human rights
in 1789.

The French public express its confidence the bill, which is to cause
a serious damage to relations with Turkey, will not be brought for
Senate`s discussion.

The leading newspapers of France such as Le Figaro, La Monde,
L`express, published articles on National Assembly`s bill. La Monde
newspaper says this bill was adopted by the deputies, who support
Armenians, and any law must be based on the historical facts rather
than the memory. -0-IB/OM

DAVUTOGLU SAYS 21ST CENTURY WILL BE THE CENTURY OF TURKIC-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Today’s Zaman

Dec 27 2011
Turkey

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday in Ankara the 21st
century will be the century of Turkic-speaking countries as Turkey
signed an agreement with the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking
States to be the council’s host country during the fourth-annual
Ambassadors Conference.

Davutoglu said the council, which was formed in 2010, has aimed to
boost economic and diplomatic cooperation between Turkic states and
will be enlarged by the inclusion of other Turkic states. It currently
has only four members: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey,
the largest member.

The council’s main objectives are to boost economic cooperation between
member states, improve mutual cooperation in culture and tourism and
preserve the cultural and historic assets of the Turkic world.

Davutoglu pointed out that the Turkic states [in Central Asia] are
now self-reliant and have made remarkable progress in economic and
political fields in the 20 years following their independence after
the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

“I hope the 21st century will be the century of Turkic-speaking
countries,” Davutoglu said.

The council’s secretary, General Halil Akıncı, said the agreement
[forming the council], which was signed in October 2009, envisaged
that the Council’s headquarters would be located in Istanbul, and the
Council’s secretariat general would begin operating in November 2010.

“With the we signed today, the legal infrastructure is completed
regarding the status and operations of the secretariat general,”
noted Akıncı.

Ä°stanbul appears to be a new global center Noting that the
headquarters of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States would
be located in Istanbul under the agreement, Davutoglu said they want
to make Ä°stanbul the center of international organizations. Turkey
wants to cast Ä°stanbul as a global diplomatic center, a UN city,
the minister noted.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement
with the Ä°stanbul Metropolitan Municipality for close cooperation
as Ä°stanbul appears to be a new center of economic and diplomatic
relations in the global scene.

Ä°stanbul will be a financial center, positioning it as the main
station for the global economic network and transportation routes,
Davutoglu said. Another major goal is to make Ä°stanbul a center of
cultural and intellectual activity as the city has had an astonishing
history, he added.

By signing the agreement for close cooperation with the municipality,
he noted that the ministry aims to bulk up its presence with various
diplomatic activities in the city. He said municipality officials
will receive diplomatic training as millions of tourists annually
visit the historic city, which also hosts hundreds of international
conferences on diplomatic or economic affairs.

In return, diplomats will take courses on city culture and the history
of Ä°stanbul from historians who work as experts and advisors at
the municipality.

Speaking at the fourth-annual Ambassadors Conference, Deputy Prime
Minister Ali Babacan strenuously dismissed the populist criticism
of the EU in Turkey by saying that the EU criteria on the political
system, institutions and judicial system is still significant although
relations sometimes deteriorated due to political disputes in some
areas.

Making a presentation to ambassadors titled “The Economic Crisis
in the EU, Its Possible Political Implications and Turkey,” he said
the EU accession process would not be taken hostage by populism in
Turkey, pointing to the significance of the union for consolidation
of democracy in the country.

According to Babacan, the recent legislation in France which makes
the denial of an alleged Armenian genocide a crime punishable by a
one-year prison sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros was a fatal blow
to freedom of expression, which is seen as one of the fundamental
principles of the EU.

On the other hand, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Adana
deputy and former ambassador Faruk Logoglu vehemently criticized the
government for manipulating the Ambassadors Conference for political
purposes and to the vision of Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

Serbian foreign minister urges cooperation in Balkans Upon Davutoglu’s
invitation, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Vuc Jeremic addressed the
Turkish ambassadors at home and abroad at the fourth edition of
the Ambassadors Conference on Sunday. He said Serbia was ready to
cooperate with Turkey to work for peace and stability in the Balkans,
expressing a willingness to extend support for the settlement of the
region’s problems.

Jeremic discussed the Arab Spring and popular uprisings in the region
as well as relations with regional bodies in Sunday’s session, which
was closed to the news media, diplomatic sources said.

MINISTER WELCOMES FRENCH FIRMS

Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 27 2011
Turkey

Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said Turkey welcomes French firms’
investment in Turkey and there is no embargo or limiting in the
trade between the two countries. “All investors who have trusted our
country are welcomed here. New French investors are also welcome in
Turkey,” Anatolia news agency quoted Caglayan as saying. The French
firms already working in Turkey are considered as Turkish companies,
he added. Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gul was set to meet
Turkey’s ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoglu late yesterday which
was closed to the press.

The recent resolution penalizing the denial of Armenian “genocide”
approved by the French National Assembly on Dec. 22 was attacked by
computer hackers yesterday. Websites of French National Assembly,
French senate and French MP Valerie Boyer, author of the resolution
on Armenian genocide allegations, were each infiltrated by a Turkish
hacker group, daily Hurriyet reported. A message, appeared on the
websites, accused France of being insincere and removed later.

ISRAEL OPPOSES “GENOCIDE” TALKS

Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 27 2011
Turkey

The events of 1915 should not be a political topic in Knesset, the
Israeli Foreign Ministry said, reiterating the country’s previous
position over Armenian allegations, an Israeli official told Hurriyet
Daily News yesterday.

“While the state of Israel believes the incidents related to the
1915 Turkish-Armenian tragic incidents should be debated, it is
also the viewpoint of Israel that such a debate should be done in
an open forum, an academic atmosphere, based on facts and research,”
a statement from the Israeli Embassy to Turkey said yesterday.

“It is not the position of the State of Israel that any such research
be assisted by political discourse,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry had presented its position that “this was indeed
a topic for historic discussion and not a political one,” Nizar Amer,
spokesperson of the Israeli Embassy to Turkey, told Hurriyet Daily
News yesterday.

Elaborating on the Knesset session held yesterday, Amer said,
“As was in previous years, the Knesset’s Educational Committee held
a discussion regarding the educational representation of the 1915
Turkish-Armenian events. The committee had adjourned with no vote
taken, and the decision [was made] to reconvene at a future date for
further study of the issue.”

The Israeli government and the Knesset agreed the discussion would
be held not in the plenum but in a Knesset committee. For many
years, Israel’s government has opposed recognition of 1915 events as
genocide. So far, Armenian allegations have been debated many times
by closed sessions of the Knesset committees.

CORRUPTION INDEX 2011 FROM TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL: FIND OUT HOW COUNTRIES COMPARE

ansparency-international

File photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang Corruption
index 2011 from Transparency International: North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il’s country is seen as the most corrupt in the world.

Corruption around the world remains a deeply entrenched, global
concern according to Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption
Perceptions Index (CPI) – the world’s most credible measure of of
domestic, public sector corruption.

This year, two thirds of countries covered by the index were given
scores less than 5 – which means they are considered significantly
corrupt.

The CPI scores countries on a scale of zero to 10, with zero indicating
high levels of corruption and 10, low levels. And the most corrupt
places in the world are not the most surprising. Unstable governments,
often with a legacy of conflict, continue to dominate the bottom
rungs of the CPI. Afghanistan and Myanmar share second to last place
with a score of 1.5, with Somalia and North Korea – measured for the
first time – coming in last with a score of 1.

World corruption index interactive map World corruption index
interactive map. Click image to explore it

The world’s most peaceful countries score the best. In the 2011 CPI,
New Zealand is top with a score of 9.5, followed by Denmark, Finland,
Sweden and Singapore.

Four countries and territories besides North Korea are included for
the first time: the Bahamas, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,
and Suriname.

Transparency International (TI) chair Huguette Labelle says corruption
remains a major global issue, highlighted by widespread demonstrations
in 2011: “This year we have seen corruption on protestor’s banners be
they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab
world starting a new political era, leaders must head the demands
for better government.”

Wealth seems no easy antidote to corruption: some relatively rich
countries, including Russia, fall at the bottom of the global league
table. Meanwhile, some of the world’s poorer states do comparatively
well: Botswana, Bhutan, Cape Verde, and Rwanda all appear among the 50
“cleanest” countries.

While the index has been published annually since 1995, TI warns
against comparing scores over time, as sources for the index change
each year. However, the Berlin-based NGO notes that two general
trends pop out regardless: Arab Spring countries, and many Eurozone
countries – particularly those affected by the financial crisis –
are doing worse and worse.

Most Arab Spring countries rank in the lower half of the index,
with scores below 4. Many of the lowest-scoring European countries
are those hardest hit by the financial and debt crises – including
Greece and Italy.

The UK ranks 16th, along with Austria and the Barbados, and just
ahead of Belgium and Ireland. The US ranks 24th.

The Index, which is closely watched by investors, economists, and
civil society campaigners, is based on expert assessments and data
from 17 surveys from 13 independent institutions, covering issues such
as access to information, bribery of public officials, kickbacks in
public procurement, and the enforcement of anti-corruption laws.

While critics note that measuring perceptions of corruption is not the
same as measuring corruption itself, the latter is almost impossible
to do – as the corrupt are usually keen to cover up their tracks,
hard data on graft and bribery is notoriously difficult to come by.

We’ve got the full data below. What can you do with it?

DATA SUMMARY

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL WORLD CORRUPTION INDEX (1=LEAST CORRUPT)

Click heading to sort table. Download this data

2011 rank Country / Territory CPI 2011 Score CPI 2010 Score CPI 2009
Score CPI 2008 Score

SOURCE: Transparency International

“SERZH SARGSYAN’S DOESN’T TRUST THE SIS”

06:02 pm | Today | Politics

“They can reveal the ten murders in a just a couple of months. That
is, of course, if they have the desire,” says Robert Baghdasaryan,
father of one of the victims of March 1 Samvel Harutyunyan.

The families of the victims are very offended by the report released
by the Special Investigative Service regarding the events of 1-2
March 2008, particularly the part related to the ten murders.

“They’re playing with us. If they say they know who the four police
officers that applied the “Cheryomukha-7″ device and in which
direction they shot, let them interrogate those police officers in
their ways. Why aren’t they interrogating and punishing them?”

Baghdasaryan said and assured that everyone knows why.

After getting acquainted with the report released by the SIS,
Gor Kloyan’s father, Sargis Kloyan said: “They called our children
criminals, but that doesn’t correspond to reality.”

Sargis Kloyan claims that he was with his son near Myasnikyan Statue
on March 1. “When they sprayed the gas, everyone got confused and
I lost my son. My son was shot half an hour ago. The authorities
presented a false report. The person who wrote the report wasn’t at
the scene of the incident on March 1, but I was and I have told the
SIS who shot my son.”

Sargis Kloyan claims that the SIS has only been concealing the ten
murders throughout the past four years. “Serzh Sargsyan is also
discontent with the SIS’s work, not to mention us. They killed our
children. How can they reveal that?”

According to Alla Hovhannisyan, mother of Tigran Khachatryan, the SIS
is intentionally falsifying the hours that her son was murdered. “By
doing that, it is trying to show that my son had stayed at the site
of the disturbances longer. The hour that my son was there was fixed
in the phone that was returned to me.”

Alla Hovhannisyan says the SIS hasn’t set the objective of
revealing the murders, but “present our sons as useless, inactive
and criminals “My son had a taxi service, but it is mentioned that he
was unemployed. They are trying to present Gor Kloyan in the same way.

This means that even after four years, the Armenian authorities still
don’t feel bad about killing innocent citizens and still continue
to present the innocent victims as bad people just because they
participated in the opposition’s rallies. I have become convinced
that the current head of the March 1 investigative group is worse
than Vahagn Harutyunyan.”

ISRAEL ENVISAGE DE RECONNAITRE LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Le Matin

26 dec 2011
France

Une commission parlementaire israelienne examinait lundi matin un
texte qui reconnaitrait le genocide armenien. Une telle mesure devrait
aggraver les tensions deja fortes avec la Turquie.

La commission israelienne de l’Education discute d’une proposition
de loi faisant du 24 avril, date du debut des executions en masse
d’Armeniens en 1915, une journee de commemoration du “massacre du
peuple armenien”.

Le Parlement avait rejete une proposition similaire en 2007, quand
Israël et la Turquie entretenaient des liens etroits. Mais les
relations se sont tendues depuis que la marine israelienne a tue
neuf Turcs en mai 2010 lors de l’arraisonnement d’une flottille qui
tentait de briser le blocus de Gaza.

En octobre, la Turquie a expulse l’ambassadeur israelien a Ankara et
rompu ses contrats militaires et de defense avec Israël. “Cela fait des
annees que nous travaillons” sur ce projet de journee commemorative,
a declare Georgette Avakian, membre du Comite national armenien a
Jerusalem, a la radio publique. “Nous esperons que le temps est venu”.

“Pendant des annees, le gouvernement israelien a refuse de reconnaître
le genocide pour des raisons cyniques, strategiques et economiques,
liees a ses relations avec la Turquie”, a regrette Zahava Gal-On, une
depute du parti de gauche Meretz qui soutient la proposition de loi.

“Pas pour regler des comptes”

Mais le president de la Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, a estime a l’ouverture
de la reunion que la question n’etait pas politique. “La question
n’a pas ete soulevee a cause de ce qui s’est passe entre Israël et
la Turquie, nous ne voulons pas exploiter une situation politique
pour regler des comptes”, a-t-il assure.

Le massacre de centaines de milliers d’Armeniens en 1915 – 1,5 million
selon les Armeniens -, a ete reconnu en 1985 comme un genocide
par l’ONU. Mais la Turquie rejette fermement cette qualification,
evoquant des morts dans les combats et les deportations, mais pas
une volonte d’extermination.

La semaine dernière, Ankara a vivement reagi a l’adoption par
l’Assemblee nationale francaise d’une proposition de loi penalisant la
contestation d’un genocide. Le Parlement francais avait deja reconnu le
genocide armenien. Ankara a annonce un gel de sa cooperation militaire
avec la France, rappele son ambassadeur a Paris et accuse a son tour
la France de genocide en Algerie.