Author: Babajanian Karo

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN’S ADDRESS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 22:30:26 – 25/11/2011

Addressing the rally on November 25, the leader of the Armenian
National Congress Levon Ter-Petrosyan commented on the recent
government reshuffle. He thinks its aim is to ensure the monolith
of the government. In addition, Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that they
are either punished for their attempt to play their own game or they
violated the criminal rules, or did not want to share their profits.

In addition, Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that this is evidence to total
split in the government.

He pointed out the elected bodies and the resignation of the speaker
and the mayor of Yerevan. The leader of the opposition noted that
in three years three speakers were replaced and in two years three
mayors were replaced. It means that these positions are not elected,
they are appointed and have become effigies which will be thrown away
at any time. In the institutional aspect, this is a real catastrophe,
Levon Ter-Petrosyan said. The parliament which has become an appendix
of the president administration is the main systemic vice.

In addition, he says, scandalous resignations weaken the system because
they join those resentful against the government. Levon Ter-Petrosyan
says there will be further resignations.

The second sign of weakness of the government is the controversies
inside the coalition, namely between the Republicans and the Bargavach
Hayastan Party, says Levon Ter-Petrosyan referring to the recent
mayoral election in Ijevan. In addition, he says the political bodies
did not make a decision to support the candidate of the Bargavach
Hayastan Party, but even if someone dealt with it, it is welcome.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that his personal opinion is that the
conflict between these parties is already a fait accompli. The first
president of Armenia notes that Bargavach Hayastan is the third force
which is centrist. He noted that this party may again pledge loyalty
to the coalition which will be reflected in its rating but its rating
will be annihilated if the party does not refuse the patronage of
Robert Kocharyan and will not avoid responsibility for March 1.

The first president says he does not know how far the controversies
inside the coalition will get but if the BHP is really committed to
fair elections, the Congress will need to think about cooperation
except for the joint party ticket. He believes that the BHP and the
ANC can change the alignment of forces and guarantee restoration of
the Constitutional order. Levon Ter-Petrosyan announced that this is
not a proposal of cooperation but an issue to discuss, especially
that there were no contagions between the two parties. Although he
did not rule out such cooperation with this criminal and oligarchic
party for the sake of ending the dictatorship.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that the main problem of the country
is corruption and not the oligarchs. He notes that the government
intentionally directs hatred at the oligarchs to distract attention
from its crimes. The property robbed by the government officials must
be returned to people. As to oligarchs and businesses in general,
they must simply be made to pay taxes.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan says the Congress will be committed to the snap
elections because now there is even more chance to achieve this goal.

If this goal is not achieved, however, we will have to run in the
next scheduled elections.

The leader of the Congress listed the steps which the government was
forced to take under the Congress~R pressure, as well as the change
of the attitude of the international community. The Congress was able
to raise civil consciousness. And the reshuffle is also an indirect
result of the factor of the Congress.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that the months of February and March will
be the apogee of the Congress and the popular movement. The next
rally will be in February.

THE IMPORT OF BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS TO BE DUTY-FREE

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
YEREVAN

The bill intending changes in RA Customs Code does not pursue a goal
of defining customs duty in case of import of books and publications,
Armenian Finance Ministry states in answer to the question that
the representatives of the sphere of book publishing alarm that 10$
customs duty is intended to define from 2012 for the books and press
to be imported to the Republic of Armenia.

“No customs duty will be applied in case of import of these products
to Armenia,” the statement runs. The Ministry clarifies that the bill
intending changes in RA Customs Code has a goal to apply customs duty
particularly in case of import of product catalogues, advertising
materials, postcards and other products.

Attaching importance to the fact, that the formulations found in the
bill intending changes in RA Customs Code give way to misunderstanding,
the ministry promises to reconsider them.

LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN: ANC SHOULD COOPERATE WITH PROSPEROUS ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 25, 2011 – 19:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – At November 25 rally Armenian National Congress (ANC)
opposition bloc leader Levon Ter-Petrossian noted that ANC will step up
cooperation with Prosperous Armenia if the latter leaves the coalition.

In his speech Ter-Petrossian dwelled on serious discrepancies between
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and Prosperous Armenia and formation
of a third political force in Armenian authorities.

ANC ADOPTS DECLARATION CLAIMING RA PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 25, 2011 – 19:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – At November 25 rally ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan
read out a declaration on political and legal reasons for Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation. The latter was unanimously
adopted by demonstrators.

According to Zurabyan, 9-point declaration will foster unification
of citizens’ political forces backing President Sargyan’s resignation.

The declaration implies that Serzh Sargsyan has committed serious
crimes serving a reason for his resignation under RA Constitution.

Zurabyan pointed out violation of Election Code during 2008 elections,
election forgery and use of administrative and criminal-oligarchic
resources.

Zurabyan even noted violation of powers particularly the judicial
branch aimed at persecution of ANC activists during Sargsyan’s
presidency.

IN ITS REPORT “ZARUBEZH-EXPO” CALLED THE LEADER OF PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY – A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA

arminfo
Friday, November 25, 16:51

In its official report on holding of the forth Russian-Armenian
industrial exhibition “Expo-Russia Armenian 2011” the leadership of
“Zarubezh-Expo” called the leader of Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik
Tsarukyan, a candidate for president of Armenia.

Although the presidential election will be held in 2013 in Armenia,
the leadership of the organization, who knows why, decided to touch
on this situation in its official report, which says, in particular:
“The ceremony of the official opening of the exhibition “EXPO-RUSSIA
ARMENIA 2011 took place in the Government House of Armenia.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russian Federation to
Armenia, V.E.Kovalenko, the leader of the organizational committee
D.R.Vartanova, co-chair of the organizational committee, candidate
for president of Armenia, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party,
G.N.Tsarukyan, trade representative of Russia to Armenia, A.V.Zaytsev,
ministers, members of parliament and representatives of business
circles and Armenian community took part in the event”.

Asked by Arminfo correspondent, an employee of “Zarubezh-Expo” did
not manage to comment on such wording in the report and asked to call
next week. To recall, the exhibition was held from 3 to 5 November
of the current year.

NECESSARY TO DEVELOP INDUSTRY BEFORE OPENING OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
25.11.2011 17:22

It’s necessary to develop industry in Armenia and ensure the economic
security of the country before opening of the Armenian-Turkish border,
PhD in Economy Grigor Hayrapetyan says. He has studied the possible
influence of the opening of the border on Armenia’s economy.

If the border opens, Armenia will export mostly consumption and
industrial goods, Grigor Hayrapetyan said, adding that the goods must
first be produced.

Today Armenian exports to Turkey total $1.5 billion, which comprises
just 1% of commodity turnover between Armenia and Turkey. Free economic
relations with Turkey will increase the exports with $50 mln.

However, aside from benefits, opening of the border will bring about
certain dangers. Turkey has introduced a ban on Armenian agricultural
and textile goods. Grigor Hayrapetyan says should the border open,
Armenia will also have to introduce similar economic restrictions.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recognize the
agreement signed during the recent Armenian-Turkish economic forum
in Yerevan. According to the economist, business interests do not
always fit with state policy.

POMEGRANATE FILM FEST TO BE HELD IN TORONTO DEC. 1-4

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 25, 2011 – 16:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The 6th annual Pomegranate Film Festival presented
by Hamazkayin will be held on the December 1-4, showcasing a wide
selection of films, including thought-provoking documentaries, shorts
and feature-length films.

The jury will include: Silva Basmajian, Norayr Kaspar, and Arsinee
Khanjian. Basmajian is currently the Executive Producer for the
National Film Board of Canada, and has successfully overseen the
production of numerous innovative films. Kaspar is an award-winning
cinematographer, who has traveled across the globe capturing scenic
locales. The captivating actress and producer, Arsinee Khanjian,
comes to POM VI as a seasoned jury member, having previously served
as part of Armenia~Rs Golden Apricot Festival among others.

Feature film highlights of POM VI include the much anticipated
Snows of Kilimanjaro directed by French-Armenian director, Robert
Guediguian, to be screened on Friday December 2 at 7 pm at the Regent
Theatre. This newest Guediguian film was screened at Cannes and as part
of the Master~Rs series at TIFF ~R11, with three sold-out screenings,
and promises to live up to his last movie, Army of Crime, presented
at last year~Rs POM V Gala. Filmed in Marseilles, the story follows
a middle-aged couple, Michel and Mari-Claire. Michel, a recently
retired dockworker, plans on traveling with his wife to Africa, but
the couple is robbed of their cash and plane tickets before their
departure. Michel soon discovers that one of the robbers is a former
colleague who was laid-off and has a young family to support. This
unexpected discovery deeply challenges the couple~Rs value system,
taking the audience along on a thought-provoking discussion of class
and cross-generational struggles in modern-day society.

December 3 will screen the feature, Sunrise over Lake Van as its Gala
film at 8pm at the Hamazkayin Theatre at the Armenian Youth Centre.

Directed by Artak Igityan and Vahan Stepanyan, it focuses on 3
generations of men grappling with their Armenian identity and family
life in modern America. Garapet, the grandfather, burns the Turkish
flag in front of the Turkish embassy every year on April 24 as a way
to deal with his traumatic memory of the Genocide on his family. He
finds himself at odds with his son and grandson, the latter who
romantically pursues a young girl with a Turkish background.

Sunrise over Lake Van was impressively filmed across the world
in parts of the United States, France, Western Armenia (Turkey),
and Armenia, and casts a group of international stars including:
Jean Pierre Nshanyan (USA), Aren Vatyan (Russian Federation), Arevik
Martirosyan (France), and Gunish Zan (Turkey). Director Vahan Stepanyan
will be present at the North American premiere, taking part in a Q &
A and the festive cocktail reception to follow the Gala screening.

A CHILL IN THE AIR UP NORTH: “NEW COLD WAR” COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR ARMENIA
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow

25.11.11

Photo:

In light of recent aggravated contradictions between Moscow
and Washington, “New Cold War” is the most commonly used phrase
characterizing the current state affairs between the two superpowers.

Armenia, Russia’s military ally, may also feel the chill.

On November 23 Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made a special
statement in reference to the situation with NATO countries’ Missile
Defense System in Europe.

Stressing that “regrettably, the USA and other NATO partners have not
showed enough willingness” to cooperate with Russia in developing
a joint sector-based rather than in-stages missile defense system,
Medvedev presented his five decisions, among them “protective cover
of Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons; putting the missile attack
early warning radar station in Kaliningrad on combat alert” and others.

In the fifth point Medvedev stressed that “if the above measures prove
insufficient, the Russian Federation will deploy modern offensive
weapon systems in the west and south of the country, ensuring our
ability to take out any part of the US missile defense system in
Europe. One step in this process will be to deploy Iskander missiles
in the Kaliningrad Region”.

The phrase “cold war” was first introduced by Winston Churchill in his
famous speech in March 1946, in the American town of Fulton, Missouri.

Churchill called for an overthrow of communist regimes in the countries
of Central and Eastern Europe and used a number of new formulations
(such as “iron curtain”), that later became part of a universal
political lexicon.

The Cold War is commonly considered to have finished with the fall
of the “iron curtain” and collapse of communist regimes and the USSR.

However, the Russian president’s speech seems to have become a fresh
reminder.

Today’s environment does not rival the early 1960s “Cuban missile
crisis” (when Moscow put missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from the U.S.,
after the U.S. put missiles in Turkey). The closest “cold war or words”
is Medvedev’s decision to deploy modern offensive weapon systems in
the west and south of Russia.

However, where Kaliningrad was named in reference with the west of
Russia, nothing definite was said about the southern borders.

On the south the main constituent of the Russian missile attack early
warning system is Gabala radar station (RS). Its detection range is
around 8,000 km in radius, capable of detecting missile launch from
the shores of the Indian Ocean, and keep a watchful eye on Turkey,
Iraq, Iran, India and all the Eastern European countries.

The catch is that Gabala RS is in Azerbaijan, and Russia has been
renting it for $7 million per year for the past decade. The contract,
however, is expiring next year, but envisages a possible extension.

Azeri-Russian negotiations on the extension of the rental contract
were held the day before Medvedev’s speech; Deputy Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov had said that “Russia’s annual rent of $7
million for the Gabala station is inadequate”. Hence, Russia might
have to pay double.

The day after Medvedev’s speech, Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha made a
statement saying that: “Gabala RS is utilized for the good of Russia,
and if there is a need to further use that segment in the Russian
missile defense system, Russia will go for extension of the contract”

Theoretically, there is also a possibility that Russia might consider
deploying a new radar system on the territory of Armenia, where
Russian military base No102 is deployed until 2044.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 24 2011

CHP leader fails to apologize for Dersim, calls for opening state archives

24 November 2011, Thursday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

Responding to questions by reporters on Wednesday, CHP leader Kemal
KılıçdaroÄ?lu accused the government of exploiting the history of the
Dersim tragedy for political gain. (Photo: AA)

In the face of a call from the prime minister for his party to
apologize for a massacre in Dersim during the 1930s, main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu on Thursday
failed to an offer apology, but called on the government to release
documents from the state archives that pertain to Dersim.

KılıçdaroÄ?lu responded to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, who on
Wednesday apologized for the Dersim Massacre on behalf of the Turkish
state but accused the CHP of being the actual culprit and called on
the party to offer an apology as well. The CHP leader said during a
party meeting on Thursday that ErdoÄ?an’s apology was not enough and
asked the prime minister to open state archives.

However, KılıçdaroÄ?lu stopped short of apologizing for the massacre on
behalf of the CHP, which was part of the single-party government at
the time. `Why are not you opening the archives of the Turkish
Republic? An earlier proposal we filed [to open the archives] in 2002
was rejected by the [Justice and Development Party] AK Party. You have
to be sincere in facing up to history. I had also asked the prime
minister to offer an apology [for Dersim]. He then said he could not.
Anyway, he apologized yesterday [Wednesday]. But offering an apology
is not enough,’ he said.

Referring to some archival documents regarding the massacre in Dersim
and which were made public by ErdoÄ?an on Wednesday, KılıçdaroÄ?lu said
the documents were not unknown to the public. `Opening state archives
is not enough, as well,’ KılıçdaroÄ?lu continued, saying the state
should return the property of people from Dersim who were deported.
`[The people of] Dersim will not let the AK Party exploit their pain.
They cannot,’ he added.

The much-debated Dersim massacre concerns the deaths of tens of
thousands of Alevis at the hands of the military in 1937. According to
a document ErdoÄ?an revealed on Wednesday, which was dated 1939, a
total of 13,806 people were killed in operations carried out against
the people of Dersim between 1936 and 1939.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 23 2011

ErdoÄ?an’s Dersim remarks create rift within main opposition party

23 November 2011, Wednesday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

A call by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an on the main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) to apologize for the killing of
thousands of people in the Alevi region of Dersim in the 1930s has
created a rift within the CHP, with the party administration accusing
ErdoÄ?an of waging a war against the republic and a local branch having
already apologized.

CHP parliamentary group Deputy Chairman Akif Hamzaçebi was the first
CHP official to respond to ErdoÄ?an and accused him of engaging in
separatism. `The prime minister is spreading hatred, anger and
animosity. He is engaging in separatism. The prime minister has
launched a war against the republic. Next is [Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk,’
he said.

Hamzaçebi added, `Every rebel is a victim in the eyes of ErdoÄ?an,’
accusing the prime minister of `cheap politics.’

CHP Deputy Chairman Gürsel Tekin reacted to ErdoÄ?an’s words in a
written statement and also accused ErdoÄ?an of inciting animosity among
people. `I congratulate the prime minister. He put dynamite under the
basis of unity in our nation and country with his language, style and
explanation. He has been successful in creating animosity among the
people. We learned our history, thanks to him. What else is left to
say? What is the next step for the prime minister? What is the end
goal of his campaign?’ he said.

However, in an apparently contradictory reaction, CHP Diyarbakır
provincial branch Chairman Muzaffer DeÄ?er said hours after ErdoÄ?an’s
call that the prime minister did what the CHP should have done by
apologizing for the Dersim Massacre on behalf of the Turkish state. He
said the CHP administration should also confront its past and
apologize.

ErdoÄ?an on Wednesday offered his apology for the killings of 13,806
people in the southeastern town of Dersim — now known as Tunceli —
between 1936 and 1939. The apology came after a war of words between
ErdoÄ?an and CHP leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu. ErdoÄ?an called on the CHP
leader to offer apologies as well, as the CHP was at the helm of the
government during the massacre. KılıçdaroÄ?lu has not yet responded to
the prime minister’s comment.