AZERBAÃDJAN
Des ouvriers Azéris licenciés menacent de recourir au suicide
collectif à Imichli
La crise économique qui sévit l’Azerbaïdjan suite au fléchissement des
cours du pétrole est en passe de créer des mouvements sociaux
importants dans le pays. Selon le site haqqin.az, de nombreux anciens
salariés licenciés de la société sucrière Azersoun à Imichli, menacent
de recourir à un suicide collectif devant les bureaux du siège de la
compagnie.
Nagorno-Karabakh must be involved in peace process – MP
15:51 * 11.01.15
Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament member Vahan Badalyan believes that a
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict requires the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s (NKR) participation in the negotiations.
Nagorno-Karabakh was made to walk out of the negotiations during
Robert Kocharyan’s presidency of Armenia and has remained outside
since.
“The process of recognition of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] has a
history of more than two decades. An important event was Azerbaijan’s
signing a ceasefire agreement in 1994, which stopped the war, and
Azerbaijan, in a sense, recognized Artsakh’s independence. It was a
trilateral agreement signed by Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan. Later,
however, Artsakh turned out to be outside the process and the
recognition process slowed down and entered an unclear stage.”
One of the positive factors during this period is progress in
development of Nagorno-Karabakh’s nationhood.
“Of course, the entire world knows Artsakh is a party to the
negotiations, and we decided in favor of independence. But our chief
aim is joining Armenia, which requires full recognition,” Mr Badalyan
said.
SEISME
Important séisme à la frontière entre l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan
La nuit du 8 janvier à 3h42, un séisme de 3,9 sur l’échelle de Richter
s’est produit à la frontière entre l’Azerbaïdjan et le sud de
l’Arménie. La puissance à son épicentre de ce séisme à une profondeur
de 10 km était de 4 à 5. Le séisme fut ressenti sur l’ensemble du
territoire de l’Arménie ainsi qu’au Karabagh. C’est à Katcharan (sud
de l’Arménie) qu’il était le plus fort avec 4 degrés sur l’échelle de
Richter. Dans les villes de Kapan et Sissian ces secousses furent de
l’ordre de 2 à 3 degrés.
Krikor Amirzayan
samedi 10 janvier 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com
Charlie Hebdo attack to incite anti-Islamist moods in Europe
14:47 * 10.01.15
The recent terrorist attack against the French satirical newspaper
Charlie Hebdo is expected to raise an anti-Islamic wave in Europe,
according to Armenian politicians.
Speaking to Tert.am, Tevan Poghosyan, an opposition MP from the
Heritage party, said he sees that the self-proclaimed group
identifying itself as Islamic State is present in not only the Middle
East but also in the West. According to Director of the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies Aghasy Yenolyan, the
fact of terrorism itself demonstrates the non-institutional nature of
the campaign.
Poghosyan called for concerted global efforts against extremism.
“Terrorism is a very negative phenomenon. Taking innocent people’s
life does not fall within any ideology for me,” he said.
Criticizing the form of campaign led by the Islamists, the opposition
MP said he thinks that they should have applied the European
countries’ mechanisms (i.e. sought a legal action to demand
accountability for the cartoon offending national feelings) if they
really had a problem to solve.
Asked about possible consequences, Poghosyan said he thinks that it
might provoke tensions in certain groups of people who will realize
the need of collaborating with law enforcement bodies. “There have
been demonstrations and calls in different places after the incident,
so considering all this, I don’t think the situation will calm down. I
have negative forecasts. If those who are guilty remain unpunished,
the crime will give an impulse to further acts,” he added.
Commenting on the terrorist act, Mr Yenokyan said he believes that the
rebel groups receive backing by serious states. “It is now clear that
there are serious states and powers behind all this, and this is how I
explain the increasing number of terrorist acts,” he added.
As for possible security risks to Europe, the expert said he expects a
serious anti-Islamic wave to follow the attack. “It is important to
lead a serious struggle against terrorism,” Yenokyan added.
According to him, terrorists in this way demonstrate their discontent
with the West’s attitude. “Because of serious democracy-related
problems in Europe, they are forced to accept migrants, but this has
led to Europe’s current anxiety over the spread of Islam, because
Islam first of all manifests itself as radical Islam,” he said,
predicting extremely serious restrictions in Europe in terms of both
immigration and minority policies.
Protecting Wildlife in Armenia
By Ali Hamlin on January 9, 2015 in Armenia,
FPWC’s Eco Training Center at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge
Special for the Armenian Weekly
The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets
(FPWC) was founded in 2002 with the goal of raising local and
international awareness of Armenia’s rich natural heritage. With their
main funding partner, VivaCell-MTS, FPWC is involved in a myriad of
projects, from itsSunChild environmental education program, to
managing the Yerevan Zoo, to maintaining the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge.
Just getting off the ground is FPWC’s Eco Training Center in
Urtsadzor.
Opened just over a year ago and funded by the United Nations
Development Program’s (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grant
Program, the Eco Training Center sits on the outskirts of Urtsadzor
village along the foothills of the mountains of FPWC’s Caucasus
Wildlife Refuge. Supported by the UK-based World Land Trust,
Netherlands-based International Union for Conservation of Nature, and
VivaCell-MTS, the 2000-hectare (roughly 5,000 acres) refuge is the
first privately managed nature reserve in the South Caucasus.
This nesting bearded vulture was spotted by rangers in the Caucasus
Wildlife Refuge.
Ruben Khachatryan, the director and founder of FPWC, says of the
Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, “It’s not only about nature conservation.
It’s about new opportunities for the community.” Thus, the Eco
Training Center is an integral aspect of the wildlife refuge.
The role of the Eco Training Center is multifaceted. As the name
implies, it provides educational opportunities for the local community
to learn about different ways they can contribute to conservation,
through avenues such as sustainable natural resource harvesting or
working as a nature guide. The community also has the chance to learn
about renewable energy and other energy saving technology through the
center’s solar thermal heating system and energy efficient lighting.
In addition to the training center’s main hall where trainings take
place, there are four bedrooms and a loft for sleeping. Currently,
FPWC runs hiking, horseback riding, and jeep tours through the
wildlife refuge, allowing tourists to stay at the training center or
at a local bed and breakfast in Urtsadzor. In this way, the center
helps improve ecotourism prospects and associated employment
opportunities in the community.
Lastly, FPWC’s Eco Training Center acts as a base camp for scientists
and researchers in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. FPWC hopes that
having this facility within the conservation area will increase the
number of scientists interested in studying Armenia’s diverse flora
and fauna, which is an important aspect of conservation.
Most recently, FPWC’s Eco Training Center received international
accolades from the UNDP. The training center was chosen as one of 111
finalists for the 2014 Equator Prize from 1,234 projects from 121
countries. The prize recognizes “local sustainable development
solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities.”
FPWC hopes that the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, Eco Training Center, and
ecotourism development projects in Urtsadzor will offer a successful
conservation model to other areas of the South Caucasus. Last year,
remote cameras in the refuge confirmed that the Caucasian Leopard, a
globally endangered species, is living in the Caucasus Wildlife
Refuge. And in Urtsadzor, improvements to two homes have been
completed, and homeowners are ready to open their doors to bed and
breakfast guests. Take note, because Urtsadzor might be the perfect
destination for your next vacation in Armenia.
Catholicos Karekin II offers condolences to French President over
Charlie Hebdo attack
17:23 09/01/2015 >> SOCIETY
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has sent a message of
condolences to French President Francois Hollande over the terrorist
attack on the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the
Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reported.
In the message, His Holiness Karekin II offered sympathy to the French
leader, the French people, as well as the relatives and friends of the
victims.
“We strongly condemn the terrible terrorist attack and violence
committed in these sacred Christian days,” he said.
Praying for the rest of the souls of the innocent victims, His
Holiness called on the international community to condemn all forms of
terrorism for the sake of strengthening justice, peace and stability
in the world.
Source: Panorama.am
REVUE DE PRESSE
La Russie et la Turquie face au piège de l’isolationnisme
La Russie et la Turquie sont-elles devenues « ?les deux hommes malades
à la périphérie de l’Europe? »? ? Pendant des siècles, l’expansion
territoriale de l’Empire russe s’est faite, entre autres, au détriment
de l’Empire ottoman, décrit au XIXe siècle comme « ?l’homme malade de
l’Europe? ». Aujourd’hui ces deux anciens empires semblent connaître
une évolution parallèle et négative qui s’explique en deux mots, ou
plutôt en deux noms? : Poutine et Erdogan. La cause de la « ?maladie
» qui frappe la Russie comme la Turquie paraît simple en effet et
tient à la dérive autoritaire et à la concentration excessive du
pouvoir autour de ces deux hommes.
Alors que s’ouvre l’année 2015, le rapprochement entre Moscou et
Ankara n’est pas en effet de nature diplomatique, même s’il existe des
frémissements dans ce sens. La Turquie constitue toujours le pilier du
flanc sud de l’Otan. La Russie s’indigne des manÃ…`uvres de l’Ukraine
pour se rapprocher de l’Otan. De même, sur le plan économique, les
deux pays ne sauraient être plus différents. La Turquie, avec une
démographie en pleine expansion, continue de faire preuve d’un
dynamisme qui contraste fortement avec le déclin accéléré de ce géant
énergétique aux pieds d’argile qu’est la Russie. Les sanctions
occidentales, la baisse des prix du pétrole et du gaz ne sont que des
révélateurs et des accélérateurs des faiblesses structurelles de
l’économie russe.
En fait, le rapprochement entre les héritiers de l’Empire russe et de
l’Empire ottoman est de nature politique et institutionnelle. Dans
leur gestion toujours plus centralisée du pouvoir, dans leur volonté
de tout contrôler et de ne pas tolérer la moindre critique, Poutine et
Erdogan semblent comme désireux de se donner l’un à l’autre un
certificat de bonne gestion politique? : « ?Le monde extérieur nous
ennuie avec ses critiques. Nous n’avons de conseil à recevoir de
personne? !? »
Poutine et Erdogan semblent de fait animés par un instinct, sinon des
pulsions communes. Dans leur mélange de nationalisme , dans leur
volonté de contrôler tous les rouages du pouvoir, qui les conduit Ã
alterner les fonctions présidentielles et de Premier ministre, les
deux hommes semblent traduire un mélange d’ambition personnelle et une
certaine forme de nostalgie pour un temps qui n’existe plus et qui ne
peut renaître. Ils peuvent bien se voir comme le « ?dernier tsar? » ou
le « ?dernier sultan? », ils peuvent être animés par un rêve de «
Grande Russie? » ou celui de la reconstitution d’un espace «
néo-ottoman? », ils n’ont ni l’un ni l’autre les moyens de leurs
ambitions. En réalité, ils sont en train de s’isoler personnellement Ã
l’intérieur de leurs pays respectifs par des comportements toujours
plus autoritaires. Et ils contribuent tous les deux à l’isolement de
leurs pays sur la scène internationale. La Turquie et la Russie, en
s’éloignant de l’Europe et de ses valeurs, font profondément fausse
route. Le dynamisme de l’économie turque présuppose l’existence d’une
société ouverte. Le « ?capitalisme pour les amis? » de la Russie de
Poutine commence à évoquer, au moins dans ses résultats, la décadence
de l’URSS dans les années 1980.
Certes, l’Union européenne, par ses atermoiements, sinon sa mauvaise
volonté délibérée, a plus que contribué Ã l’éloignement de la Turquie.
Mais l’évolution personnelle d’Erdogan ne saurait être imputée aux
seules réticences de l’Union et de ses principaux membres. De plus en
plus, Erdogan semble comme animé par un agenda personnel. LÃ encore,
Erdogan et Poutine sont très proches. Ce qui amène à se demander ce
qui peut bien les arrêter dans le processus d’auto-isolement de leur
personne et de leur pays, les deux termes étant devenus presque
synonymes l’un de l’autre.
En savoir plus sur
?7JdvoPAqZzGjgdBW.99
vendredi 9 janvier 2015,
Stéphane ©armenews.com
ARMENIE
Ordination de diacres au Saint-Siège d’Etchmiadzin
Le 25 Décembre, dans le cadre de la fête de Saint-Étienne le
protodiacre et premier martyr, une Divine Liturgie a été offerte dans
le Saint-Siège d’Etchmiadzin, au cours de laquelle une ordination de
diacres s’est tenue sous la présidence de Sa Sainteté Karekin II,
Patriarche suprême et Catholicos de tous les Arméniens.
Pendant le service du soir la veille, 12 élèves du Séminaire
Théologique Gevorkian et trois étudiants du Cours accéléré des Prêtres
ont obtenu le grade d’acolyte.
A l’occasion de la fête, avec les bénédictions de Sa Sainteté Karekin
II, Patriarche suprême et Catholicos de tous les Arméniens, 20 élèves
du Séminaire Théologique Gevorkian, ainsi que d’un candidat devant
servir dans le monastère de Gerhardt , ont été ordonnés au diaconat
par Sa Grce l’Évêque Hovnan Hakobyan, le Grand sacristain du
Saint-Siège.
Après l’ordination, l’évêque Hovnan a parlé aux fidèles sur le symbole
de la fête et de l’histoire du martyre de Saint-Étienne.
Plus tard dans la journée, Sa Sainteté Karekin II, Patriarche Suprême
et Catholicos de Tous les Arméniens a reçu les nouveaux diacres et
tous les diacres du Saint-Siège, accompagné par le Grand Sacristain du
Saint-Siège d’Etchmiadzin.
Aujourd’hui, le Saint-Siège d’Etchmiadzin a 162 diacres, dont 121 sont
dans les rangs de la confrérie et 41 dans le Séminaire Théologique
Gevorkian.
vendredi 9 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com
Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire 180 times this night
12:20, 09 Jan 2015
About 180 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were
registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno
Karabaakh and Azerbaijan the night of January 9.
The rival fired more than 1,700 shots from weapons of different
caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions.
The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep alert and control the
operational-tactical situation all along the line of contact.
Iowa City Press Citizen, Iowa
Jan 9 2015
UI program to help bridge Turkey-Armenia relations
Jeff Charis-Carlson, Iowa City Press-Citizen
For the past seven summers, the University of Iowa’s Between the Lines
programs has been bringing high school-age writers from Russia and
Arabic-speaking nations to Iowa City for a two-week, summertime
residency.
This year’s program — which is hosted by the International Writing
Program — will be offering a special summer session that will include
about two dozen 17-to-20-year-old writers from two nations that have
had been at odds for for generations: Turkey and Armenia. The
international writers will be joined by a smaller cohort of similarly
aged writers from the U.S.
Program organizers say the U.S. embassies in both Armenia and Turkey
reached out to the IWP to request the special session as a way to
positively affect the otherwise strained relations between the two
countries.
“By focusing on youth (ages 17-20) and creative writing, the goal is
that all participants — whether Armenian, Turkish or American — will
leave the two-week program not only as stronger writers and readers,
but also having developed friendships and networks that traverse
boundaries, dismantle stereotypes and work towards eradicating
long-standing tensions,” said Lisa Daily, who coordinates the program.
The application period is now open for would-be American participants.
The organizers say they are looking for applications from U.S. high
school students who love writing and want to take part in an enriching
and international experience. By the the end of the two-week
experience, the organizers said, the goal is to have all the students
become better writers and better readers of each other’s work.
“That’s the power and beauty of writing — its highest aim is
communication,” said poet Mary Hickman, who will be the American
instructor during the sessions. “Writers write to connect with others
and to share and begin to understand what it is to be human, to exist.
So cultural interchange and creative writing are already very
compatible endeavors.”
Hickman, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, traveled last year
to Yerevan, Armenia, and Istanbul as a part of IWP’s Reading Abroad
series. Well aware of the many historically and politically sensitive
topics that could come up between the Turkish and Armenian
participants, she said she “won’t avoid tough topics” but will “make
sure that I am facilitating productive and respectful conversations.”
Hickman will be joined for the Turkey-Armenia writers’ camp (July
18-Aug. 1) by Nazmi Agil, a poet and translator who teaches at Koc
University in Istanbul, and a writer and activist who goes by the name
Armen of Armenia.
Between the Lines also is accepting applications for its Russia and
Arabic Work writers’ camp, which will take place June 21-July 5.
For more information, visit