Author: Babajanian Karo

REVUE DE PRESSE NO2 – 20/10/11 – COLLECTIF VAN

20-10-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Arménienne contre le Négationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le génocide arménien, la Shoah, le génocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le négationnisme, l’Union européenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggérons également de prendre le temps de lire ou
de relire les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre
rubrique

Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc,
ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous générons
chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous à la Veille-Média : c’est
gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre
boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Collectif VAN : l’éphéméride du 20 octobre 2011 Info Collectif VAN –
~V La rubrique “Ephéméride” du Collectif VAN a
été lancée le 6 décembre 2010. Elle recense la liste d~Révénements
survenus à une date donnée, à différentes époques de l~RHistoire, sur
les thématiques que l~Rassociation suit au quotidien. L~Réphéméride
du Collectif VAN repose sur des informations en ligne sur de nombreux
sites (les sources sont spécifiées sous chaque entrée). “20 octobre
1921 — Empire ottoman/ L~Raccord franco-turc d~RAngora du 20 octobre
1921. Le Pacte d’Ankara met fin au conflit franco-turc à propos de
la Cilicie : le représentant français Franklin Bouillon vient signer
à Ankara un accord avec Mustafa Kemal par lequel la France accepte
d~Révacuer plus largement la Cilicie qu~Ril n~Rétait prévu à Sèvres, ce
qui déclenche l~Rémigration des Arméniens de la région. L~Révacuation
française est terminée en janvier 1922 et, à cette date, les 60 000
Arméniens qui étaient revenus en Cilicie sont tous partis s~Rembarquer
à Mersin ou à Alexandrette. Dès la signature de cet accord, une panique
indescriptible s~Rempara-t-elle des populations chrétiennes. Celles-ci
redoutaient la vengeance des Turcs après que le pays aurait été
évacué par les troupes françaises. Le gouvernement français prit alors
toutes les mesures en son pouvoir pour les rassurer. Le 8 novembre,
le général Gouraud lança une proclamation expliquant aux populations
que le gouvernement d~RAngora leur avait garanti les mêmes droits que
ceux généralement concédés aux minorités dans les pays européens, et
les engageant à rester dans leurs foyers. L~Raccord séparé franco-turc
d~RAngora du 20 octobre 1921 ne fait aucune mention particulière
de l~RArménie et et l~Raccord franco-turc de Londres. L~Rarticle
6 de l~Raccord d~RAngora a, en effet, effacé toute distinction à
ce sujet entre la Turquie et les autres Puissances occidentales,
n~Robligeant la Turquie à reconnaître les droits des minorités que dans
la mesure établie par les conventions conclues entre les Puissances
de l~REntente et certains États européens. À la suite de cet accord,
la presque totalité des Arméniens de la partie de Cilicie qui devait
être évacuée par les troupes françaises, ne se fiant pas aux promesses
du gouvernement d~RAngora, ont abandonné leurs foyers et ont été
accueillis par la France (en Syrie), la Grèce et quelques autres pays.”

Dépêche de l’APA [ 20 oct 2011 15:40 ] – Agence de Presse d’Azerbaïdjan
Le Collectif VAN vous propose un article de l’APA (Agence de presse
azérie) daté du 20 octobre 2011. Les articles de ce site (écrits
généralement dans un français rudimentaire) ne sont pas commentés de
notre part. Ils peuvent contenir des propos négationnistes envers
le génocide arménien ou d’autres informations à prendre sous toute
réserve. « Nous sommes favorables pour un règlement basé au droit
international et à l~RActe Final d~RHelsinki, ou le principe de
l~Rintégrité territoriale est fixé comme une priorité ».

La Turquie et la Chine, premières destinations touristiques pour les
Kazakhs Avec l’augmentation continue leurs revenus, le nombre des
citoyens kazakhs qui choisissent de faire un voyage à l’étranger
est de plus en plus élevé. Lors des premiers six mois de l’année,
ce nombre a atteint 135 000 personnes. La Turquie est considérée
comme leur première destination touristique à l’étranger alors que
la Chine est le premier choix pour faire des achats.

L’info vue par la TRT (3) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publié sur la TRT (Télévision & Radio de Turquie). Les articles de
ce site ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien ou d’autres
informations à prendre sous toute réserve. “Suite aux attaques
terroristes à Çukurca, les forces aériennes turques ont effectué une
opération au nord de l’Irak”.

Turquie : manifestations contre le PKK Des centaines de Turcs ont
manifesté hier à Istanbul et à Ankara pour protester contre la mort
de 24 de leurs soldats dans des attaques du PKK à la frontière entre
la Turquie et l~RIrak.

Turquie ~V PKK: plus de 40 morts à Cukurca Une série d’attaques
coordonnées contre 8 postes militaires turcs, lancée la nuit dernière
par le PKK a fait au moins 24 morts et 18 blessés dans les rangs de
l’armée, ainsi qu’un nombre indéterminé de victimes parmi les rebelles,
5 selon le HPG, l’aile militaire du PKK, plus de 20 selon l’armée
turque.C’est l’attaque la plus meurtrière de ces dernières années.

Le PKK inflige de lourdes pertes à l’armée Vingt-quatre soldats turcs
ont été tués et 18 autres blessés dans des attaques perpétrées par
les rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) les 18
et 19 octobre dans la province de Hakkari, près de la frontière
irakienne. Il s’agit des attaques les plus meurtrières depuis 1993.

Carcassonne. Une chanson pour les sans papiers Deux fois par mois,
le mercredi, l’association Réseau éducateur sans frontières, propose
aux Carcassonnais de se joindre à un cercle de silence, qui pendant
15 minutes, place Carnot, « dénonce les traitements inhumains les
obstacles administratifs, les lois de plus en plus contraignantes
pour les étrangers~E »

La Turquie pleure ses soldats tués dans l’attaque du PKK La Turquie
rendait un dernier hommage jeudi aux 24 soldats tués par des rebelles
kurdes à la frontière turco-irakienne, tandis que les chasseurs turcs
continuent de pilonner les camps du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan
(PKK) situés dans le nord de l’Irak.

L~Rarmée turque poursuit les rebelles kurdes dans le nord de l~RIrak
L~Rattaque meurtrière des rebelles kurdes contre des postes militaires
déclenche une offensive de la Turquie dans le nord de l~RIrak. Les
affrontements armés ont fait 24 morts et 18 blessés côté turc et une
vingtaine de morts côté PKK.

“Juif ou pas juif” : le mystérieux et bref retour L’application
“juif ou pas juif” fait encore parler d’elle. Selon la Licra (Ligue
internationale contre le racisme et l’antisémitisme), l’application
litigieuse est réapparue mardi 18 octobre sur l’AppStore, le magasin
d’applications d’Apple.

L~RArménie en faveur “de l~RUnion eurasienne” proposée par Poutine Un
mois après s~Rêtre engagé à accélérer les démarches pour l~Rintégration
européenne de l~RArménie, le premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian a
soutenu Vladimir Poutine qui appelle à créer une « union eurasienne
» avec les anciennes Républiques soviétiques.

Des attaques du PKK tuent 24 soldats en Turquie L’assaut de mercredi
est le plus meurtrier depuis quasiment deux décennies. Les attaques
du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) contre des positions
militaires dans la province de Hakkari, le long de la frontière
avec l’Irak, ont tué 24 soldats turcs et fait 18 blessés. Selon
les premières informations, une centaine de rebelles kurdes a pris
d’assaut dans la nuit sept casernes et postes militaires, situés dans
cette zone en altitude difficile d’accès, et les combats à l’arme
automatique ont duré jusqu’au matin.

Les trouvailles du Vatican vont profiter à la reconnaissance
internationale du génocide affirme Hayk Demoyan La décision de publier
les archives du Vatican sur le génocide arménien souvent appelées «
les Archives Secrètes » -profitera aux actions ménées en vue de faire
reconnaitre internationalement le génocide arménien, a déclaré Hayk
Demoyan, Directeur de l~RInstitut-Musée du Génocide arménien.

Retour à la rubrique

LE CAFE DE PARIS N’EST PAS EN VENTE AFFIRME VALERIE GORDZOUNIAN
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 21 octobre 2011

Valerie Gordzounian a ecarte les allegations parues dans la presse
en Armenie selon lesquelles elle allait vendre a son affaire et
quitter l’Armenie.

Donnant une interview a Tert.am Valerie Gordzounian qui est la
proprietaire du Cafe de Paris situe au centre d’Erevan a dit qu’elle
se rend dans son cafe 5 a 6 fois par jour et continuera a faire des
affaires en Armenie.

” Non, je n’ai pas vendu mon Cafe de Paris et ne vais pas faire ainsi
encore ” a-t-elle dit niant aussi les informations selon lesquelles
elle allait quitter le pays. ” C’est un mensonge ” -t-elle ajoute.

Elle a dit son amertume a l’encontre de certains ecrits parus dans
les medias qui ont deforme ses propos selon elle.

” J’ai desormais peur de parler aux journalistes. Je commence a ne
pas avoir confiance en eux ” a-t-elle explique ajoutant il n’y a pas
d’obstacles pour ses affaires a Erevan.

Les commentaires de cette femme d’affaires interviennent après des
articles de medias affirmant que certains fonctionnaires de haut
rang armeniens veulent se saisir de ses affaires. Le depute du
parti Republicain d’Armenie Zohrab Zohrabyan ayant ete nomme comme
l’un d’eux.

” Le depute de l’Assemblee nationale Zohrab Zohrabyan n’a pas de lien
avec moi, ni avec ma vie personnelle ni avec mes affaires. Laissez-moi
seul ! ” a dit Valerie Gordzounian.

ROCKER DISCOVERS HIS ORIGINS

Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 20 2011
Turkey

Turkish Rock and alternative musician YaÅ~_ar Kurt is a highly symbolic
figure for conscientious objectors; his dissident song, ‘Korku’ (Fear),
which was released in the late 1990s, virtually amounted to a political
march and resulted in his trial for ‘treason.’ Kurt recently spoke to
the Daily News about the release of his latest album, ‘GuneÅ~_ Kokusu’
(Smell of the Sun), as well as his Armenian origins. ‘I am trying to
discover myself. Every individual ought to be free in this decision,’
he says

Prominent Turkish rock and alternative musician, YaÅ~_ar Kurt, has
embraced his spiritual identity, faced trial forhis music’s content
and seeks to honor his hero on stage. Now, after eight years, he has
also released a new album, “GuneÅ~_ Kokusu” (Smell of the Sun).

“Despite everything, my fans have continued to embrace me. This goes to
show that I have addressed a righteous and solid following,” he said.

Kurt became baptized at the age of 40 after learning that he was
actually of Armenian origin. “I am trying to discover myself. Every
individual ought to be free in this decision and live the way they
feel. One ought not to carry their identity around as if it were his
or her fate. I am a proselyte for both sides, neither side accepts me.

The sense of not belonging sticks to you like your destiny. Is being
human not the most important thing?” Kurt told the Hurriyet Daily
News in a recent interview.

He had been asking his family about his identity since the age of 13
but never received a reply, Kurt said, adding that he felt extremely
angry when he learned the truth after 40 years. “Still, I want to
hear the language of peace.” he added.

Artist wants to honor his hero

“I lived unaware of my true identity in this land, which was visited
by indescribable pain, but I want peace and dialogue. The peace that
I am describing is a peace where one does not prevail over the other,”
he said, adding that his relatives were unnerved and reacted negatively
when he revealed his true identity.

Kurt’s greatest wish is to stage a screen play about the life of
Gomidas Vartabed, who represents a milestone in the development of
Armenian music.

“Besides our physical resemblance, Gomidas is also a significant
figure for humanity, and for Turkish-Armenian relations,” Kurt said,
adding that everyone who saw him was struck by their likeness.

Gomidas, an ethno-musicologist whose real name was Sogomon Sogomonyan,
is known for his extensive research, studies and compilations of
Turkish, Azeri, Kurdish and Iranian music in addition to his crucial
contributions to Armenian music.

Gomidas was arrested alongside with 250 other Armenian intellectuals
on the evening of April 24, 1915, the date which is commemorated as
the beginning of the events of 1915, just as he was on the brink of
deciphering the coded notes of Baba Hamparzsum, a prominent figure
in Turkish Classical Music. Having personally witnessed the deaths
of many of his friends, Gomidas lost his mental balance and spent
the rest of his life in a Paris mental asylum.

A symbol of conscientious objection

Kurt also stands as a highly symbolic figure for conscientious
objectors; his dissident song “Korku” (“Fear”), which was released in
the late 1990s on the album “Göndermeler” (Allusions), amounts to
a political march against military service. Kurt was sued and tried
for treason because of the album.

“I was going to be sentenced to 12 years in prison, had I not been
acquitted,” he said, adding that the ban on the album was still
in effect.

“My album is banned. I cannot re-introduce it to the market, but I
can add the songs to my new albums one by one and sing them in my
concerts – it’s truly a contradiction. Because the album was banned
by the Culture Ministry I must file a lawsuit against the state to
lift the ban [and] I was tried at a military court,” Kurt said.

He lived as a fugitive for years to avoid military service, Kurt said,
adding that he finally served 28 days in the military in the early
2000s through draft regulations that allowed him to conduct partially
exempted and paid service.

“Militarism is the fundamental cause behind all the world’s problems.

I cannot lay my hands on a weapon. Bearing arms is not the only way
to serve the country. I can look after the elderly in a nursing home,
or do cleaning work, but I did not want my hands to touch a weapon,
and I still do not want to do so,” he said.

UNPRECEDENTED VISIT BY AMERICAN-ARMENIAN DELEGATION

Today’s Zaman

Oct 20 2011
Turkey

A delegation of prominent members of the American-Armenian community
will arrive in Turkey on Friday in an unprecedented visit to various
religious sites throughout the country.

The 25-member delegation, which includes influential businessmen and
religious figures from America’s 1.2 million strong Armenian community,
will embark on a six-day tour of key religious sites in Ä°stanbul,
Diyarbakir and Van. The visit comes after the completion of restoration
work on the 15th-century Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir province,
one of the largest churches in the Middle East and a historic center
of Turkey’s once thriving Armenian population.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and other high level members of the
American-Armenian diocese will participate in the church’s reopening
which is slated for Oct. 23. The delegation also plans to attend a
ceremony at the recently restored Armenian church on Akdamar Island
in the province of Van.

The visit is a sign of increasing good will between Turkey’s ruling
government and minority religious communities, said Oscar Tatosian,
chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Armenian Church,
in an interview with the Zaman daily earlier this week. Tatosian, who
told Zaman he was a businessman who has frequently traveled to Turkey
over the past 25 years, remarked that the visit was in the spirit of
“peace, cooperation and economic opportunity.”

“As Americans, what is important for us is to develop trade ties
and for Turkey to be a friend to Armenia,” he added. Tatosian also
thanked the Turkish government for its warmness and courtesy during
the planning stages of the visit.

LUCKY SEVEN: GOHAR VARDANIAN

Las Cruces Sun-News (New Mexico)
October 20, 2011 Thursday

International Armenian guitarist Gohar Vardanian will perform 7:30
p.m. tonight at the Atkinson Recital Hall in the NMSU Music Center.

Vardanyan began studying the guitar at age 5 under the guidance of
her father, Vardan Vardanyan. At age 8, she gave her first public
performance and appeared on Armenian National Television.

Vardanyan was the first prize winner in the Armenian national music
contest, Amadeus. She was also awarded the Young Artist’s Certificate
from Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Harold Randolph Prize
in performance from the Peabody Conservatory.

She now holds a master’s degree from The Juilliard School and
has performed in concert venues across the world, including the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and the Alice Tully Hall
at the Lincoln Center.

The recital will feature works by composers Barrios, Morel, Piazolla,
Rodrigo and Scarlatti. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students
and are available at the door.

Sun-News report

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION GROUP BACKS DOWN ON PROTESTS
By Naira Melkumyan

Institute for War and Peace Reporting IWPR
CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, No. 613
October 18, 2011
UK

After calling out supporters to demonstrate and then sending them
home, Armenian National Congress has some ground to make up in order
to remain serious political force.

Armenia~Rs main opposition movement has suffered a damaging setback
after public protests against the government came to nothing,
analysts say.

The Armenian National Congress, ANC, was in negotiation with the
government of President Serzh Sargsyan over the summer, hoping to win
concessions and thus cement its position as a leading political force.

The two sides were trying to overcome a legacy of mistrust dating
from the 2008 presidential election, after which ANC leader Levan
Ter-Petrosyan, the losing candidate, declared the results fraudulent.

The mass opposition protests that followed were broken up by police,
resulting in around ten deaths.

This year~Rs attempt at conducting a dialogue ran into the ground in
August, and the ANC called out its supporters for round-the-clock
demonstrations. Experts said the opposition~Rs move back to street
protests reflected pressures to begin campaigning for next year~Rs
parliamentary election. (See Political Dialogue Breaks Down in Armenia
for more on this.)

Opposition leaders said the protesters numbered 100,000 during the
day and 1,000 overnight, while police said the numbers never exceeded
5,000 or 6,000.

This time, all sides appeared keen to avoid the confrontations of
2008, and police did not intervene, although they regularly warned
protesters that they were acting illegally.

The press nicknamed the protests ~Sthe Potty Revolution~T, since public
toilets and cafes near the square where they took place were closed
for the duration. The deputy head of the president~Rs Republican Party,
Galust Sahakyan, suggested that the ANC install its own public toilets
or distribute chamber pots.

Eventually, Ter-Petrosyan himself asked the protesters to go home,
saying he would call them back when they were needed.

As well as loss of face for the ANC as a major political actor in
Armenia, the decision has also angered the rank-and-file supporters
who came out in force.

~SIt was anger that drove me here,~T Regina Temkina, a 50-year-old
doctor, said. ~SI~Rm going to demand that the sit-down protest
continues. It~Rs no life when you~Rre perpetually trampled underfoot
and pretty much driven out by your own country.~T

Analysts said Ter-Petrosyan risked alienating large chunks of his
own support-base, and his tactics would make it difficult to call
out demonstrators en masse in future.

~SI think the ANC~Rs decision to hold round-the-clock protests was
a strategic error,~T Yervand Bozoyan, a political analyst with the
Dialogue think-tank, said. ~SThe decision didn~Rt result in anything.

The ANC~Rs popularity has declined and it is no longer the same force
that was able to dictate terms in 2008. It~Rs the authorities who
can do that now.~T

A resumption of dialogue between the government and the ANC now
seems unlikely. The opposition suspended talks after a clash between
police and ANC activists, one of whom, Tigran Arakelyan, was arrested,
and the party has been demanding his release prior to restarting talks.

The Republican Party, meanwhile, said the protests must end before
negotiations could resume.

Ter-Petrosyan has said the ANC will accept any offer of talks, even
though they have ~Sceased being relevant~T and the party~Rs central
demand is for Sargsyan to step down as president immediately.

David Harutiunyan, a member of parliament who led the dialogue process
on the government side, said a resumption of talks would only happen
if the opposition “sobered up and recognised political realities”.

“A dialogue must be based on the good will and intentions of both
sides. I think that when the opposition recognises this, we will be
able to speak to them again. Until that happens, it would be premature
to talk about doing so,” Haratiunyan told RFE/RL radio.

Most analysts agree that the government has won this round, and
predict that it will drive home its advantage.

“Sensing the ANC’s weakness, the authorities will definitely assume a
tougher position,” Bozoyan said. “If the ANC then takes radical steps,
it will become an even more marginal force.”

While the breakdown of the dialogue might point to a repetition of the
clashes seen in 2008, Arman Melikyan, who stood for president that year
and now works for the campaigning group Refugees and International Law,
said neither government nor opposition would want that to happen. In
any case, he said, the ANC now lacked the support to mount major
street protests.

“The authorities understand that the ANC is not in a position to
take resolute measures, and it’s clear that things won’t get as far
as clashes. I don’t think these protests will produce any results,”
he said, adding, “The ANC must continue with the dialogue.”

Naira Melkumyan is a freelance reporter in Armenia.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN STATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PLANS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF THE STRUCTURE

/ARKA/
October 19, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 19. /ARKA/. Head of Armenian State Property Management
Department Arman Sahakyan said on Wednesday to the journalists that
he plans to increase the efficiency of the structure.

Sahakyan was appointed to this position on June 22 by the decision
of Armenian Premier Tigran Sargsyan.

“Armenian State Property Management Department many years was
seen by the society and mass media as an organization dealing with
privatization. I think it was fair, especially in the first years of
independence it was called Ministry of Privatization. But today the
main task of our department is the increase of efficiency of state
property management”, said Sahakyan.

Today, the main functions of the structure are state property
management concerning the provision of state property for rent,
free use, or disposition of its privatization and management of
state shares, and elimination of the buildings of liquidated state
organizations.

“Our best specialists developed a draft law “On state property
management” which, in case of its adoption will allow us to develop
economically substantiated development programs and introduce new
mechanisms”, he said.

Sahakyan emphasized the importance of priority issues which will be
solved by their department.

“One of them refers to the price policy in the sphere of privatization
and renting of state property. If the price in case of privatization
may be due to the prospects of investments and social responsibilities
of the future owner, in case of leasing, optimal and logical prices
must act. “For example, the State should not provide spaces to
organizations for a symbolic price which use them for business
development”, he said noting that adoption of the law can regulate
this problem.

Problems of improving the quality of property service provided for
free use should be solved by co-payment.

“Service amounts collected from the entities and the companies
occupying such buildings should be spent exclusively for the needs
of the building”, said Sahakyan.

Under the subordination of the department are 37 companies having
state share, in 26 of which it is 100%, in 5 – over 50% and the rest
6 – less than 50%.

By the results of 2010, 23 of these companies were not implementing
any activity and only six of the remaining 14 were working with profit.

“One of the ways of solving this problem is corporate management
or introduction of the institute of authorized representatives. By
the instruction of the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan,
5 organizations were selected where this institute will be introduced
in the first place”, he said.

Another problem is the expansion of the database of state property.

Sahakyan said that in 2011 a decision was adopted, according to
which, on the basis of information provided by the heads of state
organizations, inter-state republican roads, bridges, reservoirs and
water canals will be included in the database.

“There was not any state property database till now. By the instruction
of the Prime Minister, any state property should have ownership
certificate. It is a difficult problem and I think that we will be
able to solve it in 2012-2013”, said Sahakyan.

A SPACE BRIDGE BETWEEN ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”
19.10.2011 18:24

A space bridge between the Armenian peacekeepers carrying out mission
in Kosovo and Afghanistan and their families was organized at the
Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today within the framework of
the NATO Week in Armenia. The event was attended by US Ambassador
to Armenia John Heffern, UK Ambassador Charles Lonsdale and German
Ambassador Hans- Jochen Schmidt.

The Ambassadors highly appreciated the mission of Armenian
peacekeepers. “What you are doing is very important for Armenia,
for the relations between Armenia and NATO, the relations between
Armenia and the US,” US Ambassador John Heffern said.

UK Ambassador Charles Lonsdale expressed gratitude to the Armenian
Government for cooperating with NATO. He also thanked the Armenian
peacekeepers for carrying out an important mission in Afghanistan
and Kosovo.

All in all, 161 Armenian peacekeepers serve in Kosovo and Afghanistan
today. Armenians have been participating in international peacekeeping
missions since 2004.

ROSE GOTTEMOELLER PAID VISIT TO ARMENIA: PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD

Panorama
Oct 19 2011
Armenia

Rose Gottemoeller, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms
Control, Verification and Compliance, visited Armenia on October 18-19
to consult with the Armenian government on conventional arms control.

The press service of US Embassy to Armenia says she had serious and
productive discussions during her meetings with President Serzh
Sargsian, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, and Deputy Defense
Minister David Tonoyan.

Assistant Secretary Gottemoeller heads the bureau in the U.S.

Department of State responsible for arms control matters.

RUSSIA RECEIVED FULL POWERS FOR SETTLING KARABAKH CONFLICT – ANALYST

news.am
Oct 19 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – It is not a coincidence that today Russia plays the leading
role in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) Minsk Group and the Karabakh conflict’s regulation process,
Caucasus Institute Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan
stated during a press conference on Wednesday.

With respect to France’s ambitions to occupy a leading position in the
Minsk Group, Iskandaryan noted that Russia did not assume the leading
role on its own. “Russia received Full Powers from the other [Minsk
Group] Co-Chairs. That happened after Meiendorf [Declaration] and
immediately after the Russian-Georgian war,” Iskandaryan maintained.

In his words, it is much easier for Russia to work in the region
than it is for US and France, and that is why Moscow is active in
our region. And since the situation has not changed, Russia’s role
likewise will not change in the foreseeable future.

In November 2008, the presidents of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
had a meeting at the Meiendorf Castle in Moscow Oblast, during which
they signed a declaration on settlement of the Karabakh conflict.