Author: Babajanian Karo

BOOK FAIR IN NORTHERN AVENUE

ARMENPRESS
15:33, 21 September, 2011

Within the framework of celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of Armenia’s independence and Erebuni-Yerevan a book fair was organized
by the Yerevan City Hall in the North Avenue.

“Today particularly people are buying books with great enthusiasm. The
idea of conducting book fair existed long ago but we are happy that
it coincided with the festive events”, Vahan Khachatryan, executive
director of National Association of Publishers told Armenpress.

He said events relating to book are very important for Armenia as with
UNESCO’s decision Yerevan is declared World Capital of Book 2012. The
event also coincided with the 500th anniversary of Armenian typography.

More than 2000 books are presented in the fair.

NICOLAS SARKOZY: ARMENIA CAN BE PROUD OF ALL IT HAS DONE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS

armradio.am
21.09.2011 15:22

President of France Nicolas Sarkozy sent a congratulatory message
to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of independence.

“Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of France and on my own behalf I would like to extend my
warmest congratulations to you and all Armenian people.

On September 21, 1991 Armenia regained control of its own destiny,
restoring the interrupted ties with the history. Armenia can be proud
of all it has done over the past 20 years, often under hard conditions.

Armenia has created democracy, transferred to market economy and
regained its place on the international arena. It has done all this
thanks to the courage and diligence of its people, and this deserves
respect.

Throughout these years France and Armenia have developed effective
cooperation in all spheres. Be assured that France will always be
next to Armenia to help the latter resist all challenges.

I will have an opportunity to congratulate you once again during you
forthcoming official visit to France and my state visit to Armenia
in the near future.”

IRANIAN PRESIDENT: RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING

ARKA
Sep 21, 2011

YEREVAN, September 21. /ARKA/. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
in his letter of congratulations sent to Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, expressed confidence that relations between the two countries
would continue developing.

In his message, Iranian president also congratulated Armenian people
and stressed that the two nations have common ground for cooperation.

He said that historic and cultural ties between Armenia and Iran have
laid ground for strengthening this cooperation.

Ahmadinejad wished good health and success to his Armenian counterpart
and prosperity and happiness to Armenian people.

Congratulations have been received also from President of Germany
Christian Wulff, British Quin Elizabeth II, Austria~Rs Federal
Chancellor Heinz Fischer, Sweden~Rs King Gustav XVI, Switzerland~Rs
President Micheline Calmy-Rei, Czech President Vaclav Havel, President
of Lebanon Michel Suleiman, Bulgaria~Rs President Georgy Pyrvanov,
Irish President Mary McElis, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva, President of Tajikistan
Emomali Rakhma, President of Singapore Tony Tan, Canada~Rs General
Governor David Johnson, Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakian,
Armenia-based ambassadors, heads of international organizations and
senior clergymen.

OBAMA ET SARKISSIAN RENFORCENT LEURS LIENS
[email protected]

armenews.com
mercredi 21 septembre 2011

ARMENIE – USA

Le president Barack Obama souhaite des liens ” forts ” entre les
Etats-Unis et l’Armenie. Il a felicite son homologue armenien Serge
Sarkissian lors du 20e anniversaire de l’independance qui sera
officiellement marque aujourd’hui.

” Comme vous celebrez ce vingtième anniversaire, nous rendons hommage
aux liens historiques qui existent entre nos deux pays et qui ont
commence avant l’independance de l’Armenie “, a declare Obama dans
une lettre rendue publique lundi soir.

” En tant que nation qui a ete enrichie par des generations
d’Americains d’origine armenienne, les Etats-Unis sont fiers de
marcher avec vous vers la democratisation, la prosperite et la paix. ”

” Le partenariat entre les Etats-Unis et l’Armenie est fort et l’amitie
entre nos peuples est solide “, a ecrit M. Obama.

La secretaire d’Etat americaine, Hillary Clinton, a reaffirme
l’engagement de Washington mardi ” pour renforcer la cooperation
entre les deux pays ” dans un communique publie pour l’occasion.

” Ensemble, nous travaillons a reduire la pauvrete, a developper le
commerce et l’investissement, a promouvoir le travail des groupes de
societe civile et a elargir l’accès aux soins de sante “.

” Sachez que les Etats-Unis sont un partenaire et un ami “, a-t-elle
ajoute, s’adressant aux Armeniens.

Sarkissian a des liens plus etroits avec les Etats-Unis depuis sa
prise de fonction en avril 2008. Tout en critiquant le gouvernement
armenien en matière de droits de l’homme, l’administration Obama
a soutenu sa politique etrangère, en particulier, sa tentative de
rapprochement avec la Turquie.

Dans une lettre a Obama le mois dernier, M. Sarkissian a declare que
les relations americano-armeniennes sont desormais “plus fortes que
jamais. ” Nous sommes determines a approfondir et a renforcer les
liens entre nos pays dans tous les domaines et dans un interet mutuel
“, a-t-il dit.

Le leader armenien a egalement recu des messages de felicitations
provenant de dizaines d’autres dirigeants mondiaux, y compris les
president francais Nicolas Sarkozy et russe, Dmitry Medvedev.

” Je note avec satisfaction que les bonnes relations entre l’Armenie
et la Russie ont ete renforcees “, a annonce Medvedev.

JOURNEES DE L’ARMENIE EN ISERE

News Press (Communique de presse)
20 sept 2011
France

20 ans d’Armenie independante : les journees de l’Armenie.

A l’occasion des vingt ans de l’independance de l’Armenie, du
9 septembre au 27 novembre, le Conseil general organise avec la
communaute armenienne et de nombreuses collectivites territoriales,
des debats, rencontres et spectacles dans l’Isère!

Depuis 2004, un programme de cooperation decentralisee lie le Conseil
general de l’Isère a la region du Guegharkunik.

En 2007, le Departement s’unit a trois villes situees en Isère et dans
la Drôme, creant ainsi une cooperation mutualisee. Chacune d’entre
elles est jumelee avec une ville armenienne : Grenoble a Sevan,
Romans a Vardenis, Vienne a Goris.

L’objectif est de favoriser un developpement durable notamment en :

Diversifiant l’activite economique grâce au tourisme Les activites
developpees s’appuient sur les richesses naturelles et culturelles
locales, afin de les preserver et de les valoriser de facon durable.

L’intercooperation s’illustre par des actions telles que la creation
d’un circuit touristique dans les regions du Guegharkunik et du Syunik
et la mise en place d’une charte pour un tourisme local et durable.

Encourageant les echanges educatifs et culturels Membre de l’Agence
internationale de la francophonie, l’Armenie est attachee a la culture
francaise. Ainsi, des cours de francais sont organises a destination
d’un large public compose de scolaires, d’etudiants, de professionnels
du tourisme, des agents des autorites partenaires et des enseignants
de francais.

Renforcant les liens entre institutions publiques et societes civiles
a travers l’appui institutionnel (defini par l’echange de bonnes
pratiques entre autorites locales) et le renforcement des services
publics de base Domaine d’intervention prioritaire, la sante publique
fait l’objet de nombreuses actions, comme la rehabilitation du service
de chirurgie de l’hôpital regional de Gavar.

Journees de l’Armenie Au lendemain du genocide armenien de 1915, les
survivants de la tragedie furent nombreux a prendre le chemin d’un
exil douloureux et a se tourner alors vers la France, comme l’on se
tourne vers une soeur, afin d’y trouver asile et reconfort.

Fidèles a leurs racines et fiers de leur culture, ces Armeniens ont
eu a coeur en Isère aussi d’apporter a notre departement leur courage
et leurs talents, leurs richesses intellectuelles et artistiques. Je
veux saluer les associations armeniennes de l’Isère pour le rôle
essentiel qu’elles ont joue dans l’integration des Francais d’origine
armenienne dans notre departement et pour le rôle qu’elles jouent
encore aujourd’hui afin de favoriser les echanges culturels entre
l’Isère et l’Armenie.

Dès 2004, j’ai engage le Conseil general de l’Isère dans une
cooperation inedite et fructueuse avec la region du Guegharkunik en
Armenie, dans les domaines de la culture, de la francophonie, de la
sante et du tourisme.

A l’occasion des vingt ans de son independance, ces Journees de
l’Armenie en Isère organisees avec la communaute armenienne et de
nombreuses collectivites territoriales, sont l’occasion de consolider
les liens qui unissent l’Isère et l’Armenie. Les multiples debats,
rencontres et spectacles qui vont animer notre departement pendant près
de trois mois permettront aussi de faire decouvrir et partager aux
Iserois, notamment les plus jeunes, les richesses d’une civilisation
a l’histoire millenaire.

Andre Vallini President du Conseil general de l’Isère

Christine Crifo Vice-presidente du Conseil general chargee de la
cooperation decentralisee

LA TURQUIE S’ENGAGE DANS LA RESTITUTION DES BIENS AUX NON MUSULMANS

La Croix
20 sept 2011
France

Le premier ministre a decide la restitution des biens immobiliers
appartenant a des fondations religieuses non musulmanes et confisques
par l’Etat.

L’Etat turc veut en effet repondre ainsi aux critiques des pays
europeens.

Les biens appartenant a l’Eglise catholique latine ne sont pas
concernes du fait de l’absence de reconnaissance juridique de l’Eglise.

Le quartier de Kalamis, a Istanbul, est l’un des plus agreables du
quartier de Kadikoy. Connu pour sa marina, il est frequente par les
supporteurs du club de football de Fenerbahce qui se retrouvent sur
le site Todori, un bar-restaurant branche.

Or l’avenir de ce local a ete remis en question le 28 août dernier
avec l’annonce par le premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan de
la restitution de milliers de biens immobiliers appartenant a des
fondations religieuses (vakýf) non musulmanes confisques par l’Etat.

Cela devrait donc etre le cas pour ce local de supporteurs qui servit
d’ecole primaire pour la communaute grecque orthodoxe jusqu’au debut
des annees 1970. analyse Zeki Basatemir. Quant au
journaliste armenien Markar Esayan, il se rejouit que .

IN THE EYE OF A NEEDLE

Voice of Russia
Sept 20 2011

A wide array of micro-miniatures by the world-renowned Armenian
artist Edward Ter-Kazarian are currently on display in Kaliningrad
in western Russia.

The founder of micro-miniature art, Maestro Ter-Kazarian, whose works
have won him a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records, has
created the world’s tiniest violin – an exact copy of a Stradivari
which you can still play on. Just a quarter of a millimeter long and
weighing a minuscule 0,003 of a gram, it features 56 parts made of
different woods and can be placed in the eye of a very small needle.

Over the years, Edward Ter-Kazarian has created more than 600 unique
micro miniatures but his highest achievement was to found a new trend
in this highly precise art of moving micro miniatures.

TURKISH, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS KARABAKH

news.az
Sept 20 2011
Azerbaijan

Turkish and French Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Alain Juppe
have met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

They exchanged views on a wide range of issues, Turkish media report.

The two ministers discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian-Turkish relations and the situation in
the South Caucasus.

They also discussed the situation in Syria and Libya and the current
state of Turkish-Israeli relations.

KARABAKH CONFLICT ON UN AGENDA A ‘DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS’

news.az
Sept 20 2011
Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani commentator has welcomed the inclusion of a resolution
on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan on the UN General Assembly
agenda.

Fikrat Sadikhov told Gun.Az that the inclusion of the item on the
agenda of the forthcoming 66th UN General Assembly was an achievement.

He noted that the international mediators seeking a resolution to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh had not wanted
Azerbaijan to submit the resolution.

“Many countries, Armenia in particular, wanted to prevent this issue
from being brought up for discussion. Even the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs were putting pressure on Azerbaijan in this regard, but we
achieved our goal,” Sadikhov said.

The resolution will consolidate a legal framework on a fair settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he continued.

“This means another document in favour of Azerbaijan. The vote will
involve around 200 countries and of course most countries will vote
for the resolution,” the commentator said.

Azerbaijan submitted a resolution on the situation in its occupied
territories for discussion at the UN General Assembly last year, but
withdrew the resolution, pending the outcome of an OSCE-led field
assessment mission to Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The
mission took place in October and made public its findings in March.

The mission concluded: “The harsh reality of the situation in the
territories has reinforced the view of the co-chairs that the status
quo is unacceptable, and that only a peaceful, negotiated settlement
can bring the prospect of a better, more certain future to the people
who used to live in the territories and those who live there now.”

In 1993, the UN Security Council passed four resolutions calling for
the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan, but none of the
resolutions have been implemented.

FRANCE CANNOT BE ‘MORE EFFECTIVE’ THAN RUSSIA IN KARABAKH MEDIATION

news.az
Sept 20 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Musabayov,
an independent member of the Milli Majlis.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia and France met recently
and discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict among other issues. This
meeting and French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to the South
Caucasus in early October have led many observers to comment that
France is taking over the role of the leading mediator in the OSCE
Minsk Group. Can France achieve progress in resolution of the conflict?

The mediation of France cannot be more effective and “successful”
than Russia’s mediation in settling the Karabakh conflict. After all,
Russia shares a common past with Azerbaijan and Armenia and, therefore,
it is more familiar with the problems in these countries.

In addition, Russia, unlike France, has real levers of influence on
Armenia and Azerbaijan and, therefore, would be able to make progress
in resolving the conflict if necessary or when possible. All these
factors suggest that the mediation of France, which is quite distant
from us in many senses, cannot be substantial.

May Nicolas Sarkozy’s personal characteristics play a role in achieving
compromise between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

I do not think Sarkozy has more effective mechanisms of influence
on the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders than President Medvedev. It
should be recalled that former French President Jacques Chirac twice
held meetings between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, but
these meetings were fruitless, too. Jacques Chirac once even managed
to bring the positions of the parties so close that they were about
to sign an accord. However, all these attempts failed. Therefore,
I do not think that Sarkozy can achieve more significant results.

The leaders of some of the states involved in the Eastern Partnership
with the EU expect the EU to take a stance on their countries’ problems
at the Partnership summit on 29-30 September in Warsaw. What are
Azerbaijan’s expectations of the Karabakh conflict from this summit?

As you know, the Karabakh conflict resolution will not be discussed
at this summit. This program is aimed primarily at bringing the
participating countries closer to EU standards. The EU is not
fulfilling any mediation mission, and the EU’s role in this is limited
to action plans that have been signed with Azerbaijan and Armenia. The
plans have clauses relating to commitments on a peaceful settlement
of the conflict. The European Union has put forward an initiative that
they are willing to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation
of affected areas in the event of progress on the conflict settlement.

You said that Russia is closer to Azerbaijan and other Eastern
Partnership participants in many respects than is the EU. What can
Brussels offer the post-Soviet countries that Russia cannot?

It is quite clear why CIS countries are seeking to expand direct
contacts with the EU through the Eastern Partnership. Russia cannot
offer any alternative to this European program, because it is not
able to implement programs like the one proposed by the EU, either
technically or financially or economically.

Given that it is very important for the EU to develop relations with
the CIS countries, the Eastern Partnership will be actively pursued,
and Russia is concerned that Europe is switching from bilateral
projects to general large-scale programs with the CIS countries.