Author: Babajanian Karo

OPEN-AIR DANCE PERFORMANCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZED IN ARMENIA

news.am
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Armenia-based Women’s Rights Center organizes an open-air
dance performance in one of Yerevan’s central squares.

The event aims at combating domestic violence against women in
Armenia, raising public awareness on the issue. Professionals from
“Mihr theatre” will perform dance against violence, center informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The mission of the theatre is to reveal the philosophical depth of
every movement by unifying painting, psychology, dance, philosophy
and drama arts.

THE NKR ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE DELEGATION OF THE TRANSDNIESTRIAN MOLDAVIAN REPUBLIC

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2011-09-01 11:27
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

On August 31, Acting Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Vasily Atajanian received the delegation of the Transdniestrian
Moldavian Republic, which had arrived in Nagorno Karabakh for
participating in the festive events dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of the NKR proclamation. The delegation was headed by TMR Foreign
Minister Vladimir Yastrebchak.

During the meeting, an exchange of opinions on the issues of mutual
interest took place. The meeting participants discussed issues related
to the public-political processes in their states, the prospects of
the Karabakh and Transdniestrian conflicts settlement, and others.

Both parties confirmed their commitment to the peaceful settlement
of the issues.

Also, issues related to the further cooperation between both Republics
were discussed.

BOMB ALARM APPEARS FALSE

ARMENPRESS
11:56, 1 September, 2011

An alarm call was received today at about 07.15 about a bomb placed in
the Al. Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre. Press
office of the Emergency Ministry reported that operative groups left
for the place. The searching did not reveal any bomb.

KAREN BEKARYAN SAYS SOON NEW PACKAGE OF NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT WILL COME FORTH

ARMENPRESS
13:48, 1 September, 2011

Soon a new package of solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
may come forth where Stepanakert-Baku negotiations will be the
most important, political analyst Karen Bekaryan said adding that
Stepanakert-Baku dialogue is a logical continuation of negotiations.

Referring to the 20th anniversary of declaration of independence of
Nagorno Karabakh, the political analyst pointed out that currently
a number of circumstances are important for the development of the
second Armenian state. These circumstances are process of negotiations,
NK state building, international environment, RA-NKR cooperation.

Analyzing the previous phases of the peace talks, the political analyst
particularly highlighted the “General State” package, pointing out
that refusing it and stating that it is ready to grant highest autonomy
to Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan showed that it is telling lies.

Speaking about state building issues Karen Bekaryan noted that it is
on higher level in the NK than in many states recognized by the UN.

“There are also changes in the international environment”, the
political analyst said, taking into consideration the independence of
a number of states, which proved that there are changes in respect of
right to self-determination in the world. As to the RA-NKR partnership
the political analyst said that Armenia’s position here is quite
clear – Armenia will recognize Nagorno Karabakh if Azerbaijan starts
war. It was stated by the President of the Republic.

WIKILEAKS : LA TURQUIE N’A PAS OSE BOYCOTTER LA FRANCE
[email protected]

armenews.com
jeudi 1er septembre 2011

TURQUIE – FRANCE – LOI CONTRE LE NEGATIONNISME

Un telegramme datant d’Octobre 2006 emanent de l’ambassade des Etats
Unis a Ankara, devoile par Wikileaks, revèle que la Turquie s’est
gardee de lancer un ordre de boycott sur les produits francais après
l’adoption par l’Assemblee nationale du texte penalisant la negation
du genocide des Armeniens.

Malgre les recommandations d’Erdogan, appelant a attendre le resultat
du vote du Senat francais, l’Union des droits des consommateurs avait
precedemment appele au boycott, a commencer par celui de Total qui
compte 500 stations d’essence en Turquie.

En revanche, le Vice-president de l’Union des industriels et
entrepreneurs de Turquie et fondateur de l’Institut du Bosphore *,
Pekin Baran, s’etait demarque en disant que la meilleure reponse a
la decision de l’Assemblee nationale francaise etait l’acceleration
des reformes de la Turquie et l’evolution vers l’Europe.

Par ailleurs, de l’avis de Rifat Hisarciklioglu, membre a l’epoque
du Conseil d’administration de la Confederation des Chambres de
Commerce et d’Industrie, le boycott des entreprises francaises
pourrait causer plus de dommages a la Turquie qu’en France. Mais
dans le meme temps, il ajoutait que la Turquie pourrait refuser a
la France la possibilite d’une participation dans un certain nombre
d’appels d’offres importants.

Meme son de cloches de la part d’Erdikler Saban, President de
l’Association de l’investissement etranger, suggerant que le boycoot
des entreprise francaises en Turquie apporterait plus de mal que de
bien. Pour lui, la reponse aux problèmes politiques doit rester dans
l’arène politique.

Le 25 octobre 2006, il avait declare dans la presse turque : la
Turquie ne doit pas boycotter les entreprises qui ont ete creees
avec des capitaux francais en Turquie et ont investi en Turquie. Le
gouvernement turc a maintenant des responsabilites importantes,
ajoutant que le gouvernement devrait agir avec sang froid et prendre
des initiatives dans la CEDH et de l’UE sur une base juridique.. Il
note par ailleurs que la balance commerciale (entre la Turquie et la
France) est contre la Turquie.

C’est dans ce climat que le Premier ministre R.T Erdogan a mis en
garde contre les dangers du boycott, exhortant le public a rester
calme avant la decision finale du Senat francais.

Un avis partage par un diplomate americain en poste a Ankara,
declarant :” une telle demarche endommagera serieusement le processus
d’integration a l’UE.”

* Espace d’echanges cree en 2008 a Paris pour debattre en permanence
dans un esprit libre et objectif sur l’Europe actuelle. Il a aussi
pour vocation de renforcer les liens entre la France et la Turquie.

Independant, l’Institut du Bosphore rassemble des personnalites
turques et francaises issus d’horizons divers, comme les politiques
Pierre Moscovici, Michel Rocard, Thierry Mariani, ou encore l’homme
d’affaire, Kemal Dervis, sauveur de l’economie turque en 2001.

YEREVAN DOWNTOWN SUFFOCATING

news.am
Aug 31 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Three inner yards of Yerevan downtown are engaged in
life-and-death war, said the Sustainable Human Development NGO
President Karine Danielyan in a briefing on Wednesday.

“The buildings stand too close. If they sniff out two-three meters
of free space in the yard, they build lay a new foundation multistory
building,” said she.

Architect Gagik Sukhudyan stressed that Yerevan changed its
socio-economic structure, asthe city does not serve its residents.

“Our country is called Republic of Armenia, we do not call it Elite
Republic of Armenia. We have a thousand social issues to solve but we
paint the buildings. Yerevan faces grave issues of urban development,”
said the architect.

He argues that architects no longer decide on the architectural
style of the city, they merely implement the orders, just like a
tailor would.

S. MINASYAN: CHANGING OF STATUS QUO IS A TOUGH ISSUE

Panorama
Aug 31 2011
Armenia

Panorama.am talked to political expert Sergey Minasyan over the
situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and developments after
Kazan meeting.

“After Kazan meeting it’s almost impossible for the foreign powers
to change the status quo. It’s failed to force the parties to do that.

Status quo is more favourable for the Armenian side,” expert said.

What development can be forecasted in this process, expert said:
“I don’t think some active developments will be materialized.”

In 1-2 years Artsakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairing states will enter a phase of elections,
if the process is supposed to take a break: “The elections will be
a new factor to freeze the negotiating process. Referring to talks
over war-peace, I think on September 21, when our rich and powerful
armaments will be demonstrated in a military parade, Azerbaijan will
think carefully over this issue.”

ARMENIAN PM TO HEAD LIST OF RULING PARTY AT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS-NEWSPAPER

news.am
Aug 31 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The fact that Tigran Sargsyan is still a PM makes Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan nervous, the Armenian Chorord Ishkhanutyun
newspaper writes.

“The only responsible for the failure in economic policy and comlicated
social situation is the PM. His failure is also the failure of the
policy run by the president, and Serzh Sargsyan is well aware of it,”
the daily writes.

According to the newspaper, Russia wants the Armenian President to
get rid of PM, while U.S. lobby insists on the contrary. U.S. lobby
is more important in this case and Serzh Sargsyan has to stand Tigran
Sargsyan willingly or unwillingly.

However, the president has found a way to politely get rid of the PM.

Tigran Sargsyan will head the pre-election list of the ruling
Republican Party for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Thus, Tigran Sargsyan is offered to be busy with active politics and
also head the executive body. This is anti-constitutional and confronts
with promises given to the international community on holding free,
fair and transparent elections.

“The PM will be fired to be busy with active politics and to head
the pre-election list of Republican Party,” the newspaper writes.

KARABAKH DECLARES AMNESTY TO MARK INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Aug 31 2011

STEPANAKERT — Authorities in the breakaway Azerbaijani region of
Nagorno-Karabakh have declared a general amnesty they say will lead to
the release of about 20 percent of the territory’s prison population,
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports.

The parliament in the Armenian-controlled parliament approved an
amnesty law on August 30 put forward by Bako Sahakian, the Armenian
Karabakh leader.

Officials in Stepanakert refused to specify how many convicts will
be freed as a result of the amnesty, which is dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of Karabakh’s declaration of independence from Azerbaijan.

The total number of people serving prison sentences in Karabakh has
also not been made public.

The law stipulates that the amnesty will not apply to individuals
convicted of murder, rape, robbery, and other serious crimes. It
will mainly affect those sentenced to up to three years in prison or
underage convicts.

Other prisoners serving longer sentences can have their jail terms
reduced by at least one-third if they participated in the 1991-94
war against Azerbaijan or are related to people who were killed in
the fighting.

Speaking in the parliament, Sahakian’s chief legal aide, Ara Lazarian,
said the amnesty will also require local law-enforcement bodies to
close at least 60 percent of pending criminal cases that have not
been sent to courts and free relevant criminal suspects in nonserious
crimes committed before August 1.

Armenia’s president and parliament declared a general amnesty in May.

At least 400 people have been released from jail since then as a
result of that amnesty.

The self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has not been recognized
by any country.

PENTAGON GRANTED $10 MILLION TO AZERBAIJAN BUT NOT FOR KARABAKH

news.am
Aug 31 2011
Armenia

WASHINGTON. – The U.S. Department of Defense granted Azerbaijan a
military aid amounting to $10 million, Associated Press reports. Funds
will be directed to strengthening Azerbaijani’s anti-terrorism
readiness in the Caspian Sea and provides for purchasing boats,
engines, diving equipment and organization of trainings.

Azerbaijan is one of the terminals for Washington’s military supplies
to Afghanistan. The financial aid is planned for other states as well,
in particular, Malta and Tunisia.