Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS ARRIVE IN LEBANON

13:38 27/11/2014 ” SOCIETY

A unit of 32 Armenian peacekeepers arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday,
the press service of the Armenian Defense Ministry reported.

As part of the Italian contingent, the Armenian peacekeepers will
participate in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Italian Ambassador
Giovanni Ricciulli attended the send-off ceremony for the Armenian
peacekeepers.

Armenian peacekeepers have been participating in international
peacekeeping missions since 2004. Currently, they carry out
peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Source: Panorama.am

TURKEY CRITICIZES US FOR ‘IMPERTINENCE’ ON SYRIA CRISIS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:57PM GMT

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed the United States
over what he called its “impertinence” on the Syrian conflict, further
exposing the extent of divisions between Ankara and Washington on
the foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria.

On Wednesday, Erdogan accused the US of being “impertinent” for
pressuring it to help save the northern Syrian city of Kobani, where
Kurdish fighters are battling the ISIL Takfiri militants.

“Why is somebody coming to this region from 12,000 kilometers (7,000
miles) away? I want you to know that we are against impertinence,
recklessness and endless demands,” he told a group of businessmen in
the Turkish capital, Ankara.

“We will resolve our problems not with the help of a ‘superior mind’
but with the help of our people,” Erdogan stated.

Erdogan’s comments come as US Vice President Joe Biden concluded
his three-day visit to Turkey on Sunday, without a breakthrough on
military cooperation in the Syrian crisis.

On November 19, the Turkish president criticized the United States for
failing to meet Turkey’s conditions to play a more influential role
in the Washington-led so-called coalition against the ISIL militants.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. The United States
and some of its regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
and Turkey — have been supporting the militants operating in Syria.

The ISIL terrorists, who were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan
in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, now control large swaths
of territory in Iraq and Syria.

Since late September, the US and some of its Arab allies have
been carrying out airstrikes against ISIL inside Syria without any
authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

Syria’s Kurdish city of Kobani has been under siege by the ISIL for
weeks while the Turkish army stands watching the plight of the Kurds
inside the city.

MP/HMV/HRB

ARMENIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST VISITS AZERBAIJANI SABOTEURS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

12:56 * 26.11.14

Armenia’s first Human Rights Defender Larisa Alaverdyan told reporters
on Wednesday that the Foundation against the Violation of Law (FAVL)
she heads has applied to a number of international organizations
for monitoring in Nagorno-Karabakh and meetings with the Azerbaijani
saboteurs.

“If a person is in custody, especially in a foreign country, he or
she must be visited by NGO representatives. I am surprised that the
international NGOs are not at all concerned over the trial of the
Azerbaijani saboteurs in Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh],” Ms Alaverdyan
said.

She, as well as other FAVL members, visited the Azerbaijani saboteurs
in Nagorno-Karabakh and made sure they were in normal conditions.

“However, I would rather other international organizations do the
same and make statements, which would be available to the saboteurs’
relatives,” Ms Alaverdyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

SERJ TANKIAN COMPOSING THE MUSIC FOR NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FILM

14:07, 25 Nov 2014

Serj Tankian is composing the music to 1915 The Movie, a new film
about the Armenian Genocide.

“Grammy Award winning musician Serj Tankian is composing a hauntingly
beautiful original score for 1915 The Movie. Internationally celebrated
as the frontman for System of a Down, and for his symphonies Elect the
Dead and Orca, Tankian will be making his feature film debut as the
composer of 1915,” reads a post on the movie’s official Facebook page.

“1915 is an incredible feature film full of rich trauma, profundity,
suspense, and some magic all while remaining picturesque and modern
— a rarity in today’s films. I am relishing in creating the musical
world for it,” Serj Tankian says.

A mind-bending psychological thriller set against one of the most
terrifying events of modern history, 1915 The Movie follows one man’s
controversial mission to bring the ghosts of a forgotten genocide
back to life.

PUTIN PROPOSES RESUMPTION OF SUKHUMI-YEREVAN RAILWAY

News | 25.11.14 | 13:14

Russia and Abkhazia, in case of agreement of all parties, may organize
a transit rail service in the direction of Sukhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan.

“We deem that it is possible together with other partners to consider
and with common consent to implement a project like, for example,
a transit rail connection in the direction of Sukhumi-Tbilisi,”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 24 as quoted by
Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.

“The implementation of such projects will contribute to the creation
of conditions for the development of relations between all interested
parties,” the Russian president added.

Armenia, which will become a member of the Russian-led Eurasian
Economic Union beginning next year, has no land connection with the
rest of the Union members, also including Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Earlier on Monday, the presidents of Russia and Abkhazia signed a
bilateral agreement on strategic partnership and alliance.

Georgia does not recognize Abkhazia as an independent country and
considers it to be still part of its territory. Russia recognized
Abkhazia following the 2008 Russo-Georgian war in South Ossetia and
at present provides it with economic and military assistance.

HEADS OF BLACK SEA COUNTRIES’ NATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES DISCUSS COMMON CHALLENGES IN ARMENIA

11:23, 25 November, 2014

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The 7th session of the General
Assembly of the Black Sea Association of National News Agencies kicked
off in Yerevan. “Armenpress” News Agency is the organizer of the annual
meeting of the leading news agencies of the region. At the opening of
the session, the Director of “Armenpress” Aram Ananyan expressed his
gratitude to the representatives of the leading agencies of the region
for visiting Armenia and sharing their experience with the colleagues.

Among other things, Aram Ananyan underscored: “In my opinion,
we have a unique organization. It’s a good arena for discussions,
where problematic issues are raised each year, and we see how they
find their solutions due to the efforts of each of us. The results
of our activities are visible. It’s of a certain importance that
this assembly takes place in Armenia now. When we met in summer, we
were talking about the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
which will be marked next year. We also reflected on the importance
of the values of the past for the creation of news and how big the
role of the news agencies is in preventing such events. Journalism
must be the arena, on which the best future will be constructed.”

The Director of “Armenpress” News Agency stated in a conversation with
journalists that the agencies participating in the session constantly
keep in touch with each other and follow the activities of each other.

“By all means, we are sincerely following one another’s activity
and the bridges created between these agencies help everyone to
understand what is going on in the neighboring country. The experience
and knowledge we receive from the colleagues are very precocious. The
direct connection with the colleagues helps us greatly, as we clarify
for our colleagues a number of misunderstandings or comments, which
do not reflect actual facts about the Armenian Genocide or the
Karabakh issue.

Their understanding about us changes, when they visit Armenia. In
honor of Armenia, it should be said that our media is free today more
than ever, and that fact is highly appreciated by the heads of the
agencies attending the session today, as well,” Ananyan concluded.

VAGHARCHAK HAROUTIOUNIAN ACCUSE L’AZERBAIDJAN D’AVOIR COMMIS UN >

ARMENIE

Dans un entretien avec Hayots Achkhar, l’ancien Ministre de la
Defense d’Armenie, Vagharchak Haroutiounian, accuse l’Azerbaïdjan
d’avoir commis un >. Selon lui, l’etude de
l’enregistrement video de l’incident demontre que l’helicoptère
a ete abattu par un missile sol-air de production russe Igla et
que l’helicoptère volait au moins a 1km de distance de la ligne
de contact. L’ancien Ministre se dit egalement convaincu que non
seulement les autorites politiques et militaires de Bakou, mais aussi
la population azerbaïdjanaise ne sont pas en mesure de mener une
nouvelle guerre. Se rendant compte de cette realite, les autorites
azerbaïdjanaises se livrent a des provocations afin de parvenir a
leurs objectifs : instaurer une ambiance de terreur en Armenie et au
HK ; encourager la population azerbaïdjanaise en donnant l’image d’un
Azerbaïdjan puissant ; imposer des concessions a la partie armenienne
et une solution pro-azerbaïdjanaise aux mediateurs. M. Haroutiounian
estime qu’en dehors d’une reaction militaire a cet incident, la
partie armenienne doit entreprendre des efforts diplomatiques afin
de devoiler a la communaute internationale la face >
de l’Azerbaïdjan.

Hayots Achkhar reproduit aussi l’avis d’un heros de la guerre du HK,
le general Arcady Ter-Tadevossian, selon lequel l’Azerbaïdjan a commis
un >. Toutefois, le general estime que les mesures
de represailles de la partie armenienne ne devaient pas viser les
ressources humaines des forces azerbaïdjanaises et notamment les jeunes
soldats, dont la vie ne coûte rien pour Bakou. Le general suggère des
solutions de fond qui porteraient un coup aux ressources militaires
des forces azerbaïdjanaises. Ce meme quotidien reproduit l’avis d’un
politologue, Levon Chirinian, selon lequel les communications etant le
point faible des forces azerbaïdjanaises, la partie armenienne devrait
viser ce point-la. M. Chirinian regrette que les forces armeniennes
n’aient pas immediatement reagi a la provocation azerie et conquis
la position d’où l’helicoptère avait ete abattu.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 18 novembre 2014

mardi 25 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LA PRODUCTION DE BRANDY A DIMINUE DE 9,2% EN ARMENIE

ARMENIE

La production de brandy en Armenie a baisse de 9,2% pour un total
de 8 710 400 litres entre Janvier et Juillet par rapport a la meme
periode de 2013, a rapporte ArmStat.

La chute a ete observee aussi dans la production de vin dans le pays –
10,3% a 2 714 800 litres dans la periode consideree.

Dans le meme temps, la production de vodka a augmente de 7,4% a 5
061 300 litres entre Janvier-et Juillet.

Un total de 186 600 litres de champagne (en augmentation de 28,3%)
et de 15 381 100 litres de bière (en augmentation de 63,9%) a ete
realise dans la periode.

Les boissons non alcoolisees fabriquees dans la periode s’elèvent
a 39 882 500 litres, soit une augmentation de 44,6% par rapport a
Janvier-Juillet de 2013.

mardi 25 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

VISITE DU PAPE EN TURQUIE : LA QUESTION ARMENIENNE SERA EVOQUEE SELON LE NOUVEL AMBASSADEUR TURC AU VATICAN

VATICAN

Radio Vatikan annonce que le sujet du genocide des Armeniens en
Turquie sera probablement au sujet des reunions du Pape Francois avec
le president turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a Ankara le 28 Novembre.

Selon Radio Vatikan le nouvel ambassadeur turc au Vatican, Mehmet
Pacaci aurait declare a la presse avant la visite que le Pape insiste
toujours sur l’importance du dialogue or “dans le debat entre l’Armenie
et la Turquie nous recherchons egalement le dialogue avec la partie
armenienne et nous nous attendons a ce que notre attitude soit
egalement soutenue par des institutions religieuses comme le Vatican”.

mardi 25 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

KATHY LEACH ON ARMENIA’S EEU AND EU TIES

Tuesday 25 November 2014 09:59
Photo: Photolure

UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach

Within “Ambassadorial Lecture Series”, UK Ambassador to Armenia
Katherine Leach had a meeting with the students of the American
University of Armenia (AUA) on November 24.

Katherine Leach recounted about EU, spoke about Armenia-EU relations
and cooperation carried on within Eastern Partnership, touched upon
the crisis in Ukraine and the referendum in Scotland, etc.

Upon the students’ request, the Ambassador also touched upon the
escalation of tension in NK conflict zone and the downing of Artsakh
helicopter by Azerbaijan.

Mediamax presents excerpts from the Ambassador’s speech.

Armenia-EU ties

Negotiations launched over Association Agreement with Armenia, Georgia,
Ukraine and Moldova were long-lasting and quite painstaking.

>From the very beginning EU wanted Armenia to realize it and to act
committed to it. I believe it’s exactly why Armenia’s September 3,
2014, decision by which Armenia stated its desire to join the Eurasian
Economic Union was a surprise for many. But it’s Armenia’s choice and
our present task is to find out ways to go beyond it and to move ahead.

The letters exchanged between Armenian and EU representatives
in Vilnius in November 2014 showed that the parties are eager to
persist with cooperation in human rights protection, justice reforms
and other sectors. Negotiations over these issues are underway. But
most importantly, Armenia should not “get oblivious” of EU’s being
a large and complicated organization, which on the one hand settles
issues within itself – among its member states, and on the other hand,
attempts to set a broader agenda of economic integration with various
countries around the world. Thus, the best a country can do when
developing ties with the EU is to have a clear vision of what they
want and to formulate what they expect from it. Even if the agenda
of those “wishes” is not large, it has to be clear.

The passing year was quite hard for Armenia. The country was involved
in negotiations over EEU membership and therefore it was hard for
it to present its EU expectations. Armenia will complete its EEU
membership process in 2015, and I hope that following it we will be
able to specify our tasks and cooperation areas. We feel Armenia’s
eagerness and will to continue cooperation with the EU and are ready
to support it.

Armenia’s EEU membership decision

Armenia’s EEU membership decision was no longer a surprise for us. We
understand that Armenia is a vulnerable state with limited capacities.

Relations with Russia are of strategic importance for Armenia and
security-related issues are a determining factor. The incidents that
occurred over the passing year made Armenia’s decision clearer for us.

Azerbaijan’s downing of the helicopter

The United Kingdom joined the calls of the international community
and backed the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We supported
the parties to come to terms on the return of the bodies of the pilots
through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC).

We understand that Karabakh Forces have conducted special operation,
and presently the bodies of the crew members have been returned to
their families.

UK’s economic interests in Azerbaijan

British Petroleum is one of the largest investors in Azerbaijan and in
this regard, we often wonder about UK’s role in this region. I tend to
give the same answer – pursuing economic interests in Azerbaijan we do
realize the importance of the peaceful settlement of NK conflict. We
know what disastrous consequences the resumption of military actions
might have in terms of local residents, economy and investments. It’s
not beneficial for anyone. It is for this reason that we voice our
concerns and back the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. To
this end, British Minister for Europe David Lidington paid a visit to
Armenia and during his meetings in both Yerevan and Azerbaijan said
that the peoples of the two countries should be prepared for peace
and not war.

Yekaterina Poghosyan