Author: Babajanian Karo

NATO WEEK TO KICK OFF IN ARMENIA ON NOVEMBER 10

13:05, 07 Nov 2014

The 8th NATO Week will be held in Armenia from November 12 to 14
under the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan.

Within this framework a spacebridge between Armenian peacekeepers
on mission in Kosovo and Afghanistan and their families will be
organized. A visit to the peacekeeping brigade of the Armenian Ministry
of Defense is also planned.

On November 12 the Ambassadors of a number of NATO member states
to Armenia will hold a meeting with the faculty and students of the
Yerevan State University.

The “Cooperation platform” initiative and a roundtable discussion on
UN Resolution on “Women, Peace and Security” will also be held during
the week.

LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN TERMINE SA VISITE EN JORDANIE

ARMENIE

Le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a termine jeudi sa visite de
deux jours officiel au Royaume hachemite de Jordanie.

Après des reunions avec des fonctionnaires et de hauts responsables
jordaniens, le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a visite le lieu
où Jesus-Christ a ete baptise dans le Jourdain a indique le service
de presse presidentiel.

Le president a fait une inscription dans le livre d’or : “A Al-Maghtas,
où Jesus-Christ a ete baptise, la spiritualite domine. Un etre
humain devient ici une partie de l’humanite, la realisation de
l’inevitabilite de l’eternite. Le Bapteme symbolise le nouveau,
la tolerance et la bonne renaissance. Je crois que cet endroit peut
changer la comprehension par une personne du monde >>.

Accompagne par le patriarche armenien de Jerusalem, le chef spirituel
de la Jordanie et la delegation armenienne, le president a ensuite
visite l’eglise armenienne Saint Karapet.

vendredi 7 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

His Holiness Aram I Visits Iranian Officials

Antelias – 25 – 26 October 2014. On Saturday and Sunday His Holiness
Aram I, accompanied by the diocesan prelates and representatives of
church councils, met with Ali Larinjani, Chairman of the Parliament of
Iran, and Dr. Abuzar Ibrahimi, the Director of the Islamic Culture and
Relations Organization (ICRO).

During their one-hour meeting His Holiness and Mr. Larinjani discussed
the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, and, together, they
condemned terrorism. The visit ended with Chairman Larinjani expressing
his appreciation of the contribution made by the Armenian community to
Iranian society.

At their meeting on Sunday, the Catholicos and Director General Ibrahimi
discussed the importance of interreligious dialogue and the important
contribution of the Armenian community. They then discussed the date of
their next dialogue meeting to be held in Lebanon.

At the end, His Holiness Aram I thanked the Director General for his
kind words, and suggested that all interreligious and intercultural
dialogues lead to cooperation and to a culture of living together.

His Holiness Aram I Prays with the Faithful, Meets the Youth and
Parishioners and Visits Organizations

Antelias – 24 – 26 October 2104. His Holiness Aram I spent his last
weekend in Tehran meeting with members of the community and praying with
them.

On Friday the 24th, he presided over the Holy Liturgy at St. Sarkis
Church and preached on the Biblical verse, `I came that they may have
life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10). He said that human beings
are called to live their God-given lives according to the principles and
ethical values taught by Jesus.

On the same evening he joined St. Vartanantz parish in the neighborhood
of Sardarabad for Canonical Prayers. Referring to John 10:15, where it
is written that the good shepherd lays his life down for his sheep, he
spoke of the importance of the relationship between the faithful and the
servant church.

After the prayers, His Holiness met the faithful, discussed their
questions and blessed them.

On Saturday 25 October, Caholicos Aram I visited all the Armenian
schools in Tehran. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian introduced the
Catholicos and spoke of his strong support for Armenian schools. After
the students presented a programme of Armenian poetry and music, His
Holiness spoke, referring to the Armenian school as the sustainer of
Armenian culture and its values and urging parents to send their
children to Armenian schools. At the end of the program, the Catholicos
met and held discussions with the teachers.

After visiting the schools, the Catholicos went to the offices of ALIK,
Armenian daily newspaper, where he met with the editorial board,
representatives of the Armenian Cause committee and the representatives
of the members of the Central Committee of Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Political Party.

His Holiness thanked the members of the Editorial Board of Alik and
everyone who is working for the just cause of the Armenian people. He
said, `We must go beyond writing and speaking now; it is time to take
legal action against Turkey.’

The visit ended with a luncheon in honor of His Holiness.

After his visit to ALIK, the Catholicos and his entourage went to the
Raffi Center, the Sipan Cultural Association, where they attended a
presentation by the Pert Dance group from Armenia. His Holiness Aram I
thanked all the organizations for their important work in safeguarding
Armenian culture; he also thanked the members of the dance group for
their presentation.

In the evening, the Catholicos joined the faithful for Canonical prayers
at St. Tarkmanchatz Church. In his message, he spoke of the important
historical role of the Armenian Church as the safe refuge for the people
in difficult times and the source of moral and cultural values at all
times. He then urged the faithful to go to Church regularly and shape
their lives on these values. Once again he met with the faithful for
discussion and to give them his blessings.

On Sunday 26 October, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy
at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in the Zeytoun neighborhood of
Tehran. Afterward, Bishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of Tehran,
introduced the community and their activities, and His Holiness spoke,
emphasizing that faith and good works must go together. He concluded
with the following words from the Gospel of James: What good is it, my
brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? … is that
faith able to save him? (James 2:14).

After meeting the faithful and blessing them, the members of the Parish
Council held a luncheon honoring the Catholicos.

On Sunday afternoon, His Holiness Aram I met with the youth at the
Prelacy of Tehran. After the youth introduced their activities,
Catholicos Aram I expressed his confidence in the Armenian youth and in
their ability to face difficult challenges. He then urged them to remain
attached to the Armenian spiritual and cultural values and to
participate in the life of the community. He concluded, `Our youth
have a great contribution to make and they have a crucial role to play
in our life as community.’

On same evening, he was the guest of honor at a farewell dinner offered
by the Diocesan Council of Tehran. Speaking on behalf of the Armenian
community in Iran, Mr. Eduard Papakhanian, President of the Council,
said that the visit had invigorated the community and strengthened their
ties with the Holy See of Cilicia. In his concluding message, His
Holiness Aram I said, `Antelias belongs to the people, and the aim of
the Catholicosate is to respond to the aspirations and needs of
Armenians.’ He then invited people to stay in the Church and share
their concerns.

At the end of the dinner, His Holiness Aram I decorated Mr. Heno Der
Ghougassian with the insignia of Knight of Cilicia for his contribution
to the construction projects of St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya
(Lebanon).

# #

AIR ARMENIA : LE TRANSPORTEUR NATIONAL SUSPEND SES VOLS JUSQU’A L’HIVER

ARMENIE

La compagnie aerienne nationale d’Armenie a annonce la suspension
de ses vols après des mois de difficultes financières, promettant de
revenir après des reformes en hiver.

Elle a dit que la declaration de Rosaeronavigatsia du 11 septembre
dans laquelle l’autorite russe a menace d’interdire a Air Armenia
d’effectuer des vols vers les villes russes a provoque de grands
dommages a la societe armenienne.

“Cette declaration a provoque la panique parmi les passagers, les
creanciers et les debiteurs. De nombreux passagers ont commence a
retourner leurs billets achetes. Un grand nombre de clients potentiels
a refuse de se prevaloir des services de notre compagnie. Les ventes
ont chute de 60 pour cent “, a indique la compagnie, ajoutant que dans
le meme temps tous les creanciers ont commence a exiger d’etre paye de
leurs dettes, refusant de garder le calendrier convenu dans le passe,
et les debiteurs ont refuse de faire des paiements pour les billets
deja vendus.

En plus des problèmes mentionnes ci-dessus, Air Armenia a dû envoyer
deux avions pour travaux de maintenance dans les Pays-Bas. Et bien
qu’elle ait ete prevu des travaux d’entretien, dans des conditions
de

LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN ET LE ROI DE JORDANIE DISCUTENT DE COOPERATION

ARMENIE

Le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a rencontre le roi de Jordanie
Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein a l’occasion d’une visite officielle de
deux jours dans le pays.

Selon le bureau de presse de la presidence, le President Sarkissian
et le roi Abdallah ibn al-Hussein ont eu une reunion a la residence
du roi de Jordanie.

Le chef de file de l’Armenie a exprime sa gratitude pour l’accueil
chaleureux a la delegation armenienne en Jordanie.

Le president Sarkissian et le roi Abdallah II Ibn Al-Hussein ont
discute des perspectives de developpement des relations bilaterales
et de la cooperation mutuellement avantageuse dans differents domaines.

Les deux parties ont examine le developpement de la cooperation
economique bilaterale et le potentiel disponible.

La reunion en tete-a-tete entre le president Serge Sarkissian et le roi
Abdallah II Ibn Al-Hussein a ete suivie par la signature d’un certain
nombre de documents par les delegations armenienne et jordanienne.

A Amman le President Sarkissian a egalement rencontre le Premier
ministre de la Jordanie, le president du Senat et le president de
la Chambre des representants, ainsi que le maire de la capitale
jordanienne.

jeudi 6 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

INTEGRATION PAR L’EDUCATION : UN PROJET DE L’ONU POUR LES REFUGIES ARMENIENS DE SYRIE

ARMENIE

L’integration des refugies a travers le programme d’education a permis
a 38 Armeniens de Syrie de se specialiser dans trois professions – la
coiffure, la cuisine, et la conceptions de vetements. Douze coiffeurs
et de chefs sont deja employes, la formation pour la conception des
vetements est toujours en cours.

Le programme qui a ete lance en Janvier a fonctionne avec des milliers
de beneficiaires. Le programme est mis en oeuvre en cooperation avec
le Fonds humanitaire Suisse KASA (KSHF) et le Haut Commissariat aux
Refugies (HCR).

Le chef du programme d’integration des refugies a travers l’education,
Marine Tunyan, a mentionne qu’ils ont essaye d’integrer ceux ayant
le statut de refugie.

>, a declare Tunyan.

Tout en travaillant sur le projet, ils ont coopere avec le centre de
formation professionnelle franco-armenien.

Marine Tunyan a mentionne qu’ils utilisaient l’espace du centre
de l’artisanat ayant une cuisine qui correspond a des normes
professionnelles et un salon de coiffure.

Après la remise des certificats le HCR a accorde des cadeaux speciaux –
les outils necessaires pour la coiffure – pour les femmes specialises
dans la coiffure.

“Ceci est le metier avec qui on va etre en mesure de trouver un
emploi dans une partie du monde. En plus de fournir un premier
support d’urgence, qui est une aide temporaire, nous avons essaye
de mettre en oeuvre un programme qui vous aidera a vous tenir sur
vos pieds. Ceci est egalement une bonne occasion de travailler a
la maison, surtout pour les femmes qui ont de petits enfants. Vous
pouvez travailler ensemble et trouve votre propre salon de coiffure,
vous pouvez demarrer votre propre entreprise” a declare le representant
du HCR en Armenie Christoph Bierwirth.

Une mère de quatre enfants, Hranoush Petrossian s’est refugiee en
Armenie en provenance de Syrie avec sa famille en 2012. Elle a deja
des clients, travaille a la maison.

>, a declare Petrossian.

Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

jeudi 6 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

CONGES MATERNITES : LES FEMMES OBTIENNENT GAIN DE CAUSE

Legislation

Le gouvernement armenien a revu ses plans concernant des coupes
considerables dans les prestations de maternite, qui avaient suscite
de vives protestations chez les travailleuses.

Le ministre du Travail et des Affaires sociales, Artem Asatrian,
a declare mardi que la majorite des femmes ne serait pas affectee
par les changements envisages dans un certain nombre de lois connexes.

La loi actuelle prevoit que les allocations mensuelles doivent
correspondre a la totalite des salaires des femmes employees par
des entites publiques ou privees. Le projet de loi du gouvernement
prevu a l’origine souhaitait reduire leur montant entre 20 et 60 %
en fonction de leur experience de travail.

Un vive mouvement de protestations parmi les jeunes femmes a suivi
cette annonce. Beaucoup se sont rassemblees devant les bâtiments du
gouvernement et du parlement le mois dernier.

Lors d’une reunion du gouvernement jeudi dernier, le Premier ministre
Hovik Abrahamian a demande a son cabinet de reformuler les amendements
d’une manière a ce que “pas une seule femme enceinte en pâtisse”.

Au cours des audiences sur la question mardi au Parlement, le ministre
Asatrian a dit que les femmes, dont le salaire mensuel ne depasse
pas 1 million de drams (environ 2500 $), ne seraient pas touches par
les changements prevus, tandis que les employeurs devront prendre en
charge les paiements supplementaires pour les hauts salaires. Selon
lui, a l’heure actuelle, il n’y a que 400 femmes en Armenie dont les
salaires sont superieurs a la somme indiquee.

Le depute Aghvan Vartanian de la Federation revolutionnaire armenienne
a declare que la decision du gouvernement a ete le resultat des
protestations de femmes.

“Il est très important qu’il y ait eu une protestation publique et
que les femmes se battent pour leurs droits”, a t-il dit.

jeudi 6 novembre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

ZHOGHOVURD: HRAZDAN CEMENT PLANT STANDING IDLE AGAIN

09:36 * 06.11.14

The Hrazdan Cement Plant is said to be again in a state of idleness
despite the fact that it resumed its operation just two month ago.

Speaking to the paper, several employees said that the plant’s
leadership decided to temporarily halt the production starting from
November 15. They were reportedly told that no exact timeframes are
known as to possible re-operation plans. Some even tried to find out
what is awaiting them, given that no salaries had been paid since
July, says the paper, adding that cement instead of money was what
they were promised in response.

Armenian News – Tert.am

CLOSED TALKS OVER ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY’S RE-OPERATION UNDER WAY – ARMENIAN OFFICIAL

11:50 * 06.11.14

In an interview with Tert.am, a deputy minister of finance admitted
that closed negotiations are now under way over the relaunch of the
Abkhazian railway, with Armenia being directly involved and actively
inerested in the process.

Arthur Arakelyan said he finds that the question pursues more political
rather than economic interests, adding that the recent developments
inspire positive hopes for progress.

Mr Arakelyan, rumors on the re-operation of the Abkhazian railways
have been quite active recently. At what stage is the process now?

Yes, both the Armenian side and the Russians and Georgians
strongly emphasize the importance of implementing this project, the
re-establishment of the railway connection with the Abkhazian section.

There have recently been greater chances for reassuring statements,
particularly positive signals by CEO of Russian Railways [Vladimir]
Yakunin. Because the negotiations are closed, i.e. – the issue is more
political than economic, the problem here has to do with agreements
between the Georgian and Abkhazzian authorities. So you probably
understand that it is an intricate tangle. Armenia’s Ministry of
Transport and Communication too, is involved in those processes,
and we are hopeful that we will be able to issue a statement for our
society soon.

Opinions are heard that the Abkhazian side is more opposed to the
railway’s re-opening, with the Georgian side being more inclined to
a rapid solution.

You know, there are two very contradictory positions here in terms
of the border crossing – where that border’s crossing point is and
where the stamp is put. But I repeat that the topic is sensitive for
either side, both the Georgians and the Abkhazians, and there are
numerous other problems as well.

Are there any estimates as to the sum required for the re-operation?

Sums will be required, of course, as it [the railway]has stood
idle for over 20 years now and has many damaged sections, but I
am confident that there will be no problems in case they offer a
solution. There are available estimates, but they strictly differ. No
specific planning activities have been carried out; hence we do not
have final calculations. But I repeat again, we still refrain from
statements not to harm the positive processes. We are hopeful, however,
that it will be possible as the presidents of all our countries –
Russia, Armenia and Georgia – attach a major importance to the project.

Have the economic benefits for Armenia been estimated?

That’s naturally about considerable benefits, as we know today that
the railway communication with Russia is very complicated. A ferry
boat is used for shipping the cargo to the territory Russian which
raises the prices in a very unprecedented manner. So there will be
a very interesting project should the Russian railway operate in
such circumstances.

And what accounts for the other side’s interest.

Of course, all the sides have their own interests. Georgia will become
a transit country, benefiting from considerable advantages. But I
mention again that exclusively political factors are an obstacle here.

And when do you think are the estimated timeframes?

I am not used to making predictions of the kind; once everything is
clear, we’ll make a statement about it. In technical terms – in case
an assessment is needed – that’s a matter of a very short

PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN DISAPPOINTS WESTERN COUNTRIES

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 5 2014

5 November 2014 – 3:03pm

The European Parliament has passed a resolution accusing Baku of
putting pressure on non-governmental organizations and limiting the
right to freedom of speech. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about
it a month ago, though Azerbaijan had passed a bill a year earlier
making the procedure for registering NGOs harder. Secretary General
of the Council of Europe Thornbjorn Jagland recently published an
article in the Guardian, linking the UK’s plan to leave the European
Court of Human Rights over the arrest of Azerbaijani and international
NGOs in Baku.

Politologist Rasim Musabekov said that the criticism from the West was
not a serious attack. The recent resolution by the European Parliament
has not been the first one on Azerbaijan, he notes. Musabekov believes
that the document was pushed by a few dozen people, including members
of the Armenian lobby. The expert noted that there were hundreds
of such documents and they were usually left forgotten a week after
being passed.

Musabekov said that cooperation with the West should be assessed by
energy projects. He assumed that the rising criticism was a reaction
to the independent foreign policy of Azerbaijan. The analyst called
Azerbaijan a self-sufficient country and added that teaching it how
to implement its foreign policy was pointless.

Concerning the arrests of NGO members, Musabekov stated that
investigators had materials about the suspects’ involvement in
terrorism and plans to organize terrorist attacks in Baku.

Asim Mollazadeh associates the criticism of Azerbaijan with the
upcoming 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in 1915. Rich and
politically-active Armenians, he says, are using the moment to add
pressure on Azerbaijan and Turkey. He reminded that U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry was the author of resolution N907 against Azerbaijan
when he had been a senator for Massachusetts and closely connected
with the Armenian National Congress of the U.S.

The expert said it was down to the unwillingess of Armenia to settle
the Nagorno-Karabakh peacefully. In his words, it is an attempt to
draw attention away from its aggressive policy and cause tensions in
relations between Azerbaijan and the West. He reminded that Baku was
cooperating with Europe in fighting terrorism.

Concluding his evaluation, Mollazadeh said that neither Moscow nor
Washington, Brussels or Ankara had the role of an elder brother of
Azerbaijan. He emphasized that Azerbaijan needed partners, friends
and good neighbours and would not let anyone tell it how to carry
out its policy.