Author: Babajanian Karo

SEYRAN OHANYAN: WE SHALL STRICTLY PUNISH ENEMY’S SNIPERS

21:27 | July 9,2014 | Politics

Azerbaijan continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, says Armenia’s
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

He says the military rhetoric of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
activates after each political change in the region and he always
tries to hamper the negotiation process by opening fire on peaceful
population of Armenia.

“Armenia will give an adequate and firm answer but we shall never
shell the enemy’s civilian population and settlements. We will strictly
punish their snipers who shoot at civilians,” said Mr Ohanyan.

The Armenian official reiterated that Armenians will never cede an
inch of land to the adversary.

ARGENTINEAN PRESIDENT SKIPS MEETING WITH ARMENIAN COUNTERPART

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 9 2014

9 July 2014 – 10:30am

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has failed to meet his Argentinean
counterpart Cristina Kirchner yesterday. The president was waiting
for several hours, only to be invited to the San Martin Palace where
he met Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and Vice Prime Minister Amado
Budu, who told Sargsyan that Kirchner will meet him later.

Budu reminded that Sargsyan had started his tour in Latin America
with Argentina, demonstrating the good contacts of the two states.

Sargsyan was later told that he was welcome at the Presidential
Administration. The meeting was postponed and Sargsyan had to wait
for hours at his room in the Alvear Hotel.

The Armenian leader was later informed the Kirchner could not meet
him due to health problems. Instead, Sargsyan met Buenos Aires Mayor
Mauricio Macri and then representatives of the Armenian community in
Argentina, the third largest community of Armenia in the world.

DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES ARRIVES IN MINSK

TVR, Belarus
July 9 2014

The delegation of Armenian Armed Forces has already paid a visit to
the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.

The head of the Armenian delegation met with the Chief of General
Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov and First Deputy Minister
of Defense of Belarus Oleg Belokonev. The parties discussed issues
of cooperation, and then visited the famous 5th separate brigade of
special purpose in Maryina Gorka.

Today, the Armenian military will meet with the Minister of Defense
of Belarus Yuri Zhadobin.

AMBASSADOR: CARREFOUR WILL OPEN IN ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER

July 09, 2014 | 17:42

YEREVAN. – French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud said a
hypermarket of world famous Carrefour chain will open in Armenia in
September, the latest in October.

“Carrefour will open its doors in Yerevan either in September, or in
October,” Reynaud told reporters in Yerevan.

During his visit to Armenia in May, President of France Francois
Hollande visited the construction site of Carrefour in Yerevan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN VISITS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL PARTIES IN ARGENTINA

19:12 09.07.2014

On his official visit to Argentina President Serzh Sargsyan today
visited the local organizations of the Armenian national parties –
the ARF, the AGBU, the ADL – and familiarized with the cultural,
charitable and sports activities of those organizations, as well as
with the works carried out by the local Armenian periodicals.

During the reception at the center of Armenia Cultural Association
after Edward Seferian the president thanked for the activities
carried out by the center and for the warm hospitality extended to
the Armenian delegation. At the reception the representatives of the
center handed a present carrying the note “We are honest soldiers” to
the Armenian President. On this occasion, the acknowledgment speech
of Serzh Sargsyan reads, “These words impose a high responsibility
because everyone of us is a soldier; a soldier within the framework
of his duties, a soldier within the framework of his responsibility,
a soldier for his ideal, and I am very delighted that our national
organizations and our national parties make us to be proud and this is
by what we are distinguished from others. I perfectly understand that
our opponents try to be active not only in this part of the world, but
also in other parts. They try to pursue their interests, and we do not
have the right to accuse them of that since it is their duty to do it.

Our goal is to reinvigorate efforts at keeping this fire burning in
the coming generation thereby reinforcing the Armenian statehood on
one hand and strengthening the Diaspora and our organizations on the
other hand. We can make each other stronger. Together we can do a lot.

I perfectly understand the aim of their activities in South America –
Argentina, Uruguay – and in other places. They also put their efforts
in places where we are stronger. Nevertheless, if we are to lose this
battle, after a long period of time we will be substituted by others.

I am confident that this will never happen. On the contrary, I am
confident that the number of our buildings and our supporters will
continue to grow. Indeed, owing to this ideal, we are all soldiers,
yes, we are soldiers, and we will continue to be soldiers. This is
the only way to strengthen Armenia. I am very grateful for your warm
reception. Thank you. Together we can do a lot.”

At the AGBU Serzh Sargsyan presented his appreciation for the warm
reception and in the honorary guest book of the Union underscored that
the Armenian authorities highly appreciate the patriotic activities
carried out by the Union in the Diaspora, especially in those
communities which are geographically far from our Motherland. “What I
saw here is impressive and promising. I wish the AGBU center of Buenos
Aires to keep on carrying out its patriotic mission with the same
zeal and devotion in the name of the rise and long life of our people.”

At the editorial office of the Sardarapat newspaper the Armenian
President stressed that he is very proud of our compatriots who have
found such an impressive national institution thousand km away from
our historical Õ°O…meland and continue to carry out with credit the
mission of keeping the Armenian spirit alive. The Armenian President
wished everybody inexhaustible vigor and strength in order to keep on
working with the same devotion in the name of the rise and long life
of our people. Moreover, the president wrote down the same words in
the honorary guest book of the editorial office.

Today, the Armenian President took part in the official opening
ceremony of Armenian Immigrants’ Square (Armenia) in Buenos Aires.

Later on, the president held a meeting with representatives of the
Armenian organizations in Argentina and benefactors. At the request of
the president the meeting took place in a question-and-answer format
during which Serzh Sargsyan answered the questions of the participants
related to national preservation issues, the Armenia-Diaspora ties,
regional challenges, Armenia’s internal and foreign policy, and
its economic priorities, development opportunities and a number of
other topics.

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan also visited Saint Grigor Lusavorich
Church. The Armenian President laid a wreath at the memorial to the
victims of the Armenian Genocide located in the yard of the church
and paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. In
addition, the president placed flowers at the monument dedicated to
the memory of the Artsakh freedom fighters.

Concluding its official visit to the Argentine Republic, the delegation
led by President Serzh Sargsyan today will make a state visit to the
Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

YEGPARIAN: TWO YEARS LATER

By Garen Yegparian on July 8, 2014 in Garen Yegparian

Last week, the Western U.S. Region of the ARF completed its biennial
Convention with the election of a new Central Committee (CC), as I
wrote two years ago as well.

In that piece, I noted “guarded optimism” among ARF members. It seems
to have paid off. In evaluating the preceding two years of activity,
the convention found that very good work had been done on many fronts,
especially the financial, while naturally noting some deficiencies
as well.

Not having attended one of these conventions in 20 years, I was pleased
that the level of tension over issues and personalities had subsided
and the level of discourse had improved a bit.

Perhaps the gravity of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
helped the discourse. As you’ve probably already seen, besides
the traditional statement issued by the Convention, a thorough and
extensive presentation of our demands from Turkey has been issued,
in English. This will also be translated into Armenian and printed in
both languages as a pamphlet. There’s even discussion of translating
it into Kurdish and Turkish.

The statement is undergirded by one of the best Convention resolutions
I’ve seen laying out strategic guidance for the organization’s
activities over the next two years. The other major concern and focus
of the two-weekend-long conclave was the youth. How to further energize
the AYF, strengthen the AYF Juniors, and reach out to engage college
students all drew much attention. In fact, a special mid-week session
dedicated to youth issues was convened for all able to attend.

There was some turnover in the membership of the newly elected CC with
six people reelected, rounded out with two completely new members and
three “return engagements.” One of the new members brings valuable
awareness of and connections to the environmental and social movements
holding the Republic of Armenia’s government’s feet to the fire. This
is promising because it will enable us to better support efforts to
strengthen the rule of law and civil society in the larger of our
two republics.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the decisions made by the
convention is the renewed focus on Western Armenia–not only its
liberation and related reparations, but also in the form of programs
and efforts to reconnect us with home, particularly in the context
of the 100th.

Of course, none of this happens without broad community engagement and
participation, which will be heightened given the Convention’s call
for an inclusive approach to all segments of our communities dispersed
west of the Mississippi. So get ready, you may well receive a call.

EDUARD SHARMAZANOV OFFERS ALEXEY SERGEEV TO OPEN EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

11:52 | July 9,2014 | Official

Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament (National Assembly) Eduard
Sharmazanov met on July 8 with Alexey Sergeev, Secretary General of
the Council of Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the
Commonwealth of Independent States.

During the meeting held at the Tavrikyan palace, the interlocutors
discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation. Eduard Sharmazanov
told IPA CIS Council Secretary General Alexey Sergeev that 2015 marks
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and said ‘an agreement
has been reached with several countries to display Armenian Genocide
exhibits in their parliaments.

The Armenian parliament official offered Alexey Sergeev to organize a
similar exhibition at the Tavrikyan palace and convene a conference
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. The IPA CIS Council Secretary
General expressed his willingness to support the initiative.

AHEAD OF GENOCIDE CENTENARY: ARMENIAN LEADERS RAISE RECOGNITION ISSUES DURING VISITS ABROAD

ANALYSIS | 09.07.14 | 09:19

Photo:

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who has been on a tour of
South America since late last week, visited Argentina where the
main subject of his speeches and meetings was the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. Both houses of the Argentine Parliament
recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1993, in different cities in
Argentina there are monuments to the victims of the 1915 Genocide,
and the Armenian community in this country is considered to be one
of the most influential.

The Genocide subject ahead of the 100th anniversary of the tragedy
becomes a major one in the rhetoric of Armenian leaders. Armenian
Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan, who paid a visit to Moscow,
invited the leaders of both houses of the Russian parliament,
Valentina Matvienko and Sergei Naryshkin, to attend an international
parliamentary conference in Yerevan that will be held in April 2015.

The conference is part of the approved schedule of activities for
the centennial of the genocide.

The visits to Yerevan by Pope Francis and French President Francois
Hollande have already been unofficially announced for April 24, 1915.

The arrival of other world leaders is also expected. Armenia is also
preparing a legal file in connection with the Genocide, deportations
of Armenians and the seizure of their property in what is now Turkey.

Materials have appeared in the press challenging the legal basis of
Turkey’s ownership of Western Armenia.

In particular, the Russian-Armenian newspaper, Yerkramas, published an
article by the late Armenian diplomat Levon Eyramdjyants in which he
gives irrefutable evidence that the 1921 Moscow Treaty was concluded
only for 25 years, until 1946. It is this treaty that divided the
Armenian lands between Turkey and Bolshevik Russia. In Armenia there
are already articles in which authors demand the revision of the
Moscow Treaty.

Still at the beginning of this year a state commission was set up in
Turkey with the aim of developing measures against the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. Apparently, the Commission advised that Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issue a message to the Armenian
people on April 23, 2013. Among the steps may also be the opening of
the Armenian-Turkish border as a Turkish gesture towards Armenia.

However, analysts argue that the Armenian Question was and still is
part of bigger regional geopolitics and enacting it is possible
within the framework of geopolitical shifts expected in the
region. In particular, the probable creation of a Kurdish state,
now in the territories of Iraq and Syria, may lead to the revision
of the Treaty of Lausanne and the return to the Treaty of Sevres,
under which Armenia was to have been united.

The fact that Armenia is making the Genocide subject “topical”,
including during President Sargsyan’s latest visits, proves that
Yerevan agrees to participate in these geopolitical developments that
could deprive Turkey of the grounds for its territorial integrity. The
replacement of the Treaty of Sevres by the Treaty of Lausanne took
Armenia out of the context of the redistribution of the Ottoman Empire
lands. The question is whether Armenia will again remain outside the
possible changes now.

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

Visitors and Meetings with His Holiness Aram I

Antelias – On Wednesday 2 July 2014, the Chairperson of the Tekeyan
Cultural Association, the Committee of Founders, former member of
Parliament, Hagop Kassardjian, and Michael Vahejian, Chairperson of the
Lebanon Branch of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Ramgavar, visited
His Holiness Aram I to congratulate him and present their good wishes on the
19th anniversary celebration of his election as Catholicos of the Holy See
of Cilicia.

They discussed the situation in Lebanon, other matters affecting the
region and the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

On Thursday 3 July 2014, the Catholicos received the separate visits of
Parliamentarians Hagop Pakradouni and Jean Oghassabian. Both members of the
Lebanese Parliament discussed the process of electing the new President of
Lebanon.

Later in the day, His Holiness Aram I received composer Robert
Amirkhanian; the committee of the Hamazkayin Cultural Association
accompanied the composer. Mr Amirkhanian and the Catholicos discussed the
situation of artists and cultural life in Armenia.

At the end of the week, Dr. Alexi Mukarzel met with His Holiness Aram I
and gave him a letter of invitation to a conference to be held in Washington
in September 2014 on the conflict in the Middle East and the Challenges to
Christians in the region.

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches begins its
Post-10th Assembly deliberations

Antelias – 2 July 2014. The representatives of the two Holy Sees of the
Armenian Orthodox Church (the Holy See of Cilicia and the Holy See of
Etchmiadzin) are participating in the meetings of the Central Committee.

Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Director of Ecumenical Relations, and Ms Teny
Simonian, Ecumenical Representative in Europe, are representing the Holy See
of Cilicia, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and Ms Paola Der Mateossian are
representing the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.

The members of the Central Committee received the reports of the
Moderator, Dr. Agnes Abuom and the General Secretary, Rev Dr. Olav Fykse
Tveit; it will continue its deliberations in Committees. Archbishop Nareg is
a member of the Programme Committee and Ms Simonian is a member of the
Policy Reference Committee.

The Assembly will also discuss the document, “An Invitation to the
Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace,” which will provide the theological
framework for the Council’s programmatic work.

# #

HEAD OF ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY TO ATTEND CIS SECURITY SERVICES MEETING IN MOSCOW

YEREVAN, July 8. / ARKA /. The head of Armenia’s National Security
Service colonel general Gorik Hakobyan will attend the regular meeting
of heads of national security and intelligence agencies of CIS-member
countries in Moscow on July 8-10.

The meeting participants will discuss combating international
terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking, as well as ways to
development of partnership between CIS-countries special services and
other cooperation matters, the press office of the service reported.

A joint memorandum is expected to be signed at the meeting, according
to the report. -0–

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