Author: Babajanian Karo

DAAD to offer scholarships to 90 Armenians in 2014-15

19:03 * 27.05.14

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) will offer scholarships to
over 90 Armenian university graduates, post-graduates and researchers
in the next academic year.

On Tuesday afternoon, the organization held an official certificate
ceremony in Yerevan. A deputy ambassador of Germany, Nadia
Lichtenberg, delivered an opening speech to congratulate the awardees.
“There is an increasing number of people receiving education in
Germany, as well as a closer university cooperation between Germany
and Armenia. The closer cooperation gives birth to a great numbers of
projects which continuously contribute to the exchange of students and
scholars, and to new scientific achievements,” he said.

She recommended that Armenian students actively use the opportunity of
exchange to later use the knowledge acquired in their home country.

Over 2,200 Armenians have benefited from the academic programs of DAAD
ever since the country’s gaining independence in 1991.

Armenian News – Tert.am

PACE Committee condemns Azerbaijani’s invoking European Convention to
justify release of Ramil Safarov

May 27, 2014 | 20:56

PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights’s condemned the use
of Article 12 of the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced
Persons by Azerbaijan in the case of Ramil Safarov, “as a violation of
the principles of good faith in international relations and of the
rule of law”, the May 27 PACE press release says.

“The Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides for the
transfer of foreign prisoners to their home countries. Its purpose is
primarily humanitarian, to improve prospects of rehabilitation and
reintegration of prison inmates into society,” it reads.

The draft resolution adopted, based on the report by Christopher Chope
(United Kingdom, EDG), notes with concern that the Convention was
invoked in order to justify the immediate release upon transfer to
Azerbaijan of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani soldier convicted for
murdering a fellow Armenian participant of a NATO “Partnership for
Peace” training course in Hungary. Upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, he
was welcomed as a national hero, granted an immediate pardon, long
before the expiry of the minimum sentence set by the Hungarian court,
a retroactive promotion as well as other rewards.

The text underlines that the Convention “is not designed to be used
for the immediate release of prisoners upon return to their own
country”. It underscores the importance of “applying the Convention in
good faith and, in interpreting its provisions, adhering to the
principles of the rule of law”, in particular in transfer cases that
might entail political or diplomatic implications.

The draft resolution should be presented for debate to the Assembly
later in 2014.

Sargsyan’s invitation to Gul would be justified if Turkish leader
visited Armenia – Turkologist

21:01 * 27.05.14

In an interview with Tert.am, diplomat and Turkologist Ara Papyan said
he doesn’t expect the Turkish leader to visit Armenia for next year’s
Genocide centennial events despite the invitation by his Armenian
counterpart.

The analyst said Serzh Sargsyan’s move could be considered justified
if Turkish President Abdullah Gul did really have an intention to come
to Armenia in 2015.

The Armenian leader voiced the call today at the meeting of the state
commission coordinating the Genocide centennial events. He said
particularly that the Turkish authorities have to be in the country,
next to the Armenian people on the Genocide centennial if they are
really interested in the historical truth.

Commenting on the remark, Mr Papyan said he believes that it signals a
kind of progress but added that he would prefer Turkey to propose such
an initiative.

“It is obvious that the Armenian-Turkish relations have not seen any
progress to date, so the centennial is an opportunity for both sides.
Hence the things can be said to have somehow got off the ground. I
would prefer Turkey to be the initiator as a side facing
responsibility, but I thinkErdogan’s speech on Genocide was very
highly valued. So Serzh Sargsyan had to decide on steps out of the
ordinary. If the Turkish side accepts the invitation and visits
Tsitsernakaberd [the Yerevan park where the Genocide memorial and the
Genocide museum-institute are situated], it will be possible to record
a certain progress in the relations,” he noted.

Papyan added in the meantime that he doesn’t think the Turkish side’s
possible rejection will raise the country’s advantages. “Whether an
invitation or an address, if they accept it and come to Armenia, it
will be justified. If not, the Turkish side will suffer more losses, I
think. It is a calculated move because something had to follow
Erdogan’s speech,” he explained.

21 thousand people got Armenian citizenship in 2013

May 27, 2014 | 14:26

YEREVAN. – Armenian citizenship was granted to 21,000 Armenians last
year, head of president’s staff Vigen Sargsyan said while presenting
the report on implementation of budget for 2013.

Sargsyan said it is the highest figure in the history of independent
Armenia. Among the new citizens, there are Armenians from the Middle
East and other regions.

“However, the country of origin is not important for us. The main
thing is personal data of the applicants, each of which is studied in
detail,” he said.

Vigen Sargsyan noted that the fact whether the citizens preserve their
first passports is not important.

“According to the Armenian law, we consider people with dual
citizenship as citizens of the Republic of Armenia. So, it does not
matter whether he preserves other citizenship or not,” he concluded.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

MAHCUPYAN PARTING WAYS WITH GULEN LINKED ZAMAN DAILY

Today’s Sabah, Turkey
May 26 2014

Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL — Etyen Mahcupyan, renowned Turkish Armenian columnist
and writer who is known with his strong democratic stance against
developments in Turkey has decided to leave the controversial Gulen
movement affiliated Zaman newspaper on Monday, after the frequency
his columns were published was reduced from three times a week to
only once a week.

Mahcupyan wrote for Zaman on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The
publication of his columns was ceased after Wednesday, May 22.

He explained that the publication of his column on one day of the week
was a problem. He stated that some media organizations started turning
into political parties and that he would write his final piece for the
newspaper on Wednesday and they would part their ways with the paper.

The question is whether Mahcupyan will continue writing for another
newspaper. In regards to that he said that for the time being he does
not know if he will continue but that he is currently in talks with
a couple of newspapers.

This move came after multiple people voluntarily left Zaman
newspaper after controversy erupted between the Gulen Movement and
the government.

Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait
May 25 2014

Experts commend role of UNESCO/Amir Jaber Prize in caring for persons
with disabilities

25/05/2014 | 10:40 PM | Kuwait News

KUWAIT, May 25 (KUNA) — A number of international education experts
on Sunday lauded the role of the UNESCO/Amir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with
Intellectual Disabilities.
Kuwait offers outstanding contributions to the global efforts to care
for this segment of society and promote awareness about their role in
society, unlike some other countries, said a press release by the
public relations and information department of the Ministry of
Education quoting the experts on eve of the award-giving ceremony of
the Prize for 2014.
Susanna, the Armenian winner of the Prize, expressed gratitude to the
State of Kuwait for the support to this segment of people and their
integration in their respective societies.
She highlighted the importance of ensuring equal rights for the
persons with special needs and gender equality across the globe.
She voiced joy for representing her country in the award-giving ceremony.
On his part, Jordon Porter, the Canadian winner, said the Prize
encourages the efforts geared to ensure quality education for persons
with disability.
He called for more concerted efforts between the governments and the
civil society organizations to foster the talents of disabled persons
and provide them with quality education on equal footing with normal
persons. Meanwhile, director of UNESCO regional office in Sharjah, UAE
Dr. Saif Al-Hajri said the Prize has a noble significance, noting that
naming it after the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber testifies to the
role of the Kuwait leadership in meeting the aspirations of this
segment of people.
The Prize, established in 2002, is awarded on a biannual basis to two
individuals, organizations, or centers that have contributed to the
promotion of inclusive quality education for persons with intellectual
disabilities. (end) mls.nfa.gb

EurasiaNet.org
May 25 2014

Again Testing Armenia’s Loyalty, Russia Offers More Tanks To Azerbaijan

May 25, 2014 – 1:45pm, by Joshua Kucera

A T-90 tank on display on a military parade in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
(photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Russia is offering Azerbaijan another 100 tanks, on top of 100 that it
has bought over the last three years, in a move that will surely have
Armenians asking what more they need to do to prove their loyalty to
Moscow.

Speaking at Kazakhstan’s KADEX defense expo in Astana, Konstantin
Biryulin, the deputy director of Russia’s Federal Service for
Military-Technical Cooperation told Russian news agency ITAR-TASS that
Azerbaijan’s order of 100 T-90S tanks had been completed a month ago.
And he added that Azerbaijan has an “option” to buy another 100, but
that the option hasn’t yet been exercised.

News last summer that Russia completed a $1 billion arms deal with
Azerbaijan (which included those 100 tanks) prompted outrage in
Yerevan. Armenia has been a loyal ally of Russia, and so selling such
a large number of weapons to its enemy seemed like a betrayal.

But that was when Armenia was flirting with signing an Association
Agreement with the European Union. Not long after the arms deal was
announced, Armenia announced that it had changed its mind about the EU
and would instead be joining the Russia-led Customs Union. Now Armenia
is scheduled to formally join the Customs Union in June. So another
big arms sale to Azerbaijan would seem like an even bigger betrayal.

Writes RFE/RL: “Armenia’s Defense Ministry on Friday refused to
comment on Moscow’s apparent readiness to sell more tanks to Baku.
Biryulin’s revelation is certain to spark fresh anti-Russian
statements by Armenian opposition groups and the media.”

TURQUIE
Construction d’un restaurant sur un cimetière arménien en Turquie

Selon le site Ermenihaber.am Umit Bayazoglu écrivain turc basé à
Malkara a déclaré aux médias qu’un restaurant est en cours de
construction sur le cimetière arménien de Malkara.

Les travaux de construction ont continué indépendamment du fait qu’il
a été révélé qu’il y avait eu un cimetière arménien en ce lieu.

Plus de 3.500 Arméniens vivaient dans Malkara, une ville de la
province de Tekirdag dans la région de Marmara en Turquie, au début
des années 1915.

Selon le projet de la municipalité, la petite construction en béton
situé à la place du cimetière arménien devrait servir de restaurant.
Des ossements humains ont émergé alors que le travail de construction
des fondations a commencé.

Demir Ali Pala, chef de l’organisation territoriale et membre du Parti
Justice et Développement (AKP), a déclaré que même son père ne savait
pas si oui ou non il y avait eu un cimetière à cet endroit, et qu’il
ne savait pas si des os avaient été recueilli. Selon lui, c’est un
lieu de promenade pour les gens, et certaines personnes s’y
rassemblent et boivent de l’alcool.

Demir Ali Pala a ajouté que la place nécessitait un nettoyage.

dimanche 25 mai 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

HAUT KARABAGH
450 violations du cessez le feu et une tentative d’incursion sur les
positions arméniennes par l’Azerbaïdjan la semaine dernière

Au cours de la semaine écoulée -du 18 au 24 mai- l’Azerbaïdjan a violé
à 450 reprises le régime du cessez-le-feu tout au long de sa frontière
avec la République du Haut Karabagh. Un chiffre très supérieur à la
moyenne enregistrée au cours de ces dernières années. Plus de 3 000
projectiles d’armes de diverses dimensions furent tirés en direction
des positions arméniennes. Le ministère de la Défense de la République
du Haut Karabagh qui diffuse ces chiffres rappelle également que dans
la nui du 21 au 2 mai au sud du Haut Karabagh, les Azéris ont tenté
une incursion sur les positions arméniennes. Cette tentative fut
repousse par les forces arméniennes, les assaillants comptant au
minimum 3 blessés dans leurs rangs. Lors de cette tentative
d’invasion, les Arméniens n’ont compté de leur côté aucune victime.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 25 mai 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

COMMUNAUTE ARMENIENNE
L’association > débat animé sur l’identité arménienne

Beaucoup de monde à la table-ronde et débat d’> vendredi 16
mai à la MJC Jean Moulin (Bourg-Lès-Valence) sur l’identité arménienne
en France. Parmi le public venu nombreux, les élus de Valence, Annie
Romy-Koulaksezian (Adjointe à la petite enfance ainsi que du Centre du
Patrimoine arménien de Valence), Franck Diratzonian-Daumas (Adjoint au
socioculturel et à la vie associative), les conseillers municipaux
Georges Rastklan (Rastkélénian) et Nathalie Iliozer. De son côté la
conseillère municipale Mariam Kenan représentait la maire de
Bourg-Lès-Valence Madame Marlène Mourier. Parmi les personnalités,
étaient également présents Jacques Abrahamian, Philippe Michalet,
Béros Ohanian, René Adjémian, Sarkis Jamakordzian, Gilles Avakian,
Sonia Sarkissian, Georges Erétzian, Zarmig Nourissian.

Krikor Amirzayan, le président d’> tout d’abord présenté le
thème de la soirée aborde
un sujet plus vaste : quels sont les éléments qui peuvent affirmer ou
définir l’identité arménienne en France ? La langue, la culture,
l’alphabet, la cuisine, le folklore, une photo souvenir, l’engagement
auprès de la communauté, un état d’esprit, des liens avec les
institutions et associations de la communauté ou un lien avec
l’Arménie ? Autant d’éléments parmi d’autres qui peuvent figer
l’identité arménienne en France >>. Que représentent l’Arménie et
l’identité arménienne pour les quelque 600 000 Arméniens de France ?
La communauté arménienne, largement intégrée, dispose-t-elle encore
d’une identité forte pour faire face aux défis ?

Autant de questions qui furent débattues tout au long de la soirée.
Krikor Amirzayan en initiateur et modérateur fit circuler la parole
dans le public. Un public qui participa largement au débat sur un
thème qui, visiblement passionnait l’assistance. Des personnes
non-membres de la communauté arménienne témoignèrent également leur
attachement à la culture arménienne.

La soirée permit à l’assistance de comprendre davantage les enjeux de
l’identité arménienne, la situation actuelle et les enjeux de demain.
Un bilan de la situation de la communauté arménienne fut dressé. Et
des interventions permirent de tracer un avenir. Un avenir de luttes
et de combats pour le maintien de cette identité. Car de l’avis
général du public, cette communauté arménienne lutte pour sa survie et
la préservation de son identité dans un monde qui >.

Après ce riche débat et les nombreux témoignages sur cette identité
arménienne, > invita le public à continuer la rencontre
autour du verre de l’amitié et des ptisseries arméniennes.

Soirée débar d'”Arménia” sur l’identité arménienne
Arménia, débat sur l’identité arménienne, Le Dauphiné Libéré, Dimanche
25 Mai 2014 (Edition de Valence et région)

dimanche 25 mai 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com