Author: Babajanian Karo

REVUE DE PRESSE N1 – 27/09/13 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publie le : 27-09-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Armenienne contre le Negationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le genocide armenien, la Shoah, le genocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le negationnisme, l’Union europeenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggerons egalement de prendre le temps de lire ou
de relire les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre
rubrique Par
ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc, ne sont
disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous generons chaque jour.

Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Media : c’est gratuit !

Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre boîte email.

Bonne lecture.

Turquie/Armenie : L’ingerence de Bakou Info Collectif VAN –
– ” Un haut responsable azeri a exhorte Ankara
a ne pas refaire ” l’erreur ” de 2009, c’est-a-dire d’essayer
d’ouvrir la frontière avec l’Armenie avant que le pays ne se retire
des territoires azeris occupes, soulignant qu’il pensait qu’une
initiative semblable pourrait relancer le processus au point mort entre
Ankara et Erevan. ” Il existe ce type de tentatives [de relancer le
processus Ankara-Erevan] en ce moment. J’espère et je suis sûr que la
gouvernance turque ne prendra pas de mesures contraire a la volonte de
l’Azerbaïdjan et du peuple azerbaidjanais “, a declare Novroz Mammadov,
responsable du departement des relations etrangères de la presidence
azerbaidjanaise au Hurriyet Daily News lors d’une interview le 19
septembre. ” Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction d’un article
en anglais, paru sur le site Hurriyet Daily News le 21 septembre 2013.

ONU : 24ème Session du Conseil des Droits Humains Info Collectif VAN
– – “Le president de la Commission d’Enquete
rappelle que la responsabilite première de la protection des droits
des citoyens incombe au gouvernement. Et la conclusion est que
les Forces gouvernementales et progouvernementales ont commis des
crimes contre l’humanite, des crimes de guerre et des violations
du droit international des droits de l’homme. Certains Groupes armes
antigouvernementaux ont commis des crimes de guerre. Les commandants de
ces groupes ont constamment failli a leur devoir de prendre les mesures
disciplinaires appropriees.” Le Collectif VAN vous invite a lire cette
information publiee sur le site de la LICRA (Ligue internationale
contre le racisme et l’antisemitisme) le 26 septembre 2013.

Roms : la presence non souhaitable en France Info Collectif VAN –
– “Les declarations du ministre de l’Interieur
se suivent et se ressemblent : le mode de vie des Roms est eloigne
du nôtre et la majorite d’entre eux ne veut pas s’integrer. M. Valls
devrait savoir, plus que quiconque, que l’usage de tels stereotypes
ne ressort pas d’un discours de verite mais bien d’une volonte de
stigmatiser une population dont la presence ne serait pas souhaitable
en France.” Le Collectif VAN vous invite a lire le Communique de presse
de la LDH (Ligue des droits de l’Homme) publie le 24 septembre 2013.

Turquie: une campagne de soutien pour le pianiste turc Fazil Say
“Demain, je continuerai a vivre et a produire. En continuant de vivre
demain, en continuant de penser demain en homme libre, je produirai
des ~uvres encore meilleures.” C’est en 140 caractères, sur Twitter,
que le pianiste turc Fazil Say, accuse d’insulte a l’islam, s’est
exprime a l’issue de son jugement, vendredi 20 septembre.

Union douanière v UE : l’Armenie continue le programme d’integration
europeenne Les autorites d’Armenie sont convaincus que l’Europe n’a pas
perdu tout interet pour le Caucase du Sud et que l’Armenie continuera
a rester ” dans le cadre d’association ” avec l’Union europeenne.

Defense aerienne : la Turquie met KO Americains et Europeens Pourtant,
en janvier, l’Otan avait commence a deployer des missiles sol-air
Patriot pour proteger la Turquie d’un eventuel debordement du conflit
syrien. Les batteries de missiles Patriot, destinees a assurer
la defense du territoire turc contre les avions et les missiles a
courte portee, ont ete fournies par les Etats-Unis, l’Allemagne et
les Pays-Bas.

RDC : “Mission Congo”, ou comment on a detourne l’aide destinee a
des refugies rwandais Mais après la recolte des fonds, pas de trace
d’actions humanitaires promises sur le terrain. “[L’OBI] n’avait
qu’une tente et un lot de bibles”, affirme un membre de Medecins sans
frontières (MSF) dans Mission Congo. À l’epoque, “l’epidemie de cholera
avait tue plus de 40 000 personnes dans les camps des deplaces, se
souvient Chris McGreal, journaliste du Guardian depeche sur le lieu,
interviewe egalement dans le film. Pendant que les humanitaires
transportaient les victimes sur des brancards, j’ai vu [un jour]
un predicateur de OBI s’approcher pour precher un malade”.

Genocide rwandais : Paris modifie-t-il sa jurisprudence sur
l’extradition ?

La France est-elle en train de modifier sa position sur le genocide
rwandais ? C’est en tout cas l’espoir du Collectif des parties civiles
pour le Rwanda (CPCR). Pour la première fois, depuis 1994, en effet,
le parquet a emis un avis favorable a l’extradition de deux Rwandais
accuses dans leur pays de participation au genocide. La cour d’appel
de Paris, qui a entendu les parties, mercredi, se prononcera, le
13 novembre.

Neo-nazisme en Grèce: le gouvernement tente de reagir Ce mercredi, des
milliers de personnes ont manifeste a Athènes et dans d’autres villes
grecques. Les manifestants denoncaient le parti d’extreme-droite Aube
doree, qualifiee de monstre du fascisme. Le meurtre d’un musicien
antifasciste par un membre d’Aube doree continue d’ebranler la
societe et le gouvernement tente de reagir. Un mot d’ordre pour les
manifestants: “Pavlos vit, chassez les Nazis”. Pavlos est le prenom
de la victime antifasciste.

Tensions dans les relations entre l’Armenie et l’Europe ” L’Europe n’a
pas perdu Armenie, mais l’Armenie a perdu toute perspective europeenne
“, a declare le president de la commission des Affaires etrangères
du parlement, Elmar Brok.

Retour a la rubrique

UN OFFICIEL ARMENIEN AFFIRME QUE LA SECURITE DE L’ARMENIE VA ETRE BOOSTEE

ARMENIE

L’adhesion a l’union douanière de la Russie, la Bielorussie et le
Kazakhstan va donner un nouvel elan a la defense de l’Armenie et la
securite nationale a affirme un haut fonctionnaire a Erevan.

Eduard Sharmazanov, vice-president du parlement et porte-parole du
Parti republicain au pouvoir (HHK), a declare que l’union dirigee
par la Russie n’ouvrira pas seulement de nouvelles perspectives
economiques pour le pays mais aussi ameliorera ” le niveau de notre
securite “. Il a dit que ceci s’applique egalement au Haut-Karabagh.

” L’adhesion a l’union douanière est très benefique pour nous et je
pense que ca va regler un problème de securite aussi bien ” a dit
Eduard Sharmazanov au service armenien de RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am). Il
a refuse d’etayer ses propos disant que les autorites armeniennes
vont donner des explications pertinentes plus tard.

Le president Serge Sarkissian a lui-meme invoque des considerations
de securite quand il a inopinement annonce sa decision d’adherer a
l’Union lors de discussions avec son homologue russe Vladimir Poutine,
le 3 Septembre. ” J’ai dit a plusieurs reprises avant que lorsque vous
faites parti d’un système de securite militaire, il est impossible
et inefficace de vous isoler d’un espace economique correspondant ”
a-t-il dit.

Certains critiques de Serge Sarkissian ont suggere qu’il a cede
aux pressions de Russie en raison des menaces de Moscou de mettre
fin a la cooperation militaire avec Erevan, qui est essentiel pour
la poursuite du contrôle armenien du Haut-Karabagh. Mais d’autres
affirment que la principale crainte du leader armenien etait que le
Kremlin aurait complote pour le renverser.

Eduard Sharmazanov et d’autres allies presidentielles ont cependant
nie que l’Armenie etait sous pression en s’engageant a adherer a
l’union douanière.

vendredi 27 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’ARMENIE BENEFICIERA DE REJOINDRE L’UNION DOUANIERE SELON DES EXPERTS

ARMENIE

L’Armenie beneficiera economiquement de rejoindre l’Union douanière
de la Russie, de la Bielorussie et du Kazakhstan, a conclu une
equipe d’experts armeniens qui ont etudie cette question pendant
plusieurs mois.

Presentant les resultats de leur etude lors d’une conference de
presse un membre de l’equipe, Aram Safarian, qui est a la tete d’une
ONG appelee ” integration et developpement “, a dit que l’etude a ete
initiee par la Banque eurasienne de developpement ” afin de clarifier
les perspectives et les possibilites de l’integration en Eurasie “.

Ashot Tavadyan, le leader de l’equipe, a declare que la decision du
President Serge Sarkissian de rejoindre l’Union douanière n’etait
pas une surprise pour les experts.

” En 2011, les chefs des pays de la CEI ont signe a Saint-Petersbourg
l’accord sur la zone de libre-echange, que le Parlement armenien
a ratifie a l’unanimite en Septembre 2012. L’annonce du president
Sarkissian etait une continuation logique de ce processus ” a declare
Tavadyan.

Selon lui, l’accord d’adhesion inclut les questions de securite
economique et couvre des domaines cles tels que l’energie, les
transports et prevoit des investissements sans precedent dans
l’economie armenienne qui stimuleront les emplois.

” La composante du transport (dans l’accord) implique un investissement
de 470 millions de dollars pour la modernisation des chemins de fer
d’Armenie. C’est un investissement direct. Pour nous, il est très
important d’avoir des moyens de communication supplementaires. L’UE
ne souhaite pas le faire, compte tenu de ses relations tendues avec
l’Iran “, a declare Tavadyan.

Selon lui, la Banque eurasiatique de developpement a deja promis
d’investir environ 100 millions de dollars en Armenie, ce qui
augmentera le taux de croissance economique de 0,4%.

La deuxième composante la plus importante, a-t-il dit, est celle de
l’energie, a savoir la poursuite de l’exploitation de la centrale
nucleaire et la construction d’une nouvelle installation pour la
remplacer, ainsi que la reduction ” automatique ” des prix du gaz
de 30% (de 270 $ a environ 1 80 $ pour mille mètres cubes) après
l’adhesion officielle de l’Armenie a l’Union douanière. Il a dit
qu’il est prevu que la baisse des prix va augmenter le PIB d’environ
1%. En outre, l’adhesion permettra egalement a l’Armenie de securiser
la baisse des prix des produits petroliers.

” La troisième composante est la production : plus precisement, la
reprise de l’usine chimique de nairit et la construction d’un oleoduc
” a declare Tavadyan.

Il a egalement dit que le quatrième element qui contribuera a une
augmentation de 0,25 pour cent de la croissance economique, c’est
la migration.

” La Russie facilitera les procedures pour les travailleurs migrants
armeniens, eliminera les obstacles administratifs qui se traduira par
une augmentation des transferts d’argent vers l’Armenie ” a-t-il dit.

Il a fait valoir que l’adhesion de l’Armenie a l’union douanière se
traduira dans une perspective a court terme par une croissance du
PIB de 4 pour cent.

Parlant de l’absence de frontières communes avec un pays membre de
l’Union douanière, Tavadyan a note que cela sera compensee par les
produits energetiques moins chers.

” Du point de vue economique, nous gagnons. La vie va s’ameliorer et
devenir plus sûr avec une augmentation du PIB ” a declare Tavadyan.

Il a ensuite ajoute que l’adhesion ne va pas affecter les exportations
de l’Armenie vers l’UE parce qu’elles sont principalement de matières
premières.

Parlant des perspectives de l’integration economique europeenne,
Tavadyan a dit qu’elles sont pour l’Armenie de 2,3% d’augmentation
du PIB a long terme, sans tenir compte des risques.

” Ces risques sont des problèmes avec la Turquie, la dependance
excessive sur les matières premières et la corruption. Mais la
corruption est le problème dont nous devons nous occuper “. Le risque
le plus grave, a son avis, compte tenu de l’integration europeenne
de l’Armenie, serait des restrictions imposees par la Russie qui
mettraient a zero sur toutes les previsions de croissance “a-t-il dit.

vendredi 27 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

RECOMMENDATIONS ON SECURITY ISSUES IN THE REGION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
September 24, 2013 Tuesday

In the framework of the “Breaking the Impasse” project, a group of
experts from the region of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict met in Berlin
on September 13-17, 2013. Based on international humanitarian law,
the group offers a number of recommendations to strengthen security
in the conflict zone. The recommendations that were developed refer
to those aspects concerning security around which the group was able
to develop a consensus. At the same time the present document does not
claim to provide a comprehensive overview of the questions concerning
security in the conflict zone. The group recommends to:

– calling on the sides to rigorously maintain the ceasefire regime
and to prevent any actions leading to casualties in the civilian
population and among military personnel;

– developing measures to strengthen civic control over maintenance
of the ceasefire regime;

– developing measures that would exclude expressions of xenophobia,
hate speech and the language of violence;

– initiating a depoliticized process to develop legal norms and
guarantees for secure return and/or compensation for all individuals
who were forced to leave their homes;

– studying the experience of demilitarized zones throughout the world
and the possibility of implementing a demilitarized zone in the region
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

This document was produced in the framework of a project implemented
with organizational support from The Center for Peacemaking Practice
in the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason
University and the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation. The
project is supported by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
reads the press release sent to Turan news agency. No other details
reported. -0-

A LOOK AT TURKEY’S MINORITY SCHOOLS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 26 2013

Photo: A 100-year-old file photo from the school for the
hearing-impaired in Amasya. The teacher is attempting to aid an
impaired child’s speech.

26 September 2013 /ERKAM EMRE, Ä°STANBUL

The History Foundation has released its report, “Minority Schools
from Past to Present: Issues and Solutions Project.” The report,
drafted by Assistant Prof. Dr. Selcuk AkÅ~_in Somel and Nurcan Kaya,
analyzes the historical evolution of Turkey’s minority schools and
reviews their current problems.

The Private Gökceada Greek School was recently opened with four
students and a principle. This constructive step was welcomed on
both sides of the Aegean Sea. However, the school seems to have held
onto the burdens of the past. This primary school in the village of
Zeytinli exhibits the same problems and issues that all other minority
schools in Turkey do.

The History Foundation announced its report in a press conference. A
delegation that included YeÅ~_ilköy Primary School Principal Garo
Paylan and journalist Mihail Vasiliadis discussed the historical
evolution and issues of minority schools at the meeting. The
participants offered solutions to the problems minority schools have
been experiencing amid a visible row between the nations concerned,
Greece and Turkey.

Sadly, the Anatolian region, which once hosted peoples and nations as
friends, has changed. Non-Muslim minority schools were affected by
the social polarization that rising nationalism in the 19th century
made inevitable. Under Shariah law implemented during Ottoman rule,
non-Muslim minorities were regarded as communities to be protected
by Muslims; in this context, they were entitled to administer their
own education systems. Institutions led by clerics used to train
teachers who would offer religious education. The number of these
schools dramatically declined as tensions grew in the late Ottoman
period. The report by the History Foundation presents statistics
covering the period from the 19th century to date.

According to the data available in 1984, there were 6,437 non-Muslim
minority schools in the Ottoman state. The report says there were
302 of these schools in Ä°stanbul, and that they were able to offer
education freely. Interestingly, the report also notes that Jews,
Armenians and Greeks as well as Bulgarians, Arameans (Syriacs) and
Maronites all had their own schools. The number of such schools has
declined over time. Currently, there are only 22 minority schools in
the country. Armenians run 16, Greeks five, and Jews run one school,
in Ä°stanbul.

Selcuk AkÅ~_in Somel, addressing the historical cause of the problem
and the Ottoman period, offered a clarification regarding the emergence
of the notion of “minorities” at the meeting. In his presentation,
Somel noted that the Committee of Union and Progress, which came
to power in the late Ottoman period, implemented social engineering
policies designed to force non-Muslim communities to emigrate.

The committee was the primary actor in this field until the Treaty of
Lausanne, which referred to the issue as a “minority” problem. Under
the Treaty of Lausanne, non-Muslim communities, referred to as
minorities, were entitled to autonomously administer schools in their
native languages; the schools were to be funded by the state. However,
the minority schools, which were already in decline, were negatively
affected by the policies of repression and assimilation pursued during
the republican era.

The minority schools had severe problems because of provisions in a
law that unified the education system. The law specified one central
set of rules for all education institutions. As a result of these
problems, a huge number of members of minority communities left the
country. The deputy principals appointed by the Education Ministry and
the inspectors who checked up on education standards in these schools
viewed them as places of potential disruption; this attitude left
an indelible impression on non-Muslims. Many had to migrate because
of the pressure to use the Turkish language, the Sept. 6-7 incidents
and the Cyprus issue.

Syrian Armenian children unable to get report cards in Turkey One
of the issues discussed in the report is the right to education in
one’s native language, which has recently become popular again. While
non-Muslim minorities had the right to offer education in their
native languages under Treaty of Lausanne, current circumstances
make it impossible to return to that system. There are no qualified
teachers because there are no faculties training teachers in Armenian
or Hebrew. The lack of a public institution to prepare course materials
is another obstacle. As a result, education is offered only in Turkish
in these schools. Paylan notes that Turkey’s high-school admissions
tests are administered in Turkish; for this reason, he says, parents
ask for education in this language.

Another issue discussed at the meeting is the process Armenian or
Greek children who identify as Muslims go through to enroll in minority
schools; law forbids people officially recognized as Muslims to study
at these schools. In addition, Armenian children who took refuge in
Turkey to escape the ongoing war in Syria may be given the status of
“visiting students” at minority schools. Children with this status
are not entitled to receive report cards. Practices based on the
principle of reciprocity are also causing enormous problems. As a
result of these problems, students looking for a better future mostly
prefer to study abroad.

“Istanbul’s 100 schools tell forgotten history” The Culture Company
(Kultur AÅ~^) has released another volume for its series of 100-themed
books. The 66th volume in the series discusses the schools, which
were indicators of how multicultural life was in the capital city of
the Ottoman Empire for centuries. The book, “Istanbul’s 100 schools,”
which tells the stories of the Armenian, Greek and Jewish schools in
the Ottoman era, was written by Derya BaÅ~_.

The book offers interesting anecdotes on the schools, which have
become an inseparable part of Ä°stanbul’s identity. The book contains
historical photos of the schools that lovers of the city will find
invaluable.

Photo: Teachers from the Bursa Kevorkyan School.

Photo: Hrant Dink (far left) while captain of his school soccer team.

The Tuzla Orphanage, where Dink spent his childhood, has since been
shut down.

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: A SEASON OF RISKS

International Crisis Group
Sept 26 2013

Baku/Yerevan/Tbilisi/Brussels | 26 Sep 2013

Stronger international engagement is needed to help prevent the deadly
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan from escalating gravely at
a time of internal political tensions in both.

In its latest briefing, Armenia and Azerbaijan: A Season of Risks, the
International Crisis Group examines possible scenarios for a conflict
that could explode at any time. Since peace talks broke down in 2011
over Nagorno-Karabakh – the Azerbaijan enclave seized and occupied by
Armenian forces in the fighting that accompanied the break-up of the
Soviet Union – arms purchases and war rhetoric have gained momentum on
both sides. In this tense situation, exacerbated by domestic political
competition, the greatest danger is an accidental war.

The briefing’s major findings are:

~USince 2011, both sides have vastly augmented their military budgets
and developed detailed war contingency plans. There is a real risk
that miscalculations, brinkmanship or the increasingly frequent
skirmishes in geographically widespread front-line areas could lead
to an outbreak of full-scale fighting, pulling in some or all of the
regional powers: Russia, Turkey and Iran.

~UThe coming months pose special challenges, as both countries deal
with internal political tensions. In Armenia, opposition groups are
planning an autumn of protest. In Azerbaijan, the government fears
disorder after the presidential elections – virtually certain to be
won by the authoritarian incumbent – in October. Both sides’ domestic
pressures could limit their efforts to re-invigorate the mediation
process or enter direct negotiations.

~UVigilance from international actors, especially the mediators
of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) –
namely Russia, the U.S. and France, the co-chairs of its “Minsk Group”
– as well as the EU, is needed to prevent an escalation. They should
highlight the risks of miscalculation and the huge costs for both sides
of any return to open hostilities. Russia, as an influential player
in this conflict, should work more decisively towards an agreement
and cease supplying arms to both sides.

~UA crisis hotline should be re-established between Yerevan and Baku
to lessen chances of a military escalation.

“Unrest at home might tempt leaders to deflect attention by raising
military tensions or to embark on risky attempts to capitalise on
their adversary’s troubles”, says Lawrence Scott Sheets, Crisis
Group’s South Caucasus Project Director. “Both sides are given to
provocative gestures”.

“The immediate effort required of mediators and other supporters
of a peace process is modest, yet urgent”, says Paul Quinn-Judge,
Crisis Group’s Europe and Central Asia Program Director. “They need to
start talking about the risks of Baku’s and Yerevan’s ‘in-your-face’
approach. Then, both countries need to be brought back to the table
before someone decides the time has come to use their expensive
new weapons”.

LANDMINE FREE ARTSAKH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, OCTOBER 13 AT WESTERN DIOCESE HIGHLIGHTED BY MARK GERAGOS AND GOR MKHITARIAN

By MassisPost
Updated: September 25, 2013

BURBANK – Over 20 years after they were first planted in Artsakh,
landmines still remain and continue to maim, mutilate and kill the
people of the land. In an effort to bring awareness to the problem
and solicit help to clear the landmines, the Western Diocese is
hosting a special “Landmine Free Artsakh” evening on October 13,
at the Zorayan Museum Hall, 3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504.

This evening is organized under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate, and will feature attorney Mark Geragos
and musical entertainer Gor Mkhitarian who bring their talents to
benefit the cause.

The featured speaker is Galina Danilova from the HALO Trust,
the world’s oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance
organization. Danilova heads the HALO Finance in Artsakh and for
the past 11 years has been working in landmine clearing. “Every year
Armenians get hurt,” says Danilova, “some with significant injuries.

Although war ended 19 years ago, the land still carries the seeds
of war. Farmers cannot grow crops to feed their families. Prairie
fertile land is surrounded with Danger Signs.”

During the evening, Danilova will show pictures and explain exactly how
people can put an end to the mayhem by participating in the landmine
clean-up efforts.

“Our mission is to generate awareness about landmine problems in
Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and to help fundraise to completely de-mine
all villages! These villages are in the Latchin, Hadrut and Martuni
regions where no international grants and funds can be secured.

Without private funding these minefields will never be cleared”.

The public is cordially invited to attend this free-informational
event, October 13, at 5:00PM. Refreshments and wine will be provided.

For more information visit LandmineFreeArtsakh.com or call
818-523-2878.

RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN GYUMRI DOES NOT CONFIRM STAFF ADDITION REPORT

September 26, 2013 – 19:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia plans to expand its military presence in
Armenia, Haykakan Zhamanak daily said in a September 26 report.

According to the paper, a staff addition is scheduled at Gyumri
military base No. 102.

Russian military officials with their families – up to 3000 persons –
are expected to arrive for service at the military base. The Armenian
city is getting ready for guests, with several Armenian families to
be relocated to new homes, the paper noted.

At the same time, Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan
neither confirmed nor denied the report.

As Razm.info reported quoting the deputy commander of Gyumri military
base, colonel Ashot Karapetyan, only a shift of current staff is
expected.

As he further noted, the staff addition would require an
intergovernmental resolution, with none issued so far.

“It’s possible that a November military draft gave rise to rumors,
with the newly drafted servicemen arriving to replace the dischargees.

Russian military personnel usually arrives in Armenian in October,
after completing a training in Russian depots,” Karapetyan said.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES FUNDING RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION OF RUSSIAN BORDER TROOPS

September 26, 2013 | 15:36

YEREVAN. – The government of Armenia will allocate 3 million drams
(approx. $7,390) to the National Security Service, to make payments
to South Caucasus Railway Company.

The respective decision was adopted during Thursday’s Cabinet session.

The amount will be paid as reimbursement for the Russian border troops’
military transportation via railway.

To note, Armenia makes such reimbursements ever since 2004.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

SAAKASHVILI: RUSSIA’S OBJECTIVE IS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT ITSELF

September 26, 2013 | 08:46

Russia does not want for anyone to win the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Its objective is the conflict itself, since it does not allow nations
to become independent and it bars them from joining the EU.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili stated the aforesaid in his
final address, as President, to the UN General Assembly.

Saakashvili noted that Russia cannot afford to have strong states-that
is, the former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan.

“Do you think that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants for Armenia
to win in the conflict against Azerbaijan? No. This will make Armenia
very strong and more independent. Or, do you think that Moscow wants
Baku to defeat Yerevan? No. They do not want anyone to win; their
objective is the conflict itself,” he said.

As per the Georgian president, the conquered nations should come
together and not show their weakness.

“Unity should be our law in Eastern Europe, including in the Caucasus,”
Voice of America quotes Mikheil Saakashvili as saying.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am