Author: Babajanian Karo

RUN TO REMEMBER POURSUIT SA COURSE POUR HONORER LA MEMOIRE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Après avoir lance en decembre 2012 son site internet, l’equipe de Run
to Remember rassemble aujourd’hui 40 coureurs pedestres a travers la
France et l’Europe et totalise plus de 3500 kms parcourus.

L’objectif est simple et clair. Accorder une pensee aux victimes du
genocide Armenien dès lors que l’on participe a une course a pieds
officielle. Peu importe la distance, son niveau et ses capacites,
il suffit d’etre motive et de s’inscrire gratuitement sur le site
internet.

Dimanche 23 juin, une vingtaine de coureurs Run to Remember ont pris
le depart de l’epreuve du ” 10 km l’Equipe “, qui s’est deroulee
a Paris. Dans une ambiance conviviale et festive chacun a marque
son attachement au devoir de memoire. Les participants furent aussi
particulièrement touches par les encouragements des autres coureurs
en voyant le message colle sur leur T-Shirt ” Never forget victims
of armenian genocide “.

Pour faire plus ample connaissance et accueillir de nouveaux
participants, l’equipe de Run to Remember organise un dîner au Yan’s
Club a Paris le samedi 29 juin a 20h.

Renseignements et reservations : e-mail : [email protected]

Telephone : 06 95 55 44 35

Coordonnees internet :

Site :

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jeudi 27 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

POLEMIQUE AUTOUR DES VENTES D’ARMES RUSSES A L’AZERBAIDJAN

Nikolay Bordyuzha, le secretaire general de l’Organisation du traite de
securite collective (OTSC) russe, a declare que le contrat d’armement
passe avec l’Azerbaïdjan n’est pas en contradiction avec l’alliance
militaire entre la Russie et l’Armenie.

” La Russie vend des armes a des dizaines de pays, y compris ceux
qui ne sont pas membres de l’OTSC “, a declare Bordyuzha lors d’une
conference a Erevan. ” C’est un marche, il s’agit de l’economie de
la Russie. ”

Le fonctionnaire russe, un general de l’armee a la retraite, a
fait valoir que l’Armenie, qui fait partie de l’OTSC, a recu une
aide militaire provenant de la Russie. ” Il y a une base militaire
russe en Armenie chargee d’assurer la securite de l’Armenie. Les
gardes-frontières russes protègent la frontière armeno-turque avec les
gardes-frontières armeniens. Il s’agit d’une importante contribution
a la securite de l’Armenie. ”

Des representants du gouvernement armenien ont minimise la ventre
d’armes russes a l’Azerbaïdjan et ont rejete les preoccupations
exprimees par les commentateurs des medias nationaux et les politiciens
de l’opposition.

” L’acquisition des armes par l’Azerbaïdjan ne doit pas nous inquiterer
“, a declare Seyran Ohanian, le ministre de la Defense. ” Mais comme
vous le savez, la cooperation militaro-technique avec notre partenaire
strategique, la Russie, est a un niveau assez eleve.

Aujourd’hui, nous faisons tout pour maintenir l’equilibre des forces
avec des avantages non seulement quantitatifs mais aussi qualitatifs.

”

Seyran Ohanian a souligne a cet egard la signature d’un accord a
Erevan mardi 25 juin 2013 avec Aleksandr Fomin, le chef d’une agence
gouvernementale russe en charge des ventes d’armes aux pays etrangers.

” Ce document nous permettra de placer notre cooperation
militaro-technique a un niveau inter-etatique plus eleve “, a-t-il
dit. ” La situation est donc sous contrôle. ”

jeudi 27 juin 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

ONE OF WARSAW PARKS NAMED “ARMENIAN PARK”

13:25 ~U 26.06.13

One of the parks in Polish capital of Warsaw has been named “Armenian
Park”.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Poland during these
days for the official visit, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and other
members of the delegation were present at the event.

Yerevan municipality’s press service reported that the decision to
name the park in such way was adopted by Warsaw City Council as a
sign of Armenian-Polish century-long friendship.

As part of ceremonial event, clergyman of the Armenian Apostolic
Church has consecrated the Armenian cross-stone unveiled in the park.

It is the gift of the Republic of Armenia to Warsaw.

Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz presented to Yerevan Mayor a
board with Armenian Park writ.

After the event Taron Margaryan spoke with the representatives of the
Armenian community and informed that Yerevan and Warsaw have signed
Memorandum of Intentions which supposes closer cooperation between
the two cities.

Armenian News – Tert.am

IMPROVEMENT OF CSTO MILITARY COMPONENT WILL HELP ENSURE STABILITY IN ZONE OF RESPONSIBILITY: PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. Regular improvement of the military component
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will help ensure
stability in the area of responsibility and enhance CSTO’s prestige
in the international security system, says the welcoming message of
Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan to participants of the second
strategic political forum on political and security guidelines to
CSTO military component.

The presidential message was read out by the head of the institute
for national strategic studies, advisor to Armenia’s minister of
defence mayor general Hayk Kotanjyan, Novosti-Armenia reports.

The president said consistent and complex implementation of decisions
made at CSTO collective security council on December 19 2012 will
help the member-countries be better prepared for the 21st century
challenges.

The president expressed confidence the forum will develop scientific
approaches to ensure implementation of these decisions.

Armenia, together with its CSTO allies, became a recognized site for
exchange of views on how to renew the organization for transforming
it into a new level international collective security system,
Sargsyan said.

The president wished participants fruitful work for the sake of peace
and stability in the zone of responsibility.

The forum was organized by the ministry of defense institute for
national strategic studies, the CSTO secretariat and “CSTO Institute
non-profit organization.

The forum was attended by Armenia’s minister of defense Seyran Ohanyan,
Secretary General of CSTO Nikolay Bordiuja, members of scientific and
expert council of the organization, specialists engaged in formation
of CSTO military component from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, as
well as by reps of diplomatic missions in Armenia.-0– – See more at:

ARMENIAN ARMY READY TO RESPOND TO ANY AGGRESSION: MINISTER OF DEFENCE

YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. Armenia army is capable of an adequate
response to any aggressor, Armenian minister of defence Seryran
Ohanyan said in his interview to Noah Arch.

“The fighting potential we have, the level of training of our soldiers,
officers and special mission units allows us not only protecting our
homeland, but also carrying out large-scale operations beyond its
borders”, Ohanyan said.

According to the minister, Armenia has everything required in military
operations, especially defence, frontier guarding and intelligence
operations.

“We have all the means to make whoever wants to unleash a war against
Armenia give it up”, Seyranyan said.

The minister stressed Armenian army is considered the best in the
region as it managed to protect the Armenian people at a time.

The army is improving, no exaggeration, Seyranyan said.

“After direct military operations we managed to rehabilitate all
the required structures and create new ones in line with advanced
requirements to armed forces in CIS, Russia and Western countries in
a short period of time”, the minister said.

According to Ohanyan, Armenian army has been always a guarantor of
the security of the Armenian people.

“It has been always undertaking the responsibility to
ensure the security around Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh. And
it is doing its best to maintain security in our region”,
the minister of defence said.-0– – See more at:

STRATEGIC POLITICAL FORUM TO DISCUSS FORMATION OF CSTO MILITARY COMPONENT

11:58 26/06/2013 ” SOCIETY

The second strategic political forum on “Political and Security
Guidelines for the Formation of the Military Component of the CSTO”
kicked off in Yerevan.

The forum was organized by Drastamat Kanayan Institute for National
Strategic Studies of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, CSTO Secretariat
and CSTO Institute.

The opening remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan were read out by
Head of Drastamat Kanayan Institute for National Strategic Studies,
Major General Hayk Kotanjyan. The President hailed the holding of
the forum in our country and expressed the hope that it will become
a serious platform for the full establishment of CSTO and development
of strategic cooperation.

The forum attendees include Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha, members of the Scientific
and Expert Council of CSTO, experts from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
diplomats, politicians and public figures.

Source: Panorama.am

PERSPECTIVES OF IRAN-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS: COMMENTARY BY IRANIAN MAJLIS RESEARCH CENTER

By Armen Israyelyan, Iranian studies expert

During the election campaign, newly elected Iranian President Hassan
Rohani, speaking of Iran’s foreign policy problems and challenges
of relations with some neighboring countries, said, “It is not an
exaggeration to say that Azerbaijan has become a threat to Iran’s
security. The actions taken by some Azerbaijani officials pose
threat to Iran’s territorial integrity. Therefore, Iran’s responsible
officials should not show indifference to Azerbaijan’s threats.”

On this backdrop, the Iranian Majlis Research Center made a report
on Iran-Azerbaijan relations.

The report, published on the official website of the Iranian Majlis,
says, in part, “Since the Aliyevs came to power, anti-religious
policy was formed in Azerbaijan: they spared no effort to keep the
Azerbaijani population away from Islamic and Shiite self-consciousness
and to take the path of political and cultural secularism.”

According to the report, pan-Azeri ideology was formed in Azerbaijan
over the past years, which is based on the idea of the Turkish-Azeri
nation, and represents it as unit of Azerbaijan’s national identity.

To form national unity, the idea of creating “Great Azerbaijan”
was put forward, which also includes Azeri-speaking areas of Iran.

“Iran-Azerbaijan relations have cooled over the past years.

Azerbaijan strengthened political, economic and cultural ties with
the West and Israel during the past years.

This is a serious warning for Iran. All state structures of Iran
should realize the processes taking place in Azerbaijan and predict
all ways so that they are ready to carry out adequate actions for
the fair protection of the national interests of Iran should any of
the scenarios be carried out.”

Analyzing the statement of Hassan Rohani and the report of the Iranian
Majlis Research Center, we can establish that this is the summary
of the past years’ challenges of the bilateral relations which are
becoming even greater.

Time will show what kind of position Hassan Rohani will have on
Azerbaijan, but in consideration of strategic partnership between
Israel and Azerbaijan, Baku’s policy of oppressing Islamic movements,
Azerbaijan’s pretensions to Iran’s northern provinces and Iranian
culture, the issue of the Caspian Sea status, border incidents and
many other issues, an atmosphere of mutual confidence is unlikely to
form between Tehran and Baku in the years to come.

Related: Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan carries out double foreign
policy towards both West and Islamic counties

Is there a possibility of armed conflict between Iran and Azerbaijan
in Caspian Sea?

Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan, Turkey jointly implement program
of splitting Iran

What kind of foreign policy will Iran’s new President pursue?

Interview with Iranian studies expert Armen Israyelyan

SYUNIK EX-GOVERNOR MUST NOT RETAIN POWER – OPPOSITIONIST

15:20 ~U 26.06.13

Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan spoke of party members’
visit to Goris, Syunik region, Armenia and said that the ex-governor
Surik Khachatryan or any of his team members remain in power I
the region.

He pointed out changes in the local population’s mood.

“We cannot say that the atmosphere has radically changed, but, to
our joy, the obvious fact is that the local residents feel freer,”
Martirosyan said.

Asked about Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovhannisyan’s further
steps, Martirosyan said that the party will carry out certain work
in all the regions.

“We are not giving up our struggle. On the other hand, this is evidence
that the Heritage party is the only opposition force because stones
are being thrown at us,” he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ACTIVE PROCESSES UNDER WAY INSIDE ARF-D – AGHVAN VARDANYAN

15:27 ~U 26.06.13

Secretary of Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun faction
Aghvan Vardanyan confesses that as of the moment active but hidden
processes are under way inside the party.

“Active but unseen processes are under way inside the party to
reinterpret the activity of the past years, the mistakes, omissions,
to understand the real situation in the country and our role,” he said,
speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

ARF-D MP noted that they still face issue of restoring the trust of
wider layers of the public.

He said it is clear that they the ARF-D has failed to create trust
among people and currently reforms are ongoing inside the party and
soon they will be introduced to the people.

Summing up the ongoing political processes, the opposition MP said only
seemingly the active political phase has passed, while in reality the
political situation in the country is as tense as it has never been.

“Obviously, hard moral-psychological atmosphere dominates in the
country, emigration moods prevail and on this background certain
processes in the government – Control Chamber-Government conflict,
offshore scandals, situation in villages, gas, electricity tariffs. We
are living in difficult times,” the ARF-D MP said. He also stressed
that conflicts have also rose inside the ruling circles and it is
not clear where it will take the country. “The main reason of it is
the extremely monopolized political system. Currently everyone is
waiting for the president to speak,” he said.

Vardanyan said it will be good if the president comes up with a speech
like he did in the first years of his presidency.

“I would like the president address the people in early fall, I think
the situation and the foreign and domestic challenges have reached
the level when it is necessary to get the guidelines for the country,
to dictate clear rules of the game, for the country be able to get
out of the existing situation,” he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN IN POLAND BLASTS AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY FOR ANTI-ARMENIAN POLICIES

What follows is the address of RA President Serzh Sargsyan at
yesterday’s joint press conference with Polish President Komorowski.

Distinguished Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am glad to be here, in the friendly Poland at the invitation of
President BronisÅ~Baw Komorowski, and I am deeply touched by the warm
Polish hospitality.

Today, we’ve held substantial and productive talks with President
Komorowski on the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, prospects
of development as well as on a number of international issues of
mutual interest. We noted with satisfaction that recent years in the
history of the Armenian-Polish interstate relations have been marked
by the upward development of bilateral ties, high-level official,
including presidential, visits and frequent contacts.

We’ve spoken about the process of implementation of the agreements
reached during the 2011 visit of the President of Poland to Armenia. I
am glad to state that we observe progress in all discussed areas
which testifies to our mutual desire and readiness to develop the
Armenian-Polish cooperation.

We concurred with President Komorowski that there has been laid a
good basis for the cooperation in the political, economic, cultural,
decentralized, military and technical, cultural and educational,
tourism and other areas of mutual interest, noting at the same time
that there is potential to expand them further. The documents signed
today prove it.

I will not conceal my admiration with Poland’s economic advancement.

Economic growth registered by Poland during the global financial and
economic crisis is impressive and instructive indeed.

Trade and economic cooperation with Poland is significant for Armenia,
however I wouldn’t call its current level satisfactory. With
this regard with attach certain hopes to the activities of the
Armenian-Polish intergovernmental commission and Armenia-Poland Trade
and Industry Chamber-Fund.

We mutually agreed on the need to strengthen the cultural relations
and as Mr. President said, we have already reached agreement on the
events to be organized next year. We have certainly discussed critical
regional and international issues. We have spoken about the prospects
of cooperation in the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership whose
co-founder, meticulous implementer and supporter is also Poland.

Unfortunately, there are still problems in our region, conditions
which impede the full realization of the opportunities provided by
the Eastern Partnership. Regrettably, for some Europe still remains
a market rather than a system of values. It is really ludicrous when
one of our neighbors, which has declared its adherence to the European
way of life, at the same time glorifies a scoundrel which committed
a revolting murder on ethnic grounds, threatens to shoot down civil
aircrafts and to deprive through a war the nation, which has been
living on its land for millennia of that right. Another neighbor
of ours – Turkey, which has also been striving to join Europe and
is a member of the EU Customs Union, since almost day one of our
independence shut down our border and refuses to maintain relations
which are but normal between the neighbors in the 21st century.

With Europe, the pivot of our negotiations is mutual accessibility
of our markets, free movement of people; however Armenia’s border
with the EU Customs Union remains under lock. We anticipate a full
and unequivocal assessment of the inadmissibility of such conduct.

I once again express thanks to Mr. President for the invitation and
warm welcome.

President Serzh Sargsyan responds to the questions raised at the
joint press conference with the President of Poland

At the joint press conference with the President of Poland, President
Serzh Sargsyan responded to the question of a journalist on what
is the attitude in Armenia toward the integration processes. Serzh
Sargsyan said, “Strategic nature of the Armenian-Russian relations
is no secret. We have been living side by side for many years and
for some considerable time – in one common state. During centuries,
good, friendly relations based on mutual respect were formed. We
are friendly nations; we have a common history and are proud of that
history. Armenia and Russia are members of the CSTO; with Russia we
have extended military-technical and deep economic relations. The
largest Armenian community resides in Russia and the members of that
community are much respected people. We have never made a step aimed
against Russia and have no complex which would compel to make such a
step. We are the nation which is a carrier of the European values and
our goal is to advance our society based on that very values. Armenia
is a country which has registered an impressive progress in the
framework of the EU Eastern Partnership. We build our work based
not on “either-or” but on “both” principle, and I don’t see any
incongruity here.”

On the question whether Poland will assist Armenia in the process
of Euro-integration, the President of Armenia responded, yes, Poland
has been and is assisting us. We need that help and assistance.

The next question directed to Serzh Sargsyan was on the importance of
the international assistance to the reforms conducted in Armenia and
prospects, particularly now when Armenia has been moved from the list
of the low-income countries to the list of the middle-income states
and thus has lost a considerable portion of international donors’
assistance.

Responding to this question, the President of Armenia underscored that
Armenia needs technical, material assistance, also in the form of
exchange of experience, etc. and anticipates such assistance. Serzh
Sargsyan spoke about the large-scale reforms undertaken in the
customs and tax structures, improvement of the business environment
and underscored that it is impossible to implement all these reforms
without substantial investments. The President spoke also about the
large-scale program to be launched on January 1, 2014 which envisages
providing competitive wages to all those employees whose salaries
are funded through the state budget and to all employees in general.

Underlining that the main burden of the reforms mentioned above
naturally rests with the Armenian authorities, President Serzh
Sargsyan, at the same time, stressed the importance of investments
and assistance to that process.