Author: Babajanian Karo

SYRIE
A Alep, les jihadistes montent en puissance face à des rebelles décriés

De récentes manifestations à Alep s’en prenant clairement à l’Armée
syrienne libre (ASL), qui avait pourtant conquis en juillet la moitié
de la ville, ont montré sa perte d’influence, au profit des islamistes
radicaux mieux armés et plus disciplinés, selon les habitants.

Les islamistes, notamment ceux du Front jihadiste Al-Nosra, doivent
paradoxalement leur notoriété d’abord à leur discrétion mais aussi à
leur abnégation au combat. Vendredi, lors des défilés hebdomadaires à
Alep, des manifestants excédés ont appelé l’ASL à aller au front
plutôt que de rester tapie dans leurs quartiers.

Pour Moustafa, 37 ans, `la férocité des combattants du Front Al-Nosra
et leur expertise au combat en ont fait la force la plus connue
d’Alep`, éclipsant Liwa al-Tawhid, une brigade rebelle proche des
Frères musulmans, qui fut au début la première force de l’opposition
armée dans la métropole du Nord.

`Ils disparaissent après les combats`

Mais c’est surtout leur profil bas que retiennent les habitants.

`Les combattant d’Al-Nosra et de Ghouraba al-Cham affluent chez nous
dès que l’armée attaque mais ils disparaissent à la fin des combats`,
se félicite ce professeur d’arabe qui habite avec sa femme et ses cinq
enfants à Boustane al-Bacha, fief des combattants islamistes.

Mamoun qui vit dans le sud d’Alep, renchérit : `ils ne s’approchent
pas des habitants`. D’autant qu’il leur est difficile de communiquer
car `certains ont un accent différent et il y en a même qu’on ne
comprend absolument pas`.

Al-Nosra est une organisation jihadiste dont on connaît peu de choses
car ses hommes refusent de parler, tant aux journalistes qu’aux
habitants.

Inconnu avant le début de la révolte en Syrie en mars 2011, et accusé
un temps d’être une émanation des renseignements syriens, ce Front a
revendiqué la plupart des attentats suicide qui ont ensanglanté le
pays, notamment à Alep, Damas et Deir Ezzor (est). Deux autres grands
groupes jihadistes sont implantés en Syrie, Ghouraba al-Cham (les
Etrangers de Damas), qui regroupe essentiellement des jihadistes turcs
et venus des pays de l’ex-Union soviétique, et Ahrar al-Cham (Les
hommes libres de Damas), composé en grande partie de combattants venus
du Liban et d’Irak.

Riches et bien armés

Mais l’armement et l’argent font aussi la différence. `La plupart des
combattants de l’ASL sont jeunes, certains sont même adolescents, ils
portent des armes peu sophistiquées et sont chargés de tenir les
points de contrôle`, raconte Abdallah, qui habite la vieille ville.
`En revanche, les combattants d’Al-Nosra sont plus vieux, ont des
armes modernes et des gilets pare-balles et il est rare de les voir en
faction`, ajoute ce fonctionnaire de 32 ans.

Les islamistes bénéficient de fonds bien plus importants que leurs
alliés et rivaux, sans qu’on puisse en déterminer l’origine. `Les
combattants d’Al-Nosra préparaient des festins avec de la viande
grillée pour la rupture du jeûne du ramadan, alors que ceux de l’Armée
libre devaient se contenter d’un sandwich`, note-t-il encore.

Selon Houssam, un journaliste de 35 ans habitant dans une partie de la
vieille ville contrôlée par l’armée, `les deux pratiquent le
kidnapping, mais si les rebelles réclament des rançons pour payer
leurs combattants et acheter des armes, Al-Nosra ne négocie jamais, il
tue ses otages. C’est la preuve que les fonds qu’il reçoit de
l’étranger lui suffisent`.

Mais le succès des islamistes s’explique aussi par les inconséquences
des rebelles de l’ASL.

Vendredi, Maher a participé aux manifestations qui ont conspué l’ASL.
Cet habitant de Boustane al-Qasr, quartier du sud d’Alep tenu par
l’ASL, dénonce avec véhémence les rapines des rebelles et leur
installation dans des appartements de familles ayant fui les
violences, et qui ne peuvent plus revenir dans leur logement occupé. A
en croire les habitants, comble du paradoxe, c’est le Front al-Nosra
qui se retrouve aujourd’hui à régler les différends entre groupes
rebelles. Moujahed, un fonctionnaire de 30 ans, évoque `des
affrontements entre rebelles qui ont duré un mois à Ferdaous (sud)`.

Ils ont pris fin `quand Al-Nosra a imposé son contrôle et partagé le
butin, notamment les munitions et les armes`.

samedi 15 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ECHECS
Lévon Aronian cède sa place de numéro deux mondial
l’Arménien est troisième au classement de la FIDE

L’Arménien Lévon Aronian est resté moins de deux mois au rang de
numéro deux mondial. Au dernier classement de la FIDE, Lévon Aronian
pointe désormais à la troisième place du classement des meilleurs
joueurs d’échecs de la planète. Après une 6e place au tournois
d’échecs « London chess classic », Lévon Aronian a cédé sa place au
Russe Vladimir Kramnik qui devient numéro deux mondial avec 2810
points. Lévon Aronian a quant à lui 2802 points. Le Norvégien Magnus
Carlsen est numéro un mondial avec 2862,4 points établissent ainsi un
nouveau record. L’ancien record appartenait à Garry Kasparov qui avait
en 1994 réalisé 2851 points.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 15 décembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

New Report Cites Egregious Election Fraud in Armenia

Friday, December 14th, 2012

The PFA report

The Policy Forum of Armenia, a US-based think thank and advocacy
organizations, published and presented a report on Thursday detailing
egregious violations and fraud during the May 2012 parliamentary
elections in Armenia.

The report, `The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012,’ provides an
in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative
developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the
reactions of key stakeholders – the opposition parties, foreign
observers, and local civil society groups – to the election outcome.

`What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however,
is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts,
that support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample
evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud, but also
pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the
ruling party,’ said the PFA in its announcement of the report.

Read the entire report.

34,13% of foreign investments aimed at Armenia’s mining industry

December 14, 2012 – 17:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Foreign investments in Armenian economy decreased by
35,2 % in January-September 2012 to total $391,1 mln as compared with
the same period of 2011.

According to RA National Statistical Service, foreign direct
investment (FDI) dropped by 53,8% to gross $221,3 mln in
January-September 2012.

19,46% of the total foreign investments and 34,13% of FDI were aimed
at mining industry and operation of minefields, with 22,23% and 10,93%
of FDI aimed at telecommunications and real estate sectors.

Artsakh posts 33 % growth of tourist inflow in Jan-Nov

December 14, 2012 – 19:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Consular Service of Artsakh Republic Ministry of
Foreign Affairs granted an entry visa to the 15th thousand tourist of
2012, citizen of the Australian state of New South Wales 24-year-old
Nguyen David Hung.
In this respect, NKR MFA Chief of Staff Semyon Afiyan handed a
Visitor’s Certificate and other memorable gifts to Nguyen David Hung.
According to the NKR MFA Consular Service, the number of visitors to
the republic increased by more than 33 % in January-November 2012, as
compared to the same period of 2011, NKR MFA pres service reported.

Armenia urges sanctions for military solution to Karabakh issue

December 14, 2012 – 22:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met Dec 14
with foreign ministers of Poland, Sweden and Bulgaria.
Prime Minister Sargsyan noted successful completion of talks on
formation of free trade area with the EU in the framework of the
Eastern Partnership as priority for Yerevan, with Armenia planning to
finalize negotiations by the end of 2013.
The ministers, in turn, highly assessed Armenian government’s program
on reform implementation, expressing EU’s readiness to further assist
Yerevan, based on `more for more’ principle.
The officials dwelt on Armenia-EU visa facilitation talks, noting that
the agreement will be singed on Dec 17. In this respect, Prime
Minister Sargsyan noted that starting January 1, 2013 visa free regime
will operate for EU citizens planning to visit Armenia, which will
further contribute to development of bilateral relations.
Dwelling on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Prime Minister
Sargsyan stressed peaceful solution to the problem in the framework of
OSCE Minsk Group as Armenia’s goal, noting Baku’s unreadiness for
constructive talks.
`Azerbaijani authorities continue storage of arms and preparing the
country for war. The international community must express clear stance
on the issue in an international document, with the latter urging for
sanctions against any country that will attempt to solve Karabakh
problem by force,’ he said.

Paruyr Hayrikyan vows to abolish president’s post if elected

19:39 14/12/2012 » POLITICS

The statement of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) on not nominating its
candidate and not backing any candidate was for this moment only. This
statement is unlikely to prevent PAP from voicing a different position
in the coming two months, National Self-Determination Union (NSDU)
chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

According to him, PAP’s statement was related to party’s leader Gagik
Tsarukyan personally and reflected his refusal to run in the elections
and to back any candidate as well as to the party’s leadership, while
citizens are free in their decisions.

Commenting on possible unification of opposition parties and
cooperation with opposition forces, Hayrikyan said that Armenia is a
country where it is very difficult to differentiate between opposition
forces.

`Unification should be not around an opposition or a pro-government
candidate: we should be able to put forward a consensus candidate
representing national consent. Unification should be around national
goals of general importance, the most important of which is the system
of perfect democracy, which I offered earlier,’ said Hayrikyan.

NSDU leader said that he intends to be president for two years only.

`During these two years, I am going to abolish the president’s post.
The people will have an elected prime minister and vice prime
minister. The current parliament will be dissolved and a new one will
be elected with 81 members because in the current parliament, of all
members, only 30 work, while the rest are just visitors. Lastly, I am
going to hold a constitutional referendum and then new elections will
be held and I will leave the political arena,’ said the presidential
candidate.

Source: Panorama.am

Balian’s Novel Holds a Mirror to Immigrants
Posted by Contributor

December 14, 2012

By Ara Caprielian

Author Hagop Balian is highly respected in literary circles as an
intellectual, journalist, and editor. Recently he was awarded a
much-coveted medal by the government of Armenia for being an ardent
champion and tireless promoter of the Armenian language, particularly
Western Armenian and classical orthography.

Balian, the current editor of the prestigious literary periodical
`Pakine,’ is a prolific writer of insightful, thought-provoking, and
sometimes controversial articles covering such diverse subjects as the
pursuit of the Armenian Question (Hai Tahd), the current state of
national awareness (or lack thereof) throughout the world-wide
diaspora, the challenge of survival faced by Armenian culture and
language, as well as issues involving different facets of life in
Armenian communities. Balian’s thoughtful writings regularly appear in
various Armenian periodicals all over the globe.

The novel under review, `America, America…Yeraz yev Khordagman
Lkoumner,’ is a logical outcome of the keen observations the author
has made over the years regarding the immigration of Armenians from
Armenia and the Middle East to the United States, resulting, for many,
in the loss of their ethnic/national identity and culture, inevitably
leading to assimilation. To be sure, such developments leave indelible
imprints both on the lives of the individuals and the nation as a
whole.

The story begins with the death of an apparently lonely gentleman in
Glendale, Calif., followed by a brief description of his funeral, the
execution of his will, and the subsequent publication of his diary,
which spans many decades of his eventful life. The narrative, based on
his diary, commences with protagonist Levon Arisian’s boyhood and life
in a typical Middle Eastern city. His dreams and ambitions unfold, and
the reader learns about a promise made to his first love.

We follow Arisian to Alabama, where he achieves his paramount goal of
getting a higher education and the success he so eagerly sought. The
following chapters describe his adventurous life, including the many
voluntary adjustments he makes to become a quintessential American,
which inexorably lead to his alienation from all things Armenian. This
bright, self-disciplined student soon becomes a highly successful
engineer, ultimately reaching the highest level of the corporate
ladder. In this promised land of limitless opportunity, his enviable
success and reputation open many doors, which countless aspiring
immigrants could only dream about.

In time, he marries an American woman from a well-established family,
raises three children, and becomes a bonafide member of America’s
consumer society. The first incident that brings home the point that
he is `outsider,’ after all, occurs when he vainly tries to name his
firstborn son after his father over the adamant objections of his
wife.

After an absence of many years, and out of a sense of filial
obligation, he returns to his birthplace with his family to visit his
mother and siblings. Another disappointment occurs when he sees his
American family’s inability to connect with his warm and gracious
family.

Two major events awaken within him a dormant feeling of identification
with his people: the spate of assassinations of Turkish diplomats in
the 1970’s as a desperate measure to resurrect the yet-unresolved
Armenian Question (Hai Tahd) and the devastating 1988 earthquake in
Armenia.

Ultimately, his divorce, alienation from his children, and the loss of
women in his life by virtue of tragic circumstances shatter his dreams
and the very purpose of his life. But I should tell no more before I
risk spoiling the pleasure of reading this novel.

Like many good novels, underneath a seemingly simple story lie
philosophical problems, constituting food for thought, soul searching,
and introspection by the readers. Indeed, many Armenians who
immigrated to the United States from various countries – seeking refuge,
safety, freedom, or the opportunity to realize the American dream – have
lost many values inherited from their background. Others, on the other
hand, have simply refused to succumb to the temptation of making
achieving fame and fortune, and have succeeded in making significant
contributions to their Armenian communities.

The reader can determine in which category Levon Arisian belongs.

One of the many positive attributes of the novel is the author’s
perceptive observation of life in the United States, despite his all
too brief, occasional visits to this country. The other is his
meticulous use of Western Armenian, the future of which as a viable,
living language is an abiding concern, considering the present trends.

It is regrettable that because of the language, the novel is not
easily accessible to a larger reading public. Presumably, some
Armenians will be able to identify with the very same problems,
dilemmas, successes, and failures faced by the protagonist. In any
event, Hagop Balian’s novel is a welcome contribution to the rich
treasury of Armenian literature.

Exhibition of disabled persons opens in Yerevan Municipality

02:30 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

The Yerevan Municipality hosts Friday an exhibition of works by
individuals with physical disabilities. The exhibition opened on the
occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, was
organized by the Armenian Network of Independent Life Union.

Mayor Taron Margaryan gave awards to the organizers of the exhibition
and concert, as well as those disabled persons who had serious success
in international and local sporting events.

Mr Margaryan talked to the participants, toured the exhibition hall
and got familiarized with the showcased works, the Municipality’s
press service reports.

Russian MFA downplays Assad defeat comments

December 14, 2012 – 15:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday, Dec 14,
downplayed earlier comments made by the ministry’s deputy head in
which he suggested that the Syrian opposition could win the civil war
raging in the country, RIA Novosti reported.
Mikhail Bogdanov has not made any specific statements for the press on
Syria in recent days, the ministry said on Friday.
The Syrian conflict was discussed at a roundtable in Moscow on
Thursday, attended by Bogdanov, where speakers cited the Syrian
opposition’s statements about their inevitable victory, the ministry
explained in the carefully worded statement.
The Foreign Ministry said that, speaking at the roundtable, Bogdanov
had reiterated Russia’s position: Moscow wants to see a political
solution to the crisis in Syria.
Bogdanov’s contribution to Thursday’s discussion was widely quoted in
the Russian and international media: `We have to face up to reality,
the trend is that the Syrian authorities, the Syrian government is
increasingly losing control, losing more and more territory. Sadly, a
victory by the Syrian opposition cannot be ruled out.’
It was also welcomed by the U.S. Department of State, which commended
Moscow `for finally waking up to the reality.’
But on Friday Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich
was dismissive. `I saw the U.S. State Department spokeswoman citing
[Bodganov] and praising how Moscow has finally woken up and is
changing its position,’ he said.
`But we never slept. And we never changed our position, and will not
do so in the future,’ Lukashevich said at a press briefing in Moscow.
More than 30,000 people died in the 21-month-long standoff between the
Syrian opposition and the forces of President Bashar al-Assad,
according to UN estimates.
The United States has repeatedly called for Assad’s ouster, while
Russia has insisted that the opposition shares the blame for the
violence and that political dialog is the only way of stopping the
civil war.