Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN ISTANBUL PREVENTS ARMENIANS’ UNITY?

news.am
June 12, 2012 | 00:04

ISTANBUL. – Constantinople Armenians had certain rights on national,
religious, political meetings in the Ottoman Empire, however, their
rights ceased as soon as the empire collapsed and current Republic
of Turkey emerged.

Only Patriarchate has remained and whole power is in its hands, Agos
newspaper editor-in-chief Rober Koptaþ told Armenian and Turkish
journalists.

“Turkey will become more democratic if the Armenian community can
express will and resume former agencies. However, as the Patriarchate
does not support the idea, Armenians face with difficulties. They
have to settle two major problems, including unsettled issues with
Turkey and issues inside the community. All these complicate the
organizational skills inside the community and prevent Armenians from
being presented in Turkey as one united ethnic group,” he said.

In response to Armenian News-NEWS.am question what prevents influential
representatives of the community to take up the issue and establish a
civil structure, Koptaþ said that those people are used to act behind
closed doors and not to be liable to the community.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: “THE STATEMENT OF THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SOUNDS RACIST”

hetq
13:27, June 12, 2012

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s address and answers to
questions during the press conference with Eamon Gilmore, OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
the Republic of Ireland

I am pleased to welcome the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland’s
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore. Regardless
of the geographical distance between our countries, centuries-old
deep relations were established between our peoples.

Armenia gives importance to the development, fostering and enlargement
of relations with Ireland.

We had a very fruitful meeting with Mr. Gilmore last year in Dublin and
we used the opportunity of this visit to discuss a wide range of topics
concerning bilateral relations, regional and international issues.

During the elections for the OSCE presidency, Armenia supported
Ireland’s candidacy and I reaffirmed that Armenia will support all
those steps which the Irish chairmanship will initiate to make the
OSCE a more efficient and vibrant organisation.

We discussed the cooperation of Armenia with the OSCE in the
organisation’s three levels of activities.

We discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, as one of the key issues on
the agenda of Ireland’s Chairmanship is related to the strengthening
of peace and stability in the South Caucasus, which is undoubtedly
very important for our country.

I presented Mr. Gilmore the recent developments in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. We share the opinion that there is no
alternative to peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. In
this respect, Armenia’s position is line with that of the international
community reflected in the statements of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
countries’ Presidents in L’Aquila in 2009, in Muskoka in 2010 and in
Deauville in 2011.

Today we will have an opportunity to continue our discussions on
other issues as well. Thank you very much, and please Mr. Gilmor,
the floor I yours.

Armnews TV: Mr. Nalbandian, recently the Turkish Foreign Minister
made a statement where he expressed his concerns about the loss of
Azeri soldiers, and he added also that despite the efforts exerted
by the OSCE Minsk Group, the Armenian side is not yet reacting. How
would you comment that statement? Thank you.

Edward Nalbandian: The statement of the Turkish Foreign Minister,
according to which as if he mourns the loss of only the Azeri
servicemen as a result of the latest incidents, sounds racist. We
have never heard him being concerned about the killings of Armenian
soldiers as a result of subversive acts from the Azeri side. While
the international community condemns the bloody incidents and urges
the sides to refrain from the use of force, these sort of Turkish
statements in fact encourage Azerbaijanis’ new subversive acts.

While Azerbaijan is not only not reacting, but is continuously
rejecting the Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ proposals on the withdrawal of
snipers from the line of contact, the consolidation of ceasefire, the
creation of investigation mechanisms of the violations of ceasefire,
the Turkish side is attempting to shift this responsibility of the
Azerbaijani side on the others. The Turkish side is pretending as
if it is unaware whether of whose fault a progress was not made in
Kazan on reaching an agreement of the basic principles.

20 years ago Armenia did not oppose Turkey’s inclusion as a member of
the Minsk Group, because some countries expected that Turkey would
be unbiased and would have its input in the peaceful settlement of
the conflict. The passing 20 years showed that Turkey is not only
non-neutral, but through its stance harms the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement process. A question arises: is Turkey’s such behavior
compatible with its being a member of the Minsk Group?

Armenpress News Agency: I have a question for Mr. Gilmore. Mr.

Gilmore, the incidents on the line of contact and on the border
between Armenia and Azerbaijan got intensified after Azerbaijan,
albeit through use of blackmail, succeeded in failing the creation
of investigation mechanisms for ceasefire violations on the line of
contact. Is Ireland, during its Chairmanship in the OSCE, undertaking
a commitment to do everything possible so that those investigation
mechanisms were created? Will Ireland push to the end in this issue,
despite Azerbaijan’s blackmailing?

Edward Nalbandian: I would like to add, that Armenia has been and
is for the creation of the mechanisms of investigation and, unlike
Azerbaijan, when we agree on something, we do not backtrack on the
following day.

I should recall that corresponding elements of the establishment
of mechanisms are included in the relevant statements made by the
Presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in March 2011 and January
2012 in Sochi. We respect those agreements and we are for the creation
of the mechanisms.

WE EXPECT SENIOR OFFICIAL FROM ARMENIA IN ISTANBUL – TURKISH FM

news.am
June 11, 2012 | 14:16

YEREVAN. – During a news conference in Trabzon, Turkey, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reflected on the matter of Armenia’s
participation in the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) conference to be held in Istanbul on June 26.

Davutoglu stated that Armenia is a BSEC members since the beginning
and it has a representation in Istanbul, Star daily of Turkey informs.

“Armenia’s attendance is normal. We expect for Armenia to partake in
the BSEC [conference] in the form of a senior official. Our invitation
is at the presidential level,” noted Turkish FM.

PROCURATOR-GENERAL OF CHINA AND GENERAL PROSECUTOR OF ARMENIA SIGN A PROGRAM OF COOPERATION

hetq
13:59, June 11, 2012

On 11 June, 2012, the Procurator-General of the People’s Republic
of China Cao Jianming and the General Prosecutor of the Republic
of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan signed a Program of Cooperation between
the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the People’s Republic of China
and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia for
2012-2013.

The sides arranged to organize joint seminars and round tables to
discuss issues related to the peculiarities of the investigation of
separate crimes, by indicating the timetable of the events.

Under the Program, the Armenian and Chinese colleagues will organize
joint seminars in 2012-2013 on the following themes;

– The practice and problems of the struggle against the use of internet
for criminal activities, the role of the General Prosecutor’s Office
in coordinating the actions of the law enforcement bodies in the
struggle against the cyber crimes.

– Exchange of experience in combating corruption crimes, discussions
related to the practice, the results and effectiveness of the struggle.

– The practice and problems the investigation of economic crimes.

This program is the second document signed by the General Prosecutor’s
Offices of both countries. The first document was signed in 1999,
between the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the People’s Republic of
China and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia
in Beijing.

The delegation headed by the Procurator-General of the People’s
Republic of China Cao Jianming arrived in Yerevan on 9 June, 2012 on
the invitation of the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia
Aghvan Hovsepyan. The guests were introduced to the system, main
functions and problems of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the
Republic of Armenia. They also discussed issues related to providing
legal aid on criminal cases.

The delegation visited the cultural and historical monuments of
Armenia and on 12 June, 2012, the guests will visit the Armenian
Genocide Museum and the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial.

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia, in addition to the
international documents, undertakes practical steps in developing
the mutual cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Offices of other
countries in providing legal assistance on criminal cases.

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia has signed Memorandums on
Cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Offices of 14 countries
and with two countries it has signed Program of Cooperation thus
developing the mechanisms of cooperation. Before, Armenia signed a
Program of Cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office of Russia.

ARMENIA TO OFFICIALLY ASSUME BOLOGNA SECRETARIAT JULY 1 – EDUCATION MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 11, 2012 – 19:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 11, acting Minister of Education and Science
met with rectors of Armenian state universities.

Armen Ashotyan noted that Armenia officially will take over Bologna
Secretariat starting July 1, Ministry’s press service reported.

“On April 25-27, Bucharest hosted a ministerial summit of Bologna
Process participating countries, with European Higher Education
Area priorities for the coming three years presented,” Minister
Ashotyan said.

He further said that the coming three years will become a turning
point in Armenia’s higher education system, with universities obliged
to implement the program regarding ensuring the quality, range of
national qualifications and institutional accreditation.

“Starting September 1, Ministry will tighten control in all institutes
of higher education,” Education Minister said.

EVERY YEAR 400-500 HIGHLY QUALIFIED IT-SPECIALISTS EMIGRATE FROM ARMENIA

arminfo
Monday, June 11, 17:38

Every year 400-500 highly qualified IT-specialists emigrate from
Armenia, which is a very painful loss for the country, Karen Vardanyan,
Executive Director of the Union of Informational Technologies
Enterprises (UITE), told media, Monday.

“It is a very heavy loss as the most effective and well-trained
specialists with at least 10 years of work experience leave the
country,” Vardanyan said.

He believes it necessary creating good conditions for such specialists
to found their own business in Armenia, which would contribute to
technological development of the country. China is quite a good
example, he said. Every years thousands of Chinese specialists leave
for the USA to learn and work. They gain high administrative positions
at U.S. corporations and then move their business to China.

“Armenians are more prone to assimilation. Polls have revealed that
we do not love our country and most of us dream of leaving it,”
Vardanyan said.

He said that every year the local higher-educational establishments
provide 1500 graduated students specializing in information
technologies. Only 300 of them are able to work in the given sector
and not without relevant training at the IT- companies.

The software products made in Armenia are often used outside it.

Inside the country mainly banks or big infrastructure companies apply
high technologies. Vardanyan thinks that the market is monopolized
by 80%. Therefore, only 20% of the market, sphere of small and
medium-sized enterprises, really compete and need improvement of
production efficiency through introduction of high technologies. Most
of the local companies are not ambitious and “scratch along” and it
has already become a national feature. All this hinders development
of internal demand for high technologies in Armenia, he said.

He said that in line with the state strategy of IT development,
the number of the companies engaged in the given sector is to be
increased to 1000 by 2018 instead of the current 350. UITE comes out
for establishment of a ministry for introduction of innovations in
the country to boost the sector.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF GERMAN BUNDESTAG

ARMENPRESS
11 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
received Ruprecht Polenz, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of
the German Bundestag.

President’s press service told Armenpress that at the meeting Armenia’s
President and Ruprecht Polenz discussed regional issues and referred
to Armenia’s Eurointegration process.

ARMENIAN TRACTOR AGAIN “ATTACKS” AZERI ARMY UNITS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 11, 2012 – 16:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azeri media coverage reminds of a bad scenario of a
bad film. According to Azerbaijani authorities, Azeri soldiers commit
mass suicide, get blown up by mine, and die in an accident. In fact,
these are saboteurs, killed during failed subversive acts against
Armenia and Artsakh.

Some scenario shading sets of assaults by “sly Armenians” against
peaceful Azeri soldiers reoccur every few years. This time Azerbaijani
army units were attacked by an “Armenian tractor”.

Thus, according to Azeri media report, “on the night of June 4,
Armenian side tried to infiltrate Azeri border on a tractor. The
tractor was stopped by a fire from Azeri positions, foiling Armenian
attempt to advance.”

Back in March 17, 2010, Azerbaijani soldiers shelled a tractor in
the direction of Koti town in Tavush Province. However, that time
the tractor made no “infiltration attempt”, but was carrying out
agricultural work. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported.

Thus, Azeri media regularly issues reports on Armenian infiltration
and advancement attempts particularly in the summer.

UN PROFESSEUR AZERI APPELLE A L’OUVERTURE DE LA FRONTIERE ARMENO-TURQUE

armenews.com
mardi 12 juin 2012

La frontière entre la Turquie et l’Armenie doit s’ouvrir coûte que
coûte a declare un professeur d’origine azeri enseignant a l’Universite
d’Istanbul.

Dans une interview au journal Turkiye, le Profoessor Kamil Veli
Nerimanoglu a parle des produits turcs presents sur le marche armenien
notant que maintenir la frontière fermee n’avait aucun sens dans de
telles circonstances.

Le chercheur, qui reside en Turquie depuis plusieurs d’annees,
a consacre plusieurs papiers au Genocide armenien.

Il a dit au journal turc qu’une frontière fermee n’empeche pas les
citoyens armeniens de voyager vers la Turquie par la Georgie ou l’Iran.

M.Nerimanoglu a dit que 100 000 immigrants illegaux armeniens
actuellement resident et travaillent dans le pays.

” Les marches armeniens et les magasins sont pleins de produits
turcs, tenir la frontière fermee dans de telles circonstances n’a
pas de sens. En plus, l’ouverture de la frontière aura un impact
positif. La nation armenienne ne nous regerdera plus d’un mauvais
~il et comprendra que le passe est le passe ” a-t-il ajoute.

Le professeur a critique le regime en Azerbaïdjan. Selon lui, le clan
Aliyev augmente les pressions contre l’opposition dans une tentative
de conserver le pouvoir a tout prix.

” L’opposition doit laisser le pays ; certaines [ figures de
l’opposition] sont meme sous les verrous. Combien de temps un etat
comme cela peut-il rester stable ? Un mouvement populaire peut eclater
a n’importe quel moment. Les revenus petroliers ne sont pas employes
a l’avantage du peuple ” a-t-il dit.

PRESIDENT MET WITH PRIME MINISTER, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF VIETNAM

08.06.2012

Today, in the framework of his official visit to Vietnam, President
Serzh Sargsyan met with Prime Minister Nguen Tan Zung, Secretary
General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguen Fu Chong and Speaker
of the National Assembly Nguen Shin Hung.

At the meetings, the parties gave a high assessment to the results of
President Sargsyan’s negotiations with the President of Vietnam Chiong
Tan Shang and stressed the importance of the signed documents. They
expressed confidence that the official visit of the President of
Armenia will give a new impetus to the strengthening of bilateral
relations, elevating the Armenian-Vietnamese relations to a new level.

The parties also stressed that although diplomatic relations between
Armenia and Vietnam were established twenty years ago, the two friendly
people have been maintaining contacts much earlier.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Serzh Sargsyan
discussed a wide range of issues pertinent to the development of the
economic relations. The interlocutors stressed the importance of the
establishment of the Armenian-Vietnamese intergovernmental commission.

They also spoke about the importance of the organization of business
forums, exhibitions and contacts between the business circles of
the two countries for a full realization of the economic potential,
getting more information about the opportunities in the markets of
the two countries and existing demand.

In the view of the fact that Armenia and Vietnam are members of the
World Trade Organization and in their economic policies are guided
by the same principles, President Sargsyan and the Prime Minister
of Vietnam spoke about the possibilities of expanding bilateral
cooperation and strengthening the Armenian-Vietnamese trade relations.

Prime Minister Nguen Tan Zung assured that the Government of Vietnam
will do its best to implement all agreements reached by the Presidents
of Armenia and Vietnam.

At the meeting with the Secretary General of the Communist Party of
Vietnam Nguen Fu Chong discussed were issues related to the development
of bilateral relations in different areas as well as establishment
of working relations between the ruling parties of the two countries.

With the Speaker of the National Assembly Nguen Shin Hung, President
Serzh Sargsyan discussed issues of the establishment and enhancement
of the Armenian-Vietnamese interparliamentary relations and toward
that end, creation in the parliaments of the two countries of the
friendship groups.

Nguen Shin Hung congratulated President Sargsyan on the successful
Parliamentary elections held on May 6 and victory of the party headed
by the President and wished him every success.

In the evening the President of Vietnam gave an official dinner in
honor of the President of Armenia.

Concluding the official meeting to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
tonight delegation headed by President Sargsyan will return to Yerevan.