Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN BATTLE RESERVE
Alexander Deryabin

WPS Agency
April 16, 2012 Monday
Russia

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 73, April 16, 2012, p. 11
[translated from Russian]

AN INTERVIEW WITH PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA TIGRAN SARKISJAN; An
interview with Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sarkisjan.

Question: What is Armenia’s military budget this year?

Tigran Sarkisjan: Armenia’s budget as such amounts to 1 trillion
drams, and military budget amounts to 14% of the whole sum. It means
approximately 140 billion drams.

Question: The Armenian leadership launched military reforms. Could
you please update us on the reforms under way?

Tigran Sarkisjan: The first part of the reforms concerned structural
changes and organizational matters. It was not particularly expensive.

It is the second part of the reforms that will be much more costly. We
mean to dramatically increase the professional part of the army. And we
mean to carry out some social projects in connection with it. Pay will
be increased as well. In any event, it is construction of tenements
for servicemen that is going to be a particularly expensive article
of the military budget.

The last part of the reforms concerns rearmament. Our plans in this
sphere stipulate production of military hardware in Armenia and
procurement of sophisticated weapons abroad.

Question: How much will average servicemen be paid soon?

Tigran Sarkisjan: Their pay will exceed the average pay in Armenia. As
matters stand, average pay in Armenia amounts to approximately 110,000
drams or about $400. It is certainly wrong to pay servicemen less
than that.

Question: A few words on the relations with the Alliance, please. Does
the Armenian military plan rapprochement with it?

Tigran Sarkisjan: The Armenian-NATO cooperation might be said
to consist of several components. First, technical assistance in
modernization of the Armenian regular army; second, personnel training
programs; and third, participation in joint projects. For example,
our military doctors were in Kosovo. Anyway, all of that are trifles
when compared with the extensive cooperation programs under way with
our partners in the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Armenia’s cooperation with NATO does not even come close to its
cooperation with CIS CSTO countries. Cooperation with CIS CSTO
countries is the undeniable priority. There is a Russian military
base in Armenia, after all. As for NATO, we only mean to be friendly
with this structure.

Question: Considering escalation of tension in connection with Iran, is
any strengthening of the Russian military presence in Armenia planned?

Tigran Sarkisjan: It is only planned within the framework of the
agreement on the Russian military base. In 2010, we extended the
stay of the Russian base in Armenia until 2044. We did not take any
additional measures to increase Russian military presence here.

Question: Is the Armenian leadership ready for the economic problems
a military operation against Iran might entail? What effect will an
armed conflict between the West and Iran have on Armenia?

Tigran Sarkisjan: About 20% of our turnover is carried out via Iran.

An armed conflict will therefore mean problems with export and
import… The events in Georgia in August 2008 taught us a lesson. The
railways were down for a whole month then and that posed a genuine
threat to the Armenian economy. We had to rely on trucks and planes
then and that greatly increased transportation costs.

Armenia has to accumulate the necessary potential… reserves that
will enable it to weather economic consequences of military conflicts.

Question: What about Armenia’s reserves at this time?

Tigran Sarkisjan: We need to stock up bare necessities – medicines,
foods, fuel… enough to last the country three months. Their
accumulation is not easy or cheap, but we’ve been stocking up on
them ever since 2008. As for the degree of their and our readiness,
that’s something I cannot tell you as I’m sure you understand.

USAID AND ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS SIGN TWO GRANT AGREEMENTS

Targeted News Service
April 16, 2012 Monday 10:50 AM EST

The U.S. Embassy issued the following news release:

On April 16, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, USAID Armenia
Mission Director Jatinder Cheema, and Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs Arthur Grigoryan signed two grant agreements for USAID
assistance to the Ministry to increase public awareness of the new
pension system and enhance the quality of services to women victims
of domestic violence in Armenia. Representatives of the Armenian
government and the U.S. Mission also attended the ceremony.

The goal of the first program is to strengthen the capacity of the
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, through the recently established
Pension System Awareness Center Foundation, to conduct public awareness
campaigns and to implement effective financial literacy projects in
2012 related to pension system reform.

With the second agreement, USAID will support the Ministry to assess
the availability and accessibility of services to victims of domestic
violence, identify existing gaps, and develop plans to ensure better
coordination and efficiency.

Both of the grants are part of the Health and Social Reform Assistance
Agreement that USAID signed with the Armenian government in August
2010.

PARIS MAYOR RECEIVES FRENCH-ARMENIANS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY

news.am
April 24, 2012 | 19:14

PARIS. – Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë received on Tuesday
French-Armenians and the Armenia’s Ambassador to France Vigen
Chitechian, Nouvelles d`Armenie reports.

“We are responsible for remembering that period of history. 97
years later, it is necessary to speak about the facts and validate
the historic truth,” the Mayor stated calling the Genocide was a
barbarism for humanity.

According to Ara Toranian and Mourad Papazian, the two heads of the
Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), the
French presidential candidates Nikolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande
will attend Komitas monument in the Canada Square to commemorate the
97th anniversary of the Genocide.

The world commemorates on April 24 the 97th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century.

Commemoration actions are held in all states, people remember this
monstrous crime against humanity as over one and a half million
innocent Armenians were massacred in the Ottoman Empire, while hundreds
of thousands were tortured and deported.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states. It
was first recognized in 1965 by Uruguay. In general, the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey has already been recognized by Russia,
France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania,
Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada,
Venezuela, Argentina, and 43 U.S. states.

AZERBAIJAN REALIZED THAT IT CAN NO LONGER BLACKMAIL THE MEDIATORS – ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM

news.am
April 24, 2012 | 17:25

YEREVAN. – Armenian deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan does not believe that
the parliamentary elections will slow down the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, Kocharyan said in an interview to the Armenian News-News.am.

Moreover, Armenia has for many times confirmed its disposition for the
negotiations based on Basic Principles elaborated by the international
mediators. Azerbaijan is the conflicting side, which torpedoes the
achievement of the progress. At the same time, there is no need to
expect any change of the Azerbaijani disposition with the change of
the authorities.

Asked what the guarantees are that final decision may be achieved when
Azerbaijan signs and later rejects documents, the deputy FM said that
the issue is a deeper one. Azerbaijan has already realized that it
can no longer blackmail the mediators or even influence on Armenia and
hence passed from tearful aggressiveness into aggressive tearfulness.

For example, it has for many times been spoken about the necessity
for launching contacts between the conflicting sides, including
Nagorno-Karabakh. However, with Azerbaijani desire to see Karabakh
within its territory and later start contacting blocks the process,
which could have led to positive results.

In response to the question that Azerbaijan interprets the principle
of territorial integrity and the right to self-determination in the
Madrid Principles as self-determination of Karabakh within Azerbaijan,
Kocharyan said that in that case Azerbaijan would not torpedo the
negotiation process and break down the Kazan agreement. Anyway,
according to the UN, one of the three goals for the organization
is establishment of friendly relations between the nations based on
equality of rights and right of people to self-determination.

SUSI KENTIKIAN TO CLASH VS. MELISSA MCMORROW MAY 16

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2012 – 19:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Unified women’s flyweight world champion Susi
Kentikian will put her titles on the line against Melissa McMorrow on
May 16 at Brandenburg Hall in Frankfurt, Germany, BoxingScene reported.

Kentikian (29-0, 16 KOs) currently holds the WBA and WBO belts in
addition to the WIBF 112-pound crown. Although the resident of Hamburg,
Germany, via Yerevan, Armenia, is only 24 years old, this bout will
mark her 15th world title defense of any sort. “The Killer Queen”
is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Thailand’s Teeraporn
Pannimit last October.

Meanwhile, “Mighty” McMorrow (6-3-3), a former New York state title
champ, will be entering her second straight world championship bout.

The 30-year-old from San Jose, Calif., dropped a controversial split
decision to Arely Mucino last February in Mexico for the interim WBA
crown that was on the line due to Kentikian’s inactivity.

To close the circle, Mucino challenged Kentikian two years ago, but
their meeting was cut short after three rounds due to a headbutt that
resulted in a cut over the Armenian-German’s scalp. Two of the judges
had it tied at the time of the stoppage, but the bout was eventually
ruled a no-contest.

MPS, PUBLIC FIGURES TO ATTEND GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION IN OTTAWA

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2012 – 18:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On Tuesday, April 24, Armenian-Canadians will gather
in Ottawa to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
with its annual noontime Parliament Hill observance and subsequent
demonstration in front of the embassy of the Republic of Turkey in
Canada, reported the Armenian National Committee of Canada.

Some 1,500 Armenian-Canadians from across the nation are expected to
gather on Parliament Hill to hear Members of Parliament, dignitaries,
and community leaders honour the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians
that systematically perished at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
beginning in 1915.

The observance will be followed by a planned march toward the Turkish
embassy for a peaceful demonstration against Turkey’s decades-old
campaign of denial. “Armenians are resolved to pursue justice for
the horrendous genocide committed by the Turks against the Armenian
people,” stated Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada. “The government of Turkey will never
succeed in its constant attempts to rewrite history. The world will
never forget. Canadians will never forget. We are fortunate that,
in Canada, both Houses of Parliament, the government of Canada, and
Prime Minister Stephen Harper have officially recognised the Armenian
Genocide. We commend the efforts of our government and parliamentarians
in ensuring that truth and justice prevail.”

For decades, successive governments of the Republic of Turkey
have embarked upon an active campaign of denial, fabrication,
and misrepresentation as it attempted, and continues to attempt,
to cover-up its crimes against humanity. In its attempts to rewrite
history, Turkey has consistently employed some of the world’s leading
lobbyists and public relations firms, having spent tens of millions
of dollars over the years. In Canada, Turkey has in the past retained
the services of Fleishman-Hilliard and other lobbyists.

“Armenian-Canadians are asking their government to encourage Turkey
to stop its denials and come to terms with its past,” stated Dr.

Basmadjian. “All Canadians should be proud of their parliamentarians
for standing firm against Turkish pressure to change Canada’s position
regarding the Armenian Genocide.”

MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE HONORED WITH ARMENIAN MUSICIANS’ CREATIONS

ARMENPRESS
24 April, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: In the memory of Armenian genocide
victims an event will take place in Estonia in participation
with deputies of parliament and high-ranked officials on April
24. About this mentioned to Armenpress Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Estonia Ara Ayvazyan. “A great concert
is expected today, in which will take part the symphonic orchestra of
Lithuania, Armenian national academic orchestra of opera and ballet
headed by conductor Karen Durgaryan. During the concert creations of
Komitas, Aram Xachatryan, Arno Babajanyan will be played,” mentioned
the Ambassador. He said that at the concert will probably be present
the Prime Minister of Estonia, several representatives of International
affairs ministry and several other departments, members of diplomatic
corps would also take part. Ayvazyan mentioned that the concert had
the goal to rise in memory of Armenian victims and present Armenian
high-quality culture.

There will be said a liturgy in participation with Ter Khosrov
dedicated to Armenian genocide victims.

Ayvazyan mentioned that the Embassy of Armenia to Estonia had been
opened five months ago, and the Armenian community consists of 13
500 members.

JAZEERA TO AIR A FILM ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
24.04.2012 16:06

Al Jazeera TV will air a film on the Armenian Genocide today. The
“Joint pain: 1915,” Á 48-minute documentary, was produced by the
Sencer Film Company. The English version of the film will be on air
in 10 days.

Speaking to Turksih Radikal daily, Turkish director Ramazan Mut
characterized the movie as an unprecedented work that surpasses even
the Turkish propaganda.

“Both sides present their viewpoints in this movie, and we together try
to find the answer to ‘what happened in 1915?’ We leave the judgment
to the viewer,” he was quoted as saying.

The film includes also footage by Hrant Dink, the assassinated
editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos.

“We – the Armenians and Turks – are now two sick nations. The Armenians
are suffering from big traumas, the Turks – from the dual personality
syndrome. But who is going to heal us? Is it the French or the US
Senate? Who will give a prescription, and who is our doctor?

The Armenians are the doctors of Turks, and the Turks are the doctors
of the Armenians. There’s no other doctor or prescription apart from
us,” Dink said in the film, considering dialogue as the only possible
way to solve the existing problems.

SAO PAULO SEES LARGEST GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION OVER PAST DECADES

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2012 – 12:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 21, Brazil’s Sao Paulo downtown saw
hundreds of people marching on the occasion of 97th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.

According to Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service, the procession
brought together heads and representative of all Armenian organizations
and unions in Brazil, as well as youth and scout organizations totaling
to 500 people.

Participants carried over 30 three-meter-long posters depicting
Genocide scenes and words of condemnation addressed to Genocide
organizers, Armenian flags, as well as 3000 placards and thousands
of leaflets they distributed to passers-by.

Prior to the event, hundreds of posters on the Genocide were spread
in offices, shopping malls and other institutions located on the
procession way.

The two-hour event featured speeches and statements, as well as
Armenian anthem and national songs.

According to local media estimates, this was the largest ever event
organized in Brazil over the past several decades to condemn the
Armenian Genocide.

Armenian St. Gregory Church in Sao Paulo served a mournful mass on
April 22, attended by Armenian ambassador Ashot Yeghiazaryan, Honorary
ambassador of Armenia in Sao Paulo Hilda Burmayan, Sao Paulo MPs and
other high-ranking officials.

Hai Katoghike and Armenian Evangelical Central Church of Sao Paolo
served liturgies, following which people went to the newly established
memorial to the Genocide victims on Armenia square to lay wreaths
there.

PRESIDENT OBAMA ISSUES STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

Weekly Staff
April 24, 2012

Below is the statement issued by President Obama today, in which he
continues to avoid referring to the destruction of the Armenians in
Ottoman Turkey in 1915 as “genocide,” employing the Armenian term
Medz Yeghern instead.

President 300×200 President Obama Issues Statement on Armenian
Remembrance Day

Barack Obama

Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst atrocities
of the 20th century. In doing so, we honor the memory of the 1.5
million Armenians who were brutally massacred or marched to their
deaths in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. As we reflect on the
unspeakable suffering that took place 97 years ago, we join millions
who do the same across the globe and here in America, where it is
solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and
families. Through our words and our deeds, it is our obligation to
keep the flame of memory of those who perished burning bright and to
ensure that such dark chapters of history are never repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915.

My view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just
acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving forward
with the future cannot be done without reckoning with the facts of the
past. The United States has done so many times in our own history,
and I believe we are stronger for it. Some individuals have already
taken this courageous step forward. We applaud those Armenians and
Turks who have taken this path, and we hope that many more will choose
it, with the support of their governments, as well as mine.

Although the lives that were taken can never be returned, the legacy
of the Armenian people is one of triumph. Your faith, courage,
and strength have enabled you to survive and prosper, establishing
vibrant communities around the world. Undaunted, you have preserved
your patrimony, passing it from generation to generation.

Armenian-Americans have made manifold contributions to the vibrancy of
the United States, as well as critical investments in a democratic,
peaceful, and prosperous future for Armenia. The United States is
proud of your heritage, and your contributions honor the memory of
those who senselessly suffered and died nearly a century ago.

On this solemn day of remembrance, we stand alongside all Armenians
in recalling the darkness of the Meds Yeghern and in committing to
bringing a brighter future to the people of Armenia.