BAKU: Belgian Parliament To Mull Karabakh Conflict

BELGIAN PARLIAMENT TO MULL KARABAKH CONFLICT

AzerTag
March 5 2012
Azerbaijan

The Belgian parliament will host discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan`s deputy Prime Minister, Chairman
of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov will lead a
large delegation for the discussions titled “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
– legal and humanitarian aspects” and “The occupied territories,
the forgotten lands”.

Hasanov and deputy economic development minister Sevinj Hasanova
will made speeches at the discussions. As part of the visit the
Azeri delegation will also have meetings with Belgian officials. A
personal exhibition of AzerTAc photo journalist Ilgar Jafarov on
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be arranged on the sidelines of
the event.

ANKARA: Davutoglu Reaches Out To Turkey’s Non-Muslim Leaders At Week

DAVUTOGLU REACHES OUT TO TURKEY’S NON-MUSLIM LEADERS AT WEEKEND TOUR

Turkish Press

March 5 2012

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday paid courtesy
visits to religious leaders in Istanbul to contribute to the
continuation of religious peace in the Balkans, Middle East and
elsewhere.

Within this frame, Davutoglu received Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Metropolitan Saliba Ozmen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul.

During the meeting with Ozmen, Davutoglu stressed the importance
Turkey attached to dialogue in surrounding countries.

Davutoglu later visited Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I. Speaking to
reporters after the visit, Davutoglu said that it was their main
principle to see all religious communities sharing a common cultural
life in peace. Bartholomew I, on his part, said that they were pleased
with Davutoglu’s visit. “We told Minister Davutoglu that we pray for
the health of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan daily. Erdogan’s
health is important not only for Turkey but for global peace as well,”
Bartholomew I said.

Davutoglu also visited the patriarchal vicar of the Syriac Orthodox
Church of Turkey, Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Cetin, Syriac Catholic church
leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sag, and Ishak Haleva, the chief rabbi of
Turkey’s Jewish community.

Talking to reporters before visiting Cetin at the Church of the Virgin
Mary (Meryem ana) Davutoglu underlined the importance of the Syriac
tradition within cultural history. Commenting on the equal rights
of Syriac citizens in the context of today’s modern state, Davutoglu
noted that they are entitled to benefit from the comprehensive manner
of religious freedom.

Davutoglu also expressed his belief that the Syriac community will pay
a huge contribution to regional peace and stability. Talking about
the contributions Syriacs have made to the religion of Islam during
the meeting with Davutoglu, Cetin said, “We love this country. Both
during the Ottoman Empire and after the establishment of the Turkish
republic we sided with our state [Turkey].”

Cetin also said that Syriacs living abroad make significant efforts
for Turkey and see themselves as a part of the country. During the
foreign minister’s visit to the Syriac Catholic church the importance
of the inter-religious dialogue was emphasized.

Both sides called for joint work in assisting Muslims and Christians
in the Middle East to live in peace.

Visiting the Chief Rabbinate in the evening hours because of Shabbat,
the Jewish day of rest, Davutoglu again mentioned the importance
of inter-religious dialogue and said that Jewish citizens are an
essential element in Turkey.

Davutoglu also paid visits to Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Turkey
Aram Ateshyan.

Davutoglu said that in the future all prejudices will be left beyond,
and a stable peace will be established both in Turkey and in the
Caucasus. Davutoglu stated that one of the main elements is to
establish mutual understanding among religious communities and to
transfer this to the political sphere.

Patriarch Ateshyan said that until the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP) came to power in Turkey, no ministers or deputies in the
country knew the way to the Patriarchate. Representing the Armenian
community living in Turkey as an integral part of the country, Ateshyan
said, “If Armenians are deported from Turkey, one of Turkey’s two
legs will be crippled.”

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=379475

Dilemme Et Surenchere Sur Des Parts De L’aeroport D’Istanbul

DILEMME ET SURENCHERE SUR DES PARTS DE L’AEROPORT D’ISTANBUL
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
lundi 5 mars 2012

En censurant mardi le texte de loi reconnaissant le genocide armenien,
le Conseil constitutionnel aurait pu, sans en etre probablement
conscient, faciliter la tâche d’Aeroports de Paris (ADP). Las, dans la
foulee Nicolas Sarkozy, a demande au gouvernement de refaire un texte
au risque de s’attirer une nouvelle fois les foudres de la Turquie !

Or l’entreprise publique est encore en lice pour acquerir un bloc
minoritaire au capital du principal gestionnaire aeroportuaire turc,
TAV Havalimanlari. Et cette vente devra etre validee par l’Etat turc…

La croissance de plus de 5 % du PIB turc et la progression soutenue
(+ 16 % en 2011) du trafic de l’aeroport d’Istanbul opere par TAV en
fait une cible très convoitee… La societe cotee detient en outre un
portefeuille d’une dizaine d’aeroports en Turquie et a l’international,
meme si 70 % de sa valeur repose sur sa concession d’Istanbul. Ses deux
grands actionnaires, Tepe et Akfen, sont prets a vendre une partie
de leurs 52 % si les offres valorisent TAV a plus de 2 milliards
de dollars (un peu moins de 3 milliards avec la dette), soit un peu
plus que sa capitalisation boursière actuelle de 1,8 milliard. Les
candidats n’ont pas manque lors de l’appel d’offres, avec parmi les
noms cites rien moins que le Qatar, Carlyle et encore CVC.

Malgre le calibre des concurrents, la France s’est retrouvee dans une
position singulière. Les deux seuls candidats retenus a l’issue de
l’avant-dernier tour il y a une dizaine de jours sont en effet francais
puisque, outre ADP, Vinci est encore en lice. Les deux concurrents
sont ainsi lances actuellement dans une surenchère franco-francaise
pour l’emporter.

Le groupe francais retenu ne serait que minoritaire dans le capital
de TAV. Les negociations portent sur la taille d’un bloc de 40 % au
maximum, voire moins, afin de ne pas obliger l’acheteur a lancer une
OPA sur la societe cotee. Vinci pourrait ainsi se porter acquereur
de 30 %, pour un montant de l’ordre de 500 millions d’euros. A
condition, evidemment, qu’ADP ne fasse encore monter les enchères. A
cet egard, le scenario ideal pour Vinci, mais peu probable, serait que
l’actionnaire d’ADP, l’Agence des participations de l’Etat, s’inquiète
d’une operation aussi onereuse et impose au groupe preside par Pierre
Graff de se retirer d’ici a la remise de l’offre finale dans une
dizaine de jours. Pour Vinci, l’operation est très importante. Ce
serait la première concretisation de la priorite strategique donnee
en mars 2011 par son PDG, Xavier Huillard, au developpement du groupe
par rachat de concessions a l’international. Vinci, bien que leader
mondial des concessions, n’a encore rien acquis depuis cette annonce.

Il etait candidat sur le portefeuille de l’allemand Hochtief, mais ce
dernier l’a retire de la vente. Le groupe n’a donc, a l’international,
que les 3 aeroports du Cambodge, detenus de longue date. Vinci Airport
ne represente encore que 150 millions d’euros de chiffre d’affaires,
a comparer a 873 millions d’euros pour TAV l’an dernier.

Quel que soit celui des deux groupes qui l’emportera, un autre problème
demeure a l’horizon. La concession de l’aeroport d’Istanbul, la pepite
de TAV, n’a plus qu’une duree de vie residuelle de neuf ans.

Si le prochain texte promis par Nicolas Sarkozy etait adopte, ce
nouvel affront diplomatique pourrait rester dans les memoires turques
d’ici la et ne pas faciliter le renouvellement meme si l’actionnaire
francaisdemeurait minoritaire… Vinci peut certes arguer que la moitie
de son capital est aux mains d’etrangers. Chez ADP, on ne commente pas.

MYRIAM CHAUVOT, Les Echos, 1er mars 2012

Les deux derniers candidats en lice pour racheter un bloc du principal
gestionnaire turc d’aeroport sont francais. Pour Vinci comme pour
Aeroports de Paris (ADP), l’operation est strategique. En retoquant le
texte sur le genocide armenien, le Conseil constitutionnel facilite la
position d’ADP, groupe public, dans une vente de bloc qui necessite
l’accord de l’Etat turc. Les offres finales seront remises dans une
dizaine de jours.

Mustafa Akyol : Insulte A L’Armenite

MUSTAFA AKYOL : INSULTE A L’ARMENITE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
lundi 5 mars 2012

Par Mustafa Akyol, Hurriyet Daily News

Une manifestation bizarre a eu lieu a Istanbul la semaine dernière. Le
thème declare en etait la commemoration du vingtième anniversaire du
Massacre de Khodjalou, l’episode le plus tragique de la guerre entre
l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Armenie de 1988-1994. Quelques 600 civils azeris,
parmi lesquels beaucoup d’enfants et meme des bebes, avaient ete
sauvagement assassines par les forces armeniennes dans le village de
Khodjaly, laissant derrière eux une memoire douloureuse.

En d’autres termes, ce n’etait que justice, pour des milliers de Turcs,
de se reunir sur la place Taksim, le c~ur d’Istanbul, pour montrer
qu’ils se souvenaient encore des victimes de Khodjalou. Pour eux, il
etait juste egalement d’exprimer leur solidarite avec des centaines
de milliers de refugies des territoires azeris, dont certains ont
ete sous occupation armenienne depuis 1992.

Par contre, il n’est pas juste de transformer la manifestation en
une explosion de haine contre les Armeniens, ce qui a ete le cas.

En fait, le problème ressort meme des pancartes qu’on pouvait voir
partout a Istanbul dans la semaine qui precedait la manifestation. Ces
grands panonceaux invitaient les gens a Taksim non seulement pour se
rappeler des victimes de Khodjalou, mais aussi “dites non au mensonge
armenien”. “Et le mensonge armenien” n’etait rien d’autre que la
facon dont les Armeniens definissent la Grande Catastrophe de 1915
: genocide.

Autrement dit, le fait que quelques Armeniens aient massacre des
Azeris en 1992 etait sense impliquer qu’aucun Turc (ou Kurde) n’avait
massacre des Armeniens en 1915. (Qui a dit que les chauvins etaient
raisonnables ? ).

Des termes meme pires etaient employes dans la manifestation. Quelques
uns des manifestants portaient des pancartes sur lesquelles on lisait,
“vous etes tous des Armeniens, vous etes tous des salauds”. C’est une
reponse claire aux Turcs anti- fascistes qui defilaient sous le slogan
: ” Nous sommes tous des Armeniens “, aux funerailles de Hrant Dink.

Pire encore, un groupe de jeunes de l’extreme droite portant des berets
blancs, donnant implicitement le message, “nous sommes tous des Ogun
Samast” (Samast est l’assassin de Hrant Dink, âge de dix-sept ans, et
le beret blanc qu’il portait pendant le meurtre a acquis par suite une
notoriete au plan national). Quelques uns de ces militants voulaient
se diriger vers les bureaux d’Agos, le journal armenien dont l’editeur
n’etait autre que Hrant Dink, mais ont ete heureusement empeches par
la police.

Bref, le fascisme turc de la pire espèce a recupere la manifestation
de Khodjalou.

Mais il y a encore pire : le ministre de l’interieur du gouvernement
de la majorite AKP, Parti de la Justice et du Developpement, Idris
Naim Sahin, s’etait joint a la manifestation. Il a fait un discours
debile sur le 21ème siècle qui sera peut-etre un “siècle turc”, et,
plus gravement, n’a rien dit aux fascistes autour de lui portant des
pancartes insultant tous les Armeniens en les appelant “les salauds”.

A son credit, le ministre des affaires etrangères Ahmet Davutoglu a
plus tard critique ces pancartes, les qualifiant, pour le moins, d’
“inacceptables”. Mais si Davutoglu represente le côte clair de l’AKP,
Idris Naim Sahin en est le côte sombre, ce qui ressort de ses nombreux
commentaires scandaleux de l’an passe. (Et prendre dans son equipe ce
gentilhomme, qui n’a aucune idee de la democratie et de la liberte,
dans son cabinet, est l’une des plus grandes erreurs du premier
ministre Erdogan).

L’AKP, apparemment, poursuit une politique qui intègre toutes
les opinions, c’est-a-dire qu’il en appelle a tous les electeurs,
l’extreme droite y comprise. On peut comprendre, jusqu’a un certain
point, sauf lorsqu’il s’agit de ce qu’ Idris Naim Sahin represente. Un
nationalisme plus civilise et pluraliste turc est possible, et c’est
ce que la Turquie devrait entendre de l’AKP.

Post Scriptum : compliments aux membres du Conseil Constitutionnel
francais qui a repousse l’attaque du President Sarkozy sur la liberte
d’expression. Ils ont prouve que la ‘Liberte” n’est pas morte en
France.

Traduction et commentaire de Gilbert Beguian

Sarkozy n’a pas essaye de porter atteinte a la liberte d’expression.

Ce n’est pas la liberte d’expression que le Conseil Constitutionnel
a protege en rejettant la loi de penalisation. La population
d’Azerbaïdjan, ce ne sont pas des “Azeris”, ce sont des
Azerbaïdjanais. Et l’evenement le plus tragique de la guerre du
Karabagh, ce n’est pas Khodjalou sur la ligne de front, mais ce
sont les pogroms de Soumgaït a des centaines de kilomètres du champ
de bataille.

Et…Khodjalou n’a pas ete un massacre organise par les Armeniens
contre les Azerbaïdjanais, mais une tragedie dans laquelle le pouvoir
azerbaïdjanais de l’epoque porte une large part de responsabilite,
dont il a ensuite organise la mise en scène pour les besoin de sa
propagande et dont les victimes sont incommensurablement moindre que
le nombre indique.

A propos du beret blanc porte par l’assassin de Hrant Dink, repris par
les fascistes turcs : dans la tradition ottomane, quiconque avait tue
de sa main un infidèle pouvait s’affubler du foulard blanc sur la tete.

GB

La semaine dernière Mustafa Akyol dialoguait sur Al Jazeera avec
Robert Aydabirian (Pt de l’Observatoire armenien) ICI

Orange:Heating System For Gyumri Kindergarten

ORANGE:HEATING SYSTEM FOR GYUMRI KINDERGARTEN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:50:29 – 05/03/2012

With the support of Orange Foundation “Ardzagank” kindergarten in
Gyumri already has a heating system

Orange employees as coordinators of charity projects

>From today on “Ardzagank” kindergarten in Gyumri with up to 200
children will be heated by means of a new heating system. The
project on furnishing the kindergarten with a new heating system
was implemented by Orange Foundation in the frames of the special
initiatve launched recently, which aims to enable Orange employees
to present their charity projects and help to solve this or that
social problem. The project on heating the kindergarten in Gyumri
is the first charity project, presented by Orange employees, which
is funded by Orange Foundation. This initiative will be ongoing and
will enable all Orange employees, who wish to implement such charity
projects, present them to Orange Foundation, and if the presented
projects meet the main scope of activities of Orange Foundation,
they will be funded by the Foundation.

Bruno Duthoit, President of the Board of Orange Foundation, said:
“We highly prioritize engagement of our employees in our social
activities. In all possible cases our employees become direct
participants in implementation of such projects. However, we have tried
to take one more step ahead: now our employees themselves can be the
initiators and coordinators of such projects. Orange Foundation is
happy to support our employees to solve small or big social problems,
which they see or prioritize around them”.

“Ardzagank” is the only kindergarten in a district with 6000
inhabitants. Before implementation of this project, in winter months
the kindergarten used to be heated by means of small gas or oil
furnaces, placed in separate rooms, which were not only dangerous
for children, but also did not provide hot water. The grant for
implementation of the project for the kindergarten has been received
by Orange employee Artush Martirosyan from Gyumri by descent, who
more than anyone else could understand local needs. The project has
been implmented in partnership with Gyumri-Ani NGO.

Orange Foundation has allotted AMD 2,8 million for acquisition of
the new heating system.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society25343.html

Armenian National Committee Welcomes Appointment Of New Australian F

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF NEW AUSTRALIAN FM

news.am
March 04, 2012 | 21:02

The Armenian National Committee (ANC) welcomed former New South Wales
Premier Bob Carr’s appointment as FM of Australia. Carr has had a
considerable contribution to the discussion of the Armenian Cause in
Australia, ANC Australia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“We are convinced that Carr’s appointment as FM will move Australia
with yet another step toward recognizing the Armenian Genocide,”
ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian stated.

Back in 1997, the Australian state of New South Wales had recognized
the Armenian Genocide, and Bob Carr was very instrumental in this
recognition process.

Armenia’s Airport Has New VIP Hall

ARMENIA’S AIRPORT HAS NEW VIP HALL

news.am
March 05, 2012 | 14:46

YEREVAN.- Opening ceremony of Armenian international airport Zvartnots’
new VIP hall took place on Monday.

“We ended putting into operation the new terminal by opening the
new VIP hall,” Armenia International Airports CJSC General Manager
Marcelo Wende said adding it cost over $160 million.

The hall has wi-fi, TV, Flight Information Display system (FIDS),
and its tariff is about $ 77 (AMD 30,000).

Activists’ Group Keeps Calling For Alternative Goverment

ACTIVISTS’ GROUP KEEPS CALLING FOR ALTERNATIVE GOVERMENT

Tert.am
05.03.12

Hopeless to expect a fair and transparent election in May, the
activists of Sardarapat Movement insist on their proposal to create
an alternative government in Armenia.

Speaking at a discussion at the Union of Political Analysts earlier
today, a member of the group, Garegin Chugaszyan, said expecting new
prospects of the coming parliamentary polls would not be a serious
approach.

“Our country’s prospects are diminishing gradually as we are entering
a period of an economic, as well as a systemic crisis. Our national
boat is roaming about without any goal,” he said.

Chugaszyan added that the proposal does not aim to boycott the
election in the classical sense of the word, but rather – create an
alternative platform.

Zhirayr Sefilyan, another member of the group, said the political arena
in Armenia has turned into a quagmire because of what he characterized
servile political figures.

“The political hierarchy and the force considered to be its opposition
are subordinated to one person whose name is Serzh Sargsyan,” he noted.

The activist said it is time to think about a generation change to
create a legitimate government.

Turkish FM Paid Courtesy Visit To The Armenian Deputy Patriarch Of T

TURKISH FM PAID COURTESY VISIT TO THE ARMENIAN DEPUTY PATRIARCH OF TURKEY

armradio.am
05.03.2012 11:46

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid courtesy visits to
religious leaders in Istanbul to contribute to the continuation of
religious peace in the Balkans, Middle East and elsewhere.

Within this frame Davutoglu also paid visits to Armenian Deputy
Patriarch of Turkey Aram Ateshyan. Davutoglu said that in the future
all prejudices will be left beyond, and a stable peace will be
established both in Turkey and in the Caucasus.

Davutoglu stated that one of the main elements is to establish mutual
understanding among religious communities and to transfer this to
the political sphere.

Patriarch Ateshyan said that until the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) came to power in Turkey, no ministers or deputies
in the country knew the way to the Patriarchate.

Representing the Armenian community living in Turkey as an integral
part of the country, Ateshyan said, “If Armenians are deported from
Turkey, one of Turkey’s two legs will be crippled.”

Sargsyan Congratulates Putin, Invites Him To Armenia For A State Vis

SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES PUTIN, INVITES HIM TO ARMENIA FOR A STATE VISIT

armradio.am
05.03.2012 13:25

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to Vladimir
Putin on his election as President of the Russian Federation,
President’s Press Office reported. The message reads:

“Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the people of Armenia and on my own
behalf I cordially congratulate you on being elected as President of
the Russian Federation.

Your impressive victory in the presidential elections is an evidence
of the wide support of Russians to your policy targeted at the
comprehensive development of Russia, the reformation and modernization
of the country, the rise of its role and influence on global processes.

Armenia and Russia are tied by allied relations based on friendship of
the two brotherly peoples, who managed to withstand the test of time.

I’m confident that the further development of bilateral strategic
partnership will continue to contribute to the reinforcement of peace,
security and stability in the South Caucasus, will allow to implement
long-term projects in the fields of economy and inter-regional
cooperation, and reveal new opportunities of cooperation.

Dear Mr. President, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of
establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia
and the Russian Federation, I invite you to Armenia for a state visit.

Undoubtedly, your visit will give new impetus to the development of
Armenian-Russian allied relations for the benefit of our peoples.

I wish you robust health and new achievements in this high position. I
also wish prosperity and wellbeing to the brotherly people of Russia.”