Author: Badalian Vardan

Vazgen Manukyan: It is simply absurd to discuss the status of Karabakh

arminfo
Saturday, February 18, 16:38

“It is simply absurd to discuss the status of Karabakh. How can some
states made a decision to transfer another independent state to the
serfdom of the third state? I have not heard of such a precedent in
the world history over the past 100 years”, Chairman of the Armenian
Public Council Vazgen Manukyan said at the international conference
“The 20th Anniversary of the NKR: Realities and Perspectives” in
Stepanakert.

“This state can decide only via a referendum whether to join some
state or not. An independent state cannot be included in another state
without its own consent, regardless of who will sign the relevant
document – Armenia, Georgia, France, the United States, or some other
state. We should realize it and consolidate Karabakh’s independence”,
he said. At the same time, he pointed out that the NKR should conclude
a mutual assistance agreement with Armenia, but should be a real
subject of independence. “The Karabakh war was waged on us, and we won
the war. 20 years have passed since then, and today we have a state
with 20-year old independence”, said Vazgen Manukyan, who was a member
of the Karabakh Committee and ex-premier of Armenia.

Google: `I love Armenians’ Translated as `I love Turkey’

by Armenian Weekly
February 18, 2012

A screenshot of Google’s translation of ‘I love Armenians’
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.) – Google’s online translation service
(translate.google.com) is translating `yes sirum em hayerin’ (I love
Armenians) to `I love Turkey.’

The mistranslation was pointed out to us by Lebanese Armenian activist
Serouj Baghdassarian. The Armenian Weekly has verified it.

One IT expert we contacted said, `The mistranslation not only
constitutes a breach of professionalism, but suggests the possibility
of malice. I wonder how many other phrases are translated in a similar
manner.’ He added, `Google must immediately rectify this problem and
provide an explanation.’

Assad: Syria is facing attempts to divide it

February 18, 2012 – 15:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday, Feb
18, blamed 11-months of turmoil in which his forces have cracked down
on protesters as a ploy to split the country, Reuters reports.

“What Syria is facing is fundamentally an effort to divide it and
affect its geopolitical place and historic role in the region,” Assad
was quoted by Syrian state television as saying, after meeting China’s
vice foreign minister in Damascus.

Meanwhile activists said that Syrian government forces renewed their
bombardment of the opposition stronghold of Homs on Saturday.

The troops were close to Baba Amro, a southern neighborhood that has
been target of the heaviest barrages since the armored offensive began
two weeks ago, activists claimed.

Manvel Grigoryan reelected as YVU chairman

Aysor.am
Saturday,February 18

Today during the 9th congress of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union Manvel
Grigoryan was reelected as the chairman of YVU department. On the YVU
9th congress the YVU admitted a statement according to which YVU
defends the initiative of President Serzh Sargsyan in foreign and
domestic political spheres.

The statement says, `Yerkrapah was and is carrier of ideology and the
soldier of the independent statehood of Armenian people.’ It says also
that Yerkrapah has defended people of Artsakh in the war time and now
is the defender of its statehood as well.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY POLITICIZES CONCEPT OF AGGRESSION – DUTCH EXPERT

news.am
February 18, 2012 | 11:48

STEPANAKERT.- The international law vaguely defines concept of
aggression, the Dutch expert said during a conference in Stepanakert.

Marieke de Hoon, expert for Public International Law & Policy Group,
stressed that Armenia and Azerbaijan are accusing each other of
aggression but the issue is complicated even for experienced lawyers.

According to her, inconsistency in approaches to the definition of
aggression is reflected even in the provisions of the UN Charter
which bans aggression but at the same time allows it in some cases.

Besides, concept of aggression is biased and politicized , there is
a concept of perception, that is, when the same fact is perceived
differently.

Some events which were not perceived as aggression may be called
aggression tomorrow, she said bringing an example of Kosovo and Iraq.

KARABAKH RULING ELITE DIFFERS FROM THAT IN NEIGHBORING STATES – POLITICAL ANALYST

news.am
February 18, 2012 | 13:10

STEPANAKERT.- Nagorno-Karabakh’s ruling elite positively differs
from that of the neighboring states, political analyst Alexander
Krilov believes.

Krilov, expert for Institute of World Economy and International
Relations, said “elite” is perceived as a “political elite” in the
European states, while in post-Soviet countries the ruling elite
performs political, financial and economic functions

“The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is relatively better,” he said
speaking at the conference in Stepanakert.

The scientific conference devoted to the 20th anniversary of the
declaration of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) is held in
Stepanakert. Armenian News-NEWS.am is the information partner of
the event.

LE CARICATURISTE KRIKOR AMIRZAYAN EXPOSE L’ARMENIE

armenews.com
samedi 18 fevrier 2012

Krikor Amirzayan, caricaturiste auprès des dizaines de titres de la
presse armenienne exposera du 24 au 26 fevrier ses dernières ~uvres
baptisees ” Armenies ” a la salle des Clercs a Valence. Vernissage :
vendredi 24 fevrier a 18h30. Krikor Amirzayan est invite a presenter
des dizaines de caricatures sous le titre ” Armenies ” -dont certaines
inedits- par l’Association des Anciens combattants d’origine armenienne
de Valence.

Georges Eretzian (president de l’Acofa-Anciens combattants d’origine
armenienne de Valence) ” Krikor Amirzayan n’est plus a presenter. Ses
~uvres ont fait le tour du monde. Mais nous avons decide de le
presenter a Valence car le combat qu’il mène a travers ses caricatures
nous touche particulièrement. D’autant plus que ses caricatures sont
liees a l’actualite du genocide armenien et du negationnisme, des
relations armeno-turques, de la situation de l’Armenie et du Haut
Karabagh ainsi que de la diaspora. Des thèmes qui nous interpellent
sous la plume aigue des dessins de Krikor Amirzayan “.

Signature connue de la presse armeniennes Krikor Amirzayan qui exerce
par ailleurs ses talents dans ” Les Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine ” est
l’auteur de deux recueils de caricatures ” l’Independance ” et ” Oh !

Armenie, Armenie… ” parus a Erevan en 1995 et 1999. Le caricaturiste
Bourcain a par ailleurs participe a de nombreuses expositions. L’ete
dernier, il etait invite par Plantu a participer a l’exposition ”
Cartooning for Peace ” (Dessins Pour la Paix) a Bastia en presence
d’une vingtaine de caricaturistes francais et internationaux.

K.Amirzayan representait l’Armenie et a ce titre il fut invite a un
debat sur le genocide face au caricaturiste turc Izel.

Krikor Amirzayan qui vous une passion pour l’Armenie et pour la ” chose
armenienne ” exprime a travers ses caricatures sa force militante pour
la cause armenienne. ” En France, mes premiers dessins ont paru dans le
mensuel ” Haïastan ” du Nor Seround. Puis ” Gamk “, ” France-Armenie
“, ” Azad Magazine “, ” Achkhar “, ” Nouvelles d’Armenie “, ” Parev
“. En Armenie, de très nombreux journaux tels qu'” Azg “, ” Vozni “,
” Football Plus “, ” Lrakir “…jusqu’au Haut Karabagh avec le journal
” Ble Boughi ” qui a consacre en 1994 deux numeros entiers a ses
caricatures durant la guerre de liberation. Les dessins de K.Amirzayan
sont egalement regulièrement publies dans de très nombreux titres de
la presse armenienne de la diaspora, au Liban, en Grèce, au Canada,
Etats-Unis ou Australie. Prolixe, auteur de milliers d’articles et de
centaines de caricatures, il est egalement très engage dans la vie de
la communaute armenienne de France, elu municipal, il est egalement
president de l’association culturelle ” Armenia ” et coordinateur du
Collectif Memoire et Avenir qui denonce le negationnisme. Un maître
mot revient pour qualifier le dynamisme de l’un des plus celèbres
caricaturistes de la presse armenienne : la passion.

Exposition ” Armenies ” des caricatures de Krikor Amirzayan organisee
par l’Acfoa (Association des Anciens combattants d’origine armenienne
de Valence) du 24 au 26 fevrier (14h a 18h) salle des Clercs, place
de l’Universite a Valence (Drôme).

Vernissage, vendredi 24 fevrier a 18h30.Contact : Acfoa (president
Georges Eretzian) au 04 75 55 51 46 et 06 64 24 97 53

Krikor Amirzayan : la passion Georges Eretzian et Krikor Amirzayan
Affiche de l’exposition samedi 18 fevrier 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

UN DEFILE A EREVAN POUR LA CELEBRATION DU VARTANANTZ
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 18 fevrier 2012

A l’occasion de la celebration du Vartanantz, une marche organisee par
les Jeunes du Parti Republicain d’Armenie, s’est deroulee le 16 fevrier
a Erevan depuis l’eglise Sourp Zoravar (du nom du general Mamikonian)
vers le centre de la capitale, marche a laquelle participa le Premier
ministre Dikran Sarkissian. Participaient egalement a la marche,
outre les religieux, de nombreux jeunes membres d’organisations de
jeunesse ainsi que des associations estudiantines.

Le groupe s’est dirige vers la rue Khandjian en direction de
l’esplanade de la statue de Vartan Mamikonian. Cette marche etait
dediee aux martyrs de Vartanantz, les victimes armeniennes tombees
au champ d’honneur lors de la bataille d’Avaraïr. En 451 les 66 000
hommes des troupes armeniennes avaient fait face a l’armee perse
et ses 300 000 soldats pour garder la foi chretienne. Le valeureux
Vartan Mamikonian en compagnie de plus d’un millier d’Armeniens etait
tombes en martyrs de cette guerre de religion afin que l’Armenie reste
chretienne. Chaque annee l’Eglise armenienne celèbre cette bataille
appelee Vartanantz.

KARABAKH MAY RATIFY EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 21:07

STEPANAKERT. – The fact of being not recognized does not free
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities from taking over international
obligations, especially when Karabakh is ruled according to those
standards, Karabakh President’s advisor Ararat Danielyan said at the
International Scientific Conference in Stepanakert on Friday devoted
to the 20th anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh independence proclamation.

He added that development and strengthening of constitution should
serve as a base for further strengthening of the state.

“Karabakh Constitution adoption on Dec. 10, 2006, due to public
agreement was the logical conclusion of 15-year-period of independence
proclamation and state building,” Danielyan said.

He also offered to ratify European Convention on Human Rights and
accept the jurisdiction of European Court on Human Rights, while
being a non-recognized international structure.

The conference is held with information support of Armenian
News-NEWS.am agency.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DOES NOT RECEIVE REPORT ON MPS’ VIOLATIONS

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 20:40

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan has not received
the report of head of Parliamentarism in Armenia Center Ruben Torosyan
against those MPs who had voted on behalf of others on February 9,
Nikoyan told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am. The report was
sent by Armenia’s Special Investigative Service.

The parliament speaker mentioned that, as soon as they receive the
report the issue will be considered.

When asked how big the possibility were that the MPs would be punished,
Samvel Nikoyan answered that we should call during working hours.

To note, Ruben Torosyan mentioned in the report that parliament Speaker
Samvel Nikoyan and Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov did nothing to
prevent the illegal actions of the MPs.