Author: Badalian Vardan

SEFILYAN REJECTS THE OPPOSITION

04:00 pm | Today | Politics

Different opposition parties suggest that member of the “Sardarapat”
Movement Jirair Sefilyan participate in the upcoming parliamentary
elections with their lists, Sefilyan told “A1+”.

Sefilyan also informed that he rejected all suggestions and mentioned
that he wouldn’t be participating in the elections at all.

“Those making suggestions support the regeneration of this regime
because they are taking part in the games that are based on the
authorities’ scenario. They have no right to be called the opposition,”
said Sefilyan.

However, Sefilyan assures that he won’t boycott the elections for
the National Assembly. “We are in favor of elections, but after they
(authorities-ed.) leave.”

The representative of the “Sardarapat” Movement says it will be
impossible to make the regime step down from power through political
games. “We see the solution in the political field. We have to be
able to unite everyone around that goal,” said Sefilyan.

JOURNALISTS LAUNCH PETITION AGAINST FIRING OF PARLIAMENT’S PUBLIC AFFAIRS HEAD
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
January 31, 2012

A group of journalists have launched a signature petition to protest
yesterday’s directive by National Assembly President Samvel Nikoyan to
dismiss Gohar Poghosyan as head of the body’s public affairs
department.

The journalists argue that during her twenty year stint as a parliament
employee, Poghosyan has always exhibited high professional standards
and possesses an enviable track record.

AYSOR.AM AMONG THE LEADERS

Aysor.am
30.01.2012, 16:21

“Mediagid” is the first Armenian news aggregator both in Armenian
internet and in Trans-Caucasus. Such aggregators exist only in Ukraine
and RF in the CIS territory,” told the journalists the head of the
Mediagid.am Armen Martirosyan.

According to him unlike the international aggregators the “Mediagid”
is the only aggregator that can collect and analyze information in
Armenian language.

A.Martirosyan mentioned that the news sites are involved in aggregator
and they automatically direct their news feeds to the aggregator. The
latter analyzes and systemizes the information received.

Touching upon the peculiarities of the aggregator the speaker noticed
that before the user was to visit 10 sites to get information
he needed, while now the user can visit Mediagid to get all the
information received from those 10 sites.

According to him 60% of the Armenian internet information is involved
in Mediagid, the other 40% will be added in the future.

21 partner sites are included in aggregator and the system analyses
1300 and more information in 3 languages, Armenian, Russian and
English.

The speaker also presented the one year work results and mentioned that
245,000 news has been analyzed through their system in 3 languages, and
by the number of the news the following sites are leading: panorama.am,
panarmenian.net, armenpress, newsarmenia.ru and aysor.am. According
to Martirosyan by the number of news presented in sites panorama.am
is leading.

France may suffer not from administrative damages but Turkish people’s
affection – Chamber of Commerce

news.am
January 29, 2012 | 10:12

PARIS. – France may suffer not so much from administrative measures
taken by the Turkish government but the affection by the Turkish
society, deputy president of the French Chamber of Commerce in Turkey
Yves-Marie Laouenan said, adding the main damage for the French
business may be Turkey’s public opinion, which has changed sharply not
for the benefit of France.

To note, French Senate adopted the bill criminalizing denial of
genocides, while French National Assembly has adopted it on Dec. 22,
2011.

The statements by the Turkish politicians made after Dec.22, referred
to French-Turkish relations in the sphere of defense, diplomacy, and
foreign trade. Besides, French-Turkish trade turnover has reached 12
billion, while more than 400 French companies function in Turkey with
100,000 employees.

`As Turkey is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and
European Union Customs Union (EUCU), we do not expect negative
reaction against those companies as a result of administrative steps.
Generally the main losses currently to expect in bilateral relations
will refer to the future Francophiles among the elite, cultural and
diplomatic mutual relations and francophone,’ Laouenan concluded.

Armenia’s Syunik Region scandalous governor intends to defend academic degree

news.am
January 29, 2012 | 16:16

KAPAN. – Armenia’s Syunik Region Governor Suren Khachatryan intends to
defend his thesis and become a candidate of historical sciences, he
told Armenian News-NEWS.am adding the thesis will dwell on the history
of Syunik in 1918-1929ss.

Using the opportunity, Khachatryan congratulated for the 20th
anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Photographer Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian to Speak at ALMA
Posted by Armenian Weekly
January 28, 2012

Photographer Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian

WATERTOWN, Mass. – On Sun., Feb. 12, Canadian Armenian photographer
Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian will give an illustrated presentation on his
latest book Yergir 2 Yergir (2011), a journey through Western Armenia.
A globe-trotter and a pilgrim, Khatcherian dedicated himself to
photographing the Armenian heritage after surviving lung cancer in
1993. He has been to 44 countries in the last 17 years, documenting
Armenian monuments, mostly churches, around the world.

A renowned photographer, he has published several books of
photography, including Artsakh: a Photographic Journey (1997),
Karabagh: 100 Photos (2002), Yergir: Pilgrimage Through Western
Armenia 1997-2002 (2004), and Armenian Ornamental Art (2010), in
collaboration with Armen Kyurkchyan.

The talk begins at 2 p.m. in ALMA’s Contemporary Art Gallery, 3rd
floor. It is free and open to the public. Books will be available for
purchase the day of the event. A closing reception of Martin
Barooshian’s paintings exhibit will take place after Khatcherian’s
talk.

For more information, visit

PARIS
Les Assises annuelles de lutte anti-négationniste

Le négationnisme d’État
Dimanche 29 Janvier 2012
de 9h30 à 18h
9h30 Accueil
Armand Derhy, directeur de l’ESG Management School, Frédéric Encel,
politologue, professeur à l’ESG Management School

10h00 – Ouverture des travaux
Serge Klarsfeld, avocat, écrivain, chasseur de nazis

10h30-11h45 Techniques et manoeuvres des régimes négationnistes
Christophe Bourseiller, essayiste, journaliste
Valérie Igounet, essayiste, historienne
Gaïdz Minassian, maître de conférences à Sciences-Po Paris
Yves Ternon, ancien chef de la commission d’enquête citoyenne

12h-13h15 Comment combattre le phénomène ?
Jonathan Hayoun, président de l’UEJF
Patrick Klugman, avocat, conseiller de Paris
Alexis Govciyan, conseiller régional, président de Europe de la Mémoire
Dominique Sopo, président de SOS Racisme

Pause

14h15-15h30 La France face au négationnisme d’État
Christian Makarian, rédacteur en chef à « L’Express »
Patrick de Saint-Exupéry, grand reporter, directeur de « XXI »v Yves
Thréard, rédacteur en chef au « Figaro »

15h45-17h15 Qu’en disent les grands partis de gouvernement ?
Valérie Boyer, députée UMP des Bouches du Rhône
René Rouquet, Député Radical du Val de Marne
Ivan Levaï, journaliste

17h30 – Clôture des travaux
Marek Halter, rescapé, écrivain

Grand amphithétre de l’ESG Management School
25 rue St Ambroise 75011 PARIS

dimanche 29 janvier 2012,
Ara ©armenews.com

FRENCH SENATORS GIVEN TIME TO APPEAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL?

Tert.am
27.01.12

The French Constitutional Council has allowed time for French senators
and parliamentarians to collect enough signatures to appeal the
recently approved bill on the 1915 killings of Armenians, Hurriyet
Daily News reported, citing a diplomatic source.

The signatures of 60 parliamentary members or senators are required
to appeal legislation to the Constitutional Council in France. A
diplomatic source was quoted as saying that the bill would not be
sent to the Elysee until today. French President Nicolas Sarkozy
is expected to approve the legislation within two weeks. Union for
a Popular Movement (UMP) member and Chairman of the Turkish-French
Parliamentary Group Michel Diefenbacher has said that the number of
MPs of the Lower House of French Parliament to appeal the denial bill
to the high court had reached 35, according to Anatolia news agency.

Head of the European Democratic and Social Rally party (RDSE) Jacques
Mezard was quoted as saying their group had also started to collect
signatures to take the bill to the Constitutional Council. Meanwhile,
the Turkish Embassy in Baku said yesterday it would be best for France
to resign from its co-chair position in the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Anatolia news agency
reported. The statement is said to have condemned the bill which is
described as an insult to Turkish people. Historians have said France
lost its neutrality with the recent bill, the statement read.

The bill will not contribute to the Turkey-Armenia and
Azerbaijan-Armenia relations but will strengthen hatred among people,
it said.

Another condemnation to the French bill came from Turkish Parliament’s
Human Rights Commission on Thursday. The commission said the bill was
regarded as “a symbol of return to the Dark Ages when the guillotine
was used. ” Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to
make an appointment to listen to the opinions of Turks on the recent
bill, according to the Islamic Council of France deputy president.

Haydar Demiryurek said he conveyed the discomfort of Turks on the
recent bill when Sarkozy received members of the Islamic Council of
France. I conveyed rebuke of French citizens of Turkish origin living
in this country to him, ” Demiryurek said, adding that Sarkozy promised
to make an appointment to listen to the views of Turks.

NAGORNO KARABAKH: THE BLACK GARDEN (PHOTOS)

01/27/2012

Olivia Katrandjian.Journalist and Travel Writer GET UPDATES FROM
Olivia Katrandjian

stumble If you’re looking for an adventure through largely unknown
territory, Nagorno Karabakh, a landlocked autonomous region between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, is the place to go. A country recognized
by no one, it’s the kind of place that’s so contested that not only
does it not have an embassy anywhere, but its “Office of Permanent
Representation” in Armenia doesn’t even ask if you want your visa
pasted into your passport. They know you don’t, so they just attach
it with a paper clip.

Once you make it to Karabakh (which is only accessible through
Armenia), stay at the recently-built Armenia Hotel in the capital,
Stepanakert, and use the city as your base to explore the region.

Feast on shish kebob and grilled vegetables. Go to the local market
where an old Armenian woman will fry you a piece of jengyalov hatz,
a bread stuffed with 13 types of herbs, on a burning hot griddle.

While in Stepanakert, visit the Museum of Fallen Soldiers, where the
walls are lined with photographs the Armenians who died during the
1990-1994 war with Azerbaijan.

Don’t miss the Gandzasar Monastery, meaning “hilltop treasure,”
built in the 10th century. Visit at night when the lighting gives
this ancient church a ghostly presence.

To explore the countryside, use the Janapar hiking trail, which
will take you through snow-topped mountains and fields of yellow and
red flowers.

“Karabakh and Armenia have always had footpaths used by natives to get
from one village to the next, to monasteries and to trade routes,”
said Raffi Kojian, who designed the trail in 2007. “Shepherds have
created a network as well, to graze the animals. The Janapar is a
weaving of these many paths to form one long route for visitors who
want to experience some of the best Karabakh has to offer. Hikers
will meet lots of helpful and curious locals along the route, and no
doubt experience some of the legendary hospitality.”

The trail is designed to end at a different village each night, so you
can easily plan accommodations. If you’re staying with a local, don’t
be surprised if you’re offered homemade mulberry vodka with breakfast.

ARMENIAN EXPERT: BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS MAY FOLLOW FRANCE’S SUIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 27, 2012 – 13:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Even French Senate’s adoption of the bill
criminalizing Genocide denial will not affect Turkey’s position on
Armenian Genocide recognition, according to an Armenian expert

“Official Turkey won’t recognize the Armenian Genocide until its
public is ready for it. Meanwhile, Belgium and the Netherlands are
likely to follow France’s suit due to having a similar stance on the
issue,” Artak Shakaryan said.

“Turkey itself doesn’t strive to join the EU in face of the eurozone
crisis. Besides, there are a number of more serious issues, Cyprus
dispute, for instance, that hamper Turkey’s accession process,”
the expert stated, dwelling on deterioration of Turkish-EU ties.

Commenting on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement
on the draft law penalizing the Armenia Genocide denial, Shakaryan
stressed the need for U.S. to recognize the Armenian Genocide first,
and then only discuss adoption of similar bills.

On January 23 the French Senate passed the bill with 127 votes for
and 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, it was adopted by the French National Assembly.

The bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for
anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by
the Ottoman Empire.

The bill is believed to take effect in France within two weeks,
after it will be signed by President.