Author: Badalian Vardan

ITAR-TASS, Russia
October 7, 2011 Friday 02:04 PM EST

Armenia can rely on France’s political support – president

YEREVAN October 7

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday pledged France’s political
support for Armenia.

“Armenia knows that it can rely on France and on its political
support,” the president said at the end of his state visit to Armenia.
He particularly emphasized the importance of this visit, “because this
Caucasian region is strategic for stability of peace”.

“Armenia is situated at the intersection of the states that are
important for stability in the world – Russia, Turkey and Iran,” the
French leader stated. “The path Armenia has covered within 20 years
after (the proclamation of) independence is extremely remarkable with
due regard for the regional context, marked by big instability,”
Sarkozy believes.

“Armenia’s progress towards democracy is a good news, Armenia’s
economic development despite conflicts and a war testifies to big
efforts, big courage and the quality of Armenians’ work,” the French
leader stressed.

“Or course everything that happens in Armenia strongly echoes in
France, taking into consideration relations with the Armenian national
diaspora in the country,” he emphasized.

“Armenians know well that when the world around them collapsed – I am
speaking about the Armenian genocide of 1915, France gave them
shelter,” he continued. “Now, in 2011, Armenia is not alone as France
maintains privileged relations with it,” he stressed.

Sarkozy said he had urged President Serzh Sargsian to continue for the
sake of peace efforts towards peace with Azerbaijan that is in the
interests of both countries, as well towards as a sincere dialogue
with Turkey.

“In the year of 2011 the fact that the border with Turkey is closed
cannot be considered satisfactory,” the president noted. “France will
do everything that it can to help President Sargsian in his efforts
for the sake of peace,” President Sarkozy pledged.

Xinhua General News Service, China
October 7, 2011 Friday 1:25 PM EST

Roundup: Turkey rebuffs Sarkozy over “Armenian genocide” remarks

ANKARA Oct. 7

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu rebuffed on Friday French
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s call for Ankara to recognize the deaths of
Armenians in 1915 as ” genocide.”

“Those, who are not able to face their own history of having carried
out colonialism for centuries and treating foreign people as
second-class, do not have right to teach Turkey a history lesson or
call on Turkey to face its history,” Davutoglu told reporters on
Friday.

During his visit to Armenia, Sarkozy urged Turkey to recognize the
deaths of Armenians in 1915 under Turkish Ottoman empire as genocide.

On Thursday, he called on Turkey to “reconsider its history,” saying
Ankara’s refusal to recognize the deaths of thousands of Armenians as
genocide is “unacceptable”.

Armenians claim that more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a
systematic genocide during the World War I, but the Turkish government
insists that the Armenians were victims of widespread chaos and
governmental breakdown as the Ottoman empire collapsed before modern
Turkey was created in 1923.

Sarkozy once angered Turkey during his election campaign in 2007 by
backing a law that aimed at prosecuting those who denied genocide,
however the French lower house of parliament later rejected the move.

Latest remarks of Sarkozy angered Ankara again and Turkish officials
accused him of talking for internal politics.

“I consider such remarks as political opportunism, which is
unfortunately faced in Europe whenever there is an upcoming election,”
Davutoglu said.

The foreign minister said Sarkozy’s remarks were totally in line with
internal politics in France, and it was something that would have a
negative impact on Turkish-Armenian relations, adding that “it is
impossible to think that such remarks would contribute to a peace
process.”

Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis also criticized Sarkozy,
saying the French president would better to concern himself with
getting France out of its economic crisis than to play historian over
the Armenian issue.

Turkey and Armenia launched a reconciliation process in 2009 and
signed a protocol to take steps in order to normalize relations.
However, the two countries failed to advance the process.

The French president’s remarks coincided with the visit of French
Interior Minister Claude Gueant to Ankara. Gueant and his Turkish
counterpart signed an agreement on Friday on anti-terror cooperation,
which is also overshadowed by Sarkozy’s harsh-word call on Turkey.

Gueant said during a joint press conference with Turkish Interior
Minister Idris Naim Sahin in Ankara that Sarkozy did not set a
calendar about a motion to support Armenian allegations regarding 1915
incidents.

He added that he visited Turkey with the directives of Sarkozy, saying
he was in Ankara to sign the long-awaited security agreement, to which
Sarkozy attached great importance.

“The agreement also opens a door to technical cooperation as well as
operational cooperation between the two countries which will make
Turkey and France to take stance against terrorism and every type of
crime,” Gueant told reporters.

The agreement covers cooperation on domestic security, anti-
terrorism, cross-border crime, illicit drug trafficking, and financial
crimes, Sahin said.

France would continue to support Turkey in fighting against the PKK,
Gueant noted, underlying that 38 PKK militants were arrested in France
in 2010 and 32 others have been arrested so far this year.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 8 2011

France plays important role in peaceful settlement Karabakh conflict – President
Sat 08 October 2011 05:54 GMT | 1:54 Local Time

The ground-breaking ceremony of the French lyceum was held in Baku on 7 October.
The ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,
President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy and the first lady of
our country Mehriban Aliyeva.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed head of the French state, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Participants in the ceremony warmly welcomed the presidents of
Azerbaijan and France.

Initially they signed an “Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the French Republic on
the establishment of the Baku French Lyceum.” From the Azerbaijani
side the document was signed by Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
from on the French part, by Minister for Cooperation of the Minister
of Foreign and European Affairs, Henri de Renkur.

‘Heads of State spoke at the ceremony.

Welcoming the guest, President Ilham Aliyev said:

-Dear Mr. President!
Distinguished guests!
Ladies and gentlemen!

Mr. President, I cordially welcome you in Azerbaijan, you are welcome
to Azerbaijan. Your visit is a historical one. It is the first time
the President of France is visiting Azerbaijan. I am confident that
your visit will greatly contribute to the further successful
development of French-Azerbaijani relations. We maintain multilateral
relations, covering all areas. The cooperation of the recent years
between our two countries inspires and convinces us that the
French-Azerbaijani relations will further be strategic.

Our political relations are very intense. I have repeatedly made
visits to your beautiful country, and now you are our guest. Prospects
for cooperation in the political sphere . France also plays an
important role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and
the European Union. Thank you for the support that you personally and
the state you lead provide to the ties between the EU and Azerbaijan.
A recent summit of “Eastern Partnership” has once again demonstrated
that the relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan are
developing successfully. France also plays an important role in the
NATO-Azerbaijan relations. I am sure that your country will continue
supporting the development of these ties.

Of course, regional security issues are constantly in the spotlight.
Today we also had a very broad and sincere discussion on these issues.
As the co-chair of the Minsk Group, France plays an important role in
the peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We highly appreciate this role and hope
that through your personal effort the conflict would soon be settled
in accordance with international law and territorial integrity of our
country will be restored.

For many years, Azerbaijani lands – Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding
seven regions are under occupation. As a result of this occupation and
ethnic cleansing more than one million Azerbaijanis live a life of
refugees and displaced persons to their native land. This situation
must end, and as you pointed out, the status quo should be changed. I
think that there are good opportunities to change the status quo, and
Azerbaijan is the party which wishes the changes in status quo more
than anyone else. Since this is our land and our lands are under
occupation. International organizations have passed their decision on
this issue – UN Security Council, OSCE, European Parliament, the
Council of Europe, and other organizations. That is, there is a legal
framework for resolving the issue. I am sure that in the near future
more serious steps will be taken, the conflict would end and peace and
cooperation will be established in the South Caucasus.

Cooperation between our countries in the economic sphere is also
developing very successfully. I can say that in the first 8 months of
this year, trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $3 bn and
there is a scope for further development. I hope that at the end of
the year this figure will reach $4bn.

Some 40 French companies function in Azerbaijan. They implement
different projects in ecology and environmental protection. A waste
disposal plant in Azerbaijan is built by the French company. French
companies are involved in the conceptual development plan in Baku
subway. Our first telecommunications satellite will orbit the French
company. That is, in this area there are good opportunities for
cooperation.

Cooperation in energy security is also successful. The discovery of a
new gas field in Azerbaijan by French companies Total and Gas de
France will increase the energy potential of our country and at the
same time have a positive impact on European energy security. Because,
as you know, Azerbaijan has played a very important role in the
Southern Gas Corridor. These issues are also part of the ties between
European Union and Azerbaijan.

The recently discovered gas field has 350 bn cubic meters of gas, and
now the gas potential of Azerbaijan is 2.6 trl cubic meters. I am very
pleased that French companies are successfully operating in Azerbaijan
as our partners.

Finally, we maintain a very broad cooperation in the humanitarian
sphere. In the near future the center of Azerbaijani culture is to be
commissioned in Paris. And today Baku will be laying the foundation
for the French Lyceum. This is a very remarkable and wonderful event.
Operation of this school will further strengthen the
French-Azerbaijani relations. It is a symbol of our friendship. At the
same time, it is a big investment in the education sector in
Azerbaijan. I express my deep appreciation to all who have contributed
to the creation of this school. Participation of the President of
France in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Lyceum, of course, gives
a special significance to today’s ceremony.

I am sure, dear Mr President, that we with you will take part in the
opening of the Lyceum. Once again I welcome you to Azerbaijan, I wish
you and your country continued success. Thank you ”

Speaking at the ceremony, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said:

– Dear Mr. President! I am pleased to attend the groundbreaking
ceremony of the Baku French Lyceum, to be with you in Baku. The
decision to establish this school is not only an example of high-level
diplomatic and political ties between the two countries, but also
evidence of the attitude of Azerbaijan. It also demonstrates the
dynamism of Azerbaijan and its willingness to be open to the world.

Baku is an important hub. It is the space, where different peoples
and cultures crossed for centuries. The French Lyceum will embody the
history of this country. The foundation of the French Lyceum is laid
today at the avenue, where once lived the Nobel Brothers, who played a
very important role in development of the oil industry of your
country, thanks to the support of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan
and Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

I want to again express my gratitude to Mehriban Aliyeva.

With the support of the French mission for secular education and
ministries of education in our countries this lyceym will contribute
to formation of the French-speaking elite. At the same time the doors
of universities in France are always open to these French-speaking
students. Upon graduation they will return to their country to benefit
to Azerbaijan.

As to my knowledge, thanks to the scholarships of the French
government and over the past years and the government of Azerbaijan
obtain education in France. I want enrichment of cooperation between
universities. I hope that the French lyceum will make its
contribution. This lyceum will also reflect the consistency of
cultural and historical ties between our countries. After the
Bolshevik occupation of 1920 France provided refuge to most expelled
members of the first independent government of Azerbaijan. In November
1944, General Charles de Gaulle, who went to Moscow for discussion of
the result of the Second World War, knighted in Baku. I do not forget
this.

Since the restoration of independence of Azerbaijan, our countries
launched dynamic and fruitful cooperation, especially in the sphere of
education and culture. This is fixed in strategic partnership and as I
noticed in culture. In March of the next year, the Baku Art Museum
will open the exhibition of French masterpieces. It will demonstrate
about a hundred of outstanding works, reflecting the French cultural
heritage beginning from the epoch of Resurrection and up to date.

Dear President! Dear Ilham! By taking the decision to create this
lyceum, you are choosing the cultural diversity of Francophone. It is
a brave choice and successful future. France is our friend and partner
in all fields. As you know, Francophone is already the carrier of such
general human values as tolerance, freedom, human rights and
democracy. By your influence and support to this wonderful project,
you demonstrate support to these values and I congratulate you on this
occasion. I would like to congratulate you once again. I am thankful
to you personally, Mr.President, and your spouse for the reception you
gave today. Please, be sure that France is your friend and you can
trust it. Thank you! The presidents of Azerbaijan and France saw the
stand on the future lyceum.

The foundation of the French Lyceum was laid further.

President Ilham Aliyev and President Nicolas Sarkozy descended a
capsule into the foundation. The heads of the states and the first
lady of Azerbaijan poured the concrete compound into the foundation.
It was noted that the lyceum to be built at the initiative of Heydar
Aliyev Foundation will open wide opportunities for French-speaking
foreign citizens, living in our country temporarily or permanently,
and Azerbaijani citizens for studying in this language.

The French lyceum will be wrking on classical French curriculum,
applied in the 12-year mainstream facility, beginning with the
kindergarten. The lessons will be held in French in line with the
requirements of the national educational system of France. The
certificate issued to the pupils will meet the standards and
requirements of the French Ministry of National Education and be
recognized by it. The school leavers will get the opportunity to
continue education at any university of France depending on their
choice.

The French president was informed that this facility will be held in
Baku in the `White city’ area. The `Baku-White City’ project, which is
among the biggest and unique projects in town-building in the world
differs with that the Paris quarter will be laid here.

Then the head of the states met with French businessmen in our country
and wished them success.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva
saw off their guest, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy.

AzerTAj

APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2011

Bahar Muradova: `There is no perspective of attempts to rend off
Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan’

[ 08 Oct 2011 20:12 ]
I was 25 when the Karabakh conflict started, but now I am 50

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh – APA. Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani
Parliament Bahar Muradova made a speech at the autumn session of the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held in Dubrovnik, Croatia. APA reports
that Muradova touched the importance of settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict on the basis of international law and said that the OSCE’s
Helsinki Final Act rejects any offense against the territorial
integrity of the states. She said that the protraction of the
conflict’s settlement prevents the development in the region and it
was a high time of the dialogue between Armenian and Azerbaijani
communities of the Nagorno Karabakh. This dialogue will stimulate the
trust between two sides.

Muradova said that there was no perspective to rend off Nagorno
Karabakh from Azerbaijan. she underlined that was from Azerbaijani
family which had to leave Karabakh: `I was 25 when the Karabakh
conflict started. Now I am 50. the conflict has not been settled yet.
I have patience, but my 80-years old mother can’t have patience and
wants to return to her native land. ‘

Wall Street Journal
Oct 8 2011

France Urges Ankara to Admit 1915 Genocide .

YEREVAN, Armenia – French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Turkey to
recognize the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as a
genocide, in remarks Friday that drew sharp criticism from Ankara.

“Turkey, which is a great country, would honor itself by revisiting
its history like other countries in the world have done,” Mr. Sarkozy
said during his visit to the Armenian capital.

The killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire
has been the main barrier to the ex-Soviet republic’s reconciliation
with Turkey. Armenians have long fought to persuade other governments
to call the killings a genocide.

Turkish leaders have rejected the term, contending the figures are
inflated and saying there were many deaths on both sides as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed during World War I.

Mr. Sarkozy also hinted that Turkey’s refusal to recognize the
genocide would force France to change its law and make such denials a
criminal offense. “If Turkey does not do this, then doubtless we will
have to go further,” he said. without elaborating.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the French
president’s comments as “political opportunism” aimed at gaining votes
from French-Armenians at elections. “Unfortunately whenever there are
elections in Europe, this type of opportunism arises,” Mr. Davutoglu
he said.

He added France had no right to criticize Turkey because of the
country’s colonial past.

The French Parliament officially recognized the killings as a genocide
in 2001, one of several moves that strained ties between Paris and
Ankara. Turkey, however, remains one of France’s major trading
partners outside the European Union.

In 2004, then-President Jacques Chirac told Turkey it would have to
recognize the mass killings as genocide if it wanted to become a
member of the EU, insisting the French would otherwise vote Turkey out
in a referendum.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations.

– Associated Press
In addition to tensions over the mass killings, efforts to normalize
ties also have been thrown back by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, a
separatist region in neighboring Azerbaijan.

Since then, talks to resolve one of the most worrisome “frozen
conflicts” in the former Soviet Union have dragged on with the enclave
controlled by Armenian and separatist forces.

Impoverished, landlocked and mostly Christian, Armenia has been hurt
economically by Turkey’s closing of the border in 1993 in support of
Azerbaijan.

Mr. Sarkozy called on his Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkisian to seek
a peaceful way of ending the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, and said
Paris will continue to lend political support to Armenia. “Peace in
the region is extremely important for both sides,” he said.

Sin Chew Jit Poh
Oct 8 2011

Armenia guards ancient carpet-weaving traditions

by Mariam Harutyunyan

ECHMIADZIN, October 8, 2011 (AFP) – The smell of wool hangs thick in
the air at a small studio in Armenia’s ancient spiritual centre of
Echmiadzin as women fashion carpets by hand using methods passed down
through generations.

“I love weaving carpets, the process takes away me somewhere and I
become oblivious to everything and think only of beautiful things,”
said one of them, deaf-mute Narine Badalian, using sign language
translated by an interpreter.

“You have to really concentrate in order not to make a mistake. If you
do even one knot incorrectly, the whole design won’t work out,” said
her colleague Nazik Karapetian without lifting her eyes as an image of
a stone cross took shape beneath her busy fingers.

People in Armenia, as in other Caucasus and Central Asian countries,
have been making carpets since pre-Christian times.

Armenian designs are usually multicoloured and geometric, and
sometimes bear symbols traditionally believed to have the power to
ward off evil spirits.

The Echmiadzin-based studio was set up as a charity project to employ
impoverished women and refugees who fled neighbouring Azerbaijan
during the 1990s war between the ex-Soviet neighbours over the
disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.

But it also has another major difference — it aims to use authentic
traditional methods and tools and to be environmentally friendly.

Wool for the rugs is processed without chemical dyes by elderly
refugees in remote villages than sent to Echmiadzin to be woven into
what one of charity project’s leaders Grigor Babakhanian calls
“eco-carpets”

“In order to produce ecologically pure carpets, we decided to confine
ourselves to eight natural colours of sheep’s wool, and not to dye
it,” Babakhanian explained.

“Our goal is to give work to elderly women who became refugees during
the Karabakh war, to train young people in the art of carpet-making
and to revive traditional carpet-making techniques,” he said.

Dozens of refugees have already been trained in hand-weaving by
Babakhanian’s Cross of Armenian Unity charity foundation and it is
hoped that sales of the rugs will help to finance other refugee
programmes.

Major Armenian manufacturing companies also produce carpets using
traditional methods and designs, but the demand for handmade items has
fallen in recent years due to their rising cost, with many consumers
preferring cheaper machine-made rugs.

The authorities introduced tax breaks for handmade carpet
manufacturers two years ago in an attempt to help sustain the
industry.

“The development of carpet-making is of cultural and social
significance for Armenia, rather than economic,” said Hayk Mirzoian,
an official at the country’s economy ministry.

The carpets made by the women in Echmiadzin — a former capital that
is still home to the head of Armenia’s Christian church — are
decorated with symbols derived from religious monuments and ancient
manuscripts.

“Our carpets advocate the national culture and national traditions,”
said Babakhanian.

His brother Gevorg, who creates the designs, said the use of pure
materials and spiritual imagery means that the finished products are
infused with “positive energy”.

Although the concept of “eco-carpets” may be new in Armenia,
time-honoured carpet-making techniques are not dying out, suggests
ethnographer Ashgunj Pogosian — although they remain in need of
constant protection.

“The traditions of Armenian carpet-making must be preserved and handed
on to future generations because they are part of our people’s
historical and cultural heritage, they are part of our national image,
just like songs, the language and the alphabet,” he said.

For Babakhanian, the uniqueness of the handmade work is also part of its appeal.

“Every carpet tells a different story,” he said.

HULIQ.com, SC
Oct 8 2011

Three Different Fates, One Commons Past: Armenian Orphan Asylums

Submitted by Michael Santo on 2011-10-08

Psychologists argue that humans are capable of forgetting happy
episodes of their life, but memories of hardships remain with them
through their lifetime. When you talk with the graduates of Armenian
orphan asylums, you slightly shift from this argument, as their memory
keeps both: their fate has taught them to preserve everything they
have, especially because they do not have too much of this, and they
acquire everything they have through sufferings and struggle.

Story 1. Gavar orphan asylum, a standard Soviet childhood

Karine, 34, found herself in Gavar orphan asylum when she was 3,
despite she the fact that she had parents. This fact, though, was the
same as not having parents, as her biological parents never had any
willingness to set up relations with their daughter, either through
the times in asylum or after leaving it. She left the institution when
she became 18, in 1991. Then, Armenia was just starting to follow the
path of independence, so her early recollections do not differ
essentially from those of any other Soviet child: standardized food
with compote and the daily regime according to the agenda attached to
the corridor wall. In summer: vacation in a pioneer camp.

In short, this woman’s recollections of her time in the asylum can be
deemed somewhat positive, and since the state sees the key function of
the asylum in providing food, dress and bed, then in the particular
case of Karine it has been pretty successful. We all understand,
however, that this is not all a child needs to become a citizen, as
where is the right to education? And most importantly, how can a child
from an asylum receive compensation for the family love, which even
the best and most successful orphanage institution cannot provide?

But the further flow of life brought about serious problems, when she,
along with other graduates of Gavar asylum, was moved to different
areas across Armenia, where they were to start a new life completely
on their own. Karine found herself in Yerevan, attending a
typewriter’s training courses. She used to live in various hostels,
and at flats of more successful asylum friends on temporary basis,
until 16 years later the state provided her with a one bedroom flat
close to Yerevan, as she was from an asylum. The first floor of the
residential building used to serve as a warehouse for some time, which
means it was not adapted for housing purposes. And it was there that
ten apartments were made and handed over to Karine and other asylum
graduates.

It is damp there, cold in winter; the electric wires need to be
changed. The flats are even devoid of sunlight, as there is just one
window in each of them. Those are though important, but household
issues, while there is a more powerful one, which has a psychological
impact: one can only enter the flats provided to asylum graduates from
the street, as this is how the building has been constructed, whereas
the other residents of the building use the regular entrance. In other
words, it seems someone again pinpoints that we are not from `them’,
we are different. We are children of an orphanage asylum, this is it’.
But, Karine continues, `at least this is my own corner’.

Story 2. Sovetashen, Gavar, Meghri … broken and crippled fates

Sasha, 35, is Karine’s husband. They made a family; now they are
raising two kids. He does not like to talk of the asylum or, moreover,
of the parents. `I do not have such notions,” he says furiously about
something which is an absolute value for most people. But you cannot
blame him for this, when you hear stories of his childhood and adult
life.

He appeared in Sovetashem orphan asylum at the age of 6. Then he was
moved to Gavar, and further on to Meghri. The memories of the latter
are the brightest. He remembers, for instance, when they were reaching
Meghri by bus, the kids would bite pomegranates fallen on the ground
to eat them, before they had ever heard of such fruit. `Well, yeah, we
were not hungry, nor naked, but it’s not just about that. Only when
you walk out from those walls you realize that there is no difference
between a prison and an orphanage asylum. In both places you are cared
for just as much as not to die of hunger, but nobody treats you like a
human…and then you get freedom and you do not know what to do with
it.” As a proof he points at a black and white picture from a family
album – it shows himself and friends from the asylum.

`We spent a few winters in the basement of the Chess House together
with Armen and Hayk, until one of the boys died of cold and it was
impossible to continue staying there. Armen was tried, as he stole
copper from the state and sold it,” he counts and continues. Someone
else died, someone managed to flee to Russia for work and used to
write at first, but then connection was lost, the other girl also got
lost after the divorce… In a nutshell, there is hardly even one normal
fate among those pictured on the photo. `Sometimes I am being
reproached – you have to be satisfied about the state taking care of
you, supporting and bringing you up, now you are given a flat (though
he left the asylum in 1990 and received his flat in 2008). But what
should I be content with? We went out of a dirt just to move into a
new one’. He also mentions that no one ever helped any of the asylum
graduates. On the contrary, they were persecuted and all the doors
were closed for them, as a child from an orphanage asylum in the eyes
of the society is equal to a former prisoner.

Story 3. Zatik. New times, old problems

Armine, 26, is an independent Armenian time graduate of one of the
most exemplary orphan asylums: Zatik. In her words, it was very good
in Zatik, she was secured with good food and a clean bed, and after
leaving it she was literally taken aback. However, it was only after
she left the asylum that the bitter life experienced proved that it
was not everything she needed what she got from the institution. She
needed at least primitive knowledge to somehow compensate for little
life experience. But realization of this only came when Armine, who
had no place to live, found herself out in the street after she left
the asylum. At first, she lived in Zatik, with permission of the
director. However, that could not last for long.

She ultimately found herself in a house named Tsiatsan, where people
like her lived. She spent some three years there. Then she got
married, by the way not with an asylum graduate, and gave birth to two
kids, but then she got divorced. She says her husband who at first
enjoyed everyone’s sympathy just for marrying a girl from asylum, in
the end did not resist the pressure from the society and became a
victim of stereotypes, leaving the family. As a result, today Armine
with her two children lives on the assistance of neighbors – graduates
of various asylums, as she does not work and has no one to support
her. `If it was not for them, my kids would die of hunger…I am not
even speaking of myself.’ As to getting assistance of that kind from
other neighbors, or to even regular communication with them, Armine
said her apartment is isolated from them and the entrance is from a
different side. In other words, if she uses a different entrance just
to enter the apartment, then how is she going to overcome barriers of
communicating with other neighbors? Most importantly, however, no
matter how difficult it is for her and how many half-hungry days she
has had, still Armine totally excludes possibility of sending her
children to an asylum. Even to the praised Zatik…

…Three different fates, which have a common past in orphan asylums.
Independently of all, even from few good recollections there is one
conclusion – asylum graduates are a separate caste, who are unable of
fighting against hardships of life, which attack them like predators
right after they become 18 and leave the walls of the asylum. They are
not accepted by society. At times being unaccepted brings about
aggressions either from their side or from the society. And even
though this is an old stereotype, it is so deeply rooted in their
psychology, that it leaves little or no options for struggle. As a
result, already outside the asylum, being full members of the society,
they continue to live supporting each other and standing by. Just one
thing is for sure: the fate of any of them can only compete in its
bitterness to a fate of someone with the past in the asylum.

Written by Lia Khojoyan

Opposition bloc stops 24-hour rallies on Liberty Square

01:42 – 09.10.11

Opposition alliance Armenian National Congress (HAK) has stopped its
week of round-the-clock rallies on Liberty Square, the HAK leader has
said.

Speaking to his supporters late on Saturday, Levon Ter-Petrosyan said
that the next rally will take place on October 28 when the HAK unveils
its further actions.

The HAK leader further said that their one-week of 24-hour rallies
proved that no incident happens because of the HAK unless the police
intervene.

A similar campaign of round-the-day rallies organized by the HAK in
2008 was brutally cracked down by the police. At least ten people were
killed and dozens wounded in the clashes.

Things would be the same in 2008 had not the police intervened, said
Ter-Petrosyan.

`We will have the entire world to respect us, if we struggle for our
rights,’ he said.

Further, he said that by starting the rallies the HAK was in fact
ready to resume the political dialogue with authorities. But given the
authorities were self-contained the HAK decided the dialogue would
make no sense.

However, he said the HAK would consider the possibilities of resuming
the dialogue, should the authorities make such a request.

Tert.am

French president on Turkey’s zero role in EU

18:20 – 07.10.11

Turkey is playing a great role in the world, but its role in outside
the European Union (EU), French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated at a
news conference held jointly with his Armenian counterpart Serzh
Sargsyan in Yerevan.

His stance on Turkey’s possible membership in the EU remains
unchanged. Turkey plays the role of a bridge between the East and the
West, but, from the point of view of France, it has no role in the EU,
the French leader said.

As to the impact the latest elections to the French Senate may have on
this stance, President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the elections do not
bring about any changes in this respect.

Tert.am

AFTER NPP, PIPELINE AND RAILWAYS
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 18:04:38 – 07/10/2011

“We respect and understand the desire to ensure regional alternative
energy sources and we expect careful attention to the security and
stability in the region. But these projects must be realized in
the way to ensure security, peace and not the war. Everyone wants
the implementation of European programs, and in this issue it is
important to cooperate in the region to keep the stability, not to
create sources for new ways of war, God forbid”. Said Serzh Sargsyan
during his today’s meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy. The same thing he
said at the summit of the Eastern Partnership.

What programs enrich certain countries encouraging them to war? What
did the European countries offer to Armenia that we refused and what
we offered in exchange? We have to guess all this through fragmentized
information.

One thing is clear – France, most likely, will launch the construction
of a new NPP in Armenia. Possibly, a deal on the purchase of the
Armenian NPP by France will be made. Anyway, there are hints that
both Sarkozy and Sargsyan expressed wish for the involvement of French
companies in the Armenian infrastructures.

France is a world leader on NPP construction, and its experience is
used by many countries. But it is a leader also in laying of railways,
so, we must expect Paris’s interest in the Armenian railways too.

In the nearest future, we need to expect flow of European capital into
Armenia. The Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Zdislaw Rachinski in his
interview to news.am said that the European capital feels uncomfortable
in Armenia because of well-known problems. European organizations
have been trying for many years to stimulate investments in Armenia,
including, the economic management sphere, but in vain.

Possibly, a decision to “stimulate” reforms through a “fight” has been
taken – flow of aggressive European capital can promote the change
of business and investments culture in Armenia more effectively than
many internal reforms.

Anyway, only a new pipeline can “encourage a country to a new war”,
and Serzh Sargsyan, perhaps, meant right this. What a new rout does
Europe suggest for Armenia to oppose it? Does Armenia propose a new
pipeline through its territory? Actually, the point is about the pipe,
which is to bypass Russia.

Sarkozy already arrived in Baku where he is going to make an offer to
Ilham Aliyev. Along with the exploitation of the oilfield, evidently,
they will talk about the pipe itself. Much depends on what Azerbaijan
will think about this idea. Aliyev too faces a big choice but he
will have to make that choice once. Moreover, literally, on these
days, Russia, the U.S. and France made a tough statement on the
unacceptability of a military solution to the conflict, and Serzh
Sargsyan noted with “satisfaction” that new programs are aimed at
long-term stability in the region.