Author: Badalian Vardan

DISCUSSION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE HELD IN BUNDESTAG

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

11:12, 18 September, 2014

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The German Bundestag will hold a
discussion dedicated to the Armenian Genocide and it is considered
that the MPs will adopt a resolution as well.

“Armenpress” reporter from Berlin stated that the
Bundestag Christian Democratic Party MP, member of the Committee on
Foreign Relations Manfred Grund stated that the issue of the format
is currently under discussion.

Among other things, Manfred Grund underscored: “I have talked to
the Head of Bundestag and now we are discussing the issue of choosing
format to mark the 100th anniversary of that horrible crime next
year. Probably, the Bundestag will also adopt a resolution on those
events and a discussion regarding that crime will be held inside
Bundestag as well.”

The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman government has
been documented, recognized, and affirmed in the form of media
and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by many
states and international organizations. The complete catalogue
of all documents categorizing the 1915 wholesale massacre of the
Armenian population in Ottoman Empire as a premeditated and thoroughly
executed act of genocide, is extensive. Uruguay was the first country
to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965. The massacres
of the Armenian people were officially condemned and recognized as
genocide in accordance with the international law by France, Germany,
Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Poland,
Lithuania, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Uruguay, Argentina,
Venezuela, Chile, Canada, Vatican and Australia.

eld-in-bundestag.html

LA PRODUCTION AGRICOLE D’ARMENIE SE DEVELOPPE DE 5,4%

ARMENIE

La production agricole d’Armenie a augmente de 5,4% a 160,8 milliards
de drams en prix courants entre janvier et mai 2014, par rapport a
la meme periode de l’annee precedente selon ArmStat.

La production agricole en mai s’elevait a 49,5 milliards de drams,
soit une augmentation de 8,6% par rapport a mai 2013 et de 38,3%
par rapport au mois precedent.

Selon ArmStat, la production totale de l’agriculture et de la
pisciculture a augmente d’environ 5,2% a environ 121,8 milliards
de drams entre janvier et avril 2014 par rapport a la meme periode
de 2013.

jeudi 18 septembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

NEW ROLE IS IDENTIFIED FOR ARMENIA

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 17 September 2014, 23:26

The UK Ambassador Katie Leach told reporters they respect Armenia’s
decision to join the Eurasian Union and want to know what duties
Armenia will assume upon membership to this union.

The Armenian public also wants to know the answer to this question but,
apparently, nobody knows the answer.

Membership to any supranational body is usually put to a referendum,
at least if the state considers itself democratic. And one of the
most important meanings of this process is that before a referendum
the public is explained in detail what awaits the state and every
citizen upon membership to that body.

Armenia will soon join the Eurasian Economic Union, whereas the
citizens of Armenia still do not know what is awaiting them there.

Meanwhile, after membership a lot of decisions on Armenia will be
made upon the consent of other states, including Russia, Kazakhstan
and Belarus.

There is not a single word about what part of sovereignty of Armenia
will be ceded to the supranational body and decisions on what issues
will be made collegially.

Interestingly, the citizens, the UK ambassador, maybe other diplomats
and subjects dealing with Armenia want to get the answer to this
question but the political subjects of Armenia do not seem to be
interested to know.

The Armenian government may have answered this question had it known
the answer. This does not mean that Yerevan does not know what is
awaiting us in the Eurasian Economic Union. However, knowing what
is awaiting us there is one thing and participating in shaping
expectations and decisions is another thing.

Perhaps, this is what the UK ambassador thinks when she wonders
what the duties of Armenia are going to be. In other words, will
Armenia have the authority and ability to make decisions within the
Eurasian Economic Union or will it be a so-called quorum for Russia,
expecting that Russia will conduct a milder policy on Armenia within
the Eurasian Economic Union?

Because if Armenia is capable of an independent policy, it may aspire
to the role of a focal point for contacts with the EEU. Recently
Commissioner Stefan Fule has spoken about the need for contacts. In
fact, the UK ambassador is hinting this. Katie Leach says they will
wait until the duties of Armenia are finalized and are ready for
economic cooperation.

LE CATHOLICOS DE TOUS LES ARMENIENS RECOIT DES PELERINS CATHOLIQUES D’ITALIE

ARMENIE

Le 6 Septembre, Sa Saintete Karekine II, Patriarche supreme et
Catholicos de tous les Armeniens ; a recu un groupe de pèlerins
catholiques conduits par le cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archeveque de
Genes, Ils se sont rencontres dans la bibliothèque Vatche et Tamar
Manoukian du Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzine.

Se felicitant de la visite des pèlerins, le Catholicos armenien a
d’abord rappele l’importance de faire des pèlerinages en Armenie par
les differentes communautes et les organisations des Eglises soeurs.

Sa Saintete a parle du chemin admirable du peuple armenien, en notant
avec satisfaction l’importante mission et le rôle du christianisme
dans la formation de l’identite de la nation armenienne. Il a note
qu’en raison de la puissance de la foi chretienne, le peuple armenien
a surmonte toutes les calamites et aujourd’hui a cree la vie dans un
Etat independant.

Lors de la reunion, le Catholicos de tous les Armeniens a reflechi sur
la cooperation fructueuse entre les Eglises soeurs et la Sainte Eglise
apostolique armenienne, qui est marque par la chaleur fraternelle et
diverses initiatives de salut des âmes.

Le Cardinal Bagnasco a exprime sa gratitude a Sa Saintete, sur la
possibilite de visiter le centre spirituel de tous les Armeniens.

A l’issue de la reunion, Sa Saintete a souleve ses prières a Dieu
Tout-Puissant, demandant que par la grâce du Tout-Puissant, l’Eglise du
Christ supporte sans cesse, et avec un esprit fraternel et grâce aux
efforts combines, les defis de la vie. Il a prie pour que l’humanite
vive dans la paix et le bonheur dans un monde meilleur et plus beau.

mardi 16 septembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

IRAVUNK: DISAGREEMENTS MOUNT BETWEEN HAKOBYAN AND POSTANJYAN

11:52 16/09/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Citing its sources, Iravunk writes that Heritage parliamentary faction
head Ruben Hakobyan and Zaruhi Postanjyan, who has recently returned
from the United States, have rather complicated relations.

“Postanjyan constantly creates awkward situations, slamming the four
non-government factions, as well as states that the party should
oppose to the constitutional reforms, but Ruben Hakobyan is committed
to more constructive approaches,” writes the newspaper.

Source: Panorama.am

PROS AND CONS – ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FACTIONS’ VISIONS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

YEREVAN, September 16. /ARKA/. A constitutional reform is being
currently elaborated in Armenia. The final document is not ready
yet; even then it has already given rise to heated discussions,
particularly on transfer to parliamentary system. All six parliament
factions presented their vision for the reform at a briefing on Friday.

Background: Under a decree of the Armenian president of September 4,
2013, a professional commission was set up to develop a constitutional
reform.

The president is expected to sign the reform concept in October. The
draft reform package should be submitted within ten months after the
concept is approved by the president.

Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan made a statement saying he would
not run for president anymore. He also said he would not run for
premier’s office either if the parliamentary system is picked.

According to Sargsyan, the current system is most acceptable for
Armenia in this stage.

Off-power coalition – There is no constitutional crisis today Head
of Heritage faction Ruben Hakobyan said on Friday the constitutional
reform is a priority to the Armenian authorities.

“In fact, there is no constitutional crisis leading to need for such
hasty changes, but there is a political crisis the leadership wants to
divert population’s attention from through a constitutional reform”,
Hakobyan said Hakobyan expressed hope the four off-power parties will
reach consensus on the reform issue.

Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun
faction Aghvan Vardanyan said the current constitution provides room
for reproduction of power, hence reforms are needed to prevent it
in the future and to reduce personal factors that influence decision
making.

Head of the Armenian National Congress faction Levon Zurabyan refrained
to comment on the upcoming reform and said his party’s position is
well known.

“I want to mention only that the authorities will not be able to sow
discord within the off-power coalition using disagreements on the
constitutional reform”, Zurabyan said.

Member of Prosperous Armenia party Vahe Hovhannisyan said the changes
proposed do not fill in the gaps in the current constitution and
reminded that the authorities were against the parliamentary system
at the time.

Under the current “neither peace, nor war” conditions it is necessary
to maintain the presidential or semi-presidential governance to ensure
prompt and efficient response if a military conflict is unleashed,
Hovhannisyan said. Yet, he said, the party refrains from detailed
comments before the proposed changes are clear.

Cautious approach preferred Head of Orinats Yerkir faction Heghine
Bisharyan, in her turn, said the faction is not rushing into comments
on the upcoming reform.

“We are not familiar with the content of the reform and wait for
discussions to give our conclusion afterwards”, she said.

The faction members believe the constitutional reform discussions are
premature due to other more serious pending problems in the country.

–0–

ARMENIE
Les dirigeants des partis de l’opposition discutent d’une manifestation commune

Le Chef du Congrès national Arménien (ANC), Levon Ter-Petrossian et le
magnat Gagik Tsarukyan, qui dirige le parti “non gouvernemental”
Arménie prospère (PAP), se sont réunis mardi pour discuter des
préparatifs pour un rassemblement commun dans lequel deux autres
factions minoritaires devraient également participer.

Dans une déclaration conjointe l’ANC et le PAP ont déclaré que lors de
la réunion Ter-Petrossian et Tsarukyan ont réaffirmé leur opposition
aux modifications constitutionnelles proposées par le gouvernement.

Armenian wrestler reaches finals at Greco-Roman style World Championship

15:27 * 14.09.14

Armenian Greco-Roman style wrestler, European Champion Artur Alexanyan
had a bout with Ghasem Rezaei (Iran) in the semifinals at the
Greco-Roman style World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Armenian athlete won 3:1 and reached the finals.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Armenian-Belarusian agricultural enterprise to be set up in Gyumri

14:39, 13 September, 2014

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian-Belarusian cooperation will be
expanded in the direction of strengthening of the economic ties, National
Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said at a press conference at
the National Assembly after the 8th sitting of the Armenian-Belarusian
Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation.

There are three issues on the agenda – expansion of trade and economic
cooperation, cooperation of MPs of our countries at parliamentary summits
and the events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the World War II,
Eduard Sharmazanov told Armenpress.

According to him, the parties concluded that for activation of economic
cooperation the members of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee should get
involved in the works of the committee. “There is an initial agreement to
set up a joint agricultural enterprise in near future in Gyumri,” said NA
Deputy Speaker.

“My partner stressed that Belarus is for peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. We have adopted a joint statement, where we consider any
expression of fascism, racism, nazism and xenophobia unacceptable,” he said.

Armenia president opens Gyumri Technopark – Photos

13:35, 13.09.2014

GYUMRI. – President Serzh Sargsyan on Saturday participated in the
opening of Technological Center (Technopark) in Gyumri, Armenia’s
second largest city.

The President was accompanied by Deputy PM Armen Gevorgyan, Economy
Minister Karen Chshmarityan, officials from Gyumri and Shirak Region.

In 2014 the center will organize trainings on engineering, multimedia,
web, mobile, business skills.

Enterprise Incubator Foundationhead Bagrat Yengibaryan noted that
after 700-million investment and 6-year preparatory work, the Gyumri
Technopark opened its doors for the IT industry, and similar centers
will be opened in Vanadzor and Stepanakert in the future.

“This is the first move on the way of turning Armenia into Silicon
Valley,” he said.

Authoritative international companies will work in the Technopark, and
the leadership is currently holding talks with National Instruments,
Clean Tech and Nokia, Yengibaryan added.

The technological center will provide information and incubator
services to the startups to promote their production and help with
exporting it abroad.

Gyumri technology center was founded as a result of cooperation
between the Armenian government, Enterprise Incubator Foundation, and
the World Bank.

Around 300 experts will be trained at the center which has 60
employees and 100 students at the moment.