Author: Badalian Vardan

PRESIDENT OBAMA RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM NEW FOREIGN AMBASSADORS

AP Planner
July 14, 2014 Monday

President Barack Obama participates in an Ambassador Credentialing
Ceremony at the White House, receiving credentials from foreign
Ambassadors recently posted to Washington, DC, in a traditional
ceremony that marks the formal beginning of an Ambassador’s service.

Attendees are Amb. Jose Luis Fialho Rocha (Cape Verde), Amb. Prasad
Kariyawasam (Sri Lanka), Amb. Tigran Sargsyan (Armenia), Amb. Mamady
Conde (Guinea), and Amb. Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (Somalia)
(2:00 PM EDT). Earlier, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden
meet for lunch (12:30 PM EDT), while later, President Obama hosts an
Iftar dinner to celebrate Ramadan (8:55 PM EDT)

TURKEY CONFIRMS ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SIVAS MASSACRE

July 15, 2014

ANKARA (DÄ°HA) – A top official audit board report into the 1993 Sivas
Massacre has declared that the Turkish state is responsible for the
arson attack on the Madımak Hotel, in which 35 Alawite intellectuals
were burnt alive and two assailants died, as well as for deficiencies
in the subsequent prosecution that has lagged for over 20 years.

The State Audit Board (DDK) of the presidency, which started
inspecting the attack upon an order by President Abdullah Gul in 2012,
stated in its report issued July 15 that the Governor’s Office in
Sivas showed “serious negligence and failures” in preventing the
massacre. The report accused the state of remaining a “spectator”
of the attack, which eventually resulted in the killing of renowned
Alevi intellectuals such as the poets Metin Altıok and Behcet Aysan,
writer Asım Bezirci, and popular musician Muhlis Akarsu.

‘Gradual escalation of tension’

Noting that the torching of the Madımak Hotel on July 2, 1993 was the
result of a gradual escalation of tension following the organization
of a conference by an Alevi association that started a day earlier,
the report said officials could have taken more safety measures to
prevent the massacre. “Despite the obvious social crisis developing
[in Sivas] … the incident was caused after serious negligence and
failures of the governorship to take preventive measures such as the
cancelation of the event, the dispersal of the crowd, the evacuation of
the participants from the hotel, or the implementation of a curfew,”
said the report, adding that “all the state dignitaries” at the time
were responsible. “For the [responsibilities] of its administrative
and political organs, all the state dignitaries and their approach
were just as responsible as the behaviors that caused the perception
of provocation in the Sunni collective memory,” the report stated.

Calling it ‘massacre’

The DDK also stressed that what marks one of the worse cases of civil
violence in Turkey’s recent history should legitimately be defined as a
“massacre,” saying no signs of “conspiracy” or “provocation” were noted
during the inspections and thus ruling out similar implications in
former reports. “The incidents that took place in Sivas … resulted
in the death of 35 people inside an hotel by mobs of people who were
out of control, who had lost their sense and who acted with feelings
of hate … and should be defined as a ‘massacre,'” the report said.

‘No public officer investigated’

The report also pointed to difficulties faced during its compiling,
saying evidence and information gathered during the 20-year-long
investigation was “insufficient.” The Ankara court overseeing the
trial had dropped the case on March 2012, ruling that the charges
against the suspects exceeded the statute of limitations of 20 years,
stirring outcry. Up to that poin the case had gone back and forth,
and there have been many calls for a re-trial. The report also
stressed that the lack of investigation into any public official
was unacceptable. “Unfortunately, due to the lack of any efficient
judicial or administrative investigation against public officials,
the [lack] of a perception of political responsibility, as well as our
insufficient democratic standards, everyone preferred the convenience
of pinning the crime on the mobs and society,” the report said.

HRAPARAK: US CONCERNED OF POSSIBLE CHANGES IN MINSK GROUP FORMAT

08:43 * 15.07.14

The paper says it has learned from sources that France and the United
States are amid preparations for a new meeting between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani leaders in the frameworks of their mission within
the OSCE Minsk Group.

The two co-chairing states are said to be scheduling the talks for
late July.

On May 7, which marked the 20th anniversary of the Ceasefire Agreement
over Nagorno-Karabakh, several Armenian experts were summoned to the
US Embassy for a meeting with Ambassador John Heffern, says the paper.

“The US has concerns that Russia wishes to change the Minsk Group
format together with Azerbaijan to make one of the sides, Azerbaijan
in particular, abandon the Madrid Principles and back away from the
negotiations, especially after the developments in Ukraine and Crimea.

So, the United States is now seeking to remind the parties of their
commitments,” the paper says, adding that US Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Richard Morningstar had a similar kind of meeting with Azerbaijani
experts exactly the same day.

What troubles the United States is the possible Russian plan to deploy
peacekeepers in Karabakh to repeat the Georgian blitzjkrieg scenario,
says the paper, noting that such developments would be considered
impermissible by the US. The paper adds that Azerbaijan has already
announced a plan for a possible blitzjkrieg.

Armenian News – Tert.am

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE IN ARMENIA – 1

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 14 2014

14 July 2014 – 9:27am

Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

The Russian language is studied in Armenian schools from the second
year, while all other foreign languages are studied from the third
year. Russian is still the language of some Armenian mass media –
the newspapers “Voice of Armenia,” “New Time,” “Republic of Armenia,”
and the radio program “Aijk” on Public Radio. All leading Russian
TV-channels are rebroadcast in the country. The population watches
most Western movies in Russian; moreover, private channels don’t
have to follow the law on dubbing foreign films into Armenian. The
majority of internet resources also have Russian versions.

However, during the years of independence Armenia has faced new
challenges in the sphere of Russian language development. A generation
which has been torn away from a common language space is being raised
in the country. The number of people who speak Russian has fallen 25%.

According to the official data of the census of 1989, the share of
citizens who spoke Russian was more than 80%.

The countryside seems to be more troublesome. The main problem is a
lack of teachers in general, including Russian language teachers.

However, there is no generally-accessible testing system for the
Russian language, like TOEFL for English or DAF for German. This could
present a clear picture in the matter, as to solve the problem they
need precise data.

In the context of the development of Russian in Armenia there
are certain steps which could be taken within the framework of
Armenian-Russian cooperation. However, there are problems which Russia
could solve by itself, as it is interested in the preservation of
Russian spiritual culture.

As for joint tasks, there is improvement of teaching of Russian within
the framework of the school program. In Soviet times the majority
of Armenian pupils spoke Russian fluently. Probably it is useful to
study the programs and experience of the times.

Today the young generation has vast opportunities to study foreign
languages and continue their education abroad. It is necessary to
develop and implement programs on development of the Russian language
through promotion of one of the richest cultures of the world, which
could attract young people.

The Russian state could encourage the foundation of museums of
Russian art in several cities of Armenia, at least in two of them –
Yerevan (extension of the existing Museum of Russian Art) and Gyumri
(where the Russian military base is situated). These steps and a
well-thought-out PR campaign could play an effective role in promoting
Russian language and culture, and conducting classes of Russian and
Russian literature in museums and centers of Russian culture will
contribute to attracting interest in the culture and the language of
the neighboring country. Probably a settlement of the issue at state
level will demand a lot of time. However, there is an easier way:
there are many wealthy Armenians living in Russia, who would be glad
to contribute to a project which would be useful for both countries.

There is such a precedent. Gerard Cafesjian, an American philanthropist
of Armenian origin, has opened the Museum of Contemporary Art in
Yerevan. The museum was built in a park. Gerard Cafesjian decorated
the park with sculptures from all over the world.

By the way, soon an English garden will open in Yerevan.

To be continued

EBRD TO HELP ARMENIA GO GREEN

ReNews.biz
July 14 2014

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has signed an
agreement with HSBC to fund $10m of green energy projects in Armenia.

The loan will create a pot for the industrial and residential renewable
energy sectors, and will be open to companies “willing to make capital
investments aimed at achieving overall energy efficiency and reductions
of over 20% in their energy consumption”.

The EBRD said: “This initiative aims to help Armenia reduce the energy
intensity of its economy and promote energy efficiency investments
in various sectors.”

The maximum term of the loans is five years and the facility falls
under the EBRD’s Caucasus Energy Efficiency Programme.

TIGRAN HAMASYAN : LE RETOUR AU MUSIC HALL

L’Orient-Le Jour, Liban
14 juillet 2014

Liban Jazz et Elefteriadès presentent le premier concert d’ete du
festival depuis sa creation en 2004. Et reinvitent un virtuose du
piano, le jeune Tigran Hamasyan, qui vient accompagne de son trio
(Arthur Hnatek a la batterie et Sam Minaie a la contrebasse) pour
presenter son nouvel album Shadow Theater, le dimanche 20 juillet,
au Music Hall Waterfront.

Musicien armenien prodige, Hamasyan est entre dans le monde du jazz
a 7 ans. À 19 ans, il glane le prestigieux concours Thelonious Monk,
preside par Herbie Hancock.

Depuis, il s’est forge un style bien a lui, un savant melange de
rock, de folklore armenien, de musique experimentale, de metal et,
bien evidemment, de jazz. Ses prestations sceniques, riches de toutes
ces influences et donc tantôt tendres, tantôt endiablees, l’ont deja
consacre comme l’un des fers de lance d’une nouvelle generation
de jazzmen. Apres avoir explore l’univers des fables armeniennes,
c’est dans une autre tradition, plus visuelle qu’orale, qu’il puise
son inspiration dans Shadow Theater. “Ce “theâtre d’ombres”, il faut
l’entendre comme une invitation a passer de l’autre côte du miroir,
dans un monde imaginaire et onirique qui doit autant a Tim Burton qu’a
la tradition du theâtre”, lit-on dans la presentation de l’evenement.

” Un art en apparence simple, où des silhouettes s’animent par magie
derrière une toile. Un monde minimal et faux, mais qui exprime la
verite a travers ce mensonge”, confie Tigran.

Egalement limpide en apparence, Shadow Theater regorge de dizaines
de figurines qui inspirent le musicien: de Madlib a Sigur Ros, en
passant par Steve Reich. À noter que le musicien fait preuve ici de
ses talents de songwriter double de chanteur au timbre fragile.

Billets en vente au Virgin Ticketing Box Office. Tel. : 01/999666.

FIFTH EDITION OF “ARMENIA CORRE” RACE HELD IN BUENOS AIRES

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

[Armenia+Corre.jpg]
(Agencia Prensa Armenia).- The fifth edition of “Armenia Corre” race
was held in Buenos Aires on Sunday, July 13, just before the World
Cup final match between Argentina and Germany.

With over 2,500 participants, athletes of all ages took part of
the 3k or 8k competition organized by Homenetmen to mark the 99th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The race was open to anyone,
not only Argentine-Armenians, and many of the people who participated
of the race learned about Armenian history.

Horacio Terzian, Vice President of Homenetmen Buenos Aires and one of
the organizers of the race, explained that the slogan “Armenia runs
for equality and memory” means that “despite all historical events,
they could not knock us down, and today we are still standing and we
are going forward”. The event received wide press coverage, even when
the news of the Argentina’s National Football team defeat dominated
the headlines.

Last week, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan visited Palermo
neighborhood, an area with a strong presence of the Armenian community,
to inaugurate the Armenian Genocide Museum and rename the “Armenian
Immigrants Square” after meeting with senior officials of the National
Government and the City of Buenos Aires.

[armeniacorre5.jpg] [armeniacorre3.jpg]

____________________________________________________________________________

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Agencia de Noticias Prensa Armenia Armenia 1366, Ciudad
de Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel. (5411) 4775-7595 int. 14
[email protected] twitter.com/PrensaArmenia

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BULGARIAN MPS’ MEETINGS IN THE PARLIAMENT

14.07.2014

On July 14 the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations Artak Zakatyan, the Committee members Tevan Poghosyan and
Shirak Torosyan met with Atanas Zafirov, Head of the Bulgaria-Armenia
Friendship Group, and the Group member Dimitar Lazarov.

Speaking of the friendship between the two peoples Artak Zakaryan
has noted that he attaches a great importance to their visit to the
RA. It was mentioned that the Armenian and Bulgarian peoples have
common historic features.

The interlocutors spotlighted the development of inter-parliamentary
relations and the deepening of interaction on various international
parliamentary platforms.

Touching upon the development of trade-economic ties it was stated that
at the present, the existing potential is not satisfactorily used,
therefore the sides expressed willingness to make efforts, in their
capacity, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation development in
a number of fields.

Artak Zakaryan thoroughly presented the regional developments and
Armenian’s foreign policy problems. It was spoken about the current
situation of the NKR conflict settlement.

During the meeting the members of the NA Standing Committee on
Foreign relations Tevan Poghosyan and Shirak Torosyan also spoke of
the Armenian-Bulgarian inter-parliamentary relations and perspectives
of their development.

The events dedicated to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide and
other issues of bilateral concern were also touched upon.

On july 14 the Head of the Armenia-Bulgaria Friendship Group Manvel
Badeyan met with Atanas Zafirov, Head of the Bulgaria-Armenia
Friendship Group, and the Group member Dimitar Lazarov.

Welcoming the Bulgarian partners, the Head of the Armenia-Bulgaria
Friendship Group Manvel Badeyan highlighted the further deepening
of cooperation between the two parliaments and mutual visits of the
friendship groups.

During the warm and free talk the friendship group members touched upon
Armenian-Bulgarian relations formed in different spheres, considering
expedient mainly the development and deepening of trade-economic
relations, the increase of goods turnover volume between the two
countries.

The interlocutors touched upon the collaboration in the tourism sector.

At the meeting the parties touched upon a number of issues of mutual
concern.

SOURCE PROTECTION: COURT ORDER RAISES CONCERNS ON RIGHTS OF MEDIA TO PROTECT SOURCES

News | 15.07.14 | 15:50

By Sara Khojoyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

A ruling by an Armenian court forcing a newspaper to reveal a source
has raised questions about media rights and freedom.

On June 26 the court forced Hraparak daily and ilur.am website
to reveal the source of their information about a police officer’s
illegal actions addressed to wrestler Artur Aleksanyan and his brother
Rafayel Aseksanyan.

Hraparak daily’s editor in chief Armine Ohanyan on July 15 at a
discussion session in Media Center said that the court’s decision
is a new, unprecedented method the attorney general decided to apply
against the media.

“During the recent months notices, demands, visits to the newsroom have
increased. Every week our reporters are called to an interrogation,
every day we receive a notice about revealing the source,” Ohanyan
mentioned.

Human Rights defender, Rule of Law NGO member Artak Zeylanyan is
assured that the decision is an illegal judicial act, because “the
court acted as a non-law-based institution.”

“We turned to the appeals court with a complaint and we will defend
this right that is everybody’s right.”

“This case cannot anyhow be investigated upon regulations of criminal
trials, not even upon regulations of civil trials, this is solely
a subject of public discussion of legal relationships,” the lawyer
mentioned.

The first deputy of Armenian Human Rights Defender Genya Petrosyan
said the demands on the newspaper and website are a means of aiding
a police investigation and that in doing so the court threatens a
right to defend the information source.

“Moreover, it might result in eliminating the media’s possibility of
receiving information, which we consider very dangerous for freedom
of press in our country,” Petrosyan emphasized.

According to the Armenian Ombudsman’s office, as a European Council
member country Armenia must not go against precedential legal acts
adopted by them, where it clearly states cases where the source was
supposed to be revealed.

“It must be unambiguously determined that all alternative means of
clarifying the information are depleted, it must also be determined
that there is more public interest out of revealing, rather than of
not revealing the information,” Petrosyan said adding that with the
existence of all this, the court has only three conditions upon which
the source can be revealed – for protecting human life, for preventing
a grave crime from happening or for realizing the protection of a
person having committed a grave crime.

Zeynalyan specified that “the source must be revealed not for
investigating a grave criminal case, rather for (to prevent) protecting
the person having committed the crime.”

ARMENIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, DIASPORA MINISTRY DISCUSS GENOCIDE-RELATED ISSUES

18:51 15.07.2014

The 2nd Conference of Means of Communication of the Armenian Catholic
Church kicked off in Yerevan today at the initiative of the Armenian
Catholic Church Committee on Means of Communication and the Armenian
Ministry of Diaspora.

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan said the conference organized on
the threshold of the 100thanniversary of the Armenian Genocide should
be used as a means to present the national issues to the world in
the best way possible.

She pointed out two important issues any Armenian media should
address. These include the issues of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, its condemnation, elimination of the consequences and the
strengthening of the two Armenian states.

“Besides speaking about the victims of the Genocide and their heirs,
we should raise the issue of demolition of our cultural and historical
values, churches, as well as the danger the Western Armenians face
and the problems of disguised Armenians in Turkey. Struggling for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, we should refer to the stories
of heirs of Genocide survivors,” Mrs. Hakobyan said.

She noted that Turkey’s anti-Armenian propaganda in the world is
obvious; therefore, it’s important to speak about those Turkish
intellectuals, who recognize the Armenian Genocide. “It’s also
important to check the source of any information,” she added.

“There are 78 centers of Armenian studies functioning around the
world, which also should have a say in the process of recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian genocide,” Hranush Hakobyan said.