Author: Badalian Vardan

GENOCIDE ISSUE PRESSING TASK FOR ALL ARMENIANS – EXPERT

12:04 * 09.07.14

The recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and the
subsequent demands for reparation are a pressing issue for the entire
nation, according to a Turkologist.

Speaking to the state news agency Armenpress, Director of the National
Academy’s Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastyan said he
stresses the importance of serious pan-national efforts that need to
be coordinated by the Republic of Armenia.

“It will require the efforts of all Armenians, as we are dealing with
a state which does not recognize the Genocide and falsifies the fact.

And there is no sign it will ever recognize it. Turkey is a powerful
state which has its positions in Middle East, so that will be
difficult for us; but we must pass that path. It is our obligation
to the millions of victims,” he noted.

Safrastyan said he thinks that the Armenians have to count only on
themselves in the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the tragic events.

“We, Armenia, and the Diaspora have to work with concerted efforts in
different directions to attract the world’s attention to this problem.

[It is important for us] to not only raise the world’s awareness –
given that many even do not know about the Armenian Genocide – but also
be able to make our demands stronger,” he said, calling for efforts
to rely on strongly justified facts instead of general wordings.

Safrastyan, who is not a member of the commission coordinating the
Genocide centennial events, said he nonetheless sees certain steps
being made in that direction.

“The Armenians, of course, worked for decades before, and they keep
working now, so the results remain to be seen,” he said, considering
the difference in approaches normal. “There are people who take an
emotional stand, and there are others who rely on a cool judgment. My
general opinion is that the Armenians have to pursue one demand:
condemnation and [reparation] claims.

Safrastyan said it is important to understand international law
well enough to know the possible benefits. “In terms of political
science, it is necessary to get prepared, analyzing the international
situation to grasp the appropriate moment of making our demands. We
must study Turkey to see possible options. We must further be prepared
historically too. Should we be offered a chance to raise a problem
and make demands to Turkey, we must be able to understand what we
demand and what losses we suffered,” he added.

LE GOUVERNEMENT REVOIT A LA HAUSSE LE TAUX DE CROISSANCE

ECONOMIE

Le gouvernement armenien a officiellement revu sa prevision de
croissance economique pour 2014 en l’amenant de 4 a 5%.

Le gouvernement a effectue cette nouvelle projection de croissance
dans un programme de depenses a mi-parcours qui a ete devoile par
le premier ministre Hovik Abrahamian lors d’une reunion de cabinet
la semaine dernière. > a-t-il dit.

Le document prevoit que la croissance economique de l’Armenie atteindra
les 5% l’an prochain et les 5,3 pour cent en 2016. Elle a ete devoilee
moins de deux mois après que le parlement armenien a approuve, lors
d’un vote de confiance, un plan d’action de trois ans presente par
le nouveau gouvernement d’Abrahamian. Il a estime que la croissance
economique dans le pays serait en moyenne de 5 pour cent par an.

Toutefois le Fonds monetaire international avait lance en avril une
mise en garde sur le fait que l’economie armenienne n’augmentera que de
4,3 pour cent cette annee. Teresa Daban Sanchez, representant du FMI
a Erevan, a declare le 23 mai que le fonds etait en train de reviser
cet objectif a la baisse principalement en raison de la deterioration
des conditions economiques en Russie.

Le Service national des statistiques de l’Armenie a enregistre une
augmentation du PIB de seulement 3,1 pour cent au premier trimestre
de cette annee par rapport a celui de l’annee dernière.

Abrahamian a souligne le 3 juillet que les dernières previsions de
croissance de son gouvernement ont ete “convenues avec” le president
Serge Sarkissian. Lors d’une declaration qui avait fait date, ce
dernier avait declare en mars 2013 qu’il dissoudrait tout gouvernement
qui ne parviendrait pas a assurer un taux de croissance de 7 pour
cent pour les annees a venir.

Sarkissian a declare le 26 mai que l’economie de l’Armenie va croître
plus vite que prevu en 2014-2017.

Hudson Reporter, NJ
July 6 2014

Local boxing belt designer honored twice

Ninety-two year old craftsman Ardash Sahaghian has enjoyed the
limelight this past month. As the originator of the modern boxing
belt, Sahaghian’s work elevated not only the culture of boxing, but
also the cities where these iconic symbols were created — Weehawken
and Union City.

On May 23, Union City Mayor Brian Stack issued a proclamation honoring
Ardash and his wife, Nazeli Sahaghian. The proclamation was presented
at the Armenian Flag Raising ceremony at International Park, days shy
of Armenian Independence Day. Overseen by Union City Commissioners
Lucio Fernandez and Tilo Rivas, as well as prominent local members of
the Armenian clergy, the flag raising was a special ceremony for the
family.

“Our Armenian heritage is an integral part of our identity, and my
grandparents are very proud of their cultural roots,” commented Edward
S. Majian, their grandson and President of SARTONK. The proclamation
reads, in part, “Ardash Sahaghian’s successes serve as an inspiration
to the Armenian people … Ardash was recruited to modernize the
classic championship boxing belts. He used his artistry to create
three-dimensional sculptural pieces that ultimately became industry
icons.”

Three weeks after that historic day, on June 14, Sahaghian was honored
at the Union City Annual Artists Awards. Organized by the
administration, this red carpet gala celebrated the artists who have
enriched Union City — whether through photography, music, dance,
painting, writing, or design.

Syria’s Kessab today: vivid photos of ruined Armenian-populated region

14:18, 4 July, 2014

KESSAB, JULY 4, ARMENPRESS. The Consulate-General of the Republic of
Armenia to Syria’s Aleppo introduces Kessab today in photos. As
reports “Armenpress”, the photos clearly display the traces left by
the terrorists, who invaded the region from Turkey.

The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of
Armenia to Syria Arshak Poladyan has got acquainted with the current
situation in Kessab on the spot.

The cost of new nuclear station block is 4.5 bln dollars

17:22 | July 5,2014 | Economy

The construction of new energy block of ANPP is scheduled in
2018-2019. The cost of new block is 4.5 bln dollars. According to
Ministry of Energy website, a part of the money will be provided by
Russian Government in the form of products and equipments, and the
other part will form the financial investments obtained during
negotiations with other countries.

The regular planned repair work of ANPP will start on September:
during that time the work of the plant will be stopped for 45 days.

Artsakh leader awards medal to French politician

13:32 05/07/2014 » SOCIETY

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic President Sahakyan signed a decree
on awarding the Gratitude Medal to French politician Emmanuel Mandon
for his active support in the implementation of various humanitarian
programs in Nagorno-Karabakh, the press service of the Artsakh
Republic President reports.

Source: Panorama.am

Analyst: Turkey will open border only in case of strong leadership in Armenia

July 05, 2014 | 20:26

YEREVAN. – Armenian analyst believes that the publications in Turkish
media related to the upcoming opening of border with Armenia is a
policy of bluff.

“They will not open the border. It is impossible. Turkey will open the
border, only when Armenia has strong leadership. In case of incumbent
weak authorities, the opening is out of the question,” Yervand Bozoyan
told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As reported earlier, on Friday Turkish Taraf newspaper said Prime
Minister Erdogan had allegedly instructed to open the border with
Armenia in September. The newspaper claimed Turkey and Armenia have
already held bilateral talks on the issue.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

600 ceasefire violations by Azeri armed forces reported June 29-July 5

July 5, 2014 – 17:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 600 ceasefire violations by Azeri armed forces were
reported at the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan from June 29-July 5.

Azerbaijan fired over 7500 shots from various caliber weapons towards
Karabakh positions. The NKR defense army continued with their military
duty in line with ceasefire principles, taking measures to protect the
frontline and retaliating only in case of necessity.

On June 24, around 10:50 pm, soldier Armen Avetisyan, 19, died in a
frontline position of a military unit in the eastern direction of the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani Line of Contact. He was fatally injured in Azeri
attack.

Azerbaijani fire hampers construction of bypass road in Armenia

July 05, 2014 | 13:21

YEREVAN. – Frequent cases of shelling from Azerbaijani side hamper
construction of a new bypass road at the Tavush Region of Armenia’s
Paravakar-Vazashen section.

Representative of Ijevan Construction company briefed Armenian PM
Hovik Abrahamyan on the road construction. The bypass road is being
built because the main highway often becomes a target for Azerbaijani
snipers.

The bypass road is also within the reach of Azerbaijani snipers, but
to a lesser extent than the main one. New road was expected to be put
into operation on June 30, but it still not ready.

The Armenian journalists have witnessed violations of the ceasefire by
the Azerbaijani side during PM’s visit, too.

“They used to fire less. Now the shots are frequent, and this makes it
difficult to work. Azerbaijani snipers often are firing at equipment.
As soon as the works begin, they start firing,” one of the workers
said.

The length of a bypass road is 3-kilometer and 180 meters, and has
protective walls in the most dangerous areas that are targeted by
Azerbaijani fire.

Stepan Safaryan. “The Armenian government’s decision may become a
cause for migration.”

July 5 2014

On July 3, the Government of Armenia, during the session, agreed upon
signing an agreement between the governments of Armenia and Russia on
procedures of Armenian citizens in the territory of Russia and Russian
citizens in the territory of Armenia. During the government session,
the Head of Migration Service, Gagik Yeganyan, stated that according
to his employment contract, in addition to the employee, his family
members may legally reside in Russia. Aravot.am asked the
“Heritage”member, Stepan Safaryan, whether this kind of Government
decision might not become a cause for migration. He said that it
definitely could happen, because there are many people in his circle
of acquaintances, who, encountering a variety of obstacles could not
leave for Russia. “Now the barriers are eliminated. Although, the
authorities leading Armenia to this situation had no other way out.
Their chairs would become more wobbly if the source of income for the
families living at the expense of the amount coming from Russia is
eliminated, and the tragedy of economic conditions becomes more
apparent. Therefore, it was early to seek for solutions to resolve the
problems encountered by migrant workers.” Since the agreement is
bilateral, in other words, the Russian migrants may also legally
reside in the Republic of Armenia with their families, we asked Mr.
Safaryan about his opinion on whom the agreement is more beneficial,
whether the Russian labor migrants would come to Armenia. “I do not
think that the Russians will come. Armenia, in no respect, is
attractive for them. How many Russian soldiers are needed, they will
always be here, plus a few number of tourists and that’s it,” said
Stepan Safaryan.

Ami CHICHAKYAN
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