Marlène Mourier << Bourg-Lès-Valence va signer la Charte d’amitié av

INTERVIEW DU MAIRE DE BOURG-LES-VALENCE
Marlène Mourier > avait crée la surprise lors
des municipales de mars dernier en prenant la mairie de
Bourg-Lès-Valence, tenue depuis plusieurs décennies par les
socialistes. Marlène Mourier, la nouvelle Maire de Bourg-Lès-Valence,
commune de la Drôme de près de 20 000 habitants dont près de 3 000
citoyens d’origine arménienne. Alors que Bourg-Lès-Valence est jumelée
avec Talin (Arménie), Marlène Mourier vient d’annoncer lors du Conseil
municipal du lundi 26 mai, son désir de signer une charte d’amitié
avec la ville de Chouchi (Haut Karabagh). Après la signature de la
charte d’amitié entre la ville française des Pennes-Mirabeau
(Bouches-du-Rhône) et la ville de Martouni au Haut Karabagh ainsi que
Vienne avec la ville de Hadrout (Haut-Karabagh) Bourg-Lès-Valence
serait ainsi la troisième commune française à se lier par une charte
d’amitié avec une ville de la République du Haut Karabagh. Un signal
fort de la part des maires de ces trois villes qui consolident ainsi
les liens entre la France et l’Artsakh. Marlène Mourier a également
intégré le Cercle d’amitié France-Karabagh.

Marlène Mourier, Maire de Bourg-Lès-Valence dans son bureau de la Mairie

Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine a interviewé la nouvelle maire de
Bourg-Lès-Valence.

Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine : Madame Marlène Mourier, vous êtes élue
à la tête d’une ville dont près de 15% de sa population est d’origine
arménienne. Quelle est votre regard sur cette communauté ?

Marlène Mourier : je côtoie cette communauté arménienne depuis de très
nombreuses années. Très bien intégrée, chaleureuse et généreuse, cette
communauté est un véritable exemple d’intégration réussie. Elle est
une véritable richesse culturelle pour nos communes de
Bourg-Lès-Valence mais également Valence où elle est nombreuse. Depuis
longtemps déjà je prends part aux diverses manifestations de cette
communauté arménienne à laquelle je reste très attachée et proche. Je
suis également très fière de ma communauté arménienne très dynamique
et entreprenante dans de très nombreux domaines.

Marlène Mourier, Maire de Bourg-Lès-Valence dans son bureau de la Mairie

Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine ; lors du Conseil municipal du lundi 26
mai vous avez déclaré votre adhésion au Cercle d’amitié
France-Karabagh et surtout de la signature prochaine de la Charte
d’amitié entre Bourg-Lès-Valence et Chouchi au Haut Karabagh.
Pourriez-vous nous apporter des précisions sur ces éléments ?

Marlène Mourier : J’ai rencontré le représentant de la République du
Haut Karabagh en France, Hovhannès Guevorguian et lui ai affirmée que
je désirais rejoindre le Cercle d’amitié France-Karabagh ainsi que ma
volonté de soutenir les Arméniens du Haut Karabagh en signant une
charte d’amitié avec la ville de Chouchi. Une charte qui portera le
développement des actions envers les écoles, l’éducation, la culture,
la francophonie et de très nombreux aspects des relations entre
Bourg-Lès-Valence et Chouchi. Il y a quelques années, alors que
j’étais dans l’opposition, j’avais demandé que notre ville s’engage
auprès du Haut Karabagh par une déclaration d’amitié et de soutien.
Mais ma demande était restée sans suite. Aujourd’hui je réalise ainsi
mon voeu de soutenir ce peuple merveilleux du Haut Karabagh accroché
sur ses terres ancestrales et qui fait héroïquement face à ses
envahisseurs.

Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine : concrètement comment vous comptez
officialiser cette Charte d’amitié entre Bourg-Lès-Valence et Chouchi
?

Marlène Mourier : En octobre prochain nous nous rendrons dans notre
ville jumelle de Talin en Arménie. Puis de Talin nous nous dirigerons
vers Chouchi au Haut Karabagh pour signer avec mon homologue de
Chouchi cette Charte d’amitié. Nous établirons ainsi le socle de nos
échanges qui iront dans de nombreux domaines liés à l’aide aux écoles,
au médical et l’humanitaire, sans oublier le développement de la
francophonie.

Marlène Mourier, Maire de Bourg-Lès-Valence, suit de près l’actualité arménienne

Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine : Vous avez déjà été en Arménie,
régulièrement lors des manifestations arméniennes vous dénoncez la
non-reconnaissance du génocide arménien par la Turquie. Etes-vous en
faveur de la Loi de pénalisation du négationnisme du génocide arménien
?

Marlène Mourier : vous savez, à travers mes nombreux discours, et je
l’ai notamment fait lors des campagnes européennes récemment, la
Turquie ne pourra intégrer l’Union européenne sans la reconnaissance
du génocide arménien. C’est l’une des conditions incontournables de
cette entrée. Bien évidemment que je suis favorable à une loi
pénalisant en France tous les négationnistes du génocide arménien. Car
la mémoire est l’une des qualités du peuple arménien. Le génocide et
surtout le respect de la mémoire des millions d’Arméniens qui furent
victimes de cette barbarie inhumaine au début du XIX siècle par la
Turquie fait partie intégrante de cette mémoire arménienne marquée à
jamais par ce crime contre l’Humanité. Je l’ai constaté en Arménie,
lors de la cérémonie du 24 avril au mémorial du génocide à Yerevan, où
des milliers d’Arméniens, jeunes et moins jeunes, défilaient
silencieusement dans la plus grande dignité pour s’incliner devant la
flamme éternelle en souvenir des 1,5 million de victimes arméniennes
de 1915. J’ai été impressionné par ce peuple marqué à jamais au plus
profond de sa mémoire et qui continue un siècle après les évènements à
revendiquer justice.

Krikor Amirzayan, interview et photos

dimanche 1er juin 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=100380

BAKU: Armenia Utilizing Caucasus’s Largest Lake For Own Advantage

ARMENIA UTILIZING CAUCASUS’S LARGEST LAKE FOR OWN ADVANTAGE

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
May 30 2014

30 May 2014, 15:37 (GMT+05:00)
By Jamila Babayeva

The economic policies of Armenian authorities are jeopardizing the
ecological system of the Caucasus region’s largest Lake Sevan.

The local ecologists have expressed concern over the government’s
plans to develop several fish farms at the country’s only guaranteed
major source of fresh water. They believe that fish farming on an
industrial scale will lead to water pollution.

The natural water basin is situated in Azerbaijan’s historical Gokcha
region. The original name of the Sevan Lake is Gokhca, which means
“Blue River” in Turkish. There were a lot of Azerbaijanis living
around the lake until 1988.

Armenia deported more than 250,000 Azerbaijanis in January, 1988,
as a result of its ethnic cleansing policy. Afterwards, the Armenian
authorities falsified the etymology of the lake and changed its name to
“Sevan”.

The opening of fish farms around the lake is one of the priorities
of the government. The authorities believe that the fish farms will
create new jobs, local media reported.

Around 80 fish farms can be set up around the lake within ten years.

The proponents of the project said that it would create 5.000-6.000
jobs and increase exports.

More than a dozen NGOs have appealed to the president to prevent the
implementation of the project. Local media doubt that the president
will delay the project.

The ecologists said Lake Sevan will turn into a hall with fishes,
if the government allows the implementation of the program. They
warned that the water of the lake would be unfit after a lot of
artificial feed.

The government’s all recent decisions on Lake Sevan are profitable
only for some oligarchs. They seriously threat the lake.

Despite public protests, the parliament adopted recently scandalous
amendments to the law on Lake Sevan, which allows increasing the
annual volume of water release from the lake by 40 percent. The
ecologists said the increasing of water release will lead to serious
ecological problems.

Lake Sevan suffers from landfills, which was recently confirmed by
Nature Protection Minister.

“The situation of Lake Sevan and landfills are serious challenges
for the ministry,” Minister Aramayis Grigoryan told reporters.

He promised positive results of the Ministry’s activities in this
direction.

The Armenian society doubt about any positive changes for Lake Sevan,
as the oligarchs interests are above everything in the country. The
newly formed government mainly include oligarchs. At least five members
of the government are among the richest people in Armenia. As the local
experts said Armenia is only a business project for the oligarchs’
government.

Woman’s NGO Will Start Manufacture Near Tatev Monastery

WOMAN’S NGO WILL START MANUFACTURE NEAR TATEV MONASTERY

May 30, 2014 | 00:43

YERVEAN. – A woman’s NGO will start manufacture of woolen goods in
the village of Tatev, governor of Syunik Region Vahe Hakobyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The new production launched by Goris Women’s Development Resource
Center Foundation will provide around 82 jobs.

“This will open up new opportunities for the local women. They will be
able to produce souvenirs made of wool. The traditional crafts will be
sold near Tatev Monastery. This will attract more tourists to Tatev,”
Hakobyan assured.

Goris Women’s Development Resource Center Foundation is a part of
Syunik Women’s Resource Center’s Network.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Statements On Need To Send Armenian Troops To Syria Are Untimely, Ga

STATEMENTS ON NEED TO SEND ARMENIAN TROOPS TO SYRIA ARE UNTIMELY, GAGIK HARUTYUNYAN SAYS

13:29 30/05/2014 >> POLITICS

A multipolar war is taking place in Syria and calling the Syrian
conflict a civil war would not be adequate to the situation, director
of Noravank Foundation Gagik Harutyunyan said at a conference titled
“Syria: Terrorism, Armenians, Elections” organized by Voskanapat
analytical center.

According to him, the big powers – Russia, China, U.S. and several
member states of NATO are involved in the Syrian war, with Turkey
being the most active.

Harutyunyan stressed that the Armenian community of Syria is in a
grave condition as a result of the war.

“The statements on the need to send Armenian troops to Syria are
untimely. It is not our war. However, we must create conditions for
our compatriots to come to their homeland. We must implement special
programs. Such programs can also help us improve our demographic
situation,” the expert concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

‘Happy & Unhappy Baku’ Video Tape Which Fixes Public Attention To Po

‘Happy & Unhappy Baku’ Video Tape Which Fixes Public Attention To Political Prisoners’ Problem In Azerbaijan Appears On Networks

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

16:40 30/05/2014 >> SOCIETY

‘Happy & Unhappy Baku’ video tape which fixes public
attention to political prisoners’ problem in Azerbaijan appears
on networks

Alternative version of “Happy Baku” video tape appeared on
Youtube titled “Happy & Unhappy Baku”, the authors of which
draw the public attention to the human rights problems in Azerbaijan.

Recently amateur videoclips taken on Pharrell Williams’ song
called “Happy” have became popular in different cities
of the world. Yerevan and Baku joined this flashmob too.

“Azerbaijan is a member of the Council of Europe, although there are
more than 140 political prisoners in this country. Azerbaijan, which
is the birthplace of Ilkin Rustamzade, the author of the “Harleme
Shake” video (because of this video, aimed at drawing the public
attention to the political prisoners problems Rustamzade was arrested
– Ed.), and Shahin Novruzlu, the youngest political prisoner in the
world. Nevertheless, famous people of this country are starring in
this video titled “Happy”, turning a blind eye to this injustice. In
contrast to them, political prisoners sentenced to long-term
imprisonment and are not happy at all,” the video description reads.

In parallel with the video frames, where the well-known Azerbaijanis
are dancing happily, the pictures of political prisoners are attached
– including the REAL leader Ilgar Mamedov, human rights activist Anar
Mammadov, members of the youth movement NIDA and others.

http://www.panorama.am/en/society/2014/05/30/happy-azerbaijan-prisoners/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxPIlzEfoV8

OSCE Chairman-In-Office Due In Yerevan On June 4

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE DUE IN YEREVAN ON JUNE 4

17:24 30.05.2014

>From 2 to 4 June 2014, Didier Burkhalter, Chairperson-in-Office
of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
and President of the Swiss Confederation, will hold political talks
in three countries in the South Caucasus, the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs of Switzerland reports.

The region is a priority of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship in 2014
because of a number of long-standing conflicts involving these
countries. Besides issues related to the OSCE, in Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia Mr Burkhalter will also discuss bilateral matters.

Together with the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus is one of the
two regional priority areas which Switzerland has defined for its
chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014 because of various long-standing
conflicts in the region, namely in Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgia.

Switzerland is working to promote dialogue between the conflicting
parties within the framework of its chairmanship.

Mr Burkhalter’s first stop will be in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan,
on 2 June 2014. On 3 June, Mr Burkhalter will hold discussions
in Georgia about the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mr
Burkhalter’s trip will end on 4 June with a visit to the Armenian
capital Yerevan.

Besides OSCE themes, Mr Burkhalter’s talks in Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia will also focus on bilateral matters.

On 4 June, Mr Burkhalter will meet in Yerevan with the Armenian
President, Serzh Sargsyan, and will also hold talks with Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian and National Assembly President Galust
Sahakyan, as well as with representatives of the opposition.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/05/30/osce-chairman-in-office-due-in-yerevan-on-june-4/

De Waal: Inviting Turkish Authorities To Genocide Centennial Was Cle

DE WAAL: INVITING TURKISH AUTHORITIES TO GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL WAS CLEVER AND POSITIVE MOVE
[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

13:38 30/05/2014 >> COMMENTS

Thomas De Waal, expert at Carnegie Institute, has commented on the
invitation made by the President of Armenia to the President of Turkey
to visit Armenia in 2015.

“I think this is a clever and positive move from the Armenian
government, inviting the Turkish authorities to be part of the
Genocide centennial, rather than outside it. It follows a clever and
positive move from prime minister Erdogan when he offered condolences
to the Armenian people-even if he did not make a full apology,”
De Waal told Panorama.am.

De Waal does not expect that either side will change its position
on the Genocide and 1915; neither does he expect that the Turkish
president will accept the invitation. “But at least we are
seeing a competition in positive gestures, rather than a competition
in negative statements,” he added.

Related: Serzh Sargsyan invites next President of Turkey to Yerevan
to confront history

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/05/30/Thomas-de-Waal/

Embassies Are Often Perceived As Protocol Services, Says Armenian Di

EMBASSIES ARE OFTEN PERCEIVED AS PROTOCOL SERVICES, SAYS ARMENIAN DIPLOMAT

10:44 * 30.05.14

In an interview with Tert.am, Ara Papyan, a former Armenian ambassador
to Canada (2000-2006) and the director of the Yerevan-basedModus
Vivendi center, commented on the activities of Armenian in foreign
states, noting that the public perception of embassies’ role is often
wrongly reduced to that of protocol services.

Addressing the reported plans for organizing a special assembly of
ambassadors in Yerevan to discuss the Genocide centennial commemoration
agenda, Papyan said he thinks that its success depends on the strategic
instructions to be given to the diplomats.

“The practice of ambassadorial assemblies has always existed. We used
to hold annual assemblies of ambassadors to sum up the past year and
outline the plans for the coming year. We can now assume that the
assembly will be a special one, as the question focuses the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and [the meeting] is being
held after the session of the Government Commission [responsible for
coordinating the centennial commemoration events]. As to what can
be done, everything depends on the instructions that the ambassadors
may receive. If they are limited to instructions, ambassadors do that
some way or another. The problem is that we need resources to carry
them out. If our goal is to tell the world that a crime of genocide
was committed and we were massacred, that’s a different matter,
which I don’t think makes any sense at all. If [we want to prove]
that the genocide committed caused the Armenian statehood suffer
territorial and material losses, and that the Republic of Armenia
has to receive redress, that’s absolutely a different question which
requires considerably serious work. The strategic task set to the
ambassadors is of importance too,” he said.

Asked whether special resources are necessary, Papyan agreed that they
really need appropriate means to ensure the ambassadors’ effective
work. “It is necessary, for example, to provide them with the new
studies, collections of documents or books on Genocide, as well as
money, because if an exhibition or any other event is held somewhere,
most of them are paid. If that’s to be done with the community’s
efforts, then that’s what is being carried out some way or another,”
he answered.

Considering the Genocide recognition a moral rather than a political
issue, Papyan said further that it is more important to demand
reparation, focusing on the legal aspect of the question. “No legal
consequences stem from recognition per se. And the [Foreign] Ministry
is a political body tasked with protecting the interests of the
Republic of Armenia. If the Foreign Ministry sets itself a task to
protect Armenia’s territorial integrity which was violated, that’s
a different question. But if it is necessary to open exhibitions,
that’s something which has always been done. Didn’t we do it in the
past when there were not centennial [commemoration] commissions? I
am sure different exhibitions have been held, and I myself am the
witness of that. It is important to introduce this topic as a legal
and political issue. The Genocide recognition doesn’t make any sense
without reparation; this is the problem. When you, as an aggrieved
side, speak on your losses, it will make sense if you also make the
next step – demand reparation,” he added.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Head Of Heritage Party Faction: Serzh Sargsyan Was To Respond To Naz

HEAD OF HERITAGE PARTY FACTION: SERZH SARGSYAN WAS TO RESPOND TO NAZARBAYEV’S STATEMENT IN ASTANA

Friday, May 30, 17:42

Armenia must not allow Artsakh’s interests to be ignored by the
Eurasian Economic Union, Ruben Hakobyan, Head of the Heritage Party
Faction, told reporters, Friday.

“Maybe Artsakh cannot access that structure officially, but it can
involve in it informally. I cannot say if Yerevan will refuse that
integration project if they do not agree to admit also NKR. We must
be ready for any scenario,” Hakobyan said.

He thinks that President Serzh Sargsyan was to respond to his Kazakh
opposite number’s statement in Astana. “Nazarbayev’s statements
must not surprise us. Kazakhstan has repeatedly openly protected
Azerbaijan’s interests,” he said.

To recall, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on the heels of
a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan,
Thursday, that Armenia is ready to sign the Treaty on Eurasian Economic
Union before June 15. President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that
the document can be signed no sooner than on 1 July, as Armenia is
yet to fulfill some commitments. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbayev, in turn, said Azerbaijan claims that Armenia can join
the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) within the same borders it joined
the World Trade Organization (WTO). We have received the Azerbaijani
president’s letter saying that Armenia joined WTO with a reservation
that the provisions must apply to the territory of Armenia within
its international borders recognized by the UN. It is an issue for
discussion,” the Kazakh president said. President of Armenia made no
statement in response.

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=FFB31FA0-E800-11E3-88B60EB7C0D21663

Stepanakert Agrees With Kazakh President Claiming That Armenia Must

STEPANAKERT AGREES WITH KAZAKH PRESIDENT CLAIMING THAT ARMENIA MUST INTEGRATE INTO EAU WITH ITS PRESENT BORDERS

by Marianna Lazarian

Friday, May 30, 13:59

“I strongly agree with the statement by Kazakh President Nursultan
Nazabayev saying that Armenia must join the Eurasian Economic Union
(EAU) within the borders it joined WTO,” Spokesperson of NKR Foreign
Ministry David Babayan told ArmInfo. According to Babayan, Armenia is
a sovereign state participating in political and economic projects
and it must integrate into projects within its borders. He does not
understand why should Nazarbayev’s statement arouse such hot debates
in the Armenian public.

“The Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Armenia are two
independent and sovereign states, why should Armenia integrate into
any structure together with NKR? In his speech Nazarbayev said that
Armenia must join the EAU within the same borders it joined WTO.

Nothing threatened NKR when Armenia accessed WTO. I think, nothing
will threaten NKR also when Armenia accesses EAU,” Babayan said.

As for possible opening of border crossings between Armenia and NKR,
Babayan thinks it unlikely.

To recall, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on the heels of
a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan,
Thursday, that Armenia is ready to sign the Treaty on Eurasian Economic
Union before June 15. President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that
the document can be signed no sooner than on 1 July, as Armenia is
yet to fulfill some commitments. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbayev, in turn, said Azerbaijan claims that Armenia can join
the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) within the same borders it joined
the World Trade Organization (WTO). We have received the Azerbaijani
president’s letter saying that Armenia joined WTO with a reservation
that the provisions must apply to the territory of Armenia within
its international borders recognized by the UN. It is an issue for
discussion,” the Kazakh president said. President of Armenia made no
statement in response.

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=BC7C56D0-E7E1-11E3-88B60EB7C0D21663