Author: Badalian Vardan

VLADIMIR JIRINOVSKI PREVOIT DE VENIR L’AN PROCHAIN a EREVAN POUR LA FINALE DE L’EUROVISION

L’ARMENIE A L’EUROVISION

Selon Vladimir Jirinovski, le leader du parti russe Démocrate-Libéral
l’Arménie avec son représentant Aram Mp3 a la plus importante chance
de gagner l’Eurovision 2014. ” Je l’avoue, l’an prochain nous nous
envolerons avec un grand avion vers Erévan pour l’Eurovision ”
a-t-il confié a la presse russe.

Rappelons que le pays vainqueur organise l’année suivante le concours
de l’Eurovision

L’Arménie qui s’est qualifiée pour la finale de l’Eurovision 2014
qui se déroulera samedi a Copenhague (Danemark) reste selon les
bookmakers la favorite de ce concours de l’Eurovision, la chanson ”
Not Alone ” d’Aram Mp3 étant très appréciée, la vidéo étant
visionnée sur Youtube a près de 3 millions de reprises. Un record
pour l’Arménie. Verdict samedi soir.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 8 mai 2014, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

TAKING REFUGE: ARMENIAN FAMILY EXILED FOR THIRD TIME IN CENTURY

Al Jazeera America
May 7 2014

Syrian-Armenians find refuge in Lebanon among fellow Armenians who
fled conflicts 100 years ago

May 7, 2014 5:00AM ET
by Ben Gilbert

ANJAR, Lebanon — On March 21, 32-year-old Syrian-Armenian Savan woke
up to the sound of machine gun fire and explosions. It was 5:30 a.m.

She and her family sought refuge in the first-floor hallway of their
home, where they hoped the lack of windows would protect them from
the bombs falling outside.

At first, she thought the fighting would last only a few minutes;
perhaps it was a short exchange of fire between Syrian rebels and the
Syrian army positioned near the Syria-Turkey border, which lies just
a few hundred yards from her home.

But as the fighting continued for an hour and then two, she realized
her worst fears had come true: Syrian rebels were attacking their
mostly Armenian Christian village of Kassab (population 2,200) from
what seemed to be Turkish territory. And the rebels intended to
take it.

For Armenians like Savan, the fact that the attack happened to an
Armenian village just beyond Turkey’s borders awakens old wounds,
animosities and anger. It’s the third time her family has been driven
from their home in Kassab in just over 100 years. The Ottomans deported
her great-grandfather in 1909 and again in 1915, when Kassab, with
the rest of Syria, was part of the Ottoman Empire.

“I feel they’re trying to do the Armenian genocide again,” she said,
referring to the 1915 massacre and deportation of Armenian Christians
— an event Armenians call genocide but some Turkish historians
dispute. “I feel like Armenians [are] under attack.”

By 7 a.m., Savan and her family feared the rebels would cut off the
highway leading out of Kassab, so they fled the village. They ran
outside to their silver Volkswagen Golf, and six people piled into
the compact hatchback.

“I only had enough time to grab my passport and my university degree,”
Savan said.

They picked up her father, 64-year-old Harout, who had been sleeping
at the restaurant he owns.

He didn’t want to leave.

“It’s like history repeating itself,” Harout said later at his sister’s
house in Anjar, a Lebanese town founded by Armenian refugees who fled
their villages in 1915.

Smoke rises after what activists said was shelling by forces loyal
to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in the Armenian Christian town
of Kassab in early April. Reuters

Several witnesses to the assault on Kassab said that the rebels
attacked from Turkish territory and that the offensive couldn’t have
happened without the Turkish government’s consent.

Harout said a senior member of the village received guarantees from
the Turks that Kassab was secure and that no Syrian rebel attacks
would be permitted from Turkish territory.

“Kassab was the quietest place in Syria,” said another resident,
44-year-old Rafi, who works as a construction contractor and farmer.

“The Turkish army usually did patrols along the border every three
hours. But the day before the attack, there were no patrols.”

Kassab is in a mountainous area, and the Turkish military has the high
ground. Residents say a small contingent of Syrian soldiers was based
there, along with Syrian police who manned the border crossings —
but the better-armed and -positioned rebels overran them.

“The attacks were launched from Turkish territory. I saw them,” Rafi
said. “For us, Turkey is the same Turkey as before. They are acting
the same way they did 100 years ago. We’ve been exiled in 1909,
1915 and now 2014.”

The Turkish government denies allegations that it allowed the Syrian
opposition to use its territory or supported the attack on Kassab. A
Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said that those “circles” making
allegations that Turkey assisted in the attack were trying to create
“confrontational propaganda” and to “draw an analogy between the
developments in the Kesab region and the painful incidents of the
past.”

The Turkish government also said that Syrian-Armenians residing
in Kassab would be admitted to Turkey and protected, and that
representatives of the Armenian community in Turkey had been notified.

Rafi and other Kassab natives say it is one of the last remaining
Armenian-inhabited towns that date from the medieval kingdom of
Cilicia, which was a semi-autonomous Armenian kingdom along the
Mediterranean coast in what is now southern Turkey in the 12th to
14th centuries.

The collective memories of Cilicia, along with the events of the early
20th century, are experiences that unite the large Armenian diaspora.

Survivors of the deportations and massacres during World War I built
strong Armenian communities that exist to this day in Syria, Egypt,
Iraq, Iran and Lebanon; some of the largest Armenian communities
outside the Republic of Armenia are in the United States and Russia.

In Kassab, the Armenians lived side by side with ethnic Turkmen,
also Syrian citizens, who often worked for the Armenian farmers and
business owners. But when the attack began, Rafi said, some of the
Turkmen picked up weapons and joined the rebels in their attack on
the village. He said he called his apartment, and a former employee
picked up the phone.

“He told me, ‘Boss, we’re going to spend the night in your place,’
and I said, ‘You’re welcome to sleep, but please don’t destroy the
place,'” he said. “He made fun of me and mocked me to his friends. And
he was my employee!”

Another farmer from Kassab, Simon, said only Turkmen who joined the
rebels were allowed into the village. He said a Turkmen employee
who made it into Kassab helped him try to find out the condition of
his home and property. (He doesn’t know the condition of his home,
but his tractor, worth $18,000, is missing.)

For now, a friend is lending Simon, his wife and two sons an apartment
in Anjar. His 11- and 14-year-old sons attend the Armenian Orthodox
school here. He said they’ll stay “as long as the situation dictates.”

“If today we hear that we can return to Kassab, we will return,”
he said.

But Simon worries about returning to Kassab, now that the Turks
broke their promise not to allow Syrian rebels to operate from their
territory.

“What kind of guarantees can they offer? Even if we return, even if
we clean up the town, can we trust Turks not to repeat this?” he asked.

Residents say three civilians — none of them Armenian — were killed
in the attack on Kassab. Compared with the rest of Syria, the town
has been spared much of the violence devastating the country.

But Harout fears that if the Syrian army tries to take back Kassab
by force, the town will be destroyed. If the rebels choose to leave,
they’ll help themselves to anything they can carry.

“If the army takes it, they’ll destroy the buildings. If the rebels
leave on their own, we’ll have only the buildings,” he said.

“They’re not rebels. They’re terrorists,” said Savan. “The opposition
in Syria kicked us out of our houses.”

A couple visiting family in Anjar for Easter said they fled Kassab
with everyone else. But they fear they have lost more than buildings
or furniture: Their son is a soldier in the Syrian army. They haven’t
heard from him since August 2012.

“We can always rebuild our house,” said Maral as tears welled up in
her eyes and her niece picked a pink Easter egg from a bowl on the
kitchen counter. “But we cannot get our son back.”

WHY IS BOSTON COLLEGE HONORING TOP ISRAEL LOBBYIST ABE FOXMAN?

The Electronic Intifada
May 7 2014

Charlotte Silver
The Electronic Intifada
7 May 2014

On 4 April, the administration of Suffolk University in Boston sent
an email to the entire student body announcing that Abraham Foxman,
a top pro-Israel lobbyist, would address some of the college’s 2014
graduation ceremonies.

The university’s announcement billed Foxman, national director of
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) since 1987, as “a worldwide leader
in the fight against bigotry.” However, many of the students had a
decidedly different take on Foxman.

“After reading what he has said about minority groups — specifically
Muslims — I was upset. I wanted to do something,” Batool Raza told
The Electronic Intifada.

Raza, who grew up in Pakistan and moved to the United States in 2006
in order to attend college, will graduate from Suffolk University Law
School this May. Foxman is scheduled to address graduates in arts,
law and business, as well as to receive an honorary degree on 17 May.

A small group of students led by Amy Willis, president of Suffolk’s
chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, drafted a petition opposing
the choice of Foxman as commencement speaker.

The petition highlights three principal reasons why the authors believe
Foxman is not an appropriate speaker for commencement: his opposition
to the US’ recognition of the Armenian genocide, his encouragement
of widespread surveillance of Muslim communities in the US, and his
objection to the opening of an Islamic community center close to the
site of the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

In 2007 the US Congress considered a resolution that would recognize
the killing of nearly 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire
between 1915 and 1923 as genocide. Abraham Foxman opposed the bill,
arguing it would be “counterproductive” to Turkish-Israeli relations,
asserting that during wartime, “things get messy” (“Jewish group
recognizes Armenian genocide,” Los Angeles Times, 23 August 2007).

Foxman has repeatedly advocated for and defended the indiscriminate
spying on Muslim communities in the US following the 11 September
2001 attacks. Most recently, he and the ADL exploited the 2013 Boston
Marathon bombing as an opportunity to promulgate the pseudo-scientific
“radicalization theories” that have justified the sweeping surveillance
of and spying on Muslims in the US (“The four lessons of the Boston
marathon bombing,” Jewish Journal, 10 April 2014).

Speaking to a reporter with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Foxman said,
“Should we follow the ethnic communities? Should we be monitoring
mosques? This isn’t Muslim-baiting — it’s driven by fear, by a desire
for safety and security” (“Even after Boston, there is more anti-Jewish
than anti-Muslim sentiment in US, says ADL’s Foxman,” 28 April 2013).

“A little too controversial”

While canceling commencement speakers is not common, in recent years
a number of universities have rescinded invitations to controversial
speakers.

On 3 May, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice joined the
growing list, opting to bow out from speaking at Rutgers University’s
commencement after students protested her role in the US invasion
of Iraq. After announcing that she would not address the graduating
class, Rice stated on her Facebook page: “Rutgers’ invitation to me
to speak has become a distraction for the university community at
this very special time.”

Sammy Nabulsi, the elected president of the Student Bar Association at
Suffolk, said he understood that the choice of commencement speakers
can be contentious but “Foxman’s a little too controversial.”

After the petition began to circulate and trigger debate on campus,
Nabulsi saw what this meant to the graduating class.

“That’s when I took a more formal stance: I asked the president and
board of trustees to disinvite him as a speaker — or at least not
give him an honorary degree — because it’s dividing the student body.”

The petition has received almost 1,000 signatures.

Nabulsi, a Muslim and Palestinian-American law student, is also
graduating this year. He argued that Foxman’s discriminatory beliefs
were a “slap in the face” to the student body and the school’s
tradition of embracing diversity.

He explained that one needn’t go further than the university’s website
to see that the school prides itself on encouraging diversity. Yet
he added that “diversity” is more than just a marketing ploy. “Dean
Camille Nelson made diversity a big initiative when she came on a
few years ago,” he told The Electronic Intifada.

Suffolk Law School was founded in 1906 as a “working man’s college,”
providing evening classes so that men and women of all socioeconomic
classes, races and religions could attend after work.

Opaque

In response to the petition, the school’s administration reaffirmed its
selection, quoting President Barack Obama’s praise for Foxman’s legacy
of rejecting hatred (“Suffolk Law students protest choice of ADL leader
as commencement speaker,” Boston Business Journal, 17 April 2014).

Willis, the initiator of the online petition, has had no luck in
meeting with the administration to discuss it.

The university did not respond to the The Electronic Intifada’s
request for comment.

According to Nabulsi, the process of picking speakers is kept
intentionally opaque. The university’s board of trustees is divided
into small committees that choose possible speakers and send out
invites. Nabulsi has encouraged Damian Wilmot, who leads the committee
responsible for selecting the law school’s speaker, to allow student
opinion to influence the decision-making process.

Foxman has been instrumental in leading the ADL to become an
organization as committed to censoring criticism of Israel as it is
to defending Jews from defamation.

For example, Foxman led the chorus of howls against the One State
Conference held at Harvard University in 2012. Writing in The Boston
Globe, Foxman claimed that the conference organizers’ true aim was
to “make anti-Semitism more acceptable” by cloaking it in concerns
about Palestinian rights (“Israelis, Palestinians under one flag,”
29 February 2012).

Last year, the ADL published a list of the “top ten most influential
and active anti-Israel groups in the United States,” describing them as
“fixated with delegitimizing Israel.”

Nakba denial

Questioning Foxman’s views and tactics is hardly a marginal position.

In 2010, The Jewish Daily Forward detailed the rightward direction
Foxman had taken the ADL with a skeptical eye (“As some retire from
ADL, will Abe be next?” 27 October 2010).

But the petition by Suffolk students refrains from criticizing Foxman’s
anti-Palestinian statements as well as his denial of the Nakba (Arabic
for catastrophe) — the ethnic cleansing undertaken by Zionist forces
at the time of Israel’s establishment in 1948.

In a 2008 opinion piece, Foxman writes, “Adopting the narrative
underlying the Nakba terminology leads in a direction away from
responsibility for building a nation and toward illusion and blame,
twin illnesses which have haunted the Palestinians for decades. What
is referred to as a catastrophe in 1948 was largely self-inflicted
by the Palestinians, with the support and encouragement of the Arab
world. There would have been no war and no refugee problem had the
Palestinians accepted the UN two-state solution of 1947” (“Negating
the Nakba narrative,” The New York Sun).

Amy Willis of the campus chapter of the National Lawyers Guild said
that while she has received a lot of support from individuals, no
other student group was willing to endorse the petition institutionally
due to the perceived sensitivity of the issue.

Indeed, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency published comments by Matthew
Smith, a law student at Suffolk University and a member of the
school’s Jewish Law Students Association, alleging that supporters of
the petition had “inappropriately referenced Foxman’s Jewish heritage”
as a reason to disinvite him from speaking at the commencement ceremony
(“Suffolk University defends choice of Foxman as commencement speaker,”
23 April 2014).

But the cautious wording of the petition belies the fact that the
university has a newly-formed and undeterred Students for Justice in
Palestine (SJP) chapter — members of which say they have experienced
a favorable response on campus.

Yasmeen Hamdoun, the current president of the SJP chapter, said the
group’s first events last fall attracted a substantial number of
curious and open students and very little backlash.

Laila, another member of SJP who declined to give her last name,
wrote to The Electronic Intifada: “We came to the conclusion that
lots of people want to learn about and support Palestine, and they
just don’t know how, or in what way. Ever since then, large numbers of
people have shown up to all of our events, and based on the discussions
toward the end of each event, we realized that lots of people (more
than we think), rallied behind our cause.”

Hamdoun said the group plans to launch a campaign for boycott,
divestment and sanctions against Israel once its base has expanded.

Charlotte Silver is a journalist based in San Francisco.

PRESS RELEASE
May 6, 2014

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY ADVANCES BILL RECOGNIZING NAGORNO KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

Historic Vote Scheduled for May 8

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the California State Assembly Rules
Committee adopted AJR 32, a bill that would `encourage and support the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s continuing efforts to develop as a free
and independent nation,’ reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly). Introduced by District 43 Assemblyman Mike Gatto
(D-Burbank), the measure was adopted by a vote of 9-1, with one member
abstaining, following a lengthy debate.

`This historic resolution will let the world know that the United
States’ largest state has expressed the will that Artsakh [Nagorno
Karabakh] be recognized as a peaceful, free, and independent land,’
Assemblyman Gatto told the Assembly. `I am proud to author AJR 32,
standing with the Armenian Community here and everywhere, in support
of the most American values of freedom and self-determination,’ he
said.

In addition to lead sponsor Gatto, AJR32 co-author Assemblyman Katcho
Achadjian (R-San Luis Obispo), as well as Vice Chair Scott Wilk
(R-Santa Clarita), and Committee members Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys)
and Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino), offered testimony in support of
the measure. Local Armenian American community figures were also
present to testify and witness firsthand the historic vote.

`I stand with the freedom loving people of Artsakh in support of AJR
32. We will continue to speak out until Artsakh is free,’ stated Vice
Chairman Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita).

Assembly members who voted in favor of AJR 32 include Chairman Richard
S. Gordon (D-Palo Alto), Vice Chair Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita),
Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino), Matthew Dababneh (D-Encino),
Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys), Bill Quirk
(D-Hayward), and Sebastian Ridly-Thomas (D-Culver City). Assemblyman
Rocky Chavez (R-Carlsbad) cast the lone vote in opposition, while
Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills) abstained. The measure now
heads to the floor of the California State Assembly for a vote on
Thursday, May 8.

“We thank Assemblyman Mike Gatto for his dedicated efforts and for his
unwavering support for the self-determination and freedom for the
people of Artsakh,” stated Assembly Western Region Director Aline
Maksoudian.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR: # 2014-027

Available online:

PRESIDENT ROUHANI: IRAN WILLING TO HOST ARMENIAN INVESTORS

Fars News Agency, Iran
May 5 2014

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian in Tehran on Monday called
on Armenian companies to increase their presence in Iranian projects
and market.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to host Armenian investors and
also persuades Iran’s private sector and investors to run activity
in the Armenian market,” he added.

He reiterated that the two countries’ private sectors play important
roles in the expansion of economic ties, and said, “I hope the level of
economic and trade cooperation between Iran and Armenia will further
expand in the future.”

The Armenian foreign minister, for his part, pointed to the two
countries’ friendly relations in cultural, educational, energy and
transportation fields, and said, “Exchange of visits by the two
countries’ officials can help expand the bilateral relations.”

Nalbandian pointed to Iran and Armenia’s new joint ventures, and said,
“I believe these projects will open new paths for strengthening the
Iran-Armenia relations.”

The Armenian foreign minister pointed to the talks between Iran and
the six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus
Germany), and said, “Armenia fully welcomes the current trend of the
talks and is satisfied with the outcome of talks.”

Nalbandian also submitted President Serzh Sargsian’s written invitation
to President Rouhani to visit Armenia.

Nalbandian arrived in Tehran at the head of a high-ranking political
delegation on Monday to hold talks with senior Iranian authorities.

Earlier in the day, he met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad
Javad Zarif, where the two top diplomats discussed bilateral ties
and the latest developments in the region.

During the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister pointed to the
friendly and firm relations between the two countries, and said, “The
two states have close stances on important regional and international
issues.”

He underlined the need for the further expansion of relations between
Tehran and Yerevan, and said, “Taking into account the existing
potentials, Iran and Armenia should enhance their relations in
transportation, energy and banking sectors.”

Zarif also called for the resumption of the operation of Iran-Armenia
Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, and said, “The two countries
should continue meetings of their Joint Economic Commission.”

The Armenian foreign minister, for his part, pointed to the age-old
Iran-Armenia relations, and said, “My country is willing to cooperate
with Iran in different areas and I hope that mutual cooperation will
further expand in view of the positive atmosphere of today’s talks.”

The Armenian foreign minister invited Zarif to pay an official visit
to Yerevan in the near future.

Nalbandian also pointed to the ongoing talks between Iran and the Group
5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council member plus Germany),
and said, “I hope that these talks will lead to positive results as
a result of the efforts made by both sides.”

Report: Erdogan moves to appease West on Israel, Armenians as he plans
presidential run

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
05/04/2014 22:53

Turkish daily ‘Zaman’ says Erdogan wishes to avoid criticism from the
West on human rights, dictatorial nature of his regime.

Turkish PM, Tayyip Erdogan Photo: REUTERS
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to placate the
West on the Israel, Armenian, and Cyprus files as he plans to
consolidate more power in a presidential run.

Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman reported on Sunday, quoting experts
and other sources, that Erdogan’s AK Party plans to evade further
criticism from the West on human rights and the growing dictatorial
nature of the government by normalizing relations with Israel, moving
to resolve the Armenian issue, and resolving the Cyprus dispute.

The surprise apology to the Armenians, acknowledging their pain under
Ottoman rule, was the first time the government made such a statement.

`There are two imminent dangers with huge consequences for Turkey now
lurking in the recesses of Erdogan’s mind.

One is to resolve the Cyprus issue, no matter what. He will go for a
solution regardless of Turkey’s or Turkish Cypriot interests,’ deputy
chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Faruk Logoglu, told
Today’s Zaman.

Turkish and Greek Cyprus leaders met in February for peace talks aimed
at settling the dispute, which has divided the island between the
Turkish north and Greek South.

`The other is the Armenian issue. Erdogan offered condolences to the
Armenians to pave the way to an eventual apology,’ he said.

Speculation has it that Erdogan will run for president in August.

August’s election will be the first popular vote for the presidency.
Until now, the president has been chosen by parliament and played a
largely ceremonial role.

Erdogan has said that will give it more authority, and has vowed to
exercise its full powers if elected.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Gulf Times, Qatar
May 4 2014

Abraham breaks right hand in title defence

Armenian-German boxer Arthur Abraham celebrates after defeating
Montenegrian Nikola Sjekloca during their WBO super middleweight fight
in the Velodrom in Berlin yesterday. Abraham won the fight on points.
(EPA)

World super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham will take an enforced
break from the ring after breaking his right hand during his points
win over challenger Nikola Sjkeloca in Berlin yesterday.

The 34-year-old Abraham defended his WBO super-middleweight title when
the judges awarded a unanimous points victory (116-113, 116-112,
119-110) against Sjkeloca of Montenegro.

But the champion left the ring in clear discomfort and the injury
clearly impeded his performance.

“If you push too hard, it really hurts,” said Germany’s Abraham. “I
couldn’t really hit with the right.”

The Armenian-born fighter had injured the hand in the fight’s build-up
and laboured with it from the first round, revealed his coach Ulli
Wegner.

It forced the champion to jab with his left as he picked up the 40th
win in his 44th professional bout, just 61 days after winning back his
title from Germany’s Robert Stieglitz.
Abraham says his dream is to fight Germany’s IBF middleweight champion
Felix Sturm at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

“Everyone dreams of boxing in the Olympic Stadium,” said Abraham, but
Sturm must first face Australian challenger Sam Soliman on May 31
before any plans can be made.

Insurance News Net
May 4 2014

Susanna Chobanyan’s New Book “Bye Mary Poppins, Hi Susan” is a
Wonderful Trip Into the Vivid World of a Very Unique Young Girl

Published by New York City- based Page Publishing, Susanna Chobanyan’s
fun-filled tale provides a window into an enchanting magical setting
filled with songs, color, and friendship. For additional information,
review copies or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at
866-315-2708.. Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-

(PRWEB) May 02, 2014

Susanna Chobanyan, an Armenian-born author who had a series of books
published in her native country, has completed her new book “Bye Mary
Poppins, Hi Susan”: a lovingly crafted and gorgeously illustrated trek
into an exciting new world of imagination.

Describing her fantastic new book Chobanyan says, “The story is about
taking a leap of faith despite life’s trials and tribulations. The
message I hope to send is how necessary it is to understand, help, and
love each other.”

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Susanna Chobanyan’s
fun-filled tale provides a window into an enchanting magical setting
filled with songs, color, and friendship.

Whether she is painting with the colors of flowers, or speaking with
animals, Amalia’s magical powers are a great source of fun, hope, and
wonderment for readers of all ages.

Even though her brothers and her classmates don’t believe in her
powers, Amalia, with the help of her nanny Susan, proves everyone
wrong time and time again. With love and kindness in her heart, Amalia
proves that even a little girl can make a big difference in the world.

Readers who wish to experience this vibrant new work can purchase “Bye
Mary Poppins, Hi Susan” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the
Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information, review copies or media inquiries, contact
Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing

Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service
publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in
publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s
largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows
that authors need to be free to create – not bogged down with
complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing
wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its
roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time
consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating.
Learn more at

Read the full story at

ARMENIE
Le niveau de sécurité de la centrale nucléaire est encourageant selon
un responsable du département d’Etat

Le niveau de sécurité Ã la centrale nucléaire arménienne est très
encourageant a déclaré Jeffrey Adlam, chef au département américain de
l’unité de lutte contre le terrorisme nucléaire dans une interview
avec le service arménien de RFE / RL.

Une délégation dirigée par Adlam a rencontré Ã Erevan les autorités
arméniennes afin de discuter des moyens de renforcer la coopération
pour lutter contre la contrebande nucléaire.

« Ces discussions se sont poursuivies avec la coopération bilatérale
en cours lancé en Décembre 2007 pour faire progresser les capacités de
l’Arménie à prévenir, détecter et répondre aux incidents radioactifs
en matière de contrebande nucléaire et autres » a déclaré l’ambassade
américaine dans un communiqué.

« Nous sommes très heureux avec le niveau de sécurité Ã la centrale
nucléaire arménienne qui utilise de l’uranium faiblement enrichi, qui
est sous un contrôle très strict » a déclaré Adlam.

L’ambassade américaine a cité un plan d’action américano-arménien
commun sur la non-prolifération nucléaire signé en 2008.

« Dans ce cadre, les deux parties ont échangé des informations sur les
menaces et les tendances de la contrebande nucléaire en cours, et ont
discuté des meilleures pratiques dans les domaines de la détection
nucléaire, la criminalistique nucléaire, les enquêtes sur
l’application de la loi, et d’autres outils pour prévenir, détecter et
répondre aux incidents de la contrebande nucléaire » précise le
communiqué.

Jeffrey Adlam a dit que lors de sa visite à Erevan, il a suggéré que
la partie américaine pourrait dispenser une formation à la police et
aider à créer un laboratoire spécial pouvant être utilisé dans la
lutte contre la contrebande nucléaire.

dimanche 4 mai 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Appels pour arrêter les procédures d’adhésion à Erevan

Un appel politique pour arrêter les procédures liées à l’adhésion Ã
l’Union douanière a pour la première fois été exprimé en Arménie cette
semaine. Membre du parti Démocrates Libres Khatchatour Kokobelyan a
présenté les raisons pour lesquelles l’Arménie ne doit pas entrer dans
une course afin d’ adhérer au bloc de commerce dirigée par la Russie,
mais devrait plutôt commencer à récupérer ses liens perdus avec
l’Union européenne.

Cela concerne aussi bien la crise économique en Russie, la dévaluation
du rouble et les développements économiques défavorables qui attendent
l’Union douanière, ainsi que les événements en Ukraine où les actions
de la Russie ont été qualifiés d’annexion.

Dans le même temps, le parti d’opposition « le Mouvement national
arménien », qui est en faveur d’une alliance européenne, a lancé un
appel aux autorités arméniennes afin d’approfondir leurs relations
avec l’OTAN, de renégocier les termes de l’adhésion de l’Arménie Ã
l’Organisation du Traité de sécurité collective dirigée par la Russie
et repenser l’opportunité du stationnement continue de la base
militaire russe en Arménie.

Dans le même temps, cependant, les autorités arméniennes se préparent
activement pour l’entrée dans l’Union douanière. En particulier, la
nomination d’un conseiller spécial sur les affaires de l’Union
douanière au président du Comité des recettes d’Etat de l’Arménie a
été annoncée jeudi. Et le ministre de l’Economie Vahram Avanesyan a
dit que la stagnation économique en Russie et l’extension éventuelle
de sanctions contre ce pays ne va pas provoquer de changements de
politique en Arménie.

Il a souligné que les sanctions que les États-Unis et les pays
européens ont imposées à la Russie auront certainement un impact sur
l’économie arménienne. Dans le même temps, il a reconnu que l’Arménie
n’a pas fait de calculs sur ce fait et n’a pas pris de mesures
préparatoires.

Les économistes avertissent que l’aggravation de la situation en
Russie pourrait conduire à une réduction des transferts de ce pays
vers l’Arménie et la dévaluation du taux de change du rouble aura un
impact sur le pouvoir d’achat des consommateurs arméniens. Mais, plus
important encore, Ã la suite des actions de la Russie en Ukraine
l’Arménie pourrait être entraînée dans un conflit politique.

L’Arménie n’a pas encore expressément indiqué sa position sur
l’Ukraine et a seulement appelé les parties à s’engager dans un
dialogue. Cependant, l’Ukraine occupe la présidence de la CEI, et son
ministre des Affaires étrangères a déjà dit qu’il avait essayé de
convoquer une réunion du Conseil des pays membres de la CEI, mais
qu’ils n’ont pas répondu. Le Ministre Andrey Deschitsa a déclaré que
dans ce cas, le pays pourrait quitter la CEI.

Les pays occidentaux appliquent déjà des sanctions contre la Russie et
ont l’intention de les resserrer si la « politique d’annexion » russe
contre Crimée continue. Ils menacent la Russie et ses alliés de la
plus grande isolation depuis l’époque de la guerre froide. Cependant,
apparemment, les pays occidentaux n’ont pas l’intention d’inclure
l’Arménie dans la liste des isolats. Au moins durant la semaine
écoulée plusieurs grands programmes financés par l’USAID et l’Union
européenne ont été annoncés en Arménie. En outre, le Parlement
européen a adopté une résolution dans laquelle il a appelé Ã davantage
de soutien pour l’Arménie et la poursuite de la coopération dans le
cadre du partenariat oriental. L’affaire concerne la liberté de
mouvement, des programmes dans les domaines de l’énergie, des
transports, ainsi que la société civile.

Le Chef de la Délégation de l’Union européenne en Arménie,
l’Ambassadeur Traian Hristea s’est opposé Ã comparer l’Arménie avec
l’Ukraine, Ã laquelle l’UE a proposé de signer la partie politique de
l’accord d’association – mais sans établir une zone de libre-échange.
L’Arménie avait précédemment refusé la signature d’un même accord. L’
Ambassadeur Hristea a dit que l’on doit se concentrer sur la
reconstruction des relations et mettre à jour le plan d’action.

Le vice-ministre de l’Economie Garegin Melkonian n’indique même pas le
montant approximatif des financements des organismes publics au sein
de ces programmes, mais le montant de l’aide à l’Arménie est
susceptible d’augmenter.

Par Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

dimanche 4 mai 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com