Political Expert: If Armenia Refused Or Abstained From Voting On UN

POLITICAL EXPERT: IF ARMENIA REFUSED OR ABSTAINED FROM VOTING ON UN RESOLUTION ON CRIMEA, THIS WOULD MAKE ARMENIA MORE VULNERABLE IN THE KARABAKH ISSUE

by Marianna Lazarian

ARMINFO
Monday, March 31, 17:49

If official Yerevan refused to vote or abstained from voting on UN
resolution on Crimea, this would make Armenia more vulnerable in the
Karabakh issue, Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute, Sergey
Minasyan, said at today’s press-conference.

‘In this case, Armenia did not have an alternative. Moreover, this is
one of the exclusive cases when practically all the opposition forces
supported the voting of the official Yerevan”, – the expert said.

He also added that having fixed its position, Armenia may expect from
its strategic partner Russia positive results in the Karabakh issue.

But on the other hand,

Armenia has found itself among those 11 countries which voted against
the given resolution. “Armenia like Finland of the “cold war” times,
in some cases is forced to be very much careful so that not to damage
its own interests”, – Minasyan concluded.

Azerbaijani MP: Official Baku Should Act Carefully And Not Give Reas

AZERBAIJANI MP: OFFICIAL BAKU SHOULD ACT CAREFULLY AND NOT GIVE REASONS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION

by Marianna Lazarian

arminfo
Monday, March 31, 17:59

Joining the Crimea to Russia does not mean that Moscow radically
changed its attitude to international law, recognizing the priority of
the principle of self-determination over territorial integrity. This
opinion was expressed in an interview with Turan by the Azerbaijani
MP , political scientist Rasim Musabekov, Turan reported.

“Otherwise , after the Crimea, Russia would recognize the independence
of Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh and others. Russia believes that the West
is using force to violate international law and now Moscow has shown
that it does what it wants,” said Musabekov.

However, he does not believe that Russia’s actions in relation to
the Crimea are the beginning of a new world order and a new system
of international law and relations.

To change the world order, Russia has neither the power nor the
resources, nor the ideology, the analyst believes.

“Russia can start the third world war, but it cannot wage a “cold
war” anymore. To do this, it does not have the financial resources,
or political blocs, or alternative ideology,” said Musabekov.

According to him, Russia’s military potential does not allow it to
conduct military operations far beyond its borders, and it can only
carry out military operations along its borders.

Does it not threaten Azerbaijan, and how should Baku behave in such
a situation?

In answering this question, Musabekov said: “Beware. Do not give the
reasons for military intervention.”

At the same time, Azerbaijan should exclude any threat to the
independence of the country from within.

Besides, it is necessary to build a strong relationship with regional
players: it is traditional relations with Turkey, the expansion of
cooperation with Georgia and improving relations with Iran. As for
the West, it tries to curb and restrain Russia, but it will not enter
into a military confrontation with Russia, Musabekov said.

Regarding the impact of the current situation on the West cooperation
with Russia in the OSCE Minsk Group, the political scientist said
he did not expect “serious pulses” on the Karabakh settlement during
the presidency of Hollande in France and Obama in the United States.

“American Cochairman Warlick periodically offers Azerbaijan to
negotiate with Nagorno-Karabakh. However, there is no need at all to
talk not only with Nagorno-Karabakh, but also with Armenia. The U.S.

and France are not active and in fact assent to Russia. In such a
situation, it is better for Azerbaijan to speak directly with Moscow
and seek mutual compromises,” said Musabekov.

Turkish Speaker To Offer Keynote Address At Capitol Hill Armenian Ge

TURKISH SPEAKER TO OFFER KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT CAPITOL HILL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OBSERVANCE

19:09 31.03.2014

Armenian Genocide, Capitol Hill, Ragip Zarakolu

Ragip Zarakolu, a respected Turkish human rights activist and outspoken
champion of Armenian Genocide affirmation, will travel to Washington,
DC to speak at the April 9th Congressional remembrance program,
the Armenian National Committee of America reports.

Mr. Zarakolu has been writing and publishing about the Armenian
Genocide since the early 1990’s. His ‘Belge’ print house has published
over ten volumes on the topic, for which he and his family have been
consistently persecuted and jailed by Turkish authorities.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/31/turkish-speaker-to-offer-keynote-address-at-capitol-hill-%E2%80%AAarmenian%E2%80%AC-%E2%80%AA%E2%80%8Egenocide%E2%80%AC-observance/

Turquie/Internet : Des Experts De L’ONU Condamnent Les Blocages

TURQUIE/INTERNET : DES EXPERTS DE L’ONU CONDAMNENT LES BLOCAGES

Turquie-corruption-internet-droits Homme-ONU

(AFP) – Des experts de l’ONU en droits de l’Homme ont condamne
vendredi le blocage des reseaux sociaux Twitter et YouTube par la
Turquie, après des fuites genantes pour Ankara. “Le droit a la liberte
d’opinion et d’expression constitue un pilier central des societes
democratiques modernes. Bloquer les accès a YouTube et Twitter limite
excessivement ce droit fondamental”, a affirme l’expert de l’ONU en
charge de ces questions, Frank La Rue. “Les preoccupations relatives
a la securite nationale peuvent etre legitimes, mais les limitations
au droit de rechercher, recevoir et repandre des informations doivent
etre conformes aux critères de necessite et de proportionnalite au but
recherche”, a-t-il dit, dans un communique. Une semaine après le reseau
Twitter, le gouvernement turc a bloque jeudi l’accès a la plateforme
YouTube après la diffusion sur internet de l’enregistrement d’une
reunion confidentielle evoquant une intervention militaire turque
en Syrie.

Malgre l’interdiction ordonnee par l’autorite turque des
telecommunications (TIB) jeudi, la plateforme YouTube restait largement
accessible vendredi en Turquie.

Ce nouveau rebondissement a encore tendu un peu plus le climat
politique en Turquie, a deux jours d’elections municipales aux allures
de referendum pour le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan, de plus
en plus conteste pour sa derive autoritaire après douze ans de règne
a la tete du pays.

Pour M. La Rue, le blocage de YouTube et Twitter, en periode
pre-electorale, est d’autant plus preoccupant.

“Les standards internationaux sont clairs : la libre communication
des pensees et des opinions relatives a des questions publiques et
politiques (…) est essentielle”, a-t-il releve.

La legitimite des elections pourrait meme etre remis en cause du
fait justement de ces interdictions, a assure de son côte l’expert
de l’ONU sur la liberte de reunion, Maina Kiai.

Pour Margaret Sekaggya, expert de l’ONU sur la situation des defenseurs
des droits de l’Homme, “bloquer les accès a Twitter et YouTube porte
aussi un coup a la liberte de reunion pacifique, etant donne que les
gens utilisent de plus en plus les reseaux sociaux pour se mobiliser
et organiser des manifestations pacifiques, specialement dans le
contexte d’elections”.

lundi 31 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

Alexis Govciyan Elu A La Mairie Du 9ème Arrdt De Paris

ALEXIS GOVCIYAN ELU A LA MAIRIE DU 9ÈME ARRDT DE PARIS

Municipales 2014

Delphine Burkli – NKM – J.B de Froment – Alexis Govciyan

Après un très long suspens lors du depouillement, alors qu’une
majorite de parisiens ont renouvele leur confiance au Parti socialiste,
outre 4 fiefs UMP, dans le 9ème arrondissement c’est Delphine Burkli
(UMP-UDI-MoDem) qui arrive en tete avec 50,36% des voix, succedant
ainsi a Jacques Bravo (PS).

En gagnant la mairie du 9ème, face a Pauline Veron (PS), la liste
Burkli permet a Alexis Govciyan (President de la Mission 2015 et de
l’UGAB), qui l’accompagne depuis le debut de la campagne, d’acceder
au poste d’adjoint. Alexis Govciyan est le seul francais d’origine
armenienne elu a Paris.

Dans le QG de campagne de la gagnante une salve d’applaudissements est
venue saluer sa victoire a l’issue d’un combat de tous les instants.

Au premier tour, la liste de Delphine Burkli avait obtenu 8181 votes
en sa faveur, soit 39,42% des voix, devant Pauline Veron (39,15%).

Ecologie les verts 8,01%, Front national 4,86%, Divers droite 4,24%,
Parti de gauche 3,72% et Extreme gauche, 0,57%

Vers 23h25, Pauline Veron felicitait, sur son compte Twitter, Delphine
Burkli pour sa victoire.

lundi 31 mars 2014, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=98575

Vote De L’Armenie En Ukraine : Les Parlementaires Divises

VOTE DE L’ARMENIE EN UKRAINE : LES PARLEMENTAIRES DIVISES

Crise ukrainienne

Le BHK a critique le gouvernement sur le vote de jeudi contre la
resolution de l’ONU reaffirmant l’integrite territoriale de l’Ukraine.

Contrairement a d’autres factions de l’opposition au parlement, le BHK
estime que par la position sur la resolution concernant le referendum
en Crimee a mis la reputation internationale de l’Armenie en cause.

L’Armenie a ete parmi les rares pays, avec notamment la Coree du Nord,
le Soudan et le Zimbabwe, qui ont choisi de soutenir la position de
la Russie sur le document de l’ONU, qui a ete adoptee par un vote de
100 contre 11, avec 58 abstentions.

Avant le vote, la plupart des observateurs pensaient que l’Armenie
s’abstiendrait.

Mais dans une note explicative diffusee immediatement avant le vote a
la session de l’Assemblee generale des Nations Unies, le representant
de l’Armenie a l’ONU Karen Nazarian a declare : ” L’Armenie a toujours
pris une position sur la promotion de la democratie, des libertes
et des droits, en particulier envers l’egalite des droits et de
l’autodetermination des peuples comme des valeurs et des principes
universels, embrasses par l’Assemblee, sur la base de la Charte des
Nations Unies “.

Le parlementaire du BHK Stepan Markarian a dit lors d’une conference
de presse a l’Assemblee nationale vendredi qu’en votant contre la
resolution, l’Armenie n’a pas particulièrement aider la Russie. ” Mais
je suis sûr que nous avons endommage notre reputation internationale
“, a t-il dit.

Le BHK estime que l’Armenie aurait dû s’abstenir lors du vote : elle
serait alors parmi les nations qui soutiennent une solution pacifique
au problème de la Crimee.

Un autre membre du BHK, Vartan Oskanian, a egalement publie une
declaration vendredi, critiquant l’Armenie pour son attitude lors du
vote de l’ONU. Oskanian, ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères de
1998 a 2008, a egalement fait valoir que l’abstention dans le vote
aurait ete la bonne option pour la nation.

Un autre ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères, Alexander
Arzoumanian, a utilise des termes encore plus forts pour denoncer le
comportement de l’Armenie. Le depute de l’opposition a qualifie le vote
armenien a l’Assemblee generale de l’ONU d’une “honte”. Il a ajoute
que cela demontrait que l’Armenie continue a perdre sa souverainete.

” C’est sans precedent dans l’histoire de l’Armenie independante. Nous
n’avons jamais ete un tel esclave avant “, a declare Arzoumanian.

Pendant ce temps, un membre eminent du parti du patrimoine de
l’opposition a decrit le vote de l’Armenie a l’ONU comme une position
repondant aux interets de la nation.

” C’est ma propre opinion. Je sais que vous pourriez etre surpris “,
a declare Ruben Hakobian, chef de la faction du parti au parlement. Il
a explique que les pays qui ont vote pour preserver l’integrite
territoriale de l’Ukraine ont ferme les yeux sur les problèmes du
Haut-Karabagh.

Contrairement a Hakobian, le chef du parti du patrimoine, Raffi
Hovannisian, vendredi, a critique le gouvernement armenien pour le
vote > a l’ONU. Il a dit que l’Armenie avait de meilleures
options comme l’abstention ou meme ne pas prendre part au vote.

Pour le HAK, le depute Aram Manoukian a declare que l’option etait
en fait ” le moindre de deux maux “.

Le FRA a egalement appuye la position de l’Armenie. Armen Rustamian
a exprime sa conviction que l’Armenie ne pouvait pas etre contre
l’expression de la volonte du peuple de Crimee.

Le chef du Parti republicain de la faction parlementaire, Galust
Sahakian, a egalement souligne que l’Armenie avait simplement soutenu
le droit des peuples a l’autodetermination. Il a nie toute pression
de la Russie sur la question.

lundi 31 mars 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

Un sondage Gallup en Arménie estime que plus de 88% des Arméniens ne

ARMENIE
Un sondage Gallup en Arménie estime que plus de 88% des Arméniens ne
supportent pas le nouveau régime de retraite obligatoire

Un Sondage de Gallup International Association en Arménie montre que
plus de 88% des sondés à Erevan ne soutiennent pas le un nouveau
régime de retraite obligatoire qui a pris effet le 1er Janvier.

Les résultats de l’enquête ont été dévoilés par le chef du bureau
Gallup International Association en Arménie Gayane Dajunts.

L’enquête menée du 13 au 28 février a impliqué 1066 résidents adultes
de la capitale arménienne. Elle a dit quelque 87 pour cent des sondés
étaient opposé au nouveau régime de pension étaient des personnes
gées de 18 à 40 ans.

dimanche 30 mars 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

La Fédération arménienne de football récompensée par l’UEFA du prix

FOOTBALL
La Fédération arménienne de football récompensée par l’UEFA du prix de
>

A Astana, capitale du Kazakhstan, lors de la 48e assemblée générale de
l’UEFA, cinq fédérations nationales furent récompenses pour leurs
performances dans divers domaines. La Fédération arménienne de
football fut récompense par le comité > (le Coup du
chapeau) par le prix de > (Best
grassroots project) pour la réalisation du projet > visant à diffuser à grande échelle le football en Arménie.
Les autres récompenses de l’UEFA furent accordées à la Tchéquie, à
l’Irlande du Nord, à l’Italie et aux Pays-Bas. Ce sont Michel Platini,
le président de l’UEFA (qui s’est rendu à deux reprises en Arménie) et
Alan Hansen, le président du comité > qui remirent le prix
à Armen Minassian le vice-président et directeur exécutif de la
Fédération arménienne de football.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 30 mars 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

AAA: Assembly Applauds Armenian Caucus Letter on Kessab, State Depar

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:

March 28, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA APPLAUDS ARMENIAN CAUCUS LETTER ON KESSAB

State Department “Deepy Troubled” by Attack Against Kessab Armenians

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
applauded the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and
Michael Grimm (R-NY), along with Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsors
Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), for sending a letter to
President Obama on the recent siege on Kessab, Syria, reported the
Assembly. “We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding
credible reports that Islamist rebels entering from Turkey this past
weekend were involved in attacks in the Latakia region of Syria,
specifically the town of Kessab, which is a predominately Armenian
populated area. Such actions shock the conscious and must be resoundingly
condemned,” the letter reads in part.

In addition to the Caucus letter, earlier today, Congressman James McGovern
(D-MA), who Co-Chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued a
strongly worded statement condemning the attacks and called for an
investigation into reports of Turkish involvement. “I am deeply concerned
by the reports that these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand
that the United States and international community conduct a thorough and
critical investigation of these claims,” McGovern said. Meanwhile,
yesterday Congressman Schiff, who sits on the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, said that “The vicious attacks by al Qaeda
affiliated terrorists against Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian
town of Kessab in northern Syria are beyond appalling.”

The Armenian Caucus letter comes on the heels of the Assembly’s March 24
letter to President Obama which called on the Administration “to take all
steps necessary to not only safeguard the Christian Armenian community of
Kessab, but to increase efforts in coordination with the United Nations to
ensure that all minority communities are afforded greater protection.” “In
addition, we urge President Obama to make it publicly clear that the United
States will not tolerate its NATO ally’s policy of providing support to
extremist groups,” the Assembly’s letter stated. On Wednesday, March 26,
the Assembly firmly condemned the attacks on Armenians in Syria. Days after
the Assembly’s letter, executive director Bryan Ardouny, and Archbishop
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate for the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), met
with officials at the U.S. Department of State to directly express the
concerns of the Armenian American community and to outline steps that the
United States can take to assist and safeguard the Kessab Armenians.

During today’s State Department daily press briefing, spokeswoman Marie
Harf stated, “We are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that
is endangering the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria, and has forced many
to flee. ”

“We have seen some statements by groups fighting in Kessab saying they will
not target civilians and will respect minorities and holy places,” she
said. “We expect those commitments to be upheld. The United States will
continue its steadfast support to those affected by violence in Syria and
throughout the region, including Syrian Armenians. We have long had
concerns about the threat posed by violent extremists, and this latest
threat to the Armenian community in Syria only underscores this further,”
the Harf said.

“We applaud the action of the Armenian Caucus and welcome the statements of
Congressmen Schiff and McGovern,” stated Assembly executive director Bryan
Ardouny. “Given the urgency of the matter, we must press forward to ensure
that the Christian Armenian community in Syria is safeguarded,” Ardouny
said.

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: # 2014-013

www.aaainc.org

AAA: Rep Schiff Says Attack on Armenians in Kessab "Beyond Appalling

Armenian Assembly of America News
1334 G Street, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Representative Adam Schiff Says Attack on Armenians in Kessab “Beyond Appalling”

March 27, 2014
By Taniel Koushakjian

According to a press announcement from Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA),
today he released the following statement “on the attacks by Al
Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against Kessab Armenians and Christians:”

“The vicious attacks by al Qaeda affiliated terrorists against Armenians
and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab in northern Syria are
beyond appalling. These attacks, which reportedly originated in Turkey,
reflect the depth of the depravity to which the conflict in Syria has
fallen. I have been in touch with the State Department and have been
assured that we are working with Armenian, Syrian and Turkish officials to
determine exactly what happened and how to prevent further acts of such
barbarity.

“The Syrian civil war has been a disaster for all of Syria’s people, but
especially vulnerable minority populations. I have been working on
multiple fronts to help Syrian Christians, including working to secure
humanitarian parole for Syrians with approved immigrant petitions and to
ensure that humanitarian relief is distributed to all of Syria’s citizens.”

Yesterday, the Armenian Assembly of America released its statement
condemning the attacks on Armenians in Syria. The Assembly also sent a
letter to President Obama on Monday, March 24, urging him to “safeguard the
Armenians of Kessab.” “In addition, we urge President Obama to make it
publicly clear that the United States will not tolerate its NATO ally’s
policy of providing support to extremist groups,” the Assembly’s letter to
President Obama stated.

The Assembly’s letter to President Obama is available here:

This article is available online here:

The Armenian Assembly of America News Blog is an official product of the
Armenian Assembly of America. 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
non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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