Author: Badalian Vardan

KOCHARYAN RESPONSIBLE FOR ‘PROPERTY FOR DEBT’ PROGRAM – OPINIONS

11:48 ~U 14.01.14

Robert Kocharyan’s recent interviews, expressing criticism of the
incumbent authorities, have received various interpretations by public
and political figures.

Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly’s Vanadzor Office Artur
Sakunts finds the second president’s remarks absolutely pointless,
saying that the “Property for Debt” program, which the Armenian
government launched during his tenure, was his own idea, not the
Russian government’s.

The opposition Heritage party’s political secretary, Styopa Safaryan,
refrains from characterizing Kocharyan’s statements as a bid for a
government change, whereas Vardan Khachatryan, a former parliament
member, says he does not find anything strange about the public
debates which Kocharyan’s recent statements have sparked.

Speaking to Tert.am, Sakunts blamed the second president for the
“Property for Debt” program, noting that it wasn’t proposed by the
Russian side as Kocharyan himself claimed when in office.

In his Monday interview, Kocharyan criticized the government for the
sale of the Armrusgasprom company’s remaining shares (20%) to Russia.

He described the agreement on giving the country an exclusive right to
manage Armenia’s gas supply until 2043 as an extremely vulnerable deal.

Commenting on the second president’s statements, Sakunts said he
doesn’t find them meaningful. The main challenge, in his words,
has to do with Armenia’s accession to the Russian-led Customs Union,
not the ‘gas agreements’.

“[President] Serzh Sargsyan’s position on the Customs Union membership
is that he never actually addresses the topic, continuing to observe
silence,” he said.

Asked whether he finds Kocharyan’s recent interviews as an attempt
of a political comeback, the rights activist said, “Kocharyan had
better keep silence. I don’t think it is worth giving attention to
any issue regarding Kocharyan or his statements about the economic
policies. Our society has one question to ask; and not only ask but
also demand responsibility for the crimes committed during the March
1 [2008 post election violence] and the October 27 [1999 terrorist
act in parliament]. But for me personally, the former question is of
primary importance,” he explained.

The Heritage political secretary, for his part, described Kocharyan’s
statement as just a “message” demanding the prime minister’s
replacement.

“This is the main conflict which, by the way, is quite manageable,
as none of the sides stepped beyond ethical boundaries,” he said.

In his comments, Khachatryan also agreed that Kocharyan’s interviews
and the prime minister’s subsequent remarks are a common public debate
not reflecting a serious conflict.

“As to whether or not this is a bid for returning to politics … I
don’t want to consider so because such a bid has to be in-depth and
positive. It has to be based on a positive public support,” he added.

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN HAS NEW MP

January 14, 2014 | 14:38

YEREVAN. – Mikayel Manukyan will replace Armenian National Assembly
(NA) former deputy Vahan Hovhannisyan at the opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun NA Faction, ARF MP Artsvik Minasyan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

In Minasyan’s words, the ARF Supreme Body held a session and made
such a decision.

“Mikayel Manukyan is the next number on the [ARF] list. He is chairman
of the ARF Supreme Body. He was an MP in the past, too, and he has
the necessary knowledge,” Artsvik Minasyan added.

President Serzh Sargsyan had signed a decree, on December 28, 2013,
on appointing Vahan Hovhannisyan as Armenia’s Ambassador to Germany.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARAM GHARABEKIAN TO BE BURIED IN ARMENIA

12:07 14/01/2014 ” CULTURE

The body of renowned conductor Aram Gharabekian will be moved to
Armenia. The Armenian Culture Ministry told Panorama.am that a
government commission will be set up to deal with the issue. The
Culture Minister will head the commission.

Aram Gharabekian died on January 10 in the United States at the age
of 58.

Related: Armenian Culture Ministry in talks with Aram Gharabekian’s
family

Source: Panorama.am

IWPR: MORE THAN 20 VETERANS OF KARABAKH WAR IN AZERBAIJAN CLOSE TO COMMIT SUICIDE

14:35 14/01/2014 ” SOCIETY

The suicide of a disabled army veteran in Azerbaijan has raised concern
about the inadequate welfare provision for ex-combatants injured in the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict two decades ago and now living in poverty,
Aytan Farhadova’s article published in IWPR reads.

According to the article there are about 11,000 veterans in
Azerbaijan who were left disabled by the war and find it hard to
support themselves and their families.

Rey Karimoglu, spokesman for the Karabakh Invalids’ Organisation,
says many veterans live in terrible conditions, and appeals to the
authorities for help go unheeded.

“We are currently monitoring more than 20 invalids who are close to
killing themselves. We get a lot of letters from invalids living in
the provinces,” he told IWPR.

Samir Aliyev, head of the Centre for the Support of Economic
Initiatives, told IWPR that if oil revenues were used effectively,
the lives of poor and disabled people would be a lot better. “In the
context of an expanding budget, the pensions paid to disabled people
are just laughable,” he noted.

The author of the article notes that the disabled ex-combatants are
eligible for benefits ranging from 125 to 200 manats a month (125-200
euros), depending on the extent of incapacity, plus a state pension
of 75-110 manats and the army pension of 33 manats.

According to the article the government says it has distributed new
apartments to 5,000 disabled ex-combatants, however as Karimoglu says
problems occurred with the distribution of the apartments. Some of
the officials demand bribes to get them.

According to him he was provided with a flat, but he can’t sit in it
going hungry. In order to eat, he has to rent out the apartment and
live in a shack with his family. “I have four children and I receive
a pension of just 150 manats,” he added.

Another disabled Karabakh veteran, Namiq Mammadov, described his
desperation at the prospect of losing the workshop he rented.

“The local authorities want to knock down the workshop and widen the
road. How am I going to feed my children now? I’m not asking for
charity from anyone, I just want an opportunity to earn an honest
crust,” he told IWPR. “What am I to do? Should I burn myself too so
as to solve my children’s problems?” he told the IWPR.

Source: Panorama.am

REVUE DE PRESSE N1 – 14/01/14 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publie le : 14-01-2014

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Armenienne contre le Negationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le genocide armenien, la Shoah, le genocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le negationnisme, l’Union europeenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggerons egalement de prendre le temps de lire ou
de relire les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre
rubrique Par
ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc, ne sont
disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous generons chaque jour.

Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Media : c’est gratuit !

Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre boîte email.

Bonne lecture.

Turquie : memoire ottomane, retour du refoule Info Collectif VAN
– – “Les evenements de Bosnie et du Kosovo,
le siège de Sarajevo par les Serbes (1992-1996), le massacre de
Srebrenica (1995), ont revolte l’opinion publique en Turquie. La
sensibilite des Turcs a l’egard de ces evenements a revele la force
de la composante ” ottomane ” du nationalisme turc, qui avait ete
plus ou moins occultee”. Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
d’Etienne Copeaux publie sur son blog susam-sokak.fr.

Verite et justice pour les trois militantes kurdes assassinees Info
Collectif VAN – – “Des milliers de Kurdes (13
000 selon la police, 30 000 selon les organisateurs) venus de toute
l’Europe, ainsi que de Francais, dont une delegation des Amities kurdes
de Bretagne, ont defile samedi dans les rues de Paris et tenu meeting
sur la place de la Republique pour crier leur indignation, toujours
aussi vive, un an après l’assassinat de trois militantes kurdes,
dont Fidan Dogan, bien connue en Bretagne sous le nom de Rojbîn”. Le
Collectif VAN vous invite a lire cette information publiee sur le
site des Amities kurdes de Bretagne le 13 janvier 2014.

Presse armenienne : Revue du 10 janvier 2014 Info Collectif VAN –
– “Rencontre des gardes-frontières de Turquie
et d’Armenie a Gumri ? /Selon Haykakan Jamanak, citant des medias
turcs, les gardes-frontières de Turquie et d’Armenie se seraient
recemment rencontres a Gumri pour discuter des mesures de prevention
des violations frontalières, des vols d’animaux etc. Selon les medias
turcs, un accord aurait ete obtenu pour une nouvelle rencontre en
mars”. Le Collectif VAN vous presente cette Revue de Presse parue
sur le site de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie le 10 janvier 2014.

L’affaire Dieudonne, la gauche et l’antisemitisme C’est un simple
tweet, aussi bref qu’emblematique. Lorsque ont ete rendues publiques
les attaques de Dieudonne contre le journaliste Patrick Cohen – ” Quand
je l’entends parler, j’me dis, tu vois, les chambres a gaz… dommage
” -, Jean-Luc Melenchon etait l’un des premiers politiques a reagir
sur le reseau social.

Tentative de reprise en main de l’Etat et de la Justice en Turquie
Tensions au sein de la commission de la justice du parlement, purges
dans la police et de nombreuses administrations, reforme du Conseil
superieur des juges et des procureurs (HSYK), blocages du lancement
de nouvelles enquetes par les procureurs…

Plongee au c~ur du nouveau spectacle de Dieudonne Le polemiste a donne
lundi soir a Paris un nouveau spectacle, après avoir ete interdit de
scène pour ses sorties antisemites. Il reprend la trame du precedent
en edulcorant les attaques antisemites les plus frontales.

Crise en Turquie : l’armee entre en lice Tout se complique ! L’affaire
de corruption, qui a frappe le gouvernement le 17 decembre dernier, a
conduit a un important remaniement ministeriel après la demission de 3
ministres. Avant meme que cette restructuration politique intervienne,
le gouvernement a commence a endiguer la vague d’arrestations qui
frappait son entourage, en reprenant le contrôle de la police.

L’info vue par la TRT (1) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publie sur la TRT (Television & Radio de Turquie). Les articles de
ce site ne sont pas commentes de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos negationnistes envers le genocide armenien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute reserve. “La 6è edition de la
conference des ambassadeurs qui se deroule chaque annee avec la
participation de tous les ambassadeurs turcs a l’etranger, a debute
a Ankara”.

Turquie: le president s’invite dans la crise politique Pour
la première fois depuis le debut du scandale de corruption qui
eclabousse le gouvernement turc, le president turc Adbullah Gul
est intervenu directement dans la crise politique en rencontrant ce
lundi 13 janvier les chefs de l’opposition parlementaire et le Premier
ministre. Au menu de ces tractations : une reforme de la magistrature
qui aiderait a eloigner les affaires, mais jugee anticonstitutionnelle
par l’opposition.

Turquie : long cauchemar judiciaire pour Pinar Selek Exilee en France,
la sociologue turque Pinar Selek, 42 ans, a ete condamnee en janvier
2013 a la prison a vie par un tribunal d’Istanbul pour terrorisme. Des
faits qui remontent a 1998 et pour lesquels elle avait pourtant ete
acquittee trois fois. Ankara vient de lancer une procedure pour obtenir
son extradition. Mais pourquoi un tel acharnement après quinze annees
de procedure judiciaire?

Retour a la rubrique

LE PREMIER MINISTRE ARMENIEN DEMANDE DES PUNITIONS CONTRE LES ENTREPRISES DE CONSTRUCTION

ARMENIE

Le Premier ministre armenien Tigran Sarkissian a declare lors de la
reunion du Conseil des ministres d’aujourd’hui que les entreprises
de construction privees qui traînent les pieds dans la construction
de grandes maisons en violation flagrante de leurs obligations
contractuelles doivent etre appeles a rendre compte.

” Le gouvernement armenien n’a pas l’intention de laisser les
entreprises privees qui n’ont pas reussi a achever la construction de
certains bâtiments impunis “, a-t-il dit. ” Il y a des bâtiments qui
restent a moitie construits pendant plus d’une decennie, et nous ne
pouvons pas regarder leur destruction progressive dans l’indifference
“.

Le premier ministre a declare que des sanctions doivent etre imposees a
ces entreprises de construction. Il a instruit le ministre d’urbanisme
Samvel Tadevosyan de reflechir a la question et de proposer une
solution appropriee a ce problème.

L’hôtel Dvin est dans l’oeil du public. En 2003, l’hôtel a ete vendu a
une societe Caucase Communication Group, qui a promis d’investir dans
la construction d’un hôtel cinq etoiles et de terminer la construction
d’ici cinq ans. Cependant, aucun de gros investissements n’a ete
realise et malheureusement aucune sanction n’avait ete specifie dans
le contrat.

En 2011, le gouvernement armenien a revise le contrat precisant le
montant de l’amende – soit 12% du montant annuel d’investissement
mentionnes dans le contrat.

Dans le cadre du contrat revise, si les investissements promis ne
sont pas faits en 2014, le gouvernement a le droit de saisir l’hôtel.

mardi 14 janvier 2014, Stephane ©armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

IN MEMORIAM
MARTHA ARAMIAN
June 9, 1934-January 11, 2014

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, and the Religious and Executive
Councils of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
announce with sorrow the passing of Martha Aramian, a faithful member
of Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island, a Pillar of the
Prelacy, recipient of the Prelacy’s Queen Zabel award, and devoted and
generous supporter of many Armenian projects and organizations in the
United States and the Republic of Armenia.

Ms. Aramian died Saturday, January 11. Funeral services will take
place tomorrow, Wednesday, January 15, at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 402
Broadway, Providence, at 11 am. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will
officiate. Interment will follow at Providence’s North Burial Grounds.

Immediate survivors include her sisters, S. Sue Aramian of New York
and Margo A. Ragan of Pennsylvanian; her niece Jocelyn, nephew Paul,
grandniece and grandnephews Emma Ragan, Luca and Bastian Micolucci;
and cousins Cheryl and Dianne Apkarian.

The family has requested that in-lieu-of-flowers donations be made in
her honor to Sts. Vartanantz Church, 402 Broadway, Providence, Rhode
Island 02909.

—

Martha’s passion, philanthropy, and perseverance led her to design,
create, and finally deed to the city of Providence, the Armenian
Heritage Park, on the corner of Chalkstone and Douglas Avenues, which
was the original hub of Providence’s large Armenian community. The
park pays homage to the Armenian community that fled the horrors of
the Genocide, overcame great obstacles, and established families,
whose children went on to become leaders in various walks of life and
contributing members of society.

Following in the footsteps of her parents, Kazar and Nevart Aramian,
Martha was a dedicated member of the Armenian Church which she
considered to be the cornerstone of the Armenian people. She lent her
support to all of the Armenian churches in Providence, and was a
dedicated and lifelong member of Sts. Vartanantz Church, giving
generously, especially when she saw a need.

She was a dedicated supporter of the Armenian National Committee of
America in Washington, and the local committee in Providence. She was
honored innumerable times, notably by the Eastern Prelacy, the ANCA,
the Armenian Masonic Degree Team of Rhode Island, and received various
congratulatory citations from the state of Rhode Island and the city
of Providence.

In Armenia she and her sisters and the International YMCA, established
the Kazar and Nevart Aramian Child Care Center in Vanadzor, as well as
the Zevartaran, a center for seniors, and Camp Aramian, a summer camp
for children.

Martha Aramian has left a rich legacy of the fruits of her altruism
that will live and continue to assist society’s most vulnerable
citizens.

We pray our Lord will grant Martha eternal rest in His heavenly
kingdom, and grace her loving family with His divine comfort.

Asdvatz Hokeen Lousavoreh. May God illuminate her soul.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON ARAM GHARABEKIAN DEATH

18:04 13.01.2014

Today President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences on
the passing of a famous conductor, RA Honored Worker of Arts, Aram
Gharabekian.

“I was deeply saddened to learn about the untimely passing of a famous
conductor, RA Honored Worker of Arts Aram Gharabekyan.

Aram Gharabekyan, who studied in the world’s best conservatories,
stood out as a high-quality and unique conductor, was rewarded with
many international awards while developing native music art.

I express my deepest condolences to Aram Gharabekian’s relatives,
colleagues and friends” the condolences letter of President of the
Republic of Armenia reads.

BERMAN ‘PART AND PARCEL’ OF ADL’S HYPOCRISY

BY STAFF
– POSTED ON JANUARY 10, 2014

By David Boyajian

To the editor:

The Governor’s Council is leaning against Superior Court judicial
nominee Joseph S. Berman for sound reasons, including no Superior
Court criminal trial experience and his lack of candor about asking
a politician to lobby the councilors.

Since 2006, Berman has also been a national commissioner of the
Anti-Defamation League, which has long colluded directly with Turkey to
deny the Armenian genocide and lobby against congressional recognition
of it (, “History of Lobbying”).

In 2007-2008, over a dozen cities, including Needham, Newton and
Westwood, cut ties with the ADL’s “No Place for Hate” program when
they learned of the group’s anti-Armenian policies. Before and during
that time, Berman neither resigned – unlike some others – nor spoke
publicly against such policies, which remain unchanged. That was a
moral failure.

Even non-lawyers grasp that the national ADL’s infamous Aug. 21, 2007,
statement played legalistic word games (,
Q&A) such that the Armenian atrocities could not qualify as genocide
under the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention. The Massachusetts Municipal
Association and cities including Bedford, Northampton and Peabody
didn’t believe the ADL and cut ties even after Aug. 21.

Significantly, the ADL has never withdrawn that dishonest statement
and continues lobbying against Armenian-Americans, who have never
done anything to deserve such abuse.

The national ADL claims to be a human rights organization and
insists that others commemorate the Holocaust and pass resolutions
on it. Yet it hypocritically works against acknowledgement of a
Christian genocide.

As an ADL national commissioner, Berman is part and parcel of those
hypocritical policies. The governor should withdraw his nomination.

David Boyajian

Belmont

Le Télégramme, France
Samedi 11 Janvier 2014

Le souvenir d’un cycle de violence inouï

Souvent considérée comme la première « guerre totale » de l’Histoire,
la guerre 14-18 a aspiré près de la moitié de la population mondiale
dans un cycle de violence sans précédent, par son ampleur et son
intensité. Ce conflit fit, en 52 mois, quelque dix millions de morts
et 20 millions de blessés sur les champs de bataille, et des millions
de victimes parmi les populations civiles occupées, affamées ou
déportées, dont un million d’Arméniens systématiquement massacrés par
les forces turques. Sans compter les millions de morts que
provoquèrent, jusqu’en 1923, les contrecoups du séisme en Russie, en
Europe orientale, en Turquie et jusqu’en Irlande.

Bouleversement majeur

Quatre des plus grands empires de l’époque – russe, allemand,
austro-hongrois et ottoman – disparaîtront dans la tourmente,
redessinant la carte politique du monde avec l’apparition de dizaines
de nouveaux pays et d’idéologies nouvelles : communisme, fascisme,
nazisme, anticolonialisme, pacifisme, dont l’affrontement avec les
démocraties occidentales triomphantes marquera les relations
internationales pendant des décennies.Vainqueurs ou vaincus, les
Européens sortirent du conflit ruinés économiquement, politiquement et
moralement.