Author: Badalian Vardan

RUSSIAN EXPERT WARNS AZERBAIJAN AGAINST INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIA, IRAN WARS

November 5, 2013 – 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Western states will try to draw Azerbaijan into
possible military operations against Syria and Iran, an expert at
the Russian Diaspora Institute said, advising Baku to distance itself
from the involvement in the conflict.

“With Syria’s ally Iran as Azerbaijan’s neighbor, the conflict may
escalate into an international one, with local nations to lose lives
over the West’s political games,” Vitaly Zhuravlev said.

Dwelling on Karabakh conflict, he noted a new war in the republic to
be unlikely. “A new war might lead to major human and material losses,
to be followed by a social explosion and political repercussions.

Responsible politicians cannot afford such games, with major damages
and unpredictable results.”

“Instead, Armenia and Azerbaijan must focus on solving social issues
and boost effectiveness of state administration and social policies,”
Vesti.az quoted the expert as saying.

ARMENIAN FUGITIVE SOLDIERS’ CASE: COVERED UP OR PROMISING HAPPY END? – OPINIONS

17:11 ~U 05.11.13

An Armenian civic activist believes that the Defense Ministry’s
spokesperson downplays the four soldiers’ Saturday escape from a
military hospital by saying that the incident is not linked to any
serious development.

Speaking to Tert.am, Tsovinar Harutyunyan, a member of the civic group
Army in Reality, said she is skeptical about Artsrun Hovhannisyan’s
statement that the servicemen will not face a criminal liability
because they were patients of a psychiatric department.

“The information has to be first of all much more precise and open.

The hospital does really have a psychiatric department which is
isolated from the rest of the clinic, so escaping from there is next
to impossible. If the soldiers receiving treatment in hospital flee
after the arrival of the military police, that already gives way to
concerns,” she explained.

Nazaryan said that the soldiers might have appeared at the psychiatric
department for two reasons: either because they had mental problems
initially or developed certain disorders during service. She called
for further strong efforts to find out the real circumstances that
caused the conscripts to flee.

Nazaryan did not rule out the possibility that the psychiatric
department might serve as a shelter for soldiers not having mental
disorders to facilitate their possible demobilization from compulsory
service.

“[The incident] is being covered up in some way, so it is necessary
to find out what happened inside. We know they bitterly cried out for
help [after fleeing the hospital], which means they were really in a
bad situation,” she said, adding that the escape and the developments
that followed wouldn’t have taken place without any patronage from
superiors.

Margarita Khachatryan, the president of the local NGO Zinvor (soldier),
told our correspondent later, that she has personally visited the
hospital for first hand information on the incident.

“They called me, and I went to hospital; I spent four hours at
the psychiatric department. Two people had fallen into depression,
unable to control their actions. The medical personnel calmed three
of them down, and I was next to them. Four soldiers had taken flight
and later returned after my call,” she said.

Asked what might have caused the soldiers to develop mental problems,
Khachatryan attributed that to individual and family circumstances.

“Separating from the families for the first time and not being able
to adapt themselves to the military unit, some of them appear under a
psychological pressure. If a fellow, who hasn’t ever before separated
from parents, appears on the territory of a military unit, he often
finds himself in a difficult moral-psychological condition. It is
necessary to carry out proper work to prevent them from falling into
depression in the first three months,” she said.

RUSSIAN MILITARY PRESENCE WILL BLOCK PATH OF PAN-TURKISM – MARXIST PARTY OF ARMENIA

November 05, 2013 | 14:49

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s authorities and the forces that have declared
themselves as opposition have been devalued and discredited, and the
external challenges are pressuring the country’s political system.

Marxist Party of Armenia leader Davit Hakobyan noted the aforementioned
during a press conference on Tuesday.

He added that the most urgent matters today are the Nagorno-Karabakh
(Artsakh) issue and Armenia’s bid to join the Customs Union.

As per Hakobyan, the Customs Union is a concealing phrase, which has
absolutely nothing to do with the concept of customs. Instead, in
his view, the stopping of the pan-American hegemony and the setting
up of a new geopolitical center are hidden under the guise of the
Customs Union.

According to the Marxist Party leader, aside from the globalization of
the legislation, Europe will never give Armenia anything to develop
production.

And with respect to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Hakobyan
said: “We are launching a new diplomatic process, whereby our task will
be to see the Armenian Republic of Artsakh as an internal political
entity within Russia.”

He stressed that in this case, Armenia will be obligated to recognize
Artsakh as the main conflicting and negotiating party.

Davit Hakobyan also stressed that, first and foremost, the Karabakh
Armenians need peace, and therefore the presence of the Russian army
will not only block the path of Pan-Turkism, but it will be the sole
guarantee of Armenia’s security.

Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Armenia defense minister recalls Russian-Armenian agreements

Armenia defense minister recalls Russian-Armenian agreements

November 05, 2013 | 15:06

YEREVAN. ? Minister of Defense of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan called to
mind the Russian-Armenian agreements in the defense sector.

Speaking with news reporters on Tuesday?and responding to a query
concerning the recent statement made by the commander of the Russian
military base stationed in Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Russian
co-chair?s ensuing comment?the minister said:

?We have important agreements and documents with Russia on security
issues, and the Russian side operates within their framework.?

To note, in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Colonel
Andrey Ruzinsky, Commander of the 102nd Russian Military Base
stationed in Armenia, had stated that if the Azerbaijani leadership
decided to restore jurisdiction over Nagorno-Karabakh by force, the
102nd Military Base may enter the confrontation in accordance with
Russia?s obligations within the CSTO. In turn, and during his visit to
Azerbaijan, the OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Igor Popov had ruled
out the possibility of such a misunderstanding and promised to clarify
this matter.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

VARTAN OSKANIAN TO PUBLISH MEMOIRS

by Ashot Safaryan

ARMINFO
Tuesday, November 5, 13:11

The memoirs of Vartan Oskanian, ex-foreign minister of Armenia and
currently a parliamentarian from the Prosperous Armenia Party, have
been sent to the printer’s, Oskanian’s Office told ArmInfo.

Oskanian tells about his activities at the Foreign Ministry of Armenia,
as well as about the years preceding Armenia’s independence.

The book will be presented in the near future.

To recall, Oskanian was Armenia’s foreign minister from 1998 till 2008.

MOSCOW CONFESSED WHICH SIDE IT WOULD SUPPORT IN WAR?

The notorious Russian commentator, “spokesman” for the Kremlin Maxim
Shevchenko held an interview with News Azerbaijan Agency and revealed
Russia’s vision of resolving the Karabakh issue. Earlier the Russian
propaganda and its Yerevan-based branch offices scared Armenians
with Karabakh in case Armenia would choose Europe. After September
3 Moscow has fully revealed its intentions.

Answering the question on the settlement of Karabakh, Shevchenko said,
“The mystery is that some issues cannot be resolved without military
intervention. Therefore, I think, it is necessary to form an alliance
of those interested in this solution. The mediation by the United
States and the EU simply protracts the settlement of the Karabakh
issue. This conflict would have been resolved faster at a regional
level but the United States, the EU and Israel would not do it.The
regional level is Russia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia. Great
powers may look from aside but the past 20 years showed that the United
States and the EU have been unable to resolve the issue of return to
Azerbaijan of their territories, they did not even ensure return of
five occupied territories to Azerbajan. First the Azerbaijanis must
have a chance to return to Shushi and other territories. And the five
territories must be returned to Azerbaijan.”

Hence, Shevchenko reveals Russia’s plan on the settlement of the
Karabakh issue and several important circumstances which first resolve
the return of Azerbaijanis and five territories. If the Armenian side
opposes this plan, the mechanism of military intervention is launched:
“Some issues cannot be resolved without military intervention.”

Besides, Shevchenko discloses that the West is doing everything to
prevent such a solution.

There is nothing new in Shevchenko’s words indeed. Russia has always
been willing for such a solution. Simply everything is stated bluntly
now as Armenia has nowhere to go after the outrageous act of September
3. It is interesting to hear what the so-called Armenian political,
analytical and other circles will say who are yoked to the Russian
propaganda and are already speaking about getting rid of Karabakh
with unhidden joy.

Yet recently the commander of the Russian military base in Gyumri spoke
about the participation of the base in the Karabakh war. Few people
in Karabakh guessed that the base will intervene for the Azerbaijani
side not to allow the victory of Armenians. Now nobody would doubt.

Last year Shevchenko visited Karabakh where the field commanders
explained to him the reality. He confessed that during the first war
in Karabakh he and other commentators, including Nevzorov, received
a task to present the courage of the Azerbaijani army whereas they
would hardly see it in the battlefield. Shevchenko confessed then
that without the help of Russia Azerbaijan would have collapsed as
a state in the first war in Karabakh.

Here is the thing.

Haik Aramyan 13:34 05/11/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

“START-UP BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM” FOR REFUGEES AND SYRIAN ARMENIANS

13:22 05.11.2013

SME DNC of Armenia with the sponsorship of United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees Country /UNHCR/ is launching “Start-up
Business Support Program” for refugees and Syrian Armenians to help
start-ups to implement their business ideas.

The program involves training and professional consulting components,
provision of information and financial support. The start-up
entrepreneur step by step will develop their business idea and get
information in business planning, marketing, management, production
planning, finance and business skills, as well as under the guidance
of experienced professionals develop their own business programs
during the one-and- a-half-month training and individual consulting.

Moreover, during this stage, the start-ups will be provided with
information and consulting on the state registration procedures
and the other important issues on tax legislation of RA. Later,
they will develop an individual business plan. Another significant
effect of the training is formation of entrepreneurial thinking and
business skills development. In the framework of the program start-up
entrepreneurs have an opportunity to benefit from the financial
support tools provided by the UNHCR and SME DNC of Armenia. The
most realistic business plans, which receive the highest estimation,
will be submitted to lending.

QUELQUE 6 MILLIONS D’EUROS SERONT INVESTIS EN ARMENIE

ARMENIE

Environ 6 millions d’euros seront investis en Armenie d’ici la fin
de l’annee a annonce Sarkis Aghabekyan, president de la commission
pour la politique d’investissement de la chambre de Commerce et
d’Industrie d’Armenie.

” Depuis plusieurs mois, nous menons des negociations avec plusieurs
investisseurs, y compris de la Russie, qui se sont engages a faire 6
millions d’euros d’investissements en Armenie avant la fin de cette
annee ” a-t-il dit, ajoutant que les investissements seront injectes
dans l’industrie alimentaire et de transformation.

Sarkis Aghabekyan a declare que le comite etait en train de negocier
egalement avec sept autres investisseurs armeniens et etrangers
potentiels, qui sont prets a faire des investissements et a promis de
fournir des informations supplementaires une fois que les negociations
seront terminees.

mardi 5 novembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

INDEX DE L’UE : L’ARMENIE EN QUATRIEME POSITION AU NIVEAU DE L’INTEGRATION

ARMENIE

Dans les resultats 2013 de l’indice de l’integration europeenne
pour les pays du Partenariat oriental, l’Armenie arrive en quatrième
position parmi les six pays.

Presentant les troisièmes resultats de l’Indice Europeens
d’integration, Olga Kvashuk de la Fondation Ukrainienne Internationale
Renaissance a declare a la presse a Erevan que la Moldavie est le
leader en matière d’integration europeenne, en deuxième position
vient la Georgie, puis l’Ukraine, puis l’Armenie, l’Azerbaïdjan et
la Bielorussie.

Il est a noter que la Moldavie et la Georgie vont signer des
accords d’association respectifs avec l’UE lors du prochain sommet
du Partenariat oriental a Vilnius le mois prochain, alors que la
signature de l’Ukraine est indecise, aussi longtemps que l’ancien
Premier ministre Ioulia Timochenko reste emprisonnee (la liberation de
Timochenko est une des conditions prealables de l’UE pour la signature
de l’accord). L’Armenie, comme on le sait, ne se lancera pas dans
l’encrage a l’Accord d’association après presque quatre annees de
negociations, en raison de la decision d’adherer a l’Union douanière.

L’indice de l’integration europeen pour les pays du Partenariat
oriental est un outil de surveillance de la societe civile et sert
de compteur de vitesse de l’integration europeenne pour les pays du
partenariat oriental.

Il y a trois dimensions dans l’evaluation. 1. Les liens : developper
les liens politiques, economiques et sociaux entre chacun des six pays
du partenariat oriental de l’UE ; 2. Approximation : la legislation,
les pratiques et les institutions dans les pays du partenariat oriental
convergeant vers les normes europeennes et en conformite avec les
exigences communautaires ; 3. Gestion : evolution des structures de
gestion et des politiques dans les pays du partenariat oriental qui
visent a une plus grande integration europeenne.

” L’Armenie a fait de bons progrès vers l’UE l’annee dernière. Malgre
sa quatrième position dans les liens elle arrive en troisième position
au niveau de l’approximation. Le pays a ameliore ses scores dans
les trois dimensions, en particulier dans la gestion où il a atteint
presque le meme niveau que l’Ukraine “.

Traian Hristea, chef de la delegation de l’UE a l’Armenie, present
a l’introduction de l’indice, a declare dans son discours que, bien
que l’Armenie et l’UE ne signeront pas l’accord sur l’association,
l’UE est a la recherche de moyens afin de poursuivre sa cooperation
fructueuse et de developper les relations de partenariat.

” Compte tenu de la decision de l’Armenie de se joindre a l’Union
Douanière les relations dans la societe civile sont devenus encore
plus importantes et nous allons continuer a soutenir la societe civile
” a declare Hristea.

Boris Navasardyan, coordonnateur national de la plate-forme de la
societe civile du partenariat de l’Est predit que dans le quatrième
indice sur l’integration europeenne l’Armenie aura fait moins de
progrès car elle aura echange le vecteur pro-Europe pour l’union
douanière.

” En particulier, a la fois dans les paramètres de gestion et
d’approximation nous allons montrer une regression, alors que pour
les liens je ne peux pas le dire a coup sûr, parce qu’au moins dans
cette seule direction – qui est la facilitation du processus de visa
avec l’UE – nous avons un document signe ” a-t-il dit.

Par Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow

mardi 5 novembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

TURQUIE : ERDOGAN CREE LA POLEMIQUE EN REJETANT DES DORTOIRS MIXTES POUR ETUDIANTS

TURQUIE

ANKARA, 04 nov 2013 (AFP) – Le Premier ministre islamo-conservateur
turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a cree une nouvelle polemique sur la place
de la religion dans la societe turque en s’elevant contre la mixite
des dortoirs d’etudiants.

“Les filles et les garcons etudiants ne peuvent vivre dans
une meme maison, cela est contraire a notre structure qui est
conservateur-democrate”, a dit Erdogan, cite par des journaux,
devant les cadres du Parti de la justice et du developpement (AKP)
reunis lors du weekend a Kizilcahamam, dans la banlieue d’Ankara.

Il a souligne que son gouvernement allait “d’une manière ou de l’autre
superviser” la situation, selon les quotidiens Radikal et Zaman,
sans preciser si les dortoirs mixtes, qui sont de plus en plus rare
a travers la Turquie, seraient desormais separes alors que leurs
locataires jouissent de la majorite civile, fixee a 18 ans.

Les propos de M. Erdogan ont provoque une nouvelle polemique sur les
reseaux sociaux, nombre de Turc denoncant une attaque a la vie privee.

M. Erdogan, aux renes de la Turquie depuis plus de dix ans, est accuse
de vouloir “islamiser” la societe avec des references de plus en plus
visibles a l’islam.

En juin dernier, une vague de contestation sans precedent a secoue
le regime turc.

mardi 5 novembre 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

November 4, 2013
___________________

Soorp Haroutiun Church Celebrates Dedication of Cultural Hall

Soorp Haroutiun Church of Orlando, Fla., marked its third anniversary on
Sunday, October 27, and celebrated the dedication of its cultural hall-a
step that the community hopes will help inject new energy into parish life.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by the
Very Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, a visiting priest from Holy Etchmiadzin, and
Dn. Vahe Bagdasarian, a student at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. Maestro
Khoren Mekanejian, the Diocese’s Music Ministry coordinator, directed the
choir.

During badarak, Archbishop Barsamian ordained three young men-John Vatian,
Robert Vatian, and Narek Nersisyan-to the rank of acolyte. The three had
worked with the parish’s former visiting pastor, the Rev. Fr. Abraham
Malkhasyan, as well as other parishioners to prepare for their new
responsibilities.

“It is such a joy to see these young men step forward and serve their
church,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “I am confident that today’s ordination
service is the first of many to be performed in this young parish.”

At the conclusion of services, Archbishop Barsamian led a veneration prayer
for the “Relic of St. Vartan the Brave”-a gift to the Eastern Diocese from
His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians-which the Primate
had brought with him from St. Vartan Cathedral in New York.

Parishioners then gathered in the church narthex, where Archbishop Barsamian
blessed a plaque in honor of the late Haroutiun and Siranoush Toufayan, the
parents of church benefactor Hratch Toufayan. Mr. Toufayan and his wife
Suzanne served as the grand godfathers of Soorp Haroutiun Church when it was
consecrated in 2010. The plaque was hung above the doors leading into the
sanctuary.

Archbishop Barsamian also blessed the church’s cultural hall, which was
dedicated in honor of longtime parishioners Drs. Aram and Aida
Khatchadourian Tchobanian. The couple led a ribbon-cutting ceremony; they
had served as cornerstone godfathers at the church’s consecration, and
recently made a generous contribution to the parish.

“We want to see this cultural hall used by the Armenian community,” Dr. Aida
said, adding that she hoped it would serve the old and young alike. “It’s a
great place for Armenians to get together after church. For the children,
especially, it’s perfect for meeting each other, playing together, and
keeping the Armenian spirit alive.”

In the afternoon, a banquet was held in the new hall. Dr. Albert Eckian
served as the master of ceremonies. Young flutist Sara Nazarian performed
several selections.

Parish council member Lucine Mardirosian-Harvey spoke about fundraising for
the church’s planned Armenian Genocide memorial-a khatchkar monument that
will be installed on church grounds. Drs. Aram and Aida Khatchadourian
Tchobanian have agreed to help with the project, but other support will be
needed as plans move forward.

Archbishop Barsamian thanked the Toufayan and Khatchadourian Tchobanian
families for their generosity, and extended his appreciation to the parish
council members, Sunday School superintendent and staff, and the entire
community for their support of and participation in parish life.

“It was only three years ago that I consecrated this beautiful church in
central Florida, but already there are signs of growth and vibrancy here,”
Archbishop Barsamian said. “I am so proud of what has been accomplished
here, and I look forward to celebrating new milestones with you in the
future.”

###

Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains young men to the rank of
acolyte.
Photo 2: Drs. Aram and Aida Khatchadourian Tchobanian cut the ribbon to the
church’s cultural hall.
Photo 3: Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan look on as Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
blesses a plaque in honor of the late Haroutiun and Siranoush Toufayan,
which has been hung in the church narthex.