Author: Badalian Vardan

U.N. OFFICE EMPLOYEES VIOLATE PARKING RULES

15:49, October 22, 2013

Hetq received a letter and the following video clip showing employees
of the U.N. Office in Armenia parking the cars in a no parking zone.

While Mikhail Yurtayev was videotaping the scene, an office employee
claiming to be the head of the U.N. Border Security Program approached
Yurtayev and explained that due to stalled construction the street
had been closed to traffic.

“We have no other place to park,” the employee complained.

The employee asked Yurtayev to tape the tape and show it to the
proper authorities.

EU INDEX: ARMENIA FOURTH IN INTEGRATION

NEWS | 22.10.13 | 15:39

Photolure

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

By the 2013 results of the European Integration Index for Eastern
Partnership Countries, Armenia came fourth among the six countries.

Presenting the third European Integration Index results, Ukrainian
International Renaissance Foundation’s Olga Kvashuk told the press on
Tuesday in Yerevan that Moldova is the leader in terms of European
integration, second comes Georgia, then the Ukraine, then Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and Belarus.

It is noteworthy that Moldova and Georgia will be signing their
respective Association Agreements with the EU during the upcoming
Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius next month, while the Ukraine’s
signing is undecided, for as long as the country’s former Prime
Minister Yulia Timoshenko remains imprisoned (Timoshenko’s release is
one of the EU’s pre-conditions for signing the agreement). Armenia,
as it is known, will not be inking the Associations Agreement after
almost four years of negotiations, because of the decision to join
the Customs Union.

The European Integration Index for Eastern Partnership Countries is
a tool of civil society monitoring and serves as a speedometer of
European integration for EAP countries.

There are three dimensions of evaluation. 1. Linkage: growing
political, economic and social ties between each of the six EAP
countries and EU; 2. Approximation: legislation, practices and
institutions in the EAP countries converging towards EU standards
and in line with EU requirements; 3. Management: evolving management
structures and polices in the EAP countries that aim at further
European integration.

“Armenia made good progress towards the EU last year. Despite being
fourth in Linkage, it comes third in Approximation. The country
improved its scores in all three dimensions, especially in Management
where it reached almost the same level as Ukraine”.

Traian Hristea, Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, present at the
introduction of the index, said in his speech that although Armenia
and the EU won’t be signing the Associations Agreement, the EU is
looking for ways to continue its successful cooperation and develop
the partnership relations.

“Considering Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union civil
society relations have become even more important and we will continue
supporting the civil society”, said Hristea.

National Coordinator of the Eastern Partnerships’ Civil Society
Platform Boris Navasardyan predicts that in the fourth index of
European integration Armenia will have even less progress because of
having traded the pro-Europe vector for the Customs Union.

“In particular, both by the approximation and project management
parameters we will show regress, as for the linkage, I cannot say
for sure, because at least in that one direction – which is the
facilitation of the visa process with EU – we have a document signed,”
he says.

EU RESOLUTE TO CONTINUE DEEP COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

17:02 22.10.2013

Hasmik Dilanyan

The 14th sitting of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Committee kicked off in
Yerevan today. Gunar Wiegand, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership,
Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE at the European External
Action Service, participated in the meeting. “We are resolute to
continue the deep cooperation with Armenia, but we should take into
consideration the recent decision to join the Customs Union, as well,”
he told reporters.

“Ahead of the Vilnius summit we’ll discuss issues ranging from
political reforms to economic cooperation, as well as questions
connected with Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union,” he said.

The European official said the negotiations on the further development
of relations will continue after the Vilnius summit, as well.

Will Armenia sign any document in Vilnius? “We hope to sign a document
that will determine the framework of future Armenia-RU cooperation,”
Armenian Minister of Economy Vahram Avanesyan said, adding, however,
that he does not know how the document will be called, as the
negotiations are still in progress.

The Minister said the document will encompass all issues, including
economic ones. “We can say that the relations between Armenia and
the European Union are on a high level,” the Minister said.

MAYOR OF MARSEILLE TO VISIT YEREVAN

13:34 22.10.2013

The Mayor of Marseille, Jean-Claude Gaudin will head the delegation of
the Official Economic Mission during a visit to Yerevan from October
22 to 27.

He will be accompanied by Bernard Hatemian, President of the
French-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice President
Didier Parakian (Deputy Mayor) and Garo Hovsepian, Mayor of the 7th
district of Marseille.

The delegation will meet with business leaders, the Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Economy Vahram Avanessian and
Deputy Minister Ara Petrosyan.

Several conferences, meetings and factory visits are planned. Visits
to Etchmiadzin, Sardarapat, Geghard, Garni, Sevan and Tsitsernakaberd
are also envisaged.

President Serzh Sargsyan will decorate Garo Hovsepian and Didier
Parakian with high state awards, free-lance journalist Jean Eckian
informs.

REVUE DE PRESSE N°1 – 22/10/13 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publié le : 22-10-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Arménienne contre le Négationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le génocide arménien, la Shoah, le génocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le négationnisme, l’Union européenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggérons également 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 générons
chaque jour.

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

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

Bonne lecture.

Turquie : une église arménienne transformée en grange Info Collectif
VAN – – L’église arménienne du village de
GermuÅ~_ a Ourfa, a été transformée en grange après avoir été
restaurée il y a 10 ans. Les photos et les vidéos sur le site turc
urfadabugun.com nous montrent son état actuel déplorable. Les
envoyés spéciaux du site turc urfadabugun semblent sincèrement
désolés. Nous aussi. En Turquie, le patrimoine architectural
religieux des Arméniens est au mieux laissé a l’abandon, au pire,
méthodiquement détruit. De rares restaurations d’églises font
office de poudre jetée aux yeux de ceux qui voudront bien être
éblouis. En ce qui concerne l’église de GermuÅ~_ a Ourfa, seules
les vaches qui s’y abritent peuvent s’extasier.

Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction d’un article en turc,
paru sur le site urfadabugun.com, le 16 septembre 2013.

LDH, Licra, Mrap : “refusons que la haine fasse programme” Info
Collectif VAN – – LDH, Licra, Mrap : “refusons que
la haine fasse programme” “Nous, associations engagées dans la lutte
anti-raciste, lancons ensemble un appel solennel aux responsables
gouvernementaux et politiques, aux élus et aux candidats : quels
que soient vos engagements partisans, condamnez toute désignation de
boucs émissaires, refusez que la haine fasse programme, refusez la
réhabilitation du racisme, refusez la brutalité verbale, toujours
annonciatrice de passages a l’acte dramatiques.” Le Collectif VAN
vous invite a lire cet appel de la Ligue de droits de l’Homme, de la
Licra et du Mrap.

Les procès pour ” terrorisme ” en Turquie Info Collectif VAN –
– “Plusieurs procès pour délits d’opinion
se déroulent en même temps dans différentes villes de Turquie,
notamment a Istanbul, Diyarbakir, mais aussi a Izmir, Van, Mardin,
Sirnak, Batman, pour ne citer que ces quelques tribunaux. Ils ont tous
un point commun, celui de vouloir éradiquer l’Union des Communautés
du Kurdistan (KCK), accusée de vouloir remplacer les institutions
officielles et de favoriser une insurrection”. Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiée sur le site des Amitiés
kurdes de Bretagne le 21 octobre 2013.

Quatre personnes tuées en Egypte devant une église Quatre personnes
ont été tuées, dont une fillette de huit ans, et dix-sept
blessées par un tireur inconnu dimanche soir 20 octobre au Caire
alors qu’elles venaient de sortir d’une église, ont annoncé les
autorités égyptiennes.

Les doutes du leader Biélorusse sur l’adhésion de l’Arménie a
l’Union douanière L’adhésion de l’Arménie a l’union douanière
avec la Russie, la Biélorussie et le Kazakhstan n’est pas jouée
d’avance, a déclaré lundi le président biélorusse Alexandre
Loukachenko. Loukachenko a insisté pour que le président Serge
Sarkissian n’entame seulement qu’ ” une demi-étape ” vers le bloc
commercial dirigé par la Russie alors que ce dernier avait annoncé
un changement inattendu de la politique étrangère arménienne au
cours de sa visite du 3 septembre a Moscou .

Quand des étudiants américains ignorent tout de la Shoah Une
femme qui milite pour l’enseignement obligatoire du génocide nazi
en Pennsylvanie, a interrogé des étudiants sur la Seconde guerre
mondiale. Les réponses reflètent une vaste méconnaissance des
évènements.

Lieberman: ” la Turquie essaye de nous humilier ! ” Le Président du
comité des affaires étrangères et de la défense de la Knesset,
Avigdor Lieberman,a accepté de donner une interview au journal
israélien Yediot Ahronot, dimanche soir, concernant ” l’affaire
turque. ”

Le difficile retour au pays pour les Kurdes de Turquie Nous allons
plonger dans un conflit très ancien qui oppose, depuis bientôt
trente ans, l’armée turque aux séparatistes kurdes du PKK.

Cette guerre qui ne dit pas son nom n’a pas seulement tué des dizaines
de milliers de personnes, elle a aussi contraint des centaines
de milliers de Kurdes a fuir leur village vers les grandes villes
de l’ouest.

600.000 réfugiés syriens en Turquie Près de 600.000 réfugiés
syriens se trouvent a présent en Turquie, a déclaré lundi devant
les journalistes a Kirikkale (80 km a l’est d’Ankara) le vice-premier
ministre turc Bashir Atalay. “200.000 réfugiés vivent dans nos
camps d’accueil, 400.000 autres sont installés dans les villes”,
a précisé M.Atalay.

Article du journal franco-turc Zaman – 22/10/2013 – 1 Le Collectif
VAN relaye ici les articles du journal franco-turc Zaman (équivalent
du Today’s Zaman en langue anglaise, diffusé en Turquie).

Attention : ces articles ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Il
s’agit pour l’essentiel de traductions des versions turque et
anglaise du Zaman, journal proche du parti au pouvoir (AKP). “Pour
Markar Esayan, le rapport d’avancement de l’UE sur la Turquie offre
un panormama plutôt juste et constructif du pays”.

Retour a la rubrique

UN GROUPE DE PROFESSIONNELS DES MEDIAS EN ARMENIE SOUHAITE LANCER UNE ” VRAIE ” TELEVISION PUBLIQUE

ARMENIE

Un groupe de professionnels des medias en Armenie s’est engage a
concretiser l’idee d’une ” reelle television publique en Armenie “.

Ils ont l’intention de mettre en place un conseil, de convoquer une
assemblee constituante afin de decider de la plus efficace organisation
juridique, d’elaborer un plan d’action et le mettre en oeuvre.

L’initiative souhaite utiliser la technologie des satellites selon
Levon Barseghyan, president du Club des journalistes Asparez. Parmi
ceux qui ont rejoint le groupe il y a la societe A1 + TV dont le
directeur est Mesrop Movsesyan, le president du Yerevan Press Club
Boris Navasardyan, le president du Comite pour proteger la liberte
d’expression Ashot Melikian, le specialiste des medias Mesrop
Harutyunyan et autres. Ils croient qu’il y a une reelle demande pour
une societe de television sur ce modèle en Armenie aujourd’hui.

Des bulletins d’infos tous les 15 ou 30 minutes, des interviews
dans differents formats, des debats, des programmes analytiques,
des emissions en direct de manifestations publiques de masse, des
documentaires, d’autres productions de television qui repondraient aux
buts et objectifs de cette television, des publicites sociales, de la
publicite commerciale limitee qui n’interromprait pas les programmes
– c’est ainsi que les membres du groupe d’initiative voit la ” vraie
” television publique.

” L’idee n’est pas nouvelle, et les professionnels qui ont ete en
activite de la television pendant plus de 20 ans ont toujours vu le
problème et realise que nous n’avions pas de television publique. Nous
avons eu la television d’Etat, une societe de television mis en place
par l’Etat, une societe de television portant le nom de ” public “,
mais ayant des interets profonds dans le marche de la publicite, une
television dans un sens plus large qui n’a pas servi les interets du
public, “, a declare Levon Barseghyan lors d’une discussion publique.

Il a ajoute que la mission ” une reelle television publique ” sera
d’avoir une societe de television qui fournira une couverture complète
des problèmes et des developpements en Armenie et va le faire avec
une honnetete professionnelle, une societe de television qui sera
public par son essence et nature, ne cherchera pas des profits et
sera independant de tout parti politique ou gouvernement.

Les programmes par satellite de la ” reelle television publique ”
devraient etre disponibles pour consultation dans toute l’Armenie
et les gens seront egalement en mesure de les regarder en Europe,
Russie, Amerique du Nord, ainsi qu’en ligne, et s’il y a une volonte
des autres entreprises de radiodiffusion en Armenie, y compris les
câblodistributeurs, la chaîne de television pourrai devenir disponible
egalement a travers leurs canaux.

Le coût estimatif du lancement de l’entreprise et d’assurer sa
première annee de fonctionnement est de 850000 dollars a 1,2 millions
de dollars.

Selon Levon Melikian et plusieurs organisations qui ont souvent
sevèrement critique les representants du domaine de la radiodiffusion
la creation d’une telle societe de television pourra etre ” une
reponse constructive a la question de savoir ce qu’est une societe
de television publique “.

La television publique d’Armenie finance par l’Etat a souvent ete
critique pour ses feuilletons et des programmes de faible qualite. Les
critiques disent aussi que les nouvelles sur H1 ne correspondent pas
toujours a leur image en entier.

Une critique particulière a ete exprimee recemment sur la decision
de la Societe de television publique de signer un contrat avec le
citoyen russe Maxim Kisilev, qui dans le passe a travaille pour les
plus grands entreprises de television en Russie, pour le poste de
producteur general jusqu’a la fin de l’annee . Le recent changement
de logo de la television publique et, en particulier, le fait qu’il a
” perdu ” sa lettre armenien ” H “, a egalement fourni l’occasion de
discussions. Beaucoup ont pris cela comme un moyen de copier le logo
de la television publique russe.

ArmeniaNow a demande a la societe de Television Publique d’Armenie de
commenter les plans pour d’une TV publique rivale en Armenie ainsi
que sur les allegations relatives a la qualite de sa programmation
et son changement de logo, mais le radiodiffuseur public n’a fourni
aucune reponse pour le moment a cette publication.

Pendant ce temps, Navasardyan a declare que l’initiative de mettre en
place une ” reelle ” television publique existait aussi en Azerbaïdjan
où une radiodiffusion par satellite devait etre effectue a partir
de Prague, mais le projet ne s’est pas averee viable et a ete ferme
en 2007.

” L’ensemble du programme etait destine a l’assistance des donateurs et
quand une decision a ete prise par les organisations internationales
donatrices que ce n’etait pas necessaire, l’initiative etait morte ”
a declare Navasardyan, ajoutant que c’est pourquoi ils ont decide de
ne pas seulement se prevaloir d’organisations donatrices mais aussi de
mener des activites de collecte de fonds a grande echelle. Il a dit
que dans l’affaire d’obtention de fonds ils s’attendent a une large
participation des citoyens d’Armenie, des Armeniens de la diaspora,
des organisations et des fondations.

Par Gohar Abrahamian

ArmeniaNow

mardi 22 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE PROMOTE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INCREASE IN ARMENIA

October 21, 2013 – 17:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s economic activity index grew by 10,3%
in September 2013 as compared with August 2013, according to the
National Statistical Service of Armenia.

Consumer prices grew by 8,2% in September 2013 as compared with the
same period in 2012. 0,2% deflation was reported in September 2013
as compared with August.

The national budget envisages 6,2%, economic growth, and 4±1,5%
inflation for 2013.

Ð~P 12,7% industry growth was reported in September 2013 against the
same period in 2012, with a month-on-month increase of 6,7% reported.

A 1,5% increase was posted in the sector of agriculture in September
2013 against the same period in 2012, with a 29,4% month-on-month
growth reported.

In January-September 2013, a 9,2% drop in construction was posted
against the same period in 2012, with a year-on-year decrease
totaling 11,9%.

Armenia posted a 0,9% trade turnover drop in September 2013 against
the same period in 2012, 0,4% increase in the services sector and 0,5%
drop in the energy sector reported.

Armenia’s foreign trade turnover totaled $513,1 mln (AMD 209,5 bln)
in September 2013 increasing by 18,4% compared with the same period
in 2012, according to updated statistical data.

Export amounted to $136,4 mln (AMD 55,7 bln) in September 2013,
increasing by 23,3%. against 2012 results. The monthly export fell
by 7,6%.

A 16,7% increase was recorded in import bringing it to $376,7 mln
(AMD 153,8 bln,) the RA National Statistical Service reported.

The negative balance of foreign trade turnover amounted to $1 992,4
mln (AMD 818,5 bln) in January-September 2013 compared with the same
period in 2012.

KARABAKH RECOGNITION BILL WOULD HAVE NO POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS, SAYS OFFICIAL

16:35 ~U 21.10.13

In an interview with Tert.am, a spokesperson for the Nagorno-Karabakh
Ministry of Defense, David Babayan, has addressed Armenian opposition
MP Zaruhi Postanjyan’s proposal regarding the country’s recognition
issue.

Mr Babayan, the draft law “On the Recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic” has been put on the National Assembly’s agenda with a
negative conclusion. The authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh had many
times before introduced their position on the issue, but we would
like to listen to you once again.

What I can personally say – and I repeat that’s my individual opinion
– is that steps of the kind do not in any way contribute to the
international recognition of the Artsakh Republic. On the contrary,
they are a major blow. I don’t know who they raise [the question]
several times a year, enabling other states to use that as criticism
against us. Do we need this? Is this in our national interests?

Definitely not. By solving political issues through such steps and
bargaining over the Artsakh independence – a sacred idea for our
nation for which so much blood was shed … – it isn’t right in the
present circumstances. I don’t even want to address that. This is a
major blow to our independence recognition process. If they feel such
a sorrow for Artsakh, why don’t they use the European Parliament’s
platform for voicing the problem?

Anyway, Zaruhi Postanjyan’s interpretation was that Artsakh would
return to the negotiations.

Does anyone take Artsakh’s voice or opinion into account as a result of
such a step? This is a speculation and, by the way, a very dangerous
one as it runs contrary to pan-national ideas. We have had enough of
it. This is not aimed at the recognition of Artsakh; this is aimed at
imitating a “struggle” on the political arena. But they had better
use their enthusiasm and energy on other platforms to move forward
with the Artsakh recognition process.

Mr Babayan, the NK president was taking part in the third congress
of the Armenians of Europe in Brussels on October 14-15. What was
its outcome?

I think it was a very important mission as we visited three states:
France, Belgium and the Netherlands, where we had many political
meetings. In Belgium, for instance, we met with representatives of
the Senate. At the European Parliament, Bako Sahakyan delivered a
speech; we later met with Armenian community representatives. We also
had a meeting at the Dutch Parliament … and this is very important
in terms of establishing and developing bilateral ties. We will see
such steps; I cannot say what is going to happen, but there will be
interesting developments in terms of making Artsakh recognizable. So
we have to think of those questions instead of pushing them to the
background to solve certain political problems.

Nalbandian discusses Injighulian’s release with Head of ICRC Delegation

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today the newly
appointed Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of Red
Cross to Armenia Sarah Epprecht.

The foreign minister congratulated Sarah Epprecht on her appointment
and wished her success, according to the press service of MFA.

Minister Nalbandian said Armenia highly appreciates the humanitarian
activities of the ICRC and its cooperation with Armenia.
Sarah Epprecht thanked Edward Nalbandian for the reception and the
words of appreciation, noting that their organization will continue
its neutral humanitarian mission.

In the words of E. Nalbandian, the ICRC’s humanitarian assistance
related to the Karabakh conflict, in particular, the search for POWs
and missing persons, deserves praise. In this connection he underlined
the importance of intensifying efforts on the release Armenian
serviceman Hakob Injighulian held captive in Azerbaijan.

Edward Nalbandian expressed readiness to continue Armenia’s active
cooperation with the ICRC.

Aysor.am

Capital Cities Sebu Simonian to be Panelist at ANCA Grassroots

Friday, October 18th, 2013
Sebu Simonian

GLENDALE – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
announced this week that renowned Los Angeles based music producer
Sebu Simonian will serve on the Film & the Arts Panel at the much
anticipated ANCA Grassroots Conference slated for Thanksgiving
weekend.

`We are proud of the success Sebu has achieved and will continue to
cheer him on as he advances his place in the music industry,’ said Ara
Khachatourian, chairman of the ANCA Grassroots committee. `We are also
very excited about having Sebu on the `Arts & Film’ panel this year
and are eager to hear his thoughts about activism through the arts.’

Simonian’s latest project Capital Cities released their debut album In
A Tidal Wave of Mystery on Capitol Records / Lazy Hooks this year,
with platinum selling lead single `Safe and Sound’ climbing the charts
worldwide and earning a Video Music Award. The band has toured North
America, South America, Europe and Asia all the while hosting and
participating in charity performances to promote awareness about the
Armenian Genocide.

Born in Syria to Armenian parents, Sebu began studying piano and voice
at a young age and received a degree in music from California State
University, Northridge. He formed his first band at the age of 15
playing mostly Pink Floyd covers. He began producing from his bedroom
at the age of 16 and later from his music studio in Burbank. In the
late 90s Sebu was an editorial assistant at Asbarez English Section.

The successful ANCA Grassroots Conference will return on Thanksgiving
Weekend, this time in the heart of Hollywood at Loews Hotel. The event
bring together academicians, artists, historians, legal experts and
political officials who will make presentations about varied topics
regarding the myriad aspects of the pursuit of Hay Tahd.

The conference is open to the community, but requires registration.
Register now by visitingitsmyseat.com/ancawr or by calling
818.500.1918. To obtain updates on the conference, like the ANCA
Western Region Facebook page at facebook.com/ANCAWesternRegion or
visit ancawr.org.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.