Author: Badalian Vardan

NATIONALISTS TO STAND TRIAL IN RUSSIA FOR KILLING ARMENIAN TAXI DRIVER

October 08, 2013 | 17:23

Four nationalists, three of them underage, will stand trial in Russia
for killing an Armenian taxi driver.

According to investigators, one of them set up a nationalist group
calling to kill non-Russians.

Back in 2012, the young men stopped a taxi and asked the driver,
Armenian by origin, to take them to one of the suburbs. Arriving
at the scene, they started beating him. Leader of the group stabbed
the driver, RIA Novosti reported. The Armenian man tried to escape,
but was again stopped by criminals and beaten to death.

They are charged with a murder on ethnic grounds.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

– See more at:

REPORT: ARMENIAN POPULATION DECLINES

The rates of emigration from Armenia is terrifying. The brain drain
deprives the country of intellect that could be used to foster economic
growth. This information is included in the recent report on the survey
on the decline of the Armenian population, which was presented during
the International Conference on Demographic Challenges in Armenia
organized jointly by the UN FPA and the Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs. Invited guests were Armenian researchers from Australia and
the United States.

Victor Aghadjanian of Arizona State University introduced the impact
of international migration on Armenian community households. Namely,
the survey in Tavush, Ararat and Gegharkunik found that migrant
families are less likely to engage in farming. There is no evidence
that rural migrant workers will earn money abroad and return to their
home to buy farming land and develop agriculture. In other words,
migrants do not invest money in Armenia.

Polls in the mentioned regions revealed that the wives of married
migrants are ready to leave Armenia with their children. Hence,
according to Victor Aghadjanian, migration tends to uproot the
economy. He says it takes a separate survey on the possible impact of
membership to the Customs Union on migration flow. It will definitely
have an impact if Armenia becomes a member of the CU, the expert says.

The report does not express any optimism. The survey revealed that
emigration of young people is determined by the lack of opportunities
for professional growth and development, as well as the wish to live
in a society with better protection of human rights, democracy and
governance. According to another survey covering the whole territory of
Armenia, one third of all respondents is going to leave the country
during the next two years. In addition, employed respondents are
looking to leaving for other countries seeking for higher pay and
better opportunities for use of their professional qualifications. The
survey reveals that part of the Armenian population is going to move
to other countries.

According to the survey, emigration is boosted by systemic issues such
as centralization of business and monopolies, issues in education
and judicial sectors. The report states that the business sector is
handled by a group of people who are also directly involved in public
administration, supervising specific areas or sector of economy. This
makes smaller competitors vulnerable, causes unemployment, unequal
distribution of funds over the society, the report holds.

The report also touches upon relations with the Diaspora. The authors
of the report think it is necessary to draft a clear strategy and
action plan for repatriation and admission of Diaspora Armenians
returning to the homeland.

The officials of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs are not
hiding the demographic plight in Armenia. Deputy Minister Petrosyan
announced during the conference that the rate of poverty is at 35%,
unemployment is high, the country is facing grave problems with
territorial development and health. According to the deputy minister,
the index of birth is very low, so it does not enable simple growth.

15:07 08/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

“LANDMINE FREE ARTSAKH” EVENING; OCTOBER 13 IN CALIFORNIA

;-october-13-in-california.html
09:58, October 8, 2013

Over 20 years after they were first planted in Artsakh, landmines
still remain and continue to maim and kill people.

In an effort to raise awareness of the problem and solicit help to
clear landmines, the Western Diocese is hosting a special “Landmine
Free Artsakh” evening on October 13, at the Zorayan Museum Hall,
3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504.

Organized under the auspices of Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
the event will feature attorney Mark Geragos and musical entertainer
Gor Mkhitarian.

The featured speaker is Galina Danilova from the HALO Trust,
the world’s oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance
organization. Danilova heads the HALO Finance in Artsakh and for
the past 11 years has been working in landmine clearing. “Every year
Armenians get hurt,” says Danilova, “some with significant injuries.

Although the war ended 19 years ago, the land still carries the seeds
of war. Farmers cannot grow crops to feed their families. Prairie
fertile land is surrounded with Danger Signs.”

During the evening, Danilova will show pictures and explain exactly how
people can put an end to the mayhem by participating in the landmine
clean-up efforts.

The public is cordially invited to attend this free-informational
event, October 13, at 5:00PM. Refreshments and wine will be provided.

For more information visit LandmineFreeArtsakh.com or call
818-523-2878.

KARABAKH PLANS TO DEVELOP MINING SECTOR

October 07, 2013 | 22:09

STEPANAKERT. – Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Republic President Bako
Sahakyan convoked a working consultation on the activities carried
out by the “Base Metals” company in the republic’s mining field,
President’s Central Information Department informed Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

The head of the company Valery Mejloumyan delivered a corresponding
report.

According to President Sahakyan, the mining sector has been one of
the main fields of Artsakh economy and it is necessary to implement
appropriate activities in order to maintain positive development
dynamics of the sphere in a long-term perspective. Special attention
was paid to the issues of nature protection as well.

National Assembly speaker Ashot Ghoulyan, prime-minister Ara
Haroutyunyan and other officials partook in the consultation.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

– See more at:

ACHARNEMENT CONTRE L’ECRIVAIN TURCO-ALLEMAND DOGAN AKHANLI

Publié le : 08-10-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le 12 septembre 2011, la
11ème Haute Cour Criminelle d’Istanbul avait acquitté l’écrivain
Erdogan Akhanli de l’accusation de participation a une opération de
braquage dans un cadre terroriste. Retournement de situation : un autre
tribunal a annulé l’acquittement de l’écrivain turco-allemand qui
vit a Cologne. Dogan Akhanli est donc de nouveau convoqué devant la
Justice turque. En aoÔt 2010, Dogan Akhanli avait été arrêté a son
arrivée a l’aéroport d’Istanbul et gardé quatre mois en détention
avant de pouvoir retourner en Allemagne, grâce a une campagne de
soutien international, relayée en France par le Collectif VAN.

L’écrivain est très engagé sur la question de la reconnaissance du
génocide arménien, ce qui lui vaut sans doute cet acharnement des
autorités de Turquie. Dogan Akhanli s’exprime ici dans un communiqué
de presse : il refuse de se présenter a la nouvelle audience de
vendredi et annonce qu’il ne se rendra désormais plus en Turquie,
afin de mettre fin a cette farce kafkaïenne. Le Collectif VAN vous
propose la traduction de ce communiqué en allemand, paru sur le site
AGA [Working Group Recognition Against genocide for international
understanding – Berlin] le 4 octobre 2013.

AGA

Se libérer du procès

Cologne, le 4 octobre 2013

Après l’invalidation de mon acquittement par la Cour de cassation a
Ankara, le procès a mon encontre a revêtu un caractère kafkaïen
impossible a corriger.

Cette même Cour de cassation, qui n’a trouvé aucune organisation
derrière l’assassinat de Hrant Dink, me convoque a nouveau, car je
serais le chef d’une organisation terroriste, sous le pseudonyme
de DOGAN K., et elle attend de moi que je mette en scène mon ”
exécution ”, qui plus est, avec les accusateurs.

En tant qu’homme de lettre, je connais la possibilité d’adaptation
et la fin tragique de Josef K., le protagoniste du roman de Kafka
Le procès. C’est pourquoi le 8.12.2010, le premier jour du procès
contre moi, je me suis enfui, avec mon silence et protégé par la
solidarité publique, de l’espace kafkaïen que la justice turque
avait construit pour moi.

Aujourd’hui, le tribunal veut me faire revenir de toutes ses forces
dans cet espace. Je m’y oppose, je ne reviendrai pas. Ã~@ l’avenir,
mon silence s’adresse aussi a la justice turque. Je ne suis pas le
personnage de roman de Kafka, qui, a la fin de son ” procès ”, se
laisse exécuter ” volontairement ” avec un couteau de cuisine, et
qui pourtant renaît a la vie avec chaque lecteur. Ã~@ la différence
d’un personnage de roman, je n’ai qu’une vie. Et je ne veux pas que
cette vie se déroule dans une farce kafkaïenne.

J’arrête. Je n’apparaîtrai plus devant la justice turque, ni
volontairement, ni forcé. Je prends ainsi la liberté qu’elle veut
me refuser. Je serai libre, par ma propre volonté.

Je fais aussi cela, parce que mon ” procès ”, d’un point de vue
des droits de l’homme et politiquement, fait partie de la multitude
des procès injustes qui se sont ouverts en Turquie avec un arbitraire
bruyant et arrogant, et qui ont été clos. Par ma décision, je refuse
de participer a ce procédé, aux côtés de ceux qui, a leur facon,
défient chaque fois désespérément la justice turque.

Dogan Akhanli

©Traduction de l’allemand C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 8 octobre
2013 –

Lire aussi un article en allemand :

,15189520,24530030.html

Lire aussi :

L’écrivain Erdogan Akhanli acquitté

Turquie : Dogan Akhanli est libre

Turquie : Gunter Wallraff au procès d’Erdogan Akhanlı

Gunter Wallraff : ” une grande faute morale ”

Turquie : d’autres Dogan Akhanli dans les prisons

Berlin : 2e rassemblement de soutien a Erdogan Akhanli

Turquie : justice pour l’écrivain Erdogan Akhanli

Turquie : le guide d’un Musée de la Shoah en prison

Soutien a Dogan Akhanlı : le Collectif VAN a la Fête de la
Fraternité

Orhan Pamuk et Gunter Grass : ” Fraternité avec Dogan Akhanli ”

La Turquie emprisonne un intellectuel gênant

Turquie – Arrestation de l’écrivain Dogan Akhanli

Roman traduit du turc : Les Juges de l’Apocalypse

Un démocrate turc d’Allemagne écrit le roman du génocide arménien

Turquie : d’autres Dogan Akhanli dans les prisons

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : AGA

UNION DOUANIERE ET LES FRONTIERES : LE KARABAGH VA-T-IL FAIRE PARTIE DE L’ESPACE DOUANIER COMMUN OU ETRE SEPARE PAR LES DOUANES DE L’ARMENIE ?

ARMENIE

L’intrigue politique qui persiste dans l’espace mediatique regional
est de savoir comment le statut du Haut-Karabagh va changer après
que l’Armenie ait declare ses plans d’adherer a l’union douanière
dirigee par Moscou.

Les declarations contradictoires ont ete faites, avec certains
supposant qu’il y ait peu de chances d’avoir une frontière douanière
entre l’Armenie et le Haut-Karabagh, ce qui signifie que les membres
de l’Union douanière, qui inclut maintenant la Russie, la Bielorussie
et le Kazakhstan, vont de facto reconnaître le Karabagh dans le
cadre de l’Armenie. Cependant, l’information a transpire aussi qu’un
travail preliminaire est menee pour mettre en place des points de
contrôles douaniers a la frontière de l’Armenie et de la Republique
du Haut-Karabagh (NKR).

À cet egard, une opinion interessante a ete exprimee au cours
d’une teleconference Moscou-Erevan le 25 Septembre. Le Directeur de
l’Institut de la Communaute economique eurasienne Vladimir Lepyokhin a
dit qu’en adherant a l’Union douanière l’Armenie elle-meme devrait se
prononcer sur la question de son regime douanier avec le Haut-Karabagh,
et la Russie ne forcera pas l’Armenie a prendre une decision sur
la question.

Il est fort probable que l’Armenie elle-meme ” decide ” d’etablir
des postes de douane a la frontière avec le Karabagh et que la la
Russie soit ” d’accord ” avec cette idee. C’est le chemin qui peut
etre choisi comme un ” compromis “.

Il est symptomatique que dans ce contexte, il y ait de nouvelles
rumeurs d’intensification de la prochaine mise en service de l’aeroport
de Stepanakert. L’aeroport du Karabakh est depuis longtemps pret
a accepter des avions, par ailleurs, depuis plusieurs mois un des
avions achetes par Air Artsakh a effectue des vols d’essai dans le
ciel du Haut-Karabagh.

Toutefois, les experts disent que seuls les grandes puissances
mondiales peuvent ” convaincre ” l’Azerbaïdjan a ne pas empecher les
vols (elle a menace d’abattre des avions civils car elle considère la
Karabagh comme faisant partie de son espace aerien). Dans ce contexte,
il est possible que la Russie prendra en charge la responsabilite de
l’exploitation de l’aeroport, mais a la condition qu’il soit utilise
pour les besoins de la Russie.

Dans ce cas, l’etablissement de la douane a l’aeroport deviendra
une necessite. Actuellement le Karabagh a trois points de douane et
tous sont a la frontière avec l’Armenie, bien que le commerce entre
les deux republiques est en franchise de droits. Entre les Etats,
il existe seulement un accord sur un mecanisme complexe de contrôle
douanier, lorsqu’une partie des taxes des marchandises importees en
Armenie du Karabagh va pour partie au budget de l’Armenie et pour
partie au budget du Karabagh.

L’annulation des taxes douanières après l’adhesion de l’Armenie
a l’Union douanière, selon les experts armeniens, va conduire a
une forte reduction des recettes budgetaires au niveau des droits
de douane. La meme situation est attendue au Karabagh. Toutefois,
selon les memes experts, les produits du Karabagh pourraient entrer
sur les marches russes plus larges meme si maintenant, ils sont deja
vendus avec succès en Russie et pas seulement la-bas.

Stepanakert n’a pas officiellement formule son attitude envers
la decision du President armenien Serge Sarkissian de faire entrer
l’Armenie dans l’Union douanière. Le Premier ministre Ara Harutyunyan
a seulement qualifie la decision ” d’historique “. Bien que le haut
fonctionnaire du Karabagh n’ait pas reussi a dire quels sont les
avantages specifiques que cela apportera au Karabagh, il a mis en garde
contre ” politiser ” la question et ne pas lier ce processus a l’etat
du Karabagh. Il a laisse entendre que l’on devait de se contenter de la
presence d’une ” frontière douanière de facto commun avec l’Armenie “.

Par Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

mardi 8 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

UN VETERAN DE LA GUERRE QUALIFIE LES ACCUSATIONS DE ” POLITIQUE ”

ARMENIE

Un colonel de l’armee armenienne a la retraite qui a ete arrete le
mois dernier après avoir organise des manifestations de rue avec
d’autres anciens combattants de la region du Haut-Karabagh a rejete
comme infondees les accusations portees contre lui et les a qualifie de
” politiquement motivees “.

Volodia Avetisian a ete inculpe le 20 Septembre pour avoir ” detourne ”
2000 $ d’un autre homme avec une fausse promesse d’avoir son petit-fils
exempte du service militaire obligatoire. Ni Avetisian ni son avocat
n’ont fait de declaration publique sur cette affaire.

Dans une declaration ecrite, Avetisian a accuse les autorites
armeniennes d’avoir fabrique l’affaire pour arreter la campagne pour
une augmentation importante des pensions modestes verses a des milliers
de veterans de la guerre du Karabagh. Il s’est engage a poursuivre
sa campagne qui a recu une large couverture mediatique independante
au cours des derniers mois.

La declaration a ete diffuse quelques heures après qu’il est apparu
que Volodia Avetisian sera couvert par une amnistie generale prevue
par les autorites. L’avocat du colonel, Ara Zakarian, a nie tout
lien entre l’amnistie et la première reaction tardive de son client
a son arrestation.

Volodia Avetisian a accède a la notoriete après avoir organise une
protestation solitaire sur la Place de la Liberte a Erevan en mai
pour reclamer des hausses de retraite. Des dizaines d’autres anciens
combattants ont rejoint sa campagne sur une base presque quotidienne.

Tout au long de l’ete, ils ont manifeste a plusieurs reprises devant
le bureau du Premier ministre et d’autres edifices gouvernementaux
a Erevan pour appuyer leurs revendications. Les manifestants diriges
par Avetisian ont egalement attire des centaines de personnes a des
manifestations hebdomadaires organisees par eux sur la place en août.

” Nous pensons que cette arrestation vise a etouffer notre lutte
sociale ” a dit l’un des veterans qui protestait, Karen Melikbekian,
au service armenien de RFE /’RL (Azatutyun.am). ” Ils ont arrete notre
leader. Mais dans cette lutte chaque combattant de la liberte est un
chef de file. Peuvent-ils arreter tous les autres ? ”

Un autre veteran, Gagik Sarukhanian, a affirme que Volodia Avetisian
a ete emprisonne parce que sa campagne devenait un combat pour un ”
changement de regime “.

mardi 8 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

UNCOVERED: “COVERED MARKET” OPENS AFTER TWO-YEAR RENOVATION AND AMID CHARGES OF ILLEGALITY

Yerevan’s “Covered Market” under repair for the past two years and
an apple of discord between the new owner and civil society, Monday
opened its doors and welcomed the first customers.

Enlarge Photo Yerevan’s Pak Shuka (“Covered Market”), February 2011.

The market exterior has remained unchanged, however underground parking
lots have been built, a new two-storey glass structure has emerged in
the back, as for the interior, it looks like one of new owner Samvel
Alexanyan’s Yerevan City supermarkets â?” the product layout is the
same as in that chain of hyper markets, there are around two dozen
cash desks; Natali Pharm pharmacy, again belonging to Alexanyan,
is in the left wing of the market, there is the typical Yerevan City
supermarket’s escalator to the second floor. Former fruit and vegetable
vendors are given a very small part of the market, in the right wing,
to sell their produce.

During the two years of its repair numerous acts of protest have
been held against its reconstruction, with participation of renowned
architects and civil activists. They repeatedly claimed that the
reconstruction was proceeding with major violations of the law on urban
development and monument preservation. A former chief architect of
Yerevan even said that the Covered Market as a historical-cultural
monument could be regarded as lost. City Hall, the culture and
urban development ministries, as bodies in charge of the sphere,
made statements that they granted no license for such construction,
however it led to no legal liability for the construction implementer.

During ArmeniaNow’s visit today to the market, Alexanyan himself was
there. (He had claimed that he possessed no businesses, and that his
wife was running some.) Today Alexanyan claimed he had come to shop
for fruit and told ArmeniaNow that the supermarket name was still
Covered Market (countering speculations that it would be renamed
into Yerevan City). The plastic bags and carts, indeed, had Pak Shuka
(Covered market) printed on them.

The employees of the market said the official opening is planned for
October 9.

Meanwhile, “Liberate the Market from the Oligarch” civil initiative
states its determination to continue the fight and will start daily
acts of protest next to the market building ‘to stop the illegality’.

While the re-opened market and newly opened supermarket was slowly
taking its natural course of operation, members of the initiative
held a discussion in an attempt to determine which state body had
licensed the construction.

Sevada Hayrapetyan, head of the state department for urban development
at the Ministry of Urban Development, partaking in the discussion
said the permission was granted for the construction from point zero
only. RA Police’s Legal Department head Meruzhan Hakobyan said they
could have interfered and suspended the construction if City Hall had
made a respective request, with a statement that they were unable to
stop the illegal construction by their own means.

The initiative member Garegin Chugaszyan says they are planning to
turn to court to disclose the illegality.

THREE AZERBAIJANIS INJURED BY LAND MINE BLAST

Country – Monday, 07 October 2013, 11:12

Three Azerbaijanis were injured by a land mine blast at the border
with Armenia, Gazeta.ru informed. All the three are from the village
of Mezem, Ghazakh region of Azerbaijan bordering with Armenia.

RUSSIA HALTS LITHUANIA DAIRY IMPORTS IN TRADE ROW

7 October 2013 Last updated at 17:37 GMT

Russia is a major market for Lithuanian dairy exporters

Russia has halted imports of Lithuanian dairy produce amid tensions
over EU plans to forge closer ties with ex-Soviet republics.

Russia’s consumer watchdog said the levels of yeast and mould in
Lithuanian dairy produce were unacceptable.

Lithuania is already involved in a bitter dispute with Russia over the
cost of Russian gas, which Moscow’s former Soviet bloc allies rely on.

Lithuania is leading EU efforts to sign new trade deals with those
countries.

Russia’s consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has previously imposed
various bans on food and drink imported from former Soviet neighbours,
for example on wine from Georgia and Moldova, citing health concerns.

In July Russia halted imports of chocolate from the big Ukrainian
firm Roshen.

Such actions have been widely seen as Russia using trade to put
political pressure on its neighbours.

In recent weeks Russian customs officers have imposed time-consuming
checks on Lithuanian lorries on the Russian border, leading to long
delays and queues.

Last week Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius warned that
Vilnius could retaliate on the border with Kaliningrad, a Russian
enclave surrounded by Lithuania and Poland. The city of Kaliningrad
is a major port on the Baltic.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, Mr Linkevicius said: “The Kaliningrad
region is isolated, geographically isolated, so we could apply some
measures also to cut something”.

“We could cut off trains, but not only trains, also the supply of
goods, whatever. It is theoretically possible. It was not discussed,
it’s not our way of thinking, it’s not our methods,” he said.

The European Commission is investigating Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom
over alleged market-rigging in Eastern Europe. Last week Lithuania’s
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said that in 2006-2012 the cost
of Russian gas had soared by 600%, seriously undermining Lithuania’s
competitiveness.

EU forges closer ties

Russia is a major export market for Lithuanian dairy produce, the
bulk of which is cheese, Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency reports. In
2012 Lithuania exported 370,000 tonnes of dairy produce to Russia,
worth $193m (£120m).

The Russian market also accounts for almost 85% of all Lithuanian
exports, Itar-Tass reports.

The EU and Ukraine are preparing an association agreement, with plans
to sign it in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in late November. Such
agreements, along with a free trade partnership, are seen as key
steps towards eventual EU membership.

Moldova and Georgia – also former Soviet republics – may initial
association agreements with the EU.

Russia has been urging former Soviet republics to join a Russian-led
customs union, and Armenia recently said it would do so. The EU had
been expecting Armenia to sign an association agreement, and told
Yerevan that it could not join both trade blocs.

Only Belarus and Kazakhstan have joined Russia in the customs union so
far, which Russian President Vladimir Putin sees as a step towards a
“Eurasian union”.