Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS SHOULD BE FURTHERED ON THE BASIS OF THE PAST ACHIEVEMENTS

12:18 18.09.2013

Within the framework of the working visit to Warsaw, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with his Polish counterpart
Radoslaw Sikorski.

The Ministers discussed the paths of further development of the
Armenia-EU relations. In this regard, Minister Nalbandian underlined
that Armenia is determined to continue the comprehensive cooperation
with the EU in all possible directions.

“Since the very beginning of the Eastern Partnership initiative
and even before Armenia has been expressing its willingness to have
maximally close and extended relations with the European Union, to
be as close to the European Union as it is appropriate to the EU,
but not at the expense of our allied relations with Russia. Armenia’s
decision to join the Customs Union should be viewed in this context,”
Minister Nalbandian said.

The Minister said it’s necessary to boost the Armenia-EU relations
based on the progress and achievements of the past years.

Edward Nalbandian informed his counterpart about the efforts towards
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OF ARMENIA-USA FRIENDSHIP GROUP

17.09.2013

On September 17 the delegation led by John Perez, Speaker of the U.S.

California District Assembly met with members of Armenia-USA Friendship
Group Galust Sahakyan, Vardan Oskanyan, Ruzanna Muradyan, Artur
Gevorgyan and Khachatur Kokobelyan.

Welcoming the guests’ visit to Armenia Galust Sahakyan highlighted the
friendly relations of the U.S. State of California and Armenia, their
further deepening. In his word, the warm attitude of Armenia towards
the U.S. State of California is also conditioned by the presence of
the Armenians who settled in that state after the Armenian Genocide
and enjoyed warm human attitude. He expressed conviction that being
in Armenia the American colleagues would be able to get acquainted
with Armenian culture, expand their picture about Armenia and Armenian
people. Mr Sahakyan highlighted the deepening of political, economic,
cultural ties between Armenia and the USA. He thanked them for the
decisions on recognizing the NKR independence by some states of
the USA.

In the course of the meeting the sides touched upon the issues of
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the settlement of the NK
conflict, the protection of human rights, further rapprochement and
development of bilateral relations.

ARMENIA’S ANTI-AIR DEFENSE CAPACITIES PALPABLY INCREASED: DEFENSE MINISTER

14:26, 18 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The development of anti-air defense
system has been among the most significant directions for the Republic
of Armenia during the recent years. The Minister of Defense of the
Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan stated this at the course of the
meeting with the students and lecturers of the Yerevan State University
held on September 18. As reports “Armenpress” among other things
the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan
underscored: “Probably, we have developed our capacities most of all
in this direction. There are certain equipments under our disposal,
which are able to control the rival’s air flights on different levels
and assail them in corresponding distances.”

Among other things the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia
Seyran Ohanyan emphasized that Armenia has more S300 anti-air defense
systems than any other country of the region.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

RETHINKING MIGRATION: DASHNAKS SAY NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK; INTRODUCE MEASURES TO STOP OUTFLOW

SOCIETY | 18.09.13 | 14:38

Photolure

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The new project “We Are Going to Live in Our Country”, developed by the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, aims at suspending
the alarmingly growing migration rates, which experts say threaten
the national security of Armenia.

Armen Rustamyan, Armenian Revolutionary Party (ARF) faction member,
says Armenia has always had high migration rates, however, the dynamics
has changed over the years, causing serious demographic issues.

“Migration is a complex issue, reflecting all the shortcomings,
failures, mistakes we have made since independence and have been
unable to solve them. It would be wrong to wait for power turnover
then take up that issue. Urgent steps have to be made today, now.

Migration is like hemorrhage for the body, it has to be stopped right
away, so that the body can start recuperation,” says Rustamyan.

The project consists of 11 main points embracing all the fundamental
spheres of life.

ARF MP Artsvik Minasyan says the project suggests that first of all
business and politics be separated, new employment opportunities be
created with fair payment system, predictable tax and customs policies,
shift from social to industrial agriculture. It also provides for
making education more affordable and turning its management system
apolitical, introducing compulsory medical insurance, raising the
level of national security.

“We suggest that those officials be replaced who exhibit
anti-Christian, anti-humanity behavior, stirring obvious negative
public sentiments; restrictions be set for public servants, such as –
a public servant has no right to show up at a casino, purchase real
estate or make any other investments outside the country during his/her
tenure; in the personnel policy appointments by party affiliation
be ruled out, with the exception of separate state positions,”
details Minasyan.

To the question who among the officials they see as deserving of
replacement, Dashnaks say they have decided not to disclose any names,
because the main responsibility for the project implementation is
on the authorities and the authorities tend to start protecting
those people whose names get voiced. “For that reason we have left
that part to wait until the last stage of discussions of the project
drafted on the basis of common sense. Then we will submit it to the
authorities along with a package with names and positions of those
evoking negative public sentiments in Armenia,” says Minasyan.

It takes cooperation to carry out any project, they say, which does
not mean, however, they are returning to coalition.

“If we set a goal to raise the governance efficiency in the country,
and levers of supervision have to be handed to the opposition, then
that’s cooperation too – cooperation for the sake of the development
of our state, however, not guided by the principle of coalitional
administration,” explains Minasyan.

Dashnaks say the government has to assume liabilities in the project
implementation, while the opposition, media, civil society, the church,
Diaspora, intelligentsia, the youth – all have their share of work
to do.

The State Migration Service data for the first term of 2013 shows
that the number of those departing from Armenia exceeded that of
the arrivals by 95,000. The greater share of departures (617,411)
and arrivals (563,931) was by automobile transport, the negative
balance was 53,480. The respective numbers for air transport was
390,996 and 350,342, with the negative balance being 40,654. The
numbers of arrival/departures by buses and minibuses were 8,574 and
7,696 respectively, hence the negative balance made 878 people.

“STORIES FROM TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDER” EXHIBITION IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

14:45 18.09.2013

Armenia, European Parliament, Turkey

Hrant Dink Foundation, YIC Youth Initiative Centre in Gyumri, Galata
Fotografhanesi and Free Press Unlimited are jointly holding the
multimedia exhibition “Beyond Waiting… Stories from Turkey-Armenia
Border” in Brussels, at the European Parliament upon the joint
invitation of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the EP Delegation to the
EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the EP Delegation to the
EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committees, according to the website of the Hrant Dink Foundation.

The five multimedia documentaries jointly produced by Aleksey Manukyan,
Anıl Cizmecioglu, Anush Babajanyan, Arif Yaman, Armenuhi Vardanyan,
Deniz Pekkıyıcı, Eren Aytug, Marianna Vardanyan, Sofia Danielyan
and Volkan Dogar will be open for visitors from September 16th to 20th,
2013, at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Sealed in 1993, the Turkey-Armenia border continues to divide people,
villages, railway tracks, children’s laughter and memories. “Beyond
Waiting” captures the daily lives of people in the border cities Kars
and Gyumri as well as the years of interrupted dialogue.

The station workers waiting for years and years for a train that
never comes; Gyumri’s Kima who have been waiting for years for a guest
from Turkey to come and knock on her door; the children of Bayandur
who break the silence of the border with their music; Sofia whose
path crosses with the inhabitants of a Kars neighbourhood awaiting
demolition due to urban gentrification plans, while she was looking
for the traces of her grandfather; a Kurd and an Armenian whose voice
try to reach each other as they face their past traumas do all call
us to listen, speak and act “beyond waiting”.

The five multimedia documentaries, to be exhibited in Brussels thanks
to the support of the Free Press Unlimited, were produced within
the framework of the “Multimedia for Dialogue” project supported
by the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the
British Embassy.

The project aims at creating an enabling environment for the joint
productions of young photographers from Turkey and Armenia, to
strengthen their voice through new forms of storytelling and to
contribute to dialogue between the two neighbouring countries.

UN IN ARMENIA MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

14:22 18.09.2013

Armenia, democracy, UN

Today the UN Department of Public Information Office in Armenia with
the NGO “Civic Partnership and Development Foundation” gave a start
to a set of events dedicated to the International Day of Democracy.

The UNDPI supported the civil society’s initiative to discuss the
role of private sector in the democratic development of the society
and private-public partnerships. Around 15 organizations from private
and public sectors, youth, civil society leaders and representatives
of international organizations gathered at the round table to discuss
how both sides benefit from their cooperation.

The subject of this year’s theme of the Democracy Day is “Strengthening
Voices for Democracy”, which aims to shine a spotlight on the
importance of people’s voices in today’s political, economic, social,
developmental, environmental and technological debates.

“Inclusive participation prepares communities, societies and entire
countries to address opposing points of view, forge compromises
and solutions, and engage in constructive criticism. Inclusive
participation helps communities develop functioning forms of democracy
for government, corporations and civil society,” said Ban Ki-moon,
the UN Secretary-General.

Armen Ghalumyan, Director of the NGO “Civic Partnership and Development
Foundation” said: “Civil society in Armenia appreciates the support
of the UN and other international organizations. We believe that
cooperation between civil society and private sector is beneficial
for both and we want to promote further strengthening of ties between
public sector and businesses and discuss the lessons learned and
best practices”.

Maria Dotsenko, the Representative of the UN Department of Public
Information Office in Armenia, said: “Democracy is a universal
value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine
their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their
participation in all aspects of their lives. Successful cooperation
and partnership between private and public sectors is an essential
component in ensuring democracy and sustainable development in Armenia
as well as around the globe.”

IN EXCHANGE FOR GIVING UP CHEMICAL WEAPONS SYRIAN AUTHORITIES MUST DEMAND NO HELP TO REBELS

September 18, 2013 | 12:45

YEREVAN. – In exchange for giving up chemical weapons Syrian
authorities must demand that the West should not help the armed
opposition groups, expert on Arabic studies Sargis Grigoryan.

Despite the fact that media circulated videos showing armed rebels
who are using chemical weapons wearing masks, no one is any longer
interested who exactly was using it, as official Damascus declared
intention to give up the chemical weapons, the expert said.

Russia has repeatedly spoken about rebels’ involvement in chemical
attacks in Syria, presenting relevant evidence. However, the Western
countries do not take them into account.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

UNE BRIGADE ” JIHADISTE ” D’ANKARA CONTRE LES KURDES

Publié le : 18-09-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiée sur le site Actukurde le 11
septembre 2013.

Actukurde

2013-09-11 13:37:39

Selon l’Intelligence Online, une publication professionnelle consacrée
aux services de renseignement d’Ã~Itat, Ankara a créé une brigade
djihadiste kurde pour combattre le PYD, principal parti kurde syrien.

” Pour combattre les troupes du mouvement kurde syrien PYD, qui tient
une partie de la frontière entre la Syrie et la Turquie, Ankara a
encouragé la formation d’une brigade djihadiste composée presque
exclusivement de Kurdes et appelée Katibat al-Taliban (KaT). Les
combattants de ce mouvement, pour l’essentiel de jeunes kurdes
désargentés, recoivent près de 1 000 $ quand ils s’engagent. Ils
sont ensuite envoyés combattre le PYD sur la frontière turco-syrienne
aux côtés de l’Armée syrienne libre (ASL) et des djihadistes de
Jabhat al-Nosra. Plusieurs d’entre eux ont été tués fin juillet
lors d’un assaut dans la ville de Tell Halaf.

Certains combattants de KaT sont d’ex-membres du mouvement séparatiste
kurde PKK convertis a l’islam dans les prisons kurdes. D’autres
viennent d’écoles religieuses établies au Kurdistan par les fidèles
de l’imam Fethullah Gulen. Un autre mouvement kurde, le PDKS, proche
du leader kurde irakien Massoud Barzani, combat les troupes du PYD
aux confins des frontières turque, syrienne et irakienne. ”

SOUTIEN MASSIF DE LA TURQUIE AUX JIHADISTES

La Turquie soutient ouvertement les groupes djihadistes et de
nombreuses brigades de l’armée syrienne libre (ASL) qui combattent
les Kurdes au Kurdistan syrien, notamment depuis mi-juillet. Les
frontières de la Turquie restent ouvertes pour les jihadistes
d’Al-Qaida qui recoivent dupuis ces frontières l’aide militaire,
diplomatique et financier.

Ces derniers jours, des nouvelles révélations et témoignages ont
été publiés dans les medias kurdes et turcs sur le soutien du
gouvernement AKP aux ” jihadistes ” qui se cachent derrière la
couverture de l’Islam pour commettre des crimes de guerre et crimes
contre l’humanité.

La Commission d’enquête mandatée par l’ONU sur les crimes contre les
droits de l’Homme en Syrie a également accusé mercredi 11 septembre
la ” rébellion ” de crimes de guerre, notamment des meurtres,
des exécutions sans procédure régulière, des actes de torture,
des prises d’otages et des attaques contre des objets protégés.

DEUX PORTES SECRETES POUR LE PASSAGE DES JIHADISTES

Selon l’agence de presse kurde Firat, la Direction générale des
entreprises agricoles (TIGEM) a Ceylanpinar, sur la frontière
avec la Syrie, est utilisée comme le siège central des groupes
armés affiliés d’Al-Qaïda qui attaquent les Kurdes syriens. Deux
nouvelles portes pour le passage des groupes armés ont été ouvertes
secrètement dans cette zone appartenant a la TIGEM. L’une des portes
s’ouvre sur un pont sur la rivière Habur, a trois kilomètres de
poste frontière, en face de Tall Halaf, dans la région kurde de
Sêrékaniyé (Rass al-Aïn), tandis que l’autre traverse une ferme,
toujours au sein de la TIGEM, entre les villes de Ceylanpınar et
Akcakale.

Le soutien de la Turquie est même visible a l’Å”il nu, car ces ”
extrémistes étrangers ” utilisent les frontières turques sans être
inquiétés, transportent leurs blessés dans des ambulances turques
vers des hôpitaux d’Urfa, amènent de nouveaux combattants étrangers
qui sont d’abord hébergés dans des hôtels d’Istanbul avant de
prendre la route vers la Syrie avec l’aide de plusieurs associations
islamiques proches du gouvernement Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Plusieurs
membres d’al-Nosra ont récemment avoué dans les medias kurdes le
soutien de la Turquie pour combattre les Kurdes.

Malgré ce soutien massive des pays étrangers, le front al-Nosra et
l’Etat islamique en Irak et au Levant (EIIL), deux groupes affiliés a
Al-Qaïda, ainsi que plus de dix brigades de l’ASL ont subi de lourdes
défaites face aux combattants kurdes au Kurdistan syrien et a Alep.

Plus de 1 000 membres de ces groupes armés ont été tués depuis
mi-juillet, des dizaines d’autres ont été capturés, et de nombreux
véhicules militaires transportant des canons antiaériens et des
chars et ainsi qu’une grande quantité d’armes ont été saisies par
des combattants kurdes.

-Les Kurdes syriens chassent les ” jihadistes ” et ”rebelles”

-Violents affrontements a Alep entre Kurdes et ASL

-Les Kurdes syriens lancent des ” opérations révolutionnaires ”

-AKP et Al-Qaïda sur une même photo

-Syrie: un passeport américain au quartier d’Al-Qaïda

-Deux ” agents secrets” turcs tués a Alep !

-Massacre de Kurdes en Syrie: les survivants témoignent…

-Les images de la barbarie d’al-Qaïda en Syrie

-Les évolutions politiques au Kurdistan occidental

-Le PKK: une intervention en Syrie déclenchera une guerre régionale

-Le système politique du PKK se propose comme alternative

CE SOIR NAPLES-BORUSSIA DORTMUND EN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AVEC HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

FOOTBALL

Ce soir a 20h45 pour son premier match du Borussia Dortmund en
Champions League (Groupe F) qui affronte en Italie le club du SSC
Naples. L’entraîneur du SSC Napoli Rafael Benítez rameute calmement ses
troupes avant le premier match du Groupe F de l’UEFA Champions League,
mercredi contre le Borussia Dortmund. ” On n’a peur de personne ”
a prevenu Rafael Benitez l’entraîneur de Naples. ” Nous avons une
equipe extraordinaire ” dit de son côte Jurgen Klopp l’entraineur
du Borussia Dortmund. Selon le site Tutonapoli.net l’international
armenien Henrikh Mkhitaryan est dans la liste des 11 joueurs du
Borussia ce soir. Un Henrikh Mkhitaryan en grande forme et grande
confiance après ses trois buts marques en Bundesliga dont le troisième
samedi dernier face a Hambourg.

Krikor Amirzayan

mercredi 18 septembre 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

LA RUSSIE EST INDISPENSABLE POUR LA SECURITE DE L’ARMENIE D’APRES LE MINISTRE DE LA DEFENSE

Russie

L’alliance militaire avec la Russie est vitale pour la securite
nationale de l’Armenie, a declare le ministre de la Defense Seyran
Ohanian, citant les differends non resolus avec non seulement
l’Azerbaïdjan, mais egalement avec la Turquie.

Ohanian a souligne l’importance de l’accord russo-armenien de 2010
qui a prolonge et renouvele la presence militaire russe en Armenie et
engage Moscou a fournir des armes sophistiquees a l’armee armenienne.

” Nos voisins tournent leur position defensive vers l’offensive.

Garantir notre securite sans la Russie serait très difficile. Si
c’etait seulement l’Azerbaïdjan, nous n’aurions pas de problèmes “,
a-t-il dit aux etudiants d’une universite russo-armenienne a Erevan.

” Depuis de nombreuses annees, des armes modernes et compatibles sont
fournies a l’Armenie afin que nous puissions maintenir l’equilibre
dans la region “, a-t-il confie, ajoutant que l’aide militaire russe
se poursuivra dans les annees a venir.

Le gouvernement armenien a signale au debut du mois une augmentation
spectaculaire de ses acquisitions d’armes au cours des dernières
annees, en reponse au rearmement militaire massif de l’Azerbaïdjan. ”
Au cours des trois dernières annees, nous avons acquis autant d’armes
que pendant les 20 annees precedentes “, a declare le Premier ministre
Tigran Sarkissian lors d’une visite au Haut-Karabakh.

La Russie a egalement revele que ses ventes d’armes ces dernières
annees a l’Azerbaïdjan aurait rapporte plusieurs milliards de dollars.

mercredi 18 septembre 2013, Claire ©armenews.com