Author: Badalian Vardan

Pourquoi Macron crée une journée de commémorations du génocide arménien

Badalian Vardan
Le Parisien– France
6 févr. 2019
Nicolas Berrod (@NicolasBerrod)| 06 février 2019, 15h00 | MAJ : 06 février 2019, 18h00 |26
L’Arménie estime qu’au total 1,5 million de ses compatriotes ont été tués sur ordre d’officiers turcs entre 1915 et 1916 (ici les commémorations de la « rafle des intellectuels », le 24 avril 2018 à Istanbul). AFP/Bulent Kilic

« C’est une sacrée bonne nouvelle ! » André Manoukian ne cache pas son ressenti au lendemain de l’annonce par Emmanuel Macron d’une journée de commémorations du génocide arménien. Le chanteur d’origine arménienne nous confie : « Je ne vais pas bouder mon plaisir ! »

C’était une de ses promesses de campagne. Le chef de l’État, s’exprimant face à 300 invités au dîner annuel du Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France (CCAF), a annoncé ce mardi soir que la France allait faire du 24 avril une « journée nationale de commémoration du génocide arménien ».

Cette date commémore la « rafle des intellectuels » du 24 avril 1915, lorsque des centaines d’entre eux avaient été arrêtés puis massacrés par des ottomans. L’Arménie estime qu’au total 1,5 million de ses compatriotes ont été tués sur ordre d’officiers turcs entre 1915 et 1916.

Le génocide arménien est déjà reconnu officiellement en France depuis la loi du 19 janvier 2001. « La France, c’est d’abord et avant tout ce pays qui sait regarder l’histoire en face, qui dénonça parmi les premiers la traque assassine du peuple arménien, qui dès 1915 nomma le génocide pour ce qu’il était, qui en 2001, à l’issue d’un long combat », a rappelé Emmanuel Macron.

Cette nouvelle annonce « est un pas supplémentaire et ça va au-delà du symbole, même si c’est un acte moins majeur que la reconnaissance de 2001 », juge auprès du Parisien Florent Parmentier, chercheur en géopolitique à Sciences Po et spécialiste de la région.

De quoi en tout cas satisfaire la communauté arménienne vivant en France, forte de plusieurs centaines de milliers d’habitants, et dont Charles Aznavour – décédé le 1er octobre dernier – était l’une des figures principales. « Y’a tellement de gens que ça va réjouir », s’enthousiasme André Manoukian, présent au dîner mardi soir. « La France est un exemple dans le monde concernant le génocide arménien », s’est réjouit pour sa part le co-président du CCAF Mourad Papazian.

Sans surprise, la Turquie s’est agacée de cette décision. « Nous condamnons et refusons les tentatives de Monsieur Macron, qui connaît des problèmes politiques dans son pays, de transformer en affaire politique des faits historiques pour sauver la mise », a réagi ce mercredi matin un porte-parole du président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan, n’hésitant pas à renvoyer Emmanuel Macron aux Gilets jaunes. « On va peut-être en rester à cette condamnation classique et attendue, sauf si le pouvoir turc a des occasions de s’en servir politiquement dans ses relations avec la France », avance Florent Parmentier.

LIRE AUSSI >Erdogan : la Turquie « n’acceptera jamais » les accusations de génocide arménien

D’autant que les sujets de frictions avec Ankara sont nombreux, comme l’a lui-même rappelé le président français : situation en Syrie, lutte contre le groupe Etat islamique, droits de l’homme, etc. « Il y a tout un tas d’enjeux avec la Turquie qui pourra aussi mettre en avant le rôle historique et peu glorieux de la France dans certains conflits, comme en Algérie ou au Rwanda, pour défendre ses propres intérêts et s’en prendre à la France », précise le chercheur.

Cette nouvelle journée de commémorations relance le débat sur l’adoption en France d’une loi pénalisant le négationnisme du génocide arménien. Un tel projet a été voté à plusieurs reprises par le Parlement, en 2012 et en 2016, mais à chaque fois aussitôt censuré par le Conseil constitutionnel.

Les « Sages » y voyaient une entrave à la liberté d’_expression_ et justifiaient que le génocide arménien n’avait pas été qualifié par une juridiction internationale. « Je l’ai toujours en travers de la gorge car c’est ce qui nous importe le plus », glisse, amer, André Manoukian.

Turkey responds to Macron’s recent decision on Armenian Genocide Commemoration

Badalian Vardan
  • 18:33 | February 6,2019 | Politics
  • Armenian:

Turkey was quick to respond to French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement on France declaring April 24th to be a National Day of Armenian Genocide Commemoration.

Being committed to the infamous denial policy, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin labeled Macron’s statement about the Armenian Genocide as “a political lie” and “strongly condemned.”

He even accused Macron in “trying to rescue himself by using historical events as political fodder”.

Ankara calls Macron ‘arrogant,’ ‘uninformed’

Badalian Vardan
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 8 2019

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement calling President Emmanuel Macron of France “arrogant” and “uninformed,” in response to the French leader’s announcement on Tuesday that April 24 will be designated as a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in France, Asbarez reports.

“There are no lessons to be learned by us from arrogant French politicians, devoid of basic knowledge of history, representing a country known to us by its atrocities,” said the Turkish foreign ministry announcement targeting Macron.

“We have explained to French officials, on several occasions at every level and notably to the French President, that the events of 1915 constitute a legitimate subject of legal, historical and academic debate,” added the announcement.

“Nevertheless, it is understood that the French President Macron seeks to fulfill his election promise in the hope of receiving the votes of French electorate of Armenian origin,” continued the announcement.

“It is regrettable that a politician, uninformed in Ottoman history, ignores the French and European jurisprudence and takes a one-sided position with regard to a historical issue of highly sensitive nature for Turks for the sake of his personal political gains,” asserted Turkey’s foreign ministry, which, once again, called for the formation of a historical commission to “shed light” on history.

In response to a question about whether Ankara reacted to Macron’s announcement, France’s foreign ministry said that official Paris has “had several opportunities to exchange views with the Turkish authorities on this issue. They have been informed of our positions just as we have been informed of theirs.”

“In establishing this day of commemoration, the President is fulfilling his well-known pledge to honor French citizens of Armenian descent,” explained the French foreign ministry.

Macron made the announcement on Tuesday evening during a gala banquet organized by the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), adding that plans were underway to declare April 24 a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

He also clarified that prior to making the announcement he had contacted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to inform of him of his intentions.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin “strongly condemned” Macron’s statement about the Armenian Genocide, reported the Anadolu news agency.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to Twitter to express his gratitude to Macron. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia also thanked Macron for the designation.

“I salute the statement of Emmanuel Macron. Powerful manifestation and act of solidarity, determination to protect human rights and prevent mass atrocities,” Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

Azerbaijan Helped: Fast Response by Yerevan and Tehran

Badalian Vardan
Lragir, Armenia
Jan 19 2019

10:12 19.01.2019                                

The Armenian Ministry of Defense informed a few days ago that the meeting of the head of defense policy Levon Aivazyan met with the military attache of the Iranian Islamic Republic Mahdi Vejdani at the ministry. Aside from issues relating to bilateral relations on defense, the upcoming activities, they dwelled on the statement by the Chief of Staff of the Iranian army Mohammad Baghiri in Baku, as reported by the Azerbaijani press.

According to the Azerbaijani press, Baghiri stated that the territories of Artsakh are Azerbaijani territories. This information was also reported by the Russian-language news of IRNA, the Iranian national news agency, with a reference to the Azerbaijani press and was removed after some time.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense, during the meeting with the head of the Department of Defense Policy the Iranian military attache in Armenia “reaffirmed” Iran’s balanced position on the Artsakh issue that has been expressed multiple times, highlighted that it has not changed, and information in press and multiple comments on it distort it. Underlining the high-level political relations between the two countries, the sides expressed confidence that there will be mutual high-level visits and there will be innumerable occasions to express official positions on different issues.

The traditional Azerbaijani distortions of the Iranian general’s statements overlapped with a careless statement by one of the members of parliament of the My Step majority in the Armenian parliament, triggering certain “distortions” in Armenia. Different circles of the former ruling system used this for an information offensive on the new government, presented the statement ascribed to the Iranian general as an answer to the mistake by the Armenian member of parliament.

It is beyond doubt that what happened was a mistake, quite careless and untimely, and such mistakes must be practically ruled out. At the same time, it will be an unserious approach, first of all towards Iran, to say that after this statement the chief of staff of the Iranian army answered.

First of all, it would be unserious in the sense that Iran with its centuries-old state, political, geopolitical traditions, style and philosophy is able to distinguish worrying tendencies from mistakes. Hence, Tehran is a quite serious actor to answer such mistakes with such statements which may, in deep, contradict to Iran’s strategic interests.

Hence only with an unserious opinion about Iran would it be possible to conclude that someone’s slip of the tongue in Armenia would instantly get answered with a statement by the chief of staff of Iran’s army in Baku. Moreover, later it became known that the statement had been ascribed to him.

At the same time, this ascription was in some sense assistance to Armenia and Iran to discuss the situation together and eliminate at least theoretical risks of misunderstanding and lack of understanding.

In this sense, official Yerevan was adequate and fast, organizing a meeting at the Ministry of Defense with the military attache to prevent continuation of both internal and external manipulative developments.

At the same time, there is an important acknowledgement of high-level political relations between the two countries and an announcement about upcoming mutual high-level visits which will be an occasion to express official positions on different issues.

In a deeper sense these must be an occasion to refresh the Armenian-Iranian agenda.

“Classical Armenian as the pillar of the independent Armenian civilization”

Badalian Vardan

Friends,

Happy New Year and Christmas.

Enjoy watching “Classical Armenian as the pillar of independent Armenian civilization“ video of the presentation by clicking on the following:
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Not apart with complications: How Russia will build relations with its closest neighbors in 2019

Badalian Vardan
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 9, 2019 Wednesday
NOT APART WITH COMPLICATIONS: How Russia will build relations with its closest neighbors in 2019
 
by Vladimir Solovyov
Source: Kommersant, N1, January 9, 2019, pp. 1, 4  
 
Armenia. Idol to your home
 
“Velvet Revolution”, arranged by Nikol Pashinyan, made the whole world search for this country on the map and figure out what is happening there.
 
Bloodless change of power was highly appreciated in the West, while the Russian authorities cautiously watched the Armenian revolution and its leader. And almost for the first time in modern history, the official reaction of Moscow, which has always been negative towards any protest movement, whether in their territory or on their neighbors’, was definitely neutral, if not benevolent.
 
“We are committed to the continuation of joint work on strengthening and developing multifaceted mutually beneficial Russian-Armenian cooperation and allied cooperation in the interests of the peoples of both countries,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
 
Belorussia. Bridal ceremony
 
In the Belarusian direction, nothing unexpected has happened. Pre-New Year quarrels in Minsk and Moscow became a tradition that was not violated this time either. However, the degree of confrontation between the countries has increased.
 
Georgia. We do not expect changes
 
In Georgia, 2018 was marked by a sad anniversary for Tbilisi – ten years ago in August 2008, the country lost the war with Russia. Its result was Moscow’s recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In both partially recognized republics, the Russian military are deployed, and the chances that this status quo will change are zero.
 
Although the diplomatic relations between Moscow and Tbilisi are severed, the parties are engaged in sluggish negotiations on trade and customs issues.
 
Moldavia. The pro-Kremlin star is shining
 
For Moldova, 2018 was a pre-election year. February 2, the country will elect a new parliament. In the country whose population is roughly equally divided into those who sympathize with Russia and those who want to get to Europe, any elections in recent years fit into a simple scenario. The parties that call themselves pro-European declared the vote to be a decisive battle of the enlightened West with the darkness coming from the East. Pro-Russian politicians did the same, – however, according to their version, Russia sows sane, good seeds, while Brussels and Washington send hostile vortexes, bringing corruption, cosmopolitanism and homosexuality.
 
The first scenario is worked out by the ruling Democratic Party, headed by the extremely unpopular oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc. During each election campaign, the Democrats announce the hunting season for “agents of the Kremlin.”
 
In order to become declared a “hand of Moscow,” it is enough to speak out with criticism of the Democratic Party or Mr. Plahotniuc.
 
The Socialist Party and its leader – Moldovan President Igor Dodon, – are working out the second option, .
 
Ukraine. A bloody dispute
 
Ukraine also lives in the pre-election regime: there, they will elect president in March. Petro Poroshenko is unpopular, but he is still in control of the situation and he is tearing up one by one agreements with Russia, which he considers the enemy. In September, he signed a decree on the termination of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with the Russian Federation. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Pavel Klimkin, has counted that Kiev had already broken 48 agreements with Moscow and intended to do the same with another four dozen treaties.
 
The post-Soviet space is a source of constant problems for Russia. In 2018, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine were the leaders. The Kremlin has conflicts of varying degrees of severity with each country, and it does not matter whether the latter is in an alliance with Moscow like Minsk, or is its open opponent like Kiev. Relations with the above five states will obviously generate new scandals in 2019.

Conscripts allowed to keep cell phones, but not smartphones

Badalian Vardan

Conscripts allowed to keep cell phones, but not smartphones

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14:39, 8 January, 2019

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. At the defense minister’s order, during the ongoing winter conscription new recruits are allowed to keep mobile phones, but with certain limitations in the device’s characteristics.

Military Commissar of Armenia Henrik Muradyan told reporters today that new conscripts can keep phones that do not have cameras or internet accessibility.

“The majority already have these kinds of cell phones,” he said.

Muradyan said the commanding staff of each military base will supervise that all requirements are met.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Ombudsman tackles prison subculture in special report/concept

Badalian Vardan

Ombudsman tackles prison subculture in special report/concept

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16:11, 28 December, 2018

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has released a concept, in the form of an extraordinary report, of combating criminal subculture in correctional facilities in Armenia.

The Human Rights Defender’s Office said they studied and monitored the prison subculture and its affect in the relations between incarcerated individuals and the prison system.

The goal of the concept is to identify possible pathways for ruling out favorable conditions for the subculture’s existence, minimizing its effect and preventing its distribution, and to make recommendations for solving the problems.

Both practical and legislative complex recommendations requiring direct resolutions are included in the report.

The office said it attaches importance to the stance of the justice ministry in this issue.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Azerbaijani press: President Aliyev: 2018 was a successful year for Azerbaijan

Badalian Vardan
1 January 2019 00:26 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 1

Trend:

2018 was a successful year for Azerbaijan, said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulation to the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis and New Year.

“Dear compatriots.

Year 2018 is nearing the end. It is possible to say with certainty that 2018 was a successful year for our country. Our country has developed successfully in all directions. Azerbaijan has asserted itself as a strong country in the world. Our international positions have consolidated further. This year I have made 16 foreign trips. Sixteen heads of state and government have visited our country, which shows how widespread our bilateral relations are. At the same time, Azerbaijan has been successfully operating within international organizations. We have managed to secure a worthy place in the international arena.

Our relations with neighboring countries have risen to an even higher level. This is very important for each country, including Azerbaijan. The work we are doing in the political, economic and other spheres together with our neighbors strengthens stability in the region. As for stability, I can say that tensions, risks and threats are rising in the world, but Azerbaijan is a place of stability. In 2018, our people lived in peace and stability. The main reason and source of this stability is the unity between the people and the government.

We have further strengthened our relations with the European Union. The Partnership Priorities document signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan this year is a manifestation of the high level of these relations. This document clearly states thoughts on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of our borders and shows again that the European Union adheres to the right position on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Our role in Islamic solidarity issues is growing. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation gives a high assessment to our policy in this area and we can say with full confidence that Azerbaijan has strengthened its strong role in the Muslim world. The attention, respect and sympathy we enjoy in the Muslim world shows that Azerbaijan has achieved great success in this area as well.

This year, the issue of the legal status of the Caspian Sea was also resolved. This is a historic achievement. As you know, this issue remained unresolved for years. However, it has now been resolved and Azerbaijan has made a valuable contribution to that.

We remain committed to our principled position on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our position is fair. Our position is fully consistent with the norms and principles of international law. Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient Azerbaijani land. The whole world recognizes the territorial integrity of our country. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved only within the territorial integrity of our country. The resolutions of the UN Security Council must be fully implemented and the occupying forces must unconditionally withdraw from our lands.

I can say that Azerbaijan made very serious steps to resolve this conflict in 2018. As you know, the regime of criminal and corrupt junta that which remained in power in Armenia for 20 years has collapsed and this represents a complete failure of Armenia’s aggressive policy against Azerbaijan. I can also say that our thought-out, focused and principled policy against Armenia has yielded fruit. We have isolated Armenia from all regional and international projects, and our share in the collapse of the Armenian economy is quite large. I think there is a new situation for the settlement of the conflict today. I do hope that 2019 can be a breakthrough year in this area.

Along with this, of course, I think that our strong military potential is a key factor for the resolution of the conflict. In recent years, we have significantly enhanced our military power. Today, the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies in the world. This year’s military parade in our country shows our strength, the great potential of strong army. The Azerbaijani army has the most modern weapons and equipment, a very high combat potential, and we proved this again this year. The Azerbaijani army has carried out a successful operation in the Nakhchivan direction of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and is now in control of 11,000 hectares of land. The takeover of strategic heights enables us to exercise full control over important communications and routes passing through Armenia.

We will continue to increase our military power. We want to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, and our participation in the negotiations is a clear proof of that. However, everyone knows and should know that the military factor plays a special role for the solution of the conflict, and we will increase our military power further.

A great deal has been done for the IDPs this year. New homes and apartments for 5,800 IDP families were built and made available to them. This is a record figure in recent years. A total of 626 apartments were given to martyr families and those handicapped in the Karabakh war, and we will continue this policy next year.

Of course, all this requires a strong economy, which we do have. Today, Azerbaijan does not depend on anyone in terms of economic development. Azerbaijan’s economy is independent and represents a factor that strengthens our independent policy. This year, the gross domestic product has grown, the non-oil sector has grown, industrial production has grown, and the non-oil sector has grown by more than 9 percent. Our exports grew by about 40 percent. $10 billion has been invested in the country’s economy. The World Bank’s latest “Doing Business” report ranks Azerbaijan 25th in the world. This shows that our reforms, transparency and major economic transformation are producing results, and the World Bank appreciates it.

We attach great importance to modern technologies. This year, our third satellite was launched into orbit. This is a great event. Azerbaijan is a member of a limited club of space-faring nations and we are strengthening our positions in this field.

This year, the Southern Gas Corridor was officially opened. In May, we celebrated this magnificent event. This is a great and historic achievement. At the same time, TANAP project was officially opened in June this year, and thus great opportunities were ushered for the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor. It is our historic achievement and the people of Azerbaijan will benefit from these projects for decades to come.

This year, we celebrated the opening of the Alat Trade Seaport. This is also a historic project. Azerbaijan is becoming a very important transport hub not only of the region but also of Eurasia. The North-South and East-West corridors pass through our territory. A very strong transport infrastructure will enable us to use our transit capabilities with great efficiency.

As you know, by my order earlier this year, year 2018 was declared a Year of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. We extensively celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic both in our country and in many foreign states. The present-day Azerbaijan is the successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Azerbaijan has never been so strong and so independent in history. Azerbaijan has never been so liberal.

This year, the presidential election was held in our country. The Azerbaijani people once again showed confidence in me and gave a high assessment to my work. Over the past 15 years, I have been working as President and serving my people with dignity. I will try to do my utmost for the further development of Azerbaijan, for the strengthening of Azerbaijan and for the prosperity of the people. I have one mission: to build a strong Azerbaijani state and serve the people with dignity.

It is the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis today. Taking this opportunity, I extend my greetings to all Azerbaijanis, to all our compatriots living in the world, and wish them every success.

Dear fellow countrymen, dear sisters and brothers.

I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year and the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

Happy Holidays!” – said President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulatory address.


Letter to the Editor of the Lowell Sun (MA):Turkey: An unreliable ally

Badalian Vardan
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
Saturday
Turkey: An unreliable ally
 
 LETTER TO THE EDITOR; Editorials
  
The revelations from the indictment of Michael Flynn’s Turkish business partners expose what has been hidden from the general public — that the autocratic government of Turkey has long been illegally meddling in American domestic politics.
 
Flynn has now admitted that before he was appointed national security advisor, he was secretly lobbying for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the world’s leading violators of human rights. Turkey plotted with Flynn to kidnap cleric Fethullah Gulen from Pennsylvania despite the fact that for years Erdogan and Gulen were allies conspiring to continue the unacceptable and unjust denial of Turkey’s perpetration of the genocide against its Armenian citizens during World War I.
 
Turkey’s protests over the despicable murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are a smokescreen to cover the fact that Turkish jails hold more journalists than any other country on earth. In Syria, Turkey repeatedly undermined the battle to defeat ISIS by bombarding and assaulting America’s most dependable ally in the country, the Syrian Democratic Forces, because for Erdogan it is more important to eliminate U.S. allied Kurdish forces than ISIS radicals.
 
It is well past time for Washington to speak out against the pernicious influence of a Turkish government that has warped policies in Congress, the Pentagon, and the State Department by posing as a reliable ally.
 
ARA A. JEKNAVORIAN
 Chelmsford,
 Co-chair,
 Armenian National Committee, Merrimack Valley