Author: Badalian Vardan

LES ARMENIENS DE SYRIE ET DU LIBAN POURRONT PLUS FACILEMENT OBTENIR LA NATIONALITE ARMENIENNE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
vendredi 27 juillet 2012

Le gouvernement armenien a adopte hier une proposition de Hranouche
Hagopian, Ministre de la Diaspora afin de faciliter l’obtention de
la nationalite armenienne par des citoyens etrangers. Il fut decide
que les Ambassades et Consulats d’Armenie a l’etranger puissent etre
autorises a delivrer directement le dossier de l’obtention de la
nationalite armenienne. Selon Hranouche Hagopian cette mesure vise
avant tout les Armeniens de Syrie et du Liban qui seraient d’après
la Ministre par millier a faire de telles demandes d’obtention de la
nationalite armenienne.

L’ARMENIE DOIT-ELLE ENCOURAGER UNE EMIGRATION EN MASSE DES ARMENIENS DE SYRIE ?
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
vendredi 27 juillet 2012

Dans un entretien a RFE/RL, Kiro Manoyan, responsable du bureau Armenie
de la Cause armenienne du parti Dachnak, relève que les Armeniens de
Syrie, desireux de regagner l’Armenie, doivent etre aides, mais que
l’on ne devait pas initier leur reinstallation et faire disparaître
ainsi une communaute cle de la diaspora au Moyen-Orient. ” Notre
approche est la suivante : la communaute doit rester en Syrie … et
nous devons sortir de tout cela avec des pertes minimales “, a-t-il
declare. ” La dissolution d’une communaute est bien facile, mais son
organisation est très difficile. Dans ces conditions, maintenir une
communaute organisee est beaucoup plus difficile, meme avec toutes
les difficultes, que de creer une atmosphère de panique et de lancer
des accusations “.

Selon M. Manoyan, le Gouvernement armenien doit faire preuve de
prudence pour eviter de semer la panique parmi les Armeniens de Syrie.

Il a insiste sur le fait que ceux-ci n’ont pas l’intention de fuir
la Syrie en masse et qu’en tout etat de cause, Erevan ne serait pas
en mesure de les accueillir.

RFE/RL consacre par ailleurs un reportage a l’arrivee a l’aeroport
Zvartnots d’Erevan d’environ 170 Armeniens d’Alep, a bord d’un avion
appartenant a une compagnie syrienne. Ceux-ci ont affirme avoir fui
les bombardements. Des fonctionnaires du Ministère armenien de la
Diaspora etaient pour la première fois sur place pour donner des
livrets d’information aux arrivants de Syrie et leur demander de
remplir des questionnaires sur leurs donnees personnelles, la duree
et le but de leur sejour en Armenie.

Aravot et Joxovurd font etat de l’action de protestation d’un groupe
d’activistes devant le bureau de la compagnie aerienne Armavia,
celle-ci ayant augmente le prix des billets d’avion Alep-Erevan de
150 dollars. Les manifestants ont appele au boycott des services
de cette compagnie. [Rappelons qu’il y a quelques jours, Armavia a
impute cette augmentation aux agences de voyage syriennes].

Ambassade de France en Armenie

REPORT DE LA QUESTION ARMENIENNE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
vendredi 27 juillet 2012

Selon Armen Siruyan, du comite Hay Dat de Barcelone, la proposition
visant a modifier la resolution du Parlement espagnol sur le genocide
armenien a ete reportee en raison de la situation economique difficile
du pays.

Il etait prevu une consultation en octobre, mais en raison des
problèmes economiques du pays, la question reste en suspend.

“Neanmoins, en depit de la grave situation socio-economique en Espagne,
le comite Hay Dat poursuit des reunions avec des parlementaires et
propose de nouvelles initiatives pour la reconnaissance du genocide
armenien”, dit Siruyan.

“Les deputes espagnols et le grand public ne sont pas conscients de
ce problème, par consequent, le comite s’emploie a combler cette
lacune en organisant des reunions avec des journalistes. Un des
problèmes est le fait que la communaute armenienne est dispersee dans
differentes parties du pays. Contrairement aux Etats-Unis, en France,
en Argentine et en Uruguay, la communaute armenienne en Espagne n’est
pas aussi coherente pour resoudre ensemble le problème “, a-t-il note.

ARMENIA CAPTIVATED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER GETTING LOST IN TOVUZ

Azerbaijan Business Center
July 26 2012

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has confirmed
captivation of the country’s military forces’ soldier Firuz Farajev
by Military Forces of Armenia.

Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan reports that F. Farajev was captivated
getting lost this morning in bordering Tovuz region.

Armenian side also announced captivation of F. Farajev at 6 am on 26
July. According to Armenian side’s version, the office of International
Red Cross Committee in Yerevan has been informed about the incident.

As a result of Nagorno Garabagh conflict Armenia occupied 20%
of Azerbaijani territory. Since 1994 ceasefire regime is in force
between the countries which is systematically broken.

WHAT DO NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE IN COMMON WITH TURKEY?

by Al Kamen

The Washington Post
July 25, 2012 Wednesday
Regional Edition

History is littered with odd couples: Oscar and Felix, Anna Nicole
Smithand that old guy, etc. Add to that list Native Americans and . .
. Turkey?

That unlikely pairing was the star of a perplexing bill that failed
on the House floor Monday night. The measure would have made it easier
for American Indian tribes to do business with Turkey.

Why Turkey, one might ask? An excellent question. Rep. Tom Cole
(R-Okla.), the bill’s sponsor, explains the ties that bind the
disparate populations that live half a globe apart: “There’s a deep
interest,” he said on the House floor last night. “There has been
for hundreds of years.”

Turkey, he noted, was the only country to send a delegation to a
recent Native American economic development conference, and there
are scholarships for Native Americans at Turkish schools.

Well, then. Mystery solved – sort of.

And what kind of business might the Turks want to do with the tribes?

Well, that’s also a good question, but getting a precise answer proved
rather difficult.

In news releases, Lincoln McCurdy, president of the Turkish Coalition,
said it’s all about “new commercial activity.” And John Berrey,
chairman of Oklahoma’s Quapaw tribe, hailed “new global partnerships.”

Such as?

The bill makes mention of leasing land for “grazing” or farming or
other, unnamed commercial purposes. Cole’s office referred us to
the Turkish Coalition to provide specific examples, and a spokesman
suggested that a Turkish solar-energy company was interested in leasing
tribal land for a plant and that a construction company wanted to
build infrastructure.

The legislation failed to get the two-thirds vote needed to pass a
bill under suspension of House rules, after it got caught up in some
skirmishing from various ethnic lobby efforts. The Armenian Caucus
didn’t like it. The Hellenic Caucus didn’t either. Seems the idea of
a single country being given the fast track to opportunities with
the tribes didn’t sit well with them – although Cole pointed out
that though the purpose of the bill was to encourage Turkey-Native
American business, he had added language including all World Trade
Organization countries.

And it seemed that the tribes were already getting the sovereignty
they’ve been seeking in a bill adopted by both the House and Senate
giving tribes greater control over leasing and development on their
lands.

The bill left many folks on the Hill scratching their heads, and it
looks as though they can keep on scratching.

ARMENIA’S PETROL IMPORTERS FINED AMD 5,5 MLN.

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 25, 2012 – 16:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Inspections in seven businesses specialized in import
and sale of petrol and diesel fuel in Armenia revealed violations in
five of them, head of the State Inspectorate on Market and Consumer
Interests Protection said.

According to Levon Khalikyan, the Inspectorate has conducted
inspections in the economic entities since the second half of 2011,
with the total amount of fines imposed grossing AMD 5,5 mln.

In this context, Mr. Khalikyan noted that the inspections have been
conducted in line with the fixed schedule posted on the official
website of the State Inspectorate on Market and Consumer Interests
Protection, as well as considering the citizens’ complaints.

“Though it is impossible to mix petrol with water, the companies sell
“Regular” as “Premium” and “Super” petrol to gain super-profits,”
he said, adding that the violations related to gaging of the supplied
petrol, labeling in the Armenian language and the fuel rating.

The Inspectorate head further said that the inspections in the risky
field will henceforth bear a consistent character.

CROWD PROTEST DECISION TO RAISE YEREVAN-ALEPPO AIRFARES (VIDEO)

16:14 ~U 25.07.12

Civil activists gathered outside Armenia’s national airline, Armavia,
on Wednesday to voice their protest against the increased prices of
the Yerevan-Aleppo flights.

The crowd, consisting of several civil groups, considered the move
unfair given the current Syrian crisis making many local Armenians
to flee the country and find a shelter in Armenia. Apres Zohrabyan,
one of the protesters, said it is a shame to pursue business interests
under the circumstances.

“Armenia has seen lots of hardships – earthquake, war and collapse of
economy – ,and it was in those periods that our compatriots from the
Diaspora stood by us. Armavia was the only organization to respond to
the Syrian developments and think it to be the exact time to raise
air ticket prices as people would spend their last penny to move
their loved ones to Armenia,” he said.

Nvard Manasyan, another activist attending the protest, said
Armavia cannot be considered a national air carrier, considering its
anti-national step against the Armenians at this crucial moment.

“We urge you to realize what national means. The fact that you were
protected from equal competition should make you invest that advantage
in the interests of the Armenian nation. If you fail to prove us now
that you really [pursue] national interests, we do not need you,”
she said.

The protesters were chanting shame in front of Armavia’s central
headquarters, calling on the population not to use Armavia’s services
any more.

With the increasing number of Syrian-Armenians wishing to move to
Armenia amid the Syrian civil war, the national airline increased
the frequency of the Yerevan-Aleppo flights, raising the air ticket
prices almost twice.

SCANDALOUS ARMENIAN ACTRESS IS A LESBIAN?

news.am
July 25, 2012 | 12:42

YEREVAN. – Actress Anzhela Sargsyan herself posted her nude pictures
on the Internet, but solely Karen Arayan suffered from that, said
Arayan’s mother, Marine Arayan, during a press conference on Wednesday.

Marine Arayan also stated that Anzhela had introduced Karen everywhere
as her bodyguard, but, when they were breaking up, the actress
announced that Karen had raped her.

“Karen removed the photos several minutes after they were posted on
the Internet. Anzhela’s girlfriend-lover sees the picture and says:
‘Karen posted your nude photos on the web. Subsequently, Anzhela
posted all the picture on the Internet,” Marine Arayan said.

She noted, however, that she will not yet give out the name of Anzhela
Sargsyan’s female lover, but she stressed that perhaps this person
is known.

As per Karen’s mother, Sargsyan could have resorted to such step
because Karen had told her that he was getting ready to get engaged
and form a family.

Marine Arayan suspects that an official is behind Anzhela and that
she is blackmailing him.

She also asked that if Anzhela really were a woman of ethics, as she
portrays herself, why did she go to the media on immediately the next
day of the pictures being posted on the Internet-so that the entire
country will learn about it-and why did she file a complaint sixteen
days after the incident.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Armenian actress Anzhela
Sargsyan’s ex-boyfriend Karen Arayan was sentenced to prison on
charges of illegal collection, storage, usage, or dissemination of
information on personal or family life, and with illegal distribution
of pornographic material, or objects with respect to Sargsyan.

Anzhela Sargsyan became popular in Armenia after her roles in the
soap opera “Where is My Man?” (Armenian version of “Sex and the City”).

This development had brought forth a huge social reaction, and, once
the photos were posted on the Internet, her co-actresses refused to
act with her.

ABOUT VANO’S DEPARTURE

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:14:03 – 25/07/2012

During today’s press conference, Suren Sirunyan, former head of
bodyguard of Vano Siradeghyan, former minister of internal affairs
of Armenia, made an interesting statement today. Asked whether the
ANC supports Vano Siradeghyan’s return to Armenia, he noted that it
is still necessary to understand whether those people will benefit
from his return. He thinks that for example the head of the Armenian
National Movement Aram Manukyan won’t benefit.

“When for the first time the prosecutor general had to mediate for
Vano’s arrest, Aram Manukyan asked Vano whether he could refrain from
voting or vote in favor of the latter’s arrest, since Manukyan was the
vice-minister of culture then and was afraid of losing his position”,
sayd Sirunyan.

He promised to mention other people if someone tries to deny this
information.

Suren Sirunyan dwelt on the details of why Vano left the country. He
said that he personally accompanied Vano Siradeghyan 12 years ago.

They managed to deceive the guards in front of his house and Vano
Siradeghyan left the country and never returned. Sirunyan says no
one knew, including himself, that Siradeghyan was going to leave the
country on that day.

Sirunyan says that he was taken to the police and kept there for five
days but never told the truth, otherwise he would be a Republican or
OYP member and would hold a good position.

He said he would like a just court to decide whether Vano Siradeghyan
can return to the homeland or not. He hopes the current atmosphere
will contribute to Vano’s return.

GAYANE NOVIKOVA: RUSSIA IS, SURELY, NOT INTERESTED IN CLEAR DEFINITION OF ITS STANCE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH
by David Stepanyan

arminfo
July 25, 11:49

ArmInfo’s interview with Gayane Novikova, Director of the Center for
Strategic Analysis Spectrum, Visiting Researcher at the Davis Center
for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University

A number of Azeri and other experts believe that only Russia is able –
if willing – to influence the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and to push its own solution. Do you think this view is realistic?

At first sight, the idea that Russia is the only state able to resolve
the Karabakh conflict is not groundless, as Russia is the most serious
actor in the South Caucasus. Moscow considers the South Caucasus as a
sphere of its privileged interests and has certain levers of influence
on the domestic political and foreign political processes of the
countries in the region. Moscow is building pragmatic relations both
with Armenia and Azerbaijan stemming from its strategic interests. I
don’t think that Russia has its own plan of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict’s resolution, but it is, surely, not interested in clear
definition of its stance on the given issue, otherwise it would have
to support either Armenia or Azerbaijan, thus narrowing its strategic
space. Consequently, considering the level of the Russian-Georgian
relations, Moscow cannot afford it another “uneasy” neighbor. And the
status quo in the conflict zone is in favor of Russia. Let me remind
you that the presidents of Russia, the United States and France have
repeatedly said that only the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
can and must solve it, and they are right.

Can Armenia and Azerbaijan stop the senseless border bloodshed on
their own or should they rely on the support of the world community
in view that these sabotage attacks may well grow into a large-scale
confrontation?

Subversive actions are inevitable unless there is a comprehensive
peace agreement. The point is that the number of subversive actions
is growing alongside with the growing number of victims on both the
parties. The so-called world community has many other problems and
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s resolution is not among its priorities.

Thus, in the given case, if you’re drowning, you’re on your own.

However, to stop bloodshed on the line of the contact of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani armed forces, the parties involved in the conflict
must not only display such will but also realize that bloodshed is
senseless. However, Azerbaijan demonstrates determination to return
the territories under control of Armenians at any price. That is,
for Baku the tactics of behavior that provokes the Armenians parties
to make retaliatory actions is not senseless. The Armenian party
has repeatedly suggested removing snipers from the line of contact,
but Azerbaijan cannot do that, as the public will assess it as a
concession to Armenia and deviation from the “national task.” In
addition, Azerbaijan is well aware of danger of further escalation
of the conflict from the viewpoint of both severe response by the
Armenian countries and condemnation by the world community.

Azerbaijan’s military actions on its border with Armenia will in no way
force the Armenians to leave the territories the Azeris consider to be
their own. So, the latter must have no reasons for escalating tension
on the border. Then why are they doing it not on the contact line
with Nagorno-Karabakh but exactly on the border with Armenia – even
though they know that this may serve as a pretext for the Armenians
to ask Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization for help?

I think that Baku is conducting reconnaissance of the defensive
positions of Armenia, on the one hand, and is looking at the
response of Russia, as the leader of the CSTO, to its possible
military operation, on the other. I rule out the support by the
Central Asian countries and Kazakhstan, as they will probably take
a neutral stance in case of military actions between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The upcoming joint exercises of the CSTO Collective Rapid
Response Forces ‘Cooperation 2012’ in Armenia arouse nervousness of
Georgia and Azerbaijan. Since the official goal of the given exercises
is to rebuff possible aggression against Armenia, Azerbaijan ‘warns’
Armenia and demonstrates its combat efficiency

Can we expect Russia to repeat the 08.08.08 scenario should the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict grow into a large-scale war between Armenia
and Azerbaijan?

You should not expect such a thing. Russia is currently trying to
prevent escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that may have
unpredictable consequences for it. First, it will be very hard
for Moscow to choose what the party to support, and second, Russia
had two reasons to directly interfere into the August war of 2008:
existence of Russian peacekeepers in the zone of the South-Ossetic
conflict and the very 96%-97% of the population in South Ossetia
having Russian citizenship. The situation with Karabakh is different.

One of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was one of the key topics
discussed by Hillary Clinton in Azerbaijan and Armenia. The US
Secretary of State announced some progress after the Paris meeting of
the Azeri and Armenian FMs. But we have seen no progress so far. What
does the US diplomacy have in mind when making such statements?

On the threshold of the presidential election and amid growing domestic
political tension in the USA, the U.S. diplomacy needs successes in
the foreign political arena by means of providing certain stability
in the real and potential ‘hot spots’. Meetings and discussions in
Turkey were the focus of Mrs. Clinton’s visit to the region. Her
visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan were more like a PR-campaign that
would confirm U.S. interests in stability in the South Caucasus and
would balance the Kremlin’s activity in the region.

What trends can you see in Armenia’s foreign policy, particularly,
in its efforts to integrate into Europe and the Putin-initiated
Eurasian Union?

Armenia is facing the hard task of keeping a balance between the free
trade area in Europe, on the one hand, and the Eurasian and customs
unions, on the other, with both initiatives having their advantages and
disadvantages. European integration does not imply EU membership: the
European Union is conducting a soft power policy in the South Caucasus
and is not ready to carry out costly economic projects. On the other
hand, European integration can help Armenia to enlarge its political
and economic capacities and to further develop democracy. It may also
have an indirect contribution to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. As regards the Russian initiatives, Armenia has refused to
join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, which is
in line with its policy to balance its political priorities. Armenia
actively cooperates with the members of the Customs Union, especially
with Russia, with all of the countries having agreements for free
trade in the CIS. Russia may well pressure Armenia into joining these
projects. Among the levers will be gas, the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
and the political situation before the presidential election 2013.