Author: Badalian Vardan

SYRIA, IRAN FACTORS NOT YET IMPACT ARMENIA’S REAL ESTATE – ECONOMIST

news.am
July 09, 2012 | 16:01

YEREVAN. – The developments currently unrolling with respect to Syria
and Iran have not yet substantially impacted Armenia’s real estate
market, economist Tatul Manaseryan stated during a press conference
on Monday.

He informed that although Armenians from the aforesaid countries
have already purchased real estate in Armenia, the offer is so much
that it did not substantially affect the current market condition in
the country.

Nonetheless, the risks remain and if military operations were to
start-or expand-in these countries, the Armenians from there could
immigrate to Armenia en masse and the country’s real estate prices
could rise.

As per Manaseryan, Armenia’s real estate market is satiated because
of the constructions that were underway for years on end.

“The offer exceeds the demand, but the prices do not drop
equivalently,” said Tatul Manaseryan.

GEORGIE
Géorgie : Chevardnadze regrette d’avoir cédé le pouvoir à Saakachvili

Dans une interview publiée lundi dans le journal Asaval Dasaval,
l’ex-président géorgien Edouard Chevardnadze a regretté d’avoir cédé
le pouvoir à Mikhaïl Saakachvili, en estimant que c’était `son plus
grand péché envers le peuple et le pays`.

`A l’époque (en novembre 2003), je n’avais pas d’autre choix que de
démissionner avant terme, mais je suis prêt à me repentir et à
demander pardon au peuple de la Géorgie d’avoir cédé le pouvoir à
Mikhaïl Saakachvili. Je reconnais ma faute et je demande pardon au
peuple`, a déclaré l’ancien chef de l’Etat géorgien.

Il a critiqué la politique menée par l’actuel président, en l’accusant
`d’incapacité à résoudre les problèmes majeurs de la Géorgie`.

L’année dernière, M.Chevardnadze avait averti que le président
Saakachvili et son équipe menaient la Géorgie à la ruine.

Après la guerre contre la Russie (en août 2008, ndlr), l’ancien
président géorgien a appelé son successeur à reconnaître que l’attaque
contre l’Ossétie du Sud était une erreur.

Le 8 août 2008, la Géorgie a lancé une offensive militaire contre
l’Ossétie du Sud, détruisant Tskhinvali et tuant des centaines de
civils ainsi que des soldats de la paix russes déployés dans cette
république autoproclamée. La Russie a riposté militairement et
contraint la Géorgie à la paix avant de reconnaître le 26 août
l’indépendance de l’Ossétie du Sud et de l’Abkhazie, autre ancienne
autonomie géorgienne.

Affirmant avoir été `victime d’une provocation russe`, la Géorgie a
rompu les relations diplomatiques avec Moscou et décrété les
républiques `territoires occupés`.

RIA Novosti

dimanche 8 juillet 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Autre défection dans les rangs du Congrès national arménien

L’entrée au Parlement du Congrès national arménien (HAK), alliance de
partis d’opposition conduite par Levon ter Pétrossian, à la faveur des
législatives du 6 mai dernier, aura finalement contribué à faire
éclater au grand jour les divergences entre les composantes du
mouvement. Après Aram Sarkissian, un autre responsable en vue du HAK a
annoncé le jeudi 5 juillet sa décision de quitter l’alliance
d’opposition, invoquant des divergences de vue avec son leader Levon
Ter Petrossian. Davit Shahnazarian, qui a occupé des postes clés dans
le gouvernement au début des années 1990, sous la présidence de Ter
Petrossian, avait de fait laissé entendre qu’il mettrait fin à sa
collaboration avec le HAK lors de la campagne pour les élections
législatives du 6 mai déjà. `J’ai quitté la direction du HAK avant
même les.élections, en mars, et j’ai mis fin du même coup à mes
activités politiques dans le HAK’, a expliqué M. Shahnazarian dans un
entretien accordé au service arménien de RFE/RL. Interrogé sur les
raisons de cette prise de distance, il s’est contenté de répondre :
`Il est encore trop tôt pour en parler ». M. Shahnazarian n’a pas
caché en revanche, son profound désaccord avec la decision prise par
la direction du HAK avant les élections de coopérer avec le Parti
Arménie prospère (BHK), qui était membre de la coalition
gouvernementale dans le gouvernement sortant. Le BHK, qui est dirigé
par l’homme d’affaires Gagik Tsarukian, a refusé de renouveler
l’accord de coalition au lendemain du scrutin, avec le président
Sarkissian, leader du Parti républicain d’Armenia (HHK), grand
vainqueur des élections. Le parti de Tsarukian avait contesté la
légitimité des résultats officiels du scrutin, avec le HAK et l’autre
parti d’opposition, la Fédération Révolutionnaire arménienne
Dachnaktsoutioun (FRA Dachnak). `A l’issue des élections, le système
politique arménien a radicalement changé’ a indiqué M. Shahnazarian.
`Avant les élections, l’Arménie avait un système politique bipolaire –
le gouvernement d’un côté et le HAK de l’autre – nous assistons
aujourd’hui à un changement dans le pole d’opposition et Arménie
prospère occupe cette place ‘. Shahnazarian a ajouté que la
collaboration entre le BHK et Ter-Petrossian avait eu pour seul effet
de renforcer l’ancien président Robert Kocharian, et a conforté ses
ambitions politiques, alors que Tsarukian est considéré comme son
homme lige. `Suite à ces élections, le régime de Kotcharian s’est vu
absout de toute forme de responsabilité politique, du moins pour ce
qui concerne la politique étrangère’, a-t-il poursuivi en précisant :
`Ainsi sur le fonds, le choix se pose aujourd’hui entre les autorités
actuelles, qui souhaitent préserver le statu quo, et l’ancien régime
représenté par Arménie Prospère’. La coopération entre le HAK et le
BHK avait été aussi semble-t-il la principale raison de la scission du
Parti Hanrapetutyun (République), membre clé pourtant du HAK, qui
avait quitté l’alliance au lendemain du scrutin de mai. Le leader de
ce parti, Aram Sarkissian, avait attribué cette décision aux
désaccords croissants avec Ter Pétrossian. Ashot Zakarian, un
responsable de Hanrapetutyun, avait accusé la direction du HAK `de
paver la voie à un retour au pouvoir de Robert Kocharian’. Ter
Petrossian avait balayé du revers de la main de telles accusations,
les jugeant `démagogiques’ lors d’une prise de parole le 26 juin
durant une manifestation à Erevan. Il avait réaffirmé devant ses
partisans que la politique du BHK n’était pas dictée par Kotcharian.
Ter Petrossian, dont le fils est marié à une fille de Shahnazarian, a
défendu avec fermeté la poursuite de la collaboration avec le BHK. Il
a indiqué que le refus de Tsarukian de participer au gouvernement de
Sarkissian avait affaibli ce dernier et que le HAK devrait en retirer
les dividendes politiques.
dimanche 8 juillet 2012,
Gari ©armenews.com

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia
July 8 2012

France, new law against denial of the Armenian genocide

(AGI) Paris – Hollande wants a new law against denial of the Armenian
genocide. Following the rejection by the French Constitutional Court
of the law that punished any denial of the Armenian genocide, the
Elysee Palace announced that president Francois Hollande is
considering a new measure to reintroduce the ban, ordered by his
predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy. The previous measure led to a chill in
relations between Turkey and France. The Armenians accuse the Turks of
have killed 1.5 million of their people between 1915 and 1916. . .

Armenian tourists prefer exotic countries this year

tert.am
16:18 – 08.07.12

While most of the Armenians wishing to spend the summer abroad used to
travel to countries like Egypt and Turkey, their interest this year
has turned to more distant and exotic places, says a tourism expert.

Mary Voskanyan, an employee of the Tourcenter company, told Tert.am on
Sunday that the Armenian tourists increasingly prefer to spend this
summer in Sri Lanka, Jordan or Jerusalem.

`Those directions are little by little beginning to develop. People
are more keen to go those places now,’ she said.

As for European countries, Voskanyan noted they are widely preferred
by couples wishing to spend their honeymoon in the west. But the
Armenians’ desire to travel to Europe seems to be restricted only to a
few countries, particularly because of the difficulties in obtaining a
visa to Spain.

There is especially a great demand for tickets to Bali Island,
Maldives and Seychelles, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore etc. but money
is said to be a major obstacle for tourist agencies in those islands,
with the rest there being `extremely expensive’ there.

`Flights are arranged in such a way that [passengers] have to change
three planes, first travelling to Moscow, then to Singapore and then
to the destination country. So, only one person’s ticket to an exotic
country costs 1,000 and more,’ Voskanyan added.

A representative of the Triumph Premium Tour Agency, Tatev Ghazaryan,
told our correspondent that people cannot often afford the costs,
although there is a tendency. She said the traditional destinations,
i.e. – Turkey and Greece, still remain the most actual choice.

She said further that the Armenian travelers have lost interest in
Egypt following the Arab Spring and the shark attacks against tourist.

l’Humanité , France
8 juillet 2012

Négation du génocide arménien: Hollande veut une nouvelle loi

François Hollande a confirmé son engagement électoral, de pénaliser la
négation du génocide arménien et ce malgré de sérieuses difficultés
juridiques. Laurent Fabius, alors qu’il essayait se soigner la
relation franco-turque, avait pourtant avancé le contraire.

Cette assurance de François Hollande vient du Conseil de coordination
des organisations arméniennes de France (CCAF), dont un responsable
aurait eu le chef de l’Etat au téléphone. Le chef de l’Etat a
“toujours la volonté de proposer un projet de loi visant à réprimer le
négationnisme du génocide arménien”, avait affirmé le CCAF dans un
communiqué du CCAF publié dans samedi, en rapportant l’échange avec
François Hollande. “Le président a fait part de ses engagements
pendant la campagne. Il les tiendra”, a confirmé l’Elysée à l’AFP.
Problème, comment passer un tel texte, alors qu’un premier a déjà été
retoqué au Conseil constitutionnel. L’Elysée a assuré qu’une réflexion
était en cours sur ce sujet. On n’a toutefois pas précisé si le
véhicule juridique prendrait ou non la forme d’un nouveau texte de
loi, soulignant que tout dépendrait des résultats de l’étude en cours.

Les représentants de la communauté arménienne de France avaient fait
part de leurs inquiétudes et parlé même de “trahison” après les
déclarations du ministre des Affaires étrangères Laurent Fabius
évoquant une “nouvelle étape” des relations entre Paris et Ankara.
C’est que le chef de la diplomatie française avait semblé exclure,
lors d’un entretien avec son homologue turc, l’adoption prochaine par
la France d’une nouvelle loi punissant la négation des génocides, dont
celui des Arméniens, après la censure par le Conseil constitutionnel
d’un texte voté en ce sens fin 2011 par l’Assemblée nationale. Cette
instance “a décidé que la proposition de loi qui avait été présentée
par les parlementaires (de la précédente majorité de droite) était
contraire à notre Constitution donc il n’est pas possible de reprendre
le même chemin sinon le résultat sera évidemment le même”, avait
constaté Laurent Fabius.

De nombreux historiens restent hostiles à cette loi, estimant
notamment qu’il ne revient pas à la loi de dire l`histoire.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 8 2012

Turkey’s Role Important In Settlement Of Decades-Long Karabakh Conflict

Sunday, 08 July 2012 10:08 .
LAMIYA ADILGIZI – Today’s Zaman

Turkey’s role in the settlement of the decades-long Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict between Turkey’s closest ally, Azerbaijan, and its estranged
neighbor Armenia is very important, an Azerbaijani official has said,
pointing out that the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh should predate
the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.

`Reconciliation and the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia
can be a subject of discussion only after the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,’ Orkhan Akbarov, the newly appointed chair
of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Coordination Council,
said in an interview with Sunday’s Zaman.

Commenting on Turkey’s firm stance in the process of settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Akbarov said that Turkey taking a stand in
not opening the Turkish-Armenian border already proves Turkey’s
position and its support for brother country Azerbaijan.

Turkey and Azerbaijan are considered `brotherly countries’ due to
their ethnic kinship, a fact that led Turkey to close its border with
Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan after Armenian armed
forces occupied territories of Azerbaijan one year earlier.

`Turkey’s continuing support for Azerbaijan and its consistent
statements that it regards settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a
precondition for the revival of diplomatic relations between Turkey
and Armenia makes Turkey’s position clear,’ Akbarov said, expressing
his belief that Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Armenia, which started a war with Azerbaijan during the breakup of the
Soviet Union and occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent provinces, argues that
Turkey has no say in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as it is not one of
the sides to the conflict. However, Turkey has always backed
Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, declaring itself to be on
Azerbaijan’s side and standing by Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan’s
legitimate and constructive position in the settlement of the
conflict.

Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave located within Azerbaijan predominantly
populated by ethnic Armenians, together with seven Azeri-populated
adjacent territories, was occupied by Armenian forces under the
command of current Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan in a bloody
six-year war (1988-1994), leaving 30,000 dead and nearly a million
displaced. Since then, negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict have been continuing under the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, established in 1992. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict however remains stalemated as there has been
no progress in negotiations. The talks under the OSCE Minsk Group have
yet to yield any results, as both Azerbaijan and Armenia insist on
conditions that are not acceptable to the other. Armenia demands the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and refuses to withdraw its troops
from the occupied territories before ensuring the full sovereignty of
the region. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan insists on the upholding of its
territorial integrity, promising it will be open to discussion as well
as determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh after the
withdrawal the troops from its territories.

Commenting on the stalemate, Akbarov accuses Russia and France of not
being willing parties in settling the conflict. `As Russia does not
approach the settlement process constructively and France maintains a
pro-Armenian stance in the negotiations, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
remains unsettled for the time being,’ Akbarov said, adding that
Turkey’s inclusion as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group would be
important. `To have a balance in the [OSCE Minsk] group is necessary
and I think, if the member countries come together to cooperate with
Turkey as co-chair of the group, it will help the Nagorno-Karabakh to
find its best solution ever,’ Akbarov said, underlining that Turkey’s
inclusion in the Minsk Group would lead to a peaceful solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being finally found.

Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks have been conducted under the auspices of
the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the US, France and Russia.

Hollande confirms plans for new Genocide bill

July 8, 2012 – 19:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – French President Francois Hollande confirmed plans
for a new law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide with
representatives of the Armenian community, the Elysee Palace said,
according to AFP.

The new French leader thus once again raised the issue that sparked a
diplomatic crisis between Paris and Ankara, when Hollande’s
conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy angered Turkey pushing ahead
a bill making it a crime to deny the Genocide.

Socialist Hollande has clarified in a talk with the Coordinating
Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) that he will
propose a similar law, the group said Saturday, July 7.

“Francois Hollande has again expressed his willingness to propose a
bill designed to curb the denial of the Armenian Genocide, as he had
said during his campaign and even before,” said the group.

It said Hollande had contacted them to clarify his position after
confusion over statements by his Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

The Elysee Palace confirmed the telephone conversation and told AFP:
“The president expressed his commitments during the campaign. He will
keep them. There is no change, although we must find a path, a road
that allows for a text that is consistent with the constitution.”

Davutoglu: We do not deny the Armenians’ grief

tert.am
14:16 – 08.07.12

While travelling from Ankara to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu talked of different issues with journalists, addressing,
among other things, the Armenia Genocide.

Commenting on the opinions voiced, a reporter of the Turkish Milliyet,
Asli Aydintasbas, says that the question was very much prioritized,
noting that reports in that connection will be published after
Davutoglu’s return from France.

`’We were talking of the Syrian issue but we suddenly came up with the
Armenian Cause. You may say what the Armenian Cause has to do with
that or the 1915 events continue frustrating Turkey 100 years after
they happened, ‘ Aydintasbas says, referring to the assassination of
Hrant Dink, the almost broken ties with France or the millions of
Dollars spent by the US Congress every year.

According to the Turkish journalist, Davutoglu’s words suggest that
Turkey has three steps to implement ahead of the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.

`There’s no Turkish Foreign Minister saying nothing was committed
against the Armenians in 1915. I do not consider those events
genocide, but that’s the choice of those who say it. We do not deny
your grief; we do realize it. So let’s think together what can be
done. That cannot be a unilateral accusation,’ he said.

The Turkish FM claimed that their history has seen no ethnic
massacres, adding that their nation differs from the Germans in that
respect.

`I look upon the full half of the cup. Though belated, it was
important to hear him say `I feel your sorrow; we will listen to the
Armenians.’ There are obviously efforts to create a joint declaration
ahead of 2015,’ says the Turkish journalist.

The second question, according to her, is the Diaspora issue.
Davutoglu reportedly said that the Turkish Diaspora is not limited to
ethnic Turks as each person who emigrated from those lands, be it an
Armenian, Greek or Jew, is a Diaspora representative from them.

Davutoglu further said that the negotiations with the Armenian
Diaspora have been launched long ago.

And last but not the least, the sensitive diplomacy with Armenia
appears to be the third question. With the bilateral protocols still
being on table, Turkey’s top diplomat called for the Armenians’
withdrawal from what he called Azerbaijani territories. He promised
that Turkey would open the border with Armenia, and launch bilateral
trade and investments if that condition is met.

`That’s a challenging proposal for Armenia. But for Turkey, it has
absolutely no material value, though it is a step towards finding the
split souls and lost identity,’ says Aydintasbas.

`If you want to be useful in terms resolving the Armenian Cause, let’s
work together. I wish the protocols were brought to life. That didn’t
happen because of psychological factors,’ Davutoglu was quoted as
telling journalists.

OSCE Secretary General’s regional visit will not lead to breakthrough
– NKR President’s spokesperson

news.am
July 07, 2012 | 14:58

As of today it is not worth expecting anything new in the
Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict’s settlement process, Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) President’s Press Secretary Davit Babayan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am, speaking about Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Secretary General Lamberto Zannier’s
scheduled visit to the South Caucasus.

In his words, prerequisites are in need for making changes in the
negotiation process.

`There are several aspects here. First, the NK matter must be
discussed in the context of global geopolitical scenarios, including
in the Middle East, and the situation in that region does not
contribute to this.

Second, Azerbaijan hampers this by making bellicose statements, which
contain racist, fascist, anti-Armenian stance.

Second, the existing format is one of the possible formats, which has
proven its effectiveness in the case when Azerbaijan is combating with
the USSR-era format,’ Babayan stressed, and added:

`In many of the world’s very hot spots they simply dream that [their]
situation be at least like the one in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
zone. Relative stability is already a huge progress. It is not worth
expecting more.’

In addition, according to NKR President’s Press Secretary,
Azerbaijan’s aforementioned demeanor was a blow to international law,
and the maintenance of the situation created under these circumstances
and not allowing for the conflict’s escalation are already
achievements.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, along the lines of a
regional visit, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier will be in the
South Caucasus countries between July 8 and 12.

First, Zannier will visit Azerbaijan on July 8-9, next, he will head
to Georgia, and finally he will stay in Armenia on July 11-12.

Within the framework of his visits, the OSCE Secretary General will
meet with leaders of the three countries, and discuss
politico-military collaboration, and cooperation in connection with
economy, the environment, and human rights.