Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

KIOSKS IN YEREVAN PARK NOT TO BE DISMANTLED (PHOTOS)

Tert.am
15.03.12

The Armenian cabinet approved on Monday the Draft Law on Alienating
Public Property, thus delaying the plan to dismantle the kiosks in
Yerevan’s Mashtots Park.

Under the draft, the constructions will not be taken down until the
Old Erivan project is launched.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan told the cabinet members that they
received a letter from the environmentalists and are trying their
best to understand them. Sargsyan said they are always on good terms
with opponents, and promised that the temporary construction of the
kiosks would be in the interests of all parties.

While the cabinet was discussing the draft law, the activists who had
gathered outside the government building, were calling for measures
to dismantle the kiosks.

From: Baghdasarian

ARF-D BUREAU REPRESENTATIVES MEET EU DELEGATION MEMBERS IN ARMENIA

11:36 . 15/03

ARF-D bureau members Hrant Markaryan and Levon Mkrchyan and Director
of ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan
have met the newly appointed ambassador of the EU to Armenia, the
delegation head Traian Laurentiu Hristea, First Adviser, Head of the
Political, Economic, Press and Information Section Onno Simons and
Political Advisor Andrey Didenko.

During the meeting, mainly issues pertinent to the parliamentary
elections in Armenia were discussed. The elections are scheduled to
take place in May. ARF-D representatives have presented the party’s
positions on the elections.

They have accepted the ambassador’s proposal to take part in the
meetings range with the ambassadors of the EU member countries.

From: Baghdasarian

PAU : LE RAPPORTEUR PUBLIC FAVORABLE A L’EXPULSION D’UNE FAMILLE ARMENIENNE COMPTANT UN ENFANT NE EN FRANCE
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 15 mars 2012

La rapporteur public du tribunal administratif de Pau a estime,
ce matin, que l’arrete prefectoral du 5 decembre 2011obligeant une
famille armenienne a quitter le territoire, etait legal.

La magistrate a rejete les huit points de defense souleves par Me
Maripierre Massou dit Labaquère, l’avocate de la famille Simonian.

Installee depuis avril 2009 a Pau, cette ” famille de quatre
enfants n’est pas venue pour des raisons economiques mais en raison
d’agressions dont elle a ete victime ” avait denonce un membre d’un
collectif de soutien, dont une cinquantaine de representants avaient
fait le deplacement, a 9 heures ce matin, au tribunal administratif.

La maire (PS) de Pau ,Martine Lignières-Cassou, s’etait jointe au
collectif. Pour le collectif, ” la famille risque en cas de retour
en Armenie une nouvelle agression par les milices locales, avec la
collaboration de la police “, et notamment Mme Simonian, qui est
d’origine azerie.

” Il n’existe pas d’elements suffisamment probant de la gravite des
risques auxquels ils s’exposent ” a retorque la rapporteur public
qui a fait egalement etat ” qu’ils ne justifient d’aucuns elements
d’integration suffisante ” en France depuis 2009. Leur demande
de droit d’asile avait ete rejetee par l’Ofpra (office francais
de protection des refugies et apatrides). Quant a l’argument de
l’expulsion du dernier des quatre enfants du couple qui est ne en
France, la magistrate a souligne que son âge (2 ans) ” n’etait pas un
obstacle pour qu’il quitte la France “. Si la procedure est ecrite,
Me Massou dit Labaquere a pris la parole pour demander le reexamen du
dossier par le prefet aux fins de leur accorder des titres de sejour.

Elle a ainsi appele les juges a prendre en compte ” l’interet superieur
de l’enfant qui doit primer ” et ajoute que ” par rapport a la loi
armenienne, Mme Simonian n’etait pas armenienne “. Decision du tribunal
administratif mardi prochain 13 mars. En sortant du tribunal, l’avocate
indiquait qu’elle epuiserait toutes les voies de recours possible.

From: Baghdasarian

LE CHEF DE L’ETAT ACHiVE SA VISITE A BRUXELLES
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 15 mars 2012

Les quotidiens continuent a suivre la visite du President Sarkissian
a Bruxelles, faisant etat de ses entretiens avec le President
du Parlement europeen, Martin Schulz, le Commissaire europeen
a l’elargissement et au voisinage europeen, Stefan Fule, et le
President du Parti Populaire europeen, Wilfried Martens, avec lesquels
il a evoque un large eventail de questions concernant la cooperation
Armenie-UE. Le chef de l’Etat a fait le point sur les reformes en cours
en Armenie et reaffirme la determination du Gouvernement armenien a
organiser des elections transparentes et equitables. Stefan Fule s’est
dit impressionne par les progrès qui, dans un court laps de temps,
ont ete marques en Armenie en matière de mise en place de reformes
dans le cadre du programme de Partenariat oriental.

Se prononcant dans l’enceinte de la Fondation Adenauer, le chef de
l’Etat a evoque l’attachement de l’Armenie aux valeurs europeennes
et a la resolution des problèmes par le biais de negociations et
de compromis, dans le respect des interets des autres. ” L’Armenie
souhaite bâtir un Etat où les droits de l’Homme sont respectes, où le
système judiciaire fonctionne, où il existe une concurrence politique
et economique, un Etat où la democratie n’est pas de pure forme “.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

From: Baghdasarian

L’ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE ” REVEILLE LES CONFLITS GELES ”
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 15 mars 2012

3 questions a Jean Claude Mignon, Depute et President de l’Assemblee
Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe

Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe-13/03/2012 14:50:00

Jean Claude Mignon vous venez d’acceder a la presidence de l’APCE.

Quel rôle joue cette assemblee et quelle influence a-t-elle ?

C’est un grand honneur car l’Assemblee Parlementaire du Conseil de
l’Europe reunit des deputes nationaux de 47 pays.

Rappelons que le Conseil de l’Europe a ete cree en 1949, que c’est une
organisation internationale comme l’ONU a New York ou la Commission
Europeenne a Bruxelles, qu’il permet a des Etats très differents de
se parler – tous les pays de l’Union Europeenne, la Turquie membre
fondateur, de nombreux ex – pays de l’Est, depuis la chute du Mur
de Berlin et la Russie qui avait longtemps domine ces memes pays de
l’Europe de l’Est.

Il faut aussi dire a nos concitoyens que c’est le Conseil de l’Europe
qui a introduit dans de nombreux pays europeens des avancees sociales
qui font partie de la vie de tous les jours et que lorsqu’ils
sollicitent les juges de la Cour Europeenne des Droits de l’Homme,
ils le font dans le cadre du Conseil de l’Europe.

L’APCE intervient sur la question des droits de l’homme et sur les
questions de societe, comment s’articule son action avec celle du
Parlement europeen qui intervient de plus en plus dans ces domaines ?

Il est normal que les deputes, elus aux elections europeennes dans les
27 Etats membres de l’Union Europeenne s’interessent a ces questions.

Mais nous ne sommes pas dans une logique de concurrence.

Bien au contraire, les agendas des 2 assemblees sont coordonnes. Nous
nous informons mutuellement sur nos travaux respectifs dans une
demarche de complementarite.

A cet egard, le President du Parlement Europeen, Monsieur Martin
Schulz, que j’ai rencontre la semaine dernière, est tout a fait sur
la meme longueur d’onde.

Comment l’APCE aborde-t-elle ses relations avec certains etats membres
: la Turquie et l’Ukraine ou l’expression politique est incertaine
et avec la Russie (sur le dossier de la Syrie) qui ont des deputes
a l’APCE ?

Comme je vous le disais, notre assemblee permet a des deputes de 47
Etats de travailler en commun et d’echanger des points de vue.

Ce sont autant de contacts qui peuvent influer sur la vie publique
internationale. Je rencontre, la semaine prochaine, le President de
la delegation de la Douma qui represente les deputes russes a notre
assemblee. Nous evoquerons aussi la position de la Russie au sujet
de la Syrie. Un autre exemple : Israël depuis 1957 et les Territoires
Palestiniens depuis 2011 ont un statut d’Observateur (droit de parole
sans vote). Les deputes de la Knesset et du parlement de l’Autorite
Palestinienne ont un espace de dialogue.

Vous parlez de la Turquie et de l’Ukraine.

Les deputes de notre assemblee sont vigilants et avec le Secretariat
General du Conseil de l’Europe (qui est le pendant de la Commission
Europeenne a Bruxelles), il nous arrive d’adresser un rappel des
fondements democratiques en Europe, comme nous venons recemment de
le faire auprès du gouvernement ukrainien.

Quelle est la priorite de votre mandat ?

Je souhaite me concentrer sur 2 priorites bien determinees.

D’abord, travailler en intelligence avec le Parlement europeen qui
partage nos objectifs. C’est d’autant plus facile que le Parlement
siège a Strasbourg ” dans nos murs ” – il utilise notre hemicycle,
peu de gens le savent – et cela permet des contacts quotidiens.

Mais, nous avons aussi vocation a travailler avec d’autres. Par exemple
les Nations Unies, avec lesquelles nous avons des projets communs. J’en
ai discute a New York lors de ma rencontre il y a 10 jours avec le
Secretaire General des Nations Unies, Monsieur Ban Ki Moon.

Comme vous le savez, il y a beaucoup de conflits dans le monde, il
y en a aussi en Europe. Je souhaite – c’est la deuxième priorite –
que l’Assemblee Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe ” reveille
les conflits geles ” : la Transylvanie, Chypres, le Haut Kabarakh,
la Georgie. Or nous avons au sein de l’assemblee, des parlementaires
issus des pays où ont lieu ces conflits.

Nous pouvons donc apporter des solutions pour la paix en Europe.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY REAFFIRMS KARABAKH PRECONDITION

13.03.2012

Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev (L) meets
Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag during the first summit
of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS) in Almaty,
21Oct2011

Turkey remains adamant in making the normalization of its relations
with Armenia conditional on a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict acceptable to Azerbaijan, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
Bekir Bozdag said on Tuesday.

“Nagorno-Karabakh is a Muslim, Azerbaijani and Turkic land occupied
by Armenia,” Bozdag told journalists during a visit to Baku. “The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is our common problem.”

“Until Armenia pulls out of Nagorno-Karabakh, until the rights of
Azerbaijanis of that region are restored Turkish-Armenian relations
will not be normalized,” he said, according to the Trend news agency.

Ankara has followed this line even after signing in 2009 two protocols
with Yerevan that committed the two sides to establish diplomatic
relations and open the Turkish-Armenian border. Turkish leaders have
repeatedly said that the protocols will not be ratified by Turkey’s
parliament before a breakthrough in the international efforts to
broker an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal on Karabakh.

The Armenian side rejects this precondition, accusing the Turks of
acting against the letter and spirit of the Western-backed protocols.

President Serzh Sarkisian last year threatened to withdraw Yerevan’s
signature from the deal.

Sarkisian mentioned the failed Turkish-Armenian normalization process
when he addressed a congress of his Republican Party on Saturday. He
insisted that despite the fiasco the unprecedented rapprochement
between the two neighboring nations, which began in 2008, was worth it.

“The entire world came to see that the only obstacle to the
establishment of relations between Armenia and Turkey is in Ankara
and another capital … but in no way or shape Yerevan,” Sarkisian
said. He argued that Ankara was “compelled” in 2009 to sign a legally
binding document that calls for an unconditional normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations.

Turkey has stood by the Karabakh linkage despite pressure from the
United States. Visiting Ankara in December, U.S. Vice President Joe
Biden expressed hope that the Turkish parliament will ratify the
protocols “in the months ahead.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN VICE SPEAKER: GEORGIA IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 13, 2012 – 18:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Today, on March 13, Armenian National Assembly
vice speaker Eduard Sharmazanov met with students of Yerevan State
University and Yerevan State Linguistic University.

The students focused on both domestic and foreign policies of the
country.

Sharmazanov presented his vision on further development of relations
with Baltic states, dwelling on development of Armenian-Georgian ties.

The vice speaker favored Armenia’s steps towards European integration.

He also underscored the importance of oncoming parliamentary race,
voicing confidence for the elections to be democratic.

“Georgia is of strategic importance to Armenia, as the latter is
bordered by Azerbaijan and Turkey. No progress has been achieved in
talks aimed at opening the borders so far,” the vice speaker said
stressing Georgia’s significance as a link with the outside world.

Mr. Sharmazanov dwelt on issued regarding reforms in the field of
education.

From: Baghdasarian

NA DEPUTY SPEAKER MEETS WITH THE STUDENTS

13.03.2012

On March 13 the NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov met with
the students of Yerevan State University and Yerevan Valery Brusov
Linguistic University. A sincere and intimate dialogue was held between
Mr Sharmazanov and students of the universities. The students were
interested in the inner political situation ruling in the country
and the pre-electoral developments, as well as the foreign political
events.

The students asked Eduard Sharmazanov to introduce his approaches
on the current and perspective developments of cooperation between
Armenia and Baltic countries, as well as the present level of the
Armenian-Georgian relations. The NA Deputy Speaker has noted that
Armenia implements distinct policy in deepening European integration,
harmonizing the legislation with European standards. In this context
he has highlighted the upcoming parliamentary elections and has
ensured that the Armenian authorities are ready to hold democratic
elections. The NA Deputy Speaker has highly appreciated the relations
of Armenia with the Baltic countries. He has informed them that during
his visit to Lithuania recently his Lithuanian counterparts have
ensured that they will actively support Armenia on the way to European
integration. To the NA Deputy Speaker’s assessment in this sphere
the Lithuanian experience can be instructive for the Armenian side.

Eduard Sharmazanov has also emphasized the Armenian-Georgian relations,
which have been historically friendly. The NA Deputy Speaker also
highlighted the relations with Georgia in strategic sense. Armenia is
in blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and despite the appeals of the
international community to open the Armenian-Turkish border Turkey
continues his policy of blockade. In this political situation Georgia
remains one of the most important links connecting our country with
the outer world.

In response to the one of the students’ question if the opposition
figures’ criticism is being taken into account, the NA Deputy Speaker
has answered that the cases are numerous when the representatives of
opposition and power cooperate in elaboration of the draft laws. He
has noted that the representatives of opposition and power cooperate
for the benefit of our country in international diplomatic structures.

“It’s not always that the opposition is wrong, and it’s not always
that the power is right,” Eduard Sharmazanov said.

Erik Stepanyan, the student of Yerevan State University was concerned
about the tension created around Iran and was interested in the
issue, what dangers will be for Armenia in case of war actions. In Mr
Sharmazanov’s opinion, in Iran, as well as Syria, the destabilization
of the situation in Syria will be a cause of humanitarian crisis
in Armenia. He is convinced that the war will result in painful
consequences for our country, as Iran is a unique road for Armenia.

“We are for the peaceful solution of Iran’s problem.” the NA Deputy
Speaker noted.

At the students’ request Mr Sharmazanov has also touched upon the
educational reforms, stressing that the education is a sensible sphere,
and here we should carefully make any change. “I think we should
facilitate the entrance to University and make difficult graduating
from it, in order, in reality, the best specialists graduate it,”
he noted.

In the course of the meeting they also referred to the Armenians not
participating in “Eurovision -2012” Song Contest, the settlement of
the NK problem, the cleaning of Yerevan and problems of preventing
the emigration.

From: Baghdasarian

EXPERT FAVORS ARMENIAN-IRANIAN FRIENDLY TIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 13, 2012 – 16:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies
commented on Armenian-Iranian ties, noting that the sides currently
pursue two important goals.

“First, to define the basis of relations between the two states for
the 20 years and second, to determine further activities in this
direction,” Ruben Safrastyan told a conference dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of establishment of Armenian-Iranian relations.

The expert noted that Iran and Armenia are linked by friendly ties,
with governments of the countries cooperating in different areas.

“Iranian-Armenian friendly ties proved cooperation possible also in
critical situations,” Mr. Safrastyan said.

During the conference first Armenian ambassador to Iran Vahan
Bayburdyan and philologist Armanush Kozmoyan were awarded medals and
certificates for their contribution to development of Armenian-Iranian
relations.

From: Baghdasarian

BONE MARROW DRIVE FOR BELMONT MOM
By Franklin Tucker

13 March 2012

Seeking donors of Armenian heritage to help Debbi Margosian Chapman.

A physical therapist, Debbi Margosian Chapman was active and healthy
until late last year when began feeling drained and out-of-sorts.

Anticipating Lyme disease, the life-altering diagnosis for the wife and
mother of two was Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer.

Debbi’s best chance fighting the disease is finding a marrow match.

But from the start, Margosian Chapman’s odds were reduced: none of
her siblings were suitable and she is of Armenian heritage that limits
the number of possible donors.

Margosian Chapman~Rs family hopes the greater Belmont community and
the area’s large Armenian population will step forward and is offering
$10,000 to the person who is a bone marrow match for her.

The family and Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of the Armenian Bone Marrow
Donor Registry, is asking everyone to come by on Saturday, March 24,
at 7 p.m., to the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, 47 Nichols
Ave. in Watertown, for a presentation and bone marrow drive and become
a hero for Debbi or the many other Armenians with blood cancers.

If you~Rre between 18-50 years old, you just need to give a quick
swab of your cheeks so you can be entered into the Armenian Bone
Marrow Donor Registry. If you are a match, in the majority of cases,
your stem cells will be harvested in a manner similar to giving blood;
there is no anesthesia or surgery.

On any given day, more than 6,000 patients worldwide are searching for
a donor. Only 25 to 30 percent of patients stricken with leukemia and
other blood-related diseases can find a match within their family,
the other 70-75 percent of the patients depend on the stem cell
donation of a complete stranger to save their lives.

If you can’t make it to the drive but want to be tested, please visit
for more information.

From: Baghdasarian