Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LATVIA AND ARMENIA AGREE TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

armradio.am
25.01.2012 17:27

Latvia and Armenia still have much room for potential in strengthening
economic cooperation, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics and
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said during a join press
conference in Riga today.

“We agreed to look at new possibilities to develop economic
cooperation,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed bilateral relations,
as well as Armenia’s cooperation with the European Union. Rinkevics
said that he looks positively at Armenia’s commitment to follow the
European Union’s core values, and is happy at the EU’s decision to
support an association agreement with Armenia, as well as ease visa
conditions for Armenians.

The Latvian Foreign Minister also said that he listened “with interest”
to Armenia’s point of view in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the
situation in Iran. “I truly hope that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will gradually lead to a peaceful settlement,” Rinkevics added.

From: Baghdasarian

A. ISKANDARYAN: SARKOZY WILL SIGN, TURKS WILL GULP IT

Panorama.am
25/01/2012

Expert Alexander Iskandaryan doesn’t doubt French President Nicolas
Sarkozy will sign the legislation passed by the Senate.

“Hence, we could treat the legislation as a ratified law,” A.
Iskandaryan said during Yerevan-Moscow teleconference.

The legislation is not only significant for Armenians, as the nation
will mark 100th anniversary of Genocide in three years, but it is
important for Turkey and Azerbaijan in the region and for Europe.

“This political decision has left France’s borders. Genocide train has
moved on and it’s impossible to stop it any longer,” A. Iskandaryan
said adding that Turkey would “gulp” this process also.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY PUTS UP WITH HUMILIATION – MILLIYET

Tert.am
25.01.12

Commenting on the Armenian Genocide denial bill adopted by the French
Senate, the Turkey-based Milliyet news website calls it a victory
gained by both France and Armenia.

According to the website, Turkey has not as much international
influence as Armenia has.

After the French National Assembly approved the Armenian Genocide
denial bill, Turkey had sufficient time to take preventive measures,
but failed. Soon after statements on boycotting French goods were
made, Umit Boyner, President of the Turkish Industry & Association,
and Zafer Caglayan, then Minister of Industry and Commerce, stated
that boycotts would not produce any results thereby calming France
down, the website notes.

According to the source, Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu’s statements,
as well as Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan’s threats failed to dissuade
France.

“Stripped of its intincts and dignity, our nation did not dare resort
to risk…When a similar law was adopted in Switzerland five years ago,
we threatened them a little and then gave up. Not content with that,
we invited Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey, who had twisted us round
her little finger, to an ambassadorial meeting and received her as
a guest of honor,” the source writes Over recent year, when foreign
states adopted decisions on the Armenian Genocide, Turtkey has only
addressed critical messages to them.

This is the reason why no country avoids “scoring a genocide goal
against Turkey.” They know that, after threatening a little, Turkey
will put up with this humiliation. “The French Senate decision is a
victory gained by both France and Armenia because it is not only due
to the Armenian voters in France, but also due to Armenia itself ,
that Sarkozy took this course. It is a sad fact that we do not have as
much international influence as Armenia with its the 4-million-strong
population,” the source cocnludes.

From: Baghdasarian

THEY DID NOT WANT FOR ARMENIAN FLAG TO BE RAISED IN BAKU – NATIONAL BOXER
By Garik Hovsepyan

news.am
January 25, 2012 | 12:41

YEREVAN. – From among Armenia’s boxers solely Andranik Hakobyan (75
kg) has so far qualified for the 2012 London Olympics. He is currently
competing in Armenia’s championship, and, in an interview with Armenian
News-NEWS.am, the experienced athlete said this championship is a
part of his preparation for the Olympics.

“Afterward, I plan to compete in the traditional international
tournament in Finland. We have many good boxers today, and therefore
all those who are included in the national team, and who compete in
the ranking tournament, have a chance to qualify for the Olympics. But
it will be difficult for the boys because the tournament will be
held in Turkey, and this country’s boxers, if I am not mistaken,
have not yet qualified for the Olympics.

And if I head to London alone, I will do everything to compete with
honor. It is the tension, which was created around our team, that
will be remembered from [last year’s] World Championships in Baku. Had
the tournament been in any other country, I definitely would have won
a medal. But they denied me the victory at the quarterfinals, since
the championship’s organizers simply did not want for the Armenian
tricolor to be raised in the sports complex,” Andranik Hakobyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST FOR OPENING OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM IN MOSCOW

news.am
January 25, 2012 | 13:48

MOSCOW. – It is necessary to open an Armenian Genocide Museum
in Moscow. The director of the Black Sea Institute of Political
and Social Research Vladimir Zakharov said on Wednesday during a
teleconference dedicated to the adoption of the bill criminalizing
genocides, including the Armenian Genocide, by the French Senate.

The expert recalled that Russia had hosted many refugees and many
publications appeared in pre-revolution Russian press ~V all this
must be presented in a Museum.

On his turn the director of Armenian Genocide-Museum Institute Hayk
Demoyan mentioned that museums are not created for political purposes
and they cannot serve as instruments for solving short-term problems.

~SThe Museum is a depository for memories and its aim is to prevent
this kind of crimes,~T Demoyan stressed.

He also mentioned that many facts of the Armenian Genocide have
been witnessed and registered by Russian soldiers and officers,
journalists and writers. The opening of a Genocide museum in Russia is
a good idea, but it should also include materials about other crimes
against humanity.

~SWe demand recognition of the Armenian Genocide and criminal
punishment for its denial not for our peace of mind but in order to
prevent such crimes in the future,~T Demoyan concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

ISTANBUL-ARMENIAN JOURNALIST MOCKS TURKISH MINISTER

news.am
January 25, 2012 | 13:59

ISTANBUL. – Turkish Taraf daily’s journalist, Istanbul Armenian Markar
Esayan responded, on his Twitter account, to Turkey’s Minister of Work
and Social Security, Faruk Celik, who had criticized those who had
recently marched for Hrant Dink-the founder and former chief editor
of Istanbul’s Agos Armenian weekly, who was killed in 2007-and stated
“We are all Armenian.” In this connection Celik had said there is no
need to change one’s identity.

“Faruk Celik thinks those who say ‘We are all Armenian’ will go to the
personal data registry department and change their identity. Is that a
sin? Someone should explain to him the reality,” Markar Esayan tweeted.

The Turkish minister had claimed that there is no need to change
one’s identity to criticize Dink’s murder. “It is enough to have a
conscience,” he had stated.

From: Baghdasarian

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AT YSU DEDICATED TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN ARMY
Nvard Davtyan

“Radiolur”
25.01.2012 14:03

A scientific conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of formation
of the Armenian Army kicked off at the Yerevan State University today.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan handed medals to lecturers and
students, who contributed to the reinforcement of the army-university
link.

Greeting the participants of the conference, Minister Ohanyan noted
that although big and strong, the army is a gentle and sensitive
structure.

“Judging about the army in the light of internal political
developments, inter-party confrontations and the public mood at
the given moment is unallowable,” Seyran Ohanyan said, adding that
notwithstanding anything, the army continues fulfilling its duty.

From: Baghdasarian

1915 : 4000 ARMENIENS SAUVES PAR LA MARINE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
mercredi 25 janvier 2012

Georges Kevorkian, comme son nom l’indique, est d’origine armenienne.

Ce retraite brestois a sorti de l’oubli une operation d’evacuation
menee par la Marine francaise. Plus de 4.000 Armeniens, encercles
par les troupes turques, ont ete sauves.

Georges Kevorkian a accueilli avec soulagement le vote des senateurs
francais sur la proposition de loi penalisant la negation du genocide
armenien. ” Mon père, qui etait chef de gare en Turquie, est arrive en
France en 1923. Il etait francophone. Dans la famille, on n’evoquait
que très peu le genocide. Peut-etre parce que nous habitions a Cogolin,
en Provence, a l’ecart des importantes communautes armeniennes
“. Les pages sombres de l’histoire de son peuple, Georges Kevorkian
va en prendre conscience dans les archives du service historique
de la Defense, a Brest. ” J’avais entendu parler d’une operation de
sauvetage de plus de 4.000 personnes, au sud-est de la Turquie, près
de l’actuelle frontière syrienne. J’ai simplement voulu en savoir plus
“. Et du coup, il en a fait un livre (lire ci-contre).

L’ancien ingenieur de DCN ne se doute pas qu’il va lever le voile
sur un episode glorieux de la Marine nationale francaise. Peut-etre
une des premières evacuations humanitaires de l’Histoire a laquelle
ont participe de très nombreux marins bretons. ” À cette epoque,
ils etaient legion sur les bateaux de guerre “, poursuit le retraite
brestois.

Sous le feu de l’armee turque

Tout a commence le 5septembre 1915. Des soldats embarques sur le
croiseur Guichen, qui participe au blocus des côtes de la Turquie, pays
allie des Allemands, distinguent, sur la côte, un grand carre blanc a
croix rouge. Ordre est donne d’aller voir a terre ce dont il s’agit. Un
emissaire armenien est hisse a bord. Il explique que plus de 4.000
enfants, femmes et vieillards, entoures par700 combattants, sont terres
sur le Mont Moïse. Et attaques par les troupes turques. La situation
est critique. Les refugies devront leur salut a l’amiral Darrieus,
commandant de la 2edivision de la 3e escadre de la Mediterranee qui,
sans pouvoir en referer a Paris (le telegramme expedie arrivera trop
tard), prendra la decision de leur venir en aide. ” Leur evacuation
s’imposait, ecrira-t-il plus tard. Le temps necessaire a toute autre
solution faisait defaut “. Quatre autres bâtiments arriveront sur
les lieux. Le temps presse. Les combattants armeniens commencent a
manquer de munitions. Bientôt, ils ne pourront plus contenir les
Turcs. Le12septembre, les operations d’evacuation debutent dans
des conditions difficiles. Les vagues, qui atteignent deux mètres,
ecartent d’emblee toute participation des petites embarcations. Sur
la plage, des marins aident les femmes et les enfants a embarquer
tandis que des fusiliers marins securisent la zone.

From: Baghdasarian

UNE JOURNEE EMPLIE D’EMOTIONS
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 25 janvier 2012

La chambre haute du parlement francais a approuve lundi soir un
projet de loi soutenu par le gouvernement qui sanctionne la negation
du genocide armenien, en depit des menaces de la Turquie envers Paris.

” Le deni est l’insulte supreme a la memoire collective que nous
partageons “, a annonce Patrick Ollier.

Le ministre des Affaires etrangères, Edouard Nalbandian, a declare dans
un communique en fin de soiree que ” cette journee sera gravee, non
seulement dans l’histoire de l’amitie entre les peuples armenien et
francais, mais aussi dans les annales de l’histoire de la protection
des droits humains dans le monde entier, et nous permettra de
consolider les mecanismes existants de prevention des crimes contre
l’humanite “. ” La France a reaffirme son rôle central en tant que
defenseur des veritables valeurs humaines universelles. ”

La plupart des senateurs opposes au projet de loi affirment que le
massacre de 1915 de 1,5 million d’Armeniens ne constituent pas un
genocide. D’après eux, le parlement francais doit laisser ” l’histoire
aux historiens “. Certains d’entre eux ont aussi accuses Nicolas
Sarkozy de chercher des voix avant les elections presidentielles
prevues pour ce printemps.

La France compte entre 500.000 et 600.000 membres de la communaute
armenienne. La grande majorite d’entre eux sont des descendants des
rescapes du genocide qui se sont refugies en France après la Première
Guerre mondiale.

Parmi eux, se trouvaient les grands-parents paternels de la senatrice
Natacha Bouchart, qui a prononce un discours emouvant au cours du
debat de lundi.

From: Baghdasarian

LA TURQUIE SOUHAITE SANCTIONNER LA FRANCE
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 25 janvier 2012

La Turquie s’est abstenue de faire des represailles contre la France
mardi 24 janvier 2012.

Les agences de nouvelles occidentales ont indique que M. Erdogan a
condamne le projet de loi, approuve par les deux chambres du parlement
de la France, et l’a qualifie de ” discriminatoire et raciste ”
et a averti qu’il aurait de graves consequences sur les relations
turco-francaises.

M. Erdogan espère que ” Paris corrigera son erreur “.” Nous n’avons
pas encore perdu espoir. Nous devons etre patients “, a-t-il dit.

M. Erdogan a prevenu que Ankara va imposer des sanctions non specifiees
” etape par etape “. ” Nous allons faire connaître notre plan d’action
en fonction de l’evolution de cette loi. ”

Ankara a declare que la Turquie pourrait reduire les liens
diplomatiques avec la France et fermer l’espace aerien turc pour les
avions militaires francais. Selon Reuters, les entreprises francaises
vont perdre certains contrats.

La Turquie ne peut imposer d’autres sanctions economiques sur la
France, etant donne qu’elle appartient a l’Organisation mondiale
du commerce (OMC) et qu’elle a un accord sur l’union douanière avec
l’Europe. En outre, le gouvernement turc a jusqu’ici evite d’appeler
a un boycott total des produits francais sous la pression de la
communaute des hommes d’affaires turcs.

Le ministre francais des Affaires etrangères, Alain Juppe, qui
est personnellement contre la nouvelle loi, a declare qu’elle est
inopportune mais a suggere a Ankara de rester calme.

Reuters a rapporte que les manchettes des journaux turcs etaient tout
sauf calmes. ” Une guillotine pour la libre pensee “, a declare ” Star
“, tandis que ” Aksam ” a decrit la demarche francaise comme ” Une
guillotine de l’histoire “. ” Honte a la France ” a titre le ” Vatan “.

Plusieurs centaines de manifestants se sont rassembles devant
l’ambassade francaise a Ankara et le consulat a Istanbul pour condamner
le projet de loi et reiterer la version officielle turque sur le
genocide de 1915. Les gouvernements turcs successifs l’ont attribue
a des combats et a la famine pendant la Première Guerre mondiale et
ont toujours nie la premeditation du gouvernement turc d’exterminer
la population armenienne de l’Empire ottoman

From: Baghdasarian