Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

‘THEY ALL GET THE PUNISHMENT THEY DESERVE’: DEFENSE MINISTER ON ARMY INCIDENTS

epress.am
09.15.2011

Criminal proceedings have been launched on all unlawful incidents
in the army; law enforcement agencies are working on it; there
are no cases in which the guilty have not been found and detained,
said Armenian defense minister Seyran Ohanyan (pictured), addressing
relatives of young men killed while serving in the army during a period
of non combat and journalists after the government meeting today.

“We have to have a little bit of patience so the law enforcement
officials conclude [their work]. The number of emergency accidents
that happen in the army every year is publicized – every single
incident pains us; [however,] this number is declining. There has
not been an atmosphere of impunity in the army and there isn’t today
[either]. They all get the punishment they deserve. And let me say,
it’s not possible to hid any incident in the army; all are within a
legal framework,” he said.

The defense minister also suggested the youth of the civic initiative
the “Army in Reality”, who were protesting the situation in Armenia’s
armed forces outside the government building, to meet with him.

“There are youth here; if there is any active group that wants to
speak with me, I am ready to talk,” he said.

However, Epress.am spoke with “Army in Reality” member Lala Aslikyan,
who said that the youth who at the time were standing outside
protesting are not preparing to meet with Ohanyan.

“I think, there’s no point. Let the time that he was going to meet
with us be used so that there is no recorded case of army deaths this
week,” she said.

Note, after yesterday’s discussion on the army organized by several
human rights organizations and other groups, at which state officials,
human rights campaigners, journalists and relatives of killed soldiers
were present, the relatives were asked to go to the military police
division and, according to the parents, they were persuaded “in a very
subtle way” not to participate in the Thursday protests and, as far
as the parents insist, they were asked “not to politicize the issue.”

From: Baghdasarian

BAKO SAHAKYAN MET A GROUP OF OFFICERS DEMOBILIZED FROM DEFENSE ARMY AND TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE RESCUE SERVICE

Noyan Tapan

15.09.2011

On 15 September President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
a group of officers demobilized from Defense Army and to be employed
by the Rescue Service.

The President noted the necessity of providing the retired servicemen
with corresponding jobs mentioning that their experience and
knowledge would have a positive impact on raising the efficiency of
the structure’s activity.

The Head of State underlined that securing working places for
retired officers would always be in the spotlight of the authorities’
attention.

Head of the President’s Office, Secretary of the Security Council
Marat Mousayelyan, deputy defense minister, head of the Artsakh War
Veterans’ Union Samvel Karapetyan, director of the rescue service
Arthur Haroutyunyan partook at the meeting.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA DO IRELAND A FAVOUR AS MOSCOW HEROICS GIVE US HOPE

Kerryman
September 14, 2011
Ireland

Two wins would guarantee us at least second spot and a play-off for a
place in the EURO 2012 finals in Poland / Ukraine next Summer. Armenia
shocked Slovakia 4-0 with four second half goals in Zilinia to upset
expectations and battle their way back into the competition. Their
win meant they moved into third position on goal difference in the
qualifying table, level on points with Slovakia and one behind Ireland.

Armenia are now looking at the possibility of snatching a top-two
finish in Group B with Russia currently leading the table on 17
points, Ireland second on 15 and with Armenia and Slovakia following
on 14. Group B is proving just as competitive as was predicted and
who is to say it will not throw up another surprise result or two
before the final placings are settled on October 11.

Armenia’s win, taken in conjunction with Ireland’s battling draw
against Russia in Moscow, means the four top teams still harbour
ambitions of not just finishing second but of winning Group B and
qualifying automatically for the finals.

The odds will inevitably still favour Russia with a two points
advantage at the top of the table. But they must travel to Zilinia for
their next match to face a Slovakia team smarting from their loss to
Armenia and desperately needing to avoid defeat if they are to stay
in the competition.

Ireland will next travel to play Andorra, who were defeated 1-0 by
FYR Macedonia on Tuesday and who are still without a point in the
competition. Armenia will be firm favourites to beat FYR Macedonia
in their next match and, if everything works out as expected, they
will travel to the Aviva Stadium to face Ireland in what could prove
to be a match of huge significance.

Both might even be playing for first place in the group. Ireland,
it will be recalled, battled to a critical win over Armenia when the
teams met in the opening series on September 3rd last year in Yerevan.

Keith Fahey, who came in as substitute for Aiden McGeady after 68
minutes, scored the only goal of the game eight minutes later.

Tickets for the home game against Armenia (Tuesday October 11, 7.45pm
kick off) are now available with Adult Prices at EUR 45 and EUR 60
and tickets for U16s at justEUR10. Tickets can be purchased through
the FAI website at Shamrock Rovers BILLY Dennehy’s Shamrock
Rovers will play their Europa League Group Stages at home in Tallaght
Stadium, after the venue was given the go-ahead by UEFA today.

Following an inspection of the ground by UEFA officials last week, the
association has today given the U19s head to Portugal THE Republic of
Ireland Women’s Under-19 squad Head Coach Dave Connell has named his
squad of 18 for the upcoming UEFA Championship first phase qualifiers
in Portugal.

Ireland open their campaign by facing the host nation on Saturday
September 17 (7pm) before taking on Israel two days later in Anadia
(5pm). The concluding fixture of the four-nation mini-group is set
for Thursday, September 22 when the Irish go up against Hungary at
the Luso Training Centre (7pm).

A finish in the either of the top two places in the group will secure
Connell’s side progression into the next phase. Germany, France and
England have byes through this initial stage courtesy of their highest
coefficients. They await the 21 qualifiers (the top two in each group
and the thirdplaced team with the best record against the top two in
their section) in November’s draw for the elite phase in Nyon.

Soccer Shorts

A brace of goals from Danny Roche saw Tralee Dynamos make it two
wins out of three in the U19 league, next up is a home game against
Athlone Town this Saturday kicking off at 3.30pm.

Darren Dennehy continued his injury comeback with a starting role
for Barnet in their 3-1 defeat at Crewe.

Brendan Moloney an unused sub as Nottingham Forest go down 3-2 to
Southampton.

Diarmuid O’Carroll starts and sets up Glenavon’s goal in their 2-1
defeat to Lisburn.

Sean Brosnan came on for Paudie Quinn and helped set up Limerick FC’s
injury time winner against Longford Town.

From: Baghdasarian

THE FORMIDABLE NOUVEAUTES OF FALL
By LENNOX MORRISON

Wall Street Journal

Sept 15 2011

Summer in France saw too much rain in many parts and incessant
politicking throughout as parties warmed up for next year’s
presidential race. But now the hour has sounded to return to work
and school, and to enjoy the cultural nouveautes of autumn.

Nouveautes, or new events, is perhaps not the appropriate word. Two
of the first big events involve artists whose hold on the affections
of the French public dates back many decades.

At the age of 68, the nation’s favorite pop star, Johnny Hallyday, who
among other things rendered “Let’s Twist Again” in a French accent in
the 1960s, made his theatrical debut last week at the Theâtre Edouard
VII in Paris.

Although Mr. Hallyday-known here simply as Johnny-has lent his
arresting lupine presence to dozens of films, this is the first time
he’s trod the boards.

In keeping with the rebel rocker image he’s radiated since he first
cut a record at 16, Mr. Hallyday reportedly spurned the safety net of
a prompter. Swapping his customary black leather garb for jeans and
a lumberjack shirt he plays the lead in Tennessee Williams’ “Kingdom
of Earth,” a psychological drama about two warring half-brothers in
rural Mississippi in the 1960s.

Mr. Hallyday’s performance as a Southern bumpkin called “Chicken”
didn’t wildly impress the critics but was-predictably-rapturously
received by his fans.

There is already talk of extending the run of the play, known in
French as “Le paradis sur terre.”

The other main event-or rather series of events-is staged by Charles
Aznavour, the balladeer who brought the world the lyric, “You are
the one for me, for me, for me, for-mi-dable.” At 87 years old, Mr.

Aznavour does indeed appear to be in formidable form. The singer,
who back in the 1940s was a support act to Edith Piaf, is currently
playing at the Olympia in Paris before embarking on a tour of 31 other
cities in France and Switzerland. For his latest album, fittingly
titled “Toujours” (always), he penned 12 new songs, adding to the
1,000 or so he has written in his career.

Although seen as the ultimate living exponent of la chanson francaise,
Mr. Aznavour’s roots are Armenian. Born in Paris to poor Armenian
parents, he was originally named Chahnourh Varinag Aznavourian.

Ever since the terrible earthquake that hit Armenia in 1988, he has
been a tireless campaigner for his parents’ homeland. Today, he is
its ambassador in Switzerland and at Unesco.

In a stage career that began at the tender age of 9, the multilingual
crooner has duetted with everyone from today’s rap artists to Frank
Sinatra and, of course, Johnny Hallyday.

An additional point of commonality between these two enduring icons
to the French is that they both now live abroad-in Switzerland.

From: Baghdasarian

ERDOGAN SAYS TURKEY WARNED IRAN ABOUT CATERING TO ASSAD

Today’s Zaman
Sept 15 2011
Turkey

In this file photo, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdoðan visits Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Tehran on October 27, 2009. (Photo:
Cihan)

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has said there is no significant
tension between Turkey and Iran, but Turkey has warned Tehran about
Syria on a number of occasions, saying Iran was pampering the Bashar
al-Assad administration.

“We talked about this on the phone with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Later,
he sent a special representative [to Turkey]. We also talked with him.

They did change their attitude [on Syria]. Soon I will send Hakan
[Fidan, undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization
(MÝT)]. I will most likely have talks with Ahmadinejad after the UN
meeting,” Erdoðan said, speaking to journalists during a flight to
Libya from Cairo, where he visited on Monday and Tuesday.

Speaking on relations with Iran, Erdoðan said he also had plans
to visit the Islamic republic. He said it was possible for Iran and
Turkey to work together against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK) in Iraq’s Kandil Mountains, where the PKK is based.

The prime minister also shared his opinions on the future of Egypt.

“The first test of democracy in Egypt will be the parliamentary
elections due in November. If they can complete this test successfully,
they might draft a new constitution and hold new elections to either
elect a president or a prime minister,” he said, noting that the
voters will have four different ballots to vote with in November and
“they are worried they might not finish it in one day.” The prime
minister added: “The important thing is holding the elections. This
will show the power of Tahrir Square.” He warned that if the elections
were not held properly, more protests could take place in Egypt.

Erdoðan also offered an explanation for the Muslim Brotherhood’s anger
at his words in Cairo, where he told Egyptians not to be “afraid of
secularism.” The prime minister said: “My words were misunderstood
because of a translation mistake. In Arabic, there is a word for
‘irreligiousness,’ and the translator used that word for secularism.

Secularism is not about being an enemy of religion. It is about the
state maintaining the same distance from all religions and acting as
a custodian of their beliefs. This is what we mean when we say don’t
be afraid of secularism.”

He also said a person who expressed anger at Erdoðan’s words
was going to make a new statement and offer a correction to the
misunderstanding. Erdoðan also said rumors that the person who made
the statement on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood was not their
presidential candidate. “This person is someone who left the Muslim
Brotherhood. Plus, if the Muslim Brotherhood had any problems with us,
they would have told us so during our contacts in Egypt. They didn’t
even imply any discomfort [with the secularism statement].”

Erdoðan was on a two-day visit to Cairo, where he urged Turkish and
Egyptian businessmen to transform the current high-level political
relations between the two countries into bilateral trade relations
and economic cooperation.

Erdoðan said he came to Egypt with businessmen to contribute to
economic and trade relations, while addressing businessmen at the
Turkey-Egypt Business Council General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday.

He had a number of meetings with Egyptian authorities and public
figures. He also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on
Wednesday in Cairo, where he said that it was time to raise the
Palestinian flag at the United Nations.

The meeting between Erdoðan and Abbas comes at a time when the
Barack Obama administration is making a final effort to avert a
diplomatic crisis over the Palestinian drive to win UN recognition as
an independent state, which threatens to provoke a regional meltdown
and further isolate Israel, the top US ally in the Middle East.

In addition to Abbas, Erdoðan also had talks with Amr Moussa, former
secretary-general of the Arab League, and Mohamed ElBaradei, former
head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during his
visit. Moussa is a presidential candidate for elections expected to
be held early next year, while ElBaradei is also cited as a potential
candidate.

Erdoðan also met on Wednesday with a delegation from Egypt’s most
powerful Islamist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Egypt’s Coptic
Christian leader Pope Shenouda III.

Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador last week in a row over an
Israeli raid last year that killed nine Turks on a flotilla bound
for Gaza, the Palestinian enclave controlled by the Islamist group
Hamas and under blockade by Israel.

Erdoðan’s recent criticism of Israel has drawn strong support in the
Arab world.

From: Baghdasarian

OCCUPATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH PREVENTS ORGANIZING POSTAL SERVICES IN THIS REGION OF AZERBAIJAN

Trend
Sept 15 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan will not act as a transit country for the delivery of postal
items to Armenia unless it withdraws from the occupied territories of
Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, head of postal department of
Communications and Information Technologies Ministry of Azerbaijan,
Chairman of the postal commission of the Regional Commonwealth in
the field of Communications Novruz Mammadov told Trend.

According to Mammadov, Azerbaijan undertakes to deliver postal items
to all countries that are members of the Universal Postal Union (UPU),
while also ensuring the transit through its territory, except postal
items addressed to Armenia.

“We strictly fulfill acts within the Universal Postal Union with
regards to this issue. The exception is postal delivery or transit
through the territory of Azerbaijan to Armenia unless Armenia withdraws
from the occupied territories,” said Mammadov.

With regards to delivery of postal items to Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas, it is also impossible because of the fact that
these territories are under occupation.

“When we receive postal items addressed to Armenian-occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh and other surrounding areas, they are sent back,
indicating that these territories are not available for sending,”
said Mammadov.

Earlier, postal items to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas were
sent through railway via Baku-Yerevan and Baku-Khankendi routes.
Currently, postal items to low-lying part of Karabakh – Horadiz and
Agdam – are sent by cars.

After the liberation of territories occupied by Armenia, postal items
will be delivered from Horadiz to Zengilan, Gubadli, and from Aghdam
to Khankendi and onward to Shusha.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN COGNAC PLANT NET PROFITS DROP 24% LAST FINANCIAL YEAR

Interfax
Sept 14 2011
Russia

CJSC Yerevan Cognac Plant, Armenia’s leading alcoholic beverages
producer, saw net profits drop 24.4% year-on-year to 2.422 billion
dram in the financial year ending with June 2011, the plant’s executive
director, Ara Grigoryan, said at a Wednesday press conference.

Sales volume was up 9.4% at 2.842 million liters, and was in line
with production volume, Grigoryan said.

Despite the increase in sales, the plant was unable to regain its
pre-crisis level, and was 12% behind the 2007 figure, he reported.

The drop in profits was attributable to the company having to cut
its product prices to maintain sales on its traditional markets amid
global economic crisis and lower demand.

Prices were reduced in Russia and the Baltic countries. Lowering prices
with the aim of pushing sales up was a result of the plant procuring
30,000 more tonnes of grapes than necessary over the past three years,
and production capacity was occupied. The company was compelled to free
up that capacity and make additional investments in order to ensure
the availability of containers and new grape buys, Grigoryan said.

During the last financial year, the structure of the plant’s sales
underwent change. Where the Russian market had represented 71% of
export sales, that figure dropped to 64%. Sales in Europe were up 47%.

Grigoryan noted that the plant intends to enter new markets to
diversify sales, particularly in Asia. China’s market looks the most
desirable, but it is very complicated and huge investment is being
made to promote the Ararat brand in that country, which is quite
unfamiliar with Armenia and its products. Plans call for expansion
on markets in the United States and Germany, where Yerevan Cognac
Plant product has been available for two or three years already.

The plant will lay in some 20,000 tonnes of grapes this year, almost
9,000 tonnes less than last year, Grigoryan said. It would suffice
to buy all of 5,000 tonnes from farmers this year, considering the
plant’s cognac inventory, he said, but because of social factors the
company has decided to increase that amount to 20,000 tonnes. The
plant accounts for 30% of overall grape purchases in Armenia.

Yerevan Cognac Plant is Armenia’s biggest producer and export of
cognac. It belongs to the French group Pernod Ricard.The official
exchange rate for September 14: 374.56 dram/$1.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA TO CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE WITH MILITARY PARADE AND CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT ON REPUBLIC SQUARE

news.am
Sept 15 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Prime Minister Of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan On Thursday
officiated at the meeting of State Committee on Preparation and
Organization of events dedicated to 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence.

According to the schedule of celebrations, the Republic Square will
host a military parade on the morning of September 21, followed
by classical music concert in the evening. A number of concerts and
exhibitions entitled Armenia Is You will run in Yerevan administrative
districts and Armenian regions.

The architecturally significant buildings of Yerevan will get special
lighting.

From: Baghdasarian

YOUTH INITIATIVE TO CLEAN MONUMENT – SYMBOL OF KARABAKH

news.am
Sept 15 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – A new event “Clean up the Monument of Grandma and Grandpa”
was launched on Facebook by Armenian youth activists.

The idea is to clean up the monument of “We Are Our Mountains”,
which is a peculiar symbol of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The organizers will visit the spot on September 25 to clean the chalk
writings and other “ornaments” inscribed on the monument.

The organizers will need assistance in terms of transport and
accommodation arrangement and ask for the assistance of public and
private organizations.

From: Baghdasarian

2 MILLIONS D’EUROS POUR LA MAISON DU POETE TCHARENTZ !
Jean [email protected]

armenews.com
jeudi 15 septembre 2011

Ruines et Desolation

En visite a Kars au cours d’un pèlerinage, un groupe d’Armeniens
voulant visiter la maison qui a vu la jeunesse du grand poète Yeriche
Tcharentz, a ete atterre de constater qu’elle n’etait plus que ruine
et abandonnee.

Devant le triste spectacle, le groupe de pèlerins a propose a l’actuel
proprietaire d’acquerir la masure. Ce a quoi il leur fut repondu
qu’elle valait 2 millions d’euros !! En 2007 elle etait proposee a
la vente 180 000 dollars.

Un doute subsiste quant a savoir s’il s’agit reellement de la maison
familiale Tcharentz.

En 2005 un accord avait ete conclu avec l’ancien maire de Kars, auquel
on doit le monument dedie a l’amitie Armeno-turque, puis detruit sur
ordre du premier ministre Erdogan. L’accord passe entre la directrice
du musee Tcharentz a Erevan, Lilit Hakobyan et Naif Alibeyoglu,
prevoyait une restauration, puis une transformation en une maison
de la culture, avec un petit hôtel attenant pouvant accueillir des
visiteurs armeniens. Mais en 2007, les negociations furent gelees a
la suite de l’assassinat de Hrant Dink.

L’immense poète, ne en Iran en 1897 et decede a l’âge de 40 ans
dans une prison d’Erevan, a combattu a Van en 1915. Inluence par
l’ideologie communiste et oppose au parti Dachnak, il rejoint l’armee
rouge en 1918.

A partir de 1919 son talent est reconnu en Armenie. Croyant, comme
la plupart des intellectuels de l’epoque que le communisme est la
reponse aux problèmes de l’humanite, il dechante au debut des annees
1930 et devient amer, abandonnant l’internationalisme.

Victime des purges staliniennes, il meurt emprisonne. Personne ne
sait vraiment où se trouve sa tombe.

From: Baghdasarian