Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

TURQUIE
Le prix Nobel Orhan Pamuk dénonce l’ambiance de > en Turquie
sous le régime d’Erdogan

Istanbul, 7 déc 2014 (AFP) – L’écrivain turc Orhan Pamuk, prix Nobel
de littérature en 2006, a dénoncé l’ambiance de “peur” en Turquie et
les pressions exercées par le régime islamo-conservateur sur la
liberté de la presse, dans un rare entretien dimanche à un journal
turc.

“Le pire c’est qu’il y a une peur. Je constate que tout le monde a
peur, ce n’est pas normal (…) La liberté d’expression est tombée à
un niveau très bas”, a dit M. Pamuk au journal Hürriyet à l’occasion
de la sortie de son nouveau roman, non-encore traduit, six ans après
le dernier, “Le musée de l’innocence”.

L’écrivain a succès a déploré les pressions sur les médias en général
en Turquie par le pouvoir et notamment les actions en justice et les
licenciements visant les journalistes d’opposition. “Beaucoup d’amis
viennent me dire que tel ou tel journaliste a perdu son travail.
Désormais même les journalistes les plus proches du pouvoir sont
chassés. Je n’ai jamais rien vu de pareil nulle part”, a indiqué le
romancier gé de 62 ans.

Auteur de nombreux ouvrages sur Istanbul, sa ville natale, il a aussi
déploré les récentes déclarations du président turc Recep Tayyip
Erdogan qui a affirmé qu’hommes et femmes n’étaient pas égaux “parce
que c’est contre la nature humaine”, provoquant une controverse
d’ampleur internationale.

“Mon (dernier) roman porte en fait sur l’oppression subie par les
femmes en Turquie (…) Si nous devions critiquer la Turquie avec un
regard porté de l’extérieur, ce serait pour la place de la femme dans
la société. Nos politiques font des déclarations irréfléchis sur ce
point comme s’il voulaient provoquer une bagarre”, a-t-il dit dans une
allusion à peine voilée à la polémique générée par l’homme fort de
Turquie.

M. Erdogan a dirigé sans partage la Turquie à la tête de l’exécutif
de 2003 à 2014 avant d’être élu à la magistrature suprême en aout
dernier. Il est accusé par ses adversaires d’autocratie et de dérive
islamiste. M. Pamuk est l’auteur turc dont les ouvrages sont les plus
vendus dans le monde, traduits dans plus de 60 langues. Il a aussi été
le premier Turc à recevoir un prix Nobel.

dimanche 7 décembre 2014,
Ara (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Some Episodes of Putin’s Visit Gave Turkish Side a Surprise

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – 06 December 2014, 14:23

In the result of Erdogan-Putin meeting the sides agreed to deepen
economic cooperation. Was isolation of these two countries from the
West the reason for the warmth of these meetings?

The state visit of the Russian president Putin to Ankara differed from
the previous ones, therefore its results will continue to be discussed
in political and professional circles for a long time. Judging by some
statements, several episodes of this visit were a surprise for the
Turkish side. What was announced in Ankara is the continuation of
cooperation of the past 10-12 years. Though trade fell last year, the
heads of two states continue to hope that the target set for trade for
2023 is realistic. Present controversies between Russia and the West
cannot compare to controversies between Turkey and the West with their
scope. Consequently, these countries cannot be similarly considered
“outcasts of the West”, and Turkey and Russia cannot be on the same
plain.

Russia is an important trade partner for Turkey, therefore Moscow is
trying to benefit from Turkey’s demand. However, the Turkish side is
more cautious and is up for limiting its dependence on Russian
projects of carbohydrates, trying to find alternative measures. It is
notable that in the past years imports of gas from Russia halved, and
Putin hinted growing demand of Turkey for gas. I think there was
certain controversy over this. Besides ongoing and pipeline projects
in the economic sphere the regional and geopolitical controversies are
sensitive points in the Turkish-Russian relations (Crimea, Ukraine,
Syria, South Caucasus etc).

People draw historical parallels noting that Russian-Turkish
rapprochement has always cost expensive for the Armenian people and
the Armenian state. Do you have a reason to worry in this respect and
what negative consequences can the negative impact have for Armenia?

As I said, the Russian-Turkish rapprochement is not something new
hence, I think, the upsurge of concerns by certain circles are
unnecessary. By the way, I have monitored response to the meetings of
heads of Russia and Turkey over the past years. What we witnessed over
the past few years repeated the examples of the previous years: sense
of uncertainty, depression, overestimation of matters that are
important to us or their subordination to the Russian-Turkish
relations. It is important for us to shake this complex off. Hence, it
is necessary to follow the developments of Russian-Turkish
cooperation, draw conclusions and shift them to the policy and
implementation level.

Who benefitted from this meeting?

This meeting was another cycle in the Russian-Turkish relations, so we
cannot draw hasty conclusions. The majority of projects discussed are
rather ambitious for Russia and are medium-term whereas Turkey is in a
hurry to achieve its demands in the visible future. Moreover, Turkey
will again appear in a favorable position and will foster its plan to
become an energy hub adopted in 2008.
– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER: OSCE SHOULD URGE ARMENIA TO START WORKING ON KARABAKH PEACE DEAL

Interfax, Russia
Dec 4 2014

BAKU. Dec 4

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov believes the OSCE
member-states should call on Armenia to think about starting to work
on a comprehensive peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh.

“I would like to emphasize once again that Azerbaijan is prepared for
drawing up a peace agreement that has been supported and for which
President Francois Hollande and the Minsk Group co-chairs called at
the Paris summit. We all should urge Armenia to take this important
initiative seriously,” Mammadyarov said at the 21st meeting of the
OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel on Thursday.

The withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied Azeri territories would
be a significant step for improving confidence, would fully change
the course of the peace process, and would provide comprehensive and
durable preconditions for the South Caucasus region’s development,
he said.

va mk

From: Baghdasarian

ANCA GLENDALE APPOINTS TIGRANNA ZAKARYAN AS NEW COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Executive Appointments Monitor Worldwide
December 4, 2014 Thursday

The Armenian National Committee of America, Glendale Chapter, announced
the appointment of Tigranna Zakaryan as the new Community Outreach
Coordinator for the organization. Beginning this week, Tigranna will
be responsible for representing the ANCA Glendale Chapter by engaging
Armenian constituents of the broader Glendale area through grassroots
advocacy efforts–in addition to organizing local community events
and media initiatives geared to uphold Armenian American issues,
and promote solidarity as we approach the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

Tigranna Zakaryan is a longtime human rights activist focusing
on restorative justice efforts for Armenia and believes in the
importance of supporting the Armenian diaspora community with the hope
of connecting these efforts back to effective state-building in her
homeland. She has conducted research and traveled in remote regions
of western Armenia and has connected her experiences to studying
post-genocide restoration and refugee affairs in Rwanda.

“As an Armenian American having grown up in Los Angeles and a current
resident of Glendale, I am honored for this opportunity to focus
my efforts on supporting the very community that has inspired all
of my academic and social pursuits thus far, and look forward to
dedicating myself to the hard work and collaborative efforts that
await the future of Glendale.”

Prior to joining the ANCA, Tigranna has worked with low-income and
homeless youth in designing strategic academic planning to ensure
scholastic success; supported first generation college students
as a peer mentor; and engaged in various public presentations
both domestically and abroad regarding her field-research on
peace-building practices impacting nations recovering from genocide
and mass atrocities.

“We are fortunate and excited to appoint Ms. Zakaryan as our new
Community Outreach Coordinator,” said ANCA Glendale Chapter Chairman
Artin Manoukian. “I am confident that a young energetic person like
Tigranna will contribute her academic and professional accomplishments
in a manner that will build upon the achievements of the organization
thus far, and spearhead new innovative developments for ANCA Glendale.”

The ANCA-Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural,
and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and
promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public
policy levels. 2014 Global Data Point.

From: Baghdasarian

Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
1 Northern Avenue, Suite 24,=20
0001, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 50.20.76; 53.34.12
Fax: (+374 10) 50.20.76
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

December 4, 2014, Yerevan, Armenia

Celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities with Hyatt
Place Yerevan, COAF and Orran

On December 4, 2014, the Hyatt Place Yerevan, together with the
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) and Orran benevolent organization,
celebrated the International Day of People with Disabilities and
one-year anniversary of the Hotel. The festive event was also a nice
occasion to welcome the Holiday Season for the children who are
beneficiaries of COAF-supported programs and Orran activities.

More than 30 kids from the mentioned organizations came together at
the Hyatt Place Yerevan and enjoyed various entertainments, organized
specially for them: cooking and drawing classes, preparation of
Christmas ornaments, enjoying pizza, hot chocolate, cocoa, cookies and
sweets.

In the cozy and warm atmosphere of the Hotel, the children also
performed Christmas-related songs and poems, played games and engaged
in other fun activities.

The day’s festivities concluded with the Hyatt Place Yerevan
presenting gifts to the children and organizing group photo taking
around the Christmas Tree.

This was the first event organized by the Hyatt Place Yerevan Hotel
for children with disabilities and those coming from vulnerable
families, aiming to become a good tradition to follow in the years to
come.

* * * * *

About COAF
The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit, non-governmental
organization that employs community-led approaches aimed at improving
the quality of life in rural Armenia, with a particular focus on
children and youth.
Since the inception of its programs in 2004, COAF has funded and
implemented education, health, social, and economic development
programs serving more than 30,000 people in rural villages of
Armenia. Each person impacted represents one of the more than one
billion people living in poverty, and the methods used in Armenia can
be replicated in other communities, where children are most
vulnerable. Please see more at

About Hyatt Place Yerevan

The Hyatt Place Yerevan is an internationally managed hotel belonging
to world famous Hyatt international hotel chain. The hotel is located
in the heart of Yerevan, on the Republic Square featuring 95 spacious
rooms, meeting
room and different facilities for guest use.

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Argentina: Armenia has a “repressive regime of military-oligarchic dictatorship”

Agencia Prensa Armenia

In an article published by the largest newspaper in Argentina Clarin,
the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Argentina Mammad Ahmadzada said that
Armenia has a “repressive regime of military-oligarchic dictatorship”
and that Nagorno Karabakh “is an internationally recognized territory
of Azerbaijan.”

“Azerbaijan wants war and despises peace. The arms race that has been
launched and the aggression and intolerance of its diplomats presage
the worst” expressed the Vice President of the Socialist International
and member of the Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Mario Nalpatian.

“Armenia is moving towards a parliamentary democracy with the
enforcement of rights and guarantees. Azerbaijan is severing these
rights as a result of an autocratic and opaque dynasty” added
Nalpatian.

The opinion was issued in response to an article) written by the head
of the International section in ClarÃ-n Marcelo Cantelmi. According to
Ahmadzada the article does not “reflect objective opinions and
represents the position of Armenia.” Cantelmi had already been victim
of the persecution of the Azerbaijani government in August 2013, when
he was added to the country’s blacklist and banned from entering Azerbaijan.

Ahmadzada also said that the Armenian government wants “to draw
attention to the conflict zone, to reassure the broad opposition
protests.”

“Every year more and more people leave Armenia because of the poverty
and economic difficulties and the salvation of this country depends
only on cooperation with Azerbaijan”, he added.

( Link -> )
Agencia de Noticias Prensa Armenia
Armenia 1366, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel. (5411) 4775-7595
[email protected]
twitter.com/PrensaArmenia

From: Baghdasarian

GRADUATES OF FRENCH UNIVERSITY IN ARMENIA ARE IN HIGH DEMAND ON LABOR MARKET

by Mariam Lazarian

Friday, December 5, 07:09

Graduates of the French University in Armenia (l’UFAR) are in high
demand on the labor market. Each year the University graduates
excellent specialists in law, management and marketing. As of today
it has over 1,500 graduates, of whom 70% have found jobs in Armenia
and only 6-7% have gone abroad.

According to the press service of l’UFAR, on Dec 5 the University
will grant diplomats to the graduates of 2013-2014 and will also
present AGBU scholarships to 23 best students.

The sponsor of the ceremony is ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK, the
University’s many-year partner, who takes an active part in personnel
training programs in Armenia and offers students regular internship
opportunities, with the best ones given jobs in the bank. ACBA-CREDIT
AGRICOLE BANK has played a big role in the history of l’UFAR.

Particularly, it has sponsored the opening of its Banking and Insurance
Department.

Invited to the ceremony are Chairman of l’UFAR’s Board of Trustees
Artur Baghdasaryan, Armenia’s Education and Science Minister Armen
Ashotyan, Ambassador of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier,
President of Jean Moulin – Lyon 3 University Jacques Comby, CEO of
ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK Hakob Andreasyan, member of the Board of
the AGBU Vazgen Yakubyan, ambassadors, ministry officials, students
and parents.

L’UFAR was founded in 2001 by the governments of Armenia and France.

The University graduates bachelors and masters and grants them Armenian
state and Jean Moulin – Lyon 3 University diplomats.

ACBA CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK was founded in 1995. Its major shareholders
are Credit Agricole S.A. (15.56%) and Sacam International (member of
Credit Agricole S.A.) (12.4%).

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S ECONOMY GROWTH MAY REACH 3.3% IN 2015 – IMF

YEREVAN, December 5. /ARKA/. Armenia’s economic growth may reach 3.3%
in 2015if the respective policies are implemented by the government,
IMF’s resident representative to Armenia Teresa Daban Sanchez said.

Global market developments will affect Armenia, Sanchez told a press
conference on Wednesday.

IMF’s initial projection for Armenia was 2.6% economy growth for 2014,
but the country’s potential is much higher, she said.

Focusing on the next year would be a more pragmatic approach for
Armenia, Sanchez said. She also noted Armenia’s economic growth is
influenced also by the Russia market situation.

IMF projects a 0.5% GDP growth in 2015 for Russia that has one of the
biggest economies in the region. But this projection may be revised
downward, she said adding the Russian authorities are considering
even a possibility of a 0.8% decline.

In this respect, there are two important factors influencing the
Armenian economy – private transfers from Russia and exports,
Sanchez said.

“A quite complicated situation is expected next year as the Russian
economy is not in a very good condition and this may affect remittances
and exports”, the IMF resident representative said.

Transfers continue increasing by lower rates than before, and certain
reduction in exports is seen amid dropping global demand, she said.

According to the Central Bank of Armenia, private remittances to
Armenia through the country’s banking system amounted to over $161.6
million in October, a reduction of 17.1% compared to October 2013.

Transfers from Russia only were about $137.5 million in October, a
decrease of 19% compared to October 2013 and a 6% reduction against
the month before.

Official statistics say Armenia’s exports were $1,250 million in
January-October (2.9% increase) and imports were about $3,626.5 million
(3.8% increase). Hence, negative trade balance was $2,376.58 million.

Sanchez pointed out that if local demand is low, then it is time now
for offering more stimulus for the economy through budget expenditure
items, including capital expenditures.

Sanchez stressed the importance of infrastructure reforms and said
IMF is focused on several sectors, including tax administering,
favorable business environment, reforms aiming at better financial
accessibility and energy reforms.

Armenia’s economy growth is 5.2% in 2014 budget and the budgeted real
GDP growth level is 4.1% for 2015. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

L’ENTREE DANS L’UNION EURASIENNE EST BONNE POUR L’ECONOMIE ARMENIENNE

ARMENIE

L’adhesion a l’Union economique eurasienne (UEE) beneficiera grandement
a l’economie de l’Armenie a affirme le gouvernement armenien alors
qu’il demandait l’approbation parlementaire de son traite d’adhesion
controverse avec le bloc dirigee par la Russie.

Tout en predisant une impulsion majeure a la croissance economique et
aux exportations, un haut fonctionnaire du gouvernement a egalement
reconnu que l’Armenie devra faire face a des >
par l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) après l’adoption de
politiques plus protectionnistes de l’UEE.

Le vice-ministre des Finances, Suren Karayan a souligne le fait que
de nombreux droits appliques aux importations conjointement par la
Russie, la Bielorussie et le Kazakhstan sont considerablement plus
eleves que les tarifs douaniers armeniens existants qui avaient ete
convenus avec l’OMC en 2003.

> a-t-il dit. >.

Citant les estimations du gouvernement, le fonctionnaire a declare
que l’entree dans le bloc commercial dirige par la Russie se traduira
par un taux de croissance supplementaire compris entre 1,2 pour cent
et 2,5 pour cent par an pour l’economie armenienne a court terme.

Ces derniers mois, le gouvernement armenien a effectivement reduit
ses previsions de croissance pour les prochaines annees au milieu
d’une aggravation de la situation macroeconomique en Russie. Avec
l’economie russe glissant apparemment dans la recession en raison
des sanctions occidentales et la chute des prix du petrole, les
detracteurs du gouvernement disent qu’Erevan pourrait difficilement
choisir un pire moment pour rejoindre l’UEE.

vendredi 5 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

SCANDAL AT THE NA DURING ZARUHI POSTANJYAN’S SPEECH (VIDEO)

14:27 | December 4,2014 | Politics

Today “Heritage” party deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan’s speech has had a
shocking impact on the deputies.

She thinks that the EEU treaty is not only an economic agreements’
document, but in reality, it shows the clash of world civilizations.

She started reading a part from the interview of Russian intellectual
in Russian, where the present political and economic situation and
the policy of Russia is strongly criticized.

During that time, some HHK deputies began leaving the hall. “And one
in English, will you?”- cued HHK deputy Vladimir Badalyan. “Why,
don’t you understand Russian?”- responded Zaruhi Postanjyan. “You
are violating the law on “Language”. End the debate. If you were
going to speak Russian, you may have said to bring a translator,”-
announced NA President Galust Sahakyan.

At that moment HHK deputy Khosrov Harutyunyan began shouting from
his place and reprehending Zaruhi Postanjyan. “Don’t shout! If you
continue on this way, one day you will make a speech in Russian from
this tribune. Do you know what will happen after January 1 of the
coming year. I think that the Parliament doesn’t realize where it is
leading to, but all we must understand that it is leading nowhere,
people of Armenia don’t have their own ideas, their project. Even
my favorite Dashnaks, who have long history, even they don’t have a
national project. Now we are in the situation of Khrimyan Hayrik ,
we are replacing iron ladle with paper one, and now we have lost our
ladle. I regret to say that Dashnaktsutyun has also joined all these.

It is very exciting moment,”- announced Zaruhi Postanjyan with
excited voice.

Then she turned to HHK deputies, “No matter how much you are forced,
don’t come to voting.” “Behave yourself,”- responded HHK deputies
Karine Poghosyan and Shushan Petrosyan. “Yes, you do not have the
ability to be in harmony with your inner conscience, you carry out
the orders,”- responded Mrs. Postanjyan. Galust Sahakyan interrupted
her speech, “Respect the opinion of your partners.”

From: Baghdasarian