Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Santa Barbara Independent, CA
Feb 2 2014

Armenian Genocide Not Legally Founded

Sunday, February 2, 2014
By Vedat Alemdar, Omer Komili, and Artemis Ozten, Goleta

We join the Turkish-American citizens of California, members of the
Pax Turcica Institute, to oppose Assembly Bill 659. Introduced by
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, AB 659 seeks to impose the one-sided
and legally unfounded “Armenian genocide” narrative in the
history-social science curricula of our public schools.

As acts of crime, all genocides, including the Holocaust, Srebrenica,
and Rwanda, have been determined through relevant court tribunals and
verdicts. In contrast, the atrocities in the Ottoman Empire were never
tried in any court. No legal ground to charge the crime of genocide
was ever established. Last month, in the landmark Perincek vs.
Switzerland decision, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that
genocide is “a very narrowly defined legal notion which is difficult
to prove” in the Armenian case. ECHR also doubted that there could be
a general consensus on the alleged “Armenian genocide” as it remains a
matter of historical debate. In 2012, then Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton expressed the same position.

Reputable American scholars, including Bernard Lewis, Stanford Shaw,
Guenter Lewy, Justin McCarthy, Edward J. Erickson, and Michael Gunter,
have rejected the characterization of the Ottoman Armenian tragedy as
genocide.

Furthermore, during World War I, over half a million Turks, Kurds, and
other Muslims were massacred by the Armenian armed groups, fighting
alongside the Russian, Greek, and French armies, with an aim to carve
an ethnic Armenian state. While we share the pain of innocent
Armenians who perished in World War I, memories of the non-Armenian
victims are insulted by this bill.

AB 659’s advocacy of an unfounded allegation of a crime constitutes an
educational malpractice. Therefore, we urge a vote against this bill
when it comes to the floor. The young generations should have a choice
not to be indoctrinated using a single disputed viewpoint.

From: Baghdasarian

Tseghakron party leader’s birthday marked in Yerevan

14:59 * 02.02.14

Tseghakron party leader Shant Harutyunyan’s birthday anniversary is
being marked in Yerevan’s Freedom Square.

His supporters have brought a big cake, with Armenia’s national flag
of cream and the phrase ‘Armenia free of political prisoners.’

The motto of the birthday party is “Pour some wine’.

However, the policemen did not allow Harutyunyan’s supporters to use
hard drinks, so they brought champagne for children.

Both activists and political figures are in Freedom Square. Among them
are Heritage party member Anahit Bakhshyan, former political prisoners
Azat Arshakyan and Vardan Harutyunyan, Chairman of the Conservative
party of Armenia Mikael Hayrapetyan, oppositionist Sargis Hatspanyan.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Arménie : Les citoyens étranglés par le coût élevé du gaz russe

L’Arménie connaît un hiver au style russe cette année, et malgré les
plans d’Erevan de rejoindre l’Union douanière dirigé par Moscou, les
consommateurs ne bénéficient pas d’une pause quand il s’agit du coût
du gaz russe. Au lieu de cela, le prix des importations du gaz russe a
augmenté de 18 pour cent l’an dernier, une évolution qui attise la
colère du public face à la décision du gouvernement de lier son sort
économique avec le Kremlin.

Avec des températures pouvant descendre aussi bas que -20 degrés
Celsius (-4 degrés Fahrenheit), de nombreux Arméniens ont été touchés
par d’énormes factures de gaz qui font des ravages sur leurs budgets
mensuels. Basé sur des entretiens par EurasiaNet.org avec des
représentants de 30 familles distinctes qui payaient leurs factures de
gaz dans les bureaux de poste à Erevan, la facture moyenne du gaz en
décembre pour une famille de quatre personnes se situait entre 50000
et 60000 drams ( 123$ – 148$) – soit environ une augmentation de plus
de 40 pour cent par rapport à l’année dernière. Officiellement, le
revenu mensuel moyen s’élève à 150 960 drams par mois, ou 370$.

> dit une
femme gée, porte-monnaie à la main, en attendant de payer sa facture
de gaz dans un bureau de poste à Erevan.

Début décembre 2013, avant l’arrivée de la vague de froid, les
partisans de l’administration du président Serge Sarkissian avaient
peint un scénario différent – celui dans lequel la décision en
septembre d’Erevan de rejoindre l’Union douanière permettrait de
s’assurer que les citoyens aient tiré d’importants avantages
économiques. Le président russe Vladimir Poutine, lors d’une visite en
Arménie en décembre, a renforcé cette impression avec un engagement
que les Arméniens paieraient des > russes pour le
gaz. Le PDG de Gazprom Alexeï Miller avait fait une promesse similaire
. Mais aucun responsable russe n’a jamais fourni de détails, et le
prix du gaz n’a jamais diminué et à la place il a augmenté.

À l’heure actuelle l’Arménie paie 189 $ pour mille mètres cubes de gaz
russe reçu à sa frontière, les consommateurs, cependant, payent un
prix beaucoup plus élevé – 158 000 drams, soit 391$ pour 1000 mètres
cubes, soit une augmentation de 18 pour cent.

Beaucoup de clients ne peuvent pas en croire leurs yeux quand ils
voient leurs factures de gaz, a déclaré un employé du bureau de poste
D’erevan, qui a demandé à ne pas être nommé. > dit-elle. , a déclaré le député
Manvel Badeian, qui affirme avoir lui-même reçu une facture pour le
gaz de 300 000 drams (plus de 740 $) pour décembre.

Des ricanements accueillent généralement de tels propos. > a demandé Marat Martirosian, 39 ans travailleur dans le
secteur de la construction à Erevan. >.

Un chauffeur de taxi d’Erevan d’ge moyen, qui a refusé de donner son
nom, s’est dit d’accord. >
a-t-il dit. >.

Le chef de la faction parlementaire du Parti républicain, Galust
Sahakian, a repoussé les plaintes du public, et a également souligné
la nécessité de faire des économies. Les gens seraient encore plus en
colère s’il n’y avait pas de gaz du tout, a-t-il dit au site de
nouvelles Yerkir.am le 14 Janvier. > a dit Sahakian.

Pour leur part, les dirigeants de l’opposition semblent plus axés sur
le controversé plan de réforme des pensions du gouvernement. Arman
Musinian, porte-parole du Congrès national arménien, la plus grande
coalition d’opposition du pays, a déclaré que >, a-t-il dit.

L’analyste politique Manvel Sarkissian, directeur du Centre arménien
pour les études nationales et internationales, estime que le potentiel
existe pour la colère du public sur les prix du gaz. > a-t-il dit.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian president attends opening of modern medical center in Abovyan

YEREVAN, February 1. / ARKA /. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
attended today the opening of a modern medical center in the town of
Abovyan, some 20 km north of the capital city Yerevan.

The new center is the merger of a local hospital and clinic. The
modernization cost 846.8 million drams (about $ 2.094 million). Part
of the money ($523,500) was allocated by the government and the other
part ($1.6 million) was a World Bank loan.

Head of the medical center, Viktoria Mikaelyan, told journalists that
the center was constructed in 1980, but since then it saw no repair.

“We are confident that local patients will no longer have to go to
Yerevan to get high quality medical care,” she said.

The medical center is equipped with modern equipment, including
laparoscopic instruments and surgical lamps LED. -0-

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

Karabakh war became serious trial for Armenian, NKR soldiers: Lenta.ru

February 1, 2014 – 16:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Creation of Armenian army dates back to the last
years of the existence of the USSR. At the time, on the backdrop of
the escalation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, volunteer units were
being formed, armed with whatever weaponry they were able to procure,
Lenta.ru said.

“In 1991, defense committees were created in Armenia, as well as the
Nagorno Karabakh, where Armenian population prevailed. Later, a
defense ministry was established, to be followed by creation of
official armed forces (similar process was ongoing in the Nagorno
Karabakh, which declared its independence from Azerbaijan.) Armenia,
as well as other USSR states, received a part of the property of the
Soviet Army which still remained on their territories,” the article
said.

According to Lenta.ru, the Karabakh war in early 90s became a serious
trial to Armenian and Karabakh soldiers. “They managed to break though
the resistance of Azeri forces, with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic de
facto retaining its independence (which, however, hasn’t been followed
by international recognition.) Besides, Armenians took control of the
Azerbaijan-adjacent territories, used as a buffer zone (construed as
“Armenian occupation” of the region by Baku.) Currently, Armenian army
is numbered at 50000, with draftees replenishing Armenian forces.

Armenia marked the Army Day on January 28, with the Nagorno Karabakh
President stressing in his statement, “it is now undeniable that
Armenian army is the most efficient and organized in the region – one
of the most significant achievements of our nation.”

From: Baghdasarian

Tension at Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line maintained in passing week

February 01, 2014 | 16:20

The previous week’s tension at the Line of Contact between the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces was maintained in the passing
week, too.

Aside from the use of artillery weaponry in the direction of the
Nagorno-Karabakh positions, the adversary also deployed a certain
amount of heavy military equipment on some parts of the frontline.

At the same time, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Defense Army
antiaircraft units monitored the adversary’s military training flights
in Azerbaijani airspace and followed their flight pattern.

The adversary breached the ceasefire agreement around 1,700 times
throughout the passing week. During this time, more than 10,000 shots
were fired in the direction of Armenian positions, and by way
different-caliber artillery weapons.

NKR Defense Army suffered two casualties as a result of the
adversary’s two intelligence-diversionary operations and its violation
of the ceasefire around 3,000 times, between January 20 and 31.

But in the same time period, and as a result of its own aggression,
the Azerbaijani army gave eight casualties and more than two dozen
wounded, and it lost some special armaments.

Despite the Azerbaijani attempts to maintain the tension on the
frontline, it can be concluded from the recorded facts that the NKR
Defense Army vanguard units continue to dictate the situation and, if
necessary, to impose their will upon the adversary.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijani army had 8 losses during the last week

Today – 18:36
1/2/14

On January 19 in the night Azerbaijanis started sabotage on
Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline and the strained situation lasted for
the whole passing week. Press service of Artsakh Defense Army informs
about this.

According to the source, the enemy fired on Armenian positions and
used also some heavy military technique. Azerbaijanis also showed some
activities in the air.

In general, the ceasefire regime was violated by the enemy for neary
1700 times and more than 10.000 shots were fired towards Armenian
border-keepers.

Armenian side lost two soldiers as a result of Azerbaijani actions. At
the same time Azerbaijanis had 8 victims and more than 20 wounded
soldiers as a result of their own sabotage.

Armenian forces manage to keep the situation under control in the border.

From: Baghdasarian

Zhoghovurd: Armenia’s 2013 migration rate 42,000

11:54 * 01.02.14

A total of 42,000 people migrated from Armenia from January until
December of 2013, the paper says, citing the National Statistical
Service.

The agency’s recent report, focusing on socio-economic indicators,
suggests that 1,494,86 people left the country last year, of whom only
1,452,85 returned.

Most of the migrants crossed Armenia’s border from the customs
checkpoints of Bagratashen or Bavra (Armenian-Georgian border), says
the paper, adding that they evidently preferred a cheaper way of
leaving.

From: Baghdasarian

Statistics shows decline in Armenia’s birth rate

14:08 * 01.02.14

Armenia’s 2013 birth statistics has shown a 1.7% decline since the
previous year.

A report by the National Statistical Service has revealed that41,770
births were registered in the country last year, against the 42,480
births in 2012.

According to the statistics, 22 200 of the newborns were boys, with
only 19,570 being girls. The infant mortality decreased from 801 cases
in 2012 to 653 cases in 2013.

A total of 15 396 births were registered in capital Yerevan in the
reporting period. As for the regions, the highest birthrate was in
Ararat (3,663).

From: Baghdasarian

TURQUIE
Turquie : le Premier ministre remplacé par un hologramme pour un discours

Recep Tayip Erdogan a fait sensation en apparaissant à un meeting
politique sous forme d’un hologramme alors qu’il se trouvait en
réalité à un bon millier de kilomètres.

La technologie au service de la politique. Le Premier ministre turc,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, était dans l’impossibilité de se rendre à un
meeting à Izmir, à plusieurs centaines de kilomètres au sud
d’Istanbul. Qu’à cela ne tienne, il y a quand même prononcé un
discours… grce à son hologramme.

“Un double de plus de trois mètres dont l’activité avait auparavant
été enregistrée par le Premier ministre, placé devant un fond vert”,
rapporte Le Monde, mercredi 29 janvier.

Le discours ? Tenu face à des membres du Parti de la justice et du
développement (AKP), auquel appartient Erdogan, il n’a pas vraiment
fait de place à la surprise. Le Premier ministre est en effet englué
dans une crise politique sur fond de corruption et a dénoncé “l’ombre
des attaques préparées par des réseaux de traîtres”, selon The
Guardian.

Mais l’homme d’État turc n’est pas le premier politique à recourir à
la technique de l’hologramme. “En 2012, l’Indien Narendra Modi aurait
ainsi fait discourir son avatar en simultané dans cinquante-trois
lieux, ce qui lui aurait permis d’entrer dans le livre Guinness des
records”, poursuit Le Monde. Dans un tout autre domaine, en 2012, le
rappeur Tupac, mort en 1996, était ainsi apparu sur la scène du
festival Coachella face à 80.000 spectateurs.

samedi 1er février 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian