Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Daily Sabah, Turkey
March 27 2015

Turkish Foreign Minister: No military aid for Saudi intervention in Yemen

ANADOLU AGENCY

The Turkish foreign minister has ruled out military support for a
Saudi Arabian-backed operation to halt Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Mevlüt ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said the situation in Yemen had to be stopped
immediately and that there was “no need for a sectarian war.”
During a televised interview on Friday, ÇavuÃ…?oÄ?lu said: “We said we
can give every kind of support, including intelligence, but not
military support.”

ÇavuÃ…?oÄ?lu discussed President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s remarks about
Yemen where he said that Turkey may consider providing “logistical
support” to the Saudi military operation.

“Houthis are a small group. With foreign support, they took over
Yemen,” ÇavuÃ…?oÄ?lu said, adding: “The most concrete solution is a
political one. There is no need for a sectarian war. There is no need
for Iran to face off against Arab countries.”

ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu also said Turkey will consult with Gulf countries about what
kind of support it could offer.

In an interview with French network FRANCE 24 on Thursday, ErdoÄ?an
said that Ankara may consider providing “logistical support” to the
mission.

“We support Saudi Arabia’s intervention,” Erdogan told FRANCE 24.
“Turkey may consider providing logistical support based on the
evolution of the situation,” he added.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition of Arab countries, all of
them U.S. allies, to launch airstrikes against Houthi positions since
late Wednesday.

Riyadh said the strikes were in response to calls by Yemeni President
Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi for military intervention to “save the people
from the Houthi militias.”

Fractious Yemen has been in turmoil since last September, when the
Shiite militants overran the capital Sanaa, from which they have
sought to extend their influence to other parts of the country.

Some Gulf countries accuse Shiite Iran of supporting the Houthi
insurgency which forced Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to
flee the country.

Media reports in Turkey on Thursday said that Turkish Airlines had
suspended flights to Yemen.

Delayed Syrian train-and-equip program

Speaking about the belated train-and-equip program for Syrian fighters
opposed to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said the U.S. and
Turkey were deciding everything together.
When asked about why the program has not started yet, Cavusoglu
answered: “Because of the geographical distance of the U.S. their
preparations for the train-and-equip program came late.”

On February 20, ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said that around 2,000 Syrian fighters would
take part in a train-and-equip program in Turkey to fight Daesh and
the Assad regime, starting in early March. The program has yet to
start.

Turkey expects no ‘attitude change’ from US on Armenia

When asked about any potential change in attitude from the U.S. on the
100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian incidents in the Ottoman
Empire, ÇavuÃ…?oÄ?lu answered: “We expect no attitude change from the
U.S. Otherwise, our relations would be damaged immensely. But we know
the U.S. government has the same sensibility.”

During last year’s commemorations, U.S. President Barack Obama used
the term “Meds Yeghern” – meaning “Great Catastrophe” in the Armenian
language – to characterize the incidents of 1915.

“I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and
my view has not changed,” said Obama.

The debate on “genocide” and the differing opinions between the
present-day Turkish government and the Armenian diaspora, along with
the current administration in Yerevan, still generates political
tension between Turks and Armenians.

During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire approved a deportation
law for Armenians, amid their uprising with the help of the invading
Russian army. As a result, an unknown number of people died in civil
strife.

Turkey’s official position on the “genocide” allegations is that it
acknowledges that past experiences were a great tragedy and that both
parties suffered heavy casualties, including hundreds of Muslim Turks.

Turkey agrees that there were Armenian casualties during World War I,
but that it is impossible to define these incidents as “genocide.”

From: Baghdasarian

Journal of Turkish Weekly
March 28 2015

Armenians maintain ‘optimism’ ahead of Turkish polls

AA
28 March 2015

Armenian experts talking to The Anadolu Agency believe the two
historically hostile countries could start a new phase after 2015.

Despite upcoming sensitive anniversaries and a Turkish general
election, observers are claiming they are “optimistic” that Turkey and
Armenia could mend links in the near future.

Armenian experts talking to The Anadolu Agency believe the two
historically hostile countries could start a new phase after 2015.

This year marks the centenary of mass deportations of Armenians from
Anatolia during the First World War.

“In many ways I remain optimistic but in terms of a refined schedule
of 2016 and 2017,” says American-born Armenian political analyst,
Richard Giragosian.

Over recent months the Turkish and Armenian presidents have exchanged
angry words over planned Gallipoli (Gelibolu) commemoration events.

The ceremonies in April will mark Turkey’s historical feat of arms but
they also fall on the 100th anniversary of the 1915 forced relocation
of Armenians from Turkish soil, which the Armenian diaspora and
government describe as “genocide.”

If April 25 is a testing time for Turkish-Armenian relations, June 8
— the day after Turkey’s general election — could prove to be
another delicate moment, according to Giragosian, who is director of
the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center.

The Turkish election is an “opportunity” for greater “self-confidence”
in Ankara within the Turkish government which could prompt a return to
normalization and diplomatic engagement with Armenia, says Giragosian.

Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, a political scientist at the American
University of Armenia, agrees: “It is a good period because they
[Turkey] don’t have elections after June.”

Like Turkey, Armenia will not face elections until 2018.

According to Matevosyan, the opening of the border between Turkey and
Armenia, closed for more than 20 years since the beginning of the
Karabakh conflict, also depends on the outcome of the polls.

However, he believes Turkish-Armenian relations will not be at the top
of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s post-election agenda.

The stalled 2009 Zurich protocols between Turkey and Armenia proposed
opening the border as well as mending diplomatic relations.

According to Matevosyan, to have an open border means cooperation:
“Armenia would have the opportunity to reach Mediterranean ports.”

He says that Tbilisi currently has a monopoly on Armenia’s foreign
trade as 70 percent of it has to pass through neighboring Georgia.

The owner of Armenian textile company TOSP, Suren Berkirski, tells AA
that 70 percent of his raw materials come from Turkey via Georgia,
something which raises transportation costs for his business.

Although official ties remain frozen between Turkey and Armenia there
remains an ongoing trade connection between the two countries.

In January alone Turkey did not supply exports to Armenia but
officially imported $59,000-worth of trade from Armenia, according to
the Turkish Statistical Institute.

Turkish imports from Armenia reached their highest ever point —
$2,626,000 — in 2010 in the aftermath of the 2009 protocols,
according to Turkstat.

“With a Gross Domestic Product of $786 billion, Turkey is the 18th
largest economy in the world,” according to the World Bank: “With an
estimated per-capita GDP of US$3,830, Armenia is a lower middle-income
country.”

Giragosian notes that the opening of the border hypothetically is very
important in terms of creating economic and trade opportunities and
allowing much greater interaction beyond the current two weekly direct
flights between Istanbul and Yerevan.

-‘Normalization is not supposed to be easy’

According to Matevosyan, there is now a completely different situation
on official relations between Ankara and Yerevan: “The mutual
misconception and mutual misunderstanding is higher than in 2009.”

“What we have now is full of problems and only a few solutions hanging
in the air,” he says.

Giragosian, on the other hand, believes that “the entire effort of
normalization was never supposed to be easy.”

Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute, Alexander
Iskandaryan, is optimistic too.

“We did not open the physical borders but we are opening mental
borders,” Iskandaryan says, referring to ongoing civil society
interaction between the two nations.

According to Iskandaryan, Turkey is changing and democratizing:
“Generally you can speak more openly in Turkey and this affects
Armenians as well.”

As Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said last week that the 2009
protocols being withdrawn from the Armenian parliament does not mean
that future reconciliation with Turkey was now closed.

Matevosyan believes the text of the next protocols should be very
simple: “Armenia and Turkey are here to establish diplomatic
relations.”

From: Baghdasarian

APA, Azerbaijan
March 25 2015

Journalist who illegally visited Nagorno Karabakh: It seems that I
won’t be further allowed to enter Azerbaijan – INTERVIEW

[ 25 March 2015 15:47 ]

Alexander Kolesnichenko: I will familiarize myself with the
requirements of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in case of visiting
Nagorno Karabakh again

Moscow. Farid Akberov – APA. Interview of journalist of Russia’s
“Argumenty i fakti” newspaper Alexander Kolesnichenko, who paid
illegal visits to Azerbaijani occupied territory – Nagorno Karabakh,
with APA’s Moscow correspondent

– You have recently paid an illegal visit to the Azerbaijani occupied
territory – Nagorno Karabakh within the media forum held in Armenia.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has announced that it will take
appropriate measures against the journalists paying illegal visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh. You can be included in the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s “blacklist”. How would you comment on the matter?

– I wanted to see with my own eyes the living conditions of the people
living under the threat of a resumption of the conflict, their hopes,
how they established their own lives, how they see the future of their
children and the economic situation in the region. I accepted the
local authorities’ invitation that was the only way of visiting
unrecognized republic.

– Did you know that persons paying illegal visits to Nagorno Karabakh
are included in the “blacklist” in Azerbaijan?

– Yes, I was partially informed about it. I read about news on
Montserrat Caballé.

– You said that you wanted to see the living conditions of the people
in Nagorno Karabakh, economic situation in the region with your own
eyes. But, what about the fates of 1 million people, who became
refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, are you interested in them? Don’t you want
to see the living conditions of those people with your own eyes?

– Of course, I want to see the living conditions of Azerbaijani
refugees and IDPs. It seems that I won’t be further allowed to enter
Azerbaijan

– So being aware of it, why did you take this step? You would have
appealed to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry regarding your desire of
visiting Nagorno Karabakh.

– This visit was organized very quickly. I will familiarize myself
with the requirements of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in case of
visiting Nagorno Karabakh again.

From: Baghdasarian

Daily Sabah, Turkey
March 27 2015

Turkish, American speakers agree on a need for closer cooperation

RAGIP SOYLU
WASHINGTON, D.C.

On his visit to the U.S. capital, the speaker of Parliament raised his
concerns regarding the hesitant U.S. foreign policy in the region and
warned for severe consequences of sectarian clashes in Syria and Iraq.

Cemil Çiçek, the speaker of Parliament, along with four other members
of Parliament met the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, Orrin
Hatch, and the speaker of the U.S. House of Representative, John
Boehner, on Wednesday and discussed a wide variety of topics including
the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and the
proposed Armenian Genocide Recognition Resolution currently under
consideration in the House of Representatives.

Çiçek conveyed Turkish criticism of the current U.S. foreign policy in
the region, specifically in Iraq and Syria, and underlined the need
for a comprehensive strategy on ISIS. “The U.S. should eventually
determine the fate of [Syrian President] Bashar Assad,” he said,
according to Ã…?aban DiÃ…?li, Turkish-American Friendship Group chairman
in Parliament, who attended the meetings and disclosed the details of
the talks to Daily Sabah.

Çiçek, who will complete his term this year in June, asked for
Boehner’s support for a no-fly zone and a safe zone in Syria to
shelter Syrian refugees and strengthen Syrian opposition forces in the
north of the country. “Turkey might do more for the training of Syrian
opposition forces, but we also expect more cooperation on ISIS.” he
added.

DiÃ…?li said that Boehner had responded to Çiçek’s comments positively
and agreed that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama
should not treat Kurdish militant PKK as a humanitarian organization
just because Syrian the PKK-linked Democratic Union Party (PYD) was
waging war on ISIS in northern Syria.

The two leaders also exchanged their views on the proposed Armenian
Genocide Recognition Resolution, which was introduced to Congress last
week with 43 bipartisan signatories. Boehner, noting his visit to
Turkey last year, reiterated his stance on the resolution and said
that he would not bring it to the House floor if it passes through
committee.

DiÃ…?li said that neither senators nor representatives asked questions
about Gülen Movement-sponsored letters from Congress addressed to U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry urging the State Department to pressure
Turkey on press freedoms.

“We invited our American friends to visit Ankara, [it’s] very likely
[they will come] in late May. Those bilateral contacts are solidifying
our partnership and increasing mutual trust to move together in the
future” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

Almost 500 new energy efficient LEDs installed along Isakov Avenue and
Tairov Street, joining Yerevan city center to Zvartnots International
Airport

27-03-2015 16:14:10 | Armenia | Economy

Almost 500 new energy efficient LEDs (light emitting diodes) have
been installed along Isakov Avenue and Tairov Street, joining Yerevan
city center to Zvartnots international airport, within the framework
of UNDP “Green Urban Lighting” pilot project. The initiative, which
was carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Nature Protection
and Yerevan Municipality, allows energy savings of 63 percent,
reduction of costs by USD 45,000, and carbon emissions by 220 tons in
annual terms.

Today, Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident
Representative in Armenia, Aramayis Grigoryan, Minister of Nature
Protection, and Kamo Areyan, First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan, officially
opened the project. Representatives of government agencies responsible
for urban and municipal development, energy security sector, as well
as international organizations, diplomatic corps, and the media
attended the event.

“We believe that achieving greater energy efficiency and increasing the
use of renewable energy is crucial for Armenia and for its future energy
security. A low carbon route to development is an ambi¬tious but
achievable goal for Armenia, which is becoming increasingly affordable
with the rapid advance of innovative technologies. UNDP considers this
project as strategically important for the country, since Armenia has an
immense potential for development of energy efficient technologies. This
successful joint project, even on a small scale, sets new standards for
energy efficient lighting, and we will work with the government and
donor community to replicate this success,” said Bradley Busetto in his
opening remarks.

UNDP soon will complete a similar project in the city of Alaverdi, as
well as provide Yerevan Zoo with a new energy efficient lighting
system.

Armenian authorities have committed to make every effort to promote
energy efficiency and energy saving, as well as creating an enabling
investment climate in Armenia. “The environmental event launched today
is a result of long-term successful cooperation with local
self-government bodies, enabling to assess energy efficiency as an
environmental issue. Yerevan city and, in particular, its municipal
lighting system, accounts for a large share of energy consumption in
the country, that is why Yerevan municipality was invited as a partner
of the ‘Green Urban Lighting’ project, implemented under the
coordination of the Ministry of Nature Protection. To demonstrate
advantages of the energy efficient street lighting system, Isakov
Avenue and Tairov Street that connect Yerevan city center to Zvartnots
international airport were selected as a pilot area,” Minister of
Nature Protection Aramayis Grigoryan said in his opening remarks. The
Minister also mentioned that the pilot project opening is timed to the
“Earth Hour” annual environmental event, as they would like to
highlight the importance of environmental impact of energy efficiency
related projects. “The ‘Earth Hour’ symbolizes our responsibility
towards the future generations,” said the Minister. He assured that
the Ministry of Nature Protection attaches high importance to the
issue of climate change and is consistently contributing, as well as
coordinating all the processes ongoing in the country that add to the
global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Lighting is the second largest source of municipal greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in Armenia (after heating), accounting for about one
third of municipalities’ GHG emissions and up to 50 percent of their
electricity bill. Municipal lighting in Yerevan accounts 90 percent of
all urban lighting energy use nationwide. Kamo Areyan, First deputy
Mayor of Yerevan, expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Nature
Protection and UNDP in Armenia for successful cooperation and
involvement of the capital city in the project. “Yerevan is the
largest energy consumer in the urban lighting sector in the country
and admits its major responsibility for efficient resource management
and emission reduction. With the aim to facilitate the “green economy
development” and improve the wellbeing of the city residents, Yerevan
has joined the EU ‘Covenant of Mayors’ initiative. Covenant
signatories aim to meet and exceed the 20 percent CO2 reduction
objective by 2020,” said the First Deputy Mayor. Mr. Areyan stressed
that everybody should be conscious of the importance of human impact
on environment and willing to partake in addressing environmental
issues.

The ceremony coincides with “Earth Hour,” an internationally
recognized “lights-off event,” held annually since 2007 on the last
Saturday in March (at 8.30pm). Cities, organizations, households
taking part in the event turn off their non-essential lights for one
hour thus contributing to highlighting the importance of global
climate change issue and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

– Economy
News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan

From: Baghdasarian

Agence France Presse
28 mars 2015 samedi 6:00 AM GMT

Centenaire du génocide arménien: le lanceur d’alerte Lepsius inspire
une création à Nice

Nice 28 mars 2015

En cette année du centenaire du génocide arménien, comment perpétuer
le souvenir? La première mise en scène du jeune acteur Hovnatan
Avédikian fait résonner au Thétre national de Nice (TNN) la voix
méconnue du pasteur allemand Johannes Lepsius qui tenta en vain
d’empêcher en 1915 les massacres.

“Arménien de la quatrième génération, on me dit qu’il faut se
souvenir, se souvenir de ce que je n’ai pas vécu”, énonce ce proche
collaborateur de la nouvelle directrice du thétre niçois Irina Brook.

A 33 ans, ce fils d’un acteur né en Arménie ne veut pas “perpétuer un
rapport aveugle et émotionnel à l’Histoire” mais plutôt déchiffrer le
contexte historique de l’époque, en mettant en scène cette pièce
intitulée “Le Cercle de l’ombre”(jusqu’au 1er avril).

Occasion de faire connaître le destin incroyable de Johannes Lepsius
(1858-1926), missionnaire allemand dans l’empire ottoman au secours
des minorités chrétiennes, qui rencontra en 1915 à Istanbul le
ministre de la guerre Enver Pacha dans l’espoir d’arrêter déportations
et massacres des Arméniens. Le parti des Jeunes-Turcs, mu par une
idéologie nationaliste, est alors au pouvoir.

Rentré en Allemagne, le pasteur réclamera des sanctions contre le
régime auprès de son gouvernement, mais ce dernier ne souhaite pas
mettre en péril, en pleine première guerre mondiale, son alliance
scellée avec l’empire ottoman.

L’humaniste, lanceur d’alerte menacé de mort, retournera à Istanbul
rédiger un rapport secret sur les massacres et terminera sa vie en
exil en Italie.

En 1930, en pleine montée du parti national-socialiste en Allemagne,
l’écrivain Franz Werfel prend connaissance du rapport et l’intègre
dans deux chapitres de son ouvrage “Les quarante jours du Musa Dagh”
sur le génocide arménien. L’ouvrage sera publié en 1934 et
immédiatement interdit par Aldolf Hitler arrivé au pouvoir…

Ce sont précisément ces chapitres qui ont été adaptés pour cette
création. Hovnatan Avédikian a ainsi choisi de prendre de la distance
et donner la parole à un témoin clef, aux bourreaux et à leurs alliés
allemands, plutôt qu’aux victimes dont la présence est juste suggérée
par un furtif convoi humain poussant ses affaires.

– “des mots assez simples sur une histoire complexe” –

“Quand j’ai découvert ces deux chapitres, j’ai pu mettre des mots
assez simples sur une histoire complexe”, confie-t-il.

“Il y a peu de témoins de l’époque et il faut savoir précisément qui
on accuse”, note le jeune metteur en scène, qui s’est nourri de
conseils historiques. “J’ai grandi avec cette problématique et je pose
des questions. Comment est-ce possible? Qui a perpétré le génocide
arménien? Qui sont les pachas qui se sont appuyés sur l’idéologie
nationaliste?”

Et sa pièce fait l’effet d’une troublante caisse de résonance avec la
situation actuelle du Moyen-Orient, où l’existence de minorités est
menacée.

Cette création courte, en un acte, Hovnatan l’a faite pour “les 16-17
ans”. Il tient beaucoup à ses rencontres personnalisées avec des
lycéens, souvent venus de quartiers modestes.

“Je leur dit de sauver l’humanité et de jeter leurs téléphones
portables!”, précise l’acteur “en colère” contre un monde anesthésié
et éloigné de l’intense communion du monde thétral.

De fait, la pièce est accessible et didactique, tout en jouant sur la
légèreté et les parenthèses dansées au son du violoncelle ou du piano.
Au premier rang une brochette de jeunes, sans doute nouveaux au
thétre, sourient devant les facéties acrobatiques et rires
sardoniques des acteurs, tout en se concentrant sur les moments plus
graves.

“Plus de 100.000 Arméniens ont déjà pris le chemin de l’exil, en plein
désert de Mésopotamie!”, s’inquiète Johannes Lipsius qui tente de
parlementer avec le ministre de la guerre. “La question arménienne
n’existe pas”, lui rétorque Enver Pacha, qui vient de couper une tête
et en rit.

“Cette alliance germano-turque nous rend complices aux yeux de
l’histoire”, dit le juste de retour dans son pays, reçu à la
chancellerie par un bureaucrate qui se sert des verres de champagne et
pousse la chansonnette sur son piano. “Je dois témoigner”, répète ce
Don Quichote, seul contre tous à Istanbul pour écrire sur
l’innommable.

From: Baghdasarian

SPORTS
L’Arménie devrait décrocher deux titres olympiques à Rio (2016) selon
des experts sportifs américains

L’agence d’analyse des sports Infostradasports estime que l’Arménie
devrait décrocher deux médailles d’or aux Jeux Olympiques de Rio
(2016). Selon ces spécialistes américains, les deux Arméniens qui
pourront décrocher le titre olympique à Rio son les deux champions du
monde de lutte-libre, Arsen Djoulfalakyan (75 kg) et Arthur Alexanyan
(98 kg). Selon Infostradasports l’Arménie n’aura pas d’autres
médailles olympiques dans d’autres disciplines sportives. Avec deux
médailles d’or l’Arménie devrait -selon les experts- se classer au 37e
rand dans le tableau des médailles à Rio. Les Etats-Unis avec 47
médailles d’or serait en tête du classement, suivie de la Chine (28)
et de la Russie (25).

Rappelons que l’Arménie a obtenu jusqu’à présent 12 médailles
olympiques (1 or, 2 argent et 9 bronze). La seule médaille d’or
olympique de l’Arménie fut obtenue au cours de sa première
participation à Atlanta (1996). Le titre olympique fut remporté en
lutte gréco romaine par Armen Nazarian (-52 kg) qui offrit quatre ans
plus tard à Athènes, un nouveau titre olympique…à la Bulgarie.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 29 mars 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
March 29 2015

Pakistan rules out diplomatic ties with Armenia until liberation of
Azerbaijani lands

29 March 2015, 14:13 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova

There is no point of developing any sort of relations including
diplomatic relations with Armenia until and unless it pulls out its
troops from the Azerbaijani territory.

Sabah Aslam, an executive director of Islamabad Institute of Conflict
Resolution made the remark in an interview with Day.Az website.

She said Pakistan considers Azerbaijan as its brother country and it
will continue its support to Azerbaijan untill Armenia withdraws its
troops completely from the Azerbaijani lands.

Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during and after the Nagorno-Karabakh
War in early 1990s and it is one of the few countries that do not have
any diplomatic relations with Armenia due to the ongoing occupation of
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized lands.

“Pakistan being brotherly country of Azerbaijan, has always been
criticizing massacre in Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenians. Therefore,
Pakistan does not recognize Armenia,” Aslam said.

She also recalled a resolution condemning the occupation of
Azerbaijani territories and Khojaly genocide, approved by Pakistan’s
senate committee on foreign relations on February 1, 2012.

Moreover, the committee has also reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s sovereignty
within its internationally recognized borders and demanded the
execution of four UN Security Council resolutions on the unconditional
withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani
territories, Aslam said.

She also added that Azerbaijan’s support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue
and Pakistan’s support on Nagorno-Karabakh issue is unconditional.
“And it is understood that both the countries will continue its
support till the issues are properly solved.”

Speaking about the Pakistani-Azerbaijani bilateral ties, Aslam said
both countries have strong background.

“Ties between the two countries have been established on ground of
friendly and fraternal precepts. The Pakistani government is fully
aware of the importance of its relations with Azerbaijan. Therefore,
Pakistani leadership has been looking for ways and means to strengthen
its ties and partnership with Azerbaijan by focusing on strong
political, security, trade and commercial relations,” the expert said.

She went on to add that based on strong grounds, the bilateral ties
between the two would be mutually beneficial and productive. “I hope
together both countries make a mark in the pursuance of future
endeavors.”

Azerbaijan and Pakistan are also focused on the development of
economic relations. The two countries have recently agreed on boosting
bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

However, the economic ties between the two countries are not in a
satisfied level as political one.

“Though Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy good strategic relations but
unfortunately do not have healthy economic relations. Both countries
have good economic potential but are not sufficiently exploited,”
Aslam said.

She noted that Azerbaijan’s economy boosted a lot in recent years and
there are several doors for Pakistan to get in to boost up its
economies as well.

Aslam said the main reasons for undeveloped economic relations are the
lack of geographic proximity and proper transport infrastructure
between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

“However, disregard the problems, both countries have numerous
opportunities to develop economic relations in areas such as
education, tourism, information technologies, banking, finance,
science, agriculture, culture, and engineering, oil, gas and
investment sectors. If given attention, Pakistan-Azerbaijan economic
relations can be developed gradually and will turn beneficial for both
the countries in future,” she said.

Aslam further spoke about the two countries role in strengthening
solidarity and cooperation in Muslim world, adding the Pakistan and
Azerbaijan can play vital role.

“Pakistan being second most populous Islamic nation and Azerbaijan a
true democratic Islamic state has all the potentials to gather the
Islamic world. Both countries by building regional and extra-regional
organizations, conducting joint conferences to promote Islamic
solidarity and peace messages around the world, and above all
contributing goodwill among all the member states to strengthen the
Islamic solidarity,” Aslam said.

From: Baghdasarian

UEFA
March 29 2015

Albania head off Armenia threat

Published: Sunday 29 March 2015, 19.50CET

Albania 2-1 Armenia

A red card proved to be the turning point as Mërgim Mavraj and
Shkelzen Gashi headed the home side to victory in Group I.

* Henrikh Mkhitaryan lays on fourth-minute opener for Armenia
* Hovhannes Hambartsumyan’s 70th-minute dismissal turns tide in Elbasan
* Headers from Mërgim Mavraj and Shkelzen Gashi earn Albania victory
* Armenia still without a Group I win; Albania keep up pressure on
Denmark and Portugal
* Next qualifiers: Armenia v Portugal (13 June), Denmark v Albania (4 September)

Mërgim Mavraj and Shkelzen Gashi struck in the closing stages as
Albania made their numerical advantage count, cancelling out an early
goal in UEFA EURO 2016 Group I.

Having taken an early lead, Armenia defended with considerable
composure until the dismissal of Hovhannes Hambartsumyan for a second
bookable offence with 20 minutes to go. A man to the good, Albania
finally made their pressure tell with two headed goals, keeping up the
pace with Denmark and Portugal at the top of the five-team section.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan had helped Armenia get off to a great start,
powering his way into the area and squaring for Yura Movsisyan, with
the ball being scuffed across goalkeeper Etrit Berisha and into the
net, with a touch from Mavraj on the way. From then on, the visitors
seemed to accept that they would be spending much of the contest
defending.

The hosts’ Sokol Çikalleshi contrived to hit the post at both ends as
Albania poured forward in search of an equaliser, yet Armenia’s
rearguard efforts were to come to nothing following Hambartsumyan’s
red card. Mavraj’s glancing contact with Taulant Xhaka’s ball from the
left was enough to beat Roman Berezovski, and the goalkeeper was
undone again four minutes later, Gashi connecting with fellow
substitute Ermir Lenjani’s delivery at the back post.

From: Baghdasarian

Le Parisien, France
27 mars 2015

Alfortville : un arbre pour le souvenir du génocide arménien

Quel symbole pour commémorer un événement grave ? La ville
d’Alfortville a décidé de planter un arbre de la mémoire dans le cadre
du Centenaire du génocide des Arméniens. En 1915, près d’1,3 millions
de personnes étaient massacrées dans l’ancien Empire ottoman. La
cérémonie a lieu ce samedi à 10 h 30, place de l’Europe.

Le Père Keledjian de l’Église arménienne d’Alfortville bénira l’arbre
et un choeur des enfants de l’école franco-arménienne chantera. La
Croix Bleue des Arméniens de France, aussi conviée à l’événement, a
voulu particulièrement rendre hommage aux victimes femmes. À 11
heures, la place de l’Europe sera inaugurée par la municipalité.

From: Baghdasarian