Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Levon Zurabyan says opposition should unite people who want to fight

20:05 – 13.04.13

Armenian National Congress party has clear steps and knows what it
should do for the change of situation in the country, party’s
coordinator Levon Zurabyan told the reporters today.

He refused to say why the ANC did not stand by people’s side on April
9 in the Liberty Square. Saying that many are blaming the ANC for it,
Zurabyan said, `Let them blame us, we are doing our actions, we have a
clear program of fighting. We have done it for five years and continue
doing it. We were not there because during these five years our
position was no matter where we are we will take the whole
responsibility for the demonstrators. If I am participating in an
action I am the full responsible for all. That day other people well
bearing the responsibility,’ he said.

At the same time he stressed that criticizing the opposition is
senseless, the target should be the authorities. He stressed that
today people who were not active during the past five years have
become active. `There is activeness. It is positive. It has remained
for the opposition to find a way and to unite the people who want to
fight. Yerevan City Council election is an occasion to unite and take
the municipality from the authorities,’ he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Oppositionists’ positive attitude towards Armenians cause lot of
concern in Azerbaijan

17:07, 13 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Recently the number of activists
voicing about the dictatorial regime in Azerbaijan recorded growth.
Naturally the local authorities are very angry about this fact. As
reports “Armenpress” Azerbaijani Haqqin.az news website criticized the
interview of young Azerbaijani activist Emin Milli to Armenian “Agos”
periodical.

Among other things the Azerbaijani periodical stated: “The Armenians
attract the oppositionists. They cherish some kind of a strange love
towards our permanent rival.”

Previously in an interview to Armenian “Agos”, Milli noted that it has
already been 20 years since Azerbaijan lives under the rule of
dictatorial regime. In the interview Milli stated: “If the USA,
Europe, or Turkey do not interfere in the current processes, than I do
not exclude the possibility of repetition of the Syrian or Egyptian
scenarios, which will lead to bloodshed.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARFD hails cooperation with ANC – rep.

April 13, 2013 – 17:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – ARF Dashnaktsutyun highly assesses cooperation with
Armenian National Congress (ANC) party, ARFD representative said.
Armen Rustamyan voiced hope that they will be able to draw the country
out of the current situation.

`We must prevent emigration and improve the social-economic situation
of the country,’ Mr Rustamyan said, noting that the first congress may
be held following Yerevan city council elections.

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan: Insider Deals Thrive In Ministry

15:04, April 13, 2013

Family members of Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister and a prominent
Azerbaijan company that does business with the ministry have close
ties, raising serious questions about conflict of interest in the
ministry’s activities.

Minister Ziya Mammadov’s son, Anar, and the Minister’s brother, Elton,
are business partners with the members of the family of the founder of
the Baghlan Group, a prominent Azerbaijan company involved in major
projects in transportation, construction, sports complexes and oil
exploration.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) found that Baghlan was the contractor on
a series of major initiatives by the Ministry including the importing
of 1,000 London taxis to Baku, the construction of an international
bus station, and a lucrative road construction project.

The Group has received preferential treatment and the interlinked
companies owned by the families have taken large shares or even
monopolized certain transportation sectors like bus transport, taxis,
road constraction, and cargo transportation services in the country.

Businessman Hafiz Mammadov, who is not related to the minister,
founded`Baghlan Group FZCO’ which was registered in 2007 in the United
Arab Emirates. The ties between the families include co-ownership of
the Bank of Azerbaijan and a joint project to build an international
bus station in Baku. Both families have top executives in the Baku
Football Club. Companies owned by Anar Mammadov are also listed as
members of the Baghlan Group companies. The Baghlan Group website is
registered at the same address as a division of the Ministry of
Transport.

At the same time, Baghlan Group companies have received lucrative,
apparently non-competitive contracts to import and operate taxis and
buses, and to build roads. The contracts were all approved by the
Ministry of Transport.

`One of our fundamental objectives is to improve country’s transport
infrastructure, including optimization of the local public transport
system,’ Hafiz Mammadov states in a Chairman’s statement on the
Baghlan Group website.

According to that website, the company owns the the country’s largest
taxi company which operates more than 1000 London-style black cabs.
The Group’s bus company is also the country’s largest with a fleet of
`hundreds of buses’ that carry over one-fifth of all bus passengers
within Baku.

At a 2013 meeting chaired by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev,
Transport Minister Mammadov spoke of the need for 2,000 new taxis and
1,200 new buses. After the Minister’s presentation,President Aliyev
said: `We must approach this issue comprehensively. Of course we
should update the vehicle fleet. We should bring in the new buses and
taxis.’

The London taxis were imported by the Baki Taxsi Company at a cost of
US$28,000 apiece, in time for the city to host the Eurovision 2012
Song Contest. Baki Taxsi proposed importing the taxis and the Ministry
of Transport agreed, Ilqar Qasimov said. There is no evidence that any
tenders were ever issued.

The Baki Taxsi Company was registered at the Ministry of Taxes in
April of 2010. The founder of the company is listed as Murad Farhad
oglu Gasimov.

Baki Taxsi Director Ilqar Qasimov confirms that the company was
actually established by the Baghlan Group, and that the Baghlan Group
manages all the record-keeping and other official business for Baki
Taxsi. Qasimov says there is a plan to import London taxis for use in
other Azeri cities.

Read More

From: Baghdasarian

Ararat Armenian Cemetery and
Masis Ararat Armenian Cemetery
Frank H. Balekian, Jr., Administrator
1925 West Belmont Avenue
Fresno, California 93728-2625
Tel: 559.292.2415
Mob: 559.930.2142
FAX: 559.486.2415
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
12 April, 2013

98TH Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915

An Interdenominational Armenian Memorial Service, Hokehankist, will be
recited on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Ararat
Armenian Cemetery, 1925 West Belmont Avenue, Fresno, California. The
Hokehankist Memorial Service will take place at the Ararat Armenian Cemetery
Memorial for the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. At the Armenian
Martyrs Memorial are interred the remains of Unknown Armenians that were
brought from the Desert of Der Zor, Syria in 1930. The clergy from the
Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Presbyterian and Armenian Congregational
Churches of the Central San Joaquin Valley have been invited to participate
in reciting the Hokehankist Memorial Service.

The former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, the
Honorable John Marshall Evans will be attending the event. His Excellency
will lay a floral wreath at the Memorial for the Martyrs of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915, in memory of those 1.5 million martyred Armenians,
preceding the Hokehankist Memorial Service.

At the conclusion of the Hokehankist Memorial Service, representatives from
all the Armenian organizations of the Central San Joaquin Valley will be
laying floral wreaths at the Memorial. The cemetery will remain open until
7:00 p.m. for individuals or groups to lay flowers or wreaths in memory of
martyred Armenians at the base of the Memorial. The Ararat Armenian
Cemetery will reopen on Wednesday, April 24, Armenian Memorial Day, at 8:00
a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for the public to visit the Memorial and lay a flower
or wreath in memory of those martyred Armenians.

The event is organized by all the Armenian Churches and Armenian
Organizations of the Central San Joaquin Valley in cooperation with the
Ararat Armenian Cemetery of the Ararat Armenian Cemetery Association. The
Armenian Community of the Central San Joaquin Valley and the general public
is invited to attend and participate in this historic event.

From: Baghdasarian

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-Designate Salam Meets With Armenian Solidarity Bloc

By admin Updated: April 10, 2013

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam began a second day of
consultations Wednesday by meeting with parliamentary blocs, including
the Armenian Solidarity Bloc, over the formation of a new Cabinet.
Salam is expected to form a national unity government, a process that
could take him a long time because of the sharp divisions among
Lebanese politicians, which have increased during the past two years
as a result of Syria’s crisis.

Representing the Armenian Solidarity Bloc, MP Sebouh Kalpakian, called
for a technocrat government in charge of organizing the elections as
scheduled, while seeking approval of an electoral law that would
guarantee a healthy representation of the Lebanese people.
`We don’t want Armenians to be marginalized. We want key [Cabinet]
portfolios that suit Armenian’s role and sacrifices,’ Kalpakian told
reporters after the meeting.
Outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati resigned last month over a
political deadlock between Lebanon’s two main political camps and
infighting in his government. Mikati, who was prime minister since
June 2011, headed a government that was dominated by the Shiite Muslim
Hezbollah group and its allies.
Within the Lebanese Parliament, Lebanon’s ethnic Armenian population
maintains six seats; four Armenian Parliamentarians; three SD
Hunchakian Party parliamentarians along with the ADL (Ramgavar)
parliamentarian constitute the Armenian Solidarity Bloc and are allied
with the pro-western March 14 Forces. The two remaining Armenian
parliamentarians are affiliated with the ARF (Tashnak) party and are
allied with Hezbollah led `March 8′ government.

From: Baghdasarian

Musique
L’Orchestre Philarmonique de Vienne en Concert à Erevan

ARMENPRESS : Sous les auspices du Président de la République
Arménienne Serge Sarkissian, le concert du légendaire Orchestre
Philarmonique de Vienne a eu lieu dans la salle de concert Aram
Khatchadourian le 11 avril. L’hymne national arménien a ouvert ce
concert exceptionnel. Comme Armenpress en fait état, le soliste de ce
concert, le célèbre pianiste Yefim Bronfman a déclaré être natif de
Tachkent, et que se produire en Arménie il y a quelques années avait
été comme un rêve pour lui.

L’Orchestre est dirigé par le chef américain renommé Michael Tilson
Thomas, deux fois lauréat du Grammy Award.

Le programme du concert de l’Orchestre Philarmonique de Vienne
comporte l’ouverture de ` Rosamunde ` de Franz Schubert, D. 644, le
Concerto n°2 pour piano et orchestre en si bémol majeur opus 83 de
Johannes Brahms, et le Quatuor avec piano n°1 en sol mineur opus 26 de
Johannes Brahms (orchestration d’Arnold Schönberg).

Les origines de cet orchestre remontent à 1842, lorsqu’Otto Nicolaï
avait formé la Philarmonische Academie ( académie philarmonique), une
formation tout à fait indépendante qui prenait toutes ses décisions
par le vote démocratique de tous ses membres. L’orchestre fonctionne
encore aujourd’hui selon ces principes.

C’est l’un des orchestres les plus connus, auquel ont collaboré les
chefs d’orchestres et compositeurs les plus renommés : Richard Wagner,
Giuseppe Verdi, Anton Bruckner, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler, etc.
Au cours du siècle dernier, Arturo Toscanini, Wilhelm Furtwängler,
Herbert Von Karajan, Karl Bôhm et Leonard Bernstein sont les chefs les
plus célèbres qui l’ont dirigé. L’Orchestre se produit dans les
festivals et les salles de concert de premier plan du monde.
L’Orchestre Philarmonique de Vienne organise le fameux ` Concert de
Nouvel An `, diffusé dans plus de 70 pays.

Le comité d’organisation du Festival exprime sa profonde gratitude au
Président de la République d’Arménie Serge Sarkissian, au Ministre de
la Culture d’Arménie, à la municipalité d’Erevan et aux autres
organisations privées.

USA Armenian Life n°1359

dimanche 14 avril 2013,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE-POLITIQUE
Le 1er congrès du « Hay Azkaïn Congress » par des cris de « Lévon,
Lévon… » en présence de 900 participants

Hier au complexe Karen Démirdjian d’Erévan s’est déroulé le premier
congrès du nouveau parti « Hay Azkaïn Congress » (le Congrès National
arménien) nouvelle formation née des restes du feu Mouvement National
Arménien (MNA). Le meeting s’est déroulé en présence de 900
représentants du parti politique. Lévon Ter-Pétrossian (premier
président de la République d’Arménie), Levon Zourabian, Zoya
Tatevossian, Arman Moussinian, Aram Manoukian ainsi que d’autres
personnalités marquantes du feu MNA étaient présentes. Etaient
également présents à titre d’observateurs invités, Armen Roustamian
(Fédération Révolutionnaire Arménien, Dashnaktsoutioun), Stepan
Markarian (du parti « Parkavadj Haïastan », Arménie prospère), Stepan
Démirdjian (Parti démocrate d’Arménie), Gaguik Djahanguirian (groupe
HAG du Congrès national). Les membres présents avaient salué par des
applaudissements soutenus l’entrée de Lévon Ter-Pétrossian dans la
salle aux cris de « Lévon, Lévon… ». Lévon Ter-Pétrossian étant le
leader incontesté du « Hay Azkaïn Congress » formé par 18 groupes ou
mouvements politiques de l’opposition.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 14 avril 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

FRANCE
La pétition d’« Arménia » à François Hollande sera envoyée le 24 Avril

L’association culturelle « Arménia » », qui a lancé il y a quelques
semaines un appel titré « La loi de pénalisation du négationnisme du
génocide arménien, C’EST MAINTENANT ! » s’adressant au Président de la
République François Hollande en lui demandant se tenir ses engagements
pour une Loi de pénalisation du négationnisme du génocide arménien
conforme à la Constitution, poursuit sa campagne de signatures.

Dans la région de Valence (Drôme) « Arménia » a déjà recueilli
plusieurs centaines de signatures. Placé sur le site des Nouvelles
d’Arménie Magazine, l’appel d’« Arménia » a également suscité le
soutien de dizaines de pétitionnaires à Paris, Marseille ou Lyon.

A la grande satisfaction de Krikor Amirzayan, président d’« Arménia »
qui tenait en fin de semaine dernière une réunion avec son bureau
composé d’Alain Euksuzian (vice-président) et des membres Georges
Eretzian, Edouard Tchokaklian, Christian Charrière et Vartkés
Simonian. « Nous avons eu également pour cette action le soutien
d’autres associations arméniennes de la région telles que
l’Ucfaf-Valence ou l’Acfoa Valence. Les pétitions continuent » dit K.
Amirzayan.

« Arménia » a décidé d’effectuer l’envoi de ces signatures à
l’Elysée…le 24 avril, jour de célébration du 98e anniversaire du
génocide arménien. Tout un symbole sur une démarche originale et très
soutenue.

L’appel d’« Arménia » précise « Monsieur le Président de la
République, Le 24 avril dernier à Paris, vous aviez déclaré dans vos
engagements de campagne électorale, votre volonté de faire reconnaitre
par une loi la pénalisation du négationnisme du génocide arménien. Le
7 juillet dernier, vous confirmiez publiquement face à la presse ainsi
qu’auprès du CCAF (conseil de coordination des organisations
arméniennes de France), votre engagement de pénaliser la négation du
génocide arménien alors que des représentants de cette communauté
redoutaient un revirement, après les propos de Laurent Fabius sur les
relations franco-turques. Vous envisagiez un nouveau texte conforme à
la Constitution. Or, aujourd’hui, plus de six mois après vos
déclarations, les 600 000 Français d’origine arménienne ainsi que
leurs amis, attendent votre proposition. « La France est favorable à
l’ouverture d’un nouveau chapitre dans les négociations avec la
Turquie en vue de son adhésion à l’Union européenne » a annoncé le 12
février le chef de la diplomatie Laurent Fabius son homologue Ahmet
Davutoglu reçu à Paris. La Communauté arménienne de France est
aujourd’hui inquiète de ces développements diplomatiques. Nous
appelons le Président François Hollande à tenir ses engagements et de
proposer une Loi de pénalisation du négationnisme de génocide arménien
au plus vite ! Car la Loi de pénalisation C’EST MAINTENANT ! ».

Contact : « Arménia », 130 rue Marcel Paul -Bourg-Lès-Valence. Tél. 04
75 83 80 58

Vous pouvez également apporter vos soutiens par mail à l’adresse :
[email protected]

dimanche 14 avril 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

IRAN ACCUSED AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES OF SERVING THE INTERESTS OF USA AND ISRAEL

18:19, 12 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS: Vice President of the committee
on security issues of Iranian Parliament Mansour Haghighat accused
Azerbaijani authorities of serving the interests of USA and Israel. As
reports Armenpress this was reported by Fars news agency.

“There are some powers in Azerbaijan which implement anti-Iranian
campaign. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t bother us. Azerbaijani authorities
just want to please USA and Israel. That is why all their actions
are ridiculous,” Iranian official said.

From: Baghdasarian