Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

EUROPE WARNING ARMENIA AGAINST ASKING FOR FUNDS – OPPOSITION REP

tert.am
20.12.12

At his meeting with journalists on Thursday, Styopa Safaryan, a
member of the Heritage party, said that the meeting with the cabinet
to discuss a crackdown on corruption Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
held a few months ago was intended to show something to Europe.

Europe makes Armenia understand that Armenia’s authorities should
control their own budget instead of turning to Europe for funds.

“They said: ‘What is the point of giving you money if you are wasting
your own funds.’ That all was a mere show. That is why we are not
seeing any results now,” Mr Safaryan said.

The president’s meeting with the cabinet, when the problem of
“kickbacks” was raised, was nothing but an election gimmick.

“That was not done because they ‘believed and changed’ after the
parliamentary elections. We have not actually seen any changes. That
was also a way of preserving power monolith,” Mr Safaryan said.

“The president’s statements at the meetings carried the following
implication: should you leave the system, you will be severely
punished. That was a threat intended for potential ‘fugitives,”
Mr Safaryan said.

No one has been held responsible for money-laundering since the
meetings were held.

From: Baghdasarian

BIRTH RATE DROPS BY THREE PERCENT IN ARMENIA

news.am
December 20, 2012 | 14:39

YEREVAN. – Birth rate decreased by three percent in Armenia in nine
months of 2012 as compared with the same period last year.

Head of demography and census department at the National Statistical
Service of Armenia Karine Kuyumjyan said 30,906 children were born
during this period as compared with 31,854 last year. Mortality rate
also fell.

During nine months 13,828 marriages were registered in Armenia. The
number of divorce cases increased by 3.1 percent.

From: Baghdasarian

HOW MUCH DOES BALASANYAN’S “TRANSFER” COST?

2012-12-20 15:00:17

Recently, the press has speculated that the mayor of Gyumri Samvel
Balasanyan wishes to withdraw from the “PAP” and join the ranks of
the Republican Party of Armenia, which was followed by a rumbling
response from PAP MP Vahe Enfiajyan:

“PAP” has always been a solid party, there are not such manifestations
in PAP. A man of a similar format, which will take such steps, will
be honored with his estimates.”

Enfiajyan’s cold and rude response gave reason to believe that the
PAP is really exaggerated to such talk, because the latter, being
the deputy of PAP, allowed himself to speak in this way to the last
man not the party, the mayor of the second city of Armenia.

Enfiajyan’s thouhts surprised even Balasanyan spokesman, who in talk
with Lurer.com said, “rumors, of course, are a slander, but I have
not been able to contact Enfiadzhyan and understand what question he
was asked or what he answered.

>From all this it follows that either Enfiajyan not properly expressed,
not to offend a fellow party members, or gave rise to the impression
that the “transfer” Samvel Balasanyan to evaluate PAP is not so high,
“one goes, thousands will come.”

Nelli Avetisyan

From: Baghdasarian

LATIN AMERICANS MOST POSITIVE IN THE WORLD; ARMENIANS AMONG THE LEAST LIKELY TO REPORT POSITIVE FEELINGS – GALLUP

tert.am
13:31 ~U 20.12.12

Latin Americans are the most positive people in the world, while
Armenians together with 13 other nations are among the least likely
to report positive emotions, a Gallup survey has found.

Residents in Panama and Paraguay are the most likely to report
experiencing positive emotions. Singaporeans, Armenians, and Iraqis
are least likely worldwide to report feeling positive emotion, says
a report on the organization’s website.

Gallup measured positive emotions in 148 countries and areas in
2011 using five questions. These questions ask people whether they
experienced a lot of enjoyment the day before the survey and whether
they felt respected, well-rested, laughed and smiled a lot, and did
or learned something interesting.

The survey list of the countries responding “yes” and “no” can be
accessed here.

From: Baghdasarian

2015 : LE TSUNAMI ARMENIEN

Publie le : 20-12-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – ” Au debut de ce mois-ci,
le journal turc Gazete Kars a publie un editorial semblable, intitule
” Les preparatifs armeniens pour 2015 “, alertant les Turcs sur le
100e anniversaire du genocide armenien en 2015 et leur conseillant de
prendre des contre-mesures efficaces. L’editorial revèle que les Turcs
suivent très attentivement les preparatifs armeniens du centenaire
du genocide et qu’ils mesurent avec anxiete l’impact sur la Turquie,
des activites armeniennes a venir. ” Le Collectif VAN vous propose
la traduction de l’editorial du journaliste armeno-americain Harut
Sassounian, paru dans The California Courier le 20 decembre 2012.

Les Turcs aident a faire de la publicite pour le centenaire du
genocide armenien

De : Harut Sassounian Editeur de : The California Courier Editorial
de Sassounian du 20 decembre 2012

À la veille du 90e anniversaire du genocide armenien en 2005,
Mehmet Ali Birand, un important journaliste turc, a ecrit un article
conseillant vivement au public turc de se preparer a l’imminent ”
tsunami armenien “.

Au debut de ce mois-ci, le journal turc Gazete Kars a publie un
editorial semblable, intitule ” Les preparatifs armeniens pour 2015
“, alertant les Turcs sur le 100e anniversaire du genocide armenien
en 2015 et leur conseillant de prendre des contre-mesures efficaces.

L’editorial revèle que les Turcs suivent très attentivement les
preparatifs armeniens du centenaire du genocide et qu’ils mesurent avec
anxiete l’impact sur la Turquie, des activites armeniennes a venir.

Le long article rapporte que l’Armenie et la diaspora sont en train
de developper leur campagne commune contre la Turquie a la veille
du 100e anniversaire du genocide armenien. L’article previent que ”
Avec leurs mensonges, les Armeniens feront se lever le monde entier
” et suggère que ” La Republique de Turquie mette immediatement en
~uvre toutes ses ressources et prenne des mesures preventives pour
reduire a neant cette tromperie. ”

Gazete Kars se plaint que les Armeniens ” ternissent la reputation
de la Turquie en lancant des attaques puissantes sur quarante fronts.

Pour contrer ces attaques, la Turquie doit prendre des mesures bien
plus defensives et offensives. Il n’y a pas une seule minute a perdre.

Le monde gobe leurs mensonges. ”

L’editorial poursuit en decrivant les activites de personnes et
d’organisations importantes, preparant le centenaire du genocide
armenien. Le journal mentionne specifiquement le professeur Taner
Akcam, le cineaste Steven Spielberg, les gouvernements francais et
armenien, l’Universite de Berlin et Demoyan Hayk, le directeur du
Musee du genocide en Armenie, qui est cite declarant : ” Le combat
pour la reconnaissance du genocide doit etre associee a un accord de
restitution. Nous devons prendre les mesures juridiques necessaires
pour faire assigner la responsabilite de ce crime. ”

Gazete Kars liste aussi le Comite national armenien d’Amerique,
l’Institut national armenien, l’Institut Zoryan et l’Institut
Gomidas, comme des organisations qui ont reussi a attire l’attention
de cercles universitaires et mediatiques du monde entier sur le
genocide armenien. Les romanciers turcs en vue, Orhan Pamuk et Elif
Shafak, qui ont courageusement condamne les deformations que fait la
Turquie sur le genocide armenien, sont accuses de jouir du soutien
” des groupes de lobbying de la diaspora armenienne. ”

Le journal turc fait etat de la formation d’un comite central
de coordination a Erevan le 23 avril 2011, preparant le programme
d’activites pour le 100e anniversaire du genocide armenien. Le comite,
preside par le president de l’Armenie, a organise sa reunion inaugurale
le 30 mai 2011.

Le redacteur turc se concentre ensuite sur mes articles, m’identifiant
a tort en tant que ” Ara ” Sassounian, editeur du California Courier.

Je suis cite declarant que ” Exiger la reconnaissance de genocide
n’est plus utile pour les Armeniens. Au contraire, c’est nuisible. Les
Turcs sont heureux que nous nous satisfassions de cette demande. Ce
que nous devrions exiger, c’est la justice. Quand on lui demande ce
que la justice implique, il explique que cela signifie la restitution
financière, morale et territoriale. ”

L’auteur turc poursuit en commentant mes idees, et declare : ”
Sassounian croit que les relations entre l’Armenie et la diaspora ne
sont pas parfaites et qu’il est imperatif d’avoir une vue commune,
particulièrement sur les questions liees a ‘Hay Tad’ (la cause
armenienne). Sassounian croit aussi que des resultats plus probants
pourraient etre atteints, si on unissait les Armeniens vivant dans
100 pays sous l’egide d’un Parlement de la diaspora, compose de 350
representants. ”

Gazete Kars conclut son article en decrivant certaines activites
armeniennes planifiees pour le 100e anniversaire du genocide armenien :

1) Preparer des publications en sept langues : armenien, anglais,
francais, allemand, russe, espagnol et turc.

2) Produire des films et des documentaires, organiser des concerts
et des expositions, publier des livres et du materiel academique.

3) Tripler la surface du Musee du genocide armenien a Erevan.

4) Creer un Comite central de coordination pour le 100e anniversaire
du genocide armenien.

5) Organiser des conferences pour les medias, etablir des contacts
avec les agences de presse dans 89 pays et inviter en Armenie les
journalistes de la tele et de la radio de la diaspora, avant le 100e
anniversaire du genocide armenien.

6) Utiliser les technologies modernes, publier des e-books en
differentes langues, et etablir des contacts avec des personnalites
universitaires et culturelles, des medias et de la societe civile,
et des organisations internationales menant des recherches sur le
genocide armenien.

7) Produire un film sur le genocide armenien avec le celèbre
realisateur indien Shekhar Kapur et le scenariste portoricain,
Jose Rivera.

Etant donne que les Turcs s’attendent a une debauche d’activites pour
le 100e anniversaire du genocide armenien, les Armeniens doivent tout
mettre en ~uvre pour ne pas les decevoir !

Les redacteurs de Gazete Kars ne semblent pas se rendre compte,
qu’en realite, les Armeniens saluent les tentatives turques visant a
contrer les activites liees au centenaire du genocide, qui approche. Ce
faisant, le côte turc aiderait a faire de la publicite pour la cause
armenienne, au-dela de ce que les Armeniens sont capables de faire
tout seuls.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 20 decembre
2012 – 09:30 –

Retour a la rubrique

From: Baghdasarian

DES CITOYENS TURCS SIGNENT UNE PETITION CONTRE L’EXPOSITION NEGATIONNISTE AU DANEMARK
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 20 decembre 2012

ISTANBUL, Turquie (Armenian Weekly) – En reponse aux declarations
officielles indiquant que le Danemark a decide de ” compenser ” une
exposition armenienne sur le genocide en autorisant le gouvernement
turc de preparer sa propre ” exposition ” alternative, des citoyens
turcs – parmi lesquels des universitaires, des ecrivains, des
membres du Parlement, et des maires – ont signe une lettre ouverte
a la Bibliothèque Royale, qu’Armenian Weekly publie ci-dessous dans
son integralite.

A La Bibliothèque Royale du Danemark

Ne prenez pas une position contraire a la democratisation de la
Turquie et a sa confrontation avec son Histoire !

Les personnes dont les signatures suivent ont ete affligees d’apprendre
que la Bibliothèque Royale du Danemark avait donne au gouvernement
turc la possibilite d’organiser une ” exposition alternative “, en
reponse a l’exposition sur le Genocide armenien. Il est incorrect de
suggerer que deux points de vue differents sur ce qui s’est passe en
1915 soient possibles. Plus d’un million de citoyens ottomans armeniens
ont ete expulses de chez eux et aneantis en application d’une politique
d’etat deliberee. Ce qui se passe aujourd’hui n’est rien d’autre que la
negation ehontee de cette realite par le gouvernement turc. Un juste
examen de l’histoire est une condition prealable et incontournable
pour toute vraie democratie.

Le Gouvernement turc a dissimule des verites historiques et a suivi une
politique de negation pendant plus de 90 ans. En reponse aux nombreux
intellectuels qui dans la nation ont exhorte le gouvernement a faire
face honnetement a l’histoire, cette politique de dissimulation
et d’intimidation, qui a atteint son sommet avec l’assassinat du
journaliste Hrant Dink en 2007, continue sans faiblir.

La Cour Europeenne des Droits de l’Homme, dans plusieurs affaires sur
ce sujet, a rendu des jugements contre les positions et les actes de
la Turquie.

En donnant au gouvernement turc la possibilite de presenter une ”
exposition alternative “, vous apportez votre soutien a sa politique
de dissimulation et d’intimidation. Ce soutien que vous accordez a un
regime qui fait du refus de faire face a l’histoire et de la negation
de la verite un principe absolu est equivalent au soutien du regime
de l’apartheid.

Nous voulons vous rappeler que votre soutien constitue un obstacle
aux efforts de democratisation aujourd’hui en Turquie.

Il y a aussi un aspect regional de cette politique. La paix, la
democratie et la stabilite au Moyen-Orient ne pourront s’etablir
qu’avec des regimes qui tiennent a faire face honnetement a
l’histoire. Par sa position de negation des verites historiques,
la Turquie represente un obstacle au developpement de la paix, de la
democratie et de la stabilite dans le Moyen-Orient. Nous, citoyens en
lutte pour une Turquie democratique, vous exhortons a reconsiderer
votre decision de donner au Gouvernement turc la possibilite de
presenter une ” exposition alternative “, a retirer immediatement votre
offre, et vous invitons a vous joindre et a soutenir les initiatives
civiques democratiques demandant a la Turquie de faire face honnetement
a son histoire.

Fikret Adanir (professeur d’histoire), Taner Akcam (professeur
d’histoire), Ayhan Aktar (professeur de sociologie), Cengiz Aktar
(professeur de science politique), Cengiz Algan (l’initiative
civique DurDe ), Ahmet Altan (Redacteur en Chef du journal Taraf),
Maya Arakon (professeur de science politique), Oya Baydar (ecrivain),
Yavuz Baydar (Journaliste du quotidien ToDays Zaman), Osman Baydemir
(maire de Diyarbakyr), Murat Belge (professeur de litterature),
Halil Berktay (professeur d’histoire), Ismail Besikci (professeur
de sociologie), Hamit Bozaslan (professeur de science politique),
Ipek Calislar (ecrivain), Oral Calislar (journaliste du quotidien
Radikal), Aydin Engin (editeur-fondateur du site de nouvelles
T24 de l’Internet), Fatma Muge Gocek (professeur de sociologie),
Nilufer Gole (professeur de sociologie), Istar Gozaydin (professeur
de droit et de politique), Gencay Gursoy (professeur de medecine)
Ayse Hur (historienne, journaliste a Radikal), Ahmet Insel (professeur
d’economie), Ayse Kadioglu (professeur de science politique), Gulten
Kaya ( producteur de musique), Umit Kivanc (ecrivain), Omer Laciner
(Redacteur en chef Birikim Review), Roni Margulies (poète), Baskin
Oran (professeur de science politique), Cem Ozdemir (Co-president des
Verts, Allemagne), Esra Mungan (professeur de psychologie), Sirri
Sakik (parlementaire), Betul Tanbay (professeur de mathematiques),
Zeynep Tanbay (choregraphe), Turgut Tarhanli (professeur de droit
international), Ufuk Uras (ex parlementaire), Sanar Yurdatapan
(Initiative pour la Liberte d’Expression).

Traduction Gilbert Beguian

jeudi 20 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA: US ENVOY TRIES TO BUILD STRONGER DIASPORA CONNECTIONS
by Liana Aghajanian

EurasiaNet.org
Dec 19 2012
NY

The US ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern, is wrapping up a “listening
tour” that featured meetings with Diaspora leaders in cities across the
United States. Heffern’s mission was aimed primarily at encouraging
the Armenian Diaspora in the United States to join in governmental
efforts to strengthen Yerevan’s connections to the West.

Heffern’s tour, which was set to conclude on December 19, took him to
most major US cities that have sizable Armenian-American populations,
including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and New York. At
every stop, the ambassador promoted trade opportunities. And touting
Armenia’s IT sector as a potential area of interest for US investment,
the ambassador also made an appearance at the 2012 ArmTech Congress, a
‘global high tech networking platform’ of the Republic of Armenia. The
event was held in Silicon Valley this year.

“We are very anxious and active in identifying those partners,
in the government, in civil society, all the political parties,
private sector, the press, international partners, diaspora and
in the diplomatic community that share our values and that want to
push Armenia in the right direction,” Heffern said during his Los
Angeles-area visit on December 6.

The mission was not an easy sell for Heffern. Armenia’s troubled
track record on investment projects involving Armenian-American
entrepreneurs has left many skittish. The country still struggles
with a lack of transparency in its judicial, tax and customs systems,
while an oligarchic atmosphere has fostered monopolistic tendencies,
discouraged competition and left economic power in the hands of a few.

Under such conditions, many small and medium businesses have suffered.

An ongoing legal case highlights the Diaspora dilemma. It involves
Edmond Khudyan, president of Arin Capital & Investment Corp, based in
Glendale, California. He is pressing charges against two stakeholders
in a Yerevan project that was handled by a local Arin affiliate. The
pair is alleged to have siphoned off upwards of $8.5 million in cash
and assets from the company. In an open letter to Heffern, dated
October 26, Khudyan asked for the US Embassy’s help in promoting a
fair legal process.

“Considering that the Armenian judicial system does not seem to
be working, and I have been left powerless to defend myself and my
interests, I hope to have US Embassy’s active follow-up and oversight
of my ongoing judicial struggle against all parties involved,” the
letter stated. “We are dealing with a well organized criminal group
which knows how to commit crime and steal, operating thought high
ranking officials, and their family members, who have the power to
influence and obtain favorable court decisions and avoid prosecution.”

During his tour, Heffern said the US government was committed to
promoting systematic changes in Armenia that would remove obstacles
to investment. “The point is to fix the system so that all American
investors, all Armenian investors and all European investors play by
the same rules,” he said.

Edvin Minassian – a former chair of the Armenian Bar Association,
who had a private meeting with Heffern in Los Angeles – agreed that
the Armenian IT sector held out promise. But he too acknowledged
the need for substantive changes. “We want them to have courts that
function fairly, public servants that are not corrupt and have an
economy that prospers,” he said.

The development potential of the country’s IT sector is not threatened
by rule-of-law issues alone. Tech companies in Armenia have trouble
retaining qualified workers, said Al Eisaian, an IT entrepreneur from
Los Angeles who has established several start-up ventures in the
country. “The reason for their emigration is not financial: I have
been told by these young professionals that they are moving because
they do not feel their government is representing them properly;
they are very much concerned with environmental issues,” he said.

Armenia’s mining industry has seen considerable foreign investment
in recent years, though activists have warned the health risks and
hazards associated with open pit mining can be disastrous for the
small country.

Heffern’s tour also attempted to promote openings for Armenia to the
outside world. At present the country is hemmed in on two sides by
two hostile states – Turkey and Azerbaijan. To the south, meanwhile,
Iran represents a “risky situation,” Heffern said. The country’s only
reliable trade opening is to Russia via Georgia.

“Armenia needs options,” Heffern said December 6. “No country can be
totally dependent on one border. No country can be totally dependent
on one partner.”

To that end, Heffern sounded out Diaspora members on the possibility
of reviving the moribund normalization protocols signed by Armenia and
Turkey back in 2009. Heffern assured skeptical Diaspora members that
the United States is opposed to Ankara stated position of linking
a Nagorno-Karabakh peace settlement with the implementation and
ratification of the protocols.

Editor’s note: Liana Aghajanian is a freelance writer based in Los
Angeles.

From: Baghdasarian

NA SIGNED MEMORANDUM ON SECURITY WITH GENEVA CENTER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF ARMED FORCES

20:36, 19 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: NA Standing Committee on Defence,
National Security and Internal Affairs and Geneva Center for the
Democratic Control of Armed Forces signed a memorandum of mutual
understanding aimed to ensure the efficiency of Democratic control of
the security sector. Memorandum was signed by Chairman of NA standing
committee Koryun Nahapetyan and Deputy Director DCAF Philipp Fluri.

Armenpress reports that sides will cooperate to improve the efficiency
of legal processes in different spheres of the committee, to develop
and implement procedures of civilian control of the armed forces,
as well as to carry out some research works in various institutions
of force structures.

An advisory group will be formed attached to the committee which will
provide it with legal consultations and recommendations which will
be connected with issues of committee.

Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and
Internal Affairs Koryun Nahapetyan assured that memorandum would
become a firm legal basis for efficient cooperation of the sides and
would ensure long-lasting interaction in democratic control of the
security sector.

From: Baghdasarian

GREECE TO HELP ARMENIA TO DEVELOP AGRICULTURE

NEWS.AM
December 19, 2012 | 19:36

On December 19, Armenian Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan held
a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Greece to Armenia Ioannis Thais. The meeting was held at the request
of the Greek envoy.

As the press service of the Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am,
the Minister expressed the hope that Greek support in development of
agriculture in Armenia will be consistent. In turn, the Ambassador
said that Greece will continue to support and try to be helpful for
Armenia. The parties discussed the establishment of two laboratories
on control toxic chemicals in food waste and licensing drinks. The
parties also discussed the state of agriculture in both countries
and the steps of both governments for the development of the sphere.

From: Baghdasarian

KILLING ARMENIAN NOT CRIME IN AZERBAIJAN – PRESIDENT

December 19, 2012 | 22:29

MOSCOW. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on working visit in
Moscow, participated on Wednesday in the Collective Security Council
session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Touching upon South Caucasus regional challenges, the Armenian
President emphasized that Azerbaijani destructive approach for the
Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] peace process continues to be a serious
challenge to the regional security, presidential press service informs.

Azerbaijani advocacy breeds a whole generation with nationalism and
intolerance. As a matter of fact, killing an Armenian is no longer
a crime in Azerbaijan, added Sargsyan.

To note, an Azeri killer Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant in the Azerbaijani
military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary, where he was
serving a life sentence – and with no expression of either regret
or remorse – for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian lieutenant
Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership for Peace
program in Budapest back in 2004.

From: Baghdasarian