Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

E. SHARMAZANOV: ANC AND ARF WILL NOT ALLOW HERITAGE PARTY TO SEIZE OPPOSITIONAL ELECTORATE

13:57 19/12/2012 ” POLITICS

“If the deputy chairman of the party says that it means he accepts that
Srezh Sargsyan’s victory is legitimate. And it is not the authority
that speaks about it but the opposition itself,” said vice Speaker of
the Parliament, Spokesperson of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
Edward Sharmazanov commenting on the statement of Armen Martirosyan
that it is probable that the elections will be held by two rounds.

According to E. Sharmazanov, opposition today faces a dilemma as it
is hard to decide; if they run for president they will get only 7 to
10 percent of votes, if they do not run it will mean their political
career finished. Though Raffi Haruytunyan has already suggested his
candidacy, E. Sharmazanov believes, ANC and ARF won’t allow Heritage
party to possess the votes of oppositional electorate.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

NEWSPAPER: TIGRAN SARGSYAN TO REMAIN PREMIER AFTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. Armenian premier Tigran Sargsyan will
remain in his position in the new government to be formed after the
presidential elections in February 2013, “Zhamanak” (Time) newspaper
says referring to sources from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA).

According to the newspaper, the conclusion was made after Sargsyan’s
meetings held during his visit to the United States. In particular,
Sargsyan met with CEO of Millennium Challenges Corporation Daniel
Yohannes and discussed re-financing opportunities. The premier had
a meeting also with U.S. vice-president Joe Biden who does not meet
with premiers usually.

“Hence, the prevailing part of the ruling RPA believes that Sargsyan
will be reappointed to the post, and the West has an interest in it,”
says the newspaper. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE QOBER-TUMANYAN BRIDGE IS OVER

11:14, 19 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. On December 18 a reconstructed
railway bridge on Qober-Tumanyan stretch was opened, which was
built in 1898. Reconstruction of the bridge was carried out within
the framework of South Caucasian Railway’s program to modernize
infrastructure. This is the third railway bridge commissioned by CJSC
“SCR” this year. “South Caucasian Railway” informed “Armenpress”
about this.

In April 2012 Zamanlu bridge was opened with the participation
of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the President of
Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin and in October another bridge on
Shahali-Tumanyan stretch better known popularly as “Satani Kamurj”
was opened for railway traffic.

The bridge on Qober-Tumanyan stretch was commissioned 114 years ago
and for all this time it has had only current repairs. The height of
the bridge is 13.1 meters and the total length is about 75 meters.

Keeping to its policy of supporting the Armenian business, CJSC “SCR”
chose as the contractor for the reconstruction of the railway bridge
the Armenian construction company “Kamurjshin”. Total funding the
reconstruction project was more than 336.8 million drams.

In the period from 2008 to 2012 CJSC “SCR” has allocated more than
50 billion AMD on the program of modernization of infrastructure,
though the total amount of financing of the investment program of
the South Caucasian Railway amounted to about 90 billion drams.

Since the beginning of the concession activity in the framework of
infrastructure modernization the Company has repaired 300 km of track,
more than 160 objects of technological applications, 33 engineering
structures, 130 km of the overhead line, more than 140 km of electric
power transmission lines.

From: Baghdasarian

AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATORS CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SYRIAN-ARMENIANS

13:05, 19 December, 2012

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) reports
that there is growing support for the Australian government to provide
assistance to Syrian-Armenians who have fled the conflict in Syria.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia informed “Armenpress”
that the Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, and the Federal
Member for Bradfield, Paul Fletcher, have written to Australia’s
Foreign Minister Bob Carr calling for immediate action in providing
financial assistance to the Republic of Armenia for Syrian refugees.

Walt Secord, Member of the Legislative Council in New South Wales,
has also written to the Foreign Minister calling for action.

ANC Australia Executive Director Vache Kahramanian said: “We thank
those members for making direct representations to the Foreign
Minister. Time is of the essence and it is vital that aid reaches
all those who are in need during these difficult times.”

ANC Australia had recently reported that it is working to secure a
part of Australia’s commitment of $24.5 million to be allocated to
the Republic of Armenia.

Over 4,000 Syrian-Armenians have already fled from Syria to Armenia
to escape the increasing violence and devastation.

From: Baghdasarian

LE MINISTRE DE LA DEFENSE A MOSCOU

Seyran Ohanian a pris part a la session des Ministres de la Defense de
la CEI. Il s’est entretenu, a cette occasion, avec ses homologues
russe et bielorusse, avec lesquels il a signe les programmes de
cooperation 2013. RFE/RL relève que la Russie, qui aurait decide
d’abandonner la station radar de Gabala d’Azerbaïdjan, faute d’accord
sur le bail, pourrait construire une nouvelle station radar en
Armenie. Une telle declaration a ete faite a RFE/RL par le
porte-parole du Ministère armenien de la Defense. D’après le
politologue Sergueï Minassian cite par RFE/RL, la Russie n’a guère
point besoin d’avoir une station radar ailleurs dans le Caucase du
Sud. Pour elle, la perte de la station de Gabala est surtout
importante du point de vue politique, puisqu’elle met fin a la
presence militaire de la Russie en Azerbaïdjan.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 12 decembre 2012

mercredi 19 decembre 2012,
Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

BOOK REVEALS SEIZED ARMENIAN PROPERTIES

Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 18 2012
Turkey

by Vercihan Ziflioðlu
ISTANBUL – Hurriyet Daily News

One of the confiscated properties in the book (inset) is the Kalfayan
Orphanage in Istanbul. The land of the orphanage is now occupied by
a highway.

A recent book published by the Hrant Dink Foundation has revealed
that almost half of the properties belonging to 53 different Armenian
foundations have been confiscated since 1923.

“2012 Beyannamesi: Istanbul Ermeni Vakýflarýnýn El Konulan Mulkleri”
(The 2012 Declaration: The Seized Properties of Armenian Foundations
in Istanbul) provides data on all the proprties of the Armenian
foundations confiscated since 1923.

According to the information provided, 53 Armenian foundations in
Istanbul were found to have 1,328 immovable properties. Some 661
of these properties were confiscated, while the fate of another 87
is still unknown. With legal amendments, 143 of the 661 confiscated
properties have been returned over the last 10 years.

One of the confiscated properties is the Kalfayan Orphanage located
in Istanbul’s Halýcýoðlu district. It was confiscated on the grounds
that access roads would be built on its land during the construction
of the intercontinental Bosphorus Bridge. The E5 Highway now occupies
this land.

Another confiscated foundation is the Surp (Saint) Hagop Armenian
Church Foundation located in Istanbul’s Kasýmpaþa district. Its
ownership was passed to the Foundations Directorate General, after
which an apartment block was built on the remains of the historic
church walls. A number of shanty houses now occupy a part of the
original foundation’s land, for which the Foundations Directorate
General pays rent.

The 479-page new book, which opens with an introduction by Professor
Huseyin Hatemi, covers a detailed list of confiscated properties, as
well as historical information and photos of the foundation properties.

December/18/2012

From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH BISHOPS’ SPOKESMAN DENIES SAYING TURKEY IS INNOCENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Catholic Culture
Dec 18 2012

The spokesman for the Catholic bishops’ conference of Turkey has
emphatically denied that he suggested Vatican archives would show that
Turkey was innocent of genocide against the Armenian people.

Rinaldo Marmara, the bishops’ spokesman, had been quoted in a Turkish
daily, Vatan, as saying that internal “Armenian problems”-rather than
deliberate Turkish policies-were responsible for the deaths of
hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915. Marmara charged that the
quotations attributed to him were taken out of context by “journalists
to search for provocation.”

In fact, Marmara said, the Vatican archives contain a rich deposit of
documents regarding the history of Turkey. “There are of course also
some on the Armenian issue,” he said, but he noted that these
resources are available to all qualified scholars, and he did not
intend to comment on the lessons to be drawn from them. “I just point
out the relevance of these archives,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP TO EURASIAN UNION MAY CONTRADICT HAVING CLOSER RELATIONS WITH EU, SAYS HEAD OF EU ADVISORY GROUP

Mediamax
Dec 18 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Leader of the EU Advisory Group Willem van der Geest
said today that Armenia’s membership to Eurasian Union may contradict
the policy of having closer relations with the European Union.

He particularly pointed out the trade sector and the talks on Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between Armenia and EU,
Mediamax reports.

According to him, a moment may come when Armenia will have to make
a clear choice – whether to become a member of the Eurasian Union or
to continue talks with the European Union.

From: Baghdasarian

INDO-ARMENIAN FRIENDSHIP NGO HOSTS AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE OF INDIA TO ARMENIA IN NEW DELHI

18:42, December 18, 2012

On 15th December 2012, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO (IAF) organised
an interactive session between the newly appointed Ambassador of
India to Armenia and Georgia Dr. T. Suresh Babu and members of IAF
in India’s premier Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Dignitaries present in the occasion included Ambassador Achal Kumar
Malhotra, outgoing Ambassador of India to Armenia and Georgia, Mrs.
Lusik Tovmasyan, Consul of Armenian Embassy in India, and Prof.

Purushottam Agrawal, Member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

People who attended the event included Armenian students studying
in India, Indian students who had graduated from YSMU, businessmen
and people from different walks of life interested to know about
Indo-Armenian ties. Most of them were members of Indo-Armenian
Friendship NGO.

Prof. Purushottam Agrawal, who recently launched his new Book titled
“Hindi Sarai: Astrakhan via Yerevan” spoke about his experiences in
Yerevan which was his penultimate destination before his journey to
Astrakhan in Russia. His journey inspired him to author this book,
which he mentions not only as “Travelogue” but a well researched
“Thoughtlogue”.

He especially mentioned the great contribution of Armenian patriotic
poet Yeghishe Charents in the cultural historicity of Armenia.

“Armenian people are quite efficient, quite energetic and very
helpful”, said the professor, recalling his days in Armenia. “I was
aware of the importance of Armenia in world history, and also of
the long standing cultural relations between Armenia and India”,
continued the author, and went ahead to speak about the immense
contribution the Armenians had on Indian culture and society.

Ambassador Designate Dr. T. Suresh Babu works in the Eurasian
division of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and is
in charge of CIS countries, among which Armenia is one as well. While
speaking of his next assignment as Ambassador of Armenia & Georgia,
he recalled how he got to know about Armenia for the first time when
his father took him to Armenian Bazar in Chennai. He underlined the
great mutual goodwill existing between both countries and was happy
to state that there is already a great existing foundation to take
his work further very easily.

Mrs. Lusik Tovmasyan, Consul of Armenian Embassy in India addressed
the audience and spoke about the centuries old Indo-Armenian ties. She
especially underlined the striking similarities between people of both
countries. “As most Armenians in India will agree, it is very difficult
for one to part away from India after staying in this country for
some time”, she said, speaking about the love Armenians have for India.

She also spoke about the long-standing Indo-Armenians ties, making
a special mention about Mariam Zamani Begum, the Christian Armenian
wife of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Armenian Consul further wished the
new Ambassador to Armenia immense success in his new task in Yerevan.

Renowned Warli Folk artist Mrs. Babita Biswas who was also present
at the event was sharing her own memories about Armenia which
she experienced during her visit to this beautiful country for her
Painting Exhibition jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture of
Armenia and ICCR.

About IAF

Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO (IAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan,
non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to benchmark
INDIA-ARMENIA relationships in the world-map while acting as a
connecting “BRIDGE” between India and Armenia to promote people to
people connection, strengthen cultural, Socio-economic ties, trade
engagement and also in long term developing environmental guidance
through sustainable development programs for a prosperous future with
great emphasis on bilateral engagement; to educate Armenians on India
and Indians on Armenia. It will be acting as the ARMENIA CHAPTER for
“Society For Promotion Of Global Understanding” (SPGU).

From: Baghdasarian

U.S. AMBASSADOR HEFFERN: ‘ARMENIA IS A LONG TRIP TO NOWHERE’

10:41, December 18, 2012

Dear Editor:

I attended the presentation by the US Ambassador to Armenia, John
Heffern, on December 13 at St. James Armenian Church in Watertown,
MA. Before his presentation, Ambassador Heffern shook hands with some
members of the audience. He approached a young boy who was sitting
with his mother. However, as the boy was busy playing a game on his
electronic gadget, he ignored Mr. Heffern’s offer to shake hands.

The ambassador asked the mother if she had ever taken her son to
Armenia. “No”, the mother replied.

The boy finally extended his arm, shook hands, and looked away
without ever making eye contact with Mr. Heffern. “You should take
him to Armenia,” the ambassador told the mother. “It is a long trip,
on the way to nowhere.”

Heffern then laughed and happened to walk towards me. I grabbed his
hand and said “Mr. Ambassador, Armenia maybe on the way to nowhere,
but it is certainly in the way of energy pipelines.” He walked away
laughing.

I think that the ambassador is frustrated and angry that Armenia
is not dancing to the U.S. State Department’s tune – for example,
by refusing to give away Artsakh (Karabagh) to Azerbaijan and by not
joining the Turkey-NATO sphere of influence. That is why he described
Armenia as “on the way to nowhere.”

If one is astute and “reads between the lines,” here is what Heffern
said or implied in his presentation that night:

– The U.S. will continue military assistance to Azerbaijan.

– The U.S. will do nothing to change the status quo of Turkey’s border
closure until Turkey decides otherwise.

– The U.S. will not ask Georgia (a major U.S. aid recipient) to
facilitate trade routes for Armenia.

– The U.S will continue to exert pressure on Armenia until it stops
all trade with Iran, even as Turkey continues to do billions in trade
with Iran and spurn U.S. sanctions.

– The U.S. wants Armenia to spurn Russia and eventually join NATO
(even though the U.S. will never offer any security against Turkey
and pan-Turkism).

It is actually Ambassador Heffern and the U.S. State Department who
are on the road to nowhere.

Berge Jololian Watertown, MA

From: Baghdasarian