Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

” ARMENOUHIE ” : UN PREMIER LIVRE POUR MARC GIRARD

Ouest-France
dimanche 4 novembre 2012
Nantes Edition

C’est a son arrivee au Gâvre, a l’heure de la retraite il y a quatre
ans, que Marc Girard s’est mis a l’ecriture. Il vient se sortir ”
Armenouhie “, son premier livre.

” Juriste de formation, ma carrière de cadre dans les collectivites
territoriales m’a amene a beaucoup ecrire, mais c’etait plus formel
“, confie, avec le sourire, notre ecrivain.

Armenouhie est le nom de l’heroïne de ce roman, qui emmène le lecteur
d’Erevan, la capitale de l’Armenie, jusqu’a Paris, puis retour…

” C’est un voyage en Armenie en septembre 2009 qui a ete le declic,
explique Marc Avec Josiane, ma compagne, nous sommes tombes sous le
charme de ce pays aux paysages sublimes, au peuple encore marque par
les massacres de 1915, mais très attache aux traditions d’hospitalite
et de convivialite. Un pays fragile aussi, face a un avenir incertain,
coince entre de grandes puissances. ”

Marc est aussi tombe sous le charme de Zahourie, jeune femme guide
interprète de 27 ans qui les accompagnait ” et qui nous a fait aimer
son pays. “”Armenouhie ” etait nee…

Le livre publie aux editions L’Harmattan est en vente 23,50 ¤ sur le
site (), ou chez votre libraire.

From: Baghdasarian

STAPHYLOCOCCUS AND E-COLI: REASON OF POISONING OF CHILDREN IN ARARAT VILLAGE KINDERGARTEN

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 15:20

The laboratory analysis of the food and environment samples taken
from the kindergarten in the village of Ararat revealed the reason
of mass poisoning of children.

Thus, staphylococcus and E-coli were found in some food
products. The reason of the poisoning was violation of the sanitary
and epidemiological standards. The kindergarten leadership is charged
to rectify violations found.

Seven children of the Ararat village kindergarten have been
hospitalized with food poisoning. The alarm was received on November
6 in the evening, the Health Ministry press- service reported. Later
another 6 children have been hospitalized with light symptoms of food
poisoning. Investigation revealed that all the hospitalized children
at the age of 3-6 were attending the same kindergarten. The symptoms
of food poisoning occurred after they ate a soup with chicken, rice
and peas. All the children have been released from the hospital.

From: Baghdasarian

KOCHARYAN: PAP IS ABLE TO FORM POLITICAL AGENDA INDEPENDENTLY

POLITICS | 13.11.12 | 15:23

Armenia’s former president Robert Kocharyan has distanced himself
from the reform proposed by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
which is believed to be his political support base, as he advocated
a presidential system of government in his latest interview.

In reply to the question of the web site, his unofficial
website, Kocharyan also responded to politicians seeing his “shadow”
behind PAP.

The debate emerged last week when PAP floated the idea of Armenia’s
transition to a parliamentary form of government. Ruling Republican
Party spokesman and deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov
rushed to conclude that “it is figures who simply wish to come to
power that stand behind such statements.” The comment was construed
by many as a jibe at the former administration of President Kocharyan.

In his interview Kocharyan, in particular, denied being a supporter
of a parliamentary form of government.

“If I was a staunch supporter of a parliamentary form of government,
it would have already been introduced in Armenia after the 2005
constitutional referendum (initiated by the President). You can run
the state incompetently or wisely both either as a President or a
Prime Minister. There are plenty of examples in global politics. The
question is not the form of government but the correct collection of
checks and balances, performance of the current political construction,
traditions and maturity of the civil society,” stated Kocharyan.

The former leader, however, backed the other reform proposed by PAP – a
switch to a 100-percent proportional system of forming the parliament.

“Majority-vote elections in Armenia fuel the process of feudalization
of territories within the borders of these districts, and the
authorities, voluntarily or not, contribute to it as they are
motivated to reproduction. This is an extremely harmful phenomenon,
and the sooner we give it up the better. This is why the number of
single-mandate MPs has reduced several times in our country. I’m
sorry I haven’t finished this process. Why? The answer is simple:
the power wanted to have an advantage under single-mandate districts,”
said Kocharyan.

Kocharyan made it clear that he agreed to give the interview and
explain his position on the matter “first of all because if I don’t
do it, other people will do it instead of me and secondly because I
have nothing to do with the initiation of this process.”

The ex-president concluded: “I would like to give advice to those very
“smart” people who see my shadow everywhere: to open eyes and finally
see that the PAP has created a team which is able to independently
form the party’s political agenda.”

From: Baghdasarian

WHAT SERZH SARGSYAN WILL BRING ALONG FROM FRANCE
HAKOB BADALYAN

Comments – Tuesday, 13 November 2012, 11:45

Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to France is interesting for something which
was expected less of all. Radio Liberty informs that after the meeting
with Serzh Sargsyan the French President Hollande stated that they
discussed issues relating to Iran and he is hopeful the president of
Armenia will pass the message.

In fact, in the meeting with the French president messages are passed
to Armenia which it is supposed to pass to Iran. In other words,
for the first time an international authoritative statement reports
that Armenia is a channel of communication between the West and Iran.

This circumstance goes without saying but it is officially stated
for the first time.

Can this be defined as a status of mediator? Perhaps it would be
more appropriate to use the word courier or herald because mediation
denotes a little more serious role, generation of ideas and proposals
that the mediator offers to both sides.

In this case, Serzh Sargsyan is asked to say something to Iran. In
addition, Radio Liberty informs, Hollande hopes that Serzh Sargsyan
will take the message. In other words, there is even some doubt that
Serzh Sargsyan will pass the message. Armenia has been given a task,
and they hope it will be fulfilled successfully.

It is not ruled out that the first success will be followed by many
more other tasks but this is far from being mediation because mediation
is first of all initiative and the last initiative of Armenia was in
June 2008 when Serzh Sargsyan announced in Moscow about his intention
to invite Gul to watch football in Yerevan.

Certainly, of course, Armenia should try to carry out the task of
passing messages properly. After all, the role of a herald is not bad,
at least better than no role. Diplomatic improvisation is possible
in this status as well, gradually using it for one’s own prospects.

This improvisation will be for Serzh Sargsyan’s prospect indeed and
will have nothing to do with Armenia’s prospects as a subject of
international politics.

However, beyond Serzh Sargsyan’s personal needs the fact that the West
has decided to voice the role of a herald for Armenia is interesting
itself. It underlines the role of Armenia in the region in the context
of a key international issue. Armenia is exposed to risks because
Yerevan is publicly involved in the stream of the Iranian issue or
at least gets closer to it.

Plunging into this process or opposing it would be two extremities. It
is clear though that the delegated role must be accepted and it
must be played vigorously because by revealing the connecting role
of Armenia in the Iranian issue the West enlarges the boundary of
the regional game and opens up an alternative to Armenia engaged in
solely Russian games.

However, Iran is just a means because it is crisp and clear that the
West will settle the issue without any mediator. The problem is the
new schemes of regional relations, the new structure, the new map of
political relations. It is a valuable alternative to the Armenian
government which would be a crime to waste for domestic political
purposes. On the contrary, Armenia is faced with a vital need to
build capacity for more efficient use of new foreign opportunities
by means of fast changes in domestic life.

From: Baghdasarian

WHY IS COMPANY CONDUCTING YEREVAN-ISTANBUL BUS TRIP SILENT? (PHOTOS)

November 13, 2012 | 05:29

A criminal case is launched into the bus accident that occurred in
Armenia’s Shirak Region, the Police press service informed Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

The case is opened on charges of violation of traffic and transport
vehicle operation rules, which has negligently caused human death.

According to our information, the Yerevan-Istanbul bus trip was being
conducted by Mahmut Tour, but it was impossible to ascertain from
this company as to the causes of the accident and whether or not the
passengers will be compensated.

To note, 45-year-old Araksi Ghazaryan died and 36 others suffered as
a result of this accident. Twenty-five of them were transferred to
Gyumri city MedicalCenter, where eight were discharged on the same
day. Center Director Armen Isahakyan assured Armenian News-NEWS.am’s
Shirak regional reporter that none of the patients had to pay anything
for their medical treatments.

To note, a bus, which was en route to Istanbul from Yerevan, went off
road and tipped over on the Gyumri city-Bavra city highway, nearby
Ghazanchi village, on November 10 at around 2:10pm. As a result,
one person died and 23 people-including a ten-year-old child-were
transferred to the region’s several medical facilities.

From: Baghdasarian

FAMOUS PIANO PLAYER JAN LISIECKI WILL HAVE A CONCERT IN YEREVAN

News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan
13-11-2012

For the first time famous piano player Jan Lisiecki will have a concert
in Yerevan. The joint concert of State Youth Orchestra of Armenia and
Jan Lisiecki will be held in Aram Khachaturyan Great Concert Hall
on November 17. As the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia informed,
the 17 years old piano player has already managed to give more
than 100 concerts. At the concert the Armenian audience will have
an opportunity to listen to the concert of the young piano player,
who played in different countries.

Jan Lisiecki is a classical piano player. He studied piano in Mount
Royal University since early childhood. The piano player debuted
in the orchestra at the age of nine. He is a winner of a number of
international awards. Lisiecki is a winner of seven international
contests in the USA, Italy, Great Britain and Japan.

In frames of the program “Let’s Save Children Together” ten percent
of the cost of each sold ticket will go to “Grant Life” charity
foundation. The Art Director and Chief Conductor of the State Youth
Orchestra of Armenia is Sergey Smbatyan.

“The Noyan Tapan Highlights”, #41 (938) 12 November 2012

From: Baghdasarian

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BAKU: “MINSK GROUP HAS ALWAYS BEEN ACTIVE, BUT IT PARTICULARLY WAS ACTIVE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS”

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 11:50

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will be discussing in the
region their ideas how to get progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution and make the process moving, Ambassador of the
U.S. to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists on Tuesday,
Trend reports.

“Minsk group has always been active, but it particularly was active
over the past few weeks,” Morningstar said.

“So we will see what happens and hopefully progress will be made,”
he added.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will visit the region in late
November, the OSCE official website said.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: UNLIKE TURKEY, FRANCE CAN BRAVELY LOOK INTO THE EYES OF ITS OWN HISTORY

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 11:31

In its policy towards Turkey Armenia is not guided with the principles
of harming Turkey, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an
interview with Le Figaro Magazine.

In addition, the president said, Armenia is for normalization of
Turkey’s relations with France and other European states that will
help Turkey better understand the importance of European values.

France can teach bravery and courage to Turkey, because France,
unlike Turkey, can bravely look into the eyes of its own history,
the president said.

As regards the efforts to pass a law criminalizing the Armenian
Genocide denial, Serzh Sargsyan said: “Genocide denial is continuation
of the crime. Those who try to revise history denying the fact
of Genocide, inherently, share the responsibility for that crime
against humanity.” In this light, he praised French President Francois
Hollande’s clear stance on the given issue, which he had repeatedly
expressed during his presidential campaign and after election to the
post of the French president. To recall, on July 7 the newly elected
president of France F. Hollande had a meeting with representatives
of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France and
declared that the law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial was
put on agenda again.

The previous bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial was
drafted in 2011 under ex-president Sarkozy. The bill stipulated one
year in prison and a fine in the amount of 45,000 Euros for anyone who
denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide in the territory of France,
which officially recognized the Armenian genocide on Jan 29 2001.

After the lower house of the parliament passed the bill in Dec 2011,
Turkey suspended military, political and economic cooperation with
Franche. In January 2012 the upper house of the parliament passed the
bill. In Feb 2012 the Constitutional Council of France issued a ruling
that the bill penalizing the denial of genocides is unconstitutional,
arguing that it curbs freedom of speech on February 29.

From: Baghdasarian

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE ET LA TRAGIQUE EPREUVE DU POINT-PRESSE

Publie le : 13-11-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Syndrome de la langue de
bois ? Francois Hollande parle d'”histoire tragique”, d'”epreuves de
l’histoire”, et meme de “Francais dits d’Armenie” (sic), invention
linguistique visant ni plus ni moins a taire que les parents ou
grands-parents de ces Francais-la ont ete expulses de l’Empire ottoman
(et non d’Armenie) en echappant a un genocide. A moins qu’en parlant de
“Francais dits d’Armenie”, le President Hollande ne suggère a l’Armenie
de s’engager dans des revendications territoriales vis-a-vis de l’Etat
turc pour recuperer les 9/10e des territoires armeniens situes dans
l’actuelle Turquie ? Ne revons pas. Francois Hollande cherchait
juste a esquiver le mot “Turquie”. Tout comme il a “habilement”
omis de mentionner le genocide armenien pour nous le servir sous la
forme d’une sempiternelle et “tragique epreuve”. Le meilleur est sans
doute pour la fin : coince par le fait que le president armenien (qui
s’est exprime a sa suite) l’avait remercie pour son action en faveur
de la reconnaissance du genocide armenien et de la penalisation du
negationnisme, Francois Hollande, avant de clore le point-presse,
a ajoute une phrase sibylline :”je le remercie pour les mots qu’il
a bien voulu avoir a l’egard de la France et de ce qu’a pu etre
mon action, effectivement, en faveur de la reconnaissance, par la
Republique francaise, du genocide armenien.” Que signifie “ce qu’a
pu etre mon action” ? Drôle de conjugaison. Ce qui fut ne sera plus ?

Quid de l’Arlesienne alors ? Vous savez, cette fameuse loi
anti-negationniste, retoquee par le Conseil Constitutionnel, et pour
laquelle Francois Hollande repète depuis des mois qu’il lui faut
s’assurer de la securite juridique du texte de loi afin d’eviter la
censure du Conseil constitutionnel. D’accord, mais quand exactement ?

Aux prochaines elections, pour declencher les foudres, cette fois-ci,
de l’actuelle opposition ?

Le site de Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine , dont le redacteur en
chef etait invite – en tant que co-President du CCAF – au dejeuner
a l’Elysee qui a suivi ce point-presse, titre a la Une de manière
rassurante : “Francois Hollande reaffirme sa volonte de penaliser
le negationnisme du genocide armenien” et explique : “La declaration
attendue de Francois Hollande sur la loi de penalisation du genocide
armenien n’a pas eu lieu pendant le point avec la presse, a l’issue
de la rencontre avec le president armenien. Il a eu lieu juste après,
au debut du repas auquel etait convie Serge Sarkissian, la delegation
gouvernementale venue d’Armenie, les representants de la communaute
armenienne de France et des personnalites au premier rang desquels
figurait Charles Aznavour. Le president de la Republique francaise
a immediatement tenu a rassurer ses invites sur ce point.” Dans la
longue et “tragique histoire” du peuple armenien avant, pendant et
après 1915, les representants politiques de la nation ont trop souvent
fait preuve de naïvete, accordant du credit a des promesses aimables
(la liste est longue, de celles des Jeunes-Turcs qui ont dupe les
Dachnags, a celles de la France qui a abandonne la Cilicie où elle
avait reinstalle sous sa protection les deportes armeniens). Mais
il semble que ces lecons de l’Histoire n’aient pas porte. Peut-on
continuer a se satisfaire d’engagements pris en prive ? Qui peut
certifier que des engagements contraires ne sont pas pris lors
d’autres dejeuners avec d’autres personnalites ? Francois Hollande
doit s’exprimer en public, affirmer ses positions, les mettre en
~uvre rapidement et affronter les difficultes. Le Chef de l’Etat
tiendra ce mardi a 17h a l’Elysee, la première grande conference de
presse de son quinquennat. Osera-t-il s’exprimer sur un sujet qui
declenche les foudres des lobbies economiques et politiques ? A moins
d’y etre contraint par une question de journaliste, il semble que la
confrontation avec les problèmes ne soit pas vraiment la nature de
l’actuelle locataire de l’Elysee. En tous cas, les Francais “dits
d’Armenie” attendent toujours leur nouveau Jaurès. La question est
posee : Francois Hollande peut-il laisser a Nicolas Sarkozy la primeur
des engagements les plus forts et les plus clairs sur les questions
qui preoccupent les citoyens confrontes au negationnisme ? N’est-ce
pas a la gauche de porter haut et fort une certaine idee de la morale
et la defense des minorites ? Souhaitons que nos mises en garde soient
inutilement alarmistes…

Legende photo : © Presidence de la Republique – Laurent Blevennec

Elysee

Declaration conjointe du President de la Republique et de M. Serge
SARKISSIAN, president de la Republique d’Armenie

LE PRESIDENT : ” J’ai recu aujourd’hui mon ami, le President Serge
SARKISSIAN, qui est une nouvelle fois en France. Je lui ai rappele
l’amitie qui unit nos deux peuples et nos deux pays : nos deux peuples
depuis longtemps dans notre histoire, une histoire tragique mais une
histoire qui a cree des liens ; nos deux pays depuis qu’ils ont des
relations diplomatiques, c’est-a-dire depuis plus de 20 ans.

Nous avons veille a ce que les liens entre la France et l’Armenie
soient non seulement affectueux, mais aussi concrets. A cet egard,
nous pouvons nous feliciter des echanges culturels et linguistiques
meme si nous voulons aller beaucoup plus loin encore pour les echanges
economiques. Certes la France est le deuxième investisseur en Armenie
et nous avons plus d’une centaine d’entreprises presentes. Mais
nous pourrions faire encore davantage. J’ai indique au president de
la Republique de l’Armenie que l’Agence francaise de developpement
pourrait multiplier ses activites et ses soutiens de facon a ce que —
notamment dans les domaines de l’agro-alimentaire ou des transports —
nous puissions aller dans les meilleures directions.

Nous avons evoque la situation au Haut-Karabagh. J’ai rappele —
compte-tenu de mes responsabilites puisque la France copreside le
groupe de Minsk — que nous devons tout faire et que la France fera
tout pour que la negociation puisse etre menee jusqu’a son terme. Elle
a ete suspendue, elle doit etre reprise sur les principes que nous
connaissons, les principes de Madrid, qui doivent permettre de trouver
une solution durable, j’allais meme dire definitive, a la situation
au Haut-Karabagh.

Nous avons egalement evoque les sujets internationaux qui interessent,
par sa position geographique, l’Armenie. La Syrie d’abord, où des
Armeniens peuvent se trouver victimes de la situation et qui viennent
se refugier en Armenie. La encore, nous avons appele a ce que tout
soit fait pour une transition politique et la fin des violences. Nous
avons egalement evoque l’Iran. Je sais que le President de l’Armenie
fait tout pour transmettre un certain nombre de messages.

Enfin, j’ai rappele combien les Francais etaient attaches a l’Armenie.

D’autant plus que beaucoup d’entre nous, près de 500 000 sont des
Francais dits d’Armenie, venus par les epreuves de l’Histoire vivre en
France et y apporter tout leur talent. C’est une richesse considerable.

J’ai accepte l’invitation du President Serge SARKISSIAN pour venir
en Armenie l’annee prochaine “.

LE PRESIDENT, M. SERGE SARKISSIAN : ” Monsieur le President, chers
amis, c’est vraiment un très grand plaisir et un grand honneur de
me retrouver en France, dans ce pays ami. Chaque fois, c’est avec un
grand plaisir que j’y effectue une visite parce que j’apprecie beaucoup
l’accueil chaleureux qui m’est toujours reserve et j’apprecie aussi
l’atmosphère chaleureuse qui accompagne nos discussions avec les plus
hautes autorites francaises.

Une amitie multiseculaire relie les peuples armenien et francais.

C’est un pilier et un socle solide pour renforcer aussi le
developpement des relations entre les Etats armenien et francais. Je
suis tout a fait d’accord avec le President francais pour que nous
fassions tout notre possible pour elargir, pour renforcer et pour
approfondir la cooperation des relations entre l’Armenie et la France.

Le President francais a presque tout dit. Je voulais surtout
mentionner deux aspects. Premièrement, notre volonte de renforcer
notre cooperation economique. L’Armenie a besoin du soutien de la
France. Surtout après cette crise, nous avons vraiment la possibilite
de renforcer nos relations bilaterales dans ce domaine aussi.

Je voulais aussi remercier et exprimer tout la reconnaissance de
l’Armenie et du peuple armenien au President francais, a la France
et a tout le peuple francais, pour sa position claire et nette sur la
question, essentielle pour nous, representee par le genocide armenien.

Le President francais a ete a l’origine de l’adoption du projet de
loi sur la reconnaissance du genocide armenien et aussi du projet de
loi pour reprimer sa negation. Je voulais encore l’en remercier.

Je voulais aussi souligner ici le rôle très important que joue la
communaute armenienne en France. Les Francais d’origine armenienne
sont, a la fois, de France et d’Armenie. Ils portent, a la fois,
la culture et l’identite armenienne et l’identite et la culture
francaise. Je pense que c’est de notre devoir aussi d’organiser et
d’utiliser ce potentiel, au benefice du renforcement de l’amitie
eternelle entre la France et l’Armenie.

Je suis particulièrement honore que le president de la Republique
francaise ait accepte mon invitation de se rendre en Armenie en visite
officielle l’annee prochaine. Je vous remercie beaucoup Monsieur le
President pour votre invitation et pour cet accueil chaleureux “.

LE PRESIDENT : ” Merci beaucoup. Je vais donc, avec le President
Serge SARKISSIAN, dejeuner avec des representants de la communaute
armenienne. Je le remercie pour les mots qu’il a bien voulu avoir
a l’egard de la France et a l’egard de ce qu’a pu etre mon action,
effectivement, pour la reconnaissance, par la Republique francaise,
du genocide armenien. Merci “.

Video : Declaration conjointe du President et de M. Serge SARKISSIAN,
president de la Republique d’Armenie

Lire aussi :

France et Armenie veulent approfondir leurs relations economiques

Sarkissian : la “lecon” de la France a la Turquie

France-Armenie : le president Hollande veut renforcer les echanges
economiques bilateraux

Hollande veut developper les relations economiques avec l’Armenie

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Elysee

From: Baghdasarian

AZERIS PROTEST OVER KARABAKH-RELATED FOOTAGE ON DUTCH TV CHANNEL

November 12, 2012 – 15:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Azerbaijani-Dutch Youth Organization (AzJN)
and Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum (ASAIF)
have staged a protest in the Dutch city Hilversum, News.az reported.

According to the coordinator of ASAIF for the Kingdom of Belgium Musa
Hasanov, the protest was caused by the fact that Nagorno Karabakh
was presented as an independent state at Holland-3, BNN TV Dutch
company’s TV channel.

“In a tourism program, Channel Holland-3 presented Nagorno Karabakh
as an independent state. In this connection, Azerbaijanis living in
Europe held a protest outside the company,” said Hasanov.

The action gathered more participants than expected, Hasanov said.

According to him, demonstrators came together to bring the “just voice”
of Azerbaijan to the international community.

From: Baghdasarian