Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

SERGEI NARYSHKIN: “RUSSIA IS AGAINST OF SETTLEMENT OF THIS CONFLICT ON THE BASIS OF RECIPES PREPARED FROM OUTSIDE”

MilAz.info
July 9 2012
Azerbaijan

If the settlement way, meeting the interests of both sides is found,
Russia is ready to appear in the role of warrantor of this agreement

“Russia always supported the establishment of tranquility and stability
in the South Caucasus”, said Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Sergei
Naryshkin during his speech in Baku Slavic University, APA reports.

According to him, in this context, the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict was very significant: “Russia’s position on this issue remains
unchanged. We are against of settlement of this conflict on the basis
of recipes prepared from outside. We are sure that this problem can
be solved in case of ensuring the interests of both sides.

If such settlement way is found, Russia is ready to appear in the role
of warrantor of this agreement. The responsibility for the conflict’s
settlement falls again on peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia”.

Naryshkin reminded that 10 meetings were held between Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents at the initiative of Russia’s former President
Dmitry Medvedev: “One can’t call these meetings ineffective. The
meetings gave an opportunity to determine positions of the sides and
determine the settlement ways of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

He expressed concern over the recent incidents in the frontline:
“We always expressed our position – non-use of force and non-threat
of force are one the main terms for the conflict’s settlement. I am
optimist and hope in peaceful settlement of this conflict”.

Naryshkin delivered a speech in front of the teacher-student staff
of the Baku Slavic University. He was awarded with Honorary Doctor
title of the university and presented a relevant diploma.

From: Baghdasarian

FRANCE TO PRESENT NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LAW IN AUTUMN

NowLebanon
July 9 2012
Lebanon

France is to present a new law punishing denial of the Armenian
genocide in the autumn, the head of a group representing Armenians
in France said on Monday.

Franck Papazian, co-president of the Coordinating Council of Armenian
Organizations of France (CCAF), told AFP he would meet with President
Francois Hollande in the second half of this month to discuss the bill
“which will be prepared by the government and proposed in the autumn.”

Hollande on Saturday confirmed plans for a new law criminalizing
denial of the Armenian genocide.

The historical question has long been a hot-button issue between Turkey
and Armenia, a dispute that has also drawn in other countries and
earlier this year sparked a diplomatic crisis between Paris and Ankara.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
a 1915-16 genocide by Turkey’s former Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
500,000 died and ascribes the toll to fighting and starvation during
World War I.

Hollande’s conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy angered Ankara
when he pushed ahead with a bill to criminalize denial of the Armenian
genocide.

After the bill passed the National Assembly in December, Turkey
retaliated by suspending military and political cooperation with Paris.

But France’s top constitutional court struck down the bill in February,
saying it violated free expression, in a ruling welcomed by Ankara.

From: Baghdasarian

Turquie-France-Arménie-politique-génocide-gouvernement
François Hollande confirme un prochain texte de loi pénalisant la
négation du génocide arménien

PARIS, (AFP) – François Hollande a confirmé samedi son engagement de
pénaliser la négation du génocide arménien et qu’était à l’étude le
moyen juridique d’y parvenir alors que des représentants de cette
communauté redoutaient un revirement après les propos de Laurent
Fabius sur la relation franco-turque.

`Le président a fait part de ses engagements pendant la campagne. Il
les tiendra`, a indiqué l’Elysée à l’AFP en confirmant un échange
téléphonique dans la journée entre François Hollande et un
représentant du Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes
de France (CCAF).

Quant au moyen qui serait utilisé par le gouvernement pour respecter
cet engagement, on a assuré un peu plus tard dans la soirée à l’Elysée
qu’une réflexion était en cours sur ce sujet après la censure du
Conseil constitutionnel sur un précédent texte. On n’a toutefois pas
précisé si le véhicule juridique prendrait ou non la forme d’un
nouveau texte de loi, soulignant que tout dépendrait des résultats de
l’étude en cours.

Le chef de l’Etat a `toujours la volonté de proposer un projet de loi
visant à réprimer le négationnisme du génocide arménien`, avait
affirmé le CCAF dans un communiqué du CCAF publié dans l’après-midi,
en rapportant l’échange avec François Hollande.

`Pour couper court à toutes les rumeurs consécutives aux déclarations
de Laurent Fabius qui a semblé remettre en cause l’engagement de
François Hollande de proposer une nouvelle loi de pénalisation du
négationnisme, le président de la République a téléphoné ce (samedi)
matin à M. Franck Papazian (coprésident du CCAF) pour lui confirmer qu
il n avait pas changé d’avis sur le sujet`, indiquait le CCAF dans son
communiqué.

`François Hollande a de nouveau fait part de sa volonté de proposer un
projet de loi visant à réprimer le négationnisme du génocide arménien,
ainsi qu’il l’avait dit durant sa campagne et même bien avant. Le
président devrait recevoir avant la fin du mois une délégation du CCAF
pour envisager les modalités de la mise en place d’un tel texte`,
ajoutait le texte.

Les représentants de la communauté arménienne de France avaient fait
part de leurs inquiétudes et parlé même de `trahison` après les
déclarations du ministre des Affaires étrangères Laurent Fabius
évoquant une `nouvelle étape` des relations entre Paris et Ankara.

Après s’être entretenu jeudi avec son homologue turc, le chef de la
diplomatie française avait semblé exclure l’adoption prochaine par la
France d’une nouvelle loi punissant la négation des génocides, dont
celui des Arméniens, après la censure par le Conseil constitutionnel
d’un texte voté en ce sens fin 2011 par l’Assemblée nationale.

Cette instance `a décidé que la proposition de loi qui avait été
présentée par les parlementaires (de la précédente majorité de droite)
était contraire à notre Constitution donc il n’est pas possible de
reprendre le même chemin sinon le résultat sera évidemment le même`,
avait constaté M. Fabius.

`Sauf déclaration rapide du chef de l’Etat, il s’agit là d’une
trahison` avait réagi auprès de l’AFP le président du CCAF Ara
Toranian, rappelant qu’avant son élection M. Hollande s’était engagé
en faveur d’une telle loi `à plusieurs reprises, sans ambiguïté`.

dimanche 8 juillet 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Agence France Presse
July 7 2012

Hollande plans new law to punish denial of Armenian genocide

(AFP)

PARIS – French President Francois Hollande confirmed Saturday plans
for a new law criminalising denial of the Armenian genocide with
representatives of the Armenian community, the Elysee Palace said.

The historical question has long been a hot-button issue between
Turkey and Armenia, a dispute that has also drawn in other countries
and earlier this year sparked a diplomatic crisis between Paris and
Ankara.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in a
1915-16 genocide by Turkey’s former Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
500,000 died and ascribes the toll to fighting and starvation during
World War I.

Hollande’s conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy angered Ankara
when he pushed ahead with a bill to criminalise denial of the Armenian
genocide.

After the contentious bill passed the National Assembly in December,
Turkey retaliated by suspending military and political cooperation
with Paris.

But France’s top constitutional court struck down the bill in
February, saying it violated free expression, in a ruling welcomed by
Ankara.

Sarkozy vowed to launch a new law but was defeated at the polls.

Now his Socialist successor Hollande has clarified in a talk with the
Coordinating Council of Armenian Organisations of France (CCAF) that
he will propose a similar law, the group said Saturday.

“Francois Hollande has again expressed his willingness to propose a
bill designed to curb the denial of the Armenian genocide, as he had
said during his campaign and even before,” said the group.

It said Hollande had contacted them to clarify his position after
confusion over statements by his Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

The Elysee Palace confirmed the telephone conversation and told AFP:
“The president expressed his commitments during the campaign. He will
keep them.”

“There is no change, although we must find a path, a road that allows
for a text that is consistent with the constitution.”

Both candidates marked the Armenian genocide anniversary in Paris in
April by attending a ceremony and expressing support for the passage
of a newly-worded bill that would outlaw genocide denial. France is
home to a large Armenian community.

US President Barack Obama in April called for “a full, frank, and just
acknowledgment of the facts” of the “brutal” killings.

While denouncing the 1915 massacre as “one of the worst atrocities of
the 20th century,” Obama did not use the term “genocide,” but he
implicitly called for Turkey to acknowledge the role of its Ottoman
forefathers.

After Hollande was elected, Turkey in June praised his positive
attitude toward relations with Ankara.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Hollande on the
sidelines of a UN meeting in Brazil, when the two leaders agreed to
turn a “new page” in relations, the Anatolia news agency reported.

From: Baghdasarian

20 minutes, France
7 juillet 2012

Génocide arménien: Hollande confirme qu’il y aura bien un projet de loi

NEGATIONNISME – Deux jours après les propos contradictoires de son
ministre des Affaires étrangères, le chef de l’Etat a réaffirmé sa
volonté de tenir l’un de ses engagements de campagne…
François Hollande a confirmé samedi son intention de proposer une
nouvelle loi pénalisant la négation du génocide arménien en
s’adressant à des représentants de cette communauté qui redoutaient un
revirement après les propos de Laurent Fabius sur la relation
franco-turque.

«Pour couper court à toutes les rumeurs consécutives aux déclarations
de Laurent Fabius qui a semblé remettre en cause l’engagement de
François Hollande de proposer une nouvelle loi de pénalisation du
négationnisme, le président de la République a téléphoné ce (samedi)
matin à M. Franck Papazian (coprésident du CCAF) pour lui confirmer qu
il n’avait pas changé d’avis sur le sujet», indiquait le communiqué du
CCAF.

Tenir ses engagements de campagne

«François Hollande a de nouveau fait part de sa volonté de proposer un
projet de loi visant à réprimer le négationnisme du génocide arménien,
ainsi qu’il l’avait dit durant sa campagne et même bien avant. Le
président devrait recevoir avant la fin du mois une délégation du CCAF
pour envisager les modalités de la mise en place d’un tel texte»,
selon le communiqué.

Sollicitée par l’AFP, la présidence de la République a confirmé en
début de soirée cet échange téléphonique. «Le président a fait part de
ses engagements pendant la campagne. Il les tiendra», a fait valoir
l’Elysée, «il n’y a aucune modification même s’il faut trouver une
chemin, une route qui permette d’avoir une texte compatible avec la
Constitution».

Les représentants de la communauté arménienne de France avaient fait
part de leurs inquiétudes et parlé même de «trahison» après les
déclarations du ministre des Affaires étrangères Laurent Fabius
évoquant une «nouvelle étape» des relations entre Paris et Ankara.

Le précédent texte retoqué par le Conseil constitutionnel

Après s’être entretenu jeudi avec son homologue turc, le chef de la
diplomatie française avait semblé exclure l’adoption prochaine par la
France d’une nouvelle loi punissant la négation des génocides, dont
celui des Arméniens, après la censure par le Conseil constitutionnel
d’un texte voté en ce sens fin 2011 par l’Assemblée nationale.

Cette instance «a décidé que la proposition de loi qui avait été
présentée par les parlementaires (de la précédente majorité de droite)
était contraire à notre Constitution donc il n’est pas possible de
reprendre le même chemin sinon le résultat sera évidemment le même»,
avait constaté Laurent Fabius.

«Sauf déclaration rapide du chef de l’Etat, il s’agit là d’une
trahison» avait réagi auprès de l’AFP le président du CCAF Ara
Toranian, rappelant qu’avant son élection, François Hollande s’était
engagé en faveur d’une telle loi «à plusieurs reprises, sans
ambiguïté».

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian and Progressive Politics
22 W 27th St, 12th floor
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 917-428-1918
Email: [email protected]
Web:

APP Conference on Armenia Features Prominent Speakers

NEW YORK – The fourth installment of the `Armenians and Progressive Politics’
conference focusing on `Armenia at 21,’ will be held at Columbia University
on Sept. 28-29. The conference will bring together distinguished activists,
academics, and politicians from Armenia, Europe, South America, and the
U.S.

The Friday night plenary session will consider the Occupy movement and the
revolutions in the Arab world and their relevance for Armenia. The
evening’s confirmed speakers include Sarah Leah Whitson, Director of the
Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch, and Arpine
Galfayan, President of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights in
Armenia.

The six panels scheduled for Sept. 29 will examine: the 21-year trajectory
of Armenia’s statehood, economy, and society; rule of law, corruption, and
elections; development of civil society; Armenian-Turkish relations;
foreign policy; and natural resources policy.

Here is a partial list of featured speakers: Larisa Minasyan, Executive
Director of the Open Society Institute; Thomas Samuelian, Dean of American
University of Armenia’s Law Department; Sona Ayvazyan, Project Director at
Transparency International (Armenia); Khatchik Der Ghougassian, Professor
of International Relations at the Universidad de San Andres in Buenos
Aires, Argentina; Markar Melkonian, teacher, writer, and founder of The
Monte Melkonian Fund; Kirk Wallace, Program Director at the Armenian
Environmental Network; and Armand Grigoryan, Visiting Professor of
International Relations at Lehigh University.

There will also be a number of speakers from the ARF leadership in Armenia
(details to follow).

The conference is organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
Central Committee – Eastern Region and co-sponsored by the Armenian Society
of Columbia University and the ARF Western Region.

The conference will travel to Los Angeles on Oct. 5-6.

For information on previous `Armenians and Progressive Politics’
conferences, visit

From: Baghdasarian

France’s Hollande has not changed position on Armenian Genocide bill

NEWS.AM
July 07, 2012 | 16:54

President of France Francois Hollande called Mourad Papazian,
co-chairman of Coordination Council of Armenian organizations of
France, to reaffirm loyalty to his commitments.

Hollande said he would not give up either of his commitments on the
Armenian Genocide issue, assuring the bill criminalizing denial of
genocides will be put to the vote, Nouvelles d`Arménie reports.
Hollande said he would meet with Armenians in July.

`Government’s policy is the policy of Hollande, not Fabius. Hollande
never betrayed us. However, we will be on alert. Turkey can change the
course quickly,’ Papazian wrote on his Facebook wall.

As reported earlier, during the press conference with his Turkish
counterpart, French FM Laurent Fabius made it clear that France will
not have a new law criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

From: Baghdasarian

Turkey-Armenia rapprochement possible only after Azerbaijani lands are liberated

Sat 07 July 2012 08:00 GMT | 9:00 Local Time

Our demand has always been that Armenia must liberate Azerbaijani
territories, Davutoglu says.
Turkey is ready to discuss all the painful issues with Armenia, but
first the latter must withdraw from the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.

“Only after that Ankara would be able to consider normalizing ties
with Armenia”, he said, according to the Milliyet newspaper.

According to him, Turkey does not ignore or reject the tragedy of the
Armenian people and other peoples during the First World War.

“Our demand has always been that Armenia must liberate Azerbaijani
territories. The Armenian-Turkish border will open and economic
cooperation to revive the Armenian economy will be possible only
after that”, Davutoglu said.

News.Az

From: Baghdasarian

`Day of Armenia’ has been held in Rome

15:34, 7 July, 2012

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS: In the embassy of Armenia in Italy in
support of Armenian `Festa tour’ company for the first time has been
organized a series of cultural events `Day of Armenia’.

Armenpress was informed from Media, Information and public relations
department of Armenian Foreign affairs ministry that in the framework
of the event the documentary film of Italian journalist Piero Marazzo
`Sons of Ararat’ has been shown, as well as concerts took place.

Diplomats accredited to Italy, representatives of Italian culture and
media, Armenian community as well as the mayor of Nardo were present
at the events.

The events were held in full halls which speaks about the great
interest of Italian society towards Armenia.

This year in the `July parks’ festival of Philharmonic academy of
Italy also took part Norway, Austria and Iran.

From: Baghdasarian

Golden Apricot Yerevan international film festival announces contest
for journalists

tert.am
11:33 – 07.07.12

Golden Apricot Yerevan international film festival has announced a
contest on best articles about Armenian film. The contest will launch
on the sidelines of the film festival.

One of the main terms for participation in the contest is the
presentation of a number of research and analytical articles (not less
than 5). Materials published during the conduction of the film
festival and those published after 30 days may participate in the
contest.

The goal of the contest is to intensify the interest in Armenian films
participating in the festival giving a new impetus to the development
of Armenian film.

The contest has two prizes each amounting to $500. The prizes will be
given to a film critic and a journalist.

From: Baghdasarian