Author: Kajoyan Gevork

L’ARMENIE 41E PLACE A LA FIFA. DU JAMAIS VU !
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 18 fevrier 2012

Dans le classement des equipes nationales publie par la FIFA le
15 fevrier, l’Armenie a progresse de 4 places depuis le dernier
classement en atteignant la 41e position mondiale. Un record pour
l’Armenie. La Zambie, qui vient d’etre sacree championne d’Afrique est
derrière l’Armenie en 43e position. L’Espagne est première, suivie de
l’Allemagne et les Pays Bas. La Turquie est 25e et l’Azerbaïdjan 109e.

L’Armenie disputera deux rencontres amicales, le 28 et 29 fevrier
a Chypre face a la Serbie et le Canada. La Serbie est 25e et le
Canada 72e.

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE REAFFIRME SON SOUTIEN A LA LOI BOYER
Ara

armenews.com
samedi 18 fevrier 2012

Dans une interview qui parait dans l’hebdomadaire Marianne de cette
semaine, Francois Hollande, candidat du parti socialiste a l’election
presidentielle reaffirme son soutien a la loi penalisant la negation
du genocide armenien. Il repond en ces termes au journaliste qui,
faisant etat de la position de Jean Glavany qui avait denonce ”
une course folle au communautarisme ” et Robert Badinter ” une
aberration anticonstitutionnelle “, lui demande des precisions sur
son positionnement :

Francois Hollande : ” En ce qui concerne la reconnaissance du genocide
armenien, je ne me determine pas par rapport au nombre de personnes
qui relèvent d’une origine ou d’une histoire. La cause armenienne est
defendue par les socialistes francais depuis Jaurès et les Armeniens
venus en France ont ete accueillis par des municipalites plutôt de
gauche. Francois Mirrerrand s’etait battu pour la reconnaissance du
genocide et c’est sous Lionel Jospin, Premier ministre, qu’une loi a
ete votee. Il fallait la completer d’une penalisation de la negation
du genocide armenien. Après s’y etre opposee en 2006, la droite l’a
fait ressurgir la, a un moment qui, a mon avis, n’etait pas forcement
le meilleur, mais moi, j’ai une coherence, j’ai vote le texte, je le
revote aujourd’hui. ”

C’est la première fois depuis le meeting a Alfortville du 26 septembre
dernier que le candidat socialiste revient sur cette question, brisant
ainsi un long silence, alors que le debat faisait rage sur ce thème.

Les elus de son parti, conformement a leurs consignes de groupe avaient
cependant très majoritairement vote en faveur de cette loi tant a
l’Assemblee nationale qu’au Senat. Mais le socialiste Jean-Pierre
Sueur, president de la commission des lois au Senat, a dirige avec
Esther Benbassa des Verts et Jacques Mezard des radicaux de gauche,
allies du PS, l’opposition a la loi, jusque y compris le recours
devant le Conseil Constitutionnel.

A l’Assemblee nationale, c’est en revanche le depute du parti
presidentielle Jacques Myard qui a engage de recours devant le Conseil,
suivi par 51 deputes UMP et douze socialistes.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH MUST OVERCOME COMPLEX OF SMALL STATE – EXPERT

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 19:34

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh must overcome its complex of ‘small
state’, European Integration NGO Director Karen Bekaryan announced
during the International Scientific Conference on Friday dedicated
to the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of NKR.

As a method of overcoming the complex he suggested to create a
two-chamber parliament in NKR. The second chamber would consist of
Diaspora representatives.

Another way of overcoming the complex would be to openly discuss the
refugee issue. The rights of Azerbaijanis have indeed been violated.

However, the policy of Azerbaijan made Armenians to attack.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE PRODUCTION COMPANY’S INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Friday, 17 February 2012

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited Yerevan “Ararat” food factory,
in particular, the juice production plant. The Prime Minister,
accompanied by the RA Ministers of Agriculture and Economy Tigran
Davtyan and Sergo Karapetyan, got acquainted with the company’s
production opportunities and projects. The factory has been producing
a wide range of natural juices since April, 2011. The product is sold
to both domestic and foreign markets, thus promoting the export of
agricultural products from Armenia. The plant has signed an agreement
with TetraPak company on acquiring juice producing equipment, as well
as packaging lines and other necessary facilities.

Raw material acquisition agreements were signed with local fruit
and vegetables processing companies and for not Armenian flavors,
with a number of foreign well known companies.

About 70 new jobs were created within the last year.

The second stage of the company’s investment activities are carried
out in the direction of the organization of production of natural
juices and nectars and bottling of the latter in glass containers,
processing of traditional herbs and berries, as well as tea packaging
of other Armenian flavors, processing of fruits and berries, receiving
freshly squeezed natural juices, manufacturing and bottling of aerated
and non-aerated soft drinks, manufacturing and packaging of dried
fruits from Armenian traditional fruits and berries, etc.

The most part of the needed equipment has already been imported to
Armenia, and respective agreements have been obtained for the rest and
will be imported in the near future. During the second stage of the
investment program the company will invest more that 800 million AMD,
5 more plants will be opened, at least 30 new jobs will be created in
the first place, and in the nearest future additional 20 jobs as well.

Currently, the 2012 harvesting activities are being organized, the
volumes of which will be expanded essentially. Hundreds of residents
of rural communities will be involved in these activities. Apricot,
peach and cherry will also be harvested. Particular attention will
be focused on the herbs harvesting works.

In the third stage of the investment program (2012-2013) it is expected
to import several more processing units for fruits and vegetables, so
that the company is able to adapt to all kinds of Armenian fruits and
berries. This will allow recycling the whole spectrum of agricultural
products. This new investment volume will reach about 1.6-1.8 million
Euros.

The above mentioned investments will allow creating more than 300
permanent jobs in the coming years.

As of January 2012, the company produced 2.39 million liters of
product, 480 thousand of which was exported. It is expected that the
production volume will at least be doubled within a year.

‘BAKU-TBILISI-KARS RAILWAY WILL WEAKEN ARMENIA AND IRAN’S POSITION’

News.Az
Fri 17 February 2012

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will isolate occupant Armenia from
different economic projects in the region.

Collaborator of Prague University, political scientist Zamig Mammadli
told the statement to Gun.Az while commenting on Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili’s remarks that the railway would open the door
to Europe for Georgia and Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are strategic allies in the region.

This alliance forms the political and economic power of the region.

And Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will provide an alternative access
to Europe for Azerbaijan and Georgia and weaken Armenia and Iran’s
positions in the region.

It will isolate occupant Armenia from different economic projects in
the region. Besides being deprived of regional projects, it will be
more difficult for Armenia to solve its own socio-economic problems
unless it abandons its occupant policy,” the political scientist said.

SERBS REJECT KOSOVO ALBANIAN RULE IN REFERENDUM

Noyan Tapan
2012-02-17

Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have rejected rule by the territory’s
ethnic Albanian majority, in a referendum criticised by Serbia and
the EU.

Kosovo Serb officials said 99.7% of voters said “no” to the Kosovo
government in Pristina.

About 90% of Kosovo’s population is ethnic Albanian, but Serbs dominate
a northern area bordering on Serbia.

Kosovo Serbs have ignored Pristina’s decisions and obstructed the EU
and Nato law and order mission in Kosovo.

Correspondents say the two-day referendum may complicate Serbia’s
efforts to develop a dialogue with the Pristina authorities and to
further the Serbian bid to join the EU.

Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 is not
recognised by Belgrade.

The Kosovo parliament in Pristina denounced the Serbs’ referendum
this week in a resolution, saying it “does not produce any legally
and politically binding effect and as such is not valid”.

Kosovo has about 120,000 ethnic Serbs, of whom 40,000 live in the
north and the rest in scattered enclaves to the south, AFP news
agency reports.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said the referendum was harmful to
Serbia’s interests.

DISCUSSING SMALLER ISSUES ON KARABAKH IS MORE DIFFICULT – EXPERT

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 12:34

Azerbaijan has called on the EU to help find solution to the Karabakh
conflict, Radio Vatican reports.

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents expressed readiness to accelerate
the process of reaching agreement during their recent meeting with
Russian President’s participation.

“The two have basically agreed at various times what the basic
outline of the resolution of the conflict would be,” radio quotes
Lawrence Sheets, an analyst and expert on the Caucasus region for
the International Crisis Group.

According to him, the basic things that the two sides seem to agree
are in relative commonality.

“But when you start discussing these smaller issues, which are
politically potentially explosive or dangerous to the administrations
in control…it becomes very difficult,” he added.

RIDICULOUS TO SPEAK ABOUT KARABAKH AS POSSIBLE PART OF AZERBAIJAN-HEAD OF PUBLIC COUNCIL

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 12:40

STEPANAKERT. – It is ridiculous to speak about Karabakh’s possible
becoming a part of Azerbaijan, head of Armenia’s Public Council Vazgen
Manukyan said on Friday at the conference in Stepanakert.

He stressed that it was difficult to think of holding such a conference
back in 1988 when the Karabakh movement was launched.

“There were other objectives, as Karabakh was within Azerbaijan
and Azerbaijani administration was ruling it. Besides, Azerbaijan
attempted to characterize the issue as an ethnic problem, but failed.

“Twenty years have passed since then, and Nagorno-Karabakh is an
independent state, while discussions over other status are ridiculous,”
Manukyan stressed adding people of the state decide on their destiny
regardless of any documents.

Moreover, Nagorno-Karabakh should become a party to the negotiations.

Manukyan said here is a threat that Azerbaijan will decide to use
military means to seize Karabakh if it finds no legal way.

KARABAKH’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW – GERMAN PROFESSOR

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 13:05

STEPANAKERT. – The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s (NKR) Declaration of
Independence is not contrary to the provisions of International Law,
stated University of Hamburg Professor, Doctor of Law Otto Luchterhand,
during the international symposium, entitled “20th Anniversary of
NKR Independence: Realities and Prospects,” which is underway in NKR
capital Stepanakert.

Presenting a comparative and legal analysis of NKR’s independence,
the Professor noted that the situation of Karabakh is more similar
to that of Kosovo, as Karabakh, just like Kosovo, is in Europe. Otto
Luchterhand also compared the two cases.

As per the German professor, the UN Court had decided that Kosovo
was not breaching International Law by adopting its declaration of
independence, and based on this, Otto Luchterhand pointed to the
similarities and he also gave precedents whereby in Karabakh’s case
the right for the self-determination of nations does not conflict with,
and is sometimes preeminent to, the principle of territorial integrity.

“NKR’s Declaration of Independence is not contrary to the provisions
of International Law. If UN Security Council recognizes Kosovo, it
is obligated to also recognize Nagorno Karabakh,” Otto Luchterhand
stated, and he called upon NKR’s officials to propagate this fact
more actively.

SOMBRES PERSPECTIVES POUR LA POLITIQUE EUROPEENNE DE LA TURQUIE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 17 fevrier 2012

La journaliste Selcuk Gultasli a ecrit dans le journal turc Zaman que
” 2011 a ete aussi mauvaise que 2010 pour les relations entre la
Turquie et l’Union europeenne. Il est très possible que 2012 soit plus
mauvaise. La question de Chypre, l’exacerbation de la crise de l’euro
avec des signes sinistres en France et en Espagne, aucun changement
dans la position anti-turquie de l’Allemagne et la France et la
proposition francaise de penaliser la negation du genocide armenien
feront apparemment de 2012 une periode difficile pour la Turquie “.

La journaliste precisant qu’au cours du second semestre de 2012 les
Chypriotes grecs vont prendre le gouvernail de l’UE.

” Si une solution miraculeuse ne peut pas etre trouvee sur la question
de Chypre et si le president francais Nicolas Sarkozy est reelu,
il ne sera pas difficile de suggerer que les relations UE-Turquie
deviendront plus mauvaises ” a affirme Selcuk Gultasli.

” Si le projet de loi qui penalisera la negation “du genocide”
armenien, que l’Assemblee nationale francaise a recemment passe, est
approuvee les relations de Sarkozy avec les fonctionnaires Turcs se
deterioreront davantage. Avec ce projet de loi, Sarkozy peut essayer
de se garantir les votes des armeniens d’une part et porter un coup
mortel au processus d’dhesion de la Turquie a l’UE de l’autre ”
conclu la journaliste.