Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Yerevan’s response to Erdogan: Arrive in Yerevan and be made aware of
Armenian Genocide facts

by Ashot Safaryan
Saturday, March 21, 10:33

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can arrive in Yerevan on April
24, visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial and be made aware of the
mountains of evidences of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.
The remarks came from Eduard Sharmazanov, vice speaker of the Armenian
Parliament, commenting at the request of ArmInfo on Erdogan’s recent
call to the Armenian Diaspora.

To recap, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently urged
the Armenian Diaspora to prove its Genocide claims by bringing out
documents to support them. The Turkish president said Turkey’s
archives are open.

Eduard Sharmazanov reminds Erdogan that the best proofs of the
Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire are in the Western Armenia.
These are thousands of Armenian churches and communities destroyed and
desecrated by the Turks, millions of Armenians deported from their
historical motherland, and the multi-million Diaspora in the world.
“The best evidence is the Deir ez-Zor desert where hundreds of
thousands of Armenian women, children and elderly people died. The
secret decision of the Young Turks government, and the May 24, 1915
statement by the Entente condemning Turkey’s crimes against Armenians
and the entire humanity,” Sharmazanov said.

États Unis 1915-2015
16 organisations arméniennes s’adressent au Président Obama

>

Seize organisations arméniennes aux Etats-Unis ont adressé une lettre
au président américain Barack Obama, l’invitant à se rendre à Erevan
le 24 Avril prochain à l’occasion de la 100ème commémoration du
génocide des Arméniens.

Dans l’extrait ci-dessous les organisations écrivent :

>

Cordialement,

Diocèse Est de l’Eglise apostolique arménienne d’Amérique
Eglise apostolique arménienne d’Amérique Prélature de l’Est
Diocèse Ouest de l’Eglise apostolique arménienne d’Amérique
Eglise apostolique arménienne d’Amérique Western Prélature
Armenian Missionary Association of America
Union évangélique arménienne d’Amérique du Nord,
Assemblée Arménienne d’Amérique
Comité National Arménien d’Amérique
Parti libéral démocratique Arménien
Parti social-démocrate Hentchakian
Fédération Révolutionnaire Arménienne
Arménian Funds USA Inc.
Union Générale Arménienne de Bienfaisance
Armenian Relief Society des États-Unis de l’Est
Association du Barreau Arménien
Les Chevaliers et Filles de Vartan.

Une idée à développer pour les possesseurs d’utilitaires

samedi 21 mars 2015,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

ARE WE SACRIFICING OUR CHILDREN FOR RUSSIA’S WELFARE?

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – 20 March 2015, 14:24

Mr. Badasyan, Serzh Sargsyan has announced that Armenia is concerned
about Russian supply of weapons to Azerbaijan and called to attend
to this issue. Yesterday there was another incident at the border,
and as a result three Armenian soldiers were killed, four were
injured. Do you see a link between these two events?

I think, Serzh Sargsyan was right, but whether he tells or not, the
enemy’s sabotages happen every day, and I don’t think this is the
result of one day. Almost every day they get ready [for attacks] and
it is expected at any moment. It is true that Russia does not have
a hand in it but Azerbaijan is encouraged by Russia’s attitude. In
this regard, Azerbaijan is trying to become a factor in the region,
launch military actions. My opinion on Serzh Sargsyan’s statement
is positive but he should have made it earlier, his entire policy
should have been aimed at strengthening Armenia, strengthening its
independence because by handing all our economic levers to Russia,
increasing our dependence on Russia year by year, Armenia has exposed
itself to danger, and hence today’s situation. Formerly, Azerbaijan
respected us out of fear, and now it is no longer afraid of us and
will not respect because respect should be mutual. Because we have a
ceasefire, there is no respect because there is no fear, they used to
be afraid. As soon as Armenia started giving up its positions on the
international arena, handing everything to Russia, the war of snipers
and reconnaissance actions started. This results in today’s victims.

Serzh Sargsyan’s statement will not be worth a penny unless Serzh
Sargsyan continues from now on with dramatic steps to eliminate
our dependence on the Russian Federation. In other words, return of
economic levers must be ensured, security, independence and the other
issues must be included on the agenda. When you give away everything
to them, even ordinary citizens of Russia stop respecting Armenia
because we have given away everything for them for nothing. The
impression is that the Armenian people are ready to give away the
lives of their children, their lives, everything else they have for
the sake of Russia’s interests and wellbeing.

Is Russia replying to Armenia with blood when it tries to rebel
against its policy?

Apparently, we can assume so because I don’t think the developments
in Gyumri, tension at the border, the escalation in August, as well
as in early January were accidental. All these things are instigated
by Russia to place Armenia in a situation which would enable them to
play the Karabakh card easily. Karabakh is at stake.

I think the government of Armenia must do everything to establish
law and order in Armenia, social justice must dominate the Armenian
world, Armenia and Artsakh, because the most important weapon of a
strong army is restoration of social justice in the society. Next,
on the international arena, there is no need to clutch to the Russian
Federation for external guarantees because throughout the past 100
years of its history Russia, independent from its model of governance,
has always resolved its issues with Turkey and Azerbaijan at the
expense of the lives and territories of Armenians. This can’t go on,
Armenia must change its foreign policy, it must act in a dignified
manner. If it acts without dignity, it will be treated as one without
dignity, so a dignified policy must be conducted.

Why does Serzh Sargsyan make this statement now when the same
government used to explain sale of Russian weapon as ordinary business?

I think Armenia does not enjoy the respect of the EEU member states,
even their presidents. We have seen the neglectful attitude of
Lukashenko, or Nazarbayev, Putin’s attitude is known for a long time
now. Putin expresses his opinion through Zhirinovsky, Lavrov and
others but we also saw how others treat the president of Armenia and
Serzh Sargsyan did not comment on it because he has served this to
Russia on a tray.

It turns out that Serzh Sargsyan has nothing to lose if he tells such
a thing to Russia?

Not actually that he has nothing to lose, I may be wrong but I’ll try
to make myself believe that he has realized the need for dignity in
foreign relations, the need to protect the independence of Armenia
with dignity because Armenia has lost its sovereignty in every aspect.

Why did we have that case with Gazprom? Why did we entirely give away
ARG to Russia? And if our citizens are late with paying the bill, they
switch off gas? Why did all these debts accrue? It means he gave up
voluntarily. What does it mean Armenia has no right to import gas from
other places for 40 years? What if we discover gas in Armenia? Will
Armenia be obliged to give it away to Russia? What servility is this?

Who would respect such a head of state?

20 years ago we counteracted to Azerbaijan’s aggression with
dignity and we said our say, we defended our independence and
self-determination in Karabakh with weapon. Very specifically, in a
language that was understood by the international community, we said
our say and we earned the respect of the international community and
this respect helps us survive today.

E. NALBANDIAN MET EN GARDE L’EUROPE CONTRE L’ATTITUDE NEGATIVE DE LA TURQUIE DANS LE CONFLIT DU KARABAGH

DIPLOMATIE

La Turquie a toujours creer des problèmes dans le processus de
reglement du conflit du Karabagh ne serait-ce qu’en soutenant
l’approche non-constructive de l’Azerbaïdjan, mais aussi en tenant
d’interferer dans la mediation des copresidents du Groupe de Minsk de
l’OSCE, a indique le ministre armenien des affaires etrangères Edward
Nalbandian, lors d’une conference de presse conjointe aux côtes de
Johannes Hahn, commissaire europeen pour la politique de voisinage
et les negociations d’elargissement. “Si la Turquie veut reellement
contribuer a la resolution du conflit, elle doit se tenir a l’ecart
de ce processus”, a souligne le ministre armenien. Johannes Hahn,
de son côte, a indique que le statu quo dans le Karabakh etait
inacceptable pour l’Union europeenne, ajoutant que “le règlement
pacifique du conflit reste la priorite pour l’UE”.

Le commissaire europeen a rappele que l’UE soutient les negociations
en cours sous l’egide du Groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE, en appelant les
parties a tenir leurs engagements pour ce qui concerne le maintien
du regime du cessez-le-feu et a faire preuve de retenue en creant
une atmosphère propice au règlement du conflit. “L’Union europeenne
encourage la poursuite du dialogue entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan,
y compris au niveau presidentiel, ce qui est extremement important”,
a-t-il ajoute. Johannes Hahn a souligne que l’annee 2015 est une annee
importante et cruciale pour les relations entre l’ Armenie et l’UE,
les deux parties s’etant engagees en vue de la mise en place d’un
cadre legal solide en vue de la cooperation.

Il a indique que l’UE souhaiter continuer a developper ses relations
avec l’Armenie, dans le plein respect des engagements contractes
par l’Armenie en ralliant d’autre formats d’ integration, a savoir
l’Union economique eurasienne dirigee par la Russie, et est prete
dans ce but a mettre en place un agenda de cooperation en concordance
avec les engagements de la Republique d’Armenie. Le commissaire a fait
savoir que l’assistance de l’UE a l’Armenie en 2015-2017 se montera a
140-170 millions d’euros, les fonds debloques devant servir a financer
le developpement du secteur prive, de l’industrie et l’amelioration
du système de gouvernance de l’Etat.

vendredi 20 mars 2015, Gari (c)armenews.com

TURKEY FAILS. ARAB JOURNALIST CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

12:23, 20 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 20 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. “The Armenian Genocide is the greatest
human tragedy. We cannot say that it is the Armenian’s issue, no, it’s
an international problem, because the impunity of the international
community became a reason for the repetition of such crimes in the
future”. These are the words of an Arab journalist Talal Khrayis,
who is currently in Armenia. Reporting for a number of authoritative
agencies, such as the French France 2 and Arab Assafir, he has
specialized in the field of the military journalism. In recent years
Khrayis has been carrying out active works especially in the regions
of Syria and Lebanon, witnessing the ongoing operations. Armenpress
had a talk with Khrayis, revealing the initial causes of his warmth
behavior towards Armenian people.

– How did you get acquainted with the Armenians and the Armenian issue?

– We lived in Lebanon. My family was great, my parents had 8 children,
we needed money and I had to leave school at the age 13 to find work.

I found a job in the “Zartonk” college, headed by Nazareth Nazaryan,
who is the author of the Atlas of the Armenian genocide. And I was
helping him during the preparation work of the Atlas book which
consists of over 1600 pages. Those images have remained in my memory.

These people loved me very much. They changed my life, suggested to
go Vahan Tekeyan’s secondary School to study music and I agreed with
pleasure. My life began to change to better. One day, Nazareth said
that I call my dad, because he wanted to speak with him. I did not
know what he would say. When I told my father, he thought, that I have
done something wrong. But when he came to Nazareth, the latter said.

“Your son likes the work which he is doing with us. He does it with
a great pleasure, but he needs to go to school. He will work with us
in the morning, the afternoon will go to school, and we’ll take care
of all the expenses”. At that time there was Hovakimyan- Manukyan
Charitable Association in Lebanon, they paid my tuition costs, helped
me for the issue of my education, because I had already lost a few
years. Later, I moved to Bulgaria, where I was studying medicine,
and these costs were covered by the Armenians. My relations with the
Armenians and the Armenian issue start from here. I kept this in my
memory. The Armenian community helped me a lot to become human being
and educated.

– Turkey has been continuing denying the Armenian Genocide for
100 years. What should happen to Turkey, so that it reaches the
consciousness of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and compensating
for that?

– At this point Turkey is losing, as it loses ISIS. These terrible
scenes, which are shown by the media, are not real. Islamists lose
in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon border. Turkey is no longer strong, and
Europe has no confidence towards it. The Turkish government has a lot
of problems. If you ask if the Armenian Genocide will be recognized,
I say yes. I travel to Europe and I see that 2-3 years ago, no one
was talking about genocide, and now many journalists are coming
to Armenia. The governments are not strong in Europe, there is a
strong media. All the Media work in favor of the Armenian people. The
Armenian community also has become strong, because it sees that it has
a young state Armenia, for which it has to make certain steps. Turkey
fails and Armenia rises. Armenia is a peaceful country. Despite it has
lived a big tragedy, it continues to struggle peacefully and politely,
asking the world not to repeat the Genocide. (FULL VERSION IS AVAILABLE
IN ARMENIAN)

Interview by Araks Kasyan

ZHOGHOVURD: CC CHAIRMAN’S 2014 INCOME WAS 13 MLN 503 THOUSAND DRAMS & 1,440 EUROS

10:55 20/03/2015 >> DAILY PRESS

Armenian Constitutional Court chairman Gagik Harutyunyan’s yearly
income amounted to 13 million 503 thousand drams and 1,440 euros,
according to his 2014 property and income declaration. His salary
amounted to 12 million 498 thousand drams plus income equaled to
salary. At the end of last year, the CC head had 6 million 300
thousand drams, 5 thousand 200 dollars and 2 thousand 800 euros,
Zhoghovurd reports.

Source: Panorama.am

SORTIE LE 26 MARS DU LIVRE :
d’Helène Kosseian-Bairamian. Un livre qui sortira aux Editions du
Rocher (212 pages 17,90 EURO chez Amazon).

Presentation du livre par l’editeur :

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIAN WONDERS IF ARMENIA CAN NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY AT EXPENSE OF TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS

by Ashot Safaryan

Friday, March 20, 16:10

The March 20 session of the Armenia-EU Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee covered the issue of Armenian-Turkish normalization. Sajjad
Karim, Co-Chair of the Committee, asked the Armenian delegates
if Armenia can make some territorial concessions in exchange for
opening of the Turkish-Armenian border and establishment of diplomatic
relations.

In response, Armenian MP from ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, said that
Yerevan comes out for normalization without any preconditions and
that territorial concessions are out of question. “Whom to make
concessions? To Azerbaijan? After all its provocations and numerous
sabotage attacks on the border and borderline villages? To make
concessions means to enhance the threat to Karabakh’s security”,
he said.

Vardanyan also pointed out that Turkey does not only keep denying the
Armenian Genocide but also organizes an event that coincides with the
Armenian Genocide centennial to draw the international community’s
attention away from the commemorative events in Yerevan.

PESKOV: DATE OF PUTIN’S VISIT TO ARMENIA UNDER DISCUSSION

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 19 2015

19 March 2015 – 2:39pm

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the
President Vladimir Putin will visit Armenia in the last week of April.

“The visit of President Putin to Yerevan is on the agenda. The trip
is being prepared and discussed,” Peskov said.

“As soon as the precise date is determined and confirmed, we will
inform you immediately,” TASS cited him as saying.

ARMENIA AND BULGARIA RACE TO SELL BONDS

Wall Street Journal
March 19 2015

By Ben Edwards

Some of the world’s riskiest sovereign borrowers are rushing to sell
bonds, taking advantage of the still rampant search for yield amid
an era of record low global interest rates.

Junk-rated Armenia is seeking to issue a 10-year dollar bond for
only the second time on record, with bankers working on the deal
suggesting a yield in the area of 7.625%. The country is seeking to
raise $500 million.

Eastern European peer Bulgaria, which is rated one notch above junk
by Fitch Ratings and one level below investment grade by Standard &
Poor’s Corp., is seeking to issue three lots of euro bonds maturing
in seven, 12 and 20 years. Bankers are suggesting those bonds should
price at implied yields of roughly 2.3%, 2.9% and 3.4% respectively.

Investors have already placed orders for more than EURO 4 billion
($4.24 billion) of bonds, according to a banker managing the sale.

In addition, Ecuador, which met with bond buyers about a potential
deal last week, may be poised to issue dollar bonds again, just seven
years after it last defaulted on its debt. It returned to markets in
June last year with a $2 billion, 10-year bond sale.

“If there’s any point this year when you go for it, now is the time,”
said Simon Quijano-Evans, an emerging-market analyst at Commerzbank
CRZBY +1.14%. “There has been very little supply of emerging-market
sovereign debt, so these deals will find strong demand because of
the high liquidity that’s out there.”

Emerging-market borrowers have raised $31 billion from global bond
sales so far this year, about a fifth less than at this stage 12
months ago, according to Dealogic. Such borrowers raised a record
$114 billion in the whole of 2014, the data show.

That rush to sell debt last year is allowing riskier countries to
issue bonds now because there are fewer competing debt sales on offer,
Mr. Quijano-Evans said.

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“It wouldn’t surprise me to see a whole lot of less frequent borrowers
come to market,” he said.