Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SUREN MANUKYAN: WE IMAGINED ABOUT PREPAREDNESS OF TURKEY MORE, THAN IT WAS IN REALITY

ARMENPRESS
August 25, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenia’s assessments overestimated Turkey’s preparedness in regulation
issue of Armenian-Turkish relations, Deputy Director of Armenian
Genocide-Institute, specialist of eastern studies Suren Manukyan
said, referring to withdrawal of Armenian-Turkish protocols from the
agenda. According to him, we imagined about preparedness of Turkey
more, than it was in reality.

“Turkey, eventually, did not accept the protocols with delight from
the beginning and even did not show artificially that it is for them.

That is why, according to the law, a convenient occasion appeared to
withdraw those protocols from the agenda. I think those protocols
stayed in the Turkish parliament in the conditions of foreign
pressure,” Suren Manukyan said.

According to him, actually Armenia managed to win the respect of
international community. “Turkey has never wished to sign those
protocols, just being quite a sophisticated player of international
policy, did not wish to rule out at once, realizing that international
pressure can be even stronger. During this period Turkey just gained
time. Turkey said that “no” during two years,” the specialist
of eastern studies said. According to him, in political regard,
currently the protocols are documents which do not have any value,
and it is already the decision of Armenian political authorities how
to behave with the protocols at the Armenian parlaimnet.

Presse armenienne : Revue du 23 aout 2011

collectifvan.org
25-08-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous livre
cette Revue de Presse parue sur le site de l’Ambassade de France en
Armenie le 23 aout 2011.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Revue de la presse armenienne du 23 août 2011

Affaires interieures

Les quotidiens commentent la declaration jugee ” excessive et
emotionnelle ” du parti Dachnak de l’ouest des Etats-Unis (cf. la revue
du 20.08), dans laquelle figuraient des propos compromettants a l’egard
du President Sarkissian et son gouvernement. Alors que les membres du
parti Dachnak base en Armenie refusent de commenter cette declaration,
les quotidiens evoquent, a l’approche des echeances electorales, une
eventuelle scission au sein de cette formation politique et de ses
differentes branches a l’etranger. Selon Haykakan Jamanak, une collecte
de signatures aurait ete lancee par la communaute armenienne de Los
Angeles demandant [aux autorites americaines] d’interdire l’entree
du President Sarkissian sur le territoire americain. Les signatures
devraient etre transmises au Departement d’Etat…

Selon Haykakan Jamanak, le President du Comite des recettes d’Etat,
Gaguik Khatchatrian, aurait presente hier sa demission au chef de
l’Etat. D’après ce quotidien, il est fort possible qu’elle soit
acceptee par le President et rendue publique aujourd’hui. D’après ce
journal, ni les adjoints de M. Khatchatrian, ni la Presidence n’ont
dementi cette information.

Hayots Achkhar rend compte des accusations reciproques entre
l’Ombudsman, Karen Andreassian, et la Commission disciplinaire du
Conseil de justice a laquelle l’Ombudsman avait demande de traduire
en responsabilite disciplinaire trois juges. L’Ombudsman s’est vu
aussitôt accuse par ladite Commission d’abus de pouvoirs.

Affaires regionales

Conflit du HK D’après le ” Ministère de la defense ” du HK, suite a une
violation du regime de cessez-le-feu, le 21 août, par les forces armees
azerbaïdjanaises, un soldat armenien, Nver Sarkissian, a ete blesse.

Le ” Ministère ” a par ailleurs dementi les informations publiees par
les medias azerbaïdjanais, selon lesquelles les forces armeniennes
auraient blesse, le meme jour, un lieutenant azerbaïdjanais,
ouvrant le feu en direction de Fizouli. Azg estime que les incidents
recurrents sur la ligne de contact rendent urgent le retrait des
snipers des positions avancees. Ce quotidien qualifie ces incidents
de ” petites guerres ” qui coûtent des vies humaines, et estime que
celles-ci doivent serieusement preoccuper les pays mediateurs dont
les propositions de règlement de conflit sont rejetees par Bakou,
l’unique responsable d’après ce quotidien de tous les incidents sur
la ligne de contact. / Haykakan Jamanak, Hayots Achkhar, Aravot

Georgie Azg fait etat a la ” une ” d’un acte de vandalisme dans
l’eglise Saint Etchmiadzine de Tbilissi par deux jeunes georgiens
qui, dans un etat d’ebriete, ont envahi l’eglise armenienne où ils se
seraient comportes, d’après ce quotidien, de manière ” très insolente
” (ils auraient dechire les pages de la Bible, puis arrache et brûle
les annonces collees sur les mures…). L’archeveque du diocèse de
l’Eglise apostolique armenienne de Georgie a signale l’incident auprès
de la police georgienne. Une note de protestation doit etre adressee
a l’Eglise orthodoxe georgienne.

Turquie Hayots Achkhar, Haykakan Jamanak, Aravot et Iravounk relèvent,
citant les medias turcs, que le nouveau Parlement turc, forme a
l’issue des elections legislatives du 12 juin, a retire de son ordre
du jour et reconnu comme invalides 898 projets de loi qui n’ont pas
ete discutes et adoptes par l’ancien parlement, parmi lesquels les
protocoles armeno-turcs signes a Zurich en 2009. Les quotidiens notent
toutefois qu’en vertu de la legislation turque, le gouvernement peut
les soumettre a nouveau au Parlement. / ” Les protocoles armeno-turcs
se trouvent desormais dans la poubelle “- Iravounk

France/Armenie/HK

Azg, Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun et Golos Armenii rendent compte de la
visite des deputes francais Guy Teissier (President de la Commission
de la Defense a l’Assemblee nationale, secretaire du groupe d’amitie
France-Armenie), Jacques Remiller, Georges Colombier et Valerie Boyer
au Haut-Karabagh. Recus par le ” President ” de l’AN, Achot Ghoulian,
les parlementaires francais auraient releve que leur visite en Armenie
traduisait l’amitie entre les peuples armenien et francais, et que leur
visite au HK traduisait en particulier leur ” solidarite avec ce pays
“. D’après M. Teissier, le peuple du HK ” merite de vivre librement
et independamment au meme titre que les chypriotes ou les kosovars
“. M. Ghoulian a hautement apprecie la mediation de la France au sein
du Groupe de Minsk et a salue la visite des parlementaires francais au
HK. Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun rend compte de la rencontre des deputes
francais avec des ” parlementaires ” karabaghtsis et de l’intervention
de M. Teissier devant eux, au cours de laquelle il aurait souligne
l’interet sincère de son pays a voir le conflit du HK regle et une
paix durable etablie dans la region.

Redaction : Merie Hakobian

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Ambassade de France en Armenie

DARCHINYAN TO DEFEND TITLE IN ARMENIA

Ninemsn

Aug 24, 2011
Canada

Vic Darchinyan will fulfil a long time ambition and create a bit of
boxing history, by making a world title defence against South African
Evans Mbamba in his birth country of Armenia next month.

Sydney-based Darchinyan, who relocated to Australia after representing
Armenia in the 2000 Olympics, hasn’t fought in his homeland for the
best part of 13 years since his amateur days.

His IBO bantamweight fight with southpaw Mbamba (18-1, 9 KOs) will
take place in the Armenian capital of Yerevan in the early hours of
September 4 (AEST).

It will be the first professional boxing promotion to be staged
in Armenia.

Australian citizen Darchinyan has called on the expertise of officials
from his adopted country to help establish a proper boxing commission
in the land of his birth.

“It’s been an absolutely titanic setup,” Darchinyan’s manager Elias
Nassar told AAP.

“We had the more cost effective options of bringing Germans in,
Russians, Georgians, Polish, but Vic insisted that the only commission
that will take the control of the whole thing and set up a commission
in Armenia is the Australian boxing commission.

“Because of that, seven very good officials are taking care of the
whole thing over there.”

Darchinyan, Nassar and American promoter Gary Shaw will co-promote
the show, which is expected to go close to drawing a capacity crowd.

“It’s a state of the art arena that holds about 12,000 people,”
Nassar said.

“It’s like a diamond pod out of the movie Avatar.”

Darchinyan has been back in Armenia training for the past eight
weeks, but the reaction to his presence has already forced him to
move camp once.

“It was overwhelming, in Yerevan, and he moved camp into the mountains,
so he got away from everyone and everything,” Nassar said.

“There was no phone contact really for the last four to five weeks.”

Darchinyan has been sparring with two imported American southpaws.

Mbamba is ranked in the top 15 of the WBA, WBC and IBF at super
flyweight.

He was in line to fight Darchinyan in that division, but the Australian
later moved up to bantamweight.

His only loss was a points decision for the WBA interim super flyweight
title to Mexican Tomas Rojas, who Darchinyan demolished in two rounds
less than two months later.

“He (Mbamba) is a really slick boxer with a very good trainer in Nick
Durandt,” Darchinyan’s trainer Angelo Hyder told AAP.

The fight won’t be shown live in Australia as it will take place
around 2am (AEST).

If Darchinyan is successful against Mbamba, he will probably fight
in the United States in November or December.

He will seek a second fight with Nonito Donaire or Jorge Arce, or
move up to featherweight.

BAKU WELCOMES PARIS’ COMMENTS ON MPS’ KARABAKH VISIT

news.az
Aug 24, 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed a French statement that
an MPs’ visit to breakaway Karabakh does not change Paris’ position
on the region.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told a news conference
in Paris on 23 August that the visit by five members of the French
National Assembly “makes no difference or changes to France’s policy
on this conflict”.

The first secretary at the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press
service, Elman Abdullayev, welcomed the comments.

He told Gun.Az that it was frustrating that French deputies followed
representatives of the Armenian lobby in France in pursuit of their
mercantile interests.

“It’s a great pity that the French representatives took illegal actions
by visiting the occupied lands of Azerbaijan without Baku’s consent,”
Abdullayev said.

The visit by five members of the French National Assembly, who did
not first seek permission from Baku, prompted the Azerbaijani embassy
in Paris to issue a note of protest.

The French Foreign Ministry responded that the Karabakh visit was
not an official one made through the French National Assembly, but
a private initiative by Guy Teissier, chairman of the parliamentary
commission for defence and the armed forces.

The delegation, led by Guy Teissier, consisted of Valerie Boyer,
Georges Colombier and Jacques Remiller.

Visits to the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh are technically
illegal without permission from Baku. In practice, many people visit
the breakaway territory.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION TAKE DIALOGUE SERIOUSLY – FORMER PM

news.am
Aug 24, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Both ruling coalition and the opposition Armenian National
Congress (ANC) take political dialogue seriously, said former Armenian
Premier Khosrov Harutunyan.

He recalled that the opposition presented a 85-page document containing
their assessment of political situation, whereas the coalition is
preparing a 131-page document in response.

According to him, prerequisite for dialogue was a correct position
of President Serzh Sargsyan.

“Variety of assessments regarding president’s position was voiced
over recent three years. However, no tough assessment against the
opposition was heard, not a single attempt to drive the opposition
to a deadlock was made,” he stressed.

While the dialogue continues, society begins to perceive the opposition
in a new way. People point out opposition’s readiness to dialogue,
Harutunyan believes.

ALIK” DAILY NEWSPAPER: MIRROR OF IRANIAN-ARMENIANS FOR 80 YEARS

AZG
25-08-2011

On August 23, a grand celebration of Tehran’s “Alik” daily newspaper’s
80th anniversary was held at the Komitas Chamber Music Hall within the
framework of the Iranian-Armenian Community Days in Armenia program
organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

According to the official site of the Ministry, RA Minister of Diaspora
Hranush Hakobyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Seyed Ali Saghayan, ARF faction
members, current and former editors of “Alik” daily newspaper Derenik
Melikyan, Seda Davtyan and Norayr Elsayan, President of the Writers’
Union of Armenian Levon Ananyan, intellectuals, Iranian-Armenians
and others were attending the solemn ceremony .

Before the event, the gathered viewed an exhibition devoted to “Alik”
newspaper’s 80th anniversary through photos and signs.

The host for the evening read RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s
congratulatory message in which it was particularly stated:

“I cordially congratulate “Alik” daily newspaper on its 80th
anniversary. Coverage of events related to Armenia, the Diaspora,
Iran and the Iranian-Armenian community and the age of this newspaper
are a reflection of its meaning and virtues. I am certain that the
guarantee of the newspaper’s longevity is the cherished idea of
national preservation. Its merit in serving mother Armenia, the
ancient Iranian-Armenian community and Iran is unquestionable.

The newspaper sheds light on and shapes the history of
Iranian-Armenians and the Armenia-Diaspora partnership. “Alik”
is one of the heralds of Armenia’s policy on preservation of the
national identity.

Highly appreciating the newspaper’s role and significance in the
assurance of the Diaspora’s collectiveness and national preservation,
I once again congratulate “Alik” on its 80th anniversary and wish
success and longevity.”

The president’s speech was followed by a welcoming speech by
RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan. The latter thanked the
Iranian-Armenian community for preserving the Armenian identity and
said that the community is of great significance for the development
of Armenia-Diaspora partnership with its cultural and educational
structures.

” “Alik” newspaper has its special place and role in all this. For 80
years, it has been the favorite newspaper for our fellow Armenians. If
it weren’t for the love and demand, “Alik” definitely wouldn’t have
existed. It not only represents a source of information, but also
national preservation, culture, chronology and history,” Hranush
Hakobyan mentioned.

Hranush Hakobyan congratulated all of “Alik” daily newspaper’s
journalists, editorial staffs and sponsors, as well as those who
created the newspaper.

Head of “Alik” daily newspaper Albert Atchemian received a certificate
of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, and the newspaper’s editor Derenik
Melikian received the “William Saroyan” Medal of the RA Ministry
of Diaspora. Derenik Melikian also received the “Hakob Meghapart”
Medal by Director of the National Library of Armenia, Tigran Zargaryan.

Among speakers were President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon
Ananyan, former editors of “Alik” daily newspaper Norayr Elsaian
and Seda Davtian, Dean of the YSU Faculty of Journalism Naghash
Martirosyan, Dean of the YSU Faculty of History Edik Minasyan and
Vice-President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia Grigor Janikyan.

The speakers shared their memories and stated that “Alik” daily
newspaper has educated generations and has been able to keep national
awareness alive for years.

Editor of “Alik” daily newspaper Derenik Melikian delivered a
closing speech. He expressed gratitude to RA Minister of Diaspora
Hranush Hakobyan for holding an event devoted to the newspaper’s 80th
anniversary in Yerevan and handed her a letter of gratitude. Derenik
Melikian considered the newspaper’s 80th anniversary the realization
of their dreams.

“For 60 years, “Alik” daily newspaper has been publishing and living
with the dreams of reinstating Armenia’s independence. We witnessed
that 20 years ago, and the last 20 years can be considered the
realization of the functioning of the state and statehood. “Alik”
is also binding. It is the only Armenian daily newspaper in the
Iranian-Armenian community that presents its readers with not only
meaningful articles on the Iranian-Armenian community, but all
Armenians as well,” Derenik Melikian mentioned.

FORMER HEAD OF BRANDY FACTORY ACCUSES ARMENIAN OLIGARCH OF UNFAIR COMPETITION – WIKILEAKS

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

Other local Armenian producers are producing look-alikes to Yerevan
Brandy Company’s (YBC) premium brands using imported wine spirits,
substandard spirits or even grain spirits as a foundation, reads the
WikiLeaks-publiched cable.

Former YBC President Herve Caroff said look-alike products are
threatening

YBC’s market share, complaining about the Noy Wine and Brandy factory
owned by influential businessman-turned-politician Gagik Tsarukyan

“The Noy factory has the right to use the Ararat seal for its products,
but was expected to use that seal for wines, not brandy.

That firm recently has begun producing look-alike brandy of
questionable provenance. Caroff told us he had spoken with the Ministry
of Agriculture about setting up a commission to monitor brandy quality
in Armenia, but was discouraged about the commission’s prospects when
he was told that brandy production had become a lucrative business
for influential people,” the document reads.

Caroff claims that official grape harvest statistics are exaggerated
to conceal the illegal production of faux-brandy by YBC’s competitors.

In 2005, the grape harvest in Armenia was

officially 130,000 tons, but Caroff claims that actual production
was no more than 60,000. According to Caroff, companies which have
been in existence for five or six years are selling “twenty-year old”
brandy, a clear sign of fraud.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION’S RALLY IN 2009 PALED IN COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS TURNOUTS – WIKILEAKS

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

In one of the cables disclosed by WikiLeaks U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
Marie Yovanovitch presents in-depth coverage of the opposition rally
held in Yerevan on May 2009.

“Under the shadow of a heavy police presence, the opposition led by
ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) held its second rally of the
year on May 1. LTP accused President Sargsian of being willing to
pay any price — even denial of the genocide — to remain in power,
as evidenced by his support for the April 22 joint statement with
Turkey regarding normalization of relations,” the document says.

Yovanovitch mentions that despite opposition claims that tens of
thousands attended the event, the crowd size was assessed by embassy
officials at six-to-eight thousand.

“LTP’s tone while criticizing President Sargsian on Turkey and
Nagorno-Karabakh was less vitriolic than it could have been. LTP
further diffused the effect by also lambasting former President
Kocharian and the Armenian Diaspora on the issue. Nevertheless,
the remarks were not helpful.

In contrast with the large turnouts at LTP’s campaign and protest
rallies in 2008, the May 1 event paled in comparison. Although the
road blocks likely prevented regional supporters from attending the
rally, LTP’s traditional base of support has always been in Yerevan —
where people were free to come and go on May 1, and where warm weather
and a holiday made conditions ideal for a large turnout.

Although one can never rule out the wily ex-president, slackening
attendance at his rallies suggests that his supporters might be losing
faith in his chances to win an election in the current political
climate,” the cable reads.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS GERMAN TOP OFFICIAL IN YEREVAN

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The delegation headed by the Chief of the Department of
Military Police of the Ministry of Defense of Germany, Colonel Ulrich
Stumpf is on a visit to Armenia on August 24-26.

It is the German high-ranking official’s third visit to Armenia
since 2009.

The delegation members met with Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan, Major General V. Gasparyan and Chief of Armenian Military
Polic, Colonel A. Ter-Sahakyan, the press service of Armenian MOD
informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The sides discussed expansion of
cooperation between two agencies.

MAYOR’S ELECTION WILL BE A TRAINING

Lragir.am

25/08/2011

The candidates for mayor of Stepanakert are known. It is notable
that the acting mayor, NKR President Bako Sahakyan’s brother-in-law,
will not run.

The chief of staff of the NKR President, Suren Grigoryan, who has
brilliant managerial skills; Member of Parliament Marat Asatryan; the
ex-mayor of Stapanakert in 2004-2007, adviser to prime minister Eduard
Aghabekyan are the nominees, the Armenian service of RFE/RL reported.

What prevented Vazgen Mikayelyan from running for mayor again is not
known, but obviously his relationship to the president has been the
reason. Although it is not ruled out that the mayor was unable to
fulfill his duties properly.

Also obviously the favorites will be Suren Grigoryan and Eduard
Aghabekyan. Elections can be a kind of training before the upcoming
presidential elections next year in Karabakh. Last year’s parliamentary
elections were held without opposition candidates. Now the parliament
of NKR is totally pro-government. The nomination of Eduard Aghabekyan
may signal the revival of political scramble of Artsakh, “killed”
during the presidential elections in 2007. Then, an unprecedented
campaign was launched against the alternative candidate, Masis
Mayilyan, who deprived everyone in Artsakh of the wish to express an
independent political position.

The election to the Mayor of Stepanakert will show if the Karabakh
authorities are able to overcome spy mania and ensure equal conditions
for competition. In addition, the nomination of Eduard Aghabekyan
suggests that the presidential election may give us a surprise.