Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN ABU DHABI ANOINTED – VIDEO

14:29, 15 Dec 2014

Within the framework of the patriarchal visit to Abu Dhabi, the
delegation headed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia, visited the Armenian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.

The official welcome ceremony was followed by tree-planting. His
Holiness Aram I noted in his speech that Armenia is the Motherland of
every Armenian and a holy site with its soil and culture, its values
and aspirations.

His Holiness praised the Armenians of UAE and Qatar for supporting
the programs of the Embassy.

As part of the visit, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
anointed the newly constructed Holy Martyr’s Church and inaugurated
the new Prelacy and the school building.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of all Christian
communities of the United Arab Emirates, diplomats, journalists,
representatives of the local Armenian community.

NEIGHBORS IN TURMOIL: ARMENIA VIEWED AS ‘ISLAND OF STABILITY’ AMID RISING ISLAMIC TERRORISM IN REGION

Analysis | 15.12.14 | 10:31

By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent

Authorities in Armenia’s neighboring countries, Turkey and Azerbaijan,
are conducting arrests of persons suspected of directly or indirectly
preparing coups and planning to overthrow of the government. Western
governments, meanwhile, accuse Baku and Ankara of violating democratic
norms and not respecting democratic values.

Several dozen well-known journalists and police officers were
arrested in Turkey on December 14. Among those arrested are also
editor-in-chief of the Turkish Zaman newspaper Ekrem Dumanli and head
of the Samanyolu Hidayet Karaca. According to a written statement
of the chief prosecutor of Istanbul Hadi Salihoglu, the arrested
people are accused of “creating a terrorist organization, fraud and
defamation.” The government accuses Samanyolu of collaboration with
the preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is in opposition to the ruling
Justice and Development Party.

Earlier a wave of arrests took place in Azerbaijan – among those who
appeared behind the bars were human rights activists and bloggers
who have worked with Western foundations. Baku openly accused US
non-governmental organizations of attempting to stimulate unrest in
Azerbaijan and overthrow the government.

The world press more and more often quotes experts as saying that the
West is using “methods of deterrence” towards Turkey and Azerbaijan.

These methods became especially noticeable after these two countries
refused to cooperate fully with the coalition against the Islamic
State and strengthened their ties with Russia. Now is not the
time for business with Russia, said State Department spokesman Jen
Psaki. And Turkey and Azerbaijan are trying to have lucrative oil
and gas projects with Russia, which is under Western sanctions at
present over the crisis in Ukraine.

Baku welcomes rapprochement between Turkey and Russia, believing
that this will have an impact on Armenia, which may be forced to make
concessions over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Khalaf Khalafov said that given that Russia is a mediator
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, and Turkey is a neighbor
of Armenia, improvement of relations between the two countries could
have a positive impact on the resolution of the conflict. “And we
are waiting for it,” he said.

In their turn, Western media, through experts, warn Russia, Turkey
and Azerbaijan about the threat of Islamization, which would threaten
stability in these countries.

“By eliminating moderate voices in society, Azerbaijan’s leaders set
the stage for anti-Western environment that will serve as a breeding
ground for radical Islamists, who pose a grave security threat to
both the region and the West,” foreignpolicy.com writes.

“The [December 4] coordinated terrorist assault on the Chechen capital
of Grozny – which left at least 20 dead and scores more injured –
should refocus global attention on a problem that Russia itself
increasingly is confronting: a resilient wave of radical Islam,”
writes Foreign Affairs.

Al-Jazeera also says that Russia could become the next “target” for
Islamists. The same predictions are also made for Turkey, a country
aspiring to become a member of the European Union.

Head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini and EU European Neighborhood
Policy and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn issued a joint
statement condemning the detention of journalists in Turkey on Sunday.

They expressed their concern over this fact ahead of Tuesday’s
discussions of EU expansion that will also include the issue of Turkey.

The fall in international oil prices has indeed shattered the power
of President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan and the successes of the
anti-Islamic coalition in Syria and Iraq, the US cooperation with Iran
and the Kurds scare the regime in Turkey, which expects the shift of
the terrorist wave and destabilization to Turkey. Christian Armenia
in this situation, despite the threats, is considered an island
of stability.

SHAHUMYAN GOLD POLYMETALLIC MINE’S OUTPUT SHRINKS 13.07% TO 340,000 TONS IN JAN-OCT

YEREVAN, December 15. /ARKA/. The Shahumyan Gold Polymetallic
Mine’s output totaled 340,000 tons in Jan-Oct 2014 showing a 13.07%
year-on-year decline, the Armenian Energy and Natural Resources
Ministry reported after reviewing the data of the country’s nine ore
mines. According to the ministry’s figures the output amounted to AMD
14.8 billion in Jan-Oct 2014. This is by 18.53% less than the amount
of the same period a year before. The paid royalty shrank 52.72%
to AMD 485 million. The Shahumyan Gold Polymetallic Mine is run by
the Deno Gold Mining that represents Canada’s Dundee Precious Metals
in Armenia. The Kapan Mining and Refining Plant’s copper and pyrites
mine is run by the Deno Gold Mining as well. Kapan field comprises
two sectors – a copper mine that is known as the Central Field and
a polymetallic mine of gold, copper, silver, zinc and lead, which
is known as Shahumyan Mine. Start in development of this mine was
announced yet in 1996, but actual excavation began only in 2002.

Dundee Precious Metals acquired 95% of the Kapan Mine in August 2006.

According to the Natianl Statistical Service of Armenia, the country’s
ore output amounted to AMD 157.1 billion in Jan-Oct 2014 in Armenia
shrinking 8.4%, compared with the same period a year earlier. ($1 –
AMD 462.81). —0——

44600 VOYAGEURS POUR LA LIAISON EREVAN-BATUMI

ARMENIE

Les trains saisonniers voyageant entre la capitale armenienne Erevan
et Batoumi, une destination populaire pour les vacanciers armeniens
sur la mer Noire en Georgie ont transporte 44 600 personnes depuis
le 15 Juin quand ils ont commence a circuler entre les deux villes.

La compagnie des chemins de fer du Sud Caucase a declare qu’elle
a vendu jusqu’a maintenant environ 46 000 billets, de 3,2% de plus
qu’en 2013.

En Septembre les trains ont transporte plus de 5600 passagers,
soit 4,4% de plus par rapport a Septembre de l’annee precedente et
a vendu plus de 4300 billets (en hausse de 4,7%). Elle a egalement
dit quelques 478 billets ont ete vendus via Internet, soit 2,5 fois
de plus que les chiffres de l’an dernier. La liaison entre Erevan et
Batumi a pris fin le 1er Octobre.

lundi 15 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

KARABAGH : L’ARMENIE SOUTIENT LES MESURES DE RENFORCEMENT DE LA CONFIANCE ET ACCUSE L’AZERBAIDJAN DE TORPILLER LES ACCORDS

ARMENIE

L’Armenie soutient complètement le paquet de mesures de confiance
propose par les copresidents du Groupe de Minsk, mais l’Azerbaïdjan
a rejete toutes les propositions a declare le ministre armenien des
Affaires etrangères Edouard Nalbandian en fin de semaine dernière
commentant la declaration la plus recente par les mediateurs
internationaux.

S’adressant aux journalistes a Bâle, en Suisse, Nalbandian a declare
que le raisonnement de l’Azerbaïdjan pour rejeter ces propositions est
que les mesures de confiance peuvent etre discutees uniquement quand
il y a des progrès, lorsque le conflit du Haut-Karabagh sera regle.

“[Mais] c’est une approche très illogique parce que si nous arrivons a
un règlement du conflit, il n’y aura pas besoin de ce degre de mesures
de renforcement de la confiance. Les trois copresidents ont pris
la parole a ce sujet dans leur dernière declaration. En outre, cela
n’aurait pas permis une deterioration, une aggravation de la situation.

“Ils sont d’accord sur quelque chose, [mais] les Azerbaïdjanais
prennent du recul le lendemain ou quelques jours plus tard, tout au
plus. C’est l’une des principales raisons qui, en fait, ne laissent
aucune trace de confiance lors de ces entretiens. Comment pouvez-vous
avoir confiance, croyez-vous que vous negociez avec des gens serieux,
que les accords seront honores lors de la prochaine fois après qu’ils
aient ete atteints ? ” a souligne le diplomate armenien.

lundi 15 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

UNE MERCEDES POUR LE CHEF DES AFFAIRES RELIGIEUSES

TURQUIE
La plus haute autorite religieuse en Turquie, le president des
Affaires religieuses Mehmet Gormez, etait sous le feu des critiques
samedi après des revelations de la presse.

Mehmet Gormez devrait bientôt circuler a bord d’une Mercedes S 500,
d’une valeur de quelque 350’000 euros et achetee avec des fonds publics
pour lui servir de voiture officielle, a rapporte samedi le journal >.

La direction des Affaires religieuses Diyanet, dont le budget est
finance par les contribuables, a achete en outre 14 Toyota pour ses
responsables qui circulaient auparavant dans des Renault Symbol
(variante de la Clio) bien plus modestes, selon le journal. Ces
achats ont suscite un tolle sur les reseaux sociaux dans ce pays
officiellement laïc dirige depuis plus d’une decennie par un
gouvernement islamo-conservateur.

De nombreux intervenants sur les reseaux sociaux ont estime que des
acquisitions aussi extravagantes etaient contraires aux principes de
l’islam. >, a
ecrit sur Twitter Hakan Sukur, ancien joueur international de football
et depute. Un autre depute a appele a la demission de Mehmet Gormez.

Nouvelle controverse

La direction des Affaires religieuses n’a pas dementi les informations
sur l’achat de la voiture, tout en assurant que son prix etait
inferieur a celui estime par la presse. >, a-t-elle
indique. Mehmet Gormez etait l’un des hauts responsables turcs a
avoir accueilli le pape Francois en Turquie fin novembre. Le pape,
qui s’insurge contre le luxe, avait choisi de circuler a bord d’une
modeste Renault Symbol au cours de sa visite.

Cette nouvelle controverse s’ajoute a celle concernant le nouveau
palais presidentiel du president Recep Tayyip Erdogan construit a
Ankara, un complexe de 1150 pièces d’un coût de plus de 600 millions
de dollars payes par les contribuables.

lundi 15 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

UNE FAMILLE ARMENIENNE RAPATRIEE D’AZERBAIDJAN

Un couple armenien et leurs trois jeunes enfants sont retournes de
facon inattendue en Armenie vendredi, près de cinq ans après avoir
fui en Azerbaïdjan dans des circonstances dramatiques.

Yeghishe Gevorgian, sa femme Ruzanna, leurs deux fils et leur fille
ont ete escortes par des fonctionnaires du Comite international
de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) alors qu’ils traversaient la frontière
entre l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Armenie dans la matinee. Le rapatriement
a ete convenu avec les autorites competentes dans les deux nations
en conflit.

Gevorgian a conduit sa famille a Nakhitchevan, une enclave de
l’Azerbaïdjan, en janvier 2010. L’armee armenienne avait ordonne
a l’epoque a ses soldats postes sur le passage Eraskh, ferme a la
circulation depuis le debut du conflit du Haut-Karabagh, de ne pas
tirer sur le vieux van de Gevorgian parce qu’il portait les enfants,
alors âges de 3, 6 et 7 ans.

La famille est ensuite passe a la television azerbaïdjanaise a
plusieurs reprises. Gevorgian s’est plaint de mauvaises conditions de
vie en Armenie et a loue le traitement de sa famille par les autorites
azerbaïdjanaises. Pourtant, il a ete dit que le couple avait demande
aux autorites de les aider a emigrer vers un pays tiers.

“Aucun pays n’a accepte de les accueillir, et la famille a decide
de retourner en Armenie”, a rapporte vendredi une agence de presse
azerbaïdjanaise pro-gouvernementale. Il a affirme que Gevorgian a
opere un “chantage” face aux fonctionnaires azerbaïdjanais et a la
Croix-Rouge, avec des menaces de grève de la faim ou de suicide. “Il
a essaye de faire pression sur les organisations internationales
competentes et de souligner l’importance de leur expedition vers un
pays tiers”.

Les anciens fugitifs ont subi un examen medical a l’hôpital Surp
Grigor Lusavorich d’Erevan tard dans la journee. Les epoux ont parle
aux journalistes après, en disant qu’ils >
et n’ont jamais demande l’asile dans un pays tiers.

On ne sait pas pourquoi Gevorgian, qui aurait un casier judiciaire,
avait decide de se refugier en Azerbaïdjan avec ses proches. “Parce
que je voulais”, a-t-il seulement dit vaguement.

L’homme de 55 ans a egalement affirme que la famille n’etait pas
enlisee dans la pauvrete avant son evasion spectaculaire. “J’avais
un emploi en Armenie”.

Gevorgian a egalement dit qu’ils ont ete conserves comme des > dans le siège de la police militaire de l’Azerbaïdjan
a Bakou. Yeghishe a affirme avoir ete torture par des interrogateurs
azerbaïdjanais.

Un medecin de l’hôpital principal, Robert Orhusian, a declare a la
presse, cependant, qu’aucune trace de mauvais traitements n’a ete
decele après examen de toute la famille. Il decrit leur etat de sante
comme “satisfaisant”.

Andranik Mkrtumian, un haut fonctionnaire du ministère armenien de
la Defense, a declare que Gevorgian est “passible de poursuites”
pour avoir franchi illegalement la frontière.

lundi 15 decembre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

‘ART KNOWS NO BOUNDS,’ BUT DOUBLE STANDARDS APPLY TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH – OFFICIAL

11:14 * 15.12.14

Despite the claims that “art knows no bounds,” it is not the case with
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), which is not de jure recognized,
NKR Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Lernik Hovhannisyan
told Tert.am.

However, Nagorno-Karabakh is overcoming the barriers and presents
its culture to both the Armenian Diaspora and the world.

Like in other cases, double standards are applied to culture.

“Europe is speaking of human rights, but, pleading our state not being
a recognized as a reason, does not allow Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh]
to present its culture,” Mr Hovhannisyan said.

The NKR Ministry of Culture is located in Shushi. In this respect,
Mr Hovhannisyan said that it promotes cultural development of the
NKR regions.

“In Shushi, cultural life has become more active, and the town is
now a center of arts and trades. We have an Arts Museum, as well as
history and carpet museums. Other arts are also presented in Shushi:
the Gyurjyan Institute of Applied Arts is operating there.”

The main reason why Nagorno-Karabakh’s applications for participating
in different cultural events are rejected is the NKR being an
unrecognized state.

“But in some cases even Azerbaijan and Turkey do not participate,
and the organizers allow us to present Artsakh. In some cases, we
present Armenia. Of course, we have the same cultural environment with
Armenia, which does not know any bounds. Armenia is all Armenians’
homeland. So we are all trying to overcome the difficulties.”

As regards Azerbaijan’s claims on Nagorno-Karabakh culture, in the
context of UNESCO’s decisions, which cause “minor cultural wars”
(the Armenian lavash being an example) and steps to curb Azerbaijan’s
policy, Mr Hovhannisyan said:

“Azerbaijan’s policy involved our tangible and intangible heritage.

Azerbaijan does not miss a single chance to present our culture and
traditional cuisine as its own. Artsakh is world-famous for its
‘zhengalov hatz’ (pancakes stuffed with greens). But Azerbaijani
websites claim that it is an Azerbaijani national dish. But such a
dish is typical of settled peoples, while nomadic tribes cannot have
either lavash or zhengalov hatz. The same can be said of monuments,
music, choreography. Our task is to continue creative activities,
and our policy is to preserve our heritage in Artsakh, conduct studies
and popularize our arts and culture regardless of Azerbaijan’s policy
or claims.”

RUSSIAN BORDER GUARDS FOIL SMUGGLING ATTEMPT AT ARMENIA-IRAN BORDER

YEREVAN, December 15. /ARKA/. The Russian border guard patrol
prevented on Saturday a smuggling attempt at the border with Iran,
press secretary of the Russian Federal Security Service border guard
department in Armenia Sergey Grechin told ARKA.

A citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran attempted to smuggle parts
of drilling equipment and alcoholic drinks in a truck through Agarak
checkpoint, Grechin said. The items were found in a specially equipped
hidden compartment in the vehicle, he added.

The smuggler and the items were transferred to Meghri customs staff
for further investigation.

According to preliminary estimates, the smuggled goods cost over 1
million 300,000 drams (about 2,800 dollars).

Armenia’s 330-kilometer border with Turkey and 45-kilometer border with
Iran is guarded by the frontier force of Russia’s Federal Security
Service, which, according to Armenia’s leadership, is an important
component of the country’s national security. The border guard patrol
is deployed under an agreement signed between Armenia and Russia in
Yerevan on September 30, 1992.

The Russian border force in Armenia consists of four platoons – in
Giumry, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri. Maintenance costs for the force
(about 4,500 people) are covered by the two governments on more or
less 50/50 basis. -0–

BARZANI APPROVES DRAFT ON RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN IRAQI KURDISH AUTONOMY

11:45, 15 December, 2014

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: The Head of the Northern Iraqi
Kurdish Autonomy Masoud Barzani approved the draft on the official
language, according to which after the Kurdish and Arabic languages,
the Turkmen, Assyrian and Armenian as well were recognized the official
languages on the Autonomy’s territory.

Armenpress reports that the Kurdish Rudaw informed about it. The
Speaker of the Kurdish Autonomy Parliament Tariq Jawhar told Rudaw
that the draft document was adopted by the Kurdish Parliament on
October 29 and on November 20 it was submitted for the approval of
the President Barzani, who ratified it. To put the law into force,
Barzani sent it to the Government.