Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ELEPHANT GRAND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO TBILISI ZOO

18:08 13.03.2014

Elephant Grand will be transferred to Tbilisi Zoo for three main
reasons: on Tbilisi Grand won’t feel lonely and will also have a chance
for reproduction. Besides, Grand will undergo a surgery on the tusks,
Press Service of the Yerevan Zoo informs.

Yerevan Zoo assures, however, it won’t stay without an elephant. Grand
will be replaced by a male elephant from Tbilisi Zoo 10 years younger.

The Yerevan Zoo will bring another female elephant in the future,
when the living conditions improve.

WHEN AZERBAIJAN ATTACKS ARMENIA

Haikazn Ghahriyan, Editor-in-Chief
Comments – Thursday, 13 March 2014, 13:58

Ukraine intends to leave the CIS. Ukraine’s foreign minister explained
that this post-Soviet organization cannot even help its two members
overcome their disagreement. Moreover, this year Ukraine co-chairs
the CIS and has called its executive body to hold an extraordinary
session on Crimea. However, the CIS members did not even respond to it.

One can understand the concerns of the foreign minister of Ukraine.

The CIS did not exist in reality, as Lukashenko said, it has a
miserable experience. This organization was set up after the collapse
of the Soviet Union to maintain “economic, cultural and other links”
but it rather serves as a sign for Russia to maintain its dominance
in the post-Soviet space and not to let the post-Soviet states go.

The CIS has a miserable experience. Most of its members have conflicts
with one another and a number of unresolved problems. There are more
controversies than agreements.

Armenia is also a CIS member and is in a conflict with Azerbaijan. CIS
and CSTO members Russia and Belarus supply weapons to Azerbaijan.

Georgia left CIS for the same rationale as Ukraine.

Ukraine’s leave is symbolic because Ukraine was one of the parties
to the Belovezh agreement with Russia and Belarus. At that time
dissolution of the USSR and establishment of the CIS was announced.

Many note that developments in Ukraine mark the second stage of
collapse of the empire. In this stage Russia is trying to get as much
as it can because it is unable to prevent the process of collapse. In
addition, considering the nature of policy conducted by the empire
for decades, resumption of “frozen” conflicts should not be ruled
out. And the CIS turns out to be an excellent sign for this.

Russia’s strategic partner, Azerbaijan, will also keep to the policy
of its “younger brother” because the second stage of collapse of the
empire is a “favorable” period. Although Azerbaijan does not take
part in any post-Soviet “integration” project, it does not leave the
CIS because it knows that the CIS and Russia will support it like in
the past two decades.

– See more at:

JAMES WARLICK: ARMENIA SEEKS PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

March 12, 2014 | 12:45

Talks with Armenian FM confirmed that Armenia seeks a peaceful
settlement of Karabakh conflict, OSCE Co-Chair James Warlick said.

“Talks with FM Nalbandian in Moscow confirm that Armenia seeks a
peaceful settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. Will pursue options for
dialogue,” hetweeted.

The mediator said he looks forward to talks with Russian colleague on
Karabakh, adding that they are resolved to work together with France
to support the path to peace.

Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian met with Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs James Warlick (USA),
Igor Popov (Russia) and Jacques Faure (France), and Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

The Co-Chairs presented to Nalbandian the content of, and their
impressions from, their meeting, on Monday in Paris, with Azerbaijan
FM Elmar Mammadyarov.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS SITUATION ON BORDER UNDER CONTROL

March 12, 2014 | 18:56

YEREVAN. – Situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is controlled by
servicemen and there is no reason for concern, Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan said in parliament on Wednesday.

His response came to the question of Heritage MP concerning situation
along the line of contact.

Since the beginning of the year and following January 19 Azerbaijan
escalated situation on the border, increasing intensification of fire
on Armenian positions.

“We must understand that military exercises are planned for the
beginning of the year. The same happens on the Azerbaijani side. They
are holding planned military exercises. We must be calm, as situation
is under control of our armed forces. Moreover, we have recently seen
intensification of engineering works. Almost 30% of military exercises
are held in the areas where we would have to hold the line,” he said.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

RUSSIA AND IRAN REACH PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT ON 2 MORE NPPS

March 12, 2014 | 14:55

Russia and Iran have reached preliminary agreement on construction of
two more nuclear power plants in the territory of the Islamic Republic,
spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said.

Behruz Kamalvandi noted that during the talks with Rosatom, Tehran
managed to agree on the draft protocol on further development and
expansion of nuclear cooperation with Moscow based on the previous
agreement as of 1992.

According to Kamalvandi, the technical and commercial conditions
for building of the two power plants will soon be discussed by the
Iranian and Russian officials, IRNA reported.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

YEREVAN WILL HOLD ARMENIAN-SERBIAN BUSINESS FORUM

18:46, 10 March, 2014

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Serbia Ivan MrkiÄ~G.

The Department of Mass Media and Public Relations of the Government
of the Republic of Armenia informed Armenpress that the Prime
Minister stated in his speech that the age-long friendship between
the Armenian and Serbian peoples is strengthened by historical
facts. Tigran Sargsyan noted that Armenia is interested in expanding
those relations. He regarded deepening of economic cooperation,
in particular, necessary and correspondence to the high level of
political dialogue between the two countries. In this context, Tigran
Sargsyan attached importance to holding the Armenian and Serbian
business forum in Yerevan on March 11 which will allow discovering
new prospects of partnership.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia expressed
his gratitude for the reception and said that Serbia is interested
in developing the best possible relations with Armenia. Ivan MrkiÄ~G
reiterated willingness of his country to continue steps directed to
the activation of economic ties and increasing them to the political
cooperation level. He stressed the importance of establishing
corresponding legal field and stated that today at the course of the
meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Republic of Armenia
an agreement of double taxation avoidance was signed.

FRENCH SINGER PATRICIA KASS VISITS YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY

YEREVAN, March 10. / ARKA /. French singer Patricia Kass who sang for
Armenian audience on March 9 visited today the French-owned Yerevan
Brandy Company (YBC). She and other French musicians visited the aging
cellar of the plant and were told its history and production process.

The French stopped near the “Barrel of Peace,” filled in 2001. It
contains brandy spirit produced in 1994, when Armenia and Azerbaijan
signed an agreement to end hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. The barrel
will be opened on the day when the peace agreement will be signed.

The executive director of the YBC Artak Barseghyan presented the
singer with Ararat brandy, released in a limited quantity. Ararat
was the general sponsor of yesterday’s concert.

The concert that gave start to a two-month series of Francophonie
events in Armenia was organized by international music festival Yerevan
Perspectives with the assistance of the embassy of France in Armenia
and Yerevan Brandy Factory under the patronage of the ministry of
foreign affairs of Armenia.

The Yerevan Brandy Factory was founded in 1887. In 1998 it was sold
to French Pernod Ricard for $30 million. -0-

– See more at:

LA FRANCOPHONIE CENTER OPENS IN YEREVAN

March 10, 2014 | 15:03

YEREVAN. – La Francophonie Days will be held from March 10 to April
10 in Armenia.

Within the framework of this event, La Francophonie Center section
officially opened at Avetik Ishakyan Central Library in capital
city Yerevan.

Congratulating those present on behalf of Yerevan Mayor Taron
Margaryan, Deputy Mayor Aram Sukiasyan noted that the launching of La
Francophonie Center section at the library is a nice “gift” especially
for the francophone reading public and those who are preparing to
study French, informs the Yerevan Municipality Information and Public
Relations Department.

For her part, Library Director Hasmik Karapetyan extended her
appreciation to the city hall for its constant support, and expressed a
conviction that their future collaboration likewise will be productive.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

IIGHRS PUBLISHES STATEMENT REGARDING EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS RULING IN SWISS PAPERS

By MassisPost
Updated: March 7, 2014

BERN, SWITZERLAND — The International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) produced a
full-page informational advertisement that appeared in Switzerland’s
leading German and French language newspapers Neue Zurcher Zeitung on
March 6 and Le Temps on March 7. The advertisements were the product
of collaboration between the Switzerland Armenia Association and the
IIGHRS. Links to these articles in English, French, and German follow
this article.

The purpose of these ads was to raise awareness with the Swiss public
that the December 17, 2013 ruling of the Perincek vs. Switzerland
case by the European Court of Human Rights, promotes racism and
violence against Armenians in Turkey and elsewhere. The statement
further argued that the Swiss government has a moral responsibility
to appeal this ruling and defend its laws against racism.

Seeing that to date the Swiss Government had not filed an appeal
against the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, the IIGHRS
felt that it is crucial to educate the public about this critical
legal and moral issue. Switzerland was not a bystander to the Armenian
Genocide in 1915, and it should not be a bystander and allow its denial
today. In this respect, the Institute endeavored to raise awareness
of the facts of the Armenian Genocide through the speeches of the
President of Switzerland in 1922 to the League of Nations, and in
the words of the current President about the action needed against
denial of the Holocaust or any other genocide. President Burkhalter
noted that it is the duty of the Swiss people to remind people, ‘of
the facts and the historical reality’, and stressed that Switzerland
does not want to just ‘pay lip service, but to take concrete action’
to fight denial. Through the juxtaposing of these two historical
speeches, the Institute explained that while it does not disagree
with the right to freedom of speech, it takes issue with the ECHR’s
highly debatable statements about the Armenian Genocide that went
far beyond the Court’s mandate or competence.

Read the full text of the statement here: English French German

Journal of Turkish Daily
March 9 2014

Crimea: From Ottoman era to Russia referendum

9 March 2014

Crimea’s status is one of the hottest topics on the international
agenda in the wake of the four month political crisis in Ukraine which
saw the flight of pro-Russian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych.

Crimea’s parliament voted last Thursday in favor of joining Russia,
and calls for a referendum on the region’s future with Ukraine on
March 16. Its decision comes as Russian armed forces continue to
maintain their presence on the peninsula.

Crimea has been under the control of many states during its history
including the Huns, Khazars and the Byzantine Empire during the early
and Middle Ages until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1475.

Crimea was first given independence in 1774 with the Treaty of Kucuk
Kaynarca between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, and then occupied by
the Russians in 1783. Following Russia’s occupation, the Turkish
population in the city was forced to migrate and left for Turkey,
Romania and Bulgaria.

– Expulsion of Crimean Tatars under Stalin

The Crimean Soviet Socialist Republic was created in November 1921
following the 1917 Russian Revolution. Germany occupied Crimea in 1941
during the Second World War and Russian Soviet Republic took it back
in 1944, but not without deporting some 300,000 Crimean Tatars (a
Turkic ethnic group), in the territory upon collaborating with Germans
during the world war.

The Soviet administration under Stalin then eliminated the Crimean
Soviet Socialist Republic and gave provincial status to the region
under the name ‘Soviet Socialist Republic’.

– Integration with Ukraine in Khrushchev era

In 1954 Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic by the USSR as a “gift” by the then Soviet Russian leader,
Nikita Khrushchev.

In September 1967, Russia officially recognised the unfair treatment
of Crimean Tatars during the Stalin era, but the return of Crimean
Tatars to their homeland was not allowed at the time.

Only after a Supreme Soviet decree on the recognition of the
illegality of the indigenous population’s forced resettlement and in
recognition of their rights, Crimean Tatars began to return to their
homeland in large numbers. The Tatar population reached 150,000 by
1991, representing half the total Tatar population before Stalin
managed to return their homeland.

After a referendum in January 1991, the Crimean Soviet Socialist
Republic was re-declared and the Ukrainian Soviet Republic decided on
the establishment of Crimea Autonomous Region the same year to prevent
Crimea passing under Russian control once again.

The Mejlis (central executive body) of the Crimean Tatar People
gathered in June 1991 in Crimea’s capital and administrative center,
Simferopol, under the leadership of human rights activist Mustafa
Abdulcemil Kirimoglu.

The parliamentary seats in the Crimean Republic were raised from 80 to
98 in 1991. 14 seats were given to Crimean Tatars, while Greeks,
Armenians, Germans and Bulgarians were given one seat each.

Upon the decision to hold referendum to vote on the independence of
Crimea, Ukrainian authorities abolished the Crimean constitution and
presidency in March 1995. This was the first harsh reaction by Ukraine
over pro-Russians in Crimea after the dissolution of the Soviet
Republic.

The vast majority of the Crimean Autonomous Republic’s parliament, now
under de-facto Russian control, comprise of ethnic Russians and
Russian speakers, which make up 60 percent of the total Crimean
population. Armed groups which later turned out to be Russian soldiers
seized the parliamentary building on February 27, and after that,
parliamentary sessions began to discuss Crimea’s future. The Crimean
parliament also elected a pro-Russian parliamentary speaker and prime
minister unilaterally. However, referendum and elections in the region
requires the Ukrainian government’s approval. The Ukrainian government
emphasizes that all decisions taken after February 27 in the Crimean
parliament are unilateral and illegal.

9 March 2014
Anadolu Agency