Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIE
L’Arménie dégage une marge budgétaire en raison du remboursement
anticipé de l’emprunt russe

Le gouvernement arménien a sauvé des fonds budgétaires en raison du
remboursement anticipé d’un prêt russe de 500 millions vient
d’annoncer le ministre des Finances David Sarkissian.

Plus tôt, le gouvernement avait décidé d’utiliser 450 millions de
dollars de la première vente d’euro-obligations arméniens qui ont
dégagé 700 millions de dollars pour rembourser le prêt de la Russie
qui a été alloué en Juin 2009 pour soulager des graves conséquences de
la crise économique mondiale sur l’économie arménienne.

Le prêt était remboursable en 15 ans. Avant la vente
d’euro-obligations, le gouvernement avait déjà remboursé 50 millions
de dollars de ce prêt.

« En conséquence avec le remboursement anticipé de l’emprunt, le
gouvernement a économisé 7,5 milliards de drams d’intérêt », a déclaré
le ministre.

Il a dit, grce à la vente d’euro-obligations, le gouvernement n’a pas
besoin de plus pour attirer 11,4 milliards de drams supplémentaires
pour rembourser les taux d’intérêt du prêt.

M.Sarkissian a ajouté que grce à l’épargne de 19 milliards de drams
le gouvernement augmentera ses dépenses majeures.

dimanche 22 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
L’Arménie va approfondir ses liens militaires avec des États-Unis

L’Arménie va approfondir ses liens militaires avec les Etats-Unis,
malgré son intention de se joindre à de nouvelles alliances des
ex-républiques soviétiques a annoncé le Premier Vice-Ministre de la
Défense Davit Tonoyan après deux jours « de consultations de la
défense » américano-arméniennes.`

« Notre président, ministre de la Défense et ministre des Affaires
étrangères ont déclaré à plusieurs reprises qu’il n’y a pas
d’obstacles, aucun changement dans notre coopération militaire et de
sécurité » a-t-il dit. « Rejoindre l’un ou l’autre bloc économique
n’inhibe pas l’Arménie. Au contraire, notre coopération de défense
avec les Etats-Unis va se développer et s’approfondir ».

Tonoyan a fait valoir que cette coopération est considérée par les
dirigeants arméniens comme « l’un des facteurs importants » de la
sécurité nationale. Il a souligné que la Russie, qui a une alliance
militaire étroite avec l’Arménie, ne s’oppose pas à elle.

Tonoyan a pris la parole lors d’une conférence de presse commune avec
Evelyn Farkas, sous-secrétaire adjoint américaine à la Défense pour la
Russie et l’Eurasie qui a dirigé une délégation de responsables
militaires américains au cours des consultations. Farkas a eu mercredi
des entretiens séparés avec le ministre de la Défense Seyran Ohanian
et le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Edouard Nalbandian.

« L’Arménie est un partenaire important pour les États-Unis à bien des
égards » a déclaré Farkas. « En tant que partenaire dans la région du
Caucase, en tant que partenaire avec l’OTAN dans le [programme] de
Partenariat pour la paix, en tant que partenaire avec le Commandement
américain en Europe dans la promotion de la stabilité régionale, et en
tant que partenaire de la Garde nationale du Kansas ».

« Ces consultations bilatérales de défense sont l’occasion pour nous
de parler de la façon dont nous pouvons continuer à élargir et
d’approfondir notre relation de défense » a déclaré le responsable du
Pentagone. Elle a ajouté que les deux parties se sont concentrées sur
la poursuite de l’aide américaine à une unité de l’armée arménienne
qui fournit des contingents à des missions en cours de l’OTAN en
Afghanistan et au Kosovo.

Il a été annoncé que le Pentagone va allouer 1,5 million de dollars de
nouvelles aides visant à étendre « les capacités de maintien de la
paix » de l’Arménie en 2014-2015. Tonoyan a précisé que l’argent sera
consacré à des exercices et des programmes de formation qui
faciliteront le déploiements des soldats arméniens dans d’autres
points chauds.

En particulier, Erevan prévoit de contribuer à hauteur de 60 soldats à
une force de maintien de la paix des Nations Unies au Liban l’année
prochaine. Environ 200 soldats arméniens servent actuellement en
Afghanistan et au Kosovo.

Farkas a prodigué des éloges sur ces militaires, disant qu’ils ont
transformé l’Arménie en un « exportateur net de la sécurité ». « Cela
permet à l’Arménie de continuer à élever sa stature internationale »
a-t-elle dit.

« Cette visite [par Farkas] met en évidence la coopération forte et
croissante entre les États-Unis et l’Arménie dans le domaine de la
défense » a déclaré l’ambassade américaine à Erevan dans un communiqué
publié plus tôt cette semaine.

dimanche 22 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIENS DE TURQUIE
Ahmet Davutoglu rencontre Mgr Aram Atéchian au ministère turc des
Affaires Etrangères

Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères, Ahmet Davutoglu a rencontre
l’Archevêque en exercice de l’Eglise apostolique arménienne
d’Istanbul, Aram Atéchian. L’agence de presse turque IHA qui donne
cette information affirme que cette rencontre s’est déroulée au siège
du ministère turc des Affaires Etrangères. Lors de cette rencontre,
Mgr Aram Atéchian a offert un livre au chef de la diplomatie turque
ainsi qu’un plateau décoré par des gravures représentant des
coquelicots. La presse et les médias n’étaient pas conviés à cette
rencontre.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 22 décembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

AZERBAÏDJAN-ISRAËL
Israël équipera l’armée azérie de nouveaux drones de type Orbiter-2M

De nouveaux drones israéliens équiperont l’armée de l’air de
l’Azerbaïdjan. Des drones qui seront naturellement utilisés en cas de
reprise de la guerre face à l’Arménie ou le Haut Karabagh. Zaver
Djamalov le ministre azéri de l’Industrie militaire vient de donner
cette information. Selon ce dernier en 2013 Israël a fabriqué 10
drones de type Orbiter-2M. Ces drones serviront dans l’armée azérie
après leurs essais auprès de ses fabricants en Israël. L’Azerbaïdjan
dispose déjà de drones et des missiles anti-aériens de type Hermes-900
ainsi que des Heron et Hermes-450 achetés pour leur majorité auprès
d’Israël. Le contrat d’achat d’armements israéliens de l’Azerbaïdjan
est évalué pour la période 2012-2013 à plus de 1,6 milliard de
dollars.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 22 décembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

`Armenian Renaissance – Paris’ says ECtHR judgement distorts the sense
of freedom of speech

December 21, 2013 | 14:30

`Armenian Renaissance – Paris’ strongly condemned the European Court
of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment on Armenian Genocide denial case.

In its statement, the Armenian organization strongly condemned ruling
in favor of Armenian Genocide-denying Turkish politician Dogu
Perincek.

`By this decision, European Court of Human Rights refuted Armenian
people’s right for existence and deprives Turkish people of the right
to clarify the true facts of their history. Today the decision is
directed against Armenians, what nations it will be directed against
tomorrow?’

The organization urged Armenians living all over the globe to respond
to the judgment that distorts the sense of `freedom of speech’.

The ECtHR recently ruled in favor of Armenian Genocide-denying Turkish
politician Dogu Perincek’s lawsuit that was filed against Switzerland.
The said judgment by European Court of Human Rights was made on the
grounds of freedom of speech. In 2008, a Swiss court had convicted
Perincek for denying the Armenian Genocide. Dogu Perincek is Chairman
of the socialist Workers’ Party of Turkey.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Azeri leader forms special field army in Nakhchivan

December 21, 2013 – 16:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a
decree to establish a special field army (SFA) in Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic.

Lieutenant General Karam Mustafayev has been appointed the army’s commander.

The decree was announced by the deputy head of the Presidential
Administration, Vahid Aliyev at a board meeting of the Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry, Trend News said.

The head of the Doctrine Centre for Military Studies Journalism, Jasur
Sumerinli considers the SFA creation unreasonable, according to
Contact.az.

He believes the argument that the army will strengthen defense
capability of the NAR to be untenable. In his view, the decision was
made at the request of Vahid Aliyev and the Commander of the 5th Corps
Mustafayev.

`Mustafayev has always enjoyed special powers; he did not reckon with
the Ministry of Defense and instead, ran errands for Vahid Aliyev,’
Sumerinli said.

According to the expert, following the appointment of a new Defense
Minister, Mustafayev has taken steps to preserve his position and
prevent the influence of the new minister by “legitimizing his
independence.”

Sumerinli believes the Nakhchivan army will be directly subordinated
to the Supreme Commander. `Perhaps in some issues it will also be
subordinated to the Defense Ministry in Baku. Factually, the country
will get two Ministries of Defense, the solution further complicating
the control of armed forces, instead of facilitating it,’ the expert
said.

Australian parliamentarians condemn visit of Armenian Genocide denier
Justin McCarthy

15:06, 21 December, 2013

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. John Alexander, the Liberal Member
for Bennelong, and Michelle Rowland, the Labor Member for Greenway,
have both risen in Australia’s Federal Parliament to speak against
visiting Armenian Genocide denier, Professor Justin McCarthy.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia informed `Armenpress’
that McCarthy, who is a well funded denier of the Armenian Genocide,
earlier this week had two planned events in Sydney and Melbourne
cancelled on the grounds of his unwelcome denialist views.

McCarthy spoke in a room at Parliament House on Thursday, at an event
attended by reportedly only “two or three politicians” after the
Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) wrote to all
Members of Parliament and Senators about McCarthy’s denialist
views. Among the attending politicians were Laurie Ferguson and Mehmet
Tillem, who had helped organise the event.

While this event took place, on the same day, MPs Alexander and
Rowland made addresses in the national Parliament, unequivocally
confirming the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide to a far
greater audience of politicians, media and members of the public.

Alexander said: “… revisionist Justin McCarthy has used
parliamentary facilities to promote his well-documented views
questioning the systematic slaughter of Armenians, Assyrians and
Pontian Greeks from 1915 to 1923.”

“The International Association of Genocide Scholars has discredited
McCarthy’s work as selective and grossly distorting history.”

“ANZAC soldiers verify the Genocide as an irrefutable historical fact
through their eyewitness accounts.”

“Denial of this Genocide is an attack on those who perished, those who
survived, and their descendants.”

He added: “This institution should never again be used to express
doubt over the scope of suffering experienced by the victims of a
historical atrocity nor to justify these actions as merely part of a
civil war.”

Rowland, adding her voice, said: “I can also understand the heightened
frustration that many Australian-Armenians feel on this matter because
of the venue at which this event is scheduled to take place.”

“My views on this are well known. I have joined in the past with
members of parliament and community leaders from all sides of the
political spectrum including the members for Berowra and Bennelong,
and the New South Wales Liberal Minister Gladys Berejiklian, to
recognise the Armenian genocide…”

“Australian POWs recorded the marches, the massacres and the complete
destruction of Armenian churches, villages and city quarters. ANZAC
servicemen also rescued survivors across the Middle East.”

“Today I acknowledge the tragic events of 1915 and affirm my
commitment to never forget what happened to the Armenian people who
were effectively eliminated from the homeland they had occupied for
nearly 3,000 years.”

She added: “This week I noted a humanitarian plea to assist people in
the Philippines who were the victims of natural disaster, and I want
to end this speech by noting that Australia’s first major
international humanitarian relief effort was in fact to help Armenian
orphans from the genocide.”

ANC Australia extended their appreciation to Alexander and Rowland for
bringing to light that Armenian Genocide denial, like Holocaust
denial, is unacceptable.

Executive Director Vache Kahramanian said: “Mr Alexander and Ms
Rowland are champions of human rights and champions of just
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We once again appreciate their
support.”

Meanwhile, to ensure the support against Armenian Genocide denialism
is truly bi-partisan, Greens spokesman on multiculturalism Richard Di
Natale told the Sydney Morning Herald that the event should not have
been held in Parliament.

`Justin McCarthy is a rallying point for those who deny the Armenian
genocide,’ the Senator said.

`The Australian Parliament should not be providing Professor McCarthy
with a platform because that just lends legitimacy those views.” `To
deny the fact that genocide occurred is to disrespect those people who
lost their lives and to cause further pain for those who lost loved
ones.’

During McCarthy’s visit, the cancellations of certain events followed
mass media coverage by the ABC, Fairfax, News Limited, Macquarie and
SBS.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry also released a powerful
statement expressing their deep concerns of McCarthy’s visit and
denialist views.

Construction of Vardenis-Martakert highway to start in January 2014

14:51 21.12.2013

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund

Hayastan-All Armenian Fund has signed contracts for procurement of
Vardenis-Martakert road construction with firms having won the tender
carried out on December 9 and 10.

According to the contracts, firms undertaking the construction
projects, will start the road earthwork and engineering works /first
stage/ in January 2014.

Contracts specify the same time period for implementation of the works
on the road with a total length of about 116km, Press Service of the
Hayastan Fund reports.

The Vardenis-Martakert Highway will be of key economic and
humanitarian importance. By functioning as a direct road link, the
highway will become a second lifeline between northern Armenia and
northern Artsakh, significantly cutting down travel times, boosting
the economies of scores of Artsakh communities along its path,
stimulating inter-community ties, and vastly improving geographic
access for implementing local development initiatives.

Currently the only land-travel link between Artsakh and Armenia is the
Berdzor community, through which passes the Goris-Stepanakert Highway.

The Vardenis-Martakert Highway will bring economic benefits to
communities located within up to 20 kilometers on either side of the
route.

Turkey’s river dam project unilateral decision – Armenian PM

15:16 – 21.12.13

Armenia’s prime minister has described Turkey’s $20 billion worth
river dam construction project as a unilateral decision threatening
Armenia’s water resources.

Tigran Sargsyan addressed the problem at the presentation of
Karabakhfacts.com, the first Armenian online yearbook of comparative
and international law. He said the Turkish project may negatively
affect the water reserves in the Ararat valley.

`That country’s government has made a unilateral decision;
particularly, it has allocated 20 billion Dollars for the construction
of dams on rivers highly influencing the water reserves in the Ararat
valley. Specialists’ estimates suggest that we will have serious
problems with the irrigation networks in the Ararat valley years
later,’ said the premier.

Sargsyan said Armenia has real legal mechanisms allowing it to protect
its national interests. He particularly stressed the importance of
using the international treaties, conventions and other instruments
that would help back the country’s rights at international tribunals.
In that context, he referred also to the treaties concluded back in
the Soviet period.

PRESS RELEASE
ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
CONTACT: Patil Halajian
Tel: 416-250-9807
Fax: 416-512-1736
E-mail: [email protected]

A message from the Zoryan Institute

The Zoryan Institute

Dear Friends of Zoryan,

We have been asked by many of our friends and supporters worldwide to share
our activities on YouTube, so they can have a greater feeling of
participation. In line with our year-end tradition of keeping our supporters
informed, we have chosen this year to transmit some of the highlights of
these activities to our friends via video.

Please click on the pictures or press play to play videos of each event, and
your feedback would be much appreciated.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank you for all the financial and
moral support of our donors and Friends like yourself, without which we
would not be able to serve the Institute’s mission. Only with your continued
help can we meet these goals.

Happy holidays from all of us at Zoryan!

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, represented by Mr. Stuart Murray,
President and CEO, and the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute of the
National Academy of Sciences, represented by Dr. Hayk Demoyan, Director,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 7, 2013 that will
facilitate collaboration for the promotion of education and awareness of
human rights and genocide through joint projects. The collaboration was
initiated and continues to be facilitated by the Zoryan Institute.

Play video

Representative of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Dr. Clint Curle,
Head of Stakeholder Relations, describes the significance of the Zoryan
Institute for Canadians during a meeting with the Minister of Diaspora of
the Republic of Armenia in March 2013.

Play video

The treatment of the Jewish community in Turkey since 1950. was not any
different from all the non-Muslim minorities-Armenians, Greeks and Jews-they
all have faced similar challenges in their relationship with the Turkish
state and society, writes noted scholar Rifat Bali of Turkey. They all had
to deal with issues of language, religion, culture and identity in a
society that demands total conformity, but they responded to the challenges
in different ways. Bali describes how the Jewish community, in particular,
attempted to become “model citizens of the state,” in response to this
challenge.

Play video

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The first Hollywood film on the Armenian Genocide,”Ravished Armenia,” was
released in 1919, while the effects of the Genocide were still taking place.
It was shown in several countries, captured the public’s imagination, and
was very popular. Aurora Mardiganian, a 17-year-old genocide survivor,
portrayed herself in the film as the lead character, reliving the trauma of
the horrors she had personally experienced. Henry Morgenthau, US Ambassador
to the Ottoman Empire during the time of the genocide, also portrayed
himself. In this video, internationally renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan and
Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Hayk Demoyan discuss the
significance of the film and the life of Aurora Mardiganian.

Play video

The President of the Republic of Armenia’s Prize was given to the Zoryan
Institute in April 2013. the prize was awarded to the Institute for its
“significant work in research on the Armenian Genocide, publishing
activities, and notable contribution to the preparation of young scholars.”
President Serzh Sargsyan described the Zoryan Institute as one of the “key
institutions” in the Diaspora.

Play video (inArmenian)