Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Davutoglu’s statements are absurd – MP

15:11 14/12/2013 » POLITICS

Turkish Foreign Minister’s statements are absurd, Republican MP
Mkrtich Minasyan says.

Davutoglu was in Yerevan to attend the 29th meeting of the Council of
Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) member states.

`Davutoglu announced that `Armenians betrayed their nation and
deserved the deportation.’ This is absurd. I believe that the
civilized mankind knows what happened in reality,’ Minasyan said.

`If Turkey wants to become a civilized country, it should be able to
face the truth,’ the MP stressed.

Source: Panorama.am

Only thing remaining is for Davutoglu to say we committed genocide – Sozcu

December 14, 2013 | 14:38

In his latest article, anti-Armenian journalist and columnist Emin
Colasan of Turkey’s Sozcu nationalist daily harshly criticized Turkish
FM Ahmet Davutoglu’s statements that were made en route to his visit
toArmenia.

Commenting on Davutoglu’s statement, according to which, `We [i.e.,
Turkey] do not condone the deportation [of the Armenians in 1915]. It
was an inhumane act. What the Ittihadists [i.e., the Young Turks] had
done was a completely wrong action,’ Colasan argued that Davutoglu
does not know history.

The Sozcu columnist attempted to persuade the readers that the
Armenians had betrayed the Ottoman state during the First World War,
and therefore the authorities were obligated to remove the Armenians
from the war zone.

`Davutoglu has not said solely one thing: `Yes, we have committed
genocide, and we apologize from the Armenians and the entire world.’
Don’t be surprised if one day he would say such a thing,’ Emin Colasan
wrote in sarcasm.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Iran sends second monkey into space

15:46 – 14.12.13

Iran’s president has said that the Islamic Republic has successfully
sent a monkey into space for the second time, part of a program aimed
at manned space flight, the Inquierer News reported.

Hassan Rouhani’s website said Saturday that the rocket used liquid
fuel for the first time. It did not say when the launch took place or
give other details.

Iran frequently claims technological breakthroughs that are impossible
to independently verify. The Islamic Republic has said it seeks to
send an astronaut into space as part of an ambitious aerospace
program.

Iran said that it sent its first monkey into space in January. One of
two official packages of photos of the simian space traveler depicted
the wrong monkey, however, raising doubts among international
observers as to whether the launch was as successful as reported.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Armenian pianist Artur Bobikyan to perform in UK town

December 14, 2013 – 14:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian pianist and composer Artur Bobikyan is
giving a recital called My Keys to Christmas at the Cathedral Church
of St Marie in Sheffield, England on Tuesday, Dec 17, Sheffield
Telegraph reports.

The program includes works and arrangements by Mendelssohn, Wade,
Watts, Gruber, Tchaikovsky, Haroutunian, Khachaturian, Komitas and
Bobikyan on a seasonal theme.

My Keys To Christmas is the title of an album Bobikyan recorded at the
Royal College of Music in Manchester.

The concert pianist, organist and composer graduated as a pianist from
Yekmalian Music School and later combined performing with compostion
at the Tchaikovsky Music School.

At the age of 14 he won the title of Pianist of the Year in Armenia
and was soon winning piano competitions in Armenia, Russia and in
across Europe. He was the organ curator for nine years at the
prestigious Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin.

As a composer (which apparently began at the age of seven) Bobikyan’s
portfolio includes piano and violin concertos, preludes for organ and
piano and choral arrangements. He has even turned his hand to scores
for TV advertisements and a musical. They have been performed by the
BBC singers and the London Symphony Orchestra and heard on BBC Radio 4
and Classic FM.

He himself has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Westminster
Abbey, Cathedral Grant Trinity Paris, Armenian National Opera and the
Aram Khachaturian Philharmonic Music Hall and in front of a variety of
luminaries from Pope John Paul II to Jean-Claude Van Damme and Charles
Aznavour.

Customs Union in talks with non-EU Europe – Lavrov

12:25 – 14.12.13

Representatives of the Russian-led Customs Union are in talks over
creation of a free trade zone with New Zealand and some non-EU
European nations, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
Saturday.

`Talks on creation of a free trade zone between the Customs Union and
Vietnam are already started… at around the same time as Vietnam, talks
are underway on creation of a free trade zone between the Customs
Union and New Zealand, and also between the Union and the European
Free Trade Association that includes those western European nations
(in particular Switzerland and Norway) that are not EU members,’
Lavrov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV.

Moscow is also hoping that if talks with Vietnam are successful, they
could serve as a template for similar negotiations for a free trade
zone between the ASEAN group of Asian nations and the EU, he said.

Lavrov’s comments come as Russia and the EU are locked in a struggle
to secure a free trade agreement with Ukraine. Kiev turned its back on
a widely expected association deal last month, saying it would harm
economic relations with Russia, prompting mass demonstrations by
pro-EU protesters and throwing the country into a political crisis.

Both the EU and Moscow have accused the other of using strong-arm
tactics to secure economic ties with Kiev.

Armenian News – Tert.am

France Tries To Break Through Russian Blockade

The French ambassador to Armenia Henri Renault made important
statements on the day of Davutoglu’s visit expressing an intention to
make major investments in Armenia next year.

The ambassador reminded that France is the biggest Western investor in
Armenia. Those companies are Orange, Pernod Ricard, Credit Agricole,
Veolia Generale and SAUR, and `of course, Carrefour’, the French
ambassador said.

Besides, in the summer of 2014 Air France will operate daily flights
to Armenia. Soon Armenia will receive a housing construction loan from
the AFD (French Development Agency). The water supply system of
Yerevan will be reconstructed.

After the decision of Armenia to join the Customs Union most western
officials brought up the need to punish Armenia and stop investments
and assistance. Their opponents said that thus Armenia will not only
be lost for the West but may disappear as a state. Apparently, the
second opinion was stronger, and one can notice the efforts of Europe,
the United States and Iran are trying to break through the Russian
blockade into the Armenian market.

The Armenian economy is a marsh with virtual money. Due to the policy
that leads to isolation of the government Armenia has become an area
of Russian monopolies and local oligarchs. Thanks to Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan, Armenia has lost its real economy and become a plate
where remittances and loans flow. Armenia has not even created a food
reserve, hoping that soon the CSTO warehouses will be established in
Armenia, and the expired food will be Armenia’s reserve.

Everything that could be done with the economy of Armenia has already
been done. All the strategic assets have been transferred to Russia,
the economy is based on imports and banks which have been monopolized,
and the Armenian government together with Russia has blocked the way
of not only the local producers but also big Western companies.

The countries that wish to establish economic cooperation with Armenia
and break through the blockade are already addressing the public
because they don’t know what else could be done. The ambassadors of
the United States, France, Germany and Iran stated bluntly that the
Armenian government blocks all the initiatives that are beneficial for
the citizens. They are unable to understand why the citizens of
Armenia do not take to the streets and demand cheap food, fuel and
flight tickets.

The citizens of Armenia cannot count their money and gladly allow
others to rob them. It is typical of post-Soviet publics who have been
persuaded for 70 years that material and private interests are a shame
and they should think about the homeland and collective interests. And
they have been robbed by their fellows and foreigners. This will be
the way until we learn to count our money.

Naira Hayrumyan
13:41 14/12/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Over 160 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side reported last week

13:56 14.12.2013

ceasefire violation

According to the data of the NKR Defense Army, about 160 cases of
ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the
line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan from December 8 to 14.

The rival fired more than 700 shots from weapons of different caliber
in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army remained committed to the
maintenance of the ceasefire regime and continued with their military
duty all along the line of contact.

Armenian pianist to give a concert at Cathedral Church of St Marie in Sheffield

11:34 14.12.2013

Armenian pianist and composer Artur Bobikyan is giving a recital
called My Keys to Christmas at the Cathedral Church of St Marie in
Sheffield, England, on Tuesday, the Sheffield Telegraph reports.

The programme includes works and arrangements by Mendelssohn, Wade,
Watts, Gruber, Tchaikovsky, Haroutunian, Khachaturian, Komitas and
Bobikyan on a seasonal theme.

My Keys To Christmas is the title of an album Bobikyan recorded at the
Royal College of Music in Manchester.

The concert pianist, organist and composer graduated as a pianist from
Yekmalian Music School and later combined performing with compostion
at the Tchaikovsky Music School.

At the age of 14 he won the title of Pianist of the Year in Armenia
and was soon winning piano competitions in Armenia, Russia and in
across Europe.

He was the organ curator for nine years at the prestigious Cathedral
of Holy Echmiadzin.

As a composer (which apparently began at the age of seven) Bobikyan’s
portfolio includes piano and violin concertos, preludes for organ and
piano and choral arrangements.

He has even turned his hand to scores for TV advertisements and a
musical. They have been performed by the BBC singers and the London
Symphony Orchestra and heard on BBC Radio 4 and Classic FM.

He himself has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Westminster
Abbey, Cathedral Grant Trinity Paris, Armenian National Opera and the
Aram Khachaturian Philharmonic Music Hall and in front of a variety of
luminaries from Pope John Paul II to Jean-Claude Van Damme and Charles
Aznavour.

REPORTAGE PHOTO
Soirée dédiée au livre album de Montserrat Caballé rendant hommage à l’Arménie

L’ambassade d’Arménie a organisé le 12 décembre à l’Hôtel
intercontinental une belle soirée dédiée à la sortie du livre-album de
Montserrat Caballé Arménie-Artsakh, îlots de chrétienté. Le catholicos
Karékine II et Bako Sahakian, le président de la République du
Haut-Karabagh, ont parrainé cette soirée événement à laquelle était
également présent Charles Aznavour, Claudia Cardinale, la baronnesse
Caroline Cox, Stéphane Bern et les élus des groupes d’amitiés
France-Arménie au Parlement. A noter également, la présence d’Anne
Hidalgo, candidate PS à la Mairie de Paris.

Bako Sahakian, Montserrat Caballé, Karékine II, Charles Aznavour
samedi 14 décembre 2013,
Ara ©armenews.com

TRADITIONS
Les stands arméniens à Moscou à lors de la foire « Grenade d’or » pour
les fêtes de fin d’année

Du 20 décembre au 8 janvier se déroulera à Moscou le Festival `Voyage
vers la Sainte Nativité’ en présence de stands de nombreuses villes.
La représentation de la Ville d’Erévan à Moscou indique que les
moscovites connaissent déjà la foire annuelle de la période des fêtes
de fin d’année, la « Grenade d’or ». Chaque année de nombreuses villes
d’Arménie, des artisans et artistes viennent prendre part à cette
manifestation. Dans les stands arméniens, les habitants de la capitale
russe trouvent des confitures d’Arménie des fruits secs, des plats
traditionnels arméniens des confiseries et des cadeaux de Noël et du
Nouvel An. Lors de ces expositions-ventes, est également enseignée la
préparation du lavash, le pain arménien.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 14 décembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com