Author: Kajoyan Gevork

PREMIER: DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS IS A TOP-PRIORITY OBJECTIVE

YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Development of relations with the European
Union is one of Armenia’s top-priority objectives, and it is necessary
to search for an appropriate way for expanding Armenia-EU partnership,
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Wednesday as met with
a European delegation headed by Milan Cabrnoch, co-chair of the
Armenia-EU parliamentary cooperation commission.

He said that Armenia is interested in diversification of its foreign
relations, given the geopolitical situation in the region.

“International experts say risks in the region are quite high, and
security is a highest-priority matter to us,” he added.

Sargsyan said that despite its membership in the Collective Security
Treaty Organization, Armenia keeps deepening its cooperation with NATO.

Cabrnoch, on his side, stressed the importance of expansion of the
bilateral relationship and the necessity of making parliamentary
ties closer.

He expressed confidence that simplification of visa regime will
contribute to development of Armenia-EU relations. Other regional
issues were discussed at the meeting as well. .—0—-

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THE JERUSALEM POST CALLED ERDOGAN VILE BIGOT

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

16:03, 30 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: The Israeli The Jerusalem Post
criticized the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Armenpress reports that the newspaper wrote: “After over 50 years of
Israeli-Turkish intelligence cooperation, the Turkish disclosure to
Iran of the identities of Mossad operatives – apparently subsequently
executed – illustrates the depths to which Israel-Turkey relations have
descended under Islamist autocrat Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan seeks to conceal his true intentions and convey the illusion
that he is himself a role model for an enlightened Islam which blends
with democracy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Erdogan
is a fanatical Islamist and a vile bigot who lavishes praise on the
Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hezbollah and whose behavior is more
reminiscent of an Ottoman sultan than a democratically elected leader.

Erdogan has employed Islamist demagoguery to win three elections
and has exploited his power and position to intimidate the media
and destroy the opposition. He has purged the army of its secular
officers through primitive show trials and brutally repressed freedom
of speech. Today, there are more imprisoned journalists in Turkey
than in Communist China and perhaps any other country in the world.

Erdogan’s brutal response to environmentalist protesters against
the redeveloping of Gezi Park in central Istanbul a few months
ago, wounding over 4,000 peaceful demonstrators, exemplified his
authoritarianism and brutality. Der Spiegel quotes Turkish human rights
organizations attesting that he subsequently engaged in a campaign
to punish journalists, teachers and other activists involved in the
protests, arresting at least 3,000 people, including children.

Since his demagogic outburst against President Shimon Peres in Davos
live on TV in January 2009, followed by his dramatic storming out
of the meeting, Erdogan’s attitude toward Israel has dramatically
deteriorated. He shamelessly allies himself with the genocidal Hamas
and refers to Israel as a “terrorist state” which “massacres children”
and “knows well how to kill.” Only a few weeks ago, Erdogan hosted
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Turkey for the third time in 12 months.

Clearly, he reached the conclusion that as a major global Israel-basher
he reaps dividends among the Arab masses and furthers his dream of
becoming head of a new Ottoman Sunni empire. ERDOGAN’S ANTI-ZIONISM
is a natural extension of his anti-Semitism. As far back as 1974, he
directed and played a leading role in a play entitled Maskomya, based
on the evil global influence of Jews, Communists and Freemasons. As
mayor of Istanbul in 1998, he stated, “Today the image of the Jews is
no different from that of the Nazis.” In 2006 he endorsed the popular
virulent anti-Semitic film Valley of the Wolves about an American
Jew who trades in body parts.

He blamed the Gezi Park environmental protest on the “interest
rate lobby,” the “dual loyalists” and the “rootless cosmopolitans,”
clear references to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. His deputy
explicitly attributed the blame for the riots on the Jewish Diaspora.

Erdogan has made outrageous statements in international circles. At
a UN conference in Vienna in February, Erdogan stated, “Just like
Zionism and fascism, Islamophobia must be regarded as a crime against
humanity.”

Only a few weeks ago he blamed Israel for the upheavals in Egypt,
stating, “What is said about Egypt? That democracy is not about
the box. Who was behind this? Israel is. We have evidence in our
hands.” When subsequently pressed to substantiate this xenophobic
outburst, all he could do was to quote the French Jewish philosopher
Bernard Henri Levy (not an Israeli) who had made negative references
to the Muslim Brotherhood in 2001. One of Erdogan’s favorite remarks
is “There is no Islamic terror.”He also publicly undermines American
efforts to boycott Iran and continues to provide Tehran with reliable
trade outlets. Nonetheless, the US still considers Turkey a principal
ally with which it shares “bonds of trust.”

In June 2012, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu launched “The Global Terrorism Forum,” a
counter- terrorism organization comprising 30 founding members from
which Israel was notably excluded.

In September 2013, the US and Turkey expanded this organization by
creating a $200 million joint venture fund – “The Global Fund for
Community Engagement and Resilience” – purportedly to combat extremist
ideologies amongst young people in the Muslim world.

American taxpayers are footing the bill for this exercise, organized by
an Islamist leadership that endorses Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood and
has shamelessly hosted former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
and President Omer Hassan al Bashir, the genocidal leader of Sudan
charged with war crimes.

THE SURREAL nature of Turkish influence is best exemplified by
the ongoing story of the Mavi Marmara flotillas that sought to
break Israel’s weapons embargo on Gaza in May 2010. Following
the international incident, Erdogan demanded that Israel issue an
unequivocal apology for the death of nine Turkish protesters associated
with al-Qaida who were aboard the boat.

When Israel acted in accordance with the ruling of an independent UN
inquiry that found that it need not apologize for the loss of lives,
Erdogan recalled his ambassador, orchestrated show trials against IDF
personnel, and sought to exclude Israel from global organizations,
including NATO – this, from a leader who has never acknowledged his
country’s massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in World War I.

Following his visit to Israel in March 2013, President Barack Obama
allegedly pressed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to apologize
and pay compensation to the Turkish terrorists’ families. Despite
bitter condemnation in Israel, Netanyahu complied in order to restore
relations with Turkey so that Israel and Turkey could cooperate on
issues emerging in Syria. Erdogan agreed to cooperate with Israel at
all levels.

But, unsurprisingly, the Turkish prime minister has failed to adhere
to his commitment. Immediately after Israeli issued its apology,
Erdogan announced his intention to visit Gaza, and demanded Israel
lift its maritime blockade against Hamas. Six months later, Erdogan
still has not restored diplomatic relations nor suspended the show
trials of senior Israeli officials. The Greek ambassador to Israel
informed The Jerusalem Post that Turkey was still continuing to block
Israel’s participation in NATO. This month, President Abdullah Gul
stated that Israel had extended its apology “too late.”

IN LIGHT of this, it is disappointing that Obama continues to praise
Erdogan as a “moderate Islamist” who “has shown great leadership,”
ignoring the fact that he has effectively violated all the undertakings
brokered by him in relation to Israel and continues to actively
undermine efforts to impose sanctions on Iran . Not to mention that
only a few weeks ago Erdogan announced a “strategic partnership” with
China. The reality is that while the inveterate anti-Semite Erdogan
has his way, he will veto any efforts to improve relationships with
Israel, despite the major strategic and economic benefits that would
accrue to both countries.

Thus, even if the US clings to the fantasy that Turkey represents
a moderate, democratically influenced form of Islam, we should not
delude ourselves. Erdogan is running an anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli reg

DASHNAKTSUTYUN URGES SARGSYAN TO OVERSEE INVESTIGATION OF HIGH-PROFILE MURDER OF PARTY MEMBER

ANALYSIS | 30.10.13 | 10:49

Photolure

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Against the background of speculations about the “weakened” opposition
stance of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun),
the traditional party on Tuesday staged a protest march towards
the Presidential Palace in Yerevan demanding that President Serzh
Sargsyan oversee the investigation of the high-profile murder of a
Dashnak member.

Hrach Muradyan, mayor of Proshyan, a large rural community just outside
Yerevan, was killed on April 2. Resident of the same village Arayik
Petrosyan was arrested as a suspect. He was charged with murder
and illegal carrying of weapons. Petrosyan did not confess to the
crime and denies the charges. The family and relatives of Muradyan
believe that those who ordered what they consider to be a political
assassination have not been revealed.

Dashnaktsutyun, too, considers Muradyan’s killing to be politically
motivated. In a letter addressed to President Sargsyan members of the
social movement “Hrach Muradyan – Demand For Justice” remind that in
2010 the Dashnaktsutyun-affiliated village mayor survived a murder
attempt, and two years later he was attacked by hooligans. Neither
crime was solved, which led to the murder of the village mayor,
they emphasized.

“After the murder, during the 2013 village mayor elections,
certain circles of the authorities demonstrated excessive activity:
army, administrative and financial leverages were used, and a
cause-and-effect link was established between the elimination of
Dashnak village mayor Hrach Muradyan and coming to power of some
people. There is an opinion that today the same forces impede the
disclosure of the case. Respected Mr. President, we demand that you
take the case under your personal control to ensure a complete and
thorough investigation,” the letter reads.

A member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia won the early
mayoral election in Proshyan in July, but the letter does not directly
name him. No specific names were given during the march either. The
demand was mainly for justice through the disclosure of the crime.

Dashnaktsutyun, which left the governing coalition in 2009 over its
differences with coalition partners regarding the Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement process, has been criticized in the recent period over
a perceived move closer to the government as one of the senior members
of the party has accepted the offer of an ambassadorial position.

Although ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisyan told media that he
had agreed to become an ambassador “for the sake of the Republic of
Armenia” and that “cooperating does not mean becoming the same”, his
decision triggered speculation that the party is starting a “velvet”
return to the ruling coalition. Interestingly, during the protests
against the Turkish-Armenian protocols Dashnaktsutyun demanded the
resignation of Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, and now one of
the most influential members of the party has agreed to take a post
where Nalbandian will be his immediate supervisor.

In recent years the Dashnaktsutyun party has appeared from opposition
positions, and in 2011 it even proposed a vote of no confidence in
the Government. Dashnaktsutyun lawmakers have been critical of the
government’s handling of the economy, and after the latest elections
the party called into question their legitimacy. But in the most recent
period it has become noticeable that Dashnaktsutyun has moderated its
rhetoric in the National Assembly, moreover, it effectively called
acceptable the decision by the president that Armenia should join
the Russia-led Customs Union.

Although Dashnaktsutyun members continue to say that they have no
plans to return to the ruling coalition, the latest steps provide a
solid foundation for many observers to assume the opposite.

IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES IF PENSIONERS ARE “DONE AWAY WITH” – GREEN PARTY

October 30, 2013 | 13:19

YEREVAN. – The current domestic political situation in Armenia is
very contradictory.

Opposition Armenian National Congress bloc former member, Green Party
of Armenia Chairman Armenak Dovlatyan noted the aforementioned during
a press conference on Wednesday.

In his words, now there seems to be an apathetic silence in the
country plus an internal strain, which could escalate.

“There is a standby; different groups are either waiting or preparing
for some processes,” Dovlatyan said.

In his conviction, the present-day situation in Armenia needs to
change.

The Green Party leader also cited the government’s statement that
everything is fine in Armenia.

“It would be much better for the authorities if the pensioners are
‘done away with’ and they would not give them pensions. If a pensioner
in Armenia is absent from the country for three years, they deprive
him of pension,” Armenak Dovlatyan added.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ZHOGHOVURD: MARGAR OHANIAN ENJOYS HIMSELF IN DUBAI

Margar Ohanian, the former chief of the Armenian traffic police,
flew to Dubai after he was released from prison, according to
‘Zhoghovurd’ paper.

“It is not clear when he will return. Ohanian said that after spending
two years in prison, he intends to enjoy himself at the beach. Margar
Ohanian has joined parliamentary deputy Samvel Aleksanian, businessman
Samvel Karapetian, and the leader of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK)
Gagik Tsarukian who spend their vacations in Dubai,” the paper writes.

DEPUTY PM: AZERBAIJAN WILL LIBERATE ITS LANDS BY ANY MEANS INCLUDING MILITARY

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 29 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 29 / Trend E. Mehdiyev /

The activity conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group for more than 20 years
has proved ineffective.

The international organisations adopted the necessary resolutions on
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but unfortunately,
none of them have been implemented yet, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime
Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Refugees
and IDPs Ali Hasanov said at an event dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of the Zangilan occupation by Armenia.

According to Hasanov, if Armenia does not take a constructive position
and not fulfil the international organisations’ resolutions on the
liberation of occupied lands, Azerbaijan will liberate its land by
any means, including a military option.

“This was highlighted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,” he said.

“Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are our sole support
in case of such multi-vector standards in the world,” Hasanov said.

Twenty years have passed since the occupation of the Azerbaijani
Zangilan region by the Armenian Armed Forces.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

STORY OF THE SAINT OF LOST CAUSES

DAILY MAIL (London)
October 28, 2013 Monday

THE storm was named after St Jude, the Roman Catholic patron saint
of lost causes, whose feast day is today.

Also known as Thaddeus, he was born into a Jewish family in Palestine
and is believed to be a blood relative of Jesus.

He was one of 12 apostles chosen to spread the gospel and he is
believed to have brought Christianity to Armenia.

Details of his life are scarce. But he became associated with lost
causes because of a letter he wrote to the persecuted churches of
the East in about 60AD.

In it, he is believed to have stressed the importance of persisting
in difficult circumstances, as their forefathers had done before them.

But around five years later he was hacked to death in Armenia. He is
often pictured with an axe, symbolising the way he was killed.

His body was later taken to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

BAKO SAHAKYAN RECEIVED A GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE “MAYRUTYUN” PUBLIC ORGANIZATION HEADED BY ITS CHAIRWOMAN HASMIK MICHAELALYAN

29-10-2013 17:18:45 | | Social

On 29 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received a
group of members of the “Mayrutyun” public organization headed by
its chairwoman Hasmik Michaelalyan.

A number of issues related to the activity of the organization and the
public sector-state cooperation were touched upon during the meeting.

President Sahakyan congratulated the participants on the 25th
anniversary of the “Mayrutyun” foundation noting that it was one among
the oldest and well established structures of the Artsakh public field.

The Head of the State highlighted the activity of the organization
in the social, humanitarian, public and political fields as well in
the patriotic upbringing of the youth, adding that he expected the
same vigorous work in the future.

CENTRAL INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC
PRESIDENT

– Social News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan – See more at:

GREECE AND ARMENIA TO SIGN NEW COOPERATION AGREEMENT IN THE FIELD OF DEFENSE

19:25, 29 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Greece make the
cooperation in the field of defense closer, opening a new page in the
political-military relationship. The Minister of National Defense of
Greece Dimitris Avramopoulos pointed out it at the press conference
convoked in the Administrative Complex of the Defense Ministry of the
Republic of Armenia on October 29. “My visit marks the opening of a new
section within the frames of our cooperation not only in the field of
defense: taking into consideration the fact that I was the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Greece in the past, we will make attempts to
create new areas in the field of political cultural, economic and
of course defense cooperation,” the Minister of National Defense of
Greece Dimitris Avramopoulos stated as reported by Armenpress.

Dimitris Avramopoulos pointed out that the first aim of his visit
is the integration of the defense system of the two countries. The
minister also spoke about Armenian-Greek long-term friendly
relationship. He underscored that the Armenian-Greek bilateral
relations are based on the mutual respect, unity and friendship.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan
pointed out that at the course of the bilateral discussions the sides
touched upon the problems related to the global and regional security.

“Today during the discussions we confirmed once more that all the
measures planned for 2013 were carried out which serve as a basis
for the development of our relationship in 2014,” the Minister of
Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan said congratulating
the Armenian people for the National holiday celebrated on October
28. Seyran Ohanyan promised that the high-level visits will be
permanent.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO ARMENIA’S PROVINCES PLANNED TO TOTAL AMD 39.1 BILLION IN 2014

YEREVAN, October 29. /ARKA/. In the 2014 draft budget, the Armenian
government projects subsidies for provinces at AMD 39.1 billion, Pavel
Safaryan, the first deputy finance minister, said today presenting
the draft budget to the National Assembly.

He said that funds for particular educational, healthcare or other
projects are not included in the mentioned amount. The deputy minister
said that subsidies depend on budgets of municipalities and the
population – more or less 300 people.

Communities having no more than 300 residents will be provided with
AMD 3.5 million, just as in 2012. For other communities subsidies
will be calculated in accordance with the law – taking into account
per-capital land and property tax.

As an exception, subsidies for Artsvashen village in Gegharkunik
province will amount to AMD 4.6 million.

In the 2014 consolidated government budget, revenue is projected at
AMD 1 trillion 134 billion, spending at 1 trillion 244 billion and
deficit at AMD 110 billion.

GDP growth is projected at 5.2% and a 12-month inflation rate at 4%
(±1.5%). ($1 – AMD 405.76). .—-0—

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