Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA AND IRAN TO LAUNCH CONSTRUCTION OF TWO HYDROPOWER PLANTS ON RIVER OF ARAX

arminfo
Thursday, October 25, 16:01

Construction of the Meghri HPP will be launched within 10-15 days on
the River of Arax bordering with Iran. Armenian Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan made such statement Thursday summing
up the results of the 11th session of Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental
Committee in Yerevan.

He said that Iranian Co-Chair of the Committee, Energy Minister
of Iran Majid Namjoo offered launching the construction within the
given period of time. The Iranian minister said that all the problems
related the Meghri HPP project have been settled and there are no
longer any obstacles to construction. He said that Iran is interested
in implementation of the given and other big joint projects with
Armenia. The minister outlined three major joint projects: construction
of HPP, Iran-Armenia railway and Iran-Armenian power lines.

The foundation laying ceremony of the Meghri HPP was planned for Aug
22 2012, but was postponed because of the disastrous earthquake in
Iran on Aug 12. Due to the project, Meghri HPP will get additional
140MW designed capacity and generate up to 800mln kWh electricity
annually. This will allow integrating the energy systems of
Armenia and Iran, generating relatively cheap electric power, and
optimizing the costs. To recall, in mid-Nov 2010 Armenia and Iran
signed investment agreement on construction of 140MW HPP on Iranian
loan. The construction is to take 5 years. Iranian and Armenian
specialists estimate the project at $323 million on the Armenian
party. 2 power stations will be built on the river (one plant on
the territory each country). The plants will be connected with the
drainage tunnel. The agreement stipulates construction, management,
exploitation and transfer of the HPP to Armenia without compensation
in 15 years since the moment of exploitation. Armenia will return
the Iranian investments in terms of electric power supply.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: WORLD COMMUNITY FOLLOWS DOUBLE STANDARDS IN KARABAKH ISSUE

arminfo
Thursday, October 25, 16:03

The world community applies double standards to the Karabakh issue,
President of Armenia Serhz Sargsyan said in an interview with the
Italian Quotidiano Nazionale.

In response to the Italian journalist’s pessimism about the Karabakh
peace process due to Azerbaijan’s oil influence, the Armenian president
called that factor another display of double standards. The Kosovo
issue was settled through international military interference,
the president said, while there is overall negligence regarding the
Karabakh issue.

The president said that the oil factor is dominant as regards promotion
of Azerbaijan’s stance, but this factor cannot prevail over other
issues forever. One of the latest news is that Azerbaijan tries to
oppose BP’s presence, though the given corporation has always had an
important part in the economy of Azerbaijan. In Baku they think that
they can get rid of the British presence, consequently, the balances
may change, Serzh Sargsyan said.

President Sargsyan said that the negotiations on the Karabakh
conflict’s resolution will be a success if Azerbaijan stops fanaticism
and intolerance.

“The fact that Azerbaijan has glorified the criminal who killed a
sleeping Armenian was nothing but a display of fanaticism,” Serzh
Sargsyan said.

He said that Armenia’s stance coincides with the stance of the OSCE
Minsk Group that insists on a diplomatic solution to the conflict
on the basis of the following three international principles:
the people’s right to self-determination, non-use of force, and
territorial integrity.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out on February 28 1988 in the
Azerbaijani Sumgait with massacre of Armenians as a peculiar response
of Azerbaijanis to the peaceful demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh
autonomous Region, part of the Azerbaijani SSR, to unite with the
Armenian SSR. This resulted in other pogroms of Armenians in Baku,
Kirovabad and other regions of Azerbaijan populated with Armenians. In
1991 Azerbaijan unleashed war against peaceful populations of
Nagorno-Karabakh, expulsing ethnic Armenians from the territory of
Azerbaijan. Dozens of thousands of peaceful residents on both parties
were killed in the military actions, and hundreds of thousands were
left homeless and have become refugees. In 1994 in Bishkek in mediation
of the OSCE MG, the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Protocol on
Ceasefire that is observed more or less so far. Since 1992 the OSCE
Minsk Group represented by co- chairs from Russia, U.S. and France has
been mediating in resolution of the conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan
in 1988. At present the peace process is based on the Madrid Principles
suggested by the OSCE MG in 2007 in Madrid and renovated in 2009.

ARMENIA, IRAN SUM UP THE RESULTS OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION SESSION
Liana Yeghiazaryan

“Radiolur”
15:11 25.10.2012

The results of the 11th session of the Armenian-Iranian
Intergovernmental Commission were summed up at a press conference
today. The delegation headed by Iranian co-chair of the Commission,
Energy Minister Majid Namjou had arrived in Yerevan to participate
in the session. The delegation comprised a number of officials and
specialists representing different spheres. Upon the outcome of
different meetings the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan
underlined today that the issues of construction of the 3rth
Iran-Armenia high-voltage transmission line, expansion of cooperation
in the field of oil chemistry are on the agenda.

The parties attach special importance to the intensification of
cooperation in the field of transport and railway cooperation are of
great importance. It was noted also that a number of discussions have
been held on the project of construction of the Iran-Armenia railway
and the parties have the necessary will to implement the project.

Iran’s Energy Minister Majid Namjou stressed, in turn, that the
development of cooperation between neighbor and friendly countries
is important in today’s world full of hostility and provocations.

‘EVOCATIONS OF ARMENIA’ IN THE PUFFIN CULTURAL FORUM IN TEANECK

armradio.am
12:28 25.10.2012

With solo cello and spoken word, “Evocations of Armenia” weaves
together music and poetry to form a rich tapestry of Armenian life and
culture. It will be performed Sunday, Oct. 28 at The Puffin Cultural
Forum in Teaneck, northjersey.com reports.

Actor Nora Armani brings alive Armenian poetry from pagan times to the
modern era, including the gripping “Birth of Vahakn,” Armenia’s God
of Fire and conqueror of dragons; the ancient legend of the doomed
lovers at Akhtamar; and the story of the enchanted Dove Abbey, by
national poet Hovhannes Toumanyan.

Cellist David Bakamjian performs poignant folk songs collected by
Komitas, beautiful sacred chants from the Middle Ages and evocative
music by 20th century composer Alan Hovhaness.

WHY IS ARMENIA SURPRISED AT AZERBAIJAN AFTER SAFAROV CASE? – POLITICAL SCIENTIST

news.am
October 25, 2012 | 12:50

YEREVAN. – It is incomprehensible as to why Armenia is surprised
at Azerbaijan’s true image after the Ramil Safarov case, Caucasus
Institute Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan said
during a press conference on Thursday.

In his words, Safarov’s extradition could have surprised Europe, but
not Armenia and Azerbaijan. “I was very much surprised that Armenia
yet again ‘uncovered’ Azerbaijan’s [true] image following Safarov’s
extradition,” Iskandaryan added.

As per the analyst, the fact that such incidents have occurred before,
should conclude that it would have been impossible to get in the way
of the talks for Safarov’s extradition. “If you are asking whether
this incident can be used in diplomacy, it is certainly possible,”
the analyst said.

Alexander Iskandaryan believes the European countries’ reaction to what
transpired is not surprising and it is predictable. “Hungary likewise
was angered by its own government’s decision to extradite Safarov. The
European community cannot react in any other manner,” he noted.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant
in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary,
where he was serving a life sentence-and with no expression of
either regret or remorse-for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004.

As expected, Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was
his act of murder, by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s
government and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani
president immediately granted him a pardon.

And Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31 that
Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.

Ramil Safarov’s pardoning is condemned by virtually all international
organizations.

TURCOTTE: ON SAFAROV AND ARTSAKH

October 23, 2012

By Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte

As an Armenian refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan, senseless, violent
acts committed against innocent Armenian women, men, and children by
Azeris no longer shock me. I was forced to grow up with their hatred
and violence, committed on the basis of nationality alone. It doesn’t
surprise me in the least.

Safarov In 1988, the Azeri government orchestrated pogroms on the
Armenian citizens of Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku. Twenty-some
years later, the existing Azeri government hardly differs from its
predecessor in its continual propaganda and education of ignorance,
distrust, and obsessive hatred toward Armenians as a whole.

The brutal murder of Armenian officer Gourgen Markarian in Budapest in
2004 is no exception. The Azeri officer, Ramil Safarov, who murdered
the sleeping victim with an axe was sentenced to life in prison by the
Hungarian judicial system. That is where the story should have ended.

But of course the story doesn’t end there, and that is because we’re
talking about Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani bribery and corruption
machine is in full force, as oil money keeps flooding the pockets
of the Aliyevs. While the general population is not thriving
economically, as would be expected, the government wields its money
to buy championship trophies, build enormous structures to show
off its fortune, and buy its power. It’s done within the region,
and apparently it’s now done outside of the region.

Hungary’s extradition of a brutal murderer back to Azerbaijan is not
an isolated event that hurts officer Markarian’s family alone. That
act, and the subsequent pardon of the murderer, Safarov, by the Azeri
government are quite possibly a violation of international law and
a clear message to the world that Azerbaijan is not a democracy
that respects international law and human rights of all mankind,
as it proclaims.

Aside from the pain I feel as an Armenian-with my home uprooted and
destroyed, my childhood demolished-I also feel the pain of history
repeating itself: The Azeris slaughtered Armenians in Azerbaijan in
1980’s. The Turks slaughtered Armenians during the genocide in 1915.

No one is brought to justice. The world turns away. And it is happening
again. It cannot happen again. We cannot let it happen again.

The world, along with Hungary, must stand by the Armenians. The world
must see the Azeri dictatorship for what it is, in all its violence.

And Nagorno-Karabagh Armenians must be free from Azeri rule. Because
if an Azeri “hero” can slaughter an Armenian in his sleep on foreign
soil and get praised for it, imagine what he will do within his own
borders. The Nagorno-Karabagh Republic must be independent. Now more
than ever.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is the author of Nowhere, a Story
of Exile.

THERE WILL BE SERIOUS CONSOLIDATION PROCESSES IN ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS

arminfo
Wednesday, October 24, 12:03

There will be serious consolidation processes in Armenia’s banking
system in the next two years, Development Manager of Ameriabank Tigran
Jrbashyan said during a press- conference on Tuesday.

He said that today banks in Armenia are facing problems with capital
adequacy and lending. “In some small banks the leverage is alarmingly
low. So, they have two options: either capitalization through organic
growth or recapitalization,” Jrbashyan said.

Financial Manager of Ameriabank Gevorg Tarumyan said that shortly
Armenia will adopt Basel III standard, which implies tougher capital
adequacy requirements and may force some banks to consolidate.

Jrbashyan said that Ameriabank will take an active part in the
consolidation processes. “We have no problems with capital adequacy
and liquidity,” he said.

According to ArmInfo’s Ranking of Commercial Banks of Armenia, as of
July 1 2012 Armenia’s capital totaled 387.3bln AMD (10% more than
July 1 2011), with capital adequacy making up 24.4% against 27.9%
a year before.

L’OPPOSITION ET LE BHK CONTINUENT DE COOPERER
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 24 octobre 2012

Le Congrès national armenien (HAK) continue de favoriser une
cooperation etroite avec le parti Armenie Prospère (BHK) de
Gagik Tsarukian dans ses efforts visant a renverser le president
Serge Sarkissian, a declare un membre dirigeant de l’alliance de
l’opposition mardi 23 octobre 2012. Levon Zurabian a insiste sur le
fait que le HAK et le BHK sont les seules grandes forces politiques
capables de contester serieusement Serge Sarkissian lors de l’election
presidentielle 2013.

Un haut representant du parti au pouvoir republicain d’Armenie
(HHK), le ministre de l’Education, Armen Ashotian, a conteste
cette affirmation. ” Cela va etre un combat de vie ou de mort,
et l’opposition doit tout faire pour etre en mesure d’acquerir,
dans cette lutte contre le regime et pour la mise en place de la
democratie, des allies necessaires interesses par … la mise en place
de nouvelles règles du jeu en Armenie “, a declare Zurabian a RFE /
RL (Azatutyun.am) dans une interview.

Zurabian a dit que les deux groupes politiques doivent tendre vers
un changement de regime qui se traduirait par la democratisation,
la separation des activites de protection de l’Etat et la propriete
privee. ” Je pense que le HAK, le parti Armenie prospère et la societe
en general peuvent se rallier autour de ces objectifs “, a-t-il dit.

Zurabian, qui dirige le HAK, a affirme que Sarkissian cherchera a
depouiller Tsarukian et l’ancien president Robert Kotcharian de leurs
” vastes ressources financières ” s’il est reelu. ” Les gens possedant
des biens et des entreprises ne se sentent pas en securite dans ce
système vicieux politique “, a-t-il dit lorsque RFE lui a demande
pourquoi Tsarukian devrait etre interesse a cooperer avec le HAK.

Levon Ter-Petrossian (HAK) a maintes fois preconise une cooperation
etroite avec le BHK au cours de la dernière annee, sur fond de
tensions croissantes entre Tsarukian et le camp presidentiel, qui a
abouti au retrait de son parti de la coalition au pouvoir en juin
dernier. Le parti de Ter-Petrosian, le parti de Tsarukian et la
Federation revolutionnaire armenienne (FRA) ont collabore au cours
des elections parlementaires du 6 mai. Ensemble, ils ont remis en
question la legitimite des resultats officiels des elections qui ont
donne la victoire au parti de Serge Sarkissian.

L’eventuelle collaboration du HAK avec le BHK a ete critiquee par des
groupes d’opposition et meme certains allies de Ter-Petrossian qui ont
quitte son parti après les elections du 6 mai en signe de protestation.

Tsarukian n’a pas encore annonce si son parti soutiendra la reelection
de Serge Sarkissian. Ter-Petrossian, qui etait challenger de l’actuel
president en 2008, n’a pas precise ses plans relatifs aux elections
de 2013.

Selon Ashotian, le ministre de l’Education, qui est egalement
vice-president du HHK, le parti de Sarkissian n’est pas inquiet pour
les prochaines elections.

Ashotian a egalement declare a RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am) que le HHK
s’attend toujours a ce que Tsarukian soutienne Sarkissian dans la
course a la presidentielle.

mercredi 24 octobre 2012, Laetitia ©armenews.com

POUR UN CCAF FORT, PAR JACQUES DONABEDIAN
Ara

armenews.com
mercredi 24 octobre 2012

Le CCAF rassemble autour d’un meme projet des associations et des
partis politiques.

Il n’est pas facile de trouver un consensus qui satisfasse a la foi
les exigences des structures verticales telles les nationales et
internationales et les preoccupations des structures horizontales,
comme les amicales et associations locales.

Aujourd’hui les representants des grandes composantes de la communaute
et la plupart des associations regionales, ont appris a travailler
ensemble, se respectent et s’apprecient. Le CCAF est fier de ce
resultat, de cette maturite politique obtenue après tant d’annees de
dissensions inutiles.

Cela ne s’est pas fait en claquant des doigts. Chaque representant
d’association a apporte sa precieuse contribution, chacun selon ses
competences et sa disponibilite, en sacrifiant sa vie professionnelle,
familiale, ses finances et surtout en mettant de côte son ego, meme
s’il existe encore quelques grenouilles qui veulent se faire aussi
grosses que le b~uf.

C’est ainsi que le CCAF a enregistre de nombreux succès a l’Assemblee
nationale et au Senat mais egalement auprès de l’opinion publique. Le
travail en commun a permis de creer un climat de sympathie et de
confiance reciproque entre toutes les composantes de la communaute.

Certes l’action et le succès favorisent cet etat d’esprit. Mais on
ne gagne pas a tous les coups ! Deux echecs ont terni ce tableau.

Le CFA qui aurait permis a la communaute de se doter d’une structure
democratique regroupant tous les individus desireux de participer
a sa destinee n’a pas souleve leur enthousiasme. Le projet est mis
pour le moment en stand-by.

Le texte prevoyant la penalisation de la negation du genocide, bien
qu’ayant ete vote par le parlement, a ete rejete par le Conseil
constitutionnel.

Dans ces deux cas ce sont de nombreuses reunions, d’echange avec des
personnalites, beaucoup d’efforts qui ont monopolise le CCAF et qui
pour le moment n’ont pas abouti.

La voix des detracteurs du CCAF a commence a se faire entendre.

Certains ont meme pris pour cible des responsables du CCAF a travers
des articles calomnieux. La communaute a commence a s’interroger. A
quoi sert le CCAF ? Rassembler pour ne rien faire a quoi cela
sert-il ? Ce sont les questions que se posent les personnes qui ont
la memoire courte et, certaines associations qui ne font pas partie
du CCAF ont multiplie leurs critiques alors qu’au contraire, c’est
dans ces periodes difficiles que l’on doit-etre encore plus solidaire
et se renforcer.

Le CCAF l’a compris. En attendant de plancher sur les modifications
du projet CFA, le CCAF s’est dote d’une structure nationale. Aussi
surprenant que cela puisse paraitre, jusqu’a present il y avait trois
CCAF regionaux mais la structure federative nationale n’existait pas,
avec ses propres Statuts. Voila qui est fait. 9 delegues du CCAF Paris,
9 de Lyon, 9 de Marseille-Provence composent le conseil national qui
a designe son bureau. Ses membres sont des militants avertis qui ont
fait leur preuve, dont la notoriete est reconnue par tous et notamment
par la classe politique.

Son excellence l’ambassadeur d’Armenie, Monsieur Viguen TCHITETCHIAN
ainsi que le Ministre Vahagn ATAPEKYAN ont apporte leur soutien a cette
structure. Ils ont mis l’accent sur l’importance d’un CCAF fort dans
un contexte politique complexe et dont le rôle important est reconnu
par la France et par l’Armenie. Les organisations qui ne veulent pas
faire partie du CCAF ont tort, il faut qu’elles comprennent qu’on a
besoin du CCAF. Telle a ete la tenue de leurs propos a la dernière
reunion du conseil national, le 29 septembre dernier.

Nous avons besoin d’un CCAF fort pour lutter contre l’influence nefaste
de la propagande turco-azerie qui s’exprime efficacement en France
comme en Europe et qui malheureusement trouve ses relais auprès de
nombreuses personnalites qui meconnaissent les faits ou qui sont
sensibles a certains arguments. L’odeur du petrole efface l’odeur
du sang et l’appât du gain aussi hypothetique soit-il, facilite
l’amnesie, fait taire les bonnes consciences. L’affaire SAFAROV en
est l’expression toute recente. Le Karabakh est en danger fasse au
fanatisme et a la haine raciale erigee en doctrine d’etat par les
dirigeants de l’Azerbaïdjan avec l’appui bien sûr de ceux de Turquie.

Nous avons besoin d’un CCAF fort pour soutenir l’Armenie dans ses
efforts de democratisation, de lutte contre la corruption, pour le
bien-etre du peuple dans son pays. Il faut favoriser les echanges et
partenariat avec ce pays.

Nous avons besoin d’un CCAF fort pour intervenir efficacement lorsqu’il
s’agit de soutenir notre peuple quand il est en danger comme c’est
le cas aujourd’hui en Syrie.

Nous avons besoin d’un CCAF fort pour defendre la memoire de nos
aïeux, pour reclamer justice pour le peuple armenien. Cela passe
par un travail d’information permanent et une collaboration etroite
avec nos elus. Ce travail est fait sur l’axe Paris-Lyon-Marseille. Il
n’est pas fait dans les regions de France qui s’en eloignent. Il reste
egalement a faire au niveau des medias nationaux qui nous ignorent.

Nous avons a preparer la commemoration du centenaire du genocide qui
doit etre un veritable tsunami.

Nous avons besoin d’un CCAF fort pour encourager notre jeunesse a se
former, a conserver et perpetuer notre culture, a puiser dans notre
histoire glorieuse peuplee d’heros, leur espoir et leur confiance
dans l’avenir, leur fierte egalement,.

Pour etre fort le CCAF a besoin que chacun travaille en fonction de ses
competences et non pas du siège qu’il voudrait occuper. Le CCAF n’est
pas fait pour organiser des festivites diverses, il est fait pour mener
un combat qui ne supporte pas les etats d’âme, les jalousies et les
ranc~urs. Au sein du CCAF tout le monde a confiance en tout le monde
et chacun, a sa place, est utile a la collectivite et a notre cause.

Le CCAF a besoin de se professionnaliser avec des permanents, des
specialistes, des outils modernes mais pour cela il lui faut des
soutiens financiers, des sponsors.

Les associations qui restent encore en dehors du CCAF doivent y adherer
afin de le rendre plus fort. C’est dans la diversite que le dialogue
s’enrichit, c’est dans la multiplicite des echanges que naissent les
nouvelles bonnes idees.

Pour etre fort le CCAF a besoin de la confiance du peuple armenien
de France, de son soutien moral et financier, de ses conseils plutôt
que de ses critiques, de sa mobilisation meme si telle ou telle
manifestation peut paraitre ringarde et qu’il y aurait eu mieux
a faire.

Nous ne sommes que des individus, militants benevoles et amateurs,
qui nous battons avec seulement la force de notre conviction fasse a
des etats puissants. Notre force reside dans notre determination a
defendre avec fierte une cause juste qui concerne l’humanite toute
entière. Notre force c’est nous tous, descendants des rescapes du
genocide, avec le respect et la tolerance que nous devons avoir les
uns envers les autres.

Comme l’a signale tout recemment un elu de la Ville de Marseille
qui denoncait dans son discours les promesses non tenues faites en
periode electorale, nous ne pouvons compter que sur nous-meme.

Jacques DONABEDIAN

Vice president du CCAF Marseille

Secretaire du conseil natonal du CCAF

mercredi 24 octobre 2012, Ara ©armenews.com

SKINHEADS SENTENCED FOR KILLING ARMENIAN IN MOSCOW

news.am
October 23, 2012 | 17:20

MOSCOW. – The jury found six skinheads guilty of killing Armenia man
motivated by ethnic hatred.

The guilt was fully proved for four of them, Moscow court press
service informs. The criminals were minors at the time of the crime,
while one of them had already been sentenced, ITAR TASS informs.

Investigators said four skinheads were walking along the street in
Moscow with knifes and searched for a man with non-Slavic appearance to
attack. An Armenian citizen became their victim. He died of blood loss.