Author: Kajoyan Gevork

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE DELEGATION HEADED BY THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

09.07.2012

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the delegation headed by
the Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mustafa
Mohammad Najari.

The President of Armenia welcomed the guests and noted that recent
high-level reciprocal visits of the officials of the two countries,
including the present visit of the Minister of Interior of the IRI,
testify to the mutual desire to strengthen the Armenian-Iranian
friendship and determination to deepen working relations. Serzh
Sargsyan stressed that in the end of last year, during the visit
of the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Armenia there took
place efficient discussions, agreements were reached on the mutually
beneficial cooperation in different areas and works toward the
implementation of these agreements are being conducted now.

The President of Armenia and Minister of Interior of Iran underscored
the importance of expanding cooperation between the marzes of Armenia
and Iranian regions which, according to the parties, will further
strengthen mutual trust and the Armenian-Iranian relations based on
the centuries-long friendship. The interlocutors stressed also the
importance of the Iranian-Armenian community in fortifying these
relations.

With regard to the deepening of cooperation and exchange of experience
in different areas, the parties noted as perspective development of
closer ties in the areas of emergency situation, law enforcement and
other areas under the jurisdiction of the Ministry headed by Minister
Mohammad Najari.

SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FEDERATION COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VALENTINA MATVIYENKO

11.07.2012

President Serzh Sargsyan received today delegation headed by the
Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation
Valentina Matviyenko.

At the meeting discussed was a broad agenda of the issues pertinent
to the Armenian-Russian relations and cooperation in different areas.

President Serzh Sargsyan underscored that it is an all-encompassing
agenda which allows to push forward existing high-level relations
and the political dialogue existing between the two states.

According to the President of Armenia, the strategic partnership based
on the centuries-long friendship of the Armenian and Russian peoples
presents a solid base for the two countries for moving forward and
deepening the mutually beneficial cooperation at all directions.

President Serzh Sargsyan and the Chairperson of the Federation Council
of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko stressed the importance
of cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries
and highly valued past activities of the interparliamentary commission.

Valentina Matviyenko expressed confidence that interparliamentary
relations can and should have considerable input to the development
of the interstate relations.

The parties spoke with satisfaction about the cooperation in the
economic and humanitarian areas which constitute an important part
of the bilateral relations, where, according to the interlocutors,
a significant role is also played by the successfully developing
cooperation between the administrative regions of the two countries.

In addition to bilateral relations, Serzh Sargsyan and Valentina
Matviyenko hailed also multilateral cooperation between Armenia and
Russia conducted in the framework of the CIS and CSTO. The President of
Armenia and the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian
Federation stressed also the importance of the active cooperation
of the parliament members of the two countries in the framework of
international organizations.

ARMENIA’S JUSTICE MINISTER EXPLAINS WHY WOMEN’S MARRIAGE AGE SHOULD BE RAISED TO 18

news.am
July 12, 2012 | 11:26

YEREVAN. – Setting the same age-that is, 18-as the minimum marriage age
for men and women alike in Armenia’s Family Code stems from the need
to eliminate gender inequalities, Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan
stated during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. Also, he submitted for the
Government’s approval the bill for making the respective legislative
changes.

To note, pursuant to the working Family Code in Armenia, the minimum
marriage age is 17 for women and 18 for men.

According to Tovmasyan, the international organizations are calling
upon Armenia’s authorities for a long time to eliminate this gender
inequality. But there are other reasons, too.

First, now, the school education for children is set at 12 years
instead of the previous 10 years. That is to say, the girls are still
at school at the age of 17, and this makes marriage inadvisable.

Second, the Healthcare Ministry has concluded that women’s pregnancy
at an early age causes several health problems in the future.

And third, the marriage age in Armenia has automatically risen anyhow.

In his turn, Deputy PM and Territorial Administration Minister Armen
Gevorgyan, who was moderating the Cabinet meeting, informed that
the matter of setting the same marriage age was agreed upon with the
NGOs, too.

ANALYSTS: FRANCE TO PURSUE ARMENIAN ISSUE TO CURB TURKEY’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS
By Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow
12.07.12 | 11:07

Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan (l), Hakob Chakryan

Political analysts and experts on Turkey say the French move to
criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide is conditioned by the
desire of Paris to check Ankara’s influence and activity in the region.

“The Armenian issue will continue to be pursued against Turkey, as a
result of which its positions in the region cannot be dominant. Along
with the talk of Turkey’s accession to the European Union, France
and Germany are taking measures to curb Ankara’s activity, and the
Armenian issue is considered to be one of these restrictive measures,”
says political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan.

The bill criminalizing the public denial of the Armenian Genocide
that won the approval of the French Senate earlier this year but
was later quashed by the country’s Constitutional Council as an act
restricting freedom of speech caused tensions in the relations between
Ankara and Paris, triggering Turkish sanctions against France. Like
his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, current French President Francois
Hollande, too, has pledged to come up with a new bill to punish the
denial of the Armenian Genocide.

During a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Paris
last week French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius indicated that the
Constitutional Council’s ruling revoking the Armenian Genocide-related
law would make it impossible to take up the issue again. The remarks
were made as official Ankara announced the removal of all sanctions
imposed on Paris over the passage of the Armenian Genocide-related
law. But soon after that President Hollande reassured members of the
influential Armenian community of France that he remained committed
to his campaign pledge to have the legislation passed despite the
controversial comments made by his foreign minister.

“It is not important whether during the time of the new president in
office the denial of the Armenian Genocide will be criminalized in
France or not; the statements by the foreign ministers of Turkey and
France are not important either. The important thing for us is that
Turkey is dependent on Europe both economically and politically. The
[Armenian] issue will always be pursued against this state so it
cannot establish dominance in the region,” says Melik-Shahnazaryan.

Hakob Chakryan, a specialist in Turkish studies, thinks that France’s
international prestige may suffer if a similar bill presented by the
president is rejected again.

“This time the resolution will not fail. Improvement of Turkish-French
relations does not mean that the resolution will not be passed. It
will be passed this time around. Turkey and France are countries of
different standings. France is one of the five permanent members of
the United Nations Security Council. The Turks know all too well that
their levers of influencing France are very limited. So France won’t
wince before Turkey,” says the expert.

DIYARBAKIR MAYOR WELCOMES BUSINESSWOMAN FROM ARMENIA WITH ROSES (PHOTOS)

news.am
July 12, 2012 | 11:25

DIYARBAKIR. – Mayor Osman Baydemir of Diyarbakir, Turkey, received a
group of businesswoman from Armenia, who had arrived in the city to
cooperate with their Turkish colleagues (PHOTOS).

And Baydemir welcomed the Armenian businesswoman with roses, Armenian
News-NEWS.am’s reporter informed from Diyarbakir.

Armenian delegation’s head, “Women’s’ Forum” organization’s chairwoman
Lilit Avetisyan and Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of
Armenia’s “Support for Normalizing Armenia-Turkey Relations” Program
Coordinator Armen Melkonyan presented this program. In Avetisyan’s
words, cooperation between Armenian and Turkish businesswomen will
contribute to improve relations between the two societies.

In his turn, Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir noted that he welcomes
such projects, and stressed:

“One of the important results of you being here is that in this way you
assist in establishing peace. After a certain period of time, cultural
and trade relations will facilitate the process of achieving peace.”

And reflecting on the events of 1915, Baydemir stated that Diyarbakir
was a city with diverse cultures, languages and religions, and these
events dealt a heavy blow to Diyarbakir. In his words, deep in its
soul today’s generation condemns the tragic events that unrolled
one-hundred years ago.

“Today’s generation wishes to extend its hand in brotherhood and
believes that borders will become meaningless in a foreseeable future.

The new generation believes that they will live together and in
brotherhood,” noted Osman Baydemir.

At the end of the meeting, Lilit Avetisyan presented to Diyarbakir’s
Mayor a 20-year-old Armenian brandy, on behalf of the Armenian
delegations, and, in his turn, Osman Baydemir presented to the
Armenian delegation a frame with the image of Diyarbakir’s Saint
Giragos Armenian Church, which was restored in the year past.

ISRAEL ET LA RECONNAISSANCE DE L’HOLOCAUSTE ARMENIEN – I

Publie le : 12-07-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – ” Lors d’une seance
historique de la Knesset en Israël, de nombreux deputes de la Knesset,
emanant de sept partis politiques differents, ont approuve a une
grande majorite la reconnaissance du genocide armenien. La seance
a ete menee fermement et avec brio par le president de la Knesset,
Reuven Rivlin, qui a parle avec un sentiment profond d’un imperatif
tant juif qu’israelien d’approuver une reconnaissance due depuis des
annees. C’est une question morale, a-t-il souligne a maintes reprises.

” ” Le gouvernement etait officiellement represente a l’audience
par Gilad Erdan, ministre des Affaires environnementales d’Israël,
qui a utilise le mot code ‘holocauste’, pour decrire ce qui a ete
fait au peuple armenien. ” Le Collectif VAN vous livre la traduction
en 3 parties d’un article en anglais ecrit par le Professeur Israel W.

Charny et paru sur le site GPN [Genocide Prevention Now] le 12
juin 2012.

Legende photo: La Knesset d’Israël a Jerusalem

Le gouvernement israelien appelle officiellement la Knesset a
reconnaître le genocide armenien

Numero 10, printemps 2012

G P N O R I G I N A L B R E AK I N G N E W S

C’est la première fois qu’un gouvernement d’Israël a approuve la
reconnaissance [du genocide armenien]

Un rapport approfondi et une analyse du processus politique, par GPN

Prepare par Israel W. Charny

Jerusalem, 12 juin 2012

Lors d’une seance historique de la Knesset en Israël, de nombreux
deputes de la Knesset, emanant de sept partis politiques differents,
ont approuve a une grande majorite la reconnaissance du genocide
armenien. La seance a ete menee fermement et avec brio par le president
de la Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, qui a parle avec un sentiment profond
d’un imperatif tant juif qu’israelien d’approuver une reconnaissance
due depuis des annees. C’est une question morale, a-t-il souligne a
maintes reprises.

” Nous devons faire entendre nos voix quand d’autres nations sont
visees pour etre detruites “, a declare Rivlin. ” Ceux qui ont redige
la solution finale pour les Juifs ont pense que le monde serait
silencieux, comme il l’a ete lorsque les Armeniens ont ete assassines.

La Knesset ne peut pas ignorer cet episode qui est factuel. Nous ne
pouvons pas pardonner aux nations qui ignorent notre tragedie et
nous ne pouvons pas ignorer la tragedie des autres “, a ajoute le
president de la Knesset.

Bien que plusieurs orateurs aient aussi brièvement reutilise certaines
parties habituelles de la rhetorique israelienne traditionnelle de
ces dernières annees en matière de realpolitik – tel ce leitmotiv
indiquant que le gouvernement de la Turquie actuel n’est pas l’Empire
ottoman qui a commis le genocide – les vieilles excuses etaient
comme un album de souvenirs du langage qui a prevalu dans le passe
pour expliquer et justifier l’echec d’Israël, et dans tous les cas,
sauf un, elles ont bientôt cede la place a des affirmations claires et
nettes sur la veracite du genocide armenien et au soutien de l’actuel
gouvernement israelien a sa reconnaissance.

Votre journaliste a dû retenir son souffle au debut des declarations du
porte-parole officiel du gouvernement, avant qu’il ne devienne clair
que la position officielle etait qu’Israël allait enfin reconnaître
le genocide armenien.

Il y a eu seulement une tentative notable de contre-proposition emanant
d’un membre de la Knesset, Robert Tiviaev [1], qui a sournoisement
propose qu’une commission d’historiens fasse des recherches ” pour
savoir ce qu’il est vraiment arrive ” , et il a promis que si la
commission concluait qu’il y avait eu un genocide, ” je serai le
premier a appeler a la reconnaissance. ” Le president de la Knesset,
Rivlin, a expedie sans menagement l’orateur et decide qu’il n’y
avait aucune raison de faire une contre-proposition formelle et
qu’un vote sur ce sujet n’etait pas necessaire, parce qu’il etait
evident que tous les orateurs precedents avaient, a une majorite
ecrasante, categoriquement confirme l’authenticite historique du
genocide armenien.

Rivlin a egalement conclu qu’il n’y avait pas raison d’appeler a
un vote sur la resolution de reconnaissance du genocide, puisque
la Knesset avait deja vote unanimement l’annee dernière, en faveur
de la reconnaissance. C’etait sur la base de ce vote que la motion
avait ete renvoyee devant la Commission de l’Education de la Knesset,
qui avait tenu une seance de plusieurs heures en decembre 2011. (Voir
l’article GPN, Citations directes de la Knesset israelienne, seance du
26 decembre 2011, sur la reconnaissance du genocide armenien, publie
en tant que numero special de GPN puis incorpore dans le numero 8 ).

Rivlin, le president de la Knesset, a egalement dit que la seance
de ce jour etait la confirmation et le prolongement de la resolution
complète originale de la Knesset de reconnaître le genocide, et il a
ajoute avec force qu’il attendait non seulement que les deliberations
se poursuivent devant la Commission de l’Education, mais aussi un
vote de la resolution.

Le gouvernement etait officiellement represente a l’audience par
Gilad Erdan, membre du Parti d’union nationale et actuel ministre de
l’Environnement, qui est decrit par une certaine presse comme etant un
ami proche du Premier ministre, Benjamin Netanyahu. Le rôle d’Erdan
etait de presenter la position du gouvernement (qui sera decrite
sous peu) et de repondre officiellement au nom du gouvernement sur
la motion parlementaire de ne pas reconnaître le genocide.

Erdan a clairement dit que le gouvernement avait decide de reconnaître
le genocide armenien et a meme utilise le mot de code ‘holocauste’
qui n’est normalement pas autorise dans ses remarques, pour decrire
ce qui a ete fait au peuple armenien. ” Je pense qu’il est tout a
fait approprie que le gouvernement israelien reconnaisse formellement
l’holocauste commis contre le peuple armenien “, a declare Erdan,
ministre des Affaires environnementales d’Israël.

Pour votre journaliste, les declarations d’Erdan refletaient egalement
les luttes du gouvernement negationniste israelien depuis des annees,
qui change radicalement aujourd’hui en effectuant un renversement
bienvenu pour reconnaître le genocide armenien. Au debut, Erdan a
fait au moins une remarque totalement inexacte pour defendre l’Etat
lorsqu’il a dit : ” L’Etat d’Israël ne l’a jamais nie [le genocide
armenien]. Au contraire, nous deplorons le genocide. ” Erdan a aussi
brièvement atermoye sur la signification du mot ‘genocide’ quand il a
fait remarquer que : ” Personne n’utilise le meme dictionnaire quand
on se refère au ‘genocide’… ” Mais a la fin, bien que ce journaliste
ait trouve que c’etait quelque peu rapidement et nerveusement – Erdan a
annonce sans aucune ambiguite qu’il transmettait la position officielle
du gouvernement. Tout d’abord, il a declare au nom du gouvernement
que : ” Il faut soutenir une discussion totalement ouverte sur la
question. ” Il a poursuivi en parlant d’une signification plus profonde
du genocide armenien pour l’humanite et en liant le genocide armenien a
l’holocauste du peuple juif : ” Le gouvernement note que l’humanite n’a
pas tire toutes les lecons du genocide armenien et de l’holocauste. ”
Pour finir, Erdan a annonce que le gouvernement israelien appelait a
une reconnaissance formelle du genocide armenien, que, comme souligne
precedemment, Erdan caracterise desormais avec le mot ‘holocauste’.

[1] Nota CVAN : Robert Tiviaev est originaire de Derbent au Daghestan.

La Republique du Daguestan, Daguestan ou Daghestan, est une republique,
sujet federal de la Federation de Russie. Elle est situee au Nord de
la frontière avec la republique turcophone d’Azerbaïdjan.

Le Daghestan compte une forte minorite azerie (environ 111 656 en
2002). Derbent est jumelee avec Gandja (Azerbaïdjan). Robert Tiviaev
a fait son aliyah en Israël, peu après la chute de l’Union sovietique,
en 1994.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 24 juin
2012 – 07:00 –

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : GPN

THE SCIENTISTS WANT TO KEEP SHENGAVIT MONUMENT UNDER GLASS CEILING

ARMENPRESS
12 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS: The archaeological excavations of
Shengavit , one of the most remarkable monuments of Armenia, are
resumed. They are scheduled to last until August 6.

At the briefing with Armenpress reporter “Erebuni” historical and
archeological museum director Gagik Gyurjyan stated, that those
excavations are the continuations of Armenian-French expedition work.

” We intend to reveal all then layers at the course of the scheduled
excavations. There is exact accuracy of layers. If the goal of the
archeologists is the discovery, our goal is the maintenance of it ”
the interlocutor noted.

Gyurgyan stated that maintenance of multi-layer monuments is much
more difficult; reportedly Shengavit dates 4 th millennium BC and
possesses several cultural layers .

” The easiest way of protection is soil conservation, whereas currently
we are examining the international experience and have intentions
to preserve it by glass ceiling, through special materials” museum
director came up with the remarks.

Dwelling on Armenian-French cooperation Gyurjyan noted, that four-
year- results are set to be wrapped up current year, September,
entitling them ” Erebuni yesterday, today and tomorrow”.

PETITION CAMPAIGN TO SAVE HISTORIC SYRIAC ORTHODOX MONASTERY IN MARDIN

hetq
14:53, July 11, 2012

Some 300 writers, academics and artists in have joined a petition
campaign to protest a verdict by the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals
to nationalize the estates of the Mor Gabriel Monastery (Mardin),
the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery in the world, dating
back to 397 AD.

Established in 397 A.D., the Mor Gabriel Monastery bears exceptional
significance for Syriacs, as it stands on par with Muslims’ “Al Aqsa
Mosque” for the Syriac community, trains half of all their clergy
and has enabled the survival of the Syriac language, according to
Tuma Ozdemir, the head of the Mesopotamia Culture Association.

Prof. Cengiz Aktar, Tuma Ozdemir and Tuma Celik, the owner of the
Mardin-based Syriac journal Sabro, came together in Istanbul’s
Cezayir Meeting Hall to expound on the petition campaign entitled
“Turkey is the Syriacs’ Homeland, and the Mor Gabriel Monastery is
not an Occupier.”

The Oriental Orthodox communion comprises six churches: Coptic
Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox,
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church or Indian Orthodox Church and Armenian
Apostolic churches.These churches, while being in communion with one
another, are hierarchically independent.

Around 20,000 Syriacs are currently living in Turkey. 15,000 of them
reside in Istanbul, while the rest reside in Mardin and its vicinity.

URARTU CUISINE TO BE ESTABLISHED AT EREBUNI MUSEUM

tert.am
11.07.12

Gagik Gyurjyan, director of Erebuni historical reserve museum, said
they are planning to create Urartu cuisine at the museum to give
the visiting tourists an opportunity to get acquainted not only with
historical samples but cuisine as well.

“The project is already ready. It is in process. We have already
determined the place,” he said, noting that the issue is connected
with the menu. The specialists are studying the dishes the Armenians
were eating in the period of Urartu Kingdom.

“The issue of drinks has already been solved as we know what drinks
were used in that period. We have found beer, wine production sites,”
Gyurjyan said, reminding that today Urartu brandy is being produced.

The director of the museum said the idea will be brought into life
as soon as they find sponsors.

ANRI RENAUX: “ELYSEE PALACE IS THINKING OVER WAYS HOW TO BRING THE BILL BACK TO PARLIAMENT”

20:13 . 11/07

France’s National Holiday will be celebrated on July 14. Bastille
castle built in 1382, which was to be an official building of Paris,
soon turns into a prison for political dissidents. Therefore, it is
not casual it was by taking this castle that the French Revolution
started in 1789. In 1790 July 14 was already celebrated as the Holiday
of the French Federation.

On the occasion of the coming holiday, French Ambassador to Armenia
Anri Renaux met journalists today. The questions addressed to
the ambassador, however, mainly referred to France’s role in the
Karabakh conflict settlement and Turkish-French relations in the
context of possible developments over the Armenian Genocide denial
criminalization bill.

According to the ambassador, it is a sensitive issue conditioned
by the community of Armenian origin living in France and France’s
approach to it is not conditioned by the influence of any country.

“Today, all the ways are being sought which will help to circulate the
bill again. As far as I remember in the pre-election period the future
president said there would be no need to wait long to circulate the
bill again till the end of his presidential mandate. Elysee Palace is
thinking over ways how to bring the bill back to the parliament again.

Only the statements made by the French president are important for
me,” the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of France to
Armenia said.