Author: Kajoyan Gevork

In France cross-stone opened symbolizing Yerevan-Marseille friendship (PHOTO)

June 23, 2012 | 20:46

MARSEILLES. – Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and Marseilles Mayor
Jean-Claude Gaudin participated in an official ceremony dedicated to
20 years of cooperation agreement between the two cities in Marseille.

Both Mayors lay a wreath to the cross-stone symbolizing friendship
between Yerevan and Marseille, Yerevan city hall informs.

Jean-Claude Gaudin turning to Margaryan and other participants of the
solemn ceremony said that it is indeed necessary to re-establish
Armenian-French friendship and the current high-level relations,
voiced by the Yerevan Mayor.

U.S. Congressman calls for condemnation of Azerbaijani aggression

June 23, 2012 – 11:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Earlier this week, as part of the Terjenian-Thomas
Internship Program, the 2012 intern class met with Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).

In providing an overview of U.S. policy in the South Caucasus region,
Congressman Pallone shared his concern regarding the recent ceasefire
violations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and expressed his
disappointment that the State Department did not do more publicly to
condemn Azerbaijan’s latest assault.

Pallone also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, noting that
such acts of aggression by Azerbaijan did not help facilitate a
peaceful settlement but rather served to undermine the mediation
efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Turning to current legislative items, in addition to the Armenian
Genocide resolution, Congressman Pallone also discussed his ongoing
concerns with H.R. 2362, the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment
Demonstration Act.

The Bill aims to give Turkey preferential access to tribal lands and
give Turkish enterprises an unfair advantage here in the United
States. “While there is no disagreement that the United States
government should seek measures to invigorate the economy and promote
economic development in Indian Country, providing monopoly access to
Turkey only gives them a pass on their actions which run counter to
U.S. interests,” stated Congressman Pallone.

Congressman Pallone encouraged those present to continue to remain
involved in the Assembly’s advocacy efforts and also to help educate
others on the issues facing Armenia and Karabakh.

“The Armenian Caucus plays an important role in helping to strengthen
the U.S.-Armenia relationship,” stated Alissa Tabirian, a Russian and
East European Studies major at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The meeting was insightful and we appreciated the fact that the
Congressman not only addressed current issues, but also helped us to
better understand the actions that we must take in order to aid future
progress in Armenia,” added Tabirian.

Turkish media is troubled with Armenian format of participation in BSEC

Turkish media pays attention towards the format of Armenian
participation in Black Sea Economical Cooperation (BSEC) session in
Turkey.

Turkish media pay attention to the fact that Turkey invited Armenian
president to participate in the session but Armenia will be presented
by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. CNN Turk entitled the
article `Armenia participates in BSEC, but…’.

According to the article Turkish President Abdullah Gul will host a
BSEC jubilee summit devoted to the 20th anniversary of the
cooperation’s activities. As the spokesman of the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Seljuk Unal informed only Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova
and Serbia will participate on President’s level. Russian, Bulgarian
and Albanian Prime Ministers will participate in the summit.

BSEC included 12 countries of South Balkans and Black Sea. It was
established in 1992. Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine are
current permanent members of BSEC. Armenia chaired BSEC in 2008-2009.

23.06.12, 12:42

Armenian economist receives Turkish award

news.am
June 23, 2012 | 00:04

ISTANBUL. – Known Istanbul-based Armenian economist Taron Acemoglu
received the annual award of the Galatasaray Union, handed out by the
known Galatasaray Lyceum. The Award Ceremony took place at the Tevfik
Fikret Hall at Galatasaray Lyceum.

A statement on the Official website of the Galatasaray Union states
that the award is given every year since 1908 to those Turkish
citizens who pay great contribution to the prosperity of Turkey.
According to the statement the Council of the Union decided to give
the award to Acemoglu unanimously. According to IDEAS/RePec Acemoglu
is amongst the top 20 most quoted economists of the world. He ranks
8th in the list, while Nobel Prize winner, economist Paul Krugman
ranks 13th.

Council of Turkish Fund returns territory to Armenian Hospital

news.am
June 23, 2012 | 08:08

ISTANBUL. – The Council of the Turkish Fund decided to return part of
the territory confiscated in 1971 back to the Armenian Surb Prkich
Hospital in Istanbul.

The Chairman of Surb Prkich Hospital’s Board of Trustees Petros
Shirinoglu announced that the Council has decided to return around 10
percent of the territory, Istanbul based Armenian Agos Paper writes.
The territory was at the disposal of the Council of the Turkish Fund.

According to Shirinoglu, the remaining part is at the disposal of the
Zeitinburnu City Hall and they are conducting steps towards returning
it.

Diaspora Armenians wish to immediately sell their real estate in
Armenia – newspaper

news.am
June 23, 2012 | 07:37

YEREVAN. – Many Diaspora Armenians, who have settled in Armenia for
years on end, are now knocking on the doors of several real estate
agencies, Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun daily writes.

`Some of them want to immediately sell their elite apartments acquired
in Armenia while others are trying to promptly get rid of the plots of
land obtained in the shores of [Lake] Sevan. Even there are rumors
that many of them intend to sell at a bargain price especially their
detached homes acquired in the Sevan area.

Incidentally, former and serving state and local officials likewise
are considering selling their detached homes in the areas adjacent to
[Lake] Sevan,’ Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun writes.

AZERBAIJANI CULTURAL CENTRE TO BE OPENED IN PARIS

News.Az
Thu 21 June 2012 06:13 GMT | 7:13 Local Time

Azerbaijani Cultural Centre will be opened near Azerbaijani Embassy
in Paris.

APA’s European Bureau reports that this information was given by
Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbeyov.

Ambassador said that the opening of the cultural centre will play a
very important role in the effective promotion of Azerbaijani culture
in France.

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN: AUTHORITIES ARE PROVINCIAL CLANS AND BUSINESS GROUPS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:39:44 – 21/06/2012

MP Vahan Hovhannisyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, harshly criticized the
government yesterday. According to him, the real authorities of Armenia
are not the government but the provincial clans and business groups
which can spoil any even the best initiative of the government.

He wonders who is responsible for the current social and economic
situation of the country. “I admit with sorrow that the cabinet where
there are a lot of intellectuals and a lot of friends of mine is not
a government to account for progress or regression, the social and
economic situation. Unfortunately, the government has always been
a curtain for other forces – provincial and economic clans. The
representatives of these clans are present now in this hall. So,
let’s not demand from the government what it is unable to do,”
said Hovhannisyan.

According to him, the situation may change only in case of sincerity,
which is absent. “When I hear intensions of my colleagues in government
to boost salaries 2.5 times and support the economy, my socialist soul
enjoys it, but when we dwelt on the same during the election campaign,
our Republican colleagues were arguing that it is impossible,” said
Vahan Hovhannisyan.

OSKANIAN: TIGRAN SARGSYAN HAS NOT GOT RID OF HIS MONETARIST THINKING YET

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:16:13 – 21/06/2012

Vartan Oskanian, member of PAP parliamentary group, former foreign
minister of Armenia, stated yesterday during the meeting of parliament
discussing the program of the new cabinet that PM Tigran Sargsyan
has not got rid of his monetarist thinking yet. Oskanian noted that
the main reason for the 14% economic decline was the wrong government
policy.

According to him, the decline had three reasons -crisis, structure
of economy and mistakes of the government. Oskanian added that
government’s mistakes had the worst impact of all the three reasons.

He is surprised at the absence of a single word in Tigran Sargsyan’s
speech on the growth of foreign debt, which is already 45% of the GDP.

Oskanian stated that the result of four years of activities of the
government poverty grew and foreign investments declined.

Vartan Oskanian stated that the program of the government is unable to
ensure 7% economic growth, as envisaged. According to him, the program
of the government and the reality do not match. Oskanian added that
the government has already proved unable to admit its own mistakes.

QUATRE HOMMES ARRETES APRES UNE BAGARRE DANS UN RESTAURANT
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 21 juin 2012

Quatre hommes ont ete arretes après une bagarre dans un restaurant
d’Erevan appartenant a un influent homme d’affaires. Ashot Aharonian,
le porte-parole du chef de la police armenienne, a declare a RFE /
RL que les suspects detenus sont deux agents de securite, un gerant
de restaurant et un serveur. L’un des agents, Garik Markarian, aurait
inflige des blessures graves sur Vahe Avetian, un medecin de 35 ans.

Ce dernier est un etat grave et a subi deux operations au cerveau. Le
medecin etait au restaurant avec quatre de ses amis. Ces derniers
affirment qu’ils ont ete attaques par au moins une douzaine d’hommes.

Deux d’entre eux ont ete emmenes a l’hôpital avec des blessures
moins graves.

Les medias ont insiste sur le fait que Ruben Hayrapetian, le
proprietaire du restaurant, jouit d’une impunite car il aurait des
liens avec Serge Sarkissian.

Hayrapetian, qui est aussi un depute du parlement(HHK), a fermement
condamne l’incident, mais a nie toute responsabilite ce mardi. Il
s’est engage a aider l’enquete criminelle menee par la police.

Le ministère armenien de la Defense a officiellement condamne la
violence et a exprime sa solidarite envers les victimes et leurs
proches. Il a egalement dit qu’il suivait de près l’enquete de police
et” est convaincu que les responsables de l’incident seront sevèrement
punis “.