Author: Kalantarian Kevo

PanArmenian, Armenia
Jan5 2012

2,5% inflation rate recorded in Armenia’s consumer market in Dec 2011

January 5, 2012 – 16:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 2.5 % inflation rate was recorded in Armenia’s
consumer market in December compared to November 2011.

During the reported period, prices for foodstuff (including alcoholic
beverages and cigarettes), non-foods totaled 4,4% and 0,5%
respectively, with 0.1% increase in tariffs for services.

In December 2011, the index of consumer prices made 104,7% compared to
the same period in 2010, including the index of prices for foodstuff
(including alcoholic beverages and cigarettes) -105,8%, non-foods
-104,3%, services – 102,9%.

In January-December 2011, the index of consumer prices totaled 107,7%
compared to the same period 2010, including the index of prices for
foodstuff -111,2% %, National Statistical Service reported.

Consumer prices increased by 9% in December 2011 compared to same period 2010.

The price upsurge is basically conditioned by 12,8% and 5,2% growth in
prices for foodstuff (including alcoholic beverages and cigarettes)
and non-foods respectively. 4,4%. growth was also observed in tariffs
for services during the reporting period.

Consumer prices increased by 1,6-3,4 % in December compared to
November 2011 in all Armenian cities under study, while the highest
index was registered in Gyumri.

2,5 % growth was recorded in consumer prices in Yerevan.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 5 2012

French Ambassador to Armenia wishes two nations courage and optimism
for this year

January 05, 2012 | 21:17

YEREVAN. – French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud gave an
interview to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As for the current level of Armenian-French relations, the Ambassador
said that it is conditioned by the French President Nikolas Sarkozy’s
visit to Armenia just after it celebrated the 20th anniversary of
independence. Sarkozy congratulated the Armenians by his name and the
name of the French people and confirmed the intention to cooperate
with Armenia in overcoming challenges, which hinder the state to
peace, democracy, economic growth and cultural dialogue.

The aspirations were marked with significant achievements for those 20
years. Soon 500th anniversary of the Armenian first published book
will be celebrated to be another milestone in the history of our
relations, added the envoy. According to him, significant work is done
in the preparation of qualified specialists for Armenia.

The Ambassador stressed that the visit of the Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan in France and the visit of French President Sarkozy in
Armenia opened new horizons of active cooperation. Three key
directions were outlined, among them the intensification of projects
on cultural, scientific and technical cooperation, as well as
modernization of infrastructures in Yerevan and in the regions, and
cooperation in the sphere of education.

Ambassador Reynaud added that in 2012 both Armenian and French nations
will face elections (Armenia will have parliamentary elections, while
France will elect the president). Taken that into account, the envoy
wishes both nations to take brave decisions and meet the future with
confidence and optimism.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 5 2012

In 2012 France will show activity in settlement of Karabakh conflict:
Armenian MP

January 05, 2012 | 20:09

YEREVAN. – The 2011 was unprecedented in the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, Armenian MP, secretary of the Prosperous Armenia
Party parliamentary group Aram Safaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the MP, during this period Russia showed unprecedented
activity in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group on Karabakh settlement
and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev did try to make some moves in
finding a resolution for the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict.

`However Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents’ meeting in Kazan failed
as at the last moment Azerbaijan’s President Aliev behaved
unpredictably. Azerbaijan proposed additional preconditions which were
new in the negotiation process. Those proposals had not been reviewed
on a diplomatic level and were also unacceptable for Armenia,’
Safaryan said.

The MP also mentioned that the latest session of OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly which took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, during which after an
interval of 6 years the session was dedicated to the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict.

`That also was a major event, as it showed that OSCE Parliament
Assembly is ready to pay its contribution to the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. Currently the interested parties search new ideas
and approaches in order the move the negotiation process from a dead
point. In that context the OSCE MG co-chairs must make additional
efforts,’ he said.

According to Safaryan’s forecast, in 2012 France will show activity in
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 5 2012

Armenian parliamentary opposition pessimistic on Armenian new
parliament to have fewer oligarchs

January 05, 2012 | 00:09

YEREVAN. – Armenian oligarchs’ rhetoric speaks on the lack of their
intentions to withdraw from politics and not to strive to be in the
new parliament, spokesperson of the Armenian parliamentary opposition
Heritage group, MP Larisa Alaverdyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am
correspondent.

According to her, current members of the Parliament do not reflect the
society, which is sad. The percentage of oligarchs is less than 1%,
while they are overwhelming majority in the Parliament.

`Authorities say that oligarchs will be excluded from the party list.
However, there are two aspects: why they were before and why they
should be suddenly excluded. Firstly, the authorities do not explain
the reason. Secondly, if it is a capricious or will of one person,
then the situation will not change,’ the MP said.

Regarding oligarch MPs activity at the Parliament, Alaverdyan said
that MPs have passed many bills lobbying different fields of economy
or business. Oligarch-MPs are necessary as the whole business and
relations are built not on the law but within their own circle, she
claimed.

According to her, Armenia is in a stage of political formations where
business interests decide everything, while only few parties have
political and ideological interests.

Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 4 2012

Journalists defend themselves over coup case
ISTANBUL – HÃ?¼rriyet Daily News

Arrested journalists Ahmet ���±k and Nedim
Ã?Â?ener presented their defense to the court today in an
ongoing coup plot case.

���±k was the first to defend himself
against charges of being a member of an armed criminal organization
with the purpose of overthrowing the current government.

���±k said he did not take the
prosecutor’s indictment seriously but he would defend himself
anyhow. He was a journalist seeking the truth and he did not know why
he was arrested, he said.

“One needs to be blind in his mind to claim I am part of a coup plot.
I am being tried as a plotter with total disregard to my past, my
journalism and my socialist identity. If you know nothing about me,
you can at least Google my name to find out,”
���±k said.

���±k said it was not journalists who were
on trial but the profession of journalism itself, and that the trials
aimed at intimidating the people.

Police records in the indictment

Journalist Nedim Ã?Â?ener presented his defense after
���±k, saying he was sorry to see records
held by the police copied in their entirety into the prosecutor’s
indictment.

“The police officers who arrested me are the ones who killed Hrant
Dink,” Ã?Â?ener said, pointing out his arrest was directly
related to the investigation into the assassination of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

“I was tried for a 30-year sentence while killers of Hrant walk free
… I do not want my daughter to grow up in a country where Hrant’s
killers are free,” Ã?Â?ener said.

January/05/2012

Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 4 2012

Turkey may step up moves against Paris: diplomat
PARIS – Agence France-Presse

Turkey may step up action against France if the French Senate votes
this month to outlaw denial of the Armenian claims of genocide, a
Turkish diplomatic source said Thursday.

“There may be a downgrading of the Turkish diplomatic representation
in Paris. It is probable,” if the upper house of parliament approves
the bill.

The French lower house approved the law last month, threatening anyone
who denies that the events of 1915 amounted to genocide with jail.

Ankara froze political and military ties with France when the bill was
passed by the National Assembly, and threatened further measures if it
continues through the Senate or is approved by President Nicolas
Sarkozy.

Turkey has withdrawn its ambassador to Paris, but embassy officials
said Thursday that he will return next Monday in order to monitor the
Senate’s handling of the bill.

France recognised the 1915 killings as a genocide in 2001, but the new
bill would punish anyone who denies this with a year in jail and a
fine of 45,000 euros (60,000 dollars).

Modern Turkey is still very sensitive about the issue, and has accused
France of attacking freedom of expression and free historical enquiry.

France is home to an estimated 500,000 citizens of Armenian descent,
and Sarkozy’s UMP party has been accused of backing the law in order
to pander to a key electoral group ahead of presidential and
legislative elections this year.

It is backed by a cross-party majority of lawmakers but has not won
universal support in the government, where some ministers fear it will
hurt diplomatic and trade ties with a NATO ally and major economic
partner.

Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said publicly that the bill is “badly
timed” and has been reported as describing it privately as “stupid”.

January/05/2012

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

French Senate unlikely to pass `genocide’ bill
Thu 05 January 2012 17:15 GMT | 19:15 Local Time

It is not realistic that the French Senate will adopt the bill
criminalizing the denial of made-up `Armenian genocide’.
The statement came from Deputy Executive Secretary of the New
Azerbaijan Party (YAP), MP Mubariz Gurbanly. He said this document is
contrary to the democratic principles, human rights and freedom of
expression. Gurbanly said that Turkey and Azerbaijan condemned the
French National Assembly’s adoption of this draft law. Both countries
substantiated with serious arguments that the adoption of this
document is wrong.

Gurbanly said that such steps will not prevent the strengthening of
Turkey. Now Turkey is a prestigious country in the world. Gurbanly
noted that Azerbaijan was near Turkey as always and supported this
country’s fair position: `The news has been released that the draft
law criminalizing the denial of made-up `Armenian genocide’ will be
presented to the French Senate late May. I consider that it is not
realistic that the Senate will adopt this document, because this
county will not want to mar relations a strong country like Turkey. In
my opinion, irrespective of Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory in the next
presidential elections, the Senate will not adopt this draft law and
not return to this issue”.

News.Az

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

Sarkozy’s position goes contrary to interests of France and Europe – MP
Thu 05 January 2012 11:01 GMT | 13:01 Local Time

‘The position of Nicolas Sarkozy who approved the decision of the
National Assembly to criminalize denial of the so-
called “Armenian genocide” does not meet the interests of France,
Europe and the world.

This position can only cause regret’, said Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade.

The MP is sure that only France will suffer from it, “Criminalization
based on myths won’t bring honor to the French state – it is directed
against democratic values.”

According to him, perhaps, certain forces in France are concerned over
the growing prestige of Turkey in world politics, the growth of its
economy, “in view of which by such absurd decisions they are trying to
involve Turkey in a shady game.”

According to him, Azerbaijan is considering the question of whether to
continue negotiations with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with participation of the French co-chair.

“But all decisions must be weighed. We will keep this issue under
control’, said the MP.

News.Az

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

French senator to ‘crusade’ against genocide bill
Thu 05 January 2012 11:49 GMT | 13:49 Local Time

Senator Nathalie Goulet has vowed to wage a crusade against the
adoption by the French Senate of a law that would criminalize genocide
denial.

The bill, which is expected to be debated in the Senate later this
month, would make it a crime to deny any genocide recognized by
France, including denial that the 1915 killings of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire were genocide.

Senator Nathalie Goulet told French website Turquie-News that she
would start “a crusade against the proposal by Madame Boyer”.

She said that she would raise awareness of the issues amongst all
political groups in order to “reframe the debate and bring it back to
the legal arena, away from the counterproductive electioneering into
which it has fallen”.

In a press release published by Turquie-News on 5 January, Nathalie
Goulet called on Turkish organizations to trust the Senate and not to
resort to the lobbying practised by their opponents.

“Any attempt at pressure or piracy would harm the cause that we are
defending together. In a democracy, debate is expressed through
argument.”

She added: “I understand the anger of the Turkish people and of our
compatriots of Turkish origin living in France, but the Senate debate
should be exemplary. Let’s leave pressure and electoral blackmail to
others. Many senators do not know the subject and have not yet decided
how to vote. Let’s allow them to take their position and let’s trust
the Senate.”

She recalled in conclusion that the Senate had voted down a similar text in May.

Nathalie Goulet is an outspoken opponent of the criminalization of
genocide denial and of “memory laws”.

Speaking at the end of December, she criticized Patrick Devedjian,
president of the General Council of Hauts-de-Seine, for describing
Turkey as a threat.

“It’s simply disgraceful and not worthy of a former minister of the
Republic to express himself in this way about a country with which we
have diplomatic relations and which is a major player in international
diplomacy,” Goulet said.

“Armenia is not a threat!? Really? The country is poor, a victim of
its policy towards Russia. Yes. But it has been illegally occupying
Azerbaijani territory for 20 years and is to blame for massacres,
notably at Khojaly,” she continued.

“Armenia was a victim in 1915, but it has since joined the camp of the
executioners. Armenia should liberate the occupied territories of
Karabakh and free itself from the Soviet yoke. The victims of 1915 do
not justify this aggression!”

She said that if the denial of genocide were criminalized, the victims
of Armenian aggression could seek reparations through the French
courts.

“Everything is not black and white in the Caucasus, but if Mme Boyer’s
text is, unfortunately, voted through the Senate and passes through
the filter of the Constitutional Council, I am not worried, as I know
that the victims of Armenian aggression in Karabakh and in the
Azerbaijani territories illegally occupied by Armenia will come and
find recognition and reparation in the French courts.”

News.Az

News.Az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

Some Kuwaiti Arabs believe ‘fairy tales’ of local Armenians
Thu 05 January 2012 07:13 GMT | 9:13 Local Time

News.Az interviews chief of the Society of Culture and Friendship
`Azerbaijan-Kuwait’ Konul Hajizade.

How many Azerbaijanis are there in Kuwait today?

Some 45-50 people.

How long have you been living in Kuwait?

Already 10 years.

The Society of Culture and Friendship `Azerbaijan-Kuwait’ marks the
first anniversary these days.

Yes, if exactly, our organization was created on 31 December 2011.

Why did you decide to create the first diaspora organization in
Kuwait? What prompted this?

Before creation of this organization, we had actually carried the
diaspora activity. For many years, we have carried out events related
to Azerbaijan and marked holidays. We tried to make so that the
Kuwaitis could learn more about Azerbaijan. And last year the
Azerbaijani ambassador in Kuwait Tural Rzayev offered my candidacy as
the chairman of the diaspora organization.

I did not mind. But I have to note once again that together with my
husband – Kuwaiti citizen Vadi Ali-we were earlier more than active in
terms of popularizing of Azerbaijan. We tried to do so that more
people could learn about our culture, our problems, our lifestyle, our
cuisine. It is encouraging to note that all Azerbaijanis of Kuwait are
currently united in the framework of our diaspora organization and are
a single front in all directions.

What do the Kuwaitis know about Azerbaijan? How do they treat our
country and representatives of our diaspora?

Our embassy opened here in 2004. So until then as soon as they heard
the word “Azerbaijan”, they immediately associated it with the Soviet
Union. However, since the opening of the Embassy the situation changed
for better. I won’t lie if I say that today 99% of Kuwaitis know a
country like Azerbaijan.

As for their attitude, there can be no complaints. Azerbaijan and
Kuwait are Islamic countries, Eastern countries. We have much in
common, cuisine, nature and landscape. All this can not but pull us
together and influence the positive attitude of Kuwaitis to
Azerbaijan.

Incidentally, I have to note that at the moment a lot of Kuwaitis
visit Azerbaijan as tourists and for a business trip. And they all say
only good things about Azerbaijan. That is, the interest in Azerbaijan
in Kuwait is growing.

What is the biggest problem of Azerbaijanis in Kuwait?

You know, Kuwait does not interfere in the internal affairs of other
states and does not allow citizens of other countries to try to solve
their problems within the territorial boundaries of this country. That
is, we cannot go there for a rally, picket some institutions, etc. It
is just that. But this is not a serious problem, since we can always
express our protest in writing. In general, Kuwait is a very
democratic state, which is, undoubtedly, a rejoicing fact.

How many Armenians are there in Kuwait and are they active enough in
their propaganda efforts?

There are more Armenians than Azerbaijanis. Somewhere around two
thousand people. They have their own diaspora, their church. All the
time they carry out their deceitful policies associated with the
so-called “genocide.” At every meeting we bring to the attention of
the Kuwaiti public the whole truth about those events. We tell them
that these were Armenian dashnaks who terminated Turks and
Azerbaijanis. Unfortunately, among Kuwaiti Arabs there are the
pro-Armenian ones who are eager to believe the “fairy tales” of the
local Armenians and support them.

However, we do not stop. We always speak about the fact that the
Armenians are lying, while brazenly misappropriating historical merits
of other nations, as well as the culinary and musical achievements of
the Azerbaijanis.

Hamid Hamidov
News.Az