Author: Kalantarian Kevo

TURKEY WARNS FRANCE ABOUT POSSIBLE REJECTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Trend

Dec 12 2011
Azerbaijan

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned France’s intention to
approve a law introducing criminal penalties for denying the so-called
Armenian Genocide, official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Turkey reported on Monday.

The report emphasises that the bill, which deals with sensitive events
in Turkey, is contrary to the principles of freedom of speech.

“The adoption of such a law at a time when relations between Turkey and
France are developing dynamically could be a fatal mistake resulting
in a negative impact on bilateral relations. France should be objective
and not distort historical facts,” the report says.

MPs from the French President’s Union for a Popular Movement (UMP)
party which has the parliamentary majority, proposes a bill which
aims to criminalise denial of the so-called Armenian genocide to the
legislative committee of the National Assembly on Thursday.

A similar bill was considered and adopted by the French National
Assembly on October 12, 2006, but in May 4, 2011, was rejected by the
legislative committee of the Senate, which considered it unacceptable.

A new bill signed by 40 deputies from the UMP party and the New
Centre party provides up to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of
45,000 euros for those who deny the so-called Armenian genocide.

The Armenians and their lobby claim that the former ruler of Turkey,
during the Ottoman Empire had carried out genocide against Armenians
living in Anatolia in 1915 and achieved recognition of these events
as being genocide by the parliaments of several countries.

ITALY TO BE MOVED TO YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 13, 2011
YEREVAN

The second festival of contemporary Italian films will be conducted
in Yerevan December 20-25. Speaking to Armenpress director of the
State Pan-National Theatre Vardan Lazarian said the festival will
present the best traditions and livelihood of Italy. “Every year an
attempt is being made to somehow link the festival with the Armenian
audience. At the second festival Armenian photographer Vahe Melkonyan
will come forth with a series of photos on “Hospitable Rome” which
shows pictures from truly Italian life,” he said.

The State Pan-National Theatre wishes to offer the Armenian audience
choice of films addressed to the recognition and maintenance of
Italian cultural heritage. “The films will be in Italian and English
languages. It will give young people an opportunity to learn Italian
better,” Lazarian said.

The festival conducted for already the second time has been organized
by the Italian embassy in Armenia in collaboration with the State
Pan-National Theatre.

CRONIMET MINING JUSTIFIES LEASING OF “EMINENT DOMAIN” LANDS

hetq
12:56, December 13, 2011

It has been more than 15 years since CRONIMET Group of companies has
launched its business operations in Armenia. Over this period, the
Group has made significant investments into the mining and metallurgy
sectors of Armenia thus contributing to the overall advancement of
the country’s economy and bringing in international expertise.

The largest subsidiary of the CRONIMET Group of Companies in Armenia
is the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine CJSC (ZCMC); the operations
of the latter are being controlled by a number of legislative acts
and agreements. In the framework of the obligations undertaken,
the CRONIMET Mining AG and the ZCMC have spent more than USD 400
million to fulfill ambitions investment and development program
resulted in production capacities expansion, substantial performance
advancement, state and community tax revenues increase. Moreover,
the developments in the company always lead to the increased direct
and derived employment.

Today, the ZCMC is the largest taxpayer in Armenia having paid to
the state budget AMD 22.5 billion during the 9 months of 2011. At the
same time, the ZCMC is one of the largest employers in the country,
ensuring more than 3100 direct work places; along with its satellite
and sub-contractor companies this number exceeds 10,000. The amounts
paid by its customers for the production of the company constitute
noticeable portion of the currency revenues of the RA.

The ZCMC gives special importance and care to the social issues in
the country; as such the company permanently designs and carries
out large number of multifaceted social, cultural, educational and
charity projects throughout the country, donating large amounts for
these purposes.

The inclusive performance of the obligations undertaken by the
investor and the Company to the State and to the society implies
further expansion of the production facilities and this is clearly
articulated in the number of agreements signed with the Government
of Armenia.

Therefore, taking into consideration the Development program
of the Kajaran Copper Molybdenum Mine and the perspectives of
the open-pit expansion, the Government of Armenia by its Decree
627-N, dated 28.04.2011 has declared particular territories within
the administrative borders of the Syunik marz as the eminent public
domain, thus altering their target value. Moreover, these territories
have been leased to the ZCMC fully in accordance with the respective
legislation of the RA.

In this case, we do believe that the eminent public domain is being
conditioned by the benefits to be gained from the Kajaran Copper
Molybdenum Mine development and open pit expansion. The further
enhancement of the mine would instantaneously lead to the increase in
manufacturing and export volumes, thus strengthening the stability
and diversification of the Armenia’s economy and export potential,
ensuring availability of jobs and revenues for the citizens and
contributing to the positive branding of the country worldwide.

In response to the article published by the “EcoLur” Informational
NGO on 1.12.1011, the CRONIMET Mining AG would like to officially
declare that the management of its Armenian subsidiary, the Zangezur
Copper Molybdenum Combine CJSC, is accepting the applications from
the citizens with issues, comments, discussions or proposals related
to the Government of Armenia Decree 627-N, dated 28.04.2011 and is
striving to ensure the most beneficial and acceptable solution for
all these citizens. From our side, we would like to assure and to
guarantee, that the ZCMC is acting solely within the frames of the
existing legislation of the Republic of Armenia prudently taking into
account the interests of the local population.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF ABUSING DAUGHTER-IN-LAW EXTRADITED FROM RUSSIA, ARRESTED IN ARMENIA

epress.am
12.13.2011

Haykanush Mikaelyan, 48, accused of torturing her 20-year-old
daughter-in-law Mariam Gevorgyan, arrived in Armenia on a
Moscow-Yerevan flight at 8:30 pm last night and was subsequently
arrested, said head of the Public Relations Department at Yerevan~Rs
Kentron Police Department Armen Malkhasyan, speaking to Epress.am.

Mikaelyan has been wanted since Jan. 21, 2011, under charges of
RA Criminal Code Article 112 Section 2 (~Sinfliction of willful
[life-threatening] bodily damage to two or more persons~T).

Recall, Mariam Gevorgyan is asserting that she was subjected to
physical and emotional violence by Haykanush Mikaelyan, as well as
by Gevorgyan~Rs husband, David Ziroyan. As reported previously,
Mariam and David married in 2009, then left for St. Petersburg,
where the husband~Rs family live. For 10 months, Mariam was subject to
repeated abuse by David and members of his family. After returning to
Yerevan, Mariam contacted police, who subsequently charged David with
~Sinflicting willful medium-gravity damage to health~T and ~Sbattery~T.

The general amnesty granted by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on the
occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia~Rs independence earlier
this year, however, also applied to David and he was released. Prior
to marrying Mariam, David was married for 3 years to Monica, who
also asserts he abused her, leading to the loss of vision in one of
her eyes.

The case, however, was made public only a year later, when last
week local daily Hetq Online covered Mariam~Rs story. Subsequently,
the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia organized a
demonstration outside the RA General Prosecutor~Rs office Monday,
demanding officials to re-open the case and conduct a fair
investigation.

Later on Monday, Mariam Gevorgyan and Coalition representatives were
invited to come speak with RA Deputy Prosecutor General Armen Danielyan
and head of the RA Prosecutor General Office~Rs Department for Crimes
against the Individual Vahram Shahinyan, who assured them that the
case has been re-opened and the Armenian General Prosecutor~Rs Office
is overseeing the matter.

USA
De plus en plus d’arméniens expulsés des Etats-Unis

Les rumeurs d’un grand nombre de prisonniers arméniens aux Etats-Unis
sont très exagérées.

Le consulat général d’Arménie a été informé que 151 citoyens arméniens
ont été arrêté dans la première moitié de 2011. Seuls quelques-uns ont
été condamnés à de la prison.

Selon les mêmes données, le nombre de citoyens arméniens dans des
prisons de Los Angeles n’excèdent pas 1000.

Cependant, le nombre des citoyens arméniens qui sont expulsés du pays
a récemment augmenté. En 2011 les autorités américaines ont fait appel
au Consulat général d’Arménie à Los Angeles en lien avec le renvoi de
50 citoyens d’Arménie. Ils sont principalement expulsés en raison de
la violation des lois sur le séjour aux Etats-Unis.

Le Consul général Grigor Hovhannisyan a visité une des prisons de Los
Angeles. Pendant la visite, Grigor Hovhannisyan a rencontré des
prisonniers d’origine arménienne, aussi bien que les citoyens
d’Arménie.

dimanche 11 décembre 2011,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Manuk Vardanyan : Le nombre des utilisateurs à Internet a été
multiplié par six en deux ans

Le ministre arménien des Transports et de la communication Manuk
Vardanyan a souligné l’importance de la stratégie du gouvernement dans
le développement de la communication, notant qu’elle a prouvé son
efficacité.

Manuk Vardanyan a présenté les réalisations dans la sphère des
transports et des communications au cours des dernières années, notant
que le domaine a toujours été au centre de l’attention du
gouvernement.

“Les indices ont considérablement augmenté grce à la politique
constante de notre gouvernement. La couverture des services mobiles
atteint 100% dans la république, le nombre d’abonnés de téléphonie
fixe a augmenté. Le nombre des utilisateurs à internet a augmenté de
six fois au cours des deux dernières années. Un tiers de la population
totale utilise internet aujourd’hui, les prix ont considérablement
baissé » a déclaré Manuk Vardanyan.

dimanche 11 décembre 2011,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Glendale News Press , CA
Dec 10 2011

Armenian political group seeks charter

By Mark Kellam, [email protected]
December 10, 2011 | 6:39 p.m.

The organization California Armenian-American Democrats, which
includes several local members, appears close to being fully chartered
by the California Democratic Party. Its bylaws would serve as a
template for organizations seeking charter approval in the future,
according to local officials.

The group was provisionally chartered in July and representatives went
before the state party’s executive board in November seeking a full
charter, said Caro Avanessian, interim chairman of the group and
president of the Glendale Democratic Club.

The board didn’t grant the organization a full charter because board
members wanted some changes to the group’s bylaws.

`They want it to be perfect,’ he said. `It’s going to be a sample in
the future.’

It would be the first statewide organization chartered by the state
party, Avanessian said.

The group initially sought to become a caucus, but those groups are a
part of the state party and don’t have much autonomy, Avanessian said.

With a charter, the group is independent. It can raise funds and make
endorsements in races and on issues where the state party hasn’t
endorsed.

Eric Bauman, head of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, led the
meeting as vice-chairman of the California Democratic Party and
chairman of the party’s organizational development committee.

He said most of the significant revisions to the bylaws have been
made, but the executive board wants the group to fix some grammar
problems and make sure that all requirements, such as the number of
days needed for meeting notices, are consistent throughout the bylaws.

Meanwhile, the organization is growing, Avanessian said, with 500
members as of Dec. 1 – the deadline to sign up in order to be a voting
member and run for office during the upcoming year.

The group will return to seek a full charter in February at the
Democratic convention in San Diego, Avanessian said.

,0,3216324.story

Jerusalem Post
Dec 10 2011

Meretz reaches out to Christian patriarchs
By MELANIE LIDMAN
12/10/2011 23:37

Haredi spitting at priests in Jerusalem has gotten worse in past six
months, say city councilors.

Jerusalem City Council members from the Meretz party met on Thursday
with the Armenian patriarch, to apologize for the increase in
ultra-Orthodox spitting at priests as they walk in the Old City.

According to Meir Margalit, the Meretz city councilor who holds the
east Jerusalem portfolio, the phenomenon of haredim spitting at the
ground as priests walked by has gone on for years but has gotten
considerably worse in the past six months. The issue was highlighted
in an October court case against a Greek Orthodox priest who punched a
haredi man who spat at him. The judge dismissed the case after saying
that the haredi man had provoked the priest.

`Needless to say, spitting toward the accused when he was wearing the
mantle of the church is a criminal offense,’ Judge Dov Pollock said in
the October 31 ruling.

Local Meretz activists joined city councilors Laura Wharton, Pepe
Alalu and Margalit for the meeting with Armenian Patriarch Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian. Two weeks ago, the group, along with two rabbis from
Rabbis for Human Rights, held a similar meeting with Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Theophilos III.

`We went to ask forgiveness in the name of the Jewish nation and the
citizens of Jerusalem,’ Margalit said on Friday.

`I grew up in Argentina during a period when there wasn’t a small
amount of anti-Semitism. When I heard this, it immediately brought me
back to Argentina. How can the Jewish people be doing something that
they used to do to us not so many years ago?’ Margalit asked.

Margalit said that both meetings with the church leaders had been
positive, and that Manoogian had said he believed the problem stemmed
from a lack of education in the haredi community.

Margalit said he would appeal to the haredi city councilors to ask
rabbis to denounce the practice. But he also encouraged the police to
stop it `once and for all’ by using the many security cameras in the
Old City to identify and arrest the men spitting at priests.

news.am, Armenia
Dec 10 2011

Iran constructs new power line with Armenia and Georgia to enter Europe

December 10, 2011 | 12:30

The new power transmission line which is being constructed in order to
increase the volume of electricity exchange between Iran, Armenia and
Georgia will become a new route for electricity transit and exchange
with Europe.

In an interview with Mehr agency Iran’s deputy Minister of Energy
Mohammad Behzad explained that the power line is being constructed in
order to provide Georgia with electricity at first and later Russia
and other European countries.

The power line currently exchanging electricity between Armenia and
Iran has a capacity of 230 kilowatt. The new power line will allow
transferring electricity from Iran to Georgia through Armenia.
Currently Georgia gets electricity from Iran through Azerbaijan.

Currently Iran is exporting electricity to Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iraq,
Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Global Insight
December 9, 2011

Armenia Will Not Join Post-Soviet Economic Integration Projects

by: Lilit Gevorgyan

Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian has told media that his
country has no plans to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan
and Russia, which will make up the core of the Eurasian Union proposed
by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. Sargsyan explained that
Armenia maintains good commercial ties with all the Customs Union
member states but since it does not share a common border with them,
sees no real prospects of joining the bloc. He also added that there
has been no precedent of a country joining a customs bloc without
sharing a common border with its members. He clarified that for the
same reasons Armenia maintains only an observer status in the Eurasian
Economic Communist (EurAsEc). Nonetheless the South Caucasian republic
has recently joined the Russia-led Free Trade Zone Agreement which
includes Moldova, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and
Ukraine.

Significance:Sarkisian’s comments come shortly after his trip to
Brussels to push forward with a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
between Armenia and the European Union (EU). Although an active member
of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) a loose formation of some
of the former Soviet republics, Armenia is also a member of the World
Trade Organization (WTO) which the members of the Customs Union have
yet to join. Lack of common borders with the Customs Union to some
degree would also reduce the potential pressure by Russia on Armenia
to join its integration projects mainly involving the former Soviet
states. As for creating a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with
the EU, Armenia may have to wait until it holds its parliamentary
election and proves that its political leaders are truly committed to
improving the business environment and the judiciary.