Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Armenia to see a new wave of uprising in February, says oppositionist

16:49 – 10.12.11

Armenia will see a new wave of protests in February next year, an
activist of the opposition alliance of the Armenian National Congress
(HAK) has said.

Nikol Pashinyan made the statement on Liberty Square as the HAK
started a campaign dedicated to the anniversary of the adoption of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

`In February, a new wave of uprising will start so that non-elected
authorities will go away from Armenia,’ said Pashinyan who is also the
Chief Editor of local daily Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times).

`No state official will give us our rights. Citizens should by all
means demand their rights,’ he added.

HAK Coordinator Levon Zurabyan, in turn, said that it was due to the
pressure the HAK exerted on the ruling authorities that they released
those citizens arrested over the March 1 events.

Zurabyan also said that civil society is becoming more active in the
country and is fighting for its rights more actively then before.

Later the HAK supporters marched from Liberty Square towards to
Mashtots Avenue from where they will go to the area near Alexander
Miasnikyan statue – the area where most of the clashes with the riot
police took place in 2008.

At least ten people were killed, dozens wounded and arrested at the
post-election unrest in Yerevan in 2008 as citizens took to the
streets, claiming the presidential vote had been stolen.

Tert.am

RA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT IN 2011

hetq
15:25, December 10, 2011

RA Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan~Rs December 10 speech at
Human Rights EXPO 2011

Dear guests,

With the aim of celebrating the International Human Rights Day, we
have initiated this exhibition, which differs from other expo’s due
to the fact that we are exhibiting not our success and achievements,
but stressing the difficulties, failures, pains and acute problems
of our society.

Now I~Rm not going to speak about child beggars, people in extreme
poverty, abused women, a prisoner or a military serviceman who is
inhumanly treated, a member of a minority group who has been subjected
to discriminatory treatment, a homeless and vulnerable refugee,
the unauthorized home detention of a disabled citizen.

About all of these individuals and circumstances, our booths which
will be opening in several minutes, as well as the wallpaper, films
and publications presented in those booths, will provide you with
much more thorough and impressive information.

Summing up the year 2011 we would like to present some positive and
negative developments from the point of view of the Human Rights
Defender proficiency.

Many of you are aware of my public initiative of requesting the
initiation of disciplinary proceedings for 3 judges. Yesterday the
Justice Minister expressed his solidarity to respective highest
judicial body and I received final rejections with regard to all the
three cases. This is my biggest disappointment in 2011.

Since the independence of Armenia, up to and including this year,
the sharpest and most challenging structural obstacle to human rights
protection has been the lack of a fair trial. Human rights protection
in any democratic country is ultimately the responsibility of the
judiciary.

Consuming all my legislative authorities to influence judicial reform
and current possibilities arising from them, I invoke my compatriots
to highlight especially the right of a fair trial in upcoming political
processes.

As the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia I~Rm asking
all political forces not only to present the current situation of
judicial authorities (everyone is aware of this and everyone talks
about this) in public debates of upcoming election period, but to
present to voters practical, realistic, short-term and long-term
projects of having a fair court.

Continuing to sum up the developments for 2011 I would like to
inform that that most part of the grounded complaints addressed
to our institution refer to the wrong calculation of a pension and
deprivation from the right of getting a family pension.

The highest number of positive solutions to the complaints addressed
to us were given from the RA Ministry of Defense. Our legislative
proposals were mostly accepted by the RA Ministry of Health and the
RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The most improper and unacceptable response to our public criticism
we received from the RA Ministry of Education and Science. However,
we positively evaluate the fact that the Ministry, even after such
a response, undertook regulation of the formation of textbooks~R
evaluation thematic committees.

The greatest support from State bodies was our financial bid~Rs
uphold by the National Assembly during 2012 budget discussion. With
this regard I would like to express my special thanks to standing
committees presidents Mr. Aram Safaryan and Mr. Gagik Minasyan.

For promoting our financial independence and for making our
extra-budget independent from the RA Government~Rs confirmation we
are grateful to the RA Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and
RA the Finance Minister.

For toll-free provision and operation of the Human Rights Defender~Rs
116 Hot Line I would like to express my appreciation to the Public
Services Regulatory Commission and ~SArmenTel~T CJSC.

During the «Civil Society» forum held in June 2011 memorandums were
signed between the Human Rights Defender and more than 85 NGOs. I am
grateful to all of those NGOs, which have been by our side all this
time and today also.

For professional and material support to our institution during
2011 I would like to express my thankfulness to the Delegation of
the European Union to Armenia and the European Union Advisory Group,
United Nations in Armenia, US Agency for International Development,
Counterpart International Armenia, OSCE Office in Yerevan, Armenian
branch of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, World Vision Armenia, which
helped us to significantly enlarge our activity and implement human
rights protection and promotion programmes.

Last but not the least, I am thankful to those forty-six humane and
diligent people of my staff, who help thousands of our applicants
and who has made this event possible today.

THREE COALITION MEMBERS VOTE DOWN ARF-D’S NO CONFIDENCE BID

Tert.am
10.12.11

The local newspaper Zhoghovurd says it has learned from sources that
three lawmakers from the ruling coalition have abstained in the vote
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun’s (ARF-D)
recent proposal on expressing no confidence to the cabinet.

The paper says it has found out that two members of the ruling
Republican Party faction in parliament, Vardan Avagyan and Gagik
Abrahamyan, and one representative of the Prosperous Armenia party
faction, Vachagan Khurshudyan, abstained from voting.

The bill was rejected with 13 votes in factor, 48 against and four
abstention, the paper says, adding that an independent lawmaker,
Lyova Khachatryan, was the fourth abstaining MP.

DVIN – MOSTRA, PALAZZO BRASCHI (ROMA) / EXPOSITION, PALAIS BRASCHI (ROME)
Stephane

armenews.com
samedi 10 decembre 2011

Inauguration a Rome d’une exposition prestigieuse, qui celèbre l’une
des anciennes capitales de l’Armenie

Akhtamar on line, 15.11.2011

C’est a l’une des grandes capitales de la grande Armenie historique
qu’est consacree la prestigieuse exposition, qui vient juste d’ouvrir
ses portes, la semaine dernière, dans le cadre suggestif du palais
Braschi a Rome. ” Sur les routes de la soie “, biennale internationale
de culture, celèbre la fameuse Dvin qui, du 4ème au 13ème après J.-C.,
a represente un pont culturel entre Occident et Orient, incarnant
dans ses fortifications, ses eglises et ses palais ce rôle naturel
de lien que la nation armenienne a toujours rempli dans son histoire
millenaire.

Connue aussi sous le nom de Duin ou Dwin, selon certaines sources,
la ville s’est developpee au point de devenir un important et très
peuple centre commercial au debut du Moyen Age armenien. Elle s’eleva
le long des rives du fleuve Metzamor, non loin au nord de l’endroit où
s’elevait une autre capitale armenienne, Artaxata [Artashat], fondee
par le roi Khosrov [Khosroès] III d’Armenie en 335 après J.-C. sur
un site habite depuis le troisième millenaire avant notre ère.

Favorisee par sa position, dans la plaine de l’Ararat, le long des
routes des caravanes, elle se developpa rapidement et parvint a
compter une population de plus de cent mille habitants.

Le lieu s’acquit reputation et prestige au point de devenir la
residence du Catholicos et des souverains armeniens : tout d’abord,
ceux de la dynastie des Arshakouni [Arsacides], puis au 5ème siècle
celle des Sassanides, jusqu’a la conquete arabe en 640, où il prit
le nom de Dabil.

En 893, un violent tremblement de terre causa de très graves dommages
et fit 70 000 victimes parmi la population.

Peu après l’an mil, elle fut reconquise par les Byzantins, subissant
ensuite dominations et invasions, qui caracterisent toute l’Armenie
jusqu’a l’epoque moderne.

En 1236, elle fut complètement detruite par les Mongols.

Dvin, comme – et peut-etre davantage – le reste de la nation
armenienne, a paye sa position strategique, laquelle lui valut de
grandes richesses et la notoriete, mais parallèlement lui attira
les convoitises des conquerants. Aujourd’hui, ses ruines temoignent
avec peine de la magnificence et de la grandeur de cette capitale
armenienne.

Traduction de l’italien : © Georges Festa – 12.2011

pour lire la suite cliquer sur le lien

LE PRESIDENT DU LIBAN MICHEL SLEIMANE A RENDU HOMMAGE A LA MEMOIRE DES VICTIMES DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Stephane

armenews.com
samedi 10 decembre 2011

Le president libanais Michel Sleimane, qui est en Armenie pour une
visite officielle, accompagne de son epouse Wafaa Sleiman a visite
le memorial de Tsitsernakaberd et a depose une gerbe a la memoire
des victimes du genocide armenien.

Les membres de la delegation libanaise ont depose des fleurs devant
la flamme du feu eternel et honore la memoire des victimes innocentes
par une minute de silence.

Le President du Liban et sa delegation ont visite le Musee du
genocide armenien et ont fait une visite guidee du musee, après quoi
le president Michel Sleiman a ecrit la note suivante dans le livre
des commemorations . “Celui, qui se tient en face de ce monument,
voit l’histoire glorieuse de la lutte et du sacrifice. Je souhaite
longue prosperite au peuple ami armenien”.

Le directeur du Musee-Institut du Genocide Armenien Hayk Demoyan
a remis au President de la Republique du Liban Michel Sleimane une
medaille d’or qui est donnee aux elus de haut rang qui visitent le
musee du Genocide Armenien.

Les membres de la delegation libanaise ont fait une visite guidee
de l’Allee de la memoire, où le president du Liban Michel Sleimane
a plante un sapin.

Il est a noter qu’en 2000, le Parlement libanais a reconnu et condamne
le genocide perpetre en 1915 contre le peuple armenien.

” ARMENIE-HAYASTAN ” POUR TOUT SAVOIR SUR L’ARMENIE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 10 decembre 2011

” Armenie-Hayastan “, ecrit sous la direction de Raymond H. Kevorkian
et Valentina Calzolari Bouvier edite a l’occasion du salon du livre
et de la Presse de Genève où l’Armenie etait a l’honneur au printemps
dernier est edite a l’occasion du 500ème anniversaire de l’imprimerie
armenienne. Le livre vient a quelques mois de la manifestation qui
se deroulera en Armenie avec Erevan, designee par l’UNESCO comme ”
Capitale mondiale du livre 2012 “.

L’objectif de ” Armenie-Hayastan ” est de presenter l’Armenie et
les Armeniens sous de nombreux thèmes. Outre l’histoire (Claude
Moutafian), la geopolitique (Raymond H. Kevorkian), l’histoire du
livre (R. H. Kevorkian et Alexis Krikorian), le lecteur decouvre la
litterature armenienne ancienne et moderne, l’alphabet, les arts et
l’Eglise armenienne. Une initiation a la culture armenienne grâce
a ce livre abondamment illustre et comprenant de nombreuses cartes
de geographie. Un livre a lire, mais aussi a partager et a faire
decouvrir a tous ceux qui desirent comprendre et decouvrir les
Armeniens et leur riche culture.

Ce livre est publie par la commission nationale pour l’organisation
du 500ième anniversaire de l’imprimerie armenienne – Erevan ainsi que
la Fondation H.D. Topalian (Genève) avec le concours de la Fondation
Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisbonne). 191 pages – format 19x30cm, 18 euros.

Disponible auprès d’Alain et Maral Wurry (Representants de la
Fondation H. D Topalian-Genève), 11 chemin Jean Moynat 74200
Thonon les Bains. Tel : 04 50 26 33 34 / 06 80 40 53 08. Email :
[email protected]

LE PROJET DE LA ROUTE RELIANT L’ARMENIE A BATOUMI FAIT PEUR A CHEVARDNADZE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 10 decembre 2011

L’ex-president georgien Edouard Chevardnadze craint que le projet
d’une nouvelle route rapide entre l’Armenie et le port de Batoumi
en Republique autonome d’Adjarie (dependant de la Georgie) mette
en danger l’equilibre demographique de la region. E. Chevardnadze
redoute tout simplement une ” armenisation ” de la region diminuant
ainsi le poids de Tbilissi sur l’Adjarie. Le projet de cette route
nouvelle reliant l’Armenie a Batoumi via un passage du col de Koretsi
fut examine lors de la recente rencontre entre le president armenien
Serge Sarkissian et son homologue georgien Mikhaïl Saakashvilli. Un
axe qui devrait developper l’afflux de touristes Armeniens vers les
stations balneaires de la Mer Noire ainsi que faciliter le transport
des marchandises. ” Regardez l’Abkhazie où les Armeniens sont plus
nombreux que les Abkhazes ” s’alarme Edouard Chevardnadze.

LEBANON, ARMENIA SIGN NEW BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

The Daily Star

Lebanon
Dec 10 2011

BEIRUT: Lebanese officials signed agreements with their Armenian
counterparts in Yerevan Friday in an effort to bolster ties between
the two countries.

Ministers from both countries signed cooperation agreements in the
fields of education, environment, industry and tourism following a
wide-ranging meeting between President Michel Sleiman and Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan at the Presidential Palace in the Armenian
capital.

An official delegation of MPs and ministers headed by Sleiman began
a three-day visit to Armenia Wednesday and is to return to Beirut
this weekend.

“I held a lengthy discussion with President Serzh Sargsyan and we
discussed the means to strengthen the relations between our countries
and our people in different areas,” said Sleiman during a joint news
conference with Sargsyan, who presented Sleiman with the country’s
Medal of Honor.

“We also discussed the current regional and international
developments,” Sleiman added.

Speaking at the conference, Sleiman reiterated Lebanon’s full support
for stability in Armenia and the South Caucus region, which has seen
sporadic military conflict among Armenian and Azeri troops in the
past 17 years.

“I also reiterated to President Sargsyan that on the 20th anniversary
of Armenia’s independence, Lebanon would continue to stand by Armenia
and would support finding diplomatic solutions to conflicts that
persist with some of its neighbors … especially the ongoing conflict
over Nagorno-Karabagh,” said Sleiman in reference to an enclave in
Azerbaijan which has been occupied by Armenia since 1994.

Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijani territories,
Nagorno-Karabagh is a de facto independent state and is now controlled
by Nagorno-Karabagh Republic.

In a question and answer session with reporters, Sleiman said
that the Lebanese government would stand in support of the people
in Nagorno-Karabagh. “We hope that this conflict will be solved
based on international law and based on the right of the people to
self-determination,” Sleiman told reporters.

Earlier Friday Sleiman and the delegation, accompanied by Armenian
Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbanian, visited the Tsitsernakaberd
Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan to honor the victims of 1915
Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT – EXPERT

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 9 2011
Russia

There is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
fellow of the Ankara Economy and Technology Institute Togrul Ismayil
told a VK correspondent.

“Peace talks should continue, and the conflict should be solved
peacefully,” Mr. Ismayil says, adding, “The parties should come to
an agreement and sign a peace treaty.”

Still the parties seem unwilling to find a possible way out. Each
side is not ready for a compromise solution and the recent meeting
have shown it, the expert admits.

FRENCH PARLIAMENT HOLDS RECEPTION MARKING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM

news.am
Dec 9 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – A reception, marking 20th anniversary of the adoption of
the referendum on independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR), or Artsakh, was held at the French National Assembly
on Wednesday. The event brought together French MPs, senators,
journalists, intellectuals, and representatives of the Armenian
community organizations.

During the reception, French MPs Richard Malier and Francois
Rochbloine, NKR Representative for France Hovhannes Gevorgyan, and
Armenian Embassy’s envoy Ashot Aleksanyan addressed those present.

Also, the presentation of the illustrated book, entitled Artsakh:
Garden of Armenian Arts and Traditions, was made during the formal
ceremony.

In his talk, the French- and English-language book’s co-author,
man of arts and letters, Patrick Donabedian noted that the book is
a gift for the 20th anniversary of NKR’s independence, MFA Press
Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.