Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Armenian president begins state visit to Russia

© RIA Novosti. Alexei Druzhinin01:02 23/10/

2011YEREVAN, October 23 (RIA Novosti)

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will arrive on Sunday in Moscow on a
three-day state visit to Russia, the Armenian presidential press
service said.

Sargsyan will hold talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday.

The agenda of the talks includes bilateral relations, the situation in
the Caucasus region, and the settlement of the long-running Nagorny
Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenian experts believe that one of the main topics of the discussion
between the two presidents will be the strengthening of Russia’s role
in integration processes within the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) and Armenia’s place in these processes.

Sargsyan is accompanied by Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and
other senior government officials during the visit.

Diyarbakir Mayor: we welcome Armenian delegation to the land of their ancestors

October 22, 2011 – 17:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On the occasion of consecration of restored Surp
Giragos Church, Armenian women entrepreneurs’ delegation arrived in
Diyarbakir, eastern Turkey (historical Western Armenia, Tigranakert).

On the sidelines of the visit, the delegation met with Diyarbakir
Mayor Abdullah Demirbas. As Mr. Demirbah noted at the meeting,
leaflets saying `Welcome’ in Armenian will be distributed during the
consecration ceremony. `We welcome you to the land of your ancestors,
and we hope this land will continue carrying signs of your culture,’
the Mayor said.

As Today’s Zaman reported earlier, a delegation of prominent members
of the American-Armenian community was scheduled to arrive in Turkey
on Friday, October 21, in an unprecedented visit to various religious
sites throughout the country.

The 25-member delegation, which includes U.S.-based influential
businessmen and religious figures, will embark on a six-day tour of
key religious sites in Istanbul, Diyarbakir and Van. The visit comes
after the completion of restoration work on the 15th-century Surp
Giragos Church in Diyarbakir province, one of the largest churches in
the Middle East and a historic center of Turkey’s once thriving
Armenian population.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and other high level members of the
American-Armenian diocese will participate in the church’s reopening
which is slated for Oct. 23. The delegation also plans to attend a
ceremony at the recently restored Armenian church on Akhtamar Island
in the province of Van.

Hraparak: Aram Ananyan Director of Armenpress?
11:16 – 22.10.11

The paper claims that authorities are discontent with the state-run
news agency Armenpress and its Director Hrayr Zoryan. The employees
also have complaints, including also written ones.

The paper further claims that relevant bodies held inspections in the
news agency, especially their accountancy as part of complaints relate
to financial abuses.

The results of those inspections are not unveiled, but the paper
claims it has learned that the authorities are mulling over changing
Armenpress’ director.

Among potential candidates mentioned is Aram Ananyan, Assistant Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan and his press officer.

Tert.am

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: WE MUST HAVE SEVERAL SCENARIOS OF RESISTING THE SECOND WAVE OF CRISIS
Liana Yeghiazaryan

“Radiolur”
22.10.2011 15:22

Specialists say that the global economy is preparing to resist the
second wave of the financial-economic crisis, and Armenia will hardly
be able to avoid it.

The Armenian Government must have several scenarios for resisting
the new wave of the crisis, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at
the economic forum at the Yerevan State University organized by the
Armenian Economic Union.

“We must discuss several possible scenarios. In this regard, the
government pays great attention to the macroeconomic stability in
the country, considerably reducing the budget deficit and developing
infrastructures to resist the second possible wave of the crisis.

Tigran Sargsyan’s predictions based on the opinion of international
experts are not that optimistic: the world will carry the burden of
crisis for the coming 5-6 years.

LA TURQUIE APPELLE L’UE A “CHANGER L’OBJECTIF” DE SON APPAREIL PHOTO
Stephane

armenews.com
samedi 22 octobre 2011

Le ministre a en particulier designe la section du rapport concernant
l’attitude du gouvernement vis-a-vis des minorites comme pas
“acceptable”. La Turquie a reagi a la publication mercredi par
la Commission europeenne de son rapport annuel de progrès sur le
processus d’adhesion turque au bloc europeen en suggerant a Bruxelles
de “changer l’objectif” de son appareil photo.

“Il y a des points equilibres dans le rapport et il y en a qui ne
le sont pas”, a declare a l’AFP le ministre aux Affaires europeennes
Egemen Bagis.

“Si vous considerez le rapport comme une photographie de la Turquie,
je peux dire que l’appareil qui a servi a prendre la photo est un
vieux modèle”, a-t-il affirme. “Je pense qu’il est temps pour l’Europe
de changer l’objectif car certaines photos sont floues et il faut un
meilleur focus et le zoom ne montre pas qu’on a vise”.

Le ministre a en particulier designe la section concernant l’attitude
du gouvernement vis-a-vis des minorites comme pas “acceptable”. “Mon
gouvernement a ete le plus pro-minorites de l’histoire de ce pays”,
a-t-il estime.

Concernant les inquietudes de la Commission face aux nombreuses
arrestations de journalistes en Turquie, notamment dans le
cadre d’enquete sur des projets de complot contre le gouvernement
islamo-conservateur, M. Bagis a assure que “personne n’a ete arrete
en Turquie en raison de sa profession de journaliste”.

“Etre un journaliste n’est pas un crime en Turquie (…). Mais si
un homme ou une femme qui s’avère etre un journaliste est implique
dans des activites illegales, sa profession ne va pas lui fournir
d’immunite”, a-t-il developpe.

Le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères a pour sa part reproche
dans un communique au rapport d’avoir insiste sur des “details”
ou au contraire d’avoir developpe des “generalisations”.

“Nous pensons qu’il ne s’agit pas d’un bonne approche pour parvenir
a une evaluation objective et juste”, commente le ministère.

SI MERHIBAN ALIEV DEVIENT PRESIDENTE EN 2013…
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 22 octobre 2011

APRES ILHAM… MERHIBAN ?

… ce serait la fin du ” Clan des Nachitchevanais ”

Si Merhiban Aliev, l’epouse du dictateur se presente en 2013
aux presidentielles Ilham Aliev se representera-t-il en 2013
pour un troisième mandat presidentiel ? La question inquiète le ”
Clan des Nalhitchvanais ” (originaires du Nakhitchevan) dont s’est
entoure le president azeri. Ilham Aliev compte parmi ses proches du
pouvoir, les Nakhitchevanais Ramis Mehdiev (responsable du personnel
presidentiel), Kemalatin Heydarov (ministre des Situations d’urgence)
et Ramil Oussoubov (ministre de l’Interieur). L’inquietude de ce clan
est grande au regard de la monte en puissance de Mehriban Aliev,
l’epouse du president azeri qui recut recemment a Bakou, des mains
du president francais Nicolas Sarkozy, la Legion d’honneur. Le ” Clan
des Nakhitchevanais ” est d’autant plus inquiet qu’en 2008 lors de la
campagne electorale presidentielle, Ilham Aliev avait declare qu’en
2013 Mehriban Aliev deviendra presidente de l’Azerbaïdjan. Une des
raisons du desistement d’Ilham Aliev a ne pas briguer une troisième
presidence est qu’il est assimile par la communaute internationale
comme un vrai dictateur. Si Ilham Aliev laisse sa place a son epouse,
le ” Clan des Nakhitchevanais ” sera demantele au profit de celui
de Bakou-Chirvani.

” ARMENIE ARMENIES ” – CENTRE NATIONAL DU LIVRE (CNL)
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 22 octobre 2011

Jean-Francois Colosimo : ” L’Armenie occupe une place particulière
dans nos c~urs ”

Au c~ur de l’evènement ” Armenie Armenies “, Jean-Francois Colosimo,
le President du Centre national du livre (CNL). De passage a
Marseille pour le lancement ” Armenie Armenies ” il a repondu a
quelques questions de ” Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine “, partenaire
de l’operation. Krikor Amirzayan.

” Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine ” : Pourquoi avoir choisi l’Armenie
comme thème de votre operation culturelle ?

Jean-Francois Colosimo : l’Armenie occupe dans nos c~urs et nos
esprits une place particulière. A travers ce qu’on connaît de ce
peuple courageux et ouvert ainsi que de la presence des quelque 500
000 Francais d’origine armenienne, nous avons decide avec le soutien du
Ministre de la culture Frederic Mitterrand, de realiser cet evènement.

” Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine ” : a qui s’adresse-t-il ?

Jean-Francois Colosimo : ” Armenie Armenie ” s’adresse tout d’abord
a l’ensemble des Francais qui aiment le monde des livres et les
connaissances a travers la litterature, la poesie et l’histoire. Cet
evènement s’adresse egalement tout naturellement a la communaute
armenienne de France. Et ce trajet Marseille-Avignon-Valence-Lyon
a bord de l’Orient Express rappelle celui des premiers refugies
Armeniens qui ont debarque sur les quais de la Joliette a Marseille
pour remonter ensuite la Vallee du Rhône et certains vers Paris.

” Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine ” : quels sont vos partenaires dans
cette operation ?

Jean-Francois Colosimo : ” Armenie Armenie ” est integralement finance
par le Centre National du Livre. Mais bien evidemment nous avons avec
nous le soutien de la presse et des medias. Nous remercions egalement
nos partenaires, les Villes de Marseille, Avignon, Valence, Lyon et
Paris. Les remerciements vont egalement vers le Theâtre national
de Marseille La Criee, cipM, le Centre culturel armenien du Prado
(Marseille), le Palais des Papes (Avignon), la Maison des societes
(Valence), la Bibliothèque de La Part-Dieu, la Villa Gillet (Lyon),
La Bellevilloise, la Croix Bleue des Armeniens de France ainsi que
la Maison des journalistes et les Galerie Matignon (Paris). Cette
liste n’est pas exhaustive.

” Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine ” : vous avez egalement fait venir
des auteurs ecrivains ou poètes d’Armenie.

Jean-Francois Colosimo : Je me suis rendu a deux reprises en Armenie.

Nous avons ete recus et conseilles par le Ministère armenien de la
Culture et nous avons etabli une relation très interessante et porteuse
de projets d’avenir. Mais je tiens a affirmer ” Armenie Armenies ”
est une operation integralement organisee et financee par le Centre
National du Livre.

” Nouvelles d’Armenie Magazine ” : etes-vous satisfait des premiers
resultats d'” Armenie Armenies ” ?

Jean-Francois Colosimo : absolument ! Marseille a reserve a
l’Orient-Express un accueil chaleureux et enthousiaste. Et force est
de constater que le public a repondu a nos manifestations.

THE FACTOR OF UNSETTLED NK CONFLICT WILL BE CONSIDERED WHILE ELECTING NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, UN REPRESENTATIVE IN ARMENIA STATES

Mediamax
Oct 21 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. UN Permanent Coordinator in Armenia Dafina Gercheva
stated today that the factor of unsettled conflicts, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in particular, will be considered while electing non-permanent
members of the UN Security Council.

UN General Assembly will hold elections of five new non-permanent
members of Security Council for 2012-2013. Azerbaijan, Hungary and
Slovenia have claims on one vacancy for Eastern European countries.

“Though UN is not directly involved in the process of Karabakh
settlement we assist to the endeavor that OSCE Minsk Group makes and
support exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue”, said Dafina
Gercheva.

CONFERENCE ADDRESSES CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION

The Messenger
Oct 21 2011
Georgia

“Development cannot happen in just one country,” Thomas Reynolds,
mission director of CARE International in the Caucasus said on the
opening day of a conference on cooperation across the Georgian-Armenian
border. “What happens with your neighbors has an important impact on
what happens at home.”

CARE International in the Caucasus and its partner organization
Civil Development Agency (CiDA) have assembled representatives of
civil society and international organizations and those from local
and central government bodies from Georgia and Armenia for a two-day
conference to share results of a 30-month project entitled “Poverty
Reduction and Confidence-Building in Bordering Areas of Georgia
and Armenia by Strengthening Civil Societies in Sustainable Rural
Development” (STAGE II).

The STAGE II project included confidence-building workshops between
different ethnic groups, support for agriculture development and the
promotion of community participation in local government.

This project targets the border regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and
Kvemo Kartli in Georgia, and Lorri, Tavush and Shirak in Armenia. The
project’s target populations are located in remote areas with little
transportation connections to urban centres and a lack of economic
opportunities outside of farming. The project aims to benefit the rural
population and improve their livelihoods by improving representation
and advocacy through more effective civil society and more cooperation
among local governments.

“A wide number of social and economic issues affect local economic
development and it is necessary to take these into account. We strive
to create a forum where various stakeholders will be involved to
identify and address them,” said Anthony Foreman, STAGE II Project
Director.

Presenters at the conference included representatives from Georgian
and Armenian governments and organizations who have participated in
a number of cross-border initiatives. Projects included a summer
camp in Georgia that brought together youth from both countries,
the rehabilitation of an important irrigation system in Noemberyan
municipality in Armenia, creation of a guidebook to help farmers and
vendors cross the Georgian-Armenian border and the like.

In the conference’s opening session, participants were addressed by
Van Baiburti, advisor to the President of Georgia, Philippe Bernhard,
attache to the EU Delegation to Georgia, and Konstantine Kobakhidze,
Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises are the key to development,”
Bernhard said. “Also, allocating funds for development must be done
in a very transparent way and in a way that involves all stakeholders.”

STAGE II is financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)
implemented by CARE Austria and CARE International in the Caucasus,
along with the partner organizations Civil Development Agency (CiDA)
in Georgia and Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD)
in Armenia.

SOME FORCES WANT CREATE ATMOSPHERE OF DEEP MISTRUST OF ARMENIA’S ARMY – PUBLIC FIGURE

Tert.am
21.10.11

None of the NGOs or public movements that are critical of the present
situation in the army has applied for membership in the Public Council
at Armenia’s Ministry of Defense, the Council member Gegham Harutyunyan
told journalists in Yerevan, Oct. 21.

The public distrusts the investigation into the army incidents.

However, it must be “uprooted with respect to both personal emotions
and public attitude,” he added.

Some forces are trying to create an atmosphere of deep mistrust,
Harutyunyan said. He noted that the army-society relations must be
viewed as a single whole.

“They seek to create the impression of permissiveness and a terrible
situation in the army. Each serious case is investigated a three
levels, and courts return just verdicts. We must not say to the
Investigation, “Either accept my version or you are not impartial’,”
Harutyunyan said.

He cannot understand “mass media’s aggressiveness,” noting that he
cannot bring charges of unfair investigation. “I did not conduct
investigations,” Harutyunyan added.

He pointed out a lower number of death cases in the Armenian army
as compared with 1990s. However, he does not have the information on
the number of solved cases.

As regards the protest the killed solders’ relatives staged in front
of the Armenian government yesterday, and the resultant incident,
Harutyunyan said: “I saw something I cannot accept. Even in mourning
people must respect rules of conduct.”