Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Two from the 6 candidates refused to take part in the elections for
the mayor of Artashat

14.06.2011 | 10:48 | | Noyan Tapan | Politics

(Noyan Tapan – 14.06.2011) Two candidatures from the six ones refused
to take part in the elections for the mayor of Artashat held on June
3. The two candidates are Vardan Mnatsakanyan and Mesrop Petrosyan.
They are non-party.

As Tatev Ohanyan, press secretary of the Central Electoral Commission
informed Noyan Tapan, 4 candidates are nominated for the post of the
mayor: Mayor, Republican Gagik Mouradian, Director of the Car school
Harutyun Mnatsakanyan, president of `Forest Seafood ” Tadevos
Tadevosyan, and Kajo Grigoryan working nowhere.

L’Humanité, France
Vendredi 17 Juin 2011

Le spécialiste des Guerres

Gérard Chaliand, né en 1934 dans le village d’Etterbeek, à Bruxelles,
est un géostratège et aventurier français d’origine arménienne. Il est
spécialiste de l’étude des conflits armés et des relations
internationales et stratégiques. Ses axes de recherche concernent
essentiellement les conflits irréguliers (guérilla, terrorisme), dont
il est devenu l’un des plus éminents spécialistes et théoriciens
mondiaux. Il est également écrivain, historien, poète et traducteur,
auteur d’une cinquantaine de livres. Successivement maître de
conférences à l’ENA, enseignant à l’École supérieure du Centre
européen d’étude des conflits, Gérard Chaliand est conseiller auprès
du Centre d’analyse et de prévision du ministère des Affaire
étrangères, et professeur dans de nombreuses universités d’autres
pays. Son engagement anticolonialiste au sein de Partisans, revue dont
il est l’un des fondateurs au moment de la guerre d’Algérie, puis de
Révolution africaine le conduit à vouloir comprendre le monde à partir
du terrain. Acteur de la guérilla avant d’en devenir un théoricien, il
est l’un des spécialistes des problèmes politiques et stratégiques du
monde contemporain.

Ahmadinejad talks with Azeri, Armenian counterparts over phone

Tehran, June 19, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed issue
of mutual interests as well as regional developments over phone with
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh
Sargsyan on Sunday.

According to the presidential website, during the separate telephone
conversations, the Iranian president discussed expansion of mutual
relations and cooperation as well as regional developments inlcuding
the issue of terrorism.

During the telephone conversations, the Iranian president called for
collective cooperation among regional countries to uproot terrorism.

Prime Minister of Armenia: Investments from Diaspora a direct way to
development of tourism and economy in general

ARMINFO
Friday, June 17, 17:06

Armenia is a favorable environment for Diaspora’s investments and
business. In this light, investments by our compatriot in opening of a
new hotel complex in the resort village of Hankavan can be exemplary
for others, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the
ceremonial opening of Ani Resort Hotel in Hankavan, Thursday. Minister
of economy, members of the government and heads of the local
self-government attended the opening ceremony.

American businessman Armenian by origin Sedrak Achemyan and his son
Arthur Achemyan opened the new hotel complex in the area of the former
sanatorium Erebuni.

“I am happy to attend such event on my arrival from London where the
key topic of discussed with big businessmen of the Armenian Diaspora
was development of economy in Armenia through investments. Opening of
this complex has become possible only thanks to our compatriot who
decided to make his investments in Armenia,” T. Sargsyan said.

The prime minister said opening of such hotels makes Armenia a more
attractive country for tourism, which is in harmony with one of the
government’s prior task i.e. development of tourism.

“Another important factor is that our partner from Diaspora invests in
the region and not in Yerevan, which is in harmony with another our
task – proportional territorial development,” Tigran Sargsyan said.
The premier is sure that the guests of Ani Resort will enjoy high
quality services and rich nature of Hankavan.

For his part, S. Achemyan said that investments in the hotel complex
he named after his daughter Ani totaled $7.5 million. “In Armenia it
is necessary to develop villages, and promote activity of villagers. I
am happy to make a contribution to development of this part of Kotayk
region,” he said. “Together with my son we plan to build similar
resort complexes also in other regions,” the businessman said. He said
that almost all the rooms at Ani Resport have already been reserved.

Construction of Ani Resort located 55km from Yerevan was launched in
2008 and involved nearly 2000 people from, Hankavan and the nearby
villages. The hotel has 40 rooms and 12 cottages for at least 140
people.

The cost of a room is 25,000-90,000 drams. The hotel has also an
up-to-date conference hall for 80 people. There are two football and
volleyball pitches, a tennis court, swimming pool, gym, playground,
game zone, and restaurants. An ice-rink will be built at the hotel and
a farm producing agricultural products.

Hankavan is situated on the picturesque bank on the River of Marmarik
on 1900m above sea level.

By data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia in the Q1 2011
the number of tourists visiting Armenia grew 22.1% versus the same
period of 2010 to 113515 people. Tourists that visited Armenia in Q1
2011 stayed at 43 hotels versus 33 in for Jan- Mar 2010. A total of
17436 tourists used hotel services (up 75.6%), the other 96079 people
stayed at their relatives or rented flats (up 15.7%).

Are you trying to move mountains?

08:30 pm | June 17, 2011 | Politics

Member of “Sardarapat” Movement, film director Tigran Khzmalyan is not
too interested in what kind of document Serzh Sargsyan will be
presented with in Kazan and is sure that the Armenian people won’t
allow the execution of any document that is not in the country’s
interests.

“Armenia can’t accept any concession. The phrase “mutual concessions”
is a word game. They are demanding concessions from Armenia, but we
shouldn’t be afraid of anything. We must understand our interest,
dignity and the price. We shouldn’t allow the entrance of foreign
forces. I call on using judgement, and I’m not referring to those who
will represent Armenia in Kazan,” Tigran Khzmalyan today told “A1+”.

According to him, for the past twenty years, the Armenian authorities
have had a strange working style when it comes to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution.
“Armenia has tricked the world so much that even Armenians have
convinced themselves that the NK is a separate state. That was the
first administration’s genius discovery. The second and third regimes
decided to do everything without Karabakh, and now they are in trouble
and say they should ask Karabakh. This is all leading to a crisis.”

Tigran Khzmalyan proposes to solve the issue in the most correct way,
that is, to accept that Artsakh is one of Armenia’s provinces.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s declarations on accelerating the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, Mr. Khzmalyan said:

“Unlike Armenia’s leadership, Azerbaijan is thinking about the future.
It realizes that there will no longer be a petroleum boom ten years
later and the country will lose money. That is why they have begun to
rush, but Armenia is in no rush.”

After learning about Serzh Sargsyan’s response to the HAK’s proposal
for dialogue, Tigran Khzmalyan said:

“Did he really respond? He simply smirked and asked whether the HAK
was trying to move mountains. The people’s energy at the square and
some people’s “smart” policy turned the river into a stream, the drops
of the stream filled into a half-empty cup, but Serzh Sargsyan said he
didn’t need that cup.”

Opposition MP says anti-social laws push her to frequent speeches

13:36 – 19.06.11

The bills proposed in our parliament very often fail to meet the
public demand, and what’s even more, conflict with the public
interest, says an opposition MP.

`My frequent speeches at the National Assembly are conditioned by the
fact that the legislative proposals not only fail to meet but also
conflict, very often, with the public interest,’ Larisa Alaverdyan of
the Heritage party faction in parliament told Tert.am.

Her statement came after a recent parliament monitoring (available at
), which gave the ranking of MPs
depending on the frequency of speeches in parliament. Alaverdyan, who
was Armenia’s first human rights defender, topped the list.

Dwelling further on the reasons of her frequent speeches, the MP noted
further that Heritage is a small faction, a factor that obliges its
members to speak more often at parliamentary hearings.

`If our faction were a little bigger, there would be fewer speeches
probably,’ she said.

Alaverdyan said her experience in different spheres is yet another
factor causing her to speak more to voice various proposals.
`Frequent speeches imply I have my own opinion on different bills,’ she said.

Tert.am

POETE DISPARU
Il y a 40 ans le poète Barouïr Sévag disparaissait sur une route d’Arménie

Il y a 40 ans, le 17 juin 1971, sur une route d’Arménie, disparaissait
Barouïr Sévag, le plus grand poète arménien de la seconde moitié du
XXe siècle. Comme chaque année anniversaire de sa disparition, de
nombreuses manifestations dédiées au poète se déroulèrent en Arménie.
Né sous le nom de Barouïr Ghazarian, le poète préférait prendre le nom
de Barouïr Sévag en souvenir du poète Roupen Sévag, disparu lors du
génocide de 1915.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 19 juin 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

HAUT KARABAGH
Bakou a violé à 250 reprises le cessez-le-feu
le long de sa frontière avec le Haut Karabagh

Lors de la semaine écoulée, Bakou a violé à 250 reprises le
cessez-le-feu le long de la frontière entre le Haut Karabagh et
l’Arménie. Des armes de divers calibres furent utilisées. Plus de 1
700 projectiles furent émis par les Azéris en direction des positions
arméniennes avec une plus grande intensité le 12 et le 14 juin. Les
forces arméniennes de Défense de la République du Haut Karabagh ont à
chaque fois répliqué pour « faire taire l’ennemi ». Fort heureusement
les Arméniens n’ont enregistré aucun blessé.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 19 juin 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

RPA member has low expectations for Kazan meeting

June 18, 2011 – 15:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary
group member Hamlet Harutyunyan has low expectations for
Armenia-Azerbaijan-Russia presidential meeting on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement.

The parliamentarian is certain that Azerbaijan will not take
constructive position during talks in Kazan.

`Clearly, Azerbaijan won’t agree to constructive steps in conflict
settlement without pressure from international organizations,
including the European Union,’ the MP said.

Harutyunyan stressed the importance of strict observation of ceasefire
to be discussed in Kazan. He reminded that the ceasefire agreement was
singed by Karabakh representative as well.

The Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia – Serzh Sargsyan,
Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev – are slated to meet on June 25 in
the Russian city of Kazan, the next in a series of trilateral meetings
on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

There are certain expectations with respect to the meeting, taking
into consideration the Deauville statement adopted by the leaders of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries, who said `the time has
arrived for all the sides to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to take a
decisive step towards a peaceful settlement. Further delay [in the
settlement] would only call into question the commitment of the sides
to reach an agreement.’

Issue of Armenian Genocide in British Parliament

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:01:03 – 18/06/2011

On 16th June 2011 a Debate took place in the Chamber of the House of
Lords ( British Parliament) initiated by the Oral Question entitled ‘
what is the timetable for the ( British ) Government for recognising
the Armenian genocide ‘ and presented by Baroness Flather.

The Chamber was at full capacity and, responding on behalf of the
British Government was Lord Howell of Guilford, Minister of State,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Baroness Flather said ‘I have just returned from Armenia where I have
visited the Armenian genocide museum which, compared to the Holocaust
Museum , was no less upsetting , shocking and dreadful’ and concluded
by saying: ‘ the time is now for us to recognise this crime against
humanity.’

Supporting Baroness Flather’s Question were : the Lord Avebury: ‘Would
it not help Turkey’s application to join the European Union if Turkish
politicians acknowledged the crimes of their ancestors?’, the Rt Rev
Dr Peter Foster PhD Lord Bishop of Chester: `There is no doubt that
genocide took place …. what is the official guidance on
representation at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, as there has
been some reluctance of Ministers and others to attend the
commemoration’ and Baroness Cox: … there is a serious risk in
Turkey of prosecution for journalists and writers who use the term
‘Armenian genocide’ .. much educational material for schools has been
produced by Turkey denying the Armenian genocide .. is such censorship
acceptable for a nation that hopes to join the European Union’.

As expected, Lord Howell’s answer was a slightly modified replica of
all the misleading , denialistic, unacceptable and biased responses to
the same question that have been given by all consecutive FCO
Ministers during the past 20 years: initially they said ‘there was NO
genocide’ , then the wording was changed to: ‘these were deplorable
massacres and Armenians have our sympathy’, a year later their
response was: ‘we cannot find the unequivocal proof of that genocide
– in one word – show us the smoking gun’, soon this was followed by:
‘our advise is that two neighbour countries must find ways to come to
terms with their past and communicate with each other’ and now: ‘ we
must not intervene in the affairs of two neighbour countries and must
not comment on the detailed internal affairs between them. The best
way forward is for Turkey and Armenia, which have initialled detailed
protocols, to work to sort this out.’

How great are the British Government’s interests in Turkey for British
Parliamentarians to sign a Petition for recognition of the Armenian
genocide one day, then as soon as they receive a Ministerial Post –
engaged to follow the Government’s guideline – to refute and deny
their own signatures next day? How many tanks, aeroplanes and weapons
of mass killings have to be purchased from Britain by Turkey to
validate the denial of what had been declared real and true? How can
British Dignitaries who have seen and read the huge documentation on
the Armenian Genocide – made available to them – and know the exact
TRUTH , hide behind a false, pathetic and shaky argument which is
neither related to the truth nor acceptable in a Court of Justice if
there was one overseeing those proceedings.

Last week I attended a conference where Lord Prescott replied to the
question : ‘why the Council of Europe is not penalising Turkey for its
infamous Penal Code 301 which prosecutes any Turkish national who
would mention the Armenian Genocide?’ with another question: ‘has
anyone lodged a complaint on that issue to the Council of Europe?’,
… ‘then if you want a judgement, you must lodge a complaint’.

Three years ago, Geoffrey Robertson QC, presenting his findings about
the Armenian Genocide, labelled it ‘How British Ministers,
Parliamentarians and People have been misled by the British Government
‘ and said that ‘there was a case for prosecution’.

Lately, in the ‘civilised (sic) world’ we have witnessed the grotesque
disfiguration of the word ‘genocide’ by many Heads of States and
Spiritual Leaders who have been hiding cowardly behind a smoke-screen
of misrepresentation, denial, double standards, hypocrisy and greed
for lucrative deals with Turkey and have – for the time being –
successfully distorted the truth.

Is’nt it time that we Armenians create – at last – a united Armenian
Front, gather in one place all the documentation available, follow
Lord Prescott’s advise, lodge a formal complaint to the European
Courts of Justice for Violation of Human Rights by Turkey and ask
Justice for a most foul and horrific act of genocide?

Odette Bazil, ‘Upper Haik’, Hammersley Lane Tylers Green BUCKS HP13 7BY