Author: Kalantarian Kevo

GAGIK TSARUKYAN CAN BE STRIPPED OF DEPUTY MANDATE ALREADY TODAY – ARMTIMES.COM

11:45 | February 16,2015 | Politics

Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Galust Sahakyan has allegedly
applied to the Central Election Commission, asking the CEC to strip
lawmaker Gagik Tsarukyan of his mandate, armtimes.com reports.

Sahakyan submitted the relevant petition with the CEC this morning.

This means the CEC can take a decision today to de jure deprive Mr
Tsarukyan of his mandate. This is an unexpected development because
everybody expected the issue to be put to a vote at the plenary
session of the National Assembly – something stipulated by Article
99 of the NA Regulations.

On February 12, Serzh Sargsyan told senior members of his ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) that Gagik Tsarukyan is ‘evil’
and must be immediately ousted from politics. He also said relevant
bodies will study Tsarukyan’s frequent absences from the parliament
sessions, noting that the BHK leader had attended only four of the
145 NA sessions in 2013 and 2014.

We remind that Haykakan Zhamanak daily has a document showing that
Gagik Tsarukyan’s absences from the previous fall session were
considered to be excused absences. It turns out that Galust Sahakyan
will have to annul his decision to consider Tsarukyan’s absences from
NA sessions as excusable.

MANAGEMENT EXPERT WARNS OF ATTEMPTS TO DESTABILIZE ARMENIA

15:00 * 16.02.15

Last week saw changes in Armenia’s domestic politics.

Specifically, President Serzh Sargsyan spoke of Prosperous Armenia
party leader Gagik Tsarukyan at a meeting of the Council of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

The president’s speech was followed by Mr Tsarukyan’s statement. He
announced his intention to have an early presidential election held
in Armenia.

Management expert Harutyun Mesrobyan commented on the situation in
an interview with Tert.am.

Mr Mesrobyan., what’s your opinion if the Armenian president’s speech
and Gagik Tsarukyan’s response?

I do not view it as confrontation between the RPA and Prosperous
Armenia because they have almost equally been in power for a rather
long period. When prosperous Armenia was established it was in
power, and the RPA reached power at one moment. This suggests deep
disagreements within the ruling camp.

Foreign forces are naturally involved in the disagreements. Since
last summer foreign forces have been seeking to cause instability
in Armenia. Six months have seen a number of incidents involving our
weak points.

The first was the downing of the Armenian helicopter on the
Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijani border, which was followed by
confrontation on the border, which has been continuing until now. The
second was the Gyumri tragedy in the context of Armenian-Russian
relations. The third is the tension between the forces forming parts
of Armenia’s ruling circles. These are thought-provoking facts because
all of them are intended to weaken Armenia.

Mr Mesrobyan, what is the impact of domestic political problems on
foreign policy?

Yes, they do have their impact. One must not think that the latest
developments are merely domestic political problems. Different forces,
including foreign ones, are involved. It means a possibility of a
change in Armenia’s foreign policy or at least conceptual impact. The
global instability certainly affected Armenia.

Mr Mesrobyan, should we expect a ‘hot spring’ instead of a ‘hot autumn’
in Armenia?

I see one day that could pose a threat, March 1, 2015. Another day is
April 24. We should all be most cautious because the two days could
prove to be the ‘gunpowder’ that must not be set on fire.

Do you think Gagik Tsarukyan could come to power?

At best, a ‘name change’ can take place in Armenia, but a change of
power implies different qualities of power. But we are not going to
see a change of quality. What can change if Prosperous Armenia comes
to power? For example, who is going to act as finance minister?

If we want to change the situation, we must have a list of candidates.

The country has key government posts that require highly experienced
people.

NAIRIT PLANT EMPLOYEES TO GATHER OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT EVERY DAY

14:57 | February 16,2015 | Social

The government will consider the demand of Nairit plant employees
and answer them within a week, a senior government official said today.

Approaching the employees of the plant gathered outside the plant,
Alexander Ghazaryan, Head of the Government Department that deals
with the acceptance and discussion of citizen requests, said the
government will respond to their demand to fix a payment schedule
for their due salaries in a week.

After the demonstrators began chanting, “Now,” Alexander Ghazaryan
promised to answer them this Friday.

In reply to A1+’s question who will be charged with the task, Mr
Ghazaryan refrained from answering.

The employees decided to come to the government building every day
to remind the executive body of its promise.

ARMENIA IN THE FOCUS OF NEW DIVISION OF THE WORLD

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 16 February 2015, 12:15

The presidents of the United States, Poland and Israel have already
announced that they will not attend the celebration of the 70th
anniversary of victory in World War II. The president of France has
announced that he will arrive in Yerevan on April 24 to attend the
events to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

These two events are closely linked, first of all by the fact of
an ongoing strange war of wars. Russia is trying to prove that the
current world was established after World War II and Russia which has
defeated fascism has an immense role in it. The Georgievskaya Lenta
(Saint George Ribbon) symbolizes the role of Russia in building the
new world order.

It is not accidental that recently a monument to Churchill, Roosevelt
and Stalin was set up in Yalta to symbolize Russia’s participation
in the division of the world.

The Western states, however, insist that the world order established
after World War I in which Russia did not participate is still valid.

In 1917 Russia left the war and did not participate in the peace
conference in Versailles. The peace conference of Paris mostly
concerned the division of the Ottoman Empire.

In the process of division of the world, after World War I Soviet
Russia was able to sign the treaties of Kars and Moscow with Turkey
which divided Armenia.

In 2014 the West marked the start of World War I and the European
politicians were wearing red poppies all through the year.

The forget-me-not of the Armenian genocide reminds the European
Remembrance Poppy rather than the Russian Georgievskaya Lenta.

Perhaps, a full stop to the issue of the Armenian Genocide will be
put only in case of revision of the outcome of World War I, not World
War II.

It is increasingly obvious that the world is moving towards revision
of the current world order. Last year Kurdistan announced likely
to hold a referendum of independence, and apparently the West will
not resist to that process. However, it would mean revision of the
outcome of World War I and division of the Ottoman Empire.

The Russian government is trying to participate in the change of the
world order. However, if World War I is concerned, Russia will have
no place around the table of the talks. Putin is actively promoting
the idea of the world order established after World War II but judging
by the rejection of the presidents of the United, Poland and Israel,
these countries do not recognize the role of Russia as a participant of
“division of the world”.

If the world order established after World War I is revised, one of
the key issues will be revokation of the Russian-Turkish treaties on
the division of Armenia.

Will Serzh Sargsyan go to Moscow on May 9? Will the Russian president
visit Yerevan on April 24? On which side will Armenia and the Diaspora
be? Judging by the Pan-Armenian Resolution which has been adopted
in Yerevan recently, the leadership of Armenia and the Diaspora
are prone to restoration of the Treaty of Sevres and revocation of
the Treaties of Moscow and Kars. The Armenian parliamentary forces,
however, dislike the resolution.

Hence, April 24 may be lustration for the Armenian political forces.

Tax audits of Tsarukyan businesses ordered; embattled tycoon dismissed
from posts

POLITICS | 15.02.15 | 11:51
RELATED NEWS

“War”: Tsarukyan vows Sargsyan’s words will turn to action in the streets

Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has ordered a probe to
“verify reports” claiming that embattled opposition leader Gagik
Tsarukyan has hidden huge amounts of money in taxes under the guise of
charitable activities.

Upon the instruction of the premier, chief of government staff,
minister David Harutyunyan reportedly sent a letter to Finance
Minister Gagik Khachatryan requesting that a relevant examination be
conducted.

Addressing senior members of his ruling Republican Party of Armenia on
February 12, President Serzh Sargsyan called Tsarukyan, as a
politician, an evil for the country. He also spoke about “unverified”
reports about tax evasion by the tycoon, who leads the second largest
parliamentary party, Prosperous Armenia (PAP).

Sargsyan immediately dismissed Tsarukyan from the National Security
Council and recommended that the National Assembly leadership consider
grounds for stripping Tsarukyan of his parliamentary seat due to his
chronic absenteeism.

On Saturday, Tsarukyan was also dismissed from the post of Chairman of
the Board of the Armenian State Institute of Physical Training.

Tsarukyan and the PAP have brushed aside the accusations from Sargsyan
as groundless and unconstitutional. PAP members have claimed that
political persecution has been launched against Tsarukyan, who has
revealed his presidential ambitions recently. The leader of the PAP
himself called for a “total regime change” as he addressed senior
members of his party on Friday.

The PAP’s opposition allies, including the Armenian National Congress
and Heritage, also condemned the crackdown against Tsarukyan and his
party. The leaders of the troika have been in consultations since
Friday regarding further possible actions of the opposition that is
seeking early presidential and parliamentary elections.

The next presidential election in Armenia is scheduled for 2018. But
the PAP and other opposition groups believe President Sargsyan plans
to retain his power even after his second and last term in office ends
in three years. They claim the constitutional reform initiated by the
current administration will serve as a means for the ruling party to
achieve this goal. President Sargsyan himself has repeatedly assured
his opponents that he will not seek a top government post after
leaving office in 2018. The head of state says the reform is primarily
needed to promote further democratization of Armenia.

Hraparak: Nubarashen penitentiary tightens control over lawyers

11:58 14/02/2015 >> DAILY PRESS

Nubarashen penitentiary has tightened control over lawyers, Hraparak writes.

“Recently a lawyer attempted to organize the escape of his client. He
visited the penitentiary and after he left, a saw was found in the
prisoner’s cell. It was concluded that the lawyer had brought it.
Following this incident, lawyers are let in only after being checked
thoroughly,” the newspaper says.

Mémoire du génocide Arménien
Le témoignage de Vahram, père de Janine Altounian en langue turque

Ce n’est pas tous les jours qu’un livre écrit en 1920 sur les
conditions de vie d’une famille arménienne lors du génocide de 1915
soit publié 95 ans plus tard, et de surplus en Turquie dans la langue
du pays. C’est pourtant l’exploit qu’ont réussi la traductrice de
l’oeuvre de Sigmund Freud, Janine Altounian*, avec l’aide de Nıvart
TaÅ?çı, Ararat Å?ekeryan et Güncenin çevriyazısı. Pour la transcrption
du journal Takuhi Tovmasyan, traduction Renan Akman pour les éditions
Aras à Istanbul.

Sans retour Possible

Le génocide arménien dans le Journal d’un père et la mémoire de sa fille

Il s’agit du Journal de déportation de Vahram Altounian, le père de
Janine, avec son cortège d’infamies commises contre des femmes, des
enfants et des vieillards. Où l’on apprend qu’affamés Vahram et sa
mère en étaient réduits à manger des sauterelles.

192 pages, 15×21 cm ISBN 978-605-5753-46-7, Décembre 2014

* Janine Altounian est l’auteur d’une dizaine d’ouvrages sur la
transmission traumatique et a contribué Ã divers ouvrages collectifs
ainsi qu’Ã de nombreux débats autour de ces problématiques.

dimanche 15 février 2015,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

COMMUNAUTE-VALENCE (DRÔME)
Conférence ce vendredi sur > par Jean
Krikorian à Valence (Drôme)

L’Association des Anciens Combattants d’Origine Arménienne de
Drôme-Ardèche (ACFOA) présente vendredi 20 Février à 20h30 à la Maison
de la vie associative (74, route de Montélier à Valence) une
conférence : Les Volontaires Arméniens. Avec la participation de Jean
Krikorian, président d’honneur de la MCA de la Loire. Entrée Libre.
Renseignements : 04 75 55 55 51 46.

Jean Krikorian abordera une partie de l’histoire des revendications
arméniennes, depuis le traité de San-Stéfano (1878) en insistant sur
le rôle de l’ Eglise arménienne, colonne vertébrale du la Nation à
cette époque, plus particulièrement les actions de Khrimian Haïrik,
Catholicos de tous les Arméniens de 1892 à 1907. Jean Krikorian
évoquera également l’histoire et le rôle des >, les
volontaires Arméniens, durant la Grande guerre de 1914-1918 à travers
le cheminement qui les conduisit du Caucase à Verdun, et de Verdun en
Palestine, ou ils se sont distingués au nom de la Légion arménienne.
Une unité de volontaires Arméniens qui a intégré la Légion Etrangère
et conquis le Mont Arara en Palestine, permettant au Général Allemby
quelques semaine plus tard, le 30 octobre la signature de l’armistice
de Moudros, qui concrétisera la capitulation de l’Empire Ottoman. Jean
Krikorkian évoquera également lors de cette soirée, les accords
Sikes-Picot, qui auraient permis en cas de victoire, la création d’un
futur Etat Arménien autour de la Cilicie.

Rendez-vous ce vendredi 20 février à 20h30 à la Maison de la vie
associative, route de Montélier à Valence (Drôme) pour cette
conférence sur > organisée par l’ACFOA
Drôme-Ardèche.

Photos Gayané Andréassian

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 15 février 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

Cinéma
1915 – Le Film – avec Simon Abkarian

Contrairement à une information publiée il y a quelques mois selon
laquelle Alain Delon et Dustin Hoffman participeraient à une
production arménienne traitant du destin de Komitas en France, il n’en
n’est rien. En tout état de cause ce ne sera pas avec Alain Delon que
nous avons pu joindre. Selon la star française il n’a jamais été
question d’un tournage autour du génocide arménien.

En revanche, Hollywood a bien tourné 1915 un film, à la distribution
internationale dont la vedette est Simon Abkarian et qui sera projeté
à Hollywood le 24 avril 2015.

Le thriller à connotation psychologique écrit et réalisé par les
Armeno-Américains Garin Hovannisian et Alec Mouhibian, raconte, 100
ans après le génocide, l’histoire d’un directeur de thétre qui met en
scène une pièce en l’honneur des victimes de cette tragédie, un crime
oublié et nié pendant un siècle.

Une pièce qui va engendrer des manifestations autour du thétre. De
mystérieux accidents surviennent semant la panique parmi les acteurs.
Les fantômes du passé réapparaissent.

Le film invite les spectateurs à mettre fin au déni face aux fantômes du passé

Le jeune acteur Sunny Suljic joue le rôle d’un orphelin

Simon Abkarian

(cliquer sur les images pour agrandir)

Toute la distribution, voir lien plus bas

dimanche 15 février 2015,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

Harutyunyan: Conference of opposition forces caused internal political events

The conference of opposition forces initiated by the leader of
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) Gagik Tsarukyan caused the recent
internal political developments in Armenia, the head of National
Accord Party Aram Harytyunyan said today.

“The speech of Serzh Sargsyan at the sitting of the Republican Party’s
Council laid the first stone for a change of power in the country.
There was a clear political threat in that speech,” Aram Harutyunyan
said during a press conference today.

According to him, “the ruling party of Armenia is like a pack, in
which people gathered to have an opportunity to plunder”. A.
Harutyunyan noted the leader of BHK demonstrated that he is above such
things and is prepared to lose everything for the sake of people and
the state’s prosperity.

Harutyunyn expressed confidence that it will become possible to
achieve a change of power in Armenia. “Now is a very suitable time.
Under such conditions the real opposition should rally Gagik
Tsarukyan,” he said.

14.02.15, 17:46