Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Armenian young people need deeper knowledge of Armenian Genocide – expert

20:32 * 11.01.15

Armenian young people must have more profound knowledge of the
Armenian Genocide expert in Turkish studies Artak Shakaryan told
Tert.am.

“If they meet a knowledgeable Turkish youth abroad they lose a debate
over the Armenian Genocide. Therefore, it is important that higher
schools give deeper knowledge of the period, especially to students
who intend to continue their education abroad,” Mr Shakaryan said.

Armenia can thus struggle against the Armenian Genocide denial policy
in Turkey’s schools.

“Turkey has been implementing its denial policy since the 1970s. Their
only task is to educate generations so that they believe that their
forefathers did not commit genocide against Armenians. Rather, ‘it was
Armenians that committed genocide against Turks’. But we have not such
a task. Our children know the truth at school.”

Asked whether Turkey’s denial policy is as successful now as it was in
the 1970s, Mr Shakaryan said:

“Globalization and the Internet help young people know about an
alternative opinion. But an alternative opinion is difficult to
disseminate among 70-million-strong population, especially if people
grow up amid this denial policy.”

With respect to other opinions in society, the expert said:

“A change has taken place in society as compared with the past.
Evidence thereof is frequent use of the term ‘genocide’, especially by
the press. But it would be wrong to say that the people are resisting
the denial policy because, when Turks admitting the Armenian Genocide
are mentioned, they are 2-3 percent of the population, marginal ones
that have no serious influence.”

Moreover, some sections of Turkey’s population have no access to the
Internet, and nothing can make them change their opinion.

Football Italia
Jan 10 2015

Juve turn to Mkhitaryan

By Football Italia staff

With Wesley Sneijder increasingly unlikely, it’s reported Juventus are
targeting Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Galatasaray are refusing to go below EURO 20m for Sneijder, whereas Juve’s
top bid would be EURO 7m, so the club is looking elsewhere for a new
trequartista.

According to Sky Sport Italia, the main target is now Armenian
Mkhitaryan, who is in fact due to face Juventus in the Champions
League with Borussia Dortmund next month.

He turns 26 later this month and moved from Shakhtar Donetsk to
Borussia Dortmund in 2013, becoming their most expensive ever signing
at EURO 27.5m.

This is why Juve’s hopes of capturing Mkhitaryan are very slim, even
with recent injury problems affecting his campaign.

Think you know your Italian football? Share your knowledge, tips and
comments to win cash prizes in OLBG’s tipster competition – £11,000 to
be won monthly!

Prensa Latina
Jan 10 2015

Extremist Attacks Damage Historic Church in Syria

sábado, 10 de enero de 2015

10 de enero de 2015, 12:31Damascus, Jan 10 (Prensa Latina) The
historic St. Rita Cathedral, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo,
was damaged today by the impact of mortar shells launched by the
Islamic Front, national TV stations reported today.

Footage showed holes in the roofs and walls, as well as in the temple
chapel belonging to Armenian Catholics.

This week, the Islamic State blew up the al Rawi mosque in the Deir
Ezzor province, as part of its systematic attacks against buildings of
peoplo who oppose its radical and ultraconservative vision.

Meanwhile, the al Nusra Front, a branch of Al Qaeda in Syria,
demolished the sanctuary to Imam al Nawawi some days ago in the area
of Nawa, Daraa.

Armed groups have destroyed or damaged many religious monuments in
Syria, including the Great Umayyad Mosque�Ã-s minaret in Aleppo, the
Khalid Bin Al Walid mosque and the Umal Zennar Church in Homs, and the
al Omari mosque�Ã-s minaret in Daraa.

rma/cbr/mgt/rob

Optimistic scenarios can hardly be expected – economists

12:11 * 11.01.15

The Russian ruble showed depreciation early in January 2015 as
compared with late December 2014, with simultaneous appreciation of
the USD against the Armenian dram.

In an interview with Tert.am, economist Zoya Tadevosyan spoke of
possible developments in Armenia’s financial market, especially after
commercial banks resume their work. According to her, a number of
economists forecast “hard times” after the New Year. Economist Artak
Manukyan forecast further AMD depreciation amid economic problems in
Russia and Armenia’s uncompetitive economy and consistently decreasing
money transfers in the first three months of the year.

“What can make the Armenian dram appreciate if we have no economy as
such? Nothing can help the Armenian dram stabilize. Our country has no
resources for that so further depreciation should be expected.
Creating real economy is a major preventive measure. The situation
will change after economy starts manufacturing products and exporting.
Exported products enable foreign exchange to enter the country.
Otherwise, the process cannot be prevented,” Ms Tadevosyan said.

The Central Bank of Armenia cannot do anything by means of regular
interventions.

“They pegged the exchange the previous months by spending huge
resources. But the Central Bank has no resources now.”

With respect to Armenia’s economic dependence on Russia, Ms Tadevosyan said.

“This is a grave problem, and we have repeatedly stated that the
current economic policy will deprive Armenia of all the levers. And we
have reached this point.”

Economist Artak Manukyan forecasts social problems in the first three
months of 2015.

“In January we are going to have a higher price rise because the
prices for most products that rose due to the AMD depreciation last
December did not go down later. We can say that the unfavorable
factors related to the Eurasian Economic Community are more than
positive ones,” he said.

“I do not think we are going to witness a situation similar to that
last month. But there are no optimistic scenarios, especially with oil
prices going down to the historically lowest level. In this respect,
the Russian ruble has stabilized. If we analyze the situation we can
see further AMD depreciation, and I do not see any grounds for an
opposite process.”

COMMUNIQUÉ DU CCAF
Non à la présence des autorités liberticides turques à la marche républicaine

Le CCAF apprend avec indignation la présence d’Ahmet Davutoglu, voire
peut-être même de Reccep Tayyip Erdogan à la marche républicaine de
dimanche. La participation à cette manifestation de représentants d’un
Etat qui détient le record du nombre de journalistes en prison est une
honte et une insulte à l’esprit de Charlie Hebdo. D’autant plus que
l’aide de la Turquie à la mouvance djihadiste (Al Quaïda et Daesch)
qui a exporté sa terreur à Paris est aujourd’hui un secret de
polichinelle. Faut-il de plus rappeler que se commémore parallèlement
le lche assassinat de trois militantes kurdes en plein paris le 10
janvier 2014 ? Un attentat sur lequel pèsent nombre de soupçons quant
à l’implication des services turcs. Cette présence, qui intervient de
surcroit quelques jours après qu’Erdogan a déclaré le 6 janvier que la
Turquie allait “activement combattre les allégations du génocide
arménien” – dont on commémore en 2015 les 100 ans – constitue une
véritable provocation. Et ce, à quelques jours du 8e anniversaire de
l’assassinat à Istanbul, le 19 janvier 2007, du journaliste Hrant Dink
– Charlie avant Charlie -, dont les commanditaires courent toujours.

Le CCAF qui appelle à la manifestation demande à ses organisateurs
d’empêcher ou d’exprimer leur réprobation à l’égard cette venue qui
constitue un outrage aux morts et à toutes les valeurs que la marche
de dimanche entend défendre.

Bureau nationale du CCAF (Conseil de Coordination des organisations
arméniennes de France)

Avec le soutien du Comité de Soutien aux Chrétiens d’Irak

dimanche 11 janvier 2015,
Ara (c)armenews.com

The New York Times: Azerbaijani authorities blackmail US because of
rapprochement with Moscow

16:23 10/01/2015 >> SOCIETY

The Azerbaijani government’s growing hostility toward Washington the
journalist Joshua Kucera writes in an article published in The New
York Times, analyzing the latter events taken place in Azerbaijan.

In the article Kucera writes that since gaining independence from the
Soviet Union Azerbaijan has been a strong partner of the United
States. It has worked with Washington to break Russia’s energy
monopoly in the region by supporting the construction of oil and gas
pipelines to Turkey. It is a key transit point for military cargo to
and from Afghanistan. And the government in Baku has forged close ties
with Israel, based primarily on the trade of weaponry and oil.

The author recalls that a 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable described
Azerbaijan’s foreign policy as characterized by “pragmatism, restraint
and a helpful bias toward integration with the West.” “But as Russia’s
dramatic new foreign policy changes the strategic landscape across
Eurasia, Baku appears to be recalculating whether its ties to the West
really are advancing its own goals,” Kucera writes.

He points out that the attack on RFE/RL followed months of extreme
anti-Western rhetoric. Top Azerbaijani government officials have
accused the United States ambassador to Baku of “gross interference”
and former Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden of being an American
spy. In early December, the president’s chief of staff, Ramiz
Mehdiyev, published a 13,000-word article claiming that the C.I.A. was
contriving regime changes in the post-Soviet space (the so-called
color revolutions). It also called Azerbaijan’s human rights activists
a “fifth column” of the United States.

“Human rights activists have criticized American and European
governments for being too soft on Baku. Washington has called the raid
on RFE/RL merely “cause for concern.” In spite of Azerbaijan’s dismal
human rights record, it has been awarded prestige projects like the
chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in
2014, and it will be hosting the European Games this summer,” Kucera
writes.

Anti-American rhetoric from Baku is not unheard of, but its recent
intensity, seemingly unprompted, and its reliance on Kremlin talking
points suggest a shift toward Moscow. “It’s a measure of the
Azerbaijani government’s disdain of Washington that the raid on RFE/RL
was conducted just days after Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with
President Ilham Aliyev on the phone,” the author notes and reminds how
in an interview in December, Ali Hasanov, a top presidential adviser,
was asked why the government began to so sharply criticize the United
States but not Iran or Russia, answered that the latter don’t
criticize Azerbaijan.

In this situation Azerbaijan’s mimicry of Russian rhetoric and
rapprochement with Moscow is an implicit threat to Washington: Give us
what we want, or we’ll go over to Russia. The United States doesn’t
need to give in to this blackmail.

NKR MFA: Armenian refugees in Karabakh deprived of international support

20:01, 09.01.2015

Armenian News-NEWS.am interviewed Foreign Minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Karen Mirzoyan

How would you assess 2014 for the foreign policy of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic? What were the achievements and
shortcomings?

Priority direction of Nagorno Karabakh’s foreign policy in 2014, as in
previous years, was the process of international recognition of the
NKR. In this context, the year was very productive: positive trends
registered over the years continued last year. California adopted the
resolution supporting Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination, thus becoming the fifth state after Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, Maine and Louisiana to support the independence of the
NKR. Earlier in 2012 similar resolution was adopted by the legislative
body of Australia’s largest state – New South Wales.

The process of international recognition of the NKR last year also
covered the European continent. A Motion about the right to self
determination of Nagorno Karabakh was adopted in the Parliament of the
Basque Country (Spain). President of the province of Gipuzkoa of the
Basque Country spoke about the NKR recognition as an independent
state.

In autumn, the Board of Spokespersons of the Parliament of Navarre –
Autonomous Region of Spain – made an official statement expressing
confidence that the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh should be a
necessary part of any forum in which the country’s future is decided.

The framework of decentralized cooperation between the communities of
Artsakh and different foreign countries has expanded
significantly.Last year friendship declarations were signed between
three French cities of Vienne, Bourg-les-Valence, Bouc-Bel-Air and
the Karabakh towns of Hadrut, Shushi and Askeran. Similar declarations
on the establishment of friendship relations with Karvachar and Hadrut
were signed with the American cities of Pico Rivera and Burbank. An
agreement on cooperation between Stepanakert and Donostia (Basque
Country) was signed.

In addition to the parliamentary friendship group with Artsakh in the
Lithuanian Seimas and France-Karabakh Friendship Circle, consisting of
senators, members of parliament and political figures, the European
Parliament began the process of formation of Friendship Group with
Artsakh, which will get clear shape this year.

The peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh is on the agenda. Unfortunately, we have to state that in
2014, because of the destructive policy pursued by the Azerbaijani
authorities, the attempts to achieve real progress on this issue
failed. As you know, last May marked 20th anniversary of the ceasefire
in the Azerbaijani -Karabakh conflict zone signed by the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic
of Armenia. The anniversary was a good opportunity to confirm the
commitment of parties to resolution by exclusively peaceful means. In
this connection, the NKR authorities reiterated their proposals to
reduce tensions and promote stability and predictability in the Line
of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and
Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan has not only refused these proposals,
despite the mediators’ support of them and the calls of the
international community, but also went on an unprecedented escalation
in the conflict zone. The point is a number of acts of sabotage and
attempts to penetrate into the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which
took place in summer, and the downing the helicopter of the NKR
Defense Army. By these actions Azerbaijan only further complicated the
prospects for a final settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict
and threw back the settlement process.

Do you plan opening of new permanent representations abroad? How many
representations does NKR have in foreign states so far?

The NKR has permanent representations in Armenia, Germany, Australia,
Lebanon and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries – Russia, France
and U.S.

Our representatives are pursuing activities aimed at representing and
protecting the interests of Artsakh in their country of residence as
well as spreading unbiased, reliable information about our country.

The priority of the NKR permanent representatives abroad, of course,
is to contribute to the expansion of the international recognition of
Artsakh. Among the priority tasks is to attract investment in the
economy.

The opening of the NKR permanent representations is not an end in
itself. First of all, we consider the possibility of implementing
steps aimed at improving the efficiency of existing missions, however,
we do not rule out the possibility of opening new offices in the near
future.

Do you think Armenia and Diaspora are taking sufficient efforts for
the international recognition of the NKR?

The issue of NKR’s international recognition is among the tasks of a
key significance for all Armenians residing around the world. I am
confident that recognition of NKR’s state-building achievements in the
international arena is impossible without joint and consistent efforts
of all Armenians regardless of their location.

Can we talk about full compliance in the positions of Yerevan and
Stepanakert on Karabakh settlement?

Both the NKR and Armenia share the same vision of a model for the
settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. At the same time this
does not rule out the possibility of reaching the goal by different
methods.

Do you think full membership of NKR in talks is possible in the near
future? Can the talks be successful without NKR?

It’s obvious that a real progress in talks can be reached only by
taking into account the existing realities and a full-fledged format
of negotiations with immediate and direct participation of Karabakh at
all its stages. I want to underscore that by speaking about NKR’s full
participation in talks, we proceed from the interests of the peace
process. Absence of one of the parties, namely NKR, at negotiating
table, makes it problematic to reach the final settlement of the
conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. We are convinced
that restoration of Karabakh’s participation in talks is in the
interest of all parties. The only obstacle on the matter is
destructive position of official Baku and latter’s unwillingness to
recognize the existing realities.

What is the situation in the NKR with Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan?

Refugees began to appear in the region along with the escalation of
the conflict as a result of the attempts of Azerbaijan to forcibly
suppress the right of Nagorno Karabakh people to self-determination.
In 1988-90s over 120 thousand Armenian refugees came from Azerbaijan
to Nagorno-Karabakh, 30,000 out of them settled in the NKR and live
here up to now.

This group of refugees is one of the most vulnerable groups in the
region, since they are deprived of international protection and
support because of destructive position of Azerbaijani authorities who
are impeding the visits of relevant organizations, in particular
representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency. By blocking the
humanitarian access to the refugees by international organizations’
experts, the Azerbaijani authorities continue violating fundamental
rights of this group.

Without financial and moral support, being in a blockade, the NKR
government is forced to solve the problem within its limited financial
capacity. At the same time Nagorno-Karabakh, unlike Azerbaijan, is not
politicizing the humanitarian problem and is not turning it into a
bargaining chip by keeping them in the camps and receiving great
amounts from international agencies.

Could you name the priorities for 2015?

The priority directions in Nagorno-Karabakh’s foreign policy in 2015
are settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and international
recognition of NKR.

ARMENIE
200 millions de dollars seront investis dans le projet de traitement
des résidus miniers en Arménie

Le gouvernement arménien et plusieurs entreprises privées vont
investir environ 200 millions de dollars dans un projet de traitement
des résidus métalliques des mines a déclaré le vice-ministre de
l’énergie et des ressources naturelles Levon Chahverdian.

Ces entreprises sont Cronimet Mining, Zangezur copper and molybdenum
combine, le groupe VSEL et Aletig LLC. Un protocole d’intention a été
approuvé par le Conseil des ministres.

samedi 10 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

CHARLIE HEBDO
Le président de l’Assemblé nationale présente ses condoléances à
l’Ambassade de France à Erévan

Vendredi 9 janvier Kaloust Sahakian le président de l’Assemblée
nationale d’Arménie a rendu visite à l’Ambassade de France à Erévan
pour marquer son soutien à la France après l’épreuve du terrorisme
islamiste qui a frappé >. Dns le livre ouvert à cette
occasion à l’Ambassade de France, Kaloust Sahakian a écrit , ainsi qu’au peuple ami de France. Nous condamnons
fermement l’acte terroriste contre la démocratie et liberté
d’expression >>.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 10 janvier 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

ARMENIE
Le Gouvernement accorde trois ans de report de paiement de la TVA à
l’usine alimentaire Ararat

Le gouvernement arménien a accordé un report de paiement de la TVA de
trois ans à Ararat Food Factory dans le cadre de son achat
d’équipement pour une valeur de plus de 300 millions de drams.

Le ministre de l’Economie Karen Chshmarityan a dit que la compagnie
prévoit d’importer dix gros camions pour effectuer aussi le transport
de fret.

Il a déclaré que les camions permettront de maintenir une circulation
stable des produits et d’accroître le volume des exportations.

En 2010, la société a établi une usine pour la production de jus de
fruits naturels et créé plus de 100 emplois dans le cadre de sa
première phase pour un montant de 1,6 milliards de drams
d’investissement.

Le ministre a dit que la compagnie procède à la deuxième phase du
programme d’investissement de 600 millions de drams en vue d’élargir
la gamme de produits. Il a dit que grce aux nouveaux équipements
l’entreprise traitera aussi les tomates, les abricots, les pêches.

vendredi 9 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com