Author: Kalantarian Kevo

FRA DACHNAKTSOUTIOUN – EUROPE OCCIDENTALE COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Soutien à Mourad Papazian, président de la FRA en Europe

La FRA Dachnaktsoutioun est de nouveau la cible d’attaques abjectes.
Le 21 Aout 2014, un mail anonyme dénonçant le président de la FRA
Dachnaktsoutioun РEurope occidentale, Mourad Papazian, a b̩n̩fici̩
d’une large diffusion. Le comité central de la FRA Dachnaktsoutioun –
Europe occidentale, au nom de tous ses militants, affirme que :

le recours à un mail anonyme montre la lcheté de ses auteurs ;

la FRA Dachnaktsoutioun à travers ses congrès s’est déjà exprimée sur
le projet de l’hôpital de Stepanakert. Il n’y a eu aucun abus et le
gouvernement de la République du Haut Karabagh a, d’ailleurs, remercié
la mobilisation de la FRA autour de ce projet.

L’exploitation de ce sujet pour alimenter ces attaques est donc un
acte honteux et abjecte ;

il est illusoire de créer une division entre les dirigeants de la FRA
et ses militants. Ces tentatives ont échoué dans le passé et n’ont
aucune chance d’aboutir aujourd’hui.

Nous exprimons tout notre soutien à notre camarade Mourad Papazian qui
a démontré depuis plus de 30 ans la sincérité de son combat pour notre
cause. Nous saluons la position solidaire du CCAF et appelons la
communauté à rester unie face à ces attaques.

Nous constatons depuis quelques mois que la FRA est régulièrement la
cible d’attaques odieuses. Nous prévenons les auteurs que rien ne
pourra détourner la FRA de son combat pour la cause arménienne.

Pour dévoiler et punir ces individus, qui servent, consciemment ou
inconsciemment, les intérêts des adversaires de la cause arménienne,
une plainte contre X pour diffamation avec intention de nuire sera
déposée dans les prochains jours.

Enfin, nous soulignons que la FRA a toujours résisté à des attaques
beaucoup plus importantes que celles-ci et qu’en aucun cas ces
tentatives ne la déstabiliseront ou la dévieront de ses objectifs.

Paris le 24 Aout 2014
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun– Europe occidentale

lundi 25 août 2014,
Ara (c)armenews.com

Energie
Une nouvelle centrale thermique en Arménie pour fournir de
l’électricité à la Géorgie

Une nouvelle grande centrale thermique sera construite en Arménie par
une société peu connue afin de fournir de l’électricité à la Géorgie
voisine, a déclaré le ministre de l’Energie et des Ressources
naturelles Yervand Zakharian vendredi.

Zakharian a fait l’annonce après la finalisation d’un accord
correspondant avec des représentants de la société IEP Anaklia Tenir,
au deuxième et dernier jour de la visite du Premier ministre géorgien
Irakli Gharibashvili à Erevan.

Les > de l’accord ont été signés une
semaine après être formellement approuvées par le gouvernement
arménien. Ce dernier a déclaré que l’IEP Anaklia va investir 600
millions de dollars pour la construction de la centrale au gaz naturel
à un endroit non précisé en Arménie. L’installation sera équipée de
turbines fabriquées par le géant électrique général des États-Unis et
aura une capacité de 540 mégawatts, selon le gouvernement.

Une déclaration du ministère arménien de l’Energie et des Ressources
naturelles a affirme que, en retour, Erevan donnera les allégements
fiscaux aux investisseurs, qui garantiront la “livraison de volumes de
gaz suffisants” à l’usine et faciliteront l’exportation de
l’électricité.

S’exprimant lors de la cérémonie de signature que très peu de médias
ont pu couvrir, Zakharian a confirmé que la Géorgie sera le principal
bénéficiaire de cette énergie. “Les travaux sur la centrale vont
bientôt commencer. Il durera 36 mois “. Aucun autre détail n’a été
annoncé.

On ne sait pas à qui appartient Anaklia IEP et pourquoi cette société
a décidé de lancer ce projet d’énergie à grande échelle. Un service de
presse pro-opposition, ilur.am, a affirmé que la société est
principalement détenue par les hommes d’affaires géorgien mais qu’elle
est enregistrée dans les îles Vierges britanniques, un paradis fiscal.

Anaklia est aussi le nom d’une ville côtière dans l’ouest de la
Géorgie où le gouvernement géorgien envisage de construire un nouveau
port sur la mer Noire avec un terminal de gaz naturel liquéfié.

Anaklia IEP peut très bien avoir été attiré par le coût relativement
bas du gaz russe livré à l’Arménie via la Géorgie. Le gouvernement
arménien a obtenu une remise de prix après la décision controversée
l’an dernier de demander l’adhésion à l’Union douanière de la Russie.

L’accord préliminaire sur la nouvelle centrale a été signé le
lendemain de la rencontre de Zakharian avec le ministre de l’Energie
géorgien, Kakha Kaladze, qui était parmi les fonctionnaires qui
accompagnent Gharibashvili pour son voyage en Arménie. Il a été
annoncé après les pourparlers de Gharibashvili avec le Premier
ministre Hovik Abrahamian jeudi que les deux gouvernements
augmenteront la capacité d’une nouvelle ligne de transmission de
puissance arméno-géorgienne en cours de construction.

Zakharian et Kaladze auraient réaffirmé ces plans lors de leur réunion
distincte jeudi. Selon le bureau de presse de Zakharian, les deux
Etats voisins pourront tripler l’approvisionnement en électricité
mutuel lorsque la nouvelle ligne sera en service, courant 2018.

lundi 25 août 2014,
Claire (c)armenews.com

Coopération
Les relations entre l’Arménie et la Géorgie n’ont jamais été aussi bonnes

Les relations entre la Géorgie et l’Arménie n’ont jamais été aussi
bonnes dans toute l’histoire de leur coopération, a déclaré Serge
Sarkissian lors de sa rencontre avec le Premier ministre géorgien
Irakli Gharibashvili vendredi.

“Serge Sarkissian a souligné que les relations arméno-géorgiennes sont
à un niveau historique, ce qui permet aux deux pays de discuter, d’une
manière calme et détendue, de toutes les questions relatives non
seulement à leur relation bilatérale, mais aussi aux développements
régionaux”, a relayé la présidence arménienne dans un communiqué.

Le communiqué indique que les deux hommes ont discuté d’un “ordre du
jour riche”. Il a cité Gharibashvili comme ayant dit que “l’Arménie
n’est pas seulement voisin de la Géorgie, c’est aussi un ami.”

Gharibashvili a parlé de l’approfondissement des relations
commerciales entre les deux pays voisins quand il a rencontré le
Premier ministre Hovik Abrahamian au début de sa visite officielle en
Arménie jeudi. Les deux parties ont annoncé des accords pour
développer la communication et la fourniture d’électricité
transfrontalière dans les années à venir. Ils ont également dit que
accord d’association récente de la Géorgie avec l’UE et les plans de
l’Arménie d’adhérer à l’Union économique eurasienne dirigée par la
Russie (UEE) n’endommagera pas les relations commerciales bilatérales.

L’adhésion à l’EEU interdira à l’Arménie de négocier des accords de
libre-échange bilatéraux avec tous les pays, y compris la Géorgie.
Erevan devra également adopter augmenter considérablement les taxes à
la douane, fait minimisé par certains responsables arméniens.
S’exprimant avant le voyage de Gharibashvili, le ministre adjoint des
Affaires étrangères Chavarch Kotcharian a fait valoir que plusieurs
centaines de types de marchandises seront exonérées de ces droits dans
le cadre de préférences commerciales accordées par l’UEE à l’Arménie.

L’ambassadeur de Géorgie à Erevan, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, a dit le
mois dernier que son gouvernement n’a pas l’intention de modifier
unilatéralement le régime de libre-échange existant avec l’Arménie.
Gharibashvili a souligné jeudi que le commerce arméno-géorgien a
grimpé de 42 % au premier semestre de cette année.

Lors d’une visite à Tbilissi en juin, Sarkissian a affirmé que des
priorités géopolitiques divergents pourraient même aider l’Arménie et
la Géorgie à approfondir leurs liens économiques. Il a dit que
l’accord d’association avec l’UE rendra la Géorgie plus attrayante
pour les investisseurs arméniens intéressés par un accès permanent au
marché de l’UE.

“En revanche, l’adhésion de l’Arménie à l’Union douanière ouvre de
nouvelles perspectives pour les entrepreneurs géorgiens qui veulent
investir en Arménie et qui ont des marchés d’exportation en Russie ou
dans d’autres Etats membres de l’Union,” a t-il dit.

Il n’a pas été précisé si les dirigeants arméniens ont discuté de
l’approfondissement des liens de défense avec Gharibashvili. Les
ministres de la Défense azéri, géorgien et turc se sont réunis dans
l’enclave du Nakhitchevan en Azerbaïdjan mardi dernier. Ils ont
convenu de tenir plusieurs de ces discussions deux fois par an et
procéder à des exercices militaires conjoints.

Un haut fonctionnaire de la défense arménienne a déclaré mercredi
qu’Erevan n’est “pas assez” préoccupé par cette coopération
trilatérale, car il a “un large éventail d’intérêts de sécurité
communs avec la Géorgie.”

lundi 25 août 2014,
Claire (c)armenews.com

SPORTS-JEUX OLYMPIQUES DE LA JEUNESSE
L’haltérophile Simon Martirosyan (+85 kg) offre une deuxième médaille
d’or à l’Arménie lors des 2ème Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse à
Nanjing (Chine)

Après l’haltérophile Hagop Mkrdtchian (77 kg), l’Arménie a sa deuxième
médaille d’or aux 2ème Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse qui se déroulent
à Nanjing (Chine).

Simon Martirosyan champion Olympique de la Jeunesse (haltérophilie +85 kg)

L’haltérophile Simon Martirosyan (+85 kg) conquit ce titre olympique
de la Jeunesse en soulevant un total de 391 kg. L’Arménien avait
également conquis la première place tant à l’arraché qu’à
l’épaulé-jeté dominant ainsi largement ses adversaires. Simon
Martirosyan souleva 170 kg à l’arraché devançant de 20 kg la charge du
second, le Serbe Tamash Kaytochin. Pire en épaulé-jeté, l’Arménien a
soulevé 221 kg pulvérisant le record du monde et laissant le Serbe
loin derrière lui avec 186 kg. L’Arménie a désormais 4 médailles à ces
J.O. de la Jeunesse de Nanjing avec 2 médailles d’or, 1 d’argent et 1
de bronze.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 24 août 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

The Sergei Glaziev Interview
Understanding Ukraine in 15 Minutes
By Mike Whitney

If you want to understand what is going on in Ukraine, then you need to
watch this 15 minute video
with Putin
advisor and friend, Sergei Glaziev. Glaziev explains how structural changes
in the global economy and a shift to Asia have precipitated a desperate
attempt by US policymakers to maintain their grip on power by instigating a
war in Europe. Whether readers agree with this analysis or not, they will
find Glaziev is brilliant, erudite and passionate in his beliefs. For that
alone, the video is well worth the time.

I transcribed the video myself, and apologize for any unintentional
mistakes in the text. Also, the “bold headings” are mine.

1. Structural Changes in the Global Economy are often preceded by Great
Crises and War

August 23, 2014 “ICH ” – ”
Counterpunch
”
– The world today is going through an overlap of a whole series of
cyclical crises. The most serious of them is a technological crisis which
is associated with changes in the wavelengths of economic
development. We’re living in a period when the economy is changing its
structure. The economic structure that has been driving economic growth for
the last 30 years has exhausted itself. We need to make a transition to a
new system of technologies. This kind of transition, unfortunately, has
always come about through war. That’s how it was in the ’30s when the Great
Depression gave way to an arms race and then the Second War World War.
That’s how it was during the Cold War when an arms race in space gave rise
to complex information and communication technologies which became the
basis of a technological structure that has been driving the world’s
economy for the last 30 years. Today we are faced with a similar crisis.
The world is shifting to a new technological system.

2. Putin pushes Free Trade Zone to ease transition to New Global Economy

The new system is humanitarian in nature and thus could avoid a war
because the main carriers of growth on this wavelength are humanitarian
technologies. These include health care and pharmaceutical industries which
are based in biotechnology. They also include communication
technologies based on nanotechnology which is making a breakthrough today.
And they involve cognitive technologies that define a new sum of human
knowledge. If, as President Putin has been consistently putting forward, we
were able to agree to a mutual program for development, a general
development zone with a preferential trade regime from Lisbon to
Vladivostok, if we were to agree with Brussels to create a common economic
space, a common area of development, we could find a sufficient number of
breakthrough projects, from health to repelling space threats, to fulfill
our scientific and technical potential and creating a steady demand from
the state. which would give a boost to the new technological system.

3 Washington sees War in Europe as best way to Preserve its Hegemony

However, America has taken its usual path. To maintain their
world dominance they are provoking another war in Europe. A war is always
good for America. They even call the Second World War which killed 50
million people in Europe and Russia, a good war. It was good for America
because the US emerged from this war as the world’s leading power. The Cold
War which ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union was also good for
them. Now the US again wants to maintain its leadership at the expense of
Europe. US leadership is being threatened by a rapidly rising China. The
world today is shifting to yet another cycle, this time political. This
cycle lasts centuries and is associated with the global institutions of
regulatory economics

We are now moving from the American cycle of capital accumulation to an
Asian cycle. This is another crisis that is challenging US hegemony. To
maintain their leading position in the face of competition with a rising
China and other Asian countries Americans are starting a war in
Europe. They want to weaken Europe, break up Russia, and subjugate the
entire Eurasian continent. That is, instead of a development zone from
Lisbon to Vladivostok, which is proposed by President Putin, the US wants
to start a chaotic war on this territory, embroil all Europe in a war,
devalue to European capital, write off its public debt, under the burden
of which the US is already falling apart, write off what they owe to Europe
and Russia, subjugate our economic space and establish control over
resources of the giant Eurasian continent. They believe that this is the
only way they can maintain their hegemony and beat China.

Unfortunately the American geopolitics that we see playing out is exactly
like the 19th century. They think in terms of the geopolitical struggles of
the British Empire: divide and conquer. Pit nations against others, embroil
them in conflict, and start a world war. Americans, unfortunately,
continue this old British policy to solve their problems. Russia has been
chosen as a victim of this policy while the Ukrainian people are the weapon
of choice, and cannon fodder in a new world war.

First the Americans decided to target Ukraine to separate it from Russia.
This tactic came from Bismarck. This anti-Russian tradition aimed to
embroil Russia in conflict in order to take over the whole Eurasian space.
The strategy was first put forth by Bismark, then picked up by the
British,, and then finally by the leading american political scientist
Zbigniew Brzezinski, who said on many occasions that Russia cannot be a
superpower without Ukraine and that embroiling Russia with Ukraine will
benefit America and the West.

For the past 20 years Americans have been grooming Ukraine Nazism aimed at
Russia. As you know they hosted remnants of Bandera the Second World War.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian Nazis were brought to America and have been
carefully cultivated and nurtured during the whole post war period. This
wave of immigrants descended on Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet
Union. The idea of an eastern partnership was used as bait. It was first
expressed by the Poles, and then picked up by the Americans. The essence of
the eastern partnership, of which Georgia became the first victim. Now
Ukraine has become one and soon Moldova will be one, to sever ties with
Russia. As you know we are building the Customs Union, and a common
economic space with Belarus and Kazakhstan which will soon be joined by
Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Ukraine has been our long term partner. Ukraine is
still in the ratification stage of the agreement with Russia which no one
in Ukraine has cancelled yet. Ukraine is important to us as part of our
economic space and for our centuries long ties and cooperation. Our
scientific and industrial complex was created as a whole, therefore,
Ukraine’s participation in European integration is quite natural and vital.
The eastern partnership was created to prevent Ukraine’s participation in
the Eurasian integration project. The meaning of the eastern partnership is
to create an association with the European union. What is the association
that was signed by Poroshenko with the European leaders? It is the
transformation of Ukraine into a colony. By signing the agreement with the
association, Ukraine loses its sovereignty. It transfers control of its
trade, customs, technical and financial regulation, and public procurement
to Brussels.

4 The Ukrainian Nazi junta is an instrument of U.S. policy

Ukraine ceases to be a sovereign state in its economy and politics. It is
clearly stated in the agreement that Ukraine is a junior partner in the
European union. Ukraine must follow a common defense and foreign policy of
the EU. Ukraine is obliged to participate in the resolution of regional
conflicts under the leadership of the EU. Thus Poroshenko is making Ukraine
a colony of the EU and pulling Ukraine into war with Russia as cannon
fodder with the intention of igniting a war in Europe. The purpose of the
association agreement is to allow the European countries to govern Ukraine
in the settlement of regional conflicts. What is happening in Donbass is a
regional armed conflict. The goal of American politics is to create as many
victims as possible. The Ukrainian Nazi junta is an instrument of this
policy. They are carrying out mindless atrocities and crimes bombing
cities killing civilians, women and children, and forcing them to leave
their homes, only to provoke Russia and then draw the whole of Europe into
a war. This is Poroshenk’s mission. This is why Poroshenko is rejecting
any peace negotiations and blocking all peace treaties. He interprets any
statement by Washington about de-escalation of the conflict as an order to
escalate it. All peace talks which have taken place on the international
level have brought a new round of violence.

We must understand that we are dealing with a Nazi state which is dead set
on a war with Russia and has declared general conscription. The entire male
population between 18 and 55 has been put under arms. Those who refuse will
get 15 years in jail. This Nazi criminal power makes criminals of the
entire Ukrainian population.

5 Washington is plunging Europe into War for its own Interests

We have calculated the the European economy will lose about 1 trillion
Euros for sanctions which are imposed on them by the Americans. This is a
huge sum. The Europeans are already bearing the losses. There’s already a
drop in sales to Russia. Germany is losing about 200 billion euros. Our
most rabid friends from the Baltic states will suffer the worst losses. The
loss to Estonia will be more than its GDP. The loss to Latvia will be about
half its GDP. But that isn’t stopping them. European politicians are going
along with the Americans without questioning what they are doing. They are
harming themselves by provoking Nazism and war. I have already said that
Russia and Ukraine are the victims of this war which is being fomented by
the Americans. But Europe is also a victim because the war aims to target
European welfare and to destabilize Europe. Americans expect the European
capital and brain drain to America will continue. That’s why they
are setting all of Europe on fire. It’s very strange that European leaders
are going along with them.

6 Germany is still Occupied Territory

We should not just hope that European leaders (will develop an independent
policy) we must work with European leaders from a new generation who are
free from the American diktat. The fact that anti Soviet political elite
had been formed during the post Cold War years in Europe. Then they very
quickly became anti Russian. Despite the dramatically expanded economic
ties and huge mutual economic interests between Europe and Russia, the
Russophobia is based on anti Sovietism and still remains in the minds of
many European politicians. It will take a new generation of pragmatic
European politicians to understand their own national interests. What we
see today is politicians who are acting against their national interests.
This is largely due to the fact that Germany, which is the engine of
European growth, is still an occupied country. American troops are still in
Germany, and every German chancellor still gives an oath of allegiance to
the Americans to follow in the footsteps of their policy. This generation
of European politicians has failed to throw off the yoke of American
occupation.

7 Nazism is on the Rise

Although the Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore, they maniacally continue
to follow Washington, in NATO expansion and capture new territories under
their control. Despite the fact that they are already “allergic” to the new
eastern European members of the EU. The European Union is already bursting
at the seams, but this does not stop them from continuing their aggressive
expansion into post Soviet territory. The new generation, I hope, will be
more pragmatic. The last elections in the European parliament show that not
everyone is fooled by this pro American anti Russia propaganda and by the
constant stream of lies that are coming down on the European people.
Traditional European parties lost in recent elections in the euro
parliament. The more we speak the truth, the greater the reaction will be,
because what’s happening in Ukraine is the revival of Nazism. Europe
remembers the signs of the revival of fascism from the lessons of the
Second World War. We need to awaken this historical memory so that they see
in the Ukrainian Nazis, who are now in power in Kiev, the followers of
Bandera, Shukhevych, and other Nazi collaborators. The ideology of the
current Ukrainian authorities, has its roots in the ideology of Hitlers
accomplices who shot Jews at Babi Yar, burned Ukrainians and Belarusians
and annihilated everyone without ethnic distinction. This Nazism is rising
today. Europeans must recognize their own death in this terrible
confrontation.

I hope if we continue to spread the truth, we will be able to save Europe
from the threat of war.

Note: Special thanks to Vineyard of the Saker
for posting this incredible
interview.

Mike Whitney lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless:
Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion
(AK
Press). Hopeless is also available in a Ki
ndle.

Karabakh people will resolve long-lasting land-dispute, says minister

15:11 * 23.08.14

Nagorno-Karabakh is going to be the place where the Armenians’ fate
will be determined, the country’s defense minister said today in a
press conference blessed by the Supreme Patriarch.

“That’s doesn’t mean, of course, that we have to direct all efforts to
Karabakh,” Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobyan warned.

Addressing the past weeks’ cross-border skirmishes, the minister said
that the Defense Army managed to resist and adequately react to the
Azerbaijani attacks in all the directions.

“We have suffered losses, which we must avoid to the best of our
efforts. We resorted to counteraction and preventive operations to
prove that it wasn’t the right way. We are always ready to counteract
to the enemy, be it today or tomorrow,” he said.

Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aiyev’s earlier statement
that they are ready to “liberate” Karabakh, the Minister considered it
an absurd move.

Hakobyan noted that the Armenians of Karabakh and the diaspora have
drawn a very important conclusion by stating that the Armenian side
“has nothing more to lose”. “All consolidated over one issue to prove
that we are unanimous and united, and ready to solve a common problem.
Our soldier gave us a signal today that it is it is necessary to be
consolidated and give prevalence to the state interest,” he added.

Addressing the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents’ recent
meeting in Sochi (Russia), the minister stressed that their duty is to
bring to life important foreign policy decisions made on the level of
presidents and foreign ministers. “Any war finishes with negotiations;
hence we hail any meeting of this kind. I think the presidents have
agreed upon everything, so it would be good to realize all that,” he
said, ruling out the possibility of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict without the country’s direct participation in the process.

“Once Karabakh joins the talks, we can expect a solution in a just one
year,” he added.

Asked about the Russian arms sales to Azerbaijan, the minister said
the country isn’t positive about the deal. “Our country’s president
has expressed a very tough position; it is, of course, very bad that
our ally sells weapon to our enemy. The weapons will be used against
the rival, no matter where they is purchased from. So it is very bad
for us.”

Hakobyan, who is the commander of Karabakh’s Defense Army, said they
are every day preparing for a possible war, adding that the country
will come out as a winner in case the scenario turns real. “My soldier
is ready even for that today. Our everyday activities are directed to
that,” added the minister.

Upper Lars-Kazbegi road to remain closed for at least two weeks

16:29, 23 August, 2014

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. After the landslide, which occurred in
Georgia’s Darial Gorge, the Georgian authorities continue the cleaning
works. It will take at least two weeks to fully restore the traffic on
the Upper Lars-Kazbegi road. As reports “Armenpress”, in reference to
“Georgia Online”, this was stated by the representative of the
Government of Georgia.

Two people, citizens of Georgia and Turkey, who were involved in the
construction of hydroelectric power plant near the Darial Gorge, were
declared missing in the result of the landslide. The state bodies
report that a human body was drifted to the territory of Russia by the
river Terek, who supposedly is the missing citizen of Turkey.
Expertise is underway to determine the precise identity.

Ivan Kuhta: Difference of our political orientation will not affect
Ukrainian-Armenian relations

On Aug 24 Ukraine is marking its Independence Day. On this occasion
ArmInfo has interviewed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Ukraine to Armenia Ivan Kuhta.

by Ashot Safaryan

Saturday, August 23, 11:52

Armenia and Ukraine seem to have decided where they will move in their
foreign policies. How do you see Ukrainian-Armenian relations in the
light of new realities?

Judging from official reports, Armenia is going to sign an agreement
to join the Eurasian Economic Union, while in Sept Ukraine’s Supreme
Rada is planning to ratify an association agreement with the European
Union. Either party has its own schedules and obligations to partners
– the EU, on the one side, and the Eurasian Commission, on the other.
But this will not affect our bilateral relations in any way. I have
said this many times before and would like to say it again. Our
dialogue is continued on all levels.

What relations the new authorities of Ukraine have with the local
Armenian community, especially after the Crimean events and Armenia’s
official position on them?

Ukraine and Armenia are centuries-old friends. Armenians first came to
Ukraine in the times of Kievan Rus in XI and now live all over the
country. In 2001 there were almost 100,000 Armenians in Ukraine.
According to informal statistics, we have over 350,000 citizens of
Armenian nationality.

Armenians are widely represented in our government. They have a number
of NGOs (with almost 25 regional offices). Almost all of them are
parts of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine, led by MP Vilen
Shatvoryan. The Union’s mission is to support Ukraine-based Armenians
and to preserve and promote Armenian culture in our country, which is
also a priority for our authorities. The Armenian Apostolic Church has
a diocese in Lviv. Two years ago the Kyiv authorities gave the local
Armenian community a land plot so they could build the biggest
Armenian church in Ukraine.

Ukraine takes care of the cultural heritage of the Armenian people.
Quite recently we restore an Armenian church in Kamianets-Podilskyi,
Khmelnitski region.

Armenian regional communities are actively supporting the soldiers
involved in the anti-terrorist operation in Donbass. They are
collecting and sending food and drugs to the east. On Aug 19 the
Armenian community of Kyiv donated blood for the local military
hospital. This proves that the Armenians living in Ukraine are true
patriots and love their homeland and its people.

By the end of this year Ukraine is planning to sign a visa
facilitation agreement with the EU. Once you do it, you will have to
toughen your migration laws and perhaps even to impose a visa regime
with the CIS and Customs Union states. Can we expect this to lower
migration flow from Armenia and to reduce contacts between our
citizens?

Visa liberalization is stipulated by our Association Agreement with
the EU. In May the European Commission approved the fourth report on
visa liberalization in Ukraine. Thus, we are not implementing the
second phase of relevant action plan: we are harmonizing our laws to
European requirements, introducing biometrics passports and so on.

As soon as we meet all the criteria, the European Commission will
petition the European Parliament and the EU Council to consider visa
free regime for Ukrainians having biometric passports. Expects believe
that this may happen as early as 2015.

This will not however affect the travel regime between Ukraine and
Armenia. And I am sure that the contacts between our citizens will
grow.

The next meeting of the Ukrainian-Armenian Intergovernmental
Commission on Trade-Economic Cooperation is scheduled for Oct 2014.
When exactly the meeting will be held and what questions will be
discussed?

Our Embassy is organizing this meeting. Today our priority is trade and economy.

The Commission has a toolkit for answering any questions arising in
the process of our dialogue, while regular meetings are a good
opportunity for us to control the implementation of out agreements.

Generally, our agenda concerns industry, energy and energy efficiency,
agroindustry, transportation, environment protection, urban
development, science and technologies as well as ways to develop
contacts among our regions, to support SMEs and to enlarge our
contractual basis.

Will the Commission consider a new export-import regime between our
countries now that you have already signed the association agreement
and we are planning to shortly sign the customs agreement?

Yes, of course, this will be one of the key topics of the meeting. Our
new realities imply certain risks for our trade. But the meetings our
government officials and businessmen have had so far were quite
optimistic, especially as we have a free trade agreement.

Ukraine continues to be our second biggest trade-economic partner in
the post-Soviet area. In Jan-June 2014 our trade turnover made up
$109.382mln. Do you expect a growth in this index this year? Or may
the difference of our political orientation curb it?

In Jan-May 2014 our trade turnover made up $76.17mln, which was
$4.42mln or 5.5% less than in Jan-May 2013.

In view of the current tendencies, it is hard to expect a growth in
the second half of this year. But we are trying to encourage Ukrainian
exporters to enlarge their supplies to the Armenian markets. In this
light, we have grounds to expect a certain growth in food supplies
from Ukraine.

What is your opinion concerning the current situation in the east of
Ukraine and its possible settlement?

First of all, I would like to point out that Ukraine is an amicable
state. We have always been ready for peaceful negotiations and now too
regard them as the only way to settle the situation.

I am sure you remember that on June 20 President Poroshenko proposed a
peaceful plan of 15 actions to settle the situation in the eastern
region of Ukraine.

Ukraine, the EU and the Eurasian Three (Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan) are planning to meet in Minsk on Aug 26 to discuss
questions concerning Ukraine’s steps to meet with association
agreement with the EU, solutions to the problems of energy security
and ways to stabilize the situation in Donbass.

The situation in that region is very complicated. It cannot be
different considering the war imposed on us. The infrastructure of
this industrial region is being purposefully destroyed. The number of
victims and refugees is growing.

Our army is gradually reducing the territory controlled by fighters.
Almost each they are liberating several settlements bringing them back
to normal life. In liberated areas we are reopening public offices,
enterprises and schools, many of which were mined by terrorists. The
fighters are using various vicious methods. They are using civilians
are human shield, bombarding populated areas and then saying that it
was the Ukrainian army, cooperating with corrupt mass media. This is
sobering many of the citizens who initially believe their propaganda.
And now they are repenting and joining the Ukrainian army.

How are the things with Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko?

This case has received wide response all over the world. Ukraine has
repeatedly asked Russia to set her free and to send her back home.
But, unfortunately, our neighbor has shown little understanding in
such issues of late.

We will do our best to bring Savchenko back. Our Embassy is grateful
to the Armenian society and all those concerned about the fate of
Nadezhda Savchenko for their understanding and support.

On Aug 24 Ukraine is marking its Independence Day. What would you like
to say on this occasion?

23 years of independence is a historic moment for Ukraine. I would
like to use this occasion to congratulate all Ukrainian citizens
temporarily or permanently living in Armenia on this holiday and to
wish all of us peace and prosperity!

Thank you, Your Excellency.

Shavarsh Kocharyan: Murder of Karen Petrosyan has many similarities
with the cruel murder of American journalist in Syria

by Ashot Safaryan
Saturday, August 23, 11:56

With such groundless and irresponsible statements Baku makes yet
another failed attempt to conceal its disrespectful and primitive
attitude towards human life, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister
Shavarsh Kocharyan told the “First news” service of the Public
Television of Armenia when asked to comment the complaint of the
Ministry of foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan concerning the international
condemnations of the murder of Karen Petrosyan.

The website of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry quotes Kocharyan as saying
that unfortunately, the murder of Karen Petrosyan is not the only
case.
“It is impossible to forget the cases of Samvel Saribekyan, who was
similarly murdered, and Mamikon Khojoyan, who died after returning to
motherland as a result of the tortures undergone in Azerbaijan.

The failed attempts to deny the apparent facts of the murder of Karen
Petrosyan are being carried out through the same traditional methods,
by which the Azerbaijani leadership has been denying the reactions of
the international community concerning the persecutions of the
activists in Azerbaijan. The difference is that the dissidents are
accused for spying for Armenians, and the international organizations
and foreign countries are blamed for being under the influence of
Armenians. Such accusations once again witness the Armenophobic
essence of the current leadership of Azerbaijan.

The murder of Karen Petrosyan has many similarities with the cruel
murder of American journalist James Foley committed by extremists a
couple of days ago, who was humiliated and then killed. The only
difference is that the murder of the Armenian citizen was not
committed publicly, but right in the way Gurgen Margaryan was axe
murdered under the cover of the night, and the perpetrator was
glorified in Azerbaijan.

Instead of blaming those calling things by their names, the leadership
in Baku should understand that acting by such barbaric methods leads
their country into a medieval abyss.

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ARMENIE
Les 20 années de cessez-le-feu n’apportent aucune réelle paix pour les
résidents de certains villages

Mariam tire attentivement le rideau sombre de la chambre à coucher au
deuxième étage de sa maison de village, et les rayons du soleil,
profitant de cette occasion, rampent à l’intérieur et couvrent les
yeux de l’adolescente. Les tirs en provenance de l’Azerbaïdjan violent
la paix du village depuis des années et rappellent que le conflit est
non résolu et que le cessez le feu en vigueur pour la commune ne l’est
que sur le papier. et continue de
parler. > dit la mère de deux enfants et
qui change de sujet avec les yeux humides. Elle parle de leur vie
quotidienne, montre la robe de bal de sa fille. >.

La classe du 11 niveau de Mariam est la première à organiser une
cérémonie de remise des diplômes dans le centre culturel nouvellement
construite du village. Le centre culturel a été complètement détruit
pendant la guerre et à sa place une nouvelle construction a été lancé
en 2012 et terminé en janvier 2014.La cérémonie d’ouverture officielle
a eu lieu le 5 Avril en présence du président Serge Sarkissian.

Selon les villageois, le btiment de 124,8 millions drams (près de
300.000 $) au coeur du village, qui a déjà été > par des
traces de balles azerbaïdjanaises, donne de l’espoir au village.

> se souviennent les villageois gés. > a dit Israyelyan, qui l’an dernier a dû
vendre son magasin dans le centre du village qui rapportait environ de
100 à 150000 drams (près de 240$ à 360 $ ) de revenu mensuel .

Selon Israyelyan, la raison pour laquelle il a vendu le magasin était
une pression constante du système fiscal. .

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN

ArmeniaNow

samedi 23 août 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com