Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIE
Encore deux victimes du côté arménien

La presse du jour fait état de la mort d’un villageois karabatsi tué à
Askeran (HK) par un tireur d’élite azerbaïdjanais, le 14 juillet,
alors qu’il travaillait dans les champs. Par ailleurs, plusieurs
quotidiens relèvent que le jeune homme gé de 17 ans, Smbat Tsakanian,
porté disparu depuis le 10 juillet dans la région de Kelbadjar, où
sévissaient des membres du commando azéri infiltrés sur ce territoire
contrôlé par les forces arméniennes, a été retrouvé mort. Son corps
portant plusieurs blessures, dont une par balle, a été retrouvé près
du > dans cette région. Depuis plusieurs jours,
ses proches affirmaient que les membres du commando azéri l’auraient
enlevé. Une enquête est en cours pour élucider les conditions de sa
mort.

Les quotidiens signalent en outre que les > du
HK ont intenté une procédure pénale à l’encontre des deux
ressortissants azerbaïdjanais, membres dudit commando azéri, capturés
par les forces armées du HK (un troisième membre a été tué par les
forces du HK).

Lors d’une conférence de presse, hier, le Ministre arménien de la
Défense, Seyran Ohanian, a insisté sur le fait que l’Azerbaïdjan
utilise des groupements criminels à des fins de > et que les deux Azerbaïdjanais capturés seront punis
avec toute la rigueur des normes internationales et de la >. Le Ministre a assuré que la partie
arménienne suivra cette affaire jusqu’au bout. Aux yeux du Ministre,
la partie azerbaïdjanaise créé des tensions afin d’influer sur le
processus de négociation et d’imposer à l’Arménie des concessions
unilatérales. Il a rappelé que la partie arménienne était prête à
donner une réponse > à toute tentative azerbaïdjanaise de
déclencher des opérations militaires. Selon M. Ohanian, il serait
souhaitable que la communauté internationale donne une évaluation
précise aux événements sur la ligne de contact et sur la frontière
arméno-azerbaïdjanaise et indique quelle partie en est à l’origine. Il
a toutefois dit comprendre que les coprésidents du Groupe de Minsk
gardent l’équilibre dans leurs déclarations afin que la situation déjà
fragile ne dégénère pas en affrontements. Selon le Ministre, la partie
arménienne est certes préoccupée par la vente d’armes russes à
l’Azerbaïdjan, mais a tenu à souligner que le volume de la coopération
entre l’Arménie et la Russie était plus important que celle entre la
Russie et l’Azerbaïdjan.

Hayots Achkhar et Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun reproduisent les propos du
politologue Alexandre Iskandarian, selon lequel les tentatives de
sabotage ne signifient point une reprise des hostilités. Selon lui,

ARMENIE
L’Arménie prévoit de s’engager dans le dossier Perincek

Le Gouvernement de la République d’Arménie a l’intention de s’engager
dans le cas de Dogu Perinçek, nationaliste turc devant la Cour
européenne des droits de l’homme (CEDH) en tant que tierce partie,
rapporte Armenpress , citant le procureur général et représentant de
l’Arménie à la CEDH Gevorg Kostanyan.

Gevorg Kostanyan a dit que la décision a déjà été prise et que le 26
Août, l’Arménie demandera officiellement à la CEDH d’être engagée en
tant que tierce partie.

Gevorg Kostanyan n’ a pas donné plus de détails sur les actions qui
doivent être menées par la partie arménienne, mais il a souligné
qu’elles ont été sérieusement déterminées et qu’un groupe d’avocats
sera probablement formé pour travailler sur le dossier.

mercredi 23 juillet 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

Armenian director’s film included in Toronto Festival

11:55 * 23.07.14

American Heist, a movie by Russian-Armenian director Sarik Andreasyan,
has been included in the main program of the Toronto International
Film Festival.

The film features Adrien Brody (US) and Hayden Christensen (Canada).

The festival will run from September 4 through 14.

American Heist is the first ever movie by a Russia-based producer to
be included in the festival’s Special Presentation part, RIA Novosti
reports.

It features the story of two brothers who decide to commit “the
century’s biggest heist”. The movie was shot in New Orleans. The
starring actors are Adrien Brody, Hayden Christensen, Jordana Brewster
and rapper Icon. The film’s budget is $8 million.

Daily Sabah, Turkey
July 22 2014

ANTI-SEMITISM UNLEASHED

Emre Gönen
22 July 2014, Tuesday

It is very hard for any columnist to focus on any other subject other
than what is happening in Gaza. Despite the striking and alarming
developments from all around the world, notably in Ukraine, Gaza
remains at the center of our anxiety and attention for many reasons.
The situation today shows the impotence and cynicism of the
“democratic world,” starting with the U.S., but encompassing all the
democratic governments and regimes of Europe. Post-war Europe was
built upon the understanding that a new “Auschwitz” would never be
possible again. That went rather smoothly in Europe, but elsewhere, it
becomes harder and harder to distinguish policies of the U.S. and EU
from those of other, fundamentally un-democratic, regimes. This is
deeply undermining the “role model” dimension of the democratic world.
It is therefore undermining the ideology based on participative and
pluralistic democratic infrastructure.

It is obvious that Jews have had no responsibility whatsoever
concerning the Shoah, they have just not been (along with many others)
capable of rumbling the unspeakable tragedy of the genocide. This is
deeply felt by the Jewish community, especially in Israel, who
consider any threat to their daily existence as a prelude to another
Holocaust. Israel retaliates with incredible disproportionate force
and insensitivity for civilian losses, not because it feels strong and
immune to punishment, but because it feels week and unable to assert
itself as a durable entity and polity to its neighbors.

The mass media in its majority and the governments and opinion leaders
in Europe have a very mild attitude against Israeli bombings, to say
the least. However, there is a large and growing popular outcry as
long as the killings continue. This will probably not change their
governments’ attitudes. The very large and spontaneous street protests
did not push EU governments to intervene in Bosnia in 1992, nor did
they stop the Iraq war in 2002. This, on the other hand, has a more
pernicious and long-term effect – politicians are being alienated from
daily lives more and more in democratic countries. Conventional
political parties, which tend to resemble more and more are having
immense difficulties passing on their messages to voters. Their
growing incapacity to convince and mobilize their voters around
well-defined, courageous political goals and projects leave the field
to radical movements or tendencies.

It is very visible in the case of the Gaza tragedy. In Turkey, the
totality of political tendencies wanted the bombings to come to an end
and supported the Palestinian cause. This has not prevented every
opposition movement to incriminate the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) for its policies in the Middle East. However,
something much more disturbing happened – an overt anti-Semitic outcry
flooded the mass media and, more precisely, social media. A
humanitarian aid association chairman has openly threatened Turkish
Jews by reminding the infamous Istanbul pogrom of Sept. 6 and 7, 1955
that was waged against the Christian Greek and Armenian minorities of
Istanbul. Another popular singer tweeted that all the sons of Israel
must be annihilated. Such incredible anti-Semitic rhetoric is not
limited to Turkey. In France, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have
turned into riots attacking and destroying synagogues. Similar events
happened all over European countries, where the authorities started to
outlaw anti-Israeli demonstrations in order to contain anti-Semitic
attacks.

That will not succeed. Anti-Semitism, once unleashed, can hardly be
contained through security measures. By letting Israeli policies turn
Gaza and the Palestinians into modern time’s human offerings to an
unknown “almighty international stability,” democratic governments are
effectively undermining the perspectives of peaceful coexistence.
There is no “Palestinian” issue to really discuss, but everyone should
come to terms with the “Israeli” issue and should come to terms with
Israel, to devise what kind of state and peace they want to achieve.
Obviously present situation, even if it is stopped through a
miraculous cease-fire accepted by all, will not be sustainable, either
for Palestinians or for Israel. It will be only an interlude before
the next conflict. This is not a way to establish a sustainable
international order and this does not only concern Israel and the
Middle East only.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #745
July 22 2014

Yerevan Angry at Russian Arms Sales to Baku

President Sargsyan issues unprecedented criticism of Moscow’s
readiness to supply long-term foe Azerbaijan.

By Tigran Gevorgyan – Caucasus

For the first time, the Armenian president has criticised Russia for
selling weapons to Azerbaijan, fuelling a boom in arms acquisitions
that his country cannot match.

“This is a very painful issue for us. Our nation is very concerned
about the fact that our strategic partner is selling weapons to
Azerbaijan,” President Serzh Sargsyan said during an official visit to
Argentina on July 10.

Longstanding strategic allies Armenia and Russia are both members of
the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and Moscow
maintains a large army base at Gyumri, some 120 kilometres north of
Yerevan.

Russia is also part of the three-member OSCE group mediating in the
Nagorny Karabakh dispute, but that has not stopped it selling large
quantities of weapons to Azerbaijan, a country that is still formally
at war with Armenia two decades after a ceasefire ended open
hostilities.

Samvel Lazarian, head of the arms control department at the Armenian
foreign ministry, told reporters that Moscow had failed even to inform
Yerevan of arms shipments to Baku.

“By continuing to arm itself at such pace, Baku is significantly
violating the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Baku
is violating it in three ways, with the number of tanks, armoured
vehicles and long-distance artillery systems,” he said. “Armenia
issues regular warnings about this within the OSCE framework…
responsible for implementation of that treaty.”

Azerbaijan has stepped up its military purchases in recent years.
According to Military Balance 2013, published by the London-based
International Institute for Strategic Studies, Azerbaijan’s defence
budget last year was to 3.7 billion dollars, compared with just 447
million for Armenia.

Russia’s arms industry has profited from this readiness to spend.

In August last year, Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev told a joint press
conference with President Vladimir Putin that he had signed four
billion US dollars worth of arms deals with Russia.

Two months earlier, the Moscow business daily Vedomosti quoted defence
ministry sources in saying that Russia had sold Azerbaijan armoured
vehicles, conventional artillery and multiple rocket systems plus 24
Mi-35 attack helicopters and 60 other helicopters, in sales worth up
to one billion dollars. (See also Neighbourhood Watches as Azerbaijan
Arms Up.)

In an interview with the Itar-Tass news agency published on May 23
this year, Konstantin Biryulin, head of the Russian agency for defence
technology cooperation, said 100 T-90C tanks had been delivered to
Azerbaijan under a deal signed in 2011. He said a further 100 of these
late-model tanks would be sold soon.

According to the United Nations register of conventional arms which
tracks officially-recorded arms transactions, Azerbaijan received 438
heavy artillery systems and 25 attack helicopters from Russia last
year, while Armenia got 35 tanks, 110 other armoured vehicles, 200
missiles and 50 launchers.

Despite the ongoing tensions between oil-rich, high-spending
Azerbaijan and poorer Armenia, senior Russian officials continue to
insist that defence sales are of no political significance.

On a 2013 visit to Armenia, Security Council secretary Nikolai
Patrushev argued that new arms deliveries would not change the
military balance in the region.

CSTO head Nikolai Bordyuzha similarly told journalists in Yerevan last
year that the sales were just “simple business deriving from our
economic interests”.

Sargsyan’s remarks this month represent the first public criticism of
Russia’s policy of arming Azerbaijan. Analysts say rising tensions on
the ground have heightened the pressure on the government to speak
out.

In June and the first half of July, at least six Armenian servicemen
died on the state frontier with Azerbaijan and along the “line of
control” which has formed a front-line boundary around Karabakh since
1994. (See also Upsurge in Shootings on Azeri-Armenian Frontier.)

Not only is this a high level of losses, but experts say Yerevan is
disappointed at Moscow’s apparent lack of concern about the casualty
figures.

“It’s clear that there have been shifts in the stance of the Armenian
leadership,” Stepan Safaryan, head of the Armenian Institute for
International and Security Affairs. “Whereas formerly, Yerevan
officially said that it trusted Moscow and that the Kremlin was
maintaining the balance of power… now they don’t believe Moscow any
more.”

Others argue that selling arms to both sides is part of a strategy of
imposing Russian influence in the South Caucasus.

“Why is the Kremlin selling such quantities of arms to Azerbaijan, and
thus violating its partnership with Armenia and neglecting its
responsibilities as a mediator in Karabakh?” asked Ruben Mehrabyan, an
expert from the Armenian Centre of Political and International
Studies. His answer – “Moscow has a single goal, to control Armenia
and Azerbaijan alike. Both countries are already dependent on Russian
defence shipments.”

Tigran Gevorgyan is a freelance journalist in Armenia.

Komandos says Azerbaijan stands behind Armenian businessman’s arrest

16:47 | July 22,2014 | Politics

Karabakh war hero Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, also known as Komandos, today
reiterated that Azerbaijan stands behind the arrest of Armenian
businessman and philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan. He says Azerbaijan
probably bribed some top officials in Russian special services to
prosecute the wealthy Armenian.

Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan says Azerbaijan has been ‘hunting after’ the
philanthropist for many years and they have been constantly announcing
that Hayrapetyan is financing the Nagorno-Karabakh army. Moreover,
they said Hayrapetyan was building a personal army.

“Apparently, they meant the military college which Hayrapetyan is
building in Karabakh and where I work as an adviser,” says
Major-General Ter-Tadevosyan.

“Hayrapetyan has also invited Cossacks, who are supporters of the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, to work at the college. Naturally,
Azerbaijanis could not remain indifferent to it. They [Azerbaijanis]
decided to get rid of Hayrapetyan and they achieved their goal. This
is my opinion,” said Komandos.

Levon Hayrapetyan, a native of Karabakh known for his investments and
charity projects in his homeland, was detained in Moscow last week
over alleged links with a notorious Russian criminal gang. Russian
media immediatelt reported that Hayrapetyan is suspected of ‘illegal
financial machinations’ in an oil company purchase deal.

Armenia has much more serious problems than ones raised by ex-president: opinion

21:16 * 22.07.14

First Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s comments on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border incidents and on Armenia’s domestic
political problems have evoked varied responses by Armenia’s political
forces.

Political scientist Aghasi Yenokyan believes that this is nothing but
a step to criticize Armenia’s authorities. Vice-Chairman of the
Heritage party Armen Martirosyan considers Ter-Petrosyan’s concern “to
the point.”

Mr Yenokyan does not share Ter-Petrosyan’s opinion that Armenia does
not adequately respond to Azerbaijan’s provocations on the Line of
Contact.

“I have no information that Armenia does not give an adequate
response. Ter-Petrosyan has more information. But I think Armenia is
adequately responding,” he told Tert.am.

According to him, the reason for Ter-Petrosyan’s statement is the need
for criticizing Armenia’s authorities.

“It is Ter-Petrosyan that is supposed to give a political explanation
for this all.”

As regards Ter-Petrosyan’s response to constitutional reforms, Yenokyan said:

“Numerous problems are on the agenda, and the major problem is current
Armenian-Russian relations. Gazprom is facing sanctions tomorrow. How
are we going to resolve our gas-supply problems? Two large banks in
Armenia are already facing sanctions, and Ter-Petrosyan does not
discuss the problems arising from the current Armenian-Russian
relations because he is for Armenian-Russian relations. However, it is
the Armenian-Russian relations that are the major obstacle for our
country. And I do not think speaking of constitutional reforms would
be quite adequate now.”

According to him, Armenia’s pro-government and opposition forces are
afraid of speaking of much more serious problems facing Armenia,
because they share the responsibility for the present situation.

With respect to the border incidents, Heritage party Vice-Chairman
Armen Martirosyan noted that military retaliation is not normally a
public action.

As regards constitutional reforms, the Heritage party has always been
for reforms and for a parliamentary republic. However, it is not
Armenia’s incumbent authorities that are supposed to implement
constitutional reforms.

“The authorities are trying to accomplish the task of their own
further reproduction. And their attempts to implement reforms are
relevant. But it is they that need the reforms, and it is not what we
are thinking of,” Martirosyan said.

As regards Ter-Petrosyan;’s remarks concerning a possible
Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in France, Martirosyan said
that meetings could ease tensions.

“And Ter-Petrosyan’s remark implies that no essential expectations
about such a meeting should be held. It requires Artsakh’s
[Nagorno-Karabakh’s] participation, which is not the case now.”

The Armenian authorities’ policy has caused certain problems to Armenia.

“Indeed, we are in a rather difficult situation with respect to
Artsakh. But in any case we can find ways out of the situation, which
requires radical reforms in the country.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

Armenian Firm to Assemble New High-Speed 3D Printer

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

A geometric object made using a 3D printer

SINGAPORE (PRNewswire)–Zecotek Photonics Inc., a developer of
leading-edge photonics technologies for medical, industrial and
scientific markets, on Tuesday announced that its wholly owned
subsidiary Zecotek Display Systems Pte. Ltd. has contracted LT-PYRKAL
of Yerevan, Armenia, to assemble and test its first compact,
high-speed 3D printer which will use high-performance metal alloys and
offer technical and commercial advantages over other 3D printing
technology. Zecotek and LT-Pyrkal previously announced a partnership
in February 2014. Since that time a number of key technical challenges
have been solved and LT-Pyrkal will now proceed with the assembly of
the new 3D printer, which will be used for both prototyping and
distributed manufacturing with specific applications in electronics,
aerospace, automotive, mechanical and healthcare industries.

“With our partner LT-PYRKAL, we are assembling and testing our first
3D printer which will have the ability to use an extended and varied
list of alloys to “print” metal components for targeted industries,”
said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek
Photonics Inc. “Our technical team of scientists have identified a
unique approach to handle high-performance metal alloys with our
compact high-speed 3D print technologies. The advantage of our design
is the compactness, speed and quick transition from prototyping to 3D
manufacturing at all levels of production. Add the ability to handle
high-performance metal alloys and the size of the market grows
considerably. We are excited about the prospect of being a key leader
in an industry that will revolutionize manufacturing.”

LT-PYRKAL is a long time contract partner of Zecotek which developed a
number of key electro-mechanical elements for Zecotek’s patented 3D
display technology. The company is known for its experience in
automation systems, component design and product development across
many industries. It has working relations with both small and large
organizations and has completed large projects for local government
agencies.

“We look forward to continuing to build on our growing relationship
with Zecotek by completing the assembly and testing of their first
compact high-speed 3D printer and assist them to move to full
production and sales,” said Gagik Buniatyan, General Director of
LT-PYRKAL.

3D printing is the process of making three dimensional solid objects
from a digital model by laying down successive layers of material in
different shapes. Zecotek and LT-PYRKAL have identified a unique
method of printing with high-performance metal alloys with its
proprietary compact, high-speed 3D printing technologies. This will
provide companies to evaluate a broader range of product models in
less time to improve design throughout the product development
process. Rapid prototyping enables faster more efficient production,
while rapid manufacturing enables higher productivity, economical
customization, improved quality, and greater efficiency.

Total annual sales and service of 3D printers has reached $2 billion.
Leading industry analysts predict continued significant growth with
annual sales of 3D printing reaching $4 billion by 2015, and over $10
billion by 2021. The rapid growth in the 3D printing market is due to
the improving performance of additive equipment and the expanding
range of materials being used. Although 3D printing has now become
cheaper and more customizable than regular manufacturing methods,
Zecotek and LT-PYRKAL have identified a number of opportunities to
improve 3D printing technology. Patents will be filed as required.

LT-PYRKAL is a Greek-Armenian research, development and production
company, specializing in crystal growth, laser accessories and
components, lasers and systems. LT-PYRKAL was established in 1999 and
today employs over 250 highly qualified specialists and occupies over
30,000 square meters of industrial facilities for synthetic crystal
growth, opto-mechanics and laser electronics manufacturing, and laser
and EO Systems development.

Patti Smith devotes “Swans” to Artavazd Peleshyan

Tuesday 22 July 2014 12:07

While whole Armenia was busy with Golden Apricot International Film
Festival, a unique event took place in Paris which was left unnoticed
in Yerevan.

On July 10, the premiere of “Swans (a tribute to Pelechian)” musical
composition by Patti Smith was held at the Cartier Foundation
(Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain).

While composing the work, Patti Smith was inspired by Artavazd
Peleshyan’s Inhabitants movie shot in 1970.

Artavazd Peleshyan attended the premiere of “Swans”.

67-year-old Patti Smith is a legendary American singer and poetess and
is considered one of the founders of punk-rock.

The name of Patti Smith is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

>From May 10,2014, Artavazd Peleshyan’s film “Our Century” (1982) is
shown in the exhibition galleries of Cartier Foundation every day
(except Monday). The screenings will be available till August 24.

Incident in Tbilisi: Fight renews debate over Georgian-Armenian relations

Society | 22.07.14 | 17:38

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

A fight between Armenian priests and Georgians in front of an Armenian
church in the Georgian capital last weekend has renewed concerns over
Georgian-Armenian relations.
Enlarge Photo

A pre-planned attack was carried out against representatives of the
Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, the Georgian Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church said on Sunday. According to a
statement, the July 19 attack was motivated by ethnic and religious
hatred.

The statement says that a Georgian lady could not drive her car out of
the parking lot and blamed the Armenian priest for blocking her way.
Later on the argument continued with two other Georgians who came to
her support. In two hours around 50 people gathered around the church
and a fight began.

The spiritual leader of the Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church in
Tbilisi, priest Ter Manuk Zeynalyan told ArmeniaNow Monday told that
this last incident stems from much deeper issues.

“Among Georgians there is a layer of people who will never stop
cursing at Armenians and they will never change, I do not even doubt
that the government will ever be able to change that, because as a
matter of fact it all comes from above,” Zeynayan says.

The Armenian community in Georgia reaches 250,000, and there are more
than 300 Armenian churches, only 40 of them function, another six
caused disagreements between the Armenian Apostolic church and
Georgian Orthodox church. There are only two Armenian churches in
Tbilisi but at the moment one of the churches – St. Gevorg is
undergoing restoration and is temporarily closed.

The priest says that the Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church has had
progress in the recent years, there is a church affiliated Armenian
House culture center with Unions of writers, painters, musicians with
over 650 students.

“All this, I think is very obvious, and Georgians views toward the
church have drastically changed,” the priest said adding that though
the case is under investigation at the police they have no big
expectations.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reflected on the occurrence
expressing deep concern and condemning “this act of ethnic hostility
and religious intolerance”, mentioning that “that instigating
aggression is a result of anti-Armenian mood spread in Georgia by
various organizations and individuals including some Georgian
priests”.

According to Novosti Georgia daily, Georgian National Affairs Ministry
representative said that the incident had no inter-ethnic character,
and the clash took place in the street triggered by a
misunderstanding.

A young Georgian flower seller nearby the church said that though he
was not there on that day, he assured that they are in good terms with
Armenians, the occurrence had no political basis, just a mere hooligan
behavior which he also condemns.

But an Armenian national, Liza who works at a store on one of the
central streets in Tbilisi, said that Georgians have always been
discriminative toward Armenians, and the latest event is a proof of
it.

“We all are shocked, there have always been some negative views from
Georgians, but to attack the priests in the church in that way, we
have never seen anything like that and we are concerned,” the
saleswoman said.