Author: Kalantarian Kevo

SWITZERLAND REJECTS ARMENIAN DIASPORA’S PROPOSAL TO ERECT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN ARIANA PARK IN GENEVA

by Tatevik Shahunyan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, December 10, 11:57

The Swiss Government has rejected the proposal of the Armenian Diaspora
to erect a monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey in the early XX century in Ariana Park in Geneva.

Dogan news agency reports that the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs
submitted its decision to the Canton of Geneva. The Ministry says
that if the Armenian Diaspora insists, the

Canton of Geneva may decide to erect the monument elsewhere in the
country.

The Armenian Diaspora in Switzerland suggested erecting the monument
in Ariana Park, Geneva.

To note, Switzerland is one of the three European countries, which
has not only recognized the Armenian Genocide, but also criminalized
the Armenian Genocide denial at the legislative level.

NOUVELLE RESISTANCE AU MEMORIAL DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN A GENÈVE

SUISSE

Un courrier du Departement federal des affaires etrangères recommande
au canton de Genève de refuser l’autorisation de construire des
Reverbères de la Memoire a l’Ariana, a appris la RTS mardi.

Nouvel obstacle a la construction d’un memorial pour le genocide
armenien a Genève. Lance en 2008 pour etre realise en Vieille-Ville,
le projet s’etait vu affecter – pour “raison archeologique” – un
nouvel espace dans le parc de l’Ariana, près de la place des Nations.

Mais l’emplacement des Reverbères de la Memoire pourrait etre a
nouveau revu, a appris la RTS mardi. Appel au refus d’autorisation

Suite a la rencontre entre les deux conseillers d’Etat genevois
Francois Longchamp et Antonio Hodgers avec Didier Burkhalter il y a
deux semaines a Berne, un courrier du president de la Confederation
a ete adresse lundi a Genève recommandant “que l’autorite cantonale
competente pour statuer refuse d’octroyer l’autorisation de construire
a l’emplacement envisage”.

Raison invoquee : “Preserver un environnement impartial et
paisible permettant aux Nations unies et aux autres organisations
internationales de s’acquitter de leurs fonctions dans les meilleures
conditions cadre possibles.”

Les Cropettes ou Beaulieu en alternative ?

La Ville maintient l’idee d’un memorial a l’Ariana, a indique
le porte-parole du Departement de la culture et du sport Felicien
Mazzola. “Mais si l’autorisation devait etre refusee, d’autres lieux
seraient envisages.”

Selon la RTS, la Ville de Genève serait deja a la recherche d’un autre
terrain susceptible d’accueillir Les Reverbères de la Memoire. Le parc
Beaulieu ou celui des Cropettes seraient envisages comme alternatives
possibles.

Les etapes du projet en bref En 2008, l’idee d’un monument a la
memoire commune des Genevois et des Armeniens obtient le feu vert de
la Ville de Genève. Un concours est organise, malgre l’incomprehension
de la Turquie.

Le 8 novembre 2010, un jury et des representants de la Ville designent
vainqueur a l’unanimite le projet de l’artiste Melik Ohanian, Les
Reverbères de la Memoire.

Le 29 mars 2011, le projet est rendu public en presence du chanteur
et ambassadeur de l’Armenie auprès de l’ONU Charles Aznavour.

En octobre 2013, le projet initialement prevu Bastion Saint-Antoine,
se voit affecter un nouvel emplacement – dans le parc de l’Ariana –
pour “raison archeologique”.

Decembre 2014, un courrier du Departement federal des affaires
etrangères enjoint le canton de genève de refuser l’autorisation de
construire dans le parc de l’Ariana.

mercredi 10 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

GALUST SAHAKYAN RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF CHINA

09.12.2014

On December 9 the RA NA President Galust Sahakyan received Tian Erlong,
the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the People’s Republic of China to Armenia.

The RA NA President congratulated the Ambassador on the occasion of
beginning the diplomatic mission in our country and wished fruitful
activity for the benefit of the Armenian-Chinese friendship. Galust
Sahakyan highlighted the political contacts of high level between
the two countries, the mutual visits and the bilateral meetings.

Highlighting the role of the parliamentary diplomacy in boosting the
political dialogue between the two countries, expressed his readiness
to support the enlivening of the Armenian-Chinese inter-parliamentary
relations. Galust Sahakyan highly assessed the joint programmes
implemented in the scientific-educational, cultural, economic spheres
and welcomed the establishment of the Chinese biased school, which
will promote the deepening of the Armenian-Chinese cooperation in
the scientific-educational and cultural spheres.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh problem the NA President has noted
that Armenia adheres to the negotiation principle of the problem
settlement and highly assesses the balanced position of China related
to Artsakh problem. Talking about the Centennial of the Armenian
Genocide and worthy evaluating the crime perpetrated against our
people, the Head of the parliament has expressed hope that the Chinese
side will take part in the events to be organized in April 2015.

Ambassador Erlong has noted that it is a great honour and
responsibility for him to be the Ambassador of China in Armenia and
represent his state in a country with which the historical, cultural,
trade-economic relations and contacts are of centuries old. Mr Erlong
has highly assessed the cooperation of the parliaments of the friendly
countries, the exchange of experience and mutual visits, which are
an important part for the development of friendly relations. In the
Ambassador’s word, China pays great attention to the deepening of
traditional friendly relations with Armenia, and even in Beijing
University Armenian is taught. Tian Erlong has noted that since
the establishment of diplomatic relations the contacts develop
rather dynamic. He has highlighted the cooperation in the cultural,
trade-economic, humanitarian spheres, noting that the volume of the
trade turnover between the two countries has increased. The Ambassador
has expressed hope that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be solved
through peaceful negotiations.

RA NA DEPUTY SPEAKER MEETS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE YAZIDI COMMUNITY

09.12.2014

On December 9 the RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov met with
the Chairman of the NGO Yazidi Association Sinjar Boris Tamoyan,
the NGO members Mame Amiran, Hamlet Smoyan and the representative of
the Yazidi community Siaband Bakoyan.

The NA Deputy Speaker has noted that December 9 is a symbolic day,
as in 1948 that day the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of Genocide and Crimes was adopted by the General Assembly. To his
conviction, the international structures should fight for condemnation
and denial of genocides.

The NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov has considered inadmissible
the mass violence being perpetrated towards the Yazidi population in
the north-western part of Iraq, noting that the Head of the country
also talked about those inhuman violence from the UN high tribune. The
representatives of the Yazidi community in their turn highly assessed
the RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech in the UN General Assembly.

Touching upon the problems Yazidis living in the north of Iraq, as well
as the violence against the Christians in Syria and the explosion of
the Deir Ez-Zor Saint Martyrs’ Armenian Church, the NA Deputy Speaker
has underlined that the genocidal policy continues today.

At the meeting the NA Deputy Speaker has noted that during the numerous
meetings with different national minorities he has received a proposal
to create a council of national minorities to the NA Speaker.

Mr Sharmazanov has expressed readiness to discuss the issue in
the future.

The members of the NGO proposed to organize a photo exhibition on the
violence being perpetrated towards the Yazidis in the north-western
of Iraq in the RA National Assembly in 2015.

At the end of the meeting the NGO representatives thanked the NA
Deputy Speaker for the state care shown by the Armenian authorities
towards the Yazidi community.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HOSTS URUGUAY SENATE CHIEF

16:46 * 09.12.14

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Tuesday received Speaker of the
Uruguayan Senate Danilo Astori.

Greeting the high-ranking guest, the president noted with satisfaction
that the past year was a promising and important period in the
bilateral relations and a good opportunity to deepen mutual ties
between the two countries.

According to a press release by the presidential press office,
the sides highlighted the importance of parliamentary democracy in
the bilateral relations, agreeing mutually that the two countries’
parliamentary friendship groups helped strengthen the partnership
further.

President Sargsyan thanked the Uruguay for the invaluable contribution
to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, noting that the move
marked the beginning of a large-scale international process.

The Armenian leader also highly praised the country’s balanced stance
on the Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement efforts.

EXPERT: THE CRISIS IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST DID NOT TOUCH ON THE SOUTH CAUCASUS THANKS TO THE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

by Ashot Safaryan

Tuesday, December 9, 14:41

The sharp crisis in the relations between Russia and the West did
not touch on the South Caucasus and did not result in inbalancing
of the situation in this region, Nikolai Silaev, Senior Research
Associate of the Center for Research on the Caucasus at Moscow State
Institute of International Relations, said at today’s presentation of
the report entitled,”Russia-Armenia Integration against the Background
of Global Crisis.”

He said that the relations of Russia with the South Caucasus countries
and, in particular, with its strategic partner Armenia are strong
enough to overcome the crisis in the international relations. “These
relations are growing deeper, and Armenia is joining the Russia-led
Eurasian Economic Union. And it is normal that this process is
accompanied with the stormy domestic political discussions. At the
same time, it is obvious that the developed relations between the
two countries in the security sector also exist today in the economic
sector,” Nikolai Silaev added.

He also emphasized that only deployment of the Russian military
base in Armenia is not enough for the economic integration at the
post-Soviet area. And Georgia’s experience is evidence of that, as
Russian military units were deployed there several years ago. “The
relations of Russia with its partners at the post-Soviet area should
become multilateral and should not be limited only by the military
cooperation”,- the expert said.

CITYMOBIL INTENDS TO ENTER ENGLISH-SPEAKING AND ARAB COUNTRIES, EUROPE, AMERICA

YEREVAN, December 9. /ARKA/. Citymobil is planning to enter the
markets of English-speaking, Arab and European countries, as well
as the American market, Citymobil co-founder Aram Arakelyan told
reporters on Monday.

Transfer of part of office structures to Armenia has opened up the
doors to other markets as well as it provided advantages in terms of
new staff, corporate development, market expansion and competition,
Arakelyan said.

It is mainly analytical and programming part that is done in Armenia,
he said. More and more company resources are being transferred to
Yerevan, he added.

“We are interested in the Armenian market as a pilot project that
gives us an idea about services and helps us take more purposeful
steps”, Arakelyan said.

In particular, the company intends to use human resources in Armenia
to enter the international markets, including English-speaking and
Arab countries, Europe and America, he said.

Arakelyan does not rule out Citymobil may come to the Armenian online
services market as well.

Citymobil is an automated online taxi reservation system founded
in Russia in 2009 by Russian businessmen of Armenian origin. The
company transferred part of its offices to Armenia in 2014 to take the
advantage of the up-to-standard research potential, skilled technical
specialists with knowledge of Russian and the required legal framework
in intellectual property and other strengths available in Armenia. The
company has currently part of its technical business functions in
Armenia, including system coding and testing, marketing, ads, quality
assurance and call centers. It provides services to the Russian market,
but the processing and management is done from Yerevan. -0–

COURT SUSTAINS HETQ’S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CASE AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY

17:47, December 8, 2014

Armenia’s Administrative Court today sustained a freedom of information
case presented by Hetq (Investigative Journalists) obligating the
Ministry of Nature Protection to provide copies of export, sale or
transport permits of rare animals as regulated by the CITES for the
period 2010-2013.

Hetq sought the copies for an investigative series it was working on
entitled “Dangerous Monkey Business: Armenia’s Links to the Illegal
Trafficking of Endangered Species.”

The ministry initially refused Hetq’s request, arguing that such
documents contained ‘secretive material’. It merely provided a list
of animals imported to and exported from Armenia.

After this initial refusal by the ministry to provide the copies of
the permits, Hetq suggested that any ‘secretive details’ be blacked
out. The ministry again refused and sent the same list.

The Administrative Court also sustained the IJ’s demand to be
compensated for the 49,000 AMD it had incurred in legal fees.

PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT ARMENIA’S ZVARTNOTS AND SHIRAK AIRPORTS EXCEEDS 1.9 MILLION IN JANUARY-NOVEMBER

YEREVAN, December 9. /ARKA/. The two Armenian international airports,
Zvartnots and Shirak, provided services to a total of 1 million
931,554 passengers in January-November this year, 332,376 passengers
more than in the same period of 2013, the press office of Armenia’s
chief aviation department reports.

It is a 20.8% year-on-year increase. In the period, departures rose to
976,708, as compared to 803,523 in January-November 2013. Arrivals were
954,846 (795,652 in 2013). This means, departures outnumbered arrivals
by 21,862 in the eleven months (39,910 in January-November 2013).

The share of departures in overall traffic was 50.6%, which is well
comparable to the respective level of 2013 (50.2%).

Freight traffic through civil airports rose by 3% to 9,478 ton,
and number of operations (takeoffs and landings) hiked by 17.3%
to 9,739 in the period. -0–

REMANIEMENT : NOMINATIONS A DES POSTES AU GOUVERNEMENT APRES DES CHANGEMENTS STRUCTURELS

ARMENIE

Le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a signe un decret pour nommer
Armen Yeritsyan ministre de l’Administration territoriale et des
situations d’urgence.

Armen Yeritsyan a conduit le ministère des Situations d’urgence avant
sa fusion avec le ministère de l’Administration territoriale dans
le cadre des changements structurels au sein du Cabinet armenien
approuves le mois dernier.

Ces changements font suite a la demission d’Armen Gevorgyan, qui a
servi comme ministre de l’Administration territoriale et vice-Premier
ministre.

Le President Sarkissian a egalement nomme l’ancien ministre des
Finances Vache Gabrielyan vice-premier ministre et ce dernier
sera egalement a la tete du ministère de l’integration economique
internationale et des reformes. Ce ministère a ete cree dans le cadre
des reajustements structurels et est charge de coordonner les reformes
economiques et les relations decoulant de la prochaine adhesion de
l’Armenie dans l’Union economique eurasienne dirigee par la Russie.

mardi 9 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com