Author: Kalantarian Kevo

HRAPARAK: LAVROV DID NOT MEET WITH ARMENIAN PM

11:46 27/06/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not meet with Armenian
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan during his recent visit to Armenia,
Hraparak writes.

“Russia was dissatisfied with the Armenian PM’s statement ruling out
the possibility of a customs checkpoint between Nagorno-Karabakh and
Armenia and links Nazarbayev’s demands, in the form of Aliyev’s letter,
to that statement,” the newspaper says.

According to the newspaper’s sources, this issue will be discussed
with Hovik Abrahamyan during his visit to Moscow in September.

Source: Panorama.am

TURKISH ACADEMICS ATTEND YAD VASHEM SEMINAR

The Times of Israel
June 26 2014

15-member delegation participates in week-long workshop on Holocaust
education with goal of improving methods in Turkey

By Aron Dónzis

An exclusive seminar on Holocaust education was conducted for
a delegation of Turkish academics this week at the Yad Vashem
International School for Holocaust Studies.

The week-long seminar, the first of its kind, came after an educational
conference held at the Galatasaray University in Istanbul in October
2013.

Fifteen academics participated in the event, a joint Yad Vashem
and Aladdin Project endeavor, also supported by the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the ICHEIC Humanitarian Fund.

Yad Vashem said the Turkish participants experienced in-depth tours
of the museums, archives and monuments at Israel’s Holocaust memorial
site, in addition to discussions with prominent historians and experts
in Holocaust history, research and education. It was the first visit
to Israel for most of the participants, most of whom hold PhDs in
history, political science and international relations.

A follow-up session, set to explore concrete projects to educate the
Turkish public on the Holocaust, is scheduled for later this year.

“We are very pleased to be hosting this impressive group of academics
at our International School for Holocaust Studies,” Yad Vashem Chairman
Avner Shalev said in a press release. “Given the significance of
Turkish society in the Muslim world this is an important step. At
Yad Vashem we are witnessing interest in the Holocaust that traverses
countries, religion and language and are ready to meet the challenges
ahead.”

Despite Turkey’s status as a neutral actor during World War II,
Turkish diplomats independently saved tens of thousands of Jews from
Nazi persecution in France, Eastern Europe and the island of Rhodes.

One of them, Selahattin Ulkumen, was declared one of the Righteous
Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1989.

Istanbul also served as a major conduit for European Jews traveling
to Palestine by sea and rail.

The Turkish government, at the behest of Albert Einstein, opened its
doors to tens of prominent German academics and their families after
many were removed from their positions in the 1930s.

The mission was led by Ibrahim Bukel, director of textbook editing
in Turkey’s Education Ministry, Ynet reported.

“We are grateful to Yad Vashem for their invitation. After acquiring
this important information we will share it with the Turkish
authorities,” he said. “We believe that teaching about the Holocaust
will assist in raising awareness to it in Turkey.”

The Holocaust is only lightly touched upon in the Turkish education
system today. Selin Nasi, a foreign policy analyst for Å~^alom,
a Jewish weekly newspaper in Turkey, said that was due to multiple
reasons.

“Religious circles in Turkey do not sympathize too much with the Jewish
people’s suffering during the Second World War, and though it’s rare,
there are even those who deny the Holocaust,” she told The Times of
Israel. “But there is also a concern that the historical facts of the
Nazi-perpetrated genocide would force the Turkish people to confront
some of the realities of the Armenian genocide as well.”

It is too soon to say whether the Islamic AKP-led government will
implement the ideas of this group of academics, but Nasi said that
they’re hopeful.

“In my opinion, the individual consciousness by these faculty members
and intellectuals will probably stimulate interest and research in
the Holocaust,” she said. “In particular, private universities are
the most likely to promote Holocaust education because they are able
to develop an autonomous curriculum.”

One such example was Kadir Has University’s decision to host an
event on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January 2014,
which was attended by Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru and
Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva.

RUSSIA RATIFIES DEAL ON DUTY-FREE GAS, OIL PRODUCT AND DIAMOND EXPORTS TO ARMENIA

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 25, 2014 Wednesday 12:37 PM GMT+4

MOSCOW, June 25 /ITAR-TASS/. The Federation Council, the upper house
of Russia’s parliament, ratified on Wednesday an intergovernmental
agreement with Armenia on cooperation in commodity supplies to the
South Caucasus republic.

The document signed on December 2, 2013 stipulates Russia’s duty-free
supplies of petroleum products, natural gas and natural uncut diamonds
to Armenia before the ex-Soviet republic joins the Eurasian integration
space based on the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The agreement has been concluded for an indefinite term and has been
temporarily applied 20 days after its signing. The provisions on the
duty-free exports of natural gas, petroleum products and diamonds
will be in effect until December 31, 2014 and may be extended upon
the parties’ consent.

The agreement prohibits Armenia to re-export Russia’s oil product,
natural gas and diamond supplies to third countries free of export
duties. Otherwise, Russia has the right to demand compensation in US
dollars equivalent to the value of export customs duties effective
in Russia as of the date when such violations are exposed.

Such compensation may be substituted with the lower amount of
commodities supplied to Armenia free of customs duties compared with
the amount stipulated in the agreed delivery balance.

Russia has also the right to reduce or suspend duty-free commodity
supplies to Armenia. The amount of compensation, which Armenia fails
to pay to Russia, will be acknowledged as Armenia’s debt to Russia
and will carry interest.

Upon termination of the agreement by either party, Armenia’s
obligations to pay compensation to Russia and/or acknowledge unpaid
amounts as its state debt to Russia will stay in effect until they
are fully discharged by the South Caucasus republic.

“JUST MEMORY” DAVUTOGLU URGES ARMENIANS TO DENY THE GENOCIDE

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in an academic paper
published in the Turkish Policy Quarterly, urges Armenians to take
“bold steps” to usher in a “new era” of relations with Turkey and
Turks predicated on the infamous “condolence” statement made by
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The “bold steps” Davutoglu is advocating is for Armenians to deny the
Armenian Genocide and adopt Turkey’s version of history, which has
recently been rebranded to included phrases such as “shared pain,”
which in Davutoglu’s mind will foster a concept he calls “just memory.”

The more than 10-page article, entitled “Turkish-Armenian Relations
In The Process Of De-Ottomanization Or “Dehistoricization”: Is A”Just
Memory” Possible?” squarely puts the blame on the Armenian Diaspora
for what he calls perpetuating the status quo, which he says hinges
on recalling tragedy and thus creating “unjust memories,” and urges
a resolution of the Turkish-Armenian issue via a new understanding
of history that will promote “just memory.”

[Ironically, this piece was published one day before the House
Foreign Affairs Committee approved a measure which would hold Turkey
accountable for destroying Christian–among them Armenian–religious
sites].

“The greatest injustice that has been visited on both history and
the peoples in question is setting aside the shared history of the
two peoples and the previous rich centuries, and beginning instead
only with traumatic events like war and conflict, or reconstructing
the previous centuries by making these traumatic events the center
of everything,” Davutoglu argued.

“The ‘unjust memory’ created around the events of 1915 constitutes
the most important example of this phenomenon as it mortgages the
shared past and future of the Turks and Armenians,” Davutoglu wrote,
urging open and continuous dialogue between the two sides.

“The ‘just memory’ concept that we have frequently employed during
this process is critically important. In order for Turks and Armenians
to understand what each of them has experienced, it is essential that
they respect one another’s memory. For the Armenians, 1915 was a year
of relocation during which exceedingly great tragedies took place. The
years prior to and after 1915 were also a time of tremendous tragedy
for the Turks in Anatolia. It was at this time that Turks fought for
their very survival in the Balkan Wars, at Canakkale, and in the
War of Independence. Actually, this was a time of ‘shared pain,'”
Davutoglu explained.

The Turkish leader argues that Erdogan’s April 23 “condolence”
statement should serve as the foundation for further steps.

“Erdogan’s message of condolence should not be seen as a conjunctural
step. It should be seen as a prelude for transformation of minds and
memories because this is not only an offer of condolence but also a
sincere invitation to all parties to ensure a common future based on
lasting peace,” he wrote.

Davutoglu’s recipe for this “new era” of understanding is for
Armenians to collectively deny their own history-including the
Armenian Genocide-so that Turkey can continue its criminal policies
of oppression and state-sponsored murder without impunity.

Essentially, what Davutoglu is suggesting is that we all hold hands
and sigh and collective “oops” and move forward.

“EVEN ALIYEV’S GRANDFATHERS KNEW.” THE AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT’S FIASCO IN PACE

June 26 2014

“Aliyev’s speech can be considered am Azerbaijan President’s fiasco
in the PACE,” characterized RPA MP Karen Avagyan, in the conversation
with Aravot.am, referring to the Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s
speech at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE)
summer session on June 24. Recall that Aliyev’s speech was full of
anti-Armenian propaganda. He stated that Armenia has occupied his
territories, spoke of Armenia’s anti-constructive position in the
Karabakh conflict settlement process, and made hints about the fact
that this situation (meaning the ceasefire regime -T.H.) cannot
be extended forever. Meanwhile, Karen Avagyan considers Aliyev’s
“convulsions” results of appearing in unfavorable condition with
Azerbaijan’s positions in the diplomatic dimension. The MP observes
that if Aliyev’s assurances of democracy, freedom of expression,
and human rights protection do not inspire faith, then why we are
surprised when he speaks a lie about Artsakh. Referring to the
position of the Armenian side, Mr. Avagyan said, “The Armenian side
has always spoken in compliance with all international principles,
reachable to the ear of the international community, and naturally,
our positions are also shared in the PACE. It’s quite different thing
as to who understands what, specifically, I mean Aliyev, because,
in my opinion, he understands these norms in his own interpretations.

Therefore, it is said one thing at the negotiation table, and
quite another thing to his own audience. It’s true, Aliyev makes an
articulate speech, but his thought is too far from being logical.

Event Aliyev’s grandfathers knew that Artsakh never belonged to
Azerbaijan.” Karen Avagyan does not think that the statements that
were uttered by the lips of Azerbaijan president would be shared
by anyone in the PACE. He detailed, “In the course of these years,
they already managed to get acquainted with this issue and know
that Artsakh needs a solution in compliance with the principles of
international law. The worst thing is that Aliyev is trying to voice
the militant statements typical to him also in the PACE, with a slight
mitigation. I mean his statement that this situation cannot last
long.” Karen Avagyan is convinced that Aliyev was expecting another
scenario in the PACE and was ready for something different, but the
scenario did not evolve as he had designed, and his convulsions put
him in unfavorable situation. With this regard, Karen Avagyan noted,
“This is also evidenced by the recent violations of the cease-fire. I
agree with the opinion that if they succeed in diplomacy, they would
keep going with it, and there would not be a border tension.”

According to Karen Avagyan, Azerbaijan does not succeed in this
platform, since “the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia’s attitude
are clear and understood by the world.” To our observation of whether
Armenia’s attitude is not clear for Aliyev, since he stated in his
speech http.// that “even Armenia has
not recognized the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Republican
MP responded, “Armenia has repeatedly said why it had not recognized
the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. Once Aliyev is saying such a
thing, and sometimes the representatives of some of our political
forces. Obviously, they want to divert the peaceful negotiation
process.” To our other observation of how it happened that Azerbaijan
managed to collect 58 signatures against the Armenia delegation in
PACE, Mr. Avagyan responded, “By the oil odor of money smells. We
all know how much money Azerbaijan spends on lobbying processes.” We
inquired whether the PACE President’s unbeneficial statement for
Armenia about territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was not the response
of Armenia’s orientation to the Eurasian Union, Karen Avagyan said,
“You should not mix up the Karabakh processes with economic processes.

I do not think that by saying territorial integrity the PACE President
meant the Artsakh area. Artsakh people have all rights like other
peoples, including the right to self-determination.”

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

Read more at:

CHORRORD ISHKHANUTYUN: NO NEED FOR SCIENCE IN ARMENIA SOON?

09:48 * 26.06.14

Armenia’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan
signed a decree dissolving the chemistry division of the Development
Department.

The reason is that Armenia does not need chemistry. One of the
division’s functions was working out a strategy of the government
policy of developing chemical industry in Armenia.

Armenia will soon stop feeling the need for physics, biology, the
Armenian language and science as such.

Armenian News – Tert.am

KOSTANYAN FIGHTING CORRUPTION, BUT HE WON’T SUE PROSECUTORS

06.25.2014 17:01 epress.am

RA General Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan considers the fight against
corruption a major achievement made in the first 9 months of his term
in office. Ahead of Prosecutor’s Office Day marked on July 1, he met
with journalists and presented a report on the work he and his staff
have done. According to the general prosecutor, “unwavering integrity”
was a priority for him.

Kostanyan first claimed that in the fight against corruption and
change of personnel in the prosecutor’s office, 80 prosecutors were
dismissed, then said there were good employees among them who were
left out of the system for various social reasons.

Reporters asked him to explain for what instances of corruption
prosecutors were dismissed; however, Kostanyan provided neither
specific incidents nor the names of prosecutors involved in
corruption. He added that if manifestations of corruption reached
“such heights,” then they would not be satisfied by dismissing
prosecutors but would “take them to court”.

The prosecutor general said that the relentless fight against
corruption is not easy, since bribery is profitable to all parties,
including the accused, the suspect, the victim, the bribe-taking police
officer, the investigator, the prosecutor, and all their relatives.

ARMENIA RECEIVES PEACE STONE FROM HIROSHIMA

Japan Economic Newswire
June 25, 2014 Wednesday 10:34 AM GMT

YEREVAN, June 25

YEREVAN, June 25 – A Hiroshima-based civic group on Wednesday presented
Armenia with a stone from the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of the Japanese
city, engraved with an image of the Buddhist goddess of mercy.

Varuzhan Nersessian, an assistant to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
received the stone from the Stone for Peace Association of Hiroshima
at a ceremony attended by more than 300 people, including Armenian
Ambassador to Japan Grant Pogosyan and other senior Armenian and
Japanese officials and many local children.

During the ceremony at the Children’s Park in front of Yerevan City
Hall, where the stone monument was installed, Nersessian delivered
a speech on behalf of the Armenian president in which the Armenian
leader stressed the importance of a joint declaration during his
visit to Japan in 2012 and welcomed the rapidly growing relationship
between the two countries.

Michio Umemoto, head of the Hiroshima civic group, expressed his
appreciation to Armenia for accepting the stone as a message of
harmony, friendship and peace for all mankind.

Takashi Kurai, deputy chief mission at the Japanese Embassy in
Moscow and in charge of matters pertaining to Armenia, said Japan
is hard at work to open an embassy in Yerevan in January to further
deepen bilateral partnership in political, economic, cultural and
other fields.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui sent a message to the ceremony, saying,
“I am convinced that the people of Armenia, a country which suffered
a bitter history of persecution, understand and share the wish of
Hiroshima better than anyone else.”

The granite stone is about 50 square centimeters and weighs about 50
kilograms. It was one of the paving stones for Hiroshima streetcar
tracks that were just 200 meters from ground zero.

Since the start of the donation campaign in 1991, more than 100
countries have so far received or agreed to receive the stones,
which also have the English words “From Hiroshima” engraved on them.

STEPANAKERT AIRPORT DE FACTO FUNCTIONS (VIDEO)

25.06.2014, 17:49

A video about the flight of a two-seater airplane from the Stepanakert
airport was posted online recently. It was noted that flights are
operated for tourism purposes over historical and cultural monuments
of Nagorno Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has already raised a hue and cry over the video and claims
that the Stepanakert airport de facto functions.

IS ALIEV MACHO? (VIDEO)

19:45 | June 25,2014 | Interview

“Modus Vivendi” center founder, politician, diplomat Ara Papyan
considers it a wrong step, that Armenian delegation at PACE didn’t
pose question to the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev.

“Any answer would be inconvenient for Azerbaijan. They are considered
delegates of our country and if they didn’t have question, they were
able not to go, they could record and watch later,”- today the diplomat
said to A1+.

Turning to the tension on the border, Mr. Papyan announced, there is
always tension and Aliev tries to show that the conflict isn’t solved.

“He thinks that by militant announcements and shootings on the border
he can raise his prestige. The East likes power, man’s macho image,”-
he said.

According to him, Serzh Sargsyan-Ilham Aliev meeting will be regular
and this situation will continue.

Details in the video