Author: Kalantarian Kevo

NEW YEREVAN POLICE CHIEF ACCUSED OF TORTURE

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 |

New Yerevan police chief Ashot Karapetian

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-Armenian civil rights activists have expressed
serious concern over the appointment of a police official who has
for years faced allegations of brutal torture as the new chief of
Yerevan’s police department.

The official, Ashot Karapetian, has replaced Nerses Nazarian, the
longtime chief of the Yerevan police sacked on Monday. Karapetian
previously headed the Directorate General of Criminal Investigations
at the national police service.

Karapetian’s name figured in a ruling against the Armenian government
that was handed down by the European Court of Human Rights last
October. The case stems from an appeal lodged by Grisha Virabian, a
former opposition activist, in connection with his April 2004 arrest
by police in Artashat, a town 30 kilometers south of Yerevan.

Virabian was taken to the local police station after leading a
group of local residents to Yerevan during the Armenian opposition’s
March-April 2004 campaign of demonstrations aimed at forcing then
President Robert Kocharian to resign. He was questioned for several
hours before undergoing urgent surgery in a local hospital the
following day. One of his testicles was removed as a result.

Karapetian was apparently among the officers that questioned the then
44-year-old activist. Virabian claims that Karapetian hit him in the
crotch with a metal bar.

The police denied at the time torturing him, saying that the
oppositionist himself assaulted his interrogators. Virabian risked
at least five years in prison on corresponding charges before the
criminal case against him was dropped in August 2009.

In its ruling, the Strasbourg-based court found Virabian’s claims
substantiated, saying that the Armenian authorities violated two key
provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. It ordered
the authorities to pay him 31,000 euros ($40,000) in damages.

The case came under the renewed media spotlight immediately after
Karapetian was appointed as Yerevan police chief. Human rights
campaigners and other civic activists have cited it in their criticism
of the appointment. Karapetian was quoted by Emedia.am on Tuesday as
insisting that he has never ill-treated criminal suspects.

Arman Danielian, head of the non-governmental Civil Society Institute,
brought up the case on Wednesday during parliamentary hearings on
ways of boosting public trust in the Armenian police. “That Grisha
Virabian was tortured in police custody is a fact,” he said.

“That Ashot Karapetian worked at the police station where Virabian
was tortured is also a fact. That a criminal case [on the torture
allegations] has never been opened is also a fact. How can I now
trust the police?” asked Danielian.

Artur Osikian, a deputy chief of the national police attending the
hearings, claimed to be unaware of the European court ruling. “Maybe
this is just the plaintiff’s opinion, rather than the court’s
decision,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

“I respect Ashot Karapetian a lot, he is a real professional,”
added Osikian.

“Mr. Osikian is right, Ashot Karapetian is a professional torturer,”
countered Vahe Grigorian, a lawyer who helped Virabian appeal to the
Strasbourg court. “The right place for such persons is prison.”

Local and international watchdogs have long described police torture
as one of the most frequent forms of human rights abuses in Armenia.

They say that the practice remains commonplace despite government
pledges to combat it.

Vladimir Gasparian, the national police chief who appointed Karapetian
to the new position, last year publicly warned police officers against
using force to extract confessions from detainees.

PREPARER LE 24 AVRIL 2015

Publie le : 18-04-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – ” Sa Saintete a poursuivi
en expliquant que : ” Pendant 100 ans, nous avons mis l’accent sur la
commemoration du genocide. Nous avons allume des bougies, organise
des ceremonies commemoratives et publie des livres. Ces activites
importantes enracineront dans nos jeunes generations le testament
sacre et les âmes de nos martyrs. Toutefois, nous ne devrions pas nous
concentrer uniquement sur ce sujet. Pendant 100 ans, nous avons rappele
au monde ce qui s’est passe, par des manifestations, du lobbying et
en faisant entendre nos voix. Nous avons l’intention de poursuivre
ces activites avec des approches differentes. Cependant, il est
imperatif que nous insistions sur nos demandes de restitution. ” Le
Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de l’editorial du journaliste
armeno-americain Harut Sassounian, paru dans The California Courier
le 18 avril 2013.

Se souvenir, rappeler et exiger : recommandations pour le centenaire
du genocide

De : Harut Sassounian Editeur de : The California Courier Editorial
de Sassounian du 18 avril 2013

Les communautes armeniennes du monde entier se preparent pour le
centenaire du genocide armenien, le 24 avril 2015, et coordonnent
leurs projets commemoratifs au niveau local, national et international.

Un Comite pan-armenien du Centenaire a ete cree en Armenie il y a
deux ans, compose du leadership de la Republique d’Armenie et de la
Republique d’Artsakh (Karabagh), des chefs des confessions religieuses
et des representants des principaux partis politiques, ainsi que de
ceux des grandes organisations culturelles et caritatives. Des comites
locaux ont egalement ete crees dans la diaspora. Comme indique plus
tôt, le Comite des experts du genocide armenien s’est reuni le mois
dernier a Erevan, pour recommander les projets specifiques devant
etre adoptes par le Comite pan-armenien du Centenaire, lors de sa
session du 30 mai.

Le 6 avril, les Comites du Centenaire de huit pays du Moyen-Orient
(Chypre, Egypte, Irak, Koweït, Liban, Syrie, Emirats Arabes Unis et
l’Iran, represente par des comites a Teheran, Ispahan et Tabriz,) se
sont rencontres a Beyrouth dans le but de coordonner leurs plans sur
une base regionale. Hayk Demoyan, le Secretaire du Comite pan-armenien
du Centenaire en Armenie etait egalement present.

Sa Saintete Aram Ier, Catholicos de Cilicie, qui presidait la reunion,
a fait un discours d’ouverture opportun, en soulignant les principes
qui devraient guider les comites regionaux dans l’elaboration de
leurs projets pour le centenaire. Aram Vehapar a succinctement formule
les objectifs avec trois mots cles armeniens : ” Hishel, Hishetsnel,
yev Bahanchel ” [Se souvenir, rappeler et exiger].

Sa Saintete a poursuivi en expliquant que : ” Pendant 100 ans,
nous avons mis l’accent sur la commemoration du genocide. Nous avons
allume des bougies, organise des ceremonies commemoratives et publie
des livres. Ces activites importantes enracineront dans nos jeunes
generations le testament sacre et les âmes de nos martyrs. Toutefois,
nous ne devrions pas nous concentrer uniquement sur ce sujet. Pendant
100 ans, nous avons rappele au monde ce qui s’est passe, par des
manifestations, du lobbying et en faisant entendre nos voix. Nous
avons l’intention de poursuivre ces activites avec des approches
differentes. Cependant, il est imperatif que nous insistions sur nos
demandes de restitution. ”

Vehapar a rappele aux participants la conference internationale
organisee par le Catholicossat de Cilicie il y a un an, sur le thème :
” De la reconnaissance a la restitution “, a laquelle des experts
juridiques internationaux avaient participe. ” Nous avons besoin
d’experts juridiques pour presenter, defendre et faire valoir nos
revendications de facon appropriee devant des cours internationales
“, a declare le Catholicos.

Aram Ier a poursuivi en suggerant une repartition des tâches entre
la Republique d’Armenie et la diaspora : ” Nous devrions travailler
a l’unisson. Nos approches et les points auxquels nous attachons
de l’importance peuvent etre differents ; et parfois, ils doivent
etre differents ! N’oublions pas que l’Armenie est un Etat et que la
diaspora est une diaspora. Ni l’Etat ni la diaspora ne peut parler au
nom de l’autre. Chacun a sa propre voix et sa propre fonction. Mais,
il faut qu’il y ait une coordination et une harmonie intra-armenienne.

En d’autres mots, nous devons planifier et travailler pour un objectif
commun, et maintenir fermement nos demandes de restitution. ”

Puis le Catholicos a exhorte les Armeniens a inclure des regions
reculees d’Afrique, d’Extreme-Orient et d’Amerique du Sud dans
l’eventail des activites pour le centenaire. En ce qui concerne le
Moyen-Orient, Aram Ier a cite trois points importants :

1) La poursuite de la cause armenienne dans le monde islamique requiert
une approche specifique, car la Turquie est un Etat musulman.

2) L’influence toujours croissante et penetrante de la Turquie dans
cette region est un serieux problème. ” Au cours de mes rencontres
avec les dirigeants de ces pays dans la region, je leur dis toujours :
‘Vous avez laisse votre porte grande ouverte a la Turquie. Le jour
viendra où vous comprendrez votre erreur. La Turquie utilise des
masques differents.’ Par consequent, nous devons etre vigilants,
car le genocidaire nous suit attentivement. Nous ne battrons pas en
retraite et nous ne faiblirons pas devant l’ingerence turque. ”

3) Le genocide n’est pas un evenement qui appartient au passe. La
diaspora est une des consequences du genocide et, dans un sens,
il se poursuit.

Le Catholicos Aram Ier a termine en classant les initiatives
armeniennes pour la reconnaissance et les restitutions en trois
dimensions : historique, politique et juridique. ” L’heure est venue,
sans ignorer les deux premières, de donner une priorite claire a
l’aspect juridique. À cet egard, nous avons un enorme volume de
travail a accomplir “, a-t-il declare.

De facon significative, Hayk Demoyan, Secretaire du Comite pan-armenien
du Centenaire en Armenie, s’est egalement exprime lors de cette
reunion regionale a Beyrouth, et il a declare : ” Nous savons que ne
pouvons pas changer certaines consequences du genocide, telles que
les vies perdues et les eglises detruites, neanmoins, la consequence
principale est la perte des territoires !

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 18 avril
2013 – 06:00 –

Retour a la rubrique

UN MONTANT DE 50 A 100 MILLIONS DE DOLLARS SUFFIT POUR METTRE EN PLACE UNE COMPAGNIE AERIENNE APPARTENANT A L’ETAT

Shahen Petrossian, ancien chef du Departement general de l’aviation
civile en Armenie, affirme que le gouvernement peut creer une nouvelle
compagnie aerienne publique.

S’exprimant lors d’une conference de presse cela coûterait de 50
millions a 100 millions de $. Ce montant, a-t-il dit, est suffisant
pour mettre en place une compagnie aerienne nationale sur le modèle
d’EasyJet ou de Ryanair qui passe peu de temps dans les aeroports.

Shahen Petrossian a dit que la meilleure option est d’avoir deux
compagnies aeriennes, dont l’une devrait etre privee pour renforcer
la concurrence.

jeudi 18 avril 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

SCHIFF CALLS ON OBAMA TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE NEXT WEEK

Patch.com
April 17 2013

Remembrance starts the week of April 24.

By Aaron Castrejon

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on President Barack Obama Wednesday to
recognize the Armenian Genocide in time for the anniversary April 24.

Each year, Obama has issued a statement marking the anniversary of
the start of first genocide of the 20th Century, but has reportedly
failed to refer to this campaign of killing as a “genocide.”

In the letter to Obama, Schiff said “I urge you to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide in your statement this year, to call genocide,
genocide, and to stand with the ever-dwindling number of survivors,
as well as the descendants of those who were lost, and who must
otherwise continue to suffer the indignity, injury and pain of denial.”

The full text can be read below:

Dear Mr. President:

Next week marks the 98th anniversary of the start of the systematic
murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children, and I urge
you to refer properly to this campaign of killing as “genocide” in
your annual statement marking the April 24 anniversary of the start
of the Armenian Genocide.

In the spring of 1915, the government of the Ottoman Empire unleashed a
savage campaign of massacres, forced desert marches, rape, and looting
upon the Armenians of eastern Anatolia. By 1923, one and a half million
Armenians were dead and the world’s oldest Christian nation had been
shattered – with its survivors scattered around the world.

As a Senator, you spoke often of the massacres of Armenians at the
hands of the Ottoman government as genocide, a view shared by the
overwhelming majority of historians, including some notable Turkish
historians. The Armenian Genocide has also been recognized by many
local and state governments here in the United States and by many
governments around the world.

I urge you to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in your statement this
year, to call genocide, genocide, and to stand with the ever-dwindling
number of survivors, as well as the descendants of those who were lost,
and who must otherwise continue to suffer the indignity, injury and
pain of denial.

Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff Member of Congress

FORMER ARMENIAN FM COMMENTS ON INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN POLICY

Regnum news agency, Russia
April 13 2013

The former Armenian Foreign minister and currently member of the
National Assembly’s second-largest Prosperous Armenia faction, Vardan
Oskanyan, who also heads the party list in the election to Armenian
capital Yerevan’s City Council, has given an interview to the Russian
Regnum agency.

Domestic and foreign policy issues under President Serzh Sargsyan

Vardan Oskanyan criticized President Serzh Sargsyan’s domestic and
foreign policies. “No progress could be seen over the past five years
[of Sargsyan’s tenure]. Pressing issues this country faced were not
resolved,” Oskanyan said. As the “most important domestic challenge
faced by Armenia”, Oskanyan mentioned emigration from and depopulation
of Armenia, which he said “posed a threat to national security”.

Oskanyan also criticized Sargsyan’s style of government. “The
political monopoly [of the ruling party] should be eliminated and an
effective system of counterweights should be set up. Only after that
we will be able to change the situation in this country for the
better, resolve economic problems, and improve the living conditions
of the citizens,” Regnum quoted him as saying.

Answering a question on foreign policy and the notion of
“complementarism”, which had been Oskanyan’s main driving foreign
political idea, he said that Armenia under Sargsyan “ceased to keep to
complementarism in foreign policy”. “The main warrant of successful
complementarism is publicity,” he said, adding that the situation
under way was far from publicity. “Currently, the situation lacks
clarity, there is no ideological base for foreign policy,” he went on
saying, adding that the alleged lack of clarity gave the opportunity
to foreign actors “to interpret everything in their own way”.

Relations with Russia

Oskanyan said that he was not on the whole pleased with current
Armenian-Russian relations, taking into consideration the fact that
both countries were strategic partners. “When they say ‘strategic
relations’, they need to put content in it, too, which I cannot see
now,” Oskanyan was quoted as saying. “The Armenian-Russian relations,
which are among the most important for my country, are not on their
peak,” he added. “We need to know how to formulate agenda with Russia,
put questions to it, regularly get them resolved and impel Moscow to
appropriately assess the role of Armenia in the region as of a
country, which is keeping a balance, especially when compared with its
two neighbours,” he said.

Relations with Georgia

Oskanyan said that the improvement of Russian-Georgian relations would
be beneficial for Armenia, easing Armenia’s relations with both
countries, but added: “There should be no expectation of a quick
settlement” of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.

He also said that Armenia also suffered consequences of strained
relations between the two countries. “The problem for us was our
inability to maintain a balance in the Armenia-Russia-Georgia
triangle, where the recent events took place and had a negative impact
on our relations to either party,” he added.

Speaking on the Georgian experience in democratic transformations,
Oskanyan praised them, saying that the Georgian experience “could in
some sense serve as an example to emulate”.

Turkey, Armenian genocide

Speaking on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in
Ottoman Turkey during World War I and its denial by modern Turkey,
which strains relations with Armenia, Oskanyan said that if Armenia
“played the game in accordance with Turkish rules”, Armenia would come
to a “loss.” Meanwhile, he said that there were other issues on the
agenda with Turkey, such as opening borders and establishing
diplomatic relations between the two countries. “The Turkish policy of
denial and political and economic blackmail by Ankara consumes all of
our time and effort,” Oskanyan said.

Commenting on the efforts by Serzh Sargsyan to normalize relations
with Turkey and sign controversial protocols with Turkey in 2009,
Oskanyan said that it “drove a wedge between Armenia and diaspora” and
had a negative impact on the process of international recognition of
the Armenian genocide by various states.

Relations with Israel

When asked on the Armenian-Israeli ties in the context of the
recognition of the Armenian genocide, Oskanyan said that cooperation
between Armenian and Israeli specialists in the field of genocide was
successful, while Israel’s official position was not that of
recognizing the Armenian genocide. “I do not think that any progress
could be expected in the process of the recognition of the Armenian
genocide by Israel,” he said.

Meanwhile Oskanyan said that Armenian-Israeli relations could be
viewed in the context of Israel’s cooperation with Azerbaijan. “Its
[Israel’s] active cooperation with Azerbaijan draws a one-sided
picture in the region and could potentially change the balance of
powers,” he said, adding that “time for boosting relations with that
country has come” for Armenia.

As for possible negative reactions by Armenia’s partners, such as Iran
or some Arab countries, Oskanyan said: “Against the background of
development of Israeli-Azerbaijani relations, our national interests
simply require active actions regardless of sensitivity of third
parties towards those issues”.

TURKISH HYPOCRISY IN HOLOCAUST WARNING

Postmedia Breaking News
April 17, 2013 Wednesday

Considering the source – and the history – this is rich.

Late last week, Turkish President Gul warned that European face a
new Holocaust if they aren’t more tolerant of non-Europeans. He was,
undoubtedly, referring to Muslims.

“Islam and migrants have been a reality in Europe for centuries. As
long as the continent of Europe doesn’t approach segments which are
different from the majority with tolerance, particularly in regards
to religion, an occurrence of new inquisitions and Holocausts, as
well as incidents evoking Srebrenica, are probable,” he said.

Turkish president Abdullah Gul (right) with Russian prime minister
Dmitry Medvedev. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to the Hurriyet Daily News, Gul’s remarks were included
in a speech he delivered an international symposium on “Migration,
Islam and Multiculturality in Europe.” He reportedly said racism
and a lack of tolerance of different cultures and lifestyles are
“chronic diseases” in Western societies.

“When politics begins ‘otherizing’ a segment, then we see the
alienation of migrants and minorities from the country in which
they live and from the society in which they live as an inevitable
consequence. As seen in countless examples in history, countries
which have been able to perpetuate societal and cultural diversity
in unity and harmony have stood out in history.

“Correspondingly, countries which have exerted efforts to either
destroy or put pressure on societal and cultural diversity due
to different fears have first of all lost their human richness;
subsequently, they have experienced a loss of economic and political
power,” the president said.

He then goes on to praise multiculturalism, implying, of course,
that Turkey is just such a tolerant multicultural place.

This would be funny if it were so deliberately ignorant. Turkey may
be ethnically diverse, but the claim of tolerance is sheer hypocrisy.

To be sure, Europe has a dark history of anti-Semitism and racism,
but it was the Turks of the Ottoman Empire who gave the world the
first genocide of the 20th century.

In 1915, the Turkish government slaughtered hundreds of thousands of
Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks. The Armenian genocide is the most
infamous, but thousands of Greeks who could trace their presence in
Anatolia to antiquity, were expelled from their homeland.

Even today in Turkey, the country’s minorities – Kurds, Armenians,
Alevis, etc. – still suffer widespread discrimination. Jews, too, are
the targets of Turkish hostility, particularly since much exaggerated
(by Turkey) Mavi Marmara incident in 2010.

Turkey’s Jewish community, which numbered nearly 100,000 in the early
decades of the last century, is now about 20,000, and even this small
number continues to be harassed, especially since the fundamentalist
Islamic government Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power.

Erdogan has questioned the “dual loyalty” of Turkish Jews.

You have to wonder which “victims” the Turkish president has in mind
for the next Holocaust. If Gul wished to obtain some credibility for
his “Holocaust” remarks, he should have at least acknowledged his
own country’s sorry contributions to history.

Related articles

Turkey Warns Europe Of New “Holocaust” If They Don’t Accept Islam.

(themuslimissue.wordpress.com)

PRELACY ORGANIZATIONS APPLIED TO GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

10:04, 17 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian secular and religious
organizations functioning in Georgia applied to the Parliament of
Georgia demanding to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. As
Armenpress was reported by the Press Department of the Armenian
Community of Georgia, the application said in particular:

“We, the below-signed secular and religious organizations of the
Armenian community of Georgia, appeal to join the world’s civilized
social initiatives and organize a discussion at the Georgian parliament
on the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide carried out
in the Ottoman Empire.

In 1915-1923 the Armenian nation lost more than two million of its
compatriots and the major part of its motherland. The world calls the
crime committed towards the Armenian nation in 1915-1923 as Genocide.

The evidence of this is the legal documents adopted in May 1915 by
Great Britain, France and Russia.

Another fact, proving the Armenian Genocide, is the Treaty of Sevres
signed in 1920”.

During the last years the Armenian organizations of Georgia have
applied to the Georgian parliament and the government for many times
to recognize the Armenian Genocide but their appeal has still remained
without response.

Currently the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than 20
states, as well as many international organizations, including the
European Parliament and the European Council.

At present the process of discussion and recognition of the Genocide
is being carried out in several countries, including the United States,
Bulgaria, Spain and Israel.

TURQUIE: UN SYMPOSIUM FRANCO-TURC SUR PıNAR SELEK

Publié le : 17-04-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cette information publiée sur le site susam-sokak.fr, le blog
d’Etienne Copeaux, le lundi 15 avril 2013.

susam-sokak.fr

Lundi 15 avril 2013

A Istanbul, un symposium franco-turc sur Pınar Selek

” Liberté a l’université, Volonté en politique, Equité dans la justice
: Ce que nous apprend le combat de Pınar Selek ”

Les membres de la Plateforme ” Nous sommes tous témoins ”, ainsi
qu’une partie des observateurs étrangers ayant assisté au procès
Selek, le 24 janvier dernier, s’étaient réunis au local de
l’association Amargi a Istanbul dès la clôture de la dernière
audience. Le verdict de prison a vie, assorti d’une demande
d’arrestation immédiate, ayant été prononcé, il s’agissait de ne pas
se laisser aller au découragement et de chercher le moyen adéquat pour
poursuivre le soutien au combat de Pınar. Il fallait continuer de
faire connaître ce combat et son histoire, dans des cercles élargis.

Depuis, on peut dire que la cause de Pınar est mieux connue. En France
notamment, Pınar elle-même et l’ensemble des associations et
personnalités qui la soutiennent ont réussi a rendre plus ” visible ”
son combat (voir le site pinarselek.fr). Pınar a fait de multiples
apparitions publiques et son histoire a été relatée dans de nombreux
médias. Et grâce a la publication en francais de son dernier roman,
Pınar, en France, n’apparaît plus seulement comme une victime mais
acquiert une stature d’écrivaine.

En Turquie, ont eu lieu de multiples initiatives, notamment la
rencontre a l’université Mimar Sinan. Et je viens d’être informé que
l’idée de symposium se concrétise.

Il se tiendra le 20 avril prochain, au local dit ” Cezayir ” près de
la rue du même nom, juste en dessous du lycée de Galatasaray, avec la
participation de personnalités emblématiques comme le journaliste
engagé Oral Calıslar, et, symboliquement (par une apparition vidéo) le
sociologue de combat Ismail Besikci, lui aussi victime d’un
acharnement judiciaire depuis des décennies. Prendront la parole
également des membres de la Plateforme ” Nous sommes témoins ”, des
juristes turcs et francais, des militants de la société civile et
féministes, et deux représentants de l’université de Strasbourg (voir
le programme ci-dessous)

Iyi Calısmalar !

———————————–

Lire aussi:

Le Collectif VAN soutient la sociologue turque Pinar Selek

Retour a la rubrique

TÃ~ILÃ~ICHARGER :
Le programme

Source/Lien : susam-sokak.fr

UN COLLABORATEUR DE RAFFI HOVANNISIAN ATTAQUE LEVON TER-PETROSIAN

Un proche collaborateur de Raffi Hovannisian a attaque l’ancien
president Levon Ter-Petrosian mardi 16 avril 2013 pour avoir critique
les protestations anti-gouvernementales organisees par le chef de
l’opposition Raffi Hovannisian.

Ruben Hakobian, le leader parlementaire du parti Zharangutyun
(patrimoine), a accuse Levon Ter-Petrosian d’etre a l’origine de la
discorde entre les principales forces d’opposition. ” Aujourd’hui,
Levon Ter-Petrossian divise l’opposition “, a-t-il dit lors
d’une conference de presse. Hakobian repondait aux remarques que
Ter-Petrosian a faites sur le mouvement post-electoral de R.

Hovannisian. Le chef du Congrès National Armenien (HAK) a annonce
que ces manifestations ne constituaient pas une menace grave pour
le gouvernement.

R. Hakobian a reproche au HAK et a d’autres groupes d’opposition
d’avoir” boycotte ” l’election presidentielle 18 fevrier. ” Ils
pretendaient il y a deux mois que le changement de gouvernement
n’etait pas possible par le seul biais des elections, mais qu’ils
se preparaient activement pour les elections municipales du 5 mai a
Erevan. Pourquoi n’ont-ils pas rejoint R. Hovannisian pour effectuer
un changement de regime ? “, a-t-il demande.

Tout en attaquant Raffi Hovannisian, Ter-Petrossian a reaffirme la
volonte du HAK de cooperer avec le parti Zharangutyun et d’autres
forces de l’opposition pour tenter de battre le parti republicain au
pouvoir (HHK) au conseil municipal d’Erevan.

Vahagn Khachatrian, (HAK), a souligne l’importance d’une telle
cooperation, mardi, en disant que les partis de l’opposition auront
du mal a vaincre le HHK s’ils ne se battent pas ensemble contre la
fraude electorale. ” L’essentiel est d’empecher les representants
du gouvernement de gagner ces elections “, a dit Khachatrian. ” Le
vainqueur des elections a Erevan pourrait permettre un vrai changement
de regime dans le pays “, a-t-il dit. L’opposition n’a pas encore
reussi a s’entendre sur les modalites pratiques pour lutter ensemble.

mercredi 17 avril 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

ACCORD ECONOMIQUE AVEC L’UE : L’ARMENIE SOUHAITE DES CONCESSIONS

L’Armenie a demande a l’Union europeenne de faire un certain nombre de
concessions concernant les negociations commerciales en cours, a revele
un haut fonctionnaire armenien mardi 16 avril 2013. Le vice-ministre
de l’Economie et negociateur en chef armenien, Garegin Melkonian, a
declare qu’Erevan souhaite que Bruxelles lui permette de continuer a
percevoir les droits d’importation de certaines marchandises pendant
plusieurs annees après la creation prevue d’une zone de libre-echange
complet et approfondi (DCFTA).

Le DCFTA fera partie d’un plus vaste accord entre l’Armenie et l’UE qui
devrait etre finalise d’ici la fin de cette annee. Il permettra non
seulement la levee reciproque de toutes les barrières commerciales,
mais aussi de mettre en commun les règlements economiques avec une
legislation commune applicable.

G. Melkonian a declare que le gouvernement armenien est maintenant
impatient de proceder aux echanges economiques. ” Nous pourrions
importer des produits agricoles et des denrees alimentaires. Il y a
aussi certains biens de consommation que nous fabriquons en ce moment
et qui ont un potentiel de developpement “, a-t-il dit.

Selon Melkonian, Erevan souhaite egalement que l’UE permette aux
fabricants armeniens de brandy de continuer a produire sous le label
” cognac “. Cependant, les règlements de l’UE stipulent que seule
l’eau-de-vie distillee dans la ville francaise de Cognac peut etre
appelee sous le terme de Cognac. Le brandy a ete pendant des decennies
connu sous le nom de ” cognac ” dans l’ancienne Union sovietique. ”
Ces specificites doivent etre prises en compte “, a declare Melkonian.

” Les discussions sur cette question [avec l’UE] ne sont pas encore
terminees “, a-t-il affirme. ” Nous avons egalement discute de
cette question avec soin avec notre secteur prive. J’espère que nous
allons trouver une solution qui sera conforme au droit commercial
international et qui, en meme temps, ne nuira pas a nos industriels
“, a ajoute le fonctionnaire armenien.

Luc Devigne, le negociateur en chef de l’UE, n’a fait aucun commentaire
sur les concessions commerciales demandees par la partie armenienne
lors d’une conference. Luc Devigne a souligne que les pourparlers du
DCFTA font partie d’un processus plus large qui necessitera de vastes
reformes en Armenie.

mercredi 17 avril 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com