Author: Kalantarian Kevo

INCLUSION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CHAPTER IN FRENCH TEXTBOOKS HAS NO POLITICAL IMPLICATION – ARMENIAN CAUSE

news.am
August 29, 2012 | 22:04

YEREVAN.- Inclusion of a chapter on Armenian Genocide in the French
textbooks is an initiative of the French education ministry, said head
of the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office in France. Hrachya Varzhapetian
told Armenian News-NEWS.am that a new chapter included in the textbooks
for tenth graders consists of two pages. “The changes in textbooks
made a big fuss in Turkey,” he emphasized. He also commented on
Francois Hollande’s recent remark regarding the textbooks. In an
interview with Hurriyet daily, Hollande said the decision did not
come from him but an education commission. “It is a good signal that
the initiative belonged to the education commission, not president
Hollande. Otherwise, it would have had a political implication,”
Varzhapetian added. As reported earlier, inclusion of the mentioned
chapters aroused concern of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The foreign
office said it would study the mater thoroughly.

AUSTRIA’S AMBASSADOR PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT SARGSYAN

ARMRADIO.AM
28.08.2012 14:51

Today, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Austria in the Republic of Armenia Alois Crautt
(residence in Vienna) presented his credential to President Serzh
Sargsyan.

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Ambassador Crautt on the assumption of
his diplomatic duties in our country, wished him success and expressed
hope that at the conclusion of the Ambassador’s mission that success
would translate into a visible advancement of the Armenian-Austrian
relations.

At the meeting, the parties stressed the importance of the Austrian
President Heinz Fischer’s visit to Armenia, which took place last
June at the invitation of the President of Armenia, high-level
agreements achieved in the framework of that visit and aimed at the
strengthening and development of the Armenian-Austrian political,
economic and cultural ties which possess great potential. The parties
underscored that it was the first visit by the Austrian President in
the twenty-year long history of the Armenian-Austrian relations and
it offered a new quality to the agenda of the bilateral cooperation.

President Sargsyan noted that Armenia attaches importance to the
development of the relations with Austria also in the multilateral
format, including the active cooperation in the framework of the
European Union.

>From the viewpoint of developing cooperation in the economic area,
the interlocutors highlighted the importance of the intention of
the Austrian Development Agency to implement projects in the South
Caucasus and, particularly, in Armenia.

CANADIAN ARTIST ARMAND TATOSSIAN DIES AT 61

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 28, 2012 – 15:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Canadian artist Armand Tatossian passed away
in Montreal on Aug 23 at the age of 61, his sister announced,
globaltvbc.com reports.

Mary Tatossian has cared for her brother since he suffered a stroke
in 2007 that left him unable to paint.

Tatossian’s works are displayed on the walls of the Musee du Quebec
as well as art museums in Greece, Italy, Armenia and the United States.

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa has also featured his
paintings.

He was the youngest member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts when
he was accepted as a member in 1973.

Born in Egypt, Tatossian was introduced to art by his grandfather and
went on to study under French painter and lithographer Jean Carzou
and painter Bernard Buffet. He also studied mural technique at the
Carrarra Academy in Italy.

Tatossian mostly created abstracts, landscapes and still life paintings
using oil on canvas. His distinctive style was dubbed “Tatossianisme.”

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Aug 30 at Rideau Funeral Home in
Dollar-Des Ormeaux followed by a funeral service Friday at St. Gregory
the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral in Outremont.

ARMENIA’S SEVERAL POLITICIANS ARE ILLEGAL HUNTERS – EXPERT

news.am
August 28, 2012 | 13:54

YEREVAN. – Second President Robert Kocharyan, Prosperous Armenia Party
leader Gagik Tsarukyan, National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan,
and PM Tigran Sargsyan are all hunters in Armenia. But if these
people love hunting, the law must see to it that they pay for this,
“Lawful Hunting Club” social initiative leader Eduard Saribekyan
noted during a press conference on Tuesday.

In his words, the problem lies in the fact that they say a particular
hunting is prohibited in Armenia because the given game is in the
Red Book of endangered and protected species, prohibited for hunting,
and therefore they are compelled to “steal.”

WILL ARMENIA INVADE GEORGIA AND IRAN?
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:49:12 – 28/08/2012

Mikhail Alexandrov, expert at Institute of CIS States made a
sensational statement in an interview with the Regnum saying what
will exactly be tested during the CSTO exercises in Armenia in early
September.

According to him, the first aspect of these exercises is the working
out of actions in case of necessity to defend the northern borders
of Iran. In addition, as the expert says, Russian and Iran have
an agreement signed back in 1921, “according to which, in case of
internal aggression, Russia may intervene”.

Actually, exercises, testing Russia’s intervention in Iran in case of
internal aggression will be held in Armenia. Will only the Russian
troops or will the whole CSTO intervene? Is Armenia going to invade
Iran with Russia? Serzh Sargsyan will certainly be asked this question
during the ongoing summit of Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran.

According to Alexandrov, within the exercises of the CSTO Collective
Rapid Reaction Force may be tested also the actions relating to the
parliamentary elections in Georgia. “It is not ruled out that during
elections in Georgia the authorities may resort to mass falsification.

It is not exclude that this will lead to protest waves and disorders
inside the country and pressure of national discontent. Russia may
intervene to protect the Georgian people from violence, like the West
helped the democratic forces in Lebanon”, recalled the expert.

And again, the question occurs: what Armenia and the CSTO have to
do with all this? Will the Armenian troops decide “to protect the
Georgian people”? Armenia will have to answer Georgia’s questions on
this matter too.

The third component of the exercises, according to Alexandrov, is
the elaboration of actions in case of possible escalation of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “It is obvious that if Azerbaijan starts
a war for Nagorno Karabakh, the military actions can’t be localized
exceptionally in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia will have
to hit Azerbaijan’s territory and they will answer, which will launch
the CSTO mechanism”, he said.

Here you have the scenario proposed by Russia: provoke Azerbaijan
to aggression, promote a responsive strike by Armenia and wait
for Azerbaijan’s invasion in Armenia and deploy the CSTO forces in
the region.

Will Armenia be satisfied with such a scenario? Do we want someone’s
forces rule the events in our region?

The Armenian authorities need to confirm their participation in
all these catastrophic for us scenarios, or officially reject the
provocative words of Alexandrov. Otherwise, it will come out that
Russia not only decided what we shall do in case “elections in Georgia
are rigged”, but issues statements on our behalf.

This is becoming a tradition: representatives of the Russian
authorities have already stated that the Armenian power is discussing
accession to the Eurasian Union, though Armenia has ever said no word
in this relation. Now, Russia is driving Armenia into a trap forcing
it to ruin relations with not only the West, but also neighboring
Iran and Georgia. True, Russia does not realize that Armenia may
calculate everything and prefer ruin relations with Moscow.

HSBC BANK ARMENIA COVERS 38 PERCENT OF THE TRADE FINANCE MARKET

ARMINFO
Tuesday, August 28, 11:35

Over the first half of 2012, the net profit of HSBC Bank Armenia
totalled AMD 3.5 billion, an AMD 765 million or 28 percent increase
over the same period in 2011, thus ensuring the highest net profit
in the market. The press service of the Bank told ArmInfo that total
assets at 30 June 2012 were up by 10 percent compared to 31 December
2011 amounting to AMD 198 billion.

Gross customer loans increased by 15 percent or AMD 16 billion to
AMD 124 billion at 30 June 2012, with the corporate loan portfolio
growing by 17 percent to AMD 103 billion.

Customer deposits increased to AMD 128 billion, a six percent increase
over 31 December 2011, comprising the largest market share. Personal
deposits increased by 10 percent or AMD 8 billion to AMD 92 billion,
again comprising the largest market share.

The outstanding balance of Trade Finance products volumes totalled
AMD 10 billion, a 27 percent compared to 31 December 2011, comprising
38 percent of the trade finance market share.

The achievements, awards and rankings of the Bank are as follows:
Introduction of new products and services: Personal secured loans for
individuals; Card insurance service protecting ATM and MasterCard
international card users from certain risks; “HSBC Plus” packaged
solution for individuals, (March – April 2012).

Branch expansion: A new dedicated “STATUS” branch was opened in
0Yerevan, (May 2012).

Awards: Global Finance Magazine recognized HSBC Bank Armenia as the
Bank Armenia that has won its World’s Best Bank awards most often
over the past 16 years (May-June 2012 issue).

Leading bank for international business in Armenia: The third annual
Trade Award ceremony was held, where the Bank’s Best Trade Customers
of 2011 were announced. One customer participated in an HSBC Trade
Connection Summit held in Brazil (June 2012).

“During the first six months of 2012 we have made tangible progress
in a number of key areas and registered strong financial results. The
successful implementation of our strategy and priorities will hopefully
deliver continued growth during the rest of the year”, – HSBC Bank
Armenia Chief Executive Officer Astrid Clifford said.

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc was the first international bank to open in
Armenia in 1996. The bank is a joint venture between the HSBC Group,
which has 70 percent ownership, and members of overseas Armenian
businesses. The bank offers a wide range of products and services
to individual as well as corporate customers, including personal
financial services, commercial banking and treasury and capital markets
services. Thanks to the HSBC network in 85 countries and territories,
the bank is uniquely positioned to provide truly international services
to its customers.

The Yerevan office opened with 18 staff and under 100 clients. HSBC
Bank Armenia cjsc today has more than 33 thousand individual and
five thousand corporate customers and employs 387 employees at nine
branches and offices in Yerevan. The bank has one of the largest
networks of more than 50 ATMs located throughout Yerevan. HSBC in
Armenia has grown assets from five million US dollars in 1996 to just
480 million US dollars today.

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER: INCIDENT IN HARSNAKAR RESTAURANT HAS PROVED ONCE AGAIN THAT THE JUDICIARY IN ARMENIA IS IN A DEPLORABLE STATE

arminfo
Tuesday, August 28, 11:32

The incident in Harsnakar restaurant has proved once again that the
judiciary in Armenia is in a deplorable state, Larisa Alaverdyan,
member of the Vahe Avetyan public movement, former human rights
defender of Armenia, told journalists on Monday.

She believes that privy to the murder of Vahe Avetyan (a military
doctor who was beaten in Harsnakar restaurant June 17 and died in
hospital 12 days later) are the same people who killed peaceful
demonstrators on Mar 1 2008.

“This is one more unpunished crime committed by our oligarchs and
their accomplices. And now they are doing their best to cover up
their tracks,” Alaverdyan said.

Lawyer of Avetyan’s family Tigran Yegoryan said that all of their
petitions have been declined. “We have asked the investigation
authorities to organize a repeated forensic medical examination
by chief neurosurgeons from all over Armenia so as to prove that
Avetyan’s injuries were fatal, but our petition has been declined,”
the lawyer said.

He added that five of the six suspects are security guards of Ruben
Hayrapetyan, the owner of Harsnakar. “We believe that this is an
enough ground for bringing Hayrapetyan to court,” Yegoryan said.

Alaverdyan and Yegoryan urged the population to create a public
tribunal and to express their opinion on the Harsnakar case.

ARMENIA PRESENTS FREE ECONOMIC ZONES TO ITALY

Vestnik Kavkaza
Aug 28 2012
Russia

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has met Italian Deputy
Foreign Minister Marta Dassu and discussed bilateral relations,
Armenia Today reports.

Armenia and Italy will hold a joint business forum in September
2012 and formed a joint trade chamber this year. The two states have
agreements on forming an intergovernmental commission.

Sargsyan presented free economic zones to Dassu and invited Italian
companies developing modern technologies and innovations.

Dassu brought regards of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti. She
expressed interest in improving relations with Armenia. The deputy
foreign minister noted the importance of the visit of Italian defense
minister to Armenia in October.

She added that Italian companies were interested in Armenian
infrastructure projects, digital television and road construction.

Dassu offered support in European integration of Armenia.

The sides discussed cooperation in textile industry, tourism, small
and medium business, agriculture and astrophysics.

TJSL PROFESSOR LECTURES ALONG EUROPEAN-ASIA BORDER

San Diego Source

Aug 28 2012
CA

Thomas Jefferson School of Law Professor William Slomanson, the
author of a widely used casebook on international law, traveled
this month to several countries along the East European/Southwest
Asian border known as the South Caucasus, lecturing on the topic of
“Remedial Secession in South Caucasus.”

Accompanied by TJSL Professor Chris Guzelian and third-year TJSL law
student Mike Pehlevanian, both of Armenian descent, Slomanson also
met with national dignitaries in the Armenian-held Nagorno Karabakh
enclave inside Azerbaijan.

The South Caucasus region remains one of the most complicated in the
post-Soviet area, and comprises three heavily disputed areas: Abkhazia
and South Ossetia in Georgia, and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Several wars, including the 2008 South Ossetia war, Ossetian-Georgian
conflict and the Nagorno-Karabakh war have been waged in this region,
which for centuries has experienced political, military, religious
and cultural rivalries.

The specific focus of Slomanson’s talks was the three South Caucasus
unilateral secessions, announced by South Ossetia, Abkhazia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.

TURKISH OFFICIALS OPPOSE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN PASADENA

Pasadena Star News

Aug 28 2012
CA

PASADENA — A Turkish deputy consul general visited Pasadena City
Hall earlier this month to convey concern about a planned Armenian
Genocide Memorial in a city park.

The Pasadena Armenian American Coalition announced in April that the
community is raising funds and working with an architect to erect a
monument in Memorial Park in time for the 100th anniversary of the
genocide in 2015.

Some 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed from 1915
through 1923 in what was then the Ottoman Empire. California is among
43 states that formally recognizes the Armenian Genocide.

A prepared statement by the Consulate General of Turkey in Los
Angeles said the proposed monument “deeply offends” the Turkish people
and the Turkish American community in Pasadena and the greater Los
Angeles area.

“Our Consulate General (in Los Angeles) got in contact with Pasadena
City authorities to convey the message that the events of 1915 is
a highly debated issue by academics, historians and Turkish and
Armenian communities,” the Consulate General of Turkey said in a
prepared statement to the Star-News.

“It is clear that adapting (sic) one side’s approach and erecting a
`genocide memorial’ without paying attention to the other’s will
actually damage the ongoing efforts for a just solution to the issue
and the hope for establishing the suitable conditions for current
and future generations to live together friendly.”

While most historians assert that the mass killings of Armenians
that started in 1915 was the 20th century’s first genocide, Turkey –
a strong U.S. ally – has long denied there was a systematic campaign
to kill Armenians.

Attorney and former Mayor William Paparian, speaking on behalf of the
Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, said he considered the
recent visit of Deputy Turkish Consul General Arif Celik to City Hall
“a diplomatic intrusion by the Turkish government.”

For more than 30 years, the City Council has issued an annual
proclamation commemorating the Armenian Genocide on April 24, amended
its Affirmative Action ordinance to make Armenian-Americans a protected
class and even has a sister city in Armenia, he said.

“The proposed Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial will have to
fulfill the strict requirements of the City of Pasadena in order to
win approval,” Paparian said in a statement. “No foreign government
should be allowed to intervene in that process.”