Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKISH DIPLOMAT SLAMS FRANCE FOR PASSING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION

Interfax
Russia
Jan 25 2012

France called into question its ability to act as a mediator in
settling the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh by adopting legislation
criminalizing the denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide in the Ottoman
Empire, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic said.

“This issue has called into question France’s mediating role [in the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process],” Kilic said at the presentation
of a book dealing with Azeri-Turkish relations in the past 20 years
in Baku on Wednesday.

“I believe that, instead of passing legislation regarding the events
that happened a hundred years ago not without France’s involvement,
not to mention that their origin is doubtful, France should express
its judgment about the occupation of Azeri lands and the existence
of hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons,” he said.

Kilic praised Azerbaijan’s reaction to the legislation passed by the
French Senate. “The presidential administration, the Foreign Ministry,
the leaders of political parties, NGOs, and individual parliamentarians
and ordinary people expressed their immediate reaction to the French
Senate’s decision. We are grateful for this reaction on the part of
Azerbaijan. This shows to the whole world that Turkey and Azerbaijan
are united,” he said.

The legislation passed by the French Senate might produce even more
hatred and enmity between peoples in the region, he said.

Speaking to journalists later, Kilic said Turkey and the Turkic
world condemn the French legislation. “This legislation goes
against fundamental principles of human rights, freedom of speech and
expression. This is a game played by a limited number of politicians,
which casts a shadow on the history of the French people,” he said.

RED CROSS VISITS ARMENIANS IMPRISONED IN AZERBAIJAN

Vestnik Kavkaza
Jan 26 2012
Russia

The International Red Cross Committee has visited three Armenian
military prisoners and five civilians, members of a family, at an
Azerbaijani prison. The Red Cross gave them four letters and received
three letters and three messages from the prisoners, Trend reports.

Armenia has one Azerbaijani military prisoner. Junior Sergeant
Akhundzade Mamedbagir Talyb oglu was captured in Armenia a few
days ago.

According to Geneva conventions, the Red Cross in Azerbaijan and
Armenia has been operating since 1992 due to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

BAKO SAHAKYAN: KARINTAK DEFENSE ONE OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL VICTORIES

Panorama.am
26/01/2012

On 26 January Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the
Shushi region and attended a solemn event dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of heroic battle in Karintak village.

The President noted that the defense of Karintak village, being
one of our first and fundamental victories, had its unique place
in the history of our national liberation struggle. This battle has
proved that patriotism, faith and dedication are able to neutralize
quantitative advantage of the enemy and eventually defeat it.

The President stressed that this and all other victories have been
achieved through blood, and the best way to preserve the memory of
our martyrs is the development of the country, Karintak village and
other settlements in the republic.

NKR high ranking officials, guests from Armenia and abroad attended
the event, Artsakh President’s press office reported.

BRITISH DIPLOMAT: ‘STATUS QUO ON NAGORNO KARABAGH IS UNACCEPTABLE’

Today.Az
26 January 2012

“I felt very privileged and proud to be chosen as British Ambassador to
Azerbaijan, particularly at such an exciting time in its history and
when bilateral relations are so close,” UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Peter Bateman said in his interview.

“Azerbaijan is a friend and close strategic partner of the UK. We
have a warm and wide ranging relationship. There have been a number
of senior visits between Baku and London, including most recently
Charles Hendry, the UK Minister of Energy and Climate Change. We hope
there will be many more in the months and years ahead,” he noted.

There is an equally close relationship at a commercial and people to
people level. The UK is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan
and BP’s partnership with Azerbaijan has been a huge success story
for both parties. Azerbaijan is home or a regular destination for a
large British business community. The UK welcomes many Azerbaijani
students to our universities as well as tourists to our country.

“Baku will host the Eurovision song contest in May which will be
a wonderful opportunity for Azerbaijanis to introduce the country
to visitors – of which we expect many to be British. And of course,
for our part, we look forward to welcoming many Azerbaijani visitors
and athletes to the London Olympics and Paralympics this summer,”
Bateman said.

He noted Azerbaijan is strategically important to Europe, not just the
UK, as it holds the key to diversifying Europe’s energy supply. He
said the UK is concerned that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains
unresolved and is therefore a source of regional instability.

“The status quo on Nagorno Karabagh is unacceptable and the UK is keen
to see a peaceful resolution of the conflict as soon as possible,”
he stated.

ARMEN AVAGYAN APPOINTED MINISTER – HEAD OF NKR GOVERNMENT’S ADMINISTRATION

Panorama.am
25/01/2012

On 25 January Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree
appointing Armen Avagyan Minister – Head of NKR Government’s
Administration, Artsakh President’s press office reported.

ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE HAS CERTAIN POSITIVE INFLUENCE – OPPOSITION MP

news.am
January 25, 2012 | 16:50

YEREVAN.- Armenia’s membership to the Council of Europe had a positive
influence in the term of applying European values, MP from Heritage
Party Armen Martirosyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, in case the European values were fully implanted,
the March 1 event would not have occurred.

“Sometimes we witness inconsistent position presented by our European
colleagues. For instance, during his recent visit, PACE Co-Rapportuer
John Prescott behaved as if he was a representative of the Armenian
authorities in the Council of Europe. His remarks resembled statements
voiced by the country’s leadership,” he said.

Armenia joined the Council of Europe on January 25, 2001.

TURKEY MUST DECLASSIFY GENOCIDE ARCHIVES – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 25, 2012 – 14:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – French Senate’s passing the bill penalizing Armenian
Genocide denial is a truly historic event, said the director of
the Institute of Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea and
Caspian region.

“With the passage of the bill, no one will be able to call the
Genocide issue a “solely Armenian viewpoint”,” Vladimir Zakharov said,
expressing hope for other countries to follow France’s suit.

In conclusion, the expert urged Turkey to declassify the archives to
enable a fair study.

Political analyst Andrey Areshev, in turn, noted Ankara’s threats
as useless. “Turkish-French relations will eventually stabilize. If
willing to play by European rules, Turkey will have to change its
policy,” the expert stressed.

“Turkey lost much of its influence in West compared to 1990s:
in present circumstances, the emotional approach to the issue is
unconstructive, necessitating a balanced policy line,” he noted.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. To be
signed into law within 14 days, the bill will impose a 45,000 euro
fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime
against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Turkish authorities threatened France with breaking of ties in case
of passing the bill. Moreover the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
stated that he will never step foot in France if the Senate passes
the draft law.

PRICES ARE OUT OF CONTROL
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:29:46 – 25/01/2012

After the head of the Compulsory Enforcement of Judicial Acts Mihran
Poghosyan had sold his Catherine Company, the Anti-Monopoly Committee
fined it 10 million drams. Last year the committee revealed that
the company bought nitrate fertilizers for 6200-6400 drams and sold
for 10 thousand drams. The committee announced that the price must
be reduced to a reasonable level, namely 7000 drams. However, the
company went on to sell it for 7600 drams.

In Armenia, the state instrument for regulation of prices is used very
seldom, and in most cases it is due to some minor political reasons.

However, in terms of economic effectiveness, this instrument must
be used every day. And first it is necessary to create a legislative
framework for this policy.

What is a reasonable price? What law regulates the percentage of
markup by the trader? Is there a law in Armenia which regulates the
pricing of a product? Is there a law that prevents importers from
setting prices freely or at least a law that would provide for a
progressive income tax?

There is no such a law otherwise the prices in Armenia would not
exceed the average prices in Europe. The Armenian government prefers
not to conduct a price policy because it will affect the interests
of major importers. For this purpose, the exchange rate is kept low
to enable importers to set prices freely.

In the meantime, a state which declares itself as social cannot reject
the instrument of regulation of prices. Moreover, the absence of these
tools is conditioned by the commitment to the free market rules. After
all, liberal does not mean uncontrolled.

In any liberal country prices are free within the framework established
by the government.

In Armenia, regulation happens in an amorphous, reasonable framework
and only in regard to those businessmen whom the government wants
to punish.

The absence of price instruments is evidence that the government does
not pursue the interests of the society and protects the inflated
importers.

ARMENIAN COUNCIL OF EUROPE CALLS ON FRENCH PRESIDENT SIGN FRANCE’S HISTORIC GENOCIDE BILL

Tert.am
25.01.12

The French bureau of the Armenian Council of Europe applauds
all Armenians and expresses gratitude to the French people,
Parliamentarians and Senators who ensured truth and historical justice
can prevail over those who wish to revise history through lies and
threats, reports.

Yesterday the law making it a crime to deny the 1915 killings of
Armenians as genocide finalized its legislative process and passed
both houses of France’s parliament.

The French bureau of the Armenian Council of Europe now calls on French
President Nicolas Sarkozy to sign the bill into law and finalize the
process to punish those who negate and distort historical fact.

It is time for Turkey and the successive Turkish ruling elites since
1915, who made such a law necessary in this day in age by continuously
propagandizing nationalistic lies, to come to terms with its past and
face the historical reality that is the Armenian Genocide. No person
or nation must diminish the importance of historical truth.

While the French law will be the FIRST in the European Union, the
Armenian Council of Europe urges all EU nations and none EU nations
to follow the French parliamentarians’ example and take courageous
steps recognizing the Armenian Genocide and reprimanding those who
negate historical truths.

BENOIT SCHEEN: “ORANGE IN ARMENIA HAS SAME LOOK AND FEEL AS IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES”

HETQ
15:27, January 25, 2012

Benoit Scheen, Executive Vice President of FranceTelecom Europe, is
in Armenia for the first time to get acquainted with Orange Armenia
staff and the results of Orange Armenia for the year 2011, as well
as to discuss plans for the year 2012.

At a press conference, Benoît Scheen said: “I’m happy to be in
Armenia, which is the most eastern country of FT footprint and which
has a small, but very dynamic market. I’m glad to see that Orange in
Armenia has the same “look and feel” as in other European countries
and in its business is guided by European values, I would say Orange
values. Armenia is a very important country in Orange footprint and
186 mln Euro pure CAPEX investments made only in three years stand
for this. Orange Armenia is also largely involved in the social and
cultural life of Armenia, which reflects our commitment to the country,
where we develop our business activity.”

Speaking about the plans for the new year, he stated that the company
would continue driving customer satisfaction and loyalty through
service and care, it would also implement new services to boost usage
of multimedia and mobile internet. Benoît Scheen also said that he
was happy to be in Armenia on the next day after commercial launch
of up to 42 Mb/sec speed offer, which is a technologiacal big advance
not only in the region, but in all Orange footprint as well.

On the second half of the day Benoît Scheen will meet with RA
Transport and Communication Minister Manuk Vardanyan, RA Economy
Minister Tigran Davtyan and RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
Chairman Robert Nazaryan.