Author: Kanayan Tamar

168 ZHAM: MPS INFLUENCED BY HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN WON’T BE RE-ELECTED

Tert.am
10.12.11

The paper claims the situation within the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia (HHK) is tense over the election of Samvel Nikoyan as
parliament chairman and Eduard Sharmazanov as his deputy.

The paper reminds that head of HHK’s parliamentary faction, Galust
Sahakyan, also intended to become parliament chairman, following
Hovik Abrahamyan’s resignation.

The paper claims that Galust Sahakyan even said among a narrow circle
that if not given the chance, he would quit the party much in the
same way as Tigran Torosyan did.

Further, the paper claims that Hovik Abrahamyan backed Sahakyan’s
intentions over the post, though Abrahamyan failed to appoint not
only his successor, but also HHK’s parliamentary faction.

According to the paper, Hovik Abrahamyan and Galust Sahakyan tried
to nominate Hovhannes Sahakyan’s candidacy to the post, but it was
not welcomed by the president, as neither Abrahamyan, nor Sahakyan
enjoy his trust.

In conclusion, the paper cites some rumors that all the MPs who are
under the influence of Hovik Abrahamyan will not be re-elected.

LA POLICE TURQUE REDIGE LES ARTICLES POUR LES MEDIAS
Stephane

armenews.com
samedi 10 decembre 2011

Nouvelle revelation sur la situation de la presse en Turquie ! La
police a redige trois articles pour la UNE des journaux turcs, après
l’arrestation de 47 avocats du chef du PKK au cours des operations
menees le 22 novembre.

Les grands medias turcs ont toujours ete proches des gouvernements
mais jamais aussi engages a la ligne officielle au point de devenir
” journal de police “.

Selon l’agence de presse kurde Firat, dont l’accès est interdite en
Turquie, la police a redige trois articles et les a envoyes directeurs
de grands medias, notamment a Zaman (journal de la Confrerie Gulen),
Yeni Þafak, Bugun, Taraf, Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Haber Turk, Akþam
et a Vatan, afin de publier dans leurs editions de jeudi 24 novembre.

Douze journaux ont publie les articles ecris par la police

Ces articles reveles le soir de 23 novembre par l’agence kurde dont
l’ActiKurde a egalement eu connaissance ont ete publies jeudi sur la
UNE et les premières pages d’au moins douze grands journaux. ” Zaman,
Yeni Þafak, Bugun, Þok, Taraf, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Star, Haber Turk,
Akþam, Vatan et Cumhuriyet ”

Les medias ont l’habitude de citer ” selon des sources de police ”
dans les articles mensongers et manipulatoires concernant le problème
kurde. On assiste pour la première fois a une telle situation où les
policiers sont devenus les redacteurs en chef.

L’agence Firat a publie les trois articles soutenus avec des photos
de soldats tues pour justifier l’isolation totale du leader kurde
Abdullah Ocalan, emprisonne sur l’Ile d’Imrali depuis 1999, qui n’est
pas autorise a rencontrer ses avocats depuis le 27 juillet.

Le leader kurde Ocalan est accuse d’avoir donne des ordres de
violences au principal parti legal kurde BDP et a l’organisation
armee PKK par le biais de ces avocats, dans les articles ecris par la
police turque, alors que le gouvernement lui-meme menait secrètement
des pourparlers avec Abdullah Ocalan et le PKK, jusqu’en septembre
dernier. L’emissaire du premier ministre, Hakan Fidan, le chef des
services de renseignement, figurait parmi les personnes entrees en
contact direct avec le PKK.

Le 22 octobre, la police turque a procede des perquisitions dans 52
cabines d’avocats au cours des operations simultanees dans 16 villes,
notamment a Istanbul et a Diyarbakir, arretant 47 avocats d’Ocalan,
dans le cadre de l’affaire KCK, lancee en 2009 quelques semaines
après le grand succès du parti kurde aux elections municipales. Le
gouvernement AKP du premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan utilise
cette affaire, consideree par le BDP comme un complot politique,
pour reduire au silence toute opposition.

Plus de 8000 personnes dont 18 maires et six deputes BDP , des
centaines d’elus, des dizaines de journalistes, intellectuels,
etudiants, enseignants, syndicalistes et des defenseurs des droits
de l’homme ont ete arretes dans le cadre de l’affaire KCK.

La liberte de la presse menacee plus que jamais

La liberte d’expression et de la presse est menacee plus que jamais
dans la Turque d’Erdogan où plus de 70 journalistes sont en prison. Le
premier ministre a recemment convoque les patrons de medias pour les
appeler a l’ordre.

Erdogan avait incite les journalistes a faire preuve de recul dans
leur couverture du conflit, a ne pas relayer la propagande du PKK,
et a prendre en compte les consequences de leur travail, lors d’une
rencontre avec les proprietaires et directeurs de la publication de
plusieurs medias nationaux, le 21 octobre.

Cinq des principales agences de presse turques (Agence Anatolie AA,
AHT, ANKA, CIHAN et IHA) avaient meme annonce, dans un communique
publie le 24 octobre, qu’elles s’engageaient a observer la ligne
officielle.

” On esperait que l’epoque où les autorites donnaient aux medias des
directives pour la couverture des sujets les plus sensibles etait
revolue en Turquie. L’engagement des principales agences de presse
a observer la ligne officielle, dans une formulation extremement
vague, fait aujourd’hui peser de serieuses menaces sur la liberte de
l’information “, avait alors declare Reporters sans frontières.

INADMISSIBILITY OF AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES’ OCCUPATION BY ARMENIA ONCE AGAIN STRESSED IN FRENCH SENATE (PHOTO)

Trend
Dec 9 2011
Azerbaijan

A conference on the topic “France – OSCE Minsk Group co-chair and
forgotten Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict” was held on Dec.8 in the
French Senate, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Paris said.

The event was organized by the Public Union “Azerbaijani community
of Nagorno-Karabakh” and the Azerbaijani Embassy.

The conference was opened by member of the Senate Commission for
International Affairs Nathalie Goulet, who acted as a moderator.

Goulet thanked the Azerbaijani side for timely and important initiative
to hold this event, stressing the need for constant provision of the
French public with true information about the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict.

Senator stressed the inadmissibility of the continued occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, telling about her experience of
a visit to the conflict zone and numerous meetings with displaced
persons affected by the war.

Azerbaijani Ambassador Elchin Amirbeyov briefed the conference
participants about Azerbaijan’s official position in the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stressing special
importance of participation of representatives of the Azerbaijani
community of Nagorno-Karabakh at the event, which is one of
the conflict parties in accordance with the mandate of the Minsk
Group. He stressed that, remaining committed to the peace process,
Azerbaijan, however, finds it unacceptable to preserve status quo in
the conflict zone and considers a phased resolution which envisage
immediate elimination of the consequences of the military phase of
the conflict, as the only possible effective way to achieve a lasting,
just and comprehensive peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Informing the audience about completing his seven-year activity as the
OSCE Minsk Group’s French co-chair, Ambassador Bernard Fassier went on
the details on his country and other co-chairs’ efforts to assist the
conflict parties to make progress in difficult negotiations. Fassier
spoke about the evolution of the negotiation process and difficulties
before mediators and conflict parties to achieve significant progress
in the negotiations.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

Bernard Fassier: I Understand Azerbaijan’s Suffering, Being A Frenchman I Know Very Well What The Occupation Is

MilAz.info
Dec 9 2011
Azerbaijan

Senate of France holds conference on Nagorno Karabakh conflict

A roundtable on the themes “The conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, forgotten conflict” and “French co-chair of OSCE Minsk
Group” was organized at the Senate of France on the initiative
of Azerbaijani embassy in France, APA’s Europe bureau reports. The
activity of OSCE Minsk Group and the role of the French co-chair were
discussed first of all. Member of the France-Azerbaijan friendship
group, member of the Senate of France, representing the Orne
department Nathalie Goulet, Azerbaijani Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of France Elchin Emirbeyov, member of the
Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh, MP Rovshan Rzayev, member
of France-Azerbaijan friendship group at the National Assembly of
France Jean-Louis Dumont and French co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group
Bernard Fassier addressed the event.

French senator Nathalie Goulet said this conflict is not so known
in Europe. Nathalie Goulet underlined the importance of getting
familiarized with the ways of its solution and highly appreciated
the discussion of this conflict at the French Senate.

Speaking on behalf of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh,
MP Rovshan Rzayev said the Azerbaijani community agrees to live at
peace with the Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh again. He noted
that the representatives of the Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh
did not come to the meeting planned between the communities in Berlin.

Co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier spoke about the activity
of the Minsk Group and the work recently done towards the resolution
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Mr. Fassier said though the group started
functioning in May, 1994, the major activities started after 1997.

“The variant of solution, which is now on the table, is the document
on which we have been working since 2005. Of course, I understand
Azerbaijan’s suffering, the territories of this country have been
occupied. Being a Frenchman I know very well what the occupation is,
but it is not right to accuse Minsk Group of inactivity. We can not
make the parties accept the variant of solution. The parties must
reach an agreement themselves, and we must help them. Our main goal is
to prevent the restart of war. In this status quo the war can break
out again. Our second achievement is that the parties have sat for
talks. Moreover, Russia is not one-on-one with the South Caucasus
and holds consultations with France and US in the negotiations on
the conflict,” he said.

Speaking about the Madrid principles adopted in 2007, Bernard Fassier
hoped that the negotiations, which reached a deadlock after Kazan
meeting, will revive from January on the presidential level following
the statement issued at the Vilnius meeting. Bernard Fassier gave
information about the diplomatic career of the newly-appointed French
co-chair of Minsk Group Jacques Faure and noted that he knows the
region well.

“I know Jacques Faure very well. In the Soviet times he dealt with the
countries of the Warsaw Pact and knows the South Caucasus very well,”
he said.

Member of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh, rector
of Azerbaijan Music Academy Farhad Badalbeyli, researcher of the
Paris-based International Strategic Research Institute Pierre Conesa,
French historian Antoine Constant and representative of the Effective
Initiatives Center Anar Usubov addressed the second roundtable entitled
“Forgotten conflict”. Famous French politicians, historians, media
representatives, Azerbaijanis living in Paris and students attended
the event. Photo exhibition on Nagorno Karabakh conflict was organized
at the roundtable.

WORKING DISCUSSION IN THE NA STANDING COMMITTEE

National Assembly

Dec 9 2011
Republic of Armenia

On December 9 on the institutive of the NA Standing Committee on
Defense, National Security, Internal Affairs and the OSCE Yerevan
Office a working discussion was held in the National Assembly
moderated by Hrayr Karapetyan in order to study the reasons of
untimely disbanding servicemen from the military service, where the
representatives from the RA Defense Ministry, Military Police, Security
Council, Military Prosecutor’s Office and NGOs had been invited.

The studies on untimely disbanding from the 2006-2010 military service
conducted by the NGO “Soldier’s Mother” were discussed.

The discussion was aimed at uncovering the shortcomings during the
military service: getting sick, injured during the military service,
the consequences of getting diseases and disorders as a result of
non-regular relations.

As a result of discussion, the participants presented proposals on
eliminating the shortcomings existing in the sphere.

MINSK GROUP JOINT STATEMENT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT – TEXT

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dec 6 2011

Text of ” Joint Statement by the Heads of Delegation of the Minsk
Group Co-Chair Countries and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan” on 6 December 2011

On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius,
the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
(Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Minister for
European Affairs of France Jean Leonetti) and the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward
Nalbandian reaffirmed the importance of reaching a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Recalling the November 2008 Moscow Declaration, as well as their
countries’ statements at the OSCE Ministerial Council meetings in
Helsinki (2008) and Athens (2009) and at the OSCE Summit in Astana
(2010), the five Heads of Delegation agreed on the need to continue
the negotiating process in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and to
improve the climate for making progress towards a peaceful settlement.

As one of the steps in this direction, they agreed that further
efforts should be made to work on the details of the mechanism to
investigate ceasefire violations, which resulted from the joint
statement of Presidents Aliyev, Sargsian, and Medvedev at the March
2011 Sochi summit.

Noting the May 2011 statement of their Presidents at Deauville, which
urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize the Basic Principles for
the Peaceful Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, the Heads
of Delegation of the Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries expressed regret
that the parties have been unable to take this decisive step. The three
Heads of Delegation reiterated that there can be no military solution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and that the United Nations Charter,
the Principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and the elements outlined in
the joint statements of their Presidents at L’Aquila in July 2009 and
Muskoka in June 2010 offer the way for all sides to move beyond the
unacceptable status quo to reach a peaceful settlement. In light of
the intensive negotiations conducted since the 2007 OSCE Ministerial
Council in Madrid, including at the highest level, the three Heads
of Delegation urged the parties to give further careful consideration
to the proposals that the Co-Chair countries have provided to them.

The Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia expressed their appreciation
for the efforts of the Co-Chair countries, including the personal
engagement of Presidents Medvedev, Obama, and Sarkozy, in assisting
their countries to reach a framework for a comprehensive peace
settlement. They informed the Heads of Delegation of the Co-Chair
countries that their Presidents are ready to meet again jointly in
the near future under the auspices of the Co-Chair countries to
continue their direct dialogue, building upon recent experience,
on how to bring peace, stability, and prosperity to their peoples.

SH. TOROSYAN: EXPATRIATION OF DJAVAKHQ A REAL TRAGEDY

Panorama
Dec 9 2011
Armenia

“The Armenian-Georgian relations ought to be friendly, but it should
be clear that unless the problem of Djavakhq Armenians is settled,
those relations are impossible,” MP Shirak Torosyan said in a meeting
with the journalists. According to the official Armenian-Georgian
relations must develop without any preconditions.

Referring to the forthcoming parliamentary elections, Mr. Torosyan
was asked if more MPs were needed in the Parliament. Shirak Torosyan
has said that the number of MPs doesn’t matter, as unselfish people
are needed to raise the problem of Djavakhq.

“Djavakhq is a national, pan-Armenian problem. We witness intensified
expatriation of Djavakhq, which will be a real tragedy,” said Sh.
Torosyan.

R. NURULLAYEV: AZERBAIJAN WITHDREW RESOLUTION FROM UN NOT TO ANNOY CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES

Panorama
Dec 9 2011
Armenia

For the fifth year in a row, Azerbaijan withdraws from the UN General
Assembly his draft resolution “On the Situation in the “Occupied
Territories” of Azerbaijan.” The vote was due on December 12, but
was delayed for indefinite time on Azerbaijan’s initiative.

Deputy Chairman on Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
Razi Nurullayev commenting upon this situation told Faktxeber.com
that the withdrawal of the draft resolution was due to several factors.

First, from January 2012 Azerbaijan begins a new stage of political
and humanitarian activities in the international arena. This stage
is linked with Azerbaijan’s election as non-permanent member of UN
Security Council. For the fifth year in a row, Azerbaijan fails to
vote this resolution through and there is no reason for thinking
that this time Azerbaijan will manage to enlist the support of the
150 countries which voted for Azerbaijan’s non-permanent seat in UN
Security Council. Probably Azerbaijan has no possibility to repeatedly
ask for support.

Second, next year Azerbaijan will attend all meetings of UN Security
Council and will carry out lobbying among the other member countries.

Azerbaijan can organize efficiency of its activities depending on
the results of the processes and facts.

Third, every time putting of this draft resolution on the agenda of
the UN Security Council met serious dissatisfaction by the Co-Chair
countries – U.S., France and Russia. Beginning next year, Azerbaijan
will work with them, and from this point of view it is not beneficial
to annoy them two or three weeks before the start of cooperation.

Fourth, possibly, besides the Co-Chair countries, Turkey also demanded
withdrawal of that document. It is also likely that a range of counries
which supported Azerbaijan in the election of UN Security Council
voted for this country provided that the draft resolution which is
put on the agenda and then withdrawn 5 years in a row should not be
submitted for consideration again. Turkey’s request may be due to
the fact that official Ankara also called on a range of countries to
support Azerbaijan’s candidature in the election. It is also possible
that some countries supported Azerbaijan under certain conditions.

AZNAVOUR: I DO NOT KNOW ANY ARMENIAN WHO DOES NOT SING

news.am
Dec 7 2011
Armenia

PARIS. – Russian Argumenti i Fakti newspaper interviewed famous
French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour.

‘You will win the world as you are able to excite,’ French former
President Charles de Gaulle told Aznavour in the past.

The singer said that he has no intentions to leave the stage in his
87. He started world tour in fall and will sing in Moscow in December.

Armenain News-NEWS.am presents an extract of the publication.

In response to the question, why Aznavour named his children with
Russian names being of Armenian descent, the singer responded that
his love for Russia is in blood, which he inherited from his father.

Besides, most in Russian literature he loves Chekhov’s works. They
inspire him.

In response, whether there was time when his muse left him, the
singer responded that he was always lucky. He always writes and not
only songs. He sings since he was 9 and starred in movies since 1936.

According to him, “every second Armenian is an artist.” He sang, when
got tired of it, starred in movies, and again started to sing. He can
state for sure that there is no Armenian who does not sing. He was
born and lived his life in Paris. However, his roots are in Armenia:
the language, traditions and musicality. His children do not speak
Armenian but they do not forget their origin. Aznavour is currently
Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland and permanent representative in UN.

He helps Armenia’s children by building schools.

In response to name is favorite song, the artist said it is “Eternal
Youth.”

Regarding the report that his energy opposes his real age, the singer
said that he gets power every day. He advised to live life the way
to deplete it thoroughly, to do everything which is possible and even
more. The artist loves life. As a result, he finds power to sing. He
has no intentions to leave the stage. Recently he released 57th album
called Aznavour forever. Moreover, he started world tour in fall and
planned more than 50 concerts.

Aznavour promised to Russian audience that he will sing old and new
songs in the concert scheduled for December 12 in the Kremlin. His
beloved daughter Katya will sing in a duet with him, which is very
exciting. He hopes that audience in Moscow will experience tenderness
and light melancholy on his performance.

In response to whether a magician could realize Aznavour’s dream on
the New Year, what it will be, he said he would like to work till 90
and die at the age of 100.

EMPLOYEE OF HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND RELEASED

news.am
Dec 8 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Employee of Hayastan All Armenian Fund’s press service Armen
Ohanyan was released, he told Armenian News-NEWS.am. He was detained
by Armenia’s National Security Service on Thursday morning in Yerevan.

According to him, he refused to answer the questions in the Service
without the presence of his lawyer.

In response how he was detained, he said that first three, then another
three employees came and detained him without showing a notification
adding that no incidents were registered, employees were polite.

“I answered their questions at 04.00 p.m. with the presence of my
lawyer,” Ohanyan said.

Ohanyan was in the investigation department on the case of fake
diplomas on secondary education. His relative had a connection to it
and the Service thought that Ohanyan may also know some information.

His detainment has no political context, he added.