Author: Kanayan Tamar

RESULTS OF RUSSIAN STATE DUMA ELECTIONS

AZG DAILY #222, 08-12-2011

The ruling United Russia party of Russia has won 49.3 percent of the
vote in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, Russia’s Central Election
Commission said after counting 99.99 percent of the ballots.

This means RF Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s party will have 238
seats out of 450 in the lower house, the State Duma.

The commission said earlier United Russia garnered 49.5 percent.

Electoral Commission head Vladimir Churov said the Communist Party
(KPRF) was in second place with 19.2 percent of the vote, giving it 92
seats.

A Just Russia was third with 13.25 percent and 64 seats, and the
far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) had 12 percent and
56 seats.

According to Ria Novosti, the vote was marred by reports of fraud, and
international observers said it was slanted in favor of United Russia.

Agence France Presse
3 décembre 2011 samedi 5:52 AM GMT

La fougue intacte d’un résistant de 94 ans, dernier survivant du
“groupe Manouchian”

VITRY-SUR-SEINE 3 déc 2011

Né en Turquie en plein génocide arménien, il a connu le Front
populaire et combattu dans la Résistance au sein du “groupe
Manouchian” dont il est le dernier survivant: à 94 ans, Arsène
Tchakarian reste un militant dans l’me, toujours révolté par le
“système capitaliste”.

“Ce que je dis ne plaît pas à tout le monde, mais je m’en moque”: dans
la veine d’un Stéphane Hessel et de ses indignations, M. Tchakarian
soigne sa mise mais n’a rien renié des idéaux communistes qui l’ont
conduit à traverser le XXe siècle en faisant le coup de poing contre
les “fascistes” et l’occupant nazi.

Installé dans un pavillon de Vitry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne) transformé
en centre d’archives, ce vieil homme alerte, qui paraît vingt ans de
moins que son ge, concède bien un certain “embourgeoisement” mais se
reprend aussitôt: “J’appartiendrai toujours à la classe ouvrière”.

Son destin se feuillète comme un livre d’histoire dont l’auteur balaie
les chapitres avec gourmandise.

Arrivé en 1930 à Paris, Arsène Tchakarian est un jeune apprenti
tailleur sous-payé lorqu’il croise le fer avec les ligues d’extrême
droite qui tentent de prendre d’assaut l’Assemblée en 1934. “Mon
patron m’avait promis 5 francs par semaine mais, même ça, il ne me le
donnait pas.”

Deux ans plus tard, sa conscience communiste s’aiguise encore avec les
grèves du Front Populaire et les premiers congés-payés.

“Nom de code: Charles”

Quand la guerre éclate en 1939, Arsène Tchakarian n’est pas encore
français mais il est envoyé sur le front d’un conflit qui tourne
court. De retour à Paris, c’est le choc. “Il y avait des Allemands
partout, le drapeau nazi sur la Tour Eiffel”, raconte-t-il.

Il compte alors parmi ses amis un certain Missak Manouchian,
journaliste dont il partage les origines arméniennes et l’engagement
communiste. C’est lui qui lui fournit les premiers tracts anti-nazis
en 1942, prémices d’un mouvement de résistance, regardé avec méfiance
par les gaullistes.

“Ils hésitaient à nous fournir des armes. L’URSS faisait peur et on
était des bolcheviques pour eux”, sourit M. Tchakarian.

Après l’unification de la Résistance, c’est en 1943 que naît le
“Groupe Manouchian”, composé d’immigrés (Italiens, Arméniens, juifs
polonais…) que les autorités allemandes tenteront de discréditer
dans la fameuse “Affiche rouge”, en fustigeant une “armée du crime”
venue de l’étranger.

Arsène Tchakarian, “nom de code: Charles”, a recensé sur une carte
tous les faits d’armes de son groupe: attaque contre des gendarmes en
mars 1943, sabotage de lignes de haute tension… “La France c’était
le pays des libertés mais on se battait aussi par anti-fascisme.”

En février 1944, son groupe est décimé. 23 de ses camarades sont
arrêtés, jugés et exécutés. Arsène Tchakarian, qui a échappé au coup
de filet, en est aujourd’hui le dernier survivant. “Je suis un peu le
dernier des Mohicans, comme on dit”, glisse-t-il.

Caché à Paris grce à un policier, M. Tchakarian est exfiltré vers
Bordeaux où il continuera à servir la Résistance jusqu’à la
Libération.

Bardé de décorations après-guerre, il devra patienter jusqu’en 1958
pour être naturalisé français et reprendra son activité de tailleur.

A bientôt 95 ans, il parcourt aujourd’hui lycées et collèges pour
témoigner, milite pour la reconnaissance du génocide arménien et porte
un oeil bienveillant sur le mouvement des Indignés.

“Avec la crise, on détruit des pays, on veut changer les régimes. Elle
est là maintenant, la vraie dictature”, clame-t-il. Le “dernier des
Manouchian” n’a rien perdu de sa radicalité.

La Republique du Centre, France
Samedi 3 Décembre 2011
Beauce Edition; Loire Sologne Edition; Métropole Orléans Edition;
Pithiviers Montargis Gien Edition

Charles Aznavour, légende de la chanson

Plus de soixante ans de carrière et toujours pas prêt à quitter la
scène. À 87 ans, Charles Aznavour est ce samedi soir sur la scène du
Zénith d’Orléans.

Il est l’un des derniers monstres sacrés de la chanson française

Charles Aznavour (de son vrai nom Aznavourian) est né à Paris le 22
mai 1924, dans une famille arménienne. Son père, Micha, ancien
baryton, ouvre un petit restaurant arménien à Paris, où il chante pour
les exilés d’Europe centrale. Charles et Aïda, sa soeur aînée,
grandissent dans une atmosphère de musique et de thétre (la maman est
comédienne), au milieu des nombreux artistes qui fréquentent le petit
restaurant.

C’est en 1941 que Charles Aznavour rencontre Pierre Roche, pianiste et
compositeur. Ensemble, ils écument les cabarets parisiens. Repérés par
Édith Piaf en 1946, le duo accompagne la chanteuse dans une tournée
aux États-Unis avant de revenir en France, en 1952, où Charles
Aznavour essuie quelques échecs en tant que chanteur. Mais ses
compositions font mouche. Le déclic se produit en 1956 lors d’un
récital au Maroc. Le public l’adopte et sa carrière prend son envol en
1960, à l’Alhambra, à Paris, où il crée la chanson « Je m’voyais déjà
». Dès lors, les tubes (« Les comédiens », « La mamma », « Et pourtant
», « La Bohème », « Emmenez-moi »), les tournées triomphales et les
honneurs s’enchaînent. Il est ainsi nommé, en 1997, officier de la
Légion d’honneur, puis Commandeur en 2004. Entre-temps, en 1998, il
est élu l’artiste de variétés du siècle devant Elvis Presley et Bob
Dylan par le magazine américain « Time ».

è Pratique. Samedi, à 20 h 30, au Zénith. Tarifs : de 60 à 100 ?

Julie Poulet-Sevestre

Le Parisien, France
Vendredi 9 Décembre 2011

Salon du livre arménien

VAL-DE-MARNE; Alfortville

Pendant trois jours, l’espace culturel le 148 à Alfortville ouvre ses
portes à la littérature arménienne pour la 7e édition d’Armen’livres.
Organisé par la maison de la culture arménienne, l’événement mettra en
avant Krikor Beledian. En France depuis les années 1970, ce natif de
Beyrouth est maître de conférences à l’Inalco (Institut national des
langues et civilisations orientales) à Paris. Conférences et dédicaces
sont au programme.

A partir d’aujourd’hui et jusqu’à dimanche, de 11 heures à 19 heures,
148, rue Paul-Vaillant-Couturier. Tél. 01.43.76.55.89.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 10 2011

Nagorno-Karabakh should get a conditional status – MP
Sat 10 December 2011 06:19 GMT | 8:19 Local Time

During Parliament’s budget discussion, I brought financing of
Nagorno-Karabakh on the agenda.

The statement came from MP Zahid Oruj, Gun.Az reported.

According to the MP, confess that this is a very sensitive issue:

`We consider some undertones in this idea. It doesn’t deal with
forgetting the occupation reality, hiding crimes of Armenians in
Nagorno-Karabakh and launching peaceful cooperation with them’.

Orujov noted that it deals with the main point that though Armenia
shows aggression against Azerbaijan, Karabakh Armenians involved in
this process are Azerbaijani citizens.

`This is itself another topic on what they are responsible of and how
their participation in separatism will be assessed in the future. But
the point that these territories belong to Azerbaijan doesn’t change’.

Oruj voiced importance of showing Nagorno-Karabakh in financial
documents as it is shown on the Azerbaijani map:

`This is important for our political maneuvers, in simple words, it’s
important to give a conditional status to Nagorno-Karabakh and
consider it in all policies of the government. For example, we should
consider financial expenses to restore Khankendi, its infrastructure
and remove negative consequences of the occupation. These can be
mentioned as sub-points in financial documents. But the main point
should be to consider Nagorno-Karabakh in state outcomes’.

The MP noted that it’s also the requirement of the Azerbaijani Constitution:

`From the other hand, we repeatedly mention that Karabakh doesn’t have
normal economy, basically because of terror and drug financing.
Armenians mainly manage to live on with the help of international
humanitarian aids. The US annually sends nearly $8m worth humanitarian
aid here annually. It’s normal that we don’t welcome it since
considering Karabakh to be a separate entity and doing such act
without Azerbaijan’s presence violates our rights of sovereignty’.

The MP said that the budget should estimate financing of Karabakh.

`We should show the world that when they approach to the Azerbaijani
Constitution with respect and recognize its territorial integrity,
Azerbaijan will take care of them as own citizens and take
responsibility to develop and flourish the region.’

The MP believes that this step will cause Armenians living in Karabakh
in bad conditions to stand against their false government:

`Look at Russia’s policy to Chechnya. We should direct the same policy
to Karabakh. Of course, the financial means for Karabakh will remain
unspent. But it should be done to show the world that Azerbaijan is
ready to recognize civil rights of Karabakh Armenians. We should make
steps in this regard and as Presidential Administration Head Ramiz
Mehdiyev said, Armenians living in Karabakh are also citizens of
Azerbaijan but aggression and cooperation can’t get along with each
other. Therefore, if they obey Azerbaijani laws, they will be able to
use their civil rights’.

Orujov also noted that some financial means allocated by the budget to
the Karabakh Azerbaijani community is a kind of message to them to see
what they have lost by not joining Azerbaijan.

`This is also a signal to Karabakh Armenians to act against Armenia’.

News.Az

news.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 10 2011

It seems US has some serious commitment to Armenian diaspora – Novruz Mamamdov
Sat 10 December 2011 14:18 GMT | 16:18 Local Time

“It seems the United States has an unnatural love for Armenia.

Head of the foreign relation department at the Presidential
Administration of Azerbaijan Novruz Mammadov has commented on recent
remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton which contained
biased criticism towards Azerbaijan.

“It’s quite interesting statement. I would say it is interesting for
several reasons. Firstly, I note that discussions on human rights, of
course, are very important in today’s world.

`And the desire to protect those rights is quite normal. However, are
human rights divided into different categories according to their
significance?” Mammadov said and noted that the US ignores the
violation of rights of almost one million Azerbaijani refugees and
internally displaced persons, victims of Armenian aggression.

In her statement on occasion of 9 December which marks International
Day of Human Rights, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking
about violations in this sphere, also cited Azerbaijan Republic as one
of the negative examples, along with the state of Zimbabwe.

“If this is indeed an important issue for the United States, then why
the same State Department keeps silent on the issue of infringement of
rights of one million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced
persons, evicted from their lands as a result of illegal, armed
aggression by the Armenian side? Why does no one make a serious
statement on the matter?’ the official asked.

“Maybe those who wrote State Secretary’s statement relied on the logic
of the English alphabet, referring to Azerbaijan along with Zimbabwe
(first and last letters of the alphabet). However, either they did not
learn it properly (at least, according to the alphabetical order
Armenia comes before Azerbaijan), or we are again dealing with double
standards in the US foreign policy,” Mammadov said.

All the arguments in this case are obvious, he added.

“It seems the United States has an unnatural love for Armenia. America
displays exactly this attitude and each time proves that it remains
true to this course,’ he continued.

The United States kept completely silent even when election outcomes
in Armenia were grossly rigged and 30 individuals were killed in a
crackdown on protesters, he noted.

“The US will still keep silent even if there are hundreds of political
prisoners in Armenia, and the government shuts down all media and
declares a state of emergency.

`One gets the impression that the US has some serious commitment to
the Armenian diaspora, which makes both media organizations and
officials to voice negative evaluations solely about Azerbaijan while
making only positive remarks about Armenia,’ Mammadov said.

1news.az

news.am, Armenia
Dec 10 2011

Armenian language to get more support in Poland

December 11, 2011 | 00:20

WARSAW. – The Committee of Ministers of the European Union called
Poland to increase the use of the language of the national minorities
at schools, on radio and TV on local and regional level, Nouvelles
dArménie reports.

Having accepted the first independent expert report on the
implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority
Languages the Committee called to qualify teachers and offer school
education on the languages of the national minorities. In the
meantime, broadcasting on languages of regional or minority groups
should be increased.

The Committee also stated the necessity to apply the Charter regarding
lesser used languages, such as the Armenian language.

news.am, Armenia
Dec 10 2011

Is famous Turkish writer’s lover Armenian?

December 10, 2011 | 12:37

NEW YORK-Turkish famous writer, Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk was
seen in New York with Istanbul Armenian artist Caroline Fisekchi.

As the Turkish Sabah informs the Armenian artist and Pamuk were
photographed in New York.

After Fisekchi returned to Istanbul, reporters tried to find out
details about her relations with Orhan Pamuk.

`What can I say? The photos show what there is. I have known Pamuk for
a long time,’ she said.

APA, Azerbaijan
Dec 10 2011

Novruz Mammadov: `Armenian leaders’ statements aim to break the
negotiation process’

[ 10 Dec 2011 11:52 ]

Baku. Parvin Abbasov – APA. `Armenian leadership joins the
negotiations under the pressure of international community, union and
co-chairs’, chief of the foreign policy department of the Presidential
Administration of Azerbaijan Novruz Mammadov said while commenting on
the Armenian foreign minister’s statement that `if the status is not
given to Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian community will not participate in
the negotiations’.

Mammadov said the invader country made such statements to break the
negotiation process: `They are very crafty and hypocritical. They try
to show themselves as a constructive side and manage to achieve it for
a time. But they can find a pretext at the supreme moment. Their
current statements aim to break the negotiation process in the
future’.

Anush Hayrapetyan

June 2, 2010
BA Thesis: International Law and the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

International legal principles applied to the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict allow for the international recognition of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The conflict’s resolution would promote the
normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the most bloody and large-scale
conflicts in the post-Soviet region. This is an old conflict with its own
genesis and internal dynamics. The conflict is considered to be a real
obstacle to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Different political and economic factors play a major role in the
regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: the geostrategic interests of
regional hegemons and the question of who controls its oil riches. Not
surprisingly, the process of conflict regulation in Nagorno-Karabakh is a
highly politicized issue. To date, little or no attention has been paid to
the legal aspects of the conflict, and the possibility for conflict
regulation via the application of the principles of international law.

This thesis focuses on the application of the principles of international
law as a way to regulate the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, in due consideration
of the political interests of the parties involved in the conflict. The
paper investigates the role of international principles in conflict
prevention and regulation, and their applicability to the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute. The legal aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue from its earliest
days to the present are comprehensively studied in the thesis. Possible
models for the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the role of
precedent are discussed in this paper in order to assess the possibility of
an international recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

*Anush Hayrapetyan has a Specialist Diploma in the field of International
Relations from the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University. She is
interested in researching conflicts, human rights and issues related to
European integration.*

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