Author: Kanayan Tamar

Russia slams EU plans to support Caspian pipeline

23:33 – 13.09.11

Russia lashed out Tuesday at an offer by the European Union to broker
talks between energy-rich Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan aimed at
creating a natural gas pipeline that would carry Turkmen fuel to the
West.

According to the Associated Press, Moscow’s testy outburst over EU
lobbying for construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline highlights
Russian sensitivities over prospects that its grip on the supply of
gas to Europe could be loosened.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that only the
five countries bordering on the Caspian had the right to settle issues
regarding use of the inland body of water.

Europe is eager to diversify its gas purchases away from Russia, whose
recurrent disputes with transit nation Ukraine have led to periodic
cutoffs.

Western Europe relies on Russia for a quarter of its gas needs. Some
80 percent of the gas bound for Western Europe is carried through
Ukrainian pipeline.

A pricing dispute between Ukraine and Russia in 2009 left Europe
without a key source of gas and the union is keen to diversify its
supply.

Under a mandate approved Monday, the EU will propose a union-wide
treaty supporting the completion of the trans-Caspian pipeline.
Gas carried through that route would then be fed into EU-backed
Nabucco pipeline that bypasses Russia.

“Europe is now speaking with one voice. The trans-Caspian pipeline is
a major project in the Southern Corridor to bring new sources of gas
to Europe. We have the intention of achieving this as soon as
possible,” EU Energy Commissioner Oettinger said in a statement.

The planned Nabucco pipeline is slated to transport 31 billion cubic
meters of natural gas from the Caspian region to Austria via southern
Europe.

The viability of the project has been called into question over doubts
that enough suppliers can be found to fill the pipeline.

Tert.am

Iranian Students News Agency
Sept 18 2011

Iran, Armenia discuss further cooperation

ISNA – Tehran
Service: Foreign Policy

TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Armenian
Foreign Minister discussed boosting bilateral relations to expand
security and peace in the region.

Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian said, `There is no limitation from Iranian side to expand
mutual ties in different fields of politics, economy and culture. We
can quickly mature relations as much as three times.’

`We are willing all countries in the world enjoy a friendly and just
coexistence and resolve disputes through talks if there are any,’
Ahmadinejad said referring to joint programs between Iran and Armenia.

As to available potentials between the two countries, he added,
`Trading with neighbors is the best one which help creating and
expanding security, peace and friendship in the region and will be in
favor of regional countries as well.’

Nalbandian on his part said, `The volume of the exchanges between Iran
and Armenia rose more than 38 percent and has reached $270m in current
year.’

He noted, “Iran-Armenia joint economic commission is in line with
putting the agreements into practice.’

He continued, `Different projects including the connection of Iran’s
railway to Armenia, transferring the power line from Iran to Armenia,
constructing the joint Aras hydro-power plant and also transferring
the oil products pipeline to Armenia are all big projects and their
implementation will be for the favor of the two nations and the
nations of the whole region.’

End Item

REVUE DE PRESSE
Des enfants émigrés dorment dans la rue

Depuis plusieurs jours, des familles étrangères avec des enfants, dont
certains n’ont que 4 ans, dorment sur le trottoir au port de commerce.
L’histoire

En 2011, en France, des enfants de 4 ans peuvent dormir dans la rue !
La scène se passe au port de commerce, rue de Madagascar. Depuis
environ deux semaines pour certaines, des familles installent un
campement pour la nuit : une bche pour isoler du sol et des
couvertures. Elles sont installées sur le trottoir, devant le foyer
d’hébergement Aftam.

Il y a désormais cinq familles : trois d’Albanie, soit douze personnes
dont six enfants ; une couple d’Arméniens avec une fillette de 4 ans
et un garçon de 7 ans ; une mère seule avec trois enfants, dont une
fillette de 4 ou 5 ans, venue de la Corne de l’Afrique. Somalie,
Éthiopie, Djibouti ? Difficile à dire : seuls les enfants parlent le
français, laissant penser qu’ils sont effectivement passés par
Djibouti.

« Déni de droit »

Gevorg et son épouse Gohar ont fui l’Arménie, mais ne veulent pas dire
pourquoi. Ils craignent beaucoup d’être pris en photo. Par
l’intermédiaire d’un bénévole russe, ils acceptent d’expliquer leur
parcours. Ils disent être arrivés en France le 30 août en provenance
de Moscou, « après trois jours en autobus ». Pourquoi ont-ils poussé
jusqu’à Brest ? Impossible de le savoir. Ils disent être arrivés « par
l’autobus ». Depuis deux semaines, le couple affirme n’avoir bénéficié
que de « trois nuits à l’hôtel ». Ils ont l’intention de faire une
demande d’asile.

« C’est un déni de droit, dénonce Olivier Cuzon de Cass’Papiers,
collectif de soutien aux sans-papiers. Le préfet a l’obligation
d’assurer l’hébergement d’urgence des demandeurs d’asile. Et surtout,
laisser des enfants dormir dans la rue ! C’est contraire à la
convention internationale des droits de l’enfant. »

Hier après-midi, deux militants ont demandé une entrevue à la
sous-préfecture. La grille ne s’ouvrant pas, ils ont profité de la
sortie du personnel pour se glisser dans l’enceinte de la
sous-préfecture. Ils ont été finalement reçus par le secrétaire
général. « Ils suivent la situation de près et ont promis une réponse
le plus rapidement possible », indiquait Olivier Cuzon, à l’issue de
l’entrevue.

« Forte tension »

Hier soir, le sous-préfet de Brest souhaitait replacer cette affaire
dans « un contexte de forte tension sur l’hébergement des demandeurs
d’asile. Depuis le début de l’année, les demandes ont augmenté de 30 %
au niveau national. Ça se répercute aussi dans le Finistère. » Selon
Jean-Pierre Condemine, le Finistère dispose de 421 places
d’hébergement d’urgence. « Nous sommes saturés. »

Ne contestant pas l’urgence pour les enfants, le sous-préfet assure
que « les décisions les plus adaptées seront prises pour les familles
les plus en détresse ». Mais il prévient : « Nous ne pourrons pas
héberger tout le monde. »

Hier soir, les familles africaine et arménienne ont été hébergées à
Keraudren. Les familles albanaises sont restées sur le trottoir.

dimanche 18 septembre 2011,
Sté[email protected]

ARARAT-ARAKATZ
L’Ararat se trouvait en Arménie dans l’esprit des alpinistes Iraniens

Drôle d’histoire ! Des alpinistes Iraniens étaient venus en Arménie
pour faire l’ascension du mont Ararat (5 156 m). Mais sur place en
Arménie ils déchantèrent. Ils apprirent que la montagne symbole des
Arméniens se trouvait de l’autre côté de la frontière…en Turquie.
Ils décidèrent alors de gravir le mont Arakadz (4 090 m). Ce groupe
d’une douzaine d’alpinistes Iraniens pas très experts en cartographie
était pourtant emmené par Madjid Mola le maire de la ville iranienne
d’Alvand dans la province de Ghazvin. L’équipe d’alpinistes s’exerce
depuis 13 ans déjà sur les plus hauts sommets d’Iran. Elle a gravi
près de 80 % des plus hauts sommets du pays dont le Demovant (5 671
m). Pour justifier son erreur Madjid Mola dit aux journalistes
Arméniens « en Iran le nom Ararat est lié aux Arméniens. Il y a un
club « Ararat » des équipes sportives qui portent également le nom
d’Ararat, si bien que pour nous en Iran, le nom d’Ararat est lié aux
Arméniens. Et nous étions convaincus que le mont Ararat se trouvait en
Arménie ». Mais l’équipe iranienne qui a préparé un film documentaire
sur l’Arménie n’a pas été déçue de l’Arménie où « la nature est très
belle ». « Des 4 sommets de l’Arakadz la vue d’Erévan est très belle.
Il y a pour l’ascension de l’Arakadz quelques difficultés techniques,
la terre n’était pas stable sous nos pieds. Mais ce fut pour nous un
souvenir merveilleux. Je voudrais vous dire aussi que vous avez des
alpinistes Arméniens exceptionnels » dit Madgid Mola.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 18 septembre 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

EDITOR OF TURKISH DAILY GETS HRANT DINK AWARD

news.am
Sept 16 2011
Armenia

International Hrant Dink Foundation awarded chief editor of Turkish
Taraf newspaper Ahmet Altan and Mexican journalist, human rights
defender Lydia Caco.

Receiving the award, Altan said he would give it to a person who will
find murderers of Hrant Dink.

An annual award is granted to activists and journalists who are
struggling for human rights and freedom of speech.

Hrant Dink, chief editor of the bilingual Armenian-Turkish Agos
newspaper, was killed near his office in Istanbul on January 19,
2007 by Turkish ultranationalist Ogun Samast.

TURKS KILLED 15,000 ARMENIANS IN BITLIS, IN 1 DAY – OTTOMAN ARMY GENERAL

news.am
Sept 16 2011
Armenia

The Kurdish Firat News Agency reflected on the memoirs, about the
Armenian Genocide, of the Venezuelan general Rafael de Nogales Mendez,
who was voluntarily serving in the Ottoman Empire. In his book,
entitled 4 Years in the Ottoman Army, the general attests that the
Armenian massacres had occurred under the Ottoman state’s knowledge
and guidance.

“Even though they were firing at the Armenians on the street, I
approached the mayor, who was heading the massacre. The mayor noted
that he was doing nothing but carrying out the governor’s order. At
that time, I instructed the gendarmerie to withdraw, and I waited
until the end. After the 1.5-hour massacre, 7 Armenians remained in
the Adilcevaz region of Bitlis. On that day, Commander Cevdet Bey,
together with Kagikyan Efendi, took 5,000 gold liras from 200 prominent
Armenians of Bitlis and then hung them all.

They shared that amount with Halil Bey. Not being satisfied with that,
they were taking the Armenian men to the mountains, in 50-member
groups, where the Armenians were digging their own graves with their
own hands and, once killed, they were being thrown there. On that day,
15 thousand Armenians were killed in Bitlis and nearby villages,”
Firat quotes as the Venezuelan general saying.

ARMENIAN TAX OFFICERS DETECTED COGNAC WITH DOUBTFUL EXCISE LABELS

/ARKA/
September 16, 2011
YEREVAN

Employees of tax inspection detected in the territory of the fair
“Ayrarat” cognac with the label of “Yerevan Cognac Factory” with
doubtful excise labels.

Particularly they detected 12 bottles of different types and capacity
marked with excise labels.

Identified signs of excise marks of holographic tapes did not
correspond to the analogue of state sample.

A protocol was formed about the mentioned violations and removal of
the bottles with the purpose of investigation.

ARMENIAN-KOREAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
16.09.2011 18:06

Political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Korea were held in Yerevan today.

During the meeting the parties discussed a broad range of bilateral
interest, particularly reciprocal high-level visits, intensification
of trade-economic and cultural ties, expansion of the legal framework,
as well as the cooperation within international organizations.

Reference was made to regional issues, as well. In that context
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Manasaryan presented the
latest developments in the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue.

NEW ANIMATED CHILDREN’S TV SERIES HOPES TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN ARMENIA

epress.am
09.16.2011

An animated TV series for children called “Berd Bears” launched at
Yerevan’s Moscow Cinema today. An initiative by Homeland Handicrafts,
the Berd Women’s Resource Center and KassArt Studio, the TV series
aims to raise environmental awareness among not only children but
also adults.

The idea behind the Berd Bears originated from Homeland Handicrafts,
the founder of which, Timothy Straight, was encouraged to visit Berd –
a village in the northeastern Armenian marz (province) of Tavush just
9 kms from the Azerbaijani border – by local Peace Corps Volunteer
John Hart in March of this year. Once Mr. Straight saw an example
of a bear knitted by local women, the idea for producing more teddy
bears for sale was born.

According to an earlier blog post on the Homeland Handicrafts website,
“For us, the joy is not only the fact that these are fabulous bears,
but that we are providing work to several women in Berd who have not
earned a penny of their own in ten years.”

Prompted by the success of the Berd Bear initiative, Mr. Straight then
approached Vrej Kassouny of KassArt Studio with an idea to launch an
animated TV series.

The cast of the series includes Archo the Bear (voice by Arsen
Grigoryan), Arsho the Bear (played by popular Armenian actress Irina
Danielyan), Kar-Kar the Crow (the “evil villain” played by Vigen
Stepanyan), Meghu the Bee (by well-known Armenian singer Aramo)
and Titer the Butterfly (also played by Irina Danielyan). Archo
the Bear has one ear bigger than the other, one eye bigger than the
other and the stomach that’s off to the side, but what’s important,
as Mr. Kassouny pointed out, is the focus on inner beauty rather
than external beauty.

Introducing the concept at the launch today, Mr. Straight described
how growing up, he would watch programming that taught children not
to pollute, to conserve water and electricity and generally keep the
environment clean. It is with this in mind that the creators hope to
make the “Berd Bears” TV series available to Armenian audiences.

Asked whether he thinks that Yerevan or Armenia is so polluted that
drove him to suggest such a TV series, Mr. Straight responded in the
negative, saying that it is a lack of environmental awareness that
exists in Armenia rather than any apparent pollution.

However, to illustrate his concern, Mr. Straight recounted an episode
of a family who got out of a car at the side of the road in Noravank.

The young boy, with an empty cola bottle in his hand, asked his
mother what he should do with it. His mother simply said, “Throw it
on the ground.” And so it is, as one attendee pointed out, that the
“Berd Bears” TV series is not only for children, but also for adults.

Mr. Kassouny, in turn, when asked whether the team had approached local
TV stations to air the series, said there has been “great interest”
but nothing concrete has come through yet. Today’s launch included a
demo of what’s in store for television audiences – if the series is
picked up and receives financial backing.

Mr. Straight noted that they will be contacting TV stations, mobile
(telecommunications) companies and embassies for support. The team
expects to wrap up pre-production by the end of this year and begin
fundraising soon. If all goes well, they hope to have the series
ready by early spring of next year.

RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVES VISIT ARMENIAN CAPTIVES IN AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Sept 16 2011
Azerbaijan

On September 15, representatives of the International Committee of
the Red Cross visited 3 Armenian soldiers and 5 civilians captured
in Azerbaijan.

The statement came from spokesperson for ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan
Shahla Gahramanova.

According to her, four ‘Red Cross’ letters and photos were delivered
to them, 6 “Red Cross” letters were taken from them.

Armenian citizens Yegishe, Ruzanna, Alfred, Gayane and Petros
Gevorkyans are members of one family. They crossed the Azerbaijani
border on January 2010.

Two of the captives – Ohan Arutunyan and Gevorg Tovmasyan passed into
the Azerbaijani side in May 2009, Karen Arutunyan in July 2009. They
expressed their desire to be sent to the 3rd country.