Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS DISCUSS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

YEREVAN, February 17. / ARKA /. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met
Tuesday with visiting OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Igor Popov (Russia),
James Warlick (USA) and Pierre Andre (France), as well as with personal
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Sargsyan’s press office said the co-chairs shared their impressions
of the meetings they had in Azerbaijan. It said the president and the
peace brokers discussed then a set of issues related to the current
status of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

It said president Sargsyan welcomed the statement the co-chairs
issued on January 27 in Krakow that was different from their previous
statements calling on Azerbaijan to observe its commitments to the
peaceful settlement of the conflict and expressing also their serious
concern about reported incursions across the line of contact and the
Armenia-Azerbaijan border, resulting in casualties.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the
collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly
Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from
Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by succeeding
referendum. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no
permanent peace agreement has been signed.

Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been
under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh
is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued
to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with
snipers causing tens of deaths a year. – 0-

TURKEY WON’T DECIDE ON AIR DEFENSE DEAL BEFORE APR. 24

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 17 2015

Burak Bekdil

Turkey won’t make a decision over its multibillion dollar deal for
the construction of its first long-range air and anti-missile defense
system before April 24, the centennial of the 1915 events

The defense committe selected CPMIEC as the best bidder, Eurosam as
the second and a partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin as the
third. DHA Photo

Turkey will refrain from selecting a winner for its disputed,
multibillion dollar contract for the construction of its first
long-range air and anti-missile defense system before April 24, the
centennial commemoration of the 1915 killings of Ottoman Armenians,
according to senior officials.

“We have agreed with the government leaders not to rush to a decision
any time soon,” one defense procurement official said. “A decision
before April 24 is out of the question.”

A senior diplomat confirmed that Ankara first wants to see the U.S.

and French positions on the “genocide claims” before awarding
a sizeable contract “to a bidder potentially from one of these
countries.”

“How these countries observe the centennial of the events [of
1915-1920] will be an important input for our final decision,” he said.

After Ankara selected a Chinese company in September 2013 to build
the air defense architecture and came under heavy pressure from its
Western allies for the decision, it also opened parallel negotiations
this summer with a European contender in the multibillion dollar
competition.

Contract negotiations with the Chinese manufacturer, China Precision
Machinery Import Export Corp (CPMIEC), are also in progress, but
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that talks have also opened
with Eurosam, the European contender in the program.

Following an assessment by Turkey’s top defense procurement agency,
the Defense Industry Executive Committee selected CPMIEC as the best
bidder and Eurosam as the second. A U.S. partnership of Raytheon and
Lockheed Martin came third in the bidding. CPMIEC offered a solution
with a price tag of $3.44 billion.

A defense industry source said he expected tough rivalry between
French and U.S. contenders in the second half of 2015. “Both of them
are surely aware that how their governments tackle the centennial
will be critical for success or failure,” he said.

February/17/2015

ANKARA CALLS ARMENIANS ‘INCOHERENT’ FOR REJECTING PROTOCOLS

Tuesday, February 17th, 2015

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic

ANKARA–Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic told reporters
Tuesday that Ankara remains committed to the protocols signed between
Turkey and Armenia purportedly aiming to normalize bilateral relations,
after Yerevan recently withdrew the 2008 protocols from parliament,
Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Bilgic told reporters yesterday that Yerevan has decided to withdraw
the Protocol on Establishing of Diplomatic Relations and the Protocol
on Developing Relations in order “to create a reason to accuse Turkey”
ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian government, and a majority of Armenians around the world,
regarded the protocols as unfair and a diplomatic ploy by Turkey,
due to the myriad conditions and concessions it demands of Armenia.

Meanwhile, the Turkish parliament itself has not ratified either of
the agreements.

Bilgic, however, called Armenians “incoherent and insincere” because
of the move, adding that “Turkey will remain loyal to regional
normalization process which is the fundamental goal of the protocols.”

On Feb. 16, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian announced that he has
asked the country’s parliamentary speaker to withdraw his signature
from the protocols.

Sarkisian said in a statement that Armenia would not ratify the
agreement because of the “preconditions” that Turkey is putting in
place before it ratifies its side of the deal.

The agreement aimed to restore diplomatic ties between the countries
as well as reopen the common border, which Turkey closed in 1993.

Turkey holds off weapons deal for April 24 Authorities said Turkey will
postpone the selection a winner for a controversial, multibillion
dollar contract for the construction of an anti-missile defense
system until after April 24, the Hurriyet Daily News reported,
quoting senior officials.

A senior diplomat confirmed that Ankara first wants to see the U.S.

and French positions on the Armenian Genocide before awarding
a sizeable contract “to a bidder potentially from one of these
countries.”

“We have agreed with the government leaders not to rush to a decision
any time soon,” one defense procurement official said. “A decision
before April 24 is out of the question.”

“How these countries observe the centennial of the events will be an
important input for our final decision,” he said.

After Ankara selected a Chinese company in September 2013 to build
the air defense architecture and came under heavy pressure from its
Western allies for the decision, it also opened parallel negotiations
this summer with a European contender in the multibillion dollar
competition.

A defense industry source said he expected tough rivalry between
French and U.S. contenders in the second half of 2015. “Both of them
are surely aware that how their governments tackle the centennial
will be critical for success or failure,” he said.

ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO UNION OF ARMENIANS OF ROMANIA

20:50, 17 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 17 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Union of Armenians of Romania
will benefit from funding from the Romanian government’s state budget.

As “Armenpress” reports, the release of books of the Union of Armenians
of Romania, as well as volumes of books published under the patronage
of Ararat Publishing House will be funded by the Romanian government.

The Union’s weekly Armenian schools are also included in the list of
official schools, and Armenian language teachers will be remunerated
by the Ministry of Education, which will also ensure publication of
Armenian language textbooks.

PAN-ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTAL FRONT ESTABLISHING GROUP OF EXPERTS DEALING WITH ECOLOGY ISSUES

15:13 February 16, 2015

EcoLur

The Pan-Armenian Environmental Front is establishing a group of
experts dealing with ecology problems, which will give specialized
evaluations and assessment to environmental projects.

“We can see that state evaluation and control are in this regard
at either low level or are missing at all. That’s why we want to
create an alternative specialize group, which will be able to provide
independent evaluations, independent monitoring, analyses and studies,”
said PEF member Levon Galstyan in his interview with EcoLur.

“Very frequently environmentalists’ words are considered as
not grounded and non-substantiated, and people think that the
environmental just voice these problems without having any grounded
serious opinion. Today our task is to gather all those specialists,
who will support voluntarily and will provide grounded specialized
opinion, which will aid the youth to build their fight,” PEF member
Anna Aghlamazyan said.

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN ABOUT RECALL OF ZURICH PROTOCOLS. “THE MOMENT HAD COME.”

February 17 2015

“I had predicted that by April 24, the President will recall the
Zurich protocols, and generally what I predicted happened,” said
Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastyan,
in conversation with Aravot.am, referring to the Armenia-Turkey
Protocols. In his opinion, the moment had come and Serzh Sargsyan’s
decision to recall the Armenia-Turkey protocols was appropriate. “This
shows that Armenia has a very negative attitude towards the impudent
conduct of Turkish authorities, which increasingly appears on the
threshold of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Marking the
events dedicated to 100th anniversary of the battle of Gallipoli
on April 24 is a negative action when they sent invitations around
the world, the continuation of the policy of denial is associated
with it.” Recall that President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter dated
February 16 to the Speaker of the National Assembly Galust Sahakyan
notifying about his decision to recall the Armenia- Turkey protocols.

Ami CHICHAKYAN

Read more at:

APROS ESSAI, LA CHANTEUSE EMMI POURRAIT REJOINDRE > POUR REPRESENTER L’ARMENIE A L’EUROVISION 2015

L’ARMENIE A L’EUROVISION 2015

Après le chanteur franco-armenien Essaï Altounian, la chanteuse
d’Armenie, Emmi pourrait rejoindre le groupe > pour
representer l’Armenie a l’Eurovision 2015 avec la chanson de la chanson de l’Armenie etait en contradiction avec
les règles du concours europeen de la chanson…

Krikor Amirzayan

mardi 17 fevrier 2015, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

POLICE REPRESSIONS IN ARMENIA BEFORE OPPOSITION RALLY

16 FEBRUARY 2015
Written by Karen Tovmasyan

The Armenian police has started a series of repressions against
the opposition activists today. According to the press center of
Prosperous Armenia party dozens of activists and functionaries of
opposition parties, mainly from opposition Prosperous Armenian party
have already been taken to police stations without any explanations.

According to opposition MP Rustam Gevorgyan, policemen dressed as
civilians, without any documents and permission from the court have
climed on the wall of his house and entered to his ownership and
without any documentation made illegal rummage.

The police repressions are arranged by announcement of one of
the richest Armenian businesman Gagik Tsarukyan about joining the
opposition and willingness to take active part in the change of the
president by organizing pan-national demonstrations and rallies.

The pan-national rally of the leading opposition trio (Armenian
National Congress, Prosperous Armenia, and Heritage parties) is
planned on 20th of February.

POSSIBLE MESSAGES FOR RECOGNITION OF ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’ IN ARMENIA’S SONG FOR EUROVISION TO BE LOOKED FOR

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2015

[ 16 February 2015 19:49 ]

Baku. Javid Zeynalli – APA. The Organizing Committee for the Eurovision
Song Contest will look into the song “Don’t Deny” which Armenia will
present for the contest in order to make certain if the song carries
any messages for the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide,
head of organizational affairs of the Eurovision song contest, Sietse
Bakker, said in a statement to APA.

S. Bakker commented on reports of the song “Don’t Deny” being dedicated
to the so-called Armenian genocide claims, saying Armenia’s Public
Television (AMPTV) has indeed announced the aforementioned song
will be presented to the contest: “But as far as I know they have
not made any claims about this song being connected to the Armenian
“genocide”. That suggestion was made by media. We will await to hear
the song, to hear if it’s in line with the rules, because no political
statements or gestures are permitted”.

MAYOR OF 11TH ARRONDISSEMENT: MARCEL RAJMAN’S SACRIFICE IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN TODAY’S CONTEXT; COMPATRIOT: MANY OF US JEWS PARTICIPATED IN RESISTANCE, BUT “PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET.”

By RINA BASSIST
02/16/2015 21:17

NAZI HUNTER Serge Klarsfeld (right), resistance veteran Roger
Fichtenberg (center) and sculptor Denis Chetboun stand next to the
newly inaugurated statue of Marcel Rajman in Paris on Sunday.. (photo
credit:RINA BASSIST)

PARIS – Politicians, resistance veterans, Communist Party activists,
Jewish leaders and residents of Paris’s 11th Arrondissement gathered
on Sunday morning at a little city garden, not far from the Leon
Blum square. The veterans were wearing their medals and berets,
holding up flags.

They came to honor their friend, Marcel Rajman, executed by the
Germans in February 1944, together with 22 other resistance members.

The little garden was named after Rajman several years ago, but
on this gray winter morning his comrades came to unveil a statue;
inspired by his image on the last day of his life.

“When we came here last year, at the annual commemoration ceremony,
I felt that this place needed not only a name, but also a face, an
image. I vowed, in the name of all of us, sons and daughters of the
deportees, to bring the face of our friend, Marcel, back to his home
neighborhood, to bring back his soul.

One of us, who wished to stay anonymous, made a donation, and here we
are today, honoring not only Marcel Rajman, but all those who fought
with him,” Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld told The Jerusalem Post.

Rajman was one of the foreigners who tied their fate with their new
homeland; Armenians, Polish, Italians and Spanish who immigrated to
France in the early 30s and joined the French resistance, when Paris
was occupied by the German army.

There, foreigners formed up a group of their own which was named
after its leader, Armenian poet Missak Manouchian. Most of them were
young communists.

Marcel Rajman and his Polish Jewish friends initiated several audacious
and spectacular attacks against the Germans.

They attempted to assassinate the German governor of Paris, but the
attack failed. An attempt to kill another high ranking German officer,
however, succeeded.

In mid-November 1943 the French police arrested 23 members of the
communist labor movement network (FTP-MOI). The resistance members
were tortured, then put on trial by a German military court. The Nazis
turned the trial into a media circus, inviting French celebrities and
others to watch it. At the end, a firing squad executed 22 members
at Fort Mont Valerien.

The 23rd member, Olga Bancic, was later beheaded in Stuttgart.

Leon Felman, 90, one of the flag bearers, knew Marcel Rajman
personally. “His family lived at the Rue des Immeubles Industriels,
near Place de la Nation. They were poor Polish immigrants who made
their living by knitting.

When Marcel’s father was arrested, Marcel, together with his younger
brother, Simon, joined the resistance, but only Simon survived the
war. I myself also joined the resistance. I was 17 and managed to flee
the French gendarmerie when they rounded up our family. My mother told
me to run, so I ran. There were many of us Jews who participated in
the resistance, but people tend to forget that.”

Felman was decorated for his bravery with the highest French
decoration; officer of the Legion d’Honneur.

Catherine Vieu-Charier, who represented Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo at
the ceremony, told the Post that there was much symbolism to the
inauguration of the status this year in particular, a month after
the terrorist attacks in Paris.

“We are honoring Polish Jews, foreigners, who sacrificed themselves
for France, against barbarism… The world expressed solidarity
with us when human dignity and freedom were threatened here, when
anti-Semitism came back to the forefront. This anti-Semitism, has
never left French soil. The victims were not chosen haphazardly;
journalists, police officers, Jews. All of them representing the
diversity of France and its values.”

The mayor of the 11th Paris Arrondissement, Francois Vauglin, also
linked Rajman’s story to recent events.

“The sacrifice of Marcel Rajman and his friends is particularly
significant and strong in today’s context, with the massacres at
Hyper Cacher and Charlie Hebdo and the terrible attack yesterday in
Copenhagen. And also when we recall the words of hate pronounced
at a theater in this very neighborhood not long ago [a reference
to the show of French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, recently
condemned for incitement]. We must remember that words and actions
are interrelated. Words of hate will be followed by actions, and this
is the lesson we must learn and the reality we must confront.”

Denis Chetboun, the sculptor who created the statue of Rajman, said
that he considered the commission a sacred one.

“I started working on the statue last year at my new Tel Aviv studio.

I made aliya at that very same time. I feel that my statue of Marcel
Rajman in effect closes the circle. For his image to be eternalized
in Israel specifically, might be Marcel Rajman’s greatest victory.”