Author: Kanayan Tamar

MARGVELASHVILI MEETS WITH ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 12 2014

12 December 2014 – 6:49pm

On Friday the President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, held a
meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan. They
discussed issues of cooperation in the spheres of economics and
culture.

After a meeting in the format of “one on one”, the Georgian President
invited the Armenian delegation to an official dinner, which was
attended by Minister of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia
Mikheil Giorgadze, State Minister for Diaspora Affairs Gela Dumbadze,
Georgian Ambassador to Armenia Tengiz Sharmanashvili, Security
Council Secretary Irina Imerlishvili, advisors to the President Tengiz
Pkhaladze and George Abashishvili and the head of the presidential
administration, David Pataraya.

Abrahamian, leading the Armenian government delegation, arrived in
Georgia on a two-day official visit on Thursday and met the Prime
Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili.

“The parties emphasized the friendly relations between the two
countries. The conversation also touched upon the cooperation between
Georgia and Armenia in the trade-economic, humanitarian and cultural
spheres,” the message of the press service of prime minister is quoted
by Georgia Online.

UN DEPUTE ARMENIEN DU PARTI AU POUVOIR : IL EST PREFERABLE DE RESTER SOUS LE JOUG DE LA RUSSIE

ARMENIE

Il est preferable pour l’Armenie de rester sous le joug de la Russie
a declare un membre de la faction du parti republicain majoritaire au
parlement expliquant son vote “oui” pour la ratification d’un traite
en vertu duquel l’Armenie deviendra un membre de la Union economique
eurasienne (UEE) dès l’an prochain.

“Nous ne pouvons pas survivre sans le peuple russe et vous le
savez bien, il suffit de vous poser cette question”, a declare Mher
Sedrakyan, parlant aux journalistes dans un couloir du parlement.

“Notre peuple a toujours vecu sous des jougs etrangers, nous sommes
habitues a avoir quelqu’un debout dessus de nous – ? les Perses,
les Turcs, les Russes … n’est ce pas mieux d’etre sous le joug des
Russes”, a declare le legislateur, ajoutant que “si nous n’etions
pas avec eux, nous serions devores. ”

vendredi 12 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

IRAK : 700 COMBATTANTS KURDES TUES DEPUIS LE DEBUT DE L’OFFENSIVE DE L’EI

IRAK

Plus de 700 combattants kurdes ont ete tues depuis le debut de
l’offensive jihadiste en Irak il y a six mois, a annonce mercredi la
region autonome du Kurdistan irakien.

Depuis le 10 juin, au lendemain du debut de l’offensive du groupe
Etat islamique (EI), 727 peshmergas ont peri et 3.564 ont ete blesses,
a annonce le gouvernement du Kurdistan dans un communique.

Il a precise que le bilan incluait “les officiers, les sous-officiers,
les membres des assayesh (renseignements) et de la police, ainsi que
les veterans peshmergas”.

Le gouvernement a ajoute que 34 autres membres des forces de securite
kurdes etaient portes disparus.

Les peshmergas ont notamment subi de lourdes pertes a Jalawla, une
ville a la frontière iranienne qui a change de mains plusieurs fois.

Le dernier bilan dresse le 8 août s’etablissait a 150 peshmergas tues.

Les chiffres n’incluent pas les eventuelles victimes infligees
aux renforts kurdes venus de Syrie, Turquie ou Iran, ni celles des
peshmergas irakiens envoyes pour defendre la ville syrienne de Kobane.

Mais selon le secretaire general du ministère des peshmergas, Jabbar
Yawar, seuls 11 combattants kurdes irakiens ont ete blesses a Kobane
et aucun n’a ete tue.

Les jihadistes de l’EI se sont empares en juin de larges pans du
territoire irakien, profitant de la debandade des forces federales
irakiennes, de nombreux soldats et policiers abandonnant tout
simplement leurs positions.

A la faveur de ce chaos, les peshmergas ont pris le contrôle de
territoires depuis longtemps disputes avec Bagdad, augmentant de
facto la taille de leur region de 40%.

Mais ils ont ensuite ete contraints de se retirer d’une partie de
ces territoires quand l’EI –qui a fait de Mossoul (nord) son centre
nevralgique en Irak– a lance une deuxième offensive en août.

Celle-ci a conduit les jihadistes aux portes de la capitale du
Kurdistan irakien, Erbil, poussant le president americain Barack Obama
a lancer des frappes aeriennes en soutien aux troupes kurdes au sol.

Plusieurs pays, dont la Grande-Bretagne, la France et l’Australie,
ont depuis rejoint cette campagne aerienne. Les peshmergas ont recu
parallèlement des armes et une aide en terme d’entraînement notamment.

Appuyes par les frappes de la coalition, les Kurdes ont participe
a la reconquete de plusieurs secteurs, comme le barrage de Mossoul
(nord), et sont desormais “en train de passer d’une phase defensive a
une phase offensive”, a souligne le gouvernement du Kurdistan mercredi.

Les forces federales irakiennes auraient elles perdu des milliers
d’hommes depuis juin.

Les violences ont deplace plus de deux millions d’habitants cette
annee, dont 946.266 ont trouve refuge au Kurdistan, selon un communique
commun de l’ONU et du gouvernement kurde publie mercredi.

L’accueil de ces deplaces “fait peser une lourde charge sur les
services sociaux (…) et les ressources financières” de la region,
a affirme le ministre kurde du Plan, Ali Sindi.

Une querelle avec Bagdad au sujet de la vente par Erbil de petrole a
entraîne des difficultes financières pour le Kurdistan, Bagdad bloquant
la part devolue au gouvernement kurde dans le budget national. Mais
debut decembre, un accord a finalement ete trouve, ce qui devrait
permettre le deblocage de l’argent.

vendredi 12 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

POLICE INVESTIGATING ATTACK ON MP: OPPOSITION PARTIES DEMAND QUICK SOLUTION TO CRIME

News | 12.12.14 | 15:26

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

related news

Opposition MP attacked: ANC condemns “politically motivated” violence
against Aram Manukyan

Investigators are looking into the case of beating of an Armenian
opposition member who was attacked in front of his house late on
Thursday.

Enlarge Photo

Armenian National Congress parliamentary faction secretary Aram
Manukyan sustained head injuries and was hospitalized, while, according
to the information disseminated by the Information and Public Affairs
Department of the Investigation Committee, materials regarding the
incident are being prepared at the Arabkir Investigation Bureau.

It is said that a forensic expertise is arranged, operations and
search agencies of the Police are ordered to implement measure in
order to establish the identity of the unknown assailant.

The examination of the scene showed that there is a video-recording
camera in the neighborhood and the investigating body is studying
the records.

Manukyan, as an opposition member, is known for his harsh criticism
of the government. Doctors said he had suffered a concussion of the
brain and bruises in the attack.

This is the latest in what looks like a series of attacks against
public figures holding opposition views in Armenia. Three prominent
Karabakh war veterans were attacked and beaten in a similar manner
earlier this week. It is not yet clear how the cases are related.

Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan’s representatives met with Aram
Manukyan and spoke to him. Later Andreasyan strictly condemned the
violence against the oppositionist.

“I am deeply concerned about the incidents of recent days related to
car arsons and especially attacks against people. On the same day of
the incident with Suren Sargsyan, at around 9 pm my representatives
visited Aram Manukyan. Although so far neither Sargsyan nor Manukyan
filed a complaint-case against state officials, but we are ready to
start proceedings as soon as we receive complaints from the victims.

Regardless of that fact the investigation of all of these cases will
be in our focus in the near future,” Andreasyan said, adding that
he expects that all law enforcement bodies will act promptly and
unconditionally, so that those responsible are quickly identified
and brought to justice.

The opposition Heritage party’s parliamentary faction also strictly
condemned the incident and demanded quick disclosure of the
circumstances of the attack and punishment of those responsible.

“In other ways this can be considered a violation financed and
dictated by the government against citizens who openly express their
opinions. The current government carries all responsibility for what
happened,” the statement said.

Earlier, ruling Republican Party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov also
said that any violence is condemnable.

OVER 11 000 CHILDREN TAKE PART IN JOINT PROJECTS OF BEELINE AND CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

by Erik Abrahamyan

ARMINFO
Thursday, December 11, 23:48

Owing to cooperation between Beeline and Cafesjian Center for the
Arts, over 11 000 children took part in cultural and educational
activities. The press service of Beeline reports that in total,
138 events were carried out this year, among them youth, family and
educational programs aimed at the aesthetic education of children.

“Social projects implemented along with Cafesjian Center for the Arts
aim to change the life of children and their parents for the better.

Keeping up with the realization of the projects, communicating
with children and getting acquainted with their creative works and
feedback, we can confidently state that we managed to bestow positive
emotions and unforgettable impressions upon the children and their
parents. We are happy that owing to introduction to the history of
art and new revelations, the children expanded their horizons. On the
threshold of New Year, I would like to wish them new achievements,
bright impressions and great inspiration”, said Beeline Armenia CEO
Andrey Pyatakhin.

“I am sincerely grateful to our regular partner Beeline, which sponsors
educational projects carried out by Cafesjian Center for the Arts”,
said Executive Director of the Cafesjian

Center for the Arts Vahagn Marabyan.

Beeline and Cafesjian Center for the Arts have been cooperating
since 2011.

OMBUDSMAN OF ARMENIA CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST OPPOSITIONISTS

by Tatevik Shahunyan

ARMINFO
Friday, December 12, 12:06

Ombudsman of Armenia Karen Andreasyan has disseminated a statement
wherein he condemns attacks on political figures.

“I am seriously concerned over the incidents of the last days,
particularly, burning of cars and beatings,” Andreasyan says in the
statement. He says the Human Rights Defender’s Office stands ready
to launch a process as soon as it receives relevant complaints by
the sufferers.

“Anyway, the inquiry into the incidents will be in the focus of
our attention. I hope, the law-enforcement will act operatively and
impartially to expose and punish the criminals. The public must be
sure that those guilty will be punished and the threats to security
and safety of the citizens are liquidated,” he said.

The unknown burned cars of four oppositionists lately, beaten up
three Artsakh War veterans who harshly criticized the authorities,
and attacked oppositionist parliamentarian Aram Manukyan overnight. All
these people blame the authorities for what happened to them.

LA BANQUE CENTRALE MINIMISE LA CHUTE DE LA MONNAIE NATIONALE

ARMENIE

La Banque Centrale d’Armenie (BCA) a exhorte la population et les
entreprises a evite de paniquer et d’acheter des devises etrangères
après que la monnaie nationale, le dram, ait continue a se deprecier
par rapport au dollar americain et d’autres devises etrangères
importantes.

Selon la BCA, le taux moyen du dram contre le dollar a chute de plus
de 7 points au niveau de l’ordre de 442. La plupart des banques et
bureaux de change a Erevan demandait 440 a 445 drams pour un dollar,
la vente de la monnaie americaine de 457 a 462 drams.

La monnaie armenienne avait deja ete considerablement affaibli depuis
le 24 novembre. Avant le dram s’echangeait a un niveau de 410 drams
pour un dollar.

Beaucoup attribuent l’affaiblissement du dram a la situation economique
en Russie, le principal partenaire commercial de l’Armenie, et,
en particulier, a la depreciation spectaculaire du rouble russe
liee aux sanctions occidentales et la chute des prix du petrole. La
situation explique en partie la diminution des envois de fonds des
Armeniens travaillant en Russie qui constituent une source importante
de rentrees de devises dans l’economie de l’Armenie.

Dans sa dernière declaration la BCA dit “compte tenu de la nature a
court terme des fluctuations de change et du niveau satisfaisant de
reserves de change, il n’y a pas de risques lies a la stabilite des
prix et la stabilite financière.”

Elle dit que les processus qui ont eu lieu sur les marches
internationaux et dans la region dans les derniers jours, y compris
de grandes fluctuations sur les marches des changes, ont contribue
a la formation de certaines attentes sur le marche en monnaie locale
et la hausse des fluctuations des taux de change .

“La Banque centrale considère que ces phenomènes ont un caractère
a court terme et affirme sa volonte de stabiliser la situation sur
le marche avec tous les instruments a sa disposition”, a declare le
regulateur financier.

jeudi 11 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LA POLICE NE S’ATTEND PAS A UNE REVOLUTION DE L’OPPOSITION

Manifestations

Le chef de la police armenienne, Vladimir Gasparian, a insiste hier
pour souligner que le parti de Gagik Tsarukian, le BHK, et ses allies
de l’opposition ne chercheront pas a renverser le gouvernement par
des manifestations.

“J’en suis absolument sûr “, a certifie Gasparian aux journalistes.

“Je pense que tout le monde [dans le camp de l’opposition] se rend
compte que des troubles ou une revolution ne peuvent mener a rien
de bon”, a t-il dit, en commentant les manifestations conjointes
anti-gouvernementales qui ont ete mis en scène par le BHK, le HAK et
le Zharangutyun cet automne.

Interroge par les journalistes pour savoir d’où il tenait cette
certitude, Gasparian a dit : “Mon travail est tel que je possède
beaucoup d’informations. En dehors des services de police visible,
il y a egalement un service de police banalise. Je sais qui pense et
qui respire “.

jeudi 11 decembre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

LES ARMENIENS NE LECHENT RIEN

Affaire du memorial de Genève

La polemique enfle a Genève a propos de l’edification du memorial
desReverbères de la memoire dedies aux victimes de tous les genocides,
dont celui des Armeniens, qui devrait etre installe dans le parc
de l’Ariana.

Lundi, un courrier emanent de Didier Burkhalter (1), president de
la Confederation, a ete adresse au canton de Genève, recommandant >. Voir ICI

La Federation des Associations Turques de Suisse Romande avait de
son côte procede a un forcing appuye auprès du Conseil administratif
aux fins que le projet n’aboutisse a aucun prix, forte a l’epoque,
de l’avis negatif du directeur general de l’ONU, Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev
(2), oppose au projet, mais qui depuis s’est retracte.

Genève souhaite malgre tout s’en tenir a sa decision d’edification,
selon le porte-parole du Departement de la culture et du sport
Felicien Mazzola.

VETERANS ATTACKED FOR CURSING SERZH SARGSYAN: ZHOGHOVURD

12.11.2014 11:02 epress.am

Commander of the Police Troops of Armenia, deputy Police Chief
Levon Yeranosyan (pictured) spoke to the Zhoghovurd daily yesterday
and neither denied nor confirmed that Arabo squad commander Manvel
Yeghiazaryan and Aparan squad commander Razmik Petrosyan were attacked
on his order for cursing RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

“I have nothing to hold back; while I’m on the job, if anyone in this
country tries to say anything against the Republic’s President I’ll
cut their dog ears off,” said Yeranosyan.

The article “They were beat for cursing Serzh Sargsyan” also stresses
that Yeranosyan is a close person to Serzh Sargsyan. The deputy
Police Chief invited the two veterans to a restaurant on Monday and
demanded that they stop getting mixed up in politics and going against
the president.

“Razmik Petrosyan and Manvel Yeghiazaryan openly stated what they
thought about Serzh Sargsyan. Yeranosyan demanded that they don’t
curse his president, however the veterans continued to express their
view about “his president,” writes the paper.

When the veterans left the restaurant, 7-8 young men, who were in a
nearby room until then, approached them. They began to argue with
the veterans which resulted in a fight. After hearing the noise,
Yeranosyan’s driver came out of the restaurant and tried to stop the
young men who quickly obeyed his orders.