Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIA, WORLD BANK REITERATE WILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN COOPERATION

15:23, 10 Dec 2014

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received today the World Bank
delegation headed by WB Country Manager for Armenia Laura E. Bailey.

The parties discussed issues related to the current state of the
Armenian economy and the perspectives of development, Armenia’s
monetary and tax and budgetary policy.

They attached importance to the implementation of economic policy
in line with the global and regional economic realities and the
changing state of the international market, as well as creation of
a corresponding economic environment.

The parties reiterated the willingness to maintain cooperation in
the above-mentioned directions.

SOIL MANAGERS GETTING NEARER AND NEARER TO LAKE SEVAN

16:32 December 09, 2014

EcoLur

The Nature Protection Ministry issued a positive opinion to the
geological prospecting of Masrik gold mine, Gegharkounik Region,
submitted by “Alluvial Gold Mining” CJSC.

Masrik River flows into Lake Sevan, which is under the negative impact
of Sotq gold mine and the river water is of poor quality, category 4.

The requirements of the environmental expertise don’t mention
anything about the river. It only mentions that in case red-listed
plants and animal species are detected, the company shall be guided
by RA Government N71-Õ~F and N72-Õ~F dated on 29.01.2010, while the
issue of the fertile land will be used in line with the governmental
resolution N 396-Õ~F dated on 08.09.2001.

Nevertheless, neither the project, not the announcement about the
public hearings was displayed on the official website of Nature
Protection Ministry, while Article 26(1) of RA Law “On Environmental
Impact Assessment and Expertise” says, the expertise processed shall
undergo public notification and discussion to ensure public awareness
and participation, while the other clauses of the law says that the
competent body is in charge of the notification (Nature Protection
Ministry), the initiator and the local government bodies of the
territorial administration at least seven days before the hearings.

The geological prospecting works will be conducted in the northern –
eastern part of Gegharkounik Region, in the area of Verin Shorzha
community.

The average gold concentration in Masrik will account for 302.5 mg/m3.

NILS MUIZNIEKS AND THORBJøRN JAGLAND CONDEMN AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES FOR KHADIJA ISMAILOVA’S ARREST

12:20 10/12/2014 ” SOCIETY

Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks condemns Azerbaijani
authorities for the arrest of the journalist. In his statement made
on December 9, he said that the fact of arrest of Khadija Ismailova, a
well-known journalist and long-term partner of his office, confirms its
concern that human rights defenders and other civil society activists,
who cooperate with the Council of Europe, are repressed in Azerbaijan.

“I strongly condemn her arrest and consider it as another manifestation
of a selective use of criminal law against those who criticize the
government,” said Nils Muižnieks, stressing that in just a few hours
before her arrest Ismayilova contacted the office of the Council of
Europe on a case of another journalist.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, condemns
the arrest of the journalist and demanded her immediate release.

“There was no need for this arrest. This is a bad message to
Azerbaijani civil society and the international community. This is an
indicator of how difficult the conditions are for the independent media
and civil society in the country, and is contrary to international
obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan,” he said in his statement on
9 December.

On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija
Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor’s
office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for
two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault
of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of
3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of
attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova
is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption
in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is
conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of “Radio Liberty”.

RUSSIAN ARMENIANS HAVE NOT DONATED TO HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND: HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK

12.10.2014 11:55 epress.am

A fundraising gala annually organized in Moscow for the Hayastan All
Armenian Fund did not take place this year according to the Haykakan
Zhamanak daily. The Fund’s press service informed the paper that the
reason was “the Russian Federation’s apparent situation.”

“This is the first such incident that has taken place in the past few
years. It’s true that last year the gala was not officially organized,
but on the day (September 17) of the opening of the Moscow Diocese of
Holy Transfiguration, Serzh Sargsyan and NKR President Bako Sahakyan
managed to reach agreements “on their feet” with the Russian-Armenian
businessmen and the Hayastan All Armenian Fund last year received
$12,350,000 just from Russia alone,” writes the paper.

This year during both the Los Angeles based annual Televised Telethon
and the Pan-European Phoneathon $12,399,550 was donated and pledged,
while $77,500 was donated from Lebanon last Thursday from a Radiothon
in Lebanon.

NUCLEAR HINTS TO ARMENIA

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 10 December 2014, 00:25

Russia has signed an agreement with Hungary on the construction of
two new generating blocks of the NPP in this country. The price of
the agreement is not mentioned but Hungary is the next country where
Russia commits to construction of a new NPP. Russia has a 20 billion
dollar program with Turkey to build a NPP.

Most probably, Azerbaijan will be the next country after Hungary, as
a few months ago the officials of this country hailed the prospects
of cooperation with Russia over nuclear energy after Putin’s visit
to Azerbaijan.

Currently, Moscow is focused on Hungary whose Prime Minister Viktor
Orban is Putin’s partner and EU’s outcast. Putin is lending Orban a
hand for his controversy with Brussels.

Nuclear assistance to Azerbaijan after Hungary will be expected
provided the assistance for Ramil Safarov’s extradition from Hungary
to Azerbaijan. Budapest and Baku did this job with the help of the
Russia-based tycoon, Putin’s classmate Ilham Rahimov.

Hence, it will be symbolic if Russia builds a NPP in Azerbaijan after
building one in Hungary.

Meanwhile, the Armenian-Russian agreement to build a new NPP in Armenia
is withering; Moscow only lends 270 million and awards 30 million to
prolong the operation of the Armenian NPP. The project of the new
NPP which was announced by Serzh Sargsyan in October 2008 has been
successfully frozen to the joy of Turkey and Azerbaijan which are
openly acting against the construction of the new NPP of Armenia.

Apparently, this is Turkey’s condition to make a deal with Russia
on the construction of an NPP worth billions of dollars. Instead,
Russia does not help Armenia to build a new NPP.

In the beginning, the United States and France were interested in
building a new NPP in Armenia. The French president Nicolas Sarkozy
made some statements in 2011 about seconding a working group to
Armenia to study the possibility for the participation of France.

However, France has apparently found out that since Russia’s hand is
on the new Armenian NPP project, France has no chance to participate.

Neither does anyone else because Russia does not intend to build a
new NPP in Armenia. And Armenia does not have a government to have
a new NPP.

DEBAT AU PARLEMENT SUR L’ADHESION A L’UEE : LES MANIFESTANTS A L’EXTERIEUR, A L’INTERIEUR QUELQUES LEGISLATEURS DEFI LE TRAITE D’ADHESION

ARMENIE

Alors que les legislateurs discutent du traite sur l’adhesion de
l’Armenie a l’Union economique eurasienne (UEE) cette semaine,
des dizaines de citoyens se sont rassembles devant le bâtiment du
Parlement demandant aux deputes de voter contre l’accord de Poutine
“, sinon “ce timbre sera toujours sur leur front >>.

Membre de l’initiative Choix Europeen, la journaliste Gayane Arustamyan
a averti les deputes presses a l’Assemblee nationale

UNE DEPUTEE ITALIENNE SE PLAINT DES ACTIVITES ANTIARMENIENNE DE L’AMBASSADE DE TURQUIE

ITALIE

La deputee italienne Romina Mura s’est plaint que son site internet
le 12 novembre 2014 de l’intervention de l’ambassade de Turquie en
Italie lors d’une manifestation commemorant le genocide armenien.

Elle a notamment ecrit ” l’annee prochaine marquera le centenaire du
genocide du peuple armenien” et ” après tant d’annees, la Turquie
continue de nier que rien ne s’est passe et continue une politique
de repression contre quiconque parle expressement de >
pour designer le nettoyage ethnique contre les chretiens armeniens. Le
gouvernement turc a meme “repris” aussi le Pape Francois, qui etait
contre cette tragedie, appelant l’extermination des Armeniens
“le premier genocide du XXe siècle.” Le 25 Octobre, a Cagliari,
dans la Reunion internationale des politiques de la Mediterranee,
organise par le Centro Italo arabe Assadakah II, s’est tenu une
conference intitulee :

100KM COVERED, BOOK & DOCUMENTARY COMING

10:24, 10 Dec 2014

On Sunday November 30, over 100 participants- walkers, bicyclists,
motorcycle riders, and supporting volunteers- in the 100km Tribute
converged at the foot of the hill leading up to Montebello’s Armenian
Genocide Martyrs memorial Monument and together marched up to it in
the pouring rain.

The emotional ceremony was preceded by a “shoorch bar” to live zoorna
music while everyone was getting drenched.

“We wanted this gathering to be an affirmation. As the closeted
mourning prior to 1965 gave way to increased political awareness
and activism, then so to will 2015 be the threshold of a new era of
Armenian justice. Through our culture, convictions, and engagement,
we will restore what is rightfully ours,” explained Garen Yegparian,
one of the organizers.

Over the course of a four-day walk, hikers braved nasty blisters. One
of the bicyclists was briefly hospitalized on their tour of Los
Angeles-area Armenian schools, churches, and even the grave of Genocide
avenger Missak Torlakian. The motorcyclists, one of whom had ridden
to Los Angeles all the way from the East Coast, had to brave the cold
rain without the benefit of exercise to warm them.

Particularly poignant was the second night of the walk spent in the
Angeles National Forest’s Valley Forge campground. There is a stark
coincidence of Armenian Genocide misery and the suffering endured by
George Washington’s troops during the harsh winter they endured at the
same-named location north of Philadelphia. Seated around the campfire,
participants shared their families’ tales of survival and sometimes
post-World War I reunifications, even with Turkified relatives. Few
were the eyes that were dry that night.

Another interesting coincidence in a year fraught with such meaning
for Armenians is that the mayorships of the cities the 100km Tribute
started and ended in are held by Armenians: Glendale’s Zareh Sinanyan
and Montebello’s Jack Hadjinian. They spoke at the opening and closing
ceremonies of the 100km journey. Also speaking at these programs
were Robert Assarian (closing MC and AHA), Armen Hagobian (ACA),
George Chuldzhyan (Hye Riders), Kevork Nazarian (historian), Jora
Manoucharian (RAA) , Anthony Portantino (opening MC), Vivian Romero
(Montebello City Council), Valod Shaverdian (AHS), Garen Yegparian
(AHA).

Much of the project was enabled through the tireless efforts of the
“trails angels” who supported the walkers by setting up camp each
night and attending to countless organizational needs.

All this was recorded by Peter Musurlian who will be preparing a
documentary about the whole 100km Tribute effort with the hope of
exposing broader audiences to the Armenian saga throug feet, pedals,
and motors.

The other piece of unfinished business is the collection of
outstanding pledges, totaling some $30,000, which will fund the
publication about the architecture of Hayotz Tsor, one of the
regions of Van province. This is the first volume of 36 dedicated
to presenting Armenian history, region-by-region, of the whole
country which Research on Armenian Architecture has been preparing
for over four decades. Contributions are still being accepted at

ROBERTSON, FISK TO SPEAK AT CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK

By Weekly Staff on December 9, 2014

NEW YORK-Jurist Geoffrey Robertson and journalist Robert Fisk are among
the confirmed speakers at “Responsibility 2015,” the international
conference marking the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, to be
held on March 13-15, 2015, at New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Geoffrey Robertson (Photograph: Rex Features)

Geoffrey Robertson is an international jurist, human rights lawyer, and
academic. His latest book is An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Remembers
the Armenians? In recent years, he has been particularly prominent in
the defense of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. He has also represented
author Salman Rushdie, and prosecuted General Augusto Pinochet. In
2008, he was appointed by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon as a “distinguished jurist” member of the UN’s Justice Council,
which nominates and supervises UN judges. His memoir, The Justice Game,
has sold over 150,000 copies.

Robert Fisk is the Middle East correspondent of the Independent
newspaper. He holds numerous awards for journalism, including two
Amnesty International UK Press Awards and seven British International
Journalist of the Year awards. During the 30 years he has been
reporting on the Middle East, he has covered every major event in the
region, from the Algerian Civil War to the Iranian Revolution, from
the hostage crisis in Beirut to the Iran-Iraq War, from the Russian
invasion of Afghanistan to Israel’s invasions of Lebanon, and from the
Gulf War to the invasion and ongoing war in Iraq. His books include
The Great War for Civilization: the Conquest of the Middle East.

Robert Fisk

The three-day conference will feature a lineup of prominent historians,
policymakers, authors, and artists from around the globe.

The program will consist of concurrent morning and afternoon panels
and discussions focusing on justice and reparations for cases of
genocide, the responsibility to protect (R2P), genocide research,
activism for justice and accountability, building solidarity, and
artistic responses to genocide and mass violence.

The “Responsibility 2015” conference is being organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern U.S. Centennial Committee,
under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of
America, Eastern Region.

Evening sessions bringing together policymakers, political leaders,
artists, and celebrities known for their activism and humanitarian
work will highlight the theme of responsibility to confront past
injustices and struggle towards preventing new ones.

Photography and art exhibits with the theme of survival will be held
at the same venue for the duration of the conference.

The organizing committee is comprised of the following scholars and
activists: Khatchig Mouradian and Hayg Oshagan, co-chairs; George
Aghjayan, Kim Hekimian, Antranig Kasbarian, and Henry Theriault.

For periodic updates, please contact conference coordinator Sarkis
Balkhian at [email protected], or visit the conference
website at

PRESS RELEASE
December 9, 2014

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY HONORS ELIZABETH HANESSIAN AT ANNUAL HOLIDAY RECEPTION

WASHINGTON, DC – On Sunday, November 23rd, the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly) held its annual Holiday Reception at the Embassy of
Armenia in Washington, D.C., reported the Assembly. This year, the Assembly
honored Elizabeth Alice Hanessian, and her late husband, Dr. John
Hanessian, Jr., for their role in the founding of the Armenian Assembly and
their contributions to the Armenian American community. A capacity crowd
remembered and reflected on the life, success, and dedication of the
Hanessians to the advancement of Armenian American issues in our nation’s
capital.

Assembly Board Member Aram Gavoor served as the afternoon’s Master of
Ceremonies. He discussed the role of Dr. Hanessian, to whom he referred as
a `founding father’ of the Assembly in the early 1970’s. Gavoor praised
those dedicated Armenian Americans who traveled to Washington from across
the United States to discuss forming an `Assembly’ of Armenian American
organizations.

`Elizabeth Klanian Hanessian is a great lady, a dedicated and loving mother
of four boys, and the rock and support behind her husband, John Hanessian,
and his legacy,’ stated Assembly Board Member Annie Totah before presenting
the award. In her remarks, Totah described Elizabeth and John’s
relationship as a `moving love story,’ and offered historical background
into their lives during the founding of the Armenian Assembly.

`I am very proud of him, and love him for everything he did in his
lifetime,’ stated Alice Hanessian upon accepting the award.

Hratchia Tashchian, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Republic of Armenia to
the United States, offered remarks on behalf of Ambassador Tigran Sargsyan.
`[The] Armenian Assembly of America is one of the most important
organizations of the Armenian Diaspora,’ he said. `Being established as a
nonpartisan organization, it proved to be very efficient in consolidating
the potential of the Armenian Diaspora. It is not accidental, therefore,
that today the Assembly plays a pivotal role in presenting and promoting
Armenian interests in the United States of America,’ Tashchian said.

The program included an uplifting invocation by Rev. Fr. Vartanes
Kalayjian. Der Vartanes led the crowd in prayer before enjoying the
delicious Armenian cuisine and refreshments graciously provided by the
Assembly Capital Regional Council (CRC). The musical interlude provided by
famed pianist Naira Babayan drew avid applause, as guests heard selections
from Alexander Arutiunian and Aram Khachadurian. Also on hand from the
national Daughters of Vartan were Grand Matron Lisa Kradjian and Naira
Serobyan.

The Assembly would like to thank Clara Andonian and Doris George, Co-Chairs
of the Assembly’s CRC, and all the members, namely: Naira Babayan,
Nadya
Carson, Seda Gelenian, Anahid Ghazarian, Yer. Anahid Kalayjian, Nora
Maghrablian, Anahid Nishanian, and Marguerite Satian. The Assembly also
thanks event co-hosts Naira Babayan and Anahid Nishanian for their
generosity and support.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR: # 2014-055

Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly
Board Member Aram Gavoor, Esq., Elizabeth Alice Hanessian, Ambassador
Tigran Sargsyan’s wife Gohar Sargsyan, Assembly Board Member Annie
Totah,
Christopher Hanessian (back), and Deputy Chief of Mission Hratchia
Tashchian.

Photo Caption 2: Assembly Board Member Annie Totah presents an award to
Elizabeth Alice Hanessian.

Photo Caption 3 (L-R): Daughters of Vartan Grand Matron Lisa Kradjian,
Assembly Board Member Annie Totah, Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny, Sonia Ketchoyian, and Nairi Serobyan.

Available online: