Author: Kanayan Tamar

HOLLANDE TO HOST KARABAKH TALKS AS RUSSIA PLAYS ‘DIVIDE AND RULE’

Oman Tribune, Sultanate of Oman
Oct 27 2014

TBILISI French President Francois Hollande hosts leaders from Armenia
and Azerbaijan on Monday as Europe makes a fresh push to end the
festering conflict over Nagorny Karabakh.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited both
countries last week after a sharp escalation in violence over the
disputed region in recent months as war raged in Ukraine.

Although few expect a breakthrough after more than two decades of
bloodshed, it is “important to bring the two presidents together,
to call on them to work together, to get back to the table to reduce
tensions,” a French diplomatic source said ahead of the summit.

Despite years of internationally mediated negotiations since a 1994
ceasefire, the two sides have not yet signed a final peace deal on
Karabakh, still internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

Oil-rich Baku, whose military spending exceeds Armenia’s entire state
budget, has threatened to take back the region by force if negotiations
do not yield results.

Armenia – heavily armed by Russia – says it could crush any offensive.

“What happened in Ukraine has had a direct impact” on the conflict,
a source in Hollande’s entourage said, adding that Russia’s annexation
of Crimea “exacerbated the climate”.

Azerbaijani analysts say an increasingly assertive Russia is pursuing
a divide-and-rule policy and has an interest in keeping the Karabakh
conflict in a frozen state to retain its influence over its Soviet-era
vassal Caucasian states.

“Moscow holds the keys to the conflict’s solution, but is intentionally
not using its levers as it has an interest in keeping the status quo,
in maintaining its influence over Azerbaijan and, especially, Armenia,”
Shahin Abbasov, an independent Azerbaijani analyst, said.

Abbasov said that by hosting talks in Paris, Hollande “aims at
depriving (Russian President Vladimir) Putin of his role as an
exclusive arbiter” in the conflict.

A French diplomat admitted that Hollande will face an uphill battle
in his efforts to facilitate the Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue.

Hollande will hold separate meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Armenia’s Serzh Sarkisian. (AFP)

KARABAKH TRIES TWO AZERIS FOR MURDER AND ESPIONAGE

Global Post
Oct 27 2014

Two Azerbaijani citizens went on trial Monday for murder and espionage
in the separatist Armenian-backed Nagorny Karabakh region, as the
latest international efforts to resolve the festering conflict kicked
off in Paris.

Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilhan Askerov are accused of infiltrating
the disputed territory in late June as part of an Azerbaijani
reconnaissance group and killing a 17-year-old Karabakh civilian and
a soldier, the separatist judicial authority said in a statement.

A third member of the group, Gasan Gasanov, was killed in a shootout
with Karabakh troops, the separatist authorities said.

Baku denies the claims and said that the three men are not members
of its military.

The controversial trial comes as French President Francois Hollande
hosts the presidents of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan Monday in
a fresh push by Europe to end the decades-long dispute.

Hopes for any major breakthrough are almost non-existent after a
dramatic surge in violence across the countries’ border and along
the Karabakh frontline this summer saw more than 20 troops die in
the deadliest clashes in years.

Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan seized the mountainous region,
which is mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians, from Azerbaijan in a
war in the 1990s that left some 30,000 people dead.

Despite years of internationally mediated negotiations since a 1994
ceasefire, the two sides have not yet signed a final peace deal.

Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the region by force if
negotiations do not yield results.

mkh-eg-im/del/fg

HOLLANDE MEETS HIS ARMENIAN, AZERI COUNTERPARTS, PROPOSES DRAFTING OF KARABAKH PEACE DEAL

01:39, 28 Oct 2014

The President of the Republic of France received today Mr. Serzh
Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for a summit on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, according to the French President’s
official website.

The French, American and Russian co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
of the, as well as the personal representative of the Presidency of
the OSCE, were involved in the discussions.

The summit followed the visit by the President of France to the South
Caucasus from 11 to 13 May. During this visit President Hollande had
reaffirmed the commitment of France, in its capacity as co-chair
of the Minsk Group, to continue the mediation to find a peaceful
solution to this conflict, twenty years after the entry into force
of the cease-fire.

In the context of escalation this summer in Nagorno-Karabakh, which
caused many casualties, including civilians, the Paris Summit allowed
the resumption of direct dialogue between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents. The French President marked the need for an effective
decrease in the tension between the two parties on the ground.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents have decided to exchange data
on missing the conflict under the auspices of the ICRC.

Francois Holland encouraged the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents to
intensify their efforts towards a negotiated and lasting settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in accordance with the principles
of international law and the principles identified by the Co-Chairs
of the Minsk Group. He noted that the status quo was not tenable.

He called on the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents to demonstrate
the necessary political will to overcome their differences and prepare
their populations for peace. To move forward, he proposed the launch
of the drafting of a comprehensive peace agreement.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents agreed to continue their
dialogue, including at a new meeting in September 2015 on the sidelines
of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

At the dinner, the President and his guests discussed more broadly
the evolution of the Caucasus region and its relations with France.

CARDINAL ALSO FOUGHT FOR SURVIVAL OF OLD JULFA CROSS-STONES

19:14, 27 October, 2014

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS: President of the Pontifical Council
for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi is of the opinion that the
Armenian cross-stones spread in the entire territory of Armenia and
throughout the world voice about the Armenian history, Armenpress
reports.

The Cardinal is sorry that in consequence of clashes of peoples,
such atrocities happen, when Armenian cross-stones are eliminated.

“I am full of hope that the meeting of the two presidents due in Paris
will be crucial in preventing repetition of similar crimes in future.

As president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, I myself applied
to the UNESCO Secretary General years ago so that everything possible
is done for saving those historical documents – Julfa cross-stones,”
Gianfranco Ravasi said in answer to the question on how he treats
the annihilation of the Julfa cross-stones by Azerbaijan.

Over 10 thousand cross-stones have been calculated in the territory of
Old Julfa (Old Jugha), which have been destroyed in different periods
of time. The latest annihilation by the Azerbaijani government took
place in 2005-2006, when the Armenian cemetery of Julfa together with
thousands of cross-stones was destroyed.

OCT 27 CRIME TO REMAIN UNSOLVED UNTIL COME TO POWER – RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

18:55 * 27.10.14

Chairman of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian has visited the
Komitas pantheon to pay tribute to the victim of the terrorist act
in Armenia’s Parliament on October 27, 1999.

“The overwhelming majority of Armenia’s population is well aware that
the October 27 terrorist act was an unprecedented blow on Armenian
statehood. The crime has not so far been solved. The question is how
long citizens are going to put up with the situation. So our people
must rise and assume the reins of government, power that belongs to
them to solve the crimes on October 27, March 1 and others. It is
impossible now,” Hovannisian told reporters.

Armenian News – Tert.am

OFFICIAL DEFENDS CONTROVERSIAL GOVERNMENT PLAN TO CUT MATERNITY BENEFITS

YEREVAN, October 27. / ARKA /. Smbat Sayan, the deputy chairman of
the State Social Security Service, an affiliation of the Labor and
Social Security Ministry, defended today a controversial government
plan to cut maternity benefits paid by the state in Armenia, saying
it does not run counter to Armenia’s international obligations.

Smbat Sayan was speaking Monday at parliamentary hearings on the
government bill submitted to the parliament this month that would cut
the amount of benefits by at least 20 percent. The financial support
is paid to working mothers during 140 days preceding and following
the birth of a child. Pregnant women with work experience of up to 1
and 3 years would be paid sums equivalent to only 40 percent and 60
percent of their wages respectively. The current law says the monthly
allowances must fully match the salaries of women employed by public
or private entities

The bill expands the number of women entitled to maternity allowance.

More specifically, the government plans to start paying maternity
allowance also to non-working women from 2016. The amount of that
allowance is to be calculated based on the minimum monthly salary
which is now 50,000 drams.

The proposed changes made dozens of angry young women rally in Yerevan
last Thursday outside the government building to protest against the
government plan.

“No international treaty signed by Armenia says that maternity benefit
must fully match the salaries of employed women. Relating agreements
say the benefit must be as close to salary as possible and the size
is to be decided by the government based on its financial capacity,”
said Sayan today.

According to Labor and Social Security Minister Artem Asatryan, the
amount of money spent by the government to pay maternity benefits has
increased approximately three-fold – from 4.5 billion drams to almost
12 billion drams in recent years, although no rise in birth rate was
reported, neither a rise in salaries of pregnant women. According
to him, the birth rate in Armenia remains almost unchanged – about
42,000 a year.

The bill was criticized by minority parliamentary parties. Thus,
Heghine Bisharyan from the Rule of Law party argued that a working
mother could reconcile with a benefit in the amount of 80% of her
salary, but not with 40% and 60%.

“You have taken the practice of post-Soviet states, which is not the
best one and you want to apply it in Armenia”, she said.

Elinar Vardanyan from the Prosperous Armenia accused the government
of drafting the bill to “cover its administrative shortcomings.”

According to minister Artem Asatryan, about 20% of women who receive
maternity allowances are enrolled 2-3 months before delivering their
babies. He says when adopted the revised law will increase the number
of beneficiaries by 30,000 by 2016, which will require additional 8
billion drams.

According to the labor and social security ministry, given that by 2016
the minimum monthly salary is to rise to 80,000 drams, a non-working
woman will receive about 365,000 drams in maternity allowance. The
net amount will be 274,000 drams). ($ 1 – 409.40 drams). -0–

THOR HEYERDAHL JR. MEETS ZORI BALAYAN IN YEREVAN AND RECEIVES A BOOK AS GIFT “ARMENIA FROM SEA TO SEA”

18:47 27/10/2014 >> CULTURE

Renowned oceanographer Thor Heyerdahl Jr. – the son of the famous
traveler and Norwegian scientist – Thor Heyerdahl, during his visit
to Armenia, met with one of the leaders of the Karabakh movement,
social-political activist, writer Zori Balayan.

Armenian writer and publicist gave Thor Heyerdahl Jr. a book titled
“Armenia from sea to sea,” written in the wake of his trip around the
world on a sailboat. It is noteworthy that in the book is repeatedly
noted about the father of the prominent Norwegian guest. As it turned
out, Zori Balayan was in correspondence with the senior Heyerdahl
and his candidacy was even considered for the crew member – as a
ship-doctor in one of the expeditions of Heyerdahl. In a warm and
friendly environment they remembered the details of those years
concerning his father’s, Heyrdala’s, voyages – “Kon-Tiki” and “Ra”.

Thor Heyerdahl Jr. is on a visit to Armenia since October 23 to 27,
at the initiative of the Armenian Embassy in Denmark and Norway,
with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture and at the invitation
of the charity fund “Vahagn and Hasmik Hovnanians.”

STEPAN DEMITCHYAN: EVERYTHING WAS DONE TO HUSH UP THE CASE

14:05 | October 27,2014 | Politics

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has no doubts as to who stand behind
the 1999 shooting in Armenian parliament. Accompanied by the parliament
speaker and a group of lawmakers, Mr Abrahamyan today laid flowers and
wreaths at the Armenian National Assembly’s park, near the monument
to honor the memory of the October 27, 1999 terrorist act’s victims.

The prime minister says the relevant did everything in time to reveal
the crime. “Today we have what we have. If people still have any
doubts concerning the parliamentary carnage, the relevant authorities
should be consistent, but I am sure that everything was done in this
regard. When the relevant bodies were studying the case everyone was
eager to see the crime disclosed. People were waiting for answers.

Do not think that they did not use all their resources,” he said.

Stepan Demitchyan, Leader of the People’s Party of Armenia (HZhK)
and a lawmaker of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) was also at the
park with his mother Rita Demitchyan and family members. “Everything
was done to cover up the case. I hope that the truth will be known
one day,” Stepan Demitchyan told reporters.

On October 27, 1999, a group of armed men led by Nairi Hunanyan broke
into the parliament building and shot eight people, including the
country’s second and the third highest officials – Parliament Speaker
Karen Demirchyan and Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan.

The terrorist attack was viewed as unprecedented and one of the most
controversial events in Armenian history since independence.

PAS DE VICE-PREMIER MINISTRE NOMME ENCORE

ARMENIE

La reunion de jeudi du gouvernement n’a pas donne lieu a une annonce
pour le titre vacant de Vice-Premier Ministre d’Armenie. Il est prevu
que le siège de haut niveau sera discute dans le cadre de la reunion
du conseil supreme du Parti republicain d’Armenie (RPA).

Hovik Abrahamyan Premier ministre lors d’une conference avec les
journalistes a parle de la vacance du post de vice-premier ministre
et a dit que la question n’a pas encore ete discute.

Armen Gevorgyan, 41 ans, a presente sa demission de son poste de
vice-premier ministre et ministre de l’Administration locale lors
d’une reunion du gouvernement la semaine dernière informant qu’il
voulait continuer son travail dans le secteur prive.

Toutefois, plusieurs medias affirment que Gevorgyan avait des
malentendus avec la nomination contradictoire de Surik Khachatrian
en tant que gouverneur de la province meridionale du Syunik. Il y a
aussi des rumeurs que les ONG formees par Gevorgyan ou les membres
de son equipe ont remporte presque tous les appels d’offres lancees
par le Ministère armenien de l’Administration locale, une divulgation
qui a force le vice-premier ministre a demissionner et quitter les
lieux. Il y a aussi des nouvelles que le vice-ministre du Travail,
Vache Terteryan a egalement quitte son poste plus tôt parce que son
nom est egalement inclus dans des cas d’abus financiers.

Terteryan a nie la speculation.

lundi 27 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LE PRESIDENT SARKISSIAN A ATTIRE L’ATTENTION DES COPRESIDENTS DU GROUPE DE MINSK SUR LA POSITION NON CONSTRUCTIVE DE L’AZERBAIDJAN AVANT CHAQUE SOMMET BILATERAL

ARMENIE

Les quotidiens rendent compte des entretiens des copresidents francais
et russe du Groupe de Minsk avec le President Sarkissian et le Ministre
des AE, Edward Nalbandian. L’etape actuelle des negociations et le
prochain sommet des Presidents d’Armenie et d’Azerbaïdjan a Paris
a l’invitation du President francais sont demeures au coeur des
entretiens. Le President Sarkissian a juge preoccupant la position > dont fait preuve Bakou a la veille de chaque sommet
bilateral. Il a reaffirme la disponibilite de l’Armenie a poursuivre
les efforts conjoints avec les copresidents du Groupe de Minsk au
profit d’un règlement pacifique du conflit.

Edward Nalbandian, quant a lui, a estime que tout en faisant semblant
d’etre pretes a l’elaboration d’un accord de paix, les autorites
azerbaïdjanaises tenteraient de transferer le dossier de règlement du
conflit dans d’autres instances et de faire echouer le processus mene
sous l’egide du Groupe de Minsk. Se faisant l’echo de la declaration de
son homologue azerbaïdjanais, qui avait fait part de la disponibilite
de son pays a commencer a travailler sur le texte d’un accord de
paix, M. Nalbandian a accuse Bakou de prendre ses reves pour la
realite. Selon lui, a la veille du sommet parisien, Bakou fait ainsi
montre de sa position non serieuse par rapport au règlement du conflit.

Au terme de leurs entretiens a Bakou et a Erevan, les mediateurs
ont diffuse une declaration, indiquant que dans les deux capitales,
ils ont discute des preparatifs du prochain sommet de haut niveau
a l’initiative du President de la Republique francaise. Ils ont
exhorte les parties a prendre des mesures pour reduire les tensions
et a eviter le recours a la force en particulier a l’encontre de la
population civile.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 20 octobre 2014

lundi 27 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com