Author: Kanayan Tamar

SERZH SARGSYAN: TURKEY’S ILLEGAL BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA SHOULD REMAIN IN FOCUS OF ALL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

16:38 04/06/2014 >> TOPIC OF THE DAY

After the official welcome ceremony for OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,
President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter, as well as after
his narrow-format negotiations with President Serzh Sargsyan and
extended-format negotiations with the participation of the official
delegations, Serzh Sargsyan and Didier Burkhalter held a meeting with
the representatives of mass media to sum up the negotiation results.

Statement by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at a meeting
with mass media representatives after negotiations with OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, President of Swiss Confederation and Head of
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter

Distinguished Mr. President, Honorable ladies and gentlemen,

I am glad to welcome the President of the Swiss Confederation, the
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter and the delegation led
by him in Yerevan.

We discussed a broad range of issues on the Armenian-Swiss cooperation
agenda, as well as touched upon the current regional and international
security challenges and collaboration issues in the context of the
Swiss OSCE Chairmanship.

We stated with satisfaction that since the establishment of diplomatic
relations our countries have managed to create a meaningful and
inclusive cooperation agenda; reciprocal visits of presidents,
opening of embassies, promotion of constructive dialogue between our
foreign affairs ministries and parliaments. Switzerland has carried
out assistance programs being of great importance for Armenia.

We praised the recent years’ constant growth rates in bilateral trade
thanks to which Switzerland is our 4th European trade partner. We
showed our interest in enlarging the Swiss business community in
Armenia which includes around 40 Swiss companies and welcomed the
Armenian-Swiss business forum held in Zurich this May and the upcoming
visit of Swiss businessmen to the Republic of Armenia.

We highlighted the International Organization of La Francophonie as a
relatively new important platform for the Armenian-Swiss cooperation
considering also that there was a time when Mr. President had close
ties with that organization.

We reaffirmed our mutual commitment to further advancing cooperation in
the OSCE format. I once again told Mr. Burkhalter that Armenia is going
to support Switzerland in all phases of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship. We
attach importance to Switzerland’s famous image of an impartial and
honest mediator in international relations. We strongly believe that
the Swiss Chairmanship will do its best to promote the OSCE agenda
by means of stimulating straightforward and effective dialogue,
conforming to the OSCE principles and supporting effective political
dialogue between the member states.

We dwelt on the subject of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I reaffirmed
Armenia’s commitment to finding a solution to this complex issue as
soon as possible. We agree that the conflict can’t be resolved by
means of war; on the contrary, it will become more complicated. The
threats of use of force and the regular violations of the ceasefire
greatly hinder the negotiation process. We clearly mention that the
primary confidence building measure is, inter alia, the demonstration
of proper respect towards the Nagorno-Karabakh people. Finally, this
is a national liberation struggle for exercising the fundamental right
to self-determination and any solution which neglects this reality
is doomed to failure. We strongly believe that in order for it to
be effective every negotiation effort and process should take into
account the position and opinion of the Nagorno-Karabakh people. We
stated that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship is the most optimal
format to resolve that conflict.

We praised Armenia’s effective collaboration with all OSCE structures,
and I asked the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to tell all our partners
in that authoritative organization that Armenia is really interested
in further advancing collaboration in the areas of democratic reforms,
protection of human rights and freedom of speech.

On behalf of our people, I expressed my gratitude to Mr. President for
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Swiss Parliament,
Switzerland’s devotion to universal values, as well as for its
unbending commitment to promoting those values.

We stated that because of Turkey’s lack of commitment the
Armenian-Turkish protocols mediated by the Swiss Confederation have
been frozen up to the present day. In any case, we appreciate the
role Switzerland played in that complicated process. I am sure that
Turkey’s illegal blockade of Armenia should always remain in the
focus of all international organizations, including the OSCE.

Now I am pleased to give the floor to President Burkhalter.

ANAHIT BAKHSHYAN: MINISTER REVEALED THE REAL PURPOSE OF AUTHORITIES (VIDEO)

20:10 | June 4,2014 | Politics

It is very bad that [Anastas] Mikoyan’s name is speculated to justify
the crimes committed by other people, says Republican Party lawmaker
Samvel Nikoyan.

He advises considering public opinion before erecting a statue to
the Soviet-era Armenian statesman [Anastas Mikoyan]. “If negative
emotions prevail in the public, I think it would be better to review
the decision,” he said.

Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan says he has not received an order to
conduct a public opinion poll. “If someone requests me to conduct a
survey, I shall do it,” he said.

However, he says there should be a statue to Mikoyan in Yerevan. “He
was a man who cared for the well-being of the Soviet people and
prevented a third world war.” Mr Adibekyan is not interested in the
misdeeds of that man; the most important is that Yerevan should have
its face and character. “If we want to make our country a tourist
attraction, we had better forget everything else and say that he
[Mikoyan] is the man who averted the third world war.”

“What?” says Anahit Bakhshyan, a member of Yerevan Council of Elders,
without concealing her surprise. “That man destroyed Eghishe Charents,
killed the sons of Hovhannes Tumanyan, ceded Karabakh and Nakhijevan
to Azerbaijan… Why should we erect a statue to him?”

Ms Bakhshyan is amused by the words of Justice Minister who advised
forgetting the mistakes of history. “I find it wrong to criticize our
historical figures. Our past is already history, therefore I think
we should not judge or criticize our historical figures. It is our
history, and I do not want to express an opinion on history,” she said.

Anahit Bakhshyan says with his statement the minister gave away the
real purpose of the Republican authorities. “Now I understand the
reasons behind the October 1999 parliamentary carnage. And today they
want to erect the statue to return to that perverse system,” she said.

NO FURTHER THREATS TO ARMENIA IF AZERBAIJAN PRESSURED INTO JOINING EAU – HOVHANNES IGITYAN

19:26 * 04.06.14

In an interview with Tert.am, Hovhannes Igityan, Board member,
Armenian National Congress (ANC) party, spoke of the possibility of
Azerbaijan joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EaU) due to Russia’s
“stick and carrot policy,” with Nagorno-Karabakh being the “carrot.”

Mr Igityan, Russia has invited Azerbaijan to the EaU. Do you think
this is an even more dangerous and unpromising situation for Armenia
or balances out our positions if we join the EaU?

We know about a statement to this effect. But first of all, we should
note the nascent EaU is so bad that states, including Armenia and
Azerbaijan, are pressured into joining it. Secondly, I think that
great pressure has to be exerted on Azerbaijan for it to join the
EaU because its economic policy does not meet the EaU standards. But
even if Azerbaijan is pressured into joining, I do not see any
further threats to Armenia. Rather, it is going to show weak points
in Azerbaijan’s economy, and Azerbaijan may lose its reputation in
the civilized world. In this respect, Armenia could even benefit.

But when did Azerbaijan enjoy a good reputation in the civilized
world, given its traditional handover of power from father to son,
authoritarian rules and rigged elections?

If we compare with Armenia, at least during the negotiations over an
Association Agreement with the European Union, Azerbaijan is in a more
favorable situation than Armenia, as Azerbaijan did not for four years
running stated its readiness to join the Deep and Comprehensive Area.

And the EU did not for years waste efforts and money on Azerbaijan.

And Azerbaijan did not make an about-turn in one day. In this respect,
Azerbaijan was more honest than Armenia, pointing out its neutrality
to both the Association Agreement and the Customs Union.

In the context of the stick and carrot policy, can Nagorno-Karabakh
become the “carrot” Azerbaijan could get if it joins the EaU?

Azerbaijan gets “carrots” from Russia now and again – large
supplies of weapons, for example. But I do not think Russia will use
Nagorno-Karabakh as a “carrot” for Azerbaijan because it would be
the last resort in Russia’s hands – both for Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Russia will thus always make both the sides dependent.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARAVOT: YEREVAN STREET NAMED AFTER ANASTAS MIKOYAN

11:44 04/06/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Aravot newspaper writes: “While hot discussions go on in Armenian
society about fairness of the Yerevan Council of Elders decision to
erect a statue to Soviet-era statesman Anastas Mikoyan and arguments
are given that he was no better than Stalin, a road sign appeared
in Yerevan saying that the street leading from Davitashen Bridge to
Yeghvard Highway bears the name of Anastas Mikoyan.”

Source: Panorama.am

L’AFFAIRE PERINCEK SERA SOUMISE A LA GRANDE CHAMBRE DE STRASBOURG

Romandie
June 3 2014

L’affaire Perincek sera reexaminee par la Grande Chambre de la Cour
europeenne. Les juges de Strasbourg ont accepte mardi la demande
de la Suisse. Dogu Perincek avait ete condamne pour discrimination
raciale après avoir nie publiquement l’existence du genocide armenien.

En decembre dernier, le nationaliste turc avait obtenu gain de cause
devant la Cour europeenne des droits de l’homme (CEDH). A cinq voix
contre deux, celle-ci avait juge que sa condamnation par un tribunal
helvetique violait l’article 10 de la Convention europeenne des droits
de l’homme.

Elle avait considere que les motifs avances par les autorites suisses
pour justifier la condamnation de Dogu Perincek n’etaient pas tous
pertinents. Ils etaient, dans leur ensemble, insuffisants.

Selon la Cour, les instances suisses n’avaient pas demontre que
la condamnation du nationaliste turc repondait a un “besoin social
imperieux” dans une societe democratique, ni qu’elle etait necessaire
pour la protection de l’honneur et des sentiments des descendants des
victimes ayant subi des atrocites dans les annees 1915 et suivantes.

Verdict controverse

Ce verdict avait suscite de très nombreuses reactions. Des petitions
internationales, des pages d’opinion achetees dans les journaux avaient
enjoint les autorites helvetiques a ne pas l’accepter et a saisir la
juridiction europeenne pour que l’affaire Perincek soit traitee par
la Grande Chambre de la Cour europeenne.

La decision de la Cour europeenne de renvoyer l’affaire Perincek
devant la Grande Chambre a suscite mardi une reaction de soulagement
de l’Association Suisse-Armenie (ASA). Son president d’honneur,
Sarkis Shahinian, s’est dit conscient de la “complexite” de la
procedure engagee.

En mars dernier, l’association s’etait felicitee de la decision de
l’Office federal de la justice de recourir devant la Grande Chambre
de la CEDH. Selon l’ASA, le verdict rendu par les juges de Strasbourg
en decembre dernier comportait “des inexactitudes historiques et
conceptuelles”.

Preuves “irrefutables”

Elle relevait que les preuves du genocide armenien sont
“irrefutables”. Une hierarchisation des genocides etait selon elle
“inacceptable”.

STEPHEN KURKJIAN ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE THROUGH THE EYES OF ONE PHOTO

WGBH NEWS, MA
June 3 2014

By Alison Bruzek

Collected by WGBH Forum Network, former Boston Globe reporter Stephen
Kurkjian visited the National Association for Armenian Studies and
Research to discuss his research on one remarkable photograph that
led to a ten-year search.

Kurkjian discusses how he came upon a photo that would lead to his
search for answers to the Armenian Genocide, of which he has close
ties.

This talk was taped on April 23, 2014.

Listen to the talk at

ANCA PRESSES ADMINISTRATION ABOUT TURKEY’S ROLE IN KESSAB ATTACK

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 | Posted by Contributor

Smoke over the Kessab after the invasion by Al Qada-linked terrorists
in March

Seeks Transparency and Accountability for Depopulation for Armenian
Town by Terrorist Group

WASHINGTON-The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
continued to press the Obama Administration for straight answers about
Turkey’s role in a March 21st cross-border attack by extremists
that depopulated the historically Armenian town of Kessab, Syria.

In an exchange of letters with the Department of State, ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian has stressed that Armenian Americans remain “very
troubled by the Administration’s continued reluctance to
provide a simple answer to a straightforward question: ‘Is it
the considered judgment of the U.S. government that the Republic of
Turkey aided, abetted, facilitated, or otherwise played a role in
the March 21st attack on Kessab?’”

The ANCA’s May 15th letter, addressed to Assistant Secretary of
State Victoria Nuland, noted that: “As Americans, citizens of
a nation bound to Turkey by our NATO treaty obligations, we deserve
to know if this U.S. ally has conspired with extremists – officially
designated by our government as terrorists – in a cross-border attack
against a peaceful population. If our government’s investigation
has found that Turkey played no role in this attack, the Administration
should make this view known, challenging widespread media accounts
of Ankara’s complicity. If, however, our government’s
investigation has confirmed a Turkish role, the Administration should
forcefully and publicly confront Turkey for conspiring with an al
Qaeda-linked group to drive thousands of civilians from their homes. In
either case, we ask the Administration to cooperate with all relevant
Congressional investigations.” Congressman Brad Sherman has
played a pivotal role in ensuring that Members of Congress have been
briefed by Administration officials concerning the attack on Kessab.

In a May 2nd State Department letter to the ANCA, which came in
response to an ANCA meeting with Administration officials following
the March attack, Assistant Secretary Nuland commented indirectly
about Turkey, noting that: “We have reminded Turkey of its
responsibilities for protecting civilian populations along the border
and for ensuring that armed groups are not able to use Turkish
territory for actions against civilians.” Despite extensive
evidence of Ankara’s facilitation of this assault, Assistant
Secretary Nuland passed along the Turkish government’s denial,
without any critical commentary: “Turkish authorities have stated
that they had no involvement in the displacement of the population
of Kessab and did not allow armed groups to cross the border into
Syria.” In this letter, Assistant Secretary Nuland underscored
the U.S. government’s position regarding “the importance
of ensuring that Armenian Christians can continue to live and flourish
in the land of their ancestors, and we understand that the situation
in Kessab is particularly fraught.”

Read ANCA’sletter to Assistant Secretary Nuland.

kessab-attack/

THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RECEIVED THE ATTENDANTS OF UK ROYAL COLLEGE OF DEFENCE STUDIES

18:17 03.06.2014

On May 3, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received a delegation
of attendants representing different states of The Royal College of
Defence Studies of the United Kingdom, who arrived in Armenia.

Minister Nalbandian presented to the attendants of The Royal College
of the UK the main directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, efforts
exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards the
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, regional issues and
Armenia’s stance on ways of their settlement, the process of Armenia’s
membership in the Eurasian Union, European Union-Armenia cooperation.

TEYMOURIAN HEADS TO BRAZIL WITH IRAN WORLD CUP SQUAD

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

Andranik Teymourian celebrates Iran’s win against South Korea in a
decisive World Cup 2014 qualifiyng match

TEHRAN–Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Sunday named a 24-man squad for
the World Cup, pending the elimination of one player from the official
final line-up because of injury worries. 31-year-old national team
veteran Andranik Teymourian was named as a starting midfielder for
the squad.

Teymourian, who currently plays for Tehran’s Esteghlal, has also
played for three clubs in the English Premier League, including
Bolton and Fulham. Teymourian, an ethnic Armenian born in Tehran,
has had 78 appearances for the Iranian national team and has scored
8 goals. His performance against South Korea in a decisive World Cup
qualifying game was instrumental in securing a spot for Iran in Brazil.

“No game is going to be easy for us,” Andranik Teymourian said to
reporters at a training camp in eastern Austria last week. “But
playing against Iran is not going to be easy for any of our opponents.”

Iran start their fourth World Cup against Argentina, Nigeria and
Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group F. They have never made it past the
first round.

They head to Brazil, however, having topped their Asian qualifying
group ahead of South Korean — a fact the players will not let
anyone forget.

“This shows the enormous fighting spirit shown by the players,
proven in the qualifiers, and the fact that we could qualify is an
absolutely tremendous achievement for our team and I personally hope
that we can be one of the favorites also,” Teymourian said in Austria.

The 24-man team, as selected by coach Carlos Quieroz, is as follows:

Defenders: Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Steven “Mehrdad” Beitashour
(Vancouver Whitecaps), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal), Jalal Hosseini
(Persepolis), Amir-Hossein Sadeghi (Esteghlal), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft),
Hashem Beikzadeh (Esteghlal), Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis).

Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (Kuwait SC), Andranik Teymourian
(Esteghlal), Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Ghasem Haddadifar (Zob Ahan),
Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan).

Forwards: Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham), Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas),
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC Nijmegen), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton),
Karim Ansarifard (Persepolis, on loan to Tractor Sazi), Khosro Heydari
(Esteghlal).

L’ARMENIE INTREPIDE FACE A LA VENTE D’ARMES RUSSES A L’AZERBAIDJAN

ARMENIE

L’Armenie ne croit pas que l’equilibre actuel des forces dans la zone
du conflit du Karabagh sera perturbe a cause des dernières livraisons
d’armes de la Russie a l’Azerbaïdjan.

Parlant aux medias le ministre de la Defense Seyran Ohanian a
egalement repondu aux recents rapports sur les livraisons russes de
chars modernes et d’autres armes a Bakou.

> a commente le ministre armenien.

Prie de dire si les livraisons d’armes russes a l’Azerbaïdjan
perturbent l’equilibre militaire, Ohanian a declare : >.

Interroge sur les dernières tensions frontalières et l’intensification
des violations du cessez-le-feu, le ministre a dit que l’on doit
realiser que les tensions seront la