Author: Kanayan Tamar

Syunik Diocese about homosexual marriages and law on gender

October 26 2013

Syunik Diocese about homosexual marriages and law on gender On May
20, the bill on Equal rights and opportunities for women and men
passed by the National Assembly of Armenia became a subject of intense
public discussion. The main objective of the complaint was that the
bill, for example, defines the concept of `gender as acquired and
socially prescribed behavior of people of different sex.’ The term
`acquired’ deserved the resistance of clergymen and various
organizations, who, upon the adoption of the bill, see major
challenges in national values and upbringing. In the interview with
Aravot.am, Syunik Diocese Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan also expressed
his concerns about the issue. He informed that serious studies have
been conducted in the Public Council Sub-committee on religion
regarding this issue, and the subsequent analysis will be beneficial
for the development of the law. In response to our observation that
people who are struggling against the adoption of the bill argued that
the adoption of the bill presumes legalization of homosexual
marriages, the clergyman replied as follows, `Of course, any clergyman
is against homosexual marriages. Therefore, the bill should be
well-considered, and correct wordings should be made, otherwise, it
may give rise to misunderstandings. With current wording, the bill is
very vulnerable. The problem is that gender is perceived among us as a
generic feature, but in Europe it is perceived as to what gender a
person is by his or her choice.’ Syunik Diocese considers the public
resistance against the adoption of the law on gender appropriate. The
speculations that the elite of country has already taken money from
Europe to adopt the law on gender at any cost, the clergyman responded
as follows, `Without reliable information, I can not believe such
rumors.’

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
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Tavitjan brothers looking for brides in Armenia

October 26, 2013 | 18:16

YEREVAN. – Tavitjan Brothers, a jazz duo popular in Macedonia and
across Europe, will give a concert in Armenia within the framework of
the Armenian Jazz Week held in Yerevan on October 23-30.

Talking to the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent, the brothers said
it is their first visit to Armenia. Garo and Diran said the love for
music came from their father, jazzman Karapet Tavitjan.

The brothers are not speaking Armenian but know much about the country
and Armenian history. During their trip Garo and Diran visited
Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute.

The musicians have given more than 400 concerts all over the globe
together with world famous Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Chick Corea.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Armenia’s foreign policy to appear in new field after Vilnius summit: expert
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14:28, 26 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: After the statement of the President
of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on the
decision to join the Customs Union made on September 3 the foreign
policy processes of the country have considerably changed.
Armenpress reports that at the press conference held on October 26 the
President of the European Integration NGO Karen Bekaryan
stated that if Armenia does not want to have problems with the foreign
policy in the EU direction, the country should reconfirm its
position concerning the signing of the documents during the Vilnius
summit in the end of November.

According to the President of the European Integration NGO, the
negotiations process on the Association Agreement held with the
European Union for three years cannot be thrown into the `trash’.

`The Vilnius summit might not be considered as the last destination
for Armenia in the relations with the European Union’, – emphasized
Bekaryan, adding that after the summit the life will continue and our
foreign policy will appear in a new pragmatic field.

In the result of the negotiations on September 3, 2013 in Moscow the
Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin confirmed the
aim of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation in the
direction of further development of economic integration processes in
the
Eurasian territory. In that context the President of the Republic of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan announced about the Armenia’s decision to join
the Customs Union and the necessity of implementation corresponding
steps for that aim and in future about participating in formation of
the Eurasian economic union. The President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin expressed his support to the abovementioned decision
of Armenia and informed about the readiness of the Russian side to
support the process. Serzh Sargsyan noted that this decision is not
refusal from dialogue with European organizations.

Earlier it was intended that Yerevan will sign the Association and
Free Trade Zone Agreement with the European Union in Vilnius. The
Eastern Partnership summit will be held on November 28-29 in Vilnius,
during which the signing (or pre-signing) of the Association
Agreement with some Eastern Partnership countries is expected.

Canadian Premiere of ‘Orphans of the Genocide’

10/25/2013

The Canadian premiere of the Emmy Award-nominee documentary Orphans of
the Genocide, directed by Bared Maronian, a four time regional Emmy
Award winner, will take place during Toronto’s Pomegranate Film
Festival at 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2013. The Sara Corning
Centre for Genocide Education will have the honour of introducing the
documentary.

The film’s description reads, “[This] Emmy-award nominee documentary
commemorates the memory of the orphans of the Armenian genocide. The
film took inspiration from an article by Robert Fisk about the
discovery of the Armenian orphanage in Antoura, near Beirut,
Lebanon. The orphanage was intended to ‘turkify’ the orphans, based on
the agenda of Ahmad Jamal Pasha. Maronian also provides a window into
the lives of Canada’s Georgetown Boys. Maronian’s short film Komitas
Hairig was presented at POM V.”

More information on the festival, including details on venues and
tickets, can be found at

Haykakan Zhamanak : How will Armenia’s new pension system function if
country enters ruble zone?

October 23, 2013

YEREVAN. – The mandatory accumulated pension system will be introduced
in Armenia on January 1, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports.

`There is already a wave of discontent brewing in Armenia in
connection with the introduction of this new system.

`But as of September 3 of this year, a problem has emerged that is not
discussed. The new pension system is designed for an Armenia that has
its own currency and conducts its own monetary policy.

`But on September 3, it was found out that Armenia is going to the
Customs Union. And the Customs Union is the first phase of the
Eurasian Union, which assumes a common currency; that is, Armenia will
enter a conditional ruble zone.

`How will the new pension system [of Armenia] function under these
conditions? Our reporter tried to get this question’s answer from
Labor and Social Affairs Minister Artem Asatryan, but to no avail,’
Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow
between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs
Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union. Aside from Russia, Belarusand Kazakhstan likewise are
members in the Customs Union. And in response to this development, the
European Union had stated that the signing of the Armenia-EU
Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
agreement is now doubtful.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

OSCE unwilling to point out Baku as tension instigator in Karabakh?

October 26, 2013 – 14:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The October 17 OSCE mission monitoring of the
contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces had to be
stopped over shots fired, the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office said.

As Andrzej Kasprzyk said in an interview with the Nagorno Karabakh
Public TV, commenting on recent deadly incident on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border, `I wasn’t there. I was informed of the
incident 40 minutes after it occurred and the shelling still
continued. I managed to take measures for the fire to be stopped by
getting in touch with people who could actually affect the situation,’
he noted.

Kasprzyk believes the monitoring on the line of contact to be
positively affecting the situation by sometimes restraining the
violence. `Monitoring is the first action, followed by a line of
others, the results of which are classified, with special reports
drawn only for the eyes of the OSCE Secretary General,
Chairperson-in-Office and Minsk Group co-chairs,’ he said.

`OSCE mission succeeds in preventing further escalation of conflict
where it could be flared in the light of increasing military
rhetoric,’ he said, according to aysor.am.

The monitoring of the contact line between Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijani armed forces was suspended Thursday, October 17, due to
shots fired from the Azeri side.

The violations were registered by the monitoring group on both sides.
Personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, ambassador
Andrzey Kasprzyk decided to stop the monitoring over security reasons.

An Armenian serviceman was killed with 3 more injured in an Azeri
shelling on Armenian territory.

The incident occurred Tuesday, October 22 at Paravakar section of
Berd-Ijevan highway (Tavush province bordering with Azerbaijan.)
People in the military as well as civil vehicles were injured.

The shelling left Gagik Poghosyan, born 1994, dead, with his peers,
Araik Zhahmaryan and Martin Petrosyan injured.

La Géorgie commence à élire le successeur de Saakachvili

TBILISSI, 27 oct 2013 (AFP) – Les Géorgiens ont commencé à voter
dimanche pour élire le successeur du flamboyant réformateur Mikheïl
Saakachvili, une présidentielle où le candidat du camp adverse, celui
du milliardaire et Premier ministre Bidzina Ivanichvili est favori.
Les bureaux de vote ont ouvert à 08H00 locales (04H00 GMT) et
fermeront à 20H00 (16H00 GMT).

Cette élection marque la fin de l’époque Saakachvili, arrivé au
pouvoir à l’issue de la révolution de la Rose en 2003 et qui n’avait
plus le droit de se présenter après deux mandats successifs. Après ce
scrutin, le président aura moins de pouvoirs que le Premier ministre,
aux termes d’une réforme constitutionnelle.

Selon les sondages, Guiorgui Margvelachvili, candidat du mouvement
Rêve géorgien d’Ivanichvili est le favori de la course devant
l’ex-président du Parlement David Bakradzé, candidat de Saakachvili.
Quel que soit le vainqueur, c’est la coalition d’Ivanichvili qui va
continuer de diriger le gouvernement.

M. Ivanichvili a promis de se retirer de la scène politique après
l’élection et de désigner son successeur à la tête du gouvernement. Si
aucun homme politique ne conteste aujourd’hui en Géorgie le cap à
l’Ouest prôné par Saakachvili, celui qui lui succédera devra
travailler dur pour normaliser les relations avec la Russie.

Les relations russo-géorgiennes restent très difficiles après la
guerre désastreuse de cinq jours, en 2008, qui a fait perdre à la
Géorgie deux de ces territoires séparatistes pro-russes, l’Ossétie du
Sud et l’Abkhazie, dont Moscou a ensuite reconnu l’indépendance.

dimanche 27 octobre 2013,
Ara ©armenews.com

ARMENIA DOES NOT ARRANGE ITS INTEGRATION PROCESSES WITH ITS RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN – PARLIAMENT VICE-CHAIR

October 26, 2013 | 00:53

YEREVAN. – Armenia does not arrange its membership to an organization
in accordance with its relations with Azerbaijan

Armenian National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker and ruling Republican
Party (RPA) Press Secretary Eduard Sharmazanov told the aforesaid to
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He commented on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko’s recent
statement that in case of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union,
Azerbaijan’s view should be taken into account.

In Sharmazanov’s words, Armenia does not arrange its integration
processes in accordance with its relations with Azerbaijan.

“Especially since Azerbaijan conducts a destructive policy in
the region, and instills Armenian-hatred and instability,” the NA
vice-chair stressed.

As per the RPA spokesperson, Russian President Vladimir Putin, however,
stated that the Customs Union member states assess Armenia’s wish to
join the Customs Union positively and they are in favor of it.

“A corresponding road map, [and] an action plan is being developed,
and this matter will be clarified before December,” Eduard Sharmazanov
concluded.

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 in
Moscow between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and
Vladimir Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join
the Customs Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the
Eurasian Economic Union. Aside from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
likewise are members in the Customs Union. And in response to this
development, the European Union had stated that the signing of the
Armenia-EU Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area agreement is now doubtful.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

KARABAKH PLAYING CARD WAS PUT TO ACTION

October 25 2013

Difficult days are waiting ahead for those who justify Armenia’s
joining the CU in terms of “security” factor At the session dated
October 23, the European Parliament voted for the amendments of the
resolution on strengthening relations with the Eastern neighborhood
countries. It contained a reference to conflicts, which, according
to the European Parliament, must be solved based on the principles
of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of nations
to self-determination. The European Parliament had re-established
regional stability and security as an Eastern Partnership objective
calling for an urgent solution of the conflicts in Armenia, Georgia,
Moldova and Azerbaijan. The resolution stated that the EU should be
actively involved in the conflict resolution process, and has mentioned
about “occupation of territories” by one country to another country,
and in particular it has mentioned the UN Security Council’s four
resolutions, as well as OSCE fundamental principles, which are provided
for in L’Aquila’s joint statement in 2009. L’Aquila’s statement was
based on the Madrid principles. To remind that pursuant to the Madrid
principles, “return of occupied territories” adjacent to Karabakh is
required, providing an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh by ensuring
guarantees for security and self-governance, a corridor connecting
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the future, determining the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh through the expression of will with a
binding legal force, right of the domestic displaced population and
refugees to return to their former places of residence, international
security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.

Of course, this resolution has no legal force for Armenia and
Azerbaijan, it is a consultancy, but, nevertheless, it is the position
of the structure, which does not stem out from the best interests
of the Armenian side regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. European
Parliament resolution, of course, also stressed the progress and
reforms in Armenia, it also highlighted the drawbacks available in
democratic system, but also expressed regret for Armenia’s intention
to join the Customs Union. Referring to the resolution adopted by
the European Parliament, the official Yerevan stated at the level
of Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan that the wordings
in the resolution regarding Nagorno-Karabakh are contrary to the
official position of the European Union, as well as to the position
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs who have international mandates of
intermediary mission into the process of conflict settlement. What
position would the European Parliament have, if Armenia would
initialing the EU Association Agreement in Vilnius summit, being in
other level of relations with the EU as opposed to Azerbaijan?… It
will be definitely difficult to insist that no such resolution will
be passed, but one thing was clear the Armenia could be found on
another plane in terms of protection of the interests of NK than the
other side of the conflict, Azerbaijan. Today, we can already predict
that Serzh Sargsyan’s statement in Moscow on September 3 regarding
joining the Customs Union will have its consequences in the relations
with the West, despite the fact that Armenia’s cooperation with the
EU will continue. From time to time, we will have witnessed in the
adoption of such resolutions. The problem is not that superstates and
international authoritative organizations are always using levers of
pressure against small countries, but the fact that non-independent
policy of Armenia makes Armenia vulnerable both in the relations
with the West and RF. Namely, Armenia is unable to restrain the
levers of pressure, but rather than creates more opportunities for
the application of these levers. Yesterday, the leaders of Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan gathered in Minsk to discuss the prospects of
the development of the Customs Union, and Common Economic Area, as well
as the issues on formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. One of the
objectives of the meeting between Putin, Lukashenko and Nazarbayev
was also the discussion of the application of Armenia to join the
Customs Union, said Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov. Yesterday,
Serzh Sargsyan also left for Belarus to participate in the sessions
of Eurasian Economic Supreme Council and the Council of Heads of CIS
states in Minsk. Meanwhile, on Monday, during the meeting with the
heads of the media of CIS states in Minsk, Belarus President Alexander
Lukashenko made a remarkable statement saying that although in the
near future Armenia can not join the Customs Union, nevertheless this
topic can be raised in the future of CIS and EurAsEC member states
summit. Lukashenko did not rule out the possibility that a document
of Armenia’s intent to join the CU will be signed in Minsk. In fact,
it is noteworthy that yesterday RA Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab
Mnatsakanyan said he is unaware of whether or not the President of
Armenia is going to sign a document in Minsk regarding its joining
the Customs Union. As for Lukashenko, he also recently conveyed the
remarkable desire of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. It
turns out that Nazarbayev is not against Armenia’s joining the Customs
Union, but he draws attention to the fact of unresolved conflict of
Nagorno-Karabakh. “It means that that there will be questions from
Azerbaijan. As I understood, Ilham Aliyev has already addressed this
question to his Kazakh colleague. We should consider the opinion of
Azerbaijan. Europe is not so eager to accept countries with similar
regional issues into its number,” said Lukashenko. It seems that
difficult days are waiting ahead for Armenian political elite who
justify Armenia’s chosen path to the Customs Union in terms of the
factor to provide “security”… Based on Lukashenko’s revelation,
it can be concluded that Azerbaijan not joining the Customs Union,
in fact, has already been engaged in putting Armenia into a “narrow
situation” on Nagorno Karabakh issue with the help of other CU member
countries.

Emma GABRIELYAN

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EREVAN CRITIQUE LE PARLEMENT EUROPEEN A PROPOS DU KARABAGH

ARMENIE

Un officiel a Erevan a critique le Parlement europeen jeudi pour avoir
accuser a nouveau l’Armenie d’occuper le territoire azerbaïdjanais.

L’organe legislatif de l’Union europeenne a mentionne le conflit du
Haut-Karabagh dans une resolution sur le programme du Partenariat
oriental de l’UE adopte mercredi. La resolution ” rappelle sa position
selon laquelle l’occupation par un pays du Partenariat oriental
du territoire d’un autre viole les principes fondamentaux et les
objectifs du Partenariat oriental “.

Le vice-ministre des Affaires etrangères Chavarch Kotcharian a rejete
cette accusation, affirmant qu’elle est en desaccord avec les positions
officielles de l’UE ainsi que celles des Etats-Unis, de la Russie et
de la France, les trois nations qui tentent de negocier un règlement
pacifique du conflit du Karabagh.

” Malgre le fait que la resolution mentionnee ci-dessus est non
contraignant et quelles que soient les motivations des auteurs de
ce texte, ils doivent comprendre qu’ils portent la responsabilite
de son impact eventuellement negatif sur le processus de negociation
et sape les efforts des copresidents du [ Groupe de Minsk] visant a
un règlement pacifique du conflit “, a declare Kotcharian dans des
observations ecrites a News.am.

Comme on pouvait s’y attendre, les autorites azerbaïdjanaises se sont
felicites de la resolution. ” Plus les organisations internationales
reconnaissent l’occupation des territoires azerbaïdjanais, mieux
cela est pour la resolution du conflit ” a declare Asim Mollazade,
un depute pro-gouvernemental, a 1news.az. Mollazade a note que
le Parlement europeen a deja condamne l’occupation armenienne du
Haut-Karabagh et de ses alentours dans une resolution en 2010.

La dernière resolution du Parlement indique egalement que le conflit
armeno-azerbaïdjanais doit etre regle sur la base des principes
de base proposes par les trois puissances mediatrices. Ceux-ci
incluent non seulement l’integrite territoriale des Etats, mais aussi
l’auto-determination des peuples.

samedi 26 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com