Author: Kanayan Tamar

AU PIANO AU MILIEU DE L’ESPACE CANAPE DE BUT, ANDRE MANOUKIAN OFFRE UNE ENVOITANTE PROMO

La Voix du Nord
samedi 29 septembre 2012
France

Seclin – Demarche tranquille, au milieu d’un public confortablement
installe dans une foule de canapes, Andre Manoukian est arrive en
toute simplicite. Quelques notes pianotees avant de lever la tete pour
decouvrir, presque avec surprise, son petit public. ” J’ai l’impression
d’etre chez vous “, s’est-il amuse. C’est en fait dans le ” salon ”
de chez But que le jazzman a passe une partie de sa soiree.

L’exercice n’est pas courant mais pas tout a fait nouveau pour le
pianiste, icône du petit ecran depuis sa participation au jury de
l’emission Nouvelle Star. Teste a Calais lors de l’ouverture d’un
magasin en fevrier, le concept avait ete plebiscite. Comme l’enseigne
d’ameublement collabore avec Manoukian sur le terrain de la decoration,
elle lui a demande de venir feter l’installation de son magasin dans
la zone So Green de Seclin, ouvert en août et inaugure mardi soir.

Près de 500 personnes s’etaient mobilisees pour tenter de gagner les
200 invitations. Les jeunes enfants ont pu trouver le temps long mais
l’ambiance feutree, un brin melancolique et la qualite musicale de
la prestation d’Andre Manoukian, sur un magnifique piano a queue loue
specialement a l’opera de Lille, ont totalement envoûte le public. Le
musicien a propose un repertoire puisant ses sonorites dans les
chants d’eglise coptes et les melodies armeniennes de ses ancetres,
mariees subtilement au jazz. Un melange equilibre de pathos et de
notes plus gaies. Ideal pour s’enfoncer paisiblement dans un canape
rembourre et se laisser deconnecter de la realite. L’histoire ne dit
pas si les clients potentiels ainsi chouchoutes sont repartis avec
l’envie d’adopter leur banquette d’un soir. Mais ils ont quitte le
magasin avec le sourire, en plus de photos et de dedicaces. Ma. D.

CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL, ARMENIA REMAIN THE SAME: ERDOGAN

Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 30 2012
Turkey

“We will never reconsider restoring our relations with Israel,”
until Israel lifts its Gaza blockade, apologizes to Turkey and pays
compensation for the nine Turkish nationals killed on a Gaza-bound
vessel by Israeli commandos in May 2010, Erdoðan said in his address
to his ruling Justice and Democracy Party (AKP) congress in Ankara.

The prime minister also said Turkey will continue to give support to
the Palestinian cause in order to make them live in peace.

On Armenia, Erdoðan said Turkey’s stance will not change, until
“they give our Azeri brothers’ their rights.”

“We will continue to stand by our principals on the issues of Cyprus
and Nagorno-Karabakh,” Erdoðan said.

Erdoðan has meanwhile called on Russia and China to reconsider their
stance on Syria, while also vowing to provide logistical support to
Syrians and welcome refugees from the country flowing into Turkey,
during his speech.

“I call on China and Russia: Please, reconsider your stance. History
will not forgive those who side with this cruel regime,” Erdoðan said
during his party’s congress today in Ankara.

Turkey is currently hosting around 90,000 refugees, he said. “We
will do what brotherhood necessitates. We will continue to give
logistical support.”

Call for action against Islamophobia

Erdoðan called on France and Germany to take action against recent
incidents against the Muslim identity in their countries during
his address.

“I call on Germany. We do not accept the attitude against women who
wear head coverings,” said Erdoðan. Recent posters publicized by
the German Interior Ministry advertising a hotline for those worried
that a friend or family member may be turning to radical Islam did
not coincide with the freedom of religion, Erdoðan said.

He also called on France to take steps in “the cartoon crisis,”
referring to cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad that were recently
published by a French magazine.

Erdoðan also vowed to continue his efforts to make Islamophobia a
recognized hate crime in Turkey and the international arena.

“Islamophobia is a hate crime. Insults to [Islam’s] Prophet Muhammad
cannot be tolerated under the name of freedom of speech. This is not
freedom of speech, this is a disrespect to freedoms,” said Erdoðan.

“We are now taking steps in domestic and international grounds. Our
foreign minister is holding discussions [on the issue] with world
leaders,” said Erdoðan, recalling his previous call for a ban on
attacks on religious and sacred values. Erdoðan also said it is
unacceptable that the West hasn’t recognized Islamophobia as a crime
against humanity, although it has recognized anti-semitism as a crime
against humanity.

ILLEGAL HUNTING CASE IN ARMENIA’S KHOSROV RESERVE REVEALED

tert.am
30.09.12

Police says it has revealed the case of illegal hunting in Kaqavaberd
sector of Khosrov reserve widely discussed and covered by mass media
September 25.

The hunting of Caucasian bear and Bezoar goat registered in the Red
Book received a wide resonance.

According to the police website, the poacher is 29-year old resident
of Garni village Norik Sargsyan, who works at water supply protection
service.

Sargsyan prepared a trap for the animals and killed them.

During the search at his hostel the police found hunt rifle, other
means for hunting.

Circumstances of the case and the damage are being cleared out. The
examination is under way.

Paper: Yerevan mayor’s brother-in-law to replace to replace FFA head

September 29, 2012 – 18:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Haykakan Zhamanak daily, the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) will nominate a young candidate in N
1 electoral district.

Sources say, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan’s brother-in-law is said to
replace Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) head Ruben Hayrapetyan.

`Aravot’: is Samvel Aleksanyan contented with the compensation?

2012-09-28 07:12:17

Yesterday Gagik Jhangiryan announced, that RA Governemnt compensated
owners of stores, which where damaged as a result of events of March
1-2, 2008. RPA Samvel Aleksanyan was also among them.
The newspaper tried to find out whether Mr Aleksanyan was given the
compensation and if he is content with the sum. The latter’s assistant
despite promised to find out and inform, but he wouldn’t respond to
newspaper’s calls. Answers to written questions will be presented by
the newspaper in future.

Press Black-Out? Virus Outbreak in Stepanakert Kindergarten
Hayk Ghazaryan

HETQ
19:10, September 27, 2012

This reporter was given the official run-around when he tried to
verify the news that kids at Kindergarten #1 in Stepanakert had been
exposed to a infectious virus.

I called Dr. Ofelia Grigoryan at the Virus and Hygienic Station but
was told to get in touch with the Ministry of Health.

The receptionist at the Ministry told me to call a certain unit, which
I did, but they transferred me back to reception.

Yesterday, the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Stepanakert admitted
more than 30 kids with high temperatures. It is said that management
called back all available doctors and that the staff worked late into
the night.

One doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the kids were
suffering from an intestinal virus most probably transmitted through
water or food.

Later, the Stepanakert Children’s Hospital told me that they had
admitted 12 kids and that their condition was satisfactory after
receiving treatment.

I tried to telephone the kindergarten but no one answered.

The public affairs department of the Artsakh Police said he had no
knowledge of any virus outbreak.

Armenian, Russian FMs discuss Azeri murderer release

September 29, 2012 – 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with
his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York.

The two men focused on Armenian-Russian relations, implementation of
agreements reached between the two countries, steps targeting
strengthening of strategic cooperation and collaboration in the
framework of international organizations.

Release of Azerbaijani murderer Ramil Safarov and peaceful settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict were further discussed.

Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life
sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.

Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.
Hungary, however, states that it had sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan
after receiving assurances from the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry that
Safarov’s sentence, which included the possibility of parole after 25
years, would be enforced.

According to some reports, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan in
exchange for Azeri purchase of Hungarian securities worth euro 2-3
billion, an information official Budapest denies.

`Hungarian prime minister is `morally bankrupt’ and should resign
after admitting that he personally approved the transfer of the Azeri
axe murderer while knowing the likely consequences,’ the leader of the
opposition Socialists said earlier.

Attila Mesterhazy said it was clear from Orban’s comments at a news
conference on Tuesday September 11 that he had been aware that
Azerbaijan would release the life-sentenced Ramil Safarov after his
repatriation.

Dutch BNN TV Channel to develop film on Armenia and Artsakh

16:58, 29 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: By the efforts of the National
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia and the Embassy of the Republic
of Armenia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands the Dutch leading BNN TV
Channel group made a study visit to Armenia and Artsakh on September
23-28.

As Armenpress was reported by the National Competitiveness Foundation
of Armenia, during the visit the group of the journalists was provided
with the opportunity to comprehensively get acquainted with the
Armenian national historic, cultural and religious heritage, the
nature, the cuisine and the national traditions. A film about Armenia
and Artsakh will be prepared, based on the taken videomaterials, and
broadcasted by the Channel 3 Travels (3 op Reis) program release for
several times.

Channel 3 Travels is one of the most authoritative TV channels in the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, the audience of which includes about 900
thousands views weekly. From this point of view, the proper
presentation and impetus of the tourism outcome of Armenia and Artsakh
in the incoming tourism market is quite important for Armenia.

Such journalistic-cognitive visits highly contribute to the formation
of the attractive and diversified tourism image of the Republic of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic and create new platforms to
realize the tourism outcome in the international tourism markets.

It Was Not Effect of Brandy

HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:38:09 – 29/09/2012

What they want from Oskanian and PAP

At last Prosperous Armenia ran the risk and announced that not only
Vartan Oskanian but also PAP is persecuted.

In fact, PAP and Oskanian were thus identified. Earlier the PAP
disclaimed Vartan Oskanian’s remarks, statements, notes, assessments
as his personal opinion, thereby drawing a line between the party and
its de jure member. The impression was that PAP did not trust Oskanian
and doubted that he was set to undermine the party by spoiling
relations between the PAP and Serzh Sargsyan.

In fact, Prosperous Armenia thus legitimates Oskanian’s membership.

Although this decision was made during the PAP meeting at Tsarukyan’s
brandy company, nevertheless it is the result of a sober evaluation of
the situation rather than the effect of brandy.

Earlier PAP had introduced the sociological myth of Gagik Tsarukyan as
the joint candidate with the help of Aharon Adibekyan. However, when
the government made it clear that it will bring charges against Vartan
Oskanian, Prosperous Armenia understood the problem was more serious
than it had thought.

It prompts that Prosperous Armenia has understood its political
mission in the global political plans on Armenia.

As soon as the decline of public confidence in the opposition became
visible, the Western diplomacy and experts view Prosperous Armenia as
a viable and potential entity to ensure checks and balances. These
observations are discerned in their private talks.

That is why the Western ambassadors are highly interested in
Oskanian’s case and have already met twice at the Civilitas’s office
and stated that they closely follow the case.

The problem is that Oskanian’s case actually fits in the technology
which can bring it closer to its political mission.

There is some controversy though because Prosperous Armenia is
pro-Russian while the West would hardly encourage PAP as a rival of
western interests in Armenia.

However, the situation seems deeper than just the dilemma of foreign
orientation.

First, this issue does not have a crucial importance from the point of
view of checks and balances in Armenia. Let PAP play in the Russian
field but let it play and not wait until the Russians involve it in
the game. Perhaps this is the important thing for the West. Oskanian’s
case has reached a point when the PAP has to play and the statement
identifying the party with the ex-foreign minister is an example of
PAP’s independent play.

Certainly, there are no guarantees that PAP will not retreat and
Russia will not end its game and will not manipulate PAP. However,
despite the party’s foreign bias, the goal is to ensure checks and
balances thanks to which the ruling system of Armenia will gradually
be dismantled, facilitated by the active civic processes.

U.S. Rep. Berman urges to block Azeri participation in NATO program

September 28, 2012 – 10:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking
Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA) urged the State Department to rally a
joint protest of NATO allies against Azerbaijan and to block that
country’s participation in NATO Partnership for Peace initiatives in
response to the Aliyev government’s recent pardon and promotion of
convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

In a strongly worded letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, Rep. Berman acknowledged the strong Obama administration
condemnation of Azerbaijan’s release of Safarov, but added, `in my
view, however, the abhorrent nature of this pardon, as well as the
gruesome nature of the original crime and the context in which it
occurred, demands something more. It demands a strong and meaningful
response.’

Berman went on to outline concrete actions that the State Department
can undertake including: arranging for a joint protest to President
Aliyev by all members of NATO; calling on NATO to suspend Azerbaijan
from all participation in PfP events unless and until Aliyev rescinds
the pardon and promotion and re-incarcerates the killer, or returns
him to Hungary, to serve the remainder of his life sentence;
immediately halting all military assistance and arms transfers to
Azerbaijan.