Author: nina hovnanian

168 Zham: Kazakhstan not to hamper Armenia’s EEU accession – Russian expert

11:43 * 13.12.14

Kazakhstan cannot be said to be an opponent of Armenia’s integration
despite the principled stance it had earlier demonstrated, a Russian
expert has said, commenting on the country’s possible efforts to
hamper Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.

Speaking to the paper, Head of the Russian Political Expert Group
Kostantin Kalachev said Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is now planning
a visit to Kazakhstan to discuss future processes. “There are clearly
certain package agreements,” he said, adding that the tour is timed to
coincide with several major developments.

“That’s about joint projects worth millions, so no one wishes
troubles. It’s just the other way around. And the delay in Armenia’s
integration may obfuscate the process and demonstrate an absence of
mutual agreements I would take a timeout. Who knows that the process
will reveal. Perhaps, there are really serious disagreements also in
matters unrelated to the integration. But its likelihood is very
little,” he said.

ARMENIA ACCUSES TURKEY OF RELUCTANCE TO COOPERATE

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 12 2014

12 December 2014 – 2:23pm

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press
conference with his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics today that
Turkey was refusing to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia,
blocking its border, pursuing an aggressive policy of denying the
Armenian genocide. In his words, Armenia and Turkey will only cooperate
when Turkey agrees to, Armenia Today reports.

RUSSIA, TURKEY CAN MAKE BIG IMPACT ON SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT – DEPUTY FM

Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2014

By Huseyn Veliyev – Trend:

Increase of stability and trust in the region can have positive impact
on the settlement of all conflicts there, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Khalaf Khalafov told reporters on Dec.12.

He was commenting on the issue of rapprochement of Azerbaijan,
Russia and Turkey in terms of settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“It is known that as the co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Russia, as well as Turkey which plays an important role in the region
and borders Armenia, have the opportunity to make a big impact on
the settlement of this conflict,” Khalafov said.

The deputy minister expressed hope that aside from the strengthening
of the relations between these countries, the efforts of Russia
and Turkey can also increase against the backdrop of relations with
Azerbaijan. “And we expect this.”

He added that Turkey and Russia are the leading countries in the
region and are neighbors of Azerbaijan.

“We try to create relations with both of the countries at the highest
level,” Khalafov said, adding that Azerbaijan’s strategic relations
with both of the countries are based on trust.

“Therefore, I suppose that the development of Azerbaijan’s relations
with Turkey and Russia meets Azerbaijan’s interests and we welcome
this,” the deputy minister added.

Khalafov said the strengthening of the relations with the region’s
countries, expansion of relations, and implementation of new projects
will ensure stability and development in the region.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE ON EU-ARMENIA HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE, 11 DECEMBER 2014, BRUSSELS

Europa, EU
dec 12 2014

On 11 December 2014, the European Union and Armenia held the sixth
round of human rights dialogue in Brussels.

The Armenian delegation was headed by Garen Nazarian, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs, and included among other officials, the Deputy
Minister of Justice Mr. Arman Tatoyan.

The EU Delegation was headed by Mr. Silvio Gonzato, Director, EEAS,
Human Rights and Democracy, European External Action Service and Mrs.

Elisabeth Tison, Head of Division.

The dialogue was held in an open and constructive atmosphere, with an
exchange on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern,
as well as discussions on possibilities for concrete cooperation
in the field of human rights within international organisations,
in particular at the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

The dialogue allowed for an exchange of views on the human rights
situation both in Armenia and in the EU. In particular, the talks were
focused on: the national framework for the protection of human rights,
the reform of the judiciary, elections and electoral framework, freedom
of expression and information, freedom of assembly and association,
the functioning of civil society, anti-discrimination policy, fight
against torture and freedom of religion and belief.

The first Armenia-EU human rights dialogue was established in
December 2009.

The meetings are convened once a year, alternatively in Yerevan
and Brussels.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 – +32 2 298 65 70 –
[email protected] – @MajaEUspox

Eamonn Prendergast +32 460 75 32 93 – [email protected]

TURKISH PUBLICIST QUALIFIES GENOCIDE OF CHRISTIAN POPULATION IN OTTOMAN TURKEY AS JIHAD

by Tatevik Shahunyan

ARMINFO
Friday, December 12, 13:10

Turkey cannot conceal the fact of the Genocide of Armenians, as it
is responsible for that crime against humanity, though Kurds also
helped Turks in that process, Ragip Zakaroglu, a Turkish publicist
said at an international conference in Cologne, Germany, ahead of
the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Ragip Zakaroglu said the Genocide of the Christian population of
Turkey, namely, the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks, was jihad,
which is now repeated in Syria. He alarmed that in Turkey everyone
who speaks of Genocide is persecuted by the authorities.

LIBERTE SUR LE NET 2014 : L’ARMENIE CLASSE PARMI LES PAYS >

ARMENIE

L’Armenie est classee comme un pays > dans le rapport sur la
liberte sur le Net 2014 publie par l’ONG Freedom House le 4 Decembre.

La Georgie est egalement classee comme “libre” , tandis que
l’Azerbaïdjan, la Russie, la Turquie sont parmi les pays dans la
categorie >.

L’Islande est en tete du classement, suivie par l’Estonie et le Canada.

Selon le rapport,

LE LUTTEUR ARTUR ALEKSANYAN ELU >.

Artur Aleksanyan (22 ans, de Gumri) meilleur espoir d’un titre
olympique pour l’Armenie (Rio 2016) qui survole les competitions
et surclasse ses adversaires est le champion du monde et le champion
d’Europe en titre de la lutte greco-romaine (98 kg). Arsène Julfalakyan
un autre lutteur (champion du monde de lutte greco-romaine des 75 kg)
est deuxième et l’halterophile Roupen Alexanyan troisième.

La liste des 10 meilleurs sportifs d’Armenie en 2014

1. Artur Alexanyan (lutte greco-romaine) 300 points 2. Arsène
Julfalakyan (lute greco-romaine) 270 pts 3. Roupen Alexanyan
(halterophilie) 189 pts 4. Grigor Grigoryan (lutte libre) 175 pts
5. Vanik Avetisyan (halterophilie) 125 pts 6. Hovhannès Davdyan (judo)
106 pts 7. Tigrane Kirakosyan (sambo) 104 pts 8. Mavrik Nasibyan
(sambo) 97 pts 9. Artur Davtyan (gymnastique) 96 pts 10. Garik
Barseghyan (lutte libre) 74 pts

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 12 decembre 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

LE PEUPLE DE L’ARTSAKH PRET A DEFENDRE SA LIBERTE SELON SON PRESIDENT

KARABAGH

Bako Sahakian President de l’Artsakh a pris la parole au cours d’une
celebration publique de l’anniversaire du referendum sur l’independance
de l’Artsakh et Jour de la Constitution. Bako Sahakian a affirme que
la volonte du peuple de l’Artsakh a se battre pour sa liberte est
aussi forte qu’elle ne l’a jamais ete.

“Cette journee a conclu des millenaires d’une longue histoire de
notre nation avec le debut d’un nouveau chemin, qui a marque la
ferme determination des Armeniens de l’Artsakh de construire un
Etat libre et independant ainsi qu’une societe civile fondee sur
des principes democratiques, les droits de l’homme universels et les
valeurs nationales >>, a declare Bako Sahakian. “Tant le referendum
sur l’independance de 1991 et l’adoption de la loi fondamentale de
notre pays – la Constitution en 2006, ont une fois de plus prouve que
le peuple de l’Artsakh est resolu et pret a defendre ses interets
et la liberte en conformite avec les règles et les normes du droit
international.”

“Le chemin que nous avons choisi est irreversible, car il est juste
et sanctifie par le sang de nos martyrs”, a declare Bako Sahakian,
ajoutant que les Armeniens sont tenus de renforcer le statut d’Etat
de l’Artsakh et de voir qu’il reussit. “C’est la seule voie vers
la prosperite pour l’Artsakh, sa reconnaissance internationale et
l’integration avec le monde civilise”, a declare le president.

vendredi 12 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SPEAKS: ARMENIAN FM

15:15, 12 Dec 2014

Anna Nazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has arrived in Armenia for
a working visit at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbandian. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries discussed the
further cooperation within the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership
Programme. Latvia will assume EU presidency from January 2015 and
will host the Eastern Partnership Summit in May.

Ministers Nalbandian and Rinkevics discussed a number of bilateral,
regional and international issues. The Armenian Foreign Minister
briefed his Latvian counterpart on the efforts of Armenia and the
Minsk Group co-chairing countries towards the peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh issue.

“The ongoing belligerent statements by the Azerbaijani authorities
after the meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers in Basel come to prove
that Azerbaijan continues to ignore the statements of the Co-Chairs
and does not understand the language the international community is
speaking. Azerbaijan does not understand the declarative language;
therefore, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs should make corresponding
conclusions,” Minister Nalbandian told reporters after the meeting.

A few days ago the Turkish Foreign Minister called on Armenia to start
cooperating with neighbors. In response to this, Edward Nalbandian
said “our foreign policy has always targeted the establishment and
development of cooperation with all countries.”

“But is it possible to cooperate with a country, which refuses to
establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, which keeps the border
closed and comes forth with a number of hostile expressions related
to Armenian and the Armenian people?” Minister Nalbandian said.

“It will be possible to cooperate with Turkey, when the latter
faces its own history and when it agrees to meet the commitments
it has assumed,” Minister Nalbandian said. He reminded that “the
international community has declared on many occasions that the ball
is in the Turkish court.”

Latvia will preside over the European Union in 2015. In this regard,
the Latvian Foreign Minister noted that “it’s important to discuss the
issue of the Eastern Partnership roadmap. “Taking into consideration
Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, it will implement
individual partnership plans with EU member states,” Edgars Rinkevics
said.

PRE-PARLIAMENT INITIATIVE CONCERNED OVER ATTACK ON LAWMAKER ARAM MANUKYAN

15:39 | December 12,2014 | Politics

The Pre-parliament initiative strongly condemns the Thursday attack
on Armenian lawmaker Aram Manukyan.

“The acting regime has openly and cynically started implementation of
mass violence, targeting at representatives of different political
forces and civilians. In the given situation, Pre-parliament finds
it crucial to form a violence prevention and response mechanism by
the joint efforts of citizens and forces, who are not tolerant of
violence,” said the initiative.

An unknown person attacked HAK Secretary Aram Manukyan and hit him
near the lawmaker’s house in Yerevan on Thursday evening.S peaking
about the incident, Levon Zurabyan said there is an available video
tape which had already been confiscated.

Aram Manukyan is said to have bruises on his face. He declines to
comment on the assault at present.

The assailant is described as a middle-aged man who reportedly did
not say anything during the attack.