PHILIPPE KALTENBACH EN MISSION EN ARMENIE ET AU HAUT-KARABAGH – PHOTOS
FRANCE/ARMENIE/KARABAGH
En tant que President du groupe d’amitie France-Armenie, Philippe
Kaltenbach s’est rendu du 20 au 23 septembre dernier en Armenie,
accompagne de Jean-Yves Leconte, Senateur des Francais de l’etranger.
Il a ensuite poursuivi son deplacement au Haut-Karabagh.
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mercredi 1er octobre 2014, Ara (c)armenews.com
NAISSANCE DE LA CHAMBRE ECONOMIQUE FRANCO-ARMENIENNE DE LA COTE D’AZUR (CEFA)
COMMUNIQUE NICE
C’est devant un parterre d’une centaine d’acteurs economiques de la
region AZUREENNE et avec la presence de plusieurs elus locaux(1),
tous reunis le 12 septembre 2014 au Theâtre de la Photographie et
de l’Image de Nice gracieusement mis a sa disposition par la Mairie
de Nice, que la toute nouvelle Chambre Economique Franco-Armenienne
de la Côte d’Azur (CEFA) a presente son programme d’actions et le
rôle majeur qu’elle entend jouer comme incubateur d’une synergie
economique fructueuse articulee sur les deux axes mettant en jeu
d’une part les entrepreneurs nicois et armeniens avec comme cible le
marche armenien et, d’autre part, les memes acteurs avec comme cible
le marche francais.
Cet ambitieux projet est le fruit de la reflexion et de l’ambition
genereuse d’un trio très complementaire de jeunes entrepreneurs et
decideurs nicois attaches a mettre leurs competences et leurs energies
au service d’une dynamique economique visant a apporter et a creer de
la richesse en Armenie dans une strategie gagnant-gagnant meilleure
garante de perennite de la mission qu’ils se sont donnee. C’est ainsi
que le premier Conseil d’Administration de la CEFA est compose des
trois personnes suivantes :
President : Monsieur Garnik Mazmanian gerant de la societe CerAzur ;
Tresorier : Monsieur Armand Pinarbasi Directeur Associe du Cabinet
Grant Thornton ; Secretaire : Monsieur Vahagn Movsesyan Conseiller
des projets internationaux auprès d’une agence immobilière a Nice et
ex-enseignant a l’EDHEC.
Ce premier Conseil d’Administration a recu le soutien operationnel
très actif de M. Francois BEDROSSIAN expert-comptable commissaire
aux comptes du Cabinet Cerès a Nice et de M. Garo MARDIROSYAN
directeur d’agence de la Societe Marseillaise de Credit a Nice, deux
personnalites qui auront très prochainement vocation a integrer le
Conseil d’Administration de la CEFA lors de sa prochaine Assemblee
Generale.
Compose au moins de trois personnes, le Conseil d’Administration de
la CEFA pourra en compter au maximum vingt et une, toutes recrutees
parmi ses membres adherents. Il est elu pour une duree de 3 ans par
l’Assemblee Generale. Lors de la presentation qu’ils firent de la
CEFA a l’aide d’un diaporama, MM. MAZMANIAN et PINARBASI tous deux
excellents connaisseurs de l’Armenie, de son marche et de son tissu
entrepreneurial, ont developpe en detail les differents axes d’action
de la CEFA, soulignant notamment l’interet et la necessite de federer
les acteurs economiques > de la Côte d’Azur, de
creer les conditions favorables au developpement d’echanges economiques
entre la France et l’Armenie, de promouvoir l’image de marque de
la Côte d’Azur dans le monde et plus particulièrement en Armenie,
de tisser des liens economiques forts et durables entre la diaspora
et l’Armenie et d’entreprendre toutes les actions permettant de faire
rayonner localement et a l’international les membres de la CEFA par
leurs metiers, leurs savoirs, leurs idees ou leurs developpements. Pour
atteindre cet objectif, les intervenants ont rappele l’importance de
rassembler au sein de la CEFA les societes, les chefs d’entreprise,
les artisans, les professions liberales et tous ceux qui dans leurs
domaines respectifs, sont susceptibles d’initier, de partager, de
promouvoir une dynamique porteuse a la conquete de nouveaux marches
en Armenie.
Dans cet esprit, la CEFA aura pour mission de developper les relations
internationales, de faciliter la circulation des informations
mutuelles, notamment d’ordre juridique, de representer les interets
de ses membres, de coordonner les actions de terrain ainsi que les
etudes de marche, le tout au service du developpement economique en
France et en Armenie. Pour ce faire, les ressources et les moyens de la
CEFA reposeront sur les cotisations de ses membres, des subventions
diverses (Etat et autres collectivites publiques), des dons, du
mecenat et toutes autres ressources financières s’inscrivant dans le
cadre legal qui regissent ses statuts. À cet effet, la CEFA s’engage
a tenir une comptabilite et a adresser au Prefet un rapport annuel
sur ses comptes. À l’issue de la presentation s’ensuivit un echange
questions-reponses des plus instructifs avant que le public ne rejoigne
le cocktail offert par la Mairie de Nice a tous les participants,
cocktail au cours duquel les questions sur les opportunites et les
marches porteurs en Armenie se firent plus precises, ce qui laisse
entrevoir un depart prometteur pour la CEFA très satisfaite a juste
raison de cette première rencontre.
* Elus presents : MM. Rudy Salles Depute des Alpes-Maritimes et
Adjoint au Maire de Nice, Philippe Pradal 1er Adjoint au Maire de Nice,
Christian Tordo Adjoint au Maire de Nice, Auguste Verola Adjoint au
Maire de Nice et Vice-president du Conseil General des Alpes-Maritimes,
Joseph Calza Conseiller municipal et Vice-president du Conseil General
des Alpes-Maritimes.
mardi 30 septembre 2014, Ara (c)armenews.com
ANKARA POSTER COMPETITION TO PORTRAY ARMENIANS AS GENOCIDAL, TRAITORS
By Weekly Staff on September 29, 2014
Winner to Be Announced on Dink Assassination Anniversary
ANKARA, Turkey (A.W.)–Ankara’s public Gazi University, in
collaboration with the Embassy of Azerbaijan, has announced the launch
of a poster competition that encourages participants to design artworks
on the theme, “Everyone Sleeping: Armenian Persecutions from Anatolia
to the Caucasus, International Poster Competition.” The winner(s)
will be announced on January 19, the anniversary of the assassination
of Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist and editor of Agos who
was murdered by an ultra-nationalist Turkish youth in Istanbul in 2007.
Ankara poster competition to portray Armenians as genocidal, traitors
In introducing the competition, a lengthy, fictionalized account of
Turkish history is provided–an account in which Armenians committed
genocide against Turks and Azerbaijanis. Under the rule of Seljuk
Turks, and later the Ottoman Empire, Armenians lived in peace, which
brought about the “Golden Age” of the Armenians. Armenians were offered
religious and other freedoms, human rights, and a general attitude of
benevolence. This all changed when Armenians, instigated by Western
powers, began to rebel and ceased to be the once “loyal nation.”
Painting a treacherous portrayal of Armenians, the organizers go on
to describe how Armenians tried to “dismantle” the country, supported
by Russian, British, and French forces. In order to “prevent damage,”
an effort to relocate them came about. “The aim was not to destroy the
Armenians; the purpose was to protect them and to ensure the security
of the state,” the competition organizers claim, though conceding that
some deaths did occur–around 50,000 (the 1.5 million number is a gross
exaggeration they claim). Muslims, on the other hand, were killed in
greater numbers–around two million. As to the matter of genocide,
the true victims of WWI were the Turks, they say. It was the Turks
who suffered genocide–around one million Turks were killed at the
hands of Armenian gangs–in Van, Mush, Bitlis and elsewhere.
The organizers “remind” potential participants of the “Unimaginable
tortures and rapes,” the suicides of women hoping to preserve their
chastity, the slaughters of young and old alike at the hands of the
Armenians, as well as the mass graves, and the massacres at the hands
of “Dashnag gangs.” Armenians are portrayed as conduits of “savagery,
cruelty, torture, rape…”
Despite “these painful events of the Turkish nation,” Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk (who also happened to establish Gazi University) founded
modern Turkey, which managed to survive despite “Armenian terrorism.”
But apparently Armenian crimes do not end here. The organizers evoke
the Karabagh war, where they claim yet another genocide took place
in 1992, that of Azerbaijanis in Khojaly.
“The Turkish world suffered genocide… silence continues… Everyone
is asleep… and while everyone was asleep, the Turks were massacred
again.
Everyone is asleep despite the historical facts that are attacked
by the narrative of Armenians and their supporters and the so-called
genocide allegations,” write the organizers. Furthermore, the Armenian
allegations amount to “slander,” “injustice,” and “defamation.”
The organizers invite international artists and designers who care
for human rights and want the world to wake up to the genocide and
massacres committed by Armenians, to participate in this poster
competition.
The winner(s) will be announced on Jan. 19, 2015.
Exhibition of submitted works will take place at the Gazi University
Museum of Painting and Sculpture beginning on Feb. 26, 2015. The
grand prize is an exhibition of the winning work in Baku.
Organizers include: Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Ankara Faig Bagirov;
Flame Cakmakoglu (Gazi University); Fulya Bayraktar (Gazi University);
Ã…~^ansal Evans (Gazi University); Bulent Salderay (Gazi University);
and Ali Herisc (Gazi University).
Jury members include: Arif Aziz, dean of the State University of
Fine Arts and Civilization (Azerbaijan); Ugurcan Akyuz, Near East
University, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (Northern
Cyprus); Mehmet Basbug, the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University, dean
of the Faculty of Fine Arts (Kyrgyzstan); Seifolla Bodikov, Buketov
Karaganda State University dean (Kazakhstan); Rustam Khudayberganov,
Behzo Drafting and Design University (Uzbekistan); Sabit Magavin,
Buketov Karaganda State University (Kazakhstan); Sevil Suleymanova,
State Art Academy dean (Azerbaijan); Adnan Tepecik, dean of Faculty of
Fine Arts, Design and Architecture (Turkey); Yeralin Kuandyk, Ahmet
Yesevi University (Kazakhstan); Alisher Alikulov, Kamolitdin Behzoda
Ressamlik ve Tasarim University dean (Uzbekistan); Cigdem Demir,
Gazi University, Faculty of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design
Department (Turkey); and Suiutbek Torobekov, dean of the National
Art Academy (Kyrgyzstan).
The Exhibition organizing committee includes: Naile Cevik, Umut
Demirel, Ramazan Can, and Giray Selcuk.
The graphic design board includes: Dilek Oguzoglu, Yilmaz Ciracioglu,
and Zeynep Pehlivan.
Hraparak: Some people in Syunik terrified at Suren Khachatryan’s return
13:16 27/09/2014 >> DAILY PRESS
Unlike the community heads supporting Suren Khachatryan’s
reappointment as governor of Syunik province, some people in Syunik
are just terrified at his return, Hraparak writes.
According to the newspaper, those are the people who dared to speak
about Khachatryan’s shortcomings when he had resigned as regional
governor.
The newspaper wrote earlier that Khachatryan learnt about these talks
and he personally called those people and warned them that he will
“skin” them when he returns to his position.
TravelPulse
Sept 27 2014
Cities in Ruin: Ancient Site Worthy of a Visit
The seven Wonders Of The World are indeed fascinating, but what about
the other incredible feats of architecture that are often overlooked?
In many places in the world, you’ll find ancient sites, temples and
ruins that could definitely give the official “Wonders” a run for
their money. Here are some top archeological wonders that we feel
deserve some more attention.
1. Angkor Wat – Siam Reap, Cambodia
Spanning over 400 square kilometers, this massive park houses the
remains of several capital cities of the Kmer Empire. The temples and
carvings here are very religious in nature, primarily Hindu, with a
few remaining Buddhist reliefs. You will notice many of the temples
are built to represent the mythical “Mount Meru” – each have a moat
around them and they’re built up like a mountain with five towers on
top (representing the five peaks of Mt. Meru).
You will also see statues of Lord Shiva throughout the temples. Ta
Prom is the famous temple where Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider! The
Angkor Archaeological Park is so large and so important that we
suggest seeing it on a three-day pass. There are numerous ways to
navigate this complex — by car, elephant, bicycle, tuk-tuk, bus, horse
and carriage or motorbike…take your pick!
2. Persepolis – Fars Province, Iran
This historical site was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid
Empire (550 -330 BC). However, the earliest remains from this ancient
city date back to 515 BC! Persepolis literally translates to “City of
Persians” and when you wander around this vast site, you can
practically hear the trumpets blasting for the arriving delegates and
kings, and feel the hustle and bustle of the people rushing around the
palace.
The ruins, carvings and columns here are in immaculate condition. Make
sure to venture partway up the mountain to see the tombs of Artaxerxes
I and II, but most importantly, it’s a great vantage point over
Persepolis.
3. Ruins of Ani – Province of Kars, Turkey
Located in Eastern Turkey right on the border with Armenia, the ruins
of Ani are amazing and in a beautiful location. The backdrop of
rolling green hills, flowering meadows and a river cutting through the
site makes this a special place to visit. During its heyday, Ani was
the capital of the Armenian Empire, rivaling even the most powerful
cities in the Middle East.
Although it wasn’t on any important trade routes, due to its size and
wealth, Ani traded with the Byzantine Empire, Persian Empire, the
Arabs and small nations in Russia and Central Asia. Unfortunately,
today Ani is actually quite neglected by the Turkish authorities.
Earthquakes, poor restoration, vandalism, looting and (apparently)
Army target practice by the Turkish Military have all lead to the
deterioration of this beautiful site. The churches, cathedrals and
frescoes here are all incredible. Get here soon before they completely
deteriorate!
4. Ruins of Bagan – Bagan, Myanmar
This ancient site is home to not only the largest, but the densest
concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, ruins and stupas in the
world! During the mid-9th century, approximately 13,000 temples and
stupas stood on this vast 42 square kilometer plain. Today, around
2,200 remain, all threatened by the wind, erosion and the rising
Irrawaddy River.
UNESCO has not included Bagan on its list due to some of the temples
being restored in an un-historic way, which is a shame. With so many
temples to see, definitely plan to visit Bagan for at least two days.
Renting a bicycle, ox cart, private car or horse and carriage are all
ways to get around this vast site. Make sure to visit during sunset to
see the silhouette of the temples dotting the landscape.
5. Baalbek – Beqaa Valley, Lebanon
During the period of Roman Rule, this city was known as Heliopolis and
was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire. Today, it contains
some of the best examples of Imperial Roman architecture. Many of the
stones used in the moldings and columns of the colossal buildings
weigh between 60 and 100 tons…and are raised to 19 meters above the
ground! The temples and columns here are incredible; definitely a
must-see if you are anywhere near the Middle East.
Even though the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Giza are
amazing and definitely deserve to be Wonders of the World, we think
that these temples and ancient cities are equally impressive! What do
you think?
Armenia Fund: Achieving True Victory in War
Friday, September 26th, 2014
The newly-constructed school in Chapar
In Chapar, a northern village in Artsakh, Armenia Fund has constructed
a new school with modern amenities to serve the local population.
During the time Armenia Fund has realized many projects in and around
the area, 15 families have moved back and resettled in the village.
Fourteen year old boys usually have less serious things on their mind.
The ceasefire negotiations were underway and an independent Artsakh
was in sight. On the verge of a monumental defeat, Azerbaijan,
suffering from embarrassingly disproportionate military losses, chose
to continue its hostilities. One of the targets for Azerbaijan’s
special forces was the civilian population of Chapar village in
northern Artsakh’s Martakert region. As recorded by Human Rights
Watch, six Armenian civilians, including one 14-year old boy, were
killed.
One of Artsakh’s oldest communities, picturesque Chapar is in northern
Artsakh, close to the militarized border and the Azerbaijani-occupied
Armenian region of Shahumian. Armenia Fund chose the village of 300
residents for the location a new school as a part of its Rural
Development Program. The building of the new school was co-sponsored
by the government of the Artsakh Republic.
Students at the new Chapar village school
The school is built with the future in mind, bearing accommodations
that will allow students to have a holistic educational experience.
Among the different facilities are included biology and chemistry
labs, a computer lab, and a library. A unique feature at the school
that speaks to its precarious geography – and with a nod to its
history – is a classroom specially built for military studies.
Spanning over 10,000 square feet, the school’s campus also houses a
grass sports field, as well as an outdoor playground. For Chapar’s
cold winters, a boiler room was installed so that the children and
faculty could benefit from central heating and not have to limit class
time for lack of it.
Despite now having a brand new building outfitted with the most modern
educational equipment, Chapar School’s most valued possession is
distinctly antiquated: a hundred year old bell. Having survived
through some of the most tumultuous times in Armenian history, the
bell will hang proudly from the new building where it will continue to
see off the school’s graduates in the spring and welcome new students
in the fall.
This is not Chapar’s first experience with Armenia Fund. In 2012, a
water pipeline almost 2.5 miles long was installed and has since
provided the village with regular access to drinkable water.
Chapar is also one of the locations along the new Vardenis-Martakert
Highway which is being constructed by Armenia Fund with donations from
Armenians throughout the world. These developments, together with the
new school and a general improvement in the village’s conditions have
encouraged 15 families that had left to return and continue their
lives there.
In fact, in addition to the traditional trades of the villages, which
include beekeeping, animal husbandry, and agriculture, many of the
village’s residents have been hired to work on the Armenia Fund
infrastructure projects in and around their homes.
We can’t know what the 14-year old boy who was killed by Azerbaijani
soldiers would have been if he was able to grow up. But, by continuing
to build the communities that were destroyed by the War for
Independence and which continue to live on the razor’s edge, we can
ensure that his innocent life, and that of many others like him, was
not lost in vain. The real victory in war is giving the fourteen year
olds of today and tomorrow that which the ones from yesterday did not
have.
Genocide Testimonials in UK Parliament 1914-1923
On August 21, 2014 Keghart.com and the Toronto chapter of the AGBU
unveiled (“kinetson”) Katia Peltekian’s “The Times of Armenian
Genocide: Reports in the British Press 1914-1923” at the AGBU hall.
The result of 12 years of research, the two-volumes include press
reports, Parliamentary debates, letters from readers, and petitions to
raise funds for the Armenian victims.
Ms. Peltekian was introduced by Keghart Editor Jirair Tutunjian. In a
Power-point presentation, the author screened significant excerpts
from debates at Westminster regarding the plight of the Armenians. She
also underlined that while the British government seemed to be
pro-Armenian during the war, it abandoned the Armenians soon after the
war.
In introducing Ms. Peltekian, Mr. Tutunjian pointed out that the
author researched, scanned, compiled, published the book, and financed
the vital project with her personal savings, because after her
experience with her previous book about the coverage of the Genocide
in the Canadian press (1894-1922), she did not wish to waste time
uselessly waiting for an Armenian organization or institution to show
interest.
About 70 people attended the gathering. Following her speech, Ms.
Peltekian took questions from the audience and later autographed her
remarkable 950 page, two-volume testimonial to the Genocide.
Serious Developments Are Awaiting Syunik
Haikazn Ghahriyan, Editor-in-Chief
Comments – 27 September 2014, 14:40
Human rights NGOs called upon the international organizations to be
consistent to the issue of conduct of impartial and complete survey of
the Karen Petrosyan case
Downfall Continues At An Unbelievable Rate
Samvel Alexanyan On Carrefour
Yesterday Liska returned triumphantly to his kingdom – the region of
Syunik. He had been dismissed after the murder at his house but over
this time all the problems have been resolved, and he has returned.
According to the press, he has threatened everyone who stated anything
against him during his “leave” and made everyone meet him with salt
and bread and celebrations.
Why was Liska dismissed? Was it the result of press reports on murder
at his house and different other crimes? Of course, not. Had there
been a punishment for crimes in the ruling system, the government and
especially the majority of the National Assembly (RPA and PAP) would
not be in their current places. Had there been a punishment for such
things, Liska would not have received the Military Cross Decoration if
his behavior during the meat mincer in Horadiz had been taken into
account.
People whose names feature in different crimes, including murders,
hold key positions in the Armenian government.
Moreover, it is impossible to hold key positions in the Armenian
government without a record of serious crimes. The nature of the
Armenian system is such that they are united by joint crimes, which is
the only guarantee of the viability and arrangements of the system.
After Liska’s dismissal one of the representatives of the system,
Tokhmakh Mher stated: “One still has to understand why Liska was
dismissed”. In other words, Liska was dismissed for another reason,
not murder. They do not dismiss for such things, and Tokhmakh Mher and
the others are trying to understand what has changed in the system and
whether the others will also be exposed to threat.
In other words, the reason for dismissing Liska was somewhere else.
Among all the versions the suggestion by Edik Baghdasaryan,
editor-in-chief of Hetq.am, is the closest to the truth. He suggests
it was mines and money.
There are mines that have not been registered, and the skirmish in
Goris was for “sharing” one of those gold mines. The details are not
known but it is obvious that Liska had broken some arrangements and
disagreed to the proposals. It was necessary to dismiss him for a
while to settle this issue. Apparently, the issue has been settled,
and according to some rumors, for 47 million dollars. Apparently, the
money has been spent on restoring justice.
There are many mines in Syunik and apparently skirmishes for them are
ahead. These skirmishes are impossible without major clashes because
Liska’s return has “legitimized” murders and “self-defense”. They are
inevitable, and Liska’s threats are not lip service. Simply there are
no other methods and instruments within the system.
The people of Syunik must be ready for self-defense. The people of
Syunik have a similar experience of the war in Karabakh.
Armenia’s president opens ArmTech 2014 congress in New York
YEREVAN, September 27. /ARKA/. Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan
opened the seventh ArmTech 2014 congress on high technology in New
York City, the presidential press office reported.
The congress opens up wide opportunities for discussing, planning and
implementing policies that help maintain economic and technological
achievements, the president said.
The congress also helps reveal new business ideas and investment
opportunities, establish new links and a professional network,
strengthen the existing business ties in IT and High Tech between
Armenia-based and international organizations, Sargsyan said.
According to the president, all this help enhance the country’s rating
as a most developing country in the field.
Sargsyan wished participants fruitful work and expressed hope that new
business contacts will be established and new programs will be
implemented.
The seventh ArmTech 2014 is held in New York, hosting over 200
participants from Armenia, the USA, Russia, European countries, Middle
East, North Africa, CIS and other countries.
This year congress slogan is “Learn from the Past to reveal the Future”.
ArmTech 2014 is organized by the Enterprises Incubator Foundation
together with the ministry government of Armenia and the World Bank.
The congress is sponsored by D-Link, Far and Cronimet
ArmTech is held alternately in the USA and in Armenia. The first
congress was held July 4-7, 2007 in San Francisco, and the latest in
2013 in Yerevan. -0–
ChI: Vagharsh Abrahamyan intimidates gold market staff
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Chorrord Ishkhanutyun’ writes citing its sources that Vagharsh
Abrahamyan, the owner of a gold market in Yerevan, continues to take
revenge on those gold item vendors who participated yesterday in the
protest outside the Armenian government.
“In addition to smashing their stands yesterday, he also decided to
terminate labor contracts with them,” the paper writes.
According to the paper, the market owner allegedly decided to
terminate labor contracts to do construction work.
Yesterday Vagharsh sent vendors letters notifying them that their
labor contracts will be terminated within 15 days due to construction
work.