Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIA SHOULD STRENGTHEN TIES WITH BELARUS AND KAZAKHSTAN – ECONOMIST

May 01, 2014 | 14:30

YEREVAN. – Armenia needs to strengthen its ties with Belarus and
Kazakhstan, and win their sympathy in the Customs Union.

Economist Gagik Makaryan, who is also Chairman of the Republican
Union of Employers of Armenia, said the abovementioned at a press
conference on Thursday,

As per Makaryan, the deeper the economic integration and mutual
interests are, Armenia’s importance for official Astana and Minsk
becomes that much greater.

According to the economist, at present, Armenia’s main trade is
conducted with Russia (23%). But the volume of trade with Belarus
and Kazakhstan is at 0.8 and 0.2 percent, respectively.

In Makaryan’s view, more can be expected from the cooperation with
Belarus.

“It may seem like Belarus is a backward country with which no one
wants to deal with. But they are manufacturing refrigerators there
with the Finn, and using German products for cars and equipment. So,
the cooperation with the West is apparent,” he stated.

The head of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia also noted
that the union held negotiations also with French associates, and to
import affordable technologies. The Armenian party is interested in
second-hand western technologies.

“They [the West] will be able to get rid of old equipment while we
will be able to introduce European technologies [here] at us,” Gagik
Makaryan added.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ROSNEFT: A NEW BUSINESS PROJECT IN ARMENIA

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

30.04.2014

Mikhail Aghajanyan

Political Analyst

A new large business project brews in Russian-Armenian relations.

Rosneft corporation is just one step away from entering the Armenian
market. The agenda of negotiations between business entities of
the strategic partner-countries in South Caucasus includes two main
issues. Rosneft wants to acquire a share in the Nairit production
complex and to supply petroleum products to Armenia. One of the leading
Russian companies thus expands it geography of foreign markets. This
is done in an important phase of Yerevan’s integration in the Customs
Union, with all the economic, political and social priorities stemming
from that.

On December 25, 2013 Rosneft, Italian Pirelli and Armenian Oil Techno
companies signed a memorandum of understanding on joint establishment
of butadiene-styrene rubber production. In the past years the Nairit
plant changed hands several times and each new owner attempted to
restore its production capacities, but did not succeed.

Nairit used to be the only manufacturer of chloroprene rubber in the
former USSR, In 1980s the plant’s share in the global market for
chloroprene rubber constituted 10-12%. By 1987 the plant produced
over 75,000 tons of rubber annually. In 2006 the British consortium
Rhinoville Property Limited acquired 90% of Nairit’s stocks for
$40 million, while the Armenian government kept remaining 10%. The
plant has been idle since 2010, and a large debt has been accumulated
for the wages of workers and administration. Rosneft involvement may
re-energize the plant and dissipate the serious social tensions around
it. The Russian, Italian and Armenian companies plan to organize
production of tires. Rosneft intends to become the leading investor
and shareholder of the plant, whereas Pirelli will carry out research
and development in innovative rubber production technologies, together
with the Russian and Armenian partners. The Italian company has also
expressed willingness to purchase the final output of the plant.

Given the relatively receptive Armenian market for vehicles and
auto parts import, the tire production at Nairit plant promises high
economic gains and increasing demand. In 2012 some 31,800 vehicles were
imported in Armenia. About 60% of total imports were from Germany,
while Japan followed next with 17.6% and Russia was the third with
less than 6.3%1.

In 2013 supply of light vehicles to Armenia increased by 18.3%. In
the last twelve years about 312,600 vehicles were imported to Armenia,
of which 67,200 from Russia (which is 21.5% of the total car imports).

About 10,000 people in Armenia are involved in imports of vehicles
and auto parts, as well as car servicing. About 70% of vehicles
are imported by “physical persons” who do not work for specialized
companies. Recently some alarming prognoses appeared for such
individuals regarding possible car price hikes after Armenia’s joining
the Customs Union. It is too early to make final conclusions, because
the process of reconciling the Armenian interests with those of future
partners in the Customs Union is still under negotiations. However,
it is already clear that Rosneft offers an opportunity to amend the
situation in one of the most problematic industrial and social areas
of the local market by creating employment alternatives.

The second potential area of Rosneft involvement in Armenian economy is
also closely linked to the car market. In the recent years passenger
vehicles were the third largest imports to Armenia after natural gas
and petroleum products. It is important to mention that a considerable
part of energy imports in the country is directly related with running
the vehicles (light vehicles as well as other types, such as minivans,
buses and trucks). For example, natural gas filling stations for
vehicles consume almost one-third of the natural gas total supply to
all users.

On April 4, 2013 Igor Sechin, Rosneft Chairman visited Armenia on
a business trip where he was met with a highest political level
reception. The outcome of the visit was signing an agreement with
the Armenian Oil Techno company on cooperation for establishment of a
joint venture for marketing and distribution. At the end of the visit
I. Sechin presented his assessments for prospects of the business led
by him in the Armenian market. According to him supply of jet fuel,
petrol and diesel has a serious potential in Armenia. He also noted
about the opportunity to “establish a platform for cooperation in
this direction”.

Since summer of 2012 Rosneft has been exploring the opportunities for
sales of petroleum products in the Armenian market. The company may
become the main supplier of petroleum products in the Armenia and
establish a joint venture that would build a chain of 40-50 petrol
stations, as well as a fuelling station at the Zvartnots airport
of Yerevan.

Currently the bulk of petroleum products are mainly supplied from oil
refineries in Romania and Bulgaria. The Georgian port Poti is very
important in the supply route and logistics, as it is the transit
point for Armenia’s system of economic ties with the external world.

It is known that Rosneft has a strategic approach even when developing
not so large external markets (such as the Armenian market for
petroleum products, which is totally dependent on imports and is
estimated at 350,000 tons annually). The Russian company aims at fully
meeting the mentioned estimated demand in the internal market, which
incidentally, tends to decrease2. It is planned to supply 370,000 tons
of petroleum products annually to the country. In January 2014 the
Rosneft management approved supply of this volume (up to $400 million
worth) by Rosneft-Armenia company that was established on December 10,
2013 jointly by Rosneft and its Armenian partner Oil Techno.

Thus, Rosneft entrance in Armenian market for petroleum products
implies a systemic approach, with involvement of all business links
in the Armenian direction. Meanwhile, before creating a chain of
gas stations and fuelling station at the Zvartnots airport, the
source of supply needs to be determined along with the arranged
route to deliver the products to the Armenian customers. In 2012,
after learning about consultations between Rosneft and the Armenian
side, the analysts pointed to the Tuapse Refinery that belongs to
this energy corporation. In the official Rosneft website this plant
is described as having “the most favorable location among Rosneft’s
refineries, and is also the only Russian refinery on the Black Sea
coast”. Experts note that the company continues working on expansion
of the Tuapse Refinery crude distillation capacity from the current
4.5 million tons to 12 million tons annually. Most likely, Rosneft
will ship oil refinery output products to Armenia from this facility
located in Krasnodar Krai.

The Russian real industrial sector capital entrance to Armenian market
is hindered by logistical difficulties. The land communications of
Armenia to the external world have to go through Georgia in the
north and Iran in the south. For quite a long time complicated
relations between Russia and Georgia have been making vulnerable
the establishment of transport communications from Russia to Armenia
through Georgian territory. However, there is no other way. The foreign
economic and political approaches have to be tied to the conditions
dictated by geography.

There is also a political context in Rosneft’s entrance in the Armenian
market, which is related to the sustainability of integration processes
among the former Soviet Union countries. In particular, the success
of Rosneft’s Armenian contract may help assess how pragmatic was
Armenia’s choice in favor of the Eurasian integration project.

Reasonably, Yerevan points out the absence of a common land border with
Russia as a seriously obstructive factor for the country’s involvement
in integration schemes. However, Rosneft and other Russian companies
have a good opportunity to build an arranged system for introducing
petroleum products business without having a direct land access to
the partner’s territory. There is also an opportunity to revive
the Nairit plant, which may turn out as yet another confirmation
for establishment of systemic ties in the economic dimension of
the Russia-Armenia relations. It would be interesting to follow
what impact Rosneft’s successful activities in the Armenian market
would have on regional political issues that receive much publicity
(such as reopening railroad section from Russia’s Krasnodar Krai to
Armenia that passes through Abkhazia and Georgia).

1 Russian cars imports in the country in 2012 constituted 1.7% of
total Russian exports to Armenia (as reported by National Statistical
Service of Armenia, which amounted in $18.5 million). In the same
year Russian exports to Armenia in the product category “rubber and
articles made of rubber” amounted in $12.9 million.

2 In 2013 imports of petroleum products to Armenia comprised 328,000
tons, a 5.3% reduction compared to 346,000 tons in 2012. The main
reason is that for many vehicles in the country natural gas is chosen
as an alternative fuel. Some reports suggest that as many as 70%
of all vehicles in Armenia run on natural gas.

“Globus” analytical bulletin, No. 4, 2014

Return

____________________________________________________________________________
Another materials of author * ON THE ISSUE OF FORMATION TWO
EQUAL IN RIGHTS STATES ON THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER AZERBAIJANI
SSR[15.12.2011] * THREE PRINCIPLES, SIX GUIDELINES AND “STATUS-QUO” IN
THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTELEMENT[20.10.2011] * POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
ASPECTS OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ROADMAP AT CURRENT
STAGE[18.02.2011] * RUSSIA-TUKREY RELATIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE US
AND UN[21.12.2010] * RUSSIA AND SOME ASPECTS OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF
THE SITUATION IN THE BLACK SEA REGION[08.07.2010] * “BLACK SEA SYNERGY”
INITIATIVE AND THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS[25.01.2010] * FROM APPLIED TO
CONCEPTUAL: POSSIBLE APPROACH TO THE FORMATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF
INFORMATIONAL SECURITY OF ARMENIA [21.05.2009] * PROSPECTS OF ARMENIA
IN THE LIGHT OF “ZONAL” ASPECT OF WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS [07.05.2009]

BAKU YET AGAIN UNHAPPY WITH U.S. CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MINSK GROUP

May 1, 2014 – 18:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The statements by the U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group James Warlick do not go unnoticed in Baku, Azeri Deputy
Foreign Minister said.

“Also, our sources in Washington tell us that the Co-Chair has
close ties with Armenian Diaspora in the U.S., which holds a strong
position on the settlement of the conflict. Even a cursory glance at
the comments on social networks shows that the U.S. Co-Chair prefers
to communicate more with Armenian Diaspora in the U.S.,” Araz Azimov
told APA.

“In general, some of his statements are provocative, with the co-chair
spreading rumors about a possible escalation of the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Despite Warlick’s statements regarding the importance of the Co-Chairs’
neutrality, his own activity runs contrary to it. It is obvious that he
is delivering speeches justifying Armenia’s non-constructive position
in the negotiations. According to media reports, the U.S. Co-Chair will
address the event “The way forward and self-determination for Nagorno
Karabakh Republic” organized by the Armenian Diaspora in California. A
mediator’s participation in such events is unacceptable,” Azimov said.

“We have repeatedly expressed our concern over the activity of the
OSCE Minsk Group and statements of the U.S. Co-Chair. We can not
turn a blind eye to the steps of Warlick, reducing confidence in the
Minsk Group, running contrary to the mandate of the Co-Chairs and
undermining the negotiation process. All of these statements show
that Warlick is consciously and deliberately taking these steps to
ensure the interests of the Armenian side.

All of the aforementioned facts give the Azerbaijani side every reason
to distrust the U.S. Co-Chair, refuse working with him and appeal to
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to recall Warlick from the post of the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair,” Azimov concluded.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will meet in Warsaw to discuss next
steps with the parties on Nagorno Karabakh, the U.S. Co-Chair James
Warlick said in his Tweeter post in late April.

As Warlick said in another Tweeter post, a meeting with the
Armenian-American community in LA and the Azeri-American community in
Houston to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh issue is scheduled for in May.

NKR PRESIDENT ISSUES ADDRESS ON INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY

14:58 01.05.2014

On May 1st Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan issued a
congratulatory address in connection with the International Workers’
Day.

“Dear compatriots,

On behalf of the Artsakh Republic authorities and on my own behalf,
I cordially congratulate you on the International Workers’ Day.

Our nation has been celebrating this holiday for years, every time
giving a new meaning to it. Painstaking work and proficient workers
have always enjoyed great honor and respect since the days of our
ancestors. A diligent and conscientious individual has always been
highly valued and acted as a subject to imitation.

Today the Artsakh people don not spare effort and energy for the
improvement of their native land, developing and making the Fatherland
prosperous. The state in its turn does its best to protect the workers’
rights, create new working places and eliminate unemployment.

These important issues are and will be at the spotlight of the
authorities.

Dear Artsakh people,

I congratulate all of you once again on this beautiful spring holiday
and wish you peace, good health and great success in your noble and
fair work for the benefit and welfare of your families and native
Artsakh.”

HRANT VARDANYAN MEURT a LAGE DE 65 ANS

ARMENIE

Le plus grand passe-temps pour moi est de prendre un certain régime
inutile, une région et de construire quelque chose, de créer une
atmosphère de travail”. C’est ce que Hrant Vardanyan, le premier
homme d’affaires d’Arménie, avait déclaré dans l’une de ses
récents entretiens. Le propriétaire de Grant Holding qui a créé
plus de 30000 emplois dans le secteur industriel et de l’agriculture
en Arménie est mort d’une maladie cardiaque, samedi 19 Avril, âgé
de 65 ans.

Le nom de Vardanyan est largement associé a la reprise économique
post-soviétique en Arménie. En 1997, il a repris une usine de
l’ère soviétique en décomposition a Erevan et a mis en place
la production nationale de tabac et des bonbons, la création des
emplois nécessaires et a versé ses impôts au budget de l’Etat
nouvellement indépendant.

“Je peux être le 40e ou 400e homme le plus riche en Arménie, mais
je suis le quatrième plus grand contribuable”, a déclaré Vardanyan
fièrement dans une interview en 2007 au magazine “3 millions”. “Il y
a pas mal de gens riches en Arménie, mais malheureusement, ils sont
au bas de la liste des contribuables.”

Pendant les neuf premiers mois de 2013 Grand-Holding, qui se compose
de neuf entreprises, a payé près de 37 millions de dollars au budget
de l’Etat.

Vardanyan, père de deux enfants et grand-père de cinq enfants, a
rêvé d’un pays avec ” des entreprises qui travaillent normalement
pas en fonction de l’humeur des fonctionnaires”. “Ensuite, il serait
possible pour moi de me retirer et de passer plus de temps avec mes
petits-enfants ”, avait-il dit dans une de ses interviews.

La mort prématurée de Vardanyan est une nouvelle triste, non
seulement pour sa famille et ses amis, mais aussi pour beaucoup de gens
qui l’ont connu personnellement ou ont suivi ses activités. Sa famille
a recu des messages de condoléances de tout le pays et au-dela.

jeudi 1er mai 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

99 ANS D’ATTENTE : LE MOT ” G “ENCORE TROP PROBLEMATIQUE POUR CERTAINES PUISSANCES MONDIALES

ARMENIE

A la veille du 99e anniversaire du génocide arménien des analystes
politiques et spécialiste des études turques ont affirmé que le
monde a longtemps accepté le fait du génocide arménien, bien que
certains pays refusent encore de le reconnaître, parce que l’ordre
du jour du monde Рla rationalit̩ de la politique internationale
– l’exige.

Pendant les années de la Première Guerre mondiale plus de deux
millions d’Arméniens vivaient dans l’Empire ottoman. Autour d’un
million et demi d’Arméniens ont été tués entre 1915-1923, les
autres ont été converties de force a l’islam ou trouvé refuge
dans d’autres pays. Malgré le processus en cours de reconnaissance
du génocide Arménien, la Turquie continue a lutter contre elle.

L’analyste Abraham Gasparyan mentionne que la ” vraie politique ”
domine dans la politique d’aujourd’hui et que l’époque des sentiments
et de la propagande ont disparu depuis longtemps, et si vous êtes
du côté de la ” real politique ” vous atteindrez le succès.

” Aujourd’hui, la Turquie est un état attrayant, est un grand marché
en termes d’investissement et d’armes militaires, en comparaison de
quoi, avec nos ressources, nous ne pouvons pas convaincre la société
internationale de quoi que ce soit juste pour le plaisir de la justice
humaine. Mais nous possédons le plus grand avantage face a la Turquie
Рdes communaut̩s organis̩es et stables dans la diaspora avec certain
programme politique. Ces communautés remplacent le pétrole ; nous
avons un domaine arménien puissant a l’étranger ” a dit Gasparian
a ArmeniaNow. ” C’est juste 10 millions d’entre nous dans la lutte
contre 90 millions dans le monde, et que nous avons survécu pendant
3000 ans dans cette région, nous continuerons a survivre grâce a
la flexibilité et le facteur de notre esprit contre leur pétrole ”.

Le turcologue Artak Shakaryan mentionne que l’Arménie doit être
considérée comme davantage un centre du cerveau et que la sphère
technologie de l’information est le ticket gagnant de l’avenir de
l’Arménie.

Bien que l’année prochaine soit le centenaire du génocide, les
spécialistes mentionnent que ” notre lutte a une histoire de 50
ans ”.

Gasparyan rappelle que la première République arménienne, formé
juste après le génocide, était occupé uniquement avec la protection
des frontières du pays et les problèmes de réfugiés pendant deux
ans et demi. Plus tard, avec le fait de devenir une partie de l’Union
soviétique s’est transformé en un obstacle, même pour parler du
génocide arménien.

” La diaspora qui a été formé a la suite du génocide ne pouvait
pas faire face a ce problème au cours des 50 premières années. Elle
a dÔ passer par les étapes de l’adaptation, de l’intégration
et de stabilisation et ensuite seulement aire entendre sa voix. Le
50e anniversaire a marqué le début de rassemblements visant a la
reconnaissance internationale du génocide ” dit-il.

Le 24 Avril 1965, lorsque le génocide arménien a été commémoré
dans de nombreux pays, une grande manifestation a été organisée en
Arménie soviétique aussi. Afin de satisfaire la demande du public
le Conseil des ministres de la RSS le 16 mai 1965 a pris la décision
de construire un monument a la mémoire des victimes du génocide et
le monument a été terminé en 1967, sur Tsitsernakaberd, donnant
sur Erevan.

Shakaryan a dit a ArmeniaNow que cette nouvelle pression autour de la
question arménienne a été introduit dans le programme politique sur
la scène internationale par les actions de l’ASALA – l’Armée secrète
arménienne pour la libération de l’Arménie de1975 a 1997. Beaucoup
plus tard, la République d’Arménie a été présenté comme un
Ã~Itat-nation indépendant.

En 2011 la diaspora arménienne et l’Arménie ont joints leurs
efforts pour un objectif commun dans les cercles de la Commission de
Commémoration du centenaire du génocide.

Shakaryan a mentionné que le centenaire est une occasion de
r̩̩valuer le pass̩, et le 24 Avril Рune journ̩e permettant le
renaissance et a partir de laquelle on acquiert de l’énergie.

” Nous avons trop mis l’accent sur la reconnaissance alors que nous
avons a parler de la compensation. Comment cela se passera-t-elle –
des terres ou matériellement ? Qui décidera quel type de compensation
est juste ou injuste, comment cela va être distribué ? Ce sont des
problèmes auxquels nous n’avons même pas pensé et les plus grandes
craintes des Turcs sont cachés la ” dit Shakaryan.

Spécialiste de la Turquie a l’Institut d’études orientales de
l’Académie nationale des sciences d’Arménie, Levon Hovsepian a
dit que depuis 2000, la question du génocide arménien en Turquie
est considérée comme une question de sécurité nationale, car
ils comprennent très bien que la reconnaissance et la condamnation
du crime est puni respectivement et que la punition est la question
de l’indemnisation.

” La Commission prépare déja des montages juridiques dont
les travaux sont partagés par des spécialistes internationaux
étrangers et arméniens en droit, la compensation qui peut-être
octroyé a l’Arménie par les tribunaux internationaux et comment les
problèmes liés au génocide – biens, patrimoine – seront résolus ”
a dit Hovsepian.

Abraham Gasparyan mentionne qu’en raison du lobbying arménien,
nous devons parvenir a l’inclusion des matériaux liés au génocide
dans les programmes des établissements d’enseignement étrangers,
comme ce fut le cas dans l’état américain de Californie.

” La deuxième étape consiste en un travail de public relation – une
littérature abondante a ce sujet en turc, une meilleure utilisation
des plates-formes de réseaux sociaux, organisation de spectacles
mobiles dans les galeries les plus renommés du monde, travailler
avec la société turque. L’Arménie doit devenir l’arène pour
l’intelligentsia turc progressiste ” a dit Gasparian.

Hovsepian, quant a lui, explique que la Turquie est passée a un ”
refus doux ” parce que la société internationale ne comprend pas
son refus strict.

En Décembre 2008, environ 200 intellectuels turcs ont organisé un
évènement en ligne ” Arméniens, pardonnez-nous ” et seulement dans
les 10 jours 30000 personnes l’ont rejoint. Deux ans plus tard, avant
le 24 Avril, 70 intellectuels turcs partagent un message avec le titre
“Cette douleur est notre douleur, cette douleur est a tout le monde
” appelant leurs compatriotes a se rassembler dans la place Taksim,
dans la nuit du 24 Avril. Cette année, une Plate-forme dédiée au
génocide arméniein en Turquie organisera divers événements le
24 Avril.

Le 10 Avril la Commission des affaires étrangères du Sénat
américain a accepté la résolution Res 410 sur le génocide
arménien demandant au Sénat de se joindre a elle et assurant que
la politique étrangère des Ã~Itats-Unis reflète la position du
Sénat. La résolution a également précisé que le génocide est
resté impuni. Plus tôt dans sa conversation téléphonique avec
le secrétaire d’Ã~Itat John Kerry le ministre turc des Affaires
étrangères, Ahmet Davutoglu, a exprimé le mécontentement d’Ankara
sur le passage du projet de loi sur les événements de 1915 a la
discussion du Sénat, et aussi l’acceptation par la commission des
affaires étrangères du Sénat de la résolution.

Selon Davutoglu, le gouvernement turc prendra des mesures contre
les organisations qui ” dérangent ” la Turquie. Il a également
exprimé l’espoir que la résolution sera bloquée au Sénat et la
Chambre des représentants.

Hovsepian, compte tenu de l’évolution géopolitique et des relations
turco-américaines mentionne ” Je ne pense pas qu’a l’heure actuelle
les Etats-Unis vont aggraver leurs relations avec la Turquie, et avec
elle la perte d’un allié comme la Turquie, ainsi c’est un processus
avec comme résultat final que les intérêts et les problèmes
rationnels d’un pays donné sont en jeu ”.

Et est-il vital est le mot ” génocide ” soit prononcé par le
président américain Barack Obama le 24 Avril ?

Shakaryan dit : ” Notre nation, depuis les temps d’Avarayr aime les
victoires morales. Obama disant le mot génocide serait une simple
victoire morale pour nous, avec elle, nous allons montrer au monde
entier que le chef du pays le plus puissant dans le monde exprime ce
mot comme une position politique. Parmi les présidents américains
Ronald Ragan l’avait prononcé avant, mais cela n’a rien changé ”.

Le premier pays au monde a reconnaître le génocide arménien a été
l’Uruguay en 1965, depuis lors, plus de 20 pays ont suivi son exemple.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

jeudi 1er mai 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

A DIFFERENT APRIL 24

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 25 2014

Column by Etyen Mahcupyan

The anniversary of a string of events that began in 1915 with the
deportation and massacre of Armenian intellectuals and which later
turned into the deportation of an entire nation and a genocide,
was marked in a pretty different atmosphere this year.

In a very well-prepared statement, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan expressed his wish for the Armenians who lost their lives
in that period to rest in peace and offered his condolences to the
grandchildren of those dead Armenians. That was an unexpected step.

Even sources closest to the government only learned of the existence
of such a statement half an hour before it was released. But the
content of the statement was not surprising. Those who follow what
is actually going on in Turkey and who look at what is going on with
an objective eye, can easily see that the prime minister’s message
is a manifestation of an ongoing social transformation. Turkey’s new
conservative middle class is working to save itself from the ties of
the old regime and create a new future. A natural result of this effort
is people considering social pluralism as a source of richness and the
recapture of minds with a dream that recalls the Ottoman Empire. For
the past few years, pro-Islam families have been recalling a memory
they have long ignored. People now feel free to talk about Armenian
members of their families as well as incidents of deportation and
the killing of those family members. They also feel proud of their
Armenian ties. In other words, a majority of the people are ready to
carry the prime minister’s message.

Erdogan’s real success lies in his ability to go beyond the ordinary,
thanks to the strength he receives from society. Just as it did in
the Kurdish initiative and with an apology concerning the incidents
in Dersim, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has broken a vital
taboo of the old regime in the Armenian issue. The prime minister’s
statement does not only go beyond the understanding of the Kemalist
state but it also dropped hints of the approach of a new regime. We see
that the 1915 incidents are being brought to humanitarian and moral
grounds for the first time. A sentence in the statement that reads,
“Comparing and contrasting suffering carries no meaning for those
who experienced this pain themselves,” recognizes Armenians’ right to
experience and express their pain in their own lives. And the statement
goes on to say, “It is a duty of humanity to commemorate and share
the memories of the pain,” and also makes mention of “commemorating
victims altogether.” I would like to underline that these sentences
are a conscious invitation for normalization.

A natural result of such a mindset is the ability to discuss all
concepts and claims, including genocide, in a free atmosphere. Turkey
has gone beyond this point in the past five years. Tens of columnists
use the word “massacre” in their writings and prosecutors do not make
fools of themselves by initiating investigations of those columnists.

In his statement, the prime minister took a step forward and stressed,
“The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences,
understanding by heeding others, evaluating means for compromise,
denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance.”

This message, which avoided the state’s language and cliches,
spells more than a new era on the Armenian issue; it also stands
as a milestone for a change in the mindset and the regime. Erdogan,
while taking a step forward on the Armenian issue, actually hopes to
carry the Turkish Republic to a new point of no return. He stands by
the multicultural social existence of the past. When it is taken into
consideration along with the rights and freedoms granted to Kurds,
it is obvious that the prime minister’s message marks a search for
a new joint identity and non-Muslims are considered part of this
joint identity.

It is an issue of a different debate as to what extent the prime
minister’s message will satisfy Armenians in the world. But it is
beneficial to think that this message does not intend to merely throw
Armenians a bone, but rather that it reflects real and sincere thoughts
and it is part of plans for a new Turkey.

Parliamentary opposition failed to have its say in speaker’s election – opinion

09:52 ¢ 02.05.14

The recent election of the National Assembly’s speaker demonstrated
the parliamentary opposition’s inability to have its say in political
processes, says Andrias Ghukasyan, a former presidential candidate.

Speaking to Tert.am, the politician noted that the political forces
insisting on the urgent need of systemic reforms in Armenia appeaed to
lack the necessary skills and talent to push ahead with ideas
preached.

`Those who were planning to take to the streets on April 28 together
with people and call for drastic reforms in our country voted in favor
of Galust Sahakyan that day. Hence the position declared and the steps
taken de facto contradict each another. This naturally testifies to a
political bargain behind the society’s back. This is a classical
situation. We see the opposition forces unable to consistently follow
the programs declared,’ he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Ambassador Yeganian’s address on the occasion of the 99th Anniversary
of Armenian Genocide

May 1, 2014

Honourable guests, compatriots and friends,

Another year has passed and we are commemorating already the 99th
Anniversary of Armenian Genocide. 99 years ago today more than 300
Armenian intellectuals were arrested, tortured, murdered or set to be
deported by the Young Turks of the fading Ottoman Empire. The Armenian
Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century. It was a
governmentally devised plan to annihilate an entire nation, a plan
aimed at creation of a Pan-Turkic Empire. It was a tragedy that took
lives of 1.5 million Armenians and was continued with persecution and
genocides of other Christian nations living in the Ottoman Empire.

Medz Yeghern is not just a memory in the hearts of Armenians
worldwide, it was the beginning of the practice of racial
extermination that had its continuation in Holocaust, genocides in
Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur and other tragedies throughout the world.

The plan to exterminate Armenians was created and implemented by the
Young Turks regime, but brutal slaughters of Armenians weren’t unheard
of in the Ottoman Empire. Only the massacres of mid 1890s in Western
Armenia took lives of more than 300.000 Armenians. It seems now, that
the Ottoman Empire’s only way of dealing with its Christian population
was through massacres, evidence to which are the genocides of
Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians, with total number of slaughtered
passing over 3 million.

It is well known that after the World War II a Polish lawyer with
Jewish heritage, Raphael Lemkin introduced the term `genocide’ to the
international community. In 1921 still a student of philology Raphael
Lemkin asked his professor why the masterminds of the Armenian
slaughters were not arrested, and the answer, that there was no law
under which they could be arrested, was the reason he devoted his life
to the studies of crimes against humanity. Lemkin’s input was
tremendous in the drafting of the `Genocide Convention’, which was
signed by the United Nations in 1948 in order to prevent the
repetition of such atrocities in the future. History of the last six
decades shows, though, that the international community was not
successful in this endeavour and the ongoing denial of the Armenian
Genocide by the successor of its perpetrators has its impact on it.
The international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is essential
for the practice of the Convention, research and inclusion of the
issue in educational systems worldwide is crucial.

Nowadays, more than 20 countries, 43 states of the USA, many
international organizations have already recognized the Armenian
Genocide. The independent legal analysis by the International Center
for Transitional Justice in 2003 has also concluded that the `events¦
include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
(Genocide) Convention’. Moreover, the most renowned International
Association of Genocide Scholars not only recognized and condemned
Armenian Genocide, but also wrote an open letter to the Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan calling upon Turkish government to `acknowledge the
responsibility of a previous government for the Genocide of the
Armenian people’.

We are everlastingly grateful to Canada for its recognition of the
Armenian Genocide on legislative and executive levels, for its support
to the cause of international recognition of the Genocide and for the
wonderful relations our countries have established during the two
decades of Armenia’s Independence. We are grateful to Canada for the
establishment of very important institution such as Museum of Human
Rights in Winnipeg, where Armenian Genocide will be at the permanent
exhibition. We are grateful for standing firm despite all the
blackmailing from the Turkish government.

Despite growing recognition of the Yeghern, the modern Turkish
government presses on its policy of denial ` spending millions of
dollars on anti-propaganda against calling the slaughters a Genocide.
Despite geopolitical or national interests, the members of the
international community and the community as a whole should stand in
the condemnation of genocide and work towards its prevention.

The campaign of the Turks against non-Turkic minorities at the
beginning of the 20th century `solved’ the Armenian Question in their
favor, Armenians, Pontic Greeks, Assyrians were dispossessed of their
ancestral homelands and the Turks proclaimed them their own.

Their ongoing policy of denial is outrageous; coming to terms with
their history should be their own priority. Unfortunately I don’t see
this coming anytime soon, an indication of which was Turkey’s recent
blatant support to terrorist groups that attacked the peaceful
Armenian town of Kessab in Syria. Three Armenian churches were
desecrated and all Armenian homes looted.

Still there is hope: it’s several years now, that brave Turkish
individuals join their Armenian compatriots in Istanbul and
commemorate the tragic date with them, bright Turkish intelectuals
speak out about the Genocide out loud ` without fearing possible
persecution. Just today they gathered at HaydarPasa, the train station
from which Armenian intellectuals were sent into the Turkish interior
99 years ago and then had a memorial program in Taksim Square.

Dear friends,

As President Sargsyan stated in his address `Today, we stand on the
threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This can
afford Turkey a good chance to repent and to set aside the historical
stigma in case if they make efforts to set free their state’s future
from this heavy burden.’

Next year we will commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. Special committees of Armenian communities around
the world are preparing for this important landmark. It will not be a
date that will extinguish the fires in our hearts, it will not make
our sorrow disappear. On the contrary, it will be a date of a new
beginning: the Armenian nation, once again standing tall, will demand
justice and justice must be served.

April 24, 2014, Ottawa, Parliament Hill

REVUE DE PRESSE
Les Arméniens du Liban se souviennent et invitent la Turquie Ã
reconnaître le génocide

à l’occasion de la 99e commémoration du génocide arménien, de
nombreuses célébrations se sont déroulées hier au Liban. La messe a
d’abord été célébrée au catholicossat arménien à Antélias par l’évêque
Chahé Panossian, suite à laquelle le catholicos Aram 1er a célébré le
requiem devant le monument aux morts. La cérémonie s’est déroulée en
présence de l’ambassadeur d’Arménie, Ashot Kotcharian, et de
nombreuses personnalités politiques et partisanes arméniennes. « 99
ans nous séparent de l’histoire du génocide arménien, sur décision,
planification et exécution de l’État ottoman », a-t-il dit. « Même si
la Turquie moderne, cet héritier légal de l’Empire ottoman et de son
crime, continue de nier, des preuves irréfutables et indélébiles
prouvent cette réalité historique et les mobiles géopolitiques
sous-jacents », a-t-il poursuivi.

Le catholicos a rappelé que « le peuple arménien dans son ensemble et
là où il se trouve réclame justice avec détermination et fermeté,
suite au premier génocide du XXe siècle qui a été perpétré contre lui
». « à l’heure où notre peuple se prépare à célébrer le centenaire du
génocide, la communauté internationale doit réaliser que le génocide
contre le peuple arménien se poursuit », a-t-il asséné. Et d’affirmer
que « ce programme criminel dont l’application a commencé le 24 avril
1915 de la part de la Turquie ottomane et qui a pour objectif
d’éliminer le peuple arménien dans sa totalité se poursuit aujourd’hui
par d’autres moyens ». « Le génocide arménien se perpétuera tant que
le criminel n’aura pas été puni pour son crime », a martelé Aram 1er,
montrant du doigt la communauté internationale qui évite de
sanctionner et de demander des comptes à la Turquie, pour certaines
considérations géopolitiques. Le catholicos a même assuré ne « pas
avoir besoin de messages de condoléances de la Turquie, mais d’un aveu
et d’indemnisations ».

vendredi 2 mai 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com