Author: nina hovnanian

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: “THE KARABAKH PROBLEM DETERMINES THE PARAMETERS OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT”

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 24 2013

24 September 2013 – 2:58pm

Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza

Vestnik Kavkaza interviewed two well-known political scientists
from Azerbaijan and Armenia, Professor of Western University,
Fikret Sadykhov, and the head of the Institute of the Caucasus,
Alexander Iskandaryan, on the problems of the Karabakh settlement –
what current positions of the sides are today, whether Azerbaijan
and Armenia are ready for dialogue. Today we publish the interview
with Alexander Iskandaryan.

– Whose problem is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict today, only Armenia
and Azerbaijan or the region and the world in general?

– Of course the Nagorno-Karabakh problem influences the region and
determines many parameters of regional development. It influences
relations between Armenia and Turkey, Iran and regional countries –
Armenia, Azerbaijan; it also influences Georgia and so on.

The problem is not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, even though
they depend on this most of all.

– Is participation of international moderators necessary or does it
only delay settlement of the conflict?

– International mediators cannot resolve the conflict without the
desire of the sides in the conflict. Of significant importance are the
positions of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh. But internalization
of the process, when not only an Armenian and an Azerbaijani are in
a room, but also a Frenchman, a Russian, and an American, enables
continuation of the process. International experience shows that
conflicts which have no such international channel between the sides
are settled worse.

– Are Armenia and Azerbaijan ready today for a diplomatic settlement
of the conflict? And who should make the first step?

– They are not ready at all. It depends on what we call a
settlement. Of course, if tomorrow Azerbaijan is proposed to deport
the whole of Karabakh and Azerbaijanis will settle the lands, Baku
will agree to this. Or if Armenia is proposed recognition of the
independence of Karabakh by Azerbaijan, Yerevan will agree. But this
is not serious! A real settlement means concessions from both sides.

It means losses. Azerbaijan is not ready for the losses which should
be in Azerbaijan. Armenia is not ready for the losses which should
be in Armenia. So, resolution is impossible today.

– Can a moment when a diplomatic settlement be impossible come?

– I hope not. Why should it come? The Karabakh conflict is unique. It
has never involved peacemakers. The situation which appeared in 1994 is
supported only because of an absence of separating forces. There is a
certain balance between the sides, which enables the status quo to be
supported and to continue negotiations. Probably someday opportunities
for a settlement will occur, the sides will be ready for concessions,
and some changes will appear. At the moment it will continue. The
conflict is young. The conflict over Kashmir has existed since 1949;
over Cyprus – since 1963; the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – since the
late 19th century… To resolve a conflict, generations are needed. It
is a big deal.

– Is Armenia ready to go against the interests of Karabakh in favor of
wider strategic interests at the regional and international level? For
instance, in favor of closer cooperation with Russia.

– It depends on definition of “going against the interests.”

Armenia cannot give away Karabakh or go against the will of the
Karabakh residents. There are two ways of approaching the Karabakh
conflict.

The first approach is treating Karabakh as a territory. This is more
common in Azerbaijan. There, Karabakh is considered as a territory
which Azerbaijan believes to be a part of its state and actually says:
“Give me back what belongs to me.” It is an approach to Karabakh as
to a piece of land. It exists in Armenia as well, but the leading
approach is treating Karabakh as people.

The second approach is that Karabakh is not a territory, but people.

And nobody can marry me without me. It is impossible to tell Karabakh
residents that they would now live so. It’s like me telling you that
from now on you will live not with your wife, but with a lady. It
is impossible. Karabakh is people, a land populated by people. And
Armenia cannot solve their destiny without them. It is not serious
talking about this. The conflict will continue till somebody in
the world suggests an alternative to the current situation. At the
moment the army and the configuration of borders are guarantees of the
current situation for residents of Karabakh. But to suggest anything
instead of it, some other security guarantees are needed, until then,
there will be no resolution.

– Is it possible that Azerbaijan would leave Karabakh to Armenia? For
example, in the 1990s the Megrin shuffle was discussed – Armenia
gives the Megrin Region and gets the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh…

– Nagorno-Karabakh is not a toy which can be exchanged. It is not
something you can take or give. All these verbs make Karabakh an
object, while Karabakh is a subject. Whether it is legally recognized
or not, that is a different question. I am a political scientist,
not a lawyer. But speaking about the political component, we cannot
ignore the interests of the people who live there, have their own
administrative principles, ways of supply, households, all institutes,
roads, drains, the parliaments, presidential elections and political
parties for 20 years. I think the perfect position for Azerbaijan
would be an attempt to attract these people somehow, rather than to
scare them that tomorrow we will buy armaments, start a war and take
away the territory because it is ours. In such a concept there are
no people. Armenia cannot ignore them. The brightest example is the
resignation of Ter-Petrosyan in 1998.

– Are informal meetings frequent between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

– The situation is bad. Meetings take place from time to time, but
there is a problem – the meetings can take place only outside the
region, i.e. in Tbilisi, in Europe, somewhere far away.

Unfortunately, for some reasons Armenian experts, analysts, political
scientists, representatives of civil society have no opportunity to
visit Azerbaijan. The last time I went to Azerbaijan was in 2000,
and not because I don’t want to visit it, but as a citizen of Armenia,
an Armenian, I cannot visit the country. Not just citizens of Armenia,
but people of Armenian origin cannot visit Azerbaijan. Even if they
are not of Armenian origin, but they have an Armenian name. Once a
Russian citizen with an Armenian surname, Kyurchan, decided to make
a business trip to Azerbaijan; he wasn’t aware of the situation at all.

And he couldn’t fly because he was told that he was an Armenian. He
said: “I am not an Armenian, I have never been there, I am a citizen
of Russia!” But he couldn’t. And when informal meetings have to
take place outside the region, it is more expensive and complicated,
from the organizational point of view. People who come to Karabakh
get onto the Azeri blacklist, and they cannot visit Azerbaijan any
more. I think it should be done vice versa. To prevent isolation and
paranoid ideas, Karabakh should be opened, rather than closed. They
have to try to work with them, to talk with the people. Finally, if
the Azerbaijani side thinks it is its territory, why can’t a citizen
of Azerbaijan go there? And he cannot go there. I think it is not
even politics, but unsuccessful PR. Thus, it is not easy for civil
societies to cooperate and try to promote new ideas. It is being done,
I do it for example. I have Azerbaijani colleagues with whom I meet
regularly, we work together, but in general it is not easy.

NEW HEIGHTS FOR SCULPTOR TOKATLIAN

By Thomas Harutunyan, Moscow,
15 September 2013

Mr. Harutunyan, a prominent art expert in Russia, is the international
relations director at the Belayevo Art Gallery in Moscow, where
Lebanese-Armenian artist Raffi Tokatlian’s work will be exhibited Oct.

16 to 27. Harutunyan is also the curator of the exhibition. Hamo
Moskofian, Keghart.com’s roving reporter, helped organize the
exhibition.

Like a comet, Raffi Tokatlian burst into the fine art world with his
bronze series titled “Myth & Reality”. His work has been exhibited
in Lebanon, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, the US to great reception. And
next month in Moscow.

Venetians still remember his triumphal exposition in òalazzo
Zenobio, the ancient palace on the canal, where the enormous
mirrors reflected Tokatlian’s phantasmagoric bronze images. In
New-York the Lebanese-Armenian artist was named a master of
revitalized surrealism while his ingenious art was described as
surrealistic-mythologic-classical.

According to American critic Jonathan Goodman, “Tokatlian is an
impressive artist whose sculptures inhabit a magical place in which
form and emotion mix. Tokatlian’s imagination is sympathetic in the
best sense of the world; he embraces humanity in its widest meaning,
incorporating but also transcending the disturbances of man. This
gives his art its imaginative meaningfulness.”

Tokatlian’s bright and vivid imagination creates images with
humanistic content, sympathy and compassion. These characteristics
appear particularly in such works as “Prayer”, “Liberation of the
Spirit”, “Third Eye”, “The Faith”, “Warning from a Black Destiny for
Mankind”. In Tokatlian’s work the statues are not obedient entities,
but sensuous, impulsive, flexible beings who charges us with the burden
of interrogation, dexterously spinning the flywheel of psychoanalysis,
and preceding an almost universal ambivalence.

The human figure is the main character of the sculptor’s allegorical
cycle. Such works as “Secret behind the Mask” and “Disappearance of
a Kingdom” can be considered unique, judging by their emotional impact.

Despite their small size, the sculptures are monumental in their
significance. The professional eye, at once, notices their organic
compatibility with, for example, a city park or an exhibition hall.

Perhaps “Entering a City” will be the next stage in the artist’s
development.

Tokatlian was born to an Armenian family in Beirut. His artist
grandfather cultivated the love of art in the young man who grew up
on his grandfather’s stories of the forced emigration to Lebanon from
his homeland during the First World War, of Greek mythology and of
the Renaissance painters. Young Tokatlian’s interest in mythology
and sculpture led him to the wall paintings of Pompeii, to the
ancient temples of Greece. On a trip to Egypt he discovered pharaonic
sculptures. In Italy he absorbed the masterpieces of Renaissance art,
particularly Donatello.

After graduating from the design department of the Beirut University,
Tokatlian furthered his artistic studies at the School of Fine Arts
in Paris. There he discovered Rodin and Giacometti, Bosch and the
Surrealists. The last school fundamentally affected his art world
view. Returning home full of ideas and creative vitality, Tokatlian
lost himself in his work and began experimenting with bronze.

Consuming images from Greco-Roman mythology, Tokatlian successfully
adapts them to new conditions. Before starting molding and casting,
he considers an image for a long time and then draws many sketches
of the future work. They hint at his sculptural aims and uncover the
emotional essence of the work.

Tokatlian’s painting technique is varied: he uses pencil and pastel,
water color and charcoal, China ink, even ground coffee.

He could probably be compared to Renaissance artists in temper,
profundity of thought, internal charm and creative rage. Tokatlian
isalso fascinated by writing, composing music, and climbing mountains:
he has climbed Armenia’s Mount Ararat and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.

Being an enthusiast of Russian art and culture-this was
substantially contributed by his research trips to Saint Petersburg
and Moscow-Tokatlian is eager to exhibit his work in Russia. The
exhibition–at Moscow’s Belyaevo Gallery–will contain 19 bronze images
and 25 graphic works. The collection will include bronze heroes of
Greek and Roman mythology whose incredible inflections of the body,
irreproachable aesthetics, convincing illusionism of movements,
enigmatic charisma, obeying the viewer’s imagination come alive in
real time and space.

THE HISTORY OF ARMENIAN MONEY DATES BACK TO THE 3RD CENTURY B.C.

17:42 24.09.2013

Hasmik Dilanyan
Public Radio of Armenia

November 22 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Armenian dram. The
Central Bank of Armenia organizes a number of events on this occasion.

“The history of the Armenian currency: Finances for Everyone”
exhibition was launched in the city of Hrazdan today and will continue
through September 29. Victors will have an opportunity to watch the
items on display and learn about the history of Armenian coin-cutting.

The oldest known Armenian coins were cut in the second half of the
3rd century B.C by the Armenian kings of Tsopk. This is where the
history of Armenian money starts from.

Gevorg Mughalyan, numismatist at the Central Bank of Armenia, draws
special attention to the coins cut during the rule of Tigran the
Great. Those were the unique coins picturing the Armenian crown.

“We had no Armenian currency in the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia.

However, there is an interesting fact. King Kiurike II (second half
of the 11th century) of the Lori branch of Bagratuni/Bagratid Dynasty
issued a unique coin, only one copy of which has been preserved. This
is the first coin with Armenian inscriptions,” he said.

The inscriptions on almost all the coins cut in the Armenian Kingdom
of Cilicia were in the Armenian alphabet, although there were coins
with Latin and Arab inscriptions, as well, the expert said.

Specialists say contemporary Armenians banknotes are no worse than the
best banknotes in Europe with their quality and level of protection.

The oldest banknote displayed at the Hrazdan exhibition dates back
to 1899. Besides, the expo presents 36 ancient coins, more than 100
banknotes used at different periods of time, 175 memorial coins cut
in the recent years.

ARMENIANS IN LITERATURE BOOK IS PUBLISHED IN TURKEY

September 24, 2013 | 15:15

Turkish writer and university lecturer Murat Belge’s book, titled
Armenians in Literature, is published in Turkey.

The new work by Belge, who is known for his studies on the Armenian
Genocide, is devoted to the Armenians that lived in the Ottoman Empire.

The book looks into what role the Armenians had in which period and
in which novel, how the Armenians–who were a part of the Ottoman
society–became enemies, and how the Armenians are portrayed in the
post-Genocide novels.

Armenians in Literature was published by Yayýn Ýletiþim publishing
house and it is 256 pages.

To note, Murat Belge was a friend of Hrant Dink, founder and chief
editor of Istanbul’s Agos Armenian bilingual weekly, who was gunned
down in 2007 in front of his office building. During a discussion
in Armenia, Belge had stressed that Turkey should recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN PARTICIPATED AT THE SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION IN SOCHI

23.09.2013

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Russian Federation on a working
visit, today in Sochi participated at the session of the Council of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

Before that there took place a closed meeting of the leaders of the
CSTO member states where President Serzh Sargsyan made a statement.

***

Statement of President Serzh Sargsyan at the closed meeting of the
leaders of CSTO Council

Distinguished Colleagues,

I would like to start from the words of gratitude addressed to Vladimir
Vladimirovich Putin for the hospitality and excellent conditions
created for our work.

Armenia is approaching the issue of the further development of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization – the guarantor of security
for its members – from the standpoint of sovereignty and independence,
enhanced defense capabilities of our states and creation of adequate
mechanisms for countering existing challenges and threats.

We noted on many occasions that a further increase of the efficiency
of our work and prestige of our Organizations is linked directly to
the level of coordination of our foreign policy activities.

Armenia has always and completely fulfills obligations assumed in
that context; we proceed from the priority of our allied relations
and the principle of no damage to the system of collective security.

Overall, on this direction we have been able to reach positive
results. Coordination of joint statements and declarations
in multilateral fora, collective directives to the permanent
representatives of the CSTO member states at the international
organizations have become an established practice.

Nevertheless we believe there is still a need for a series of
coordinated efforts aimed at the enhancement of interaction and
for the eliminations of the failures which, unfortunately, still
take place. I will give you just one example: in our documents,
including the Moscow Declaration adopted last December, stressed
was the importance of the exclusively peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk
Group based on the UN Charter, principles and norms of international
law, particularly those pertinent to the non-use of force or threat
to use force, equality and right of people for self-determination and
territorial integrity of the states. A similar position is registered
in the collective instructions. However contrary to the spirit of the
decisions adopted by us, some of the member-states in other settings
and in other organizations on the same issue adopt declarations which
disagree with the decisions adopted in the framework of the CSTO. In
recent years, adopted were documents, including at a presidential
level, which at the instigation of the Azerbaijani side selectively,
with prejudice to the other principles singles out the principle of
territorial integrity. Understandably, many countries have their own
interests related to Azerbaijan. However the adoption of the documents
which are based on the interest-inspired relations is unacceptable
for us when they run against the interests of the CSTO member states
and the image of the Organization.

This topic is particularly pressing against the background of the
Armenophobic rhetoric of the President of Azerbaijan and constant
threats to use force against the peaceful population of Nagorno
Karabakh.

Distinguished Colleagues,

Our Organization continues to work towards the enhancement of
its relations with the UN, its specialized departments and other
international organizations dealing with security issues. It is
critical that the CSTO carries on with the course of establishing
partnership relations for regional and global cooperation. At the same
time, it would be reasonable if interaction in that area is based
proportionately to the attitude manifested by these organizations
towards the CSTO.

In the light of new global challenges and threats, the enhanced role
of the UN for the resolution of international crises is becoming even
more pressing. It’s been vividly demonstrated related to the recent
developments in the Middle East region, particularly, in Syria.

Armenia, as the CSTO member state which is in the closest geographic
proximity to Syria, is feeling more acutely all the risks and threats
to the Caucasus region under the responsibility of the CSTO.

>From day one of the crisis in Syria, we have been for its most
speedy resolution, based on the pan-national dialogue. With this
regard, the role of the international community, especially countries
neighboring Syria, should appear in supporting that dialogue, taking
into consideration interests of all parties engaged in the conflict.

In this context, we definitely welcome the American-Russian
understanding on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria.

Distinguished Colleagues,

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Armenia’s interest in
receiving an observer status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
which plays an important role in maintaining peace, security and
stability in the region. I count on your support in this issue.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the President of
Kyrgyzstan Almasbek Sharshenovich for the great job conducted by him
personally and our Kyrgyz partners during its Presidency. Now the
Russian Federation picks up the baton.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, we wish you and our Russian friends success
and are ready for close cooperation.

Thank you.

APRES DES NéGOCIATIONS AVEC’UE, L’ARENIE REVIENT EN ARRIERE AVEC MOSCOU

ARMENIE

L’annonce du Président Serge Sarkissian que l’Arménie veut adhérer
a l’Union douanière, un bloc de libre-échange menée par la Russie,
semble correspondre avec des liens de longue date du pays avec Moscou.

Mais il a provoqué la consternation chez ceux qui craignent que
l’accord fera dérailler les plans de liens plus étroits avec
l’Union européenne.

Serge Sarkissian a fait cette annonce après avoir rencontré
son homologue russe Vladimir Poutine a Moscou le 3 Septembre. Il
a également dit que l’Arménie voudrait faire partie de l’Union
économique eurasienne, un plus ambitieux groupement dirigé par
Moscou qui est encore au stade de la planification.

Les membres actuels de l’union douanière sont la Russie, la
Biélorussie et le Kazakhstan.

Le Kirghizistan devrait la rejoindre l’année prochaine. Lors d’une
discussion qui s’est tenue au Centre des médias, a Erevan, Samvel
Nikoyan, membre du Parti républicain au pouvoir, a déclaré que
l’idée de rejoindre le bloc de libre-échange était une propre
initiative du gouvernement arménien, pas quelque chose qui avait
été imposée. L’idée de se joindre a d’abord été lancée par
Armen Movsisyan ministre de l’Energie a la fin Juin. Auparavant, des
responsables gouvernementaux avaient rejeté cette possibilité. En
Avril 2012, par exemple, le Premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian a
déclaré a un journal russe que l’adhésion serait ” absurde ”
parce que l’Arménie ne partage de frontière terrestre avec un autre
membre de l’union douanière.

Pas plus tard que le 21 AoÔt de cette année, le vice-ministre des
Affaires étrangères Chavarch Kotcharian a déclaré sur une chaîne
de télévision locale que l’entrée dans le bloc signifierait ”
dire au revoir a sa souveraineté ”.

Le 5 Septembre, cependant, Kotcharian s’est contredit lors d’une
interview pour RFE / RL, affirmant qu’au contraire ” l’adhésion a
l’Union douanière signifie une réduction de la souveraineté dans
la prise de décisions indépendantes. Cela s’applique a toute union
douanière, et cela concerne la politique et les droits de douane ”.

Chavarch Kotcharian a insisté pour que la décision n’avait pas
été contrainte a l’Arménie par le Kremlin.

” Ce n’est pas le cas. Vous ratez le point de vue de l’ensemble ”
a-t-il dit a son interlocuteur. ” Il y avait beaucoup de questions qui
devaient être résolus…. Mais après des discussions approfondies,
on finit par peser le tout, pour et contre, et en somme, cela est a
notre avantage ”.

Néanmoins, la décision a causé une certaine consternation, car
elle a suivi de près la conclusion des négociations avec l’Union
européenne sur un “accord d’association” qui devait donner a
l’Arménie des conditions commerciales préférentielles.

La question encore sans réponse est de savoir comment les différents
ensembles de droits de douane peuvent être conciliées.

S’exprimant le 5 Septembre, le commissaire européen a l’élargissement
et la politique de voisinage, Å tefan Fule, a demandé si l’accord
d’association entre l’Arménie et Bruxelles serait compatible avec
l’appartenance a l’Union douanière. Elmar Brok, qui préside le
comité des Affaires étrangères du parlement européen, a déclaré
que d’essayer de faire partie de deux systèmes de libre-échange
était ” vraiment impossible ”.

Pendant ce temps, Vigen Sargsyan, chef de l’administration
présidentielle, a insisté pour que les plans pour entrer dans l’Union
douanière ni ne bloqueraient ni ne retarderaient la progression vers
l’accord d’association, qui devrait être signé dans la capitale
lituanienne Vilnius en Novembre.

Samvel Nikoyan du parti républicain a déclaré qu’il devrait être
possible de faire les deux, étant donné que le libre accès aux
marchés européens ne viendrait qu’après 10 a 15 ans.

” En tout cas, l’Europe ne doit pas claquer la porte ” a-t-il dit
lors du débat du Centre des médias. ” L’Arménie estime qu’elle
a besoin de combiner ces deux directions aussi loin que possible ”.

Le partenaire de la coalition des républicains, le parti Etat de
droit, a publié une déclaration soutenant la décision d’adhérer
a l’Union douanière, a la lumière du partenariat stratégique entre
l’Arménie et la Russie. Dans le même temps, il a indiqué que l’UE
était finalement le meilleur pari comme partenaire commercial. Le
communiqué souligne que les exportations arméniennes vers la Russie,
la Biélorussie et le Kazakhstan combinée sont de 290 millions de
dollars l’an dernier, comparativement aux 560 millions des ventes
aux membres de l’UE.

Les partis d’opposition ont claqué l’annonce par le président,
en disant qu’ils croyaient qu’il avait porté un préjudice grave
pour les futures relations commerciales avec l’Europe.

Les démocrates libres, par exemple, a averti que ” l’Arménie perdra
des aspects importants de son indépendance comme la possibilité de
poursuivre une politique étrangère indépendante et de fonctionner
de manière autonome sur les questions financières et économiques ”.

Le parti Dashnaktsyutun a conclu que la seule raison pour laquelle
le gouvernement avait opté pour l’adhésion a l’Union douanière
doit avoir été celle d’obtenir des promesses de soutien de la
Russie pour sa propre sécurité et celle du Haut-Karabagh. Depuis son
indépendance, l’Arménie a maintenu des forts liens de sécurité avec
Moscou en raison de sa relation hostile avec l’Azerbaïdjan. Dans les
heures qui ont quivi la décision de Sarkissian a Moscou, un groupe
Facebook s’est formé se faisantt appeler ” Nous sommes contre
l’Union douanière avec la Russie ”. Quelques centaines de membres
se sont rassemblés devant les bureaux du président a Erevan pour
faire entendre leurs préoccupations, le 4 Septembre et a nouveau le
10 Septembre.

En Arménie, peu d’analystes ont vu l’adhésion a l’Union douanière
comme une bonne nouvelle sans ambiguïtés. ” Ce fut une erreur
stratégique, une occasion importante qui a été perdu ” a déclaré
Richard Giragosian, directeur du Centre d’études régionales a Erevan.

” Une grande erreur de politique étrangère a été commise qui
met tout l’avenir des réformes dans le doute ”.

Richard Giragosian croit que la porte de l’UE est désormais ”
fermée mais pas verrouillée ”.

Sergei Minassian, directeur adjoint de l’Institut du Caucase a Erevan,
s’est montré plus optimiste, en disant que la réunion Sarkissian
avec Poutine n’équivalait pas a un ” tournant dans les relations
UE-Arménie ”.

Arpi Harutyunyan est une correspondante du site Armnews.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

mardi 24 septembre 2013, Stéphane ©armenews.com

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN CONDAMNE A NOUVEAU LES ACCORD AVEC LA RUSSIE

ARMENIE

Raffi Hovannisian le president du parti Heritage a decrit l’adhesion
a l’union douanière de la Russie, la Bielorussie et le Kazakhstan
comme une grave menace pour l’independance de l’Armenie alors qu’il
avait de nouveau rassemble des partisans a Erevan vendredi.

Raffi Hovannisian a ajoute l’engagement pris par le gouvernement
armenien a rejoindre l’Union sur une liste de raisons pour lesquelles,
selon lui, le president Serge Sarkissian devrait demissionner. Il
a dit que Serge Sarkissian “a lui seul a decide de subordonner la
souverainete de l’Armenie aux autres d’une manière humiliante.”

” Un gouvernement qui vole les elections, attaque des citoyens,
ruines des valeurs culturelles, ne parvient pas a resoudre des crimes
dans l’armee et ailleurs … et franchit une nouvelle etape a Moscou
qui n’est pas anti-americain ou anti-europeen mais anti-armenienne”,
a -t-il declare a plusieurs centaines de personnes sur la place de
la Liberte.

Le president du parti Zharangutyun, qui etait le principal challenger
de Sarkissian en fevrier 2013 lors de l’election presidentielle,
a appele a la creation d’un “front du renouveau national” a grande
echelle qui ferait campagne pour un changement de regime. ” Si nous
ne sortons pas de nos coins et personne ne va nous excuser pour la
perte de la qualite d’Etat”, a-t-il dit.

“L’independance de l’Armenie est compromise” a declare Zaruhi
Postanjian, parlementaire du Zharangutyun au franc-parler, a declare
dans un discours lors du rassemblement.

Raffi Hovannisian a lance ce qu’il a decrit comme une nouvelle
campagne de protestations anti-gouvernementales le mois dernier,
peu de temps avant que Serge Sarkissian n’ait annonce sa decision
sur l’union douanière a Moscou. Il n’a pas reussi a tirer de grandes
foules jusqu’ici.

L’opposant ne aux Etats-ne avait appele les autres groupes
d’opposition et civiques a se joindre a la campagne avant la
dernière manifestation. Seule une poignee de petits groupes et des
personnalites ont cependant repondu a l’appel. Parmi eux se trouvait
Paruyr Hayrikian, un autre ancien candidat a la presidentielle qui
a passe plus de dix ans dans les prisons sovietiques pour avoir fait
campagne pour l’independance de l’Armenie.

Dans toute l’opposition representee au Parlement armenien, seuls les
partis Zharangutyun et les democrates libres ont rejete explicitement
l’adhesion de l’Armenie a l’union douanière.

mardi 24 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

World Peace Day marked in Armenia’s Gyumri

15:03 – 22.09.13

On the occasion of the World Peace Day, the New Generation
humanitarian NGOs organized a number of events in Gyumri, Armenia.

`Our mission is to implement programs aimed to solve major social
problems,’ Program Executive Hovhannes Lazarian told Tert.am.

`The aim of this program is to unite people round the ideals of peace,
by means of arts, trades, music and other creative activities,’ he
added.

The organizers showed the film `I too’ by Lilit Movsisyan at the
Gyumri Jazz Club. Shot in 2012, the film tells about the mental state
of a strong-willed young man going through hardship in a mental
hospital. The show was followed by a discussion.

The second part of the event was organized by the Waterfall disco
club. A number of Gyumri beauty shops held a fashion show. The
organizers called it a Peace Platform.

A march was the last event of the series. The participants marched
from Charles Aznavour square to Vardanants square.

Armenian News – Tert.am

No threat of losing sovereignty – Edik Minasyan

17:39 – 20.09.13

Armenia is not faced with a threat of losing its sovereignty. But
Armenia has always been dependent on different centers of economic
power, which, however, does not mean Armenia is losing its
independence, Edik Minasyan, Dean of the Department of History,
Yerevan State University, told journalists on Friday.

He made the statement in response to a question as to whether
Armenia’s joining the Customs Union means losing its sovereignty.
Minasyan pointed out centuries-old Armenian-Russian ties.

`It is great they have been preserved for centuries, which has ensured
our political and economic security, as well as physical safety,’
Minasyan said.

On the other hand he said that like any other country, `we should also
be guided by our national interests.’

Minasyan does not share the opinion that by joining the Customs Union
Armenia will sever its ties with Europe.

`Economic strength and development of domestic production must be
priorities now. Many people say it is too late. But I do not think so.
We should focus on economic development,’ Minasyan said.

According to him, the great achievements of Armenia’s 22-year-long
independence are freedom of speech, a multi-party system, more or less
developed decmocratic institutes, system of government, and removal of
cultural and ideological restrictions. The greatest achievement is the
Armenian army and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

Among the negative factors are emigration and social polarization, 35%
poverty level, lack of national ideology, corruption and violations of
law.

HOLLANDE
« Le pont arménien » d’Amsterdam

Un ancien pont d’Amsterdam, qui était fréquenté par les marchands
arméniens au 17e siècle, a été nommé `pont arménien `, grce aux
efforts d’un homme – Nikolai Romashuk, 60 ans.

Né à Jérusalem Romashuk, dont la mère était arménienne, a émigré en
Hollande en 1976 et s’est installé dans la ville du nord d’Assen.
Depuis lors il a été un membre actif de la communauté arménienne des
Pays-Bas.

Il a dit qu’il a passé des années des recherches sur l’histoire des
Marchands arméniens aux Archives nationales néerlandaises de
l’Université d’Amsterdam. Et après qu’après plusieurs années il a
réussit à convaincre la municipalité d’Amsterdam que la nomination de
l’ancien pont du nom du pont arménien était une idée intéressante.

Pour aider à obtenir le feu vert de la mairie, Romashuk a également
souligné qu’il avait découvert les tombes d’un certain nombre de
prêtres arméniens et commerçants de la vieille église dans le coeur
d’Amsterdam.

Ce n’est pas la première fois que Romashuk a rehaussé le profil
arménien de son pays d’adoption. Il y a quelques années, Romashuk –
fondateur et président de la Fondation social et culturel arménienne –
a aidé à apporter à Assen un énorme khachkar d’Arménie. Maintenant,
chaque année, le 24 Avril, les arméniens d’Assen commémorent, en face
du khachkar, le génocide des Arméniens par la Turquie en 1915. Il y a
300 à 400 Arméniens dans la ville, surtout en provenance d’Arménie,
d’Irak, d’Iran et de Turquie.

Romashuk a également aidé à établir un cimetière arménien dans sa
ville – le seul en Hollande. Il est nommé Hrant Dink.

Marié à une femme hollandaise, Romashuk a trois enfants et deux petits-enfants.

dimanche 22 septembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com