Author: nina hovnanian

EDOUARD NALBANDIAN ET LE COMMISSAIRE FULE ONT POURSUIVI LEURS ENTRETIENS

ARMENIE

Les deux hommes ont poursuivi a Erevan leurs negociations entamees
il y a une semaine a Bruxelles suite a l’annonce par l’Armenie de son
choix en faveur de l’Union douanière. Tout en s’abstenant de details,
le communique du MAE armenien relève que le chef de la diplomatie
armenienne a reaffirme le souhait de l’Armenie de poursuivre le
partenariat avec l’UE dans toutes les directions possibles. Rappelons
que le Commissaire europeen est en Armenie pour prendre part a la
reunion informelle des Ministres des AE des pays du Partenariat
oriental.

Par ailleurs, lors d’un point de presse, le President de l’AN,
Hovik Abrahamian, a ecarte toute pression de la part de la Russie
a l’encontre de l’Armenie : le choix avait ete fait par l’Armenie
en fonction de ses interets nationaux. Il a toutefois indique que ”
l’Armenie n’est pas prisonnière ” et que ” si le document definitif qui
sera soumis a la signature ne repond pas aux interets de l’Armenie,
celle-ci ne l’acceptera pas “. M. Abrahamian s’est etonne de la
question de savoir si le HK allait egalement faire partie de l’Union
douanière : ” C’est l’Armenie qui adhère a l’Union douanière !

Quel rapport avec le Karabagh ? Le HK est un Etat independant “…

Le Parlement europeen a appele jeudi la Russie a mettre fin aux
pressions ” inacceptables ” sur les pays du Partenariat oriental. Dans
une resolution, les deputes europeens ont invite Moscou a s’abstenir
d’exercer des pressions accrues sur lesdits Etats. ” La Russie doit
respecter entièrement leur droit souverain a faire leurs propres
choix politiques “, lit-on dans cette resolution.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 13 septembre 2013

vendredi 20 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’AGMI A PUBLIE RECEMMENT LE LIVRE ” DES DARDANELLES A LA PALESTINE ” PAR SARGIS TOROSSIAN, MEMOIRES D’UNE IMPORTANCE EXCEPTIONNELLE.

ARMENIE

Les memoires de Sargis Torossian representent l’odyssee d’un officier
armenien dans l’armee ottomane pendant la Première Guerre mondiale.

Les personnages et les evenements inattendus, la representation de
l’histoire du genocide d’un point de vue imprevu rendent les memoires
de Sargis Torossian extremement interessantes et engageantes. Et les
memoires laissent aux lecteurs une impression inoubliable.

Le personnage principal n’a pas souffert du genocide, mais il est
devenu une victime du genocide armenien, l’un des plus grands crimes
du 20e siècle, organisee par le gouvernement ottoman.

Les memoires uniques de Sargis Torossian avec leur contenu sans
precedent nous racontent l’histoire d’un officier de l’armee armenienne
qui a fourni un service exceptionnel a la Turquie ottomane par son
devoir. Les memoires demontrent l’heroïsme et le sacrifice de soi,
la trahison et le complot, l’amour et la douleur de la perte …

Les memoires de Sargis Torossian ont ete recemment publies en turc. Le
volume a suscite un interet considerable parmi le peuple turc et est
devenu un sujet a diverses interpretations.

Le volume est la première traduction en armenien des memoires. Il se
compose de 17 chapitres.

vendredi 20 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

PASCAL MANOUKIAN : ” LE DIABLE AU CREUX DE LA MAIN ”

A lire

Le journaliste et grand reporter Pascal Manoukian, Directeur editorial
de l’agence de presse Capa, vient de publier un ouvrage a ne pas
manquer ” Le diable au creux de la main “, recit d’un reporter
de guerre qui a couvert durant vingt ans les theâtres de conflits
internationaux qui ont emaille le XXème siècle. Un livre d’autant
plus d’actualite en cette periode d’instabilite au proche Orient. Une
epopee tant physique que psychologique.

” Mais c’est aussi l’aventure interieure d’un petit-fils de victimes
du genocide armenien, qui a cherche, en capturant l’Histoire, a faire
la paix avec la sienne “, indique la presentation des editions Don
Quichotte.

Irak, Iran, Vietnam, Cambodge, Guatemala, Turquie, Afghanistan…

L’auteur a suivi le flux des conflits qui ont agite la planète des
annees 1970 a nos jours. Passant d’une situation de crise a une
autre, souvent au risque de sa vie, ce petit-fils de victimes du
genocide armenien a cherche, en partageant le sort des victimes et
des bourreaux, en capturant l’histoire en marche, a faire la paix
avec la sienne et celle de son peuple. C’est un livre d’aventures
et un temoignage emaille de portraits vivants, de destins tragiques
ou dramatiques, heroïques ou pathetiques d’hommes et de femmes
nes au mauvais endroit, au mauvais moment – Mickey, la petite pute
rencontree dans la jungle guatemaltèque ; Patrice, l’ami journaliste
qui rejoindra la guerilla afghane ; Sead, un adolescent de Sarajevo
aux joues rouges, messager pour l’armee bosniaque, tue a 16 ans par
deux balles d’un sniper, alors qu’il lui montrait son quotidien -,
mais aussi de jalons historiques plongeant le lecteur au coeur
des soubresauts du monde. La force de ce recit tient encore dans
l’empathie que l’auteur manifeste envers les personnes rencontrees, et
dans sa quete des traces d’humanite partout où elle subsiste. Pascal
Manoukian a accompagne la violence, la terreur, l’injustice et la
misère la où elles avaient elues domicile. On ne ressort pas indemne
de ces experiences-la, et il a dû apprendre a decharger le trop-plein
d’emotions. Ce livre est fait aussi pour cela.

Pascal Manoukian sera l’invite du Grand Journal de Canal+, ce soir,
vendredi 20 septembre a 19h05.

Le Diable au creux de la main

300 pages – 18,90euros

ISBN 978-2-35949-158-6

vendredi 20 septembre 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

J. GASANLI : ON TOP OF CORRUPTION ILHAM ALIYEV HIMSELF

Turan Information Agency
September 18, 2013 Wednesday

Baku/18.09.13/Turan : In an atmosphere of recrimination passed on
September 17 the first public television debate of presidential
candidates in the presidential election on October 9.

However, many candidates did not lashed out at the authorities and the
opposition. The candidate of the government, the current president
Ilham Aliyev on TV debates did not appear and was represented by
its executive secretary of the ruling party “Yeni Azerbaijan” Ali
Akhmedov .

Of all the candidates with sharp criticism and denunciation to the
authorities made ??the candidate of the National Council of Democratic
Forces of Jamil Gasanli .

He noted that the main issue is not handing out promises from election
to election , but also to provide a report on the implementation of
these promises.

“Ilham Aliyev should participate in the debate . He does not want
to be together with the other candidates, disrespects them, is not
accountable to the people. Ilham Aliyev should answer the questions of
the people. He should answer the questions on what money he bought in
Dubai 5 villas that cost $ 75 million to his then 11-year-old son. He
should answer the question. About this the Washington Post wrote.

Only because of this fact in a normal country, the government would
have taken down. There are documents about his (Aliyev’s) companies
in the Virgin Islands, the withdrawal from the country of 48 billion
dollars. These funds are more than the state budget.

He should talk about his family’s companies in Panama.

The son of the minister of agriculture has property for $ 26 million
in London. This is only one minister . Should be disclosed information
about a property abroad and other ministers , “- said Gasanli .

He drew attention to the low level of salaries and pensions of the
population.

“Azerbaijan is an oil country . Azerbaijan experienced a peak in oil
revenues . But look what salary? Those who take out billions abroad,
do not give a normal salaries, pensions or normal . Pensions are so
small , that the meetings of the government authorities are ashamed
to talk about them in local and express them in dollar terms. At the
head of corruption in the country is itself Ilham Aliyev . Why voters
should vote for this government ? Look how paltry are salaries and
pensions that they are missing out on medicines prescribed in just
one prescription,” said Gasanli .

Authorized representative of Ilham Aliyev, Ali Akhmedov , in turn ,
called the speech by Gasanli fiction, “newspaper materials that are
not based on documents and do not have proof.”

He further stated that Gasanli 2 years ago early retirement in order
to receive an increased parliamentary pension. According to Akhmedov ,
the option of early retirement or have mothers with many children ,
or people with disabilities.

“But you do not look sick . You are either a crook or must prove your
disability ” – Akhmedov said .

“No, I’m not sick – Gasanli retorted attack from Akhmedov. – Sick
are those who have brought the country into a difficult position. On
the exam in their native language 42 percent of the students received
“two” .

Sick are those who take out the people’s money abroad , arrest
believers , tossing them drugs,” said Gasanli.

Independent nominee , MP Zahid Oruc more talked about ways to fight
the opposition, criticized it and personally Gasanli.

According to Oruc, accusations of Ilham Aliyev in the foreign media
came after he spoke out against opening the border between Turkey
and Armenia .

Leader of Umid , MP Iqbal Aghazadeh said that the authorities do
not solve the country’s problems . According to him , voters do not
believe the current government .

Most voters are dissatisfied with their lives. The life of doctors ,
teachers, pensioners has become worse.

Aghazadeh is for change in the country. ” Where there is no change,
there is violation of human rights . Where there is a change ,
there’s a development,” said Aghazadeh .

In his view, power should be also subject to recall.

According to him, the Presidents of the United States and Europe
change not because they poorly manage, but namely because no change
worsens the situation.

“The conduct of Azerbaijan’s courts , the police, the government is
so unbearable that if you do not change them, they will change your
life for the worse,” Aghazadeh said , referring to the voters .

In his view, people often worry that a change would be violated
stability. “Stability can be saved and 20 years. However, when, after
such a long period of stagnation suddenly the processes of change, it
is accompanied by major disasters. An example is the Middle East. To
avoid this in the future, change is needed, ” said Aghazadeh .

The representative of the head of the Justice Party, MP Ilyas Ismailov,
Mutallim Rahimov focused on the big statist experience of the candidate
, who in the days of the Soviet Union occupied high posts .

According to Rahimov , none of the other candidates do not have
such experience.

The head of the party Modern Musavat Hafiz Hajiyev accused the National
Council of cooperation with the Armenians and criticized Jamil Gasanli
. Hajiyev at the same time said that being a follower of Elchibey ,
he had more right to be the only candidate from the opposition.

The leader of the Movement of National Revival Party , MP Faraj Guliyev
promised to return to the country the oil money contained in foreign
banks. He also proposes land plots and housing for youths returning
from the army.

Guliyev also accused the members of the National Council of connection
with the Armenians.

The Democratic Party leader Sardar Jalaloglu drew attention to the
fact that Azerbaijan according to the UN report is the 17th in the
number of people leaving the country.

Azerbaijanis have reached even Australia, on the far outskirts of the
Russian Azerbaijanis live , even in places where there are no Russian .

The reason for that is poor socio -economic status , and lack of rule
of law.

“My main goal is to build social and legal state,” said Jalaloglu.

The leader of the Social Democratic Party Araz Alizadeh considers
that the motherland has three supports – the mother , the teacher
and the military .

Mothers have to raise their sons and therefore are worthy of a
prosperous life. Teachers give all education and deserve a high
salary. Army protects the homeland, and therefore must be professional
and and prosperous.

However, Alizadeh said that repeated election of one candidate as
the president can not lead to disaster.

However, he said that for 16 years Helmut Kohl was Chancellor of
Germany, Thatcher ruled for many years and it did not lead to
authoritarianism. “When changes occur on the model of the Arab
Spring , it all ends in bombing . Let us recall the fate of Mursi,”
said Alizadeh.

He also opposed the National Council and the statements by Jamil
Gasanli .

The leader of the Popular Front of United Azerbaijan Gudret Gasanguliev
called for a transition to a parliamentary republic .

He also suggests to rename the Republic of Azerbaijan to North
Azerbaijan Republic , for three quarters of Azerbaijanis liveg in
South Azerbaijan, Iran.

He criticized the scientific works by Gasanli and opposition leaders
represented in the National Council . -03B06-

MINORITY SCHOOLS IN TURKEY LACK STUDENTS, REPORT SAYS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 19 2013

19 September 2013 /Ä°PEK UZUM, Ä°STANBUL
A lack of students in Turkey’s minority schools is leading them to
close down, according to a Thursday report by the History Foundation.

The report, released at a foundation press conference, says that the
steady decline in Turkey’s minority populations, a rising preference
among minority students to study at non-minority schools and enrollment
limitations applied by the state have drawn student populations
at minority schools down so far that many have had to close. The
surviving Armenian and Jewish schools seem to have reached stable
enrolment levels, but low enrolment remains the single biggest problem
facing Greek schools in Turkey. In the 2012-13 academic year, 3,137
students attended Armenian schools, including 67 Armenian citizens;
230 students attended Greek schools (including students of Greek
nationality) and 688 students attended Jewish schools.

“The number of students attending these schools may be increased
and the schools may be saved from closure if students who are not
Turkish citizens or who do not belong to the same minority [group]
are allowed to enroll,” the report says.

One of the biggest problems the report mentioned is the ambiguous
status of Turkey’s minority schools, which are officially considered
neither private schools nor foreign schools. However, minority schools
are still associated by the public with private and foreign schools,
and are subjected to the legislation regulating private schools —
including a rule that prevents them from accepting students above
a quota allocated by the ministry of education, which causes major
financial problems and often makes it difficult for minority schools
to survive on their budgets.

The report goes on to suggest the drafting of separate laws and
regulations specific to minority schools. “A framework regulation can
be developed to cover all minority schools, taking into account the
differing characteristics of each community’s schools, or separate
regulations can be prepared for the schools of each community.

“It is suggested that legislation be developed through dialogue to
bring a permanent solution to their [minority schools’] problems
while taking into consideration the texts drafted by the minority
schools concerning possible legislation,” the report says.

Another problem the report mentions is the reciprocity principle
and minority schools. Though minority schools are affiliated with
foundations managed by Turkish citizens and attended by Turkish
citizens, the principle of reciprocity is imposed on the development of
legislation governing these schools and in defining their rights and
obligations. For example, if a Greek school in Turkey wants to hire a
teacher who is a Greek national, the Turkish government will require
Greece to hire a Turkish teacher to teach at a school in Greece.

According to the report, this reciprocity principle equates minorities
with foreigners, offending them and forcing them to deal with a large
number of bureaucratic and political problems. The report suggests
dropping the principle of reciprocity when preparing legislation
governing minority schools.

Yet another challenge minority schools face is a lack of trained
teachers as Turkish universities do not offer specialized education
in this field. The History Foundation suggests the establishment
of special departments for each minority group’s schools in Turkish
universities.

No public authority or private institution is responsible for preparing
the textbooks and education materials needed by the minority schools of
the Armenian, Greek and Jewish communities, the report says. “Schools
should also be provided with support for the translation and printing
of textbooks. It is suggested that a special unit with a suitable
budget and employing an adequate number of qualified employees be
set up to develop textbooks and educational materials for minority
schools in Turkey. This unit should be financed by the state.”

U.S. TO REMAIN PARTNER OF ARMENIA IN SPITE OF ITS WISH TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION – AMBASSADOR

Interfax, Russia
September 18, 2013 Wednesday 11:59 AM MSK

YEREVAN. Sept 18

The Armenian authorities’ decision to join the Customs Union will have
no effect on Armenian-U.S. relations, U.S. Ambassador to Yerevan John
Heffern said.

Armenian-U.S. relations rest on a mutual interest in Armenia’s success,
he said in an interview with the Radio Liberty Armenian service. The
United States has other interests in that region, as well, such as
the Karabakh peace process and Armenian-Turkish normalization, the
ambassador said, adding he could not see how the decision pertaining
to the Customs Union could influence the aforesaid regional problems.

The main question is about a possible effect on Armenia’s internal
reforms, the diplomat said. In his words, the Armenian leaders assured
the United States and the European Union in private conversations and
publicly they intended to carry on the reforms. The U.S. will continue
to encourage and support that process as much as it can, he said.

The diplomat expressed an opinion that Western partners could be of
use for Armenia. He said he was confident that the course towards
the EU could be the force to guide Armenia along the right path of
democracy and supremacy of law. On the other hand, Armenia chooses
a path on its own, and there is nothing in the Customs Union to
hamper Armenia’s implementation of the reforms publicly pledged by
the Armenian president and prime minister,” Heffern said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian told his Polish counterpart
Radoslaw Sikorski in Warsaw on Tuesday that Yerevan intended to develop
comprehensive cooperation with the EU but not at the expense of its
relations with Russia.

Te mk

KING CONGRATULATES PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, MALTA ON NATIONAL DAY

Petra News Agency, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Sept 19 2013

For newspapers……….

Amman, Sept. 19 (Petra)–His Majesty King Abdullah II on Thursday
sent cables to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, and President of
Malta George Abela congratulating them in his name and on behalf of
the Jordanian people and government on their countries’ national day.

The King wished the presidents continued good health and happiness
and the peoples of Armenia and Malta further progress and prosperity.

OBITUARY: CHARLOTTE KECHEJIAN, 100

By Contributor // September 19, 2013 in Obituaries

Charlotte (Arsha) Kechejian, 100, of New York, passed away peacefully
on Sept. 10. She was born in Nigde, Turkey on Oct. 21, 1912 to the late
Setrak and Elmone Avakian. As a young child, she endured the horror of
the Armenian Genocide, including her father’s murder. Young Arsha lived
in an orphanage where her mother was a nurse. Over time, they made
their way across the desert of Syria, through Lebanon, then by ship
to France, and arrived at Ellis Island in New York when she was 10.

Charlotte Kechejian

Arsha was eager to learn and loved the New York Public Library,
where she expanded her English-language skills. Her mother re-married,
and Charlotte welcomed a brother, Charlie Genjian. She graduated from
Washington Irving High School in New York, and worked in retail.

When Charlotte was 19, she married the love of her life, the late
Oscar Kechejian, in 1932. Initially, they lived in Washington Heights,
and then moved to New Rochelle, where she raised her family. Shortly
after Oscar’s death in 1976, she moved to Fort Lee, N.J., and enjoyed
living near Charlie and watching her family expand with grandchildren.

Throughout her life, she was an active and loving mother, grandmother,
sister, neighbor, and friend.

In recent years, Charlotte took residence at the New York Armenian home
in Flushing. She was a vibrant member of the community and remained
an active voice to remember and recognize the Armenian Genocide. In
2010, Charlotte went to Washington, D.C. to testify at a hearing of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Armenian Genocide Resolution
252. With her testimony, the resolution passed.

As recently as April, she attended the 98th commemoration of the
atrocities in Times Square. With the 100th anniversary of the genocide
approaching, Charlotte offered interviews and first-hand accounts
of what happened. In March she told reporters, “I remember feeling
so tired and hungry, but my mother kept telling me to walk just a
little more.”

“I miss my father,” she added, shaking her head. “I miss him.”

Charlotte is survived by her three children, Edward Kechejian (Lynn)
of Florida, Madeline Magarian (the late Aram Magarian) of New York,
and Gregory Kechejian (Diane) of New Jersey. She is also survived by
six grandchildren, Eric Kechejian, Christine (Kechejian) Miles, Michael
Magarian, Paul Kechejian, Sarah Kechejian, and Lauren Kechejian, and
10 great-grandchildren. Charlotte is also survived by her brother,
Charles Genjian (Grace) of New Jersey, along with many nephews,
nieces, cousins. and friends.

Funeral services were held on Sept. 12 at the Armenian Church of the
Holy Martyrs in Bayside, N.Y., followed by the burial beside Oscar
at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to
either the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs (209-15 Horace Harding
Expressway, Bayside, NY 11364) or the New York Armenian Home (137-31
45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355).

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE EURASIAN INTEGRATION COMMITTEE – POLITICAL SCIENTIST

September 19, 2013 | 16:55

YEREVAN. – A Eurasian Integration Committee should be set up within
the Government of Armenia, stated chairman Hmayak Hovhannisyan of
the Politologists’ Union of Armenia, on Thursday.

In his view, without this committee the National Assembly (NA) will be
unable to examine the entire package of the bills that are necessary
to make Armenia’s legislation comply with that of the Customs Union.

Hovhannisyan noted that the complementarity in foreign relations can
be restored if a standing committee on Eurasian integration is formed
in the Armenian parliament, since a Standing Committee on European
Integration already exists.

As per the political scientist, the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations should work on this legislation; but it cannot work on this
matter on its own. And if it receives assistance from the Standing
Committee on State and Legal Affairs, an ambiguous situation will be
created, since this process refers to Armenia’s foreign policy.

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow
between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs
Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union.

DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER AND UNHCR REP. IN ARMENIA DISCUSS SITUATION OVER HAKOB INJIGHULYAN

September 19, 2013 | 21:08

YEREVAN. – Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyanon Thursday
had a meeting with Christoph Bierwirth, UNHCR Representative in
Armenia and discussed prospects of general cooperation in relevant
spheres of mutual interest.

During the meeting Tonoyan inter alia touched upon the situation
concerning the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan held in Azerbaijani
captivity. He referred to a recent press release on an Azerbaijani
media outlet quoting Mr.Shahin Sailov, Secretary of State Commission
of Azerbaijan on POW, Detainees and Missing in Action who said that
the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan reportedly made a request to be
sent to a third country.

If this information is not yet another propaganda trick on part of
the Azerbaijani authorities, the logical follow-up would suggest
engagement of the UNHCR office in Baku according to its mandate to
proceed with determination of a refugee status for H. Injighulyan,
Defense Ministry said in a statement.

He also informed that the Armenian side has reiterated its pledge for
several times that Injighulyan will not be subject to any criminal
prosecution thus eliminating any possibility of “well-founded fear of
being persecuted”, especially when no other grounds exist to confirm
this fear based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion.

Emphasizing the above-mentioned facts he called upon UNHCR and other
stake holders to consider these facts in their approach when addressing
such cases.

The Deputy Minister noted that granting Injighulyan a “refugee status”
could be understood as a chance for him to escape inevitable physical
abuse, torture or other tragic consequences as experienced before in
similar cases such as Manvel Saribekyan’s- a shepherd who was brutally
killed while being captive under Azerbaijani protection. However,
it was emphasized that negative precedents should be avoided thus
the course of action should be considered extremely carefully given
the complex pattern.

Mr. Bierwirth took note of the position expressed by the First
Deputy Minister and promised to share it with his headquarters in
Geneva. He emphasized, however, the independence of UNHCR in conducting
mandate status determination procedures and the purely humanitarian,
non-political mandate of UNHCR.

In addition it was stated that Armenia is ready to discuss such cases
on a bilateral level with Azerbaijan without mediation efforts in
existing international or any other frameworks and formats.