Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS TO APPEAL CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECISION AT ECTHR – NEWSPAPER

news.am
June 01, 2012 | 07:34

YEREVAN. – Attorney Vahe Grigoryan, who was opposition Armenian
National Congress’ representative at the Constitutional Court (CC),
said he is preparing to appeal the Court’s decision at the European
Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Haykakan Zhamanak daily writes.

“Yesterday [Thursday] the CC publicized its ruling of rejecting the
Congress’ formal request to cancel the results of the May 6 [National
Assembly] NA elections.

So far, Grigoryan refrained from listing the CC’s violations of the
European Convention on Human Rights. The attorney said he will provide
in several days his detailed legal assessment of the CC’s ruling,”
Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

H. PETROSYANTS: AIRPORT HAS STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

Panaroma.am
01/06/2012

Azerbaijan thinks the opening of airport in Artsakh is a “bluff.”

Statements by Azerbaijani politicians and experts came after
information was released a couple of days ago claiming that the
airport in Artsakh will be soon opened.

Panorama.am asked military expert Hrachya Petrosyants to comment on the
significance of the airport and on statements made by Azerbaijani side.

-Mister Petrosyants, what significance does airport in Artsakh have?

-The new airport in Artsakh is of great significance in terms
of development and stable advancement of Artsakh. It has pivotal
strategic importance.

Though Artsakh is connected with the outer world through land,
contact through air is timely and efficient factor.

Generally the airport has great strategic significance in politics,
economics and military fields.

-Then why do they call it a “bluff”?

-The whole political and military course of Azerbaijan is “bluff”,
I think they measure others’ corn by their own bushel. Finally,
Azerbaijani authorities make their people believe that Artsakh is in
devastating poverty, while the situation is quite different.

ARMENIA’S SECOND PRESIDENT NOMINATED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF RUSSIAN “SISTEMA” CORPORATION

tert.am
01.06.12

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has been nominated to the
Board of Directors of Russian “Sistema” Corporation.

The meeting of “Sistema” shareholders will be held on June 30 and the
list of candidates includes 13 names,10 of whom are already members
of the Board of Directors, Mediamax reports citing “Vedomosti”.

The 13 candidates are: founder and the biggest shareholder of
“Sistema” Vladimir Yevtushenkov, co-owners of the corporation
Alexander Goncharuk, Dmitri Zubov, Vyacheslav Kopyev and Yevgeni
Novitsky, President of “Sistema” Mikhail Shamolin as well as acting
independent directors- Armenian former President Robert Kocharyan,
former President of KPMG Russia Roger Mannings, former Chairman of the
Board of Alcatel Lucent Serzh Churuk and the founder of “Vim-Bill-Dann”
David Yakopbashvili.

The new membership candidates are: former Managing Director of
Investcorp Brian Dickie, ex-Economy Minister of Luxemburg Jeanneau
Krecke and vice president of Barclays Capital Marc Holzman.

ZARAKOLU : “MON PAYS S’EST TRANSFORME EN CIMETIÈRE DES MUETS”

Publie le : 01-06-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Saluons le courage de
Ragip Zarakolu qui a accepte de se rendre en Armenie pour recevoir
le Prix du President. L’eminent militant turc des droits de l’homme
et editeur, a recu mardi un prix de l’Etat armenien pour ce que le
president Serge Sarkissian a appele une “contribution remarquable”
a la reconnaissance internationale des massacres Armeniens de 1915
dans l’Empire ottoman comme un genocide. L’editeur Ragip Zarakolu est
arrive en Armenie avec sa femme et sa fille pour recevoir le prix
annuel du President, moins de deux mois après avoir ete libere des
prisons turques sur des accusations controversees de soutien illegal
au Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK). Ses publications et ses
actions en faveur de la reconnaissance du genocide armenien sont la
raison officieuse de son arrestation : “La Turquie doit accepter la
verite historique. C’est seulement de cette manière que la Turquie
peut retrouver l’estime de soi. Meme après que la Turquie ait presente
ses excuses et repare ses torts, les Armeniens et les Turcs ne seront
jamais comme avant. Ma generation sait ce qui s’est passe et a essaye
de le cacher. Cependant, la jeune generation croit encore a ce mensonge
sous certaines conditions, ce qui est pire encore. Le Coran dit:
“Cessez d’abord de mentir et dites toujours la verite “. La Turquie
est devenue aveugle et sourde. Mon pays s’est transforme en cimetière
des muets”. Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction des extraits
d’un article en anglais publiee sur le site Chroniques Diplomatiques.

Chroniques Diplomatiques

L’Armenie recompense Ragip Zarakolu

Traduction Gerard Merdjanian

Ragip Zarakolu, l’eminent militant turc des droits de l’homme et
editeur, a recu mardi un prix de l’Etat armenien pour ce que le
president Serge Sarkissian a appele une “contribution remarquable”
a la reconnaissance internationale des massacres Armeniens de 1915
dans l’Empire ottoman comme un genocide.

Zarakolu a ete parmi plus de deux douzaines de scientifiques, ecrivains
et artistes, principalement armeniens, retenus pour le prix annuel
du President. Il est arrive en Armenie avec sa femme et sa fille
pour recevoir le prix moins de deux mois après avoir ete libere des
prisons turques sur des accusations controversees de soutien illegal
au Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).

“Ses activites ont ete une mission exceptionnelle. Son combat pour la
diffusion de la verite historique a la societe turque est un brillant
exemple de prise de position de haute citoyennete et de courage. (…)
Votre presence ici et l’acceptation aujourd’hui de ce prix est aussi
un acte de courage,” a declare Serge Sarkissian lors de la ceremonie
de remise des prix au palais presidentiel a Erevan.

Dans sa reponse, Zarakolu a reaffirme sa conviction que les massacres
de masse lors de la première guerre mondiale et les deportations
d’Armeniens etaient bien un genocide, crime qui doit etre reconnu
par la Turquie moderne.

“La Turquie doit accepter la verite historique. C’est seulement de
cette manière que la Turquie peut retrouver l’estime de soi. Meme
après que la Turquie ait presente ses excuses et repare ses torts,
les Armeniens et les Turcs ne seront jamais comme avant. Tous ces
gestes ne rameront jamais ce qui a ete perdu. Mais nous pouvons
regarder ensemble vers l’avenir.

Ma generation sait ce qui s’est passe et a essaye de le cacher.

Cependant, la jeune generation croit encore a ce mensonge sous
certaines conditions, ce qui est pire encore. Le Coran dit: “Cessez
d’abord de mentir et dites toujours la verite “. La Turquie est devenue
aveugle et sourde. Mon pays s’est transforme en cimetière des muets.

Le 100e anniversaire du genocide armenien approche, la Turquie doit
arriver a comprendre que le temps de la reconnaissance et des excuses
est arrive, c’est devenu une condition prealable pour l’etablissement
d’une societe democratique dans le pays.”

Zarakolu reste toujours sous le coup d’une inculpation, mais est
laisse en liberte provisoire. S’il est reconnu coupable, il risque
jusqu’a 15 ans de prison. L’Union europeenne et les organisations
internationales de defense des droits de l’homme ont exprime de
serieuses preoccupations a ce sujet.

Extrait de Armenialiberty

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Chroniques Diplomatiques

LE PARC DE L’HERITAGE ARMENIEN S’OUVRE A BOSTON
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 1er juin 2012

Des centaines d’armeniens ont endure la pluie torrentielle pour etre
temoin de l’inauguration du Parc de l’Heritage armenien adosse a
l’Espace vert Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Mais le Representant americain Edouard J. Markey, Democrate de Malden
et d’autres fonctionnaires se sont felicite de la pluie, la qualifiant
de pleurs de joie des generations d’immigrants armeniens.

” Je sais qu’il y a beaucoup de parapluies et cela peut etre
inconfortable ” a dit le Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. ” Rappelez-vous
juste que nous avons attendu une longue periode de temps pour ce
jour et je sais qu’aucun de nous ne permettra a la pluie de refroidir
notre humeur “.

Le parc inclut une sculpture cense honorer les armeniens qui ont
immigre dans l’etat. Koutoujian, qui est armenien, a dit que les
membres de la communaute se sont battu pour le parc depuis 1999.

” C’est un cadeau a la ville, non juste pour les immigrants armeniens
” a dit Koutoujian.

” C’est un parc consacre a tous les immigrants qui sont arrives dans
cette grande ville “.

Le Comte de Middlesex dispose de la troisième plus grande communaute
d’armeniens aux Etats-Unis, derrière Glendale et Fresno en Californie.

La Fondation de l’Heritage armenien a leve 6 millions de $ pour la
construction et l’entretien du parc.

” Ce parc sera present en hommage a ces immigrants armeniens et
beaucoup d’autres communautes d’immigrants qui ont echappe a la
tragedie et au malheur et ont trouve la securite dans nos rivages ”
a dit James Kalustian, le president de la fondation.

” Ce parc rappelle et commemore ceux qui ont perdu leurs vies dans le
genocide contre le peuple armenien et tous les genocides qui ont suivi
“.

MICHEL DER ZAKARIAN DEVRAIT ENTRAINEUR DU FC NANTES LA SAISON PROCHAINE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
vendredi 1er juin 2012

Après trois saisons passees a la tete de Clermont Foot Michel Der
Zakarian devrait remplacer Landry Chauvin a la tete du FC Nantes pour
la saison 2012-2013. Michel Der Zakarian avait deja entraîne les
Canaris lors de la saison 2007-2008. Michel Der Zakarian, ne le 18
fevrier 1963 a Erevan en Armenie, a connu une longue et riche carrière
de footballeur professionnel en France. Il effectue une grande partie
de sa carrière de joueur au poste de defenseur central au sein du
club du FC Nantes, avec lequel il remporte le championnat de France
en 1983, puis du Montpellier HSC. International junior francais,
il choisit en 1996 de defendre les couleurs de l’Armenie. Il dispute
cinq rencontres avec la selection armenienne.

NANCY ARABIAN RECEIVES THE ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR

May 31, 2012

On May 12, 2012, Nancy Arabian of California was one of the 107 proud
recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

The Medal was established in 1986 by the National Ethnic Coalition
Organizations (NECO) to pay tribute and honor Americans of all ethnic
groups who have led distinguished lives through their contributions
to our United States.

Nancy was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, as the first child of Haig and
Angel Megurian. At six months old, as a U.S. citizen she immigrated
to the United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from
California State University, Northridge, in 1982.

On August 26, 1962, she married attorney Armand Arabian, and they
raised two children, Allison and Robert.

Her life has been one of constant involvement with her church,
community and husband’s judicial and legal world. For advising her
husband in helping victims of rape, she has been called an “Angel of
California” by attorney Gloria Allred.

In 2001, she became the first and only woman to ever receive the
coveted St. James the Apostle Medal, which was granted by Patriarch
Torkom Manoogian in Jerusalem.

In 2003, Nancy and her husband were instrumental for the restoration
of the 6th century St. Gayane Monastery in Armenia.

She was the president of the Hye Benefit Circle (2006-2007) in Los
Angeles.

She is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America, assisting his Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate.

She is a long time active supporter of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Committee, National Charity League, and has sat on the board for the
Foundation of Children. She also supports the San Fernando Valley
Bar Association. She currently serves on the executive board of AIWA,
Los Angeles.

She is a:

Godparent of the Cathedral of the Western Diocese

Active with the fundraising for the Presidential Library of Ronald
Reagan in Simi Valley

Board member of the Westside Guild of Ararat Home

Member of St. Peter Armenian Church Ladies Society, Van Nuys

Member of Daughters of Vartan

During her tenth trip to Armenia, she was one of the assistants to
His Holiness Karkin II concerning the holy muron celebrations.

As a result of these and other efforts, she is one of the most
recognized and respected women of California.

GERMAN AMBASSADOR’S USE OF ‘TERRITORY OF KARABAKH’ TERM IN INTERVIEW SUSPICIOUS

Trend
May 31 2012
Azerbaijan

In an interview of German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt
with the Armenian press, there are moments that clarify the EU position
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s resolution, the director of the
Center of Political Innovations and Technologies, political analyst
Mubariz Ahmedoglu told Trend on Thursday.

The political scientist said that it is difficult at present to say
anything about the specific activities in support of the public in the
territory of Karabakh. He also noted that the use by the Ambassador
of the term “territory of Karabakh” in an interview is suspicious.

“The EU which has not included in the document a dialogue of
Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh as an event
that causes the greatest confidence, requires from the parties easy
access to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Ahmedoglu said.

He noted that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh need such steps of
the EU to implement their projects. It is their political, economic
and humanitarian assistance.

The analyst said that before entering the region of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, the EU should take two steps.

“First, to prepare a thorough plan and to submit it to Azerbaijan
and Armenia. Secondly, submission of the important parts of the plan
or project, adopted by Azerbaijan and Armenia should be implemented
outside the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

It may be Brussels, Baku, Yerevan, or any other city. Only after
these items the EU can carry out effective work in the region of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Other options will lead to the opposite effect
and may help to increase the tension in the region of conflict, or
the Armenians could create the additional conditions for imitation,”
Ahmedoglu said.

He said the EU exactly tomorrow can begin a dialogue of representatives
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh outside
its territory. And it will become clear who is actually against the
peaceful settlement.

“It should be noted also that in 2010 then Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev has included to the agenda of relations between the EU and
Russia an issue of a joint activity on the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
Transnistrian conflicts settlement. Despite the fact that the EU
adopted a proposal for cooperation in resolving the Transnistrian
conflict it refused to cooperate in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,”
Ahmedoglu said.

He noted that the EU officials must determine their position in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and there is no need for the
second Minsk group of the OSCE.

“The position of the EU makes Armenia even more aggressive. A strange
picture happens: the EU, fearing to enter into a document the terms
“dialogue of Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh”
or “Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh” advises
us not to take into account the mutual interests with Russia and to
supply gas and deal with the transit of gas to the EU,” Ahmedoglu said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

HOLLANDE NOT TO ACT IN RUSH ON ‘GENOCIDE’

Hurriyet
May 31 2012
Turkey

The new French government will have to consider the decision of the
Constitution Council before renewing attempts to legislate penalizing
the denial of the alleged Armenian genocide, according to French
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

“On the Armenian question, we must consider the decision of the
Constitutional Council,” Fabius said in an interview with French
newspaper Le Monde.

Endorsed by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, the bill strained
already tense relations between Ankara and Paris in early 2012. Though
the Parliament and Senate approved the bill, the Constitutional
Council annulled it on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and
in violation of freedom of expression.

‘Mending ties not easy’

President Francois Hollande promised his French-Armenian electorate
in election campaigns he would also pass the law. “However, there are
legal constraints,” Fabius said, without giving details. “[Repairing
ties with Turkey] is not easy,” Fabius said, but added: “Anyway, it’s
important to renew relations with Turkey, which plays a major role,
both economically and diplomatically, for example on the Syrian and
Iranian issues.”

According to diplomatic sources, the Armenian genocide issue is still
a potential threat to bilateral relations.

USED CAR PRICES DROP BY 30% IN GEORGIA
Madona Gasanov

The Financial
May 31 2012
Georgia

The FINANCIAL — 50,000 vehicles were sold in total in 2011 at Rustavi
Autobazroba, the largest car market complex in the South Caucasus.

More than 50% of the market’s clients come from Azerbaijan
and Armenia. This year the complex attracted new customers from
Kyrgyzstan. This country replaced Kazakhstan, where due to an increase
of import taxes buyers have switched to another market. In 2012 the
prices of used cars have dropped in comparison to previous years.

“At weekends the number of cars for sale reaches 3,000 units. Spring
and Autumn are the best seasons for sales,” Ekaterina Tkachenko, Head
of the Marketing Department at Rustavi Autobazroba, told The FINANCIAL.

“The number of customers from Azerbaijan and Armenia is more than 50%.

The Mercedes E-class 2002 model is the most popular car with
Azerbaijani buyers. Mercedes is also popular with Armenian buyers,
but on the whole they prefer cheaper models, those below 8,000 USD,”
she said.

The most popular models of car among Georgians are the Opel Vectra,
Opel Astra, and Mercedes Benz E-class.

“In January-April 2012 the major export commodity was motor cars,
amounting to 154,346.8 thousand USD, which is 21.2% of total export,”
according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat. In the
list of top export commodities motor cars is followed by ferroalloys
and nuts.

The share of import of motor cars amounted to 211,783.6 thousand USD,
8.8% of the total amount of commodities imported. It is the second
largest import commodity after oil and petroleum.

The cars that are imported in Georgia are mainly from Germany, the
United States and Japan.

External Merchandise Trade (excluding non-organized trade) of Georgia
amounted to 3,124 million USD in January-April 2012, up 18% from the
same period of the previous year. Compared to January-April 2011,
the volume of export grew by 11% and reached 726 million USD, while
import increased by 20% amounting to 2,397 million USD. The trade
deficit reached 1,671 million USD and amounted to 53% of the total
trade turnover.

In the first quarter of 2012 the top trading partners of Georgia by
import were: Turkey, Germany, Azerbaijan, China, Ukraine , Russia,
Japan, Bulgaria, the US and Italy.

The top trading partners by export during the same period of data
were: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Ukraine , the US, Bulgaria, Canada,
Italy, Germany and Belgium.

The bestselling car models at Rustavi Autobazroba are: Opel Vectra,
Opel Astra, Mercedes Benz E-class, Mercedes Benz C-class, Volkswagen
Golf, BMW 5 series, BMW 3 series, Mitsubishi Pajero, Opel Omega,
and the Volswagen Passat.

“2011 netted the highest volume of sales for Rustavi Autobazroba. We
sold over 50,000 units. Prices in 2012 have decreased in comparison
to 2010 and 2011,” Tkachenko said.

“The majority of our customers are male. This year we served
many clients from Kyrgyzstan. Georgian auto dealers enhance the
possibilities of transporting cars and thereby help potential customers
to purchase their desired vehicles,” she added.

“Prices of cars were higher in 2011. The majority of buyers were
Kazakhs. At present prices have dropped but the sales volume is not
high,” Tkachenko said.

Rustavi Autobazroba, the largest car market complex in the South
Caucasus, is located on the Rustavi highway. It incorporates several
markets, the auto-centre, as well as auto services.

The first market was opened in December. Its total area is 250 thousand
square meters and is designed for 5,000 cars. Ukrainian Private Group
invested 25 million USD in it, while the overall project was estimated
at 40 million USD. The market’s territory is under the ownership of
Ukrainian businessman Eugene Ustinov.

The market area is divided into zones, including a customs control
zone. It is equipped with fast-food outlets, service centres,
maintenance facilities, warehouses, office space and other additional
services.

In summer 2011 another market was opened on the premises of the
Rustavi Autobazroba – the Caucasian Autocenter by Iberia Business
Group , which invested 4 million GEL in this project.

Another large auto-market was opened by the daughter company of Bank
of Georgia , SB Real Estate.

The sales turnover of auto dealers in 2010, with the exclusion of
retail sellers, amounted to 653.5 million GEL. During the first three
quarters of 2011 this amount was 467.5 million GEL.