Author: Badalian Vardan

HEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS ONE TOUR PACKAGE FOR REGIONAL VISITOR

YEREVAN, March 19. / ARKA /. The Armenian office of Heifer Project
International (HPI) presented today an EU-supported program designed
to promote innovative rural tourism in the Black Sea basin region.

Called “One tour package for regional visitors”, it allows European
tourists to visit Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and Bulgaria, Anahit
Ghazanchyan, director of the Armenian branch of Heifer Project
International, said today during the presentation of the package.

She said the purpose of the package is to present this region as
a whole, so that tourists get a general idea about it. The package
offers 10 different tourist destinations, each including all these
four countries.

According to her, the project will build effective and replicable
networks of capable local service providers in rural tourism, as
well as will help travel agencies to co-develop market and sell a
new unique tourist product that encourages interflows of visitors
intra-regionally.

It is supposed also to contribute to cooperation between national
authorities in the region aimed ultimately to sustaining the
cross-border impacts of rural tourism. She said a relating website
was also created.

Head of EU Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea, said the projects
aimed at the development of rural tourism and rural communities
of Armenia will be long-lasting. Hristea said in April another
EU-supported project will be unveiled for Armenia, designed to support
production of organic food.

” One tour package for regional visitors ” was developed as part of
the program “Promotion of Innovative Agri-tourism.” It is co-financed
by the European Union in the amount of 473,000 euros through the
European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument. The program started
in November 2013; its duration is 18 months.-0-

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO SOLVE FIOLETOVO GOLD MINING PROBLEM

12:23 March 18, 2015

EcoLur

The situation in Fioletovo community, Lori Region, is tense again. As
it turns out, Fioletovo gold mining is on the agenda again. This
it’s not the competent ministries, which deal with this issue, but
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, as Stepanavan Aarhus Moordinator
Manya Meliqjanyan informed EcoLur. She advised that on March 13 Ivan
Sevyonov, Member of the Public Council for National Minorities of
Armenia adjunct to Staff of Armenian President, informed Fioletovo
community residents that the mining is on the agenda again. Ivan
Sevyonov noted that the package is with the Armenian President,
who will give a solution to this issue.

Reminder: Fioletovo community has opposed to the mining from the
very beginning outlining that the village will be destroyed, if the
mine opens.

We learn about real owners of “Grade RedMet” LLC from the mass media:
“License on prospecting the area in the village by “Grade RedMet” LLC
was issued in 2005. The founders of the company are Hasmik Harutyunyan,
Mairen Batoyan and Vardan Markaryan. The permit for geoprospecting
was issued to the company when Nature Protection Minister was Vardan
Ayvazyan, currently an MP and Chairman of the Standing Committee on
Economy. Hasmik Harutyunyan is Yervand Hovhannisyan’s wife, who held
the position of Head of Mine Surveyor Control Department at Nature
Protection Ministry during Vardan Ayvazyan’s office. Mairen Batoyan
is Vardan Ayvazyan’s wife’s friend and his countrywoman. Vardan
Margaryan is the owner and director of “Meghradzor Gold” Company
developing Meghradzor mine.

Vardan Ayvazyan owns several mines and has already sold his rights to
developing Hrazdan iron mine, Svarants and Abovyan mines to Chinese
“Fortune Oil”. The Chinese got from Ayvazyan an expired documentation
package for Hrazdan mine. People in Fioletovo say the Chinese also
deal with transaction (information is not checked). We don’t exclude
that the Chinese will try to compensate their damage from 3 huge but
non-perspective iron mines with small gold mines.”

MISSILE SALE TO TURKEY CONFIRMED

Updated: 2015-03-19 07:24

By PENG YINING(China Daily)

System has been chosen for its cost-effectiveness and for technological
reasons, say analysts

China Central Television (CCTV) aired a footage showing Chinese
military’s drills with its newly-developed FD-2000 air defense missle
system. [Photo/CCTV]

China confirmed an agreement to sell the HQ-9 air defense missile
system to Turkey on Tuesday, during the Langkawi International Maritime
and Aerospace exhibition in Malaysia.

A representative of China National Precision Machinery Import & Export
Corporation said it was well-known that the Chinese FD-2000 system, a
HQ-9 model for export, was chosen for the contract with Turkey in 2013.

The representative said in an interview with China Central Television
that the FD-2000 is one of the most important products the corporation
brought to the LIMA, Asia’s largest defense and security exhibition.

Besides the FD-2000, Chinese military industry businesses also brought
the F-22P frigate and LPD dock landing ship to the exhibition.

When Turkey chose the China National Precision Machinery Import &
Export Corporation to co-produce a $4 billion long-range air and
missile defense system in September 2013, China sold air defense
weapons to a NATO member for the first time.

According to a report from CCTV’s website, the winning Chinese FD-2000
system beat the US Patriot, the Russian S-400 and the French-Italian
Eurosam Samp-T.

Turkish analysts said their choice of a Chinese firm was for
technological reasons as well as cost effectiveness. The contract
enables Turkey to have its own long-range missile defense system for
the first time, according to CCTV.

After Turkey announced the decision to award the contract to China on
Sept 26, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said a few days
later that he expected Turkey to choose a system that was compatible
with those of other allies, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The United States expressed serious concerns to Turkey, saying the
Chinese missile defense system would not work with NATO systems,
Xinhua reported.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying expressed hope that the
parties involved will view the normal military trade between China and
Turkey in an objective light and not politicize standard commercial
competition.

The Chinese government has all along adopted a prudent and responsible
attitude toward military trade cooperation with foreign countries,
she said.

TURKEY ACCUSES ARMENIANS OF NOT SEEKING TRUTH OVER 1915

15:21, 19 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Turkey’s president says Armenians pressing Turkey to recognize the
century-old massacres of Armenians as genocide are not looking for
the truth but to score points against his country, the Associated
Pressreports.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday Armenians had rejected numerous
Turkish calls for joint research to document precisely what happened.

Erdogan said: “Their aim is not to search for the truth, but to attack
Turkey and cause it harm.”

Armenians mark the centenary of the killings on April 24.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT CHINA IN A FEW DAYS AND ITALY IN APRIL

YEREVAN, March 18. / ARKA /. Addressing an international media forum
in the Armenian capital entitled ‘At the Foot of Mount Ararat,’
dedicated to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, President Serzh
Sargsyan said he will visit China in the coming days.

“In a few days I will be in China on a state visit. We expect it to
give a new push to the development of our relations in various fields,”
said Sargsyan.

The president also said he will travel to Italy in the first half of
April on an official visit. During the meetings with Italian leadership
he will specify the position of that country on participation in the
commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide.

‘I am delighted that presidents of France and Russia will arrive in
Armenia on April 24 to remember the victims of the genocide. I hope
that Italy will also be represented by a high- level delegation,’
he said.

The president will also visit Naples to attend an event dedicated to
the Armenian Genocide and Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the first
head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

He said Armenian-Italian relations are developing actively.

‘In 2-3 weeks we will open a new Italian enterprise in Armenia that
will produce only export-oriented products, and another Italian
company will open a new hotel in Yerevan in late April,’ he said.-0-

TURKISH INSTITUTE FOR PROGRESS CALLS ON ARMENIAN DIASPORA TO JOIN MOVEMENT SEEKING RECONCILIATION INSTEAD OF FURTHER DIVISION

Virtual Press Office
March 18 2015

-Organization Decries Divisive Tactics against Members of Congress,
Diplomats, and Businesses-

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Turkish
Institute for Progress (TIP) today decried the divisive tactics
implemented by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) as
they attempt to convince American policymakers and business owners
into supporting a resolution that undermines U.S. interests and
jeopardizes chances for peace and reconciliation between the Turkish
and Armenian communities. In recent months, Armenian advocates have
attacked a Turkish ambassador, bullied members of Congress, and sent
threatening letters to U.S. businesses.

“These types of divisive tactics have to stop,” said former U.S.

Representative Solomon P. Ortiz, who now serves as an advisor to TIP.

“The Turkish Institute for Progress was created to serve as a positive
example of how two communities can reconcile their differences and
work together in the interest of peace and prosperity. We welcome
the Armenian Diaspora and the powerful lobbying groups behind them
to cease the tactics that create further conflict and join us in our
mission to look toward the next hundred years.”

Solomon P. Ortiz was first elected to the United States House of
Representatives in 1982 and was reelected to represent his South
Texas district 13 times. During his tenure, he served on the House
Committee on Armed Services and as the Chairman of the Committee’s
Subcommittee on Readiness.

About the Turkish Institute for Progress:

The Turkish Institute for Progress was formed recently to
demonstrate areas of international cooperation with Turkey and
establish additional avenues to achieve global progress on economic,
social, and security issues, including: breaking down barriers to
trade, addressing regional energy dependence, and deterring the
continued spread of radicalism. For more information please visit:

To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:

SOURCE Turkish Institute for Progress

PANEL AT HARVARD ON ‘ARMENIA 1915-AUSCHWITZ 1945′

11:52, 18 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

A special program commemorating the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide
and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entitled
“Armenia 1915-Auschwitz 1945: Small Nations and Great Powers,” will
take place on March 25 at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of
Government, the Armenian Weeklyreports.

The event is co-sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School European
Club, the Harvard College Armenian Students Association, the Mashtots
Chair in Armenian Studies at Harvard, and the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). It is free and open to
the public.

Participating in the program will be Dr. Simon Payaslian, Charles K.

and Elisabeth M. Kenosian Professor of Modern Armenian History and
Literature, Department of History, Boston University; Marc A.

Mamigonian, director of Academic Affairs, NAASR; and Dr. James R.

Russell, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies, Department of Near
Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University. Hovhannes
Ghazaryan, a graduate student in the Mid-Career Master in Public
Administration at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, will serve
as the moderator. Fr. Arsen Barsamian of St. James Armenian Church
of Watertown will offer an opening prayer in Armenian, and Russell
will give a concluding prayer in Hebrew.

The panelists will explore interrelationships between the Armenian
Genocide and the Holocaust, with particular attention paid to the
direct ties between the two genocides, some of the similarities and
differences in the genocidal processes as well as the denial of both
genocides, the role of self-defense on the part of Armenians and
Jews against the Ottomans and Nazis, respectively, and the role of
the Great Powers in the genocides and their aftermath. Following the
panelists’ presentations, there will be a discussion period followed
by a reception.

JOHANNES HAHN: EU IS CONTRIBUTING TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY WITHIN OSCE MG

APA, Azerbaijan
March 18 2015

[ 18 March 2015 16:58 ]

Baku – APA. “European Union is contributing to the negotiations on
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement conducted within the OSCE
Minsk Group,” EU’s Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy
and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn said at a joint press conference with
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.

The diplomat said status quo is unacceptable and main objective of
the negotiations is to achieve a peaceful settlement of the problem,
adding that EU encourages the continuation of the dialogue between
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.

Hahn urged the parties to observe the ceasefire and create an
atmosphere for the resolution of the conflict.

L’ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE DE L’EURONEST ADOPTE UNE RESOLUTION SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

ARMENIE

L’Assemblee parlementaire de l’Euronest a adopte une resolution
demandant a la Turquie de se reconcilier avec son passe en ce qui
concerne le genocide armenien. La resolution a ete adoptee lors de la
quatrième session ordinaire de l’Assemblee parlementaire de l’Euronest
qui a commence le 17 Mars a Erevan.

Selon un communique publie par la Federation Euro-Armenienne pour la
Justice et la Democratie (FEAJD), la resolution a souligne que le deni
est la >.

La resolution rappelle les resolutions et declarations sur les crimes
contre l’humanite et le genocide armenien, qui ont ete adoptees
par l’Union europeenne (UE), l’Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU)
et d’autres organismes internationaux.

La FEAJD a salue la resolution, qui a reaffirme l’intolerance des
genocides, crimes contre l’humanite, et leur refus par l’Europe.

“C’est encore un autre coup a la politique de negation de la Turquie,
et un appel a reconnaître le genocide armenien et se reconcilier avec
son passe. Ayant a l’esprit le format de l’Euronest, c’est une grande
reussite par la delegation armenienne “, a declare Kaspar Karampetian,
president de FEAJD. “Grâce aux efforts coordonnes de la delegation
armenienne, l’ambassade de la Republique d’Armenie en Belgique,
les Amis Europeens de l’Armenie et de la FEAJD, cette resolution
a ete adoptee a Erevan, aujourd’hui. Cette resolution envoie un
signal positif au Parlement europeen aussi qui se prononcera sur
une resolution sur le Centenaire du genocide armenien le 15 Avril “,
a declare Karampetian.

L’Assemblee parlementaire de l’Euronest est un forum parlementaire
visant a promouvoir l’association politique et l’integration economique
entre l’UE et les partenaires de l’Europe orientale. La mission de
l’Euronest est de contribuer au renforcement, au developpement et la
visibilite du partenariat oriental, en tant qu’institution responsable
de la consultation parlementaire, de la supervision et du suivi.

Creee par decision du Parlement europeen du 6 mai 2009, la delegation
du Parlement europeen auprès de l’Assemblee parlementaire Euronest
a ete constituee au debut de la 7e legislature (fin septembre 2009).

Après un an et demi de discussions ardues, l’Assemblee a ete constituee
le 3 mai 2011 afin de representer la dimension parlementaire du
Partenariat oriental, politique lancee par l’Union europeenne dans le
but de rapprocher ses voisins orientaux, d’eviter de nouvelles lignes
de separation et de conclure des accords d’association ambitieux,
notamment des zones de libre-echange renforcees et globales. Le
Parlement europeen avait deja reclame la creation de cette Assemblee
au cours de sa 6e legislature. L’Assemblee parlementaire Euronest est
actuellement composee de 110 membres : 60 membres issus du Parlement
europeen (il s’agit la du nombre de deputes faisant partie de
l’actuelle delegation du PE) et 10 membres originaires de chacun des
pays suivants (les “partenaires orientaux”) : Armenie, Azerbaïdjan,
Georgie, Moldavie et Ukraine. Pour des raisons politiques, il n’etait
pas possible, a ce jour, d’accepter de delegation de Bielorussie a
l’Assemblee parlementaire. L’Assemblee parlementaire Euronest entend
etre l’institution chargee du dialogue parlementaire multilateral et
de l’echange entre partenaires orientaux, mais aussi entre les deputes
europeens et leurs homologues des pays orientaux dans de nombreux
domaines d’interet commun, comme la stabilite, la democratie, le
rapprochement des legislations et des normes, le commerce, l’energie,
les contacts interpersonnels, etc.

mercredi 18 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

EURONEST PA ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL

20:57, 17 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Resolution by the Armenian and the European Parliament on the
Centennial of the Armenian was adopted today at the 4th Ordinary
Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan. The measure
was adopted with a vote of 33 to 4.

Joint text for an Urgent Motion for Resolution by the Armenian and
the European Parliament on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide

The EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly,

Having regard to Article 9(3) of its Rules of Procedure; Having regard
to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948;
Having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights of 16 December 1966; Having regard to the UN Convention on the
Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes
Against Humanity of 26 November 1968; Having regard to the European
Parliament Resolution of 20 July 1987 on a Political Solution to the
Armenian question; Having regard to the European Parliament Resolution
of 15 November 2000 on Turkey’s progress towards accession; Having
regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 28 September 2005
on the opening of negotiations with Turkey; Having regard to the
resolutions and statements of the legislative bodies of number of
the EU members states.

Whereas the year of 2015 marks the centennial of the Armenian Genocide
perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire; Whereas recognition of the inherent
dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of
the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in
the world; Whereas the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the
final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of
genocide, and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides; whereas
the absence of unequivocal and timely condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide largely contributed to the failure to prevent future crimes
against humanity; Whereas early prevention of such crimes can surely
stop escalation of conflicts, tragedies and humanitarian catastrophes.

The Assembly:

Condemns all forms of crimes against humanity and genocide and
deeply deplore attempts of their denial; Pay tribute to the memory
of innocent victims of all genocides and crimes, committed against
humanity; Stresses that prevention of genocides and crimes against
humanity should be amongst the priorities of international community;
Finds that further development of the international capacities in
this regard is instrumental; Supports the international struggle for
the prevention of genocides, the restoration of the rights of people
subjected to genocide and the establishment of historical justice;
Invites Turkey to come to term with its past; Considers that setting
up grounds for future reconciliation between peoples is of utmost
importance; Invites Armenia and Turkey to use examples of successful
reconciliation between European Nations and focus on an agenda putting
cooperation between the peoples first;