Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARF-D NOT TO BACK CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS UNLESS PARLIAMENTARY MODEL APPROVED – LAWMAKER

17:30 * 03.04.15

In an interview with Tert.am, Artsvik Minasyan, a lawmaker of
opposition the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D), commented on the possibility of a second draft of
constitutional amendments.

The ARF-D is concerned over the reasons for a second draft.

“If the concept of a semi-presidential system or of reforms has
to be discussed once again, we are not for such an approach,” Mr
Minasyan said.

The second draft has not been distributed among the MPs because
Armenia’s president has approved one concept – parliamentary
government.

Commenting on the security concerns expressed by President Serzh
Sargsyan in a recent speech, Minasyan said he doesn’t think that the
parliamentary model in any way undermines national security.

“We insist on parliamentary government and share all the concerns
addressed by the president. We have international experience; in many
countries, there are systems ensuring government security, reducing
instability as well as guaranteeing internal and external security.

The parliamentary government does not in any way diminish [the
importance] of those problems. On the contrary, we see that developed
countries prefer the parliamentary model.”

Asked whether the president’s refusal to accept the system would mean
that he will lose the ARF-D as a partner in the implementation of the
reforms, Minasyan said the party will not back the amendments in case
the proposed model isn’t included in the package.

“Definitely, if the parliamentary form [of government isn’t approved],
we will not back such a reform. Our proposals are not restricted to the
government model; we have more large-scale proposals in terms of both
human rights protection and independence of the judiciary, as well as
direct participatory democracy, local government and corporate systems;
there are so many proposals. Yes, that’s the central question, but the
rest are important for us too; even if they are accepted, that doesn’t
mean we will be fully content with the proposed scenario, because it
is important to address the other questions as well,” he noted

Minasyan said he doesn’t expect the rest of the problems fully resolved
without the adoption of the parliamentary model. “If that one is
adopted without the other, we may formally have a parliamentary
[government], but the system will be super-personified in essence,”
he added.

TURKEY REJECTS CYPRIOT BAN ON DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

13:19, 03 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic has said Cypriot law
on banning denial of Armenian Genocide is “not worth of commenting,”
Anadolu Agency reports.

Turkey has rejected the Cypriot law on banning the denial of Armenian
Genocide.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a statement
late Thursday that “the decision is null and void for Turkey and not
worthy of comment.”

“It is without doubt that those who try to exploit the 1915 incidents
at every opportunity by using simple political ambitions cannot get
any result,” Bilgic added.

Earlier Thursday, the Cypriot Parliament unanimously adopted a law,
making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide.

The bill, which was jointly submitted by all political parties to
the Greek Cypriot parliament, can impose a five-year imprisonment
and fine of EURO 10,000 to those who deny the Genocide.

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH MUSICIANS TO PERFORM TOGETHER IN SWEDEN

11:02, 03.04.2015

The PEN Club of Sweden will hold an event on the occasion of the
centenary of the genocide of the Armenians and other national
minorities in the Ottoman Empire.

At the event, which will be held on April 21 in the Swedish capital
city of Stockholm, passages will be read from Romanian Armenian writer
and politician Varujan Vosganian’s work entitled Book of Whispers,
the club website informed.

And before and after the reading, Armenian and Turkish musicians Hayk
Hakobyan and Hakan Vreskala will perform together.

The program will run within the framework of the “Global Reading”
campaign of the Berlin International Literature Festival.

LE CHOEUR DE JEUNES FILLES NOTRE-DAME D’ARMENIE CHANTERA POUR LE CENTENAIRE DU GENOCIDE

Concerts Exceptionnels du Choeur Notre-Dame d’Armenie a Paris les 8
et 9 Avril Deux concerts d’exception les 8 et 9 avril 2015 a Paris

Venant de Gumri, le choeur Notre-Dame d’Armenie, cree par Soeur
Arousiag il y a dix ans, chantera au Vatican le 12 avril a l’occasion
de la messe commemorative du genocide armenien presidee par le Pape
Francois.

En avant-première, le choeur donnera deux concerts a Paris :

Le mercredi 8 avril 2015 a 19h30 a l’eglise Saint Philippe du Roule –
9 rue de Courcelles 75008 Paris

Le jeudi 9 avril 2015 a 19h30 a l’eglise Saint Thomas d’Aquin –
3 place St Thomas d’Aquin 75007 Paris

La chorale, renommee dans tout le pays, se compose de 34 jeunes
filles âgees de 11 a 24 ans de l’orphelinat Notre-Dame d’Armenie du
Centre Educatif Boghossian et des elèves les plus douees des ecoles
de musique d’Armenie.

Sous la direction du Maestro Robert Mlkeyan, chef du Choeur National
d’Armenie, le choeur fait aujourd’hui l’admiration de ses auditeurs. Il
interpretera les grands classiques de la musique armenienne (Komitas,
Sayat Nova, Amirkhanyan…) ainsi que des oeuvres europeennes
(Schubert, Brahms, Gounod…).

Participation libre au profit de l’Orphelinat Notre-Dame d’Armenie

vendredi 3 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

RUSSIAN PILOTS START MILITARY DRILLS IN ARMENIA

Russian Peacekeeper
April 2 2015

02.04.2015 13:36

Russian Defense Ministry’s Southern Military District’s press service
said Thursday Russian MiG-29 (Fulcrum) jet fighter pilots have started
military exercises from a Russian base in Armenia.

“More than 100 Air Force pilots and service personnel are participating
(in the military exercises) with more than 30 pieces of specialized
military and aviation hardware,” the press service said.

During the exercises, which are to last for three days, the fighter
pilots will cover ground forces from the air and destroy “enemy”
bombers, cruise and ballistic missiles.

The Russian Defense Ministry said at least 4,000 military exercises
are planned to be conducted throughout the country in 2015.

THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA’S DILEMMA: GO TO TURKEY OR ARMENIA?

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 2 2015

by BARCIN YÄ°NANC

“The Stanford Global Studies Division, in conjunction with the Handa
Center for Human Rights, the Center for Russian, East European,
and Eurasian Studies (CREEES), and the Abbasi Program in Islamic
Studies, has agreed to sponsor three Stanford University students
to participate in the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration in
Istanbul, Project 2015 said today,” read the statement dated March 3.

The statement was published on the website of
When you go to the website it has a
logo for Project 2015 Istanbul and the title is Armenian Genocide
Centennial Commemoration.

Let’s continue to read:

“We are delighted that Stanford University will support the efforts of
Project 2015 to support a global commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
in Istanbul this April,” said Seepan Parseghian, Project 2015 board
member. “We look forward to having Stanford students take advantage of
this great opportunity to join the historic commemoration activities.”

“Being able to discuss issues such as the Armenian Genocide with
scholars from Armenia and Turkey is of profound importance for our
students’ intellectual growth,” said Norman Naimark, Fisher Family
Director of Stanford Global Studies. “This fits into the mission of
Stanford Global Studies of providing unique opportunities for students
to explore complex issues from multiple perspectives.”

Project 2015, a U.S.-based organization, is working to ensure that
a large contingent of Armenians come to Turkey for the historic
centennial commemoration. Working with “DurDe,” its partner
organization in Turkey, Project 2015 ensures a meaningful opportunity
to honor the victims of the genocide and recognize the resilience
of the survivors. Project 2015 also makes a limited number of study
grants, of a minimum $750, available to students wishing to travel
to Turkey for the commemoration events.

A decade ago, an initiative to ensure that a large contingent of
Armenians come to Turkey to commemorate what they believe amounted
to genocide would have made the headlines all over the media. The
headline would have been about the efforts of the Turkish government
to stop such an initiative.

After a small inquiry, I found out that the government today had no
problem with the Armenian diaspora coming for the historic centennial
commemoration. Obviously, those who will be coming just to make the
point of shouting to the world “this was genocide” on Turkish soil
will not be highly thought of by many. But it seems to me that any
initiative encouraging Armenian diaspora members to visit their
homeland is welcomed by the government.

It must be quiet a difficult choice for the Armenian diaspora: To go
to Turkey or to go to Armenia?

In fact, I am hearing that a special plane may take off from Armenia
to Turkey on the day of the commemorations, for those trying to make
it to the ceremonies in both countries.

My understanding is that Ankara is highly concerned and uneasy about
the rhetoric used in Armenia and efforts by some in the Armenian
diaspora to turn the commemorations into “Turkey-bashing.”

Despite this unease, the government seems to have decided to keep a
low profile and to maintain moderate rhetoric in its counter campaign
against what it perceives to be initiatives pushing the limits of
Turkey-bashing. It is therefore trying to facilitate initiatives such
as visits by members of the Armenian diaspora.

In fact, I would not be surprised if the government surpasses its
move last year on April 23, when the Prime Ministry issued an official
statement remembering Armenian sufferings and offering condolences.

April/02/2015

U.S. SENATORS CALL ON OBAMA TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

By Contributor on April 2, 2015

Bipartisan Letter Presses President to Take a Principled Stand

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators–acting on a bipartisan basis–are calling
upon President Barack Obama, to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide, this
April, as a clear case of genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) led the
bipartisan Senate effort calling on President Obama to recognize the
Armenian Genocide

In a letter sent last week to the White House, fifteen Senators
underscored the urgent need–on the eve of the Armenian Genocide
Centennial–to properly honor the victims of this crime and underscore
America’s principled stand against all genocides, past, present,
and future.

“We thank Senators Menendez and Gardner and all their colleagues who
joined with them, on a bipartisan basis, in encouraging President
Obama to speak openly and honestly about the Armenian Genocide
during this April’s Centennial observance of this crime against
humanity,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “As we mark
the Centennial–with the world’s attention turning to President
Obama’s still unmet pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide–our
government should, once and forever, reject shameless Ankara’s efforts
to enforce a gag-rule on America. Very simply, no nation deserves a
‘veto’ against America’s defense of human rights.”

The Senate letter, led by Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Senator
Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), notes that: “While the United States Congress
has a long history of support for the victims and the memory of the
Armenian Genocide, the Administration has not formally recognized
the atrocities that were perpetrated against the Armenians as
‘genocide'” The Senate signatories stressed that a principled stand
by the president would “send a powerful signal to the international
community that this Administration is committed to recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, to upholding the ideals of tolerance and universal
human rights upon which our country was founded, and to preventing
similar atrocities from ever happening again.”

Senate signatories of the Armenian Genocide letter to Obama include
Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne
Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.),
Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.),
Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.),
Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Warren
(D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

A separate U.S. House letter, spearheaded by Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Robert Dold (R-Ill.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), is also
being sent to Obama. Details to follow.

The complete text of the Senate Letter is available at:

SCHIFF TO READ NAMES OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS ON HOUSE FLOOR

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015 | Posted by Contributor

Rep. Adam Schiff

Requests Submissions from Armenian Community Online
WASHINGTON–Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced on Wednesday
that on April 22nd, for an entire hour on the House Floor, he will read
the names of a small fraction of the 1.5 million people killed during
the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Schiff invites the descendants
of Genocide victims — in his district and around the nation — to
submit the names of family members who were killed for inclusion in
his speech and in the Congressional Record.

“In a single hour, I will only be able to read the names of a mere
fraction of those who were killed in the Armenian Genocide. To read
all of the names of the more than 1.5 million people murdered at the
time, would take many weeks and weeks, and I hope that the recitation
of the victims will help call attention to the magnitude of the crime.

A name, unlike a number, is no abstraction — each was a son or
daughter, a mother or father, a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle;
each was a precious life.

“If your family lost loved ones in the Armenian Genocide, please send
me their names and I will read as many as I possibly can on the House
Floor. All names will be entered into the Congressional Record.”

Schiff is encouraging the submission
of names by using this online form.

This past month, Schiff joined 40 congressional colleagues to
introduce the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution

This bipartisan resolution calls upon the President to work toward
equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based
upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution will
also establish a fair, just, and comprehensive international record
of this crime against humanity.

This year, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
– a systematic and deliberate annihilation campaign launched by the
government of the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population which
left 1.5 million Armenians dead and millions more displaced. While
the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than twenty nations
including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia, as well
as the European Parliament, it has not been formally recognized by
the U.S. Congress in decades and has not been recognized by President
Barack Obama.

In past years, Schiff has taken to the House floor in April to
recognize the genocide. Two years ago, he spoke on the House Floor
in Armenian to recognize and pay tribute to those lost – the first
time that language had been spoken in the well of Congress. And
last year, he delivered an open letter to the Turkish people urging
them to examine their ancestor’s role in the first genocide of the
20th century.

TV CONCERNS: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING DELAYING TRANSITION TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING

NEWS | 02.04.15 | 15:55

Photo: OSCE/Gayane Ter-Stepanyan

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The conversion of the Armenian analogue broadcasting system into
digital, which has originally been scheduled to start from July 1,
2015, the government is likely to postpone it.

National Assembly member Edmon Marukyan suggested the government
delaying the deadline of converting the analogue TV broadcasting
system into digital till 2017; he believes that this conversion
might result in a close-down of around a dozen TV channels, which
will cause unemployment of several hundred people. The changes in the
law about “TV and Radio” that Marukyan suggests will extend analogue
functioning licenses for another two years and meanwhile will enable
to find better solutions.

At the Thursday government meeting Armenian Minister of Transport and
Communication Gagik Beglaryan said that the suggestion is acceptable,
only the clear deadlines must be discussed.

“By digitizing certain amount of frequency domains will be liberated,
and the state budget will have significant financial inflow by
providing this domain, expenses for providing analog networks for
the mentioned period will almost be doubled, considering also the
financial means necessary for maintenance of analog networks,” the
minister said, adding that in the future the Armenian Ministry of
Transport and Communication will present the bill of changes to the
law about “TV and Radio” to the government’s discussion.

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) Chairman Ashot
Melikyan said that digital broadcasting is installed in 80 percent
of Armenia, but according to him, there are still reasons justifying
the delay of the conversion project.

“We must solve social problems, specifically providing decoding
equipment to poor families. Of course, the fault of the state is that
during 2010-2014 nothing was being done, processes ran very slow, and
now, when the deadline is close there are numerous unsolved questions,”
Melikyan said, adding that conversion to the new system is important
not only in terms of quality, but also this is one of our country’s
international responsibilities and if Armenia does not convert to
digital system it will hinder the region’s countries.

MERKEL’S ‘ANTI-RUSSIAN FRONT’ FALLS APART – GERMAN NEWSPAPER

(c) AP Photo/ Markus Schreiber
Europe
13:43 02.04.2015(updated 14:17 02.04.2015) Get short URL
1237150
More and more European countries oppose an extension of anti-Russian
sanctions and disagree with the German policy towards Russia.

Attempts to save “European unity” are doomed, the German online
newspaper “Die Freie Welt” reported.

During her recent visit to Helsinki, German Chancellor Angela Merkel
tried to convince Finns to further follow the anti-Russian course and
stressed the importance of pursuing a common EU policy towards Russia.

However, this policy is in fact far from being united, the German
online edition wrote.

(c) AP Photo/ Michael Sohn Merkel Fears Split in EU Regarding
Anti-Russian Sanctions – German Media The Chancellor visited Finland
shortly before the upcoming elections in the country. During her
speech at Helsinki University, she expressed concerns about a split
in the European Union and called all EU countries to follow a common
approach regarding economic sanctions.

The power of the EU is in its unity, Finnish Prime Minister Alexander
Strubb agreed with the German Chancellor. However, it was not easy
for him to make this statement.

During the election campaign, Strubb’s opponents have successfully
exploited the negative impact of sanctions and called for a dialogue
with Russia. They draw attention to the fact that Finland has the
longest border with Russia among EU states and that both countries
always had close economic ties.

Finns are not the only ones who criticize Merkel’s tough stance towards
Russia. Greece, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Cyprus and Austria
are also expressing discontent about the anti-Russian sanctions under
which they suffer more than other EU countries.

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