Author: Talalian Arpi

DIRECTOR OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM-INSTITUTE HOPES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL BE COMMEMORATED ALSO IN TURKEY

ArmInfo
2009-12-21 16:40:00

ArmInfo. Turkish journalists who are on a visit to Armenia
since December 17 visited Armenian Genocide memorial complex
"Tsitsernakabert" and laid flowers on the eternal flame, Hayk Demoyan,
Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, told

He said the delegation comprised 15 Turkish journalists representing
CNN Turk, Hurriyet, Hurriyet daily news, Milliyet, Sabah, Aksam,
Referans, and Taraf. Demoyan said the Turkish journalists visited
also the Genocide Museum and then participated in the question-answer
session. "Turkish media did not explain the reason of their visit,
but displayed high interest to the history and the future activity of
the Museum as well as the events scheduled for the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide," Demoyan said. He said the Turkish journalists were
also interested in the questions to be raised at the subcommission on
the historical dimension set forth in the Armenian-Turkish Protocols,
as well as possible joint measures with participation of Armenian
institutes and Diaspora. H. Demoyan took a positive view of the
visit by Turkish journalists who are responsible for public opinion
in Turkey. "I told them that the museum is part of the history of
both Armenia and Turkey. I expressed hope that when establishing
inter-state relations, it will be possible to conduct joint events.

They were surprised but I was very serious since it is part of
the Turkish history and Turkey must resign itself to that fact,
Demoyan said.

Turkey cannot act as broker in Karabakh peace deal
19.12.2009 17:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The paces of Karabakh settlement talks depend on
Baku, Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Szasrgsyan told Hürriyet in an
interview.

Criticizing Azerbaijan’s warlike statements, he particularly noted,
`We have to be ready for war as history taught us.’

`Should Azeris feel we are not ready for war, nothing will stop them
from breaking the peace. That’s not something we are afraid of,’
Armenian Premier said, ruling out the possibility of Turkey’s acting
as broker in Karabakh peace deal.

`It may impede the development of our relations, which is in neither
Turkey’s nor our interest,’ he added.

Le Monde, France
10 décembre 2009 jeudi

Le livre du jour;
Le martyr d’un dialogue futur

LE PETIT OUVRAGE posthume d’Hrant Dink, journaliste turc d’origine
arménienne, assassiné à Istanbul en janvier 2007, est le manifeste
d’un homme d’action qui a laissé son empreinte sur le monde, sur nos
esprits : " Qui nous a adoucis à son seul toucher ", écrit en
préambule Etyen Mahçupyan, qui lui a succédé à la tête du journal
turco-arménien Agos.

Ce texte, écrit en 2005, est longtemps resté dans un tiroir. Après la
mort de l’intellectuel, qui faisait figure de porte-parole des
Arméniens de Turquie, sa publication s’est imposée.

Hrant Dink y livre une analyse sensible de l’état des relations entre
Turcs et Arméniens, " deux peuples proches, deux voisins lointains ",
qu’il cherchait inlassablement à réconcilier. Séparés par le poids de
l’histoire, " les Arméniens et leur traumatisme, d’un côté, les Turcs
et leur paranoïa, de l’autre, se vivent les uns les autres comme des
cas pathologiques ", écrit-il.

L’auteur explique dans ce court exposé que " le premier code du
cadenas " est la réouverture de la frontière commune entre les deux
pays, bouclée par Ankara en 1993. Quatre ans plus tard, son voeu n’est
pas loin d’être exaucé : la Turquie et l’Arménie ont lancé, après sa
mort, un processus de normalisation diplomatique. Ils pourraient
rouvrir la frontière dans les prochains mois, malgré les réticences et
les inquiétudes toujours vives de part et d’autre. En attendant, le
lourd héritage du génocide des Arméniens d’Anatolie pendant la
première guerre mondiale, et la négation de l’Etat turc, continuent
d’empoisonner les relations.

Hrant Dink, tué par un jeune fanatique d’extrême droite, aura tout
tenté pour " adoucir la paranoïa des Turcs " et atténuer le
ressentiment des Arméniens. Ouvrir le dialogue " pour déverrouiller
l’histoire " était son mot d’ordre. Pour cela, il était combattu par
les nationalistes turcs et parfois mal compris dans la diaspora
arménienne. Hrant Dink était l’un des seuls à pouvoir toucher les deux
communautés. Arménien de Turquie, il donne ici les clés pour sortir de
l’impasse et " mettre le désir à la place de la peur " : le désir de
découverte, de la vérité et de la réconciliation des peuples.

Les initiatives en faveur d’une introspection historique qui se
multiplient en Turquie, comme la pétition lancée pour demander pardon
aux Arméniens, signée par 30 000 personnes, ou la conférence sur les
massacres d’Adana, commis en 1909, se sont engouffrées dans la voie
qu’il a tracée.

Guillaume Perrier

Deux peuples proches, deux voisins lointains Hrant Dink Actes Sud, 200 p., 19 ¤

GAGIK TSARUKYAN AWARDED WITH EUROPEAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE MEDAL FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN RA

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2009 20:10 GMT+04:00 P

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On December 18, RA Ministry for Sports and Youth
Affairs and National Olympic Committee summarized 2009 results,
granting awards to sportsman and coaches.

At the award ceremony, NOC President expressed a hope that in 2010
Armenian sportsmen will redouble efforts in winning Olympics.

The ceremony was attended by European Olympic Committee Member, Polish
Olympic Committee President Piotr Nurowski who awarded Gagik Tsarukyan
with special European Olympic Committee medal for contribution to
development of sports in RA.

DAVID JUDSON: HOLY CROSS CHURCH ON THE AKHTAMAR ISLAND SHOULD BECOME ACTING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.12.2009 20:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A cross must be established on the Holy Cross
Church on the Akhtamar island and the church should become acting,
editor-in-chief of the Hurriyet Daily News newspaper David Judson
told a press conference in Yerevan today, adding that it is his
personal opinion.

Turkish Culture Minister is currently addressing this issue and trying
to find the solution in line with the Turkish law, the editor said.

"In my opinion, there is nothing contradicting to law, " he said
adding that nationalistic trends in Van province create hurdles to
establishing a cross on the church.

David Judson emphasized that the Turkish Minister of Culture
Ertugrul Gunay is definite that the Holy Cross Church should become
functioning. "This task is one of the priorities of the Minister of
Culture", the editor said.

MAMMADYAROV, DAVUTOGLU TO DISCUSS NKR PEACE PROCESS

NEWS.am
13:27 / 12/17/2009

Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and Armenia-Turkey relations’
normalization will be overarching themes of discussion in the course
of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit to Turkey.

December 24-25, 2009 Mammadyarov will visit Turkey at the invitation
of Turkish side, Azerbaijani media report referring to Foreign
Ministry. The officials will also discuss the issues on lifting visa
regime between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

ARISTOMENE VAROUDAKIS: ARMENIAN ECONOMY UNABLE TO DEVOUR SO MUCH CEMENT

NEWS.am
15:05 / 12/17/2009

Undiversified economy based on two sectors, construction and industry,
is a high-risk economy, and the international economic crisis has
proved this, Aristomene Varoudakis, Head of the WB office in Yerevan,
told reporters on December 17.

He stressed that the future of Armenia’s economy does not depend
on construction. The international economic crisis showed that the
Armenian economy was unable to "devour so much cement," Varoudakis
said, alluding to the fact that capital construction constitutes a
lion’s share in the Armenian economy. In this context, he stressed
once more the need for economic diversification.

Varoudakis said that the year 2009 has been a most difficult one
for the Armenian economy, but the peak of the crisis is behind. He
forecasts a GDP decrease of 16-17 per cent, and an inflation rate
of 5.5%, by the end of this year. The crisis caused a 3% rise in the
poverty level, and, but for allowances, the figure would be 6%.

Varoudakis pointed out that stabilization is expected next year. The
expected rise in the international copper and molybdenum prices will
contribute to the process. Varoudakis pointed out an increase in the
industry’s output this year as compared with last year. Despite the
lower volumes of capital construction, a higher number of real estate
businesses has recently been registered. However, economic growth in
Armenia will be slow – 1.5% GDP growth is expected next year.

Varoudakis expressed his satisfaction with the stability in Armenia’s
banking system and a high capitalization level. As regards negative
factors, he pointed out 8% ineffective credits.

GATHERING OF ARMENIANS LIVING IN CHINA

Lragir.am
15/12/09

On December 12, a gathering-reception of Armenians living in China
took place at the Armenian embassy to China.

Armenians living in Beijing, Shanghais, Hon-Kong and in other cities
of China took part in this event which was organized for the first
time. Students, enterprisers people of different age and profession
were present at the event.

The Armenian ambassador to China Vache Petrosyan addressed the
meeting. He promised to assist and sponsor different events to be
organized for Armenians living in China.

THE SELF-CONTAINED HOT-WIRE POWER STATION TO BE BUILT IN DAVITASH

Aysor.am
15/12/09

The self-contained hot-wire power station will be built in Davitashen
District of Yerevan, said Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan at
plant’s opening ceremony.

"This is another step to overcoming the social problems of Avan
District of Yerevan," he said.

The works in the framework of "Heat to any house" Project has three
phases, of this the first is completed providing 70 houses with the
non-stop heat supply. Finally, according to the project, 3 000 houses
in total will be provided with HTW.

"The same project is implemented in Davitashen District of Yerevan,
and we hope the construction work will soon begin. The Yerevan
Municipality is contributing to this project," said Taron Margaryan.

The same programs will be implemented at Armenian large-size regions,
announced the official. The project is implemented in Avan and
Davitashe first as these are apartment administrative districts,
he added.

FREEDOM HOUSE OFFENDED AZERBAIJAN TWICE

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
18:13 / 12/14/2009

December 14, Azeri mass media appealed to U.S. Embassy in Baku,
attempting to learn Washington’s position on publication of Freedom
House NGO. NGO published map of Azerbaijan indicating disputable
Karabakh status and stated about allocation of U.S. aid totaling $8m
to NKR.

PR Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan Terry Davidson stated
that official stance of U.S. on Karabakh remains unchanged. "U.S. does
not recognize Government under Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. As for
assistance allocated by the Congress, our country grants it not to
government, but people. It is intended exceptionally for humanitarian
aid and projects like mine clearing. These projects are implemented
by NGOs. Simultaneously, U.S. also renders assistance to internally
displaced Azerbaijanis. I would like to restate that in last years we
supported large projects on mine clearing, built schools for internally
displaced people and sought to improve their living conditions through
various programs," said Davidson.

Commenting on Azeri’s discontent with the map published by Freedom
House as well as harsh criticism on critical state of democracy in the
country, Davidson advised to forward all questions to the organization,
emphasizing that U.S. Government bears no relation to it.