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POLAND'S PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA ON APRIL 24
18 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski will visit Armenia on April
24 for the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration, Vice-President
of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki said in an interview
with Zhoghovurd daily.
"Yes, Serzh Sargsyan has sent an invitation, and the honourable
President will be present in Armenia on that day, he said.
Mr. Czarnecki, who is visiting Armenia to participate in the 4th
Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, said he
hopes to represent the European Parliament on April 24.
France24
March 21 2015
THE INTERVIEW
Armenia slams Turkey over genocide centennial absence
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to change this
year's Gallipoli commemoration to coincide with Armenia's marking of
the 100th anniversary of the genocide was a "cynical act".
On April 24, Armenia is set to commemorate the centennial of the
Armenian genocide, which saw the deportation and deaths of up to 1.5
million Armenians during World War I.
"Our intention was to commemorate the centennial together with the
Turkish people," explained Sargsyan, noting that it was the reason his
government invited the Turkish leader to attend the commemorations.
Instead, Erdogan chose the same day to invite his Armenian counterpart
to the centennial of the Gallipoli campaign, which marked a major
World War I victory for the Ottoman forces against Allied troops,
mostly from Australian and New Zealand. The date of their landing --
known as "Anzac Day" -- is marked on April 25 every year.
Turkey has long denied the mass deportation and killings of Armenian
subjects of the Ottoman empire constituted genocide, claiming instead
that they were the consequences of inter-ethnic violence inflamed
during wartime.
Erdogan's decision to change the date of the Gallipoli ceremonies to
coincide with the Armenian centennial commemoration has drawn a sharp
rebuke from Sargsyan.
"Unfortunately, once again we find ourselves facing a negationist
approach and I'm sorry to use this expression, but it is a
particularly cynical act. The Battle of Gallipoli did not start of
April 24 [1915], nor did it end on April 24, it's self-evident. This
is a way of injuring, of wounding the Armenian people and at the same
time, it is intended to set obstacles on the path to centennial
commemorations [of the Armenian genocide]," said Sargsyan.
The April 24 ceremonies will be attended by a number of world leaders,
including French President François Hollande and Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
tert.am
Istanbul-Armenian churches not to join Genocide
18 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski will visit Armenia on April
24 for the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration, Vice-President
of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki said in an interview
with Zhoghovurd daily.
"Yes, Serzh Sargsyan has sent an invitation, and the honourable
President will be present in Armenia on that day, he said.
Mr. Czarnecki, who is visiting Armenia to participate in the 4th
Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, said he
hopes to represent the European Parliament on April 24.
France24
March 21 2015
THE INTERVIEW
Armenia slams Turkey over genocide centennial absence
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to change this
year's Gallipoli commemoration to coincide with Armenia's marking of
the 100th anniversary of the genocide was a "cynical act".
On April 24, Armenia is set to commemorate the centennial of the
Armenian genocide, which saw the deportation and deaths of up to 1.5
million Armenians during World War I.
"Our intention was to commemorate the centennial together with the
Turkish people," explained Sargsyan, noting that it was the reason his
government invited the Turkish leader to attend the commemorations.
Instead, Erdogan chose the same day to invite his Armenian counterpart
to the centennial of the Gallipoli campaign, which marked a major
World War I victory for the Ottoman forces against Allied troops,
mostly from Australian and New Zealand. The date of their landing --
known as "Anzac Day" -- is marked on April 25 every year.
Turkey has long denied the mass deportation and killings of Armenian
subjects of the Ottoman empire constituted genocide, claiming instead
that they were the consequences of inter-ethnic violence inflamed
during wartime.
Erdogan's decision to change the date of the Gallipoli ceremonies to
coincide with the Armenian centennial commemoration has drawn a sharp
rebuke from Sargsyan.
"Unfortunately, once again we find ourselves facing a negationist
approach and I'm sorry to use this expression, but it is a
particularly cynical act. The Battle of Gallipoli did not start of
April 24 [1915], nor did it end on April 24, it's self-evident. This
is a way of injuring, of wounding the Armenian people and at the same
time, it is intended to set obstacles on the path to centennial
commemorations [of the Armenian genocide]," said Sargsyan.
The April 24 ceremonies will be attended by a number of world leaders,
including French President François Hollande and Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
tert.am
Istanbul-Armenian churches not to join Genocide
commemoration bell-ringing
21.03.15
The Armenian churches of Istanbul will not join in the pan-Armenian
Genocide commemoration campaign of ringing bells on April 23, the day
preceding the big tragedy's centennial.
The Turkish-Armenian publication Agos reports Archbishop Aram
Ateshian, General Vicar (Acting Patriarch) of the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople, as saying that they will be instead holding a
commemoration event.
Under an instruction issued earlier by Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II, bells will ring 100 times in the Armenian churches around
the world and visitors will be offered to join a holy mass on April 23
to remember the big tragedy's victims. 19:15 has been chosen as a
symbolic hour of bell-ringing.
The Istanbul patriarch said that the Armenian churches in the city
will be hosting a liturgy on April 22 to remember the Armenian
soldiers killed in the Battle of Gallipoli.
The Armenian churches of Istanbul will not join in the pan-Armenian
Genocide commemoration campaign of ringing bells on April 23, the day
preceding the big tragedy's centennial.
The Turkish-Armenian publication Agos reports Archbishop Aram
Ateshian, General Vicar (Acting Patriarch) of the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople, as saying that they will be instead holding a
commemoration event.
Under an instruction issued earlier by Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II, bells will ring 100 times in the Armenian churches around
the world and visitors will be offered to join a holy mass on April 23
to remember the big tragedy's victims. 19:15 has been chosen as a
symbolic hour of bell-ringing.
The Istanbul patriarch said that the Armenian churches in the city
will be hosting a liturgy on April 22 to remember the Armenian
soldiers killed in the Battle of Gallipoli.
YEREVAN HAS DOUBTS ON IMPARTIALITY OF PACE RAPPORTEUR ON KARABAKH
18 March, 2015
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian has doubts that the
PACE rapporteur on Karabakh issue British MP Robert Walter will
be impartial.
As reports "Armenpress", at the course of the press conference in
Armenia's MFA, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia Edward Nalbandian reflected on Walter's visit to Baku and
stated that Armenia's approach to this issue is known.
"One should refrain from the steps, which can hinder the efforts made
by the three Co-Chairs aimed at the regulation. One should refrain
from establishing new structures, formats or working groups, which
will hamper the Co-Chairs' activities. One should refrain from the
steps, which will harm the peace process," Edward Nalbandian concluded.
tert.am
18 March, 2015
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian has doubts that the
PACE rapporteur on Karabakh issue British MP Robert Walter will
be impartial.
As reports "Armenpress", at the course of the press conference in
Armenia's MFA, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia Edward Nalbandian reflected on Walter's visit to Baku and
stated that Armenia's approach to this issue is known.
"One should refrain from the steps, which can hinder the efforts made
by the three Co-Chairs aimed at the regulation. One should refrain
from establishing new structures, formats or working groups, which
will hamper the Co-Chairs' activities. One should refrain from the
steps, which will harm the peace process," Edward Nalbandian concluded.
tert.am
TURKEY KEEPS ON REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIA
AS WTO MEMBER - ARMENIAN MINISTER TO TURKISH
REPORTER
18.03.15
Speaking at the 5th international media forum 'At the foot of Ararat'
Armenia's Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan presented stages of
Armenia's economic development since the country gained independence
and dwelt on the current situation.
Armenia has created favorable conditions for foreign investments,
and investors can be sure they will not lose their money.
The reporter of the Turkey-based Zaman newspaper asked Mr Chshmarityan
if Turkish businessmen could start businesses in Armenia. The minister
said that Turkey has not so far recognized Armenia as a member of
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"It was for the first the first time in the WTO's history that Turkey
had applied Article 13 of the agreement to Armenia: Turkey did not
object to Armenia's membership in the WTO, but it does not recognize
Armenia as a WTO member," Mr Chshmarityan said.
A great number of Turkish products are on Armenia's market, whereas
Armenian products are never found on Turkey's market.
"I can put the same question to Turkey: can Armenian companies open up
business in Turkey? Are you ready for cooperation? I would also like
to note that Turkey did not give a single sign of its willingness
to change its approaches when Armenia was negotiating a deep and
comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union," Mr
Chshmarityan said.
When Armenia sees insurmountable obstacles, it thinks of adequate
steps, he concluded.
18.03.15
Speaking at the 5th international media forum 'At the foot of Ararat'
Armenia's Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan presented stages of
Armenia's economic development since the country gained independence
and dwelt on the current situation.
Armenia has created favorable conditions for foreign investments,
and investors can be sure they will not lose their money.
The reporter of the Turkey-based Zaman newspaper asked Mr Chshmarityan
if Turkish businessmen could start businesses in Armenia. The minister
said that Turkey has not so far recognized Armenia as a member of
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"It was for the first the first time in the WTO's history that Turkey
had applied Article 13 of the agreement to Armenia: Turkey did not
object to Armenia's membership in the WTO, but it does not recognize
Armenia as a WTO member," Mr Chshmarityan said.
A great number of Turkish products are on Armenia's market, whereas
Armenian products are never found on Turkey's market.
"I can put the same question to Turkey: can Armenian companies open up
business in Turkey? Are you ready for cooperation? I would also like
to note that Turkey did not give a single sign of its willingness
to change its approaches when Armenia was negotiating a deep and
comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union," Mr
Chshmarityan said.
When Armenia sees insurmountable obstacles, it thinks of adequate
steps, he concluded.
RFE/RL Report
Sarkisian Repeats Concerns Over Russian Arms Sales To
Azerbaijan
Heghine Buniatian
18.03.2015
President Serzh Sarkisian on Wednesday voiced fresh concerns about
large-scale deliveries of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan, saying that
they could damage the traditionally close Russian-Armenian relations.
"The fact that Russia sells weapons to Azerbaijan for various reasons
worries us," Sarkisian told an international media forum held in
Yerevan.
"The problem here is not the quality of the sold weapons," he said
during a question-and-answer session that followed his speech at the
gathering. "The problem is that the young Armenian man deployed on our
border [with Azerbaijan] or the [Nagorno-Karabakh] Line of Contact
realizes that they are trying to kill him with Russian weapons. This
is the gravest thing."
Russia appears to have supplied more heavy weapons to Azerbaijan than
Armenia, its main regional ally, in the past several years. Those
include hundreds of tanks, artillery systems and combat
helicopters. Russian and Azerbaijani officials have estimated the
total volume of bilateral defense contracts signed since 2010 at more
than $4 billion.
Sarkisian already voiced dismay at the Russian-Azerbaijani arms deals
in a newspaper interview in July 2014. "Our people are worried that
our strategic ally sells weapons to Azerbaijan," Sarkisian told
Argentina's "Clarin" daily.
Official Yerevan was until then careful not to publicly criticize the
Russian arms supplies to its arch-foe. Some Armenian officials claimed
that they are offset by Russian military assistance to Armenia.
Sarkisian similarly praised this and other forms of Russian aid
provided to his country since independence. He went on to assert that
Azerbaijan remains unable to "solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by
military means."
Answering another question, Sarkisian strongly defended his
controversial 2013 decision to opt for Armenia's membership in the
Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) at the expense of a
far-reaching accord with the European Union. He attributed the move to
"pragmatic" economic considerations, singling out the fact Armenia
imports Russian natural gas at a discounted price and has unfettered
access to the vast Russian market.
caucasus-naturefund.org
REINTRODUCTION OF THE CAUCASIAN RED DEER IN
Heghine Buniatian
18.03.2015
President Serzh Sarkisian on Wednesday voiced fresh concerns about
large-scale deliveries of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan, saying that
they could damage the traditionally close Russian-Armenian relations.
"The fact that Russia sells weapons to Azerbaijan for various reasons
worries us," Sarkisian told an international media forum held in
Yerevan.
"The problem here is not the quality of the sold weapons," he said
during a question-and-answer session that followed his speech at the
gathering. "The problem is that the young Armenian man deployed on our
border [with Azerbaijan] or the [Nagorno-Karabakh] Line of Contact
realizes that they are trying to kill him with Russian weapons. This
is the gravest thing."
Russia appears to have supplied more heavy weapons to Azerbaijan than
Armenia, its main regional ally, in the past several years. Those
include hundreds of tanks, artillery systems and combat
helicopters. Russian and Azerbaijani officials have estimated the
total volume of bilateral defense contracts signed since 2010 at more
than $4 billion.
Sarkisian already voiced dismay at the Russian-Azerbaijani arms deals
in a newspaper interview in July 2014. "Our people are worried that
our strategic ally sells weapons to Azerbaijan," Sarkisian told
Argentina's "Clarin" daily.
Official Yerevan was until then careful not to publicly criticize the
Russian arms supplies to its arch-foe. Some Armenian officials claimed
that they are offset by Russian military assistance to Armenia.
Sarkisian similarly praised this and other forms of Russian aid
provided to his country since independence. He went on to assert that
Azerbaijan remains unable to "solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by
military means."
Answering another question, Sarkisian strongly defended his
controversial 2013 decision to opt for Armenia's membership in the
Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) at the expense of a
far-reaching accord with the European Union. He attributed the move to
"pragmatic" economic considerations, singling out the fact Armenia
imports Russian natural gas at a discounted price and has unfettered
access to the vast Russian market.
caucasus-naturefund.org
REINTRODUCTION OF THE CAUCASIAN RED DEER IN
ARMENIA
March 18, 2015
March 18, 2015
By: CNF Staff
The Caucasian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus maral) was widespread in Armenia
during the late 19th century, large populations could be found in
forests across Armenia, including Dilijan National Park and in the
Syunik Province's Meghri, Bargushat and Zangezur ridges. The species
became locally extinct in the 1950s and is today listed as critically
endancgered (CR) in the Red Data Book of Armenia (2010).
CNF is supporting a project implemented by WWF-Armenia and the Ministry
of Nature Protection to reintroduce the Caucasian Red Deer to Armenia.
The first phase of the project includes setting up a breeding center
in Dilijan National Park, the center will occupy 10 ha. of secluded
forest to ensure limited interaction with people. Activities include
the creation of the breeding center, feeding facility and shelters,
purchase and transportation of 4 male and 11 female deer to Armenia,
training of the breeding center staff, keeping and breeding of
animals with further release and monitoring of the released at least
10 animals in Dilijan National Park.
CNF is supporting the project with a grant to WWF-Armenia of EURO
60,000 over two years (2015-2016) for implementation of the breeding
facilities. CNF will support the sustainability of the project and
management effectiveness of Dilijan National Park with a grant for
EURO 62,000 for operational costs and salary supplements.
RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
New York Observer
March 18 2015
By The Editors | 03/18/15
In 1944, as the Nazi slaughter of Europe's Jews continued unabated,
a Jewish refugee from Poland, Raphael Lemkin, coined a new word:
genocide. He defined this new word as the destruction of "the life
of national groups ... the disintegration of ... culture, language,
national feelings, religion ... and even the lives of the individuals
belonging to such groups."
The ongoing slaughter in Europe had a profound effect on his thinking.
But so did another horror, this one nearly forgotten by the time he
wrote--the mass killing of Armenians in 1915.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of one of the 20th century's grim
milestones, the murder of 1.5 million civilians in Armenia, carried out
by the Ottoman Turks over several years. The predominately Christian
community of Armenia had suffered discrimination and worse during
centuries of Ottoman rule, but with the outbreak of war in 1914,
the Turkish government came to regard the Armenians as a potential
fifth column for its enemies, Britain, France and Russia.
Beginning in April 1915, Armenians were rounded up, deported, marched
into the Syrian Desert and resettled in concentration camps. Their
property was confiscated and they were murdered by the hundreds of
thousands. Children were poisoned and their deaths ruled the result
of natural causes.
A conference in New York next month will attempt to raise greater
awareness of the crimes committed against the Armenians a century ago.
The speakers and panelists have their work cut out for them, because
Turkish authorities have sought to suppress greater awareness of
these unfathomable events.
But as the organizers of the conference, entitled "Responsibility
2015," know well, it is important--it is imperative--to call evil by
its proper name. Lemkin certainly understood that. The question is
whether we have his courage and his conviction.
The perpetrators of genocide, then and now, hope that Lemkin's sense
of outrage has gone out of fashion, replaced by fear and an almost
pathological unwillingness to recognize reality. Certainly nobody can
study the fate of the Armenians during World War I and not conclude
that a great crime--genocide--was committed by the Ottoman Empire.
The speakers who will come to New York beginning April 24 hope to call
the perpetrators to account for the deaths of 1.5 million a century
ago. But, sadly, even as they speak, bloodthirsty terrorists in Syria,
Iraq, Nigeria and Libya proudly carry out genocide as a matter of
policy. The world looks on. The crimes go unpunished. The criminals
boast of the blood they have shed.
We have much to learn.
The Caucasian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus maral) was widespread in Armenia
during the late 19th century, large populations could be found in
forests across Armenia, including Dilijan National Park and in the
Syunik Province's Meghri, Bargushat and Zangezur ridges. The species
became locally extinct in the 1950s and is today listed as critically
endancgered (CR) in the Red Data Book of Armenia (2010).
CNF is supporting a project implemented by WWF-Armenia and the Ministry
of Nature Protection to reintroduce the Caucasian Red Deer to Armenia.
The first phase of the project includes setting up a breeding center
in Dilijan National Park, the center will occupy 10 ha. of secluded
forest to ensure limited interaction with people. Activities include
the creation of the breeding center, feeding facility and shelters,
purchase and transportation of 4 male and 11 female deer to Armenia,
training of the breeding center staff, keeping and breeding of
animals with further release and monitoring of the released at least
10 animals in Dilijan National Park.
CNF is supporting the project with a grant to WWF-Armenia of EURO
60,000 over two years (2015-2016) for implementation of the breeding
facilities. CNF will support the sustainability of the project and
management effectiveness of Dilijan National Park with a grant for
EURO 62,000 for operational costs and salary supplements.
RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
New York Observer
March 18 2015
By The Editors | 03/18/15
In 1944, as the Nazi slaughter of Europe's Jews continued unabated,
a Jewish refugee from Poland, Raphael Lemkin, coined a new word:
genocide. He defined this new word as the destruction of "the life
of national groups ... the disintegration of ... culture, language,
national feelings, religion ... and even the lives of the individuals
belonging to such groups."
The ongoing slaughter in Europe had a profound effect on his thinking.
But so did another horror, this one nearly forgotten by the time he
wrote--the mass killing of Armenians in 1915.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of one of the 20th century's grim
milestones, the murder of 1.5 million civilians in Armenia, carried out
by the Ottoman Turks over several years. The predominately Christian
community of Armenia had suffered discrimination and worse during
centuries of Ottoman rule, but with the outbreak of war in 1914,
the Turkish government came to regard the Armenians as a potential
fifth column for its enemies, Britain, France and Russia.
Beginning in April 1915, Armenians were rounded up, deported, marched
into the Syrian Desert and resettled in concentration camps. Their
property was confiscated and they were murdered by the hundreds of
thousands. Children were poisoned and their deaths ruled the result
of natural causes.
A conference in New York next month will attempt to raise greater
awareness of the crimes committed against the Armenians a century ago.
The speakers and panelists have their work cut out for them, because
Turkish authorities have sought to suppress greater awareness of
these unfathomable events.
But as the organizers of the conference, entitled "Responsibility
2015," know well, it is important--it is imperative--to call evil by
its proper name. Lemkin certainly understood that. The question is
whether we have his courage and his conviction.
The perpetrators of genocide, then and now, hope that Lemkin's sense
of outrage has gone out of fashion, replaced by fear and an almost
pathological unwillingness to recognize reality. Certainly nobody can
study the fate of the Armenians during World War I and not conclude
that a great crime--genocide--was committed by the Ottoman Empire.
The speakers who will come to New York beginning April 24 hope to call
the perpetrators to account for the deaths of 1.5 million a century
ago. But, sadly, even as they speak, bloodthirsty terrorists in Syria,
Iraq, Nigeria and Libya proudly carry out genocide as a matter of
policy. The world looks on. The crimes go unpunished. The criminals
boast of the blood they have shed.
We have much to learn.
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