FAAE PREPARES COMPLAINT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN
Armenian News
Published on May 02, 2011
Ashot Grigorian, President of the Forum of the Armenian Associations of the Europe (FAAE) has prepared a complaint-application to be sent to the embassies accredited in Slovakia. The complaint calls for the attention of the international community to Azerbaijan's ongoing illegal actions which periodically leave Armenian servicemen killed along the line of contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces. The FAAE President is annoyed that Azerbaijan openly violates the truce after bilateral or multilateral diplomatic meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani officials. Last week, Azerbaijani snipers killed three Armenian servicemen and injured another while EU Commissioner for Enlargements and Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Tina S. Kaidanow, were in Armenia on a regional visit. "The FAAE demands that the European leading countries and the international community prevent further incidents along the contact line and suspend the activity of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev who is continually inciting hostility among Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Otherwise, that "explosive" region will come out of control, which, in its turn, will heat the situation in the Greater Middle East," FAAE said in its complaint.
Holy-mass devoted to the Armenian Genocide victims in Bratislava
By Times.am at 19 April, 2011, 10:34 am
Ashot Grigoryan, head of the European Forum of the Armenian Communities and the Armenian Community in Slovakia has organized a holy mass devoted to the memory of Armenian Genocide victims. The mass will take place today, at the Frantishkanyan Church in the center of Bratislava. The holy mass will be served by the participation of the Slovakian Catholic, Frantishkian, Apostolic, Greek-Catholic Churches. After the holy mass a garland will be put at the monument devoted to the Armenian Genocide victims. The monument is situated at the center of Bratislava. Slovakian top officials, journalists have confirmed they will participate in the event. The event will be recorded by many TV channels, will be broadcasted by chelemendik.sk web-site and will be put in YouTube web-site as well.
Foreigners eye investment opportunities in Karabakh
Thursday, February 10, 2011
STEPANAKERT - Daily News with RFE/RL
STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL)–A group of entrepreneurs from Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia offered to invest millions of dollars in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s economy during a visit to Stepanakert on Friday. The businessmen met with the republic’s leadership and received a positive response to their plans. According to Ashot Grigorian, the Armenian-born owner of a Slovakian energy consulting firm who organized the trip, they are specifically interested in the local energy, construction and agriculture sectors. He said they would like to start out with pilot projects worth a total of at least $15 million. “For the time being, we are talking about each of the firms investing only several million dollars,” Grigorian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “But if the process goes well, they will invest more serious sums.” Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian was quoted by his office as welcoming the foreign investors visiting Stepanakert and promising to support them. Georgi Petrosian, Karabakh’s foreign minister, meanwhile said the businessmen were unfazed by likely Azerbaijani protests to their investment plans. “The energy sector is particularly attractive to them because the government of Artsakh (Karabakh) has adopted an exceedingly progressive program,” said Grigorian. “They are going to build a cascade of hydro-electric stations. Artsakh is laying the foundation of a modern energy system that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the South Caucasus.” Under that program, Karabakh will stop importing electricity from Armenia in 2012 and be able to export power generated by its fast-flowing rivers in the following years. Ara Harutiunian, the Karabakh prime minister, described “food security and energy independence” as his government’s chief economic priorities in late December. In Grigorian’s words, any new investment in the country will mark a step forward in Karabakh’s drive to gain international recognition. “I think that apart from economic calculations, people in Artsakh should also take into account the fact that when a plant is opened here [by foreigners] it marks a further step towards recognition of their independence,” he said.
New hydroelectric power stations and residential buildings will be built n Syunik and Artsakh
Armregions.am
04.02.2011 - 17:51
Within the frameworks of the investment programs which are carried out by the European companies, it is scheduled to build small hydroelectric power stations and residential buildings according to the newest technologies in Syunik and Artsakh. As reports the correspondent of Armregions.am in Kapan with the reference to REGNUM news agency, it was reported on the press-conference by Ashot Grigoryan, the chairman of the forum of the Armenian unions of the Europe, on the 4th of February in Yerevan.
The delegation of businessmen, among which are the head of the company "ABB Slovakia" Miroslav Laynts, the director of "Euro Energo Holding" and "Czech Yard" Senik Dzhulakyan, the head of the company "Sana Suafi" Milan Polak, and Ashot Grigorian, who heads the company, "Energy consult" in Slovakia, have visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and have came to the agreement on several investment projects in energy and tourism.
A. Grigoryan has reported that the agreement on the construction of nine small hydroelectric power stations with total capacity of more than 20 megawatts was signed in Syunik and the amount of the investments will make up at least 15 million euros.
According to Grigoryan, the new technologies will be implemented during the construction of the buildings which will allow to save the consumption of the electricity.
The concrete walls of the buildings are covered with a special layer, which allows to keep the warmth, and even at sub-zero temperatures there is no need in heating in such buildings, he said. He added that the price of apartments for such buildings will be much lower than the market prices.
The construction work will begin from May of 2011. In the buildings construction the materials which are produced in Syunik and Artsakh will be used.
Ashot Grigoryan: Armenia should be the first t recognize the independence of Artsakh
12.10.2010 16:30
Sona Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
Chairman of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe (FAAE) and head of the Armenian community of Slovakia Ashot Grigoryan says Armenia should be the first to recognize the independence of Artsakh for the rest of the world to do so.
Ashot Grigoryan is confident that several countries will simultaneously be willing to recognize Artsakh’s independence. He lays special emphasis on the countries built on Christian values.
Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish relations, Ashot Grigoryan said “the football diplomacy has long been substituted by the policy of silence, which means that Turks are secretly trying to deceive the Armenian side once again."
On the other hand, Ashot Grigoryan is confident that Armenia and Turkey are holding secret talks, the issue of deployment of peacekeeping forces is being discussed and serious diplomatic work is being done in that direction.
The head of FAAE on Miklosko’s urge to return the Mount Ararat to Armenians: no money can buy sincerity
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 22, 2010 - 18:18 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - At the Poland-hosted conference entitled Turkey’s New Foreign Policy, Azeri parliamentarian Nazim Mamedov accused the head of the Forum of Armenian Associations in Europe (FAAE), Ashot Grigoryan of “paying the ex-speaker of Slovak parliament Frantisek Miklosko to criticize Turkey’s foreign policy.” Miklosko responded by declaring he is not the man to be dictated to. Grigoryan, referring to Miklosko’s urge to return the Mount Ararat to Armenians, pointed out that no money can buy sincerity. “A European cannot understand the presence of closed borders in modern Europe, which prompted Miklosko’s statements on reversal of blockade on Armenia-Turkey border,” he noted. “Turkey has to understand that opening of the border is a precondition to positive outcome of its EU bid. Turkish authorities realize the necessity of normalizing ties with Armenia to promote the issue, which could be resolved sooner were it not for Baku’s pressure,” the head of FAAE stressed.
Slovak parliament ex-speaker to offer EU to accept Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan as associate members.
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 24, 2010
First speaker of the Slovak parliament Frantisek Miklosko said that the NKR parliamentary elections were free, democratic and complied with the EU standards. The NKR elections are similar to referendums that are held once in five years, Miklosko told a joint press conference with Chairman of the Forum of Armenian Unions of Europe Ashot Grigoryan. Miklosko added that, taking this into consideration, he is surprised at the statement by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton that the EU does not recognize the NKR elections. According to Miklosko, the NKR problem is a problem of the EU, as the future of the EU is decided in Karabakh. Miklosko …
Azerbaijani FM to voice discontent to Slovakia if information about its participation in construction of hydroelectric power station in Nagorno Karabakh is confirmed
Source: Today.AZ March 2009
“Our structure will continue collecting information about participation of Slovakia in the construction of hydroelectric power station in Nagorno Karabakh”, said official representative of the Azerbaijani FM Elkhan Polukhov, commenting on the statement of the president of Armenian community of Slovakia Ashot Grigoryan who said Slovakia will take part on the construction of two hydroelectric power stations in self-declared Nagorno Karabakh. The diplomat announced that in case this information is confirmed Azerbaijan will voice its discontent to Slovakia. According to Polukhov, “Azerbaijan and Slovakia has good and trustful relations and this state recognizes the territorial integrity of our country. I hope Slovakia will not take steps, damaging the partner and trustful relations with Azerbaijan”.
OPEN LETTER TO ENCOURAGE OBAMA TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Panorama
Published on March 26, 2009
The international union of genocide experts sent an open letter to the President of the United States Barack Obama encouraging him to name Armenian massacre genocide in his memory message. The experts reminded the President that in Your letter to the former President of the U.S. George Bush dated on 18 March, 2005 You have encouraged him to recognize Armenian Genocide, reports the Armenian Assembly of America. Recognizing Armenian Genocide Youll prove that You are the leader You have meant on 19 January, 2008, who tells the truth about the Armenian Genocide and who says no to all other genocides, says the letter. President Obamas visit to Turkey gives an exclusive opportunity to touch upon this significant issue of human rights and to recover its gaps, says the letter.
Ashot Grigorian : Russian-Turkish Agreement Is Highly Harmful Not Only To Armenia But Also To Russia
Noyan Tapan – 9/12/2008
BRATISLAVA, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Russian-Turkish agreement is highly harmful not only to Armenia but also to Russia. The Chairman of the Forum of Armenian Unions of Europe and the Armenian community of Slovakia Ashot Grigorian expressed this opinion when summarizing the results of the European Union - Turkey forum held in the Polish city of Sopot on December 5-6. During a talk with NT correspondent, he presented the following details: "The issues of leaving Russia out of all the energy programs were discussed at the forum's sittings on economic subjects, and the impression was that this was the main meaning of the forum. The Turkish participants spoke about the wide opportunities of Turkey which enable to lay pipelines of all power-bearing substances from Asia to Europe, while passing round Russia. However, after Igor Tomberg, a famous professor of the Moscow Institute of International Relations, had presented quite credible facts, the Turkish program of energy diversification became much more vulnerable. Prof. Tomberg first of all stated that the information about the amounts of Azerbaijani gas and oil is extremely exaggerated: at best, they make up only one-third of the amounts necessary for Europe. As regards the gas of Turkmenistan or Kazakhstan, Russia is not going to allow laying a trans-Caspian pipeline due to strategic and ecological problems. Then the professor announced a very important, if not shocking, information, according to which on the fourth day of the Georgian-Ossetian war, a definite agreement was reached between the Turkish prime minister Erdogan and the Russian president Medvedev on the following issues: Turkey would defend Russia's position with respect to Georgia, while Russia would allow Turkey to play a new role in the South Caucasus, and Russia and Turkey would cooperate in the energy sector on conditions of maintaining the bilateral interests. The following conclusions can be made from the above said: traditionally being an unreliable partner, Turkey, at the suggestion of improving its relations with Russia, has left aside its South Caucasian partners in recent years - Azerbaijan and Georgia, pursuing its own interests. By giving a consent to Turkey to enter the South Caucasus, Russia ignored the interests of its strategic partner - Armenia. After analysing the proposals of the Turkish delegation, it became clear that Turkey is playing a short-term game of forcing Russia to its knees, however, it is trying to do so in the hope of gaining the European Union's trust. The new process of Armenian-Turkish relations formed at Turkey's dictation has become now entirely clear. The reason for Turkey's highly toughened position on the Genocide issue and its resolute statements on intervening in the Karabakh problem have become entirely perceptible. The Armenian delegation witnessed this at the Sopot forum when famous Turkish diplomat and deputy of the Great National Assembly Mustafa Sukru Elekdag said in his speech that he was surprised at how such an ungrateful country as Armenia can be allowed to go as far as not to appreciate Turkey's impartial position on the Karabakh problem. Then he declared that "it is the result of Turkey's not dealing a counterblow to the false rumors of not the genocide but even the deportation that Armenia also has territorial claims to Turkey, up to the extent that the Armenians consider Mount Ararat as their mountain". The Turkish deputy nearly shouted these statements, gasping with excitement and rage. True, in his speech he underlined the issues raised by the Armenian delegation composed by the head of the RA National Assembly "ARF" faction head Vahan Hovhannisian, the Armenian ambassador to Poland Ashot Galoyan and the political scientist Hovhannes Nikoghosian, calling attention of the authoritative audience to these issues and thus doing a good service. At the same time it became clear that it is at least naive to expect, by European notions, a normal and civilized behavior from the Turks in the neighborhood issue. The primitive diplomatic games of Turkey are based on their traditional experience of deceiving their partners and neighbors, which, however, cannot give a positive result to them under conditions of the current diplomatic perceptions. I think that in the light of the above said, our political figures who have drawn a new way of Armenia's foreign policy should come to important conclusions".
EMBASSY OF TURKEY TO SLOVAKIA DEMANDS TO DISMANTLE KHACHKAR DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, the Embassy of Turkey to Slovakia addressed to the Bratislava Mayor's Office and district heads of Petrzalka with a demand to dismantle the khachkar (cross stone) dedicated to the Armenian Genocide which is placed on the right riverside of Danube. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent states from Bratislava, the editorial staff of the "Plus One" daily addressed to the OSCE and Armenian community chairman, Advisor to the RA Foreign Minister Ashot Grigorian, asking to explain the meaning of that application of the Turkish Embassy to Slovakia. As Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman of the Armenian community of Slovakia explained, the Embassy of Turkey demands to dismantle the khachkar placed in honour of the Slovakia National Council's adoption of the 2004 resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide. The khachkar was presented to Bratislava by the Nig-Aparan Compatriotic Union of Armenia, in the person of its Chairman, RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian. The permission for placing the khachkar was given by the Bratislava Mayor, and works of placing and improvement of its surroundings were done by representatives of the local community,
on the initiative of the community chairman A.Grigorian. "This noise made round the khachkar is a wonderful mean to again remind citizens of Bratislava about the Armenian Genocide and the Slovakia Parliament's adoption of the resolution condemning it," A.Grigorian said, adding that "not only press of Slovakia will touch upon this sensational news, but also we, heads of the Armenian community and me, also as the Foreign Minister's Advisor, will demand explanation from the Turkish Embassy with the help of press and will make an attempt of debating to prove absurdity of their demands."
Days Of Armenian Culture To Be Held In Slovakia, Austria, Hungary And Czech Republic
Source: ArmeniaDiaspora.com
21-07-2006
Days Of Armenian Culture To Be Held In Slovakia, Austria, Hungary And Czech RepublicOn the initiative of Ashot Grigorian, President of the Armenian community of Slovakia and of the Armenian organizations' representation of Europe, Days of Armenian culture will be organized in Slovakia and in the countries of Central Europe (Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic) from September 2006 to January 2007. The events are dedicated to the 15th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. The opening of the Armenian days is planned in Bratislava in September. Performers of classic and folk songs are invited to the opening ceremony. They will also perform in Vienna and Budapest.
Hasmik Gabrielian, Armenian pianist from Slovakia and Michael Ziachek, Slovak duduk and saxophone player, will also take part in the opening ceremony. The Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia, with the participation of famous Canadian Armenian pianist Catherine Manukian, which are invited to the World Festival of Classic Music of Bratislava on October 3, are also included in the program within the framework of days of Armenian culture.
In November, the concerts of the world-famous "Komitas" string quartet are envisaged in Vienna and in other cities. In December, on the eve of Christmas, a concert will be held with the participation of music stars of Slovakia and Austria. And on January 11, a concert planned in the Big Hall of the State Philharmonia of Bratislava, with the participation of world-famous Armenian musician, violinist Sergey Khachatrian, will close the Days of Armenian culture in the countries of Central Europe.
As Ashot Grigorian mentioned in the interview with the Noyan Tapan correspondent, an agreement of cooperation is already gained with the RA Minister of Culture and the World Armenian Congress. The Armenian communities of Austria and Hungary will take part in the cultural days: joint work with the community heads Hayk Asenbauer and Adam Sargsian is underway. Heads and members of the National Council and Government of Slovakia, diplomats, official guests from Armenia and European countries will take part in the opening and closing ceremonies.
According to Ashot Grigorian, due to this event, these European countries will get acquainted with the Armenian culture more closely, which in its turn will promote the adoption of Armenian Genocide resolutions in this countries' parliaments. He mentioned that after the adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the National Council of Slovakia, good preconditions have been created for the adoption of such resolutions in the neighbor countries. In particular, the parliament of Poland approved a respective resolution.
