Month: May 2008

OPPOSITION IN HAGHTANAK (VICTORY) PARK

AZG Armenian Daily #090
13/05/2008

Local

Representatives of opposition political forces led by Levon
Ter-Petrosian visited Unknown Soldier Monument in Haghtanak park
on May 9 to lay a wreath to the monument. Levon Ter-Petrosian was
accompanied by Stepan Demirchian, Aram Sargsian, Hovhannes Honhannisian
and Vagharshak Harutyunian. Ter-Petrosian had a conversation with
veterans and congratulated them on the Victory Day.

Co-thinkers of the opposition accompanying Levon Ter-Petrosian
from time to time were articulating "Levon-President" and "Free,
independent Armenia".

To recall, during his presidential years Levon Ter-Petrosian never
visited Haghtanak Park, and May 9 was not a holiday in those years.

LEVON BERBERIAN EXHIBITION IN NEW YORK

AZG Armenian Daily
13/05/2008

Culture

East diocese of New York Armenian Church stages a unique exhibition
of Levon Bereberian’s 60 black and white photos. The photos mainly
present the Armenian nature and relies and monuments, Armenian Mirror
Spectator weekly reported.

Levon Berberian lives in New York since 1976. As an airplane-engineer
he has traveled a lot. He visited Armenia straight after 1988
earthquake and contributed to the works of transportation of food
and medicine.

He put on exhibitions in the Institute of Innovation and Technology
and Center of Armenian Students Association.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PEACEFUL RESIDENT WOUNDED

A1+
[04:49 pm] 12 May, 2008

At about 11.00 today morning Azerbaijan’s armed forces bombarded the
military positions of the Armenian Armed Forces near Baghanis village
in Tavoush Marz.

Resident of Baghanis, shepherd Lorik M. Avagian, 1957, was wounded
as a result of the offensive, the press service of the RoA Defense
Ministry reports. Avagian was taken out of the danger zone at 12.40.

Lorik Avagian was taken to an Idzevan hospital where he underwent an
operation. Doctors say his state is of average seriousness.

Note, Lorik’s wife, Narik, died of an Azeri bullet in 1992.

POLICE TESTIMONY IS NOT ENOUGH

A1+
[07:10 pm] 12 May, 2008

"No one can be imprisoned unless the arrest is grounded," says
barrister Dzerar Julhakian, member of the Armenian Advocates Union
(ADU) of Paris. Together with five other advocates he has arrived
in Armenia to get familiarized with the state of his Armenian
counterparts. The French advocates have met with RoA FM, Chairman of
the Advocates’ Chamber and detainees of the March 1 events.

We are mainly concerned over the state of advocates in Armenia
especially in pre- and post-election period," he says.

Though it is still too early to draw conclusions we can say that
certain pressure is exerted on advocates in Armenia. Some judicial
rules are ignored and even violated. We would give a detailed answer
in case we participated in trials and got acquainted with the material
thoroughly," says Mr. Julhakian.

The advocates will likely return to Armenia in the nearest future to
participate in the legal proceedings of March 1 events.

The ADU will issue a statement in this regard.

Courts must bring impartial and unbiased verdicts compliant with
the RoA Penal Code. At the same time they must respect the European
Convention on Human Rights. They should rely on all details at hand
and not suffice with policemen’s testimonies," he said.

The ONLY FUNDAMENTAL DOCUMENT SIGNED BY KARABAKH

A1+
[08:48 pm] 12 May, 2008

"The cease-fire treaty achieved between the conflicting sides,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, de facto certifies to Armenia’s military
victory," former Foreign Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian quoted from
British journalist Tom de Vaal’s book "Kharabakh: Black Garden."

Vagharshak Harutiunian participated in the elaboration of the document
in 1994 and in the talks over the Karabakh conflict.

"Fourteen years have passed since then. This is really a serious
document which allows honouring the cease-fire regime and finding a
political solution to the matter. This is the only document signed
by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic although the Azeri side was against
Karabakh’s involvement in the talks," he says.

He notes that the cease-fire regime is observed without a direct
participation of peacekeeping forces.

In this view, the Karabakh conflict is unique in South Caucasus. The
guarantee for the observation of cease-fire regime is the equilibrium
of military forces.

According to the former FM, all attempts of signing an agreement in
1992-1994 were doomed to failure.

Armenia’s military achievements of 1994 contributed to the treaty
conclusion.

Lieutenant-General Vagharshak Harutiunian says the idea of a cease-fire
agreement was proposed by RF Defense Minister Pavel Grachov.

Vagharshak Harutiunian revealed an interesting detail: "three days
after the treaty conclusion Azerbaijan tried to deny its signature."

Upon the request of Azeri FM Mamedraf Mamedov a sitting was convened
with the participation of the Armenian and Azeri FMs and NKR
representative Bako Sahakian.

During the sitting the Azeri side noticed that no reference was made
to the surrender of the liberated territories and said they couldn’t
conclude the treaty. Vagharshak Harutiunian said in reply that all
issues connected with territories and status were to be discussed
through negotiations of a different format.

But for the RF Defense Minister’s interference the Azeri side wouldn’t
sign the treaty. The Russian DM refused intervention in case the
sides didn’t sign the treaty.

KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH WAR, BUT NOT DURING NEXT 10-15 YEARS

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.05.2008 18:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Bishkek protocol on ceasefire between Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan is the first document which officially
mentions of Karabakh as party to conflict, political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan told a news conference in Yerevan.

"The protocol was signed by Defense Ministers of NKR, Azerbaijan
and Armenia as the guarantor of Karabakh’s security. Thus, any
future peaceful agreement should be concluded by Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan.

Nevertheless, I suppose that the conflict will be finally resolved
through war but not during next 10-15 years. Everything depends
on Azerbaijan’s policy, its energy sources and the world powers’
interest in war," the Armenian expert said.

KARAPET RUBINIAN RELEASED

A1+
[09:02 pm] 12 May, 2008

By the instruction of the RoA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian
former NA Speaker Karapet Rubinian’s restraint has been replaced by
a written undertaking not to leave the place, Spokesperson for the
Procurator General Sona Truzian reports.

Karapet Rubinian was charged with attempts of "power usurpation"
and provoking mass disorders.

"ILHAM ALIEV GUILTY FOR MY DEATH"

Panorama.am
18:26 12/05/2008

On 22 April at 24:00 at night an attempt on politician Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan’s life was organized. "At 23:58 at my Ptghni house
I approached to the window and bombard was heard. I have seen the
fire," said the politician in a press conference organized today. In
the result of the investigation it was revealed that the shot was in
2.5-3m distance. According to him the window lattice saved him life.

"I did not pay attention but on 29 April the organizers contacted
me," he said refusing to name anybody. According to Shahnazaryan he
understood that the organizers were from abroad and just the same
day he evacuated his family and applied to correspondent bodies.

According to the politician he has talked with Hovhannes Tamamyan,
the deputy of Investigative department and after some days one of
the criminals has been arrested. The latter is not a citizen of the RA.

The mission of the today’s conference was to let the president of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev know that he won’t stop. And he’ll continue
his activities. "If a tree comes down on me, if I die from thunder
or another disease the only guilty will be Ilham Aliev. He is busy
with international terrorism," he said.

L. MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: "THERE IS NO SELF GOVERNED AZERBAIJAN"

Panorama.am
18:28 12/05/2008

"The conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh will be solved
after another war," said politician Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan in a
press conference, today.

He said that unless the oil and gas of Caspian Sea are in the center
of world’s interest there will be no war. "When the resources are over
or when Azerbaijan loses its power the interest towards the region
will be decreased and then we’ll solve our problems ourselves," he
said. He has notified that today there is no self governed Azerbaijan.

As for the Bishkeq agreement signed 14 years ago, the politician said
that there is no need to revise it.

"Today it is used as armistice agreement, but there are more points
there. The current agreement is signed by the NKR as a direct side
of the conflict," said Shahnazaryan. According to him any attempt to
solve the conflict without NKr participation will be unsuccessful.

NEW EARTHQUAKE MONUMENT IN GYUMRI

Panorama.am
17:14 12/05/2008

A new monument devoted to the earthquake victims of Gyumri city
destroyed in 1988 will be established in a central street in
Gyumri. According to media the initiative to establish a monument
is made by a Russian industrial union leaded by Nikolay Rizhkov,
coordinator of Armenian NA relations.

On the top of the monument the composition presents Mother Armenia
embracing her two little children. In the bottom of the monument
message of gratitude will be written: "The monument is established
in 7 May 2008 by national means by the initiative and support of N.

I. Rizhkov." Round the monument six obelisks will be established
giving information about the earthquake, victims and reconstruction
activities.

The monument will be transferred to Hyrumri by airplane. The Ministry
of Defense will support in the transformation process. The official
opening ceremony of the monument is scheduled on 7 December.