Month: February 2012

ARMENIA IS NOT PART OF PRO-WESTERN LEAGUE OF FORMER SOVIET – STARTFOR

news.am
February 14, 2012 | 03:33

Armenia is Moscow’s bridgehead in the Caucasus, states the article
of the research center Startfor dedicated to the South Caucasus.

The researchers point out that Armenia is a buffer zone in the Caucasus
for Russia.

It is mentioned in the article that Armenia is a bridgehead for Russia
in the South Caucasus as it borders with Azerbaijan and Georgia as well
as Turkey and Iran. The next aim of Russia is Armenia’s integration
to the Common Economic Space and Eurasian Union.

According to experts, Russia can influence Armenia with economic and
political factors.

Of course there is the factor of the Armenian Diaspora in the USA and
France, but their influence is only economic. Armenia is not part of
the pro-Western league of former Soviet countries and will continue
to be loyal to the Kremlin, the article says.

TURKISH COURT ACQUITS ANOTHER DEFENDANT IN DINK MURDER CASE

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 14, 2012 – 14:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A court has acquitted CoÅ~_kun Ä°gci, one of
19 defendants in the murder case of Hrant Dink, the founder and
former editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish Agos weekly who
was assassinated in 2007 in front of his office in Istanbul, after
forgetting to include him in the final verdict in January, Today’s
Zaman reported.

Ä°gci, who presumably called on Yasin Hayal to buy a gun with which
to shoot Dink, was accidentally left out of the final verdict and
the judge issued a ruling separately for him on Monday, Feb 13.

On Sept 19, 2011, the prosecution recommended his acquittal on the
grounds that “there was no substantial evidence to suggest he took
part in the crime.”

Ä°gci’s lawyer said at the court on Monday that his client has no
ties to the murder except for being the uncle of Hayal, one of the
main suspects.

Ä°gci said at the court that he had informed gendarmerie intelligence
officers in Trabzon that a plan to assassinate Dink was in place four
months prior to the murder.

“I am not guilty. The people I reported about were tried in Trabzon and
they were punished because they neglected their duties. Those people
are Col. Ali Oz, Capt. Metin Yıldız, non-commissioned officer Orhan
Å~^imÅ~_ek and Sgt. Veysel Å~^ahin,” he said.

When a judge at the court asked Ä°gci if he had been in contact with
those four people, Ä°gci replied that he had contacted Å~^imÅ~_ek
and Å~^ahin.

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court issued its ruling on Jan 17
in the 25th hearing of the case. Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, the main
suspects, who were accused of being instigators, and all other
suspects, were cleared of charges of membership in a terrorist
organization.

The prosecutor and the Dink family’s lawyers accused them of acting
under the orders of a clandestine criminal network suspected of having
ties with senior state officials and military and police officers.

The court handed down a life sentence to Hayal, while Tuncel was given
10 years and six months in prison for his involvement in the bombing
of a McDonald’s restaurant in 2004. Gunman Ogun Samast was sentenced
last July to nearly 23 years in prison by a separate juvenile court.

Tuncel was released.

From: Baghdasarian

SPIELBERG TO MAKE ARMENIAN “GENOCIDE” FILM

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 14 2012
Turkey

Armenian Pulse

Film director Steven Spielberg and Schindler’s List writer Steven
Zaillan are in negotiations to develop a film on the Armenian
“Genocide,” with support from the Armenian National Cinema Center.

The film, which plans to feature both Armenian and foreign actors,
is set to premiere in 2015 for the 100th Anniversary of its chosen
historical subject, according to the wesite Armenian Pulse.

ARMENIA’S NEXT PARLIAMENT TO INCLUDE HAK, HHK, BHK, BUT NOT ARF-D OR HERITAGE PARTY: STRATEGIST

epress.am
02.14.2012

The Armenian National Congress (HAK), the Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) might have nearly an equal number
of seats in the parliament to be elected in May 2012, if HAK and BHK
intelligently cooperate and not allow HHK to “paint” the numbers (i.e.
fix the votes), said electoral and political strategist Armen Badalyan,
speaking to journalists in the capital today.

According to Badalyan, these three are the most influential forces in
politics, while the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun,
or ARF-D) and the Heritage Party are among the second, less influential
category of political parties.

“I very much doubt that ARF-D will find a place in the next
parliament. ARF-D has a tendency to regress – there’s no reason for
this to change. Supporters of an Armenia ‘from sea to sea’ haven’t
increased; ARF-D leaders haven’t changed.

“The Heritage Party also doesn’t have potential. It’s a leader-based
party, and [its leader] Raffi Hovannisian makes an appearance in the
[political] arena once in a million,” he said.

The remaining parties – according to Badalyan, “dead” OEK (Orinats
Yerkir or Rule of Law) and “virtual” parties such as the Free
Democrats, the communists and so on – have no chance of getting into
the National Assembly.

“There will be painting [fudging the numbers], but to what extent
is the question. If it doesn’t cooperate reasonably, HAK won’t lose
anything – it will continue to remain opposition, while for BHK this
period is decisive. BHK won’t be forgiven for not becoming HHK’s
attache,” he said.

Weighing in on the possible BHK-HAK collaboration, political analyst
Karen Kocharyan, also speaking at today’s press conference, said this
will never happen as BHK won’t become an opposition force. According
to him, BHK from the start has never been a political force and the
only political face of that party is MP Naira Zohrabyan.

“There will be few [incidents of] traditional electoral fraud. Votes
will be bought. This was proven also by the Hrazdan elections,”
he said.

FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SLOVAKIA DESCRIBES KARABAKH AS EXCLUSIVE DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: Members of the National Council of
Slovak Republic, businessmen and intellectuals visited Nagorno Karabakh
during these days. At a news conference February 14, First President
of the National Council of Slovak Republic František Mikloško said
during the recent years Nagorno Karabakh has registered noticeable
progress in the area of democracy.

“Two years ago I was in Nagorno Karabakh as an observer at the
elections, after it I stated that the elections were absolutely free
and fair,” MikloÅ¡ko said.

According to him, the state has been recognized for already 20 years
but visiting it once you understand that it will never agree to be
non-independent. “Nagorno Karabakh behaves itself just like other
independent states. International organizations should assist Karabakh
as it is exclusive democratic country,” MikloÅ¡ko stressed.

He also praised Karabakh’s commitment to its Christian roots and
its readiness to fight for them till the end. “It is strange that
the Christian Europe has forgotten its roots. Laws of new Europe are
being written in Nagorno Karabakh,” MikloÅ¡ko said.

MATENADARAN GRANTED STATUS OF BASIC ORGANIZATION

ARMENPRESS
BEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: Sitting of the task group dealing
with the issue on giving status of basic establishments took place
at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk with the participation of
representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan,
Ukraine.

An official from the Ministry of Culture told Armenpress that
“Matenadaran” Mesrop Mashtots Old Manuscript Scientific-Research
Institute applied to get the status of basic organization. The activity
of Matenadaran, its international cooperation toward protection and
restoration of cultural heritage, 2012 programs were presented. Film
presenting new building of Matenadaran was also shown.

The task group has accepted the proposal of Armenia and granted Mesrop
Mashtots Old Manuscript Scientific-Research Institute the status of
basic organization.

The activity of basic organization supposes working out
scientific-methodological directions, publication of manuals,
implementation of educational programs, organization of conferences,
round tables.

VALERY ATAJANYAN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE KARABAKH CIVIL SERVICE BOARD

ARMENPRESS
BEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan signed a decree appointing Valery Atajanyan the
member of the NKR Civil Service board with six year term of office,
Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President told Armenpress.

ELECTRONIC AUCTION SYSTEM TO REDUCE CORRUPTION RISKS IN ARTSAKH

ARMENPRESS
BEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: The compulsory enforcement of
judicial orders services of justice ministries of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh signed today program on implementation of cooperation programs
for 2012-2013. The program has been prepared on the basis of memorandum
signed in Stepanakert, March 26 2010.

Head of Armenia’s service Mihran Poghosyan told the reporters the
signing of a memorandum is a step for organization of electronic
auction in Artsakh. “Armenia was one of the first countries to apply
electronic auction system which witnesses about the progress of the
service. It may promote contacts with the public and decrease the
direct factor of compulsory enforcement which brings to reduction
of corruption risks,” Poghosyan said. He noted that the difficulty
of investment of the system in Artsakh is agreed with the lack of
Internet coverage which is a solvable issue.

J. APPATHURAI: “ARMENIAN NATION CAN BE PROUD WITH ITS SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN”

14.02.12, 10:45

On February 13 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan hosted special
representative of NATO Secretary General on South Caucasus and Central
Asia James Appathurai. Press service of Armenian President informs
about this,

The sides rated highly relations between Armenia and NAT on all
spheres and the strengthening cooperation.

Serzh Sargsyan considered the cooperation with NATO was very effective
on 2011 and noted that political meetings become more actively.

Armenian President also added that Armenia will increase its
participation in the International security support towards
Afghanistan. 2011-2013 Armenia-NATO cooperation program was approved.

NATO special representative thanked Armenian President, Armenian
Armed Forces and the whole Armenian nation for high-level service in
Afghanistan. According to him Armenian nation can be proud with its
soldiers in Afghanistan.

Sides also referred to the regional security challenges and spoke
about the last developments on NK issue settlement process.

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF BELARUS PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ARMENPRESS
BEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: Deputy chairman of the House of
Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Victor Guminski and
members of the the Armenian-Belarus inter-parliamentary cooperation
commission visited memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide
February 14. They put a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial and
paid tribute to the memory of the victims.

Deputy Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren
Manukyan presented the history of the greatest crime committed against
humanity in early 20 century. Accompanied with Manukyan, the guests
got acquainted with the samples presented in the museum.

“It is very painful to speak about this fact. I think the day will
come when the Republic of Belarus will also discuss the issue demanding
serious and accomplished approach,” Victor Guminski said.

More than 20 countries have recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide.

From: A. Papazian