Month: February 2012

GREEN ACTIVISTS DEMAND PRIME MINISTER TO DECLARE PROJECT OF DEVELOPMENT OF TEGHOUT MINE INVALID

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 17:09

Green activists have appealed to Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan for annulling the project of development of the Teghout mine.

The statement by Save Teghout Initiative Group provided to ArmInfo
reads that the activists demand annulment of the government decision
dated Nov 1 2007 on exploitation of Teghout mine, revocation of ACP
Company’s license for use of minerals, as well as elaboration of an
environmental development project for Teghout.

The government in Nov 2007 approved project of exploitation of the
Teghout copper and molybdenum mine. As it was reported earlier, the
project submitted to the government did not properly show the
environment impact assessment. In addition, exploitation of the mine
contradicts the country’s legislation and international conventions
signed by Armenia. In the autumn of 2010 the Aarhus Convention
Compliance Committee passed a resolution saying that Armenia as a
party to the Convention failed to fulfill certain of its commitments.

A protest action against development of Teghout copper-molybdenum
deposit was held in Teghout on Jan 15. Over 200 people (green
activists, politicians and men of culture) from Yerevan, Vanadzor and
Gyumri expressed their protest against the ore-mining project.

Afterwards on Jan 27 the project was discussed in Moscow.

To recall, the public organizations have been actively fighting
against the development of Teghout deposit since 2007.

Environmentalists say that the project will not only have a
destructive effect on the environment of the region (357 ha of forests
will be cut), but will also have a positive impact on the
health of the residents of the nearby populated areas. Many of the
plants and animals in Teghout are included in the International Red
Book.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PREMIER: FREE PRESS HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN FORMATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN ARMENIA

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 17:08

Free press has played an important part in formation of civil society
in Armenia, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said in the government
today when commenting on the report of the international organization
“Reporters without borders”. “Armenia has improved its rating by 27
positions. This is a serious political assessment”, – he said. The
January report of this organization says that Armenia occupied the
77th position on the level of the free press development, and all the
neighbouring countries of the region lag behind Armenia by the rating
of the free press. Azerbaijan occupied the 162-nd position, Georgia –
the 105th, Turkey – the 148th and Iran – the 175th. Tigran Sargsyan
agreed to the view of the opposition Armenian National Congress that
it is already for four years that civil society has been formed in
Armenia. “We have to pass a long way on enhancing of civil society”,
– the premier said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“WE ARE IN A STAGE WHEN NKR PARTICIPATION IS RATHER IMPORTANT”

Aysor.am
Thursday,February 09

“If we want to see progress in NKR conflict settlement then we should
surely take into consideration the fact that the NKR leadership must
take part in negotiation processes. In the NKR issue we have arrived
to the point where the opinion and disposition of the NKR authorities
is very important,” said RPA fraction deputy Karine Achemyan at a
press conference today.

The deputy assured that there will be progress in the process if they
take up that step.

“The international community that follows this process and the work of
the Minsk Group, shares our opinion. It is very important to involve
the Artsakh Republic in the negotiation process,” she stressed.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH MP: CHANGE “PARIS” TO “KHOJALY” STREET (AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS)

Genocide | 09.02.12 | 12:50

Photo:

In what appears to be continued reaction to debate stirred up by
France’s ongoing discussions on a bill criminalizing denial of the
Armenian Genocide, a Turkish Parliament Member is suggesting that
Turkey adopt a law “recognizing the Khojaly genocide”.

(Khojalu was a flashpoint in the early days of the Karabakh war. Azeri
sympathizers claim that on February 26, 1992, Armenian forces
indiscriminately killed more than 600 citizens, including civilians and
took more than 1,000 hostages. The Armenian side disputes the charges.)

MP Sinan Ogan’s press office reports that the Turkish National Movement
Party deputy’s bill “also envisages erecting of the memorial to
the genocide victims in such Turkish cities as Kars, Ardahan, Agri,
Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Kocaeli and Manisa”.

Finally, Ogan proposes that a street in Ankara named “Paris” be
changed to “Khojaly Street”.

ARMENIA’S FIRST PRESIDENT MUST SHOULDER BURDEN OF DECISION, REAP LAURELS – ARAM SARGSYAN

Tert.am
09.02.12

Aram Sargsyan, Political Council Chairman, Republic party, which
formed part of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC),
gave an interview to Tert.am.

With respect to problems within Armenia’s political forces, he said
that the forces’ leaders finally assume the responsibility for the
problems.

According to him, Armenia’s first president must shoulder the burden
of subjective decision. He must reap the positive results of this
decision, along laurels, problems and complaints. Such is politics,
Aram Sargsyan says.

Below is an excerpt from the interview:

Question: Mr Sargsyan, the Armenian National Congress (ANC) is reported
to be unable to agree on a ticket. Has any consensus been achieved?

Answer: The consensus is as follows: with respect to single-member
constituencies, a ‘bank of individuals’ has been formed. I can say
that the lists of candidates submitted by the ANC member-parties are
happy ones. The lists include individuals popular with the public. The
ANC member-parties reached an agreement…

A final decision is to be agreed on with the ANC leader, and I am sure
that hardly any problems will arise. I am sure that it will be done
after the ticket has been approved, irrespective of the principles
the list is compiled.

Question: A number of high-ranking officials have lately visited
your family, which caused heated discussions. Nothing strange about
Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan’s visit, which. Cannot be said of
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s visit. The press branded the visits
PR. Your comments, please.

Answer: I would like the people opening the door of Vazgen Sargsyan’s
house to open it with Vazgen’s heart. I would like to believe they
come to our home without any hidden agenda, that they come to Vazgen’s
home to see his parents, not to exchange their political views with
me. My presence makes it easier for them to come to our home.

NEW BOOK RECOUNTS ARMENIANS’ ROLE IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Tert.am
09.02.12

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) hosted today the presentation
of a book devoted to the Armenians role in Ottoman Turkey.

The monograph, entitled the Armenians Contribution to the Ottoman
Empire, tells about the ethnic Armenians presence in every aspect of
the country’s life (palaces, diplomatic and administrative offices,
judicial bodies, art, trade, sport etc.).

Ruben Safrastyan, an Armenian Turkologist attending the presentation,
highly praised the book’s significance in terms of future studies.

“I am sure it will find a wide response not only in Armenia’s
scientific circles, but also worldwide,” he said.

The director of Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan,
stressed the importance of translating the book into different
languages.

“It is important to translate the book and then think of disseminating
it. It is very important to explain to the world why we attach so much
significance to the issue,” he said.

Archbishop Vazgen Berberyan, who has recently returned from Istanbul,
said the book contains very important conclusions for historians to
focus on.

He noted with regret that the Armenians in Turkey know very little of
their past, with many of them (60%) preferring mixed marriages.

“Isn’t it disturbing for Armenians. I am sure the book will furnish us
facts to speak of our rights,” he added.

The author of the book, Hasmik Stepanyan, has been working at the NAS
Oriental Studies Institute for 40 years. Her works are devoted
exclusively to the Armenian-lettered literature on the Turkish
culture.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S OLIGARCHS WILL HAVE 3 BODYGUARDS

news.am
February 09, 2012 | 16:20

YEREVAN. – During Thursday’s session of Armenia’s National Assembly,
the latter passed the bill on Special Guard Service.

All parliamentary forces voted in favor of this draft law, which was
introduced by the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia and
the opposition’s ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party.

This law will be put into force on January 1, 2013, and it stipulates
that the maximum number of bodyguards must be three, and that of
accompanying vehicles must be one.

And even though there was a concern that especially the oligarch MP’s
would vote against this bill, since they are the ones who use the
services of bodyguards, no one cast a ballot against this law proposal.

J’LEM: MAN ARRESTED IN ARMENIAN QUARTER FOR ALLEGED RAPE
By MELANIE LIDMAN

02/09/2012 15:52

Police indicted a 71-year-old man from the Old City of Jerusalem
on Wednesday who is suspected of raping young girls in the Armenian
Quarter.

The man, Sharif Shawalha, owned a kiosk inside the Armenian monastery,
and is suspected of raping at least four girls inside the monastery
between 1999 and 2002.

The accusations came to light only recently because the girls were
worried about being ostracized in the small Armenian community in
the Old City, and kept silent for over a decade.

TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN – SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN
Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 18:04:02 – 09/02/2012

Turkey and Azerbaijan announce that they will not support sanctions
against Iran unless the UN approves those sanctions.

It should be noted that the welfare of the Turkish economy is mostly
related to Iran which has become its lead supplier of oil and gas
and is therefore the most important and closest market for several
branches of Turkey’s economy. The sanctions against Iran would do
great harm to Turkey. In addition, the Iranian direction of external
economic relations cannot be compensated in the visible future.

Unlike the Arab states which do not implement significant supplies
of goods (except for oil), Turkey depends on the external market
because its economics is mostly aimed at the external market of raw
materials and supply. Hence, sanctions against Iran mean sanctions
against Turkey.

At the same time, like Iran, Turkey fears the critical line in their
relations and will always observe the rules of the game, knowing that
a confrontation would lead to a regional catastrophe.

However, the present U.S.-Turkish relations when Turkey has accepted
most conditions of the United States have marked the place Turkey
has occupied in forming the anti-Iranian front. The Iranians do not
cherish illusions regarding the positions and functions which Turkey
performs in the U.S. strategy in the Near East and expects the worst
which apparently is something impossible thing, in other words,
an offensive on Iran.

However, these are only separate fragments in the Turkish-Iranian
relations but if the main goal of Turkey is concerned, it is the
restraint on the expansion of Iran in a long-term perspective.

Therefore, to say that Turkey does not participate in the sanctions
is profanation.

The same goes for Azerbaijan which has become a platform for the
intelligence activities of the United States and Israel in regard to
Iran. At the same time, Azerbaijan has become the main destabilizing
factor for Iran in the north. Iran has conducted deep and systemic
work for the failure of Azerbaijan as a state and society, and now
it no longer hides it. Azerbaijan needs strong backing and security
guarantees because Iran is viewed as enemy N1.

In this situation, Azerbaijan also understands that the sole real
guarantor can be only the United States and, of course, is ready to
do any service.

It is possible that Turkey and Azerbaijan have agreed the conditions of
their position and attitude towards Iran which will soon become known
one way or another. It is necessary to note that this speculative
position of Turkey and Azerbaijan must be conducted in terms of
arguments in clarifying the relations between the United States and
Armenia regarding the anti-Iranian sanctions if it has to be done.

AKORI VILLAGE SCHOOL STILL HAS NO PRINCIPAL; SQUABBLE CONTINUES
Larisa Paremuzyan

hetq
15:05, February 9, 2012

Tensions continue to flare at the village school in Akori, pitting
teachers and local officials over a disputed school board election
for a new principal.

The winner of the election, Anahit Mousayelyan, whom the teachers
did not recognize as being fairly elected, resigned on February 7,
and the Lori Regional Governor appointed an interim principal until
a new election could be scheduled.

Mousayelyan’s departure only partially appeased the striking school
teachers.

A dialogue meeting between teachers and Edik Matsakyan, Deputy Director
of the Lori Regional Administration’s Department of Education, Culture
and Sport, which was scheduled for this morning, never took place.

While the teachers have accepted Silva Simonyan, the interim
principal appointed by the Regional Governor, they are demanding the
reinstatement of two school officials fired by Mousayelyan during
her brief tenure.

One of the fired officials, Seda Khlopouzyan, told Hetq that Matsakyan
had told teachers that the interim principal has the power to rehire
her and the other official, but that Simonyan abruptly refused to
serve as interim principal.

“According to my information, Simonyan stepped down after Matsakyan
told her that he wanted to propose Mousayelyan as an assistant to
the principal for academic matters. The woman refused and quit,”
Khlopouzyan told Hetq.

We got in touch with Silva Simonyan and asked her why she stepped down,

“Because I am not certain that the rehiring of the two dismissed
official is the right thing to do. I have concerns that it would create
unnecessary problems with my work colleagues and the local residents,”
said Simonyan.

As a consequence of this seemingly intractable impasse, it’s the 351
pupils at the school who are suffering. Classes haven’t been held on
a regular basis for the past six weeks.

The question remains why officials are making a point of keeping
Anahit Mousayelyan at the school in whatever capacity possible.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress