Month: February 2012

SHADY DEAL? MAYOR USES MUNICIPAL BUILDING AS COLLATERAL FOR $10,000 BANK LOAN
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
12:50, February 27, 2012

Last October, Armavair Regional Administrator Ashot Ghahramanyan
bestowed Mrgashat village Mayor Gevorg Danielyan with a letter of
commendation for renovating the St. Astvatzatzin Church.

What Ghahramanyan still doesn’t know is that Mayor Danielyan took
out a $10,000 bank loan and used the village municipal building as
collateral. The mayor signed off on the bank loan without the approval
of the municipal council.

When I spoke to Mayor Danielyan he brushed off any inference of
wrongdoing. He refused to be recorded and would only say that the loan
was for work on the church and that a part of the loan was already
paid off.

“Last year we spent 68 million AMD ($175,000) on renovating the
church. The money was from the village budget. It was an old church
in terrible condition. What’s the big fuss?”

Our sources in Mrgashat told us that last year the mayor took 18
hectares of land from the uncultivated land from the villagers and
used it to plant cotton for himself. The loan, they claim, was for
this purpose.

They also state that the church wasn’t renovated with municipal funds
but by small and large donations made by the residents themselves
and that Sargis Khlghatyan, brother of the Mayor of Armavir, donated
money to repair the church roof. Another benefactor was MP Nahapet
Gevorgyan who was bestowed the title of honorary Mgrashat citizen by
the village council in gratitude.

Many in the village were also unaware that the municipal building had
been used as collateral for a bank loan. There’s no bulletin board in
the office and no information about municipal dealings or budgetary
matters gets posted.

“There was notice board outside but some village kids tore it down.

I’ll have a new one installed in a few days,” Mayor Danielyan promised.

When we asked Regional Administrator Ghahramanyan if he knew of other
municipal property in Armavir that had been used as bank collateral,
he said there wasn’t any on file.

So it would appear that Mayor Danielyan conducted the loan transaction
on the “sly” and that it was most probably for personal rather than
village related reasons.

In his defense, Mayor Danielyan boasted that in the eleven years
he’s served as village mayor, he’s built a club, a hospital and
a kindergarten.

He says that the village roads and one of the school annexes are in
need of repair and that work will begin this year. He couldn’t tell
me what particular project would encompass such endeavours.

“Project? There are many projects out there,” was his response.

He also pointed to municipal funding for a football team and dance,
puppet and painting clubs.

Mayor Danielyan says he pays particular attention to the senior
citizens in the village. He was even to tell me the exact number of
grandfathers and grandmothers; 350 and 420.

He says the municipality pays for an annual trip that takes them to
Lake Sevan.

“This year, we’ll go somewhere different for the summer. But we’ll
take them separately so as not to quarrel,” Mayor Danielyan joked.

He said that starting this year, the municipality would send a wreath
of flowers to burial services whenever someone in the village passes
away.

Every year, 3-4 million of the village’s 90 million AMD budget is
spent of social services, Danielyan added.

The mayor told me that 1.2 kilometres of village streets will get
lighting installed and that the State Water Resources Committee has
launched a tender for the repair of 7.5 kilometres of irrigation pipes.

UNCLE ACCUSES VILLAGE MAYOR OF RAPING 14 YEAR-OLD NIECE

hetq
15:10, February 27, 2012

Azat Ghukasyan is the mayor of the Syunik village of Hartashen. He
also teaches physical education at the local school.

Some students claim that four days ago Ghukasyan instructed 14 year-old
Karine (the girl’s name has been changed) to follow him to the gym. The
teacher had just admonished two students for “rough behaviour”.

Gagik, the girl’s uncle, says that this isn’t the first time that the
teacher has singled Karine out and led her away. Karine is mentally
challenged.

“One of the girl students followed them and peaked through the key
hole.” Gagik says.

He continues that the girl ran for help when she saw what was
happening. Some teachers ran to the gym but were too afraid to open
the door.

The uncle says that the students refused to go back to class when
they saw the state Karine was in. They went outside and began to chant
“Justice”.

Gagik says that Ghukasyan had raped the girl. The uncle says Karine
remains quite agitated.

“All she can say is, ‘Azat will come and kill me.’ What she means is
that Azat told her to keep her mouth shut or else,” says Gagik.

The uncle says he learnt of what happened two days after the incident.

“I went to see school Principal Siroun Lazarian. I was told she
had gone to Goris so I approached one of the teaching specialists,
Alvard Hayrapetyan. She filled me in. The other teachers told me they
knew what had happened but thought it best to let the incident pass.”

Gagik says they called the police who came and took Karine and the girl
who had followed her in for questioning. The police also interrogated
one of the teachers.

When Hetq contacted the police, all they could say was that a criminal
investigation had been launched as to whether immoral acts had been
committed against a minor.

Gagik says that the village mayor/teacher admitted himself into the
hospital for two days and that he fled to Yerevan afterwards.

Hetq has learnt that this isn’t the first time that Azat Ghukasyan
has been implicated in such a case.

Local gossip in the village says that Ghukasyan was dismissed from
the job of school principal in the past for sexual misconduct with
female students.

NAREG HARTOUNIAN CHARGES ARMENIA’S TAX OFFICIALS WITH “EATING OUR FAMILY ALIVE”
Kristine Aghalaryan

13:12, February 28, 2012

Nareg Hartounian, the embattled diaspora Armenian who heads the
Naregatsi Art Union, today responded to charges made by tax official
Armen Alaverdyan basically charging diaspora businessman with viewing
Armenia as a cash cow to be milked.

At a press conference, Hartounian said Alaverdyan was playing with
his family’s honor.

Armen Alaverdyan, First Deputy to the President of the RA State
Revenue Committee, stated that, “The case of Nareg Hartounian, in
typical Armenian fashion, is one in which Armenia is regarded as
a source of profits and, tragically, evasion of taxes goes hand in
hand,” Alaverdyan said.

Alaverdyan made the statement during a live February 24 live TV
link-up with the U.S. on the general topic of diaspora investment,
with particular attention paid to cases where the rights of diaspora
investors have been violated.

Today, Hartounian repeated that the tax officials should be going after
the directors of GH Storage Enterprise who managed the company before
he came on board in 2010 after they embezzled funds from the company.

He said the family had invested $500,000 to keep the company solvent.

Hartounian charged the tax examiners with being in cahoots with these
former company directors given that they have never been questioned.

Hartounian said the company would gladly pay whatever tax is owed but
only if a just appraisal is made. He refuted any hint of premeditated
tax evasion on his part or that of his family.

In conclusion, Hartounian said tax officials in Armenia have been
“eating the family alive” for the past year.

Hartounian made a special plea to the diaspora, urging Armenians to
follow this case in order to grasp what is currently take place in
the homeland.

US SENATORS PRESS HILLARY CLINTON TO DISAVOW CALLING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE A ‘HISTORICAL DEBATE’

epress.am
02.28.2012

The lead authors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304, Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Robert Dold (R-IL), today sent a letter, co-signed
by 59 of their House colleagues, calling on US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton to renounce her recent public mischaracterization of
the Armenian Genocide as a “historical debate,” reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

In their letter to Secretary Clinton, the signatories noted that
her, “historically inaccurate description of the Armenian Genocide
as an open question, in addition to the offense it represents to
Armenian Americans and other victims of genocide, provides American
encouragement to the Republic of Turkey in its shameful campaign of
denial.” They also reminded the Secretary that in 2006 she joined with
US President Barack Obama – then a US Senator – in writing a letter
explaining to then US President George W. Bush that the Armenian
Genocide was a “systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. . . The victims of the
Genocide deserve our remembrance and their rightful place in history.

. . .It is in the best interests of our nation and the entire global
community to remember the past and learn from these crimes against
humanity to ensure that they are never repeated.” The Congressional
letter also quoted then Senator Clinton’s public statement in 2008
when, as a Senator and candidate for the presidency, she affirmed
that: “[T]he horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against
Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide,” and that “[o]ur common
morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights
challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and
remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States.”

“We want to thank Congressmen Schiff and Dold and each and every
one of the signatories of this Congressional letter for calling on
Secretary Clinton to step back from her historically inaccurate and
deeply offensive assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for
historical debate,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We
remain hopeful that the Secretary, after having allowed this false
statement to remain on the record for more than a month, will –
in response to this Congressional letter and the Armenian-American
community’s growing outrage – finally recognize and, to the extent
possible, seek to reverse the impact of this sad episode in undermining
the advancement of US interests, compromising the promotion of American
values, and hindering the diplomatic work of the Department of State.”

Secretary Clinton is scheduled to testify and answer questions before
four separate US House and Senate panels this coming week. ANCA has
called on legislators serving on these committees to question her about
her offensive “historical debate” comments, on and the full range of
other issues of special importance to Armenian-American voters.

EU WON’T ASK BAKU GOING TO KARABAKH
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:45:16 – 28/02/2012

Yesterday, the European Union adopted an unprecedented decision on
Nagorno Karabakh. On February 27, in the result of the conclusions of
the European Council meeting it was stated: “The EU stands ready to
provide enhanced support for confidence building measures, in support
of and in full complementarity with the Minsk Group, with a view to
facilitating further steps towards the implementation of peace. In
this regard, the EU underlines the need for unconditional access for
representatives of the EU to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

The Council invites the High Representative and the Commission to
develop, in close consultation with the OSCE, post conflict scenarios
for Nagorno-Karabakh as a basis for future EU engagement”, is said
in the statement.

Recall, no country of the world has the official “unconditional
access” to Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan is resisting to the arrival
in Karabakh of officials, public and even private people, including
those, who dare to ignore its opinion, into the black list.

Despite the wide mandate, the EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus was unable to visit Karabakh. The ex-Representative of the
EU Peter Semneby arrived till Goris, but he turned back after a call
without reaching Karabakh.

The EU decision means that this structure accepts no more the position
of Azerbaijan as a basis for its activities. This means that the
EU decided to lead a more independent policy on the Karabakh issue,
without looking at Baku and Moscow.

Only the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and OSCE Field Representatives
have free access to Karabakh. There is the office of the International
Committee of Red Cross in Karabakh, a number of foreign NGOs are
represented there. MPs from Russia, France and U.S. Congressmen visited
Karabakh, but each of them tried to do it out of work presenting the
visits as private.

Will the situation change after the EU decision? Is the European Union
going to open an office in Karabakh through which its “post-conflict
scenarios” will be fulfilled.

ARMENIA’S IT PROJECTS MAY BE REALIZED IN KAZAKHSTAN-AMBASSADOR

news.am
February 28, 2012 | 12:42

YEREVAN. – Armenia and Kazakhstan intend to deepen cooperation, Kazak
Ambassador Aiymdos Bozzhigitov said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Ambassador said that he had recently met with the Armenian
PM Tigran Sargsyan and discussed issues of economic cooperation,
including holding session of intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation. They also touched upon issues of realizing Armenian IT
projects in Kazakhstan.

“We have achieved agreement to create register of new projects which
will be considered by the Kazakh side,” the Ambassador said.

From: Baghdasarian

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THE FRENCH BILL WILL ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

armradio.am
28.02.2012 14:49

I’m confident that other countries will follow France to adopt laws
criminalizing the denial of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in an interview with
the Austrian Der Standard daily.

“This genocide is a crime against humanity, which has been recognized
by a number of countries and international organizations. The denial
of the genocide gets a proper reaction. The bill adopted by France
reflects the feelings, the opinion of the whole French nation,”
Minister Nalbandian said.

According to Minister Nalbandian, the law will only contribute to
the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. “If there
is something that prevents the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, it is the approach of the Turkish side. The Turkish side
made a step backward after the signing of the two protocols in Zurich
by refusing the implement the agreements. The international community
considers that the ball is now in Turkey’s court,” he said.

According to Edward Nalbandian, the Armenian-Turkish relations were
in a deadlock before the Armenian President initiated the “football
diplomacy.” “We tried to bring them out of deadlock. However, the
Turkish side is doing its best to return to that impasse.”

Referring to the Karabakh issue, Minister Nalbandian stated:
“In response to Azerbaijani aggression, the self-defense forces in
Nagorno Karabakh had to form a buffer zone around Karabakh to ensure
the physical security of the people Artsakh. The return of territories
is one of the components of the package proposed by the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs. Azerbaijan puts the emphasis only on the return of
territories and bypasses all other aspects. However, in response to
that US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton declared in Astana in 2010
that all principles and elements presented the package have been worked
out as a whole and giving preference to any of them is unacceptable,”
Minister Nalbandian concluded.

TURKISH MP APPEALS TO PROSECUTORS ON ANTI-ARMENIAN SLOGANS

news.am
February 28, 2012 | 14:34

ANKARA. – The Turkish parliament’s Human Rights Commission Chairman
Ayhan Sefer Ustun is disturbed by the offensive expressions that
were made against the Armenians during the rally, which was held on
February 26 in downtown Istanbul, against the incidents in Khojaly.

Ustun noted that the slogans made during the demonstration were racist
and discriminatory, and they spread hatred.

“In 2005, we made changes in Turkey’s Criminal Code, where it is
plainly written as to the punishment that should be given to those
who spread xenophobia. But the prosecutors do not apply these laws,
and the racist statements continue,” the Turkish parliament’s Human
Rights Commission Chairman noted, Radikal daily of Turkey informs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXPERT: BUNDESTAG’S DECISION ON GENOCIDE DEPENDS ON FRENCH CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 28, 2012 – 09:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The decision of Germany’s Bundestag on the petition
criminalizing the denial of genocides recognized by the Federal
Republic of Germany, including the Armenian Genocide, will depend on
the judgment of the constitutional council of France, deputy director
of Caucasus Institute said.

“If the judgment is positive, the petition is more likely to be
adopted in Germany; otherwise further development of events is hard
to predict,” Sergey Minasyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Responding to the question about probability of a chain reaction of
adopting similar bills throughout Europe, Minasyan noted that “no
chain reaction is possible in this case, because adoption of laws
on Genocide is subject to the rules of politics but not physics,
which say that the parties must be interested in this issue.”

“France demonstrates an example of strong counteraction, on the one
hand, and political elite striving to pass the given bill, on the
other hand,” he added.

The Petitions Committee of German Bundestag will discuss the issue
of criminalization of denial of genocides recognized by the Federal
Republic of Germany during one of its forthcoming sessions.

In response to the petition submitted on January 26, 2012, the
Bundestag Commission informed the department of genocide recognition
headed by Dr. Tessa Hofmann about its intention to discuss the issue,”
a source in Germany earlier told PanARMENIAN.Net

In June 2005, the German Bundestag unanimously adopted the Resolution
on the Armenian Genocide sponsored by the Christian Democratic Union/
Christian Social Union without discussion.

The document was titled “Commemoration of Victims and Deportation of
Armenians in 1915: Germany has to participate in reconciliation of
Armenians and Turks”. Though the document does not directly mention
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, it notes that “many independent
historians, as well as parliaments of many countries and international
organizations call events of 1915 a genocide.”

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected
to be signed into law by President within 14 days, the bill will
impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France
who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Two separate groups of French politicians who oppose the legislation
– from both the Senate and the lower house – said they had formally
requested the constitutional council examine the law. The groups said
they each had gathered more than the minimum 60 signatures required
to ask the council to test the law’s constitutionality.

The council is expected to deliver its judgment by March 1. French
President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to circulate a new bill criminalizing
the Armenian Genocide denial in case the constitutional council
recognizes the January 23 bill as contradicting the constitution.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OVER 2000 FOREIGNERS KEPT IN TURKISH PRISONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 28, 2012 – 12:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Some 2,310 foreign nationals are currently serving
time behind bars in Turkey either as convicts or arrestees, according
to information obtained from the Justice Ministry.

Among all foreign nationals imprisoned in Turkey, Iranians top the
list with 477 convicts and arrestees, while Turkmenistan was second
with 265 prisoners. Georgia was third with 165, Syria was fourth with
122, while Nigeria was fifth with 111, according to reports.

Bulgaria, Romania, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, South Africa and Iraq
followed the top five, with each country having more than 40 nationals
in prison in Turkey.

Some 71 stateless individuals with no bonds of citizenship to any
country are also serving time in Turkish jails, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.

From: Baghdasarian