Month: February 2012

TENSIONS CONTINUE TO FLARE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN, PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTIES
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
12:40, February 7, 2012

Yesterday’s Brouhaha In Parliament Between The Republican And
Prosperous Armenia (PAP) parties continued in today’s session.

The PAP MP’s failed to take their seats in an apparent boycott. The
only PAP MP in sight was Nayiri Zohrabyan who operated her blinking
light to ask for time to address the body.

Zohrabyan rose and said that Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan had
arbitrarily refused to acknowledge her yesterday as well when she
tried to speak.

She charged certain Republican Party MP’s with making inappropriate
remarks at yesterday’s session when PAP MP’s refused to participate
in a vote on a bill to restrict certain cash transaction.

Zohrabyan went on from the podium to charge the anti-corruption
legislation passed over the years as a joke that has nothing to do
with battling the socio-economic disease so rampant in Armenia.

As the MP continued to speak, Parliamentary President Nikoyan suddenly
turned off her microphone. But Zohrabyan continued reading her prepared
message nevertheless.

Republican Party faction leader Galust Sahakyan then requested the
floor and motioned for a 20 minute recess.

From: Baghdasarian

WHO HINDERS MINISTER OHANYAN
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:50:29 – 07/02/2012

“Non-combat deaths continue to plague the army and a related pattern
of ‘hazing’ (the bullying or humiliation of conscripts), abuse and
other unacceptable behaviour has sparked concern over a breakdown in
military discipline and proper command conduct,” state the experts of
Oxford Analytica. They note that this may subvert the military reform,
as well as affect the balance of forces in the region.

At the same time, the British experts note the existence of two wings
in the armed forces. One is the wing that supports reforms, systemic
change, with Minister Seiran Ohanyan at its head. The other wing is
the so-called conservative wing of the representatives of the old
generation who oppose reforms.

The fact that the plight in the army has appeared in the focus of an
international analytical center is evidence that the armed forces
of Armenia are more than just an official occasion for Armenia to
feed the Armenians with patriotic pathos. The Armenian forces in the
region have more serious tasks and mission than just being a dried
butterfly between the pages of the textbook of patriotism.

In Armenia this must be recognized in a broad social and political
scope to shape an attitude to the army.

However, it is also obvious that instead of generating this
understanding the Armenian government does everything it can to
keep the army away from this understanding and keeping it as a mere
subject of toasts. The reason is that the main mission of the army is
to act as a tool to support the government of Armenia, either through
physical deployment or propaganda.

At least, the stance of official Yerevan does not allow supposing
the opposite. And this continues to take lives of young citizens of
Armenia. To measure this with statistics is equal to insanity.

The British experts state that the so-called conservative wing in the
armed forces hinders the defense minister Seiran Ohanyan and the new
generation of military officers to carry out successful reforms. The
British experts wonder whether President Sargsyan will support the
minister of defense to face this serious challenge.

The British experts do not specify who the representatives of the
conservative wing are. Meanwhile, it is high time to name these
people. Who are these people, what division are they in, who opposes
to the minister, and whom does Serzh Sargsyan’s silence support?

This is certainly an issue for Minister Ohanyan to address, rather than
the British experts. It is obvious that he has become the target in the
tragedies happening in the army. And it is something normal because
Seiran Ohanyan is the minister of defense and he is responsible for
the lives of the young conscripts.

However, it is also clear that the army has its structure with
important divisions, such as the General Staff which is responsible
for the operations of the army. However, the responsibility of the
General Staff is never brought up. And the chief of the General Staff,
presently Yuri Khachaturov, is appointed by the head of state.

Consequently, the problem is there. Does Khachaturov hinder Ohanyan?

If yes, why does Ohanyan fail to express himself and resort to public
support to force Serzh Sargsyan to carry out a reshuffle? If not,
it is not true that Seiran Ohanyan is the leader of the reformist
wing in the army. Because if the General Staff and the ministry of
defense are not opponents regarding the reforms, it is difficult to
imagine what can subvert the success of these reforms.

It is possible that Seiran Ohanyan is restrained by Serzh Sargsyan
who is reluctant to start a reshuffle on the eve of the elections and
enter into a conflict with the generals ridding of which is a vital
need for the army.

The British experts think that Serzh Sargsyan runs a risk anyway
because unsolved problems in the army may mobilize a great number of
forces in the pre-election stage, from right nationalists to liberal
democrats.

THEY WILL LEAVE CONGRESS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:03:56 – 07/02/2012

Former Member of the Armenian National Congress Suren Sirunyan told
reporters today that he sent a request to the European Court of Human
Rights asking to withdraw his application which signed a number of
political prisoners one and a half year ago.

“This is my protest against the Armenian National Congress and
its steps. I don’t want to become a tool in their hands for their
personal goals, said Sirunyan adding, in our countryGagik Ghangiryan
decides who is political prisoner and who is not. He said I was not
a political prisoner and entered a deal with the government”, he said.

Sirunyan said tens of people joined his protest who will officially
announce about leaving the ANC soon, said Suren Sirunyan complaining
that people ate persecuted for political approaches in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH MINISTER SAYS NO FORCE CAN ARREST HIM OVER GENOCIDE DENIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 7, 2012 – 12:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Egemen Baðýþ commented
on Swiss probe launched over his remarks on the Armenian Genocide on
his way to Brussels.

“Zurich prosecutor needn’t waste time on investigation. My remarks
that the 1915 events do not amount to Genocide are still valid,”
Bagis told journalists.

“I learnt about the investigation through media reports as you probably
did. However, there’s no force that could bring about the arrest of
any Turkish minister,” Anadolu quoted Bagis as saying.

A Zurich prosecutor on Monday, February 6 launched an investigation
into remarks by Egemen Baðýþ, Turkey’s EU affairs minister and chief
EU negotiator, after he said in Zurich that there was no Armenian
Genocide and that Swiss authorities could arrest him if they wanted to.

News about the prosecution’s move was published in the Swiss daily
Neue Zurcher Zeitung. The Zurich Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched
the investigation into Baðýþ’s remarks – which he made last month in
Zurich on his way back from the World Economic Forum at Davos – based
on a complaint filed by members of Switzerland’s Armenian community.

Zurich State Prosecutor Christine Braunschweig was quoted by the daily
as having said: “Last week we received a petition about this issue,
informing us that Mr. Baðýþ violated the anti-racism Article 261 of the
Swiss Penal Code. Our prosecutor’s office has taken this allegation
seriously and launched an investigation. We will investigate whether
Egemen Baðýþ uttered words denying the Armenian Genocide as asserted
in the petition. We will also see if he has diplomatic immunity. At
the end of this, we will press charges against him if there indeed
is a violation and if he cannot benefit from diplomatic immunity.”

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN NUCLEAR OFFICIAL SAYS IRAN NUKE PLANT SECURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 7, 2012 – 14:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A senior official of Russian state nuclear
corporation Rosatom has stated that Iran’s first nuclear power plant
in the Southern port city of Bushehr complies with the latest safety
rules and standards, and is fully resistant to natural incidents,
specially big earthquakes.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant can resist an earthquake measuring 9
on the Richter scale, plant’s constructor, Fars News Agency quoted
Rosatom Corporation’s Programs Director Sergei Boyarkin as saying.

“The recent earthquake which jolted parts of Iran’s Southwest regions
had not affected the nuclear activities in Bushehr nuclear power
plant,” he added.

An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale jolted the city of
Khormoj in the southern province of Bushehr on Feb 5 morning.

There were no reports of any casualty or damage to property caused
by the quake.

ARAB WORLD SINKING INTO TRIBAL FEUD

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 3, 2012

Islamism may be good, but not in the way executed by radical groups,
whose main business is terrorism and disturbances.

The scuffle on the football field at Port Said was not something
unexpected, at large. Egypt, like all the other countries of the
“Arab Spring” came to be involved in the chaos currently on in
Libya, Tunisia, and outlined in Syria. Just a reason was necessary
for starting the war “all against all”, and this football match was
just a finest occasion.

PanARMENIAN.Net – Once again, in Tahrir Square there gathered several
thousand people to protest against the events of February 1 in Port
Said. They demanded, as always, the government’s resignation and
execution of Chairman of the Supreme Council of the armed forces of
Egypt, Marshal Hussein Tantawi, presently performing the function of
the head of state until presidential election. It turns out that Hosni
Mubarak, a tyrant and a dictator, for whom a death penalty is demanded,
at least kept the country in a tight grip and did not give vent to
the instincts of killing and robbing. One can even assume that the
present Parliament of Egypt, consisting mainly of “Muslim Brothers”
sought exactly such orgy in the country to introduce Sharia law as
soon as possible and deal shortly with the Christian population. Now
it’s a fact that soon there will be no Christians in Egypt. First,
the tribes will get square with one another, then the rest will kill
the Copts. Though … the Copts are already being murdered: Not for
nothing nobody touched them under Mubarak, although they were not
allowed to climb the career ladder.

The lower house of the Egyptian Parliament put the victims of the
Port Said football stadium tragedy on a par with the victims of
the revolutionary events in January 2011 shot to disperse the mass
anti-government demonstrations. In fact, Parliament accused Mubarak of
authorizing both last year’s shooting down and the current carnage,
though being a sick old man behind bars and confined to bed. It is
quite understandable that “Muslim Brotherhood” should try to shift
the responsibility for the collapse of the country on the “dictator”
and not on themselves, who lost control over the state. Islamism may
be good, but not in the way executed by radical groups, whose main
business is terrorism and disturbances.

It should be noted that the fans of “Al-Ahly”, also known as “ultras”,
are especially famous for their bad behavior. Recently they have
often been involved in clashes with the police.

According to the BBC, the opposition blames the government for what
happened, because, as they say, it proved unable to ensure the safety
of its citizens. Many recall that the fans of Cairo “Al-Ahly” took
part in demonstrations in Tahrir Square in Cairo, which resulted in
the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. Presidential candidate
Hamdin Sabahi declared that “what happened in Port Said was a
terrible punishment for fans of “Al-Ahly” for they participated in
the revolution.”

Let us recall that the scuffle on the football field at Port Said
was the worst since October 16, 1996, when during the panic at the
stadium in Guatemala 78 people were killed and 189 got injured after
the World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica.

However, the situation wouldn’t be so bad, but for the hypocritical
message of the UN Secretary-General, in which he was “extremely
saddened by the death of over 74 people and hundreds of others injured
in the violence that erupted in the Egyptian city of Port Said.” “Ban
Ki-moon has expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and
wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” the UN News Center cites the
press secretary of the Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon also expressed
confidence that Egyptian authorities will take appropriate measures
in response to this tragic incident.

Meanwhile, a civil war is gaining momentum in Libya, another country
that fell victim to the “Arab Spring”. In the Libyan capital, Tripoli
explosions are bursting out, a dense smoke lies over the city, and
an armed clash has erupted between two “revolutionary brigades”.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Libya, the conflict
involves militia of Misurata, an opposition center during the Libyan
uprising, and a division from Zintana, another important stronghold of
the rebels. The parties exchange fire by the beach Es Saadi near the
center of Tripoli. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay, “The government of Libya has not yet achieved
effective control” over the “revolutionary brigades”, groups, which
last year took part in the hostilities against the army of Gaddafi.

Thus, either the UN is unaware of what is actually happening in Arab
countries, or it deliberately turns a blind eye to the prolonged
spring. The second viewpoint, unfortunately, is more probable and it
is the path by which the UN and the West are determined to take Syria.

However, they’ve failed so far: Russia and China voted down the demands
of resignation of President Assad not for great love, but for a simple
calculation that if intertribal war starts also in Syria, it could
spread over to anywhere, even to Russia. The number of Islamist groups
openly proclaiming jihad is growing rapidly, and President Barack
Obama obviously hurried declaring that by the killing of Osama bin
Laden there was put an end to the threat of “Al-Qaeda”. Alas, this
threat will linger for a long time, even after the U.S. withdraws
its troops from Afghanistan or, what is almost impossible, refrains
from its bases in Saudi Arabia. Until then, “revolutions” in Arab
countries will continue with a surprising regularity. If the Arab
states proved unable to unite against a common enemy – the State of
Israel – they will never come to an agreement with each other.

And last of all, most apparently, the thought of success of
Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi’s murderers keeps the Egyptian
“revolutionaries” awake at night: they must also execute Mubarak,
and now Tantawi. Whether they will be happier and richer afterwards
is a big issue. Sooner no, than yes.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA FIND NEW WAYS OF COOPERATION: JOINT VENTURES TO BE ESTABLISHED

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 7, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS: Meeting of Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan and First Vice Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Zubkov
took place in Yerevan, February 7. Armenpress reports, PM Tigran
Sargsyan said during the meeting they discussed economic issues of
mutual interest. The issues particularly related to the spheres of
agriculture, agricultural engineering, acquiring of high-quality seed
and upgrading of agricultural centers. He said works are being carried
out for creation of joint ventures. “Let’s register that during the
coming months we will have few new programs connected with the creation
of new leasing companies. The joint task groups will work in Moscow for
the implementation of our arrangements,” head of Armenia’s executive
power said, expressing gratitude to the guest for the joint work.

Viktor Zubkov said positive discussion took place at the residence of
the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. Programs of mutual interest,
trade circulation, implementation of investment programs were discussed
at the meeting. “The trade circulation increased by 12% amounting
to almost 1 billion USD. Billion is not a limit at all. We find new
directions for cooperation, particularly in the sphere of agriculture,”
the first vice premier of Russia said. He conveyed the greatest wish
of his state to cooperate with Armenia in different directions.

“We think of establishing “Rosselkhozbank” subsidiary in Armenia. It
is one of the powerful banks in Russia. It will work with Armenian
farmers toward crediting. We may work quite effectively,” Zubkov said.

In a month bilateral task groups will work toward implementation
of arrangements. “We see good opportunities here. There is a great
potential in the spheres of education, culture. We are also thinking
over establishing branch of Moscow State University in Yerevan,”
the Russian vice premier said.

He expressed gratitude to the President of Armenia and Prime Minister
for warm and constructive dialogue.

ARMENIANS TO CONDUCT DEMONSTRATIONS IN NEW YORK AGAINST TURKEY’S POLICY OF DENIAL

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 7, 2012
YEREVAN

NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS: Atrocities committed against the
Armenian people during World War I opened the door to grave breaches
of international law.

Armenian advocacy groups in the United States announced plans
for demonstrations in New York later this year. The theme of the
commemoration is that Turkey is guilty of genocide and “denying the
undeniable is a crime,” Armenpress reports citing UPI.com.

A bill passed by the French Senate last month would impose a sentence
of a year in prison and a fine of more than $58,000 on those found
guilty of denying any officially recognized genocide.

Dennis Papazian, an official with the advocacy group Knights of Vartan,
said in a statement that the World War I atrocities opened the door
for further transgressions.

“The Turkish government to this day continues to deny the reality of
the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, which
opened the door to all the genocides of the 20th and 21st centuries,
including the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur,” he said.

TURKISH WARDEN THREATENED WITH DEATH AFTER DEMOLITION OF THE ANNEXES OF THE ARMENIAN GRAVEYARD IN MALATYA

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 7, 2012
MALATYA

MALATYA, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: After demolition of the annexes of
the Armenian graveyard in Malatya in February 2, the Turkish warden
of the graveyard has been threatened with death, Armenpress reports.

Najie Chaleshkan, the warden, said in an interview with CNNTurk
that after demolishing the newly-built annexes by permission of the
Mayor’s Office, they began disturbing her. “People of the neighborhood
disturb me for being a warden here. They often break the windows of the
watchhouse and demolish the tombs. They call me “gavur” (nonbeliever).

Their children do not play with mine. I am very afraid, we are not
safe at all as we are always threatened with death,” the Turkish
woman warden of the Armenian graveyard complained.

From: Baghdasarian

FRANTISEK SEBEJ: TURKEY HAS NO ROOM IN EUROPEAN FAMILY

Panorama.am
12:03 07/02/2012

Forum of Armenian Association of Europe (FAAE) informed Slovakia’s
Foreign House President Frantisek Sebej had a meeting with FAAE and
Armenian Community President to Slovakia Ashot Grigoryan. Armenian
Genocide denial bill passed by France’s Senate has been highlighted
during the meeting.

According to the source the sides have signified the law passed by
Slovakian National Council in 2009 in terms of restoring justice and
bringing Armenian Genocide and Holocaust on a single platform.

According to Mr. Sebej the Jewish people need it more as the tragedy
of Holocaust will be more pointed. Mr. Sebej has said he’s hopeful
Armenian Genocide will be recognized by Israel’s Knesset soon.

Slovak official says today’s Europe is strong due to Christian,
Jewish values and Greek ancient culture. Hence, Turkey has no room
in European family, as it is far away from modern system of values
of civilization. Today, according to Mr. Sebey, Turkey is wandering
on the crossroad of Pan Islamism, Pan Turkism and European Union.

From: Baghdasarian