Month: February 2012

YEREVAN MAYOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO ZORAVAR ANDRANIK

Tert..am
25.02.12

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan has visited the Yerablur military
cemetery earlier today to pay tribute to the legendary Armenian
freedom fighter and activist, Andranik Ozanyan, whose 147th birthday
is celebrated today.

Clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church offered a liturgy by the
great hero’s grave to commemorate him and all the devoted martyrs, who
sacrificed their lives in the Armenian people’s fight for liberation.

According to a press release by the Yerevan City Hall, the mayor
also laid flowers on the tombs of Armenia’s former prime minister
and a hero of the Nagorno-Karabakh liberation war, Vazgen Sargsyan
(who was assassinated during the 1999 October 27 terrorist attack on
the parliament), and the founder of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia, Ashot Navasardyan.

From: A. Papazian

EU DESIRES TO HAVE ACCESS TO KARABAKH WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS AND ENLARGE ROLE IN PEACE PROCESS

news.am
February 24, 2012 | 21:25

EU desires to have an access to Nagorno-Karabakh without preconditions,
an EU high-ranking official, who wished to be anonymous, told Radio
Liberty.

“EU desires to enlarge its role in the Karabakh peace process.

However, it does not mean that EU seeks to replace France. It just
wants to be active in such issues as strengthening trust between the
two nations. The most important is that EU wants to enter Karabakh
without asking permission from Azerbaijan, which is indeed new,”
Jozwiak quotes the official.

EU Ministerial Council is expected to discuss the situation in the
South Caucasus on Feb. 27 and adopt a document once again stressing
the EU’s readiness to continue supporting strengthening democracy,
protecting human rights, rule of law and prosperity of the region. In
the meantime, it stresses importance of settling the existing conflicts
through peace in the region.

ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO UN COUNTERS AZERBAIJAN’S PROVOCATIVE SPEECHES

news.am
February 24, 2012 | 13:26

YEREVAN. – A discussion, entitled “Women, Peace, and Security,”
was held at the UN Security Council on Thursday.

Armenia’s Ambassador to UN, Karen Nazaryan, also attended the event,
and, in his address, he reflected on violation against women and
girls during conflicts, MFA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Nazaryan specifically noted: “In several days we will commemorate the
innocent victims of Sumgait [in Azerbaijan], who were subjected to
slaughter and terrible violations simply because they were Armenian.”

And alluding to the Azerbaijani representative’s address, Armenia’s
ambassador recalled that the day’s discussion was solely about the
violations and crimes committed during the conflicts that are included
on the Security Council (SC) agenda, and therefore he deemed absurd
the Azerbaijani representative’s hint made toward the incidents that
occurred in Khojalu. Nazaryan noted that even after being elected to
the SC, Azerbaijan continues with its irresponsible modus operandi,
to conceal its own crimes and provocations.

Armenia’s ambassador to UN also called upon Azerbaijan to refrain
from cheap steps and, instead, to focus on the Karabakh peace talks
and to materialize those arrangements reached during the meetings
among the presidents of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Karen Nazaryan also remarked that Azerbaijan continues
to violate UN SC resolutions, which call upon the parties to hold
negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group format, and he added that
Azerbaijan’s refusal to conduct talks with the elected leadership of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is one of the main obstacles standing
in the way of regulating the issue.

PRESIDENT OF KYRGYZSTAN READY TO GET RID OF RUSSIAN AND AMERICAN MILITARY BASES

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 12:58

The President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev spoke to different
media outlets about the Russian and American military bases in the
country during his visit to Russia. He made it clear, that he was
ready to get rid of both of them simultaneously.

In an interview with Ekho Moskvy, Atambayev stressed that should go
on the other way. If the Russian base even does not pay the rent for
the territory, should they keep the Russian base in Kant, he wonders.

In an interview with the Voice of Russia he once again noted that
Kyrgyzstan should exclude the possibility of using Manas military
base for US in case of a conflict with Iran.

ACTIVISTS CONTINUE THEIR PROTEST AT DOWNTOWN YEREVAN PARK

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 11:07

YEREVAN. – Armenian environmentalists, who oppose the construction
of kiosks at Mashtots Park in downtown Yerevan, are continuing their
demonstration for nearly two weeks.

And along the lines of this protest, the environmentalists on Saturday
will hold a bicycle march, a gathering with political analyst Edgar
Vardanyan, and a photo exhibition entitled “A Chronicle of Yerevan
Parks.”

AZERI EXPERT: RUSSIA NOT INTERESTED IN KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 25, 2012 – 12:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia is not interested in fair resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, director of the Atlas strategic research
center said.

Elhan Sahinoglu said if Russia were interested, it “would exert
pressure on Armenia”, SalamNews reports.

“Very little time is left before Dmitry Medvedev’s presidency is over.

Most likely, Vladimir Putin will come to power in Russia, and Putin
will not make much effort to settle the conflict. Even some kind of
confrontation is expected in Russia, so our northern neighbor may be
distracted by its own affairs. Therefore, official Moscow is expected
to show certain activity in Karabakh conflict resolution during the
summer,” he said.

The political expert noted that the talks over Karabakh conflict
resolution have reached a deadlock now.

FRANCE OPPOSES OPENING OF TURKISH CONSULATES IN BORDEAUX, NANTES

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 25, 2012 – 15:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – France has opposed the opening of Turkish consulates
in the French cities of Bordeaux and Nantes as Turkey has suspended
political and military ties with Paris over the adoption of the bill
criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

According to Today’s Zaman, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul
Deputy Osman Koruturk submitted a motion concerning the establishment
of Turkish consulates in Bordeaux and Nantes to the Parliamentary
Speaker’s Office to be answered by Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu earlier this week.

Koruturk recalled that in addition to Turkish consulates in Paris,
Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg, Turkey decided to open two consulates
in Nantes and Bordeaux cities to facilitate transactions for Turkish
citizens, and the talks between Turkish and French officials were
almost completed.

“Is it true that Turkey officially applied to France for the
establishment of the consulates in Bordeaux and Nantes before the
French Constitutional Council announces its decision on the denial
bill, and it has been rejected by the French government?” Koruturk
asked “Why has the government applied to France for the establishment
of consulates that means improvement of bilateral relations after
announcing that Turkey will impose political sanctions on France?”

Underlining that this stance contradicts statements coming from the
government, Koruturk claimed that this situation proves that the
government’s sanctions on France are just claptrap.

FRENCH-ARMENIAN DESIGNER DIDIER PARAKIAN TO SHOWCASE COLLECTION IN INDIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 25, 2012 – 15:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Didier Parakian, a famous fashion designer of
Armenian descent from Marseille, France, will showcase his high profile
collection of formal, semi-formal, evening and casual wear at the
India Fashion Forum 2012 to be held in Mumbai from March 13 to 15 and
establish his brands in the Indian market, fibre2fashion.com reported.

Parakian has dressed generations of women in his practical and elegant
style which is both feminine and modern. He has a growing following
of fashion-conscious women who enjoy the freedom to create their own
look. Didier Parakian apparels have a universal appeal and hence have a
large customer base in over fifty countries spanning from East to West.

Parakian has also launched three complimentary brands: Anathea by
Parakian, Carlopik and DP Jeans. Anathea by Parakian offers trendy
and fashionable plus size women’s clothing with a large choice of
stylish plus size dresses. The Brand Carlopik was launched in 1995
to give expression to a more urban look and offers a colorful and
sensual line for everyday wear. The launch of DP Jeans in 2000 was
an overwhelming success. Highlighting its modern spirit, the DP Jeans
style is younger and more directional.

ANCA URGES ARMENIAN AMERICANS TO ASK CONGRESS TO PRESS CLINTON FOR ANSWERS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

armradio.am
25.02.2012 15:04

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the wake of her offensive
dismissal of the Armenian Genocide “as a matter for historical debate,”
will testify and answer questions before four separate U.S. House and
Senate panels this coming week.

The Armenian National Committee of America calls on Armenian Americans
to call on their Senators and Representative to ask Secretary Clinton
questions about her offensive remarks and on the full range of other
issues of special importance to Armenian American voters.

IRAN IDENTIFIES MOSSAD OPERATIVE IN AZERBAIJAN

press tv
Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:23AM GMT

Iranian intelligence officials have identified the operative of Mossad,
Israel’s spy agency, in republic of Azerbaijan, who has been involved
in assassinating Iran’s nuclear scientists, Press TV reports.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has called for the extradition of Mossad’s
Iranian spy, identified as Ja’far Khoshzaban, alias Javidan, who has
been working under the auspices of Azeri security forces.

Deputy Head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy
Committee Esmail Kowsari said on February 22 that they have obtained
documents, which state Azeri officials have aided and abetted
Mossad and CIA agents in their targeted killings of Iranian nuclear
scientists, namely Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan.

Ahmadi Roshan was targeted on January 11, when an unknown motorcyclist
attached a magnetic bomb to his car near a college building of Allameh
Tabatabaei University in northern Tehran.

The legislator highlighted that Baku’s alliance with Israeli and US
spy networks against Tehran will harm Azerbaijan’s interests, calling
on the Azeri government to keep foreign spies away from Iranian border.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on February 12 summoned the Azeri ambassador
to Tehran, Javanshir Akhundov, to object to Baku granting asylum to
the Mossad-trained assassins of Iranian nuclear scientists.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also criticized the anti-Iran campaign
on state-controlled Azeri news outlets and the degrading behavior of
Azeri customs officials towards Iranian truck drivers.

The Azerbaijani ambassador expressed regret over the events and said
Tehran’s message would be conveyed to Baku as soon as possible and
that a response would be relayed to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Last year, Majid Jamali Fashi, a Mossad agent who assassinated Iranian
nuclear scientist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, confessed to having received
forged documents in Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Airport to travel to
Tel Aviv.

Professor Ali-Mohammadi, a lecturer at Tehran University, was
killed when an explosive-laden motorbike was detonated with
a remote-controlled device near his home in northern Tehran in
January 2010.

Azerbaijan has reportedly granted asylum to the Mujahedin-e Khalq
Organization (MKO) as well as the Party for Free Life of Kurdistan
(PJAK) terrorists.

The London Times reported on February 11 that Israel is using
Azerbaijan, a small Eurasian country which shares a border with Iran,
as a base to spy on the Tehran government.

The newspaper cited the testimony of an anonymous Mossad agent referred
to only as Shimon.

“This is ground zero for intelligence work,” Shimon told The Times.

“Our presence here is quiet, but substantial. We have increased our
presence in the past year, and it gets us very close to Iran. This
is a wonderfully porous country.”

According to Shimon the Azerbaijan-Iran border, just a few hours south
of the capital Baku, is prime territory for the Israeli intelligence
service to gather information on Tehran’s activities.

“There is a great deal of information there from people who regularly
and freely travel across the borders. It is unregulated – almost,”
said Shimon.

Azerbaijan is a major energy producer, and exports oil to Israel and
imports weapons and military hardware in return.

From: A. Papazian