Month: February 2012

NO KIOSK CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN PARK, SAYS ARMENIAN WRITER

Tert.am
24.02.12

The municipal authorities of capital Yerevan decided late on Thursday
to suspend the construction activities in Mashtots Park, an Armenian
intellectual has said.

In an interview with the local TV channel Yerkir Media, Armenian writer
and publicist Meruzhan Ter-Gulanyan said that the chief architect of
Yerevan told an urban development meeting that the decision to build
kiosks on the territory was wrong.

Ter-Gulanyan, who is a member of Armenia’s Public Council, said
Mayor Taron Margaryan did not act in breach of the law when making
the decision; he just made a little haste and selected a wrong place
as a result.

“Those kiosks are not expected to be there; that’s just a
misunderstanding. As to the environmental activists, they are doing
nice job. I praise them, but I am afraid lest those guys should be
involved in political intrigues,” he said.

Speaking further, Art Director of the Yerevan State Chamber Theatre
Ara Yernjakyan said the activists are already involved in political
intrigues as they have told environmentalists about more trees being
cut in a construction site in the vicinities of the Matenadaran
(repository of ancient manuscrupts).

“I will not address the topic because no one has given them such an
instruction,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

CHORRORD INQNISHKHANUTYUN: REPUBLICAN MP TO DEVELOP GEORGIA’S FISH INDUSTRY?

Tert.am
24.02.12

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili continues developing his
country’s business environment, involving Armenian businessmen in
Georgia’s economy, says the paper.

Citing its sources, it claims that a lawmaker of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia, Vardan Ayvazyan, left for Georgia recently to sign
deals on opening fish breeding companies in the country.

There, he reportedly met with a high-ranking Georgian police official
who later arranged his meetings with other top figures, the paper
comments.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES MICHEL LEGRAND ON BIRTHDAY JUBILEE

Tert.am
24.02.12

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has congratulated French composer,
arranger, conductor, pianist, and Knight of Armenia’s Medal of Honor
Michel Legrand on the 80th anniversary of his birthday.

In a greeting address sent to the musician earlier today, the president
highly praises his talent and contribution to the development of
modern music.

“Your music is played around the world. It is thanks to outstanding
personalities like you that your two homelands – Armenia and France –
have been able to strengthen their ties.

With great warmth I remember our Yerevan meeting in September 2009. I
am sure we will have more and more meetings in future, especially in
Yerevan, because the Armenian people love you and take pride in you.

Congratulating you once again on your jubilee, I wish you health and
inexhaustible energy,” reads the congratulatory address.

Michel Legrand was born on February, 24 1932 in Paris.. His father
Raymond Legrand was a conductor and composer renowned for hits such
as Irma la douce and his mother, Marcelle Der Mikaëlian (sister
of conductor Jacques Helian), who married Legrand Senior in 1929,
was descended from the Armenian bourgeoisie. Legrand is a prolific
composer, having written over 200 film and television scores in
addition to many memorable songs.[2] He is best known for his often
haunting film music and scores, such as The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
(1964) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) featuring the song “The
Windmills of Your Mind” for which he won his first Academy Award.

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: PRESENT TERRITORY OF ARMENIA A SMALL PART OF ITS ANCESTRAL LANDS

arminfo
Friday, February 24, 12:23

Armenia did not acquire a modern homeland until 1918 and then only
in a small part of its ancestral lands, writes International Herald
Tribune in an item “The key to Armenia’s survival; Exhibition Review”
By Roderick Conway Morris.

The item is the review of the “Armenia: Imprints of a Civilization,”
an impressive exhibition organized by Gabriella Ulluhogian, Boghos
Levon Zekiyan and Vartan Karapetian of more than 200 works spanning
more than 1,000 years of Armenian written culture. These range from
inscriptions and illuminated manuscripts to printed and illustrated
books, including many unique and rare pieces from collections in
Armenia and Europe.

Armenian civilization is one of the most ancient of those surviving in
the Middle East, but for large parts of its history Armenia has been a
nation without a country. This has given the spoken and written word,
the primary means through which Armenian identity has been preserved,
enormous prominence in its people’s culture.

Over the centuries this emphasis has fostered a particular regard
for books and the means of producing them. Scribes added notes on
the proper care and conservation of books and advice on hiding them
during dangerous times, even on “ransoming” them should they fall into
the wrong hands. A late 19th-century English traveler observed that
the Armenians prized the printing press with the same “affection and
reverence as the Persian highlanders value a rifle or sporting gun.”

In 1511 to 1512 (the exact date is uncertain), the first Armenian
book was printed in Venice. The event was especially significant for
this scattered nation, which did not acquire a modern homeland until
1918 and then only in a small part of its ancestral lands.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS IN SUMGAIT AND BAKU’S SPECULATIONS ON KHOJALU

arminfo
Friday, February 24, 12:19

Parliamentary factions and groups have adopted a joint statement
saying that on February 20, 1988 in line with the Constitution and
then effective legislation of the USSR, the former Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Oblast Regional Council basing on the will of the Armenia
population on the region submitted a petition to the Supreme Councils
of the Azerbaijani SSR and Armenian SSR on the secession of the
Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast from Soviet Azerbaijan and its
transfer to Soviet Armenia. In response to that legal demand, the
Azerbaijani authorities started repressions.

The statement reads that on February 26-28 1988 the Azerbaijani
authorities planned and committed massacre of the Armenian population
in Sumgait, which is provide by thousands of evidences, ArmInfo’s
correspondent to Stepanakert reports.

“To conceal their criminal attitude towards not only the peaceful
Armenian population but also Azerbaijani population in Nagorny
Karabakh, the ruling elite of Azerbaijan has been speculating on
the topic ‘genocide of peaceful population of Khojalu’ for already
20 years.

“Basing on evidences by many witnesses of those incidents that were
recorded by journalists and international human rights organizations
and even confirmed by some Azerbaijani authors, and for the fair and
true presentation of facts, the deputy factions and group of the NKR
National Assembly declare that it is only the Azerbaijani authorities
and forces that are responsible for the violence committed with regard
to the peaceful population on Sumgait, Azerbaijan, on Feb 26029 1988
and the peaceful population in Khojalu, Askeran region of NKR on Feb
26-27,” the statement reads.

The NKR parliamentarians express their commitment to peaceful
resolution of the Karabakh conflict and urge that Azerbaijani party
to “refuse the groundless and irresponsible policy of enmity and
hatred and direct efforts to creation of bases for further peaceful
coexistence of the two neighbor states and peoples.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA DEMANDS TRANSFERRING EUROVISION -2012 FROM AZERBAIJAN TO ANOTHER COUNTRY

arminfo
Friday, February 24, 12:19

Armenia demands transfer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 from
Azerbaijan to another country, says the statement by over 20 popular
Armenian singers addressed to the European Broadcasting Union and
the Armenian Public Television over death of Armenian soldier on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border on February 23.

To recall, on Feb 23, around 1:50 pm Albert A. Adibekyan (born in
1992), soldier of the Armenian armed forces, was killed by an Azeri
sniper during the performance of his duties at the battle position
near Chinari village in Tavush region of Armenia, the press service
of the Armenian Defense Ministry told ArmInfo.

“The Defense Ministry expresses its deep condolence to Albert
Adibekyan’s relatives. The provocation of the Azeri snipers will
receive a proper response. The command staff of the Azerbaijani
armed forces will be brought to responsibility for their actions”,
Armenian Defense Ministry Spokesperson David Karapetyan says.

The statement by the Armenian singers provided to ArmInfo reads:
“We refuse to perform in a country that is notorious for its mass
killings and massacres of Armenians, a country where anti- Armenian
sentiment is part of state policy, a country where ethnic Armenians
are denied entry, even if they are citizens of other countries. Under
these circumstances we, the undersigned, are stating in public that
we have the most serious reservation over Armenia’s participation in
the Eurovision to be held in Baku.We are declaring that we refuse to
take part in the contest to be held in Baku.” Further, the singers
declared that they are ready to take part in it, if the European
Broadcasting Union decides to hold the contest in another country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHY IS LAW ON STATE OF EMERGENCY ADOPTED AHEAD OF ELECTIONS?

epress.am
02.24.2012

Under no circumstances should the army become a tool in issues of
domestic politics. Every country should have a law on the rule of
law during a state of emergency, but the way in which the government
brought this law to the National Assembly was unacceptable, head of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, or ARF-D)
parliamentary faction Vahan Hovhannisyan told journalists in the
capital today.

“There’s a provision in the RA draft law on the rule of law during
a state of emergency which was approved by parliament at its first
reading that is completely unacceptable, according to which the
president of a country in a state of emergency can annul the decision
of any state or local governing body. According to the constitution,
this in no way could’ve referred to the National Assembly, which means
that there should’ve been an amendment here. Whether [the amendment]
has been made or not I haven’t yet seen; I think this law was brought
yesterday evening, which is odd – they took it to amend, knowing that
the criticism, especially our criticism, was right,” he said.

Hovhannisyan recalled the process by which the law was adopted by
parliament at its first reading whereby lawmakers voted in place of
their absent colleagues, which, according to him, was covered very
well by the press.

“Even afterwards, the government understood that this way the law
contradicts the Constitution and the prime minister recalled it,
but it’s been brought back again, as it’s considered to be urgent,”
he said.

The lawmaker found it hard to say to what extent the “unacceptable
mistakes” in the law were rectified.

“One thing is important: in any case, involving the army in domestic
political affairs is unacceptable because this is how the Constitution
considers it. If as described by members of government, demoralization
is happening in the country, then they won’t be characterized as a
domestic political struggle and then the situation will be completely
different and for that we have the opportunity of enforcing not a
‘state of emergency’ but martial law,” he said.

According to Hovhannisyan, the draft law, as proposed, was
unacceptable, which was why it will be amended and discussed again.

“The way the bill is raised seems unacceptable for us, because it’s
well understood that elections are coming up – why did they suddenly
turn their attention to and place importance on this issue right
before the election? The public would have the right to think that
the authorities are forecasting situations in which this law will be
needed as a tool, but from what these situations arise, we have to
fight against that, ballot stuffing, violations, buying votes and
the rest, so that such situations don’t arise and not by presuming
it’s all the same, you’re going to do this anyway and there will
be backlash and you try to confront the backlash through this law –
this isn’t an acceptable way [of doing things],” he concluded.

ARMNEWS TV DIDN’T AIR MY INTERVIEW BECAUSE I CRITICIZED ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES, SAYS ECONOMIST

epress.am
02.24.2012

A few days ago, ArmNews TV had invited economist Movses Aristakesyan
for a televised interview; however, some time after the interview was
conducted, the TV station called Aristakesyan and informed him that
the interview won’t be aired. This news was conveyed to Epress.am
on Thursday by Aristakesyan, who also happens to be a member of the
local opposition bloc the Armenian National Congress.

The economist also mentioned that prior to the start of the interview,
he was asked not to criticize state authorities. According to
Aristakesyan, that’s censorship, and “they’re simply not used to
broadcasting critical news.”

“First, they changed the issues on which I was going to speak, though
it wasn’t difficult for me to prepare for the new questions,” he said.

The economist also described how during the interview he was told
the authorities are working on decreasing the shadow economy, he said:

“The proposed budget that meets international standards might seem
improbable to naysayers who say that the state budget doesn’t have
the means. We can say to the naysayers that our economy in its
current state has the means. It’s enough to look at the wealth
of our billionaires and millionaires, the many elite residential
buildings constructed in the country, the castles and the mansions,
the high-class vehicles circling the country, the lifestyle of the
newly rich and their family members – drawing conclusions will be
quite easy. We just have to eliminate the causes of corruption.”

Aristakesyan pointed out that he had encountered a similar issue
before. In another interview to ArmNews that he gave two months ago,
he criticized the policy adopted by the country’s prime minister. This
interview, which, according to Aristakesyan, was to have been aired
eight times, was broadcast only twice.

“Most likely at first they weren’t attentive, that I had criticized
[a state official], but then seeing it, they took it off air,” he said.

DON’T FORGET PZO

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:52:41 – 24/02/2012

Today, a discussion was held by the initiative group for the protection
of rights of Diaspora investors. The Diaspora intellectual, journalist
Asia Asatryan and American-Armenian businessman Edmond Khudyan blamed
the homeland of robbing Diaspora investors. First deputy president of
the State Revenue Committee Armen Alaverdyan did not like this. He
opposed saying not to use the word homeland if some individuals
robbed. “20 years ago, there was nothing. Now we discuss and speak
about the shortcomings. I urge you to be careful when speaking about
the homeland”, he said.

Then he felt bad that the Armenian representatives, MPs Styopa
Safaryan and Ara Nranyan, don’t oppose the Diaspora Armenians. “I
don’t understand how it is possible to sit and listen how they blame
the homeland”, he said.

Lawyer, Samvel Jaghinyan, who protects the rights of the Diaspora
businessman George Tovmasyan in Armenia, underlined that their aim
is to voice about the breaches and to ensure fair investigation of
cases to have the opportunity to be proud of the homeland.

Armen Alaverdyan recalled cunningly: “Our compatriots succeed in
deceiving people and earn money in such a powerful country as the U.S.

and defame the name of Armenians in the world. I would like very much
for Armenians not to be guilty”, he said.

In answer, Styopa Safaryan noted: “If you are hinting the Pzo case,
rumors go Pzo has been set free. Don’t forget he was suspected to
have done money laundering through Armenia. Please don’t forget this”.

From: A. Papazian

FORGETTING PERSONAL AMBITIONS
Arman Galoyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:30:55 – 24/02/2012

Suren Abrahamyan, member of the Republic Party political board talked
to Lragir.am about the decision of the party that only the party
leader Aram Sargsyan will be represented in the ANC party list.

– Since the Republic Party sees these elections as a way to restore the
Constitutional order in Armenia and does not attach importance to the
parliamentary seats it will have. Besides, taking into account that
there are 18 parties in the Armenian National Congress, and each of
them has ambitions and wishes, we have taken this decision. This is
our message to the people that our aim is not to have parliamentary
seats but to restore the constitutional order.

– Will you have candidates for the majoritarian representation?

– We are still thinking about this. We will take a decision in a
short while.

– Isn’t your decision based on offense?

– Aram Sargsyan has already answered this question. He said that this
is our country and we have no right to be offended from someone. I
will just add to his words that if necessary, we can offend others.

But there is no such an issue now.

– Is this a message to the other parties of the Congress? Or is the
Republic Party leaving Congress little by little?

– To the contrary, out activities, all the persecutions and our
devotion have always been visible to everyone. Do you remember our
participation in the 2003 and 2008 presidential elections when we
put aside all the ambitions we defended one candidate? We are able
to leave aside personal ambitions for higher ideals.

– Are you possible to review your approaches at a certain point?

– I don’t know what can happen for us to change approaches. This is
a very adequate decision for the current political situation.

– Republic Party is considered one of the axis parties of the Armenian
National Congress. How will your decision be accepted by the society?

Will the Congress be represented wholly?

– Congress does not have administrative, financial, material resources
and levers like the Republican and Bargavach Hayastan parties.

Congress will be presented to the society through its leader and party
list. I am sure it is a misunderstanding that everyone will go and
vote for Congress. I am repeating Congress’s success will be based
on its leader and appreciated people by the society. The society will
study the Congress list with a reading glass and when forming it, the
Congress should preserve the principle of justice for each candidate.

This is a very important decision and I think Congress will take such
a decision. Otherwise, it will be difficult later.

– You say there is an issue on the perception by the society of the
Congress list and promote only Aram Sargsyan from the Republic Party.

Aren’t there other perceivable people in your party?

– For this we leave apart all personal ambitions. Let the leadership
of the Armenian National Congress be free to form the list. We give
this right and the assessment issue to them.

From: A. Papazian