Month: February 2012

TURCOLOGIS: ARMENIA IS READY TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, BUT TURKEY IS NOT

arminfo
Tuesday, February 21, 16:56

Armenia is ready establish relations with Turkey, but the same cannot
be said about Turkey, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies
of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, turcologist Rouben
Safrastyan said at today’s debates on the Armenian-Turkish relations
and the perspectives for the next 5 years. The representatives of
the Association of Young Politicians attended the debates.

“Our diplomacy has demonstrated that Armenia is ready to establish
relations with Turkey, but Turkey is not. Ankara is trying to
use these factors, which actually have nothing to do with the
Armenian-Turkish interstate relations”, Safrastyan said. As a result
of the Armenian-Turkish process, Armenia has managed to raise its
diplomatic image as a country, which was loyal to the bilateral
protocols, unlike Turkey.

“As regards the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and the Armenian Cause in general, we can state that the process with
Turkey has not done any harm to the Armenian people”, he said.

Safrastyan pointed out with content that the contemporary youth
representatives take an active part in debates on this topic.

OVER 50 LIBERATION FIGHTERS LEFT YERKRAPAH – DAILY

news.am
February 21, 2012 | 11:40

YEREVAN. – In Armenia former Volunteers’ Union Yerkrapah members
released a statement recently, according to which over 50 Yerkrapah
members applied to the head of the Union Manvel Grigoryan to suspend
their membership to such a subservient organization, Zhamanaki Mitk
daily reports.

They claim the reason is ‘inner disagreements’ and did not participate
the Union’s last week meeting. The inner disagreements are based on
Grigoryan’s statements that he would support the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) in the upcoming parliamentary elections and
the incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy in the presidential
elections next year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH OFFICIALS FOUND NEGLIGENT IN DINK MURDER

February 21, 2012

Hrant Dink, murder investigation, Turkey, Turkish-Armenian,
International Negligence by Turkish state officials led to the 2007
killing of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and a
flawed murder investigation undermined public trust in the security
services, a report commissioned by the president has concluded.

Security officials failed to protect Dink despite warnings of a
plot to kill him and the subsequent legal process exposed widespread
structural problems and the need for reforms, the report said.

Last month, an Istanbul court sentenced a man to life in prison
for Dink’s murder but acquitted 17 other defendants, sparking large
protests and criticism from rights groups.

The investigation into the murder of Dink, former editor of the
bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos and Turkey’s best known Armenian
voice abroad, was viewed as a test of democracy and human rights in
European Union candidate Turkey.

President Abdullah Gul ordered Turkey’s State Supervisory Council
(DDK) to investigate the case following accusations from Dink’s family,
lawyers and rights groups that state officials had been complicit in
the murder.

In a 650-page report, the conclusion of which was posted on the
president’s website late on Monday, the DDK said security forces
failed to act on tip-offs about a plan to murder Dink and called for
the negligent officials to be investigated and tried.

It said the way the case had been handled had undermined public
confidence in the judicial system.

“On the one hand, a result to a case that does not satisfy the public
conscience has emerged and, on the other hand, the credibility of all
the public institutions has been brought into question,” the DDK said
in the report.

Many Turks believe Dink was the target of arch nationalists because
of articles he wrote about Armenian identity and references he made
to a Turkish “genocide” of Christian Armenians in 1915 – an accusation
Turkey strenuously denies.

In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkish
authorities to pay 100,000 euros to Dink’s family in compensation,
saying authorities had failed to protect Dink even though they knew
ultra-nationalists were plotting to kill him.

Seven security officials have already been convicted for failing to
relay information on the plot that could have prevented the murder.

In a statement ahead of last month’s verdict, Amnesty International
said authorities had still not investigated the full circumstances
behind Dink’s murder.

POLICE ENSURE RENEWED SHOP CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN PARK

21.02.2012

Armenia – Clothing shops built in a public park in downtown Yerevan,
21 Feb2012. Karlen Aslanian

The highly controversial construction of shops in a public park in
central Yerevan resumed overnight and continued on Tuesday after riot
police returned there to ward off more protests by environmental and
civic activists.

The construction site was again cordoned off by the police late on
Monday after more than 100 activists ended a protest against what they
consider further damage to Yerevanâ~@~Ys shrinking green areas. The
mostly young activists broke through the police cordon to halt the
construction work earlier in the day.

Many of them again gathered in the small park on Tuesday but were
kept at bay by scores of police officers guarding the site. They
were furious with the authoritiesâ~@~Y decision to capitalize on
the nightfall.

â~@~We are not going to retreat,â~@~] one young woman told
RFE/RLâ~@~Ys Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). â~@~This is ridiculous,
these steps are the beginning of their defeat.â~@~]

â~@~I have every right to stand here,â~@~] said another female
protester.

“This is my park. No police officer has the right to push me out
of here.”

Throughout the day prominent public figures and ordinary citizens
visited the protesters to express sympathy for their campaign which
has gained a public resonance despite receiving little coverage
from government-controlled TV stations. Meruzhan Ter-Gulanian, a
pro-establishment writer, was among them. Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian
service, he urged the still unknown shop owners “to abandon all this
for the sake of Yerevan.” Ter-Gulanian also said the city’s under-fire
Mayor Taron Markarian lacks the power to stop the construction.

Markarian defended the authorities’ refusal to bow to the pressure in
a statement issued later on Tuesday. He said that the new kiosks will
stand in the park “temporarily” and will cause no harm to its trees.

“Important and complex issues related to property ownership cannot
be solved on the basis of certain citizens’ subjective understanding
of justice,” Markarian said. “Nevertheless, despite the negative and
critical evaluations, I am happy that my fellow city residents are
so concerned about the problems and the future of our beloved Yerevan.”

The Armenia police defended their actions in a separate statement
saying that they are obliged to enforce municipality decisions
and that only courts can determine their legality challenged by the
protesters. The statement warned that activists defying police orders
will face “administrative punishment.”

The police also offered to hold a roundtable discussion with relevant
civic groups on “the legal grounds for the police actions” in the park.

IT IS OUR OBLIGATION AS POLITICAL SCIENTISTS NOT TO ALLOW DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – OPEN LETTER

NEWS.AM
February 21, 2012 | 23:22

PARIS. – Hauts-de-Seine Consul General Patrick Alexanian wrote an
open letter to French Senators on behalf of Communist Party condemning
their position on bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

“I would like to focus on the Communist Senators’ voting regarding
the Armenian Genocide.

The party was divided into three parts: for it, against it or
suspension. The votes for or against also supported the idea that
the struggle for values will have nothing common to the collective
political obligations. And it does not make me happy.

It is our obligation as political scientists not to allow the denial of
the Armenian Genocide. Not adopting it, including through law, means
supporting genocide repetition,” the letter published in Alexanian’s
blog reads.

To note, bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide was
adopted by the Senate on Jan. 23. However, a group of Senators and
MPs appealed it in the Constitutional Court.

EVERY YOUNG PERSON WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AFTER DEMOBILIZATION, PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Combat capacity of the Armenian
army will be kept in the focus of the government’s attention. During
the February 21 meeting with RPA representatives of Armavir province
Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said in the recent 5 years
the armament level has increased. This exceeds the armament volumes
of the 20 years, Armenpress reports. This is the way of reaching and
maintaining peace in the region.

“Any young person, who serves in the army, must be sure that after
demobilization he will have an opportunity to continue the education.

An individual work will be carried out with all soldiers,” said Mr.
Sargsyan.

The Prime Minister added that the 12-year-old education is intended
to make free of charge. The education in colleges will be funded by
the state. Thus the education level and quality will increase. “The
entrance to universities must be easy and the graduation – difficult.

Those who have knowledge must get diplomas. Five universities must
pass international accreditation, and after graduation students will
keep pace with students of international universities,” said Prime
Minister Sargsyan.

From: Baghdasarian

UNION OF ARMENIAN BANKS: HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI MARKETS ARE OF INTEREST FOR ARMENIA

/ARKA/
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, February 21. /ARKA/. Armenia considers the opportunities of
cooperation with Hong Kong and Shanghai markets, said the Chairman
of the Union of Banks Ashot Osipyan.

Armenian banks seek opportunities of cooperation in such markets
as Hong Kong and Shanghai which are of interest for the country”,
he said Tuesday in the press-conference.

Speaking about the situation in global economy in the context of
crisis, Osipyan said that the world has already entered the second
wave of crisis. However, he refrained from making any predictions,
saying that international community is waiting to resolve the situation
with Greece and China.

“We see a delay in the economy of China which is mainly related to
the termination of construction. It has a large share in GDP in the
country”, he said.

If there occur any difficulties in European Union, European markets
will be closed for Armenia, but the Armenian banks are considering
opportunities to work also with Asian banks.

Today, the situation in the U.S. economy is better than in Europe,
and by the end of the year any shocks are not expected there.

The fate of euro, in his opinion, today is very difficult to predict.

“At present, the most discussed topic is the situation with euro. I
do not think that euro will remain as strong as it is today, but as
a unit of currency -will remain”, considers Osipyan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN REPORTER FROM ISTANBUL SHOWS FINGER TO THOSE WHO WANT TO KILL HIM (PHOTOS)

NEWS.am

Famous Istanbul linguist of Armenian origin, correspondent of the
Turkish Taraf paper Sevan Nishanian opened a tomb carved in a rock
in Izmir on Sunday. For that he was sentenced to 5 months imprisonment.

As CNNTurk informs, 200 people participated in the opening ceremony.

The Armenian reporter served halva, wine and tea to the gathered
people.

As he informed, he had intended to open the tomb on December 22, 2012,
which is supposed to be the date of the end of the world, however,
because of officials he had to do it earlier.

Nishanian mentioned that when he came to the idea to built a tomb
like the ancient ones in 2008, attacks were plotted against him.

After those worlds the reporter showed the middle finger stating that
he has nothing else to do.

YEREVAN MAYOR ISSUES STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN MASHTOTS PARK

Tert.am
21.02.12

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan issued a statement on the situation in
Mashtots park, in Yerevan.

The statement reads in part:

“Dear Yerevan residents,

“The installation of temporary structures in the areas that are not
the principal green zones of the park between Mashtots Avenue and
Yeznik Kokhbatsi Street evoked a public response. Various opinions
have been voiced, most of them arousing concern. I think it is time
for specific discussions of the problem and putting forward reasonable
arguments, and reaching a public consensus.

“I am well aware of the impossibility of any development or resolution
of any problem of public importance without effective protection
of ownership.

“The facts are as follow:

“A number of structures in Abovyan Str. Were removed by the Yerevan
Municipality. The owners were offered alternative territories,
including the undeveloped area near Mashtots Avenue and Yeznik
Kokhbatsi Street. The area is registered as liable to improvement by
the Yerevan Landscaping CJSC.

“According to the documents, the company is installing the booths
in the park as compensation to the owners of structures removed from
Abovyan Street. The booths are temporary structures – until the Old
Yerevan program has been completed.

“Ownership-related problems cannot be resolved on the basis of
individuals’ subjective opinion on justice.

“Despite the negative opinions that have been voiced, I am happy to
know that our citizens are so concerned over the problems and future
our dear Yerevan city. Although all the legal documents are available
in this case, I consider public involvement and awareness necessary.”

In his statement, the Yerevan mayor also assured the public that the
city authorities will do their best to develop the areas in question
and provide them will all modern amenities.

He expressed the confidence that all the problems of Armenia’s capital
have civilized solutions.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, SPEAKER MEET VISITING US CONGRESSMEN

Mediamax
Feb 20 2012
Armenia

Yerevan, 20 February: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received
the delegation of US congressmen on 19 February who paid a visit to
Armenian on their way to Afghanistan.

During the dinner in honour of the congressmen, Serzh Sargsyan said:
“I would like to express gratitude for the financial, humanitarian and
technical assistance to Armenia. This year marks the 20th anniversary
of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the USA,
and I am glad that we celebrate that anniversary on a perfect level
of development of our bilateral relations.”

Armenian National Assembly chairman Samvel Nikoyan also received the
delegation headed by Congressman David Dreier. During the meeting,
it was stressed that the USA is fully involved in the resolution of
vital problems related to Armenia’s foreign policy, particularly to
Karabakh peace talks.

“As an MP I would like the USA to take the same stance on Karabakh as
on Kosovo. But we are content with the USA’s current position so far,”
said Samvel Nikoyan.

The head of parliament also welcomed the US assistance to the process
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. He noted that despite
the fact that Turkey again speaks the language of preconditions,
nevertheless the issue of ratification of the protocols [on the
normalization of relations] is still on the agenda of Armenian
parliament.

“This way we show our respect to the international community,” Samvel
Nikoyan stressed. He expressed the hope that “Turkey will realize
one day that the peaceful existence with the neighbours is better
than a tough stance”.