Month: February 2012

U.S. CONGRESSMEN VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
20.02.2012 11:11

A 15-member Congressional Delegation from the U.S. House of
Representatives headed by Chairman David Dreier met with President
Serzh Sargsyan and Speaker of Parliament Samvel Nikoyan on February
19. President Sargsyan hosted a dinner for the delegation, which
included five members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and
Ambassador John Heffern.

At the dinner in honor of the Congressmen, President Serzh Sargsyan
noted that he attaches the utmost importance to the contacts with the
friends of Armenia in Congress whose support has had its considerable
impact on the establishment and development of democracy in Armenia
as well as on the preservation of stability in our region. “Taking
this opportunity, I would like to express gratitude to you all for
making possible financial, humanitarian and technical assistance to
Armenia from day one of our independence.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Armenia and the United States, and I am glad that
we are celebrating this jubilee on the highest level,” President
Serzh Sargsyan said.

The Congressmen stressed the importance of the development of the
US-Armenia relations. Your commitment to human rights, democracy and
the rule of law in Armenia can be an example for many, many others,”
Congressman David Dreier said.

At the meeting discussed was a wide range of issues pertinent to
the development and deepening of the Armenian-American relations
and stressed was the importance of strengthening bilateral and
multilateral cooperation.

Congressman Dreier, Chair of the House Democracy Partnership,
highlighted the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections
to the bilateral relationship and urged the government and all the
political parties to “do everything in their power to ensure free,
fair, and credible elections.” The delegation expressed interest in
developing closer ties between the National Assembly and the U.S.
Congress.

The Congressmen visited Armenia as representatives of the House
Democracy Partnership (HDP), which is a bipartisan, 20-member
commission established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005 to
support the development of independent, democratic legislatures. The
HDP seeks to build the capacity of its partner legislatures in
key areas such as legislative oversight, budget analysis, committee
operations, constituent relations, and library and research services,
using peer-to-peer exchange programs, training seminars for members
and staff, and targeted material assistance. This was the second
visit of the HDP to Armenia.

The Delegation includes Rep. David Dreier (R-CA); Rep. James Moran
(D-VA); Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC); Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE); Rep. Kenny
Marchant (R-TX); Reverend Patrick Conroy, Chaplain of the House of
Representatives; and staff.

8 YEARS PASS SINCE MURDER OF ARMENIAN OFFICER BY AZERBAIJANI MILITARY MEMBER

NEWS.AM
February 19, 2012 | 18:15

YEREVAN. – Sunday, February 19, 2012 marks the eight anniversary of
the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan’s killing by the Azerbaijani
military member, Ramil Safarov.

The murder had taken place in Budapest, where two Armenian military
servicemen were taking part in an English-language course organized
by NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.

In 2006, the Budapest court sentenced the Azerbaijani killer to life
in prison, and without a chance for pardon for thirty years. And the
reason for the brutal murder was simply that Margaryan was Armenian.

Eight years have passed since this shameful murder, yet Azerbaijan
continues its attempts to return its “hero” back to the homeland.

During her visit to Armenia, Hungary’s then-FM Kinga Goncz had noted
that Safarov could be returned to Azerbaijan, but Hungary had no such
obligation. “The key issue is whether Safarov’s life sentence will
continue to be applied in Azerbaijan,” she had said.

And in August 2011, when Ramil Safarov turned 34, several Azerbaijani
media even congratulated him, and considered him a “true fighter,”
a “heroic son of Azerbaijan,” etc.

FILM ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANGERS TURKS IN SWEDEN

news.am
February 20, 2012 | 11:05

The film entitled “Grandma’s Tattoos,” which is about the Armenian
Genocide and which the state-run television of Sweden aired, has
raised a huge protest by the Turkish community in Sweden.

The Swedish Turks expressed their protest over this film by sending
thousands of Emails to the state-run television, Haberler news agency
of Turkey informs.

It is noted that the television responded to these protests by the
Turkish community by saying that the film is not about the Genocide,
but rather on the recollections of the grandmother of Swedish Armenian
Suzanne Khardalian, the director of the film.

“Grandma’s Tattoos” was premiered in Sweden in September 2011, and
it was aired three times on the country’s state-run television.

The film was also shown by the television stations of several other
countries, including Al Jazeera.

TURKISH MINISTER SAYS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S HISTORICITY NOT CONDITIONED ON OBAMA’S APRIL 24 STATEMENT

news.am
February 20, 2012 | 11:31

In a television interview, Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs,
Egemen Bagis, reflected on the investigation launched against him in
Switzerland, the French Senate’s passing of the bill that criminalizes
the denial of genocides-including the Armenian Genocide-, and the
US President’s upcoming April 24 statement on the commemoration of
the Genocide.

Bagis again criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy for the
aforesaid bill, and stressed that this draft law must return from the
French Constitutional Council, Anadolu News Agency of Turkey informs.

In connection with the investigation launched in Switzerland for his
denial of the Armenian Genocide while he was in that country, Turkey’s
Minister for EU Affairs noted that a preliminary investigation is
underway, and that he can he can go to Switzerland without problems,
since anyone would hardly arrest a Turkish minister.

And Commenting on US President Barack Obama’s April 24 statement,
Egemen Bagis said: “What will happen if he says, or does not say,
‘genocide?’ If someone says genocide, then it is genocide, and if he
does not say genocide, then it is not genocide?”

Bagis noted that the world’s largest archives on 1915 are in Boston,
and that solely the Armenians are able to study them.

From: Baghdasarian

INTERNATIONAL LAW HAS NO NORM THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR KARABAKH’S SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT – ARMENIAN MP

news.am
February 20, 2012 | 11:43

YEREVAN. – The International Law has no norm that does not allow for
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s (NKR) right to self-determination, the
ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia Parliamentary Faction
Secretary Gagik Melikyan stated during a press conference on Monday.

Melikyan had attended the international conference, entitled “20th
Anniversary of NKR Independence: Realities and Prospects,” which was
held last week in NKR capital, Stepanakert, and devoted to the 20th
anniversary of NKR’s declaration.

“The main issues brought up and, speeches [delivered], during the
conference noted that NKR’s independence process is irreversible,
and, at present, its international recognition must be achieved,”
Melikyan said, and he added that international analysts from around
fifteen countries were invited to this conference.

“The conference [discussants] also spoke about territorial integrity.

Everyone underscored the need for NK[R]’s participation in the talks
process. They also spoke about turning Karabakh into a model for
democracy,” the MP stated.

AZERBAIJAN HOLDS MILITARY EXERCISE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT ZONE

news.am
February 20, 2012 | 12:12

BAKU. – The Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched military exercise in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry
press service informs.

“Azerbaijani army launched large-scale military exercise on the
frontline, including Land and Air forces headed by Azerbaijani Minister
of Defense Safar Abiyev,” the release reads.

The trainings will last till the end of this week, the modern weapons
acquired by the Azerbaijani Army will be used, RIA Novosti reports.

From: Baghdasarian

PUBLIC VS BUSINESS OVER ARMENIAN CAPITAL’S GREEN AREAS

Tert.am
20.02.12

Well-known people, political and public figures, arrived at Yerevan’s
Mashtots park on Sunday.

Hovhannes Azoyan (an actor and showman) says: “If you do not plant
a tree, do not at least destroy it. It will backfire on the people
doing so.”

Hayk Marutyan (an actor and showman) says: “I just say to them: where
do you take you children for a walk?’ They answer: ‘To the park. This
is the only place we have.’ This territory is not equipped. So let’s
equip it.”

Anahit Baklhshyan, a Heritage party member, says: “It’s an illegal
structure. So we should not tarnish our young mayor’s reputation.”

Never Mnatsakanyan (a TV anchor) says: “I call for peace with Nature.

Some things are unacceptable.”

Ashot Adamyan (an actor), says: “I am ready to stand here shoulder
to shoulder with any protestor. This is a way of defending your
self-respect and rights.”

Yervand Manaryan: (an actor) says: “”It has always been the practice
throughout history: some would build, others would destroy. Now the
one stronger will gain the upper hand. You must know you are stronger.”

“How can they destroy it with a hospital nearby? That’s abnormal. In
any country – and it used to be practice in Armenia as well – there
are green zones near hospitals,” a doctor says.

REPUBLICAN MP: THEY REALIZED KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE IS IRREVERSIBLE

Tert.am
20.02.12

The participants of the conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence realized that the country’s
independence in now an irreversible fact, a lawmaker of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia has said.

Gagik Melikyan of the RPA faction in parliament told reporters on
Monday that all the experts delivering speeches at the event agreed
that the country’s international recognition should now be at issue.

The conference held in Nagorno-Karabakh from February 16 until 18
was attended by experts from Russia, Germany, Poland, Greece, Great
Britain, the Czech Republic and the United States.

According to Melikyan, the speakers ruled out the possibility of
viewing the territorial integrity principle a primary issue and
stressed the need of giving a higher role to the self-determination
of Karabakh people.

The participants also addressed the Armenian pogroms of Baku and
Sumgait. They noted particularly that the official Baku had perpetrated
them through the Soviet authorities to create an impression that
the actual cause of the conflict was an interethnic dispute, not the
self-determination of nations.

Melikyan said further that he was very much impressed by the German
and French participants’ speeches, and not absolutely satisfied with
the remarks delivered by Russian expert Modest Kolerov, who expressed
what he called the Russian authorities’ official opinion. Presenting
his forecasts on a possible war, Kolerov said it would be yet another
military conflict for Armenia but the last war for Azerbaijan.

UNKNOWN PEOPLE NAMED “ARMENIAN CYBER ARMY” HACKS 20 AZERBAIJANI SITES

12:26 . 20/02

Unknown people calling themselves “Armenian Cyber Army” cracked
more than 20 Azerbaijani sites, saying it was done to commemorate
the 8th anniversary of Gurgen Margaryan’s murder, “Azatutyun” Radio
Station informs.

To recall, on February 19, 2004 Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan
was hacked to death by Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil Safarov in NATO’s
Partnership for Peace training course in Budapest.

“Armenian Cyber Army”, the name of which appears in
Armenian-Azerbaijani hacker attacks for the first time, has changed
the first pages of 22 Azerbaijani sites, instead of them publishing
the photo of the Armenian soldier and a message with the words
“Gurgen Margaryan-8 years ago-remember always”.

Information security expert Samvel Martirosyan has stated in his talk
with Azatutyun Radio Station that with its number of sites hacked,
this is the most large-scale attack on the Azerbaijani sites. The
Armenian side made a similar attack in February last year, too.

Attacks on Armenian sites from the Azerbaijani side are also many. The
latest similar attack on 3 Armenian sites took place on February 14.

A NEW MOTION LODGED FOR OHANYAN’S RELEASE

13:11 . 20/02

During the court session resumed this morning, the former traffic
police head Margar Ohanyan’s advocate Mkrtich Vasakyan again lodged a
motion for the change of the preventive measure against Ohanyan with
release on 3mln AMD bail.

To recall, it was Ohanyan’s turn to give evidence at court today, but
before that, the advocate lodged the motion. He said that all the other
defendants have already given evidence, therefore there is no more
fear that pressure will be exercised on them, for which his previous
similar motion was dismissed in January. Ohanyan has worked in the
police system for many years, and has compensated for damage caused.

Prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan objected to the motion saying that
the crime committed by Ohanyan has had serious consequences, for
which he must be imprisoned.

Judge Mkhitar Papoyan declared a break to discuss the motion in the
consultation room.