Month: February 2015

JAMES WARLICK: INTERESTS OF ALL SIDES WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS

16:26 18/02/2015 ” COMMENTS

U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick gave an exclusive
interview toArtsakhpress news agency, in which he talked about
some recent statements and developments of the current phase of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

The interview is exclusive also for the reason that it is the first
time when one of the Co-Chairs gives an interview to a media from
Artsakh.

– Mr. Warlick, it is a known fact that since the last year there has
been an escalation of tension along the LoC which seriously undermines
the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Apart from
the statements, do you see any practical mechanisms that can stabilize
the situation?

– The escalation of violence along the Line of Contact and
Armenia-Azerbaijan border over the last year undermines not only the
Co-Chairs’ mediation efforts, but also the Presidents’ commitment to
their people to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully.

There are mechanisms that can reduce the likelihood of unintended
incidents in conflict-affected areas and we support their
implementation to help stabilize the situation on the ground. The
Co-Chairs have raised several proposals with the sides and are
discussing them during our trip to the region.

– The Co-Chairs are currently in the region. Are there any concrete
proposals that are being put at the table during the meetings with
all three sides?

– First and foremost, we are talking to the sides about recent tension
and violence that threaten the region. There cannot be progress on
the diplomatic track if violence continues. We are also raising with
the sides the need to resume meetings of the Presidents, who hold the
keys to peace in their hands. Additionally, we stress the importance
of beginning comprehensive negotiations on a lasting settlement. It
is critical to have a sustained negotiating process that can lead to
a peace agreement.

– According to the Azerbaijani mass media reports, you were cited
as saying that transfer of the two Azerbaijani citizens (charged
with heavy crimes) to Azerbaijan in the spirit of the Astrakhan
Declaration would be an important humanitarian gesture that can help
reduce tensions and build trust between the sides. Do you think
that Astrakhan Declaration is applicable in relation to criminals
and that the impunity of those crimes will not further enhance the
false sense of all-permissiveness in Azerbaijan, as was the case with
Ramil Safarov?

– In the past, the sides have generally found a way to return prisoners
as a humanitarian gesture. With tensions as high as they are, such
humanitarian gestures can lead to a more positive environment for
negotiations to take place.

– Since 1997, Nagorno-Karabakh has not been direct and full-fledged
party at the negotiations. At the same time, the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs have announced on numerous occasions that the Karabakh side
will reengage in the direct negotiations soon. Don’t you think that in
the given situation the restoration of the previous trilateral format
of negotiations will be crucial in moving the negotiations forward?

– The interests of all sides will need to be taken into account in
the negotiations, as well as in a settlement to the conflict. The
first step is for the sides to express their readiness to enter into
such negotiations.

– The Azerbaijani side has announced a number of times that the OSCE
Co-Chairmanship has exhausted itself and there are disagreements among
the Co-Chairs and suggesting a change in the mediation format. Do
you agree with the above?

– As Co-Chairs, we are united in our efforts to mediate a peaceful
and lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Minsk
Group is the only mediation format accepted by the sides. We will
continue to fulfill our mandate to work towards peace as long as all
agree that our role as mediators remains useful.

– Mr. Warlick, thank you for the interview.

14 YEAR-OLD EDGAR: “I’LL PROBABLY GO TO WORK AT THE QUARRY AS WELL, BREAKING ROCKS”

Mаry Mamyan

16:27, February 18, 2015

The clothesline, full of wash, hanging from the second story of this
building indicates that people actually live inside.

A dilapidated staircase leads one to the living space of Arous
Lazarian and her family.

Symbols of the former Soviet Union are still visible inside the
cavernous building that once served as the cultural center in the
Hakhtanak village in Armenia’s Tavoush Province.

Ten years, after getting divorced, Arous came to live with her
children in one of the rooms of the center. Over the years, other
homeless families have come and gone as well. Arous and her family
have remained, not having the means to find other housing.

Her two daughters have married. She now lives here with her two sons,
14 year-old Edgar and 8 year-old Artyom.

Arous works as a cleaner at a stone quarry nearby. She also does
the occasional odd job when available. She says that she’s filed
for social assistance with Noyemberyan Social Services on several
occasions. But she’s been told that the building where she lives isn’t
considered habitable and that she needs additional documentation to
be eligible. Assistance is thus caught up in mounds of red tape.

“We get by somehow. But I’d be lying if I told you I can afford new
clothes for the kids. Otherwise, when it comes to nourishment and
the rest, we make ends meet,” she says.

Arous doesn’t have to worry about paying for utilities because they
don’t have gas. The one room is heated by a wood stove. She and her
son Edgar gather wood from a nearby forest. She can also pay for the
little electricity they use.

Edgar isn’t sure if he’ll stay in school until graduation. He’s always
thinking of ways to make money and help his mother.

The boy says that while others leave for Russia for work, he doesn’t
want to follow in their footsteps because he’s certain that people
are exploited there.

“I want to remain in the village. I’ll probably go to work at the
quarry as well, breaking rocks,” Edgar says.

From: A. Papazian

AFAD CAMP ALLEGEDLY BUILT ON ARMENIAN MASSACRE SITE

02.09.2015 09:47

According to a report by Fıratnews, the AFAD camp for Kobane residents
who fled ISIS and crossed the border to Suruc, is built on “Wargeha
Mezin”, the site where thousands of Armenians were massacred in 1895.

Suruc residents Bozan Demir (54), Ä°brahim Halil Kaya (58) of Armenian
origin, and Hakkı Fırat (60) of Kurdish origin claim that the AFAD
(Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) camp on
the Urfa road is built on the site where around 20 thousand Armenians
exiled from Erzurum, Erzincan, Malazgirt, Sivas, Cizre and MuÃ…~_
were brought to and massacred in 1895, during the reign of Sultan
Abdul Hamid II. Demir and Kaya, both of Armenian origin, related
what they had learned from their parents, and stated that the site
was known as “Wargeha Mezin”, adding that thousands of Armenians had
been slaughtered here.

Ä°brahim Halil Kaya, speaking of the great injustices inflicted upon
Armenians during the Ottoman period, said, “According to the stories
our parents passed on to us, in 1895, Armenians were banished from
their homes and forced upon the path of deportation. Those who manage
to survive the massacres dispersed across all corners of the world.

Like the women of Kobanê today, the Armenian women were left in
devastation. Thousands of Armenians exiled from Cizre, Malazgirt,
MuÃ…~_ and Sivas, were massacred between Urfa and Suruc. This route
is full of their bones.”

Bozan Demir added, “In fact, ‘Wargeha Mezin’ is the first camp of the
Armenians. When the Armenians were brought here, they were brought in
separate convoys, from places with no water. Thousands of Armenians
who were brought to the village known as Xelê osî Å~_irîf were
murdered by drowning when they rushed to drink water from a reserve
kept by the villagers for cattle.”

ARMENIAN FM, US ASSISTANT SECRETARY TALK KARABAKH, UKRAINE, MIDDLE EAST

17:33, 18 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Victoria Nuland,
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Minister Nalbandian hailed the friendly partnership established
between Armenia and the United States, which has expanded over time.

He voiced hope that the bilateral cooperation would further reinforce
and deepen thanks to joint efforts.

Victoria Nuland noted, in turn, that the United States attaches great
importance to the development of cooperation with Armenia in different
fields and is willing to take efforts in that direction.

During the meeting the parties discussed the joint steps to be taken
towards expansion of bilateral relations. The political dialogue and
cooperation on the international arena were on the agenda of the talks.

Edward Nalbandian and Victoria Nuland praised the fact that the
Armenian-American cooperation embraces important fields such as
international and regional security, peacekeeping, non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, fighting terrorism. The Assistant
Secretary expressed gratitude for Armenia’s active participation in
international peacekeeping missions.

Victoria Nuland emphasized Armenia’s achievements in the spheres of
democratization, reinforcement of civil society, economic reforms
and many others.

Reference was made to the perspectives of development of economic
cooperation, the implementation of joint projects, promotion of
investments.

Minister Nalbandian underlined that the US has provided considerable
support to the development of Armenia and the ongoing reforms in
the country ever since itsindependence. He noted that the assistance
programs have grown into cooperation and development programs over
time.

The parties hailed the agreement on facilitation of the visa regime
reached between the Armenian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary
of State in 2013.

The interlocutors exchanged views on urgent international issues,
namely the Ukraine crisis, the developments in the Middle East.

As for the Karabakh issue, the Armenian Foreign Minister and the
US Assistant Secretary agreed that all efforts should be taken to
solve the conflict exceptionally in a peaceful way on the basis
of the principles of international law – non-use of force or the
threat of force, territorial integrity and the right of peoples to
self-determination. Minister Nalbandian attached importance to the
US role and contribution to the process as a Minsk Group Co-Chairing
country.

Edward Nalbandian asked to convey his warm greetings to Secretary
Kerry and reiterated his invitation to the latter to visit Armenia.

ARMENIAN MINISTERS’ INCOME DECLARATIONS RELEASED

16:44 * 18.02.15

Armenia’s Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials has published
the property reports and income statements of high-ranking officials
and their relatives.

According to the official report, as of the date of his appointment
Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryandeclared AMD 269,000,000 (USD$
561,515.98) and US $ 1,970,000. His wife Laura Yefremyan declared
even more, about AMD 180,000,000 (US$ 375,735.60) and USD 2,745,000.

The second richest minister is Minister of Nature Protection Aramais
Grigoryan AMD 810,600,425 (US USD 1,692,063.54), RUB 300,000 and
USD 776,000. His wife Alisa Grigoryan declared AMD 300,630,945 (USD
627,543.05) in 2013.

The third richest minister is Armenia’s Minister of Transport and
Communication Gagik Beglaryan. According to his property reform and
income statement for 2013, he had US $92,000 and AMD 535,408,000 (USD
1,117,621.37). His wife Nune Nikolyan declared about AMD 33,700,000
(USD 70,346.05).

Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan declared about AMD 359,000,000
(US $749,121.26).

Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan declared US $81,200, EURO
75,120 and AMD 174,950,385 (US $365,041.42).

Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan has a declared income of AMD
51 million (US $26,688) and EURO 21,827; her total registered assets
amount to US $56,000.

As for the minister of health, Armen Muradyan, he has declared AMD
14 million and US $48,000 (total: above US $77,000).

The foreign minister, Edward Nalbandian had registered assets of EURO
49,800 and US $140,000 as of his reappointment date in 2014.

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan declared AMD
30,000,000 in 2014 (over US $62,596).

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan was the
tenth, with declared assets of AMD 29,800,000 ($6 2,183)

Armen Yeritsyan, the minister of territorial administration and
emergencies, declared 25,000,000 (US $52,162) being appointed to post.

Minister of Economy Karen Cshmarityan has declared AMD 550,000
($1,147), EURO 37,000 and $1,200.

Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan did not submit any
income declaration last year; his 2013 declaration reveals a registered
income of 18,000,000 (US $37,573).

Some 16,000,000 Drams ($33,398) are registered in Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan’s declaration.

Exactly the same amount was declared by David Harutyunyan, the chief
of the Government staff (AMD 6,500,000 or US $13,568 plus US $20,000)

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gabriel Ghazaryan has declared
AMD 5,000,000 and US $14,000.

Minister of Urban Development Narek Sargsyan comes next, with a
registered income of AMD 11,500,000 ($ 7,000,000), $6,000 and EURO
3,500 as of the date of being appointed to office.

The minister of culture, Hasmik Poghosyan, has declared AMD 4 million
(US $8,349).

The lowest appear to be the assets of Vache Gabrielyan, the minister
of international economic integration and reforms. His declaration
reveals a registered income of 1,900,000 (US $4,000).

BHK SPOKESMAN: DID ANYONE SAY THAT WE DO NOT WANT EARLY ELECTIONS? (VIDEO)

18:27 | February 18,2015 | Politics

The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) will continue its fight but not
at the expense of bloodshed, the party’s spokesman Tigran Urikhanyan
said during a meeting with journalists on February 18.

“Did you hear us saying that we are no longer seeking earning elections
in Armenia?” he said.

In reply to the question whether the cancellation of the urgent rally
scheduled for February 20 did not mean that BHK ‘is receding from
its promise,’ Mr Urikhanyan said, “If you think that the problems of
migration, economic decline were resolved in one day, you are deluded.

Nothing has changed. If we said we do not want bloodshed it does not
mean we are stopping the fight.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KURKCU: THEY ATTACKED OPPOSITION MPS WITH WHATEVER THEY COULD GET HOLD OF

02.18.2015 14:51NEWS

Assaulted in Parliament during the meeting for the internal security
package, HDP Member of Parliament described the fight that broke out:
“You cannot but run for help when a friend of yours is being assaulted
by thugs. If there is a price to pay for that, we are prepared,
but the real problem here is that the Parliament is increasingly
resembling a slaughterhouse.”

5 Members of Parliament were injured during the fight that broke out
during the parliamentary meeting for the omnibus bill known as the
‘internal security package’. The fight began with taunts between
AKP and CHP and HDP Members of Parliament during the closed session
of the General Assembly, and turned into a full-blown fight during
which HDP MP Ertugrul Kurkcu, and CHP MPs Musa Cam, Aykut Erdogdu
and Mahmut Tanal were injured.

HDP MPs held a press conference at the Parliament today, and stated
that the AKP had to apologize especially because of the attack carried
out by its MPs on female parliamentarians.

HDP MPs stated that the session speaker AyÅ~_enur Bahcekapılı lost
her impartiality and adopted a hard stance against the opposition. “The
fact that Bahcekapılı remained silent in the face of violence will
go down in history,” said Pervin Buldan, and called for an apology
from the AKP. HDP MP Ertugrul Kurkcu, who suffered a head injury
during the fight, came to the Parliament wearing a helmet today.

Pervin Buldan’s statement was as follows:

“This bill will eventually bring the government down. We, as the HDP,
will do everything in our powers to prevent this draft law passing. We
once again issue a call from here. This package, which will draw Turkey
into a dark period, must immediately be withdrawn. The government
should focus on the peace process, and do whatever is necessary. The
deputy head of the AKP group must be investigated, and AKP MPs must
apologize from us.”

Ertugrul Kurkcu explained the details of the fight with the following
words:

“I normally use this helmet to protect my head, but now I believe I
need it to protect myself from AKP MPs. I will use this equipment
in Parliament from now on. This is not mere black humour. What
we experienced yesterday has left the impression that we have now
crossed a certain threshold. Mustafa ElitaÃ…~_ [AKP MP] will soon tell
you how bad people we are, but if this were not a closed session,
this was what you would have seen:

When the AKP group deputy heads pressurised the session deputy head
to stop our friends from speaking, our MPs Pervin Buldan and Sebahat
Tuncel went up to the speaker’s stand; upon which male AKP MPs began
to physically attack them, and we were impelled to go to the help of
our friends.”

‘They slung a punch at Tuncel’

“I could not have sat and watched for the sake of politeness when my
friends were being harassed. I went up to the front to prevent the
punch slung at Sebahat Tuncel, and I was hit myself, and then they
continued attacking us.”

‘Oktay Saral attacked MPs with speaker’s hammer’

“I also witnessed AKP MP Oktay Saral attack several opposition MPs
with the speaker’s hammer. He was the one who injured [CHP MP] Aykut
Erdogdu. He was also the one who attacked [CHP MP] Mahmut Tanal. He
led the attacking regiment of the AKP. But even more importantly,
other AKP MPs took no objection to these attacks, they saw no harm
in women MPs being disrespectfully harassed, which proved that their
previous words about Ozgecan Aslan [the student who was brutally
raped and murdered in Mersin] were insincere.”

“Yes, I might have staved off this attack with a few scratches, but
no one can know beforehand what can happen in such attacks. [CHP
MP] Musa Cam could have faced a much more serious injury [Cam
was hospitalized]. We have to question the motivation for them to
collectively attack opposition MPs in Parliament. I believe that the
internal security package has become an issue of life and death for
them. Either this draft law passes, or their power is threatened.”

“I ask you to imagine this: Police forces will be formed with the
same mentality as these AKP MPs if this draft law passes. The same
goes for plainclothes policemen and the gendarmerie. And if we are
to lend an ear to the President’s call, even civilians will act the
same. We shall keep this incident in our mind as an example of how
law enforcement will use its powers to resort to force, duress or
firearms to turn the country into a slaughterhouse if this law passes.”

“All this took place with no access to the public because of the
AKP’s decision to hold a closed session. I would have liked you to
witness it, but then again, I would have not, as human beings. You
would have abandoned the Parliament if you had seen MPs speak and
act in that manner towards their colleagues.”

“After speaking about women’s rights and women’s presence all day,
for them to attack our female colleagues in this manner, and for us
to adopt our traditional role to protect them, makes me feel both
unfortunate, and like a victim. You cannot but run for help when
a friend is being assaulted by thugs. If there is a price to pay
for that, we are prepared, but the real problem here is that the
Parliament is increasingly resembling a slaughterhouse.”

ElitaÃ…~_: Women MPs assaulted themselves

AKP Group Deputy Head Mustafa ElitaÃ…~_ also made a statement regarding
the attack on HDP MPs Pervin Buldan and Sebahat Tuncel in the General
Assembly, and said: “The women MPs assaulted themselves. They carried
out the assault. From what I understand, they hit themselves. No AKP
MP would attack others, especially women.”

RALLY ON: HOVANNISIAN SAYS HERITAGE WILL PROTEST, DESPITE PAP DROPOUT

POLITICS | 18.02.15 | 15:26

By SARA KHOJOYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Although non-governmental troika member Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
leader Gagik Tsarukyan has already announced that his party will not
take part in a planned February 20 rally, and the Armenian National
Congress (ANC) is still silent, the Heritage Party will continue with
protest plans.

“The fight is on, and it is long-lasting, victorious and inevitable,
and these are my words,” Heritage Party founder-leader Raffi
Hovanissian told reporters Wednesday.

“Today we have appeared in an unprecedented political and civil
situation, which demands an immediate and complete solution,” he
added quoting poet Hamo Sahyan’s words, “Stay a bit defeated, stay
a bit God.”

The decision for a rally was made by the troika on Sunday, after last
week President Serzh Sargsyan called Tsarukyan a political ‘evil’,
decided to remove him from the National Security Board and ordered an
investigation into Tsarukyan’s tax files. The president was reacting
to statements made by Tsarukyan calling for a change of government.

Hovanissian urged Sargsyan to start any investigation in his own
(Sargsyan’s) party, including his family members, the Prime Minister
and the Chief of Police, the National Security Service head and
Heads of Provinces, “Unless they do it, let nobody speak about law,
because it is you who is outside the law.”

“What is to be proven has already been proven, everyone knows
everything. In the distorted reality like ours, dictatorship always
wins over law, materialism – over state interest, money – over
dignity, adulation – over pride, brutality – over soul, revenge –
over fair trial, intrigue – over belief, and arbitrariness – over
rules and law,” the Heritage leader said.

Emphasizing that the country is in a critical state, and the people
are the saviors, he urged Sargsyan to resign. Hovanissian promised
to say more on Friday in Freedom Square.

STEPAN SAFARYAN: SERZH SARGSYAN THREW DOWN THE GAUNTLET TO ROBERT KOCHARYAN

17:55 | February 18,2015 | Politics

Serzh Sargsyan has declared war not only against [leader of the
Prosperous Armenia Party -BHK] Gagik Tsarukyan, but also [former
president] Robert Kocahryan, says Stepan Safaryan, Director of the
Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Safaryan said the ex-president
made ‘a weak statement typical of a powerless person.’

“Robert Kocharyan only scolded Serzh Sargsyan on behalf of the
opposition and the statement made it clear that Kocharyan is deprived
of his role. We witnessed an interesting phenomenon recently. On
February 12, Serzh Sargsyan made it clear that the farce should be
ended and declared one war,” Mr Safaryan adding that before February 12
the conflict between the BHK and the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
was brokered by a third side, but this time the leaders of the parties
became involved in the conflict which grew into a confrontation,
with Serzh Sargsyan throwing down the gauntlet to Robert Kocharyan.

For more details visit here

From: Baghdasarian

VERDICT LEFT UNCHANGED: VOLODYA AVETISYAN WILL STAY IN PRISON

18:43 | February 18,2015 | Social

The Court of Cassation has refused to start review proceedings
in the case of retired army colonel Volodya Avetisyan, datalex.am
reports. In July 2014, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Arabkir
and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative districts sentenced the Karabakh
war veteran to six years in prison for fraud. The court ruled that
Volodya Avetisyan must pay $2000 to the state budget.

The Court of Appeals later upheld the verdict of the lower court.

Avetisyan did not admit to the charges levied against him.