Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT MUST BE BORN, BRED IN ARMENIA – RULING PARTY MP

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 14:43

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s former FM Vartan Oskanian’s becoming a member
in the ruling coalition’s Prosperous Armenia Party is a step aimed
at the future, the coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia MP Rafik
Petrosyan stated during a press conference on Friday.

And with respect to the coalition partners’ support of President
Serzh Sargsyan’s nomination in the presidential elections, Petrosyan
said although they have expressed their allegiance, you cannot
be 100-percent sure, because the developments can unroll very
dramatically.

In Rafik Petrosyan’s words, they will not support the candidacy of
someone who represents the interests of foreign countries. “This
refers to [opposition Heritage Party leader] Raffi Hovannisian, [and]
Vartan Oskanian who could work very well, but Armenia’s president
must be from Armenia, born, bred here; [whose] forefathers’ graves
[must be] in Armenia,” the MP maintained.

From: A. Papazian

ID MATTERS: JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS ONLY PASSPORTS WILL ENABLE ARMENIA CITIZENS TO VOTE
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
17.02.12 | 12:30

Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan

The government has come up with a proposal to change some language in
several laws after discovering that the new identification cards to be
introduced for Republic of Armenia citizens in June cannot be used for
stamping during elections as required by the amended Electoral Code.

Besides the Electoral Code, some other laws will have to be edited,
including the laws on citizens’ passports and identification cards.

Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan said at a government meeting on
Thursday that only the passport constitutes a legal document for the
country’s citizens to participate in ballots.

“It transpired during the preparation of identification cards that
they cannot have any paper material, or if they have, the degree of
their protection will essentially reduce. Therefore, only passports
are to be used as documents for elections,” the minister explained.

Ink and stamp will be applied on several voting-related documents
to exclude the possibility of multiple votes. Under Article 66,
paragraph 4, of the amended Electoral Code, “the member of the
commission responsible for putting a seal on the ballot envelopes
and for the ballot box shall seal the ballot envelope and allow the
elector to drop the ballot envelope into the ballot box only after
checking the presence of a stamp in the elector’s identification
document pertaining to participation in the given elections, and in
case no such stamp is present, only after putting such stamp on the
elector’s identification document.”

It was announced recently that a new anti-fraud mechanism will be
introduced ahead of the May parliamentary elections – for the first
time, voters in Armenia will have their passports dyed to indicate
that they have cast a ballot. The special ink from the British company
Lantrade Global will disappear off the document after 12 hours. The
Government’s Reserve Fund will spend about $43,000 on the project.

Armenian citizens, who now have a single passport for domestic use
and foreign trips, will need two separate ones after the introduction
of biometric passports and IDs later this year.

“One passport will be valid outside Armenia and the other one inside
Armenia. IDs can be alternatives to internal passports for domestic
use only,” said Tovmasyan.

Since the changes will come into effect in June, they will not concern
the May parliamentary elections.

Citizens will be able to use IDs as a legal document only within the
Republic of Armenia, while biometrical passports will be used for trips
abroad (the passport profile will include the prints of a citizen’s
forefingers of both hands). Receiving such a biometrical passport will
be voluntary and will come at a fee of 25,000 drams or about $65. But
even after June 1 citizens will be allowed to receive or prolong
their old passports that will remain valid both in Armenia and abroad.

From: A. Papazian

EN TURQUIE LA VIE D’UN ARMENIEN N’EST PAS AUSSI IMPORTANTE QU’UN MCDONALD’S
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 16 fevrier 2012

Pendant les auditions au parlement turc sur des propositions pour
combat contre le financement du terrorisme, le depute du parti Kurde
” Paix et Democratie “(BDP) Sirri Sureyya Onder a reflechi sur la
decision de la justice turque sur l’assassinat de Hrant Dink.

” La personne [Erhan Tuncel] qui a ete puni au procès a ete punie
pour avoir place une bombe dans une societe vendant des hamburgers
[McDonald’s]. En Turquie, la vie d’un citoyen armenien n’est pas aussi
importante qu’une societe americaine qui vend des hamburgers. Vous ne
pouvez pas toucher a un vendeur de hamburger mais vous pouvez tuer un
armenien ” a dit Sirri Sureyya Onder selon l’agence de presse turque
Haberx .

From: A. Papazian

UN GOUVERNEUR EXCLU TOUTE VICTOIRE DE L’OPPOSITION LORS D’UNE ELECTION LOCALE
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 16 fevrier 2012

Le gouverneur de la province de Kotayk en Armenie a exclu la
possibilite qu’un candidat de l’opposition puisse obtenir la victoire
lors de la prochaine election municipale dans la ville de Hrazdan.

L’election met en confrontation le Maire en exercice Aram Danielian
membre du parti Republicain (HHK), contre Sasun Mikaelian, chef local
du parti d’opposition le Congrès National Armenien (HAK). Ce sera
un galop d’essai pour les deux forces politiques avant les elections
parlementaires prevues en mai.

” Je suis convaincu que [Mikaelian] ne sera pas elu ” a dit le
Gouverneur de Kotayk Kovalenko Shahgaldian au service armenien de
RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am). ” Il n’y a aucune chance parce que que les
gens de Hrazdan sont très intelligents, leur vue du monde est très
large et je ne pense pas qu’ils le laisseront devenir maire “.

Kovalenko Shahgaldian, qui est aussi affilie au parti du HHK, a dit
que Mikaelian deja servi comme maire de Hrazdan entre 1996 et 1999
et a laisse un piètre bilan. ” J’ai fait comprendre a chacun que je
soutiendrai activement la candidature d’Aram Danielian parce qu’il
est un membre de longue date de notre parti et fera un meilleur maire
que l’autre candidat ” a-t-il ajoute.

L’opposant a affirme pour sa part que les administrations locales
et regionales font pression sur les employes du secteur public pour
voter pour Danielian. Il a dit que quelques residants locaux ont
perdu leurs emplois pour l’avoir ouvertement soutenu.

From: A. Papazian

ALAIN JUPPE : ” BACHAR EL-ASSAD TOMBERA ”
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 16 fevrier 2012

Strasbourg, mercredi, Alain Juppe a battu le rappel des Europeens
pour accroître la pression sur Damas, mais aussi sur la Russie.

” Bachar el-Assad tombera. Il devra rendre compte du massacre de son
peuple “, a declare le chef de la diplomatie devant la commission
des Affaires etrangères du Parlement europeen. Il a appele l’UE a
apporter ” tout son appui ” au groupe des ” Amis du peuple syrien ”
qui doit se reunir le 24 fevrier a Tunis.

Sont esperes a ce rendez-vous les treize membres du Conseil de securite
de l’ONU (sur quinze) ayant vote, le 4 fevrier, en faveur du projet
de resolution sur la Syrie, ainsi que les pays de l’UE, ceux de la
Ligue arabe et de grands emergents. Entre-temps, l’Assemblee generale
de l’ONU devrait se prononcer jeudi sur une nouvelle resolution.

Appel a la Turquie

Devant les eurodeputes, Alain Juppe a renouvele sa proposition de ”
couloirs humanitaires “, projet qui reste toutefois subordonne a un feu
vert, bien improbable a ce stade, du regime de Damas et de la Russie.

Les Vingt-Sept ont ete en pointe pour sanctionner Damas et d’autres
mesures, ” plus dures encore “, sont en preparation, a indique le
patron du Quai d’Orsay.

Il a egalement fait un appel appuye a la Turquie en reiterant son
souhait que son homologue, Ahmet Davutoglu, soit convie au prochain
Conseil europeen des Affaires etrangères, le 27 fevrier a Bruxelles.

Cela, afin de coordonner les efforts sur la Syrie. Car s’il n’est pas
question pour lui d’accueillir la Turquie dans l’UE, celle-ci doit
” renforcer le dialogue ” avec Ankara, a plaide M. Juppe, qui avait
pris ses distances avec le vote de la loi sur la penalisation de la
negation du genocide des Armeniens.

From: A. Papazian

DEFENSE MILITAIRE : L’ARMENIE ET LES ETATS-UNIS COOPERENT
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 16 fevrier 2012

Les Etats Unis ont mis au point leur plan pour organiser les
premières activites militaires avec l’Armenie en avril. L’objectif
sera surtout d’augmenter l’interoperabilite des leurs forces presentes
en Afghanistan, comme l’a annonce mercredi dernier le ministre de la
Defense a Erevan.

Cette information a ete diffusee après le colloque entre le ministre
de la Defense Seyran Ohanian et l’Admiral Mark Montgomery, le
vice-directeur de l’organisation strategique du quartier general de
l’armee americaine en Europe (base a Stuttgart, Allemagne). Montgomery
etait accompagne par l’ambassadeur americain, John Heffern.

Dans sa declaration, le ministre armenien de la Defense a affirme
que les deux parts ont traite ” des sujets lies a l’organisation des
exercices militaires communs armeno-americains “. Le porte-parole du
ministre, Davit Karapetian, a declare au service armenien de RFE/RL
(Azatutyun.am) que les deux parts ont trouve un ” premier accord
” pour organiser des activites en Roumanie en avril. Karapetian
a declare que les activites vont prendre une semaine et qu’elles
necessiteront des douzaines de militaires de la brigade speciale de
peacekeeping de l’armee armenienne. Ils envisageront des ” echanges
” avec les troupes americaines qui seront ensuite ” des outils ”
pour de futurs partenariats militaires armeno-americains.

Les plans pour les activites terrestres ont ete rendus publics après
la visite a Washington du vice ministre a la defense Davit Tonoyan
en juillet 2011. Tonoyan avait alors organise des ” consultations de
defense ” avec Alexander Vershbow, l’assistant du secretaire de la
defense et d’autres cadres du Pentagone.

Les colloques de Washington etaient arrives peu après la decision de
l’Armenie de tripler sa participation a la securite de l’OTAN pour
l’Afghanistan, une decision felicitee par les dirigeants des E-U.

Actuellement cette force compte environ 130 soldats sur le terrain.

Selon les affirmations du ministre de la defense, Montgomery a
egalement organise un rendez-vous a Erevan avec un general de l’armee
armenienne pour discuter de la ” participation des peacekeepers
armeniens dans les missions internationales “. L’admiral americain
a egalement visite les quartiers generaux de la brigade peacekeeping
a Yerevan.

A ce jour, les soldats americains et armeniens se sont entraines
ensemble seulement lors d’exercices organises par l’OTAN. L’Armenie
a accueilli deux exercices de ce type dans les dernières annees.

Ces exercices , tout comme la participation armenienne aux operations
guidees par les Etats-Unis a l’etranger, ont souligne les profonds
liens entre la securite de l’Armenie et de l’Occident. Le leadership
armenien a en meme temps renforce l’alliance militaire avec la Russie
qui reste un element clef de la strategie de securite nationale.

Celeste Wallander, un vice-assistant du secretaire de la defense
americain, a affirme l’annee dernière que les liens russo- armeniens
ne sont pas un obstacle pour une cooperation entre les Etats-Unis
et l’Armenie.

From: A. Papazian

WOLF POPULATION INCREASES IN ARMENIA – MINISTER

news.am
February 16, 2012 | 13:02

YEREVAN. – Wolf population has increased in Armenia due to heavy
snowfalls, Armenian Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan
told the journalists on Thursday.

During the Thursday session the government approved the Ministry’s
decision to allocate about $50,000 to award hunters killing wolves.

The Minister claimed the decision was agreed with experts, hence,
it would hardly raise concerns of environmentalists. According to
the Minister, killing of 200 wolves will not damage the population.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN MAYOR PROMISES NO KIOSK CONSTRUCTION UNTIL ISSUE RESOLVED, BUT ACTIVISTS SAY NO GUARANTEES

epress.am
02.16.2012

Environmentalists who for five days straight have been protesting the
construction of kiosks in the park next to the maternity hospital on
Mashtots Ave. in Yerevan did not reach an agreement with the city’s
mayor at a meeting on Wednesday.

Speaking to Epress.am, the young activists said Heritage Party MP
Anahit Bakhshyan, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) MP
Lilit Galstian, Yerevan’s chief architect Narek Sargsyan, Association
for Sustainable Human Development President Karine Danielyan and
three activists were present at the meeting, which lasted 2.5 hours.

Environmentalist Yeghia Nersisyan said the group was invited to
attend another meeting with Narek Sargsyan later in the evening,
which they agreed to; however, she says they have no guarantees that
workers won’t return to the work and continue building the kiosks.

“The mayor promised us that until this committee is created there
won’t be any construction. Despite his promise, we’re in the park and
continue our vigilance. Speaking with the mayor we understood that
these kiosks won’t be removed, though he spoke from that position. We
aren’t changing our position and continue to fight,” she said.

“They connected this issue with the Old Yerevan architectural project.

In my opinion, the question of this space and that project have no
connection to each other. As for what will happen to Old Yerevan,
I don’t know, but those kiosks shouldn’t be placed in the park,”
said MP Anahit Bakhshyan, speaking to Epress.am.

The opposition lawmaker is convinced that the mayor won’t annul his
earlier decision to install the kiosks because “it’s not as if they
belong to random people.”

“It’s obvious that the mayor is hostage to some liabilities,” she said.

MP Lilit Galstian mentioned that Old Yerevan is a project that hasn’t
been realized, and during the meeting the mayor tried to convince
them that this construction project is a temporary solution and the
main plan has been confirmed till the year 2020.

“On my suggestion we’ll meet today because they haven’t provided
us with the legal basis for the project, the package, on which
the construction is to be implemented. Today [Wednesday evening]
everything will be clear, but I continue to be the defender of
public green spaces. The urban development plan in Yerevan has to be
civilized. The approaches and times of [outdoor] markets [and kiosks]
have passed. It’s civilized to have a green, breathable city,”
she said.

One thing is clear, Galstyan added: one must be awfully stubborn in
this situation in order to prove that one plus one equals two.

From: A. Papazian

HAYASTAN FUND’S FRENCH AFFILIATE BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN SHUSHI

armradio.am
16.02.2012 12:37

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s French affiliate has launched the
construction of a vocational school in the city of Shushi. The future
institution will be named after French-Armenian benefactor Yeznik
Mozian, whose bequest has provided the necessary funds for the project.

With a total area of 4,050 square meters, the future school will
accommodate up to 225 students. It will offer a three-year certificate
program in various specialties as well as a broad spectrum of general
academic subjects.

The two-story campus will feature all required amenities
including fully appointed classrooms, workshops, labs, and a
library. The facility will also be equipped with central heating
and air-conditioning, and comprise storage space for educational
materials. Currently construction crews are laying the building’s
foundations.

“On the model and standards of similar French professional institutions
our architects and consultants have designed this school to practice
the most effective educational methods. School professors and
instructors will be selected and trained accordingly”, says the
Mozian familiy reprentative Robert Aydabirian, who is the overall
project coordinator.

Graduates of the Yeznik Mozian School -who will be certified
variously as locksmiths, metalworkers, painters, roofers, carpenters,
electricians, tilers, plumbers, and other specialists – are expected
to enter the local job market, helping fill the shortage of trade
professionals.

“The school will welcome students from all over Karabakh as well
as Armenia, being equipped with dormitory facilities and aimed at
becoming the most advanced school of this kind in the region”, points
out the chairman of the Hayastan Fund French affiliate Bedros Terzian.

“Today Artsakh is in dire need of highly skilled professionals
in the construction sector,” says Kajik Khachatryan, head of the
Shushi District Administration. “The Yeznik Mozian School will mean
a wonderful opportunity for young people who wish to specialize in
a particular trade and become accomplished specialists.”

“The establishment of the Yeznik Mozian School is an unprecedented
initiative in the history of our organization,” said Ara Vardanyan,
executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. “We are confident
that, thanks to the contribution of our French-Armenian benefactor,
the socio-economic development of Shushi will be further boosted by
an educational institution poised to produce generations of highly
qualified professionals.”

The Yeznik Mozian School is being constructed in Shushi’s eastern
neighborhood, which continues to be developed as the city’s educational
quarter. It is already home to several music and liberal-arts schools
as well as the Agriculture Department of Artsakh State University.

From: A. Papazian

CANADA ANC CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO EDUCATE DIPLOMATS ABOUT GENOCIDE POLICY

asbarez
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

OTTAWA-The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) supports
Jim Karygiannis’ call for an investigation into actions by Canadian
Ambassador to Turkey Mark Bailey’s efforts to promote the Turkish
government’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.

In March 2011, Ambassador Bailey met with Senator Nancy Ruth and,
according to a trip report filed by Senator Ruth, asked her to work
with other Senators to “drop the speeches on Armenian Genocide Day”
as they were “an impediment to [Canada’s] relations with Turkey”.

The Armenian Genocide has been recognized by the Senate, the House
of Commons and the Government of Canada as a historical fact and an
unpunished crime. The Senate stated that the Government of Canada
should “…condemn any attempt to deny or distort any historical truth
as being anything less than a genocide, a crime against humanity.”

The ANCC calls upon the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure
that all Canadian diplomats are aware of Canada’s recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and to educate diplomats on their clear
responsibility to promote Canadian interests abroad and combat
genocide denial.

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, ANCC President stated “While we respect
Ambassador Bailey’s dedicated and able service to Canada, he has a duty
as our representative abroad to promote our government’s policies and
to combat denial of the Armenian Genocide. He should not be lobbying
to have Canada adopt Turkey’s denialist stance. Instead Ambassador
Bailey should be lobbying Turkey to accept the historical truth of
the Armenian Genocide.”

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.

From: A. Papazian