Author: Andres-Papazian

HARASSMENT AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENTS MUST STOP IN ARMENIA – FIDH, CSI

Tert.am
10.03.11

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Civil Society
Institute (CSI) have released a joint statement in which they condemn
the harassment of political prisoners and the member of their families.

The statement reads as follows:

“The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its partner
organization the Civil Society Institute (CSI) condemn the recent
and repeated harassment of political opponents and members of their
families in Armenia.

“On February 23, 2011 Tigran Postanjyan, the brother of the opposition
deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan from the Heritage party, was summoned to
the National Security Service (NSS) and arrested there. His relatives
were not allowed to visit him.

“According to the Prosecutor General’s office press release from
February 21, 2011, a criminal case was launched under Article 3111,
part 1 (Illegal payment taken by a public servant who is not considered
an official) of Armenia’s Criminal Code. It was NSS who was charged
with conducting the investigation although part 1 of Article 190 of
the Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that the crimes defined by
article 3111 should be investigated by police officers.

“On February 25, 2011 the court imposed detention as a measure of
restraint on Mr. Postanjyan. On March 2 he was transferred to the
Nubarashen penitentiary institution where overcrowding is repeatedly
reported. According to his attorney Hayk Alumyan, Tigran Postanjyan’s
transfer was a way to put pressure on him.

“Our organizations are concerned that the institution of the
criminal case is aimed at sanctioning the activities of members of
the opposition through harassment of their families. Furthermore,
FIDH and CSI repeatedly denounced ongoing abuses in the recourse to
pre-trial detention in the Republic of Armenia and the administration
of justice in general, and fear that the right of M. Postanjyan to
a fair trial will not be garanteed.

“These events occurred in the context of constant pressure by the
government on contestatory actions, groups and parties.”

From: A. Papazian

Negotiations are only way to Karabakh settlement – France Foreign Ministry

Tert.am
10.03.11

The Foreign Ministry of France has issued a statement and expressed
its concerns over the deaths caused by the ceasefire violation along
the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The statement reads as follows:

“We have noted with concern the recent incidents occurred on the
contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in loss of human
lives.

“As co-chairs of the Minsk Group in their press release dated March
9, we condemn the use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh and call on all
parties to the greatest restraint.

“Only the negotiations will lead to a political solution balanced
and negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh. There can be no
military solution to this conflict. France, with its partners the US
and Russia also co-chairs of the Minsk Group reaffirms its strongest
determination to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
according to the principles outlined by the presidents Sarkozy, Obama
and Medvedev in Muskoka in 2010 and L’Aquila in 2009, to help achieve
a balanced political solution and negotiated to the Nagorno-Karabakh
on the basis of the principles and norms of international law,
the UN Charter, and an appropriate combination of the principles of
the Helsinki Final Act non-use of force or its threat, territorial
integrity and equal rights of peoples and self-determination.”

From: A. Papazian

PROGRESS ON JUDICIAL REFORM KEY FOR ARMENIA’S DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT – ODIHR DIRECTOR

Tert.am
10.03.11

The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, stressed today the
importance of furthering judicial reform for the country.

Lenarcic is in Armenia on a two-day visit to discuss democratic reforms
and review the implementation of recommendations made in the ODIHR
report on the trials related to the 2008 post-election violence that
was published one year ago.

“Progress on reforming its justice system is essential for Armenia’s
further democratic development. There is no viable alternative to
a governance system based on the separation of powers and judicial
independence, if Armenia is to enjoy lasting stability and prosperity,”
the ODIHR Director said at a conference organized with the OSCE Office
in Yerevan to assess the progress made in putting the recommendations
into practice.

Lenarcic welcomed the ongoing work on a new criminal procedure code
and expressed the hope that it will include improved human rights
safeguards.

He also highlighted the need for limiting pre-trial detention in
favour of alternative measures of restraint, as well as for stepping
up efforts to prevent torture and other ill-treatment in custody.

“The authorities have already taken into account some of our
recommendations, but much remains to be done to ensure fair trials,
judicial independence and a genuine separation of powers,” Lenarcic
said.

He added that Armenia has made significant progress in reforming its
legal framework, but the implementation of laws in practice remains
a challenge that needs to be addressed.

In his meetings with Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan, Prosecutor
General Aghvan Hovsepyan, Cassation Court Chairman Arman Mkrtumyan
and other senior officials, Lenarcic also stressed the importance of
respecting the freedom of assembly.

From: A. Papazian

SPANISH PARLIAMENT REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Tert.am
10.03.11

Spanish parliament has rejected a draft proposing to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

The proposal was submitted by the Republican Left of Catalonia party
(ERC), with only the Basque Nationalistic Movement voting for the
draft.

Other parties at the Spanish parliament, including the ruling
Spanish Socialist Workers~R Party and opposition Peoples~R Party,
voted against the proposal.

The Armenian Genocide took place in the early 20th century when more
than 1.5 million Armenians living under the Ottoman Empire rule were
massacred and death marched in the deserts of Deir ez-Zore.

The Armenian Genocide was first recognized by Uruguay in 1965. As of
2009 21 countries and 43 US states have formally recognized it. The
US government has not, however, recognized it yet.

Turkey has not recognized the Armenian Genocide either, claiming the
massacres and the death marches did not constitute genocide.

From: A. Papazian

TURKOLOGIST: ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF TURKEY FACES ISSUES

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 10, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian community in Turkey
faces various issues demanding urgent solution, vice dean of the YSU
Oriental Studies Faculty, Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan said speaking to
Armenpress. He explained that among the urgent issues are especially
the education, school, language and merging issues. According to him,
more than 80% of the Turkish community are Turkish-speaking and do not
know Armenian. In 16 operating Armenian schools history of Armenian
people is not being studied.

“In schools they are passing history of Turkey and the Armenian pupils
are listening how in 1915 Armenians betrayed Turks and gave them blow
from the back,” the Turkologist pointed out, saying the number of
pupils in the schools is reducing, the number of Armenian-speakers
as well.

From: A. Papazian

ANALYST: BILATERAL DOCUMENTS WITH EU-MEMBER STATES IMPORTANT

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 10, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: Foreign Ministries of Armenia and
Latvia signed a document on mutual assistance in Euro integration
process. The document was signed yesterday within the framework
of the official visit of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to
Latvia. “In case of any member country of EU I have always pointed
out the importance of signing of such like bilateral documents,”
head of the “European Integration” organization, political analyst
Karen Bekaryan said. According to him, one thing is statements over
it and another thing is when they are being registered.

The political analyst expressed hope that in future Armenia will
intensify the bilateral format of relations with the EU member states.

He noted that Latvia is not the first in this regard. “We always
remember that Bulgaria was the first in this context. Believe me it
plays an essential role in working with international establishments,”
Bekaryan noted.

From: A. Papazian

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN: “THE CLAN OF THE AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES ACTED IN THE SAME WAY, AS IT DID AFTER MAINDORF”

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 10, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: After the Sochi meeting I expressed
my deep concerns and said Ilham Aliev will again violate his own
signature: such statements are the first signs, says Naira Zohrabyan,
chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on European
Integration, member of the Armenian delegation to PACE. In an interview
with Armenpress she commented today on a recent statement by Novruz
Mamedov, chief of department of external affairs of the presidential
administration of Azerbaijan.

Novruz Mamedov had stated that the statement, adopted in Sochi, cannot
hinder Azerbaijan from returning the “occupied territories”. Naira
Zohrabyan says the clan of the Azerbaijani authorities acted in the
same way, as it did after Maindorf, when the same military rhetoric
and provocations went on. “In this whole process, Azerbaijan adopted a
non-constructive stance, so my statement of question is not addressed
to the Azerbaijani authorities, as it is difficult to demand from a
person, who has the mentality level of Ilham Aliev, to stop such way
of acting,” Naira Zohrabyan said.

She added that her statement of question is addressed to the OSCE
Minsk group co-chair countries. “As long as Azerbaijan’s military
budget, which is being expanded every day, and its non-constructive
stance in the talks remain not responded, Azerbaijan will go on its
warlike rhetoric,” Naira Zohrabyan stated.

From: A. Papazian

“PIECE OF POMEGRANATE” JUNIOR THEATRICAL FESTIVAL TO LAUNCH SOON

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 10, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The Republican round of the “Piece of
Pomegranate” junior theatrical festival will launch April 1. President
of the organizational committee of the festival Hasmik Karapetyan
told Armenpress that applications for participation were received
from Gegharkunik, Ararat, Armavir provinces. Issues of participation
of other provinces are also being clarified. After watching the
performances the best theatrical groups will be elected and the latter
will perform with the theatrical groups from abroad. The festival
will be conducted in October.

Hasmik Karapetyan said currently the issue on making the “Piece of
Pomegranate” junior theatrical festival an all-Armenian one is being
discussed. She said the Nagorno Karabakh Republic expressed wish to
host the festival.

“The festival has been conducted for 10 years, big experience has been
acquired and it is possible to give it an All-Armenian spirit. The
idea was welcomed by the Culture Ministry and now issues connected
with it are being discussed,” Karapetyan said.

Currently the republican round of the festival will be conducted and
when a decision will be made to make it an All-Armenian works will
be launched with Diaspora.

From: A. Papazian

“ARTAVAZD” COMPETITION TO BE HELD ON WORLD THEATER DAY

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 10, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: This year the “Artavazd” theatrical
competition will be held March 27 – World Theater Day – at the Hakob
Paronyan State Theater of Musical Comedy.

The competition, organized by the Theatrical Workers Union of Armenia,
will be dedicated to Khoren Abrahamyan’s 80th anniversary.

Sona Meloyan, secretary of the Theatrical Workers Union of
Armenia, told Armenpress that this year the competition will have
13 nominations. She said the award after Khoren Abrahamyan will be
granted to one male artist. The award winners will receive a crown,
ornamented with masks, symbolizing the “Artavazd” competition, as
well as money awards.

The “Artavazd” competition was established 1996.

From: A. Papazian

MONTH OF FREE-OF-CHARGE MEDICAL AID TO WOMEN KICKS OFF

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 10, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The month of free-of-charge medical
aid to women kicked off. Free-of-charge surgical aid will be provided
to women from March 8 to April 7, 2011 at “Surb Astvatsamayr” medical
center of Yerevan. An official from the information and PR department
of Yerevan Municipality told Armenpress that within the framework of
this action, titled “For You, Women!”, women, applying to the center,
will be provided gynecological and surgical services.

Vano Vardanyan, deputy mayor of Yerevan, and Armen Ulikhanyan, head
of the municipality’s health department, visited today the medical
center. “Taking into account the positive results of the previous
years and the applications from a plenty of women, upon the initiative
by Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan this benevolent action is held
this year, too,” Armen Ulikhanyan said.

According to Nikolay Dallakyan, director of “Surb Astvatsamayr”
medical center, socially unprovided women will have a privilege. Last
year 315 women applied to the center within the framework of the
month. 173 of them were operated on and the rest of women received
professional consultation. The total cost of the benevolent program
made 26 million AMD.

From: A. Papazian