Author: Andres-Papazian

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN IN CAMBODIA

Tert.am
03.12.10

Raffi K. Hovannisian, Heritage Party leader and Armenia’s first
minister of foreign affairs, is currently in the Cambodian capital to
take part in and address the 6th General Assembly of the International
Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) on the 10th anniversary
of its founding.

Bringing together the delegates of 89 political parties from 36
countries, ICAPP’s continental convention is dedicated this year to
“Asia’s Quest for a Better Tomorrow.”

Raffi Hovannisian’s plenary presentation today outlined the global
security, environmental, socioeconomic and human challenges of the
third millennium, and against the backdrop of state sovereignties
and national interests underscored the imperative of respecting and
safeguarding the fundamental dignity, rights, and empowerment of each
and every individual in national societies and international affairs.

In this connection and as the grandson of survivors of the Great
Genocide and National Dispossession of the Armenian people,
Hovannisian paid tribute to its victims as well as those of the
Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide and all other crimes against
humanity. Reconciliation, he concluded, must in all cases be anchored
in truth, justice and a liberating redemption.

Raffi Hovannisian had earlier joined the other delegates in visiting
the Phnom Penh High School which in 1975 the dictator Pol Pot and
his Khmer Rouge regime had turned into the S-21 concentration camp,
a holding and torture compound that served as the launching ground
for the murder of nearly two million of his own people in the killing
fields of Cambodia. It was not until this past summer that the first
senior officer of the Khmer Rouge was actually tried and convicted
on the charge of perpetration of genocide.

In the margins of the conference, Hovannisian met with Cambodian
Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen; Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri
Mohamad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak; Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav
Kumar Nepal; former President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines; former
President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia; Chinese Communist
Party Politbureau member Li Yuanchao; Speaker of the Philippines
Parliament Feliciano Belmonte; ICAPP Founder and former Speaker of
the Philippines Parliament Jose de Venecia; as well as officials and
non-governmental representatives from Asia and across the world.

From: A. Papazian

PROTESTERS DEMAND POLITICAL PRISONERS’ RELEASE

Tert.am
03.12.10

A group of protesters gathered today outside the Prosecutor General’s
Office, calling for the release of the political prisoners in Armenia.

The protesters were holding up the photos of the political prisoners
and posters reading “Great Shame”, “Release Nikol”, “1+1+1-2”.

Simultaneously, protests are being held in three regions of Armenia.

“We only demand the release of the political prisoners. Gathering here
every Friday, we perfectly realize that it is a political decision
that does not depend on the prosecutor’s office, but our gatherings
here have become symbolic,” Armenian National Congress (ANC) member
Valdimir Karapetyan said, expressing confidence of the authorities’
positive decision.

Asked about the likelihood of the political prisoners’ release before
the New Year, he said it wasn’t realistic since the authorities do
not seem to be guided by humanitarian motivations.

“After the fraudulent election in 2008, people never put up with the
either electoral wrongdoings nor their authors,” said Vardan Griogryan,
the deputy chairman of the Democratic Route party.

“Such protests come to prove that democracy in our country will
eventually win, enabling the people to take the helm of state. And
most importantly, we’ll prevent the country from falling into an
abyss forever,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD HELP ‘ALIYEV GET OUT OF DEADLOCK’: EXPERT

Tert.am
03.12.10

Azerbaijan has found itself in a deadlock over the Karabakh conflict,
and the international community’s efforts should be aimed at helping
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev get over that deadlock, the director
of the Noravank Scientific-Education Foundation, Gagik Harutyunyan,
has said.

“The international community’s efforts should be aimed at pulling Mr
Aliyev out of that situation and creating a humanitarian corridor
so that he will be able bit withdraw from his positions a little
without losing his face, his dignity,” Harutyunyan said at a press
conference today.

“Those positions appear not to ensure any perspective for the peaceful
settlement [of the conflict]” he added.

Speaking about the Commemorative Declaration of OSCE Summit in Astana,
Harutyunyan expressed concerns over the fact that the word “Karabakh”
is missing from the document.

“To some extent, this testifies to the fact that something has changed
in OSCE’s positions over the issue,” said he.

But overall, according to him, the main attitude towards the conflict
has changed for the better. This is accounted for by two factors:
Russia’s increased role in the OSCE format and Armenia’s strong
position and determination.

Further, Harutyunyan referred to the speech Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan delivered at the OSCE Summit in Astana, saying it was
something to welcome.

“For several times now Nakhichevan has been referred to as a good
argument. Nakhichevan is a typical example of Azerbaijani-Turkish
policy. All the necessary accentuations were made [in the speech],”
said he, adding that Sargsyan’s speech was addressed also to Armenians
so that they would understand that the point is not the Karabakh
issue of returning of territories in general, but rather the existence
of Armenia.

“This is a message so that we can clearly see the situation,”
Harutyunyan explained.

Speaking about the resumption of the war, he said that there is always
a risk that a fresh war can be unleashed.

“When the sides stand 50 meters far [from each other], the risk of
the resumption of the war exists always,” said Harutyunyan.

From: A. Papazian

ASTANA DOCUMENT POWERFUL TOOL FOR ARMENIA: RAZMIK ZOHRABYAN

Tert.am
03.12.10

The declaration adopted at the OSCE Summit in Astana is very important
for Armenia, as it is the first document to refer to the United
Nations Charter, a document prioritizing the principle of people’s
right to self-determination, a deputy chairman of the Republican
Party of Armenia, Razmik Zohrabyan told a news conference on Friday.

“That’s a powerful tool for us,” he said, adding that the document
enables Armenia to maintain the current status quo and continue
the talks.

Zohrabyan also referred to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s
statement at the OSCE summit, as well as to the speech by the US
Secretary of State focusing on the three well-known principles of
the conflict settlement.

He also attached a major importance to the Armenian president’s speech
dynamically reflecting the entire history of the conflict and Armenia’s
firm stance on not ceding territories.

From: A. Papazian

ASTANA DECLARATION COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE: GIRO MANOYAN

Tert.am
03.12.10

The declaration adopted by the OSCE state leaders in Astana might
have been even worse, according to Giro Manoyan, Head of ARF-D Hay
Dat and Political Affairs Office.

“Turkey might have used the Armenia-Turkey protocols as a tool of
pressure for extorting some document it might consider satisfactory
for ratifying the protocols,” he told journalists on Friday.

“The declaration is good in as much as it isn’t bad,” Manoyan said,
adding that the fact of signing a document enabling parties to continue
the talks is already a positive sign.

He added that Azerbaijan’s current stance, however, shows the process
is partially dead.

“I think we should expect active propaganda and, most probably,
military operations from Azerbaijan in the coming weeks or months,
and I believe the mediators will be very strict to that. But strictness
here is restricted to statements,” he added.

Manoyan also spoke of the possibility of Armenia’s policy in case
Azerbaijan resumes the war.

He said that in case of a war, “we must unite with Karabakh
immediately, not simply recognize it.”

From: A. Papazian

UN YEREVAN OFFICE HOSTS EXHIBITION OF HANDICRAFTS BY DISABLED PERSONS

Tert.am
03.12.10

The UN Department of Public Information in Armenia, together
with Pyunic Armenian Association for the Disabled, marked the
International Day of Persons with Disabilities today and opened an
expedition of handicrafts, art works produced by children and adults
with disabilities.

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues
and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons
with disabilities.

It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the
integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political,
social, economic and cultural life.

Maria Dotshenko, Representative of UN Department of Public Information
said: “The UNDPI in Armenia supports the efforts of the Government and
civil society aimed at improving the life of persons with disabilities
and their integration in society. Very important is that Armenia is
among the UN member states that ratified the Convention of the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities, which sets out the legal obligations
of the states to promote and protect the rights of persons with
disabilities.”

Hakob Abrahamyan, the President of the Pyunic Armenian Association
for the Disabled said they were delighted to assist persons with
disabilities to overcome negative community stereotypes.

“We are delighted to assist persons with disabilities to overcome
negative community stereotypes and develop skills necessary to be more
active members of society and UN’s assistance is important for us,”
said he.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MADE EFFICIENT EDUCATIONAL REFORMS: MCKINSEY&CO

Tert.am
03.12.10

McKinsey & Company global management consulting firm has published
today the outcomes of its survey on school reforms in the world’s 20
countries, including Armenia.

The survey numbers Armenia among the countries with efficient reforms
in the education system.

McKinsey & Co experts find that Armenia can serve as a good example
of ensuring development of education system through reforms.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN ECONOMIST MAY BE AWARDED NOBEL PRIZE: BLOOMBERG

Tert.am
03.12.10

Turkish citizen of Armenian origin, economist Daron Achemoglu may
in the near future be awarded a Nobel Prize, Turkish daily Milliyet
reported, citing Bloomberg.

Ankara takes great interest in Daron Achemoglu, currently based in US,
and would like him to assume a significant role in Turkey’s economy,
the paper added.

For that reason, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
invited the well-known economist to live and work in Turkey.

Recently Achemoglu was included in the list of Top 100 Global Thinkers,
prepared by the US Foreign Policy magazine.

Daron Achemoglu was born in 1967 in Istanbul. In 1986 he graduated
from the local Galatasaray College. Later he studied at the Department
of Economics at the York University in England where he lectured
from 1992-1993.

Since 1993 he is lecturing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in US.

Achemoglu is ranked number 8 in the list of the world’s most cited
20 economists, prepared by IDEAS/RePec, while Nobel Prize laureate
Professor Paul Krugman is number 13 in the list.

From: A. Papazian

HRAPARAK: COALITION PARTY NOT TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT?

Tert.am
03.12.10

The paper says that according to “rumors in the political circles,”
the leader of the Prosperous Armenia party (PAP), Gagik Tsarukyan,
was told through National Assembly speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, that
either he should announce his endorsement of President Serzh Sargsyan
in 2013 presidential election, or quit the ruling coalition.

Later, people at the presidential office realized the possible negative
impact of such ultimatum and decided to adopt a milder stance, the
paper says.

The paper says it has also learned that Tsarukyan recently had a
meeting with the president and rejected the demand of endorsing him
until after the 2012 parliamentary election.

In an interview with the newspaper, however, Tsarukyan’s press
secretary Khachik Galstyan denied the reports.

“No ultimatum has been issued. We have only declared our intention
to participate in the parliamentary election. The coalition agreement
between the Prosperous Armenia, the Republican Party and Rule of Law is
effective till 2012. Any further steps will be discussed thereafter,”
he said.

Asked whether the party faced any political or economic pressure by
the Republican Party, Galstyan answered: “The Republican Party is
our coalition partner, and we maintain normal working relations.”

From: A. Papazian

TOP MEMBER OF RULING PARTY SAYS POLITICAL PRISONERS MIGHT BE RELEASED

Tert.am
03.12.10

Razmik Zohrabyan, a deputy chairman of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia, told reporters today that the ruling coalition has not
discussed the issue of releasing the political prisoners.

“No such discussion at the coalition level has taken place,” he said.

He, however, added that release of some convicts may be discussed based
on legal aspects. He said the amendments to the Criminal Code submitted
to parliament envisage reduction of service terms for some convicts.

“Quite probably, many convicts – not only those 11 – may be released
as a result,” he said.

“Those 11”, mentioned by Zohrabyan, are political prisoners.

From: A. Papazian