Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA IS ‘PARTLY FREE’ IN FREEDOM HOUSE LIST. WHICH ARE ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ STATES IN 2010?

Tert.am
04.06.10

In a 2010 report Freedom House, a Washington-based human rights
organization, has published the top 10 of the most repressive states
across the world.

Called Worst of the Worst 2010 the report says the situation with
civil and civic rights is the worst in the following countries:
Myanmar, Libya, North Korea, Somali, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea and also Tibet.

The report says that the population of these states and Tibet are
always being subjected to repressions, the political opposition; free
organizations are either banned here or persecuted, while people are
afraid of self-expression and cannot act in their own initiatives.

Human rights record in some 9 countries also gives cause for concern.

Among them are Belarus, Guinea, China, Cuba, Laos, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, Western Sahara and South Ossetia.

Armenia, Georgia and Turkey are ranged among “partly free” states,
while Azerbaijan and Russian among “not free.”

From: A. Papazian

12 ARMENIAN WRESTLERS WILL PARTAKE IN TBILISI GRAND PRIX

Tert.am
04.06.10

Twelve Armenian wrestlers will take part in Greco-Roman Wrestling
Grand Prix championship to be held from June 5-7 in the Georgian
capital of Tbilisi, according to a release by Armenia’s Ministry of
Sport and Youth Affaires.

The Armenian delegations will be headed by Levon Julfalakyan, an
Olympic champion and the general coach of Armenia’s Greco-Roman
wrestling team.

The Armenian athletes are Harutyun Hovhannisyan (55 kg), Shavigh
Gevorgyan (55 kg) Artak Harutyunyan (60 kg), Hovhannes Varderesyan
(66 kg), Armen Melikyan (66 kg), Sasun Ghambaryan (66 kg), Aram
Stepanyan (74 kg), Hrach Hovhannisyan (84), Tigran Sahakyan (74 kg),
Artur Shahinyan (84 kg), Sargis Tonoyan and Armen Geghamyan (96 kg).

From: A. Papazian

RUBEN AGHANBEKYAN WILL BE APPOINTED AS MOSCOW INTERBANK CURRENCY EXCHANGE CEO

Tert.am
04.06.10

Ruben Aghanbekyan, son of the Armenian academician Abel Aghanbekyan,
will from June 21 head the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange,
according to a release issued by the MICE.

He will substitute in this position Konstantin Korishenko, the current
president of the Exchange.

Ruben Aghanbekyan is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in
Renaissance Capital – a Russian investment company.

The release also says the MICE shareholders have decided to introduce
changes that will see the functions of senior managers separated.

Korishenko, who has for the recent year combined the positions of
president and CEO of MICE, will from now on be occupying the position
of president only.

“The decision is accounted by the MICE strategy in an attempt to create
a holding structure and pass into joint shares,” reads the release.

From: A. Papazian

‘ZURICH PROTOCOLS ARE PROBABLY IN ARCHIVE’: SOSO TSINTSADZE

Tert.am
04.06.10

The Armenia-Turkey border will not open without the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh issue, because Turkey cannot abandon Azerbaijan,
Rector of Diplomatic Academy of Georgia Soso Tsintsadze told Tert.am.

“That will never occur, and Azerbaijan is not making concessions
today.”

In his words the border will not open yet, though Europe, US and
Russian liked the initiative.

“Of course no one will say that those two issues are officially
interrelated. But it is a common knowledge that Baku will always
oppose to any rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey without
the resolution of the Karabakh issue. So, the Zurich Protocols are
probably, in archive,” said Tsintsadze.

At the same time he did not rule out that the negotiations between
Ankara and Yerevan may continue.

“That is the language of diplomacy. May be these are temporary
difficulties, and later the talks will continue,” said he.

From: A. Papazian

STOP POLICE TERROR AND PERMISSIVENESS:SDHP

Tert.am
04.06.10

Social Democrat Hunchakyans Party Chairwoman Lyudmila Sargsyan
has issued a statement accusing Armenia’s ruling authorities of
unlawfulness and permissiveness, as well as of organizing terror
against its people for already more than 2.5 year.

“The authorities, lacking political wisdom and unable to deal with
foreign challenges, having the foreboding of their imminent collapse,
instead of engaging in a dialogue with opposition and easing the
domestic tension are driving the police to more cruel actions, and are
deepening that gap between the society and law enforcement bodies,”
reads the statement.

Further it says that the ban on opposition representatives to enter
the newly re-opened Azatutyun Square in downtown Yerevan, prevention of
organizing non-massive protests and the unlawful arrests of opposition
representatives are direct proof of the fact that the police is being
put in complete dependence on the whimsical desires of authorities.

The statement also says that the SDHP requires that the authorities
“release all political prisoners, stop the terror organized by the
police, as well as the permissiveness, and liberate the Azatutyun
Square from the unnecessary presence of the “law enforcement bodies.”

From: A. Papazian

VAHE GABRIELYAN RELEASED FROM THE POST OF ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO UK

Panorama.am
04/06/2010

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on June 3 on
releasing Vahe Gabrielyan from the post of the Armenian Ambassador to
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, President’s
press office reported.

From: A. Papazian

NA TO DISCUSS BILLS ON ESTABLISHMENT OF FOREIGN-LANGUAGE SCHOOLS IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
04/06/2010

The Armenian National Assembly Standing Committee for Education,
Science, Culture and Youth Affairs will be discussing at Friday
sitting the bills “About Language” and “About Education” which foresee
establishment of foreign-language schools in the republic.

The committee will be deciding whether to submit the bill into the
National Assembly agenda or not.

From: A. Papazian

MUSEUM OF CITY OF TIGRANAKERT OPENED

Panorama.am
04/06/2010

The museum of the City of Tigranakert, Artsakh, has been officially
opened, Hamlet Petrosyan, of the National Academy of Sciences
told Panorama.am. He said the castle back to 18th century has been
completely recovered, and appropriate museum atmosphere has been
created.

H. Petrosyan said about 200 things, found in the aftermath of
excavations, are demonstrated in the museum. 25 information boards
are located in the museum telling about the Tigranakert’s discovery
in Armenian, Russian and English.

Hamlet Petrosyan told new things are supposed to be demonstrated in
the future since they’re under operation. According to the source,
NK Government supported financially the construction of the museum.

From: A. Papazian

PRICES GROW ABROAD, THEY GROW IN ARMENIA; PRICES REDUCE ABROAD, THEY STILL GROW IN ARMENIA”

Panorama.am
04/06/2010

Although the international prices of food products reduce, our local
market is by no way influenced by it, former CB President, professor
of YSU Bagrat Asatryan told at news conference today.

“Thus, it doesn’t matter whether the prices grow in the international
market or reduce, they surely grow in our market, since our economy
is based on monopolies,” former official said.

The economist said our country is to live tougher inflation this year.

The 5,3% inflation recorded during 5 months has burderned food
products.

“On the average basis the prices of rice, sugar and other food
products have been reduced by 15,6%,” expert said adding: “When
the prices grow in the international market they grow in Armenia,
but when they reduced abroad the prices again grow in Armenia.”

From: A. Papazian

CNNTURK: TURKEY SHOULD EXPECT FROM THE US CONGRESS TO ENDORSE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Panorama.am
04/06/2010

The Turkish-Israeli relief vessel clash several days ago has not
unveiled all the consequences, CNNTurk chief editor, Turkish analyst
Mehmet Ali Birand thinks. He is convinced that Israeli commandos
interception on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship will not only ruin
Ankara-Tel Aviv ties but will change the balance and will result in
quite a new situation in the region.

Birand highlights that actually Turkey and Israel are on their way
to hostility. Instead of getting further into enmity, the Turkish
should realize that Israel and Jewish lobby can do harm to them over
this or that issue. The Turkish expert mentions the possible hazards
Ankara can expect from Israel.

1. They will publish materials in the international media net that
Turkey has turned its back on the West and started showing interest in
Iran-Hamas-Islam triangle. Many reports will be written and conferences
will be called over the issue. However hard Ankara tries to refute
the information, all the efforts will prove in vain since the Jewish
lobby will cease Turkish propaganda campaigns.

2. It will be widely spoken that making investments in Turkey is
dangerous and has big risks.

3. Turkey should already expect from the US Congress to endorse the
Armenian Genocide Resolution. As we know, Jews can easily make a hit
over the issue.

4. Israel will intensify its efforts towards the Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK), particularly “Mosad” (Jewish investigation) will expand
its activity over the issue.

5. Israel’s most powerful tool is the ability to make influence on
Washington. Jewish lobby can deteriorate US-Turkey ties.

According to Birand, the list could be long continued but those he
could first recall are those mentioned above. So, as Israel will be
trying to hit Turkey at its weak points through the Jewish lobby,
what should Ankara do then?

From: A. Papazian