Author: Andres-Papazian

IRANIAN, ARMENIAN TOP DIPLOMATS REVIEW BILATERAL TIES

Fars News Agency, Iran
April 9 2013

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Armenian Foreign Ministers Ali Akbar Salehi
and Eduard Nalbandian in a meeting in Yerevan discussed the latest
developments in bilateral relations between the two countries as well
as the regional issues.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Salehi underlined the necessity for
improving cooperation between the two countries in all fields, and
called for the further expansion of bilateral ties in other fields
along with the political relations.

He also referred to the regional developments, specially in Syria,
and underlined that the only solution to the crisis in the Muslim
country is Syrian-Syrian political talks.

Nalbandian, for his part, asked for utilizing the two countries’
capacities and potentials to further enhance their ties.

He also emphasized finding a political and peaceful solution to the
crisis in Syria.

Iran has long taken various diplomatic initiatives to expand its ties
with the neighboring states.

In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have boosted
cooperation, signed agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to
cooperate in technology and research and to enhance ties in commerce
and economy.

From: A. Papazian

HOVANNISIAN SUPPORTERS LAUNCH STRIKE AT BAGHRAMYAN AVENUE

April 9, 2013 – 20:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Supporters of the ex-candidate in Armenia’s
presidential elections, Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian
started a strike at Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue. Hovannisian himself,
accompanied by some of his supporters, is marching from Saryan Street
to Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to Genocide Victims.

Earlier, the rally participants headed by the Heritage leader planned
to march along Baghramyan Avenue (Armenian President’s residence site)
to Tsitsernakaberd. However, the police barred the demonstrators’ way.

The incident was followed by a minor clash; however, the rally
participants were soon calmed.

After Hovannisian’s conversation with the Police chief Vladimir
Gasparyan, the demonstrators changed their route. Some of the
supporters stayed at Baghramyan Avenue. Later, the Police issued
a statement warning that with the peaceful assembly law violated,
the members of law enforcement agency are now authorized to resort
to any law-stipulated actions.

Ex-candidate Ardreas Ghukasyan urged for a strike at Baghramyan
Avenue. “If police resorts to any actions, we’ll try to counteract
it without using force,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

PARLIAMENT PREZ TO POSTANJYAN: STOP INSULTING REGIME
Grisha Balasanyan

12:55, April 10, 2013

At the start of today’s parliamentary session, Heritage Party MP
Zarouhie Postanjyan rose and gave a five minute speech.

“Yesterday, we, the citizens of Armenia, dissolved our ties with this
illegal regime. We declared that we do not recognize false governors
and that we will not subject ourselves to illegal dictates. That we
are protected by the law and defended by the constitution, and we
will not be frightened,” declared Postanjyan.

The MP also criticized the use of force yesterday by the police,
thanking all that there was no loss of life.

“Serzh Sargsyan, was holed up at 26 Baghramyan surrounded by his
cronies, just like a prison cell,” said MP Postanjyan.

Members of the Republican Party, like unruly school pupils, started
to make noise and catcalls.

“If you don’t understand the link with human rights, I feel sorry for
that. We still haven’t provided an appraisal of the events of March
1 and they must be afforded one. What happened yesterday is also a
consequence of not providing that appraisal,” said Postanjyan.

National Assembly President Hovk Abrahamyan then instructed Postanjyan
to stick to the agenda, that being the annual report of the Human
Rights Defender.

“Please, refrain from insulting and criticizing the regime. It isn’t
acceptable,” added Abrahamyan.

From: A. Papazian

CLARK UNIVERSITY TO HOST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE EDUCATION

13:28 10.04.2013

Holocaust programs have become commonplace in many middle and high
school curricula across the U.S. A trend toward deploying the Holocaust
to convey moral instruction about present-day prejudices, human rights
abuses, and current genocides has emerged in recent years. These
approaches and other common pedagogical practices call for critical
review. For this reason, on April 11-13 Clark University’s Strassler
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies will host an international
symposium, “Policy and Practice: Pedagogy about the Holocaust and
Genocide,” to foster discussion about what constitutes effective
education about the Holocaust and other genocides, the Armenian
Weekly reports.

The symposium will address the following questions: What are the goals
and purpose of Holocaust and genocide education? How should educators
teach about the Holocaust and genocide in schools? Should instruction
about these subjects include lessons about civics or human rights?

The public is invited to a panel discussion, “History, Politics, and
Education: Teaching about the Holocaust and Genocide,” April 11. A
series of closed discussions will take place on the Clark campus
on Fri., April 12, and Sat., April 13. “Never Again,” an exhibition
of photographs by Strassler Center doctoral student Shannon Scully
that explores questions of memory, complements the symposium. The
exhibition will be on display at the Cohen-Lasry House, 11 Hawthorne
St., in Worcester, from April 11 through May 31.

According to Mary Jane Rein, Ph.D., one of the co-organizers of the
conference (along with Mikaela Luttrell-Rowland, Ph.D.), conference
participants include leading scholars with expertise in Holocaust
history, genocide, pedagogy, comparative politics, transitional
justice, and human rights whose scholarship encompasses the many
diverse regions where genocidal conflicts have occurred and are shaped
by diverse disciplinary perspectives.

“Lessons learned will have the potential to influence curriculum
experts, policy makers, scholars, and teachers in countries around
the globe,” said Rein.

Outside of the United States, it is critical to consider the
challenges confronting efforts to teach about the past in nations
that have emerged from recent conflicts or where unresolved conflicts
persist. “Education can become part of the reconciliation process in
countries recovering from trauma or where the past has not yet been
confronted frankly,” said Dwork.

From: A. Papazian

ALTERNATIVE INAUGURATION AT THE LIBERTY SQUARE
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
17:02 09.04.2013

As President Serzh Sargsyan was taking his oath and assuming office
at a special sitting of the National Assembly at the Karen Demirchyan
Sports and Concert Complex, runner-up in the presidential elections,
leader of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisyan was holding an
alternative inauguration ceremony at the Liberty Square.

Raffi Hovhannisyan read out the text of the “New Armenia” oath, and
said it was his last oath.

Hovhannisyan declared he will continue the struggle and invited the
President and the Catholicos of All Armenians to the Liberty Square at
6 p.m. Participants of the rally continued their march in the streets
of Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

ASSASSINAT D’UN MAIRE

La ” une ” des quotidiens est consacree au meurtre du maire du village
de Prochian près de Erevan (region de Kotayk), Hratch Mouradian,
membre du parti Dachnak et veteran de la guerre du HK. Il a ete abattu
d’une balle a la tete le matin du 2 avril près de la mairie, par un
inconnu que l’on suppose etre un professionnel. Maire depuis 2005,
Hratch Mouradian avait ete reelu en septembre dernier face a un rival
du parti Republicain. Une enquete criminelle est en cours. Aucune
arrestation n’est encore signalee.

Le parti Dachnak a condamne cet acte, denoncant un meurtre premedite
qui reflète une ambiance d’impunite et d’intolerance. Le parti souligne
que la victime etait une ” personnalite exemplaire “, cible de menaces
recurrentes qui ont finalement abouti a sa mort.

FRA/Dachnaksoutioun reclame une elucidation rapide et complète du
meurtre et la punition des coupables avec toute la rigueur de la loi.

Le parti Republicain a appele a ne pas politiser ce meurtre. Haykakan
Jamanak relève que des altercations entre partisans du parti Dachnak
et du parti Republicain se seraient regulièrement produites dans ce
village, notamment durant les consultations electorales.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 03 avril 2013

mercredi 10 avril 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

E. NALBANDYAN ACCUSES TURKEY FOR ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT REGULATION

12:41, 10 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Turkey tries to link the regulation
of the Armenian-Turkish relations with the issue of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict on purpose. The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan stated this during the press
conference held after the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Miroslav LajÄ~Mák on April 10. Minister Nalbandyan reminded that the
international community has expressed its principle position over the
regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions
for a number of times. Among other things Edward Nalbandyan noted
that linking the regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations with
the Karabakh issue can damage the procedure. As reports “Armenpress”
Edward Nalbandyan underscored: “There is an impression that Turkey
tries to link the two processes on purpose hindering the joint efforts
made by Armenia and international community aimed at the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.”

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European
Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav LajÄ~Mák arrived in Yerevan
on April 9.

It is planned that Miroslav LajÄ~Mák will have meetings with the
President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, the Chairman
of National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan,
and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. CALLS UPON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES TO ACHIEVE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT

Trend, Azerbaijan
April 9 2013

The U.S. remains deeply committed to working with the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict parties to achieve a peaceful settlement, Acting Deputy
Spokesperson at the U.S. Department of State, Patrick Ventrell said
at a press briefing.

“We are a co-chair of the Minsk Group – we remain deeply committed
to working with the sides to achieve a peaceful settlement of
the conflict,” Ventrell said when asked about discussions over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Secretary Kerry and Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Turkey.

Ventrell said that the U.S. believes that the use of force will not
resolve the conflict. “The U.S calls upon all parties to refrain from
the use or threat of use of force,” he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

When asked about any developments in Turkey-Armenia relations, Ventrell
said that the U.S. consistently raises with its Turkish counterparts.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and the border between
them has been closed since 1993. This was caused by Armenian claims for
international recognition of the so-called “genocide” and occupation
of Azerbaijani territories.

From: A. Papazian

CLASHES START IN YEREVAN BETWEEN EX-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE’S SUPPORTERS AND POLICE

Trend, Azerbaijan
April 9 2013

Clashes between police and supporters of the former Armenian
presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian, trying to get to the
presidential residence, have erupted in the centre of Yerevan,
News-Armenia reported.

The rally participants started throwing at the law enforcement
authorities candles considered for previously planned procession to the
memorial. In response, the police began to drive back the protesters.

Presidential elections were held in Armenia on February 18. According
to the official results, the incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan won
the presidential elections with 58.64 percent of the votes. Raffi
Hovannisian ranked second with 36.74 percent.

From: A. Papazian

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 8 2013

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict discussed in Washington

8 April 2013, 15:23 (GMT+05:00)

By Sara Rajabova

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been discussed in Washington with
the participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian representatives during
an event organized by the Jamestown Foundation, a major think-tank in
the United States.

The event, titled ‘The United Nations and the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Conflict: Back to the Basics’, is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of
the adoption of the UN Security Council’s first resolution on the
long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Speakers included Azerbaijan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the
United Nations Tofig Musayev and Senior Research Fellow of the
Heritage Foundation Ariel Cohen, the Azerbaijani Embassy in the United
States told Trend news agency.

Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Frederick Starr, the
commentator of the event, said peace in the South Caucasus region
depends on cooperation of the three countries of the South Caucasus,
referring to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

In his speech regarding international legal relevance and significance
of the UN Security Council resolution, Tofig Musayev emphasized the
necessity of following the rules and principles of international law
from the viewpoint of protecting security and peace.

Musayev said one of the main factors preventing a solution of the
conflict is Armenia’s failure to implement the UNSC’s four resolutions
urging a withdrawal of the occupying Armenian armed forces from the
territories of Azerbaijan, and stressed that Armenia’s unconstructive
position has no basis under international law.

Analyzing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the context of regional
realities and position of the international community, the Heritage
Foundation’s Cohen said the U.S., as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, has
to make more effort to resolve the conflict.

The participants of the Washington event voiced proposals to advance
the peace process, including one that called for raising funds for the
rehabilitation programs in the occupied territories.

In the meantime, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed the strengthening of the
OSCE Minsk Group’s activity and the liberation of the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, Anadolu news agency reported.

“The Turkish and Armenian relations are of crucial importance, which
need a much more comprehensive approach to be initiated. The Minsk
process should be provided with an ever-increasing momentum and the
invaded territory of Azerbaijan is an issue that we need certain
advancement within,” Davutoglu said after the meeting.

Turkey and the U.S. will continue to touch on those issues in the
future, he added.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against the neighboring country. Since a lengthy
war between the two South Caucasus countries that displaced over a
million Azerbaijanis and ended with the signing of a precarious
cease-fire in 1994, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20
percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Peace talks brokered by the Minsk Group co-chairs have been largely
fruitless so far.

The negotiations are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed
by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles, also
known as Basic Principles. The document envisions a return of the
territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control;
determining the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh; a corridor
linking Armenia to the region; and the right of all internally
displaced persons to return home.

From: A. Papazian