Author: Andres-Papazian

RUSSIA’S PATRIARCH KIRILL HOPES FOR COOPERATION WITH POPE IN CARE FOR POOR AND PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS

20:54, 14 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS: The head of the Russian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Kirill is sure to receive the support of newly elected Pope
of Rome in care for poor and protection of Christians, what he has
done during years in Argentina.

Patriarch Kirill sent a congratulatory letter to newly elected Pope
of Rome, reports Armenpress, referring to Interfax.

New pope of Rome was elected on March 13. Argentina’s Archbishop Jorge
Mario Bergoglio has been elected as Pope. Argentina’s 76 year old Jorge
Mario Bergoglio, who was not among the front-runners, is now the Pope
of the Catholic Church. His chosen name is Pope Francis. Prior to his
election, he served as an Argentine cardinal of the Roman Catholic
Church. He has served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998. He
was elevated to the cardinalate in 2001.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS HE WILL WORK TO DEEPEN TIES WITH CHINA

YEREVAN, March 14. / ARKA /. In a congratulatory message to President
of China, Xi Jinping, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said he will
make every effort to further the development of Armenian-Chinese
relations.

“I would like to confirm my readiness to exert maximum efforts for
the comprehensive development of Armenian-Chinese friendly relations
and cooperation,” he said. According to him, Armenia attaches great
importance to consistent strengthening and deepening of traditional
friendly relations with China.

“I am confident that further strengthening of bilateral relations and
exchanges in various fields, as well as effective interaction in the
international arena, stem from the vital interests of our countries
and peoples”, Sargsyan said.

He expressed confidence that under new president China’s role in
international arena will continue to grow and have a beneficial impact
on the peaceful and stable development in the world.

“I wish you good health and success, and happiness and well-being to
the friendly people of China,’ his message says. -0-

From: A. Papazian

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DISMISSED APPLICATIONS OF TWO EX-CANDIDATES

19:20 14/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The Constitutional Court has published its decision on the applications
of the former presidential candidates Raffi Hovannisian and Andrias
Ghukasyan. Hovannisian and Ghukasyan dispute the results of th
presidential election. They are convinced that the election was not
lawful, and the results of the voting must be invalidated.

After several days of examining the case and several hours of
consultation the Constitutional Court decided that the result of the
voting is not falsified, is valid, and the CEC decision must remain
in effect.

Since 1996 the Constitutional Court has passed five verdicts on the
applications of the opposition with similar content.

From: A. Papazian

RECORD NUMBER OF U. S. CONGRESSMEN JOIN CELEBRATION OF 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARTSAKH INDEPENDENCE

17:14, 14 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. The Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Ed Royce (R-CA), joined with fellow members of the
Congressional Armenian Caucus and the visiting Minister of Youth and
Culture from the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, Narine Aghabalyan, in
a bipartisan Capitol Hill celebration marking the 25th anniversary of
the Artsakh democracy and freedom movement. The ANCA told “Armenpress”
that record number of U. S. congressmen joined the celebration.

The event, hosted by the Congressional Armenian Caucus in the historic
Cannon Building, featured a keynote address by Minister Aghabalyan,
remarks by Chairman Royce, comments by the two Co-Chairman of the
Armenian Caucus, Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Michael Grimm (R-NY), a
moving speech by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), and messages by
Congresswomen Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). Congressman
David Cicilline (D-RI) welcomed Minister Aghabalyan to the event,
and participated in the evening’s celebration. Staff representing
over two dozen Congressional offices also participated.

Rep. Pallone concurred, noting that “Karabakh is an independent
republic, it should be recognized as such. Any ultimate negotiation
through the OSCE Minsk Group or through any other means has to provide
for the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, either
to remain as an independent country or to join with the Republic of
Armenia, if that~Rs how they see fit.”

In her remarks, Minister Aghabalyan explained that: “The Nagorno
Karabakh Republic is a legal state, which was created through the
free expression of the democratic will of the people of Karabakh, and
it is, in fact, the non-recognition of this state that contradicts
international laws and norms. Our unrecognized status prevents the
full realization of the rights of the people who live in Artsakh. It
is appropriate to cite the words of the third President of the United
States, an outstanding public figure, Thomas Jefferson: ‘Everything
is changeable in the world except the natural rights of people.'”

Chairman Royce and Representative Schiff both reminded attendees about
Azerbaijan~Rs pardon, praise, promotion of convicted axe-murderer
Ramil Safarov, who killed Armenian officer Gourgen Margaryan in his
sleep during a NATO Partnership for Peace English-language training
program in Hungary.

“Safarov~Rs rapturous welcome in Baku is testament to the degree of
anti-Armenian hatred that is being incited in contemporary Azerbaijan.

That a man, who nearly decapitated a comrade, in his sleep, could
be treated as a national hero is so inexplicable and appalling, it
vindicates the concern of many Armenians that the forced imposition of
Azeri sovereignty over the free people of Artsakh would result in a
blood bath,” stated Rep. Schiff, who went on to call for the zeroing
out of all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. “By cutting off
military aid to Azerbaijan, the U.S. can signal its disgust with the
Safarov affair but also remind Aliyev that the U.S. will not tolerate
any acts of aggression against Armenia or Artsakh.”

“Nagorno Karabakh is all about freedom. Freedom was the inspiration
for the Nagorno Karabakh democracy movement back in 1988. Freedom
has been the cornerstone of this proud Republic’s remarkable growth
over the past quarter century. And, today, twenty-five years later,
freedom remains the key to finding a peaceful and democratic way to
finally bring an end to Azerbaijan’s aggression,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian.

From: A. Papazian

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT THE REGION IN APRIL

15:47, 15 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will
pay a visit to the region in the first week of April. As reports
“Armenpress” citing Azerbaijani APA agency, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov stated this. Among other things
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan stated that the meeting
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs with the Azerbaijani president
has not been involved in the agenda yet. The Head of the Azerbaijani
Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
separately met with the ministers of the two countries in Paris.”

On March 3 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia Edward Nalbandyan had a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs Jacques Faure, Igor Popov, and Ian Kelly and the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office Anjey Kaspszyk in Paris.

A number of issues regarding the Artsakh issue had been under
discussion during the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

IN THE LINE OF FIRE: LIFE IN ARMENIAN BORDER VILLAGE GOES ON DESPITE AZERI SHOOTINGS

FEATURES | 15.03.13 | 15:55

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter and NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

The village of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur that has about 1,150 residents
about 200 kilometers to the northeast of capital Yerevan is only
about half a kilometer from the Armenian border with Azerbaijan.

Border shootings affecting life in this village are a usual occurrence
despite the formal ceasefire with Azerbaijan signed about two
decades ago.

Nerkin Karmiraghbyur residents say that they have gotten used to
living literally under fire and that their life gets back to “normalcy”
very quickly even after the fiercest of the attacks.

While housing and infrastructure in the village bear the traces of
shootings, the local mayor fears most for people’s health, especially
children’s psychological wellbeing.

“When the shooting begins my primary concern is about children
hearing it rather than housing being riddled with bullets,” says
Manvel Kamendatyan.

The local leader adds that street lights in the village had been fully
renovated, but they avoid switching them on at night not to make the
place an even softer target for Azeri snipers.

With the coming of spring agricultural work resumed in this border
village, but 80 percent of its land suitable for cultivation is exposed
to Azeri snipers. Subsequently, local farmers avoid working the land
or using it for livestock grazing. Two of the villagers were wounded
while working in the fields in 2012 alone.

However, people in Nerkin Karmiraghbyur say they are strongly attached
to their village and their land and go about their daily business of
living despite the ‘customary’ shootings.

Levon Arakelyan, a 32-year-old villager, in January set up production
of detergents and other cleaning agents on the premises of what was
formerly a bathhouse in the village. His enterprise now employs three
people. Arakelyan says he expects to expand his production and provide
jobs to as many as 12 people in the future.

A new community center to include a library, a gym and other facilities
is being built in the village today, as the old one was completely
burned and destroyed during the years of war.

From: A. Papazian

ANDRIAS GHOUKASSYAN WILL JOIN RAFFI HOVANNISIAN’S HUNGER STRIKE, IF NECESSARY

ARMINFO
Friday, March 15, 14:40

In case of necessity, Andrias Ghouakssyan is ready to repeat his
hunger strike joining Raffi Hovannisian. Head of Radio Hay Andrias
Ghoukassyan made such statement talking to ArmInfo.

Raffi Hovannisian went on hunger strike on March 10 and will continue
it till April 9, the day of the president’s inauguration. Ghoukassyan
said that Hovannisian must not stop hunger strike unless his demands
are fulfilled.

“At present there are no reasons to stop the hunger strike.

Hovannisian s in good health state and his demands have not been
fulfilled. Consequently, the fight is continued,” he said.

Ghoukassyan said that the Constitutional Court’s decision was not
unexpected for him, as the structure has never been impartial.

“We were expected such decision, but it is one of the civilized ways to
settle the conflict. All this once again showed that the Constitutional
Court protects the interests of the authorities,” Ghoukassyan said. As
for possible aggressive steps by the people and repetition of the March
1 scenario at the March 15 rally, Ghoukassyan said that Hovannisian’s
team is well trained and will not yield to provocations. “However,
one can expect such actions from the authorities known with their
criminal and oligarchic specifics,” he said.

On March 14 the Constitutional Court of Armenia rejected the claims
of former candidates for president of Armenia Raffi Hovannisian
and Andreas Ghukasyan, who demanded declaring the presidential
election results invalid. The Constitutional Court considers that
the violations fixed at 46 polling stations can be removed by means
of reforms. Heritage Party has already declared that its decision on
the further fight will be announced at a rally on March 15.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO ATTEND TOURISTIK WELT INTERNATIONAL FAIR IN MAINZ

15:07 15.03.2013

The National Competitiveness Foundation will represent Armenia at the
“Touristik Welt” International Fair in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate
region of Germany from March 16-18.

More than 70 companies and 20 thousands visitors are expected to
participate in the event this year.

Armenia participates in this exhibition for the first time, aiming at
contributing to Armenia’s efforts in promoting tourism and developing
inbound tourism.

The agreement of Armenia’s participation in the event was reached
last December during the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan and Kurt Beck, Prime Minister of the German region
of Rhineland-Pfalz within the framework of Armenian PM’s official
visit to Germany.

From: A. Papazian

A CLASH BETWEEN THE HERITAGE PARTY MEMBERS AND THE POLICE IN FREEDOM SQUARE (VIDEO)

March 14 2013

Raffi Hovhannisyan called for a moment of silence to honor artist and
intellectual Hakob Hakobyan before the open-air press conference
of Hovsep Khurshudyan, the spokesman for Raffi Hovhannisyan’s
headquarters, in Freedom Square today. Today is his funeral, and Raffi
Hovhannisyan was sorry that he couldn’t be present. Mr. Khurshudyan
said that they could imagine what ruling the Constitutional Court
would make. He informed that the Heritage Party, Stepan Safaryan,
the secretary general of the party for external relations, sent
a letter to Wilfried Martens, the European People’s Party (EPP)
President. The letter states that as he knows, on February 18, a
presidential election took place in Armenia. Before the campaign he
had conveyed his warm wishes to both candidates, and expressed hope
that a free and fair election would be conducted. It wasn’t fair at
all, since the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to steal the
people’s vote. It is nothing short of a miracle that despite Serzh
Sargsyan abused state resources, Raffi Hovannisyan won a victory. They
also inform Mr.

Martens in the letter that Raffi Hovhannisyan is on a hunger strike
and call on him to reconsider the decision to congratulate the
incumbent president, in accordance with democratic standards. Armen
Martirosyan, in his turn, applied to the city hall yesterday, asking
to allow putting up one tent and one canopy. “We have received a
decision from the city hall, according to which, the list of immobile
monuments of Yerevan has been approved; it includes Freedom Square,
which includes the Aram Khachaturian Big Concert Hall, the Aram
Khachaturian Monument etc.” They decided to deny the request to put
up a tent and grant the request regarding three canopies, which can
be used only for protection against bad weather.” According to Hovsep
Khurshudyan, they are not allowed to put up a tent on the asphalted
area, but they are allowed to do that on the greenbelt area. Once
they said this, the members of the Heritage Party started to put
up a tent, which was prevented by police officers. At this moment,
representatives of the Heritage Party, along with their supporters,
try to put up the tent. The police officers are going for a clash,
pushing those gathered, and trampling down the tent. Hripsime JEBEJYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: A. Papazian

ARTSAKH HISTORY IS A HISTORY OF TRIUMPH OVER VIOLENCE, WAR, AND BLOCKADE: TATOUL MARKARIAN

10:32, 15 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. The event dedicated to the 25th
anniversary of the Karabakh movement, was held on March 13. A number of
congressmen, diplomats, heads of the American-Armenian organizations,
heads of dioceses and numerous representatives of the American-Armenian
community and journalists participated in the evening’s celebration.

As reports “Armenpress” in her remarks the Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs of Artsakh Narine Aghabalyan explained that:
“The Karabakh movement symbolizes the struggle of the Armenians of
Artsakh for their rights and freedoms. I was lucky not only to witness
these historical events, but also to be a direct participant. The
Karabakh movement started at the end of 1980’s. It was the period of
Gorbachev’s Perestroika, a new approach was initiated in the Soviet
Union. It gave people a hope for democratic change and inspired them
to speak out about problems that had existed in the Soviet Union
for decades, but were subjected to a “symbolic silence” under the
Communist regime. The Karabakh issue was one of those problems, and,
I am proud to say, we were the first to break the silence.

Internationally unrecognized and therefore largely deprived of
much-needed support, we have chosen the path of democracy and built a
state where human rights and civil rights are considered our highest
of values. Artsakh’s commitment to democratic principles has been
affirmed by U.S. legislators and all the international observers who
have, in recent years, served as observers at Artsakh’s presidential,
parliamentary and municipal elections.”

The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Tatoul
Markarian expressed his gratitude to the Congress Caucus for their
firm support to the independence, security, and democratic development
of Artsakh. Among other things he noted: “25 years of Artsakh history
is a history of triumph over intolerance, violence, war, and blockade.

The people of the ancient Christian country succeeded to resist the
Azerbaijani aggression and to build a free and democratic society,
and economy based on market relations.”

The Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce
(R-CA), joined with fellow members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus
and the visiting Minister of Youth and Culture from the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh, Narine Aghabalyan, in a bipartisan Capitol Hill
celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the Artsakh democracy
and freedom movement. The ANCA told “Armenpress” that record number
of U. S. congressmen joined the celebration.

The event, hosted by the Congressional Armenian Caucus in the historic
Cannon Building, featured a keynote address by Minister Aghabalyan,
remarks by Chairman Royce, comments by the two Co-Chairman of the
Armenian Caucus, Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Michael Grimm (R-NY), a
moving speech by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), and messages by
Congresswomen Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). Congressman
David Cicilline (D-RI) welcomed Minister Aghabalyan to the event,
and participated in the evening’s celebration.

From: A. Papazian