Author: Andres-Papazian

NO INCIDENTS REGISTERED IN ALEPPO ARMENIAN DISTRICTS DURING THE LAST DAYS

13:14, 14 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS: The overall situation in Aleppo mostly
Armenian populated districts is relatively peaceful, with no incidents
registered. Berio National Primacy press secretary Jirayr Reisyan told
Armenpress, the voices of bombs and shootings are constantly heard.

March 14 morning unlike the night was relatively calm.

In the words of Reisyan the people are in spring mood, regardless
the fact electricity breaks create inconveniences in the city. Our
compatriot living in Damascus informs more than dozen bombs fell
on Damascus Kafr Sus district, most of them damaging residential
districts. An orphanage located in Dar al Aman also suffered losses.

The number of victims killed as a result of two year ongoing clashes
in Syria exceeds 70 thousand , the number of Armenian victims surpasses
four dozen. According to UN data the number of Syrian refugees reaches
one million.

From: A. Papazian

“MISLED CITIZENS OF SECURE ARMENIA” PROTESTING OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT

12:12 14/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Former residents of Kond district of Yerevan with posters “Misled
residents of secure Armenia” are protesting outside the government
building. They demand that the government solve their housing issue.

The houses of over 200 families were demolished in Kond district
which was declared area of eminent domain. Downtown company which was
to take care about the housing issues of those evicted families has
not finished the construction of apartments in that area. Though last
year Mayor of Yerevan said that the successor organization of Downtown
would be set up which would finish construction, there is no progress.

The residents of Kond wonder when construction will finish and
why their rent is not reimbursed. Government’s spokesman Alexander
Ghazaryan talked to the citizens saying that they presented a request
to the government last Thursday, and it will be discussed within 15
days. But Kond residents do not believe the government’s promises since
they have been told the same thing by the City Hall and government
for already 4 years.

From: A. Papazian

OMBUDSMAN OF ARMENIA: AGRICULTURAL LOANS TO VILLAGERS WERE PROVIDED ON EXCESSIVE INTEREST

ARMINFO
Thursday, March 14, 13:12

The interests of the preferential loans provided to villagers in 2012
were not observed practically, which has become an unexpected burden
for farmers, says Armenian Ombudsman’s report “On Human Rights in
the sphere of Agriculture Ministry in 2012” published on March 14.

The document says that the Ministry did not properly supervise the food
safety sphere. The UN FAO “Support for Abattoir Development Project
in Armenia” project was implemented in the country out of time. The
ombudsman highlights that the major problem in the agricultural sector
is still lack of agricultural insurance.

Among positive shifts, the human rights defender outlines that planned
inspections conducted by the Ministry in 2012 in the market of bakery
and administrative fines imposed on the violators. He praised also that
plans the implement a “Program on introduction of insurance system in
the agricultural sector” as part of the Strategy of Sustainable Rural
Development for 2010-2020, as well as contracts with 5 organizations on
opening of abattoirs in the regions of Armenia with the support of FAO.

From: A. Papazian

CPJ URGES BAKU TO HALT MEDIA CRACKDOWN

TERT.AM
21:36 ~U 13.03.13

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev to halt a media crackdown.

In a statement issued on March 13, CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon
reminded Aliyev that Baku had proclaimed that it was committed to
democratic reforms.

Simon harshly criticized Azerbaijani authorities for the imprisonment
of several independent journalists, including the chief editor of the
“Xural” (Parliament) newspaper, Avaz Zeynalli, RFE/RL reported.

Zeynalli was found guilty on March 13 of extorting and accepting a
bribe from a former parliament deputy and sentenced to nine years
in prison.

Zeynalli insists the case against him was connected with his work as
a journalist.

The CPJ statement also criticized Azerbaijani courts for failing to
investigate attacks against journalists and ordering independent news
outlets to pay large fines in defamation cases.

From: A. Papazian

ZHOGHOVURD: RAFFI HOVANNISIAN’S PARENTS WILL COME TO ARMENIA SOON

Thursday,
March 14

“Richard Hovannisian – the father of Heritage Party leader Raffi
Hovannisian – will arrive in Armenia in about nine days. There is
concern in ruling circles that Hovannisian’s father is coming to
Armenia in order to assist him financially”, “Zhoghovurd” daily writes.

Raffi Hovannisian himself told the paper: “My family has always
supported us and I am grateful to them. My parents will probably come
to attend a congress, but not to provide financing. They devoted
their lives to me and my family. This is just another lie. Please
tell me who spread this information. These are unverified rumors”.

TODAY, 12:11

Aysor.am

From: A. Papazian

TO MAGNUS CARLSEN HIS MAIN OPPONENTS ARE ARONIAN AND KRAMNIK

10:15, 14 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENRPESS. Magnus Carlsen, who tops the FIDE
ranking list, considers the strongest Armenian chess player Levon
Aronian to be his main opponent in the Candidates Tournament. In
an exclusive interview to “Armenpress” the Norwegian Grand Master
first evaluated his chances. In his opinion he has chances to achieve
the best results in the upcoming tournament. Notwithstanding Magnus
Carlsen finds that he must use his whole potential and spare no effort
to reach the desirable results. Speaking about his future rivals
Carlsen mentioned two names. He noted: “Probably Aronian and Kramnik,
but all the participants are very capable.”

As many other chess players, Carlsen too prefers playing with white
pieces. Among other things he also noted that it’s of a certain
importance for him to create harmony on the chessboard by making use
of all the pieces.

The Candidates Tournament is scheduled to be held in London on March
15 and end on April 1. Eight Chess Grand Masters namely Levon Aronyan
(Armenia), Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Teimour
Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Boris Belfand (Israel), Alexander Grischuk
(Russia), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), and Peter Svidler participate
in the tournament.

From: A. Papazian

VAN CATS BREED IN ARMENIA HAVE ALL TRAITS CHARACTERISTIC TO THIS TYPE

10:20, 14 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. Van cats brought to Armenia from
Russia and the USA have all the traits characteristic to this type,
unlike Angora cats bred in Turkey. Turkey makes attempts to introduce
the later as Van cats. In a conversation with “Armenpress” Davit
Matevosyan, breeding Van cats in Armenia, stated that the number
of cats in our country exceeds 70. Their total number in the world
reaches 2000. Davit Matevosyan noted: “The idea of binging Van cats
to Armenia and breeding them here came to my mind yet in 1990s. We
have studied the main peculiarities of the type together with a group
of animal lovers and brought the first cats to Armenia.” According
to him they desire to increase the number, but a special breeding
ground is needed for that purpose.

Among other things Davit Matevosyan noted that there is a widespread
misleading opinion that Van cats should indispensably have different
colored eyes. According to him Van cat is extremely loyal to
its owner. People are far more important for this type, than the
territory. Matevosyan also highlighted: “It’s of a certain importance
that these cats always follow the owners and never depart from them.”

The Van cat has been reported living in the vicinity of the city of
Van for centuries. Their most notable genetic characteristic is their
almond-shaped eyes that often are mismatched colours. The most valued
and valuable members of the type generally have one amber-green eye
and one blue eye.

From: A. Papazian

LE GOUVERNEMENT ARMENIEN DONNE DES INSTRUCTIONS POUR LA DESTRUCTION DE MEDICAMENTS

Le gouvernement armenien a decide d’allouer 18 millions de drams au
ministère de la Sante pour la destruction de medicaments recus comme
aide humanitaire après le tremblement de terre de 1988.

Le ministre de la Sante Derenik Dumanyan a annonce que les medicaments
sont stockes dans des conteneurs metalliques dans le centre republicain
pour l’aide humanitaire. Le volume total des medicaments est de 300
mètres cubes.

jeudi 14 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN SE REND AUJOURD’HUI EN BELGIQUE

Le President armenien Serge Sarkissian se rendra le 14 mars en Belgique
en visite de travail.

Le service de presse de la presidence a declare que le president
Sarkissian participera au sommet du Parti populaire europeen (PPE).

Lors de la visite, il aura une rencontre avec le president du PPE
Wilfried Martens.

En fevrier 2012 le parti republicain a obtenu le statut d’observateur
au sein du PPE. Deux autres partis politiques armeniens – Orinats
Yerkir (Pays de la loi) et Zharangutyun (Heritage) ont le meme statut.

jeudi 14 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH URGES BAKU TO RELEASE DETAINED PROTESTERS

14:28 ~U 13.03.13

Human Rights Watch has called upon the Azerbaijani government to
release anyone still detained for participating in the peaceful protest
and open an impartial investigation into excessive use of force.

“The Azerbaijani government shows no shame with its blatant trampling
on people’s fundamental right to express their grievances peacefully,”
said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human
Rights Watch. “The authorities should immediately release those
detained and investigate police behavior.”

A statement on the organization’s website says Azerbaijan is a party to
a number of human rights treaties, including the European Convention
on Human Rights, with the government additionally having a duty a
duty to investigate and remedy violations.

“The authorities should immediately release people detained at peaceful
protests and stop detaining people arbitrarily for legitimate speech,”
Denber said.

From: A. Papazian