Chief of Gyumri Police dismissed
06:38 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL
Chief of Armenian Police, Lieutenant General Vladimir Gasparyan has
signed an edict to relieve Colonel Vahan Danielyan from his duties as
Chief of Gyumri Police.
Colonel Sargis Martirosyan was appointed to the post, the police said
without giving the resaons for the dismissal.
From: A. Papazian
Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament: Processes around international
recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic start developing positively
ARMINFO
Friday, March 1, 16:33
The formation of a Lithuania-Artsakh Parliamentary Friendship Group in
the Lithuanian Parliament demonstrates that the European Union
countries have actually started recognizing the independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh at the parliamentary level and they realize that it
is impossible to ignore this fact, Eduard Sharmazanov, Head of the
Armenia-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship Group, Vice Speaker of
Armenian Parliament, told ArmInfo. He stressed that the Lithuanian
Parliament’s initiative is an important step towards international
recognition of Nagorno- Karabakh. Such phenomena have become a
tendency: the creation of the Lithuania-Artsakh Parliamentary
Friendship Group was preceded by the visit of Speaker of the
Parliament of Uruguay to Karabakh. “The processes around recognition
of Nagorno- Karabakh have already started developing positively. The
relations will first be built at the inter-parliamentary level, and
then we will witness the fluttering of the NKR flags in the European
capitals”, Sharmazanov said. He thinks that the Lithuanian
Parliament’s initiative will become a precedent for other EU countries
as well. In the meantime, Sharmazanov thinks it is hardly probable
that the Azerbaijan pressure may have an effect on the Lithuanian
parliamentarians’ initiative. He stressed that member of the
Lithuania-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Algis Kaseta, who is
also a member of the Lithuania-Artsakh initiative group, assured that
the number of the Lithuanian parliamentarians in the group would grow
in the course of time.
To note, a Lithuania-Artsakh Parliamentary Friendship Group has been
set up in the Lithuanian Parliament. In includes 9 parliamentarians
representing various political forces. Azerbaijan has already filed a
note of protest to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry in relation to this
initiative.
From: A. Papazian
Armenia’s canned food output ups 2.5 times to 207.2 t in January 2013
YEREVAN, March 1. /ARKA/. Canned food overall production in Armenia
rose 2.5 times in January 2013 to 207.2 tons year over year, the
National Statistical Service of Armenia said Friday.
Canned meet output dropped to 28 tons versus 40.3 tons in January 2012
(30.5% down).
A total of 66.2 tons of canned vegetables was produced within the
reported period, which was 30.5% higher from a year earlier (23.2 tons
in January 2012).
Canned tomatoes production stood at 0.1 tons and canned fruits
output – at 111.1 tons which was 5.7 times higher from January 2012.
Within the reported period, 9.2 tons of ketchup was produced (2.1
times higher from the analogical month a year earlier). Armenia also
produced 824,100 liters of natural juice in January 2013 versus
490,100 liters a year earlier (68.1% up). -0-
– See more at:
From: A. Papazian
Looking for Solutions: National Assembly opposition groups call for changes
POLITICS | 01.03.13 | 15:17
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Three of Armenia’s parliament factions continue negotiating, calling a
special session of the National Assembly to discuss the post-election
developments.
During their meeting the Heritage and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation faction members suggested to speaker Hovik Abrahamyan that
three issues be put on the agenda – snap parliamentary elections
during the next 12 months, shift to 100 percent proportionate
electoral system within two years’ time, and increase of the
opposition’s control levers.
After the discussion Heritage faction leader Ruben Hakobyan said there
were disputable issues still under discussion with no agreement
reached yet. Hakobyan says at the moment the authorities are
considering their suggestion on snap parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, Republican Galust Sahakyan says: `It is absurd to make a
proposal to dissolve the parliament during a discussion related to the
presidential elections. What would dissolving the parliament do? This
time the Heritage was able to overcome the 5 percent threshold, what
would happen after dissolution? They aren’t going to `destroy their
house with their own hands’, are they? ‘
He also pointed out that the subject of discussions was on a different
track from the suggestions made by the opposition, and added: `I
believe the authorities and the opposition can reach an agreement, in
terms of jointly finding solutions to certain issues, rather than
about posts and positions. Giving the management of this or that
sphere to the opposition does not solve the issue. It can only be
solved by means of agreements.’
Armen Rustamyan, leading the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
faction, said that since the negotiations have not been concluded, he
cannot offer any comments for the sake of effectiveness of the same
negotiations.
It should be noted that parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan made an
appeal early this week to call a special session to discuss the
post-election processes, to which oppositional factions responded
positively.
The parliament speaker further stated that the authorities are
expecting `reasonable suggestions’ by Raffi Hovannisian.
`The right thing to do would be if Mr. Hovannisian presented
reasonable suggestions on behalf of the voters; even force, ground,
prove, urge us to accept those suggestions, carry out reforms and
implement serious personnel policy. I believe that’s the right way, if
we care about progress in our country,’ said Abrahamyan, not ruling
out the possibility of making Heritage part of the government.
In response to the parliament speaker, Hovannisian said: `I have made
my suggestions, and I am ready to hear any reasonable suggestion from
Mr. Sargsyan’.
From: A. Papazian
JEWS, ARMENIANS HATE SPEECH TARGETS IN TURKISH MEDIA
14:12 28.02.2013
Jews and Armenians are exposed to hate speech more than any other
group, according to a periodic report on hate speech in the Turkish
media, released by the Hrant Dink Foundation, the Hurriyet Daily
News reports.
The report was conducted by scanning 16 newspapers by hand and
searching for key words in the rest of the 1,000 national and local
newspapers published between September and December 2012.
Jews and Armenians are used in hate speech the most, followed by
Christians and Greeks living in Turkey, according to the report
released Feb. 25 on the website of the Hrant Dink Foundation. The
category of “other” is composed of hate speech against LGBT people and
women. Certain people and institutions are also exposed to hate crimes
apart from ethnic, religious and national groups, the report said.
Columns topped the list of media that has used hate speech most
frequently. Although the amount of hate speech targeting Kurdish people
decreased in this period, the report contends it was a result of
differentiating between “good Kurds” and “others in the media.” The
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) is widely considered the same as
the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Group (PKK) and subsequently became a target of
hate speech as well, the report added.
The top three dailies that included hate speech content are Yeni
Akit, Milli Gazete and Yeni Mesaj, respectively, the report said,
adding that in the local media, Istanbul, Gölcuk Postası, and Yozgat
Hakimiyet were top three dailies that used hate speech the most.
From: A. Papazian
VALéRIE BOYER SLAMS AZERI PROVOCATIONS IN FRENCH PARLIAMENT
February 28, 2013 – 12:57 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net РFrench MP Val̩rie Boyer has issued a statement on
Azeri provocations during Feb 25 event commemorating Sumgait pogrom
victims in French National Assembly.
“Aliev regime encourages the incidents similar to that recorded during
Feb 25 event commemorating the 25th anniversary of Sumgait pogrom,
through promoting the propaganda of denial and increasing anti-Armenian
provocations. The incident proves that Baku’s intentions have nothing
to do with Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,” Ms Boyer said,
adding that oil can buy neither memory, nor human rights.
Valérie Boyer addressed French President Francois Hollande with
a call to take relevant diplomatic steps to end provocations of
this type. I urge Claude Bartolone to include on National Assembly’s
agenda the bill on combating racism and xenophobia through the criminal
law. The bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial must be adopted,”
Nouvelles dÕ~]Arménie quoted Ms Boyer as saying.
– See more at:
From: A. Papazian
RAFFI HOVANNISIAN SAYS SERIES OF OFFICIALS’ RESIGNATIONS COMING
February 28, 2013 | 13:01
YEREVAN.- A series of resignations in the power is near, former
presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian said during the Thursday
meeting with the supporters in Byuregavan town of Kotayk Region,
Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reports.
“I will not demand someone’s resignation from scratch. But I think
that the time for voluntary resignations has come, if the people
have honor and dignity. The chain of resignations of governors and
mayors started not because they did not fulfill the instruction of
the ruling party and Serzh Sargsyan, but because they did not serve
their people,” he said.
Addressing the residents, Hovannisian said it is time for a new
Armenia.
– See more at:
From: A. Papazian
IN ARMENIA, A “BAREVOLUTION” TAKES SHAPE. ITS FUTURE? UNCERTAIN
ianyan magazine, USA
Feb 27 2013
Posted by Liana Aghajanian on February 27, 2013 at 2:42 am
Something is brewing in Armenia. What was meant to be a routine
presidential election that saw incumbent President Serge Sargsyan
return to office has left in its aftermath not just questions,
but rallies, student protests, a meeting with the two presidential
frontrunners and among outcry from a small, active group of diasporans,
contradictory statements from two of its most well-known faces. No,
that doesn’t include the Kardashians.
Nicknamed the orange-colored “Barevolution,” (Barev meaning ‘hello’
in Armenian) a nod to the meet and greet campaign style of opposition
candidate Raffi Hovannisian, the streets from Yerevan to Vanadzor
have been filling up with thousands of people who have come out in
support of Hovannisian, or at the very least, in a show of defiance
against Sargsyan and the ruling Republican Party. Hovannisian has
even been joined by various political entities in the country at his
rallies, including opposition activist and editor of Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper Nikol Pashinyan, who served a 2 year prison term for his role
in 2008â~@²s post-election violence as well as high-ranking members
of ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Dashnakstutuyn members,
who did not have a candidate in the elections but controversially
urged supporters to vote for anyone but Sargsyan.
While the Central Election Committee (CEC) officially declared Sargsyan
the winner, receiving 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian came
second with 37 percent, the latter remained defiant, calling on the CEC
and those involved in election irregularities to remain accountable.
“This is not my struggle anymore, nor the struggle of my ‘team,'”
he said. “Let people not think that this is an issue that will be
resolved in a day.”
Last week, Sargsyan and Hovannisian met face to face at the
Presidential Palace in which Hovannisian said he urged Sargsyan to
recognize “the victory of the people.”
Sargsyan of course, gave a simple, yet firm reply: “no.”
As Hovannisian’s “victory tour” continued, a bevy of foreign leaders
stepped up to congratulate Sargsyan, including French President
Francois Holland and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from Iran, an ally
of the South Caucasus country whose borders remain closed with Turkey
and Azerbaijan.
With an interest to continue and expand relations between Armenia
and Iran, Ahmadinejad sent well wishes of health and success,
“prosperity and glory to the friendly people and government of
Armenia,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in his message,” the
presidential press reported.
This week, students, who historically have played vital roles in
revolutionary movements across the world, got involved. On Monday,
Yerevan State University students announced a boycott of classes to
protest what they called the fraudulent elections in Armenia. “We are
against the fraudulent election and do not recognize the official
vote results,” said Norayr Hovhannisyan, a history student who was
quoted in local investigative outlet Hetq.
Photo: Students jumping over the gates of Yerevan State University
after authorities allegedly locked them. Text reads “Revolution”
in Armenia. /Illustration via Facebook
Soon, word spread across social media networks about authorities
locking doors and gates to keep students inside. Some jumped over
the gates, opening windows to let other students out.
Meanwhile, members of several Armenian organizations have publicly
voiced an action plan as both candidates refuse to step down. Eight
NGOs, including the Women’s Resource Center, Asparez Journalism Club,
Transparency International Anti-Corruption center and others have
demanded the publication of voter lists to verify the election results,
Armenia Now reports.
Photo: A Hovannisian rally draws large crowds in Yerevan/ Photo
courtesy Sara Anjargolian
In a rather strange development, an unexpected exchange, perhaps
some might say a battle of words has gone public, festering across
the oceans as segments of the diaspora become involved in the
“Barevolution” aftermath of Armenia’s fourth presidential elections.
System of a Down front man and Armenian-American Serj Tankian has
released a scathing open letter to Sargsyan, calling on him to protect
the country from enemies foreign and domestic – including those who
conduct fraudulent elections.
Like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly,” Tankian wrote in
the letter published by the Armenian Weekly. “But the avalanche of
people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice is
tipping the scale for us all.”
But then, it got stranger. Sargsyan replied to Tankian, a reply which
also took the form of an open letter, a badly written and overall
confusing one (confusion being a strong theme in post-election Armenia
at the moment), which led us to a slightly clearer conclusion.
“You asked me if I was really sure, deep inside, whether I was the
true chosen leader of our people or not,” Sargsyan wrote.
“I respond to it that I have always been sure in whatever I have done
be that battle command or organization of elections.”
Tankian took the opportunity to write yet another letter, while Charles
Aznavour, the revered bastion of Armenian identity on the other side
of the world took the opportunity to congratulate Sargsyan calling his
“unbending will power and determination” and selfless dedication to
Armenia invaluable for the country.
Photo: The unofficial social media symbol of the “Barevolution.”
Hundreds of Facebook users in Armenia have already changed their
profile pictures to reflect Hovannisian’s campaign.
As Serj and Serzh continue to exchange letters in the Armenian
press, concerns are mounting over the message and momentum of the
Hovannisian led “Barevolution.” With scheduled visits to Armenia’s
southern cities today, what exactly will Hovannisian continue to do
in the face of a defiant incumbent, CEC results and an election with
a stamp of approval from Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe observers? Will he let the crowds that have gathered for
him in and out of Armenia know of his plans? As time passes without
concrete demands, many are left wondering if the movement is destined
to stumble and fall.
“I have a feeling that March 1 will be the final deadline, the make it
or break it point for this post-election round,” writes the Armenian
Observer.
But despite the confusion surrounding the immediate plans and future
of the movement, perhaps something else, something a little more
cultural and something a little less tinged with apathy is shifting.
“In Armenia, the process of political transformation would culminate
in a bottom-up renegotiation of the now-flawed constitutional compact
that was foisted upon Armenians during the 1990s, and distorted in
subsequent years through constitutional coups, rigged elections, the
violent repression of opposition demonstrations, a distorted media
landscape, and the cartelisation of an already small economic pie,”
writes Security, in the Caucasus and Beyond. “A fresh start is what
is needed in Yerevan, not some tinkering at the edges by the same
old faces people have been seeing over the past twenty years.”
Is Armenia waking up? Only time will tell.
From: A. Papazian
CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA ON HIS RE-ELECTION
Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
February 26, 2013 Tuesday
Riyadh, Rabi’II 16, 1434, Feb 26, 2013, SPA — The Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a
cable of congratulations to President Serzh Sargsian of Armenia on
his re-election as President of the Republic of Armenia.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wished the President permanent
good health and happiness and the people of Armenia steady progress
and prosperity.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques praised the relations between
the two friendly countries, stressing his keenness on enhancing them
in all fields.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIAN BONE MARROW DRIVE ORGANIZERS TAP STAR POWER OF KARDASHIANS
Glendale News-Press (California)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
February 26, 2013 Tuesday
by Daniel Siegal, Glendale News-Press, Calif.
Feb. 26–Organizers for the annual Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
drive in Glendale today are tapping the star power of the most visible
Armenian family in American pop culture the Kardashians.
The registry’s online advertising for the drive, which will be held at
Glendale Memorial Hospital from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, has centered on an
appeal from Kourtney Kardashian on behalf of her cousin CiCi, who needs
a bone marrow donor after her body stopped responding to chemotherapy.
Frieda Jordan, who has coordinated the registration drive since it
started 14 year ago, said she was hoping the Kardashian cachet would
help attract a new set of potential donors.
“The buzz is there, I think the Kardashians are tweeting it for
the whole week,” she said. “We hope there will be hundreds [of
registrants].”
The need for the registry stems from the fact that bone marrow
donations must come from a close genetic match — a problem for an
ethnic group living in a worldwide diaspora, according to Jordan.
“Like any other minority that has lived in a closed population, where
the number of intermarriages are not that many, throughout the years
[Armenians] have developed this unique genetic makeup,” she said.
When Armenians register, their information is entered into a global
database so that they can potentially be matched with patients
worldwide.
“There are hundreds of patients which are really desperate to get a
bone marrow match,” Jordan said.
The registration drive will be held in the auditorium of Glendale
Memorial Hospital, 1420 Central Ave.
“We try to be as supportive as we can with that organization,” said
hospital spokeswoman Rima Mardirosian. “They’re a great organization,
we’re just very happy to be able to be a part of that effort.”
A second registration drive will be held in Las Vegas on Sunday,
at the Las Vegas Armenian Apostolic Church.
For more information call the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry at
(323) 663-3609.
Daniel Siegal, Times Community News
From: A. Papazian