Author: Andres-Papazian

UN PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA GET MORE INCLUSIVE – REP.

February 22, 2013 – 16:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met Feb
22 with Deputy Director at UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Europe and the
CIS Haoling Xu.

As Minister Nalbandian noted, Armenia marked the 20 anniversary of UN
presence in 2012, hailing Armenia’s involvement in the organization’s
activities.

Haoling Xu, in turn, highly assessed the cooperation between Armenia
and UNDP, noting that UN programs gradually become more effective
and inclusive.

The parties further noted that the implementation of 2010-2015 UNDAF
will enable Armenia to bring several projects envisaged by Millennium
Development Goals into fruition.

The course of several programs implemented jointly by Armenia and
UNDP was further discussed.

From: A. Papazian

GARCETTI, GREUEL ENDORSE SINANYAN

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

Glendale City Council candidate Zareh Sinanyan

GLENDALE-Los Angeles city Councilman Eric Garcetti and LA City
Controller Wendy Gruel endorsed Zareh Sinanyan for Glendale City
Council.

“Zareh brings a refreshing perspective and truly understands the
unique needs of Glendale,” said Los Angeles City Council Member Eric
Garcetti. “I have the utmost confidence that Zareh will serve Glendale
well, and he has my full support on his way to becoming Glendale’s
next City Council Member.”

“Council Member Garcetti continues to be a proud Angeleno that
represents the beating heart of Los Angeles,” said Sinanyan. “His
stewardship of Council District 13 has created a blueprint for many
to follow. Council Member Garcetti’s endorsement today is an honor
and reaffirms my promise to rise to the occasion and lead Glendale
towards a more promising future.”

Garcetti has served on the City Council for 12-years, in which time
he has taken action to curb the city’s fiscal problems. During his
tenure as City Council Member, Garcetti has built a reputation as a
consensus builder. He is now running for Mayor of Los Angeles.

“Zareh has the experience and strength to fight for what he believes
is best for Glendale,” said Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles City Controller.

“Now more than ever, Glendale needs someone who has the long-term
vision to keep Glendale’s economy strong and secure a bright future
for the next generation. I know Zareh will fight for all of Glendale
and I’m proud to endorse him.”

“I am humbled by the support of one of Los Angeles’ most loyal public
servants,” said Sinanyan. “As only the second woman to be elected City
Controller, Wendy has been a great representative of the San Fernando
Valley and continues her tireless work to curb wasteful spending and
create more opportunities for small businesses to grow.”

City Controller Greuel previously served on the Los Angeles City
Council, representing the Second District in the Northeast San
Fernando Valley for seven years. Her career as Council Member was
highlighted by her work in creating reforms to increase government
efficiency. Like Sinanyan, Greuel remains an advocate for alleviating
the burdens placed on small businesses and continues to push for
reducing wasteful spending. Greuel’s ability to stand up to City Hall
signifies the qualities she expects in a leader.

Zareh Sinanyan attended Burbank High School and has been a resident
of Glendale for the past 14-years. Zareh and his wife Lori have four
children, the oldest of which currently attends school in the GUSD.

Prior to declaring his candidacy for Glendale City Council, Zareh
served on the Glendale Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission and more recently as Chairperson of the Community
Development Block Grant Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2011. Zareh
received a Bachelor’s Degree from UCLA in History and Political
Science and a Juris Doctorate from USC; he has been a practicing
attorney since 2001.

From: A. Papazian

PROTESTERS TO OSCE ELECTION OBSERVERS: “LEAVE ARMENIA NOW!”

!.html
15:02, February 22, 2013

Protestors gathered outside the OSCE office in Yerevan, demanding
that the organization’s election observers immediately leave Armenia.

Hundreds converged on the office, charging the observers with
attempting to legitimize the fraudulent February 18 presidential
election. Earlier in the week the OSCE observers offered a preliminary
evaluation of the election as a step in the right direction and on
the whole, free and fair.

Police intervened and tried to push the protestors to the opposite
sidewalk, claiming they were hindering pedestrian traffic.

The protestors resisted and stood their ground.

From: A. Papazian

FCO MINISTER RESPONDS TO THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

15:27, February 22, 2013

Commenting on the Armenian Presidential election on 18 February, the
Minister for Europe said it marks another step forward in democratic
development

David Lidington, Minister for Europe, said:

“The Armenian Presidential Election on 18 February marked another
step forward in Armenia’s democratic development. The campaign was
free and open and voter turn-out on polling day was good. I expect
that the final result, when confirmed, will reflect the choice of
the Armenian voters.

“I welcome the International Election Observation Mission’s preliminary
report which concluded that the elections were characterised by a
‘respect for fundamental freedoms’ but also noted deficiencies in
election administration and instances of political interference. I
look forward to seeing the Mission’s final report and encourage the
Armenian Government to respond constructively to any recommendations
it might make.

“The British Government looks forward to working with the Armenian
Government to promote the economic reforms which will underpin
Armenia’s efforts to forge a stronger relationship with the EU.”

From: A. Papazian

A PROGRAM OF “HANDING OVER THE CROWN”?

February 21 2013

Although Raffi Hovhannisyan is not the candidate I voted for, I
treat that kind, honest, and patriotic person with great respect
and liking, I am happy for his success, proud that many citizens who
want to change our life are gathered in Freedom Square. I also think
that Karapet Rubinyan and Nikol Pashinyan who, overcoming “interparty
problems,” expressed their support for the Heritage Party leader did
the absolutely right thing. After saying so many good things, now
I have to say also the negative. As a man who has been dealing with
texts all of his life and has been editing them for at least 18 years,
I should assert that Raffi’s texts, speeches, yesterday’s speech at
the rally, in particular, didn’t have a strong logical structure,
it wasn’t clear where the starting point and where the conclusion are.

Certainly, individual parts were very emotional and basically right;
perhaps, they were very encouraging for those gathered. However,
from my perspective, they were not “purposeful.” Because besides
the idea of having a good, fair, prosperous, and democratic country
that is acceptable for all of us, we the citizens, should realize
what concrete way the given politician offers for that. And if we
put aside all the right phrases, the bottom line will be, I think,
the following: Mr. Hovhannisyan suggests that the incumbent president
come to Freedom Square, resign his office and declare him, Raffi,
president (how? based on what document?). Let us just theoretically
assume that Serzh Sargsyan agrees and does so; it will be an absolutely
irresponsible, arbitrary and unlawful attitude from both of them. But
all of us want the establishment of constitutional law, don’t we?

Besides, such an attitude of two candidates who have won hundreds of
thousands of votes will be a subject of mockery around the world.

Therefore, the struggle is surely honest, but the goals should be
formulated more clearly. Oppositionists can demand Serzh Sargsyan’s
resignation. They can demand a recalculation, and if it shows
huge distortion, the Central Election Commission (CEC) can make a
respective decision. In the end, probably there will be a need in
the future to file a petition in the Constitutional Court, which can
find the CEC’s decision unfavorable for the opposition void. Probably
there are other solutions too. But it is obvious that just coming
and “handing over the crown” will be disrespectful to the law and,
in the end, to the citizens too. ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: A. Papazian

AFTERMATH: ANTICIPATION PEAKS TOWARD FRIDAY OPPOSITION RALLY

VOTE 2013 | 22.02.13 | 14:06

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The most-anticipated event of this post-election week following
the Monday vote is perhaps the Friday evening public rally, which
comes after the meeting between the oppositional candidate and the
incumbent president, and is expected to give answers to many questions
and clarify the opposition’s action plan.

The preliminary official results of the February 18 presidential
elections have positioned oppositional candidate Raffi Hovannisian as
the runner-up. Hovannisian, however, is disputing the results claiming
the victory with the majority of votes had the election results not
been forged. After three days of public rallies at Liberty Square,
downtown Yerevan, Hovannisian visited the presidential residence and
had a meeting with re-elected president Serzh Sargsyan. There are
no details from this meeting of Heritage and ruling Republican party
leaders yet. Hovannisian promised to speak about them at the Friday
rally (today, February 22).

Today’s rally has been licensed by the mayor, while Heritage party
representative Armen Martirosyan says the city hall returned the
notifications his party had submitted about holding rallies on February
23, 24 and 25 refusing to give permission, because “the notifications
were submitted within violation of the deadlines set by the law”.

Martirosyan say they will, nonetheless, go ahead with the rallies.

The previous experience with public rallies was that people complained
of closed roads and lack of transport to the capital hindering their
participation; these days however no such complaints have been voiced,
which is an indication that people’s participation is not obstructed.

While Yerevan enjoys “relative peace” amidst post-election standoff,
Armenia’s border villages are again at Azeri gunpoint. In particular,
Tavush province’s Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Aygepar, and Movses villages
were under constant gunfire from 7 p.m. Thursday till past midnight.

Aygepar village head Andranik Aydinyan told ArmeniaNow that for a
few days now a sniper has been shooting at peaceful villagers once
every hour. On Wednesday one such shot hit Aygepar resident David
Gabrielyan, 45, wounding him in the wrist.

Many connect the unrest on the border with the election and
post-election processes in Armenia, although others don’t see any
particular connection, and believe that the Azeri side has always
been aggressive to border villages over the past few years.

From: A. Papazian

HERITAGE VICE CHAIRMAN’S SCENARIO: PRESIDENT PASSES POWER, NEW PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IS APPOINTED

13:13 22/02/2013 ” ANALYSIS

Heritage party’s vice chairman says he is sure that Raffi Hovannisian
will struggle till the final victory.

“I do not just believe that there will be change of power, I say
that the change of power already took place on February 18,” Armen
Martirosyan told reporters today.

Armen Martirosyan presented a scenario of possible developments: the
President passes the power and new parliamentary election is appointed.

“I am 100 percent sure that the parliament will dissolve itself after
the President changes and a new political situation is created,”
he said.

According to Heritage party’s vice chairman, as a result of the
parliamentary election, a new coalition will be formed with political
forces that really received people’s trust, which will form a new
government. “And of course President Raffi Hovannisian will head
that government.”

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

CONSCRIPT DIED IN NKR MILITARY UNIT

10:10 22/02/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

On February 21, at around 9:30am an extraordinary incident occurred
in an NKR military unit resulting in the death of the conscript Karen
Hakobyan born in 1994.

NKR Defense Ministry reports that details will follow. Investigation
is underway.

From: A. Papazian

ZHOGHOVURD: RESIGNATIONS AND REPRIMANDS EXPECTED IN ARMENIA

10:05 22/02/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

RPA executive body met Thursday evening to discuss the situation
formed after the presidential election, Zhoghovurd reports. Serzh
Sargsyan complained about the officials who have an obviously low
approval rating. It was announced that resignations were expected
soon and that it was no use to make special petitions. So, a series
of theatrical performances featuring resignations and reprimands will
soon begin, the paper says.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

L’AUTEUR RUSSE KIM BAKSHI RECOMPENSE PAR LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN

Le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a recompense le celèbre auteur
et traducteur russe, expert de la culture de l’Armenie Kim Bakshi
avec la medaille de l’Ordre d’Honneur.

Kim Bakshi a ete recompense pour la longue contribution au
developpement de l’amitie armeno-russe et aux liens culturels.

Le president a exprime sa gratitude a l’auteur pour ses nombreux
travaux sur l’Armenie, sa culture et histoire, qui ont aide a
populariser la culture armenienne et presenter le peuple armenien
au monde.

Kim Bakshi a dit que son nouveau livre sur les tresors spirituels de
l’Artsakh est pret pour une publication.

vendredi 22 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian