Author: Andres-Papazian

LES MENACES DE BAKOU CONTINUENT

Haykakan Jamanak reproduit la declaration du porte-parole du ministre
azerbaïdjanais de la defense en reponse aux propos du Secretaire
general de l’OTSC Nikolaï Bordyuzha, qui avait declare a Erevan qu’il
ne prenait pas au serieux les menaces de l’Azerbaïdjan d’abattre les
avions civils : ” L’Azerbaïdjan ne plaisante pas quand il declare qu’il
prendra des mesures en cas de vols vers le Karabagh. A moins que les
fonctionnaires comme Bordyuzha ne veuillent qu’un avion soit abattu
? “. Reagissant a ces propos, le Secretaire de la securite nationale
Arthur Bagdassarian a declare que toute tentative d’abattre un avion
civil sera condamnee non seulement par l’OTSC, dont l’Armenie est
membre, mais par toutes les organisations internationales, ajoutant que
l’Armenie etait en mesure d’assurer la securite de ses avions civils.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 1er fevrier 2013

vendredi 8 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

CLAIMS AND COUNTER CLAIMS: NEWSPAPER IN ROW WITH BUSINESSMAN

News | 07.02.13 | 16:03

By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Since the beginning of this year oppositional Zhoghovurd daily has
been sued twice by the same person. The editorial staff and the
editor-in-chief believe that the claimant – owner of X Group company
Khachik Khachatryan – has started this campaign against the newspaper
in order to disrupt its natural workflow during the election campaign
period.

Zhoghovurd editor-in-chief Taguhi Tovmasyan told ArmeniaNow that the
lawsuits filed by Khachatryan, who allegedly has close ties with the
authorities, have “direct connection to the presidential elections”.

The first time Khachatryan turned to the court in January with a demand
to refute one of the publications that “marred his honor and dignity,
as well as business reputation”, and claimed 3 million drams (some
$7,400) compensation. The second complaint was this week with a demand
of the same compensation amount plus additional $500 attorney fees.

The article in question was published on December 11, 2012, in which
the newspaper accused Yerevan Poultry Factory belonging to Khachatryan
in marketing expired eggs. The article had a quote from Khachatryan
denying these accusations. The following day a Zhoghovurd reporter met
the businessman again, and during the meeting he, allegedly, said: “My
dear, you are not a reporter, you are a prostitute. You can publish
that, too.” The newspaper demanded an apology and not receiving
it turned to the court on December 28 for moral compensation. In
response, the businessman in his turn filed his complaints against
the newspaper. The court ruled to put a 3 million dram ($7,400)
lien on the newspaper property.

The editor points out that Khachatryan “realized he had been insulted
by the article written a month before” only after they filed their
lawsuit. She says this whole thing is aimed at putting psychological
pressure on the newspaper and making it be more reserved in its
publications: it is campaign period, meanwhile the paper is distracted
by official correspondence instead of journalistic activities,
she says.

Tovmasyan claims the highest circles of power are backing Khachatryan.

“President Serzh Sargsyan’s son-in-law Michael Minasyan, his God
father Barsegh Beglaryan, chief of presidential staff Vigen Sargsyan.

These people are guiding, to put it mildly, Khacahtryan to act
against Zhoghovurd paper, hindering its activities. Otherwise it is
hard to understand how the court reacted so quickly and put a ban on
our property, when we were the first to file a lawsuit against him,
and our hearing is scheduled for later,” says Tovmasyan.

Khachatryan denies this kind of deliberation and claims his only
purpose is to make the newspaper bear responsibility for every word
it writes.

It is noteworthy that in 2012 no lawsuits were filed against
Armenia-based news outlets. While before the 2011 ruling of the
Constitutional Court clearly defining the criteria by which punitive
measures are applicable to Armenian media, numerous cases were filed
by businessmen against local media with demands of major financial
compensations.

From: A. Papazian

ARAM HARUTYUNYAN WITHDRAWS FROM ELECTION RACE AND GOES ON HUNGER STRIKE

Thu, 02/07/2013 – 20:52
Electoral law

Today at 17:00 the RA presidential candidate, leader of National
Consent party Aram Harutyunyan went on a 1-day hunger strike near
the Central Electoral Commission building. Earlier he informed that
he was going on a hunger strike on 7 February and one day later he
would withdraw his candidacy.

The presidential candidate has not presented any requirements, but
expects that other candidates will also withdraw from the elections.

Before going on a hunger strike A. Harutyunyan visited Andrias
Ghukasyan who has been on a hunger strike for 18 days near the National
Academy of Sciences building and urged him to stop the strike.

“Staying on the ballot will mean the end of political biography for
any candidate” announced Aram Harutyunyan and added that he already
submitted his withdrawal request to the President of Central Electoral
Commission.

A. Harutyunyan also wished good health to Hayrikyan hoping that the
latter will join him and withdraw from electoral campaign.

Photo by Photolure Author: Factinfo

From: A. Papazian

ORANGE LAUNCHED UP TO 42 MBPS SPEED SUPPORTING NETWORK IN ETCHMIADZIN

YEREVAN February7. /ARKA /. Orange Armenia telecom, a subsidiary of
France Teleocm, saannounced today the upgrade of its 3G+ network up
to 42Mbps download speed in Etchmiadzin – the fourth largest city of
Armenia. In this way, Echmiadzin joins Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor
where Orange network supports up to 42Mbps speed since last year. In
all other towns and villages, Orange offers as well state of the art
network capabilities with up to 21Mbps speed.

“The upgrade of our Network in Etchmiadzin comes at a moment, when
according to field tests conducted by P3, an independent international
firm, Orange has become a leading operator in 3G data network speed
and quality in Armenia. Armenia is one of the few countries of Orange
footprint to implement the 3G+ 42Mb/s technology.

This is a quality criterion in Armenia and it embodies our ambition
to always offer the latest and most reliable technologies to larger
groups of our customers. Our ambition is not being engaged in
self-promotion, but to really change for the better and to enrich
our customers’ experience and everyday life”, said Francis Gelibter,
CEO of Orange Armenia.

The network supporting up to 42 Mbps download speed combined with
Internet Now 4 modem allows instant downloading of emails, music,
films, apps, playing online games, as well as video streaming without
interruptions and even with HD quality.

Internet Now 4 modem can be acquired for 59 000 AMD, without 12-month
commitment or at a lower price with commitment. -0-

From: A. Papazian

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN PROPOSES PROLONGING ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR TWO-THREE MONTHS

12:19 08/02/2013 ” ANALYSIS

Presidential candidate, Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian says
it is necessary to amend the Constitution of Armenia, prolonging
the election campaign for two-three months. In this case candidates
can visit all villages in the country, the candidate told today’s
news conference.

On the 19th day of campaigning the candidate came to the conclusion
that if the elections are free, fair and constitutional, for the
first time in Armenia there will be power belonging to the people;
otherwise Armenia will go to ruin.

Raffi Hovannisian says emigration is the top problem faced by Armenia
and promises that the opposite process – immigration – will begin in
the coming five years.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

POLITICIAN: ARMENIA MAY BECOME AN ARENA FOR SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SUPERPOWERS

ARMINFO
Thursday, February 7, 21:44

Armenia may become an arena for showdown between the superpowers,
Ashot Manucharyan, member of Karabakh Committee, former advisor of
the first Armenian President for National Security Affairs, said at
today’s press conference.

He said that until very recently the Armenian authorities demonstrated
their commitment to European values and their willingness to cooperate
with Europe and the USA, however, everything has changed after the
Russian delegation’s visit, and an agreement on military and technical
cooperation will shortly be signed.

“Certainly, this complicates the situation in the West, they see
Moscow’s support and its increasing impact, consequently they will
try to disharmonize the relations between the countries and create
a chaos”, Manucharyan said.

He added that the assassination attempt against presidential
candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan can be considered in this context, as the
assassination attempt was against the candidate known as a “national
symbol”. As regards Hayrikyan’s statement that the attack was organized
by the survivals of the Soviet KGB, Manucharyan considers it to be
an improbable version, as there are no such survivals any more.

To remind, leader of the National Self-Determination Union,
presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder Jan 31
night and taken to hospital. He underwent surgery and on Feb 5 he told
journalists that he felt good and did not consider the assassination
attempt to be an obstacle for continuation of the election campaign.

From: A. Papazian

SERZH SARGSYAN A CARRIER OF CULTURE OF VIOLENCE

Story from Lragir.am News:

15:27 06/02/2013

A report on Human Rights Defenders in Armenia January 2011 – November
2012 has been drafted by Vanadzor office of Helsinki Association which
is the first ever report on the human rights defenders of Armenia.

Head of Vanadzor office Artur Sakunts told us that all the issues
raised in the previous report by the UN Special Rapporteur in 2010
are still present. The report also covers issues relating to lawyers,
journalists and activists.

Artur Sakunts expressed concern about the detained activists of ANC.

According to him, Serzh Sargsyan’s speeches on freedom of speech and
civil society highlight discrepancy between words and actions. Sakunts
recalls the arson at the DIY club or Hayk Gevorgyan’s detention,
which happened during Sargsyan’s tenure.

Sakunts dwelt on the strategy of development of the civil society
which aimed at keeping under control the whole civil sector, the
implementation of which was suspended but may be resumed.

Sakunts says that Serzh Sargsyan’s speeches do not express his real
ideas. In reality he has a completely different system of values,
he is a carrier of the culture of violence, says Sakunts.

From: A. Papazian

U.S SECRET AIRBASE FOR DRONES REVEALED IN SAUDI ARABIA

February 6, 2013 – 15:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has been
operating a secret airbase for unmanned drones in Saudi Arabia for
the past two years, BBC News reported.

The facility was established to hunt for members of al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen. A drone flown from there
was used in September 2011 to kill Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric
who was alleged to be AQAP’s external operations chief.

U.S. media have known of its existence since then, but have not
reported it.

The U.S. military pulled out virtually all of its troops from Saudi
Arabia in 2003, having stationed between 5,000 and 10,000 troops in
the Gulf kingdom after the 1991 Gulf war. Only personnel from the
United States Military Training Mission (USMTM) officially remain.

Construction of the drone base was ordered after a December 2009
cruise missile strike in Yemen, according to the New York Times.

It was the first strike ordered by the Obama administration, and
ended in disaster, with dozens of civilians, including women and
children killed.

U.S. officials told the newspaper that the first time the CIA used
the secret facility was to kill Awlaki. Since then, the CIA has been
“given the mission of hunting and killing ‘high-value targets’ in
Yemen” – the leaders of AQAP who government lawyers had determined
posed a direct threat to the US – the officials added.

Drones can reportedly carry out strikes without the permission of
Yemen’s government.

The Washington Post reported that President Barak Obama’s
counter-terrorism adviser, John Brennan, a former CIA station chief
in Saudi Arabia, played a key role in negotiations with the government
in Riyadh over building the drone base.

Saudi Arabia is home to some of Islam’s holiest sites and the
deployment of U.S. forces there was seen as a historic betrayal by
many Islamists, notably the late leader of al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden.

It was one of the main reasons given by the Saudi-born militant to
justify violence against the U.S. and its allies.

From: A. Papazian

DOZENS OF COUNTRIES AIDED US SECRET DETENTIONS: REPORT

A photo taken on November 19, 2009 shows a Lithuanian State Security
Department training center allegedly used by the CIA to interrogate
Al-Qaeda suspects from 2004 to 2005, in Antavilis, Lithuania

WASHINGTON, February 5 (RIA Novosti) – As many as 54 governments
throughout the world assisted the United States in its secret
detention and rendition operations in the aftermath of theSept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks, according to a new human rights report
released Tuesday.

The report, released by the New York-based nonprofit advocacy
group Open Society Justice Initiative, accuses the United States of
engaging in torture and other abuses linked to these operations, and
thereby violating domestic and international law and “diminishing
its moral standing and eroding support for its counterterrorism
efforts worldwide.”

The dozens of governments that participated in this program also
“violated domestic and international laws and further undermined the
norm against torture,” according to the report, titled “Globalizing
Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition.”

The report is the latest salvo in the ongoing debate in the
United States over torture and other rights abuses in America’s
counterterrorism operations in the years following the Sept. 11
attacks.

Critics both inside and outside the United States have accused the
administration of former US President George W. Bush of using torture
to extract information from suspected terrorists.

They also say the United States under Bush knowingly sent suspected
terrorists to be interrogated in countries notorious for torture,
such as Egypt and Syria. This form of outsourcing is widely referred
to as “extraordinary rendition.”

Upon first taking office four years ago, President Barack Obama
announced the United States would end the practice of torturing
alleged terrorists, but extraordinary rendition has remained an
element of the Obama administration’s counterterrorism strategy,
according to a report last month by The Washington Post.

According to the report released Tuesday, the countries that reportedly
participated in US counterterrorism efforts provided services that
included hosting Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prisons, as well as
“detaining, interrogating, torturing, and abusing individuals.”

They also assisted by permitting use of their domestic airspace
and airports for “secret flights transporting detainees, “providing
intelligence” leading to secret detention and extraordinary rendition,
and “interrogating individuals who were secretly being held in the
custody of other governments,” according to the report.

The report claims to be “the most comprehensive catalogue of the
treatment of 136 individuals reportedly subjected to these operations.”

“There may be many more such individuals, but the total number will
remain unknown until the United States and its partners make this
information publicly available,” the report’s authors wrote.

Russia has repeatedly said Washington’s criticism of Moscow’s domestic
rights record is hypocritical given the human rights abuses committed
by the US government during its counterterrorism operations.

The countries cited in the report as assisting the United States in
its secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations include:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan,
Kenya, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania,
Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Turkey,
United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

From: A. Papazian

LEVON ARONYAN TO PARTICIPATE IN NORWAY SUPER TOURNAMENT

14:29, 6 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRURAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s strongest chess player
Grand Master Levon Aronyan is scheduled to participate in Norway super
tournament. Armenpress reports citing the tournament’s official web
site, Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen will come forth under the
number one. Russian Vladimir Kramnik , Azerbaijani Teimour Radjabov,
Russian Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, Indian Vishy Anand, Bulgarian
Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov¸Japanese-born American chess grandmaster
Hikaru Nakamura and Chinese Hao Wang are set to compete for the
best title.

The tournament is due to take place in Norway, Stavanger city on
May 7-18.

From: A. Papazian