Author: Andres-Papazian

“END THE FAKE ELECTIONS”. PRESIDENTAL CANDIDATE KICKS OFF HUNGER STRIKE (VIDEO)

2013-01-21 17:19:24

RA presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan kicked off today the
termless hunger strike. He is sitting in front of the Academy of
Science.

In talk with Lurer.com Andrias Ghukasyan said, he expects the
government to review its decision.

“I find that the state is obliged to maintain a neutral position in the
elections, to guarantee citizens their right to vote in the election.

Therefore, I have claimed that the political power which now makes the
citizens vote, deprives our society from free voting, that pilitical
power should be deleted from the competitive struggle is not a fair
competitor.

It is obvious that both the legal and logical rules dictate that the
elections which are not free, are not true,” said Andrias Ghukasyan.

When he was asked how strike would help him, Ghukasyan said that it
was only a part of the fight, and the society will fight against fake
elections, one active and one passive.

From: A. Papazian

Naira Hayrumyan
POLITICIANS WHO AREN’T AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR HONOR

Monday, 21 January 2013, 16:12

The presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan has gone on hunger
strike in front of the RA National Academy of Sciences. His demand
is dismissal of registration of Serzh Sargsyan’s nomination by the RPA.

Andrias Ghukasyan blames the Republicans of fictitious elections
and power abuse. He has put forth accusations relating to political
activity. However, since political activities are not penalized in
most countries, including Armenia, Andrias Ghukasyan had to resort
to hunger strike. In Armenia political activities are beyond the
legislative framework, and politicians have done everything to exclude
mechanisms of recall, punishment of politicians who fail their duties
or harm the society through their activities. The society cannot sue
a prime minister who approves tax amendments leaving 6000 accountants
jobless. The society cannot sue the members of parliament who fail to
represent their will. In democratic countries political responsibility
is expressed during elections when the society simply does not elect
the party which failed to fulfill its hopes. Voters in Armenia are
deprived of this opportunity – the electoral mechanisms have been
usurped by the ruling party, and thereby political responsibility
is zero. Political responsibility lacks a legal component. A person
may be judged for stealing a chicken but the Central Bank will not be
judged for keeping the rate of the dollar low, thereby robbing people
of millions of dollars. Falsification of elections is penalized, and
even a single case of vote buying will cast doubt on the political
victory of one party or another. One day this responsibility will
come, as it came to Lance Armstrong, the cyclist. The ruling party is
also using doping, but unlike Armstrong the RPA admits to it and does
not deny vote buying. After the parliamentary election they admitted
the violations but claimed those mostly did not affect the election
return. Hence, the opposition parties must not recognize the results
of the election. Ahead of the parliamentary election experts advised
opposition forces to dispute the participation of the RPA in the
election. After the election at which the RPA dealt mandates to its
liking the opposition parties did only several incoherent attempts to
blame the ruling parties but as a result they accepted the mandates
and calmed down. Although, there was every reason to hold the RPA
responsible. Afterwards, it was obvious that the opposition (in a
democratic system it controls legality of actions of the majority)
is reluctant to dispute the actions of the government. All Andrias
Ghukasyan can do is to go on a hunger strike. A lot of people do not
understand the meaning of this initiative. Some people understand
and support but still they think that a nice person should not waste
time on a hunger strike which is doomed. This is not so. Andrias
Ghukasyan has already succeeded pushing the RPA to the legal field,
speaking about the necessity of mechanisms of legal responsibility
of politicians which were believed to have immunity so far. This
process will lead to implications. And they would have been in place
if politicians in our country had political honor. Unfortunately,
our politicians are not afraid of losing their reputation and honor.

Something else is more important for them.

From: A. Papazian

WHY DOES AZERBAIJAN MAKE FRIENDS FOR?

15:50 – 21.01.2013

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received special envoy,
ProSecretary of the Office of the President of Uruguay Diego Canepa.

Diego Canepa handed over a private letter of Uruguayan President Jose
Alberto Mujica Cordano to the Head of State.

He noted he was personally instructed by the Uruguayan President and
the government to develop bilateral and multilateral relations with
Azerbaijan and discuss prospects for the bilateral cooperation. The
ProSecretary of the President’s Office said Uruguay was interested
in expanding relationship with Azerbaijan in various fields.

History shows that no country is interested in developing relations
with Azerbaijan without a reason. Azerbaijan does a lot of “purposeful
work” before that. It is known that Uruguay has positive attitude
towards both Armenia and NKR. Azerbaijan has adopted a policy of
creating good relations with countries that have good relations
with Armenia.

So, what’s behind this new “friendship”?

Representative of ARF Bureau Armenian Cause office Kiro Manoyan told
Yerkir.am that he does not believe new relations will be at expense
of Armenia but he did not exclude it either.

“Azerbaijan probably wishes to change Uruguay’s disposition in NKR
issue and the Armenian Genocide issue. Both foreign ministry and
Armenian community of Uruguay have much to do about this”, said
Kiro Manoyan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA WILL NOT TAKE ANY INITIATIVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS IN NEAR FUTURE. SERZH SARGSYAN

20:13, 21 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian is not going to take any
initiative on the possible development of Armenian-Turkish relations
in near future. As reports Armenpress this was noted by incumbent
President of Armenia, RPA candidate Serzh Sargsyan during the meeting
with the residents of Avan administrative district of Yerevan on
January 21. According to him there is no such a program for now.

“In case Turks don’t ratify Armenian-Turkish protocols, we will
just reconsider our decision and remove the issue from the agenda
of National Assembly and say that our signatures under the document
are invalid. Everything has its time and deadline,” Serzh Sargsyan
underlined.

He has noted that in case Turks want to start negotiations in future,
there will be new conditions. “I don’t regret for the efforts made
and the time lost,” he said, reminding the critics from Armenia
and Diaspora as well. “Therefore, time has shown that it worth
nothing. I can’t say the document was the one we dreamed of but it
wasn’t endangering our national security,” Serzh Sargsyan noted.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY MAY IMPLEMENT JOINT PROJECTS ON DEFENSE INDUSTRY

[ 21 January 2013 18:20 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Azerbaijan and Turkey may implement
new joint projects in the sphere of defense industry, the
Turkish-Azerbaijani working groups on defense industry told APA.

As a result of the meetings held up to now, the Turkish companies
offered Azerbaijan joint projects on production of various boats
and ships, aviation equipments, military vehicles, weapon systems,
communication facilities, as well as in the field of military programs.

“There are a number of concrete proposals. The projects will be
assessed and the decision will be made in accordance with the needs
of Azerbaijan”, said the working group.

Priority projects between the two countries will be discussed at the
meeting on Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation in the defense industry in
Baku on January 22.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PLANS TO REVIEW STRATEGIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA

news.am
January 21, 2013 | 14:25

YEREVAN.- Presidential race is not a struggle between Serzh Sargsyan
and Raffi Hovannisian, it is a struggle of people against the
authorities, Hovannisian said on Monday, opening his campaign.

Hovannisian said he would come to power to serve people, pledging to
increase pensions and funding for the science and army.

“180 thousand jobs will be created,” he added.

If he is elected, Yerevan will recognize independence of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

“The border between Armenia and Turkey will be opened without
preconditions by 2015. Javakhk will be a link connecting Georgia and
Armenia. Russia will remain strategic partner but relationship will
be based on mutual respect and real partnership,” Hovannisian said,
addressing his supporters in the center of Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMEN AZIZYAN: WIPO DOES NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY AZERBAIJAN’S ATTEMPTS TO CHARGE ARMENIA WITH STEALING ITS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

arminfo
Monday, January 21, 17:55

Azerbaijan has undertaken one more attempt to charge Armenia with
stealing its intellectual property.

In an interview with Interfax-Azerbaijan Head of the Azeri Copyright
Agency Kamran Imamov accused Armenia of stealing all he could remember
at the moment: the epos, music, cuisine and “any other” (as he said)
intellectual property.

He said that they will complain to the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) and that they welcome the WIPO’s efforts to adopt
relevant conventions during this year’s diplomatic conference.

Head of the Intellectual Property Agency of Armenia Armen Azizyan told
ArmInfo on Monday that Imamov is bombarding the WIPO with complaints
that Armenia has stolen Azeri songs but they in the organization are
ignoring the claims.

Azizyan said that the WIPO’s diplomatic conference will concern the
treaty of the blind and will not discuss other questions.

To recall, Azerbaijan has repeatedly tried to “call the bluff” of
the well-known composer Ara Gevorgyan and singer Sirusho. Following
the scandal raised by the Azeri mass media, Azerbaijan officially
apologized to Ara Gevorgyan for its allegations, and the apology was
passed via the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. Armenia’s rightness was
also fully proved in the cases of Sirusho’s songs “Shorora” and “Miayn
qez”, which the Azeris were trying to present as the compositions of
Isa Melikov and other composers.

The situation with national cuisine is also sad for Azerbaijan. After
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had stated that tolma was allegedly
an Azeri dish, Armenia successfully held 2 tolma festivals which
caused a big interest among the foreign mass media. In particular,
such TV channels as CNN and RTR said that tolma is a 3,000-year-old
Armenian dish, and the name of the dish derives from the old Armenian
word “toli” (grape-vine).

One cannot help touching on Imanov’s statement concerning the national
epics. To recall, in 2012 the Armenian national epic “David of Sassoun”
was included in UNESCO’s list, and this apparently upset not only
Turkey (as Sassoun is situated in the territory of modern Turkey),
but also Imanov himself.

From: A. Papazian

ALEPPO ISOLATED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.”SYRIAN AIRLINES” TO IMPLEMENT YEREVAN- LATAKIA FLIGHT

13:27, 21 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARAY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian populated Aleppo seems
to be caught in a trap, land routes are dangerous to get out of the
city, the airport is closed. Aleppo Armenian Hrach Kalsahakyan made a
post in Aleppo Armenians facebook page. “It is possible to leave the
city only by a helicopter. Aleppo- Latakia ticket costs one hundred
US dollars . Yet this version is also not safe, the helicopter can
also be subjected to an attack” Berio National Diocese Primacy press
secretary Jirayr Reisyan told Armenpress. According to him there is
no certain information about the reopening of the airport.

The means of communication, operating irregularly also hinder for
getting information. All in all no grave changes were orchestrated
in the city. Yet the clashes are ongoing. “Syrian Airlines” company
is scheduled to launch Aleppo – Latakia flight instead of planned
Yerevan-Aleppo flight. However the company refused to tell reasons
about the decline of Aleppo flight.

According to UN data 60 thousand people have been killed in Syria
as a result of 22 months ongoing clashes. Land roads have become
especially dangerous, the air communication has become difficult as
Turkey has closed its airspace.

From: A. Papazian

BAFFLING BREAK-IN: ALAVERDI DENTAL CLINIC LATEST TARGET OF “CUNNING” BURGLARS
Larisa Paremuzyan

13:51, January 21, 2013

When dental nurse Silva Papoyan opened the door to the Alaverdi clinic
this morning where she works, she knew the place had been burgled. The
place was a mess, the latest victim of a spate of robberies that has
hit the area.

Papoyan immediately called Astghik Khachatryan, the dentist who owns
the clinic. She, in turn, notified the police.

Sargis Yeritdyan, who heads the Tumanyan criminal Investigative Unit,
told Hetq that he was baffled.

“The door and windows were locked shut. Maybe the robbers had a key
to the office,” Yeritsyan said.

More surprising is that the intruders weren’t interested in any of
the drugs or the dental equipment. They were left untouched.

Neighbors said they heard nothing out of the ordinary over the weekend.

Astghik Khachatryan said that it might be the work of local drug
addicts looking for a quick fix, but that the clinic only stocks
ordinary pain killers.

Recent break-ins in the area follow a similar M.O. – the intruders
gain access silently, not breaking any windows or doors.

From: A. Papazian

ELECTION CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

10:22, 21 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The election campaign of the Armenian
presidential election scheduled to February 18, kicks off on January
21. In a conversation with “Armenpress” the eight presidential
candidates running for president introduced their programs on the
first day of the election campaign. The President of the Republic
of Armenia, Republican Party of Armenia leader Serzh Sargsyan, who
is also running for president, will pay a visit to the voters of
the Avan administrative region at 18:00 o’clock, after the meeting,
which will be held in the reception house of the Government of the
Republic of Armenia at 17:00 o’clock. First Serzh Sargsyan will pay
a visit to the Syunik Province.

“Heritage” Party leader, presidential candidate Raffi Hovhannisian’s
election campaign will launch in Yerevan in surroundings of the
“Freedom” Square.

Another presidential candidate, “Freedom” Party leader Hrant
Bagratyan’s election campaign will launch with a meeting with the
voters in Upper Artashat.

“Union of National Self-Determination” leader, presidential candidate
Paruyr Hayrikyan’s election campaign will kick of all over the
republic. The members of his team will spread propagandistic literature
and movies. In Paruyr Hayrikyan’s opinion there is no strong necessity
for him to visit provinces, as according to his conviction he needs
no introduction.

The election campaign launches on January 21 and will last until
February 16. The deadline of submitting resignations to the Central
Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia is 18:00 o’clock,
February 8. The electronic votes will launch at 08:00 o’clock on
February 9 and last until 20:00 o’clock February 13. The votes will
kick off on February 18 at 08:00 and will last until 20:00 o’clock.

Final results of the presidential elections will be announced on
February 25, 2013.

From: A. Papazian