Author: Andres-Papazian

SEVEN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED OVER DETENTION OF AZERI YOUTH ACTIVIST ZAUR GURBANLI

LONDON. October 9, 2012. Yesterday, seven international organizations
adopted a statement expressing concerns over the unlawful arrest and
detention of the Azerbaijani youth activist Zaur Gurbanli. Below is
the full text of the statement adopted by the Article 19, Index on
Censorship, Freedom House, Freedom Now, Media Diversity Institute,
Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and PEN International:

The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (IPGA), coordinated
by ARTICLE 19, is concerned about the arrest of Zaur Gurbanli,
an activist with the N!DA Civic Movement and the Positive Change
Youth Movement. Gurbanli was held incommunicado from 29 September
to 1 October and is now serving a 15 day administrative sentence for
allegedly resisting the police officers when arrested.

In particular, the IPGA is concerned by the covert nature of Gurbanli’s
arrest and detention, and the apparent political motivations guiding
the case.

On the morning of 29 September 2012, Zaur Gurbanli, 25, was
arrested outside his apartment in the capital Baku by members of the
Azerbaijiani Interior Ministry’s Central Unit Against Organised Crime.

Gurbanli’s apartment and offices were then searched in his
presence, but without a search warrant, after which the activist
was transferred to an unknown location. During the following two
days no information was provided to his family or lawyer regarding
the activist’s whereabouts or the reason for his detention. One of
the officials reportedly claimed that Gurbanli was being taken to
the Yasamal District Police Department, yet when contacted by the
activist’s lawyer the department denied this claim. A witness later
reported seeing Gurbanli near the Anti-organised Crime Unit although
the Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to confirm this. The silence
surrounding Gurbanli’s detention led his family and friends to believe
he had been kidnapped.

Due to the lack of information regarding his whereabouts there was also
significant delay before the activist was allowed access to a lawyer,
violating his fundamental rights as a detainee. Gurbanli’s lawyer,
Asabali Mustafayev, was finally granted access to his client on 1
October and it was subsequently reported the activist’s detention
was based on information about his possible involvement in drug
trafficking. However, it appears that no charges have been brought
with regards to these allegations. Instead, Gurbanli was sentenced in
a closed hearing by Absheron Regional Court to 15 days administrative
detention under Article 19 310.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences
for deliberately resisting to obey lawful demands of on-duty police
officers. It was also claimed by the authorities that illegal documents
and other materials had been found at his workplace.

During the search of the office of the Positive Change Movement,
carried out without a search warrant on 29 September, officials from
the Central Unit Against Organized Crime had confiscated printed
N!DA campaign materials showing Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s
silhouette and the words ‘I will go in 2013 if you join the N!DA’.

Gurbanli’s laptop had also been seized. In a subsequent statement
other members of the N!DA Civic Movement stated that the 8,000 flyers
confiscated by the police were only promotional materials intended
to attract new members to their organisation, which had been printed
in accordance with Azerbaijani law.

At a press conference held on 1 October, after Gurbanli’s sentencing,
representatives of N!DA indicated their belief that his activism was
the real motivation behind his arrest.

Zaur Gurbanli’s arrest is the latest in a series of apparently
politically motivated arrests over the last few months. Particularly
targeted are those, like Gurbanli, who were critical of the
authorities in the build up to, and during, the Eurovision Song
Contest, hosted by Azerbaijan in May this year. Gurbanli was part
of the Sing for Democracy movement, which used the contest as an
opportunity to highlight human rights abuses in Azerbaijan. His fellow
activist Mehman Huseynov was arrested in June 2012, on charges of
hooliganism. Although later released from pre-trial detention he
remains under investigation. There are currently seven imprisoned
journalists/human rights defenders, a further six detained on pre-trial
detention and two, including Huseynov, who have been charged but
not detained.

The IPGA condemns the Azerbaijani authorities’ ongoing attempts to
silence those who criticise the government and/or support political
change; the detention and trial of opposition activists, as well as
the seemingly political charges and sentences brought against them,
all of which violate international standards on the right to freedom
of expression and information.

Following Gurbanli’s arrest, the IPGA recommends that the Azerbaijani
authorities immediately take the following action:

~UCarry out a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into
Gurbanli’s incommunicado detention and hold those responsible to
account; ~UMake public the evidence supporting its charge against
Zaur Gurbanli; ~UEnsure Azerbaijan upholds international standards
regarding the right to freedom of expression and right to freedom of
information and that these rights are respected and guaranteed for
all its citizens.

The following organisations support this statement:

ARTICLE 19

Index on Censorship

Freedom House

Freedom Now

Media Diversity Institute

Norwegian Helsinki Committee

PEN International

(Azeri Report. source: Article 19)

From: A. Papazian

NEXT TWO RULINGS AGAINST ARMENIA – NEWSPAPER

NEWS.AM
October 10, 2012 | 08:26

YEREVAN. – The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) made two more
rulings against Armenia. As a result, the Government of Armenia will
have to pay another $131,500 from the state budget because of the
errors made by the country’s judicial instances, Haykakan Zhamanak
daily reports.

“Ever since 2007, when ECtHR commenced examining the cases received
from Armenia, the Government had to pay ~@266,500, based on the
European Court rulings. [And] Today this number reached ~@398,000,”
Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH MUST BECOME PARTY TO NEGOTIATIONS – MILITARY EXPERT

news.am
October 10, 2012 | 16:58

YEREVAN.- Nagorno-Karabakh must become a party to the negotiations,
military expert David Jamalyan told reporters on Wednesday.

Although Armenia’s leadership repeatedly stated Karabakh cannot be
a part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh must defend its interests at
the negotiating table.

The expert also touched position on the Karabakh side on buffer zone.

According to him, it is necessary to make clear that NKR, in its
current borders, cannot be a part of Azerbaijan. Jamalyan recalled
that the territories are a part of Nagorno-Karabakh under Republic’s
Constitution.

“Even if we consider them only as a buffer zone it is unclear why
the Karabakh side should give security zones to a state where the
murderer of Armenian officer is declared a hero,” he concluded.

From: A. Papazian

RIGHTS OF 45,000 MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERERS IN ARMENIA NOT DEFENDED

hetq
14:54, October 10, 2012

According to the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Citizens~R Assembly,
there are 45,000 individuals in Armenia suffering from a variety of
mental health disorders whose rights aren~Rt being defended.

The civic organization states that Armenia, a signatory to the U.N.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has failed to
fulfill a number of obligations in this sector.

The Assembly argues that those with mental disorders remain alienated
from their communities and social life in general and cannot defend
their rights effectively.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. AMBASSADOR – OSKANIAN CASE IS “TROUBLING”

16:00, October 10, 2012

Statement by U.S. Ambassador John Heffern

I have been asked for the U.S. views on yesterday’s announcement that
Mr. Oskanian has been formally charged. This development, in my view,
is bad for justice and democracy in Armenia.

As I have said previously, the case appears to represent the selective
application of Armenian law.

Moreover, the timing of these events in relation to the election
schedule is troubling.

We urge the government of Armenia to live up to its commitments to
the systematic, fair and transparent implementation of the rule of law.

From: A. Papazian

THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA WILL FULLY OR PARTIALLY PAY TUITION FEES OF NEEDY STUDENTS

ARMENPRESS
10 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia will fully
or partially pay for the education of about 100 students form needy
families in form of scholarship starting from September 1, 2013. As
“Armenpress” reports this was the reason that the Government of the
Republic of Armenia confirmed new order of partial compensation of
tuition fee represented by Minister of Education and Science Armen
Ashotyan, considering options form 50% up to 100% of compensation of
tuition fee for students from needy families.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia mentioned that this was
one of the most important promises made by the Republican Party
of Armenia during the pre-election campaign. Tigran Sargsyan said:
“Financial state of a family is not a reason to deprive children of
education and this measure is essentially directed towards this”.

As Armen Ashotyan mentioned number of students involved in this
program will increase to 2500 by 2015 year.

From: A. Papazian

L’AMBASSADEUR AMERICAIN DES ETATS-UNIS SE DIT PREOCCUPE PAR L’AFFAIRE OSKANIAN
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 11 octobre 2012

L’ambassadeur des Etats-Unis en Armenie, John Heffern, a exprime
des preoccupations au sujet de l’affaire controversee concernant les
poursuites engagees contre l’ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères
Vartan Oskanian. Il a affirme que sa poursuite est ” mauvaise ”
pour la justice de la nation et pour la democratie. Reagissant aux
derniers evenements concernant Oskanian,(Parti Armenie prospère (BHK)),
qui a ete accuse de detournement de fonds et de blanchiment d’argent,
il a dit : ” Le calendrier de ces evenements correspond au calendrier
electoral, ce qui est troublant. Nous exhortons le gouvernement de
l’Armenie a etre a la hauteur de ses engagements envers la mise en
~uvre systematique, equitable et transparente de la primaute du droit.

” Oskanian est poursuivi pour avoir detourne 1,4 million de dollars.

Oskanian nie toute malversation, affirmant que les accusations portees
contre lui sont ” politiquement motivees “.

Les Etats-Unis ont egalement reagi a la decision prise la semaine
dernière par l’Assemblee nationale de lever l’immunite parlementaire
d’Oskanian de sorte qu’il puisse etre implique dans l’enquete en
cours. Heffern aurait egalement discute de cette question au cours de
sa rencontre avec le chef du BHK Gagik Tsarukian mardi 10 octobre 2012.

Dans un communique publie aujourd’hui, la porte-parole de Tsakurian,
Iveta Tonoyan a declare que l’ambassadeur americain a decrit l’affaire
contre Oskanian comme un serieux coup porte a la justice armenienne
et aux valeurs democratiques. Le chef du BHK, pour sa part, a declare
:” J’ai demande aux meilleurs avocats d’etudier le cas et ils ont
confirme que toutes les accusations portees contre Oskanian sont sans
fondement. ”

Selon sa porte-parole, Tsakurian a egalement souligne qu’il suivra
l’enquete pour que les resultats soient ” objectifs “.

Edouard Sharmazanov, un porte-parole du Parti Republicain d’Armenie et
le vice-president du parlement, ont reagi a la declaration de Heffern
en invitant l’ambassadeur a s’abstenir de ” politiser ” des questions
juridiques. ” Naturellement, je ne partage pas l’opinion de M.

l’Ambassadeur qui affirme qu’il s’agit d’une application selective
de la justice, parce que c’est une question purement juridique “, a
declare Sharmazanov dans une interview a RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am). ”
Notre position etait et demeure une question juridique et il est
inacceptable de la politiser “.

Sharmazanov a egalement decrit comme ” inacceptable ” l’idee de relier
toute procedure judiciaire en Armenie avec les elections. ” Je pense
que ce sont surtout les ambassadeurs qui devraient s’abstenir de
politiser les questions juridiques et de les relier avec les elections
en Armenie “, a-t-il souligne.

En attendant, Oskanian, qui a fait allusion a des ambitions politiques
cette semaine et qui a declare etre pret a devenir candidat pour faire
face au President Serge Sarkissian, a poste sur son compte Facebook
ce qu’il decrit lui-meme comme ” une plate-forme de cinq clauses ”
pour relever les principaux defis de l’Armenie en 2013. Oskanian,
en particulier, a appele a des reformes drastiques pour apporter des
changements dans la vie de chaque citoyen.

jeudi 11 octobre 2012, Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

NOW ARONIAN HOLDS ANAND

Deccan Herald
Oct 10 2012
Bangalore, India

World champion Viswanathan Anand played out his seventh draw in as
many games, signing peace with world No 2 Levon Aronian of Armenia
in the seventh round of the fifth Final Chess Masters here.

With his seventh draw, nothing changed for Anand as he remained fourth
in the six-player double round-robin tournament and the Indian ace
can now look up to the two white games coming his way out of the last
three even though catching up at the top seems difficult.

Magnus Carlsen continued to excel in the Bilbao Leg of the super
tournament and cruised home to his second win in as many games here.

At the receiving end was lowest-ranked Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain
who appeared all at sea against the highest ranked player in the world.

The victory enabled Carlsen to catch Fabiano Caruana of Italy at the
top of the table and if his form is any indication, the Norwegian
seems set to win another big tournament. Caruana played out a draw
with Russian Sergey Karjakin.

With just three rounds to come, Caruana and Carlsen are now tied at
12 points apiece under the football-like scoring system in place here
that gives three points for a win and one for a draw.

A distant third at this stage is Aronian on nine points while Anand
stands fourth with seven draws in as many games.

Karjakin steered clear of Vallejo Pons on five points and he is now
clear fifth in the six players meet. Vallejo Pons is now in the cellar
with just four draws to his credit after seven games.

The event that started at Sao Paulo in Brazil and is set to conclude
here, has begun to heat up now and the reason for that is Carlsen.

With a shocking first round loss against Caruana, the Norwegian looked
out of sorts when the event was held at Sao Paulo but once back on
his familiar European terrain, Carlsen looks the guy to catch while
Caruana has had little to show here.

Anand, however, could not do much yet again but the draw was a just
result coming easy against Aronian who played white.

Having seen Aronian’s way of treating the Ragozine defence in a
different fashion earlier against Vallejo Pons, Anand was tempted to
try the opening himself and it turned out to be a perfect decision.

Aronian, who recently guided Armenia to a gold medal in the Chess
Olympiad, failed to get any dynamics rolling in his favour and after
his sedate treatment, Anand had little to worry as the pieces flew
off the board almost in a heap.

The players reached an opposite coloured Bishops endgame as a result
of the exchange melee and there was no reason for either player to
continue after just 33 moves.

Results (Round VII): Levon Aronian (Arm, 9) drew Viswanathan Anand
(Ind, 7); Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 12) bt Francisco Vallejo Pons (Esp,
4); Fabiano Caruana (Ita, 12) drew Sergey Karjakin (Rus, 5).

From: A. Papazian

REDUCING THE RISK OF DISASTER IN ARMENIA

PreventionWeb
Oct 10 2012

Date:9 Oct 2012
Source(s):United Nations Development Programme – Armenia (UNDP Armenia)

Hovhannes Arakelyan has witnessed hundreds of floods in his remote
village of Sipanik, in Western Armenia. “I have seen smashed roads,
houses, and crops, and disasters used to diminish our hope for a
better life,” says the 72-year-old.

Sipanik’s regular inundation when the Hrazdan River floods is just one
of the catastrophes that many Armenians experience annually, which cost
the country over US$ 33 million each year. The country’s geographic
location makes it one of the 60 most disaster-prone countries in the
world, with a heightened risk of earthquakes, droughts and flooding. An
earthquake that struck in 1988 killed 25,000 people, destroyed almost
an entire town and left 517,000 homeless.

Until UNDP started working in the country in 1997, there was no
government-operated system to monitor disasters, or coordinate a
response. Many communities, like Sipanik, lacked basic infrastructure
to prevent catastrophes, such as drainage systems, mudflow channels
and soil dams.

But Armenia has shifted from reacting to disasters, to proactively
reducing the risk. UNDP is helping the government to better prepare
for catastrophe by providing money, advice and international experts
to the country’s first disaster coordination centre and observatory.

Armen Yeritsyan, Minister of Emergency Situations in Armenia,
recently highlighted the importance of UNDP’s work in this area. “The
establishment of an effective system of disaster risk reduction is of
vital importance for our country, not only in terms of risk management,
but also in terms of poverty reduction and addressing socio-economic
and environmental vulnerabilities,” he said.

The centre has been collecting and analyzing data that is helping the
government to pinpoint high risk areas in each region. For example,
in 2008, it identified the village of Sipanik as a high risk area. As
a result, the village, together with five other communities, received
assistance from UNDP to build a one km long soil dam, which since then
has protected 80 houses from flooding. Local residents contributed
labour, machinery and 20 percent of the project costs.

This has allowed the people of Sipanik to grow more food without the
risk of losing crops due to floods. “I always thought that we must
be prepared for the next time, rather than act after disaster knocks
at our door,” says Arakelyan.

“With this dam, our settlement is no longer damaged by rises in water
levels,” said Anahit Hambardzumyan, another Sipanik resident. “We are
even able to use the land in our backyards for agriculture. And most
importantly, our children are safe.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO CHOOSE FUTURE NOT NEW PRESIDENT – FORMER FM

news.am
October 09, 2012 | 18:36

YEREVAN. – Monopoly and shadow economy should be eliminated in
Armenia, former FM and incumbent Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
MP Vartan Oskanian wrote on his Facebook page.

According to him, it is necessary to discuss not so much personalities
of the presidential candidates in the threshold of the presidential
elections in Armenia [February, 2013] but rather their programs. Thus,
he highlighted five major criteria. Among them are moral-psychological
atmosphere of the country, improvements of the political field,
economic policy, foreign policy and the choice of the integration
path of Armenia.

“It is obvious that the presidential elections should not be an
election of a personality but a future of Armenia,” Oskanian notes.

From: A. Papazian