Author: Andres-Papazian

DISSATISFIED WITH ARMENIAN-IRANIAN COOPERATION, AZERBAIJAN EXPANDS COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL – HURRIYET

tert.am
08.10.12

Dissatisfied with Iran, Baku is establishing closer ties with Israel,
Turkish Hurriyet reports, noting that Azerbaijan is angry with close
Armenian-Iranian relations.

The source says Azerbaijan thinks “Armenia’s uncompromising stance
in Karabakh issue” is agreed with Armenia’s relations with Iran.

The source says Azerbaijan has criticized Iran “for granting life
to Armenia” by supplying gas and oil. At the same time Azerbaijan is
trying to develop cooperation with Israel in security and technology
areas.

Speaking to Hurriyet Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov
also noted that Armenia and Iran have more than 30 agreements.

As to relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, the official said,
“We have similar defensive interests with Israel. Did not Turkey have
such like relations with Israel in past?”

Azerbaijan had 1.6 billion USD military cooperation agreement with
Israel for which Iran demanded explanations from Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

AMNESTY WARNS RIHANNA, SHAKIRA AGAINST CONCERTS IN AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 8, 2012 – 18:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Human rights group Amnesty International urged pop
stars Rihanna and Shakira on Friday, October 5 to open their eyes to
recent arrests of journalists, bloggers and activists in Azerbaijan,
before their performances in the former Soviet republic this month,
The Express Tribune said.

Amnesty and Sing for Democracy said in a joint letter that it wanted
to draw the singers’ attention to human rights and freedom of speech
issues in Azerbaijan.

“Both singers should be aware of the situation in the country
post-Eurovision,” the letter said, referring to the singing contest in
the Azeri capital of Baku in May, which spurred protests and rallies
by Azeris demanding democracy.

Authorities in Baku arrested dozens of protesters in May and have
since arrested several journalists and political activists.

“We Found Love” singer Rihanna, 24, is scheduled to perform in Baku on
Saturday. “Hips Don’t Lie” singer Shakira, 35, is performing in Baku
for football organisation FIFA’s U-17 Women’s World Cup on October 13,
and at another venue in the capital on October 14.

International rights groups often have criticised Azerbaijan for
curbing public dissent, while the government in Baku says Azerbaijanis
enjoy full freedom of speech.

“Amnesty International believes that the Azerbaijani government should
afford all artists, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens the
right to express themselves freely without fear of reprisal. We hope
that you share our belief,” said the letter to Rihanna and Shakira.

Representatives for both singers did not immediately return calls
for comment.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICS.HU: ATATURK BUST VANDALIZED IN BUDAPEST

Panorama.am
08/10/2012

Barely two days after it was unveiled on September 29, the bronze
bust of Kemal Ataturk was doused with red paint by unknown people in
Budapest’s District XIX, Politics.hu reports.

The website says that Ataturk, Turkey’s founding father and first prime
minister, is seen by many Armenians as being responsible for the 1915
genocide against the country’s Armenian community, in which more than a
million Armenians were systematically killed by the Ottoman government.

The incident came amid continued strained relations between Hungary
and Armenia over the extradition of an Azeri military officer who
killed his Armenian fellow student in Hungary in 2004, according to
the website.

The unveiling was preceded by strong protests from the local Armenian
community, while the district government had been urged by the Foreign
Ministry to rethink the plan.

From: A. Papazian

“FRIGHTENED DIABETICS” LAY AN ACTION AGAINST ROUBEN HAYRAPETYAN

arminfo
Monday, October 8, 17:03

Ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan, member of the Sardarapat Movement
Garegin Chugaszyan and civil activist David Sanasaryan have applied to
the first instance court of Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts
of Yerevan against President of the Football Federation of Armenia,
former MP, oligarch Rouben Hayrapetyan on the occasion of the latter’s
interview with Nouvelle d’Armenie.

The claimants think that Hayrapetyan has insulted them in his
interview. According to the law, the court is to respond within 14
days. The activists hope that this time the court system will be fair
and will consider this issue.

To recall, in the interview Hayrapetyan said: “Hranush Kharatyan,
Garegin Chugaszyan and David Sanasaryan intimidated my family and my
friend’s family”. “Now they will know what it is to intimidate. Their
families will suffer”, he said. He added that Kharatyan, Sanasaryan
and Chugaszyan act from one and the same center and are materially
interested in it. Hayrapetyan stressed that he will persecute these
activists and promised them diabetes.

From: A. Papazian

OSKANIAN IS FORMALLY CHARGED
by Ara Khachatourian

asbarez
Monday, October 8th, 2012

Oskanian, with his attorney, Tigran Atanesian outside of the National
Security Service building on Monday (Photolure)

YEREVAN-Armenia’s former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian on Monday
was formally charged by Armenia’s National Security Service with
money laundering following months of investigation, which he says is
politically motivated.

On Saturday Oskanian received a summons to appear at the NSS on
Monday. After spending an hour at the NSS, he was charged with one
count of money laundering and one count of misappropriation of funds,
stemming from a 2010 $1.4 million donation to his Civilitas Foundation
by American businessman Jon Huntsman Sr.

According to Oskanian’s attorney Tigran Atanesian, the former foreign
minister was charged with one count each of “embezzlement or waste
of funds” and “legalization of incomes received in a criminal way”
of the Armenian Criminal Code. If convicted he can face high fines
and up to 12 years imprisonment.

“I’ve been invited to the National Security Service to be charged with
money laundering and funds misuse. At this point, both the public and
those involved in the probe believe the funds appropriation charge to
be absurd. I’ll face the NSS only because that’s what the law demands;
however, I won’t be testifying,” Oskanian said before entering the
NSS building. He also expressed gratitude to his supporters who have
launched a petition drive.

Oskanian was asked to present testimony as a “defendant” in the case
but refused to answer any questions.

Oskanian was elected to Parliament in May representing the Prosperous
Armenia Party. Last week parliament voted to allow his prosecution
by lifting his parliamentary immunity. He has insisted that the
investigation has been politically motivated and is an effort by
President Serzh Sarkisian’s regime to “step up pressure” on him for
his criticism of the administration’s policies.

The NSS did not restrict Oskanian’s movement.

Last week former President Robert Kocharian, under whose administration
Oskanian served as foreign minister, criticized the investigation
and defended Oskanian.

The US Embassy in Yerevan also issued a warning last week saying:
“We hope that this case does not represent a politically motivated
and selective enforcement of Armenian law, as this would detract
from efforts to promote greater transparency and reform in the legal,
justice and legislative sectors in Armenia.”

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY MAY CLOSE ITS AIR SPACE FOR ARMENIA IF ARMENIA LAUNCHES FLIGHTS TO NAGORNO KARABAKH

arminfo
Monday, October 8, 17:28

Turkey may close its air space for Armenia if Armenia launches flights
to Nagorno Karabakh.

APA says referring to diplomatic sources that there are relevant
agreements between Azerbaijan and Turkey. This issue has been
reportedly discussed between Azerbaijani and Turkish aviation
organizations.

The airport of Stepanakert has already received a certificate
permitting the landing and departure of aircrafts, however, it is not
known yet when the first flight will be made. The takeoff strip is 2
km 300 m long. The capacity of the airport is 100 passengers per hour.

From: A. Papazian

35.6% SERZH SARGSYAN, 31.8% GAGIK TSARUKYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:48:34 – 08/10/2012

Today sociologist Aharon Adibekyan has presented the results of a
public poll on who will occupy 26 Baghramyan Street. According to
Adibekyan, 35.6% is ready to vote for Serzh Sargsyan, 31.8% for Gagik
Tsarukyan, and 32.6% hesitate.

Adibekyan said the most competitive governmental candidate is
Serzh Sargsyan while Gagik Tsarukyas is the most competitive in
the opposition.

The poll was conducted on September 15 to 21 among 3200 respondents.

From: A. Papazian

JAILED YOUTH ACTIVIST ZAUR GURBANLI COMPLAINED ABOUT HIS TREATEMENT

Turan, Azeri Report

BAKU. October 8, 2012. On Saturday, Attorney Asabali Mustafayev
visited in jail the blogger and NIDA youth movement’s leader Zaur
Gurbanli. Gurbanli was arrested on September 29 and given 15 days in
jail on charges of resisting police. According to the lawyer, Gurbanli
complained about his treatment and the conditions of detention.

Besides the charges of disobeying police, no further investigation or
interrogation materials regarding Gurbanli are available. The blogger
rejects all charges against him.

No explanations were provided in the decision taken by the court on
why the activist is being held in the organized crime unit detention
facility, and not in the regular administrative detention center,
consistent with minor charges brought against him.

The blogger’s friends and fellow civil society activists believe that
Gurbanli was arrested for his political activism. Immediately after
his arrest, the police confiscated all 8,000 copies of the pamphlet
calling for President Ilham Aliyev to leave office and removed other
printed materials from NIDA offices. (Turan, Azeri Report)

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HEAD OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES

news.am
October 08, 2012 | 12:28

STEPANAKERT.- President of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic Bako Sahakyan
received on Monday head of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed
Forces, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov.

They discussed the issues related to army building and cooperation
between the two Armenian states in the field of defense.

NKR Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan, first deputy head of the General
Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Enrico Apryamov participated in
the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

LE ” TAXY ” PREND LA ROUTE DE LA TURQUIE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com

lundi 8 octobre 2012

Richard Taxy, Bernard Ganimian, Alexandre Halladjian Patrick Otamian
et Jean Louis Tapol, en route vers Erevan pour livrer un 4X4 et du
materiel medical au Centre Puynik, ont passe une nuit blanche sur le
ferry qui les transportaient d’Italie en Grèce. La raison, pas de
cabines disponibles, ce qui leur a interdit de se doucher ni de se
raser.

Arrives a Alexandroupol, ” nous sentons enfin bons avant d’attaquer la
longue traversee de la Turquie pour la Georgie. “, nous ecrit Richard
Taxy.

From: A. Papazian