Author: Andres-Papazian

WHY PUTIN DIDN’T MEET SARGSYAN
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:19:46 – 16/05/2012

The Armenian society is naturally focused on the fact that Serzh
Sargsyan visiting Moscow to attend the CIS and CSTO summits did not
meet with Vladimir Putin, which is particularly interesting in the
sense that Putin met with the other presidents attending the summit,
while Sargsyan met with Medvedev.

Perhaps, Russia’s attitude thus shows its dissatisfaction with
official Yerevan.

Why is Russia and Putin in particular dissatisfied? Did Putin not want
to meet with Serzh Sargsyan because Sargsyan didn’t pay attention to
Kocharyan-Putin meetings in the election period or maybe because he
didn’t yield before the intention to take the majority?

Perhaps, Putin decided to ignore Sargsyan in exchange of his ignorance
of Putin-Kocharyan meetings about which the office of the second
president kept informing actively.

Sure, it is not an unimportant event when the leader of such
a superpower like Russia expresses dissatisfaction of Armenia’s
authorities. Taking into account the economic dependence of Armenia
on Russia, perhaps, any wave of the mood of the Russian authorities
is important.

What has so far changed for Armenia thanks to the regular meetings
with Putin? What have these meetings given to Armenia besides of the
permanent reproduction of the ruling system?

Perhaps it is time that Russia is a little dissatisfied with Armenia
and that Armenia finds strength not to pay attention to it? Let Russia
think over missed meetings instead of Armenia which makes apocalyptic
records after each such fact. After all, it is time to make it clear
to Russia that Armenia is not an alternative, but it has other ways
to pass and can do that.

Only this way, it will be possible to change Russia’s attitude
towards Armenia making it not to consider our country an outpost,
but a valuable partner and that if necessary they will need to make
concessions not to lose the partnership.

Sure, for this it is necessary that Armenia doesn’t do adventurism,
but along with talking to Russia with its head high, it fulfills
systemic reforms to be supported when dealing with Russia.

On the other hand, there can be some difficulties, problems, even
provocations by Russia to make Armenia be humble. It is necessary to
be ready for this too. In the end, the issue is not the Armenia-Russia
relations, but Armenia’s sovereignty, in other words, re-independence
and reconstruction of relations with Russia and the whole world from
this position.

Consequently, it is also necessary to be ready for possible blows from
Russia and be ready in wider possible consensus of the society. Since,
if there is the consensus of the society on this issue, Russia
will abstain from global punishment, understanding that that is an
ineffective method.

But, on the other hand, in order to come to consensus on any issue,
the power never form the necessary atmosphere not providing any
strategic proposal or project to the society, but on the other hand,
instead of a clever, educated person, an opposition member, a lady who
called to support Putin at the election may appear in the parliament.

These realities show some support to the soviet-Russian conspiracy
rather than the possibility of principled consensus for the opposite.
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Why Putin Didn?t Meet Sargsyan

HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:19:46 – 16/05/2012

The Armenian society is naturally focused on the fact that Serzh
Sargsyan visiting Moscow to attend the CIS and CSTO summits did not
meet with Vladimir Putin, which is particularly interesting in the
sense that Putin met with the other presidents attending the summit,
while Sargsyan met with Medvedev.

Perhaps, Russia?s attitude thus shows its dissatisfaction with
official Yerevan.

Why is Russia and Putin in particular dissatisfied? Did Putin not want
to meet with Serzh Sargsyan because Sargsyan didn?t pay attention to
Kocharyan-Putin meetings in the election period or maybe because he
didn?t yield before the intention to take the majority?

Perhaps, Putin decided to ignore Sargsyan in exchange of his ignorance
of Putin-Kocharyan meetings about which the office of the second
president kept informing actively.

Sure, it is not an unimportant event when the leader of such a
superpower like Russia expresses dissatisfaction of Armenia?s
authorities. Taking into account the economic dependence of Armenia on
Russia, perhaps, any wave of the mood of the Russian authorities is
important.

What has so far changed for Armenia thanks to the regular meetings
with Putin? What have these meetings given to Armenia besides of the
permanent reproduction of the ruling system?

Perhaps it is time that Russia is a little dissatisfied with Armenia
and that Armenia finds strength not to pay attention to it? Let Russia
think over missed meetings instead of Armenia which makes apocalyptic
records after each such fact. After all, it is time to make it clear
to Russia that Armenia is not an alternative, but it has other ways to
pass and can do that.

Only this way, it will be possible to change Russia?s attitude towards
Armenia making it not to consider our country an outpost, but a
valuable partner and that if necessary they will need to make
concessions not to lose the partnership.

Sure, for this it is necessary that Armenia doesn?t do adventurism,
but along with talking to Russia with its head high, it fulfills
systemic reforms to be supported when dealing with Russia.

On the other hand, there can be some difficulties, problems, even
provocations by Russia to make Armenia be humble. It is necessary to
be ready for this too. In the end, the issue is not the Armenia-Russia
relations, but Armenia?s sovereignty, in other words, re-independence
and reconstruction of relations with Russia and the whole world from
this position.

Consequently, it is also necessary to be ready for possible blows from
Russia and be ready in wider possible consensus of the society. Since,
if there is the consensus of the society on this issue, Russia will
abstain from global punishment, understanding that that is an
ineffective method.

But, on the other hand, in order to come to consensus on any issue,
the power never form the necessary atmosphere not providing any
strategic proposal or project to the society, but on the other hand,
instead of a clever, educated person, an opposition member, a lady who
called to support Putin at the election may appear in the parliament.

These realities show some support to the soviet-Russian conspiracy
rather than the possibility of principled consensus for the opposite.

From: A. Papazian

LE CNA CONTESTERA LES RESULTATS DES ELECTIONS LEGISLATIVES DEVANT LA COUR CONSTITUTIONNELLE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

La presse rend compte de la manifestation de rue du Congrès national
armenien, qui a fait savoir qu’il saisira la Cour constitutionnelle
pour faire annuler les resultats du scrutin du 6 mai qu’il conteste.

Il est egalement possible que le CNA conteste les resultats du scrutin
majoritaire dans certaines circonscriptions. Le CNA a en outre affirme
qu’il ne renoncera pas a ses mandats et sera represente a l’AN afin
d’y poursuivre plus activement son combat contre les autorites. Selon
Levon Zourabian, coordinateur du CNA, jusqu’a 500 000 votes inexistants
auraient ete ajoutes au decompte du parti au pouvoir.

La declaration la plus importante, selon Haykakan Jamanak, a ete
faite par Levon Ter-Petrossian, qui a fait savoir qu’il renoncera a
son mandat, car ” dans les pays civilises, il n’est pas digne d’un
ancien President d’etre represente a l’AN “. Il a aussi ajoute que sa
presence a l’AN aurait eu du sens si les partis d’opposition avaient
remporte la majorite des sièges ou si le parti Republicain n’avait
pas obtenu la majorite absolue. Il a precise que ce refus de sieger
ne signifiait point qu’il quittait la scène politique. Au contraire,
tant que l’Armenie demeurerait dans une telle situation deplorable,
il continuerait a etre activement implique dans la vie politique. Le
renoncement de LTP a son mandat permettra a son ancien PM Hrant
Bagratian, le 8ème sur la liste du CNA, de sieger a l’AN. De toute
evidence, c’est lui qui dirigera le groupe parlementaire du CNA, ce qui
lui permettra d’assister, le jeudi, au Conseil des Ministres (en vertu
de la legislation, les chefs des groupes parlementaires beneficient
d’un tel droit). Ter-Petrossian, declarant qu’il assumait toute la
responsabilite de ce que certains peuvent considerer comme un echec
pour le CNA, a affirme que son groupe parlementaire, bien que petit
(le CNA aura 7 deputes), mettra a profit cette tribune afin de parvenir
a tous ses objectifs. ” Aucun echec ne nous desesperera. Si d’autres
forces rejoignent notre lutte, nous les accueillerons aimablement,
sinon, nous ne nous plaindrons pas. Si certains luttent mieux que nous,
nous les suivrons. Si nous restons seuls, nous irons neanmoins jusqu’au
bout “, a-t-il dit, ajoutant que leurs actions ne violeront jamais la
Constitution et la legislation armeniennes. En ce qui concerne les
elections, LTP a insiste sur le fait qu’en Armenie chaque nouvelle
election est pire que la precedente et qu’a la suite de celle du 6 mai,
les mots Armenie, democratie, justice, dignite etc.

seront incompatibles un certain temps encore. ” Si la victoire du
parti Republicain est vraiment une victoire, alors c’est une victoire
sur … son propre pays et sa population “. Il n’a pas menage ses
critiques a l’encontre des observateurs internationaux qui, d’après
lui, subordonneraient la democratie et les droits de l’Homme en
Armenie a leurs interets geopolitiques.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse
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ARMENIE
Le CNA contestera les résultats des élections législatives devant la
Cour Constitutionnelle

La presse rend compte de la manifestation de rue du Congrès national
arménien, qui a fait savoir qu?il saisira la Cour constitutionnelle
pour faire annuler les résultats du scrutin du 6 mai qu?il conteste.
Il est également possible que le CNA conteste les résultats du scrutin
majoritaire dans certaines circonscriptions. Le CNA a en outre affirmé
qu?il ne renoncera pas à ses mandats et sera représenté à l?AN afin
d?y poursuivre plus activement son combat contre les autorités. Selon
Lévon Zourabian, coordinateur du CNA, jusqu?à 500 000 votes
inexistants auraient été ajoutés au décompte du parti au pouvoir.

La déclaration la plus importante, selon Haykakan Jamanak, a été faite
par Levon Ter-Petrossian, qui a fait savoir qu?il renoncera à son
mandat, car « dans les pays civilisés, il n?est pas digne d?un ancien
Président d?être représenté à l?AN ». Il a aussi ajouté que sa
présence à l?AN aurait eu du sens si les partis d?opposition avaient
remporté la majorité des sièges ou si le parti Républicain n?avait pas
obtenu la majorité absolue. Il a précisé que ce refus de siéger ne
signifiait point qu?il quittait la scène politique. Au contraire, tant
que l?Arménie demeurerait dans une telle situation déplorable, il
continuerait à être activement impliqué dans la vie politique. Le
renoncement de LTP à son mandat permettra à son ancien PM Hrant
Bagratian, le 8ème sur la liste du CNA, de siéger à l?AN. De toute
évidence, c?est lui qui dirigera le groupe parlementaire du CNA, ce
qui lui permettra d?assister, le jeudi, au Conseil des Ministres (en
vertu de la législation, les chefs des groupes parlementaires
bénéficient d?un tel droit). Ter-Petrossian, déclarant qu?il assumait
toute la responsabilité de ce que certains peuvent considérer comme un
échec pour le CNA, a affirmé que son groupe parlementaire, bien que
petit (le CNA aura 7 députés), mettra à profit cette tribune afin de
parvenir à tous ses objectifs. « Aucun échec ne nous désespérera. Si
d?autres forces rejoignent notre lutte, nous les accueillerons
aimablement, sinon, nous ne nous plaindrons pas. Si certains luttent
mieux que nous, nous les suivrons. Si nous restons seuls, nous irons
néanmoins jusqu?au bout », a-t-il dit, ajoutant que leurs actions ne
violeront jamais la Constitution et la législation arméniennes. En ce
qui concerne les élections, LTP a insisté sur le fait qu?en Arménie
chaque nouvelle élection est pire que la précédente et qu?à la suite
de celle du 6 mai, les mots Arménie, démocratie, justice, dignité etc.
seront incompatibles un certain temps encore. « Si la victoire du
parti Républicain est vraiment une victoire, alors c?est une victoire
sur … son propre pays et sa population ». Il n?a pas ménagé ses
critiques à l?encontre des observateurs internationaux qui, d?après
lui, subordonneraient la démocratie et les droits de l?Homme en
Arménie à leurs intérêts géopolitiques.

Ambassade de France en Arménie

Service de presse

mercredi 16 mai 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

9 FONCTIONNAIRES ONT RECU DES PUNITIONS ADMINISTRATIVES DANS L’AFFAIRE DINK
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

Le Ministre turc de l’Interieur Idris Naim Sahin a indique que
neuf fonctionnaires en charge de la securite ont recu des punitions
administratives pour negligence dans l’echec de n’avoir pû empecher
le meurtre en 2007 du journaliste Hrant Dink.

Repondant aux questions parlementaires de Turgut Dibek, un depute
du parti du Peuple Republicain (CHP) a propos du meurtre de Dink le
ministre Sahin a dit que cinq fonctionnaires ont ete condamnes a la
privation d’un mois de leur salaire, trois ont recu des blames et le
dernier un avertissement.

From: A. Papazian

EUROVISION : ARRESTATIONS EN AZERBAIDJAN
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

La police a disperse lundi une tentative de rassemblement a Bakou,
en Azerbaïdjan, où doit avoir lieu du 22 au 26 mai l’edition 2012 du
concours de l’Eurovision, et a procede a une dizaine d’interpellations,
a annonce un chef de l’opposition.

Des dizaines de militants d’une coalition de partis d’opposition
ont scande “Liberte” alors qu’ils essayaient de se rassembler dans
le centre-ville.

“Selon nos premières informations, plus de dix personnes ont ete
interpellees”, a declare le chef du parti d’opposition Musavat, Isa
Gambar. “Nos demandes sont la liberation des prisonniers politiques
et la liberte de rassemblement en accord avec la constitution.”

A un peu plus d’une semaine du concours de l’Eurovision, qui
devrait etre suivi par plus de 100 millions de telespectateurs,
les organisations de defense des droits de l’homme et l’opposition
espèrent que l’evenement fera parler des carences democratiques dans
cette ancienne republique sovietique, riche en hydrocarbures.

L’ONG Human Rights Watch (HMW) a recemment souligne que “les violations
des droits de l’homme (etaient) frequentes en Azerbaïdjan”.

Selon Giorgui Goguia de HRW, 70 personnes dont sept journalistes sont
actuellement en prison pour des raisons politiques.

Bakou a obtenu l’organisation de la 57e edition du concours Eurovision
de la chanson grâce a la victoire de son duo Ell et Nikki lors de la
precedente edition, en mai 2011 en Allemagne.

From: A. Papazian

LE PARTI HERITAGE DENONCE L’ILLEGALITE DES ELECTIONS DU 6 MAI
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

Raffi Hovannisian, le leader de l’opposition du parti Zharangutyun
(Heritage), a qualifie mardi 15 mai 2012 les resultats officiels des
elections parlementaires d’illegitimes.

Dans une declaration ecrite, Raffi Hovannisian a affirme que le parti
republicain (HHK) et ses partenaires dans la coalition au pouvoir
ont remporte la grande majorite des sièges au parlement par le biais
d’achat de votes. Le parti Zharangutyun a conteste les elections du 6
mai lors de son alliance officieuse avec un autre parti d’opposition,
les Democrates libres. Selon les resultats officiels du vote, ils
ont gagne environ 5,7 % des voix et auront 5 sièges a l’Assemblee
nationale sur 131.

Les democrates libres ont egalement condamne la manipulation
des autorites armeniennes dans un communique mardi 15 mai 2012. ”
Malheureusement, les elections n’ont pas respecte la volonte reelle
des citoyens armeniens. La volonte du peuple a ete subordonnee a un
torrent de pots de vin. ”

Le leader du Zharangutyun a annule une conference a la dernière minute
et a emis une declaration ecrite a la place. Le communique indique
que Zharangutyun tiendra un congrès extraordinaire le 2 juin pour
parler de ” ses futures actions “.

” Nous avons des opinions differentes sur certains sujets et nous
avons des desaccords avec les democrates libres “, a affirme Hovsep
Khurshudian, le porte-parole du parti Zharangutyun a RFE / RL
(Azatutyun.am). Mais il n’a pas donne plus de details.

Interroge sur la possibilite de renoncer a ses sièges au parlement,
Hovsep Khurshudian a affirme : ” Rien n’est exclu. Les reponses
definitives seront donnees le 2 juin. Des discussions sont en cours. ”

From: A. Papazian

GENOCIDES, MASSACRES, MUSIQUE ET POESIE AU THEATRE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

Nous avons eu de grands moments d’emotions le samedi 5 mai a la
representation, a Quimper, au theâtre de Cornouaille, de ” Le chene ou
le roseau ? “, dirige par A. Ehkirch. Il presente la scenographie de
la facon suivante ” L’education et l’eveil de la conscience forment la
trame de ce spectacle, a travers l’histoire d’un homme repondant aux
interrogations de sa petite fille adolescente “. Une adolescente qui
se sent incomprise et en decalage avec les autres elèves de sa classe.

Pour mieux comprendre la trame du deroulement il convient de preciser
que l’arrière grand-mère de l’adolescente etait armenienne et sa
grand-mère juive, mariee a un allemand. Ce qui permet a l’auteur
d’evoquer, en premier lieu, le genocide armenien bien malmene par une
actualite recente. En effet des editorialistes, parfois de renom, ont
eu des propos indecents, voire injurieux, qui auraient ete condamnes
avec virulence s’ils avaient ete proferes a l’egard des juifs victimes
des nazis. Deux poids, deux mesures, qui apparaissent dans la pièce
qui nous rappelle, opportunement, que des paves de bronze sont apposes
dans les villes allemandes devant les maisons d’où les juifs ont
ete deportes.

Je note, a contrario, que l’Etat turc actuel, percoit des subsides
europeens (c’est rappele dans la pièce), honore son Hitler : Talât
Pacha, et, non content de nier, avec arrogance, le genocide armenien,
subventionne des menees negationnistes par l’intermediaire d’officines
nationalistes et de groupes de pression (Institut du Bosphore, et meme
La Sorbonne par exemple !). De plus, il sanctionne, et emprisonne,
ses intellectuels et journalistes qui decouvrent, peu a peu, l’horreur
sur laquelle s’est construite la Republique. Au passage il n’est pas
inutile de rappeler que le nationalisme c’est la haine de l’autre !

Ensuite, ce qui s’est passe a Srebrenica, sous les yeux des casques
bleus de l’ONU est evoque. On se rappelle, en effet, ce tri, face aux
cameras, entre hommes, femmes et enfants devant les autobus qui vont
conduire les hommes se faire fusiller a la sortie de la ville. Chacun
pourra faire la comparaison avec le deroulement, sans l’ONU, mais de
facon analogue, des deportations des armeniens entre 1915 et 1923.

Pour terminer le sort de Nadia Anjuman, poetesse et journaliste
afghane, assassinee en 2005, a 25 ans, par son mari est evoque. Morte
de l’intolerance, ” suicidee ” a conclu la ” justice ” locale, a cause
de son engagement pour la poesie, au 21ème siècle, illustration d’une
autre forme de haine, actuelle, qui pourrait bien se developper. Helas
!

La scenographie est agrementee de diapositives, parfois très dures,
mais parfaitement choisies, et entrecoupee de pièces musicales jouees
au piano par M.-A. Arnal, d’autres par le Quintette a vent de Bretagne
et des chants interpretes tant par l’ensemble choral Jean Golgevit
que l’atelier voix du Conservatoire. Les pièces musicales sont de A.

Aharonian, E. Bagdassarian, J. Kosma, Komitas, M. Theodorakis, A.

Zograbian. Le spectacle est aussi l’occasion d’honorer la memoire
d’Avedis Aharonian, Eva Golgevit, Nadia Anjuman, Hans et Sophie Scholl
createurs du groupe antinazi ” La Rose Blanche ” et Jacques Lusseyran.

Le grand-père est interprete par K. Koch acteur allemand dont l’accent
apporte une dimension supplementaire dans un tel contexte. Quant
a la jeune fille, A.-L. Riche-Beulz, claveciniste talentueuse, sa
fraicheur et sa jeunesse font merveille.

Pour ma part, je pense que les auteurs : Alain Ehkirch et Knut Koch,
egalement responsable d’une excellente mise en scène, ont atteint leur
objectif. Cette scenographie merite assurement une plus grande audience
particulièrement a notre epoque où l’ignorance de l’autre va croissant
et l’economie gouverne la pensee alors qu’elle devrait la servir.

Professeur Gerard Bossière

President de Menez Ararat

?p=204

Vous trouverez ci-joint une copie d’une coupure de presse de
Ouest-France

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA: IN WAKE OF ARSON ATTACK, SUPPORT AND FEAR

ianyan Magazine

May 15 2012

An early morning arson attack on the popular Yerevan-based bar,
DIY last week has led to an outpouring of support from concerned
citizens, activists and customers who frequented the relatively new
establishment, but also anxiously renewed fears in the country’s
LGBTQ population, who have kept a relatively low profile and faced
discrimination for years.

DIY, which bills itself as a bar for alternative thinkers, was
frequented by many in Armenia’s gay community, a place considered a
safe haven, free of judgment or discrimination. The violent act, which
caused around $4,000 of damage according to well-informed sources,
is being said to have been motivated by nationalistic and fascist
ideology – the bar’s gay-friendly atmosphere as well as owner Tsomak
Oganesova’s attendance at Istanbul’s Gay Pride Parade in neighboring
Turkey have been cited as two key factors that have categorized the
attack as a hate crime.

Armenia and Turkey, whose borders are currently closed, have strained
relationships over long-stemming issues of the 1915 Armenian Genocide,
which Turkey denies as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh war between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, during which Turkey sided with the latter.

Two Iranian-Armenian men were detained in relation to the attack and
allegedly confessed to their crime. Though it has not been confirmed,
sources say the men are tied to a larger fascist organization in the
country. At a press conference today, it was revealed that Artsvik
Minasyan, a Dashnak member of parliament, paid the 1 million dram
($2535) bail to release one of the detained men free, a headline
that local media have started to run wild with. The other, according
to Oganesova, was released on signature that he will not leave the
country.

The bar’s damage is estimated at $4000 / by Nairi Hakhverdi

Since the attack (which was caught on CCTV camera) supporters have
come together to help rebuild it, assembling donation boxes as well
as posters and t-shirts to show solidarity as well as strength in
the face of adversity. Activists are touting the phrase “We Are DIY”
in an effort to spread the message that the act will not be tolerated
or silence them.

A charity concert took place last week with another, titled “Gender
Equality Charity Fair” planned on May 20. Organizers plan to make
it an interactive event to raise awareness of human rights issues in
relation to gender equality, discrimination and violence. Donations
ranging from 500 to 1000 AMD ($1.26 to $2.53) are recommended, money
that will go towards the repair of the bar.

Oganesova announced last week that she and others will “continue
to solve this problem, to move forward and make sure [perpetrators]
are punished for what they did.”

The speech also hit a somber note when she announced that after
resolution, she and others closely involved with the bar will be
seeking to leave the country.

“Once this problem has been resolved, we’ll be able to say we have
done something for this country and then leave this country,” she
said. “If there is another problem in the future, we’ll come back,
solve the problem and leave again.”

Oganesova, who also heads the Armenian punk rock band Tsomak and
Pincet Project posted in the bar’s public Facebook group, noting
her departure.

“I’m going far away…I’m going to be with those like me, I’ll go fight
for and with those like me…I love those who know love…thank you to
my friends and close acquaintances, those who respect and understand
our pain and joy…those who never leave us alone, those who don’t
run away from problems…I love them a lot…thank you…!!!”

Her sentiments and the rise of neo-nazi nationalist groups in Europe
as well as the former Soviet Union come at a time when some in the
country are feeling fearful, many for the first time.

Nationalistic sentiments are common in the South Caucasus country,
which is almost mono-ethnic and still reeling from the psychological
effects of genocide and war. Its isolation, where borders with both
Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed and distrust of much of what falls
outside the realm of the status quo have been discussed as underlying
reasons as to the rise of hate groups whose violent actions have left
many fearful.

In a widely circulated interview, human rights activists Karen Hakobyan
and Lala Aslikyan sat down with CivilNet to analyze the bombing and
the reasons it occurred.

A donation box outside of DIY bar/ by Nairi Hakhverdi

“Fascism has reached our door and is now saying I’m here,” Aslikyan
said in Armenian. She regretfully emphasized that the stifling of
freedom of expression in the country is growing, while Hakobyan
pointed out that the groups, mostly consisting of young men in their
late teens and early 20s define their “Armenian-ness” by spreading
hate towards groups that perceive as threats to national interest.

These conditions, he continued, are a regression for the country,
whose time on the world map could be in danger if it continues down
this path.

In a press conference today, local NGOS including Public Information
and Need of Knowledge (PINK) Armenia and Women’s Resource Center of
Armenia (WRCA) as well as Oganesova answered questions from reporters
about the implications of the attack.

WRCA Co-founder Lara Aharonian pointed out that danger and fear
of these attacks is that they can be directed against anyone whose
views certain groups or individuals do not agree with. She also said
that as a mother, she was concerned, mentioning shortcomings in the
education and legal systems of Armenia as well as the media, who
sensationalize issues. Marine Margaryan of PINK elaborated that the
nationalist groups have ‘terrorized’ other establishments, including
Calumet, another popular bar just down the street from DIY. Margaryan
said that the groups have spat, thrown up and broken bottles in and
outside establishments were ‘free thinkers’ are known to gather.

While a report [pdf] released by Pink Armenia in 2011, found that 72
percent of people they surveyed in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor,
Armenia’s three largest cities, had negative attitudes toward
‘non-traditional’ sexual orientation, the International Lesbian
and Gay Association launched its very first annual review of the
human rights situation on LGBT in Europe today. Among its findings –
Armenia is one of 10 countries in the negative zone, and does not meet
the basic requirements of human rights. Our own initial piece on the
attack generated comments of support from in and outside of Armenia,
but was also subject to commentors who expressed enjoyment at seeing
the bar become the victim of a fire attack.”Bravo to the arsonists,”
one commenter wrote in Armenian. “We are all on their side.”

Recently, a 2011 Human Rights Watch report on Armenia found that the
country continues to restrict freedom of expression.

Watch Karen Hakobyan and Lala Aslikyan discuss the larger issues
implicated in the bombing of DIY. (CC for English captions):

From: A. Papazian

ELECTION 2012: ARMENIAN MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES UNANIMOUSLY DECRY OUTCOME OF PARLIAMENTARY POLL
Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
May 14, 2012

In a rare move, three main Armenian opposition forces issued a joint
statement on 11 May slamming the outcome of the parliamentary election
on 6 May. The former junior governing coalition member Prosperous
Armenia (BHK), Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF-Dashnaktsutiun)
and the Armenian National Congress (ANC) uniting 18 parties and led
by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian in a statement said that the
“parliament formulated as a result of these elections does not reflect
the real picture of support given to various political forces by the
people.” The opposition forces stated that the election results were
rigged and vote-buying was widely practiced.

They pledged to continue “joint efforts to change this flawed system”.

ANC, BHK and ARF had signed a document prior to the election and set
up a joint monitoring body to preclude election fraud. The ruling
Republican Party (HK) has emerged with better results compared to the
last legislative vote in 2007. It secured 44% of the total vote which,
combined with the number of seats won in “first past the post” by HK
members gives the presidential party 68 out 131 mandates. Following
the elections the EU’s chief diplomat Catherine Ashton and Enlargement
Commissioner Stefan Fuele welcomed the progress made, especially in
terms of improved conditions for campaigning but they too expressed
their concern with the shortcomings on the election day which did not
allow the vote to meet international standards (seeArmenia – Europe:
10 May 2012:).

Significance:A joint statement by the three key opposition forces
is a rare show of unity. The collaboration between ARF and ANC
is particularly noteworthy as the ARF for over a decade has had a
strong position regarding Ter-Petrossian, who banned ARF during his
presidency in 1994 and accused the party of harbouring a group plotting
a coup. The ban was lifted in 1998 and two jailed ARF leaders were
released but the damage lingered. The latest tripartite statement
and the pledge to work together is a positive step forward as the
opposition forces are ready to move past their narrow grievances and
collaborate in terms of improving the quality of the vote. However,
the allegations that BHK, one of the co-signers of the statement, was
also involved in vote buying and using charitable projects to boost
its support, poses an additional challenge for the opposition. With
the crucial presidential election approaching in 2013, Armenia’s
political scene is likely to remain vibrant. The opposition’s efforts
to ensure the end of vote buying is a welcome step forward.

From: A. Papazian

ARAM SARGSYAN DWELLED ON THE REASONS OF LEAVING ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

ARMENPRESS
15 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 15, AREMENPRESS: Aram Sargsyan chairman of the ”
Republic” party will not run for 2013 Presidential Elections. As
Armenpres reports, in the “Post Scriptum” television program party
leader noted that presidential post is not the highest office in his
opinion. There are a range of occupations of no less importance.

Speaking about the relations with the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
Sargsyan told that throughout time the main perceptions of the ANC
and “Republic” party differed, which reportedly served a ground to
” Republic” party for leaving the ANC.

“I respect ANC stance. I voiced my point of view on this issue, ANC did
not oppose” the interlocutor noted. The First President disagreement
over the issue Sargsyan considers very natural. Though the people
more welcome the making of unions, party chairman is optimistic that
this separation will mark the beginning of some new union.

From: A. Papazian

AGMI HEAD: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS ACTUAL REALITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 15, 2012 – 17:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On May 14, Armenian Association of Bucharest hosted
a meeting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) director Hayk Demoyan, RA
Ambassador to Romania Hamlet Gasparian, head of the Romanian Diocese of
the Armenian Church Varuzhan Voskanian and local Armenian intellectuals
discussed organizational issues. Agreements on organization of joint
events in the forthcoming three years were reached, RA MFA press
service reports.

On the same day, Mr. Demoyan delivered a speech in Bucharest
University, characterizing the Armenian Genocide as actual reality
amid Turkish denial policy and diplomatic, political and economic
pressure on Armenia.

On May 13, AGMI director and Armenian envoy attended the opening
ceremony of the new building of Armenian Cultural Center.

From: A. Papazian