Author: Andres-Papazian

RA MOD: The rival will not remain unpunished

armradio.am
28.04.2012 16:21

The Azerbaijani side has been actively violating the ceasefire regime
in the past few days. The Armenian side has incurred three losses,
fire has been opened in the direction of a civilian settlement. What
is the Armenian Ministry of Defense going to undertake to neutralize
the activeness of the rival?

`There can be only one response to these actions. The
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has already declared that the
rival will not remain unpunished. Not yielding to the provocations of
the adversary all along the line of contact, the Armenian Armed Forces
will take measures equivalent to the situation,’ the Ministry of
Defense said in a statement.

From: A. Papazian

National Self-Determination Union party is of strategic importance to
Armenia – Paruyr Hayrikyan

tert.am
14:41 – 28.04.12

Leader of the National elf-Determination Union party Paruyr Hayrikyan
said his party is of strategic significance to Armenia.

`Today’s political field consists of hirelings’ parties. We are not
participating in the elections because we do not have enough number of
voters. But we are of strategic significance to Armenia,’ Hayrikyan
said.

He said this year’s elections will really be elections and no special
violations will be registered.

`I think these elections will be like the ones held in 1998 and the
people will express their wish,’ Hayrikyan stressed.

Paruyr Hayrikyan stated earlier that he is not going to run for
elections as they do not have enough electorate.

Referring to the health condition of leader of the Armenian National
Congress (ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Hayrikyan said he heartily regrets
for poor health of the ANC leader and wishes him quick recovery.

`I have always had negative attitude toward Levon Ter-Petrosyan, but I
wish him health. I’ve always urged him to stop smoking but he is doing
it till now. It may undermine his health,’ Hayrikyan said.

From: A. Papazian

Norway’s Armenians apply to discuss Genocide issue in parliament

news.am
April 28, 2012 | 13:17

A group of Norwegian Armenians held a signature campaign for the
Armenian Genocide issue to be considered in Norway’s parliament.

Armenians appealed to southern Vegarshei municipality and then to the
Foreign Ministry to clarify the official position.

In its response, the foreign office said the Convention of genocides
was adopted in 1948 and it is inadvisable to characterize earlier
events as `genocide’, Cihan news agency reports.

Speaking to the agency, Vegarshei Mayor confirmed that the application
had been discussed, the next debate is scheduled for May.

From: A. Papazian

Aravot: Joint headquarters fail to apply to Armenia’s CC

tert.am
10:11 – 28.04.12

The joint headquarters of three political forces – ARF, ANC and PAP –
decided to apply to Armenia’s Constitutional Court for appealing the
provision of the acting electoral legislation barring the publication
of the lists of voters. The initiative failed because of technical
reasons, the members of the headquarters explained.

Speaking to the paper, Hmayak Hovhannissyan said they do not lack
signatures but have decided to display good will and wait until the
Heritage party joins them. Asked whether the Heritage has not
boycotted the works of the headquarters, Hovhannissyan said being one
of the founders of the headquarters, the Heritage has not recalled its
signature, thus continues being its member. `Today it does not want to
participate in the works, tomorrow it may want.’

From: A. Papazian

The political scientist believes that Armenian Armed Forces are the
only counterbalance against Azerbaijan

12:00, 28 April, 2012

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS: The international community cannot take
radical actions for punishing Azerbaijan. On April 28 political
scientist Narek Galstyan had a briefing with the journalists.
”From the political point of view the international community has no
role, hence there are mechanisms through which it will be possible to
prevent similar violations” the political scientist highlighted
dwelling on the recent reports of a series of ceasefire violations at
the border with Armenia as well as the line of contact with Karabakh
forces that resulted in a number of deaths and casualties, Armenpress
reports. The interlocutor guesses that only Armenian Armed forces can
take necessary measures to force Azerbaijan stop shelling.
Their action is a vivid example of violation of international law, and
in fact they do not undertake their commitments under international
law and openly ignore the urges of international mediators, whereas
they demand the same international community accept their stance”
Galstyan noted. The interlocutor is sure that Azerbaijan will never
give up its policy.
On April 25, ceasefire violation by Azerbaijani armed forces was
registered in the north-eastern region of the contact line between
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani side opened fire from various caliber weapons towards
the Armenian positions in village of Doveg, Armenia’s Tavush province.
The shelling left the local kinder garden and a GAZ-53 truck damaged.
Kinder garden students and staff were evacuated for security purposes.
On April 26 ceasefire violation was registered in village of Aygepar,
as a result three soldiers were killed. Azerbaijani side opened fire
towards the position of Movses village.

From: A. Papazian

Aronian says his game vs. Kramnik went smoothly

April 28, 2012 – 10:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The fifth round of the `training’ match between
Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian and Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) in
Zurich ended in a draw. The current match result is 2,5 – 2,5.

Following the match, Armenian GM said the game went quite smoothly,
and he had to be more attentive.

`I thought I had to make the game somewhat complicated; however, I did
not quite succeed in challenging Vladimir so far,’ Aronian said after
the 5th round.

Final round of the six-game match between Aronian and Kramnik is due
on April 28 at 15:00 Yerevan time.

From: A. Papazian

OSCE Report: Tractors for votes? But generally clean campaigning

Vote 2012 | 28.04.12 | 13:29

Photolure

By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(OSCE/ODIHR) published its second interim report on Elections in
Armenia. Overall positively assessing the campaign, some violations
were cited, in particular, application of administrative resource,
campaigning at educational institutions, and charity cases which are
prohibited by law during election campaigns.

Enlarge Photo
`While Article 18.6 of the Electoral Code prohibits campaigning and
distribution of campaign material by pedagogical staff and in
educational institutions, OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers (LTOs)
reported a number of cases of teachers and students involved in the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) campaign. In Echmiadzin, Armavir
province, on April 11students and teachers were released from school
to attend an RPA rally. On April 14 in Arabkir (a district of
Yerevan), teachers asked students to attend, after classes, an RPA
rally with President Serzh Sargsyan. LTOs observed RPA majoritarian
candidates (constituencies 19 and 21, Armavir province) campaigning in
schools with students and teachers present,’ OSCE/ODIHR’s (which
carries out a long-term and short-term observation missions in
Armenia) report reads.

The OSCE/ODIHR mission in Yerevan will consist of 13 international
experts and 24 long-term observers, as well as 250 short-term
observers, who will arrive in Armenia a few days before the E-day to
observe the process of the elections and the votes counting procedure.

OSCE/ODIHR LTOs noted that after the start of the campaign period, new
tractors appeared in Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Lori and
Shirak provinces, next to or adorned with Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP) campaign material.

`According to a PAP brochure, the party attached importance to the
creation of tractor stations in all provinces,’ the authors of the
report state. `The OSCE/ODIHR was informed by the general director of
Multigroup, a company which belongs to the PAP leader, that the
distribution of tractors is part of a business project.’

Various political parties, candidates, and civil society groups have
expressed their lack of trust in the election administration, courts,
and law enforcement bodies to address election-related complaints in
an impartial and effective manner to the OSCE/ODIHR Election
Observation Mission (EOM).

`Although election stakeholders have publicly reported numerous
complaints, few formal complaints have been filed with the respective
authorities,’ the report reads.

From: A. Papazian

Paper: RPA distributes gadget pens to rural residents

April 28, 2012 – 11:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Zhoghovurd paper says it received alarm calls from
different Armenian provinces on new tricks devised by the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia.

According to the paper, representatives of RPA election offices
distribute nice pens to people urging them to mark the ballot with
these very pens on election day.

These pens are allegedly equipped with a tiny video camera or a
special device to follow the voting procedure.

Zhoghovurd says the pens were distributed particularly in small remote
villages in Syunik, Lori and Tavush provinces.

Local residents were warned the move aims to prevent them from taking
RPA’s electoral bribe and voting for a different candidate at
elections, paper reports.

From: A. Papazian

French candidate’s trip to Turkey canceled due to his position on
Armenian Genocide

news.am
April 28, 2012 | 12:37

French presidential candidate Gil Taieb failed to visit Turkey and
meet with local French community during his campaign due to his
position on Israel and the Armenian Genocide.

After successful trips to Greece and Israel, Taieb had to travel to
Istanbul, JSSNews reports.

It was his second trip to Turkey but it was postponed because of his
`active position on Israel and the army, as well as support for the
Armenian Genocide recognition, a source told JSSNews.

A source close to Taieb said he is determined to protect republican
values, his commitments and freedom wherever he is.

From: A. Papazian

ATHLETISME
Kristiné Haroutiounian (javelot) qualifiée pour les J.O. de Londres

Aux Championnats de Russie d’athlétisme qui se sont déroulés à Sotchi,
la représentante de l’Arménie, Kristiné Haroutiounian (javelot) a
obtenu un visa de qualification olympique pour Londres. En expédiant
son javelot à 59,12 m, elle a dépassé de 12 cm le minimum requis pour
les qualifications aux J.O. de Londres. Kristiné Haroutiounian (21
ans) est formée à l’école sportive « Robert Emmiyan » de Gumri. Ses
entraineurs sont Yacha Yeghiazarian et Ivan Safonov. En athlétisme,
l’Arménie dispose de deux athlètes qualifiés pour Londres. Il s’agit
de Mélik Djanoyan (javelot messieurs) et Kristiné Haroutiounian
(javelot dames). L’Arménie a pour l’heure 18 qualifiés olympiques.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 28 avril 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian