Author: Andres-Papazian

ARF TO HOLD ACTION IN SUPPORT OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM

Panorama.am
24/02/2012

At the request of the parliamentary opposition, the Armenian parliament
will discuss on February 28 a proposal enjoying wide public support,
envisaging amendments to the Electoral Code and adopting a 100-percent
proportional representation system.

ARF plans an action in support of a 100-percent proportional
representation system near the National Assembly simultaneously with
the meeting, according to ARF Bureau press office.

From: A. Papazian

FORGETTING PERSONAL AMBITIONS
Arman Galoyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:30:55 – 24/02/2012

Suren Abrahamyan, member of the Republic Party political board talked
to Lragir.am about the decision of the party that only the party
leader Aram Sargsyan will be represented in the ANC party list.

– Since the Republic Party sees these elections as a way to restore the
Constitutional order in Armenia and does not attach importance to the
parliamentary seats it will have. Besides, taking into account that
there are 18 parties in the Armenian National Congress, and each of
them has ambitions and wishes, we have taken this decision. This is
our message to the people that our aim is not to have parliamentary
seats but to restore the constitutional order.

– Will you have candidates for the majoritarian representation?

– We are still thinking about this. We will take a decision in a
short while.

– Isn’t your decision based on offense?

– Aram Sargsyan has already answered this question. He said that this
is our country and we have no right to be offended from someone. I
will just add to his words that if necessary, we can offend others.

But there is no such an issue now.

– Is this a message to the other parties of the Congress? Or is the
Republic Party leaving Congress little by little?

– To the contrary, out activities, all the persecutions and our
devotion have always been visible to everyone. Do you remember our
participation in the 2003 and 2008 presidential elections when we
put aside all the ambitions we defended one candidate? We are able
to leave aside personal ambitions for higher ideals.

– Are you possible to review your approaches at a certain point?

– I don’t know what can happen for us to change approaches. This is
a very adequate decision for the current political situation.

– Republic Party is considered one of the axis parties of the Armenian
National Congress. How will your decision be accepted by the society?

Will the Congress be represented wholly?

– Congress does not have administrative, financial, material resources
and levers like the Republican and Bargavach Hayastan parties.

Congress will be presented to the society through its leader and party
list. I am sure it is a misunderstanding that everyone will go and
vote for Congress. I am repeating Congress’s success will be based
on its leader and appreciated people by the society. The society will
study the Congress list with a reading glass and when forming it, the
Congress should preserve the principle of justice for each candidate.

This is a very important decision and I think Congress will take such
a decision. Otherwise, it will be difficult later.

– You say there is an issue on the perception by the society of the
Congress list and promote only Aram Sargsyan from the Republic Party.

Aren’t there other perceivable people in your party?

– For this we leave apart all personal ambitions. Let the leadership
of the Armenian National Congress be free to form the list. We give
this right and the assessment issue to them.

From: A. Papazian

DON’T FORGET PZO

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:52:41 – 24/02/2012

Today, a discussion was held by the initiative group for the protection
of rights of Diaspora investors. The Diaspora intellectual, journalist
Asia Asatryan and American-Armenian businessman Edmond Khudyan blamed
the homeland of robbing Diaspora investors. First deputy president of
the State Revenue Committee Armen Alaverdyan did not like this. He
opposed saying not to use the word homeland if some individuals
robbed. “20 years ago, there was nothing. Now we discuss and speak
about the shortcomings. I urge you to be careful when speaking about
the homeland”, he said.

Then he felt bad that the Armenian representatives, MPs Styopa
Safaryan and Ara Nranyan, don’t oppose the Diaspora Armenians. “I
don’t understand how it is possible to sit and listen how they blame
the homeland”, he said.

Lawyer, Samvel Jaghinyan, who protects the rights of the Diaspora
businessman George Tovmasyan in Armenia, underlined that their aim
is to voice about the breaches and to ensure fair investigation of
cases to have the opportunity to be proud of the homeland.

Armen Alaverdyan recalled cunningly: “Our compatriots succeed in
deceiving people and earn money in such a powerful country as the U.S.

and defame the name of Armenians in the world. I would like very much
for Armenians not to be guilty”, he said.

In answer, Styopa Safaryan noted: “If you are hinting the Pzo case,
rumors go Pzo has been set free. Don’t forget he was suspected to
have done money laundering through Armenia. Please don’t forget this”.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS IN SUMGAIT AND BAKU’S SPECULATIONS ON KHOJALU

arminfo
Friday, February 24, 12:19

Parliamentary factions and groups have adopted a joint statement
saying that on February 20, 1988 in line with the Constitution and
then effective legislation of the USSR, the former Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Oblast Regional Council basing on the will of the Armenia
population on the region submitted a petition to the Supreme Councils
of the Azerbaijani SSR and Armenian SSR on the secession of the
Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast from Soviet Azerbaijan and its
transfer to Soviet Armenia. In response to that legal demand, the
Azerbaijani authorities started repressions.

The statement reads that on February 26-28 1988 the Azerbaijani
authorities planned and committed massacre of the Armenian population
in Sumgait, which is provide by thousands of evidences, ArmInfo’s
correspondent to Stepanakert reports.

“To conceal their criminal attitude towards not only the peaceful
Armenian population but also Azerbaijani population in Nagorny
Karabakh, the ruling elite of Azerbaijan has been speculating on
the topic ‘genocide of peaceful population of Khojalu’ for already
20 years.

“Basing on evidences by many witnesses of those incidents that were
recorded by journalists and international human rights organizations
and even confirmed by some Azerbaijani authors, and for the fair and
true presentation of facts, the deputy factions and group of the NKR
National Assembly declare that it is only the Azerbaijani authorities
and forces that are responsible for the violence committed with regard
to the peaceful population on Sumgait, Azerbaijan, on Feb 26029 1988
and the peaceful population in Khojalu, Askeran region of NKR on Feb
26-27,” the statement reads.

The NKR parliamentarians express their commitment to peaceful
resolution of the Karabakh conflict and urge that Azerbaijani party
to “refuse the groundless and irresponsible policy of enmity and
hatred and direct efforts to creation of bases for further peaceful
coexistence of the two neighbor states and peoples.”

From: A. Papazian

NO KIOSK CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN PARK, SAYS ARMENIAN WRITER

Tert.am
24.02.12

The municipal authorities of capital Yerevan decided late on Thursday
to suspend the construction activities in Mashtots Park, an Armenian
intellectual has said.

In an interview with the local TV channel Yerkir Media, Armenian writer
and publicist Meruzhan Ter-Gulanyan said that the chief architect of
Yerevan told an urban development meeting that the decision to build
kiosks on the territory was wrong.

Ter-Gulanyan, who is a member of Armenia’s Public Council, said
Mayor Taron Margaryan did not act in breach of the law when making
the decision; he just made a little haste and selected a wrong place
as a result.

“Those kiosks are not expected to be there; that’s just a
misunderstanding. As to the environmental activists, they are doing
nice job. I praise them, but I am afraid lest those guys should be
involved in political intrigues,” he said.

Speaking further, Art Director of the Yerevan State Chamber Theatre
Ara Yernjakyan said the activists are already involved in political
intrigues as they have told environmentalists about more trees being
cut in a construction site in the vicinities of the Matenadaran
(repository of ancient manuscrupts).

“I will not address the topic because no one has given them such an
instruction,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

KAREN NAZARYAN: AZERBAIJAN’S REFUSAL TO HOLD TALKS WITH NKR AUTHORITIES THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION

ARMRADIO.AM
24.02.2012 12:54

Discussions on “Women, peace and security” were held at the UN Security
Council on February 23 with participation of representatives of more
than 50 countries and high-ranking UN officials.

Speaking at the event, Armenia’s Ambassador at the UN Karen Nazaryan
referred to the harassments against women and girls during conflicts.

Ambassador Nazaryan noted, in part: “In a few days we’ll commemorate
the innocent victims of Sumgayit, who were massacred and subjected
to torture only for being Armenian.”

The Ambassador called attention to the fact that even after being
elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Azerbaijan
continues to conceal its crimes and provocations.

The Armenian representatives called on Azerbaijan to refrain from
“cheap steps” and inappropriate manipulations at the Security Council,
and concentrate on the negotiation process under way within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and implement the agreements reached
during the last meeting of the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani
Presidents.

Ambassador Nazaryan further noted that “Azerbaijan continues to violate
the UN Security Council Resolutions, which call on the parties to
hold negotiations in the OSCE Minsk Group format and through direct
contacts. “Azerbaijan’s refusal from holding talks with the elected
authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the main obstacle
for the resolution of the conflict.”

From: A. Papazian

PFA MET EN GARDE L’ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 24 fevrier 2012

L’Armenie aura des ennuis en continuant d’augmenter sa dette externe
au cours des prochaines annees a moins que son gouvernement ne change
le système existant ” de capitaliste de copinage ” et s’engage dans
de veritables reformes democratiques a annonce une ONG armenienne de
la diaspora.

” À moins de changements resolus dans les choix de politique economique
et dans le paysage politico-economique ne soient effectues, nous
estimons que la probabilite d’une grande devaluation du dram et/ou
le defaut de remboursement de dette au cours des 3 prochaines annees
comme etant très hauts ” a affirme le Forum de Politique d’Armenie
(PFA) dans un rapport special.

PFA a aussi accuse les autorites a Erevan d’avoir echoue a tirer
des lecons de la crise financière des annees 2008-2009 qui a frappe
durement l’economie armenienne. ” Les elements des memes pratiques
d’un capitaliste de copinage – où une elite restreinte a employe son
accès disproportionne au pouvoir et son influence sur le processus
decisionnel economique pour leur gain personnel – ont ete renforces,
au detriment de la croissance, de la sante publique, de l’education
et de la securite nationale ” a accuse l’ONG.

Dans sa strategie de gestion des dettes approuve en juin dernier,
la prevision du gouvernement est que la dette armenienne excedera 5
milliards de $ en 2015 et la proportion de la dette par rapport au
PIB devrait atteindre 38 pour cent.

PFA, qui comprend plus de 50 Armeniens et des professionnels armeniens
de la Diaspora travaillant surtout aux Etats-Unis, affirme que la
deterioration de l’environnement externe peut plonger l’economie
armenienne dans une recession qui touchera negativement l’equilibre
du pays en matière de paiements.

” Selon nos simulations, une baisse moderee du PIB en 2012 peut
conduire la proportion de la dette par rapport au produit interieur
brut a plus de 50 pour cent ” affirme le rapport de PFA.

” Etant donne le fait que presque 90 pour cent de la dette de l’Armenie
est en devises etrangères, la perspective sera beaucoup plus mauvaise
si le dram est brusquement devalue “.

” Dans le cas d’une devaluation de 30 pour cent, la proportion de
la dette par rapport au produit interieur brut atteindra 60 pour
cent. Un choc combine – avec de baisse de PIB et de devaluation –
conduira la proportion de la dette par rapport au produit interieur
brut a plus de 70 pour cent ” affirme le rapport accusant les autorites
de maintenir la valeur du dram de facon artificielle.

From: A. Papazian

DES TABLETTES POUR UNE ECOLE ARMENIENNE EN TURQUIE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 24 fevrier 2012

La seule ecole privee sur un total de 52 ecoles a etre incluse dans
le programme scolaire pilote Projet Fatih est le lycee prive armenien
Esayan qui vient de recevoir des tablettes fournis par le gouvernement
pour les classes. Les etudiants ont affirme que les tablettes ont
rendu leurs lecons beaucoup plus educatives et agreables, tandis que
les enseignants sont heureux de voir augmenter l’interet des etudiants
quant aux lecons.

From: A. Papazian

R. HOVHNNISYAN SENT A LETTER TO MR. VOLKER KAUDER

23.02.12, 10:57

Head of the Armenian “Heritage” Party sent a letter to Mr. Volker
Kauder, Parliamentary Leader CDU/CSU, The Bundestag, Berlin, Federal
Republic of Germany, press service of “Heritage” Party informs.

The letter especially says:

“Dear Colleague:

It has come to my attention that your parliamentary group-a partner
of ours in the European People’s Party-might shortly be releasing,
or at least considering, a draft resolution about Mountainous Karabagh.

The freedom of your political expression is of utmost importance,
but the truth is paramount.

The Republic of Mountainous Karabagh (Artsakh in Armenian)
was constituted lawfully in 1991 in full compliance with Soviet
legislation, controlling at the time, and the fundamental precepts of
international law as codified by the Montevideo Convention relating
to the formation and recognition of sovereign states.

None of us, neither your country nor ours, has any basis to curtail
the basic right to liberty and self-determination of any other, old or
new. This holds especially true for Mountainous Karabagh whose people,
in parallel with the demolition of the Great Wall which divided your
capital for too long, reversed the Stalinist legacy of “divide and
rule,” waged a constitutional and ultimately successful quest for
freedom and independence, and defended their patrimony against the
failed aggression of Soviet and then Azerbaijani forces.

In view of its own unique track record in facing, atoning for, and
surmounting the crimes against humanity committed by a predecessor
regime-and with the resultant credentials of global leadership in terms
of restoration of rights, democracy, and peace and security-postwar
Germany should be the first to recognize the legitimate creation
and territorial integrity of emerging state actors and the belated
correction of historical injustices. Both domestically and in
international relations, the rule of law-or rather the supremacy of
rights-militates against artificial and partisan applications of the
archaic assertion of sui generis.

What is more, Germany’s previous complicity in the Genocide of
the Armenian Nation and the Dispossession of its Homeland, as duly
evidenced in your own diplomatic and military archives, might and
military archives, shoulds,s should best comprehend this imperative
of mind, conscience, and public policy.ose, to restogive you further
cause officially to acknowledge that unprecedented precursor to the
Holocaust and to undertake meaningful measures, in conjunction with the
Republic of Turkey, to bring this shameful era of denialism to a close,
to address the occupation of the western half of the Armenian Plateau,
and to restitute the rightful connection between the Armenian people
and their homeland.

Real, not window-dressing normalization of relations with Turkey
and Azerbaijan is crucial for Armenia, but never at the expense of
historical memory, contemporary rights, and human dignity. Il faut
assumer l’histoire.

Of all states and all parties, yours should best comprehend this
imperative of values, conscience, and public policy.

Respectfully yours,

Raffi K. Hovannisian, Chairman and MP, Heritage Party, First Minister
of Foreign Affairs Republic of Armenia”.

From: A. Papazian

MANUKYAN TO SUE MAYOR?

08:48 pm | February 23, 2012 | Social

The Public Council might dispute the right to property of the owners
of the stands that were demolished on Abovyan Street and are being
placed at Mashtots Park in court. This is what President of the Public
Council Vazgen Manukyan announced during a discussion on the issue.

During the discussion, Chief Architect of Yerevan Narek Sargsyan
reaffirmed Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan’s statement according
to which Yerevan Municipality was placing stands at Mashtots Park by
respecting the right of stand owners to their properties.

However, he also informed that none of the owners of the stands on
Abovyan Street had any right to the stands placed at Mashtots Park.

“Those stands belong to Yerevan Municipality and are simply granted
to them for a couple of years,” he mentioned.

The members of the Public Council asked whether the decision on
providing areas on the sidewalk of Abovyan Street by the right to
property was legitimate or not for the mayor to defend that right at
the price of green areas.

“It was, if not illegitimate, then at least an incorrect decision,”
said member of the Public Council, former Prime Minister Khosrov
Harutyunyan.

In his turn, President of the Public Council Vazgen Manukyan asked
about those stand owners and wanted to know why the municipality was
so attentive toward their rights.

“Perhaps they have provided great services to the homeland. In that
case, perhaps we should all praise them,” said Manukyan.

In response to all this, Head of the Legal Department at Yerevan
Municipality Zaven Arakelyan said the municipality couldn’t do anything
as long as the right of the stand owners to property wasn’t disputed.

Vazgen Manukyan expressed certainty that “any normal court would take
the right to property away from those people”.

“If the municipality doesn’t sue them, our Council’s lawyers will
appeal to the court and will call the youth demonstrators as well,”
said Vazgen Manukyan.

The Public Council’s discussions on the stands in Mashtots Park were
being held without the participation of the demonstrators defending
their interests, but Karine Danielyan was present.

Danielyan mentioned that people don’t trust the municipality simply
because the authorities didn’t fulfill their pledge of stopping
construction.

The Chief Architect of Yerevan was compelled to accept this fact. “But
we are trying to interfere. It was our flaw, and I accept it,” said
the Chief Architect.

From: A. Papazian