Author: Babajanian Karo

NO GAINS, BUT NO LOSSES, EITHER
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
21.02.2012 17:34

“Armenia actually gained nothing as a result of football diplomacy,
but it did not lose anything, either,” Ruben Safrastyan, Director of
the Oriental Studies Institute of the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences, told reporters today.

According to him, what has been taking place between Armenian and
Turkey on the level of public diplomacy during the past three years,
should be considered from several viewpoints. Turkey, which claims to
be a leader in the region and have zero problems with its neighbors,
did not manage or did not want to establish relations with Armenia.

“We made it clear that Armenia is ready to establish diplomatic
relations with Turkey, while the latter is not, that’s why it uses
factors that actually have nothing to do with the normalization of
interstate relations between Armenia and Turkey,” he said.

If we view the Armenian-Turkish normalization process from the
perspective of the Armenian Cause and recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, Armenia has not suffered any losses, either, Ruben Safrastyan
said. “Furthermore, the controversies between the Armenian public
and the Diaspora revealed several important realities,” he added.

“First, it became clear that our people are committed to national
values. We actually saw that Armenia and Diaspora do not exist
separately, there is a united Armenian nation, which has common
all-Armenian problems,” Safrastyan stated.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech and the Constitutional Court’s
decision after the signing of the Zurich protocols determined the
line, which Armenia is not willing and is not going to cross, and
this is an achievement of the process, he added.

As for the prospects of Armenian-Turkish normalization, Safrastyan
believes the Armenian diplomacy should continue working with the
same logic, but more actively. “We are ready to normalize interstate
relations with Turkey without any precondition,” he said, adding that
the question is about interstate relations, not good-neighborly ties.

BAKU PUZZLED BY SECOND REFUSAL TO HOST CANDIDATES TOURNAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 22, 2012 – 12:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – SOCAR Energy Georgia director and vice-president
of Azerbaijan’s Chess Federation Mair Mamedov said they “did hope
that Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian would agree to participate
the Candidates Tournament in Baku.”

“His arrival is not the same as the boxers’ visit,” Mamedov said.

He said there were only two bids on January 31 to stage the next
Candidates Tournament for the World Championship, from Bulgaria
and Azerbaijan.

“Following the FIDE Presidential Council in the United Arab Emirates
we were informed that if Agon undertakes organization of all candidate
cycles for the coming 10-12 years, the tournament will be held in
London while we will participate in terms of funding stipulated by
the bid,” chess-news.ru quoted Mamedov as saying.

Aronian has twice refused to play in Baku. The Candidate Tournament
2011 was held in Kazan, and London will host it in 2012. This year
he issued a letter to President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and
Presidential Council members in early February to notify he won’t
participate in a Baku-hosted tournament. Following this, Ilyumzhinov
announced that World Championship Candidates Tournament will be held
in London from October 23 to November 13.

“No circumstances, if they are not chess-related, should prevent the
grandmaster from demonstrating all of his skills. Unfortunately, at
this moment no Armenian can find favorable or adequate psychological
atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whereas that is something absolutely
necessary. In my opinion, all the participants should be in equal
conditions, which is impossible in case of holding the tournament in
Azerbaijan. Security guaranties and any kind of additional support
cannot be a remedy,” Aronian said in his statement.

SOCIOLOGIST FORECASTS PARTIES’ RATING AHEAD OF POLLS

Tert.am
22.02.12

The ruling coalition parties – the Republican and Prosperous Armenia
– will be major players ahead of the May parliamentary election,
according to a sociologist.

At a news conference on Thursday, Aharon Adibekyan, the director of
the independent sociological center Sociometer, unveiled the results
of their recent survey, noting that the political parties’ rating
may change before the polls.

The expert said the survey was based on a special methodology which
revealed 17.9% and 17% ratings for the ruling parties. As for the
opposition forces – the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) – he said
their ratings were be 4% and 2.7%, respectively.

“Prosperous Armenia will rank as the second party, but never the
third. The ANC is in more modest positions at the moment but we never
know; their coming rally may increase their reputation,” he said,
pointing out to a 1%-2% likelihood of errors.

ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI INTELLECTUALS TO MEET IN MOSCOW

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS: The meeting of the task group
consisting of Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals will take place
February 22 after a four-year pause. The information was written by
the special representative of the Russian president on international
cultural cooperation affairs Mikhail Shvidkoy in the “Second Attempt”
article in Rossiyskaya gazetta newspaper.

“Of course during this period meetings on different levels have been
conducted, starting from the meetings of presidents, and ending with
the meetings of athletes of the two countries within the framework of
different international championships in Baku and Yerevan,” Shvidkoy
pointed out.

In his words the four-year pause was not accidental. “Though the
meetings on diplomatic levels were not interrupted for a long time,
this humanitarian dialogue initiated by the ambassadors of Armenia
and Azerbaijan to Russia Armen Smbatyan and Polad Bulbuloglu failed
to continue for different reasons – starting from personal, ending
with orders from above,” Shvidkoy said.

He said during such meetings intellectuals of the two countries learn
to speak with each other, at the same time understanding that they
are not speaking about the solution of complicated Nagorno Karabakh
issue but creation of an atmosphere as a result of which the two
neighbors will try to listen to each other.

He voiced hope that in near future it will be possible to reach
implementation of the goal.

TURKEY VIOLATES WTO REGULATIONS BECAUSE OF GENOCIDE BILL, BANS FRENCH MEAT IMPORT

news.am
February 22, 2012 | 13:03

Following the French Senate’s passing of the bill that criminalizes
the denial of genocides-including the Armenian Genocide-, Turkey’s
Department of Food Control does not give permission to those companies
wishing to import meat from France.

Even though Turkey is not formally announcing that it has stopped the
import of meat from France, since that would be contrary to the World
Trade Organization rules, it internally refuses to give permission
to those wishing to import French meat, and on the grounds of the
absence of an inspecting veterinary, Haberturk of Turkey informs.

One meat importer noted that meat can easily be imported to Turkey
from any other country, but there are artificial argumentations in
the case of France.

Those in charge at Turkey’s Department of Food Control denied that
there are difficulties in connection with importing meat from France.

It is noted that in line with 2011 data, Turkey imported 6,000 tons
of meat from France every month.

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS CONDEMNS AZERBAIJAN

Panorama.am
22/02/2012

The annual report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
has been released titled “Attacks on the Press in 2011”.

The report notes mass violations of the rights of journalists in Syria,
Belarus, Azerbaijan.

According to CPJ official website four years after Eynulla Fatullayev
was imprisoned on a series of fabricated charges, and more than a
year after the European Court of Human Rights ordered his immediate
release, the editor finally walked free. In an interview with CPJ,
Fatullayev praised the international community for its sustained
support. Attacks against domestic journalists covering sensitive
subjects continued with impunity. Freelance reporter Rafiq Tagi, who
wrote critically about Islamist politics and government policies,
died after being stabbed on a Baku street. Two reporters for the
pro-opposition newspaper Azadlyg were beaten in reprisal for their
work, while the editor of the independent newspaper Khuralwas jailed
in late year on retaliatory charges. Hostility toward international
reporters was on the rise: Members of a Swedish television crew working
on a human rights documentary were deported; a U.S. freelancer and a
British researcher were assaulted; and a photojournalist was denied
entry based on her Armenian ethnicity.

The fatal stabbing of Tagi in November underscored a year of heightened
violence against local and international journalists.

Amanda Erickson, a U.S. freelance contributor to The Washington Post
and The New York Times, and Celia Davies, a British staffer at the
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, were attacked outside
their Baku apartment building in June. Ramin Deko and Seimur Khaziyev,
reporters for the pro-opposition Azadlyg, were beaten 10 days apart
in early spring. And assailants targeted the home of Idrak Abbasov,
a journalist with the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety,
in September. The attacks are unsolved.

ARS TO PARTICIPATE IN UN COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

asbarez
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

UN Commission on the Status of Women ARS, Inc. organizes two parallel
events on February 29 and March 2

WATERTOWN, Mass.-The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. will participate
in the United Nations’ 56th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
in New York from Monday, February 27 to Friday, March 9.

The CSW is “the principal global policy-making body dedicated
exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women.” The global
community including member states, civil society and the private
sector meet annually at the United Nations to discuss critical
problems affecting women across the world. This year’s priority
theme is “the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty
and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.”

As the premier international platform for women’s issues and rights,
ARS’s participation at CSW 56 pervades throughout several levels of
activities and events. This year, ARS initiated its involvement by
partnering with Women’s World Banking on a written statement regarding
the priority theme that was submitted and approved by UN Women. The
statement is part of the official record of the Commission and appears
on the CSW 56 website.

Additionally, the ARS has sponsored and organized two parallel events
and co-sponsored a third during the first week of the Commission. On
Wednesday, February 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., again with Women’s World
Banking, ARS has sponsored and organized a workshop on “Financing
Powerful Women: Integrating Microfinancing and Women’s Health.” The
workshop will take place at the Church Center Hardin Room, 11th Floor,
777 First Avenue at 44th Street. Discussion participants include
Myrna Cunningham-Kain, this year’s recipient of the NGO Commission
on the Status of Women NY’s Woman of Distinction Award; Inez Murray,
Executive VP Program and Network Engagement of Women’s World Banking,
and Judith Bruce, Senior Associate Policy analyst of Population
Council. The workshop will be moderated by Stephanie Killian.

Immediately following at 4:30 p.m., the ARS has co-sponsored a workshop
with The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund, Soroptimist
International, The American Association of University Women, Soka
Gakkai International, Women Graduates-USA and The International
Federation of University Women entitled, “Rural Women and Girls:
Issues in Reproductive Health.” This workshop also takes place at
the Church Center, however in the Boss Room, 8th Floor. Both events
on Wednesday are open to the public.

On Friday, March 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., the ARS has organized
a high-level panel event with the Armenia’s Permanent Mission to
the UN and Ambassador Garen Nazarian. Ambassador Nazarian, along
with Mary Ellen Iskenderian, CEO of Women’s World Banking, and Meryl
Frank, President and CEO of Makeda Global, International Leadership
Development Consultant and former Ambassador/US Representative for
UN CSW will discuss “From Empowerment to Sustainability: Financing,
Health and Participation for Rural Women.”

Stephanie Killian will represent the ARS and present the organization’s
decades-long efforts in advancing rural women in Armenia and the
Diaspora. The panel will take place on UN grounds in the North Lawn
Building Conference Room B and will be moderated by Soon-Young Yoon,
Chair of NGO CSW, also a co-sponsor. Because of this secure location,
the event remains closed to the general public.

“NGO participation is critical to the success of the CSW. Along with
the sponsored side events, ARS members will be attending meetings
and plenary sessions dedicated to the priority theme of the Commission.

Ultimately, ARS participation at CSW 56 will contribute to evaluating
progress on gender equality, and identifying challenges, setting global
standards and formulating concrete policies to promote gender equality
and women’s empowerment worldwide through the UN’s Economic and Social
Council”, said Vicky Marashlian, Chairperson of the Armenian Relief
Society, Inc., who will be heading the ARS, Inc.

delegation to CSW 56.

The ARS message in Times Square

Taking advantage of a special opportunity and to coincide the CSW 56,
the ARS Central Executive Board placed a special promotion on one of
the huge screens on New York’s Times Square.

The 30 seconds promo started running on February 18 and will continue
to run until April 18 once every hour. The giant screen showing
the promo is located on Manhattan’s 42nd street between the 7th and
8th avenues.

VALENCE SE SOUVIENT DU GROUPE MISSAK MANOUCHIAN
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
mercredi 22 fevrier 2012

Le 68e anniversaire de l’execution du Groupe Missak Manouchian a ete
commemore a Valence mardi 21 fevrier, Place Manouchian. Une soixantaine
de personnes -dont de nombreux elus et parmi ces derniers le Maire
de Valence Alain Maurice et le depute de la Drôme Patrick Labaune-
assistaient a la ceremonie. Organisee par la Mairie de Valence et
soutenue par le monde combattant francais et armenien-dont l’ACFOA,
les Anciens Combattants d’Origine armenienne de Valence- la ceremonie
se voulait avant tout celle de la memoire de ces 22 heros de ”
l’Affiche Rouge “, fusilles au Mont Valerien le 21 fevrier 1944.

Georges Eretzian et Henri Siranyan, respectivement president et
president d’honneur de l’ACFOA ont dans l’emouvant ” appel des morts ”
lu les noms des membres du Groupe Manouchian ” morts pour la France “.

Le depôt de gerbes clôtura la ceremonie.

TURKEY’S AUDIT BOARD SLAMS DINK MURDER CASE INVESTIGATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 20, 2012 – 19:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s State Audit Board (DDK) completed a report
into the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink today,
Feb 20 saying it found mistakes in the questioning of government
personnel which adversely affected the efficiency of the overall
investigation into the murder.

President Abdullah Gul had ordered DDK to look into the case of Dink’s
murder after lawyers for the murdered journalist’s family said the
trial was not being properly conducted.

The report said the trial was hampered by structural and procedural
difficulties even though the culprits were swiftly apprehended.

The DDK also said “gendarmerie and police intelligence units did not
work toward the protection of Hrant Dink even though they had learned
of a … threat.”

The report added that the Turkish state failed to fulfill its
obligation to protect human life as pointed out by Article 17 of the
Turkish Constitution, as well as the second article of the European
Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory, Hurriyet
reported.

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court issued its ruling on Jan 17
in the 25th hearing of the case. Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, the main
suspects, who were accused of being instigators, and all other
suspects, were cleared of charges of membership in a terrorist
organization. The prosecutor and the Dink family’s lawyers accused
them of acting under the orders of a clandestine criminal network
suspected of having ties with senior state officials and military
and police officers.

The court handed down a life sentence to Hayal, while Tuncel was given
10 years and six months in prison for his involvement in the bombing
of a McDonald’s restaurant in 2004. Gunman Ogun Samast was sentenced
last July to nearly 23 years in prison by a separate juvenile court.

Tuncel was released.

ACTIVISTS DECIDED TO LEAVE PARK, RETURN TOMORROW TO CONTINUE PROTEST (UPDATED)

epress.am
02.20.2012

7:18 pm: Activists decided to end their protest today and return
to the park tomorrow morning. As told to Epress.am by one of the
activists, Armo Safaryan, their decision is due to the fact that shop
construction was stopped for today and the protective barrier which
was put up around the pavilions has been removed.

6 pm: Commander of the Shushi battalion during the Nagorno-Karabakh
War and one of the founders of the Sardarapat civic movement Jirair
Sefilian said: “I joined the movement late today, but it’s very
interesting, in 1988, they were chanting Karabakh, today with same
tone, these youth are chanting Yerevan. I think that this is very
symbolic, because it’s time to liberate Yerevan.”

5:52 pm: Lieutenant Colonel Karen Movsisyan, talking to activists,
noted that they are fighting a single act with (several) illegal
activities. Several activists have parked themselves inside a kiosk
and aren’t preparing to leave. They are demanding the municipality
give them a document promising that all construction work in the park
will be suspended (if only temporarily).

Heritage Party MP Anahit Bakhshyan is speaking with demonstrators,
who say that their protest is peaceful and they aren’t carrying out
any unlawful activities.

5:44 pm: Despite the ultimatum of 20 minutes having passed, nothing has
yet happened. Police have said the deadline might be extended somewhat.

In response to police warnings, activists say, “What [rule of] law
are they talking about in all this unlawfulness?”

5:15 pm: Police warn activists that if they don’t leave the premises,
they will be fined. But activists have no intention of leaving.

Police refused to respond to human rights campaigner Avetik
Ishkhanyan’s question as to what specific penalty awaits activists
if they do not follow police orders.

5:05 pm: Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Robert Melkonyan has given
activists protesting shop construction in Mashtots Park 20 minutes
to voluntarily leave and stop occupying the partially constructed
kiosks – otherwise, police will use lawful means to clear the area.

Despite police orders, activists say they’re not preparing to vacate
the premises on which they’ve been camped out for the second week
in a row. Earlier, activists were singing Armenia’s national anthem;
now, they’re occupying the kiosks and preventing workers from resuming
construction.

“Returning from [the march to] Yerevan City Hall, people went into the
pavilion and forced the workers to stop their illegal construction
and they informed the Ministry of Urban Development that several
urban development laws are being broken and they are demanding that
a representative come and take note of this fact,” one activist,
Apres Zohrabyan, told Epress.am.

“Remove your kiosks from our park”

According to him, the activists entered the park, while police and
construction workers stood aside, as a result of which the activists
were able to occupy the pavilion.

“Don’t distort Yerevan’s main plan”

“They didn’t resist and we entered, then Yerevan Deputy Police Chief
Robert Melkonyan came and negotiated separately with demonstrators
about leaving the pavilion,” he said.

The protestors numbering around a 100 currently are being joined by
others, including some famous figures.

“[Heritage Party leader] Raffi Hovannisian is currently in the park
speaking with demonstrators,” said Zohrabyan, adding that there’s
song and dance, and as a result of their work being obstructed,
the construction workers have gone home while demonstrators rejoice.

“TarON, TarOUT” (referring to Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan)

“Open your boutiques somewhere else! This park is for Yerevan
residents. Stay away from the last green space!”

“No business on account of green public space”