Author: Babajanian Karo

SCANDAL IN PARLIAMENT: PROSPEROUS ARMENIA MP CALLS IT A ‘SHOW’, HHK MP ADVISES NOT TO ‘DELVE DEEP’

epress.am
02.10.2012

National Assembly deputy chair and Prosperous Armenia member Samvel
Balasanyan sees nothing wrong in Prosperous Armenia (BHK) boycotting
the first meeting of the first parliamentary session this year.

“There was one important bill we didn’t vote on [referring to the bill
on banning cash transactions; anyway,] the bill wasn’t adopted. Our
parliamentary faction discussed it and we came to the conclusion
that this bill needs to become law, but it’s not the right time,
so we didn’t vote,” he said at a press briefing today.

On the matter of lawmakers voting for absent colleagues, which was
evident in Thursday’s meeting, Balasanyan was frank, saying that
basically the card system isn’t justified.

He dubbed what happened in parliament yesterday a “show,” which was
useless to cover up.

At the same time, Balasanyan tried to justify his colleagues’ behavior,
stressing that he has 13 years of experience working in parliament
and knows that it’s likely that lawmakers will be absent during an
election campaign period, since many are dealing with issues tied to
the majority ballot and many are on business trips.

Galust Sahakyan, head of the Republican Party of Armenia’s
parliamentary faction, in turn, commented on yesterday’s incident with
the following: “The closer the elections get, the more the stabbing
increases and the press get excited.”

He also ruled out the possibility that his colleagues might be voting
for others, but this was recorded by not only reporters and camera
operators covering parliamentary activities, but also the National
Assembly’s own CCTV cameras.

In response, Sahakyan said he can neither refute not confirm this news.

“Because I’m not involved in investigation work as reporters are,
I would simply advise reporters not to delve deep into these types
of matters. It’s clearer than clear that those bills which are put
to a vote are passed with the most votes in favor,” he said.

A. GHAZINYAN: “WE DO NOT AIM TO MAKE AZERBAIJANIS ANGRY, WE HAVE MORE SERIOUS TASK”

10.02.14

Today, on February 10, presentation of the book named “Polygon
Azerbaijan” took place. Aristakes Ghazinyan, journalist of “Golos
Armenii” (“Armenian voice”) newspaper and armeniannow.com news agency,
is the author of the book.

The preparations for the book have been done by the “Center of the
public relations and information” of Armenian President’s staff.

“~SCenter of the public relations and information” of Armenian
President’s staff has published two books on the end of last year. One
of them is “Polygon Azerbaijan” which you see now and another book is
called “How did it happen”? The latter is devoted to the Arstakh was
and includes the studies of our experts. And on January, this year
book named “Turkish fears: Sevres syndromes” was published. Two other
books will be presented to the audience soon”, Ara Saghatelyan, head
of the “Center of the public relations and information” of Armenian
President’s staff said in his welcoming speech. He also informed that
the center will soon present also two new films about Artsakh war.

“I have worked on this team for nearly 15 years. And this event
is really important for me not only my book is presented here, but
because the theme is very important. The book lives separated from the
author and lives as long as it is read”, author of the book Aristakes
Ghazinayn applied to the presents.

Rating the activities of the “Center of the public relations and
information” of Armenian President’s staff in our reality, he said:
“Today when we say war we do not mean only military struggle, but also
mean economical war, information war. We know well which economical
war means. We have been in economical occupation for about 20 years.

We also well realize what information war means.

Today official Baku always repeats the same fake stories, but if
the world hears those stories all time and there is no answer form
Armenia, the world may once get used to those stories and even believe
in them. And here the role of the center is especially important. Here
journalists, experts work who are involved in the process”.

As the speaker noted the center gives answers to Azerbaijani fake
with books, films.

Referring to the book presented today, the author informed that it
is really large and includes three books in it.

“The first part presents the history of formulation of Azerbaijanis
as nation, when different tribes were gathered and were unified. They
were called “Azerbaijanis” since 1918, but this name was not used for
a long time. It started to be used since 1930 and Stalin urged to use
it. This was an anti-Turkish step by Stalin as this part was separated
from Turkey. Before this separation people considered themselves to be
just Turks.” The author also noted that he presented with an example
how well-known Persian poet may suddenly become an Azerbaijani. Nizami
Gyanjeev is that poet.

Historiography of Azerbaijan is the theme of the second part of the
book. “We know well that history and historiography are different
things. Historiography is written by the state, organization or party
and has concrete themes. And history presents the events as they
were though may be not always objective. History assists to realize
present and future better. But there is no history in Azerbaijan”, A.

Ghazinyan noted. According to the author, it is very important also for
us to understand the history. “Especially, we must realize that today’s
strained Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are not result of Artsakh war,
but Artsakh war is a result of tensions, which were before.”

And the last part of the book is devoted to the history of State
system of Azerbaijan, “Here is a regularity: every time Azerbaijan
announced about the State system (it took place for three times, on
1918, 1920 and 1991), they made Armenian massacres”, the speaker noted.

Speaking about the aims of the book A. Ghazinyan said that it is mostly
for the international experts who study Artsakh issue as often they
do not know the reality and truth.

“We do not aim to make Azerbaijan angry, we have more serious task”,
author of the book concluded.

THE MORE SNOW, THE MORE HARVEST WE SHALL HAVE

05:37 pm | Today | Economy

The recent heavy snowfall in Armenia has delighted Armenian Minister
of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan.

“The more snow falls, the better for the soil. We shall have more
water resources and more harvest. Our reservoirs will be filled with
water. Abundant snow brings with it purity, joy and exuberance,”
Mr Karapetyan told a news conference on Friday.

Summing up the results of the previous year, the Minister said great
achievements had been recorded in the spheres of plant growing and
horticulture. With respect to live-stock breeding, Minister Karapetyan
said that Armenia is going to import 500 high-yielder heifers.

“Our cows give neither good meat, nor good milk. An average cow gives
less than 200 liters of milk per year, which is very low if compared
to other countries,” said the Minister.

Speaking about the Ministry’s priorities, Sergo Karapetyan said they
are going to provide low-interest agricultural loans, low-cost nitrogen
fertilizers and fuel to farms.

The Minister also said that three agricultural open-air markets will
be opened in Armenia in 2012.

ARMENIAN EXPERT: CHINA WON’T JOIN SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 10, 2012 – 16:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian expert believes China isn’t among the
countries that West can exert pressure on.

“Through its policy line, China is trying to file pressure on Iran to
secure cheap oil in future,” Rudik Yaralyan said, adding that China
won’t join sanctions against Iran.

Earlier, China rejected U.S. sanctions against Iranian oil.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE AGAINST RACISM AND ANTI-SEMITISM SUPPORTS GENOCIDE LAW

news.am
February 11, 2012 | 04:06

At the end of its federal council session the International League
Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) voted for supporting the
French bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide with
a majority of votes, the French organization informed Nouvelles
d`Armenie.

To note, this refutes the information that LICRA were against the
genocide bill.

UNE STATUE DE TIGRANE LE GRAND SERA PROCHAINEMENT ERIGEE A EREVAN
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 11 fevrier 2012

Le maire d’Erevan, Daron Markarian a rencontre les sculpteurs
Hagop Hagopian et Hamlet Madinian ainsi que l’astrophysicien
Vahakn Kourzadian pour aborder le dossier de l’emplacement de
statue de Tigrane le Grand qui se dressera sur une place de la
capitale armenienne. Hagop Hagopian a aborde le sujet de la comète
de Halley presente sur une pièce de monnaie de Tigrane le Grand,
emise en 83 avant J.-C. lors de la prise d’Antioche par le plus grand
roi armenien. H. Hagopian a longtemps travaille sur le projet d’une
colonne representant Tigrane le Grand et cette recente decouverte de
la comète de Halley sur la pièce de monnaie a l’effigie du monarque
qui avait emmene l’Armenie a son apogee. Le Conseil municipal d’Erevan
devra valider prochainement le projet et l’emplacement de la statue
de Tigrane le Grand.

UN VIEUX TURC SAUVEGARDE UNE EGLISE ARMENIENNE DANS LA REGION DE TRABZON
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 11 fevrier 2012

L’agence de presse turque Anatolou, dans la region de Trabzon,
Hachim Kantekin, un turc de 78 ans protège l’eglise armenienne Sourp
Amenaprguitch (Saint Sauveur) qui se trouve sur son terrain. Le vieux
turc affirme que ce terrain sur lequel est construite cette eglise
datant de 1424 lui a ete legue par son père. Il dit egalement que
l’interieur ce cette eglise armenienne en ruine reste volontairement
vide pour ne pas souiller le lieu de culte. ” Je suis ne et j’ai
grandi ici. J’ai tout fait pour proteger l’eglise. Et si je ne la
protegeais pas, elle serait detruite depuis longtemps. Celui qui
desire visite l’eglise me demande la cle et entre dans l’eglise
” dit H. Kantekin. Au-dela de cet acte empreint d’humanisme et de
respect -rapporte par une agence officielle turque Anatolou – nous
pouvons neanmoins legitimement nous demander comment cette eglise
armenienne fut transmise a leurs proprietaires turcs, probablement
lors du genocide.

TURKISH FM DISCUSSES SITUATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS IN U.S. CONGRESS

Trend
Feb 10 2012
Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed regional issues,
including the situation in the South Caucasus with the U.S.
congressmen in Washington, Turkish Ihlas agency reported.

At the meeting views were exchanged on the processes associated with
the revolutions in the Arab countries, Iran’s nuclear program and
Turkish-U.S. relations.

Turkish Foreign Minister started his visit to the United States on
Feb.9. It is expected that Davutoglu will meet with U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

AMBASSADOR AGSHIN MEHDIYEV: “RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE OSCE 2005 AND 2010 FACT-FINDING MISSIONS TO THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN REMAINED “ONLY ONPAPER””

MilAz.info
Feb 10 2012
Azerbaijan

“Azerbaijan supports the OSCE concept of comprehensive, cooperative
and indivisible security”, Agshin Mehdiyev, Permanent Representative
of Azerbaijan stated in New York, during the Security Council meeting
February 9.

“OSCE had the potential to play a more consistent role in encouraging
participating States to comply with their obligations and the 1974 OSCE
Helsinki Final Act. OSCE provided a forum for discussions towards a
settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, sometimes
mistakenly referred to as the “dispute” over Nagorno-Karabakh or the
“conflict” in Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict was being addressed by
the OSCE Minsk Group, as noted in four Security Council resolutions
adopted in response to the illegal use of force against Azerbaijan
and occupation of its territories, as well as the General Assembly
resolution on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, said Ambassador
Mehdiyev, APA’s correspondent reports.

He also mentioned that Azerbaijan was committed to a negotiated
conflict settlement, based on a formula of ending the illegal
occupation of its territories, restoring its sovereignty and
territorial integrity, the return of forcibly displaced persons and
ensuring peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region within Azerbaijan.

“The lack of agreement on political issues could not be used as
pretext for disregarding international law”.

He was concerned that recommendations made by the OSCE 2005 and 2010
fact-finding missions to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
remained “only on paper” and nothing was being done to translate
those into deeds.

The Ambassador expected the OSCE chairmanship to continue work on
all conflict cycle elements. “Better interaction between OSCE and the
United Nations would serve the greater unity of purpose in addressing
transnational threats. Also, OSCE might provide a forum for addressing
safety standards and timely decommissioning of ageing nuclear power
plants”, he said.

‘SEVAG WAS KILLED BECAUSE HE WAS ARMENIAN’

Today’s Zaman
Feb 10 2012
Turkey

Pvt. Sevag Å~^ahin Balıkcı — a Turkish soldier who died last year
when, according to official reports, his friend’s rifle accidentally
discharged — was killed because he was Armenian, organizers of the
“Justice for Sevag” campaign claimed at a press conference on Friday.

Speaking to the press, the campaign’s spokesperson, Kerem Kabadayı,
claimed Balıkcı was killed intentionally on the date the Armenian
diaspora has chosen to commemorate the incidents of 1915, when hundreds
of thousands of Armenians were allegedly killed in the Ottoman Empire
during World War I.

Pvt. Balıkcı was killed on April 24, 2011. Officers and other
privates in his unit, which is stationed in Batman province, testified
that Balıkcı was shot accidentally while “joking around” with a close
friend, Kıvanc Agaoglu, who allegedly fired the lethal shot. They
were serving at the Kozluk GumuÅ~_göru gendarmerie station at the
time of the alleged murder.