Author: Babajanian Karo

OPPOSITIONIST: IT IS VENGEANCE, NOT JUSTICE THAT WILL WIN IN ARMENIA

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

*

by Alexandr Avanesov

* Thursday, September 12, 21:41
[gurgen_eg1.jpg]

“My friends and I were imprisoned in 2008 without any proof, and the
murderer has recently been released”, Gourgen Yeghiazaryan, member
of the opposition Armenian National Congress, told journalists on
Thursday. 

“Today the murderer who put a bullet in a man’s back is set free.

No one says a word though there may be bloodshed again. But those
who have released the murderer will be accountable. As a rule,
vengeance helps when justice is helpless. If there is bloodshed
tomorrow, the responsibility will lie on those who have set
the criminals free. The responsibility will also lie on their
children”, said Yeghiazaryan when commenting on the release of
Tigran Khachatryan, the son of the ex-governor of Syunik region, and
the bodyguard Zarzand Nikoghosyan, as well as on suspension of the
criminal prosecution. Yeghiazaryan added that the military prosecutor,
who has dared to state that there had been an armed attack on the
ex-governor’s house must be accountable for what has happened.    

By the instruction of Armenian Military Prosecutor Gevorg
Kostanyan, the Investigation Service of the Armenian Defense
Ministry is preparing materials on “the fact of giving a bribe to the
military prosecutor”, Armen Haroutyunyan, Head of the Investigation
Service of the Armenian Defense Ministry, said at a press conference
on Sept 11. According to the recent media reports, the ex-governor
of Syunik region Suren Khachatryan “gave a 4 mln USD bribe to the
military prosecutor allegedly to stop the criminal prosecution against
his son Tigran Khachatryan and bodyguard Zarzand Nikoghosyan”.      

To recall, shootouts in front of Syunik Governor Suren
Khachatryan’s house at 00:10am on June 2 killed former candidate for
Goris mayor Avo Budaghyan and wounded his brother Artak Budaghyan,
a commander at a military unit in the NKR.  There was another
wounded, Nikolay Abrahamyan, a relative and bodyguard of Governor
Suren Khachartyan.  A criminal case has been initiated on the basis
of Article 103.1 (murder) and Article 235 (illegal use, storage and
bearing weapons) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Syunik Governor
Suren Khachatryan’s son, Tigran Khachatryan, has been arrested over
latest shootouts in Syunik.

Earlier, the governor’s bodyguard Zarzand Nikoghosyan was arrested
over the case.  On June 3 Suren Khachatryan sent in his resignation
declaring that everyone must answer for their mistakes.  He regretted
for failing to prevent the tragic incident near his house.  On July
9, the brother of Avetik Budaghyan was charged with Article 137.1 of
the Criminal Code.  Budaghyan denies the accusations against him. He
was released on the recognizance not to leave.  Later on September 7,
Department for Major Cases, Investigation Service, Defense Ministry
of Armenia, set free the son and bodyguard of Surik Khachatryan. The
Investigation adopted a resolution saying that Tigran Khachatryan
and Zarzand Nikoghosyan acted in self-defense. 

POLITICAL EXPERT: ARMENIA WOULD BE A SIXTH RATE COUNTRY IN THE EU
by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Thursday, September 12, 21:43

Armenia would be a sixth rate country in the harsh empire called the
European Union, Hmayak Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Association of
Armenian Political Experts, told journalists in Yerevan on Thursday.

“Europe is in a deep economic crisis, and Armenian products have no
chance to enter the European markets. The EU itself needs new sales
markets today and Europeans do not care for Armenian products. The
situation in the Eurasian integration project is quite the opposite.

Here Armenia will be able to act on equal terms”, stressed
Hovhannisyan.

To recall, on September 3, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed
Armenia’s intention to join the Customs Union and contribute to the
process of formation of the Eurasian Union. Vladimir Putin supported
Sargsyan’s decision and promised to contribute to Yerevan’s accession
to the Customs Union in every possible way. Since 2010 Yerevan has been
negotiating on Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU. Armenia was expected to initial
the AA/DCFTA during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

The Customs Union has been created within the Eurasian economic space
for trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia
on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

INDEPENDENCE IS AN INNER CHARACTERISTICS

September 12 2013

The fact that Vladimir Putin is well aware of our Statistical Services
as to how many people live in Armenia, is natural. More precisely,
the Statistic Services is also aware of it, but it has reasons to
hide the truth, but not Putin. I do not see anything particularly
humiliating here, maybe RF President needs to be slightly scolded for
not being tactful. Humiliation was in another place. Where did this
whole conversation come from? The Russian businessman Ara Abrahamyan
assures the President of his country that all Armenians in the RF
are on your side. I do not know whether he had reasons to say such
a thing or not, it’s up to them. Putin half-jokingly is asking, –
“And what about Armenia’s?” The Armenian businessman was supposed to
give a serious answer to it,- “The Armenians of Armenia have no problem
of supporting or not supporting you, we have nothing to do with those
people, because they are citizens of another country.” I think the RF
President would not hang the businessman for such an answer, he would
not even take his business. Everything is clear. Karabakh, military
base, “Smerch”, “Iskander”, gas, and so on. It is also clear that in
this situation the Russian officials, kurghinyan kind of political
scientists, maybe also a part of ordinary citizens would call us, which
very precisely in their language is called ”хамвÑ~AÑ~Bво”
(Translator’s note, boorishness). (Although, in this case, overshooting
gives the effect of a boomerang, but it is still up to them). But,
even in this case it is possible to maintain the dignity, and it is
also possible to grovel when it is not required from you. It was even
in the Soviet times, and to this respect one of the best examples
for me was Karen Demirchyan, which, naturally, was not opposing the
Center, but on the other hand, he did not cringe before them. The
same can be said about numerous intellectuals living in the Soviet
Armenia in 60-70â~@²s. I do not know whether Putin wants to create
something good or bad than the Soviet Union, at least the members
of this new union would be formally called independent. But in all
circumstances, the independence is based on the inner consciousness of
given nation. For example, the residents of the Baltic Republics, in
their heart, mostly did not feel like a citizen of this great country
during 40 years of the Soviet Union. Can the same be said about the
Armenians? To what extent is this inner feeling conditioned by the
EU, CU, Eurasia or Russia? It is the same on the individual level,
ultimately, all major religious teachings show their way to achieve
inner freedom. ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

ZHOGHOVURD: PROBLEMS OF KARABAKH WAR VETERANS NOT SOLVED YET

Thursday,
September
12

About two months ago Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan promised that he
would meet with Karabakh war veterans protesting in Yerevan’s Liberty
Square for better social conditions and propose concrete ways of
solving their problems. Yet Tigran Sargsyan didn’t keep his promises
once again and simply ‘transferred’ the Karabakh war veterans to
Labor and Social Affairs Minister Artyom Asatrian, ‘Zhoghovurd’ notes.

According to the paper, Artyom Asatrian has promised that the
government will develop a package of proposals based on the war
veterans’ demands and submit it to the Armenian parliament. “Yesterday
a group of veterans met with members of a commission set up by Armenian
Defense ministry for examination of the problems raised. This time,
new promises were made, but Karabakh war veterans are convinced that
it will become possible ‘to get things moving”, the paper writes.

TODAY, 13:16

Aysor.am

ARMENIA OWES PEACE TO RUSSIA -EX-AMBASSADOR

14:47 12.09.13

Membership in the Eurasian Customs Union will offer Armenia a very
flexible way which is in the country’s interests, a former Russian
ambassador has said, commenting on President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement
expressing the country’s willingness to join the organization.

“It is thanks to Russia that Armenia has been in peace for 20 years
now,” Vyacheslav Kovalenko said Thursday during a televised debate
between Yerevan and Moscow.

According to him, an integration into the organization goes far beyond
an economic partnership, offering member states also an opportunity
to develop cultural ties.

Director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan, who was a
guest from Yerevan at the debate, said for his part that it wouldn’t
be right to abandon the multisectoral ties which Russia has developed
with Armenia over the course of time.

“In the meantime, things aren’t so easy with the Customs Union as they
seem. The decisions adopted in Russia are political, but to develop
them into cooperation it is necessary to have agreements on the tariff
amount, product transportation etc. The problem here is that we do
not have a common border with the CU member states, whereas Armenia
cannot just decide on an agreement for no special reason,” he noted.

As for the Association Agreement, which Armenia has been negotiating
with Europe for about four years, the expert said the country’s
efforts cannot be lost under any circumstances.

Alexander Markarov, the director for the CIS Institute’s Yerevan
branch, said in turn that it is important for Armenia to realize what
benefits it would gain from the Customs Union.

“The decision evokes both positive and negative emotions, as well as
many questions. We have to know the road map and all the restrictions
Armenia will face. From the economic viewpoint, we see mostly Russian
investors in Armenia, of course, but it is necessary to realize what
will change in terms of the imports and exports,” he said.

Ambassador Kovelenko, who is a regional programs’ director at the
Caspian Cooperation Organization, said in response that Armenia is more
pessimistic rather than optimistic about joining the Customs Union.

“I see only positive elements there. As for the road map, no one is
going to give it to us as a present. The EU does not have a road map
either, but there is a political will and a decision. So who prevents
us from creating that?” he asked.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN DEFENDS ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN CUSTOMS UNION

YEREVAN, September 12. / ARKA /. Chairman of the Union of Armenian
Domestic Commodity Producers Vazgen Safarian defended today president
Sargsyan’s decision to make Armenia a member of the Russian-led Customs
Union saying it is going to have a positive impact on the economy.

“Membership in the Customs Union will become a direct stimulus for
the development of the Armenian economy. In the recent past we and
Russia shared a common economic area, industrial and economic culture,
our factories worked by using similar technology,” Safarian said
on Thursday.

Safarian brushed aside as groundless fears that by joining the Customs
Union Armenia will lose its political independence.

“No country in the world – from the U.S. to Mozambique- is absolutely
independent. All countries are in a certain economic, political and
military-strategic dependence on each other,” he said.

Safarian said Armenia may offer to its future partners in the union
brandies, agricultural, industrial products and textile goods.

Safarian added that a membership in the Customs Union does not mean
Armenia will have to cut its ties with Europe. “Those who are engaged
in trade with the EU countries should continue it, because Europe
needs the goods we export, especially ore and raw materials,” he said.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, Armenian
exports to EU in January-December 2012 amounted to $560.3 million and
that to Russia , Kazakhstan and Belarus, which make the Customs Union-
to about $293 million

In January -June 2013 this year Armenian exports to EU dropped
by 3 percent year-on-year to $250. 5 million, while exports
to the Customs Union member countries grew to $149.4 million
from $125 in the first half of last year. -0- – See more at:

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: NAMES OF FOUR PEOPLE KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT IN RUSSIA’S KRASNODAR ALREADY KNOWN

YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. Armenia’s foreign affairs ministry
has already made known names of four of five people killed Wednesday
night in car crash in Gulkevich region of Krasnodar, Russia.

Five Armenian citizens, an eight-year-old child among them, were
killed in a traffic accident. They are Mariam Sahakyan, 28, Lusine
Khachatryan, 37, Pereg Barikityan, 7, and Armen Babayan 42. The fifth
is not identified so far.

The crash occurred on Sochi-Yerevan motor Wednesday night road when
a Mercedes minivan drove off the road and collided with Gas-53 truck
parked at the roadside.

According to the preliminary report, five out of 15 passengers of
the minivan were killed and seven others, including children, were
transferred to hospital and are now in a moderately grave condition.

—0— – See more at:

L’ARMENIE ENVISAGE DE NE PARAPHER QUE L’ACCORD D’ASSOCIATION AVEC L’UE, A L’EXCLUSION DE LA PARTIE ALEAC A VILNIUS

ARMENIE

Alors que l’annonce ” inattendue ” d’une adhesion a l’Union douanière
faite par le President Sarkissian a Moscou, le 3 septembre,
continue a dominer toute l’actualite armenienne, soulevant de
nombreuses interrogations, l’administration presidentielle a donne
des explications. Dans un entretien a RFE/RL, Viguen Sarkissian,
chef de l’administration presidentielle, a indique que l’Armenie
souhaitait parapher a Vilnius le texte de l’accord d’association,
a l’exclusion de celui sur la zone de libre echange (ALEAC). ” La
decision de l’Armenie de se joindre a l’Union douanière ne signifie
point la fin ou la suspension de notre dialogue politique avec l’UE
“. V.

Sarkissian a reitere les assurances donnees par le President armenien
: Erevan reste determine a mener les reformes convenues avec l’UE. ”
Nous sommes conscients que l’adhesion a l’Union douanière pourrait
contrevenir certaines dispositions de l’accord sur la zone approfondie
de libre-echange avec l’UE. La position de l’Armenie est connue :
nous avons toujours dit que nous essayerons de rendre ces dispositions
compatibles. Si cela se revèle etre impossible, nous conserverons
la chose la plus importante, a savoir notre dialogue politique et la
cooperation sur des valeurs communes [avec l’UE] qui nous permettent
de moderniser notre pays “. En d’autres termes, l’Armenie souhaite
separer les composantes economique et politique de sa cooperation avec
l’UE. ” Les dispositions politiques du projet d’accord d’association
sont assez fortes pour favoriser des reformes en Armenie “, a-t-il
ajoute. M. Sarkissian a par ailleurs nie toute pression sur l’Armenie.

Plusieurs quotidiens font etat d’une action de protestation de quelques
dizaines de jeunes militants armeniens portant des cravates rouges
rappelant l’epoque sovietique, devant le Palais presidentiel.

Les forces anti-emeutes ont aussitôt disperse les manifestants,
conduisant neuf d’entre eux dans un commissariat. Les militants se
sont dits decides a poursuivre les protestations non seulement devant
le Palais presidentiel, mais aussi devant l’Ambassade de Russie.

La presse fait etat de la visite du Ministre des AE, Edouard
Nalbandian, a Bruxelles pour rencontrer les autorites europeennes.

Haykakan Jamanak annonce aussi la visite a Bruxelles du President de
la Commission parlementaire des AE, Artak Zakharian, et du Ministre de
l’Education, Armen Achotian, ainsi que la visite imminente en Armenie,
le 12 septembre, du Commissaire Fule a l’occasion de la tenue d’une
reunion du Partenariat oriental a Erevan.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 5 septembre 2013

jeudi 12 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

HEAD OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE VISITS HOMETOWN SILVAN IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Sept 11 2013

DÄ°YARBAKIR – Anadolu Agency

The acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey Aram AteÅ~_yan
has visited his hometown Silvan in the southeastern Diyarbakır
province on Sept. 11, a first since he was delegated the office
following the withdrawal of Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan from his duties
in 2008 due to illness.

AteÅ~_yan expressed his joy at being able to make an official visit
to his homeland, but deplored the destruction of Armenian cultural
legacy in the area.

“I have returned happily to Silvan that I had left with sadness when
I was five years old,” AteÅ~_yan said, adding that he frequently
visited the district where his sister is still living.

“Once upon a time, Turks and Armenians lived together in this land.

Steps are being taken now to ensure that we can live all together
once again. We have come to consolidate love and brotherhood,”
AteÅ~_yan said.

AteÅ~_yan stressed the richness of the historic cultural heritage in
the region.

“There were eight Armenian churches in the Silvan region alone, but
most have now been destroyed. The historical monuments should be taken
under protection and the consciousness of protecting history should
be developed. The historical buildings and monuments in Silvan should
be promoted to the whole world,” he said.

Mass at Surp Giragos Church

AteÅ~_yan also paid a visit to the Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır,
where he conducted a mass attended by Mayor Osman Baydemir and the
famous writer of Armenian origin, Mıgırdıc Margosyan.

The church was restored on Baydemir’s initiative and reopened in 2011.

AteÅ~_yan thanked the city officials and the Armenian community from
Diyarbakır for showing interest in reviving the Armenian traditions.

On Sept. 8, AteÅ~_yan had performed the first baptism in 98 years at
Akdamar Church (Akhtamar in Armenian) on Lake Van.

Turkish authorities restored the church between 2005 and 2007 before
opening it as a museum. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated there for
the first time in 95 years in 2010.

Eastern and southeastern Turkey was inhabited by a large Armenian
community before the mass massacres and deportations in 1915.

September/11/2013

PASADENA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT

Los Angeles Times, CA
Sept 11 2013

By Joe Piasecki
September 11, 2013, 7:31 a.m.

The Pasadena City Council has given unanimous approval for a public
memorial commemorating the Armenian genocide of 1915 in Memorial Park.

The central feature of the design — a carved-stone basin of water
straddled by a tripod arrangement of three columns leaning into one
another — is a single drop of water that falls from the highest
point every three seconds, each “teardrop” representing one life lost.

Over the course of one year, 1.5 million “tears” will fall into the
pool, representing the estimated number of people who died during the
Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1918, which occurred under the Ottoman
Empire, what is now the modern republic of Turkey.

The Turkish government disputes that a genocide occurred, claiming
the victims were killed in the chaos of World War I.

Organizers of the nonprofit Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial
Committee are raising funds to erect the monument at Memorial Park
in central Pasadena before the centennial observance of the genocide
on April 24, 2015, the Glendale News-Press reported.

Garo Ghazarian, chair of the Armenian Bar Assn. and a member of the
Glendale Civil Service Commission, said Pasadena is a fitting home
for the tribute because the city was the first in Southern California
to embrace Armenian American immigrants before and after the genocide.

That a city council without Armenian American members united behind
the proposal is “all the more reason to be encouraged that there is
hope for greater understanding and acceptance of what history has
documented so well,” said Ghazarian, who was among more than 150
supporters who attended the meeting Monday night at Pasadena City Hall.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition in favor of the Pasadena
monument, which was designed by Catherine Menard, a student at the
Art Center College of Design.

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