Author: Babajanian Karo

GAGIK JHANGIRYAN: LAW DOES NOT OBLIGE SERZH SAGSYAN TO BE WORK TRANSPARENTLY (VIDEO)

18:11 | March 20,2015 | Politics

Serzh Sargsyan cannot be blamed for not wanting to give an interview
to local media.

“And when did our journalists expressed their desire to interview
Serzh Sargsyan?” says Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly
Galust Sahakyan.

He thinks that Serzh Sargsyan should not be bothered on each occasion
and asked questions in the street. ‘He is a president,’ he says. But
if our journalists miss Serzh Sargsyan, Mr Sahakyan is ready to inform
Mr Sargsyan about it but he cannot become ‘a mediator.’

The man holding the position of Armenian President has certain
restrictions to work openly and transparently, says Gagik Jhangiryan,
a member of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction.

He says the law does not oblige Serzh Sargsyan to be transparent and
accountable to the media. “Article 55 of the Constitution does not
envisage such an obligation,” he said.

“And who is Serzh Sargsyan?” asks Zaruhi Postanjyan, a member of the
Heritage party.

She says the man who is sitting at the Presidential Palace at 26
Baghramyan Avenue is engaged in matters which have nothing to do with
the state and its people. “Thieves and robbers cannot work openly
and transparently because theft is an implicit process.”

Zaruhi Postanjyan does not know any other Serzh Sargsyan, therefore
she does not understand why a man, who has nothing in common with the
position he is holding, should be accountable to the public [through
the media].

“We have officials who exploit and torture us like slaves and we
somehow tolerate their presence,” she said. Ms Postanjyan stresses
that Serzh Sargsyan has usurped power and has no obligations before
Armenian citizens: he has set completely different rules of games.

“And the rules of his game certainly rule out accountability before
public.”

SAMVEL FARMANYAN: RECOGNITION AND CONDEMNATION OF GENOCIDES SHOULD PREVAIL OVER POLITICAL INTERESTS

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Thursday, March 19, 18:48

Recognition and condemnation of genocides are of more significance than
political priorities, Samvel Farmanyan, MP from the Republican Party
of Armenia, Armenian Co-Chair of the Armenia-EU Inter-Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee, said on March 19, when opening the session of
the Committee in Yerevan.

He said that if recognition and condemnation of genocides prevail
over political interests, it will guarantee prevention of similar
crimes against humanity in the future.

When speaking of the Karabakh problem, Farmanyan stressed that despite
the destructive policy of Baku, the Armenian parliamentary diplomacy
is not going to sow discord between the nations or adopt anti-Azeri
resolutions. “The key to the conflict settlement is in the parties’
hands and there is no alternative to peaceful resolution”, he said.

As regards the Armenia-EU relations, Farmanyan said that the EU makes
up one-third in Armenia’s foreign trade. He pointed out that Armenia’s
decision to join the Eurasian Economic Union was made for strategic
reasons, however, Yerevan is trying to participate in various trade
and economic integration processes.

Sajjad Karim, Co-Chair of the same Committee, said that the EU gives
high priority to the South Caucasus region and is going to make
political investments to develop relationship with the South Caucasus
countries, including Armenia. Concerning Armenia’s accession to the
EEU, he stressed that it is a sovereign choice of a sovereign state.

For his part, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Garen Nazaryan touched
on the Armenian-Turkish relations and the last close borders in
Europe. He stressed that the blockade imposed on Armenia by Turkey
endangers regional security and will create new dividing lines.

When speaking of the Armenia-EU economic cooperation, Adriano Martins,
member of the Committee, said that the EU is the largest trade partner
of Armenia. He said that free trade matters to Armenia more than to
the EU. However, this does not mean that after Armenia’s accession
to the EEU Europe will stop cooperating with Armenia.

For his part, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea
pointed out that Europe will provide Armenia with about 540 mln EUR
before 2017. In this light, Tevan Poghosyan, Armenian MP from the
Heritage Party, expressed hope that Armenia will return to the path
of European integration.

KARABAKH POLITICAL EXPERT: FACTOR OF NKR’S EX-DEFENSE MINISTER SERIOUS FOR ANY POLITICAL FORCE OF ARTSAKH

by David Stepanyan

Friday, March 20, 16:24

Factor of NKR’s ex-defense minister Samvel Babayna is serious for
any political force of Artsakh, Gegham Baghdasaryan, the head of the
Stepanakert Press Club told ArmInfo.

“The recently founded promising opposition party ‘National Revival’
together with that factor is becoming rather serious an opponent. The
May 3 parliamentary elections in Artsakh will differ from the previous
ones with true competition,” he said.

Baghdasaryan sees nothing surprising that Samvel Babayan’s name is
not included in the National Revival Party list.

“The Party just announced that Babayan is ready to support the only
opposition force in Artsakh. No one has said that Babayan will lead
the National Revival Party list or will be back to consolidate the
Artsakh oppositionists. As for the reports on Babayan’s suggestions to
Vitaly Balasanyan, there is no reliable data on it,” Baghdasaryan said.

Earlier Mass Media reported that MP Vitaly Balasanyan allegedly refused
from negotiations and cooperation with Samvel Babayan. Leader of the
Free Motherland Party Arthur Tovmasyan, in turn, said that Babayan
has no intention to lead the opposition of Artsakh.

WINNER AT ELECTIONS GETS EVERYTHING IN ARMENIA – HOVSEP KHURSHUDYAN

13:05 * 20.03.15

Hovsep Khurshudyan, coordinator of the 4th group of the civil society
forum of European Partnership, delivered a speech at the 15th meeting
of the Armenia-EU parliamentary cooperation commission.

Armenia has not a full-fledged political system, which causes problems
with high-quality governance and democracy, Mr Khurshudyan said.

The election winner of elections gets everything, whereas the loser
nothing despite the fact the winner wins by means of election frauds.

European integration has had its impact on Armenia’s political system.

However, the reforms ‘sold’ to Armenia’s authorities are mere
imitation.

“We can see it when Armenia has to make serious steps. For example,
it happened when Armenia was expected to sign an Association Agreement
with the European Union,” Mr Khurshudyan said.

HOW A CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN WORKS IN ARMENIA: PROMISED MEDICAL CARE NOT PROVIDED

03.20.2015 13:14 epress.am

The “For You, Women” charitable healthcare campaign, initiated by
Yerevan Municipality and dedicated to the so-called Women’s Month
(March 8 to April 7), does not function properly, Epress.am was told
by a woman (she wished to remain anonymous) who has applied to the
program. The hospital she had applied to rejected her application
with the justification “we no longer have any room,” the woman said.

According to the official statement issued by the Yerevan Municipality,
women are to receive free-of charge gynecological, ophthalmological
services, thyroid ultrasounds, CAT scans, and if necessary, surgical
interventions within the framework of the “For You, Women” charitable
campaign.

Our interviewee explained that when informed about the campaign, she
immediately went to the polyclinic on March 9, received a voucher and
went to the Shengavit Medical Center because she needed a gynecological
examination and treatment. On March 18, the Medical Center called
her and asked to pick her documents and go someplace else, because
there were no vacant places left. According to the woman, it would be
pointless to go to another hospital now, if she was “late” applying
so early.

The woman also said that she had previosuly applied to “Aragil” Fund
for Assistance of Reproductive Medicine, where the RA First Lady Rita
Sargsyan is an Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustee. In December
2014, her files were transferred from the foundation to the Shengavit
Medical Center for surgery. They promised the woman that they would
call within a month but she has not received a call since.

“I needed a small surgical intervention. It’s most likely for that
reason that neither “Aragil”, nor “For You, Women” initiative wanted
to deal with it,” the woman assumed.

Epress.am tried to obtain clarification from the Yerevan Municipality.

Spokesperson for the Municipality, Artur Gevorgyan, said that all
women who applied to the campaign have to receive free-of-charge
medical care. “The campaign does not finish until the last woman
receives medical treatment,” said Gevorgyan. He reassured that the
campaign would not end on April 7 and that from March 9 to April 7
is only the time to register.

NEED FOR NEW AGENDA OF ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS – STEPAN MARGARYAN

14:47 * 20.03.15

Regardless of problems, a new agenda of the Armenia-EU relations
is needed, Stepan Margaryan, an MP of the Prosperous Armenia party,
stated at the 15th meeting of the Armenia-EU parliamentary cooperation
commission.

He pointed out the European Union’s interest in the South Caucasus
in the context of regional problems.

“Relations with international organizations are more effective when
all the regional states hold one position. However, the South Caucasus
states have not yet adopted such concepts as common interests nor
are they showing any tendency. All the states are independently
cooperating with international organizations,” he said.

Recent years have seen essential changes in the region: Armenia has
decided in favor of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), while Georgia
signed an Association Agreement with Russia.

Turkey and Azerbaijan imposed a blockade on Armenia.

“We have every reason to think that Azerbaijan is seeking to establish
control of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway to prevent Armenia using it,
which would leave Armenia entirely isolated from the region.

“To launch any activities we have to consider the current situation.

Therefore, we should consider the fact that European values and
cooperation with European structures have no alternatives for Armenia.”

MARGARIT YESAYAN TO THE EU. “TODAY, NKR HAD 3 CASUALTIES AT THE LINE OF CONTACT, THIS IS A FACT THAT IS BEYOND ANY DECISION.”

March 20 2015

Today, at the 15th session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership
Committee, tough estimations were made pertaining to the adopted
decision on Armenia’s joining the EaEU. On hearing the criticism of
the EU delegates, RPA MP Margarit Yesayan responded, “Mr. Pirinsky
said that it would be constructive to think that our choice is doomed
to failure. I am grateful for this thought. There is a significant
difference between our Strasbourg meeting in 2014 and today’s meeting.

The ice that existed shortly after Armenia’s decision I now see
that this ice is melting. The decision that we have made generates
exclusively from the interests of Armenia’s security. In this context,
I must say that right now we were reading the news feed that today,
in the morning, we had 3 casualties and 4 injured in the NKR contact
line caused by the attack of the Azerbaijani subversive group. This is
a fact that is beyond any decision. Margarit Yesayan said that when the
European partners speaking about NKR settlement, are using the same
tone and the same words when speaking with Armenia and Azerbaijan,
they are making a big mistake. This is due to the result that the
same tone is used when speaking with the countries that have two
different sides and different position.” As for the EU delegates’
observation that Putin has signed an agreement with Azerbaijan on 4
billion dollars arms sale, Margarit Yesayan mentioned that yesterday
Serzh Sargsyan had announced that it leaves a bad influence on the
Armenian soldier when he realizes that he is shot by the Russian
weapon. “I do not want to open the brackets, all of you are diplomats
and I hope you understand what I want to say now.”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

Read more at:

RUSSIA LAUNCHES TACTICAL SNIPER DRILLS IN ARMENIA

17:47, 20 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Russian reconnaissance troops have started tactical sniper drills in
the mountainous areas of Armenia, Sputnik reports.

Russian reconnaissance units based in Armenia have begun tactical
sniper exercises in the remote areas of this South Caucasian country,
according to the press service of the Russian Southern Military
District.

More than 100 servicemen, including those from a Russian rifle company,
are taking part in so-called “sniper duels”, the press service said.

“The sniper drills are being held between two teams carrying different
insignia. One of them is acting as a simulated enemy sniper group which
is being targeted by the other counter-sniper detachment. During their
sniper duels, soldiers improve their ability to pick firing positions,
their camouflage skills and their ability to deliver aimed fire with
ballistic corrections,” the press service added.

The current drills are the final stage of preparation and coordination
of sniper pairs stationed at the Russian military base in Armenia.

The exercises come two days after Russia’s artillery drills in Armenia,
where operators of Grad multiple rocket launchers practiced using
their weapons systems in the field.

EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

By MassisPost
Updated: March 17, 2015

YEREVAN — The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, representing the
European Union’s member and partner states on Tuesday called for
greater international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide and
urged Turkey to “come to terms with its past.”

A resolution adopted during a session in Yerevan, the EU Parliamentary
Assembly said “the absence of unequivocal and timely condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide largely contributed to the failure to prevent
future crimes against humanity.”

Therefore, it said, “prevention of genocides and crimes against
humanity should be amongst the priorities of the international
community.”The world should also strive for “the restoration of the
rights of people subjected to genocide,” added the assembly bringing
together members of the European Parliament and legislatures of
ex-Soviet states involved in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program.

The resolution further “deeply deplores” attempts to deny the World
War One-era slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
and other genocides. In that regard, it “invites Turkey to come to
term with its past.”

The Euronest text was adopted less than a week after the European
Parliament reaffirmed its recognition of the Armenian genocide in an
annual report on human rights practices around the world. It urged
all EU member states to do the same.

The measure was adopted with a vote of 33 to 4.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected the EU legislature’s appeal,
saying that it is “utterly devoid of historical reality and legal
basis.”

“We find these assertions in all respects extremely problematic and
regret them deeply,” the ministry spokesman, Tanju Bilgic, said in
a weekend statement. “The report interprets a certain period of the
Ottoman Empire, which was tragic for all the people of the Empire,
one-sidedly and with a sense of selective justice.”

The Joint text for an Urgent Motion for Resolution by the Armenian
and the European Parliament on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide:

The EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly,

Having regard to Article 9(3) of its Rules of Procedure; Having regard
to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948;
Having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights of 16 December 1966; Having regard to the UN Convention on the
Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes
Against Humanity of 26 November 1968; Having regard to the European
Parliament Resolution of 20 July 1987 on a Political Solution to the
Armenian question; Having regard to the European Parliament Resolution
of 15 November 2000 on Turkey’s progress towards accession; Having
regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 28 September 2005
on the opening of negotiations with Turkey; Having regard to the
resolutions and statements of the legislative bodies of number of
the EU members states.

Whereas the year of 2015 marks the centennial of the Armenian Genocide
perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire; Whereas recognition of the inherent
dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of
the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in
the world; Whereas the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the
final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of
genocide, and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides; whereas
the absence of unequivocal and timely condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide largely contributed to the failure to prevent future crimes
against humanity; Whereas early prevention of such crimes can surely
stop escalation of conflicts, tragedies and humanitarian catastrophes.

The Assembly:

Condemns all forms of crimes against humanity and genocide and
deeply deplore attempts of their denial; Pay tribute to the memory
of innocent victims of all genocides and crimes, committed against
humanity; Stresses that prevention of genocides and crimes against
humanity should be amongst the priorities of international community;
Finds that further development of the international capacities in
this regard is instrumental; Supports the international struggle for
the prevention of genocides, the restoration of the rights of people
subjected to genocide and the establishment of historical justice;
Invites Turkey to come to term with its past; Considers that setting
up grounds for future reconciliation between peoples is of utmost
importance; Invites Armenia and Turkey to use examples of successful
reconciliation between European Nations and focus on an agenda putting
cooperation between the peoples first;

TWO SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN THURSDAY CEASEFIRE VIOLATION ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO YEREVAN

12:51 | March 20,2015 | Politics

Two of the four Armenian soldiers wounded in Nagorno-Karabakh as a
result of new ceasefire violations committed by Azerbaijan on March
19 are being transferred to the Central Military Hospital in Yerevan,
Hospital Director Aram Asaturyan told armtimes.com.

One of the soldiers was wounded in the abdomen, the other had his
right arm amputated,” he said.

Aram Asaturyan says the other two soldiers are in critical condition
and cannot be transferred.

The Artsakh Defense Army reported yesterday that three of its soldiers
were killed and four wounded during a two-hour firefight to repulse
an Azerbaijani incursion [in the direction of Gyulistan] on Thursday
morning. The three servicemen who were killed in the engagement
were later identified as Hakob Khachatryan (born in 1996), Eduard
Hayrapetyan (born in 1995) and Arshak Harutyunyan (born in 1995).