Author: Babajanian Karo

Azerbaïdjan : huit ans d’emprisonnement pour le rédacteur en chef d’un site

Publié le : 09-04-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cette information publiée sur le site des Reporters Sans
Frontières le 8 avril 2013.

Reporters Sans Frontières

Azerbaïdjan

Le rédacteur en chef d’un site d’information islamiste condamné à huit
ans d’emprisonnement

Publié le lundi 8 avril 2013.

Reporters sans frontières déplore fortement la condamnation à huit ans
de prison d’Araz Guliev, rédacteur en chef du site d’information
islamiste Xeber44.

`Quoi que l’on puisse penser des opinions défendues par Xeber44, force
est de constater qu’Araz Guliev a fait l’objet d’un procès à charge,
au mépris des droits de la défense. Cette lourde condamnation a tout
d’une vengeance, motivée par les activités professionnelles du
journaliste et ses opinions politiques. Nous demandons à la justice de
rejuger Azar Guliev en appel et de le faire bénéficier d’un procès
juste et équitable’, a déclaré l’organisation.

Le 5 avril 2013, le Tribunal pour les délits aggravés de Lankaran
(Sud) a condamné Araz Guliev et sept autres personnes à des peines
d’emprisonnement allant de trois ans avec sursis à huit ans fermes.
Les prévenus avaient été arrêtés en septembre 2012, en marge d’une
manifestation contre la tenue d’un concert qu’ils jugeaient `immoral’.

Selon son avocat, Fariz Namazly, le journaliste a été reconnu coupable
de `possession illégale d’armes à feu’ (article 228.1 du code pénal),
`organisation et participation à des troubles à l’ordre public’
(article 233), `incitation à la haine nationale et religieuse’
(article 283.1), `résistance à l’autorité’ (article 315.2) et `offense
au drapeau et aux insignes de la république d’Azerbaïdjan’ (article
324). Araz Guliev et les sept autres prévenus ont plaidé
non-coupables.

Cette condamnation intervient dans le contexte d’un nouveau regain de
tension entre les régimes répressifs d’Azerbaïdjan et d’Iran. Bakou et
Téhéran se servent régulièrement des journalistes comme monnaie
d’échange dans leur confrontation diplomatique.

L’Azerbaïdjan se situe à la 156e place sur 179 dans le classement
mondial 2013 de la liberté de la presse publié par Reporters sans
frontières. L’Iran occupe la 174e place.

Retour à la rubrique
Source/Lien : Reporters Sans Frontières

Local Reporter Irks Vanadzor Mayor; He Rejects Charges That He
Publicly Insulted Her
Adrine Torosyan

;-he-rejects-charges-that-he-publicly-insulted-her.html
16:18, April 8, 2013

It would seem that Vanadzor Mayor Samvel Darbinyan doesn’t take kindly
to local reporters when they write critical articles about him and his
administration.

Take the recent case of Gayaneh Sargsyan, a reporter with the Vanadzor
Mosaic newspaper, who wrote a recent article entitled, `The Mayor’s
Instructions Aren’t Being Implemented’.

The accusation apparently ruffled the mayor’s feathers to such an
extent that in an interview with the regional Fortuna TV station,
Darbinyan confessed that, `I take a poor view of reporters who ask
flawed questions, those reporters who write articles that the mayor’s
instructions are being implemented. I would say such reporters are
blind, even unfeeling people.’

A few days after the TV interview, the mayor’s secretary Gagik
Simonyan verbally insulted the same reporter during an ongoing
competition for vacant municipal services. The reporter attempted to
look at several papers that had been placed on the desk to see the
names of the people on the nominating committee. From the other side
of the room Simonyan yelled, `Sit down. You won’t understand anything
anyway.’

What follows is an interview that Hetq had with Mayor Darbinyan on the subject.

Mr. Mayor, you publicly insulted the reporter from Vanadzor Mosaic on TV.

I did?

Yes.

Are you sure?

You used certain expressions and even voiced personal insults.

Well, does that reporter actually know for sure that my instructions
aren’t being carried out? Since when is it that a reporter can
evaluate whether the instructions of a mayor are being implemented?
Even if a reporter attends municipal working sessions and consultative
sessions, it doesn’t mean that the reporter can issue evaluations of
the top of his head.

If a reporter tries to come up and give evaluations about a mayor or
his instructions, rest assured that I will not allow it.

Did you read the article in question?

No, and neither do I wish to. It doesn’t interest me. The reporter
said that the mayor instructions are being implemented.

That was the headline. Are you familiar with the article’s content?

But that headline says it all. The reporter has no right to write such
a headline. You know full well that any department head or other
municipal workers are dismissed if they don’t carry out instructions
for a third time. Before that, I issue both verbal and written
warnings.

Recently, you issued reprimands to several department heads.

They were for poor work performance. I issued verbal warnings. If they
don’t rectify the situation within a week, those reprimands are in
writing.

So are you saying that there are cases when your instructions are ignored?

It’s one thing not to implement an instruction and another to carrying
them out poorly.

You said that you hadn’t familiarized yourself with the contents of the article.

I’m very informed about it. Just the headline…What does it mean?
That the mayor is such a weak personality and an administrator and
that 21,500 people voted for him? If we let such a reporter attend our
working meetings that doesn’t mean that…

Can you bar them?

Of course.

According to what law?

Because that’s a closed door working meeting and not a municipal
council session.

And what about your working transparency and public accessibility?

There is no need for transparency in a working meeting, because we are
discussing very narrow issues about future projects for the town. As
for transparency, I tour the town every Monday and Thursday with all
the municipal council members and show them what projects have been
completed and the issues that need to be addressed. That’s real
transparency.

Nevertheless, you said made some insulting remarks on TV

What have reporters ever done for the people? Let any one of them try
to get elected to the municipal council. Are you saying that anyone,
without having done a thing, can get up and cover the workings of a
mayor in any way they choose?

I was elected to serve the people and it’s an honour for me to do so.
Mayors are people too and we get irritated once and awhile.

If you haven’t read the article, how can you say that it contained an
evaluation of your work, whether it was supposition or fact?

Hey, I didn’t like the headline. It shows that the reporter is already
ill inclined towards the mayor.

Have you tried to get in touch with the paper, to either ask for a
clarification or for a retraction?

Why should I do so? Did the reporter ever get in touch with me for my
side of the story? There are some reporters who come and pose their
questions in the proper manner.

You mean they have to ask permission to write about something?

No, no…They might show up and say that there’s a garbage collection
problem in this or that neighbourhood and ask me about it. If I’m
apprised of the problem, I will give an immediate answer. If not, I
will take the reporter to the problem area and together we will
discuss it and possible solutions.

A few days after your TV interview, your secretary Gagik Simonyan also
insulted that same reporter.

If a reporter shows up and starts rifling through personal papers,
what the secretary said was just a warning. Perhaps, he was a bit
rude. So what?

What was the reporter trying to do by looking at the papers? To see if
the tender documents for the job were in order? All the reporter had
to do was ask for permission.

There are personal details on those papers of the candidates for the
job that need to remain private.

Are you attempting to justify the behaviour of Mr. Simonyan,
especially towards a female reporter?

In the first place, I criticize the behaviour of the reporter. As a
woman, she should have behaved properly. She overstepped her
boundaries.

Do you actually want me to accuse one of my staff for protecting his rights? No.

The reporter violated certain rights and the staff member merely
chastised her verbally. I see no wrong being committed.

Village of Marts protest against WPP project

ARMINFO
Monday, April 8, 16:10

The residents of the village of Marts, Lori region, are protesting
against the plans to build a third water power plant on Marts River.

Villager Narek Hovhannisyan told journalists on Monday that so many
WPPs on one river may cause a big environmental problem. “In fact, a
whole river will be put into a pipeline, which will be bad for its
eco- system,” Hovhannisyan said.

He said that during the public hearing of the project all of the
villagers objected to it and are now collecting signatures under a
note they are going to send to the Environment Protection Ministry.

Several such projects have already been cancelled or revised following
protests by local residents and environmentalists (Trchkan WPP on
Trchkan Waterfall and Khachaghbyur 2 WPP on Paghjur River).

Philharmonic Orchestra to present works of modern Armenian composers

09:42, 9 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS: The State Philharmonic Orchestra of
Armenia will present three works of the modern Armenian composers.
They will sound at the Aram Khachaturyan Concert Hall on April 12. As
Armenpress was informed by the Press Department of the State
Philharmonic Orchestra, the concert agenda includes the works Piano
Concert No.1 of Levon Chaushyan, Symphony No.8 of Vahram Babayan and
Leap Year of David Saqoyan.

The soloist will be the pianist Aida Yesayan. The concert will be
conducted by the artistic director and chief conductor of the
Philharmonic Orchestra Eduard Topchyan.

François Hollande finds resolution to criminalize denial of Armenian Genocide

10:01 – 09.04.13

President of France François Hollande has promised to present a new
bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide but fails to do
it because of the decision of the Constitutional Council.

Citing its own sources, Turkish Hurriyet writes that Hollande has
found a `middle resolution’ to make it correspond to French
legislation through EU legislation.

The French law will not have `Armenian Genocide’ formulation but its
denial will be considered a crime.
The new bill will base on circle resolution adopted by the EU on
November 28, 2008 which says that the denial of crimes against
humanity is punitive in the EU territory.

The law will be formulated in the following way: `The person who will
deny genocide, sow hatred, revenge, offend religion, race, nationality
will be jailed for 1-3 years.’

Expressing viewpoint about genocide or making scientific works will
not be punished but the person who will say offensive phrases will be
punished. The new bill will be finalized and put in parliament’s
agenda in fall.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Experts calls for partial nationalization of Armenian aviation

YEREVAN, April 8. / ARKA /. Isabella Muradian, deputy chairperson of a
presidential Public Council’s commission on air traffic, argued today
that the government must have a tangible share in the national
airliner.

“The government must have at least 26% in the national aviation, in
order to have some leverages in case of complicated situations,’ she
said. She cited Russia whose government holds 51% in Aeroflot air
carrier and Turkey which owns 49% in the Turkish Airlines. She said
that foreign airlines that fly to Armenia, will halt flights in the
event of force majeure.
“If such a situation arises, our country will be facing a very big
problem,” she said.

As an example, she referred to Syria, saying after all international
companies stopped flying to Syria, its government-owned national
carrier continued operating flights to different destinations outside
the country.
She also argued that if the government had a stake in Armenia’s
national carrier, Armavia, it would have not filed for bankruptcy.

She also spoke in favor of developing the Air Code, which will
regulate relationship between airlines and passengers, as well as
between air carriers and airports. Armavia stopped all flights from
April 1 declaring bankruptcy proceedings. -0-

President Sargsyan meets NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy

19:34 08.04.2013

President Serzh Sargsyan received today NATO’s Assistant Secretary
General for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Kolinda Grabar`KitaroviÄ? who
has arrived to Armenia to participate at the inauguration of the
President of Armenia, President’s Press Office reported.

Welcoming the guest in our country, the President of Armenia spoke
with her about the Armenia-NATO cooperation and programs to be
implemented in the framework of that cooperation. Serzh Sargsyan
hailed cooperation established with the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization in all areas. According to the President, public
diplomacy constitutes an important element of the relations with the
Alliance which allows to regularly inform our public on the
Armenia-NATO relations. Serzh Sargsyan stressed also the importance of
high-level contacts and the established political dialogue with the
Alliance and its member states which also has a positive impact on the
development of the partnership.

Ambassador Kolinda Grabar`KitaroviÄ? conveyed to President Sargsyan
warm greetings and well wishes from the Secretary General of NATO
Anders Fogh Rasmussen for his second term in office.

The representative of NATO expressed thanks for Armenia’s
participation in the NATO led peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and
Kosovo, for our country’s contribution to the international security
system and also underlined that Armenia-NATO cooperation is developing
successfully in the framework of the Individual Partnership Action
Program (IPAP).

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 8 2013

France deems Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan: envoy

8 April 2013, 15:45 (GMT+05:00)

By Sara Rajabova

France has said it recognizes the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an
independent entity, but deems it a part of Azerbaijan.

French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier made the statement on
Monday when commenting on a recent report circulated in Armenian media
about the establishment of a friendship group in the French parliament
with the illegal “parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The ambassador said that such an entity does not officially exist.
“This is not an official friendship group, but a personal initiative
of several members of parliament,” he said.

Meunier stated that France respects freedom of expression, and
everyone has the right to freely express their thoughts.

“Though I am familiar with those who put forward the proposal about
the friendship group and respect them, this does not mean that they
represent the official position of France. This is absolutely wrong,”
Meunier noted.

He added that there is a friendship group between France and
Azerbaijan, which conducts a wide range of activities.

France is one of the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, which
is brokering the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

Armenia and Azerbaijan for over two decades have been locked in
conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the
lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million
Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of
Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council
has adopted four resolutions on Armenia’s withdrawal from the
Azerbaijani territory, but Armenia has not followed them to this day.

Though a fragile ceasefire has been in place since 1994, a peace
accord has never been signed and the dispute remains unresolved.
Mediators from Russia, France and the U.S. — co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group — have been brokering peace talks over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but their efforts have not produced any
result yet.

Peace negotiations are underway on the basis of a peace outline
proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid
Principles, also known as Basic Principles. The document envisions a
return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani
control; determining the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh; a
corridor linking Armenia to the region; and the right of all
internally displaced persons to return home.

NorthEndWaterfront.com, MA
April 7 2013

Dodecahedron Sculpture Reconfigured at Armenian Heritage Park [Before & After]

By Matt Conti on Sun, Apr. 7, 2013 in Arts & Culture, Parks

The Abstract Sculpture, a split dodecahedron, at the Armenian Heritage
Park on the Greenway was reconfigured on Sunday morning, April 7,
2013. The reconfiguration is the first time the sculpture has been
changed since the park was dedicated in May 2012.

The sculpture and its annual reconfiguration celebrates the immigrant
experience – symbolic of all who were pulled apart from their country
of origin and came to these Massachusetts shores, establishing
themselves in new and different ways.

Shown below are before and after photos of the sculpture as seen from
the center of the park enjoyed by labyrinth walkers.

See photos at

EurasiaNet.org, NY
April 8 2013

Armenia: Will Presidential Inauguration Spell Double Trouble?

April 8, 2013 – 9:42am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

Armenians on April 9 can choose which of two presidential
inaugurations they wish to attend; a choice which could take the
divided country to the next stage of the protracted power struggle
between Serzh Sargsyan, the official president-elect, and Raffi
Hovhannisian, the feel-good opposition leader who says he just wants
an oath for “a new Armenia.”

Sargsyan and Hovhannisian have tried to keep their joust peaceful,
but, given Armenia’s history of post-election violence, tension is in
the air. Sargsyan’s inauguration will take place in the National
Assembly with foreign dignitaries, officials and clergymen in
attendance. Hovhannisian, in the meantime, has invited the
discontented to gather at Yerevan’s central Liberty Square for `a
little bit of song and dance’ — a frequent occurrence at Armenian
opposition rallies — followed by a formal declaration of the
“people’s” (ergo, Hovhannisian’s) victory, and a march .

The legitimacy of either event is in the eyes of the beholder. Many in
Armenia, worn out by a sour economy and political strife, have had
enough of Sargsyan for the past five years and say they saw enough
election fraud during the February presidential vote to accuse him of
pocketing another term. But many others contend that Hovhannisian is
just a sore loser.

The two ceremonies, therefore, most likely will largely be an exercise
in outnumbering and outshouting each other.

`Mr. Sargsyan and the ruling party…have confused themselves with the
state,’ the California-born Hovhannisian told RFE/RL in a live video
interview. He called the Sargsyan swearing-in unconstitutional and
un-Christian, noted that he’d urged his rival “to get real,” and
invited the president-elect to come to Liberty Square for what he
termed a day of national unity. As a way to defuse tensions,
Hovannisian has proposed to Sargsyan that they both quit fighting and
have a rerun vote.

That and other Hovannisian proposals have been dismissed as
delusional, but with Hovannisian, now off his hunger strike, trying to
drum up support across the country, and some sizable opposition forces
(the Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian National Congress) still
sitting on the fence, Sargsyan has not ignored him.

Yet while Sargsyan, mindful of the ten deaths that followed the 2008
presidential elections, has been emphasizing communication over
conflict, he already has secured international acceptance of his
victory and, arguably, has the state machinery on his side.

At this point, a joining of hands and a singing of “Kumbaya” in the
center of Yerevan is far less likely than the continuance of Armenia’s
chronic case of national disunity.