Author: Babajanian Karo

Birmingham Mail, UK
March 3 2013

Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi has song selected for the Eurovision Song Contest

3 Mar 2013 20:48
Track written by Brummie guitarist officially chosen as Armenian entry
for this year’s event

Birmingham rock legend Tony Iommi has qualified for this year’s
Eurovision Song Contest – after his song Lonely Planet was selected as
the official entry for Armenia.

Gor Sujyan, singer with Armenian rock act Dorians, performed four
songs during the national final before a studio panel and TV audience
voted the track written by Black Sabbath guitarist Iommi as their
favourite.

Gor Sujyan will perform the song at Eurovision’s second semi-final in
Sweden on May 16, aiming to land a place in the big final in Malmo on
May 18.

Armenia holds a special place in Iommi’s heart. He was involved in
Rock Aid Armenia, which raised funds and awareness following the
earthquake which devastated the country in December 1988.

In 2011 he teamed up with Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan to raise money to
build a music school in Armenia.

The two, who were in Black Sabbath together between 1982-84, also
recruited Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, former Deep Purple
keyboardist Jon Lord and bass player Jason Newsted from Metallica for
the WhoCares project.

They recorded two songs , Out Of My Mind and Holy Water, with proceeds
from sales going towards a new music school in Gyumri.

Tony and Ian had visited the country, sandwiched between Turkey and
Iran, to receive an Order of Honour for Rock Aid Armenia’s charity
single Smoke On The Water.

But they had been shocked at the devastation that still existed,
particularly around the town of Gyumri.

“To be honest, it reminded me of growing up in Aston in the 1950s,
which was really bad then – the area had been bombed in the war and
was full of bombsites and ruined buildings,” Iommi recalled at the
time.

Gillan added: “When disasters happen in richer countries, such as the
earthquake and tsunami in Japan, there is so much media coverage and
money floods in. But in poorer countries such as Armenia, it’s more of
a struggle.”

Iommi was last year diagnosed with lymphoma in January 2012 but
promised to plough on with plans for a new Black Sabbath album after
linking up again with Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler.

Black Sabbath will release their new album 13 – their first since 1978
– in June of this year.

The band were forced to move the recording of their new album from Los
Angeles to the UK after Iommi was diagnosed with cancer so he could be
treated by doctors and continue to work on new tracks for the band.

Birmingham Mail, UK
March 4 2013

Tony Iommi on Eurovision entry: “Well, here’s something different”

4 Mar 2013 17:35
Black Sabbath star happy to be working in Armenia once more after
developing bond with country

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been talking about his latest
musical project – a stab at Eurovision glory for Armenia.

Handsworth-born Iommi, 65, has penned the music for the number Lonely
Planet, which will be sung by the group, Dorians.

The Armenian outfit has come up with its own English-language lyrics
for the entry, which was selected by the nation at the weekend to
compete in the semi-
finals in May.

For Iommi, who is in the midst of recording a new Sabbath album, the
project allows him to continue his love affair with Armenia.

Armenia

He was involved in Rock Aid Armenia, which raised funds and awareness
following the earthquake which devastated the country in December
1988. In 2011 he teamed up with Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan to raise
money to build a music school in the Gyumri region.

They recorded two songs, Out Of My Mind and Holy Water, with proceeds
from sales going towards the building project.

Iommi and Gillan also received an Order Of Honour for Rock Aid
Armenia’s charity single, Smoke On The Water.

Gor Sujyan peforms Lonely Planet on Armenia TV

The legendary axeman said on his website: `Well, here’s something
different, one of my demo ideas has been chosen as the Armenian entry
for the Eurovision Song Contest!

`It went on a short-list and Saturday night was voted as the winner. I
did the music and the performing band Dorians wrote the lyrics. It’s
called Lonely Planet.

`They’re a good band, the singer has a really good voice and the
lyrics they’ve written are in English. It now goes to the semi-final
on May 16 in Malmo, Sweden.

`Glad to be able to be involved with Armenia again. The school is
coming along fine, they’ve got the furniture sorted and it will be
opened late summer.’

The rock legend, 65, has avoided the usual production-line methods of
high-camp songwriting that tend to bring victory in the contest.

Iommi was last year diagnosed with lymphoma but vowed to press on with
plans for the new Black Sabbath album 13, after linking up again with
fellow founder members Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler.

The recording, the first by the original group since 1978, will be
released in June.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 4 2013

President of German Bundestag to visit Armenia

4 March 2013 – 3:01pm

German delegation headed by President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert
will arrive on a three-day visit to Armenia on Tuesday at the
invitation of Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, news.am reports.

During the visit, President of Bundestag will meet with President
Serzh Sargsyan, Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The delegation will also meet with the members of parliament’s
standing committees on foreign relations and European integration, as
well as members of Armenia-Germany friendship group.

Norbert Lammert will deliver a speech in the Center of European
Studies at the Yerevan State University.

German lawmakers will visit Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims.

Azerbaijani soldiers continue stepping on mines?

March 4, 2013 – 21:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Soldier of Azerbaijani Army Heydarov Ibrahim Rauf ,
born in 1993, hit a mine. The incident was recorded on the contact
line.
He was hospitalized in serious state, APA reported.
Similar cases were recorded in Azerbaijani army in fall-winter 2012.
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s officer, Parviz Ismayilov stepped on a
mine and was wounded at the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan in the direction of Akna territory Dec 3, 2012.
>From November 14-28, 5 more Azerbaijani soldiers were reported to be
blown by mines.

NKR’s full participation in negotiation process will ensure its
progress. `Moscow’s Echo’

19:03, 4 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS: Resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh issue is
developing rather slowly, the reason of which is that Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic is not a negotiating side. As reports Armenpress, this was
declared by Foreign Minister of NKR Karen Mirzoyan in the interview
the reporter of `Moscow’s Echo’ radio station.

`Only in case of Nagorno-Karabakh’s full participation in negotiation
process it will be possible to record a positive progress in the
issue, real progress and final resolution of the issue between
Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,’ Karen Mirzoyan said.

When responding to reporter’s question regarding how Nagorno-Karabakh
could technically become a negotiating side, Mirzoyan noted that
technically it was not only possible but also necessary. `Let me
remind that ongoing negotiations are conducted with the mediation of
Minsk Co-Chairs and all documents of those negotiations assume NKR’s
status as a negotiating side’.

According to him `number of countries acknowledging necessity of NKR
to become a negotiating side and sit down at negotiating table is
increasing’.

Karen Mirzoyan has highlighted that one shouldn’t underestimate Minsk
Group’s role.

`There have been many achievements since 1994. Separate elements,
which will be used during final decision, have been developed. During
all this time we have understood that the most important thing is
NKR’s right for self-determination, which is not a new element, though
has an important position in international practice,’ Mirzoyan noted.

To the question why Armenia hadn’t recognized NKR yet, Mirzoyan
responded that Armenia remained faithful to those principals and ideas
which are at the basis of negotiation process.

Vice President of the National Assembly Meets with the Students

04.03.2013

On March 4 the Vice President of the National Assembly Eduard
Sharmazanov met with the students of the Faculty of International
Relations of Yerevan State University (YSU).

At the students’ request Eduard Sharmazanov touched upon the
initiative of the nine members of the Lithuanian Parliament on
establishing a Friendship Group with the Artsakh Parliament. He said
that it had been a brave step, especially on the Azerbaijani false
background propaganda, which once again proves that the political
figures of Europe with health aspirations highlight the right of the
peoples on the way of self-determination, living freely and
independently. To his assessment, the people of Lithuania and its
political figures have always been distinguished with civil posture
and have not been indifferent towards the destiny of the peoples
fighting for freedom. Edward Sharmazanov deemed the establishment of
the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Artsakh in the Lithuanian
Parliament and the declaration connected with it a serious step on the
way to the NKR international recognition.

In response to the question what principles are important for reaching
the international recognition of Artsakh, the NA Vice President has
noticed that the Armenian authorities have repeatedly noted that the
people should make a decision for the destiny of the Artsakh people.
The second important issue is that Artsakh should be recognized as a
negotiating party, without which it is impossible to imagine the first
principle; the third – Azerbaijan should stop its racist policy,
soberly evaluate the created situation and be realistic, for which the
international community should be more consistent. Meanwhile,
Azerbaijan continues to be adhered to the principle of territorial
integrity, ignoring the right of internationally recognized
self-determination by the people of Artsakh. To Eduard Sharmazanov’s
assessment, the Armenian people have not been so united in the
implementation of national goals, which is conditioned by
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trilateral union. `On this path we have no
right to go for adventurous actions, at the moment, the unilateral
recognition of Artsakh, which today insists Raffi Hovannissina, will
lead to a deadlock. I deem inadmissible the speculation of this
problem, but I am flatly against concealing the shortcomings existing
inside the country under the name of Artsakh problem. In the inner
policy there will be disagreements, but in the foreign policy,
particularly, in the Artsakh problem the authorities and the
opposition are obliged to act united’ the NA Vice President said.

In response to the students’ question what are the priorities of
Armenia in the foreign policy, Eduard Sharmazanov has noticed that
Armenia builds its foreign policy not by the `or, or,’ but `and, and’
principle, laying in the basis the national-state interest. According
to the NA Vice President, Russia is Armenia’s strategic partner, with
which our country has established close relations in the sphere of
security. It is the right path for Armenia having external threats,
but it doesn’t impede to have also serious cooperation with the NATO.
`We are an independent state, and stemming from our state interest, we
cooperate with the European countries, the USA, many countries of the
CIS and the world,’ Eduard Sharmazanov said.

At the students’ request the NA Vice President also touched upon the
destiny of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, informing them that this
problem is within the framework of the RA President’s authorities.
`It’s evident that Armenia will not take any step, unless Turkey
ratifies the protocols,’ Eduard Sharmazanov said. `It’s worth
recalling the reference made by the US former Department of State
Hilary Clinton to the RA President’s words: `The ball is on Turkey’s
field.’ At the same time it is inadmissible for Armenia when they talk
with it in the language of preconditions: the international community
understands it very well,’ the NA Vice President noted.

In response to the students’ question if the punitive measures by the
Western countries towards Iran damage the Armenian-Iranian relations,
Eduard Sharmazanov has noticed that Armenia has adopted balanced
policy also in these relations. To his assessment, Iran is one of the
important partner neighbours of our country, and Armenia has regional,
as well as serious economic interests, and is concerned about peaceful
solution of the problem.

The NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov also answered other issues
concerning international relations.

Pan-Armenianism NGO set up

Monday,
March 04

A new non-governmental organization called `Pan-Armenianism’ started
operating in Armenia today. The NGO activities are aimed at preserving
the ethnic identity and national ideology, the head of Renewal NGO
Hovhannes Hovhannisian said.

`Armenia is currently facing the threat of emigration and
unemployment. We should be able to deal with these threats,’ he said.

`We plan to achieve our goals by concerted efforts of our people.
Several directions of our activities have been worked out,’ H.
Hovhannisian stated.

TODAY, 17:37
Aysor.am

Paruyr Hayrikyan may move abroad because of health conditions deterioration

15:23, 4 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Healthcare of the
Republic of Armenia put forward a suggestion in accordance with which
former presidential candidate, leader of “Union for National
Self-Determination” Paruyr Hayrikyan should move abroad if he does not
recover completely. Businessman and Paruyr Hayrikyan’s friend Karo
Yeghnukyan stated this in a conversation with “Armenpress”. Among
other things Yeghnukyan noted: `Paruyr Hayrikyan’s pain does not
relieve. Sometimes even the analgesics do not help. He cannot move his
index finger at all; notwithstanding some time ago he could do that.”
Presently Paruyr Hayrikyan is in the rehabilitation centre of the Red
Cross and undergoes rehabilitation therapy.

Former presidential candidate, leader of Union for National
Self-Determination Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot on in Tpagrichner Street,
Kentron district of Yerevan at 11:30 pm on January 31. Hayrikyan got a
gunshot wound to shoulders’ area and was then taken to “St. Gregory
the Illuminator Medical Center”.

– See more at:

Call to International Community to Respect the Armenian Constitution and People

15:54, March 4, 2013

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, leaders of states, diplomats, and
representatives of international organizations,

The February 18, 2013 presidential elections held in Republic of
Armenia unarguably showed the public distrust toward the authorities.

The elections were accompanied by gross violations – abuse of
administrative resources, election bribe, threats, ballot box
stuffing, voting instead of absentees, and falsification of voting
results – which are documented widely, including through video
materials posted online.

On February 28, 2013, Amnesty International expressed their concern
about the facts of violence against reporters, observers, and other
individuals and demanded that cases of violation of human rights and
electoral rights be investigated thoroughly.

The widespread violations have significantly affected the election
results, which is reflected in the analyses by different organizations
as well as the 3rd interim report on the Armenian Presidential
Elections published by OSCE/ODIHR observation mission published on
March 2, 2013.

Post-election mass protests and actions of civil disobedience
throughout the entire country also serve to demonstrate that the
Armenian citizens do not believe in the legitimacy of the past
elections and do not wish to tolerate the government formed which came
to power through election fraud.

We would also like to note that, according to the RA Constitution,
elections culminate with the release of a decree by the Constitutional
Court, and if there is no application to the Constitutional Court,
then with the completion of the deadline to apply to the Court.
Moreover, the RA Constitutional Court has the authority to find the
election results invalid, to recognize a candidate not elected to find
the elections failed or to decide to hold a second round of elections.

Congratulating any of the candidates before the completion of the
terms set for the RA Constitutional Court is unclear and unjustified
to us, especially when it is done in case of a candidate, who has
re-usurped the power through election fraud, and when it involves
leaders of states considered to be democratic and representatives from
organizations, which are promoting democratic values, which are
apparently politically motivated and apply double standards.

We consider such a behavior that contradicts the Constitution of the
Republic of Armenia and its national interests, to be a blow to the
attempts on the citizens of the Republic of Armenia to build a
democratic state. this practice of rapidly congratulating dictators,
who have “won” disputable elections is unacceptable because it can
again lead to the dramatic events which followed the 2008 presidential
Elections in Armenia.

We, the Citizens of the Republic of Armenia demand that you observe
the principles of international law and follow the RA Constitution and
laws in relations with our state. We also urge you not to hinder the
pursuit of the RA citizens for building a democratic state by
legitimizing the falsified 2013 presidential Elections for the sake of
short-term regional interests.

Citizens of the Republic of Armenia
March 4, 2013

In present the petition is joined by over 470 citizens. It is
available online and is open for signatures.

Russia supports peace in Armenia – Zatulin

12:47 04/03/2013 » COMMENTS

There was no big intrigue in the presidential elections in Armenia,
including in the context of change of Armenia’s foreign political
course. I am sure that the reality is that whoever was elected would
have to take into account the Armenian-Russian relations. We are
allies in economic, cultural and many other fields. Besides, we
cooperate within CSTO, which is very meaningful, Director of Institute
of CIS States Konstantin Zatulin said during Yerevan-Moscow space
bridge while commenting on the presidential elections in Armenia.

`I think currently there is a pause in Armenia’s domestic policy,
which should be filled by active dialogue between political forces.
Raffi Hovannisian did not expect to get so many votes. But I think
citizens would not vote for him if there were other candidates. The
outcome of this situation depends on Serzh Sargsyan and his party,’
Zatulin said.

According to him, Russia is for peace in Armenia as well as for the
stabilization of the domestic political situation without shocks.

`We are interested in a quick and peaceful solution of the current
situation,’ Zatulin said.

Source: Panorama.am