Author: Babajanian Karo

R. HOVHANNISYAN: “I WILL NEVER LET ANYONE DISCUSS MY PATRIOTISM”

25.Feb.2013 – 18:24

“Some months ago I have trusted in Armenian citizen and now I am
proud that Armenian citizen trusted me”. Head of the “Heritage” party
Raffi Hovhannisyan announced about this during the meeting with the
journalists and thanked his electors.

“Do not consider that our nation lives in fair, or nation has spoken.

This is not for Raffi, this struggle is not between Raffi and Serzh
and not between “Heritage” party and Armenian Republican Party”,
the politician underlined.

Referring to the meeting with Serzh Sargsyan R. Hovhannisyan said it
was warm. “I have told him that he had great investment but he did not
win. I have told him and now I am saying the same that he differs from
other political figures but he has drunk the Champaign early. I was
even condemned that I denied extraordinary parliamentarian elections.

Some other offers were also denied. No one offered me a position. He
offered me to be “the second” politician and to continue the struggle
till 2018. But I do not need it. I have thanked that all medias were
open and again underlined that he had not won and I was ready to
listen to the offers in order to find a solution from the deadlock”.

Raffi Hovhannisyan also claimed all state records which are about
electoral violations.

“If they want to give any record in order to make blackmail against
me I will just say that I am thankful that all medias are open. And
nothing more. I will never let anyone discuss my patriotism.”

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PREPARING FOR NEW RALLY, POLICE WARNS ABOUT IMPERMISSIBILITY OF UNAUTHORIZED ACTIONS

Interfax, Russia
Feb 24 2013

The Armenian police have issued a statement on the impermissibility
of conducting rallies and processions without due notification.

“There is no right to hold rallies in Armenia without duly notifying
the relevant authorities. Illegal meetings can have uncontrollable
consequences, abuse of rights and various violations,” a statement
of the Armenian police received by Interfax says.

On Sunday the leader of the opposition Heritage party Raffi Ovannisian
who came second in the February 18 presidential election intends to
hold an unauthorized rally in Freedom Square in central Yerevan in
protest against the election results. On Saturday he held unauthorized
rallies in several other cities.

Meanwhile, at Ovannisian’s headquarters Interfax was told that they
informed the Yerevan city hall about an emergency rally on Sunday
which does not require advance authorization.

Earlier the Yerevan city administration declined the opposition
party’s request to hold rallies on February 23-25.

ml

UNAUTHORIZED YEREVAN RALLY DRAWS 4,000 PARTICIPANTS

Interfax, Russia
Feb 24 2013

Leader of the Heritage opposition party Raffi Hovannisian who came
in second in the February 18 presidential elections in Armenia,
organized an 4,000 strong unauthorized rally in Freedom Square in
central Yerevan on Sunday to protest the outcome of the presidential
election won by incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan.

The rally started later than planned due to an electricity blackout
which was restored after telephone talks with the city police chief.

“We will achieve victory exclusively in a constitutional way,”
Hovannisian told the audience.

“I am calling for humaneness, tolerance and respect for law – the
fundamental principles of victory. We are Armenia’s governing force
and no one can take freedom away from us,” he said.

Hovannisian pledged to organize rallies in 21 Armenian cities,
including an authorized rally in Yerevan on February 28.

Sd

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN WILL CARRY “THE REVOLUTION OF SMILE AND GREETING” ACROSS ALL ARMENIAN TOWNS

Mediamax, Armenia
Feb 24 2013

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Presidential candidate Raffi Hovhannisyan urged the
Armenian Central Election Commission to “think over” before announcing
the final results of the elections.

The candidate stated this during his rally at the Liberty Square in
Yerevan on February 24, Mediamax reports.

“On Monday, the CEC will announce the final results of the elections.

It will be a moment of truth for the Armenian authorities and the
Commission. Let them think over before it guided by the law and
modesty. Nobody is higher than the Armenian people and citizens of
Armenia”, said Raffi Hovhannisyan.

He noted that he will comment on the final results of the elections
an hour after the Armenian CEC’s session.

“The people is on the right path and nobody will deprive it of its
freedom. We have finally realized that the moment has come and we
become a nation, a state. The one who will try to harm the people, an
Armenian, will be responsible for it”, said the oppositional candidate.

Touching upon the upcoming actions, Raffi Hovhannisyan stated that he
would continue propagating the “revolution of law, smile and greeting
and not blood and malice” from one city to another. He expressed
the confidence that the police will ensure the safety of citizens on
this path.

On February 26, the candidate will continue “celebrating the victory”
in a number of villages and towns of Armenia and he will meet with
his Yerevan supporters at the Liberty Square on February 28.

Raffi Hovhannisyan noted that he will visit Armavir, Metsamor,
Echmiadzin, Masis, Artashat, Ararat, Surenavan, Areni, Eghegnadzor
and Vayk on February 26.

On February 27, the candidate will go to Agarak, Meghri, Kajaran,
Kapan, Goris and Sisian. On February 28, the presidential candidate
will speak at Charentsavan, Byureghavan, Nor Hachn and Abovyan and
will finally hold a rally at the Liberty Square in Yerevan. –0–

RovigoOggi.it
19 febbraio 2013

Preservare la cultura dall’oblio, l’opera di Arslan

CULTURA BADIA POLESINE (ROVIGO) La scrittrice Antonia Arslan
presenterà `Il libro di Mush’ sabato 23 febbraio nella sala
Soffiantini all’Abbazia della Vangadizza

Sarà la scrittrice di origine armena Antonia Arslan (foto a lato),
neocomponente del consiglio della Fondazione Cariparo (leggi
articolo), a presentare la propria opera `Il libro di Mush’ a Badia
Polesine per la rassegna `Incontri con l’autore’. La Arslan incontrerà
il pubblico nella sala Soffiantini dell’Abbazia della Vangadizza
sabato 23 febbraio alle 21

Badia Polesine (Ro) – Sarà l’Armenia la protagonista indiscussa della
tappa badiese del ciclo `Incontri con l’autore’ che si svolgerà sabato
23 febbraio alle 21 nella sala convegni Soffiantini dell’abbazia della
Vangadizza. Ospite della serata sarà la scrittrice e saggista italiana
di origini armene Antonia Aslan, che presenterà `Il libro di Mush’
(Skira, 2012). All’incontro, organizzato dalla Provincia di Rovigo in
collaborazione con Sistema bibliotecario provinciale di Rovigo,
assessorato alla Cultura del Comune di Badia Polesine e biblioteca
civica `G.G. Bronziero’ di Badia Polesine, interverrà anche Cesare
Stella.

La Arslan si è spesso definita `una persona a maturazione lenta’ per
essere arrivata a riscoprire le sue origini armene soltanto negli
ultimi anni. Dopo essere stata per molto tempo docente di Letteratura
italiana moderna e contemporanea all’Università di Padova, infatti, ha
sentito che la sua parte armena doveva uscire. È del 2004 il suo primo
romanzo sul genocidio degli Armeni, `La masseria delle allodole’, che
ha vinto il premio Strega di narrativa ed è stato finalista al premio
Campiello. Dallo stesso romanzo è stato tratto anche un film del 2007,
uscito per la regia dei Fratelli Taviani. Nel 2009, poi, è uscito `La
strada di Smirne’ e nel 2010, dopo una drammatica esperienza di
malattia e coma, ha scritto `Ishtar 2. Cronache dal mio risveglio’ e
`Il cortile dei girasoli parlanti’. Nel 2012, l’autrice ritorna alle
sue origini con `Il libro di Mush’, la storia di un manoscritto
medioevale salvato da due donne durante la strage degli armeni
avvenuta in quella valle, isolata e fertilissima, avvenuta nel 1915.
Queste due donne, rimaste le uniche sopravvissute, comprendono la
necessità di assicurare un futuro alla loro cultura attraverso quel
libro, che da solo dovrà rendere testimonianza della loro storia,
della loro tragedia.

Ilaria Pierannunzio

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 23 2013

Newspaper: Turkey offers Armenia to participate in regional project in
case of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 23 /Trend E.Tariverdiyeva/

Turkey has proposed that Armenia take part in its comprehensive
regional transportation project linking Europe to Asia, if there are
concrete developments in solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, presenting
this proposal also to OSCE Minsk Group, Turkish Hürriyet Daily News
newspaper reported.

With reference to diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Ankara is
trying to activate OSCE Minsk Group.

“We introduced the Integrated Transportation Corridors Project to the
Minsk Group in November 2012. This project is to be implemented in
peace time and particularly after Armenia moves on with regard to its
occupation in seven regions bordering Nagorno-Karabakh. We are
proposing full normalization of ties between Turkey-Armenia and
Armenia-Azerbaijan,” Turkish diplomatic sources told the Hürriyet
Daily News.

According to the newspaper, Turkey submitted its project to the Minsk
Group during the meeting in Vienna on November 8, 2012.

“It has received a positive response from all Minsk Group countries.
We have made clear to them that this project is aiming at creating a
peace perspective to the benefit of all relevant parties,” the
newspaper’s sources noted.

As the newspaper stated, the proposed transportation project has two
phases. On the one hand it is focused on linking Turkey, Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russian Federation through fixing unused railways and
building new ones.

“Along with the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project that is expected to
be concluded by
the end of this year, the Turkey-Armenia railway may be re-opened
after just a minor rehabilitation,” the newspaper said.

In consideration with the economic prospects and strategic importance
that the outer region of the Caucasus offers, Turkey’s project also
addresses the need to link regional countries to Europe and Asia, the
newspaper wrote. A transportation line between London and Beijing will
soon be possible with the conclusion of the Marmaray Project and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, while normalization of the political
situation in the region would also allow Armenia to join this growing
strategic picture, sources close to the project claim.

In addition, according to the sources of the Turkish newspaper,
Azerbaijan has been informed about the content of the project by
Turkey.

“We have made clear them that this is a project that will be
implemented only after Armenia moves towards peace,” Azerbaijani
sources stressed, the newspaper reported.

Armenia, however, has so far remained cool to Turkey’s project, and
has not conveyed an official reaction through the Minsk Group.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

Mediamax, Armenia
Feb 20 2013

Nikol Pashinyan: Our task is to fix the revolution of the Armenian citizen

Wednesday 20 February 2013 18:35

Yerevan, February 20. /Mediamax/. Armenian National Assembly MP Nikol
Pashinyan said at a really on the Republic Square today that `the
Armenian citizen made a revolution at February 18 presidential
elections, and our task is simple: to turn the de facto victory into a
de-jure one.’

`Today’s rally means that the Armenian citizen has failed to gain a de
jure victory in a long fight for the sake of his own country. But
being here means that the victorious campaign of the people is
unavoidable, and the victory is inevitable. Armenian people elected
their President on February 18, but the results of the Central
Electoral Commission do not reflect the people’s choice,’ said Nikol
Pashinyan.

`We are here to protect the Armenian Constitution from another
encroachment. Raffi has gained the people’s vote of confidence and he
must decide what to do with this vote and how to do it,’ the MP said.
–0–

Raffi Hovannisian puts flowers at Commander Vazgen Sargsyan’s tomb (video)

19:33 – 24.02.13

Leader of Armenia’s Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian marched today
with his associates to Yerablur pantheon after the rally where he paid
tribute and laid flowers at the tomb of Armenian Commander Vazgn
Sargsyan.

Accompanied with his supporters and police Heritage party leader
entered a churche there and prayed, afterwards he put flowers on the
tombs of the freedom fighters killed at Karabakh war.

Addressing his supports Hovannisian said there is nothing more
valuable than the guys sleeping here. He said they gave their lives
for the homeland and erected the future of Armenians.

Afterwards all the present sang the Armenian anthem with Hovannisian.

Armenian Opposition Supporters Protest Election Results

YEREVAN, February 24 (RIA Novosti) – Several thousand opposition
supporters rallied in Yerevan on Sunday protesting the outcome of
Armenia’s presidential election, challenged by the country’s
opposition leader Raffi Hovhannisyan, Armenia’s state TV reported.
Hovhannisyan, 53, Armenia’s former foreign minister and leader of the
opposition’s Heritage Party, said he will continue to push for
annulling the results of the election, which resulted in the victory
of incumbent Serzh Sargsyan.
According to preliminary results, Sargsyan won the election with 59
percent of the vote and US-born Hovhannisyan came second with 37
percent. The final results will be announced by the Central Electoral
Commission on Monday.
OSCE observers said the Armenian presidential election, which saw
Sargsyan reelected to another five-year term, showed improvement but
lacked genuine competition. Hovhannisyan claimed the election was
illegitimate.
Hovhannisyan said the `revolution of greetings,’ which he announced on
Friday, will continue across the country after the official election
results are announced.
`Towns by towns, villages by villages… We will return power to
people,’ Hovhannisyan told his supporters adding however that all the
protests should be peaceful.

Decision 2013: Hovannisian tours regions as part of his BAREVolution campaign

VOTE 2013 | 24.02.13 | 19:59

Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian, who is disputing President Serzh
Sargsyan’s official reelection, made a five-stop tour of provinces on
Saturday visiting major towns and areas where he garnered considerable
support in the Monday ballot.

In Ashtarak, Vanadzor and Gyumri Hovannisian and his team held public
rallies attracting thousands of local people, urging them to come to
Yerevan on Sunday for a big gathering in Liberty Square to push for a
power change.

Enlarge Photo

Hovannisian, who believes himself to be the rightful winner of the
presidential election despite his officially announced preliminary
score of close to 37 percent as opposed to Sargsyan’s count of about
59 percent, said on Friday that all of his offers of compromise,
including a repeat election and snap parliamentary polls, had been
rejected by the incumbent president.

Addressing his supporters at the Saturday rallies the opposition
leader said that his campaign (already dubbed by many as BAREVolution,
a blend Armenian/English word meaning the revolution of greetings)
could last `a week, a month or a year’, but he assured the people that
he would not give it up.

Like in his earlier public speeches in Yerevan, Hovannisian again
stressed that this time around the demand for the transfer of power
would be carried out exclusively by a constitutional and peaceful way.
At the same time, he warned police and other state authorities against
putting pressure on people.

Concerns were voiced in all places that roads leading to Yerevan would
be blocked on Sunday, making travel for thousands of Hovannisian
supporters from the region to the capital impossible.

`We will register all such violations,’ emphasized Hovannisian,
addressing his supporters in Gyumri, where he polled up to 70 percent
of the vote last Monday.

`But I will be coming here again any way,’ he added, drawing cheers
from the enthused crowd.

The police issued a statement earlier on Saturday, warning that
Hovannisian rallies and meetings in all towns, including in Aparan and
Spitak, were “unauthorized” and therefore “unlawful”, as will be the
rally planned in Yerevan for Sunday. The opposition leader and his
team, however, have rejected this view, saying that the people are
simply exercising their right to freedom of assembly.