Author: Babajanian Karo

DECISION 2013: OPPOSITION CANDIDATE SAYS READY FOR “LENGTHY” STRUGGLE

VOTE 2013 | 20.02.13 | 17:27

Opposition Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian, who claims victory
in the Monday presidential election, told supporters in Yerevan’s
Liberty Square on Wednesday that he was ready for a lengthy struggle
to ensure “the victory of the people”.

Hovannisian called on all to rally around him in this struggle
regardless of their party affiliations for the sake of a new Armenia.

At a gathering in the square on Tuesday Hovannisian offered a meeting
with the official winner of the election, incumbent President Serzh
Sargsyan, to discuss the “transfer of power to the people.” Today, a
Sargsyan spokesman said the president was ready to receive Hovannisian
“at any convenient time” for his opposition challenger.

At the rally Hovannisian said he would present his position on that
later on.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN ARMENIA RISES 9.1% IN JANUARY 2013

YEREVAN, February 20. /ARKA/. Economic activity in Armenia rose by
9.1% in January 2013 from the same month a year earlier, according to
the National Statistical Service of the republic.

Consumer prices upped 2.6% within the reported period, and industrial
products prices ascended by 12.9%.

Industrial production valued at nearly 95.5 billion drams, which was
higher from January 2012 by 18.8%.

Foreign trade turnover of Armenia climbed by 21.7% to $422.5 million
in January 2013 from the analogical period a year earlier.

According to the state budget, inflation in Armenia is projected at 4%
(±1.5%), and GDP growth -6.2%.($1 – 406.67 drams). -0-

HOVANNISIAN CAMPAIGN HQ CALLS FOR A HALT TO ILLEGAL RE-EXAMINATION OF VOTE RESULTS

HETQ
12:18, February 20, 2013

It seems that several local election committees have gone ahead with
a re-examination of vote counts in scores of polling precincts without
notifying Raffi Hovannisian~Rs campaign headquarters in advance.

Even though such a re-examination was requested by Hovannisian himself,
the committees are conducting the investigation without the presence
of reporters, observers and Heritage Party confidants as prescribed
by the RA Electoral Code.

Thus, the entire process makes no sense, according to Hovannisian~Rs
campaign HQ, arguing that the required oversight is lacking.

The candidate has called on the Central Electoral Commission to
intervene and put a halt to the process

AZHM: SERRZH SARGSYAN SHOULD CONSIDER THIS FACT

12:26 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Chairman of the National Democratic Union (AZhM) did not expect
presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian to garner 36.8 percent of
votes in the February 18 presidential election.

“Raffi Hovannisian had a small team. Besides, in many cases the
opposition was bothering him rather than helping,” AZhM Leader Vazgen
Manukyan said on Feb. 20.

“This shows two things. First, the candidate had well prepared for
the campaign. Second, people are more dissatisfied with the government
than we could imagine. This is a signal to the authorities and Serzh
Sargsyan which should be paid into consideration,” said the Chairman
of the Public Council.

DECISION 2013: PAP MUM ON HOVANNISIAN APPEAL TO SARGSYAN, OPPOSITION TO ELECTION OUTCOME

VOTE 2013 | 20.02.13 | 13:42

The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), which boasts the second largest
faction in the National Assembly, has so far remained tightlipped on
its attitude towards opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian’s demand
that President-elect Serzh Sargsyan admit election fraud and start
transferring power to the people.

PAP spokesman Tigran Urikhanyan refused to provide any commentary on
Hovannisian’s Tuesday rally and plans to stage more protests against
the official outcome of the February 18 presidential election in
which his party had chosen not to take part or endorse any candidate
in the race.

The Monday ballot gave victory to incumbent President Sargsyan,
who officially polled close to 59 percent of the vote. Hovannisian,
his closest challenger, got nearly 37 percent of the vote and is
currently disputing the official outcome of the election.

“We haven’t discussed this matter yet,” the party spokesman told
Tert.am, also ducking the question on the possible support of PAP
members to Hovannisian’s struggle.

Addressing his supporters in Yerevan’s Liberty Square last night
Heritage Party leader Hovannisian, who declared himself to be the
rightful winner and elected president, made it clear that if given
a chance to form a government he would also cooperate with the
broad-based opposition and “alternative” forces, including PAP,
that did not contest the February election.

DECISION 2013: THOUSANDS RALLY IN YEREVAN TO BACK HOVANNISIAN’S CLAIMED ELECTION VICTORY

NEWS | 20.02.13 | 21:15

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The official runner-up in Armenia’s presidential election, Raffi
Hovannisian, who has already declared himself to be president-elect,
again gathered his supporters in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Wednesday
to declare his determination to wage a “lengthy” struggle.

The opposition Heritage party leader told thousands of his activists
and supporters that he will remain in the square until 2 pm Thursday
waiting for President Serzh Sargsyan, the official winner of the Monday
vote, whose ruling Republican Party is expected to hold a rally in
the same venue tomorrow. Hovannisian said such a meeting would be
“for the organization of the transfer of power”.

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo Nikol Pashinyan “This time we will have a real victory
that will belong to our people,” stated the opposition leader,
who polled about 37 percent of the vote, according to the official
results of the presidential ballot announced by the Central Election
Commission on Tuesday, in contrast to Sargsyan’s nearly 59 percent.

“Serzh Sargsyan has made a reservation for this square for tomorrow.

We will remain here and will meet him here. If he wants, we will have
a question-and-answer session, if he wants, we will have a debate. We
must stay here till the victory of Armenia,” stressed Hovannisian.

According to media reports, Sargsyan’s Republican Party already now
considers cancelling its event in the square scheduled for Thursday
in view of Hovannisian’s statements.

Earlier today, a Sargsyan spokesman responded to Hovannisian’s previous
offer of a meeting saying that the current head of state was ready
to receive him “at any time” convenient to him to discuss what he
described as “not quite clear demands” of the opposition challenger.

Meanwhile, joining Hovannisian in Liberty Square tonight were also
a number of opposition figures and civil activists who delivered
speeches at the rally. Among them was also Nikol Pashinyan, an
outspoken oppositionist affiliated with the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), who delivered a passionate speech, calling Hovannisian the
“elected president”. He said that the elections were again rigged in
Armenia, like they were in February 2008. He also stressed that what
“this February brings” to Armenia will largely depend on Hovannisian
and his team.

“There is no leading the bright people of Armenia to disappointment,
they need victory and nothing else. Let’s wish Raffi Hovannisian enough
will and wisdom to lead the citizens of Armenia towards a victory,”
said Pushinyan.

The Heritage party leader again urged all political parties and the
“non-partisan majority” to join him. Two major opposition forces, the
ANC and Dashnaktsutyun, have already issued statements condemning fraud
in the February 18 elections, but they said nothing about their support
to Hovannisian. Hrant Bagratyan, the other opposition candidate who
finished a distant third in the election, was not present in Liberty
Square either.

WILL U.S. SUGGEST GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION?
Naira Hayrumyan

13:46 21/02/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The U.S. State Department calls on all parties to remain calm in this
post-election period and to exercise restraint in their actions. In
addition, it notes misuse of administrative resources that resulted
in a blurred distinction between the activities of the state and
those of the ruling party, thus hinting that power has been usurped.

For what does the United States call the Armenian opposition? Let
Serzh Sargsyan rule for another five years while they get ready for the
next election? Or does the United States hint that it will support the
fight of the Armenian people if it is calm and in accord with the law?

The opinion of the international observers was the only argument for
the ruling party to refer to in its efforts to prove the the elections
were free and fair. This implies that the ruling party ignores the
opinion of the Armenian society, as well as the significance of the
international factor for this election.

The ex-ambassador Marie Yovanovich prepared the ground for several
years until she reported to her government that Armenia has forces
which are ready to crush the stereotypes of centuries and declare
loudly about diversification of foreign policy. Later John Heffern
was affirmed as ambassador who stated openly that his task is to put
Armenia in the area of American influence.

Heffern plays an active role in the Armenian foreign policy. If
during Marie Yovanovich’s tenure the United States mainly postured as
a judge and policeman (funding of MCA and several other programs was
stopped due to insufficient level of democracy), during John Heffern’s
office a policy of encouragement is carried out. The ambassador
personally visited the United States to sway IT giants and American
Armenians into making investments in Armenia. The ambassador advises
to diversify foreign policies. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department
expresses concern over a lack of impartiality on the part of the
public administration.

What is the meaning of the call on the parties to remain calm? Is it
a message to Raffi Hovannisian to stop the tallies or Serzh Sargsyan
to refrain from the use of force against the demonstrators? Or is the
United States advising to ensure division of powers, elimination of
the RPA monopoly and formation of a coalition government?

The United States where division of powers was established 300 years
ago understands very well that democracy is not replacement of one
government by another but balance and mutual control of political
approaches and opinions. Now the RPA dominates the executive, which
means that over one third of voters who voted not for the ruling party
do not take part in decision making and are unable to control them.

It is possible that the United States suggests forming a government of
national reconciliation which will enable the Armenian forces pushing
for closer relations with the West to participate in governance.

DECISION 2013 PART II: HOVANNISIAN-SARGSYAN TALKS PRODUCE NO IMMEDIATE NEWS AMID CONTINUING POST-ELECTION STANDOFF

VOTE 2013 | 21.02.13 | 15:17

Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian, who is disputing the outcome of
the Monday presidential election officially giving victory to President
Serzh Sargsyan, said after talks with the incumbent at the Presidential
Residence on Thursday afternoon that he will present details of the
discussion tomorrow, at a rally in Liberty Square, at 5 pm.

The leader of the opposition Heritage party, who officially polled
close to 37 percent of the vote in the ballot, as opposed to Sargsyan’s
official count of about 59 percent, was meeting with the president for
more than two hours to discuss a way to end the current post-election
dispute in which he demands a “transfer of power to the people”.

“It is not Serzh versus Raffi,” he said after leaving the presidential
residency at about 3 pm today. “We are committed to our victory and
the Armenian people will have their victory tomorrow in Liberty Square
at 5 pm.”

Hovannisian declined to give more details of the talks, again urging
all to come to the rally tomorrow.

L’AZERBAIDJAN SE PREPARE-T-IL A LA GUERRE ?

Haykakan Jamanak reproduit un extrait d’un article publie dans le
quotidien russe Nezavisimaya Gazeta evoquant les exercices militaires
a grande echelle auxquels procède actuellement l’Azerbaïdjan près
de la ligne de contact. L’auteur de l’article relève que, cette zone
constituant un endroit vulnerable pour le HK, les experts militaires
n’excluent pas que c’est justement a partir de cet endroit que
l’Azerbaïdjan pourrait lancer une attaque contre le HK. Par ailleurs,
les quotidiens reviennent sur le bombardement, le 12 fevrier, de
quelques villages limitrophes de la region du Tavouch, estimant qu’il
s’agit d’une tentative premeditee des autorites azerbaïdjanaises pour
destabiliser la situation a la veille des elections presidentielles
armeniennes et du 25ème anniversaire du mouvement du HK. ” Une fois
encore, on se dit que l’Azerbaïdjan ne comprend que le langage de la
force “, ecrit Hayots Achkhar.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 14 fevrier 2013

jeudi 21 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’ARRIVEE DE CARREFOUR SUR LE MARCHE ARMENIEN NE FERA QUE RENFORCER LA CONCURRENCE

Tel est l’avis du Ministre de l’Economie, Tigran Davtian. Selon le
Ministre, de nombreux biens et services seront moins chers pour
le consommateur. De surcroît, Carrefour n’est pas seulement du
commerce, mais aussi une culture, dont le Gouvernement considère que
la penetration sur le marche local repond aux interets de l’Armenie.

Celui-ci cherche a faciliter l’arrivee rapide de ce distributeur en
Armenie. / News.am

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 14 fevrier 2013

jeudi 21 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com