Author: Babajanian Karo

FREEDOM HOUSE RECOGNIZED NKR AS A “PARTLY FREE” COUNTRY

2013-01-15 16:37

The non-governmental organization Freedom House, which conducts
research on the current state of political rights and civil liberties,
published its annual report of 2013, according to which Nagorny
Karabakh improved its rating thus moving from “not free” country to
“partly free”. This change, according to the organization’s report,
is mainly stipulated by the competitive presidential elections held
in the NKR in July 2012, which were the fifth in succession.

Freedom House assesses the policy of the authorities of the world’s
states per two criteria: political rights and civil liberties. Each
of these dimensions is assessed on a scale from 1 (maximum) to 7
(minimum). According to both criteria, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
got “5”.

The NKR used to be included in the reports of Freedom House and was
generally assessed as “partly free”.

The full version of the Freedom House report is available at:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO ROMANIA MET THE MINISTER OF ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY

On January 18 Armenian Ambassador to Romania Hamlet Gasparyan has had
a meeting with the newly-appointed members of the Romanian Government.

First meeting was appointed with the Minister of Economy Varujean
Voskanyan. The meeting passed in warm atmosphere. Armenian Ambassador
congratulated Romanian-Armenian Minister on nomination and hoped that
Voskanyan would deepen Armenian-Romanian bilateral relations. Press
and information service of Armenian MFA informs about this.

Then two officials spoke about the deepening relations in economical
sphere and discussed the ways of cooperation.

During the negotiations the sides took into consideration the offers
by Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan in 2011, September in Bucharest.

Two officials also spoke about the cooperation in frame of the
international organizations.

18.01.13, 17:55

ISRAELI POLITICIAN SAYS OPERATION IN IRAN WOULD BE DECLARATION OF WAR

January 18, 2013 – 17:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – An operation in Iran would be a declaration of war,
a member of Israel~Rs Knesset said, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Yisrael Hasson, a representative of Kadima party, said his party would
be the balancing factor between those who “refuse IDF orders on the
Right, and those who don’t serve in the army on religious grounds on
the Left.”

ANI: RESTORATION FOR THE SAKE OF APPROPRIATION

16:30 18.01.2013

The film “Ani” prepared by the Research on Armenian Architecture NGO
premiered last night.

Between 1918 and 1920 Ani, the capital of the Bagratuni Kingdom,
was part of the Republic of Armenia. In October 1920 Ani together
with the whole Province of Kars was re-invaded by Turkey. In 1921
the signing of the Treaty of Kars signed between Bolshevik Russia
and Kemalist Turkey formalized the incorporation of the Kars Province
into the Republic of Turkey.

This put an end to the archeological research conducted in Ani. The
excavations were resumed only in late 1990s without the participation
of Armenian specialists. It’s clear, however, that these works are
conducted with the violation of the scientific norms of restoration
of monuments and with obvious aspirations for appropriation.

The film “Ani” tells about the historic monuments of the capital city
of the Bagratuni Kingdom.

PARTY CHAIRMAN: “AZERBAIJAN SHOULD ALSO DEMONSTRATE UNCERTAIN POSITION ON GEORGIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”

APA
[ 18 January 2013 12:29 ]

“The recent statements issued by Tbilisi should be regarded as
backtracking on its traditional foreign policy course towards
Azerbaijan, adequate steps should be taken”

Baku. Ramil Mammadli – APA. “The fact that at the meeting with Armenian
officials Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili touched on the
peaceful resolution of the problem without underlining Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and that Foreign Minister said she did not
say in Lithuania “the problem should be solved within Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity”, makes it necessary to correct some moments in
Azerbaijan’s foreign policy,” chairman of Great Establishment Party,
MP Fazil Mustafa told APA.

Fazil Mustafa considers that such statements demonstrate that Georgia
avoids mentioning Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in order not to
irritate Armenians.

“The Azerbaijani side should also backtrack on the position that
Abkhazia and South Ossetia conflict must be solved within Georgia’s
territorial integrity and stop policy of irritating Russia. We think
that Azerbaijan should demonstrate uncertain position on Georgia’s
territorial integrity. The recent statements issued by Tbilisi should
be regarded as backtracking on its traditional foreign policy course
towards Azerbaijan, adequate steps should be taken”.

VOTE 2013: PACE HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS OVER VOTER LISTS, POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT IN ARMENIA

VOTE 2013 | 18.01.13 | 13:10

By GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), which was on a two-day visit to Armenia to assess the
pre-election situation in the country, has concerns mainly about the
“continuing substantial inaccuracies in the voter lists”.

The main PACE delegation consisting of 22 observers will arrive
in Yerevan a few days before the election to observe the electoral
process, but the observations made before that are already alarming.

Head of the PACE election monitoring mission Karin Woldseth said
that “the delegation was disappointed to see that the previous
recommendations regarding the voter lists have not been implemented”,
whereas “accurate voter lists are an essential prerequisite for any
proper election.”

The head of the delegation, speaking about the political situation in
Armenia, characterized it as “unfortunate” because “a month before the
voting the public does not have a sufficient interest, or confidence
in the electoral process”, which has been created because of the
decision by the main political parties not to field candidates,
which also accounts for the distrust towards the electoral process.

“This decision has limited voters’ choice, leading to a more
regrettable situation and casting the shadow of general indifference
and mistrust over the upcoming elections,” said Woldseth.

But members of the delegation find it commendable that the political
forces in question did not follow that decision with calls for a
boycott. They think that a boycott should be avoided as “voting is
a major democratic value.”

Members of the observation mission also touched upon alleged vote
buying practices and use of administrative resources in Armenian
elections. They are fairly optimistic on this account.

“Of course, we are against election bribes, and allegations on
this account have also reached us. We have discussed the issue
with representatives of the police, so that steps be taken in this
direction. Let’s hope it does not happen again,” said Woldseth in an
interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Problems regarding the extensive use of administrative resources and
threats, according to the observers, “have been addressed so as to
exclude the repetition of such phenomena.”

A week before, 24 long-term observers from the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) arrived in Armenia to start their
mission, with 250 short-term observers expected to arrive shortly
before the election scheduled for February 18. OSCE/ODIHR observers
are also hopeful that the Armenian authorities conduct elections in
accordance with international standards.

“We have come here to observe and not to criticize or make some
impositions,” stressed OSCE/ODIHR mission head Heidi Tagliavini in
recent remarks.

YAZIDI COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA TO SEND ITS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE FUNERAL OF DED HASSAN

ARMINFO
Friday, January 18, 13:40

President of the World Council of Yazidis Aziz Tamoyan is going to
attend the funeral of well-known mafia boss Aslan Usoyan (Ded Hassan).

Tamoyan told ArmInfo on Friday that the funeral will take place in
Tbilisi on Jan 20.

He said that being Yazidi Ded Hassan was born in Armenia and had
relatives here. “In the Soviet times he kept coming to Armenia and
supplying staff for the local textile industry. He continued visiting
the country when it became independent, but no longer on business. He
was a very kind and witty person,” Tamoyan said.

He blames the Russian authorities for Ded Hassan’s death. “We demand
that they stop treating ethic minorities like that, stop killing their
leaders, but, on the contrary, start protecting them,” Tamoyan said.

WHO ORDERED DED HASSAN’S MURDER? (VIDEO)

2013-01-18 13:28:28

The second attempt to kill Aslan Usoyan (Ded Hassan) succeeded. Three
years ago, they have tried to do so, but they only wounded the most
famous thief in law. Then there were rumors in the criminal world,
that Ded’s treatment mobilize cutting-edge medicine. The general
criminal of the world has recovered from a serious injury in two weeks.

This time they failed to save him, they were only able to take him to
Botkin hospital, the admissions of which Ded Hassan entered “stepped”
in history as the most famous and raspiarenny thief of all time.

Newspapers, TV, radio relished the details of his life (and now death)
with such zeal as if a politician he of tfirst echelon. Perhaps this
is the only domestic thief, whose name is known to everyone along
with Putin’s and Alla Pugacheva’s names.

By frequency of mention in the media in the criminal world he had not
equal to him, and the degree of political influence could compete with
him, except the one, that died in the late 80’s of the last century,
Valerian Kuchuloriya (Peso), who was considered as much informal
referent of the head of the Soviet KGB, the all-powerful Yuri Andropov.

Ded Hassan’s death was the result of the “war of succession of
Zachariah Kalashev (Shakro-young),” another criminal heavyweight.

After Shakro left Spain, the question was who would be in charge of
his bereaved household.

Top contenders for the estate were two, the thieves Lasha
Shushinashvili and Mirab Dzhangviladze. Then he pulled up to the
conflict and the most-most criminal cream – Usoyan (Ded Hasan),
Vyacheslav Ivankov (Yaponchik), Tariel Oniani (Taro). Thieves war
raged on, soon most of the lawyers were involved in the conflict.

Thieves were divided into two camps, bitterly hating each other. The
war was waged not only in Russia.

Yaponchik was killed in Moscow, Malkhaz Kitiyu (Mahoney) was killed
in Greece, and Vladimir Janashia (Lado) in Marseilles. The most
amazing thing is that in the course of these operations “casus belli”
resorbed, channel cashing defeated the Spanish police. A ban gambling
in Russia deprived sense the struggle for control over the casino,
but the heat of passion is not affected.

Like any absolutist, Ded Hassan needed a loyal supporter who could
take the place of leaving the past thieves traditionalists. Ded
crowned dozens of criminal authorities that they should be grateful
to him for their status.

Traditionalists did not recognize the new shift, but could not stop the
process. Even the intervention of the patriarch of the criminal world,
Georgian thief Gigi Chikovani had no effect, even though the old man
was able to insist on the fact that thieves could decorate the crown
head neophyte with the consent of the representatives of both clans.

The immediate reason for Ded’s murder began with his attempt to declare
Jamal Mikeladze (Jemo). But do not think that without this conflict
Usoyan will live. Ded is not Jemo’s victim and even not the victim of
thieves leaders behind Jamo. He sacrifices his own reform – an effort
to make “the brotherhood of people dashing” in hierarchical pyramid
easily managed in accordance with the political spirit of our time.

IVANISHVILI: RELEASING VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN UNDER CONSIDERATION

YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. The issue of releasing Vahagn Chakhalyan
(Armenian activist of Georgia’s Javakh with prevailing Armenian
population) from Georgian prison is currently under consideration,
Georgian Prime-Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at his meeting with
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the II Thursday.

The statement was made by Ivanishvili in response to Catholicos’
intersession for Chakhalyan’s release. On January 13, after the law
about amnesty came into force, some 300 prisoners were released,
but Chakhalyan was not among them.

The released prisoners had been convicted for espionage in favor of
Russia and overthrow attempts.

Advocate of Chakhalyan Stepan Voskanyan said that Chakhalyan’s name
was removed from the list just before the amnesty. He also said that
they are currently looking into why Chakhalyan was not pardoned,
and will apply to the court after that.

Vahagn Chakhalyan has been a well-known political activist of Javakhk.

He was arrested in his house on July 21, 2008. The court of
Akhaltsikhe found him guilty in purchasing and storing arms and
armament, organizing mass events that disturb the public peace,
and etc. On April 7, 2009 he was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Some human rights organizations believe the charges against Chakhalyan
were fabricated.

Javakh is located at the intersection of Georgia, Armenia and Turkey
and the absolute majority of its population are Armenians. According
to estimates, 91-97% of Georgian Armenians live in Javakh.-0–

THE DEMAND FOR HYBRID CAR YIELDS THAT OF ORDINARY CARS IN ARMENIA

10:36, 18 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: The demand for cars operating with
the combination of electric and gasoline engines is lower than that
of ordinary cars in the Republic of Armenia.”Toyota Yerevan” has been
importing hybrid cars since 2011. ” In comparison with other models
the demand for hybrid cars is lower in Armenia” Arthur Mghdesyan
“Toyota Yerevan” sales manager stated in the briefing with Armenpress.

Sales manager told only Prius model is being sold in Armenia.”Already
more than 10 million Toyota Prius model cars have been sold in the
World. The car costs 14 million 350 thousand AMD in Armenia Mghdesyan
“came forth with.

“Toyota company” debuted a hybrid concept cars since 1997. The car has
two engines. It posses “electro mobile” regime. When the regime is on
the car operates only with the use of electricity. The car batteries
are loaded when the car starts to ride at high speed, as well as
when braking. Hybrid cars have significant advantages as to abrupt
reduction of fuel consumption and environmental pollution. Some
countries are encouraging car customers to buy hybrid cars. For
instance Great Britain returns the customer 1000 pounds sterling when
buying hybrid car.