Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMAN MELIKIAN: I CALL FOR CEC TO RELEASE LISTS OF PERSONS WHO LEFT ARMENIA

Aysor.am
January 15, 2013

“The current situation in Armenia could have been foreseen. The main
rivals to the incumbent authorities refused to struggle, whereas those
remaining in the field are politucal figures of the second echelon –
party leaders,” the presidential candidate Armen Melikian said at
the meeting with reporters today.

In his opinion, none of the presidential candidates has so far
presented his scenario of winning the election, but they know that
scenario.

“Today we have reached the finish line when the authorities did not
give the other political forces a chance to achieve success, and if
the situation continues like this, we are going to have a state with
a vague future,” Melikian said.

In his words, they are giving up the tradition of proving something
to authorities.

“We have set the goal to ensure the legitimacy of the election, and
today I will sign a letter to the Chairman of the Central Election
Commission so that he will release the lists of the citizens who
have left Armenia, to release data about how many people renounced
Armenian citizenship and received citizenship of other countries,”
Arman Melikian said, adding that such steps are necessary the clarify
the number of eligible voters remaining in Armenia.

According to him, 35-40% of voters are not in Armenia, and unless
the authorities publish data about those who left Armenia, they will
deduct 35-40% of votes from the authorities’ result.

“If we receive information that soldiers are forced to vote for the
Commander-in-Chief, we will deduct 100,000 votes from the number of
votes collected by Serzh Sargsyan,” Melikian said.

FREEDOM HOUSE. NAGORNO KARABAKH IS A “PARTLY FREE” COUNTRY

Tuesday 15 January 2013 11:51

Photo:

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are indicated as
“partly free” countries in the “Freedom in the World 2013” report
published by Freedom House NGO.

The report published by the organization particularly notes that
in terms of political rights, the Nagorno Karabakh improved its
positions in “Freedom in the World” rating leaving the list of “not
free” countries, Mediamax reports.

“Nagorno-Karabakh’s political rights rating improved from 6 to 5,
and its status improved from Not Free to Partly Free, due to the
participation of a genuine opposition in the July presidential
election”, the report reads.

Touching upon Armenia, Freedom House notes that Armenia also improved
its status in the world political freedoms’ rating.

“Armenia’s political rights rating improved due to the absence of
post-election violence following parliamentary balloting in May and
the entry of an authentic opposition party into the legislature”,
the report reads.

According to Freedom House, Georgia is also among “partly free”
countries while Azerbaijan is still among “not free” countries.

Fragments of erotic frescoes found on Coliseum walls

January 12, 2013 | 23:18

Italian archaeologists have found traces of frescoes on the inner
walls of the Coliseum, which showed erotic scenes. The frescoes were
found in the aisle between the second and third floors, closed for the
public, which is now being restored.

The frescoes show scenes dedicated to the victory of gladiators (in
particular, fragments of arrows and laurel wreaths are found), and
erotic scenes. There are phallic symbols among the images, Novolitika
reports.

Discovered frescoes indicate that the walls of the Coliseum, built by
80 AD, were red from inside, and some areas are covered with azurite.
This pigment was probably used for the image of the sky or the sea.

The restoration of the Coliseum, which began in late 2012, will last
for about 2.5 years and will be staged at different sites. Funds for
the restoration of the historic monument, where about three thousand
cracks are discovered, are provided by the entrepreneur and owner of a
shoe company Tod’s Diego Della Valle. Cost of the work is estimated at
$ 25 million.

One does not have a house, the other has too many to lose the count
Fri, 01/11/2013 – 22:22

The members of the National Assembly elected from No 14 and No 15
electoral polls of Aragatsotn region have tangible property, including
real estate, cash, shares, however, have no valuable property. Unlike
them, the Judge of the Court of First Instance of the region and his
family members do not have any property, but they have money. The
Marzpet of Aragatsotn region has real estate, but very little assets
and income. This is evidenced in the declaration of the ethics
committee of high-ranking officials in 2011 for filing returns.

So, Marzpet Sargis Sahakyan had the same income in the beginning and
in the end of the year – 250.000 AMD. His income came exclusively from
the remuneration – 2.497.584 AMD. The members of the family (wife and
2 daughters) presented no declarations.

The Judge of the Court of First Instance Suren Mnoyan and members of
his family (wife, parents and daughters) declared only monetary assets
and income. His income in the beginning of 2011 was 1 million AMD and
30.000 US dollars and 2 million AMD and 40.000 US dollars in the end
of the year. The income came exclusively from the remuneration – 9
million 6921 AMD.

The income of his father was 650.000 AMD and 348.000 was the one of
the mother’s. The income of one of the daughters was 3.000 Georgian
lari from pension and 700.000 AMD from remuneration. The income of the
other daughter was 700.000 AMD.

The situation, as it was previously noted, is different with the
members of National Assembly.

The member of the National Assembly Vrezh Markosyan on June 12, 2012
declared one 4 plots, an apartment with a garage, one separate garage
and 2 cars. On March 30, he declared also another apartment. Markosyan
also declared a loan of 440.553.150 AMD, funds of 5.592.000 AMD,
3.485.798 Russian rubles, 564.959 Euro, 813.889 US dollars. The income
of 687.632.097 AMD, from which the remuneration of 54.117.397 AMD,
loan percentage of 47.147.700 AMD and dividends of 586.367.000 AMD.

The member of National Assembly Mnatsakan Mnatsakanyan on June 14,
2012 declared 16 pieces of real estate, 22.000 US dollars and 65
million AMD, income of 5.815.828 AMD, from which 2.315.828 AMD
remuneration, and 3 million 500 AMD income The member of the National
Assembly also has ordinary nominal shares `Talin transportation and
road’ CJSC.

Author:
Factinfo

`Open doors’ published the list of countries which chase Christians

International Christian `Open Doors’ organization has published the
list of five countries which chase Christians. Azerbaijan is on the
38th place.

According to the source Northern Korea is on the first place for
already 11 years old, then Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan come. Iraq,
Somalia, Maldivian islands Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea are in the
top ten. Chases against Christians have become stronger in Tanzania,
Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria as well.

Syria has appeared in 11th place from 36th because of the clashes in
the country. The armed clashes cause chases against Christians in this
country for the last two years.

11.01.13, 14:36

Cihan News Agency (CNA) – Turkey
December 28, 2012 Friday

Russia to continue active efforts on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Resolution, FM

MOSKOVA (CIHAN)- Russia will continue its active efforts on resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the country’s Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with “Interfax” agency.

“Russia will continue its active efforts for a political resolution of
the conflicts in the CIS space, and above all, the Nagorno-Karabakh
and Transnistria conflicts,” Russian Foreign Ministry’s website quotes
Lavrov as saying on Friday.

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 the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions regarding the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
CIHAN

Interfax, Russia
Dec 25 2012

Azeri claims of Karabakh historical belonging threaten regional
security – Armenian diplomat

YEREVAN. Dec 25

The statement of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev that the contemporary
Republic of Armenia lies on historical Azeri lands is a territorial
claim, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian said on
Tuesday.

“Straightforward territorial claims to Armenia, which has a history of
at least 3,000 years, by a country that appeared on the world map less
than a hundred years ago is more evidence of the agony of the
authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan,” the diplomat said.

Aliyev said on Monday, “Historic justice tells us that Karabakh is a
native land of Azerbaijan; the Azeri people have been living here for
centuries. Karabakh is not our only land. The contemporary Republic of
Armenia lies on historical Azeri land.”

“A lie passed for justice endangers security of the entire region,
primarily the people of Azerbaijan,” Kocharian said.

te rb

Presidential elections of Armenia have ended even before beginning –
political analyst

January 12, 2013 | 15:42

This Saturday, analyst Garik Kerian expressed his opinion to the
journalists that it seems that the upcoming presidential elections
have ended even before beginning. According to him, the upcoming
presidential elections in February have strong polarization of the
candidates, as the most likely winner, who is incumbent President
Serzh Sargsyan, has a distinct advantage over all others.

`Besides him, only Raffi Hovannisian and Hrant Bagratyan can organize
the campaign throughout the country. Therefore, this time the
opposition is unlikely to present any serious threat to Serzh
Sargsyan,’ Kerian said.

However, he said with regret, that the pre-election period is
characterized not so much by the discussions of the candidates, but by
the discussions of gossips whether Levon Ter-Petrosyan will enter the
elections, why Gagik Tsarukyan decided not to support anyone, and what
Robert Kocharian will decide to do.

`The fact that the essential debate remains in the background is
disappointing,’ he said.

HRANT BAGRATYAN: I WAS RIGHT IN MY DECISION

08:04 pm | Today | Politics

Members of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) knew that HAK MP Hrant
Bagratyan would run in February’s presidential race if Armenia’s
first President and HAK Leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan decided not to
challenge the election, Mr Bagratyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am).

The former Prime Minister of Armenia says he maintains relations
with Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Recently, Mr Bagratyan called the first
president to congratulate him on the New Year and birthday.

As to whether he could not have waited for Ter-Petrosyan’s decision for
another two days to announce his intention [to stand for president],
Hrant Bagratyan said, “I was right in my decision. Like a clown, I
twice cancelled the congress of the party. I made the announcement on
the second day of my nomination while the candidates were to announce
their intention [to run in the election] in November.

It does not matter that he [Levon Ter-Petrosyan] yielded his
parliamentary mandate to me. I have already thanked him for it.

Frankly speaking, I did not want to be involved in the HAK’s slate.

Ter-Petrosyan said that he would not run for president and I nominated
my candidacy. Have I been unscrupulous or dishonest?”

TEACHER IN ISTANBUL ARMENIAN SCHOOL KILLED

11 January 2013

The body of Ýlker Þahin, a teacher at an Armenian school in Ýstanbul
who was found dead in his home, is taken away in an ambulance. (Photo:
ÝHA)

A computer science teacher working for an Armenian school in Ýstanbul’s
Kadýkoy district was killed on Friday.

Ýlker Þahin (40), a computer science teacher at Aramyan Uncuyan
Primary School, was found dead in his home.

Þahin was living alone in the district’s Caferaða neighborhood,
and had not shown up at school since the Orthodox Christmas, which
is celebrated on Jan. 7. Worried about him, his friends broke down
his door and found him dead. His throat had been slit by a knife.

The Ýstanbul Police Department’s homicide bureau determined during
their inspection at the scene of the incident that there were signs
of struggle.

Þahin’s body was taken to the morgue of Goztepe Education and Research
Hospital after an examination by experts and a public prosecutor.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Þahin’s neighbors told the police that they do not think Þahin had
such serious problems with anybody that would lead to his murder. He
was a happy and easygoing man, they said.

Þahin divorced three years ago and has one daughter.

Initial reports also said that the police found bullets in Þahin’s
body.

In the most recent two attacks against Armenians, an 87-year-old
Armenian woman in the Samatya neighborhood of Ýstanbul’s Fatih district
was wounded by a burglar who broke into her apartment and stole her
jewelry along with some other valuable possessions in December. Again
in late December, an 84-year-old Armenian woman was murdered in her
apartment in Samatya. The act is believed to have been a hate crime
because a cross was carved into her chest with a sharp object.