Author: Babajanian Karo

SCPEC MADE NEW FINDINGS IN DRUG MARKET

ARMENPRESS
4 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The State Commission for Protection of
Economic Competition (SCPEC) made new findings in the drug market. As
Armenpress was informed by the SCPEC, a session would be held at the
Commission, during which the final results of the research, carried out
in the field of the state purchases in medicines, would be announced.

In particular, the findings in the field of medicines, provided by
the state to the needy layers of the society with discount or free
of charge, will be published.

BRIBERY OF EUROPEAN DELEGATES TO INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES BY AZERBAIJAN DISCUSSED IN STRASBOURG

arminfo
Thursday, October 4, 14:08

On sidelines of the PACE Autumn Session in Strasbourg, the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) raised and discussed the
issue of bribery of European delegates to international structures
by Azerbaijani delegations. The bribes aim lobbying Azerbaijan’s
interests.

A delegate from Germany raised the issue bringing the example of
bribery of German parliamentarians by Azerbaijan. The delegate
said Azerbaijan has been covering all the expenses of some German
delegates, including transport costs and travel expenses, for a
long period time. In exchange for that the parliamentarians lobby
Azerbaijan’s interests and exert pressure on other parliamentarians
to push through Baku’s stances. The delegate urged the colleagues to
tackle the problem before it is too late.

This week on Wednesday 3 October in the afternoon, a hugely important
debate will take place in Strasburg in the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE). The Parliament will discuss whether to
keep or discard the concept of “political prisoner” when they vote
on a report by German Social Democrat Christoph Straesser, Special
Rapporteur on political prisoners, on “The definition of political
prisoners”.

SYRIAN CONFLICT TAKING TOLL ON TURKEY’S LAST ARMENIAN VILLAGE

AL Monitor
Oct 2 2012

By: Hasan Kanbolat posted on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2012

I am in Vakifli village, the last Armenian village in Turkey’s Hatay
province, Samandag township, near the Syrian border.

Vakifli is on the slopes of the Musa Mountain. Over time this village
became a neighborhood of Samandag. We climb up to reach Vakifli
village, which is a couple of kilometers away from [Samandag] town
center. We are surrounded by reed beds, olive, mulberry and pomegranate
trees, while walking up the Musa.

The Gabris coffeehouse, under the shadow of gigantic pines, serves
orange, lemon, mandarin and mulberry syrups. The cool breeze coming
from the Mediterranean adds pleasure to our chat.

Bogos Silahli, a retired philosophy teacher from Istanbul, is occupied
with his preparations for the Philosophy Days festival, which will
celebrate its fourth anniversary in 2013. He already decided the topic:
“The Ethics of Food and Human Rights.”

I asked whether Silahli considers organizing Philosophy Days on the
Middle East or the Syrian issue. He calmly said he doesn’t want to
get involved in politics.

Despite its decreasing population, Vakifli is becoming more and more
important since it is the only Armenian village in Turkey. It is
undergoing restoration, while preserving its old architecture. Its
population has dropped down to 135 Armenians.

There are 35 households in Vakifli. During the 1940s, it used to be
the biggest village in the area, yet its population decreased to 320
by 1964. Its youth immigrated to big cities or abroad to either work
or study. The average age in the village is now about 60-70. With the
decrease in the number of children, the village school was shut down.

You come across old people in the streets and gardens of Vakifli,
while the roads are filled with luxury cars with foreign plates owned
by youngsters. During the holidays, those who live abroad or in big
cities visit their native village; in summer the population of Vakifli
goes up to 2,000.

The family of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of Armenia,
is originally from Vakifli. The family first migrated to Syria from
Vakifli, and then to Armenia from Syria.

With the opening of the nearby Hatay airport, Antakya’s increasing
prospects of becoming a touristic city, development of relations
between Turkey and the Middle East, and the lifting of visas between
Turkey and Syria, as well as Lebanon, Vakifli started to enjoy many
visitors. Accordingly, some small hotels and social facilities were
constructed in the village.

However, the civil war in Syria and the worsening relations between
Turkey and Syria had an adverse impact on the village. The tourist
flow from abroad and Turkey to the village has decreased.

Villagers are worried about the hardships faced by Armenians in Syria
and the beginning of their emigration to Armenia. They are hesitant to
talk about the Syrian issue. In general, they hold the opinion that it
is the imperialist powers that stirred up the crises in Syria. They
also think that the fall of [Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad is
inevitable, yet that peace won’t come to Syria after his fall.

The church in Vakifli serves as a unifying factor. The building was
constructed for silk farming in 1890. It was converted to a church
in 1924 and reconstructed in 1996. It is a beautiful architectural
monument with stone masonry.

The two bell towers of the church distinguish it from other examples.

Every year, Surp Asdvadzadzin (Annunciation Day) is celebrated on
the second Sunday of August, which is also the harvest time, in
this church.

Herise (a special food eaten during this occasion) is cooked in seven
boilers in the garden of the church. There is a symbolic meaning of
this number. Each boiler represents the seven other Armenian villages
that used to be located in the region (the contemporary names of these
villages can be listed as: (Yogunoluk, Bityas, Kebusiye, Hidirbey,
Hacihabipli, Azir and Vakifli).

Vakifli hosts its guests coming from other regions of Turkey, Armenia,
Syria, Lebanon, the United States and other countries during the
Christian festivals. Despite the clashes in Syria, this year this
festival was celebrated in peace in Vakifli.

Translated from Turkish. View original at

AZERBAIJANI REPUTATION SUFFERED GREATLY DUE TO SAFAROV INCIDENT: FRG AMBASSADOR

ARMENPRESS
3 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov act
and subsequent developments do not comply with European values. As
Armenpress reports newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic
of Armenia, Rainer Morel told the reporters, all is done refer to
Safarov case is against the international standards.

Germany has not yet come forth officially pertain to
Azerbaijani-Hungary transaction, which in accordance to the
interlocutor is conditioned by the fact that the main priorities of
Germany and European Union refer to unstable situation prevention
in the region. “We fathom the essence if the issue, yet are more
concentrated on the fact that already tensed relations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan would not get finally ruined” Ambassador underscored.

In the words of Rainer Morel the incident has been rather circulated
in Germany. “Nobody in Germany accepts this. Azerbaijani reputation
has greatly suffered by the incident and reportedly Azerbaijani
further actions must be regarded under the light of this incident”
Germany top diplomat noted. Dwelling on Armenian-Hungarian relations,
the ambassador noted Germany does not criticize Armenia for suspension
of diplomatic relations with Hungary. Morel noted it is up to Armenian
to suspend diplomatic relations or later on to restore it.

Touching upon Armenian-Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement issues Ambassador stated territorial integrity is not the
single principle and that one of international law main principles
namely nations’ determination should not be disregarded too. We
had witnessed the same in Europe, numerous human and territorial
losses, yet currently we have established good relations with our old
enemies. Ambassador noted the need to make more efforts in the future.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE DISCONTENT WITH DETENTION CONDITIONS FOR LIFERS IN ARMENIAN PRISONS

news.am
October 03, 2012 | 14:04

The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published
the report on its ad hoc visit to Armenia in December 2011, together
with the response of the Armenian Government. These documents have
been made public at the request of the Armenian authorities, says
the statement on the Committee’s website.

The 2011 ad hoc visit was carried out to assess the steps taken by the
Armenian authorities to implement long-standing recommendations made
by the CPT, in particular those concerning the treatment of prisoners
sentenced to life imprisonment. The Committee’s delegation visited
Yerevan-Kentron Prison and carried out a targeted visit to the unit
for lifers and the disciplinary unit of Nubarashen Prison.

The delegation received no recent allegations of deliberate physical
ill-treatment of prisoners by staff in either of the prisons visited.

In general, the delegation observed that the attitude of staff towards
prisoners was quite correct.

However, the poor material environment and impoverished regime at
Kentron Prison made it unsuitable for lengthy periods of detention. As
for the conditions of detention of life-sentenced prisoners held at
Kentron, the CPT states that they could be considered as amounting to
inhuman treatment. More generally, the Committee notes that virtually
none of the recommendations made after previous visits as regards
the detention of lifers have been implemented.

In their response, the Armenian authorities provide information on
the various measures being taken to address the concerns raised by
the Committee. In particular, they stress that most of the CPT’s
recommendations will be implemented once the new prison in Armavir
becomes operational in December 2013.

CHORRORD INKNISHKHANUTYUN: GATHERING OF CRIMINAL AUTHORITIES IN SHENGAVIT

Panorama.am
03/10/2012

Republican MP Martin Sargsyan is going to organize a big gathering
of Yerevan’s Shengavit district’s criminal authorities at the end of
this week, Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun reports.

“According to some information, the gathering will bring together
Ashot, alias Bldi, Orinats Yerkir Party member Ruben Masumyan (Benzin
Rubo), Lyovik of Charbakh, Martin’s brother, Armen Sargsyan, etc. It
is noteworthy that Prosperous Armenia Party MP Abraham Manukyan
(Abo of Haycoop) as well as Harutyun Gharagyozyan (Karamel Harut)
could also attend the gathering,” the paper writes.

“PACK NEEDS NEW LEADER”

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:57:07 – 03/10/2012

Vartan Oskanian’s case reveals interesting aspects of the psychological
state of the criminal-oligarchic government. Reactions to this case
hint the system is in fear.

For example, having approved the prosecutor general’s motion, Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan said the president sounded crisp and clear when he
said that those guilty must be punished. If Vartan Oskanian is not
guilty, the bodies which launched the process will be punished.

Abrahamyan’s statement is interesting for two reasons. By saying “Serzh
Sargsyan sounded crisp and clear when he said that those guilty must
be punished” Abrahamyan recognized Serzh Sargsyan, but then he went on
to recognize Robert Kocharyan, considering that the attack against PAP
and Vartan Oskanian is viewed as an attack against Robert Kocharyan.

Hovik Abrahamyan, who feels responsible not only for his global
role in parliament but also for his “specific role” in this case,
actually hints to Robert Kocharyan that he acted in accordance with
Serzh Sargsyan’s statement, and if Oskanian is found not guilty,
it will turn out that he was not a participant of the conspiracy was
just deceived since he has not broken any systemic rule consciously.

Abrahamyan wants to insure himself in case Kocharyan returns and in
case Hovsepyan introduces a motion against him.

At the same time defining the supremacy of Serzh Sargsyan’s word,
Hovik Abrahamyan assures him that his effort to have an honest image
in front of Robert Kocharyan does not mean he is not loyal to Serzh
Sargsyan but is just for security reasons.

Hovik Abrahamyan’s security is evident in this case and it was
expressed by not only his statements but also his offended reaction to
Naira Zohrabyan’s speech during the discussion of Oskanian’s case. He
said not of all Zohrabyan’s observations were objective. If we add
that Vartan Oskanian stated that he was deceived by Hovik Abrahamyan
then it becomes clear that Abrahamyan really needs guarantees of
systemic security.

The reason is that Hovik Abrahamyan has no idea what is happening in
reality in Vartan Oskanian’s case. Otherwise, he would have never
“deceived” Vartan Oskanian knowing that so he deceives Robert
Kocharyan which would be worrying. Abrahamyan, without having the
whole information, can’t guarantee his own actions.

In this case Hovik Abrahamyan is not alone, his state is the same for
the whole system, the Republicans who voted against Oskanian. They
don’t own the whole information and they are just led by Serzh
Sargsyan’s word who said it’s good for everyone.

Everyone doubts, except Galust Sahakyan, whether it will be good for
all or only for Serzh Sargsyan. Sure, this is not the only source
of doubts. This may indeed be good for all. But the biggest fear of
everyone is that tomorrow it may be good for everyone to sacrifice
someone else. And they think each of them can be the someone else,
so the rest will vote against him.

The system is trapped in fear with no way out because voting is not a
way out. The “pack needs a leader” in order not to vote, while there
is no one and the old one does not give a clear message of what to do.

The point is about Kocharyan.

All this is not a consequence of deception but self-deception in
which the ruling system of Armenia is engaged for 21 years. The long
self-deception has now brought about the fear deadlock. The only way to
live calmly is to be caught. The ruling system is facing the dilemma:
to live with the intolerable fear or be caught and get rid of it.

L’AFFAIRE CIVILITAS/OSKANIAN FAIT COULER BEAUCOUP D’ENCRE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 3 octobre 2012

La session de l’AN au cours de laquelle le Procureur general Aghvan
Hovsepian a presente la requete pour obtenir l’autorisation des
elus a la levee de l’immunite parlementaire de Vartan Oskanian,
depute d’Armenie prospère et ancien Ministre des AE, afin de pouvoir
l’inculper dans le cadre de l’affaire Civilitas pour blanchiment
d’argent, constitue le principal sujet d’actualite. Le Procureur
general a indique que la pre-enquete avait permis de collecter
suffisamment de preuves pour affirmer que M. Oskanian se serait
approprie des fonds importants verses a la fondation Civilitas a des
fins de bienfaisances [par l’Americain M. Huntsman], qu’il aurait
ensuite utilises pour son profit. Il s’agirait, selon RFE/RL, de 1 400
000 $ que M. Huntsman aurait verses sur le compte de M. Oskanian en
tant que don destine a Civilitas, dont 181 000 $ auraient ete depenses
par M. Oskanian pour ses propres besoins (il les aurait deposes dans
une banque et s’en serait egalement approprie les interets). Ainsi,
il se trouve, selon RFE/RL, que la ” victime principale ” de cette
affaire serait la fondation Civilitas elle-meme, dont les moyens
financiers auraient ete detournes par son fondateur. Civilitas et M.

Huntsman, quant a eux, disent ne pas avoir de grief a l’egard de M.

Oskanian, celui-ci affirmant de son côte que les membres du Conseil
d’administration avaient ete informes de cette operation.

Le Procureur general a par ailleurs precise que la levee de l’immunite
parlementaire de Vartan Oskanian etait necessaire pour mener une
enquete plus objective et qu’il n’etait question ni d’arrestation,
ni de mise en garde a vue. Ses activites ne seraient aucunement
restreintes. Azg et Hraparak estiment que les arguments du Procureur
general etaient loin d’etre convaincants.

Prenant la parole, M. Oskanian a minutieusement presente, de manière
très emotionnelle, la provenance des moyens financiers figurant sur
ses comptes bancaires, indiquant que le bienfaiteur, M. Huntsman,
l’avait autorise a utiliser a sa guise une partie de la somme versee a
Civilitas. Il a qualifie cette affaire de ” tempete dans une goutte
d’eau “, dans la mesure où toutes les transactions avaient ete
transparentes, toutes les parties impliquees en ayant eu connaissance.

” L’argent en question existe bien, mais il n’y a pas de partie
plaignante “, a-t-il lance, ajoutant qu’il n’etait pas un ” voleur
“, ni n’avait jamais ete implique dans la corruption. Il a dit voir
dans ce dossier une affaire politique clairement liee aux prochaines
elections presidentielles. Et de conclure que ” le pouvoir, qui
a echoue dans tous les domaines, cherche a eliminer un concurrent
influent, en l’occurrence le parti Armenie prospère, qui pourrait
constituer une veritable alternative “. Enfin, M. Oskanian a indique
que samedi dernier, la somme en question avait ete restituee a la
fondation Civilitas.

Le vote secret est prevu mardi 2 octobre. Naïra Zohrabian, secretaire
du groupe parlementaire d’Armenie prospère, a appele au boycott
du vote, indiquant que les deputes d’Armenie prospère quitteraient
les locaux de l’AN, mais que les cameras de la chaîne de television
Kentron (proche de Gaguik Tsaroukian) filmeraient tous les details du
deroulement du vote. Selon Mme Zohrabian, il n’est pas impossible que
le parti discute de la future participation aux sessions de l’AN. Elle
a ajoute que les ” represailles ” a l’encontre d’Armenie prospère
avaient debute dès l’annee dernière, a l’occasion du congrès du parti,
et n’avaient cesse de se multiplier suite a son refus de rejoindre
la coalition gouvernementale. Mme Zohrabian, membre de la delegation
armenienne a l’APCE, a dit avoir l’intention d’evoquer cette affaire
Oskanian dans l’enceinte de cette instance dès cette semaine.

D’après l’ensemble de la presse, les deputes Dachnak, qui ont defendu
M. Oskanian avec acharnement, et ceux du parti Heritage boycotteraient
le vote. Certains commentateurs affirment que sur decision de LTP,
les deputes du CNA, a l’exception de Nikol Pachinian, ancien ”
prisonnier politique ” très favorable a la levee de l’immunite de
M. Oskanian pour sa ” part de responsabilite ” dans les emeutes de
mars 2008, devraient egalement boycotter le vote. Dans ces conditions,
le parti Republicain risquerait de ne pas reunir le quorum.

Plusieurs quotidiens reproduisent le discours du depute d’Armenie
prospère, Vahe Hovhannissian, qui a mis en garde les autorites
contre un phenomène susceptible de faire le jeu de la Turquie et
de l’Azerbaïdjan : deux ex-Ministres des AE armeniens, Alexandre
Arzoumanian et Vartan Oskanian, ayant ete a la tete de la diplomatie
armenienne pendant 12 ans au total, ont ete accuses de blanchiment
d’argent, accusation très grave sur le plan international.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 1er octobre 2012

GEORGIE/ELECTIONS : LE PRESIDENT SAAKACHVILI DOIT DEMISSIONNER (IVANICHVILI)
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 3 octobre 2012

Le leader de la coalition d’opposition vainqueur des legislatives
en Georgie, le milliardaire Bidzina Ivanichvili, a appele mardi le
president Mikheïl Saakachvili a demissionner.

“La seule bonne decision pour Saakachvili serait maintenant de
demissionner”, a declare M. Ivanichvili, probable futur Premier
ministre, lors d’une conference de presse a Tbilissi.

Il a egalement averti que les fonctionnaires qui avaient commis des
delits sous le gouvernement sortant seraient poursuivis en justice.

“Il n’y aura pas de persecution d’anciens serviteurs de l’Etat,
a l’exception de ceux qui ont commis des delits. Ceux-ci devront
repondre de leurs actes devant la justice”, a ajoute M. Ivanichvili.

En abordant ses priorites en matière de politique etrangère, M.

Ivanichvili a indique que la Georgie entendait ameliorer ses relations
– aujourd’hui execrables – avec la Russie voisine et rejoindre l’Otan,
une ambition vue d’un mauvais oeil par Moscou.

“Nous devons normaliser nos relations avec la Russie. Notre strategie
pour devenir membre de l’Otan reste inchangee”, a declare M.
Ivanichvili.

Les relations diplomatiques entre la Georgie et la Russie sont
interrompues depuis la brève guerre de l’ete 2008 pour le contrôle de
l’Ossetie du Sud, region georgienne separatiste où Moscou maintient
depuis des troupes.

L’amelioration des liens entre les deux pays est impossible avec M.

Saakachvili, bete noire de Moscou que Vladimir Poutine, connu pour
ses formules a l’emporte-pièce, a menace un jour de “pendre par
les couilles”.

M. Ivanichvili entend egalement maintenir de bonnes relations avec
les Etats-Unis, allie de Tbilissi.

“Si vous me demandez, +l’Amerique ou la Russie+, je reponds que nous
avons besoin de bonnes relations avec tout le monde”, a-t-il dit.

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE TRANSFER TO YEREVAN

Trend
Oct 2 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is concerned that Russia wants to transfer its military
bases in Armenia to Yerevan, the first deputy speaker of the
Azerbaijani parliament Ziyafet Asgarov said at the first meeting of
the parliamentary autumn session on Monday.

“In this regard, several meetings were held with the relevant agencies
which stated that the issue is under consideration,” he said. “After
their completion, an official response will be given.”

Sabir Rustamkhanli also raised the issue of Russia transferring its
military bases in Armenia to Yerevan.

“No one can guarantee that Russian armament will not be supplied from
Armenia to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, because the Armenians will
work at these bases,” Rustamkhanli said.

The MP believes it is necessary to appeal to Russia and the UN for
the latter to seriously react to the plans of the Russian military
transfer to Armenia.

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 the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.