Author: Babajanian Karo

YEREVAN SIMPLIFIES GRANTING OF CITIZENSHIP TO ARMENIANS IN SYRIA

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 23 2012
Russia

Armenia is developing simpler procedures for granting citizenship to
compatriots living in Syria and issuing of visas, the head of the
coordinating working group of the Ministry for Diasporas, Firdus
Zakaryan, said, News Armenia reports.

Only about a dozen Syrian Armenians have contacted the ministry to
move to Armenia. Clerics and community leaders say that there is no
emigration from Syria.

Over 100 Armenians have contacted the ministry. Only a third of them
complained about housing problems. The State Migration Service of
the Ministry for Territorial Administration was informed about them,
Zakaryan explains.

The Armenian government had talks on their employment on Thursday. It
decided to form a working group to solve the labour problem of Syrian
Armenians willing to return to Armenia.

COSSACK PATROL KILLED GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN IN KISLOVODSK

Experts’ club

July 23 2012
Georgia

A fight, near the Snezhinka cafe in Kislovodsk resulted in a killing
of 19-year-old Georgian. According to one version, a young man of
Georgian origin was talking to friends – an Armenian and Karachai.

Cossacks dressed in military uniforms killed 21-year-old Armenian named
Dzhonik with traumatic weapons, and cut a throat of the 19-year-old
Georgian. Their friend, Karachai was admitted to hospital with multiple
stab wounds, reported the Kavkazsli Uzel.

According to Russian experts, the attack was of a provocative nature
and its purpose was to incite ethnic hatred, although the police
investigate it as a common conflict.

Three participants of the incident were arrested. Stavropol police
is on emergency mode.

WHY ARMENIAN FORMER RULING COALITION MEMBER PARTY REFUSES TO SIGN QUESTIONS ON HARSNAKAR CASE?

news.am
July 23, 2012 | 20:29

YEREVAN. – The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) has not signed under the
questionnaire by the opposition on the Harsnakar case, where Armenian
military doctor Vahe Avetyan was beaten to death, PAP member Stepan
Margaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Margaryan participated in the questionnaire development along with
other representatives of opposition parties including the Armenian
National Congress (ANC), the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage.

“As a matter of fact, the problem is not the questionnaire but
the activity of Heritage. It seemed like they struggled against us
and could not decide independently. As a result, we decided to not
participate in initiatives with Heritage for the moment, while we
are ready to sign a similar document with the ANC and the ARFD,”
Margaryan said.

To note, the questionnaire was signed by Armenian opposition parties
represented in the parliament – ARFD, Heritage and the ANC – and was
sent to the Government and the Attorney General Office in order to
get details on the brutal beating of Avetyan and his colleagues at
the Harsnakar restaurant in June. The notorious restaurant is owned
by the family of influential figure from Armenian ruling Republican
Party Ruben Hayrapetyan.

EXPERT SAYS AZERI ARMAMENT NO PRIORITY FOR RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 23, 2012 – 18:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijan’s armament is neither a priority
for Russian foreign policy, nor a trend in its defense companies’
activities, senior fellow at the Institute of Political and Social
Studies of the Black Sea and Caspian region said.

“Russia’s official stance holds that sharp change in military-political
and strategic balance at the line of contact between the parties
should meet its interests in the South and North Caucasus regions,”
Andrei Areshev said, commenting on Russian-Azerbaijani arms deal.

He further said that unlike the Russian-Armenian military and technical
cooperation, Russian-Azerbaijani collaboration doesn’t bear such a
complex character.

“You might not believe but Russian government sometimes lacks resources
to regulate commercial activities of separate businesses,” he said,
adding that special defense companies are in charge of arms supply.

The political expert further deemed arms deals between Azerbaijan
and Western countries possible in the near future.

PIVOTAL BOLT OF SYSTEM

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 20:16:58 – 23/07/2012

The oligarchs who re-settled down in the parliament after the election
of May 6 and were preparing for the summer siesta have appeared in
a tough situation after Harsnakar tragedy because this tragedy again
brought the economic, political and legal issues of the oligarchy to
the foreground.

In this context, the situation of Samvel Alexanyan, one of the icons
of the oligarchy, is interesting. His friend Ruben Hairapetyan has
appeared under the fist of the society, and Samvel Alexanyan owes him
a moral duty to protect him from the society. In addition, Alexanyan
tried to do his duty immediately after the incident, announcing
that his friend had nothing to do with the crime committed by his
bodyguards. Later, Samvel Alexanyan was silent when the developments
made clear that the society is not joking and is committed to full
revelation.

Samvel Alexanyan, one of the heroes of the press on those days, was
silent. The oligarchs are able to calculate their interest, and most
probably Alexanyan figured out that he will not be able to help his
friend but may harm himself. Alexanyan likes to complain of his tough
life, he notes that his wife supports him, and his election campaign
was financed by Ruben Hairapetyan.

This would be funny were this not so serious. Recently, especially
during the parliamentary elections, Ruben Hairapetyan and Samvel
Alexanyan have been teasing and mocking at the society.

The ideologist of this tandem was certainly Samvel Alexanyan who gave
interviews and amused everyone until the tragedy.

In fact, the tragedy started earlier when Samvel Alexanyan was
appointed as the monopolist of import of consumer products. The
tragedy continued when Alexanyan and others like him appeared in
the parliament. Then they went beyond limits and announced that they
are politicians.

They went so far beyond the limit that even the government started
to worry. The government tried to return Alexanyan within his limit
through the State Commission of Protection of Economic Competition,
imposing several fines on him.

But the fines of the SCPEC are like a mosquito bite for Samvel
Alexanyan because they are aimed at the consequence, while the cause
continues to further enrich monopolist N1 who is the sole importer
of some products.

Meanwhile, human tragedies occur in Armenia in the result of human
cynicism and small mistakes which are not worth a human life. First
the government thought it could take from the oligarchy whatever it
can or needs. But as of today the oligarchy has already taken power.

And Samvel Alexanyan is the symbol of this situation, the symbol of
the power of the oligarchy, thus the pivotal bolt of the construction
called government.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS IS GOING TO DISPUTE COURT VERDICT AGAINST ITS ACTIVISTS

arminfo
Monday, July 23, 19:35

The Armenian National Congress is going to appeal to the Court of
Appeal against the verdict passed against its activities by the trial
court of Yerevan’s Center and Nork Marash communities on Monday.

Spokesman of the ANC Arman Musinyan says that they pin no hopes
on the Court of Appeal “as it is hard to attain justice under the
current regime.”

ANC activists Sargis Gevorgyan, David Kiramijyan, Artak Karapetyn have
been sentenced to 2-3 years in jail for hooliganism and use of force
while Tigran Arakelyan has been imprisoned for 6 years for applying
violence against a public officer.

The ANC and some other parties believe that the court’s verdict was
a political order, while member of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia Galust Sahakyan says that it was an appropriate response to
the crime committed by the ANC activists.

To remind, the activists were arrested following a clash with policemen
Aug 9 2011.

OSCE MG REMARKS ON NKR POLLS SIGNAL FOR BAKU TO FACE REALITY – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 23, 2012 – 17:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A political analyst at RA NAS Oriental Studies
Institute characterized the recent statement by OSCE MG co-chairs on
NKR presidential election as positive for Armenian side.

“The statement on July 19 polls has some new notes that triggered
a nervous reaction from Azerbaijan. The remarks sent a clear signal
that the official Baku can no longer ignore the 20 years’ realities
which became prevalent in the region,” Andrey Areshev told a news
conference in Yerevan.

“Despite OSCE MG co-chairs’ intricate statement, and remarks about
non-recognition of NKR, they “acknowledge the need for the de facto
authorities in Nagorno Karabakh to try to organize democratically the
public life of their population with such a procedure,” which was
never said before. I believe it to be a very positive signal which
may promote progress in Karabakh settlement talks,” the expert said.

“The well-balanced statement by OSCE MG co-chairs was prompted by
Russia’s stance on NKR presidential elections,” CIS States Institute
expert Mikhail Alexandrov said.

“The West does not recognize NKR presidential polls to retain Baku’s
support in its anti-Iranian activities, also deeming the elections
detrimental to Karabakh settlement talks. Russia, which believes
democratic elections cannot stand in the way of Karabakh negotiations,
however succeeded in disallowing unacceptable formulations in the
co-chairs’ statement,” the expert said.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Robert Bradtke of the
United States, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, and Jacques Faure
of France) have issued a statement regarding the July 19 presidential
election in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic.

“The Co-Chairs acknowledge the need for the de facto authorities in NK
to try to organize democratically the public life of their population
with such a procedure. However, the Co-Chairs note that none of their
three countries, nor any other country, recognizes Nagorno Karabakh
as an independent and sovereign state,” the Co-chairs said.

They also stress that “the procedures of July 19 in no way prejudge
the final legal status of Nagorno Karabakh or the outcome of the
ongoing negotiations to bring a lasting and peaceful settlement to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.”

S. MOVSESIAN GOT GOLDEN MEDAL IN RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT IN SWITZERLAND

Armenian GMs Sergei Movsesian and Hrant Melkumyan had successes at
the Rapid Chess Tournament that was held within the framework of the
festival in Biel, Switzerland. Armchess.am informs about this.

The Armenian chess players scored 7,5 points each out of 9 and shared
1-2 places. By the tie-break Movsesian took the first and Melkumyan –
second prizes.

TOURISTS NUMBER DROPS BY 9% IN JANUARY-MARCH – MINISTER

tert.am
23.07.12

The number of the tourists who visited Armenia in the first quarter
of this year was 10% lower compared to the same period of last year,
according to the minister of economy.

At a news conference on Monday, Tigran Davtyan said that no more than
104,374 tourists visited the country in January-March 2012.

“The decrease in incoming tourism is conditioned primarily with the
lowered number of visitors from Iran. That in turn is linked with a
sharp decrease in outgoing tourism from the country,” he said.

As for the outgoing tourism records for the first quarter, it was 1.95%
higher than last year (120,50 people).

The semi-annual records (covering the period between January and June)
will be available later in July.

“I think we will have positive records, with the positive dynamics
and the paces of high growth being maintained. The operation of the
Yerevan and Stepanakert airports will contribute to that. That’s to
say, we will have two up to-date-airports. The tourism development
will be also largely affected by several hotel complexes which are
currently under construction and will be put into operation after
they are complete,” he said.

The minister added that Armenia will soon offer five hotel brands,
creating serious guarantees for developing the sector.

REGIME TRYING TO INTIMIDATE YOUNG CIVIL ACTIVISTS INTO SILENCE – SARDARAPAT

tert.am
23.07.12

As a last resort to maintain power, the authorities are now attempting
to intimidate young civil activists by forcing them into silence and
subjecting them to criminal liability, Sardarapat Movement has said
in a statement.

The group expresses concerns that by persecuting and jailing the
opposition activists, the ruling regime is trying to take revenge
upon them.

“Considering the civil society developing around the active young
generation the most serious threat to its existence, the regime chooses
violence as the last resort to its existence and launches attack,”
they say.

Referring to the deadly incident in Harsnaqar (the restaurant owned by
businessman MP Ruben Hayrapetyan, where military doctor Vahe Avetyan
was beaten to death by security guards last month), they claim that the
authorities are in this way openly throwing a gauntlet to the public.

“Blatantly violating the law and lawfulness, the regime is trying to
settle accounts with, and menacingly threaten and silence the youth
that that stands at the core of civil activeness.

Feeling its agony, the criminal-oligarchic regime has fallen into a
fever of survival, committing yet another inevitable error, because it
deals with a civil society that is not to be intimidated by detention,”
the activists say, adding that the authorities’ policies in relation
to oppositionists will make their struggle more resolute.

“So it is our duty to make a full use of this opportunity, making yet
another step towards rebuilding the Armenian statehood and contributing
to the rebirth of the Motherland, by liberating the young [activists]
convicted wrongly. ”