Author: Babajanian Karo

THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA URGES TO SEND A FREE WEBMAIL TO SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES

ARMENPRESS
20 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian National Committee of
America calls for sending a free ANCA WebMail to your Senators and
Representative and urge immediate action, reports Armenpress citing
The Armenian National Committee of America.

On the morning of Monday, June 4th, during the early hours of Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Caucasus, Azerbaijan launched a
brazen attack into the Tavush region of Armenia, killing three Armenian
soldiers,potentially sparking a regional war that could involve NATO,
and setting back the cause of a peaceful, negotiated settlement. Over
the next two days, additional attacks led to six more deaths along the
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh borders. It’s time for America and the
rest of the international community to take Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev at his word when he openly threatens to restart his war against
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The cost of appeasement – and the dangers
of a renewed war – are far too high for us to either dismiss Aliyev’s
threats or to ignore the hazard he represents to the region and beyond.

Please send a free ANCA WebMail to your Senators and Representative
and urge immediate action.

DOCTORS CAN DO NOTHING ELSE

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:13:33 – 20/06/2012

The doctor beaten by the security guard of Harsnakar restaurant
is still in extremely bad condition, the ministry of defense told
Lragir.am. The head of the nose-throat-ear department Vahe Avetyan
has been operated, but his condition is not bettering. His life does
not depend any more on medical intervention.

Recall Vahe Avetyan is one of the doctors who were severely beaten
by Ruben Hayrapetyan’s security guards in the evening of June 17.

PM SARGSYAN PROMISES TO KEEP TABS ON “MORAL CHARACTER” OF JUDGES/PROSECUTORS
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
11:27, June 20, 2012

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, flanked by his ministers, spoke at
a special session of the parliament today, outlining the government’s
strategy for the next five years.

Sargsyan particularly stressed reforms related to army service and
measures to improve the treatment of new conscripts in the ranks.

The PM also underlined the government’s push to raise the level of
accountability of law enforcement regarding the rights of citizens
and promised that violators would be punished.

Sargsyan said that the government would take steps to improve the
level of professional training of judges and prosecutors and keep tight
tabs on their moral character, especially when dealing with the public.

He assured Mps that the government would ensure the continuance of
the past five year strategy by carrying out projects that had been
delayed due to the financial crisis.

CAUCASUS LIKES MASCULINE?: EXPERT SAYS ARMENIA AND THE REGION UNDER THREAT OF SEX IMBALANCE BECAUSE OF SELECTIVE ABORTIONS
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
20.06.12

Photo: Mher Manukyan/UN office

Christophe Z Guilmoto

Selective abortions in Armenia are likely to cause demographic sex
imbalance, experts say, and in some fifteen years young Armenian men
will have difficulty finding a partner, since the number of male
residents will significantly exceed that of the country’s female
population.

Among world-famous experts on sex imbalances at birth and selective
abortions, Dr Christophe Z Guilmoto presently carrying out research
in Armenia, said during a meeting with press at the United Nation’s
Yerevan office last week that there are ten countries in the world
where an increase in the number of boys has been observed over the
past few years.

Doctor Guilmoto’s research led to PACE adopting a resolution in
October 2011 on “Pre-natal sex selection” tracing sex imbalances in
Armenia and in the entire region.

“The normal biological ratio is considered to be 102-106 boys to100
girls, whereas in the South Caucasus – Azerbaijan, Georgia, and
Armenia, the ratio starting from 1993 is 115-117 boys versus 100
girls, which is a serious deviation from the norm. The highest gap
in the ratio is observed in China with 118 boys versus 100 girls,”
says Dr Guilmoto, adding that if each of those boys later decides to
form a family with a representative of the same nationality, finding
a bride is going to be challenging because of the decrease in the
number of girls/women in their age-range.

“This sex discrimination of Armenians is likely to lead to serious
demographic issues in the country in some fifteen years’ time. There
will be a “deficit” of women and a fierce competition among men
fighting for a woman; this will ultimately lead to increase of
prostitution and trafficking among the Armenian society,” says
Guilmoto.

The research carried out within the framework of “Strengthening Sexual
and Reproductive Health Assistance Services” by joint efforts of the
UN Population Fund, RA Healthcare Ministry, the Republican Institutes
of Reproductive Health, Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology,
has revealed that over the last five years in Armenia around 7,200
out of 900,000 women of reproductive age have aborted their pregnancy
preventing the birth of baby girls.

(Abortions are legal in Armenia, however by the law on “Reproductive
health and reproductive rights” abortion is allowed only in case
pregnancy under 12 weeks).

The 2011 research surveyed 2,830 families among whom were women in
the age range between15 and 49 who had been pregnant at least once
and who had ever had an abortion.

Sociologist Artak Saghatelyan, participating in the survey, explained
the preference of baby boys to girls by the “need to continue the
family line and have the carrier of the surname”.

“However, in Armenia the desire to have boys has to do with the
fact that boys keep the family hearth, take care of their parents
and generally have better chances of finding a job and making their
and the family’s living,” says Saghatelyan adding that two of five
surveyed women said they wanted their first-born child to be a boy,
and only one out of seven said they wanted a girl.

“Thus, the average data point to the fact that because of selective
abortions Armenia is losing 1,400 potential mothers every year,”
says the sociologist.

ARF CONCERNED ABOUT MONOPOLIZED MEDIA

07:06 pm | Today | Politics

Aghvan Vardanyan, an MP of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaktsutyun, today called the government’s attention to
the monopolized media. He cited an extract from the 2008 government
program in which the executive body pledged to ensure liberalization
of media.

“Today the media sector is subjected to secret monopolization. We
have irresponsible media and irresponsible government,” he stressed.

Then the ARF Mp recalled the ‘brilliant idea’ of Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan who said earlier in the day that publicity
and openness are the shortest way to reduce the shadow economy.

“And are they going to do it with the current media?” Aghvan Vardanyan
raised a rhetoric

THE PERSPECTIVES OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN ARMENIA

ARMRADIO.AM
20.06.2012 13:34

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
presented “Perspectives of VET in Armenia” Conference today.

During the conference the results of “Employment-oriented Qualification
in the Key Sectors of Economic Development in Armenia” three years
project (2009 – 2012) were presented. The aim of the project was to
promote economic development in Armenia by capacity building.

Karine Harutyunyan, Deputy Minister of Education and Science,
Hans-Jochen Schmidt, HE Ambassador of the Federal Republic of
Germany delivered opening speeches. Experts and representatives from
ministries, education institutions, and international organisations
participated and presented their ideas.

Thematic discussions on vocational education and e-learning,
cooperation between VET institutions and private sector,
interconnection of the VET institutions and adult education were held
during the final ceremony.

Within the framework of the project the experts trained 20 school
managers and 45 teachers. School managers upgraded their soft skills
and as well as management and leaderships skills while teachers
learned new teaching methods and innovative approaches to learning.

In order to make the project sustainable the experts developed
comprehensive training manuals which were handed over to the Ministry
of Education for further use in capacity building of managers and
teachers in the VET sector.

The Project is financed by the German Federal Foreign Office
and coordinated by the Capacity Building International (InWEnt)
organization.

U.S. SENATE PANEL APPROVES AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE TO AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 20, 2012 – 10:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 19, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
voted to approve a number of Ambassadorial nominees, including Richard
Morningstar, whom the Obama Administration designated to serve as
Ambassador to Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).

Morningstar’s nomination comes amid Azerbaijan’s brazen June 4
ceasefire violation. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) stated that it was
“absolutely critical that Ambassador Morningstar use his position to
respond to and counter the government of Azerbaijan’s escalating acts
of aggression and threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.”

Responding to Senator Boxer’s question submitted for the record,
Ambassador-designate Morningstar pledged that “if confirmed,
I will make the case that irresponsible rhetoric is unacceptable
and undermines our efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
conflict. I will urge the Azerbaijani government to show restraint
in its rhetoric and to prepare its people for peace, not war.”

During last week’s confirmation hearing, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
also raised serious concerns about Azerbaijan’s cease-fire violations
that coincided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s June visit
to the South Caucasus region, and asked Ambassador-designate a series
of pointed questions about the resulting escalation of tensions and
U.S. policy to restrain Azerbaijan’s bellicosity.

Ambassador-designate Morningstar stated in response that there is
no higher U.S. priority in the region than “the peaceful solution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.” In addition, the nominee pledged:
“I will do everything that I can to discourage” inflammatory language
or any “actions that bring about loss of life,” and create increased
tensions or instability.

Other Senators have also expressed concerns whether U.S. policy is
tilted toward Azerbaijan in view of its oil resources, which finances
its mounting purchases of offensive weapons. Both Morningstar and his
predecessor designee, Matthew Bryza, have been active in facilitating
negotiations over pipeline deals transporting Caspian oil to the West.

“The Armenian Assembly continues to be deeply troubled by Azerbaijan’s
incessant war-mongering, including reports by RFE-RL that a
kindergarten in the village of Chinari was peppered with bullets by
Azerbaijan’s June cross-border incursion,” stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. “This is simply unacceptable,” Ardouny added.

In the Assembly’s letter to all Members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee as well as its June 4th letter to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, the Assembly urged that the deplorable actions by Azerbaijan
be “roundly condemned” and stated that all options must be on the
table, including “fully enforcing Section 907 of the Freedom Support
Act” as well as “ceasing all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan.”

Responding to the Assembly’s letter on behalf of Secretary Clinton,
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip
Gordon stated that “the United States has urged the parties to refrain
from the use or threat of force, [and] as a Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk-Group, we remain committed to working with the sides to achieve
a peaceful settlement.” In addition, the letter stated that U.S.

“security assistance to the region is carefully considered to ensure
it does not undermine efforts for a peaceful settlement in Nagorno
Karabakh.

Having cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the next
step in the nomination process is for the full Senate to approve
Morningstar’s nomination.

G. HARUTYUNYAN: “AZERBAIJAN IS IN A COMPLICATED GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION NOW”

Today the director of Noravank fund Gagik Harutyunyan mentioned the
announcement made by OSCE Minsk co-chair countries governors during
G-20 summit, noting that this one does not particularly differ from
the previous announcements.

“Comparing the previous 2, 3 similar announcements it becomes obvious
that the few changes were made and almost all of the announcements
have the same definition. Anyhow, it should be understood that any
negotiation is better than no negotiation at all”, pointed the speaker.

>From G. Harutyunyan’s point of view, Azerbaijan has appeared to be in
a complicated geopolitical situation, “The second front was opened for
Azerbaijan. Unwillingly, it was involved in anti-Iranian activities”.

Discussing the regional developments G. Harutyunyan noted that US
position is retreated and activeness on behalf of Russian position
is observed. According to him, Turkey holds evident anti-Armenian
politics, playing the role of the elder brother of Azerbaijan as well
“Turkey-Azerbaijan, Armenia-Iran-Russia parts factors and the changes
caused by them contribute to the crystallization of the region. It
becomes obvious who wishes whose goodwill”.

Regarding the provocations made by Azerbaijan, G. Harutyunyan
emphasized that our counterblow was adequate, “The death of the youth
from two sides is tragic. But our counterblow was justified. It refers
to 40-50 casualties from Azerbaijani side and this is the only way,
taking into account the fact that the Azerbaijanian principally object
to the snipers retreat from their positions”.

As for the upcoming developments, the director of Noravank does not
expect serious improvements, optimistically hoping that the issue of
Iran will not be aggreviated.

BAKU CLAIMS NOT HAVING ARMENIAN PRISONERS OF WAR, WHILE ARMENIA SAYS THEY KEEP 90

tert.am
19.06.12

There are no Azerbaijani prisoners of war in Armenia as of today,
with Azerbaijan officially stating that neither it has Armenian
prisoners of war.

“Though the Azerbaijanis dismiss the existence of Armenian prisoners
of war and hostages in their territory, we have many times stated
and now too we reiterate that a big number of Armenians is held
in Azerbaijan’s captivity,” Armen Kaprielyan, head of a task group
affiliated to the Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing
People told Tert.am.

According to him, the number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages
in Azerbaijan reaches 90 among them are both servicemen and peaceful
people.

The latter said Mamedbagir Ahunadze, who crossed the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani border on January 23, was handed to a third
country not wanting to return homeland. Six Armenian servicemen and
one civic family have also been given to a third country.

“Three of them have been given to a third country in 2012, the other
3 in 2011. As to Azerbaijanis, serviceman Roman Huseynov was handed to
a third country last year,” Kaprielyan said, stressing that confirming
letters have been received from International Committee of Red Cross.

On June 15 a regular sitting of the Commission took place chaired by
the head of the commission, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

HOW TO COVER UP RUBEN HAIRAPETYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:47:01 – 19/06/2012

Hrachya Zohrabyan, manager of Harsnakar Restaurant owned by Member
of Parliament Ruben Hairapetyan, Republican, held an interview and
denied that Ruben Hairapetyan had been aware of the doctor beaten
severely in his restaurant. Besides, he said the doctors dining in
the restaurant were drunk, misbehaved, provoked a squabble and one
of the doctors fell down.

This information featured different mass media and the police
clarification. Note that after the incident in Harsnakar the military
doctor Vahe Avetyan was taken to hospital with a severe brain injury,
underwent surgery and is now in a critical state.

However, the mass media reported that Ruben Hairapetyan was not only
aware but also himself ordered his bodyguards to punish the doctors.

It is possible that the drunken soldiers provoked the incident. It is
also possible that Ruben Hairapetyan did not know what his bodyguards
were doing. However, it is notable that Ruben Hairapetyan is being
covered up by distorting the problem and shifting the issue from the
legal level to the level of certain notions and blaming the sufferer.

This is always the case in similar situations.

By the way, Ruben Hairapetyan has frequently addressed verbal threats
to different people publicly on different occasions, also by press and
television. Hence, it is not ruled out that he had ordered to beat
the doctor. The courageous bodyguards could have asked the drunken
doctor, if he was drunken indeed and misbehaved, to behave himself
or at least called the police.

Judging by the efforts of the law enforcement bodies and the mass
media, Ruben Hairapetyan will get away with this and will retain his
seat in parliament and his other privileges. And he will further make
threats to people, in accordance with his understanding of life.

Meanwhile, Ruben Hairapetyan should think on the danger of being
guided by one’s notions. For instance, he certainly disliked being
beaten during the election in 2007, again upon certain notions.