SEVAG MEKHITARIAN WINNER OF BRAZIL OPEN
Panorama.am
10/04/2012
Grand Master Krikor-Sevag Mekhitarian scored 6 points out of 7
and took the first prize at the 2nd Brazil Open held in Fortaleza,
Armenian chess federation website report says.
According to the source the same results showed GMs Cubas (Paraguay),
Vescovi and El Debs (Brazil) but they were behind the Armenian chess
player on tie-break.
MP DUBS MARAGHA AS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CONTINUATION BY AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 10, 2012 – 14:01 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Yerevan hosted an event on April 10 dedicated to
the 20th anniversary of the massacre of Armenians in the village of
Maragha by Azerbaijan.
Armenian MP, Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO leader Larisa Alaverdyan
extended her condolences to witnesses and survivors of Maragha tragedy
who attended the event organized by her organization.
“We all owe you, because those responsible for this terrible crime
did not face punishment yet. Maragha events are incontestable fact
of continuation of the Armenian Genocide by Azerbaijani authorities,”
she stressed. MP also noted that it was hard for their NGO to collect
information about the victims and captive Armenians.
Currently the village is under Azerbaijan’s control, and it’s
impossible to get information from there.
In addition, the captives were usually privately sold into slavery,
and then faced terrible fate. The NGO does not disclose these details,
to save people from suffering. Still, due to materials provided by the
relatives, Against Legal Arbitrariness keeps pursuing its activities
through contacts with different international organizations.
This event aimed not only to honor the memory of victims and
their relatives, but also promote the fight against such genocide
manifestations around the world.
52 people were massacred in Maragha (Leninavan) settlement, Mardakert
region, on April 10, 1992. 57 people were taken hostages, including 9
children and 18 women. The destiny of 19 people is still unknown. The
slaughter continued on April 22-23, when the survived residents of
Maragha returned to bury those dead. The data is confirmed by Helsinki
Watch international human rights organization.
OLIGARCHS’ PULSE RATE IS HIGH
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 15:08:20 – 10/04/2012
Member of Karabakh committee Ashot Manucharyan dwelt today on the
ongoing election processes. According to him, the main issue worrying
the people is whether it is possible to choose one life, which is out
of the election processes since that life is related with fundamental
orientates, change of the system of values which is not raised by
the participants in the election, that is the main participants are
in the same field of values, they don’t make any statement that they
are going to change the system of materialist people.
Ashot Manucharyan noted that there are two types of election
participants one of which thinks people just need to accumulate riches
and should do that at any cost, the other type thinks people need
to do it within the frameworks of the constitutional order. “The
Constitutional life of today’s world is the system of robbery and
some game rules. Unfortunately, another philosophy, which could come
up connected with other social systems was not ensured even by Robert
Poladyan, who was the most organized figure of this force but Armenia’s
future is related to such factors”, says Ashot Manucharyan.
He also noted that there is a serious split between the political
forces, which was not in place ten days ago, and after the signing
of the agreement on the joint election staff, the situation changed.
Ashot Manucharyan says today Armenia fully depends on the West –
the U.S. and Great Britain, plus, it is trying to resist Russia,
which evidently is absent from the upcoming elections.
According to him, the whole process is based on a Western scenario and
after the victory of the planned forces the events will develop like
in Georgia. So, the signing of the document changed the situation and
now it is difficult to guess the developments, said Ashot Manucharyan
determining the atmosphere of fear by this fact. If we try to measure
the pulse of the oligarchs and political figures, we will see both
camps are worried, said Ashot Manucharyan.
EXPERT SAYS AZERBAIJAN SHOULD BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR MARAGHA TRAGEDY
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 10, 2012 – 14:38 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO organized a mourning
event on April 10 dedicated to the 20th anniversary of massacre of
Armenians in the village of Maragha by Azerbaijan.
“Events in Maragha are military crimes with elements of genocide,”
Hovhannes Nikoghosyan, head of Political Processes chair at
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University said at the event.
“Maragha was far from hostilities area, and there was no need to
attack the village from a military viewpoint. The atrocity targeted
just Armenians, the civilians, and it aimed to kill and rob.
Unfortunately, the International Criminal Court has the authority to
consider cases related to events which have occurred after 2002, when
the Rome statute imposing responsibility for the crime of genocide,
crime against humanity, military crimes and crimes of aggression,
was adopted,” Nikoghosyan stated.
“However, the population [of Maragha] can address the European Court
for Human Rights for compensation of damage and property plunder;
while considering the case, the court will have to address the genocide
facts and look into them separately. This is what we can achieve in
the nearest future,” the expert concluded.
52 people were massacred in Maragha (Leninavan) settlement, Mardakert
region, on April 10, 1992. 57 people were taken hostages, including 9
children and 18 women. The destiny of 19 people is still unknown. The
slaughter continued on April 22-23, when the survived residents of
Maragha returned to bury those dead. The data is confirmed by Helsinki
Watch international human rights organization.
NKR PARLIAMENT ISSUES A STATEMENT ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARAGAHA EVENTS
Lusine Avanesyan
“Radiolur”
10.04.2012 13:24
The “Fatherland,” “Democracy” and “Dashnaktsutyun” factions and the
“Artsakhatun” deputy group of the NKR National Assembly adopted a joint
statement on the 20th anniversary of the events in Maragha village,
which reads, in part:
“On April 10, 1992, the subunits of the Azerbaijani regular army
invaded the village of Maragha in Martakert region, which posed no
threat to the Azerbaijani side from the military point of view. The
operation was aimed at slaughtering and deporting the peaceful
population of Maragha. As a result of the aggression hundreds of
people were killed, deported or taken hostage.
Those responsible for the heavy crime committed in Maragha remain
unpunished, and the settlement remains occupied. More than 1 000 former
residents of Maragaha now reside in different countries of the world.”
Strongly condemning the crime committed in Maragha, the faction of the
National Assembly assess it as genocide and declare that they will
pursue that the perpetrators and organizers of this crime against
humanity are punished.
They will defend the rights of the Artsakh Armenians, including the
restoration of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh,
and will contribute to the continuous strengthening of the republic,
viewing it as the most reliable guarantee of people’s security.”
MELKONIAN FUND RECEIVES FLOOD OF DONATIONS
Armenian Weekly
April 10, 2012
The Armenian Relief Society Eastern USA (ARS EUSA) Inc., Board of
Regional Directors extends its gratitude to the Melkonian and Abrimian
families who, in the memory of their beloved husband and father,
the late Nazareth Melkonian, requested friends to donate to the “Garo
Melkonian Scholarship Fund.” The ARS Office has since received $3,140
by the following individuals and groups:
ARS Leola Sassouni Chapter, Watertown, Mass.
WilmerHale Law Firm
Mr. and Mrs. William and Barbara Gobbi
Mr. and Mrs. Hovhanes and Rita Kassabian
Mr. and Mrs. Vahe and Nartoohi Abrimian
Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Ani Kassabian
Mr. and Mrs. Garabet and Shake Kezirian
Mr. and Mrs. Antranig and Ardemis Minassian
Mr. and Mrs. Khoren and Tamar Melkonian
Mrs. Arawalous Soghomonian
Mr. and Mrs. Vartan and Nayiri Manjikian
Mr. Kevork Dikramanjian
Mr. Sahag Donigian
Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Maro Sajonian
Dr. and Mrs. Leon and Deanna Bastajian
Mrs. Mary Barghamian
Mrs. Nevart Kouyoumjian
Mr. and Mrs. Harout and Mary Arabian
Mrs. Hasmig DerVartanian
Mr. Mardig Abrimian
Ms. Carolyn E. Hannon
Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore and Carolyn LaFauci
Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Mary Barghamian
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Annie Kiledjian
Mr. and Mrs. Megerdich and Angele Manoogian
Mr. and Mrs. Vartan and Vartouhie Chiloyan
Mr. and Mrs. Lisa and Andrea Martino
Ms. Allyson M. Seitz
Ms. Caitlin W. Monahan
Mr. and Mrs. Nazaret and Ekhsapet Sarkissian
Ms. Lousine A. Sarkissian
Mr. and Mrs. Vekan and Lisa Anserlian
Mr. and Mrs. Ohannes and Araxie Jorekjian
Mr. and Mrs. Hrayr and Yeran Manjikian
Ms. Marybeth Sulkowski
Mr. and Mrs. Levon and Shake Khatchadourian
Mrs. Hermine B. Anserlian
Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Veronica Sagherian
Mr. and Mrs. Vartan and Louisa Kheremian
Mr. and Mrs. Harout and Lena Sajonian
Mr. and Mrs. Yeprem and Mayda Melkonian
Wilmerhale Law Firm
Mr. and Mrs. Kasbar and Alisa Mirkhanian
Mr. and Mrs. Artin and Shnorig Emirkhanian
Mrs. Anahis K. Uruk
Mr. and Mrs. Yervant and Knarik Kiledjian
Mrs. Vera Bejakian
Mrs. Marie Bazarian
The Maltby Family
Mrs. Alice Palourian
Mr. and Mrs. Kevork and Hamesd Artinian
Mr. and Mrs. Hampig and Silva Nazarian
Mr. and Mrs. Garo and Lee Ann Emirkhanian
Mr. and Mrs. Varouj and Sona Baghdassarian
Mr. and Mrs. John and Maria Keusseyan
Mrs. Angele Minassian
Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Shoushan Stepanian
Mrs. Araks Badalian
Ms. Kathleen L. Heydt
Mr. and Mrs. Garo and Nelly Nerkizian
Mr. and Mrs. Armen and Tamar Postoyan
In addition to providing scholarships to worthy graduate and
undergraduate students of Armenian descent, the ARS EUSA sponsors
orphans, kindergartens, and other relief efforts in the U.S., Armenia,
and Artsakh.
The ARS EUSA participates in “Trick or Treat for UNICEF,” a Halloween
tradition beloved by generations of Americans. The ARS EUSA also
sponsors the “Youth Connect Program” for college-age students,
an Annual Essay Contest for school-age children, and “camperships”
to deserving children to attend Camp Haiastan.
Scholarship applications may be downloaded at
or be obtained by e-mailing a request to the ARS USA Office at
[email protected]
The Armenian Relief Society Eastern USA is a 501 C 3 charitable
organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed
by law.
MILITARY PARADE TO BE HELD IN STEPANAKERT
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 10:43:21 – 10/04/2012
The capital of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is getting ready
to celebrate the three holidays in May – Shushi Liberation, 20th
anniversary of the Army and the 67th anniversary of the victory in
World War II.
The Renaissance Square of the city is being reconstructed and
renovated.
On May 9, a big military parade will be held in the square which will
display an unprecedented amount of military equipment.
The park adjacent to the square is also renovated just like other
parts of the town. In general, the town is full of holiday mood.
ARMENIA AND ARGENTINA TO BOOST THEIR RELATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC SPHERE
ARMENPRESS
APRIL 10, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Argentina will sign an
agreement on economic cooperation. The issue is on the agenda of the
cabinet sitting on April 12, Armenpress reports citing Government’s
official web site. The agreement will enable develop long-term economic
relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.
The signing of the agreement will promote establishment of mutual
cooperation, creation of favorable conditions for development of
economic relations and business activity.
The agreement stipulates economic development cooperation and
diversification in all the spheres of mutual interest. Armenia-
Argentinean joint commission is scheduled to kick off in the frame
of the agreement.
IS OSKANIAN “RINSING” PAST?
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 10:41:03 – 11/04/2012
Free and fair elections in Armenia have never been as crucial as now.
At the same time, the possibility to hold such elections has never
been so big either, said Vartan Oskanian, N 2 on Prosperous Armenia
Party list, in a meeting with voters in Shengavit community of Yerevan.
By the way, the interesting thing is that Vartan Oskanian met with
the voters without Gagik Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan was campaigning in
Kotayk region.
It is interesting to follow and see whether the separate meetings
of Oskanian and Tsarukyan with the voters, an appreciable feature of
their campaign, will be continuous, a PAP campaign strategy because it
may be an indicator of an interesting situation inside the Prosperous
Armenia Party.
As to Vartan Oskanian’s aforementioned statement, it impossible
to disagree with Oskanian because, in fact, after each fraudulent
election in Armenia the next election acquires a crucial importance.
However, the pronouncement that now we have a good chance to hold
free and fair elections seems to be aimed at “rinsing” the previous
election.
We have an interesting internal situation in place which could help
eliminate the principles of “predictability” of the elections when
the RPA victory was doubtless. But perhaps there is no need to hurry
and evaluate this possibility as an unprecedented one.
The opportunities for free and fair elections are relative and ideas
on them are individual. Even though we have four vs. one, still it
is not a guarantee to free and fair elections because mildly speaking
those four have relative ideas on freedom and justice.
For instance, has Prosperous Armenia followed the free and fair path
in politics which still accompanies the unfree and unfair RPA in
the power?
So, perhaps it is not necessary to draw a line of division between the
upcoming and previous elections because one of the measures of honesty
of the forces running for parliament is the separation between both
elections. In this regard, any line between the present and the past,
even the most insignificant one, will be false and is conjuncture. All
the political forces need to avoid lines. The present and the past
is a single line in Armenia which must be cut in order to advance.
If there is any line to be drawn in Armenia, it is the one between
the Constitution and reality to leave the latter on the other side
of the line and to bring the Constitution to reality.
ECONOMIC CRISIS AND DEMOCRACY
Igor Muradyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 11:38:14 – 11/04/2012
The discussion of political government and democracy is at least
400-500 years old. At least, it was practiced professionally in the
period of the English revolution in the 17th century. Since then
mankind has been racking their heads on the forms of and approaches
to democracy.
The economic crisis paralyzing the world was a tough challenge for
democracy as a method of government and form of thinking. It is crisp
and clear that democracy itself became a factor of crisis, maybe also
the most important factor.
Only in a totally liberal democracy could such a big balloon of
“missing value” occur. In addition, the apologists of the market
continue to complain of lack of genuine democracy as the cause of
this crisis.
At the same time, a lot of outstanding and important minds of the
modern times either thought of or arrived at a conclusion that the
current forms of democracy are disputable and futile. One can hear
that the modern forms of elective democracy are “sheer fraud” and a
means for the global oligarchy to keep power in their hands. There
is a firm belief that it is necessary to “limit” democratic methods
which means prolongation of universalism of the elective system,
replace such a wild profanation as the universal vote by “politics”,
that is different forms of electoral qualification.
In modern world the profanation of public thinking and consciousness
has reached a point when even the educated class has no idea of ongoing
politics and public processes. Total spread of the current form of
education has led the society to false ideas of the right of people
to participate in the political life, the belief that the notion of
politics is quite accessible, and they can bear responsibility for
the destiny of the nation.
At the same time, there is a lack of understanding that such ideal
imagery as “state”, “democracy”, “society” are mere leverages of
external manipulation, a means for certain elites to rule the world
which will never let in the leading groups of the majorities of states
and peoples.
It is time to develop new conditions and methods of forming social
contracts, delegation of rights and the practice of responsibility
of the political class, or more exactly politics of the part of the
society which is responsible for doing politics.
Armenia is in a meaningless search for methods of applying democracy
which is used by Armenia’s foreign “partners” in a classic way.
However, the Armenian society is unfolding a discussion which needs
to be supported and directed in a positive way.
Intensification of brutal processes throughout a huge space between
the eastern borders of the European Union to the western border of
China, the intentions of world powers to re-lay out the geopolitical
map, create new states suppose quite dangerous processes, including
regional wars.
Armenia is supposed to play a very important role in this process,
which supposes forming the necessary ruling regime, economy and
infrastructure of the mobilization type, preparing the country for
this prospect and goals. Armenia cannot stay aloof of the events and
has to win.
Therefore, meaningful and adequate political and social projections
are necessary, as well as establishment of conditions required for
and adequate to the ruling regime. This is the system of values and
humanist approaches to government of the country.