Author: Badalian Vardan

TRIAL INTO SOLDIER’S DEATH AGAIN ADJOURNED

10:14 pm | February 08, 2012 | Social

The trial into the case of Artak Nazaryan, who died under non-combat
conditions in one of the military units in Tavush marz, was due to
take place on February 8.

The sitting started with a 15-minute delay since the court was waiting
for Alvard Mnatsakanyan, lawyer for defendants Harutik Kirakosyan,
Adibek Hovhannisyan and Mkhitar Mkhitaryan.

However, lawyers Hrant Gevorgyan and Azat Shahbayan did not attend
the seeing accounting their absence for unfavourable weather.

Artak Nazaryan was found dead in one of the border bases in Chinari
villages on July 27, 2010. Though Nazaryan was officially announced
to have committed suicide, his relatives claim that the 30-year-old
lieutenant was murdered.

Five accused have been named in the case.

A. GHUKASYAN: “IN THE LIBERATED LANDS NEW TOWNS ARE MORE NECESSARY”

08.02.12

Today at “Armat” (“Roots”) press-club expert on Azerbaijan Sargis
Asatryan, chairman of the Azerbaijani-Armenians’ assembly Grigory
Ayvazyan and council of the commission of Armenian refugees from
Azerbaijan met journalists. Azerbaijani-Armenians are not included
in the NK issue settlement process and this was the main theme of
the discussion.

According to S. Asatryan we need to answer Azerbaijani policy
appropriately. “Azerbaijan leads aggressive policy in all international
organizations and Armenia must do the same”. According to him we
have such conditions to be involved in the international politics
more actively. “Azerbaijan spends much money on its lobbing.

Armenia must take appropriate steps against this”, the expert
considers.

Another speaker of the press-conference, Grigory Ayvazyan, spoke about
the problems of refugees. He presented the attitude of Azerbaijani
authorities according which Armenian and Azerbaijani refugees must
return to Artsakh and live in the Armenian liberated lands.

“But this is impossible. Turkish dirty foot must not enter Artsakh
saint land. If Azerbaijani authorities consider that Armenians and
Azerbaijanis are able to live in the same place then let them create
conditions for Armenian refugees to return to Baku”, G. Ayvazyan
underlined.

According to him issue of refugees is just s theme of bargain in the
negotiating process as it is the main card of the negotiations.

Ayvazyan also considers that it is time to speak as a demander with
Azerbaijan. “We must let the whole world to know what Azerbaijani
authorities have done with Armenian nation in Azerbaijan on 1988”.

The other speaker of the press-conference, Andrias Ghukasyan noted
in his turn that refugees also need to have effective conditions,
as now their issue is only discussed and nothing more.

Referring to the resettlement of the liberated lands A. Ghukasyan
noted that the establishment of new towns is necessary especially in
these lands.

“There are forces in Azerbaijan who is able to assist us. Now those
forces are struggling for the regime to be changed. And we must be
able to cooperate with them”.

WRESTLER NAZARIAN PONDERS COMEBACK

Shanghai Daily
February 7, 2012 Tuesday
China

DOUBLE Olympic wrestling champion Armen Nazarian is pondering a return
with the lure of a gold medal at the London Olympics on the horizon.

Nazarian, who turns 38 next month, won Greco-Roman gold at the
1996 Atlanta Olympics while competing for Armenia before taking up
Bulgarian citizenship and winning gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. He
took the bronze four years later in Athens. “I haven’t decided yet
but it goes through my mind,” Nazarian, who announced his retirement
in 2009, said yesterday. “I’m still in the gym all the time and I’m
trying to lose some kilos. So if I improve my shape, I’ll probably
compete in the 66kg category at the Olympic qualifications in April.”

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS RETURN FROM KOSOVO

Vestnik Kavkaza
Feb 8 2012
Russia

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Oganyan said today that peacekeepers
were being temporarily withdrawn from Kosovo, Mediamax reports.

The minister reminded that the troops have been under Greek command.

Financial problems forced a reduction of forces.

An Armenian peacekeeping platoon is still serving as part of the
Greek battalion.

Armenia and Greece signed a memorandum on operations in Kosovo in
Yerevan on 3 September 2003. Armenia ratified the document on 13
December 2003. The first Armenian group consisting of 34 people
arrived in Kosovo on 12 February 2004.

BAGIS DEFIANT ON GENOCIDE DENIAL STANCE

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 8 2012
Turkey

Turkey’s EU affairs minister reiterated his denial of Armenian genocide
allegations yesterday in a further challenge to Swiss authorities,
who are investigating whether similar comments made last month broke
the law.

BagıÅ~_ said yesterday that Swiss prosecutors should not lose any
time in determining whether he made the comments at the World Economic
Forum in Davos and at a concert in Zurich.

“I said there on that day that what happened in 1915 was not genocide
and I repeat that today. Nobody should doubt that I will give the same
answer every time I am asked,” BagıÅ~_ told a news conference. “I
don’t recognize any power that can detain any minister of the Turkish
Republic. I am very much at ease on this subject.”

Turkey summoned the Swiss ambassador Feb. 6 to complain about the
decision by Swiss officials to investigate BagıÅ~_’s comments.

“If necessary I will go again to Davos and say the same thing,”
he said.

Swiss anti-racism laws make genocide denial illegal.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sought to play down the
preliminary investigation against BagıÅ~_, saying it was a routine
procedure launched upon complaints by Swiss Armenians.

“The inquiry was opened following an application by an Armenian
association. In Turkey too, a preliminary enquiry is conducted when
anyone goes to court,” the minister told reporters.

He said the attitudes of the Swiss and French governments on punishing
the denial of the Armenian “genocide” were completely different.

“In France, there is a government supporting the law,” he said, adding
that the Swiss government had opposed a court ruling that convicted
Turkish politician Dogu Perincek there for denying that genocide took
place. “Switzerland has shown that it stands against that by lending
support for the creation of a joint history commission with us,”
Davutoglu said.

The European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur, Ria Oomen-Ruijten,
also lent her support to BagıÅ~_ yesterday after they met in Brussels.

Oomen-Ruijten said everyone must have freedom of expression.

BagıÅ~_ was expected to meet European Parliamentary President Martin
Schulz, Socialist Group leader Hannes Swoboda and members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs in Brussels. BagıÅ~_ is also expected
to have a meeting with European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan
Fule and European Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia.

Last month, the French Senate approved legislation criminalizing the
denial of the 1915 events as genocide, prompting an angry response
from Turkey.

Meanwhile, Israel Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel
would not recognize any genocide by law other than the Holocaust,
daily Hurriyet reported yesterday.

Compiled from AA and Reuters stories by the Daily News staff.

HEAD OF MULTINATIONAL GEORGIA ORGANIZATION ARNOLD STEPANYAN: IF ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT IS RESOLVED, THE PROBLEM OF METSAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WILL BE SOLVED BY ITSELF

APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan

“Armenia should be free from Russia’s energy dependence”

Tbilisi. Nizami Mammadzadeh – APA. “Each atomic power plant gives
people heat and energy to improve their social lives. But from
ecological point of view each atomic power plant is a great threat,”
head of the Georgia-based Multinational Georgia organization Arnold
Stepanyan said, APA’s Georgia bureau reports. Answering APA’s question
“Does Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia pose threat to the
countries of the South Caucasus?” Stepanyan said the nuclear power
plants in all regions are potential threats.

“A nuclear power plant no matter it is in Armenia, Iran, Japan or
Turkey can be dangerous for the region. There are issues that should be
approached to not only from ecological aspect, but also from social
aspect. Under the present circumstances, this plant gives strong
energy for production in Armenia. But there are alternative ways
to get energy. I think, western investors will seek ways to produce
alternative energy in Armenia. This is favorable for the seismically
active region surrounding us and for the whole world. There is one
complicated issue. The control stock of Metsamor nuclear power plant
belongs to Russia. If alternative energy sources are created in Armenia
and these sources are equal to the power of Metsamor plant, it will
be very difficult to realize this project from political aspect.

This will mean the end of Armenia’s getting energy resources from
Russia. Russia will not allow this. Alternative energy resources were
discussed during the recent visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy
to Armenia,” he said.

Arnold Stepanyan said the discussion of energy issues during Sarkozy’s
visit to Armenia has deep roots.

“The discussion of energy issues in Armenia by French President did
not emerge suddenly. This is an attempt of the West to direct the
countries of the South Caucasus not to the North, but at the same
time to the West. Therefore, economic assistance should be given,
so that it becomes strong and independent. Energy resources play
important role in this issue. We know that Armenia has no power to
create alternative energy resources. I think Armenia should be free
from Russia’s energy dependence. If Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is
resolved and Armenia has an opportunity to get energy from Azerbaijan,
the problem of Metsamor nuclear power plant will be solved by itself,”
he said.

AZERI PRESIDENT, FRENCH SENATORS DISCUSS TIES, BILL

APA
Feb 6 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku, 6 February: On 6 February, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
received the delegation led by the Deputy Chairman of France-Caucasus
friendship group, head of France-Azerbaijan Working group, member of
Centrist and Republican Union in the Senate, Senator Nathalie Goulet.

The delegation includes Sylvie Goy-Chavent, Jean-Marie Bockel, Herve
Maurey, Andre Reichard and Jeanny Lorgeoux.

Head of state thanked Mrs Nathalie Goulet and the other senators for
their fair position during the French Senate’s discussion of draft
law criminalizing the denial of the so-called Armenian “genocide”.

The president said that the relevant law discussed at the Senate was
distorting the history, run contrary to the democracy and freedom
of speech and was based on false and concocted reports. He expressed
the hope that the bill would not be adopted.

Mrs Nathalie Goulet underlined that she and the other senators would
do their best for extending relations with Azerbaijan and said that
they would give detailed information about this to the Azerbaijani
society during their meetings in Baku.

[translated from Azeri]

LE CANARD ENCHAENE S’INTERROGE SUR LES CONFLITS D’INTERETS AU CC
Ara

armenews.com
mercredi 8 fevrier 2012

Dans un article paru ce jour, le Canard Enchaîne s’interroge sur
les conflits d’interets qu’un certain nombre de membres du Conseil
Constitutionnel pourraient avoir dans l’etude sur la constitutionnalite
de la loi penalisant le genocide. Il relève notamment que Michel
Charrasse avait annonce qu’il voterait contre la loi reconnaissant
le genocide en 2000, meme si finalement il ne l’a pas fait, que
Hubert Haenel avait depose un amendement sur cette meme loi et qu’il
est membre de l’institut du Bosphore, lobby turc qui a milite au
Parlement contre la penalisation. Il relève que Jean-Louis Debre,
le president du CC, avait interrompu alors qu’il etait president
de l’Assemblee Nationale la discussion sur une proposition de loi
penalisant le genocide le 18 mai 2006 et qu’il avait fait part a de
son hostilite a l’encontre de ce texte sur La Chaine Parlementaire
et que Jaqueline de Guillenschmidt avait signe l’appel de Blois de
Pierre Nora, contre ce type de legislation dites ” memorielles “. Si
ces quatre sages se ” deportent ” compte tenu des conflits d’interets,
le Canard s’interroge si le CC atteindra un quorum suffisant pour se
prononcer…Le Canard brocarde egalement la lettre de l’ambassadeur
de Turquie en France aux elus.

COMMODITY TURNOVER BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA UP 15.8% TOTALING AROUND 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN 2011

arminfo
Tuesday, February 7, 14:00

Commodity turnover between Armenia and Russia was up 15.8% totaling
around 1 billion dollars in 2011 (994.4 mln dollars), Vice Premier
of Russia Victor Zubkov said at a joint briefing with Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan on Tuesday.

He called it a record-breaking indicator for the last 4 years.

Nevertheless, Zubkov said, the two countries have more potential and
the current level of commodity turnover can be increased. Russia
is ready to support Armenia in the fields of seed growing, cattle
breeding and import of agricultural equipment. “Rosselkhozbank and
Rosagroleasing are expected to open branches in Armenia. The loan
book of Rosselkhozbank totals 1.5 bln rubles. It is the biggest
bank in Russia,” the Vice Premier said. The statutory capital of
Rosagroleasing amounts to 80 billion rubles. A poultry joint venture
may be established in future, in particular, a turkey breeding
company. There are also good opportunities for cooperation in the
education and culture sectors. Zubkov said that Lomonosov Moscow
State University is expected to open a branch in Armenia shortly. A
strategic cooperation project for 2020 is currently developed. The
project will be submitted to the Armenian-Russia Intergovernmental
Commission for consideration. “We have a big desire to actively
cooperate with Armenia,” the Russian vice premier said.

UN CELERE JOUNALISTE A ETE ARRETE CE WEEK-END
Laetitia

armenews.com
mardi 7 fevrier 2012

Un celèbre journaliste qui travaille pour le principal quotidien
d’opposition a ete arrete vendredi. Il est accuse d’avoir blesse
un homme. La police a affirme que Hayk Gevorgian, correspondant,
editorialiste et redacteur au quotidien ” Haykakan Zhamanak ” a ete
mis en garde a vue pour avoir persecute un jeune homme lors d’un
accident et pour avoir pris la fuite avec la voiture de l’entreprise
le mois dernier.

Gevorgian a ete arrete par la police a Yerevan et a ete emmene au poste
de police dans le quartier administratif central de la ville. Il a
ete garde pendant plusieurs heures avant d’etre transfere a la prison
Nubarashen de Yerevan.

L’accident de voiture s’est passe le 13 janvier dernier, le jour où le
” Haykakan Zhamanak ” a publie un article sarcastique par Gevorgian
sur Vladimir Gasparian, le chef de la police armenienne.

Nikol Pashinian, le redacteur en chef de “Haykakan Zhamanak”, semble
accuse Gasparian de vouloir se venger du journaliste et demande sa
liberation immediate.

” Vova Gasparian et d’autres representants de l’elite au pouvoir
souhaitent empecher le travail du quotidien Haykakan Zhamanak “,
a affirme Pashinian pendant la conference de presse.

Le redacteur en chef rejette les accusations de la police,
selon lesquelles Gevorgian aurait refuse de cooperer avec les
investigateurs. Il a dit que Gevorgian a simplement voulu clarifier
son statut avant d’aller au poste de police.

Pashinian a egalement dit que Gevorgian l’avait informe de l’accident
du 13 janvier avant d’etre arrete. Cet homme serait reste au milieu de
la route pour crier. ” Hayk insiste – et je crois a ses propos – qu’il
n’y a pas eu de contact physique “, a affirme le redacteur en chef.

Pashinian a egalement affirme que, contrairement aux accusations de
la police, Gevorgian n’a pas pris la fuite, mais il est sorti de sa
voiture pour comprendre ce qu’il se passait.

Haykakan Zhamanak est le quotidien d’opposition le plus vendu du pays
et soutient le principal parti d’opposition,(HAK). Pashinian, qui est
egalement un membre du HAK, a passe plus de deux ans en prison pour
des accusations controversees, suite aux violences des elections de
2008 a Yerevan.