Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA ANALYST FORESEES GOVERNMENT CHANGE BY YEAR’S END

15:02, 05.03.2015

YEREVAN. – Another change in government may occur in Armenia at the
end of this year.

The director of the Armenian Institute for International and Security
Affairs, analyst Stiopa Safaryan stated the aforementioned at a press
conference on Thursday, and he also did not rule out the possibility
of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan stepping down.

“The current government was formed on April 3, 2014 to meet the
demands of the [non-pro-government] Prosperous Armenia Party. But we
have seen that, as [President] Serzh Sargsyan noted, some agreements
that were reached have been violated.

“In this case, will Serzh Sargsyan keep for long the government which,
as he once said, was formed for the objective of being acceptable to
everyone?” Safaryan stated.

He added that, with such a “team,” the ruling political party cannot
commence the 2017 pre-parliamentary-election phase and even the
constitutional reform process.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WAS THE DRESS REHEARSAL FOR NAZI EXTERMINATION OF JEWS

15:37, 05 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

“The dress rehearsal for the Nazi extermination of the Jews took
place exactly 100 years ago, in 1915,” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
writes in his weekly column on The Catholic Philly. The full article
is provided below:

“Lent is a time for self-examination and repentance; a time for good
spiritual reading and the sacrament of penance. It’s also a time for
renewing our sense of solidarity with fellow Christians around the
world. It’s a moment to remember the witness of so many Christians
who’ve died simply because they were Christian.

The world rightly remembers the mass murder of Jews and other
minorities by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. In its scope,
the Shoah dwarfs anything in human history, and its echoes continue
today in the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, much of it driven by
radicalized Islam. But the Shoah was by no means the only mass murder
carried out in the 20th century.

In fact, the dress rehearsal for the Nazi extermination of the Jews
took place exactly 100 years ago, in 1915. The genocide was carried out
by Turkish authorities, and it murdered more than 1 million Armenians,
a people who were overwhelmingly Christian. Religion wasn’t the only
reason for the killings – ethnic and economic resentments of Turkey’s
Armenian minority played an important role – but Muslim contempt for
the “unbelievers” legitimized the violence and was a powerful current
throughout the killings.

Men, women and children were turned out of their homes, marched to
exhaustion and starved, beaten, hanged and burned to death by the tens
of thousands. The systematic murder campaign went on in bloody waves
into the 1920s. Witnesses recalled Turks taunting their victims with
shouts of “Where is your Christ now? Where is your Jesus? Why does
he not save you?”

To this day, Turkey has never adequately acknowledged the Armenian
genocide. As President Jimmy Carter once remarked, “there weren’t
any Nuremburg trials” for the mass murder inflicted on the Armenians.

During the Cold War, Turkey was a NATO ally. The United States and
Europe found it easier to turn a blind eye to history than to resurrect
a crime from the past.

Today, with the resurgence of militant Islam inside Turkey itself,
a full national truth-telling by Turkish authorities may be even more
remote. Armenians were the first nation in the world to formally adopt
Christianity in A.D. 301. Today, in their historic home regions of
modern Turkey, their culture and memory have been wiped out.

Every year on April 24, Armenians around the world celebrate
Remembrance Day for the victims of the 1915 genocide. This year, on
the centenary of that mass murder, Christians from every tradition
need to remember and pray for the victims of that genocide, which
remains one of the worst unrepented crimes in history.

We also need to remember that the persecution and murder of Christians
still continues at the hands of ISIS and radicalized Islam throughout
the Middle East. And to date, our national leadership has been utterly
ineffective in stopping it – or even fully engaging it.

We Americans take for granted our traditions of religious liberty,
human rights and judicial process. We see the coexistence – and even
the friendship — of different religious communities and beliefs
as quite normal. But it’s not. We too often don’t understand the
uniqueness of that gift.

Today, in many places around the world, living as a Christian invites
discrimination, hatred and violence. The beheading of Christians by
ISIS is the latest crime in a long history of Middle Eastern Christian
martyrdom – not the phony and homicidal “martyrdom” that involves
blowing up innocent women and children, but the realmartyrdom of
being murdered for one’s belief in Jesus Christ.

Lent is a time of repentance. It’s also a time for forgiving even the
wicked. But it’s also a time to remember and learn from history —
even when the whole world wants to forget it. This Lent we need to
remember and pray for the Armenian Christians who died 100 years
ago. Like us, they were part of God’s people; the people of Jesus
Christ. The memory of their suffering should turn our hearts and our
energies to helping the millions of Christians now suffering in the
Middle East and around the world.”

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHES REPORT DOCUMENTING CASES OF CRACKDOWNS BY AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES

15:12 04/03/2015 >> POLITICS

100 days before the Opening Ceremony of the European Games Amnesty
International has published a report documenting a pattern of
intensified harassment and intimidation of activists, journalists
and human rights defenders by the Azerbaijani authorities in recent
years. The report titled “Guilty of Defending Rights: Azerbaijan’s
human rights defenders and activists behind bars” presents the
aggravated crackdowns on the government critics who are detained
on false charges, beaten, threatened or denied emergent medical and
legal aid.

“No one should be fooled by the glitz and glamour of the international
show Azerbaijan is putting on to portray a squeaky-clean international
reputation and attract foreign business. Its authorities are among the
most repressive in Europe and would certainly be on the medal-winning
podium if prizes were on offer for the number of activists and rights
defenders behind bars,” John Dalhuisen, Amnesty’s director for Europe
and Central Asia, said.

According to the report, there are no less that 22 prisoners of
conscience in Azerbaijan awaiting trial following trumped-up charges
ranging from fraud and embezzlement to abuse of drugs and even
treason. In June, 2014 Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan,
addressed to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE),
declaring that the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are
guaranteed in Azerbaijan. However, following his speech, prominent
human rights defenders, including Emin Huseynov, Rasul Jafarov and
Intigam Aliyev, and investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova
presented PACE with the very different reality faced by human rights
defenders, journalists, and political opponents, indeed anyone who
dares to criticize the Azerbaijani government. They detailed more
than 90 instances of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and
politically motivated charges compiled by human rights defenders,
including Leyla and Arif Yunus.

“The response of the authorities was swift and clarified beyond doubt
which of the two pictures of human rights in Azerbaijan is the real
one. Within a matter of weeks, the authorities exacted their revenge.

Those who had given their testimony to PACE started to be arrested,”
the report reads, providing with information about the cases of human
rights defenders, journalists, political opponents, opposition and
online activists, as well as the restrictive NGO laws.

Dalhuisen noted that those latest arrests have effectively paralysed
civil society and closed the lid on freedom of expression – marking
the nadir of the country’s human rights record since independence.

“With their eyes on Azerbaijan’s petro-dollars, the international
community has been remarkably silent about the country’s repressive
tactics and human rights violations. This is horribly shortsighted
and a deep disservice to those currently languishing behind bars,”
he stressed.

As the organization highlights, these serious human rights violations
continued unabated during Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship of the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe, despite its stated priority of
“upholding and promoting the core values” of the institution, such
as human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

“Amnesty International calls on the Azerbaijani government to
make good the commitments it has made and take immediate steps
to safeguard human rights. This must include the immediate and
unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, including those
whose cases are highlighted in this briefing, and full and impartial
investigations into all allegations of torture or other ill-treatment,”
the organization urges.

See also:

NGO coalition warned EOC president about
crackdowns in Azerbaijan prior to European Games

ONE KILLED, TWO WOUNDED IN YEREVAN SHOOTING

15:46, 04 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

One person was killed, two others were wounded in an exchange of fire
in Yerevan. The Head of the Public Relations Department of RA Police
Ashot Aharonyan confirmed the news to Public Radio of Armenia.

The incident took place near the Nubarashen penal institution in
Yerevan.

Aharonyan provided no further details about the reasons of the
shooting. Probe into the case is under way.

PENSIONS FOR PREZ: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES LAW ON PRIVILEGES FOR FORMER HEADS OF STATE

SOCIETY | 04.03.15 | 15:10

By SARA KHOJOYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Amendments to the law on provisions for former presidents were past in
the National Assembly Wednesday. Parliament passed, on first reading,
changes that would give former presidents 70 percent of their salary,
plus a furnished study for life.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction MP Artsvik Minasyan
spoke about the president’s institute and its value at the discussion.

According to him, the current law already provides a pension, while
the suggested version implies granting a status provisioned by law.

(The current official presidential monthly salary is about $2,780 –
meaning that former presidents Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan
stand to receive about $1,950 per month under the new conditions.)

Heritage faction MP Zaruhi Postanjyan says the changes are unnecessary
and misguided.

“As far as I know, both previous presidents are well-off, and do not
need this provision, especially in the circumstances that more than
a million people in Armenia live in poverty, and many elderly people
need pensions,” Postanjyan said.

Meanwhile the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction MP Khosrov
Harutyunyan said that the amount suggested as a pension is very little.

“We single the President out because we recognize his important public
role. But, if this pension is for solving vital problems, then it is
very little,” Harutyunyan said, suggesting a monetary endowment for
presidents instead of pension.

According to Head of Orinats Yerkir party faction Heghine Bisharyan,
privileges must be provided for PMs and Parliament Speakers as well.

“Why don’t we pay more attention to the question of the second and
third figures? They are no less important figures for the country,
why don’t we have certain principles,” Bisharyan said.

National Assembly Speaker and RPA member Eduard Sharmazanov responded
to Orinats Yerkir representatives, saying that, according to the
Armenian Constitution, one person can serve at the president’s post
not more than two terms, however the Speaker and the PM can be elected
and appointed unlimited.

DEMOGRAPHER DOES NOT ADVISE ARMENIAN MIGRANT WORKERS TO LEAVE FOR RUSSIA (VIDEO)

14:18 | March 4,2015 | Social

Demographer Ruben Yeganyan advises Armenian seasonal working migrants
to avoid traveling to Russia considering the grave economic situation
in the country.

“It is difficult to predict migration results this year. It is not
excluded that instead of earning money, Armenian labour migrants may
get into debts,” he said.

The demographer says the migration flow from Russia to Armenia
has decreased compared to previous years conditioned by Russian
restrictions: as a result around 200,000 people were forbidden
to enter Russia for 3-5 years. After long negotiations, Armenian
authorities managed to convince the Russian side to annul part [30%]
of restrictions.

Ethnographer Aghasy Tadevosyan said migration is not only peculiar to
Armenians but the fact that our migrant workers only rely on Russia
during seasonal work makes them vulnerable.

If in 2007 the main cause of migration was the lack of workplaces,
the survey showed in 2013 that many leave Armenia to work elsewhere
because they are displeased with their salaries,” said Mr Yeganyan.

“We have no right to restrict the free movement of persons, but the
state should handle migration problems by creating job opportunities
for its citizens,” added Mr Tadevosyan.

LA TURQUIE TRAVAILLE A METTRE LE SITE D’ANI SUR LA LISTE DU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL DE L’UNESCO

TURQUIE

Selon le journal turc hurriyet les travaux se poursuivent sur les
ruines d’Ani, ” une ville arménienne vieille de 5000 ans située sur
la frontière turco-arménienne dans la province orientale de Kars,
avec un oeil sur le site pour l’inclure sur la Liste du patrimoine
mondial de l’UNESCO”.

Le journal affirme que le “travail continue a Ani, qui a été le foyer
de nombreuses civilisations a travers l’histoire et est aujourd’hui
une attraction majeure pour les touristes dans la région, avec le
soutien du ministère turc de la Culture et du Tourisme”.

Le Directeur du Tourisme et de la culture locale Hakan Doganay a
dit que les “fouilles de sauvetage dans Ani serait dirigée cette
année par le professeur Fahriye Bayram du Département Archéologie
classique de l’Université de Pamukkale”.

Doganay a précisé que les projets concernant la restauration des murs
de l’ancienne ville sont maintenant été terminé avec la volonté
qu’Ani soit incluse sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO.

“[Ani] peuvent entrer dans la liste de l’UNESCO lors de la réunion
qui se tiendra a Oslo en 2016. Nous prévoyons que 2015-2016 seront
les années de Kars et des ruines d’Ani. Le ministère de la Culture
et du Tourisme nous a fourni un grand soutien sur cette question “,
a-t-il dit.

“Nous allons également apporter plus de 21 nouveaux artefacts de
diverses cultures, faisant le meilleur usage du patrimoine culturel
dans notre région ”, a ajouté Doganay. “Ani est un trésor pour
nous qui devrait être inclus dans la Liste du patrimoine mondial
de l’UNESCO.”

mercredi 4 mars 2015, Stéphane ©armenews.com

VARTAN OSKANIAN RENOUNCES HIS PARLIAMENTARY SEAT

YEREVAN, March 4. / ARKA /.Mikael Melkumyan, an MP from the Prosperous
Armenia Party, has confirmed today rumors that another member of the
party, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, has filed a formal
application to the leadership of the National Assembly renouncing
his parliamentary seat.

Melkumyan said to the best of his knowledge Oskanian is going only
to renounce his parliamentary seat and is not going to quit the
party ranks.

“I think Oskanian’s decision suggests he wants to rethink the nature
of his future activities,” Melkumyan said.

Oskanian’s decision was preceded by defection of seven lawmakers from
the Prosperous Armenia.

The party had the second largest parliamentary faction comprising
36 members before President Serzh Sargsyan lashed out at Prosperous
Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan on January 12.

President Sargsyan signed a decree expelling Gagik Tsarukyan from the
National Security Council and also ordered authorities to investigate
Tsarukyan, one of Armenia’s richest men, for alleged tax-dodging and
failure to attend parliament sessions.

Tsarukyan, in turn, accused Sargsyan of trying to punish him over
his refusal to back a constitutional reform that would allow Sargsyan
to remain Armenia’s leader beyond 2018 when his current presidential
term ends. -0-

SEYRAN OHANYAN TOURS MILITARY INDUSTRY ENTERPRISE

March 3, 2015 15:49

The Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, on Tuesday paid a
working visit to a military industry enterprise.

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 3, ARTSAKHPRESS: The minister got familiarized with
the building conditions, technical equipment, military product samples,
and the large-scale works toward modernization and repairs of military
equipment of the venture. In addition, he gave instructions in the
context of developing the capabilities of the Armenian armed forces.

On the same day, Ohanyan also visited the anti-epidemic security
service of the armed forces. The defense minister was briefed on
the present-day sanitary and epidemiological situation, and the
statistics on the inspections which the service has conducted in the
Armenian troops.

Seyran Ohanyan also toured the laboratories, and got acquainted
with the activities of this service and its inspection of respective
standards.

ATOVMYAN: IT IS NO USE CREATING ANTI-CORRUPTION COUNCILS IN ARMENIA

“It is no use creating ant-corruption institutions in Armenia.

Experience shows that they do not work,” Marat Atovmyan – the head
of Anti-Corruption Center in Yerevan, member of the board of Young
Lawyers’ Association, told reporters today.

The head of Transparency International’s Armenian Office Varuzhan
Oktanyan said for his part that the newly-established Anti-Corruption
Council will consist of an expert commission and a monitoring group.

“An institutional basis is needed for combating corruption,” he noted.

According to Tevan Poghosyan, a deputy of Heritage faction of the
Armenian parliament, such councils have been set up in Armenia since
2003. “It is important to understand what issues that council will
deal with,” he stressed.

03.03.15, 17:00