Author: Badalian Vardan

Governor Will Find Out Why People Emigrate

It is necessary to work towards reducing dissatisfaction of people,
especially in Gyumri where people manifested their dissatisfaction in
latest presidential elections by not voting for Serzh Sargsyan,
Governor of Shirak Felix Tsolakyan told Lragir.am.

He added that he cannot understand why dissatisfaction is linked to the
elections. According to the governor of Shirak, it is a fact that their
region has always had social issues which were aggravated by the 1988
earthquake.

According to Felix Tsolakyan, people will continue to live in wagons in
Gyumri as the number of homeless people is increasing. `Because homeless
people are not only those who lost their houses during the earthquake but
also young families which have no place to live. As to those whose houses
were destroyed by the earthquake, their needs will be met this year,’ said
the governor.

Asked about the rate of emigration from Gyumri which increased during the
past year, Tsolakyan said that he he is going to study and find out why
people emigrate.

17:21 07/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

Interfax, Russia
June 6 2013

Azerbaijani authorities declare Montserrat Caballe persona non grata

BAKU. June 6

World famous opera singer Montserrat Caballe has been declared persona
non grata in Azerbaijan due to the visit to the occupied Azerbaijani
territories.

“We have sent a note of protest to the Spanish side, having explained
the situation, and demanded explanations amid M.Caballe’s visit to the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan. It was stated in the note that
M.Caballe will not get an Azerbaijani visa because she becomes persona
non grata,” the Azerbaijani embassy in Spain told Interfax.

The embassy said that its employees got in touch with Caballe’s
managers in May and informed them of possible consequences of her
visit to Nagorny Karabakh.

“The singer’s managers were informed that it was illegal to visit the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan without Baku’s permission,” the
embassy said. Managers assured that there would not be a concert in
Nagorny Karabakh, the embassy said.
The French embassy in Azerbaijan commented on the fact the French
deputies visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan last week.
“These are people opposed to the French government. Their actions do
not reflect the official stance of Paris,” the French embassy in Baku
told Interfax.
ez mk

APA, Azerbaijan
June 8 2013

Draft resolution on so-called `Armenian genocide’ registered at
Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada

[ 08 Juny 2013 10:59 ]
Baku. Anakhanum Hidayatova – APA. The draft resolution on the
co-called `Armenian genocide’ has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada
of Ukraine, says its official website, APA reports.

The draft resolution has already been registered by the Verkhovna Rada.

The report says that the draft resolution was initiated by MPs Arsen
Avakov (Yulia Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party) and Vilen
Shatvoryan (the ruling Party of Regions).

The draft resolution notes that the Verkhovna Rada recognizes the mass
killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1922 as genocide of
the Armenian people and April 24 as a remembrance day of the genocide
victims.

It is still unknown when the draft resolution will be submitted for discussion.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
June 8 2013

Pope’s remarks on mass killings of Armenians could damage ties with
Vatican: Foreign Ministry

ANKARA

Photo: Pope Francis arrives to lead a special audience with students
of Jesuit schools in Paul VI hall at the Vatican June 7. REUTERS photo

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has reacted in a written statement June 8
to Pope Francis’ remarks describing the mass killings of Armenians
during World War I as `the first genocide of the 20th century,’
warning that his stance could damage ties between the two countries.

`What is expected from the Papacy, under the responsibility of its
spiritual office, is to contribute to world peace instead of raising
animosity over historical events,’ the statement read. `The Vatican’s
ambassador was called on June 7, 2013, to the Foreign Ministry and was
told that Pope Francis’ remarks were unacceptable.’

`We have emphasized that Vatican should avoid making steps that could
have irreparable consequences on our ties,’ the statement also said.

Pope Francis described the mass killings of Armenians during World War
I as `the first genocide of the 20th century’ during a meeting with a
delegation led by Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics on June
3.

The pope met with members of the delegation and when one of them said
that she was a descendant of genocide victims, he replied, `The first
genocide of the 20th century was that of the Armenians,’ reiterating
his earlier recognition of the mass killings as the `Armenian
Genocide’ while he was the head of the Catholic Church in Buenos Aires
as a cardinal.

In 2006, during events marking the 91st anniversary of the killings in
Buenos Aires, he urged Turkey to recognize `the genocide’ as the
`gravest crime of Ottoman Turkey against the Armenian people and all
of humanity.’

June/08/2013

Interfax, Russia
June 7, 2013 Friday 12:22 PM MSK

Armenian-Turkish relations to improve after Karabakh conflict
settlement – U.S. expert

BAKU. June 7

The European Union and United States made a mistake when, during the
active rapprochement of the Armenian-Turkish relations in 2009, they
took this process out of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict context, former
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Brize said.

Settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and mending the
Armenian-Turkish relations are interrelated, Brize said on Friday at
“EU-Azerbaijan: Security and Integration” international conference in
Baku.

Brize said that having progress in one direction would bring progress
in the other and that everything was interrelated.

Armenian-Turkish relations to improve after Karabakh conflict
settlement – U.S. expert (Part 2)

The European Union and United States made a mistake when, during the
active rapprochement of the Armenian-Turkish relations in 2009, they
took this process out of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict context, former
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza said.

Settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and mending the
Armenian-Turkish relations are interrelated, Bryza said on Friday at
“EU-Azerbaijan: Security and Integration” international conference in
Baku.

Bryza said that having progress in one direction would bring progress
in the other and that everything was interrelated.

Armenia and Turkey still have no diplomatic ties. The 1915 events in
the Ottoman Empire remain the stumbling block in the Armenian-Turkish
relations. A number of counties have recognized the genocide of
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 as a result of which, according to
various data, over 1.5 million people were killed. Armenia wants
Turkey to acknowledge the genocide and Turkey refuses to do so.

Official Ankara demands that the Karabakh conflict is resolved on the
basis of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Defense Minister Ohanyan: “Culture of Impunity has Decreased to a Minimum”

Sona Avagyan
10:16, June 8, 2013

Referring to the recent shooting in the town of Goris, RA Defense
Minister Seyran Ohanyan told reporters yesterday during a trip to the
Armenian border region of Tavoush that there was no `culture of
impunity’ in the country.

`I believe that continuous work has been done in recent years also by
law enforcement at the strict instructions of the president, resulting
in the decrease of such a culture of impunity to minimal levels,’ DM
Ohanyan said.

The minister has condemned the shooting in which RA Military Unit
Commander Artak Boudaghyan was shot and his brother Avetik, a former
candidate for Goris mayor, killed.

Ohanyan visited Boudaghyan in hospital where they had a short
conversation about the incident.

Armenia’s DM attends demonstrative military drillings in Tavush
military unit (photos, video)

16:27 – 08.06.13

Demonstrative military drillings to show the battle-worthiness of the
Armenian soldiers were held during the reporters’ tour in one of
military units of Tavush on the initiative of the Defense Ministry.

DM Seyran Ohanyan was also on the front line. Speaking to reporters
after the drills about psychological preparedness of the soldiers, the
minister said that by participating in military preparedness classes
at shooting ground, the soldiers are getting prepared for military
actions.

`Now, in conditions of absence of wide-range of military actions when
we visit the positions, we lower our heads as we are not
psychologically ready. While during the war the soldiers do not pay
any attention to shoots, explosions, smoky territories as the war
activities psychologically prepare a soldier for the implementation of
his duty in any situation,’ Seyran Ohanyan said, adding that in
shooting grounds of some military units they have separated
territories for conducting practical classes and soon all the military
units will have them.

He said it is one of the prior criteria of European and NATO armies’
preparedness.

Armenian Astronomical Organization informs about organizing the 4th
Byurakan summer school

12:43, 8 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. The 4th Byurakan summer school dedicated
to Anania Shirakatsi’s 1400th anniversary will be launched in the
observatory of Byurakan on August 19-23, 2013. Armenpress reports that
it will take place for the students of Yerevan State University (YSU)
and will make complete the preparatory classes of the organizing team
of the conference of International Astrological Union to take place in
October.

Armenian Astrological Organization informed Armenpress that the aim of
the summer school is to familiarize the students of the YSU Department
of Physics with the basics of astrology, the Observatory of Byurakan
and the academic works taking place there. That is why the organizers
have selected 1st and 2nd year students who have not made up their
minds as regards their narrow specialization. The aim of the classes
of the conference of the International Astrological Union is to
prepare the students selected from YSU International Relations,
Roman-Germanic Philology and Journalism Departments, Yerevan State
Linguistic University after V. Brusov and Armenian Institute for
Tourism to take part in the organizational activities of the
conference. These two events will take place parallelly and overall 40
students will take part in them. In addition to the lectures and
classes, intellectual and sport games, competitions and excursions are
organized forthe students.

DECLARATION OF FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (PARLIAMENT) OF
WESTERN ARMENIA

07-06-2013 19:02:54 | | Politics
DECLARATION OF FORMATION OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (PARLIAMENT) OF WESTERN ARMENIA

Paris, France, May 24, 2013

Dear compatriots,

The National Council of Western Armenia, the Government-in-Exile of
Western Armenia and Special Commission on the formation of the
National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, taking
responsibility for the development and establishment of Public
Institutions of Western Armenia, preservation of the existence and
identity of the Armenian people, the restoration and reconstruction of
the economy of Western Armenia,

Declare
ï?` The decision to form the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western
Armenia to consolidate the forces of the Armenian people;
ï?` The decision to adopt the fundamental requirements of the Armenian
people to the ”Armenian issue”, considering the basis of the
principles of national unity and immutable law;
ï?` The decision to adopt a single resolution to the ”Armenian issue”,
that is the Armenian people must live in one self-sufficient and, in
the future, in the United and Independent Armenian State.

The National Council of Western Armenia, the Government-in-Exile of
Western Armenia and the Special Commission on the formation of the
National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia adopt this
declaration based on:

1) The official Resolution of the National Council of Western Armenia
adopted on December 17, 2004 and the Declaration on the Rights of
Armenians of Western Armenia adopted on January 20, 2007;
2) The Resolution on the establishment of the Government-in-Exile of
Western Armenia adopted on February 4, 2011 and the Resolution on the
government structure adopted on March 2, 2011;
3) The Resolution on forming the National Assembly (Parliament) of
Western Armenia adopted by the 5th Assembly of Armenians of Western
Armenia on November 30, 2012.

To declare,
Considering the fact that contrary to human morality and law to
recognize Armenian rights in respect to the Motherland Cradle, the
Sultan, Young Turks and Kemalists, as Turkish successive governments,
carried out the Armenian Deportation and Genocide in 1894-1923,
whereby they unprecedently changed the demographic view in the
Region. Subsequently, reducing the number of Armenians in the occupied
territories as a “supplement” of their crimes, they violated the
normal ratio between nations in the Western Armenia, and considering
the reality of the mentioned above, declare

The National Council of Western Armenia, the Government-in-Exile of
Western Armenia and the Special Commission on the formation of the
National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia declare that the
Jurisdiction of the National Assembly (Parliament) of the Western
Armenia is spread on not only on nationals of Western Armenia but on
the occupied territories of Western Armenia, which are legally (de
jure) and in fact (de facto) are the areas and regions of Western
Armenia based on the following fundamental international legal
instruments:

1) The delimitation of Armenia and Turkey according to the arbitral
award by Woodrow Wilson – the 28th President of the United States – on
November 22, 1920;
2) The independence of historical Armenia including Western Armenia
and Armenian Kilikia in accordance with the UN declaration of December
14, 1960 on «Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples»;
3) As indigenous people, according to the historical, genealogical,
cultural, perpetual civilization and indisputable rights for
Armenians to form a State of Western Armenia in accordance with the
UN Declaration on the «Rights of Indigenous Peoples» of September 13,
2007.

The above Jurisdiction applies to the following states and territories:

1. Van
2. Bitlis
3. Erzrum (Garin)
4. Trapizon (Hamshen)
5. Sivas (Sebastia)
6. Diarbeqir (Dikranagert)
7. Kharput (Kharberd)
8. Kilikia (including Cesaria, Marash, Adana, Zeytun, Aynput, Antioq)
9. Kars (and Surmalu)
10. Javakhq
11. Nakhijevan

Based on the above-mentioned official documents and articles, the
National Council of Western Armenia, the Government-in-Exile of
Western Armenia and the Special Commission on the formation of the
National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia declare the
Establishment of the Central Elections Committee entitled to organize
and run elections for the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western
Armenia. (More at: http:).

Voter registration
Citizens of Western Armenia (Homeland) are considered all those who
can prove their status of being exiled from their Homeland (Western
Armenia) and prove their origins far as even a few generations back
(with direct genetic connection).

1) Voter registration for elections of the National Assembly
(Parliament) of Western Armenia is open to the citizens of Western
Armenia and to public patriotic organizations and unions as of May 24,
2013 until December 1, 2013.
2) Voter registration for the citizens of Western Armenia is available
online at:

Registration of volunteers candidates
1) The signature drive of volunteers candidates for the Western
Armenia Parliament (hereafter candidates) starts on June 1, 2013.
Candidates must use the candidate petition form.
2) The National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia consists of
citizens of Western Armenia. All candidates for the National Assembly
of Western Armenia must have a valid passport of Western Armenia.
3) Candidate registration starts on October 1, 2013 and closes on
October 22, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.
4) Elections will be held online at the webpage of the Central
Elections Committee and in writing. Elections start on November
22, 2013 and close on December 1, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.
5) Election results are validated and published by the Central
Elections Committee on December 17, 2013.
6) Candidates must collect more than 100 signatures from the citizens
of Western Armenia to qualify for elections (once a person).
7) Candidates must submit a biographical sketch and a brief proposal.
8) Candidates must register online at

The National Council of Western Armenia, the Government-in-Exile of
Western Armenia and the Special Commission on the formation of the
National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia certify that
candidates for the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia
who officially abide by the Declaration of the National Council of
Western Armenia and the Government-in-Exile of Western Armenia and the
founding documents there of may be self-nominated and/or be nominated
by a public patriotic organization and union, the National Council of
Western Armenia, and the Government-in-Exile of Western Armenia.

The core mechanisms for the formation of the National Assembly
(Parliament) of Western Armenia included rafting regulations to set
the date of the first session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of
Western Armenia, the number of elected parliament members, and the
guidelines for the participation of public and patriotic
organizations and unions set by the National Council of Western
Armenia.

Appeal to the all Armenian people
to protect and sustain its indisputable and perpetual rights to
realize that one of its most important tasks is being part of the
process of forming the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western
Armenia to take active participation in elections upon obtaining
citizenship of Western Armenia and using the unique opportunities the
latter offers.

President of the National Council of Western Armenia
Armenag APRAHAMIAN

Prime Minister of the Government-in-Exile of Western Armenia
Tigran PASHABEZYAN

Chief of the Special Commission on the formation of the National Assembly
(Parliament) of Western Armenia
Armen TER-SARKISSIAN

Armenian ex-presidential candidate’s `offshore’ bill not included in
parliamentary agenda – newspaper

June 08, 2013 | 08:20

YEREVAN. – The last four-day session of the fifth convocation of the
Armenian National Assembly (NA) will start on Monday, June 10,
Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports.

`If the lawmakers manage to discuss all matters that are included in
the [NA] political and economic agenda, they will take summer
vacation. [But] in the case of not [managing] to discuss [all] agenda
issues [on time], a special session will be convened.

Twenty-five international agreements and sixty matters are included in
the [aforesaid] four-day session.

But [opposition Freedom Party Chairman, ex-presidential contender,
former PM] MP Hrant Bagratyan’s bill `On Regulating the Offshore
Companies’ Activities in Armenia’s Mining Industry’ was not put in the
agenda, [as] it received a negative conclusion,’ Haykakan Zhamanak
writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am