Author: Badalian Vardan

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN SAYS WON’T MEET RAFFI HOVHHANISYAN ANY MORE

12:14 19.03.2013

In the first post-election press conference with Armenia’s broadcast
media representatives on Monday, President Serzh Sargsyan said he
will not meet Raffi Hovhannisyan any more, as by declaring a hunger
strike he put an end to the political struggle.

President Sargsyan said after rejecting Hovhannisyan’s suggestion
to call snap parliamentary elections and have a run-off of the
presidential voter, he told Hovhannisyan that he had three options.

First: To go to Liberty Square and continue to insist that he has
garnered 80 percent of the votes and attempts to create alternative
structures to the authorities. In this scenario, Sarkisian said,
law enforcement agencies would do what they have been tasked to do.

Second: Raffi Hovhannisyan continues to insist that the elections were
not fair and that in reality he has garnered a higher percentage of
the votes than officially announced. He then fortifies his ranks and
takes part in the Yerevan municipal elections garnering the majority of
the votes and becomes Mayor of Yerevan, thus the leader of two-thirds
of the Republic.

Third: He ceases being part of the opposition and works within
government structures to combat corruption and emigration, as he
pledged during his campaign.

“Raffi Hovhannisyan chose the first Western option, Serzh Sargsyan
said. The President said the defeat in some cities of the republic
was an unpleasant surprise to him, but added that despite everything
he remains the President of all citizens.

SOCIAL PACKAGE CHANGES FOR SERVICEMEN TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES IN ALL MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

10:13, 19 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The changes made in the social package
for the Armenian servicemen are meant to provide a more expanded
program of medical assistance and services. The Department of Public
Relations and Mass Media of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Armenia stated this responding the inquiry made by “Armenpress”. The
working group formatted in accordance with the decision of the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia has developed a volume of medical
services for the aforementioned individuals and direct members of
their families.

Among other things it has been stipulated to transfer the insurance
payments (AMD 52,000) of the obligatory health insurance basic package
of the servicemen to the State Healthcare Agency of the Ministry of
Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia and thus provide their medical
services via a separate program in the medical institutions of all
kinds (including “higher and expansive technology services and special,
complicated examinations” as well.)

IL Y A UN AN : L’ANTISEMITISME MEURTRIER DE MOHAMMED MERAH

Publie le : 19-03-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le 19 mars 2012, un acte
antisemite particulièrement odieux frappe une ecole juive en France.

Vers 8 h, un homme casque – on ignore encore a ce moment-la qu’il
s’agit de Mohammed Merah – gare un scooter Yamaha T-Max blanc devant
le Collège et Lycee Ozar Hatorah dans le quartier de la Roseraie,
zone residentielle de Toulouse. Arme d’un 11,43 et d’un pistolet
mitrailleur de type mini-Uzi, il ouvre le feu sur un groupe de
personnes rassemblees devant l’etablissement. Il tue un enseignant du
collège, Jonathan Sandler, âge de 30 ans, et ses deux enfants, Gabriel,
3 ans, et Aryeh, 6 ans. Les cameras de videosurveillance montrent
que le tueur assassine l’un des enfants alors que ce dernier rampe
a terre aux côtes des corps de son père et de son frère. Le tueur
penètre ensuite dans la cour d’ecole et poursuit Myriam Monsonego,
âgee de 8 ans, la fille de Yaakov Monsonego, directeur de l’ecole,
l’attrape par les cheveux et pointe son pistolet qui s’enraye a ce
moment. Il change alors d’arme, et tire dans la tempe de la fillette
a bout portant. Durant l’attaque, l’assassin blesse grièvement Aaron ”
Bryan ” Bijaoui, âge de 15 ans et demi, qui sera hospitalise jusqu’au
12 avril. Ce monstrueux acte antisemite provoque une onde de choc en
France et dans le monde. Le père de Jonathan Sandler, Samuel (Shmuel)
Sandler, qui vient de perdre son fils et ses deux petits-fils,
declare : ” Mon petit cousin a ete deporte a Auschwitz a l’âge de 8
ans en 1943. Je pensais que les enfants ne seraient plus assassines
en France, ou dans le monde. ”

Dès le 19 mars, Mohammed Merah, un franco-algerien âge de 23 ans,
est identifie par la police comme le principal suspect des tueries. Le
RAID encercle le 21 mars 2012 a 3h00, son appartement du quartier de
Côte Pavee a Toulouse, situe au 17 rue du sergent Vigne. Pendant les
negociations qui suivent, Mohammed Merah declare avoir agi en qualite
de ” combattant d’Al-Qaïda, pour defendre les enfants palestiniens “.

Le 22 mars 2012, après un siège de 32 heures, l’assaut est donne a 10
h 30. Revetu d’un gilet pare-balles de la police, d’une djellaba noire
et d’un jean, Merah est mortellement atteint a la tete par un tireur
d’elite poste a l’exterieur du bâtiment au moment où il tentait de
s’echapper par son balcon. Une polemique a suivi sa mort, concernant
une note de la DCRI du 25 janvier 2012 qui montre que ce service a
envisage son recrutement. Comment les services de renseignement qui le
connaissaient, qui etaient au courant de ses deplacements au Pakistan
et en Afghanistan, ont-ils pu ignorer la dangerosite de Merah ?

Peu avant la tuerie antisemite du 19 mars, Mohammed Merah avait
deja assassine froidement, entre Toulouse et Montauban, trois
soldats, et en avait laisse un quatrième pour mort (Loïc Liber, reste
tetraplegique). Le parachutiste Imad Ibn Ziaten a ete le 11 mars 2012
a 16h la première victime de celui qu’on appelait encore le “tueur au
scooter” et qui recidivera le 15 mars contre un groupe de militaires
francais (Abel Chennouf, francais catholique d’origine algerienne et
Mohamed Legouad, francais musulman) avant de s’attaquer a l’ecole juive
Ozar Hatorah. En assassinant ces soldats, Mohammed Merah, qui filme
ses tueries avec une petite camera fixee sur son ventre, proclame :
“C’est ca l’islam mon frère: tu tues mes frères, moi je te tue”. La
mère du premier parachutiste abattu va depuis a la rencontre des
jeunes des quartiers pour leur faire prendre conscience que, non,
l’Islam, ce n’est pas ca. Elle pense qu’il y a plusieurs Mohammed
Merah en puissance dans nos quartiers.

Le 18 avril 2012, la famille du rabbin Jonathan Sandler, assassine avec
ses deux enfants, a demande au parquet de Paris d’elargir l’enquete
a la circonstance aggravante d’antisemitisme : son avocat Patrick
Klugman a adresse au parquet un memoire pour lui demander ” de prendre
un requisitoire suppletif afin de retenir la circonstance aggravante
“d’appartenance ou de non appartenance, vraie ou supposee des victimes
a une ethnie, une nation, une race ou une religion determinee”, en
l’occurrence la religion juive “. Cette requete est entendue. Dans
un requisitoire suppletif accorde le 20 avril, le parquet demande aux
juges d’instruction nommes sur ce dossier de retenir la circonstance
aggravante ” d’appartenance ou de non appartenance, vraie ou supposee
des victimes a une ethnie, une nation, une race ou une religion
determinee, en l’occurrence la religion juive “.

La s~ur de Mohammed Merah se serait dit fière de son frère avant
de se retracter prudemment, des tags fleurissent pour celebrer les
actes de Merah et son “sacrifice”. Des enseignants (et pas uniquement
dans les quartiers), remontent des paroles d’elèves, effrayantes de
haine et de negation de l’autre. On peut s’interroger sur le rôle des
medias qui n’ont cesse de passer en boucle les rares images videos
du jeune Merah, tout sourire, contribuant ainsi a en faire une icône
des paumes de la Republique.

Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance Armenienne contre le Negationnisme]
veut rendre ici hommage a la memoire des victimes de Mohammed Merah
et appelle les pouvoirs publics et nos elus a prendre conscience du
potentiel meurtrier des paroles de haine raciste librement diffusees
sur internet.

Collectif VAN

D’après : Wikipedia : Mohammed Merah Wikipedia : Tueries de mars 2012
a Toulouse et Montauban RMC : Merah : la mère de la première victime
temoigne Quand Imad Ibn Ziaten, première victime du “tueur au scooter”,
refusait de se coucher devant Merah

Retour a la rubrique

LACK OF FUNDS JEOPARDIZES ONE OF ARMENIA’S TWO BATTERED WOMEN’S SHELTERS

Monday, March 18th, 2013

ONEArmenia’s campaign to save bettered women’s shelter

On the heels of a successful October 2012 campaign to renovate
a kindergarten in northern Nagorno-Karabakh, non-profit funding
platform ONEArmenia has announced a new $21,000 campaign to close
the 2013-2014 budget gap of a safe house run by the Women’s Support
Center in Yerevan.

According to a study conducted by Amnesty International, nearly 60%
of Armenian women experience physical abuse on a regular basis. Only
half-29%, to be exact-of these women seek out help, only to return
later-at a rate of 88%-to the very homes and families that abused
them. UNICEF has reported that 31% of Armenian males and 22% of
Armenian females justify this violence.â~@¨ “We started the safe house
in 2012 because the need was so great,” said Women’s Support Center
director Maro Matosian. “Every time we would refer someone to the
existing shelter, they were turned away because there was no space.”

The WSC has provided services to victims of domestic violence since
2009. The Center has also engaged in the training of Yerevan’s
municipal social workers and conducted round table discussions
in Armenia’s regions with youth to raise awareness about healthy
relationships and the negative impact of gender stereotypes and
patriarchal values on Armenian society.

The WSC’s safe house is only one of two such spaces currently operating
in Armenia. Because of the potential for pursuit by perpetrators, the
safe house’s precise location is kept confidential and is not revealed
to the pubic. It has the capacity to house and nurture up to 5 women
and their children at any given time, with an average yearly impact
on 30 women and about 60 children. In addition to providing a safe
space where women can seek solace and reprieve from their harrowing
experiences, the safe house employs social workers, legal counselors
and psychologists who work with the women to slowly build up a sense
of independence, potential and eventual self-actualization. Group
therapy sessions, individual legal counseling and activities designed
specifically for rehabilitation guide the women toward setting goals
(for employment, divorce, housing, education, etc) and working toward
realizing them. Their children are enrolled in school and monitored
by the shelter’s staff.

By the end of a maximum 60-day stay at the safe house, women are
prepared to begin new lives with newfound self-reliance and confidence.

“That process is the first time in their lives when they take their
destiny into their own hands,” said Matosian. “It is a very empowering
thing. They have dreams of their own. They have goals of their own.

And they start thinking of themselves for the first time.”

The funds raised throughout ONEArmenia’s campaign would cover rent,
purchase of medical and infant supplies, and transportation and food
costs for the next year.

Visit the IndieGoGo campaign page to learn more and make your
contribution:

SERZH SARGSYAN IS NOT GOING TO VISIT RAFFI HOVANNISIAN BUT HAS WRITTEN A LETTER TO HIM

ARMINFO
Monday, March 18, 20:42

In an interview with Armenian TV companies, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said that he will not visit Heritage Party Leader Raffi
Hovannisian, but he has written a letter to him.

As Yerkir Media TV channel reports, the President also said that his
letter has received a rather strange reply.

According to the official data of the Central Electoral Commission,
the incumbent President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan won the Feb 18
presidential election, having obtained 861,373 votes (58.64%). His
main opponent, Raffi Hovannisian, obtained 539,693 votes (36.74%).

Since Feb 20 Hovannisian has been holding rallies in Yerevan and
regions of Armenia to protest against the election results. To note,
Raffi Hovannisian started his hunger strike on March 10 and is going
to continue it until President Serzh Sargsyan’s swearing-in ceremony
scheduled for April 9.

PRESIDENT, VP CONGRATULATE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ON RE-ELECTION

WAM – Emirates News Agency, UAE
March 18 2013

WAM Abu Dhabi, Mar 18th, 2013 (WAM) — President His Highness Sheikh
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory cable to the
President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan on his reelection
for the second term.

Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has sent a similar cable on
the same occasion.

WAM/HM/AM

LIVE WEBCAST FROM FREEDOM SQUARE

A1Plus.am
05:37 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

The recurrent meeting of the Civic Forum is underway in Freedom
Square. Ex-presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan has mounted the
podium to address the attendees.

AZERBAIJANI STATE STATISTICS SHOW THE DROP IN OIL PRODUCTION

19:47, 18 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: According to the Azerbaijan State
Statistical Committee, during the first two months 2013 production
of oil and condensate decreased by 3.6% or 300,000 tons (more than
2.2 million barrels) against the same period last year and totaled
7.2 million tons.

As reports Armenpress, referring to Turan, oilmen managed to reduce
the pace of oil production decline – in January and February 2012
the production decreased by 5.1% against the same period in 2011.

According to the Statistical Committee, during this period production
of tank gas in the country totaled 2.9 billion cub.m., down 5%
against January and February 2012.

According to the government’s forecast, this year Azerbaijan plans
to produce 40,820,500 tons of oil and condensate and 28,822,700,000
cub.m. of gas (including technical gas, which is injected into the
oil wells to maintain bed pressure.

ALL ABOUT ARA MANOOGIAN’S HUNGER STRIKE FOR DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW

March 15, 2013 Posted by Ara K. Manoogian at 3:11 pm Add comments

Ara K. Manoogian and Barack Obama (courtesy of Hetq.am)

This post includes comprehensive information and links regarding Ara
K. Manoogian’s hunger strike that starts on Sunday, March 17, 2013, as
announced in his Open Letter to U.S. President Barack Obama.

FACT: On March 2, 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama sanctioned
election fraud by congratulating acting Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan as President-Elect.

EVIDENCE: President Serzh Sargsyan received congratulatory message
from the President of the USA Barack Obama

FACT: There is overwhelming evidence that the Armenian Presidential
election held on February 18, 2013, was heavily rigged in favor of the
incumbent Serzh Sargsyan.

EVIDENCE: Post-Election Interim Report, Preliminary Analysis on
Presidential Election in Armenia, Summary of Violations Recorded by
Raffi Hovannisian Campaign Headquarters

FACT: According to WikiLeaks, the U.S. Government is well aware that
Serzh Sargsyan is one of the most corrupt leaders among Post-Soviet
republics. As Armenia’s #1 oligarch, he has manipulated the country’s
laws and rigged elections in order to control at least half of
Armenia’s most lucrative sectors and enterprises.

EVIDENCE: Armenia Misses Another Opportunity To Improve Elections, The
Business of Politics: Leading Enterprises of Political Elites.

As a U.S. citizen, born and raised in California, I, Ara K. Manoogian,
kindly request that U.S. President Barack Obama refrain from condoning
human rights violations, disrespect for democratic values, election
fraud and usurpation of power by the President of another country.

Serzh Sargsyan first came to power after rigging the Armenian
Presidential Election of February 19, 2008. At that time, ten people
were killed and hundreds were wounded during post-election rallies
protesting election fraud.

I believe it is our duty as citizens of the United States of America
to make sure that the actions of our own President-elect truly reflect
the core democratic principles of our great nation, particularly,
Justice, Equality, Truth and Popular Sovereignty.

I shall continue my hunger strike until U.S. President Barack Obama
retracts his congratulations, which legitimize the official Armenian
Presidential election results, skewed in favor of the corrupt
incumbent, Serzh Sargsyan, and ignoring popular sovereignty as a
cornerstone of democracy.

If U.S. President Barack Obama does not provide a favorable response
to the open letter, Ara K. Manoogian will launch a hunger strike on
Sunday, March 17, 2013, at 4pm, in front of the Congressional 28th
District Office, which is located at 245 E. Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA
91502 (next to Burbank City Hall).

COME BY AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW

Ara K. Manoogian is a Burbank resident and business owner of Magnolia
Park Lock Shop. He is also a human rights activist; investigative
journalist; Artsakh representative of the Shahan Natalie Family
Foundation; co-author of Desert Nights, an investigation into human
trafficking in Dubai; founder of

Below are postcards (high-resolution) disseminated among public to
raise awareness about an instance of injustice that has resulted in a
U.S. citizen’s hunger strike. You are welcome to download and share
them:

Postcard about Hunger Strike

Postcard about Hunger Strike

AZERBAIJANI CUSTOMS DETAINED OPPOSITIONISTS, ACCUSING THEM OF SMOKING ARMENIAN CIGARETTES

17:04 18/03/2013 ” SOCIETY

Several members of the Azerbaijani opposition party “Musavat”
were detained while crossing the Georgian-Azerbaijani border, the
Azeri information portal “Haqqin.az” reports referring to “Azadlig”
newspaper.

They stopped Akif Mamedli, the Chairman of organization of “Musavat”
party in Balakan district, and party activists Ahmed Osman and Azizov
Garzalieva, with no apparent reason and started asking questions,
and later started to insult,” said the senior Customs Lieutenant
Elchin Rahmanly.

After that, according to the source, Musavat members were searched.

Not finding anything they caviled at a pack of cigarettes “VIP”
that were purchased in Georgia, which were allegedly made in Armenia.

“Bickering and insults to Musavat members, accompanied by insulting
words, continued up to the prosecution of Azerbaijani Popular Front
Party (APFP) members and Musavat members which as if cooperate with
the Armenian side,” reports the portal.

Ahmed Garzaliev said that recently the negative attitude of the
population to the current government of Azerbaijan has increased;
people prefer to be with the opposition.

“For this reason, the district administration gave curtain directions
to some structures to watch us and to blackmail us. Black PR is
carried out against local activists openly. And for any unpleasant
incidents that may occur, the district administration will carry the
responsibility,” said a member of the party.

Source: Panorama.am