Armenia To Be Showcased At Itb-2013 In Germany

ARMENIA TO BE SHOWCASED AT ITB-2013 IN GERMANY

YEREVAN, March 5./ARKA/. The National Competitiveness Foundation of
Armenia together with 17 tourism companies will showcase Armenia at
ITB-2013 international tourism exhibition in Germany, March 6-10,
the Foundation told ARKA on Tuesday.

Over 9,800 delegations from about 180 countries and over 170,000
people will participate in the exhibition.

The Armenian delegation will exhibit historical and cultural values
of the country, as well as present the protected areas of Armenia for
the first time to foster development of eco-tourism in the republic
and demonstrate new tourism products to the world.

Germany’s market is one of the targets for The National Competitiveness
Foundation in terms of developing eco-tourism, the source states. -0-

Expert Says Presidential Polls ‘Missed Opportunity For Armenia’

EXPERT SAYS PRESIDENTIAL POLLS ‘MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR ARMENIA’

March 5, 2013 – 14:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Director of Regional Studies Center (RSC), political
analyst Richard Giragosian has described the post-election developments
as a crisis of confidence in the ruling authorities and the opposition.

The expert noted spreading the movement and presentation of a clear
strategy among the challenges the opposition currently faces.

“We have no information as to the opposition developed a program or
not,” he said, conditioning the public discontent with failure to
unveil March 1, 2008 cases.

“An impression is created that the ruling authorities fail to realize
the level of discontent, with consensus noted as the main challenge.

Moreover, they have failed to react properly to the current situation,
with Hayk Babukhanyan, Artashes Geghamyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan and
Shushan Petrosyan only voicing their position in mass media,” the
expert said.

Mr Giragosian further noted Raffi Hovannisian as the first politician
to have adopted a new strategy, hailing the ex-candidate’s decision
to promote his ideas in provinces.

“Hovannisian has become a mediator for implementation of changes,”
the expert said, deeming Feb 18 elections as a missed opportunity
for Armenia.

Raffi Hovhannissian Appelle Serge Sarkissian A Demissionner

RAFFI HOVHANNISSIAN APPELLE SERGE SARKISSIAN A DEMISSIONNER

En raison de la non parution de la presse ecrite armenienne le lundi,
ce sont les agences de presse qui couvrent la manifestation du leader
du parti Heritage, le 2 mars, au cours de laquelle il a appele le
President de la Republique, le PM Tigran Sarkissian et le maire
d’Erevan, Taron Margarian, a venir sur la place de la Liberte, le 5
mars, a reconnaître ” la victoire du peuple ” et a demissionner d’ici
le 9 avril, jour prevu pour son investiture. ” Si M. Sarkissian aime
sa famille, sa patrie et s’il a une moindre moralite et une conscience
nationale, il doit se presenter devant le peuple et lui offrir sa
demission “. M. Hovhannissian a note qu’il ne s’agissait pas d’un
ultimatum, mais que si S. Sarkissian continuait a se maintenir au
pouvoir, le peuple se retrouverait face a une ” tragedie “, tout en
excluant tout affrontement. Il a en outre demande au PM de se rendre
sur la place de la Liberte pour rendre des comptes sur la pauvrete, le
chômage, l’emigration, les monopoles, les obstacles au developpement
des PME, la ” terreur ” fiscale et douanière etc. Repondant aux
accusations a son encontre selon lesquelles il manquerait de programme,
Raffi Hovhannissian a indique que son seul programme etait de defendre
les droits du peuple armenien. Une nouvelle manifestation de Raffi
Hovhannissian aura lieu le 5 mars.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 4 mars 2013

mardi 5 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

Les Observateurs De L’osce Mettent En Doute Les Resultats Des Electi

LES OBSERVATEURS DE L’OSCE METTENT EN DOUTE LES RESULTATS DES ELECTIONS ARMENIENNES

Nuancant les premières conclusions globalement positives sur la
tenue des elections presidentielles armeniennes du 18 fevrier, les
observateurs de l’Organisation pour la Securite et la Cooperation en
Europe (OSCE) ont mis ouvertement en doute samedi 2 mars les reultats
officiels du scrutin armenien, estimant que le vainqueur, le president
Serge Sarkissian avait beneficie d’un nombre ” improbablement eleve”
de votes dans nombre de circonsriptions.

La mission d’observation electorale de l’OSCE a souligne des
incoherences dans le chiffre de la participation et le nombre de votes
en faveurs du president sortant, susceptibles de mettre en doute ”
l’integrite du processus electoral”, dans son rapport intermediaire
sur le suivi des elections.

Citant les resultats definitifs publies par la Commission electorale
centrale (CEC), la mission a note que plus de 80 % des electeurs
inscrits auraient jete leurs bulletins dans l’urne dans 144 des
quelque 2 000 bureaux de vote d’Armenie. Or, M. Sarkissian aurait
obtenu precisement plus de 80 % des suffrages dans 115 de ces bureaux
de vote, selon la CEC.

“Dans 198 des 303 bureaux de vote où la participation a ete de 70
a 80 %, le president candidat a recueilli plus de 70 % des voix”,
indique le rapport de l’OSCE qui ajoute que “sur 249 bureaux de vote
où le taux de participation a ete inferieur a 50%, M. Sarkissian a
recueilli plus de 50 % des voix dans 40 d’entre eux, et [le principal
candidat de l’opposition Raffi] Hovannisian a recueilli plus de 50 %
dans 155 d’entre eux”.

La mission ne precise toutefois pas si les taux de participation
“improbablement eleves” releves dans certains des bureaux de vote
sont en mesure de modifier l’issue du scrutin a l’echelle nationale.

Selon la CEC M. Sarkissian a remporte le scrutin du 18 fevrier par 58,
6 % des voix, face a son principal adversaire R. Hovannissian credite
de 36,7 % des suffrages.

Ce dernier a officiellement battu le president sortant dans plus d’une
dizaine de grandes circonscriptions urbaines, dont les deuxième et
troisième villes du pays, Gumri et Vanadzor.

M. Hovannissian a d’ailleur conteste les chiffres de la CEC qu’il
a consideres comme frauduleux et a revendique la victoire, alors
que la CEC comme l’equipe de campagne de M.Sarkissian ont recuse les
allegations de fraudes lors de ces elections dont le pouvoir en place
avait annonce qu’elles seraient les plus democratiques de l’histoire
du pays.

Le pouvoir armenien a fait valoir que les observateurs de l’OSCE et
d’autres institutions europeennes avaient emis un avis gloabalement
positif sur la tenue du scrutin dans leurs premières conclusions,
rendues publiques le 19 fevrier. Les observateurs avaient conclu
que le vote avait ete “globalement bien organise, dans le respect
des libertes fondamentales”, mais ils avaient aussi fait etat
de serieuses irregularites, notamment en ce qui concerne l’abus
par l’equipe de campagne de M.Sarkissian et par ses partisans des
ressources administratives ” et “l’interference injustifiee” dans le
processus electoral.

Pourtant, le chef de l’equipe d’observateurs de l’OSCE, Heidi
Tagliavini, avait laisse entendre que de telles violations n’etaient
pas a meme d’affecter les resultats du scrutin.

Le dernier rapport de la la mission de l’OSCE pourrait toutefois
jeter une ombre sur les premiers jugements plutôt encourageants
et embarrasser les autorites armeniennes qui s’en reclamaient pour
asseoir leur legitimite. Les Etats-Unis comme l’UE ont a plusieurs
reprises mis en garde les autorites armeniennes concernant la tenue
des elections, et avaient clairement laisse entendre que le dernier
scrutin presidentiel devait etre exemplaire.

M. Sakissian a neanmoins recu les felicitations de nombre de ses
homologues occudentaux, a commencer par le president Obama. Mais la
mission de l’OSCE rendra son rapport definitif dans deux mois. Les
partisans de M. Hovannissian, qui a lance une champagne nationale de
protestation contre le president sarkissian, n’ont en tout cas pas
tarde a se saisir des reserves emises par les observateurs occidentaux.

S’exprimant lors d’une manifestation a l’appel du leader de
l’opposition le 2 mars a Erevan, des responsables de son parti
Jarankoutioun (Heritage) ont declare que les observateurs ne donnaient
que plus de poids a leurs allegations selon lesquelles M. Sarkissian
auraient beneficie de centaines de milliers de voix d’electeurs
fantômes. Ruben Hakobian, vice-president de Jarankoutioun, a ainsi
affirme que le chiffre de la participation avait ete grossièrement
falsifie a la hausse dans plus de 500 bureaux de vote, pour la plupart
dans des zones rurales. Le meme jour, M. Hovannissian rencontrait H.

Tagliavani a Erevan.

Il devait annoncer le 4 mars sa decision de porter devant la justice
les resultats du scrutin.

Par ailleurs, Amnesty International, a son tour, dans une declaration
publiee le 2 mars, appelait les autorites armeniennes a lancer une
enquete sur les fraudes et irregularites qui ont entache les elections
presidentielles.

mardi 5 mars 2013, Gari ©armenews.com

Newspaper: Armenian President Decides To Appoint His Son-In-Law As A

NEWSPAPER: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DECIDES TO APPOINT HIS SON-IN-LAW AS AMBASSADOR TO VATICAN

ARMINFO
Wednesday, March 6, 12:44

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has decided to appoint his son-in-law
Mikayel Minasyan as Ambassador to Vatican, reports Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper.

In the past Minasyan was deputy head of the presidential staff, while
during the Feb 18 presidential race he was deputy head of Sargsyan’s
campaign office.

The newspaper suggests that this may be a “punishment” for not very
good results on Feb 18. “Minasyan is trying hard to dissuade his
father-in-law,” says the newspaper.

Current Ambassador of Armenia to Vatican is Vigen Chitechyan.

Charges Against Ex-Presidential Candidate Vardan Sedrakyan Incomplet

CHARGES AGAINST EX-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VARDAN SEDRAKYAN INCOMPLETE – LAWYER

TERT.AM
10:50 ~U 06.03.13

The charges against Armenia’s ex presidential candidate Vardan
Sedrakyan are incomplete, Sedraktan’s lawyer Alexander Sirunyan told
Tert.am, adding that they are still to understand what is incomplete.

He said he has not managed to familiarize with the materials but
knows only the charges.

Sedrakyan is being accused of masterminding the assassination attempt
against ex presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan. Yesterday a Yerevan
court has satisfied the petition of the National Security Service to
take Sedrakyan under custody for two months.

Asked about testimonies against Sedrakyan, Sirunyan said he does
not have any information yet as everything has started yesterday in
the evening.

Sedrakyan has refused to give any testimonies. Asked to comment on the
arrest, the lawyer said neither he nor Sedrakyan have any comments yet.

Samvel Harutyunyan and Khachatur Poghosyan arrested suspected in
committing the assassination attempt against Hayrikyan are allegedly
linked with Vardan Sedrakyan who is their neighbor. They are told to
have renovated Sedrakyan’s house and mansion.

Before the presidential polls Sedrakyan has stated that he would be
arrested as the people who have committed it know him.

No Human Casualties Recorded Due To Aleppo Armenian District Shellin

NO HUMAN CASUALTIES RECORDED DUE TO ALEPPO ARMENIAN DISTRICT SHELLING

12:39, 6 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS: Three blasts occurred in Aleppo Armenian
New Village district’s various parts on March 5 evening. Berio National
Primacy press secretary Jirayr Reisyan told Armenpress, the blasts
left a roof of a building and one upper storey flat damaged. In the
words of Reisyan fortunately no human losses were recorded. “For a
long time we did not witness shelling in the Armenian districts, but
yesterday’s incident” press secretary stated. According to Reisyan
currently no voices of shelling and gun shots are heard in the
district, the atmosphere is relatively calm, meanwhile the district
is deprived of the electricity for the greater part of the day.

Information has been released on March 5, according to which the
rebels have asserted control in Syrian-Turkish bordering Rakka city.

Due to the irregular operation of telephone communication there is
still no news regarding Armenian Church and school, as well as our
compatriots living there.

Over 90 Aleppo Armenians have already been kidnapped because of one
year ongoing clashes in Aleppo. Fortunately the majority has been
released. The number of wounded Armenians exceeds 87, the number of
victims is being clarified. Presumably their number is about 4 dozen.

Two servicemen Khajak Abelyan and Ghazar Karapetyan are missing
till now.

Hovannisan Meets With Head Of Eu Delegation To Armenia

HOVANNISAN MEETS WITH HEAD OF EU DELEGATION TO ARMENIA

13:37, March 6, 2013

Raffi Hovannisian today met with Trian Hristea, the Head of the EU
Delegation in Armenia.

The two discussed the February 18 presidential election and the
resulting political instability in Armenia due to the popular distrust
of the official vote result.

Tomorrow, Hovannisian will meet with Norbert Lammert, the President
of the German Bundestag now in Armenia on an official visit.

Today, Hovannisian’s campaign headquarters will file a petition with
the Constitutional Court questioning the constitutionality of Article
18, Point 5, of the RA Electoral Code.

Point 5 reads:

After calling elections, candidates, political parties, alliances
of political parties running in elections under the proportional
electoral system may form election campaign offices. Election campaign
offices may not be located in buildings occupied by state and local
self-government bodies (except for cases where election campaign
offices occupy an area not belonging to such bodies) as well as in
buildings where electoral commissions are functioning. Signboards
placed on election campaign offices shall not be regarded as print
campaign materials within the meaning of this Code, if they do not
contain direct appeals to vote for or against a candidate, political
party (alliances of political parties), and if the number of such
posters does not exceed the number of election precincts formed for
the purpose of elections, and if the area that each poster (signboard)
occupies does not exceed six square meters.

http://hetq.am/eng/news/24170/hovannisan-meets-with-head-of-eu-delegation-to-armenia.html

Armenia’s Aronian To First Face Norway’s Carlsen

ARMENIA’S ARONIAN TO FIRST FACE NORWAY’S CARLSEN

March 6

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) held the draws for the 2013 World
Chess Candidates Tournament, which will be held in London.

In the first round-robin of the event, which will get underway on
March 14, Grandmaster (GM) Levon Aronian-who plays first board for
the three-time World Chess Olympiad champion Armenian national team
and who is third in the FIDE rankings-first will play against FIDE’s
number-one-ranked, GM Magnus Carlsen (Norway).

In the first round-robin, Aronian next will face GMs Boris Gelfand
(Israel), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Peter Svidler (Russia), Vladimir
Kramnik (Russia), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), and Alexander Grischuk
(Russia), respectively.

The Candidates, which is a double round-robin event, will come to an
end on April 1.

NEWS.am Sport

Raffi Hovannisian Meets With Residents Of Dilijan

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN MEETS WITH RESIDENTS OF DILIJAN

13:16 06/03/2013 » POLITICS

Heritage leader Raffi Hovannisian visited today the city of Dilijan,
Tavush region.

During a meeting with several citizens, Hovannisian stated that he
has come to say that many did not expect that his struggle will be
victorious and irreversible.

Addressing those gathered, Hovannisian said, ~SToday you are
representing thousands of people who are absent now and who have
become migrants. But all of them will come back thanks to your choice
and your courage.~T

He promised them that the current authorities will be replaced, and
that the people will determine their own future. ~SI will be with
you until that day comes, and it is not far away.~T

Source: Panorama.am