Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN COULD BE POSTPONED – EX-MINISTER OF INTERIOR

TERT.AM
18:38 ~U 01.02.13

Talking to Tert.am, ex-minister of the interior Ashot Manucharyan
proposed that all the presidential candidates suspend their election
campaigns for a few days.

According to him, they can resume their election campaigns after one
of them, Paruir Hairikyan, recovers.

With respect to the domestic situation in Armenia, he pointed out the
need for preventing shocks. The best is not to postpone the
presidential election.

By suspending their election campaign, the other presidential
candidates will create equal conditions for Paruir Hairikyan, who is
in hospital now.

If anything serious is behind the assassination attempt against Paruir
Hairikyan, a second step should be taken as the “mastermind” expects
different political forces to speculate on the incident. However, Mr
Manucharyan said, there is not such a need now.

He also welcomes the fact that Armenia’s National Security Service is
investigating the case. The case needs a “confidential political
analysis” to prevent certain forces from taking advantage of this
fact.

BLACKBERRY FOR ARMENIA TRIALS

2013-02-01 17:23:56

Just weeks before the Kenya Premier League season kicks off and after
being named in Nairobi City Stars squad for the 2013 KPL season,
former Gor star George ‘BlackBerry’ Odhiambo is once again set to
leave for Europe where he is to undergo trials with Armenia side,
Shirak FC, The StAR reports.

“I have landed trials with the club and I hope to come out successful.

The Armenia League is currently in its pre-season stage but if the
deal goes through, I will sign a two-yeas contract with the club,”
he revealed.

Odhiambo first stint in European football with Danish side, Randers
ended miserably, forcing his return to the continent last year, where
he joined Tanzania’s Azam fc where her also failed to find the form
that made him a darling of many soccer fans.

“I am yet to finalise on my squad for the season. I have a friendly
with Mathare today which will act as a test for the players who are
still on trials,” he said. Kenyatta revealed that after the trials,
he will know who to sign and who to drop for the season.

ARTHUR OSIKYAN DISCUSSED ISSUES ON STATE REGISTRY DATA WITH IFES REPRESENTATIVES

15:21, 1 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. On January 31 the Deputy Chief of the
Armenian Police, Major-General Arthur Osikyan hosted the delegation
headed by the Director of the IFES Armenian office Linda Edgeworth.

The Police of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that
during the meeting the parties discussed a number of issues regarding
the joint activity targeting provision of authentic and complete
information developed in the State Population Registry.

Among other things the Deputy Chief of the Armenian Police,
Major-General Arthur Osikyan together with the delegation headed by
the Director of the IFES Armenian office Linda Edgeworth discussed
issues regarding the results of the analysis of authenticity and
completeness of information developed in the State Population
Registry. Also the sides discussed matters about the accessibility
and development of criterion for correction of lapses in compliance
with the international standards.

IT’S BEGINNING OF LARGE-SCALE TERROR

Igor Muradyan
16:02 01/02/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

I warned in my article published earlier in Lragir.am that
assassinations should be expected. Apparently, the Armenian elite find
that assassinations will not be practiced.

There are two dozens of armed organizations with radical views and
thousands of weapons. At one time the government collected not the
right weapon. The issues relating to the third stage of redistribution
of property and income have not been resolved, and they cannot be
resolved without weapon. A series of assassinations is to come but
activities within the framework of political reshuffles will certainly
benefit different groups who will settle issues among one another.

The supporters of the so-called Eurasian project and advocates of
Russian supplies of arms to Azerbaijan -political scientists, experts
and politicians – are exposed to real danger. It is a convenient
opportunity for doing away with them. If the government bypasses the
legal provisions and is reluctant to apply to law enforcement bodies,
implying “high treason”, others will deal with it.

It should be kept in mind that an attempt has been made against the
symbol of National Independence Paruir Hairikyan. Ambitious idiots and
former thief prime ministers do not interest anyone. They shot not
only at politics but also idea.

By the way, as is said, “it’s getting better”.

Let’s wish our friends-in-arms Paruir Hairikyan quick recovery, health
and stoicism. Everyone is waiting for his return to politics. Without
him our country and our ideas would be orphaned.

Amnesty International Appelle La Turquie A Faire Le Jour Sur Les Assassinats De Femmes Armeniennes A Istanbul

vendredi1er fevrier 2013, par Gari/armenews

L’organisation internationale de defense des droits de l’homme Amnesty
International a appele les autorites turques a diligenter des enquetes
serieuses afin de trouver au plus vite le ou les auteurs des
agressions contre des femmes âgees d’origine armenienne a Istanbul. Au
cours des deux derniers mois, on a enregistre quatre de ces attaques,
dont l’une mortelle, a Samatya, un quartier du c~ur d’Istanbul qui a
de tous temps abrite une importante communaute armenienne. Les quatre
victimes de ces agressions sont toutes des citoyennes turques
d’origine armenienne, ce qui ne laisse aucun doute sur les motivations
de leurs agresseurs. Les autorites turques sont tenues de mener une
enquete afin d’etablir si des motifs religieux ou la haine raciste ont
motive de telles agressions.

Amnesty International rappelle qu’en faillissant a ses obligations, la
Turquie violerait la Convention europeenne des droits de l’homme, par
laquelle elle s’est engagee a proscrire et sanctionner toute sorte de
discrimination. Les crimes motives par la haine raciale ou religieuse
constituent l’une des formes les plus graves de discrimination. Les
autorites ont non seulement obligation de s’interdire d’exercer des
discriminations sous quelque forme que ce soit mais doivent aussi
empecher et combattre les phenomènes discriminatoires au sein de la
societe. Il est regrettable que la legislation turque ne prevoit
aucune mesure permettant l’ouverture systematique d’une enquete
approfondie pour tout crime ou delit motives par la haine. La police
turque affirme qu’elle mène l’enquete sur ces agressions et qu’elle a
pris toutes les dispositions pour en arreter les auteurs mais Amnesty
International se montre preoccupee par les declarations publiques de
certains responsables turcs qui ont ecarte l’hypothèse du caractère
raciste de ces crimes.

Amnesty International estime que les autorites turques doivent mener
l’enquete en prenant très serieusement en compte l’hypothèse de crimes
a caractère raciste, tout en pregnant des mesures pour empecher la
repetation de tels crimes.

Cette vague d’attaques avait commence fin novembre 2012, avec
l’agression commise contre une femme âgee de 87 ans, qui avait ete
sauvagement battue en pleine rue et avait perdu l’usage d’un ~il. Le
28 decembr, une femme de 85 ans etait retrouvee morte a son domicile
d’Istanbul ; elle avait ete battue a mort par les agresseurs qui
avaient emporte tous ses bijoux et biens de valeur. Le 6 janvier,
c’est un groupe de trois individus non identifies qui s’en etaient
pris a une autre femme d’origine armenienne alors qu’elle se rendait a
l’eglise pour la messe de Noël ; les agresseurs avaient pris la fuite
après l’intervention de paroissiens armeniens qui se portaient au
secours de la victime. C’est encore en pleine rue qu’un autre
Stamboulite d’origine armenienne, âgee de 80 ans, etait attaquee et
sauvagement battue alors qu’elle rentrait chez elle.

ARFD CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT
Paruyr Hayrikyan

ARMINFO
Friday, February 1, 12:31

Supreme Body of ARF Dashnaktsutyun condemns the assassination attempt
against candidate for president Paruyr Hayrikyan, ARFD’s statement
reports.

“It was aimed against our statehood and sovereignty. It was an attempt
to create atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The law-enforcers
and the national security agencies are to expose the criminal and
those who are behind that crime. It is necessary to get out of this
closed circle when such cases remain unexposed at responsible time
for our country,” the statement reads. ARFD also recalls that Paruyr
Hayrikyan is a national figure and statesman with rich experience who
overcame numerous difficulties. ARFD is sure that he will overcome
also this testing, “We wish him sooner recovery,” the authors of the
statement say.

The assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan, candidate
for president of Armenia, Leader of the Union for National
Self-Determination Party, was made in the Tpagrichnery Street in
Yerevan overnight. Hayrikyan was hospitalized with a gunshot wound
in shoulder.

A criminal case was initiated on Article 34-305 of the Criminal Code of
Armenia (assassination attempt against a statesman, political figure
or public worker in order to stop his activity). Besides Hayrikyan,
the presidential candidates are as follows: incumbent president Serzh
Sargsyan from the Republican Party and former prime minister Hrant
Bagratyan from the Liberty Party, Leader of Heritage Party Raffi
Hovannisian, Advisor for Political Issues of the Refugees and the
International Law Civil Society Network, ex-foreign minister of NKR
Arman Melikyan, Leader of National Accord Party Aram Haroutiunyan,
political expert Andrias Ghukasyan, and specialist in epic Vardan
Sedrakyan. The elections will be held on Feb 18 2013.

ARMENIA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SHOT, ELECTION IN DOUBT

01 February 2013 | Issue 5059
The Moscow Times

YEREVAN – An Armenian presidential candidate was wounded by unknown
gunmen in the capital Yerevan on Thursday night, police said, in an
attack that could delay February’s election.

Paruyr Hayrikyan, whose life was not in danger after the shooting,
is one of eight candidates running in the Feb. 18 vote but is not
seen as a strong challenger to Serzh Sarksyan, who is expected to be
re-elected for a second five-year term.

However, according to Armenia’s constitution, the election could
be postponed by two weeks if a candidate is unable to campaign or
run. In the event of a candidate’s death, a new election is called,
to be held within 40 days.

The 2008 presidential election in Armenia, Russia’s main ally in the
South Caucasus, were marred by violent clashes between opposition
protesters and police.

“Those who did it wanted to destabilize the situation in the country,
but they failed,” Hovik Abrahamyan, the parliamentary speaker,
told reporters.

“It will depend on Paruyr Hayrikyan’s condition whether the election
will be postponed or not,” he said.

Armenian Shans TV reported that gunmen fired two shots, wounding
Hayrikyan with a bullet to his shoulder, in the courtyard of his
house in the center of the capital.

He was taken to a hospital after his neighbors, who heard shots and
found him, called police and an ambulance.

“[Unknown gunmen] were shooting at the presidential candidate
Paruyr Hayrikyan … Doctors say his life is not in danger,” Vladimir
Gasparyan, the head of the country’s police department, told reporters
at the hospital in comments aired by Shans TV.

Hayrikyan, 63, a former dissident, is the leader of a moderate
opposition party, the National Selfdetermination Union.

:

THE HILL:TACKLING AZERBAIJAN’S CORRUPTION

By Harout Harry Semerdjian, Ph.D. candiate, University of Oxford, UK

– 01/31/13 04:00 PM ET

In his op-ed entitled “Armenia and Azerbaijan: Arriving at a fair
and honest discourse,” Emil Agazade, while touching on issues only
peripheral to my original article and best suited to his interests,
passes all limits of journalistic ethics and crosses into the boundary
of hate and ignorance.

Instead of attempting to give Congress a counter-lesson on history
and geopolitics, I would highly suggest that Emil Agazade first help
put his own house in order. Transparency International consistently
ranks Azerbaijan among the most corrupt countries of the world, and
its president Ilham Aliyev was recently named the “world’s most corrupt
leader” by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.

Journalists in the country continue to suffer from violence and
threats, and pro-democracy activists have been beaten and imprisoned
in recent years. The European Parliament has explicitly condemned
Azerbaijan for “increasing number of incidents of harassment, attacks
and violence against civil society and social network activists and
journalists in Azerbaijan.”

This is also the very leadership of a country that makes heroes out
of axe-murderers such as Ramil Safarov, who was recently pardoned
despite having killed his fellow Armenian attendee with an axe
in a NATO-sponsored study program in Hungary. This is also the
same regime that embarked on a Taliban-style cultural genocide in
2005 against thousands of medieval Armenian religious monuments in
Jugha, Nackichevan, which has been well-documented by video footage,
photographs and advanced satellite imaging. International diplomats
have been repeatedly banned by Azerbaijani authorities from visiting
the region, including past and present U.S. Ambassadors to Azerbaijan,
Matthew Bryza and Richard Morningstar.

While the petro-dollars of the Aliyev regime fund lobbyists such as
Emil Agazade to monitor the global media and attempt to suppress
freedom of information, it would be much wiser for Azerbaijan’s
leadership to spend the money at home, where over 40 percent of the
rural population live below the poverty line.

Semerdjian is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oxford.

Read more:

Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook

IS THIS A DREAM OR REALITY? – PARUYR HAYRIKYAN’S FIRST QUESTION AFTER BEING SHOT

TERT.AM
12:58 ~U 01.02.13

Presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan’s daughter Nare told the
reporters about the moments after her father was shot. She said the
first question he asked lying on the ground was “is this a dream
or reality?”

“We were at home when we heard shots. We rushed to the window and saw
how his bag flew up. We run down the stairs and saw him lying on the
ground in blood. The neighbors called the ambulance,” Nare said.

She said she talked with her father before the operation as he was
conscious. Nare said one of the neighbors said he/she noticed a man
in black with a hat on.

“One of the neighbors saw Hayrikyan being followed by that man. We did
not know anything and did not suspect that something may happen. It
was a common working day,” she said.

Paruyr Hayrikyan underwent operation, later the doctors will report
on his health condition.

Iran nears self-sufficiency in jet fuel production

File photo shows an Iranian technician installing hose for refueling
an aircraft.

Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:46PM GMT

Iran is close to becoming self-sufficient in producing jet fuel with
the renovation of Abadan Oil Refinery, the oldest crude oil treatment
facility in the Middle East.

Next week, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to
inaugurate the final phase of the development of Abadan Refinery in
the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Along with the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit which
will also come on stream at Shazand Refinery in central Iran to mark
the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in early February,
Abadan Refinery will be producing 30 million liters per day (mlpd) of
gasoline conforming with Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards.

Iran is currently a leading producer of jet fuel for passenger and
cargo planes. The gasoline production unit of Abadan Oil Refinery
would allow the production of fuel for helicopters, crop dusters and
trainers.

The alkylation unit of Abadan Refinery is forecasted to produce 2 mlpd
of fuel for helicopters.

Deputy Minister of Oil Alireza Zeighami said the Abadan Refinery
upgrade would enhance the country’s gasoline octane to 95, raise
sulfur and liquefied gas, and cut fuel oil production to 2.7 mlpd in
the facility.

He put at nearly one billion dollars the total costs for design,
manufacturing, installation and operation of the project and an
adjacent power plant.

Iran plans to inaugurate three mega-projects at Shazand, Lavan and
Abadan refineries by the end of the current Persian calendar year
(ending March 20, 2013) to enhance the production of the country’s
premium gasoline from 12 mlpd to 25 mlpd.

Iran attained self-sufficiency in fuel production after its
international suppliers stopped selling gasoline under US pressure.