Author: Badalian Vardan

30-YEAR-OLD YEREVAN MAN’S BODY IS DISCOVERED

news.am
October 31, 2012 | 16:04

YEREVAN. – The dead body of Edgar Tadevosyan, 30, was found hanged
at the rooftop of an Armenian capital city Yerevan detached house,
on Wednesday at around 10:50am. The Police press service confirmed
this information to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

But the press service said nothing with respect to the information that
Tadevosyan was a former investigator, and noted that the respective
press release solely records that he was unemployed at present.

A report is being prepared on this incident.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: AZERBAIJAN UNDER THE LIMELIGHT

Panorama.am
31/10/2012

Azerbaijan is hosting this year’s UN Internet Governance Forum
scheduled to take place in the capital Baku 6-9 November.

The forum, including discussion of internet related human rights
issues, in particular freedom of speech, will help bring to light the
restrictions imposed by the Azerbaijani authorities on free speech
and on the crackdown on any one daring to criticize President Ilham
Aliyev, his family or government.

Amnesty International’s briefing, AZERBAIJAN: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
PLACED UNDER THE E-SPOTLIGHT, highlights the experiences of some of
those who have paid the price for free speech in Azerbaijan, as well
as the oppressive system of internet surveillance in the country,
Amnesty International reports.

ARMENIAN EXPERT CONCERNED OVER ARMENIAN CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN GEORGIA

tert.am
31.10.12

Armenian cultural and architectural monuments are completely neglected
in Georgia, Samvel Karapetyan, an expert in monuments, told journalists
on Wednesday as he presented a new brochure, which is part of the
series ‘Feature stories on Armenian architecture’.

The brochure deals with the Surb Nshan Surb Nikoghayos (Saint Sign
Saint Nicolas) church in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

“Now rain now fire. I wonder how it happens that it is only Armenian
monuments that are ruined by rains,” Karapetyan said.

One winter night in 2003, residents of a village residing not far
from the Ananuri monastery heard a bursting. In the morning they saw
the monastery had been destroyed.

Torrential rains this May destroyed the facade of Surb Nshan Surb
Nikoghayos church in Tbilisi.

Earlier, in 2002, a fire broke out inside the church because of a
“Russian vagrant’s” carelessness. Nine fire brigades could hardly
put out the fire.

Full of refuse and a resting place for stray dogs and tramps, the
church received the status of cultural monument in 2007 and is now
among the six churches the Georgian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church is demanding to be returned as Armenian churches.

“The facade cannot be restored now, and a new one has to be built using
old designs and photos. I do not know if they will do that. In any
case we will know what to do if it has been returned,” Karapetyan said.

This policy toward Armenian monuments has consistently been pursued.

Karapetyan cited a record whose author wrote, “I do not say that
you must destroy Georgian churches as well. But if you are against
religion, why are you destroying Armenian churches?”

CERTAIN CLAUSES IN STATE BUDGET PROJECT MAKE MPS LAUGH

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 31, 2012 – 15:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Zhoghovurd daily, certain clauses in
Armenia’s state budget made parliamentarians laugh.

One of the budget-stipulated clauses envisages “purposeful influence
on formation of young families in the framework of 2013 demographic
policy program.”

“ARF Dashnaktsutyun member, economy expert Artsvik Minasyan asked
Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan to comment on the clause above.

However, the Minister was at a loss for a reply, suggesting that
the issue be addressed to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs,”
the paper said.

ARMENIA TO HOST FESTIVAL OF JAPANESE FILMS

NEWS.AM
October 31, 2012 | 13:59

YEREVAN.- Armenia will host a festival of Japanese cinema. The festival
will be held in Yerevan on November 2-4 and Gyumri on November 5-6.

The event is organized by the Armenian-Japanese scientific, educational
and cultural center Hikari in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in
Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture
of Armenia as well as in partnership with the Armenian representation
of JT International Luxembourg S.A.

It is the second festival of Japanese cinema held in Armenia. The
program features five movies, head of the center Karine Piliposyan
told reporters on Wednesday.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Armenia and Japan and the festival will be the
fifth event organized by Hikari center.

In his turn representative of Culture Ministry Aram Gyurjyan noted
that Armenian and Japanese nations have different original cultures
but there is also commonality dictated by similar history.

“This is a historical path that changed peoples’ way of thinking
making them soldiers, a special set of values and a code of honor,”
he emphasized.

“ANOTHER BLUFF, WHICH WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL,” ABOUT THE CONSULTATION CONVENED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

October 30, 2012 16:56

During a consultation regarding preliminary investigation of criminal
cases in the Attorney General’s Office with the participation
of representatives of law-enforcements bodies, President Serzh
Sargsyan talked about concrete issues, which exist in the attorney
system. The President put forward some facts during the consultation,
which testify to the drawbacks in the above-mentioned system. Then he
stated, “And these are only some of the cases revealed. Can anyone
explain to me how such an atmosphere can exist in a law-enforcement
body, in the first place? So this means that some people have become
impudent. If a regional attorney’s deputy thinks that he can do such a
thing, I cannot think otherwise.” During a conversation with a set of
human rights advocates, tried to find out whether clear
intention had been noticed during that consultation in terms of solving
problems or it had been done just for the election. Vardan Harutyunyan,
the director of the Center for Freedom and Rights, noted, “This is a
step taken just for the presidential election. Serzh Sargsyan wants
to create an image of his struggling against illegality, corruption,
abuse of power alone like Don Quixote.

Certainly, one shouldn’t believe this. The assessments that

were made were also important. At the end of the day, he holds the
office of the President of the Republic of Armenia and his assessments
of the attorney system are important. The Attorney General’s Office was
given carte blanche for his coming to power. The whole legal system,
law-enforcement bodies had the right to do anything, they just had
to serve reproduction and establishment of Serzh Sargsyan’s rule.

Let us remember political trials, persecution of people by the
prosecution bodies and law-enforcement bodies. He mows what he sowed.

He allowed them to abuse power, engage in illegal actions and he
tries to make an impression that something is fixed. It can only be
called another bluff, which will not be successful. They may fire and
try one or two of those who are the most vulnerable, but corruption
in the system will not be eliminated, the system will not change,
since all that is led by the President of the Republic of Armenia.”

Human rights advocate Artak Zeynalyan gave the following assessment,
“The problems, which he talks about, are a small part of really
existing problems. Counselors dealing with criminal cases and legal
successors of aggrieved persons in every case have been shouting
about that from the rooftops for the past 20 years or at least the
past decade. I accept that the issues raised during that consultation
exist, but I would very much like it to have a result and something
to be changed. However, the hero of that consultation was not the
person who had violated the law. It was very abstract. If the court
didn’t convince me, it may fail to convince the President too, since
he is an onlooker too. Whereas one of the most important functions
of the court is that the ruling is convincing.”

Talking about the consultation held by the President of the Republic of
Armenia again, Mr. Zeynalyan noted, “There were no victims of March 1,
Vahan Khalafyan, Ghulyan, there were no specific people whose rights
had been violated. I would like to believe that this consultation
will have some effect. However, I didn’t see there the interests of
the victim whose rights had been violated. It wasn’t noticeable that
there was no corpus delicti in the Vartan Oskanian case, and if one
of four elements of the crime is not there, there is no crime.”

In conclusion, A. Zeynalyan said, “The consultation may be perceived
as expression of good wishes, some pre-election step.”

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

SPOTLIGHT ON 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RACES

Saturday, October 27th, 2012

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) – ANCA Rating: A+ Sen. Feinstein was
the lead Democratic cosponsor of S.Res.392, the Return of Churches
Resolution. A perennial supporter of Armenian Genocide legislation,
she continued her support in the 112th Congress with her cosponsorship
of S.Res.399. In November 2011, she visited the Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Montebello, CA, where she called for compensation for
the Armenian Genocide.

Shelly Berkley Shelly Berkley (D-NV) – ANCA Rating: A+ Rep. Shelly
Berkley (D-NV-1) is relinquishing the House seat she has held since
1998, and is challenging Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) for the Senate. As
a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, she has
consistently supported issues of concern to the Armenian American
community. She cosponsored H. Res. 304, the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, and H. Res. 306, the Return of Churches and Religious
Freedom Resolution. She has also called for expanded US assistance
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, and has attended numerous events on
Capitol Hill commemorating the Armenian Genocide and celebrating a
vibrant Armenia and Artsakh.

Robert Menendez Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) – ANCA Rating: A+
Sen. Menendez has been a leading force on issues of concern to the
Armenian American community in New Jersey and throughout the nation
since first being elected to Congress in 1992. In 2006, Sen. Menendez
blocked the misguided nomination of Richard Hoagland to serve as US
Ambassador to Armenia, after Hoagland offered responses to Senate
Foreign Relations Committee inquiries denying the Armenian Genocide.

In 2010, Sen. Menendez and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) opposed the
appointment of Matthew Bryza to serve as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan,
citing Bryza’s close ties to the repressive Aliyev regime. He
has cosponsored every Armenian Genocide Resolution since entering
Congress, and serves as the lead Democratic cosponsor of S. Res. 399,
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, during the 112th Congress. He
is a perennial participant at the Armenian Genocide Observance at
Times Square. Just recently, he issued a strongly worded statement
condemning the release and pardon of convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer
Ramil Safarov.

House of Representatives

Robert Dold Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL-10) – ANCA Rating: A+ As a freshman
member, Rep. Dold immediately stepped up to take a leadership position
on Armenian American concerns, joining with Rep.

Adam Schiff (D-CA) to serve as the lead Republican cosponsor of H.
Res. 304, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and speaking passionately
at the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill. He was
also an early supporter of H. Res. 306, the Return of Churches and
Religious Freedom Resolution, and attended events on Capitol Hill
celebrating the 20th anniversaries of independence of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh. For his consistent leadership on community concerns,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Republican Co-Chair, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
recently announced Rep. Dold’s appointment as Republican Vice-Chair
of the Caucus.

Michael Grimm Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY-11) – ANCA Rating: A After
defeating one of the most outspoken pro-Turkey House Members, Michael
McMahon, in a tight 2010 House race, Rep. Grimm has championed issues
of concern to the Armenian American community. He has cosponsored
H. Res. 304, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and H. Res.

306, the Return of Churches Resolution, and expressed solidarity with
the Christian Armenian community in New York City during a meeting
with His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. He has also been
a consistent supporter of increased U.S. aid and trade with Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh.

Dina Titus Former Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1) Having previously served
during the 111th Congress (2009-2010), former Rep. Dina Titus was
a strong supporter of issues of concern to the Armenian American
community in Nevada. She cosponsored H. Res. 252, the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, during the 111th Congress and joined House colleagues at
the 2009 Capitol Hill Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. During
her time in Congress, she also co-signed a letter to President Obama
expressing concern about the 2009 Turkey-Armenia Roadmap – a precursor
to the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols.

Adam Schiff Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA-28) – ANCA Rating: A+ A member of
the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations,
Rep. Schiff has been an ardent advocate for increased aid to Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, working with colleagues to ensure Committee
adoption of a provision ensuring a minimum $5 million in U.S. aid to
to Artsakh in FY2013. As the lead Democrat on the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, H. Res. 304, Rep. Schiff has been a forceful proponent of
U.S. reaffirmation of that crime. He has consistently received an A+
rating from the ANCA since his election in 2000.

Jim Costa Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-16) – ANCA Rating: A+ Hailing from
the land of William Saroyan, Rep. Costa has done the Central Valley
Armenian American community proud, receiving an A+ rating from the
ANCA throughout his terms in office. From legislation affirming the
Armenian Genocide to efforts to secure Turkey’s return of stolen
Christian properties, Rep. Costa has been a steadfast ally in the
Halls of Congress. His support extends to ongoing efforts to broaden
U.S.-Armenia relations and the fight to ensure self-determination
for the people of Karabakh.

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA-22) – ANCA Rating: A Central Valley Republican
Devin Nunes was an early cosponsor of both the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.304) and the Return of Churches Resolution
(H.Res.306). He also joined his colleagues in expressing concern to
Secretary Clinton when she questioned the historical facts of the
Genocide during a State Department Town Hall meeting. In August, 2012,
he was part of a Congressional delegation trip to Armenia, where paid
respects to the 1.5 million victims at the Armenian Genocide Memorial
– Dzidzernagapert.

Jeff Denham Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) – ANCA Rating: A Succeeding
longtime Armenian American issues advocate George Radanonich (R),
freshman Congressman Jeff Denham cosponsored the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.304) and the Return of Churches Resolution
(H.Res.306). Rep. Denham told his constituents, “We must acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide to remember those who lost their lives, as well
as ensure that such a horrible tragedy will never happen again.” In
September, he joined Rep. Nunes in issuing a statement condemning
Azerbaijani President Aliyev’s pardon, promotion and praise for
convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov.

Ed Royce Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA-39) – ANCA Rating: A+ As the Republican
Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Rep. Royce
been a perennial champion of Armenian American concerns. A senior
member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and lead Republican
sponsor of the Return of Churches Resolution (H.Res.306), he was
tireless in his support for the measure, which was adopted by the House
in December, 2011. An outspoken advocate for self-determination for the
people of Artsakh, Rep. Royce praised the recent Karabakh Presidential
elections, noting, “Throughout the years we have seen a trend of its
electoral system working in proper fashion and the most recent election
maintains that precedent. Voting embodies a functioning democracy;
I applaud all in Nagorno-Karabakh for putting democracy into action.”

Dan Lungren Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-CA-7) – ANCA Rating: A- Four-term
Congressman Dan Lungren has been a consistent cosponsor of Armenian
Genocide legislation and this term was no exception. He joined
colleagues as an early cosponsor of the Return of Churches Resolution
(H.Res.306), which was adopted by the House in December, 2011.

Janice Hahn Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA-44) – ANCA Rating: A Freshman
Congresswoman Janice Hahn stood steadfast in support for the
Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.304) and the Return
of Churches Resolution (H.Res.306). In a statement issued after the
passage of H.Res.306, Rep. Hahn noted “Today in Turkey, beautiful
and historic Armenian churches, monuments and monasteries lie in
ruins-broken not by the sands of time, but by desecration, theft
and dynamite. For too long, the U.S. has allowed Turkey to elude
responsibility for the destruction of Armenian churches. With this
resolution, Congress sends a stern message to Turkey’s Prime Minister,
Recep Erdogan – the United States will not tolerate Turkish assaults
on Armenian heritage and religious freedom.”

Judy Chu Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-27) – ANCA Rating: A Rep. Chu was an early
cosponsor of both the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.304) and the
Return of Churches Resolution (H.Res.306). In a powerful statement on
the House Floor condemning the Azerbaijani massacres in Sumgait and
Baku, Rep. Chu noted “I worry the sentiments that sparked this violence
still remains. Just last month, Azerbaijan began buying up weapons
to regain control of the region. The President of Azerbaijan declared
this is, “not a frozen conflict, and it’s not going to be one. America
must remain committed to a peaceful and democratic resolution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, not one that relives the past.”

Raul Grijalva Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-3) – ANCA Rating: A-
Rep. Grijalva has been a perennial cosponsor of Armenian Genocide
legislation since Joined House Natural Resources Committee Ranking
Democrat Ed Markey in authoring a dissenting opinion to H. R. 2362,
the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act,
which would have granted Turkey special advantages in conducting
business with Native American tribes.

Cory Gardner Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO-4) – ANCA Rating: A- Rep. Gardner
was one of a handful of Republican freshman to cosponsor H. Res. 304,
the Armenian Genocide Resolution. He joined with Rep.

Robert Dold (R-IL) and Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) in circulating a Dear
Colleague letter to other Republican freshman urging them to support
the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF XENOPHOBIA PREVENTION INITIATIVE

Due to many years of anti-Armenian propaganda, defamation and
disinformation coming from the Azeri officials, NGOs and citizens,
based on references and excerpts from several works, supposedly
written by Armenian writers Zori Balayan and Dawood Heyryan – “Revival
of our soul” and “In the Name of the Cross “, “Xenophobia Prevention
Initiative ” NGO, officially announces about its intention to purchase
these books.

Taking into consideration the uniqueness of these books, as none,
except representative of Azeri propaganda ever read them or saw,
we are ready to pay $15 000 for each of these books.

The main and additional criteria, that the books should met are
as follows:

“Revival of our souls” (alternative titles found in the Azerbaijani
sources: “Resurrection,” “Revive Our Souls,” “Resurrection of our
spirit” etc.) – Author: Zori Balayan – Publisher: “Vanadzor” –
Year: 1996 – Language: Russian or Armenian (Eastern Armenian dialect,
which is owned by the author)

“In the name of the cross” – Author: Dawood Heyriyan (alternative
titles found in the Azerbaijani sources: Heyriyan Daud, Daud Heyryan,
Dawood Heyryan) – Publisher: “Beirut 2000â~@³ – Year: 2000 – Language:
Arabic or Armenian (Western Armenian dialect, common among Lebanese
Armenians, Russian unknown to them)

– ISBN (International Standard Book Number, assigned to any edition)
must be specified – Scanned copy of the book’s cover – Scanned copy
of the page with content summary, publication data, in particular,
on the unique state registration number, about author, number of
pages and other unique attributes.

– Scanned copies of pages 9-17, 27-36, 57-65, 96-112 – Scanned
copies of title page – Scanned copies of pages with illustrations,
if available (by the seller’s choice) Scanned copies necessarily have
to be colored, of high resolution (minimum 600 dpi) and without any
signs of formatting or editing with the help of any photo editor.

If all the above requirements are met and after testing the
compliance of the suggested books to the unique data registered of
the corresponding publication institutions of Armenia and Lebanon,
our organization is ready to pay the announced amount and purchase
the books.

Payment and delivery will be carried out according to the requirements
and comfort of the bookseller.

Our contacts can be found at

29.10.12, 23:12

PROTEST RALLY IN FRONT OF RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

30.10.12

A protest rally has been conducted today in front of Russian embassy
in Armenia in defense of two Armenian citizens claimed to be arrested
groundlessly and isolated for already seven months without any proofs.

The demonstrators were the relatives of the arrestees – Hamlet
Alexanyan and Edgar Martirosyan – from Lori and Aragatsotn provinces.

They were asking the ambassador to interfere into the process for
conduction of fair trial.

Speaking to reporters Edgar Martirosyan’s mother said she is surprised
how it is possible to charge a person with robbery and rape without
any proves. Only during the face-to-face meeting the victims said the
detained people look like their attackers. “If my son is innocent why
he is arrested and if he is guilty why he is not officially tried,”
Silvard Manukyan said.

Initially four people were charged but as far as two of them were
Russian citizens they were set free and the other two charged with
attack and rape.

“They were caught with the testimonies of two Russian prostitutes
who were drunk. Initially they were charged with robbery and rape
but after the lawyer demanded medical expertise the rape charge was
withdrawn with robbery left,” the aunt of one of the guys said.

One of the girls reported about 6 guys, and the other claimed they
were four. There are no facts.

Embassy officials received few demonstrators who expressed their
complaints.

THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS A 6.2% ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2013
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
16:44 30.10.2012

Discussions of the draft state budget for Fiscal Year 2013 started
at the Standing Committees of the National Assembly today. Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan briefed the MPs on the main peculiarities
and directions of the main financial-economic document. Minister of
Finance Vache Gabrielyan and President of the Central Bank presented
the main indices and the answered the questions of the MPs.

According to Tigran Sargsyan, the 2013 state budget is based on three
main principles – ensuring of economic competitiveness, development
of the human capital and development of effective institutions. Based
on these principles the government has targeted four objectives –
maintenance of economic growth, radical changes in the social sphere,
improvement of the business and investment climate and macroeconomic
stability.

The government expects a 6.2% economic growth in 2013 instead of the 7%
projected for 2012. Tigran Sargsyan reminded about the predictions
of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, according
to which the world economy may find itself in a dangerous condition
in 2013. Taking note of these predictions, the government will give
preference to the implementation of a cautious macroeconomic policy.