Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA’S POLICE CHIEF CELEBRATES REPUBLICAN PARTY’S VICTORY, TOO – NEWSPAPER

news.am
May 08, 2012 | 07:25

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Chief of Police, Vladimir Gasparyan, likewise
attended the ruling Republican Party of Armenia’s (RPA) banquet on
Monday, Hraparak daily writes.

“We attempted to ascertain from Gasparyan himself as to why he decided
to personally attend the political party event.

Why are you attending the RPA’s banquet? Is your position not
apolitical?

The Police Chief is invited when there are mass gatherings… we
monitor the operative status (he laughs).

But this is a political event[?]

What significance does that have? I am the Police Chief of this
country. I could be here, too, [and] tomorrow be invited to the
[opposition bloc Armenian National] Congress, the Prosperous [Armenia
Party (PAP)]

Are you confident that the PAP will invite you?

And how!

Why have they invited you, when they are celebrating their victory
[in the May 6 National Assembly elections]?

They are doing a very good thing. And I came to see whether or not
they have drunk too much (he laughs),” Hraparak writes.

ERDOGAN : LA TURQUIE N’ACCEPTERA PAS QUE LA FRANCE LIE SON ADHESION A UNE RECONNAISSANCE DU GENOCIDE
Ara

armenews.com
mardi 8 mai 2012

ANKARA, 07 mai 2012 – Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip
Erdogan a annonce s’attendre a des changements dans les relations
turco-francaises après l’election du socialiste Francois Hollande a
la presidence francaise.

“Nous esperons que la nouvelle periode en France sera très differente
de la precedente dans les rapports turco-francais”, a-t-il dit
dimanche soir aux journalistes a Ankara avant de partir pour une
visite en Slovenie.

Il a souhaite que “les messages populistes exprimes lors de la
campagne” presidentielle francaise ne se reflètent pas dans la
pratique, en politique. Dans un tel cas de figure, a affirme M.

Erdogan, “cela aura un impact defavorable sur les relations
Turquie-France”.

Concernant le president sortant, Nicolas Sarkozy, très impopulaire en
Turquie parmi le gouvernement et l’opinion publique a cause notamment
de son opposition a une adhesion de la Turquie a l’Union europeenne,
M. Erdogan a indique qu’il n’avait plus d’autre option que “de
partir en vacances”. “M. Sarkozy avait promis de ne plus continuer
en politique. Il n’a plus d’autre choix. Il partira sans doute en
vacances”, a-t-il ajoute.

En Slovenie, M. Erdogan a fait remarquer que la Turquie avait toujours
eu de meilleurs rapports avec les socialistes francais qu’avec les
conservateurs. “Nous avons toujours eu une meilleure communication avec
les partis sociaux-democrates (en France) et ils nous ont toujours
soutenu sur cette question” de l’adhesion turque a l’UE, a declare
M. Erdogan lundi lors d’une conference de presse conjointe avec son
homologue slovène Janez Jansa. “J’espère que l’attitude de la France
sera bien plus positive, bien plus constructive, c’est notre attente”,
a-t-il ajoute.

Il a cependant prevenu le nouveau president : la Turquie
n’acceptera pas que la France tente de lier son adhesion a l’UE a une
reconnaissance par Ankara du genocide armenien, une “attitude negative”
developpee par Nicolas Sarkozy, selon M. Erdogan.

“Si une telle politique doit etre poursuivie, nous devrons reevaluer
notre perspective”, a-t-il dit.

ARMENIE : LE PARTI AU POUVOIR REMPORTE LES LEGISLATIVES, CRITIQUES DE L’OSCE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 8 mai 2012

Le parti du president Serge Sarkissian a remporte les elections
legislatives de dimanche en Armenie, selon les resultats publies
lundi, lors d’un scrutin aux allures de test, mais qui a ete mine,
par des manquement a la democratie, a estime l’OSCE.

Le Parti republicain de M. Sarkissian arrive en tete avec 44,05%
des voix, suivie par son allie dans la coalition gouvernementale, le
mouvement Armenie Prospère, dirige par un millionnaire et ex-champion
de Bras de fer, Gaguik Tsaroukian, qui recueille 30,20% des suffrages,
après depouillement de tous les bureaux de vote.

En troisième position, le mouvement d’opposition Congrès national
armenien, dirigee par un ancien president, Levon Ter-Petrossian,
fer de lance de la contestation en 2008, obtient 7,10% des voix,
selon ces resultats publies sur le site de la Commission centrale.

Trois autres parties, Heritage, la Federation revolutionnaire
armenienne et Etat de droit, ont reussi a depasser le seuil des 5%
et devraient obtenir des sièges a l’Assemblee.

L’Organisation pour la cooperation et la securite en Europe OSCE) a
estime dans un rapport lundi que les elections avaient ete minees par
des manquements a la democratie et que les “engagements internationaux
pris par l’Armenie n’avaient pas ete respectes”.

Le scrutin de dimanche etait considere comme un test pour cette
ex-republique sovietique du Caucase, dont c’est la première election
au niveau national depuis la presidentielle de 2008.

A l’epoque, la victoire de M. Sarkissian avait declenche des
manifestations de l’opposition qui ont degenere en affrontements
après l’intervention de la police, faisant 10 morts.

“L’Armenie merite d’etre saluee pour ses reformes electorales
et la campagne qui s’est deroulee dans une ambiance Pacifique et
transparente, mais plusieurs acteurs du processus ont souvent echoue a
respecter la loi et les commissions electorales ont echoue a la faire
respecter”, ont declare les observateurs de l’OSCE dans un communique.

L’OSCE a par ailleurs deplore la pression exercee sur les electeurs
qui a cree “des inegalites” dans la campagne ainsi que le manque de
“confiance” des Armeniens dans le processus electoral.

Les autorites de ce pays de 3,3 millions d’habitants avaient promis
des elections transparentes et democratiques pour l’attribution des
131 sièges de l’Assemblee nationale et eviter de nouveaux debordements.

“Je veux que tout soit calme, Pacifique et en conformite avec la
loi aujourd’hui. C’est la garantie pour le progrès”, avait declare
dimanche soir le president Sarkissian.

Une alliance d’observateurs composee d’Armenie Prospère et du mouvement
Congrès national armenien a cependant exprime “des doutes sur la
legitimite du processus electoral”.

Le mouvement Congrès national armenien a dès lors appele a une
manifestation a Erevan mardi soir.

La campagne electorale a ete dominee par les problèmes economiques
de ce pays confronte a un important chômage, a la corruption, et
qui pâtit de la fermeture de ses frontières avec l’Azerbaïdjan et la
Turquie en raison d’un conflit territorial.

L’Azerbaïdjan et l’Armenie se disputent depuis la chute de l’URSS le
contrôle du Nagorny-Karabakh, une region secessionniste azerbaïdjanaise
peuplee majoritairement d’Armeniens.

Par ailleurs, la Turquie, alliee de Bakou, et l’Armenie sont divisees
sur la question du genocide armenien sous l’empire ottoman (1915-1917).

ON OCCASION OF MAY TRIPLE HOLIDAYS NKR PRESIDENT AWARDED FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND VETERANS

ARMENPRESS
20:40, 7 May, 2012

On 7 May in connection with the Victory Holiday, the Day of the NKR
Defense Army and the Liberation of Shoushi President Bako Sahakyan
held a solemn ceremony of awarding.

The Head of the State congratulated the attendees on the end handed
in awards to a group of people.

The President underlined in his speech that the great May victories
proved to the whole world the ability of the Armenian nation to protect
its motherland, create an independent statehood and continuously
strengthen it As Armenpress was informed from the Central Information
Department of the Office of the ARTSAKH REPUBLIC President.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, chairman of the National Assembly Ashot
Ghoulyan, premier Ara Haroutyunyan, members of political parties and
non-governmental organizations, veterans of the Great Patriotic and
Artsakh Liberation Wars, other officials, guests arrived from the
Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora partook at the ceremony.

In connection with the Victory Day, the Day of the NKR Defence Army
and 20th anniversary of the Liberation of Shoushi President Bako
Sahakyan signed several decrees on awarding.

For exclusive bravery and personal courage shown during the defence
of the Motherland two individuals were awarded with the Battle Cross
Order of the first degree, three people were decorated with the Battle
Cross Order of the second degree.

For personal bravery and courage shown in the course of the military
and combat actions the medal “For Courage” was awarded to 42
individuals, 18 of them posthumously.

For contribution to successful performance of combat missions, raising
combat readiness of the forces as well as courage shown while defending
state borders 620 individuals, 20 of them posthumously were awarded
with the medal “For Service in Battle”.

For personal bravery shown during the battles for the liberation of
Shoushi 57 individuals, 8 of them posthumously were awarded with the
Medal “For Liberation of Shoushi”.

“Mesrop Mashtots” order was awarded to two individuals, four people
were decorated with the “Vachagan Barepasht” medal, 12 individuals and
“Howard Karagyozyan” Medical Benevolent Non-Governmental Organization
(USA) were awarded with “Gratitude” medal.

For substantial contribution to the development of physical culture
and sports one individual was conferred a title of the NKR Honoured
Worker of Physical Culture and Sports

On the same day the President signed an order on presenting 5 freedom
fighters with VAZ-2115 cars.

The Head of the State also signed an order on handing in valuable
gifts to a group of the Great Patriotic War veterans, servicemen of
the Defence Army, Artsakh soldiers-liberators, relatives of perished
and missing freedom fighters. Overall 200 people were awarded in
accordance with the decrees.

THE BRIGHT SPOT OF ELECTION

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:20:32 – 07/05/2012

The brightest or the only bright spot of the parliamentary election
of Armenia is Vanadzor, N 30, where Edmond Marukyan, non-partisan,
lawyer, head of Populex Law Office, was elected to parliament. He
defeated Republican Victor Dallakyan.

This is an important victory. Not because it is singular but because
the voters behaved right. In fact, the voters of Vanadzor did not
surrender to the traditional election technologies of the government
and voted with their civil consciousness.

In addition, evidence to this is when Victor Dallakyan assumed a
civil posture in the political field, he defeated the government’s
candidates, despite their money and methods.

Now a Republican, Victor Dallakyan who used to explain the subtleties
of Serzh Sargsyan’s “casino-based” activities lost in the constituency
where he used to win. Hence, in N 30 the voters win, citizens with
civil consciousness. And the constituency with the result of May 6
becomes important.

Meanwhile, Victor Dallakyan will become member of parliament from
the Republican list, otherwise his offensives against the Prosperous
Armenia will be absolutely in vain for which Dallakyan even had to pay
with his personal and family friendship with Vardan Bostanjyan of PA.

Dallakyan paid a high price, and the Republicans will not be that
inhuman, especially that Dallakyan has just been “conscripted” and
he perhaps has not taken the “oath” yet.

ARMENIAN ELECTIONS COMPETITIVE AND LARGELY PEACEFUL, BUT SHORTCOMINGS UNDERMINED CONFIDENCE IN PROCESS – OSCE

news.am
May 07, 2012 | 14:26

YEREVAN. – Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Armenia featured a
vibrant and largely peaceful campaign, with overall balanced media
coverage, but pressure on voters and a deficient complaints process
created an unequal playing field, the international election observers
said today.

Observers noted a campaign environment that generally respected
freedoms of assembly and expression and candidates were, for the most
part, able to campaign freely. But the general lack of confidence
in the integrity of the process amongst political parties and the
general public is an issue of great concern.

The elections were held under a new Electoral Code that provided
a sound legal framework for conducting democratic elections, but
stakeholders failed to implement important aspects of the new law and
the manner in which complaints were dealt with undermined the right
to effective legal redress.

“Armenia deserves recognition for its electoral reforms and its
open and peaceful campaign environment but, in this race, several
stakeholders too often failed to comply with the law and election
commissions too often failed to enforce it,” said Francois-Xavier de
Donnea, the Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer
mission and the Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation.

“As a result, the international commitments to which Armenia has
freely subscribed were not always respected.”

The process of candidate registration was inclusive overall. Despite
improved legislation with regard to voter registration, observers said,
that the accuracy of the voter lists and their potential misuse for
electoral fraud added to the lack of confidence in the process.

“The high turnout of over 60 per cent, the wide age range among voters,
and the clear understanding of the electoral process by young and old
alike were impressive, but reports of widespread interference with
the running of pollings stations, voters’ movement and casting of
votes throughout the day by certain political parties raised serious
concerns,” said Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, the Head of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe delegation. “The
authorities must address this unacceptable behaviour before the
presidential election next year.”

“I cannot stress enough how important it is to see these elections and
our preliminary findings in the broader context and as the beginning
of the process, not the end,” said Krzysztof Lisek, the Head of
the European Parliament delegation. “Our preliminary conclusions
today and the final recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights, once they are published, should be taken
as the goal to achieve in view of the upcoming presidential election.”

Election day was generally calm and peaceful, but marked by
organizational problems and undue interference in the process, mostly
by party representatives, the observers noted.

“The election campaign was open and respected fundamental freedoms,
and the media offered broad and balanced coverage during the official
campaign period,” said Radmila ekerinska, the Head of the Election
Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights. “Unfortunately, this was overshadowed by concerns
over the accuracy of voter lists and violations of the Electoral Code
that created an unequal playing field.”

5.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS AZERBAIJAN CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DESTRUCTION

12:30 . 07/05

5.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Azerbaijan at around 8:30 am today.

According to preliminary data, the quake occurred 28 km northwest of
Azerbaijani town of Sheki.

The tremors were felt in Armenian towns of Sevan, Vanadzor, Artashat
and Ijevan, measured at 3-4 magnitude, the National Seismic Protection
Service of Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

EXPERT: THE KEY PROBLEM OF ARMENIA IS THAT DESPITE EVERYTHING, CITIZENS TAKE BRIBES

arminfo
Monday, May 7, 14:45

The civil obedience is the key problem of Armenia. Despite everything,
our citizens get bribes and we have what we got, political expert,
Edgar Vardanyan, told journalists today.

He also added that today many people are displeased with the results of
the parliamentary election. For this reason, it is very much possible
that several or at least one party may not accept the results of the
parliamentary election.

He said that if the opposition political forces do not refuse their
mandates, the parliament will be many-sided. “Perhaps, this is a
positive result, but negative from the political point of view, as if
the society recognizes the results of the election, it will promote
legitimating of the power. This is especially relevant, taking into
consideration the fact that the data of CEC say there is no need to
set up a new coalition”, – he said.

OBAMA INVITES HOLLANDE TO GROUP OF EIGHT AND NATO SUMMITS

ARMENPRESS
MAY 7, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS: President Barack Obama invited French
President-elect Francois Hollande to the White House and upcoming
Group of Eight and NATO summits, the White House said.

As Armenpress reports, in a phone call, Obama congratulated Hollande
— who won France’s second and final round of voting Sunday with 51.7
percent of the vote — saying he looked forward to working with him
“on a range of shared economic and security challenges,” the White
House said.

Obama said he would welcome Hollande — the first Socialist to win
France’s presidency since Francois Mitterrand in 1981 — to Camp David
in Maryland for the G8 Summit May 18-19 and to Chicago for the NATO
summit May 20-21.

Obama is the president of the G8 this year.

Obama also “proposed that they meet beforehand at the White House,”
White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement Sunday night.

Obama and Hollande “reaffirmed the important and enduring alliance
between the people of the United States and France,” Carney’s
statement said.

RPA Did Not Win, Others Lost
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:52:02 – 07/05/2012

After the parliamentary elections the political parties have different
feelings. Besides the delight of the Republican Party, the others’
feelings are the falling curve.

Prosperous Armenia is embarrassed, it now has to choose. Either it
chooses the difficult path and takes up the role of the opposition
or fits in the systemic game directed by the Republicans.

The feelings of the Armenian National Congress differ little from the
feelings of the PA. Simply, the source of the feelings of the PA is
the Republican Party, the source of the feelings of the Congress is
PA. During the last rally of the Congress its coordinator and one of
possible successors of Levon Ter-Petrosyan reassured the Congress
followers that Gagik Tsarukyan said electoral breaches will not
be forgiven.

It turned out that electoral breaches are not only forgiven and changed
in accordance with the Republican caprice but also there were a lot of
PA “residents” among violators of the electoral law. The Congress’s
case evokes the famous episode from the Russian film when the hero
explains his companion about the poem he wrote at night under the
trembling light of the candle, noting with pity that in the end he
learned that it was written by Pushkin. “What a classical blow,”
he says. The Congress received a classical blow from the PA, and the
Congress leader Ter-Petrosyan considered as a classic of the Armenian
politics, had to go and sit at the same table with Vartan Oskanian
and Hmaiak Hovhannisyan of PA, still not classics, and speak about
the urge of the Prosperous Armenia for independence.

The feeling of the alliance of the Heritage and Free Democrats is
controversial. On the one hand, this alliance thus gained an advantage
and instead of dividing the government to conjuncture packages it
targeted and rejected the government in package. On the other hand,
the Heritage spoke about its triumphant victory in the evening of May
7 and is now seeking for ways of retreat because the phrase “elections
were falsified” is not an excuse any more, also thanks to the efforts
of the opposition.

In reality, however, the happiest of all was the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

This party won the election which is a real success for this party in
the context of its leadership’s business activities under the name
of politics since 2003. For the ARF, 5% political profit is already
excess profit. In this meaning, the ARF has a reason to be happy –
it has 5 % plus avoids tax for excess profit.

But in the long run, the state of the Republicans is the toughest,
simply this party easily carries this weight not because it is
strong but because it is unconscious. The Republicans did not win
this event called election, but the others lost. The defeat of others
had different and various reasons, soon a lot of people will use the
opportunity to analyze all these reasons.

In the meantime, by defeating everyone, the political forces and the
society, the Republicans has been left alone with its own self. But
soon the Republicans will inevitable win or lose to itself in the face
of the vicious system established in this country for already two
decades. In addition, the Republicans does not have an opportunity
for a draw – marking time – because the systemic issues in Armenia
are getting deeper and deeper due to the “election” held on May
6. Simply this difficulty is falling heavily on the shoulders of
the Republican Party except for one case – unless the others agree
with love to share this absolute weight with the Republican Party in
return for some quotas.