Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

NETHERLANDS HOST EVENT ON 97TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

news.am
April 16, 2012 | 16:11

YEREVAN.- The Netherlands-based Abovyan cultural center hosted on
April 13 an event dedicated to the 97th anniversary of the 1915
Armenian Genocide.

Armenia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Dzyunik Aghajanyan delivered
a speech speaking about the genocide consequences and international
recognition process.

He recalled that Turkish archives are still closed, while official
Ankara spares no effort to push forward the approaches of denial
policy and political pressure to stop the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

Dr. Ugur Umit Ungor, professor at the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies, gave a lecture titled “Armenian Genocide and the Making of
Modern Turkey.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE ANGRY WITH ‘BITCHY GANG’

Tert.am
16.04.12

Petros Makeyan, Chairman of the Democratic Homeland party, part of the
opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (ANC), is angry with the
“bitchy gang” that attacked Nikol Pashinyan, Editor-in-Chief of the
Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times) newspaper.

“I saw they had no image of the Armenian woman. They were hired by
the parliamentary candidate they themselves named [Samvel Alexanyan,
who is running for parliament from election district #7]. He is trying
to play both with the country’s image and with the Armenian woman’s
image,” Makeyan said.

On Sunday, in Yerevan’s Malatya-Sebastya community, a group of women,
crying out “Go away, Nikol,” demanded that the parliamentary candidate
leave their “yard” and talked about the March 1, 2008 tragedy, those
guilty of Armenia’s “disasters” and so on.

According to Makeyan, yesterday’s incident shows Armenia’s incumbent
authorities’ “real worth.” They attempted to present a free and fair
election campaign to Europe, but “their nerves cracked.” “That plot
against Nikol Pashinyan is a disgrace for our state and authorities,”
Makeyan said.

As to a “manifestation of democracy” by women and their wish to
see Samvel Alexanyan as their candidate, Makeyan said: “They may
say whatever you want. But we are well aware of their task and the
ways of accomplishing it. Their sayings have nothing to do with the
masterminds’ purposes and programs.”

Asked about the incident being a “novelty” of the 2012 election
campaign, Makeyan said that “such things” have always happened during
national elections, but it was the first “overt act.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN BRANDY TO BE BOTTLED IN BELARUS: BELARUSIAN FM PRESENTS FUTURE PLANS

Panorama.am
16/04/2012

“We make great efforts towards diversification of bilateral relations
with a focus on trade and economic ties. We seek to go beyond
traditional exports and imports relationship and to launch joint
products,” Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov told a joint
news conference with Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian.

According to the Belarusian FM, they also target agriculture and
particularly imports of agricultural machinery to Armenia. Also, he
noted, both Armenia and Belarus make progress in high technologies,
and have agreed to deepen cooperation in this field.

“The joint programs between Belarus and Armenia include Armenian brandy
bottling in Belarus, cooperation between Armenian and Belarusian
Health Ministries, opening of Armenian Trade House in Belarus,”
Sergei Martynov said.

In return, Edward Nalbandian noted that at the meeting with his
Belarusian counterpart, they had discussed bilateral trade and economic
relations and the steps to boost bilateral economic ties.

At the invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov is paying an official
visit to Armenia.

As part of his visit, Martynov has been received by President Serzh
Sargsyan. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.

Sergei Martynov will visit Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath at the
Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims.

From: Baghdasarian

N. PASHINYAN: “YOU NEEDN’T HIDE BEHIND WOMEN, SAMVEL!”

02:35 pm | Today | Politics

Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian National Congress (HAK) candidate running
for a single-mandate seat in parliament, keeps inviting his contender
from the ruling Republican Party (HHK), businessman Samvel Alexanyan
to debate.

“You need not send women or hide behind them. I invite you to a
dispute. Let people decide which of us is a deserving candidate,”
Nikol Pashinyan said during today’s press conference addressing his
words to his contender at Constituency N 7 [Samvel Alexanyan].

During a meeting with the residents of Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia
district on Sunday, Nikol Pashinyan’s supporters were attacked by a
group of women who prevented them from advocating for the opposition
candidate.

People following the incident from their apartments had an expression
of detainees. Nikol Pashiyan, who was greatly touched by the sight,
today announced that he would do his outmost to free the community from
‘Alexanyan’s OÅ~[wiecim (Auschwitz).’

During the previous two elections, the community had only one candidate
represented by Samvel Alexanyan, who, according to the Pashinyan,
should bear full responsibility for yesterday’s incident, which
involved HAK candidates Gayane Arustamyan and Babken Garoyan.

The latter was taken to hospital with a noise injury as a result.

The opposition candidate is determined to continue his struggle
for a parliament seat and says he has great chances to win in the
election district.

The HHK candidate has not yet responded to Pashinyan’s accusations.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN SCHOOLS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY STORMS IN ARGENTINA

news.am
April 16, 2012 | 11:27

The buildings of the 84-year-old Ardzruni and the 51-year-old
Baghcheyan Armenian schools in Buenos Aires sustained serious damages
from the recent powerful storms that hit the Argentinean capital.

Baghcheyan school’s board member Kevork Keshishian told RFE/RL that
the storm had detached the school’s rooftop, and because of the heavy
rainfall the school’s books were completely destroyed and the computer
hall was damaged.

“Fortunately, everything happened at night when there was no one in
the school,” Keshishian added.

And Lucia Hagopian of the Ardzruni Armenian school noted that the
school’s rooftop had flied off for nearly forty meters and damaged
the neighboring house. Also, a window of the cupola of the Varaka
Holy Cross Armenian Church was detached.

As per Hagopian, the damage is estimated at US$ 50,000, but,
fortunately, the losses here are likewise solely material.

From: Baghdasarian

IRANIAN NUCLEAR TALKS “POSITIVE”

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS: Key talks on Iran’s controversial
nuclear programme, which have resumed after a 15-month impasse, have
been described as “positive” and “totally different” from the last
meeting, reports Armenpress citing BBC.

Six world powers – the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany –
and Iran are meeting in Istanbul in Turkey.

Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, but critics suspect it
of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Israel has hinted in recent months that it may carry out a pre-emptive
strike.

Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton,
said of the talks: “There is a positive atmosphere…

contrasting with the last time.”

The BBC’s James Reynolds, in Istanbul, says the envoys had earlier set
the bar pretty low – saying they did not expect detailed, substantive
proposals from either side.

What they wanted to see, he says, was whether Iran was ready to
seriously engage and, if that happened, there might be another round
of talks in four to six weeks time.

From: Baghdasarian

Iran’s internatonal oil exhibition to start Tuesday

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: Iran’s 17th International Oil, Gas,
Refining, and Petrochemical Exhibition will start on Tuesday, reports
Armenpress citing Irna.

The event was to kick off today but the inauguration ceremony was
delayed due to the heavy rainfall in the capital which hampered the
preparations. The exhibition which will start April 18 in presence
of several high ranking Iranian officials is to last for four days.

Companies form 44 countries would participate in the exhibition. The
presence of foreign companies comes despite the Western countries
sanctions on Iranian oil industry.

Of more than 1,255 Iranian and foreign companies which voiced interest
in participating in the exhibition, 940 domestic and 315 foreign
companies will take part in the event.

“Despite the international sanctions on Iran, the number of the
countries participating in this year’s exhibition has increased by
about 10 percent compared to the last year,” Es’haq Rouyvar, the
director of the 17th Iran oil show said on Monday.

Participation of several international oil companies from the
USA, Germany, the UK, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia and Norway in
the exhibition indicates the importance of Iran oil industry in
international arenas, he said.

On January 23, EU foreign ministers approved sanctions against Tehran,
including a ban on Iranian oil imports.

From: Baghdasarian

EVENTS DEDICATED TO POLICE DAY KICKED OFF IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. The range of events dedicated to the
11th Anniversary of the Police Day in Armenia declared their launch
in the morning of April 16. Headed by the Police Chief Lieutenant –
General Vladimir Gasparyan, Collegium members of Police of Republic
of Armenia, the heads of chief departments, independent divisions
Yerevan city and region departments , veterans and the staff of Police
Administrative building laid a wreath at the Police Administrative
building of the Republic of Armenia in front of Aram Manukyan monument,
Armenian Police told Armenpress.

From: Baghdasarian

FORMER JUDGE IN DINK MURDER CASE TO BE TRIED FOR BRIBERY

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 16, 2012 – 15:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors
(HSYK) has permitted an investigation of Erkan Canak – a former judge
presiding over the case of the assassination of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink – for allegations of corruption and bribery,
Today’s Zaman reports.

Canak, former judge of the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, who now
presides over a court in Sakarya, will be tried at the 5th Criminal
Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals in Istanbul.

If the court finds him guilty, Canak will be forced to resign. Canak
is accused of “acting in a way that has shaken the trust and respect
required by his position, engaging in corruption and taking bribes,”
according to the HSYK.

In 2010 Canak’s telephone conversation with another judge, Ali Hadi
Emre, was wiretapped. In the conversation Canak complained that he
had received threats from Kudbettin Avcı, a lawyer, over the release
of a drug baron from prison. Canak told Emre that Avcı threatened
to spread rumors about him if he refused to release the drug baron.

“If he continues to threaten me, I will go to the Justice Ministry and
tell them about everything. The baron was captured with 200 kilograms
of drugs. How can I release him?” Canak asked, adding: “I have known
him for years. He is my friend. But he says he will complain to the
[Justice Ministry] inspector about me. I have nothing to be afraid of.

But why does he keep harassing me?”

Emre, in response, advised the judge to calm down and promised
everything would be better in the future.

It was later revealed that Canak agreed to accept a bribe from the
drug baron’s men to acquit the drug trafficker of the charges. The
men also arranged hotel rooms for Canak and hired prostitutes for him.

On Dec 13, 2010, the HSYK removed Canak from the Istanbul 14th High
Criminal Court, which was hearing the Dink case, on the grounds that an
earlier Ministry of Justice report alleged that he had close contacts
with suspects in the Ergenekon case, a clandestine underground network
accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

From: Baghdasarian

ISRAELI MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE SPEAKS ABOUT SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE HISTORIES OF ARMENIANS AND JEWS IN TSITSERNAKABERD

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: A delegation headed by Israeli Minister
of Agriculture Orit Noked visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. As
Armenpress reports, the minister put a wreath and paid tribute
to the memory of the innocent victims. Orit Noked, accompanied by
Armenian Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan and Director of
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan, also visited the
museum-institute and familiarized herself with the exhibits.

“As a woman, as a Jewish and as a human being, I am shocked at what I
see in the photos, I am shocked at the murders of innocent Armenian
families,” Orit Noked wrote down in the Commemoration Book of the
museum-institute. The Minister of Agriculture watered the fir-tree
she had already planted in the Memorial Park.

Orit Noked sees similarities between the destinies of Armenians and
Jewish people. “We are like each other with our history, character,
with our small number of population and having communities abroad,”
Mrs. Noked said in an interview with Armenpress. There is an Armenian
community of about 15000 in Israel.

More than 20 countries have recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turkey in early 20th century.

Israel is not yet among those countries. The issue of the Armenian
Genocide was first raised in Knesset in 2007. The representatives of
“Likud” and “Merets” factions have repeatedly called for Israel to
end up with denial policy and recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Parallels are very often drawn between the Armenian Genocide and
Jewish Holocaust. The Holocaust was the genocide of approximately six
million European Jews during World War II, a programme of systematic
state-sponsored murder by Nazi Germany.

From: Baghdasarian