Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Turkish intellectual Zarakolu not to speak to Turkish mass media any more

12:11, 14 April, 2012

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Turkish intellectual who has recognized
Armenian Genocide and who has been recently released from prison
stated that hence he will never speak to the Turkish mass media,
Armenpress reports citing Agos periodical.

Zarakolu said the reason of his complains is connected with the
illegalities dominating in Turkey’s judicial and legislative systems.
He said any kind of statement by him will be viewed as “service to the
existing abnormal situation.” “Freedom of speech cannot survive and be
realized in case of existence of threats. If we are in such situation
when the expression of own thoughts is considered a “bravery” it means
we are in a desperate situation,” the Turkish intellectual said.

From: Baghdasarian

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Vers une reconnaissance du génocide arménien en Islande

Des parlementaires islandais ont soumis une proposition appelant leur
gouvernement à formellement reconnaître le génocide des arméniens
commis par l’Empire Ottoman au 20ème siècle.

Selon le journal Morgunblaðið, en français « Le Journal du Matin »,
Margrét Tryggvadottirr, député du parti le Mouvement, est à la tête de
la proposition appelant à la reconnaissance formelle par l’Islande du
génocide arménien.

Deux autres députés du parti le Mouvement – Thor Saari et Birgitta
Jonsdotttir – l’ont rejoint avec Lilja Mosesdottir et Guðmundur
Steingrimsson, les présidents du parti Solidarité et de l’Avenir
Brillant, respectivement.

samedi 14 avril 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

US STRATEGIES AGAINST IRAN DEFEATED: COMMANDER

IRNA
APRIL 13, 2012
Tehran

Tehran, April 13, IRNA – US strategies against the Islamic Republic
of Iran were defeated, Commander of Iranian Army’s Ground Forces
Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said on Friday.

He made the remarks in his address to Tehran Friday prayers before
the first sermon of Friday prayers.

“US preemptive operation to dominate Middle East and control Asian
powers including Iran was failed and defeated.”

“Washington changed its strategy toward Iran to soft war after
understanding Iran’s military power; the exit of US forces from Iraq
which was one of the results of ongoing regional anti-American Islamic
Awakening, entangled Zionist regime and arrogant powers and forced
Washington to change strategy again,” he added.

Pourdastan noted that after the fall of the former Soviet Union,
the US officials who supposed themselves as leaders of the new world
were warned by their research centers to be cautious about the birth
of new powers.

“Muslim world as well as Shanghai Cooperation Organization have been
called as the new rivals for US leadership in the world; September
11 event as an excuse to occupy Afghanistan and later Iraq and other
efforts of Washington is because it wants to dominate the world energy
resources in rivalry with emerging powers.”

“Sanctions could not affect Iranian army’s commitment to progress
forward; Iranian army modernized its equipment based on latest
international standards; Iranian defense power is at the service of
regional and international peace, however, it is ready for the worst
in any possible confrontation.”

Since the beginning of 2011, the Muslim world has witnessed popular
uprisings and revolutions similar to what happened in Iran in 1979.

Tunisia saw the overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a popular
revolution in January, which was soon followed by a revolution which
toppled Hosni Mubarak in Egypt in February.

Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have since
been the scene of protests against their totalitarian rulers, who
have resorted to brutal crackdown on demonstrations to silence their
critics.

Bahrain, however, has experienced the deadliest clashes.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations
across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al
Khalifa dynasty’s over-40-year rule.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have
been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated
from abroad.

In October, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after
President Bashar al-Assad started a reform initiative in the country,
but the US and Zionist regime plots could spark some new unrests in
certain parts of the country.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN “FORGOT” ABOUT THE FORMAT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 13, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan
organized a joint briefing April 12 in New York on the topic “The
protracted conflicts in GUAM territory and their consequences for
international peace, security and development”.

The Azerbaijani representative stated during the meeting that he wants
to present “different aspects of the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan”. This was followed by a distorted historical excursus about
the history of Nagorno Karabakh – beginning from the soviet period up
to our days – and he was so much carried away by his story that forgot
to mention of the format of the negotiations, Armenpress reports.

At the briefing followed the discussion, the Armenian delegate, pointed
out the fact of false and distorted information presented by Azerbaijan
for a regular time. He referred to the commitment reconfirmed by the
Azerbaijani president January 23 in Sochi to continue and speed up
the efforts within OSCE Minsk Group, and asked whether it does not
contradict the current statement of the Azerbaijani representative
and whether it does not mean Azerbaijan refuses to keep true to the
agreed format.

In response, the Azerbaijani representative rushed to state that he
forgot to mention of the Minsk Group by chance, and the position of
his country has not changed, Azerbaijan is committed to the process
of the Minsk Group.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MPS DEEM “SKIPPING” PARLIAMENT MEETINGS NATURAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 13, 2012 – 20:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – This week, the subsequent four day meeting of
Armenian National Assembly didn’t take place over lack of a quorum.

Perhaps, the parliamentarians were so busy with the election campaign
that they completely forgot about their direct responsibilities i.e.

legislative activity, with more disciplined MPs having joined the
traditional truants this time.

PanARMENIAN.Net tried to learn the MP’s opinion about the sabotage of
the parliament’s operation during a traditional National Assembly
briefing. Orinats Yerkir’s parliamentary group leader Heghine
Bisharyan, voicing regret over the frustration of the four-day meeting,
urged against blaming the MPs. She added that even their European
counterparts note that the same occurs in their countries in the
midst of election campaign.

ARF Dashnaktstyun member Artsvik Minasyan didn’t deem skipping
the four-day meeting disgraceful, either. Moreover, in response to
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s remark noting that MPs are paid for their
legislative activity, Mr. Minasyan dubbed the parliamentarians’
salary as their constitutional right. Either he didn’t understand
the question or he thinks the MPs’ salary comprises the payment for
their propaganda for won re-election.

As always, the head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan stood out for his eloquence. To
the same question he answered that “MPs are paid for communication
with the public”. Having no time during their term of office for
that, they sensed such a great desire to communicate with public upon
completion of their terms that the even the National assembly rules
and constitutional commitments couldn’t keep them back.

As for the parliamentary groups of Prosperous Armenia and Heritage
parties, their representatives didn’t attend the briefing.

In conclusion, it remains to remind the MPs of their direct
responsibility i.e. legislative activity, for which they are paid for
and of the need to ensure active work in parliament throughout the five
years of their term of office, and not during the election campaign
with various vows. After all, their pledges serve a single purpose-
to ensure another opportunity to skip National Assembly meetings.

From: Baghdasarian

RPA CANDIDATE SAMVEL ALEXANYAN’S SPOUSE PRESSES HIS EMPLOYEES – PAPER

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 13, 2012 – 10:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Zhoghovurd paper quotes its reliable sources as
saying that wife of Samvel Alexanyan nominated for the forthcoming
parliamentary vote, goes tough on Alexanyan’s employees.

She keeps insulting the staff threatening to dismiss those who do
not support her husband’s candidacy and the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia which backs Alexanyan.

Alexanyan’s wife visits all Yerevan branches of Yerevan City
supermarkets chain belonging to the tycoon to personally deal with
all staff.

According to the paper, many employees have asked the candidate’s
driver to present the situation to Alexanyan.

Zhoghovurd tried to clarify the rumors with Alexanyan during his April
12 campaign meeting in Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia district where he
is nominated.

The candidate, however, flatly refused the reports. “It’s nonsense,
this is something impossible,” Alexanyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

ONIK GASPARYAN APPOINTED COMMANDER OF THIRD ARMY CORPS

Panorama.am
13/04/2012

President Serzh Sargsyan has signed a decree appointing Onik Gasparyan
Commander of RA Defense Ministry Third Army Corps for five years,
the presidential press office reported.

Former Commander of the Third Army Corps Levon Yeranosyan had lately
been appointed Commander of RA Police Troops.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN-LATVIAN COOPERATION IN THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION WILL BE CONTINUOUS

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 13, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: Education and Science Minister of
Armenia Armen Ashotyan received Latvian Ambassador to Armenia Gints
Apals. During the meeting issues on Armenian-Latvian educational
cooperation were discussed.

Welcoming the ambassador, the minister voiced hope that the cooperation
in the sphere of education will give new impetus to the traditional
ties developed between the two countries and peoples, ministry’s
press service told Armenpress.

Minister Armen Ashotyan said that the Armenian party needs the
experience of the Baltic States, including Latvia, for full integration
to European educational area. In this context the minister told
the ambassador that Armenia has assumed the presidency of Bologna
Secretariat for the upcoming the years and a summit of ministers is
intended in 2015 in Armenia.

The ambassador, expressing gratitude for reception, said the spheres
of education and culture are among the current most important spheres
of cooperation between the two countries, and it must be continuous.

The parties also discussed issues on inter-university cooperation
and teaching of European studies.

From: Baghdasarian

CYPRIOT FM CALLS ON ARAM I TO CONDEMN TURKEY’S ILLEGAL ACTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13, 2012 – 15:59 AMT

Cypriot FM calls on Aram I to condemn Turkey’s illegal actions April

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 11, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
His Holiness Aram I received a letter from the Foreign Minister of the
Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, informing him that
“the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied area of Cyprus had placed
Bishop of Karpasia, Christoforos, on their ‘stop’ list, an act that
denies his fundamental human right of freedom of movement and the
right of the Greek Cypriot Citizens in the occupied enclave to live
in dignity and practice their Christian faith (Universal Declaration
on Human Rights, articles 13 and 18 respectively).”

In the letter, the Foreign Minister also states that this new decision
to prevent Greek Orthodox Christians to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on
Easter Sunday in the Karpasia is another example of Turkey’s constant
breach of the fundamental human rights and the judgment passed by
the European Court of Human Rights (2001). In the end of the letter,
Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis requests from His Holiness Aram I to
condemn this act publicly.

In response to the Foreign Minister’s letter, Catholicos Aram I wrote,
” As the spiritual head of the Armenian community in Cyprus, which also
has churches and a monastery under the illegal occupation, I am aware
of all the breaches of the provisions of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights that have taken place since 1974. This experience with the
illegal occupation of our church property by Turkey is the continuation
of the denial policy of Turkey’s past and present authorities.”

He then continued, “By not allowing Greek Orthodox believers in the
Karpesia region to celebrate religious ceremonies, despite the European
Court of Human Rights’ judgment of the Fourth interstate Application
of Cyprus v. Turkey (May 10, 2001) and by limiting the number of
priests to spiritually accompany the Orthodox faithful in the enclave
under occupation (Report of the visit of UN Special Rapporteur on the
Freedom of Religion or Belief Mr. Heiner Bielfeldt, April 5 2012),
Turkey has once again demonstrated its double standard politics. On
the one hand, Turkish authorities present themselves as defenders
of human rights in the Arab World by their August 28, 2011 decision
to compensate non-Muslim minorities and return property lost since
1936 to Greek, Jewish and Armenian communities. On the other hand,
they deny publicly any responsibility for the Armenian Genocide and
its consequences, and they ignore all international declarations and
court decisions regarding the rights of Greek Cypriot citizens and
Greek Orthodox faithful under their illegal occupying regime.”

In the end of his letter, His Holiness informed the Foreign Minister
that he had written to the General Secretaries of the World Council
of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches as well as to the
leaderships of the Armenian communities in the Middle East, Europe
and North America asking them to condemn the denial of Turkey of
the fundamental human rights of the Greek Cypriots under the illegal
regime of its occupied northern Cyprus.

From: Baghdasarian

WHY IS SILVA HAMBARTSUMYAN SILENT?

Panorama.am
10:22 13/04/2012 ” Daily press

Businesswoman Silva Hambartsumyan is silent after the authorities
have explained the rules of the political game to her and have told
her to calm down and mind her own business, Yerkir reports.

Hambartsumyan is offended by RPA, PAP refused to admit her, and she
did not want to go to OYP.

Also, the paper reminds readers that Orinats Yerkir members continue
leaving the party, with Arthur Baghdasaryan being unable to calm
the passions.

From: Baghdasarian