Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

RUSSIA TO CONTINUE PUSH FOR NAGORNY KARABAKH DIALOGUE – LAVROV

RIA Novosti
Nagorny Karabakh

RIA Novosti. Ilya Pitalev19:14 02/04/2012YEREVAN, April 2 (RIA
Novosti) Russia will continue fostering dialogue on the Nagorny
Karabakh settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
during his visit to Armenia.

Nagorny Karabakh, a breakaway region on Azerbaijani territory with a
predominantly ethnic Armenian population, has been at the center of
a bitter conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“The work has not been completed, but the presidents of Russia,
Azerbaijan… expressed their readiness to continue working to reach
an agreement,” Lavrov told a news conference in the Armenian capital
of Yerevan.

The top Russian diplomat is paying visits to Armenia on April 2-3
and Azerbaijan on April 3-4. The visits are dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of Russia’s diplomatic relations with the countries,
but Lavrov is also expected to discuss developments in the Nagorny
Karabakh settlement.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev met for talks on the Nagorny Karabakh issue, mediated by Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev, on January 23 in Russia’s southern resort
city of Sochi.

No breakthrough decisions were reached during the trilateral meeting,
but the leaders agreed to work further on the issue.

Nagorny Karabakh has remained under Armenian control since the late
1980s, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan. The
conflict is estimated to have left more than 30,000 people dead on
both sides between 1988 and 1994.

From: Baghdasarian

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I BLESSES CHILDREN ON PALM SUNDAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 2, 2012 – 18:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A large number of children and their parents gathered
at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias to celebrate
Palm Sunday. After the liturgy, the celebrant Archbishop Norayr
Achekian led the traditional procession, followed by the clergy,
seminary students, the children and their parents, press office of
the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia reported.At the end of the
procession, His Holiness Aram I greeted the children and the faithful
from the balcony of his residence, and said, “Today, we celebrate
Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Walking in procession is
not only a symbol of that joyful event, but also a manifestation of
the deep faith that you and your children have in Jesus. Throughout
our history we have been able to survive and rebuild our lives only
because of our faith that shaped us as a people. We should seek to
instill in our children a powerful commitment to the spiritual, moral
and cultural values of our ancestors.” At the end of the message,
the children with their parents and all the faithful joined Catholicos
Aram I at the main hall of his residence to receive blessings.

From: Baghdasarian

BRITISH QUEEN’S COUNSEL TO ASSESS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ARMENIA

epress.am
04.02.2012

The state has to assume responsibility for freedom of expression, said
Queen’s Counsel, barrister Gavin Miller in Yerevan in his speech on
the topic of “Free Elections and Free Speech as Essential Conditions
for a Democratic Society” at a seminar and training titled “Reliable,
Responsible and Balanced Coverage of the 2012 Parliamentary Elections”
organized by the Europe in Law Association, the OSCE Yerevan office
and the US Embassy in Armenia, taking place in Congress Hotel from
Apr. 2-3.

Miller said that he often represents the interests of media agencies
and professionals in the UK on different matters in court, and as the
basis of his work, he cited Article 10 of the European Convention on
Human Rights which provides the right to freedom of expression.

Freedom of expression is often restricted during the election period,
he said, and sometimes issues arise in court to defend both the the
right to vote and freedom of expression.

Speaking about the situation in Great Britain, the barrister with
Doughty Street Chambers talked about state intervention. According to
him, during elections, political advertising is prohibited in Britain
and the news media is monitored, as they have to cover all candidates
on equal terms.

When a political issue is discussed on television, editors have
to ensure the participation of all parties. During this period,
programs on political parties, which last 5-10 minutes, are broadcast
on television. Parties are allotted time in these programs based on
how many votes they received during elections. Those parties that
didn’t run in the elections have a hard time getting air time.

According to Miller, during the two-day seminar in Yerevan they will
have the opportunity to better understand how freedom of expression
and the right to vote are restricted in Armenia, and make corresponding
assessments.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S FM VISITS STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

news.am
April 02, 2012 | 13:42

YEREVAN. – FM Edward Nalbandian on Monday paid a visit to the
Armenian State Pedagogical University and attended the opening of an
international symposium, which is convened within the framework of
the one-month celebration of La Francophonie in Armenia.

Welcoming the symposium guests, Nalbandian noted that the organizing
of events devoted to La Francophonie has become a good tradition in
Armenia, MFA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As per Armenia’s FM, La Francophonie contributes to the integration
and the closer cultural cooperation among the people who live in
different continents, but uphold the same values.

Edward Nalbandian also noted that Armenia underscores its participation
in La Francophonie, because it is convinced that La Francophonie
enables opportunities for further mutual recognition and cooperation.

From: Baghdasarian

Le PM Reaffirme Que Les Autorites Ont La Volonte Politique De Tenir Les Elections Les Plus Transparentes Dans L’Histoire De L’Armenie
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 3 avril 2012

Le PM Tigran Sarkissian a fait cette declaration a l’occasion
d’une conference ayant pour thème ” Vers des elections libres et
transparentes ” organisee par le Centre international du developpement
humain, avec l’assistance de l’Ambassade americaine, et le Parquet
general. Sur ordre du procureur general, Aghvan Hovsepian, un groupe
de travail a ete forme pour reagir aux denonciations et temoignages de
fraudes y compris dans les medias. Le PM et le procureur general ont
une fois de plus affirme qu’aucune fraude ne restera impunie. D’après
le PM, les technologies actuelles et les reseaux sociaux contribueront
a ce que les elections soient les plus transparentes possibles. Cette
transparence sera egalement assuree par le code electoral perfectionne
et la formation des representants des organes judiciaires.

L’Ambassadeur americain a salue la determination des autorites
armeniennes et note que l’organisation d’elections conformes
aux critères internationaux ne ferait qu’accroître l’autorite de
l’Armenie et renforcer sa cooperation avec les Etats-Unis et l’UE. /
Hayots Achkhar, Azg, Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun, Aravot, 168 Jam Par
ailleurs, les quotidiens font l’analyse des candidatures au suffrage
majoritaire (environ 180 candidats pour 41 sièges), tout en notant que
dans plusieurs circonscriptions la ” bataille ” risque d’etre acharnee.

Plusieurs circonscriptions verront s’affronter des candidats
des trois partis de la coalition, tandis que certaines verront
s’affronter des candidats des forces d’opposition ” Heritage ” et
CNA. Raffi Hovhannissian, President du parti ” Heritage “, a appele
les forces de l’opposition a negocier pour n’avoir, dans chaque
circonscription, qu’un seul candidat de l’opposition. Il s’est meme
dit pret a renoncer a sa candidature au scrutin majoritaire dans une
circonscription d’Erevan où l’un de ses rivaux sera Nikol Pachinian
du CNA. / Haykakan Jamanak, Aravot, 168 Jam, Jamanak Selon Aravot,
il y a meme des circonscriptions où s’affronteront deux ou trois
candidats d’un meme parti.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

From: Baghdasarian

A MONTH OF TREE-PLANTING, SANITARY PURIFICATION AND BEAUTIFICATION WORKS IN THE REPUBLIC

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
03.04.2012

By the decision of the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunynan, from
March 29 to April 29 of the current year, a month of tree-planting,
sanitary purification and beautification works will be carried out
in the Republic of Artsakh.

The ministries, state governing bodies adjunct to the NKR government,
heads of regional administrations, mayor of Stepanakert are assigned
to develop and realize concrete measures, define volumes of works
to be carried out in different spheres, adjust problems concerning
their technical, material and organizational maintenance, provide
participation of all educational establishments, organizations,
institutions and the dwellers of the communities and the city in a
month’s campaign.

All the above mentioned bodies should submit accounts about the
results of a month’s campaign to the NKR National statistic service
by May 10, 2012.

Artsakh’s “Public broadcasting” and editorial staff of “The azat
Artsakh” and other media outlets shall elucidate widely process and
results of a month’s campaign.

Responsibility for the decision’s implementations rests with the
republic’s ministers, state governing bodies, heads of regional
administrations and mayor of Stepanakert.

From: Baghdasarian

Baltic News Service / – BNS
March 31, 2012 Saturday 11:38 AM EET

Lithuanian FM to go to Azerbaijan, Armenia

VILNIUS, Mar 31, BNS – Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Audronius Azubalis will pay official visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia
where he is scheduled to meet with the states’ highest-ranking
officials and discuss bilateral cooperation and other affairs.

On April 1-3, Azubalis is set to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Elmar Mamediyarov. They plan to discuss Lithuania-Azerbaijani
relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union,
the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

On Monday, Azubalis will attend the second meeting of the
Lithuanian-Azerbaijani inter-governmental commission on economic
cooperation. The meeting in Baku will be also attended by
representatives of the Lithuanian Ministries of Economy, Agriculture,
Health, Transport, Culture and associated business structures.

According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan
remains one of Lithuania’s key trade partners in the region, with the
bilateral trade turnover totaling almost LTL 100 million (EUR almost
29 million) last year.

The Lithuanian foreign minister will later go to Yerevan where his
meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and the country’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Nalbandyan are scheduled. The
meetings will focus on bilateral cooperation, solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other issues.

From: Baghdasarian

An open letter concerning OSCE’s position on the processes in Mashtots
park Yerevan

hetq
22:52, April 1, 2012

To Mr. Andrey Sorokin

Ambassador of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe, office in Yerevan

Excellency,

Considering that one of the main goals of OSCE is the development of
democratic institutions, we would like to bring to your attention
flagrant human rights violations taking place in Mashtots park
Yerevan. We strongly disagree with OSCE representatives’ assessment of
police actions concerning protests in the park. The police has broken
the law and violated fundamental rights for peaceful protests numerous
times, especially during the `Dismantling’ of the tent placed in the
park. This is presented in detail in the statement of the Human Rights
defender of RA and in the statements of our civic initiatives; we have
also reported the criminal action to the General Prosecutor’s office
and the Special Investigation Service of RA.

Following the responses of your office to the ongoing protests in the
park, we believe that OSCE did not adequately assess and condemn
violations of human rights and freedoms. On the contrary, an attempt
is made to justify illegal actions of the RA Police.

We call upon you and other establishments and representatives of OSCE
to revise the evil practice when inadequate and careless statements or
decisions of an establishment or representative catalyze power
structures’ violence against the society members. This happened after
the presidential elections of 2008, when the first preliminary
statement of OSCE/ODIHR gave an opportunity of using inadequate force,
which brought to tragic results. The OSCE/ODIHR has its share of
responsibility for it.

We are also aware that your office has been performing various
programs with the police and Yerevan municipality, which aim at
professional development and improved governance skills of these
institutions and their employees. The events around Mashtots park
demonstrate that those programs have not been effective and both
institutions have failed meeting the expected results of accountable
and transparent governance.

Based on OSCE mandate, the problems concerning democratic governance,
Armenia’s performance of its international obligations, access to
justice and environmental protection should be directly discussed with
the civic society, too.

Sincerely,

`Save Teghut’ civic initiative

`This City Belongs to Us’ civic initiative

`Our City’ civic-social initiative

30.03.2012Õ©.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Les formalités administratives lors d’un mariage réduites

La procédure d’enregistrement du mariage sera réduite d’un mois à une
semaine en Arménie.

Le vice-ministre de la Justice Aram Orbelyan a dit que cela permettra
de diminuer la corruption dans le système d’enregistrement des
mariages.

L’Assemblée nationale a déjà modifié la loi en première lecture.

Le vice-ministre a dit qu’un grand nombre de mariages n’est pas
enregistré uniquement à cause des difficultés des formalités
administratives et cela crée certains problèmes juridiques pour
l’avenir.

“Environ 18000 mariages sont enregistrés en Arménie chaque année” a
déclaré Orbelyan. “Quelque 13000 personnes ou 14000 demandent
l’enregistrement de leur paternité. Comme nous le savons, c’est la
suite de mariages non enregistrés. Je pense que ce problème sera
partiellement résolu après la simplification de la procédure
d’enregistrement du mariage. ”

Selon des rapports statistiques, plus de 17900 mariages ont été
enregistrés en Arménie en 2010 soit une baisse de 4,2% par rapport à
l’année dernière.

Le nombre de divorces enregistrés a augmenté de 5,9% en 2010 par rapport à 2009.

L’ge moyen des personnes demandant l’enregistrement du mariage a
augmenté et a atteint 29 ans pour les hommes et 24,9 ans pour les
femmes en 2010.

dimanche 1er avril 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

EREVAN-MEMOIRE
La rue Abovian à Erévan attend la statue d’Alexandre Mantachiantz, le
grand bienfaiteur arménien

Le magnat du pétrole et grand bienfaiteur arménien du début du 20e
siècle, Alexandre Mantachiantz (ou Mantachov) va avoir sa statue à
Erévan. Elle sera érigée près de la rue Abovian, au centre de la
capitale arménienne près des églises Sourp Gatoghighé et Sourp Anna.
La statue est l’ouvre du sculpteur Dikran Arzoumanian. Le conseil
municipal d’Erévan avait décidé le 20 juin 2011 d’honorer la mémoire
d’Alexandre Mantachiantz en érigeant une statue. L’emplacement est
déjà prêt. Rappelons que le financement de l’Eglise arménienne rue
Jean Goujon à Paris est parmi les centaines d’`uvres de bienfaisance
accomplies par Alexandre Mantachiantz.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 1er avril 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian