Blizzard, strong wind, poor visibility – closed roads in Armenia

Blizzard, strong wind, poor visibility – closed roads in Armenia

news.am
February 18, 2012 | 22:25

As of Saturday, 20.15, the interstate highways and main roads in
Armenia are mostly passable.

As the press service of Armenia’s Emergency Service informs Armenian
News-NEWS.am, on some parts of the roads there is ice covering.

Near Tsilkar village region on the Aparan-Spitak road there is poor
visibility and strong wind.

Lanjik-Maralik part of the Yerevan-Gyumri road is also difficult to
pass due to blizzard and poor visibility.

The Selim Mountain pass, Berd-Chambarak, Verin Getashen-Madina and
Alagyaz-Tsakhkahovit roads are closed.

Cleaning works are underway. Armenia’s Emergency Service calls to not
travel by those roads.

As of Friday, 20.15 the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi highway is also closed.

From: Baghdasarian

NK may serve very good model of legal state – head of Const. Court

Nagorno-Karabakh may serve very good model of legal state – head of
Armenian Constitutional Court

news.am
February 18, 2012 | 22:10

YEREVAN. – The Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh as a legal document is
a pretty good act, and in its constitutional decisions are even ahead
of the Constitution of Armenia, head of Armenian Constitution Court
Gagik Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, Karabakh established constitutional thinking and culture.

`I met with high-ranking officials, experts as well as students. I see
their approach to the law and it inspires me. Nagorno-Karabakh may
serve a very good model of a legal state and deserve international
recognition. All our efforts should be directed to it,’ he concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

Masis Mailyan: It is necessary to revise the philosophy of NK peace

Masis Mailyan: It is necessary to revise the philosophy of Karabakh
peace process

arminfo
Saturday, February 18, 16:25

To achieve real progress in the Karabakh peace process, the mediators
should take into account the new precedents in international relations
and the new international legal realities, Chairman of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Public Council for Security and Foreign Policy, Masis
Mailyan, said at the international conference “The 20th Anniversary of
the NKR: Realities and Perspectives” in Stepanakert.

He pointed out the necessity to revise the philosophy of the
Azarbaijani-Karabakh conflict resolution. “The OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair countries and the negotiating parties have not refused the
Madrid proposals yet. These principles were once again mentioned in
the joint statement of the heads of delegations of the OSCE MG
co-chair countries and the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia, made at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vilnius on 6 Dec
2011.

“The necessity to revise the philosophy of the Karabakh peace process
was repeatedly stressed over the past few years”, he said. He added
that after the June meeting in Kazan, the number of supporters of new
methodology of the conflict settlement has been growing. Mailyan hopes
that the concerned centers will effectively use the deceleration of
the peace process to work out new principles and approaches.

“If the Minsk Group fails to revise its view of the peace process, it
will have to yield the mediator’s role to others”, Mailyan said. He
thinks that official Baku is guided by the formula “Either peace on
Azerbaijan’s terms or war”. The expert pointed out that the continuous
sniper war and Azerbaijan’s reluctance to create an international
mechanism to monitor and control the ceasefire regime are the
derivatives of the specified Azerbaijani formula. Mailyan believes
that the calls of the UN Secretary General, the OSCE Chairperson-
in-Office and other international organizations to withdraw the
snipers from the contact line can be heard only in case Azerbaijan
gives up its policy of military blackmail or its military diplomacy.

“Armenia and the NKR have already expressed their willingness to
withdraw the snipers, but they cannot do that unilaterally.
Azerbaijan is still violating the ceasefire regime and heating up the
tension”, he said. “As a result of purposeful work, the Azeri
leadership should see what negative political consequences its orders
to kill in ceasefire conditions may have for official Baku. “For
instance, each shot by Azerbaijan should contribute to international
recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”, the expert said.

From: Baghdasarian

Heritage: lifetime prisoners deemed social outcasts in Armenia

Heritage member: lifetime prisoners deemed social outcasts in Armenia

February 18, 2012 – 16:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Today Yerevan hosted a presentation ceremony of a
book written by a lifetime sentenced prisoner.

`Proceeds from the sales of the book will be directed to relief fund
of children with cancer,’ chairwoman of the foundation protecting
rights of lifetime prisonersZara Mejlumyan said.

Over 170 pieces out of 500 were sold during and after the presentation.

`Even if a person is locked, but he has a wish to improve himself, he
must be given the chance, since not all prisoners are alike,’ Zara
Mejlumyan cited words of the author Mher Yenokyan

`Prisoners serving life sentences are perceived as social outcasts,’
Heritage opposition party member Larisa Alaverdyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

Artsakh Defense Minister: we remember Yerkrapah feat

Artsakh Defense Minister: we remember Yerkrapah feat

February 18, 2012 – 13:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Artsakh Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan welcomed
participants of the 9th meeting of Yerkrapah Volunteer Union.

He mentioned the important role Yerkrapah continues to play after war
as well. `I want to express my sincere gratitude; Artsakh authorities
do remember your feat,’ he said.

In his words, it was the feat of Yerkrapah that helped Artsakh
maintain its independence and move to peaceful life.

Movses Hakobyan said he hoped the meeting will achieve the set
objectives and strengthen the statehood.

From: Baghdasarian

People Who Complain, Doubt and Dispute Will Change Life

People Who Complain, Doubt and Dispute Will Change Life

Siranuysh Papyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:00:16 – 18/02/2012

Interview with Tigran Paskevichyan, publicist

Mr. Paskevichyan, a few reporters are rumored to run for parliament.
Will it be possible to achieve change in the country and in the
parliament through them?

Thanks god there are no hindrances. The Constitution empowers everyone
to run for parliament, there is only an age limit, and it is good. The
rest is up to voters to decide, if they have the freedom to vote.
Basically, it would be better if the legislature became a profession
and there were respective master’s programs. It might end the
ambitions of most people who can hardly read and write, and on the
contrary, make some people get another education between ages 40 and
60.

What is your opinion on the pre-election period? Will there be use of violence?

The use of violence will be there if the necessity occurs but the
purpose of the government is to falsify the elections peacefully and
quietly, which we saw in the mayoral election in Hrazdan. Now they
will say they are dissatisfied even if we hold good elections. A good
election is not only the visible outcome but the similarity of the
real public demand and the outcome. Take the example of Hrazdan. You
go to the website of the City Hall and no outputs are visible there.
The website is a PR tool, so something should be there. You read the
interviews of the mayor and all you find there is listing of a very
small part of his daily responsibilities. If people chose this person,
it means people have lost their ability to choose. I don’t believe
that people have lost this ability, so I am sure that the government
continues to rig the elections.

There is an opinion that this election will be different, and the
Congress will appear in parliament.

The problem is not the Armenian National Congress. If it is the
ultimate goal of a force, it will appear wherever it is needed. The
problem is to establish another system and introduce it. Coming back
to the mayoral election in Hrazdan, Sasun Mikaelyan did not become
mayor but one important thing became known. It turned out that the
other system of values represented by the Congress had a rather big
resource.

Most people say it is not the ANC supporters but those who are
dissatisfied with the government.

In fact, it is the same thing. If the government worked well, they
would perform their functions. The ANC might not have supporters or
the standpoints of the supporters of the government and the opposition
might be opposite regarding the issue of abortion, for instance. Now
they are the same thing because before demanding change there must be
dissatisfaction. We have been taught that dissatisfaction is a sign of
low intellect, selfishness, and so on. On the contrary, if one does
not complain, doubt, dispute, one stops being a social creature.

But the majority of the population of Armenia…

Yes, they don’t complain, doubt, dispute. The government should have
its resource too. The resource of the government is bourgeoisie. In
1998 Robert Kocharyan said: `My party is my people.’ He imagined a
mass around the petty kingdom which was dough made from the
post-Soviet technical and cultural intelligentsia. This intelligentsia
always had considerable influence except for 1990-1994 when its
outstanding representatives would give it all to avoid the war.

Isn’t the technical and cultural intelligentsia you mentioned too
small to be the resource of the government?

Bourgeoisie is not counted in number and amount. Bourgeoisie is a
situation in which both you and me may appear from time to time. When
Robert Kocharyan became president in the fraudulent election of 1998,
his resource was not big. On the contrary, there was a big mass of
those who complained, doubted and disputed and supported Karen
Demirchyan. They became the resource of the Unity Alliance. Kocharyan
dissolved this basis by way of October 27, and bourgeoisie started
doing better. Besides using violence Kocharyan has other ways of
boosting bourgeoisie which were inherited by Serzh Sargsyan – to show
that the mental and moral characters of a leader must not differ from
the average characters of the society. It is very comfortable for
people but at some moment the natural urge to complain, doubt and
dispute wakes up, such as after Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s return. I am
more than sure that in 2008 people won, and the bourgeoisie lost. This
axiomatic truth was unfortunately confirmed by the March 1 crime.

Does it mean that March 1 changed the pattern of forces?

Not at once, it changed gradually. The existence of political
prisoners, police, tax and administrative terror and other
unlawfulness boosted the value of comfort. But since the movement did
not stop after March 1, the leaders were not distressed and tired. A
great mass of complaining, doubting and disputing people were faithful
to the Armenian National Congress which is able to change the
arrangement of forces and climate in the National Assembly.

From: Baghdasarian

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview25176.html

Key Issue Is Freedom, Ensuring Life Without Fear – Karabakh Analyst

KEY ISSUE IS FREEDOM, ENSURING LIFE WITHOUT FEAR – KARABAKH ANALYST

news.am
February 18, 2012 | 11:11

STEPANAKERT. – People’s diplomacy is a platform where models can
be tested to achieve reconciliation in official politics, Shanna
Krikorova, the Director of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
Center for International Cooperation, stated during the international
conference, entitled “20th Anniversary of NKR Independence: Realities
and Prospects,” being held in NKR capital, Stepanakert.

In her view, it would be naïve to think that people’s diplomacy can
resolve serious disputes, but there are numerous examples when it
has contributed to reducing the level of hatred.

Looking back into the past twenty years, the analyst also noted
that Azerbaijan is actively attempting to impede the cooperation
initiatives.

“No country can develop without integration, but the key issue must
be freedom and ensuring life without a fear for one’s own identity
and wellbeing,” Shanna Krikorova maintained.

The aforementioned international conference is organized by NKR
State Commission for the Organization and Coordination of the 20th
Anniversary Celebrations for the Declaration of NKR’s Independence,
with the participation of the Center for the Constitutional Law of
Armenia and the Political Science Association of Armenia, and in
cooperation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

From: Baghdasarian

Un Camion Turc Detruit La Maison Des Mouradian

UN CAMION TURC DETRUIT LA MAISON DES MOURADIAN
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 18 fevrier 2012

Les Mouradian, une famille armenienne habitant le village de Naoukrebi
dans la region a majorite armenienne d’Akhatskha en Georgie, n’a plus
de domicile ! Leur maison a ete detruite par un transporteur Turc dont
le camion s’ecartant de la route est venu s’encastrer en la detruisant
complètement. Selon le site Grouzia la maison est inhabitable. Les
Mouradian prives de domicile, demandent au chauffeur Turc de rembourser
les degâts. Ce dernier accuse l’etat de la route dont une plaque de
glace a fait glisser le vehicule. La police mène l’enquete.

Le site Grouzia informe que les accidents causes en Georgie par les
routiers Turcs sont nombreux.
Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Un_camion_turc_d=E9truit_la_maison_des_Mouradian?=

ARMENIENS DE GEORGIE
Un camion turc détruit la maison des Mouradian

Les Mouradian, une famille arménienne habitant le village de Naoukrebi
dans la région à majorité arménienne d?Akhatskha en Géorgie, n?a plus
de domicile ! Leur maison a été détruite par un transporteur Turc dont
le camion s?écartant de la route est venu s?encastrer en la détruisant
complètement. Selon le site Grouzia la maison est inhabitable. Les
Mouradian privés de domicile, demandent au chauffeur Turc de
rembourser les dégâts. Ce dernier accuse l?état de la route dont une
plaque de glace a fait glisser le véhicule. La police mène l?enquête.
Le site Grouzia informe que les accidents causés en Géorgie par les
routiers Turcs sont nombreux.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 18 février 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Nazig Avdalian, De L’halterophilie Vers La Politique

NAZIG AVDALIAN, DE L’HALTEROPHILIE VERS LA POLITIQUE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 18 fevrier 2012

Nazig Avdalian, l’ex-championne du monde d’halterophilie qui a renonce
pour l’instant au sport de competition suite a un grave accident de la
circulation survenu l’an dernier, s’est decouvert une nouvelle passion
: la politique. Elle vient d’integrer le parti politique Parkavadj
Haïastan (Armenie Prospère) selon Khatchik Kalestian, le porte-parole
de l’organisation. Nazig Avdalian rejoint ainsi un parti dirige par
un autre ex-champion du monde de bras de fer, Gaguik Dzaroukian,
milliardaire et president du Comite national olympique d’Armenie. G.

Dzaroukian avait beaucoup soutenu et aide Nazig Avdalian après son
accident.

From: Baghdasarian

Without Karabakh’s Participation Conflict Not To Be Settled – Expert

WITHOUT KARABAKH’S PARTICIPATION CONFLICT NOT TO BE SETTLED – EXPERT

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 17:19

STEPANAKERT. – Without the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) in the negotiation process the conflict will not be settled,
Regional Studies Center Director Richard Giragosian announced during
the International Scientific Conference on Friday dedicated to the
20th anniversary of the proclamation of NKR independence.

The expert pointed out new threats in the region. First of all he
indicated on the arms race initiated by Azerbaijan and the possibility
that any time Azerbaijan might decide to settle the conflict by use
of force. According to him, it is necessary to enforce arms embargo
on Azerbaijan.

As the political scientist mentioned, Armenia does not have a partner
in the negotiation process for the NKR conflict. Azerbaijan’s policy
is to get everything or nothing and Baku does not want to make any
compromises.

As the expert states, Turkey recognizes the failure of its blockade
policy as Armenia and NKR survived and now they are trying to settle
relations.

From: Baghdasarian