Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 4 2012

Turkish ambassador set to return to Paris

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

The Turkish ambassador to France is set to return to Paris within days
to coordinate Turkey’s efforts to prevent the passing of a
controversial bill in the French Senate penalizing the denial of
Armenian genocide allegations.

Diplomatic sources did not say when Tahsin BurcuoÄ?lu will begin his
work in Paris but said his return will not be delayed. French
Parliament passed the bill Dec. 22, but the Senate and the president
must approve the bill before it can be implemented. If the bill
passes, those who publicly deny Armenian genocide allegations face a
fine of 45,000 euros and a year in prison. After the bill passed in
French Parliament, Turkey withdrew its ambassador for consultations.
The French Parliament and Senate will resume its work by Jan. 10 and
will recess Feb. 22 for presidential elections. If the Senate decides
not to put the bill on its agenda, the legislation will be annulled
according to French laws.

Meanwhile, an open letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy written
by three former students of a French high school in Istanbul was
published yesterday in daily Hürriyet.

Melisa Atassi, Nil EyüboÄ?lu and Sian Kesova said the law penalizing
the denial of Armenians’ claims of genocide was in clear contradiction
to the values of France that has been a guarantor of fundamental
freedoms. `We don’t understand why the French legislature is
interfering in this issue,’ said the letter. A Turkish cyber group
however hacked French politician Patrick Devedjian’s website in
protest of the recent French bill.
January/04/2012

From: Baghdasarian

news.am, Armenia
Jan 4 2012

Various international agencies changed their perceptions of Armenia – MP

January 04, 2012 | 17:26

YEREVAN. – Perception of Armenia has significantly changed in various
international agencies. It is also proved by the recent PACE
resolution, Prosperous Armenia Party MP, Armenian delegation member at
PACE Naira Zohrabyan told the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent.

`I would like to note that it has been the only positive document
since March 1, 2008 case [ten people were killed during the
demonstrations in Yerevan downtown]. It is very important especially
if compared with other regional states. As a co-chair of the
commission on inter-parliamentary cooperation between Armenia and EU,
I would like to say that the latest session, on November 2-3 in
Armenia, adopted a joint declaration. It was obvious that EU is
positively assessing the reforms run in Armenia at the same time
pointing out the points the Union is concerned about,’ she said.

According to the MP, negotiation process on Karabakh peace settlement
is going on despite numerous obstacles created by Azerbaijan.

Regarding normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the MP said
that the process has reached a deadlock. However, it is important that
Turkey proved that it does not differ from the Young Turks [they
perpetrated the Armenian Genocide in 1915], while Armenia confirmed
its reputation of being a reliable partner.

From: Baghdasarian

Jerusalem Post
Jan 4 2012

France to vote on genocide bill by end January

By REUTERS
01/04/2012 18:50

PARIS – France is set to vote by the end of January on a bill that
would make it illegal to deny the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by
Ottomon Turks amounted to genocide, parliamentary and government
sources said on Wednesday.

Lawmakers in France’s National Assembly — the lower house of
parliament — voted overwhelmingly in favor of a draft law outlawing
genocide denial in December, leading Ankara to cancel all economic,
political and military meetings with Paris and recalling its
ambassador for consultations.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has described the bill as
“politics based on racism, discrimination and xenophobia” and turned
his anger on French President Nicolas Sarkozy, accusing France of
colonial massacres in Algeria.

From: Baghdasarian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 3 2012

2011: The top stories across the Caucasus

ZAUR SHIRIYEV

2011 was a year that destabilized many of our global perceptions,
notably with regard to the developments in the Middle East, which
demonstrated the transience of the `status quo’ and the power of the
people to stand up against tyranny and injustice.

The media has heralded the unfinished revolution in the Middle East as
a digital or leaderless revolution, but it is more hesitant to discuss
the further implications of this lack of stability in terms of a
revolutionary leader. Bets are off on what should be considered the
great story of 2011, which has seen historic revolutions, their
turbulent aftermath and fierce debates.

But looking to a more regional focus in the context of the Caucasus,
we find other stories of equal local significance. For Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia, 2011 marked the 20th anniversary of regaining
independence from the Soviet Union. I have picked out the top 10
stories from the region, both successes and failures. In no particular
order, these are:

1. Azerbaijan’s secured temporary seat on the UN Security Council
(UNSC), from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2013. Azerbaijan’s Oct. 24
election as a non-permanent member of the UNSC was important news both
within the country and across the region. Over the course of the
two-year term, Baku will have a responsibility to debate and vote on
matters of international security, war and peace in the world’s
pre-eminent international forum. The continued Armenian occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh will remain the key challenge, and the UN platform
will help Azerbaijan to gain more international support for the
diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Baku will not hurry this
process — rather it will look strategically to the best possible
future outcome, also thinking about the post-UNSC period, maximizing
this diplomatic success.

2. `The bolshoi (big) dance in the energy opera.’ This year,
Azerbaijan discovered new gas reserves in the Caspian Sea, and the
year has since seen intense discussions concerning the `energy opera’:
Nabucco. The major development was the signing of an agreement by
Turkey on the construction of a new joint gas pipeline project, the
Trans Anadolu pipeline, which will stretch from Turkey’s eastern
border to its western border, with the aim of exporting Azerbaijani
natural gas to Europe. 2011 showed that Azerbaijan has fully emerged
as a critical player in regional energy politics. The real challenge
will be whether `Nabucco’ can become best known as a groundbreaking
gas pipeline rather than classic opera music.

3. The region engaged in cultural and scholarly dialogue at a higher
level. In 2011, Azerbaijan won the Eurovision Song Contest and hosted
several high-profile events. In 2012, due the Eurovision Song Contest,
there will be an influx of tourists to the region, boosting its
international profile. The International Humanitarian Forum in
October, held in Baku, was another key platform for discussions of
ethnic and religious differentiation across the region, unresolved
conflicts and resulting high-running tensions.

4. The continuation of unresolved conflicts: It has become almost
tradition in the region to say `next year the conflicts will be
resolved.’ But this year has seen more diplomatic activity toward the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, although the statements
and efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries’ (the US,
France and Russia) presidents ultimately failed. Now, hopes for 2012
are dwindling. Furthermore, no progress has been made regarding the
South Ossetia and Abkhazian conflicts — in both areas the separatist
authorities held elections. In August, after the untimely death of
President Sergei Bagapsh, extraordinary presidential elections in
secessionist Abkhazia elevated Aleksandr Ankvab to the position of
president of the breakaway republic. In November, secessionist South
Ossetia held a presidential election, which saw Alla Dzhioyeva as the
surprise winner over a Kremlin-backed candidate in the elections,
which were annulled by a South Ossetian court.

5. Georgia declared its aspirations to join NATO, which has brought
Georgia closer to NATO and intensified the Euro-Atlantic integration
of the region’s countries. NATO’s Bucharest Summit promise in 2008 to
eventually allow Georgia into the military alliance was declared
frozen following the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war, but 2011 saw NATO
officially name Georgia as an `aspirant’ country in its communiqué
after the foreign ministers’ meeting in December. Georgia is eager to
see a common position formed on the country among the alliance member
countries at NATO’s Chicago summit on May 15-22, 2012.

6. This year marked Georgia’s relinquishing of its veto of Russia’s
accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the only one of the
153 WTO to do so. Now Georgia has signed an agreement with Russia
facilitating the conclusion of Russia’s 18-year efforts to get into
the world trade club.

7. `Stop feeding the Caucasus’; a huge wave of ultra-nationalist
rallies under this slogan demanded a stop to the Russian financing of
the North Caucasus. This year, the situation in the North Caucasus
also became less stable. Also, this year, there was an ethnically
motivated movement in Moscow against workers from the Caucasus.

8. Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran have been tense for years,
but things got especially difficult this year. Indeed, Iran’s fear or
paranoia of military strikes from the US or Israel — set against
Azerbaijan’s weakening trust of Iran has pushed it to strengthen its
relationship with Armenia. These developments indicate that Iran will
feel `in check’ next year too, which will pose challenges for
Azerbaijan, as a member of the UNSC.

9. Georgian-born billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who wants to form
and head a major political opposition party in Georgia and hold a 2012
parliament election, is a real challenge to the current government
after the Rose Revolution, but Georgian authorities revoked his
citizenship. Anyway, announcement of Ivanishvili to go into politics
came as a surprise for many politicians in Georgia.

10. In Armenia, the opposition has become more influential, Levon Ter
Petrosyan, the main opposition leader and ex-president has got real
leverage, and due to this, the government appears more open to
dialogue with the opposition. Moreover, the former president of
Armenia, Robert Kocharian, who said shortly before leaving office in
2008 that he did not intend to become `Armenia’s youngest pensioner’
signals a political comeback ahead of Armenia’s next presidential
election due in 2013.

The regional identity of the South Caucasus remains a tricky question,
and thus choosing stories with a `regional’ character is not always
easy. But what is clear, as is repeated many times by experts, the
most discussed and most significant issues of 2012 will be the
elections in Armenia and Georgia, as well as in the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs.

From: Baghdasarian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 3 2012

Getting rid of a bandit state

ORHAN KEMAL CENGÄ°Z

The state has committed grave crimes in Turkey; in every case, it has
also managed to involve society in these crimes.

In order to achieve this, it has sometimes jointly committed these
offenses, taking measures to ensure that the collaborators have
benefited from the outcomes of the criminal acts. For instance, the
offenses committed against non-Muslims in Turkey follow this pattern.
Some groups have become rich by their crimes in Turkey.

Another way the state involves society while committing these crimes
is by ensuring that the people who talk about them feel guilty. One is
given the impression that it would be a betrayal to the country to
discuss state crimes.

We should note that former Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz said that the
forest fires in Greece were plotted by the Turkish state. This
statement raised fury in Greece but it is not discussed in Turkey —
why? It is because we feel guilty. If we discuss this issue
thoroughly, Turkey may face hardships and have to pay compensation.
Besides, the fires were committed as a form of retaliation.

The argument is that we punished Greece because they hosted PKK
militants in their camps. However, Greece hosted these militants
because of other crimes that Turkey had committed previously. Torture
and mistreatment was widespread in Turkey in the 1990s. Villages were
evacuated and burned down and people were abducted and executed. For
this reason Turkey’s requests for the extradition of the PKK militants
were rejected by European states. And Greece, without fearing of
international reaction or condemnation, was able to extend support to
the PKK.

In an attempt to address its poor human rights record, Turkey set fire
to Greek forests. Now we are expected to ignore this fact just because
it is possible that our country may be hurt.

Is it not also the case with the Armenian issue? Do they not imply
that Turkey would have to pay compensation and reparations if we
thoroughly discuss the past? For this reason are we citizens not
expected to remain silent about the problem? And it is for the same
reason that those who seem to be open to discussing the Dersim
massacre of 1938 prefer silence when it comes to the Armenian issue.
Do they not accuse those who ask for an open discussion on the
Armenian issue of siding with the Armenians?

I personally believe that the cost of getting rid of the bandit state
and creating a state governed by the rule of law is immeasurable. If
we have to pay a big price on the road to becoming a state governed by
the rule of law, I claim that we should pay that price. My family
never benefited from the looting of non-Muslim properties. If I have
committed a sin because I lived in a Greek house that we rented when I
was little, may God forgive me and my family. If Turkey is ready to
pay reparations, I am also ready to pay extra taxes to replace the
money made by those who became rich when non-Muslim properties were
looted.

They are playing with our minds with different methods. They ask who
should pay reparations to Muslims who were expelled from the Balkans.
If Turkey is confident enough to compensate the non-Muslims it
expelled or deported from this country, it should be able to help the
Muslims who were expelled from the Balkans, in their cause to remedy
the wrongs of the past.

Because it cannot discuss its own injustices, Turkey is also unable to
speak out about the injustices committed by others. And for this
reason, it can only use the French genocide in Algeria as a trump
card. Turkish politicians made reference to the genocide in Algeria
just because the French mentioned the Armenian genocide; otherwise,
they do not have a principled stance or claim to action on this
matter.

In recent years there have been some promising developments to get rid
of this traditional approach. The most important one is undoubtedly
the Ergenekon investigation, which focuses on the illegal activities
of the deep state. However, this investigation did not turn into a
process of purification, where serious human rights violations could
be addressed. In addition this investigation also raised some
redundant questions during the case. Second, contradictorily to the
arguments of some, freedom of expression has been considerably
expanded in Turkey. For instance, it would not have been possible for
me to write some of the columns I have recently published in Turkish
and English five years ago. The initial reaction and objection would
have come from the newspapers owners and editors-in-chief. Even if
they did publish my columns, I would have received thousands of death
threats and I would have been prosecuted in court. The threats I
received because of the columns I have written in recent times are
negligible by Turkey’s prevailing standards. In the past the media
would have launched a witch hunt and a number of legal suits against
me would have followed.

All in all, there is a long way to travel. But it is impossible to
ignore the fact that Turkey has made progress over the last decade.
This is my assessment of last year.

From: Baghdasarian

Tehran Times , Iran
Jan 3 2012

Nazeri and Armenian orchestra team up for Tehran concert

TEHRAN — Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri will be giving a concert
here in Tehran in collaboration with the Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra in spring.

Iranian composer Peyman Soltani will also be cooperating to stage the
concert entitled `Melal’, director of Qoqnus Music Institute,
Mohammad-Hossein Tutunchian told the Persian service of ISNA on
Tuesday.

Tutunchian also said that Nazeri might be repeating his collaboration
with the Dusti Ensemble in the coming months. The group, including tar
virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh, kamancheh virtuoso Ardeshir Kamkar, and
percussionist Pejman Haddadi as well as Nazeri, gave a performance
several months ago in Tehran after a 23-year hiatus.

In recognition of the work Nazeri has accomplished on musical
vocalization of lyrics by the Iranian poet Rumi, the French government
presented him with the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur medal in 2008.

From: Baghdasarian

news.am, Armenia
Jan 3 2012

Armenian-Lithuanian relations became more intensive, especially in
political field – Interview

January 03, 2012 | 19:56

Armenian News-NEWS.am presents an interview with Lithuania’s
Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Giedrius Apuokas.

In 2011 Lithuania held chairmanship in the OCSE. How did it affect the
relations between Armenia and Lithuania?

Chairmanship in the OCSE for Lithuania one of the most responsible
tasks assumed in the International Organizations yet, I would not say,
that changed character of our relations, but definitely made them more
intensive, especially in the political field. Just to remember the
visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius
Aþubalis in the capacity of the Chairman of OSCE, visit of the
President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitë, other high
ranking officials from MFA and MoD. These visits mostly concentrated
on issues related to the chairmanship and issues of regional
significance, but that also was excellent opportunity to touch upon
bilateral issues. While speaking about relations between Armenia and
Lithuania, I can’t pass over other events and facts that are not
related to the OSCE. We had very interesting visit of our Minister of
Education Gintaras Steponavièius to Armenia, which opens possibilities
for exchange of students, cooperation between state institutions of
both states in field of reforms in the field of different levels of
education, direct relations between our universities and colleges. We
are looking forward to the visit of delegation of the Ministry of
Education of Armenia at the beginning of next year. We are actively
involved in passing of relevant Lithuanian expertise in field of
reforms using frameworks provided by EU. Our experts are part of the
team of EU Advisory Group, from the beginning of next year Lithuanian
experts will lead two EU-Armenia Twinning projects and participate in
one as younger partner.

This year was marked by a significant event – opening of the Armenian
Embassy in Vilnius. What is your opinion how will opening of the
embassy affect development of relations in the field of economy?

Opening of Armenian Embassy in Vilnius is sincerely appreciated by
Lithuanian side and certainly will have positive impact on all aspects
of our relations, including economic ties, although our embassy in
Yerevan is making any available effort to provide information to
businessmen on both sides, but Lithuanian businessmen now will have
source of information closer to home and with different experience and
knowledge, that can provide we.

How do you assess economic relations between our states? What
development prospects do they have?

Economic relations is one of the fields of our relations where there
is a lot of space for improvement, said that, I should note, that
there is a clear rise of interest of Lithuanian companies in
activities in Armenia during approximately one year. Some Lithuanian
businessmen are exploring possibilities for trade and investment,
others are already here. Baltic Information Technologies, Visaginas
based company, is involved in creation of software for Metzamor
nuclear power plant, ACME Lithuania, largest distributor of IT
products in Baltic states acquired Armenian IT company and established
ACC Armenia, company with ambitions to become largest wholesale IT
distributor in Armenia. Lithuanian company Ecoservice participates in
tender declared by Yerevan municipality for the waste management and I
hope will succeed, Avia Solutions Group from Vilnius explores
possibilities provide different services for aviation industries and
already provides pilot training for Armavia, one of the largest
Lithuanian food industry companies VICI Group also operates on
Armenian market. These intensifying ties provide hope for expanding of
future economic cooperation.

How do you like to spend the holidays? What Lithuanian Christmas or
New Year tradition can you name?

Since I have family spread over the Europe, we are planning to gather
for the Christmas Eve at our home in Vilnius, according to Lithuanian
tradition this evening is spent in the circle of the closest family,
having meal (at least 12 dishes, without meat or dairy products)
together, exchanging gifts at the end and a lot of the people attends
night Mass at the church. During couple of next days, which are
Christmas holiday you are supposed to meet friends and celebrate. New
Year is party time, mostly and mainly enjoyed by younger people, who
leave homes for clubs, private parties, sometimes in country side,
others celebrate on the streets and city squares.

And finally, your wishes to the Armenian people.

Sincere wishes of bright spirits and festive mood for Christmas time,
enjoy being together, sharing love and happiness within your families
and with your friends. For the New Year I would like to wish, first of
all Peace and, of course, good health, joy, prosperity in the families
and the State, fruitful work which would bring you satisfaction.

From: Baghdasarian

news.am, Armenia
Jan 3 2012

Current government does not have political will: Armenian opposition member

January 03, 2012 | 18:31

YEREVAN.- Taking into account the history of elections in Armenia and
the attitude of the current government it would be naive to expect
fair elections, said member of opposition party.

The government has not even conducted simple electoral changes which
might give some hope to the people that fair elections would be held,
member of People’s Party of Armenia Grigor Harutyunyan told the
Armenian News-NEWS.am report.

`The Soviet Union’s election code of 1990 is considered to be the
worst electoral code. Everyone – both the opposition and their
opponents consider that the elections held under that undemocratic
code were the most fair and transparent ones. The main thing is
political will which the current government lacks,’ Harutyunyan said.

Presently the Armenian National Congress (PPA is a part of it) is
ready for snap elections as it wants to change something in the
country.

From: Baghdasarian

news.am, Armenia
Jan 1 2012

2011 top ten events in Armenia

January 01, 2012 | 00:27

Armenian News-NEWS.am presents 2011 top ten events in Armenia.

1. Members of the ruling coalition sign new memorandum

Leaders of the Armenian ruling forces – Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA), Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and Orintas Yerkir (the Rule of
Law), signed a new coalition memorandum on February 17.

RPA leader Serzh Sargsyan, PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan and Arthur
Baghdasaryan, leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party signed the memorandum
on Thursday. All of the coalition members agreed to support Serzh
Sargsyan’s nomination during the 2013 presidential elections.

2. Hunger strike of Armenian Heritage Party leader

Leader of Heritage Party, former Armenian FM Raffi Hovannisian went on
hunger strike on March 15. He spent fifteen days in Liberty Square in
the center of Yerevan. Hovannisian said his move can be characterized
as an `ode to freedom’. He put forward fifteen demands among them:
power to people, free citizen, secure state, and `no’ to injustice,
poverty, emigration, corruption and others.

3. Off-parliamentary opposition returns to Liberty Square

Many thousand people gathered to the rally of the opposition Armenian
National Congress (ANC) on March 17 marked new format of relations
between the main political powers. During the rally ANC leader Levon
Ter-Petrosyan stressed dialogue with authorities is possible if three
demands of the opposition are fulfilled.

He said the authorities must release political prisoners, give the
opposition right to hold rallies in the Liberty Square and set up an
independent committee to investigate cases of those killed in the
March 1 events.

4. Amnesty declared

Armenian parliament voted for amnesty bill with 91 votes `for’ and 1
abstained on May 26. The amnesty was proposed by President Serzh
Sargsyan on 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. MP Sasun
Mikaelyan and newspaper editor Nikol Pashinyan convicted in connection
with the March 1 events were also released under an amnesty.

5. Karabakh peace process

The year marked active participation of Russia in mediating between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Two meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders were held in Russia’s Sochi and Kazan cities under the
mediation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Experts forecasted the Kazan meeting held on June 24 was supposed to
fix the progress in the Karabakh issue, but the meeting did not
justify hopes of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Efforts of the OSCE
Minsk Group focused on persuading the parties to finalize the basic
principles on conflict settlement.

In June Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in the region
to hand over to the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh
Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev offers of the Russian leader regarding
resolution of the conflict. However, the process did not move forward.
At the meeting in Vilnius on December 6 Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan adopted a
declaration stating that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are
ready to meet again in the near future to negotiate a settlement.

6. Political dialogue: authorities vs. off-parliamentary opposition

Working groups representing the government and off-parliamentary
opposition – Armenian National Congress (ANC) kicked off a dialogue on
July 18. The meetings hardly resulted in crucial changes but eased
tension in the society.

However, the initiative failed after the August 9 incident involving
ANC young activists and law enforcers. Seven opposition activists were
arrested. Three were arrested, while the rest were released by the
court. Later two of the arrested were released with the exception of
Tigran Arakelyan. ANC demanded immediate release of its activists but
the authorities claimed they could not press law enforcers. Finally,
opposition quitted the dialogue.

7. Dismissals of high ranking officials

2011 was marked by a number of dismissals of high ranking officials.
The first to leave his post was head of presidential staff Karen
Karapetyan. Mayor of Yerevan, also Karen Karapetyan, Chief of Police
Alik Sargsyan, parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan and deputy head of
presidential staff Mikael Minasyan resigned as well.

8. Armenia marks 20th anniversary of Independence

Armenia marked 20th anniversary of Independence by holding large-scale
military parade on September 21.

9. Spiritual leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet in Yerevan

Caucasus Muslim Board (CMB) Chairman, and spiritual leader of Caucasus
Muslims, Allahshukur Pashazade arrived in Armenia to attend CIS
(Commonwealth of Independent States) Interreligious Council Presidium
session in late November.

Spiritual leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia spoke for the
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE
Minsk Group. The three spiritual leaders (Armenian Catholicos Karekin
II, Russian Patriarch Kirill and Head of the Caucasus Muslims
Allahshukur Pashazade) adopted a joint statement during their meeting
in Yerevan.

10. French National Assembly approves bill criminalizing Armenian
Genocide denial

France’s National Assembly passed on December 22 the bill
criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

The bill introduced by MP Valerie Boyer supposes a year in jail or
45,000 euro punishment for those who will challenge or extremely
minimize the fact of the 1915 Armenian Genocide officially recognized
by France on January 29, 2001. Later the text was changed to
`punishment for denial of legislatively recognized genocides.’

The bill will be submitted for French Senate’s confirmation. In
response Turkey launched anti-French campaign recalling Ambassador and
freezing the ties.

From: Baghdasarian

PanArmenian, Armenia
Dec 29 2011

Top 10 political events of 2011 from PanARMENIAN.Net

Here are 10 major domestic events that can have a serious impact on
domestic developments in the coming year as well.

The year 2011 was filled with political events. It was a year
remarkable for social tensions, protests, maneuvers of political
forces, authorities’ attempts to stabilize the country and retain
control to prevent a local `Arab Spring’. Here are 10 major domestic
events that can have a serious impact on domestic developments in the
coming year as well.
December 29, 2011

10. New Electoral Code

The new Electoral Code, according to the authorities will ensure fair
and most transparent elections in the history of modern Armenia. It
was favored by international institutions, including the Venice
Commission but received harsh criticism from the Armenian opposition.

9. Trchkan waterfall and ecologists’ victory

Ecologists’ struggle to protect Trchkan waterfall against construction
of a hydropower plant that ended in greens’ rare victory emerged as
one of the major domestic events.

8. Heritage opposition party leader Raffi Hovannisian’s 15-day hunger strike

Mr. Hovannisian’s hunger strike in Liberty Square was one of the hotly
debated topics in March 2011. Hungry for Change: Freedom and Justice
in Armenia protest action lasted 15 days.

7. Armenian army

Armenian army saw both positive and negative events. On the one hand,
the military parade astonished with its might; on the other hand,
numerous deadly incidents aroused great concerns.

6. Rumors of Robert Kocharian’s return

After the decision of Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to regain
presidency, rumors of possible repetition of the Russian scenario went
afloat in Armenia. Robert Kocharian, at the same time, repeatedly
criticized the current authorities in media interviews.

5. Prosperous Armenia factor

In the course of the year, Prosperous Armenia party was trying to get
rid of the image of `younger’ coalition partner of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia. The conflict escalated when PA leader
Gagik Tsarukyan allegedly refused to support incumbent President Serzh
Sargsyan at the future elections.

4. Nagorno Karabakh process and Kazan meeting

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ tried to intensify talks for
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, with Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev organizing meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders. However, the landmark presidential gathering in Kazan on June
24 yielded no tangible result.

3. Political dialogue

Amid pressing social problems and Arab spring, the authorities had to
meet radical opposition halfway and start dialogue with the major
opposition force – the Armenian National Congress.

2. Parade of resignations

The chain of resignations shook the country in autumn. The first to go
was head of the presidential administration Karen Karapetyan, followed
by his namesake Karen Karapetyan, the mayor of Yerevan. National
Assembly speaker Hovik Abrahamyan and police chief Alik Sargsyan
resigned on November 1, the former to chair the RPA election
headquarters and the latter to assume the post of presidential
advisor.

1. ANC rallies The rallies of the Armenian National Congress
opposition bloc started in February and continued through the whole
year with the main demand of President’s resignation and conduction of
extraordinary elections.

Hayk Khalatyan / PanARMENIAN News

From: Baghdasarian