Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Voting underway across Cyprus

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE- Sun, May 22, 2011

Cypriots go to the polls Sunday to elect the 56 members of the new
House of Representatives for a five-year term. This is the tenth
parliamentary election since the establishment of the Republic of
Cyprus in 1960.
A total of ten political parties or movements with 412 candidates are
contesting the elections. Six people are running as independent
candidates and nine for the three representatives of the religious
groups.
A total of 531,136 persons are entitled to vote in Sunday’s election
at 1203 polling stations, set up throughout the government controlled
areas of the Republic. A further two stations have been set up for the
enclaved persons (Greek Cypriots living in the northern Turkish
occupied areas of the Republic) and 17 for the election of the
representatives of the three religious groups represented at the House
(Latins, Armenians and Maronites).
Polling stations will open at 0700 local time (0400 GMT) and close at 1830.
Polling stations have also been set up abroad, in the Greek cities of
Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra as well as in London and Manchester in
order to facilitate all Cypriots who live there.
In today’s elections a total of 544 Turkish Cypriots, who live in the
government controlled part of Cyprus, have registered to vote.
According to the 1960 Constitution, the Greek Cypriot community,
comprising Greek Cypriots, Latins, Armenians and Maronites, elects its
own representatives to the House and the Turkish Cypriot community its
own deputies. The Turkish Cypriot MPs withdrew unilaterally from
Parliament in 1964 following intercommunal strife.
Twenty of the 56 parliamentary seats are allocated to Nicosia
electoral district, 12 to Limassol, 11 to Famagusta, 6 to Larnaka, 4
to Paphos and 3 to Keryneia.
Seats are allocated under the system of proportional representation.
Polls will close at 1830 with a one-hour break at noon. Votes will be
counted at the regional electoral centers and final results on the
percentage secured by the parties as well as the number of the seats
in the new parliament, are expected to be announced around 23.00 local
time.
A strong police force of around 2.000 policemen will be on duty to
ensure everything runs smoothly.
Parliamentary elections take place every five years, for the 56 seat
House. This will be the 10th parliamentary poll since the Republic of
Cyprus was established in 1960.
According to the 1960 Constitution, 50 deputies are elected to the
House. In June 1985, the House by a unanimous decision increased this
number to 80 (56 from the Greek Cypriot community and 24 from the
Turkish Cypriot community by virtue of the Law of Necessity.
The Constitution stipulates that `the Greek community of Cyprus’,
comprising Greek Cypriots, Latins, Armenians and Maronites, elects its
own representatives to the House and `the Turkish community of Cyprus’
its own deputies by a ratio of 70% to 30 %. The Turkish Cypriots
withdrew unilaterally from Parliament in 1964 following intercommunal
fighting and as part of their rebellion against the government.
Six political parties are currently represented to the House of
Representatives: the leftwing AKEL which received 31.16% (18 seats),
the rightwing Democratic Rally (DISI) with 30.33% (18 seats), the
Democratic Party (DIKO) with 17.91% (11 seats), the Social Democrats
Movement EDEK 8,91% (5 seats), the European Party (EVROKO) with 5.73%
(3 seats) and the Ecologists with 1,95% (1 seat).
Today the House has seven women deputies, as opposed to six in the
previous House, representing AKEL (3), DISI (2), DIKO (1) and EDEK
(1).
Following a House plenary decision, an additional seat has been
allocated to Larnaca district and the distribution of seats at present
is as follows: 20 in Nicosia District, 12 in Limassol District, 11 in
Famagusta District, 6 in Larnaca District, 4 in Paphos District and 3
in the Kyrenia District.
Armenians, Maronites and Latins, who belong to the Greek Cypriot
community, elect their representatives to the House, who do not have
the right to vote. Vartkes Mahtesian was elected representative of the
Armenian religious group, Antonis Hatzirousos of the Maronite group
and Benito Mantovani representative of the Latins.
– (KYPE)

From: Baghdasarian

Physician and philanthropist Harout Mesropyan visited Artsakh

By Times.am at 22 May, 2011, 12:21 pm

On 21 May President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received
American physician and philanthropist of Armenian origin Harout
Mesropyan and accompanying him individuals, central information
department of the office of Artsakh Republic President informs.

Issues related to the development of aid station network in Artsakh
and launching the first pilot project in this sphere were discussed
during the meeting.

The Head of the State considered important this component of the
health case infrastructure underlying that its existence would play a
substantial role especially in the countryside.

Premier Ara Haroutyunyan was present at the meeting.

/Times.am/

From: Baghdasarian

EREVAN
Les travaux de l’aéroport « Zvartnots » d’Erévan se poursuivent

Les travaux de l’aéroport international « Zvartnots » d’Erévan
prendront fin cette année. La capacité d’accueil annuel sera alors de
3,5 millions de passagers. Actuellement près de 600 ouvriers et
spécialistes d’une quinzaine de sociétés travaillent sur l’aménagement
de « Zvartnots ». Cette troisième phase dont les travaux débutèrent en
2008 aura coûté 160 millions de dollars. Un parking de 600 places sera
également construit et les espaces d’accueil des passagers seront
aménagés pour faciliter le transit international.

Kikor Amirzayan

dimanche 22 mai 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

From: Baghdasarian

FOOTBALL
Erévan-Saint Petersbourg en autocar pour les fans de l’Arménie

Pour le match Russie-Arménie qui se déroulera le 4 juin à Saint
Petersbourg (Russie), les supporters de la sélection arménienne, les «
First Armenian Front » organisent un déplacement en autocar d’Erévan
vers Saint Petersbourg ! Pour la somme de 149 000 drams (près de 250
euros), les fans de l’équipe d’Arménie prendront dès le 1er juin la
direction de Saint Pertersbourg. Dans le prix est inclus le
déplacement, les assurances, le billet pour le match et l’hôtel au
centre de Saint Petersbourg. Reste que faire plus de 5 000 kilomètres
pour assister durant 90 minutes à un match de foot -même important- il
faut être un véritable fan !

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 22 mai 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

From: Baghdasarian

TURQUIE
Des enseignants suscitent la polémique en Turquie en employant la
question arménienne

De récentes pratiques de quelques enseignants qui discutent de la «
question arménienne » dans leurs cours ont causé la polémique en
Turquie. La presse turque affirme que leurs explications deviennent
des jugements et portent en eux les éléments d’un discours de haine.
Un récent exemple est arrivé à l’Université Dicle de Diyarbakir, où le
conférencier, le Professeur assistant Ylmaz Polat, a posé une question
au milieu du trimestre en mai à environ 380 étudiants.

Selon le quotidien Zaman la question à l’examen était « l’état Ottoman
n’a pas commis le génocide arménien. Quelques-uns arméniens déloyaux,
qui ont coopéré avec les Russes et déserté l’Armée Ottomane, sont
morts à cause de la famine, la maladie et le froid pendant
l’émigration obligatoire [tehcir], qui a été suggéré par les Allemands
et quelques-uns sont partis avec les Russes à cause de leur déloyauté
et c’est pourquoi la population arménienne en Turquie a été réduite ».
Les étudiants pouvaient répondre grce à un questionnaire à choix
multiple avec comme réponses possibles « vrai » et « faux ».

L’information est apparue en premier via l’agence de presse Dicle
(DIHA) et a été diffusé sur internet et par certains journaux.
Contacté par Zaman, le professeur a dit qu’il ne passe pas ou ne force
pas les jugements des étudiants et aucun d’eux ne s’est plaint d’une
telle chose. Il a mentionné les écrits de l’ancien responsable de la
Société Turque d’Histoire (TTK) Yusuf Halaçoglu qui avait été démis de
ses fonctions par une décision du Cabinet en 2008, après ses remarques
controversées.

Ylmaz Polat a dit qu’il a fait cela en salle de classe pour empêcher
l’animosité contre les arméniens à cause des faits historiques, mais
qu’il voulait aussi transmettre « tous les faits » aux étudiants pour
empêcher « le traitement injuste envers la Turquie au niveau
international à cause des revendications de génocide ».

Ylmaz Polat a prétendu que cette question a été apportée à l’attention
des médias par un conférencier du département de philosophie dans le
cadre d’une campagne contre lui parce que cette personne fait face à
une enquête liée à ses activités sur le campus en lien avec le PKK.

Ylmaz Polat a annoncé qu’il est membre du comité d’enquête.

Un autre événement est arrivé au lycée Burhan Felek d’Istanbul,
l’enseignant de sécurité nationale le Colonel Sinan Oz a montré les
photographies de cadavres décrits comme étant « les enfants turcs qui
ont été massacrés par des arméniens » pendant la Première guerre
mondiale.

Selon le journal Agos, quelques étudiants ont voulu quitté le cours
qui avait le lieu la semaine du 24 avril. L’hebdomadaire a annoncé que
le conférencier a aussi affirmé que « seuls les Turcs et des Musulmans
vivent en Turquie ».

dimanche 22 mai 2011,
Sté[email protected]

From: Baghdasarian

OBSERVERS FROM KARABAKH SIDE DO NOT NOTICE AZERBAIJANI MILITARY EXERCISES NEAR FRONTLINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2011 – 17:19 AMT

Chairman of the NKR NA Standing Committee for Defense and Security
Vahram Atanesyan said the Karabakh side has no information on any
large-scale military exercises of the Azerbaijani army at the line
of contact.

According to him, observers from the Karabakh side have not noticed
any accumulation of Azerbaijani troops.

“Even if some exercises are organized, the NKR Defense Army is
always ready for adequate measures,” Atanesyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

At the same time, Atanesyan noted that the tenseness at the line of
contact between the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces persists. “Baku
is unlikely to undertake a serious adventure, but we are ready for
any developments. Provocations at the line of contact will continue,
especially taking into consideration the upcoming trilateral meeting
among the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents. But I will
repeat it once again – Baku is unlikely to undertake a serious
adventure,” concluded Atanesyan.

Earlier, Azerbaijan announced the launch of large-scale military
exercises near the frontline with participation of aviation and
infantry led by Defense Minsiter Safar Abiev.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH STATUS ISSUE SOLVED DE FACTO TO ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2011 – 17:36 AMT

Armenia-Azerbaijan cooperation in economy sector may promote political
solutions, according to Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia.

As Arman Kirakossian stressed at Yerevan-hosted international
conference, titled CSTO and South Caucasus: Prospects of Peace and
Security in the Region, establishment of trust between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani societies would promote Karabakh conflict settlement.

One of the currently negotiated principles, according to Kirakossian,
is extending of the intermediate status to Karabakh before organizing
a referendum and determining the republic’s final status.

“The issue of Karabakh status is an important one. To Armenia and the
international community, the issue is solved de facto. It now has to be
formalized de jure,” the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed.

From: Baghdasarian

ADDRESS OF ARTSAKH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE “LEGAL, POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL BASES OF THE NKR’S FORMATION” INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Noyan Tapan

20.05.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 20.05.2011) Respected participants of the conference,

I welcome all of you in the Artsakh soil and congratulate on the
beginning of the “Legal, political and historical bases of the NKR
formation” international conference.

Holding such representative events in our republic has become a
tradition which is welcome and shows continuous interest of different
countries and highly authoritative scientific-analytical centers
towards Artsakh.

The fact that this conference has been organized by the state
commission on organizing and coordinating celebrations dedicated to
the 20th anniversary of the NKR’s formation and Artsakh’s Alma Mater
shows also the interest of our authorities and scientific-educational
sector in establishing constant ties with corresponding Armenian and
foreign institutions dealing with the Karabakh issue.

The topics to be discussed during the conference have both scientific
and political significance encompassing different issues related to
the Artsakh statehood, Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement and
processes taking place in the regional and global arenas. Looking to
the problems from this viewpoint will enable to have a more profound
view of the situation and predict possible developments more precisely.

I am sure that the conference will carry out its mission successfully
and will further strengthen and widen cooperation between political
and analytical circles.

I wish you efficient work and all the best.

Stepanakert, May 20, 2011.

From: Baghdasarian

DOCTORS RECOMMEND FAMILY PLANNING TO PREVENT UNWANTED PREGNANCIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2011 – 11:57 AMT

Induced abortion is highly undesirable, a gynaecologist at
Armenian-American Mammography Center stated, advising to take every
precaution to prevent that step.

As Nelly Avagyan told a news conference in Yerevan, family planning
is one of the ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Ms. Avagyan
recommended a two-year break between the pregnancies to allow the
mother’s body to fully recover.

“Abortion can lead to highly unwanted consequences. If a woman
never gave birth, the first abortion can deprive her of a chance for
motherhood,” the expert stressed.

As Anna Badalyan, a psychologist at Motherhood in Armenia Center,
noted, in turn, abortion may have serious psychological and
physiological effects on a woman.

From: Baghdasarian

ISRAEL, U.S. ON A COLLISION COURSE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2011 – 13:04 AMT

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu were on a collision course over the shape of an elusive
peace with the Palestinians ahead of Oval Office talks Friday, May 20.

Obama set up an open conflict with Netanyahu on Thursday in his
long-awaited speech on the “Arab Spring” revolts, by saying that
territorial lines in place before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war should
be the basis for a peace deal, AFP reported.

Netanyahu has long opposed such a formulation, and his office issued
a blunt statement saying such a scheme would leave it “indefensible”
and would isolate major Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Analysts said Obama became the first president to specifically state
that the 1967 borders should be the basis for peace negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinians, shut down over a settlements
row last year.

U.S. officials had, however, privately been pushing the position for
a while and the principle was close to the shape of a failed deal
advanced by former president Bill Clinton at Camp David in 2000. “The
borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines
with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders
are established for both states,” Obama said in the speech at the
State Department.

Netanyahu’s statement, however, urged Obama to commit to assurances
laid out in 2004 by then-president George W. Bush, who said “new
realities on the ground,” meant a “full and complete return” to 1967
borders was “unrealistic.”

“Prime Minister Netanyahu expects to hear a reaffirmation from
President Obama of U.S. commitments made to Israel in 2004, which
were overwhelmingly supported by both houses of Congress,” Netanyahu’s
statement said.

Netanyahu appeared to be playing a political card ahead of Obama’s
2012 reelection race, as top Republican White House contenders slammed
the president’s speech as a betrayal of Israel.

From: Baghdasarian