Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Ombudsman is informed about the violation of rights of the Georgian
Armenian community

On May 28, 2014 the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia has
presented the Parliamentary Report on the Protection of Human Rights
and Freedoms in Georgia 2013 to the international organizations,
diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia and representatives of civil
society.

The Public Defender has highlighted tendencies and priorities in the
field of human rights for the reporting period, talked about the
report and the recommendations made to different branches of the
power.

At the meeting Levon Isakhanyan, the Head of the Legal Department of
the Armenian Diocese in Georgia highlighted the discrimination in the
field of restitution of property confiscated from religious minorities
during the Soviet era and mentioned that numerous Armenian, Catholic
and other minorities’ churches have been appropriated and are being
used by the Georgian Orthodox Church. Attention has been paid to the
problem of destruction of the Armenian churches on the Georgian
territory, including the 14th century Mughnetsots Surb Gevorg church,
and a part of the 18th century Surb Nshan church in the historical
center of Tbilisi.

In the meantime attention has been paid to the problem of
consideration of national minorities as potential source of
instability.

Moreover, special attention has been paid to the case of interference
of the Azerbaijani officials in Georgia’s internal affairs, which
caused violation of cultural rights of the Georgian Armenian
community. Regret has been expressed in regard with the fact that the
Georgian authorities’ did not condemn interference in their internal
affairs by the third country.

In response the Ombudsman of Georgia mentioned that a part of these
problems have been mentioned in his report, however, with regard to
the case of interference of Azerbaijani authorities in Georgia’s
internal affairs he asked to provide with additional information.
Detailed information will soon be provided for the Ombudsman’s
consideration.

From: Baghdasarian

Poverty, malnutrition and education Armenian children’s major problems

12:04 * 01.06.14

Poverty, malnutrition and education are the problems pointed out by
Anna Safaryan, Advisor to Armenia’s Human Right Defender (Ombudsman),
and Vahan Tumasyan, Head of the Gyumri-based Shirak center.

“Widespread poverty among children affects their protection. A poor
child cannot go to school. The family make such a child earn money by
begging,” Ms Safaryan told Tert.am.

The relevant government bodies fail to properly perform their duties.
Children are often victims of domestic violence – psychical and
psychological.

According to Mr Tumasyan, malnutrition is a major problem among
children in Gyumri. The other grace problems are lack of education and
housing.

“Children living in insanitary conditions are vulnerable to
infections,” he said.

He also stressed the housing problem in Gyumri.

Mr Tumasyan advises not marking Children’s Day in Armenia for people
to think of children’s problems more often.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAGH
L’équipe nationale d’Artsakh part en Suède pour la Coupe du Monde de Football

L’équipe nationale de football d’l’Artsakh est en Suède pour
participer à la première Coupe du Monde de Football ConIFA, un tournoi
organisé pour les équipes en dehors de l’instance dirigeante du
football international, la FIFA.

Le tournoi, qui se tiendra à Ostersund, en Suède centrale, sera
accueilli par le peuple Sapmi, aussi connu comme les Lapons. Il se
tiendra sous l’égide de ConIFA, une organisation mondiale pour toutes
les équipes de football à l’extérieur de la FIFA.

Douze équipes participeront au tournoi.

En Février, ConIFA a répondu aux objections de l’Azerbaïdjan quant à
l’inclusion de l’Artsakh dans le tournoi.

“ConIFA sert à faire des ponts et représente les personnes non
représentées. Il est un fait que le Haut-Karabakh est auto-contrôlée
aujourd’hui et c’est l’un des faits majeurs pour nous, que la
Fédération de Football de l’Artsakh n’est ni une partie de la
Fédération azérie de football, ni membre de la FIFA “, a déclaré la
ConIFA dans une lettre adressée au gouvernement azerbaïdjanais.

dimanche 1er juin 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

HUNGARY: DK VICE PRESIDENT CRITICIZED FOR DOWNPLAYING SIGNIFICANCE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

European Union News
May 23, 2014 Friday

Budapest

Politics Hungary has issued the following news release:

Democratic Coalition Vice President Ágnes Vadai has sparked anger for
downplaying the historical significance of the Armenian genocide in
comments she made to ATV last week.

Outrage arose because of Vadai’s criticism of remarks made by Jobbik’s
Dora Dúro. Dúro complained that the Jewish Holocaust is the only one
people ever talk about, when there have been many other holocausts
in history.

Members of Hungary’s Armenian minority sent a letter to ATV, rejecting
Vadai’s arguments and asking the station to disassociate itself from
the remarks.

The coordinator of the Armenian Holocaust Centenary, Artin Diramerjan,
subsequently appeared on ATV expressing his condemnation of Vadai’s
“clumsy, uninformed comments.” He added that pretty much without
exception every member of the Armenian minority in Hungary would have
been affected in some way by the genocide, and would likely have been
offended by Vadai’s remarks.

Diramerjan said that the slaughter of Jews in Europe in the 1940s
had much in common with the brutality carried out on the Armenians
in Turkey in 1915. He also stated that the word “holocaust” was first
used in connection with the Armenian genocide.

From: Baghdasarian

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS FROM ARMENIA MORE THAN DOUBLED IN FIVE MONTHS

YEREVAN, May 30. /ARKA/. Armenia’s fruit and vegetable exports more
than doubled in the five months of 2014 and totaled over 23,000 tons
as of May 29, the deputy minister of agriculture Robert Makaryan told
a press conference referring to the preliminary data.

The last year January-May level was 11,200 tons, Makaryan said.

In particular, 19,000 tons of fruits and vegetables were exported to
Georgia, 4,000 tons to Russia, 67 tons to Iraq and 53 tons to the UAE.

The deputy minister said of the overall exports 2,620 tons were grapes,
17,300 tons were potatoes, 1,400 tons – cabbage, 652 tons – beet,
190tons – carrot.

Armenia’s fruit and vegetable exports totaled over 60,000 tons in
2013. -0–

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ZHAMANAK: LEVON TER-PETROSYAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FREEMASONRY

Friday,
May
30

‘Zhamanak’ paper asked the member of a masonic lodge, Chairman
of the Union of Filmmakers of Armenia Ruben Gevorkyants if former
Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan has ever participated in a
masonic gathering.

The Armenian media reported earlier that L. Ter-Petrosyan is expected
to attend a gathering of Armenian masons in Yerevan in July.

“Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to do with freemasonry”, R. Gevorkyants
replied.

TODAY, 11:53

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

FOREIGN POLICY JOURNAL PUBLISHES A COMMENTARY ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CEASEFIRE IN KARABAKH

15:03 30.05.2014

On May 29, 2014, the Foreign Policy Journal published an article by
Aram Avetisyan entitled “Twenty Years of Karabakh Armistice: No Peace,
No Trust.” The commentary discusses the Karabakh peace process and the
obstacles that have made a comprehensive peace agreement so illusive.

The full text of the article is provided below:

Twenty years have passed since a cease fire agreement was signed
between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno Karabakh. While the truce
put an end the large-scale hostilities, there is no final peace
agreement, and the sides continue to suffer casualties. The question
why the cease fire has not lead to the comprehensive peace agreement
remains rhetorical; the lack of confidence between the parties and
aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan are major obstacles. Moreover,
the current phase of the peace process remains incomplete with no
comprehensive participation of Nagorno Karabakh authorities.

Why does Azerbaijan avoid negotiations with Nagorno Karabakh? Why does
Baku deny previous contacts with NKR authorities? The answer lies in
Baku’s policy and goals towards everything Armenian. Throughout last
20 years of relative peace, the world and the region have witnessed
Azerbaijan’s aggressive warmongering, instigation of hatred towards
Armenians, military build-up, and disregard of calls from the
international community to initiate confidence-building measures.

The goals are evident and not new. Just like during the war from
1991-1994, Azerbaijan uses cease-fire “breaks” to regroup and rebuild
its military capacities. As soon as it feels ready for another attempt,
the Azeri leadership begins blackmailing with renewed aggression and
demands from the Armenian sides to accept the unacceptable. Sniper
war and cross-border subversions are parts of these tactics.

Another aspect is Baku’s efforts to distort the essence of the Karabakh
problem and misrepresent the issue as “Armenia’s territorial claim
towards Azerbaijan”. Azerbaijan manipulates with the UN Security
Council’s resolutions regarding the Karabakh conflict and complains
about “occupation of its territories by Armenia”. In reality, none
of those resolutions, which remained unimplemented at Baku’s fault,
has ever mentioned Armenia as aggressor state, since Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh are the two principal parties to the conflict.

Two rhetorical questions: if the problem was between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, why then would president Aliyev (the father of
incumbent Azeri leader) delegate his envoys to negotiate with
official representatives of the NKR; why was the 1994 ceasefire
document entered into force after being signed by three parties,
including Nagorno Karabakh?

Restoration of the previous, OSCE-supported framework with
participation of the NKR will promote negotiations and facilitate
final settlement. Implementation of confidence-building measures (CBM)
by all sides, especially between NKR and Azerbaijan, will help reduce
the tension and create a favorable atmosphere for the two societies to
overcome the existing problems. Unfortunately, all previous attempts
to restore trust between the peoples failed after Azerbaijan blocked
any CBM initiatives she had received through the OSCE mediators.

The peaceful formula is simple: less casualties, less warmongering,
more trust, more chances to achieve regional peace. Through the last
20 years, Armenia and NKR have tried to persuade Azerbaijan that a
peaceful solution had no alternative, that snipers along the border
further aggravated the situation and postponed settlement. Today,
the Armenian states send the same message to “hawks” in Baku, calling
them to abandon revanchist aspirations and prevent another tragedy.

International community and mediators should make it clear that
Azerbaijani leaders must assume responsibility, and prepare its people
for peace, rather than war.

From: Baghdasarian

THE BUDAGYANS’ LAWYER: THOSE, WHO ARE BLAMED FOR AVETIK BUDAGHYAN’S DEATH, AND THOSE, WHO PROMISED TO GET THEM OFF, WILL FAIL

by David Stepanyan

Friday, May 30, 14:14

Those, who are blamed for Avetik Budaghyan’s death, and those,
who promised to get them off, will fail, as we are not going to
be satisfied with the results of a performance demonstrated to all
of us as an investigation, Artak Budaghyan’s lawyer, Hayk Alumyan,
told Arminfo correspondent.

“Just for this reason we insisted on taking Artak Budaghyan’s case to
court. We could easily gain dismissing the case, as representatives
of the opposite side expressed readiness to abandon their complaints.

Moreover, Artak Budaghyan could be amnestied. But we refused all
these proposals, as we intend to gain investigation of the case
on Avetik Budaghyan’s death. Taking into account the fact that the
case on the true culprits of Avetik Budaghyan’s death was dismissed,
we are going to win justice and investigation, at least through the
case initiated against his brother Artak”,- the lawyer said.

He also added that during the investigation of Artak Budaghyan’s case,
they are simply obliged to show who is who in this dark story.

To recall, Litska (the nickname of the former governor of Syuniq)
is famous for participation in early June 2013 in a tragic incident
which resulted in death of the late mayoral candidate of Goris,
Avetik Budagyan, and serious wound of his brother Artak Budagyan,
colonel of the Armenian Armed Forces. The fire took place near
the governor’s cottage. His 19-year old son Tigran Khachatryan and
25-year old bodyguard Zarzand Nikogosyan were arrested and accused
of murder, intended bodily harm and illegal weapons-bearing. However,
three months later, on September 7th, they were set free, and criminal
investigation was stopped, as investigator Aleksan Kazaryan decided
that their behavior was self-defense.

From: Baghdasarian

EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION NOT ENTITLED TO DEAL WITH BORDERS – EDUARD SHARMAZANOV

18:07 * 30.05.14

Neither the Customs Union and nor Eurasian Economic Union can resolve
the border problem as they are not entitled to deal with the issue.

So it is unnecessary to raise the issue of borders in the context
of the Customs Union or Eurasian Economic Union, Vice-President of
Armenia’s Parliament, Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters on Friday.

The undeniable fact is that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are one
economic area.

The fact is that Armenia and the three founding states of the Eurasian
Economic Union reached an agreement on Armenia joining the union
before the end of this June. The rest technical issues have nothing
to do with borders, imports and exports.

Armenia is not joining the Eurasian Economic Union or the Customs
Union to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem just as it did not join
the World Trade Organization with this end in view.

“The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem. And linking this problem to Armenia’s accession to the union
has nothing to do with reality.”

Armenia has full-fledged society, political arena, mass media.

“I would like to ask you not to create a stir over this statement. It
will not bring any benefit to our state and society. Armenia will not
make a single step to the detriment of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia is
the guarantor of Nagorno-Karabakh’s security,” Sharmazanov said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Super Sport
May 31 2014

Algeria sweep aside Armenia

31 May 2014, 21:36

Algeria belied their status as World Cup outsiders blasting three
first-half goals on their way to a comprehensive 3-1 win over Armenia
in a festive atmosphere in Sion on Saturday.

Around 12 000 drum-banging, chanting Algerian fans turned the tiny
Tourbillon in the usually sleepy Swiss Alpine town into a cauldron,
appearing to unnerve their opponents in the first half.

Essaid Belkalem, Nabil Ghilas and Islam Slimani scored before halftime
as Algeria gave a performance which suggested they could more than
hold their own against Belgium, Russia and South Korea in Group H at
the Brazil finals.

Bathed in evening sunshine and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the
Tourbillon provided a stunning setting for a match which saw Leicester
City midfielder Riyad Mahrez make an impressive debut for Algeria.

Defender Belkalem, who struggled to get playing time at Watford last
season, put Algeria ahead in the 13th minute, turning the ball in from
close range following a corner as Rafik Halliche’s run distracted the
defence.

The Fennec Foxes increased their lead nine minutes later when Mahrez
slipped the ball to Ghilas on his right and the Porto player rifled an
emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

Algeria continued to pull the Armenians apart with lots of neat moves
from the midfield trio of Mehdi Lacen, Yacine Brahimi and Adlene
Guedioura.

French-raised Brahimi, in particular, brought the crowd to their feet
with his cheeky skills.

Slimani missed two chances to put Algeria ahead but the Sporting
forward finally converted three minutes before halftime, heading in
the rebound after Ghilas’s header had struck the bar.

Armenia, 33rd in the Fifa rankings compared to Algeria’s 25, pulled
one back within a minute of the re-start when halftime substitute
Artur Sarkisov burst clear and beat Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche with a
low shot.

The game went off the boil in the second half although substitute El
Arabi Soudani brought the crowd to their feet with a weaving run but
was denied by Roman Berezovski’s save.

From: Baghdasarian