Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CITIZENS AND POLICE OFFICERS MOST VULNERABLE POINTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN ARMENIA, REPORT

YEREVAN, April 8. / ARKA /. Relationships between citizens and police
officers remain one of the most vulnerable points in terms of human
rights protection in Armenia, Artur Sakunts, and head of the Vanadzor
office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, said today when presenting
a corresponding report.

The report was prepared by the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki
Citizens’ Assembly on the basis of studies conducted from June 1,
2010 to May 31, 2013 by six lawyers into 69 cases stemming from
Criminal and Civil Codes.

The studies revealed apparent violations in 75% of all cases -177
violations during detention, search and arrests of Armenian citizens.

According to the report, 83 violations were committed by police
officers during detention, 51 during arrest and 28 during the search
procedures.

The report says the number of such violations tends to drop when a
lawyer is involved in the case from the very beginning. -0-

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

“IMAGINE ARMENIA” FORUM TO BE HELD IN TEHRAN

April 08, 2014 | 14:51

Repat Armenia fund and Union of Information Technology Enterprises
(UITE) will organize “Imagine Armenia” forum in Tehran on April 14-17.

The event organized with the support of Diaspora Ministry will present
opportunities to build contacts with Armenia, the participants will
be briefed on functioning public and private educational, volunteer
programs.

In addition to the main program of the forum, representatives of UITE
will present achievements, prospects and professional opportunities
in rapidly developing IT sector in Armenia. During the visit, meetings
with community leaders, members of the youth and student associations
and interested entrepreneurs will be held.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

“PRE-PARLIAMENT” ADVISES TO STOP CLOWNERY AROUND THE PREMIER’S RESIGNATION

by Marianna Lazarian

Monday, April 7, 14:37

Armenia’s “Pre-Parliament” advises to ignore the clownery around
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation that reminds a storm in
a glass of water, and not to forget local and external challenges of
the country which threaten sovereignty and physical existence of the
nation, the statement by the “Pre-Parliament” says.

“Pre-Parliament” offers to form a unique management system. “We offer
to form a representation structure, start its legitimization, and
with a help of that to remove the anti-national and criminal regime
and to ensure establishment of the will of the people of Armenia in
the country”, – the statement says.

It also added that Armenia has a status of a colony and depends on
the will of external forces. “The senseless agio created around
Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation has just one purpose – to deflect
attention away from more important problems”, – the statement of the
“Pre-Parliament” says.

From: Baghdasarian

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
Monday, April 10, 2014

CONTINUING OUR SUPPORT TO THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY CAUGHT IN SYRIAN CRISIS

The latest turn of events in Syria¹s ravaging war has focused on the
largely-Armenian city of Kessab. With Islamist fighters pouring in
across the Syria-Turkey border, Kessab¹s Armenian population has been
forced to flee like deportees to the neighboring city of Latakia.

Armenian organizations have been raising awareness about the dire
situation in Kessab, mobilizing Armenians around the world through an
overwhelming show of solidarity.

The war in Syria is now well into its fourth year and this inhumane tug
of war has claimed more than 140,000 lives. While the international
community has been closely following the course of events, no diplomatic
solution is in sight, and the massive humanitarian crisis across the
region is stretching thin the capabilities of the United Nations relief
operations, not to mention the limited resources of various Armenian
organizations helping the Syrian Armenian community caught in the crisis.

But for the Armenians across Syria – and especially for the Armenian
population of Kessab – the issue transcends its humanitarian
implications. For Armenians, this is the loss of a historically
significant ancestral territory where they have lived for centuries.
Here Armenians have been rooted in the land, which is their rightful
property and has been the source of their livelihood for generations.

For the more than 700 families forced out of Kessab, the implications
will be catastrophic and irreversible if not addressed promptly.

>From the very start, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) has
been committed to the relief efforts in Syria and continues to follow the
course of events daily. We have mobilized volunteers, distributed
medical supplies, and material resources, raising over $1.7 million.
Together, with all other Armenian organizations in the diaspora, as well
as the government of the Republic of Armenia, we will pursue relief and
resolution across humanitarian and diplomatic channels.

For Kessab, especially, we will push for an international diplomatic
effort that restores and protects the demilitarized status of the region,
allowing for the return of displaced Armenian families to their homes and
land immediately. We restate our unwavering support and hope the broader
AGBU family will do the same. We owe our brothers and sisters in Kessab
and Syria nothing less.

To learn more about AGBU¹s humanitarian work for Syrian Armenians, visit:

To contribute to the relief effort, visit:

To make a pledge by phone, please call +1-855-AID-AGBU (243-2428) from
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (EST).

You can also send checks to:
AGBU Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund, 55 East 59th Street, New York,
NY 10022.
Please indicate ³Emergency Humanitarian Fund² in memo line.

For wire transfer instructions, please email [email protected]

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit

From: Baghdasarian

PRIME MINISTER’S RESIGNATION WAS NOT A BIG SURPRISE, SAYS EXPERT

13:37 * 07.04.14

Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation as the head of Armenia’s cabinet might
be a surprise for this moment, but it wasn’t unexpected at all, an
Armenian political analyst has said, pointing out to the length of
the ex-premier’s tenure.

“I think it was clear to many that this wasn’t the kind of Government
capable of working until the next election time, because the
country was not in a good situation. To me, this is a replacement
of individuals, not just one person,” Alexander Iskandaryan told
reporters on Monday.

Tigran Sargsyan was appointed prime minister after the presidential
elections in 2008 and headed the Armenian cabinet until his resignation
last week.

The expert said he doesn’t expect major changes of the new cabinet,
with the president remaining in office and no serious turns being
observed in the general policy line.

But he refrained from foretelling the future premier’s name.

“The key problem is the investment shortage, the one of the long-term
and cheap money. Any prime minister has to resolve this. It is
important to find a solution to the [Eurasian] Customs Union
integration process and continue the fight against corruption and
oligarchy,” he added.

Asked whether he thinks that the prime minister might have resigned
under the opposition’s pressure, Iskandaryan ruled out such a
possibility.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

NEW ARMENIA PM WILL BE FROM RULING POWER CIRCLES – ANALYST

April 07, 2014 | 12:56

YEREVAN. – Caucasus Institute Director, political scientist Alexander
Iskandaryan refrained from making predictions on who might be the
next Prime Minister of Armenia.

In his view, the names of a variety of candidates are circulated
either because of being uninformed, or intentionally, to gauge public
reaction.

At the same time, the analyst is almost certain that someone from
the ruling cohort will be appointed the new PM.

“I don’t see any reason for President Serzh Sargsyan to go to
concessions with the opposition,” Iskandaryan said adding, however,
that this does not mean none of the PM candidates being mentioned
will be appointed to this post.

Alexander Iskandaryan recalled that the problems which Armenia faces
today will not disappear with the replacement of the PM.

On April 3, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan submitted his resignation
to President Serzh Sargsyan, and the President accepted the PM’s
resignation.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

KOTCHARIAN NE CHERCHE PAS A DEVENIR PREMIER MINISTRE

Politique

L’ancien president Robert Kotcharian a insiste par l’intermediaire
de son porte-parole vendredi pour dire qu’il n’aspire pas a etre le
prochain Premier ministre de l’Armenie après la demission surprise
de Tigran Sarkissian.

L’annonce de la demission de Sarkissian jeudi soir a ete suivie
d’une speculation selon laquelle Kotcharian est parmi les candidats
au poste considere par le president Serge Sarkissian. L’ex-president,
qui a gouverne l’Armenie de 1998-2008, a signale de plus en plus dans
les deux dernières annees son desir de revenir a la politique active.

” Il n’est pas vrai que Robert Kotcharian est un candidat pour
le poste de Premier ministre”, a dit son porte-parole, Victor
Soghomonian. Soghomonian a refuse de commenter la demission du Premier
ministre Sarkissian.

Kotcharian a ete recemment engage dans une âpre guerre de mots avec le
premier ministre sur le bilan economique du gouvernement armenien. Il
a commence a attaquer le gouvernement en decembre en reponse aux
allegations de Tigran Sarkissian selon lesquelles l’economie de
l’Armenie a grandi a des taux a deux chiffres au cours de son règne a
cause d’une construction >. Kotcharian a accuse Sarkissian de
” degradation morale. ”

Le president Serge Sarkissian a efficacement pris parti pour son
premier ministre fin janvier. Il n’a jusqu’a present fait aucune
declaration publique sur la demission ou donne des indications sur
l’identite du prochain premier ministre.

La demission est survenue peu après que les quatre principaux partis
d’opposition ont convenu de proposer un vote parlementaire de confiance
vis-a-vis du gouvernement et d’organiser des rassemblements communs a
Erevan plus tard ce mois-ci. Le plus important d’entre eux, le BHK,
est dirige par Gagik Tsarukian, un riche homme d’affaires proche de
Kotcharian. Certains observateurs politiques ont longtemps considere
le BHK comme la base de soutien principal a l’ex-president.

Tsarukian s’est entretenu vendredi avec le president du parlement
Hovik Abrahamian a l’Assemblee nationale.

Stepan Markarian, un depute du BHK, a affirme que le parti de
Tsarukian, qui faisait partie de la coalition au pouvoir jusqu’en nuin
2012, ne tient pas a mettre la main sur le poste de premier ministre.

” Nous n’avons pas de tels objectifs “, a t-il dit aux journalistes.

Interroge pour savoir si le BHK est pret a soutenir un autre premier
ministre affilie au Parti republicain au pouvoir, Markarian a dit :
” Si un membre du Parti republicain est nomme et qu’il poursuit le
meme programme que l’ancien gouvernement, nous continuerons ce que
nous avions prevu. ”

lundi 7 avril 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN REFUSES TO RECEIVE ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY’S DELEGATION HEADING FOR BAKU

Monday 7 April 2014 17:32
Photo: Press service of Armenian Defense Ministry

Azerbaijan refuses to receive Armenian Defense Ministry’s delegation
heading for Baku

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The Azerbaijani leadership refused to receive the
Armenian Defense Ministry’s delegation heading for Baku and scheduled
to take part in the session of the Commission of General Headquarter
Chiefs of Armed Forces of CIS states due in the capital of Azerbaijan.

The Armenian delegation arrived in Moscow today to head for Baku
afterwards, Mediamax was told in the press service of the Armenian
Defense Ministry.

“Despite the invitation of the Board of Defense Ministers of CIS
states as well as the official notification sent to the Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry, the host country didn’t confirm their readiness
and interest in receiving the Armenian delegation. That’s why the
flight for the Armenian delegation from Moscow to Baku was cancelled”,
the press service reported.

Mediamax recalls that in January 2004, the Azerbaijani authorities
didn’t allow the officers of the Armenian Armed Forces to arrive
in Baku to take part in the conference on NATO’s Cooperative Best
Effort-2004 exercises due to be held in Azerbaijan within “Partnership
for Peace” program. At that time, upon Azerbaijan’s request, the
relevant Turkish agencies didn’t permit the Armenian officers to
enter the airplane leaving Istanbul for Baku.

After long-lasting negotiations on Armenian officers’ participation
in the exercises held between the NATO representatives and Azerbaijani
authorities, Azerbaijan again refused to receive the Armenian officers
in its territory and as a result, the North Atlantic Alliance made
a sensational decision by canceling the holding of exercises in
Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

ARTSAKH WAR VETERANS CONSIDER PRIME MINISTER’S RESIGNATION TO BE RESULT OF CONSOLIDATED ACTIVITIES OF 4 NON-COALITION PARLIAMENTARY FORCES

by Ashot Safaryan

Monday, April 7, 20:20

The Council of Field Commanders of Artsakh War Veterans considers the
Prime Minister’s resignation to be result of consolidated activities
of the 4 non-coalition parliamentary forces and the “I’m Against”
movement. The Artsakh war veterans think that it is the resolute
actions of the specified forces that made the authorities “sacrifice”
Tigran Sargsyan.

“We welcome the will and determination of the non-coalition forces. In
the meantime, we urge them go the extra mile and continue the fight to
gain total power change and achieve system changes. We are convinced
that the fight for these changes will not develop into a fight for
power”, they say.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan resigned on Apr 3 without
clear explanations. President Serzh Sargsyan is now supposed to
appoint new PM within 10 days.

Among the possible candidates are Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Hovik Abrayhamyan, Secretary of the National Security Council Artur
Baghdasaryan, Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan, Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan and Head of the President’s Staff Vigen Sargsyan.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN WRESTLER WINS GOLD AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

13:35 07.04.2014

Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestler Artur Aleksanyan defeated his Turkish
opponent Cenk Ildem in the finals of the 2014 European Wrestling
Championships in Vantaa, Finland, to claim the continent’s title for
the third time in his career. The 22-year-old defeated rivals from
Ukraine, Croatia, Germany, Norway and Turkey.

Another Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler Arsen Julfalakyan (75 kg) won
a silver medal at the same championships. In the final fight the
26-year-old Armenian lost to Russia’s Alexander Chekirski 3-4. On
the way to the final Julfalakyan beat representatives of Croatia,
Austria, Sweden and Denmark.

Earlier, Armenia’s freestyle wrestler Grigor Grigoryan (71 kg) won
a silver medal, while Garik Barseghyan (57 kg) and Musa Murtazaliyev
(86 kg) won bronze medals.

From: Baghdasarian