Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

HERITAGE PARTY VICE-CHAIRMAN COMMENTS ON FELLOW-MEMBER’S QUESTION TO ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT

20:49 ~U 02.10.13

Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan does not think that
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was not
the right venue for Zaruhi Postanjyan, a Heritage parliamentary
group member, to ask Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan about 60 to
70 million Euros “gambled away” in a casino.

“I think it is our authorities’ narrow circles of friends. Otherwise,
they would not have rigged three successive elections or coined new
terms, such as ‘competitive’ and so on. So I think they were sitting
in a circle of friends and Zaruhi Postanjyan put that question,”
Martirosyan told Tert.am.

Postanjyan’s question addressed to Armenia’s president at PACE evoked
strong responses inside Armenia.

Specifically, Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov
was harshly critical of the MP’s behavior.

Asked if the party shares its member’s opinion, Martirosyan said:
“There is no problem of sharing or not sharing. Zaruhi Postanjyan has
a right to voice her opinion. She is a parliament member elected by
the people and has a right to raise any question both inside Armenia
and in any part of the world unless this question contains a state
secret or details about one’s personal life.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

FLOW OF PEOPLE GETTING EDUCATION FROM ARTSAKH TO ARMENIA CONTINUES

18:56, 2 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 2, ARMENPRESS. This year the number of the students
of Artsakh State University has decreased to about 100 students. The
reason for that are the decrease of the pupils’ total number as
well as the increase of people who move in Yerevan to study. This
information was pointed out by the rector of Artsakh State University
Manush Minasyan during the talk with Armenpress.

“The flow of Artsakh young people to Armenia continues. They choose
such faculties which do not exist in Artsakh. The reason to come to
Armenia is also the quality of education. The latter is on higher
level in Armenia”,-said Manush Minasyan.

From: Baghdasarian

PASHINIAN: GOVERNMENT UNABLE TO PERFORM ANY FUNCTIONS

Wednesday,
October
02

During the Q&A hour today, the deputy of the Armenian National Congress
(HAK) parliamentary faction Nikol Pashinian asked Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan a question about the Closed Market in Yerevan. The
prime minister’s laconic reply didn’t satisfy the deputy who again
addressed Tigran Sargsyan, saying that the prime minister’s trip to
China was more eloquent than his reply.

Pashinian noted that the prime minister once again didn’t answer to
the point.

“We should say that your government is unable to perform any
functions. During discussions of the government program, you constantly
stated that the people trust you. We can say and it also follows from
your answer that Armenia has no government, but there are government
members and a prime minister who serve oligarchs,” Pashinian said.

In response, Tigran Sargsyan said Pashinian does not care what
question is discussed in the parliament, but he is only interested
in the reaction that his statements cause.

“You are not interested in substantive questions. You are interested
only in your assessments. We are tired of your assessments. We are
always ready for substantive discussion, while your assessments are
uninteresting as they are always the same. I think the problem of the
Closed Market, people’s living standard do not interest you. You are
interested in satisfying your own ambitions,” Tigran Sargsyan said,
adding that he may respond to the deputy in his own manner, but he
does not do it because he is in the National Assembly.

TODAY, 19:49

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

‘I RE-AFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS AND GOALS OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT’ – NIKOL PASHINYAN

17:14 ~U 02.10.13

Nikol Pashinyan, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary
group member, in response to a question about his leaving the ANC
after Gevorg Kostanyan was appointed Armenia’s prosecutor general,
told Tert.am that “this question has the same answer. You can find
it in my previous statements.”

Six of the seven ANC group members participated in the ballot on
Gevorg Kostanyan’s candidacy, with three of them voting against him.

Pashinyan himself had announced his intention to vote against the
candidate. Two ballots proved invalid.

“I re-affirm my commitment to the ideals and goals of the national
movement,” Pashinyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

CHARLES AZNAVOUR TO PERFORM IN ISRAEL

09:56 02.10.2013

Veteran French singer Charles Aznavour will preform in Israel for the
first time in November. He will give a single concert at Tel Aviv’s
Nokia Arena on November 23, The Times of Israel reports.

The 89-year-old French-Armenian legend received an Israeli award in
2011 but has never preformed in the country.

Aznavour, 89, was born in Paris to Armenian immigrants. Over his
70-year career he composed some 1,000 songs including the hits “La
Boheme” and “She,” selling over 100 million records.

Aznavour also appeared in 60 films including Sky Riders (1976) and
Ararat (2002),

A long-time political activist, in 2009 Aznavour was appointed
Armenia’s ambassador to Switzerland and the country’s permanent
delegate to the UN institutions in Geneva.

In 2011 he was honored by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which
bestowed him with the Scopus Prize for his contribution to civilization
and his fight for the Armenian people.

Aznavour used the event to call on Israel to recognize the Armenian
genocide, the report reads.

The French singer follows a chain of veteran vocalist to preform
in Israel in recent months, including Burt Bacharach, Tom Jones,
Barbara Streisand, Cliff Richard, Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka and Bob Dylan.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIANS CANNOT BENEFIT FROM REFORMS IN TURKEY – EXPERT

13:26 ~U 02.10.13

Expert in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan held a meeting with
journalists on Wednesday and dwelt on the democratization process
and the national minorities’ state in Turkey.

The package envisages unity between Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Erdogan’s party and Kurds. All the best is being done to meet most
of the Kurds’ demands.

“The reforms will allow them to teach and learn their mother tongue and
open Sunday schools like Armenian schools,” Shakaryan said. One more
important factor is that Kurds can restore their toponyms preserved
since 1980s.

The complicated mechanism of election to Parliament does not allow
Kurdish parties to get into Parliament even if they poll 30% to 40%
of votes.

Premier Erdogan is thus trying to win Kurds’ favor and turn the entire
country into a single member constituency.

On the other hand, Armenians cannot in any way benefit from the
reforms. The only positive step is that the aforementioned package
envisages the abolition of the oath practiced in Turkey’s schools.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

NO MORE SUFFERING FROM SOMEONE ELSE’S MISTAKES

Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to join the Customs Union served as an
indicator for the political field of Armenia which suddenly felt
obsolete. There is an urgent need for reforms but the rules of reforms
are those of the traditional Armenian cards game called blot.

The cards are dealt, nobody believes others, trump cards have been
played, and there is nothing left to do but to show the cards to
start another game.

This process is taking place at all the levels – foreign politics,
internal affairs, economy, and even the mass media. The goals have
been achieved (or not achieved), someone was left empty-handed,
someone has suddenly understood that they have been left out of the
game, someone wants to take revenge, it is a sport to someone yet
others are depressed. And it is all proceeding along replacements,
compromising materials and allegations of venality.

As a matter of fact, it is a regular and normal process because
on September 3 Armenia moved on to a new political status, and new
internal relations are being set up. This situation is defined by Serzh
Sargsyan’s large amplitude of ending the lasting period of hesitation
through the decision on joining the Customs Union. He made the worst
decision for the country but now everyone is waiting for static,
not hesitant decisions.

Serzh Sargsyan has strengthened his foothold. Now he may stop to
look at those fighting against him, return the blows he dodged by
hesitant gestures.

His opponents also felt the stop and experienced their obsolescence.

It is not accidental that Garnik Isagulyan is calling a meeting of
presidents Robert Kocharyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan to consult them.

The only slogan in the political space is “Serzh go away!” Nothing has
changed in the domestic life of Armenia over the past 20 years. It is
the same oligarchy, the same laws, the same dependence on Russia. None
of the “operating” politicians is going to change it. The only
“operating” question is who will head the pyramid in place. The
question has no answer yet.

This is the last phase of degradation of the political field where
nobody speaks about systemic reformations, change of relations in the
state, change of foreign political benchmarks and values. There is only
one question: who is the boss, who will handle the national wealth,
who will be making decisions? This is not the Armenian society but
a couple of people but, unfortunately, they are able to involve in
their fight a lot of smart and decent people who later suffer the most.

The bankrupt politicians can see they have nothing to show for
it. The best solution would be their resignation and new elections
and fundamental reforms. Not only the political parties, operating
politicians, simply smart people suffering from someone else’s mistakes
but also Armenia needs them. New people, new blood, new ideas are
needed in the new situation. The old ones are leading to stagnation.

Naira Hayrumyan 17:33 01/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: Baghdasarian

SARKISIAN, HOLLANDE DISCUSS EU RLEATIONS, KARABAKH

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (left) and French President Francois
Hollande in Paris

PARIS-The President of France, Francois Hollande, on Tuesday received
the visiting President of Armenia, Serzh Sarkisian, Elysee’s Press
Service reports.

The two Presidents discussed the priorities of bilateral cooperation,
especially economic, and prospects of relations between Armenia and
the European Union.

They also exchanged views on the negotiations to find a peaceful
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They discussed key
international issues of common interest, in particular the crisis in
Syria, the situation in Iran and their consequences.

The President of the Republic of Armenia made a working visit to
Paris before traveling to Strasbourg on the occasion of the Armenian
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Armenia holds the presidency for the first time since it joined the
Council of Europe in 2001.

From: Baghdasarian

NUNE YESAYAN’S CONCERT COST STATE BUDGET OVER 54 MILLION DRAMS

Tuesday,
October
01

The concert of singer Nune Yesayan on the occasion of the 22nd
anniversary of Armenia’s independence cost the country’s state budget
54,691,400 AMD.

According to PastInfo news agency, the Armenian government allocated
that sum from its reserve fund to the Ministry of Culture, then to
Nune Yesayan charitable organization.

It should be mentioned that the government allocated 54.6 million
drams not for all the festive events held throughout Armenia on
September 21, but only for the concert of Ms.Nune Yesayan.

The expenses were recorded as donations, with responsibility being
imposed on Culture Minister Ms. Hasmik Poghosian.

A government decision says that ‘raising the awareness and
communication of civil society in the sphere of art’ is the final
result of work done with that sum.

TODAY, 16:43

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

ACTION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELD NEAR ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

October 01, 2013 | 19:19

YEREVAN. – An Armenian woman who was severely beaten by her
mother-in-law urges all women not to be afraid of voicing their
problems and filing for divorce.

Mariam Gevorgyan was one of the participants of an action organized
by “Coalition to stop violence against women” on Tuesday near the
building of the Armenian government.

“By voicing their problems, Armenian women will be more protected. If
you are silent, domestic violence will become graver. It can even
lead to death, as in cases of Zaruhi and Maro,” she told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

Mariam says she had struggled for her rights, but absence of law
makes it too difficult. Together with other participants, Mariam
demands that the government must adopt a law preventing and punishing
domestic violence. If a law is adopted, the number of cases will
reduce dramatically, she said.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian