Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LE BLOC DE L’OPPOSITION SCEPTIQUE QUANT A LA LUTTE ANTIFRAUDE LORS DE L’ELECTION MUNICIPALE A EREVAN

Armen Martirosian, membre eminent du parti Heritage qui est tete de
liste d’un bloc a la prochaine election municipale a Erevan, a declare
que de rejoindre une plus large coalition contre la fraude n’aura de
sens que si elle s’engage a faire de ” reelles et substantielles ”
etapes plutôt que se livrer a un autre processus ” d’imitation “.

Le parti Heritage dirige par Raffi Hovannisian, un ancien candidat
a la presidentielle qui t actuellement conteste la reelection du
president Serge Sarkissian avec une grève de la faim continue, est
un membre cle d’une alliance multipartite appele ” Barev, Erevan ”
(Bonjour, Erevan) qui participera a l’election municipale le 5 mai
dans la capitale armenienne. Six autres partis politiques sont en
competition dans les elections qui determineront aussi le nouveau
maire d’Erevan pour les quatre prochaines annees. Au moins trois
d’entre eux, le Congrès national armenien (HAK), la Federation
revolutionnaire armenienne (FRA) et le Parti Armenie prospère (BHK),
ont indique ces derniers jours qu’ils sont prets a s’associer afin
de prevenir d’eventuelles fraudes electorales et aussi d’etendre leur
cooperation une fois le vote passe pour empecher le Parti republicain
d’Armenie (HHK) d’installer un de ses membres en tant que nouveau
maire. Une offre explicite de mettre en place une structure commune
pour surveiller le scrutin est venue de la part du HAK. Tout en se
felicitant de l’intention, le parti Heritage semble se questionner
sur l’interet de ce partenariat en raison de son experience anterieure
dans l’implication de ces parties. Lors d’une conference de presse en
plein air Place de la Liberte a Erevan Armen Martirosian a rappele aux
medias la campagne similaire en vue des elections legislatives l’annee
dernière quand le parti Heritage s’est retire du processus accusant
certains de ses partenaires de manquer d’une reelle volonte de lutter
contre la fraude et d’autres infractions aux lois electorales.

” Si nous voyons qu’il y a un desir de mener une veritable lutte
plutôt que de s’engager dans quelque chose qui s’est produit pendant
les elections legislatives de 2012 , bien sûr, il sera possible de
rejoindre l’initiative. Mais, naturellement, nous ne pouvons pas faire
partie de ce qui ressemble a ce que nous avons vu en 2012 et dans
les conditions prealables de ce que l’on peut voir deja aujourd’hui
” a souligne le chef adjoint du parti heritage.

Armen Martirosian a egalement indique que le parti Heritage avait
deja recu de la part des residents des information sur des promesses
electorales de pots de vin et de collecte de donnees personnelles. En
outre, il a accuse certains opposants sans les nommer a se livrer
a une telle pratique condamnable en utiliser le nom du president du
parti Heritage.

” Utilisant le nom de Raffi Hovannisian et Patrimoine ils entrent
dans les maisons des gens et leur offre de signer une petition qui
serait un soutien mais dans le meme temps, ils se renseignent sur
les donnees des passeports de ces gens ” a-t-il dit.

jeudi 4 avril 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

QUELLES COMPAGNIES APRES ARMAVIA ?

Au moins trois compagnies aeriennes europeennes ont decide d’augmenter
la frequence de leurs vols vers l’Armenie, suite a la faillite du
transporteur national Armavia. Armavia, qui desservait plus de 40
destinations en Europe, dans l’ex-Union sovietique et au Moyen-Orient
a depose le bilan lundi 1er avril. L’entreprise privee ne peut plus
rembourser ses dettes envers l’aeroport Zvartnots d’Erevan et envers
d’autres partenaires.

Le gestionnaire argentin de l’aeroport a declare qu’il travaille
maintenant ” activement ” avec les compagnies aeriennes etrangères.

Des vols entre Erevan et Vienne et Prague seront assures au quotidien,
ainsi que des vols pour Rome 3 fois par semaine. Des vols pour la
Pologne seront egalement assures.

Armavia a depose son bilan moins d’un mois avant l’expiration de ses
droits exclusifs sur les vols internationaux a destination et a partir
de l’Armenie, qui ont ete accordes par le gouvernement armenien en
2004. Le gouvernement n’a toujours pas precise s’il va transferer
ces droits a une autre compagnie aerienne ou s’il va liberaliser
le secteur.

jeudi 4 avril 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

WEBSITE OF PARLAMENTSKAYA GAZETA, RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT’S OFFICIAL BODY, REMOVES INTERVIEW OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SEPARATISTS’ “PRIME MINISTER”

Global Post
April 3 2013

The interview of “prime minister” of the separatist regime in Nagorno
Karabakh Ara Harutyunyan with Reuters published by the Russian
parliament’s official body Parlamentskaya Gazeta has been removed
from the newspaper’s website.

APA reports that the Parlamentskaya Gazeta has not written “Nagorno
Karabakh Republic” in quotation marks in the article entitled “Prime
minister of Nagorno Karabakh: The conflicting parties are not ready
for compromise”.

The article contains the “prime minister’s” statements and his views
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The newspaper writes that prime
minister of the unrecognized republic participated in the military
operations in Nagorno Karabakh in 1991-1994.

Earlier, RIA Novosti information agency published an analytical article
“Nagorno Karabakh is used to being unrecognized for 25 years”, the
article caused tension between the two countries. Azerbaijan sent a
note to Russia for the article posted by RIA Novosti.

From: Baghdasarian

WE EXPRESS OUR CONDOLENCES AND CONDEMN

Wed, 04/03/2013 – 21:08
News

Today “Heritage” party has reacted to the murder of the head of
Proshyan village, ARF member Hrach Muradyan and described is a
terrorist act.

“We learned with regret about the assassination in Proshyan village
that interrupted the life of liberation soldier, community head Hrach
Muradyan. We were left without a man who had the love and respect
and was a participant and a hero of Artsakh liberation war and who
lived and worked for the prosperity and well-being of his motherland.

Only in the existing atmosphere of anarchy and impunity such a crime
could be made, when the head of village was shot while having a
conversation with his employees in front of his workplace. Relevant
authorities must discover this crime and reveal people standing
behind it.

Strongly condemning the attack we demand a quick discovery and in this
time of mourning we express our compassion to relatives, friends and
party members of Muradyan”

“Heritage” party administration

Author: Factinfo

From: Baghdasarian

RUMORS CONFIRMED: CHRISTIAN WOMEN BEING RAPED IN ALEPPO

April 3, 2013 – 20:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A statement has been published in Halebahayotion
Facebook page, with rumors suggesting Christian women are raped in
Aleppo, confirmed.

“To all the human race in all the world, we hereby notify you, full
of anger and grief, that the gossip about Christian girls in Syria
being raped while the offender praises Allah 3 times (saying Allah
is the Greatest) is unfortunately true. We have confirmed the news
but we do not know the exact number of victims.

We do not like sectarianism, and we do not like killing people.

History reminds us of the hundreds of thousands of Christians in the
Middle East who have been massacred. They were slaughtered like sheep
in our own country by the Ottoman Empire at the start of the 20th
century. History repeated itself in Iraq and the world still kept
silent. Now it is being repeated in Sheikh Maksoud, a town near Aleppo.

The perpetrator is the same, the hatred they have is the same, the
lust they have is the same but the victim today will not keep silent
like a sheep. The victim today will take action and cut off not only
the hand but also the head of any perpetrator. Today history will
have to change it’s course. Many countries kept silent during 1915
as this same perpetrator massacred 1.5 million Armenians. Today those
same countries keep quiet and take no action.

They pretend to be freedom callers, they claim to have brotherliness,
they claim they are peace loving, forgiving striving and calling to
Jihad for the sake of their rights… the right to what? Raping women?

Or praising Allah as they rape women?

Directing our words now to all military commanders in Sheikh
Maksoud and demand that all criminals be held accountable for their
transgressions and that their legal punishments be executed. If these
offenders are not held accountable then we as Christians, Muslims,
Druze, Armenians, Kurds as a whole and as children of Syria without
any sectarian differentiation or racism will take matters into our
own hands. We will not wait for the official army or any other. We
will defend our own human rights, our honor and our virtue.

The aim of this letter is not to incite sectarian strife and it’s
not a trick played by the regime or the opposition. Both the regime
and the opposition forces are playing their dirty games on or account.

This is a letter from Syrian Citizens,” the statement reads.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN FM HAILS IRAN’S POSITION ON KARABAKH ISSUE

April 3, 2013 – 20:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met
with Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.

Minister Nalbandian highly assessed Armenian-Iranian relations,
noting that frequent visits foster deepening of ties between the
two countries.

Ramin Mehmanparast, in turn, highlighted the agreement on cooperation
between Armenian and Iranian media agencies. An agreement was further
reached on regular ministerial consultations.

As for regional problems, Minister Nalbandian hailed Iran’s position
on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

From: Baghdasarian

ANCA-GLENDALE SLATE SEES SUCCESSFUL ELECTION

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Glendale City Council candidate Zareh Sinanyan thanks supporters
during Tuesday’s post-election party

Sinanyan, Najarian, Kassakhian, Manoukian, Krikorian, Gharapetian
win Glendale elections

GLENDALE-With a message of unifying the Armenian-American electorate
and with a slate of endorsed candidates for the Glendale municipal
elections, the Armenian National Committee of American’s Glendale
chapter registered almost sweeping victory in Tuesday’s vote.

With 12 candidates running, the Glendale City Council race, which was
marred by a smear campaign saw three winners, according to results
posted by the Glendale City Clerk.

ANCA-Glendale endorsed candidates Zareh Sinanyan and incumbent Ara
Najarian will share the City Council with incumbent candidate Laura
Friedman. Najarian was the top vote getter 8,615, followed by Friedman
with 6,888 votes and Sinanyan with 6,122 votes.

Glendale City Clerk ANCA-endorsed Ardashess “Ardy” Kassakhian handily
won re-election with 10,335 votes.

It was also sweeping victory for ANCA-endorsed Councilmember Rafi
Manoukian, the lone candidate for the City Treasurer position. He
garnered 12,226 votes. A ballot measure-Measure A-which would have
made the position an appointed one failed with a vote of 11,602 to
4,001, making Manoukian the city’s new treasurer.

In the Glendale Unified School District race, ANCA-endorsed candidates
Greg Krikorian and Dr. Armina Gharpetian won with 10,823 and 7,696
votes respectively. Christine Walters was second with 8,171 votes.

The ANCA-Glendale had also urged voters to vote No on all ballot
initiatives. Measures A (11,602 to 4,001) and C (8,248 to 6,537) were
defeated, while voters opted to support Measure B (7,482 to 7,439),
according to results posted by the Glendale City Clerk.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN FM NOT PLANNING TO VISIT BAKU

April 03, 2013 | 18:39

YEREVAN.- Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has not received
an invitation to participate in a meeting of graduates of the Moscow
State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) to be held in Baku
this April.

“Armenian side has not received any invitation,” spokesperson for
Armenian Foreign Ministry Tigran Balayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am,
thus dismissing Azerbaijani media reports.

Azerbaijan’s capital will host the first international forum of MGIMO
graduates on April 11-13.

Earlier Azerbaijani media reported about participation of Russian FM
Sergey Lavrov. The reporters were later dismissed by Russian foreign
ministry’s press service.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

POVERTY INDEX IS HIGH IN GEGHARKUNIQ, LORI AND SHIRAK REGIONS

Wed, 04/03/2013 – 17:10
Family law

The negative effects of labor migration on families, especially on
children and women is significant, because they give rise to such
issues as psychological and social problems, sexually transmitted
illnesses, violence and abuse of children”- the head of the United
Nations Children’s Fund Planning Department Arthur Ayvazov said during
the presentation of three-year program on “Mitigation of the social
effects of migration and the increase of the involvement of migrants
in the local development processes”.

The program will be implemented with the support of the European Union
in conjunction with Ministry of Labor and Social Issue and Ministry
of Territorial Administration.

The aim of the program is to mitigate the effects of labor migration
on families and communities. 4 marzes were selected: Lori, Tavush,
Gegharkuniq and Shirak, taking into account the social vulnerability
of communities and families of migrants leaving in the regions.

Gegharkuniq, Shirak and Lori Marzes have the highest rate of migration
at the same time the poverty rate is high, which besides those regions
also concerns Tavush marz, and the fact that the region is a bordering
one was also taken into account.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan mentioned
that, the program will first of all serve to the establishment of
the institute of social worker, during the program the social workers
will assess the needs of the families of labor migrants, after which
appropriate programs will be implemented, which will also raise the
level of well-being for the families.

“It is very important to rightly asses the conditions and the risks,
because in that case the possibility of solution is high”.

“50 social workers will work in the marzes, and the implementation
of the program will support the improvement of life for the families
of the migrants”- Arthur Ayvazov said.

Author: Factinfo

From: Baghdasarian

U.S. EXPERT: KARABAKH SETTLEMENT DEPENDS ON AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS

April 3, 2013 – 11:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – “The South Caucasus is an important region, which is
of great interest to the U.S. and Russia,” said director of the Russian
and Eurasian Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace James Collins in his interview with APA’s Moscow correspondent.

He said that the interests of the U.S. and Russia don’t coincide:
“But from the political point of view the U.S. and Russia do not
have big controversial issue in the South Caucasus. Russia and the
U.S. are rivals in the energy sphere of the region. There are few
controversial issues in other spheres.”

Asked about insufficient efforts of the U.S. towards the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Collins noted that the solution of the
conflict depends only on the will of Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders:
“Unfortunately, they fail to reach an agreement in the settlement of
the conflict. As a person dealing with this problem, I can say that
the solution doesn’t depend on the non-regional countries. Non-region
countries can not solve this problem.”

From: Baghdasarian