Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ELDERLY MAN GATHERS 1000 SIGNATURES

07:32 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Members of the opposition Heritage party have fixed special duty
hours to visit Heritage leader Raffi Hovannisian at Freedom Square
and talk to his visitors. Heritage members also stay at the square
for the night.

“I shall spend the night under the sky with Raffi Hovannisian and other
friends,” Stepan Safaryan, a member of the Heritage party, told A1+.

He says different people visit the Heritage leader at night. “These
are caring people, disguised people, suspicious-looking people and
even drunkards but they have never entered into a conflict,” said
Mr Safaryan.

Later last week, a group of citizens started collection of signatures
at Freedom Square to express their support and confidence for Raffi
Hovannisian. Stepan Safaryan says tens of thousands citizens have
joined the move which continues at the square.

“I have personally given the forms to many citizens. People want to
take them to their villages and regions. Many have already brought
hundreds of signatures,” he said adding that early in the morning an
85-year-old man showed up at the square with 1000 signatures.

“He took new forms with him to fill them in. The elderly man only
complained that he did not have a car, otherwise, he would fetch at
least 5000 signatures,” Mr Safaryan concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

POST-ELECTION STANDOFF: HUNGER-STRIKING HOVANNISIAN STILL WAITING TO HEAR WORD FROM SARGSYAN

VOTE 2013 | 18.03.13 | 15:15

Photolure

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Raffi Hovannisian, an opposition leader disputing the official
presidential election results, told the press during a Monday open-air
press conference that parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan did not make
any proposals during his late Friday visit. Hovannisian, who has been
on hunger strike, permanently stationed in Yerevan’s Liberty Square
since March 10, once again stressed that he is willing to hear out
only Serzh Sargsyan.

“My interlocutor is Serzh Sarsyan and at present Serzh Sargsyan has
made no suggestions. When Mr. Abrahamyan came, it was a courtesy
visit, he was eager to find a solution to this situation, but we did
not talk anything substantial. I made it very clear that I do not view
him as a mediator or a messenger. Mr. Sargsyan can talk to me
directly, be it orally or in writing, whichever suits him better, and
make suggestions. Mr. Abrahamyan is not someone to bring offers, he
cannot suggest anything to me on Sargsyan’s behalf,” stated the
opposition leader on the 9th day of his hunger strike.

Hovannisian is demanding that the incumbent president “accept the
people’s victory and resign” until April 9, which is the official
Inauguration Day.

The parliament speaker told the press after his meeting with the
Heritage party leader that “the authorities are willing to find a
compromise as long as it is reasonable”. Abrahamyan, however, does not
think that a presidential election re-run or snap parliamentary
elections are reasonable demands – something that Hovannisian
suggested to Sargsyan during their February 21 meeting at the
presidential compound.

Tonight president Sargsyan is to hold a press conference and is
expected to speak about Hovannisian’s demands. Hovannisian, in turn,
said he had no appeals to address to Sargsyan prior to the press
conference.

“Whatever suggestions I have made, he has refused. If he wants, I will
listen to what he has to offer, but those have to be solutions of
state importance, allowing the victorious people to see themselves in
that solution. Whoever has offers to make directly to me, I will
gladly hear them out. But the people’s demand, the people’s right has
to be reflected in that solution, and that implies a strategically
important and unprecedentedly painful step forward. He either joins
the people halfway, or if he is planning to throw crumbs, I believe
it’ll be unacceptable. The rest, I’ll wait for substantial suggestions
from Mr. Sargsyan,” said Hovannisian.

From: Baghdasarian

“A TRAIL OF BLOOD AFTER” DED HASSAN’S DEATH

ARMINFO
Monday, March 18, 17:24

Revenge for the murder of Aslan Usoyan, a mafia boss, known as Ded
Hassan will follow.

“The supporters of the thief-in-law Taro will still answer for that
crime,” said Sergey Galoyan, a well- known writer, author of a series
of books on crime bosses.

He told media, Monday, Rovshan Janiyev (Rovshan Lenkoransky), thief
in law, became one of the key targets of Usoyan’s supporters after
the murder. In early February he was reported to die at a hospital
in Istanbul, but his relatives refute that report. Galoyan said that
Janiyev is not the only target. New victims will follow. The writer
promised to unveil new details on the live and death of Ded Hassan
in his new book that will be published shortly. Earlier, Galoyan said
that Usoyan had close ties with Armenia. He organized the funerals of
Rafael Baghdasaryan (Svo Raf) criminal authority in 1993. In addition,
Ded Hassan had some Armenian bodyguards.

“Crime General” Ded Hassan was shot death on January 16 by a sniper
when leaving a restaurant in Moscow. He was buried in Khovansky
Cemetery in Moscow on Jan 20 2013 after the Georgian authorities
refused to permit his burial in his motherland.

From: Baghdasarian

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE IN GREECE FOR BILATERAL COOPERATION

Monday, 18 March 2013 09:35

The March 12 press conference of the NKR NA Chairman Ashot Ghulian
was dedicated to his March 4-7 working visit to Greece.

The Parliament Speaker informed the journalists that he had had
meetings with some Parties in Athens, had participated in a conference
organized by the authoritative scientific establishment – the Athens
Pandio University, and was received by the Armenian community of
Greece.

The meetings with political circles of Greece were mainly dedicated to
the achievements of Artsakh in the state, social and economic spheres,
as well as in the field of democracy and human rights.

Surely, it was interesting to know how all these processes are
assessed by the EU member – Greece. The NA Chairman stressed that
various parties took the information about Artsakh to the extent
they were related to the local Armenian community, to the extent they
were aware of the problems of the Armenian reality, and, of course, a
certain role was played by their interest in the study of the Karabakh
problem. But, they were all definitely interested in the Armenian-Greek
relations. According to the Chairman of the National Assembly, the
intergovernmental relations between Greece and Armenia, the common
fate of the two nations make it possible to further develop and expand
the ties between the political circles of Artsakh and Greece.

First of all, the Chairman of the NKR Parliament noted the importance
of the March 4 meeting with the left-wing party Democrбtico Arister,
which is a member of the coalition and has representatives at the
government. It was held at the party office and was attended by its
Chairman Fotis Kouvelis. On March 5, Mr. Ghulian met with leader of the
right-wing party Independent Greeks Panos Kamenos and spokesman Terence
Guik. The same day, a meeting with Secretary of New Democracy ruling
party Manolis Gefaloyannis and Deputy Secretary Zontanos took place.

The next day, a meeting with the main left-wing opposition party Syriza
took place at the Greek Parliament. The meeting was attended by one
of the party leaders, Vice Speaker of the Parliament Yannis Tragasakis.

Among a series of political meetings, Mr. Ghulian stressed the
importance of the March 7 meeting with the ex-chairman of the Greek
Parliament Apostolos Kaglamanis, under whom, in 1996, an act on
recognition of the Armenian Genocide was adopted. Today, he is one
of the leaders of the socialist party PASOK and leads the Greece –
Armenia friendship group.

During all the meetings, the participants touched upon the Karabakh
issue and the negotiations taking place in the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group. “If everything goes well, we will get certain results
over the next 2 or 3 months. Visits of the Greek side are planned,
and corresponding measures will be taken to strengthen the further
cooperation”, said Ashot Ghulian.

The Parliament Speaker drew attention to the fact that Greece
has currently quite a respectable membership in the European
structures, and therefore it is extremely important for us that the
parliamentarians representing this country are aware of the Karabakh
problem and the information system of our country, as Turkey and
Azerbaijan do not stop conducting a disinformation policy at the
European structures.

Referring to the conference held at the Pandio Athens University
of Political Sciences, Ashot Ghulian noted that all the political
studies carried out in the country, which are important for scientific
development, were concentrated at this scientific and educational
institution that had more than 80-year history. The event was attended
not only by our compatriots, but also by the officials of Greece,
conflictologists, journalists and observers dealing with the problems
of our region. Since the visit took place at the invitation of Panda
University, it was initially agreed that the topic of the conference
would be related to the Karabakh issue. The topic of the conference
was “Nagorno-Karabakh: the ways of the issue’s solution”, and the
speakers talked about the 25-year way the people of Artsakh had passed.

Mr. Ghulian found it necessary to note that the Greek speakers (Rector
of the University and an expert on international law) had also included
in their researches the Karabakh issue and the geopolitical processes
taking place in our region and outside it. As noted, given the common
history of the two nations in the early 20th century, Greece will not
be able to display an impartial attitude to the problems of Armenia
and Armenians.

The importance of strengthening the ties between the societies,
public and political forces of the two countries was stressed. The
conference participants were welcomed by Rector of the University,
Professor Grigoris Tsavtas, and the event was led by our compatriot,
member of Hay Dat commission in Greece Sergo Guyumchyan. Ambassador of
Armenia to Greece Gagik Galajian also made a speech at the conference,
presenting the sources of the Karabakh issue. This allowed Ashot
Ghulyan to miss the historical aspects in his speech and to present
the general conceptual position of the NKR.

A shortage of corresponding propaganda materials was felt in Greece,
and in this regard, Mr. Ghulian noted the importance of showing the
15-20-minute film, which was the short version of Vahram Balayan’s
film ”Artsakh at the crossroads of history”. Following the speeches,
the floor was given to the persons who had worked at various times in
Karabakh. Their comments on the people of Artsakh were positive and
encouraging. It should also be noted that the Greek press displayed
considerable interest towards the visit of the NKR NA Chairman by
covering it in details.

“The Armenian community of Greece differs from other Armenian Diaspora
communities by a special warmth and sincerity, love and respect to
Artsakh. This is conditioned by the works conducted in the community.

The most influential of the Armenian organizations is the ARFD,
which works with all its structures actively.

There is another important factor: both the authorities and Armenian
organizations are equally interested in the functioning of Armenian
schools in the Armenian community of Greece”, emphasized the Chairman
of the National Assembly. Only in Athens, there are three Armenian
schools, in which the spirit of patriotism is available. Armenian
schools with all the links – from pre-school to primary school
– operate also outside the capital. The availability of these
institutions demonstrates the viability of the Armenian community of
Greece for the further 20 or 30 years.

The importance of the role of the National Spiritual Center, which is
represented in Greece by the Diocese of the Great House of Cilicia,
was noted.

According to Mr. Ghulian, we have a significant resource in Greece
for parliamentary, official, and unofficial relationships.

The Greek community of Artsakh, which was founded here over 200 years
ago, was also noted at the conference. The first Greeks came here
to study the bowels and settled in the village of Mehmana, Martakert
region. 72 Greeks lived there before the Artsakh War. Currently, there
are 22 of them. According to the Chairman of the National Assembly, we
display special interest towards the national minorities, especially
the Greeks. The activity of the once operating Armenian-Greek
organization should be intensified.

Then, Mr. Ghulian answered the journalists’ questions.

How does the NKR NA Speaker evaluate the Greek lobbying and are the
opportunities at the European structures fully used at the discussions
related to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict? Answering
the question of the Azat Artsakh, Ashot Ghulian noted that the
parliamentarians, representing Greece at the PACE, correctly perceived
the danger of the documents presented by our opponents. We have no
problems in this regard. Our everyday activity at international
structures is needed, as both the Parliament membership and the
requirements to be met by the parliamentarians are constantly
changing. Azerbaijan is working at European institutions very
actively, which should be kept in mind: our goal is to provide the
parliamentarians of Greece with timely and true information. It is also
important to intensify our contacts with various parties. During the
meetings with the right- and left-wing parties, representing members
of the coalition government, it was noted that the diversity of the
political field of Greece allowed to have partner-parties at the
Parliament of Artsakh, the ideas and views of which they shared.

Ruzan ISHKHANIAN

From: Baghdasarian

CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY DISOWNS PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION ON KHOJALY

ARMINFO
Monday, March 18, 12:59

Czech Foreign Ministry has disowned the parliament’s resolution on
Khojaly incidents in 1992, Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe
(FAAE) told ArmInfo. Earlier FAAE sent a letter to the Czech Foreign
Ministry demanding explanations regarding the Czech Parliament’s
Resolution on the so-called “Khojaly Genocide”.

The Ministry replied soon after. In particular, the official letter of
the Ministry reads that the Resolution No.219 adopted by the Committee
for Foreign Relations of Seima has no impact on the foreign policy
of the Czech Republic on the Karabakh conflict. The Czech Republic
will further contribute to the efforts of the world community and
the OSCE MG in resolution of the conflict. The Czech Republic is
for development of good relations with Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan, the Czech Foreign Ministry’s letter reads.

The document was passed on February 7. It respects “the memory for the
victims of the tragedy and extends condolences to the Azerbaijani
people.” The Committee condemns ‘ethnic purges of the peaceful
population’ and supports ‘sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno Karabakh.’ In this context, in an
official statement the Czech Foreign Ministry expressed displeasure
with the information on adoption of such resolution by the Czech
Parliament’s Committee.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIANS LIVING IN JAVAKHQ FOR RATIFICATION THE EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR REGIONAL LANGUAGES

11:55 – 18.03.2013

Armenians living in Javakhq have demanded the Georgian authorities
to ratify the European Charter for Regional Languages. It had created
collision between president Saakashvili and Prime Minister Ivanishvili.

Saakashvili had announced that ratification of the new charter
threatens the national security and condemned his oppositionists in
supporting Armenian Nationalism.

By the way, Saakashvili was the one to support joining the charter
in 1999, saying that it will make their membership to EU faster.

From: Baghdasarian

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN WON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER

NEWS.AM
March 18, 2013 | 11:18

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition People’s Party Chairman Tigran
Karapetyan welcomes the triumph of opposition Heritage Party leader,
former FM Raffi Hovannisian-who is declared runner-up to the winner,
incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential
election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the
real winner in the vote and who declared a hunger strike on March 10
at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square. Karapetyan himself stated
this during a press conference on Monday.

In his words, this victory is due to the fact that the current
authorities’ election campaign slogan of “Toward a Secure Armenia”
does not correspond to the reality. Furthermore, as per Karapetyan,
a large number of the body politic hated the powers that be, and
therefore such attitude would have emerged sooner or later.

“You know my [not too positive] view about Raffi Hovannisian, but I
congratulate [him],” Tigran Karapetyan said.

He also pointed to the fact that when he clashed with President
Sargsyan, all the doors were closed before him.

From: Baghdasarian

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ONE OF THE WAYS TO CHANGE POWER IN ARMENIA- FORMER CANDIDATE

NEWS.AM
March 18, 2013 | 13:11

YEREVAN.- Former presidential candidate Andreas Ghukasyan believes
civil disobedience is one of the ways to change power in Armenia.

Unless political forces manage to overcome crisis by April 9
(inauguration day), society will get the right to launch actions of
civil disobedience, he told reporters on Monday.

“One of the most effective forms is non-payment of taxes. The main
resource that is used by authorities is budget. The management is not
transparent, given that the government itself has long been speaking
about corruption. Thus, society has the right to refuse paying
taxes to the regime which is not using them to serve the people,”
Ghukasyan said.

If the government uses force against rally participants, it will have
to bear responsibility, as civil disobedience is the constitutional
right of every person, he stressed.

Ghukasyan considers compromise between the opposition leader
Raffi Hovannisian and head of the ruling party, Serzh Sargsyan is
unreachable.

From: Baghdasarian

SARGSYAN’S EXPLANATIONS IN COURT WOULD GIVE MUCH TO ARMENIAN SOCIETY – FORMER CANDIDATE

NEWS.AM
March 18, 2013 | 13:36

YEREVAN.- Serzh Sargsyan’s explanations regarding elections in the
Constitutional Court could have given much to the public, former
presidential candidate Andreas Ghukasyan told reporters on Monday.

“President as a guarantor of legal order, could have explained
conduct of the law enforcers. The number of violations recorded during
these elections exceeded those registered during the previous ones,”
Ghukasyan noted.

Former candidate said the campaign was accompanied by legal pressure
long ago before the elections started. This led to charges against
potential candidate, former FM Vartan Oskanian and then to charges
brought against former candidate Vardan Sedrakyan.

Law enforcement agencies have not considered any of 187 press reports
on violations, Ghukasyan said.

On March 14 Constitutional Court of Armenia rejected the claims
filed by former candidates Raffi Hovnnisian and Andreas Ghukasyan
who demanded that election results must be recognized invalid.

From: Baghdasarian

OMBUDSMAN’S REPORT REVEALS CORRUPTION RISKS IN EDUCATION

TERT.AM
11:37 ~U 18.03.13

The Armenian ombudsman’s latest report, focusing on the shortcomings
and positive developments in the education sector, has revealed
corruption risks in educational institutions.

According to a press release by the Human Rights Defender’s Office,
corrupt practices were observed in the comprehensive and high schools
and in higher educational institutions.

Addressing the shortcomings in the sector, the document further says
that no proper measures were taken for repairing and heating schools.

The ombudsman’s office has found that the Ministry of Education and
Science failed to properly consider citizens’ complaints and media
reports concerning their underperformances.

It also expresses concerns that the student councils in many
universities are politicized, the fact often having a negative impact
on students’ interests.

The report notes, among other things, that the efforts to launch
the inclusive education system create many difficulties in all the
secondary schools.

The document further highlights the positive development, particularly:

– The adoption of a school food program that helped provide
permanent food to low grade pupils in around 700 schools;

– The adopted amendments to the Law on Comprehensive Education
(passed by the National Assembly in the first reading);

– The implementation of the inclusive education program in 98
comprehensive schools across the territory of Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian