Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 16 2013

Azerbaijan expects Turkey’s explanations on opening Van-Yerevan flight

Azerbaijan, Baku, 16 March / Trend M. Aliyev /

Azerbaijan expects Turkey’s explanations in connection with the
opening of the Van-Yerevan flight.

Opening of the Van-Yerevan flight doesn’t correspond to Turkey’s
position concerning the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia,
Deputy Chairman-Executive Secretary of Azerbaijan`s ruling New
Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Ali Ahmadov told reporters on Saturday.

According to him, the opening of this flight is of concern.

“We hope Turkey will clarify this issue. We are against easing of
relations between Turkey and Armenia while Azerbaijani lands are under
occupation,” Ahmadov said.

Ahmadov said Turkish authorities have repeatedly made statements at
the highest level on impossibility of easing of the Armenian-Turkish
relations until Azerbaijani territories aren’t liberated from
occupation.

Private Turkish Bora Jet Airlines plans to begin Yerevan-Van flights
this summer.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF NEW CABINET

18:52 ~U 15.03.13

Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian has started his rally in
Yerevan’s Freedom Square.

At his press conference on Thursday, he announced his intention to
present new points of his programs.

On March 10, Mr Hovannisian decided to go on an open-ended hunger
strike.

On Friday, the writer Violet Grigoryan joined him by holding a one-day
hunger strike.

Along with the hunger strike, a group of young people are holding
a sit-in.

17:36 Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan, who was the
first to speak at the rally, stated that Mr Hovannisian will do his
best “for not a single drop of blood to fall on the earth.”

Mr Hovannisian’s hunger strike is a protest at election frauds and
the last “camping site” to victory.

“Many citizens were alarmed by the fact, but I can say that Raffi
Hovannisian’s will get stronger. We are waging a peaceful struggle,
and no one can strip us of it,” he said.

Mr Martirosyan informed the participants of a ‘public-initiated
signature-gathering campaign.”

All those wishing can put their signatures to the petition, which
reads: “I, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, welcome the newly
elected president Raffi Hovannisian’s struggle, for ratification of
the Armenian people’s victory and our national revival. I am ready
to fully support Raffi Hovannisian in his and our sacred struggle
and participate in new Armenia’s inauguration scheduled for April 9.”

17:41 The intellectual Rafael Hambartsumyan called for leading the
current situation to victory. According to him, Serzh Sargsyan does
not enjoy Armenian people’s confidence, and Raffi Hovannisian’s
self-sacrificing step was made for the victory to come as soon as
possible.

According to him, Armenia’s authorities have the only way of “getting
rid of the people in Freedom Square.”

“What do they have to do if they have nothing at all to offer? The only
thing to prevent us from coming to the square is that Serzh Sargsyan
can only unleash war against Turks and say he has started war, and
we have to go,” he said.

According to him, President Serzh Sargsyan’s tyranny is the same as
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s.

17:50 The Public and political figure Arkady Vardanyan called on the
Armenian Diaspora to join the struggle.

“By his self-sacrifice Armenia’s newly elected president created an
unprecedented political situation, but I believe that none of the
people present here wants to see dead bodies. The only thing we want
to see is the ruling administration’s death,” Mr Vardanyan said.

Mr Hovannisian is not a political figure to utter mere words. “No one
can take Raffi Hovannisian from the altar – neither Serzh Sargsyan
nor Vladimir Putin or Barack Obama,” he said.

If Armenia’s authorities fail to realize the gravity of the situation,
more and more people will be present in Freedom Square day by day.

18:02 Zaruhi Postanjyan, a Heritage parliamentary group member, said
that “no one smiled after the Constitutional Court issued its ruling.”

The reason is that, except for the claimants, all the participants
were well aware that “the judges had struck a bargain with Satan and
sold their conscience to him.”

“May be Serzh Sargsyan or anyone else is the Satan, but no one felt
satisfied after that bargain.”

The numerous claims “got on the nerves” of the CC president. The
claimants demanded a recount of votes in all the 1,988 polling stations
to find out the real situation.

“The claim was dismissed. You should have supported the proposal if
you are sure of yourselves. We lodged a claim for you to invite the
witnesses and members of election commissions and find out how it
happened that Serzh Sargsyan received 100% of votes with 100% voter
turnout, and Raffi Hovannisian received most of the vote with 50%
voter turnout,” Mrs Postanjyan said. No judge involved in that fraud
will be forgiven, she added.

“We are not going to tolerate the people involved in the frauds and
threatening the persons that may tell the public about the frauds.

Serzh Sargsyan publicly admitted his having organized the February
18 elections,” she said.

18:21 “Shame!” was the people’s response to Heritage party
Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan’s statement that the actor Vardan
Petrosyan had not been allowed to meet with students of French
University in Armenia.

“Veterans of the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] war have their contribution
because the blood they shed for liberation of Artsakh they shed for
Armenia’s independence as well.”

Mr Martirosyan read out four veterans’ letters calling on Armenia’s
people to unite and build up an Armenia of their dream.

18:30 Chairman of the Union of Consumers of Armenia Armen Poghosyan
noted that the Armenian people has made progress, but has not achieved
the aims many people sacrificed their life for. At present Armenians
do not have the Armenia they can peacefully live in, he said.

“Bad food may harm 50 people, but rigged elections violate the rights
of all the citizens. There is no ‘good president or ‘bad president’,
but there is an elected or unelected president. This is our common
principle. I want you to be consistent. Municipal elections will be
held soon to be followed by elections of the Yerevan mayor. We must
not ignore the elections and we must vote and win,” Mr Poghosyan said.

Raffi Hovannisian must head the list along with Stepan Demirchyan,
Armen Martirosyan, Zaruhi Postanjyan, Anahit Bakhshyan and others.

18:58 Suren Zolyan, former rector of Yerevan State Linguistic
University, spoke at the rally and said that Raffi Hovannisian is
really defending all the citizens’ rights. “Different experts may say
that Raffi Hovannisian fails to realize what he is doing and he is a
good, but naïve man. But there is no point in discussing it, because
Raffi Hovannisian has been elected president and we must accept this
fact. No matter what his programs are, and let the loser prepare for
the next election,” he said.

Although Mr Zolyan voted for Andrias Ghukasyan, he is supporting
Raffi Hovannisian now. “The ones that rigged the election are part
of our society. We must not reject them. Let us amnesty the election
riggers and set up a committee to find out all the facts,” he said.

All the parties that did not participate in the presidential election
are preparing for the municipal elections. “They are doing well, but
have the election commissions changed? Injustice to the citizens is
the gravest crime. Injustice destroys the state,” Mr Zolyan said.

“Raffi Hovannisian is doing right, but he will fail if we ourselves
fail to be organized,” he added.

19:12 David Sanasaryan, a Heritage party member, read out a letter by
Veronika Avetyan, whose brother Vahe Avetyan was brutally beaten at
Hrasnaqar restaurant and died in hospital later. The letter reads,
in particular: “We are struggling for justice. May mothers not shed
tears and may sisters not be bereaved of their brothers. To put
an end to this atmosphere of impunity I wish you, Mr Hovannsian,
divine wisdom to be able to put the disappointed people on the right
track. We have no right to go to bed with calm conscience as long as
the blood of Vahe Avetyan and of other innocent victims is fresh.”

“The murderers must answer for their crime. I swear that Vahe Avetyan’s
children will live in a free, just and independent Armenia,” Mr
Sanasaryan said.

19:42 Ex-presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan addressed “the high
court” where he tried to appeal the results of the Feb. 18 presidential
election in Armenia.

“The judge had not the courage to summon Serzh Sargsyan as a witness,”
he said. The court should have considered the fact that Armenia’s
future and the future generations was at stake, Mr Ghukasyan said.

19:57 Nikol Pashinyan, an MP from the opposition bloc Armenian National
Congress (ANC), and Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian were
the last to speak at the rally.

Mr Pashinyan called on the rock singer Serj Tankian, world-famous
singer Charles Aznavour and the US-based billionaire Kirk Kerkorian
to support the movement. He also announced the formation of a civil
council to form an alternative government.

In his turn, Mr Hovannisian was highly critical of the statement
issued by the press office of the Holy See, which reads that he is
trying to turn the Gospel into a target of political speculations.

Mr Hovannisian was also critical of President of the European People’s
Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens for his interview with Azatutyun Radio.

He noted that Europe must not “teach the Armenian people democracy.”

He does not rule out the Heritage party’s membership in the EPP. Mr
Hovannisian stated that discussions of Mr Pashinyan’s proposal for
a civil council will start on March 17.

21:13 “Since February 18, the political situation has been dynamically
changing in Armenia, and we would like to dwell on one of the important
facts, Raffi Hovannisian’s hunger-strike. Different opinions have been
voiced, which, however, do not consider the most important fact. I
think that Raffi Hovannisian’s hunger-strike is a clear message to
the Armenian and international communities, which will consistently
defend the people’s choice, and Serzh Sargsyan’s illegal regime will
not be able to gain victory over their own people,” Mr Pashinyan said.

A compromise is possible provided power is peacefully handed over to
Raffi Hovannisian, he said.

“They must realize that the people have no room for concessions.

Victory or nothing!”

“As citizens and a civil movement we have a problem to resolve –
freeing Armenia from Serzh Sargsyan regime,” Mr Pashinyan said.

He called on the people to bring their families to Republic Square
on April 9, the president’s inauguration day.

Mr Pashinyan also quoted Charles Aznavour, who once said that “genocide
is now being committed inside my country.”

“Now you have a unique chance to stop this genocide. I am calling on
you to come to your homeland and render a historic service to it. The
people want a civil victory, nothing else. Long live our children,
who must live in free and independent Armenia,” Mr Pashinyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

ANCA TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS

Friday, March 15th, 2013

ANCA’s Raffi Karakashian testifies in Congress

Karakashian Calls for Increased Aid to Artsakh, Armenia, and Javakhk

“The Karabakh issue, at its core, is about freedom. The very American
idea that we all deserve to live in liberty, free from foreign rule,
under a democratic government of our own choosing.”

– ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian

WASHINGTON-Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Legislative
Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian testified today before a key
Congressional panel in support of increased U.S. assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh, Armenia, and the Javakhk region of Georgia.

In his opening remarks, Karakashian shared with House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX),
Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-NY), and their colleagues news
of the recent Capitol Hill celebration of Nagorno Karabakh’s
freedom movement. He thanked the U.S. Congress for its vital role
in sustaining Artsakh with direct aid, supporting its right to
self-determination, and standing up to Azerbaijani acts and threats
of aggression. Karakashian stressed that: “The Karabakh issue, at
its core, is about freedom. It is the very American idea that we all
deserve to live in liberty, free from foreign rule, under a democratic
government of our own choosing.”

During his remarks before the U.S. House panel responsible for foreign
aid, Karakashian explained that the support of Congress for a series
of seven funding and policy-related provisions will represent a
strategic investment in strengthening U.S. diplomacy, advancing our
national interests, and promoting core American values in the Caucasus
region. These provisions include:

1. At least $5 million in development assistance for Nagorno Karabakh

2. 10 percent of U.S. assistance to the Republic of Georgia to be
targeted to Samtskhe-Javakheti

3. At least $50 million in economic support funds for Armenia

4. Equitable distribution of U.S. humanitarian assistance to all
needy populations in Syria

5. Strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and ending
military aid to Azerbaijan

6. Removal of barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts,

7. Support for the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the Minsk
Group peace process

Others testifying before the influential House foreign aid panel were
leaders of prominent organizations involved in international affairs,
including Howard Kohr of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC), Admiral James Loy of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition,
and Diane Randall, of the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

The full text of the ANCA’s written testimony is provided below. WATCH
video from the testimony.

Testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs March 13, 2013

The Armenian American community requests:

1. At least $5 million in development assistance for Nagorno Karabakh

2. 10% of U.S. assistance to the Republic of Georgia to be targeted
to Samtskhe-Javakheti

3. At least $50 million in economic support funds for Armenia

4. Equitable distribution of U.S. humanitarian assistance to Syria

5. Strengthening of Sec. 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and ending
military aid to Azerbaijan

6. Removal of barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts, and

7. Support the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the Minsk Group
peace process

1. At least $5 million in development assistance for Nagorno Karabakh:
We want to thank the Subcommittee for stipulating in its FY13 bill
that “at least $5,000,000 for humanitarian and development programs
in Nagorno-Karabakh” be allocated. We were encouraged by this clear
directive to USAID and urge the Subcommittee to do the same again
this year. According to Nagorno Karabakh Republic estimates, the
war caused over $5 billion in damages. Nearly twenty years since
the cease-fire established in 1994, Karabakh is still suffering
from significant infrastructure damage, including the shortage of
safe drinking water. Since declaring independence in 1991, Karabakh
has built a solid democracy and a free market economy, has respected
human rights, and has held five parliamentary and five presidential
elections, all praised by international monitors as free and fair.

Freedom House upgraded Karabakh’s democracy status as a result
this year. U.S. aid to Nagorno Karabakh has funded crucial demining
programs that have saved lives, but HALO Trust, the world’s largest
mine clearance organization, reports that Karabakh still has one
of the highest per capital mining accidents in the world, ahead of
even Afghanistan.

2. 10% of U.S. Assistance to Georgia to be targeted to the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region: Over the past decade, USAID and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation have expanded their presence in
Samtskhe-Javakheti (SJ), a historically Armenian populated region in
the Republic of Georgia, in an effort to address core humanitarian
and economic difficulties that face the population. Over the past
year, Armenian Americans have worked with USAID to identify ways
to leverage existing U.S. aid programs and explore public-private
partnerships. As current projects progress and in anticipation of new
opportunities, we urge that at least 10% of a robust U.S. aid package
to Georgia be targeted to the Samtskhe-Javakheti region to support
job-creation and poverty reduction programs. We also urge the MCC,
which is now considering a second compact with Georgia, to ensure
all regions, including the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, benefit from
this worthwhile effort.

3. $50 Million in Economic Support Funds for Armenia: Since Armenia’s
independence in 1991, U.S. aid has played a vital role in meeting
humanitarian needs, fostering democratic reforms, and building
self-sustaining economic growth. Armenia, a landlocked country,
continues to face one of the longest blockades in modern history. For
over twenty years, Armenia has faced not one, but two blockades
instituted by both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Despite repeated pleas
from the U.S. and the EU to end its blockade, Turkey has refused,
underscoring the importance of this aid.

Armenia is committed to expanding its military ties with the United
States and NATO. Armenia is part of the NATO-led ISAF in Afghanistan
and recently nearly tripled its troop deployment to Afghanistan.

Armenia has also granted blanket and valuable over flight rights to the
U.S., contributed troops to the Coalition in Iraq, and sent troops to
support NATO’s Kosovo peacekeeping in Kosovo. Armenia also shares our
free enterprise values. The Wall Street Journal-Heritage Foundation
Index of Economic Freedom regularly ranks Armenia as among the top
40 freest economies in the world. This year, Armenia was ranked the
38th freest economy in the world, ahead of Belgium and France.

4. Ensure U.S. humanitarian assistance to Syria is distributed
equitably: The Armenian and Christian communities in Syria have endured
increasing hardship and are especially vulnerable. Community sources
on the ground in Syria report and U.S. based Armenian humanitarian
assistance coalitions have confirmed that the non-lethal aid generously
provided by the U.S. to date has not reached the Armenian populations
in Aleppo and other regions. Thousands of Syrian Armenians have
sought safe-haven in Armenia, which continues, without any U.S aid,
to assist with housing, education and employment help.

We ask the Subcommittee to urge USAID to ensure that all vulnerable
populations in Syria – including Armenians and other Christians –
benefit from the life-saving humanitarian assistance. We also ask
that the State Department/USAID work with Armenia to aid the growing
number of Syrian nationals who have sought refuge there.

5. Strengthening FREEDOM Support Act Sec. 907 & cutting military
aid to Azerbaijan: Enacted in 1992, Section 907 of the FREEDOM
Support Act stands as a statement of U.S. opposition to Azerbaijan’s
blockades and other aggressive uses of force against Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh. Since its enactment, Azerbaijan has not lifted
its illegal blockades, ignored House Appropriation Committee Report
language opposing destabilizing threats, and has become increasingly
belligerent, which is why Congress must limit the President’s waiver
authority in the face of Baku’s provocations. On August 31, 2012,
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev personally pardoned convicted
axe-murderer Ramil Safarov upon his transfer to Azerbaijan from
Hungary, despite agreeing to keep him incarcerated. Immediately after
his pardon, Safarov received a promotion in the Azerbaijani military,
an apartment, and years of back pay for time spent in prison. The
pardon was condemned around the world, including by President Obama,
Members of Congress, the European Parliament, OSCE, Council of Europe,
and NATO.

President Aliyev announced “our main enemies are Armenians of the
world,” during a February 28, 2012, national address. In a November
2012 Twitter tirade, President Aliyev stated, “Armenia is a country of
no value. It is actually a colony, an outpost run from abroad . . . .”

Azerbaijan also continues to oppose the repeated calls by the three
OSCE Minsk Group Co Chairs to remove its snipers from the border
between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, although both Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh have agreed to this proposal. In light of Baku’s actions, we
urge you to add the following language narrowing the President’s waiver
authority and requiring the following additional certification that:
“In the last fiscal year, Azerbaijan has not taken hostile action,
either through military force or incitement, including but not
limited to threatening pronouncements by government officials, toward
Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh, and has both stated and demonstrated
its commitment to pursuing a lasting peace with Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh through solely non-violent means.”

Azerbaijan has increased its military budget exponentially to the point
that it surpasses Armenia’s entire budget. Baku plans on spending
over $3.7 billion on arms this year. At a time of severe budgetary
constraints and because Azerbaijan continues to destabilize and provoke
the parties in the region as outlined above, the United States should
cut all military aid to Baku, while maintaining its aid to Armenia,
which has shown great restraint in the face of Baku’s provocations.

6. Removing restrictions on contacts and communication with
Nagorno Karabakh: The time has come for the lifting of outdated
and counter-productive restrictions on the free exchange of ideas
between U.S. officials and the democratically elected leadership of
Karabakh. These restrictions limit the ability of the U.S. to promote
our interests, block travel and exchanges, bar cooperation on regional
issues, and even complicate oversight of aid programs. As such,
we request that this report language be included: “In the interest
of promoting mutual understanding, regional cooperation, and a fair
and lasting peace, the Committee directs the Department of State
to remove any official or unofficial restrictions on U.S.-Nagorno
Karabakh travel, visitations, discussions, meetings, contacts,
consultations, exchange programs, or other governmental or civil
society communication, cooperation, or interaction.”

7. Supporting the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the Minsk Group
peace process: The Nagorno Karabakh Republic was one of the three
parties to the 1994 cease-fire, which ended military hostilities
between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. In its aftermath, Nagorno
Karabakh participated in the OSCE Minsk Group peace process as an
equal partner, along with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since 1998, however,
at Baku’s insistence, Nagorno Karabakh has been excluded from the peace
process. Nagorno Karabakh must be permitted to fully participate in all
talks. To continue to exclude Karabakh from the negotiations, which
are about the rights of Karabakh citizens, is counterproductive. We
respectfully request that the following report language be included:
“In the interest of promoting a lasting and durable peace in the South
Caucasus, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic must be reinstated into the
OSCE Minsk Group peace process as a full negotiating partner.”

In closing, the ANCA looks forward to working with the Subcommittee
to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia alliance and stability in the region.

From: Baghdasarian

Raffi Hovannisian rejects medical examination

TERT.AM
16:12 – 16.03.13

Doctors are approaching Raffi Hovannisian from the first day of his
hunger strike while till now he refuses to undergo medical
examination, according to Healthcare Ministry’s website.

In the morning doctors of N4 policlinics where Hovannisian is
registered approach him, while in the evening hours the specialists of
the ambulance standing on duty.

`Till now Raffi Hovannisian refused medical examination, even the
simplest one. He says he feels good and in case of necessity he will
invite doctors on his own,’ the statement says.

The Healthcare Ministry calls on Raffi Hovannisian to stop the hunger
strike which can in future harm his health.

The ministry also informed that he will be in the center of attention
of specialists who in case of necessity will provide him professional
assistance.

From: Baghdasarian

Levon Aronian occupies 2nd position in FIDE ranking list

15:06, 16 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The strongest chess player of Armenia
Levon Aronian improved his positions in the FIDE ranking list. As
reports “Armenpress” Aronian climbed up to the second position and
currently he has 2809,3 points. Magnus Carlsen tops the list. The
Norwegian Chess Grand Master has 2871,1 points. Vladimir Kramnik
occupied the third position with 2799,9 points. Teimour Radjabov,
Sergey Karyakin, Viswanathan Anand, Veselin Topalov, Hikaru Nakamura,
and Alexander Grischuk have also been included in the top ten.

Levon was born on 6 October, 1982. Aronian won the Chess World Cup
2005. He led the Armenian national team to the Gold medals in the 2006
(Turin), 2008 (Dresden) and 2012 (Istanbul) Chess Olympics and at the
World Team Chess Championship in Ningbo 2011. He won the FIDE Grand
Prix 2008-2010, qualifying him for the Candidates tournament for the
World Chess Championship 2012. He was also World Chess960 Champion in
2006 and 2007, World Rapid Chess Champion in 2009, and World Blitz
Chess Champion in 2010. Aronian was declared the best sportsman of
Armenia in 2005 and was awarded the title of “Honoured Master of Sport
of the Republic of Armenia” in 2009.

From: Baghdasarian

British experts evaluated Armenia’s combat readiness higher than that
of Azerbaijan

12:05, 16 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The International Institute for
Strategic Studies (IISS) in London made an annual report called “The
Military Balance 2013” on the defense potential of more than 160
countries. The report contained information about Armenia’s and
Azerbaijani military potential too.

As reports “Armenpress” the authors of the report gave the preference
to Armenia in the comparison of the combat readiness of the two
states.

Among other things it was mentioned that in the Armenian army reforms
take place faster, than in the Azerbaijani army. The experts reflected
on the opportunities of the Azerbaijani army critically. It is
mentioned in the report that despite buying a lot of weapons at the
expense of the incomes from oil the Azerbaijani military forces
definitely don’t have advantages in the air space over Armenia’s air
forces, which can be a serious risk factor in case of starting
military actions. The report also tells that oil has given Azerbaijan
a chance to buy C-300 rackets, but it is still uncertain what it has
given to Baku from the point of increasing safety.

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan worried with operation of Yerevan-Van flights

TERT.AM
13:55 – 16.03.13

The information about the operation of Yerevan-Van flight has worried
the Azerbaijani side.

According to Azerbaijani mass media, head of public-political affairs
department of Azerbaijan’s president’s staff Ali Hasanov, referring to
the reoperation of direct flights between Armenia and Turkey, stated
that in that way Ankara `supports and strengthens a country which
continues the occupation of Azerbaijani territories.’

`Azerbaijan has stated many times that we are very sensitive over any
kinds of contacts with Armenia’s and Nagorno Karabakh’s separate
administration. That is why we view the operation of flight as
assistance to an occupant country,’ Hasanov said.

He added that Baku is more concerned with the fact that their brother
country Turkey is establishing relations with Armenia. `When a
country, with which we are in brotherly relations, deepens relations
with Armenia and whose strategic interests coincide with Azerbaijani
interests we treat it with double jealousy,’ Hasanov stressed.

Yerevan-Van-Yerevan direct flights will be implemented from April 3,
2013. Twice in a week the flights will be implemented from Yerevan to
Van and in the opposite direction. The ticket price will cost $250
equivalent drams.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Combien d’Arméniens ont visité la Turquie en 2012 ?

Le nombre des citoyens arméniens qui ont visité la Turquie entre
janvier et octobre 2012 a diminué de 3,23% à 59372 personnes.

Selon le ministère turc de la Culture et du Tourisme en octobre 2012,
le nombre des citoyens arméniens en visite en Turquie était de 5337
personnes soit une baisse de 2081 personnes par rapport à la même
période l’an dernier.

En 2011, la Turquie a reçu la visite de 72393 citoyens d’Arménie soit
4,5% de plus qu’en 2010.

samedi 16 mars 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Collection of signatures organized at Liberty Square with a demand to
recognize Raffi Hovannisian president of Armenia

ARMINFO
Saturday, March 16, 10:43

Today the collection of signatures was organized at Liberty Square
with a demand to recognize Raffi Hovannisian president of Armenia. The
latter has been in a hunger strike at Liberty Square since 10 March.

The text to be signed by a citizen says: “As a citizen of the Republic
of Armenia I welcome the fight of the newly elected president Raffi
Hovannisian for the love of enhancing the victory and pan-national
rebirth. I am ready to support Hovannisian in his and our fight, as
well as to take part in the inauguration ceremony
of the New Armenia on 9 April”. The passport data of citizens are not
needed when putting their signature.

From: Baghdasarian

Raffi Hovannisian to continue rallies in Liberty Square till April 10
inclusively

ARMINFO
Saturday, March 16, 10:43

The Municipality of Yerevan has taken note of the Heritage Party’s
Deputy Chairman Armen Martirosyan’s notification that Heritage will be
holding rallies in Liberty Square from 4 through 10 April.

The official website of the Municipality of Yerevan says that on 4, 5
and 6 April the rallies may be held from 3 pm till 9 pm; on 6, 7, 8, 9
and 10 April – from 11 am till 11 pm.

Earlier, the Municipality took note of the notifications that rallies
will be held in Liberty Square from 1 through 3 April. The website of
the Municipality says that on 1, 2 and 3 April the rallies may be held
from 3 pm till 8 pm.

From: Baghdasarian