Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LEGER TREMBLEMENT DE TERRE ENREGISTRE PRÈS DE LA CENTRALE NUCLEAIRE ARMENIENNE

Un tremblement de terre de 2,5 de magnitude a ete enregistre hier par
le Service national de sismologie a 15h11, 15 km au nord de la ville
armenienne d’Armavir a annonce le service de presse du ministère des
Situations d’urgence.

” La force des tremblements de terre dans l’epicentre etait de
3 points. L’hypocentre du seisme etait a une profondeur de 10
kilomètres”, a indique le service de presse.

De faibles tremblements de 2 a 3 points – ont ete ressenties dans la
ville de Metsamor, où se situe la centrale nucleaire armenienne.

mardi 12 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

INACCEPTABLE D’ASSIMILER LE SIONISME A UN CRIME CONTRE L’HUMANITE (ASHTON)

Le chef de la diplomatie de l’UE, Catherine Ashton, a juge
“inacceptable” lundi les recents propos du Premier ministre turc
assimilant le sionisme a un crime contre l’humanite tout en se refusant
a lui en attribuer la paternite.

Les remarques assimilant le sionisme a un crime contre l’humanite
“sont inacceptables pour l’Union europeenne a present et a jamais,
quelle que soit la personne qui les fasse”, a assure Mme Ashton au
cours d’une conference de presse a l’issue d’une reunion des ministres
europeens des Affaires etrangères.

Mais, alors que l’on lui faisait remarquer que ces propos avaient
ete tenus par Recep Tayyip Erdogan, le Premier ministre d’un pays
qui aspire a rejoindre l’Union europenne, Mme Ashton a repondu :
“je ne sais pas vraiment ce qu’il a dit”.

Devant un Forum de l’ONU a Vienne, M. Erdogan avait lance : “Comme
c’est le cas pour le sionisme, l’antisemitisme et le fascisme, il
devient maintenant inevitable de considerer l’islamophobie comme un
crime contre l’humanite”.

Le secretaire general des Nations unies Ban Ki-moon a juge ces propos
“maladroits” et “blessants”, tandis que le Premier ministre israelien
Benjamin Netanyahu a fustige une “declaration obscure et mensongère
d’un genre qu’on pensait revolu dans ce monde”.

En visite a Ankara, le secretaire d’Etat americain John Kerry a
egalement denonce le discours de M. Erdogan le jugeant “contestable”

Le Premier ministre turc, qui a fait ses classes politique au sein de
partis islamistes, est coutumier des declarations a l’emporte-pièce,
et Israël est devenu une des cibles privilegiees de ses colères.

Après l’operation militaire israelienne lancee contre le Hamas a Gaza
en 2009, M. Erdogan avait ainsi violemment pris a partie le president
israelien et prix Nobel de la paix Shimon Peres, lui lancant :
“quand il s’agit de tuer, vous savez très bien tuer”.

mardi 12 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

LES SOUTIENS DE RAFFI HOVANNISSIAN PLACE DE LA LIBERTE

Lundi 11 mars, pour son premier jour de grève de la faim, plusieurs
personnalites de la politique et du monde artistique sont venus
soutenir Raffi Hovannissian place de la Liberte dans son combat visant
a faire reconnaître sa victoire aux dernières elections presidentielles
du 18 fevrier 2013.

Parmi les personnalites presentes, le photographe Mhkitar Khachatryan
a realise les cliches suivants.

Andrias Ghukasyan : analyste politique, candidat a l’election
presidentielle, il avait entame une grève de la faim pour demander
l’annulation de l’enregistrement de la candidature presentee par le
parti Republicain.

Aram Sargsyan : ancien premier ministre (1999-2000), il avait succede
a ce poste a son frère cadet, Vazgen Sargsyan, assassine en pleine
Assemblee nationale le 27 octobre 1999

La famille

Lilit Galstyan : membre de la FRA

Stepan Demirchyan : president du parti populaire, il s’etait presente
aux elections presidentielles de 2003.

Le soutien des jeunes

Vartan Oskanian Envoyer l’article a un ami

From: Baghdasarian

HOVANNISIAN BEGINS HUNGER STRIKE

Monday, March 11th, 2013

ARF’s Lilit Galstian visits Hovannisian at Liberty Square where he
is on a hunger strike

He says “Over my Dead Body” will Sarkisian be inaugurated on April 9

YEREVAN-Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian just said at a barevolution
rally on Freedom Square in Yerevan that Serzh Sarkisian will be sworn
in as president “over my dead body,” adding that he will start a
hunger strike on the square.

“I am starting a hunger strike. I will not eat, and I will not accept
deception and threats from anyone,” Hovannisian said.

“If on April 9, Sarkisian takes his fake oath on the Holy Bible,
and if the Catholicos desecrates the Bible and blesses the candidate
[Sarkisian] who mocks the people, then that will happen over my dead
body,” he said.

Until April 9, Sarkisian should accept the demand of the overwhelming
majority of the population, recognize the victory of the people,
and resign, noted Hovannisian.

Hovannisian also demanded the resignation of all governors. Having
appealed to the Constitutional Court to present its verdict on the
presidential election, he added, “If the Constitutional Court does
not correct its path, we will say goodbye to them too, and we will
create our own court on the square.”

Constitutional Court Opens Hearings on Hovannisian’s Appeal Armenia’s
Constitutional Court on Monday opened hearings on Hovannisian’s
appeal against official results of Armenia’s February 18 presidential
election.

Hovannisian’s representatives presented the court with a 16-page
document containing purported evidence of widespread fraud.

The document contains not only instances of alleged violations but also
claims that Sarkisian exceeded the legal limit on campaign spending
set at 100 million drams ($245,000). It also faults the authorities
for refusing to publish the lists of Armenians who went to the polls
on February 18 and thus disprove opposition allegations that scores
of fake ballots marked for Sarkisian were cast on behalf of Armenians
absent from the country, reported RFE/RL.

“The official results of elections held amid public distrust, a
widespread sense that their outcome is predetermined and numerous
systematic irregularities are not credible and not accepted by the
public,” Karen Mezhlumian, a legal counselor to Hovannisian, said in
his opening remarks.

The Constitutional Court judges pressed the opposition representatives
to demonstrate documentary evidence of fraud. One of them, Felix
Tokhian, challenged Mezhlumian to explain why very few election
commission members appointed by the Hovannisian campaign formally
protested against the official results in their respective communities.

“I know that you had more than 1,000 proxies and about 1,900 commission
members. How many of them complained and tried to counter [alleged
fraud] in a manner defined by law?” he asked.

The court is due to hand down a verdict on the appeal by Friday.

Hovannisian Denies Claims of President’s Invitation to Talks
Hovannisian strongly denied claims that Sarkisian’s office invited
the opposition leader to talks.

Panorama.am quoted the president’s press secretary Armen Arxumanian as
saying that Sarkisian’s chief of staff reached out to Hovannisian and
invited him to talks with the president over Armenia’s post-election
situation.

“Lies and deceit from the [presidential] palace are continuing,”
Hovannisian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “Either they will change
course or things will be bad for all of us.”

“They are deliberately spreading disinformation. As I have said
for many times, I am waiting for Mr. Sarkisian to come here at his
convenience and address this issue face to face,” he added.

“We note with regret Mr. Hovannisian’s refusal to examine all
outstanding issues comprehensively and in detail,” said Arzumanian.

“We can only hope that Mr. Hovannisian has correctly evaluated the
situation and is soberly conscious of dangers stemming from the de
facto rejection of dialogue.”

“The official results of elections held amid public distrust, a
widespread sense that their outcome is predetermined and numerous
systematic irregularities are not credible and not accepted by the
public,” Karen Mezhlumian, a legal counselor to Hovannisian, said in
his opening remarks.

The Constitutional Court judges pressed the opposition representatives
to demonstrate documentary evidence of fraud. One of them, Felix
Tokhian, challenged Mezhlumian to explain why very few election
commission members appointed by the Hovannisian campaign formally
protested against the official results in their respective communities.

“I know that you had more than 1,000 proxies and about 1,900 commission
members. How many of them complained and tried to counter [alleged
fraud] in a manner defined by law?” he asked.

“The Constitutional Court as well as other courts cannot make decisions
on the basis of presumptions,” Tokhian added after hearing no clear
answer.

The court is due to hand down a verdict on the appeal by Friday.

From: Baghdasarian

FUNDRAISER FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS IN RICHMOND

March 11, 2013

By Marni Pilafian

The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Richmond, Va., and the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Richmond “Hooys” Chapter sponsored
a Basturma and Eggs Buffet on New Year’s Day at St. James Armenian
Church’s social hall to raise money for the Syrian Armenian Relief
Fund.

More than 70 people attended and enjoyed a buffet of made-to-order
basturma and eggs, Armenian salads, fruit, and other delicacies. A
tavloo tournament and silent auction rounded out the event, which
lasted until 3 p.m. The proceeds collected-$2,270-will be mailed to
the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund.

“What a great day for us, and a very special way to launch the New
Year,” said Sona Kerneklian Pomfret, the head of the “Hooys” Chapter.

“What better way to welcome 2013 by helping our fellow brothers and
sisters in Syria?” asked Stella Bandazian, the treasurer of “Hooys.”

The ANC and ARS of Richmond will continue to hold fundraising events
throughout the year for the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund.

From: Baghdasarian

ELISHKA DZHIGOVA CONSIDERED ADOPTION OF “KHOJALI GENOCIDE” RESOLUTION BY CZECH PARLIAMENT’S COMMITTEE TO BE REGRETTABLE

20:49, 11 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS: Deputy Chairman of Armenian NA Standing
Committee on external relations Aleksandr Arzoumanyan on March 11
had a meeting with Elishka Dzhigova, Head of the Department for
Northern and Eastern states of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Czech Republic. Petr Mikyska and Czech Ambassador to Armenia Ivan
Jestrab also attended the meeting.

As Armenpress was informed from public relations and media department
of National Assembly of Armenia, greeting the guests in the parliament
Aleksandr Arzoumanyan considered such meetings to be useful, noting
that there were good bases for the development of bilateral relations.

Sides have stressed the importance of the deepening and strengthening
of the cooperation in different formats.

Referring to the adoption of the resolution on “Khojali genocide”
by Czech parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, Czech side noted
that it was not the approach of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and that “it was regrettable that such incident took place”.

Elishka Dzhigova has noted that accepting the activity of Minsk group,
Czech Republic continues its balanced policy and doesn’t consider
such statements to be useful.

At the meeting sides have referred to presidential elections in
Armenia, internal political situation, as well as touched on regional
issues, mainly, Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT MUST RECONSIDER HIS HASTY DECISION AND MUST STAND BY THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE

ARMINFO
Monday, March 11, 17:57

Russian President Vladimir Putin must be among the first to reconsider
his hasty decision to congratulate Serzh Sargsyan on reelected as
President of Armenia and must stand by the Armenian people, the leader
of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian said at Liberty Square on Monday.

He said that he believes in strategic partnership with democratic
Russia but to make this possible, Russia must become democratic and
must stop acting against the Armenian people.

According to Hovannisian, the United States and France have also broken
their democratic commitments and must also review their attitudes.

On Tuesday Serzh Sargsyan is starting an official visit to Moscow.

Putin was among the first to congratulate Sargsyan on his victory in
the Feb 18 presidential election.

The official results say that Sargsyan secured 58.64% of the votes,
but Hovannisian is refusing to accept this figure and is holding
rallies all over Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN: DON’T COME TO LIBERTY SQUARE WITH SAD LOOKS ON YOUR FACES

17:55 11/03/2013 ” POLITICS

This is the path of the truth, and no one can take away our victory,
Leader of Heritage party, former presidential hopeful Raffi Hovannisian
told a news conference in Liberty Square.

“It is obvious,” he added.

The Heritage leader, who is on hunger strike in Liberty Square,
said he does not want to see tears there.

“Don’t come here with sad looks on your faces,” Hovannisian said,
adding that the people should stay at home rather than come to Liberty
Square with sad looks on their faces.

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia on February 25 announced
the final results of the presidential elections in Armenia. According
to them, Serzh Sargsyan won the elections with 58.64% of the votes,
while his closest rival, Raffi Hovannisian, received 36.75% of
the votes. Hovannisian disagrees with the election results and is
holding mass protest actions. On March 4, representatives of Raffi
Hovannisian and former candidate Andrias Ghukasyan handed an appeal
to the Constitutional Court disputing the results of the February 18
presidential elections in Armenia.

Raffi Hovannisian began hunger strike in Liberty Square on March 10
evening, which he says will end on March 31.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

HERITAGE’S ANSWER TO PAP

14:13 11/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Heritage Party is with people and has not considered allying with any
force, said the vice-president of the Heritage board Armen Martirosyan
in answer Naira Zohrabyan of PAP who stated about joint participation
in the Yerevan municipal elections.

According to Martirosyan, there is no party any more, as Raffi
Hovannisian says, since it is a popular movement. The square is an
entity which is up for a systemic, pan-national fight.

ARF and ANC also appealed to run jointly for the Elders’ Council.

From: Baghdasarian

THE REAL PICTURE OF THE ELECTION IN NUMBERS

March 8 2013

An extract from the petition filed in the Constitutional Court by Raffi
Hovhannisyan “The lack of a system that would ensure restrictions
on voting by another person (other persons) instead of persons who
are absent from the Republic and have a right to participate in the
election raises theoretical and practical doubts about the number of
persons who participated in the vote.

International observers confirm that, and the official results of
the election also testify to that. According to those results, at the
polling places and electoral districts, where the turnout was higher,
one can say anomalously high, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan won
by an anomalous margin, which testifies to the fact that at all those
polling places – and those are hundreds – there was absentee ballot
vote fraud, ballot-box stuffing, carousel voting, the administrative
resource was used, and many other means of breaching persons’ right
to vote were used, as a result of which there are polling places,
where the number of voters who ‘turned out’ to vote accounts for
100% of those included in the voter registration lists, there are
much more polling places, where that number accounts for 90%-99%,
there are even more polling places, where that number accounts for
80%-90%; polling places, where the number of those who ‘turned out’
to vote accounts for 60%-70% and 70%-80%, are hundreds. The OSCE ODIHR
talked about the above-mentioned issue in its 3/2/2013 Post-Election
Interim Report, asserting in particular: On 25 February, the CEC
announced the final election results with Mr. Sargsyan as the elected
president. An OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission analysis of final
results as published by the CEC shows a close correlation between
the voter turnout and the number of votes for the incumbent, with
Precinct Election Commissions with above average turnout also having
a higher share of votes for Mr. Sargsyan. Out of the 1 988 polling
stations, 1 746 have 300 or more registered voters (all but one of
these polling stations are regular, i.e. not established in long-term
pre-trial detention centers or medical facilities). In 144 of those,
voter turnout exceeded 80 percent, which seems implausibly high; the
incumbent received above 80 percent of the votes cast in 115 of these
stations. In 198 out of the 303 stations where turnout was between
70 and 80 percent, the incumbent received more than 70 percent of
the votes. Among 249 stations where turnout was below 50 percent, Mr.

Sargsyan received more than 50 percent in 40, and Mr. Hovannisyan
received more than 50 percent in 155. The tendency of higher results
for the incumbent observed at the majority of stations with high
turnout raises concerns regarding the confidence over the integrity of
the electoral process.’ Both what we mentioned above and the quoted
part of the OSCE ODIHR report refer to those included in the voter
registration lists, and if we make a calculation based on the actual
number of voters, at least, 11% should be added to those percentages,
and that is according to the official data. So according to the
Central Election Commission (CEC), the overall number of voters in
the Republic of Armenia is 2 528 050, and the number of participants
in the election is 1 521 489 [see ]. According to the
census data, as of October 12, 2011, 2 871 509 people lived in Armenia
[]. Naturally, not all of them were citizens of the
Republic of Armenia, but let’s assume that it is so. If we take into
account the fact that according to the Migration Service, the number of
emigrants from Armenia was 44 809 people in 2012, and in January 2013,
that number was 7 002 [see ], then it turns out
that 2 819 698 people live in the Republic. If we subtract 682 000
children under 18 years of age who don’t have a right to vote from 2
819 698 [see ], we will have 2 137 689 as the number
of voters living in Armenia. Thus, according to the official data,
the number of voters is 2 528 050, whereas there are 2 137 689 voters
in Armenia, of which, according to the CEC data, 1 521 489 voters,
which accounts for 60.18 percent of voters included in the register of
voters, but actually accounts for 71.17 percent of voters living in the
Republic, participated in the election. By the way, all this is based
exceptionally on the official data. It means that if we want to find
out what percentage of voters living in the Republic participated in
the election, we have to add 11 percent to the percentage of the voter
turnout at every polling place or electoral district. So the average
percentage of the participants in the election in the Republic is
71.17 percent, which is an impossibly and unrealistically high number,
and it is clear that this number is solely a result of ballot-box
stuffing. Moreover, it turns out that at 235 polling places, 90%-100%
or a higher percent, at 260 polling places, 80%-89%, at 88 polling
places, 72%-79% of voters participated in the election.

At those 586 polling places, 315 618 voters out of 368 776 voters who
‘turned out’ to vote or more than 85.59 percent cast their votes for
Serzh Sargsyan. It is obvious that such numbers can be achieved solely
by ballot-box stuffing, voter intimidation, and double-voting. So
this is what our elections are like. Another calculation makes it
clear that at the polling places, where the number of participants
is close to the average, Raffi Hovhannisyan has an advantage. Under
the conditions of this and other kinds of obvious fraud, the election
commissions showed negligence. They didn’t initiate any recalculation
at any polling place, rejected without consideration 128 complaints
made by Raffi Hovhannisyan to declare those anomalous results void
due to ballot-box stuffing and other kinds of fraud, didn’t record any
encroachment on the electoral process themselves, didn’t investigate
even those violations that had been recorded by the mass media,
other candidates’ poll-watchers, NGOs, and observers. Naturally,
all this doesn’t mean anything to the CEC and naturally, the CEC and
Electoral District Commissions (EDC) didn’t initiate any recalculation
at any polling place. Why naturally? Because Serzh Sargsyan admits
in his letter addressed to Serj Tankian that he had organized the
election; thus, what can we expect from the CEC and EDCs?” P.S. I
wonder is there anyone in the Republic who really believes that the
official results made public by the CEC reflect the real picture of
the people’s vote. To be continued… Karen MEZHLUMYAN Attorney at Law

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From: Baghdasarian