Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

EN EXPORTANT SON RACISME ANTI-ARMENIEN L’AZERBAIDJAN S’EN PREND A LA FRANCE.

CCAF.info (Communique de presse)
27 fevrier 2013

Le Conseil de coordination des organisations armeniennes de France
condamne fermement les provocations azerbaïdjanaises sur le territoire
de la Republique Francaise.

Mardi 26 fevrier, deux ” etudiants ” activistes proches de l’Ambassade
d’Azerbaïdjan en France, ont perturbe violemment l’organisation d’une
conference commemorant le pogrom de Soumgaït, commis il y a 25 ans
par les autorites azerbaïdjanaises.

L’Azerbaïdjan cherche a exporter son racisme anti-armenien sur le
territoire de notre Republique francaise en multipliant les actes,
les mesures et les discours anti-armeniens. Son president Ilham Aliev
a declare a plusieurs reprises que “les Armeniens du monde entier
etaient les ennemis de l’Azerbaïdjan”. Ses activistes et relais en
France passent desormais aux actes en provoquant les Francais chez
eux en France et en insultant la memoire des victimes du pogrom
anti-armenien de Soumgaït.

Il est inadmissible de diffuser tout racisme quel qu’il soit,
jusqu’au c~ur de la souverainete nationale, notre Parlement. Il
est inadmissible de voir l’Azerbaïdjan tenter de prendre en otage la
Republique francaise et ses institutions.

Le CCAF appelle au calme et a la vigilance et denonce toute tentative
d’instrumentaliser la Republique francaise. Nous appelons egalement
les autorites francaises a prendre les mesures concrètes pour proteger
les institutions, les dirigeants et les lieux symboliques des Francais
d’origines armeniennes sur l’ensemble du territoire de la Republique.

Conseil national du CCAF Paris, le 27 fevrier 2013

From: Baghdasarian

OPPOSITION MP REPORTS 100% VOTES FOR ARMENIA’S INCUMBENT PRESIDENT

TERT.AM
19:33 ~U 26.02.13

Ruben Hakobyan, Head of the Heritage parliamentary group, cited a
number of facts in Armenia’s parliament on Tuesday.

According to him, in some rural communities Armenia’s incumbent
President Serzh Sargsyan polled 100%.

“Of all the eligible voters that participated in the voting at five
polling stations, 83.33% voted for Serzh Sargsyan and 5.7% for Raffi
Hovannisian. At some polling stations, all the voters voted for Serzh
Sargsyan, mostly in villages. I think it is clear that repeated voting
took place because some of the voters are in Yerevan and others are
outside Armenia,” Mr Rustamyan said.

With respect to European observation missions’ positive assessments,
he noted that they are the same structures that betrayed Armenia’s
national interests on many occasions.

“Armenia’s superior authorities repeatedly called them caviar eaters,”
he said.

Addressing President Serzh Sargsyan, Mr Rustamyan noted that rigged
elections create tension in Armenia. According to him, Armenia’s
president must to show reason and admit his own defeat.

From: Baghdasarian

SERVILITY AND FLATTERY REMAIN POLITICAL CATEGORIES IN ARMENIA – MP

TERT.AM
21:27 ~U 26.02.13

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of the
Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group, quoted Mikhail Bulgakov’s
play Ivan Vasilyevich.

“If Bulgakov had used his time machine in this parliament for a moment,
it would have turned into the USSR parliament,” she said.

“I am sorry that servility and flattery still remain political
categories in our country,” Mrs Zohrabyan said.

With respect to the post-election processes in Armenia, she said that
the PAP has for a long period indicated grave and urgent political,
economic and social problems facing Armenia.

“At that time we were accused of ‘launching a crusade against’
individuals. We do not ever declare war on anyone because no one
deserves PAP warring against him. We said that, if grave problems
are not solved in the country, and the government introduces bills
with a view to robbing the middle class – dentists, taxi drivers
and accountants – the response would be more opposition voters,”
Mrs Zohrabyan said.

“Stop saying that we are developing tourism,” Mrs Zohrabyan said as
she reminded the MP of the government’s decision to purchase two
public lavatories for US $340,000. “You had better say that your
air tickets are most expensive in the world and your hotels are as
expensive as the best hotels in European cities,” she said.

From: Baghdasarian

SUMGAIT POGROMS WERE PRE-ARRANGED – OPINIONS

TERT.AM
16:54 ~U 27.02.13

The Armenian pogroms of Sumgait were well-plotted by the Soviet
Azerbaijani government and elite, Hrayr Ulubabyan, a co-author of a
book devoted to the tragic killings, has told reporters.

According to him, the atrocious killings committed in the Azerbaijani
city 25 years ago, amounted to a real crime of genocide, the atrocious
acts corresponding to all the clauses of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Ulubabyan, who is an authorized delegate of the families of people
killed in the tragedy, said the genocide per se lasted four days. He
recalled that a day before the massacres, Sumgait hosted a rally that
had brought together Azerbaijani officials voicing anti-Armenian calls.

“They irritated and provoked the people against the Armenians in
just one day and then left them enclosed. And the crashing and
smashing began. They started tearing things apart in the streets on
27 [February] to break into houses and on the 28th they had all the
addresses to go to houses to rape and kill people. The troops made no
intervention as they had no instruction to do so; they were instructed
to refrain from intervention,” he said.

Ulubabyan added that a miserable decision to condemn the atrocities
was all the Soviet government did to respond to the anti-Armenian
policies of Azerbaijan.

Gevorg Danielyan, an advisor at Armenia’s Constitutional Court also
attending the news conference, said that USSR General Secretary
Mikhail Gorbachev’s subsequent statement (saying that the Soviet
government did not manage to prevent the crime) is not true as the
Armenians in Sumgait continued to be murdered even after the troops’
entrance into the city.

Danielyan noted that the perpetrators, who officially faced charges
over the murder of just 26 people, were first tried as hooligans and
later – at the Soviet Azerbaijani Communist Party’s Central Committee
session – described as errants.

Ulubabyan added that he has disagreed to the reported number since
1989. “I have published a material and proved – with death certificates
and in all other possible ways – that more than one hundred Armenians
were killed. But I do not know the exact number,” he said.

As for legal solutions, both speakers agreed that the issue is a
very complicated one, with raising the world community’s awareness
remaining the only option for seeking justice.

From: Baghdasarian

FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SAYS PEOPLE WILL NOT FORGIVE RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

13:42 27/02/2013 ” ANALYSIS

Raffi Hovannisian should understand that he should not disappoint
the people. It is wrong to visit provinces while the people who
gather in Liberty Square expect concrete actions, former presidential
candidate, leader of National Consent party Aram Harutyunyan told a
news conference today.

If he continues this way, the Heritage leader may lose the people’s
trust in two or three months, Harutyunyan said.

According to him, it makes no difference for the people which force
will hold rallies – Prosperous Armenia, Heritage or Armenian National
Congress.

“The people will no longer forgive the opposition leaders who will
deceive them, including Raffi Hovannisian, if it turns out that the
aim of this struggle is to take control of the country’s opposition,”
the politician said.

The candidate who came second in the presidential elections acts in
accordance with the scenario outlined by the authorities, Harutyunyan
said.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

88% OF STEPANAKERT RESIDENTS TO HAVE 24-HOUR WATER SUPPLY BY END OF YEAR

STEPANAKERT, February 27. /ARKA/. Some 88% of population in Stepanakert
will have 24-hour water supply by the end of 2013, president of
Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic Bako Sahakyan said at a special
meeting on water supply as quoted by the presidential press office.

Since 2008 a total of more than 333 kilometers of pipeline was laid
down in the capital, the president said.

Sahakyan stressed the strategic importance of water supply in the
country and said the government remained focused on water supply
problems.

In particular, over the last years serious efforts were made to solve
water supply problems in Stepanakert. Yet, there are shortcomings
and deficiencies in terms of quality, efficiency and package works,
the president said.

Sahakyan said it is important to strictly follow the scheduled hours
and volumes of water supply and ensure water quality.

The meeting was attended by Karabakh prime-minister Ara Harutiunyan
and other officials. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

BAKU ISSUES NOTE OF PROTEST TO LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

February 27, 2013 – 15:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijan presented a protest note to Lithuanian
Foreign Ministry over an initiative of establishing a friendship group
with Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijani Embassy in Lithuania told Trend,
the news agency reported.

“This is an initiative of several pro-Armenian members of the
Lithuanian Seimas and it lacks an official ground,” the Embassy said.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Lithuania Hasan Mammadzade has already met
with the leadership of the Lithuanian Parliament and Foreign Ministry
in this regard.

“At both meetings, Lithuanian officials confirmed that the initiative
is not the country’s official position. Lithuania’s official position
on Karabakh conflict remains unchanged,” the Embassy said.

At present, the Embassy expects an official response to the note.

On February 25, a group of Lithuanian MPs adopted a declaration on the
establishment of a friendship group with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

From: Baghdasarian

BIDZINA IVANISHVILI: LET’S FIRST MAKE CHURCH RENOVATION, THEN START DISPUTE

ARTS AND CULTURE | 27.02.13 | 14:31

Photolure

St. Nshan church in Tbilisi, Georgia

The renovation of the Armenian theater in Tbilisi, as well as six
churches will be implemented by the means of Georgia’s Prime Minister
Bidzini Ivanishvili’s fund, the Georgian Embassy in Armenia informed
earlier this week.

For several years the Armenian churches in Georgia have been a
matter of dispute between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the
Georgian Orthodox Church. Armenians demand returning six churches
(including St. Nshan, St. Norashen, Mughnetsots St. Gevorg, and
others) confiscated in 1920-1930 to their rightful owner-the Armenian
Apostolic Church. The Georgian Diocese suggested the creation of a
joint committee, to conduct archaeological research and to define
the churches’ origin.

Armenian leading specialist in monuments Samvel Karapetyan is
concerted by the Georigan position, especially by the fact that the
Georgian church even sought to convert the churches into Georgian
houses of worship (by eliminating Armenian inscription from the
churches). Karapetyan said Georgia conducts a deliberate policy to
erase “Armenian traces” from the country’s historical monuments. To
note, all six disputed churches are in a very poor situation.

However, Prime Minister Ivanishvili intends first to conduct
renovation. “Better I will restore them, and then let scientists
determine to which Church it belongs. Otherwise we are going to argue
for years, they finally collapse, and there will be nothing left to
define,” Ivanishvili was quoted by the Georgian Embassy in Yerevan.

During 2012 Ivanishvili’s visit to Yerevan a program on cooperation
2013-2015 was signed between Armenia and Georgia by the countries’
culture ministries. Ivanishvili said his government would do
everything possible to have Armenian-Georgian relations become the
best in history.

After Ivanishvili’s visit to Yerevan, a commission to study the
state of the Armenian churches was set up in Georgia, which includes
representatives of the Ministry of Culture, the Georgian Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox churches and civic
organizations. At this stage, the commission study and assess the
churches for the restoration and preservation works.

As for the theatre’s renovation, the Petros Adamyan Tbilisi State
Armenian Drama Theatre is in emergency condition. It was established
in 1858 and is the main cultural center for an estimated 300,000
strong Armenian community of Georgia.

From: Baghdasarian

WASHINGTON SNUBS KHOJALU CAMPAIGN AS AZERBAIJAN’S “ETHNIC CLEANSING” CLAIMS PEAK IN FEBRUARY

KARABAKH | 27.02.13 | 12:47

Photo:

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

Azerbaijan and Turkey have got a clear message to temper their
ambitions as the White House issued a statement on behalf of the
president declining to commemorate the so-called massacre in Khojalu.

Moreover, the Obama administration also said that the events in which
the Azeri side claims Armenians were responsible for many civilian
deaths were connected with military operations – another reminder to
Azerbaijan that the Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved by force.

Azerbaijani activists had run two petitions on the White House website,
gathering more than 120,000 votes in their support. The petitions
called for the recognition of the 1992 events near the village of
Khojalu in Karabakh and also for a U.S. presidential statement on
February 26 – the day that marks the tragedy.

The White House response rejected the Azeri propaganda, which has
spent millions of dollars on the dissemination of information about
the events in Khojalu. And while in some cities and states it still
became possible for the Azeri side to hold some events, even in
parliaments, then in other places, like in Moscow, authorities banned
such arrangements. The White House statement proved a final blow to
the efforts of Azerbaijan to make Khojalu a factor in the ongoing
settlement of the protracted dispute and a general attitude towards
Armenia as a state and nation.

U.S. presidents make annual April 24 addresses to commemorate the
anniversaries of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Barack Obama
calls the events by the Armenian term, Mets Yeghern, translated from
Armenian as “great massacre”. Turkey and Azerbaijan appear to have
been obsessed with the idea of promoting the international recognition
of the Khojalu events – a “genocide” of their own.

Meanwhile, during these days the Armenian nation also remembers
the victims of the 1988 Sumgait pogroms, which were the reaction of
Azeri nationalists to Karabakh Armenians’ demands for reunification
with Armenia and set the armed conflict going. In many countries
local Armenian communities organize events timed to the anniversary
of the Sumgait tragedy. But this isn’t the “answer” of Armenians to
intensified Azeri efforts for Khajalu. Recent days have seen another
remarkable event in this regard.

On Tuesday, a parliamentary group of friendship with Karabakh was
set up in the Seimas of Lithuania. This can be considered as the
first diplomatic victory for the new Foreign Minister of Karabakh,
Karen Mirzoyan, who was in Lithuania on the day of the group’s
establishment. Lithuania is a member of the European Union and
NATO, and the establishment of friendship with Karabakh in the top
legislative body of this Baltic nation is viewed by many within the
context of early signs of a future recognition of the second Armenian
state’s independence.

More active efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan on Khojalu can also be
regarded as reaction to the world community’s increasing inclination
to recognizing the right of the Armenian people to material and
territorial claims to Turkey in view of the approaching Armenian
Genocide centennial. Turkey is waiting for what Obama and Armenian
lobbyists in the United States might do when the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide is commemorated in 2015.

Sentiments are also changing in Armenia itself. Raffi Hovannisian,
the opposition presidential candidate who by official count polled
up to 37 percent of the vote in the latest election, has spoken in
favor of recognizing the independence of Karabakh and presenting
legitimate claims to Turkey. And these views are finding more support
among masses.

Analysts’ forecasts for fundamental transformations in the region by
2015 appear to be coming true. And while Azerbaijan and Turkey are
still making desperate attempts to resist them, it is also apparent
that the Western community has been paying less attention to them
of late.

From: Baghdasarian

DECISION 2013: HOVANNISIAN CONTINUES POST-ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO REGIONS

VOTE 2013 | 27.02.13 | 12:54

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian challenging the official
presidential results continues his BAREVolution, this time visiting
Armavir, Ararat, Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces of Armenia and
meeting with his supporters.

In Echmiadzin, Armavir province, Hovannisian said in his address to
the people who had come to hear what he had to say: “Even by official
data Echmiadzin has won; it has overcome its fear, its slavery,
its estrangement. And we are saying that we are moving towards a
revolution. This is our province, our town, and nobody will take
away, steal our country, our right, our Constitution. I am humbled
by your trust.”

Periodically addressing the police officers watching the rally,
Hovannisian was calling upon the citizens to not be afraid, but rather
respect the police because “they are with the people and will protect
the people’s interests”.

Echmiadzin resident Armen Lazarian told Hovannisian that no matter how
scared and threatened they are by the authorities, they are equally
tired of it and will definitely go for a revolution, standing up for
the votes they had given to Hovannisian.

Walking in the streets of Armavir, greeting people, the Heritage
leader was promising that he would take his victory till the end
and was urging the residents to move only forward without “reverse
speed”, because this is a struggle for the national flag and for their
children. Reflecting on Armavir mayor Ruben Khlghatyan’s resignation,
he said that by his step the mayor showed “at least minimum manliness”
and advised all the other governors and mayors who participated in
rigging the election to follow Khlghatyan’s example.

In almost all the towns he visited, Hovannisian in his speeches urged
the world superpowers: “I demand starting from my birthplace the
United States of America to Russia, an important strategic partner,
from Europe to China to recognize and respect the Armenian people’s
victory. I would recommend to the international community to reconsider
the congratulations endorsing Serzh Sargsyan as a winner and their
decision to accept the election results.”

In Ararat province’s Masis, Ararat and Artashat the Heritage leader
said he had simply come to say “Barev” (hello) and that this one word
holds the sun in it (arev means sun), and manliness, and confidence,
and an Armenian’s sense of belonging to his/her land.

In Artashat he stated that “the most disgraceful” ballot-stuffing
and other types of election fraud were the case in Ararat province,
more than in any other part of Armenia.

“It doesn’t matter who committed the violation; whether his name is
Hovannisian, or Abrahamyan, he will be held accountable. Hovik, Johnik,
police chief, governor, mayor – each one of them will be brought to
account,” he said, his reference being to parliament speaker Hovik
Abrahamyan, native of Ararat province.

In Armenia’s southern Vayots Dzor province Hovannisian’s first stop
was Areni village (known for its wineries and viniculture since ancient
times), where the majority of residents had extended their support and
voted for him. Nonetheless, not many people were present at the rally.

“Many would like to come, but they’ve been threatened that if they
come, they’ll lose their jobs. However, we have proved with our
votes that we are with Raffi; we only hope he doesn’t disappoint us,”
said villager Serob Davtyan.

In Yeghegnadzor people greeted the official runner up with posters
“Raffi is the only president”. Addressing Serzh Sargsyan, Hovannisian
said that if he [Sargsyan] has anything to say to him, he will be
waiting until March 2.

“Twenty one years ago our nation shifted the course of history, and
I will not let anyone edit that history. The Armenia of names is in
the past, there is only people’s Armenia left now,” he said.

In Vayq Hovannisian did not hold a rally, he had time enough to take
a walk and visit some shopping stalls, greet people and have a little
talk. From Vayq he went to Armenia’s southern gate Agarak. Today his
meetings will continue in the towns of Syunik province.

Hovannisian has repeatedly stated that the victory will enter Yerevan
from the provinces; but does it mean that the authorities might make
concessions and offer some governor and mayoral posts to Heritage
members?

So far Shirak governor and mayors of Vanadzor, Lori province’s
administrative center, and Armarir have resigned.

Political analyst Yervand Bozoyan says these resignations are
conditioned by the fact that the authorities are unhappy with these
people who “failed to commit sufficient election fraud” in the
constituencies they were in charge of.

“By punishing them they want to show others, and make the other
governors and mayors to more enthusiastically and actively rig the
next elections. I think it’s highly unlikely that the authorities
might go for a compromise and willingly offer these posts to Heritage.

During the Hovannisian-Sargsyan meeting the president said No to all
the key points. So, I say, no way, it is impossible” says Bozoyan.

From: Baghdasarian