Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

SERBIAN PARLIAMENT INCLUDES DISCUSSION OF RESOLUTION ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 26 2014

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 26 / Trend I. Isabalaeva /

Discussion of the draft resolution ‘On observing international law and
peaceful resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’
has been included in the agenda of the Serbian Parliament.

Chairman of the Committee on Constitution and Law and head of the
parliamentary friendship group with Azerbaijan Vladimir Cvijan has
put forward a proposal on behalf of the group and the committee to
include the draft resolution ‘On observing international law and
peaceful resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
‘on the parliamentary agenda, Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Serbia told
Trend on Tuesday.

The resolution notes the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict which began
in 1987-1988 ended with the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani
lands by Armenian armed forces. Today, Nagorno-Karabakh and seven
adjacent administrative regions (Lachin, Kelbajar, Agdam, Fuzuli,
Jabrail, Gubadli and Zengilan) are under the control of Armenian armed
forces. The massacre committed in Khojaly on the night from 25 to 26
February 1992 was the most tragic event within the conflict.

‘The national parliament supports Azerbaijan’s internationally
recognised territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders
and the country’s sovereignty. We condemn all acts of violence against
the civilian population, including the events in Khojaly.

‘The National Parliament demands the implementation of all
international organisations’ resolutions, including the UN Security
Council resolutions N 822, 853, 874 and 884, beginning a negotiation
process for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and ensuring the
right of refugees to return to their homes’, the document says.

Complete information on the resolution is available
on the website of the Serbian Parliament at:
ÁËÔE/ÏÓÔÁÌÁ-ÁËÔÁ/ÁËÔÁ-Õ-ÐÒÏÃÅÄÕÒE/ÁËÔÁ-Õ-ÐÒÏÃÅÄÕÒE.49.html

On Feb. 25-26 February, 1992, Armenian occupation forces together with
the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi
(previously Stepanakert) committed an act of genocide towards the
population of the Azerbaijani Khojaly town.

Some 613 people were killed including 63 children, 106 women and 70
old men. A total of 1000 civilians were disabled during the genocide.

Eight families were killed, 130 children lost one parent and 25
lost both. Additionally, 1275 innocent residents were taken hostage,
while the fate of 150 remains unknown.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are still holding yet unsuccessful peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

From: Baghdasarian

OSCE PA SPECIAL REP. FOR KARABAKH TO TRAVEL TO REGION IN MAY

February 26, 2013 – 21:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – OSCE PA Special Representative for the South Caucasus
and Nagorno Karabakh Joao Soares will visit the region for the first
time in May, the head of Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA said,
according to APA.

As Bahar Muradova noted, she discussed the visit during her meeting
with Soares on the sidelines of the OSCE PA winter session.

“He finally decided to pay the visit in early May and will travel to
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia,” she said.

Joao Soares was appointed a Special Representative for the South
Caucasus and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on July 10, 2011. He has not
visited the region since his appointment. Soares also held the post
of the OSCE PA president.

From: Baghdasarian

WE MUST TACKLE VILLAGERS’ PROBLEMS TOGETHER – RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

NEWS.AM
February 26, 2013 | 19:45

YEREVAN.- Former candidate, leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian
said the time has come to acknowledge victory of the Armenian people.

On Tuesday Hovannisian visited Areni village of Vayots Dzor Region,
Armenian News-NEWS.am reported.

“Serzh Sargsyan should have the courage to recognize not Raffi’s
victory, but the victory of people. And I hope that he will do so
and accept the will of people. Then I’ll come back here to solve the
problems of Areni, the problems of the Armenian villagers together.

You are producing world-class wine. We must make it famous
internationally,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

PROTEST IN YEREVAN: DEANS THREATEN STUDENTS WITH PROBLEMS

February 25, 2013 – 13:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A group of students has announced boycott of classes
outside Yerevan State University (YSU) building to protest the results
of Feb 18 presidential elections.

As Heritage party representative Daniel Ionisyan told a press briefing,
the action was not planned beforehand, voicing disagreement with the
standpoint slamming students’ involvement in political processes.

“Students must be the most active group of the society. They must
decide on the country’s future. I think, candidates must be invited to
the universities and brief the students on their election programs,”
Ionisyan said, noting student protests as a tool to fight corruption
in the universities.

In conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, YSU vice-rector
Ruben Markosyan voiced concern over interruption of classes, despite
the respect they show for the students’ rights.

“Such actions hamper the learning process,” he said, adding the number
of the protesters totaled about 250 out of 19 thous. YSU students.

Commenting on students remarks suggesting university deans threatened
with different problems, Mr Markosyan described them as mere
misunderstanding.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN CULTURE CENTER IN TBILISI HOSTS GEORGIAN ARTISTS’ EXHIBIT

February 25, 2013 – 17:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On February 23, 2013, the Hayartun Cultural Center
of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia hosted the
opening ceremony of the exhibition of contemporary Georgian artists.

The exhibit that will be available till March 7 was co-organized by
the Union of Armenian Artists of Georgia and the Union of Artists
of Georgia with the support of Hayartun cultural center. It features
about 40 creative works by famous Georgian artists.

From: Baghdasarian

ONE DOLLAR DRAWS NEAR 410 DRAMS IN ARMENIA

NEWS.AM
February 25, 2013 | 16:21

YEREVAN. – The American national currency’s average exchange rate,
against the Armenian dram (AMD), comprised AMD 409.75/$1 at NASDAQ
OMX Armenia stock exchange on Monday; this is a 0.19-percent-or an
AMD 0.79-rise from the previous trading session on February 22.

Monday’s sales totaled $3.35 million at the stock exchange.

The buying exchange rate of the US dollar rose all the way to AMD
408.5/$1, at the cash foreign currency market of Armenia, and its
selling rate climbed until AMD 411/$1.

From: Baghdasarian

Dr. Ronald Marchese talk

PRESS RELEASE
Ararat-Eskijian Museum
15105 Mission Hills Rd
Mission Hills CA, 91345
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 818-838-4862

THE ARARAT ESKIJIAN MUSEUM

AND

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ARMENIAN

STUDIES AND RESEARCH (NAASR)

Present an Illustrated Lecture

Sacred Objects from the Armenian

Churches of Constantinople

by

Dr. Ronald Marchese

University of Minnesota, Duluth

Sunday, March 10, 2013, at 4:00 p.m.

Ararat-Eskijian Museum

Hasmik Mgrdichian Gallery

15105 Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, CA

Dr. Ronald Marchese will discuss his recent research in
Constantinople/Istanbul in a talk entitled `Treasures of Faith: Sacred
Objects from the Armenian Churches of Constantinople.’

Dr. Marchese is professor of ancient history and archaeology at the
University of Minnesota, Du-luth, and has spent the last several years
documenting the rich cultural history of the Armenians in
Constantinople by studying the works of arts that those Armenians
produced.

Dr. Marchese received his Ph.D. from New York University and has a
distinguished career in ar-chaeology, having conducted research at the
Plataiai Archaeological Excavation in Greece and at Tel Dor in Israel.
He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters in the field
and the co-author with Marlene Breu of Splendor and Spectacle: The
Armenian Orthodox Church Textile Collections of Istan-bul (Çitlembik
Ltd., Istanbul, 2010). He has authored several other books on art and
weaving

Admission free (donations appreciated)

Reception following the program and book signing

For more information contact the Ararat-Eskijian Museum at 818-
838-4862, [email protected]; or NAASR at 617-489-1610
e-mail [email protected].

From: Baghdasarian

POLITICIAN: DEPLOYMENT OF A PART OF ISAF CONTINGENT IN AZERBAIJAN IS SCARCELY PROBABLE

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 26, 16:59

Deployment of a part of the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) contingent in Azerbaijan is scarcely probable, Kiro Manoyan,
Head of ARFD Bureau for Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office,
told ArmInfo.

He is convinced that NATO will not leave its troops in Azerbaijan
secretly, without publishing relevant information about that. Manoyan
does not rule out that some of these forces may stay in Azerbaijan
for 1 or 2 days, but no longer. Therefore, any opposite information
published at various levels is just supposition, he said.

In the meantime, considering the US troops’ possible participation
in various peacekeeping operations in the Karabakh conflict zone,
Manoyan said that their participation without being coordinated with
the other co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group is ruled out. The
politician stressed that Washington may take some steps aimed at
improving the relations with Baku. However, the USA is unlikely to
make something running counter to its positions, which may lead to
its refusal from the principle of people’s self- determination.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), also known as the
coalition forces, is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan that
was established by the United Nations Security Council in December
2001 by Resolution 1386, as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement. Its
main purpose is to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions but
is also engaged in the 2001-present war with insurgent groups. In
October 2003, the UN Security Council authorized the expansion of the
ISAF mission throughout Afghanistan, and ISAF subsequently expanded
the mission in four main stages over the whole of the country. From
2006 to 2011, ISAF had been involved in increasingly more intensive
combat operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

At the moment ISAF includes detachments of 48 countries. On June 6
2011 ISAF had 132457 servicemen. At present there are about 70,000
US military servicemen in Afghanistan. They will leave the country
in late 2014.

From: Baghdasarian

“IF I USED THE WORD ‘BRUTE’ INCORRECTLY, I CAN APOLOGIZE,” HOVHANNES SAHAKYAN SAYS

February 25 2013

For a Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP, not only batons, weapons,
and water cannons constitute brute force Hovhannes Sahakyan, the
secretary of the RPA parliamentary group said to Radio Liberty the
other day that the government “doesn’t use any brute force for now,
although it has the right to do that.” inquired of him
today whether the government did a favor to people by not using brute
force, or he just wanted to restrain the opposition with those words.

He replied: “I, as a lawyer, can give a long lecture about the
possibilities and impossibilities of using brute force, about right
and wrong. I can explain what using brute force or using force means.

Force is never soft or nice. Force is crude. To me, brute meant crude.

If I chose the word ‘brute’ incorrectly, I can apologize to the public
for that.” We asked to clarify whether they should use weapons against
the people, he explained: “No, brute doesn’t only mean weapons. For
example, not to allow them to hold a rally.” In response to our
question what methods should be used not to allow, batons, he said:
“If, for you, the only way of not allowing is batons, let it be batons
too. However, for me, it is not batons, weapons, water cannons, or
barbed wire. Police officers can just forbid them to participate,
by creating a human wall, for example. However, let me make a short
excursion related to brute force, since there were some journalists
who tried to criticize. For your information, I can give a lecture,
if necessary. The state and the government have the monopoly on the
use of coercive force. The state and the government are separated in
theory, but in practice, they are equated. An NGO, which is a part
of civil society, cannot use force. And the state uses force when
universal norms are violated, the law or rights. In this case, if it
is violated, the government is entitled to use force. We are rather
tolerant. By saying we, I mean the government.” In response to our
question what would happen, when they stop being tolerant, he said:
“For example, when there is provocation in it, I mean the processes
that happened on the Freedom Square podium between the Heritage Party
and some activists. If there had been irreversible consequences,
physical injuries because of some problem there, who would have been
responsible for that? You would have said that police officers were
not there and didn’t prevent.” As for the interference of police
officers in Spitak and Aparan and the appeal to compatriots that
the rally was illegal, Hovhannes Sahakyan noted that the police did
their job. “They were not filming the faces of those gathered, but the
whole process, so that they had facts in case of provocations. Those
are different.” Hripsime JEBEJYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: Baghdasarian

DECISION 2013: SARGSYAN ALLY CALLS FOR BROAD DIALOGUE IN POST-ELECTION ARMENIA

VOTE 2013 | 26.02.13 | 14:22

Orinats Yerkir, a junior member of President Serzh Sargsyan’s governing
coalition, has called for a broad dialogue to settle what has turned
into another post-election crisis in Armenia.

The party allied to the main ruling Republican Party of Armenia had
endorsed President Sargsyan as a candidate in the February 18 election
in which the incumbent officially won reelection. His official victory,
however, is being disputed by the main opposition challenger, Raffi
Hovannisian, who has launched a nationwide campaign for the annulment
of the election results.

Orinats Yerkir, whose leader Artur Baghdasaryan was controversially
instrumental in shifting the balance of the conflicting parties in a
similar, but much more bitter post-election standoff five years ago,
discussed a broad range of issues concerning last week’s presidential
ballot at the meeting of its political council last night.

Orinats Yerkir’s press service today summarized the discussion in
a statement, saying that the party hails the victory of President
Sargsyan and again congratulates him on the success.

At the same time, the junior coalition partner of Sargsyan’s main
governing party stressed the importance of a full-scale inquiry
into reported electoral irregularities and violations and called for
restraint from all political forces, figures and ordinary citizens
in the post-election developments.

The party also suggested “initiating a format of broad public
dialogue, involving representatives of all political forces, public
organizations, civil initiatives interested in it in order to jointly
discuss issues and find solutions to them through dialogue.”

Orinats Yerkir also called on representatives of National Assembly
factions to form a working group “to examine the post-election
situation in the country, offer solutions for overcoming it, and,
if necessary, also initiate legislative reforms.”

Last Friday, opposition leader Hovannisian said President Sargsyan had
rejected all of his offers of compromise, including the possibility of
holding a repeat presidential election or snap parliamentary elections
based solely on party-list representation.

Since then Hovannisian indicated he was keen on continuing his campaign
on an indefinite basis to make Sargsyan accept “the people’s victory”.

From: Baghdasarian