Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FAMOUS SPANISH SINGER RAFAEL MARTOS SANCHEZ WILL PARTAKE IN THE ARMENIAN PROJECT “LOVE EACH OTHER”

ARMENPRESS
31 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS. Ara Gevorgyan’s project “Love Each
Other” dedicated to the peace in the world will unite famous singers
from different countries. The cooperation between the composer and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has had its
first positive result. In a conversation with “Armenpress” Honorary
Artist of the Republic of Armenia Ara Gevorgyan said that the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed him that famous
Spanish singer, the winner of Grammy and other prominent awards
Martos Sanchez (Miguel Rafael Martos Sanchez) have already agreed
to take part in the project. Martos Sanchez has his own unique style
and a wide diapason of voice. Gevorgyan said: “We are very glad that
the works for the realization of this project go on. We desire that
all the participants of the project to visit Armenia on September 21,
2013 and sing together about peace.” Gevorgyan also said that presently
they are negotiating for the participation of a singer from Japan.

In 2012 Gevorgyan introduced this project to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edvard Nalbandyanand and asked him
to unite the efforts of all Armenian embassies to different countries
to help to get in touch with famous artists from various countries
for the participation in the concert.

In the frames of “Love Each Other” project outstanding singers will
perform different parts of the song each in his country and then they
will come here and perform the final part of the concert. As Ara
Gevorgyan said now they are also negotiating with prominent singer
Celine Dion, who promised to take part in the concert in case of the
presence of UNO identification. Another prominent performer Mariah
Carey refused to participate in the project as she is extremely busy
with children now.

Records by the performers from Finland, Sweden, Germany, India and
American are already done.

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From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN BEARS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAVING IN FACT ”BETRAYED” A MEMBER OF THE EU: FRANK ENGEL

ARMENPRESS
31 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan bears a huge
responsibility for having in fact probably “betrayed” a member of the
EU country. Honorary Consul of Armenia to Luxembourg Frank Engel stated
this in an exclusive interview to “Armenpress”. He said that it is
unacceptable that Azerbaijan first assured Hungarian authorities that
they would keep Safarov imprisoned, not glorified, but in fact, they
did just the contrary. At the interview he spoke about Savorov’s case
and the perspective of taking the negotiation procedure out from the
deadlock. Engel stated: “I myself could hardly believe that Budapest
could be so naïve and trust promises given by Azerbaijan. For eight
years, the Azerbaijani government was trying to get Safarov extradited
and every Hungarian government rejected the request, knowing what could
happen. Then suddenly they were reassured enough by a vice-minister’s
signature on a piece of paper, which indeed did not say very much
about Safarov and whether he would not be freed or glorified.”

Frank Engel said that he is very anxious that some agreements served
as a basis for that decision. The MEP also mentioned the following:
“I have also read that some billions have been promised from one
side to another. We will find it out if it happens to be the truth;
should it indeed be so, I will be less than happy.” He also noted
that Hungary has striven and still strives to have the best possible
relations with Armenia.

Engel also did not hide his concern with the fact that some
parliamentarians see material benefit for them or their colleagues
from the Azerbaijani side. He stated: “My concern, which goes to
Azerbaijan, is that quite a few parliamentarians either themselves
or their respective life partners appear to have material interests
on the Azeri side. I know no MEP having material interests on the
Armenian side. Moreover, it has been rumored that a number of people
are involved in Azeri oil trade. You cannot forbid that, it is not
illegal. But at least it could be said that if you have interests
of such peculiar nature you might refrain from the heaviest possible
involvement in things Caucasian. My impression is that on the Azeri
side, there is a particularly significant presence in the EP now. But
if they get meeting rooms and organize presentations, distortion of
history included, then there is little we can do about it.”

He underlined the negative effects of these all on the regulation
of the Nagorno Karabakh impact. He said that he certainly does not
see any big breakthrough in the next 6 months or year. Especially
military rhetoric of the Azerbaijani side will not encourage the
regulation of the impact as well.

From: Baghdasarian

LE DASHNAKTSUTIUN NE DEVOILERA SA DECISION QUANT A L’ELECTION PRESIDENTIELLE QUE FIN DECEMBRE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 31 octobre 2012

La Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne Dashnaktsutiun donnera
publiquement sa decision quant a une participation a l’election
presidentielle avec son propre candidat ou qu’elle approuvera quelqu’un
d’autre après le 20 decembre, quand le parti convoquera son comite
electoral a declare Artsvik Minasyan, depute du parti.

” Après le comite electoral nous devoilerons notre decision ” a-t-il
dit ajoutant que les priorites du parti sont des principes plutôt
que des personnes.

” Le parti desire meme soutenir lem oindre candidat qui accepte les
approches du Dashnaktsutiun quant aux solutions des problèmes en
Armenie ” a-t-il dit.

mercredi 31 octobre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

US DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE RELATIVELY STABLE

news.am
October 30, 2012 | 17:57

YEREVAN.- The US national currency’s average exchange rate, against
the Armenian dram (AMD), comprised AMD 405.38/$1, at NASDAQ OMX
Armenia stock exchange on Tuesday, and this is a 0.09 percent – or
a 0.37-point – drop from the previous trading session on Monday. The
sales totaled $ 2.25 million.

The US national currency’s buying and selling exchange rates have
recently stabilized at the AMD 405-407/$1 range in Armenia’s cash
foreign currency market.

Exchange offices are purchasing US dollar at the rate of AMD 404/$1
and selling at AMD 406.5/$1.

The U.S. currency makes $1,297 against euro in the Forex international
market.

From: Baghdasarian

SKINHEADS SENTENCED TO 9-18 YEARS IN JAIL FOR MURDER OF ARMENIAN CITIZEN

tert.am
30.10.12

Moscow city court sentenced today 6 convicts to 8-19 years in prison
for the murder of an Armenian man for ethnic belonging.

According to ITAR-TASS, Yemelia Nikolayev has been sentenced to 19
years in jail as he was previously convicted as well. He will also
pay 5,000 rubles fine.

The convicts have 10 days for appealing the verdict. One of the
members of the group has been acquitted.

In 2009 the group attacked an Armenian man beat him, stabbed 11 times
and robbed him.

From: Baghdasarian

EXPERT: FREQUENT MEETINGS WITH YEREVAN WILL PUT BAKU IN TIGHT CORNER

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 30, 2012 – 17:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Political analyst Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan welcomed
the Armenian Foreign Minister’s refusal to meet with his Azerbaijani
counterpart following Azeri axe-killer Ramil Safarov case.

The expert said Australian largest New South Wales state’s recognition
of NKR and Azerbaijan’s recognition of South Sudan benefited Armenia.

Mr. Melik-Shahnazaryan further stressed the need to hold meetings
more frequently and drive Baku into a corner, deeming Safarov case
Baku’s weak point.

From: Baghdasarian

FIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM ARMENIA SIGNED DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE COOPERATION IN ROMANIA

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Five Community Leaders from Armenia
visited Romania on October 24-30. One year ago the Romanian delegation
visited Armenia, when the Community Leaders from different Romanian
cities were in Ijevan, where they made an agreement regarding the
establishment of cooperation between the Armenian and Romanian towns.

In the beginning of this year such an agreement was signed between
the cities of Roman and Dilijan.

The Department of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress”
that five governors from the Republic of Armenia accompanied by the
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Romania Hamlet Gasparyan
visited the state centre of Vrancea, where the Community leader of
Berd Andranik Sharyan signed a joint declaration with the Governor
of Focsan Decebal Bacinschi about the establishment of cooperation
between the two cities. The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church in Romania Archbishop Tatev Hakobyan and the head
of the Armenian community in Romania Varoujan Voskanyan were present
at the ceremony.

Local mass media and television were very interested in the visit of
the Armenian governors and the ratification of the fraternal documents.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJANI RULING PARTY: MAJOR CHANGES NEEDED IN OSCE MINSK GROUP FORMAT

arminfo
Tuesday, October 30, 13:04

A fair way to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be found,
executive secretary of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Ali
Ahmedov said, Trend reports.

“The purpose of negotiations within the Minsk Group is the practical
help to resolve the conflict. The conflict hasn’t been resolved
for more than 20 years, and if some structure can not fulfill its
obligations for 20 years, then I believe that we need to make serious
changes to the format of the Minsk Group,” Ahmedov said. He noted
that Azerbaijan supports peaceful settlement of the conflict.

“Is it possible to believe that the negotiations will give results if
there is no progress during the 20 years of the conflict? To believe
this, one has to be optimistic. I think that the people of Azerbaijan
are no longer optimistic. A just way to resolve the conflict and to
end the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people should be found,”
Ahmedov said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out on February 28 1988 in the
Azerbaijani Sumgait with massacre of Armenians as a peculiar response
of Azerbaijanis to the peaceful demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh
autonomous Region, part of the Azerbaijani SSR, to unite with the
Armenian SSR. This resulted in other pogroms of Armenians in Baku,
Kirovabad and other regions of Azerbaijan populated with Armenians. In
1991 Azerbaijan unleashed war against peaceful populations of
Nagorno-Karabakh, expulsing ethnic Armenians from the territory of
Azerbaijan. Dozens of thousands of peaceful residents on both parties
were killed in the military actions, and hundreds of thousands were
left homeless and have become refugees. In 1994 in Bishkek in mediation
of the OSCE MG, the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Protocol on
Ceasefire that is observed more or less so far. Since 1992 the OSCE
Minsk Group represented by co- chairs from Russia, U.S. and France has
been mediating in resolution of the conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan
in 1988. At present the peace process is based on the Madrid Principles
suggested by the OSCE MG in 2007 in Madrid and renovated in 2009.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH CONFLICT IS TOUGH STILL DISSOLUBLE ISSUE: FRENCH AMBASSADOR

ARMENPRESS
30 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenia is considered France
sister country.French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Reno qualified
Armenian-French relations in the course of the meeting with YSU
students on October 30. Ambassador stressed the importance of high
level of development of Armenia- France relations.

“France is the second largest investor in Armenia after Russia. We
have also provided a significant cultural presence namely French
University in Armenia” Ambassador stated. In the words of Henry Reno
necessary conditions have been created for the dissemination of French
language in Armenia. Armenia has become full member of International
Organization of the Francophonie, reportedly we have a mission to
promote the development of the French language here” Reno noted.

Dwelling on NKR conflict regulation issue Ambassador underscored
France desire to promote the peaceful resolution of the problem. No
one is capable to find a solution and establish peace on behalf of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Ambassador brought Franco-German relations
as an example of normalization of their relations.

” France goal is to ensure political stability in the region and in
Armenia, implementation of reforms and deepening of EU relations with
Eastern Partnership states ” France top diplomat noted.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the French
Republic were established on 24 February 1992. Henri Reynaud,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic
to Armenia, presented his credentials to the President of the Republic
of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan on November 5 , 2010.

From: Baghdasarian

OPEN LETTER TO ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: PUTTING AN END TO TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENTS IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
30/10/2012

Armenia Civil Society Institute (CSI) and International Federation
for Human Rights (FIDH) have sent a joint open letter to Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Minister
of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan, Head of the Police Vladimir Gasparyan
and Prosecutor General Agvan Hovsepyan.

The authors of the letter call on the Armenian authorities to take
measures aimed at implementing the recommendations of the United
Nations Committee against Torture.

>From words to acts: putting an end to torture and ill-treatments
in Armenia

Mister President,

On 10 and 11 May 2012 the United Nations Committee against Torture
considered the third periodic report of Armenia. A number of civil
society organizations, including the International Federation for
Human Rights (FIDH) together with its member organization in Armenia
Civil Society Institute (CSI) submitted alternative reports concerning
the compliance of the state legislation, acts and policies with the
UN Convention against torture.

After two days of constructive dialogue with the Armenian Delegation,
the UN Committee adopted concluding observations whereby it expressed
serious concerns over a number of issues. The Committee declared
it is “seriously concerned by numerous and consistent allegations
[…] of routine use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police
custody,” especially to extract confessions to be used in criminal
proceedings as well as by military personnel. The Committee concluded
that prompt, impartial or effective investigations and prosecutions
are not conducted, and that consequently punishment of the perpetrators
is not ensured and compensation to the families of the victims is not
provided. Definition of torture in the Republic of Armenia Criminal
Code is not in line with articles 1 and 4 of the Convention.

The Committee also stressed that “victims and witnesses of torture and
ill-treatment do not file complaints with the authorities because they
fear retaliation.” There is no effective mechanism to facilitate the
submission of complaints, and to ensure in practice that complainants
are protected against any ill-treatment, intimidation or reprisals
as a consequence of their complaint.

Among a number of recommendations, the UN Committee stressed that in
the context of the current legislative reform, the Republic of Armenia
should take “prompt and effective measures to ensure, in law and in
practice, that all detainees are afforded all legal safeguards from
the very outset of their deprivation of liberty.” These include the
rights to access to a lawyer, to an independent medical examination,
to notify a relative, to be informed of their rights, and to be
brought promptly before a judge.

In addition, measures should be taken to ensure audio- or videotaping
of all interrogations in police stations and detention facilities as
a further preventive measure.

Moreover, as the Committee recalled, under international law
confessions obtained through torture should never be used as evidence
in judicial proceedings. Relevant means should be taken to ensure that
legislation concerning evidence to be adduced in judicial proceedings
is brought in line with article 15 of the Convention and statements
obtained by torture are not invoked as evidence in any proceedings.

CSI and FIDH share the concerns expressed by the UN Committee. We call
on the Armenian authorities to take measures aimed at implementing
the recommendations without undue delay.

Actions should be taken to duly criminalize torture, in accordance with
the provisions of the Convention, to prevent adequately acts of torture
and ill-treatment throughout the country, and to ensure accountability
by promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigating all incidents
of torture, ill-treatment and death in custody; prosecute those
responsible; and report publicly on the outcomes of such prosecutions.

Mister President,

The CAT review is an occasion for the Republic of Armenia to prove
that it stands by its international commitment to eradicate the
practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments
on its territory. CSI and FIDH call on the Armenian authorities to
seize this opportunity to take action by amending its legislation,
by reforming its Criminal Procedure and Criminal Codes and by taking
any other action necessary to bring its law and practice in line with
international standards.

Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President Arman Danielyan, CSI President

From: Baghdasarian