Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HEADS TO NKR

news.am
September 07, 2012 | 16:30

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan headed to the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) to attend NKR President’s inauguration
ceremony which will be held on Friday, Armenian President’s Office
informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, with the decision by NKR
National Assembly (NA) Speaker, NA will convene a special session
Friday devoted to NKR’s reelected President Bako Sahakyan’s induction
into office.

Following the session, NKR Defense Army will hold a military parade
in connection with the President’s inauguration.

To note, Bako Sahakyan paid a visit to NKR Central Electoral
Commission, where he was handed the NKR President’s credential.

NKR presidential elections were held on July 19. As a result, incumbent
President received 66.7 percent (47,095) of the votes, NKR NA MP Vitali
Balasanyan received 32.5 percent (22,966), and Deputy Director Arkadi
Soghomonyan of Academic Activities at the NKR capital Stepanakert
Branch of State Agrarian University of Armenia received 0.8 percent
(594) of the ballots cast. The voter turnout was at 73.43 percent.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS AMBASSADORS ACCREDITED TO THE OSCE

armradio.am
07.09.2012 14:35

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the Ambassadors accredited
to the OSCE, who have arrived in Armenia within the framework of a
regional visit.

During the meeting reference was made to issues of regional security
and the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

At the request of the guests, President Sargsyan briefed the
Ambassadors on the steps taken by the Armenian authorities towards
ensuring the security of the Republic of Armenia and implementation
of democratic and institutional reforms in our country.

From: Baghdasarian

OSCE COUNTRIES’ PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT SITUATION MONITORING IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

news.am
September 07, 2012 | 12:38

YEREVAN. – Permanent representatives from nineteen OSCE-member states
will conduct a situation monitoring in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

They already are in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, where they were
received by President Serzh Sargsyan.

The representatives will visit Azerbaijan on September 10-11.

Along the lines of their tours, the monitors will meet with government,
political party, and civil society representatives. And the objective
of their visits is to get familiar with the current situation and to
exchange views on the ongoing processes in the region.

To note, the OSCE representatives’ earlier-expected visit has coincided
with the growing interest in the region, specifically in terms of
the developments following Ramil Safarov’s extradition to Azerbaijan,
where he was granted pardon.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant
in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary,
where he was serving a life sentence-and with no expression of
either regret or remorse-for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004.

As expected, Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was
his act of murder, by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s
government and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani
president immediately granted him a pardon.

And Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31 that
Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.

From: Baghdasarian

EUFOA WARNS ARMENIA AGAINST STEPPING INTO AZERI PROVOCATION TRAP

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2012 – 14:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) strongly welcomes
the unprecedented condemnations of Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian
xenophobia by all European institutions and the international
community.

“We are appalled that the open provocation and physical threat by
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev against Armenia and Armenians
around the world has put the Karabakh conflict to the next level of
escalation. This may be in the short term internal political interest
of the President, who is facing “elections” in 2013. However, given
his autocratic and so far unchallenged power base, the risk for him
and his country and the damage caused stand in no relation to the
short-lived political gain achieved through anti-Armenian nationalism
and xenophobia. In the light of these events and following the
repressions which became apparent during the Eurovision contest in
Baku, EuFoA demands that the EU finally accepts that it must treat
Azerbaijan more critically than Belarus, which is known to have the
same internally repressive regime style, but without Azerbaijan’s
militarisation or the state-promoted xenophobia. We were informed
and strongly welcome that the EU’s Foreign Ministers will debate
the issue at their upcoming GYMNICH meeting and that the European
Parliament will debate an urgency resolution next week,” EuFoA says.

“Why we implement EU funded programs with the oil-rich and notoriously
anti-democratic government of Azerbaijan and conclude large-scale
energy deals with them, while we apply sanctions against Belraus
cannot be explained to European voters” commented EuFoA Secretary
General Dr Michael Kambeck. “Towards Armenia we can only direct the
warning not to step into the provocation trap which Aliyev has set up.

I share the emotions for calls to now take harsh steps against
Azerbaijan, but Armenia should be like a clever chess-player and keep
an eye on the long-term interests.”

EuFoA also calls for steps to mend the relations with Hungary in time.

“While the extradition decision was at least very naïve, Hungary and
Armenia share hundreds of years of historic ties and are both old
Christian countries. Azerbaijan’s dirty game should not be allowed to
destroy such links. Hungary is a bridge between Eastern and Western
Europe and will need Armenia to enlarge this function. Armenia will
need Hungary for the upcoming EU visa-facilitation decision and later
for the Association Agreement. We welcome that the Hungarian government
has quickly issued the strongest condemnation and that the Armenian
President has called for a stop to burn Hungarian flags. Now some
work needs to be done behind the scenes to overcome the problem,”
EuFoA says.

From: Baghdasarian

U.S.BASED YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN HATE-DRIVEN ACTIONS OF AZERI GOVT.

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2012 – 11:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A number of U.S.-based youth organizations, including
the Armenian Youth Federation, the Unified Young Armenians, the
SDHP Gaidz Youth Organization, the All-ASA and the ARF Shant Student
Association have joined forces to protest against the extradition and
pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier responsible for brutally murdering
an Armenian military officer 8 years ago during NATO military exercises
in Hungary.

“We express our outrage with the immoral and irresponsible decision
of the Hungarian Government to extradite a cold-blooded murderer,
Ramil Safarov, responsible for the axing of an Armenian Army
lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on February 19, 2004 during
the Partnership for Peace NATO Conference. We strongly condemn
the hate-driven actions of the Azeri Government, which not only
pardoned this criminal but also gave him a hero’s welcome. In 2006,
the Hungarian court found Safarov guilty of murdering Lt. Margaryan and
sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

His release, justified by the Hungarian Government by references to
the 1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons,
has allowed the murderer to escape just punishment and instead be
treated as a national hero in Azerbaijan,” the organizations said in
a statement.

“Officials in Budapest could not have been unaware of the fact that
the above mentioned Convention contains a clause which allows the
receiving country to issue pardons to transferred prisoners. Given
the circumstances, it becomes obvious that the Hungarian Government
has chosen to disregard morality and justice in exchange for Azeri
petrodollars and the friendly disposition of the corrupt Aliyev
regime. This decision is even more deplorable due to the fact that
despite the assurances from Azerbaijan that Safarov’s sentence would
not be commuted, the brutal criminal was immediately pardoned by
President Aliyev and was greeted as a national hero upon his return
to Baku. Once again, we have witnessed the lionization of those
who preach hatred towards Armenians, which is consistent with the
antagonistic and xenophobic policies of the Government of Azerbaijan.”

“We condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the
corrupt regime in Baku. We urge the international community to join
us in demanding an apology from the Hungarian Government and asking
for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition. From the
Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate
imprisonment of Ramil Safarov,” the statement concludes.

The protest will take place in front of the Azeri and Hungarian
Consulates in Los Angeles on Sept 6.

From: Baghdasarian

A NEW TOWN WILL BE BUILT ON THE BANK OF THE RIVER HAKAR

Karabakh-open.info
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 21:49

The three-day visit paid to Artsakh by the delegation of 57 businessmen
of ARI-Artsakh Roots Investment Company, that is registered in Cyprus,
was completed on September 4. Members of the delegation met with NKR
President Bako Sahakyan and Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan.

Besides, they visited nearly all the rural communities of Qashatagh
and Shahoumayn regions and got acquainted with the people who made use
of the low interest agricultural loans allocated by the ARI Company.

According to member of the board of the company, businessman Stepan
Ter-Petrosyan they had intended to pay this visit long ago. “We decided
to come and get personally acquainted with our partner villagers. We
saw many villagers make use of our loans periodically and achieve
successes,” S. Ter-Petrosyan noted with unconcealed enthusiasm and
added that as soon as they return to the Lebanon they will start
gathering a greater amount of money in order to realize more and more
new programmes.

In his interview to Karabakh-open.info Stepan Ter-Petrosyan assured
that they would try to convince other Armenian businessmen to make
investments.

“Being quite enthusiastic about what we saw here we decided to make
investments in the sphere of urban planning as well. We intend to
build a town on the bank of the river Hakar, Qashatagh region, with
initially 50 houses and all the necessary buildings constructed. In
this case long-term loans will be allocated to those who will be
ready to settle in this town,” he said adding that the necessary sum
of money must be obtained as soon as possible during the current year.

Being guided by the project the construction of the town will be
completed in about two years.

The businessman attached importance to this format of supporting
programmes as people should be accustomed not to donations but to
carrying responsibility for the money they get and try to create an
independent business and to develop it.

It should be noted that 85 Armenian businessmen from the Lebanon are
members of the ARI-Artsakh Roots Investment Company. In cooperation
with the NKR authorities ARI allocates long-term low-interest credits
to the inhabitants of Qashatagh and Shahoumyan regions /from Mrav to
the Araks/. During the previous two years more than 600 families made
use of the ARI credits.

In parallel with the ARI project “Artsakh Fund” /Lebanon/ presents a
cow to the third and each next child born in Shahoumayn and Qashatagh
regions.

From: Baghdasarian

MANVEL GROGORYAN: IF THE ENEMY MIXES UP, MILITARY OPERATIONS WILL BE MOVED TO THE TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN

2012-09-06 12:28:30

Lurer.com has interviewed President of Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers,
Artsakh hero Manvel Grigoryan on Gurgen Margaryan’s extradition and
granting pardon.

Mr Grigoryan, what’s your evaluation on extradition and granting
pardon of the felon which axed sleeping Armenian officer?

Firstly, Aliyev proved once more that Artsakh can’t be in Azerbaijan.

How can Artsakh, an Artsakian live in peace in Azerbaijan, if that
country organizes Armenian’s murder in the heart of Europe. We knew
beforehand, but society which considers itself civilized, didn’t
understand until this day, let it understand now, that Turk is a Turk
even in the 21st century, Turks haven’t changed, haven’t civilized.

And while estimating phenomena, let them not put an artificial equal
sign, but display fair approach.

So, what do you suggest? Shall we refuse the process of cooperation
in Minsk group?

No. There is no need to refuse. It’s just needed to let the world
know that for Azerbaijan negotiations are just an imitation. They
lull the world’s vigilance and secretly do their job – snipers’
provocative actions and murder of a sleeping Armenian and etc. Besides
participating in negotiation process we should also be ready for the
war. We should also explain to the world that there is no any other
real guarantee for peace for the Arthsakhian, than the liberated
territories, handing of which will give territorial predominance over
Turk Azeri. The world should also understand that there is no status
for Artsakh in Azerbaijan. One who presents such a demand is a felon
and patron of ramilsafarovs.

Won’t this disposition lead to worsening of the situation, resumption
of military actions?

Just the contrary. We are Christians and peace-loving. It was that
Azerbaijan, that opposed Sumgait and Baku massacres to peace demands
of the Artskhians. And we imposed peace to the Turkey, which imposed
war. No one better that Yerkrapah realized the price of peace. We lost
friends, brothers, we liberated lands on the price of our friends’
life. We won’t give those territories to them for peace, as I have
already mentioned if Azerbaijan gets positional advantage, it won’t
avoid resumption of military activities. If our hero is Constable
Vazgen Sargsyan , if our hero is the soldier defeated at Artsakh war,
soldier which imposed peace to the enemy, Azerbaijan’s hero is the
one whose courage is just for axing a sleeping man.

Is the moral and psychological condition of the army sufficient to
motivate war and will the reservists be integrated in military actions,
if needed?

I can guarantee in name of all reservists that in case of emergency
we’ll be on the front. I don’t distinguish us from the army. General or
officer can’t be former. The Armenian nation is ready to do miracles
together, and we’ve proved that we can defend our homeland, and we
can defeat militarist Azeri. If the enemy mixes up and starts war
military actions will be moved to the territory of Azerbaijan.

Gohar Veziryan

From: Baghdasarian

PROTEST ACTION TO BE HELD AT AZERI AND HUNGARIAN CONSULATES IN LOS ANGELES

news.am
September 06, 2012 | 00:21

WASHINGTON. – A number of community youth organizations, including
the Armenian Youth Federation, the United Young Armenians have
joined efforts to protest against the extradition and pardoning of an
Azerbaijani lieutenant who brutally murdered Armenian officer 8 years
ago during a NATO program in Hungary. The protest will take place
on Thursday, in front of the Azerbaijani and Hungarian Consulates,
Asbarez reports.

“We condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the
corrupt regime in Baku. We urge the international community to join
us in demanding an apology from the Hungarian Government and asking
for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition. From the
Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate
imprisonment of Ramil Safarov. We call upon the Southern California
community and especially Armenian Americans to join us in expressing
our anger and demanding justice by participating in a protest in front
of the Azeri and Hungarian Consulates in Los Angeles on Thursday,”
statement reads.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MP: EUROPE NOT A PIECE OF RAG FOR ANY VILLAIN

tert.am
06.09.12

The European values are not a piece of rag to be trampled down by
any villain, the secretary of the Prosperous Armenia party faction in
parliament has said in a letter to European Parliament president, the
PACE president and the co-chair of the Euranest Parliamentary Assembly.

Addressing the release and pardoning of the Azerbaijani army
officer, Ramil Safarov, who was serving a life sentence in Hungary
for brutally killing an Armenian serviceman, Naira Zohrabyan notes
different countries recently criticized the European Union and Nato
for betraying the European values and justice.

Zohrabyan, who represents the Armenian delegation to the Euranest
Assembly, calls the European officials’ attention to the fact that the
person who committed an appalling crime was welcomed by Azerbaijani
delegation members to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
and Euranest upon his arrival at the Baku airport.

“This was a clearly arranged demarche by the totalitarian Azerbaijan,
whose only message was stated very plainly: Azerbaijan does not
give a pin to the opinion of the world community and the European
organizations in which it is represented,” reads the letter addressed
to Martin Schulx, Jean-Claude Mignon and Kristian Vigenin.

Zohrabyan has called on the EU officials to make the issue a subject
of public debates at their parliamentary assemblies.

From: Baghdasarian

ZHOGHOVURD: NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY’S SILENCE OVER HUNGARY’S STEP STRANGE

tert.am
06.09.12

All the political forces of Armenia have already voiced their
viewpoints over the obvious pro-Azerbaijani policy of Hungary, while
leader of the Rule of Law party, National Security Council Secretary
Arthur Baghdasaryan keeps a strange silence.

The paper claims he should have been the first to respond and express
tough position.

In response to the paper, Arthur Baghdasaryan sent a “senseless”
response that runs as follows: “Armenian National Security Council
has thoroughly discussed the created situation and the circle of
steps to be undertaken in the near future. As you know the diplomatic
relations have already been suspended with Hungary, yesterday the NA
convened an extraordinary sitting which is too the decision of the
NSC. We will inform the public about our future steps.”

From: Baghdasarian