Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN SOUTIENT GAGIK TSAKURIAN
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 27 juin 2012

Le chef de l’opposition Levon Ter-Petrossian, a prevenu Gagik
Tsarukian (parti Armenie prospère BHK) mardi 26 juin 2012 de ne
pas s’incliner devant la pression du gouvernement et a de nouveau
souligne l’importance de cooperer avec le deuxième plus grand parti
parlementaire du pays. ” Toute force qui aspire a devenir un grand
parti, et c’est le cas du parti Armenie prospère, doit etre capable
de resister a ces pressions et de ne pas avoir peur du gouvernement “,
a-t-il declare. ” La seule garantie de son existence et de son avenir
politique est sa volonte de devenir un veritable parti d’opposition
” , a ajoute le chef de file du Congrès National Armenien (HAK).

Levon Ter-Petrossian a insiste en meme temps que le BHK peut etre
considere comme une force d’opposition parce qu’il ne fait plus
partie de la coalition au pouvoir de l’Armenie. Il a affirme que le
retrait de Tsarukian de la coalition a affaibli l’administration de
Serge Sarkissian.

Un fosse entre Sarkissian et Tsarukian s’est creuse cet automne.

D’après les observateurs, ces differents proviennent de l’ancien
president Robert Kotcharian, qui souhaite faire un retour en
politique. L’opposition affirme que le BHK veut aider Kotcharian a
revenir sur la scène politique. Ce dernier reste le numero un des
politiciens detestes par de nombreux partisans de Ter-Petrossian.

Ter-Petrossian a poursuivi son discours en assurant que les partisans
du BHK, le HAK et deux autres partis d’opposition representes a
l’Assemblee nationale continueront a defier le gouvernement au
parlement. Il a souligne que, ensemble, ils contrôlent 54 des 131
sièges du parlement.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN COURT OF APPEALS, CHINESE SUPREME PEOPLE’S COURT TO PREPARE COOPERATION MEMORANDUM

news.am
June 26, 2012 | 17:17

YEREVAN. – At the invitation of Chief Judge Arman Mkrtumyan of
Armenia’s Court of Appeals, a delegation from China, led by the
Supreme People’s Court Grand Justice of the Second Rank Jiang Bixin,
is in Armenia between Monday and Wednesday.

And the delegation visited the Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

Mkrtumyan noted that a stable and reliable cooperation is established
between both countries in the recent years.

In his turn, Bixin underscored the close cooperation and experience
exchange between the two judicial systems.

Subsequently, the parties examined several matters of mutual interest.

And at the end of discussions, they agreed to jointly prepare the
memorandum on cooperation between the Court of Appeals of Armenia
and the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China.

This document will be signed during the Armenian Court of Appeals
delegation’s visit to China.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERI BRUTALITY HIGHLIGHTED AT UN

asbarez
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Armenia’s Ambassador to the UN Karen Nazaryan

UNITED NATIONS-Armenia’s Permanent Representative at the United
Nations, Ambassador Karen Nazaryan delivered a speech at the
discussions on the issue of protection of the civilian population
during conflicts held at the UN Security Council.

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Karen Nazaryan
emphasized Azerbaijan’s responsibility for crimes against humanity
committed in the conflict zone. He said the Azeri authorities are
responsible for the violation of rights of hundreds of thousand of
displaced persons and refugees, the ethnic cleansing and aggression
unleashed in response to the realization of the right of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination, as well as the massacre
of the Azerbaijani population in Khojaly.

Ambassador Nazaryan informed the members of the Security Council
that Armenian settlements of Artsvashen, Shahumyan in the north of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Getashen and another 18 villages were
razed to the ground as a result of the conflict, about 20 settlements
are still occupied by Azerbaijan.

The Ambassador added that “Azerbaijan continues the infringements
against the frontline settlements of independent Artsakh and Armenia,
turning down the calls of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the UN
Security Council to implement confidence-building measures.”

In that context the Nazaryan said that Armenia welcomes the Los Cabos
statement of the Presidents of the Minsk Group co-chairing countries
and urged the Azeris to stop all kind of provocations at the Armenian
border and the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh.

From: Baghdasarian

AYF CANADA RALLIES AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS IN ARMENIA

Armenian Weekly
June 27, 2012

TORONTO, Ontario-On June 10, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
of Canada “Simon Zavarian” Chapter hosted an information session in
Toronto regarding recent environmental and social rights violations in
Armenia. The event focused on the deforestation of the Teghut forest
and the illegal construction of kiosks in Yerevan’s Mashdots Park,
and was broadcasted live online.

AYF Canada rallies against environmental violations in Armenia.

Among the attendees was Jim Karygiannis, PC, MP, Scarborough-Agincourt
and member of the Armenian Canadian Parliamentary Group, who voiced
his support for the cause and the activists. He commended the youth
for hosting the event and urged attendees to “practice the power of
the pen” and to persevere.

The executive director of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP), Jeff
Masarjian, was invited from Boston, Mass., to further illustrate the
issues in Teghut and the potential damage the mine can cause in the
region. He discussed in detail the unjust actions the Armenian Copper
Program has taken to make open-pit mining a reality in the area.

During the event, the attendees connected live with the leaders of the
Save Teghut initiative via Skype, gaining a first-hand perspective of
their ongoing efforts in Armenia. The activists voiced their support
for the Toronto-Armenian community and encouraged other regions to
take note and host information sessions to spread awareness.

During the event, photographs of Armenia’s landscape, donated by
young Armenia-based photographers Azat Gevorkyan and Daron Titizian,
were displayed. The attendees also participated in a photo petition,
urging the Armenian government to take immediate action regarding the
deforestation of Teghut and other political, social, and environmental
injustices in Armenia.

The AYF Canada “Simon Zavarian” Chapter also collaborated with the
ARS Armenian Day School, asking students to draw what they would like
Armenia’s green spaces to look like in the future. Their works were
displayed during the event and later sent to the activists in Armenia.

Armenia’s youth has united in taking a stand against political, social,
and environmental injustices, with the agenda to change the future
of the country. The AYF Canada “Simon Zavarian” Chapter commends this
movement and will continue to collaborate with the activist to ensure
a fair and just society in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

SWISS DIPLOMAT PREDICTS ACTIVATION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
27 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: The Government of Switzerland in future
will expand the spheres of cooperation with Armenia. Armenpress reports
that about this mentioned Ambassador extraordinary Plenipotentiary
of Switzerland to the Republic of Armenia Konstantin Obolensky during
the press conference on June 26. “In different spheres including tax,
agriculture, economy the cooperation is active” highlighted the
ambassador. He mentioned that Swiss investments in Syunik region
are high and hurried to add that the investments will be expanded
geographically.

Obolensky informed that the role of public organizations in Armenia
is high in strengthening of Armenian-Swiss relations.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Swiss
Confederation were established on 5 January 1992.

On 30 January 2009, Charles Aznavour was appointed Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to
Switzerland (with residence in Geneva).

On 15 March 2011, Konstantin Obolensky, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to Armenia, presented
his credentials to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh
Sargsyan.

From: Baghdasarian

OSCE/ODIHR PRESENTED FINAL REPORT ON ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
27 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: OSCE/ODIHR issued a final report on
parliamentary elections in Armenia which were held on May 6.

Armenpress was informed from OSCE/ODIHR office that the final report by
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
on Armenia’s parliamentary elections, held on 6 May 2012, concludes
that they were characterized by a competitive and largely peaceful
campaign, and offers recommendations, including ways to improve the
integrity of the election process.

The report notes that the new Electoral Code provides a generally
solid framework for the conduct of democratic elections, but contains
a number of substantive shortcomings that remain to be addressed.

The reports says that the election commissions, law enforcement bodies
and courts should interpret, implement and enforce the electoral
legal framework with consideration for the spirit and intent of the
law, which aims to ensure an equal playing field for contestants,
the free will of the voters and the integrity of the electoral process.

Furthermore, election commissions and courts should not take an overly
formalistic approach to handling election-related complaints.

The report also recommends that authorities and contestants demonstrate
more respect for the right of citizens to freely express their
fundamental civil and political preferences, as required by the OSCE
1990 Copenhagen Document. They should refrain from putting pressure on
voters, both during the campaign and on election day, the report says.

Other recommendations include increasing transparency of the work
of the electoral and state authorities, providing additional voter
education on the secrecy of the vote, enhancing campaigns against
vote buying and vote selling, and continuing efforts to improve the
accuracy of voter lists.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER SUPPORTS PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY

news.am
June 26, 2012 | 20:47

YEREVAN. – Disputes over Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), whether it
is an opposition or not, are artificial, opposition Armenian National
Congress (ANC) leader, Armenia’s First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan
said at the rally in the Yerevan city Liberty Square on Tuesday.

“Obviously Armenia faces quite a new situation following the new
Parliament formation and discussions of the Government program. Hardly
will anyone doubt that it was due to opposition powers, including
the ANC, PAP, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage,” Ter-Petrosyan claimed.

Two tricks are used to bring down the intensity of the opposition
in the eyes of society. Firstly, via PAP’s every action Armenia’s
second president Robert Kocharyan is accounted and the threat of
his return discussed. Secondly, claims are voiced that the PAP is
not a real opposition, as failed to implement necessary statements
set by regulations. Being an opposition is proven by real actions,
regardless of anyone’s statements.

On the other hands, the PAP’s claims on being an alternative to
the authorities are not so successful. Ter-Petrosyan believes that
transforming into a real opposition will confirm PAP’s further
existence.

To note, due to May 6 elections six political powers entered new
Parliament, including Republican Party of Armenia (69 seats), PAP (37),
ANC (7), Orinats Yerkir (6), ARFD (5) and Heritage (5). The PAP has
declared that it does not join ruling coalition as does not consider
it useful. However, it did not declare about being an opposition as
did Heritage, ANC and ARFD during the first session of the Parliament.

From: Baghdasarian

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS HANDED DOWN ANOTHER RULING ON ARMENIA: PIRUZYAN WAS HUMILIATED

19:30 . 26/06

On June 26, the European Court of Human Rights handed down a ruling
in the case Piruzyan against the Republic of Armenia, according to
which Points 1, 3 and 4 of Article 5 (Liberty and security) of the
European Convention on Human Rights, as well as Article 3 (Torture)
of the Convention have been violated.

As Kamo Piruzyan’s advocate, lawyer Lusine Sahakyan told Pastinfo’s
correspondent, by the decision of the European Court, the citizen
must receive a compensation of ~@8,000 for moral damage.

L. Sahakyan said Kamo Piruzyan was accused of a bandit attack and was
in detention for 1 year and two months but the prosecutor dropped the
charges and Piruzyan was acquitted. ECHR has concluded that Piruzyan’s
right of liberty was violated and he received humiliating attitude-he
was detained.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE IN UN: “AZERBAIJAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MASS MURDERS IN KHOJALU”

19:44 . 26/06

Armenia’s Permanent Representative in the UN Karen Nazaryan stated
the Azerbaijani authorities are responsible for “violations of rights
of hundreds of thousands refugees and displaced Armenians, as well
as mass murders of Azeris in Khojalu”.

Karen Nazaryan said this while delivering a speech during a discussion
in the UN Security Council on issues of protection of civilian
population during conflicts, Mediamax reports.

The Ambassador urged the Azerbaijani side to halt all types of
provocations including actions of subversive groups on the Armenian
border and on the contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MAN COMMITS SUICIDE BECAUSE OF DEBTS?

news.am
June 26, 2012 | 16:01

YEREVAN. – The dead body of a man was found not far from the shore
of Armenia’s Lake Sevan, on Monday at around 7:30pm.

The man was 59 years old and a resident of Masis city, the Police
press service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He had come to Sevan city on June 23, rented a cottage, but no one
saw him anymore on Monday. He was later found hanged.

According to our information, he was a merchant at the Masis market
and he had ended his life because of having huge debts.

From: Baghdasarian