Author: Kajoyan Gevork

“I am against”- future plans

16:16 | April 12,2014 | Politics

Before speaking about future plans, “I am against” member Gevorg
Gorgisyan said, “We won’t introduce road map, as we are not a party,
but citizens.”

“We are ready for everything to get the result, which is one, so that
no money is charged from the RA citizens illegally and all the money
charged must be returned,”- he said.

“On upcoming Friday at 18:30, there will be a protest action in
Yerevan, details won’t be said, “let the authorities be a little
nervous, it will also be a great surprise for law-enforcement
officers.”

“Until monthly reporting form of SRC isn’t changed, we call not to pay
utility fees,”- he said.

They will also send a letter to the President demanding to carry his
responsibilities set by the Constitution, to protect RA citizens’
constitutional rights.

“And the most important point, we mustn’t yield until we reach the
desired results,”- he noted.

The meeting ended. There will be no march.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 11 2014

Ukraine crisis may trigger `domino effect’: FM DavutoÄ?lu

Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu has warned of a domino effect after
Crimea split from Ukraine and joined Russia, saying it could set an
example for other frozen conflicts.

`Our concern is not only Ukraine. If this trend starts, which is an
act against territorial integrity, there are many other frozen
conflicts like Trans-Dniester, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh. We do
not want the Ukraine crisis to start a domino effect in and around the
Black Sea and the neighboring regions of Turkey,’ DavutoÄ?lu told the
Japanese Nikkei Asian Review magazine.

DavutoÄ?lu yesterday departed for Japan to attend a meeting of the
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) in Hiroshima. He
will also hold talks with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida.

The foreign minister said Turkey has a unique position over the
Ukraine crisis. `Turkey is in a unique position in these developments.
We are the only neighbor to both Ukraine and Russia that also has
direct access to Crimea; therefore, we are following developments very
closely. Poland is also a neighbor to both Russia and Ukraine but with
no direct access to Crimea,’ DavutoÄ?lu told the magazine, while
underlining the importance of international law. `It is very important
for us that all these issues will be resolved within the framework of
international law, diplomacy and through negotiations with respect to
good, neighborly relations.’

The top diplomat also elaborated on the occupation of government
buildings and the declaration of people’s republics in the eastern
cities of Kharkiv and Donetsk. `These are not positive signals. What I
said is important. Kharkiv, Donetsk and other regions should be
included actively in the Kyiv government, and everybody must respect
the territorial integrity of Ukraine and have a proportional role in
the future of the nation,’ he said.

Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov promised yesterday not to
prosecute pro-Russian activists occupying government buildings if they
laid down their arms and halted a four-day standoff.
DavutoÄ?lu, meanwhile, said Turkey did not expect a crisis with Russia
over energy. `Turkey’s energy agreements with Russia are clear and
have been continuing for many years without any problems.

Turkey of course respects agreements, and we don’t expect any crisis
in that sense. But the energy issue is important for all countries,
and it should be seen as a tool or instrument of cooperation rather
than conflict or confrontation.’

Asked about the 2009 Ukrainian gas crisis in which the flow of Russian
gas via Ukraine to Turkey also stopped and about Turkey’s energy
options, DavutoÄ?lu said the country was diversifying both its energy
resources and routes.

`It’s not just because of the Ukraine crisis, we had already decided
to diversify both energy resources and different routes, and the
nuclear plants we are building with Japan and Russia are an
alternative source of energy. As for natural gas, we are buying from
Azerbaijan via the Tanap project. We are diversifying our energy using
all these. That is not in regard to the Ukrainian issue; we started
this process long before. Concerning this particular issue, we do not
expect a crisis, as there are clear agreements between Turkey and
Russia. We have not faced big problems until now, and in that sense,
we do not expect a crisis,’ DavutoÄ?lu said.

Ruling party grants more authority to new PM

April 13, 2014 | 16:12

YEREVAN. – Political majority headed by President Sargsyan gave newly
appointed premier more freedom to choose the staff, Deputy Speaker
Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters.

He said this will give Hovik Abrahamyan an opportunity to choose
political figures not only according to affiliation with any political
party but according to their professional skills.

“They will not be his relatives or friends. New PM will have broader
authority to form the Cabinet,” Sharmazanov emphasized.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan handed over resignation on April 3.
Hovik Abrahamyan was introduced as new prime minister on Sunday
following the meetings in the office of ruling Republican Party of
Armenia.

New prime minister has 20 days to form a new Cabinet.

Sources: Along with prime minister’s post, RPA determined to make some
other staff reshuffles – Sharmazanov taking parliament speaker’s
position, Haroutiunyan going back to the justice ministry, while
Sargsyan to engage in diplomacy

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Sunday, April 13, 17:13

The president and the Republican Party have authorized already Prime
Minister Hovik Abrahamyan to make government staff reshuffles, says
Eduard Sharmazanov, RPA Spokesperson, Vice Speaker of the Armenian
Parliament. According to him, Hovik Abrahamyan is authorized to
appoint ministers, including from other political forces, based on
their professional skills only. “However,” Sharmazanov says, the
appointments must not be based on the logic of affinity or friendship.
He says a ruling coalition may be formed and ARFD has taken rather a
constructive stance to this end. Sharmazanov refuted media reports
about dismissal of the former prime minister Tigran Sargsyan because
of his political course that ran contrary the process of Armenia’s
accession to the Customs Union.

“Tigran Sargsyan’s government has done almost half of the work on
that way, and Abrahamyan will continue it,” Sharmazanov says.
According to him, the ex-PM Tigran Sargsyan will continue his
political career in the diplomacy field.

According to ArmInfo’s high-ranking sources in the RPA, Hovik
Abrahamyan is likely to take David Haroutiunyan, the head of the
Parliament Committee for State and Legal Affairs, to the Government as
the Justice Minister. It is widely rumored that Karen Karapetyan, a
Republican MP, brother of Samvel Karapetyan, who owns Tashir Concern,
will be appointed as the Parliament Speaker. Another probable nominee
for the post of the speaker is Vice Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov,
according to ArmInfo’s sources in the RPA.

Armenia’s Ambassador sends letter on Maragha massacres to Ban Ki-moon

16:42, 12 April, 2014

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. The Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Armenia to the UN, Ambassador Karen Nazaryan sent a letter
on the massacres, which occurred in the Maragha village of the
Martakert Region of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on April 10 of 1992,
to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to inform the international
community about the murders of the Maragha residents carried out by
the Azerbaijani Armed Forces 22 years ago on that day.

The Press, Information, and Public Relations Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed
“Armenpress” that on the occasion of commemoration of the innocent
victims of the Maragha massacres, Ambassador Nazarian draws the
attention of the UN Secretary-General and the member states on the
racist and xenophobic policy of Azerbaijan, which is one of the main
obstacles for the Nagorno Karabakh issue negotiating process.

HALTEROPHILIE-CHAMPIONNATS D’EUROPE
Hripsimé Khourshoutyan (+75 kg) prend un 5e place européenne après son
retour dans les compétitions

L’Arménienne Hripsimé Khourshoutyan, médaille de bronze aux Jeux
Olympiques de Londres (2012), après son mariage, devenue mère,
revenait dans les compétitions. Aux championnats d’Europe à Tel Aviv,
dans la catégorie des plus de 75 kg, Hripsimé Khourshoutyan a fait un
retour encourageant en prenant la 5e place avec un total de 232 kg
(102+130). La Russe Tatiana Kashinira a dominé le concours en prenant
la 1ère place avec un total soulevé de 323 kg (143+150). Elle devance
une autre Russe, Yulia Konovalova (265 kg) et une Roumaine, Andrea
Aanei (249 kg).

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 13 avril 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

HALTEROPHILIE-CHAMPIONNATS D’EUROPE
Le représentant de l’Arménie, Roupen Alexanian (+105 kg) vice-champion
d’Europe d’haltérophilie à Tel Aviv (Israël)

L’Arménie a arraché une médaille d’argent le dernier jour des
championnats d’Europe d’haltérophilie qui se sont déroulés cette
semaine à Tel Aviv (Israël). Roupen Alexanian dans les super-lourds
(+105kg) est devenu vice-champion d’Europe avec un total de 436 kg
(190 à l’arraché et 246 à l’épaulé-jeté). L’Arménien est ainsi monté
sur la deuxième marche du podium européen. Le Russe Alexeï Lovtchev
est devenu champion d’Europe avec un total de 457 kg. L’Allemand Almir
Valakitch est troisième avec 423 kg. Dans cette même catégorie des
super-lourds l’Arménie avait également un autre haltérophile, Haïg
Hagopian, qui se classa à la 11e place avec un total de 380 kg
(173+207). La médaille de Roupen Alexanian est la 3e médaille de
l’Arménie à ces championnats d’Europe. Smpad Markarian (56 kg) avait
obtenu une médaille de bronze et Vanig Avedissian (69 kg) était devenu
le 7 avril vice-champion d’Europe. L’Arménie compte donc deux
médailles d’argent et une médaille de bronze à ces championnats
d’Europe.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 13 avril 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

ANGRY ANKARA CALLS SENATE PANEL ‘INEPT’

Friday, April 11th, 2014

Turkish Foreign Mininster Ahmet Davutoglu

ANKARA–Angered at Thursday’s passage of the Armenian Genocide
resolution by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry lashed out at the legislative body condemning the
adoption of the measure.

“The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has acted beyond its
position, competence and responsibility by adopting by majority vote a
hastily and ineptly prepared draft resolution (S.Res.410). We reject
this attempt at a political exploitation that distorts history and
law, and we condemn those who led this prejudiced initiative, which
is devoid of any legal ground,” said an official foreign ministry
statement.

“In actuality, how Turks and Armenians, as the owners of this common
history, can together, through dialogue and empathy, reach a just
memory of the tragic events of 1915, which occurred during the
great human sufferings of World War I, is already being examined
thoroughly and in all its dimensions. In this context, our proposal
to establish a Joint Historical Commission, also reflected in the
Turkish-Armenian protocols, remains on the agenda,” added the foreign
ministry statement.

“In the forthcoming period, it is essential that the U.S. Congress
engages in efforts aimed at strengthening our historic alliance
and partnership, which are more important than ever in the present
circumstances, instead of damaging Turkish-American bilateral ties;
and that this draft resolution and similar ones are not moved any
further in the legislative agenda,” the statement concluded.

On Thursday, by a vote of 12 to 5 the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee adopted the Armenian Genocide resolution, which urges Turkey
to recognize the Genocide.

Prior to Thursday’s vote, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on
Wednesday to discuss the resolutions.

“We don’t have a negative expectation [for the outcome of the draft
resolution],” Davutoglu told reporters in Ankara Thursday, adding
that the two had also discussed developments in Syria and Egypt,
reported Hurriyet Daily News.

The Turkish government is taking measures against “initiatives that
will bother Turkey. We hope they will not take such an attitude,”
he also said.

ARMENIA BEER EXPORTING COMPANY TO NO LONGER ORDER BOTTLES FROM UKRAINE

April 11, 2014 | 04:29

YEREVAN. – Yerevan Beer, which is Armenia’s largest company that
exports beer, plans to stop its glass bottle orders in Ukraine.

The company informed the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am commenting
on the decision that was made at Thursday’s Armenian Cabinet meeting.

The government had permitted the enterprise to extend, until 2015,
the temporary export of the press-form glass containers to Ukraine.

Company Chief Engineer Hayk Torosyan stated that the orders were
made to Ukraine due to an accident that occurred last year in one of
Armenia’s two major glass factories.

“When we are sure that we can restore the smooth production here,
we will return the orders here,” Torosyan said.

In his words, however, the recalling of the orders in Ukraine is
linked neither to the crisis in Crimea nor the dividing lines of
Armenia’s Eurasian integration.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

SOCCER: ARMENIA’S SWISS COACH SEES “SHORT SUBSTITUTES’ BENCH” AS HAVAKAKAN’S MAJOR PROBLEM

SOCCER | 11.04.14 | 10:59

Bernard Challandes

E-mail to friend | (0) Comments | Print | Bernard Challandes, the
new head coach of Armenia’s national soccer team, believes shortage
of substitute players could be one of the key problems that possibly
prevented the Havakakan from qualifying for a major international
tournament yet.

In an interview with the official website of the Football Federation
of Armenia, the Swiss specialist repeated that his main goal with
Armenia is to help the team overcome the qualification stage and
reach the Euro-2016 finals.

To the question as to what has so far prevented Armenia from
“making that final step”, Challandes said: “It is difficult to name
one concrete reason, but probably the main problem is the short
substitutes’ bench. We have quality players but when one or several
of them cannot play for some reason, we face problems.”

The Swiss tactician acknowledged that Armenia could not have as many
players as Brazil, but he said: “We should ensure that in each position
we have competition. This is my job and I know how to achieve that.”

In the interview Challandes also reported about his recent work and
communications with players, including Borussia Dortmund’s attacking
midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. “The most important thing is to play
a lot and communicate a lot,” he said.

Armenia will play their first match under Challandes on May 31. It will
be a friendly against 2014 World Cup participant Algeria in Geneva,
Switzerland. On June 6, Armenia are also scheduled to play a benefit
match against another Mundial participant Germany in Mainz on June 6.

Euro-2016 qualifiers for Armenia will commence in September. The
team’s rivals are Portugal, Denmark, Serbia and Albania.

Armenia is 33rd among the world’s soccer-playing nations according to
the latest rankings published by the game’s international governing
body, FIFA, on April 10.