Author: Kajoyan Gevork

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS REAFFIRMS RESPECT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION

The Special Rapporteur also refers to the very poor condition of the
Armenian Monastery in Halefka, which he visited, and he strongly
recommends the future use by the Armenians of the Armenian Church in
occupied Nicosia, which was recently restored,” it notes.

Nicosia, Feb 21 (Cyprus News Agency) – The Republic of Cyprus, on the
occasion of the recent release of a report by UN Special Rapporteur on
freedom of religion or belief Heiner Bielefeldt, on his mission to
Cyprus from 29 March to 5 April 2012, “reaffirms its full respect for
the fundamental human right of freedom of religion or belief.”
In a press release, it is noted that “the Special Rapporteur`s Report
and his recommendations will be thoroughly evaluated by the competent
authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.”
“The Republic of Cyprus agrees with the observation of the Special
Rapporteur that the Cyprus problem does not originate from religious
differences, as well as with his support for the commendable work of
the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, which should
be strengthened,” it says.
It adds that, regarding the religious freedom of the enclaved, whom
the Special Rapporteur visited, “the Report refers, inter alia, to the
vandalism of religious monuments and cemeteries, the limited presence
of priests, the intimidation provoked by the so-called `police` taking
photographs during religious services and the `restrictive and unfair
handling of inheritance claims`.”
“A reference is also made to the unacceptable placing of the Bishop of
Karpasia on a `stop list` since January 2012,” it says.
The press release adds that “the Special Rapporteur calls for the
respect of the fundamental human right of religious freedom, of the
1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict, and the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975” and
“also recommends that `the de-facto authorities` should respect the
right of religious leaders to visit their communities without undue
restrictions.”
“Specific reference is also made to the religious sites of the
Maronites, to which they do not have regular access since they are
located in `military compounds` and to the far from satisfactory
condition of their cemeteries. The Special Rapporteur also refers to
the very poor condition of the Armenian Monastery in Halefka, which he
visited, and he strongly recommends the future use by the Armenians of
the Armenian Church in occupied Nicosia, which was recently restored,”
it notes.
It adds that “the Special Rapporteur also reaffirms the close
surveillance to which the so-called `police` subjects religious groups
in the occupied part of Cyprus” and that “the reference in paragraph
49 that a plain clothes `police officer` tried to observe a meeting of
the Special Rapporteur with the Maronite villagers is indicative.”
“The Report also makes particular reference to the impact of the
illegal colonization in the occupied areas to the religious identity
of the Turkish Cypriots, as well as to the imposition of mandatory
religious instruction in the occupied areas. The oppressive regime in
occupied Cyprus is also exposed by the non-acceptance of the right to
conscientious objection to military service,” it says.
The press release notes that, “regarding the references to the Muslim
sites in the Government-controlled areas, it should be stressed that
the Republic of Cyprus systematically restores all such places of
worship and cemeteries in the Government-controlled areas.”
“Moreover, the lack of `minimum infrastructure` to some of the Muslim
cemeteries in the Government-controlled areas can be attributed, to an
extent, to the restriction of movement to the Government-controlled
areas, imposed by the Turkish occupation regime, to the Turkish
Cypriots for decades,” it says.
It notes that “the Republic of Cyprus fully respects the religious
rights of the Turkish Cypriots and facilitates their visits to the
places of worship in the Government-controlled areas.”
“Foreign pilgrims are also welcome to exercise their religious rights
provided that they have entered the territory of the Republic of
Cyprus legally. However, the colonization of the occupied areas of
Cyprus violates the 4th Geneva Convention and constitutes a `war
crime` according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court. In this regard, while the Government does not disagree with the
general approach of the Special Rapporteur that religious freedom
should not depend on `citizenship`, however the issue of illegal
colonization has a serious particularity which cannot be overlooked or
minimized,” it says.
The Report will be presented during a plenary session of the Human
Rights Council on March 5, 2013.

Glendale Armenians support Raffi Hovannisian-VIDEO

05:31 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Over one thousand Armenians attended the meeting held in Glendale, US,
on March 3. They expressed their willingness to join the nationwide
movement in Armenia led by Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian,
the official runner-up in the February 18 presidential election, who
is disputing the outcome of the vote.

For more details watch the video of RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun).

Armenian chess players occupy 2nd place in Cappelle la Grande

16:20, 4 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenian chess Grand Masters occupied
the 2nd position in Cappelle la Grande international tournament, which
was held in France.

The Chess Federation of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that Armenian
Chess Grand Masters Tigran Gharamian, Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, IM Karen
Grigoryan scored 6,5 points each out of 9 at the open that was held in
Cappelle la Grande, France. They were only half a point behind the
winner – GM Sanan Sjugirov (Russia).

The tournament launched on February 23.

– See more at:

Silk road challenge international bloggers’ contest winners announced

YEREVAN, March 4. /ARKA/. International bloggers’ contest Silk Road
Challenge funded by Armenia’s National Competitiveness Foundation has
announced its winners, the press service of the Foundation reported.

The contest was held under World Travel Market international tourism
exhibition in London.

The international jury awarded their best blog prizes to Jonathan
Powel (The Flaneur) for `I want to eat in Armenia’ and to Nile
Hayuward (There’s So Much to See) for Lebanese Moghrabieh.

Here are the links for Powel’s and Hayuward’s blogs:
,

The winners will be granted an opportunity to visit Armenia and post
their impressions.
Armenia’s National Competitiveness Foundation is an independent
organization established for government – private sector cooperation.
The foundation aims at pooling strategic investments to ensure
breakthrough in key economic sectors.-0 –
– See more at:

Unilateral recognition of NKR’s independence may bring to deadlock

Monday,
March 04

The fate of Nagorno Karabakh should be decided by the Karabakh people
themselves who should become a fully-fledged party to the negotiating
process, Vise Speaker of the Armenian parliament Edward Sharmazanov
stated today at the meeting with students of the Department of
International Affairs of Yerevan State University. Besides, according
to him, Azerbaijan should stop carrying out a racist policy.

`At the current state a unilateral recognition of Nagorno Karabakh’s
independence – a step that Raffi Hovannisian insists on – may bring to
a deadlock,’ Sharmazanov said.

In his words, Armenia’s strategic allied partnership with Russia does
not prevent its serious cooperation with NATO.

`We cooperate with this or that country, based on our national
interests,’ the vice speaker of Armenian parliament said.

When discussing Armenian-Turkish relations, he noted that the process
will not move ahead until Turkey ratifies protocols signed.
When asked by the students whether the West’s sanctions against Iran
have harmed Armenian-Iranian relations, E. Sharmazanov replied that
Armenia has adopted a balanced policy on these relations and that it
views Iran as one of the most important partner neighbors and is
interested in a peaceful resolution of the problem.

TODAY, 17:15
Aysor.am

Ararat Arzoumanyan: “If I’m from Javakhk don’t I have the right to
voice my opinion?”
Kristine Aghalaryan

14:51, March 4, 2013

The face of Ararat Arzoumanyan, a second year international relations
student at Yerevan State University (YSU), has been splashed in the
pages of the press and internet of late.

Arzoumanyan was at the center of an incident that took place between
striking students and the YSU administration on February 27. The
student was caught on film hurling curses at the strikers assembled
outside the school.

Arzoumanyan was one of a group of students from Akhalkalak that Gevorg
Melkonyan, Assistant to the YSU Rector, called upon to square-off
against the strikers.

Hetq caught up with Ararat Arzoumanyan and asked him the following.

Ararat, some people say you were used by the YSU administration, while
others noted that your behaviour that day was unacceptable. What
exactly happened?

I was talking to Tigran, one of the strike organizers. I wanted him to
point out that girl who has giving us the middle finger. I demanded to
know who that gesture was directed towards. Tigran said he didn’t know
and that the group assumed no responsibility for it. At that moment on
of our friends joined the conversation and said that if such girls
exist they should be ashamed for the `milk they have drunk’. In
response, one of the strikers said that he would take that milk and
pour it on our heads. The video footage erased that first part. What
they presented was pure provocation to turn Akhalkalak people against
each other. If you look closely at the video, you will note that I am
making urging the students not to get into a fight. I said that I
would shut the mouth of anyone who tries to curse again. Imagine just
how much they got me riled up to say something like that.

How did you show up at the center of the incident? Were you called or
was it by accident?

No, it wasn’t by accident. We knew about the strike and how they came
to the school. We came out to say that we wouldn’t join the strike.
What’s the problem in that?

I am a student. So what if I’m from Javakhk? Don’t I have the right to
express my opinion? We were against that strike. We stood there
peacefully. No one told us to go out there and oppose the strike.

So what did the rector’s assistant mean when he called for the
Akhalkalak guys to come out?

At the time, there was a clash with the strikers. The assistant called
for the police and Akhalkalak students to divide the two sides. It
just came across differently. The videos were edited in such a way to
make it seem that he was calling for the Akhalkalak army to come to
the rescue.

So what were you doing outside if you opposed the strike? Why weren’t
you in the classroom?

I requested that all our boys stay inside and attend class. Otherwise,
there would have been 1,000 students outside opposing the strike. It’s
just that some of us were between classes and were outside. There were
only 5-6 Akhalkalak students.

Do you believe the election was free and fair? Is that why you opposed
the strike?

I am not a citizen of Armenia and thus do not presume the right to
offer an evaluation of the election.

After the incident, you were castigated by many Javakhk Armenians for
putting them to shame. How would you answer this charge?

Those who make such a charge should look in the mirror and ask what
they have done for Akhalkalak.

I have done my fair share. I participated in the demonstration outside
the U.N. office in Yerevan calling for the publishing of Armenian
books and for the teaching of Armenian history lessons in Javakhk. I
took part in the demonstration outside the Georgian Embassy. I have
friends who were present at the incident. I call on them not to
believe what the uninformed are now saying.

Do you regret that such an incident took place?

I regret it to the extent that I didn’t control myself at the time.
However, when people are cursing at you, it’s hard to control oneself,
no matter how many cameras are recording the incident. I am happy that
I didn’t mouth other curses.

Yes the expression that I used, `get the hell out’, is regarded as a
curse word by many. In our dialect, a friend can say it to another
friend.

We are trying to get our hands on a video of the entire incident in
order to show people what the other side was saying. We haven’t
located such a video as yet.

That expression of mine was directed at those girls in the strikers,
who shamed the depiction of an Armenian woman and gave the middle
finger outside the YSU.

4,309 Diaspora Armenian students study at universities of Armenia

Monday,
March 04

4,309 Diaspora Armenian students currently study at universities of
Armenia. Students from Georgia, mostly from Georgia’s
Armenian-populated region of Javakhk, make up the largest proportion
of Diaspora Armenian students, followed by those from Russia and Iran,
Chairman of the Council of Diaspora Armenian Students Samvel Mkoyan
said during a meeting with reporters today.

The majority of Diaspora students study at Medical University, State
Engineering University of Armenia, and Pedagogical University.

Speaking about the problems of Diaspora Armenian students, the council
chairman mentioned tuition fees which are by 30% higher than those
paid by students residing in Armenia.

There has been an increase in the number of Syrian Armenian students.
According to S. Mkoyan, they have accommodation problems, but various
organizations help them, the preliminary courses at various
universities give 50% discounts to Syrian Armenians, while the
Armenian Youth Fund has transferred 40 million AMD in payment of
tuition fees of Syrian Armenian students in bachelor’s programs.

The speaker stressed that a free system is available to excellent
students from the Diaspora, but there is no discount system, which is
an obstacle.

TODAY, 15:20
Aysor.am

Armenia’s Integration In A Different Format

IGOR MURADYAN
14:31 04/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The discussion on the Russian-Armenian relations has gone beyond the
zone of emotions, and now these relations are a subject of
professional discussions, which was indicated by appearance of
interesting information on the political goals and objectives of
Russia and Armenia. Of course, not the critical mass of information is
the reason for adoption of one political solution or another but
sooner or later fragments transform to mechanics of relations.

The problems in Russian-Armenian relations are not due to foreign
political bias but change of domestic and foreign priorities of Russia
and Armenia. Russia’s aspiration to continue to influence the entire
South Caucasian region and other regions and in this context its
supply of weapon to Azerbaijan which threatens Armenia with a war
cannot be the main factor of Moscow’s behavior.

Russia has lost and failed to restore its nature and style of a great
power. The policy conducted by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet
Union reminds that of a big but regional power which has not only
limited resources but also limited ambitions of its ruling elite. The
empire disappeared already in the last decade of the Soviet Union
while the new political mentality did not appear.

The Russian political government committed a political and military
crime against its closest ally Armenia though the notion of ally and
especially the notion of strategic partner remained inappropriate
wording used by not so serious and responsible politicians working for
government agencies in conversations with their Armenian colleagues.
In answer to this once can only say that the United States and NATO
have not offered a real alternative.

Moscow’s signals on corrections in its behavior regarding Armenia are
nonsense. Russia will continue to supply modern and not so modern
weapons to Azerbaijan. In fact, Russia lacks a political government
and a political class, it has a ruling regime whose main goal is
making money and the state is in the last place. It should be
understood that the relations between Russia and Armenia are highly
limited, and there is no doubt that Russia will not fulfill its
commitments at a U-turn of developments.

Russia cannot fight for different reasons, including the unprecedented
and insurmountable distance between the ruling regime and the armed
forces (not only the generals). The young generals of the Russian
armed forces openly speak about it. It has become known that there
were controversies over the presence of the Russian fleet in the
Mediterranean, over the developments in Syria.

Discussions with Russian experts reveal that they have nothing to
offer except hysteria and embarrassment. They only confess that
despite demonstrative steps Russia is losing its influence along the
perimeter of its borders, and all the states in its area of influence
have a plan on alternative foreign political priorities. The empire is
dying, and nobody wants to save it, everyone wants to benefit from the
disaster of the Russian people. As to the phenomenon of Georgia, its
new government is to accelerate integration with NATO and overcome
obstacles, including the confrontation with Russia.

What has changed in the policy of Armenia? The main change is
Yerevan’s efforts to establish political relations with Russia, which
did not exist in the past. The answer to the question whether it is
possible to sit on two chairs is simple, `It is impossible in a
short-term perspective, it is quite possible in a long-term
perspective.’ They will try to pull the chair out from under the
partner but soon it will be clear that there is no such an objective
because a lot of identical goals will appear.

At the same time, if earlier before the Armenian presidential election
the Armenian government tried to prevent foreign political isolation
and had no hope for functional rapprochement with the Western
community, now other goals and objectives have occurred. Both coasts
of the ocean admitted that Armenia’s integration will take place in a
different format, and some politicians and experts of the United
States and Europe hinted to Yerevan that there is no need to keep too
much distance from Moscow.

This is determined by a number of factors which will be told in the
nearest future but, importantly, NATO has taken into account its
experience of not always successful policy on Eastern Europe. One way
or another, the format of relations between Armenia and the
Euro-Atlantic community has changed, and it should have been expected
earlier when NATO and the EU faced the crisis regarding Turkey’s
policy which is the author of all kinds of caprices and idiocy of
Azerbaijan.

Adequacy of partnership is a `rarity’ in the modern world when surplus
of contractual relations, manipulation of the phrase `strategic
relations’ and the lack of real partnership have occurred both in
small and bid states.

The Armenian government arrived at the line of foreign political
U-turn in public indifference and bankruptcy of experts who did not
even realize the goals of their patrons in and outside Armenia. As a
cynic of Armenian `intellectualism’ said, `No one wants to be the
target.’ They used to think so in the past, so did they do in recent
past. Later these insurers appeared in the backstage of the Armenian
government. Nothing changes which is good, it is important that they
do not get in the way now.

OSCE/ODIHR observers say Armenian broadcast media showed selective
approach in covering post-election events

YEREVAN, March 4. /ARKA/. The main broadcast media, including public
television H1, showed a selective approach in their coverage of
post-election events, with a noticeable tendency to limit views
critical of the conduct of the election, according to the OSCE/ODIHR
post-election interim report.

According to the final results of the elections, Armenia’s incumbent
president Serzh Sargsyan won re-election Monday with 861,378 votes or
58.64%. Raffi Hovannisian, Heritage party leader, stayed behind with
36.74% of vote. However, Hovannisian didn’t recognize the results and
declared on `Barevolution’ (revolution of greetings). Since February
20, Hovannisian’s supporters have been organizing rallies and protests
in Yerevan and provinces of the country.

`All media monitored by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM regularly covered
gatherings and rallies organized by Mr. Hovannisian; however, H1,
Shant and Armenia TV often presented only general and at times
superficial coverage of the protests, while repeatedly stating that
the rallies were not authorized, and airing a statement by the police
to this extent.’

On the other hand, a number of online media as well as Radio Azatutyun
and public radio offered diverse views and more balanced reporting,
the observers said.

An OSCE/ODIHR EOM analysis of final results as published by the CEC
shows a close correlation between the voter turnout and the number of
votes for the incumbent, with PECs with above-average turnout also
having a higher share of votes for Mr. Sargsyan.

`Out of the 1,988 polling stations, 1,746 have 300 or more registered
voters.10 In 144 of those, voter turnout exceeded 80 per cent, which
seems implausibly high; the incumbent received above 80 per cent of
the votes cast in 115 of these stations. In 198 out of the 303
stations where turnout was between 70 and 80 per cent, the incumbent
received more than 70 per cent of the votes. Among 249 stations where
turnout was below 50 per cent, Mr.
Sargsyan received more than 50 per cent in 40, and Mr. Hovannisian
received more than 50 per cent in 155. The tendency of higher results
for the incumbent observed at the majority of stations with high
turnout raises concerns regarding the confidence over the integrity of
the electoral process.’

Earlier at a news conference on the next day after the elections Head
of OSCE/ODIHR Mission Heidi Tagliavini said the violations detected
during the election could not change the final outcome.

International observers assessed the elections positively overall
calling them democratic and legitimate, however referring to some
infringements. -0-
– See more at:

Obama’s Transparent Hints To Serzh Sargsyan

HAKOB BADALYAN
11:21 04/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The Information Office of the President published the congratulatory
message of the U.S. President Barack Obama to Serzh Sargsyan which
contains some interesting implications.

First, Obama reminds that they both begin their second term of office.
This comparison may just be statement. But it evokes the gesture often
used in American films which stands for the U.S. will be watching
Serzh Sargsyan how he will fulfill his commitments.

The second hint is quite clear and transparent. The U.S. investors
expect democracy and economic reforms in order to invest in the
country which is a valuable partner. This is addressed to the post of
prime minister for which the U.S. and Russia have entered into a real
fight.

On March 12 Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Moscow where he will be
asked question about the post of prime minister. Moscow already makes
strong psychological pressure on Armenia. On the anniversary of March
1 Moscow announced that Russia’s airborne troops may be deployed in
Armenia to overcome the crisis. Formally, these forces can be deployed
only if Armenia invites them but in reality Moscow is unlikely to wait
for an invitation. It can trigger crisis to deploy those troops.

In the meantime, the ex-president of ARG Karen Karapetyan, the
vice-president of Gazprom Bank who exchanged his position of mayor of
Yerevan with his current position, has arrived in Armenia. He is a
possible nominee.

The Armenian press reported that Karen Karapetyan had some political
consultations in Yerevan. The U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern
met with Tigran Sargsyan who was invited to the United States last
year and had high-level meetings with the heads of IT giants who are
willing to have representations in Armenia. Thus the United States
demonstrated that they want to see Tigran Sargsyan in the position of
prime minister.

Obama’s hint on the expectations of American investors is a high-level
confirmation of this stance and Washington’s decision to fight for the
post of prime minister.

Although it is possible that the recent telephone conversation between
Putin and Obama will abate tension over Armenia. During this
conversation the question of the Armenian prime minister was not
discussed but change of the general atmosphere can affect this issue
as well.

And the most important hint by Obama was the reminder to Serzh
Sargsyan to create `heritage’. Against the background of the election
results and post-election developments in Armenia, the choice of the
word does seem symptomatic. Apparently, it is an act of recognition of
the new status quo in Armenia, a hint to Serzh Sargsyan to recognize
the status quo as a guarantee for the completion of his second term.

By the way, this is an interesting hint from the point of view of
sustained development of Armenia in the context of statements on
troops and crises coming from Moscow.