Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Even Azerbaijani delegation congratulated Armenian Aykikendo Karate
fighters – head of federation

March 1

By Paruyr Sinyavski

YEREVAN.- Armenia’s Aykikendo Karate national team was the first in
the open martial arts championship of Georgia. The delegation of 26
athletes brought 18 medals, 6 of which are gold.

Talking to NEWS.am Sport head of Aykikendo Karate Federation Davit
Atanesyan said they are especially pleased that two medals were gained
by representatives of Gavar branch.

`Dynamical development of sport, in particular Aykikendo Karate, in
the regions is important for us,’ he said.

The federation has already received an invitation to participate in
K-1 tournament in Spain organized by MixFight Events. Besides,
Armenian athletes will participate in the Eurasian championship to be
held in Tbilisi.

`Our Georgian colleagues were excited about our athletes’ performance.
Even heads of Azerbaijani delegation congratulated us. Georgian and
Azerbaijani coaches and heads of federations said participation of our
sportsmen made the tournament more competitive,’ Atanesyan said.

He also noted that women’s team is also preparing to participate in
the international tournaments.

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Armenian kidnapped on way from Syria to Lebanon

18:07, 1 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian has been kidnapped on way from
Syria to Lebanon on March 1. Armenpress was informed from spokesman of
Berio Diocese Jirair Reisian, adding that the incident took place on
the way to Beirut. Reisian has also noted that Nazaret Sabujyan, 52,
is the kidnapped. No other details clarified.

Referring to the situation in Aleppo, Reisian noted that it was
relatively calm in Armenian districts. No incident recorded, despite
rare sounds of shootings.

In accordance with UN data, Syrian clashes lasting about 23 months
have caused the death of about 70 000 people, including about four
dozen Syrian Armenians.

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Liturgy served in St. Sarkis Church dedicated to memory of March 1 victims

17:59, 1 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS: Liturgy was served in Saint Sarkis
Church of Yerevan in the memory of March 1 victims. As reports
Armenpress the liturgy was served by Fr. Shahe Hayrapetian.

Coordinator of HAK Levon Zurabyan, HAK member Nikol Pashinyan,
deputies of HAK fraction Aram Manukyan, Lyudmila Sargsyan, President
of People’s Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan, NA deputy Gagik
Jhangiryan, leader of `Heritage’ party Raffi Hovhannisyan and former
presidential candidate Hrant Bagratyan attended the ceremony. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan was not present at the liturgy.

Families, relatives of the victims, as well as great number of
citizens attended the ceremony.

Participants, headed by HAK representatives, marched to Myasnikyan
monument to lay flowers and respect the memory of March 1, 2008
victims.

Clashes between police and opposition took place on March 1,2 in 2008
during the rallies after presidential elections. 10 people died in a
result, including 2 policemen and 8 citizens.

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Raffi Hovannisian on Hovik Abrahamyan’s statement: My interlocutor is
Serzh Sargsyan

16:44 01/03/2013 » COMMENTS

Hovik Abrahamyan is not my interlocutor. Let them hold discussions in
parliament. My interlocutor is Serzh Sargsyan. If he has something to
say, I am ready to listen to him, former presidential candidate,
Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian told a public press conference
in Yerevan’s Liberty Square while commenting on a recent statement by
Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

At a parliamentary briefing on February 27, when asked if he considers
it reasonable that Heritage members should be appointed to top
positions, Hovik Abrahamyan said, `If there are such proposals, we can
discuss them.’

Commenting on the possibility of a second meeting with Serzh Sargsyan,
Raffi Hovannisian said that the answer should be looked for in another
place.

Source: Panorama.am

World Bank Supports Innovative Social Assistance and Care by Empowerment

15:44 01.03.2013

The World Bank Country Manager for Armenia Jean-Michel Happi and
President of Mission Armenia, NGO, Hripsime Kirakosyan signed today
the Grant Agreement for the `Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice
of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia’ Project. The Japan
Social Development Fund (JSDF) generously supports the project with a
grant of US$ 2, 7 million.

This Project has been designed in partnership with Ministry of Labor
and Social Protection of Armenia. It will promote self-reliance and
empowerment among over 4,000 vulnerable and disabled persons in 15
urban locations in 6 regions of Armenia. The piloted approaches and
models could be scaled up and effectively used in other parts of the
country.

The Project will support vocational and on-the-job training to enhance
self-employment of the beneficiaries. Moreover, it will support
social and health care services at the community level, and empower
people with disabilities by improving their ability to advocate for
themselves.

`We are pleased to sign this Agreement with Mission Armenia, a
distinguished civil society organization, as a recipient and
implementing agency for this Project supported by the Japanese Grant,’
said Jean-Michel Happi, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. `It
aims to integrate extremely needy and disabled people and help them
become active participants in the society. The Project will improve
employment of the vulnerable groups including people with disabilities
so that they can support themselves rather than rely passively on
social assistance and social care.’

The implementation of the project will be conducted by a local grass
roots organization with over twenty-years of experience in initiating
and establishing innovative, beneficiary strength and empowerment
based programs.

In particular, this Project will contribute to the following outcomes:

About 800 persons with disabilities will gain increased professional
qualifications and skills by completing vocational training or
on-the-job training programs. This will improve their employment
opportunities and give them a competitive edge in the labor market.
About 200 of the most successful trainees will receive additional
training in creation and management of micro-businesses;
About 40 beneficiaries with disabilities will successfully operate new
businesses following training and support through micro-grants;
About 4,000 beneficiaries will receive community-based social and
health services, of which 2,000 will receive daily hot meals through
15 Day Care Centers to be established under the Project;
12 public sites/buildings that are frequently used by persons with
disabilities will have improved physical access;two Disability
Resource Centers will be established, remodeled, and equipped.

MFA Building Will Be Put Up For Auction On March 5

16:02 01/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia will be put up for auction on March 5. The head of Union of
Architects Mkrtich Minasyan said today that their urges that the
building which is a symbol should not be sold, remained unanswered.

Architects are afraid that the buyer could ruin the building like it
happened in case of Yerevan’s Covered Market.

Architect Artyom Grigoryan says the deal will break the law on the
utilization and preservation of historical and cultural monuments,
which forbids the destruction, dislocation and change of monuments.

The architects decided to send a letter before the auction trying to
prevent it. They are going to send letters to the Prosecutor’s office
relating to the Covered Market and Foreign Ministry’s buildings.

Artak Zakaryan: Czech Parliament ready to study Khojaly issue also
From the Armenia’s viewpoint

ARMINFO
Friday, March 1, 12:53

Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Armenian National
Assembly Artak Zakaryan sent a letter to his Czech counterpart over
the pro-Azerbaijani resolution passed by the Czech Parliament
committee. Zakaryan told media, Friday, that the Czech Parliament
Committee for Foreign Relations, Defense and Security passed a
resolution condemning ‘ethnic purges’ in Khojaly assessing those
incidents as ‘genocide.’ The Czech Foreign Ministry has already
disseminated a statement saying that it bears no relation to the draft
resolution.

“My letter was replied positively, and the Czech Parliament is ready
to study the issue also from Armenia’s viewpoint. This will make it
possible for us to present the true facts of what happened in
Khojaly,” he said.

Zakaryan called inadmissible Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda in
foreign parliaments. He recalled that the incident that happened on
February 26 in the National Assembly of France when the Azeri
delegation disrupted a commemoration event marking the 25th
anniversary of the Sumgait Massacres taking place inside the French
Parliament. The event was organized by Hay Dat office in France. The
Azeris refused to stand in observance of a moment of silence for the
victims. One of the Azeris shouted that he would only stand to
commemorate “the victims of Khojaly.” The state aroused discontent of
the Armenian delegates and and a brawl ensued before audience members
broke it up and police cordoned off the room. Immediately after the
incident, the Azerbaijani ambassador to France arrived in the
parliament and condemned the incident.

“In the countries where Baku fails to disseminate misinformation,
Azeris behave in such way. It is natural that Hay Dat Office filed a
lawsuit against the Azerbaijanis that provoked the incident,” Zakaryan
said. The politician expressed concern that the countries that fell
under influence of Azerbaijan may grow in number. Consequently,
Armenia’s diplomatic efforts must be aimed to prevent any attempts of
anti- Armenian propaganda, he said.

A CITIZEN INSISTS THAT HE HAS RECIEVED BRIBE

11:43 AM | TODAY | POLITICS

RA citizen, commander of the first defense detachment Artsvashen,
Barkhudar Adamyan appeared in the spotlight of attention of the police
for his sincerity. During the surveys of “A1 +” he did not conceal
the fact that on February 18 he had received a bribe.

“It happened in Kotayk province. They were sitting in the car, dressed
as a priest. Someone approached me and asked whether I would go to the
polls. When I answered yes, I will go and will elect Raffi Hovannisian
they offered me 5 000, then 7500, then 10 000 dram”, – he said.

Although Mr. Adamian took the money, but confesses that he did not
elect Serge Sargsyan. Today he is not worried about police, but with
the fact that it occurs in independent Armenia.

“They went even to check my parents’ house, went to my sister’s house”,
– he mentioned.

And Barkhudar Adamyan continues insisting that the Republican Party
of Armenia has distributed electoral bribe, as during the presidential
elections of 2008 and during the parliamentary elections of 2012. “In
Gegharkunik province, Kotayk Province, inIjevan, I have relatives,
all of them have received.”

NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO VIOLATE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER

February 28, 2013 | 12:29

YEREVAN.- No one has a right to violate rights and freedom of the
citizens, leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian said.

Within the framework of his tour, former presidential candidate
visited Charentsovan town of Armenia’s Kotayk Region, the Armenian
News-NEWS.am correspondent reports.

“We proved that people’s will cannot be broken. There is a way out of
the atmosphere of lies, fear and intimidation. It is acknowledgment
of readiness to fight for your own rights. The struggle may be long
and difficult, but we must not give up. We will implement our rights,”
he said.

Armenia will turn into a country where people return, a country where
human rights are respected, he added.

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ARMENIANS OF LITHUANIA HONOR VICTIMS OF SUMGAIT MASSACRES

February 28, 2013 | 12:58

Armenian community of Lithuania on Wednesday organized a picket
outside of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Vilnius to honor victims of
the Sumgait massacres.

Local police said the event brought together around 100 Armenians. The
demonstrators waived Armenian flag and held banners which said:
“We Will Never Forget Armenian Massacres in Sumgaite, Baku, Maragh,”
“Lithuanians Aren’t The Nation Who Can Be Bought for Caviar and Oil,”
“Shame on you Azeri”, 15min.lt newspaper reported.

Representatives of local Armenian community said the action was held
not only to honor the memory of Armenian victims “but also to remind
Lithuania that Lithuania and Armenia were together 25 years ago and
we want to be together now.”

Local media said a few dozens of Azerbaijanis also held an action
near the Embassy.

On Tuesday a group of Lithuanian MPs adopted a protocol to create
a Group of Friendship in Seimas of the Lithuanian Republic with the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

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