Author: Kajoyan Gevork

The European Platform for Democratic Elections Statement on
Presidential elections

14:18 23/02/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The elections were characterised by a lack of political competition,
low-key campaigning and a relatively low presence of partisan election
observers in precincts on election-day. This has to be explained with
the decision of the three main opposition parties not to nominate
their candidates for the Presidential elections and consequently not
to deploy their proxies to the election precincts.

Election day was characterised by a committed election administration,
which aimed at ensuring a calm voting process. However, during
election day civic election observers reported on ballot stuffing,
multiple voting and intimidation of voters through proxies of one of
the candidates, which raises concern on the fairness of the electoral
process. Some of those election precincts where civic election
observers monitored the voting process showed a significant lower
voter turnout (up to 25%) than neighbouring election precincts – often
in the same building -where no observers were present. The precincts
with inflated voter turnout showed higher voting results for the
incumbent Serge Sargsyan than for his competitor Raffi Hovhannisyan.
These observations give ground to suppose that both the voter turnout
and voting results have been subject to manipulation on election day.

The new election code provides in general an adequate framework for
the conduct of transparent and democratic election and includes wide
competences for the conduct of civic election observation. Civic
election observation in Armenia deserves special attention by Armenian
and international institutions. Legal provisions for civic election
observation should be further improved and methodological support be
reinforced in order to further develop civic control over electoral
processes in the country and to increase public trust in national and
international democratic institutions.

Full report

ANM convention: Armenian National Movement to be renamed into Armenian
National Congress party

17:04 23/02/2013 » POLITICS

By a vote of 375 for, 6 against and 3 abstained, the 18th special
convention of Armenian National Movement party decided to rename
Armenian National Movement into Armenian National Congress party as
well as to approve the request of the initiative group to reorganize
the party.

Thus, ANM is joining the initiative of creating Armenian National
Congress party and is being renamed in accordance with the relevant
changes in the Regulations. Also, an organizing committee is to be
formed to prepare for the first convention of the Armenian Congress
party.

Source: Panorama.am

Commemoration ceremonies scheduled in Ukraine on massacres of
Armenians in Sumgait

13:55, 23 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: All Armenian churches in Ukraine are
scheduled to conduct requiem on mass massacres of Armenians in
Sumgait. As Armenpress reports citing Analitika.at.ua web site Grigory
Buniatyan, the head of Armenian Apostolic Diocese in Ukraine stated
the commemoration events dedicated to the memory of innocent victims
are due on February 24.

”Armenians all over the world are commemorating 25 th anniversary of
Sumgait massacres. Armenian large communities from the corners of the
world are going to host various events on this day. Documentary films
about bloody events in Sumgait will be demonstrated then” the web
site runs. Massacre perpetrated against Armenian population living in
Azerbaijani Sumgait city was the first boom of Soviet Union ethnic
violence. Sumgait massacres last for three days, were accompanied by
massive violence, plunder and murder.

Fight breaks in Armenian parliament – newspaper

NEWS.AM
February 23, 2013 | 06:32

YEREVAN. – An argument started, during Friday’s session of the
Armenian National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Defense,
National Security and Internal Affairs – and over the seating
arrangement at the hall – between the assistants of Committee Chairman
Koryun Nahapetyan and NA ruling Republican Party Faction MP, retired
General Manvel Grigoryan, Zhoghovurd daily reports.

`The argument was taken to the NA corridor, where the dispute of the
MPs’ assistants turned into a shoving match and, subsequently, a
serious fight. [But] the NA staffers, who arrived [on the scene]
because of the noise, were able to somehow stop the fight and separate
them.

We attempted to verify this information from Koryun Nahapetyan, but,
in a telephonic conversation with Zhoghovurd, he said no incident had
occurred during the session,’ Zhoghovurd writes.

Zhoghovurd: Governors to build luxury hotel complex in Tsakhkadzor

09:55 23/02/2013 » DAILY PRESS

Several governors are going to build a luxury hotel complex in
Tsakhkadzor, in an area called `Kachal Sar,’ Zhoghovurd reports,
citing well-informed sources. The author of the project is Kotayk
governor Kovalenko Shahgaldyan. Tavush governor Armen Ghularyan and
now already former governor of Shirak Ashot Giziryan will be co-owners
of the hotel.

Kotayk governor denied the rumor when contacted by the paper.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIE-ARTSAKH
Cérémonie à Moscou pour le 25e anniversaire du Mouvement Karabagh

Le 21 février des Arméniens se sont réunis devant le khatchkar sur
l’espace du futur Centre culturel et religieux arménien de Moscou. Les
manifestants ont déposé des gerbes de fleurs à l’occasion du 25e
anniversaire du Mouvement Karabagh de février 1988 ainsi qu’à la
mémoire des combattants Arméniens morts lors de la lutte de libération
de l’Artsakh. Etaient présents à la cérémonie Garen Mirzoyan le
ministre des Affaires étrangère de la République du Haut Karabagh,
Oleg Yessayan l’Ambassadeur d’Arménie à Moscou, des membres de la
Représentation du Haut Karabagh dans la capitale russe ainsi que des
personnalités de la communauté arménienne, présidents d’associations
et de nombreux jeunes. Garen Mirzoyan a dans son discours noté que des
cérémonies pour le 25e anniversaire du Mouvement Karabagh étaient
organisées dans de nombreuses communautés arméniennes de la diaspora.
« C’est grce à la lutte et au soutien de l’ensemble des Arméniens que
l’Artsakh est aujourd’hui libre » dit Garen Mirzoyan. Il a également
noté que face aux revendications des Arméniens de Haut Karabagh
demandant leur union avec l’Arménie, l’Azerbaïdjan a répondu par les
pogroms anti-arméniens dont celui de Soumgaït en février 1988.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 23 février 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

EDITION
« Volontaires Arméniens 1914-1916 » un album-photo très demandé

Paru il y a quelques jours aux Editions La Bouquinerie, le livre «
Volontaires Arméniens 1914-1916 » qui « apporte sa modeste pierre à
l’édifice de l’Histoire de l’Arménie » s’avère devenir un succès au
regard des demandes des lecteurs. Cet album-photos sur les volontaires
arméniens (ou fédaïs) avec commentaires en français, arménien et
russe, paru à Petrograd (Russie) en 1916 était introuvable depuis fort
longtemps. L’éditeur, René Adjemian a eu la bonne idée de procéder à
sa réédition à laquelle il a ajouté une préface et une postface. De
plus cette édition est complétée de photos de fédaïs aimablement
confiées par des lecteurs. D’ailleurs l’éditeur lance un appel aux
lecteurs pour recevoir d’autres images de combattants de l’époque,
images qui seront placées dans une future édition de cet album «
Volontaires Arméniens ».

L’éditeur écrit « Voici enfin réédité un livre fort rare dont nous
n’avons retrouvé aucune trace dans toutes les bibliothèques du monde.
Cette édition de La Bouquinerie apporte ainsi sa modeste pierre à
l’édifice de l’Histoire de l’Arménie. Tiré à très petit nombre, cet
album « Volontaires Arméniens » édité à Petrograd -aujourd’hui
Saint-Petersbourg en Russie- en 1916 en français, russe et arménien,
retrace cette épopée de sang et de larmes. Avec parfois quelques
larmes de joie après les victoires arméniennes sur les troupes
ennemies. La préface du livre est signé René Adjémian la postface
Krikor Amirzayan. Des dizaines de volontaires Arméniens, généraux,
commandants ou simples soldats se sont illustrés lors des heures les
plus tragiques du peuple arménien à la fin du XIXe et au début du XXe
siècle. De ces pages d’Histoire, écrites par ces fédaïs ou volontaires
Arméniens, quelques images nous sont parvenues comme autant de
témoignages figés d’une époque terrible où le destin entier d’un
peuple bascula entre survie et néant. Ainsi cet ouvrage met à la
disposition d’un plus grand nombre de lecteurs, ces documents
photographiques et commentaires d’époque qui sont autant de
témoignages pour les générations présentes et futures. Nombre de ces
clichés sont très rares, voir inconnus. Que les lecteurs prennent
autant de plaisir que nous à parcourir les pages de cet
album-témoignage qui nous replonge dans les instants où la tragédie
côtoie le pathétique, où l’angoisse de la mort et de la joie de la
victoire s’expriment dans les regards de ces hommes au courage
exceptionnel. Que cet ouvrage aide ces héros célèbres ou anonymes qui
ont la plupart payé de leur vie « les chemins de la liberté », à
revivre l’espace d’un regard ou d’une lecture dans votre c`ur et dans
vos esprits. Pour des instants d’éternité. Pour l’Arménien d’hier et
d’aujourd’hui ». « Une page glorieuse de l’Histoire arménienne…Vivre
libres ou mourir ! » René Adjémian.

« Volontaires Arméniens », à 19 franco

grand format à l’italienne : 29 x 21 cm. Environ 100

pages. tirage sur papier bouffant ivoire. Couverture en

couleurs pelliculée. Éditions de la Bouquinerie, 77 Avenue

des Baumes, 26 000 Valence.

www. labouquinerie.com, [email protected],

tél. 06.88.08.35.96

samedi 23 février 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CRIES FOUL OVER POLL RESULT

EuroNews, EU
Feb 21 2013

Armenia’s President Serzh Sarksyan easily won a second term according
to Tuesday’s election results but his main rival claims the poll
was rigged.

Thousands of Raffi Hovanessian’s supporters turned out to protest in
the capital and declare him the true winner.

The opposition Heritage Party leader claims there was widespread
fraud and voter coercion.

“Armenia deserves the rule of law, democracy, the constitutional law
that applies to everyone, beginning from the president to everyone,
every citizen,” he told reporters.

“And on this day, the Armenian people have come together to reclaim
our own destiny, our sovereignty, our national interests, and our
future as citizens of Armenia,” Hovanessian added.

International observers say the election “lacked competition” but
they noted improvements over the previous poll.

All votes have been counted but the winner will not be declared
officially until Monday.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND OPPOSITION FIGURE MEET

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 21 2013

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Heritage Party leader Raffi
Ovannisyan, are having a meeting at the President’s Residence in
Yerevan, News Armenia reports.

Ovannisyans supporters are waiting for him at the Marshal Bagramyan
Subway Station.

Ovannisyan rallied protests at the Freedom Square yesterday and waited
for Sargsyan to come for talks until morning. The Republican Party
cancelled its meeting at the square to avoid incidents.

Grant Bagratyan, a former PM and leader of the Freedom Party, urged
Ovannisyan and Sargsyan to start negotiations.

HOVANNISIAN TELLS SARGISIAN TO CONCEDE TO ‘PEOPLE’S VICTORY’

ARMENIA, INTERNATIONAL NEWS | FEBRUARY 21, 2013 1:36 PM
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) – Raffi Hovannisian, the official runner-up in
the February 18 presidential election, gathered his supporters in
Yerevan’s central Liberty Square late Tuesday afternoon to declare
himself the rightful winner of the election, suggesting that the
officially declared president-elect, Serge Sargisian, should concede
defeat.

Hovannisian, a 53-year-old US-born lawyer who leads the opposition
Heritage party, gave Sargisian until 5 p.m. Wednesday to accept “the
people’s victory” and start the process of the transition of power to
the people. Otherwise, he warned, the incumbent needs to be prepared
for Hovannisian and his supporters to take “further steps.”

The opposition candidate did not elaborate on what those steps might be.

According to the preliminary results of the Monday ballot announced by
the Central Election Commission earlier on Monday, President Sargisian
polled around 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian gained the
support of close to 37 percent of Armenian voters. Hovannisian,
however, stated Tuesday that the election was rigged with “widespread
fraud” and that he was the real “elected president.”

“It is clear to everyone that the Armenian people gained an 80 to 20
victory yesterday, it has celebrated and will make a reality our
national civil victory. No one will take this victory from our
conscience, voice and our constitutional right. It belongs not to
Raffi or Serge, or others, but it belongs to the Armenians, to all of
our citizens, and let no one, whatever his name or position is, dare
take this right away from our people,” said Hovannisian.

“Close to midnight yesterday I urged our main competitor, Mr.

Sargisian, our current president, who had a great contribution to the
Karabagh liberation and statecraft, to become the first president in
20 years to have the right, courage and morality to accept the
people’s victory. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to do that. It’s
not [too] late yet. Tomorrow, at 5 p.m., we will all meet here for a
pan-national rally and before that I [invite] Mr. Sargisian to have a
public or private meeting with me so that together we [can] organize
the transition of power to the people of Armenia.”

Supporters and activists who came to the meeting with Hovannisian –
their number reaching some 3,000 – occasionally chanted “Raffi
President” or “Raffi, Elected President.” Those attending the rally
were mostly middle-aged and older, although there were also young
supporters among the participants.

Speaking about the violations that took place during the election,
Hovannisian said that they were occurring everywhere and that
eventually it proved to be a rigged and unfair election, failing to
reflect the will of the people. Meanwhile, international observers who
monitored the Armenian elections said on Tuesday that the “serious”
violations they observed could not have affected the overall outcome.

Hovannisian insisted that such an opinion could not be foisted on the
Armenian people, adding that if Sargisian met his demand, he would be
“forgiven on behalf of the Armenian people and the law.”

“I want to shake hands with Sargisian and tomorrow, before 5 p.m.,
accept his congratulations on the victory of the Armenian people,”
said the Heritage Party leader.

Hovannisian also declared that he was ready to cooperate with all
political forces in forming a future government.

“All can become forces participating in the future legitimate
government of national accord. I reckon that the time for partisanship
has gone and civil society and political forces must come and
participate not in the future government, but must become a factor of
public governance. For five years there will be Heritage,
Dashnaktsutyun, the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia,
the Republicans and mostly non-partisan names, who will serve. But if
they deviate from the letter of the law, do business at the expense of
people, they will have to answer for that,” said Hovannisian.