Author: Kajoyan Gevork

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ELIGIBLE TO RECOGNIZE THE OBSTACLES FACED BY A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AS INSURMOUNTABLE

17:56 01.02.2013
CEC, Paruyr Hayrikyan

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia convened a sitting this
morning. CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan presented the statement of
the Commission.

“We strongly condemn the attack against presidential candidate Paruyr
Hayrikyan and describe it as a nasty, insidious and dirty deed targeted
at frustrating the electoral processes.

We do hope that the incident will be revealed soon and the perpetrators
will be punished,” the CEC said in a statement, wishing health and
speedy recovery to Paruyr Hayrikyan.

Tigran Mukuchyan later presented the provisions of RA legislation
on the insurmountable obstacles one of the presidential candidates
may face. The CEC Chairman noted, in part, that it is up to the
Constitutional Court to recognize the obstacles insurmountable, and
only the candidate who faces such obstacles is eligible to apply to
the Constitutional Court.

ARMENIAN POSITION OVER SETTLEMENT OF NKR CONFLICT WAS PRESENTED TO JAPANESE SIDE IN MFA

19:16, 1 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS: Political conferences of Armenian and
Japanese Foreign Ministries took place on February 1. Conferences were
led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Sergei Manasaryan
and Ambassador Takeshi Hikihara, Special Representative of the Foreign
Ministry of Japan for Caucasus and GUAM, Deputy Director-General of
Japan’s Foreign Ministry European Affairs Bureau.

As Armenpress was informed from Armenian MFA, interlocutors
discussed a wide range of issues concerning bilateral relations,
mainly, maintaining the pace of political dialogue and activation of
cooperation within international organizations. Sides changed with
viewpoints on international and regional issues. Position of Armenia
over settlement of NKR conflict was presented to Japanese side.

Interlocutors highlighted the importance of cultural and educational
exchange.

Afterwards leader of Japanese delegation Takeshi Hikihara was hosted
by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION CONSIDERED CRIME AGAINST HAYRIKYAN TO BE POLITICAL ADVENTURISM

18:58, 1 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS: Political Science Association of
Armenia considers it its duty to comment on the armed attack incident
on January 31, 2013 against the presidential candidate of the Republic
of Armenia – a famous figure of the Armenian National Liberation
Movement and human rights activist Paruyr Hayrikyan, Armenpress was
informed from Political Science Association.

Leaving the legal assessment and the identification of the causes and
perpetrators of this act to the competent authorities, the Association
considers the incident on the eve of the presidential elections as a
sign of political adventurism, and encourages all healthy political
forces in the country to combine their efforts to ensure domestic
political stability and lawful, fair, and democratic elections.

Association also wishes Mr. Paruyr Hayrikyan early recovery and
immediate return to the election campaign.

SERZH SARGSYAN POSTPONES HIS FEBRUARY 1 MEETING

14:06, 1 February, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan’s
meeting in Malatia-Sebastia community of Yerevan, dated to February 1,
has been postponed. As reports “Armenpress” Serzh Sargsyan’s official
website states that neither TV channels, nor the Public Radio will
broadcast his campaign’s video and audio clips today.

The Governor of the Vayots Dzor Province, Head of Serzh Sargsyan’s
Vayots Dzor Headquarters, Eduard Ghazaryan stated that taking into
consideration the horrible accident of the last night the headquarters
has also made a decision to suspend the election campaign temporarily
and postpone all the meetings dated to February 1-3. Among other things
Eduard Ghazaryan noted: “We pray for Paruyr Hayrikyan’s recovery. Let
God grant him powers to overcome this all.”

Presidential candidate, leader of union for “National
Self-Determination” Paruyr Hayrikyan has been shot around 11:30 PM
in Tpagrichner Street, Kentron district of Yerevan. Hayrikyan got a
gunshot wound to shoulders’ area and has already been operated on in
“St. Gregory the Illuminator” medical center.

VIDEO: JOUGHA DOCUMENTARY PREMIERS IN YEREVAN

13:18, February 1, 2013

The premiere of a documentary film presenting the history of the town
of Jougha and the destruction of its centuries old Armenian cemetery
was held in Yerevan.

The film was produced by the Research on Armenian Architecture
Foundation. It chronicles the destruction of its world-known cemetery
by the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhijevan and
Azerbaijan.

The film is now available in English.

Squelching a Community’s Voice

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

You probably remember a comedy movie that came out a few years ago
titled `The Cable Guy’. Today’s story is a travesty about real life
cable guys, known as Charter Communications.

No doubt you’ve already heard that Charter has unilaterally, and
without meaningful prior notice, decided to eliminate Horizon TV from
its lineup of channels. This, despite the fact that Horizon had just
signed a renewal contract with Charter in December, even accepting a
25% rate hike! That’s quite a steep increase for the kind of economic
conditions we’re in now. (For full disclosure, the publication in
which you’re reading this article is affiliated with Horizon).

Despite all this, Charter is hell bent on screwing the Armenian
community through its despicable decision. So it’s natural to wonder,
and ask, `Why?’

That’s what people in the area Charter covers – Burbank, Glendale, La
Crescenta, and the western part of La Cañada-Flintridge, which house
what is probably the densest Armenian community in the United States
– have been doing. They call, complain to, and ask Charter, `Why?’

Guess what they’re getting for an answer. It’s not one answer, but
five mutually contradictory ones! Callers are told:

Horizon didn’t sign the contract (FALSE); or

Horizon returned the signed contract too late (FALSE); or

Horizon didn’t want to renew (FALSE); or

There are already too many Armenian channels (FALSE); or

Another Armenian channel will be opening up (it turns out this is
true, which adds to the intrigue).

I don’t have to tell you that when someone is lying, or trying to
cover up, they’ll often trip themselves up as Charter has done. How
can Horizon have not signed the contract (#1), if Horizon returned it
(#2)? And why would Horizon have returned the contract if they didn’t
want to renew it (#3)? And who is Charter to tell our community that
there are already too many Armenian channels (#4) and then turn around
and say that another Armenian channel is starting up (#5) after
Horizon gets shut down?

Clearly, Charter’s action is causing the public in its coverage area
harm. This is a key consideration. Here’s why.

The 1934 Communications Act which established the ground rules for
broadcasting in the U.S. and created the Federal Communications
Commission has at its heart one fundamental precept: THE AIRWAVES
BELONG TO THE PUBLIC. That’s why all broadcasters rent the wavelengths
the use from `We the people’ through the government.

Later, cable TV came along and created a dilemma. It required
extensive and expensive hard-wiring. So, if different providers ran
cables in the same area, costs would become prohibitive. The solution
was to grant a monopoly to one provider, and in exchange that provider
had to give the community they were serving some free channels for
valuable, enriching, programming, not just commercial stuff. You get
the idea – the public is entitled to the benefits of the airwaves it
owns.

Clearly, Charter Communications is transgressing against this
fundamental precept of providing the public, in this case the huge
Armenian public, with programming of merit. Consider that all but two
of the Armenian channels are commercial outfits with folks making a
living off of entertainment. One of the non-commercial channels
provides religiously oriented programming. That leaves only Horizon as
the provider of primarily community oriented programming – news,
analysis, politics, culture, developments in all parts of Armenia and
the Diaspora, etc.

Of course the management at Horizon is fighting this malfeasance, and
hard. Our help is needed. There’s an online petition which you should
sign telling Charter clean up its act:

Protests are being held in front of Charter’s offices in Glendale:
6246 San Fernando Rd. If you read this soon enough online, you can go
on Saturday, February 2, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, to participate in
the action. You can help save our Horizon.

Next Friday, February 8, a protest will be held in front of Charter’s
regional headquarters in Irwindale, (4781 N Irwindale Avenue, 91706)
again, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Be there. You’ve got a week to
prepare.

Some of you may live far away from the epicenter of this wholly
manmade, very suspicion-arousing, disaster and still want to help. Of
course you can sign the petition. But, if your own cable company is
Charter, call them and give them an earful about how dissatisfied you
are.

We should all be reminding Charter that its contracts with cities it
serves must be renewed periodically. We should be telling Charter’s
bigwigs that we will remember their odious behavior now and work to
remove the company as the cable provider anywhere and everywhere we
can.

Let’s beat back this unwarranted attack against one of the mainstays
of our community.

Murder attempt against Armenian presidential candidate directed
against statehood – Union of Armenians in Russia

NEWS.AM
February 02, 2013 | 18:16

The murder attempt against presidential candidate of Armenia Paruyr
Hayrikyan is atrocity against the Government of Armenia, the Union of
Armenians of Russia published in a statement on its website.

`The Union of Armenians of Russia is concerned on audacious attack on
the presidential candidate of Armenia, famous politician, chairman of
the association `National Self-Determination’ Paruyr Hayrikyan.

We regard such a criminal act as a crime against the Government of
Armenia and its international image, and we hope that the perpetrators
and organizers of this crime will be punished to the fullest extent of
the law.

Forces behind this immoral action will not be able to undermine the
democratic foundations of the Armenian state on the eve of important
political events – the presidential elections,’ the statement reads.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an assassination attempt
was made against presidential candidate, opposition National
Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, on Thursday at
around 11:20 p.m. in downtown Yerevan, in front of his home. Hayrikyan
was shot and hospitalized with a gunshot wound. He underwent a
successful surgery Friday morning, and a bullet, which was located in
the soft tissues of his right elbow shoulder, was removed. A criminal
case is opened in connection with the assassination attempt against
Paruyr Hayrikyan. It is launched on charges of carrying out an
assassination attempt against a statesman, political or public figure,
which – that is, the attempt – is carried out to end this person’s
noted activities. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for 12-20
years, or life in prison. The National Security Service is conducting
the investigation.

Armenian presidential candidate is being interrogated

NEWS.AM
February 02, 2013 | 18:46

YEREVAN.- At the moment presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan is
being interrogated by law enforcers, politician’s nephew Vrezh
Zatikyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an assassination attempt
was made against presidential candidate, opposition National
Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, on Thursday at
around 11:20pm in downtown Yerevan, in front of his home. Hayrikyan
was shot and hospitalized with a gunshot wound. He underwent a
successful surgery Friday morning, and a bullet – which was located in
the soft tissues of his right elbow shoulder – was removed.

A criminal case is opened in connection with the assassination attempt
against Paruyr Hayrikyan. It is launched on charges of carrying out an
assassination attempt against a statesman, political or public figure,
which – that is, the attempt – is carried out to end this person’s noted
activities. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for 12-20 years,
or life in prison.

Police and National Security Service have formed a group to
investigate the case.

PRESS RELEASE
RAFFI HOVANNISIAN CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]
Website:

01 February 2013

Raffi Hovannisian Condemns Assassination Attempt, Takes Crime Personally

Yerevan–Raffi K. Hovannisian took questions from Facebook users today
at Yerevan’s Debate Club, presenting his presidential platform and
condemning the assassination attempt on fellow candidate Paruyr
Hayrikyan.

`This is a blow against me, against each and every Armenian, against
our citizens and the entire statehood,’ Hovannisian said. `Somebody
is scared of the people’s voice and of the realization of the people’s
rights.’

Later in the day, Hovannisian campaigned in Aragatsotn region,
visiting the villages of Shenavan and Aragats, and the town of Aparan.
Hovannisian told constituents that now more than ever it is crucial
for them to actively participate in the upcoming election.

Raffi Hovannisian Campaign Headquarters

Armenia stands in between EU and Eurasian Union – expert

February 2, 2013 – 17:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia stands in between the EU and the Eurasian
Union, political expert said.
Garik Keryan stressed the need for Armenia to consider both the
economic and security factors when making a decision.
`Armenia mustn’t pursue the path, which will pose threat to its
security,’ the expert said, adding that the country maintains direct
and indirect relations with both of the institutions.
He further noted the two institutions’ accomplishments and the past
path as another principle worth considering.