Author: Kajoyan Gevork

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA LEADER MEETS US AMBASSADOR

tert.am
10.10.12

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia party (PAP), Gagik Tsarukyan,
received on Wednesday US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern.

The high-ranking diplomat is said to have highly valued the meeting
with the second majority party’s leader. According to a press release
by Tsarukyan’s spokesperson, the sides discussed Armenia’s foreign
and domestic policy agendas, and economic issues.

Addressing the parliament decision to strip ex-Foreign Minister and
PAP lawmaker Vartan Oskanian of mandate, Heffern said he is strictly
concerned and closely following the developments. He characterized
the case a serious blow to justice and democracy values. The diplomat
also expressed concerns that the proceeding was filed in the run-up
to the presidential election in Armenia.

Oskanian, who is founder of the Civilitas Foundation, quit the
organization’s board in May to join the Prosperous Armenia party
and run for parliament. On May 25, the National Security Council
launched a money laundering proceeding against Civilatas, accusing
the foundation of a failure to report a $1.5 million donation to the
tax authorities. Oskanian’s lawyer later asked a Yerevan district the
court to halt the proceeding but his motion was rejected. Prosecutor
General Avghan Hovsepyan later asked the National Assembly to consider
stripping the ex minister of minister of mandate. His petition received
the parliament’s approval last week, with the opposition MPs boycotting
the voting.

Heffern expressed hope that the Armenian authorities will fulflil
their functions and observe the principles of rule of law in achieving
a solution.

Tsarukyan said: “Upon my instruction, the case has been studied by the
best lawyers who have confirmed that the accusations against Oskanian
are baseless. At the party’s political board meeting, I personally
asked the members of the [parliamentary] faction to make strict and
resolute statements and speeches,” he said.

The PAP leader promised to ensure that the proceeding follows a due
process resulting in a fair decision.

3 ARMENIAN STUDENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN GERMAN BUNDESTAG SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

ARMENPRESS
10 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER10, ARMENPRESS: 3 Armenian students will have an
opportunity to get acquainted with the German National Assembly system
from March 1 to July 31 in the framework of German International
Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) program. The program aims to give
participants an opportunity to communicate with German political
figures and participate in the democratic decision-making process.

Scholarship holders will work in the offices of Bundestag Members of
Parliament and study in one of the Berlin universities.

Armenpress reports that the member of Bundestag Wolfgang Byornzen noted
that the program is aimed to spread the democracy all over the world.

“One of the goals of the 21st century is to struggle for democratic
values and announce the democracy all over the world. I believe that
all the efforts should be invested to strengthen and deepen the
interplanetary relations of Armenia and Germany. It will be a new
impetus for the development of economic, tourism and cultural ties.

Armenian students always show satisfactory results, as they are
very active, perceptive and industrious. All those who have worked
with students from Armenia are very pleased and have expressed their
willingness to cooperate with them in future, so this program is very
important for us” said the representative of the Bundestag.

Lusine Safaryan the participator of the program has informed that
this project provides the students with the great opportunity to
study the German Democracy.

All the expenses, regarding travel, accommodation and insurance,
are covered by the Bundestag, including monthly scholarship, which
is 450 euros.

We should add that this program is held in Armenia for the fifth time.

In the period of the last six years 24 Armenian students have received
this scholarship and have been provided with the opportunity to study
and work in Germany.

ANOTHER ARMENIAN MAN KILLED IN ALEPPO

ARMENPRESS
10 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Young Armenian man was killed by
sniper in Arkub district of Aleppo on October 10. Armenpress was
informed from the press secretary of Primacy of Aleppo Jirayr Raisian,
who added that the murdered is Armenian Minas Sazian.

Raisian also added that the friend of the Armenian was also killed.

The Arkub district of Aleppo is not a residential district and
is famous for its working areas and many institutions of Armenian
property. And what is about the overall situation in Aleppo, Raisian
informed that everything is relatively calm. Recently the snipers
have killed a great number of people and many Armenians among them.

George Topalakian was killed on September 13 in a result of clashes
in Aleppo Nor Gyux district.

Some 294,000 refugees have already left Syria, and the UNHCR is
appealing for $490m to deal with the crisis.

Most of the refugees are housed in camps in Armenia, Lebanon and
Jordan. The UNHCR said between 2,000 and 3,000 refugees were fleeing
the violence into neighboring countries every day. Many refugees
are arriving with only the clothes on their backs. Some have been
displaced many times before leaving Syria. They need humanitarian
assistance from day one.

ARF CONTINUES TO INSIST ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIA’S SIGNATURE FORM THE PROTOCOLS
Karen Ghazaryan

“Radiolur”
17:42 10.10.2012

The Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed on this day three years
ago. “Today they are in the same condition as they were three years
ago,” Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau’s Hay Dat
and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan told a press conference
today.

“Armenia has a good reason to withdraw its signature from the protocols
and that should be done as soon as possible,” he said.

“The interpretations that the protocols are actually dead do not
correspond to reality; they do exist and they are legal documents,”
Manoyan said. He noted that there is also the Turkish interpretation
that the protocols are alive, and works are being carried out in that
direction. “This sis also half true. They exist, but no work is being
done in that direction,” he noted.

Kiro Manoyan reconfirmed that the Armenian stance on the protocols
has not changed. He added, however, that “the protocols are bad and do
not comply with Armenia’s interests.” According to him, the protocols
should stop existing, and one of the ways to reach this is to withdraw
the signature.

“Armenia must withdraw its signatures, because the protocols benefit
Turkey, not Armenia. Turkey is using the protocols as a lever to
assume a role in the Artsakh issue,” the ARF representative said.

Manoyan stressed that the withdrawal of signature from the protocols
will not jeopardize regional stability in any way.

Touching upon the opening of the Stepanakert Airport, Kiro Manoyan said
“Azerbaijan will not take a single step, of course, unless Aliyev has
gone insane.” He added that the statement that Turkey could close its
air space for Armenia is just another threat. Manoyan stated that the
opening of the Stepanakert Airport is an impulse contributing to the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY TO LAUNCH EARLY 2013

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 10, 2012 – 16:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian government approved a decision October 10
to allocate about USD 350 thous. for the construction of National
Engineering Laboratory at State Engineering University of Armenia
(SEUA).

As Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan noted, the total
cost of the project amounts to USD 6,2 mln, with National Instruments
company to provide about USD1,5 mln., USD 650 thous. to be allotted
from the SEUA extra-budgetary funds and USAID to provide the rest of
the funding.

In this context, Minister Ashotyan noted that the instruction to
speed up the process had been issued by President Serzh Sargsyan the
week before.

National Engineering Laboratory ill supposedly launch operations in
January-February 2013 and is expected to comprise about 30 laboratories
covering over 30 specialties.

HUNGARIAN INTELLECTUALS VISIT GURGEN MARGARYAN’S GRAVE

armradio.am
16:12 10.10.2012

Hungarian historian Zoltan Biro, theologian Gabor Ivanyi, journalist
Gabor Deak and writer Rudolf Ungvary visited Gurgen Margaryan’s grave
at Yerablur Pantehon today.

Armenian Officer Gurgen Margaryan was axed by Azeri Ramil Safarov
during NATO courses in Budapest in 2004. On April 16, 2006, the
Hungarian court sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment without
possibility of appeal until 2036.

In late August 2012, however, Hungarian authorities agreed to release
and extradite Safarov to Azerbaijan to serve the remainder of his
sentence there. However, upon his arrival in Azerbaijan Safarov was
pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev. Safarov has since been promoted
to the rank of major and provided with accomodations by the Azerbaijan
government.

At a press conference in Yerevan, the Hungarian intellectuals
said Safarov’s transfer was an incomprehensible and unacceptable
political decision, which faced the severe criticism of the majority
of Hungarians.

“THE MORE HOMOSEXUALS THERE ARE, THE MORE GIRLS WE WILL HAVE FOR OURSELVES,” RUBEN HAKHVERDYAN SAYS

October 9, 2012 12:42

Ruben Hakhverdyan treats displaying a Serbian movie Parada raising
the problem of protecting the rights of homosexuals in Serbia in the
Hovhannes Tumanyan State Puppet Theater due on October 15-16 with
humor. “I am amused, because the more homosexuals there are, the more
girls we will have for ourselves. However, if we talk more seriously,
I am disgusted with all that. They want to make us like them,” Mr.

Hakhverdyan said to

According to him, propaganda of homosexuals has commenced in Armenia,
which is a result of globalization around the world, “One tells a
camel that its back is crooked, it says which part is straight that
it should be straight. It is an upside-down state, the feet lead the
head, the bottom has become the brain. The organs have changed their
places. And it is not the only issue, there are ecological problems
too. There is arbitrariness, which is called globalization, which
should be confronted somehow, but I don’t know how.”

Arpine SIMONYAN

MOTHER SEE HAS PUBLISHED “BIBLIOGRAPHY OF “EJMIATSIN” JOURNAL”

ARMENPRESS
10 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Mother See of Holy Ejmiatsin has
published “Bibliography of “Ejmiatsin” Journal” (1974-2008) completed
by Deacon Ararat Poghosyan and edited by Gevorg Ter-Vardanyan.

As reports “Armenpress” the official newspaper of Holy See of Holy
Ejmiatsin “Ejmiatsin” journal is the continuation and inheritor of
“Ararat” journal published form 1868-1919. As information on the
events in the Holy See and for Armenological purposes “Ejmiatsin”
journal initiated and completed at the right time both bibliographies
belonging to it and its predecessor. First bibliography of “Ararat”
journal ranging form 1868 to 1919 was completed and published,
described the principals of completion were developed in accordance
with those the bibliography of first thirty years of “Ejmiatsin”
journal (1944-1973) with 5283 descriptive unites was published. As
per the new volume thirty-five years of the journal were published
ranging from 1974 to 2008 (8239 descriptive unites, 480 pp.).

This second volume of official newspaper of Mother See of Holy
Ejmiatsin can serve for both practical informational use and for
development of Armenology.

A NEW PARTY “ENTREPRENEURS” TO EMERGE IN ARMENIA SHORTLY

arminfo
Wednesday, October 10, 13:08

A new party “Entrepreneurs” will emerge in the political field in
Armenia within the coming months. Representatives of the small and
medium-sized enterprises will unite in the party, Araik Hayraetyan,
the founder of the party, the owner of Lavanda Company, told ArmInfo.

Hayrapetyan, who is still a member of Orinats Yerkir Party, intends
to found a new political force to protect the interests of local
businessmen, reform the legislative field regulating the economy
sectors and rehabilitate the domestic market. Hayrapetyan said his
party will be unique due to its rotating leadership and economic
orientation.

“We are unique as we do not claim participation in elections. We have
been delaying with creation of our party because of the parliamentary
elections. Moreover, it is should be noted that the party will be
finally formed after the presidential election,” he said.

Nevertheless, Hayrapetyan said, at the presidential election of 2013
their initiative group will support the candidate that will protect
the interests of businessmen.

Asked if there are any well-known businessmen in their initiative
group, Hayrapetyan replied: “We are creating a party of businessmen
and not oligarchs.”

CONGRESSMAN SHERMAN ABOUT U.S.: “WHAT KIND OF SUPERPOWER COWERS BEFORE HISTORY? WHAT KIND OF SUPERPOWER WORRIES ABOUT TURKISH THREATS?

arminfo
Wednesday, October 10, 15:44

The second part of the debate between two Democratic Congressmen,
Howard Berman and Brad Sherman washeld at the Ferrahian School’s
Avedissian Hall in Encino, California, on Sept. 29. The debate was
organized by the Armenian National Committee of America, Western
Region.

“We need to recognize the Genocide not only for Armenia, not only
for America, but the Turkish state will never be a modern state until
it comes to grip with its own history.” Criticizing US government’s
reluctance to use the term Armenian Genocide, Cong. Sherman asked:
“What kind of superpower cowers before history? What kind of superpower
worries about Turkish threats? Dozens of parliaments around this world
have recognized the Genocide. It is about time for Congress to have
the same level of courage!” Congressman Sherman said.

He urged his Israeli colleagues to recognize the Armenian Genocide
even before the U.S. does it. “:Here, there is still this mirage that
somehow Turkey is the critical American ally. In Israel, that same
mirage was more or less shattered recently, and so we may indeed find
that Israel is able to beat the United States in recognizing the first
genocide of the 20th century. And given the history of Israel and the
history of the Jewish people, I think it’s an important thing to do.

So I for one don’t believe we should wait to urge Israel to move
forward, but we should be inspired to move forward ourselves as
quickly as possible,” Sherman said.

In response to a question on what the two Congressmen would do to
encourage America’s allies such as Israel to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, Cong. Berman stated that “it is audacious for a country
that itself hasn’t recognized the Armenian Genocide, to start telling
other countries what they should be doing. So number one: get this
[genocide] resolution passed, and push and persuade the Executive
Branch to support what the Congress has done, and then you do want to
make it into an international consensus. But, we are not effectively
going to tell a government that they should do something that we
haven’t yet done. :”

In response to a question on whether the United States should stop
paying rent to the Turkish government for the Airbase in Incirlik,
Turkey — located on occupied Armenian territories — and pay that
money to the heirs of original Armenian owners, Cong. Sherman stated:
“I look forward to developing a foreign policy where we are less
dependent upon the use of bases in Turkey, because I’ve seen them try
to lobby the Pentagon, to lobby Congress not to recognize the Genocide
on the theory that, ‘oh, you need our bases.’ We can and should work
with our other southeast Asian NATO allies to have a basing structure
that does not require us to be paying rent to the Turkish state.

However, as long as our base is on that land, that becomes an excellent
argument for additional aid to the Armenian state because we’re on
that territory.”