ZHOGHOVURD: WHY TSARUKYAN DOES NOT ALLOW HIS SON-IN-LAW TO RUN FOR ABOVYAN MAYOR?
Panorama.am
31/07/2012
According to Zhoghovurd, Abovyan mayor Karo Guloyan, the son-in-law
of PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan, failed to persuade Tsarukyan to allow
him to run for reelection.
Tsarukyan told his son-in-law that people are unhappy with him,
moreover, Guloyan discredits the PAP leader.
Zhoghovurd did not manage to clear up the rumor because Guloyan did
not answer his phone.
THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS BEING COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF AZERBAIJANI LIE
ARMENPRESS
31 July, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS: Red Cross international committee
is negotiating with corresponding structures to detect 90 Armenian
servicemen, war prisoners and peaceful residents kept in Azerbaijan
in captivity. In the briefing with Armenpress Commission member on
Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People of Armenia Rima Arakelyan
told, the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia has turned to
Red Cross to organize the return of captives sooner as possible.
“Red Cross delegate Lorenzo Karafin is concerned over the issue,
is in good terms with both countries, which will enable to work
more diligently than the previous delegate did. After the visits of
Red Cross or another international organization Azerbaijan becomes
restraint yet by the time of the final regulation of the issue the
security of our compatriots remains endangered” Arakelyan noted. The
settlement of the problem is being complicated as the opponent refuses
to accept there are Armenian captives in their country. The fact of
keeping five-member- family in captivity is also strictly rejected
by them, which makes the carried out task more difficult. Meanwhile,
in the words of Arakelyan Azerbaijani captives in Armenia are leaving
the border of their country willingly, for being “subjected to torture,
harassment and violence in their own land”.
Dwelling on the works carried out with hostages, prisoners families
Arakelyan stated that a few days ago jointly with operative department
they had paid visit to Syunik Province missing people’s and hostages’
families to have a talk, to show social and psychological assistance.
“By the order of the Minister there were visits to Aragatsotn Province,
which is going to be continuous. The moms, families wish to learn some
news, they still hope. If Red Cross manages to attend Azerbaijan and
discover our prisoners, there are surprises ahead of us.
Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People of Armenia
is chaired by the Minister Defense Seiran Ohanyan.
A citizen of the Azerbaijani Republic, serviceman Firuz Farazov
crossing the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the north-
eastern part of Armenian -Azerbaijani border surrendered to Armenian
peacekeepers on July 26, 16: 00 pm.
By official data there is five- member- hostage family in Azerbaijan,
composing Yeghishe, Ruzanna, Alfred, Gayane and Petros Gevorgyan. The
family crossed the border in Yeraskhavan part in 2010, January 10.
During 2011 from Armenian captives kept in Azerbaijan Artur Badalyan
has been returned, besides three Armenian captives were sent to a
third country. In accordance with official info in 2011 Armenian
side sent one Azerbaijani captive to his Homeland, one was sent to
a third country.
WHOM TO “HAND” THE POWER?
Hayk Aramyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 11:37:30 – 31/07/2012
The Armenian press reported that Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan
are trying to build relations and agree on the upcoming presidential
elections. This will be Serzh Sargsyan’s second term so he will have
to get prepare the ground to hand the power. Sure, if there is no
force-majeure situation. Though, a force-majeure under the conditions
in Armenia would just mean acceleration of that process since the
main players here are the Republican and Prosperous Armenia parties.
Just like in 2007, in 2012 the “absolute victory” of the Republican
Party didn’t solve the power issue in Armenia. The RPA received the
parliamentary majority and formed the government but the power is
virtual and senseless. Two “absolute victories” which are nothing
else but usurpation of the power by “well-known circles” deprived
the RPA of any ground and legitimacy.
This situation in turn will deepen against the background of formation
of civil initiatives which defined clear issues of Armenia.
Experts and analysts meant this circumstance when saying that Serzh
Sargsyan needs to get rid of the RPA in order to “stay” since it is
impossible to build power with such a party which has long become a
criminal-oligarchic poster. The last four years proved this statement.
Serzh Sargsyan either failed or didn’t want to do that step though
before the elections, he had stated about a new quality parliament and
minimum representation of the oligarchy there. There is an opinion,
quite grounded, that one of the reasons is the behavior of the PAP
and ANC prior to elections, which “revived” those circles.
In short as it was expected, the Republicans didn’t believe
Serzh Sargsyan to change. The second presidential term in an
anti-constitutional country, in particular in Armenia, is a “headache”
for the acting president who needs to find a successor and solve
the issue on the future. In this case, Serzh Sargsyan is in a very
complicated situation: he needs to find allies for election and for
the solution of the RPA issue and the shift of power.
One of the options is the PAP. Before the parliamentary elections, the
RPA hadn’t intervened in the Ijevan elections and the PAP candidate won
who was supported by the Congress, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage. The
“Ijevan model” is used in Gyumri too where the RPA supports the PAP
candidate. Judging by the available information, the same is happening
in other large towns where elections of community heads are expected
in autumn. Come out of the central power, the PAP will step by step
take the real power – the cities, villages, “surrounding” Yerevan.
In the result of a “well-thought and far-fetching” policy, the Armenian
National Congress has become the “porter” of the Prosperous Armenia
party which tries to legitimize the PAP in streets and defend it from
civil claims. But Congress itself has lost legitimacy in “street”
and within civil frameworks, while its attacks against the civil
initiatives make that party more marginal.
The growing civil society is a real “headache” for the political system
especially because it has been setting tasks and solving all of them
recently. There was no such a thing among the parties unlike which
that have been working behind the society and making illegal deals,
the civil society does not strive for the power, so it is powerful.
This power will change the political system of Armenia and will solve
the issue on the formation of the power returning this right to the
people. No accident, one of the key issues of the political system
of Armenia is the elimination of the civil initiatives. The power,
the PAP and Congress are interested.
How to solve this issue? As it was noted, Congress is unable to fulfill
its current “function”: there are several individuals who keep defaming
the civil initiatives in social nets and mass media. As to the PAP,
this party has its specific voters and has no issue relating to
the civil society but it is also threatened in terms of a political
prospect. So, it also concentrated big propaganda strength against
the civil sector.
Serzh Sargsyan, in turn, attending the board session of the police,
“granted” freedom to this structure which will also deal with the
elimination of the civil societies.
We can say that the future home political events will be oriented
towards the self-preservation of the political system and establishment
of the civil system of values. The political system of Armenia is
ill-timed and inadequate to the realities and its self-preservation
attempts will deepen even more the home political and systemic
crises. The signs are already in place when this system is again
trying to agree behind the back of the society.
NANOR KRIKORIAN SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTS STUDENTS FOR OVER A DECADE
Asbarez
Monday, July 30th, 2012
Nanor Krikorian Scholarship Fund
The AYF “Nanor Krikorian” Memorial Scholarship entered its 10th full
year this past April, making the tradition of fostering academic
advancement in the community a decade-long one.
Named in honor of AYF member Nanor Krikorian, whose life was tragically
cut short due to cancer, the scholarship aims to promote higher
education and community involvement among young Armenian Americans.
To date, over 60 scholarships totaling nearly $200,000 in financial
assistance have been distributed through the program.
“To know that this scholarship was given to me from my Armenian
community was truly an honor,” said 2008 recipient Taron Matevosyan.
“It is a great feeling to know that, though there are only a few
million of us around the world, our community still cares for the
young and supports them in their education and career.”
Winners are selected on the basis of not only academic achievement
and financial need, but also on how their majors will benefit the
Armenian community in the future and what track-record of community
involvement they have had.
“I study in order to one-day serve my Armenian community as a
whole and hopefully travel to Armenia and apply what I’ve learned
to my homeland,” said Christina Mehranbod, another recipient of the
scholarship currently studying Molecular Environmental Biology at UC
Berkeley. “To be rewarded for having those dreams is something I am
so thankful for.”
Applications are reviewed in the Spring by the AYF’s Educational
Central Council and require an accompanying personal statement,
as well as two letters of recommendation. Recipients are given 1st
through 3rd place awards ranging from $250 to $1000.
The AYF looks forward to continuing to expand the program and the
pool of talented young Armenian students aspiring to further their
education.
For more information about the “Nanor Krikorian” Memorial Scholarship,
contact the AYF Office at (818) 507-1933 or [email protected].
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and
most influential Armenian youth organization in the United States,
working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural
awareness of Armenian American youth.
NAJARIAN RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF SF VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
asbarez
Monday, July 30th, 2012
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-Glendale Councilman and former Mayor Ara Najarian
was elected to serve a second term as chairman of the San Fernando
Valley Council of Governments. Najarian is also a member of the
powerful Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. “I am proud to
be re-selected to lead the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments
into its third year of advocating for all the residents of the region
on issues that will improve their quality of life,” said Najarian.
A council of governments is a special type of government agency
that allows cities and other agencies to work together on matters
of regional significance. “With budget cuts devastating our local
services-with high-speed rail and an extension of the measure R
half-cent sales tax on the horizon-we really have our work cut out
for us,” according to Executive Director Robert Scott, “…and these
are thirteen of the most influential officials in Southern California.”
Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine was re-elected to a second
term as vice chair. “The COG is fortunate to have such a strong and
experienced leadership team at this crucial time,” says Scott.
Among the events the COG has planned in upcoming months is a
“Philanthropy Conference” to bring foundation leaders and charitable
funders to the Valley, to help them recognize its special geographic
and demographic significance as a unified region. The goal is
to increase awareness of the Valley charities and non-profits. On
October 22nd the COG will also be sponsoring its Second Annual Valley
Mobility Summit where leaders from all levels will assemble to consider
new ideas, technologies, strategies, and find more efficient ways of
working together. The summit will be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia
in the City of Santa Clarita-one of the COG’s founding members.
Besides the key issue of transportation, the group is also taking
on regional economic development, planning, education and quality of
life issues-from a Valley perspective.
NEITHER KURDISH, NOR CHRISTIAN STATE IN SYRIA: FREE SYRIAN ARMY
ARMENPRESS
30 July, 2012
YEREVAN
Yerevan, July 30, ARMENPRESS: The so-called Free Syrian army soldiers
opposed the claims about establishing a Kurdish state in the country’s
northern regions and announced that they will allow neither Kurdish
nor Christian state to be created. As “Armenpress” reports the Turkish
CIHAN news agency informs about this.
Tariq Hajul who is responsible for the northern regions of the “Free
Syrian Army” stated that no separatism will be allowed.
“Syria is the fatherland of our. We will not let creation of any
Kurdish or Christian state or any separatism”, mentioned Hajul to
the Turkish media.
ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK LARGEST TAXPAYER IN ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM
PanARMENIAN.Net
July 30, 2012 – 17:45 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – In January-July 2012, ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK
was announced the largest taxpayer in Armenia’s banking system,
replenishing the state budget with AMD 2,5 bln. In the first half-year.
According to the data published by RA State Revenue Committee, HSBC
Bank Armenia CJSC and Ameriabank CJSC were included in the list of
the top three banking leaders, having paid AMD 1.7 bln and AMD 1.6
bln respectively.
VTB Bank Armenia (AMD 1.5 mln.), Armbusinessbank (AMD 1 bln.),
Ardshininvestbank (AMD 872, 5 mln), Unibank (AMD 868,94 mln.),
Araratbank (AMD 839,6 mln.), Mellat Bank (AMD 766,3 mln.), Inecobank
(AMD 747,5 mln.) were also included in the list of the top ten banks.
EXPERT: ESCALATION OF SITUATION IN GYUMRI WILL REACH HEIGHTS AFTER MAYORAL ELECTIONS – DURING ACCEPTANCE AND DELIVERY OF MUNICIPAL FACILITIES
arminfo
Monday, July 30, 18:22
The tension in Gyumri regarding the forthcoming mayoral elections has
slightly declined over the past few days, Levon Barseghyan, Chairman
of the Gyumri-based “Asparez” Journalists’ Club, told ArmInfo.
He said that several days ago the situation in the town was rather
tense, as the current mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, opposed
vigorously the decision of his own Republic Party of Armenia (RPA) to
support another candidate – Samvel Balasanyan, MP from the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP), the owner of the Gyumri beer factory, during the
mayoral elections. “Just imagine how hard it was for Ghukasyan to put
up with this information after 13 consecutive years in the post of the
town’s mayor. Over the first days after the RPA’s decision, rumors were
spread in Gyumri saying that Ghukasyan’s son intimidates the residents
of Gyumri and the new contender for the mayor’s post Samvel Balasanyan,
but now the tension has declined”, said Barseghyan. He added that now
the residents of Gyumri attentively follow the confrontation between
two RPA members – Vardan Ghukasyan and Ashot Aghababyan.
As regards the chances of Ghukasyan and Balasanyan for the forthcoming
elections, Barseghyan said that both candidates will be able to
obtain no more than 40-50% in case of transparent elections. “Neither
Balasanyan nor Ghukasyan is the one the residents of Gyumri would
like to see as a mayor. But at the same time, there is no alternative
candidate either”, he said. The expert also pointed out that both
Balasanyan and Ghukasyan held high posts during the current regime,
i.e. they took direct part in the current political course, and
neither of them is smart.
Concerning the possible electoral developments in Gyumri, Barseghyan
said that the situation may become a little bit tense if Vardan
Ghukasyan “is not allowed” to run for mayor. “But the escalation
of the situation will reach heights after the elections, during
the “acceptance and delivery of the municipal facilities”. Numerous
questions may arise, and the answers may create serious tension in the
town. One should not forget that Ghukasyan has managed the economy of
Gyumri for 13 years, and nobody has asked him any questions”, he said.
Liberty Counsel Warns School Board Not to Violate Pastor’s Free Speech
July 25, 2012
Miami, FL – Liberty Counsel has sent a letter to the Miami-Dade County
School Superintendent stating that any effort to rescind a facilities
usage lease to a church because of the pastor’s sermon on
homosexuality would violate the First Amendment.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is `reviewing’ its lease to Impact
Miami Church after Pastor Jack Hakimian preached the Biblical position
on homosexuality. The school district superintendent maintains that
the sermon allegedly violates the district’s antibullying and
nondiscrimination policy. However, in the sermon in question, Pastor
Hakimian explicitly denounces bullying and teaches to respect all
people:
`The reason why I am dealing with [homosexuality] so much is because
there is an aggressive approach by…gay theologians that says the Bible
never spoke about homosexuality in a way that contemporary Christians
understand it. It’s all over – it’s on the Youtube, its on CNN, and
its on 60 Minutes. They are not just saying, `accept us’ – and I
believe we should protect, and not bully, and treat all people with
dignity and respect – but they are going beyond and above to change
the very meaning of Scripture.’
The nondiscrimination and antibullying policies of the Miami-Dade
School Board are not applicable to the situation at hand. Pastor
Hakimian and the church have violated no law or policy. The district
cannot discriminate on the basis of his Biblically sound viewpoint.
Any attempt by the school board to modify, change, or revoke the lease
agreement would be unconstitutional.
`The district must respect the First Amendment rights of Pastor
Hakimian and the church,’ said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of
Liberty Counsel.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education,
and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the
sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono
assistance and representation on these and related topics.
Children’s Applique Contest with the Theme “Fatherland”
hetq
19:21, July 27, 2012
On 24th July the ministry of culture and youth affairs of NKR together
with NAI Shoushi centre organized children’s applique contest with the
theme “Fatherland”. The contest has taken place at NAI Shoushi centre
and belongs to the events of the second international symposium of
sculpture “Hakob Gyurjyan”.
20 pupils of miniature and drawing classes of NAI Shoushi centre took
part in the contest. The works of the teams made during the contest
were appraised by the jury of sculptors and painters participating in
the symposium. The results of the contest will be announced during the
official closing of the second international symposium of sculpture
“Hakob Gyurjyan”, which will take place on 31th july.