Author: Kajoyan Gevork

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS ALSO ISSUE OF VALUES – ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR

NEWS.AM
May 30, 2012 | 19:28

VILNIUS. – The Nagorno-Karabakh issue is not only a territorial
conflict, as it is often attempted to be presented, but an issue
of values, individual freedom of, historical justice and right of
people’s to self-determination, Armenian Ambassador to Lithuania Ara
Ayvazyan said in an interview with DELFI agency.

“All these values are the basis of the current European Union,”
the Ambassador said adding one of the advantages of Armenia is the
integration into the European family, as European and universal values
are of much importance to Armenians.

However, the other party to the conflict rejected these values and
Armenia was forced to enter war. The ceasefire has been declared for
18 year. The peculiarity is that the dividing line is not secured
by the peacekeeping troops. The international community granted the
OSCE Minsk Group (France, Russia and the United States) a mandate to
run talks to resolve the conflict.

The Ambassador also mentioned that the Lithuanian FM Audronius
Ažubalis last year brought forward an initiative calling to withdraw
the snipers from the contact line. Generally, the Lithuanian FM
attempts actively to realize the initiative and to install the
mechanisms of investigation into the incidents on the line of the
contact. However, these efforts failed not because of the Armenian
side.

Asked whether there is any danger to increase tension between
Yerevan and Baku due to the CSTO exercises scheduled for September,
the Ambassador said that the maneuvers are not targeted against the
a third state.

ARFD MEMBER: NEW PARLIAMENT MAY BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT STRUCTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 30, 2012 – 20:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – ARF Dashnaktsutyun representative said he expects
the new parliament to implement more interesting activity.

“The counterbalance will increase if Prosperous Armenia joins the
opposition. The new parliament includes politicians who will enable
more interesting discussions. The National Assembly’s 5th convocation
may become a more political institution,” Armen Rustamyan said during
distribution of depute mandates.

Dwelling on the posts of standing committee chairmen, he said ARF
Dashnaktsutyun won’t receive any according to DONT system.

Commenting on Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) member David
Harutyunyan’s statement, saying the new parliament will include 12
standing committees, Mr. Rustamyan noted it a violation of NA rules,
which stipulate only 10.

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) took a decisive victory
at the parliamentary elections on May 6 gaining 44,02% of votes.

The coalition Prosperous Armenia party comes second with 30,12%
of votes and the opposition ANC is placed third with 7,08%.

The opposition parties Heritage (5,76%) and ARF Dashnaktsutyun
(5,67%), as well as the third coalition Orinats Yerkir party (5,51%)
also joined the new parliament.

RPA gained absolute majority of 69 seats in the 131-member National
Assembly, 40 by proportional and 29 by majority system of voting.

Prosperous Armenia got 37 seats (28 by proportional and 9 by majority
systems) and ANC was left with 7.

Dashnaktsutyun and Orinats Yerkir got 6 seats each (5 by proportional
and 1 by majority systems), while Heritage got 5.

Judge Throws Out Lernapat Mayor’s Slander Suit Against Hetq Reporter

hetq
13:05, May 30, 2012

Yesterday, Judge Varduhie Hovnanyan threw out the slander suit filed
by Lernapat Mayor Vano Yeghiazaryan against Hetq reporter Andrineh
Torosyan.

The trial dates back to September, 2011 when Mayo Yeghiazaryan sued
Torosyan for libel over an August 2011 Hetq article covering a judicial
dispute between the mayor and local resident Gevorg Melkonyan.

In her verdict, Judge Hovnanyan also stipulates that Yeghiazaryan
must pay the reporter 150,000 AMD as compensation for her incurred
legal fees.

Yeghiazaryan had changed his original financial compensatory demand
from 1 million AMD to a mere 1 AMD earlier this year. He still wanted
Hetq to issue a public retraction of the “insulting and defamatory”
information and publish an apology.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA WILL REMAIN ALTERNATIVE TO AUTHORITIES – PARTY MEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 30, 2012 – 18:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The second number of Prosperous Armenia’s
electoral list Vartan Oskanian commented on party’s activity in
future parliament.

“Prosperous Armenia will remain an alternative to the political
majority in the parliament,” he said during distribution of
parliamentary mandates.

“We will try to introduce tangible changes in Armenian society,”
he said, noting the party’s readiness to vote for the bills serving
public interests.

Mr. Oskanian said the party expects no consequences for its refusal
to join the coalition.

Prosperous Armenia issued a statement, which said the party doesn’t
consider involvement in coalition government formation a reasonable
step.

“We maintained a common position throughout the whole election
campaign. I have repeatedly stated that I pursue no personal goals
other than political. Moreover, I reiterate readiness to suffer a
loss to retain public trust,” Gagik Tsarukyan stated.

According to polling results, Prosperous Armenia garnered about half
a million votes. These people voted for our party, out of faith in
us and the demand for tangible changes in the country’s social and
economic life. Given the election outcomes, Prosperous Armenia has
no constitutional possibility to participate in government formation
and implement its programs. Thus, I declare that our party doesn’t
deem participation in coalition formation reasonable,” the statement
by party leader read.

Armenian Educational Foundation
600 West Broadway, Suite 130
Glendale, California 91204
Telephone: 818-242-4154
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
May 29, 2012

Dr. Albert Melik Ghassemian donates $234,000 to AEF

Glendale – Armenian Educational foundation (AEF) is pleased to announce
that Dr. Albert Melik Ghassemian of Boston donated $34,000 to fund the
renovation of two Artsakh village schools and $200,000 towards the
renovation of the Artsakh State University dormitory.

Artsakh State University students and faculty celebrated the opening of the
renovated dormitory building on May 10, 2012. In attendance were Artsakh
government officials, AEF board members, and the generous benefactor of the
project, Dr. Ghassemian.

Dr. Ghassemian’s contribution allowed AEF to renovate four floors of the
dormitory. The renovation of the fourth and fifth floors were completed
and presented during the opening celebration. The renovation of the second
and third floors will be finished this summer. In addition to funding the
renovation of the dormitory, Dr. Ghassemian also helped provide the
furnishings for each room, plus two kitchenettes on each floor.

During the opening celebrations, the University President and Minister of
Education presented Dr. Ghassemian with an honorary doctorate degree from
Artsakh State University. Dr. Ghassemian, a renowned cardiologist and a
member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at Boston University School of
Medicine, offered philanthropic support for future projects at Artsakh
State University. Dr. Ghassemian also took the time to answer questions
from students and inquired about their daily life at the university and
their involvement in its educational programs.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Dr. Ghassemian stated that the
renovation project was dear to his heart because his grandparents were born
in Artsakh, and that the experience brought him closer to his Armenian
heritage.

The dormitory renovation project was led by AEF Board Member, Neshan
Peroomian, who for the past ten years has personally interviewed and
selected contractors and overseen each renovation project. This renovation
project raises the total number of renovated schools in Armenia, Artsakh
and Javakhk by the Armenian Educational Foundation to over 177 schools.

AEF, as always, spends 100% of the funds received by its donors towards the
project the donors are sponsoring. `We are very grateful to Dr. Ghassemian
for his very generous donation’, stated AEF President Hermineh Pakhanians.
`It is because of the generosity of individuals like Dr. Ghassemian that
AEF has for over 61 years been able to provide financial assistance to
Armenian students and educational institutions.’ In 2011, AEF allocated
over $445,000 for numerous educational projects including: renovation of
schools, scholarships, computers and school supplies to village schools in
Armenia and Artsakh.

For more information or donation, please contact the AEF office at (818)
242-4154 or email [email protected].

BAKO SAHAKYAN RECEIVED CAROLINE COX

ARMENPRESS
31 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: On 31 May President Bako Sahakyan
received member of the UK’ House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox and
accompanying her individuals.

Issues related to the domestic and foreign policy of Artsakh, as
well as various questions concerning the realization of different
projects in the republic were discussed during the meeting, central
information department of the office of the Artsakh Republic President
informed Armenpress.

The Head of State noted Artsakh people are grateful to Baroness
Caroline Cox for her great contribution to the development of Artsakh
and its international recognition.

YEREVAN’S COVERED MARKET WILL MAINTAIN EXTERIOR AFTER RENOVATION – BUSINESSMAN MP

news.am
May 31, 2012 | 11:54

YEREVAN. – Armenian capital city Yerevan’s Covered Market will preserve
its external appearance after the renovations, ruling Republican Party
of Armenia MP and businessman Samvel Aleksanyan-who owns the Market –
told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He stated that the Market’s rooftop had collapsed on its own.

“The [National] Seismic [Protection Service] gave the papers that
[show that] the [Market’s] rear was not in good condition, [and] it
collapsed on its own. [But] We will restore it completely,” Aleksanyan
said, and promised to preserve the building’s architectural appearance.

“We will restore the [Market’s] arches, too. There will be a market
there, and we are digging several floors to [also] build a parking
lot,” the MP noted.

To the query as to whether building an underground parking could
affect the Market’s seismic resistance, Aleksanyan responded with a no.

And to the question as to whether all this could have been informed
earlier so as not to raise uproar, Samvel Aleksanyan responded:
“Now, a commission is formed which will give its conclusion.”

HAYATSK: OLIGARCH’S SECURITY OFFICERS ‘GIVE CONCERT’ IN CONCERTO TAXI SERVICE

Panorama.am
31/05/2012

According to Hayatsk paper’s information, on May 25, 5-6 security
officers of a famous oligarch, armed with guns, entered Concerto
taxi service in Yerevan’s Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district,
forced the female dispatcher out of the office, smashed computers,
damaged the property and beat some men on duty. The director of taxi
service was away and missed work in the coming days.

The paper says “it was a famous nicknamed oligarch and an MP,” but
does not reveal his name.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY: 54.7% OF ARMENIAN MEN SMOKE

Panorama.am
31/05/2012

Members of World Health Organization mark No tobacco day on May 31.

WHO marks this day since 1988 with Armenia having joined the initiative
since 2000.

On World No Tobacco Day, World Health Organization (WHO) is calling
on national leaders to be extra vigilant against the increasingly
aggressive attacks by the industry which undermine policies that
protect people from the harms of tobacco.

Ministry of Health said 54.7% of Armenian men aged 20-65 use tobacco.

It is estimated that tobacco kills almost 6 million people every year
and is one of the leading preventable causes of illness and death
around the world.

“In recent years, multinational tobacco companies have been shamelessly
fueling a series of legal actions against governments that have been at
the forefront of the war against tobacco. The industry is now stepping
out of the shadows and into court rooms,” says WHO Director-General Dr
Margaret Chan. “We must now stand together with these governments that
have had the courage to do the right thing to protect their citizens,”
she said in a message marking World No Tobacco Day on Thursday.

KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NEARING ITS MELTING POINT – AMERICAN EXPERT

news.am
May 31, 2012 | 11:42

The frozen Karabakh conflict is nearing its melting point, said Wayne
Merry, Senior Fellow for Europe and Eurasia at the American Foreign
Policy Council.

In his interview with Azerbaijani Turan news agency, Merry said there
are warning signs of renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to him, resumption of the conflict is inevitable. He said
the problem is there is no military balance but rather an asymmetry
between Armenian defensive advantages and Azerbaijani military buildup.

The political analyst considers that new war will be more destructive
than the first one. The physical parameters of a new conflict would
extend beyond Karabakh.

Asked about the position of U.S. and Russia, Merry said neither of
the states will openly support any of the conflicting parties. Only
Russia has potential for direct pressure on Baku and Yerevan, he said
adding that Moscow and Washington will seek through political means
to bring a conflict to a rapid end.

The Azerbaijani agency says that Washington is concerned over possible
war in the South Caucasus. Next week, Washington DC-based Kennan
Institute will hold a panel debate to seek an answer on question
“How dangerous is the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and what can be
done to avoid another open conflict?”