Author: Kalantarian Kevo

IRAN’S AMBASSADOR IS LEAVING ARMENIA WITH WARM MEMORIES

ARMENPRESS
3 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS: Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Seyed Ali
Saghayian on May 3 finished his diplomatic mission in Armenia. As
Armenpress reports Ambassador mentioned that he is leaving Armenia
with very warm memories.

“I have very good memories concerning Armenia. Armenian nation is
very amiable. I consider myself to be the friend of Armenian nation”
he said.

Reverberating to cultural relations of two countries the Ambassador
mentioned that the ancestors of both Iranian and Armenian people had
left reach heritage that we must keep and give to next generations.

“For the stability of Armenian-Iranian relations the culture was also
favorable. Armenian people were able to keep with honor their language,
religion and culture through difficulties. Thousands of Armenians
live in Iran and are the keepers of that civilization” he said.

In words of Seyed Ali Saghayian Armenian community in Iran has
opportunity to learn the language, to be educated. And this proves
the status that Armenians have in Iran.

“I had permanent friends in Armenia. I wish peace, stability and
progress to Armenia” said the Ambassador.

TEMPORARY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EXHIBITION IN STOCKHOLM DRAWS TOURISTS, DIPLOMATS

hetq.am
15:20, May 3, 2012

The Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden in cooperation with
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Yerevan, Armenia, arranged
a temporary exhibition entitled the “Armenian Genocide and the
Scandinavian Response”.

The exhibition took place during April 23-27, 2012 in the Catholic
Cathedral, situated in central Stockholm. The exhibition was
originally inaugurated during April 2011 by the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute in Yerevan as part of the celebration of 150th
anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen, the world known Norwegian explorer
and human rights activist. In 2011 foreign ministers of Sweden and
Norway visited the exhibition during their official visits to the
Republic of Armenia. Numerous tourists from the Scandinavian states
had a chance to visit the exhibition during 2011.

The exhibition in Stockholm consisted of the original eleven panels
as well as six new additions, displaying the work of Scandinavian
diplomats, politicians and missionary workers during and after the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1922. The additional panels also contained 12
selected diplomatic reports from the Swedish embassy in Constantinople
about the “annihilation of the Armenian nation”.

It is estimated that between 400 and 500 people visited the exhibition,
while it was mentioned by three Swedish newspapers, Svenska Dagbladet,
Dagen and Varlden idag. The exhibition will now go on a tour around
Sweden and will be displayed in various libraries, universities and
other public places.

NEW SKATING-RING CORRESPONDING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IS PLANNED TO BE BUILT

ARMENPRESS
3 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS: A new skating-ring corresponding to all
international standards is planned to be built in Yerevan in 2013. The
president of Ice hockey federation of Armenia Hayk Jaxacpanyan informed
about this Armenpress mentioning that Armenian hockey would have its
basic sports base.

In words of Jaxacpanyan the skating-ring building project has already
been affirmed and national federation is trying to implement it. The
new skating-ring will allow to develop hockey in Armenia in fast rates
as well as to hold a national hockey tournament with at least four
teams. Until now there has been only one very small skating-ring in
Armenia, which is not able to secure completely the development of
the sport.

Jaxacpanyan also informed that he would take part in ice hockey
international federation~Rs conference in the capital of Finland
Helsinki on May 17-20, where would be decided which world cup
tournament of 3-rd group Armenia would receive in 2013.

In words of the federation~Rs president Armenia already has such
experience: a few years ago hockey world cup tournament of 3-rd group
was organized in Sports and concert complex after Karen Demirchyan
in Yerevan.

Jacaxpanyan spoke also about the changes in Armenian national hockey
team: the team is replenished with Armenian hockey players from USA and
Russia and new staff change is planned in virtue of Russian players.

IN CASE THEY CONSIDER KOCHARYAN A CRIMINAL

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:37:35 – 03/05/2012

Vice-president of Heritage party Ruben Hakobyan summed up the election
campaign today. According to him, in terms of the media propaganda,
the campaign was held in a more advantageous atmosphere, which is a
big achievement. This is not the authorities’ merit but because the
law has been respected.

In a short time, a group appeared in the political field which started
working against Heritage and criticizing its activities. According to
him, the reason is that Heritage refused joining the PAP, ANC and ARFD
joint election monitoring headquarters. He says that Heritage demanded
to stop the election charity which was refuted by the rest of the
parties. “We understood that we would have to deal with a structure
which would just protect the illegal actions of a coalition force”,
he said.

Today, RPA, PAP and OYP are competing who will make more frauds.

Heritage stated the coalition is responsible for this situation and
change of power means the removal of all the three forces from the
power”, he said.

Hakobyan noted that this headquarter has not yet issued any statement
on any illegality and the ARFD and PAP cooperation is comprehensible
because the political basis is the same, but I can’t understand
the ANC- PAP cooperation in case Congress thinks Robert Kocharyan
and Vartan Oskanian are the main criminals”, said the Heritage
vice-chairman.

He thinks ANC wins nothing from this staff in political terms, the
opposition mass understands what is happening, while the PAP is in
a profitable situation, since it silenced its main criticizer.

LA POLEMIQUE DES KIOSQUES AU PARC MASHTOTS ENFIN RESOLUE
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 3 mai 2012

La presse du 2 mai rend abondamment compte de la visite du President
Sarkissian au parc Mashtots au centre d’Erevan où il y a plus de deux
mois des kiosques avaient ete installes sur decision de la mairie
d’Erevan, conduisant un vif mouvement de protestation des ecologistes
qui y ont campe depuis 80 jours.

Le chef de l’Etat a exhorte le maire d’Erevan a demonter les kiosques,
puisqu’ils abîment le panorama du parc. Le President a par ailleurs
remercie les policiers, qui depuis le debut des actions de protestation
des ecologistes assuraient l’ordre public, pour leur travail ”
excellent “, alors que dimanche dernier, suite a une altercation
entre manifestants et policiers, sept d’entre eux ont ete arretes
et mis en garde a vue pendant plusieurs heures, d’autres ayant subi
des blessures.

Tout en se felicitant de ce que le combat des ecologistes ait trouve
une issue positive, les commentateurs se demandent s’il ne s’agit
pas d’une campagne programmee en faveur du President Sarkissian et
de son parti Republicain a quelques jours des echeances electorales.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

ARKADY SOGHOMONYAN IS THE THIRD CANDIDATE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH PRESIDENT

arminfo
Wednesday, May 2, 21:37

Deputy Principal of the Stepanakert Branch of Armenian State Agrarian
University Arkady Soghomonyan has become the third candidate for
Nagorno-Karabakh President after Acting President Bako Sahakyan and
Ex Deputy Defense Minister Vitaly Balasanyan.

ArmInfo’s own correspondent in Stepanakert reports that the
presidential nomination process started Apr 20 and is to finish May 5.

The registration period is May 30-June 19, the election is scheduled
for July 19.

CEC REJECTS PAP AND ANC REPRESENTATIVES’ CLAIMS

news.am
May 02, 2012 | 19:41

YEREVAN. – The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) rejected the
opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliament candidate at
No. 12 precinct Tigran Ter-Petrosyan’s appeal at the snap session
convened on Wednesday. Ter-Petrosyan has appealed against the actions
by his opponents Gohar Veziryan and Lyova Khachatryan, who posted
advocacy literature in places where it is banned.

The CEC also rejected the appeal by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
representative in Sisian city, who claimed that local educational
institutions have rejected to provide an area within the institutions.

CEC rejected the appeal as it referred to holding meeting with the
staffs of those institutions, which is banned by law.

Eight political parties and one block have presented their nominations
– Republican Party of Armenian, Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats
Yerkir, opposition Armenian National Congress, opposition Heritage
Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the Communist Party of Armenia, Democratic
Party of Armenia and United Armenians Party.

For entering the National Assembly, parties must poll over 5% of votes,
while blocs – over 7%.

The election campaign will be held till May 5 – the day prior to
elections when campaigning is banned. The parliamentary elections
will be held from 8 am to 8 pm on May 6, 2012.

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHUSHI LIBERATION IS CELEBRATED IN CANADA

On April 28 Armenian Embassy in Canada and Armenian diocese organized
a festival devoted to the 20th anniversary of Shushi liberation. The
event took place in Montreal well-known Clod Champaign hall, press
and information department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs
about this.

Armenian singers Inga and Anush Arshakyans arrived in Canada to
participate in the concert program. Nagorno Karabak representative
to the USA and Canada Robert Avetisyan was the honored guest of the
event. In his speech he underlined the great importance of Shushi
liberation in Artsakh war. Armenian Ambassador to Canada Armen Yeganyan
reminded the great battle for the castle’s liberation and called on
everyone to act jointly for the Motherland and Armenian nation. Head
of the Armenian diocese in Canada called on everyone to be the masters
of own achievements and victories.

Both concerts in Montreal on April 28 and 29 passed joyfully and
with full halls. The events devoted to the 20th anniversary of Shushi
liberation are continued also in Toronto and Vancouver.

CAMPAIGN ABOUT CAMPAIGN
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
02.05.2012 19:02

The Civilitas Foundation held a debate today, featuring representatives
of political forces running in the elections to sum up the election
campaign. Representatives of Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, the Heritage Party and the United Armenians
Party participated in the debate.

With just two days left before the end of the election campaign, there
is an impression that the campaign was about how the elections would
pass rather the challenges Armenia faces, the social and political
issues. It was a campaign about campaign. Do the participants of the
debates agree with the opinion?

Artashes Shahbazyan from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation said,
“Dashnaktsutyun remains one of the romantic forces, which is trying
to win the trust of the public by presenting its programs.”

The United Armenian Party entered the competition because of the
assertions that everything would be done to ensure the conduct of
free and fair elections. According to the representative of the
Party Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the United Armenians do not have the
expectations that the public will follow a new force, although they
believed in it at the beginning of the campaign. It does not mean,
however, that the party will stop working.

“United Armenians will continue uniting people irrespective of the
fact whether they will enter the National Assembly or not,” he said.

For the Heritage Party it’s logical that the discussions on the
process of elections became the primary issue on pre-election agenda.

According to head of the Heritage faction Stepan Safaryan, the
development of the institute of elections is number one issue for
Armenia.

The Communists tried to lead the pre-election competition to an
ideological competition. However, they have not achieved any results
so far, member of the Communist Party Andranik Ghukasyan said.

Representative of the Prosperous Armenia Party Elinar Vardanyan said
it’s natural that the discussions mostly focus on the quality of
elections rather than platforms and debates.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN SOUTIENT L’APPEL DE L’OPPOSTION A LA COUR CONSTITUTIONNELLE
Laetitia

armenews.com
vendredi 4 mai 2012

Raffi Hovannisian, le chef du parti Zharangutyun (Heritage) a
exprime son soutien mercredi 2 mai 2012 a l’appel lance a la Cour
constitutionnelle et qui a ete depose par deux autres principaux
partis d’opposition et le Parti Armenie prospère (BHK).

Hovannisian a declare que le BHK, le Congrès national armenien (HAK)
et la Federation revolutionnaire armenienne (Dachnaktsoutioun) sont
en droit d’exiger que les autorites electorales publient les listes
des electeurs qui ont vote lors des elections legislatives.

Les trois partis politiques affirment que cela est essentiel pour
empecher le vote frauduleux en faveur de la decision du parti
republicain (HHK). Ils souhaitent que la Cour constitutionnelle
juge ” inconstitutionnelle ” une disposition legale qui interdit la
publication des noms des electeurs.

Le tribunal devrait examiner et statuer samedi. Le HHK a rejete la
demande du parti de l’opposition soutenue par le parti Zharangutyun,
affirmant que la diffusion de ces listes constituerait une violation
du secret du vote.

” À notre avis, ce n’est pas une violation du secret de vote “, a
declare Hovannisian aux journalistes dans la ville septentrionale de
Vanadzor. ” Par consequent, nous sommes d’accord avec les demandes
presentees par nos partenaires a la Cour constitutionnelle. Nous
esperons que le tribunal prendra la bonne decision. ”

Un chef de file du BHK, Vartan Oskanian, a affirme la semaine dernière
que ” des dizaines de milliers d’inexactitudes ” ont ete trouvees
dans les listes electorales nationales. Levon Zurabian, un chef de
file du HAK, a souligne” un nombre anormal de menages ” comptant au
moins dix electeurs inscrits. Il a affirme que des militants du HAK
ont egalement detecte des electeurs enumeres en tant que residents
d’immeubles inexistants ou abandonnes a Erevan. Harutiun Hambardzumian
a signale la meme chose. ” Il y a des rues dont je n’ai jamais entendu
parler “, a-t-il dit.