Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RUSSIAN EXPERT: IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE HOW CSTO MAY ENSURE ARMENIA’S SECURITY

ARMINFO
Wednesday, April 11, 18:21

Any extension has limits and it is especially relevant in case of
NATO. When they forget about it, we shall have the situation which we
now have with the European Union – the new members of the organization
could not integrate that, expert of the Russian Institute for Strategic
Studies, Aleksandr Skakov, said during an Internet-conference “NATO
and security of the South Caucasus countries”. He also added that
expediency of further extension of the alliance causes doubt more and
more, as the interests of the potential as well as real members of
the EU differ very much. “For instance, I have no doubt that Turkey
has its own interests at least along its borders, and they do not
meet interests of, let’s say, Spain. How and why Spain will protect
Turkey’s interests, for instance, in the Iraqi Kurdistan?”, – he asked.

He said that the situation is similar in the CSTO. It is hard to
imagine that Kyrgyzia will protect Armenia’s interests. For this
reason, one cannot think that the CSTO membership may ensure Armenia’s
security. “The treaty between Armenia and Russia is quite another
thing. It is not directly connected with the CSTO”, – Skakov said.

For his part, Armenian political expert Sergey Sargsyan added
that in 2011 several CSTO member-states ratified the protocol on
making alterations in the CSTO regulations regarding the cancel of
the principle of adoption of a decision only in case of reaching
consensus. He also added that this innovation will make the CSTO more
flexible in the matter of ensuring security of the CSTO member-states,
and is directly regarding Armenia.

ARMENIA’S OPERA SINGER TO PARTICIPATE IN FESTIVAL IN KOREA

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 11, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: “April spring” friendship festival
will be held in Korea April 10-20. With the assistance of the Ministry
of Culture soloist of the National Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre
Hayk Tigranyan will participate in the event.

Press service of the Ministry told Armenpress that Arevik Gyulbudaghyan
(soprano) will participate in the qualification classes of renowned
singer Renata Scotto from April 16-May 14.

ANC COORDINATOR: RPA WON’T RETAIN POWER WITHOUT FORGERY

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 11, 2012 – 14:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress
opposition bloc Levon Zurabyan says refusal of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia to join the single inter-party headquarters to tackle
election violations at the upcoming parliamentary elections is natural.

“It is obvious that RPA won’t manage to preserve its power without
forgery,” he declared.

Despite all pledges and statements voiced by Armenian President, RPA
leader Serzh Sargsyan particularly to the international community,
the current authorities have no intention to hold fair elections in
the country, Zurabyan emphasized.

NATIONAL WOMB: BABY BOOM IN NAGORNO KARABAKH PROJECT WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 11, 2012 – 15:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The National Womb: Baby Boom in Nagorno Karabakh
project by London-based photojournalist Anastasia Taylor-Lind, won
Project Award 2012, organized by Center, a non-profit photographic
organization in Santa Fe.

The project documents the “birth encouragement program” initiated by
the Nagorno Karabakh’s government to repopulate the region following
the 1991-94 war waged by Azerbaijan.

“Since its introduction four years ago, the ‘birth encouragement
program’ is credited for an increased birthrate of 25.5% from 2145
recorded births in 2007 to 2694 in 2010,” writes Taylor-Lind.

“The program is administered by the Department of Social Security,
which oversees the payments to married couples of approximately ~@575
at their wedding. They are paid ~@190 for the first baby born, ~@380
for the second, ~@950 for the third and ~@1350 for a fourth. Families
with six children under the age of 18 are given a house.”

Her work was selected by a panel of jurors that included curator Greg
Hobson of the National Media Museum, Paul Moakley, a deputy photo
editor with Time Magazine, and Christopher Steighner of Rizzoli
Publications, .bjp-online.com says.

“Despite where the work was made or the nationality of the
photographer, what made for a winning project was that it explored
universal themes. They had an international scope in some way and hit
on issues that affect us all,” the statement of the jury representing
Denmark, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom,
and the United States said.

ARMENIA’S OPPOSITION BLOC, RULING PARTY DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION DEBATE

news.am
April 11, 2012 | 14:17

YEREVAN. – The opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (ANC)
and the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) are not
taking part in the parliamentary election debate being held in the
capital Yerevan.

Solely four of the nine political forces which will run in the
elections are participating in this event. Along with the ANC and the
RPA, the coalition’s Prosperous Armenia and the Orinats Yerkir (Rule
of Law) parties plus the Democratic Party are absent from the debate.

According to our information, the ANC did not show up because it was
informed beforehand that the RPA would not come. Our source at the
ANC noted that the latter’s “battle” is only with the RPA, and not
with the other political forces.

German Ambassador to Armenia, Hans-Jochen Schmidt, is likewise on
hand at the event.

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN AND ANC PARTIALLY AGREE TO HERITAGE CONDITIONS

news.am
April 11, 2012 | 14:10

YEREVAN.- ARF Dashnaktsutyun and the Armenian National Congress
(ANC) bloc partially agree to the conditions put forward by the
Heritage Party.

During the Wednesday meeting representative of Heritage Ruban Hakobyan
demanded that all the parties’ leaders should sign a document proposing
creation of a single headquarters to monitor elections as well as the
formation of a working group that will monitor charitable foundations
handing out pre-election bribes.

He also said that Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) should decide whether
it would be on the side of ruling coalition or the opposition.

Vardan Oskanian, representing PAP at the meeting, said the political
force could withdraw from the initiative but render necessary
assistance.

In his turn coordinator of ANC central office Levon Zurabyan said
the political decision was approved and the rest is nothing but
working problems.

“If we continue our work to combat election rigging, we will achieve
considerable success,” he said. However, Zurabyan noted that demand
to sign the document by the leader is not understandable. “We all
are authorized to sign the document,” he added.

In his turn head of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Armen Rustamyan said he would
sign the document.

Earlier, Heritage Party said it would quit unless all the political
forces meet the demands.

A statement to create a single headquarters to monitor election
processes was earlier signed by the Prosperous Armenia Party (ruling
coalition member), opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage and ANC.

The Republican Party refused to participate in the initiative.

“AZERBAIJANI FILM FESTIVAL” IS CANCELED IN GYUMRI

As we have already informed that the protest action is accepted in
Gyumri today concerning so called “Azerbaijani film festival” which
head of the “Caucasian Center of peace initiatives” Geogre Vanyan
intended to hold in Gyumri.

As blogger Tigran Qocharyan informed Times.am from Gyumri the event
will not take place.

“Gyumri residents are furious. Many young people have gathered at
“Asbarez” press-club and no one is allowed to enter. It is obvious
that the event will not take place”, T. Qocharyan noted.

Blogger also informed that the young people who went to Gyumri from
Yerevan took discs about the Maragha tragedy and gave them to the
Gyumri residents.

“Vanyan announced that he would stay in Gyumri will 16:00 o’ clock, but
Levon Barseghyan and police hardly managed to take him from the town”.

Note that this is the next failure by Vanyan. His shameful initiative
was failed in Yerevan and Vanadzor before. This time Vanyan tried to
check his abilities in Gyumri.

Note that protest action took place also yesterday in Gyumri.

A page against the Azerbaijani film festival was created in “Facebook”
social network and it had more than 700 supporters in a very short
term.

WATER FOUND ITS CRACK MOVIE IN CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Panorama.am
12/04/2012

“Water found its crack” movie based on a story by founder and
editor-in-chief of Agos daily Hrant Dink, who was murdered in Istanbul,
will be launched in Cannes Film Festival.

Ermenihaber.am news site said young film maker Ugur Egemen Ires
was allowed to present his Water found its crack movie in Cannes
Short Film.

This is a story of an Armenian woman who visits a village located in
the Turkish province of Svaz every year and who dies there.

The 65th Cannes Film Festival will take place 16-27 May 2012.

KARABAKH SAYS WILL OPEN ITS AIRPORT SOON
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
12.04.12 | 11:37

Authorities in Karabakh have again promised that the unrecognized
republic’s only airport will soon open for civilian flights despite
threats by Azerbaijan to shoot aircraft down.

Karabakh Defense Army Chief Movses Hakobyan told a group of Armenian
journalists visiting Stepanakert on Wednesday that all measures would
be taken to ensure the safety of such flights.

“There is no concern. Our airport will be put into operation. It
is equipped according to modern standards and there is no problem
connected with security,” he said.

The airport near the Karabakh capital of Stepanakert has been closed
since 1992 when hostilities began in the area. Its reconstruction was
launched in 2009 and originally it was expected to go into operation
in 2010. But the opening of the airport was delayed several times
because the news of imminent flights from and to Karabakh elicited a
hostile reaction in Azerbaijan that does not recognize the sovereignty
of the authorities in Karabakh. Some officials in Baku went as far
as threatening to bring down the civilian planes flying into or out
of Karabakh.

Now the Karabakh defense chief voiced his certitude that the Azeri
military would abstain from making such a step that would amount to
violating international commitments.

“We will not cross into Azerbaijan’s airspace, but if Azerbaijan
attempts a provocation, then our air defense forces are capable of
neutralizing potential missiles. Besides, during the day our air
defense forces follow as many as 260 Azeri aircraft and we, too, can
shoot their planes down,” said Hakobyan, adding that the aircraft to
operate flights from and to Stepanakert has already been purchased
and its personnel is being trained.

The airport in Karabakh is designed for civilian flights, mostly to
connect Stepanakert with Armenian capital Yerevan.

Stepanakert-Yerevan flights will be carried out by a newly established
airline, Artsakhavia, that will operate a SRJ-200 aircraft seating
50 passengers for the purpose. A typical flight from Stepanakert to
Yerevan is expected to last around 35 minutes (now a journey by car
via Lachin takes about five hours).

ARFD: NO RULING POWER IN ARMENIA HAS EVER SERVED PEOPLE

arminfo
Wednesday, April 11, 13:26

“Everyone speaks of the necessity of changes. When oppositions say
this, it is clear, but when the authorities speak of the necessity
of changes, it is simply silly. Yet not long ago the authorities were
declaring that everything is good in the country, while now they come
out with the slogan ‘Let’s Believe To Change’,” Armen Rustamyan, a
member of ARFD Party said at the party’s rally in Yerevan on April 10.

Rustamyan stressed the necessity of forming an alliance for freedom and
justice in order to change the power in the country. He said that no
ruling power has ever served the people. The authorities have always
used the people within their own interests.

“The ARFD’s program is not new. All the civilized countries have
passed that way to achieve free and democratic country. All the 146
points of our program refer to public needs,” Rustamyan said. He
urged everyone not to be bribed and fight for free and fair elections.

“Once allowing the authorities to buy your votes, you will allow them
to manipulate you and infringe your rights,” Rustamyan said.