Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RED BOOK ALERT: URBANIZATION AND CHANGING BIOSPHERE AFFECT ARMENIA’S BIRD POPULATION
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow reporter
News | 04.04.12 | 11:55

Karine Danielyan, Silva Adamyan (right)

Environmentalists keep warning that more and more bird species have to
be included in the Red Book every year because of Armenia’s changing
biosphere.

Silva Adamyan, in charge of Bird Lovers’ Center NGO, told the press
on Tuesday that if a decade ago there were 65 species in Armenia’s
Red Book, that number has now reached 110. (Armenia boasts the total
of 351 bird species.)

“The red-book number of species has increased considerably over the
past years. Among the highly endangered species are the black vulture,
the lammergeyer, the peregrine falcon, and several wader and water-bird
species that are in the world Red Book as well,” she says.

According to Adamyan, the main reason for the decrease of bird species
and their numbers is the change of landscape and natural environment
in Armenia, as well as urbanization.

For example white-headed vultures, whose nests could be seen along
the road to Dsegh (in the northern Lori province), have left the area
unable to stand the traffic noise and pollution or find food,” says
Adamyan, adding that birds mostly leave Armenia for neighbor Georgia.

In Syunik, which used to boast an extensive bird population,
the natural ecosystem for both birds and flora is destroyed as a
consequence of active mining industry.

“Mining explosions alone affect birds rather seriously,” says the
bird expert.

Adamyan also points out that the increased water level of Lake Sevan
has led to a big change in the list of bird species, because some
of the coastal areas have become “good nesting areas, and also quite
favorable resting areas for migrant birds”

However, Adamyan claims Armenia is also facing illegal export and
sale of even red-book bird species.

“Our most recent information has it that Peregrine Falcons have been
exported from Armenia to Iranian territory for $50,000. The whole
deal is realized through Iranians, but we cannot say what the final
destination is or what happens to the birds later,” says Adamyan,
adding that they have turned to the ministry of environmental
protection but with no result.

Environmentalists say Yerevan is facing a number of issues; urban
development has affected the number of insectivorous birds, which
are janitors of the kind, cleaning the air basin.

Ecologist Karine Danielyan, who heads the Association for Sustainable
Human Development, says that whereas in the 1980s there were around
180 bird species in Yerevan, today that number has dropped to 160.

“The loss of trees we had in the 1990s first because of the energy
crisis, then because of corruption, has reduced the number of bird
species, while they are responsible for exterminating insects and
pests; it means we have lost the sanitary role birds play in terms
of cleaning the air,” says Daniyelyan, adding that the presence of
a great number of crows in Yerevan, especially in the city center,
speaks of the city’s poor sanitary-ecological state.

“All we have to do is bear in mind, that if birds are leaving our city,
then living in such a place is bad for us, too,” she emphasizes.

SLOVAK OFFICIAL: ANY TURK DENYING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN SLOVAKIA WILL BE JAILED

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 5, 2012 – 14:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 4, a wreath laying ceremony was held at
a khachkar-obelisk in center of Bratislava, Slovakia, in memory
of Armenian Genocide victims, press service of Forum of Armenian
Associations of Europe (FAAE) reported.

Slovakia’s Supreme Court Chairman tefan Harabin, President of Armenian
Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan, Chairman of RA Court of
Cassation Arman Mkrtumyan and FAAE Chairman Ashot Grigorian partook
in the event. In his speech, Mr. Harabin noted that he attaches great
importance to “Law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial” adopted
by the Slovak government and parliament. He said that any Turkish
official regardless of his rank and any other person who dares deny
the fact of the Armenian Genocide in Slovakia will immediately be
sentenced to 5 years in prison. The Slovak official stressed his
readiness to help his French counterparts to pass a similar law.

Gagik Harutyunyan, in turn, voiced deep gratitude to the Slovak
government, nation and personally the Supreme Court Chairman for
being the first in the EU to adopt a law that penalizes the Armenian
Genocide denial. He noted RA Constitutional Court members’ readiness
to cooperate with the Slovak lawyers to prove other countries the
necessity of passing such a law. Mr. Harutyunyan noted that the law
doesn’t run counter to human rights, just the opposite ensures their
protection.

FAAE Chairman highlighted the importance of the laws that recognize
the Armenian Genocide and criminalize its denial. According to him,
following the adoption of such laws, Slovakia became a brilliant
example for other states interested in Christian civilization and
fostering maintenance of spiritual culture.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. If signed
into law by the President, the bill would have imposed a 45,000 euro
fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime
against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

However, the French Constitutional Council ruled that the bill
is anti-constitutional. In a statement the Council said the bill
represents an “unconstitutional breach of the practice of freedom of
expression and communication.”

PFPA CHAIRMAN ALI KARIMLI’S BROTHER-IN-LAW ARRESTED UNDER UNCLEAR CHARGES

BAKU. April 4, 2012: In a new political attack against the
opposition leader Ali Karimli, the Azerbaijani government targeted
his brother-in-law Elnur Seyidov. On March 27, the Ministry of
National Security arrested Elnur Seyidov on fabiracted charges.
The preliminary hearings on Seyidov’s case were held behind the
closed doors. Fakhraddin Mehdiyev, one of Elnur Seyidov’s attorneys
said during the closed trial Elnur Seyidov stated that he did not
commit any crime, and that he was arrested for being Ali Karimli’s
brother-in-law. Elnur Seyidov had a long career in a banking
sector, with his last job being a deputy head of Yasamal branch
of Technikabank.

Charges Without Evidence

Yesterday, charges were formally brought against Elnur Seyidov
, and Sabayel district court sentenced him to a three months of
imprisonment. Seyidov’s lawyer Asabali Mustafayev stated that “Elnur
Seyidov was accused of using illegal methods, in transferring the money
collected by the citizens, to the head of board of directors Etibar
Aliyev. Asabali Mustafayev said this claim was unsupported by any
evidence. “We have no idea how they could possibly charge him under
these circumstances. During the trial at the Sabayel District Court
of Baku we protested saying that the law enforcement cannot simply
arrest someone and make no effort to produce any evidence to support
the criminal charges. For a normal charge, existence of evidence
is crucial, with arrest being the last resort among the preliminary
injunctions. Prosecution has not satisfied these criteria by failing
to provide any evidence to support the charges against Seyidov. Our
complaints were not accepted, and court ordered his arrest. The
investigations carry on, and we hope to get more information about
the case in the nearest future.”

Who Else is Arrested?

Asabali Mustafayev also added the following: “Several other people are
also arrested regarding the case, though we do not have exact numbers
, and not sure about their identity. There are rumors that Etibar
Aliyev, Seyidov’s dupervisor has also been arrested.” Mustafayev
stated that during the arrest and detainment of Elnur Seyidov several
procedural requirements were not complied with, and that he will
forward a separate lawsuit regarding those issues. Elnur Seyidov
pleads not guilty.

“I am guilty of being Ali Karimli’s brother-in-law”

Another lawyer of Elnur Seyidov Fakhraddin Mehdiyev stated in his
interview for the Yeni Musavat that his client said the charges
against him had no legal basis. He is in detention for no reason and
that his arrest was entirely arbitrary. Elnur Seyidov stated several
times in his trial , that he was not involved in any criminal activity
and that he was arrested for only being Ali Karimli’s brother-in-law.

Elnur Seyidov stated his arrest was a tool in the hands of the
Azerbaijani government to pressure Ali Karimli.

The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) chaired by Ali Karimi
already issued a public statement characterizing Elnur Seyidov’s
arrest as political.

It is important to note that Elnur Seyidov’s arrest coincides with the
time when the whole democratic world is urging the Government to make
political reforms prior to the Eurovision song contest. The PFPA has
regarded the arrest as the Azerbaijani government’s response to the
political demands of the opposition to carry out the political reforms.

What the Azerbaijani government shows with this arrest, is that it
does not want to give up its authoritarian manners and that it is
determined to keep Azerbaijan as a tightly controlled society, said
Ali Karimli, the chairman of the PFPA, speaking to the local media.

Background History of Aliyev Government’s Attacks on Ali Karimli

As a matter of fact it is important to remember that it is not the
first case of repression against Ali Karimli. His close friends,
relatives and fellow party members have been arrested on various
grounds with eight of the party members being currently in jail.

The Azerbaijani government has already kicked the PFPA out of its
headquarters in 2006. Ali Karimli has personally faced multiple
pressure aimed at preventing him from carrying out his daily activities
as a leader of a major opposition party. Ali Karimli has been denied
a passport which prevents him from making foreign trips.

The legal basis of the passport denial rests on the proposition that
Ali Karimli is under the ongoing criminal investigation since 1994.

Even if to disregard the violation of such a fundamental principle of
law as the right to speedy trial, the fact that the Attorney General
cannot investigate someone for 18 years without coming forward with
some legal charges, there are other grounds to question this strange
passport ban. Since 1994 Ali Karimli has served as a parliamentarian
in 2000-2005 and has used a diplomatic passport of a member of the
Azerbaijani parliament making multiple trips abroad. The passport
ban on Ali Karimli is a new development, but the legal excuse for
this ban is based on an alleged investigation dating 1994.

Karimli himself has been a target of several assassination attempts.

These issues have previously attracted considerable media attention.

Elnur Seyidov’s arrest looks like another attempt by the Azerbaijani
government to hurt Ali Karimli. Additional mental pressure on the
opposition leader is put by the fact that his brother-in-law has
personally nothing to do with the Azerbaijani politics and suffers
from a severe condition of multiple sclerosis affecting his legs and
eyes (Azerireport).

ARMENIAN CHURCH OF DIARBEQIR TURNED INTO HANDICRAFT CENTER

Panorama.am
05/04/2012

Ancient Armenian church located in the region of Suri, southeastern
province of Diarbeqir, Turkey, turned into a handicraft center after
it was repaired.

Turkish daily “Vatan” writes, built 142 years ago the Armenian church
has become a handicraft center for women where silk manufacturing
and silversmith’s skills are taught.

Up to 1960s Armenians and Assyrians used to be masters of the two
crafts. Speaking to the daily Bilgin Yighit, who offered to make the
church a handicraft center, said:

“After the resettlement of this church owners, their crafts
disappeared. We decided to launch special courses in the church. Every
year 300 women and young ladies learn those crafts and take care of
their families.”

Now the ringing of the bells in the Armenian church is replaced by
knocks of sewing machine, Turkish daily concludes.

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW WAVE AND NEW WAVE JUNIOR 2012 SONG CONTESTS

news.am
April 05, 2012 | 12:35

Armenian selection round of young singers for the New Wave 2012 and
New Wave Junior 2012 song contests, aiming to reveal new talented
people, has launched, the organizers told the journalists on Thursday.

They said 2-5 participants will leave for Moscow after the selection
to take part in the semi-final. It will be held on Apr. 20-21 for the
New Wave 2012, while the junior contest semi-final will take place
in Moscow on Apr. 18-19.

Armenian famous singers Lilit Hovhannisyan, Hripsime Hakobyan, Lusine
Aghabekyan and Suren Arustamyan have appeared in the final.

Despite there are many famous singers this year, it would not influence
the jury, director of the contest Alexander Rumyantsev said.

If the Armenians won once, it does not mean they cannot win again,
the director believes.

Sona Shahgeldyan and ‘Razmik and his friends’ group won the contests
New Wave and New Wave Junior respectively in 2010.

AZERBAIJANI DO NOT HAVE THE DISPOSITION THAT ALIEV PROPAGATES

Aysor.am
April 05, 2012

“The political elite of Azerbaijan is a hostage in the hands of
clan that belongs to one person. The state propaganda is tended to
protect the interests of the clan of that one person,” said PAP MP
Naira Zohrabyan who was involved in the Armenian delegation of the
Euronest plenary session in Baku.

She mentioned that Aliev’s speech, as well as the contacts with
ordinary Azerbaijani proved that the Azerbaijani have adopted the
policy of disseminating disinformation which is a policy of one person.

“People there do not have the disposition which Ilham Aliev presents
and propagates,” N. Zohrabyan said.

Coming to the subject of Aliev’s speech the MP mentioned that the
Europeans participating in the session were astonished with the
“ill-bred and tactless speech” of the president.

“However, despite this, none of them risked to mention about it from
the Euronest tribune,” noticed N. Zohrabyan.

NO CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR TURKISH TOMATOES?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:03:29 – 05/04/2012

The greenhouse farms in Ararat and Armavir regions are in a difficult
situation. The farmers started selling their tomatoes cultivated
in greenhouses and immediately faced serious problems. The Armenian
market is flooded with the Turkish tomatoes which is cheaper.

Farmers are surprised that Turkish tomatoes are sold cheaper despire
high customs fee for tomatoes. They doubt Turkish tomatoes imported
to Armenia avoid customs clearance.

The greenhouse farmers protested in front of the Prime Minister’s
Officeto voice the issue. Understanding soon that it was senseless
to stand in front of the government’s house, the farmers walked to
the Republican Party’s office.

The RPA is the ruling force so it is supposed to deal with our issues.

They told us they will deal with the issue tomorrow,” said the farmers
who do not hope the issue will be solved.

They say in the past three years they faced the same problems and
the government prohibited import for 10-15 days.

The farmers note that the imported Turkish tomatoes cost AMD 700 per
kg while locally produced tomatoes cost AMD 900 drams. They say it
is costly to cultivate tomatoes in winter.

They say that people prefer cheap tomatoes for economic reasons though
few people know Turkish tomatoes are grown with the help of special
toxic chemicals which are dangerous for health.

They say tomatoes are imported from Iran as well, which harms their
business.

Farmers say they can supply local demand for tomatoes and there is
no need to import.

VAHAN HOVHANNISSYAN ASSESSES WORK OF EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY SESSION POSITIVE

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 5, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s delegation’s work in Euronest
Parliamentary session in Baku may be considered done, head of the
delegation Vahan Hovhannissyan told a news conference today.

“The first working day ended positively. I met with Azeri President
Ilham ALiyev who did not utter a word about Karabakh conflict. On
the second day using the opportunity of speech of the hosting state,
Ilham Aliyev accused Armenia in all the possible sins in front of
the European delegates and other guests. These were unprecedented
accusations and were a cold shower for all,” Vahan Hovhannissyan said,
stressing that even some Azerbaijani delegates approached the Armenian
MPs and expressed inadmissibility of such behavior.

“Of course, the response of the Armenian side was not late: it was
spread in a written way and voiced orally,” the head of the Armenian
delegation stressed, convincing that with his behavior Aliyev cast
a serious blow to his own country.

Speaking about the reception of the Armenian delegation, Vahan
Hovhannissyan convinced that Azerbaijani delegates, employees of
hotel and security bodies displayed themselves quite well.

“The only flaw though was the impossibility of meeting with reporters
caused because of absence of “freedom of speech” in that country.

Reuters’ correspondent was asked to leave after few minutes, and two
Dutch journalists were not allowed to meet with Armenian delegates,”
Hovhannissyan said, adding that in any case they managed to give
interview to Azar-TV reporters but they should get permission for
broadcasting this interview.

AZERBAIJAN VIOLATES CEASEFIRE 3,000 TIMES SINCE BEGINNING OF YEAR

news.am
April 05, 2012 | 10:30

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire, at the line of contact
between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces, around 3,000 times
ever since the beginning of 2012, Armenia’s MOD Press Service informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As a result, two Armenian military servicemen lost their lives and
four others were wounded.

In 2011, the adversary breached the ceasefire 12,600 times; in 2010,
7,200 times; in 2009, 4,600 times; in 2008, 3,500 times; in 2007,
1,400 times; and in 2006, close to 600 times. So, every year Azerbaijan
increases the number of its ceasefire violations.

And Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army press service informs that
the Defense Army’s vanguard divisions refrain from taking equivalent
measures against the adversary’s provocative operations, and they
have taken retaliatory actions solely in the case of extreme necessity.

NALBANDIAN SLAMS AZERBAIJAN’S POSITION ON KARABAKH AS “PREPOSTEROUS”

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 5, 2012 – 13:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasized
that all principles of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement proposed
by OSCE Minsk Group are viewed in the framework of a single package,
Armenian Foreign Minister said.

Edward Nalbandian made the statement in response to the question on
Azerbaijani demand to “withdraw troops” to continue negotiations.

“Azerbaijan holds a preposterous position requiring implementation
of one element, whilst offering to discuss the rest later. In this
respect, Armenia’s stance is similar to that of the co-chairs.

Everything should be considered in a package,” Minister Nalbandian
told a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart
Audronius Azubalis.

He further noted that Lithuanian parliament addressed the Soviet
authorities back in 1989 with a request to recognize Karabakh’s
right to self-determination, handing the copy of the document to the
Lithuanian official.