Author: Kalantarian Kevo

CIVIC ACTIVISTS TO CONTINUE VIGIL AT MASHTOTS PARK

HETQ
14:38, February 16, 2012

Concerned citizens say they will continue their vigil to stop further
construction of stores at Mashtots Park in downtown Yerevan.

In a press statement, the activists say they walked away from meetings
with Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and Chief Yerevan Architect Narek
Sargsyan convince that the construction is illegal and based on an
arbitrary decision by the Yerevan Municipality, despite arguments
made to the contrary by city officials.

The activists argue that city officials are backing the interests of
a few businessmen at the expense of the public.

They say that officials were at a loss to explain why stores recently
dismantled along Abovyan Street are being rebuilt in a public green
space.

ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS WITH KARABAKH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

NEWS.AM
February 17, 2012 | 15:09

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s National Assembly (NA) delegation, led by NA
Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, met with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) NA Speaker Ashot Ghulyan, in NKR capital Stepanakert on Thursday.

The parties discussed collaboration between the parliaments of Armenia
and NKR, NA Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Armenia’s parliamentary delegation left for Stepanakert on Thursday
to attend the international symposium, entitled “20th Anniversary of
NKR Independence: Realities and Prospects,” being held on Friday and
Saturday and devoted to the 20th anniversary of NKR’s declaration.

WE WON’T GO TO BAKU AS MARTYRS, BUT ‘RISK IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE’: ARMENIAN ROCK BAND DORIANS ON EUROVISION ENTRY

epress.am
02.16.2012

Before the Azerbaijan factor, Armenian rock group Dorians didn’t have
any intention of participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. The
band’s singer, Gor Sujyan, conveyed this news to local daily 168 Zham
(“168 Hours”), referring to Baku hosting this year’s song contest.

Note, Sujyan has submitted the band’s song to Armenia’s Public TV,
which will make the final decision on whether Armenia will participate
or not.

“Today the Azerbaijan factor is more about risk and responsibility,
and perhaps that’s what attracted us. We have our message through
our song, which we’ll direct to the world, and why not, also to
Azerbaijan,” said Sujyan.

The singer asserts that if the contest wasn’t taking place in
Azerbaijan, the group would’ve never participated in Eurovision.

On the possible risks and hazards associated with going to Azerbaijan,
Sujyan said: “If it’s been decided that Armenia will be going to
Eurovision, for which a document was also signed – I don’t think
that there’s the threat of physical danger. Perhaps there will be
mental pressure or said on stage are bad words, catcalling; it’s
possible they might even throw paper, but I don’t think that there’s
a physical threat. Of course, Baku will be on alert that nothing is
suddenly thrown on stage, but risk is always a pleasure.”

Nevertheless, Sujyan is sure that “they definitely won’t be going to
be martyrs.”

To the paper’s question that their song “This is our world” has
a clear subtext and, according to the artists, how will Azerbaijan
respond when a call for peace is made to the world, Dorians’ producer
Vahagn Gevorgyan said: “This song is sung for the entire world,
where all people are in the same situation. Any normal human being
wants health and peace because they want to be happy. Of course, we
understand also that wars bring money to people – to put it another
way, [war] is business. On the Internet, our supports have left such
types of comments… For example, ‘What does it mean to end wars,
cut the barbed wire? [Let them] give our lands back’. This is a sick
approach. I think that if we are considered to be the winning nation
in the [Nagorno] Karabakh War, then the approach of the victorious
nation making calls of peace is more noble.”

The journalist also asked the lead singer about his political
orientation in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia,
to which Sujyan said they are neither for nor against anyone.

“We have our own world where we live. There’s a lot of discontent in
Armenia and smiles are few – it seems munnat [discontent] prevails
among us. We like to sit on the bed, wait for fate, but you should act,
work, and understand, what is the purpose of your life?” he concluded.

CHARLES DICKENS’ BICENTENARY TO BE MARKED IN YEREVAN

epress.am
02.16.2012

The British Council in Armenia, joining celebrations marking Charles
Dickens’ 200th birthday as part of Dickens 2012, on Feb. 17 at 5 pm is
organizing a Dickens Ring, in which 32 students from 4 schools will
compete over questions related to the English novelist’s biography
and work (with special attention paid to Oliver Twist and A Christmas
Carol).

In a press release issued today, the British Council recalled that it,
along with the website Dasaran.am, last December had announced an
essay contest on such topics as “What would Dickens write today?”,
“Dickens’ hero, my friend” and “Dickens’ image as a hero in social
networking sites”. Students submitted more than 600 essays written
in English, from which the 32 best were selected. The competition
results will be announced at Congress Hotel in Yerevan on Feb. 25
at 2 pm and four essays will be awarded such prizes as a computer,
DVD player and Kindle e-readers.

>From Feb. 27 to Mar. 1, the British Council, along with the Tumo
Center for Creative Technologies, will offer film screenings and
discussions on the theme of Dickens’ work.

ARMENIANS PROTEST UYGUR TALK AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

asbarez
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

The protesters turned their backs to Cenk Uygur

SAN DIEGO-Genocide denier and co-founder of the progressive Internet
talk radio show, The Young Turks, Cenk Uyger was greeted by a group
of protesters during his recent appearance at the California State
Democratic Party convention. The event was the Progressive Caucus’
scheduled meeting and panel discussion held at the convention in San
Diego under the auspices of the California Democratic Party.

Prior to the demonstration, the Armenian National Committee
of America-Western Region and the Southern California Armenian
Democrats had lodged complaints with the California Democratic Party
for providing a platform to known Genocide denier. Caro Avanessian of
the California Armenian American Democrats also wrote a formal letter
expressing the concerns of the statewide charter organizations with
the speaker.

Torie Osborne, a candidate for CA State Assembly 50th district (Santa
Monica), removed herself from the panel of speakers due to the efforts
of Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) and the ANCA-WR. Her
voluntary removal increased the pressure on the Progressive Caucus
to cancel Uygur’s appearance.

Issues were raised by Armenian and Greek delegates to the party with
the name of Uygur’s program which referenced the Young Turks – the
popular name of the Committee of Union and Progress which was the
political party led by the orchestrators of the Armenian Genocide of
1915 – 1923. Concerns were also expressed about an article that Mr.

Uygur wrote while a student at the University of Pennsylvania in
which he made the following statement:

“The claims of an Armenian Genocide are not based on historical facts.

If the history of the period is examined it becomes evident that in
fact no such genocide took place.”

The chair of the Progressive Caucus reaffirmed her organization’s
support of the Congressional resolutions on the Armenian Genocide
but refused to cancel the speaking engagement of Cenk Uygur, which
led to the collective demonstration at the Progressive Caucus meeting.

Members of Southern CA Armenian Democrats (SCAD), ANCA, CA Armenian
American Democrats Organization (CAAD), Armenian Council of America
(ACA) and San Gabriel Valley Armenian Democrats (SGVAD) passed out
literature on Uygur’s record of denial.

Uygur opened his prepared remarks with comments indicating he had
no harmful intent when selecting the name of his program – the Young
Turks. He further stated that he does not hate Armenians. His co-host
on the program is an Armenian, Ana Kasparian.

His refusal to directly address his previous comments led to the
peaceful demonstration by the Armenian-American groups with some
walking out on the speaker while a large contingent turned their
backs to the speaker for the duration of his comments.

Many officials expressed their support for the demonstration, including
Assemblymembers Chuck Calderon (D-Montebello) and Congresswoman Janice
Hahn (D-San Pedro).

CHINESE CULTURE TO BE PRESENTED IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 15, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Chinese culture will be presented in
Armenia in April, deputy minister of culture Arthur Poghosyan said,
speaking to Armenpress. He said Armenian-Chinese cultural relations
are on a very high level. Last year Days of Armenian Culture were
held in China and now Chinese culture will be presented in Armenia.

As far as this year is declared in Armenia as year of book,
negotiations are being held with the Chinese party for conduction of
joint events.

Arthur Poghosyan said Armenia and China have a cooperation memorandum
in the legal-contractual field as well. A program of concrete actions
have been signed which envisages conduction of not only cultural but
other different events.

PREMIER OF TURKEY FORGETS THE CORE OF OSCE MINSK GROUP’S MANDATE

arminfo
Wednesday, February 15, 12:55

Having adopted the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides, France
has actually turned into one of the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his
interview with ANS TV channel, 1news.az reported.

“Several months ago French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Armenia
and if you heard his statements there, you have no doubt that he openly
supported Armenians and thereby supported one of the parties to the
conflict. Certainly, after these actions, France must leave the OSCE
Minsk Group. In case France leaves the OSCE MG, the dominating role
in this peace process will pass to the United States and Russia,
and I suppose that the UN Security Council should also interfere
with this matter and take a decision”, Erdogan said and added that
nobody has the right to torture Azerbaijan so long. “Now everybody
is waiting for the resolution of the conflict, and we hope that the
relevant decision will be taken and all the hardships of the region
will remain in the past”, he said.

According to the Azeri sources, the Turkish premier expressed his
content with Azerbaijan’s stance on the French Senate’s adoption
of the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides. “Azerbaijan and
Turkey should always support each other not only in this but also in
many other issues”, he said.

In the meantime, the political observers in Armenia think that
Erdogan is making politically tactless statements, because he knows
that tackling the issues of recognition of the Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Turkey is not in the line of the OSCE MG.

AZNAVOUR SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT ANY TERRITORY FROM TURKEY

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY
YERVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: One day, sooner or later, Turkey will
come into terms with its past, world famous singer Charles Aznavour
said in an interview to France 2 TV channel, Armenpress reports.

“We do not want territories, don’t be afraid,” the singer said
addressing to Turks. As an example he brought forth French-German
relations and noted that today Germany is not demanding from France
either Elzas or Lotharingia. “Many Armenians do not agree with me in
this issue,” Aznavour said.

Referring to the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian
Genocide, Aznavour said he was very delighted with the adoption of
the bill by the Senate and sent a letter of gratitude to the President
of France Nicolas Sarkozy.

L’ARMENIE ET LA RUSSIE RENFORCENT LA COOPERATION
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 15 fevrier 2012

Plusieurs articles sont consacres a la rencontre du President
Sarkissian avec le directeur de la societe d’energie nucleaire ”
RosAtom ” Sergueï Kirienko, et a celles du PM Tigran Sarkissian
avec le premier vice-PM russe, Victor Zoubkov, et le Ministre
russe des Transports, Igor Levitine, qui copreside la commission
intergouvernementale armeno-russe de cooperation economique.

Le President Sarkissian et Sergueï Kirienko ont discute de la
cooperation energetique et en particulier de la construction d’un
nouveau reacteur nucleaire en Armenie. D’après le chef de l’Etat,
ce projet pourrait devenir un projet phare de la cooperation
armeno-russe. M. Kirienko a fait le point de sa visite a la centrale
de Medzamor et sur le site selectionne pour la construction du
nouveau reacteur. ” Nous croyons que le travail mene actuellement
par le Ministère de l’Energie et des ressources naturelles est
transparent vis-a-vis de l’AIEA, de l’UE et de l’Association mondiale
des operateurs nucleaires “, a-t-il dit. Par ailleurs, le chef de
l’Etat a remis a M. Kirienko la Medaille d’Honneur de la RA en signe
de reconnaissance pour sa contribution dans le developpement des
relations armeno-russes.

Lors d’un point de presse, M. Kirienko a note que la participation
financière de la Russie a la construction du nouveau reacteur pourrait
s’elever a 25%, voire plus du coût total du projet. Toutefois, le
Gouvernement armenien doit participer a hauteur de 50%+1 des actions
de la nouvelle centrale. Le Gouvernement armenien prevoit l’echeance
des travaux pour 2020, et une ouverture du chantier en 2014. La Russie
propose de construire un reacteur du type ” 3+ ” qui repond a toutes
les normes de securite ” post-Fukushima “. Lors de sa rencontre avec
le PM armenien, le premier vice-PM russe s’est engage a soutenir
l’agriculture armenienne. Le PM armenien a exprime le besoin d’une
assistance de la partie russe dans l’elevage bovin, la fourniture de
semences et de materiel agricole. MM Sarkissian et Zoubkov ont declare
qu’un groupe de travail conjoint se reunira a Moscou le mois prochain.

Selon le vice-premier ministre russe, le groupe prevoit la creation
d’une filiale armenienne de l’entreprise russe Rosagroleasing, qui
fournit des tracteurs et autres equipements pour les agriculteurs. Une
banque agricole russe devrait egalement ouvrir une succursale en
Armenie et devrait accorder des prets aux agriculteurs locaux et
aux entreprises agro-alimentaires. M. Zoubkov a salue l’augmentation
de 16% des echanges russo-armeniens, tout en estimant que les deux
gouvernements devraient s’efforcer d’aller plus loin.

Enfin, le Ministre russe des Transports, Igor Levitine, accompagne
du PM armenien, a visite les locaux d’un Institut de recherche russe
a Erevan qui sera bientôt transforme en une zone franche pour les
entreprises de pointe. Le PM armenien et le Ministre russe ont signe
un programme de cooperation economique de long terme 2012/2020.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

HETQ REPORTER TRIAL PROCEEDS DESPITE LAWYER NO-SHOW DUE TO SNOW

hetq
13:39, February 15, 2012

Yesterday, lawyers for Hetq reporter Adrineh Torosyan, who is being
sued for slander by Lernapat Mayor Vano Yeghiazaryan, couldn’t make
the court date in Vanadzor due to the snowy road conditions.

Torosyan did make it to court and requested that the trial be postponed
due to the absence of her lawyers Tigran Yegoryan and Lusine Hakobyan.

The plaintiff, Vano Yeghiazaryan urged presiding Judge Varduhie
Hovnanyan to proceed nevertheless, arguing that the trial was “crawling
along at a snail’s pace”.

Judge Hovnanyan pointed out that the last court session had been
postponed as well after the defense lawyers requested additional
time to draft an answer to the charges. The judge asked if such a
response was ready to be delivered to the court, to which Torosyan
replied that her lawyers would present it.

Judge Hovnanyan decided to proceed with the trial and proposed that
the parties decide in what order the evidence would be reviewed. Vano
Yeghiazaryan proposed to hear the defendant first.

The judge decided to first hear the plaintiff, then the defendant,
followed by third-party testimony.

The next trial date is scheduled for March 23.

Photo – Defense lawyersTigran Yegoryan and Lusine Hakobyan