Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Iran says it has evidence of U.S. involvement in scientist’s killing

January 14, 2012 – 15:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iranian state television said on Saturday, Jan 14,
Tehran had evidence Washington was behind the latest assassination of
one of its nuclear scientists, Reuters reports.

In the fifth attack of its kind in two years, a magnetic bomb was
attached to the door of 32-year-old Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan’s car during
the Wednesday morning rush-hour in the capital. His driver was also
killed.

The United States has denied involvement in the killing and condemned
it. Israel has declined to comment.

“We have reliable documents and evidence that this terrorist act was
planned, guided and supported by the CIA,” the Iranian foreign
ministry said in a letter handed to the Swiss ambassador in Tehran,
state TV said.

“The documents clearly show that this terrorist act was carried out
with the direct involvement of CIA-linked agents.”

The Swiss Embassy has represented U.S. interests in Iran since Tehran
and Washington cut diplomatic ties shortly after the 1979 Islamic
revolution.

State TV said a “letter of condemnation” had also been sent to the
British government, saying the killing of Iranian nuclear scientists
had “started exactly after the British official John Sawers declared
the beginning of intelligence operations against Iran.”

In 2010, chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service Sawers said
one of the agency’s roles was to investigate efforts by states to
build nuclear weapons in violation of their international legal
obligations and identify ways to slow down their access to vital
materials and technology.

Tehran has urged the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon to condemn the latest killing, which Tehran says is aimed at
undermining its nuclear work, which the West and Israel say is aimed
at building bombs. Tehran says its nuclear program is purely civilian.

Tension has mounted between Iran and the West as the United States and
European Union prepare measures aimed at imposing sanctions on the
Iran’s oil exports, its economic lifeblood. The United States and
Israel have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to
resolve the nuclear dispute.

JAMIE PLANS TO DOCUMENT HIS EXPLOITS AS AN EXPLORER

West Briton
January 12, 2012
UK

A JOURNEY around Central Asia on a horse, a trip through Armenia’s
deepest forests and a voyage to the Falklands as a deckhand on a cargo
ship are among the adventures a journalism student has planned after
he graduates this month.

Jamie Maddison, 23, from Camborne, is planning the escapades as the
start of his freelance career as a journalist, photographer, filmmaker
and explorer. Jamie, who is just completing his fast-track National
Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) course at Cornwall
College’s Camborne site, said: “After university I began writing for
the climbing magazine Climber and this gave me this unquenchable
desire to explore lost and forgotten corners of the world. “Since
acquiring the training at the college I feel I’ve finally now got
the skills to document and investigate my adventures in a way that’s
sellable to newspapers and magazines.”

His first missions, in early February, will be to the Caucasian country
of Armenia to write an article about its deforestation problems.

The Cardiff University graduate has already been on a number of
expeditions, including climbing in Kyrgyzstan’s remote Tian Shan
Mountains and two weeks climbing alone in South Africa’s Cederberg
Mountains, where he captured self-portraits using remotecontrol
photography. Jamie said: “Armenia’s going to be really exciting,
although very cold, and I’m still trying to find out a viable route
with a cargo ship to the Falklands for another crazy idea I have
in mind.”

He is also planning a 15,000km circuit of Eurasia to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of a journey by British explorer Sir Charles
Howard-Bury, who paved the way for the first Everest attempt with a
reconnaissance mission in 1921.

In 2013, with expedition partner Matthew Traver, Jamie plans to retrace
the explorer’s footsteps to China’s side of the Tian Shan Mountains,
using exactly the same methods as Sir Charles, including more than
1,500km on horseback.

“Our biggest issue apart from funding is trying to find someone
to support our filmmaking ambitions,” said Jamie, who hails from
Lancashire. “We’re hoping to create a documentary of this unique
insight into one of Britain’s most unsung explorers.”

The pair are also seeking advice from experienced riders and farriers
about caring for horses on so long a journey.

“It may all blow up in our faces,” he said, “but you have to take
the risk.”

For more information about the expedition visit
and for further details about Jamie Maddison visit www.punchjour
nalist.co.uk For inquiries about journalism at Cornwall College ring
01209 616161.

ARMENIAN MONASTIC ENSEMBLES

Tehran Times
On Line: 02 January 2012 16:18
In Print: Tuesday 03 January 2012

The Saint Thaddeus Monastery

The Armenian monasteries of Iran have borne continuous testimony,
since the origins of Christianity and certainly since the 7th century,
to Armenian culture in its relations and contact with the Persian
and later the Iranian civilizations. They bear testimony to a very
large and refined panorama of architectural and decorative content
associated with Armenian culture, in interaction with other regional
cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian and Muslim.

The monasteries have survived some 2,000 years of destruction, both
of human origin and as a result of natural disasters. They have been
rebuilt several times in a spirit in keeping with Armenian cultural
traditions. Today they are the only important vestiges of Armenian
culture in this region. Saint-Thaddeus, the presumed location of the
tomb of the apostle of Jesus Christ, St. Thaddeus, has always been a
place of high spiritual value for Christians and other inhabitants
in the region. It is still today a living place of pilgrimage for
the Armenian Church.

The state party has made a remarkable long-term effort regarding
the restoration and conservation of the Armenian monastic ensembles
in Iran. Their integrity and authenticity are satisfactory, and this
includes the Chapel of Dzordzor, which (because of a dam construction
project) was moved and then rebuilt with an evident concern to retain
authenticity.

The legal protection in place is adequate. The monastic ensemble
is currently in a good state of conservation. The management plan
provides the necessary guarantees for the long-term conservation of
the property and the expression of its outstanding universal value.

(Source: UNESCO)

The Saint Thaddeus Monastery The famous and marvelous monastic
complex of St. Thaddeus is located in the mountainous area of western
Azerbaidjan Province. It is perched on a mountain ridge beside a stream
sunken into the rock, thus giving it a natural fortified position.

The outline of it, placed on gently rolling hills, stands out sharply
against the vastness of the horizon. Sourb Thade (St. Thaddeus)
or Kara-Kilise (the black church) as it is called by the people of
Northern Iran, forms a harmonious, integral part with its surroundings
both in the material with which it is constructed, and in its form.

The location of the monastery was surely chosen for strategic reasons,
for it was built during a period when neighboring peoples seriously
threatened it.

The thick walls around the monastery, also, had an important defensive
function during sieges, and the complex was built especially to
withstand them. It is situated within a natural circle of mountains,
a short distance from a river. Wells drilled within the enclosure
guaranteed a water supply. The church was surrounded by vast,
fertile fields, quite suitable for farming, and therefore capable
of supplying food for both men and animals. The harvest was well
protected in special storage rooms, thus enabling the monastery to
keep its independence and relative security. Although it is not dated,
according to the legend, the monastery was founded by Apostle Thaddeus
(66AD) on the spot of a former pagan temple.

Time after time it was destroyed by invasions, and struck by
earthquakes, the most devastating of which occurred in 1319. The
monastery was rebuild, and further renewed and enlarged during the
course of the following centuries. Most of the present structure dates
from the early 19th century when Qajar prince Abbas Mirza helped in
renovations and repairs.

The 19th century additions are from carved sandstone. The earliest
parts are of black and white stone, hence its Turkish name Kara
Kilise, the Black Church. A fortified wall surrounds the church and
its now-abandoned monastery buildings.

In July 2008, the St. Thaddeus monastery was added to UNESCO’s World
Heritage List, along with two other Armenian monuments located in
the same province: Saint Stepanos Monastery and the chapel of Dzordzor.

ARMENIAN MP ASKS POLICE TO PROVIDE HER WITH SECURITY (PHOTO)

NEWS.am
January 13, 2012 | 19:54

YEREVAN. – Armenian MP of Heritage parliament group, member of
State and Legal Affairs Committee Zaruhi Postanjyan sent a letter to
Armenia’s police chief Vladimir Gasparyan on Friday asking to provide
security for herself and several other citizens, Heritage informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“On January 15 I and several other citizens will leave for Lori region
and will spend the whole day in villages including Teghut. Taking
in account that crowds will gather in those regions I ask to take
measures according to the law to ensure our security,” she said.

Several environmental organizations and ecologists have decided to
organize a march on January 15. As the Information and PR department
of Valex Group informs representatives of ‘Teghut civic initiative’
are not allowed to organize any marches in the region of ‘Teghut’
company on January 15. Thus any attempt to enter Teghut on January
15 will be considered as violation of ‘Teghut’ companies rights.

2012 GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES AND PRIORITIES APPROVED

Thursday, 12 January 2012

The government held its first sitting of 2012, chaired by Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan. Congratulating the cabinet members on New
Year and Christmas, the Prime Minister wished them fruitful work.

The government approved the government’s program of activities, its
rationale, as well as the priorities and the underlying principles
for 2012. The program includes 135 items altogether covering the
whole body of ministries and government agencies.

The priorities for this year are: improved business and competitive
environment, land use efficiency in subsoil matters, housing for those
disaster zone households left homeless by the earthquake, creation
of agricultural cooperatives, strengthening of army discipline,
popularization of Armenian books, printed heritage and written arts
in Armenia and abroad, 91 items altogether.

The government approved the concept, as well as the strategy of
development of Armenian studies for 2012-2025 and timetable for its
implementation. The main goal is to bring together the Armenian State
and intellectuals with a view to turning the Armenian studies into a
powerful factor for ensuring our nation’s ethnic and cultural security.

The strategy is expected to build up and strengthen the Armenian
statehood and promote a nationwide awareness of our ethnic identity.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said the documents provide solutions
acceptable to all research institutions and experts.

The government next approved the list of those most difficult
and difficult, especially harmful and hazardous industries, jobs,
professions and positions entitling workers to a privileged pension.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs was told to approve an
application procedure following the entry into force of this decision.

The government decided to reorganize through merger the Yerevan
Research Institute of Optical-Physical Measurements and the Research
Institute of Radio Physics into a National Institute of Measurements
CJSC. The merger will open up new possibilities for Armenia’s
national infrastructure quality in line with international and
European standards.

The Cabinet decided to grant a military service delay until the fall of
2013 to national football team player Edward Tatoyan. Ararat Chakhoyan,
who is seeking a Master’s degree at the Caen University-Institute
of Technology (Lower Normandy), was allowed a delay until the spring
draft of 2013. Student at Moscow Dental University Armen Sargsyan was
exempted from military service until this fall’s conscription campaign.

TURKISH SPEAKER SENDS LETTER TO FRENCH SENATE

armradio.am
13.01.2012 18:54

In a letter sent to the President of the French Senate, Jean-Pierre
Bel, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said that he found it
seriously hard to understand when a country, known as a friend in
Turkey, tries to be in the forefront of supporting “special memories.”

I believe that relevant countries should be able to establish their own
models for a just memory instead of artificial imposition regarding
historic issues that are in dispute, Cicek underlined in his letter,
Anatolian Agency reports.

“I have written my letter to bring to your attention an issue that may
cause serious and permanent damage to deep rooted relations between
Turkey and France,” Cicek told Bel in his letter.

“Since the French Parliament adopted the (Armenian) resolution on
December 22, 2011, our friendly relations have entered a phase
of a serious tension. We watch very closely the developments in
France,”Cicek noted.

“Turkey must be given the opportunity to normalize relations with
Armenia and France’s contributions in this regard would be beneficial,”
Cicek noted.

“I preserve my belief that you would make timely and responsible
efforts so that the resolution does not hurt Turkish-French relations
and that it would not be a blow to the freedom of expression,” Cicek
concluded his letter.

PRESIDENT GRANTS RANKS OF AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY

armradio.am
13.01.2012 18:42

According to President Serzh Sargsyan’s decree, diplomatic ranks of
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary were granted to the
Head of the Foreign Relatons Department of the President’s Staff Artak
Apitonyan, Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to Iran Garnik Badalyan, Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan Vladimir Badalyan, Head of the
Armenian Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Armenia’s
Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister to Iraq Ruben
Kharazyan, Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
India Ara Hakobyan, Adviser to RA Foreign Minister, acting Head of the
CIS Department Armen Ghevondyan, Armenia’s Ambassador Plenipotentiary
and Extraordinary to Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan.

GASPARYAN: POLICE HAVE “LOST OUR SELF-ESTEEM”
By Hovannes Shoghikyan

13.01.12

Vladimir Gasparyan, the chief of the Armenian police, on Thursday
defended sweeping personnel changes initiated by him, saying that
they are necessary for restoring popular trust in the law-enforcement
agency.

In unusually blunt terms, Gasparyan complained that the police have
grown discredited in eyes of the public over the two decades of
Armenia’s independence. “We, myself and my colleagues, have lost our
self-esteem,” he told journalists.

“I have told my colleagues, my comrades with whom I have worked for
years, ‘Guys, we have lost our moral authority, we have turned the
police into an apparatus of tourists, real properties, moneylenders
and village crooks.’ We have steadily lost that for the last 20 years.

It’s time to sober up.”

A former deputy defense minister, Gasparyan has sacked and replaced
dozens of senior police officers since being appointed as police chief
by President Serzh Sargsyan more than two months ago. He pledged to
reform a police service that has long been accused of corruption and
human rights abuses.

Speaking after a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan, Gasparyan insisted
that the purges are intended to improve the police performance by
cutting “bloated staffs” and eliminating “redundant work” done by
police officers.

“The police are now becoming more mobile and effective,” he said.

“There are departing cadres who I think have exhausted themselves
and they agree with me. There are even people who had the status of
tourists and zero effectiveness. There have also been real properties
[among officers.]”

Gasparyan headed the Armenian military police for more than a decade
before being appointed deputy defense minister in late 2010. A native
of Soviet Estonia, he served in the police in the early and mid-1990s.

He has been known to the public for his occasionally flamboyant
behavior and statements.

Despite his reform pledges, the 53-year-old has so far said little
about ill-treatment of criminal suspects and other police abuses that
have long been the norm in Armenia. Nor has he commented on how to
combat widespread corruption within the police ranks.

Many senior police officers are believed to be wealthy individuals with
business interests. One of them, Colonel Margar Ohanyan, the former
head of the national traffic police, was arrested last September and
is now standing trial on corruption charges.

Gasparyan on Thursday dismissed his predecessor Alik Sargsyan’s calls
for Ohanyan’s immediate release pending a verdict in the case. “I
can’t make statements containing emotional wishes and don’t think I
am the one who should express emotions just because I love or respect
someone,” he said.

Sargsyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) on Tuesday
that Ohanyan should not be treated like an “ordinary criminal” because
“he has served this country for 30 years.”

FRENCH RIGHTISTS AND LEFTISTS HAVE TACIT AGREEMENT OVER GENOCIDE BILL – SENIOR ARF-D REP

Tert.am
13.01.12

The French Senate is likely ratify the Genocide denial criminalization
bill by a 2/3 majority of votes, according to the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun’s (ARF-D) Hay Dat Office
in France.

Speaking to Tert.am, Kiro Manoyan, the head of the ARF-D Office of
Hay Dat and Political Affairs, explained that such conclusion results
from periodical meetings with political circles.

He noted that the right- and left-wing political forces and
politicians, including President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist
candidate Francois Holland, are thought to have a tacit agreement
over the bill.

Asked whether there will be other countries following France’s example,
he said the Armenian society is very often unaware that Switzerland
(which criminalized Genocide internationally) and Slovakia (where one
Turkish national has been convicted on such charges), had condemned
Genocide much before France.

“They interpret the Genocide criminalization law in the light of the
Armenian Genocide as well,” he said, adding that all the EU member
states are obliged to admit the fact.

“So France is actually the third country which has legislation
penalizing the Armenian Genocide. It is just differs from the other
two due to its greater political impact,” he added.

TRAFFIC POLICE EMPLOYEES CONFESS TO BEING PAID IN GASOLINE IN EMBEZZLEMENT TRIAL

epress.am
01.13.2012

Witness, inspector with the traffic police’s legal division Zhirayr
Karapetyan representing the victim (the traffic police), and witnesses
Karen Ohanyan, Armen Sargsyan, Armen Mnatsakanyan, and Stepan Sedrakyan
were examined in a Yerevan district court today in the ongoing trial
of former RA Traffic Police Chief Margar Ohanyan.

Recall, Ohanyan is accused of embezzling approx. 2,500 tons of
gasoline.

In his testimony, Inspector Karapetyan said he is not familiar with the
details of the case, while witnesses Karen Ohanyan and Armen Sargsyan,
unit commanders with the traffic police, testified that they received
350 liters of gasoline a month, which they signed for after receiving
the receipt.

The witnesses noted that they received their gasoline receipts from
Samvel Makhmuryan, who is among the accused in the case.

After Armen Sargsyan said that their unit works 24-25 days, having
4-5 days off per month, Margar Ohanyan asked him whether there
were times when they worked on their days off for which they would
receive gasoline in exchange. The witness said there were such cases,
explaining that on days when presidents of other countries were
visiting Armenia and they were expected to escort them, or their days
off coincided with days when rallies were held their unit worked and
in exchange they received gasoline from Makhmuryan.

The other witness, Armen Mnatsakanyan, head of the traffic police’s
finance division since 2007, testified that they received gasoline in
the first 15 days of the month through budgetary funds, while for the
remaining 15 days they received it through funds outside of the budget.

No discrepancies were apparent in these witnesses’ testimonies given
in court and those given during the investigation; however, when
it came Stepan Sedrakyan’s turn, there seemed to be discrepancies,
which led prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan to motion for Sedrakyan’s
two pre-trial testimonies to be made public. The motion was granted,
and Judge Mkhitar Papoyan read these testimonies. Note, Sedrakyan
was dismissed from work in May 2011, as he said, because of memory
problems. Until then he was working as the 1st unit commander of the
traffic police’s 2nd battalion.

Asked how many liters of gasoline he personally received, Sedrakyan
said 500-600 liters. For the entire unit he received 3,100 liters
monthly from former commander of the 2nd officers’ battalion Stepan
Karakhanyan, who likewise is named as an accused in this case. The
witness kept 500-600 liters for himself, gave 400 liters to his deputy,
while the rest he distributed among other members of the unit.

Sedrakyan also confessed that he signed for more gasoline than he
actually received. “I signed under my report. They told me write this
much, and I accepted it and wrote it,” he said, noting that it was
Karakhanyan who made this request.

Margar Ohanyan asked the witness why in numerous meetings with him,
Sedrakyan didn’t tell him that he received less gasoline than he
signed for. Sedrakyan simply said that it’s his fault.

Note, in the first testimony he gave during the pre-trial investigation
Sedrakyan said the gasoline they received was less than it should’ve
been but didn’t elaborate. He raised this matter with the battalion
commander, who promised to supplement the shortage, but never did so.

In his second testimony, the witness refuted his earlier testimony and
noted different figures for the amount of gasoline he received. In
court, the witness said the gasoline provided to him was basically
sufficient, adding that there were times when he paid for the gasoline
from his own pocket.

Note, the courtroom in today’s hearing was full. Present were Margar
Ohanyan’s friends and relatives, journalists and US Embassy in Armenia
employee Steven Kessler, who was attending as an observer.

The next court date is set for Jan. 19 at 11:30 am.