Author: Kalantarian Kevo

US CONTENT WITH THE SECURITY LEVEL OF ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER STATION

The Messenger, Georgia
April 9 2014

By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, April 9

US officials have recently expressed their satisfaction with the
level of security at the Armenian nuclear power station.

Armenia’s nuclear power station started functioning in 1980. It was
stopped in March 1989 after the devastating earthquake in December
1988 in the Armenian town of Spitak. However, later in November of
1995 it started functioning again because of the heavy energy crisis
the country had been facing.

Experts say the station could now function until 2016.

Armenia’s closest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan, demand the urgent
closing of the station because of the high-risk of its operation.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN CIS DEFENSE CHIEFS’ COMMITTEE MEETING IN BAKU

Interfax, Russia
April 7 2014

YEREVAN. April 7

The Armenian Defense Ministry has cancelled the flight of its
delegation to Baku, where the meeting of CIS defense chiefs’ committee
is scheduled for April 8.

“Despite the invitation of the CIS defense ministers’ council secretary
and official notification sent to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry,
the hosting party has not confirmed its readiness and interest in
having the Armenian delegation, thus the flight to Baku was cancelled,”
the Armenian Defense Ministry press office told Interfax.

The route of the Armenian delegation to the event and back was going
to use a route through Moscow.

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RUSSIA ADVOCATES PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT – GENERAL STAFF CHIEF

Interfax, Russia
April 7 2014

BAKU. April 7

Russia advocates a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, chief of Russia’s General Staff, General of the Army Valery
Gerasimov said during talks with Azeri Defense Minister Col. General
Zakir Hasanov on Monday.

“We discussed further military-technical cooperation, and prospects
of broadening it. Among the main tasks to be fulfilled by Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia is that of settling the Karabakh problem one
way or another in order to move on and rule out military ways of
tackling it,” Gerasimov said.

The Azeri defense minister said that Russian-Azeri military
cooperation has been developing at a high level and in all areas,
including military development, education and implementation of
military-technical projects.

A great deal of work has been done in this direction in recent years.

The Azeri armed forces are receiving modern weapons, tanks, combat
vehicles and artillery systems from Russia, all of which strengthen
our country’s defense capability,” Hasanov said.

The talks also dealt with the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“I hope that Russia, as a co-chair of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group, will facilitate a peaceful
settlement,” Hasanov said.

Sd cm

LONDON’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY HELPED BY CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION GRANT

Targeted News Service
April 7, 2014 Monday 2:44 AM EST

LONDON

The city of London issued the following news release:

The City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust, has
awarded Ealing based Centre for Armenian Information & Advice (CAIA)
Pounds90,000 towards its information and advice services.

CAIA provides advice and support to ethnic Armenians living in London,
many coming from conflict areas, and CAIA is the only specialist
provider for this community in Europe.

The grant will help the charity to meet the increasing demand for
advice resulting from recent changes to welfare rules, legal aid and
housing benefit.

Misak Ohanian, CEO of Centre for Armenian Information & Advice said:

“This is tremendous news which means that a vital service that many
disadvantaged and marginalized people rely on has been safeguarded
for the next three years.”

Billy Dove, Chairman of City Bridge Trust said:

“Centre for Armenian Information & Advice deals with 13,000 visits
as well as 10,000 inquiries every year. This grant means it will
continue to provide a great service for London’s Armenian community
and enhance their independence.”

City Bridge Trust is the grant-making arm of Bridge House Estates,
whose sole trustee is the City of London Corporation. It supports
London’s charities and provides grants totalling around Pounds15
million per year.

WC FRIENDLY: ALGERIA VS. ARMENIA TO BE PLAYED IN SION, SWITZERLAND

Algeria Press Service
April 7, 2014 Monday

ALGIERS- The friendly match between Algeria and Armenia is to be played
May 31st in Sion (Switzerland), the Algerian Football Federation (FAF)
announced Monday.The FAF did not elaborate on the reasons behind the
change of the venue for this game, which is part of Desert Foxes’
preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.Before playing the
friendly game, the Algerian team will complete a training camp in
Algiers in May.The FAF, who held a meeting Sunday, confirmed it has
taken special measures for a better preparation ahead of the 2014
World Cup.According to the source, the preparation for the world major
sporting event is being held under Coach Vahid Halilhodzic.At the
2014 WC, Algeria will compete in group H along with Belgium, Russia
and South Korea. Desert Foxes’ first match will be against Belgium
on June 17, before playing South Korea on June 22, in Porto Alegre,
and Russia on June 26 in Curitiba.

ZAREH SINANYAN CHOSEN AS GLENDALE MAYOR

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

Glendale City Mayor Zareh Sinanyan

GLENDALE–The Glendale City Council of Thursday voted to select
Councilman Zareh Sinanyan as the next mayor of Glendale, during its
regular Council session with friends and family in the audience.

Glendale Council Members are elected by the public at large while the
Mayor is selected by the Council Members on an annual basis. Glendale
Council Members serve four-year terms with an election cycle every
two years.

Sinanyan was nominated by Councilman Frank Quintero, who was joined by
fellow councilmembers Ara Najarian and Laura Friedman in the vote for
his nomination. Councilman and outgoing mayor Dave Weaver abstained.

In his remarks, Sinanyan thanked his wife, Lori, his children, family
friends and supporters and said he was humbled by the “trust bestowed
upon me by the voters of the City of Glendale and my colleagues on
City Council.”

“The past year has been very educational for me and each of you have
played a unique role in that process,” said Sinanyan referring to
his fellow City Council members.

“Councilman Quintero, I look forward to serving with you for the next
two months. Thank you for your mentorship and support during these
12 months. Councilmember Weaver, I thank you for your leadership in
the last 12 months and look forward to working with you in the future.

Councilmember Najarian, we have had our disagreements, in fact
our votes have seldom aligned on issues, but I look forward to
ever-increasing cooperation on all issues that concern Glendale.

Councilmember Friedman, thank you for calling in and expressing your
support for my candidacy. I think you and I have voted along the same
lines on many issues and I look forward to working together for the
betterment of our city,” added Sinanyan.

He pledged that he will work will all residents and groups in the city
to ensure the ongoing projects advance to make the city of Glendale
and better place for its residents.

“We shall do everything to ensure that all parts of Glendale, from far
North, to South, East to West, homeowners and renters, big businesses
and mom and pop shops are increasingly engaged in and well informed
about the developments in the City, and that their opinions and needs
are heard loud and clear,” said Sinanyan.

He also pledged to make city government more transparent proposing
to translate city-produced materials in Armenain, Korean, Spanish
and Tagalog to increase access to a broader base of Glendale residents.

“Thank you, and let’s make this a great year of continued progress
in Glendale,” concluded Sinanyan.

Sinanyan was elected to City Council in April of 2013 and has since
served as the Chair of the Housing Authority. Councilman Sinanyan
has been involved with the City of Glendale directly since 2006,
when he was appointed to Glendale’s Parks, Recreation and Community
Service’s Commission.

ROUHANI, ALIYEV HOLD TALKS, SEEK CLOSE TIES

Political Desk

On Line: 09 April 2014 16:44
Thursday 10 April 2014

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and his Azeri counterpart
Ilham Aliyev held high-profile in Tehran on Wednesday.

Rouhani said there is no obstacle to expand ties between the two
neighboring countries.

The fraternal relations will serve the interests of both countries
and regional stability, the Iranian president noted.

As two neighbors Iran and Azerbaijan share historical, religious,
cultural, and ethnic links.

Rouhani said the great potential in different economic sectors has
provided a good opportunity to expand relations.

The Iranian president suggested that the two countries form a joint
economic committee to increase ties.

He went on to say that Iran is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in
implementing energy projects such as building electrical power plants,
adding that the two countries’ private sectors should be encouraged
to invest in such spheres.

He also said that promoting tourism is essential in effort to expand
bilateral ties.

Aliyev, for his part, emphasized the need to expand political,
cultural and economic relations between the two countries.

In January, Rouhani and Aliyev met each other on the sidelines of
the World Economic Forum in Davos and discussed bilateral relations.

Aliyev voiced his country’s support for Iran’s nuclear energy program,
saying Tehran has legitimate right to use nuclear energy for civilian
purposes.

He also put emphasis on the need to resolve the Caspian Sea legal
regime through more consultations.

Iran and Azerbaijan sign four cooperation agreements

During their meeting on Wednesday the presidents of two countries
also signed three memorandums of understanding and one agreement for
bilateral cooperation.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Iranian Interior
Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli and Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov for dealing with unexpected incidents.

The second MOU was inked by Iranian Transport and Urban Development
Minister Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi and Azeri Minister of Ecology and
Natural Resources Huseyn Baghirov.

The third MOU was signed by Iranian Youth and Sports Minister Mahmoud
Goudarzi and Mammadyarov.

The cooperation agreement for constructing two hydroelectric power
plants in Azerbaijan was signed by Azeri Economic Development Minister
Shahin Mustafayev and Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian.

Iran does not accept any change in geographical borders of the
regional countries

During a joint press conference on Wednesday, Rouhani said that
changing regional countries’ geographical borders is not acceptable.

He voiced Iran’s readiness to resolve regional problems, specifically
the Nagorno-Karabakh, within the framework of international
regulations.

Rouhani went on to say that such disputes should be resolved
politically and in a peaceful way.

Aliyev praised Iran’s stance in this respect and emphasized the need
to maintain Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 between Armenians of
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early
1990s that, the Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent
of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council’s
four resolutions condemned the occupation of Azerbaijan territory
and demanded the withdrawal of the Armenians.

NA/PA

ENGENIY SATANOVSKY: IN THE MIDDLE EAST CHRISTIANS FEEL SAFE ONLY IN IRAN AND ISRAEL

by Ashot Safaryan

Tuesday, April 8, 15:43

The campaign of the western superpowers on ousting Syria’s President
Bashar Asad is optimized for the genocide of national and ethnic
minorities, Russian expert, president of the Middle East Institute,
Evgeniy Satanovsky said over the televised bridge Moscow-Yerevan
dedicate to the events in the Syrian Kessab populated with Armenians.

‘

He said that Kessab has found itself on the way of a regular attack
of rebels because of a rather specific reason. “Today they openly
say “Christians – to Lebanon and Alawites – to the grave”. However,
Christians can not manage to deport. They should not have illusions.

We know that at the beginning of the 20th century quarter of population
of the Middle East were Christians. Today we cannot find even 2%
of Christians in the Middle East”, – he said.

The expert emphasize that at present nothing threats Christian
communities only in the two countries of Middle East – Iran and
Israel. “Total de-christianization of the Middle East has been taking
place. All Christians of the Middle East are potential victims of
terrorists”, – Satanovsky said.

Touching on Turkey’s role in these processes, the expert said that
today Prime Minister Erdogan has been restoring the Ottoman Empire.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also openly says about it. “For this
reason, radical extremist course towards expansion based on growth of
the role of Islam in the Turkish society, in the external direction,
undoubtedly is leading to support of radicals. Of course, it may be
not Al-Quida, but Syrian Free Army is not better than Jabhat al-Nursa
or any other Islamist extremist wing”, – he concluded.

To recall, in the early morning on March 21, armed militants
from the Jabhat al-Nusra Islamic terrorist group infiltrated
into northern Syria’s Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly
inhabited by Armenians and Alawites, from four directions. Two large
groups of terrorists had launched the attack from Turkey. About 600
Kessab-Armenian families were initially sheltered in Latakia city. A
group of Armenia parliament members recently visited Syria to assess
the situation in the region. They met with President Bashar Assad.

On 30 March, representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA),
Jim Costa (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA) have
condemned the attacks and urged the State Department to investigate
Turkey’s involvement. They sent a joint letter to President Obama over
the issue. In addition, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian applied
to the UN Secretariat with a letter calling for immediate response
to the attacks by the armed Turkish bands in Kessab. He demanded
Ankara to take immediate measures to stop the attacks on Syria from
the territory of Turkey.

NEW REPUBLICAN PM NOT TO RESULT IN POSITIVE CHANGES IN ARMENIA – GARNIK ISAGULYAN

14:40 / 08.04.2014

If Armenia’s PM is from the same team as the former PM nothing will
change in the country, leader of National Security party Garnik
Isagulyan told the reporters on Tuesday.

“The situation will temporarily calm down but later the same processes
will resume as no positive and serious changes will be registered in
the life of the people,” Isagulyan said, adding that if the president
really thinks of the state and the people he would call the four
non-coalition forces and offer them to propose candidate for PM’s post.

Isagulyan said the main issue the president must solve today is to
remain in the history as he occupied all the posts during 25 years.

“But if he initiates Constitutional amendments to increase the
authorities of the PM and to take this post in future, he will appear
in a terrible situation,” he said.

Isagulyan believes that after the appointment of the PM and forming
the cabinet after consultations with the four non-coalition forces,
the president must initiate conduction of free, fair parliamentary
elections in 2017 and guarantee the conduction of transparent
presidential elections after it he will have his place and role in
the history with no one to remember him badly unlike now.

Nyut.am

OMBUDSMAN: LARGEST REPORT REVEALS FAMILIAR PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES

SOCIETY | 08.04.14 | 15:14

Photolure

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The Armenian Ombudsman says the most challenging and controversial
spheres in Armenia’s development of human rights continue to be the
prosecution, courts and protection of economic interests.

Last week the Ombudsman’s office released its annual report in which
was covered the issues present in the ministries and inspectorates,
and received criticism of some of the report.

According to Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan, this year’s report is
the biggest so far: the 500-page report covers 25 ministries and
inspectorates, as well as separately vulnerable groups such as
children, the disabled, etc. An entire chapter is devoted to the
protection of rights of people in closed institutions. The highest
number of violations have been revealed at the prosecutor’s offices, in
the judicial system, the State Revenue Committee and State Commission
for the Protection of Economic Competitiveness.

“We are not making up the aches and pains, they exist, and we are
only trying to present them in a professional manner. We have tried
to report not only the work done, but also the overall situation
with human rights. We have reflected not only the work of 25 state
bodies, but also separate spheres where there are issues related
to human rights,” Andreasyan told the press Tuesday, adding that
“nervous response from some state bodies by far does not mean that
the Ombudsman’s recommendations are not heeded to”.

He also stressed that for two years attorneys have been unhappy with
the work of the Cassation Court, saying it either does not accept cases
or accepts others without sufficient ground, but after the report a
task force group has been created, made of members of the Judicial
Department and the Chamber of Advocates, to look into that issue. He
added that their cooperation is successful with the RA Police, the
defense, healthcare and labor and social affairs ministries.

Andreasyan says among the post-Soviet countries Armenia is in the
best shape in terms of human rights protection.