Author: Kalantarian Kevo

AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION FIGURE: I AM PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF INVESTIGATION OF MASS KILLINGS IN OIL ACADEMY

17:44 12/03/2014 >> LAW

The Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijani opposition party Musavat,
Tofig Yagublu at the trial on Ismaili events has declared that the
leadership of General Prosecutor’s Office for a long time has had
a grudge against him for his investigation of mass killings in Oil
Academy. This is reported by Azerbaijani news agency Turan.

According to Turan, the prosecution declared that the customer of
killings in Oil Academy was an Armenian, Mardun Ghumashyan who was
a citizen of Georgia. Yagublu went to Georgia and found out that
Ghumashyan was a common man, the law enforcement bodies didn’t have
any claim on him and the Azerbaijani government didn’t appeal to
Georgian authorities in regard to Ghumashyan.

Yagublu said that the riots in Ismaili were not organized by
opposition. “It was a popular protest against the bureaucratic
tyranny,” he noted.

Note that the riots in Ismaili region started in the evening of 23
January 2013 after a road accident that involved the nephew of the
head of the region Nizami Alekperov and the son of the Minister of
Labour of Azerbaijan Fizuli Alekperov, Vugar Alekperov, happened. His
car collided with another car after which Alekperov started to insult
local people. As one of the residents of Ismaili region said the son
of the minister took from his pocket a wad of money and said, “You have
no honor (Geyret), I can buy your mothers and sisters by this money.”

According to the Deputy Chairman of Musavat party, the investigation
estimated the material damage caused by the riots but didn’t ask
for what money the former head of executive branch of Ismaili region
Nizami Alekperov who had a modest salary bought that luxurious house
and expensive cars.

The second defendant, leader of the REAL movement Ilgar Mammadov as
well made a speech at the trial. He declared that after the collapse
of Soviet Empire several khanates emerged in its space, one of which
is Azerbaijan, where human rights are strongly violated.

Mammadov said that they arrested him not to let him put his candidature
in presidential elections. When judging by the proposal of the
prosecutor, that is to sentence Mammadov to eight year imprisonment, it
turns out that until 2020 he won’t be able to take part in elections.

The head of the movement added that the court’s decision is
not important for him, rather he is interested in International
Community’s attitude. He claimed that due to the participation of
the representatives of U.S. embassy, EU countries and missions in
the trial, International Community has objective understanding of
the issue.

Note that on 12 April 2009 as result of clashes in Oil Academy 12 men
were killed and 13 wounded. Farda Gadirov, the initiator of clashes
committed suicide on the spot. Those accused of the conspiracy,
Javidan Amirov, Nadir Aliyev, Najaf Suleymanov were sentenced to life
imprisonment. Arif Gabulov was sentenced to 11 year imprisonment.

Except Suleymanov all the defendants confessed that they had testified
under pressure.

Ghumashyan Mardun Grigorevich, 60-years old Armenian, citizen of
Georgia was named as the customer of the massacres in Oil Academy
of Azerbaijan. It was reported that he was under the investigation
of Interpol. However, correspondent of newspaper Yeni Musavat Tofig
Yagublu determined to find out the truth went to Georgian village
Shulaver and without any help from Interpol found Ghumashyan in the
courtyard of his house. The interview with 60-year-old baker became
a sensation. As it turned out Mardun Ghumashyan didn’t know anything
about Farda Gadirov who initiated the massacres in Oil Academy.

Moreover, when Ggumashyan learnt that Azerbaijani authorities declared
him a “terrorist”, he appealed to the General Prosecutor’s Office
and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, where he learnt that
Azerbaijan made no appeals about his arrest. On its turn, Azerbaijani
newspaper Zerkalo appealed to the law enforcement bodies of Georgia.

“Person on duty of Ministry of Internal Affairs told our correspondent
that the Ministry didn’t get any appeals in regard to Mardun
Ghumashyan. This proves that Ghumashyan told the truth,” Zerkalo wrote.

Source: Panorama.am

“SERBIA-ARMENIA TIES NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED”

B92, Serbia
March 11 2014

Source: Tanjug

YEREVAN — Serbian FM Ivan MrkiÄ~G and his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbandian agreed in Yerevan that “relations between the two countries
need to be strengthened.”

(Beta, file)

The signing of relevant agreements should pave the way for a legal
framework that would ensure that, Tanjug quoted the two officials
as saying.

“We are happy to be in friendly Armenia. Here we feel like on a visit
to relatives. The friendship between Serbia and Armenia spans over many
years, and on these foundations, we will build our future cooperation,”
MrkiÄ~G said after the talks.

At a joint press conference on Monday, Nalbandian noted that the
current scope of cooperation is not reflecting the real potentials of
both Serbia and Armenia, which is also illustrated by the fact that
they have so far signed only five agreements, and today another one
has been signed – an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.

Asked by a Tanjug reporter as to which fields offer the greatest
prospects for economic cooperation, Nalbandian mentioned tourism,
industry, banking sector and finance.

A Serbian-Armenian business forum will be held in Yerevan tomorrow.

All issues relating to economic cooperation will be considered in
detail. A strong team of businesspeople will be present. Tomorrow,
we will open up new perspectives, he underscored.

The meeting of ministers was an opportunity to consider other issues
too, such as the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on the normalization of
relations, and the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian enclave
in the territory of Azerbaijan.

Serbia backs the stands of the OSCE from Madrid when it comes to
Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the positions that Russia, France and the
Unites States presented with regard to that, MrkiÄ~G said, underlining
that Serbia was grateful for Armenia’s decision not to recognize
Kosovo. The territory was unilaterally declared as independent by
ethnic Albanians in this southern Serbian province in early 2008.

“We are negotiating with the administration in an effort to normalize
relations and ensure proper living conditions for all citizens
in Kosovo, but there is no mention of the recognition of Kosovo,”
MrkiÄ~G told reporters.

He noted that last year an agreement on the normalization of relations
was reached in Brussels, and that the negotiating process is under
way which should allow for pacification of the region and introduction
of rules that will enable cooperation with Priština.

“A community of Serb municipalities will contribute to further
stabilization. We want cooperation with Priština, but Belgrade
primarily has in mind the stay of Serbs in Kosovo,” MrkiÄ~G said.

Asked about the forthcoming Serbia’s chairmanship of the OSCE, MrkiÄ~G
underscored that this is the co-chairmanship with Switzerland and
that Serbia, when it assumes the chairmanship next year, will further
Swiss efforts.

EXPERT SAYS SITUATIONS IN KARABKH AND CRIMEA ARE DIFFERENT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 11 2014

11 March 2014 – 8:34pm

The ongoing crisis in Crimea has caused vehement debates concerning
the possibility of a unilateral declaration of independence and any
analogy between Nagorno-Karabakh and Crimea.

>From the point of view of such a comparison it’s quite clear why
Georgia firmly supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, while
Azerbaijan and Armenia keep silent.

However according to German expert Wilfried Fuhrmann any
analogy between the Crimean crisis and the Nagorno-Karabkh war is
inappropriate. The Armenian forces have occupied the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh and started a genocide of the Azerbaijani people.

In such a situation no free will of the population may be expressed,
Professor Fuhrmann stresses.

HELP PLEASE! SULTRY HIP-SHAKIN’ SAFINAZ SEEKS ASSISTANCE FROM ARMENIAN EMBASSY AFTER BEING SUED BY HOTEL

Al-Bawaba
March 11 2014

A breach of contract has left saucy Safinaz in some hot water. The
hip-shakin’ sista was sued by the management of the hotel “Al Nabilah”
for breach of contract. Two months later, negotiations are still
underway by the Armenian belly dancer’s lawyer with the management
to resolve their disputes. She may face deportation and be required
to pay a portion of the fine for breaking her tight contract.

According to the Middle East news portal Elaph, despite the fact that
when Safinaz had signed a contract with the hotel to perform at its
nightclub for three years, she was shocked to later on discover that
the contract is for six years, and she is forced to perform daily at
the club. The hotel also has the right to obtain half of the wages
she is paid for performing anywhere outside the hotel.

A resolution has yet to be firmly in place, but the provocative
performer has sought the assistance of the Armenian embassy in the
situation.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY VOTES AGAINST SETTING UP COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE MARCH 1-2 CLASHES IN 2008

YEREVAN, March 10. / ARKA /. The ruling majority in the National
Assembly of Armenia voted today against setting up an ad hoc commission
to investigate the March 1-2, 2008 street clashes between security
forces and opposition protests in the capital Yerevan, which left
ten people dead.

Forty-six deputies backed the creation of the commission, one MP
abstained from voting, while 66 lawmakers from the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia and its junior coalition partner Orinats Yerkir
(Country of Law) voted against.

Before the voting the head of the opposition Armenian National Congress
(ANC) parliamentary faction, Levon Zurabyan, said that

MOVSES SHAHVERDYAN. “YOU CANNOT INTIMIDATE RUSSIANS BY WAR.”

March 10 2014

The current geopolitical processes, according to the President
of Labor Socialist Party of Armenia, Movses Shahverdyan, are the
logical continuation of the events of 300 years ago, when Peter the
Great opened a window to Europe by the Baltic Sea, and Russia tried
to enter the maelstrom of European events and to tell its word, and
met with serious resistance of Anglo-Saxons. Today, according to
our interlocutor, the United States takes the role of the latter,
with its European countries. “This conflict of interest has always
been. In the existence of the Russian Empire, it was expressed in the
Balkans and the Middle East by the then Russo-Turkish wars, but Russia
was always given counterblow by England through its European allies,”
said our interlocutor. Since the Crimea problem is on the agenda,
Movses Shahverdyan, referring to the ongoing act of war in the Crimea
in 1853-55, recalls that although the war was between Russia and
the Ottoman Empire, but the European countries intervened headed by
England, the heroic defense of Sevastopol happened, and notes, “Today,
it seems that conditions are created for the second war of Crimea.

Again, the problem of conflict of interest arises. Regardless of
what they say that the world is unipolar, today, the existence of
bipolar world is clearly outlined, on the one hand, the Russian
Federation with its supporters, on the other hand, the United States
with European countries. No one can say that the matter will reach
the World War III, or not, however, no one can deny the existence of
serious danger. Anyway, you cannot intimidate Russians by war. They
are the people and the state that feel like fish in the water during
the wartime. That is the very danger that always scared the West and
the United States. Remember the event of September 11, when only two
buildings exploded, but what kind of panic had begun in the U.S. I
do not like to make predictions, but I have no doubt that Russia will
not retreat and will solve the problem of Crimea exactly as it finds
convenient.” Movses Shahverdyan, again with historical references,
came to the conclusion that the West should not make great program
with Ukraine, as there had been wrinkles in the Russian-Ukrainian
relations, there had been complex historical situations, which were
smoothed out. Now, he is convinced that the Ukrainian and Russian
relations will be normalized, since the Ukrainian people have generated
from the same Slavic roots, and there cannot be major conflicts
between them. The evidence of it, according to our interlocutor,
is also the recent polls conducted in Ukraine, according to which,
the leaders of this movement have negligible percent in presidential
elections. But under this geopolitical situation, our interlocutor is
mostly concerned about the events in Armenia, since “they will solve
their problems without our intervention,” however, these developments
will directly affect Armenia, especially when in recent years our
country’s “Achilles’ heel” has been and remains our authorities, with
their illegitimacy and the consequences thereof. In this context,
at the request of Aravot.am, referring to the parallels drawn by
Levon Ter-Petrosyan at the March 1 rally between Gagik Tsarukyan and
Bidzina Ivanishvili, Movses Shahverdyan said, “A long time has been
elapsed since Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s statement. Everyone is talking
about this matter, positive or negative evaluations are made, except
Gagik Tsarukyan. Each person takes on a role and he decides to what
extent and how he is going to implement it. However, Gagik Tsarukyan
is silent.” Generally, our interlocutor finds that a new government
should be formed in Armenia as soon as possible, whose educational and
governance qualification is substantially different from the current
one, in the sense of increasing the benchmark. “This government has
neither legitimacy supply, nor the support of the people behind
it, and the outer forces know it very well, which makes both the
authorities and the state vulnerable, moreover, under the existence
of our problems. It’s an unforgivable luxury for us.” And, if this
issue is not resolved, according to conviction of Moses Shahverdyan,
it is not due to the lack of solution rather than the inefficiency of
those solving this issue. Shahverdyan even sees several options for
the regulation of the matter, one of which is political. However, as
Ter-Petrosyan said the “wonderful quartet”, non-government forces of
the parliament do not inspire faith in our interlocutor, since it is
not clear on what problems are put forward in their agenda. According
to his assessment, the parliament is just “a place for entertainment”
for these forces. Meanwhile, proper cooperation of political forces,
according to LSPA President, can provide serious results, the
examples of which they have. Recalling Gagik Tsarukyan’s statement
made at the last PAP congress that there should be a broad political
and social consolidation, Shahverdyan is concerned that still no
moves are followed, yet there are no arrangements for meetings and
consultations. The next option is to change the situation by the
government initiative. “I am just amazed at not serious statements made
by some RPA members saying about upcoming 2017-18 elections. And who
can say what the situation will be on the Earth planet at that time,
when the world situation is changing by hours?” Movses Shahverdyan
is confident that soon serious political processes will commence in
Armenia instigated by the West or Russia.

RPA members also urge not to be naive, because even the decision
to join the Customs Union will not make Russia forget about “their
genealogy.” As for the CU accession process, he characterizes it
by Avetik Isahakyan’s famous phrase, again we went and stood under
collapsing walls, and God forbid that these walls fell on our heads.

Movses Shahverdyan is not against the CU accession, he is against
the form how it was done, unconditioned capitulation act was signed
without gaining anything. “Armenia needs a government that will rule
as demanded by our national-state interests, which, unfortunately,
have not been formulated so far.”

Nelly Grigoryan

Read more at:

SERBIA SUPPORTS THE POSITION OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

17:47 10.03.2014

Anna Nazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today the
visiting Foreign Minister of Serbia, Ivan Mrkic. The two discussed
issues related to the expansion of the legal framework, deepening
of cooperation within the framework of international organizations,
intensification of trade-economic ties, decentralized cooperation,
etc. The Foreign Ministers also discussed the details of the
forthcoming visit of the Serbian President to Armenia later this year.

Following the meeting the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Serbia
signed an agreement on avoiding double taxation.

“I feel like being on a visit to a cousin,” the Serbian Foreign
Ministers told reporters in Yerevan. He thanked Edward Nalbandian
for the warm welcome and stressed the need to sign more agreements
to form a legal basis for future cooperation.

Serbia will assume the OSCE Chairmanship from January 2015. In this
context Ivan Mrkic referred to Karabakh issue. “Serbia strongly
supports the views and the positions of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairing countries and backs the Madrid Principles,” he said. He
added that Serbia is grateful to Armenia for its position on Kosovo.

He informed they are negotiating with Pristina on stabilizing the
relationship and creating conditions for the normal life of the
citizens of Kosovo, but added they are not going to recognize Kosovo.

The topic of Ukraine was not avoided, either. The Foreign Minister
said Armenia expressed its stance on the highest level. The Armenian
president spoke about it at the European People’s Party summit
in Ireland.

“We hope all possible measures will be taken to find peaceful
solutions, which will contribute to the mitigation of tension and
settlement of all issues,” Minister Nalbandian said.

MOSCOW DENOUNCES GUN ATTACK ON PRO-RUSSIAN ACTIVISTS IN EASTERN UKRAINE

Published time: March 10, 2014 10:00
Edited time: March 10, 2014 11:11

A girl holds a banner reading “Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sevastopol” as
pro-Russian supporters attend a rally under the statue of Lenin in
the centre of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on March 8, 2014
(AFP Photo / Sergey Bobok)

Conflict, Politics, Russia, Ukraine

The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized western governments
and media for turning a blind eye on alarming incidents in Ukraine,
including a gun attack on a pro-Russian rally in the city of Kharkov.

According to eyewitness reports, some seven or eight masked people
drove a mini-van to a Saturday rally in central Kharkov, which was
demanding a regional referendum on whether it should follow Crimea’s
suit and seek joining Russia.

The men armed with bats and handguns ambushed three activists, who
were returning from the rally.

“They threatened to kill us. I covered my head so they hit me on the
hands. We barely realized what was happening,” one of the victims
told Live News tabloid.

The attackers fired several shots in the scuffle, wounding one of the
pro-Russian activists in the back. The injury was not life-threatening.

The aggression is one of several incidents, which, according to the
Russian foreign ministry, are overlooked in the west. It also cited
the detainment and deportation of seven Russian journalists from
Ukraine over alleged biased reporting.

There is also the blockade of border travel for Russians living near
it, which was recently reported by the Ukrainian border guard service.

The service said it banned some 3,500, including 16 journalists,
from entering the country, which amounts to about 500 people each day.

“The shamefaced silence of our western partners, rights groups and
foreign media is baffling,” the ministry statement said.

Russia considers the government in Kiev, which was imposed following
an armed coup last month, illegitimate and heavily influenced by
radical forces, which played a key part in the coup.

Several regions in Eastern Ukraine share the view, while the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea is to hold a referendum this Sunday over whether
it should seek greater independence from the capital, or apply to
join Russia.

The Crimean authorities have denounced the self-proclaimed government
in Kiev and declared that all Ukrainian law enforcement and military
deployed in the peninsula must take orders from them. The Crimea
authorities have asked Russia to provide assistance to ensure peace
and order in the region.

Crimeans began protesting after the new Kiev authorities introduced
a law abolishing the use of other languages for official purposes in
Ukraine. More than half the Crimean population is Russian and uses
only this language for their communication.

Under the Russian-Ukrainian Partition Treaty determining the fate of
the military bases and vessels in Crimea – signed in 1997 and prolonged
in 2010 – Russia is allowed to have up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery
systems (with a caliber smaller than 100 mm), 132 armored vehicles,
and 22 military planes, on the peninsula’s territory. The Russian
Black Sea fleet is allowed to stay in Crimea until 2042.

Moscow annually writes off $97.75 million of Kiev’s debt for the right
to use Ukrainian waters and radio frequencies, and to compensate for
the Black Sea Fleet’s environmental impact.

ANC AUSTRALIA URGE THE SWISS AUTHORITIES TO APPEAL ECHR RULING ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

11:14 10.03.2014

Armenian Genocide, ECHR

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) met with
the Swiss Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Marcel Stutz, to
present the Armenian-Australian community’s concerns over the recent
judgment handed down by the European Court for Human Rights in the
Perincek v. Switzerland case. ANC Australia called on Switzerland to
appeal the outcome.

In 2007, Turkish politician Dogu Perincek was convicted by the Federal
Court of Switzerland for publicly denying the Armenian Genocide, which
included his public statement that “the genocide is an international
lie”.

The ECHR subsequently ruled that it was not a crime for Perincek to
publicly deny the Armenian Genocide, contrary to Swiss laws prohibiting
denial and other European directives urging states to take a stronger
stance in fighting denial of genocide and crimes against humanity.

ANC Australia voiced the serious concerns of Armenian-Australians, and
Armenians worldwide, regarding the ECHR’s December 17, 2013 decision,
which rejected the Swiss court’s 2007 decision to penalise, under
Swiss Penal Law, Perincek’s vehement denial of the Armenian Genocide.

ANC Australia presented to the Swiss Ambassador a list of factual
inaccuracies that were evident in the ECHR’s judgment and called upon
the Swiss Government to appeal the judgment.

ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian commented at the
conclusion of the meeting: “We welcome the opportunity to have met
with the Swiss Ambassador to Australia and to have discussed this
important issue.”

“Switzerland has been an international leader in both genocide
recognition and the criminalisation of genocide denial and therefore
we strongly urge the Swiss authorities to appeal the judgment of the
European Court of Human Rights,” Kahramanian added.

LE TAUX DE DECES CHEZ LES PATIENTS ATTEINTS DE CANCER EN ARMENIE EN CHUTE

ARMENIE

Le taux de mortalite chez les patients atteints de cancer en Armenie a
diminue au cours des dernières cinq dernières annees a declare Gagik
Bazikyan, directeur adjoint du Centre national du cancer.

Les decès chez les patients atteints de cancer ont presque diminue de
moitie depuis 2008 alors que le nombre de patients a augmente de 13,4%.

Gagik Bazikyan a dit que 8000 personnes sont diagnostiquees avec un
cancer chaque annee dans le pays.

> a-t- dit.

lundi 10 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com