Author: Kalantarian Kevo

GLOBAL GOLD MINING ARMENIA BRANCH

SECOND STATEMENT REGARDING FALSE CLAIMS BY SOME INDIVIDUAL
REPRESENTATIVES OF NGOs
DISCLOSURES

It has been for some time that some individual representatives of some
NGOs in Armenia continue to make deliberately unsubstantiated,
contradicting to facts and reality claims regarding the environmental
situation at Toukhmanuk mine, including through internet and letters
to various organizations and individuals.
Since November 2, 2012, the time when the Company transparently and
openly presented the construction project for its next tailings dam to
be constructed at Toukhmanuk property for public discussions, these
individual representatives (including, specifically, Silva Adamian,
representing Bird – Fanciers NGO, Hakop Sanasarian, representing
Armenian Greens Association, Artur Grigorian, representing Ecoright
NGO, and others), started posting claims that contradict the reality
regarding Toukhmanuk new tailings dam, specifically, and the
activities of Mego Gold in general, in the internet and media.
Deliberate, and often simply insulting statements and claims were
made, including, through selectively presenting, by falsely
misrepresenting and misinterpreting the different parts of the
Toukhmanuk new tailings dam construction project documents, often
twisting and forging the clear and undeniable facts and realities,
including through acting `unaware’ about well known facts and
realities, for the purposes of a deliberate and smear propaganda
agasnt the Company’s activities.
Thus, during November 2012, through some internet and media
publications, these individuals claimed, that (i) `Mego Gold is going
to contstruct a tailings dam with a territory of about 7 hectares’,
(while, in fact, the territory of the tailings dam is only 1,53
hectares, according to presented project documents), (ii) due to Mego
Gold activities `no babies are born in Melikgyough anymore’, or
`infant natality became almost zero’, (while, in fact, only in 2012,
25 babies were born in Melikgyough, and 7 more babies were born since
January 2013 until now, i.e., infant natality rate in Melikgyough is
higher than average rate in Armenia by 1,7 times), (iii) due to
activities of Mego Gold `the cases of cancer disease multiplied in the
community’, (while, in fact, during the activities of Mego Gold since
2008 only three cases of cancer was registered in the community, all
patients being older than the age of 75, i.e. only 0,26% of the
community, while the average rate in Armenia is 1%, and, for example,
another community with the same population in the same province,
Katnakhpyur, that has no mining property or any industrial activities
around, registered 18 cases of cancer, i.e., 6 times more than in
Melikgyough, during the same period), (iv) `there were numerous cases
of accidents at the tailings dam, and it collapsed’, (while, in fact,
there were no accidents at tailings dam, and it never collapsed, there
were no such signals even from unofficial sources), (v) that `no one
knows about the mining plan’, `the public is not being informed about
such plans’, and, `only small amount of information was possible to
extract forcefully’, (while, in fact, the mining plan, including the
open pit plan, treatment plant plan, and the tailings dam plan were
prepared, examined, including for environmental and health protection
aspects, filed and subjected to special expertise, including through
public hearings with participation of the representatives of the
community back in 2008, and these plans, along with all accompanying
documents, are available at the respective bodies and at the Company,
all publicly available, including pursuant to Armenian Law on Freedom
of Information), (vi) due to activities of Mego Gold `land fertility
declined multiple times’, `villagers reap no harvest’, `land fertility
dropped, fields are being destroyed and deserted’, `huge damage is
caused to the community’s agriculture’, (while, in fact, the harvest
of oat as a general culture raised in the community during 2012 was
record high, for non – irrigational lands, amounting 25 metric
centners/ha, the potato harvest was also much higher than the average,
amounting 35 tonns/ha), (vii) due to activities of Mego Gold
`territory necessary for cattle breading dramatically declined’,
(while, in fact, Mego Gold is using only industrial lands, Melikgyough
community agricultural lands territory amounts to 2,337.3 hectares,
vs. Mego Gold mining territory amounting to only 46,7 hectares, i.e.,
only 2% of territory compared to the community’s agricultural lands),
(viii) that `drinking water is contaminated, because the tailings
infiltrate the irrigation water’, `the quality of drinking and
irrigation water supplied to Melikgyough dramatically worsened),
(while, in fact, Mego Gold conducts permanent environmental monitoring
in and around Toukhmanuk property through an independent expert
organization, since 2006, such monitoring including some 23 elements,
including the metals, the results are disclosed by the expert
organization to the community, local government, state bodies, NGOs,
and also posted on the internet, during these 6 years of monitoring no
cases of any release of any element into the environment, including
into the drinking and irrigation water of Melikgyough, was recorded),
(ix) that `water generation and water supply systems are breached and
destroyed’, that `it is impossible not to breach or destroy water
generation systems, since property exploited by the Company is the
part of such system of water generation and water supply’, (while, in
fact, the territory of such water generation and water supply is
consisting of 80 to 100 square kilometers, comprising the most part of
the Tsakhunyats plato, while the mining territory of Mego Gold is only
0,46 square kilometers, i.e., only 0,46% or 0,57% of the whole water
generation and supply system, and all water generation and supply
systems are being preserved even in the mining territory of the
property).
Aside from these claims, there were also other, numerous, deliberately
false and fabricated claims, from the same individual representatives.
Generally, individuals making these claims are not only well aware
about the nature of their claims being false and fabricated. They are
also aware that the Company and Mego Gold are taking care and spend
big amount attention towards the environment, and that they never
breached any environmental rule or statute.
Besides these clams, the same individuals made public claims of simply
insulting and defamatory character against the Company and its
employees, publicly calling them `parorexia’, `thief’, `exploiter of
the poor’, and other, publically called the community members`cowards’
and `corrupt’, the community residents who disagreed with their
false statements as `traitors’, and the fact of the community official
consent to construct of the new tailings dam as a `bargain’. The
offenders, presumably, are all educated, some with scientific titles,
all considering themselves as public representatives, while the norms
of civilized manners, and not this obscene behavior, shall be typical
to public or any of its representatives. One of the offenders, for
example, went so far in his own manipulation and twisting of the
reality, that publically accused the CEO of the Company, a descendant
of the generation escaping the Genocide and living in Diaspora, whose
track of record in international recognition of the Genocide is
evident and undeniable, in `intention to take part in the Genocide’.
Afterwards, in a clear attempt to `implement’ the false and fabricated
claims already made deliberately and disseminated, Silva Adamyan, on
behalf of the Ecological Public Alliance, appealed to the Prime
Minister and the Minister of Environment of Armenia, and demanded to
`stop all the activities of Mego Gold’, referencing to the same false
accusations made.
Considering that the deliberate manipulation and twisting the facts
and reality shall have a potential of causing damage to the reputation
of the same NGOs that these individuals are representing, and also
considering, that the same individuals shall be concerned about such
damaged reputation at the first place, the Company came up with a
public statement in January 31, 2012, pointing to factual evidence,
and called to refrain from damaging the reputation of the NGOs and the
public representatives, refrain from disseminating obscurantism and
considering the clear evidence and scientific substantiation instead,
refrain from insulting the Company, its employees and the community
residents, and offered a good faith cooperation with the Company in
its everyday work aimed at protection of the environment.
Instead of accepting the reasonable offer made by the Company which
would be acceptable to any true public representative, the same
individuals, without even trying to refute any of the evidence or
expert test results and scientific substantiation provided by the
Company, tried to continue disseminating the same false and fabricated
claims against the Company, through changing the ways of manipulation
only.
First, an attempt was made to accuse the Company as if the latter
`conceals’ its mining plans and documents from the public.
Furthermore, these individuals, while acting as falsely unaware,
attempted to accuse the Company in `publically refuting’ the presence
of metals in the tailings dam, accused the Company in concealing the
methodic by which the project documents were prepared’, demanded
`expert information’ (as if such information was not disclosed the
public), and, furthermore, claimed as if the information contained in
a scientific work that was published in 2010 (Sh. Khachatryan,
`Geological and chemical specifications of the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine’)
contradicted the information provided by the Company, and further
claimed that the Company, its officers and specialists `deliberately
mislead the public, by concealing the content of the tailings to be
placed in the tailings dam and their potential effect on the health of
the residents of the community and the entire region’.
In fact, however, in November 27, 2012, the Company presented only the
construction project of its new tailings dam to be constructed for the
public hearings, including the environmental study for the
construction of the tailings dam. While, in fact, the Company
presented and implemented the public hearings for Toukhmanuk mining
plan back in April 21, 2006, in the community hall of Melikgyough
village, in presence of hundreds of attendees. For the purposes of
such hearings, the Toukhmanuk mining plan, including the open pit
plan, treatment plant plan, and the tailings dam construction plan
were presented and publically discussed, along with any and all
accompanying documents, analysis, and scientific reports, consisting
of hundreds of pages of documents. Community officials, residents,
public figures, intellectuals, National Assembly members, specialists,
NGO representatives, reporters, local clergy members, and others
simply interested in the Toukhmanuk project attended the hearings
(please see the pictures attached). The hearings took almost all day.
In the result, the detailed project documents, along with expert and
scientific substantiations, were filed to the Ministry of Environment,
along with the community’s consent for the project to commence, and
for expert examination. In the result of the expert examination,
conducted in all detail and scrutiny, the Environmental Approval for
Toukhmanuk Mining Plan was issued. All the documents presented at the
hearings, then presented for the Approval, and even after the hearings
and such Approval, are publically available at the official bodies and
the Company, pursuant to Armenian Law on Freedom of Information.
Besides these open, transparent and public proceedings of 2008, the
Company prepared and filed the results of its massive geological
exploration of Toukhmanuk ore field in 2006, consisting of the result
of diamond drilling of 25,000 meters, surface and trench sampling, and
scientific report for this exploration. All these documents are also
publically available. In the result of the Company’s scientific
research, the Toukhmanuk Pre Feasibility Study (including the
environmental impact study), the Toukhmanuk Metallurgical Reports
(four of them, for the years of 2008, 2009, and 2010), also the
Company’s `Toukhmanuk Geological Exploration Report’ for 2009, were
all prepared, and filed for approval of Toukhmanuk reserves at the
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. All these documents are
publically available, and the proceedings at the Ministry were all
open for public. In fact, the scientists (Sh. Khachaturyan), who,
according to the accusers, `revealed’ the `concealed’ information by
the Company, co – authored the Company’s `Toukhmanuk Geologcial
Exploration Report’, and the scientific work he published in 2010 is
just the brief version of the Company’s 2006 Report.
One specific episode of attempts to falsely accuse the Company by
these individuals is typical: in their fabricated attempt to `reveal
the truth’, one of this individuals, without notifying the Company or
inviting the Company to participate, and secretly from the Company,
initiated `sampling the tailings dam and the soils from the yards of
the villagers of Melikgyough’, then falsely announced about`revealing
the concealed by the Company concentrations of some elements that
exceed the limits provided under the law’, and placed the statements
in the internet, without analyzing, immediately.
For legal consideration, it is worth to mention, that Armenian law
(like the laws of other countries) does not provide `limits for
concentration of elements in the tailings’. Such statement is a mere
manipulation, and is aimed at misleading. The tailings are wastes,
they are neither eatable, nor drinkable, for the law to provide limits
of concentration of any elements in them. The waste is preserved in
the tailings dams, and isolated from the outside environment, just
because it is waste. Moreover, Armenian law considers the waste from
mining (tailings) as `non – dangerous’ waste. This is a clear and
known fact.
The same individuals, by the way, repeatedly refused the Company’s
offer to participate in the independent permanent environmental
monitoring, and even analyze the duplicates of the samples in
alternative laboratories, just to make sure that the results of the
monitoring are correct. The Company discovered only recently the
reasons for such refusal to participate, by the mentioned individuals.
Although the results of the lab assessments made by the representative
of NGO were not provided to the Company, the Company was able to
acquire them (see attached). According to the assessment made by one
of the labs of the Armenian National Academy of Science, the
concentration (mg/kg) of barium (BA) in the soil of the yards of
villagers exceeds the concentration of the same element in the
Company’s tailings (waste) by up to 2,2 times, cobalt (Co) by 2,1
times , crome (Cr) by 2,3 times, copper (Co) by 1,8 times, nikel (Ni)
by 1,9 times, rubidium (Rb) by 1,4 times, tin (Sn) by 2,3 times,
stroncium (Sr) by 2,8 times, vanadium (V) by 2,3 times, zinc (Zn) by
15,2 times, circonium (Zr) by 2 times, iron (Fe) by 2 times, titan
(Ti) by 2 times.
According to this assessment, and the logic of concentration of
different elements, even if the Company tailings were not only
released (which is ruled out by the independent and permanent
environmental monitoring), but entirely replaced the soils (which is
impossible), the concentration of these elements would be much less
than those in the waste. It is also evident, that the Company waste is
much `cleaner’, in consideration of the concentration of these
elements, than the soils of the villagers. If the concentration of
these elements in the soil was simply compared with the same
concentrations in the tailings, and given a simple analysis,
logically, the representatives should had thought of something else
than falsely accusing the Company in contaminating the soil.
Apparently, the villagers themselves told the representatives that
they are well aware, and were aware for a long time, of the
concentration of at least some of these elements in their soils even
before the Company activities began (during one of the meeting
organized by the representatives at the community, to which the
Company was not even invited), since back in soviet times large
amounts of different chemicals were widely used in the community
against rodents, and other chemicals as fertilizers, and even after
the soviet government’s banning them, these chemicals were not removed
from the village, but buried in their soils instead, massively.
Fertilizers are still being used. Apparently, the representatives knew
about it, but choose to falsely accuse the Company instead, and even
disseminated a public statement claiming, as if, that the Company `is
refuting the results of the assessment’ made by these
representatives. Instead, the Company is expecting that these
individual representatives themselves should refute their own
statements against the Company.
Moreover, understanding full well that their accusations against the
Company are entirely false and fabricated, the same representatives
organized different meetings at the Community, as if to discuss the
activity of the Company, but did not invite the Company or its
representatives to such meetings. During these meetings these
individual representatives are trying, through spreading a mere
obscurantism, provoke some individual residents to make false
statements against the Company purely for a smear propaganda purposes.
For example, during one of the meetings where the Company
representatives participated without being invited, an NGO
representative stated that the Company officers shall be `sentenced to
death by hanging’ , not for harming the environment, but for just
mining the property, since mining is `evil’, many other countries
banned mining at all and officially, as mining itself if harmful, but
encourage their companies mining in Armenia instead (such as Germany).
Company representatives witnessed during the same meeting, that a
specific person representing an NGO, would invite some individual
residents he personally knew out of the discussion room, coached them
what to say when back in the discussion room, while the other
individual representative would videotape in detail the resident’s
yelling and simply cursing, and placing the video in the internet
later, as if a bright evidence of the communities `resistance’. This
behavior was not even being concealed, and no footages are placed in
the internet by these individual representatives, where the community
members not only disagree with their false accusation, but also oppose
them. As a result, artificially fabricated nature of the footages
placed in the internet by these individual representatives is
apparent.
This, indeed, is a disguised behavior. It is clear that some NGO
representatives apparently trying to put obstacles, and even stop the
activities of a company the record of which clearly provides that the
company not only proved its dedication to preventing any violations of
the environment, not only proved its dedication to social
responsibility, but also considered these issues as a top priority.
However, not only the false accusations against the Company don’t
stop, but escalate instead, through dirty tactics.
Company’s attempts to investigate such odd behavior resulted into sad
revelations that the Company is disclosing herein.
The Company was informed that some of these individual
representatives, apparently, applied to some international and local
sources asking for financing against environmental violations at
Toukhmanuk, often repeatedly and morbidly insisting. The Company was
also informed, that some international sources told these individual
representatives, that taking into account the transparent activities
of the Company, there are simply no evidence of any environmental
violations at Toukhmanuk, and there is an absolute absence of any
public awareness of such violations. Apparently, these individual
representatives understood the advice differently: public awareness
can be fabricated, and the evidence falsified. This is a simple soviet
approach, which does not lead to any results anymore.
The Company is still investigating the advice provided to these
individual representatives by the local sources to finance for
hindering or stopping the Company activities, however, the Company’s
specific revelations currently available are also disturbing. It has
been for weeks, that one of these individual representatives, for
example, is posting in her personal facebook account (through opening
a special group) the materials posted in the internet and media a
while ago, for the purposes of smear propaganda initiated by a former
government official in the context of that official’s corrupt demands
against the Company. This specific individual representative became so
exited, that even posted, and tried getting `likes’ from facebook
audience, on the media reports about another company’s activities with
the same name (Global Gold), in Kirgizia.
This behavior is extremely concerning, is harmful to the country, the
industry, the economy, facilitates the emigration – already a problem
for the country, is harmful for the reputation of NGOs, and shall be
stopped immediately. Representing group or individual interest by
individual representatives of NGOs, and their copying corrupt
officials’ behavior cannot be allowed. Armenia deserves to have
environmental NGO truly dedicated at protection of the environment of
the country.
In light of these realities, the Company is hereby requesting these
individual representatives to disclose the international and local
sources their applied for their activities regarding Toukhmanuk mine,
and the purposes and conditions for such activities.
The Company will continue working transparently and openly, including
for the protection of the environment. As always, we are open for any
discussion that is aimed at serving interests of the communities of
the Company’s operations.
Global Gold Mining, LLC Armenia Branch

– Social
News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA CO-ORGANIZES AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
MONASTICISM IN THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

The University in Salzbourg in cooperation with the Holy See of Etchmiadzin
and the Holy See of Cilicia organized an international conference on
“Monasticism in the Armenian Churches” from 14-17 April 2013.

The conference began with a Benedictine vespers at the St. Peter’s
Cathedral. On Monday 15 April, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian the Ecumenical
Officer and Dean of the Seminary presented a paper on the theme “The
challenges to the Brotherhood of Cilicia in the 21st Century”. The
conference then explored differences in monasticism between the East and the
West, and different training programmes.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

POPE FRANCIS I WRITES TO CATHOLICOS ARAM I

Following his enthronization, Pope Francis wrote to His Holiness Aram I and
thanked him for the delegation he sent at his enthronement ceremony. Here is
the text of the letter of His Holiness.

To His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians

In these days following the solemn inauguration of my ministry
as Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter, I write to express my heartfelt
gratitude for your closeness and affection shown by the presence of the
distinguished delegation which you sent to Rome for the occasion. I was
deeply touched by this brotherly gesture, which was for me a source of
spiritual comfort and encouragement.

As a brother in faith, I humbly ask you for the support of your
prayers, that the Lord may guide and accompany me in my new mission. In
listening to what the Spirit says to the churches, let us pledge ourselves
anew to cultivate the hope of unity and to undertake all that is necessary
to build peace and communion between us, not forgetting our common service
to humanity, above all the poor, the weak and the suffering.

With these sentiments, I willingly embrace you in the grace and
peace of Our Risen Saviour Jesus Christ.

Francis I

>From the Vatican, 7 April 2013

ISRAEL’S UNION OF ARMENIANS TO RALLY OUTSIDE TURKISH EMBASSY

April 22, 2013 – 15:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A rally in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
victims will be held in Tel Aviv, outside the Turkish embassy.

Ararat Union of Armenians of Israel is the event organizer.

According to the union’s spokesman Mendel Korsunski, similar
demonstrations will be held in different cities of the world. The
rally participants in Tel Aviv will urge the Turkish authorities to
recognize the fact of the Genocide and stop distortion of the history.

ARMAVIA STILL HAS NO DECISION ON AFTER APRIL 22

The contract between Armavia and the government expires on April 22.

On 14 March 2003 the government and the airlines signed an agreement
vesting in Armavia the exclusive right to operate some flights. Upon
expiry the General Civil Aviation Department must recommend the
government to either prolong the exclusive right or to announce tender,
liberalizing air transportation.

It is not known whether Armavia will continue to operate in Armenia.

The company told Pastinfo that no decision has been made so far. It
is not known whether the company will apply for extension of license
or for tender.

Earlier on March 29 Armavia informed to stop its flights on April 1
and declared bankruptcy. According to the Law on Bankruptcy, the debtor
must file a bankruptcy and the judge will make a decision within 3 days
without calling a court sitting if the debtor appears to be insolvent.

The company will not be declared bankrupt and must pay its liabilities
unless Armavia files a petition for bankruptcy and there is a relevant
court decision.

Armavia told in answer to an inquiry that the process of bankruptcy
is expected, and now all the necessary documents are collected to
apply to court.

Armavia’s debt is reported at 50 million dollars, including 30 million
dollars in Armenia, of which 20 million to the banks.

15:43 22/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS CRITICIZES SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN SHARPLY

10:28 22/04/2013 ” REGION

As the annual report on Human Rights Practices of the US State
Departmentreads, the most significant human rights problem in
Azerbaijan is restrictions on freedom of expression including
intimidation, arrest, and use of force against journalists and human
rights and democracy activists online and offline, restrictions on
freedom of assembly, unfair administration of justice, including
continued reports of arbitrary arrest and detention, politically
motivated imprisonment, lack of due process, executive influence over
the judiciary, and lengthy pretrial detention.

In the report it is noted also about other human rights problems
reported during the last year included reports of torture and abuse
in police or military custody that resulted in at least four deaths;
harsh and sometimes life-threatening prison conditions; continued
arbitrary invasions of privacy; restrictions on the religious freedom
of some unregistered Muslim and Christian groups; constraints on
political participation; corruption at all levels of government;
continued official impediments to the registration of human rights
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); violence against women; and
trafficking in persons.

The government failed to take steps to prosecute or punish most
officials who committed human rights abuses. Impunity remained a
problem, the report reads.

The reports also notes that on May 22, parliament passed legislation
implementing the constitutional provisions and providing for the
ethical treatment of detainees. However, domestic human rights monitors
reported that security forces abused 141 persons in custody during the
year. Impunity remained a problem. Authorities reportedly maintained
a de facto ban on independent forensic examinations of detainees who
claimed mistreatment and delayed their access to an attorney.

Touching upon the condition of the prisoners in Azerbaijan the report
notes that most of them experienced harsh detention conditions,
some of which were life threatening.

“Although minors were also supposed to be held in separate facilities,
international monitors observed some children being held with adults.

Authorities limited physical exercise for prisoners as well as visits
by attorneys and family members,” the report says, and notes that
the Ministry of Justice reported that 111 persons died in detention
during the year. 84 of the deaths were in medical facilities and due
to medical conditions.

It also says that police used excessive force in some cases during
the protests surrounding the Eurovision song contest in May.

Touching upon the issue of political prisoners the U.S. Department of
State notes that according to NGOs the government continued to hold
political prisoners in prisons. NGOs’ lists of political prisoners and
detainees included journalists, human rights defenders and opposition
party members.

The report also says that the government continued to limit freedom
of speech and media independence. “During a media freedom seminar
sponsored by a local NGO during Eurovision festivities in May,
individuals believed to be planted by the government regularly
interrupted speakers expressing criticism of authorities and engaged
in long speeches denouncing those who spoke critically of government
officials and practices,” the report says.

The Department of State notes that opposition newspapers were available
outside of Baku only in limited numbers due to the refusal of a number
of distributors to carry them. Foreign broadcasters, including the
Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the BBC,
remained prohibited from broadcasting on FM frequencies.

The Department of State mentions that the government prohibited some
state libraries from subscribing to opposition newspapers, prohibited
state businesses from buying advertising in opposition newspapers,
and pressured private businesses not to advertise in them. There were
indications that the government monitored Internet communications of
democracy activists.

Opposition party members continued to report difficulties in finding
jobs teaching at schools and universities. Most known opposition
party members teaching in state educational institutions were fired
in previous years.

The report reads that NGOs reported that local executive authorities
occasionally prevented the expression of minority cultures, for
example, by prohibiting cultural events.

Coming up to the corruption issue in Azerbaijan the report noted that
the government did not effectively enforce the law, and there were
reports of widespread corruption with impunity, including in the civil
service, government ministries, and the highest levels of government.

Transparency International and other observers described corruption
as widespread in Azerbaijan.

The Ministry of Justice continued routinely to deny registration
to some human rights NGOs on arbitrary grounds. “For example, it
routinely rejected the registration applications of NGOs whose names
contained the words “human rights,” “democracy,” “institute,” and
“society,” the report reads and notes that during the year a number
of NGOs reported continued pressure against their activities.

Touching upon the women’s rights issue in Azerbaijan the report noted
that the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 19 counts of rape, 12
counts of attempted rape, four counts of violence of a sexual nature,
and one count of sexual violence against a minor.

It also notes that in large families in impoverished rural areas
sometimes placed a higher priority on the education of male children
and kept girls in the home to work. Some poor families forced their
children to work or beg rather than attend school. A Baku NGO working
with street children reported that boys and girls engaged in street
begging and prostitution.

As for the property rights, the report notes that the authorities
failed to provide due legal process with regard to property rights,
resulting in forced evictions, demolition of buildings on dubious
eminent domain grounds, and inadequate compensation for property
taken by the state.

The report also refers to violations of rights of sexual minorities
and labor right.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS DEMANDS POLICE TO PREVENT OBSTACLES TO ANC’S ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ARMINFO
Monday, April 22, 13:39

Head of the Armenian National Congress Party’s (ANC) Faction in the
Parliament Levon Zurabyan has addressed a letter to Armenian Police
Head Vladimir Gasparyan alarming of certain obstacles to ANC’s election
campaign for the Elder’s Council of Yerevan. The copy of the letter
provided to ArmInfo reads that on April 17 and 18 representatives and
supporters of the Republican Party created obstacles to the campaigning
activists of the party in the Avan and Center administrative districts
of Yerevan. In particular, the activists were illegally demanded to
stop campaigning and were threatened with violence. Later on April 19
the Police prevented the campaign in front of the Yerevan Municipality,
though it was not a mass event. The Police grossly violated the
citizens’ rights to vote, to free movement and freedom of assembly,
used violence towards participants in the peaceful procession and
tried to fail the election campaign of ANC. In his letter, the ANC
representative blames the police for failing to protect the law and
keep political neutrality, and for fulfilling illegal orders of the
ruling polital force.

Zurbanyan demands the Police to stop violating the rights of the
citizens and put an end to illegalities and protect the public order
and the people’s right to vote in line with the Constitution and
legislation of the Republic of Armenia. He suggests the Police to
name the police officers responsible for protection of legal order
and legal election process, which will allow creating rapid response
mechanisms to prevent illegalities in future.

To recall, March 21 was deadline for registration of political forces
and their candidates for the May 5 elections to the Elders’ Council of
Yerevan. Six parties and a union have submitted their party lists to
run to the Elders’ Council of Yerevan: Republican Party of Armenia,
Prosperous Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir, Armenian National
Congress, Mission, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and “Barev Yerevan” Union.

Political parties will fight for 65 seats at the Elders’ Council. The
election campaign started on April 7. The elections will be held on
May 5. May 4 is a say of “silence” when campaign is prohibited. By
preliminary data, 261 observers will be following the elections.

OSKANIAN THINKS PAP SHOULD DECLARE ITSELF OPPOSITION

POLITICS | 22.04.13 | 13:36

A senior member of tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP) believes it is time the political force declared itself an
opposition.

Vartan Oskanian, a former foreign minister who is now a top candidate
in the Yerevan City Council elections on the PAP’s list, wrote on his
Facebook account on Monday that in his opinion the party thus far
naming itself an “alternative” to the government should change its
“political status” and declare itself an opposition at the beginning
of the next parliamentary session in September.

Oskanian said this should be made “considering the political situation
formed in the country as well as the possible developments in the
coming years, especially the fact that without declaring itself an
opposition the PAP has already assumed that role.”

“I am convinced that the country, the political system and ultimately
the citizens will benefit from this,” emphasized Oskanian.

The PAP, which quit the ruling coalition after last May’s parliamentary
elections, has been reluctant to call itself an opposition and did
not proclaim itself one during the new convocation of the National
Assembly. Critics representing both opposition and pro-government
forces have challenged the party over the vague definition of its
status as “alternative”.

Armen Ashotyan, the acting Minister of Education and Science and
senior member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, was quick
to scoff at Oskanian’s comment.

Similarly through his Facebook account Ashotyan, in particular, wrote:
“And why did you not express and realize your desire to become an
opposition party last February when there was such an opportunity?”

The government representative hinted at the fact that the PAP refused
to field its candidate or back any other candidate in the presidential
election earlier this year.

Remarkably, unlike other major opposition groups the PAP appears
to be noncommittal yet on backing an emerging nonpartisan civic
movement announced last week by opposition Heritage party leader
Raffi Hovannisian.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION EVENTS IN GLENDALE

10:27 22.04.2013

Several events commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide
will be held in Glendale over the next several days the Glebdale
News-Press informs.

The main local event of the week will be a city-sponsored Armenian
genocide commemoration ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Alex
Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd.

The 90-minute event will feature several traditional Armenian dance
and musical performances by local students.

The keynote speaker will be Micheline Aharonian Marcom, who has
published four novels, including a trilogy, about the Armenian genocide
and its aftermath in the 20th century.

Other events will be held earlier in the week.

The 12th annual Armenian Genocide Assembly will be held at 7 p.m.

Monday in the auditorium at Glendale High School, 1440 E. Broadway.

Armenian clubs from high schools in Glendale Unified will participate
in this free event, which will include instrumental pieces, poetry
readings and video clips.

Unified Young Armenians will hold a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m.

Tuesday in the parking lot at Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N.

Verdugo Road.

Several officials from the cities of Glendale and Los Angeles are
slated to speak.

The Armenian Cycling Assn. will hold its fourth annual Genocide
Memorial Cycling Ride at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The route will begin at St. Mary’s Armenian Church, 500 W. Central
Ave., and end at the Turkish Consulate, 6300 Wilshire Blvd. in Los
Angeles.

On Wednesday morning, Unified Young Armenians will hold a march
through Little Armenia at 10 a.m.

An event called “Remembrance and Reflection will be held at 7 p.m.

Wednesday at the Ark Family Center Inc., 135 S. Jackson St., Suite 102.

A recording of a live performance by comedian Vardan Petrosyan, who
takes his own perspective on the genocide, will be shown. It will be
followed by a discussion of the psychological effects of the genocide
on the current generation.

Events commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide are
also scheduled in Burbank and Pasadena.

USA: LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT A CRUCIAL HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Saturday, April 20, 16:36

Corruption and lack of transparency in government remain the most
significant human rights problems in Armenia, says the 2012 Report
on Human Rights Practices issued by State Department.

“The most significant human rights problems in Armenia are during
the year were limitations on the right of citizens to change their
government, corruption and lack of transparency in government, and
the limited independence of the judiciary,” the report says.

One of the sections of the report is dedicated to the May parliamentary
elections in Armenia.

“Flaws in the conduct of May 6 legislative elections included the
misuse of government resources to support the ruling party, credible
allegations of vote buying, deficiencies in the complaints and appeals
process, and continued shortcomings in the electoral code despite
improvements. Allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of
government undermined the rule of law, although the government took
limited steps to punish low- to mid-level official corruption. Courts
remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch, which
resulted in some politically motivated prosecutions and sentencing,”
the report says.

Other abuses reported during the year included suspicious deaths in
the military under noncombat conditions, continued hazing and other
mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers, and a
lack of accountability for such actions.

“Police allegedly continued to employ torture to obtain confessions
and reportedly beat citizens during arrest and interrogation. Many
prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services
for inmates. Authorities continued to arrest and detain criminal
suspects without reasonable suspicion and to detain individuals
arbitrarily. Trials were often prolonged, and courts failed to enforce
laws providing for fair trials. Laws against government intrusion on
the right to privacy and unlawful searches were inadequately enforced.

The pre-election period was marked by diverse media coverage; however,
the media continued to lack diversity of political opinion and
objective reporting outside the campaign period. Members of religious
minorities suffered from societal discrimination. Domestic violence
remained a problem but largely went unreported to authorities. Human
trafficking was a problem, which authorities made efforts to combat.

Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all
areas of life. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons
were subjected to societal abuse and discrimination by military
and prison authorities. Workers’ rights were limited and labor laws
weakly enforced.

Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of the
security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with impunity
while under the direction of civilian leadership. The government issued
a report in December 2011 on its investigation into the deaths of
eight civilians and two police officers following the 2008 presidential
election but, as of year’s end, had not held anyone accountable.”