Author: Kalantarian Kevo

NATIONAL ARCHIVES DIRECTOR: NO WORK DONE IN IRANIAN ARCHIVES IN CONNECTION WITH ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

16:18 18/04/2013 ” POLITICS

In recent years, three Turkish historians visited the National
Archives of Armenia to study documents on Armenian Genocide, director
of National Archives of Armenia Amatuni Virabyan told reporters today.

The National Archives of Armenia are open to everyone, he said,
adding that about 10 foreign historians visit the Archives every year.

According to Virabyan, the National Archives of Armenia are ready to
cooperate with the archives of other countries to obtain documents
on Armenian Genocide.

He, meanwhile, noted that the archives of Georgia, Ukraine and Bulgaria
are not so willing to help us in this issue, adding that no work has
been done in the Iranian archives as we lack skilled specialists in
Persian language who could work with manuscripts.

Source: Panorama.am

NEW YEREVAN POLICE CHIEF DOGGED BY TORTURE CLAIMS; OPPOSITION CITES CASE HEARD BY ECHR

HUMAN RIGHTS | 18.04.13 | 14:50

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Chief of the head department for criminal investigation of the police
has been appointed chief of Yerevan police. His name was mentioned
as a torturer in the lawsuit by one of the opposition activists who
had turned to the European Court of Human Rights and the court ruled
in claimants’ favor, imposing a 31,000-euro ($40,000) penalty to be
paid by the Armenian state as compensation.

Newly-appointed Yerevan Police Chief Ashot Karapetyan’s name is
linked to opposition activist Grisha Virabyan’s case. Virabyan was
physically abused and tortured in spring 2004, when rgw opposition
was holding rallies demanding Armenia’s second president Robert
Kocharyan’s resignation.

Attorney Vahe Grigoryan made a post on his Facebook page, bringing
up Virabyan’s case.

“In reference to the appointment of Yereven’s new chief of police: The
claimant reports also that … after they [the two policemen who had
beaten the claimant] left the room [in the police station premises],
another policeman, A.K. entered the room and started hitting him with
an iron object at his testicles. Further, his hands got shackled
and police officer A.K. continued striking blows with feasts and
feet in the area below [the claimant’s] waste, which caused him lose
consciousness… European Court of Human Rights, Verdict on Case N
40094/05, 02/10/2012, Strasburg, Virabyan v. Armenia.”

The European Court handed down a verdict that Virabyan’s right for
fair trial was violated and he was subjected to discrimination.

Virabyan’s testimony points to Ashot Karapetyan as one of his torturers
(Virabyan later underwent a surgery on his testicles).

Hours after Police Colonel Karapetyan’s appointment, online social
networks and the press started circulating news claiming that the new
chief of Yerevan police is “highly skilled in torture and violence”.

Karapetyan himself has denied such claims.

“During my work experience I have never beaten anyone, if I had done
so, respective bodies would have taken measures. That news is nonsense
which has become subject of speculations. If my actions had criminal
elements I wouldn’t have been able to work in the police system:
currently chief of Yerevan police department, formerly head of the
chief department of criminal investigation, and so on,” Karapetyan
said in an interview to eMedia.am.

During the Wednesday session of the parliament when police reforms were
being discussed, Civil Society Institute NGO leader Arman Danielyan
stated that he personally does not trust the police, implying the
fact who is now appointed as Yerevan chief of police.

“It is a fact that Grisha Virabyan was tortured by policemen. It
is also a fact that Ashot Karapetyan used to work at that police
department in the period when Virabyan was tortured. A criminal case
was not filed in 2004. It is again a fact that a criminal case was not
filed even in 2012 when the European Court brought in its verdict,”
said Danielyan.

RA Deputy Chief of Police Artur Osikyan stated that Karaetyan is his
colleague, whom he respects highly as a professional.

Oppositional Armenian National Congress’s public relations officer
Vladimir Karapetyan said in his interview to iLur.am, that the
government of Armenia has to show adequate approach to those officials
who have failed in their duties.

“If the Armenian authorities’ actions meet their words, they should by
all means arrest the now high-ranking police official Ashot Karapetyan,
who personally raised a hand at Mr. Virabyan. Those judges because
of whom our citizens, as well as Armenia’s international rating,
have suffered should be fired,” he said.

Member of the People’s Party of Armenia, Brussels-based Grisha Virabyan
told the press: “The appointment of a psycho like Ashot Karapetyan
as chief of Yerevan police implies only one thing – the president is
afraid of new commotions and he needs that kind of people to later
use as scapegoats.”

Oppositional activist Grisha Virabyan was physically abused, tortured
on April 24 of 2004 by then deputy head of Ararat province’s police
department Ashot Karapetyan, head of Artashat police’s criminal
investigation department Hovik Movsisyan, head of the province’s
state motor inspection Avetik Harutyunyan.

TURKEY HAS NOT RETURNED CARGO OF RUSSIAN PLANE LANDED IN ANKARA

13:40 ~U 18.04.13

Turkey has not returned the cargo of the Russian plane heading from
Moscow to Damascus and forced to land in Ankara, Russian Interfax
reports.

Russian diplomatic sources told Komerssant paper that Moscow has sent
few notes to Ankara demanding return of the cargo. The same has been
done by Damascus.

The Turkish authorities have not met the demand and the issue remained
unsolved.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT REJECTS HERITAGE PARTY’S DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO ELECTION LAW

13:13 ~U 18.04.13

At its meeting on Thursday, Armenia’s government rejected the draft
amendments to Armenia’s election law proposed by the Heritage
parliamentary group.

The draft envisages the post-election publication of lists of
Armenia’s citizens that actually participated in the voting.

Armenia’s acting minister of justice Hrair Tovmasyan presented the
draft. Referring to international standards, he noted that secrecy of
ballot implies secrecy of participation in the voting.

“We should admit, however, that not publishing the documents is a
cause of distrust on the part of certain political forces despite the
all the necessary measures we implemented during the previous national
elections,” Tovmasyan said.

Pursuant to Armenian president’s order the cabinet discussed the issue
to decide on the steps to enhance transparency.

“I am sure that we can find solutions. However, the government’s
response to the proposal is unfavorable. Otherwise, we will fail to
honor our international commitments,” Tovmasyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENIANS ON THE FORBES 200 RICHEST RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN LIST

11:47 ~U 18.04.13

Forbes has published the 10th ranking list of the 200 richest
businessmen in Russia which like during the past year is headed by
Alisher Usmanov, head of Mail.ru Group and Megaphone.

Despite being ranked the first, Usmanov’s wealth has reduced by $1.5
billion making $17.6 against $18.7 of the past year. The second comes
co-owner of Alfa Group consortium Mikhail Fridman with $16.5 billion
wealth. His wealth has grown by $3 billion during one year.

The third is Leonid Mikhelson with $15.4 billion having increased
his wealth by 3.5 billion during one year.

The first among Armenians in the list is chairman of Tashir Group
Samvel Karapetyan who has been ranked the 29th with $3.8 billion.

During a year he has increased his wealth by $2.2 billion.

CEO of Rosgosstrakh Daniil Khachaturov has been ranked 43d with $2.4
billion. Sarkisov brothers follow each other in the list with Nikolay
Sarkisov, deputy head of Resso Group is ranked 78th with $1.35 billion
followed by his brother Sergey Sarkisov, chairman of Reso Garantia
Board of directors with $1.35 billion.

Another Armenian businessman Albert Avdilyan, head of Wooden Fish
Agency company is ranked 143d with 0.7 billion. Ruben Vardanyan,
co-chairman of Sberbank CIB is the 193d with 0.5 billion.

NEW YEREVAN POLICE CHIEF ACCUSED OF TORTURE

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 |

New Yerevan police chief Ashot Karapetian

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-Armenian civil rights activists have expressed
serious concern over the appointment of a police official who has
for years faced allegations of brutal torture as the new chief of
Yerevan’s police department.

The official, Ashot Karapetian, has replaced Nerses Nazarian, the
longtime chief of the Yerevan police sacked on Monday. Karapetian
previously headed the Directorate General of Criminal Investigations
at the national police service.

Karapetian’s name figured in a ruling against the Armenian government
that was handed down by the European Court of Human Rights last
October. The case stems from an appeal lodged by Grisha Virabian, a
former opposition activist, in connection with his April 2004 arrest
by police in Artashat, a town 30 kilometers south of Yerevan.

Virabian was taken to the local police station after leading a
group of local residents to Yerevan during the Armenian opposition’s
March-April 2004 campaign of demonstrations aimed at forcing then
President Robert Kocharian to resign. He was questioned for several
hours before undergoing urgent surgery in a local hospital the
following day. One of his testicles was removed as a result.

Karapetian was apparently among the officers that questioned the then
44-year-old activist. Virabian claims that Karapetian hit him in the
crotch with a metal bar.

The police denied at the time torturing him, saying that the
oppositionist himself assaulted his interrogators. Virabian risked
at least five years in prison on corresponding charges before the
criminal case against him was dropped in August 2009.

In its ruling, the Strasbourg-based court found Virabian’s claims
substantiated, saying that the Armenian authorities violated two key
provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. It ordered
the authorities to pay him 31,000 euros ($40,000) in damages.

The case came under the renewed media spotlight immediately after
Karapetian was appointed as Yerevan police chief. Human rights
campaigners and other civic activists have cited it in their criticism
of the appointment. Karapetian was quoted by Emedia.am on Tuesday as
insisting that he has never ill-treated criminal suspects.

Arman Danielian, head of the non-governmental Civil Society Institute,
brought up the case on Wednesday during parliamentary hearings on
ways of boosting public trust in the Armenian police. “That Grisha
Virabian was tortured in police custody is a fact,” he said.

“That Ashot Karapetian worked at the police station where Virabian
was tortured is also a fact. That a criminal case [on the torture
allegations] has never been opened is also a fact. How can I now
trust the police?” asked Danielian.

Artur Osikian, a deputy chief of the national police attending the
hearings, claimed to be unaware of the European court ruling. “Maybe
this is just the plaintiff’s opinion, rather than the court’s
decision,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

“I respect Ashot Karapetian a lot, he is a real professional,”
added Osikian.

“Mr. Osikian is right, Ashot Karapetian is a professional torturer,”
countered Vahe Grigorian, a lawyer who helped Virabian appeal to the
Strasbourg court. “The right place for such persons is prison.”

Local and international watchdogs have long described police torture
as one of the most frequent forms of human rights abuses in Armenia.

They say that the practice remains commonplace despite government
pledges to combat it.

Vladimir Gasparian, the national police chief who appointed Karapetian
to the new position, last year publicly warned police officers against
using force to extract confessions from detainees.

PREPARER LE 24 AVRIL 2015

Publie le : 18-04-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – ” Sa Saintete a poursuivi
en expliquant que : ” Pendant 100 ans, nous avons mis l’accent sur la
commemoration du genocide. Nous avons allume des bougies, organise
des ceremonies commemoratives et publie des livres. Ces activites
importantes enracineront dans nos jeunes generations le testament
sacre et les âmes de nos martyrs. Toutefois, nous ne devrions pas nous
concentrer uniquement sur ce sujet. Pendant 100 ans, nous avons rappele
au monde ce qui s’est passe, par des manifestations, du lobbying et
en faisant entendre nos voix. Nous avons l’intention de poursuivre
ces activites avec des approches differentes. Cependant, il est
imperatif que nous insistions sur nos demandes de restitution. ” Le
Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de l’editorial du journaliste
armeno-americain Harut Sassounian, paru dans The California Courier
le 18 avril 2013.

Se souvenir, rappeler et exiger : recommandations pour le centenaire
du genocide

De : Harut Sassounian Editeur de : The California Courier Editorial
de Sassounian du 18 avril 2013

Les communautes armeniennes du monde entier se preparent pour le
centenaire du genocide armenien, le 24 avril 2015, et coordonnent
leurs projets commemoratifs au niveau local, national et international.

Un Comite pan-armenien du Centenaire a ete cree en Armenie il y a
deux ans, compose du leadership de la Republique d’Armenie et de la
Republique d’Artsakh (Karabagh), des chefs des confessions religieuses
et des representants des principaux partis politiques, ainsi que de
ceux des grandes organisations culturelles et caritatives. Des comites
locaux ont egalement ete crees dans la diaspora. Comme indique plus
tôt, le Comite des experts du genocide armenien s’est reuni le mois
dernier a Erevan, pour recommander les projets specifiques devant
etre adoptes par le Comite pan-armenien du Centenaire, lors de sa
session du 30 mai.

Le 6 avril, les Comites du Centenaire de huit pays du Moyen-Orient
(Chypre, Egypte, Irak, Koweït, Liban, Syrie, Emirats Arabes Unis et
l’Iran, represente par des comites a Teheran, Ispahan et Tabriz,) se
sont rencontres a Beyrouth dans le but de coordonner leurs plans sur
une base regionale. Hayk Demoyan, le Secretaire du Comite pan-armenien
du Centenaire en Armenie etait egalement present.

Sa Saintete Aram Ier, Catholicos de Cilicie, qui presidait la reunion,
a fait un discours d’ouverture opportun, en soulignant les principes
qui devraient guider les comites regionaux dans l’elaboration de
leurs projets pour le centenaire. Aram Vehapar a succinctement formule
les objectifs avec trois mots cles armeniens : ” Hishel, Hishetsnel,
yev Bahanchel ” [Se souvenir, rappeler et exiger].

Sa Saintete a poursuivi en expliquant que : ” Pendant 100 ans,
nous avons mis l’accent sur la commemoration du genocide. Nous avons
allume des bougies, organise des ceremonies commemoratives et publie
des livres. Ces activites importantes enracineront dans nos jeunes
generations le testament sacre et les âmes de nos martyrs. Toutefois,
nous ne devrions pas nous concentrer uniquement sur ce sujet. Pendant
100 ans, nous avons rappele au monde ce qui s’est passe, par des
manifestations, du lobbying et en faisant entendre nos voix. Nous
avons l’intention de poursuivre ces activites avec des approches
differentes. Cependant, il est imperatif que nous insistions sur nos
demandes de restitution. ”

Vehapar a rappele aux participants la conference internationale
organisee par le Catholicossat de Cilicie il y a un an, sur le thème :
” De la reconnaissance a la restitution “, a laquelle des experts
juridiques internationaux avaient participe. ” Nous avons besoin
d’experts juridiques pour presenter, defendre et faire valoir nos
revendications de facon appropriee devant des cours internationales
“, a declare le Catholicos.

Aram Ier a poursuivi en suggerant une repartition des tâches entre
la Republique d’Armenie et la diaspora : ” Nous devrions travailler
a l’unisson. Nos approches et les points auxquels nous attachons
de l’importance peuvent etre differents ; et parfois, ils doivent
etre differents ! N’oublions pas que l’Armenie est un Etat et que la
diaspora est une diaspora. Ni l’Etat ni la diaspora ne peut parler au
nom de l’autre. Chacun a sa propre voix et sa propre fonction. Mais,
il faut qu’il y ait une coordination et une harmonie intra-armenienne.

En d’autres mots, nous devons planifier et travailler pour un objectif
commun, et maintenir fermement nos demandes de restitution. ”

Puis le Catholicos a exhorte les Armeniens a inclure des regions
reculees d’Afrique, d’Extreme-Orient et d’Amerique du Sud dans
l’eventail des activites pour le centenaire. En ce qui concerne le
Moyen-Orient, Aram Ier a cite trois points importants :

1) La poursuite de la cause armenienne dans le monde islamique requiert
une approche specifique, car la Turquie est un Etat musulman.

2) L’influence toujours croissante et penetrante de la Turquie dans
cette region est un serieux problème. ” Au cours de mes rencontres
avec les dirigeants de ces pays dans la region, je leur dis toujours :
‘Vous avez laisse votre porte grande ouverte a la Turquie. Le jour
viendra où vous comprendrez votre erreur. La Turquie utilise des
masques differents.’ Par consequent, nous devons etre vigilants,
car le genocidaire nous suit attentivement. Nous ne battrons pas en
retraite et nous ne faiblirons pas devant l’ingerence turque. ”

3) Le genocide n’est pas un evenement qui appartient au passe. La
diaspora est une des consequences du genocide et, dans un sens,
il se poursuit.

Le Catholicos Aram Ier a termine en classant les initiatives
armeniennes pour la reconnaissance et les restitutions en trois
dimensions : historique, politique et juridique. ” L’heure est venue,
sans ignorer les deux premières, de donner une priorite claire a
l’aspect juridique. À cet egard, nous avons un enorme volume de
travail a accomplir “, a-t-il declare.

De facon significative, Hayk Demoyan, Secretaire du Comite pan-armenien
du Centenaire en Armenie, s’est egalement exprime lors de cette
reunion regionale a Beyrouth, et il a declare : ” Nous savons que ne
pouvons pas changer certaines consequences du genocide, telles que
les vies perdues et les eglises detruites, neanmoins, la consequence
principale est la perte des territoires !

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 18 avril
2013 – 06:00 –

Retour a la rubrique

UN MONTANT DE 50 A 100 MILLIONS DE DOLLARS SUFFIT POUR METTRE EN PLACE UNE COMPAGNIE AERIENNE APPARTENANT A L’ETAT

Shahen Petrossian, ancien chef du Departement general de l’aviation
civile en Armenie, affirme que le gouvernement peut creer une nouvelle
compagnie aerienne publique.

S’exprimant lors d’une conference de presse cela coûterait de 50
millions a 100 millions de $. Ce montant, a-t-il dit, est suffisant
pour mettre en place une compagnie aerienne nationale sur le modèle
d’EasyJet ou de Ryanair qui passe peu de temps dans les aeroports.

Shahen Petrossian a dit que la meilleure option est d’avoir deux
compagnies aeriennes, dont l’une devrait etre privee pour renforcer
la concurrence.

jeudi 18 avril 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

SCHIFF CALLS ON OBAMA TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE NEXT WEEK

Patch.com
April 17 2013

Remembrance starts the week of April 24.

By Aaron Castrejon

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on President Barack Obama Wednesday to
recognize the Armenian Genocide in time for the anniversary April 24.

Each year, Obama has issued a statement marking the anniversary of
the start of first genocide of the 20th Century, but has reportedly
failed to refer to this campaign of killing as a “genocide.”

In the letter to Obama, Schiff said “I urge you to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide in your statement this year, to call genocide,
genocide, and to stand with the ever-dwindling number of survivors,
as well as the descendants of those who were lost, and who must
otherwise continue to suffer the indignity, injury and pain of denial.”

The full text can be read below:

Dear Mr. President:

Next week marks the 98th anniversary of the start of the systematic
murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children, and I urge
you to refer properly to this campaign of killing as “genocide” in
your annual statement marking the April 24 anniversary of the start
of the Armenian Genocide.

In the spring of 1915, the government of the Ottoman Empire unleashed a
savage campaign of massacres, forced desert marches, rape, and looting
upon the Armenians of eastern Anatolia. By 1923, one and a half million
Armenians were dead and the world’s oldest Christian nation had been
shattered – with its survivors scattered around the world.

As a Senator, you spoke often of the massacres of Armenians at the
hands of the Ottoman government as genocide, a view shared by the
overwhelming majority of historians, including some notable Turkish
historians. The Armenian Genocide has also been recognized by many
local and state governments here in the United States and by many
governments around the world.

I urge you to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in your statement this
year, to call genocide, genocide, and to stand with the ever-dwindling
number of survivors, as well as the descendants of those who were lost,
and who must otherwise continue to suffer the indignity, injury and
pain of denial.

Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff Member of Congress

FORMER ARMENIAN FM COMMENTS ON INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN POLICY

Regnum news agency, Russia
April 13 2013

The former Armenian Foreign minister and currently member of the
National Assembly’s second-largest Prosperous Armenia faction, Vardan
Oskanyan, who also heads the party list in the election to Armenian
capital Yerevan’s City Council, has given an interview to the Russian
Regnum agency.

Domestic and foreign policy issues under President Serzh Sargsyan

Vardan Oskanyan criticized President Serzh Sargsyan’s domestic and
foreign policies. “No progress could be seen over the past five years
[of Sargsyan’s tenure]. Pressing issues this country faced were not
resolved,” Oskanyan said. As the “most important domestic challenge
faced by Armenia”, Oskanyan mentioned emigration from and depopulation
of Armenia, which he said “posed a threat to national security”.

Oskanyan also criticized Sargsyan’s style of government. “The
political monopoly [of the ruling party] should be eliminated and an
effective system of counterweights should be set up. Only after that
we will be able to change the situation in this country for the
better, resolve economic problems, and improve the living conditions
of the citizens,” Regnum quoted him as saying.

Answering a question on foreign policy and the notion of
“complementarism”, which had been Oskanyan’s main driving foreign
political idea, he said that Armenia under Sargsyan “ceased to keep to
complementarism in foreign policy”. “The main warrant of successful
complementarism is publicity,” he said, adding that the situation
under way was far from publicity. “Currently, the situation lacks
clarity, there is no ideological base for foreign policy,” he went on
saying, adding that the alleged lack of clarity gave the opportunity
to foreign actors “to interpret everything in their own way”.

Relations with Russia

Oskanyan said that he was not on the whole pleased with current
Armenian-Russian relations, taking into consideration the fact that
both countries were strategic partners. “When they say ‘strategic
relations’, they need to put content in it, too, which I cannot see
now,” Oskanyan was quoted as saying. “The Armenian-Russian relations,
which are among the most important for my country, are not on their
peak,” he added. “We need to know how to formulate agenda with Russia,
put questions to it, regularly get them resolved and impel Moscow to
appropriately assess the role of Armenia in the region as of a
country, which is keeping a balance, especially when compared with its
two neighbours,” he said.

Relations with Georgia

Oskanyan said that the improvement of Russian-Georgian relations would
be beneficial for Armenia, easing Armenia’s relations with both
countries, but added: “There should be no expectation of a quick
settlement” of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.

He also said that Armenia also suffered consequences of strained
relations between the two countries. “The problem for us was our
inability to maintain a balance in the Armenia-Russia-Georgia
triangle, where the recent events took place and had a negative impact
on our relations to either party,” he added.

Speaking on the Georgian experience in democratic transformations,
Oskanyan praised them, saying that the Georgian experience “could in
some sense serve as an example to emulate”.

Turkey, Armenian genocide

Speaking on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in
Ottoman Turkey during World War I and its denial by modern Turkey,
which strains relations with Armenia, Oskanyan said that if Armenia
“played the game in accordance with Turkish rules”, Armenia would come
to a “loss.” Meanwhile, he said that there were other issues on the
agenda with Turkey, such as opening borders and establishing
diplomatic relations between the two countries. “The Turkish policy of
denial and political and economic blackmail by Ankara consumes all of
our time and effort,” Oskanyan said.

Commenting on the efforts by Serzh Sargsyan to normalize relations
with Turkey and sign controversial protocols with Turkey in 2009,
Oskanyan said that it “drove a wedge between Armenia and diaspora” and
had a negative impact on the process of international recognition of
the Armenian genocide by various states.

Relations with Israel

When asked on the Armenian-Israeli ties in the context of the
recognition of the Armenian genocide, Oskanyan said that cooperation
between Armenian and Israeli specialists in the field of genocide was
successful, while Israel’s official position was not that of
recognizing the Armenian genocide. “I do not think that any progress
could be expected in the process of the recognition of the Armenian
genocide by Israel,” he said.

Meanwhile Oskanyan said that Armenian-Israeli relations could be
viewed in the context of Israel’s cooperation with Azerbaijan. “Its
[Israel’s] active cooperation with Azerbaijan draws a one-sided
picture in the region and could potentially change the balance of
powers,” he said, adding that “time for boosting relations with that
country has come” for Armenia.

As for possible negative reactions by Armenia’s partners, such as Iran
or some Arab countries, Oskanyan said: “Against the background of
development of Israeli-Azerbaijani relations, our national interests
simply require active actions regardless of sensitivity of third
parties towards those issues”.