Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S ‘LETTER’ TO HERITAGE PARTY LEADER AS SEEN BY MP

TERT.AM
14:56 ~U 18.03.13

Zaruhi Postanjyan, Secretary of the Heritage parliamentary group,
issued a statement entitled “Incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan’s
letter to newly elected president of Armenia Raffi Hovannisian.”

The statement reads, in particular:

“Dear Raffi,

Since February 18 I have been seeking right or wrong decision in
politics and everyday life.

Socrates once said, ‘It is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong’

I have realized we suffered defeat when we let morals come into
conflict with politics.

I am quite aware of having made a mistake by laying a serious political
claim without respecting the principle of harmony.

I am watching the developments in Freedom Square every day and see
your suffering wrong.

I can see morals gaining victory over a well thought-out policy.

Dear Raffi, I admit your victory, our common victory.

I accept the spirit and agenda of Freedom Square.

I am ready to participate in the inauguration of New Armenia’s 4th
president Raffi Hovannisian in Freedom Square, on April 9. After the
ceremony I will request him to pardon me and all of us.”

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ON HUNGER STRIKE TO PRESENT VIEWS AFTER FIRST 10 CITIZENS’ COUNCIL SESSIONS

NEWS.AM
March 18, 2013 | 12:35

YEREVAN. – Open sessions of the Citizens’ Council will continue;
on Monday, it will be moderated by Armenia’s ex-presidential
candidate, Andreas Ghukasyan. Opposition Heritage Party leader,
former FM Raffi Hovannisian-who is declared runner-up to the winner,
incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential
election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the
real winner in the vote and who declared a hunger strike on March
10 at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square-said this during a press
conference at the square on Monday.

He informed that the “triumphant rally” of the Armenian people
will take place on Friday, and a rock music concert will be staged
on Saturday. Hovannisian also noted that he will be on hand at all
sessions of the Citizens’ Council and, following the firs ten sessions,
he will sum up the results, analyze them, and present his views.

As for the signature campaign that is launched at Liberty Square,
Hovannisian stated that the Armenian citizens had launched this
campaign, 10,000 people have already signed under it, and if it
continues in the regions as well, the number of signatories will grow.

“This is a civil initiative to show that the official falsified
[election] results have no connection with the people’s vote,”
Hovannisian said.

To note, open sessions of the Citizens’ Council will be convened every
day at 5pm while Raffi Hovannisian will hold daily press conferences
at Liberty Square at noon.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN HAS NO STATUS TO PROPOSE ANYTHING TO ME – RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

13:45 18/03/2013 ” TOPIC OF THE DAY

Hovik Abrahamyan has not status to propose anything to me, Heritage
party leader Raffi Hovannisian told a news conference at Liberty
Square.

Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan on Saturday visited Raffi
Hovannisian, who is on hunger strike at Liberty Square of Yerevan.

Raffi Hovannisian told reporters that Hovik Abrahamyan did not propose
anything to him, and that it was a politeness visit.

Raffi Hovannisian repeated that his interlocutors are Serzh Sargsyan
and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

According to the Heritage leader, his proposals were rejected by
Serzh Sargsyan, now he has nothing to say and is waiting for Serzh
Sargsyan’s proposals.

“I have no expectations but I will be pleased to hear his proposals,”
Raffi Hovannisian added.

Source: Panorama.am

ARONIAN DEFEATS GELFAND IN THE CANDIDATES TOURNAMENT

22:51 16.03.2013

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronian defeated Boris Gelfand of Israel
in the second round of the 2013 Candidates Tournament in London.

Alexander Grischuk – Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen (Norway) –
Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) games ended in draws. Teimour Radjabov of
Azerbaijan defeated Ukraine’s Vassily Ivanchuk.

In Round 3 Aronian will play with blacks against Ivanchuk.

ANC AUSTRALIA CALLS ON SBS TO REVERSE ITS DECISION TO CUT THE BROADCAST HOURS OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE RADIO PROGRAM

13:38, 18 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: Australia’s multicultural and
multilingual broadcaster has decided to cut the broadcast hours of the
Armenian Language Radio program, and move the shortened version to a
non-prime time slot on digital radio. As reports Armenpress referring
to The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
official website, ANC Australia’s organised online petitions calling
on SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) to reverse this decision, which
is insulting to the Armenian-Australian community and crippling to
a very important radio resource.

“The recent decision by the SBS to cut the broadcast hours of the
Armenian language program, and move the shortened version to a new
digital format. This will severely restrict the number of listeners,
many of whom are of a generation largely without digital radio access
or Internet podcast know-how.

The rationale behind your decision to cut the Armenian language program
from three hours to one hour per week was based on the most recent
Australian Census. The Census does not provide a true reflection of
the Armenian community in Australia as it does not provide “Armenian”
as an ethnicity choice, requiring individuals to manually input
this information.

This arbitrary decision will have a negative impact on loyal community
listeners, especially due to the new time slot allocated for the
Armenian language program. The new hours between 17:00 to 18:00 are
ill conceived and the move away from prime time is a detriment to the
listening audience. This decision, coupled with the lack of an Armenian
language television program in Australia, will further restrict the
ability for local and international news to be broadcast in Armenian.

SBS has failed to take into account the needs of the
Armenian-Australian community when making its decision in this regard.

We call on the SBS to immediately reverse its illogical decision and
restore the Armenian language program back to a longer program in a
prime-time slot,” said in the petition.

Since 1976, the Armenian community has relied on this important radio
service as a crucial source for information.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN DOES NOT PERCEIVE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AS MEDIATOR IN HIS TALK WITH SERZH SARGSYAN

ARMINFO
Monday, March 18, 12:44

Leader of Heritage Party, former-candidate for president of Armenia
Raffi Hovannisian does not perceive Armenian parliament speaker Hovik
Abrahamyan as a mediator in his talk with incumbent president Serzh
Sargsyan. Hovannisian made such statement in a press conference in
Liberty Square, Monday.

“Abrahamyan’s visit was of political nature. He seeks way out of
the current situation. But I told him that I don’t perceive him as
a mediator. The speaker made no suggestions. Neither the president did.

However, if Serzh Sargsyan has any suggestions, I am ready to
listen to them,” Hovannisian said. He stressed that he disagrees
with Abrahamyan’s assessments as the incumbent president had already
declined everything he said.

Earlier today Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Eduard
Sharmazanov declared that the authorities are ready for a dialogue
with the leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian but not at
Liberty Square. He said that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan invited
Hovannisian to a meeting in his residence but Hovannisian refused to
meet there and wants to meet at Liberty Square.

“Squares are meant for mass actions rather than for talks,”
Sharmazanov said.

Since Feb 20 Raffi Hovannisian’s supporters have held rallies all over
Armenia in protest of the results of the Feb 18 presidential election.

Hovannisian went on a hunger strike on Mar 10 and says that he will
not let Serzh Sargsyan to take presidential office on Apr 9.

RULE OF TRAMPS

10:44 18/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The glorious Republican mayor of Ararat, Abraham Babayan, whom people
call Turkish Abrik, dwelling on Raffi Hovannisian’s statement that he
should resign, said among his friends: “Who is that hobo?”. During
the gathering of his honored rigger assistants, he said that Raffi
should be happy to have been “given those 100 votes”. By the way, he
slipped up and said that he had stuffed 700 ballots in each polling
station in favor of Serzh Sargsyan on the voting day.

He is the mayor who is accused by the Republican Party to have
pocketed the 800 thousand USD given for buying votes for the May
parliamentary elections. Abraham Babayan was demanded that money and
it seems that he paid his “debt” off by buying votes at his expenses
at the presidential elections. While, those 800 thousand, he used to
launch business activities in Paris, where he has an apartment.

Member of Yerevan Elders’ Council, architect Levon Igityan, dwelling
on the hunger strikes of Raffi Hovannisian and Andrias Ghukasyan
said their action is hoboism. Levon Igityan feels at ease in Elders’
Council being an active participant of the Yerevan “construction”; he
gives for rent galleries, votes in favor of all decisions of the mayor.

Syunik governor Surik Khachatryan, Liska, also wondered who Raffi
Hovannisian is to demand his resignation. Indeed, who can ever
demand Liska’s resignation? He is above all kind of laws. He and his
relatives are mentioned in several murder, rape and other criminal
cases, but he is immune.

CONTRE LES LOIS FRANCO-TURQUES LIBERTICIDES

Publie le : 18-03-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – ” La France et la Turquie
ont signe le 7 octobre 2011 un accord de cooperation policière
incluant la lutte contre le terrorisme. Cet accord international,
devra, pour entrer en vigueur, etre valide par le Parlement. C’est
pourquoi un projet de loi visant a ” autoriser l’approbation ” de cet
accord doit prochainement etre soumis au vote du Parlement. Une fois
adopte et selon la hierarchie des normes, un accord international a
une autorite superieure aux lois. Ce projet de loi devait etre examine
par la Commission des Affaires Etrangères de l’Assemblee Nationale
le 26 fevrier dernier. De nombreuses associations, organisations
professionnelles, syndicales et politiques ont interpele, sous diverses
formes, les depute(e)s de la Commission sur les dangers que comporte
un tel accord en matière de Droits de l’Homme. Les depute(e)s ont
annonce le report de l’examen de ce texte par la Commission a une date
ulterieure. La Coordination Nationale Solidarite Kurdistan [CNSK]
invite l’ensemble des acteurs de cette mobilisation a poursuivre
l’alerte en direction de leurs reseaux respectifs. Elle informera des
nouvelles actions qui seront engagees afin d’obtenir le rejet de ce
projet de loi. ” Le Collectif VAN vous invite a lire le Communique
de presse de la Coordination Nationale Solidarite Kurdistan publie
le 15 mars 2013.

Coordination Nationale Solidarite Kurdistan

Communique

La France et la Turquie ont signe le 7 octobre 2011 un accord de
cooperation policière incluant la lutte contre le terrorisme. Cet
accord international, devra, pour entrer en vigueur, etre valide par
le Parlement. C’est pourquoi un projet de loi visant a ” autoriser
l’approbation ” de cet accord doit prochainement etre soumis au vote
du Parlement. Une fois adopte et selon la hierarchie des normes,
un accord international a une autorite superieure aux lois.

Ce projet de loi devait etre examine par la Commission des Affaires
Etrangères de l’Assemblee Nationale le 26 fevrier dernier. De
nombreuses associations, organisations professionnelles, syndicales
et politiques ont interpele, sous diverses formes, les depute(e)s de
la Commission sur les dangers que comporte un tel accord en matière de
Droits de l’Homme. A l’instar de la CNSK, certaines d’entre elles ont
adresse une ” Contribution ” au Rapporteur de la Commission M. Jacques
Cresta (Cf pièces jointes1). La petition citoyenne mise en ligne par la
CNSK a ete largement signee (plusieurs milliers de signatures en 48h).

Une delegation de representants d’associations et d’organisations,
(SAF, LDH, PCF, UNEF, FEYKA, CNSK) a ete recue le 26 fevrier a
l’Assemblee Nationale d’une part par : M. Francois Asensi, depute,
Gauche Democrate et Republicaine et d’autre part par :

– M. Jacques Cresta, rapporteur du projet de loi auprès de la
Commission des Affaires Etrangères, depute SRC-CAE – M. Jean-Pierre
Dufau, depute des Landes SRC-CAE – Mme Emmanuelle Meunier, assistante
parlementaire de M. Jean-Pierre Dufau, – M. Jean-Jacques Kourliandsky,
coordonateur du groupe SRC, – M. Mathieu Seignez, attache parlementaire
de Mme Seybah Dagoma, deputee SRC-CAE,

A l’issue de ces entrevues, les depute(e)s ont annonce le report
de l’examen de ce texte par la Commission a une date ulterieure. La
future date d’examen n’est pas connue a ce jour.

A la suite de cette rencontre, le depute Francois Asensi a interpele
le gouvernement via une question parlementaire du 27 fevrier 20132, il
demande au Ministre des Affaires Etrangères si le Gouvernement entend
reporter le vote de cet accord par le Parlement afin de le renegocier.

La CNSK se felicite du delai obtenu et remercie toutes les personnes
et organisations qui se sont mobilisees.

Neanmoins, le projet de loi reste a l’ordre du jour de l’activite
parlementaire. Plus que jamais doit se manifester l’opposition a
un accord de cooperation policière avec un pays dont la politique
repressive a ete condamnee a plusieurs reprises par differentes
instances internationales et europeennes.

La CNSK invite donc l’ensemble des acteurs de cette mobilisation
a poursuivre l’alerte en direction de leurs reseaux respectifs, a
envoyer des contributions a la Commission3 et a interpeller, partout
en France, les parlementaires, depute(e)s, senateurs et senatrices4.

Elle informera des nouvelles actions qui seront engagees afin d’obtenir
le rejet de ce projet de loi.

La validation de cet accord international de cooperation policière
engendrerait des risques manifestes d’atteintes aux droits humains
et a la liberte d’expression. De ce fait, l’obtention d’un rejet de
ce projet de loi est d’une importance capitale.

Paris le 14 mars 2013.

La Coordination Nationale Solidarite Kurdistan Contact :
[email protected]

(PJ) Contributions des organisations et personnalites adressees au
Rapporteur de la Commission et question parlementaire de M. Asensi
au Ministre des Affaires Etrangères Laurent Fabius

(1) Syndicat des Avocats de France, Syndicat de la Magistrature, Ligue
des droits de l’Homme, Ligue des droits de l’Homme Montpellier, Ligue
des droits de l’Homme Marseille, Amities Hauts de Seine – Kurdistan,
CNSK, Centre d’Information du Kurdistan, Etienne Copeaux, historien
specialiste de la Turquie

(2)

(3) Contribution de 4000 caractères maximum ; procedure en ligne :

Doubler d’un e-mail a M. Cresta : [email protected]

(4) Composition de la Commission des Affaires Etrangères et contacts :

Amis du Peuple Kurde en Alsace – Amities Corse Kurdistan – Amities
Kurdes de Bretagne (AKB) – Association Iseroise des Amis des Kurdes
(AIAK) – Centre d’Information du Kurdistan (CIK) – Federation des
Associations Kurdes en France (FEYKA) – Hauts-de-Seine Kurdistan –
Mouvement de la Paix – MRAP (Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour
l’Amitie entre les Peuples) – Parti Communiste Francais (PCF) –
Solidarite et Liberte (Marseille) – Ligue des Droits de l’Homme
(LDH) Montpellier

Pour la CNSK Annick Samouelian Solidarite et Liberte 11 Bd de la
Jamaique 13015 Marseille [email protected]

Retour a la rubrique

TELECHARGER : Communiques de presse

Kerkorian may increase ownership stake in MGM Resorts

RGTOnline.com
15 March 2013

By Howard Stutz

LAS VEGAS — He’s back.

Less than two years after saying it was exploring the sale of its
stake in MGM Resorts International, the private investment arm of
billionaire Kirk Kerkorian said in a regulatory filing Thursday it
might reverse course.

Los Angeles-based Tracinda Corp., which is the largest shareholder of
the Strip casino giant with an 18.6 percent ownership stake, said in a
13-D filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it might
increase its ownership to 25 percent.

The announcement comes a little more than a year after Tracinda sold
20 million shares of MGM Resorts for $268 million.

A year earlier, Kerkorian said Tracinda might divest itself of its
entire MGM Resorts stake.

Tracinda owns almost 91.2 million shares in the company that operates
10 Strip resorts – including the MGM Grand, Bellagio and The Mirage –
and has a half-interest ownership in the CityCenter development.

The company also is the majority owner of the MGM Grand Macau and is
building a second hotel-casino in the Cotai Strip region.

On Thursday, Tracinda said in the filing it might explore purchases of
MGM Resorts shares either on the open market or directly from third
parties.

Tracinda said it would purchase the stock during `trading windows’
established by MGM Resorts.

The next such window is expected to open on the third day after the
issuance of the company’s first quarter earnings, which wouldn’t take
place until sometime in April at the earliest.

`No decision has been made as to the number of shares which may be
acquired,’ Tracinda said in the filing.

Kerkorian, 95, is the founder of MGM Grand Corp., the company that
preceded MGM Resorts. Kerkorian left the company’s board of directors
in 2011.

RBC Capital Markets gaming analyst John Kempf told investors the
announcement could give a boost to MGM Resorts shares. The company’s
stock price closed at $13.25 on the New York Stock Exchange, up 84
cents or 6.77 percent on nearly five times normal volume.

`It is not definite that additional shares would be purchased,’ Kempf
said. `However, in our view, there would be no need to make this
filing unless there was interest in (Tracinda) increasing its
position.’

MGM Resorts declined comment on the Kerkorian announcement.

The company is pursuing gaming expansion opportunities in Toronto,
Massachusetts and Maryland.

After the company’s fourth quarter earnings announcement last month,
MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren said the company wouldn’t be opposed
to selling one or more of its properties in Las Vegas or elsewhere, if
the numbers were to pencil out.

MGM Resorts is also expected to collect a dividend payment of $255
million from its 51 percent stake in MGM China, which is publicly
traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

`We remain positive on MGM, as we continue to believe the company has
several levers, particularly through its capital structure, to drive
further increases in its stock price,’ Kempf said.

Karabakh Defense Army holds meeting of military council

NEWS.AM
March 16, 2013 | 18:55

STEPANAKERT. – A regular meeting of military council of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s Defense Army was dedicated to improving the
discipline. The meeting was chaired by Karabakh Defense Minister,
Commander of the Defense Army, Lieutenant General Movses Hakobyan.

Deputy Commander of Defense Army Major General Andranik Margaryan
delivered a report on military discipline outlining achievements and
disadvantages.

Commanders of military units and representatives of law enforcement
agencies took the floor. They stressed that discipline and upbringing
of soldiers is a key guarantee of army’s combat readiness.