Armenian-born soldier killed in Syria
March 17, 2013 – 19:40 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – An Armenian-born soldier of the Syrian army was
killed in clashes with the rebels in Damascus.
As Aleppo Armenians group said in a post on Facebook, Vazgen Isahak
Taghlian was killed on March 15 during a battle in one of Damascus
suburbs. The funeral took place in Surp Sarkis Cathedral on March 17.
PRESS RELEASE
RAFFI HOVANNISIAN HEADQUARTERS
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]
Website:
17 March 2013
Raffi Hovannisian Launches Public Forum Series at Liberty Square
Yerevan–On Day 8 of his hunger strike, Raffi K. Hovannisian called
the first in a series of open-air public forums, aimed at engaging
popular opinion on a variety of political, social, and cultural
issues. The inaugural forum was organized by journalist and MP Nikol
Pashinyan, joined by lecturer Ara Harutyunyan, and moderated by
political activist Levon Bagramian. Hundreds defied the rain and
gathered under umbrellas to listen to the speakers and to debate the
day’s topic: the formation of the newly-elected president’s
government.
“These discussions are the foundations of a new democracy,”
Hovannisian said, calling on all concerned citizens to join the
ongoing deliberations. He announced that the forums will be organized
daily, at 5pm at Liberty Square, until Thursday — and will culminate,
on Friday at 6pm, in a major rally at Liberty Square.
Tomorrow’s forum will feature former presidential candidate Andreas
Ghukasyan. That will come after Raffi K. Hovannisian press conference,
to take place at 12pm at Liberty Square.
Public Forum at Liberty Square 17.03.13
Raffi Hovannisian Headquarters
Turan News Agency, Azerbaijan
March 14 2013
Official says UK interested in further oil cooperation with Azerbaijan
Baku, 14 March: The settlement of the Karabakh conflict [between
Armenia and Azerbaijan] depends on the will of both sides while the
international community can support efforts towards this end, said
UK’s Permanent Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Simon Fraser at a briefing at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
today. He was commenting on Armenia’s plans to open an airport in
Xocali [town in Azerbaijan’s breakaway Karabakh].
He said he had discussed this issue in Yerevan as well and believes
that “in this kind of a situation it is necessary to refrain from
actions with unpredictable consequences”.
Asked to comment on the opinion of international rights organizations
that the West sacrifices human rights in Azerbaijan to energy
interests, Fraser said that the “UK government has always supported
human rights and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan”. He said he had met
local civil society activists.
At the same time, Fraser added that the UK also has other common
interests with Azerbaijan, including in the field of economy.
He said he was aware of the dispersal of the peaceful protest in Baku
[on 10 March] and of the arrest of participants in it.
Fraser even said that he touched on these matters at his meetings with
officials. He immediately added, though, that human rights were not
the only topic of his talks.
Asked about further operation of BP in Azerbaijan upon the expiration
of the contract of the century in 2024 [Azerbaijan signed the oil
contract with foreign companies in 1994], the British diplomat said
that projects involving the corporation had been discussed.
He said BP is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan. He expressed
interest in continuation of this strategic partnership.
Was the topic of reforming election legislation discussed in the
context of the forthcoming presidential election? When answering this
question, Fraser said the topic was discussed but without details of
election legislation.
The UK is for elections to be held in a transparent manner, providing
for freedom of speech and possibilities for citizens to express their
opinion in a non-violent form. “This applies not only to Azerbaijan
but to all countries,” Fraser said.
The British diplomat also made a speech to students of the Diplomatic Academy.
[Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation led by
Fraser on 14 March, the website of the Azerbaijani president reported.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral
relations in various areas, noted the importance of cooperation in the
energy sector, stressed the long-term successful operation of BP in
Azerbaijan and gave a positive assessment to the oil industry
transparency. They also exchanged views on prospects for development
of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, the fruitful cooperation
between the two countries in the field of security within the
Euro-Atlantic structures and other issues of mutual interest, the
report said.
Turan on 15 March quoted Fraser as telling journalists that BP is
interested in working in Azerbaijan. “I am sure that BP is trying to
maintain its strategic presence in Azerbaijan. I think that the
Azerbaijani government has the same intention,” Fraser said. He added
that BP is among the biggest foreign investors in Azerbaijan, which is
welcomed by the British government. He said that continuation of BP’s
work in Azerbaijan was among the issues discussed during his meeting
with Ilham Aliyev, Turan said.]
[Translated from Russian]
Baltic News Service / – BNS
March 16, 2013 Saturday 9:13 AM EET
Azerbaijani parlt calls for abolition of Lithuanian friendship group
with Nagorno Karabakh
VILNIUS, Mar 16, BNS – Chairman of Interparliamentary Friendship Group
with Lithuania at Azerbaijani parliament Fuad Muradov has urged the
Lithuanian parliament to abolish its group for parliamentary
friendship with the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.
Azerbaijan’s news agency APA said Muradov sent a message on behalf of
the group to Juras Pozela, chairman of Interparliamentary Friendship
Group with Azerbaijan at the Lithuanian Seimas and its members.
“We believe that supporting our right position basing on the
international law, our colleagues at the Lithuanian Seimas will
demonstrate determination towards the abolishment of the group and
make valuable contributions to further preserving and developing close
relations between our countries and parliaments. We are sure that our
proposal on the abolishment of the group will be considered and the
activity of such a group, which doesn’t serve the strengthening of
peace and security in the region, will be stopped,” reads the address.
“We consider that this step taken for the interests of some
anti-Azerbaijani forces and Armenian Diaspora is contrary to the
international policy and legal norms. This biased and false step taken
by the Lithuanian Seimas is not line with the current friendly
relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania and undermines these
relations,” Mudarov said.
The Azerbaijani news agency also cited Lithuania’s Ambassador in Baku
Arturas Zurauskas as emphasizing that initiatives taken by some
Lithuanian MPs to start friendship groups with Nagorno Karabakh were
out of line with the official Vilnius position.
“Each member of the Lithuanian Seimas has right to put forward an
initiative. However, the initiative on the establishment of friendship
group with Nagorno Karabakh is contrary to the position of the
Lithuanian Seimas and government,” the Lithuanian diplomat said.
“Only those who have put forward this initiative can explain the
reasons of the establishment of such a group,” Zurauskas said.
In the end of February, An event was held at the Seimas earlier this
week and the Nagorno Karabakh’s foreign minister attended it. It was
decided at the event to establish a friendship group with Nagorno
Karabakh.
Initiator of the group, Liberal MP Dalia Kuodyte, told BNS the group
was not founded to support Nagorno Karabakh’s independence but,
instead, to pursue friendship with the unrecognized republic. Kuodyte
said there was no contradiction to the official foreign policies of
Lithuania.
Azerbaijan’s ambassador later handed a note to the Lithuanian Foreign
Ministry over the initiative, stating it “can have a negative impact
on our bilateral relations.”
With support from Armenia’s capital Yerevan, ethnic Armenian
separatists took control over Nagorno Karabakh during the war in the
last decade of the 20th century, which killed about 30,000 people. No
countries have recognized Nagorno Karabakh’s independence, the
international community deems the region part of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan has repeatedly threatened to get back control over Nagorno
Karabakh by force.
US Official News
March 14, 2013 Thursday
Washington: SPEECH OF HON. JOHN P. SARBANES OF MARYLAND IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the
following news release:
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, peace and stability in the Caucuses is in
the national interest of the United States and our European allies.
That means achieving a peaceful resolution to the rising tensions
between the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan. A final status of the
Nagorno Karabakh dispute must be achieved without resorting to war and
must be in keeping with democratic principles, the rule of law and the
protection of individual human rights.
Decades of Soviet rule and the continuing dispute over Nagorno
Karabakh have decimated the economy of Armenia. In stark contrast,
Azerbaijan now enjoys a growing economy from the extraction of natural
resources. This economic imbalance is further aggravated by the fact
that both Turkey and Azerbaijan have sealed their borders with
Armenia, with Azerbaijan pursuing an aggressive military build-up.
The United States must continue to press for resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh dispute through the good offices and mechanisms of
international actors such as the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe. We must be ever vigilant in decrying actions
that undermine such efforts. I concur with the Obama administration’s
demand for an explanation of Azerbaijan’s pardoning of Ramil Safarov.
Azerbaijan’s decision to pardon Ramil Safarov after he was convicted
by a Hungarian court for the murder of an Armenian soldier while
participating in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program is not only
unconscionable, it is a direct affront to NATO and its efforts to
bring peace and stability to conflict regions through the Partnership
for Peace program.
For more information please visit:
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (Nairobi)
March 15, 2013
Security of Christian Communities ‘Precarious’ in Libya – Archbishop
Tripoli
Various Christian communities in Libya, as well as some Muslim groups,
have been feeling increasingly under pressure from hardline Islamist
groups since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011.
“The level of security remains precarious for all foreigners,
especially for Christians, because of the presence of some
fundamentalist Islamic groups,” Giovanni Martinelli, the Roman
Catholic archbishop of Tripoli, told IRIN.
“It is a new phenomenon that emerged during elections last July,” he said.
Nearly all Libyans are Sunni Muslims; members of other religious
groups tend to be foreign residents, though Christianity has
maintained a presence since Roman times.
“I think the [recent] arrests of Egyptian Christians do certainly seem
to highlight a mounting issue,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of
Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division.
“There are different things going on and underlying this are two
problems; firstly a problem of lawlessness and the absence of a
well-functioning law-enforcement or justice system, and secondly I
think there’s a real order problem with the militias.”
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a statement last week
saying it deeply concerned by recent incidents, including violence
against a Coptic Christian church and other religious buildings, as
well as attacks on the media.
“The universal values of tolerance, moderation, and respect for
differences are deeply rooted in Libyan society’s religious and
cultural heritage,” said Special Representative of the UN
Secretary-General Tarek Mitri.
“These values should be the foundation upon which the new Libya is built.”
During Gaddafi’s 41-year rule the government’s surveillance network
kept a tight lid on religious extremism and thousands of radical
Muslims were imprisoned, but many helped overthrow Gaddafi, forming
armed militia groups across the country.
Since the end of the fighting, some Salafists, who favour a literalist
interpretation of Islam, have carried out hundreds of attacks on the
mosques, tombs and shrines of other sects of Islam, particularly
Sufis.
In the centre of the Libyan capital Tripoli the Sha’ab ad-Dahman
mosque was demolished in August along with around 50 Sufi graves,
including the tombs of Libyan Muslim scholar Abdullah al-Sha’ab.
Social media footage shows Libyan security forces present during the
destructions without intervening. The Libyan Herald news site reported
that three journalists from the Al-Assema television station were
detained by security forces as they tried to cover the destruction.
The Libyan interim interior minister Fawzi Abdelaei resigned after the
incident and the President of Libyan National Congress Mohamed
Magarief said “The people responsible for those attacks are
unfortunately aligned The SSC was created at the end of the civil war
in October 2011 by the National Transitional Council as a way to
provide more centralized security in the capital Tripoli.
Most Libyan experts and media blame the coordinated destructions of
mosques and shrines on the Libyan Salafi network Ansar al-Sharia.
In Salafi perspective, the destructions are necessary in order “to
avoid idolatry”, prevent “religious corruption” and prohibit the
spread of other religious deviations such as “black magic”.
Insecurity is one of the key concerns of the new government, which is
still in the process of setting up a modern police force and national
army.
The last few weeks have seen a number of attacks on Christian
communities including an incident in Tripoli when an armed man entered
San Francesco Catholic Church in Dahara and opened fire on the priest.
“He wanted to kill him as he opened fire with an AK-47 some 2-3 metres
away,” said Archbishop Martinelli, explaining that the incident is
under investigation.
The church gates have now been reinforced, but churchgoers are not
feeling very reassured. “I continue to hold tightly the cross on my
chest. But I’m afraid,” said Sonia (she only gave one name), who
originally comes from Aleppo in Syria but has lived in Libya for 35
years. “I am Armenian, one of the few dozen Armenians left in the
country since the beginning of the revolution in Libya. We are very
concerned about security.”
Eastern parts of the country appear to be the worst affected by
threats against, and attacks on, Christians.
On 3 March, extremist group Ansar Al Sahri’a (allegedly involved in
the attack on the US consulate on 11 September 2012) surrounded the
Benghazi European School (BES), and accused the teachers of promoting
pornography: Sex education materials given to the students were deemed
unacceptable.
On 28 February a gunman attacked a Coptic Orthodox church in Benghazi,
assaulting two priests, though they were not injured.
Around the same time, 50-100 Copts in the city (Egyptian workers in
Libya) were detained on charges of “spreading Christianity”. According
to the authorities, they were in possession of bibles, Christian books
and sacred images.
On 17 February (two-year anniversary of the revolution) four
Christians – a Swedish-American, an Egyptian, a South African and a
South Korean – were arrested by a “Preventive Security” unit on
charges of proselytizing and distributing religious literature. The
four missionaries are awaiting trial and could face the death penalty.
Salafist militias have a strong presence in the city, and Ansar Al
Shari’a enjoys widespread support in the region, according to the
spokesperson of Local Council in Benghazi, Osama Al Sherif.
The first attack on the Christian community in Libya since the
revolution was in September 2012 in the western province of Misrata
when four men broke into the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Giorgio
Dafniya, burning three icons and Greek and Cypriot flags.
Three months later, on 29 December, grenades were thrown at the same
church, killing two Egyptian Copts. The attack was carried out by an
Egyptian fundamentalist group allegedly enraged by a controversial
film about the Prophet.
Modus vivendi?
There are no official figures on religious communities in Libya. Of
the estimated 1.5 million foreigners, about 100,000 are Christians,
according to local Christian authorities – mainly Copts and Roman
Catholics, with some Greek Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants.
According to Bishop Timotheus Adla Bishara, head of the Orthodox
Church in Tripoli, those Copts who fled during the nine months of
fighting in 2011 have returned.
“We Copts live peacefully in Libya. After the attack on the Coptic
church near Misrata, the local council and the government have given
us full support and are committed to guaranteeing greater security to
our community,” Bishop Adla Bishara told IRIN, adding: “The Copts are
safer in Libya than in Egypt nowadays and the authorities are
investigating the latest threats.”
Immediately after the end of February assault on Coptic orthodox
priests in Benghazi, the Libyan foreign ministry condemned the
aggression by what it called “irresponsible armed men”, and said the
action went against the teachings of Islam and basic rights.
“During the Gaddafi era, the authorities did not issue any restriction
on religious minorities as there was a tacit agreement on the ban on
proselytizing,” said Roman Catholic Reverend Vasihar Baskaran in a
sermon following the arrest of four Catholics in Benghazi.
[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.]
Young people from Vanadzor join Raffi Hovannisian’s fight, demand
justice (video)
20:03 – 16.03.13
Eight young people from Armenia’s Vanadzor have joined the young
people who have declared a strike and are sitting in the Yerevan
Liberty Square.
They are going to sit there till tomorrow evening, some of them are
students of Theatrical Institute’s Vanadzor branch.
Arthur Manukyan, a student of the mentioned institute, said he has
come to the Liberty Square on his own to claim his rights for his
vote. `Irrespective of everything, I have come on my own and joined
the people sitting here. I want to be the owner of my vote,’ he said,
speaking to Tert.am.
Asked about the possibility of being subjected to pressures in his
institute for his political views, the young man said, `In our
Institute any kinds of pressures are excluded and I am not afraid of
any lecturer or any person in our institute. I also know that many
people in our town are ready to apply to courts for defending their
vote.’
Anna Zakaryan, from Vanadzor, has spent the night in the Liberty
Square. She said she is there to demand justice. `We have joined Raffi
Hovannisian and demand justice,’ she said.
ARTSAKH LEADER MEETS WITH YEREVAN MAYOR TARON MARGARYAN
11:20 16/03/2013 ” SOCIETY
Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan on Friday met with a
delegation of Yerevan Mayor’s Office led by Mayor Taron Margaryan.
Issues related to further deepening the relations between the two
Armenian capitals were in the focus of discussion.
President Sahakyan rated as important the multilateral cooperation
with Yerevan, considering it useful both for Stepanakert and for the
whole Artsakh. The President added that there are all the necessary
preconditions for further expanding the ties.
Bako Sahakyan expressed gratitude to Yerevan Mayor for providing
technical equipment to the Shoushi communal service and assisting the
process of the town’s beautification. He rated high the initiative
of Yerevan Mayor’s Office to lay out a park of Freedom Fighter in the
center of Stepanakert, considering its importance from both political
and moral-psychological viewpoints.
NKR Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Aghabekyan, Mayor of Stepanakert
Suren Grigoryan, Chairman of the Artsakh Union of Freedom Fighters
Samvel Karapetyan and other officials attended the meeting, Central
Information Department at Artsakh President’s Office reported.
Source: Panorama.am
PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY LEADER TO BUY ARMAVIA
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 15 2013
Leader of the prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan has met co-owner
of Armavia, Michael Bagdasarov, News Armenia reports.
Tsarukyan discussed purchase of the company. US and Italian companies
consider buying it as well.
Armavia’s license expired yesterday. Tsarukyan is urging Bagdasarov
to announce bankruptcy of the company. The government is against the
idea, fearing protests of staff.
Armavia was founded in 1996. It makes over 100 flights a week in over
40 directions and 20 countries.
ARMENIA WOMEN’S EDUCATION CLUB SCHOLARSHIP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Watertown TAB & Press, MA
March 15 2013
WATERTOWN – The Armenian Women’s Educational Club is announcing four
$1,000 scholarships and is now accepting applications from high school
senior boys and girls entering a four-year college in the fall of 2013.
Applicants may be male or female, must be of Armenian descent and be
accepted at a four-year college or university for the current year.
They must be seniors at a greater Boston high school who are United
States citizens or hold a resident alien card. Winners of the $1000
scholarships will be selected on the basis of their academic record
and financial need.
Students may request scholarship application forms by calling Araxie
Manjikian at 781-937-0515. Applications are due by April 30, 2013,
and the scholarships will be awarded in June.
The Armenian Women’s Educational Club was founded some 75 years ago
for the purpose of providing scholarships to college students, first
in the Middle East and for the past 30 years in the United States.
Started by a group of Armenian immigrant women, who wanted to support
education, the Club has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to
young people of Armenian heritage.