Author: Kalantarian Kevo

DIASPORA ARMENIAN WRITER JOINS RAFFI HOVANNISIAN’S HUNGER STRIKE

March 15, 2013 | 15:14

YEREVAN. – Iranian-Armenian writer and publicist Violet Grigoryan-who
now lives in Armenia-on Friday joined the hunger strike by 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-and
his supporters. Grigoryan had written about this intention of hers
in her Facebook account on Thursday.

“Tomorrow, I will go to a one-day hunger strike of support; I will
sit beside Raffi. Anyone joining?” Grigoryan had written.

In his turn, Heritage’s representative Davit Sanasaryan wrote as
follows in his Facebook account:

“Violet Grigoryan joined the hunger strike. At present, she is sitting
beside me [and] reading in Farsi the book [entitled] Conversations
with 11 Well-Known Women Writers.”

EU V EURASEC: DISCUSSION IN YEREVAN FOCUSES ON KEY GEOPOLITICAL CHOICE FOR ARMENIA

NEWS | 15.03.13 | 15:40

Photo: MediaCenter

Tigran Urikhanyan (left), Sergey Minasyan By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

President Serzh Sargsyan’s visits to Moscow and Brussels after
his reelection last month have again activated discussions around
the possible geopolitical choice of Armenia that many believe will
be between the European Union and integration among former Soviet
republics spearheaded by Russia.

Experts had expected that during the March 12 meeting between Sargsyan
and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow the sides would
again discuss Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union (an economic
integration project now including Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan)
and that the Russian leader would seek a final answer from Armenia on
that account. But after their meeting the two presidents said nothing
publicly about the issue, again leaving room for assumptions that
Sargsyan managed to postpone the discussion of this key geopolitical
issue.

Deputy Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Sergey Minasyan
says that Putin’s Eurasian Union (or Eurasian Economic Community,
EurAsEC) still remains an idea, while only the Customs Union has a
practical significance for Armenia.

“It is clear to Moscow that Armenia’s participation in any format
is possible only when Armenia’s rather specific geographical and
geopolitical situation is taken into account. Without having a common
border with any of the Customs Union member countries, Armenia cannot
have the same format and level of cooperation that Belarus, Kazakhstan
or Ukraine could. And we understand that Ukraine’s participation in
the Customs Union is one of the key issues and is more significant
for Russia, while Armenia’s participation in this structure has a
secondary importance,” said Minasyan during a discussion organized
in Yerevan on Thursday.

Nevertheless, Minasyan believes that if political issues are set
aside, economically participating in the Customs Union could be seen
as beneficial for Armenia.

“Economically I see no problem. For Armenia Russia is quite a
significant economic partner, and in this sense if some solution is
found in the economic field, I think it will not create any problems
for Armenia security-wise,” said the analyst.

While European Union representatives acknowledge that Armenia is a
sovereign state and is free to enter into any agreements, they also
warn against agreements like the Customs Union. Late last year, for
example, Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief
Catherine Ashton, warned that if Armenia joins the Customs Union, it
would be incompatible with the planned Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Agreement between Armenia and the European Union. “Because a
customs union has a common external trade policy and an individual
member country no longer has sovereign control over its external
trade policies,” Kocijancic explained.

Tigran Urikhanyan, a spokesman for the Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP) that has repeatedly spoken in favor of Armenia’s participation
in post-Soviet integration processes, also stresses that the issue
of the Eurasian Union is still at the stage of discussions, and
one should first wait to see if it becomes a reality. Before that,
Urikhanyan suggests that Armenia get engaged in relevant discussions.

“We are enabled to participate in discussions, especially that
there is still no word about any interstate union and it is purely
an integration process. Our participation in such processes is an
opportunity to present the country’s interest, another platform for
negotiations to discuss and raise issues of concern to us,” stressed
the PAP representative.

STICKER SHOCK: TAXI DRIVERS ANGERED BY PROPOSAL TO CHANGE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

SOCIETY | 15.03.13 | 15:45

Photolure

By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Another government-proposed legislative initiative by which the
yellow license plates of taxis will be replaced by stick-on labels,
has raised clamor among taxi drivers, who years ago spent considerable
sums on acquiring those plates and making adjustments.

Enlarge Photo Gevorg Dosturyan (left) and Armen Poghosyan

Enlarge Photo

In 2007 yellow state license plates were placed on taxis in Armenia,
in order to register taxis and separate them from private cars. At
the time the decision, again, was not accepted willingly, because taxi
drivers had to pay 17,000 drams (now around $40) to change the plates,
and beside have restricted exit permission from Armenia.

Now the National Center for Legislative Regulation has developed a
legislative package on simplifying the licensing procedure of taxis
and public transport, suggesting that the yellow license plates be
taken out of practice.

Instead of yellow plates and registration receipts the road police
suggests stricter supervision by special receipts (similar to those
of technical examination and compulsory car insurance), which would
be provided together with the license and the insert and would be
attached to the rear window of the vehicle.

President of the Consumers’ Union Armen Poghosyan told the press on
Friday that taking the yellow plates out of practice is “illogical
and unacceptable”.

“Yellow license plate is for differentiation, helping the consumer to
tell a legal taxi from an illegal,” says Poghosyan, adding that there
are some 15,000 taxis in Armenia, and 9,500 among them are in Yerevan.

Gevorg Dosturyan, president of Civil Standpoint NGO, monitoring issues
related to this field over the past five years, says 70 percent
of the taxis have yellow license plates, and the remaining 30 are
working illegally.

“Taxi drivers are unhappy with such settlement because they have
acquired licenses, newer vehicles, for which they have taken bank loans
yet unpaid. Now they are told that the yellow license be removed and
other duties taken up, which is unacceptable,” says Dosturyan.

HETQ REPORTER WINS 1ST PRIZE IN “ILLEGAL MIGRATION” COMPETITION

13:09, March 15, 2013

Hetq reporter Yeranouhie Soghoyan won first prize in a journalism
competition in the topic of illegal migration from Armenia.

Soghoyan~Rs piece ~SGohar Fears for Her Two Sons Kept as Indentured
Servants in Russia’s Far East~T received the highest marks from the
fifty articles submitted.

The competition was jointly organized by the RA Ministry of
Territorial Administration~Rs State Migration Service and the
International Centre for Human development, with financial assistance
from the Belgium Ministry of Internal Affairs.

THE HIGH SPEED INTERNET NOW 4 MODEM OF ORANGE IS EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE NOW

15-03-2013 13:26:45 | Armenia | Science and Technology

>From March 15th, Orange will be offering its higher speed Internet
Now 4 modem with a capacity of up to 42.2Mbps at decreased prices.

Internet Now 4 modem can be acquired at 9000 AMD if subscribing to
Internet Now 11000 AMD tariff plan for 12 months and if subscribing
to Internet Now 20 000 AMD tariff plan for 12 months the modem will
be available at 1 AMD only.

As a reminder, Orange network provides up to 42.2 Mbps speed in
Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Echmiadzin, and throughout the whole
country up to 21.6 Mbps speed.

Internet Now 4 modem can be acquired also without subscription at 59
000 AMD price.

– Science and Technology News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan

HOVANNISIAN: “PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS”

11:06, March 15, 2013

Commenting on the decision of the RA Constitutional Court to uphold
the results of the February 18 presidential election, Raffi Hovannisian
said,

“If the de facto authorities do not offer a comprehensive solution to
this nationwide crisis by recognizing the Armenian people’s victory
by April 9, the people will be forced to take matters into their
own hands.”

Hovannisian, now into his fifth day of hunger strike, said that he
will discuss future plans on March 15 during the Barevolution victory
rally at 5pm.

OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE CONCERNED OVER ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

TERT.AM
12:29 ~U 15.03.13

In a new report evaluating the Nature Protection Ministry’s work,
the Human Rights Defender’s Office has expressed concerns over the
existing environmental hazards in the country.

The concerns particularly focus on the environmental damages caused
by private entrepreneurs due to the absence of positive conclusions
in environmental impact assessments.

The document addresses citizens’ complaints against woodcutting,
air pollution, water and fish poisoning in rivers and the emission
of hazardous substances and waste.

It says the Ministry failed to take adequate measure to ensure the
implementation of an action plan stemming from Armenia’s commitments
under the Aarhus Convention.

The report notes that the licensing of the company expected to
exploit the Teghut Mine (Lori region) remained incomplete, causing
vast complaints by environmentalists.

“It is a serious concern that the Ministry has so far failed to
undertake active measures towards exercising control over territories
under its supervision in order to resolve cases of illegal hunting
and enforce accountability measures.

The organization of public hearing over draft legal acts concerning
the sector remains unresolved, often making participation a formal
procedure,” reads the report.

The document further addresses the positive developments, particularly
the efforts to inform the public of issues of major concern, the
elaboration of criteria for appointing environmental inspectors (based
on the Law on Civil Service) and the activities towards bringing the
legislation in compliance with the Aarhus Convention.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : POURSUITES CONTRE UN DEMOCRATE TURC

Publie le : 15-03-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Ankara – Le militant turc
des droits de l’homme et journaliste progressiste Temel Demirer est de
nouveau poursuivi au titre l’Article 301 du Code Penal turc pour avoir
” denigre la nation turque, la Republique turque, son gouvernement ou
ses institutions “. Suite au report du procès initial fonde sur le meme
article, le courageux militant avait en effet maintenu ses positions
et declare : “Si je ne dis pas ‘il y a eu un genocide armenien en
Turquie’, ou si je ne declare pas ‘l’Etat turc est un Etat criminel’
pendant les trois annees qui viennent, je serai acquitte.

Dès a present, cinq minutes après le procès, sans attendre trois ans,
je dis, ‘L’Etat turc est le meurtrier de Hrant Dink’. Je dis aussi
‘Il y a eu un genocide armenien dans ce pays’. Ses propos lui valent
donc un nouveau procès mene avec l’autorisation du Ministre turc de
la justice d’un pays qui pretend etre democratique et qui exporte ses
‘valeurs’ judiciaires en Europe si l’on en juge la condamnation de
Laurent Leylekian a Paris. Le Collectif VAN vous invite a lire une
traduction de Gilbert Beguian d’un article en anglais de Elif AKGUL
du site Bianet mise en ligne sur le site de NAM (Nouvelles d’Armenie
Magazine) le 14 mars 2013.

NAM

Un autre Procès sur l’article 301 pour le journaliste Demirer

Bianet

Ankara- BIA News Desk – 12 mars 2013

Elif AKGUL

Le journaliste Demirer fait l’objet d’un procès fonde sur l’article
301 du Code Penal turc après qu’il ait fait une declaration a la
suite du report de son procès initial fonde sur le meme article.

Les Services de Police d’Ankara ont transmis un rapport au bureau du
Procureur en chef d’Ankara, selon lequel le journaliste Temel Demirer
a enfreint l’article 301 du Code Penal turc lorsqu’il a fait a la
presse une declaration qui faisait suite au report du procès initial
fonde sur le meme article.

Les effets du jugement du premier procès ont ete suspendus tout autant
que, conformement aux dispositions des articles 1 et 2 de la loi 6352,
il ” ne commettrait pas un nouveau crime vis-a-vis de la première
clause au cours des trois prochaines annees ” [ce qui caracterise
en droit francais une peine assortie du sursis, ou une decision de
sursis a statuer].

A propos des recentes reformes juridiques, Demirer se questionne :
” s’il y a un changement, pourquoi cette enquete a-t-elle ete ouverte ?

À quoi sert cet ensemble [de reformes] ? ”

S’agissant de l’enquete initiale, le bureau du Procureur en chef avait
demande l’autorisation du Ministre de la justice, ce qui est conforme
a la procedure depuis le 8 mai 2008. A ce moment-la, les changements
apportes a l’article 301 controverse reduisaient a deux ans la peine
maximale pour avoir ” denigre la nation turque, la Republique turque,
son gouvernement ou ses institutions “.

Selon le rapport de police, a la suite du procès, Demirer avait
dit devant le Palais de Justice : ” Si je ne dis pas ‘ il y a eu
un genocide armenien en Turquie ‘, ou si je ne declare pas ‘ l’Etat
turc est un Etat criminel ‘ pendant les trois annees qui viennent,
je serai acquitte. Dès a present, cinq minutes après le procès,
sans attendre trois ans, je dis, ” L’Etat turc est le meurtrier de
Hrant Dink “. Je dis aussi ” Il y a eu un genocide armenien dans
ce pays “. Si le tribunal, si la force publique, ou le ministère
de l’injustice qui ont reporte mon procès n’ouvrent pas un autre
procès, alors ils auront commis un crime “. ” Je n’incite personne a
commettre un crime. Ce que je dis c’est que les idees ne peuvent pas
etre enchaînees dans ce pays. J’ai appris d’Ismail Besikci, Fikret
Baskaya et Baskin Oran [des universitaires emprisonnes ou poursuivis
pour leurs travaux] que la liberte de pensee est vivante. Il y a eu
dans ce pays un genocide armenien. L’Etat a tue Hrant Dink. Voila ce
que je pense. Par consequent, si vous voulez, poursuivez-moi “.

” Aucun changement de mentalite ”

Levent Kanat, l’avocat de Demirer, a dit a Bianet qu’ils avaient
appris la nouvelle procedure par les journaux et n’avaient encore
recu aucune notification. Pour Kanat, l’enquete est l’indication d’une
mentalite sans changement : ils se pretendent plus democratiques mais
cela n’est pas vrai “.

Premier Procès

Lorsque Hrant Dink, le redacteur en chef du journal turco-armenien
Agos a ete tue le 19 janvier 2007, Demirer a dit le jour suivant
dans une declaration : “Hrant Dink n’a pas ete tue parce qu’il etait
Armenien mais parce qu’il a dit qu’il y avait eu un genocide armenien
“. Demirer a par la suite ete condamne sur le fondement de l’article
301, le procureur ayant demande deux ans d’emprisonnement. Lors de
la dernière audience du 19 fevrier 2013, Demirer a dit qu’il voulait
soit l’acquittement, soit une condamnation. Cependant, la Cour avait
eu recours aux dispositions des articles 1 et 2 de la loi de 6352 qui
avait ete introduite dans le troisième ensemble de reformes judiciaire
et de la procedure penale. (EA/AG)

jeudi 14 mars 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

Traduction Gilbert Beguian pour Armenews

Article en anglais :

Another 301 Trial for Journalist Demirer

Lire aussi :

Turquie : l’ecrivain Temel Demirer condamne l’Article 301

Turquie : Temel Demirer accuse d’avoir reconnu le genocide des
Armeniens

Genocide des Armeniens : Le procès de Temel Demirer a debute il y a
2 ans

Turquie : 6 mois de prison pour l’ecrivain Temel Demirer

Genocide des Armeniens : Temel Demirer exige l’annulation de la
permission ministerielle de le poursuivre

Genocide des Armeniens : Temel Demirer attend la decision de la
justice turque

Procès Leylekian : le monde a l’envers

Negationnisme en France : un journaliste lourdement condamne pour
diffamation

Une militante verte d’origine turque attaque Laurent Leylekian en
diffamation

Procès pour negationnisme : appel du CCAF

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : NAM

LA PHOTO DU JOUR

Un membre de l’Armee syrienne libre a l’interieur d’une eglise
armenienne a Deir al-Zor 5 Mars 2013

vendredi 15 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

RESTAURATION DE LA CATHEDRALE SAINT SAUVEUR D’ANI

A Ani, la capitale du royaume armenien des Bagratides, la restauration
de la cathedrale Sourp Prguitch (Saint Sauveur) se poursuite. Depuis
1954 suite a un violent orage, la foudre avait detruit près de la
moitie de l’eglise. Hakan Doganay, le responsable de la Culture et du
tourisme de la region de Kars, a affirme a l’agence Anatolie que la
restauration portait sur le renforcement de la moitie de la coupole et
des murs de l’eglise encore debout. Les travaux etant finances par le
Fonds international de la sauvegarde des monuments architecturaux et du
ministère turc du Tourisme. ” Nous reconstituons l’eglise en utilisant
les memes pierres qui se trouvaient au sol lors de l’effondrement
partiel (…) si Ani est inclus dans la liste du Patrimoine mondial
de l’Unesco, tous les monuments deviendront propriete de la terre ”
dit H. Doganay. La demande a ete faite auprès de l’Unesco pour inclure
Ani dans la liste du Patrimoine mondial. Les travaux de renovation
se termineront en novembre 2014. La cathedrale Sourp Prguitch haute
de plus de 33 mètres, est l’une des 21 constructions encore debout
sur le site d’Ani ” la ville aux Mille et une eglises ” fonde il y
a 1050 ans par le roi bagratide Ashot III.

Ani qui fut victime d’un fort seisme en l’an 1131.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 14 mars 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com