Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RUSSIA ARMENIA’S STRATEGIC PARTNER – SERZH SARGSYAN

TERT.AM
19:28 ~U 12.03.13

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia.

The Russian leader congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on his re-election
as Armenia’s president.

“This convincing victory is evidence of people’s trust and is a
chance for you to accomplish the tasks you set to yourself during
the election campaign,” Mr Putin said to Armenia’s leader.

President Serzh Sargsyan thanked the Russian leader and said that
his visit to Russia as his first foreign visit was natural.

“Russia is our strategic partner, that’s all,” Armenia’s president
said. He invited the Russian leader to pay a state visit to Armenia.

“Our relations are successfully developing despite the global
economic problems. Russia is consistently Armenia’s leading foreign
trade partner, as well as leader in terms of investments,” President
Vladimir Putin said. He recalled last year’s US $1.2bn bilateral
trade turnover, which showed an increase of more than 20%.

“We also have political contacts at all levels. All this creates
prerequisites for stronger ties between people. We have very many
Armenians in Russia. They are respectable and hard-working citizens
of our country. This is additional potential uniting us,” the Russian
leader said.

“We have passed a good way and achieved exceptional results in all
the fields – political, economic, military and humanitarian – as well
as in integration processes,” Serzh Sargsyan said in response.

Armenia’s leader also pointed out progress in Armenian-Russian
military cooperation. Official Yerevan appreciates the Russian defense
minister’s visit to Armenia on Armenian Army Day, Serzh Sargsyan said.

DENNIS SAMMUT: THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CLARITY ON THE PART OF THE EU OF ITS POLICIES ON KARABAKH

ARMINFO
Tuesday, March 12, 19:16

“There needs to be more clarity on the part of the EU of its
policies on Karabakh. Even if the formal policy is to support a
peaceful solution mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group and based on the
Madrid principles there are nuances within this formula that the EU
needs to develop in order that its own values are better reflected”,
Dennis Sammut, Director of LINKS, said during the recent roundtable
“Azerbaijan and the EU: The road ahead” at the European Policy Centre
in Brussels.

He said that Europe remains a fashionable and popular brand in
Azerbaijan, especially amongst the young educated elites both those
supporting the government and those opposing it. “On the official
side however there is hesitation because what Europe is asking for
in terms of reforms, especially in the democracy sphere is deemed too
high a price to pay. Azerbaijan is failing to understand that it faces
a massive crisis of trust in the area of democracy and human rights
and that it needs to act on this swiftly and decisively”, he said.

Dennis Sammut proposed ten action points on which Europe needs to work:

(a) EU should not assume that the Azerbaijani government and people
understand why relations with it is good for them. There is a need
for more political engagement at various levels and for the EU to
sharpen its communication strategy towards the country;

(b) The EU’s red lines on democracy and human rights need to be spelled
out clearly and consistently. European politicians who distort this
message by saying or implying that these issues are secondary to
other things, such as energy co-operation need to be challenged openly;

(c) there needs to be more clarity on the part of the EU of its
policies on Karabakh. Even if the formal policy is to support a
peaceful solution mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group and based on the
Madrid principles there are nuances within this formula that the EU
needs to develop in order that its own values are better reflected;

(d) the importance of Azerbaijan for EU energy security needs to be
based on realistic assessments and not on bloated assumptions and
Baku should be encouraged not to overplay its hand;

(e) The EU should support political dialogue not political
confrontation in Azerbaijan. To be able to do this it itself must
engage in proper dialogue with opposition forces, including those
outside parliament;

(f) The EU should avoid letting the next Presidential election become a
crisis point in its relations with Azerbaijan. The discussions with the
Azerbaijani government needs to start now because there are some very
clear things that the Azerbaijani government needs to do before the
election if this process is to have any credibility. The EU should use
its clout in the OSCE and the Council of Europe in this regard to the
point where if a credible election is not likely the process should
not be legitimised with the deployment of an Observation Mission,
which would in any case be waste of time and money;

(g) opposition activists in Azerbaijan need to be told clearly that we
support their right to speak and protest but that does not necessarily
mean we support what they are saying. These are two different issues.

Human rights is the concern of all but domestic politics is the
business of the Azerbaijani people.

(h) The EU should pursue a policy of privileged engagement with those
sectors of the Azerbaijani government and society that have benefitted
from reform in order to consolidate islands of reform.

(i) the EU must remain sensitive to the fact Azerbaijan is located
in EU and Turkey on Azerbaijan can be useful; and

(j) there is a need for sober dialogue not for bombastic meetings
glorifying Azerbaijan as some model modern country or conversely
demonising it as a North Korean style dictatorship. Dennis Sammut said
that the reality is that in its domestic, as much as in its external
politics Azerbaijan is at the crossroads and that the efforts of the
EU institutions, governments and civil society need to be channelled
at helping the Azerbaijani government and people make the right choice
for them and future generations.

WHY DIDN’T THE OPPOSITION CAMP UNITE? THE ROLE OF THE PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY (PAP)

March 11 2013

Talking about participation in the Yerevan City Council election
at the plenary meeting of the Prosperous Armenia Party political
council, Gagik Tsarukyan, the PAP leader, stated: “We can admit all
those who will wish to rally around the PAP axis.” There has been no
consolidation of the opposition camp so far. inquired
during a conversation with representatives of the opposition camp
whether the reason for failing to unite was that the PAP had offered
to unite around its axis or one should look for the reason somewhere
else. Armen Martirosyan, the deputy leader of the Heritage Party, said
regarding this issue: “There is no need for mentioning any party here.

Raffi Hovhannisyan has already stated that this is no partisan
struggle, but who stands by the people should be in Freedom Square.

The Heritage Party is merged in the people in this part and is
carrying on its struggle around the Republic of Armenia from very
Freedom Square, which means that we are a part of the people’s
struggle, nothing more. Therefore, all those who think of themselves
as opposition and are with the people should be in Freedom Square
and join the popular struggle. Partisan ambitions, rallying to me or
someone else are not appropriate any longer. The national struggle
is carried on for new, prospering Armenia, and Raffi Hovhannisyan
has taken a radical measure of self-sacrifice.” Naira Zohrabyan,
the secretary of the PAP parliamentary group, in her turn, said in
response to the question: “We have been open and honest during the
discussions with our colleagues in the past few days; we expressed
our position. The PAP was for broad union and consolidation. We told
our colleagues openly and honestly during the discussions what our
position was.” In response to our observation whether the PAP wasn’t
afraid to give an impression of an ambitious force, Ms. Zohrabyan said:
“There is no issue of being ambitious here, it is just that the PAP
is a realistic political force.” Arsen Hambardzumyan, an alternate
representative of the ARF Supreme Body, said regarding the issue:
“One of the conditions of union is that political forces try to
restrain their aspirations and reach the right compromise. We took
that position during the negotiations and didn’t show any unhealthy
aspiration. As for why we don’t have a union, I leave the assessments
to you.” On the one hand, Mr. Hambardzumyan stated that no agreement
had been reached so far, on the other hand, he expressed an idea that
one couldn’t say for sure that the negotiations were a failure. Then
he added: “I think that there is a small opportunity of consolidation.

Until the negotiations, as such, are over, I cannot disclose certain
facts, since they can damage the further progress of the negotiations.

When we reach an agreement, we will state more openly why it wasn’t
successful.” Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART: “HOW COULD 1,5 MILLION PEOPLE SIMPLY DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THIS EARTH?”

Today – 16:01

Armen Yeganian, Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada wrote a letter to his
Turkish counterpart. The letter especially says:

“I, as an ordinary Armenian, not an ambassador, am obliged to respond
to my colleague from Turkey, who, surprisingly, hasn’t come across any
“substantiated historical and legal evidence” on Armenian Genocide
during his distinguished career. I do not wish to go into the
details of the Genocide, which has been overwhelmingly documented,
but honestly believing to my colleague’s lack of knowledge I’ll just
point out few directions where Dr. Tuncay Babali may replenish his
academic reservoirs with certain facts.

In 2002 the New York-based independent International Center for
Transitional Justice concluded that the Ottoman massacre of Armenians
“includes all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in
the Genocide Convention.” Moreover, in addition to Canada, where my
Turkish colleague is accredited as an ambassador, there are more than
two dozen states and several international organizations – amongst
them the most renowned International Association of Genocide Scholars –
who have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

Another fact-finding mission is to simply travel through western
Armenia, which was conquered in 11th century by Turkish nomads from
Altay Mountains, and suddenly stumble upon thousands of Armenian
monuments, churches, fortresses, entire cities that Turkish government
didn’t even bother to rename. Ask yourself – where is the indigenous
population of these cities, where are the Christian parishioners of
the empty churches, how could 1,5 million people simply disappear
from the face of this earth.

I think you will find a little bit of historic evidence that still
lies in the land of Noah, the Cradle of Civilization that Young Turks’
government so brutally raped and desecrated. Have dignity and courage
to recognize, like bright Turkish novelist, Nobel Prize winner,
Orhan Pamuk. Have respect towards 10 million Armenians that still
mourn their terrific losses. Have courage!

Armen Yeganian, Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada”.

“ANAHIT”: ARMENIAN CLASSIC TALE BECOMES ANIMATION FILM BY SAHAKYANTS

ARTS AND CULTURE | 12.03.13 | 15:12

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor

“Who knows what can happen in life. The master can become a servant,
even if he once was a king. Every person should learn a handy craft,
whether he is a king, or a servant” – the words from the Armenian tale
“Anahit” by the great writer Ghazaros Aghayan are familiar to everyone
in Armenia from childhood. The tale is included in school curriculum
since the Soviet era.

Enlarge Photo

The tale is about king Vachagan, who falls in love with Anahit,
a country woman, who refuses to marry him saying that the king must
first learn a craft. Vachagan learns to weave carpets, a skill which
eventually saves his life. Vachagan was taken prisoner and sent woven
brocade with messages on it to Anahit.

Aghayan’s “Anahit”, a classic and exciting tale of victory of good
over evil, will appear next year in a full-length animated film,
produced by the Robert Sahakyants Production studio.

Work on the 85- minute length film began three years ago, with the
support of Armenian Culture Ministry. Now about 60 minutes of the
film are ready, another 20 minutes will be shot this year, and a
few months will go for the final production. (The film will also
be dubbed into Russian and English and adapted to be presented to
international audiences.)

“Anahit is a classic Disney animation film, with the storyline,
the good and evil characters, songs, jokes, this film will be
of interest to both children and adults,” says David Sahakyants,
the co-director of the film. “This story is valuable because of its
message that is very acute and suitable for our children nowadays –
work makes a person better, no matter if you are a king, you have to
be something else than just a man who gives the orders.”

The film will differ from the original tale, but according
to Sahakyants, in fact it will be an old story with the new
interpretation.

“Anahit” will be the third full-length film in Armenian animation. In
2007, director Arman Manaryan shot “Sasountsi David” and in 2004,
director Robert Sahakyants (father of David Sahakyants) created the
first ever Armenian full length animation film ‘Tavern”.

Robert Sahakyants, (1950-2009), Á famous Armenian animator, is the
director of more than 30 animation films. He is also the author of
the much talked “The Button” animation film, that criticized Mikhail
Gorbachev’s regime in late 1980s. In the early years of independence
Sahakyants denounced in his films those in power who rob the people.

Today, Sahakyants’s work continues by his family – his wife and three
children at their production company — along with other talented
people, some of whom were his pupils.

David Sahakyants says “Anahit” is a synthesis of Robert Sahakyants’s
style, which is recognizable and unique, and the style of their group
of 25.

“Last year we organized a retrospective demonstration of nine films
by Robert Sahakyants. The films were presented at the world’s largest
animation festival in Annecy, France, where it got great success and
we received a lot of offers right away. This year we will take part in
the festivals in the Czech Republic, England, Bulgaria, and Russia. ”

Speaking of contemporary animation, Sahakyants notes it is very diverse
and of course, as in all areas of the arts, commercialism dominates
in animation as well. But it is necessary that people who produce
films for children, can provide alternatives for children and produce
films, aiming not only on having commercial profit. Children need
to broaden horizons, to see a different perspective, and Sahakyants
hopes that “Anahit” is a kind of film with the special message to
children. (Sahakyants also says they are planning to open a small
theater in the city, where Armenian animated films will be shown.)

ANTRAKT TRAVEL AGENCY PRESENTS THE BEST OF ARMENIAN MUSIC

13:56, March 12, 2013

On March 11, the Antrakt Travel Agency presented a concert of
practically all genres of Armenian music (classical, spiritual, pop,
troubadour and national) at the Narekatsi Art Union.

Performing were the Vardanyan String Quartet, opera soloist Berj
Garazyan, folk singer Edgar Khachatryan, the Areg folk instrumental
ensemble, the Lousnak vocal ensemble, the Doudouk ensemble and others.

Antrakt was formed by opera singer and Komitas Conservatory teacher
Lousineh Azaryan.

Azaryan noted that she had realized that Armenian culture wasn’t
properly being presented to tourists and set out to find the best
professionals in Armenia.

ACTION DE PROTESTATION DEVANT L’AMBASSADE AMERICAINE

Hayots Achkhar, Jamanak et Haykakan Jamanak rendent compte de l’action
de protestation d’un groupe de manifestants devant l’Ambassade
americaine qui ont exprime leur ” indignation ” face au message
de felicitations du President americain a son homologue armenien,
estimant que les Etats-Unis ” n’avaient pas le droit de legitimer la
victoire de Serge Sarkissian qui n’est pas le vrai vainqueur “.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 5 mars 2013

mardi 12 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

GENOCIDE DE 1915 – UN AVION PUBLICITAIRE POUR ERDOGAN

L’Union des Associations Armeniennes de Suède avait organise une
publicite volante afin d’accueillir le president turc Abduallah Gul
qui est arrive hier a Stockholm pour une visite officielle de trois
jours en Suède.

La bannière tire par l’avion disait “Turquie – Reconnaître le
genocide de 1915” et a vole de 11h00-13h30 sur les parties centrales
de Stockholm lors de la ceremonie de reception du president Gul et
le reste de la delegation turque au Palais royal suedois.

mardi 12 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

OSCE OBSERVER DETAILS VOTER FRAUD IN ARMENIA

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Voters cast their ballots during the Feb. 18 presidential elections

Armenian presidential election observer of OSCE and former Minister
for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland Dermot Ahern sent a
letter to Armenian Bar Association Chairman Garo Ghazarian detailing
fraud he witnessed during the February 18 election, particularly in
Precinct 26/1, where he claims a landslide for Raffi Hovannisian was
converted into a victory for the incumbent.

Below is the text of the letter:

Dear Garo Ghazarian, Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association

March 5, 2013

You might remember that we spoke at length on the plane from Yerevan
to Paris, just after the presidential election. I indicated to you
that I felt uneasy about what happened in the polling station and in
the TEC that I observed on the day of the election.

To recap, I and my German colleague Hedda Haars observed six polling
stations during the day and as instructed by the OSCE core team,
we finished observing the election in PEC 26/1 Yeghvard Elementary
School No 3. From what we saw, from 7 PM to the close at 8 PM,
everything was done correctly.

The presiding officer and team proceeded to count the votes. Again,
everything was done in accordance with the instructions. The presiding
officer showed to everyone, including ourselves, our interpreter,
our driver as well as a proxy on behalf of the incumbent, every vote
once he had taken it from the envelope.

Immediately, it transpired that Raffi was hovering up the votes. This
caused some surprise with the local participants. Indeed, it became
somewhat embarrassing in that virtually every vote was for Raffi.

Every odd time, a vote came out for the incumbent, there was a slight
laugh from some of the locals. On and on, it continued with Raffi
getting virtually all of the votes. The proxy for the incumbent was
tallying in a very methodical way and I could see clearly from his
tally that Raffi was way ahead. In fact, he actually ran out of paper,
Raffi got so many votes over the incumbent. At about 9:15 PM. I sent a
text to my principal to say that with 30 percent of the votes counted
Raffi was at least 3 to 1 ahead.

During this time and up until when we left, a number of invalid votes
were declared. For instance, one vote was declared invalid because the
voter had voted for everyone, except the incumbent. Another vote was
invalid because the voter voted for somebody who previously contested
an election, but not this one. A number of other votes were declared
invalid because they did not have the correct mark or indeed no mark
at all. I estimated that there were more than 10 during our time
there between 8 PM and 10 PM when we left for the TEC.

By the time we left, we both agreed that with approximately 35% of
the vote counted, Raffi was ahead by at least 3 to 1. We proceeded to
the TEC 26 in Yeghvard and introduced ourselves to the TEC team. The
conditions of the location for tabulation at this location were far
from ideal. It consisted of two rooms separated by a corridor which
meant that I stayed in the room where the chair and deputy chair met
with the PEC teams as they came in with their results. My colleague
Hedda stayed in the other room where a secretary entered the results
from the various protocols.

I was given very little cooperation by the TEC team in that they did
not offer any information to me as to the PEC teams coming in with
their protocols. The lack of space made it particularly difficult
for me to see anything. I had to ask for information, any time I
wanted it. My interpreter and driver indicated to me that the team
were somewhat uneasy about our presence.

When the results came in from number 26/1, I particularly was
interested and asked for the result. This wasn’t forthcoming, but my
interpreter got to see the protocol and indicated that the incumbent
had beaten Raffi by 382 to 302 approximately. I was astonished by
this apparent turnaround since we left the count. I tried to get more
information, to no avail.

However, my interpreter then told me that he noticed on the protocol
that there were zero invalid votes. I was completely taken aback
by this, and I asked my interpreter to let the chair know about
my astonishment.

Between then and when we finally finished the tabulation observation at
approximately 3:30 AM, I was given little or no cooperation. I finally
asked if I could see the final written result and the chair refused. I
met up with my colleague Hedda who had expressed satisfaction with
what she had seen in the other room, in that the results were properly
put onto the computer. I suggested that she might ask the chairman
herself for a copy of the protocol. But again he declined waving his
hands in the air. We asked if they would be publishing the result
and his reply was in the morning. We immediately left. We filled out
the necessary form for the OSCE, having kept in constant contact with
them during the night.

I’ve been practicing politician here in Ireland for 32 years,
contesting and winning every election I personally fought in. I was
director of elections board at national and local level for my party.

I have never witnessed anything like this. From my experience, I
know a trend, when I see one, and something very strange happened to
overturn the result, after we left the count in PEC 26/1.

As I stated to you, I feel that full re-examination of this count
should take place. I could not understand then and still now how
invalid votes can become valid.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to
contact me.

Dermot Ahern 2013 presidential election observer of OSCE in Armenia,
former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Justice
and Law Reform of the Republic of Ireland.

IRAN READY TO HELP RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE DIPLOMATICALLY: AMBASSADOR

On Line: 11 March 2013 16:25
In Print: Tuesday 12 March 2013

TEHRAN – The Iranian ambassador to Armenia has reiterated that the
Islamic Republic is ready to help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,
which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian forces took control of the
region during a war in the early 1990s, through diplomatic channels.

“If the countries involved in the dispute make a request, the Islamic
Republic of Iran is ready to help resolve it peacefully,” Ambassador
Mohammad Raeesi told the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency in
an interview published on Monday.

Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is mainly populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan.

Iran had earlier extended an offer to mediate between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the dispute.

In April 2010, Manouchehr Mottaki, who was Iran’s foreign minister
at the time, presented a proposal for a trilateral meeting with
his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to attempt to resolve
the dispute.