Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Expert: Azeri attempt to shoot down NKR-bound planes will lead to war

March 1, 2013 – 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azeri attempt to shoot down Kabakh-bound planes will
result in a partial international isolation for the former, a Russian
analyst said.
“Even a single shot-down plane will immediately escalate the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, where Russia, while not openly supporting Armenia,
will surely not back Azerbaijan,” Ivan Sukhov said.
“Baku will also be wrong to count on the West’s support. In the event
of a war against Iran, the South Caucasus will be utterly destabilized
with no winning sides left. The West, in pursuit of personal interests
with Armenia, can’t guarantee the return of Karabakh and adjacent
territories to Azerbaijan. Turkey might back the return of
territories; however, neither the EU nor the U.S. would wish for
Ankara’s increased influence. Baku might have a better chance should
Ankara win in a struggle for the influence in South Caucasus. But even
then, it would be highly unwise for Ankara not to consider Armenia’s
interests,” the analyst said.
“Baku’s siding with West in attacking Iran would be catastophic for
the former. A strike on Iran’s side is also possible. Less probable
but still feasible is Armenia’s attack or the escalation of Karabakh
conflict, with an increased refugee inflow that Baku will definitely
be unable to handle,” vesti.az quoted the expert as saying.

– See more at:

Armenian National Security Service summons for Civilitas Foundation head

March 01, 2013 | 14:36

YEREVAN. – Executive Director Salpi Ghazarian of Armenia’s The
Civilitas Foundation was summoned again by the National Security
Service (NSS), on Friday at 2pm, for questioning, the Foundation
informs.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the NSS Department of
Investigation had brought formal charges last year against The
Civilitas Foundation Founder, Prosperous Armenia Party MP, and former
FM Vartan Oskanian.

To note, on October 2, 2012, the National Assembly voted in favor of
Prosecutor General’s petition to include Oskanian as a defendant in a
criminal lawsuit.

On May 25, 2012, NSS Department of Investigation had filed a criminal
lawsuit on charges of money laundering with respect to The Civilitas
Foundation.

The NSS Press Center had informed that an investigation is underway in
connection with selling the 100-percent shares of the Huntsman
Building Products Company for around $2 million, but not informing
Armenia’s tax authorities about this business deal; not using for
charitable purposes $1,135,000 of that amount envisioned for charity;
transferring this amount to the bank accounts opened under the names
of The Civilitas Foundation Founder Vartan Oskanian, and of the
Foundation’s Board of Trustees member Tigran Karapetyan; and using
some of this amount for private purposes.

In addition, and as per the NSS Press Center, The Civilitas Foundation
had not presented a report on the $2 million that was allocated for
charitable purposes. In his turn, Oskanian considers the charges to be
politically motivated.

The Civilitas Foundation was founded in 2008 by Vartan Oskanian. After
joining the Prosperous Armenia Party ahead of the May 6, 2012
parliamentary elections, however, Oskanian gave up his post as
Foundation Chairman.

– See more at:

Armenia should free up air transportation – USAID official

March 01, 2013 | 14:57

YEREVAN. – It is still difficult to travel to Armenia; air
transportation should be freed up, United States Agency for
International Development (USAID)/Armenia Mission Director Karen
Hilliard stated, addressing the 12th International Annual Tourism Fair
CTS (Caucasus Travel Show) 2013, which kicked off Friday in capital
city Yerevan.

In her words, the tourism industry in Armenia has great potential to
develop, and the USAID conducts a capacity-raising program for tour
operators.

To note, over 75 organizations – primarily from Armenia’s regions – are
taking part in the Caucasus Travel Show 2013. The event expects to
draw in visitors from Georgia, Egypt, Argentina, the United Arab
Emirates, and several other countries.

During the official opening of the international tourism fair,
Armenia’s Deputy Economy Minister Ara Petrosyan noted that there is a
significant increase in the number and the geographical scope of this
year’s participants.

`The [tourism] sector is at an irreversible phase of development,’ he stated.

– See more at:

Analyst: Javakhk Students Should Protest Issues Back Home Rather than
Hurling Insults at YSU

12:08, March 1, 2013

Vahe Sargsyan, from the Mitq Analytical Center, told reporters today
that the students from Javakhk who greeted striking students at
Yerevan State University the other day with cat-calls and insults,
would be better off addressing the numerous issues facing Armenians in
Georgia.

In fact, a university administrator was caught on tape calling for the
`Akhalkalak army’ to confront the strikers.

Today, students and teachers have organized a signature campaign
calling for the official’s dismissal.

Sargsyan specifically noted that Georgian customs officials are still
confiscating Armenian books from entering the country.

Sargsyan argues that in such a milieu where quality education is
lacking, which Sargsyan argues has been the policy of the Saakashvili
regime, it is no wonder that many of the Armenian youth leave Javakhk
as semi-illiterates with low intellects.

Darchinyan disappointed over Armenian authorities’ indifference

March 1, 2013 – 14:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Former IBF, WBC, WBA champion Vic Darchinyan is
disappointed over Armenian authorities’ lack of interest to his
initiatives.
In 2011, Yerevan hosted the first professional boxing event headlining
Darchinyan and challenger Evans Mbamba.
`Back in 2011, the event was made possible solely through the
assistance of my sponsors and my personal finances, with no assistance
offered in Armenia,’ Darchinyan said.
`Many of the well-known promoting companies seek to develop
professional boxing in Armenia. During my visit 5 month ago I tried to
negotiate another bout in Armenia with local authorities, yet was
refused any assistance,’ the boxer said.
Darchinyan confessed to having refused an offer to represent Australia
so that he could fight under an Armenian flag.
`I’m very disappointed. I wanted to promote boxing in Armenia for the
youth to have a chance to train and achieve success. But when your
efforts go unappreciated, there’s no point in undertaking any new
initiative,’ the boxer said.

– See more at:

WORKERS OF CJSC “RUSAL ARMENAL” TO COMPLAIN TO PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Thursday, February 28, 01:22

Workers of the foil-rolling floor of CJSC “RusAl Armenal” are
going to send a letter to President Serzh Sargsyan with a complaint
about breaking of their labour rights, a lawyer, director of the
judicial company “Lev group”, Levon Bagdasaryan, said at today’s
press-conference.

He said that more than 100 workers of the foil-rolling floor
signed under the letter. They are been working in an extremely hard
and dangerous conditions for their health and require dirt money,
which the leadership of the company do not pay them. Moreover, they
have been threatening by mass dismissal if the workers do not stop
complaining. As for the workers, they are not going to hold a strike,
but are ready “to fight for their rights to a finish”, Bagdasaryan
said. He also added that it is already for 18 months that the workers
are at law with the leadership of the company and the case is still
underway. He said that workers of a similar floor of “RusAl” get dirt
money in Russia, but do not get in Armenia.

According to the law, workers of the foil-rolling floor become
pensioners earlier than other workers. They also pass medical
examination every year as they are working in harmful conditions. The
average monthly salary of a worker at “Armenal” is 150thsd drams
($366).

As press-secretary of “RusAl Armenal” Aleksandr Melkumyan told
journalists today, according to the legislation, the foil-rolling
floor is not harmful. For this reason, no dirt money is foreseen for
its workers. Moreover, Bagdasaryan is wrong saying that the workers
of the foil-rolling floor of “RusAl” get dirt money, as they do
not get such money either, he said. As for an obligatory medical
examination, all the workers of “Armenal” pass medical examination
without exclusion. Melkumyan also added that only the workers which
are working at the hot shop – casting and rolling shop, get dirt money.

PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN ACCOMPANIED BY PRIMATE OF THE ARTSAKH DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH ARCHBISHOP PARGEV MARTIROSSYAN AND TOP OFFICIALS OF THE REPUBLIC VISITED STEPANAKERT MEMORIAL COMPLEX AND LAID FLOWERS TO THE MONUMENT OF INNOCENT VICTIMS

28-02-2013 12:20:14 | | Social

On 28 February in connection with the 25th anniversary of the Sumgait
massacre Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan accompanied by
primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirossyan and top officials of the republic
visited Stepanakert Memorial Complex and laid flowers to the monument
of innocent victims..

CENTRAL INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC
PRESIDENT

– Social News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapa – See more at:

TURKEY REJECTS KEY PRECEPT IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – ARMENIAN FM

February 27, 2013 | 20:41

Turkey unilaterally supports Azerbaijan and, naturally, it cannot
play a mediating role in this process, Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian stated Wednesday in an exclusive interview with
the Austrian News Agency.

“If Turkey really wants to contribute to the peaceful settlement
[of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict], it would be good that it does
not mettle in this process at all. Azerbaijan’s deconstructive and
denialist policy is the reason why it has not been possible to reach
a settlement to this day,” Nalbandian stressed.

To the query as to the cause for the failure in the Armenian-Turkish
normalization process, Armenia’s FM responded as follows:

“We came to an agreement. The Armenian-Turkish protocols were
signed, but the Turkish party refused to ratify and implement these
agreements. In actual fact, Turkey rejects the key precept of pacta
sunt servanda-“agreements must be kept”-in international relations.”

Reflecting on the issue of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, Edward Nalbandian specifically said:

“Genocides should be recognized, [and] condemned; their denial should
not be tolerated; this is the way. This is a matter of respecting
fundamental human rights and the international law. We hope that
Austria, just like other countries of Europe and the world, likewise
will recognize it [that is, the Armenian Genocide].”

– See more at:

ARMENIA SEES SURGE IN FOREIGN ASYLUM SEEKERS DUE TO SYRIA CRISIS

People’s Daily, China
Feb 27 2013

YEREVAN, Armenia, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — The number of foreign citizens
seeking refuge in Armenia grown eight times last year, most of whom
were from crisis-hit Syria, authorities said Wednesday.

Most of the 579 foreigners asking for asylum last year were Syrians and
87 out of the 92 asylum-seekers in January also came from that country,
said Gagik Yeganyan, head of the country’s immigration service.

However, out of last year’s 496 Syrian asylum seekers, only 155 were
recognized as refugees, he added.

Between 2009 and 2011, the number of foreign citizens asking for
asylum in Armenia had not exceeded 100.

According to Armenian law, a refugee status grants the individual
the right of permanent residence with no specific term limits.

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN CALLED ON SURIK KHACHATRYAN TO LISTEN TO HIM AND TO RESIGN

Today – 17:39

During the meeting with the electors in Kapan city of Armenia Raffi
Hovhannisyan announced that he invited Syuniq region governor Surik
Khachatryan to have a meeting with him. Hovhannisyan announced that
he respected Khachatryan’s way and now advised him to resign now.

Panorama.am informs about this.

“I am sure that everyone knows that this person and the lie in Armenia
are not Armenia. Let me express my respect towards him for being a
liberation soldier. But the past is already passed. And on February
18 we have created ne Kapan, new Suniq, new Armenia. Listen to me, Mr.

Khachatryan, listen to me”, said Hovhannisyan and underlined that if
Kapan has won so Khachatryan must resign just now.

A woman named Magda took the microphone and announced that her brother
was perished soldier and she considered that no one had right to
claim the resignation of liberation soldier.

On the end of the rally Hovhannisyan announced that the next meeting
would take place at Liberty Square on February 28.