Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Earthquake recorded in the Republic of Armenia

12:02, 26 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26 , ARMENPRESS. On January 26 at 00.56 by local
time a 3.2 magnitude earthquake has been recorded by the seismological
network of the Seismic Security Service. The epicenter was 10
kilometers southeast from Ashotsk, Republic of Armenia.

The strength of the earthquake was 4 points in the epicenter spot.

The Seismic Security Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that the geographical
coordinators of the epicenter are as follows: in the latitude of
40.990 from North and in the longitude of 43.970 from East.

The hypocenter of the earthquake is situated 10 kilometers deep.

In accordance with the preliminary information the 3-point magnitude
earthquake was recorded in Ashotsk.

GENOCIDE
« Le Génocide après le Génocide » un film-documentaire sur le
patrimoine architectural arménien en péril de l’Arménie occidentale

La Fondation d’études de l’architecture arménienne a présenté à Erévan
son dernier film-documentaire titré « Yéghern Yéghernits hédo » (le
Génocide après le Génocide). Le film montre les `uvres du patrimoine
architectural arménien en péril en Arménie historique depuis 1915. Il
présente également la politique menée par la Turquie visant à la
destruction massive de ces témoignages de la présence arménienne sur
ces terres. Le documentaire juxtapose nombre de ces monuments ou
constructions à travers le temps et démontre l’importance des
dégradations occasionnées. Nombre de ces joyaux de l’architecture
arménienne servirent à l’armée turque comme des cibles d’entrainement
militaire. Avant 1915 des quelques 1700 constructions historiques
arméniennes dans l’Arménie occidentale, il ne resterait plus que
quelques dizaines aujourd’hui. Les images qui démontrent cette
disparition programmée sont édifiantes. Il s’agit bien d’un véritable
génocide culturel après le génocide physique de 1915.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 26 janvier 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

German Investor Hopeful of “Just” Verdict in Legal Suit Against Tsarukyan

Kristine Aghalaryan

19:11, January 22, 2013
German businessman Stefan Laxhube told Hetq that he was not pleased
with an Armenian court’s examination of his legal suit against Gagik
Tsarukyan, alleging that the defendant has exerted pressure on the
court.

Laxube, the CEO of the German investment firm `Ostinvestor’, has sued
Tsarukyan for swindling his company out of shares it purchased in the
`Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory’ (YABWV). The trial dates
back to 2009.

On December 7, Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General Court of
Jurisdiction was scheduled to issue a final ruling on the case. Judge
Arayik Melkoumyan, however, decided to re-examine the entire matter
from scratch.

Judge Melkoumyan designated July 22 as the start of the new trial.
Davit Danielyan, the attorney for YABWV never showed up.

Laxhube told Hetq that while he is displeased with the court’s
re-examination of the case materials, he is not ready to intervene in
the political situation in Armenia.

`I’m only a businessman who saw great potential in Armenians. That’s
why I was interested in making extensive investments here,’ Laxhube
said.

The German investor was cautiously optimistic that the final verdict
would be just and impartial.

Armenian youth prepares to celebrate St. Sarkis – `Lovers Day’

January 25, 2013 | 20:59

In Armenia, on January 26, the holiday of St. Sarkis, the Armenian
`Lovers Day’ is going to be celebrated. By the order of the Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin B, the day has been proclaimed as the day of
blessing of the young people.

According to ancient tradition, the night before the holiday of St.
Sarkis, young people eat salty cake before going to bed and they do
not drink any water. Traditionally it is believed that the person who
brings them water in their dream will be their future spouse in real
life. There is another tradition on this day, mostly observed in the
villages: a tray of fried wheat flour is put on the roof or on the
balcony, waiting for the St. Sarkis’ horse hooves. According to
legend, St. Sarkis flies over the houses with angels, and if in a tray
with flour a mark of his white horse hooves (the symbol of purity and
innocence) is left, then on that year the dream of lover who lives in
that house will come true. On this day, lovers give each other cards,
flowers and sweets.

On this day in the church bearing the name of St. Sarkis a liturgy
will be served, after which will be the rite of blessing of the young
people. The festive event will take place in Yerevan city Lovers’ Park
(formerly the Children’s Park after Pushkin).

FIFA allows Artem Khachaturov to play for Armenian national soccer team

YEREVAN, January 25. / ARKA /. Former defender of Moldovan national
youth soccer team and Tiraspol Sheriff FC, Artem Khachaturov, received
on Friday the official permission from FIFA to play for the Armenian
national team.

Armenian Football Federation said it received an official letter from
FIFA, which says that Khachaturov now has the right to play for the
national team. In his turn Khachaturov said he is looking forward to
his first match for the national team.

“I was very happy when I learned that all the issues were sorted out,
and now I can play for the Armenian team. I’ve been waiting for this
day, and now my dream has come true,’ he said.

He said he always watched the performances of the Armenian national
team and is looking forward to his début.

Artem Khachaturov was invited to play in the friendly match versus
Luxembourg, which will be held on February 5th. -0-

Saakashvili Regards Release Of Armenian Prisoner Vahagn Chakhalyan As ‘A Rough Mistake’

GEORGIA ONLINE
18:51 – 25 JANUARY ’13

President Mikheil Saakashvili says the release of Armenian prisoner
Vahagn Chakhalyan was Bidzina Ivanishvili’s personal decision,
calling it ‘a rough mistake’.

“I want to make a statement about release of the criminal Chakhalyan,
who is an enemy of Georgian statehood. As it turns out this person
was released at the request of the Armenian patriarch. I listened to
the PM’s explanations and I regard them utterly unsatisfactory.

Ivanishvili undertook the heaviest responsibility towards Georgia’s
national security. I think he made the toughest mistake, the results
of which will be clear in the nearest weeks and years”, Mikheil
Saakashvili said.

According to him, Chakhalyan represents the Russian special services
in Georgia.

“I don’t want to emphasize his ethnicity as it does not matter. We have
many Armenians in Georgia who were protecting Georgian independence
with arms in their hands but this person represents not Armenia but
Russian special services. He broke up the Georgian church eparchy, as
well as Georgian university, police and municipality in Akhalkalaki. He
was against withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia territories. The
new government was aware of all this. We provided them with the
above-mentioned information. This was a personal decision by the PM,
which, I presume, was aimed at pleasing a certain foreign force. He
should remember that he is Georgia’s Prime Minister and should act
in Georgian interests”, Saakashvili said.

“I define neither release nor detention of prisoners”, PM Bidzina
Ivanishvili told journalists in Davos while commenting on Mikheil
Saakashvili’s statement, which said release of the Armenian prisoner
was the PM’s personal decision.

“I define neither release nor detention of prisoners. I don’t interfere
into affairs of the Prosecutor’s Office”, Ivanishvili said.

According to him, the situation has changed in Georgia and decisions
are not made by just one person as it was earlier.

Rapporteur On Azerbaijan In PACE Becomes Main Lobbyist For Aliyev Regime – El Pais

NEWS.AM
January 25, 2013 | 18:57

The European Stability Initiative (ESI) independent think tank has
requested the resignation of Spanish Pedro Agramunt, a member of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the senator from
the People’s Party, representing the autonomous region of Valencia,
a journalist Jose Ignacio Torreblanca wrote in an article “Caviar
diplomacy from Valencia to Azerbaijan” in the Spanish El Pais.

Translation of the article is published in InoSMI.

Explaining what exactly Senator Agramunt is being accused of, the
journalist wrote:

“In order to see the complete picture, it is better to read the
following two reports: ‘Caviar diplomacy, or how Azerbaijan has
silenced the Council of Europe’, presented in May 2012, and ‘Portrait
of Deception: how Azerbaijan was monitored or why Agramunt must
leave office’, on January 22, 2013. When it comes to essentials,
the ESI suggests that Senator Agramunt being Rapporteur on democracy
and human rights in Azerbaijan, for which he was appointed by the
European public, became one of the main lobbyists of the Aliyev regime
in Europe.”

Further, the author of the article points that all international
organizations consider Azerbaijan not free country:

“After independence, it was headed by Heydar Aliyev. When Heyday
Aliyev died, the post was occupied by his son, Ilham Aliyev, who won
the 2003 election with ‘with absolutely no doubts’ getting 88.73% of
the vote. When his second term came to an end in March 2009, Aliyev
Jr. called a referendum on changes to the Constitution, in which 92%
of voters said they will be glad to review the Constitution in order
for Ilham Aliyev to remain in power as he wishes.”

ESI accuses Agramunt of manipulating the reports of the observers from
the field, cover-ups of violations of civil rights, the continued
support of the regime, for inventing tales about a “progress of
democracy,” justifying repression by linking it to the Islamist
threat. Finally, Agramunt is accused in lobbying the Aliyev regime,
by blocking sanctions against Azerbaijan.

PARIS HOSTS PRESENTATION OF “ARMENIAN HISTORY” BOOK

January 25, 2013 – 19:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – France hosted presentation of “History of Armenia
from Old Times until Present Days” book by prominent experts in
Armenian studies Annie and Jean-Pierre Mahe, under the auspices of
Armenian ambassador to Paris Vigen Chitechyan.

In his speech, Ambassador Chitechyan highly assessed the implementation
of the program by French authors, whishing them good luck in their
further initiatives.

Armenian community representatives, journalists, cultural workers
and NGO representatives attended the event, MFA press service reported.

IF ELECTED, ARMAN MELIKYAN WILL RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH
Artak Barseghyan

“Radiolur”
18:10 25.01.2013

If elected, Arman Melikyan will recognize the independence of NKR
parallel to the negotiation process within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group. The presidential candidate answered the questions of
Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists in an on-line interview today.

Having suspended the election campaign, Arman Melikyan has now
concentrated on ensuring the legality of the elections.

Melikyan is confident that no post-election developments will follow
the voting day as it was the case in 2008.

AGOS EDITOR CALLS FOR LARGE-SCALE INVESTIGATION OF ISTANBUL ATTACKS

14:25, January 25, 2013

Aris Nalcı, an editor of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, has
called on Turkish authorities to launch a large-scale investigation
into the recent spate of attacks against Armenian women in Istanbul.

An article in yesterday’s Today’s Zaman states that Nalcı doesn’t
think these successive assaults in Samatya are isolated incidents at
all; adding that he believes they are organized.

“The Police Department states these incidents are unrelated, but
they generally say such things in similar incidents in order not to
unsettle people. I think a climate of fear is being created in the
neighborhood,” Nalcı noted.

Four attacks against elderly Armenian women in the Samatya neighborhood
of Ä°stanbul’s Fatih district have occurred within the past two months.
One of the woman, 85 year-old Maritsa Kucuk, was attacked in her
apartment on Dec. 28, 2012. She was brutally killed after being
stabbed seven times.

Today’s Zaman reports that it spoke with Antranik Yontan, an Armenian
living in the Samatya neighbourhood. Yontan told the newspaper that
Armenians have stopped speaking Armenian and that elderly Armenian
women are now afraid of going to the local Armenian church.

“A climate of fear is prevalent around the neighborhood among the
Armenian communities,” Yontan said.