Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Hye Votes Calls On LA County Registrar To Launch Investigation On Double Ballots

asbarez
Friday, October 19th, 2012

Hye Votes

GLENDALE – The Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region’s
Hye Votes Campaign submitted a letter Thursday to the Los Angeles
County Registrar, Dean Logan, calling for an investigation on what
could be a system error in the registered voter database resulting in
potential voter fraud and disenfranchisement.

`It is clear that there are errors within the Registrar’s voter rolls
and database system that are causing individuals to receive more than
one ballot. We are confident that Mr. Logan and his office will take
the appropriate and necessary steps to resolve this matter without
delay,` stated Hye Votes Campaign Director Elen Asatryan. `In the past
several months, the Hye Votes Campaign alone has registered thousands
of Armenian-Americans to vote and in the coming days, we hope to work
with the Registrar’s office to ensure that voters, and especially
first time voters, don’t lose confidence in the electoral process
because of such errors,’ added Asatryan.

On Monday, October 15, the Hye Votes office was notified by 5
permanent absentee voters that they had received 2 ballots with
different ballots numbers for the November 6, 2012 General Elections.
Given the repercussions of double voting, Hye Votes demanded in
today’s letter that immediate action be taken and an investigation be
launched to alleviate any potential complications voters, and the
registrar, may encounter.

Hye Votes also requested a meeting with Logan to discuss how his
office plans to resolve this matter in a timely fashion, and how they
plan to communicate to voters who have received duplicate ballots.

The Hye Votes Campaign was launched by the Armenian National Committee
of America-Western Region in 2012, as a region wide, non-partisan
initiative to engage community members in the electoral process. The
Hye Votes efforts in coalition with a network of non-profit
organizations, student groups, and community members, are intended to
register and encourage the community to vote in the November 6th
General Elections while also serving as a source for voter
information.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

At Mexico City park, statue of Azerbaijan leader elicits protest

22:42, 20 October, 2012

The leafy green parks of Mexico City’s elegant Polanco neighborhood
have their politically comforting statues. There’s Abraham Lincoln,
poised thoughtfully near a shallow pond. Across from him, there’s
Martin Luther King. And a few blocks away, Mohandas Gandhi.

And then there’s the newest addition, a real head-scratcher: Heydar
Aliyev, the late strongman of Azerbaijan.

The presence of Aliyev, in larger-than-life bronze on a well-traveled
segment of the city’s iconic Reforma Boulevard, has infuriated
residents. At least those few who are able to figure out who he is.

“It would be like taking the Washington Mall, and putting a memorial
for Idi Amin there,” said Eduardo Farah, a community activist,
referring to the former Ugandan dictator.

Farah led a small demonstration the other day at Aliyev’s feet. Some
of the 20 or so participants waved a banner calling for removal of
“the dictator.”

“This is an affront,” said demonstrator Homero Aridjis, an acclaimed
poet and environmentalist. “We have enough bad symbols here in Mexico,
we don’t need to import them from outside.”

The government of Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic a gazillion
miles from Mexico (more than 7,800, for you sticklers), was allowed to
erect the statue after paying to spruce up that particular corner of
Polanco, even though that meant tearing down a few trees. It spent $3
million to $5 million for the 1/3 -acre patch plus another park
downtown.

Aliyev sits on a white marble pedestal, his name embossed in golden
letters, in front of a jagged stone map of Azerbaijan. Wrought iron
benches for viewing surround the statue and a plaque tells us that the
former KGB master, who ruled from 1993 until just before his death in
2003, “is a shining example of infinite devotion to the homeland” who
steered Azerbaijan through “prosperous democratic development.”

There’s no mention of WikiLeaks cables in which an American ambassador
compared the Aliyev dynasty to the Mafia’s Corleone family. Or to
Azerbaijan’s ranking by Transparency International as one of the most
corrupt countries, or its many years on a U.S. government blacklist.
Or to the numerous human rights reports that accuse the Aliyevs –
Heydar was succeeded by his son Ilham -of repressing domestic dissent.

Farah, Aridjis and the other activists have something else in mind:
How about the Park of Shame?

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IS RUSSIA PREPARING REPLACEMENT FOR ILHAM ALIYEV?

AZERI REPORT

BAKU. October 18, 2012: In a surprise turn of events, a powerful group
of Azeri oligarchs and prominent members of the Azerbaijani Diaspora
in Russia established a new organization – the Union of Azerbaijani
Organizations in Russia (UAOR). Billionares Vagit Alekperov, Araz
Agalarov and Telman Ismayilov are among the founders of this new
organization, along with the multimillionare businessman Iskender
Khalilov, prominent Azeri writer Rustam Ibrahimbeyov, Abbas Abbasov,
the former deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan, Soyun Sadigov,
chairman of the Cultural Autonomy of Russia Azerbaijanis “Azerross,”
Natig Agamirov, president of Guild of Notaries of Russia, Ramazan
Abdulatipov, Russian State Duma Deputy from Daghestan. While the
founders of the organization declared that they have no political
ambitions, the very fact that so many powerful players with close ties
to the Russian government came together to form an organization speaks
for itself. The media speculates that the Azerbaijani ambassador to
Russia Polad Bulbuloglu supports UAOR as well. Surprisingly, one of
the UAOR founders is closely related to the Azerbaijani president
Ilham Aliyev himself. Billionare Araz Agalarov’s son Emin is married
to Ilham Aliyev’s daughter Leyla.

Turan News Agency reports that the Azerbaijan State Committee for
Diaspora Affairs issued a statement condemning the creation of
the Union of Azerbaijani Organizations in Russia (UAOR). The State
Committee considers it unnecessary to create a new organization, as
the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress (RAC) was created in Russia in
2001. The current structure has 73 regional offices in 67 regions of
Russia, and is one of the most powerful and influential Azerbaijani
Diaspora organizations in the world, according to the statement of the
State Committee. The State Committee considers the creation of UAOR
a step that “does not serve the unity and solidarity of Azerbaijanis
living in the Russian Federation.”

The statement of the State Committee can be considered as an
expression of concern by official Baku about the loss of influence
on the Azerbaijani Diaspora in Russia.

Ali Hasanov, Chief of the Public Political Department of the
Presidential Administration, made a more cautious statement in
his interview to “Whatever is written about the
newly established Union of Azerbaijani Organizations in Russia is
the speculation of the media. Let’s wait and see what these people
themselves have to say. We shall make our position public after that”
(Azeri Report).

ARMENIAN DIASPORA HAMPERS SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT – LENNMARKER

News.Az
Fri 19 October 2012 05:54 GMT | 6:54 Local Time

News.Az interviews former special envoy of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly on Karabakh conflict and currently chairman of the Stockholm
International Institute of Research Goran Lennmarker.

How do you assess the situation in the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict today, years after you stopped dealing with this issue
closely in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly?

I can say that nothing special has changed over the past years. But
I consider that the conflict can be settled much quicker. Here it is
more about the intention to find the solution.

How do you see the solution to the problem?

Peaceful settlement means that both parties must come to a coordinated
variant. Otherwise, the achievement of peaceful settlement is
impossible. The issue which is considered the most critical to my
mind is that both countries search the solution appropriate for the
opposite party.

Thus, compromises are necessary. It is impossible to find the solution
which would meet the interests of one of the parties by 100%. I think
that it is difficult to find the solution.

I would like to distance from the Karabakh issue. You have recently
visited Azerbaijan, has the country changed much from the moment of
your recent visit?

Certainly. Every time when I come to Azerbaijan, I see more big houses,
developed infrastructure. Probably, Azerbaijan is the most rapidly
changing country in the world. This can be seen from the economic
development rates of the country. This is very important. I think
that today it is the time for changes in other spheres-education,
democratic reforms.

Azerbaijan’s economy is often called the locomotive of the South
Caucasus. Can the successful economic development of the country
accelerate the settlement of the Karabakh conflict?

Yes, certainly. The president of Azerbaijan speaks about a very
important thing-the need to transform black oil into human gold. This
is certainly the indicator of the correct development of Azerbaijan,
like any other country. There is a need to develop human resources,
education and science.

In addition, it is easier to understand compromises with such
a climate. Only strong state can really be ready to attaining a
coordinated solution. This is important both for Azerbaijan, whose
1 million citizens want to return home and for Armenians who want to
feel safe. The matter is just about Armenians’ concern that Armenia
is a very small country, a very poor country whose population faces
the issue of survival.

But Armenians have a strong Diaspora?

Exactly. And a very prospering diaspora which sometimes creates
problems. The matter is that Armenians in Armenia want peace. Because
they live in the region. Meanwhile, the Diaspora lives far beyond its
bounds-in California, in other places. These are mostly nationalists,
in the worst meaning of the word, as compared to Armenians in Armenia.

Armenians need the understanding that the only solution for Armenia
is the life in harmony in relations with its neighbors, especially,
certainly, with Azerbaijan.

F.H.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: NAME OF PERSON WHO ORDERED TO BUY CHEAP BALLOONS IS KNOWN

Source: Panorama.am
19/10/2012

RPA member Ruben Tadevosyan made the decision to buy unsafe balloons
for 100 drams from Serob Bozoyan, who was sentenced to 1 year in
prison on October 17, instead of safe balloons which cost 1000 drams,
Haykakan Zhamanak reports, citing a well-informed source.

Tadevosyan is the chairman of the RPA organizational committee.

Haykakan Zhamanak’s correspondent visited RPA office to meet with
Tadevosyan and ask him for a comment. But his secretary said he was
busy making calculations and told the correspondent to contact his
spokesperson.

MINISTRY OF DIASPORA TO OPEN THE PATHWAY OF THE ARMENIAN BENEFACTORS

12:00, 19 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Diaspora of the
Republic of Armenia initiated the opening of the Pathway of the
Armenian Benefactors, which will take place the Round Park of Yerevan
(near the Statue of M. Nalbandyan), on October 20 in 17:00 PM.

In the message of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia
is said: “The Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia initiated
and ordered statues and memorials of great sons of Armenia and symbols
of charity like Boghos Nubar, Aleksandr Mantashian, Alex Manoogian,
Calouste Gulbenkian, Michael Aramiants and Hovhannes Nazarian and
collective character of charity to be opened in the heart of the
capital city”.

The Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan
and the chairman of Armenian General Benevolent Union Berge Setrakian
will make opening remarks. The honor of cutting the ribbon will be
granted to the honor’s pupils of School after Alex Manoogian and
School after Calouste Gulbenkian. National Anthem of the Republic
of Armenia will sound during the opening ceremony and the honorary
guests will be welcomed by the Brass Band of the Headquarter of the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and “Zorakan” assembly of
the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT REMAINS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF THE REGION, US ASSISTANT AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN SAYS

arminfo
Friday, October 19, 11:43

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains the biggest threat to the
security of the region, US Assistant Ambassador to Azerbaijan Adam
Sterling says, Trend reports.

Sterling delivered a speech at the international conference on the
role of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in
ensuring peace and security in the region.

He said the United States will continue efforts for Azerbaijan and
Armenia to come to peaceful settlement of the conflict. “Washington’s
position is changeless. The United States supports peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We will continue efforts for the
peaceful settlement of the problem”, Sterling said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out on February 28 1988 in the
Azerbaijani Sumgait with massacre of Armenians as a peculiar response
of Azerbaijanis to the peaceful demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh
autonomous Region, part of the Azerbaijani SSR, to unite with the
Armenian SSR. This resulted in other pogroms of Armenians in Baku,
Kirovabad and other regions of Azerbaijan populated with Armenians.

In 1991 Azerbaijan unleashed war against peaceful populations of
Nagorno-Karabakh, expulsing ethnic Armenians from the territory of
Azerbaijan. Dozens of thousands of peaceful residents on both parties
were killed in the military actions, and hundreds of thousands were
left homeless and have become refugees. In 1994 in Bishkek in mediation
of the OSCE MG, the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Protocol on
Ceasefire that is observed more or less so far. Since 1992 the OSCE
Minsk Group represented by co- chairs from Russia, U.S. and France has
been mediating in resolution of the conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan
in 1988. At present the peace process is based on the Madrid Principles
suggested by the OSCE MG in 2007 in Madrid and renovated in 2009.

ARMENIA RUSHING TOWARD WEST
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:46:59 – 19/10/2012

On October 18 Armenia did two major steps proving its final decision
to move toward the West.

Armenia and the U.S. signed a memorandum on energy cooperation which
may be considered the milestone of the relations of both countries.

The U.S. assumed the task to ensure the security of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant for the next 10 years, besides, it is not ruled
out that the U.S. will provide the necessary money for the construction
of the new nuclear reactor.

Besides, it was also stated that both countries are going to increase
the scales of trade and investments. Investments, as we know, have
the feature of changing the political situation.

The second important event is the initialization of agreement between
Armenia and the EU on the simplification of the visa regime. Russia has
been trying for a couple of years to simplify the visa regime with the
EU. On these days, the minister of foreign affairs of Russia Sergey
Lavrov said that Russia met all the EU demands and the refusal of
the European Union of simplify the visa regime is a political position.

Apparently, this position changed in relation to Armenia.

The Armenian people with its history, culture and modern aspirations
are an inseparable part of the European civilization, said Serzh
Sargsyan at the meeting of the European People’s Party.

At the same time he underlined that a program of complex reforms is
being worked out in Armenia for the realization of which financial
support is necessary “this is why the donor conference with the
European Commission for Armenia is planned”. The conference will,
most likely, be held after the presidential elections in February;
nevertheless, millions in the form of grants are already flowing to
Armenia through European channels.

It is noteworthy that the Deputy State Secretary Assistant Erik Rubin
stated in Yerevan that they are not against Armenia’s cooperation
with Russia, but, to the contrary, they would like competition and
development of multilateral relations. Earlier, in his interview
to Lragir.am, the U.S. ambassador John Heffern had also said that
they are not against Armenia’s cooperation with Russia and that
“the country can’t have only one partner”.

This means that the U.S. is not only trying to “drag” Armenia out
of the Russian zone of influence but also to create a platform in
Armenia for equal cooperation with Russia. We just need to wait to
see whether Russia will accept such proposal.

DIRECTOR OF KAPAN MEAT COMBINE READY TO SAY DETAILS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:44:40 – 19/10/2012

The Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports the director of Kapan Meat
Combine Albert Ohanjanyan, who was detained on September 29 for
supplying buffalo meat instead of beef to the army, is going to
“say everything”, says Ohanjanyan’s lawyer Yervand Varosyan.

Naturally, Ohanjanyan has much to tell since he is the provider
whom the deputy head of Armed Forces staff owes much money. Yervand
Varosyan told Haykakan Zhamanak, that Ohanjanyan, who is currently
in the prisoners’ hospital, does not plead guilty and refutes giving
testimonies. But if necessary, he will say everything, clarified
Varosyan.

Ohanjanyan is charged with large-scale fraud. In case he is
ruled guilty, he will serve up to 8 years in prison and property
expropriation.

SWITZERLAND AND ARMENIA TO DEVELOP ECONOMIC TIES

10:43, 19 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Swiss businessmen’s delegation is set
to arrive Yerevan to meet with their fellow Armenian colleagues. As
information department of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Republic
of Armenia informed Armenpress, the meeting with Swiss businessmen,
the letters in an official visit to Armenia, is scheduled to be
launched in Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Armenia on October 23.

In accordance with the Armenian Embassy in the Switzerland the visit
is aimed at involving Armenia in the frame of Joint Chambers of
Commerce Switzerland (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan). The trade turnover between Armenia and Switzerland
amounted 111965.4 thousand US dollars during 2011 January – December ,
33680 of which makes export, while 78284.9 import.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Swiss
Confederation were established on 5 January 1992. On 30 January
2009, Charles Aznavour was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Switzerland
(with residence in Geneva). On 15 March 2011, Konstantin Obolensky,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation
to Armenia, presented his credentials to the President of the Republic
of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.