Author: Kalantarian Kevo

MENENDEZ, SHAHEEN DENOUNCE AZERI ATTACKS DURING MORNINGSTAR HEARING

Asbarez
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Morningstar during Wednesday’s Senate panel hearing

WASHINGTON-Azerbaijan’s escalation of violence against Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh and ongoing repression of human rights took
center stage during Wednesday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee
confirmation hearing for U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan designee Richard
Morningstar, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

In successive questions, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on
Europe Chairwoman Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Robert Menendez
sent a clear message that U.S. – Azerbaijan relations should not solely
be founded on energy concerns and must reflect the fundamental issues
of democracy building and human rights as well as finding a peaceful
and lasting resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Sen. Menendez “We join with Armenians in New Jersey, New Hampshire
and across America in thanking Senators Menendez and Shaheen for
shining a spotlight on the failure of the Obama Administration to
stand up to Azerbaijan’s escalating threats and acts of anti-Armenian
aggression and worsening human rights record,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “We were especially gratified, in light of
Baku’s recent cross-border attacks into both Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh that Senator Menendez was able to secure assurances from
Ambassador-designate Morningstar regarding the very strict scrutiny
that should be applied to any potential U.S. military transfers or
sales to an Azerbaijani government that has openly pledged to use
its growing arsenal to renew its aggression.”

US-Azerbaijan Relationship More than Energy “Azerbaijan’s integration
with the West can and must span well beyond pipelines,” said
Ambassador-designate Morningstar in his prepared testimony, after
underscoring the broad levels of energy and security cooperation
between the U.S. and the Caucasus nation. “The United States must
also continue to work with Azerbaijan on advancing democratic and
economic reforms, including promoting respect for the rule of law,
transparency, and fundamental freedoms.” Morningstar went on to cite
that “to achieve a more secure and prosperous future for the region,
there is no higher immediate priority for the United States than the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

Senator Menendez Condemns Azerbaijani Aggression; Demolition of Djulfa
Cemetery In his questions to Morningstar, Sen. Menendez called specific
attention to recent cross-border attacks by Azerbaijan against Armenia,
threats by President Aliyev that “Armenian will live in fear,” and
the assertion that “Our [Azerbaijan’s] main enemies are Armenians of
the world.” Menendez continued, asking “do you think, based upon those
types of statements, that the proposed sales of military hardware to
be used in conjunction with Azerbaijan’s military helicopter fleet
is really in the national interest of the United States?”

Morningstar responded that “that it is fair to say, and I will say,
that any language that is counterproductive, such as you have said,
that any actions by any party that bring about loss of life, as the
Secretary of State said last week, create increased tensions, can
create escalations that can have unpredictable and unforeseeable
consequences and make even more difficult the task of achieving
the settlement in Nagorno Karabakh.” He stopped short, however,
of expressly calling out the Azerbaijani Government’s aggression
against Armenia.

In terms of military sales to Azerbaijan, Morningstar argued,
“There are increasing tensions with respect to other neighbors,
in particular with Iran. And we have to provide, I think, security
assistance, possibly military assistance in ways that cannot be
used to exacerbate any situation with respect to Armenia or Nagorno
Karabakh.” Menendez was quick to respond, reminding Morningstar that
“I didn’t hear President Aliyev say ‘My main enemy or security concern
is Iran,’ he said that, ‘Our main enemies are the Armenians of the
world.’ [. . .] I have a real problem with going ahead and selling
military hardware to the Azerbaijanis based upon what has happened.”

In response to Sen. Menendez’s question about why the Azerbaijani
destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Djulfa was not included in
the State Department Religious Freedom Report, Morningstar replied,
“. I don’t know. But I can say that if I am confirmed I will make every
effort to visit the cemetery and that any kind of desecration such as
that is unacceptable, outrageous and I will do my best to get there,
and soon.” Menendez continued undeterred, stating that “I would assume
the only impediment to your best effort will be the Azerbaijanis not
letting you go? I’m trying to understand what your “best effort” is?

You’re going to do everything possible to go?” referencing the Aliyev
regime’s refusal to allow former Ambassador Bryza to visit the region.

“Yes,” replied Morningstar.

As with past nominees, Sen. Menendez pressed Morningstar regarding
his position on the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
asking “I don’t expect you to answer any differently than I have had
previous nominees before this committee do, but I have to ask you
whether or not you contest any of the facts what transpired in 1915
as it relates to 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally massacred
and marched to their deaths in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire?”

Morningstar replied “No, I do not.”

Sen. Shaheen Senator Shaheen focused her questions on Azerbaijan’s
human rights record and urged Morningstar to do more than “jawboning”
in terms of getting positive movement with regards to democracy
building efforts in the country. She went on to ask Morningstar
about the effect of Israel’s proposed $1.5 Billion arms sale and
its affects on regional stability. In his opening remarks, Senate
Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry cited the importance of
finding a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Ranking
Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) focused his questions on the energy
sector and Azerbaijan’s role in the region.

Watch the complete video of the session on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Web site.

Senators have an additional day to submit written questions to
Ambassador-designate Morningstar. No date has yet been scheduled for
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation vote.

AZERBAIJAN RETALIATES AGAINST EUROVISION ACTIVISTS

asbarez
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Mehman Huseynov

BAKU-Azeri police have detained activist and journalist Mehman Huseynov
for allegedly highlighting widespread abuses by the government before
and during last month’s Eurovision song contests in Baku, reported
Amnesty International.

The group said that Huseynov’s arrest signals the start of the widely
predicted government crackdown on those they consider responsible
for negative publicity during Eurovision.

A 23-year-old video blogger, photojournalist and pro-democracy
activist detained since last night in the capital Baku must be released
immediately and without conditions, Amnesty International said.

The organization believes that activist Mehman Huseynov has been
targeted for highlighting abuses in the country during last month’s
Eurovision Song Contest.

His arrest comes amid a worrying rise in police harassment of young
activists who participated in protests around Eurovision.

“Mehman’s arrest signals the start of the widely predicted government
crackdown on those they consider responsible for negative publicity
during Eurovision,” said Max Tucker, Amnesty International’s Azerbaijan
campaigner.

“The continued reluctance of European leaders to condemn shocking
rights violations in this oil-rich country gives the authorities
leeway to exact their revenge.”

Huseynov worked as the Media Coordinator for the “Sing for Democracy”
campaign group which encouraged Sweden’s Eurovision entry Loreen –
who went on to win the contest – to speak out about Azerbaijan’s
human rights problems.

He has been accused of ‘hooliganism’ and faces five years in prison
if convicted. The charge relates to an incident during a protest he
was covering on 21 May.

Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that police officers
deliberately smashed the cameras of Huseynov and a colleague, after
which he swore at the officers. Under Azerbaijani law, hooliganism
is a criminal offence only when it involves violence.

Five of the officers have testified that Huseynov not only swore,
but acted “violently” – though they gave no further details. Two
witnesses testify that he did nothing violent, and video footage of
the incident appears to support their accounts.

Huseynov’s photographs of peaceful protests being violently dispersed
in Baku have been disseminated widely by international media and on
social networks.

In March 2011 he was arrested and interrogated about his Facebook
activity while working as a cameraman for Amnesty International.

He is the youngest brother of Emin Huseynov, Director of Azerbaijani
NGO Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety, who led the “Sing
for Democracy” campaign.

“We knew the authorities would take action against us, we just did
not know how and when,” Emin Huseynov told Amnesty International.

“When will the international community tell our government enough
is enough? I can only hope it will be in time to save my brother
from prison.”

Mehman Huseynov is now the seventh journalist in custody in Azerbaijan,
and if convicted would be the 15th prisoner of conscience in the
country today.

According to the opposition Popular Front Party, three other youth
activists who took part in protests during Eurovision have been
harassed by police in the past week.

One of the activists, Khanim Mustafayeva, told Amnesty International
that her father was summoned to police, and interrogated him about
her having joined “radical forces”.

Police twice summoned the parents of activist Ramin Musayev to tell
them their son had “joined radical religious forces” and had “disturbed
the public order”. Musayev was then interrogated and threatened with
expulsion from school.

The father of Bayim Hasanli, who witnessed the 21 May incident
involving Mehman Huseynov, was also summoned to a local police station
to be interrogated about his daughter’s activities.

DID THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF PENITENTIARIES ORDER A MURDER OF A CONVICT?

11:50 . 14/06

On June 13 the National Security Service arrested the former head of
the department of penitentiaries Samvel Hovhannisyan.

As PastInfo was informed from reliable sources, S. Hovhannisyan is
suspected of having prepared an ordered murder with mercenary motives
by a group of people.

According to the same source, preparation of the murder of a convict
through other convicts is meant.

ARMENIAN TOURISTS PREFER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO TURKEY

ARMENPRESS
14 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: 120 000 people from Armenia have left
for abroad under the purpose of tourism in the first quarter of 2012.

Armenpress was informed from the head of Tourism department of
Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresyan that the first quarter is more
passive period for traveling. “Armenians like to have sea holiday
and prefer to leave for those countries which have seashore” he
said. In Apresyan’s words there are people who prefer cultural and
cognitive rest and leave for European countries. In order to imagine
approximately for which countries Armenians have left this year we
called ten travel agencies. Nine agencies mentioned that Armenians
this year have left for Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain and other European
countries, and leavers for neighbor Turkey have very small percentage.

“There are already many countries which organize sea holiday and
Armenians prefer to leave for other countries rather than for Turkey.

It is also associated with raising of consciousness of people.

SERGEI PARAJANOV COMMEMORATIVE COIN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:12:39 – 14/06/2012

The Central Bank of Armenia issued a commemorative coin dedicated to
Sergei Parajanov within the frameworks of “World’s famous directors”
numismatic program.

The nominal price of the coin is AMD 100. The author of the coin is
Ursula Valezhak. It was coined in Poland. The silver coin weights
28.28 grams and measures 28.0 x 40.0 mm. The commemorative was issued
in 5555 copies.

CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT OR POLITICAL INTRIGUE?: CEMENT FACTORY SUSPENSION RAISES SUSPICIONS

Economy | 14.06.12 | 13:16

Photo: Karen Mirzoyan/ArmeniaNow archive photo

Ararat Cement, one of the leading tax paying business in Armenia,
which belongs to leader of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), tycoon
Gagik Tsarukyan, has stopped work, and there is speculation that the
closing is somehow connect to politics.

The factory employs more than 1,000 workers.

Previously owned by the family of former Minister of Defense (later
Prime Minister who was a victim of the October 27,1999 parliament
killings) Vazgen Sargsyan, the plant has been owned by Tsarukyan as
part of is Mulit-Group holdings, since 2003.

Employees of the factory are saying the suspension of work is connected
with the possible change in the factory’s management staff.

It is a possibility that the Sargsyans might recover their former
share in the factory, and Armen Sargsyan could be appointed executive
director of the factory.

Even though speculations over the factory’s closure had previously
circulated and those speculations were mainly linked with politics,
the management of the factory has been silent on the issue.

Tsarukyan’s spokeswoman Iveta Tonoyan in an interview with RFE/RL’s
Armenian service on Wednesday neither refuted nor confirmed the
closure, and only said that the factory would continue running;
and not a single employee would be left jobless.

“Political context should not be looked for here,” Tonoyan says.

Some are seeing a connection with the plant’s closure and the news this
week that PAP senior member Vartan Oskanian is being investigated for
money laundering in connection with his Civilitas Foundation think
tank. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs says the charges are
politically motivated.

Political analysts speculate that the two developments are part of
the persecution PAP could expect since it refused to join a coalition
with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), following the May
6 parliamentary elections.

COMMENTARY: TURKEY’S ZERO PROBLEM FOREIGN POLICY AND ITS MULTIPLES
By Edmond Y. Azadian

June 14, 2012 12:05 pm

____________________________________________________________________________

Turkey’s hawkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu entered the foreign
policy arena disguised as a dove, advocating a new foreign policy
for his country that would reduce to zero all the problems with its
neighbors. Since Mr. Davutoglu prefers to define his country’s foreign
policy in mathematical terms, the results or the sums of that policy
can be measured in the same mathematical terms.

Mr. Davutoglu’s zero was multiplied with many zeros to give a zero
result as appraised by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.

The protocols with Armenia yielded a zero. Negotiations with Cyprus
regressed, rather than progressed, when Turkey refused to abide by
the European Union’s demand to open up its ports and airports for
Cypriot transport. Next, after kissing and hugging President Bashar
al Assad of Syria, Turkey emerged as the vanguard in undermining that
country’s sovereignty. Turkey engineered a stand off with Israel,
and finally, after signing a $20-billion energy agreement with Iran,
and thumbing the warnings from the West, relations between the two
nations are frosty.

All these problems – far from being reduced to zero – have inexplicably
boosted the Turkish leaders’ arrogance. At the NATO conference in
Chicago last month, Ankara insisted on keeping out

Israel and the NATO leadership gave in. The Turkish Israeli policy is
multifaceted and that apparent hostility also has a silver lining; had
Turkey been really hurting Israeli interests, the latter’s operatives
in Washington would tame Ankara right away. Instead, Israel giving
in to Turkey’s quest allowed Ankara to gain brownie points in the
Arab world and thus in the end to boost Israel’s basic interests in
eliminating unfriendly regimes in the region, one by one. After Iraq
and Libya, now it is Syria’s turn. The collapse of Assad’s regime,
to which Turkey is fully subscribed, has more value for Israel than
an apparent defeat at a Chicago conference.

Washington fully understands – and, in fact, orchestrates – these
multi-level policies.

Since 2005, Turkey has begun the accession negotiations with the
European Union. Turkey wants to have its cake and eat it. The EU has
set some basic conditions for Turkey to be eligible for membership;
the EU requests the removal of article 301 from Turkish penal code,
the resolution of the Cypriot problem, the opening of borders with
Armenia and the recognition of (all) genocides. Ankara refuses to
abide by those conditions and wishes to be entitled for membership.

Recently, Turkish leaders have raised the ante and puffed their chests
further, pretending that the EU needs their country rather than the
other way around.

On the sidelines of the EU-Turkey talks, Mr. Davutoglu has participated
in a joint press conference with the EU foreign policy chief, Baroness
Catherine Ashton, and the EU enlargement commissioner, Stefan Fule.

Davutoglu has made outrageous announcements, including freezing
relations with the EU as long as Cyprus serves as president, from July
1, 2012 through January 2013. In addition, Turkey will block countries
and companies exploring oil and gas within Cyprus’s continental shelf.

He has particularly indicated: “EU-Turkey relations and the political
contacts we are currently establishing will continue as they are. Yet
no ministry or organization of the Turkish Republic will take part
in any activity that will be presided by southern Cyprus.”

For his part, Egemen Bagis, the Turkish minister in charge of EU
affairs, has added: “Turkey will determinedly progress in its course
towards the EU.”

The 25 nations constituting the EU have agreed to Cyprus’
presidency. Yet Turkey, still not a member, has been defying their
decision. This unbridled bullying must give a pre-taste to all members
of the EU who wish to admit Turkey in the union. Armenia’s foreign
policy architects believe that if Turkey’s joins the EU, by extension
Armenia will be bordering Europe. Now they can predict what to expect
from that Europeanized neighbor.

Any observer at this press conference would expect that Baroness
Ashton would stand up and tell Mr. Davutoglu that beggars cannot be
choosers. But instead, what do we see? The Baroness, who when in
Yerevan, walks and talks like a commanding general, radiating the
arrogance of power through her body language, has become a pussycat in
front of the Turks. Instead she thanks Turkey for sheltering nearly
27,000 Syrian refugees who have fled violence in their country,
where forces loyal to President Assad [the Syrian army] are waging a
crackdown on an uprising. She would rather thank Turkey for playing
its surrogate role perfectly by hosting a Syrian government in exile,
by training and arming mercenaries to wreak havoc in a country which
was one of the most stable nations in the Middle East.

The Baroness concludes her remarks by adding: “We are horrified by
the violence and determined to work together in support of solutions.”

Today arms and money are pouring into Syria, mostly through the Turkish
border and raising the level of violence to such an atrocious level
where it will be convenient to blame the government forces, which are
trying to bring order and save the lives of citizens caught in the
crossfire of the army and foreign intruders. Turkey has been enhancing
its power by efficiently executing assignments from the West and as
compensation, it is allowed even to bully the European Union.

All indications are there to conclude that Turkey is ready to
accomplish another dirty job in the region, when pressure on Iran
heats up, after the collapse of the regime in Syria.

Turkey’s hawkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu entered the foreign
policy arena disguised as a dove, advocating a new foreign policy
for his country that would reduce to zero all the problems with its
neighbors. Since Mr. Davutoglu prefers to define his country’s foreign
policy in mathematical terms, the results or the sums of that policy
can be measured in the same mathematical terms.

Mr. Davutoglu’s zero was multiplied with many zeros to give a zero
result as appraised by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.

The protocols with Armenia yielded a zero. Negotiations with Cyprus
regressed, rather than progressed, when Turkey refused to abide by
the European Union’s demand to open up its ports and airports for
Cypriot transport. Next, after kissing and hugging President Bashar
al Assad of Syria, Turkey emerged as the vanguard in undermining that
country’s sovereignty. Turkey engineered a stand off with Israel,
and finally, after signing a $20-billion energy agreement with Iran,
and thumbing the warnings from the West, relations between the two
nations are frosty.

All these problems – far from being reduced to zero – have inexplicably
boosted the Turkish leaders’ arrogance. At the NATO conference in
Chicago last month, Ankara insisted on keeping out

Israel and the NATO leadership gave in. The Turkish Israeli policy is
multifaceted and that apparent hostility also has a silver lining; had
Turkey been really hurting Israeli interests, the latter’s operatives
in Washington would tame Ankara right away. Instead, Israel giving
in to Turkey’s quest allowed Ankara to gain brownie points in the
Arab world and thus in the end to boost Israel’s basic interests in
eliminating unfriendly regimes in the region, one by one. After Iraq
and Libya, now it is Syria’s turn. The collapse of Assad’s regime,
to which Turkey is fully subscribed, has more value for Israel than
an apparent defeat at a Chicago conference.

Washington fully understands – and, in fact, orchestrates – these
multi-level policies.

Since 2005, Turkey has begun the accession negotiations with the
European Union. Turkey wants to have its cake and eat it. The EU has
set some basic conditions for Turkey to be eligible for membership;
the EU requests the removal of article 301 from Turkish penal code,
the resolution of the Cypriot problem, the opening of borders with
Armenia and the recognition of (all) genocides. Ankara refuses to
abide by those conditions and wishes to be entitled for membership.

Recently, Turkish leaders have raised the ante and puffed their chests
further, pretending that the EU needs their country rather than the
other way around.

On the sidelines of the EU-Turkey talks, Mr. Davutoglu has participated
in a joint press conference with the EU foreign policy chief, Baroness
Catherine Ashton, and the EU enlargement commissioner, Stefan Fule.

Davutoglu has made outrageous announcements, including freezing
relations with the EU as long as Cyprus serves as president, from July
1, 2012 through January 2013. In addition, Turkey will block countries
and companies exploring oil and gas within Cyprus’s continental shelf.

He has particularly indicated: “EU-Turkey relations and the political
contacts we are currently establishing will continue as they are. Yet
no ministry or organization of the Turkish Republic will take part
in any activity that will be presided by southern Cyprus.”

For his part, Egemen Bagis, the Turkish minister in charge of EU
affairs, has added: “Turkey will determinedly progress in its course
towards the EU.”

The 25 nations constituting the EU have agreed to Cyprus’
presidency. Yet Turkey, still not a member, has been defying their
decision. This unbridled bullying must give a pre-taste to all members
of the EU who wish to admit Turkey in the union. Armenia’s foreign
policy architects believe that if Turkey’s joins the EU, by extension
Armenia will be bordering Europe. Now they can predict what to expect
from that Europeanized neighbor.

Any observer at this press conference would expect that Baroness
Ashton would stand up and tell Mr. Davutoglu that beggars cannot be
choosers. But instead, what do we see? The Baroness, who when in
Yerevan, walks and talks like a commanding general, radiating the
arrogance of power through her body language, has become a pussycat in
front of the Turks. Instead she thanks Turkey for sheltering nearly
27,000 Syrian refugees who have fled violence in their country,
where forces loyal to President Assad [the Syrian army] are waging a
crackdown on an uprising. She would rather thank Turkey for playing
its surrogate role perfectly by hosting a Syrian government in exile,
by training and arming mercenaries to wreak havoc in a country which
was one of the most stable nations in the Middle East.

The Baroness concludes her remarks by adding: “We are horrified by
the violence and determined to work together in support of solutions.”

Today arms and money are pouring into Syria, mostly through the Turkish
border and raising the level of violence to such an atrocious level
where it will be convenient to blame the government forces, which are
trying to bring order and save the lives of citizens caught in the
crossfire of the army and foreign intruders. Turkey has been enhancing
its power by efficiently executing assignments from the West and as
compensation, it is allowed even to bully the European Union.

All indications are there to conclude that Turkey is ready to
accomplish another dirty job in the region, when pressure on Iran
heats up, after the collapse of the regime in Syria.

That will add another zero to Mr. Davutoglu’s “peaceful” foreign
policy.

EXPERT: ACTUAL REASON WHY GOVERNMENT WANTS TO RELEASE MORE WATER FROM LAKE SEVAN IS TO SAVE PRIVATE HOUSES BUILT ON ITS SHORE

arminfo
Thursday, June 14, 19:54

The actual reason why the Government wants to release more water from
Lake Sevan is not to foster agriculture but to save the private houses
built on the lake’s shore, President of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan told
ArmInfo on Thursday.

She explained that the houses were built before the lake’s level
began to grow and now may go under water.

Zarafyan wonders why the Government and the owners are unable to
agree on the dismantling of the houses, especially as most of them
are unfinished.

Zarafyan has dismissed the Government’s argument that the water will be
released because of hot weather and water shortages in Aparan and Azat
reservoirs. She said that this year the reservoirs have 33% more water
than they had in 2008 while this year the authorities are planning
to release as much as 320mln c m of water against 303mln c m in 2008.

“We have asked the Environment Protection Ministry and the Sevan
Committee to examine the situation,” Zarafyan said.

Meanwhile, the law allows releasing no more than 170mln c m from
Sevan. In order to release more, the Government will have to change
the law and to ask the Parliament to approve the change.

STATEMENT OF CIVILITAS FOUNDATION: “NSS WAS DIVERTED FROM THE MISSION OF REALLY ENSURING NATIONAL SECURITY”

19:53 . 14/06

Civilitas Foundation circulated a statement today. It reads:

“It’s already two weeks the attention and efforts of the Civilitas
Foundation and CivilNet media have been diverted from their main
mission. Instead of focusing on our mission of strengthening civil
society and providing people with alternative and impartial news, we
are responding to questions proceeding from the groundless criminal
case on “money laundering and tax evasion”.

The National Security Service has been diverted from its important
mission of really ensuring national security and has been forced to get
involved in a search for facts that are necessary for substantiating
the conclusion made. It’s obvious that all this is aimed at impeding
the activity of Civilitas Foundation and CivilNet.

During the four years of the foundation’s existence the projects
initiated by the Civilitas Foundation have been implemented and
are being implemented in line with the Foundation’s Charter and the
legislation of the Republic of Armenia. All our activities are audited
on a regular basis.

Suspecting any member of the board and/or any employee of the
Civilitas Foundation of a crime is an alarm to the professional new
generation of Armenia who are devoted to their job, who realize it
is their responsibility and right to participate in the governance
of this country.

Generally speaking, it’s inadmissible and reprehensible that the name
of such a great benefactor as John Huntsman-a person who has been
carrying out invaluable charity acts and making great contributions
to Armenia since the country’s independence- is mentioned in all this.

Are the Armenian authorities ready to alienate all those people and
institutions that have made great contributions to the democratization
and development of our country?

The large public support that the Civilitas Foundation has been
receiving on these days shows that we will continue our task of
defending the rights of citizens of Armenia together.”

YEREVAN TO HOST EUROPEAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2014

ARMENPRESS
14 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: At the suggestion of the Armenian
Chess Federation, the European Chess Championship 2014 will be held
in Yerevan, Armenia’s Chess Federation told Armenpress.

The tournament will be dedicated to the 85th birth anniversary of
Armenian legendary chess player, world chess champion of 1963-1969
Tigran Petrosyan. An analogous international chess competition will
be conducted in Armenia for the first time.

The European Individual Chess Championship is a chess tournament
organized by the European Chess Union. It was established in
2000 and has since then taken place on a yearly basis. Apart from
determining the European Champion, another object of this tournament
is to determine a number of players who qualify for the FIDE world
championship.