Author: Kanayan Tamar

EXPERT LINKS AZERI ACTIVATION ON KHOJALU WITH GENOCIDE BILL PASSAGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 21, 2012 – 09:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – French Senate’s adoption of the bill criminalizing
the Armenian Genocide denial affected activation of the Azerbaijani
policy regarding recognition of the so-called “Khojalu genocide,”
according to Armenian expert.

Dwelling on the letter Azerbaijani girl issued to Armenian and French
Presidents, urging them to recognize the so-called “Khojalu genocide”,
Sargis Asatryan deemed it a PR-step aimed at drawing the international
community’s attention.

According to the expert, neither Armenian not French authorities will
respond to the letter.

“French response is likely to be a neutral statement, while Armenia
may deliver a media level answer,” the political analyst said.

Earlier, an Azeri girl sent a letter to Presidents of Armenia and
France Serzh Sargsyan and Nicolas Sarkozy requesting them to recognize
the “Khojalu genocide.”

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. If signed
into law by President, the bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and
a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against
humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

POLICE CORDON OFF YEREVAN PARK

Tert.am
21.02.12

With the construction of kiosks going on in Yerevan~Rs Mashtots Park,
the policeman maintaining surveillance over the area have cordoned
it off not to allow anyone to get into the construction park.

Our correspondent reported from the scene that the exterior
construction is now nearing the end.

A crowd of people protesting against the construction work have
gathered near the garden. Armenian writer and publicist Meruzhan
Ter-Gulyanyan is also said to be among them.

The environmental group struggling for the preservation of the park’s
green lands had earlier launched a campaign to protect the mines of
Kajaran (Syunik region).

Speaking to Tert.am, Ter-Gulanyan said it is up to the kiosk owners,
not the Yerevan mayor, to solve the problem.

~SThe kiosks must not be located here. My opinion about the mayor~Rs
work is positive, and I am sure the problem was at issue much
before he took office. I propose that the owners give up the idea,
especially knowing that these kiosks are not the only property they
have,~T he said.

The youth activists protesting near the park are now singing patriotic
songs and dancing together.

WILL ALIK SARGSYAN BE DETAINED?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:01:54 – 21/02/2012

During the hearing of the major embezzlement case of the former chief
of the traffic police Margar Ohanyan, the accused said his case had
been concocted by his ex-boss, the ex-chief of Police Alik Sargsyan
because he had disagreed with the latter.

In an interview with the Armenian service of RFE/RL yesterday Alik
Sargsyan denied the allegations of his ex-subordinate and even said
that he has no feeling of compassion for Ohanyan as a person.

By the way, a month ago Margar Ohanyan announced that he was going to
give names, followed by Alik Sargsyan’s statement about his compassion,
and hinted that everyone makes mistakes, and it is better to set
Ohanyan free.

It is notable that yesterday Ohanyan mentioned Sargsyan after his
petition to change the measure of prevention. There may have been
an agreement to set Margar free on bail if he gives no names. It is
possible that the agreement was reached between him and Alik Sargsyan.

Most probably, however, Sargsyan did not manage to handle his release,
Margar’s petition was dismissed, and he started to speak.

It is not known how far Margar Ohanyan will talk but his freedom is
obviously not in Alik Sargsyan’s hands, even though he could have
been the cause of his arrest.

It is also obvious that Alik Sargsyan himself may appear behind
the bars, especially now that his resignation means that he is not
protected. His nervous reaction indicates that his protectors are
not going to protect him from Margar Ohanyan.

So, on what and with who will Alik Sargsyan agree?

ARMENIA AND EU TO COOPERATE IN THE FIELD OF BORDER SECURITY
Karen Ghazaryan

“Radiolur”
22.02.2012 14:15

Another step was made towards the development of relations between
Armenia and the European Union. An agreement was signed today between
the Armenian National Security Council and Frontex, the EU border
management agency, which will provide an opportunity to deepen the
cooperation with the European Union.

The European Frontex agency and Armenia will closely cooperate in
the important field of border security.

The agreement was signed by Secretary of the National Security Council
of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan and Executive Director of the EU Border
Management Agency Ilkka Laitinen.

EU, JUSTICE MINISTRY TO ESTABLISH ARBITRATION INSTITUTE IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
22.02.12

The European Union, in collaboration with Armenia’s Ministry of
Justice has developed a new project aimed at creating an arbitration
institution in Armenia.

The plan was introduced on Thursday at a joint conference between EU
representatives and the Ministry officials.

Addressing the meeting, Fotis Karayanpulous, an EU representative,
said they did not initially want to open a new institution in a
developing country like Armenia but decided to launch the project
having no other alternative.

Karayanpulous noted that Armenia’s only arbitration institute
subordinated to the Chamber of Trade did not want to collaborate with
them, considering it needless.

Armenia’s arbitration institute is expected to be a united body
establishing a platform for all institutions dealing with arbitration
proceedings. It has to resolve institutional issues, ensuring a state
involvement on behalf of the Justice Ministry.

Arpine Melikbekyan, a member of a working group implementing the
project, said the state may vest independence in the arbitration
institute in the years to come.

“Armenia has a lack of arbitrators. That is why we are planning
trainings for specialists in Armenia and abroad. The arbitrators will
not take complicated exams at the beginning,” she said.

The institution will be a permanently functioning non-commercial body
governing the board of representatives of a superior institution having
7-11 members from both the public and private sectors. It will derive
funds from membership fees and contributions from founding investors
and the state.

ANALYST CALLS TO SUE AZERBAIJAN FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN KHOJALU

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS: The settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict demands unprecedented public reconciliation,
director of Mkhitar Sebastatsi educational complex Ashot Bleyan told
the reporters February 22. In his opinion we, as citizens, are not
well-informed what is going on in Azerbaijan.

Political Analyst Alexander Manasyan said Azerbaijani and Armenian
societies were engaged in the conflict in different ways starting
from 1988. “In international forums we many times have to show
that Azerbaijanis participated in the blockade in mass. The crowd
category is singled out for Azerbaijan – the managed crowd. It is
a participation format,” the political analyst said. In his opinion
after the establishment of peace, Armenians revealed their feature:
in the battle field we are lions, in peaceful conditions we think
the war is over.

“We wrote and have written about Khojalu but only for us. Azerbaijan
spreads false information throughout the world. With the realization
that the truth is on our side, we have not made any step,” the
analyst stressed. He said the Armenian side should sue Azerbaijan
for what happened in Khojalu. The facts are enough: massacres took
place in the territory controlled by Azerbaijan. The reporter who
told the truth was made silent, killed, besides, there are a lot of
testimonies of witnesses.

Manasyan said the more active Azerbaijanis work, the more difficult
will be for us to present the truth. Bleyan said he is sure that
it is not only necessary to unite, but act. The work must be the
uniting force.

HRAPARAK: ARMENIA’S RULING PARTY CONFUSED ABOUT VARTAN OSKANIAN’S JOINING PAP

Tert.am
22.02.12

Armenian former FM Vartan Oskanian joining the Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP) and his statements to this effect caused a real confusion within
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

According to the information at the newspaper’s disposal, the RPA views
Mr Oskanian’s frequent statements as a violation of the “ceasefire”
between the RPA and PAP and is going to retaliate.

Of interest is a comment by Armen Ashotyan on his Facebook page.

“Oskanian has joined the PAP in compliance with the coalition
memorandum, which envisages re-alignment of forces during the
forthcoming elections. It is no secret that the PAP’s ratings are
rising, so Oskanian joined the party to ensure the implementation
of the relevant point in the memorandum. Now the memorandum has
‘regained its strength’.”

So the squabbles within the coalition will take on a new form.

ARMENIA’S MILITARY PROSECUTOR RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

news.am
February 21, 2012 | 20:09

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kontanyan is released
from Nairi medical center, the assistant of Gevorg Kostanyan told
the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, Kostanyan is in good health condition now and is
in a good mood.

As information had appeared in the media, Gevorg Kostanyan had shock.

However, his assistant denied that information, saying that Kostanyan
had only got blood pressure problems and his health condition is fine.

YOUNG COUNTRYMAN DATED CITY GIRL, PHOTOGRAPHED HER NAKED AND TRIED TO BLACKMAIL IN ARMENIA

news.am
February 22, 2012 | 00:09

YEREVAN. – Resident of Armenian Aragatsotn Region’s Gegharot village
Varujan Amirkhanyan,23, who had taken pictures of a naked girl and
blackmailed her demanding AMD 70,000, was sentenced a fine of AMD
500,000, the spokesperson of Armenia’s Attorney General Sona Truzyan
told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Varujan got acquainted with the girl through social networks and dated
her. During one of their dates the young man photographed the girl
naked and demanded AMD 70 thousand for not publishing the photographs.

AZERBAIJANI MPS SHARPLY PROTEST CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL’S STATEMENT

Trend
Feb 21 2012
Azerbaijan

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General
Nikolai Bordyuzha made statements today beyond his powers, Azerbaijani
MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend today.

“There is the impression that Bordyuzha is not aware of the
organization’s charter,” he said. “The CSTO must ensure the security of
member countries. As everybody knows, Nagorno-Karabakh is not Armenian
territory. The whole world and Armenia do not recognize the so-called
‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.'”

He said the whole world recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Talks are not held between Azerbaijan and the occupied territory’s
so-called “leadership.” Negotiations are held between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, he said.

“So, many times, the leaders of CSTO member states point out that
the matter concerns Armenia’s security,” Mirzazade said.

Azerbaijan does not intend to retreat from its recognized borders,
Mirzazade said.

“I regret that a representative of such a vast country like Russia
makes statements that go beyond the charter of the organization he
heads,” he said.

He said Azerbaijan may restore its territorial integrity through
diplomatic negotiations or military means. Azerbaijan actively works
in both directions, he said.

“Bordyuzha must apologize to Azerbaijan for its statement,” he said.

“If the CSTO head supports the aggressive policy of CSTO member states,
it is necessary to express a strong protest.”

MP Fazil Mustafa said Azerbaijan will take action only after all
issues are considered.

“It has become clear for 20 years who will act on the side of Armenia,”
he said. “These statements have no meaning. We need to train at a
high level. In case of a war, we must hit a decisive blow.

Azerbaijan must try to find allies. Turkey is not enough.”