Author: Kanayan Tamar

SARDARAPAT MOVEMENT: ONE CAN’T OUTPLAY CASINO WHEN IN CASINO

arminfo
Friday, February 17, 16:56

In our country few people realize that one cannot outplay a casino
when in a casino. Today, almost all of our parties are playing by
the rules set by the regime and cannot resist its pressure, member
of the action group of the Sardarapat movement Garegin Chugaszyan
said during a press-conference on Friday.

“In its turn, the regime is trying to become even stronger by adopting
laws like the one concerning the legal status of the state of emergency
– a law than has proved once again that in our country we need a
democratic movement rather than political parties,” Chugaszyan said.

He said that the law is aimed against civil society and guarantees the
regime’s impunity in any action against its people. “The authorities
are leading us to encirclement where they are the rulers,” Chugaszyan
said.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH SITUATION STABLE NOT BECAUSE OF BUT IN SPITE OF MEDIATORS’ EFFORTS-OPINION

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 14:32

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh may become a part of Azerbaijan only
due to full-scale war and ethnic cleansings, head of Yerevan State
Linguistic University Suren Zolyan said on Friday at the international
scientific conference in Stepnakert.

Conflicts in the South Caucasus are considered as key factors hampering
development of the region. Not only the conflicts, but approaches to
their solution are frozen, he said.

“Everything what was told so far was not effective, while change
in regional situation is not taken into account, in particular,
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is ignored. In parallel,
Azerbaijan continues military build-up, which is similar to a budget
of war times,” Zolyan said.

He stressed that the wall around Karabakh, which Azerbaijan intends
to build, testifies to its unwillingness to reasonable cooperation
with Karabakh.

“Despite many other differences in case of South Ossetia, Abkhazia
and Kosovo the mediators on Karabakh continue to show rare unanimity
claiming they cannot serve a precedent for Karabakh,” the Chancellor
said.

In this context, Zolyan believes the settlement lies in negotiations,
without mediators. Integration problem should not be settled without
tackling cooperation problems. He pointed out implementation of
joint projects between Armenia-Georgia, Georgia-Azerbaijan, as well
as possible cooperation of an Assembly between local and regional
authorities, possibility to establish similar territorial structures,
excluding political and economic issues from the agenda.

Touching upon the political status of Karabakh, Zolyan said that he
would like to address the West: “What would happen if member states of
Yugoslavia realized their right to self-determination within not even
Yugoslavia but Serbia?” The answer is clear, however, it is unclear why
it cannot be applied for Karabakh as well. Moreover, exclusion Karabakh
from negotiation processes makes the whole process even more unclear.

Karabakh participation in negotiations is important, but it should
not be an end to itself. Stability in Karabakh is not because of but
in spite of mediators’ efforts, he concluded.

BORDER SECURITY ISSUES IN THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION OF RA PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Artak Barseghyan

“Radiolur”
17.02.2012 15:28

The interdepartmental committee monitoring the process of
implementation of the programs envisaged by RA border security strategy
convened a sitting today chaired by Secretary of the National Security
Council of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan.

Arthur Baghdasaryan noted in his opening remarks that the issue of
ensuring border security is always in the focus of attention of the
Armenian President and the National Security Council.

“We have registered positive developments in the sphere after the
adoption of the border security strategy. We have reached agreements
on modernization of the Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Iran state borders.

We are effectively cooperating with the European Union, as well towards
modernization of the Armenia-Georgia state border. Our works have
entered a decisive stage, and we’ll soon have border infrastructures
corresponding to international standards at Bagratashen, Bavra and
Gogavan checkpoints,” Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

According to Baghdasaryan, the Council I snow negotiating with
EU corresponding structures on issues of methodical and technical
support. The Security Council will sign an agreement on cooperation
with FRONTEX – European Union’s Border Management Agency, which
envisages exchange of experience, preparation of specialists,
participation in joint actions and technical support.

TURKISH TRUCK RAVAGES ARMENIANS’ HOUSE IN GEORGIA

Tert.am
16.02.12

An Armenian family in Georgia’s Akhaltskhe region has been left
roof-lorn after a Turkish truck invaded their house.

According to the Georgian news website Gruzia-Online, the truck
completely ravaged the Muradyan’s house in Nuakrebi village, and the
family are now call upon the driver to repair the damages, claiming
that they have no shelter to hide from winter cold.

But the Turkish driver has reportedly said that an ice-covered roadway
had caused him to lose vehicle control.

An inquest has been launched into the circumstances of the incident.

ARE POLICE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL?

hetq
12:56, February 16, 2012

A Hetq reporter snapped this picture of a truck with no visible
license plates loaded to the brim with cut timber. It was on the
Goris-Kapan road.

Another suspicious truck carrying questionable goods.

One wonders if the police driving up and down this stretch of highway
ever notice such violations, or if they even care.

ARMENIA’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY WILL BE REESTABLISHED – NEWSPAPER

news.am
February 15, 2012 | 09:43

YEREVAN. – After the upcoming parliamentary elections, Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan will reestablish the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun daily writes.

“According to the rumors in circulation, the Internal Affairs Minister
will be a political figure, and the Police Chief likewise will be
his subordinate. This means the Police Chief will not be dismissed,
but rather he will have a superior,” Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun writes.

TBILISI APARTMENT OF GREAT ARMENIAN POET TUMANYAN TO BE PURCHASED AT 145 THOUSAND US DOLLARS

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 15, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: The transaction on purchase and sale
of the Tbilisi apartment of all Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan is
scheduled for the coming week. Chairman of the Writers Union of Armenia
Levon Ananyan told Armenpress the owner of the apartment Archil Lezhava
said the cost of the apartment is 145 thousand US dollars. Mayor of
Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan and his brother agreed to buy the apartment at
that price. “The preliminary arrangement on purchasing the apartment
has already been reached and the transaction will be conducted next
week. After it, the apartment will pass to the Armenian party,”
the chairman of the Union said. Levon Ananyan noted that after the
conduction of the transaction the renovation issue of the apartment
will be solved. The function of the territory will also be decided.

The delegation that departed for Georgia for talks comprised of
the Chairman of the Writers Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan, nephew
of Gyumri’s mayor, MP Artyem Ghukasyan and Armenia’s ambassador to
Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan.

Ghukasyan brothers expressed wish to purchase the apartment of the
great poet when the danger of losing it has come forth.

YERKIR: ARTSAKH UNIVERSITY TO COOPERATE WITH UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL EUROPE

Tert.am
15.02.12

The paper says it has learned from sources that the Artsakh
(Nagorno-Karabakh) State University has signed a cooperation agreement
with the University of Central Europe of Skalica (Slovakia).

The deal envisages implementation of joint academic and
scientific-educational programs, student exchange and mutual visit
of professors, says the paper.

In case of a 50% compatibility of academic programs, the Artsakh
State University students will also obtain degree from the partner
university upon graduation, the paper comments.

It further says that the projects will be financed by a special fund
set to assist academic programs in Slovakia, the Czech Republic,
Hungary and Poland.

ANI, BOOK-ALBUM ON ANCIENT ARMENIAN CAPITAL, PUBLISHED

Tert.am
15.02.12

A book-album depicting the history and cultural heritage of Ani,
the medieval Armenian capital, has been published in Yerevan upon
the initiative of the Ministry of Culture.

The edition, dedicated to the 1,050th anniversary of declaring Ani a
capital, is unique as it provides detailed information on constructions
never measured in the past.

Speaking at the presentation of the book, Samvel Karapetyan, the head
of the foundation Studying Cultural Monuments, thoroughly explained
the initiative.

He said that the most elaborate studies were conducted by Toros
Torosyan, who had introduced three constructions that had never been
measured before.

“We have also portrayed all the semi-ruined churches, explaining how
they might look now if they had been renovated. The book also has a
supplementary sheet, which features the city’s map,” he said.

The book-album comprises several sections, each featuring different
architectural monuments (churches, cross-stones etc.).

Several experts had joined Karapetyan to explore the sites of the
historical Armenian capital. Their studies lasted only a week.

The book contains 600 photographs and is designed for both
professionals and ordinary readers.

WILL ARMENIAN MINISTER BRING GODDESS ANAHIT’S STATUE HOME? – NEWSPAPER

news.am
February 15, 2012 | 10:18

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan
seems to be determined to bring to Armenia the pagan goddess Anahit’s
bronze head from the British Museum in London, Haykakan Zhamanak
daily writes.

“The Minister expressed such wish in his Facebook account. He
proposed to his [Facebook] friends to join him and to petition-with
corresponding signatures under a joint text-to the Great Britain’s
Embassy in Armenia, asking that the head and the hands of Goddess
Anahit’s statue be returned to Armenia. Through his spokesperson,
Ashotyan informed that his call had received a huge response,
especially from the youth and university students. And they launched
a signature campaign, and Minister Armen Ashotyan will likewise
join them at the end [of the campaign, and they will petition to
Great Britain’s Embassy. The latter responded to Ashotyan’s call,
likewise on its Facebook account. Ambassador Cathy Leach wrote:
“For long years the British Museum has provided its unique items for
worldwide display. It will be marvelous if such exchange program
be carried out between the British Museum and the State Museum of
History of Armenia.” In this way the Ambassador alluded not to the
possibility of returning of the statue, but, instead, to its sending
for a temporary display,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.