Author: Kanayan Tamar

AZERBAIJAN AGAINST POLITICIZATION OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 13 2015

13 February 2015 – 6:47pm

Armenia plant to sing the “Don’t Deny” song commemorating victims of
the Armenian genocide at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Austria
this year. Azerbaijan has warned Armenia against politicizing the
song contest, Trend reports.

Armenia accuses Turkey of committing genocide against Armenians
in Anatolia in 1915. Parliaments of several countries have already
recognized the genocide as a historical fact.

Opposition must consolidate over Gagik Tsarukyan – Aram Harutyunyan

15:10 / 14.02.2015

In the created situation the opposition must consolidate over Gagik
Tsarukyan, leader of National Consent party Aram Harutyunyan told the
reporters on Saturday.

“The PAP conference day was historic. That day the nerves of the
authorities gave in. Serzh Sargsyan has always presented himself as
grey cardinal, but it has appeared that he is not cardinal, he is
grey. The speech voiced by Serzh Sargsyan at the Republican party
Executive Body sitting was a shame. This unbalanced, cheap speech
showed that there is no party, it is a pack. The speeches of the other
members of the party showed that they serve their boss. The ruling
party is a pack of robbers,” Aram Harutyunyan said.

The party’s leader said that Serzh Sargsyan launched the process of
change of power which his speech. It showed that he is afraid of
Tsarukyan, while the latter with his response showed that he has
higher values and is ready to lose everything for the sake of the
people and the state.

Public discussions on Gyumri murder (video)

14:45 | February 14,2015 | Social

The Gyumri-based Asparez Club has initiated public discussions in
connection with the criminal case filed after last month’s murder of a
seven-member family in Gyumri.

The draft agenda includes,

comparison, combination and discussion of the available information
and controversial issues, as well as initiation of a
publicinvestigation intothe crime.
analysis of violations and offenses following the crime, the actions
of law enforcement agencies, their mistakes and inactivity,
determination of people’s actions to detect the crime and the ensuing
offenses and to hand over the suspect to the Armenian side.
development of defence mechanisms to defend citizens from similar crimes.

Six members of the Avetisyan family, including a two-year-old child,
were shot dead in their house in Gyumri in the morning of January 12.
A six-month-old baby, Seryozha Avetisyan, was hospitalized with stab
wounds. He died in hospital a week later. The main suspect of the
crime, Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of Russian Military Base N 102
stationed in Gyumri, was detained by Russian border guards late in the
same day while attempting to cross the Armenian-Turkish border near
Yerazgavors village in Armenia’s Shirak province. The murder of the
seven-member family sparked violent protests in Gyumri and Yerevan,
with people demanding that Permyakov be handed over to Armenian
authorities and to stand trial by the Armenian law.

Pogrom Survivors Share Accounts of Azerbaijani Aggression with Congress

Friday, February 13th, 2015

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), with Baku survivor Marat Khoudabakhshiev,
ANCA Western Region Advisory Board member Garo Madenlian and ANCA
Western Region Legislative Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan

WASHINGTON–Armenian American activists, many with roots in Baku, took
part in a capacity-crowd Capitol Hill briefing and two-day series of
Congressional meetings, sharing with Members of Congress, for the
first time, their harrowing family accounts of Azerbajiani aggression
against the Armenian populations of Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad and
advocating for robust U.S. assistance to ensure a brighter future for
the free citizens of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The ANCA sponsored Capitol Hill program, titled: “Nagorno Karabakh – A
Generation After Anti-Armenian Pogroms: The Challenge of Promoting
Peace and Developing Democracy,” featured powerful remarks by Anna
Astvatsaturian Turcotte, a lawyer, lecturer, and author of ‘Nowhere, A
Story of Exile,’ and Dr. Alina Dorian, an internationally respected
public health expert and advocate who has worked for decades to
strengthen and expand public health programs in Nagorno Karabakh.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone Jr. opened the
program by offering warm words of welcome, and ardent support for an
independent Artsakh.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) with
Vitaliy Dadadalyan, Anna Astvatsaturyan Turcotte, Dr. Alina Dorian,
Julia Papiyan and Marat Khoudabakhshiev at the ANCA Capitol Hill
briefing marking the 25th anniversary of the Baku pogroms and urging
robust U.S. aid to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Joining Dorian and Turcotte as ardent spokespeople for Nagorno
Karabakh independence were Vitaliy Dadalyan, Marat Khoudabakhshiev and
Julia Papiyan, who traveled from Utah, California and Michigan,
respectively, to share their family stories of persecution in Baku
during the late 1980’s. In some 40 meetings with key Senate and House
leaders, Members of Congress were moved by their accounts of courage
and survival and inspired by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s
commitment to democracy and economic development. ANCA Western Region
Advisory Board Member Garo Madenlian, Esq. and ANCA-WR Legislative
Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan joined the ANCA Washington DC team in
facilitating Congressional outreach efforts and sharing the broad
range of Armenian American community priorities.

“The Baku Armenian community was well represented this week in
Washington by these remarkable young men and women,” stated ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “They delivered powerful messages
of both remembrance and resolve across Capitol Hill, educating Members
of Congress about the atrocities committed against their families a
generation ago, and – just as importantly – demanding that American
leaders stand up for Artsakh’s, freedom, stand against Azerbaijani
aggression, and stand with all those seeking a fair and enduring
regional peace.”

This program, and last month’s Capitol Hill briefing on U.S.
philanthropy and the Armenian Genocide, were made possible by a
generous grant by the Aramian Family, in memory of the late Martha
Aramian – a respected community leader and devoted daughter of the
Armenian nation. Similar Capitol Hill presentations to educate Members
of Congress on a broad range of Armenian American concerns are
scheduled throughout the year.

Ruling party ignores Armenia’s Constitution

13:30 / 14.02.2015

Speaking at a news conference today Republican party MP Gagik Minasyan
said: “…Gagik Tsarukyan convened session of the PAP political Council
and stated about conduction of rallies. It really endangers our
national security…”

What does it mean? Does it mean that rallies will be banned? Does it
mean that you don’t care what Constitution says? What does it mean
rallies endanger our national security? Are we becoming North Korea?

Russian pundit: Moscow cannot back oligarchs in Armenia – 168.am

11:09 * 14.02.15

The Armenian news website 168.am has interviewed Modest Kolerov, a
Moscow-based analyst and the editor in chief of the news agency
Regnum.

Mr Kolerov, in a surprise move yesterday (Feb 12), Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan lashed out against Gagik Tsarukyan, the Prosperous
Armenia party’s leader. Some believe there is nothing strange about
such a way to address Tsarukyan’s activities after his visit to
Moscow. Do you think it is worth looking for such a connection?

I think Mr Tsarukyan tried to put the cart before the horse by
arriving in Moscow to conduct meetings in . What Serzh Sargsyan did
was not a response but rather, probably, observations planned long
before. People more or less familiar with the political situation in
Armenia know that a large share of the problems in Armenia have to do
with the oligarchs, so to say, their non-transparent activity and tax
and custom failures. That’s to say, Armenia’s entire population pays
for those people’s welfare and political weight.

Can Gagik Tsaarukyan enjoy the Kremlin’s backing?

No, he cannot. If the person in question was a respected political
figure, a benefactor or businessman, there would be no problem. But if
that person creates an opposition, he must to notify – clearly and in
detail – what alternative he proposes with his candidacy. We haven’t
heard the answer to that question from him. And if there is no
alternative, nobody will receive backing from Moscow. If the
opposition says it supports the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty
Organzization)s, the EEU (European Economic Union) and special
relations with Russia, while at the same time maintaining ties with
oligarchs, what do we get? Nothing new.

Azerbaijan is trying to please Turkey, arranging provocations against
Armenia in ”Eurovision – 2015”

14:30 14/02/2015 >> SOCIETY

This year at the international music competition called “Eurovision”
Armenia will be represent by a group which consists of singers living
on five continents of the world including also Armenia. The group is
called “Genealogy” and it will present the song “Do not deny”. Several
countries, including Turkey, refused to take part in this competition
for various reasons. However, the public television of Azerbaijan and
the State Broadcasting Company (ITV) have already expressed
dissatisfaction with the song the Armenian side presents. They accuse
Armenia of “politicizing” the competition and threatened that they
would take “appropriate measures”, reports “Modern.az.”

“Wiwibloggs.com” the blog of the song contest touched the issue
stressing that the loudest criticism over the Armenian song was made
by “its regional opponent – Azerbaijan”. “Azerbaijan, of course, is a
fraternal country for Turkey, which categorically denies the Armenian
Genocide that began in April 1915. Historians believe that this has
led to the death of at least one million people. European Court of
Human Rights is currently discussing whether the Government should be
prosecuted for the denial of these events,” reads the article.

In addition, as in his turn Sietse Bakker, the head of organizational
issues at “Eurovision”, told the Azerbaijani news agency “Report”,
they have to wait for the final version of the song, and only then
they will be able to assess its compliance with the rules.

The semi-finals of the contest “Eurovision-2015” will be held on 19
and 21 May, and the finale – on May 23. Armenia will to perform in the
first semifinal.

It should be emphasized that in 2009 accusations of using “Eurovision”
for their own political purposes were voiced against Azerbaijan. Thus,
according to the reportage of the “BBC”, Azerbaijan had disabled
broadcast of the contest during the duet presented by Armenian
participants. “The ruling clan of Azerbaijan, President of the
Republic and the government build their propaganda on the musical
contest of “Eurovision”. It’s not fair,” Khadija Ismayilova, a
journalist of “Radio Liberty”, stated in an interview then.

A scandal related to voting-results broke out during “Eurovision
2013.” The head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan claimed
that Azerbaijani votes meant for the Russian representative Dina
Garipova were not counted. The European Broadcasting Union
representatives noted in their own turn that organizers of
“Eurovision” officially deny the “loss” of votes given to Russia. A
scandal related to vote-rigging in favor of Azerbaijan broke out
during “Eurovision 2013.” Lithuanian website “15min.lt” held a
journalistic investigation revealing that a group of individuals in
Lithuania and other countries massively “bought” votes in favor of
Azerbaijan on the day of the Contest. European Broadcasting Union is
interested in the given information. Some time later the EBU launched
a broad investigation concerning the possible bribery in “Eurovision”
on the part of Azerbaijan.

The Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turkey was recognized
by many states. Uruguay was the first state to recognize it in 1965,
then Russia (1995), France (2001), Italy (2000), Germany (2005),
Holland (2004), Belgium (1998), Poland (2005), Lithuania (2005),
Slovakia (2004), Sweden (2010), Switzerland (2003), Greece (1993),
Chili (2007), Vatican (2000). The Armenian Genocide was also
recognized by the European Parliament and the World Council of
Churches. 42 US states out of 50 recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide and announced the April 24 commemoration day for the victims
of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, however, still denies the mass
killings of the Armenian population in Ottoman Empire during the First
World War (on the eve of the World War I in the Ottoman Empire lived
two million Armenians. About 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the
period from 1915 to 1923, the remaining half a million Armenians were
scattered all over the world).

CRISE POLITIQUE
Tsarukian appelle à un changement immédiat de régime

Répondant à une volonté de répression du gouvernement, le parti
Arménie prospère (BHK) de Gagik Tsarukian a exhorté vendredi ses
partisans à descendre dans la rue et à renverser le président Serge
Sarkissian avec des manifestations soutenues.

Tsarukian a expliqué qu’il n’était pas découragé par la perspective de
perdre son immunité parlementaire et fiscale dans la perspective des
inspections de ses nombreuses entreprises qui ont été ordonnées par
Sarkissian la nuit précédente. après qu’il a refusé de soutenir ses plans visant à modifier
la constitution et à transformer l’Arménie en une république
parlementaire. Il a révélé que Sarkissian lui a même proposé de
devenir le prochain président du pays, un poste en grande partie
honorifique, en échange de son soutien pour la réforme
constitutionnelle.

“Je rejette catégoriquement cette approche contre l’Etat parce que
l’homme responsable de la régression de l’Arménie ne peut pas avoir de
telles ambitions,” a déclaré Tsarukian. Le projet de réforme vise à
permettre à Sarkissian de rester au pouvoir à un autre titre pour le
reste de sa vie, a-t-il renchéri.

Sarkissian a fustigé le leader du BHK, réputé être proche de son
prédécesseur Robert Kotcharian, quelques jours seulement après que
Tsarukian a menacé publiquement d’une poussée de l’opposition pour un
>. Dans un communiqué diffusé plus tôt cette
semaine, le BHK et plusieurs autres groupes d’opposition, ont déclaré
que les plans de Sarkissian de changement constitutionnel
déclencherait manifestations antigouvernementales continues.

samedi 14 février 2015,
Ara (c)armenews.com

168 Zham: Moscow was last drop for Serzh Sargsyan, says Russian expert

10:07 * 14.02.15

Commenting on President Serzh Sargsyan’s recent speeches, particularly
his critical remarks voiced against the Prosperous Armenia party’s
leader, a Russian expert said the address, apparently prepared in
advance, was delivered much earlier than scheduled.

Speaking to the paper, Vadim Dubnov said he sees that Gagik
Tsarukyan’s recent trip to Moscow was the last drop that exhausted the
president’s patience.

“By and large, this is the moment that requires the authorities to
start strengthening their positions if they wish to maintain power,”
he said, considering the developments absolutely logical.

Commenting on second President Robert Kocharyan’s possible return to
politics, Dubmov said he doesn’t feel that such rumors are credible.
“I think it is mainly he that creates such an impression. In my
conviction this impression largely a myth, though I don’t rule out the
possibility that Kocharyan has his lobbyist group, as well as
resources, in the Kremlin,” he replied.

US embassy to remember victims of Armenian genocide

YEREVAN, February 13. / ARKA /. The US Embassy in Armenia will mark
the centenary of the Armenian genocide together with the Armenian
people, the newly appointed US ambassador Richard Mills told a news
conference today.

As for the US government’s participation, the ambassador said
president Obama had the honor to be invited to participate in the
events to mark the centennial anniversary of the Genocide, “but during
my meetings in Washington it was not yet clear who will represent the
US government”, said Mills.

“During my meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian both told me how important the high-level presence
of the United States in the ceremonies is” said Mills.

The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.
According to Armenian and many other historians, up to 1.5 million
Armenians were killed starting in 1915 in a systematic campaign by the
government of Turkey. Turkey has been denying it for decades.

The Armenian genocide was recognized by tens of countries. The first
was Uruguay that did so in 1965. Other nations are Russia, France,
Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, 42
U.S. states.

It was recognized also by the Vatican, the European Parliament, the
World Council of Churches and other international organizations. -0-