Author: Kanayan Tamar

Zhoghovurd: Nairit cannot resume normal operations

11:22 08/03/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Former member of Armenia’s Supreme Council and National Assembly,
former director of Nairit plant Gagik Nersisyan told Zhoghovurd daily
that despite the assurances, Nairit cannot resume normal operations.

“Nairit has not been working for 4 years now. They deceive the people,
don’t want to pay the salaries,” he said.

“The plant has a debt of $400 million. Now, they say that Russians
will buy the plant for $500 million. And what can they do with $100?”

Source: Panorama.am

Armenia ranked 115th on number of women in parliament

March 08, 2014 | 18:16

More women than ever before are being elected to parliaments around
the world, shows the research conducted by Inter-Parliamentary
Union,an international organization of parliamentarians, which works
closely with the United Nations.

“We actually saw a 1.5 percentage increase globally in Parliaments as
a result of elections that took place in 2013. That doesn’t sound like
a lot, but if you consider that we are now at almost 22 per cent of
women in parliaments, if we were to continue with this rate of
increase of 1.5 it means that within a generation, actually within 20
years, we should be able to reach globally gender parity in
Parliament,” IPU Secretary-General Anders B. Johnsson said.

Rwanda tops the list of 189 states with its Chamber of Duties
recording more than 60 percent women, followed by Andorra and Cuba.

Armenia is ranked 115th in the list with 14 female lawmakers out of 131.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIE
Etihad Airways va lancer des vols vers l’Arménie à partir de juillet 2014

La compagnie aérienne nationale des Emirats Arabes Unis > va lancer des vols à destination de la capitale de l’Arménie
Erevan. La nouvelle a été annoncée par la société Arménie Aéroports
internationaux, qui a dit que l’accord est intervenue après des
pourparlers intensifs impliquant également l’agence de voyage
arménienne Visa Concord.

Les vols entre Abu Dhabi et Erevan vont commencer à partir de Juillet
2014. Actuellement, les vols entre les deux pays sont exploités par
une autre compagnie aérienne des Emirats Arabes Unis – Fly Dubay.

samedi 8 mars 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

MUNICIPALES 2014
Interview d’Alexis Govciyan, candidat dans le 9e arrondissement de Paris

Vous êtes candidat sur la liste de Delphine Burkli dans le 9e
arrondissement de Paris. Cet engagement dans l’arène politique
national est-il compatible avec vos responsabilités dans la communauté
arménienne, qui sont bien connues ?

Tout d’abord, je souhaite rappeler que je ne suis plus président du
CCAF car une telle responsabilité requiert, en effet, une totale
neutralité et une liberté de ton, quelles que soient les personnalités
et organisations. Qu’il s’agisse des pouvoirs publics ou des
appareils, le président du CCAF représente l’ensemble et il m’avait
donc paru nécessaire de passer le relais. Par conséquent, je n’ai plus
de responsabilités de ce niveau. Le CCAF m’a confié, en lien avec
l’Ambassade d’Arménie et l’Eglise, la présidence de la Mission 2015
qui est une responsabilité Ã durée limitée et qui a pour cadre la
préparation des cérémonies et manifestations des Cent ans du génocide
des Arméniens.¨Ensuite, il ne s’agit pas de mon premier engagement
politique, puisque comme vous le savez, je suis Conseiller Régional
UDI d’Ile de France, et que j’ai créé au sein de la Région le premier
groupe d’amitié avec l’Arménie qui est d’ailleurs le seul sur le plan
national, dans une collectivité de ce type. Enfin, je rappelle qu’il
ya une dizaine d’années, j’étais candidat aux élections européennes
d’ailleurs bien placé mais malheureusement non élu, et c’était sous
les couleurs de l’UDF qui était l’UDI de l’époque.

Comment se présente la situation dans le 9e ?

Je connais bien le 9e tant sur le plan personnel qu’associatif et
professionnel. C’est un arrondissement où il y a encore une me
arménienne ; plusieurs quartiers sont là pour nous le rappeler. Il y a
également énormément d’atouts sur le plan culturel, architectural mais
aussi économique et social. Aussi, il est motivant de se retrouver
candidat de l’UDI, sur la liste de Delphine Burkli que je connais
depuis longtemps, du temps des actions pour la reconnaissance par la
France du génocide car elle avait oeuvré avec nous, avec beaucoup de
dévouement et de gentillesse, pour les relations avec des
parlementaires. Je me sens donc très à l’aise et prêt à relever les
défis politiques qui viennent. J’ajoute que le maire sortant, Jacques
Bravo qui est mon ami depuis longtemps ne se représente pas, ce qui
ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour une liste telle que celle de
Delphine Burkli composée notamment de jeunes et de personnes issues de
la société civile.

Outre votre implication dans différents combats relatifs aux droits de
l’homme, quelles valeurs particulières défendez-vous dans cette liste
de l’UDI ?

C’est une liste UMP-UDI-MoDem et l’une des nombreuses qualités de
Delphine Burkli est celle d’avoir pu réaliser une telle union des
forces et d’avoir su créer un état d’esprit positif, plein d’énergie
Dans ce cadre, je poursuivrai mon engagement pour les droits de
l’homme, le travail de mémoire et le combat contre le racisme,
l’antisémitisme et le négationnisme. Mais j’ai aussi d’autres valeurs
qui d’ailleurs sont complémentaires car elles concernent l’avenir des
jeunes, le développement économique et l’emploi.

Dans le 9e, il y a des milliers d’entreprises de l’artisanat et du
commerce de proximité, leur potentiel en matière de création de
richesse, de formation et d’innovation et je compte bien m’en occuper
activement. Comme vous le savez sans doute, ces entreprises sont
souvent seules car leurs problèmes de fiscalité, de recherche de
financements, leurs difficultés à trouver des apprentis du fait des
problèmes notamment de manque de logements intéressent peu de monde.
On préfère favoriser les plus grands ou ce qui se apparait comme tel,
alors que ce sont toutes ces petites entreprises qui développent
l’emploi, qui participent à l’attractivité du territoire avec leur
savoir-faire et qui organisent la vie locale, ces liens de proximité
dont on a tant besoin. Je travaillerai pour toutes ces entreprises qui
sont d’une grande utilité au 9e et à ses habitants.

Le fait de vous situer dans l’opposition ne compromet-il pas vos
relations en tant que responsable communautaire arménien avec la
majorité actuelle ?

L’élection municipale n’a pas encore eu lieu et il est donc prématuré
de dire qui est dans la majorité, qui est dans l’opposition. Mais si
votre question concerne la majorité actuelle nationale, c’est-Ã-dire
présidentielle et législative, je peux vous dire que pour les mêmes
raisons qu’au début de notre entretien, il ne me semble pas qu’il y
ait un problème. Au Conseil Régional, mon groupe est dans l’opposition
mais cela ne nous empêche nullement de travailler de manière
constructive, avec le souci de l’intérêt général. Plusieurs de mes
rapports ou amendements relatifs aux jeunes, Ã l’apprentissage et aux
TPE ont d’ailleurs été votés ou pris en compte par la majorité
régionale. Ce qui compte, c’est toujours se situer dans le cadre
républicain, de respecter les institutions, les formations politiques
et tous ceux avec qui nous ne sommes pas dans la même approche
politique.

Etes-vous satisfait de la manière dont se présente le programme de la
« Mission 2015 » du CCAF que vous présidez ?

Depuis 2012, les forces vives se sont mobilisées pour préparer 2015.
Il s’agit d’un chantier immense, qui concerne tout le monde, Ã tous
les niveaux, politiques, organisationnels, spirituels et surtout à mon
sens cela concerne la jeunesse. Je suis assez rassuré de constater que
les programmes se mettent en place, non seulement sur le plan
national, mais aussi régional et même local. De chaque coin de France,
des projets sont lancés et progressivement inclus dans le programme
2015. Bien qu’il s’agisse d’une étape, ce rendez-vous est majeur et
nécessite des actions à la hauteur des enjeux. Je sais que cette
préoccupation est communément partagée par tous ceux qui sont
impliqués dans ce travail, et c’est là l’essentiel, je crois, à ce
stade du programme de la « Mission 2015 ».

samedi 8 mars 2014,
Ara ©armenews.com
– 945

AZERI ANALYST DISAGREES WITH UK ENVOY’S SCOTLAND-KARABAKH COMPARISON

Azadliq (in Azeri), Azerbaijan
March 6 2014

British ambassador to Azerbaijan Irfan Siddiq delivered a lecture
at the Xazar University. In his speech the ambassador touched on
discussions of Scottish independence from the UK and the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. He said that debates will be held within the next
six months on separation of Scotland from the UK. The diplomat also
said that Armenia will have to withdraw from the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan.

Irfan Siddiq contrasted this matter with developments in Britain:
“Developments in the UK are also interesting. Some people in Scotland
do not wish to remain part of the UK. We will hold a referendum
instead of waging a war. Referendum must also be the way to determine
the future status of Nagornyy Karabakh. This is a logical compromise
to determine the status. There is a direct conflict here and some
wish to remain in Azerbaijan, while others do not. It is the same in
the UK. Some wish to remain in the UK, but some do not. Let us see
what happens”.

Political analyst Vafa Quluzada commented on what the ambassador said.

He said that this is an internal matter for Scotland and the UK itself
will decide on holding a referendum in Scotland. Quluzada said that
the situation is completely different in Karabakh: “This is an issue
that Russia engineered. We have to consider that Armenia too is a
country the Russian empire created on Azerbaijani land. For the sake
of humanitarianism we do not demand that Armenia and its people be
dispersed and the land returned. Nagornyy Karabakh is Azerbaijan’s
territory and it will remain so. The Azerbaijani population was
deported out of Nagornyy Karabakh and they have to return there.

Russia is creating here a geopolitical bomb, just as in Ukraine.

Russia wishes to separate Ukraine to tie it to itself again. Russia
pursues the same goal in relations with Azerbaijan. Russia believes
that in this conflict it will defeat Azerbaijan using Armenia and
tie it to its empire again”.

Hence, Quluzada disagreed with the British ambassador’s remarks. He
said that the ambassador talked this way because he was not
knowledgeable enough of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. “The situation
is completely different in the UK and Azerbaijan. Developments in
our country have to be studied more closely in order to know this,”
the analyst said.

[Translated from Azeri]

SUPER GM 1-ON-1: BAADUR JOBAVA: “THEY USUALLY TALK THAT WAY ABOUT KASPAROV”

Voice of Russia
March 7 2014

By Elina Kazaryan and David Kerans

YEREVAN (VR)– While it is no secret that mercurial super GM Baadur
Jobava is among the favorites to win the European Individual Chess
Championship (EICC) that got underway Monday in Yerevan, Armenia,
defining the keys to his prowess is not easy even for experienced
observers of elite chess.

0Jobava represents Georgia, but is Mingrelian himself, originally from
Abkhazia (Mingrelian language is not very close to Georgian). His
family fled the civil war in Abkhazia in 1994, when he was 9 years
old, and he grew up from then in Kharkov. He was not a world-famous
wunderkind, but it was obvious to those who saw him before he reached
master strength that he had extraordinary talent. As Tbilisi-raised GM
Zviad Izoria told VR at last year’s World Open, “I remember him when
he was young, and it was amazing what he was doing. He’s definitely
the most talented player I have ever been around.”

0Beyond raw talent, however, Jobava has created sensational opening
novelties, and managed at least two entirely home-scripted victories
over top GMs–his 2005 demolition of then-4th ranked Evgeny Bareev
was certainly one of the most famous games of the decade. Moreover,
as some specialists have noticed, Jobava has often refined our
understanding of the positional resources available in opening lines
long considered tame.

0Jobava is definitely not a computer-loaded theory drone, nor does
he rely on tactical fireworks to compensate for relative weaknesses
in his armor elsewhere. It takes a complete player–and more–to
build a positive score against Magnus Carlsen, after all. A thorough
treatment of the many dimensions of Jobava’s chess (and off-board)
persona would require much more space than we can devote here. We can,
however, bring chess fans closer to Jobava’s place in elite chess via
discussion with his peers and with Baadur himself. Radio VR’s Elina
Kazaryan is on the scene at the EICC in Yerevan, where she secured
an animated interview with Jobava, plus some extra impressions from
fellow super GM Anton Korobov, who knows Jobava well.

0Kazaryan spoke to Korobov while Jobava was taking charge of his
3rd round game with GM Michael Roiz, a game he would win. {complete
game here}

0Kazaryan: Have you had a look at Jobava’s current game?

0Korobov: Yes.

0Kazaryan: What is your analysis, how is it playing out?

0Korobov: Well, he has a position from which one could torture one’s
opponent for a long time. We should bear in mind the mental energy
Jobava has. People start to break up under that sort of pressure,
they want to bring the game to an end, it’s like a horror film,
and they defend imperfectly and lose. So I’d bet on Jobava.

0

0Photo credit: (c) Elina Kazaryan, VR

0Kazaryan: Do you know his opponent, from Israel?

0Korobov: Mike? Yes, I know him.

0Kazaryan: What’s his style?

0Korobov: I can’t say I know his style, but I know he’s a pretty
strong player, for sure, a positional player. But Baadur has managed
to get something going, even though the position was fairly dry, the
defender couldn’t clinch it down. And now Roiz is confined just to
defending himself against concrete threats, very unpleasant ones. It
seems to me Baadur has a big advantage here.

0Roiz

0Jobava

0After move 31; White’s space advantage is apparent

0Kazaryan: If I ask you to make a prediction concerning the whole
tournament now, whom would you single out?

0Korobov: It’s hard to predict here, the tournament is chaotic and
you can’t say for sure how it will turn out. Quite possibly one of the
Armenian players will rise to the occasion here in their own country.

I don’t know, which of them are among the leaders? Zaven Andriesan
has two points out of two. Or one of the young Russian players maybe,
there are some really strong and promising ones. (Vladislav) Artemiev
has two out of two, and it looks like he’ll have three out of three…

0Kazaryan: And what about you? Do you have your sights set on placing
in the top 23, to ensure yourself a spot in the World Cup?

0Korobov: Right now I’m not setting that goal for myself, no {at this
moment Korobov had just 1-1/2 points from the first three rounds}.

I’ll have to just enjoy the process of playing my games.

0Kazaryan: Thanks Anton.

0Korobov: You’re welcome.

0Jobava duly dispatched Roiz, and then joined Elina for a substantial
chat.

0Super GM 1-on-1: Baadur Jobava

0Kazaryan: I take it you are in a good mood? You won, my
congratulations.

0Jobava: Thank you.

0Kazaryan: How would you assess your play?

0Jobava: Today’s game, you mean? The opening {Giuoco Piano} was a
success for me, because I’ve had a few games in that line before
this one, so I had a good sense of how to play the position. Michael
wasn’t catching all of the nuances of that opening, and that allowed
me to do what I wanted to do, and at one point he ended up short on
space. It was a position that is difficult to defend in practice, and
then at one point he made a pretty big error, which gave up a pawn,
and he lost, yeah. I think it was an interesting game. We’ll have to
analyze it to understand all the details. But let me just say it was
an interesting game.

0The error he made was a logical outcome, actually. If you’re
pressuring your opponent all game, and he gets into time trouble,
at some point errors are likely. We aren’t computers that see the
best move every time. Some weaker moves creep in, and you have to
see that and take advantage. This time I managed to do that. I’m
satisfied with the result.

0Kazaryan: And how about the first two games?

0Jobava: In the first round I played a pretty interesting player
{Vilka Sipila}, from Finland. He was a very resolute guy. At one
moment I got an advantage with White out of the opening, and then
when we went to an ending I sacrificed a pawn which I thought led to a
forced win. But he started to find best moves, and at one point late
he was in time trouble and I had a trick he fell into, and I won. If
he had navigated it just right I might have lost. Fortune was on my
side. Fortune favors the brave, as we say!

0Yesterday, with Black against Iordachescu, we played a complex
opening line in the Caro-Kann defense {advance variation; Nigel Short
system}. Coming out of it Black couldn’t really look to win, but it
would be difficult to lose, too. We both figured that out, traded down,
and agreed to a draw. Not the most interesting game. But the tournament
is still just beginning, it’s too early to say how it is going.

0

0Photo credit: (c) Elina Kazaryan, VR

0Kazaryan: Since the top 23 here advance to the World Cup, have you
set yourself a goal of finishing in the top 23?

0Jobava: I want to qualify for the World Cup at a minimum. But beyond
that, we’ll see how it unfolds. I feel like I am in good form. Before
coming here I played in an open tournament in Minsk {the Bronstein
Memorial, which he won}, and I came into form there. I don’t know what
would have to happen for me to miss the top 23. I don’t know {laughing}
it would be a nightmare! I’ll try, yeah. The top 23 is my minimum goal.

0Kazaryan: By the way, some of your opponents, and people who know
you, sense an unusual mental energy which sometimes affects them
adversely. Do you know about that, and do you have any comment on it?

0Jobava: I’ve never heard that, no one has ever told me so, to be
honest, that I have some strong mental energy field. Usually they said
that sort of thing about Kasparov. {laughing} I don’t know. Maybe
it’s not any mental energy field, it’s just that I’m trying to play
strongly and at some moments it gets hard for them when their opponent
is playing strongly, when he is in top form–their mental energy
field shrinks! {laughing} I don’t know. Of course it’s pleasant to
hear that about yourself, but I can’t really believe it.

0Kazaryan: Is this your first time in Armenia?

0Jobava: Oh no, not at all. I’ve been here many times, have lots of
friends. My first time here was in year 2000, if not earlier, if my
memory isn’t playing tricks on me. I have plenty of connections with
Armenia, friends and colleagues. No relatives, unfortunately. It’s
always a pleasure to come to Yerevan, especially, to Armenia. And I
should add that Armenia has been good for me. However many times I’ve
come to play here, I’ve always done very well. This time too, I hope.

{chuckling} We’ll see!

0Kazaryan: And what about this current trip to Armenia? Have you had
any new impressions apart from the chess?

0Jobava: Well, yeah, it’s too early. So far I’ve only seen the hotel
and the tournament hall. But the off day {March 9} will give me a
chance. Of course I know Yerevan like the back of my hand, so it
won’t be as new to me as it will be to others.

0Kazaryan: There was a time when you served as a second to Grandmaster
Topalov…

0Jobava: Whoa! You’re remembering that from eight years ago…

0Kazaryan: Topalov will be taking part in the upcoming Candidates
Tournament {from March 13} in Khanty-Mansiisk. If it’s not a
secret, have you had any proposals from Topalov or any of the other
participants to help out as a second?

0Jobava: No, I haven’t. It’s not a secret, I can say straight out that
no one has asked me. I worked with Topalov once, it was in 2006, when
there was a super tournament in Sofia. At that moment GM Cheparinov
was working with Topalov, but he had to be away for a few days to
play in a league match in Holland, if I remember right. His friend
Silvio Danailov recommended me. It was just before the Chess Olympiad
in Torino that year, by the way, in 2006. He said “Go there, do some
work, get some experience, and then head to the Olympiad.” And I said
to myself “Yeah, why not?” {chuckling}. It was always nice–how old was
I then, eight years ago, 22 or 21? It was an interesting experience,
to spend time with such a strong person, and all the more so to work
with him. Thank God I didn’t cast a bad aura. He took first place in
the tournament. So I was satisfied. My first time as a second and I
didn’t jinx him! {laughing}

0Kazaryan: Is there any opponent with whom you’d really want to
play here?

0Jobava: {laughing} I don’t think much about whom I’ll face. Each day
depends on how you’ve prepared, if you’ve slept well. Of course there
are some players whom I find uncomfortable to face, and the opposite.

Some of them are here in Yerevan. {smiling}

0Kazaryan: But I understand you won’t say who they are…

0Jobava: No, it wouldn’t be right.

0Kazaryan: Especially before you play.

0Jobava: Exactly.

0Kazaryan: Thanks for joining us.

0Jobava: Oh sure, you’re welcome.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE March 7, 2014
Contact: Elen Asatryan
Tel: 818.500.1918
Cell: 818.523.8389
Email: [email protected]

ANCA-WR Launches Campaign to Honor Near East Relief Efforts

Campaign’s goal is to thank America for its efforts in rescuing hundreds
of thousands of Genocide refugees, orphans and survivors.

GLENDALE, CA–The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region has
launched a campaign, timed for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, to
honor Near East Relief, an organization that mobilized Americans and
rescued hundreds of thousands of orphans and survivors of the Genocide.

The campaign, called “America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near
East Relief,” is a movement to recognize the outpouring of generosity by
the American people in the immediate aftermath of the Armenian Genocide
(1915-1923) and to highlight the efforts of Near East Relief in rescuing
and providing assistance to hundreds of thousands of men, women and
children who were victims of the Genocide.

ANCA-WR officials said that the campaign is committed to promoting the role
Near East Relief played in providing assistance to those less fortunate and
for its groundbreaking ability to bring the American people together under
one cause–the aid to refugees of the Armenian Genocide.

Through various events and programs “America We Thank You: An Armenian
Tribute to Near East Relief,” will mark the centennial of the Near East
Relief efforts and express its gratitude to the American people for
establishing and continuing the tradition of being the most generous
nation. Countless Armenian-Americans are descendants of those rescued by
Near East Relief.

As news of the horrors of the Armenian Genocide poured into the this
country, President Woodrow Wilson urged Congress in September of 1915 to
act swiftly to provide assistance to the victims of Ottoman Turkish
massacres of Armenians. This congressionally-mandated operation, which
would later be dubbed Near East Relief, galvanized every segment of
American society to rise up and provide assistance to the refugees of the
Genocide.

Near East Relief established and operated several orphanages in Lebanon,
Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, including Armenia, to shelter and care for
hundreds of thousands of orphans who escaped the horrors of the Genocide.
The campaign was entirely funded by the American people.

“As we, a community and a nation, look toward the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide in 2015, we would be remiss to discount the crucial role
Near East Relief played in salvaging the victims of the horrible tragedy,
and by the same token, play a critical role in safeguarding the survival of
the Armenian Nation,” said Vanna Kitsinian, Esq. co-chairwoman of “We Thank
You America: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief” effort.

“Through this campaign we want to say a collective ‘thank you’ to the
American people for recognizing the plight of Armenians and mobilizing the
entire nation. We thank you America,” added Hermineh Pakhanians,
co-chairwoman of the committee.

“As the largest and leading Armenian-American advocacy organization, the
ANCA-WR is taking the lead to ensure that the current generation of
Americans is well aware of its past humanitarian efforts and the role that
the US Congress and the White House played at the time of the Genocide,”
emphasized Nora Hovsepian, Esq. chairwoman of the ANCA-WR.

In a paper published in 2010, Keith David Watenpaugh, an associate
professor and a historian at University of California at Davis argued in an
article published in the American Historical Review that the Armenian
Genocide sparked the modern humanitarian movement and the original concept
of “citizen philanthropy.”

“America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief” is planning
to host its inaugural launch event next month.

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.

###

CAR BOMB EXPLOSION LEAVES 15 DEAD IN SYRIA’S HOMS

Oman Observer, Sultanate of Oman
March 6 2014

Thursday 06th, March 2014 / 21:35 Written by Oman Observer in
International Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare
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BEIRUT — At least 15 people were killed and 12 wounded in a car bomb
blast in the central Syrian city of Homs yesterday, an NGO said.

“At least 15 people were killed and 12 others injured in the Armenian
district,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights.

Syria’s state news agency SANA reported an “insurgent attack” on
the main street of the district, “which caused deaths, injuries
and damage.”

The neighbourhood, in the east of Homs, is under government control.

Homs, once dubbed the “capital” of Syria’s revolution for its
prominent, well-attended anti-government protests, has been the scene
of fierce fighting between the government and dissidents.

Part of its Old City under opposition control has been subjected to
a tight government siege that has left several thousand civilians
trapped.

In recent weeks, UN and Red Crescent teams were able to evacuate some
civilians and distribute food and medicine to those remaining in the
besieged neighbourhoods, but the operations have halted.

In the northern province of Raqa, two suicide bombers exploded inside
base 17, an army base under siege by opposition forces, according to
the Observatory, a Britain-based group that relies on activists and
other witnesses inside Syria.

The group said two fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant had blown themselves up at the headquarters, which is north
of the group’s stronghold in Raqa’s provincial capital.

Clashes between government forces and ISIL broke out after the blasts,
which the Observatory said killed several soldiers.

In Damascus, the group said, a man died after army shelling a day
earlier on the Palestinian Yarmuk camp, where a ceasefire has broken
down.

The renewed fighting has halted aid delivery efforts to the besieged
camp, where two more people died from lack of food and medical care
on Wednesday, the Observatory said.

Around 130 people are reported to have died because of shortages in
the camp caused by the tight army siege.

More than 140,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the
start of the uprising against President Bashar al Assad in March 2011.

Meanwhile, negotiators have lost contact with a group of nuns kidnapped
from a Syrian town last year after their captors moved them, a source
said yesterday.

The 13 nuns and three maids were kidnapped from the famed Christian
hamlet of Maalula last year and transported to the nearby town of
Yabrud, a dissident stronghold the army is fighting to recapture.

“I was in regular contact with them, but since yesterday we’ve lost
contact,” a source involved in negotiations said.

“It is very likely that they have been transferred to the region
between Yabrud and the Lebanese border” nearby, the source said.

“Contacts are under way to try to ensure their safety.”

The source said the kidnappers were from a group belonging to the
Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front led by a man called Abu Malek
al Kuwaiti.

She said they had presented negotiators with a list of demands
including the release of all women held in government prisons and
the withdrawal of government forces from Christian religious sites.

The kidnappers also asked for the provision of food to residents of
dissident-held areas in the region and “military demands to do with
the battle of Yabrud,” the source.

“Things that are difficult to achieve,” the source added. — AFP

KARABAKH PRESIDENT ATTENDS EVENTS DEDICATED TO 55TH BIRTHDAY OF VAZGEN SARGSYAN

March 05, 2014 | 18:45

YEREVAN. – President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
participated in the events dedicated to the 55th birthday of Artsakh
and Armenia hero Vazgen Sargsyan.

President Sahakyan participated in the meeting held in NKR Defense
Army’s military unit named after Vazgen Sargsyan and delivered there
a speech.

In his speech the President noted that Vazgen Sargsyan stood at the
origins of Karabakh national liberation movement and was among the
pioneers who restored Armenian statehood, one of the founders and
the first commanders of the Armenian army, being among the very few
who during the lifetime was awarded by the people the honorary title
of Sparapet.

President Sahakyan underlined that the best way to preserve the
memory of Vazgen Sargsyan is the realization of his ideas, continuous
development of independent Armenian statehood and strengthening
our army.

Bako Sahakyan partook in an evening dedicated to the birthday of
Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan held at Stepanakert Youth and Culture Palace.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, speaker of the National Assembly Ashot
Ghulyan, Premier Ara Haroutyunyan, Vazgen Sargsyan’s brother Aram
Sargsyan, guests from tArmenia and other officials attended the events.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

EXPERT: GAGIK TSARUKYAN IS A PART OF THE ACTING SYSTEM IN ARMENIA. FOR THIS REASON, HE CANNOT TAKE PART IN THE POWER CHANGE

Tuesday, March 4, 20:35

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Gagik Tsarukyan,
is a part of the acting system in Armenia. For this reason, he cannot
take part in the power change, director of the Institute for Sociology
and Philosophy under Armenia’s National Academy of Science, Gevorg
Pogosyan, told Arminfo correspondent when commenting on the statement
by the first president of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

‘I do not share Ter-Petrosyan’s viewpoint. Unlike Bidzina Ivanishvili,
which earned his property outside Georgia and arrived in the native
land with a purpose to change the regime, Tsarukyan is a local
businessman and does not have a goal to change the power. He takes
the hints addressed to him only like interesting ideas”, – he said.

The expert thinks that Ter-Petrosyan was trying to push Tsarukyan
to resolute actions, but it is hard to say if the PAP leader will
listen to them or not. “There are bigger and more influential Armenian
businessmen in abroad which are really able to change something in
Armenia. However, we have not noticed such intentions from their side.

As for the PAP, they do not even call themselves the opposition. They
avoid this word. What power change do you speak about?”, – Pogosyan
said.

To recall, the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan said
at the rally on 1 March in Yerevan that Gagik Tsarukyan is not
worse than Bidzina Ivanishvili or Renat Akhmetov, is he?! “The last
statement by the leader of Prosperous Armenia Gagik Tsarukyan was
quite symptomatic in this respect. I don’t think that Tsarukyan is
worse than Bidzina Ivanishvili who peacefully changed the government
in Georgia or Renat Akhmetov who prevented Yanukovich from imposing a
state of emergency in Ukraine. I think that it is good time for us to
change the government. Simply, we must consider the best way to do it.

The ANC is ready to cooperate with all forces. I hope that next time
we will be here with some other parties. This rally may give start
to a serious process,” Ter-Petrosyan said.