Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIE-DEFENSE
Le ciel arménien est sous le contrôle des services anti-aériens de
l’armée arménienne

Les services anti-aériens de l’armée arménienne sont parfaitement
entraînés à faire face à leurs obligations dit lors d’une conférence
de presse vendredi 24 janvier, Seyran Ohanian, le ministre arménien de
la Défense. Il a affirmé que partout dans le monde sur une surface
aussi réduite qu’est le territoire de l’Arménie, il n’y avait pas un
pareil système moderne de défense anti-aérienne protégeant les
frontières aériennes du pays. Ces systèmes contrôleraient efficacement
le ciel arménien en haute altitude comme en basse altitude. « Mais si
la question se pose au sujet des drones, c’est un problème pour tous
les pays car ils ne sont pas détectés par les systèmes radars. Mais
nous tentons de résoudre également ce problème. Le ciel du pays est
néanmoins sous notre contrôle » a affirmé Seyran Ohanian. Rappelons
que l’Arménie produit depuis plusieurs années déjà ses propres drones.
Ce qui n’est pas le cas de nombreux pays qui ne disposent pas leur
production nationale.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 25 janvier 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

16-YEAR-OLD GIRL WOUNDED BY AZERI SNIPERS

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

A view of Aygepar village in the Tavush region (Photo by razm.info)

TAVUSH, Armenia-Azeri armed forces late Thursday launched sporadic
attacks in the direction of several village in the Tavush Region,
wounding a 16-year-old Lianna Anikyan, reported razm.info.

Azeri forces rained fire on the villages of Nerkin Karmiraghbuyr,
Aygepar, Movses and Chinari.

Anikyan, who is a resident of Aygepar, sustained injuries to her
thigh and was transported to the hospital in nearby Bert.

“The enemy was firing at homes and roofs intensively,” said an Aygepar
resident. “We were vigilant to ensure that fires did not break out
as a result of the attacks.”

Azeri began the attack on the villages bordering Armenia at around
9 p.m. local time.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannesyan confirmed
sporadic fire from Azeri direction toward the Tavush region on
Thursday.

ARAM GHARABEKIAN FUNERAL SET FOR JAN. 29

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

Maestro Aram Gharabekian

YEREVAN-Funeral services and burial of Maestro Aram Gharabekian, who
passed away on January 10 in Los Angeles, will be held on Wednesday
January 29 in Yerevan. The announcement was made following a meeting
of a government-appointed state funeral committee headed by Armenia’s
Minister of Culture, Hasmik Poghosyan.

Funeral services will be held from noon to 2 p.m. local time at the
Aram Khachatourian Concert Hall. Burial will take place at the Yerevan
Municipal Cemetery.

A memorial service was held last Saturday at Glendale’s St. Mary’s
Church, where a capacity crowd comprised of Gharabekian’s relatives,
friends and colleagues gathered to pay their last respects to the
late Maestro.

The Mass, officiated by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian featured several eulogies, among them Gharabekian’s
colleague Maestro Tigran Mansourian and his nephew Armen Avak Avakian.

Born in 1955 in Tehran, Gharabekian graduated from the New England
Conservatory in Boston with a Master’s degree in Composition,
and continued his postgraduate studies in Musical Phenomenology at
Mainz University, Germany. He studied conducting with Franco Ferrara
in Italy, and in 1979 became one of the few conducting pupils of
the legendary Sergiu Celibidache in Germany. He was also granted a
fellowship to study composition and conducting under Jacob Druckman
and Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts.

>From 1997 until 2010 Gharabekian served as Music Director of the
National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, leading this critically
acclaimed ensemble on tours to Greece, the United Arab Emirates,
Cyprus, Switzerland, England, Russia, Lebanon, Georgia, Germany,
France, Canada and the U.S., where in 2001 they made their Lincoln
Center debut as part of their second North American tour.

In 1983 Gharabekian founded the Sinfonova Chamber Orchestra in Boston
and served as its principal conductor until 1991.

More recently, Gharabekian was the conductor and artistic director of
the Open Music Society Foundation, a multifaceted arts organization
dedicated to fostering musical excellence, established in Los Angeles.

In 2012, Gharabekian and his Open Music Orchestra received enthusiastic
praise for their performance at the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s arrival
ceremony at Los Angeles International Airport.

Read more about Gharabekian’s myriad accomplishments in the In Memoriam
section of Asbarez.com.

VIVACELL-MTS, COAF PARTNER TO BRING CONTEMPORARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ARTENI CHILDREN

18:55 23/01/2014 ” EDUCATION

VivaCell MTS and the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) helped realize a
long-expected dream of Arteni’s schoolchildren. The Arteni School’s
elementary wing officially reopened after a significant capital
renovation. VivaCell-MTS provided AMD 7 mln for the establishment
of a technology classroom, Creativity Lab, which will be used by all
students. COAF renovated the rest of the classrooms and installed a
tooth brushing station, Brushadrom, the press service of COAF said.

The Creativity Lab features a smart board, modern computers, as well
as mobile furniture adaptable for working individually, in small or
large groups. The Lab provides a multifunctional environment fit for
classes, training sessions, lectures, reading, discussions, projects
and games, performances and fun.

This is the second Creativity Lab established as part of
COAF-VivaCell-MTS partnership, the first one being launched in
September 2013 in Sardarapat community located in Armavir region.

“By providing the village school with innovative tools encouraging
creativity we want to help them reveal and develop skills and
knowledge. We have to grow up knowledgeable generation, and in this
regard it’s very important to ensure that there is no gap between
village and town schools,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian
stated.

In the words of Anoush Yedigaryan, COAF Executive Director, “the
concept of Creativity Labs was first introduced in Armenia by COAF
and has been widely acclaimed as a cutting-edge means of providing
an optimal learning and creative environment. Given the need in
Arteni, we decided to build on this cooperation with our partner
VivaCell-MTS and capitally renovate the Elementary School wing. This
was made possible through the generous donation of long-standing
COAF benefactors Mr. & Mrs. Noubar and Anna Afeyan. The newly opened
Creativity Lab and Elementary School wing will provide contemporary
educational opportunities to the younger generation.”

The Arteni School is COAF’s seventh rural school and eighteenth
building to have undergone capital renovation since 2004. Starting
today, close to 100 elementary schoolchildren and 15 primary school
teachers will enjoy safe and nurturing classroom conditions and
benefit from a learning environment equipped with bright classrooms,
indoor lavatories and running water, a central heating system and
a Brushadrom.

Source: Panorama.am

POOR FAMILY REFUSED SOCIAL HOUSING BECAUSE IT ATTENDS OPPOSITION RALLIES – PHOTOS & VIDEO

01.23.2014 18:43 epress.am

The poverty-stricken family at house number 30 on street number 1
in Nerkin Shengavit (in the Shengavit administrative district of
Yerevan) was deprived of an apartment provided to it by law because
the family is pro-opposition and attends opposition rallies, Flora
Torosyan informed the Epress.am correspondent who visited the family
in their home.

Torosyan lives in the ramshackle house lacking basic conditions
with her only son, Harutyun Kishmiryan, his wife, and their 5 young
children. Rats and a variety of insects, she says, not only damage
the damp, crumbling walls and wood flooring, but also from time to
time bite the children when they’re sleeping. Torosyan says the house
left from her parents belongs to her brother, who years ago provided
it to them as temporary shelter but is now asking them to leave.

Torosyan claims that one of her 6 grandchildren died because of
doctors’ negligence and indifference, while conditions are not enough
to meet the needs of the remaining 5 – her monthly pension of 51,000
AMD (about $125 USD) is only enough to pay the utility bills.

On the matter of an apartment, the family’s matriarch appealed to
current president Serzh Sargsyan during his election campaign, though
to no avail.

“I also sent a letter during [Yerevan Mayor] Taron [Margaryan’s]
inauguration; I also appealed to the Shengavit district office. A
[district office] employee came and looked at the house. I said,
‘See, Hasmik, it’s tight; the children have no place to sleep; the
rats run around the house, bite the children.’ You should’ve seen the
disgust on her face, like ‘Who asked you to have so many children,
that now you want a house from us? Are you having children on our
account?’ I contacted the new district leader; I got a letter during
elections saying ‘you have to vote for us.’ I said, I won’t vote for
any of you; if a house due [to us] by law is being given by a bribe,
we don’t need it,” said Torosyan.

She contacted the district leader with a request to repair the
collapsed roof, who gave only 15 of the 20 tin sheets he signed out
to the needy family.

“The employee of the district office’s utilities department, Hasmik,
saw that there’s no room to move in the house – she told my son to
have the children sleep with him. I never heard of such a thing: a 11-,
10-, or 9 year-old child sleeping [in the same bed] with his parents,”
complained Torosyan.

Torosyan claims the letters she received from the municipality and
the presidential administration state that her family is the first on
the list of needy families; thus, the family should’ve received an
apartment by the end of 2013. “Last year, they wrote from city hall
that the first apartment will be provided to us; [Armenian Prime
Minister] Tigran Sargsyan was to sign the decree in November. Now
they say that we’re opposition and that’s why we’ve lost our place
in the waiting list,” she said.

Torosyan’s son stressed that the district’s Republican Party of Armenia
members and some Yerevan Municipal Council members on several occasions
threatened him and warned him to think about his family and children
before going to opposition rallies and protesting. “They say, come,
become Republican [Party of Armenia member]; we’ll solve the issue of
the apartment – they don’t think about the fact that the apartment
is due to me by law. During the [Karabakh] War veterans’ rally, two
scoundrels – [Yerevan] Municipal Council members – came and told me
not to participate, not to protest. I said I want my home. And they
said: ‘Brother, it’s a serious matter; since you understand so much,
come stand beside us, we’ll take care of you.’ I’m not a traitor to
the nation, for me to become Republican and say, ‘Forward, Armenia’
or ‘Safe Armenia [the ruling party’s slogans during the presidential
and parliamentary elections]’,” said Kishmiryan.

Asked by Epress.am in writing whether Kishmiryan’s family is in
the list of needy families and is registered to get an apartment,
Yerevan City Hall’s Real Estate Management Department staff said the
family is included in the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs’
Paros social assistance program.

“The procedure for providing shelter and other social services and
registering individuals (families) considered socially disadvantaged
and special groups needing accommodation and the list of individuals
considered socially disadvantaged and special groups having the right
to receive accommodation was approved at the Aug. 1, 2013 RA Government
meeting. As a socially disadvantaged family with many children, their
housing issue can be discussed at the RA Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs. At the same time, the RA Ministry of Urban Development is
working on a strategic plan to develop a social housing fund, which,
after being adopted, in the case of a respective housing fund being
created, will make it possible to discuss the problems of families
in need of better housing conditions,” reads the letter from Yerevan
City Hall.

UKRAINE PROTESTERS PLEDGE MONEY FOR HEAD OF ARMENIAN’S KILLER

19:09 ~U 23.01.14

The activists of Ukraine’s Euromaidan protests have promised money in
a bid for finding Armen Nikoyan, the ethnic Armenian reported killed
in the Wednesday clashes.

A photo of their statement, spread in the streets of capital Kyiv,
has been shared on social networking websites, Segodnya.ua reported.

They promise $5,000 for information about Nikoyan’s murderer and
$100,000 for the latter’s head, according to the statement.

A commemoration event was held on Wednesday in the Dnepropetrovsk
region (where Ukrainian-Armenian resided). Over 200 people attended
the ceremony.

Money was collected for organizing the activist’s funeral. The sum
will be handed over to his parents today.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed the report on Nikoyan’s death.

Armenian News – Tert.am

CO-CHAIRS’ PARITY DESTRUCTIVE AS AZERIS KILL ANOTHER SOLDIER

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

What do foreign ministers Eduard Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov aim
to accomplish on Friday in Paris, when the body of the latest martyr
is barely cold in his rightful grave at Yerablur National Cemetery?

How can these leaders-mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen-discuss a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict,
when at every turning point the Azeri Army aims to thwart any progress,
each time claiming the lives of Armenian soldiers and/or civilians?

How will Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s repeated threats to take
over all of present-day Armenia, which he characterizes as historic
Azerbaijan, come into play in these talks?

How does the continued and destructive parity regarding the tense
situation on the Azerbaijan-Karabakh border being articulated by the
mediators-most recently by the US Minsk Group co-chairman-supposed
to advanced what most see as stalled peace talks?

More important, how do all the aforementioned factors justify the
loss of another young life who forsaking everything else advanced to
repel a two-pronged attack and in the process saved the lives of his
comrades and possibly countless others?

The official line from Yerevan continues to be finger-pointing at
Azerbaijan for derailing the talks. The official line from Baku is an
escalation of its military attacks on Armenian positions. Meanwhile
the so-called mediators seem to ignore the mounting casualties and
continue to depict the realities as a two-sided issue, when clearly
attacks by Azerbaijan have become commonplace ahead of scheduled
talks or during visits to the region by foreign officials.

This week’s headline-grabbing death of Karabakh Armed Forces junior
sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan highlights the explosive state of the
so-called peace talks with the Armenian side bearing the brunt of
the violence with loss of lives and the birth of new heroes in this
26-year-old struggle.

While we honor our heroes and elevate their ultimate sacrifice in
the defense of our homeland, the international community-especially
the United States, one of the three Minsk Group co-chairing
countries-continues its tone deaf policy and fails to unequivocally
condemn the unilateral attacks launched by Azerbaijan.

When Baku threatened to down civilian aircraft, the US urged both
sides to quell the violence. When the US, Russia and France urged
the withdrawal of snipers from borders, Azerbaijan refused and the
reaction was the same. When Azeri forces attacked several positions
in Armenia and Karabakh ahead of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s visit
to the region, she barely blinked. And the list goes on…

At 20, Armen Hovhannesyan had four months left in his tour of active
duty. He had written his parents that he was looking forward to
returning home and “may God be with you until I come back.”

So, how will the death of Armen Hovhannisyan play into Friday’s talks?

Will we get the usual boilerplates from the parties to the talks
that suggest things were discussed without further elaboration? When
another Armenian soldier dies, however, we will realize, once again,
that not much was accomplished in these diplomatic meetings.

After Hovhannisyan’s death, the Armenian National Committee of America
reiterated its long standing demand that the US withdraw all military
aid to Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan’s latest fatal cross-border attack underscores-painfully
and profoundly-the ongoing human cost of the international community’s
failure to either meaningfully confront or constrain Baku’s march
toward a renewed Caucasus war,” commented ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. “At the very least, this should serve as a wake-up call to
Congress here in Washington to cut-off all military aid to Azerbaijan.”

While it is imperative for decisive condemnation of Azerbaijan, there
is no real sign that the international community’s approach will
abate any time soon. This will only encourage Azerbaijan to continue
its military aggression and further turn the region into a powder keg.

Amid this diplomatic rhetoric and machinations, which bolster violence
on the border, Armen Hovhannisyan was not able to keep his promise to
“come home.”

ARMENIA’S BROADCAST MEDIA LACK PLURALISM, JOURNALISTS STILL FACING VIOLENCE – HRW

11:26 ~U 22.01.14

The Human Rights Watch has published its annual review of human rights
practices around the globe to summarize key human rights issues in
more than 90 countries and territories worldwide

The document draws on events through November 2013.

The chapter covering the situation on human rights in Armenia addresses
the presidential and municipal elections, torture and ill-treatment
in police custodies, army abuses, freedom of expression, palliative
care and the situation of sexual minorities.

The analysis of each of the issues concerned is presented below:

Presidential and Municipal Elections

International observers, led by the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), concluded that the February
presidential election “was generally well-administered” but noted
“some serious violations” of OSCE and Council of Europe standards,
such as pressure on voters. The OSCE also noted other breaches,
including public administration bias in favor of incumbents, misuse of
administrative resources, and interference by the incumbent’s proxies.

Local observers reported the presence of unauthorized persons
in polling stations, numerous attempts to pressure observers and
journalists by political parties and election commission members,
and widespread ballot stuffing for the incumbent candidate.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Markaryan, a Republican Party member, won
re-election in the May 5 city council elections. Local groups observed
instances of vote buying, multiple voting, and bullying of election
observers by pro-government activists.

Freedom of Assembly and Attacks Against Activists

In August, police used force to disperse a crowd of local residents
and civic activists in central Yerevan, demanding to halt construction
of a high-rise apartment building in the city center. Police briefly
detained some 26 protesters and beat at least one as he was transported
to a police station; he required brief hospitalization. In October,
the Armenian ombudsman’s office found that the police had used
disproportionate force but no disciplinary action had been taken at
time of writing.

September saw a spate of attacks against peaceful protesters in
Yerevan, apparently intended to discourage participation in two
peaceful protests. On September 5, about six unidentified assailants
attacked Haykak Arshamyan and Suren Saghatelyan, well-known civil
society activists, as they returned from a peaceful demonstration
in front of the Republican Party headquarters where they were
protesting President Sargsyan’s announcement that Armenia would join
the Russia-led customs union. Saghatelyan suffered a broken nose,
requiring surgery and hospitalization, and Arshamyan was treated for
multiple bruises.

On September 4, about 10 unidentified assailants attacked activist
Arman Alexanyan after he left a sit-in at the municipal building to
protest a temporary price increase in municipal transport fares. He
was hospitalized briefly for bruises and head trauma. On August 25,
about six unidentified assailants attacked two activists, Babken Der
Grigoryan and Mihran Margaryan, shortly after they left the municipal
building protest. Investigations were pending at time of writing.

The Women’s Resource Center, a nongovernmental rights organization,
has faced an increasing number of threats by nationalist groups,
including Facebook comments by users who threatened to blow it up
and slit the throats of its activists. While these threats have been
reported to the police, authorities had yet to investigate at time
of writing. In November, authorities arrested Shant Harutyunyan,
an opposition leader, and 13 activists, after they clashed with riot
police following an attempted march to the presidential administration
building. The government claims that the group intended to forcibly
occupy the building. At time of writing, all those detained
remained in pretrial custody, facing criminal charges of violence
against the authorities. Harutyunyan claimed that police officials
physically abused him in custody, but authorities have not initiated
an investigation into the allegations. In late November, a Yerevan
court ordered Harutyunyan be sent to a psychiatric institution for
a forced examination.

Torture and Ill-Treatment in Custody

According to local human rights defenders, torture and ill-treatment
in police custody persist, and the definition of torture in Armenian
law does not meet international standards, as it does not include
crimes committed by public officials.

Authorities often refuse to investigate allegations of ill-treatment
or pressure victims to retract complaints. Police use torture to
coerce confessions and incriminating statements from suspects and
witnesses. For example, Artur Karapetyan, detained in October 2012
on charges of illegal drug distribution, complained of police abuse
in custody. According to his lawyer, Karapetyan showed him wounds on
his feet that he said were from a beating. Although Karapetyan was
released in December and the charges against him dropped in April
2013, police failed to conduct an effective investigation into his
ill-treatment allegations.

In November 2012, Mger Andreasyan testified in a local court that
Yerevan police officers severely beat him after his arrest on
robbery charges. Andreasyan stated that, unable to bear sustained
beatings, he attempted suicide by using his head to break a window
in the investigator’s office and trying to jump out, but police
prevented him. Although a Yerevan court dropped escape charges against
Andreasyan in March, there was no investigation into his ill-treatment
allegations.

Army Abuses

As of October 31, the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office
had reported 29 noncombat army deaths, including 7 suicides. Local
human rights groups have documented the Defense Ministry’s failure
to investigate adequately and expose the circumstances of noncombat
deaths and to account for evidence of violence in cases where the
death is ruled a suicide.

In June, parliament amended the law on alternative military service
to remove military supervision from alternative labor service and
reduce it from 42 to months. Local activists voiced concerns about
the amendments, including the Defense Ministry’s continued role in
application decisions, vague eligibility requirements, and length of
service, which would still be longer than regular military service. By
mid-November, 33 Jehovah’s Witnesses who had been convicted for
refusing alternative service were released but were still required
to perform alternative service.

Freedom of Expression

Armenia has diverse print and online media, but broadcast media lacks
pluralism; for example, only 1 of Armenia’s 13 television stations
carries live political talk shows. International election observers
noted the media’s “selective approach” in covering post-presidential
election developments, notably limiting views critical of the conduct
of the election.

The Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, a local media
monitoring group, reported six instances of physical violence against
journalists during the first half of 2013. In one case, several young
men forcibly prevented Artak Hambardzumyan, from Journalists for Human
Rights, from documenting alleged ballot box stuffing in Artashat during
the presidential election. As of June, the committee had documented
34 instances of pressure on media outlets and journalists.

Palliative Care

Armenia’s complicated and time-consuming prescription and procurement
procedures for opioid medications obstruct the delivery of adequate
palliative care, condemning most terminally ill patients to unnecessary
suffering. Although morphine is a safe, effective, and inexpensive
way to improve the lives of terminally ill people, Armenia’s current
consumption levels of morphine and alternative strong opioid medicines
are insufficient to provide care to all terminally ill cancer patients,
leaving many without adequate pain relief during the last stages of
their illness.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists
have expressed concern for the alarming level of homophobia
in Armenia. According to PINK Armenia, a local rights group,
transgender women who engage in sex work are frequently assaulted and
receive no police protection when they report abuse. PINK Armenia
also reported that the LGBT population continues to experience
employment discrimination, obstacles to health care, and physical
and psychological abuse in the army, in public, and in families.

According to an August Amnesty International report, government
officials frequently condone violent attacks against LGBT people,
characterizing the violence as an expression of “traditional values.”

In July, the Armenian police made a proposal to amend the code of
administrative offenses to establish a fine of up to US$4,000 for
promoting “nontraditional sexual relationships.” The proposal was
subsequently withdrawn.

Also in July, a Yerevan court convicted two people for damage to
property stemming from a bomb attack in May 2012 against DIY, a bar
frequented by LGBT and women’s rights activists. Graffiti identified
LGBT people as targets of the attack. One attacker was sentenced to 19
months in prison and the other received a two-year suspended sentence.

They were both amnestied in October.

Local human rights groups expressed frustration that the sentence
was too lenient. Armenia does not have hate speech legislation.

WHAT OBSTRUCTS TER-PETROSYAN-GAGIK TSARUKYAN MEETING?

January 22 2014

This meeting was possible to organize in at least the last two years.

On Saturday, the rally “We are against mandatory funded pension” held
at the Freedom Square, in participation of non-ruling powers of the
National Assembly, “Prosperous Armenia”, “Heritage” party, ANC and ARF,
raised hopes of excitement and opposition “consolidation”. One of the
opposition forces, the ANC, has long been signifying the establishment
of “consolidation”. Moreover, evidences of fact to act jointly in
some matters at the National Assembly are evident and periodically
assuring that “consolidation,” at large, has happened.

ANC is optimistic that the joint struggle of non-governmental forces
against mandatory funded system will turn into a struggle for change
of power, and to the question of whether “Prosperous Armenia” also
wants to change of power, the ANC advises to judge by the speeches of
“Prosperous Armenia” party members. Can a “consolidation” happen in
the matter of demanding change of power? Are negotiations held? With
this regard, Arman Musinyan said to the “Liberty” RFE/RL, “For now,
I would not give such specified comment, however, the discussion of
spectrum to all this questions and this cooperation are part of your
question, and I think, as they were very active yesterday, so they are
very active today in cooperation, consultations, and discussions, and
tomorrow will be even more active. While the Naira Zohrabyan, secretary
of “Prosperous Armenia” faction, declares that “Prosperous Armenia” has
not discuss the issue. To the question of whether “Prosperous Armenia”
is pursuing the goal of regime change now, Naira Zohrabyan answered,
“Prosperous Armenia” has not discussed the issue.

In our today’s agenda we have covered the issues, which we have
raised. I repeat, artificial casting the events forward and talking
about the steps that have not been discussed, is not the style of
“Prosperous Armenia”.” What obstructs Ter- Petrosyan-Gagik Tsarukyan
meeting and tete-a-tete debates…? This is a question, which, perhaps,
lies on the base of PAP-ANC genuine, sincere dialogue. Of course,
it could be argued that currently the political consultations are
proceeding at this level, and although such consultations have not
been still held at the level of party leaders, however, they might
happen in the future. If the party shall be considered opposition by
the speeches of the representatives of political parties, or moreover,
striving for regime change, the newly independent Armenia has never
felt lack of “opposition”. From time to time, we learn from the
press reports about Serzh Sargsyan’s departures from Armenia and
arrivals that the PAP leader, Gagik Tsarukyan, meets and sees off
Serzh Sargsyan at “Zvartnots” airport. In such cases, the PAP party
reminds us that “Prosperous Armenia” Party leader, Gagik Tsarukyan,
is a member of the Security Council, and it is a function implemented
within the powers and duties of the Security Council member. At the
traditional year-end event of sports representatives, which was also
attended by Robert Kocharyan, the President of the National Olympic
Committee, Gagik Tsarukyan, donated Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan a
horse sculpture, and then stood up and solemnly drink a toast to Serzh
Sargsyan. Thousand of judgments, comment, and analysis can be done to
understand whether the PAP eventually is an opposition or can become
an opposition, or shifting from “alternative” to the power is a real
opposition activity. Or, Tsarukyan, perhaps, is leading such tricky
game that for us, the ordinary mortals, it is difficult to “calculate”
his steps, moreover, may be he is successful in convincing Serzh
Sargsyan that PAP is not an opposition, however, in the debates with
ANC, PAP members succeed to prove that they are the real opposition.

On last May, during the consecration ceremony of St. Hovhannes the
Baptist church built in Abovyan city, answering the question of
journalists whether PAP will become an opposition, Gagik Tsarukyan
gave a clear answer, “PAP cannot become an opposition, because there
are three-four opposition parties. PAP supports to what is good and
beneficial to the people. We follow and will keep following this
principle.” What obstructs Ter-Petrosyan-Gagik Tsarukyan meeting? The
meeting was possible to organize in at least the last two years, if
Tsarukyan had the desire to do it. However, it leaves the impression
that Tsarukyan avoids this kind of format of negotiations and meetings,
and probably he has his reasons for doing so, which the ANC members
probably do not want to admit.

Emma GABRIELYAN

Read more at:

AZERI RAID KILLS KARABAKH SOLDIER: SEPARATISTS

Agence France Presse
January 20, 2014 Monday 9:49 AM GMT

YEREVAN, Jan 20 2014

Azerbaijani forces on Monday killed an ethnic Armenian soldier in an
alleged cross-border raid into Nagorny Karabakh, officials from the
Armenian-backed breakaway region said.

Defence forces soldier Armen Hovhannisyan died from gunshot wounds
after a clash with an “Azerbaijani subversive intelligence party”
trying to cross into the territory early Monday, a statement from
the region’s defence ministry said.

“After promptly locating the enemy’s offensive actions Karabakh
forces undertook organised defensive manoeuvres and succeeded in
pushing the enemy back and inflicting human and material loses,”
the statement said.

Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan in
a 1990s war that killed 30,000 people. Despite years of negotiations
since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides have still not signed a peace
deal.

Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to
retaliate against any military action.

Around 20 soldiers from both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides were
reportedly killed last year.