Author: Kanayan Tamar

IL N’Y A PAS DE PROBLÈME DANS LES RELATIONS ARMENO-RUSSES ET IL NE PEUT EN AVOIR

C’est ce qu’a declare le vice-ministre des AE, Chavarch Kotcharian,
a l’AN, commentant la question de l’augmentation du prix du gaz russe.

La cooperation armeno-russe, a-t-il rappele, est multiforme, basee
sur un solide fondement juridique comprenant plus de 170 traites
et accords. Le vice-Ministre des AE a par ailleurs categoriquement
rejete toute negociation secrète avec la Turquie, indiquant que de
telles informations sont avancees par les medias turcs et azeris a
des fins de propagande. / Hayots Achkhar, Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 31 mai 2013

vendredi 7 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

RUBEN SAHAKIAN MAY BE INVOLVED AS LAWYER OF TIGRAN KAHCHATRIAN

Wednesday,
June 05

Governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatrian asked Chairman of
the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia Ruben Sahakian to act as a
defense lawyer of this son Tigran Khachatrian, according to sources
of Aysor.am.

Ruben Sahakian refused to answer personal questions during a talk
with the correspondent of Aysor.am. He refused to give any details
of the case, noting that only when such an offer is made, he will
reflect on it. Sahakian also said that he will inform the public if
he accepts the offer.

Let us remind you that former candidate for Goris mayor Avetik
Budaghian was killed in the June 1 shooting outside the house of Syunik
province governor Suren Khachatrian. Avetik Budaghian’s brother, a
military unit’s commander Artak Budaghian, received a severe gunshot
wound and was taken to a military hospital. The governor’s bodyguard
Nikolai Abrahamian was also hospitalized.

The governor’s son Tigran Khachatrian and another bodyguard Zarzand
Nikoghosian have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

On June 3 Tigran Khachatrian and Zarzand Nikoghosian were charged under
three articles of Armenia’s Criminal Code: Article 104 part 2 point 6
(murder), Article 112 part 1 (willful infliction of heavy damage to
health), and Article 235 part 1 (illegal procurement, transportation,
keeping or carrying of weapons, explosives or explosive devices).

The Synik regional court of general jurisdiction granted the
investigatory body’s petition to use two months’ arrest as a measure
of restraint against Tigran Khachatrian and Zarzand Nikoghosian. They
were transferred to Nubarashen penal institution.

TODAY, 17:51

Aysor.am

“OFFICIALS AND THEIR SONS ARE NOT PROTECTED”

Member of Parliament Khachatur Kokobelyan, president of Free Democrats
Party, says the recent crime in Goris is the consequence of impunity.

He says we witness lynching every day. According to him, high-ranking
officials and their sons are not protected in Armenia and they should
understand this.

Asked what the chief of police Vladimir Gasparyan should do in this
case involving the governor of Syunik and his son, Kokobelyan said
it should not worry the Chief of Police.

The MP says it is important to punish Suren Khachatryan but it is
not necessary to wait for such incidents to punish for the sake of
showing that officials are punished too.

15:42 05/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

DISTINGUISHED FIGURES ATTEND INAUGURATION OF ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM – PHOTOS

13:23, 5 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, ARMENPRESS. The inauguration ceremony of newly
elected Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem His Eminence Archbishop
Nourhan Manoogian was held in the Mother Cathedral of Saint James in
Jerusalem. The “Armenpress” reporter in Jerusalem stated this. His
Grace Patriarch, accompanied by the bishops, moved to the major
sacristy of the Mother Cathedral from the Patriarchate, where he
knelt and recited his oath bareheadedly.

After the recitation of the oath, Grand Sacristan, Archbishop Sevan
Gharibian handed over the patriarchal crozier to the Patriarch as
a symbol of assuming the patriarchal office. His Grace Archbishop
Nathan Hovhannisyan recited the congratulatory address of the
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. His
Grace Archbishop Varuzhan Herkelyan read the letter of His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia on the occasion of the
inauguration. His Grace Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the Patriarchal
Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, who attended
the inauguration ceremony, congratulated the newly elected Patriarch
and as a gift presented him a Holy Grail.

The Christian spiritual leaders of Jerusalem, the Deputy Mayor of
Jerusalem, Palestinian delegation, along with a number of ambassadors
and many other distinguished guests attended the inauguration ceremony.

His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian has been elected the Armenian
Patriarch of Jerusalem on January 24. The patriarchal throne remained
vacant since the former Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Rev.

Archbishop Torkom Manoukyan passed away after long illness at the
age of 93.

Archbishop Nourhan Manougian (baptismal name Boghos) was born in
Aleppo, Syria on 22 July 1948. He received his primary education in
the Haigazian School of Aleppo.

In 1961 he entered the Theological Seminary of Antellias to start his
theological education. In 1966 he entered the Jarangavortz Theological
Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. On 27 July 1968
he was ordained to the diaconate.

In 1971 he was ordained a celibate priest by then Patriarch of
Jerusalem Yeghishй Derderian and was given the priestly name of
Nourhan.

Following his ordination, he was appointed to serve as the Vice Dean
of entered the Jarangavortz Theological Seminary from 1971 to 1972. In
1975 he was named as the Dean of the Seminary.

In 1972 and 1973 Father Nourhan continued his pastoral mission and
served as the spiritual pastor of the Armenian faithful in Geneva,
Switzerland. Father Nourhan received the rank of Archimandrite
(Vardapet) in 1973.

Following his service in Europe, Father Nourhan returned to the
Middle East and from 1974 to 1980 served as the spiritual pastor of
the Armenian community of Haifa, Israel.

In 1980 upon the invitation of then Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, he
left for New York, New York and entered the General Theological6/5/13
Distinguishedfigures attendinaugurationofArmenianPatriarchof Jerusalem|
ARMENPRESSArmenianNews Agency

armenpress.am/eng/print/721421/distinguished-figures-attend-inauguration-of-armenian-patriarch-of-jerusalem.html
2/8 Seminary, where he furthered his theological education. He
graduated in 1983.

Remaining in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North
America, in 1994, he served as the spiritual pastor of the St. Gevork
Church in Houston, Texas.

In 1998 he returned to Jerusalem where he served as the Grand Sacristan
of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On 14 December 1999 he was consecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II. He was elevated to the rank
of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin
II in 2000.

In 2009, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the Armenian
Patriarch of Jerusalem, designated Archbishop Nourhan as Patriarchal
Vicar. He currently serves at the Patriarchate supervising the
activities of the Departments of the Patriarchate.

Article by Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan

NO CONFLICT BETWEEN ARMENIA’S STATUS AT CUSTOMS UNION, NEGOTIATIONS WITH EU – EXPERT

17:42 â~@¢ 06.06.13

The statement by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for European Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Å tefan Fule, that
Armenia’s observer status at the Eurasian Union or at the Customs
Union does not run counter to the agreements being negotiated with the
European Union (EU) (provided Brussels studies the details) is not at
all sensational, Karen Bekaryan, Head of the European Integration NGO,
told Tert.am.

He does not share the view that, in contrast to Russian officials,
high-ranking European diplomats have been ruling out Armenia’s
integration into both structures.

“The head of the EU delegation said such a thing only once in Yerevan.

Å tefan Fule has since been stating that they believe that Armenia’s
relations with the circles in question will not cause any conflicts,”
Bekaryan said.

“It is a natural process. Partners want to know about what is going on
in the other direction. Globally, however, I do not see any obstacles,”
Bekaryan said.

Integration with the EU is both a political and economic process.

“Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, which are partners in the Customs
Union, are not yet able to reach a final agreement. However, they
are inclined to prefer the economic aspect of the structure,”
Bekaryan said.

He pointed out that Kazakhstan has lately presented its position –
the country prefers the economic aspect as well.

“And even the transformation of the structure scheduled for January 1,
2015, with it to be renamed Eurasian Economic Union,” Bekaryan said.

In an interview with Azatutyun Radio Peter Stano noted that official
Brussels reminds Armenia that it cannot have any agreements that
would run counter to an association agreement with the European Union,
including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the country
is negotiating with the EU.

The EU representative also highlighted the points unacceptable to the
EU. He noted that any state must have the right to make independent
decisions on its foreign trade and customs duties. However, the Customs
Union, with its common free trade and customs duties, strips Armenia
of this right.

With respect to the EU summit to be held in Vilnius, Bekaryan,
referring to Å tefan Fule’s statement on the integration process,
Bekaryan said that the EU partners should have considered the fact
that an agreement with Ukraine will be signed at or before the
summit, while agreements with Armenia, Moldova and Georgia will only
be initialed. After agreements are initialed, an association agenda
will be proposed.

Armenian News – Tert.am

AZERBAIJAN SENDS NOTE TO SPAIN OVER MONTSERRAT CABALLE VISIT TO NAGORNO KARABAKH

15:44 06.06.2013
Azerbaijan, Montserrat Caballe, Spain

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Spain delivered a note of protest to the
country’s Foreign Ministry in connection with Montserrat Caballe’s
trip to Nagorno Karabakh, APA reports.

The embassy also said after it was announced in May that Montserrat
Caballe will give concerts in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, the
embassy’s representatives contacted her managers and administrators
and informed them about the possible results of the visit. In response,
the singer’s manager had said Caballe would only visit Yerevan.

On June 4 Montserrat Caballe had a meeting with the President of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan within the framework of her
trip to Artsakh.

Also, she visited places of interest and churches in Nagorno Karabakh.

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE RA NA PRESIDENT HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN TO THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA CONTINUES

05.06.2013

On June 5 the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan being on an official
visit in the Republic of Latvia met with the Prime Minister Valdis
Dombrovskis.

The RA NA President and the Prime Minister of Latvia discussed
the issues of the development of the economic relations of the two
countries, both sides noted the economic big potential, which was
not used within the limits of possibilities and the increase of the
volumes of goods turnover, the encouragement of the mutual investments
was highlighted. In boosting the bilateral economic relations the
President of the National Assembly deemed important the activity
of the Armenian-Latvian Inter-Governmental Committee, and its first
sitting will be held at the end of June in Riga and highly assessed the
economic cooperation of developing the readiness of the governments
of the two countries. He expressed conviction that the first sitting
of the Committee would create a basis for the long-term, content and
mutually beneficially cooperation in different spheres.

Hovik Abrahamyan has noted that Armenia is in the first place among the
South Caucasus regional countries by the volume of the implementation
of direct investments in Latvia.

The NA President and the Prime Minister of Latvia have underlined
that the Eastern Partnership programme of the European Union gives new
opportunities for the development of the Armenian-Latvian bilateral and
multilateral cooperation, as well as for the deepening of Armenia-EU
cooperation. The need of boosting the economic cooperation in that
format was also underscored.

The interlocutors touched upon the regional problems, highlighted
the stability and security of the region. Both sides underlined the
settlement of the NK problem and through peaceful means based on the
Madrid principles. Hovik Abrahamyan has expressed hope that Latvia,
which adheres to democracy, protection of human rights and values of
restoration of historical justice, ahead to the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide will express its position on the recognition
and condemnation of the first Genocide of the 20th century, noting
that neighbouring countries of Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Poland
have recognized the Armenian Genocide.

In the course of the meeting other issues of mutual importance were
discussed.

On the same day the delegation led by the RA NA President Hovik
Abrahamyan visited the Saint Grigor Lusavorich/Enlightener Armenian
Apostolic Church of Riga, where he was met by the spiritual leader
of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia Diocese
Father Khosrov priest Stepanyan and the representatives of the Armenian
community. During the meeting the RA NA presented to our compatriots of
Latvia the inner-political situation of Armenia, the external political
priorities and the process of the NK problem settlement. They had
a sincere talk and Hovik Abrahamyan answered the numerous questions
concerning the representatives of the Armenian community.

The delegation led by the RA NA President also visited Riga port,
too a tour in the port. The leadership of the port presented to the
members of the delegation the activity of Riga free area and the port
management system.

PRIME MINISTER INSTRUCTED TO START URGENT NEGOTIATIONS ON NORTH-SOUTH ROAD CORRIDOR WITH ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

12:55, 6 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS: The Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan instructed the Armenian Ministers of Economy,
Transport and Communications, Finance and Foreign Affairs to start
urgent negotiations with the Asian Development Bank on the occasion
of the findings of the Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia
during the construction works of the NorthSouth Road Corridor.

“In the agreement with the Asian Development Bank it is necessary to
make corresponding amendments so that no penalty or sanctions are
imposed on Armenia because of the revealed deficiencies. The delay
of the construction works were conditioned by the fact that by the
initiative of the Asian Development Bank different methodological
changes were made in the preliminary agreement”, – said the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, as reported
by Armenpress.

If needed, the Prime Minister of Armenia will participate in the
negotiations as well, as it is quite an important issue for the
Republic.

On June 1 the President of the Chamber of Control of the Republic
of Armenia Ishkhan Zakaryan announced that serious violations were
revealed in the construction works of the North-South Road Corridor.

VAZGEN MANUKYAN: “I HAVE SEND LISKA TO KARABAKH AS A PENALTY, VAZGEN SARGSYAN REQUESTED, FORGOTTEN.”

June 5 2013

Recently, during the TV program “The Issue of the Country”, the former
Mayor of Goris Samvel Harutyunyan provided details on various incidents
relating to the Governor of Syunik Marz Suren Khachatryan.

He also told about an episode with Vazgen Manukyan’s behavior. In
1992, when Suren Khachatryan was the conventional commander of the
battalion, he had to be in the positions as the battalion commanders
at that time were in the positions, but instead he began to pursue
Samvel Harutyunyan who unwittingly had become a Mayor. According
to the latter, he was sitting in the City Hall, when one day Suren
Khachatryan commenced an “armed attack” to defenseless City Hall
and seized the building: “Vazgen Manukyan, then, was the Minister of
Defense, the next day he came on helicopter. And the interesting thing
was that Suren Khachatryan really captured the building. That was the
only military success of Suren Khachatryan: military occupation of
defenseless City Hall of Goris Marz. I do not know any other military
success. I know miscarriages, failures when he was a conventional
commander of the battalion.” According to Samvel Harutyunyan’s words,
Vazgen Manukyan’s interference in the case did nothing, a few months
later the Supreme Court examined the case and upheld a fine. In a
talk with Aravot.am, Vazgen Manukyan confirmed that there was indeed
such a story, but he denied that he was one of the sponsors of Suren
Khachatryan. “Samvel Harutyunyan has truly described the case, there
really is such a thing. I then told Liska that he need to go to the
front, to Karabakh, for 3 months as a penalty. Then, Vazgen Sargsyan
asked me to postpone for a month, a month later he again came and
asked to postpone for another month and then it was forgotten, and so
it passed away.” We clarified whether Your fault is there that he was
liberated only by a penalty after such a step, he said, – “There is
no bases for it. I took him out, told him to go to Karabakh front to
redeem, but Vazgen Sargsyan asked me: once he asked, for the second
time, for the third time I was already away from the war in 1993. You
asked, I answered.” To our question of how he interprets the events in
Goris, and where Suren Khachatryan’s remission comes from, he refused
to comment, saying, – “Whatever referred to me, I told you. Now,
I do not want to give assessments. Now I do not want to enter into
those things. I denied what was not true about me, I do not care about
other things. ” Hripsime Jebejyan Photo from

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

A LONG WAY WITH LISKA

In the evening of June 5 the governor’s office of Syunik made a
statement unveiling the details of the incident in front of the house
of Syunik governor Suren Khachatryan referring to the video recordings
of the security cameras of governor’s house. Note that the incident
killed one and injured two.

Sona Truzyan, the press secretary of Prosecutor’s Office, said what
the governor’s office did is unacceptable. According to her, it is
prohibited to publish information relating to the case during the
investigation when no official conclusion is in place yet.

However, she failed to answer the question how the governor’s office
will be held responsible for publishing prohibited information.

As the governor’s office is not held responsible, the society can
consider the story published by the governor’s office as a non-formal
version of the government. Hence this is an attempt to defend Surik
Khachatryan, his son and his bodyguard.

Anyway, even if the governor’s office is held responsible, they could
accuse the guard of the governor’s office, for example, for issuing a
statement on behalf of another government agency, so they could sack
the security guard or he could temporarily suspend his competences of
guard. By and large, there is no difference.

If nothing has changed so far after several cases of murder, years of
violence, humiliation and rape, nothing will change if the governor’s
office is held responsible.

If anything was meant for change, Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at the
National Security Council session would not have focused on
predictions of Azerbaijan’s future.

Evidently, Serzh Sargsyan is going to help Liska. Apparently, Serzh
Sargsyan relies on Liska and the office of Syunik governor during the
regional rearrangement. It is not ruled out that the speech about the
fall of Azerbaijan was produced by the office of Syunik governor for
Serzh Sargsyan who will go a long way hand in hand with Liska and the
office of Syunik governor. Or they will be sent far away, because the
global realities are built on more serious factors, and high-quality
works are encouraged rather than regional detective jokes.

HAKOB BADALYAN
11:03 06/06/2013
Story from Lragir.am News: