Author: Kanayan Tamar

EUROPEAN MPS HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN KARABAKH

April 25, 2013 | 19:12

YEREVAN.- Members of the Armenia-EU and Euronest committees of
parliamentary on Thursday met with the members of the EU-Armenia
Friendship Group of the European Parliament.

Head of the standing committee on foreign relations Artak Zakaryan
deemed important the first visit of the Friendship Group to the
Armenian Parliament and expressed hope the meetings will be more
frequent.

The sides highlighted deepening of Armenia-EU relations, integration
process and especially stressed the importance of signing of the
Association Agreement as well as the establishment of free trade area,
parliament’s press service reported.

The sides considered important peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, continuation of the negotiations, noting
that solution of the issue through military means is unacceptable.

The members of European Parliament emphasized deepening of democratic
reforms in Nagorno-Karabakh, which would promote peaceful settlement
of the problem. They underscored importance of democracy strengthening
in the South Caucasus

Members of the group deemed important participation of the
representatives of Karabakh NGOs and civil society in the programs
being implemented within the framework of Euronest.

Democratic reforms and deepening of democracy in Armenia was
discussed. European MPs underscored importance of holding free and
fair elections, underlining that there is still much work to be done.

They expressed readiness to support implementation of the reforms.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

VIOLATIONS REVEALED IN MILITARY UNITS OF DEFENSE MINISTRY

Thursday,April 25

“The Coordination Council of Zinvor NGO revealed violations in almost
all the military units of Armenia’s Defense Ministry in the course
of 12-day checks,” Chairwoman of NGO’s Coordination Council Margarita
Khachatrian said at the meeting with journalists today.

In her words, the commanders of military units received the respective
instructions to solve problems on the spot, and the Armenian defense
minister was informed about some violations.

“The shortcomings had to do mostly with the quality of food and medical
care provided to servicemen, also to their uniform. In one case the
serviceman did not complain of his health problems, and he was put
in hospital only after our intervention. Servicemen complained of
low-quality underwear. There have been cases when the food sent by
servicemen’s parents did not reach their sons on time.

The main reason is indifference,” M. Khachatrian stressed.

As for the protests that the mothers of solders who died in the
army stage outside the Armenian government, Margarita Khachatrian
said that at one time she also struggled this way, but in 12 years,
she did not achieve anything, except for the answer that her son was
killed on a frontline position by an enemy bullet.

“IF ONLY EVERYONE” WINS TWO AWARDS AT 3RD BEIJING INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

18:54 25.04.2013

The film “If Only Everyone” telling about the Artaskh war and its
consequences won two prizes at the 3rd Beijing International Film
Festival.

Vahagn Simonyan won the “Best Supporting Actor” award and composer
Vahagn Hayrapetyan won the prize fin the “Best Music” nomination.

The festival held in the capital of China from April 16 to 23 featured
more than 500 films from 60 countries.

The film dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Army has
been produced under the high auspices of President Serzh Sargsyan. It
is directed by Natalya Belyauskene. Producers of the film are Mikael
Poghosyan and Tereza Varzhapetyan.

“SUNRISE OVER LAKE VAN” DISPLAYED IN NICE, FRANCE

17:17, 25 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. A number of events dedicated to the
98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide have been organized on the
initiative of the Armenian Apostolic Community of the French city
of Nice. The Press, Information, and Public Relations Department of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed
“Armenpress” that “Sunrise over Lake Van” movie was displayed in
prominent Pathe Massena Cinema House in the evening of April 23.

After, the audience had an opportunity to address questions to the
director of the movie Artak Igityan and co-author of the screenplay
Aren Vatyan.

The requiem service was offered on April 24. On this occasion the
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of France and Pontifical Legate of
Western Europe, His Grace Archbishop Norvan Zakarian came to Nice
from Paris.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman government has
been documented, recognized, and affirmed in the form of media
and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by many
states and international organizations. The complete catalogue
of all documents categorizing the 1915 wholesale massacre of the
Armenian population in Ottoman Empire as a premeditated and thoroughly
executed act of genocide, is extensive. Uruguay was the first country
to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965. The massacres
of the Armenian people were officially condemned and recognized as a
genocide in accordance with the international law by France, Germany,
Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Poland,
Lithuania, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Uruguay, Argentina,
Venezuela, Chile, Canada, Vatican, and Australia.

JOURNALISTS’ PRESENCE AT POLLING STATIONS MIGHT REDUCE ELECTION RIGGING RISKS

16:33 ~U 25.04.13

Gurgen Gasparyan, who is on the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) list in
the upcoming elections to Yerevan’s Council of Elders, believes that
the presence of at least one journalist at each of the 465 polling
stations would essentially reduce the risk of election frauds.

“Media representatives’ presence will sober up the election
committees. Both during the parliamentary elections and now we must
supervise all the polling stations,” Gapsaryan told journalists
on Thursday.

Vladimir Karapetyan, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) party member,
said that the ANC will have its representatives at all the polling
stations, cooperating both with observers and with journalists.

“We proposed reforms of Armenia’s electoral code, which, if approved,
would reduce the risk of election frauds. But our proposal failed for
some reasons. We are now trying to cooperate with the political forces
that are interested in struggling against election rigging,” he said.

Daniel Ioannisyan, who is on the Barev, Yerevan (Hello, Yerevan)
bloc’s list, believes struggle against election frauds can be waged
both inside and outside polling stations. According to him, election
frauds outside polling stations do much more harm.

Armenian News – Tert.am

“GRANDMAM’S TATOO” MOVIE DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DISPLAYED IN JERUSALEM

14:55, 25 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem
presided over the requiem service dedicated to the 98th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. The ceremony was held in the Zharangavorats
College in Jerusalem. The “Armenpress” reporter in Jerusalem stated
this. Member of St. James Convent, Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan
made opening remarks at the event. Among other things the archimandrite
underscored: “In a distance of 98 years our numerous martyrs cry for
struggle, condemnation, and compensation. Their souls will find no
rest, until the fair judgment does not take place. Let’s come together
over our sacramental and holy mission and by bowing our heads before
their sacred memory let’s swear that we shall spare no effort while
conducting a coordinated and diligent activity for the sake of the
fair judgment and the joyful moment, when the Turkish authorities will
consciously knee down in the Tzitzernakaberd Memorial, beg apologies
of the Armenian people, and bear responsibility for the massacres.”

After “Grandmam’s Tatoo” documentary by Suzan Khardalyan was displayed
in the Zharangavorats College in the evening. Before the movie was
introduced to the public, the director of “Grandmam’s Tatoo” Suzan
Khardalyan made remarks and represented the motives for creating the
documentary focusing on the term “gendercide”.

On April 23 the participants of the event lighted candles and hold
watching ceremony by the memorial erected in memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims in Jerusalem. Divine Liturgy was served in St. James
Cathedral in the morning on April 24. Also a demonstration was
organized in front of the Turkish Embassy to Jerusalem.

ARMENIAN-SERBIAN RELATIONS DISCUSSED IN BELGRADE

April 25, 2013 | 12:03

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Ambassador to Serbia, Gagik Ghalachyan, met
with members of the Serbia-Armenia Friendship Group of the Serbian
parliament, on Monday in Belgrade.

They exchanged views on the priorities and the avenues for developing
Armenian-Serbian relations, and numerous respective proposals were
made, the Armenian MFA press service informs.

Ambassador Ghalachyan provided information on the primary directions
of Armenia’s foreign policy, the existing problems, and the current
phase in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The parties underscored the need to promote cooperation between the
parliaments of the two countries and, in this context, Gagik Ghalachyan
stressed the importance of interparliamentary cooperation.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

WHAT SHOULD ARMENIA DEMAND FROM TURKEY?

07:34 PM | APRIL 24, 2013 | POLITICS

Leader of the opposition Heritage Party, Raffi Hovannisian, demands
that Turkey compensate Armenians and establish good relations with
Armenia.

Instead of avoiding responsibility and denying the historical fact,
Turkey should establish friendly relations with Armenia, admit
the bitter truth and open its borders with Armenia,” said Raffi
Hovannisian.

Before ascending the Tsitsernakaberd hilltop to commemorate the
Genocide victims, the Heritage party leader also demanded that Turkey
return Armenian churches.

The same demand was voice in the joint statement issued by His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
earlier on Wednesday. In a letter addressed to the Turkish leadership,
the two spiritual leaders demand that Armenian churches, monasteries,
church properties, and spiritual and cultural treasures be returned
to the Armenian people as their rightful owner.

A young man marching silently to the Genocide Memorial said frankly,
“We should take revenge on Turkey for the innocent blood of the 1.5
million Armenians killed by the Turks and demand material compensation
from Turkey.” However, he thinks that the acting authorities in Armenia
cannot set such demands before Turkey; hence they should be replaced
by new ones.

Let us remind that Serzh Sargsyan has not referred to any compensation
in his address on the Genocide Remembrance issued on April 24.

“Each April 24th is the opportunity to renew our pledge to be loyal
to the Armenian statehood whose existence precludes and will continue
to preclude the repetition of the Armenian Genocide,” he said in
the address.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS COMMEMORATED IN TURKEY’S ISTANBUL (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

09:49 ~U 25.04.13

An event dedicated to the 98th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide took place yesterday in Istanbul Taksim Square. According
to Istanbul-based Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, the participants
held a vigil and left flowers there.

Hundreds of people, including well-known Turkish journalists
participated in the event. Addressing the present, ex president of
Doctor’s Union of Turkey Gencai Gursoi said that the target of 1915
arrests were the ‘brains’ of the Armenian people.

“April 24 is considered the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.

Hundred thousands of Armenians, abandoning their houses, their work,
their property were forced to desserts and were killed on the way.

Families were torn apart, children grew up without parents, parents
were left without children and never found each other. Tens of
thousands died of diseases, hunger,” he said.

Gursoi noted that for many years an attempt was made to erase not only
Armenians from the memory of Turks but their culture as well but they
failed and today they are sharing the pain and grief of the genocide.

“HRAPARAK”: SERZH SARGSYAN STOPPED HIS VISITS TO THE RPA

25/04/2013 13:30:00
Oratert News

Before the elections Serzh Sargsyan both in the Supreme Body and in
private said that the elections of Yerevan Council of Elders will be
very difficult. So, initially, he thought it necessary 1-2 times a
week to visit the headquarters of the Republican Party of Armenia,
to collect young staff-Ashotian, Sharmazanov, Taron, and give them
the master classes.

Recently, however, when it became clear that the fight is not so, Serzh
Sargsyan has stopped his visits to the Republican Party, leaving the
young guard of the Republican Party think himself the master of the
situation, and the elders are looking forward to their next failure.