Author: Kanayan Tamar

L’OSCE/BIDDH A PUBLIE UN RAPPORT POST-ELECTORAL

Dans ce rapport rendu public le 2 mars, les observateurs de
l’OSCE/BIDDH estiment que le President Sarkissian a beneficie
d’un nombre ” incroyablement eleve ” de votes dans nombre de
circonscriptions. Le rapport souligne des incoherences entre le
niveau de participation et le pourcentage de voix en faveur du
President sortant, susceptibles de mettre en doute ” l’integrite du
processus electoral “. Citant les resultats definitifs publies par
la Commission electorale centrale, la mission note que M. Sarkissian
aurait obtenu plus de 80% des voix dans 115 des 144 bureaux de vote
où la participation depassait 80%. ” Dans 198 des 303 bureaux de
vote où la participation a ete de 70 a 80 %, le president sortant a
recueilli plus de 70% des voix. Sur 249 bureaux de vote où le taux
de participation a ete inferieur a 50%, M. Sarkissian a recueilli
plus de 50% des voix dans 40 d’entre eux, et le principal candidat
de l’opposition Raffi Hovhannisian a recueilli plus de 50 % dans 155
d’entre eux “. Le rapport relève egalement que certaines chaînes de
television, dont la Chaîne publique, n’ont pas assure une couverture
objective des evenements post-electoraux, notamment des manifestations
de l’opposition. / Rapporte par l’ensemble de la presse

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 5 mars 2013

mardi 12 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

NORDSTAR LANCE DES VOLS ENTRE KRASNOYARK ET EREVAN

La compagnie aerienne NordStar a annonce qu’elle ouvrira une liaison
k Krasnoyarsk-Erevan a partir du 1er mai.

Le vol se fera via un Boeing 737-800.

NordStar Airlines est une compagnie aerienne russe.

En 2011, la compagnie a transporte plus de 750000 personnes soit une
augmentation de 45% par rapport a l’annee precedente.

mardi 12 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

FLYING MESSAGE TO ABDULLAH GUL: RECOGNIZE THE 1915 GENOCIDE

Monday, March 11th, 2013

The flying banner over the Stockholm on Monday

STOCKHOLM-The Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden had arranged
a flying note to Turkish President Abduallah Gul who arrived Monday
in Stockholm for a three day official visit to Sweden.

The flying banner which read “Turkey – Recognize the 1915 Genocide”
flew between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. over central parts of Stockholm
during a reception ceremony for Gul and the rest of the Turkish
delegation at the Swedish Royal Palace.

View images and videos of the banner.

THEIR VIEW: APOLOGY OWED TO LIONS CLUB FOR HAYS GUN COLUMN

Las Cruces Sun-News, NM
March 11 2013

By John Bacon / For the Sun-Newslcsun-news.com
Posted: 03/11/2013 02:00:00 AM MDT

When Harry Aslan was elected president of Lion’s Club International,
he was a leader that epitomized the standards of conduct on which the
service club was founded and intended. His private life was not unlike
the persona he projected when he was traveling or speaking. He was
proud of his affiliation with the mission of Lions. He was proud of
his American heritage. He was also proud of his Armenian roots. Harry
Aslan’s family came to America to escape the Armenian holocaust. He
knew full well what tyranny of government and hatred of segments of
society could be. His family had been devastated and slaughtered.

He vowed that never again would his family be put at risk of
the affects of such hatred. He vigorously supported the use of
gun shows for financing of the primary mission of his club being
the distribution of eyeglasses to the poor. He viewed the service
enterprise as a symbolic reminder that never again would his family
or his heritage be threatened by a government supremacy that killed
defenseless citizenry. Guns were not the problem. The absence of guns
killed over a million of his ancestors.

Prior to walking through the local Lion’s gun show Saturday morning,
I had read that morning’s Sun-News “Their View.” The author, one of
the stable of Sun-News progressives who have arrived here to spend
their pension funds ridiculing socio-economic flunkies in their midst,
is the fellow who seems to need to hide his identity behind sunglasses.

He is the one with the affinity of presenting his education as an
accord of eminence.

I had a copy of the article and intended to share portions of it with
some of the yellow vested club attendants who administered the show.

They were busy. The place was packed to the rafters. I was taken by
the faces in the crowd and I endeavored to pick out of its ranks the
“immature males of any age virtually all white, most are rural, and
many live in southern, south-central, or western mountain states”
the bewhiskered one had written so disparagingly about. It could have
been the banker, the retired businessman, the surgeon, the policeman,
or me for that matter.

Most club members had not seen the column because they had to get to
the show early to help open. Their responses were various as I read
excerpts. Interestingly, most observed objectively that they no longer
read the green sage’s stuff anyway because it was predictable and
condescending. I was struck by that. I was also struck by the multiple
responses admitting they no longer read the paper. They no longer took
the paper. It had long ago lost any semblance of their view of issues.

My own opinion is similar. In fact, it altered my entire view of a
still distasteful circumstance. I changed my intention of responding
in kind to the angry old white man to a more fundamental assessment.

There is little benefit in going toe to toe or mano a mano with a
mouthpiece for a liberal news outlet failing a huge portion of its
readership.

The Sun-News has control of what appears on its pages. The Gunboys
article was purposely run on Saturday morning, Feb. 23, because the
gun show was going to open. There is simply no question of what was
orchestrated. There is no justification in the phrasing “their paranoia
derives from their race and region.” How dare you Sun-News for allowing
that to be printed. This is overt antagonism that cannot be tolerated.

As I was entering one of the many display areas, I observed a friend
who was engaged in a spirited discussion with another gentleman. They
obviously knew each other as a lively back and forth was in progress.

They were also shadowed by at least two security types. A closer look
revealed that the security was present for none other than the first
gentleman of New Mexico, Chuck Franco. He was one of the many Gunboys
in attendance.

The greatest irony of the poison penned by the desiccated miscreant
came to light. I actually unfolded and read from near the end of
the column’s venom where it related, “Gunboys fear the cultural and
demographic changes which are marginalizing them because of their
educational and socio-economic deficiencies.” Which of these two are
your referencing?

Sun-News, this community deserves more. This was offensive. It was
inflammatory and a public apology is in order to the Lion’s Club and
it’s thousands of gun show attendees.

You can start with the first gentleman.

John Bacon is a Doña Ana County resident. He declines to elevate his
educational and professional background to substantiate any social
elitism that seems to frequent this column.

ARMENIA: YEREVAN’S DOLPHINARIUM CLOSES AMIDST CONTROVERSY
by Marianna Grigoryan

EurasiaNet.org, NY
March 11 2013

Armenia may not have a sea, but the Yerevan city government was
once proud to say that, like “many developed cities in the world,”
it did have a dolphinarium. Not any more. To the cheers (and jeers)
of environmentalists, the Ukrainian company that ran the controversial
facility has decided to set sail for fresh waters.

The 900-visitor dolphinarium, one of three in the South Caucasus (Baku
and Batumi also have dolphin tanks), was built in 2010 in a downtown
Yerevan park at about the same speed with which it is now being
dismantled. The facility’s senior management cite the end of their
“period of operations” as the reason for the decision to pull out.

“The animals have been moved to Ukraine; the performances are over
since the period of operation has expired,” Nemo Dolphinarium Director
Lili Sahakian told EurasiaNet.org. “This is the only reason.”

But environmental activists claim the real reason is entirely
different.

“How could the dolphins survive in Armenia, which has no sea? Could
they bear the extremely chlorinated water of the pool, the endless
performances, or the frozen fish they were fed?” asked Silva Adamian,
chairperson of the Bird Lovers’ Center, a non-governmental organization
which heads an alliance of 50 NGOs which opposed the dolphinarium’s
opening.

“Back in 2010, we talked to international specialists and they said
the animals won’t last even two years. So, we now have what we have.”

The Nemo dolphinarium featured four 2.5-meter-long dolphins, a sea lion
and seals, which performed their tricks in a relatively tiny pool –
just five meters deep and 16 meters in radius. Environmentalists argued
that the size and standards of the pool did not meet the mammals’
needs, and warned that the highly chlorinated water could cause the
dolphins severe health problems.

Nevertheless, long lines of visitors came from across Armenia to pay
2,500-3,500 drams ($6 -$8.50) to watch what was billed as a “water
miracle.” The minimum of three daily shows, offered six days a week,
could feature a human performer riding through the water while standing
on the dolphins or being propelled by them into the air.

The dolphinarium was first closed about a year ago, when the management
announced the dolphins were going “on tour” to Russia. In September
2012, new dolphins restarted the performances.

“What tour are they talking about?” scoffed environmentalist Adamian.

“It is obvious that the animals got sick all the time, and they were
replaced by new ones.”

Adamian maintains that “a significant decrease in income” from the
five-month closure prompted the decision to shutter the Nemo.

Dolphinarium representatives deny the claim.

NKR AUTHORITIES EXPRESS READINESS TO ENSURE SECURITY OF OSCE MISSION

Monday,
March 11

On March 14, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the
authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE mission will
conduct a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the
armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan near the settlement
of Talish, Martakert region, NKR.

In the NKR territory, the monitoring will be conducted by
Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Jiri Aberle (Czech Republic) and Yevgeny Sharov
(Ukraine), as well as OSCE High-Level Planning Group representative
Pavlo Shamaev.

>From the opposite side, the monitoring will be headed by Personal
Representtaive of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The NKR authorities expressed readiness to assist in conducting the
monitoring and to ensure the security of the OSCE mission members.

>From the Karabakh side, the monitoring mission will be accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense,
NKR MFA reported.

TODAY, 20:42

Aysor.am

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MP SUPPORTS LITHUANIAN DEPUTIES WHO BECAME FRIENDS WITH ARTSAKH

17:28, 11 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. The deputies of the European Parliament
started to send letters supporting those nine Lithuanian deputies,
who made a decision to create a friendship group with the Artsakh
Republic. The first of them is the Chairman of the EU-Armenia
friendship group of the European Parliament, Deputy from Cyprus Eleni
Theocharous. The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Europe Armenian Cause Office
informed “Armenpress” about this.

The President of Europe Armenian Cause Ooffice Gaspar Karapetyan
stated: “The initiative of the Lithuanian deputies on creation of
the friendship group with the Artsakh Republic must become an example
for all those political figures, who keep preaching about the human
rights defense and right to self-determination of the nations.”

The nine Lithuanian deputies Dalia Kuodite, Dangute Mikutiene, Alma
Monkauskaite, Vince Vaidevuye- Margeviciene, Orinta Leipute, Kestutis
Masiulis, Algis Kaseta, and Provilas Urbsys remained loyal to their
initiative to create a friendship group with the Artsakh Republic.

REPUBLICAN BEST ALLY FOR HERITAGE PARTY, ITS LEADER – OPINION

tert.am
17:26 ~U 11.03.13

The most effective step the opposition Heritage party’s leader can take
in the present situation is to seek alliance with the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA), a political analyst has said, commenting on
Raffi Hovhannisian’s decision to start a hunger-strike protest.

Speaking to Tert.am, Hrach Galstyan characterized the former
candidate’s move as a step taken in time trouble.

“That was a time trouble step taken by a man not knowing what to do.

He had said earlier there would be no more hunger-strike and no more
abrupt measures. But he is now taking such a step,” he said, noting
that the opposition politician has exhausted all his resources to
keep the people in the streets.

“Times have now changed, with people being probably more inclined to
see solutions in the legal domain. Raffi Hovhannisian’s team seems
to have no serious arguments on the legal platform. That’s hanging
in the air, and though not everyone may understand this, they foresee
it intuitively.”

Asked who could be Hovhannisian’s potential ally, Galstyan said he
doesn’t see such a political force at present. “It is difficult to
say who remains a potential ally. As for the forces on the arena,
there are probably no allies among them. The [opposition] Armenian
National Congress (ANC) has its own plans, with the Prosperous
Armenia has its own ideas. [The Armenian Revolutionary Federation]
Dashnaksutyun too, has an ideology of own. There are no allies per
se. The ANC can try to negotiate in a way, establishing contacts
with Raffi Hovhannisian. I say that intuitively as there are no
facts pointing to that. But the ANC will try to take Hovhannisian
under its umbrella rather than cooperate with him on a peer-to-peer
basis. No force is ready to collaborate with Raffi Hovhannisian,
accepting him as a senior partner. I do not, at least, see such
processes. Dashnaksutyun appeared on the arena but said it is coming
to move forward with its own platform.

The authorities too, represent a political force pursuing its own
interests. It is hard at the moment to imagine a direct cooperation
between Heritage and the RPA. But that’s possible. And not only
possible, but also very likely Hovhannisian and Heritage have no
natural allies. Cooperation is possible at later stages. Should that
happen in the present circumstances, that will be shadow cooperation,”
he noted.

GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION IN AZERBAIJAN

2013-03-11 16:00:36

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania will visit Azerbaijan on
March 18.

The Georgian Defense Ministry told Trend on Monday that the issues
of military cooperation between the two countries will be discussed
during the visit.

According to the information, the minister is expected to meet with
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev.

Last week Alasania visited Armenia.

HOVANNISIAN ON STRIKE: DAY 1 “WONDERFUL”, SAYS THE OPPOSITION LEADER

VOTE 2013 | 11.03.13 | 14:44

Photolure

Official runner-up in the February 18 presidential election Raffi
Hovannisian, who is challenging the poll results, began his announced
hunger strike on Sunday and spent last night in the open air in
Liberty Square together with some of his supporters.

“The night was wonderful, I was not alone, there were some co-citizens
who were by my side till dawn, and sunrise today was very bright,”
Hovannisian told ArmeniaNow.

Enlarge Photo Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan

The weather today in Yerevan is sunny, with temperature at night
around was 2C/35F and Hovannisian says “even the weather is on our
side” and that “this is an Armenian’s, an Armenian person’s, Armenian
citizen’s weather”.

This is not the first time the 53-year-old politician is resorting
to hunger strike. Two years ago at the same place, around the same
time of year he held a 15-day “Freedom Fast” as part of his struggle
against a one-party-led state. This time it is “the new milestone of
registering the de jure victory of the Armenian people”.

“By depriving myself of food I am at a new stage of our struggle,
which I am sure will lead to new Armenia’s inauguration. Mr. Sargsyan
has all the qualities of a politician, citizen, Christian, by which
he can reconsider his decision and admit that he has not been elected
president,” says Hovannisian.

On Monday the Constitutional Court started hearings on Hovannisian’s
and marginal candidate Andreas Ghukasyan’s petitions appealing the
February 18 election results.

As the body responsible for the final decision on the election results,
the Central Election Commission, represented by its chairman Tigran
Mukuchyan, is the respondent in this case along with the Prosecutor
General’s office and the Police of Armenia for their respective fields
of authority.

Court chairman Gagik Harutyunyan says he has received a petition also
from Serzh Sargsyan to be involved as a third party. In the Court he
will be officially represented by Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan
and Republican MP David Harutyunyan.