Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenian military officials and Russian diplomats laid wreath to
Unknown Soldier memorial

February 23, 2013 | 15:50

YEREVAN.- Armenian military officials and representatives of the
Russian Embassy in Yerevan laid a wreath at the memorial to the
Unknown Soldier to mark Defenders of the Fatherland Day.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Chief of Staff of the Armenian Army,
Colonel General Yuri Khachaturov, Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav
Kovalenko, representatives of the Armed Forces and the Embassy
participated in the ceremony.

The ceremony ended with a solemn march of Armenian and Russian servicemen.

On February 23 CIS states, including Armenia, celebrate Defenders of
the Fatherland Day.

Heritage party leader heads to Aparan for rally (video, photos)

TERT.AM
16:42 – 23.02.13

As part of his announced plan to launch a series of rallies in
Armenia’s regions, the opposition Heritage party’s leader met Saturday
with people of Aparan (Aragatsotn region).

Reaching the town, Raffi Hovhannisian first visited a hospital which
had Serzh Sargsyan’s pictures on its walls during the campaign. He
thanked a doctor on duty for respecting the law and removing the
incumbent president’s photos after the election.

Speaking before the crowd during the rally, the Heritage leader noted
that Aparan was the town which once helped save the first Republic of
Armenia (1918) in a fierce struggle against the Turks. `The police
will never again intimidate the people. Let no one threaten our
citizen. Aparan saved Armenia, and now it decides to once again save
the country,’ he said.

Armenia’s First President comments on opposition rallies

NEWS.AM
February 23, 2013 | 13:58

YEREVAN. – So far, they are only speaking, First President – and
opposition bloc Armenian National Congress leader – Levon Ter-Petrosyan
stated, during Saturday’s special convention of opposition Armenian
National Movement party.

He noted this with respect to the ongoing rallies, at capital city
Yerevan’s Liberty Square, by the supporters of opposition Heritage
Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian – who became runner-up to the winner,
incumbent President Sargsyan, in Monday’s presidential election, but
who claims to be the real winner in the vote.

`Raffi Hovannisian did not start, the people started [these rallies];
they came to Liberty Square and are voicing their protest against
these authorities,’ Ter-Petrosyan stressed.

To the query as to whether he will join this movement, which is
likewise launched in the regions, he responded as follows:

`I always go after an action. So far, the people have come out to the
platform, the people have come to the square to voice their protest.
[But] these protesters have not yet taken action; so far, they are
only speaking. When they take action, then we will assess [the
situation], [and] if we think we should join, we will join.’

The opponent fired two thousand shots towards NKR positions

13:44, 23 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: In accordance to Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Defense Army operative data ceasefire regime of the Line of
Contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
Azerbaijan has been violated over 400 times on February 17 23. In the
course of ceasefire violations more than two thousand shots from
various type of weapons were fired against Armenian peacekeepers. As
NKR Defense Army press service told Armenpress, thanks to operative
steps undertaken by Defense Army frontier units the opponent’s
activity was suspended.

Heated clashes go on in Syria’s Aleppo

TERT.AM
11:42 – 23.02.13

Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, continued facing bomb attacks throughout Friday.

Following months of violent clashes between armed opposition rebels
and the government forces, the city came under a missile attack, which
killed 12 people, including children.

Tert.am has learned from sources in Aleppo that the situation was very
tense in the vicinities of the Armenian districts, where over a dozen
of mines went off.

Heated clashes took place in the Pasha district which was formerly
home to an Armenian nursing house. The institution later moved to a
more secure area.

The noises of missiles and explosions were also heard in the Armenian
populated neighborhoods of Nor Kyugh and Villas.

Rights defenders reportedly believe that the number of victims may
increase given that the buildings which collapsed after the missile
attack still have people lying behind the rubble.

The clashes in Aleppo, Syria’s economic capital, have been continuing
since summer 2012.

Frank Pallone congratulated Artsakh people on the 25th anniversary of
the National liberation movement

12:16, 23 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: Congressman Frank Pallone
congratulated Bako Sahakian
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on the 25th anniversary of
the National liberation movement. As Armenpress reports, Congressman
Pallone looks forward to the day when Artsakh will take its deserved
place in the community of nations.

”Dear President ,

I am writing to congratulate you, the people and government of the
Nagorno Karabakh

Republic, Artsakh on the 25th anniversary of the National liberation
movement. During these several days 25 years ago your people raised
their voice for freedom and dignity and in opposition to any
government that rules by despotism.

Artsakh’s path was challenged by various ordeals and your nation
refused to allow these obstacles to break your will and determination.
The tragedy of Sumgayit and the violence that occurred in other
Azerbaijani cities 25 years ago proved the virtue of Nagorno
Karabakh’s choice to preserve its people’s unique identity by
establishing a sovereign democracy.

I offer my sincere congratulations and praise to the republic as you
continue your efforts to strengthen your democratic system of
governance. I also reaffirm my commitment to stand with the people of
Artsakh in their struggle towards international recognition”.

ARTS
Une `uvre du peintre arménien Hagop Hagopian à la Sotheby’s de Londres

La Sotheby`s de Londres organise du 4 au 12 mars une exposition-vente
d’`uvres d’art originaires du Caucase et d’Asie centrale nous indique
l’agence russe « Ria-Novosti ». Les spécialistes russes qui ont
conseillé la Sotheby’s affirment que l’un des objectifs majeurs de
cette manifestation est de faire connaitre les richesses culturelles
des pays ex-soviétiques. L’Arménie est représentée par un tableau de
Hagop Hagopian « Djanabarhin vertche » (la fin de la route) datant de
1997. Tahir Salakhov représente l’Azerbaïdjan avec « Portrait de
Chostakovitch » (1987) et la Géorgie par AbdoVarazi. Au total 47
`uvres sont exposées et proposées à la vente. Selon les organisateurs
un intérêt important pour les arts des pays d’ex-Union soviétique est
remarqué auprès des collectionneurs londoniens.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 23 février 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
RAFFI HOVANNISIAN HEADQUARTERS
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]
Website:

23 February 2013

Raffi Hovannisian Takes Presidential Victory Tour Across Armenia

Yerevan–Raffi K. Hovannisian, President-elect of the Republic of
Armenia, today launched a victory tour which took him to a number of
regions of Armenia where overwhelming crowds had gathered to greet
their new president. In addition to scheduled meetings in Ashtarak,
Vanadzor, and Gyumri, spontaneous rallies were held in the towns of
Aparan and Spitak.

Hovannisian’s first stop was Ashtarak. `I came here to greet you,’
Hovannisian said, adding that he remembers how fearful people were the
last time he held a meeting in the Ashtarak town square. He declared
that the situation has changed, and no one will dare any longer to
threaten the citizens of Armenia. Stressing the exclusion of violence
and the necessity to achieve a peaceful change of power via the
constitutional path, Hovannisian noted: `If any commander orders a
soldier to do anything besides protecting the borders or ensuring our
security, he will be held accountable.’

Hovannisian then went to the towns of Aparan and Spitak, where people
spontaneously turned out to greet him. In both towns the police tried
to hinder the meetings. Hovannisian, however, required them not to
violate human rights, explaining that these are not organized but
spontaneous demonstrations, to which citizens are entitled. In Aparan,
when Hovannisian tried to approach the policemen, they took flight by
car, and only a bit later returned and listened to the President-elect
of the Republic of Armenia. `Aparan and Bash Aparan–which saved the
Republic of Armenia from the Turks in 1918–will save Armenia once
again,’ Hovannisian said.
Hovannisian then headed for Vanadzor, where several thousand people
overflowed the city square. `Armenia’s citizens won, the people won,
Vanadzor won, and no one will be able to take our victory away,’
Hovannisian told the crowd. Criticizing the Vanadzor mayor for
claiming that Raffi Hovannisian won in his city because the people
were `unconscious,’ the President-elect said that the author of this
idea has no right to stay in Vanadzor. He also condemned the police
for preventing people of neighboring villages from coming to the
meeting. For example, about 50 residents of the village of Darpas had
to walk to get to Vanadzor because the roads were intentionally shut
down. Hovannisian urged the police never again to violate the basic
rights of free assembly.

Raffi Hovannisian concluded his tour in Gyumri, where he was welcomed
by a delirious crowd of more than ten thousand people. Addressing the
residents of Gyumri and other communities of the Shirak region,
President-elect Hovannisian said: `On February 18, the people of
Gyumri shaped this victory, and soon their triumph will be formalized.
But be ready for a long fight–whether it takes one day, one week, one
month or one year. The governor of the Shirak region resigned, as will
other regional governors in the near future, and we will create a
powerful nation that attracts all emigrated Armenians back to their
homeland.’

Ashtarak
Aparan
Spitak
Vanadzor
Gyumri

Raffi Hovannisian Headquarters

ARTSAKH PEOPLE MUST HAVE CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE WITH REST OF WORLD: FRANCOIS ROCHEBLOINE

Thursday, 21 February 2013 19:41

The Azerbaijani Government must recognize the right of
self-determination of the Nagorno Karabakh people. This is one of those
decisive points, which will become a basis for the final agreement
on the legal status of Nagorno Karabakh. The member of the National
Assembly of France, Vice President of France-Armenia Parliamentary
Fraternity Group Francois Rochebloine stated this in a conversation
with “Armenpress”.

The French statesman surely finds this issue rather complicated and
states that he had directed that question to the former Minister of
Foreign Affairs of France Alain Juppe to know the former Minister’s
opinion on this issue.Francois Rochebloine highlighted: “And he
clearly said that people have the right to decide who they want to be.”

Dwelling on the Azerbaijani threats regarding the exploitation of the
Stepanakert Airport, Francois Rochebloinesaid that it’s very painful
to see Azerbaijan creating obstacles for opening the airport. He
underscored: “The people of Karabakh must have an opportunity
to communicate with the rest of the world and unquestionably the
airport is the best mean of communication. They should not resist it,
especially taking into consideration the fact that, as far as I know,
the airport should have been exploited over one year ago, but it is
not open yet. Let’s hope, it will be opened soon.”

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA CANCELS MEETING AT FREEDOM SQUARE

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 21 2013

The Republican Party of Armenia has cancelled the meeting at the
Freedom Square in Yerevan to prevent incidents, Gazeta.ru reports.

The party’s spokesman Galust Saakyan said that they were ready for
negotiations with opposition.

Raffi Ovannisyan had promised to stay at the Freedom Square until
arrival of President Serzh Sargsyan in the morning. The president
had not arrived and Ovanissyan had left the place.

Grant Bagratyan, another candidate for president, urged Ovanissyan
and Sargsyan to start negotiations.