Author: Kanayan Tamar

SERZH SARGSYAN DOES NOT RULE OUT A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WILL RECOGNIZE NK INDEPENDENCE

14:59, 4 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: The recognition of Nagorno Karabakh
by Azerbaijan will top the agenda of the coming five years.

Presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan stated in the meeting with
Masis town residents it will be appreciated if Azerbaijan recognizes
Nagorno Karabakh independence first, this will be solution to the
issue by a peaceful way, Armenpress reports.

“We are seeking to regulate the issue by a peaceful way, in accordance
with the international norms, in a fair way. No efforts should be cared
for it”.Presidential candidate Sargsyan would be the happiest man in
the world if he knew when Artsakh independence will be internationally
recognized.

” It is difficult to say what states are going to recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh independence in the coming five years, yet I do
not exclude some country’s Parliaments and Governments will accept
relevant decisions” Serzh Sargsyan came forth with.

Artsakh issue and the recognition of Armenian Genocide were in the
center of attention during pre-election campaign.

“IF AZERBAIJAN SHOOTS DOWN ARMENIAN PLANE, THE RESPONSE WILL BE WAR”

Monday,
February 04

>From the military-political point of view Armenia will not derive
much benefit from the Stepanakert airport’s opening, but it will
benefit a lot from the psychological viewpoint, the former Armenian
Ambassador to Canada, Head of Modus Vivendi Center Ara Papian said
at the meeting with reporters today.

In his words, even in wartime the Stepanakert airport can hardly
be used to transport firearms. Arms are supplied to Artsakh by an
overland route.

Ara Papian also commented on the Azerbaijani side’ threats that it
would shoot down the very first plane to fly from Stepanakert airport.

“There are protests and instability in Azerbaijan at the moment so
avoiding a war is not Aliyev’s main problem now. And we will give an
adequate response in this case: ten against one”.

According to Papian, if Azerbaijan shoots down a civilian plane,
the response will be a war, regardless of who the passengers of that
plane are.

Nevertheless, if ahead of the presidential election in Azerbaijan,
Aliyev realizes that he will be able to retain power by shooting down
an Armenian civilian plane, the political scientist did not rule out
such a course of events.

TODAY, 16:03

Aysor.am

LARIJANI VOICES IRAN’S ALL-OUT SUPPORT FOR SYRIA

Tehran, Feb 4, IRNA – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani here Monday
stressed Tehran’s all-out support for the Syrian nation and government
against the existing conspiracies.

In a telephone conversation with his Syrian Counterpart Mohammed Jihad
al- Laham, Larijani lambasted the Zionist regime’s air attack on the
Syrian territory.

He added such anti-Syria adventurism is considered as a conspiracy
to create opportunities for the Zionist regime.

The Syrian nation would overcome the current situation through
resistance, Larijani noted.

Jihad al-Laham, for his part, lauded Tehran’s support for his nation
and government against the enemies’ plots, the recent air attack
in particular.

He said certain regional countries playing active role in recent
anti-Syria conspiracies have remained indifferent towards the brutality
of the Zionist regime.

9060**1422

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1066126

PRESIDENT SHOULD BE READY FOR ANY STEP: SERZH SARGSYAN’S INTERVIEW TO KOMMERSANT

11:56, 4 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan had
an interview with Russian Kommersant daily newspaper. As Armenpress
reports, Serzh Sargsyan dwelled on Presidential elections, Nagorno
Karabakh issue and issues of international importance for Armenia
.Pre – election campaign has entered the final phase. In accordance
with The Gallup Organization latest surveys, 66 % of electors are
going to cast their vote in favor of acting President, he has no
opponent. The newspaper started the interview with President Sargsyan
with the following preface “What can Russia and the whole world expect
from the new and former President”?

-What political figure do you favor most? Are there any political
ideals for you among the leading figures of the state both in present
and the past?

-It is difficult to answer. There is not a particular person. There
is only a perception what qualities should the man be apt to serve
the people. To serve the people means be ready to work, always endure
and if needed sacrifice your life. You see President must be ready
for any step. I idealize not a particular man but those ideas.

-Presidential elections are scheduled in Armenia on February 18. For
already the second time you are running for the highest post of
the Republic? What are your main achievements in the course of the
first term?

-Five years before the political controversies and hatred have utmost
tensioned the situation in the country. There was a need to break
that gap. We succeeded to stabilize the situation and open up the
political system, to launch Parliamentary election in compliance with
the standards. We created necessary systems for social and political
dialogue. Armenia has suffered from Global financial crisis.

Resultedly our economy recorded noticeable decrease. We made efforts
to surmount it as well.

-In your opinion what prospects there are pertain to Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution?

-Karabakh residents should determine themselves what political
status the country must have. This is a classic example of the
struggle for self-determination, and there is no ground why should
Artsakh people be rejected the right. All the rest issues stem from
this. It is significantly necessary to strengthen international
cooperation regarding efficient monitoring of armaments. Azerbaijan
is non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council and has
started arms race and obviously violates its obligations under Treaty
on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). We are continuing
negotiations with Azerbaijan. Yet it is not real to expect any
progress under this conditions. All who are involved in this issue
namely Moscow, Washington, Paris knew for granted who is hindering
the settlement of the issue.

– What can Russia do to relieve the intensified situation over Nagorno
Karabakh issue?

– Russia alongside with the United States and France in considered
to be a significant mediator in this issue. Due to the mediation of
Russia it became possible to sign ceasefire agreement in 1994. Also
recently we had serious hopes regarding the higher mediation of the
Russian side. Notwithstanding, unfortunately Azerbaijan suspended
that procedure continuously introducing new amendments and alterations
for the document, which was already almost agreed upon. I am grateful
to the higher authorities of Russia for their consistent and direct
participation in the issue of the solution of the conflict.

IRAN TO UNVEIL NEW HOME-MADE TANK BY EARLY 2014

15:35 | 2013-02-04

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Army plans to unveil another home-made main
battle tank, dubbed as Sabalan, by March 2014, a senior Iranian
commander announced on Monday.

Today, the army unveiled an optimized version of Zolfaqar and Samsam
tanks on the occasion of the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies, celebrating the
victory of the Islamic Revolution back in 1979.

Also in the ceremony, Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force
Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan unveiled a home-made turret
for M-47 tanks.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony, Pourdastan
said the new turret has been manufactured by the Self-Sufficiency
Jihad Organization of the Army Ground Force.

“The (M-47) tank with its new turret will be unveiled under the new
name of Sabalan in the near future by Farvardin 1993 (March – April
2014).”

The Army’s newly unveiled Samsam tank is said to be an upgrade of the
M-60A1 battle tank.

Zolfaqar is a second generation of Iran’s main battle tank (MBT). The
test prototypes of the tank were evaluated in 1993. Six
semi-industrial prototypes of the tank were produced and tested in
1997. The tank has a distinctive box-shaped, steel-welded turret of
local design. Zolfaqar combat weight is reported to be 36 tons and has
a 780 hp diesel engine; the tank has a 21.7 hp per ton ratio.

Zolfaqar is operated by a crew of three personnel. The automatic
loader is believed to be the same one from the T-72 tank.

The Zolfaqar-1 uses a fire control system which enjoys a
‘fire-on-the-move’ technology. The Zolfaqar mounts a laser-warning pod
on the turret. Its design enables the tank to use an Iranian-made
package of reactive armor.

Zolfaqar-2 is a prototype tank used as a test bed. The Zolfaqar-3 also
features considerable upgrades to the fire control system, chassis,
engine and main gun, with a 125mm autoloader.

AZERBAIDJAN: L’ESI DENONCE LE MANQUE D’OBJECTIVITE DES DEUX RAPPORTEURS DE L’APCE

Publie le : 05-02-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette newsletter bimensuelle sur l’actualite politique,
economique et culturelle du Haut-Karabagh mise a notre disposition
par la Representation de la Republique du Haut-Karabagh en France.

Representation du Haut-Karabagh en France

L’Azerbaïdjan, toujours plus loin de la democratie…

Alors que l’ONG Freedom House place l’Azerbaïdjan au bas de son
classement dans son rapport annuel sur les droits politiques et les
libertes civiles, l’Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe
(APCE) persiste quant a elle a manifester une complaisance a l’egard
des autorites de Bakou. L’ESI (European Stability Initiative) denonce,
dans sa dernière etude, le manque d’objectivite des deux rapporteurs
de l’APCE pour l’Azerbaïdjan.

En mai 2012, l’European Stability Initiative (ESI) publiait une
longue etude sur les effets pernicieux de la ” diplomatie du caviar ”
orchestree par Bakou (cf. Newsletter de juin 2012-2) sur l’Assemblee
parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe (APCE), en demontrant l’indulgence
toujours plus patente qu’a manifestee au fil des ans a l’egard du
regime autoritaire de l’Azerbaïdjan, cette instance legislative
pourtant dediee au respect des droits de l’homme et des principes
democratiques.

Il semble que le goût du caviar azeri continue a flatter le palais
de Strasbourg où siège l’APCE, si l’on en juge au nouveau rapport
publie par l’ESI, qui s’en prend cette fois plus precisement aux
deux rapporteurs pour l’Azerbaïdjan, l’Espagnol Pedro Agramunt et le
Maltais Joseph Delbono Grech, presentes comme les maîtres d’~uvre de
cette complaisance affichee a l’egard de Bakou. Publiee le 22 janvier,
a la veille de la presentation a Strasbourg par MM. Agramunt et Grech,
devant les parlementaires des 47 Etats membres du Conseil de l’Europe,
de rapports sur les prisonniers politiques et sur “le respect par
l’Azerbaïdjan de ses obligations et engagements”, cette etude brosse
un portrait sans concession des deux rapporteurs sur l’Azerbaïdjan
et de leur travail, un ” Portrait de la Deception”, comme le dit son
intitule qui, appelle par ailleurs clairement a la demission de M.

Agramunt. En fonction depuis 2010, M. Agramunt, comme son collègue
Grech, en fonction quant a lui depuis 2009, sont des amis declares de
l’Azerbaïdjan, où ils se sont rendus plus souvent qu’aucun autre membre
de l’APCE au cours de la decennie ecoulee, souligne le rapport, qui
precise que ces visites ne leur ont pour autant pas ouvert les yeux sur
la situation des droits de l’homme qui n’a cesse de s’aggraver a Bakou.

Le rapport presente par M. Agramunt trahit son manque total
d’objectivite face au regime de Bakou auquel il accorde le merite de
quelques “progrès”, tout en reconnaissant la persistance de certaines
violations des droits et libertes en Azerbaïdjan. Au terme de cette
etude très argumentee, l’ESI conclut que M. Agramunt a failli a sa
mission et a celle de l’instance qu’il est cense servir et qu’il
doit donc se retirer, afin de permettre un suivi plus objectif de la
situation des droits de l’homme en Azerbaïdjan. Une analyse qu’il faut
mettre en regard avec les conclusions de l’ONG Freedom House qui, dans
son rapport annuel sur les droits politiques et les libertes civiles
dans le monde, situait l’Azerbaïdjan parmi les plus mauvais elèves
de son classement, en constatant que la situation s’etait degradee
dans ce pays en 2012 en matière de democratie et de droits de l’homme.

Lien vers le rapport ” Portrait de la Deception” :

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Representation du Haut-Karabagh en France

HESITATIONS DE PAROUYR HAYRIKIAN CONCERNANT LE REPORT DU SCRUTIN

Victime d’un attentat le 31 janvier dans le centre de Erevan
et hospitalise depuis, Paruyr Hayrikian, l’un des candidats de
l’opposition en lice pour les elections presidentielles, devait donner
sa decision lundi 4 fevrier concernant le report de deux semaines
du scrutin prevu le 18 fevrier, comme le prevoit la Constitution,
lorsqu’un candidat dûment enregistre est dans l’impossibilite de se
presenter. Mais le candidat, au chevet duquel s’est rendu le president
Serge Sarkissian, qui brigue un 2e mandat lors de ce scrutin dont
il est le grand favori, semblait encore hesitant sur la decision a
prendre. Depuis qu’il est en mesure de s’exprimer devant la presse
depuis l’hôpital de Erevan où il a subi une intervention chirurgicale
pour de graves blessures par balles a l’epaule, P. Hayrikian a envoye
des signaux contradictoires concernant ses intentions.

Dès le lendemain de son operation, il avait indique qu’il etait
favorable a un report de la date des elections, en invoquant son
incapacite physique a participer a la campagne electorale. Mais il
faisait par ailleurs savoir qu’il souhaitait le maintien du scrutin a
la date prevue. En vertu de la Constitution armenienne, une election
presidentielle peut etre repoussee de deux semaines s’il l’un des
candidats se trouve confronte a des “obstacles insurmountables”. La
Cour constitutionnelle est habilitee a se prononcer sur un tel delai
si le candidat concerne le demande. P.Hayrikian a indique le lundu 4
fevrier qu’il ferait part de se decision finale le lendemain. “Jusqu’a
ce matin, j’etais fermement decide a ne pas demander le report
[de l’election] d’un seul jour”, a-t-il declare aux journalistes, en
ajoutant qu’il lui fallait ” desormais ecouter les conseils des experts
“. “Si un specialiste me demande si j’accepte que la cohabitation entre
le terrorisme et les principes democratiques et s’ils sont compatibles,
je dirai très certainement ‘Non, ils ne le sont pas’. Et dans ce cas,
il me demandera : ‘Comment alors pouvez-vous dire que rien ne doit
changer ?”

P. Hayrikian laissait ainsi entendre qu’il cherchait encore a savoir
dans quelle mesure et jusqu’a quel point l’agression dont il a ete
la victime a interfere dans le processus electoral, et il entend
egalement consulter d’autres candidats en lice. Certains candidats
de l’opposition, comme Hrant Bagratian, ont publiquement appele a
un report du scrutiny. Quant au president Serge Sarkisian, il s’est
plutôt prononce le 4 fevrier, lors d’un meeting dans la localite de
Massis au sud de Erevan, en faveur du maintien de l’election a la
date prevue, en invoquant l’argument selon lequel l’objectif du ou
des auteurs de l’agression contre P. Hayrikian etait justement de
perturber le processus electoral.

mardi 5 fevrier 2013, Gari ©armenews.com

TWO AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION LEADERS CHARGED WITH ORGANIZING DISORDERS

BAKU. February 4, 2013: Two opposition leaders in Azerbaijan have
been charged with organizing of mass disorders.

The deputy chairman of the opposition Musavat Party, Tofiq Yaqublu,
and the chairman of the REAL movement, Ilqar Mammadov, may face
significant fines or up to three years in jail if found guilty.

The two politicians’ lawyers told RFE/RL that their clients will face
trials soon.

The charges are related to last month’s mass protests in the town of
Ismayilli, 150 kilometers northwest of the capital, Baku.

On January 23, thousands of Ismayilli residents demanded the
resignation of the district’s governor, setting fire to his residence,
to cars, and to a local motel.

Yaqublu and Mammadov arrived in Ismayilli the next day, urging on
locals toward civil disobedience.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse those demonstrators
(RFE/RL).

YEREVAN, TEHRAN CONTINUE JOINT PROJECTS – ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

February 4, 2013 – 14:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The UN sanctions against Iran can hardly be
considered total blockade, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said.

As President Sargsyan said in an interview with Russia’s Kommersant
newspaper, Armenia acts in line with the international law in its
relations with Iran.

“The sanctions harm the Iranian economy and affect ours. However,
we continue development of joint programs, particularly in hydropower
sector. Construction of a new international highway linking Armenia
and Iran is in progress, with the railway project to be implemented
next,” President Sargsyan said.

STEPAN DEMIRTCHYAN: HZHK WILL NOT QUIT HAK

07:38 pm | Today | Politics

Armenia’s National Assembly opened its spring session on Monday, with
Prosperous Armenia party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsaroukyan appearing at
the National Assembly for the first time since last May’s
parliamentary elections. The appearance of Mr Tsarukyan caused a
sensation among legislators and journalists.

BHK Secretary Naira Zohrabyan was surprised to witness the excitement
caused by BHK leader’s arrival.

“On the other hand, I am glad to see that everyone is interested in Mr
Tsarukyan. I see nothing extraordinary in this. Mr Tsarukyan will
regularly attend NA sittings. He was absent from the previous sittings
for good reasons; he was holding important meetings,” said the BHK
Secretary.

Gagik Tsarukyan left the NA hall with Galust Sahakyan, head of the
Republican party faction, 20 minutes later.

The first day of the National Assembly session brought a number of
surprises with it.

Among the MPs who came to the National Assembly was also Stepan
Demirtchyan, Leader of the People’s Party of Armenia (HZhK) who did
not attend NA sittings over long-term health problems. Mr Demirtchyan
reiterated once again that his party would not quit the opposition
Armenian National Congress (HAK).

“HZhK and other forces affiliated with the opposition alliance should
try to make HAK’s activity more effective. HZhK has always actively
participated in the presidential elections, and the candidates
supported by our party have won the elections. This time, we are not
participating in the election,” said Mr Demirtchyan.