Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKEY PREPARING TO LAUNCH ANKA UAV PRODUCTION

2013-01-24 15:53:51

Turkey is preparing to launch production of the ANKA unmanned aerial
vehicle, the Anadolu agency said on Thursday. According to the agency,
the UAV went through all the test flights, and is now preparing to
be manufactured.

Turkey worked to create its first reconnaissance UAV since 2004,
with the drone’s test being carried out since December 2012.

Earlier a spokesman of the Turkish Defence Industry Ministry, Murad
Bayar said that Turkey plans to start batch production of the ANKA
UAV next year.

In recent years, the Turkish military, industrial company has focused
on manufacturing domestic defence products.

At present, Turkey conducts work manufacturing the UAV Simsek
(Lightning). This is the second model of the UAV designed by the
Turkish aerospace company.

Its length is 2.3 metres with a wingspan of 1.5 metres. The maximum
take-off weight is 75 kilogrammes, with a speed of 740 kilometres
per hour.

PRE-ELECTION HUNGER STRIKES GETTING CONTAGIOUS, HOPEFUL SAYS

January 24, 2013 – 16:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Election-related developments in Armenia follow the
“rules of game” dictated by incumbent president, Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) candidate Serzh Sargsyan, a presidential hopeful
believes.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Vardan Sedrakyan
called presidential candidates’ announcements of possible hunger
strikes an ineffective method.

As he noted, earlier, he tried to persuade another candidate, Andrias
Ghukasyan to stop the strike.

According to Sedrakyan the hunger strikes have become “contagious”,
urging to take measures lest other candidates may catch the disease.

“Hope Serzh Sargsyan won’t go on strike as well,” he concluded.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO HEAR STYOPA SAFARYAN’S COMPLAINT

03:08 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Armenia’s Constitutional Court is to hear on January 25 the complaint
of Styopa Safaryan, a member of the oppositional Heritage party who
was running for parliament (at Precinct 1) in a by-election scheduled
for December 2. Mr Safaryan is disputing the December 7 decision of
the Territorial Electoral Commission’s (TEC) on the election outcome.

Safaryan’s main rival at the precinct was Robert Sargsyan, a candidate
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), the brother-in-law
of Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan who reportedly won the December
2 election at Precinct N1 that includes Yerevan’s Avan and Nor-Norq
district. The parliamentary seat was vacated after former HHK MP Ruben
Hayrapetyan laid down his mandate over the Harsnakar deadly incident.

Styopa Safaryan demands that the CIC annul the TEC decision.

The Heritage member recently posted on his Facebook account a 25-page
application regarding flagrant and systematic violations observed
during the pre-election campaign as well as on the voting day. He
also enclosed the video material provided by media outlets.

AZERBAIJAN’S PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS THREATEN REGIONAL SECURITY AND STABILITY: EDWARD NALBANDYAN

12:52, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s foreign policy persued in
the past year reaffirms Armenia’s strategy regarding Artsakh issue
regulation is not just apprehensible, but also enjoys the support
of the international community. Armenian Foreign Affair Minister
Edward Nalbandyan came forth in the briefing with the journalists on
January 24. The joint statement of Russia’s, Armenia’s and Azerbaijani
Presidents launched in Sochi in 2012, January 23, OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs statement in Los Cabos, and the statement of OSCE Foreign
Ministers Council in Dublin, December 6 is a vivid example of this”
Nalbandyan stated.

The systematic violations of ceasefire regime, provocative actions
in the line of contact with Artsakh and near the border with Armenia
have seriously damaged not only Nagorno Karabakh issue regulation
negotiation process, but have endangered regional security and
stability. Baku destructive actions have received relevant negative
response by the international society. Reportedly Safarov deal was
definitely condemned by the whole world.

“Armenia remains reliable and predictable partner for the world.

Positive publications by reputable international media on Armenia
were numerous” Minister Nalbandyan underscored.

Foreign Affair Ministry of the Republic of Armenia continued
its efforts aimed at strengthening country’s foreign component ,
assuring favorable external conditions for the development of the
country, strengthening of Armenia’s reputation and positions in the
international arena, increasing the number of Armenia’s friends in
different continents in 2012.

POLICE ARREST FORMER SYUNIK DEPUTY PROSECUTOR FOR EVIDENCE TAMPERING

22:19, January 23, 2013

Edik Hovsepyan, the former Syunik Deputy Prosecutor, was arrested by
Armenian police on suspicion of evidence tampering.

The police had already arrested former Syunik Regional Investigator
Arman Yenkoyan and Gagik Danielyan, the former head of Kapan’s
Operative Unit, in the same criminal investigation.

WE MUST RULE OUT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS – ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

news.am
January 24, 2013 | 09:11

YEREVAN. – We must rule out foreign interference in the internal
affairs of our country, Armenian presidential contender-and
Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic former FM-Arman Melikyan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

“We certainly may criticize the foreign ambassador, [and] say she
is meddling with our country’s internal affairs, but we ourselves
should exclude those situations when foreign officials can make [such]
statements,” Melikyan stressed.

To note, in her blog on Tuesday, United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland Ambassador to Armenia, Catherine Jane Leach,
had commented on Armenia’s forthcoming presidential election and
written that the matter of voter lists was more troubling.

Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented Latvian Foreign Minister Achievements of Armenia- EU cooperation

12:21, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia had a meeting with
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars RinkÄ”viÄ~Ms in the frame of his
working visit to the Republic of Latvia. The sides have jointly
recorded with satisfaction the bilateral political dialogue has
acquired regular, tangible and productive role, Foreign Affair Ministry
informed Armenpress.

The interlocutors have exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual
interest, Armenia- EU relations have been especially touched upon.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented Minister RinkÄ”viÄ~Ms the achievements
acquired within Armenia- EU cooperation and steps scheduled before
the launch of Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Vilnius in
November.The expansion of bilateral cooperation in the frame of
Latvia’s EU presidency in 2015 has been highlighted by the high
ranking officials.

Political consultations with Andrejs Pildegovics, Under-Secretary
of State – Political Director, Latvian Foreign Affair Ministry
followed the meeting with Latvian Foreign Affair Minister . 2013
agenda of bilateral cooperation, as well as extensive discussions on
multilateral, regional, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict related issues has
been agreed upon in the course of the launched meeting.

DETROIT FUNDRAISERS FOR SYRIAN-ARMENIANS TOP $40,000

Armenia Weekly
January 23, 2013

On Fri., Dec. 14, the Greater Detroit United Committee (GDUC) sponsored
its second fundraiser for the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund.

The event was held at the Hagopian Carpet Company in Detroit, Mich.

The master of ceremonies, Hayg Oshagan, welcomed Stepan Garukian,
who performed the Armenian and American national anthems. Afterwards,
Oshagan asked the audience to donate to their fellow Armenians in
Syria. Der Hrant Gevorgyan of St. Sarkis Church followed with another
passionate plea for the cause.

Violinist Hrair Hovagimian performed three melodies from Sayat Nova
with Rosaline Basmajian.

Following the performance, GDUC co-chair Shant Jamgotchian presented
a video of Syrian-Armenian life before the conflict began and after
the height of the violence.

University of Michigan-Dearborn Professor Dr. Ara Sanjian spoke about
the history of Syrian-Armenians and outlined the reasons behind the
conflict. Sanjian offered his perspective on how the community can
sustain, and in what ways Armenian-Americans can help, those who
stayed behind in Syria, and those who fled to nations like Armenia
and Lebanon.

Next to speak was GDUC co-chair Shakeh Basmajian, who thanked the
audience for coming and urged them to donate to their Armenian brothers
and sisters.

Der Hayr Andon Adamian closed the event with an encouraging plea for
the crowd to become active in the cause.

GDUC’s event raised $8,500 for the Syrian-Armenian community. So far,
the Greater Detroit’s Armenian community has raised over $40,000 for
the cause between its three churches.

KOMITAS MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION INCLUDED ON GOVT. AGENDA

January 23, 2013 – 15:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Hayastan All Armenian Fund will be provided a 3396
square meter area on Arshakunyats Ave.

The territory will be used for construction of Komitas Museum and a
cultural center.

The project has been approved by Yerevan Municipality’s Architectural
Council, with the issue included on government’s agenda.

SYRIAN REBELS BURN, LOOT RELIGIOUS SITES OF MINORITIES – HRW

January 23, 2013 – 15:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Rebels in Syria have burned and looted the religious
sites of minorities, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday, Jan 23,
as the longest and deadliest of the Arab Spring revolts becomes
increasingly sectarian, Reuters reports.

The 22-month-old rebellion against President Bashar Assad started as
a peaceful protest movement but has turned into civil war, pitting
mostly Sunni Muslim rebels against a state security and military
establishment dominated by Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot
of Shi’ite Islam.

In the northern Idlib province, where rebels have taken swathes of
territory from government forces, the New York-based rights group said
opposition fighters destroyed a Shi’ite “husseiniya” – a religious
site devoted to Hussein, a martyr in Shi’ite tradition.

A video published online showed rebels hoisting assault rifles in
the air and cheering as the site in the village of Zarzour, taken by
rebels in December, burned in the background.

In the video, one man announces the “destruction of the dens of the
Shi’ites and Rafida,” a derogatory term used against Shi’ites.