Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN PM, GREEK AMBASSADOR DISCUSS COOPERATION IN THE MILITARY, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL SPHERES

armradio.am
17:55 14.11.20120

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received the newly appointed Greek
Ambassador to Armenia Ioanis Taghis, Government’s Press Office informs.

Congratulating the Ambassador on the start of his diplomatic mission,
the Prime Minister stated, “Although our cooperation and friendship
go far back into history, still much effort is needed on the way to
strengthening the bilateral ties. The Armenian government will do its
utmost to draw upon the untapped potential available in Armenia-Greece
relations.”

In turn, Ioanis Taghis said he would do everything to enhance the
bilateral relations. Concerning Armenia’s progress in the European
integration process, the Ambassador assured that in its capacity of
EU-member state, Greece is prepared to provide the Armenian partners
with all-out support.

The parties took the opportunity to discuss cooperation in the
military, educational and cultural spheres.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY SOFTEN DISPROPORTIONS IN THE POWER STRUCTURE

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 15:23

One can govern wise or fail both on the president’s and on the prime
minister’s post, Robert Kocharyan, the second president of Armenia,
told 2rd.am when commenting on the rumors that he is the initiator
of Prosperous Armenian Party’s political consultations on the topic
of Armenia’s transition to the parliamentary system of government.

“If I were strongly committed to the parliamentary system of
government, Armenia would transfer to that system already after the
Constitutional Referendum of 2005 (the initiator was the president).

The point is not the system of government, but the right selection
of the system of checks and balances, functionality of the political
framework, traditions and maturity of the civil society,” Robert
Kocharyan said.

He recalled that in the period of his presidency, he initiated
constitutional reforms that significantly expanded the powers of the
government. “However, in practice, the role of the government has
tangibly decreased for some unknown reasons,” the second president
said. He said that Prosperous Armenia’s consultations on the topic
of a transfer to the parliamentary system of government is rather
a response to the evident disproportions in the real rights and
constitutional responsibilities of various power institutions in the
country. “It is obvious already now that the negative consequences of
such disproportions will be long- term. Actually, semi-presidential
system of government has such lacks even in the countries with
developed democracy,” Kocharyan said.

He said that he prefers the U.S. model of state government where the
president heads the executive power and is directly responsible for
economy. The parliament in the U.S. has powerful levers of control.

“However, European traditions are traditions of parliamentarism and
we are in the perimeter of European political processes. In addition,
the parliamentary system of government will significantly soften the
problem of disproportions in the power,” he said.

As regards the second issue on agenda of Prosperous Armenia’s
political consultations – transfer to the 100% proportional system
of parliamentary elections, Robert Kocharyan said: “Single-member
district electoral system in Armenia feeds the process of feudalization
of areas within those districts and the authorities contribute that
because they pursue retention of power. It is an extremely harmful
system and the sooner we get rid of it the better.

That is why the number of single-mandate candidates has been reduced
several times in the country. I regret for not completing that
process. Why? The reason is trite – the authorities wanted to have
an edge in the single-member districts.”

“I agreed to give a not large interview to explain my stance on
this important issue, otherwise others would conjecture it. Second,
I have no relation to the initiation of the given issue. I’d like to
advise them who see my shadow in everything to finally understand
that a good political team has been created at Prosperous Armenia,
which is able to form political agenda of the party independently,”
the second president concluded.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY SHARES ROBERT KOCHARYAN’S VIEWS

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 15:26

Prosperous Armenia Party shares the viewpoints of the second president
of Armenia Robert Kocharyan regarding political speculations on his
possible involvement in certain processes, mainly the activity of PAP,
Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of PAP faction, told ArmInfo.

Specifically, Robert Kocharyan made a statement advising them who sees
his shadow in everything to finally understand that a good political
team has been created at Prosperous Armenia, which is able to form
political agenda of the party independently.

“It is high time for our political forces to stop searching plots
and intrigues in everything than happens in the country,” she said.

Zohrabyan shared Kocharyan’s views also regarding the fact that the
constitutional reforms of 2005 significantly expanded the powers of
the government, but de-facto the government’s role has just decreased.

She also agrees with Kocharyan’s opinion that “the single-member
district electoral system in Armenia feeds the process of feudalization
of areas within those districts.”

Although the stances of PAP and the second president on the agenda
of domestic political priorities (transfer to the 100% proportional
system of elections and parliamentary system of government) coincide,
Naira Zohrabyan said that she has no information on any ‘relations’
of PAP and Robert Kocharyan.

Recently, PAP has initiated political consultations on the above
agenda. All the political forces of Armenia, except the Republican
Party, share the agenda. Some experts say that Robert Kocharyan, the
second president, de-facto founder of PAP ‘advised’ the agenda of PAP’s
political consultations. In his Tuesday interview with 2rd.am Robert
Kocharyan said he bears no relation to PAP’s activity. As regards
transfer to the 100% proportional system of parliamentary elections,
Robert Kocharyan said: “Single-member district electoral system in
Armenia feeds the process of feudalization of areas within those
districts and the authorities contribute that because they pursue
retention of power. It is an extremely harmful system and the sooner
we get rid of it the better.”

STEPANAKERT AIRPORT PLAN NO PROBLEM TO SUPERPOWERS – EXPERT

tert.am
13.11.12

The world’s superpowers see no problem about the plan for launching
the renovated airport in the Nagorno-Karabakh capital, according to
an Armenian expert.

At a news conference on Tuesday, political analyst Sergey Minasyan said
he does not expect strategic developments this year. The expert noted
that despite its threats to withdraw from the negotiation process
over Karabakh, Azerbaijan, as one of the parties to the conflict,
does not succeed in its efforts to do so. Minasyan emphasized that
the negotiation format is no longer subject to any change.

“Developments are possible over non-strategic issues, such as the
Stepanakert airport. The co-chairs of the Minsk Group have several
times addressed the issue,” he said. “We also have the response of
the US Department of State. That means the superpowers see no problem
about the plan.”

Minasyan noted that Armenia has agreed with the co-chairs to at least
try to reach some consensus.

“A tension in the region is not in anyone’s interests,” he said.

Speaking of the Armenian president’s meeting with his French
counterpart in Paris, particularly the latter’s promise that his
country will do everything to achieve a peaceful settlement of
the conflict, Minasyan noted: “That’s an expression of a sense of
responsibility by a co-chairing state. One thing is clear definitely:
it is impossible to reach a mutually conceded settlement in the near
future. France has simply underscored in words that it will be ready
to continue the process. That’s all it has done.”

HOLLYWOOD ACTORS HAVE BEEN SHOT IN “LOST AND FOUND IN ARMENIA”

09:30, 13 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian premier of the movie
“Lost and Found in Armenia” by American-Armenian filmmaker Gor
Kirakosian will be held in Moscow Cinema Theatre on November 22. In
a conversation with “Armenpress” actor and director Michael Poghosyan
stated that he enjoyed to be shot in “Lost and Found in Armenia”.

Poghosyan said: “Gor is a talented filmmaker and he has great future.

I am hopeful that the movie will be a success. I greatly enjoyed
the work with the cast and I felt myself very “comfortable” in the
procedure of making the movie.”

This romantic comedy is about a young American, who was forsaken by
his girlfriend. His friends take him to Turkey to have a little rest.

When the hero decides to take up extreme activities and jump with a
parachute, the rope of the parachute tears from the water motorcycle
and the hero flies away and finds himself in an Armenian village. It
seems to the main hero of the movie that he is still in Turkey and
he says few words in Turkish, but the Armenians think he is a Turk.

A number of Hollywood actors have been shot in the movie. Among them
are Jamey Kennedy, Dave Sheridan, Angela Safarian etc…

THE OPENING OF THE ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY WILL BE BENEFICENT FOR ARMENIA

09:40, 13 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The opening of the Abkhazian railway
springs from the benefits of the Armenian side. It will lead to the
reduction of the costs for different goods and the strengthening of
the Armenian-Russian relations. In a conversation with “Armenpress”
the General Director of “APAVEN” International Freight Forwarding
Company Arsen Ghazaryan mentioned that the opening of the Abkhazian
railway will have a positive effect on the Armenian economy. Ghazaryan
stressed: “In case of the opening of the Abkhazian railway and if the
railway starts cargo transportation either, than our ties with the
Russian market will become stronger. As to the transfers they will
cost much cheaper and the price of import and export to the Russian
market will be reduced.”

The Deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Volodya
Badalyan stated in a conversation with “Armenpress” that the cargo
transportation to the Caucasian port on land and Poti Port increases
the tariffs of transportation. Badalyan stressed: “In case of direct
transportation the costs of this kind will be reduced.”

The new authorities of Georgia expressed their willingness for the
restoration of railway communication with the Russian Federation.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SPOKE ABOUT NKR CONFLICT, ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, FRANCE-TURKEY RELATIONS AND SYRIAN ISSUE

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Serzh Sargsyan, President of the
Republic of Armenia gave an interview to Le Figaro newspaper.

Armenpress presents the full interview.

-How would you describe Armenian- French relations?

– I qualify Armenian- French friendship with an attribute “unique”.

France is the country that willingly gave shelter those who fled
Armenian Genocide. Currently French Armenian community, dating back
the days of Genocide has a pivotal role in uniting two countries. 2012
is a symbolic year for two countries . This year we are celebrating
20th anniversary of diplomatic relations establishment. Those 20
years have been marked by a series of events. Our cultural and trade
ties are developing actively. France is the second largest investor
to Armenia. Namely enterprises of primary importance as Orange,
Credit Agricole, Pernod Ricard, Alcatel and Carrefour are opertaing
in our country.

-Bill criminalizing the denial of Armenian Genocide was recognized
unconstitutional…

-Policy perused by France over Armenian Genocide issue was not imposed
by Armenia . France has publicly recognized Armenian Genocide. The
denying of Genocide is the continuation of the crime. We honestly
consider the nations reviewing other nation genocide history explicitly
share the responsibility of committed crimes. It is difficult for me
to predict the decision of the bill. I welcome President Olland clear
stance, which has been expressed both during his election campaign
and after assuming the leadership of the country.

-Did Armenian- Azerbaijani Foreign Affair Ministers meeting held in
Paris met your expectations refer to NKR conflict settlement process?

-This meeting started and ended with envisaging current negotiation
format of Nagorno Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement. However this
meeting is far from arising new hopes. Official Baku refuses to accept
international mediators’ suggestions, and considers negotiation over
peaceful agreement can be started immediately without coordinating with
Fundamental principles. Yet the peace negotiation can not be viable
if not based on clear principles acceptable for all. Regardless the
stance of Baku, that honors with a hero title an Azerbaijani officer
committing an atrocious crime, axe murdering a sleeping Armenian
officer, Armenia cares no effort to keep the peaceful settlement
process.

-Are you concerned by by rapprochement of ties between France and
Turkey?

-Definitely not. Our policy is not based to damage Turkey. It is based
on clear principles. We want that the ties between France, Turkey and
other European states be multiplied in order Turkey would be capable
to accept European values thanks to those relations. French Presidents
have found enough strength in them to confront with the history.

Reportedly I welcome that agreement. I am going to ask President
Olland tell Turkish authorities how he criminalized the deportation of
Jews and keeping them in camps. It can serve as a lesson to Turkish
authorities.

LE PARTI REPUBLICAIN AFFIRME QU’IL Y A UN COMPLOT POLITIQUE DERRIÈRE LES APPELS A LA REFORME
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 13 novembre 2012

Le parti Republicain d’Armenie (HHK) a reagi brusquement aux appels
du parti Armenie Prospère (BHK) pour une reforme d’une grande portee
constitutionnelle, disant qu’ils sont le travail d’individus affames
de pouvoir se cachant derrière son ancien allie de la coalition.

Eduard Sharmazanov, le porte-parole du HHK et vice-president du
Parlement, a declare que ” les gens qui ont aucune chance d’arrivee
au pouvoir avec leur propre visage ” sont derrière l’appui ” soudain
” au BHK pour une transformation de l’Armenie en une republique
parlementaire.

” C’est plus qu’evident. On devine d’où cette decision primitive a
ete developpee ” a dit Eduard Sharmazanov sans citer de nom.

Quelques commentateurs armeniens croient que Gagik Tsarukian et les
activites politiques de son parti sont guides par Robert Kocharian. En
consequence, ils voient une connexion proche entre le desir presume
de Robert Kocharian de retourner a la vie politique active et
une deterioration des liens entre Gagik Tsarukian et le President
Sarkissian, qui aurait mene au retrait du BHK de la coalition au
pouvoir en juin.

Une figure du BHK, Naira Zohrabian, a declare que le parti de Tsarukian
croit que le vainqueur de la prochaine election presidentielle en
Armenie devra ordonner des amendements constitutionnels qui reduiraient
serieusement les pouvoirs presidentiels vers 2017. Elle a declare que
le BHK serait en pourparlers avec d’autres partis armeniens pour ”
voir s’il y a une possibilite de rassemblement autour de cette idee
” avant la prochaine election.

Naira Zohrabian a rejette les affirmations d’Eduard Sharmazanov. ”
Cette decision etait entièrement la nôtre ” a-t-elle dit au service
armenien de RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am). ” C’est au parti Republicain de
decider s’il veut participer aux discussions “.

mardi 13 novembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

TURQUIE : LES SOINS MEDICAUX REFUSES AUX GREVISTES DE LA FAIM
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
mardi 13 novembre 2012

UA : 392/12 Index : EUR 44/022/2012 Turquie 9 novembre 2012

ACTION URGENTE

SOINS MEDICAUX REFUSES AUX GREVISTES DE LA FAIM

Ils sont des centaines qui font la grève de la faim (certains d’entre
eux depuis le 12 septembre) dans les prisons de Turquie. Des avocats
ont dit a Amnesty International que les autorites de la prison ont
refuse a beaucoup de grevistes de la faim l’accès aux soins medicaux,
menacant ainsi leur vie encore plus.

Le 12 septembre, près de 60 prisonniers ont commence une grève de
la faim dans soixante prisons a travers la Turquie. L’origine du
mouvement est une manifestation contre le refus des autorites, depuis
longtemps, de permettre au chef du PKK, le Parti des Travailleurs
du Kurdistan, Abdullah Ocalan, de voir ses avocats et de demander
la mise en oeuvre d’une education en langue kurde. Depuis septembre,
le nombre de grevistes de la faim s’est accru. Selon le ministre de
la justice, 682 prisonniers dans 67 prisons ont rejoint la grève de
la faim vers le 2 novembre.

Des avocats representants les grevistes de la faim ont dit a Amnesty
International que les medecins de prison refusent regulièrement de
proceder a des visites medicales a des grevistes de la faim, refusant
meme de verifier leur tension arterielle. Les avocats ont dit aussi
que dans certains cas, les grevistes de la faim sont prives de la
possibilite de prendre les vitamines indispensables que les avocats
leur apportent. L’un des prisonniers en grève de la faim dans la
prison du type F de Sincan aurait subi un trajet de 36 heures pour
les besoins d’une audience de tribunal, malgre de sevères problèmes
de mobilite et un rapport medical deconseillant le voyage.

D’autres preoccupations sont fondees sur des rapports faisant etat
de prisonniers en grève de la faim mis en cellules d’isolement dans
les prisons de Silivri et de Sakran, et de mauvais traitements,
par les gardiens de la prison de Terkidag, envers les prisonniers
qui participent au mouvement de grève de la faim.

Ecrivez immediatement en turc ou dans votre langue :

· rappelant aux autorites que les grevistes de la faim manifestent
pacifiquement et que las autorites turques ont une obligation de
respecter leur droit a la liberte d’expression, y compris leur droit
de manifestation ;

· appelant les autorites a assurer aux grevistes de la faim l’accès qui
convient au service de professionnels de la sante et a tout examen,
avis et traitement medical qu’ils accepteraient volontairement a la
suite de cet examen, et a ne mettre aucune restriction injustifiable
aux grevistes de la faim pour recevoir les vitamines que leur procurent
leurs avocats ou les membres de leur famille ;

· appelant les autorites a faire en sorte qu’aucune mesure de punition
ne soit prise a l’encontre des prisonniers en grève de la faim et
que l’interdiction absolue de torture et autres formes de mauvais
traitement soit respectee ; et que soit organisee rapidement, a fond
et efficacement, une enquete sur les allegations selon lesquelles
dans les prisons de Silivri, Sakran et Trekidag ont subi des mauvais
traitements ou ont ete punis les prisonniers pour leur participation
aux grèves de la faim…..

VOUS ETES PRIE D’ENVOYER VOS APPELS AVANT LE 21 DECEMBRE 2012 A :

Ministry of Justice

Sadullah Ergin – Adalet Bakaný – Adalet Bakanlýðý – 06659 Ankara,
Turkey

Fax : +90 312 417 71 13 (keep trying) – Email :
[email protected]

S’adresser a : Cher Ministre

Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights

Ayhan Sefer Ustun

Commission Chairperson – TBMM Ýnsan Haklarý Ýnceleme Komisyonu

Bakanlýklar, 06543 Ankara, Turkey

Fax : +90 312 420 53 94 – Email : [email protected], s’adresser
a : Cher M. Ustun

Envoyer egalement des copies aux representants diplomatiques accredites
dans votre pays.

ACTION URGENTE

Grevistes de la faim prives de soins medicaux

Supplement d’information

En Turquie, les grèves de la faim en prison ont ete employees a
plusieurs reprises comme un moyen de protestation. Le 20 octobre
2000, plus de 1 200 prisonniers s’etaient mis en grève de la faim ;
ce mouvement etait consecutif a un plan pour les demenager dans des
prisons où ils seraient loges dans des petites cellules, plutôt
que dans des dortoirs recevant jusqu’a soixante prisonniers. Les
prisonniers etaient inquiets des risques d’agression et de torture.

Lorsque les raids ont commence le 19 decembre, quelques 200 etaient
encore en grève de la faim, et on disait de beaucoup d’entre eux qu’ils
etaient près de la mort. Les autorites turques sont intervenues par
la force pour mettre fin a la grève de la faim dans l’operation ”
retour a la vie “. Cette operation a cause la mort de 30 prisonniers
et deux soldats pendant les raids dans 20 prisons. Le Ministre de la
Justice aurait declare qu’ ” au moins seize prisonniers etaient morts,
dont la plupart s’etaient eux-memes immoles par le feu “. Il n’a pas
dit de quoi les autres prisonniers etaient morts.

Les grèves de la faim ont continue pendant les deux annees qui ont
suivi, coûtant la vie a des douzaines de personnes – dont certaines
n’etaient pas des prisonniers. Amnesty International ne soutient pas
les grèves de la faim, ni n’essaie de persuader les grevistes de la
faim de mettre fin a leur manifestation. L’organisation s’oppose a
toute punition a l’encontre des grevistes de la faim et aux tentatives
de coercition tendant a les forcer a mettre fin a leur grève de la
faim. De telles mesure violent le droit d’expression , et peuvent etre
assimilees a une punition ou traitement cruel, inhumain ou degradant.

Les autorites ont l’obligation d’assurer aux prisonniers le droit
a la vie et a la sante et aux grevistes de la faim, comme aux
autres prisonniers, l’accès aux professionnels de la sante et a tout
examen, avis et traitement medicaux consecutifs a cet examen, qu’ils
accepteraient volontairement.

Presque 700 prisonniers en grève de la faim en Turquie

Amnesty International France

Phone : + 33 1 53 38 65 65

Fax : + 33 1 53 38 55 00

Address : 76 Boulevard de la Villette Paris CEDEX 19 75940 FR

Email : [email protected]

mardi 13 novembre 2012, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

DEPUTY SPEAKER: AZERBAIJANI AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NOT TO RECEIVE AIRCRAFTS FLYING TO KHANKENDI

Trend
Nov 12 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani air traffic controllers will not deal with those planes
flying to Khankendi airport, first deputy speaker of the Azerbaijani
Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov said at an event at the High Oil School,
dedicated to the Azerbaijani Day of the Constitution.

He added that Armenia has recently spread provocative statements
relating to this airport.

“Khankendi airport has been rebuilt, but not yet been put into
operation,” he said. “Yerevan uses various pretexts to start its
operation, but is well aware that Azerbaijan will not allow this
to happen.”

He stressed that the Azerbaijani relevant bodies are working on the
matter, so parliament does not see the need for any further discussion.

Earlier, Armenian media reported the commissioning of the airport
in Khankendi.

The action towards the commissioning of Khojaly airport in
Nagorno-Karabakh is dangerous. It violates international law and
harms the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Previously, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry urged all international
companies operating in Khojaly airport to immediately stop their
illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

“Otherwise, the Azerbaijani side will take the appropriate steps,”
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said earlier.

Commissioning the airport in Khankendi is an open violation of the
Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Azerbaijan has banned the use of the airspace of Nagorno-Karabakh
occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor in
the area, the head of the Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration,
Arif Mammadov said earlier.

He said Armenia’s steps directed towards the operation of the airport
in Khankendi are attempts to violate international legal norms. This
air space belongs to Azerbaijan, so its use by Armenia is impossible.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European
Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also support the position of
Azerbaijan on this issue.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.