Author: Kanayan Tamar

KARABAKH ELECTIONS COMPLIED WITH PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW – ICES

news.am
July 20, 2012 | 12:58

The official international observer mission of the International expert
Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) considers the presidential election
process in Nagorno-Karabakh-or Artsakh-as an established democratic
act of expression of will by the republic’s citizens, an act which
is consistent with international norms, the aforesaid mission’s chief
Alexander Tsinker stated during a press conference on Friday.

The observers also noted that falsification of election results was
not recorded at the polling stations and when the records were being
submitted to the Central Electoral Commission. The international
observers visited 52 polling stations.

In addition, the ICES mission expressed its satisfaction with the fact
that there were no disturbances during the electoral process, and no
one tried to disrupt the voting process and summing up of the results.

ICES’ statement notes that, overall, the elections were held
democratically, with a competition among the presidential candidates,
and with a high voter turnout.

According to them, Artsakh’s elections have complied with the
principles and requirements of the international right to vote.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, incumbent NKR President
Bako Sahakyan won the elections by receiving a great majority of the
votes. According to preliminary figures, Sahakyan received 47,085 votes
(66.7%), NKR National Assembly MP Vitali Balasanyan received 22,966
votes (32.5%), and Deputy Director Arkadi Soghomonyan of Academic
Activities at the NKR capital Stepanakert Branch of State Agrarian
University of Armenia received 594 votes (0.8%).

THE FUTURE OF ARMENIAN ECONOMY IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THE EXPORT: MINISTER

ARMENPRESS
20 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: On July 20, the EU Advisory group jointly
with the Armenian Ministry of Economy, held a seminar dedicated
to the formation of a negotiation process between Armenia and the
EU on the opportunities regarding the deep and comprehensive free
trade. According to Armenpress, the main goal of the seminar is to
familiarize the public and show all the possibilities and advantages
which will be opened for Armenia with the help of this process.

“It is very important to imagine clearly what kind of anticipations
we shall have from this negotiations. The internal market of Armenia
is limited enough, and this process will give us an opportunity to
enlarge the export volume”- mentioned the Minister of Economy Tigran
Davtyan. According to him, the future of Armenian economy is directly
connected with the export to CIS and EU countries, and now there is
an active collaboration with them.

According to Onno Simons, the head of the EU delegation’s political,
economic and information department, the agreement on Deep and
comprehensive free trade between Armenia and the EU cannot be remained
on the paper. The agreement supposed the integration of Armenia to
the internal markets of the EU, as a result of which the volume of
Armenia`s economy can be increased to 30%.

The agreement includes 15 chapters about the modernization of customs,
the protection of intellectual property, the trade facilitation,
the solving of government procurement and other area`s issues ,
and the rise of efficiency.

The negotiating process will launch on February 19, 2012,by the
confirmation of the EU trade policy committee. The first phase of
the negotiations will be held in Brussels from July 19-20. The other
2 phases are intended to be held on October and December of 2012.

RUSSIAN OBSERVER MISSION BACKS NKR LEADER’S INVOLVEMENT IN KARABAKH TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 20, 2012 – 13:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian observer mission of 16 monitored July 19
presidential polls in Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

According to the mission’s statement, “NKR presidential polls were
held in the environment of intensive political competitiveness, with
equal media access provided to all candidates. Certain shortcomings in
the work of electoral committees were of technical and organizational
character and couldn’t affect the results of the vote.”

In their statement, the observers urge for the attention of the OSCE
Minsk Group and the international community to the efforts aimed at
creation of a democratic electoral system. The observers called for
rapid settlement of Karbakh conflict to promote establishment of
stability on the region.

In this context, Russian MP Alexander Balaberov noted the importance
of NKR presidential polls in Karabakh settlement talks, adding that
negotiations without Artsakh president’s involvement are doomed
to failure.

According to preliminary results of the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh)
Republic’s Central Election Commission, the incumbent leader, Bako
Sahakyan, gained 47 085 (66,7%) of the votes to win the presidential
race.

His major rival Vitaly Balasanyan garnered 22 966 (32,5%) of votes
while Arkady Soghomonyan received 594 (0,8%) of votes.

THE STRUGGLE IN DAMASCUS IS IN ITS FINAL STAGE

ARMENPRESS
19 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS: After the terrorist attack near Syrian
National Security building on July 18 the situation in Damascus
continues to stay tense. Armenpress was informed from representative
of Armenian community in Syria Nazareth Elmajyan that the control
in Damascus has more strengthened but during the whole day voices of
continuing clashes, explosions are heard from the suburbs of the city.

In Elmajyan’s words the current struggle is in its definitive and
final stage and during a day or two the situation will be clearer.

What refers to the information spread by various Medias that the
presidential residence is in siege does not correspond to reality.

In result of clashes the terrorists had significant losses; there
are many arrested people who are not Syrians.

The situation became tenser after the strong explosion on July
18 because of which Defense Minister of Syria and other high-rank
officials died.

PRESERVING HAMSHEN IDENTITY THROUGH SONG
Hamo Moskofian

Moscow-Krasnodar
July 20, 2012

During Vova Hamshen’s historic concert at Moscow’s Golden Palace,
on June 10, I grabbed the opportunity to interview Hikmet Akcicek,
the founder and main singer of the music group and his fellow artist
Mehmet Altunkaya. A cultured, patriotic and highly intelligent person,
Akcicek lives in Hopa, Turkey and in Istanbul. With composer Mustafa
Biber and musician Altunkaya, he is the central figure of the Hamshen
group. The latter has won prizes in many international competitions,
singing in Hamshen Armenian, in Turkish and in other languages. Because
Vova Hamshen has given concerts in Armenia and Akcicek has lived in
Yerevan, his Armenian is fairly understandable.

I asked him about the meaning of the group’s name and its aims.

Hikmet Akcicek: In Hamshen dialect Vova means “who is it?” (“Ov
eh?” in Western Armenian-HM). Our language is one of the oldest
Armenian dialects. It’s preserved in Armenian history for which
we are proud of. Most of the Hameshens in the Eastern Hopa region
can speak only Hamshen Armenian (Homshen), while in Rize and in the
Western regions, unfortunately they speak mostly Turkish. Thus they
are losing their identity. Due to the 400 years of Turkification,
many have forgotten their mother tongue.

Our group’s aim was to preserve our nation, the Hamshen community
and identity, through our language. The easiest way was by music and
by singing our centuries-old, marvelous songs about our motherland,
our mountains, nature, love and marriage, and everyday life: age-old
traditions in pure Hamshen Armenian. I think we succeeded in our aim
and we are further developing our goal.

Our group is composed of male and female musicians and singers. I
am an amateur, but the others are top professionals, who perform
in several Black Sea regions. They play modern string instruments
and drums. Some are Hamshen Armenians, others have Laz parentage on
mother’s or father’s side. All of them excel in our dialect.

HM: Can you tell me about your political views and ideology?

HA: We are socialists. We oppose the ruling party in Turkey. My
colleague here, Mehmet Altunkaya, is a social democrat.

HM: You are Hunchaks… (they laugh).

HA: Altunkaya has even a political party– T.B.M.M.–which opposes
religious fundamentalism in Turkey. Officially, we are Turkish
citizens. “Turks” but Armenian, and will preserve our identity on the
land that we have lived for centuries: the land called Hamshen. I have
a pain in my heart; our countrymen are dispersed all over the world,
from Turkey to Georgia, to Russia and to Kirgizstan. The first time
we succeeded in meeting together on cultural and musical level was
when a Hamshen band from Krasnodar participated with us in a joint
concert. Our concerts had huge attendance all over Russia, in Armenia
and in Lebanon. We would be very happy to organize concerts in other
countries where Armenians live. We want to remind everybody that we
alive and our language, music, culture is immortal!

!

LEGITIMATE ELECTIONS ARE NKR’S SECURITY ISSUE – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION BLOC

news.am
July 19, 2012 | 14:16

YEREVAN. – Opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) issued a
statement with respect to Thursday’s presidential elections in the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

“We call upon NKR’s authorities to do their utmost to secure
legitimate, free, and fair elections. In the military and diplomatic
war with Azerbaijan, democratic institutes’ higher level and vitality
should be among NK’s primary resources, and this will be noticed
by the international community. [And] The latter’s reaction to the
elections will greatly depend on the quality of the elections.

At the same time, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are the biggest
claimants of free and fair elections. And, last, legitimate elections
are NKR’s security issue.

We also call upon Armenia’s authorities to commence consultations
with the respective departments of friendly countries, to secure a
positive attitude toward NK presidential elections,” ANC’s statement
specifically reads.

To note, three non-party affiliate candidates are running in Thursday’s
presidential elections. They are: Incumbent NKR President Bako
Sahakyan, Deputy Director Arkadi Soghomonyan of Academic Activities
at the NKR capital Stepanakert Branch of State Agrarian University
of Armenia, and NKR National Assembly MP Vitali Balasanyan.

NKR’s previous presidential elections were held on July 19, 2007, and
serving President Bako Sahakyan was elected Head of State. According
to official figures, he had received 85.12 percent of the total votes.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH GOES TO PRESIDENTIAL POLLS
Karen Minasyan

RIA Novosti
19/07/2012
YEREVAN

Presidential elections started on Thursday in the unrecognized republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh, the fifth since the republic broke away from
Azerbaijan in the late 1980s.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time and will close at 8 p.m.,
after which the ballot count will begin.

There are three candidates in the running, including incumbent
President Bako Saakyan, National Council Deputy Vitaly Balasanyan and
Arkady Sogomonyan, professor at the Armenian Agricultural University.

The EU has reiterated it does not recognize the legality of the
elections.

Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs
and security policy, said the European Union “does not recognize the
constitutional and legal framework in which they will be held.”

“These ‘elections’ should not prejudice the determination of the
future status of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiated general framework
of the peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

Ashton recalled the EU’s firm support to the OSCE Minsk Group, and
in particular to the sustained efforts of its co-chairs, aimed at a
peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“I call on the parties to step up their efforts to find a negotiated
solution to the conflict on the basis of the Madrid principles, which
would allow progress beyond the status quo. I reiterate the EU’s
readiness to provide further support to efforts in this direction”,
she said.

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted in the late 1980s,
when the predominantly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh
claimed independence from Azerbaijan. It is estimated to have left
more than 30,000 people dead on both sides between 1988 and 1994. The
region has since remained under Armenian control.

There has been an increasing number of shootouts along the line of
contact between the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, as well as at
the border between the two states.

ARMENIA TO HAVE ANOTHER CHAMPAGNE PRODUCTION COMPANY

news.am
July 19, 2012 | 11:35

YEREVAN. – The Government of Armenia on Thursday granted a value
added tax payment postponement for Armenia Wine Company, in order
for the latter to produce champagne.

Armenia’s Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan informed that the Company
made an AMD 6-billion (approx. US$ 14,618,343) investment, and created
120 new jobs with a monthly salary of AMD 127,000 (approx. $310)
per employee.

PM Tigran Sargsyan noted that this production will become particularly
important in case of being exported.

To note, the Yerevan Champagne and Wine Factory already produces
champagne. But in line with official statistics, Armenia’s champagne
production reduced by almost half in January-May 2012, as compared with
the same time period last year, and constituted close to 30,000 liters.

CHORRORD INQNISHKHANUTYUN: SENIOR REPUBLICANS AND DASHNAKS MEET IN ARTSAKH

tert.am
19.07.12

The paper says it has learned from sources that senior figures of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and members of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) held a gathering
in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on Wednesday, just a day before the
scheduled presidential polls.

The meeting reportedly saw the presence of incumbent and former
officials, including a former president of Karabakh, Arkady Ghukasyan,
as well as ex-ministers and regional governors, who are firmly linked
with what is claimed to be the Artsakh clan, especially Armenia’s
second president, Robert Kocharyan (who descends from Karabakh).

After meeting the presidential candidates, Vitaly Balasanyan and
[incumbent President] Bako Sahakyan, they gave a big party outside
the Gandzasar Monastery and had an extensive discussion over the 2013
presidential election in Armenia, claims the paper.

“The table companions admitted openly in this context that the
presidential polls will cost the ruling majority, the RPA, a high
price, and agreed with that purpose that Karabakh clan has to entirely
commit itself to listing votes in Armenia after bringing the Artsakh
polls to an end,” says the paper.

BEING AND REMAINING ARMENIAN IS ESSENTIAL AND PIVOTAL FOR TURKISH ARMENIANS: ARA GOCHUNYAN

ARMENPRESS
19 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Diaspora, the existing
situation there has always been in the center of the attention
of Armenia. Armenian community in Turkey in the absence of
Armenian-Turkish relations however remains the most vulnerable segments
of Diaspora.

Armenpress had an interview with Istanbul based Armenian “Time”
newspaper’s editor-in-chief Ara Gochunyan on Turkish Armenian community
current issues and the efforts made to their solutions.

-Currently what measures are taken for the protection of Armenian
identity?

-The protection of Armenian identity in Turkish Armenian community in
one hand is ordinary in the other hand an unusual phenomena. A large
number of national structure networks are operating in Istanbul, which
play an essential role in the preservation of Armenian community. The
matter does not go mainly on the churches. Surely the belief towards
the Apostolic church is an inseparable part of our identity, yet
the church cannot play the role of an administrative structure. In
this matter the schools under the patronage of these churches have
an important impact.

-On the threshold of 100 th anniversary of Armenian Genocide what
kind of preparations are underway?

– During the recent years people in Turkey have started to express
their respect towards the memories of the victims in the central square
of Istanbul and other cities of Turkey. Those who pursue the issue of
Armenian Genocide recognition understand they have a great deal of work
to do. Our aim is as follows, regardless the initiative is taken either
by Armenian or Turkish side, the solution to the problem must be fair.