Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIA’S RULING PARTY MPS SHOULD NOT MISS PARLIAMENT SESSIONS – PARTY DEPUTY

news.am
June 27, 2012 | 12:27

YEREVAN. – The situation is very normal in Armenia’s new National
Assembly (NA) and the political component finally grew, ruling
Republican Party MP Mkrtich Minasyan said during a press conference
on Wednesday.

In his words, no one in the Parliament-and especially the ruling
power’s representatives-can allow themselves the luxury of being
absent from the NA, since the parliamentary opposition has increased
and this also means there is a matter of obtaining quorum.

Minasyan also noted that he considers it normal that the NA opposition
Armenian National Congress (ANC) is still holding rallies.

In his turn, ANC member and Democratic Motherland Party Chairman Petros
Makeyan stated that if the ANC no longer conducts its activities on
the street, its activities in the NA will be meaningless.

Also, he maintained that the current state of affairs in Armenia is
something like one step forward, two steps back.

ARAM I CATHOLICOS REFUSED TO GIVE INTERVIEW TO TURKISH CHANNEL

ARMENPRESS
27 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: Catholicos of Great House of Cilicia His
Holiness Aram Ð~F again rejected the suggestion of Turkish TV Channel
to give an interview. Armenpress reports calling asbarez.com news
website that during the interview which had to last two weeks among
the international issues Armenian Issue will also be discussed. The
interview would be conducted by famous Turkish journalist and
intellectual Adnan Oktar.

The press and information department of the Catholicosate of Great
House of Cilicia had rejected the invitation telling that His Holiness
Aram Ð~F catholicos would reject all such offers as long as Turkey
had not recognized Armenian Genocide and compensate Armenians.

In the invitation directed to the catholicos was mentioned that it is
a “friendly offer” and “God wants peace to be established between our
nations”. “We are privileged to have Aram Ð~F catholicos in Istanbul”
is said in the end of the letter.

During the last one week this is the second letter directed to Aram
Ð~F catholicos. Both invitations have been rejected.

LES ARMENIENS SE PREPARENT A MARSEILLE
Aurelie Ohanian

armenews.com
mercredi 27 juin 2012

Du 10 au 15 juillet se deroulent les championnats du monde d’athletisme
junior a Barcelone.

L’equipe junior d’Armenie composee de 4 athlètes et de 2 entraineurs
participera a cette competition.

Du 25 juin au 8 juillet, les 6 membres de la selection poseront
leurs bagages a Marseille pour se preparer au mieux physiquement et
moralement a ce championnat. Grâce a un partenariat entre la Federation
Francaise d’Athletisme (FFA), Federation Armenienne d’Athletisme (FAA),
la Ligue de Provence et la Jeunesse Armenienne de France (JAF) et le
soutien du Conseil General des Bouches du Rhône, ces jeunes champions
seront dans les meilleures conditions pour peaufiner leur preparation.

La FFA et la Ligue de Provence se chargeront de la partie sportive
de ce sejour. Il assureront l’encadrement et le conseil auprès de
ces jeunes athlètes en leur faisant profiter des installations locales.

La JAF assurera l’accueil, l’hebergement et la restauration de l’equipe
pendant la quinzaine.

Le Centre Culturel de la JAF sera le lieu de rassemblement et
debriefing des sportifs. Habituee a promouvoir la culture et la
jeunesse, la JAF etend son registre au domaine sportif.

Tout en remplissant plusieurs de ses missions fondatrices : renforcer
le lien avec l’Armenie, favoriser l’emergence de nouveaux talents,
developper sa composante sportive incarnee par sa section ” Courir
Pour La Memoire “.

Le volet final de ce partenariat aura lieu le 28 octobre 2012 pour
le Marseille-Cassis avec l’accueil d’une delegation de coureurs
d’Armenie. Ce jour la, 40 sportifs militants participeront egalement
a la grande classique pedestre sous les couleurs de ” Courir Pour La
Memoire “.

En developpant une nouvelle forme de sensibilisation de la population
a la question du negationnisme, ” Courir Pour La Memoire ” participe
pour la 3ème fois au Marseille-Cassis.

Focus sur les acteurs du projet : Bernard Amsalem, President de la
Federation Francaise d’Athletisme (FFA), Robert Emmiyan, President de
la Federation Armenienne d’Athletisme (FAA), Andre Giraud, President
de la Ligue de Provence, Julien Harounyan, President de la Jeunesse
Armenienne de France (JAF), Pascal Chamassian, Responsable du projet
pour la Jeunesse Armenienne de France, Gerard Kirkorian, Responsable
de ” Courir Pour La Memoire ” (CPLM), Le Conseil General des Bouches
du Rhône.

Focus sur la JAF et ” Courir pour la memoire ”

” Courir Pour La Memoire ” est la section sportive de la Jeunesse
Armenienne de France de Marseille (JAF).

Depuis 60 ans, la Jeunesse Armenienne de France place au coeur de
son action la reconnaissance du genocide armenien. Cette initiative
s’inscrit dans une demarche de citoyennete et de justice en faveur
de la lutte contre les genocides et le negationnisme.

Courir Pour la Memoire a pour objectif de rassembler toutes les âmes
eprises de Justice et de Verite. Après la culture, la JAF a donc
choisi le sport, qui depuis toujours, rassemble et unit pour militer
autour de la question des genocides.

ANC RALLY: CHAOS, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, MORTAL BLOW, OPPOSITION’S SUMMER HOLIDAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 26, 2012 – 22:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc
rally was held in Yerevan’s Liberty Square.

The rally was believed to have gathered the smallest number of
supporters as compared to previous ANC demonstrations.

ANC’s struggle against chaos

ANC member, MP Nikol Pashinyan believes the opposition bloc to be
the only one interested in uncovering October 29, 1999 and March 1,
2008 events.

As he noted, though October 27 case is considered de-jure solved,
a probe into March 1 events is still ongoing.

Pashinyan further addressed to recent beating up of doctors at
Harsnakar restaurant, dubbing the incident as “the activities of
current leadership.”

“Only ANC is capable of stopping the chaos reigning in Armenia,”
Pashinyan stressed.

ANC warns of new developments

Armenian National Movement (ANM) board chair, a member of ANC
opposition bloc Aram Manukyan urged those gathered for ANC rally to
be ready for presidential poll, without waiting for February 2013
to arrive.

According to Makunyan, current leadership was stricken with ANC work
at a newly-formed parliament, with many MPs voicing their satisfaction
with the activities of ANC members.

However, as Manukyan stressed, it’s the people’s support that makes
ANC strong.

ANM board chair further warned those gathered about new developments
to be soon expected in the country’s domestic and foreign policy,
“that the current leadership is not immune against.”

Fateful decisions and blow to regime

ANC opposition bloc coordinator warned of much work to be accomplished
before presidential elections.

At ANC rally, Levon Zurabyan urged against believing skeptics who
argue that current authorities’ victory at presidential poll will be
as easy as parliamentary elections win.

“Presidential elections are the only real chance for a shift of
power in the country,” he said, calling on those gathered to prepare
themselves to take fateful decisions and administer a blow to current
regime.

In conclusion, Zurabyan urged current leader Serzh Sargsyan to resign
his post.

Summer holidays for opposition

The next rally of ANC was scheduled for September, unless a necessity
arises to organize one earlier, the opposition bloc leader said.

According to Levon Ter-Petrossian, political events in Armenia
will be developing in early autumn, as presidential election day is
coming closer.

ANC defends Prosperous Armenia, says parliament regulations absurd

ANC opposition bloc leader, ex-president Levon Ter-Petrossian spoke in
defense of Prosperous Armenia, slamming those who dubbed the party as
“fake opposition.”

“Those skeptical of Prosperous Armenia cite the following arguments
to prove their point : 1st, they believe the party backs ex-president
Robert Kocharian and are threatened by the possibility of his return;
2nd, Prosperous Armenia didn’t announce itself an opposition, in line
with parliamentary regulations, which I believe are absurd and have
to be abolished.”

“By doing so, the skeptics are trying to help current President
Serzh Sargsyan in positioning himself as a lesser evil as compared
to Kocharian, whose name is associated with March 1, 2008 events.”

“The supposedly independent media and political forces are trying to
push Prosperous Armenia back into Serzh Sargsyan’s arms, in an effort
to again turn the party into RPA extension.”

As ANC leader said, current authorities are using harsher means to
pressure Prosperous Armenia, “yet, giving in to President Sargsyan
would mean political death to Prosperous Armenia.”

“Turning into an opposition as the only way out for Prosperous
Armenia,” Ter-Petrossian noted, urging other political forces for help.

Ter-Petrossian urges to abolish OSCE Minsk Group

ANC opposition bloc leader, ex-president Levon Ter-Petrossian commented
on recent statement on Karabakh issue by three Co-Chairing Presidents
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and Francois
Hollande at the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.

As Ter-Petrossian noted at ANC rally, the tone of the message was
perceptively harsher as compared to previous ones.

“The Presidents were dissatisfied over the failure of Serzh Sargsyan
and Ilham Aliyev to implement Deauville statement and Sochi agreement,
with ceasefire violations and military rhetoric continuing.”

“Some experts believe that OSCE MG hasn’t lived up to expectations
and note that even a short-term halt in its work might yield positive
results,” ANC leader said.

“According to the experts, halting mediatory mission and pressuring
conflicting sides into action would promote peace agreement,”
Ter-Petrossian said.

Opposition to vote against

ANC opposition bloc leader, ex-president Levon Ter-Petrossian urged
parliamentary opposition forces to continue cooperation, and vote
against government-proposed bills and programs.

As he noted, the opposition may only join the majority in voting for
national security-related draft laws.

At ANC rally, Ter-Petrossian spoke of a new political situation in
Armenian parliament, noting that the National Assembly hasn’t had as
many oppositional parliamentarians since 1999.

“If in 2012, 49 MPs voted against the government program, in 2007
there was no one to vote against, and only 3 MPs were opposed in 2008,”
ANC leader said.

BUNDESPRASIDENT FISCHER TRIFFT ARMENISCHEN KATHOLIKOS KAREKIN II

Kathweb

22 Juni 2012
Osterreich

Offizieller Besuch des Staatsoberhauptes in der Republik Armenien von

Wien, 22.06.2012 (KAP) Bundesprasident Heinz Fischer wird zum
Abschluss eines dreitagigen Staatsbesuchs in Armenien in der kommenden
Woche auch mit dem Oberhaupt der armenisch-apostolischen Kirche,
Katholikos-Patriarch Karekin II., zusammentreffen. Laut dem am Freitag
von der Prasidentschaftskanzlei veroffentlichten Besuchsprogramm
besichtigt Fischer am Mittwoch das Felsenkloster Geghard und reist
anschließend fur die Begegnung mit Karekin II. in die alte armenische
Hauptstadt Etschmiadzin weiter. Die Stadt ist historisches Zentrum der
armenischen Kirche und Sitz des Katholikos-Patriarchen. Die dortigen
Kirchen gehoren zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe.

Karekin II. ist mit Osterreich, u.a. mit der Stiftung “Pro Oriente”,
besonders verbunden. In den 1970er Jahren studierte der heutige
Katholikos-Patriarch auf Einladung von Kardinal Franz Konig in Wien
katholische Theologie und wohnte im Wiener Priesterseminar. Zuletzt
absolvierte er 2005 auf Einladung von Kardinal Christoph Schonborn
einen zehntagigen Osterreichbesuch. Bei einem Treffen in Wien lud
Karekin II. damals Bundesprasident Fischer zum Besuch von Etschmiadzin
ein.

Der armenisch-apostolischen Kirche gehort die Mehrheit der rund 3,2
Millionen Einwohner des Landes im sudlichen Kaukasus an. Sie gehort
zu den so genannten altorientalischen Kirchen, die sich bereits in
der Spatantike, nach den Beschlussen des Konzils von Chalkedon, von
Rom und Konstantinopel trennten. Die romisch-katholische Gemeinde
ist in Armenien mit 120.000 Mitgliedern eine Minderheit.

Neben dem Treffen mit Karekin II. sind wahrend des Staatsbesuchs von
25. bis 27. Juni u.a. Begegnungen mit dem armenischen Prasidenten
Serzh Sargsyan sowie Premierminister Tigran Sargsyan vorgesehen. Dabei
durfte auch das Massaker an den Armeniern im Osmanischen Reich,
deren Anerkennung als Volkermord von Armenien gefordert wird, zur
Sprache kommen. Am Dienstagnachmittag wird Fischer beim Denkmal der
Opfer des Volkermords an den Armeniern einen Kranz niederlegen.

AZERBAIJAN AGGRESSOR BEYOND ANY DOUBT – SENIOR PARLIAMENTARIAN

tert.am
27.06.12

A country which used military force in protest against the
Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic’s right to independence cannot
but be termed an aggressor, the vice speaker of the National Assembly
has said.

Edward Sharmazanov voiced disapproval of Azerbaijan’s policies in
response to a statement by Novruz Mamedov, the head of the Foreign
Relations Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential Office. The
Azerbaijani official said recently that his country will be ready
to grant Karabakh a high status of independence, provided it calls
Armenia an aggressor.

“There are internationally accepted norms, the UN Charter, which
stipulate that the right to self-determination is among the United
Nations objectives, with territorial integrity being only a principle.

Hence principles should serve for the implementation of objectives.

Secondly, the Republic of Artsakh declared its independence in
accordance with the USSR’s acting legislation and the norms and
principles of international law, and enshrined it through a universal
referendum. What’s even more, NKR did not enjoy independence for a
single day or a single hour while being part of Azerbaijan,” said
the Armenian parliamentarian, opposing to the Azerbaijani official.

Sharmazanov, who is also the spokesperson of the ruling republican
Party of Armenia (RPA), further condemned Azerbaijan for desecrating
the historical monuments of New Julfa and committing a cultural
genocide.

“Mr. Mamedov, how would you name a country which opposed to the
Nagorno-Karabakh people’s peaceful right to independence by military
force, bombing the peaceful civilians – including women and children
– and keeping them under the [threat] of fire. [What name would you
give] to the officials of a country who declare across the globe that
they must wash themselves in Lake Sevan. I think it is time for the
society to call things by their names and term [the country] as an
aggressor. It is beyond doubt that Azerbaijan fits that definition.”

IT’S GOOD BAKU REFUSES
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:47:31 – 27/06/2012

Levon Ter-Petrosyan began his speech in the rally of the Armenian
National Congress on June 26 with the Karabakh issue. He thinks that
the presidents of the United States, Russia and France are indignant
because Aliyev and Sargsyan did not take deciding steps and keep to
radical positions.

In fact, their patience is wearing thin, and they are likely to talk
to the presidents in another language.

Referring to experts, Ter-Petrosyan suggested that the other language
might by the disbanding of the Minsk Group, work with the societies,
otherwise a war. In any case, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev now
have smaller room for maneuvers.

By the end of the year Armenia and Azerbaijan must complete the
preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the EU. The
German Ambassador Hans-Jochen Schmidt told Lragir.am that the preamble
of the document has not been agreed yet. No wording for the definition
of the Karabakh issue has been found that would be acceptable to both
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

A definition would be found if the situation of the Karabakh settlement
changed. And it is not ruled out that Levon Ter-Petrosyan has learned
about the intention to “correct” the configuration in Karabakh to
sign the Association Agreement. Of course, this time Ter-Petrosyan
did not accuse the Armenian government of selling Karabakh in return
for legitimacy.

It is beyond doubt that both Europe and Armenia are pushing for
signing the Association Agreement. It is also obvious that there will
be no success as long as the European Union will conduct negotiations
with Armenia and Azerbaijan on a synchrony and parity basis because
Azerbaijan will torpedo the process with new pre-conditions.

The EU must end this artificial parity and establish separate agendas
and schedules for Armenia and Azerbaijan and first of all identify
priorities of its interaction with Yerevan and Baku. After all,
nothing happened after Georgia’s promotion of its relations with NATO
ahead of Armenia and Azerbaijan and now each of these countries has
its action plan.

The Western leaders are genuinely indignant about the position of
Azerbaijan. Ambassador Schmidt shared his surprise that no document was
signed in Kazan though even the issue of referendum had been agreed. In
addition, nobody except Armenia publicly criticized Azerbaijan for the
failure of the talks. Again calls for parity were made to both sides.

In fact, this is even good that Azerbaijan rejected the results of
talks. At least because the ongoing talks do not match the vital
interests of Armenia and presuppose unacceptable concessions.

TURKEY RESTORES MILITARY TIES WITH FRANCE

tert.am
27.06.12

Turkey has agreed to restore all military ties with France, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, and a senior procurement
official said that the restored relations covers all arms deals
between the two countries, The Defense News reports.

The deal effectively means that Eurosam, the European missile maker
whose members include major French companies, may compete for Turkey’s
Long-Range Air and Missile Defense Systems (Loramids) contract,
worth about $4 billion.

Eurosam had never been officially excluded from that competition,
but the earlier legislation made it unlikely the European missile
would be selected.

Ankara canceled all economic, political and military meetings with
Paris in December after France’s lower house of parliament voted
overwhelmingly in favor of a draft law to make it illegal to deny
that the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIAN-AUSTRIAN BUSINESS FORUM HOSTS PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AUSTRALIA

ARMENPRESS
26 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
and Austrian President Heinz Fischer attended the Armenian-Austrian
business forum June 26. As Armenpress reports, Serzh Sargsyan noted
that the economic relations of the two countries were thoroughly
referred during the meeting with his counterpart. “Analogical meetings
are a good opportunity for businessmen to indicate new spheres of
cooperation,” said the President. According to him, there is quite
a full potential between the two countries, there is a legal and
contractual field. Serzh Sargsyan highly assessed the circumstance that
by the Development Bank of Austria Armenia has been involved in the
list of the primary countries for cooperation. The President voiced
hope that in the spheres of agriculture and energy the cooperation
will have success. “Both spheres are of strategical significance to
our country,” said the President, stressing that till 2020 Armenia
wants to amount consumption of renewable energy to 35%.

The head of the republic also pointed out the sphere of tourism as
prospective ibe. “We would like to see a tangible presence of the
Austrian capital in this sphere,” said Serzh Sargsyan. Austrian
President Heinz Fischer noted with pity that the global economic
crisis has had its negative impact on economies of the two countries.

“Despite that, Armenia and Austria soon took the path of development.

We hope that improvement of global economic environment will promote
development of the business and economy in our countries,” said
Fisher, assuring that Austria will continue making investments in
Armenia’s economy, promoting the country’s economic growth. A number
of memorandums and agreements were signed in presence of the Presidents
of Armenia and Austria.

PACE COMMITTEE ACCEPTS THE REPORT ON “PRESENCE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN AZERBAIJAN”

ARMENPRESS
26 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe has had quite a full agenda June 26, especially in the
committees, member of the Armenian delegation to PACE Naira Zohrabyan
told Armenpress.

According to her, 2 reports have been under discussion in the PACE
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights from the morning, first
of which concerned the formulation of “political prisoner”, and the
second concerned presence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

“The Azerbaijani delegation exerted unprecedented efforts to unite its
lobbyist MPs at PACE under one rough, to bring them to the committee,
so that the two reports were thrown down and especially the second
one. They had brought a great number of lobbyists, who shamelessly
lied and tried to present the current situation in Azerbaijan with
other groundings, and even their partner MPs called on not to be
dishonest and leave the PACE, if they cannot resist pressures,”
said Naira Zohrabyan. She also noted that nevertheless, both reports
were accepted at the committee. PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights accepted the second report, which concerned presence of
political prisoners in Azerbaijan, with ratio of 25 yes votes to no
23 votes.

“It is strange that Pedro Agramunt, who has been appointed co-reporter
in Azerbaijan by the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly
of Council of Europe (PACE) was actively resisting these reports,
whereas the PACE Charter bans the MPs who have clash of profits to
become a reporter on that issue. I think our partners represented
at the PACE Monitoring Committee should consider the purposefulness
of Agramunt’s being a reporter, as that official is not impartial,”
noted Naira Zohrabyan. According to her, Agramunt is also involved in
“caviar diplomacy” list, that is, in the list of the MPs, who have
been corrupted by Azerbaijan.