Author: nina hovnanian

INDIFFERENCE TO POLITICAL SITUATION IMPEDES ARMENIA’S CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 27, 2011 – 14:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The representatives of Public Council of Armenia
and Public Chamber of Russia gathered for an official meeting on
October 27 in Yerevan.

At the meeting, the parties addressed a number of issues including
development of civil society institutions. Dwelling on civil society
institutions in Armenia, Public Council representative Hovhannes
Hovhannisyan characterized them as well formed, noting, however,
that much work is to be accomplished as far as social processes go.

“There’re yet stereotypes to be broken,” he noted.

Among financial issues, Hovhannisyan noted difficulties NGOs face
on the way to obtaining grants either from governmental structures
or local sources. Hovhannisyan described unfavorable social and
psychological situation, indifference to social and political processes
in Armenia as the main impediment on the way to development of social
institutions.

ARMENIAN MP ON AZERBAIJAN’S RESPONSIBLE STATUS

Tert.am
27.10.11

Artak Zakaryan, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
attaches paramount importance to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s
recent visit to Russia.

“Practical agreements were discussed and a new idea – Eurasian Union
– was proposed, which is of importance. Although was not put into
practice, it may be attractive to Armenia in the context of economic
cooperation,” Zakaryan told journalists Oct. 26. He shares the view
on whether membership in the Eurasian Union may prove an impediment
to Armenia’s cooperation with the European Union.

“I am sure that Armenia has always been balanced in all kinds of its
state relations, in contacts with all partners, without building its
diplomatic relations on disagreement. We have accepted any cooperation
format. So let us wait and see. Time will show how vital and attractive
the idea of Eurasian Union is to Armenia,” Zakaryan said.

Of interest is Azerbaijan becoming a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council. It was Azerbaijan’s diplomatic rather than strategic
victory, and that country’s diplomats may be proud of that.

“I do not share the opinions that Armenia will object and prove to its
partners that it cannot have a favorable impact on regional stability.

I think two years is enough for Azerbaijan itself to prove that such
status cannot be granted a country that is far from being a guarantor
of democracy and security, with its government policy aimed at sowing
hatred and intolerance, and has a peculiar idea of the principle of
territorial integrity,” the Armenian MP said.

Armenia will certainly have some diplomatic problems in the
international arena. However, Armenia can neutralize Azerbaijan’s
anti-Armenian policy by implementing an active defensive policy.

As regards relations between the RPA and Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP), Zakaryan pointed out the “artificial nature” of the talks about
a crisis within Armenia’s ruling coalition. “Natural processes imply
disagreements,” he said.

STEFAN FULE: AZERBAIJAN VIOLATES COMMITMENTS IT HAS ASSUMED IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 27, 2011
YEREVAN

The European Union is concerned with the persecution of attorneys in
Azerbaijan. Press office of the European Commission reported that
this statement was made by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and
European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule in response to the letter
of Azerbaijani attorney Elcin Namazov. In his letter to Fule he said
that the rights of attorneys in Azerbaijan are not only being violated
but they are being persecuted.

“With it Azerbaijan violates the commitments it has assumed in front
of the Council of Europe,” Fule said.

CHIEF OF ARMENIA’S POLICE AND HIS HUMAN RIGHTS

Tert.am
27.10.11

Chief of Armenia’s police Alik Sargsyan ordered law-enforcers to
prevent the people from approaching the government building.

They gather in front of the building every Thursday to tell about
their problems.

Talking to journalists following the Armenian government’s sitting
Oct. 26, General Alik Sargsyan noted that he did it to protect those
people. “Their state has nothing in common with justice or sober
judgment,” he said.

“Otherwise, I would have had to take measures. I must not allow people
to be insulted. They are insulting all the government members coming
in and out of the building. This situation must not be allowed to go
on. May be they need help. Relevant work has to be done with them.
They should understand it is not a mere action, but an action going
beyond the norms set for actions and processions,” General Sargsyan
said.

In leaving the government building he used to talk to the protesters
every time, which eased tension.

General Sagsyan assured the journalists that he always tried to help
the protesters even when their problems had nothing to do with police.
However, the incident that followed the government’s latest sitting
had nothing to do with justice.

In response to journalists’ remarks concerning violations of human
rights, General Sargsyan said, “Aren’t we humans too? Who’s going to
defend our rights?”

SOME 3,500 PEOPLE IN NKR LOOKING FOR JOBS

/ARKA/
OCTOBER 27, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 27. / ARKA /. Some 3,540 people in Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) were looking for jobs as of October 1, 2011. Some
3,343 were women, according to a statement on the official website
of NKR ministry of social welfare.

According to it, the number of unemployed over the same period last
year decreased by 126 persons.

Some 94.4% of job seekers were officially registered as unemployed,
but only 453 received unemployment benefits. Also 94.2% of the jobless
people were urban citizens. The largest number of unemployed – 51.2%
– were people aged 30-50.

‘ROCK FOR VAN’ CONCERT IN ISTANBUL TO BE OPENED BY ARMENIAN ARTIST (UPDATED)

epress.am
10.27.2011

Turkey’s prominent rock bands are preparing to stage a concert on Oct.
30, in order to raise funds for victims of the recent earthquakes in
Turkey’s eastern region of Van.

Forty local artists moved to join efforts and agreed to organize a
concert in Istanbul’s KucukCiftlik Park.

Well-known Istanbul-Armenian rock musician Hayko Cepkin (pictured)
will open the “Rock for Van” concert.

Proceeds from the sale of concert tickets, food and beverages will
be donated to the Turkish Red Crescent Society to be put toward quake
relief efforts.

Teams will also collect aid materials at the concert area.

Participants will be free to bring all materials they want to send
to Van, and all donations will be sorted out and packed by teams from
Å~^iÅ~_li Municipality.

Musicians to appear at the concert include: 4O4, Aslı, Aylin
Aslım, Aydilge, AyÅ~_e Saran-Murder King, Barlas, Can Bonomo, Cem
Köksal, CilekeÅ~_, Demirhan Baylan, Demir Demirkan, Dilemma, Duman,
Direc-t, Emre Aydın, Ete Kurttekin, Feridun Duzagac, Foma, Gece,
Gece Yolcuları, Gripin, Haluk Levent, Kurban, Mabel Matiz, Malt,
Marsis, Melis DaniÅ~_mend, Model, Mogollar, Mor ve Otesi, Multitap,
Ogun Sanlısoy, Ozge FıÅ~_kın, Ozturk, Pamela, Redd, Å~^ebnem Ferah,
TNK and Yuksek Sadakat.

RICHARD KIRAKOSIAN: ARMENIA DID ITS BEST IN NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 27, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenia has done the utmost in respect of the regulation of
Armenian-Turkish relations, director of the Regional Studies Center
Richard Kirakosian told a news conference today, pointing out that
the international community is waiting today for the steps of Turkey.

He said a serious conference is going to take place over the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue in Istanbul the goal of which is to find
ways out and give new impetus to the process. The speaker considered
it remarkable that the conference follows the earthquake in Van and
the opening of St. Giragos Church in Tigranakert. Richard Kirakosyan
highly assessed the initiative of Serzh Sargsyan to provide quake
aid to Turkey. “The fact that Turkey refused the aid of all the
countries and accepted only Azerbaijan’s speaks of the fact that the
signals coming from Armenia and Turkey in regard of normalization of
relations differ,” the political analyst said. Richard Kirakosian said
Turkey’s foreign policy is marked with the losses of Syria, Libya,
Iran which makes Turkey weaker as compared with Armenia, which is in
more strong positions both in respect of NK issue and in respect of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

In this context the political analyst rated high the assistance of
Russia and West to Armenia. According to Richard Kirakosian, because
of its wrong calculations in Kazan Azerbaijan failed to justify the
expectations of the Minsk group, which in its turn reinforced more
Armenia’s positions in the NK issue.

“Today Armenia faces only one challenge in this process – use and
maintain this military privilege being not only a responding but the
initiating side as well,” the political analyst said.

HAKHVERDYAN NOT INTENDED TO LEAVE ARMENIA

Aysor.am
Thursday,October 27

Singer Ruben Hakhverdyan at the interview given to “Haykakan Zhamanak”
daily has mentioned that he has no intention to leave Armenia and
has never ever thought about it.

Hakhverdyan has also mentioned that on the meeting with the journalists
while speaking on migration from Armenia he has simply made fun:
“I always like to say something strange,” the singer explained and
added that he does this for the journalists.

CANADA-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP MEETS IN OTTAWA

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 27, 2011 – 10:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Annual General Meeting of the Canada-Armenia
parliamentary friendship group was held on October 25, 2011 in the
East Block of Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada reported.

Honorable Senators, Members of the Parliament, representatives of the
Armenian National Committee of Canada and Ottawa, as well as members
of the Armenian community of Ottawa were present at the event.

The meeting began with greetings and welcoming remarks from
Dr. Harold Albrecht, Conservative MP for Kitchener-Conestoga and
then opened to the floor for nominations for the election of the
new Executive officers. Mr. Harold Albrecht received unanimous
acclaim to be the Chair and provided a few kind words addressing the
importance of strengthening and developing the bilateral relations
between Canada and Armenia. Honorable Jim Karygiannis, Liberal MP for
Scarborough-Agincourt, Mr. Alexandre Boulerice, NDP MP for Rosemont-La
Petite Patrie, and Mr. Joe Daniel, Conservative MP for Don Valey East
were elected as Vice-Chairs.

The meeting concluded with a reception hosted by the ANCC and
presented an opportunity to meet each other, and further build on
well established friendship among the participants.

AZERBAIJANI BILLIONAIRES COULD SIMPLY BUY THE ‘OCCUPIED LANDS’: TV CHANNEL

epress.am
10.27.2011

The English-language Iran state-funded Press TV broadcast a story
on the Azerbaijan receiving a non-permanent seat in the UN Security
Council in which also made mention of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The TV station finds it surprising that despite Azerbaijan’s economic
development, the conflict is still not resolved.

“Many experts and politicians assess the damage to the country as a
result of this conflict in the amount of $70 billion USD. This is a
huge amount of money, but we know that there are many billionaires
with Azerbaijani roots whose names are known in Europe and who have
been included in the Forbes list. If they want, the Azerbaijani
billionaires could buy the occupied lands like at an auction,” it
was said in the television report.