Author: nina hovnanian

NAIRIT CASE MATERIALS SENT TO POLICE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION

15:15, March 27, 2013

Recently, Hetq wrote to the Prosecutor General’s Office as to whether
or not our series of investigative articles regarding financial
shenanigans at Nairit had lead to any criminal charges or even a
criminal investigation.

We received a reply saying that materials derived from an internal
audit conducted by the Ministry of Finance regarding the credit
obligations of Nairit Plant had been forwarded to the RA Police
Department’s Organized Crime Division.

Armen Malkhasyan, a staffer at the Organized Crime Division’s Public
Affairs Unit, told Hetq that the materials had just been received
today.

THE ONLY WAY OUT

March 26 2013

So something like a dialogue is starting between the government and
the opposition. Generally, it is a positive thing. Let me remind that
I was for the dialogue between the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
and the coalition in 2011 too; never mind that it didn~Rt yield any
results. I would have been all for a dialogue between the ANC and
the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) in 2012 too, if its agenda had
been clear. But since the agenda, even generally, was not revealed,
it aroused suspicions. I for one had a suspicion that as a result of
this dialogue (or cooperation), Robert Kocharyan would come to power
again, but the most disgusting scenario for me has not taken place
at least yet. What I am saying is that one shouldn~Rt go to extremes,
while keeping the dialogue in secret. Perhaps exchanging open letters,
as the current dialoguers do, is not appropriate; in that case PR
elements are unavoidable from both sides. However, one shouldn~Rt draw
a veil over the negotiations to such an extent that ~Sill-wishers~T
are able to make up anything about it, and ~Swell-wishers~T start to
suspect. The dialogue between Raffi Hovhannisyan and Serzh Sargsyan,
regardless of its formal drawbacks, should be encouraged. Certainly,
one cannot but assert the flaws of the negotiating parties. The
government, the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), and its leader
had promised an unprecedentedly democratic and transparent election,
but on the election day and particularly in the evening, ~Sit turned
out as always.~T Raffi Hovhannisyan had said at the beginning that
there would be no suffering and hunger strike in Freedom Square,
and then he went on a hunger strike. He threatened the president at
the beginning that the latter would swear in over his dead body, and
then he has entered into a political dialogue, not ruling out that
Serzh Sargsyan will keep his office for 5 more years. However, now
one had better not deepen the contradictions, not bash the parties,
but on the contrary, try not to discredit, not to mock the dialogue,
and not to provoke participants to take actions ~Son principle~T in
the negative sense. It is not clear yet what results the negotiations
can yield, instead, one can surely say what will happen, if Serzh
Sargsyan and Raffi Hovhannisyan run after two hares and try to
demonstrate ~Sdecisiveness~T urged by the ~Sfalcons~T surrounding
them. The opposition movement will die out in the same way as the
former movements, there will be greater disappointment in society
than it had been before the election, and there will be no changes in
any field in the short-run. I repeat it will be so, if the parties
take uncompromising stances, because any kind of maximalism ends in
it. It is obvious that such an outcome is not in Rafif Hovhannisyan~Rs
interests. However, it will make Serzh Sargsyan~Rs life as much harder,
because it will make the president completely dependent on ~Sthe guys
who bring votes.~T Therefore, negotiations and compromise as a result
of those is the only effective way out.

ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

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© 1998 – 2013 Aravot ~V News from Armenia

MATTHEW KARANIAN TO SHOWCASE BOTH MODERN AND ANCIENT ARMENIA AT DISTANT LANDS

14:06, 27 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS: Matthew Karanian will showcase both
modern and ancient Armenia at Distant Lands, Pasadena. As reports
Armenpress referring to Los Angeles Times, the presentation about
creating the country’s first commercial travel guide, “Armenia and
Karabakh: The Stone Garden Guide” will be held on March 31. Images
that Karanian and co-author Robert Kurkjian photographed during their
research also will be illustrated.

Matthew Karanian is a native of New Britain, CT. He practiced law for
about a dozen years in Hartford, and he now has his own law firm in
Pasadena, CA. Karanian first traveled to Armenia in 1995, to work at
the American University of Armenia (AUA).

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA NOT TO SIGN UNDER REPUBLICAN PARTY’S STATEMENT

TERT.AM
12:36 ~U 27.03.13

Prosperous Armenia faction is not going to sign under the text sent to
all the political forces but will participate in the extraordinary
sitting convened on the Republican faction’s initiative, Naira
Zohrabyan, secretary of the Prosperous Armenia faction told Tert.am.

“Yesterday we have discussed the variant sent to us from the Republican
party and it is not acceptable for us thus the PAP cannot put its
signature under it. This statement is a declaration of good wishes,
nothing concrete, no practical step is mentioned. Besides, common,
theoretical assessments like for instance the necessity of improvement
of election code, reinforcement of atmosphere of trust there is
nothing else,” she said.

Naira Zohrabyan noted that unlike the RPA, Prosperous Armenia offers
concrete steps like for instance the amendment on passing to 100%
proportion system.

The PAP MP said they are not so naïve to expect that by passing to 100%
proportional system ‘an end will be put to the shameful traditions
of election fraud’ but at least it will be a step of manifestation
of political will and the ruling majority is ready from the bonus of
41 majoritarian seats in the parliament. Zohrabyan said the PAP does
not see such political will in the statement of the Republican party.

Naira Zohrabyan noted that they will participate in the sitting to
present their approaches on how to overcome the crisis concretely
and not on the level of declarative and good wishes.

GORAN GUNNER : ” LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS A TRAVERS DES YEUX SUEDOIS ”

L’Institut Musee du genocide armenien d’Erevan a recemment publie
le livre ” Le genocide des Armeniens a travers des yeux suedois ”
de Goran Gunner.

Le livre se compose d’une introduction et de 9 chapitres. Dans des
chapitres distincts Gunner represente les massacres hamidiens, le
genocide armenien, planifies et mis en ~uvre par le regime des Jeunes
Turcs et les massacres des Armeniens realisees par les kemalistes
en 1919-1922. L’auteur decrit le genocide armenien comme le premier
genocide du 20ème siècle. Le volume est precieux car l’auteur utilise
un certain nombre de rapports de diplomates suedois, des temoignages
et des articles de presse. Dans le chapitre 9 Gunner demontre les
debats parlementaires sur la question de la reconnaissance du genocide
armenien et la position de la societe suedoise sur cette question.

Le volume a ete publie en Suède, en 2012.

Goran Gunner travaille au departement de recherche a l’Eglise de
Suède et est professeur agrege a l’Universite d’Uppsala.

Il a redige un certain nombre de publications sur la liberte de
religion et les droits de l’homme en suède.

mercredi 27 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

EU-ARMENIA RELATIONS: MAJOR HEADWAY OVER ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT MADE, BUT FURTHER WORK NEEDED IN LEGISLATION ENFORCEMENT

ENPI Info Centre
March 25 2013

In 2012, significant progress was registered in negotiations of an
EU-Armenia Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Area, according to a progress report released by the
European Commission as part of the 2013 ENP package, which takes
stock of the progress of EU-Armenia relations.

Armenia has been implementing sound macro-economic policies and
structural reforms, and made further progress over poverty reduction
and social cohesion, the report says. 2012 Parliamentary election
and February 2013 Presidential election was generally transparent and
there was a serious effort to address issues related to human rights
and fundamental freedoms. However, further work needs to be done,
especially in the implementation and enforcement of legislation.

Armenia addressed some of the key recommendations of the last
year’s ENP progress report. Progress is needed also on other key
recommendations. (EU Neighbourhood Info)

“THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE A DIALOGUE; THEY WILL CLEAR UP WHETHER THE REST IS RAW OR MATURE,” BAKHSHYAN SAYS

March 25 2013

“I welcome Serzh Sargsyan’s response letter, because the content
shows Serzh Sargsyan’s readiness to do, to change something, which
will strengthen both Serzh Sargsyan and Raffi Hovhannisyan,” Anahit
Bakhshyan, a Heritage Party member, said, stressing that it was her
subjective opinion, as a concerned citizen, at that moment. According
to Ms. Bakhshyan, “It is obvious that both legislative and
constitutional amendments are needed. Everyone talks about that,
not only oppositionists. Therefore, they must find solutions to
national problems facing the country, sit at the negotiating table,
and cooperate, everyone with his pen, with his paper. By saying ‘with
his pen,’ I mean with his words. Everyone should see its results;
everyone should believe that the document to be jointly signed will
bring changes in everybody’s life.” In response to our question whether
it wasn’t possible that this is just an attempt to lull the movement,
since the past experience of a dialogue between the government and
the opposition had shown that it was just “blabber,” and at the end
of the day, this dialogue would not yield any results either. Anahit
Bakhshyan replied: “Unfortunately, yes, the experience shows that.

However, people are different, the leaders are different. Raffi is
determined and willing. He has shown that by all his steps. Serzh
Sargsyan also understands quite well that this is a good opportunity
to gain a good name through the changes made to his activities in the
next 5 years. I think a man should be concerned about his name. Serzh
Sargsyan does not want to be labeled like his predecessors. A normal,
pious man should have that concern. I think both of them should make
a huge effort.” In response to our observation that Serzh Sargsyan
“runs after two hares,” as the saying goes, how she would comment on
the fact that Serzh Sargsyan said that Raffi Hovhannisyan was far from
having a proper conception of the state and the system of government,
the text was raw, and he offered a dialogue, Ms. Bakhshyan said that
the important thing was readiness. “It doesn’t matter whether the
rest is raw or mature, it will be cleared up at the negotiating table.

However, they should sit at the negotiating table, particularly given
the fact that it is Holy Week, which has an important symbolic meaning
for us, when we approach the mystery of resurrection, it will be no
accident, if God resolves it, and it happens during this week.” When
asked whether Raffi Hovhannisyan would stop his hunger strike or not,
Anahit Bakhshyan said that she didn’t know, but both of them should
use the mystery of the week. Hripsime JEBEJYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

RUBEN HAKOBYAN ON DIALOGUE WITH POWER

13:30 26/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Heritage member Ruben Hakobyan said during today’s press conference in
Freedom Square that one of the main achievements of the movement is
the non-monopolization of the platform and the fact that the civil
sector has the possibility to express its opinion. He noted with
regret that the vocabulary of some ANC figures does not differ from
the Republican lexicon. Hakobyan added that there are devoted people
in the ANC, but some of them are against the movement.

Dwelling on the issue of negotiations with the authorities, Heritage
member said that dialogue is when even worst enemies sit and talk. He
noted that being opposition and making a part of the state management
is accepted in the whole world.

As to the precedent of dialogue between the power and the Armenian
National Congress, Ruben Hakobyan said that the existence of the
precedent does not mean that they should be afraid of trying. In
this context, Hakobyan thinks that if the political force has bars
and immune system, it can go to dialogue keeping its principles and
never lose. The bar, according to him, is in place now.

He underlined that the culture of dialogue has been absent in Armenia
since 1996 which makes the state and the society, as well as the
power suffer. Heritage is trying to introduce this culture.

Asked why Heritage demands only Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation but
not the resignations of the minister of justice, police chief and
prime minister, Ruben Hakobyan said that there are forces, which keep
demanding the resignation of the prime minister but don’t demand the
president’s, but, according to him, prime minister has less powers
than the chief security guard of an oligarch.

Ruben Hakobyan noted that they demand revision of the rigged elections
which means they demand the resignation of all officials which have
any relation to the frauds.

Asked why Heritage does not release the names of people it wants
to appoint to the offices Serzh Sargsyan proposes, Ruben Hakobyan
says that such attempts have been made, but those figures, whose
candidacies were proposed, have been criticized.

NEW PROSPECTS ARE CREATED FOR ARMENIA TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH EU COUNTRIES: ROMANIAN EXPERT

10:55, 26 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS. The organization of fair and transparent
presidential elections in Armenia is a serious step in the country’s
way to European integration. The Chairman and Executive Director of the
Romanian Institute of International Studies Sergiu Celac stated this
during the lecture-discussion held in the French University on March
26. He underscored: “The 2013 presidential elections in Armenia were
much more systemized and transparent in comparison with the previous
years, and the EU has also recorded that.

And this is a significant step in the way to European Integration.”

According to Celac the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone and
Association Agreement are new ways for Armenia and the rest of the
Caucasus countries to strengthen their ties with the EU.

Among other things Sergiu Celac noted that the interests of world’s
superpowers clash in Caucasus countries, which frequently undermines
the independent activity of the countries of this region. There are
a number of similarities between the regions. As reports “Armenpress”
Celac emphasized: “There is a number of similarities between Caucasus
and Balkans. Everybody knows that the both territories have ancient
state traditions, and the similarities in the cultures, lifestyle,
and outlook of the peoples of that regions stem from the aforesaid
traditions.”

LE PRESIDENT SARKISSIAN DENONCE UN CLIMAT POLITIQUE MALSAIN EN ARMENIE

Lors de l’une de ses rares interventions publiques depuis sa victoire
contestee par l’opposition aux elections presidentielles du 18 fevrier,
le president Serge Sarkissian avait choisi de s’exprimer devant des
journalistes tries sur le volet. Et pour cause, puisque il s’en prendra
en termes a peine voiles a certains media lors de sa conference de
presse du 19 fevrier a Erevan pour leur imputer la responsabilite d’un
climat politique deletère et malsain qui encouragerait selon lui la
campagne de l’opposition contestant sa victoire. Le president armenien,
qui a promis accessoirement a l’occasion de cet exercice mediatique
des hausses de salaires, a tenu a faire passer un message en ce sens
aux citoyens de l’Armenie et au-dela de la diaspora armenienne. ”
Le plus grand problème de notre pays, ce ne sont pas les officiels
corrompus. Le plus grand problème de notre pays, ce ne sont pas les
criminels. Le plus grand problème du pays, c’est son climat cynique. Ce
climat cynique doit prendre fin ” a martele le chef de l’Etat, qui
a accuse certains media d’entretenir un tel climat. ” Au moins deux
chaînes de television et des dizaines de journaux, en ligne notamment,
s’emploient a souligner les seuls mauvais aspects du pays, et a tout
noircir “, a poursuivi le president Sarkissian. Ignorant superbement
le mouvement de protestation lance par son adversaire malheureux aux
presidentielles, Raffi Hovannissian, meme s’il donne l’impression
de vouloir nouer le dialogue avec lui, le president armenien prefère
donc montrer du doigt les journalistes qui n’ont pas choisi son camp,
agitant ainsi la menace d’une censure, plutôt que de reconnaître la
realite d’un malaise politique dans le pays. Un malaise qui trouve
son origine dans les maux objectifs dont souffre le pays, et dans
les inegalites criantes qui ne cessent de se creuser entre une
minorite d’oligarques choyes par le pouvoir et la grande majorite
de la population, pauperisee et delaissee. Le president Sarkissian
a ete declare vainqueur du scrutin du 18 fevrier par 58 % des voix,
une majorite qui, meme si elle est sujette a caution aux yeux de
l’opposition, reste courte, si l’on en juge aux scores plus brejneviens
de l’histoire electorale de l’Armenie independante. Pourtant, les
près de 40 % d’electeurs dont la Commission electorale centrale
armenienne admet qu’ils sont accorde leurs voix a R. Hovannissian,
candidat issu de la diaspora, ne semblent pas avoir ete entendus par
le chef de l’Etat, qui s’emploie a n’en voir que les manifestants
qui ont repondu a l’appel de son adversaire politique, certes peu
nombreux, compares a ceux qui avaient conteste sa victoire cinq
ans avant. ” Quand ils disent que le peuple est dans la rue, cela
me parait vraiment etrange. En moyenne, quelque 3000 personnes ont
participe a ces rassemblements organises sur la place de la Liberte de
Erevan… Meme si nous prenons en consideration l’opinion de chacun,
3000 personnes, cela ne represente que 0,1 % de la population ” ,
a fait valoir M. Sarkissian, qui semble donc faire peu de cas du
pourcentage bien plus eleve qui s’est exprime contre sa candidature
dans les urnes. Cette atmosphère ” cynique “, negative qui inspirerait
donc l’opposition, serait aussi la cause de l’emigration massive,
qui a pousse depuis des annees de centaines de milliers d’Armeniens
vers l’etranger, notamment la Russie. Lors de sa conference de presse,
M. Sarkissian a ainsi affirme que tous pouvaient pretendre a une vie
decente en Armenie, pourvu que certains ne s’emploient pas a noircir
le tableau de leur pays. Quant aux oligarques, il a dementi qu’ils
soient nombreux parmi les membres du Parlement, et les a depeints comme
des hommes d’affaires qui avaient bâti leurs fortunes a la sueur de
leurs fronts. Durant sa campagne electorale, pour les legislatives
de 2012, en qualite de leader du Parti republicain au pouvoir (HHK),
comme pour les presidentielles, M.

Sarkissian s’etait engage a limiter l’influence des oligarques dans le
monde politique et a assurer une plus grande etancheite entre milieux
d’affaires et politiques. Pourtant, les oligarques continuent a sièger
en nombres dans le Parlement et sont presents au sein du gouvernement,
beaucoup d’entre eux ayant eu recours a des subterfuges pour eviter
d’avoir a endosser la double casquette d’hommes d’affaires et d’hommes
politiques.

mardi 26 mars 2013, Gari ©armenews.com