Author: nina hovnanian

US FIRMLY COMMITTED TO WORK TOWARDS PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH ISSUE

13:07 22.02.2013

The US remains firmly committed to working with the sides towards
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

“Let me simply say that the tragic loss of life in the war between
Armenia and Azerbaijan reminds us that there cannot be a military
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” State Department
Spokesperson Victoria Nuland told a daily briefing.

“Only a lasting and peaceful settlement can bring about stability,
prosperity, and reconciliation in the region. As co-chairs of the
Minsk Group, we remain firmly committed to working with the sides
towards that,” she said.

Asked whether she has any new information about the fairness and
transparency of the Armenian presidential elections, Ms. Nuland said:
“No. I spoke about that here on Monday, both what went well and what
still needs to be done in terms of the situation in Armenia. And
as a general matter, we in line with what OSCE ODIHR had to say,
we commended the people of Armenia on successful elections that were
well administered, generally.”

“But there are, as there are in many countries, additional things
that can be worked on going forward. But I don’t have any update on
the long statement that we issued yesterday,” she added.

“QUALITY OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA WAS WELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS” – NEWSPAPER

NEWS.AM
February 22, 2013 | 08:24

YEREVAN. – “I think it’s fair to say that the quality of the
presidential elections in Armenia was well below expectations,”
Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt, wrote this in his
Twitter page, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports.

“The MFA of Armenia did not leave this [comment] without a response.

Speaking about EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs [and Security
Policy and Vice President of the European Commission] Catherine
Ashton’s and [European] Commissioner for Enlargement [and European
Neighbourhood Policy] Å tefan Fule’s assessments on these elections
[as they have particularly ‘welcomed further progress made by the
Armenian authorities in their efforts to hold these presidential
elections in line with international standards’], Bildt concluded
that the EU expected more from Armenia.

‘I was disappointed when I read the observers’ reports. I believe
the Armenian government should consider very carefully what was said
by a variety of observation missions; these concerns should not be
ignored because the EU truly attaches great importance to democratic
standards,’ Bildt responded [to Ashton’s and Fule’s evaluations].

‘Carl Bildt seems to be lacking good advisors on Armenia, and
therefore the quality of information he possesses is disappointing,’
the Armenian MFA responded [to Bildt in its Facebook page],” Haykakan
Zhamanak writes.

HRAPARAK: GAGIK TSARUKYAN HAS NOT CONGRATULATED SERZH SARGSYAN

09:36 22/02/2013 » DAILY PRESS

Hraparak daily asked Gagik Tsarukyan~Rs spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan if
Tsarukyan was going to congratulate Serzh Sargsyan on his reelection.

Gagik Tsarukyan is currently abroad, she said. ~STherefore, I am not
aware whether or not he is going to congratulate Serzh Sargsyan.~T

The paper found out later that Tsarukyan was in France.

Source: Panorama.am

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

11:50 22/02/2013 ” COMMENTS

Honorable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for
Scarborough-Agincourt, issued a statement on the 25th anniversary of
the Freedom Movement in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), karygiannismp.com
reported.

The statement, published on the official website of the
parliamentarian, says that February 20, 2013, marks the 25th
anniversary of the birth of the movement that led to the liberation
of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

On that day in 1988, the legislature of Nagorno-Karabakh appealed to
the administrations of the Armenian and Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist
Republics for a peaceful transfer of Nagorno- Karabakh from Soviet
Azerbaijan’s administrative rule to that of Armenia. A week later,
a wave of anti-Armenian pogroms took place in Sumgayit, the second
largest Azeri town. Dozens of people were tortured and murdered just
for being Armenian. Such atrocities also occurred in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“As the Soviet Union collapsed, the newly-independent Azerbaijan
launched a full-scale war against Nagorno-Karabakh. In May 1994,
following the bloody conflict, Azerbaijan signed a cease-fire agreement
with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,” says Karygiannis.

He emphasizes that today the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is a de facto
independent, democratic and fully functioning state, with a thriving
market economy and a dynamic civil society, which is working toward
entrenching its freedom and the formal recognition of its independence.

“In July 2012, I led a team of Canadian Election Observers for the
Presidential Election in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was
a picture of perfect election from start to finish and witnessing
the election process in a new democracy was a positive learning
experience,” notes Karygiannis.

Source: Panorama.am

ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

12:31, February 22, 2013

On February 18, 2013, Armenia held Presidential elections. The next
day, the Central Election Commission announced the primary results,
which do not reflect the voters’ will. According to the CEC, Raffi
Hovannisian received 37% of the votes, to Serzh Sargsyan’s 58%. Even
according to CEC numbers, Serzh Sargsyan lost in most of urban polling
stations. His overall win seems to have been secured by some rural
areas that registered more than 90% voter turnout, of which 90%
of the votes were in favor of Serzh Sargsyan.

While there are dozens of examples, here are two illustrative ones. In
Abovyan, Serzh Sargsyan lost the vote in 21 precincts out of total
25, but recieved 1101 votes from just one polling station (while his
average for the other 24 polling stations is 231 votes) which seem
to have compensated for the loss from the other polling stations. In
Etchmiadzin, Serzh Sargsyan lost in 19 out of 22 polling stations,
but received more than 96% of the votes in neighboring Aygek village –
26 to 758 to his favor. It is inexplicable how a candidate registering
similar results in 90% of polling stations, suddenly receives several
times more in the remaining 10%.

These and similar results were achieved in no other means but
falsification of the voting lists and ballots in 10-20% of the polling
stations. This can be proved by disclosing the lists with voters’
signatures and ballots, something that could significantly impact the
election results and which would be sufficient grounds to invalidate
the election results. Appropriate legal steps are being taken to
that end.

While deeply regretting the mentioned 10-20% of polling stations where
the Heritage representatives underwent pressures and sometimes failed
to resist, we nonetheless honor and thank the vast majority of our
Precinct Electoral Commission members in more than 1900 precincts
as well as the 800 proxies for the work they did. Many of them who
came to Hovannisian’s campaign headquarters through the the election
night or called to tell just one word, ‘We won,’ did their work. It
is because of their work that despite all the fraud and threats,
Raffi Hovannisian’s victory was registered in many cities.

We thank the Armenian voters who rejected the calls for boycott and
overcame apathy, and displayed a true spirit of political activism
by refusing the incumbent regime, and electing Raffi Hovannisian as
the next President of Armenia. Raffi Hovannisian received more votes
than any other oppositional candidate in the last fifteen years. This
mandate puts the onus of unification onto the rest of the political
opposition to help secure the people’s choice.

Heritage Party Press Service

U.S. JUDGE DENIES NEW TRIAL IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM DISPUTE

11:04, February 22, 2013

Museum trustees ordered to pay Cafesjian $1.4 million in fees and costs

More than a decade after efforts began to build a museum memorializing
the mass slaughter of Armenians during World War I, litigation over
the failure of those efforts has consumed everyone involved.

Yesterday, a Washington federal judge denied a motion for a new trial
in the dispute and ordered the plaintiffs to pay the defendants $1.4
million in fees and costs.

Minnesota philanthropist and businessman Gerard Cafesjian tangled for
years with museum trustees over who was to blame for the project’s
failure and what should happen to buildings Cafesjian donated to
house the museum. Following a bench trial, U.S. District Judge Colleen
Kollar-Kotelly found that the buildings should return to Cafesjian.

Yesterday, she denied the trustees’ motion for another trial.

Over the trustees’ objections, she also ordered them to pay Cafesjian
$1.4 million in fees and costs, a figure based on recommendations
from U.S. District Magistrate Judge Alan Kay. Cafesjian’s legal team
was led by Jones Day attorneys.

Cafesjian’s lead attorney, John Williams of Cozen O’Connor – who until
recently was with Jones Day – said today that the rulings moved his
client one step closer to making the museum a reality. “It’s been a
struggle, but we’re getting closer and closer to having clean title
in order to go ahead,” he said.

Lead counsel for the museum trustees, Eric Abraham of Hill Wallack
in Princeton, N.J., could not immediately be reached for comment today.

The trustees moved for a new trial after learning new information
about one of Cafesjian’s co-defendants, John Waters Jr. They claimed
that according to a lawsuit that Waters filed against Cafesjian in
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cafesjian had agreed
to pay Waters $400,000 to $800,000 for any work he did to help secure
a positive outcome in the D.C. litigation. Waters didn’t disclose that
information in the Washington proceedings, and the trustees argued
that it undermined his credibility in a way that warranted a new trial.

But Kollar-Kotelly disagreed, writing that there was no concrete
evidence that Waters’ allegations were true – his Minnesota lawsuit
was still in the early stages – and, even if they were, she said any
revelations wouldn’t have changed the outcome. The judge wrote that
from the beginning, she knew that almost everyone involved in the
litigation, including Waters, was biased because they had a financial
stake or their reputation was on the line.

“If true, the fact that Cafesjian promised Waters $400,000 to $800,000
in the event Cafesjian was successful in the litigation is consistent
with the bias the Court (and the parties) knew Waters possessed when
he took the stand,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote.

The plaintiffs appealed Kollar-Kotelly’s initial decision entering
judgment for Cafesjian, but that appeal was put on hold while she
weighed the motion for a new trial. Yesterday’s decision likely means
that the appeal is active again.

On the issue of fees, Kollar-Kotelley rejected the trustees’ argument
that they shouldn’t have to reimburse Cafesjian and Waters, as former
museum board members, for fees incurred through the litigation. The
judge had previously found that Cafesjian and Waters didn’t breach
their fiduciary duties to the museum, meaning they were covered by
museum by-laws requiring indemnification for legal costs.

Kay sifted through the defendants’ request for $2.8 million in
legal fees and costs – less than the nearly $4 million they claimed
their attorneys logged on the case – and issued a report last April
recommending they receive $1.4 million.

In yesterday’s opinion, Kollar-Kotelly found that Kay came up with a
reasonable formula for calculating fees that took into account any
possible excessive billing. Under Kay’s guidelines, the plaintiffs
were on the hook for half of attorneys’ “blended” billing entries,
meaning general entries for work done as part of litigation, such as
writing briefs or participating in the trial.

The Blog of Legal Times; February 21, 2013

Posted by Zoe Tillman

KARABAKH DEFENSE MINISTRY HOLDS MILITARY COUNCIL MEETING, DISCUSSES STAFF IMPROVEMENT ISSUES

TERT.AM
12:10 ~U 22.02.13

The Defense Ministry leadership of Nagorno Karabakh conducted a
military council meeting on February 21 dedicated to the discussion
of staff policy issue.

Karabakh’s defense ministry’s press service says the council was
chaired by Defense Minister, Defense Army Commander Movses Hakobyan.

Before passing to the agenda issues, the Commander referred to the
current military-political developments in the region.

First deputy of Commander Armen Ghahramanyan presented a report
where he thoroughly referred to the staff issues, their training and
processes addressed to the improvement of the military staff.

He said a progress has been registered in the selection of officer
staff, in their training and distribution, improvement of their
professional qualities, etc.

Heads of divisions came up with reports relating to the staff issues,
conducted work.

Summing up the sitting Defense Minister rated high the necessity
of implementation of right staff policy for the increase of
the battle-worthiness of the army and drew the attention of the
participants to the processes addressed to right selection of commander
staff, development of their professional qualities.

THE BURBANK CHANNEL DOMINATES GOLDEN MIKE AWARDS, WITH FIVE VICTORIES: MUSURLIAN WINS FOUR; LUTZ WINS ONE

FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Peter Musurlian and June Petra Musurlian display one of two Golden
Mikes won for their Holocaust documentary, “Man’s Inhumanity to Man.”

Universal City, CA – Lead by Peter Musurlian’s four victories for
reporting, shooting and editing, The Burbank Channel topped all other
Division “B” competitors – TV stations with fewer than 49 employees –
at the 63rd Annual RTNA Golden Mike Awards Banquet.

Garnering five Golden Mikes, put The Burbank Channel in a tie with
Division “A” powerhouse Los Angeles television stations: KCBS/KCAL
and KNBC.

The always-eagerly-anticipated event, organized by the Radio &
Television News Association of Southern California, was held at the
Hilton Universal City/Los Angeles on January 19, 2013, and attended
by television and radio reporters from all over Southern California.

Musurlian won for Best Sports Reporting and Best Videography for “The
Burroughs High Mountain Biking Team.” Lutz, who also won a Golden
Mike for the story, won for Best Editing of a Feature Story.

Musurlian, a six-time Los Angeles Area Emmy nominee, also won Golden
Mikes for Best Videography and Best Editing of a Hard News Special,
for: “Man’s Inhumanity to Man,” a 16-minute Holocaust documentary,
produced for young audience and presented by seven-year-old reporter &
interviewer, June Petra Musurlian.

Below are highlights from the event and the winning entries:

Highlights of Musurlian and Lutz winning their awards:
watch?v=wZXTLKpa3nw

The Burroughs High Mountain Biking Team: watch?v=iSHb_-t8VJo

Man’s Inhumanity to Man: watch?v=zVhC-71xdck

RUSSIAN MILITARY’S FIELD TRAINING OF ARTILLERY UNITS IN ARMENIA COMPLETED

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 21 2013

The first of the 2013 field training exercises of the Russian
military artillery units in Armenia covering over 400 military men
has been completed at the Highland Training Centre Kahmud, Armenia
Today reported.

As the press service of the Southern Military District stated, 100
units of weapons, military and special equipment were involved. As part
of the field training, the military carried out tasks on conditional
defeat of single and group targets from Gvozdika self-propelled
howitzers, Grad multiple launch rocket systems, mortars and Konkurs
anti-tank guided missiles.

Artillery units completed the tasks on fire damage of imaginary enemy
equipment and actively applying tactics of attack seeking cover in
mountainous terrains.

A number of activities were carried out to improve the survivability
of artillery units in the ‘conventional’ fight and developing skills
in work with standard weapons, military and special equipment.

AZERBAIJANI MP: ARMENIA NOT TO GIVE UP TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AGAINST TURKEY

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 21 2013

Even if Turkey pays more attention to Armenia, the latter will
not give up its territorial claims and the issue of the so-called
“genocide.” This was told Trend by MP Fazail Aghamali, commenting
on congratulations from Turkish President to Serzh Sargsyan at the
occasion of his re-election.

According to Aghamali, Armenia is a terrorist state that does not
recognize Turkey and has constant territorial claims against the
country.

“So, I think Turkey should respond adequately. This step will not
gain Turkey positive assessment by the global community. Turkey can
be sure of it,” Aghamali said.

According to him, congratulating Serzh Sargsyan was a very hasty step.

“First, the facts show that presidential elections in Armenia were
rigged, at the same time, the candidates staged attacks against
each other. I do not understand the rationale behind such a hasty
congratulation to the head of a terrorist state; my attitude towards
this issue is negative,” Aghamali said.

According to him, this move will not damage relations between Turkey
and Azerbaijan.

“I would not want the Armenian factor to negatively impact relations
between Turkey and Azerbaijan, as we have already experienced
turbulence during the signing of the Zurich protocols. However, those
talks yielded no results because Armenia’s intentions are different,
and it has not given up its territorial claims against Turkey. Thus,
I would not want any tensions in our relations with Turkey. Such issues
are not in the national interest of either Azerbaijan, or Turkey “,
Aghamali said.