Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIAN STRING CHEESE IS FRESH CHANGE FROM MOZZARELLA

Perishable News.com
Feb 21 2013

by Aimee Blume, Evansville Courier & Press

Armenian string cheese is an exotic change from fresh mozzarella if
you are looking for a mild, milky cheese with stretch.

Like mozzarella, Armenian string cheese is a filata cheese. This means
after the curds are formed, they are drained, then heated, salted and
pulled, doubled and pulled again and again, somewhat like taffy, to
form the elastic texture and fine separable strings we associate with
string cheeses. Then they are doubled up in pretty knots and stored in
brine or packaged in Cryovac. The cheese is sold fresh, with no aging.

According to Cheese.com, in Armenia it can be made with sheep, goat or
cows’ milk. Locally available cheeses are made with whole cows’ milk.

Pretty little black nigella seeds sprinkled throughout the cheese
supply texture and a sharp, oregano-like flavor

HANDS AWAY FROM THE JOURNALISTS

Wed, 02/20/2013 – 19:32

Announcement

The February 18 presidential elections were accompanied by violence
against journalists and the incidents of hindrance of carrying out
professional duties. So, in the 17/05 election poll of Artashat a
group of young people implemented violence against the journalist of
“Journalists for human rights” NGO Artak Hambardzumyan; several people
held his hands and not allowing to film, took him aside, while the
others did the stuffing. Later around 19:00 the people standing next
to the election headquarter of Serzh Sargsyan first prevented the
journalists of “1in.am” Marine Kharatyan and “Hraparak” daily Gayane
Saribekyan from entering the election headquarter and later forcibly
took their audio and video equipment and cursing made them leave.

Other cases of threat and hindrance were registered.

Those facts once more confirm that, as a rule, in the tense political
situation the cases of violence and harassment intensify in Armenia.

The authorities, particularly the law enforcement bodies, usually don’t
give much importance to such incidents and instead of identifying
the punishing the perpetrators bring strange “justifications” for
the dismissing of the case. The impunity creates new crimes.

We, the undersigned, express our indignation to violence against
journalists covering elections and urge the authorities to take
immediate measures to investigate these incidents thoroughly and
objectively, and prosecute the perpetrators.

COMMITTEE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROTECTION YEREVAN PRESS CLUB FREEDOM
OF PRESS “INTERNEWS” NGO “ASPAREZ” CLUB OF JOURNALISTS DIVERSE MEDIA
INSTITUTE ARMENIA “JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS” NGO GORIS PRESS
CLUB “JOURNALISTS FOR FUTURE” NGO “ECOLUR” NGO ARMENIAN HELSINKI
COMMITTEE “RULE OF LAW” NGO VANADZOR OFFICE OF HELSINKI CIVIL ASSEMBLY
“GUARANTEE” CIVIL SOCIETY CENTER “PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION
NEEDS” NGO “AGAT” NGO

Author: Factinfo

FAHREDINA ABOSZODA: ILHAM ALIYEV WAS BORN A WEAK CHILD

17:22 20/02/2013 ” SOCIETY

“In Azerbaijan, only few know that Ilham [Aliyev] was born as a child
with physical weaknesses, and it took a long time to treat him and
to put him on his feet. His whole life he spent without a hitch. At
school he was not special in anything. It remains a mystery for many
people whether he went to school at all,” the article published on
the website of IA “REX” by Fahreddin Aboszoda says.

In 1993 Heydar Aliyev became President of Azerbaijan and appointed
his son, Ilham Aliyev, the Vice-President of the State Oil Company of
the Republic. Before his death, Heydar Aliyev in some miraculous way
managed to nominate Ilham Aliyev as the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan,
which allowed him to become acting President after his father’s death.

Thus, in October 2003 he became president of Azerbaijan.

During the first years of his presidency, Aliyev tried to present
himself in a best way, and positioned himself as a liberal-reformer.

He promised the people to carry out radical reforms in the economy
and the social spheres and to modernize the system of government in
the country. But as it was expected, his promises remained only on
paper, the article says.

Instead, according to Baku analyst Zafar Guliyev, during the presidency
of Ilham Aliyev pseudo-democratic regime in Azerbaijan was transformed
into authoritarian police regime, togather with the executive power and
by fully eaten up legislative and judicial authorities, with mobilized
and shadowed economy gravitating to the primitive personality cult
and to the totalitarian Soviet practice.

“Not the power of law are characteristic to such a regime but the
law of power, not the dictatorship of the law, but the law of the
dictatorship, not the interests of the person but the personal
interests,” analyst says.

The author notes that within 10 years of ruling of Ilham Aliyev,
the clan, founded by Heydar Aliyev’s efforts, was split into warring
factions, which no longer obeyed Ilham Aliyev as soon as they replenish
their wealth. One of the strongest clans of that time was “Pashayevs’
” which consisted of relatives of Ilham Aliyev’s wife – Mehriban
Aliyeva. Using Ilham’s weakness, these groups clearly divided the
country into areas of influences, which includes a number of regions,
the heads of which are close relatives or particularly close fellows
of the owner of this group,” the article says.

“During two presidential terms Ilham Aliyev almost didn’t keep any
of his promises given to people. Country was in corruption up to ears.

The main corruptionist, according to a number of influential
organizations, became the president himself,” the article says.

The author notes that the world knows quite well in what condition the
economy and the social sphere in Azerbaijan are. “All this could not
last forever. The stormy protests in various parts of the country,
by which the beginning of 2013 became so remarkable, are the bright
confirmation of it. Now Aliyev is in panic. He tries to carry out
some cosmetic measures to save his government somehow. Recently,
he released the leaders of some regions,” the author writes.

Aboszoda notes that, by the recognition of most analysts of Baku,
Aliyev is not going to change the system itself, and actually it is
too late to do that; people are not going to bear this government
anymore as the latter is completely exhausted.

Touching upon the results in Ilham Aliyev’s foreign policy the author
notes that unlike his father, President Aliyev has done everything
possible to spoil relations with everyone during the recent years.

Aliyev carries out an openly hostile policy towards its neighbors
Russia and Iran. By the overthrow of Saakashvili’s party in Georgia
Aliyev lost his last ally in the region. Turkey is displeased by
Aliyev’s support shown towards the Kurdish rebels and the disgraced
Turkish generals.

The author notes that petrodollars allowed Ilham Aliyev’s team to
bribe many politicians and journalists in the West, who upheld his
policy. But this came to its end too. Numerous publications in the
Western media over the last years, statements of many politicians,
in which Ilham Aliyev is accused in all spheres, clearly show that
the West is not going to continue to tolerate Aliyev’s authoritarian
regime. “National uprisings that started earlier this year in
Azerbaijan, in some sense, meant “the social end” of Ilham Aliyev’s
power,” Fahredina Aboszoda sums up.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMAN MELIKYAN INTENDS TO APPEAL TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OVER VOTER FRAUD

arminfo
Wednesday, February 20, 14:08

Ex-foreign minister of NKR, candidate for president of Armenia Arman
Melikyan will appeal to the Constitutional Court of Armenia over voter
fraud in the course of the February 18 presidential election. The
candidate told media on February 20 he expects little from that
process.

“The key election rigger is the Central Electoral Commission of
Armenia. I personally followed the vote calculation process broadcasted
by Shant TV where my vote percentage was higher than by data of the
CEC. The same happened to the votes of other candidates,” Melikyan
said. As regards the rally by candidate Raffi Hovannisian, Melikyan
said that he would not join him, because Hovannisian also participated
in that “comedy”. Melikyan is sure that the first president of
Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan has also legitimized the fake election
by participating in it, though he pained a cucumber on his ballot.

To note, by preliminary results of the election, the incumbent
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan obtained 58.64% (861,160 votes),
the leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian – 36.75% (539,672),
Hrant Bagratyan – 2.15%, Paruyr Hayrikyan – 1.23%, Andreas Ghukasyan
– 0.57%, Vardan Sedrakyan – 0.42%, Arman Melikyan – 0.24%. The CIS
and European observers gave generally positive assessment of the
presidential election, calling it democratic and legitimate despite
some insignificant violations.

DASHNAKSTUTYUN: COORDINATED BREACHES DURING THE COUNT OF VOTES WERE USED ADDITIONALLY TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE AUTHORITIES

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 20, 14:05

The Supreme Body of the ARF has published its statement in regard to
the presidential elections.

According to the ARF, the February 18 election proved that justice and
aspiration for freedom cannot be killed in people. The election showed
that a great part of the society does not recognize the ruling system.

Coordinated breaches during the count of votes were used additionally
to the administrative and financial resources of the authorities. The
outcome of voting showed it was predetermined.

The post-electoral situation, according to the ARF Supreme Body,
implies huge responsibility and hard decisions on the authorities and
the main opponent, oppositional forces and the active part of the
society. People’s will cannot be violated. The ARF is with people,
the statement reads. The ARF states that a political agenda is needed
to lead the country along the path of stable development guaranteeing
secure and dignified future for the citizens.

To recall, ARFD did not participate in the election as a sign of
protest. It urged its supporters to vote honestly.

To note, by preliminary results of the election, the incumbent
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan obtained 58.64% (861,160 votes),
the leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian – 36.75% (539,672),
Hrant Bagratyan – 2.15%, Paruyr Hayrikyan – 1.23%, Andreas Ghukasyan
– 0.57%, Vardan Sedrakyan – 0.42%, Arman Melikyan – 0.24%. The CIS
and European observers gave generally positive assessment of the
presidential election, calling it democratic and legitimate despite
some insignificant violations.

“CARREFOUR WILL OPEN IN ARMENIA”

14:45 20/02/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The head of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan said today
that the tax service is checking Alex Grig Company. According to Gagik
Khachatryan, a group of 160 experts is working in Alex Grig.

Dwelling on the opening of Carrefour in Armenia and the rumors that
Alex Grig’s owner Samvel Alexanyan tries to hinder it, Khachatryan
said that as far as he knows, Carrefour’s issue is discussed by the
relevant bodies.

“I think Carrefour will open in Armenia. The government is positive.

You know there is the prime minister’s statement in this regard,” he
said.

In answer to the question whether Carrefour may encounter tax and
customs problems in Armenia, Gagik Khachatryan says that they have no
customs limitations in any field. If someone says the customs service
has created obstacles for them, I’m ready to discuss it in public. If
there are other issues in other field, they are not related to the
customs service, said Gagik Khachatryan.

DASHNAKS: WE SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF FINDING JOINT SOLUTIONS

02:35 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

The citizens of Armenia proved on February 18 that their patience
has limits, that they deserve a better life and authorities and
it is impossible to kill the aspiration for justice and freedom in
people, the Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun) said in a statement released earlier today.

“The outburst of the people was the response to the current state
of affairs in the country, to the political, economic and moral
atmosphere. It was the response to the authorities’ complacent behavior
that they enjoy the support of the absolute majority of the society. It
became apparent that the majority of the Armenians do not accept the
ruling regime.

This time, the coordinated violations during the vote counting
were added to the resources applied by authorities in the May 2012
parliamentary election. The tabulation of election results came
to prove our conviction that elections are predetermined and the
assessment of international observers is predictable.

The post-election situation in the country with all its possible
developments imposes great responsibility and necessity for important
decisions on the part of the acting authorities, the main contender
of the re-elected president, opposition forces and active part of
the society.

Dashnaktsutyun stands by people and supports the idea of finding joint
solutions. We must realize the seriousness of the moment, and search
for ways out of the situation. This is difficult but unavoidable
work that we must do together: we must make ourselves worthy of the
respect of our people. Only in this way and with a clearly defined
political agenda we can be able to ensure the country’s sustainable
development and ensure safe and dignified future for our citizens,
the party said in the statement.

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN DEMANDS RECOUNT OF VOTES IN A NUMBER OF PRECINCTS

14:07 20.02.2013

In compliance with Article 48 of the Armenian Electoral Code,
presidential candidate Raffi Hovhannisyan has applied to a number of
precinct electoral commissions with a request to annul the results
of election in tens of polling stations.

Hovhannisyan’s campaign headquarters released a statement today,
saying that they demand recount of votes in a number of precincts in
the presence of proxies, journalists and observers.

SOAR SEEKS SPONSORSHIP FOR SIRANOUSH MINASSIAN

SOAR’s Sponsorship Program is the primary mechanism through which we
provide support to specific children. We are seeking sponsorship funds
($600/year) that will be used entirely and exclusively for Siranoush,
who resides at the Our Lady of Armenia Center in Gyumri.

Name: Siranoush Minassian

Facility: Our Lady of Armenia (OLA) Center

Gender: Female

DOB: July 17, 2001

Father’s name/Occupation: Minas/deceased

Mother’s name/Occupation: Anna/unemployed

Sibling(s): Three (3) older brothers

Family history: Siranoush was brought to OLA in August 2006.

After her father’s death in 2002, her mother placed her 3 older
brothers in a state orphanage and kept Siranoush for a few years.

Siranoush’s mother was a victim of trafficking. She is unemployed
and has been unable to provide for Siranoush’s needs.

Health history and current medical conditions: While Siranoush is
physically healthy, she receives psychiatric counseling to overcome
separation from her family. Despite the passage of more than six
years since arriving at OLA, the counseling is still needed.

Sponsorship funds will be used for this medical treatment.

If you would like to sponsor Siranoush ($50/mo. payment
plan available), please contact George S. Yacoubian, Jr., at
[email protected] or enroll and select Siranoush through the
Sponsorship Program.

Thank you in advance for your support!

The Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian relief to
orphaned Armenian children and adults. Working with a loyal donor
base and a trusted network of partners, SOAR distributes clothing,
educational supplies, medicine, and other essential resources to
orphaned Armenians throughout the world.

SOCIETY FOR ORPHANED ARMENIAN RELIEF (SOAR) 1060 First Avenue, Suite
400, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office: 610.213.3452 Fax: 610.229.5168
Email: [email protected] Web:

DECISION 2013: RAFFI HOVANNISIAN’S PHENOMENON AND FACTOR IN POST-ELECTION ARMENIA

VOTE 2013 | 20.02.13 | 10:56

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

The February 18 presidential election in Armenia has proved to
be unexpected not only for the “modest” level of Sargsyan’s score
(about 59 percent) considering predictions of his landslide by a wide
margin, but also by the number of votes polled by his main opposition
challenger, Raffi Hovannisian (about 37 percent).

Many political analysts and experts say it is unprecedented given
the uphill battle the opposition candidate has had to wage against
electoral fraud as well as ‘administrative resource’ and power wielded
by the authorities.

Allegations about the government plan to give Hovannisian an “honorable
second place” were in the media long before the election.

Even after the publication of the early results of the vote, another
opposition candidate Hrant Bagratyan hinted at the fact that in the
beginning the government may have even encouraged some people to vote
for Hovannisian, but at one point had to interrupt his “winning march”,
sensing danger to its candidate’s reelection.

The government indeed needed a decent “number two”, and it is not a
coincidence that on Tuesday, referring to the 37 percent of the vote
polled by Hovannisian, chief of presidential staff Vigen Sargsyan
dismissed accusations from some international observers that the
elections were not genuinely competitive. However, the authorities
apparently did not expect so many people to go to the polls to cast
their ballots for Hovannisian.

More than 500,000 votes in Armenia, where, according to official
figures, there are about 2.5 million voters, but according to
unofficial counts the number of eligible voters barely reaches 1.8
million, and with a 60-percent turnout should have brought Hovannisian
a convincing victory. In fact, Hovannisian declared himself to be the
rightful winner and president-elect, indicating that he was ready to
fight to the end.

The phenomenon of Raffi stands out during the current political season
in Armenia. The man whose election campaign was covered mostly in an
ironic light – and President Sargsyan assessed it as a “campaign of
handshakes” – suddenly proved to skeptics that not only the so-called
protest mass in Armenia was ready for fair elections. Spin doctors
will still have to properly evaluate this phenomenon, but it seems
patently clear even now that a lot of the supporters of the opposition
Armenian National Congress, Dashnaktsutyun and the “alternative”
Prosperous Armenia Party, the three major political forces that did
not take part in the election, also gave their votes to Hovannisian,
as did a considerable part of the civil society.

The most obvious outcome of the ballot is that from now onward all
will at least have to reckon with this fact. And despite the fact that
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already congratulated Sargsyan
on his reelection as president, post-election events are still likely
to unfold in Armenia. Hundreds of people had turned out for a press
conference that Hovannisian called in Liberty Square on Tuesday.

Addressing media and them he suggested that Sargsyan should concede
to “the people’s victory” and start transferring power to the people
or face “adequate steps”. Thousands are also likely to turn out for
another such gathering in Liberty Square that Hovannisian called for
today, February 20.

It is yet difficult to say what the phenomenon of Raffi will end in.

It is quite possible that more rallies will be held, or that
Hovannisian will be offered a high position in the Sargsyan
government. Consolidation around him of other opposition forces
is also possible. But one thing is clear now – the Raffi factor is
strongly present in post-election Armenia and is likely to last.