Author: nina hovnanian

BORDYUZHA: NO COUNTRY MAY SHOOT DOWN CIVILIAN PLANES

Aysor.am
January 29

” I don’t think that a country may shoot down civilian planes”,
Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
Nikolay Bordyuzha said at the meeting with Secretary of Armenia’s
National Security Council Arthur Baghdasarian today, when commenting
on Azerbaijani leadership’s threats to shoot down civilian planes
flying over the territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

He said he does not take seriously Azerbaijani authorities’ threats
to shoot down planes flying from Stepanakert airport.

TURKISH STUDIES EXPERT SAYS CURRENT ATMOSPHERE IN TURKEY IS MUCH ALIKE THAT IN 1915

14:21 29/01/2013 ” REGION

Anti-Christian atmosphere is developing in Turkey, in parallel with
the improvement of Turkish-Kurdish relations, Turkish studies expert
Artak Shakaryan told a news conference, commenting on the attacks of
Armenian women committed in recent months in Istanbul.

“It is difficult to say who the killer is, but it is a fact that those
killings are instigated by the nationalists,” he said, adding that the
current atmosphere in Turkey is much alike that in 1915.

According to the expert, Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development
Party tries to form an internal front not only against the Armenians
but also against the entire Christian population so as to please the
nationalists and to gain additional political dividends.

Following elderly women, Armenian citizens living illegally in Turkey
are in danger, said the Turkish studies expert.

“They cannot apply to anyone for assistance because they know that
police will either demand bribes or will deport them to Armenia.

Armenian citizens will certainly be the next victims,” said Shakaryan.

Source: Panorama.am

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS STARTED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, January 29. /ARKA/. Negotiations between Armenian and Russian
ministers of defense Seyran Ohanyan and Sergey Shoygu have started
in Yerevan.

Shoygu was met by the guard of honor at the building of Armenian
defense ministry, Novosti-Armenia reported.

The sides are to discuss military and defense technology cooperation
during the negotiations.

Yesterday, Shoygu met with Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan. The
parties stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in
military and defense technology fields.

The Russian defense minister is expected to visit the 102nd military
basis in Giumry today. -0-

CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL DOES NOT TREAT AZERBAIJANI LAW ON SHOOTING DOWN CIVIL PLANES SERIOUSLY

TERT.AM
29.01.13

Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
Nikolay Bordyuzha said at a news conference today in Yerevan that he is
aware of the Azerbaijani law on shooting down civil planes, though does
not treat it seriously and does not think any state will do such thing.

“It is either an incorrect formulation of thoughts or unsuccessful
joke as I view Azerbaijan as a civilized state,” the CSTO Secretary
General said.

Azerbaijan has adopted the law in January 2013. Previously different
Azerbaijani officials were stating that they will not tolerate the
operation of Stepanakert airport, considering it illegal usage of
Azerbaijan’s air territory.

CSTO Secretary General noted that he strictly doubts that Azerbaijani
leadership will intentionally order shooting down the civil planes.

“We know that such thing happened and we remember the tragedy and
international community’s response to it. I do not think that today
any state will do it. I do not treat it seriously,” he stressed.

The new Azerbaijani law establishes 13.5/25 kilometer width border
layer that will be used in special regime. Besides, it singles out
banned and restricted zones in Azerbaijani air territory.

Theoretically, each sector may be considered so if the State Civil
Aerostation makes a corresponding decision.

CELEBRATION DU NOUL ARMENIEN EN EGYPTE

La petite communaute armenienne en Egypte a celebre le 6 janvier Noël.

L’Eglise Apostolique Armenienne rue Ramsès au Caire etait protege par
la police le matin du 6 janvier et la porte exterieure a ete decore
avec des drapeaux egyptiens et armeniens.

A l’interieur, l’eglise etait remplie d’environ 300 armeniens de
tous les âges. Un arbre de Noël et une crèche avait ete placee dans
les jardins de l’eglise, et les familles se sont faits photographier
devant eux.

La messe de Noël, realisee par le Père Gabriel Sarkissian et le père
Hagop Hagopian, accompagne d’un certain nombre d’autres membres
du clerge, a commence a 10h et a dure trois heures. Un message de
l’eveque Ashod Mnatsaganian, primat de l’Eglise apostolique armenienne
en Egypte, a ete transmis au public en langue arabe.

Dans son message, lu par un membre de la communaute George Simonian,
l’eveque Mnatsaganian a declare que ” nous sommes venus aujourd’hui
pour offrir des louanges a Dieu. Par l’incarnation de Jesus-Christ,
la terre a de nouveau ete remplie de l’amour de notre Seigneur,
le Sauveur. Meme si nous avons ete confrontes a des problèmes lors
de la dernière annee, nous sommes confiants que cette annee, nous
allons continuer sur notre chemin grâce a l’aide des benedictions
divines et les efforts des membres de notre communaute “.

Les representants du president Mohamed Morsi, les ministres de
l’Interieur, de l’education et de la securite nationale, et le
Patriarche Tawadros II, chef de l’Eglise copte, ont assiste a la messe.

Etaient egalement presents le gouverneur du Caire Oussama Kamal,
l’ambassadeur d’Armenie en Egypte Armen Melkonian, le chef de la
region d’Al-Waili, et des representants de plusieurs eglises coptes
egyptiens et d’organisations. La messe a ete retransmise en direct
sur les ondes FM de la radio egyptienne.

Il y a aujourd’hui quelque 3000 Armeniens vivant en Egypte.

L’eglise a ete renovee en 2007 par l’architecte armeno-egyptien
Nairy Hampikian.

mardi 29 janvier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

MEXICO : UNE STATUE CONTROVERSEE D’UN EX-PRESIDENT AZERBAIDJANAIS RETIREE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 29 janvier 2013

Une statue controversee de feu l’ex-president azerbaïdjanais Heydar
Aliev (1923-2003), installee sur la principale avenue de Mexico,
le Paseo de la Reforma, a ete enlevee alors que les negociations
continuent pour lui trouver un autre emplacement, a annonce samedi
la municipalite.

La statue en bronze a ete retiree de l’avenue “avec toutes les
precautions techniques necessaires” et les discussions avec l’ambassade
d’Azerbaïdjan a Mexico continuent pour lui trouver un nouvel
“emplacement definitif”, a declare la municipalite dans un communique.

L’installation du monument avait provoque une campagne de
protestations, motivee par les nombreuses violations des droits de
l’Homme reprochees a l’ancien president. Un groupe d’experts forme
en novembre avait recommande a la municipalite de le retirer.

La statue, qui represente Aliev assis, en costume, les jambes croisees
et regardant au loin, avait ete placee bien en vue dans un espace vert
specialement amenage pour l’accueillir sur le Paseo de la Reforma,
près du bois de Chapultepec, où sont rassembles de nombreux monuments
dedies a l’histoire du Mexique et des musees.

Le gouvernement azerbaïdjanais avait finance a hauteur de 5 millions
de dollars (3,75 millions d’euros) la reforestation d’une partie du
bois de Chapultepec, près de l’espace vert baptise “Parc de l’amitie
Mexique-Azerbaïdjan”.

La statue retiree sera “conservee pour les autorites du district
federal de Mexico ou pour l’ambassade d’Azerbaïdjan”, a precise
la municipalite avant d’exprimer son “grand respect au peuple
azerbaïdjanais”.

mardi 29 janvier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

TWO SUBJECTS, THREE MIDDLEMEN

Country – Monday, 28 January 2013, 17:26

Today three presidential candidates Hrant Bagratyan, Paruir Hairikyan
and Raffi Hovannisian made a statement which contains two mutually
exclusive ideas. The first thought is that we have been unable to
establish rule of law, universal democratic values and national
values. They subsequently demand that the authorities publish absent
voters’ lists, update the voters’ list, refrain from the use of
administrative resources. In other words, everything that hinders fair
elections in Armenia. If otherwise done, he abovementioned gentlemen
threaten, “Electoral fraud or breach will be qualified by us as an
anti-constitutional action.” Of course, fraud is an
anti-constitutional act but they do not even hint that the election
itself is unconstitutional. The second idea of the statement is an
urge to the public to run in the election with resolve, without
further clarifying what actions they will take in case the authorities
dismiss their demands. In fact, these gentlemen urge the public to
vote in an election without any guarantee and proof of fair elections,
which they disbelieve, according to their own statement. Strangely,
the wishes of the authorities are in line – manage the risk of empty
polling stations.

SERZH SARGSYAN HIGHLIGHTED PRIORITY ISSUE OF THE EXTERNAL POLICY OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, January 28. (ARMENPRESS). Recognition of Armenian Genocide is
first of all connected with our security. This was stated by Armenia’s
Presidential candidate, RPA chairman Serzh Sargsyan during meeting
with capital Yerevan’s Davitashen district voters on January 25 in
frames of his pre-election campaign.

~SIf Turkey had recognized Armenian Genocide, now there would be
no blockade,~T Armenpress quoted Serzh Sargsyan as saying during
the meeting in Davitashen. RPA candidate assured that denial of the
genocide is the continuation of it.

~SDiplomatic representatives of Armenia have all the instructions
concerning the cooperation with partnering countries and
organizations. Anyways, 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide will
be special, ~SSerzh Sargsyan declared.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, one of priority issues is to show people
the truth of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and advocate position of NKR
in international institutions.

Presidential candidate underlined importance of being united in order
to reach the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

~SWe will never begin military actions; we are not used to it. That
wasn~Rt us that started war in 90s. In case Azerbaijan had a little
confidence in the victory it would have already started military
actions over NKR conflict,~T Serzh Sargsyan noted.

Presidential candidate Sargsyan started his pre-election campaign in
Avan district of Yerevan. He has already met with voters of Vayots
Dzor and Syunik.

SYRIAN ARMY HAS UPPER HAND AGAINST MILITANTS, ASSAD SAYS

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Mon Jan 28, 2013 2:41PM GMT

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says army forces have gained “upper
hand” in the battle with the foreign-backed militants.

“The army has a very large lead on the ground and has achieved
significant gains,” Assad said in an interview with the Lebanese
newspaper Al-Akhbar published on Monday.

He further said the Syrian army could even win the battle against
the militants if Turkey stopped supporting them.

“If the Turkish border was closed to tackle the smuggling of arms
and militants, this matter would be resolved in only two weeks.”

Many people, including a large number of security personnel, have
been killed in the violence that broke out in the Arab country in
March 2011.

Damascus says certain Western states, especially the United States,
and their regional allies are fueling the deadly unrest.

The Syrian president went on to say that the militants’ “playground is
limited to some border areas with Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, and some
pockets in the countryside of the capital, which are being dealt with.”

Assad said that the situation in the capital, Damascus, has improved,
adding, “The externally-funded armed groups received strong blows
recently.”

He also stressed that Damascus will continue to cooperate with the
UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi to solve the
crisis in the country.

In a key speech on January 6, Assad stated that Damascus was always
ready to hold talks with the opposition and political parties and
that he would call for a “comprehensive national dialog” after the
terrorist activities stopped in the country.

The Syrian president also urged “concerned states and parties” to
stop funding, arming and harboring militants.

MHER SHAHGELDYAN: ANC, PAP AND ARF ELECTORATE WILL BE DIVIDED

14:51 28/01/2013 ” POLITICS

“If we try to divide the candidates according to their activeness,
we can single out three groups. In the first group is involved the
RA president, presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan who realizes
a campaign through the whole country; in the second group I would
involve Hrant Bagratyan, Raffi Hoannisian and Paruyr Hayrikyan, each
of them realizes a campaign in their own style and the third group
involves the rest of the candidates,” said today Mher Shahgeldyan,
the secretary of Rule of Law Faction.

He stressed that this campaign is an opportunity to hold normal
elections.

Speaker noticed that their regional institutions have campaign
headquarters by the help of which they implement campaign activities,
“The Rule of Law according to its approaches, supports the RA
Presidential Candidate Serzh Sargsyan and implements pre-election
and organizational activities.”

Mher Shahgeldyan also touched upon the possible behavior of the ANC,
PAP and ARF electorate and expressed his opinion saying that one side
will support the candidates of the opposition and the other side
will vote for the current president. “The electorate will possibly
be divided,” he added.

Source: Panorama.am