Author: nina hovnanian

HEROS
Monte Melkonian aurait eu 55 ans aujourd’hui

« Si nous perdons l’Artsakh, nous tournerons la dernière page de notre
histoire ». Ces paroles sont de Monte Melkonian. Monte Melkonian le
héros de la guerre de libération du Haut Karabagh qui aurait eu
aujourd’hui 55 ans. Surnommé Avo par ses camarades de combat, Monte
Melkonian, né le 25 novembre 1957 à Vasalia (Etats-Unis) est mort le
12 juin 1993 à 35 ans dans les environs de Merzuli (Haut Karabagh)
victime d’une balle ennemie. Hier à Erévan, ses compagnons de combat
ont témoigné sur l’homme et sa force dans le combat. Hovsep Hagopian a
insisté sur les qualités humaines de Monte Melkonian, patriote engagé
qui croyait en l’avenir du combat et de son peuple. « Cet homme bon a
crée une armée forte » dit-il. Et de rappeler la phrase de Monte « si
nous perdons l’Artsakh, nous tournerons la dernière page de notre
histoire ». Même propos d’admiration venus de Vova Vartanian, un autre
compagnon d’arme de Monte Melkonian, Vova Vartanian. À la tête du
détachement armé de Martouni, il s’est illustré durant la guerre du
Haut-Karabagh devenant héros de la guerre du Karabagh et héros
national en Arménie.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 25 novembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

OPERATION OF THE STEPANAKERT AIRPORT TO SPEED UP THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS
Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”
17:26 23.11.2012

Operation of the Stepanakert Airport will speed up the process
of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Chairman of the National
Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations told reporters
today. He does not share the opinion of Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Igor Popov that the operation of the airport could bring
about tension in the relations between the parties.

According to the MP, the statement of the Russian mediator was meant
to maintain the balance. According to him, the mediators are making
such statements not to let the process reach a deadlock.

Artak Zakaryan says the Azerbaijani side will not realize the threats
to shoot down civilian aircrafts flying from Stepanakert.

“Of course, Azerbaijan is trying to frustrate the talks to transfer
the issue to other instances.” However, the MP is confident that the
desire of our eastern neighbour is not realistic, the Azerbaijani
policy produces zero results.

AUTOMOBILE BLOWN UP BY AN ANTI-TANK MINE

Friday, 23 November 2012 13:45

On November 17, in the area called “Suaras”, near Meghvadzor village,
Qashatagh region, a “ZIL 131” automobile, loaded with wood, was blown
up by an anti-tank mine as a result of which two of the passengers
got hurt.

As Karabakh-open.info was informed at the HALO Trust organization
in Artsakh, Mher Arakelyan’s legs and Rustam Isunts’s legs and eyes
were damaged by the debris. They are both citizens of Armenia and
are being treated in Yerevan at the moment.

As reported by the “HALO Trust”, in general 5 similar accidents have
happened during this year in which 6 people among them a child got
hurt. Fortunately, none of the accidents caused lethal outcome.

AVETIK ISHKHANYAN ‘WE DO NOT HAVE JUDICIAL POWER, WE HAVE JUDICIAL SYSTEM’

Factinfo.am
Thu, 11/22/2012 – 18:19

On November 21-22 International Conference on the Issues of Life-term
Prisoners was organized in Yerevan, Armenia by the Helsinki Committee
of Armenia.

Avetik Ishkhanyan, President of Helsinki Committee of Armenia during a
briefing noted that ‘in European countries, where independent judicial
system is present, decisions of justification make 10-25 per cent,
and in our country the number does not exceed 2%. In Europe a lot
of mistakes are made in a judicial system, but people admit their
mistakes reviewing their decisions whereas in our country they do
not even admit that a judicial mistake can be made’.

‘There is a judicial system and a judicial power. When we say judicial
power we mean independent judicial system’ noted Avetik Ishkhanyan
adding ‘we do not have judicial power, we have a judicial system’.

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION SHOULD BE RESPECTED

Panorama.am
23/11/2012

The vital right of peoples to self-determination should be respected,
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi stated during the ministerial
meeting of D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization in Pakistan, Iranian
Foreign Ministry’s official website said.

The Iranian FM, slamming the use of dual standards towards human
rights in many countries, said, in part, “Democracy does not belong
to some country or region and therefore the right of peoples to
self-determination and their right to master their own fate is of vital
importance. All efforts, which are aimed at overthrowing the order
established by peoples on the basis of Constitution and democracy,
should be rejected.”

The D-8 comprises Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Egypt and Nigeria.

The modern phase of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) conflict
broke out in 1988, when, as a response to the peaceful demand for
self-determination of the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh),
annexed to Soviet Azerbaijan in 1921, the Azerbaijani authorities
carried out ethnic cleansing of Armenians – at first in the big cities
of Azerbaijan, and then in Artsakh.

In September 1991 Artsakh declared independence, and, as a result,
Azerbaijan exacerbated the violences and started large-scale military
actions against Artsakh. After number of defeats on the frontlines,
in May 1994 Azerbaijan was forced ask for a cease-fire from the
Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).

Currently, the negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are
being conducted under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
(Russia, USA and France), based on the Madrid proposals, presented
in November 2007.

THE ERA OF THREE PRESIDENTS MUST COME TO THE END, ARMENIA’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER SAYS

tert.am
23.11.12

Leader of Armenia’s Democratic party Aram Sargsyan says the inner
political activities in the country are like storm in a glass of
water, stressing that the time has come for the end of the age of
the three presidents.

“The era of the three presidents must end. The fourth president must
come with new team, new programs,” he said.

Speaking about the change of the system of government of the country,
the proposal voiced by opposition parties, Aram Sargsyan said neither
system will help. “The biggest problem today is the social polarization
and nothing will change no matter what the system of government is,
as the important issues have been ignored and the secondary ones
have been brought forth,” Sargsyan said, voicing concern that if the
emigration tempo continues growing, in 20 years the country will turn
into dessert.

Asked whether the party will back the incumbent president or not,
Sargsyan said if the president starts real fight against the main
issues, they will discuss such possibility.

AZERBAIJANI STATE-RUN AGENCY INTRODUCES BAKO SAHAKYAN AS PRESIDENT OF NKR

14:48 23.11.2012

For the first time throughout the Karabakh conflict the state-run
Trend news agency of Azerbaijan () has introduced Bako
Sahakyan as President of NKR, haqqin.az reports.

The article titled “OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to visit Armenia” reads:
“The Co-Chairs accompanied by the Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk visited Nagorno
Karabakh, where they held talks with NKR President Bako Sahakyan.”

The article has already been removed from the website.

ARMENIAN DIPLOMAT ASKS GEORGIAN OFFICIAL TO CONSIDER RETURN OF CULTURAL HERITAGE MONUMENTS

tert.am
23.11.12

Plans for returning the Armenian cultural monuments on the territory
of Georgia were discussed at a meeting between Armenian Ambassador
Hovhannes Manukyan and the country’s minister culture and monument
protection, Guram Odishara.

According to a press release by the Armenia’s Foreign Ministry,
the diplomat told the newly appointed Georgian official that the
sector plays a key role in the Armenian-Georgian relations, with both
countries sharing many common cultural roots.

Expressing deep respect for the Armenian culture, the Georgian official
attached importance to all initiatives expected to promote a better
understanding between the two nations and societies (especially
the youth).

The sides agreed to launch joint programs and establish effective
collaboration in that context.

Theey also addressed the joint initiatives enshrined in the 2013-2015
Cooperation Programs between the two countries Ministries of Culture.

ARMENIAN ACTIVIST VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN NOT AMONG 519 PARDONED BY GEORGIA’S PRESIDENT

tert.am
23.11.12

Neither Vahagn Chakhalyan nor the former head of the Armenian community
of Ajaria are among the 519 pardoned by Georgia’s President Mikheil
Saakashvili.

The Georgian president declared amnesty on the occasion of St. George
Holiday marked November 23 in Georgia.

This circumstance has unpleasantly surprised the head of Multi-national
Georgia NGO Arnold Stepanyan, dealing with issues of ethnic minorities
there. Speaking to Tert.am, he said he cannot say whether there are
or there are not Armenians among them, but those under the NGO’s
focus are not among them.

Ethnic Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan, leader of Javakhq
democratic alliance, is in prison for already five years, serving his
10-year term. He has been charged with “organization of mass events
violating public order” and for “keeping weapon”.

The term of 50 convicts has been cut by half, the other 469 have been
set free.

As to the ex-leader of the Armenian community of Ajaria, Stepanyan
said he is charged with spying which is quite “fashionable” crime
in Georgia. “If I am not mistaken three other Armenians have been
arrested with him,” Stepanyan said, adding that the Armenian population
of Javakhq considers the charges against Chakhalyan fake.

“Many people have been sent to prisons in Georgia for spying and as
far as it was rather popular among the former authorities we see a
political motivation. Though I can’t say it in Armen’s [ex-leader of
the Armenian community of Ajaria] case, I do not know it. But I do
not exclude anything,” Arnold Stepanyan said.

AZERBAIJANI LEADING NEWS AGENCY INTRODUCED BAKO SAHAKYAN AS THE PRESIDENT OF NKR

11:02, 23 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. For the first time during the
whole history of Nagonro Karabakh conflict a leading news agency of
Azerbaijan “Trend” has truly introduced the Head of Nagorno Karabakh
Bako Sahakyan as the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

As reports “Armenpress” in the news entitled “the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs will Arrive to Armenia”
(, which has already been
removed from the website – editorial staff) it is said: “On Thursday
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs with the Personal Representative of
OSCE Chairman Anjey Kaspszyk visited Nagorno Karabakh, where they
had negotiations with the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Bako Sahakyan.”

Azerbaijanis are surprised with the fact of the recognition of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic by the leading news agency. Particularly
haqqin.az website said that supposedly it can be a “misprint”.

Notwithstanding it looks like Azerbaijan has realized that the sooner
they recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
the better it will be for themselves.