Author: nina hovnanian

DONOR CONFERENCE PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 19:36:13 – 12/09/2012

The information office of the president reported that Serzh Sargsyan
met with the EU special envoy to the South Caucasus Philip Lefort
who informed about the preparations for the donor conference to
assist Armenia.

The special envoy and Serzh Sargsyan discussed further EU-Armenia
cooperation and the EU commitment to support Armenia’s efforts for
integration.

The current state of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, as well as
Ramil Safarov’s release and international reactions were discussed.

Serzh Sargsyan thanked the EU organizations which condemned the
murderer’s release. He criticized some “balanced” statements which
were not appropriate to this horrible act. Serzh Sargsyan said our
partners in the EU should condemn glorification of the murderer by
the Azerbaijani authorities.

The EU special envoy noted that after his meeting with the RA president
he will leave for Baku and expects explanations from the Azerbaijani
authorities.

Philip Lefort underlined that the EU condemns this step which harms
mutual confidence between the sides of the NKR conflict and supports
the OSCE Minsk Group efforts.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS MARSHAL BAGHRAMIAN MILITARY COLLEGE (PHOTOS)

September 12, 2012 | 16:38

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanyan, paid a
visit Wednesday to Marshall Baghramian Military College, where are
housed the subdivisions that will participate in the CSTO Collective
Rapid Reaction Force’s “Cooperation 2012” joint multinational military
exercise.

The Minister toured the tent village, got familiar with the social and
household conditions of the military servicemen who will take part
in the event, and met with commanders of the multinational military
subdivisions, Armenian MOD press service informs.

During the ensuing meeting, Seyran Ohanyan gave some instructions on
properly carrying out the preparations for the military exercise.

Armenia’s Defense Minister also attended the second training-the
military shooting-of “Cooperation 2012.”

At the end of his visit, Seyran Ohanyan noted that the preparations
are satisfactory, and added that Armenia is ready to hold this
multinational military exercise.

ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC, NKR’S EX-FM SAYS

tert.am
12.09.12

Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s recognition process should start from
today, ex-foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan said at a news
conference on Wednesday.

“Armenia has unused potential. The recognition process should start
followed by the recognition of the nearby regions,” Melikyan said.

Though, according to the NKR ex-FM, the Armenian authorities do
not have such wish. “Armenia is not recognizing Nagorno Karabakh
Republic not to be the only author of it,” he said, adding that it
is a bankrupt approach.

“Not doing it after handover and pardoning of Azerbaijani murderer
Ramil Safarov is another way to reaffirm this bankruptcy,” he said.

Arman Melikyan said Turkey has recognized North Cyprus’ independence
while no other state has done it.

According to former politician, Armenia should start two parallel
processes – recognition of the NKR and conduct negotiations at the
same time.

“It is necessary to state that we start the recognition process as
the peace talks do not give anything, but at the same time we continue
negotiations hoping for results,” he said.

Melikyan said the Armenian authorities do not agree with this proposal,
but accept Madrid Principals which ex-FM says are unacceptable for him.

Melikyan believes that neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan want to solve
the issue in a military way.

CONTROL CHAMBER PROVES ARMENIA IS GANG STATE, OPPOSITION REP SAYS

tert.am
12.09.12

No one has proved better opposition’s claims about gang policy
conducted in Armenia than the Control Chamber has done, head of the
opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) faction Levon Zurabyan
said today at the discussion of the CC 2011 report.

To prove what he said, Zurabyan reminded the checking of the CC
during 2008-2011 during which violations amounting to 20 billion
drams have been revealed. Zurabyan claimed that the state funds are
being embezzled and spent inefficiently.

“And really it appears that there still is a state circle in corrupted
Armenia that reveals the shameful picture of widely-spread misuse of
state means,” Levon Zurabyan said.

SYRIAN REBELS KILL FOUR ETHNIC ARMENIANS, WOUND TEN

tert.am
12.09.12

At least four Syrian-Armenians died, another 10 were wounded on
their way home from Aleppo airport, after Yerevan-Aleppo flight on
September 11, spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Minister Tigran
Balayan told Tert.am.

Among the killed are Harut Sulavian, Arsen Pepejian, Hrach Pepejian
and Mesrop Atchemyan.

“The main road stretching from the airport was closed and they had to
go home through another way where they appeared under fire of rebels,”
Tigran Balayan said.

One of the Aleppo Armenians Shant Halajian wrote on his Facebook
page that few cars were attacked on the road, five of which were
completely damaged.

Halajian said he was in one of the cars. He said one of the Armenians
– Arsen Pepejian – died on site. He said there is a woman among
the wounded.

4 ARMENIANS ARE KILLED: YEREVAN-ALEPPO PLANE IS BOMBARDED IN SYRIA

12.09.12, 10:42

Syrian national aviation plance which was transferring Armenians from
Yerevan to Syria was bombarded by the Syrian Free Army rebels.

1in.am news agency informs about this referring to the speaker of
Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan.

He informed that the main air way to Aleppo was closed and the plane
decided to alight in another place but the Free Army rebels bombarded
it. According to Balayan four Armenians are killed and 10 are wounded.

Here are the names of three killed Armenians: Harut Suvaryan, Arsen
Pepejyan, Hrach Pepejyan. Name of the forth killed person is not
known yet.

ARMENIANS IN NEW YORK CONTINUE PROTESTS AGAINST HUNGARY AND AZERBAIJAN

A broad-based coalition of Armenian American political, religious,
student and youth organizations rallied against Hungary’s extradition
and Azerbaijan’s pardon of axe-murderer Ramil Safarov on Monday, Sept.

10 in front of the Hungarian Consulate. Asbarez.com writes about this.

The event, which was held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., was attended by
Armenians of all walks of life and who hail from a variety of
organizations.

There were well more than 300 protesters in all.

“Tonight’s protest and candlelight vigil follow similar protests by
Armenian and non-Armenians around the world calling for justice.

Justice not only for Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, but also for all
Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabagh. It is unfathomable to see any
circumstance in which any Armenian in Nagorno-Karabagh could ever
again live under Azerbaijani rule,” said ANCA Eastern Region board
member James Sahagian.

Buses from Sts. Vartanantz and St. Leon Armenian Churches in New
Jersey shuttled participants into the city. Once off the bus,
protesters were greeted with chants from an already large crowd in
front of the consulate.

Protesters echoed chants from Doug Geogerian (ANCA of New York
chairman) such as “We want justice now,” “Jail Safarov” and

“Turkey is a liar,” among other things. Naz Markarian, AYF of New
York community leader, and Yervant Kachichian of the AYF Eastern
Region Central Executive also led chants.

After the chanting died down, protesters were given candles while
Markarian gave a fiery speech before Natalie Gabrielian (AGBU Associate
Director of Education) took the microphone. Michelle Hagopian, eastern
region director of the ANCA, also spoke to round out the program.

“As the weeks press on and as the media moves past this event, we
must never forget. Safarov’s pardon is another tragedy to add to the
Armenian history timeline. We have responded with passion thus far.

Let us continue to do so and show that the Armenian people will not be
shoved around. Let us prove that our history will not repeat itself,”
Hagopian said in her speech.

Protesters were also given flowers to place in front of a sign
commemorating Lt. Gurgen Margaryan, which was left in front of the
doors of the consulate. Dozens of flowers and candles were placed on
the ground for passersby to witness on the sidewalk.

Participants held Armenian flags and a multitude of signs, which
included phrases like “Justice for Gurgen Margaryan” and “In Hungary
justice is for sale.”

The event concluded with remarks from local clergymen and the
singing of the Hayr Mer. Dozens of pedestrians and drivers stopped
or inquired about the event, asking who Safarov and Margaryan were
and what significance the event held.

12.09.12, 11:09

UNPRECEDENTED RICH HARVEST OF GRAPE RECORDED THIS YEAR

Aysor.am
11.09.2012

There was an unprecedented high quality crop of grape this year. No
hail, no diseases were recorded, said Avag Harutyunyan, the head of
the Armenian winemakers’ union Avag Harutyunyan.

The speaker said that the grape procurement should be not less than
140 AMD as the RA president had ordered.

Avag Harutyunyan also mentioned that there is a problem between the
wine producers and supermarkets as the latter pay to the wine producers
for the wine later, while in the world this issue is regulated.

“The state should be able to influence this sphere,” the winemaker
stressed.

TURKISH MILITARY SAYS KILLED 25 KURDISH REBELS IN IRAQ

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 10, 2012 – 20:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Turkish military says it killed 25 Kurdish rebels
during a recent offensive in northern Iraq, according to BBC News.

Warplanes hit 14 rebel hideouts in the cross-border strikes from 5
to 9 September, it said in a statement.

Clashes between soldiers and rebels have killed 461 people in
south-east Turkey this year, the military said separately according
to local media.

Fighting between the army and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebels
in the region has escalated in the past year.

The army has mounted hundreds of operations in a bid to drive out the
rebels. Several thousand rebels are believed to be based in northern
Iraq, and the Turkish military regularly violates Iraqi airspace to
target them.

“Initial data” suggest 25 terrorists were “rendered ineffective”
in the recent air operation in northern Iraq, AFP news agency quoted
the Turkish military as saying.

The PKK has been fighting for an ethnic homeland in south-eastern
Turkey since 1984. It is classified as a terrorist organisation by
Turkey, the US and EU.

Of the 461 people the army says have died in south-east Turkey this
year, 88 – about a fifth of the total – were soldiers killed over
the past nine months, AFP quoted local TV network NTV as saying.

CONSTITUTIONAL ARTSAKH

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:28:33 – 10/09/2012

On 9 September 2012 the initiators of the Civil Movement for
Constitutional Artsakh held a meeting in Shushi Town, Artsakh. A number
of organizational matters were discussed, namely the establishment of
territorial branches. Among the initiators are Member of Parliament
Vitaly Balasanyan, head of the NKR Public Council of Foreign Policy
and Security Masis Mayilyan, president of Stepanakert Press Club
Gegham Baghdasaryan, ex-member of parliament Grigory Hairapetyan,
Member of Parliament Vahan Badasyan.

The founders of the Civil Movement state that the society in NKR is
facing serious internal challenges stemming from general alienation
of the society from governance and violation of the Constitution.

Lack of public control over the government leads to embezzlement
and mismanagement of the state budget, corruption, arbitrariness and
unfair distribution of the national wealth. The economy is declining
due to inequality, protectionism, monopolies and a short-sighted tax
policy. These hindrances to businesses and lack of legal protection
lead to outflow of people and capital from Artsakh. Public opinion
is not expressed because freedom of speech and press is not ensured.

These internal problems harm the country~Rs international reputation
and pose threat to the country~Rs national security and defense
capacity, the founders of the civil movement state.

Proceeding from the need for fundamental reforms and healing
the atmosphere in the country, as well as the establishment of
constitutional order, the citizens of Artsakh initiating this movement
commit to healing the spiritual and political life of the society and
ensuring the fulfillment of the main function of the government, i.e.
forming of government by means of free and fair elections, on the other
hand, fight for power is not included in the goals of the movement.

Constitutional Artsakh Civil Movement is ready to cooperate
with everyone in Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora who share
their approach and principles. The e-mail of the movement is
[email protected].