Author: nina hovnanian

UNICEF IS SATISFIED BY THE RESULTS OF JOINT WORKS IN SYUNIK

ARMENPRESS
27 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: Vice Prime Minister of Armenia,
Minister of territorial administration Armen Gevorgyan in June 27
hosted Armenian representative of UNICEF Henriette Ahrens.

Armenpress was informed from public relations department of territorial
administration ministry that the sides discussed issues relating to
the programs in the spheres of children’ protection and development
of social services.

Ahrens presented the results of their researches on programs
implemented in special educational institutions as well as reverberated
to the program of social service training expressing satisfaction
especially on the results of joint work in Syunik region.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of the program on social
service training.

There was made an arrangement that Armenian office of UNICEF will
present suggestions in order to increase the productivity of some
programs.

GENEVA STILL HOPES FOR NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

armradio.am
27.06.2012 16:15

Geneva still hopes that the Armenian-Turkish protocols will be
ratified and implemented by both countries, Swiss Ambassador to
Armenia Konstantin Obolensky said in an interview with Regnum agency.

“We are hopeful that the protocols signed by the two countries will
be ratified and implemented by both parties, as we are confident that
they can serve as an important basis for normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey,” the Ambassador said, refraining from
further comments on the issue.

“We don’t comment on the decisions of the two countries, taking into
consideration the fact that we assumed the role of a mediator between
Armenia and Turkey. Therefore, we have to be unbiased,” he concluded.

ANC LEADER SPEAKS IN DEFENSE OF PROSPEROUS ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 26, 2012 – 21:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition
bloc leader, ex-president Levon Ter-Petrossian spoke in defense of
Prosperous Armenia, slamming those who dubbed the party as “fake
opposition.”

“Those skeptical of Prosperous Armenia cite the following arguments
to prove their point : 1st, they believe the party backs ex-president
Robert Kocharian and are threatened by the possibility of his return;
2nd, Prosperous Armenia didn’t announce itself an opposition, in line
with parliamentary regulations, which I believe are absurd and have
to be abolished.”

“By doing so, the skeptics are trying to help current President
Serzh Sargsyan in positioning himself as a lesser evil as compared
to Kocharian, whose name is associated with March 1, 2008 events.”

“The supposedly independent media and political forces are trying to
push Prosperous Armenia back into Serzh Sargsyan’s arms, in an effort
to again turn the party into RPA extension.”

As ANC leader said, current authorities are using harsher means to
pressure Prosperous Armenia, “yet, giving in to President Sargsyan
would mean political death to Prosperous Armenia.”

“Turning into an opposition as the only way out for Prosperous
Armenia,” Ter-Petrossian noted, urging other political forces for help.

HEINZ FISCHER VISITS MATENADARAN

Panorama.am
26/06/2012

Today Austrian President Heinz Fischer has visited Matenadaran
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

He was accompanied by his wife Margaret Fischer, Armenian FM Edward
Nalbandian and Austrian delegation.

Heinz Fischer left the following note in Matenadaran’s guest
book: “Armenian manuscripts are cultural values which are also of
international significance. I would like to express my gratitude to
the Institute which preserves 2000 years of history.”

The Austrian President is paying an official visit to Armenia.

As part of his visit to Armenia, Heinz Fischer has taken a stroll in
the center of Yerevan, has met with President Serzh Sargsyan as well
as has visited Tsitsernakaberd. He will visit the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin tomorrow, where he is scheduled to meet with His Holiness
Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Heinz Fischer will also visit Garni and Geghard.

TIGRAN ABRAHAMYAN: AZERBAIJAN NOT PRETENDING TO SUCH ROLE

Panorama.am
26/06/2012

“I don’t think official Baku can pretend to such role by carrying
out sabotage operations on Armenian-Azerbaijani border or at the line
of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces or
by refusing to withdraw snipers from the frontline,” expert Tigran
Abrahamyan told Panorama.am when asked to comment on Azerbaijani
President’s statement on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces
of Azerbaijan that the Azerbaijani army plays a stabilizing role in
the region.

According to the expert, if Azerbaijan was really interested in
peace and stability in the region, it would not so frequently violate
ceasefire regime.

When asked to comment on the Azerbaijani President’s statement that
Azerbaijan’s military budget has increased more than 20-fold over
the past years, and now reaches $3.6bn, Abrahamyan said, “Azerbaijan
unequivocally violates the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe (CFE), but when the first figure in the country publicly
confesses this, I think his statement should be followed by a response
from international organizations.”

Asked whether Aliyev threatened war when he said that “the strength
of our army allows us to liberate our lands,” the expert noted,
“Azerbaijani President’s statement comes in response to unaddressed
statements which followed open provocations by Azerbaijan. As to
threats of war and the thesis of “powerful Azerbaijan,” I think the
time is not far off when it will no longer be possible for Azerbaijan
to “feed” its society with such loud statements.”

OPPOSITION FIGURE OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN ARRESTED IN GEORGIA, ANOTHER ARMENIAN IS WANTED

12:24 . 26/06

A resident of Akhalkalak, Georgi Mkhchyan was arrested last evening
in Georgia. The investigation service of the Georgian ministry of
finance accuses him of falsification of documents.

Georgi wanted to appropriate the three-storey building with a total
territory of 1,100sq/m in the centre of the town with an adjacent
land plot. If the accusation proves right, Georgi may be sentenced
to 4-7 years’ imprisonment.

According to Mkhchyan’s relatives, the arrest is politically
motivated. Georgi Mkhchyan recently became a member of “Georgian Dream”
opposition party.

Former Georgian MP elected from Akhlkalak region, Melik Raisyan,
has also been on the wanted list since June 3. He is also a member
of Georgian Dream Party.

VANADZOR HELSINKI CIVIL ASSEMBLY V POLICE CHIEF GASPARYAN CASE CONTINUES TOMORROW

hetq
15:55, June 26, 2012

The court case in which the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil
Assembly is suing RA Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan for slander
is scheduled to continue tomorrow at the Kentron and Nork-Marash
District Court.

The NGO is suing Gasparyan for remarks he made during an October 2011
interview with the hraparak.am news site and a program called Zinouzh.

The organization claims that some of the remarks slandered their
good name.

At the prior trial session, the NGO’s lawyer Vahe Grigoryan demanded
that Gasparyan issue a public apology for his remarks and to pay 10
AMD in symbolic compensation.

ARMENIAN LEADER: ENERGY PROJECTS MUSTN’T FINANCE WAR EFFORTS IN REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 26, 2012 – 16:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Presidents of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and his
visiting Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer discussed energy projects
implemented in the region.

“Energy projects should in no way become a source of financing a war
in our vulnerable region,” President Sargsyan told a press conference.

Armenian leader voiced agreement with Mr. Fischer that closed borders
contradict to the spirit and logic of 21st-century Europe.

WHAT ARE THE TURKS AFRAID OF?
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

Asharq Alawsat (The Middle East)
June 24, 2012 Sunday

Turkey is Syria’s largest neighbor, with some influence inside Syria
itself, particularly in the eastern region. It now appears that the
Turks have some legitimacy to intervene to defend their national
interests and sovereignty, which has been violated on numerous
occasions by al-Assad regime forces. We must not forget that what
is happening in Syria threatens Turkey’s national security, whether
the al-Assad regime survives or is toppled. For Ankara fears the
return of the separatist Kurds, after Turkey had been able to crush
this movement, particularly as more than 40,000 have been killed in
previous guerilla wars between Turkey and Kurdish separatists. Turkey
also fears terrorist groups who may seek to fill the vacuum left by
the ouster of the al-Assad regime, whilst as the same time there are
fears that should the Syrian regime manage to survive; it will seek
to conspire against Turkey in retaliation.

When the Syrian Air Defenses shot down the Turkish military warplane
on Friday, it was expected that Turkey would respond militarily,
particularly as it warned the Syrian regime that it would not remain
silent to the escalating attacks carried out by Syrian forces across
the Turkish borders, however Turkey’s response has disenchanted many.

The Turks have already disappointed many, after they pledged they
would not stand idly by whilst the Syrian people were being killed.

Turkey is a major country and possess military capabilities that would
allow it to be victorious in any military confrontation, and would find
itself welcomed by the majority of the Syrian people as a savior from
a criminal regime that is killing dozens of unarmed people on a daily
basis. What is preventing Turkey being like the US, when it rescued
France from Nazi occupation, or for the Syrians to do what America
and Saudi Arabia did with regards to driving out Saddam Hussein’s
forces from Kuwait? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan can
play the role that was played by former US president Bill Clinton,
with regards to saving Bosnia, Herzegovina and Kosovo.

The Turks are suggesting that they are prepared to intervene to stop
the massacres and rein in the al-Assad regime; however it seems
that they are also afraid. But what are they afraid of, when they
possess the military capability to easily beat the al-Assad regime,
particularly as the Syrian forces are exhausted and unpopular, or as
former Cyprus Prime Minister said – upon being asked about the arming
issue – there is no benefit in going back now, particularly as Turkey
has a huge military capability that would allow them to defeat us in
a matter of hours.

The Turks carried out their last unilateral military action in August
1974 against the Greek-Cypriots and won quickly, and I believe that
the Turks do not want to be part of war except under an international
flag. However this is impossible thanks to the Russian and Chinese
veto. Nor do the Turks want to involve NATO, along the lines of the
Libyan scenario; however it seems that the NATO forces are equally
reluctant to get involved with the battle against al-Assad.

The Turks prefer to be part of an international mission, for Turkey
is an important member of NATO, and after the US, contributes the
most troops to this organizations, approximately 750,000.

So why are the Turks so reluctant to get involved in a conflict
with the al-Assad regime, despite all its provocations, and their
embarrassment in front of regional public opinion?

Perhaps this is because the Turks are hoping one of two things
will take place: either for the al-Assad regime to be toppled by the
revolution that is wearing it down, or for the international community
to have enough from his crimes and reach an agreement against him…at
this point Turkey would be at the spearhead and enter Damascus under
an international flag. However the second possibility is unlikely
due to the Russian position which is completely biased towards the
Syrian regime. Turkey’s fears are well-known; domestically, it fears
that its war in Syria would open new fronts at home with Kurdish
and Armenian opposition separatist movements, or that Iran would
open a front with it. However these are justifications and excuses
because Turkey is militarily and economically stronger than Iran,
and it would be backed by NATO, whilst the Syrian regime is reeling,
no matter how steadfast its leader is trying to appear.

In my opinion, Turkey, which has remained silent to al-Assad’s insults,
will reach a stage where it will have no choice but to intervene in
order to defend its interests, the difference is if it intervenes now,
it will receive huge popular and material support from the Arabs and
others who hate the crimes being committed by the al-Assad regime.

‘WE MUST CHANGE THIS COUNTRY’ – ANC SUPPORTER

tert.am
26.06.12

Actor Yervand Manaryan, a supporter of the opposition Armenian National
Congress (ANC), made a speech at the ANC’s rally in Yerevan on Tuesday.

In response to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that
“this country is really a country” he said that “this country is not
at all a country is an officer and military doctor is beaten within
an inch of his life.”

“We must change this country,” Manaryan said.

The ANC member Aram Manukyan said that Armenia has not so far had a
parliament nor does it have it now.

“They had 63MP, but only 23 of them ever spoke in parliament. Forty
so-called deputies never uttered a word during five years,” Manukyan
said.

According to him, the parliamentary group of the Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) does not exist as an independent group elected by people.

The Armenian government submitted draft amendments to Armenia’s tax
law to Armenia’s parliament 126 times.

No country in the world destroys economy and business as Armenia does,
Manukyan said.