Author: Babajanian Karo

NO RED-CARPET RECEPTION: TURKISH PREMIER’S ELECTION CAMPAIGN MET WITH ROCKS IN HAMSHEN-POPULATED AREA
By Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
02.06.11 | 14:30

On Tuesday Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s election
campaign met with anti-government banners and rock-hurling
demonstrators at Hopa, a location populated by some 20,000 Hamshen
Armenians.

The clashes in which Erdogan himself was unscathed left at least
one protester dead and several people, including one of the prime
minister’s bodyguards, injured.

Hamshens are Islamized Armenians, who mainly live in the Black Sea
coastal town of Hopa and nearby Borcka in Turkey’s northeastern Artvin
province. Their total number in Turkey is about 50-60,000.

Prominent Hamshen community member Ismet Sahin, who had originally
been included in the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)
list for this month’s parliamentary elections, but eventually was
omitted from the party slate, says Erdogan had been warned about a
possible hostile reception in advance.

“Erdogan knew very well how he would be received here, and also in
Diyarbakir, where he went today, but he has insisted on coming… We
want to have a representative of our rights in parliament, but they
do not tolerate it, they are not ready for that yet,” Sahin tells
ArmeniaNow.

Sahin says Erdogan came to Hopa with a large number of supporters who
were to attend a rally. That circumstance “even more angered local
residents who oppose his party and his policies towards minorities.”

According to the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper, a group of demonstrators
in the town hung a huge banner, reading “Erdogan, get out of Hopa”,
on a building overseeing the square where the prime minister would hold
his rally. They also reportedly hurled rocks at an Erdogan motorcade.

Police reportedly had to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse
the crowd, which resulted in one demonstrator collapsing. The man,
identified by Hurriyet as a retired teacher, later died in the hospital
due to a heart attack. The paper also reports that nine people were
wounded and six others were overcome by pepper gas sprayed by the
police during the clashes.

Parliamentary elections in Turkey are scheduled for June 12.

PFA HOLDS RECEPTION ON MAY 28

Thu, Jun 2 2011

WASHINGTON-On May 28, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) held a reception
on the occasion of the independence of the First Armenian Republic
(1918-20) at the historic University Club of Washington. The event
served as the first in a series of introductions of members of
the Sardarapat Movement’s Initiating Group-film director Tigran
Khzmalyan and informational technology expert Garegin Chugaszyan,
who are visiting Washington at the invitation of PFA-to the Armenian
community and policy circles in the nation’s capital.

In his keynote address, Dr. Rouben Adalian, the director of the
Armenian National Institute, stressed the importance of the Battle of
Sardarabad for preserving culture and identity, and regaining statehood
in those darkest of times in the history of Armenia. As improbable
as it seemed at the time, he noted that the success in Sardarabad
became an important milestone for measuring successes of the future.

Khzmalyan emphasized the need for continuing the fight for
independence, amid the worsening governance in and external
dependence of Armenia. Stressing that independence should not be
taken for granted, he called on Armenians worldwide, irrespective
of party affiliations and geography, to help regain Armenia’s true
independence-one that will guarantee dignity, freedom, and prosperity.

Recalling Yeghishe Charents’ poems written at the dawn of the First
Republic, Chugaszyan reminded participants that the foundations for
a strong statehood lie in people’s unconventional love towards their
country at the most desperate of times. He referred to the dark winter
of the third Armenian republic, which will undoubtedly end soon and
be followed by the spring of the forth republic to come.

In his closing remarks, David Grigorian, PFA’s co-founder, called on
community members to intensify their search for new ways of engaging
with Armenia by focusing on civil society groups, such as Sardarapat,
who are on the forefront of the battle for democracy and a stronger
Armenia. He stressed that the existing mechanisms have offered little,
if any, incentives for the successive ruling regimes in Armenia to
reform and do better, emphasizing the need to scrap them in exchange
for new models of engagement that will have allegiances to the people
of Armenia (as opposed to their rulers) in their core.

Discussions between members of the Sardarapat Movement and stakeholders
will continue through Thurs., June 2, to give an opportunity to share
their views on the ongoing political and economic crisis in Armenia
and offer ways forward.

PFA is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at
strengthening discourse on Armenia’s economic development and national
security, and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.

Its main objective is to offer alternative views and professional
analyses containing innovative and practical recommendations for
public policy design and implementation. Through its activities,
PFA aims to contribute to the creation of an informed public and a
more effective and accountable government. PFA’s main asset is its
worldwide network of professionals and leaders in their respective
fields dedicated to Armenia.

The founders of PFA write: “We created the Sardarapat Movement as
our answer to the ‘Armenian Question.’ We, the men and women of the
Republic of Armenia-Karabagh War veterans, school teachers, economists,
human rights activists, and artists-came together in late 2010 to
resist the ongoing political and economic crisis, to build a country
that generations of Armenians have dreamt about, a country of freedom
and social justice, of equal rights and responsibilities, a country
of hope and opportunities for each and every Armenian worldwide. We
realized that citizen-oriented domestic policies and independent
foreign policy are far too important to be trusted to the current
illegitimate ruling regime. That is why we decided to take charge
now, just as we did 20 years ago, when we rose and won the war for
Karabagh against all odds; and just like our ancestors did 90 years
ago, by pushing back the advancing Turkish armies in the Battle of
Sardarabad. There were no political parties involved then, no regular
army to speak of, and not a state in charge-just the free will of free
people of Armenia, Armenians, and non-Armenians alike. The name of
our movement thus bears a direct reference to the Sardarabad victory,
a critical turning point of our modern history.”

“Indeed, today’s Armenia is facing a new Sardarabad: The nation is
divided by terrible polarization and injustice, when people are
deprived of their basic rights of free vote and independent due
process; when a handful of corrupt individuals has ‘privatized’ the
heritage of generations and bargains with adversaries on the terms
equivalent to conceding our independence and our victories. The
Sardarapat Movement stands for strong and vocal Armenia-centric
foreign policy, and against any territorial concessions in Karabagh,
which would be equivalent to jeopardizing safety of people who live
there and the security of the country as a whole. No reconciliation
with Turkey is possible unless Ankara accepts its responsibility for
the genocide and takes credible steps for addressing its implications.

On the domestic front, we believe that our economy can no longer be
held hostage to a few oligarchs, while the overwhelming majority
of the population is humiliated by poverty and unemployment. We
have to rebuild a strong export-driven economy in Armenia instead of
maintaining the current deeply flawed model of overreliance on foreign
transfers and import. Thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses
should sprawl where at present a few monopolies choke the economy. We
have to cherish our land and use its agricultural potential properly,
no matter if it is in Armenia proper, Artsakh, or the liberated
territories. In rebuilding our economic potential we have to rely
on all of our resources, first and foremost, on the human capital of
those in Armenia and the diaspora. Together we can achieve a lot.

Together we will.”

For more information, visit

GARBIS: OPPOSITION’S DEMANDS MET: NOW WHAT?
By: Christian Garbis

Thu, Jun 2 2011

The three demands of the Armenian National Congress put before the
government-namely the release of all “political prisoners,” the
right to hold public rallies at Liberty Square, and a new (although
fruitless) investigation into the events of March 1, 2008 that
left 10 people dead- have now all been surprisingly met. The most
popular jailed activists associated with the opposition, “Haykakan
Zhamanak” newspaper editor Nikol Pashinian and Sasun Mikaelian,
were finally released on May 27 after a general amnesty was approved
by the parliament. President Serge Sarkisian’s accommodation was not
necessarily expected, yet it can be viewed as a strategic move to woo
the favor of voters for the parliamentary elections in 2012, followed
by his expected bid for the presidency in 2013. His outreach is also
a perfect and timely way to appease Europe and the U.S., which have
both been calling for systematic reforms and the implementation of
democratic norms in Armenia.

Sasun Mikaelian, one of the released opposition leaders.

By placating the critics, the Armenian government is demonstrating
that not only does it hold a heavy hand, but that it can also be
sympathetic to those who are dissenting. Now the Armenian National
Congress, headed by former president Levon Ter-Petrosian, is slated to
hold “talks” with the authorities in the near future, the outcome of
which is subject to speculation. With these gestures, the government
is essentially exhibiting its God complex-omnipresent and despotic,
yet forgiving.

Now, questions as to how the authorities will further subdue the
opposition hover. Several probable variants can be considered,
among them:

1. The Armenian National Congress represented by Ter-Petrosian in
closed meetings negotiates with the Sarkisian Administration. In a
gesture of goodwill, the president extends an olive branch to his
archrival and offers him the position of prime minister and the
formation of a super-coalition, bringing friends and foes together
on the same team. Ter-Petrosian accepts his offer. Ter-Petrosian’s
die-hard supporters follow his lead and join him in the government,
while staunch oppositionists are left betrayed and isolated. The
Congress in its current form collapses and the opposition becomes
confused and disorganized. Sarkisian promises the Congress leaders that
its faithful will win parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections,
fairly or not. The ARF-Dashnaktsutiun prays for a Kocharian comeback,
hoping to regain its ministerial seats should he be reelected with
its unwavering support, while the Heritage Party continues its boycott
of the state of affairs.

2. As in point 1, the Congress leaders and Ter-Petrosian join the
government, leaving the opposition fragmented and reeling from a
concussion. Then, the ARF- Dashnaktsutiun-in a blinding, sublime
revelation and a renewed comprehension of its party values and modus
operandi-decides to pick up the ball dropped by Ter-Petrosian. The
party rallies its dormant disenchanted followers who are still
wondering why the organization never became a powerful political
force in Armenia since its party leaders were freed from jail by
their savior Robert Kocharian days after he first became president.

Dashnaktsutiun reaches out to Heritage party and puts aside whatever
bad blood existed between them related to who is more faithful to the
universal Armenian cause. As a result of a tremendous amount of hard
work-substantially more than either party has ever undertaken-their
opposition alliance rivals the popularity previously garnered by
Ter-Petrosian. The Dashnaktsutiun, realizing it has no charismatic
leaders to speak of, supports Raffi Hovhanisian in his bid for the
presidency. Members of both parties are harassed by the authorities
and some are even beaten and jailed, but their dedication to the
integrity of the Armenian state and its citizens does not waiver. The
people are ecstatic. The blindsided authorities are marginalized and
the opposition wins the majority of seats in parliament; in 2013,
Hovhanisian is elected president and the ARF heads the government.

Then the new authorities begin cleaning house: They break the
monopoly on imports enjoyed by the oligarchic families; the rampant
corruption that had infested the tax, customs, and police departments
is virtually eradicated; and the prices of goods and services begin
to stabilize. The rule of law is enforced throughout the republic and
for the first time in the country’s post-Soviet history the courts
rule independently. Countless thousands of emigrants return home,
and frustrated businessmen from the Armenian Diaspora are invited
to reinvest in Armenia, with the former red-tape strewn processes of
establishing corporations streamlined and tax collection transparent.

3. Talks break down between the Congress and the authorities. With
the renewed charismatic calls by firebrand opposition cheerleader
Pashinian, ever-smitten with Ter-Petrosian, the Congress wins an
overwhelming number of parliamentary seats despite the elections
being marred by irregularities and fraud, yet they remain an
unquestionably sizable minority. The Heritage and ARF-Dashnaktsutiun
parties retain their modest number of seats but remain undermined by
the pro-government coalition, while the arrogant Congress leadership
continues to mock them as being insignificant players not part of the
“real opposition,” insisting that the parties should have joined them
rather than being obstinately opposed. The Congress shows its thanks
to Sarkisian for refraining from cracking down on its supporters by
backing away from fielding a presidential candidate to challenge
his reelection (so long as Congress leaders are promised a couple
of seats in the government in a display of unity). The rift between
Dashnaktsutiun and Heritage is never repaired, and both parties
remain without influence, their members twiddling their thumbs during
parliamentary sessions. Sarkisian, with the support of both the
“real opposition” and the pro-government coalition, slides to victory.

Although these predictions may seem fantastic, perhaps even
preposterous to some, they are no less credible than the blowhard
forecasts printed on the opinion pages of daily Armenian newspapers.

But my point should be obvious: In Armenian politics, anything and
nothing can be expected.

IRANI PRESIDENT SAYS HE HOPES HIS VISIT TO YEREVAN TO PROMOTE STRENGTHENING OF ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 1, 2011
YEREVAN

President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he hopes that corresponding
decisions, which will promote the strengthening and extension of the
Armenian-Iranian relations, will be made during the upcoming visit
to Yerevan.

Armenpress reports citing the “IRNA” agency that the Irani president
stated this at the meeting with Armen Movsisyan, RA minister of
energy and natural resources, co-chair of the Armenian-Iranian
intergovernmental committee.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran and Armenia have historical and cultural
ties and the two people have deep relations with each other. The
president of Iran also emphasized the necessity of settling issues
through mutual understanding by the states of the region.

Armen Movsisyan, who is on a visit to Iran within the framework of
the 10th session of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental committee,
presented the ways of development and extension of bilateral relations,
particularly in the energy sphere. Armen Movsisyan mentioned that
the implementation of joint programs will be important and useful
for the whole region.

BYURAKAN OBSERVATORY STAFF TO MORE THAN DOUBLE AFTER PLANNED MODERNIZATION

/ARKA/
June 2, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, June 2. / ARKA /. The Byurakan Observatory in Armenia’s
Aragatsotn region will hire additional personnel after a planned
upgrading, Victor Krivopuskov, head of Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian
government agency in charge of relations with former Soviet republics,
said today at a roundtable on ‘Information and Communications
Technology: Prospects for Development’ in Yerevan.

The modernization will be carried out as part of a cooperation
agreement signed with Russia. According to preliminary data, the
estimated cost of investments for creation and instalment of new
instruments is more than 4.5 million euros. The agreement on joint
exploration of near space was signed in November 2010 between the
Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, the Russian Federal Space Agency
(Roskosmos) and the Institute of Applied Mathematics after Keldysh.

Mikhail Kardashenko, director general of Project-Tehknika research
center, said in Yerevan last month the new complex, which is part of
Roskosmos’ near space exploration agency, will be installed in the
Byurakan Observatory before the winter.

Victor Krivopuskov said today the personnel of the observatory
will grow from current 40 to about 100 employees. He praised the
contribution of the Byurakan Observatory in the Soviet science, and
stressed that the introduction of new complex is a clear confirmation
of increased cooperation between Russia and Armenia.

Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory was founded in 1946 on Mount Aragats
at an altitude of 1400 meters. The Observatory has been studying
non-stationary phenomena in cosmic objects – stars and galaxies,
which show the explosive processes.

ARMENIAN PREMIER PRESENTED GOVERNMENT’S REGULATORY GUILLOTINE CONCEPT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF DONOR ORGANIZATIONS

/ARKA/
June 2, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, June 2. /ARKA/. On Wednesday, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan presented prospects for introduction of the Regulatory
Guillotine, a rapidly spreading regulatory reform tool, in Armenia to
representatives of international donor organizations, the government’s
press office reports.

Introduction of this instrument that lessens bureaucracy and enhances
state administration in Armenia has been initiated by the Armenian
government and okayed by the OSCE Yerevan Office.

“You know what the Regulatory Guillotine concept is,” the premier
said. “I met with Mr. Scott Jacobs, one of its main authors, and I want
to thank the OSCE for giving me such a chance. After we got familiar
with the broad concept, we approved it. The economy ministry’s team
has worked with Jacobs, and this is five months our team is carrying
out necessary preparations for introduction of this concept. The
concept has been upheld also by the Armenian president.

We have decided to set up an interdepartmental council for coordinating
this work.”

Sargsyan stressed the importance of reformation in regulatory
area saying it would lessen corruption risks and improve business
environment in the country.

He said the concept also implies improvement of tax and customs
administration.

The prime minister presented some achievements to the representatives
of international donor organizations, who, on their side, pledged
support to the Armenian government in implementation of these reforms.

Sergey Kapinos, head of the OSCE Yerevan Office, that the Regulatory
Guillotine is a program of comprehensive reforms aimed at regulating
laws and enhancing effectiveness of the regulatory system.

Sargsyan thanked the meeting participants for their support.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDS OIC GROUP MEETING

Trend
June 1 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov attended a meeting of
the OIC Group at the level of permanent representatives of the member
states of the Organization of Islamic Conference to the United Nations,
held at the UN headquarters.

Mammadyarov informed the meeting participants that Azerbaijan’s
candidacy has also been nominated to the elections of non-permanent
members of the UN Security Council for 2012-2013, scheduled for
October, stressing the tangible benefits in this regard, the Foreign
Ministry told Trend.

He urged the OIC member states to support our country’s candidacy in
the elections scheduled for October.

At the meeting, Mammadyarov stressed that Azerbaijan pursues an
independent policy and is a leading state in the region, participates
in the development of regional cooperation in the Caspian and Caucasus
space, has a particularly important role in the implementation of
regional energy and transport projects, the country is the author
of several important initiatives within the UN and the OIC; is an
integral part of the Islamic world, is a bridge between Europe and
Asia from a geographical point of view, and contributes to the dialogue
among civilizations.

He also provided detailed information about the negotiation process
on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov stressed with regret that so far Armenia has not fulfilled
four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in 1993 to liberate
the occupied Azerbaijani territories, and underscored that, according
to the UN Charter, such resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council
should be fulfilled by the Organization’s member countries.

Later several representatives of the OIC member states addressed the
meeting, who appreciated Mammadyarov’s participation at the meeting
and his address.

The 33rd meeting of the OIC Committee of Ministers was held in
Azerbaijan in 2006.

CHAMLIAN GYMNASIUM APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL
By Cassandra Morris

Montrose Patch

June 1 2011
CA

In a unanimous decision, the Glendale City Council approved the
construction of a gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School.

In a unanimous decision, Glendale City Council moved to approve
the construction of a new gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School on
Tuesday. This overturns the Planning Commission’s denial of the gym
in January.

“It was a fair decision, a good decision based on evidence presented,”
said Sarkis Ourfalian, who has two children enrolled at Chamlian and
is on the Gym Committee. “We will do everything we can to accommodate
our neighbors.” Over 100 Chamlian parents, teachers and students in
sports uniforms attended the hearing.

But about 50 neighbors who attended the hearing were not pleased
with the council’s decision, and spoke up about increased traffic,
decreased property value and the gymnasium becoming a neighborhood
eyesore. When speakers in favor the gymnasium took the podium, many
opponents watching from the lobby stomped their feet, rolled their
eyes and laughed out loud.

Others were simply emotional. “I am disappointed and shocked,” said
Joni Larson, who lives on Second Ave., which borders the school.

Larson was upset that Councilman Weaver partially based his decision on
the low number of parking citations around the school and complaints
filed with the Glendale Police Department about the school in the
past two years.

“The neighborhood stopped complaining because nothing was being done,”
said Larson, who described walking door to door with a petition to
learn that neighbors who had made complaints about traffic problems
at the school were ignored. “Neighbors made phone calls to the police
department. No one came.”

Rodney Khan, Chamlian’s project consultant, spearheaded the campaign
to overturn the Planning Commission’s decision. “We’re really excited
about the outcome,” Khan said. “One of the challenges we faced was
people questioning what our real motive was. It was transparent. The
gym is for kids to exercise in. There is no other agenda.”

Chamlian Principal Vazken Madenlian said that fundraising efforts
will now begin for the gym.

Read some of the comments the City Council heard at the hearing
last night.

The gymnasium construction has caused controversy because of the
increased traffic commuter students bring to surrounding roads and
because the school has already maxed out its Floor Area Ratio. The
school sits on 4.59 acres with buildings that take up 45,141 square
feet. The gymnasium will bring the school to 54,486 square feet of
floor area. The school is located in an R1 residential zone which
allows 22,994 square feet of floor area for a lot of its size.

In addition, the max height for buildings in Chamlian’s zone is
25 feet, and the proposed gymnasium would be 35 feet, though Khan
said that the gym could be constructed at 30 feet. The school has
also been allowed to operate without the required minimum number of
parking spaces since the late 1980s.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS PACE SUMMER SESSION

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2011 – 20:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe has published the agenda of the summer session to be held on
June 20-24.

The first day of the session will kick off with the PACE President’s
statement. Following this, Vice-Presidents with respect to Finland
and Ireland will be elected and the agenda of the summer session will
be adopted, PACE said on its official website.

Communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary
Assembly will be presented by Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers.

Besides, budgets and priorities of the Council of Europe for the
financial years 2012-2013 will be discussed in the second half of
the day.

A judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of France will
be elected. Cooperation between the Council of Europe and emerging
democracies in the Arab world and the situation in Tunisia will be
discussed on June 22.

In addition, the parliamentarians will exchange views on living
together in 21st century Europe. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
is expected to address the session.

BAKU ACCUSES IRANIAN TV CHANNEL OF SLANDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2011 – 20:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran addressed the Iranian
Broadcasting Council to protest against anti-Azerbaijani statements
voiced on Sahar 2 TV channel.

According to a representative of Azerbaijani Embassy Ibrahim Gafarov,
the head of the structure avoids meeting with Azerbaijani diplomats
to discuss the issue.

Gafarov accused the channel of slander, stressing that the activities
and policy of Sahar 2, similarly to any radio and TV channel in Iran
are directed by the Council.