Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS BILL ON INCREASING PENSIONS

news.am
May 12 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The Armenian Parliament have rejected the ARF
Dashnaktutyun-submitted bill on the minimum basket of goods, pensions
and allowances.

The ARF-D offered to increase the amount of minimum wages, pensions
and allowances to $161 (AMD 61, 000).

Explaining position of the majority head of Republican parliamentary
group Galust Sahakyan said it is a good bill but the government,
unfortunately, has no such resources.

AZERBAIJAN SEEKS TO KEEP SITUATION TENSED IN CONTACT LINE – ARMENIAN MFA

news.am
May 12 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian Foreign Ministry commented on killing of Armenian
villager by Azerbaijanis in Hadrut region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“On the eve of 17 anniversary of ceasefire agreement, an Armenian
civilian, Arayik Balasanyan, was killed as a result of regular
provocation of the Azerbaijani side in the Karabakh conflict zone,”
said Tigran Balayan, Spokesperson for Foreign Ministry.

“Azerbaijan’s actions not only contradict the logics of peace process,
but also shows aspiration to keep situation tensed in the line of
contact by all possible means to hamper resolution of the conflict
on the basis of proposals submitted by the world community,” he added.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, an Armenian civilian
was killed in the line of contact of Armenian and Azerbaijani armed
forces on May 11 as a result of ceasefire violation by Azerbaijani
armed forces.

Arayik Balasanyan, 33-year-old resident of Kyuratagh village, Hadrut
region of Nagorno-Karabakh, received a gunshot wound in the head,
while operating a tractor. He died on the way to Hadrut hospital.

Details of the incident are being clarified.

FACEBOOK CLOSES GROUP DEDICATED TO HRANT DINK

news.am
May 12 2011
Armenia

“We are all Hrant Dinks, we are all Armenians” group having 2709
members was closed by Facebook administration due to complaints
received from users.

In an interview with Agos newspaper founder of the group Vardges
Hergel noted that they have already filed a complaint to Facebook
administration but have not received an answer yet.

Hergel stressed there are still many pages dedicated to Dink’s
murderer, Ogun Samast.

Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, chief editor of Agos newspaper,
was assassinated near the editorial office of the Agos newspaper,
January 19, 2007 by Turkish ultranationalist Ogun Samast

AZERBAIJAN MUST SPARE NO EFFORT FOR ‘PEACEFUL SOLUTION’ OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

news.az
May 12 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan must make every effort to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
through peaceful means.

The statement came from Ali Hasanov, head of the public and political
department of the Presidential Administration, in his remarks for
journalists.

This is not something that we want, but this is also an opinion of
international experts.

“Though with some concessions, we want Azerbaijan to tackle this
conflict through peaceful means and not to get involved in a war
again,” Hasanov said.

Based on opinion and current realities, the war can harm Azerbaijan
which has newly stepped on a path of strategic development, Hasanov
added.

“In the meantime, the war can be beneficial for occupier Armenia,
which lacks any development resource, simulates the Karabakh problem,
and survives through the support of world community and Armenian
lobby, whose population leave the country almost every day and
economic downturn.

Therefore, Azerbaijani President has reiterated that Azerbaijan tries
to solve this issue through negotiations and supports peace in this
issue” Hasanov noted.

However, there is a limit of patience of Azerbaijani people and
Azerbaijani state.

“But we do dot want this limit to be exceeded. We make efforts to
ensure territorial integrity and security of Azerbaijan through peace,”
Hasanov underscored.

ARMENAL FOIL-ROLLING PLANT PRODUCES 6,610 TONS OF ALUMINUM FOIL IN QUARTER ONE 201

ARMENPRESS
MAY 12, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 12. / ARKA /. ArmenAl Armenian-Russian foil-rolling plant
in Yerevan said in a press release today it had produced 6,610 tons of
aluminum foil in the first three months of 2011, an 8.7% rise from a
year before. The company said it was the highest rate for the entire
11-year period of operation.

“Exports of foil in tons for the first quarter grew by 7.7% to 5,867
tons, and in money terms by 20.5% to $20.44 million. The share of
Armenal exports in the overall Armenian exports rose by 0.46% from
2010 to 8.22%,’ the press release said.

The press service of the plant quoted the State Revenue Committee as
saying that Armenal is the largest exporter of finished produces and
one of the largest importers coming after importers of natural gas,
oil products and cars.

According to the press release, since the beginning of this year the
standard prime cost of metal processing decreased by 5%. During the
same period, the average thickness of the foil decreased by 10% to
16.62 microns, and the monthly output per 1 person approached 3.5 tons.

Compared with the first quarter of 2010 the average salary in the
first quarter of 2011 increased by almost 10% amounting to more than
235,000 drams, more than twice higher than the median Armenian wage.

The Armenal foil rolling mill was founded in May 2000 on the basis
of Kanaker aluminum smelter in Yerevan. It is one of the biggest
production facilities in Armenia and is the only producer of aluminum
foil in the Caucasus and Central Asian regions. On May 18th, 2000
the mill was integrated into United Company RUSAL.

Together with two other foil mills, SAYANAL in the Russian republic
of Khakasia and Urals Foil, ARMENAL forms the company’s Packaging
Division.

THE MINISTER NALBANDIAN REQUESTED, THE EUROPEAN OFFICIALS – REAFFIRMED
By Hovik Afyan

AZG DAILY
12-05-2011

On May 10, the Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian
received Wilfried Martens, the President of the European People’s
Party (EPP) and the delegation led by him. As Press and information
department of Foreign Affairs Ministry reports, Nalbandian and Martens
had a thorough talk on the process of continuing development of the
interaction between Armenia and the European Union, as well as issues
related to the Eastern Partnership Program. The sides exchanged views
on a number of international and regional agenda issues. The Armenian
Foreign Affairs Minister presented the recent developments in the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. In that context Minister
Nalbandian mentioned that “the international community should give a
relevant assessment to the threats of use of force and provocations
conducted by Azerbaijan”.

On May 10, the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian also
met with Petros Efthymiou, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly. Petros Efthymiou reaffirmed the position of the international
community about the Karabakh conflict settlement. The President of
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stressed the importance of creating an
atmosphere of confidence through the consolidation of cease-fire and
withdrawal of snipers and underlined that “a peaceful settlement of the
issue has no alternative”. Discussing a number of OSCE agenda issues,
the Armenian Foreign Minister mentioned that “OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly is a full-fledged format of inter-parliamentary cooperation
and Armenia actively participates in its activity.”

REPORT: STATE OFFICIALS LISTENED TO DINK’S WIDOW IN KEY VISIT

Today’s Zaman Turkey
May 11 2011

Officials from the State Audit Institution (DDK) who have been
investigating the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink paid a visit to Dink’s widow, Rakel Dink, two weeks ago upon
President Abdullah Gul’s request and noted down her demands with
regard to the probe, the Milliyet daily reported on Wednesday.

Dink, the late editor-in-chief of Agos, was shot dead by an
ultranationalist teenager outside the offices of his newspaper in
broad daylight in Ä°stanbul on Jan. 19, 2007. The investigation into
his murder stalled when the suspected perpetrator and his accomplices
were put on trial, but those who masterminded the plot to kill him
have yet to be exposed and punished. In the face of growing calls
from the public and a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling
which had found Turkey guilty of failing to protect Dink’s right to
life and of failing to carry out a thorough investigation into the
officers who failed to take the necessary measures in light of early
warnings and tips about the plot to kill Dink, Gul ordered the DDK
to investigate the Dink murder earlier this year.

Milliyet said the DDK officials have so far listened to many
individuals who may contribute to shedding light on the murder and
that one of the most critical DDK meetings took place with Rakel
Dink two weeks ago. During the meeting, which was also attended by
the Dink family’s lawyers, Rakel Dink and the lawyers once again
expressed frustration over the state’s failure to protect Hrant Dink.

The investigation that followed Dink’s death revealed that the police
had been tipped off to plans to murder the journalist. Nineteen
suspects are currently facing trial in the murder case. A majority
of the suspects, including the hitman, are from Trabzon, where the
police say they had informed the Ä°stanbul police about the plot to
kill Dink on more than one occasion.

In addition to having ignored the tip-off about the plot, lawyers
representing the plaintiff are accusing the police of destroying
crucial evidence to protect some of the suspects, among whom is an
ex-police informant.

According to Milliyet, President Gul is closely following the DDK’s
investigation and is briefed about every stage in the probe by DDK
President Cemal Boyalı. He was also informed about the details of
the meeting with Rakel Dink.

CHP VISITED FENER GREEK, TURKISH ARMENIAN PATRIARCHIES

Hurriyet Daily News
May 11 2011
Turkey

The Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Deputy President, Osman Koruturk
pay a visit to Fener Greek and Armenian patriarchies of Turkey. His
visit to Armenian Patriarchy of Turkey took longer than anticipated. On
the matter of the Armenian deputy who had declared candidacy from CHP
yet been excluded out of the list, Koruturk said, ‘We do not separate
people according to their ethnic identities, 4,300 people applied’

The main opposition reaches out to minorities ahead of elections.

The Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Deputy President and Foreign
Politics Representative Osman Koruturk and General Secretary Bihlun
Tamaylıgil paid a visit to Fener Greek Patriarchy and the Armenian
Patriarchy of Turkey on Monday.

While the officials’ visit to Fener Greek Patriarchy took half an hour,
their visit to the Armenians Patriarchy of Turkey took approximately
an hour and half. They were met by the Acting Patriarch Archishop
Aram AteÅ~_yan at the Turkish Armenian Patriarchy and the meeting
was held closed to the press.

Answering the questions of Hurriyet Daily News after the meeting,
Koruturk touching upon the incidents of 1915, said: “Both of the sides
experienced agonies, it would be unjust to say they are one-sided. As
two rival parties the CHP, and Justice and Development Party, or
AKP, we brought on the agenda the proposal of establishing a history
commission. Nevertheless, the proposal was not approved in Armenia.”

Answering the question why Arev Cebeci putting candidacy from CHP on
behalf of the Armenian community could not be elected, Koruturk said
they do not separate people according to their identities. “More
than 4,300 people applied and 550 of them won. We do not have an
Armenian deputy in Parliament on behalf of our party. However, we
have Armenian-origin citizens taking positions in the administration
of CHP and local levels.”

Explaining why the visit to the Armenian Patriarchy of Turkey took
a longer span of time, Koruturk said: “They had a long agenda
to discuss. We have comprehensive projects, family insurance,
agriculture projects and economic projects. These projects would
change the country throughout.”

Saying that minorities are crucial for CHP, Koruturk said they stand
by all of the rights recognized to minorities within the frame of
Lozan Treaty.

One of the presidents of Istanbul Armenian Foundation Bedros
Marzubanyan showing at the meeting said the recent statements of
CHP leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu upset the Armenian community. “Some
people said Kılıcdaroglu’s mother is an Armenian from Dersim and
he tried to prove his mother is not an Armenian. I would like to ask
him whether being an Armenian is really such a bad thing after all.”

Despite that they are welcome as the door is open to everybody, said
Marzubanyan. “CHP is the closest rival of the government. Therefore,
learning their opinions is to our advantage,” he said.

“There should have been at least two Armenian parliamentarians both
in government and in the opposition. It is said on each occasion
Turkey is a mosaic. If the parliament is a place where this mosaic
is represented, and that is the case, as far as I know, then the
pieces missing from the mosaic must be completed. We have deputy
mayors and village headmen, but now we want to send a representative
to parliament,” said Marzubanyan, who highlighted the fact that the
50,000-strong Armenians in Turkey did not have a single representative
in parliament.

Another participant in the meeting, Apik Ozfırıncı, said the visit
was part of the election campaign in Turkey and the patriarchate had
demonstrated its hospitality.

“As we stated earlier, we listen to both sides and our doors are wide
open to both of them. The decision will undoubtedly stem from the
ballot box,” said Hrant HasbaÅ~_yan whose affinity with the ruling
AKP is well known due to the Turkish-Armenian community’s gains on
issues relating to minority foundations.

Bedros Å~^irinoglu, the president of the Yedikule Surp Pırgic Hospital
Foundation, which ranks in second place in the protocol following the
patriarchate, did not attend the meeting. Å~^irinoglu, who is also
known for his disposition toward the AKP, had told Daily News in a
previous interview that he was ready to serve as a parliamentarian,
if he was offered a position.

HAMMARBERG’S ASSESSMENTS ON ARMENIA ARE NOT NEW-OPPOSITIONAL MP

news.am
May 11 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. The assessments of Council of Europe Commissioner for
Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg on Armenia are not new, head of
“Heritage” parliamentary faction Stepan Safaryan Safaryan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to Safaryan, “all Armenia has been experiencing since March
1 events was reflected in the report”. “The European official was
more consistent than some political forces. Hammarberg’s assessments
in fact remained unchanged. It demands an effective investigation,
without which parliamentary and presidential elections in Armenia
will not be fair,” Safaryan stressed.

According to him, political assessments should be given to what
happened to avoid further consequences. The MP emphasized the release
of political prisoners should be hailed positive. “A transparent and
clear investigation should be conducted and those responsible for
the deaths of 10 victims must be brought to justice,” Safaryan said.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg released a report on
May 9 on his visit to Armenia carried out in January 2011. The report
focuses on human rights issues related to the March 2008 events,
freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, and
the human rights situation in the army.

TV PROGRAMS TO BE REFORMED

ARMENPRESS
MAY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

A contract was signed today between the RA Education and Science
Ministry and Public Television-Radio Council aimed at ensuring variety
of educational, cultural programs in the television. The agreement
was signed by Minister Armen Ashotyan and chairman of the Council
Alexan Harutyunyan.

Speaking to reporters Ashotyan said the contract consists of four
main points, three of them are clear goals and the fourth has been
left as an “open window” in case of new goals appear.

“One of the three points is conduction of “Armenian Knight” television
game contest which from this year will be conducted under the auspices
of the Ministry, it is necessary to oblige placing social ads as well
as broadcast animation cartoons shot by deceased Robert Sahakyants”,
the minister said.