Armenian News... A Topalian... New Premier Election

BBC Monitoring Trans Caucasus Unit

Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

April 29, 2018 Sunday

Armenians look into possible scenarios of new premier's election

 By BBC Monitoring

 

Armenians social media users have been discussing possible scenarios after the ruling Republican Party (ARP) decided not to nominate any candidate for the post of prime minister in the 1 May election.

 

"The ARP will wait until all candidates are nominated by 30 April and then decide who to vote for," ARP press secretary Eduard Sharmazanov said on 28 April.

 

While the ARP's decision not to nominate a candidate for the post of prime minister can be viewed as a positive move for the opposition movement led by MP Nikol Pashinyan, social media users widely share possible scenarios and question the real reason behind the APR's decision.

 

"Nikol's candidacy would be rejected on 1 May because the Republicans have the majority in the parliament. He would not become prime minister seven days later in the same manner and according to the constitution, a snap election would be organised by the ruling Republicans. They would organise the election exactly in the same way as they did a year ago and thus secure their stable majority in the parliament. No change," well-known journalist Armen Dulyan wrote on his Facebook page. (https://bit.ly/2KlJJlm)

 

Civilnet.am website analysed possible scenarios after the parliament's dissolution and snap elections organised by the ARP and wrote: "As the parliament is dissolved, there would be no opportunity to change the election code in order to organise a free and fair election." (bit.ly/2KoRhng)

 

The website added that according to the constitution, if the parliament fails to elect a prime minister in two attempts, the parliament is dissolved and a snap election is organised between 30 to 45 days.

 

For their part, Pashinyan's supporters announced their readiness for all scenarios, continue peaceful protests, boycott the elections organised by the ARP and block polling stations.

 

"We are ready for the Republicans' dirty games," Facebook user Andre Simonian wrote. (https://bit.ly/2JB8SHv)

 

At the same time, RFE/RL's Armenian service, Azatutyun, carried an interview about possible scenarios with Pashinyan on 29 April.

 

Asked if the ARP could boycott the election twice and lead the country to snap elections, Pashinyan said: "I have told you that their current mood is not as you said. The current mood is to elect the next prime minister on 1 May."

 

TASS, Russia

April 30 2018

Armenian opposition leader vows to return Azerbaijan to constructive dialogue on Karabakh

The parliament is scheduled to elect prime minister on May 1

        

Armenia’s opposition leader and an MP of the Yelk parliamentary faction Nikol Pashinyan on Monday pledged to try to return Azerbaijan to a constructive dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed border region between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan, who was officially nominated as a candidate for the country’s prime minister earlier in the day, said he "absolutely supports the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh and would do his utmost to bring Azerbaijan back to a constructive dialogue." "If I become the prime minister, we should increase Armenia’s defensive capacity and make all efforts to enhance the army."

Since April 13, opposition’s widespread protests have gripped Armenia. On April 23, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan tendered his resignation in the wake of protests. On April 25, the ruling coalition broke up after the Dashnaktsutyun party had left it.

The parliament is scheduled to elect prime minister on May 1. Three parliamentary factions - the Tsarukyan Alliance and Dashnaktsutyun and Yelk - vowed that they would vote in favor of Pashinyan. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia will not nominate its candidate.

Pashinyan (an MP of the Yelk faction) will become prime minister if 53 out of 105 (a simple majority) of MPs vote for him in the one-chamber parliament. The faction of the ruling Republic Party of Armenia has 58 seats in the parliament, while Yelk has nine, Dashnaktsutyun has seven, and the Tsarukyan bloc has 31 seats.

TASS, Russia

April 30 2018

PM should be elected in parliament, not in streets — Armenia’s president

Artyom Geodakyan

According to Sarkisyan, "any disagreements should be resolved in the building of the parliament"

Armenia’s prime minister should be elected in strict compliance with the constitution when the citizens’ interests are observed, President Armen Sarkisyan told Belarussian reporters in an interview aired by the Belarussian ONT channel on Sunday.

"We all must have respect for the Constitution," he said. "The Constitution says clearly that there is one place, the parliament, where prime minister is to be elected, but neither in the streets, nor by any rally."

According to Sarkisyan, "any disagreements should be resolved in the building of the parliament."

"If a person is elected [prime minister] in line with the constitution, as the head of state, I will sign into law the decree appointing that person prime minister," he said. "In case, the constitution is not breached."

"Nobody cannot and must not open Pandora’s box, as then people will not respect the constitution," Sarkisyan stressed.

Since April 13, opposition’s widespread protests have gripped Armenia. On April 23, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan tendered his resigned in the wake of protests. On April 25 the ruling coalition broke up after the Dashnaktsutyun party had left it. The parliament is scheduled to elect prime minister on May 1. Three parliamentary factions - the Tsarukyan Alliance and Dashnaktsutyun and Yelk parties - vowed that they would vote in favor of Pashinyan. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia will not nominate its candidate.

Pashinyan (an MP of the Yelk faction) will become prime minister if 53 out of 105 (a simple majority) of MPs vote for him in the one-chamber parliament. The faction of the ruling Republic Party of Armenia has 58 seats in the parliament, while Yelk has nine, Dashnaktsutyun has seven, and the Tsarukyan bloc has 31 seats.

Deutsche Welle, Germany

April 30 2018

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan formally nominated for premier by supporters

 

Two weeks of protests have been suspended as Nikol Pashinian holds talks with other political leaders ahead of a key vote in parliament. He only needs six more votes from other parties to become prime minister.

 

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinian was formally nominated by his supporters for the vacant post of prime minister on Monday. He needs support from several more lawmakers to be assured of winning the vote on Tuesday in parliament. 

 

The formal nomination is the latest step in Pashinian's progress from leader of the protests which forced unpopular Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign to premier with a reform program for the former Soviet republic. 

 

Pashinian held negotiations with all parties in parliament Monday, saying:

 

"We are facing the task of resolving the political crisis in the country," 

 "Our goal is to draw a line under animosity and create an atmosphere of solidarity,"

"If a prime minister is not elected tomorrow, this crisis will not disappear,"

"I don't have to and will not coax them," he said of the ruling Republican Party which holds a majority of seats in the assembly. 

 

Serzh Sargsyan, who ruled Armenia for 10 years, tendered his resignation after widespread public demonstrations against his attempts to hold onto power. The Armenian government named former Prime Minister Karen Karapetian, an ally of Sargsyan, as acting premier.

 

The protests were sparked by Sargsyan's move to extend his rule. The 63-year-old was president of Armenia from 2008 until a term limit forced him out in March. But the parliament, which is controlled by ruling Republican Party, installed him as prime minister in April and curbed the powers of the president.

 

The shift to a strengthened parliamentary triggered massive anti-government protests in the capital of Yerevan on April 13, with thousands of people participating in rolling demonstrations against Sargsyan. Hundreds of Armenian soldiers also joined the protests.

 

Clinging to power

 

The parliament's move to keep Sargsyan in power echoed a maneuver by Russian President Vladimir Putin a decade ago. Leaders in several former Soviet republics have used similar methods to remain in power.

 

Protesters in the capital Yerevan took to the streets to celebrate Sargsyan's resignation. A day after Sargsyan stepped down, the country's opposition called for a meeting with the caretaker prime minister to discuss a "peaceful transfer of power." In this photo, opposition leader Nikol Pashinian (R) is seen in a meeting with Sargsyan on April 22, urging him to step down.

 

Russia, Armenia's closest ally, said on April 24 that it was not concerned about the political situation in Yerevan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not regard Armenia's political tumult as a Ukraine-style revolt against pro-Russia politicians. However, according to analysts, Sargsyan's resignation has unsettled Russian interests in Armenia.

After talks with acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan were cancelled, Pashinian and his supporters took to the streets again on April 25 to demand parliament choose a "people's candidate" who di not come from the ruling Republican Party.

 

Armenia's parliament will vote for a new premier on May 1. Pashinian has said he is prepared to be a candidate, but it is unclear if he will get support. The ruling Republican Party holds a majority in parliament.

As Nikol Pashinian's supporters staged further protests on April 29, the ruling Republican Party which holds a majority in parliament said it would not put forward a candidate for prime minister to stand against Pashinian. The party would not "impede the election of the people's candidate" if all three opposition factions voted for him, leader Vahram Baghdasaryan said.

 

Short of six votes, Pashinian met with other political leaders in parliament on April 30. "We are facing the task of resolving the political crisis in the country," he said. "If a prime minister is not elected tomorrow, this crisis will not disappear." The vote in parliament for a new prime minister was scheduled for May 1.

 

The Republicans said on Sunday they would not block Pashinian's election if all opposition groups in parliament supported him. Republican leader Vahram Baghdasaryan said his party would not "impede the election of the people's candidate" if all three opposition factions supported him.

 

Political analysts think it is likely Pashinian will win Tuesday's vote: "I see practically no obstacles to Pashinian becoming a prime minister tomorrow," Hakob Badalyan told AFP. 

 

Political scientist Ervand Bozoyan said people now see political change is possible:  "Nikol has become a hero."

 

Jubilant scenes as Armenia’s president resigns

 

How did it come to this? Two weeks of protests brought the resignation of long-standing leader Serzh Sargsyan just days after parliament had approved his appointment as prime minister after spending a decade as president. The broadbased opposition supporting Pashinian holds Sargsyan responsible for the poor state of the economy in the landlocked country, and for widespread corruption. 

 

How likely is Pashinian to win? The sole candidate, Pashinian has support from 47 opposition-party lawmakers but needs six more votes to be elected in the 105-seat legislature. 

Panorama, Armenia

April 30 2018

More than 100 foreign reporters to cover Armenia’s PM election

More than 100 foreign reporters s have received accreditation at Armenia’s foreign ministry to cover the election of Armenia’s Prime Minister, Press Secretary at foreign ministry Tigran Balayan wrote on Facebook.

To note, in accordance with Part 3 of Article 140 of the Constitutional Law of Armenia Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, the issue of the Prime Minister’s election would be debated on May 1 at the special sitting of the parliament.

The Head of Yelq fraction, leader of “My Step” initiative Nikol Pashinyan is the only candidate nominated for the post.

Armenian Weekly

April 30 2018

Armenian Church in Istanbul’s Kadıköy District the Latest Target of Racist Vandalism

Photos of graffiti reading “This homeland is ours” spray-painted on the exterior wall of the Armenian Surp Takavor Church and a pile of trash dumped in front of the church’s door began circulating on social media and various Turkish news outlets on the morning of April 30.

According to the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, church officials said that an individual had come to the church a day before and had exhibited suspicious behavior during a church service. Upon examination of CCTV footage, church officials believe that the same man was responsible for the graffiti and trash.

The video recordings have since been handed over to authorities and an investigation has been launched, according to the Agos report.

“Erzurumlu 25″—a possible reference to a historical event—was also spray-painted on the wall.  The Erzurum Congress, an assembly of the Turkish National Movement held in 1919 in the city of Erzurum, took place in the hall of the former Sanasarian College building—a well-known Armenian language higher education institution, which partially burned in a fire in 1925. Several social media accounts exist with the username “Erzurumlu 25.” (Note: Erzurumlu in Turkish refers to someone, who is from the city of Erzurum)

The Kadıköy Municipality condemned the incident as a “racist attack” in a Twitter post, saying the necessary work has been initiated to clear the writing and remove the trash.

This is not the first incident, in which Armenian institutions have been the target of graffiti and vandalism in Istanbul in recent years. In 2016, the exterior walls of the Bomonti Mkhitarian Armenian School of Istanbul were vandalized with anti-Armenian graffiti recently. “One night, we suddenly will be in Karabagh,” read the graffiti in Turkish.

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, ISTANBUL BRANCH's Genocide commemoration press release which they couldn't read out and distribute to the press on the 24th April upon police intervention

Here is our Genocide commemoration press release we couldn't read out and distribute to the press on the 24th April upon police intervention: 

 

THE GENOCIDE LIES AT THE ROOT OF ALL EVILS WE CONDEMN TODAY 

24 April, 2018

 

Yes, at the root of all evils in this country lies the Genocide committed against the Christian peoples of Asia Minor and Northern Mesopotamia, against Armenians, Assyrians/Cyriacs, and Greeks.

One destruction follows another. As we protest against the ongoing destructions, physical, historical and cultural destructions, the fact that they all follow the same way paved by the first great destruction obscures, and fades into oblivion.

 

Today is the 24th of April.

 

The anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

 

This place is one of the hundreds, thousands of crime scenes in this city. One of the most significant.

The Armenians of Istanbul were rounded up and brought to the prison that once used to stand here, this building which now houses the Museum of Turkish-Islamic art. They were taken to Sarayburnu from this building, then to Haydarpaşa. And on to their death march.

The Genocide was also committed against the Assyrians/Syriacs and the Greeks of Asia Minor and Pontos.

Yes, we are gathered here to commemorate the Genocide.

It’s easy to commemorate the Genocide. Here we are, commemorating the Genocide of Armenians, Assyrian/Syriacs,  and Greeks.  

As descendants of the perpetrators, we confessed our shame numerous times. Numerous times we called out here: GENOCIDE! RECOGNISE! BEG FORGIVENESS! COMPENSATE!   

And the result? Have we been able to change one little thing? 

That is why we say “nothing is easier than commemorating the Genocide”. If not here, we can always commemorate in our homes.

The question is, just commemorating the Genocide has become meaningless. Commemorating, on its own, bears no value.

The question is, we should not forget, nor let it be forgotten that all incidents of destruction committed throughout the history of the Turkish Republic stem from the Genocide.

The question is not to be blinded against the denial of the Genocide.

To sharpen our sensitivities to the utmost against all manifestations of denial.

The question is, even if we can’t do anything to stop it, we must keep our awareness alive against the denial that has infiltrated into the finest capillaries of our life, every cell in our brains and the smallest molecules of the air we breathe, and tirelessly continue to expose all kinds of its manifestations. 

Evil continues to exist, to become manifest in forms we can not even imagine.

We know we will see a thousand other forms of this evil.

So we, the defenders of human rights, anti-racists, opposers of Genocide denial, too will keep up the struggle in a thousand other ways.

We are not full of empty hopes, nor do we preach empty hopes.

Should there even remain only a single human rights defender, a single anti-racist, the spirit against Genocide and denial will persevere in these lands.

Now, we once more bow with respect before the memory of the Armenian, Assyrian/Syriac and Greek victims of the Genocide.

And we, the descendants of the Genocide perpetrators, repeat our feeling of shame for not being able to prevent the continuation of the Genocide through its denial and successive waves of destruction through generations.