Armenian News

Armenians' age-old dream came true with liberation of Shushi -

Karabakh President

news.am

May 09, 2012 | 11:54

STEPANAKERT.- The liberation of Shushi is the age-old dream of the

Armenian people which came true, said President of Artsakh

(Nagorno-Krabakh) Bako Sahakyan.

President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakian addressed on Wednesday

participants of the military parade dedicated to the 20th anniversary

of the liberation and formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's

Defense Army and the 67th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic

War.

Congratulating all the gathered, President Sahakyan that this holiday

reflects the intransigence of freedom and spirit of the Armenian

soldier.

Victory in Great Patriotic War is a victory of our forefathers, when

the sons and daughters of the Armenian people hand in hand with other

nations protected the world from the threat, Bako Sahakyan said,

noting that the image of the older generation has become an example

for the successors.

He stressed that the liberation of Shushi was an implementation of

age-old dream of the Armenian people.

`Today, Shushi revives and finds a new spirit,' he added stressing the

role of Karabakh's army in the development of the state.

`The Army is honorably performing its mission. Peace and stability is

provided thanks to the army, it is undeniable reality,' he emphasized.

Through the efforts of all Armenians, Artsakh not only recovered from

his wounds, but is on a path to stable development.

`The people of Nagorno-Karabakh, who won the independence at the cost

of blood, have the right to live in dignity, and we will spare no

effort to do so. An independent and free Artsakh is a great value for

all Armenians,' Bako Sahakyan concluded.

Armenia-made drones shown at parade in Nagorno-Karabakh

news.am

May 09, 2012 | 13:05

STEPANAKERT.- A military parade held in Nagorno-Karabakh capital

Stepanakert dedicated to 20th anniversary of the liberation of Shushu

and formation of the NKR Defense Army as well as the 67th anniversary

of Victory in Great Patriotic War.

Infantry and armored vehicles, artillery, anti-tank troops, multiple

rocket launchers, cannons marched in the central square of

Stepanakert.

Particular attention was drawn to the drones produced by Armenia.

Unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured in Armenia were first

demonstrated at a military parade in Yerevan last autumn.

Presidents of both republics of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan and

Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan, former presidents Robert Kocharyan,

Arkady Ghukasyan, representatives of government watched the parade

together with residents of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh and guests.

On May 9 Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic celebrate the Victory

Day in the World War II (Great Patriotic War) as well as the

Liberation of Shushi and the anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh Defense

Army.

yerkirmedia.am

What did military experts see in Stepanakert's parade?

17:32 . 09/05

Today's parade in Stepanakert devoted to the 20th anniversary of

Shushi's liberation, the establishment of NKR's defense army and the

67th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War differed

from the parade organized on the same occasions 5 years ago. The

military equipment had been added`some long-rate artillery equipment,

missile equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles, which, are the improved

variants of the ones shown in the September 21 parade of local

production.

Military expert Artsrun Hovhannisyan also states some structural

differences: `The specialists will immediately notice structural

changes of the defense army in the direction of raising combat

readiness, the alterations of the sub-divisions, etc.. Some

sub-divisions have already become brigades, their combat readiness has

risen, the opportunities have increased'.

The soldiers of the defense army live in a situation of war or, more

correctly, in relative peace, on a short distance from the enemy.

`I am sure that hysteria will rise in Baku in a short time as this was

a serious blow for them. The international experts will give certain

evaluations which will be clear and important for us. I am sure the

assessments will be very high,' Artsrun Hovhannisyan said.

The expert states the defense army doesn't have any unnecessary

division and military equipment, but has all that is necessary for

holding a victory.

`If the whole territory of a state is full of combat trenches and the

people carry out actions proceeding from military situation, there can

be no speech about ostentation,' the expert said.

Unlike Azerbaijan which buys the equipment of the former Soviet Union

countries spending large sums, which is very often not suitable for

use, we showed useful equipment though in a small number. If till now

there was an impression that NKR speaks only from defense positions,

now already, according to the experts, we prove that we can prevent

any kind of attack and retaliate.

`Any territory of the enemy is vulnerable for us. There is no

equipment or a subdivision in the Azerbaijani army which feels it is

not vulnerable while carrying out actions,' the specialist said.

The expert is sure that Azerbaijan will carry out provocative actions

on these days and our fighting capacity is not in the parade but in

defeating the enemy on the border every day.

ELECTION OBSERVERS CRITICAL OF ARMENIA POLL

Deutsche Welle

May 7 2012

Germany

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said

on Monday that democratic failings undermined what was an otherwise

peaceful election that featured an open campaign.

A statement released on the OSCE's website said that certain aspects

of a new electoral code were not implemented adequately, and that

pressure on voters as well as a deficient complaints process were

shortcomings in the poll.

"Armenia deserves recognition for its electoral reforms and its

open and peaceful campaign environment but, in this race, several

stakeholders too often failed to comply with the law and election

commissions too often failed to enforce it," said Francois-Xavier de

Donnea, the Special coordinator who led the short-term OSCE observer

mission. "As a result, the international commitments to which Armenia

has freely subscribed were not always respected."

But in contrast to Armenia's last election in 2008 that left 10 dead,

Sunday's poll was a step in the right direction.

"The high turnout of over 60 percent, the wide age range among voters,

and the clear understanding of the electoral process by young and

old alike were impressive, but reports of widespread interference

with the running of polling stations, voters' movement and casting of

votes throughout the day by certain political parties raised serious

concerns," said Emma Nicholson, the head of the Parliamentary Assembly

of the Council of Europe delegation.

Armenia's central election commission said President Serzh Sarkisian's

Republican party took 44.05 percent of the vote after all ballots

had been counted.

The second best showing was for the Prosperous Armenia party, which

was previously the Republican party's coalition partner but has turned

into a political rival.

RFE/RL Report

Armenian Election Chief `Confused' By OSCE Verdict

Astghik Bedevian

09.05.2012

The chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Tigran

Mukuchian, on Wednesday described as confusing a mixed assessment of

Armenia's parliamentary elections that was given by international

election observers.

In their preliminary findings presented on Monday, the nearly 300

observers mostly deployed by the Organization for Security and

Cooperation in Europe praised the pre-election environment in the

country but reported irregularities in a `significant number' of

polling stations on voting day.

The Western-led observer mission singled out government loyalists'

`undue interference' in the electoral process and widespread concerns

over Armenia's notoriously inaccurate voter lists. One of the mission

heads, Francois-Xavier de Donnea, said Armenian election commissions

`too often failed to enforce' the law.

However, in contrast to the previous OSCE reports on Armenian

elections, the observers did not say whether or not they think the

latest vote met democratic standards.

`Because of their formulations it's very difficult to understand

whether they reported the positive or the negative,' Mukuchian told a

news conference. `The emphasis is incomprehensible.'

The CEC chief said he agrees with some conclusions drawn in the

OSCE-led mission's report but cannot accept others. `There are

procedures which I think need to be clarified,' he said without

elaborating.

Mukuchian similarly criticized late last month an interim pre-election

report that was issued by the observers. In particular, he rejected

their claims that teachers and other public-sector employees across

the country were forced to attend campaign rallies held by the ruling

Republican Party of Armenia (HHK).

The Armenian authorities have repeatedly assured Western governments

and structures that the May 6 elections will be more democratic than

the most recent Armenian polls held in 2007 and 2008. The OSCE

described them as largely democratic.

Mukuchian insisted that the parliamentary elections swept by the HHK

were the cleanest in Armenia's history. `We can conclude for certain

that the electoral process has never been as transparent, public,

visible and controlled as it was this time,' he said.

Armenia's leading opposition groups will strongly disagree. They claim

that the HHK ensured its landslide victory through large-scale vote

buying and multiple voting by government supporters.

RFE/RL Report

Armenian Vote Gets High Marks From Local Monitors

Sargis Harutyunyan, Elen Chilingaryan

08.05.2012

Armenia's largest vote-monitoring organization said on Tuesday that

the weekend parliamentary elections were largely democratic despite

various irregularities registered by its volunteers on polling day.

The non-governmental organization, It's Your Choice, claimed to have

deployed 4,000 observers at polling stations across the country.

`Our organization thinks that there were worrisome facts, there were

violations but we don't think that they influenced election results,'

its chairman, Harutiun Hambardzumian told a news conference.

`If you compare them with past elections, these elections are really

one step forward,' Hambardzumian said. In particular, he said, It's

Your Choice monitors had much better access to polling stations and

the voting process than in the past, he said.

Hambardzumian was equally satisfied with the course of the election

campaign when he spoke to journalists last week. He said there have

been few instances of government officials and loyalists bullying

voters, attacking opposition campaigners or obstructing their

campaigning.

Hambardzumian had earlier accused the three political parties

represented in the government of vote buying. He said on April 4 that

the practice is particularly widespread in impoverished rural regions.

Western observers have been more critical of the Armenian authorities'

handling of the polls. In a statement issued on Monday, an observer

mission led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

reported irregularities in a `significant number' of polling stations.

Nevertheless, official Yerevan seems largely satisfied with that

verdict. `We looked into the [OSCE] report with interest and are

satisfied with its content,' Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab

Mnatsakanian told journalists late on Monday. `The report acknowledges

the vibrant and competitive political environment, diverse media and

many other things existing in Armenia. Various shortcomings mentioned

in the report will remain on our agenda.'

`There are things with which we may not agree, but this is a process

of dialogue ¦ rather than confrontation,' added Mnatsakanian.

François Hollande reconfirms his commitment to criminalize denial of

Armenian Genocide

 21:53, 8 May, 2012

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: François Hollande, the president-elect of

France, has not changed its position on making denial of genocides

punishable by law since 2004. Hollande stated this in his letter

addressed to head of Anatolia Cultural Center Demir Jonger, who is

best known for denying the Armenian Genocide, Armenpress reports.

François Hollande simultaneously reminded Jonger that he has voted for

the bill criminalizing denial of genocides, which has been recognized

by France. "The Constitutional Court has rejected that bill, but I am

going to propose analogical new bill, which will respect our

constitution," Hollande noted.

He also stressed that along with keeping true to the merits of the

republic, he is going to be consistent in establishment of friendship

between peoples.

Referring to Turkey-European Union relations, the president-elect of

France said that EU has always been faithful to its principles, and if

Turkey wants to become a member of the European family itself must

adopt the strivings for modernization.

Azerbaijan Quake Destroys 1,360 Buildings: Minister

May 09, 2012 15:00 PM

 BAKU, May 9 (Bernama) -- The 5.5-magnitude earthquake that struck

northwestern Azerbaijan on Monday destroyed 1,360 houses and damaged

20 social facilities, Minister for Emergency Situations Kamaladdin

Heydarov said yesterday.

 Special emergency groups had begun work in Zagatala, Balakan, Gakh

and other regions hit by the earthquake since Monday, Xinhua news

agency quoted the minister as saying.

 "Today we have visited the villages and met with the residents. We

are distributing tents among the population," Heydarov said.

 According to the minister, the number of houses damaged in the first

quake was small but five tremors that hit later within the same day

caused more damages.

 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has ordered the release of 20

million manats (about US $25.4 million) from the state's reserve fund

for disaster relief and recovery efforts.

Yerkirmedia.am

Azerbaijani flag painted in one of the busiest streets in Yerevan at night

17:20 . 09/05

An unknown villain or unknown villains have painted the Azerbaijani flag on

the asphalt of the road to Saralanj near Abovyan park in Yerevan early in

the morning on May 9. Photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan made a video shot of

the painted flag.

The incident might be connected with the 20th anniversary of Shushi's

liberation, which is celebrated with fanfare both in Artsakh and Armenia

this year.

The photojournalist says responsible bodies were quickly informed about the

flag, the coworkers of which have removed the traces of the flag.