Armenian News...
tert.am
Fresh shellings in Aleppo target Armenian sacred places
24.01.15
Fresh mine shellings in Aleppo, Syria have targeted a street which is
home to an Armenian Catholic prelacy and an episcopal church.
The attacks have claimed lives, leaving several people injured,
according to Perio News.
The incident was reported after midnight on Friday. The mine released
by armed rebel groups is said to have fallen near the prelacy and the
church, killing three people. It also caused damage apartments, stores
and cars in the district.
In a mine attack on January 9, the district's St. Rita Armenian
Catholic Church was damaged; the reports that the building partially
collapsed in the wake of the shelling.
RFE/RL Report
Armenia Threatens Stronger Military Action Against Azerbaijan
Emil Danielyan
26.01.2015
President Serzh Sarkisian on Monday accused Azerbaijan of again
heightening tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and said
the Armenian military could step up retaliatory strikes against
Azerbaijani forces to prevent fresh truce violations.
Addressing Armenia's top army generals and other military officials,
Sarkisian said the latest upsurge in deadly fighting is part of the
Azerbaijani leadership's continuing to efforts to clinch more Armenian
concessions in peace talks mediated by the United States, Russia and
France. This "policy of blackmail" will not influence Yerevan and can
only have "terrible consequences" for Baku, he warned.
"Until recently our retaliatory operations were symmetric in form and
asymmetric in terms of causing greater casualties," Sarkisian told a
meeting held at the Armenian Defense Ministry. "From now on, there can
also be retaliatory actions that are asymmetric in form.
"Hotheads [in Azerbaijan] should expect numerous
surprises. Furthermore, in case of greater and more threatening
buildups on our border and the [Karabakh] Line of Contact we reserve
the right to launch preemptive strikes."
"We are obliged to be ruthless towards those who plot calamities for
us," added the Karabakh-born president.
Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian chairs a meeting with the
country's top military officials, Yerevan, 26Jan2015.
Sarkisian stressed at the same time that the Armenian side remains
committed to a mutual compromise with Azerbaijan based on the Basic
Principles of a Karabakh settlement put forward by the U.S., Russian
and French mediators. But he went on to warn, "We are prepared for
both the good and the bad. All possible options are on my table."
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian already ordered the Armenian military
on January 12 to launch "preventive" offensive operations in response
to what he called a fresh upsurge in Azerbaijani armed incursions on
its frontline positions. Deadly ceasefire violations along the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the Karabakh frontline have continued
unabated since then.
The latest escalation, which the Azerbaijani military blames on the
Armenians, has prompted serious concern from the three mediating
powers and the U.S. in particular. The American, French and Russian
diplomats co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group are due to discuss it with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Poland on
Tuesday. They plan to hold similar talks with his Armenian
counterpart, Edward Nalbandian.
Later on Monday, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said
the latest truce violations are the result of "Armenian provocations"
aimed at torpedoing the peace process. Hikmet Hajiyev stuck to the
official Azerbaijani line that Armenia is doing everything to maintain
the Karabakh status quo.
Meanwhile, James Warlick, the Minsk Group's U.S. co-chair, was quoted
by the Azerbaijani media as saying that the mediators are also trying
to organize another Armenian-Azerbaijani summit later this year.
Sarkisian and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev already held three
face-to-face meetings in as many months following a similar upsurge in
deadly fighting in August. Nalbandian described as "constructive,
useful and sincere" their most recent encounter held in Paris in
October.
Tensions in the conflict zone were reignited in November by the
shooting down by Azerbaijani forces of an Armenian combat helicopter
near Karabakh. Sarkisian insisted shortly afterwards that Aliyev will
not dare to provoke a full-scale war with the Armenians any time soon.
RFE/RL Report
Mediators Concerned About Azeri Incursions In Karabakh
27.01.2015
U.S., Russian and French mediators on Tuesday voiced serious concern
at Azerbaijani armed incursions reported by the Armenian side and
urged Azerbaijan to seek only a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The three diplomats co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group met with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Krakow, Poland to
discuss recent weeks' upsurge of fighting in the conflict zone that
has left at least a dozen soldiers from both sides dead. In an ensuing
joint statement, they seemed to hold Baku primarily responsible for
the latest escalation.
"We expressed to the Minister our serious concern about reported
incursions across the Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan
border, resulting in casualties," read the statement. "The rise in
violence that began last year must stop for confidence to be restored
and progress to be made in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. We
called on Azerbaijan to observe its commitments to a peaceful
resolution of the conflict."
"We also call on Armenia to take all measures to reduce tensions. All
sides must abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Violence
undermines efforts to bring about peace," said the Minsk Group
co-chairs.
"We reminded the Minister of our mandates and expressed concern about
voices critical of the ongoing negotiation process, the role of the
Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and the duties of OSCE monitors," they added in
an apparent reference to periodical criticism of the mediators voiced
by Azerbaijani leaders.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham has repeatedly denounced the mediating
powers for not helping his country regain control over Karabakh and
Armenian-controlled districts surrounding it.
The Azerbaijani government did not immediately react to the
extraordinary criticism. In a statement on the Krakow meeting cited by
the APA news agency, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry cited
Mammadyarov as telling the mediators that the Armenians themselves
have launched commando raids on the frontlines. He also stuck to the
official line that the conflict's resolution should start from "the
withdrawal of Armenia's troops from Azerbaijan's occupied
territories."
In their statement, the co-chairs said they also emphasized to
Mammadyarov "the importance of measures aimed at avoiding unintended
incidents along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border."
One such measure for years advocated by the mediating troika is a
mutual withdrawal of snipers from all frontline positions. Armenian
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian reaffirmed Yerevan's strong support
for the idea earlier on Tuesday. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry was
quick to again reject it.
"Sniper withdrawal from the frontlines is a sick idea of the Armenian
side," Haqqin.az quoted an Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman as
saying.
Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian Warns Of Fresh Anti-Russian
By MassisPost
January 26, 2015
GYUMRI -- Primate of Shirak Diocese Archbishop Mikael
Ajapahian has warned angry street protests in Gyumri could reignite if
Russian authorities fail to hand over a Russian soldier charged with
killing seven members of a local family to Armenian law-enforcement
bodies. He said renewed anti-government and anti-Russian
demonstrations in Armenia's second-largest city would have
"unpredictable consequences."
"The people may again take to the streets if there is again a careless
statement or wrong approach and the people's minimum demand is not
fulfilled," Ajapahian told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
"And what the people are demanding is not a big deal. The people's
demands are feasible. They simply want the criminal to be handed over
to Armenian law-enforcers."
"God forbid that the people feel that they have been rebuffed. That
would lead to unpredictable consequences," added the head of Shirak
Diocese .
Arch. Ajapahian was worried about the kind of unrest that followed the
January 12 killing spree blamed on Valery Permyakov, a soldier from
the Russian military base headquartered in Gyumri. Permyakov has been
kept in the base ever since being arrested hours after the massacre.
Scores of people rallied outside key government buildings as well as
Russian facilities in Gyumri on January 14 and January 15 to demand
the suspect's handover to Armenian law-enforcement bodies. Hundreds of
them clashed riot police outside the local Russian consulate.
While backing their demands, Ajapahian has deplored the violence. He
urged the Gyumri citizens to avoid further unrest last week as he held
a requiem service for 6-month-old Seryozha Avetisian, who died of his
stab wounds one week after his 2-year-old sister, parents, aunt and
grandparents were found dead in their home.
"I can't work as a perpetual lighting rod," the respected archbishop
said on Monday.
The Armenian and Russian authorities have scrambled since January 15
to reassure the locals that the gruesome crime will be fully solved.
They have pledged to coordinate their separate inquiries into the
killings and said that Permyakov will stand trial in Armenia. However,
a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated last week
that the 18-year-old will be tried in a Russian military court.
In Yerevan, meanwhile, Hunan Poghosian, a deputy chief of the Armenian
police, said on Monday that he personally visited the Russian base and
demanded Permyakov's extradition immediately after the latter was
caught by Russian border guards deployed on the nearby Turkish border.
"But that's not an issue that could have been solved on the basis of
demand," said Poghosian during a news conference. "As you all know,
the issue is on the legal plane and should be solved within the
framework of treaties between the two countries."
Phoghosian spoke of "unprecedented" cooperation between Armenian and
Russian officials investigating the crime.
The police general also confirmed reports that more than 100 Gyumri
residents have been summoned to local police stations and questioned
in connection with the January 15 violent protest. He said 27 of them
might face accusations of hooliganism or resistance to police. None of
them has been formally charged yet.
a1plus.am
Report on tortures in Armenia
January 27,2015
Anti-torture Committee reveals police ill-treatment in Armenia, little
progress on situation of life-imprisoned
Strasbourg, 27 January 2015 - The Council of Europe's Committee for
the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CPT) published today its reports on the last two ad hoc
visits to Armenia, carried out in April 2013 and May 2014, together
with the responses of the Armenian authorities.
The April 2013 visit followed the emergence of reports outlining
persisting problems in the police treatment of persons deprived of
their liberty. The CPT's delegation received many allegations from
detained persons that they had been subjected to physical or
psychological ill-treatment and excessive use of force by police
officers at the time of apprehension and during the subsequent
questioning; and received threats of repercussions for family members.
Sometimes the ill-treatment alleged was of such a severity that it
could be considered to amount to torture (e.g. extensive beatings;
infliction of electric shocks; simulated asphyxiation with a gas mask;
blows to the soles of the feet). The medical examination and the
consultation of medical files revealed injuries consistent with the
allegations made.
While acknowledging the Armenian authorities' efforts to improve the
system of handling police ill-treatment cases and welcoming the
creation of the independent Special Investigation Service, the CPT
revealed flaws in the current system of documenting and investigating
such complaints. The CPT made specific recommendations on improving
the procedures for reporting injuries, and processing potential cases
of by prosecutors.
In their response, the Armenian authorities indicate that new
guidelines have been issued and that the training of police officers
has been enhanced to prevent instances of police ill-treatment.
The CPT also visited the Kentron Prison in Yerevan, and was seriously
concerned that hardly any of the recommendations made after previous
visits have been implemented as regards the situation of two
life-sentenced prisoners kept there. They have been continuously held
in solitary confinement for 13 years, without being offered any
out-of-cell activity other than outdoor exercise for one hour per day.
The conditions under which the two prisoners were being held could be
considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment; given that
neither of them was receiving adequate psychiatric treatment, even
though they both suffered from severe mental disorders.
The CPT visited this prison again in May 2014, and registered certain
improvements in psychiatric care of the two prisoners. This, as well
as the intention of the Armenian authorities to amend the Penitentiary
Code to abolish the segregating life-sentenced prisoners from other
prisoners, was welcomed by the Committee. However, the situation with
regard to the detention regime of the two prisoners, restrictions on
contact with the outside world and the systematic use of handcuffs
remained largely unchanged at the time of the report.
The visit also covered Nubarashen prison in Yerevan. In both
establishments, the delegation received hardly any allegation of
physical ill-treatment from prisoners.
In their response, the Armenian authorities provide further
information on the draft legislation intended to significantly improve
the situation of life-sentenced prisoners and to facilitate the
granting of conditional release for them. In addition, the authorities
indicate that additional steps have been taken to provide the two
above-mentioned prisoners with adequate health care and more
out-of-cell activities.
arka.am
DRAM DEPRECIATION PUSHES STAPLES PRICES UP
YEREVAN, January 26. / ARKA /. The drastic weakening of the Armenian
national currency late last year have pushed the prices of staple
goods up from 10 to 20 percent depending on their types, deputy
head of the National Academy of Consumers, Ruben Aytyan, told a news
conference today.
"At some point the prices of some products- baked goods, chicken,
dairy products, eggs, cereals- skyrocketed by 30%-60%, but then they
went down, however, never reaching the previous level," he said.
According to Aytyan, some people took advantage of the dram's
depreciation inflating prices. The situation is exacerbated by the
fact that large Armenian exporters selling their goods in Russia are
suffering big losses because of the depreciating Russian ruble.
The head of the National Academy of Armenian Consumers Melita
Hakobyan said she is surprised at the inert behavior of consumers
encouraging them to actively express their dissatisfaction with the
rise in prices. She said the quality of the bulk of foods sold at
local markets is good.
According to the National Statistical Service, the inflation in
January-December 2014 grew by 3 percent from the previous year.
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