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Ruling RPA claims a landslide victory at Parliamentary elections in Armenia

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The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) wins the  Parliamentary elections held on Sunday in Armenia with a big lead, according to the preliminary official results summed up by the country’s Central Electoral Committee (CEC) after processing the protocols received from all precincts.

According to these results, presented on Monday by the CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan, four political forces enter the parliament with the ruling Republican party obtaining 49.12% of the votes.  “Tsarukyan” bloc comes the second with 428, 965 votes that constitute 27.32%.

“Yelq” (Exit) bloc comes the third with 7.77% of the votes, while the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun scores 6.57% of the votes.

The four mentioned political forces will be represented in the new parliament under the new Electoral Code, that sets a threshold of five percent of the votes to secure representation in the parliament, while blocs require at least seven percent.

Other parties and blocs running for the elections failed to meet the threshold with Armenian Renaissance Party scoring 3.71%, “ORO” bloc – 2.07%, “Armenian National Congress – HZhK” bloc- 1.65%, Party of Free Democrats – 0.94% and the Communist Party – 0.75%.

According to the CEC-released preliminary results, 1, 5777, 323 voters or 60,86% of the total number of the citizens eligible to vote participated in Armenian parliamentary elections on Sunday. The number of invalid ballot papers is 6701

France: Fillon declares victory in French presidential primary as Juppe concedes defeat

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fillon-primary-electionFrancois Fillon has won France’s first-ever conservative primary ahead of next year’s presidential election, declaring victory over moderate Alain Juppe. Fillon will likely face off against the far-right’s Marine Le Pen.

After taking a strong lead in initial results on Sunday, Francois Fillon has declared victory in the second round of the runoff primary to choose the candidate to represent the conservative Les Republicains (The Republicans) party in France’s presidential election next spring.

Fillon won over 67 percent of the vote in a landslide victory, exit polls showed.

His rival, Alain Juppe, conceded defeat and congratulated Fillon for his “wide victory” as results continued to roll in. Juppe also said he would support Fillon in the presidential election.

“I finish this campaign as I began it: A free man who would not compromise, neither what he is nor what he thinks,” Juppe said.

Speaking from his campaign headquarters, Fillon called for unity and action to defeat France’s far-right and its discredited left.

“I must now convince the whole country our project is the only one that can lift us up,” Fillon said.

With France’s Socialists, led by President Francois Hollande, facing record low popularity figures, the conservative candidate is expected to face far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election, slated to take place in two rounds during April and May.

High turnout

The runoff vote saw a turnout that was 4.5 percent higher than last week’s first round, in which 4.3 million conservative party supporters cast their ballots. Any registered voter was able to take part in the primary.

Fillon, a social conservative and Catholic, won the first primary round by an easy margin, taking 44 percent of the vote to Juppe’s 28.6 percent. He served as former French President Nicholas Sarkozy’s prime minister from 2007 to 2012 and was also the clear favorite in opinion polls ahead of Sunday’s vote.

Fillon campaigned on promises of free-market reforms, support for traditional family values, friendlier relations with Russia and a hard line on immigration and Islam.

Azeris terrorist attack Armenian team as Karabakh athlete scores victory (video)

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212266A scandalous incident occurred during the Open European Kung fu Championship, currently underway in Ukraine’s Lviv, Ermenihaber.am reports.

As a Karabakh sportsman, Davit Petrosyan was about to score victory against his Azerbaijani rival, the latter’s cornerman attempted to beat the Armenian athlete. Also joining the provocation was the Azeri trainer who hit Petrosyan from the back. The Azerbaijani trainer and sportsmen then attacked the members of the Armenian national team with clubs.

The Azerbaijani team seemed to have planned the attack, having brought the clubs to the tournament in advance. In their hysteria, the Azeris even hit the President of the European Kung Fu Federation, Nikolay Matulyovsky, who tried to defend the Karabakh athlete.

Police officers intervened in the turmoil and brawl and disciplined the Azeri provokers.

The Azerbaijani team was ultimately disqualified.

The attacked Karabakh sportsman is the brother of soldier Marat Petrosyan who destroyed 5 tanks and 1 infantry fighting vehicle during the 4-day war in early April.

In another fight, Armenian sportsman Ashot Harutyunyan defeated another member of Azerbaijan’s team.

Ermenihaber.am. Ադրբեջանցիները ներխուժել են ռինգ և փորձել հաշվեհարդար տեսնել մենամարտը հաղթող արցախցի մարզիկի հետ (տեսանյութ)

As Armenia celebrates victory, Azerbaijan mourns losses – defense official

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f573087c0194cf_573087c019506.thumbWhile the Armenians today are celebrating the anniversary of the liberation of Shushi as a landmark gain in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, the general mood in Azerbaijan is not absolutely festive, says an Armenian defense official.
“The war in April demonstrated yet another time that they only suffered losses in the [1990’s] battle,” Movses Hakobyan, the chief of the Armenian Armed Forces General Headquarters, told reporters in Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital, Stepanaket.
A high-ranking Armenian delegation including President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan are in Karabakh today to attend the celebrations marking the Shushi liberation, and the Peace and Victory Day.

Gagik Ginosyan: No institution has the right to share this victory, except Armenian nation

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f5704d3d9e794e_5704d3d9e798b.thumb“Armenian nation won this battle without any support. No institution has the right to share one-tenth of this victory except the Armenian nation. Somehow it was similar to the Battle of Sardarabad,” said Artsakh war veteran, “Karin” folk dance ensemble artistic director, Gagik Ginosyan in a press conference, speaking about the recent developments on the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

He noted that compared to the Azerbaijani soldiers there is enthusiasm in Armenians, “The atmosphere was different then, people had started emigrating, now it is the opposite, people are immigrating. This shows the determination of not abandoning their own homeland”.

Regarding the armament, Ginosyan said that although the adversary was fully armed, 10 times more than Armenians, yet the spirit, the idea and military skills of Armenian soldiers forced them to stop.

“It’s very funny how their ignorant specialists were shooting, while our pastor destroyed the UAV of the adversary with his hunting rifle,” Ginosyan noted.

Speaking about Captain Armenak Urfanyan’s heroic act, Ginosyan said that he was a real Armenian, ready for anything to keep his homeland and soldiers safe greeting death himself.

He also said that Armenian diplomacy should use the spirit of Armenian soldiers and the enthusiasm of the whole nation and not go down the same road as in 1994.

 

Source Panorama.am

ARMENIA The ruling party expects a victory in referendum

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arton119521-480x270The campaign for the constitutional referendum in Armenia officially ended Friday with the Republican Party in power (HHK) reiterating its confidence in the fact that President Serzh Sargsyan will win popular support for the country’s transition to a system Parliamentary government.

The HHK spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, predicted that Sunday’s referendum will translate into votes “incomparably without equivalent” to the constitutional amendments drawn up by Serzh Sargsyan. He dismissed contrary statements made by the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and other opposition groups against the proposed changes.

Eduard Sharmazanov argued that they attracted only small crowds at their rallies in recent weeks. “A wedding celebration attracts more people than a HAK rally,” he quipped at a press conference. He stressed in particular the number of people who attended the most recent manifestation of the HAK held Thursday Liberty Square in Yerevan.

Speaking at the rally, one of the leaders of the opposition party, Levon Zurabian, the HAK said that and his allies successfully convinced most Armenians that constitutional reform is only intended to extend the reign Sarkisian beyond 2018.

Levon Zurabian said the authorities can not get a “yes” without falsifying the results of the referendum.

The public salvation front Armenia New, more radical opposition bloc who runs a non-stop sit-in in the same square, attracted only few people so far. But even so, its leaders said Friday they will succeed to overthrow Serzh Sargsyan soon.

One of them, Zhirayr Sefilian, announced qu’Arménie New actions will launch “decisive” immediately after the Sunday closing of the polling stations. “We’ll spend the night here,” he has told reporters. “There will be stairs to different buildings, street closures, pressures and so on.”

“If they try to force a vote in favor of the” yes “… people will have to impose their will and ensure the cancellation [of the referendum results,]” said Zhirayr Sefilian.

New HAK Armenia and argue that the parliamentary system would allow Serzh Sargsyan to stay in power after his last presidential term, which ends in 2018. Serzh Sargsyan gave them ammunition Thursday by refusing to explicitly reaffirm its earlier promises not to become the first minister or parliament speaker if Armenia turned into a parliamentary republic.

Leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun-FRA), an opposition party strongly supporting the constitutional reform, claimed Friday that Serzh Sargsyan was leaving the government in 2018 if édictait his constitutional changes. They also reiterated their view that these changes would significantly strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the country.

“If we do not change this system, this crisis will deepen and nothing will change in the lives of our citizens,” Armen Rustamian said the FRA.

Sunday, December 6, 2015,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Turkey elections: Erdogan’s victory, Turkey’s defeat

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f5638ab03251a0_5638ab03251da.thumbThe early elections in Turkey on November 1 are a victory for President Recep Erdogan, but a defeat for Turkey, says Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Armenian Academy of Sciences.

The elections enabled the ruling Justice and Development party to get twice as many seats in Turkey’s Parliament, which will allow it to form a one-party government.

“Statistically, Erdogan and his party are winners. But strategically, Erdogan’s policy has created a rather grave situation in Turkey – in both external and internal respects,” Mr Safrastyan said.

Elaborating on the subject, he pointed out the Kurdish problem, Turkey’s worsening relations with its neighbors, Turkey’s involvement in the Syria crisis, which will cost it much.

As regards Turkey’s relations with Russia, it is now in an unprecedented situation.

“Russian armed forces turn out to be deployed not only in Turkey’s northern regions, but also in its south, which is a new event for Turkey. It is the result of its policy in Syria and refusal to support the anti-terrorist activities,” Mr Safrastyan said.

According to him, it will result in Turkey’s international isolation, while isolation is obvious in the Middle East.

“Turkey has severed its relations with Egypt. We can see the situation involving Israel and Turkey. Besides, Turkey has strained relations with Iraq and Iran. And if Iran’s role in the Middle East should rise after sanctions have been removed, it will strain its relations with Turkey,” Mr Safrastyan said.

By forming a one-party government, Turkish authorities will continue their policy.

“It means no new policy to the South Caucasus or to us will be developed,” he said.

The expert does not rule out a possibility of turkey inciting Azerbaijan to escalation to overcome the crisis.

Robertson and Clooney: ECHR decision is a victory for Armenia

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Geoffry-clooneyAttorneys representing Armenia as a third party in Perincek v Switzerland case Geoffrey Robertson QC and Amal Clooney issued a statement on European Court of Human Rights decision in the case.

The statement reads:

“We are pleased that the European Court of Human Rights today endorsed our argument on behalf of the Government of Armenia, which intervened in the case between Dogu Perincek and Switzerland. The decision is a victory for Armenia.

Today the European Court ruled that the applicant’s freedom of speech should not have been restrained because it was not likely to incite violence or racial hatred. Thus Perincek  should not have been prosecuted by the Swiss authority because his rant, in the Turkish language, would have had no impact at all on social harmony and race relations in Switzerland.

Armenia intervened in the case for one reason: the lower court had cast doubt on the fact that a genocide against the Armenian people occurred in 1915. As counsel we sought to correct this grave error, and the Grand Chamber has done so. Today’s judgment did not dispute the fact of the Armenian genocide: ten judges said the question should not have been addressed at all whilst seven stated that “the Armenian genocide is a clearly established historic fact”.

The judgment also upholds the Armenians’ right under European law to have their dignity respected and protected, including by recognition of a communal identity forged through suffering from the annihilation of over half their race by the Ottoman Turks (see para 227).

The court’s decision upholding the importance of freedom of expression has important consequences for Turkey, which has the worst record of any state before the European Court on free speech. Turkey can no longer justify prosecuting those like Hrant Dink who are accused of “insulting Turkishness” contrary to article 301 of the Penal Code by writing about the reality of the Armenian genocide. These prosecutions are plainly contrary to the free speech guarantee under article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted in the Perincek case. We call on Turkey to abolish article 301 and cease malicious prosecutions pursued on its terms.

Perincek is a provocateur who should not have been made the martyr that he was so keen to become. We note that the Court rejected his demand for 120,000 euro compensation, and awarded him nothing – not even his own legal fees.”

Earlier ECHR ruled there had been a violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights, thus the petition filed by Switzerland was rejected.

Protesters’ victory unprecedented – Artyom Markosyan #ElectricYerevan Video

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f558fb53dcefa2_558fb53dcefd9.thumbShowman Artyom Markosyan, who was in Baghramyan Avenue on Sunday morning, has commented on the “No to plunder” civil initiative’s protests against rising electricity prices and on the Armenian authorities’ response.

He believes that a government official must arrive at Baghramyan Avenue and make a statement.

In response to a remark that Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, quoting President Serzh Sargsyan, made a statement at a meeting with the protesters, Mr Markosyan said:

“If so, well and good. But if government officials can arrive, let them do. The most important is to prevent any provocations and politicizing, because the president and the government have found a solution,” he told Tert.am.

According to him, the protesters have won.

“Yes, it is unprecedented because all people can see that nothing like this – gaining a victory by holding peaceful events on young people’s initiative – has ever taken place in this country. Yes, it is a victory,” Mr Markosyan said.

https://youtu.be/3LB4z65M4Ak

Armenian President participates in Victory Day events in Moscow

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www1-sarkissian-moscowArmenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the events marking the 70th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, the President’s press office reports.

The President together with heads of senior-level delegations from many other countries watched the Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square.

President Sargsyan laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Also, he attended the festive reception organized by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Grand Kremlin Palace.

There will be a festive concert and fireworks on Red Square Saturday evening.

President Sargsyan together with the high-ranking guests will be present at the concluding Victory Day event on Red Square.

On Sunday, Serzh Sargsyan will visit the grave of Marshal Hovhannes Baghramyan at the Kremlin Wall in Red Square, will lay flowers and pay tribute to his memory.