Month: February 2012

NO GAINS, BUT NO LOSSES, EITHER
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
21.02.2012 17:34

“Armenia actually gained nothing as a result of football diplomacy,
but it did not lose anything, either,” Ruben Safrastyan, Director of
the Oriental Studies Institute of the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences, told reporters today.

According to him, what has been taking place between Armenian and
Turkey on the level of public diplomacy during the past three years,
should be considered from several viewpoints. Turkey, which claims to
be a leader in the region and have zero problems with its neighbors,
did not manage or did not want to establish relations with Armenia.

“We made it clear that Armenia is ready to establish diplomatic
relations with Turkey, while the latter is not, that’s why it uses
factors that actually have nothing to do with the normalization of
interstate relations between Armenia and Turkey,” he said.

If we view the Armenian-Turkish normalization process from the
perspective of the Armenian Cause and recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, Armenia has not suffered any losses, either, Ruben Safrastyan
said. “Furthermore, the controversies between the Armenian public
and the Diaspora revealed several important realities,” he added.

“First, it became clear that our people are committed to national
values. We actually saw that Armenia and Diaspora do not exist
separately, there is a united Armenian nation, which has common
all-Armenian problems,” Safrastyan stated.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech and the Constitutional Court’s
decision after the signing of the Zurich protocols determined the
line, which Armenia is not willing and is not going to cross, and
this is an achievement of the process, he added.

As for the prospects of Armenian-Turkish normalization, Safrastyan
believes the Armenian diplomacy should continue working with the
same logic, but more actively. “We are ready to normalize interstate
relations with Turkey without any precondition,” he said, adding that
the question is about interstate relations, not good-neighborly ties.

ARGAM AYVAZYAN: STATE SUPPORT FOR NAKHIJEVAN STUDIES NECESSARY
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
21.02.2012 16:56

Under the unpopular agreement of 1921, Nakhijevan was illegally cut
off from the Motherland and handed to Azerbaijan. Expert of Nakhijevan
studies Argam Ayvazyan says, the Armenian literary mind never made
any serious reference to this historically Armenian land, the National
Academy of Sciences published no serious research in Soviet era.

It seemed independent Armenia would come to fill the gap, but it
didn’t happen. Argam Ayvazyan has been the only scholar to study the
historical and cultural monuments of Nakhijevan since 1965. These
studies and the photos and materials preserved are the only evidences
of the rich Armenian cultural heritage demolished on the Azerbaijani
land.

According to Ayvazyan, it’s not only Azerbaijan to be blamed for the
barbarity, the Armenian side also carries responsibility because of
its indifference. He says many interesting and important initiatives
have failed because of lack of assistance of state bodies.

The expert agrees, however, that there have been attempts to
internationalize the issue. The issue was once raised in the UN,
but no progress was registered because of lack of consistency.

From: Baghdasarian

CATHOLICOS FAMILIARIZES UK AMBASSADORS WITH ARMENIAN CHURCH ACTIVITIES

news.am
February 21, 2012 | 17:06

YEREVAN. – The Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, received, at
the Holy See of Saint Etchmiadzin, Jonathan James Aves and Catherine
Jane Leach, the United Kingdom’s newly appointed ambassadors to
Armenia.

The Catholicos expressed confidence that the close ties between the
British Embassy and the Holy See, which were established during the
tenure of the previous ambassadors, will continue, the Holy See of
Saint Etchmiadzin informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The parties specifically reflected on the British Armenian community,
and the activities of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s diocese in
the UK. Karekin II also presented to the ambassadors the Armenian
Church’s modern-day challenges, and the Holy See’s educational and
social activities.

From: Baghdasarian

ISRAELI CHRISTIANS CONDEMN ACTS OF VANDALISM

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 21, 2012 – 17:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Local Christian leaders and an Israeli government
representative gathered at the “Baptist House” church in central
Jerusalem on Tuesday, Feb 21, one day after the building was vandalized
with anti-Christian graffiti, Israel Today reported.

The meeting could be best described as a demonstration of solidarity
by the State of Israel with the Christian community, but it was also
somewhat of a celebration of the strong friendship that exists between
Israel and Christians, as well as a call for Christians to respond
to such attack with even more love for Israel.

Chuck Kopp, pastor of the local Baptist congregation, started the
event by suggesting that while the attack was unfortunate and hurtful,
the response by Israelis has had a far bigger impact. Dr. Moti Zaken,
special advisor to Israel’s Minister of Internal Security on Minority
Affairs, who stated:

“I apologize on behalf of Israel. You have the solidarity and the
support of the overwhelming majority of Israelis, who view such
attacks with disgust. We will bring those responsible to justice,
but more importantly you must know that the majority of Israelis
reject such actions.

“Nobody deserves to be vandalized like this, but especially not our
special and supportive [Christian] friends.”

Also requesting to address the gathering was Kevork Nalbandian,
an Armenian Christian lawyer from Jerusalem’s Old City, who made a
clear call for Christians who profess to care for Israel to respond
to such acts of extremism not with bitterness and criticism, but with
more love.

“It is not always easy to refrain from attacking the Israeli side
when we see things like this,” said Nalbandian, who has witnessed
regular petty attacks on Christians in the Old City. “But, if we
are true friends, what is the message we want to send? How should
we react? If you saw the vandal who committed this particular crime,
what would you say? Would you be bitter and angry? Or would you say,
‘Come, let us be friends’ and thereby demonstrate Christ’s love?”

BALTIC PIPELINE SYSTEM 2ND LINE TO LAUNCH LATE FEB IN RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 21, 2012 – 16:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The second trunk line of the Baltic Pipeline System
(BTS-2) to transport oil to Europe may be launched at the end of
February or in early March, Igor Dyomin, spokesman of Russia’s oil
pipeline monopoly Transneft, said on Tuesday, February 21, according
to RIA Novosti.

The BTS-2 pipeline project is implemented to secure reliable supplies
of oil to European consumers. The 1,000-kilometer pipeline, with an
annual capacity of 30 million metric tons of oil, runs from Unecha
in western Russia to the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga in the country’s
northwest, bypassing Belarus.

“Preparations to launch the oil terminal [in Ust-Luga] are well under
way. We think [the pipeline launch] could be in late February or in
early March,” Dyomin told Prime news agency.

The BTS-2 launch has been suspended several times since October 2011
owing to problems in bottom dredging operations.

Dyomin also said that Transneft had not worked out an oil export
schedule through the BTS-2 for the first quarter of 2012 and tariff
price for oil transportation yet.

RISK MANAGEMENT PRIORITY FOR ARMENIAN BANKING SYSTEM IN 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 21, 2012 – 14:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia assessed
2011 as a productive year with stable growth recorded in Armenia’s
banking system.

According to Ashot Osipyan, total capital of the Armenian banking
system increased by 14% (AMD 44,8 bln.) to total AMD 375 bln.

“Growth momentum shows that capital increase was ensured at the
expense of surge in profit as well as at the expense of shareholders’
investments at the amount of AMD 30 bln.,” he told a resulting press
conference on February 21.

Mr. Osipyan noted 32,3% (AMD 506,6 bln.) growth in assents of the
Armenian banking system, with commitments also increasing by 37,3%
(AMD 461 bln.) to total over AMD 1,6 trillion.

In terms of deposits, 36% (AMD 276,5 bln.) increase was registered
in the system at the expense of means provided by both legal and
physical persons. 34% growth was observed in the volume of credit
investments which grossed over AMD 1,3 bln. by yearend. According
to the banker, significant funds were aimed at financing trade,
agriculture, construction as well as fields of industry sector.

Dwelling on return on assets (ROA) indices in 2011, Mr. Osipyan noted
that it totaled 2,36%, with return on equity (ROE) rate grossing
12,55%.

Summarizing outcomes of 2011, chairman of the Union of Banks of
Armenia noted risk management as the key task of the banking sector.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTRUCTION IN MASHTOTS PARK BECOMES REASON FOR LEGAL ACTION

arminfo
Tuesday, February 21, 16:10

Heritage Party has appealed to the Administrative Court against
Yerevan Municipality following the construction of trade pavilions
in the Mashots Park in Yerevan.

Zaruhi Postanjyan, parliamentarian from Heritage Party, told ArmInfo
the Party demands the Court to recognize the Municipality’s permission
to construction invalid. In addition, the Party petitioned for
suspension of construction till the end of the legal action. “Actions
of protests will continue as only fight can lead to results,” she said.

In the meantime, green activists still picket the construction site.

Nevertheless, the construction is continued under protection of
the police. The protesters and Mass Media are not allowed to the
construction site. Construction is continued also at nighttime.

‘These are probably boutiques of state importance and the police
protects them day and night,’ the protesters say.

Environmentalists say the owners of the pavilions are ex-mayor of
Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan and ex-minister of transport and communication
Eduard Madatyan.

CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL: MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST IRAN MAY TURN OUT DISASTER FOR WHOLE REGION

arminfo
Tuesday, February 21, 16:11

The United States’ military operation against Iran may turn out a
real disaster for the whole huge region, Secretary General of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Boryuzha said
during a Yerevan-Moscow TV bridge on Tuesday.

“The region will be destabilized in terms of politics, economy,
ecology, defense and migration. We have always voiced our strong
objection to any attempts to use force against Iran. We hope that good
sense will prevail, and we will be able to avoid a new catastrophe,”
Boryuzha said.

At the same time, he noted that the CSTO is considering possible plans
of action in case of an attack against Iran and the flow of refugees.

ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER WON’T BE REPRIMANDING MPS WHO VOTED FOR THEIR COLLEAGUES

epress.am
02.21.2012

At a consultation called by Republic of Armenia (RA) National Assembly
(NA) Speaker Samvel Nikoyan today, discussed among other items was the
document sent to the RA NA Speaker by the RA Special Investigation
Service related to an incident in parliament on Feb. 9 whereby MPs
Ara Babloyan, Hermine Naghdalyan, Gagik Melikyan and Areg Ghukasyan
could be seen voting in place of their absent colleagues.

During the discussion it was noted that the items mentioned in
the document are regulated under Articles 45, 56 and 61 of the RA
Law on Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. In particular,
Paragraph 2.3 of Article 56 stipulates that the deputy shall propose
to restore the results of the voting on the electric display by
speech on the order of conducting the sitting and express opinion
about the violations during voting, according to a statement issued
by the National Assembly.

In this particular parliamentary sitting during voting Larisa
Alaverdyan, delivering her speech in the order of conducting, noted
a deputy’s name, saying that he has voted instead of another, but
she didn’t propose to restore the results of voting on the electric
display. The person presiding over the sitting, taking into account
the results of voting, and the fact that the mentioned case does
not essentially have an impact on the results of voting, did not
announce re-voting.

Regarding mentions of violations of the Rules of Procedure made
by the deputies during the sitting, it’s a fact that besides the
above-mentioned case concretely no other deputies’ names have been
stated. Hence, the person presiding over the sitting, on the basis
of Paragraph 3 of Article 45 of the RA Law on Rules of Procedure of
the National Assembly, hasn’t applied disciplinary measures towards
the deputies, simply urging lawmakers not to vote for their colleagues.

During the consultation, emphasizing the exclusion of such cases,
it was noted that among the functions of the Committee on Ethics,
created as a result of the amendment to the RA Law on Rules of
Procedure of the National Assembly, are issues concerning rules on
the behavior of deputies and that effective mechanisms are designed
to prevent a repeat of such behavior.

As a result of discussion, the RA National Assembly Speaker Samvel
Nikoyan decided to appeal to the RA National Assembly factions,
urging them to work on excluding such phenomena from now on.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OCCUPY MASHTOTS PARK ACTIVIST LAUNCHES HUNGER STRIKE

epress.am
02.21.2012

4:50 pm: Activist, blogger Bayandur Pogosyan (pictured, right) has
announced he will begin a hunger strike as a form of protesting the
ongoing construction in Mashtots Park.

“I want to prove that a peaceful demonstration can be decisive in
this issue,” he said.

4:31 pm: Environmental activists, who are continuing their protests in
the park, have issued a statement, calling on all concerned citizens
to join them in the coming two days. There are currently about 100
activists in the park, while police continue to patrol the area,
not allowing activists from getting near the kiosks being built.

Contractors continue to build the retail kiosks.

Singers Arsen Grigoryan and Artur Ispiryan came by the park today to
express their support for the activists.