Month: February 2012

ARTSAKH ACTING FM MEETS WITH ICRC STEPANAKERT OFFICE HEAD

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 20, 2012 – 17:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On February 20, acting Foreign Minister of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Vassily Atajanian met with head of the ICRC
Stepanakert Office Roman Paramonov.

The office head noted that the ICRC would continue implementation of
the humanitarian programs in the NKR, specifying them. In particular,
he presented the plans on supporting the families of missing persons
and of those who suffered from mines in the Martakert and Hadrut
regions of the Republic.

Vassily Atajanian expressed his gratitude to Roman Paramonov for the
efficient activity and his readiness to support the leadership of
the ICRC Stepanakert Office in implementing the scheduled programs.

TURKEY MORTIFIED OVER DUTCH FOOTAGE OF TRABZON (VIDEO)

PanARMENIAN.Net

February 20, 2012 – 16:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey is outraged over a video of Trabzon shot by
the official TV of Netherlands for PSV Eindhoven local football club
on the threshold of European League clash vs. Tabzonspor.

The 1-minute footage describes the everyday life of Trabzon, yet,
according to Turkish media, “succeeds in vilifying the city through
a collection of utterly negative shots.”

However, the video of a man, relieving himself into the sea stirred
the most outrage in the Turkish society. However, according to Aze.az
Azeri source, the man was portrayed as one of the symbols of Trabzon.

From: Baghdasarian

GREEK PATRIARCH URGES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR TURKEY’S MINORITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 20, 2012 – 17:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I said the
new Turkish constitution should grant greater religious freedom to
the country’s minorities after he paid a landmark visit to a Turkish
parliamentary commission working on the new document.

On Monday, Feb 20, Patriarch Bartholomew I met with members of a
parliamentary subcommittee seeking an all-party consensus for a new
constitution, which will replace the one ratified in 1982 while the
country was under military rule.

Bartholomew told reporters after speaking to the commission that
he favors a constitution that promotes equal rights and religious
freedoms, including the reopening of a Greek Orthodox seminary that
has trained generations of patriarchs.

“We do not want to be second-class citizens. Unfortunately, minorities
have faced many injustices so far. These are gradually being corrected,
changed. A new Turkey is emerging. We never lost hope. We are now very
happy. We are sure that our ideas will be taken into consideration
as we want nothing more than our rights as Turkish citizens,” he said.

The Greek patriarch added that he attaches much importance to an
invitation from Turkish Parliament for him to meet with Constitutional
Commission members, noting that they want the new constitution to be
the constitution of all in Turkey, Today’s Zaman reported.

From: Baghdasarian

FUEL PRICES IN ARMENIA RISE AGAIN

ARMINFO
Monday, February 20, 13:58

Fuel prices in Armenia have grown again by 10 drams per liter since
February 18. Earlier, the prices grew in late January.

Now, Super AI98 petrol costs 510 drams per liter, Premium AI95 –
480 drams per liter, Regular Ai91 – 460 drams per liter, while diesel
costs 450 drams per liter.

Oil traders say the fuel price is still on upward trend due to the
growing prices of oil products in the world and the amendment to the
legislation imposing VAT tax on import of oil products since January
1 2012 instead of the previous fixed payment.

DEFENDERS OF MASHTOTS PARK SING A SONG TO YEREVAN’S MAYOR

ARMINFO
Monday, February 20, 17:30

The defenders of Mashtots Park held an action of protest in front of
the Yerevan Municipality on Monday.

They demand that the Municipality should stop building trade pavilions
in the park.

The protesters carried Armenian flags and posters and sang the
following rap song: “We’ve come to this action/ To solve this problem/
We are the owners of this city/ Its each and every bush and tree/
Our demand is known – no boutiques in this park.”

They urged the Mayor to come out, but he sent his representative,
whom they handed a paper specifying the violations committed by
the constructors and containing almost 1,500 signatures against the
construction.

Later the policemen who were there said that the Mayor had convoked
a meeting in order to examine the paper.

Vahram Soghomonyan from the “We are the Owners of This City” civil
initiative group said that the construction project is contrary to
article 76 of the Land Code, saying that public land can be given
on lease only by a general construction plan; the law on urban
development, stipulating that such projects should be heard by the
public; and a standard requiring that a building should be no closer
than five meters from a tree, while the boutiques are being built as
close as half a meter to the local greenery.

Soghomonyan promised that the protest actions will be continued until
the construction is stopped.

VARDAN AYVAZYAN SHOULD CREATE A PARTY
Naira Hayrumyan

Lragir.am
16:45:58 – 20/02/2012

Member of Parliament Vardan Ayvazyan is the most honest person among
his Republican colleagues. He does not hide the truth and says what
he thinks. For example, he likes that businessmen will not be allowed
to become MPs. Most likely, he won’t be allowed too since he decided
to run for majoritarian.

Ayvazyan, unlike his colleagues, does not hide that he is worried
for the interests for his business and that MPs just protect their
right in the parliament. He does not act against his conscience like
his colleagues who affirm they worry for the people but adopt laws
harming the people and helping themselves.

Vardan Ayvazyan says businessmen MPs are the authors of the 80% of
draft laws not noticing that the Constitution forbids businessmen
be elected to the parliament. Sincere he is and described cynical
by many, he says that the Republican Party decided to eliminate
businessmen from the party list, but they can be elected through the
one-mandate districts. “Cant’ you hinder it? So you call on rejecting
the majoritarian system”, says Ayvazyan.

Such sincerity should be evaluated. Businessmen perhaps should create
their party and legally defend their interests in the parliament. They
should elect Vardan Ayvazyan as Chairman, who knows how to defend
business interests. And then it turns out that a small class of
oligarchs, whose rights, too, of course, need to be protected,
usurped power through the party, declaring Republican values.

ARF-D CALLS ON YEREVAN’S MAYOR TO ORGANIZE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ISSUE OF PARK ADJACENT TO MASHTOTS AVENUE

15:58 . 20/02

ARF-D Faction Leader Vahan Hovhannisyan has addressed a letter to
Yerevan’s Mayor Taron Margaryan on the issue of the park adjacent to
Mashtots Avenue.

The letter particularly reads: “The urban development, construction
works carried out by the city hall in Yerevan’s main avenue-Mashtots
Avenue have caused serious concern among the public, as well as a
wave of protest among a number of ecological and non-governmental
organizations.

Taking into consideration the fact that the works are carried out in
a green, public territory which is established in Yerevan’s master
plan, taking into consideration that the work implies Á change in the
life activity environment, as well as proceeding from the fact that
the actions carried out affect the vital interests of the capital
and its residents, being guided by Articles 12, 13, 14 of RA Law on
urban development, we ask you to organise public hearings as soon
as possible to inform about the city hall’s plan concerning the
above-mentioned territory, as well as to hear the point of view of
interested individuals and organisations”.

MINISTER NALBANDIAN BRIEFS ARMY COMMANDERS ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES

armradio.am
20.02.2012 17:54

On February 20 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated
in the traditional operational training of the leadership of the
Ministry of Defense and the commandership of the Armed Forces.

During the meeting Minister Nalbandian presented the developments in
international relations and Armenia’s position on those.

Edward Nalbandian dwelt on the latest developments in the process
of settlement of the Karabakh issue and the steps taken towards its
final resolution.

SMUGGLED GOLD JEWELRY DISCOVERED AT ARMENIA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

news.am
February 20, 2012 | 17:03

YEREVAN. – The State Revenue Committee (SRC) officers at Armenia’s
Zvartnots International Airport inspected, on February 14, the luggage
of Armenian citizen Vahe Harutyunyan, who had arrived from Moscow
and had passed through the “Green Zone” of the Airport’s customs.

As a result of the inspection, the officers found ten undeclared
jewelry items made of white gold with precious stones in Harutyunyan’s
luggage. The items’ total weight was 125 grams and, in line with
preliminary estimations, their approximate worth was US$ 19 thousand.

Also, the SRC officers at Zvartnots International Airport inspected,
this time on February 16, the luggage of Indian citizen Jignesh Mehta,
who had arrived from Dubai and had passed through the “Green Zone”
of the Airport’s customs.

As a result of this inspection, the officers found nine undeclared
jewelry items made of white and yellow gold with precious stones in
Mehta’s luggage. The items’ total weight was 40.5 grams and their
approximate worth was $25 thousand, SRC informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

SRC has prevented five attempts of smuggling gold items, totaling
2.5 kilograms, into Armenia in 2011.

“PARKS WITHOUT STALLS”: ECOLOGISTS DEMAND WITH A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL

14:19 . 20/02

Ecologists are holding a crowded demonstration before the building
of Yerevan’s city hall. They are struggling for the protection of
the park adjacent to Mashtots Avenue chanting: “Yerevan is ours,
while it is in the hands of oligarchs”, “Green, clean, Yerevan”.

They demand that Mayor Taron Margaryan comes down to meet them and
hear their demands. But Police Lieutenant Colonel Karen Movsisyan
told the demonstrators the mayor will not come down. Taron Margaryan
has ordered to study the demonstrators’ demands including 7 points.

The demonstrators state their main demand for this moment is that the
construction at the park be stopped, and they will struggle unless
the work is stopped.

To recall, the struggle for the park has already been continuing for
10 days. Earlier the mayor received the ecologists, but they didn’t
come to agreements.

From: A. Papazian