Month: September 2013

Village Residents Deprived of Water Prepared to Block Major Highway

09.26.2013 22:45 epress.am

Residents of the rural community Mrgashat in Armavir marz are ready to
block the Yerevan-Armavir highway if water supply to the village does
not resume by tomorrowafternoon, several disgruntled village residents
informed Epress.am today.

Speaking to the Epress.am correspondent, village resident and Council
of Elders member Tatul Soghomonyan said it’s been 15 days that the
water has been cut off in his village.

“It’s been 5 days since we planted the grains given by the government
and they have received not a single drop of water; if you don’t water
them, the entire crop goes to the crows,” he said.

Soghomonyan claims that Jrar, the company that supplies water to
Armavir marz, responding to the residents’ request for explanation,
said that water is distributed for three days at a time to the
province’s different communities and it just isn’t their turn yet.

“Five 3-days have already passed; we are waiting. Today I was forced
to call the government hotline and warn them that we’re taking drastic
measures. They said they will respond at the end of the meeting, then
they said we’ll have water by 12 pm tomorrow. We’ve waited this long;
we’ll manage one more day. If it turns out to be a lie, we know what
we’re going to do,” he concluded.

From: A. Papazian

Ethics Commission Declined TI Application

The Ethics Commission has refused the application of Transparency
International to investigate discrepancy between the declaration of
property of Member of Parliament Hermineh Naghdalyan and her family
and press reports. The Ethics Commission referred to Article 43 of the
RA Law on Public Service which does not empower the commission to
launch proceedings against a member of parliament.

However, the referred article is on conflict of interest whereas TI
requested analysis and comparison of declarations.

TI also requested the official stance of the Commission on
entrepreneurship of high-ranking officials, awards of state
procurement contracts to their companies. The commission gave an
avoiding answer, referring to `sufficient clarity’.

TI has also applied to the Ethics Committee of the National Assembly
to recognize as violation of the Member of Parliament’s Code of
Conduct Hermineh Naghdalyan’s entrepreneurship combined with
legislative activities.

17:17 23/09/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Eurovision announces rule changes

23 September 2013

Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark

Eurovision organisers have announced changes to the song contest’s
jury rules, amid allegations of bribery.

>From next year, the names of each country’s jury will be revealed
ahead of the competition in an effort to increase openness and
accountability.

For the first time, individual juror scores will also be published
immediately after the final.

The changes come after it was alleged votes had been bought for the
Azeri contestant at this year’s contest.

Previously, the identity of jury members – whose votes account for 50%
of the points each country awards it competitors – was not disclosed
until after the final.

To increase diversity, music industry professionals can now only take
a seat on the jury if they have not participated during the previous
two editions of the contest.

“Tighter rules and increased openness are important for the Eurovision
Song Contest to build on its success,” Jon Ola Sand, the executive
supervisor of the contest, said.

“We want to make sure participants, viewers and fans know that we have
done, and will always do, our utmost to secure a fair result.

“We believe in the independence of every jury member [and] I believe
the fact their votes are on display will help them vote
independently.”

‘End speculations’

Organisers have been looking into recent claims that Azerbaijan –
which came second this year – offered money to other countries in
exchange for points.

Emmelie de Forest won the contest for Denmark this year

Mr Sands said the results of their investigation would take time, as
they were “doing this very thoroughly”.

“It`s important to find who is behind the alleged attempt, and if we
find any wrongdoing that originates from a participating broadcaster,
the Reference Group and the TV Committee will impose sanctions
according to the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest,” he said.

“We want to first put an end to these speculations, and clamp down on
attempts to unfairly influence the voting.”

Last week, Croatia announced it would be withdrawing from next year’s
contest, citing financial reasons. The country has not qualified for
the final since 2009.

It became the sixth country to pull out, along with Andorra,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco and Slovakia.

Meanwhile Turkey – which snubbed the contest this year citing
dissatisfaction with the rules – has created its own rival to
Eurovision.

Turkvision will see 20 countries and autonomous regions populated with
Turkic minorities participate in the yearly event, the first of which
will be held in Eskisehir this December.

Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Copenhagen,
Denmark, with the final held on 10 May.

Why didn’t Obama invite President Ilham Aliyev to UN General Assembly?

15:51 26/09/2013 » REGION

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev didn’t take part in the 68th
session of UN General Assembly in New York on September 24 because he
had not allowed Thomas Melia, the delegation led by Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State to the country, `Musavat.com’ reports.

Aliyev met U.S. President Barack Obama at General Assembly meeting
session in 2010, on the eve of parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.
This time, he lost the opportunity for an important meeting with Obama
on the eve of the presidential elections in the country.

As the site notes, on September 18 in Novruz Mammadov the head of the
foreign relations department of Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration paid went to U.S. with a secret visit. He, however,
failed to have meeting with Bill Burns, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State, and to agree on Ilham Aliyev’s visit to General Assembly. The
reason, according to the site, is in the rejection of the visit of
monitoring group led by Thomas Melia to Azerbaijan by official Baku.
The delegation was aimed at observing the presidential elections to be
held on October 9.

Official Baku refused saying that they had “limited time because of
the upcoming elections.” In reality, Melia’s visit was rejected
because of his harsh criticism of human rights violations in
Azerbaijan as well as his statements saying that by “the nomination
for a third term as president, Ilham Aliyev intercedes the “red line”.
“It seems that Washington couldn’t stand the visit rejection of his
senior official because of the “time limitation,” reads the site.

A source standing close to Western diplomatic circles in Baku told the
website that the main reason for Novruz Mamedov’s visit, was obtaining
consent for Ilham Aliyev’s visit to New York, as he had previously
stated that ” Ilham Aliyev’s election for a third term was agreed by
all major powers,” referring to the United States. As a proof, it was
enough just to meet Obama for a short time, but the White House
refused Aliyev. Novruz Mammadov’s silence following the visit to
Washington is evidence to this.

In this connection, Mehman Aliyev, the head of news agency “Trend”,
stated that in June of the current year delegation of U.S. senators
and congressmen led by Richard Lugar paid an official visit to Baku.
Lugar is known as Barack Obama’s “godfather.” After this visit the
wave of criticism against Azerbaijan of Western press subsided in
international press, international organizations and with the heads of
the Western states.

“I think agreement between the government of Azerbaijan and the West
played a role. I think that Ilham Aliyev had given some guarantees
regarding the reforms of the situation in country. And I think Novruz
Mammadov’s visit was a reminder for the authorities on these
guarantees,” Mehman Aliyev said.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS

YEREVAN, September 26. / ARKA /. The Armenian government will build
apartments for public servants at affordable prices, Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan said during a government session today.

He said the construction is expected to kick off in 2014.

“Very often, civil servants can not make the down payment on a mortgage
loan, and we are ready to provide state guarantees to ensure that
banks do not require it,” he explained.

The prime minister noted that the plan will contribute to a significant
increase in demand for mortgage loans. He said a working group
will be set up to be headed by the chief of government staff Vache
Gabrielyan to develop a program for the construction of affordable
housing in accordance with the lists of civil servants who want to
buy an apartment.

Sargsyan said that the current average price for 1 square meter of
housing in Yerevan is about $800.

The prime minister instructed the Yerevan Municipality to find suitable
areas that can be given to developers at low prices.

As of July of this year, the average market price per square meter
of housing in residential buildings in Yerevan was 272,100 drams,
an increase of 0.04 % compared to July last year. At the same time,
the average cost per square meter of housing in privately-owned houses
in the reporting period amounted to 286,600 from 275,600 drams in
July last year. ($ 1 – 405.86 drams). -0-

– See more at:

“RECENT EVENTS WILL NOT AFFECT THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN TBILISI AND YEREVAN.”

September 26 2013

According to Georgia’s presidential candidate Levan Chachua, joining CU
or initialing the EU Association Agreement is the sovereign decision
of RA authorities – On October 27, the presidential elections will be
held in Georgia. Georgia’s Central Election Commission has completed
the registration of presidential candidates, it is known that 23
candidates had a chance to fight for the post of the president of the
country. Mr. Chachua, what does the pre-election atmosphere look like
in Georgia? – Let me start with the fact that energy transformation
is awakening in Georgian society, the desire to get out of the pit
they were thrown into. Will the people be allowed to come out of this
ongoing political crisis, will the people have power to come out to a
new orbit, these are the questions that are of interest to the Georgian
public. After the parliamentary elections, the “Georgian Dream”
coalition, during the tough regime of Saakashvili, has failed within
a year to address the moral offenses caused to people. Unfortunately,
the “United National Movement” and the “Georgian Dream” merged in
cohabitation, coexistence. The society requires a fair punishment
for those causing misfortune to them, and, in return, they offer an
“elective cohabitation”, which means co-operation with the former and
current authorities, completely ignoring the interests of the society,
at large, and other political forces. I would like to emphasize
that not all presidential candidates have equal conditions with
regard to using free airtime. Based on today’s CEC statement, free
airtime it given to seven entities, which are the “Georgian Dream”,
“United National Movement” and their satellite parties candidates. –
How do you feel about Bidzina Ivanishvili’s intention to leave
the power, did he fulfilled his mission, and in your opinion, who
will take his place, are the names of prime minister’s candidates in
circulation? – Ivanishvili fulfilled his basic and important mission,
to win Saakashvili regime. As for his leaving from politics, it is his
personal choice. Although I think that the decision, to put it mildly,
will not benefit to preservation of stability in the management of
the state. As far the candidates of the new prime minister, it is
difficult to judge. Although based on the statement of Ivanishvili
to leave the office, he has moved to the public sector, he changes
the form of his participation in the politics, and choose a position
where, as he assures, may be more effective in influencing on the
government. As a result, the transition system, which is formed after
the 2012 elections, will be subjected to natural and quite serious
transformation not only by Bidzina Ivanishvili. It will depend on every
citizen of Georgia as to what extent this process will bring us closer
to the creation of a democratic and fair state. – After Serzh Sargsyan,
during his visit to Moscow, stated that Armenia is ready to join the
Customs Union, opinions were voiced that it was a loss not only for
Armenia, but also for Georgia. Armenia is not alone in getting ready
to initial the EU Association Agreement; among regional countries,
we are in the same boat with Georgia. Mr. Chachua, what developments
are expected in Armenian-Georgian relations? – I think the recent
events will not affect the friendly relations between Tbilisi and
Yerevan in any way.

Joining the Customs Union, or initialing the EU Association Agreement
is the sovereign decision of Armenia’s authorities. Now, much more
unites us rather than divide, and I do not think and I am strongly
against the viewpoints that Armenia’s joining the Customs Union
may have a negative impact on relations with Georgia, and that our
relationship will suffer from it. No. One does not bother the other.

As for the fact that Georgia can not initial the Association Agreement
without Armenia, it depends on the decision of the Georgian authorities
and the Georgian people, so, I can not say as to what may happen
tomorrow-the day after tomorrow. Let’s wait. – “Georgia will not be
in Eurasia, Georgia will be in Europe,” recently said the President
Saakashvili, presenting the difference between the directions of
the Eurasian Union and that of the European. He so described the
Eurasian society, pressures against minorities, prosecutions against
political opponents, corruption, oligarchy, and so on. Saakashvili
is sure that the policy of current government of Georgia towards the
RF brings harm to Georgia. On the other hand, a positive dynamics
is observed in relations between Russia and Georgia, and recently,
as a result, it was announced during the meeting with the Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin and Ivanishvili’s
personal representative on Russia Zurab Abashidze. What is the level
of Russian-Georgian relations, today? – Recently, something has been
changed in relations between Russia and Georgia.

First of all, this is due to the fact that parliamentary elections were
held in Georgia, and a new government was formed, the main objective
thereof became the incompatibility with the political legacy left
by the previous government. Both sides specify the issues around
which they can not reach an agreement. One of these important issues
is the status of Abkhazia and Ossetia. Since the times of the USSR,
the confidence that we know each other very well caused a lot of harm
to us. Being in one state over a long period of time really created
commonalities. But the fact how our states started developing after
the collapse of the Soviet Union, this trajectory remained outside
the attention of analysts. To understand each other, of course, is
possible. In many ways it is contributed by the commonalities around
understanding about belief and value system, and even the social
order. But, there are very serious issues that divide us. To be
repeated, the most important issue is Georgia’s territorial integrity.

As for the Eurasian Union, the issue does not receive much attention
in Georgia.

Emma GABRIELYAN

Read more at:

ARMENIAN PREPARLIAMENT MEMBER URGES FREEDOM FIGHTERS TO ‘AWAKE’

15:35 ~U 26.09.13

The Preparliament member Zhirair Sefilyan calls on Armenian
freedom-fighters [participants in the Nagorno-Karabakh war] to “awake.”

Speaking of oligarchs, he said: “They share the responsibility for
the oppression of our people. We have not forgotten anything.”

“We remember March 1, the ones that raised their hand against the
people,” Sefilyan added.

We would remind readers that Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
parliamentary group members headed by PAP Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan
held a meeting with freedom fighters to discuss ways of resolving
their social problems.

With respect to the latest political developments and civil
activities, Sefilyan said that the “chief administrator” has lost
control of them. In this context, he singled out the ‘Paying 100
drams’ movement. Sefilyan pointed out different civil initiatives’
active cooperation.

With respect to social struggle, Sefilyan said that Armenia’s
authorities employ the following principle: first, they try to bribe
the groups or individuals out of their control; if they fail, they
offer more money; if it does not help, they use physical force or
resort to prosecution.

Armenian News – Tert.am

HUMMATOV: TALYSHS WERE MISTAKEN CONSIDERING AZERBAIJAN AS HOMELAND

Thursday,
September
26

The Talyshs are not respected in Azerbaijan, and a policy of their
assimilation is being implemented, Ali Akram Hummatov, who was
President of the Talysh-Mughan Republic (1993), said during the
meeting at Yerevan State University (YSU).

At the presentation ceremony of a master’s program “Talysh Studies”
developed by the YSU Sub-department of Iranian Studies, the leader of
the Talysh national movement made a speech, in which he discussed
the problems of the Talyshs in Azerbaijan. “In Azerbaijan, the
Talyshs are deprived of basic rights. We are not respected; we are
being extirpated, with a policy of assimilation being implemented
against us. They at the same time declare that we are brothers. This
is illogical.

We want to write and read in the mother tongue. In response to our
demands, they (the Azerbaijani authorities) openly say,” You, the
Talyshs, have no future, you must be assimilated”, Hummatov said.

Speaking about the possibility of declaration of an independent
state by the Talyshs, the national figure said: “We were mistaken. We
didn’t realize certain things. We considered Azerbaijan our homeland
and were even prepared to give up our lives for it, but the homeland
should also defend us with might and main, and if it refuses to do it,
then we have our homeland and we will build our homeland – Talyshstan”.

“Our youths already have self-consciousness. No one can stop us
anymore. We will speak in Talysh and struggle for our independence,”
Hummatov stated.

“Studies of the Talysh language, culture and history to be conducted
by the YSU Sub-Department of Iranian Studies are extremely important
in terms of raising awareness of the Talysh people,” Hummatov said,
adding that thanks to programs broadcast by The Voice of Talyshstan
radio station from Artsakh, many Talyshs, including Hummatov himself,
began to learn Talysh.

The Head of the YSU Sub-Department of Iranian Studies Prof. Garnik
Asatrian made a speech, discussing the problems of Talysh studies. In
his words, much work has been done in recent years in order to promote
Talysh studies: two conferences of experts in Talysh studies were
held in 2005 and 2011, a number of books about the history and culture
of the Talysh people have been released, and The Voice of Talyshstan
radio station was launched in 2013.

TODAY, 14:47

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

SOME 2,500 LEGISLATIVE ACTS AND 326 BUSINESS PROCEDURES TO BE REVISED IN TWO YEARS AS PART OF REGULATORY GUILLOTINE

YEREVAN, September 26. / ARKA /. Some 2,500 Armenian legislative acts
and 326 business procedures will be revised over the next two years
as part of Regulatory Guillotine program, Scott Jacobs, an expert
of the National Center for Streamlined Legislation and the author of
the tool, said today.

Speaking at a news conference Mr. Jacobs said this will significantly
speed up and simplify business procedures, help get rid of red tape
and reduce the cost of extra services.

In November 2011, international donors and the government of Armenia
signed a letter of intent to improve economic governance by using
the Regulatory Guillotine tool.

Jacobs said the National Center for Streamlined Legislation, which
coordinates all the moves of the program has already submitted to
the government a number of proposals for revamping the legislation
on transport , social services and health care.

“Revamping of legislative acts in some sectors is underway and
the first results are obvious. For example, progress was made in
telecommunications sector regarding competitiveness, which in turn
led to lower prices for some services,” said Jacobs.

According to him, Regulatory Guillotine fast reform tool is based on
three principles: economic independence that will allow businesses
to easily enter the market and develop; the quality and ease of
services and government agencies’ respect for the citizens along with
transparency of all procedures.

Jacobs stressed that to create a good business environment it is
important to improve the legal framework of the country. -0-

– See more at:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES FUNDING RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION OF RUSSIAN BORDER TROOPS

September 26, 2013 | 15:36

YEREVAN. – The government of Armenia will allocate 3 million drams
(approx. $7,390) to the National Security Service, to make payments
to South Caucasus Railway Company.

The respective decision was adopted during Thursday’s Cabinet session.

The amount will be paid as reimbursement for the Russian border troops’
military transportation via railway.

To note, Armenia makes such reimbursements ever since 2004.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am