Month: September 2013

NIGHTMARE AWAITS TARON MARGARYAN

The citizens of Armenia are preparing demonstrations against the next
attempt of rise in the fare. The mass media reported that the political
decision on rise in fare is in place, it only needs to be made known
to the public.

The first decision on fare was made without relevant precautions. This
time there was more preparation. Since the citizens refused to pay
the raised fare, the state of public transportation has been worse,
a lot of lines are not operated, others are not operating well. All
the complaints to the City Hall received the same response – this is
the value for 100 drams.

Every working day Yerevan is paralyzed in traffic jams, and people
packed in transport experience hell. Not only public transport but
also roads are not sufficient.

No new road has been built in Yerevan over the past few years. No
investments are made in modernization of Yerevan, as if it is an
incurable patient. While yesterday the government allocated 9 billion
drams for tarmac, given kickbacks and waste, this money could have been
spent on building a new underground line and relieve the streets from
traffic. Meanwhile, underground is cancelled because land transport
brings millions to the slush funds.

The success of the previous wave has boosted confidence in the
citizens, especially that celebrities joined them. The secret of the
success was that everyone fought for themselves. Besides, it was the
only wave supported and joined by general public.

Civic activism has not disappeared. It is waiting for a new
opportunity to appear. The next decision of the City Hall may cause
muted dissatisfaction to detonate.

12:25 21/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

BLACK LIST OF ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN-OFFICIALS

The West may make a list of Armenian businessman-officials who will
be denied entry to the U.S. and the EU. It will be something like
the “Magnitski list”. Recently, for example, the United States has
refused to grant a visa to one of the Armenian oligarchs, a member of
parliament. This list may not be published and will be intended for
“internal use”.

Recently the Armenian businessman-officials were rumored to be
concerned about their assets kept in the West. The West is not ruled
out to impose sanctions vis-a-vis the decision of Armenia to join
the Customs Union.

11:34 21/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN SLIPPED OFF

The Hraparak Daily reminds that Tigran Virabyan, head of agricultural
department of Ararat’s governor’s office, was arrested for breaches
of diesel fuel subsidy program. And since he gave subsidized fuel to
Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s relatives, the high-ranking beneficiaries
were expected to help Virabyan, especially that he threatened to
mention a lot of people in his testimony. Later Virabyan was remanded
in custody, and his term was prolonged. It seemed that the ex-official
would be judged.

According to the message of the Special Investigative Service, Virabyan
was charged with embezzlement of 2012-2013 government assistance to
subsidize the price of diesel fuel for farmers.

The head of the information service of the SIS Michael Aharonyan
informed that Virabyan did not utter any high-ranking official’s name,
pleaded guilty and even regretted for his actions. “We have also
learned that Virabyan has return the greater part of about 14 million
drams of damage. Hence, Virabyan is loyal to the government and he may
be acquitted or sentence to a light punishment,” the newspaper wrote.

11:59 21/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ARMENIA’S SENIOR OFFICIALS VISIT YERABLUR MILITARY PANTHEON

September 21, 2013 | 11:23

YEREVAN. – In connection with the 22nd anniversary of the independence
of Armenia, President Serzh Sargsyan, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
Catholicos of All Armenian Karekin II, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
President Bako Sahakyan, National Security Council Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan, capital city Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, Police
Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, and numerous MPs visited Yerablur Military
Pantheon on Saturday.

They paid their respects to the memory of those that fell during
the Karabakh War, placed flowers and laid wreaths to the tombs of
Armenia’s late PM, Supreme Commander Vazgen Sargsyan, and General
Andranik Ozanian, and to the memorial of the fallen freedom fighters.

The Karabakh War veterans and the parents of those that fell during
the war likewise were at the pantheon.

The defense minister approached all war veterans, shook their
hands, and congratulated them on the occasion of the anniversary of
independence, the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informs.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

QUEEN ELIZABETH II CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN PEOPLE ON INDEPENDENCE

September 21, 2013 | 12:10

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has congratulated the people of Armenia
on the 22nd anniversary of their independence.

“This is a proud day for the people of Armenia. The establishment of
an independent, sovereign Armenian Republic is a great achievement.

The UK will continue to work with Armenia as it seeks a secure and
prosperous future,” Ambassador Jonathan Aves said in a Facebook
message.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PUTIN CONGRATULATES SARGSYAN ON ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY

September 21, 2013 | 11:19

MOSCOW. – Russian Federation (RF) President Vladimir Putin
congratulated Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and all Armenian
citizens, in connection with the 22nd anniversary of the independence
of Armenia.

He highly praised Armenia’s successes in the socioeconomic,
scientific and technological, and cultural development, and pointed
to the country’s growing standing in the international arena, Kremlin
official website informs.

Putin also stressed that the Russian-Armenian relations have elevated
to the level of allied partnership, and they will continue to develop.

In addition, the RF President expressed a conviction that, with joint
efforts, Armenia and Russia will strengthen bilateral ties and expand
cooperation, including in the context of Armenia’s accession to the
Customs Union which, as per Vladimir Putin, is consistent with the
interests of the peoples of the two countries.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

BAKU URGES ANKARA NOT TO REPEAT 2009 ‘MISTAKE’ OF RESTORING TIES WITH YEREVAN

Http://
10:29 21.09.2013

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey

The chief of the foreign relations department of the Azerbaijani
Presidency urges Ankara not to repeat the 2009 ‘mistake’ of attempting
to open borders with Armenia.

A senior Azeri official has urged Turkey not to repeat the 2009
“mistake” of attempting to open borders with Armenia, underlining
that they are suspicious of similar efforts to revive the stalled
process between Ankara and Yerevan.

“There are such attempts [for the revival of the Ankara-Yerevan
process] these days. I am hopeful and sure that the Turkish leadership
will not take steps contrary to the will of Azerbaijanand the
Azerbaijani people,” Novroz Mammadov, chief of the foreign relations
department of the Azerbaijani Presidency, told the Hurriyet Daily
News in an interview.

Without further elaborating on what these attempts were, Mammadov
said he was talking about “possibilities” rather than concrete moves.

Approached by the Daily News, Turkish diplomatic sources said there
were no intentions for the revival of the reconciliation process
and that Turkey’s position vis-a-vis the Nagorno-Karabkh issue had
not changed.

“A step was taken in 2009. An agreement was signed between Turkey
and Armenia under the monitoring of six foreign ministers. It was
not possible to implement this agreement because it was unfair,”
Mammadov said. “We do not want it to occur a second time.”

“We are grateful for Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan with regard to
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. We are regretful because of the failure
of the international community’s efforts to resolve the problem since
the early 1990s,” he said.

President Ä°lham Aliyev’s adviser underlined that Baku was not in fact
against Turkey opening its borders with Armenia but that such a move
should follow a step taken by Yerevan with regard to Nagorno-Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HRAPARAK: NEW DETAILS OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN LUNCH IN CROATIA

11:24 ~U 21.09.13

New details of the secret Russian-Armenian lunch in the house of
President of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan in
Croatia have been found out.

Following the discussions of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union,
the Russian representatives raised the personnel issues.

Although it is up top Armenia to decide, they named two “unwelcome
persons” – Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Minister of
Energy Armen Movsisyan.

That meeting put an end to the talks about the Armenian premier’s
resignation and Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s
appointment as premier.

According to the newspaper, Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, who is
close to Armenia’s premier, is on good terms with Sergey Ivanov,
Head of the Russian presidential administration.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EAI DECLINES MONTH BY MONTH

Business – Friday, 20 September 2013, 14:03

The pace of economic growth is slowing down although the government
hopes for a 7-9% growth by the end of the year. According to rapidly
collected date of the National Statistics Service, the economic
activity index in January-August was 3.8% compared with the same
period last year. The economic activity index is dropping month by
month. In January-July, compared with the same period of last year,
the EAI totaled 4%, in January-June 4.4% compared with the same period
last year, 5.3% compared with the same period of last year, and 8.7%
compared with the same period of last year. In January-August the
industrial output grew by 6.2%, gross agricultural output grew by
7.1%, trade 2.5%, services 3.2%, foreign trade 2.8%. An 8.5% decline
was reported in building, electricity generation dropped by 4.5%.

Salaries are not adjusted to inflation: In the abovementioned period
the average monthly wage increased by 3.7%. Inflation was at 5.3%.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

The Ambassador of Syria to Lebanon visited His Holiness Aram I

Antelias – On Wednesday 11 September 2013, Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali
met with Catholicos Aram I in the presence of Member of Parliament Hagop
Pakradouni. The ambassador assured His Holiness Aram I that the government
had not used chemical weapons against its own people. In response, the
Catholicos told Ambassador Ali that the Syrian conflict had to be resolved
with dialogue with the participation of all parties including minorities.
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