Month: July 2014

ELECTRICITY TARIFF RISE DEBATE: CRITICS SPURN SARGSYAN REQUEST FOR SUBSIDIES TO POOR FAMILIES

SOCIETY | 02.07.14 | 11:03

RELATED NEWS

Price Hike for Power: PSRC decision causes public discontent

President Serzh Sargsyan’s request that the government provide
subsidies to socially vulnerable families after a rise in electricity
tariffs planned next month has been brushed aside by some opponents
as a “show”.

In a letter to Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan sent on Tuesday, soon
after the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) authorized
a second rise in electricity tariffs in just over a year, Sargsyan
suggested “funding ways for cushioning the impact of electricity
price increase on poor families”.

According to the government press service, the prime minister
instructed the ministers of finance, economy and labor and social
affairs to draft a decision to increase family allowances for about
105,000 socially vulnerable families. The decision is to be submitted
to the Cabinet meeting on July 3.

Argishti Kiviryan, who was one of the participants in the Tuesday
protest near the PSRC office, discarded the president’s step as
“mockery”, since the rise, according to him, took place upon the
direct instruction of the authorities.

Talking to A1 Plus, the activist lamented the fact that few citizens
had gathered near the PSRC office. He said only an active position
of Armenian citizens can help solve problems. “Had we been a few
thousand people down there, the commission wouldn’t have been able
to raise the tariff,” he argued.

ARMENIA AND BELARUS TO CHOOSE TRACTOR MANUFACTURING CENTER – MINISTER

July 02, 2014 | 01:55

YEREVAN. – Armenia and Belarus will select a tractor manufacturing
center in Armenia, Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In Karapetyan’s words, two options are considered at present. They are
the Chinvan enterprise in Vanadzor city, and the automobile loading
plant in Charentsavan city.

Chinvan assembles Chinese tractors, whereas the Charentsavan plant
does not operate at the present time.

HRAPARAK: ELECTRICITY PRICE SURGE RESULT OF BLACKMAIL?

08:40 * 02.07.14

Blackmail is claimed to be one of the reasons behind yesterday’s
decision to raise the prices of electric power.

Citing its sources close to the Government, the paper says that
the Electric Networks of Armenia had threatened layoffs in case the
scenario didn’t work.

But that’s not said to be the only cause, says the paper, adding that
corruptive manipulations too, contributed to the surge.

In return for the exported cheap energy produced by its Power Plant,
Armenia reportedly imported power at higher prices from abroad. “The
situation is deplorable in both the entire sector and the Ministry [of
Energy and Natural Resources] per se. If you go into the minister’s
office, you will be under the impression that it is the 1930s; no
repairs at all,” writes the paper.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: MORE HIKE IN ELECTRICITY PRICES EXPECTED NEXT SPRING

09:30 * 02.07.14

Commenting on the Public Services Regulatory Commission’s Tuesday
decision to raise the prices of electric power, the paper says that
a further hike is highly likely next spring.

With the Nuclear Power Plant expected to close for repairs for about
two years, the per kilowatt price for energy will this time surge by
8-10 Drams ($0.019 – $0.024), claims the paper.

“Against the backdrop of the tariff surge, the property owned by the
Public Services Regulatory Commission’s members and their closest
people acquires a special charm,” says the paper, noting that the
Commission’s chairman, Robert Nazaryan, is almost officially a
millionaire, with declared income worth 0.5 million US Dollars.

The paper says that Nazaryan annually receives 8.180 million Drams
(over $20,000) from the state budget to approve proposed hikes in
different service prices.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ILHAM ALIYEV HAS STATED IN BAKU, “ARMENIA IS FORMED ON THE TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN.”

July 1 2014

“There was nothing anti-Armenian from the Azerbaijani delegation. On
the first day, in his opening speech, the President of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, delivered a speech. He spoke about Armenia for a long
time and said what is always said about, the refugees, and “occupied
territories”. This time, there was something new, that Armenia is
formed on the territory of Azerbaijan,” said the PAP party MP Stepan
Margaryan, in the conversation with Aravot.am. Note that the 23th
annual session of OSCE held in Baku, the activities of which commenced
yesterday, was attended by the RA NA MPs. The three main committee
sessions were held parallel to the plenary sessions. The Head of
the Armenian Delegation for this session and the NA RPA faction MP,
Artashes Geghamyan, was representing Armenian in the Committee for
Political and Security Affairs. The PAP faction MP, Stepan Margaryan,
was representing Armenia in the Committee for Economy, Environment
and Technology Affairs, and the NA ARF Secretary General, Aghvan
Vardanyan, was representing Armenia in the Committee for Democracy,
Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. Mr. Margaryan is convinced
that after Aliyev’s speech, when he had talked with delegates from
different countries, all of them described it as a “primitive speech.”

Our delegates just did not have the opportunity to counter Ilham
Aliyev. The working format did not allow. But Stepan Margaryan said
that in direct contacts and different interviews, they have given
an answer to Aliyev. “For instances, I have said that I am sure
that there was serious historians in Azerbaijan and based on their
opinion, and not based on just said statement. Although, I’m sure that
Ilham Aliyev knows well these historians, and the history, but he
said something that no one takes it serious,” said Stepan Margaryan
adding that Aliyev’s statements did not have any effect. Azerbaijani
media conveyed the speeches and the observations by the Head of the
Armenian delegation, Artashes Geghamyan, which already deserved
criticism in Armenia. “RPA, don’t you feel shame about whom and
where you are sending to represent Armenia. He is representing the
interests of Moscow there and no one’s else… the Eurasian “peace
crow” in Baku. – dreams that the borders in the Caucasus disappear,
that he feels comfortable in Baku, and Azerbaijanis feel easy at
home in Yerevan /pay attention on difference in usage of words/, –
applauds the statements by the U.S., Russian and French presidents,
L’Aquila, Muskoka and other, which, you remember, assumed return of
NKR “around occupied” territories, – wishes to see Azerbaijan in the
Eurasian Union, in addition to Armenia. Let him be hosted in Baku
and feel comfortable … ,” such a Facebook post was made by Stepan
Safaryan. We asked Stepan Margaryan what he thinks about the statements
of his colleague, “It would be hard for me to give an opinion about
Geghamyan’s speech, we are working for various Committees. The works
last quite long and we still have not managed to summarize the works
among each other,” said Stepan Margaryan adding that the committee,
in which he was involved, today concluded its works by adopting
various resolutions on food security, use of water resources, the
collaboration between the states on these issues and so on. Aravot.am
has failed to establish a contact with Artashes Geghamyan.

Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

AZERBAIJAN ACQUIRED ABOUT 1,000 ARTILLERY SYSTEMS OVER PAST TWELVE YEARS

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, July 2, 12:31

Azerbaijan purchased about 1,000 new missile-artillery systems over
the past twelve years.

According to APA’s survey conducted basing on the UN Register
of Conventional Arms and data of separate production companies,
the Azerbaijani Armed Forces strengthening the inventory with new
artillery systems stands the first in the former Soviet Union for
its capabilities. Some Azerbaijan’s missile-artillery systems have
a range of 150 km. Longer range missile systems are expected to be
included in the inventory in the near future.

Azerbaijan ordered more artillery systems from Russia during this
period. Azerbaijan ordered more than 500 various caliber artillery
systems from Russia and some of them (454 pieces, according to the
UN Register of Conventional Arms) have already been delivered to Baku.

Azerbaijan ordered and purchased from Russia 120 mm caliber 2S12
Sani mortars, 18 units of MSTA-S self-propelled howitzers, 18
TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrowers, 18 2S31 Vena self-propelled
howitzers, 26 2S9 Nona-S self-propelled mortars, 18 9A52 Smerch
heavy multiple rocket launchers. Azerbaijan purchased from Ukraine
294 various artillery systems during the reporting period. The
UN Register of Conventional Arms reports that in 2002-2013, Baku
purchased from Ukraine 12 9 Smerch heavy multiple rocket launchers,
85 PM-38 mortars, 72 MT-12 guns, 54 2S1 Gvozdika and 16 2S3 Acacia
self-propelled howitzers.

Azerbaijan also bought 3 Complex Tochka-U tactical missiles. 132
artillery systems that Azerbaijan purchased from Belarus include 12 2S7
Pion self-propelled guns with 203 mm caliber and 120 D-30 howitzers.

Moreover, it purchased from Bulgaria 36 M-46 guns, from Bosnia and
Herzegovina 10 RAK-12 multiple rocket launchers.

During the reporting period, Azerbaijan has expanded the means of
its artillery troops by purchasing from Israel LAR-160, Lynx Grad,
Lynx EXTRA, and from Turkey T-107, T-122 Sakarya and T-300 Kasirga
missile systems.

YEREVAN THERMAL POWER PLANT READY TO LAUNCH COAL-BASED ENERGY GENERATION

YEREVAN, July 2. /ARKA/. The Yerevan thermal power plant is ready to
start producing electricity from coal if coal supplies are available,
general director of the plant Hovakim Hovhannisyan told reporters
on Tuesday.

Coal-fired generation ahs been already tested at the plant, he said.

Hovhannisyan also said the company kept testing the coal firing
during a year, using both gas and oil products. The studies led to
new developments that allow getting the best results, he said.

The firing with the use of electronic plasmatrons proved to be
efficient, and the production capacities was tested from several
hours to 24-hour mode during a month, Hovhannisyan said.

According to the general director, the new method provided 4,500-5,000
kilocalories per kilogram, which is a quite high value. The highest
level is provided by gas – 8,200-8,300 kilocalories. According to
earlier plans, the Yerevan thermal power plant was to start coal-fired
energy generation from Karabakh in 2013. Coal supplies will allow
operating two power units, 50 megawatt each.

The Yerevan thermal power plant was modernized and equipped with
a new steam-gas unit of combined cycle and was re-commissioned in
April 2010. Total rated capacity of the new plant is 271.7 megawatt;
the production output is 242 megawatt and thermal output is 434.9
gigajoules-hours. -0–

– See more at:

AHAR.AZ: SON OF BAKU MAYOR, WHO IS ACCUSED OF HAVING TIES WITH WAHHABIS, IS ARRESTED OR HAS FLED THE COUNTRY

12:34 02/07/2014 ” LAW

Information is spread in Azerbaijan that allegedly the son of the mayor
of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov – Israfil Abutalibov, who is suspected
of having ties with the Wahhabis, has been arrested or has fled
the country.

According to the Azerbaijani news portal “Axar.az” a reliable source
told that last week during the joint operation of the Ministry of
National Security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan
held in “Lezgi mosque”, located in the historic city of Baku, Israfil
Abutalibov was arrested.

The portal notes that for a long time, the Azerbaijani media write
that Israfil Abutalibov helps Wahhabis to immigrate to Syria and to
fight against the governmental troops. It is noted that during the
operation in the “Lezgi mosque” the law enforcement officers had
questioned the believers about Israfilov Abutalibov.

According to the article, on June 20 the MNB officers and the Interior
Ministry of Azerbaijan arrested 20 Wahhabis in “Lezgi mosque.” This
information was confirmed by the ministries.

Israfil Abutalibov was arrested on charges of supporting Azerbaijani
Wahhabis, who want to join the terrorist group “Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant”, as well as of funding them and of establishing ties
with terrorist groups. It is also noted that during search held in
prayer-place of the Salafis in Baghdad a huge amount of money was
found, this served the main reason for his arrest.

However, as the portal notes, Secretary Hajibala Abutalibov denied
information that the mayor’s son was arrested or had fled the country.

Source: Panorama.am

AFRIKYANS CLUB’S FACADE DEMOLISHED

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, July 2, 12:24

The facade of the ancient building of Afrikyans Club in the center
of Yerevan has been completely demolished, Wednesday.

Actually, the last weeks’ public protests against demolition of the
building proved useless. The remaining part of the building will be
demolished soon.

The Afrikyan building, located on 11 Teryan Street, was built at the
end of the 19th century. Based on a Government decision in 2004, the
building was included in the state list of historical and cultural
immovable monuments of the city of Yerevan as a national monument.

According to a new Government decision the Afrikyan building will
be dismantled and rebuilt at another location in order to broaden
the roadway. The building is included in the “Old Yerevan” program,
which will be designed and implemented in the neighboring streets of
Abovyan, Byuzand, Koghbatsi and Aram.

The activists reported earlier that the Armenian Parliament ratified
the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological
Heritage. According to the Convention, each of the parties shall ban
the full or partial relocation of the protected monument except when
this step is made for the protection of the monument.

In early XX century, before the revolution, the Afrikyans’ building
was an urban club visited by well- known politicians, entrepreneurs,
artists and foreign guests. In 2004 the building was sold to a private
company by the Municipality. Industrialists Arakel and Tigran Afrikyan
allocated big funds for schools and for road construction. Moreover,
they built a water pipeline in Yerevan, which supplied the residents
of Yerevan with drinking water.

OPPOSITION AND SINCERE FORCES MUST UNITE FOR NATIONAL SALVATION – OPINIONS

19:58 * 30.06.14

Preparliament member Tigran Khzmalyan believes that a national
salvation body should be formed to unite all the opposition and
sincere forces.

“We need to form a national salvation committee and be honest with
the people. It is high time for that. National salvation requires an
even broader platform for all the opposition and sincere forces to
cooperate,” Khzmalyan told Tert.am.

Struggling groups and political forces calling for struggle cannot
draw up a common agenda.

“If there is one aim and one enemy, it is only logical that efforts
must be combined. If we fail to combine our efforts, we’ll suffer
defeat as a nation,” he said.

According to Khzmalyan, ambitions are an obstacle.

“Political forces overestimate their potential. They are more thinking
of the party and personal interests than of national interests.”

Araik Harutyunyan, Board member, Civil Agreement, shares the opinion
of the need for combined efforts.

“Of course, there is a need for unification, but I do not see any
serious processes. The key political forces seem to have different
agendas, without being inclined to deal with one and the same problem,”
Harutyunyan told Tert.am.

“We have never stated our unwillingness to cooperate with any political
force. Rather, we stated a change of power was our priority.

And if there are political forces drawing up such a political agenda
and explaining mechanisms, Civil Agreement is ready to join this
political force in changing power.”