Author: Andres-Papazian

“ARMENIAN SHOULD BUY GAS PIPELINE”

A1Plus.am
26 Nov 2010

Georgia has not yet made a decision with regard to the sale of
Russian-Armenian gas pipeline passing through the country.

Armenian National Congress (HAK) representative Vladimir Karapetyan
thinks Azerbaijan will do its best to keep Armenia in blockade; hence,
the country will offer the best price.

The HAK representative suggests that the Armenian government should
mobilize the leaders of economic sphere in order to purchase the
section of the pipeline passing through Georgia.

“I want to recall a recent case when our businessmen raised $ 30
million to buy an airplane. I think that the issue of gas pipeline
is much more important and Armenia will hurry to make a profitable
bid ahead of Azerbaijan,” Vladimir Karapetyan told A1+ adding that
the consequences would be disastrous in the opposite case.

Rovnag Abdullayev President of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic
(SOCAR) has already applied to the owner of the pipeline – National
Gas Company of Georgia – and expressed their interest in participating
in the process, in case of privatization or transfer of the pipeline.

Armenian parliamentarian Vardan Khachatryan is concerned over
Azerbaijani intention to “take control” of Russia-Armenia gas pipeline.

He views Georgia’s decision to sell the pipeline as an attempt to
pressurize Armenia.

“The interests of our neighbours coincide in certain issues, especially
in issues concerning Armenia. The issue of the gas pipeline can be
viewed in this context. Inactivity is simply inadmissible given the
tense situation in the region,” said Vardan Khachatryan.

From: A. Papazian

ZANGEZUR COPPER-MOLYBDENUM COMBINE FINED

A1Plus.am
26 Nov 2010

The State Environmental Inspection of Nature Protection Ministry
has imposed an administrative fine of AMD 100 000 on Zangezur
copper-molybdenum combine for the leak of 50 tons of tails into the
Voghji River.

The total damage was assessed AMD 650 000.

“100,000 AMD – this is a fine that can be imposed by a highway
patrolman if to drive under red light. State Environmental Inspection
protects us and our environment in the amount of this sum,” Artur
Ghazaryan, representative of Kapan-based “For Ensuring Ecological
Safety and Developing Democracy” NGO told Ecolur.

As known, this enterprise tails contain chemicals used for ore
flotation. Besides, tails contain all the metals present in original
ore – copper, molybdenum, as well as such mixtures as rhenium,
selenium, tellurium and bismuth. All these metals are considered as
toxic for environment and health.

From: A. Papazian

TSARUKYAN SEIZES VOTES FROM RP
NAIRA HAYRUMYAN

Lragir.am
26 Nov 2010

After deputy chairman of Orinats Yerkir Party /Country of Law, OYP/
Heghine Bisharyan became a member of the parliamentary commission on
Euro-integration issues, which now belongs to the Bargavach Hayastan
Party, information appeared that BHK is getting ready to leave the
coalition.

Apparently, the withdrawal from coalition of BHK is seriously
considered as by the very party so its coalition partners from the
Republican Party and the Rule of Law. There are reasons for this: it
is obvious that in this situation, it is advantageous for BHK to be
outside the coalition than with the government. Sociologist Aharon
Adibekyan also stated about this; he thinks that the only chance
for Gagik Tsarukyan is stay at distance from the power preserving
administrative levers.

BHK’s withdrawal from the coalition is advantageous for the Republican
Party too, which does not want to share the votes obtained with the
help of administrative resources. In 2007 parliamentary elections
and in 2008 presidential elections, RP and BHK were in one team and
worked hand in hand. More, Gagik Tsarukyan’s force resource became
a reliable support for the Republicans. At the end, the Republican
Party “gave” to Tsarukyan only 200 thousand votes, though the party
had 400 thousand members.

Then Tsarukyan kept silence, but during the Yerevan Mayor election
in 2009, he was obviously acting alone: we can remember a number of
clashes between the electoral headquarters of Republican and Bargavach
Hayastan Parties.

Of course, during the upcoming parliamentary elections Tsarukyan will
pose the problem to get the most votes – he has already announced
about 50% +1 vote. But because he knows how many votes he actually
has, his main task will be to deprive the Republican Party of those
votes which are obtained through not entirely legal means. Say, under
this light, we can consider the revelation of the Control Chamber
relating to 60 thousand “dead souls”, which for many years now receive
a pension from the Pension Fund and, apparently, “vote”. CC Chairman
is a Gagik Tsarukyan’s team-mate, and he, in fact, hinted to the BHK,
that it will not allow this resource be used during elections.

The position of the Republican Party in connection with the amendments
to the Election Code is interesting too. MPs from the Bargavach
Hayastan Party have repeatedly advocated the amendment to the order
of formation of election commissions, insisting on an equal number of
representatives from government and opposition. In fact, if the order
will be amended, BHK, leaving the coalition, will get more chances to
be represented in the election commissions and control the situation,
not allowing falsifications by the Republicans.

Proceeding from this logic, we have to expect regular “leakages”
which will point out other illegal sources of “popularity” of the
Republican Party. Say, former soldiers are possible to tell how they
were forced to vote for the Republican Party.

From: A. Papazian

INTRODUCTION OF E-PAYMENTS IN ARMENIA’S PASPORT DEPARTMENTS TO HELP TACKLE CORRUPTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 17:32 AMT 13:32 GMT

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan participated in opening of
a repaired and modernized pasport and visa department of Nor Nork
administrative district of Yerevan.

The Prime Minister attached importance to application of modern
technologies in the field of pasport servicing.

“The innovations will provide citizens with the opportunity to get
more detailed information, have options, as well as use other sources.

Payments will be done electronically, thus, excluding corruption
risks,” Mr. Sargsyan said.

Commenting on importance of the reforms, the Prime Minister stressed
that maximum efforts will be exerted to provide similar services in
all pasport and visa departments of the RA Police.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN ARCHIVISTS BRIEFED ON ARMENIA-RELATED DOCUMENTS IN NATIONAL ARCHIVE OF GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 16:39 AMT 12:39 GMT

On November 26, Armenian National Archive delegation led by Archive
director Amatuni Virabyan visited the National Archive of Georgia.

Perspectives of interdepartmental cooperation strengthening, resumption
of 1997 agreement between the two Archives and reforms implemented
were discussed at the meeting.

Further, the members of Armenian delegations were briefed on Georgian
National Archive documents related to Armenia.

Armenian delegation’s visit will be completed in November 27, Georgia
Online reported.

From: A. Papazian

MINISTER NALBANDIAN MEETS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

armradio.am
26.11.2010 16:43

On November 26 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Bernard Fassier (France), Robert
Bradtke (USA) and Igor Popov (Russia) and the Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ansrzej Kasprzyk.

The Co-Chairs briefed Minister Nalbandian on the results of their
discussions with Azerbaijan’s President in Baku.

The interlocutors discussed the process of preparation for the
forthcoming OSCE summit in Astana.

From: A. Papazian

DAVID HARUTYUNYAN: EVEN THE BEST LAW CANNOT SUBSTITUTE THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
26.11.2010 17:28

“Even the best law cannot substitute the election process itself,”
Chairman of Standing Committee on State-Legal Issues of the National
Assembly David Harutyunyan told a press conference today, speaking
about the recurrent initiative to amend the Electoral Code.

According to Harutyunyan, the edited version of the Electoral Code
cannot radically change the situation, but can contribute to the
better organization of elections. He said “the proposed changes are
a step forward as compared to the norms of the current Code.

Asked why the parliamentary opposition has not participated in
the elaboration of the law, David Harutyunyan said: “To start any
discussion, it’s first of all necessary to have some initial document.

I’m sure that we would have no draft law should we start the
discussions earlier, while now there is a draft, which is open to
proposals.”

The amended version of the Electoral Code envisages essential changes
in the procedure of formation of electoral commissions. It suggests
including only “professionals” in the Central Electoral Commission
and the District Electoral Commissions.

The parliamentary opposition says electoral commissions of all level
should be comprised of representatives of political forces with an
equal number of members form the opposition and the authorities.

From: A. Papazian

THE US AND FRANCE REITERATE THEIR POSITION ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
Siranush Muradyan

“Radiolur”
26.11.2010 14:19

The 35th paragraph of the Lisbon Declaration, issued by the Heads
of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North
Atlantic Council in Lisbon, reads that “NATO remains committed in its
support of the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, and will
also continue to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of
these regional conflicts, taking into account these principles.”

“Radiolur” news program of the Public Radio of Armenia requested
officials clarifications from the US and French Embassies in Yerevan
regarding their stance on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict as
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries and members of NATO.

“The co-chair countries of the OSCE Mink Group have declared many
times about their stance on the settlement process, saying that
the conflict should be settled on the basis of the principles of
non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial integrity and
the right of peoples to self-determination. However, NATO stuck to
its previous generalized formulations on South Caucasian conflicts
in its Lisbon Declaration. This formulation does not coincide with
the earlier statements of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,” Radiolur said in its
letters sent out to the US and French Embassies.

“The United States remains committed to the peaceful and long-lasting
settlement of the conflict through the Minsk Group process on the
basis of the three principles of the Helsinki Final Act – non-use of
force or the threat of force, territorial integrity and the right of
peoples to self-determination, which were further consolidated in the
joint statements of Presidents Obama, Sarkozy and Medvedev issued in
L’Aquila in 2009 and Muskoka in 2010,” the US Embassy stated in its
official response.

“As a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group, France remains
committed to the negotiated settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
based on the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, non-use of force or
the threat of force, territorial integrity and the right of peoples
to self-determination, as well as on the elements included in the
L’Aquila and Muskoka statements of Presidents Sarkozy, Medvedev and
Obama,” the French Embassy stated in its official response to Radiolur.

From: A. Papazian

HOW TO EXPORT TO THE EU?

armradio.am
26.11.2010 13:31

To facilitate the access to the EU market for potential exporters of
the Eastern neighbourhood, the Russian version of the Export Helpdesk
was launched on 26 November 2010.

The Export Helpdesk is an online service provided by the Commission
to facilitate market access for developing countries to the European
Union.

It offers information required by exporters interested in supplying
the EU market. From labelling rules to import tariffs, through rules
of origin; the Export Helpdesk offers information free of charge
and in six languages : English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic,
and now in Russian as well.

The launch of the Export Helpdesk into Russian is an important step
to better address the needs of the economic operators not only in the
Eastern Partnership region but also in all countries where Russian
remains an important vehicular language.

In 2009 the database received almost 35000 hits from the South
Caucasus countries

European consumers are interested in Armenian products and Armenian
businesses are interested in selling on the EU market. For that reason,
the European Union Delegation to Yerevan organized two workshops on
1-2 July 2010 (Yerevan and Ijevan) to inform Armenian producers on
how to export to the EU.

The Delegation of the European Union to Armenia will organize relevant
events in the nearest future to inform the Armenian businesses about
this useful free internet website of the Export Helpdesk that gives
detailed information on how to export to the European Union, from
product-specific standards to import tariffs and trade statistics as
well as useful links to business associations.

From: A. Papazian

$20.8 MILLION PLEDGED AT TELETHON 2010: PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MAJOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN ARTSAKH

armradio.am
26.11.2010 11:31

The Armenia Fund successfully concluded its 13th International
Telethon by raising yet another record breaking $20.8 million in
pledges. The live 12 hour show aired from KCET Hollywood Studios and
reached millions of households globally.

The live program featured a rich presentation of Armenian music and
entertainment, as well as celebrities, political and community leaders,
and long time Armenia Fund supporters and donors.

The Telethon culminates Armenia Fund’s global fundraising campaigns
that included Phone-a-thons, gala dinners, and benefit concerts,
as well as the annual benefit gala held in Moscow and the 11th
Pan-European Phone-a-thon held in Paris.

Armenia Fund, along with its global affiliates will provide detailed
information within the next few weeks, regarding total number of donors
and pledges. The Fund will conduct and verify, as well as collect,
all pledges made during Telethon 2010. Within the next few weeks,
the Fund will release further details.

As always, Armenia Fund continues accepting donations online
() or through 1-800-888-8897 or 1-888-300-9271.

From: A. Papazian