Author: Andres-Papazian

OSCE PRESENTS AND DISCUSSES REMEDIATION SCENARIOS OF NUBARASHEN TOXIC BURIAL SITE IN ARMENIA

States News Service
October 29, 2013 Tuesday

YEREVAN

The following information was released by the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE):

Outcomes of a two-year OSCE-supported project studying the obsolete
pesticides and persistent organic pollutants in the Nubarashen burial
site, located near Yerevan, and their impact on the environment were
presented and discussed today.

The Nubarashen landfill was established in the mid-1970s as a disposal
site for persistent organic pollutants, a form of toxic waste, and
is located in a valley subject to severe erosion processes. Although
the Armenian Government has taken some measures to repair it, until
recently it posed serious environmental and human health risks.

“Considering the close relationship between environment and security,
the OSCE implemented an important project in the area of prevention
of environmental degradation. This project gathered detailed data
on the boundaries, volume and contents of toxic waste contained in
the burial site in Nubarashen, providing an accurate assessment of
the risk level of environmental damage in the surrounding areas,”
said Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The workshop brought together the project’s main stakeholders,
including representatives of state institutions, civil society and
the international community, to discuss results and follow-up actions.

Potential scenarios for site remediation were presented by Boudewijn
Fokke from Tauw a Dutch company which conducted a project feasibility
study as well as assessment of environmental and health risks.

“The OSCE and the Ministry signed an agreement in 2011 to work together
to find long term solutions to the problem. Now that the study and
the assessment of the site initiated by the OSCE are completed,
we have a solid knowledge foundation for follow-up actions for the
Nubarashen toxic burial site remediation,” said Armen Yeritsyan,
Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations.

The project was implemented by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations, with funding from the
US Government.

From: A. Papazian

MOSCOW URGES EU NOT TO FORCE CIS STATES TO MAKE CHOICE

October 30, 2013 | 19:14

Moscow is calling on the European Union to find a form of interaction
with CIS states that will not force them to choose between Russia
and EU.

Grigory Karasin, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, said the EU must
seek a form of interaction that will not force CIS states to make
an artificial, often a false choice, to be either with EU or Russia,
RIA Novosti reported.

“Our neighborhood should be a space of fair and mutually beneficial
cooperation without dividing lines, not a ground for geopolitical
games around the so-called ‘focused states’,” Karasin said in a
statement during the international conference.

Russia is attentively following the developments around Eastern
Partnership project aimed at getting closer with Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ARRIVING IN THE REGION TO PREPARE SARGSYAN-ALIYEV MEETING

19:01 30.10.2013

Nagorno-Karabakh, OSCE Minsk Group

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are planning to visit the region early
in November, APA reports, quoting the US Embassy in Baku.

The mediators will first visit Baku, and then Yerevan. US Co-Chair
James Warlick will arrive in Baku at the beginning of the week.

Within the framework of the visit the Co-Chairs will meet with
officials in both countries to discuss the process of settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. The visit is aimed at preparing the
meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

FATAL SHOT FIRED FROM INSIDE HOUSE OF EX-GOVERNOR SURIK KHACHATRYAN: ATTORNEY

10.30.2013 19:31 epress.am

“Watching the unedited video footage of the incident at former Syunik
regional governor Surik Khachatryan’s house, I am more convinced than
ever that the last shot fired on Avetik Budaghyan, that resulted in
his death, was shot from inside Khachatryan’s house,” the Budaghyan
family’s attorney, Hayk Alumyan, told journalists today.

On Jun. 1, 2013, former Goris mayoral candidate Avetik Budaghyan
was murdered outside the house of then Syunik regional governor
Surik Khachatryan. Budaghyan’s brother, Colonel Artak Budaghyan, was
wounded. A criminal investigation was launched, and Khachatryan’s son,
Tigran, and his bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan, were arrested. Later,
both men were released, as their actions were deemed as being in
self-defense.

According to the attorney, that the shot came from above is proven
not only by the forensic examination, according to which Budaghyan’s
wound was slanted (that is, from top-down), but also that after one
of the last shots was fired, the bullet hit the asphalt and made a
spark, which can be seen in the video [AM].

Alumyan said that his client, when wounded, had falled to the ground,
saw a spark from the window of the house and heard a noise. The
attorney said that Surik Khachatryan has denied Budaghyan’s version
of events. Asked how likely is it that the person shooting from the
house was Surik Khachatryan, Alumyan said, in any case, according to
the testimonies of Khachatryan’s party, there was no one else in the
house except for the governor.

Alumyan showed the video to prove that his client displayed no
aggression whatsoever; on the contrary, he tried to resolve the
conflict. Thus, “it’s absurd to release the prisoners on the basis
of self-defense.”

“For a long time Avetik Budaghyan doesn’t get out of the car, then,
seeing his brother in a conflict, he comes out and pushes him and
tries to get him away. There’s no aggression in his actions; in fact,
he played the role of mediator,” said the attorney.

Recall, Avetik Budaghyan was accused of attempted murder, but
proceedings were dropped because of his death. Alumyan is appealing
the inspector’s decision establishing Budaghyan as guilty.

From: A. Papazian

MINISTER: ARMENIA’S WHEAT CROP TOTAL 310,000 TONS THIS YEAR – 26% LARGER THAN IN 2012

YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Wheat crop in Armenia totaled 310,000
tons this year – it was 26% larger that that of 2012, Agriculture
Minister Sergo Karapetyan said Wednesday at budget hearings in the
National Assembly.

He said that the government’s seed farming development program launched
in Armenia in 2010 has contributed a great deal to this growth.

“Thanks to this program, 31,000 hectares of abandoned land are now
used under crops,” Karapetyan said.

In his words, in the 2014 budget, the government earmarks about AMD
550 million for purchase of 3,300 tons of super elite wheat seeds
from Russia.

In Armenia’s 2014 draft government budget, AMD 15 billion 660 million
is earmarked for agriculture, and this is 23.1% more than the amount
allocated to agriculture in the 2013 budget.

In the 2014 draft consolidated government budget, revenue is projected
at AMD 1 trillion 134 billion, spending at 1 trillion 244 billion
and deficit at AMD 110 billion.

GDP growth is projected at 5.2% and a 12-month inflation rate at 4%
(±1.5%). ($1 – AMD 405.3). —-0—

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

PUTIN IS COMING TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT IN ARMENIA

The Russian president Putin’s visit to Armenia seems to have been
confirmed, and it will take place in early December. Serzh Sargsyan
needs his visit badly after the outrageous events of September 3.

On September 3 Serzh Sargsyan went for clinging to his own office. Now
everyone understands that the threat of losing Karabakh and the
security background disseminated by the Russian propaganda and its
Armenian branch offices was just a bluff. The main issue is that the
fifth column in Armenia was ready set to go for a coup with the help of
Russia in case Sargsyan signed the association agreement with the EU.

Serzh Sargsyan thus resolved the issue of his office. After September
3 the fifth column in Armenia has gone underground. The main issue is
to make sure Armenia excludes sovereignty and international isolation
has been resolved.

What is the purpose of Putin’s visit in this situation? This visit
means nothing to Putin, at least at first sight. Since September
3 the avalanche has been rolling faster and faster, along a path
favored by Russia. Armenia is humiliated and isolated every day, and
the culmination was the Customs Union summit in Minsk. There Armenia
was let know that the club is not looking forward to Armenia which
can aspire to the role of an attache at best which the other states
will be using to resolve their own problems.

These events allowed different circles in Armenia to think that such
treatment might force Serzh Sargsyan to take a U-turn and sign the
Association Agreement in late November.

There is logic behind the madness if we assume that Armenia is a state,
it has an adequate political elite and a quality majority which is
committed to the ideas of independence and state building.

It is clear though that in Armenia different groups under the sign
of political parties have usurped all the spheres of public life
whose only concern is to strengthen their foothold at any price,
even if they have to hand over the state. We witnessed that on the
eve of September 3. No single political force ever opposed the process.

In this situation Serzh Sargsyan needs Putin to come to Armenia and
fix the aftermaths of September 3. With his visit Putin is supposed to
“change” the government and appoint Serzh Sargsyan as viceroy. Earlier
Serzh Sargsyan did not have power according to the logic of the
Armenian oligarchic system. He did not have the say. Putin has the say
and he will introduce his viceroy to the criminal system. Everyone has
taken oath of loyalty to Putin, now he needs to appoint his viceroy.

Haik Aramyan 16:54 30/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: A. Papazian

FROM THE HISTORY OF ARMENIAN COINS: CURRENCY OF FIRST ARMENIAN REPUBLIC

The Bons of the Transcaucasian Commissariat were printed with the
value of 1, 3, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 250 rubles in 1918.

The first branch of the State Bank of the Russian Empire was
established in Yerevan in 1893. After the October Revolution in
1917, Transcaucasia, consisting of the Elisabethpol, Erivan and
Tiflis Governorates populated by Armenians, Georgians and Caucasian
Turks seceded from Russia and transformed into a unified independent
Transcaucasian Commissariat, with the center in Tiflis.

October 30, 2013

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Finance Ministry of the Transcaucasian
Commissariat issued and put into circulation currency called Bons,
with inscriptions in Russian, Armenian, Georgian and Arabian
languages. These were the first bank notes carrying Armenian letters.

Description of first Armenian bank notes

The Bons of the Transcaucasian Commissariat were printed with the
value of 1, 3, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 250 rubles in 1918. The Bons were
beautifully decorated with numerous national elements, patterns and
ornaments. 1- and 3-ruble Bons had vertical print while those with
bigger value had horizontal print and multi-color design.

Bons of the Transcaucasian Commissariat

Well-known architect Gabriel Ter-Mikelov (Ter-Mikelian), who projected
the building of the Georgian State Bank in Tiflis (Tbilisi), drew
the sketches of Bons.

After Russia’s Finance Minister Sergei Witte issued permission for the
formation of State Bank branch in Armenia in1893, private banks were
established, thus contributing to the development of entrepreneurship.

In May 1918, the Transcaucasian Commissariat collapsed. Armenia was
declared an independent republic on May 28 and the Ministry of Finance
ordered issuance of new currency. With time and funds necessary for
the process, it was decided to issue checks of the Yerevan branch
of the State Bank. At the same time, the Bons of the Transcaucasian
Commissariat were still in circulation.

Description of first Armenian checks

The first checks of the Yerevan branch of the State Bank were issued in
August 1019. They were of the same type, one- and two-sided. All the
inscriptions were in Russian, with only some of the checks mentioning
the value in Armenian.

First checks of the Yerevan branch of the State Bank

The checks were expected to be exchanged for money within three
months. However, it didn’t happen and the hard economic conditions
forced emission increase. The sketches of the checks printed by
the press of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs were drawn
by artist Garegin Levonyan. It’s worth noting that a strict law on
struggle against counterfeiting was in force at that time, prompted
by the law quality of the currency.

The bank notes of the first Republic of Armenia were issued with the
value of 50, 100 and 250 rubles in 1919, the sketches being drawn by
artists Hakop Kojoyan (the author of the national emblem) and Arshak
Fetvadjian. The bank notes were printed in London by Waterlow and
Sons Ltd company and were put into circulation in June 1920.

Description of bank notes of first Republic of Armenia

The bank notes were notable for high quality, design and protection
level. They featured national ornaments, Mount Ararat and eagle with
sword cutting a snake. The inscriptions were in Armenian, Russian
and French.

Bank notes of first Republic of Armenia

The bank notes of the first Republic of Armenia were in circulation
for a short period of time and were annulled after the establishment
of the Soviet rule. In 1921, the currency of the Socialist Soviet
Republic of Armenia (SSRA) was put into circulation.

Description of SSRA bank notes

To ensure uninterrupted money circulation, checks of the Yerevan
branch of the State Bank were issued in 1921 with a nominal value of
10 thousand rubles. Later bank notes with the value of 5000, 10000,
25000, 100000, as well as 1mln and 5 mln rubles were printed. The
inscriptions were in Armenian and Russian. The bank note with the value
of 500000 was issued as a trial copy and was not put into circulation.

SSRA bank notes of 1921-1922

Bonds with the nominal value of 5 mln rubles were issued in 1922
for the further exchange for money. They had one-side print, with
inscriptions in Armenian.

SSRA bond of 1922

Bonds with the value of one tchervonets (ten-ruble banknote) were
issued in 1923. The images reflect the way of life and national color
of that period. They had no individual number and were not put into
circulation.

Also, by decree of 1920, the money of the Russian Socialist Federative
Soviet Republic was also in use in the territory of Armenia.

The material was prepared in cooperation with Gevorg Mughalyan,
the numismatist of the Central Bank of Armenia.

Viktoria Araratyan / PanARMENIAN.Net, Varo Rafayelyan / PanARMENIAN
Photo

From: A. Papazian

EUROPEAN UNION WITH ITS STANDARDS AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT MUST BE ARMENIA’S PRIORITY – EXPERT

October 30, 2013 | 14:57

YEREVAN. – Armenia must not join such an authoritarian structure as
Customs Union, head of the Union of Employers Gagik Makaryan said.

He believes the European Union with its standards and business
environment must be Armenia’s priority and the country’s targeted
partner.

“The Customs Union obviously rests only on Russia, as Belarus has
only 0.8 percent in Armenia’s foreign trade, while Kazakhstan – 0.2
percent. Besides, you are well aware of business environment and the
state-business contacts in Russia,” he told reporters.

Makaryan said claims that “Armenia will do well without Europe”
speaks about “feudal thinking”. He expressed hope that the country’s
leadership will find the opportunity to sign a cooperation agreement
with the European Union instead of the Association Agreement.

President Serzh Sargsyan voiced intention to join the Customs Union
on September 3 in Moscow.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

VOVA GASPARYAN WILL CONTROL INTERNET

The Hraparak reported that so far the special services of Armenia
have been wiretapping and controlling only but the possibilities are
bigger now. According to the newspaper, the RA police have acquired new
equipment that allows controlling the Internet thanks to the Russian
police which has donated a lot of equipment to its junior partner.

In summer our police headed by Vova Gasparyan left for Sochi to discuss
fight against cybercrime in a solemn meeting, and they promised to
help. Now there are concerns that the new opportunities will be used
against the internal enemy, the newspaper reported.

11:00 30/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: A. Papazian

KAZAKH CLUB BOSS SETS SIGHTS ON GHAZARYAN

October 30, 2013

In winter, Gevorg Ghazaryan, who plays on a loan at FC Shakhter
Karagandy (Kazakhstan), may sign a deal with FC Kairat Almaty
(Kazakhstan).

Kairat’s Slovak manager Vladimír Weiss wishes to see the 25-year-old
Armenian national squad midfielder in his team, Sports.kz reports.

Ghazaryan’s transfer rights belong to FC Metalurh Donetsk (Ukraine).

The Armenian international moved to Shakhter this summer and he made
three Kazakhstan Premier League appearances with the club.

To note, Armenian national team defensive midfielder Artur Yedigaryan
already plays at FC Kairat Almaty.

NEWS.am Sport

From: A. Papazian