Author: Andres-Papazian

Alexander Arzumanyan to vote against government program

13:30 21/05/2013 » POLITICS

MP Alexander Arzumanyan says the government program submitted to the
parliament is not new, but is rather the revised version of the old
program.

`This one is a more comprehensive document. Certainly it contains
several positive changes, but what causes concern is that it is a
pre-election platform,’ he said during today’s discussion of the
government program in parliament.

The opposition MP noted that they would like to see a clear program,
actions and expected results, adding that he is going to vote against
the government program.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
May 21 2013

Russia slams Azerbaijan over ‘outrageous’ Eurovision vote scandal

MOSCOW – Agence France-Presse

Moscow reacted angrily on Tuesday as its neighbour Azerbaijan admitted
that its vote at the Eurovision Song Contest awarding “nul points” to
Russia’s song appeared to have been falsified.

The scandal topped the agenda at a televised briefing between the
countries’ foreign ministers in Moscow, as Azerbaijan’s top diplomat
admitted that the votes submitted for Russia via cell phone had
somehow been omitted from the final tally.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov read out a list of
votes submitted by the country’s three cell phone providers, all of
them putting Russia in second place behind Ukraine, which should have
meant Azerbaijan gave Russia 10 points.

“Where these votes went, how they disappeared — this is a question
for our state television,” he said, calling the case a “detective
mystery.” “When our contestant is robbed of 10 points, this does not
make us happy,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded
gravely.

Lavrov said the two sides had agreed that Azerbaijan’s state
television must first clarify the details of what happened.

Then “we will coordinate our joint actions so that this outrageous act
is not left without response,” he said.

The 10 points from Azerbaijan would not have changed the ranking of
Russia’s contestant, who came in a disappointing fifth place, 17
points behind Norway’s representative. The Eurovision row took
precedence at the briefing over diplomatic issues such as Azerbaijan’s
territorial dispute with Armenia.

The scandal emerged on Monday when the director of Azerbaijan’s state
broadcaster of Eurovision, Camil Guliyev, said that both the cell
phone votes and the professional jury had given Russia high marks, and
called the tally a matter of “serious concern and surprise.” For
Azerbaijan, it is deeply embarrassing to have handed zero marks to
Russia, an important neighbour which it is keen to appease despite
tensions over energy and the long-running Nagorny Karabakh dispute.

Russia gave its maximum 12 points to Azerbaijan’s Eurovision entry,
which came in second place. Oil-rich Azerbaijan hosted last year’s
Eurovision on a grand scale in Baku with a brand-new sea-front venue
and city-wide celebrations, although rights activists held protests to
highlight the persecution of political opponents of President Ilham
Aliyev.

May/21/2013

From: A. Papazian

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS and ARMENIA (AGENDAS)

– May 15, 2013

There are many that believe there is a higher organized power
formulating the policies, direction and destiny of America,
independent of either the Democratic or Republican parties for
governing America. It is an organization consisting of approximately
3,000 members called `The Council on Foreign Relations.’ It receives
a minimal amount of publicity, which is the cause for the lack of
awareness by the average American. It was formed in July 29, 1921 by
a group of `intellectuals’ who felt that there was a need for a world
government, devoid of nations.

Up until America’s entry into World War I (April of 1917), the
American people had followed the wise advice of President George
Washington given in his farewell address delivered to the nation in
September 1796. President Washington said: `It is our true policy to
stay clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign
world…. why, should we inter-weave our destiny with that of any part
of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European
ambition, rivalry, interest, humour or caprice?’ Washington
understood that interference into other nations’ internal affairs
would also create enemies and hatred of America.

In direct repudiation of Washington’s warning, Secretary of State
William Jennings Bryan and others, during Woodrow Wilson’s
administration (April of 1917), manipulated America’s involvement into
World War I as a prelude to conditioning the American public for
foreign interventions. World War I became an excellent opportunity for
the newly formed Council on Foreign Relations to begin promoting
`WORLD GOVERNMENT’ as being a desirable solution to the `problems’ of
the world. In 1920 the British cousin of the CFR, The Royal Institute
for International Affairs (RIIA) was created in England.

Another reason the Council on Foreign Relations is not very well known
to the American people is because of Article II of the by-laws. This
article requires that the meetings of the membership remain secret,
and anyone releasing the contents of these meetings is subject to
instant dismissal. The CFR’s official publication is called `Foreign
Affairs.’ It is not printed for national consumption, but rather
within their semi-secret membership as well as academic circles and
think tanks.

Secretly Operated

The Council repeatedly denies that it sets policy for the United
States. Yet, while discussing America’s changing foreign policy, CFR
Chairman Peter G. Peterson stated in the organization’s 1989 Annual
Report: `The Board of Directors and the staff of the Council have
decided that this institution should play a leadership role in
defining these new foreign policy agendas.’

The question is simple: How can an organization define an agenda for
the nation without taking a stand or advocating a policy? The answer
is, that it can’t. Any claim from the CFR, that it is merely a
debating forum open to all ideas is absurd. Richard Harwood, a
Washington Post columnist, wrote in an article that the CFR
journalists he listed `do not merely analyze and interpret foreign
policy; they help make it.’

No CFR member is ever directly instructed to hold any particular view.
Instead, government officials and media personalities supply important
respectability for favored positions, and render varying degrees of
disdain or contempt for the opposite view. Ambitious politicians,
journalists, corporate executives, professors, and others, dutifully
follow the lead set for them – frequently without ever knowing whose
attitude they are parroting. In this way, an agenda is indeed set and
policies are established.

Radio Free Europe (RFE)

Radio Free Europe was broadcasting freedom into Armenia in December
2001 by a certain Max Liberty promoting bisexualism, porn stars, and
religious cults, as well as advising young Armenian youth to practice
free sex (Azg, December 10, 2001). This is only one of many ways to
destabilize a culture that does not deserve to be destabilized. The
United States Government finances Radio Free Europe, but individuals
operate R.F.E. with their personal agendas. Did not the Armenian
Government notice this contamination of Armenia’s culture? What was
the Armenian Government doing to protect its national character? Why
didn’t the Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian file an official complaint
to America’s State Department? All he said on July 2, 2007 was, ‘I
hope that a solution will be found as a result of which Radio Liberty
will continue its broadcasts in Armenia.’

Council of Europe (CE)

After the Armenian Government anxiously became a member, the Council
of Europe’s Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer classified Armenia as a
`nation at war’ and threatened them to conclude an agreement with
Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno Karabagh (Arminfo – Yerevan – June 2002).
Now, how can Armenia be at war since there had been no hostilities for
seven years? Didn’t the leadership of Hayastan realize that once
becoming a member of a globalist entity they would lose control of
their governance? Walter Schwimmer also said, `We live in a century of
globalization and the closure of borders is a natural disaster for
everybody (Arminfo – Yerevan – July 2, 2002).’

The question becomes: Why is the head of the Council of Europe so
concerned about Armenia’s borders? Regarding borders, history has
shown that others have always determined Armenia’s borders. If Mr.
Schwimmer were concerned about Hayastan’s future, he would not have
been identifying it as a `pupil’ and, `is moving in the right
direction.’ Since Mr. Schwimmer had been chairman of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union Friendship Group Austria-Israel of the
Austrian Parliament from 1976 to 1999, could he not convince the
Israeli Government to cease training the Azerbaijanarmed forces?
`Israel in high level bid for Azerbaijan projects’ (Jane’s Defence
Weekly 12-22-99). Is Mr. Schwimmer going to govern Hayastan, or are
the Armenian people going to govern themselves? Armenia can and
should relate to Europe, but not be dictated to by the Council of
Europe.

In the Mediamax news release dated October 21, 2003, Vardan Oskanian
was quoted as saying: `First of all, it is necessary for society to
realize the fact that Armenia is part of Europe, and integration has
no alternatives.’ Of course, that is only Oskanian’s personal opinion.

Vardan Oskanian is a product of Tufts University Fletcher School of
International Affairs, located in Medford, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Fletcher is a school of ONE WORLD BRAINWASHING. Its Web site states:
`TheFletcher School is an institution whose holistic approach prepares
its students to be global leaders.’

During the time Oskanian was foreign minister he was sending twelve
Armenian students each year, to Tufts University. The purpose was to
establish in Armenia continuity of the one world mentality. Result;
Not one iota of patriotism to be propagated. In reality, Oskanian does
not understand patriotism

Mr. Oskanian portrays America and the west as the greatest example
that Armenia could emulate. He is correct. That was 100 years ago,
when America was a pristine nation, loved and respected throughout the
world. What he does not know, and does not want to know, is that
today’s America has been transformed into a cultural cesspool. Its
news media has been captured and controlled by a common mind molding
entity. Military bases exist in 150 countries. Constantly creating
foreign wars of destruction and domination, while financially
bankrupting the nation.

While Armenia’s government leaders were manipulating a country which
was classed 88 of 158 of the world’s most corrupt nations (Iceland 9.7
best;Armenia 2.9; Chad 1.7 worst), Armenia’s leaders became
multi-millionaires while imprisoning patriots who had fought in
Kharabagh. Over one million citizens have left the country since 1990.
All this, while Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian was in his glory
spewing his destructive dreams of `ONE WORLDISM’ for Armenia.

The primary reason Armenia’s strength has been diluted thorough-out
history, is because of Vardan Oskanians throughout the centuries.
Vardan Oskanian should return to his (advanced nation, America) and
take his Civilitas Foundation along with him, so that Armenia will be
a little less contaminated.

Ardavast Avakian
October 2, 2008

From: A. Papazian

EU never closes eyes to any infringement of human rights – Traian Hristea

May 21, 2013 | 20:09

YEREVAN. – EU has never closed eyes to any infringement of human
rights all over the world, head of EU delegation to Armenia said.

Traian Hristea was asked by a journalist to comment on `EU’s criticism
against dissolving LGTB action in Georgia and at the same time closing
eyes at fascism and racism displayed by Azerbaijan.’

However, Hristea stressed that EU does not have a stick to use it
against country’s own will.

`We try to solve all issues thorough dialogue,’ he said.

Head of the EU delegation noted that the Union is discussing all the
problems concerning intolerance and, in particular, those referring to
the rights of sexual or national minorities.

He assured that human rights problems are on the agenda and are also
discussed during the direct contacts of the EU officials and
representatives of the countries.

`EU is neither shy, nor silent on these issue,’ he added.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

Economist: The gas supplied to Armenia is not the cheapest in the region

ARMINFO
Tuesday, May 21, 18:16

The Government’s statement that the gas supplied to Armenia is the
cheapest in the region is absurd, Artsvik Minasyan, MP from ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Minasyan said that since Armenia has handed over more than 80% of
energy capacities to Russia, one should take into account the price at
which the gas reaches the consumers, not the price the gas is sold at
on the border. “If we look at the problem from this point of view, the
highest gas tariff is offered to Armenia. The tariff for Armenia is
higher than the one for Georgia”, he said. Minasyan also assured that
the amount of gas consumed in Armenia is only 2-2.5% of the gas
consumed in the CIS. He thinks that this small figure cannot seriously
affect the financial condition of Gazprom. The economist also advised
the authorities to think about nationalization of ArmRusgasprom CJSC.

The MP is not inclined to consider the rise in gas tariffs from the
political viewpoint. However, if the gas price is connected with a
political haggle between Armenia and Russia, official Yerevan should
refuse such a strategic partner. “This will mean that Russia has
launched a program “Armenia without Armenians”; subsequently, we don’t
need such an ally”, he said.

Following the rise of the Russian gas tariff for Armenia from the
current $180 per 1,000 cu m to $270, ArmRusgasprom applied to the
Public Services Regulatory Commission for increasing the gas tariff
for the population by 67.4% – from the current 132,000 drams to
221,000 drams per 1000 cu m, and for the large consumers by 61.3% –
from $243 per 1000 cu m to $392. The Government of Armenia is going to
subsidize the Russian gas import price by 30%. On May 20 PSRC Chairman
Robert Nazaryan said that according to the preliminary data, the gas
price for the population of Armenia may grow to 20%, and for
commercial consumers – by 15%. The Russian gas price in Armenia has
not changed since April 2010. Armenia also receives Iran gas and pay
for it with electricity at the rate of 3 KW/h per 1 cu m of gas.

From: A. Papazian

Georgia’s ex Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili arrested

17:50 – 21.05.13

Georgia’s former Interior Minister, former PM Vano Merabishvili has
been arrested, Georgia Online reports.

According to the information, Merabishvili, who is secretary general
of the United Nation Movement party, is accused of employment program
frauds, of the murder of United Georgia Bank employee Sandro
Girgvliani, 28, and of dispersing May 26 action. Kakheti governor
Zurab Chiaberashvili has too been arrested.

Member of Georgian parliamentary minority Georgi Gabashvili said
Ivanishvili has dismissed Merabishvili considering him his main
political rival.

The MP said the decision is politically motivated and has nothing to
do with justice.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Vegetable prices may double in Armenia due to hailstorm

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Prices for vegetables and melons may rise by
up to 100% because of the severe hailstorm that pounded several
regions of Armenia last week, chairman of agrarian-peasant union of
Armenia Hrach Berberyan told a press conference Tuesday. The hail
damaged crops in Aragatsotn and Armavir regions in particular.

`I believe the prices for tomatoes, pepper and egg-plants will hike
first of all’, Berberyan said.
Fruit and grapes prices may rise by 20%, he said.

Consequently, exports of Armenian rural products will drop this year,
according to the expert.
The hail-related situation was discussed at a government meeting last Wednesday.

The prime-minister instructed to set up an interagency commission
headed by the vice-premier Armen Gevorgyan to discuss anti-hail
installations and make recommendations to the government. -0–

From: A. Papazian

FM, Lord Wallace discuss Armenian-UK cooperation

May 21, 2013 – 13:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a
working dinner with Lord William Wallace as part of his visit to
London, with Armenian-UK cooperation, regional and international
issues discussed.

Minister Nalbandian further met with Lord Speaker Frances D’Souza,
with the intensification of Armenian-British inter-parliamentary
cooperation hailed. At the request of the Lord Speaker, Minister
Nalbandian briefed on Armenian foreign policy priorities as well as
the role of Armenian Diaspora in homeland’s development. Meeting with
the representatives of European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) was also on the agenda, with Armenian economic
reforms, investments and the business environment discussed.
Minister Nalbandian further met with the head of the British
delegation to PACE Robert Walter, with Armenia’s chairmanship in the
Council of Europe, cooperation with Great Brittan, ties with EU and
regional issues discussed.

Minister Nalbandian briefed the British officials on Armenia’s and
international community’s efforts in Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution.

From: A. Papazian

Eurovision 2013: Azerbaijan probes Russian `nul points’

22:08 20.05.2013

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has ordered an inquiry into why
his country gave Russia `nul points’ at Saturday’s Eurovision Song
Contest, the BBC reports.

Officials insist voters and the official Azerbaijan jury in fact gave
strong backing to the Russian entry.

Azerbaijan’s state broadcaster suggested there may have been voting violations.

Russia gave the maximum 12 points to Azerbaijan’s entry – a ballad by
Farid Mammadov.

Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, disclosed that
President Aliyev had ordered an investigation and votes were being
recounted.

He said that a large number of voters in Azerbaijan, submitting votes
by text message, had supported the Russian Federation.

`According to this data, Russia should have received 10 points from
Azerbaijan,’ he said.

Camil Guliyev, head of the country’s state broadcaster, said the
failure to give Russia any points was of serious concern.

`We sincerely hope that this incident, possibly initiated by certain
interest groups, will not cast a shadow over the brotherly relations
of the Russian and Azerbaijani peoples,’ he said, without elaborating.

Azerbaijan, which hosted last year’s contest, has traditionally tried
to maintain good relations with Moscow though there have been tensions
over energy in the past, the BBC writes.

The Telegraph recalls that last year Azerbaijan – which was hosting
the event – squabbled with neighbouring Iran after Tehran alleged the
country was hosting a gay pride event under the cover of the contest.

It reminds also that Armenia decided not to participate in the competition.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
Le gouvernement arménien s’engage à lutter contre le chômage et la pauvreté

Le gouvernement arménien, remanié depuis la reelection du président
Serge Sarkissian aux présidentielles du 18 février dernier, a pris des
engagements solennels pour réduire la pauvreté et lutter contre le
chômage, mais aussi renforcer l’Etat de droit dans un pays en proie à
une crise de confiance persistante en raison des soupçons de fraudes
et irrégularités qui entachent une fois encore le processus électoral.
Le gouvernement entend s’employer à rétablir la confiance des citoyens
arméniens en leurs autorités lors du nouveau mandat de cinq ans du
président Sarkissian et il l’a fait savoir en se soumettant à un vote
de confiance mardi 21 mai d’un Parlement il est vrai largement dominé
par le Parti républicain (HHK) du chef de l’Etat.

Le premier ministre Tigrane Sarkissian s’est adressé aux deputes de l’
Assemblée nationale pour presenter le plan quinquennal de son
gouvernement, en désignant ses priorités, notamment pour atteindre
certains objectifs concrets dans les domaines social et économique ;
il mise ainsi sur une croissance économique annuelle de 5 à 7 %, bien
plus optimiste donc que les prévisions des experts. Selon le programme
présenté par le gouvernement, une croissance continue se traduira par
la creation de plus de 100 000 nouveaux emplois, le doublement du
salaire minimum, et la réduction de la pauvreté, qu’il prévoit de
faire reculer d’au moins 8 % de 2013 à 2017. `Chacun doit savoir que
la pauvreté et le chômage ne sont pas une fatalité mais une difficulté
qui peut être surmontée par un travail de tous les jours », a déclaré
le chef du gouvernement.

Selon les chiffres officiels, la pauvreté affecterait actuellement 35
% de la population arménienne, alors qu’elle touchait 24% de la
population en 2008. Le gouvernement attribute cette progression
alarmante du nombre des Arméniens vivant en dessous du seuil official
de pauvreté aux effets de la crise financière et économique mondiale
de 2008-2009 qui avait plongé l’Arménie dans la récession. Dans son
discours, Tigrane Sarkissian a defendu le bilan du premier quinquennat
de Serge Sarkissian et du gouvernement qu’il continue à diriger,
vivement critiqué par l’opposition ; il s’est notamment félicité
d’avoir pu diversifier l’économie arménienne de telle sorte qu’elle
soit moins vulnérable aux contre-coups des crises internationales.

Le gouvernement a aussi renforcé les aides à l’agriculture, a amélioré
la qualité des services publics , en finançant notamment des
programmes `sans précédent’ de rénovation des routes et autres
infrastructures, a ajouté le premier ministre. Le premier ministre a
présenté le programme de son gouvernement près de deux semaines après
que le président Sarkissian l’a reconduit à son poste ainsi que 15 de
ses 18 ministres. Le chef de l’Etat avait appelé à cette occasion le
gouvernement à obtenir au plus vite des résultats dans les domaines
économique et social, des résultats qui seraient `tangibles et
visibles pour chaque citoyen’. L

e programme du gouvernement prévoit aussi des `mesures concrètes en
vue de séparer le monde des affaires et le monde politique’, de
renforcer l’indépendance de la justice, et de sanctionner les
atteintes aux droits de l’homme par une politique plus efficace des
autorités compétentes. Le premier ministre s’est engagé à contribuer à
la création d’un climat et d’une environnement plus sains, dans
lesquels ` les privilèges, les abus de pouvoirs, la corruption et le
sentiment d’être au-dessus des lois seraient répréhensibles pour tous
». `Oui, c’est une révolution – une révolution qui ne se déroule pas
dans la rue mais dans nos mentalités’, a poursuivi T. Sarkissian,
ajoutant que son gouvernement était disposé à coopérer avec ses
opposants politiques dans cet objectif.

Une telle coopéeration ne semble pourtant pas d’actualité, la rue
restant pour l’heure le seul thétre de la révolution telle qu’elle
est envisagée par l’opposition, à commencer par le Congrès national
arménien de Levon Ter Petrossian, qui doute plus encore de la
possibilité de changer de régime par la voie des urnes après les
présidentielles du 18 février et les muncipales du 5 mai à Erevan.
Gagik Tsarukian et l’ensemble des députés de son Parti Arménie
prospère (BHK), la deuxième formation du Parlement, ont quitté le
Parlement quand T.Sarkissian a pris la parole, prenant ainsi un peu
plus encore leurs marques dans une oppostion dont ils ne se réclament
pas ouvertement.

Le premier ministre a aussi dû répondre à un déluge de questions
critiques formulées par les déptés de l’opposition encore présents
dans l’hémicycle. Il a été plus particulièrement interrogé au sujet de
l’augmentation attendue du prix du gaz russe livré à l’Arménie, qui
devraint frapper durement la plupart des foyers arméniens.

mardi 21 mai 2013,
Gari ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian