Author: Andres-Papazian

ARF-D Is Trusted With More Duties In Socialist International

February 5, 2013

Following the XXIV Congress that took place in Cape Town, South Africa
last September, the Socialist International held the first meeting of
its Council, in Cascais, Portugal, from 4-5 February and discussed
mainly about organizational issues. The event was hosted by SI member
the Portuguese Socialist Party.

Under the main heading `The World Economy: Our Vision for Growth, Jobs
and Sustainable Development’ the Council brought together leaders and
delegates from SI member parties worldwide, as well as specially
invited guests. António José Seguro, the host party’s leader and SI
Vice-President, gave a keynote speech.
ARF-D was represented by Bureau member and SI Vice President Mario
Nalbandian and Bureau member Vahan Hovhannesyan.

Chaired by George Papandreou, SI President, former Prime Minister of
Greece, former President of PASOK party and by Luis Ayala, SI
Secretary General, the Council addressed the following dimensions of
the main theme: `The Eurozone Crisis: From here, which way forward?’
and `Emerging and Developing Economies and Multilateral Institutions
in an `Out of Crisis’ Strategy’.

In light of recent events, two emergency items were added to the
agenda:`Latest developments concerning the efforts of the people in
the Arab World to advance the democratic agenda’, on which key actors
from political parties and movements active on this issue made
presentations to the Council; and, `Mali: Supporting peace, security
and democracy in the Sahel’.
The Council meeting established the different organs of work of the
Socialist International for the new period. These included special SI
Commissions, regional and thematic Committees, Working Groups and
Campaigns launched.

Speeches were given by delegates and guests. Resolutions and
statements on the central issues of discussion were adopted at the
close of the meeting.
Additionally, the Council decided to re-launch the campaign for an end
to the violence against women.

Head of the Socialist Party of Portugal, António José Seguro (left)
welcomes SI Vice President, ARF-D Bureau member, Mario Nalbandian.
Based on the relative decision of the Presidium’s February 3 session,
the Council elected the members of the regional and thematic
committees, commissions, working groups and statutory committees. The
Council also elected two Vice Presidents for the seats that were left
vacant and decided upon membership approval or upgrading issues. The
number of thematic committees and working groups was increased by the
formation of new ones with objectives such as Accountability and
Transparency, Political Education, Democracy and Poverty. SI Vice
President Mario Nalbandian participated in the session.

ARF-D Bureau member, CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea Committee
Co-Chairman, Vahan Hovhannesyan
Hovhannesyan was elected Co-chairman of the Committee for the CIS the
Caucasus and the Black Sea, a position previously held by Nalbandian.
For the first time, ARF-D was also elected member of the Statutory
Committee on Finance and Administration.

The Socialist International is the worldwide organization of social
democratic, socialist and labor parties. It currently brings together
170 political parties and organizations from almost 140 countries.

In 2003, ARF-D was the first one among CIS political parties, to hold
a SI full membership status.

The ARF Women’s Group is a full member of the SIW (Socialist
International Women). The youth organization of the ARF, the Armenian
Youth Federation, is a full member of the IUSY (International Union of
Socialist Youth).

ARF-D Press Offic

From: A. Papazian

Armenia-based Heritage party vice-chairman advises televised debates
to presidential runners

TERT.AM
15:25 – 14.02.13

If Armenia’s president really wants to know who is white and who is
black, there is a civilized televised debate for that, and Serzh
Sargsyan can take this opportunity, Vice-Chairman of the Heritage
party, representative of presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian’s
campaign headquarters Ruben Hakobyan told journalists on Thursday.

According to him, the last days of the election campaign is marked by
tension triggered by incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan.

The assessments Armenia’s incumbent president made at his meeting with
voters in Yerevan’s Nubarashen community followed Raffi Hovannisian’s
visit to Gyumri, which was evidence of the Armenian president’s fears.

`The incumbent president made his statement after [Raffi
Hovannisian’s] meeting in Gyumri, which was the largest. And people
came at their own will. I think it was the cause of some tension the
president is feeling now,’ Mr Hakobyan said.

He noted that Armenia’s authorities are concerned over the voters’
favorable attitude to Raffi Hovannisian.

From: A. Papazian

Education as way for integration into Eurasian Union

TERT.AM
15:29 – 14.02.13

Highlighting the cooperation in the education sphere as an important
factor for integration into the Eurasian Union, a space bridge has
been conducted between Yerevan and Moscow with the participation of
representatives of education spheres of Russia and Armenia.

Armenia’s deputy education and science minister Manuk Lazarian said
it is necessary to understand that the Eurasian Union is a regular
formal stage for the formation of all-human values, but today
social-economic unions are being formed more easily than educational
and cultural-spiritual.

`Different programs in the education sphere are addressed to promote
spiritual-cultural programs,’ Manuk Lazarian said.

Guest from Moscow Andrei Smirnov, deputy head of the Eurasian
Cooperation Development Foundation, said the Eurasian Union created a
new integration format for the post-soviet countries. Another Moscow
guest Andrey Areshev, representative of the Black Sea-Caspian region
Political and Social Researches Institute, said it is necessary to
integrate into the Eurasian Union without alternatives as the Western
education systems have their peculiarities which not very often
correspond to the economic, cultural values existing in our countries.

`The issue of Russian language is very important here. In Armenia as
well there are problems related to it while the educational
innovations will allow registering success,’ Andrei Areshev said.

From: A. Papazian

Armenia and Russia interested in restoration of railway traffic via Abkhazia

NEWS.AM
February 13, 2013 | 18:29

Restoration of railway via Abkhazia raises a number of questions,
former Georgian Deputy FM Sergi Kapanadze said.

He believes that Armenia and Russia are more interested in the
initiative than Georgia.

`Restoration of railroad traffic via Abkhazia will have a positive
economic effect for everyone. But, current political and economic
situation is not suitable for the reopening of railroad,’ said
Kapanadze, who is heading Georgia’s Reform Association.

Economic impact on Georgia is unclear, as it may affect cargo
transportation from Poti port and via Baku-Akhalkalak-Kars transit
road, he said.

From: A. Papazian

Emigration from Armenia grows – newspaper

NEWS.AM
February 14, 2013 | 08:13

YEREVAN. – The Armenian General Department of Civil Aviation
publicized the statistics of the airline passengers that departed from
and arrived in Armenia in January 2013, Haykakan Zhamanak daily
reports.

`In line with the statistics, 62,454 people departed from and 54,029
people arrived in Armenia’s [capital city Yerevan’s] Zvartnots and
[Gyumri city’s] Shirak airports in January. The negative balance
amounted to 8,425 people.

The negative balance of the passengers that departed and arrived in
January of the year past was 6,844. As compared with January of last
year, the number of those that departed without returning in January
of this year grew by 1,581, or by 23 percent; this is only via
airways. [But] the trends in recent years show that more and more
people leave Armenia on buses.

To note, in line with the 2012 official data, 50,000 citizens of
Armenia have left Armenia without returning [last year],’ Haykakan
Zhamanak writes.

From: A. Papazian

EXPERT: NEXT PRESIDENT TO FACE SERIOUS FOREIGN PROBLEMS

05:15 pm | February 13, 2013 | Politics

The person who comes to power after the February 18 presidential
election will face much more serious challenges than his predecessor,
says political scientist Sergey Shakaryants.

“The situation in the region is expected to change which will directly
affect the developments in Armenia,” he said.

Certain unrest is perceived in Azerbaijan which aims to unseat
President Aliyev.

The political scientist dismisses Armenian authorities’ assurances
that the situation is stabilizing in Georgia, rather, he predicts a
change of power in the country.

“The fate of Javakhk is still uncertain, it will be naive to believe
Ivanishvili’s pledges,” said Mr Shakaryants.

The political scientist has certain concerns; he alarms that a new
state, Kurdistan, is being formed in the neighborhood of Armenia
which can destroy Armenia both politically and morally.

With regard to the presidential campaign Mr Shakaryants said it has
turned into a circus show, with Serzh Sargsyan and Raffi Hovannisian
holding active campaign meetings and Arman Melikyan and Vardan
Sedrakyan keeping silent.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA WELCOMES EU FULL SUPPORT REFER TO OSCE MINSK GROUP EFFORTS: EDWARD NALBANDYAN

10:47, 13 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenia is committed to continue
Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation under the auspices of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs, single international mandate to mediate the
format. Armenia welcomes EU full support regarding the efforts of
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs as well as the measures undertaken at
strengthening the confidence. Armenia’s Foreign Affair Minister Edward
Nalbandyan came forth during the non official meeting at the level of
Eastern Partnership Ministers, Foreign Affair Ministry told Armenpress.

Minister Nalbandyan in particular stated in his speech ” Dear
colleagues, I would like to thank our Georgian counterpart, Foreign
Minister Maia Panjikidze for a warm hospitality and for organizing
the ministerial meeting excellently.

During the recent years we have witnessed Eastern Partnership is
gradually turning into a substantial platform, which enables wider
opportunities than European Neighborhood Policy. Eastern Partnership
Roadmap adopted in 2012 have served a useful guide for the development
and implementation of common agenda with European Union.

Armenia has recorded considerable progress in all main branches of
Eastern Partnership Roadmap namely Association Agreement, Deep and
comprehensive free trade area negotiations ( DCFTA). We are approaching
the final stages of negotiations on the Association Agreement and
have intentions to conclude the process till Vilnius summit. The
facilitation of mobility among the nations is an important component
within Eastern Partnership as it is reflected in the Roadmap.

We have successfully negotiated and signed a visa facilitation
agreement and expect to start a dialogue on the liberalization of the
visa regime. Armenian Government seeking to further spur the ties
and exchanges among our citizens have adopted a decision according
to which citizens of EU as well as of those countries applying
Schengen Agreement provisions currently are exempt from the visa
requirement when heading to Armenia. The more we are approaching
Eastern Partnership summit 2103, the more we notice our achievements
in the frame of cooperation are becoming tangible.

To conclude my speech, I would like to reiterate my suggestion to hold
Ministerial non official third meeting in Yerevan which will enable
to envisage issues of mutual interest and form our common agenda on
the eve of Vilnius summit”.

From: A. Papazian

“GYUMRI 2” SUBSTATION TO BE EXPLOITED NEXT YEAR

18:43, 13 February, 2013

GYUMRI, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The activities in the frames of
“Reconstruction of Gyumri 2 Substation” project will be over in
February 2014. As the head of the project Norik Khachatryan mentioned
in a conversation with “Armenpress” the project is realized in two
stages. The activities of the first stage will be over this year
in April.

“The activities of the second stage will start immediately after
the end of the first stage of the project,” he said adding that
the substation will be exploited in April 2014. The head of the
project mentioned that the substation needed full reconstruction
and this project is of high significance in this respect. “Gyumri
is an earthquake zone and the equipments of the substation were
already dated and required renovation,” he said. The equipment has
been imported from France, Germany, Italy, and Ukraine. The main
aim of the project is to eliminate the basic vulnerable points of
the transmission system, as well as to ensure reliable electricity
supply within the system. “Everything will be done for increasing
the efficiency rate of the transmission system and for mitigating
the risks on the ambient environment,” said the official.

Among other things Norik Khachatryan assured that after putting
the station into operation there will be no more interceptions in
Gyumri and in the Shirak region in general. “We are going to have
a high-quality substation of 220/110/10 kv power which will provide
electricity to the whole region,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

HEYDAR ALIYEV PERSONALLY AWARDS EKREM EYLISLI, THE AUTHOR OF NOVEL ABOUT MASSACRES OF ARMENIANS, WITH AN ORDER OF “SHOKHRAT”

17:56 13/02/2013 ” SOCIETY

In the midst of the campaign for the persecution of Azerbaijani
national writer Ekrem Eylisli, the author of the novel “Stone Dreams”
which is about the massacres of Armenians, the Azerbaijani site
minval.az acquired a video, where the former President of Azerbaijan
“national leader” Heydar Aliyev is personally handing Ekrem Eylisli
the state award of “Shokhrat” (5 December 1997).

This video has been removed from the site and the social network
Youtube as soon as, on February 7, by the order of President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev deprived Ekrem Eylisli of his title of
“National Writer” and presidential scholarship for the novel “Stone
Dreams”.

However, Panorama.am has the original video at its disposal, which
can be viewed here.

Ekrem Eylisli is national writer (since 1998) and Honored Artist
of Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan “Istiglal”
(2002) and the order of “Shokhrat” for his outstanding merits in the
literature of Azerbaijan. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine
“Friendship of Nations” was published his novel titled “Stone Dreams”
in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku
in 1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks
positively about the Armenian people and their culture.

After the publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe
pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally next
his home, his issue was discussed in the parliament of Azerbaijan,
MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of citizenship and
deport from Azerbaijan. Many people “blamed” Eylisli in his Armenian
origin, etc.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
Le Parlement arménien permet la livraison d’équipements pour la
centrale hydroélectrique de Meghri

Le Parlement d’Arménie a ratifié une série d’amendements à un
protocole arméno-iranienne sur la construction et la gestion de
centrales hydroélectriques sur la rivière Arax signé le 23 décembre
2011. Les modifications portent sur la fourniture d’équipements pour
le lancement de la construction d’une centrale hydroélectrique près de
la ville frontalière arménienne de Meghri.

Le vice-ministre arménien de l’Energie et des Ressources naturelles,
Ara Simonian, a déclaré que la phase de conception se termine et sera
suivie par l’achat d’équipements. Il a déclaré que le processus de
commande, d’achat et de livraison d’équipements d’une valeur d’environ
20 millions d’euros prendra au moins un an.

jeudi 14 février 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian