Author: Andres-Papazian

Armenian candidate not recognizing legitimacy of forthcoming presidential vote

news.am
January 26, 2013 | 11:43

YEREVAN. – The press service of Armenian presidential candidate
Andreas Ghukasyan, who is currently on a hunger strike, released a
statement to explain the motives behind, and the nature of, his
actions.

`He [that is, Ghukasyan] does not recognize the legitimacy of the
[presidential] election [to be held on February 18] and finds that an
end must be put to the farce which the [ruling] regime has wrapped
around the neck of the body politic. He clearly demands that [ruling]
Republican Party candidate [incumbent President] Serzh Sargsyan must
not run in the election, and this could be the sole condition so that
the voting is held lawfully.

The party in power abuses its position and it is not a conscientious
competitor toward the [candidate] participants in the election.

Presidential contender Andreas Ghukasyan petitioned to the [Central
Electoral Commission] CEC, so that RPA be stricken of the opportunity
to run in the voting, but he was bureaucratically rejected. And this
very rejection became the basis for Ghukasyan declaring a hunger
strike as a sign of protest.

Also, he has required from the international [election] observers to
leave Armenia because their involvement in the election cannot be
constructive, when Armenia’s authorities do not carry out their
international commitments to ensure competitive elections. Andreas
Ghukasyan is even prepared to end his hunger strike if the
international observers leave Armenia.

Also, Andreas Ghukasyan has called upon all nominated [presidential]
candidates to refuse to participate in the bogus election, and he
proposed them to join the civil [rights] movement.

In actual fact, Andreas is proposing the citizens of Armenia to decide
on their own to whether or not having an institution of free elections
in Armenia.

The addressee of the hunger strike is the body politic, and the body
politic must express its attitude toward the current situation,’ the
aforesaid statement reads in particular.

From: A. Papazian

Baku’s anti-Armenian propaganda to give an opposite result – Armenian
Defense Minister

news.am
January 26, 2013 | 13:29

YEREVAN.- The policy of enmity towards Armenians and Baku’s
anti-Armenian propaganda will give an opposite effect, Armenian
Defense Minster said.

Seyran Ohanyan met on Saturday with professors and students of the
Yerevan State University.

Minister Ohanyan recalled he had regularly contacted representatives
of Azerbaijan, especially the generation of those who are actively
promoting hatred towards Armenians today and are nurturing young
people. Such a policy cannot be efficient, he said.

`It is not contributing to military-patriotic education. It is
necessary to bring up knights. Chivalry supposes self-development, not
belittling qualities of the opponent. This approach will have the
opposite result,’ Ohanyan emphasized.

From: A. Papazian

AVIATION ARMENIENNE
L’Arménie envisage de relancer l’activité des petits aéroports au Sud du pays

Ara Dolountz, le vice-gouverneur de la région (marz en arménien) de
Siyunik, a annoncé que l’Arménie va construire un aéroport desservant
le sud de l’Arménie. Le 23 janvier à Katcharan, dans le cadre de sa
campagne électorale, Serge Sarkissian a déclaré que la rénovation et
la mise en activité de l’aéroport de Ghapan était à l’ordre du jour
des dossiers du gouvernement arménien. Deux sociétés minières, la «
Deno Gold » et le Combinat de cuivre et de molybdène du Zankézour
apporteraient leur soutien financier au projet. Les responsables de
l’aviation civile arménienne ont récemment visite les aéroports de
Sissian, Goris, Ghapan et Meghri. Lors de la période soviétique, ces
derniers disposaient d’une liaison aérienne avec l’aéroport « Erébouni
» d’Erévan.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 26 janvier 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

3 Armenian sportsmen to participate in European archery championship

January 25, 2013 – 21:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian archery championship will be held on Jan
27-30, with winter championship due Feb 1-4.

As Armenian team’s head coach told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the
championship will determine Armenia’s squad for Poland-hosted European
winter championship.

`3 sportsmen will participate in the championship. The team continues
training for the Armenian championship, as the results will be highly
important.

Armenian spring championship is due in March.

From: A. Papazian

Aronian scored the win over Nakamura

20:54, 25 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: Greatest Armenian chess player Levon
Aronian scored the win over Japanese, playing under the flag of USA
Hikaru Nakamura during Tata Steel Chess tournament taking place in
Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.

Armenpress reports Armenian grandmaster ended the game on 48th step.
Leader of FIDE ranking Magnus Carlsen unexpectedly played a draw with
Chinese Hau Wang. Anish Giri scored the win over Fabiano Caruana on
the first chess board.

Other games haven’t ended yet.

In a result of this game Levon Aronian has 7.5 points from 11 possible
and appears on the second place. Leader of FIDE ranking Magnus Carlsen
is leading with 8.5 points.

From: A. Papazian

The Dentists are of Different Opinions while the Citizens are not

Friday, 25 January 2013 15:10

In contrast to Armenia, the new changes of taxation did not raise a
wave of disturbance among the dentists in Karabakh.

Of course, the new change on part of fixed payments refers to the
dental service employees of Stepanakert only, who beginning with
January will have to pay 60 thousand drams instead of 20 thousand but
the news seems to be accepted quietly here. On the contrary, the
citizens making use of the dental service feel certain anxiety about
the increase of dental service prices. Nobody seems to have any doubts
about this and, as many people note, in all spheres prices rise after
the increase of taxes; for instance when the trade tax is increased
the goods immediately become several times more expensive than the
increased tax rate.

According to 48-year-old Stepanakert citizen Mrs. Zarine after the
rise of prices only financially sound representatives of the society
will be able to apply for dental care.

Mrs. Hasmik thinks that many people then will apply to charitable
dental clinics which will affect the number of visitors to other
clinics.

`If the prices rise we’ll have to stay without any teeth as we shall
not be able to pay for treatment,’ says 54-year-old Albert who has
been unemployed for two years.

If the representatives of the senior generation have some doubts about
applying for dental care, the youths assure they will certainly make
use of dental services as they have no alternative.

The dentists, however, have different opinions about the rise of
prices. According to chief physician of `Asryan’ dental clinic of
Stepanakert the changes of fixed payments will cause no rise of the
prices of their clinic’s services.

`The prices of our services depend on the quality and prices of the
materials we use. As the prices of our materials will not change, our
service prices will remain the same as well,’ the dentist said in his
interview to Karabakh-open.info and added, `We’d rather pay double
taxes than add the expenses of our poor people.’

Another dentist Marat Lazarian, however, is not of the same opinion.
`Of course, the prices of our services will rise as well. We still
don’t know how much but they will surely rise,’ my interlocutor
assured.

After our meetings in several dental clinics of Stepanakert it became
clear that the dentists do not share the same opinion.

Mariam Sargsyan

From: A. Papazian

NEW APPROACHES IN THE STATE POLICY OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

Wednesday, 23 January 2013 17:18

The fact that billions of drams are directed to the agricultural
development programs in Artsakh is considered natural by everybody.

After all, this economic sphere is proclaimed strategic, and the
necessity of ensuring its effectiveness is justified not only by
economic, but also social factors. Realizing the importance of this
goal, a series of government programs aimed at the development
of any agricultural sphere started 4 or 5 years ago. Positive
developments are available. But, the existing indexes are difficult
to be considered equivalent funds invested in the development of
the agrarian sector. The government offers news approaches in the
agricultural development. In this case, the potential beneficiaries –
farmers – will be interested not just in getting government support,
but in its most efficient use.

The results of the discussions recently held in the government were
presented to the Martuni region executives by high-ranking officials
who had arrived in the regional center, with President Bako Sahakyan at
the head. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ara Harutyunian,
Ministers of Agriculture and Finance and head of the Fund for Rural
and Agricultural Support. As assured by the head of state, sufficient
part of the limited resources was invested in the agriculture, but
the results do not justify this. Moreover, even without using any
special efforts one can find facts that the state support does not
reach its goal. This, first of all, concerns the financial assistance
and diesel provided for planting and plowing.

Part of the funds, provided as assistance, is not used purposefully,
and the fuel is often at the shadow market. As a result, the borrowers
find themselves in a difficult situation. The Minister of Agriculture
assures that these facts can be seen even without any special efforts.

Here is another detail. Unlike the assistance provided in cash and
in the form of diesel fuel, the number of statements regarding the
production of fertilizers is small. And the reason for this, as the
community leaders assure, is fear. For instance, along with seed-,
fuel- and financial assistance, a land user gets also fertilizers.

Even in case of crop failure and damage caused to the fields by hail,
he should be able to repay the interest-free loan. That is why many
of the land users prefer to work on the land with minimal costs”,
noted head of the Ashan community Norayr Khachatrian. In this case,
we are talking about the need to implement an agricultural insurance
system, which, however, was not discussed that day.

Community leaders do not deny that cases of improper use of the state
assistance in place are not excluded. But, they assure that the cases
are not widespread. And sometimes, though it may sound strange, there
are objective reasons for this, as, for example, in the case of diesel
sale. “Well, people spent timely plowing and sowing, surely, purchasing
fuel. And the diesel fuel provided as state assistance came to the
land user with a delay, in mid-December. It is clear that he will try
to sell it”, said head of the Chartar community Vladik Hovhannisyan.

Regardless of anything, the situation remains unchanged: 200 million
of the available 660 million AMD of overdue loans belong to the
Martuni region. However, the top officials of the Republic came to
Martuni not for the numbers, but for the need to find a way out of the
situation via joint efforts. After all, the assistance is provided,
the return of loans is ensured to some extent, but the desired
increase in the productivity indexes is not fixed. In the Martuni
region, which achieved good results in this direction in the past,
the existing situation is particularly depressing. “Today, our primary
task is not to ensure the return of the loans. We must take steps to
improve the crop yields, and not only for wheat”, said Prime Minister
Ara Harutyunian. Cultivation of wheat for many years has led to the
land depletion, and in this case even crop rotation is not able to
provide radical changes. New crops squeeze from the ground all was
left by wheat, the Prime Minister expresses the concern of experts,
advising to take seriously the necessity of fertilizing the land. What
is the solution? The government members came to Martuni with new
proposals. In accordance with this, further support will be provided
not in the process of cultivation, but the possibility of realizing
the crop at prices above the calculated cost will be guaranteed. Or,
even before receiving the crop the land user will know at what minimum
price he will be able to sell his production. This will help ensure
that the land user is interested to get high yield and not to try
to take part of the assistance provided for land cultivation. The
Minister of Agriculture is confident that this will also increase
the demand for fertilizers. In addition, skilled land users will be
also interested in purchasing their own equipment. “Calculating the
cost, we will also take into account the rent for equipment. Surely,
if the works are carried out with their own equipment, the profits
will be greater”, said the minister of agriculture.

The community leaders consider the submitted proposals positive. There
is also an additional subtext – in this case, they will have no
problems with the collection of overdue loans. The farmer will
produce his production, the state will guarantee its implementation
at a price above cost, thus laying the foundation for future works
under the next year’s crop.

The regional executives will inform the land users of the government’s
proposals. Discussions and further details on this issue are still
to take place. Meetings in this format and on this agenda will also
take place in other regions of the republic.

Norayr HOVSEPIAN

From: A. Papazian

HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE IN SAMATYA AFTER ATTACKS ON ARMENIANS

January 25, 2013

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)-The Armenian neighborhood of Samatya in
Istanbul is now under heavy police patrol after a series of attacks
against elderly Armenian women in recent weeks, the Armenian Weekly
has learned from activists and sources in Samatya.

Agos headline: Turkey Silent as Attacks Continue The Istanbul Aksaray
Police department has announced that there are 20 police patrols in
the neighborhood, and around 100 plainclothes policemen have also
been dispatched to Samatya.

Police has also announced that one person might be behind all recent
attacks, while activists the Weekly has communicated with question
that scenario.

The Samatya area is home to many Armenians. The community is weary
of these attacks, and calls for caution have been made.

Agos: Turkey Silent as Attacks Continue

The front page headline in this week’s issue of Agos, the Turkish
Armenian newspaper founded by Hrant Dink, reads “Turkey Silent,
Attacks Continue” (see photo).

On Sunday, Jan. 27, The Istanbul branch of the Human Rights
Association, Nor Zartonk (young Armenians’ socialist initiative)
and AKADER (Antolian Peoples’ Culture association) will hold a rally
in Samatya in solidarity with the Armenian community there.

In recent days, a few media outlets and politicians have broken the
silence on the issue, while overall, Turkey remains silent.

One murder, at least three other attacks in recent weeks

In recent weeks, there have been several attacks against Armenians
in Istanbul, mostly in Samatya. In early December an Armenian woman
was attacked and robbed; while months earlier an Armenian woman was
attacked by a taxi driver and called an infidel.

On Jan. 6, three assailants tried to kidnap an elderly Armenian woman,
according to Turkish sources. The attempt failed.

According to human rights activists, the common thread that runs
through all of these crimes is not just their being motivated by hate
or being committed in an environment that breeds intolerance against
Armenians, but also the efforts of the authorities to play them down.

The Armenian Weekly will continue following up on this issue.

From: A. Papazian

CYANIC PLANT IN MEGHRADZOR: VILLAGERS PROTESTING, WHILE DIRECTOR OF MINING COMPANY READY TO BUILD IT IN ANOTHER AREA

ARMINFO
Friday, January 25, 17:31

Residents of the village of Meghradzor organized a picket in front
of the president’s residence in Yerevan on Jan 25. The villagers are
protesting against construction of a cyanic plant in Meghradzor.

Meghradzor LLC backs the construction.

A villager Samvel Lazarian says cyanic plant is dangerous for
the environment and they plan to build it in the resort zone
Tsakhkadzor-Meghradzor-Hankavan. He says that the public opinion is
not taken into consideration when drafting the project.

“They provide us with false data saying that allegedly the plant’s
operation will not affect environment. However, cyanides leaked in
Meghradzor will occur directly in the River of Marmarik endangering
the nearby settlements and the Ararat region,” Lazarian says. His
fellow villager Karen Hovannisyan says that over 500 people protest
against construction of the plant.

The signatures of the picketers were submitted to the president’s
staff and a statement saying that the project does not reckon with
the fact that the area is earthquake-prone. The project lacks data
on the radioactive elements and a map of the uranium and thorium. In
addition, it does not reckon with possible pollution of soil, water
and air in case of emergencies. The project assesses the damage on a
formula, which lacks a coefficient of a resort area when the damage
assessment increases several dozens of times.

For his part, Director of Meghradzor Gold LLC Vardan Markaryan called
the given accusations groundless. Talking to ArmInfo he said that
the production capacity of the plant will total 600 tons monthly.

“The project bears no environmental risks due to closed cycle
production,” he said. “A group of young people is behind the scandal.

They had been stealing gold-bearing ore for 4-5 years when the mine
was frozen. Most of the signatures gathered against construction
of the plant are forged. However, I am ready to build the plant in
another area, where the Government will point at,” the director of
the company said.

Markaryan said that the gold mine was officially developed yet in the
Soviet Armenia, since 1986. The reserves are estimated at 300.000 tons
with some 3500 tons of gold content. Earlier, it was on the balance
of GeoProMining Company, but was later frozen as unpromising. In Nov
2010 Meghradzor Gold undertook development of the mine. A total of
200 jobs have been created at the plant, he said, with 116 residents
of Meghradzor working on the mine. He said that the company pays 30
million drams to the Meghradoz budget annually. In addition, since
2010 the company has paid 500 million drams to the state budget.

From: A. Papazian

HEART CORONARY CATHETERIZATION AND STENTS WERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IMPLEMENTED IN GYUMRI

18:34, 25 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: Heart coronary catheterization and
stents were for the first time used in Gyumri on January 25. Heart
cath equipment of “Gyumri medical center”, which gives opportunity
to examine heart vessels and use stents, was first exploited by
specialists of “Nork-Marash” medical center in Yerevan.

Formerly region had neither similar examination opportunities nor the
needed equipment. Medical center was provided with such equipment on
the suggestion of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. As Armenpress
reporter was informed from Director of “Gyumri medical center” Armen
Isakahyan, formerly because of the lack of such equipment many patients
didn’t even manage to come to Yerevan.

Before exploitation of the equipment, specialists of Gyumri will have
trainings in Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian