Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER INVITES BUNDESTAG PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA

NEWS.AM
June 22, 2012 | 19:16

YEREVAN. – Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received
German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt in connection with
completing his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

Hovik Abrahamyan thanked the Ambassador for his efforts in
strengthening Armenian – German relations and wished him luck in his
further career.

Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the importance of inter-parliamentary
cooperation and once again invited the Bundestag President to visit
Armenia.

German Ambassador Hans -Jochen Schmidt thanked the Armenian Parliament
Speaker for the cooperation and mentioned that during the period he
was in office Armenia has achieved significant results in different
spheres.

Other issues of interest well discussed during the meeting as well.

From: A. Papazian

BODY-GUARDS TO BE HIRED ONLY IN POLICE – DEPUTY CHIEF OF ARMENIAN POLICE

news.am
June 22, 2012 | 13:17

YEREVAN. – Body-guards should only be police employees and should
be hired only in police, Armenia’s deputy Chief of Police Hovhannes
Hunanyan told the journalists on Friday.

Answering to the question on beaten military doctors by the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia MP and head of the Armenian Football
Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan’s bodyguards, Hunanyan said that the
investigation is underway and all should be responsible for it as
intentional crime is committed. As reported earlier, a brutal fight
transpired at the restaurant complex in Yerevan city on June 17 at
around 11 p.m.

The injured were doctors of military hospital. They are in critical
condition. A criminal case had been launched. The case was moved from
the police to the MOD investigation department but the Prosecutor’s
Office sent the case back to the police. Seven suspects were detained,
among them manager of the restaurant, the waiter and five guards.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN EXPERT SAYS AZERBAIJAN-TURKMENISTAN TENSION BENEFICIAL FOR RUSSIA, IRAN

Panorama.am
22/06/2012

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are under Russia’s and
Iran’s interests, Russian expert on Iranian affairs Elena Dunaeva
said in an interview with Iranian service of “Dolce Velle” news agency.

Speaking about the implementation of energy projects in the Caspian
Sea, the expert said that Russia does not support pipeline construction
in the Caspian Sea, hence the current situation is beneficial for
the both, Russia and Iran.

Developing the story, expert said suffering Iranian-Azerbaijani
relations, as well as recently strained Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations
will have their negative impact on transcaspian and Nabucco project.

Referring to the legal status of the Caspian Sea, Elena Dunaeva said
that the tensions in Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations will make the
situation even harder.

Related stories: Turkmenistan warns Azerbaijan not to interfere in
its domestic life

From: A. Papazian

BLACK SEA TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BANK INVESTED $75 MILLION IN ARMENIA – PREMIER

news.am
June 22, 2012 | 13:59

YEREVAN. – The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has carried
out close to US$ 75 million-worth programs in Armenia ever since 2004,
PM Tigran Sargsyan stated Friday, during the BSTDB-organized business
forum held in the capital, Yerevan.

Introducing the Armenian Government’s economic policy, Sargsyan noted
that the emphases have significantly changed in the Government’s
activity program, which was approved Thursday.

Armenia aims to form a competitive economy, which will have wide
export opportunities under the principle of private-public sector.

Also, the PM expressed a conviction that the new policy will enable
the formation of new ideas, which will present an interest for the
private sector, and the BSTDB will be involved in this process.

From: A. Papazian

Harsnaqar beating case under ANC’s focus

TERT.AM
20:32 – 23.06.12

Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc released a statement
On the scuffle in Harsnaqar restaurant complex, condemning the
incident and promising to follow up the further process of the case.

According to the statement, ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan gave an
interview to the RFE/RL over the case and condemned the incident on
behalf of the ANC, though it was not aired because of unknown reasons.

The statement says the tragic incident, costing, like doctors say, a
human life is not the first one in its type. One of the well known
examples is the brutal murder of Poghos Poghosyan by bodyguards of
second president of the republic Robert Kocharyan at Aragast café. The
other such like incident occurred two days ago with activist Vardges
Gaspari attacked by MP Samvel Alexanyan and his bodyguard in front of
parliament’s entrance.

`As a result of brutal beating lives of army doctors Vahe Avetyan and
Artak Bayadyan are in danger. Only thanks to media and public outrage
the Police was forced to arrest the people over the case. According to
circulating news, the victims were heavily beaten by the security
guards of Ruben Hayrapetyan, restaurant complex owner, and were
instructed by him,’ the statement says.

The ANC will not tolerate such cases shattering the grounds of the
state and will vigilantly follow the further developments, the
statement said.

From: A. Papazian

GM David Harutyunyan still leads 5th Karen Asryan Memorial

June 23, 2012 – 16:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – With 6 points Georgia-based grandmaster David
Harutyunyan continues to top the standings at 5th Karen Asryan
Memorial, ongoing in Armenia’s town of Jermuk.

In the 7th round Harutyunyan tied a game against Konstantine Shanava,
who comes 2nd with 5,5 points. After making a draw vs. Samvel
Ter-Sahakyan, Avetik Grigoryan occupied the 3rd place.

Karen Asryan, the Armenian grandmaster, 2006 chess Olympian, died at
the age of 28 in 2008. The Chess Giants tournament, which was stopped
over his death, was later named after him.

From: A. Papazian

Azerbaijan violates ceasefire 400 times past week

news.am
June 23, 2012 | 14:56

STEPANAKERT. – The adversary violated the ceasefire, at the line of
contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces, around 400
times in the past week, during which over 1,500 shots were fired in
the direction of Armenian positions, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
Defense Army informs.

But not responding to the adversary’s provocative actions, NKR Defense
Army’s vanguard military units honored the ceasefire and confidently
carried out military duty.

From: A. Papazian

President of Austria to visit Armenia

17:19, 23 June, 2012

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS: President of Austria Heinz Fischer will
pay an official visit to Armenia on June 25-27. Armenpress reports
calling the official website of Austrian President that during the
visit he will be accompanied by his wife Margit Fischer as well as by
representative business delegation.

During the visit meetings with Armenian political and religious
authorities are planned. Besides Austrian President will take part in
economic forum which will be held in Yerevan.

Heinz Fischer will meet with the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, President of National Assembly Hovik
Abrahamyan and His Holiness Karekin II Surpreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians.

During the meetings issues relating to deepening of bilateral
relations, EU-Armenia relations and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement will be discussed.

Heinz Fischer will visit Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and Matenadaran.

Austrian President will also meet the first President of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosyan.

From: A. Papazian

NKR President receives delegation from Armenia’s state commission on
economic competition

news.am
June 23, 2012 | 13:48

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan
on Saturday received the delegation from the Armenian State Commission
for the Protection of Economic Competition (ASCPEC), led by its
Chairman, Artak Shaboyan.

Cooperation and exchange of experience in regulating economic
competition between the respective agencies of the two Armenian
republics were discussed during the meeting, Office of the NKR
President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

NKR Deputy PM and Finance Minister Spartak Tevosyan, and NKR State
Regulatory Commission for Public Services and Economic Competition
Chairman Hakob Ghahramanyan also attended the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

Armenia’s ruling party breaks traditions – newspaper

news.am
June 23, 2012 | 07:06

Yerevan. – `It has become apparent that [the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia] RPA really has believed and changed. During all
intermissions of the Government program’s examination at the [National
Assembly] NA, [PM] Tigran Sargsyan was at the room of his `partner’
[NA Speaker] Hovik Abrahamyan. [And] This is picturesque in the sense
that, before, Tigran Sargsyan used to come and enter the [NA
Sessions’] Hall through the common corridor and return to the
Government via same route,’ Hraparak daily writes.

`Another tradition was broken on the day of the approval of the
Government’s program. For numerous years, the RPA used to gather in
the [ruling] coalition’s room, immediately after the voting of the
Government’s program, congratulate [one another], and drink a glass of
brandy. It did not happen this time.

As they explained to us from the RPA, this was impossible purely for
technical reasons, because the NA special session commenced
immediately after the program’s voting, and [therefore] it was
impossible to be absent from the Hall. `[But] We still will [have time
to] drink,’ they said,’ Hraparak writes.

From: A. Papazian