Author: Babajanian Karo

AZERBAIJANI PROPAGANDA MACHINE SPREADS ANOTHER MISINFORMATION

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 8, 2011
YEREVAN

The front divisions of the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army maintain
the ceasefire regime, and the misinformation of the Azerbaijani side
does not correspond to reality, spokesman for the Defense Army of
Nagorno Karabakh Senor Hasratyan told Armenpress, commenting on the
news of the Azerbaijani media that an Azerbaijani soldier has been
wounded from the fire opened by the Armenian side. “It is a regular
disinformation spread by Azerbaijan,” Hasratyan said.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spread news that an 18-year old
Vahid Huseynli was wounded by Armenian side.

TOO LATE TO MATTER?: ENVIRONMENTALISTS UPSET OVER BILL BEING PASSED WITHOUT THEIR INPUT
By Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow
08.12.11

The Armenian Parliament this week has passed by first hearing a bill
on amendments to the law on environmental impact assessment. Experts
insist, however, that the new draft law is anti-environmental.

Armenian lawmakers last Friday rushed to pass the bill by first
hearing following the public discussions at the parliament; some of
the suggestions and comments voiced were incorporated in the draft
law before its adoption.

A civil initiative group presented a report during the parliamentary
hearings, and having made their critical observations demanded to
call the bill back from the floor and draft a new one.

Environmentalists warn that it’s a fundamental law in the field that
will determine the future quality of the country’s environment and
natural economic development.

“The bill doesn’t serve the main purpose of environmental impact
assessment; it lacks expert-defined regulatory-legislative grounds
required for practical application of the law. Hence, in fact,
the law cannot be observed because the procedures by which proper
environmental assessment should be done are absent. The situation has
been like this since 1995 when the main law was adopted, and remains
the same up until now,” the report read in part. (The report was
prepared by a civil initiative group consisting of NGOs representing
civil society and volunteer activists.)

Levon Galstyan, geographer and environmental activist from Preserve
Trchkan Waterfall initiative, says the civil initiative did not
submit written suggestions or recommendations to the ministry of
environmental protection.

“We demand to call back the bill and give a chance to submit our
suggestions. As a citizen I realize just looking at that law that
SNCO (State Non-Commercial Organization) ,might approve the draft,”
says Galstyan. “It contains many serious risks, the law is not
professionally drafted”. The new bill, in fact, regulates the
operations of SNCO.

Azganush Drnoyan, senior specialist of the initiative at the Ministry
of Environmental Protection, said introducing the amended bill
submitted for the second hearing, that it’s a complicated law and
that all spheres have complicated procedures.

“We have taken into account oral comments and recommendations and,
moreover, have left as much room for further amendment as possible,”
she says.

Drnoyan spoke with criticism of the environmentalists for not
having submitted their suggestions in time and stressed that only
Transparency International had made suggestions, some of which were
taken into consideration.

In response to the question why they had not presented their
suggestions Galstyan says it is essential that the bill is called back.

“When the law is called back, only then will we submit our suggestions;
there are 60 of them and cannot be discussed in 5-10 days. During the
Friday hearings at the Parliament we made our oral suggestions. On
Monday the bill was passed by first hearing but not a single letter
from our suggestions had been taken into account,” says Galstyan.

Environmentalists are under an impression that the state is planning to
mine all the mineral resources of Armenia in ten years’ time. They are
puzzled why the bill had been drafted and submitted to the parliament
in as little as two months.

Henrik Grigoryan, leading SNCO in charge of environmental assessment,
doesn’t know why the rush, but says that it’s as vital as air and
water to pass that bill. The current law has been in force since 1995
and is badly in need of amendments.

Drnoyan says the draft had long been under consideration and a subject
of many discussions.

“It’s another issue that we go to discuss but not a single public
member is present to participate, and we have no levers to summon
them,” she says.

Environmentalists are planning to turn to President Serzh Sargsyan
so that environmental issues are solved once and for all.

LE PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE D’ARMENIE SERA A MARSEILLE DEMAIN
Par N.Boucenna

Maritima.info
6 dec 2011
France

Serge Sargsyan, President de la Republique d’Armenie elu en fevrier
2008, sera a Marseille pour assister au congrès du Parti Populaire
Europeen demain et jeudi dans la cite phoceenne.

A cette occasion, Jean-Claude Gaudin le recevra pour reaffirmer
les liens d’amities qui unissent notamment Erevan et la metropole
marseillaise.

Depuis 1992, des accords de cooperation dans les domaines de la
gouvernance urbaine, de la culture, du social, de la securite civile,
universitaire, de l’education et de la formation et enfin en matière de
developpement economique et commercial ont ete signes entre Marseille
et Erevan.

(Communique ville de Marseille)

OSCE MG, BAKU AND YEREVAN ONCE AGAIN CONFIRM THEIR UNDERTAKEN COMMITMENTS ON NK CONFLICT

Trend
Dec 6 2011
Azerbaijan

“Authorities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries and foreign
ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia once again confirm their
undertaken commitments to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,”
the U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the organization’s
Ministerial Council’s meeting in Vilnius, OSCE website reported.

“As presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group countries said in Deauville only
negotiated settlement can lead to peace, stability and reconciliation,”
Hillary Clinton said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

AZERBAIJAN BUILDS DEFENCE WALL ON FRONT-LINE

Lider TV
Dec 5 2011
Azerbaijan

[Presenter] The Tapqaraqoyunlu village of Goranboy District, which
is located near the contact line of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops,
regularly comes under fire. Now a defence wall is being built to
defend the village from enemy bullets.

[Corespondent] This need arises from an increasing risk to life in
a village that comes under fire every day. Enemy bullets can put an
end to the life of any villager any time. Since the area where the
defence wall is being built is considered to be a completely dangerous
territory, it is impossible to carry out work here during the daytime.

Enemy positions are located 150 meters away from the shooting site.

The staff of the state rehabilitation agency are waiting for the dark
and will start the construction work in the area shortly.

Stones have been brought to the area to carry out the construction.

However, Armenian soldiers fire at the equipment that carry stones
at night. Luckily, there have been no casualties. However, the lives
of the staff of the state rehabilitation agency and villagers are
in danger.

[Mugan Suleymanov, captioned as a village resident who is involved in
the construction work] They keep working despite the shooting. Guys
are not afraid and are working.

[Corespondent] The Tapqaraqoyunlu village cemetery is also in the area
where the wall is being built. It is risky to bury people who have lost
their lives. Two days ago, the brigade that was doing construction
work, came under fire from night till morning and therefore, could
not leave the area. Villagers believe that the tall wall will be very
important for them.

[Rafiq Huseynov, captioned as the chairman of the village council]
We wait for the night to be able to work there. I think we will be
able to visit 90 per cent of the village cemetery safely [after the
wall is built]. Bullets will not hit some of the houses any more.

[translated from Azeri]

THE PRIME MINISTER GOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF “PYUNIK” UNION FOR THE DISABLED

Office of the Prime Minister

Dec 6 2011
Armenia

On the International Day of Disabled People, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan visited “Pyunik” Union for the Disabled accompanied by the
RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artur Grigoryan. The Head of
Government talked to the disabled about their problems, got acquainted
with their programs and activities.

The Prime Minister was informed that the disabled athletes, who
have been training at the Union, recently achieved great success. In
particular, during the open championship of Slavonic countries held
in Ukraine, the representatives of our country won gold and bronze
medals and a silver medal during the world weightlifting championship
for the disabled held in the United Arab Emirates. The athletes are
currently preparing for the 2012 Paralympic Games which is to be held
in London in summer 2012.

In the “Pyunik” union for the disabled there are educational, training,
arts and crafts, sports and other groups. The union aims to promote
the physical, social, psychological rehabilitation of the disabled,
to use sport as a means for forming a strong body and soul.

THE MEETING OF THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN AND THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TOOK PLACE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dec 6 2011
Armenia

On December 5, the meeting of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian, the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar
Mammadyarov and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Robert Bradtke of the
USA, Bernard Fassier of France, Igor Popov of Russia, new Co-chair
of France Jacques Faure, and the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk took place in Vilnius.

In the meeting issues related to the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue were touched upon.

The possibility of the adoption of a joint statement on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council
in Vilnius was on the agenda of the talks as well.

OLIGARCH DIDN’T FEEL CRISIS
by Diana Markosyan

Blitz interview with MP Samvel Alexanyan, who was elected by the
majoritarian order.

“A1+”: Russia refused to hold elections through the majoritarian order,
and the latest elections were held exclusively by the proportional
order. Do you think it is possible to apply that model in Armenia,
especially since some political parties demand that?

Samvel Alexanyan: Things are normal the way they are.

“A1+”: So, are you satisfied with the 86/45 proportion?

S. A.: Yes.

“A1+”: Will you run in the upcoming elections by the majoritarian
order or the proportional? Will you run at all?

S. A.: If the people of our community want me to run, I will. If not,
I won’t.

“A1+”: How will you find out who wants and who doesn’t?

S. A.: I keep in touch with them on a daily basis. If they want it,
I will. If not, I won’t.

“A1+”: How would you assess the current political state of the
country? For instance, Levon Ter-Petrosyan has made an offer to
collaborate with Prosperous Armenia Party. Do you think it is
realistic?

S. A.: Please, don’t ask me questions like that.

“A1+”: How do you view the struggle between the government and the
opposition?

S. A.: Please, don’t ask that either.

“A1+”: Fine, how would you assess the state of the economy?

S. A.: Very well, but I don’t do business.

“A1+”: But don’t you have anything to do with Yerevan City stores?

S. A.: No, I don’t. My wife is involved with that.

“A1+”: Do you use the products sold at your stores?

S. A.: What do you mean?

“A1+”: Do you eat the products sold at your stores that are sometimes
expired, or do you prefer to purchase food from other stores?

S. A.: No, there is no such thing. That’s what our competitors say
because they are sad to see us succeed.

“A1+”: It seems as though the first stage of the crisis is being
overcome with difficulty, but now a new crisis is expected…

S. A.: There is no such thing.

“A1+”: Haven’t you felt the crisis?

S. A.: No, I haven’t.

“A1+”: Didn’t the last crisis have an impact on your wife’s business?

S. A.: A little, but now it’s over.

“A1+”: Serzh Sargsyan declares that oligarchs shouldn’t be involved
in politics regardless of everything. You are known as an oligarch,
no matter how much you claim that you don’t own Yerevan City.

S. A.: Our President is always right.

“A1+”: So, are you going to be involved in politics or not?

S. A.: No, I don’t do business. I am involved in politics.

“A1+”: But you don’t answer my questions regarding politics…

S. A.: It would be better, if I left.

STRESS TESTS OF ARMENIAN NPP WILL BE READY IN SECOND QUARTER OF 2012

/ARKA/
DECEMBER 6, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 6. / ARKA /. The results of the stress tests of
the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) will be ready in the second
quarter of 2012, President Serzh Sargsyan said Tuesday at the opening
of the 12th meeting of the Nuclear Energy Safety Advisory Group under
the Armenian president.

He said the EU is helping Armenia to conduct these tests. The president
was quoted by his press service as saying also that the NPP is now
preparing for the launch of stress tests.

This past summer Armenia as well as Croatia, Switzerland, Turkey,
Belarus, Russia and Ukraine agreed to join their nuclear stress test
programs to examine whether their atomic power plants can withstand
accidents and disasters. The 27 EU nations agreed on such a program
in 2011 May and had called on other countries to join the plan. Under
the tests, “experts from other countries will evaluate the assessment
carried out by their national experts.

President Sargsyan said everything should be done so that double
checks to be held at Armenian NPP in late 2011 or early 2011 record
significant progress in enhancing its safe operation. The President
said about ten international missions arrive in Armenia every year
to check the safe operation of the facility.

After a visit to Armenia in May the Operational Safety Review Team
(OSART) acting under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, Armenian nuclear power plant committed to implement the
recommendations of the agency to improve the NPP~Rs operational safety.

The OSART assessment stressed that there were disputed issues, which
were mainly associated with the existing regulations in Armenia and
the EU. According to Armenian government figures, the country has
received over $115 million worth of assistance from the United States,
the European Union, Russia and other international bodies to upgrade
the plant~Rs safety.

According to the president, OSART mission found seven instances of
positive Armenian experience that can be applied in other countries.

He said the mission presented 14 guarantees and 12 proposals which
could help raise the safe operation of the plant.

The president said Armenian government received this past November
the final report of OSART mission that will be discussed in detail
and all necessary measures will be taken to correct the shortcomings
revealed by OSART.

The Armenian Metsamor nuclear power plant is located some 30 kilometers
west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following
a devastating earthquake in 1988. One of its two VVER 440-V230
light-water reactors was reactivated in 1995. Armenian authorities
said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging
facility.

The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the
Soviet-constructed facility. Metsamor currently generates some 40
percent of Armenia’s electricity. But the government has yet to attract
funding for the project that was estimated by a U.S.-funded feasibility
study to cost at as much as $5 billion. Under a 2003 agreement Armenian
nuclear power plant’s financial flows are managed by Russian Inter
RAO UES, owned by Russian state-run Rosatom corporation.

The agreement expires in 2013. In 2010 Russia and Armenia signed an
agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy sphere whereby Russia
committed to assume 20% of all expenses. The Armenian government
will cover another 20% and the remaining part is supposed to come
from investors.

ONTEMPORARY ART ALBUM/EXHIBITION DEBUTS MONDAY

HETQ
14:39, December 7, 2011

A new photo album entitled “Armenian Contemporary Art” will debut on
Monday, December 12, at the Painters’ Union hall in Yerevan.

Works of the 36 artists included in the album will be on display
as well.

Author of the album is art critic Asieh Nassehi Javan. The RA Ministry
of Culture and the UNDP have assisted in making the album, devoted
to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, a reality.