Coalition to discuss proposal to continue dialogue on Monday

Coalition to discuss proposal to continue dialogue on Monday

13:46 – 01.10.11

The ruling coalition will discuss the possibility of resuming the
suspended dialogue with the opposition Armenian National Congress on
Monday, according to Gagik Minasyan, a lawmaker of the Ruling
Republican Party faction in Parliament.

“I haven’t yet discussed the issue with my colleagues, especially
because [Head of the coalition’s delegation] David Harutyunyan was not
here. I will discuss it on Monday and we’ll decide what to do. We’d
better guide ourselves by correct answers than just make conjectures,”
he told reporters on Saturday.

Referring to the ANC’s yesterday’s proposal to resume the dialogue,
Minasyan said he is surprised by the extra-parliamentary opposition’s
decisions to suspend or resume the dialogue.

“This gives way for hesitations. I would like to know what caused that
suspension and who benefits from that, and also whether the ANC
considers itself responsible for the suspended process,” he added.

Minasyan, who is a member of the coalition’s delegation negotiating
with the alliance, said the dialogue should have reached its logical
end given that the coalition was preparing to respond to the
opposition, preparing arguments to the questions it had posed.

“Was there any sense in suspending the dialogue making a proposal for
a [renewed] dialogue weeks later?” he said,

Tert.am

Chief of police present at opposition’s rally?

Chief of police present at opposition’s rally?

15:05 – 01.10.11

The chief of Armenia’s police, Alik Sargsyan, was on Liberty Square on
Friday evening as the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) was
holding its rally.

Nerses Nazaryan, the chief of Yerevan Police, was also on the scene.

The activists of the opposition alliance declared yesterday their
intention to start a week of 24-hour rallies. They later set up tents
on the square.

The first night passed without incidents.

Tert.am

Armenian Oppositionist Calls For ‘Mass Democratic Movement’

ARMENIAN OPPOSITIONIST CALLS FOR ‘MASS DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT’

Tert.am
20:05 30.09.11

Coordinator of opposition alliance Armenian National Congress (HAK)
has called on supporters for a “democratic movement,” saying it is
the only way out to achieve success in their struggle against the
ruling authorities.

Addressing a rally on Liberty Square in central Yerevan late on
Friday, Levon Zurabyan also said that the political dialogue between
the opposition forces and the authorities can no longer be considered
an option.

“The only way to achieve success is the mass democratic movement that
will unify all the healthy forces of the society, all the social
layers,” said Zurabyan, adding that today they have a historical
chance to do so.

The HAK recently suspended the political dialogue with representatives
of the ruling authorities over the arrest of one HAK activist which
it claims is politically motivated.

Further, Levon Zurabyan said that since early morning all the police
and National Security Forces were what he called “terrorizing” the
owners of transport means in provinces so that not to allow them to
bring HAK supporters to the capital where the rally is taking place.

“This is one of the best examples that these authorities do not
recognize themselves legitimate because the authorities chosen by the
people would not need to resort to such methods,” explained Zurabyan.

Artsakh’s Acting Foreign Minister Thanks U.S. Government For Aid To

ARTSAKH’S ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER THANKS U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR AID TO NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2011 – 19:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On September 30, Acting Foreign Minister of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Vasily Atajanian met with USA Californian
Senator Joseph Simitian and Executive Director of Paros Foundation
Peter Abajian.

On the guests~R request, Vasily Atajanian introduced the pre-history
of the Karabakh conflict, dwelling on the reasons and basic stages of
the Karabakh Liberation Movement, as well as informed of the current
stage of the conflict settlement process. During the meeting, the
necessity of resolving the issue in a peaceful way was emphasized.

Vasily Atajanian expressed gratitude to the USA Government for the
financial assistance rendered to the NKR, Artsakh Foreign Ministry
press service reported.

Some Republicans Will Support Kocharyan

SOME REPUBLICANS WILL SUPPORT KOCHARYAN

Lragir.am News

17:23:37 – 30/09/2011

The leader of the Republican parliamentary group, Rafik Petrosyan,
commented on the news of Robert Kocharyan’s return in today’s news
conference.; Rafik Petrosyan is convinced that the Republican Party
will support Serzh Sargsyan though he did not rule out that some
Republicans will take to his side, as in 2008, when some Republicans
defected as Ter-Petrosyan announced to run in the presidential
election.

Rafik Petrosyan thinks tension will increase when Kocharyan is
nominated. He says all the major political parties have already decided
who they will support. And if, nevertheless, one of the coalition
forces decides to support Kocharyan, the coalition will come to parts.

Rafik Petrosyan thinks Kocharyan’s return is possible not as a
presidential candidate.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country23566.html

Vice President Of The Millennium Challenge Corporation To Visit Arme

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
30.09.2011 16:38

Vice President for Compact Operations of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, Patrick Fine, will visit Armenia October 2-4 to review
the results of the five year US-funded MCA-Armenia Program. During his
visit he will meet with President Serzh Sargsian, senior officials
of the Government of Armenia, farmer beneficiaries, donor partners,
and private sector and civil society representatives.

In 2006, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
and the Government of the Republic of Armenia signed a Compact with
the objective of reducing rural poverty through a sustainable increase
in the economic performance of the agricultural sector.

Since its completion on September 29, 2011, the MCC grant investment
of nearly USD 177 million in the MCA-Armenia program has benefited
over 420,000 rural residents in around 350 communities across Armenia
by refurbishing major sections of the country’s main canal systems,
modernizing some of the most urgently needed pumping stations,
introducing new gravity irrigation schemes, re-building tertiary
canals and restoring sections of the Ararat Valley Drainage system.

The MCA-Armenia program has also trained over 45,000 farmers in
improved agriculture practices, delivering technical assistance to
water supply institutions, and providing USD 8.5 million in credit
to farmers and small agribusinesses to support the program objectives.

MCC is an innovative U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead
the fight against global poverty.

Catherine Ashton: EU Supports The Minsk Group Process

CATHERINE ASHTON: EU SUPPORTS THE MINSK GROUP PROCESS

armradio.am
30.09.2011 18:47

On the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw, President
Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with EU High Commissioner for Foreign
Policy and Security Issues Catherine Ashton.

A broad range of issues related to Armenia-EU cooperation was
discussed. Reference was made to the process of negotiations on the
Association Agreement. Catherine Ashton noted that the European Union
was ready to support the implementation of reforms in Armenia.

The parties discussed regional issues, including the process of
settlement of the Karabakh issue. The EU High Commissioner underlined
that “the Minsk Group is the only format for resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and the EU supports the negotiations under way
within that framework.”

Artsakh To Mark 20th Anniversary Of Shushi Liberation

ARTSAKH TO MARK 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHUSHI LIBERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2011 – 18:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On September 30, Artsakh Republic President Bako
Sahakyan chaired a meeting of the NKR Security Council. Issues related
to army building were discussed.

At the meeting, the President noted the Defense Army to be the main
guarantee of Artsakh security. President Sahakyan further stressed
rising of fighting efficiency among key directions of the state
building process.

The Security Council also discussed issues related to organization of
solemn events dedicated to 20th anniversary of the Artsakh Republic
Defense Army and liberation of Shushi. President Sahakyan instructed
the Cabinet of Ministers to form a governmental commission on the
organization and systematization of solemn events.

Defence minister of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan and other
officials partook in the meeting, Central Information Department at
Artsakh President’s Office reported.

Yerevan Municipality Unhappy About Proposed Cuts In Government Subsi

YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY UNHAPPY ABOUT PROPOSED CUTS IN GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZATION OF CITY’S SUBWAY

ARKA
Sep 29, 2011

YEREVAN, September 29. /ARKA/. Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan, speaking
Thursday at the Cabinet’s regular meeting, voiced displeasure at the
cuts in the government subsidization of the city’s subway, which are
proposed in the 2012 draft budget.

“Taking into account that the subway will have additional financial
resources from the recent fare rise, the finance ministry cut subsidies
by the greater amount than the subway’s profits,” he said.

“If, for example, we gain 400 million drams, subsidies are cut by
500 million.”

On July 1, the subway fare was raised from 50 drams to 100 drams
($0.26), since before that the fare was far lower than the real
spending for transportation of one passenger. In the first quarter
of this year, 160 drams were spent for transportation of one passenger.

The mayor said that if after this fare increase financial flows don’t
grow, it will mean that the municipality has assumed the commitments
it can’t fulfill.

“We propose to leave the size of subsidies unchanged,” he said.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, on his side, ordered another discussion
of this issue. He said that it would be better to intensify passenger
flows in the subway.

“Otherwise, profitability problem will remain unsolved,” he said. “We
have attracted loans for modernizing this subway in a hope that
it will be fully self-sufficient with the lapse of time. Fare was
raised for that. Therefore, the municipality should optimize public
transport traffic.”

On August 10, 2010, Armenian finance ministry signed a ~@15-million
agreement with European Investment Bank to reconstruct the Yerevan
subway.

This money is targeted for repairing the subway’s warning system,
cars, dilapidated railway lines, electricity-supplying facilities etc.

Another ~@15 million was provided by EU Neighborhood’s investment
fund as a grant.

The first stage of the subway modernization program is planned to be
completed in Dec 2012. ($1 = AMD 371.35).

Sarkozy Au Concert D’Aznavour Pour L’Armenie

SARKOZY AU CONCERT D’AZNAVOUR POUR L’ARMENIE

Collectif VAN

29-09-2011

Mercredi 28 septembre, Nicolas Sarkozy et le President armenien,
Serge Sarkissian, en visite officielle a Paris, ont assiste au
concert caritatif dedie a l’association ” Aznavour pour l’Armenie
“, donne dans la mythique salle de l’Olympia. Les deux chefs d’Etat
ont fait leur entree a 20h45 sous les applaudissements d’une salle
comble où avaient egalement pris place de nombreux elus et ministres,
parmi lesquels le ministre francais de la Culture, Frederic Mitterrand,
l’ancien ministre de la Relance et actuel President du Conseil General
des Hauts-de-Seine, Patrick Devedjian, l’ancien ministre et actuel
depute-maire d’Issy-les-Moulineaux, Andre Santini (Nouveau Centre),
le depute de la Loire, Francois Rochebloine (Nouveau Centre), le
depute-maire PS d’Alfortville, Rene Rouquet, le depute UMP des
Bouches-du-Rhône, Richard Maille, le maire PS de Villeurbanne,
Jean-Paul Bret, etc.

Etait egalement present Mgr Norvan Zakarian, Prelat des Armeniens
de France.

On pouvait aussi remarquer les trois ambassadeurs de France qui se
sont succede en Armenie depuis 20 ans. Parmi eux, Son Excellence
Henri Cuny, qui le 22 septembre dernier, avait rendu un hommage
emouvant a l’Armenie, en lisant en armenien un discours qu’il avait
lui-meme ecrit en caractères armeniens, charmant ainsi l’auditoire
venu assister a Paris a la projection du documentaire 500 jours
(1989-1990) de Revolution et de Tragedie (par J.-Claude Lacroix,
Arto Pehlivanian, Krikor Hamel, Boghos Minassian).

Presente avec brio par Stephane Bern, le recital exceptionnel de
mercredi, qui marquait egalement le 20e anniversaire de l’independance
de l’Armenie, avait ete organise par Charles Aznavour et son manager
Levon Sayan, en cooperation avec l’Ambassadeur d’Armenie en France,
Son Excellence Viguen Tchitetchian.

En première partie, de nombreux artistes sont venus interpreter sur
scène des chansons d’Aznavour ou des morceaux du repertoire classique
et armenien : citons le pianiste armenien Vardan Mamikonian et la
soprano Hasmik Papian, le comique Michel Leeb, les chanteurs Benabar
et Patrick Fiori (Les Montagnes d’Armenie), Helène Segara (qui a
interprete la chanson dediee au genocide armenien, Ils sont tombes,
composee par Charles Aznavour et Georges Garvarentz), Amel Bent (La
Mamma), le jeune pianiste de jazz surdoue Tigran Hamasyan, le pianiste
de jazz Andre Manoukian avec le dudukiste Levon Minassian, Seda
Aznavour (Kou Khimet tchem Kidi de Sayat Nova) et Julien Clerc (epatant
dans Formi-Formidable). L’imitation impayable de Nicolas Sarkozy
par l’humoriste Laurent Gerra qui a invite le President francais a ”
savoir, coûte que coûte, Garder toute sa dignite, Et malgre ce qu’il
nous en coûte, S’en aller sans se retourner ” a declenche l’hilarite du
public. On ne sait si la tribune presidentielle, plongee dans le noir
au premier rang de la mezzanine, a goûte l’humour de l’imitateur… [A
n’en pas douter, les elections presidentielles de 2012 ont marque
la soiree. Avant de venir, le chef de l’Etat avait très certainement
suivi le second debat televise des primaires socialistes. Et après sa
presence hier soir, son proche agenda temoigne du souci de se menager
l’electorat armenien de France : Nicolas Sarkozy se rend en effet en
visite d’Etat en Armenie, le jeudi 6 octobre prochain… Une simple
etape de courtoisie sur la route de Tbilissi et de Bakou ?].

A 22 heures, le grand Charles Aznavour a enfin fait son entree sur
scène sous les ovations du public. Pendant 1h20, il a offert un
concert magistral a son public. A 87 ans, le chanteur prouve, s’il
en etait besoin, qu’il reste un artiste avec un ” A ” majuscule.

Merveilleusement epaule par ses 12 musiciens et 2 choristes (dont sa
deuxième fille, Katia, avec laquelle il a interprete Je voyage), il a
mene avec maestria un show bien huile et neanmoins empreint d’emotion.

Panachant nouveautes et anciennes chansons, Aznavour a reussi l’exploit
de faire d’un texte difficile sur l’horreur des genocides (J’ai connu),
une evidence : ” Ce que l’homme fait a l’homme, au mepris de toutes
lois, ce que l’homme fait a l’homme, l’animal ne le fait pas “.

Après le recital, les artistes sont venus rejoindre Charles Aznavour
sur scène pour saluer une dernière fois le public. Une standing ovation
leur a rendu un long et vibrant hommage. A la fin de la soiree, les
presidents francais et armenien sont alles saluer les artistes dans
les coulisses.

Compte-rendu Collectif VAN – 29 septembre 2011 –

Photo : Copyright Collectif VAN

Nos remerciements au mecène Raymond Yezeguelian qui a offert de
nombreuses places aux associations et journalistes armeniens.

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